Life In Him

The apostle John had a particular reason behind writing what we see in the gospel according to John. (Keep in mind that although John did the writing, the Holy Spirit gave the inspiration). We read, "And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name." (John 20:30-31) Please note, "that believing you may have life in His name." The word life is the Greek word "zoe" which means "life in the absolute sense; life as God has it; that which the Father has in Himself and which He gave to the Incarnate Son to have in Himself." This is the same quality of life that Christians are to experience their entire time on planet earth. With that said, let's look a little deeper into the gospel of John and see repeatedly what Jesus Himself says concerning His mission of revealing the Father's will, nature, character, purpose and plan.

First, Jesus is by Himself and He has an encounter with a woman of Samaria at Jacobs well. At the end of His conversation with her, His disciples return to Him and urge Him to eat, but look closely at Jesus' response, "Jesus said to them, My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work." (John 4:34) Notice Jesus' mission, "...to do the will of Him who sent Me.." So whatever we see Jesus do or and whatever He says, He is revealing the Father. Next, we see Jesus healing on the Sabbath which causes the Jews to be filled with indignation so severe that they sought to kill Him because He healed on the Sabbath. Again looking at Jesus' response to the Jews, we see, "Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel." (John 5:19-20)

Notice that Jesus does not initiate the things that He does, "...the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do..." Jesus only does what the Father Himself does. He only does the Father's will. Not only does Jesus' actions perfectly reveal the Father's will, but they are also proof that He is from or that He has been sent by the Father. Again, we see, "But I have a greater witness than John's; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish, the very works that I do, bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me." (John 5:36) "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me." (John 6:38) "...I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him."(John 8:26) "...I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things." (John 8:28)

Now let's look at another very important key in the life and ministry of Jesus. "And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him." (John 8:29) Not only does Jesus perfectly reveal the Father's will and nature, but everything that He does and says pleases the Father. Next, we see Jesus having an encounter with the Jews. Look at the words that Jesus speaks to them. "If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him." (John 10:37-28) Jesus again, is pointing to the works that He does as the work of His Father. Finally, Jesus says something that should awaken every Christian from the slumber of doubt. If one cannot believe that He is the Christ, the Savior, God the Son, the Son of God, then the works that He does should bring one to understand that the Father is in Him revealing Himself through the works that Jesus is doing.

The fact that Jesus perfectly reveals the Father's will, nature, character, purpose and plan is the most crucial point of knowing the One and only Living, Almighty God and Father, especially to one who accepts Christ as Savior, confesses His Lordship from their mouth and believe in their heart that God raised Him from the dead. Of course this takes faith. Unfortunately, many Christians are taught and trained to believe the opposite. Once again I want to exhort us to let the Word of God assault and destroy all the thoughts, argument and perceptions that exalt themselves above the Word of God. In other words, let the Word of God prevail mightily in our lives and we will find that in doing so, we will truly experience "life in the absolute sense; life as God has it; that which the Father has in Himself and which He gave to the Incarnate Son to have in Himself." .