T H E S I S # 28
The ultimate example of a healthy, abiding relationship is Jesus and His Father. Jesus often spoke of His Father because the Father was the emphasis of His heart.
“The Son of God” was also “the Son of Man”. The title the Lord Jesus conferred upon Himself – “the Son of Man” – demonstrates His want to intimately identify with us, also sons of man.
Jesus called the pharisees “son[s] of hell” because hell was awaiting them, and this was their most relevant reality. Paul, “filled with the Holy Spirit”, called a sorcerer “the son of the devil” because of who he served and his propensity to do evil. Lord Jesus called the brothers James and John “Sons of Thunder” because, apparently, it described their temperament.
The “Son of God” title clearly conveys His divinity, and the “Son of Man” title establishes His humanity; to us, what could be more complimentary and solacing?
Lord Jesus did not cease being God when He became a man. He was “Immanuel, which is translated, ‘God with us.’” “Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.” (NLT) “Though he was God” He did cease functioning as God.
Our Lord Jesus Christ functioned as a man, and that’s relevant. Christ as a man did good; we as a man/woman can likewise do good.
How, as a man, did our Lord accomplish so much?
Lord Jesus did the works He did because of His abiding relationship with His Father. God on earth was continually directed and replenished by God in heaven. We are the fruit of Their relationship. Had Their relationship been less than healthy, we would be in very serious trouble.
We can only be as productive as our relationship to Christ is solid. The Master said, “He who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also.” Why, then, only few do the works He did? Because….
Because we simply do not trust in the One who sent us (“As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”) to the same degree as the One who sent us trusted the One who sent Him. Only the one trusting Jesus as Jesus trusted the Father will do works similar to the works of Jesus.
Quality of relationship should matter more than it does.
None of us are capable of abiding in our Lord in the same healthy manner our Lord did abide in the Father. He trusted His Sender more than we trust our Sender. That is why we will never accomplish what He accomplished.
But we can do more than what we are now doing. We can do more than most. Improvement is always possible. We can complete our assignment (“I have finished the race.”), glorify the Father (“By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit.”), lay up abundant treasures in heaven. Many more will be eternally saved if we strengthen the attachment of the branch to The Vine.
By His speech we know Lord Jesus was continually cognizant of the fact He was indeed a sent One….
As the Father sent Me… He who receives Me receives Him who sent Me… He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted… For this purpose I have been sent… He who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me… My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me… He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him… He who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life… And on and on.
The Christ, too, is a sender….
As the Father has sent Me, I also send you… Pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers… I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves… The Son of Man will send out His angels… I send you prophets, and wise men, and scribes… And began to send them out two by two… The Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two… He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
And The Christ, “the Lord of the harvest” and “the head of the church”, will send every compliant disciple.
When is the last time you heard a brother or sister in Christ refer to him/herself, or another, as a sent one?
Unlike the twelve, and unlike the seventy, and unlike Paul and Barnabas, and unlike the prophets of old, most evangelicals (etcetera) are not living the reality they too are (or have the potential of being) sent ones.