JESUS ON DISPLAY!
18th Jun 2014
Jesus constantly declared that He lived in contact with the Father; that all His actions were the Father’s doing, prompted and achieved at His command. “The Son can do nothing by himself!” (John 5:19)
“The Father who sent me gave me the orders, told me what to say and how to say it. And I know exactly what his command produces: real and eternal life....what the Father told me, I tell you.” (John 12:49 The Message)
When Jesus is praying, just before the events which culminate in His crucifixion and resurrection, He is asking that this same relationship will be realised between His disciples and the Godhead, once He has fulfilled His commission. Jesus made this connection possible by tearing the veil of separation, dealing with sin, becoming the atonement and making divine relationship, not just a possibility, but a reality!
John 17:10 in the Message puts it like this, “I am not praying for the God rejecting world but for those you gave me, for they are yours by right. Everything mine is yours, and yours mine, and my life is on display in them. For I’m no longer going to be visible in the world; they’ll continue in the world while I return to you.....so they can be one heart and mind, as we are one heart and mind.”
We can see the outworking of this prayer as Peter defends himself after the healing of the man, previously crippled and begging, now walking, leaping and praising God! “Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?....It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing!” (Acts 3:12 & 16)
Let Jesus be increasingly on display in our lives, let Him give the commands and let us act on His say so, and see what He alone can do.
Channels only, Blessed Master,
But with all Your wondrous power
Flowing through us ...... to a hurting world that our Father longs to heal.
by Joyce Sibthorpe
