September 6, 2023

Thinking The Same Thoughts

“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 initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.”

John 14:10-11 (NASB)

      When I was younger, I got into trouble a lot. Many times my parents never knew what I was doing. I also got away with a lot without them knowing. My best friend and I spent so much time together we could almost finish each other’s sentences. It was funny. When we got in trouble and got caught, I remember our parents would take each of us home and question us about our actions. Since both of us knew the thoughts of each other, we kept our stories straight. We were almost inseparable until my family moved back to the U.S. Fast forward: My friend and I do not communicate. We met the last time shortly after I graduated high school. He had changed. I never could understand why we did not connect. He later went into the Army and became an officer in the 101st Airborne Division (last recollection). Both of our compasses of life had changed direction. Jesus did not have this problem. He and His Father are intertwined in deity.

      “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 initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me;”“The Father, who remains in me, does his own work is a fairly literal rendering of the Greek text. These words indicate that Jesus’ miracles were not accomplished by his own power or initiative (see 8:28); rather, they reveal his union with the Father. However, it may be difficult to speak of the Father “doing his own work” The reference is obviously very broad, for it includes both miracles and sayings. Sometimes one can employ such an expression as “my Father who remains in me causes these happenings.” But in other instances, a more satisfactory rendering may be “… does what he decides to do.” Such a rendering indicates clearly that the agency and the initiative rest with God.”[1] This verse is similar to John 10:38 where Jesus says to the Jews, “but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father.” Jesus wanted all to know that His authority, works, and initiative came from the Father. “Jesus here turns to the disciples as a body. For as Thomas’ doubt was, more or less, the doubt of all, so the like was the case with the scruple of Philip. The explanation of the verse results from the foregoing. As disciples of Jesus, they ought first to believe that He was in the Father and then to know that the Father was in Him. If ye are not able to do this, —it is His intention to say to them in a few sharp words,—why then go to work the other way: begin with the works (in the way pointed out to the Jews, chap. 10:38) and, through a belief in the divinity of My works, arrive at a belief in the divinity of My person.”[2] If it were only that easy…

      I often wonder what happened to my friend. I do not even know how to contact him. I do know my life has changed. He also changed. I am not the wild child I used to be anymore. My wife and family settled me. Jesus secured me and gave focus to His Word which guides my life. I seek to know Jesus’ words, so I can always give an answer that is exactly like His. This time it will be for His glory, and not my attempt to stay out of trouble like I did as a child.

[1] Newman, B. M., & Nida, E. A. (1993). A handbook on the Gospel of John (p. 460). United Bible Societies.

[2] Lange, J. P., & Schaff, P. (2008). A commentary on the Holy Scriptures: John (p. 438). Logos Bible Software.