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.
The Teacher does not ask us to do anything He Himself has not done. So when Jesus invites every person in the world to become His student, He does so from the perspective of One who Himself was first a student.
Jesus is a Student-Teacher. Our Teacher knows what it means to be a student too.
Before He offered to become our Teacher, He came to earth as a human being, voluntarily placing Himself in the position of student to His Heavenly Father.
As students of Jesus, we look to our Teacher to learn what it means to live a life pleasing to God. Every day in the classroom of life He is present to lead us. We learn from Him and become more like Him in heart and life – doing what He does.
But Jesus has already done all of this as a student of the Father. Jesus earned – in the classroom of His own life - the right to have the authority of Teacher.
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.
From Student to Teacher and now elevated to the coming Judge of the world! This is why becoming Jesus’ student in life is so important. Only in this way do our lives honor the Son and ultimately honor the Father.
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.
Great point, Denny. I wonder how the process fo Jesus' life and knowledge happened. was it t 12 in the temple he just "knew" who he was? Or was it an ongoing learning process? I think more of the latter.
ReplyDeleteAlso, it is noticeable in several passages that Jesus spent much time in prayer. Wait a minute - He and God are one, so why does one who is equal to God need to pray? Ah - maybe that's how Jesus and the Fatehr were so united, even though Jesus had taken human form.
He won't ask us to do anything He wasn't willing to do. He set the example. And He gives life.
Becoming a student of Jesus doesn't merely bless us here and now - it gives us an incredible hope: becoming like God here in this life and dwelling with him eternally!
Which brings me to the question of following Jesus' example - how much emphasis do we put on personal devotional and prayer time?