In response to Philip’s request for Jesus to show them the Father, Jesus said, “…I am in the Father and the Father is in me.” (John 14:10) If you really think about it, that’s an amazing statement. Jesus and the Father are so linked together — so unified — that they are “in” each other. There is an intrinsic one-ness that causes them to be part of each other.
And here’s why I think this is so important. Just a bit later in the same setting, Jesus prayed that His followers “may be one, even as we are one.” (John 17:11)
So let me ask you a question or two to make this practical.
- Do you think Jesus and His Father ever make demeaning comments toward one another?
- Do you think they ever make insulting or mean, sarcastic remarks to each other?
- Do you think they ever belittle one another?
- Argue harshly or cut one another off in midsentence?
Okay those are obvious. But do you think they ever say negative things about each other when the other isn’t around? Alright, they ARE always around. But suppose they weren’t. Suppose that somehow the Father and the Son could be temporarily separated so they weren’t together. They couldn’t hear one another. They didn’t know what the other was saying. Would they, then, make disparaging remarks about the other?
Of course not! The very idea is absurd, isn’t it?
Yet Jesus clearly prayed that we would be one just like He and the Father are one. My goodness! What a request!
such a great insight….takes me down so many roads about the nature of God.
Thanks for the encouragement, Mark!
🙂