The Son Can Do Nothing By Himself

We have many problems facing day after day and one after another. Some linger for a while with no hope of ending. I believe that's life, even the essence of life. It is common to everyone, without any discrimination. “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV)

Moreover, there is another problem, even more serious one. What is it? In the midst of troublesome lives, we might get lost the address of God. Have you encountered the point that you have no idea where to start? Pressure is ever tremendously hammering you from within and without. Yes, stressed out!

But there is a good news for Christians who are in Christ Jesus the Lord. A way out of tumult and deadness is offered for us in Christ Jesus. What is it? It is the mystery of Christ which had been hidden for generations and ages but these days disclosed through the Son Jesus Christ. That is “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27) The eternal life of Christ Jesus is available to the believers now, not in the future after death.

The new arrangement of living for Christians is given by the Son Jesus Christ. In fact, we are made so, even before the creation of the world. That’s what we are supposed to operate and function on that basis. What does it mean? Well, we don’t have what it takes. So, we can only live by depending on God wholly and completely. There is nothing we can contribute for life. Everything is coming from the Father in heaven. That’s where we always start because we are under the new covenant: “Everything coming from God, nothing coming from me.”

Our Lord Jesus Christ demonstrated the perfect life on the earth for us to live His life. What was the key for life? It was complete trust and dependence on the Father in heaven. The Son Jesus Christ was in God the Father and the Father in the Son (John 14:11). The Father God and the Son Jesus Christ were one, even one totally united life. So, the Son of Man handled the most stressful and pressured life consistently and beautifully. He demonstrated the perfect balanced life. He always fixed His eyes on the Father and obeyed Him. When the Son asked anything, the Father answered immediately and faithfully and abundantly.

Here is the account uttered by Jesus’ own lips:

“Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. John 5:19-24 NKJV

This is the good news. The relationship between God the Father and the Son Jesus Christ applies to our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5 NKJV)

Just as Jesus can do nothing by Himself, so also we can do nothing by ourselves. It is also true that we can do everything in Jesus Christ the Lord. This is what exactly Paul said in the Epistle to the Philippians. "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13 NKJV)

The strength we received is the resurrection power. We have such an incomparable power to cope with daily lives. Remember that the resurrection power was demonstrated at the tomb where our Lord Jesus Christ was laid. So, when we failed badly, we don’t lose heart because it’s an opportunity to experience the resurrection power.

How can that happen? We can experience the resurrection power only when we died on the cross where our Lord Jesus Christ gave His life in our place. That’s the message of cross. Our old life must die first in order to impart the resurrection life of Christ Jesus. “No cross, no crown! No death, no gain!” our old life is nothing but selfishness, self-centeredness, and self-sufficiency. We cannot have the new life unless we died of old life.

“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. John 12:24 NKJV