In previous blogs I have covered the top ten teachings according to the frequency with which Christ taught (seen on page 133 of the download ‘What on earth have we done with the teachings of Jesus’). We are now covering the Words of Jesus in the Words of Jesus. What the Word is and what the Word brings us. The next of these is ‘His Words are taught by the Father’.
Whenever we need to learn something what do we do? Most today turn to YouTube. On it you can learn practically anything that needs to be learned from baking a cake to making a rocket. In any given month at least 80 per cent of us in the western world watch at least one YouTube video. In total there are more than 7 billion videos on the channel totalling 58,000 years of continuous viewing and this number increases minute by minute.
Go no further
But too much information can be overwhelming. In the book of Ecclesiastes it says, ‘about going further [than the words given by one Shepherd], my son, be warned. Of making many books there is no end [so do not believe everything you read], and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
We need not go further than the words of the One true Shepherd. His name is Jesus and Jesus taught us what the Father taught Him. Jesus said – When you have lifted up the Son of Man [on the cross], you will realise (know, understand) that I am He [for Whom you look] and that I do nothing of Myself (of My own accord or on My own authority), but I say [exactly] what My Father has taught Me, John 8:28.
Jesus’ aim was to point the way to the Father. John 14:31 – I do as the Father has commanded Me, so that the world may know (be convinced) that I love the Father and that I do only what the Father has instructed Me to do, [I act in full agreement with His orders.] Jesus further said – I tell the things which I have seen and learned at My Father’s side, John 8:38.
Jesus did nothing of Himself
He never spoke on His own authority – or of My own accord or as self-appointed, but the Father Who sent Me has Himself given Me orders [concerning] what to say and what to tell, John 12:49.
So we can be assured that all that Jesus said and did had come directly from the Father Himself. Jesus always pointed us back to the Father, even that His power was God’s power – I have come in My Father’s name and with His power, John 5:43.
And He came to reveal to us all He had learned from the Father – I have called you My friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from My Father, [I have revealed to you everything that I have learned from Him.]
Jesus did nothing from Himself – I am able to do nothing from Myself [independently, of My own accord—but only as I am taught by God and as I get His orders]. Even as I hear, I judge [I decide as I am bidden to decide. As the voice comes to Me, so I give a decision], and My judgment is right (just, righteous), because I do not seek or consult My own will [I have no desire to do what is pleasing to Myself, My own aim, My own purpose] but only the will and pleasure of the Father Who sent Me John 5:30
This is the Father’s will
The one true purpose of Jesus was to give instructions from the Father regarding the way to eternal life – And I know that His commandment means eternal life. So whatever I speak, I am saying [exactly] what My Father has told Me to say and in accordance with His instructions, John 12:50.
For this is the Father’s will and His purpose, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in and cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up [from the dead] at the last day, John 6:40.
What wonderful assurance to know that as we cleave to, trust in and rely on Jesus we will be given eternal life. However we too are to be guided by the Father through the Holy Spirit – But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority], but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], John 16:13.
If we are willing to listen to and learn from the Father, we are promised that He will teach us – It is written in [the book of] the Prophets, And they shall all be taught of God [have Him in person for their Teacher]. Everyone who has listened to and learned from the Father comes to Me [Jesus], John 6:45.
We have been promised His help
We listen that we may learn what the will of the Father in heaven is for us – Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven, Matthew 7:21.
Ask the Father for His Holy Spirit that we may be counted among those who not just hear His Words but do His will. We have been promised His help – If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father Who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give good and advantageous things to those who keep on asking Him, Matthew 7:11.
Henry says – Jesus was speaking to His disciples and saying what they should have been long convinced of: “You shall know that I am He, that Jesus is the true Messiah. Whether you will own it or not before men, you shall be made to know in your own consciences, the convictions of which, though you may stifle, yet you cannot baffle. That I am He, He that I preach myself to be, He that has come!”
As He taught Me
He did nothing of Himself, not of Himself as man, of Himself alone, of Himself without the Father, with whom He was one. In this He denies their charge against him as a false prophet, for of false prophets it is said that they prophesied out of their own hearts and followed their own spirits.
As His Father taught Him so He spoke these things, that He was not autodidaktos—self-taught, but Theodidaktos—taught of God. The doctrine He preached was the corresponding counsels of God, with which He was intimately acquainted. Kathos edidaxe, tauta lalo—I speak those things, not only what He taught, but as He taught Me, with the same divine power and authority.
All judgment was committed to Jesus and His judgment is just. But only by the Father’s wisdom: I can of Myself do nothing, nothing without the Father. Hear the word of Christ. We need attend to the revealed prescriptions of Christ’s government which will furnish us with an unerring guide.
Guided by His Father’s will
By the Father’s will He sought not His own will, but His who sent Him. Christ had, as man, the natural and innocent affections of the human nature, sense of pain and pleasure, an inclination to life, an aversion to death. Yet He did not please Himself but complied entirely with the will of His Father. What He did as Mediator was not the result of any particular purpose and design of His own. He was guided by His Father’s will, and He was determined to do it. This our Saviour did upon all occasions in governance of Himself for our sakes.
Adapted from the Matthew Henry Commentary
For you are becoming progressively acquainted with and recognising more strongly and clearly the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (His kindness, His gracious generosity, His undeserved favour and spiritual blessing), in that though He was [so very] rich, yet for your sakes He became [so very] poor, in order that by His poverty you might become enriched (abundantly supplied), 2 Corinthians 8:9.
Lead us, Father, lead us Lord, You’ve planted the seed It’s very firmly sown Lead us into new areas Into the wide unknown Too long we’ve been in the wilderness I know You understand Our only desire is to be with You In the Promised Land. When we totally die to ourselves There’ll be nothing left but You Then I know You’ll lead us To those pastures new. We’re ready now please take us To where You would have us go We only want to serve You More of You, we need to know. By the late Andrew Feakin (passed away 16th March 2019)
Prayer: Father, may we listen to the Words of Jesus. May they be more important to us than daily bread. Lead us into those pastures new. May we be more and more like You. In the name of Christ I pray. Amen.
His Word was taught by the Father!