The Son can do nothing of Himself

... but what He sees the Father do (John 5:19). The Jews had been offended because they understood that He was making Himself equal with God, claiming God was His Father (verses 17, 18). Jesus doubles down on this, insisting that the relationship was so close that He had no power (dunamos) to do anything apart from the Father. But He does have  power to do what He sees the Father doing. Jesus goes on to describe His beautiful son - father relationship,  with the Father showing, instructing and enabling the son to do the same things the Father does. And what the Father does is to raise the dead and He honours the Son. In fact He commits all judgement to Him in order that “all should honour the Son just as they honour the Father,” In fact “He who does not honour the Son does not honour the Father who sent Him” (verses 20 – 23).

I have heard the relationship of Jesus with the Father described in terms of a skilled couple ballroom dancing. Traditionally the man leads, but watching them it is impossible to discern who is leading, for they flow together in perfect unity. According to this passage when Jesus spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, or took the little dead girl by the hand and told her to arise (John 9:6; Mark 5:41) He was doing this because He saw the Father doing it.  It is intended to be the same with us,  and I have heard testimonies of similar deeds being done by Christians, laying hand on people, “pulling” cancer out of someone's body. And of course with healing as the result.

Jesus is the God – man, fully God and fully man, but while on earth having emptied himself of His God attributes (Philippians 2:7). In this way He became the supreme example of man as God intended man to be. What Jesus did on earth, He did not do  as God, but as a Spirit filled man. And since we are commanded to be being filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18) it is His intention that we (a) have the same relationship with Him, as He had with His Father, and (b) that we do the same works that He did. Thus He could tell us “Without me, you can do nothing” (John 15:5), but if “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7). In fact we will do even greater works (14:12).

Father, most of us are not there yet, but we want to be. We need Your help to abide in Christ and to have His living rhama Words abiding in us. Lord I have been praying over these past days “I believe help my unbelief,” and it has been working. Thank You Lord! Thank You that You who began a good work in me continues it day by day, and that You will continue until that day we see You face to face. Thank You that on that day I will know You, because I will be like You. Hallelujah in Jesus Name Amen