LIVING WATERS
For the proclamation of the Gospel and the edification of the Body of Christ
Seeing and Hearing the Father
"Then Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever the Father doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise ... I can do nothing of myself; as I hear, even so I judge: and my judgment is just: for I seek not mine own will, but the will of him that sent me, even the will of the Father" (John 5:19, 30).
In these two verses we have two keys to our Lord's ministry, which must also be the keys to ours. The Son could do nothing of himself, but what he saw the Father do; and he could judge nothing, but according to what he heard from the Father. Seeing the Father and hearing the Father were the two keys to his ministry. Therefore, he did according to what he saw the Father do, and he judged according to what the Father judged.
In both verses, the Lord reiterates an idea that is astounding, considering who it was that said it: "I can do nothing of myself". The one who was most capable of doing God's work, said he could not do it. What a sublime example!
The context in which this was said helps us to understand even more the meaning of his words. The Jews had reproached the Lord because he had healed the paralytic on the Sabbath. Then the Lord said to them: "My Father works until now, and I work". In other words, the Lord had healed the man because the Father had so decided. The Son did only what the Father had done before.
To do and judge as the Father does also presupposes, of course, waiting for the Father to do and judge. The Lord waited thirty years before he began his work. And in those thirty years he had much to deliver. Not only that: there was much need around him that could have motivated, and even justified, his anticipated action. In this context, the words spoken here take on greater meaning. The Son of God did not move for personal reasons: neither because he had much to give, nor because there was great need around him.
The only right motivation was the Father's will. If the Father does, it must be done; if the Father judges, it must be judged. Time and circumstances are only secondary elements, subordinated to another of superior quality. How much need we have to wait for the Father! How much work that claims to be of God has strange motivations underneath that apparent legitimacy!
Doing and speaking are of fundamental importance in the ministry of every servant of God. What shall we do? What shall we say? It is easy to do what God never sent us to do. It is also easy to speak what God never sent us to speak. It is so common to hear the children of God speak what is not profitable, only to engage in meaningless discussions, instead of speaking the words of God. The confusion that follows this action cannot be easily corrected.
In the face of this, the example of our Lord is so simple and so wise, that even children can understand it: Do what the Father does and speak what he has spoken. May the Lord assist us with his grace not to escape from these margins, so that in everything we may please his heart.