“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:14
Jesus was fully God and fully human. Right. Got it. Of the same divine essence as God the Father – uncreated; “begotten not made.” Check. “Tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.” True.
We can quickly acknowledge the basic doctrines of the incarnation without really processing the implications of them.
Consider the question: how did Jesus do miracles?
As the eternal Son of God, entrusted with all authority in heaven and on earth by the Father, Jesus could have spoken to the storm in His own Name, based on His own limitless power. He could have healed lepers, opened blind eyes and raised the dead simply by exercising the power by which He spoke the universe into being over 6,000 years ago. But did he?
“Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.”
John 5:19-20
Nothing.
“The Son can do nothing of his own accord.”
Hmmm. That sounds pretty comprehensive. “Only.” That also sounds pretty all encompassing.
“Only what he sees the Father doing.”
Is it possible that during the incarnation this was Jesus’ constant approach? If so, do you see what that means for us as we seek to follow His example?
“Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”
John 14:10-14
How could you and I possibly do “greater works” than Jesus Himself did on earth? (Did you notice the connection back to John 5:20?) The answer, of course, has nothing to do with us and everything to do with JESUS.
Notice how this passage is so vibrantly Trinitarian.
Of course Jesus could only do what He saw the Father doing – because that’s what the Trinity has always done. They operate perfectly as ONE. (Really HE operates as One; referring to the One God.) And as those who are united with Christ, it means we are also bound together with the Father in the power and love of the Holy Spirit. So, as beloved children of the Father, He now shows us what He is doing and invites us to join in that work in the same way Jesus saw and joined in His work during his few years on earth.
One more passage from John.
“And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed… The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
John 17:3-5; 22-23
How did Jesus glorify God the Father? By accomplishing the work the Father gave Him.
Now that same glory the Father gave the Son, the Son has given to us so that we may be one with each other and complete the work the Father has given to us – of proclaiming the glory of Jesus and the good news of the gospel to the ends of the earth.
Be like Jesus.
Since He was fully human – truly human – everything He did on earth is an example for us to learn from and to follow. Everything.
Be amazed by that phrase “greater things.” We have yet to see the full ramifications for what that means.
Lord Jesus, be glorified in us and through us as we seek to follow your example and become more like you!