In His Dependence on the Father: by Andrew Murray

 

Truly, Truly, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of Himself,

but what He sees the Father do:

for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loves the Son,

and shows Him all things that Himself does:

and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.
John 5:19-20

Our relationship to Jesus is the exact counterpart of His to the Father. As the words of Jesus in John 5 describe the natural relationship between every father and son they are applicable not only to the Only Begotten, but also to everyone who, in and like Jesus, is called a son of God.

There is no better way to think of the simple truth of the illustration than by thinking of Jesus learning His trade from His earthly father in the carpenter’s shop. The first thing you notice is the entire dependence: “The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do.” Then you are struck by the implicit obedience that just seeks to imitate the father, “for what things so ever [the Father] does, these also does the Son likewise.” You then notice the loving intimacy to which the Father admits Him, keeping back none of His secrets: “For the Father loveth the Son, and shows Him all things that Himself doeth.” And, step-by-step, the Son will be led to all that the Father Himself can do: “He will show Him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.”

If we are to understand how Christ is truly to be our Example, we must fully believe in what our blessed Lord here reveals to us of the secrets of His inner life. He counted it no humiliation to wait on Him for His commands; rather, He considered it His highest blessedness to let Himself be led and guided by the Father as a Child.       

My brethren, if you have so far only known a little about this life of conscious dependence and simple obedience, begin today. Let your Savior be your Example in this. It is His blessed will to live in you, and in you to be again what He was here on earth. Offer yourself to the Father this day to do nothing of yourself but only what the Father shows you. Fix your gaze on Jesus as the Example and promise of what you will be.