So, with lots of uncertainty, but with complete trust in God, Who has been forming and loving this one so faithfully, Erin and her husband, Danny, face tomorrow with the need to be surrounded by prayer. Pray for that peace that passes all understanding throughout today and tomorrow, and for God’s hand to be on the surgeon’s. Pray that the baby’s little heart will be made completely whole, that the cyst will have disappeared, and that Erin will be able to hold her baby soon after surgery (she will not be able to hold the baby after delivery, as they will be whisking him/her away to NICU). Pray for a speedy recovery for Erin (those of you who have had C-sections know what I mean), and for complete joy as they see and experience God’s faithfulness!
Now, to the amazing words of Jesus spoken to the Jewish leaders:
Jesus gave them this answer: “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. (John 5:19-23)
Philippians 2 tells us that Jesus emptied Himself when He came to Earth. He purposefully set aside His majesty to live as a man and “became obedient unto death,” that we might live. So when He says here that He could do nothing by Himself, He is saying that His power while on Earth was through His dependency upon His Father and the Holy Spirit. Jesus is being so clear here that He is deity! He has the power to raise the dead and give life! Only God has that power. He says that if we don’t honor Jesus as the Son of God and God the Son, we are not honoring the Father.
There is no room here for the view point that Jesus was just a "good teacher" or rabbi. These kind of claims can only come from someone who is either a liar, a lunatic, or the LORD! Anyone standing on a street corner making these claims in our time would be considered a delusional psychotic! Or, that person would be a religious charlatan - a swindler purposefully leading people astray for his own benefit. Neither of these choices would allow such a man to be a “good teacher.” So, if He’s neither a lunatic nor a liar, then He must be telling the truth - and He is indeed the LORD!
You can certainly see why the Jewish leaders were so determined to get rid of Him. He was dangerous to their traditional way of life and was upsetting their power over the people. Just like people today, they did not want to consider the possibility that Jesus was truly the Christ, because it would have huge ramifications for them personally: they would be required to give up their control of their own lives; they would have to give up their comfortable religious traditions and legalism - and their pride in “keeping” the Law - to admit that they were miserable sinners in need of a Savior!
I remember what a struggle that was for me 36 years ago! I was so sure that I was a “good” person, and that God would be “lucky” to have me on His team. Facing the fact that I was actually a foul sinner and was helpless to save myself by my “goodness,” was absolutely repugnant to me. Only the Holy Spirit could have opened my heart and my spiritual eyes to see the reality! In fact, the Bible tells us that it is impossible to claim Jesus is LORD, unless the Holy Spirit reveals it to us. (1 Corinthians 12:3) I’m so grateful that He got through to my stubborn heart!
Have you claimed Him as your LORD yet? You really only have that one option, you know... otherwise you stand with these Jewish leaders in rejecting His claims...
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