FROM SENTIMENTALITY TO STRENGTH
In the prior reflection, we noted that John the Baptist, after all he had done, had a moment when he questioned if Jesus was the Messiah. Jesus pointed him to the Scriptures. God’s Word is the Standard for Jesus.
Today, Jesus continues his teaching. In these verses we find some amazing claims.
25 At that time, Jesus answered, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you hid these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to infants.
Jesus states that God the Father has limited who will understand that Jesus is God come to earth. We, while we seek to reach everyone for Jesus, should not be surprised when some of the smartest people we know, don’t receive the Good News.
26 Yes, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in your sight. 27 All things have been delivered to me by my Father.
Jesus goes on to point out that ALL things have been delivered to him. When people today say that Jesus did not claim to be God, point them to these and the subsequent verses.
No one knows the Son, except the Father; neither does anyone know the Father, except the Son
Beyond “all things” being delivered to Jesus, no we note that it is only the Father that fully knows Jesus. Yes, we can know Jesus, but our knowledge is not complete. This knowledge flows the other way. Jesus knows the Father. But there is more.
…and he to whom the Son desires to reveal him.
The “more” is that we can know the Father when we know Jesus. When we know Jesus, we know the Father.
The point that Jesus is making, the claim that Jesus is making, he says elsewhere in John 14:6-9.
It is interesting what the next verses say. These verses are often quoted, yet not very often linked to the verses we just looked at. The verses we just looked at are very bold proclamations. They set the stage for what comes next.
28 “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
“Come to me, all you who labor and heavy burdened…” are wonderful verses to read. Yet we often receive them in some sentimental way.
We should not. Jesus can make this wonderful promise only and exactly because he, and he alone, is one with the Father.
Our confidence in Jesus should not be based on sappy sentimentality, but rather his strength.
When you think of Jesus, do you think of him as having the one-ness with God he proclaims here?