Christ the weak
Christ, as strong as He was, was weak. Without His Father, He could not exist. Their tie was so intimate that Jesus never operated on His own resources. He said, “The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do: for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.” (Jn. 5:19). As it is true, that “Without Me ye can do nothing,” (Jn. 15:5) so it was with Jesus to His Father; without His Father He could do nothing. That’s why His Father could show Him everything. “For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth Him all things that Himself doeth: and He will shew Him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.” (Jn. 5:20).
Jesus, from a toddler, was His heavenly Father’s shadow. Never were they separated. Never was Christ’s mind empty of His Father, His God to whom He looked up. His Father was His Master and Friend. That was all Christ wanted—a friendship from His excellent Father. That’s why the Voice baptized Him in, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matt. 3:17). As His shadow, They went everywhere together, inseparably. And as His Father’s shadow, Jesus looked just like His Father, “gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy,” “being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person,” “the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (Ps. 145:8;Heb. 1:3;Jn. 1:14).
Like Elisha to Elijah, Jesus followed His Father everywhere He went. Elijah told Elisha to stay where they were and Elijah would go on alone. But Elisha said, I will never leave you. “Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel.” (2Kings 2:2). Again and again, Elijah said the same to Elisha; and each time Elisha gave the same response. Elisha wanted to follow Elijah and reap the benefits of being in the powerful presence of this redeemed man of faith. Elisha coveted earnestly the gifts God gave Elijah and he was rewarded with a double portion. Likewise, Jesus could not live without His Father’s presence being ever near.
John the disciple also followed Jesus very intimately. He pushed and nudged into his Master’s presence, intently listening, watching closely, and marveling at the profound things Jesus said; His word was a never-ending stream of beauty and instruction. “I am the Light of the world.” “I am the Bread of life.” “I that speak unto thee am He.” “I am the Good Shepherd.” “I am the Door of the sheep.” “I am the true Vine.” “Before Abraham was, I am.” Awed and attracted, John was drawn into intimate fellowship with his Rabbi. He followed the Lamb of God whithersoever He went. Finally, in the end, he could not help but weave the love of Christ into every conversation; Jesus had become everything to him. “He that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” (1Jn. 4:16).
As we, with John, watch and study Jesus, we will become changed. After being filled with all the fullness of God and His love, as seen in His Son, we must follow hard after Him, or abandon His salvation altogether.
Jesus, from a toddler, was His heavenly Father’s shadow. Never were they separated. Never was Christ’s mind empty of His Father, His God to whom He looked up. His Father was His Master and Friend. That was all Christ wanted—a friendship from His excellent Father. That’s why the Voice baptized Him in, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matt. 3:17). As His shadow, They went everywhere together, inseparably. And as His Father’s shadow, Jesus looked just like His Father, “gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy,” “being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person,” “the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (Ps. 145:8;Heb. 1:3;Jn. 1:14).
Like Elisha to Elijah, Jesus followed His Father everywhere He went. Elijah told Elisha to stay where they were and Elijah would go on alone. But Elisha said, I will never leave you. “Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel.” (2Kings 2:2). Again and again, Elijah said the same to Elisha; and each time Elisha gave the same response. Elisha wanted to follow Elijah and reap the benefits of being in the powerful presence of this redeemed man of faith. Elisha coveted earnestly the gifts God gave Elijah and he was rewarded with a double portion. Likewise, Jesus could not live without His Father’s presence being ever near.
John the disciple also followed Jesus very intimately. He pushed and nudged into his Master’s presence, intently listening, watching closely, and marveling at the profound things Jesus said; His word was a never-ending stream of beauty and instruction. “I am the Light of the world.” “I am the Bread of life.” “I that speak unto thee am He.” “I am the Good Shepherd.” “I am the Door of the sheep.” “I am the true Vine.” “Before Abraham was, I am.” Awed and attracted, John was drawn into intimate fellowship with his Rabbi. He followed the Lamb of God whithersoever He went. Finally, in the end, he could not help but weave the love of Christ into every conversation; Jesus had become everything to him. “He that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” (1Jn. 4:16).
As we, with John, watch and study Jesus, we will become changed. After being filled with all the fullness of God and His love, as seen in His Son, we must follow hard after Him, or abandon His salvation altogether.
posted by David | 8:33 AM
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