Wednesday: The Witness of the Father
Daily Lesson for Wednesday 6th of November 2024
The Gospel of John begins by talking about the Word (logos) as being with God; that is, being with God the Father (John 1:1). When the Word became flesh, the Spirit testified about Jesus by resting on Him at His baptism (John 1:32-34). But the Father also testifies about Jesus during His earthly ministry.
Read John 5:36-38. What does Jesus say here about the Father?
Jesus links the Father to the works and miracles that He had performed. He is very clear that the Father had sent Him and also had testified about Him.
Read Matthew 3:17, Matthew 17:5, Mark 1:11, and Luke 3:22 (see also 2 Peter 1:17-18). What does the Father say about Jesus?
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At the baptism of Jesus, the Father and the Spirit joined the Son in marking this important occasion: the commencement of Jesus’ ministry. The Father states that Jesus is His beloved Son in whom He is well pleased. But, at a crucial time in Christ’s ministry, the Father speaks yet again, this time as recorded in the Gospel of John.
Things were reaching a climax in the final days of that ministry. The religious leaders, unable to stop Him (see John 12:19), wanted Him dead, now more than ever. The crowds were exuberant over Him, especially as more and more people, hearing the testimony of those who saw Him raise Lazarus from the dead (John 12:17-18), were starting to follow Jesus. Even Greeks, there for the festival, wanted to see Jesus.
At this point, in response to Jesus’ words in John 12:28, “ ‘Father, glorify Your name’ ” (NKJV), the Father again speaks from heaven, “ ‘I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again’ ” (John 12:28, ESV).
As we have already seen, Jesus’ hour of glory is the cross. Thus, the Father’s testimony about Jesus points to the great sacrifice of the Lamb of God for the sins of the world. It is the culmination of His earthly ministry. His death in our behalf paid the full penalty for all our sins, and in Him, by faith, we never have to face that penalty ourselves.
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The big picture of God we get from John is the individuals of the Godhead work together as a team. We sometimes become engrossed with what each entity does to the extent we sometimes forget the unity.
"The whole is greater than the parts" attributed to Aristotle. Something to remember when discussing the relationships within the Godhead.
Bother Maurice, I'd like to ask a question and this question is based on a theory that someone was sharing with me.
How many persons will we meet in heaven, 1, 2 or 3?
This question is based on Luke 3: 22.
Thank you!
Shemeka, I am very much aware that every description of God I have read is limited by our understanding. I am not counting when I get to heaven just to be able to say "I told you so" to the people who have had a different count to me on earth. I am sorry I have not really answered your question, but there is so much more to learn about God, that we need to get our perspective right.
If in a recommendation letter for me a former boss wrote, "I have given all things into Esther's hands" I would consider that probably the highest compliment possible, and even more so if this former boss was regarded at the highest level of honor, responsibility, grace and influence himself. It reminds me of how Potiphar put everything he had into Jospeh's care (Gen. 39:4), and then later on Pharaoh did the same (Gen. 41:40-43).
Well, this exact declaration of highest trust and responsibility is exactly what the Father said of Jesus..."The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand." (John 3:35) This passage in John 3:31-36 is a hearty and full recommendation from God the Father about Jesus! The Father affirms that Jesus is speaking and ruling as God. He speaks what He has seen and heard in heaven from the mouth of the Father (John 3:32,34). And He rules as God...He is above all in power and authority (John 3:31).
Pharaoh put Joseph in charge because he had the Spirit of God, more than any other man (Gen. 41:38-39). The Father says the same of Jesus ...that He has given Jesus "the Spirit without measure" (John 3:34 ESV). And just as Joseph was bequeathed the signet ring as a symbol of the authority given him and the close relationship with the Pharaoh himself (Gen. 41:42), Jesus is the seal of the Father.... "eternity divides between those who seal God as true in Jesus and those who seal God as a liar [through rejection of Jesus]" (John 3:33 NIV). Jesus comes with such a high recommendation from the Father that to receive Jesus is to receive the Father and to reject Jesus is to reject the Father, to reject God (John 3:36; 15:23; Luke 10:16). No one can "love God" and strip Jesus of His divinity and His place alongside the Father.
God the Father makes the point that Jesus is His Son. Why, given how few words He uses, does He introduce Jesus as His Son? (See Luke 3:22, 9:35; Matthew 3:17, 17:5; or Mark 1:11, 9:7).
Doesn’t the Bible speak of many sons of God? Is there anything significant with respect to God speaking about His Son in this way? Is this Son distinct from the other sons of God?
Does it have any connection to Psalm 2:7, Proverbs 30:4, Hebrews 1:2?
Jesus' hour of Glory is His death on the cross has a lot of meaning to me. He paid for us, and proved many things. He proved that humanity could be redeemed. He proved the character of God, being willing to submit to the total cost of loving humans completely, as God. He proved the character of Satan, willing to steal, kill, and destroy to any limit to preserve self- even the most innocent, selfless, and nonthreatening person- and in the worst way. Jesus proved that the price of sin is in fact death, not the eternal burning of a separated soul- otherwise He would still be there paying the price. The price was death by separation from the source of life, the Father, through the bearing of sin. I look forward to eternity learning how much I just don't have the ability to understand now of the goodness and love of God.
We no doubt can say Jesus is one with God..He endorsed His son so that the world may know Him through him(son)
What did Jesus say regarding Our Father in heaven at Lazerath funeral?
From the Message Paraphrase ot the Bible. Christ lifted His eye to heaven and said, “Father, I’m grateful that you have listened to me. I know you always do listen, but on account of this crowd standing here I’ve spoken so that they might believe that you sent me." John 11:41-42.
A witness to us.
1. Christ talked to Our Father like talking to a friend.
2. Christ blessed Our Father in heaven.
3. Christ praised Our Father.
4. Christ put His utmost in Our Father.
5. Christ used this His prayer to witness to us, letting it be known that Our Father gives us evidence of Him and strengthen our belief in Him.
We either know the story or we read John 11. Which may be the turning point for us, and/or strengthen our faith in Him.
They saw what Jesus had done and believed in Him. We don't need a resurection to believe in Him. We have story upon story in the Bible that is evidence of His love for all. Having said that if we see the power of God and the power of God that expresses His love for us and we are drawn to the foot of the Cross, and then believe in Him. Wounderful! Did not the jailer and his family see the evidence of Our Loving Saviour and then believe.
[Chorus]
I believe in a hill called Mount Calvary
I believe whatever the cost
And when time has surrendered
And earth is no more
I'll still cling to the old rugged cross
[Verse 1]
Oh, I believe that this life
With its great mysteries
Surely one day will come to an end
Oooh but faith will conquer
The darkness and death
And will lead me at last to my friend
[Verse 2]
I believe that the Christ
Who was slain on the cross
Has the power to change lives today
For He changed me completely
A new life is mine
That is why by the cross I will stay
[Chorus]
Authors are Bill and Gloria Gaither
Matthew 17:5, Mark 1:11, and Luke 3:22 (see
also 2 Pet. 1:17, 18). What does the Father say about Jesus?
The son who I love
Son whom I love and whom I am pleased with.
Why is the father pleased with Jesus? The reason is that Jesus had performed miracles and work according to the his master who is God the father.
What lessons do us Christians learn from this act?
Is jesus pleased with your deed that you partake in each an every day?
Remember that that Jesus dying on the cross was glorified by the father since through this sacrifice us Christians we get redemption through his blood.His death in our behalf paid the full penalty for all
our sins, and in Him, by faith, we never have to face that penalty
ourselves.
in what perspective That Jesus is the son of God?...reffering to john 1：1. because the Trinity is so confusing.
We would have to be at least as wise as God to fully understand His tri-une nature. And since we are not as wise as God, we need to accept some things by faith.
Jesus was born to a virgin, impregnated by God, the Holy Spirit, so in that sense, He became the Son of God. We know very little of the the Godhead before the incarnation, except that the same Person who became incarnate in Jesus Christ was also the Jehovah of the Old Testament. (1 Cor. 10:4) He was the "Angel of the Lord" who spoke with Abraham (Gen. 22:11-18) and spoke with Moses out of the burning bush (Ex. 3:2 and Acts 7:35)
Jesus indicated clearly that He and His Father are "one." (John 10:30), and when He went back to heaven, He promised His disciples that He would send them a Comforter who was just like Him, namely the Holy Spirit. (John 14:26)
That the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are united in seeking to save us is all we really need to know. But if you hunger for more, you can find some excellent resources on our page, "The Godhead or Trinity – Seventh-day Adventist Fundamental Belief 2."