Pages

Wednesday 11 May 2022

John 14:10,11 - I do not speak on my own authority

14:10

Jesus seems to expect them to believe that “I am in the Father and the Father is in me”. This phrase means that the two are one. It means much more than merely that Jesus acts as the Father’s agent. There is a greater unity between them. The doctrine of the trinity briefly stated says that “there is one God, who exists eternally as three persons”. So the Father and the Son are one, but are also distinct. The closest we get to this one earth is in a good marriage. In a good marriage the couple grow together becoming evermore united, but at the same time they both flourish in their own characters as well. So the works that Jesus does and the words He says are the Father’s works and actions, and the Father is not merely acting through the Son, rather the Father and Son act in perfect unity.


14:11

Jesus calls on His disciples to believe that He is in the Father, and the Father is in Him. This isn’t an optional extra. Indeed, it means that the Trinity is not an optional extra. If we don’t realise that the Father and Jesus are one, then we don’t know the Father or the Son. Now someone might object that all this is too difficult a concept to get hold of. Jesus makes allowance for this, saying if they cannot grasp hold of it, then believe on the miracles. This does not merely mean believing that the miracles occurred, or that Jesus can do miracles. It means believing what they signify. They demonstrate the unity of the Father and the Son.


No comments:

Post a Comment