Jesus only did what he saw the Father doing.
Some Christians pick up on the words that Jesus said in John 5:19 “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner." Consequently they use these words, in an Old Testament way, to limit their ability to do anything unless they hear God speaking loud and clear. This can prevent us, if we are not careful, of risking a step of faith. This website is dedicated to hearing the voice of God, in order to be able to act on it and bring more of his kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. Nevertheless this should not limit how we believe for a miracle in any given situation.
It is important here to examine the content of this verse to get at the true meaning behind it.
John 5:18-21 "For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God. Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes."
The context of the verse shows here that that Jesus in his divinity was establishing a New Testament way of working based on the law of love and grace. In the process he breaks some of the laws made for the Old Covenant system, offending the religious Jews leading to such outrage that they sought to kill him.
Jesus is open to persuasion.
The good news is that Jesus is open to persuasion! This is illustrated many times in the gospels:-
Jesus is open to persuasion at a party!
The first instance of this is in at the wedding in Cana of Galilee in John 2:3-5 "When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine." And Jesus said to her, Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He say to you, do it."
Mary knew that Jesus would have compassion in this situation, and she knew in her heart that she could draw on this compassion. As sons of the living God, we can ask of Jesus in the same way Mary did.
Jesus is open to persuasion by the religious and the untouchables
Another instance is the woman with the issue of blood. In this instance permission was not even asked of Jesus for the healing. The woman with the issue of blood touched him, knowing that what she was doing was wrong in the eyes of the law as this would make Jesus unclean. The fact that he was also on his way to the home of a ruler of the synagogue made the matter much more serious. "There came a man named Jairus and he was a ruler of the synagogue; and he fell at Jesus' feet, and began to implore Him to come to his house; for he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, and she was dying. But as He went, the crowds were pressing against Him. And a woman who had a haemorrhage for twelve years, and could not be healed by anyone, came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak, and immediately her haemorrhage stopped. And Jesus said, "Who is the one who touched Me?" And while they were all denying it, Peter said, "Master the people are crowding and pressing in on You." But Jesus said, "Someone did touch Me, for I was aware that power had gone out of Me." Luke 8:41-42
Jesus knew that the person who touched him was in need of further healing. In a humorous side note, Mark relates what "Luke the physician" forgets to mention, namely that the woman goes onto confess to Jesus that she "Had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was hot helped at all, but rather had grown worse." Mark 5:26
One can imagine Jairus standing there thinking "Yes, Yes, you've told us about your many Dr Expensive's; now let's go Jesus, my daughter is dying!"
Jesus stayed with the woman. He listened to her story knowing that she needed to be emotionally healed and restored to her society. The fact that the daughter dies does not deter him as he goes on to raise her from the dead.
Jesus is open to persuasion by a Gentile before their time.
Another instance is the Syrophoenician women.
Matthew 15:21-28 "Jesus went away from there, and withdrew into the district of Tyre and Sidon. And a Canaanite woman from that region came out and began to cry out, saying, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed." But He did no answer her a word. And His disciples came and implored Him, saying, "Send her away, because she keeps shouting at us." But He answered and said, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But she came and began to bow down before Him, saying, "Lord, help me!" And He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." But she said, "Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters' table." Then Jesus said to her, "O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed at once."
What she was asking here cut right across the initial mission that Jesus had been set, namely to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel first. The gospel was only opened up to the Gentiles after Pentecost. However , Jesus was open to persuasion here yet again.
Matthew 7:7-8 Amplified Bible (AMP) "Ask and keep on asking and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking and you will find; knock and keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking receives, and he who keeps on seeking finds, and to him who keeps on knocking, it will be opened."
Next.
1. Introduction.
2. God's nature as creator and communicator.
3. The role of the Bible.
4. Turn aside when you notice something.
5. Be careful what you worship.
6. The Holy Spirit quickens things.
7. Hide and seek using parables.
8. Ask the Holy Spirit.
9. The inner room is where we meet with God.
10. The importance of peace and stillness.
11. Don't hurry God will speak.
12. Waiting and longing takes us higher to a place where God acts.
13. What price do we have to pay?
14. Holding a word for a time and part of the whole picture.
15. How do we know it's from God/Act in faith?
16. Jesus is open to persuasion!
17. The Language God uses to communicate.
18. God communicates through our sensory organs.
19. God communicates primarily to the heart.
20. God offends our mind to change our heart.
21. Listening depends on your heart attitude.
22. Circumcision is the cure to a hard heart!
23. Listen to your heart
24. Eyes.
25. Lift up your eyes.
26. Make sure your vision is clear.
27. Ears/hearing the voice of the Lord.
28. Reach for higher levels.
29. How God communicates - impressions.
30. Seeing with the eyes of your heart.
31. Visions.
32. Open visions.
33. Trances.
34. Signs.
35. Dreams.
36. Conclusion.
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