John 5:19 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.
This verse reveals a truth about Jesus that is also true about all disciples of Jesus Christ. In essence, Jesus said to the Jews that apart from His Father, He could do nothing. Jesus told His disciples (and all believers by extension) that apart from Him, we could do nothing. This reminds us of what Jesus said in John 14. He told His disciples that He didn’t speak on His own initiative, but the Father, abiding in Him, did His works. To see Jesus is to see the Father. This was Jesus’ explanation for why He healed the lame man on the Sabbath. He saw the Father at work, so He worked with Him in the same manner.
This truth lies at the heart of living to love with Jesus. He abides in us and when we abide in Him, He does the Father’s works in and through us for His glory. That’s what is meant by “doing nothing.” There’s nothing we can do to glorify God apart from Jesus, any more than Jesus could do anything apart from His Father to glorify God. We can do things apart from Jesus, but nothing we do apart from Him glorifies God, the Father. Therefore, we glorify God in the same manner as Jesus glorified God—by abiding in Jesus as Jesus abided in the Father.
What does that mean for Jesus to abide in the Father? I use the present tense because He still abides in the Father as He abides in us. He thinks as the Father thinks. He never acts apart from the Father’s purpose and worldview. His mind is one with the Father. That gives us great encouragement to be of one mind with Christ. The apostle Paul gave this encouragement to the Philippians in 2:1-5 when admonishing them to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord.
Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves, which was also in Christ Jesus.
Can you see it? Just as Jesus had the same purpose and mind as His Father, we are to have the same purpose and mind as Christ. His purpose is to glorify the Father by living to love with Him. Our purpose is to glorify the Father by living to love with Jesus. I have explained Jesus’ worldview in chapter 2 of my book, Live to Love: Experience Freedom and Joy in Relationships, which you can find in print, e-book, and audiobook formats at livetolovewithjesus.com. I hope you’ll get your free copy soon and share it with others. This is the call of God to all who believe. Christians are those who live in the same manner as Jesus. Abiding in Him as He abides in us. Doing His work as we think and live in a manner worthy of our calling for the glory of God.
I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.
