God Sent (Part 1)
Here’s a neat little bible study I stumbled upon this morning. Just something I found while reading this one verse:
“For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” (John 3:17, NASB)
So the verses that follow tell the story of Jesus’ mission as he was “sent” by God. These are verse’s Jesus spoke about himself being sent by God. Not only do they tell the story through Jesus words, they tell of the gospel mission from being called to believe and our unbelief to salvation and our mission as a called believers. It’s really an amazing little journey through a handful of verses. I hope you’ll take a minute to go through them with me.
When you get done reading them, tell me what stood out to you?! It’s interesting to me what the Spirit brings to our brain. I’d love to hear your thoughts about what these scriptures speak to you.
To be clear; I don’t mean it’s “what does it mean to me? or us? but what does it mean....and how does that jump out at us. Be wary of studies that start like this....”so let’s go around the room and see what that scripture means to you!”
Let’s begin:
(all scripture in Bold, my commentary is non emphasized)
For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure. (John 3:34, NASB)
To those of us who are in Christ, we are filled with the Spirit. How can we know this....Galatians 5:24 solidly answers this question, “those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
But the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish--the very works that I do--testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me. (John 5:36, NASB)
Interesting, “that the Father has sent Me”.
The Greek word he uses here for “Me” is ego. The term is only used expressed when emphatic.
Like in the stories of the houses built on sand and rock in Matthew 7:24, 26–“everyone then who hears these words of “mine” being the focal point of this verse....
Also in the story Jesus told about the Master of the Vineyard and the Tenants in Mark 12:7—“but those tenants said to one another, “This is the heir......”
He is the object of our attention.
He is the object of our affection.
We are called to this. The message is the same throughout the gospel. You must believe.
You do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him whom He sent. (John 5:38, NASB)
Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent." (John 6:29, NASB)
We are commanded to believe, but let’s go back to John 5 verse 36 he transitions from Johns testimony, into God’s own testimony concerning His Son. He says, “the works which the Father has given Me (notice emphatic again) to accomplish—the very works I do—testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me.”
Notice....the works authenticate the message of the messenger. This is the model of the only true testimony by which we are to believe. The “works” he describes here are his “signs and wonders.” We incorrectly call these today miracles, I believe. When the Jews asked him to validate himself, they asked for what.....? A sign, right. What is the sign. The sign points to something. That something again is the Christ. That’s what they were wanting to know. Are you He? The long awaited Messiah?
He moves is along to verse 38 saying, (paraphrasing) that these are the works of God. That God is authenticating the message of the “One” whom He has sent. To move you to a state of belief. This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”
For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. (John 6:38, NASB)
Jesus as he speaks about being sent, also demonstrates what it means to be fully sanctified, being completely obedient and submissive to the Father’s will.
As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also will live because of Me. (John 6:57, NASB)
While the stomach turning analogy Jesus presents here may be hard to swallow....(thank you, thank you).....it is nearly the same testimony He gave to the Samaritan woman by the well. Another equally misunderstood analogy. She misunderstood his comments about “Living waters” while just having asked her about a drink of water. She wanted the physical manifestation of miracle that he could provide her with water that could quench her thirst for her lifetime. Same as this scripture where the act of eating flesh is not what saves anyone nor is anyone even required to do so. (This portion of scripture repeated among believers) actually circulated rumors to Greeks and Romans that “Christians were cannibals.”
But the saying is true. The water and flesh offer eternal life from the God who gives it to all who die to self and give our selves over to Christ as He gave himself over to the Father in complete submission.
I know Him, because I am from Him, and He sent Me." (John 7:29, NASB)
Christ testifying to His deity, as often is said that he does not say any such thing, clearly seen here that He makes himself equal with God
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