Page 1: Written by a good friend of mine Robbie Neil Freeman. I just received a letter from Robbie with this article in it. I first met Robbie through a Christian magazine article I read, and made contact. He is a inmate in the Texas prison system, and wrote for the magazine for over twenty years. Keep in mind they have no internet service, little contact with the world (as they call the outside), and alot of reading time. They have jobs, a home (their cells), a cellie (another inmate in the cell), and time to reflect on many things. They do provide church services, with ministries coming in and holding special meetings as well!
Robbie writes:
Chapter fourteen of John's Gospel records Jesus comforting His disciples. Thomas wanted Jesus to show them the way to the father's house, where Jesus had just told them he was going, to prepare a place for them.
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. - John 14:6-7.
Then, "Philip said to him, Lord show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us," (v 8). Sometimes we are a little slow on the uptake - but the Father is not finished with us, (Phil. 1:6). I suspect that later on, after Jesus ascended to the Father and sent His Spirit (John 7:39, 15:26; Acts 2), these disciples probably questioned among themselves, "wow did we really miss that?" I know I've asked myself The same question many times in my years as a Believer and student of the Bible. But I've learned God reveals truth to us in His perfect timing.
In reply to Philip, 'Jesus said to him, 'Have I been with you so long time, and yet you have known Me, Philip? he who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, "show us the Father?"" (14:9). Jesus did not claim to be merely in unity with the father, as people talk so much of unity today. More then being merely united in sharing purpose, or working together, Jesus declared, I and my father are one, John 10:30; a claim so outrageous that the Jews understood Him to be claiming Himself God, such that sought to kill Him, John 10:31-33. When Jesus spoke of oneness, He questionably meant actual oneness.
Jesus' reply to Philip continues: "do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves," John 14:10-11. Jesus points out here that His words and his works are evidence- indeed, or proof-that He is one with the Father. Of course, if Jesus was truly one with God, then His words and works should match up with the words God would speak and the works God would do.
What about ours?
And Jesus continues: "Most assuredly, I say unto you [and therefore, the Father says, is the implication I see here] he who believes Me, the works that I do, [why?] because I go to my Father," [author translation]. Jesus moves from what He does, to what those who believe in Him will do. That's us.
Stay with me.
Jesus says those who believe will do the works He does. He says the reason for this is that is He goes to the Father, and also that is the reason why we will do greater works. When he says greater here, that means quantity not quality. That is made clear soon.
Page 2:
Jesus continues: "and whatsoever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in my name, I will do it. If you love Me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another helper, that He may abide with you forever," 14:13-16. I think everything Jesus prayed for, the Father obliged. I can hear someone say "yeah? Well, what about when Jesus prayed that the cup of His suffering and death on the cross would be spared Him? His Father didn't agree to that." Fair question.
Jesus' prayer was foremost from a surrendered heart: "Father, if it is your will, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will but your will be done," Luke 22:42; and further, Jesus prayed also that "if it is possible, let this cup pass from me," see Matthew 26:39. But it wasn't possible. It was completely impossible for God to fulfill the very purpose for which he created the world - to have many sons, Romans 8:29; Hebrews 1:6 - without Jesus dieing on the cross for our sins, Romans 5:18; Hebrews 9:15, 10:4.
To be continued:
Robbie writes:
Chapter fourteen of John's Gospel records Jesus comforting His disciples. Thomas wanted Jesus to show them the way to the father's house, where Jesus had just told them he was going, to prepare a place for them.
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. - John 14:6-7.
Then, "Philip said to him, Lord show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us," (v 8). Sometimes we are a little slow on the uptake - but the Father is not finished with us, (Phil. 1:6). I suspect that later on, after Jesus ascended to the Father and sent His Spirit (John 7:39, 15:26; Acts 2), these disciples probably questioned among themselves, "wow did we really miss that?" I know I've asked myself The same question many times in my years as a Believer and student of the Bible. But I've learned God reveals truth to us in His perfect timing.
In reply to Philip, 'Jesus said to him, 'Have I been with you so long time, and yet you have known Me, Philip? he who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, "show us the Father?"" (14:9). Jesus did not claim to be merely in unity with the father, as people talk so much of unity today. More then being merely united in sharing purpose, or working together, Jesus declared, I and my father are one, John 10:30; a claim so outrageous that the Jews understood Him to be claiming Himself God, such that sought to kill Him, John 10:31-33. When Jesus spoke of oneness, He questionably meant actual oneness.
Jesus' reply to Philip continues: "do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves," John 14:10-11. Jesus points out here that His words and his works are evidence- indeed, or proof-that He is one with the Father. Of course, if Jesus was truly one with God, then His words and works should match up with the words God would speak and the works God would do.
What about ours?
And Jesus continues: "Most assuredly, I say unto you [and therefore, the Father says, is the implication I see here] he who believes Me, the works that I do, [why?] because I go to my Father," [author translation]. Jesus moves from what He does, to what those who believe in Him will do. That's us.
Stay with me.
Jesus says those who believe will do the works He does. He says the reason for this is that is He goes to the Father, and also that is the reason why we will do greater works. When he says greater here, that means quantity not quality. That is made clear soon.
Page 2:
Jesus continues: "and whatsoever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in my name, I will do it. If you love Me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another helper, that He may abide with you forever," 14:13-16. I think everything Jesus prayed for, the Father obliged. I can hear someone say "yeah? Well, what about when Jesus prayed that the cup of His suffering and death on the cross would be spared Him? His Father didn't agree to that." Fair question.
Jesus' prayer was foremost from a surrendered heart: "Father, if it is your will, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will but your will be done," Luke 22:42; and further, Jesus prayed also that "if it is possible, let this cup pass from me," see Matthew 26:39. But it wasn't possible. It was completely impossible for God to fulfill the very purpose for which he created the world - to have many sons, Romans 8:29; Hebrews 1:6 - without Jesus dieing on the cross for our sins, Romans 5:18; Hebrews 9:15, 10:4.
To be continued:
