How Great Is The Son

Friday, February 4,2011

Reading: John 5:16-30

Reflection: As I pause and refelct not only on the reading from this morning, but from the beginning of John's gospel, I am struck by the greatness of Jesus. John tells us that He is the preexistent Son of God who has always been present with the Father. In fact, He is the very Word of God that caused the creation of all things in human form. He was a perfect balance of both grace and truth. He has both the compassion necessary to spare a newly married couple embarassment while at the same time being so driven by God's will that He commits Himself without reservation to a life of glorifying God. He reveals Himself to Jew and Gentile without showing favoritism and can heal an official's son even though He is not physically present at the time. He heals a man who has spent over 38 years trapped in a disease and now, if that were not enough, John adds to His resume of greatness.

John tells us that Jesus sees and does the work of the Father because, in fact, Jesus is equal with God...an astonishing claim of greatness. Jesus is presented to us as one who had life within Himself, so much so that He will be able to restore life to dead people. Finally, Jesus tells us that God the Father has so much confidence in the Son that even the role of passing ultimate judgment has been transferred from the Father to the Son. No wonder we are called to give honor to this amazing person.

What a challenge to me. It is not enough for me to simply think that Jesus was a good man who taught some wise things. It's not enough to love His miracle-working powers and invite Him to repeat those miracles for me in my own need. It's not enough to think He was a fine example of how people should live and seek to imitate His highest values. I am called to honor Him...to revere Him...to recognize His deity and submit to His rule not only over the world, but over my life. May the Lord, by His Spirit, give me the strength and courage to honor Him in every area of my life.