John 7
One of the important aspects of John’s
Gospel is the way that he turns our attention to the fact that Jesus is sent by
the Father. Jesus spoke the words of Him, “who sent me.” Yet he also makes it
clear that Jesus is God – revealing the mystery of the Trinity in different
ways.
That Jesus is sent is an important part
of His identity and authority. Jesus
never speaks on His own. He is in harmony with the Father. He goes about doing
the work of the Father and following the Father’s agenda – thus the emphasis on
whether or not Jesus’ time had come.
To some it might seem bothersome that
Jesus is sent. They argue that Jesus is co-equal with the Father and is in no
way subordinate so the Father should send Him. And it is true that the Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit are co-equal in eternal glory. The scriptures teach that
the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are the One True God. However, equal in
dignity and essence does not mean that one does not lead and others do not
follow.
Does anyone believe that the life of the
General is more valuable than that of the Private he sends to battle? Both
lives have equal dignity, yet one leads and the other follows. So it is with
Jesus and the Father. (And the Spirit proceeds from both Father and Son.) Jesus,
the Second-Person-of-the-Trinity, the Word-Made-Flesh, is sent by the Father to
proclaim that God is making peace with His rebellious people. He comes to
preach the good news that the Creator loves His creatures and redeems them at
the cost of the Son’s blood.
And make no mistake, this mission was not
forced upon Jesus, as it is for the Private when the General says, “Go!” Jesus
rejoiced in going for the Father, even as He has joy in saving us sinners and
winning our forgiveness. Their will is united in perfect harmony.
One more beautiful thing about Jesus
being sent is that He, in turn, sends us. He began with the Apostles – whose title
literally means, “those who are sent.” But now we are His witnesses who stand
in the crowd to say what He has said to us. And it is beautiful when our hearts
are united in Him to proclaim the Gospel of His salvation.
Lord Jesus, let the living water of faith
flow from me as I say what You have given me to say so others may believe in
You and be saved. Amen.
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