28 Aug 6 Ways in which Jesus was a Perfect Son

One of the most fascinating and unique relationships outlined in all of the Bible is Jesus’ relationship to His Father. The book of John in particular hones in on the curious revelations Jesus shares about their Father-Son dynamic. Reading these verses, I’m challenged. Do I relate to God with the same awe? The same humility? The same love? And yet this is the family that I was bought into by His blood! This is the family I get to share in! Which of these verses below stands out most to you?

 

1.Equal but humble

But Jesus answered them, ‘My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.’ 

Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal to God. (John 5:17-18)

 

For the Jews, Jesus’ claim to equality with God made them incredibly angry. Because they could not comprehend Jesus’ divinity, his statement seemed offensively blasphemous. As Christians we know that not only was Jesus not being boastful, but He was humble beyond anyone who was ever born:

 

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. (Philippians 2:5-7)

 

How did God, beyond time, beyond space and limitation, confine Himself to a human body that needs food, water and sleep to survive? I encourage you to meditate on the above verse from Philippians. I know that I, in my self-righteousness, need a better grasp of the example of humility that Jesus set for me.

 

2.Appointed a representative judge

I can of myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent me. (John 5:30)

 

Jesus was appointed as God’s ambassador. He is set to carry out the will of the Father and that is what makes Him righteous in His judgement. This verse reminds me of a prophecy about Jesus made by the prophet Isaiah:

 

His delight is in the fear of the Lord,

And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes,

Nor decide by the hearing of His ears;

But with righteousness He shall judge the poor,

And decide with equity for the meek of the earth; 

He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth… (Isaiah 11:3-4)

 

Jesus is the perfect judge because He sees things God’s way. I can be so stubborn in my thinking sometimes. I pray every day to learn to the see the world as He sees it.

 

3.Purity in imitation 

Then Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.’ (John 5:19)

 

It’s hard to pick a favourite, but if I had to I would pick this one. Jesus is holy because He pays close attention to what His Father does, and then does likewise. Perfectly. Who else on the face of the planet could claim that the only actions they ever take are in imitation of what God the Father does? Jesus is a perfect Son because He follows His Father closely.

 

4.Close Confidence

For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does (John 5:20a)

 

I love this little sneak peak into the relationship between God the Father and God the Son. The Father loves Jesus and pours out His heart to Him. He shows Him what He’s up to. In the verses in point 5, we see that what God shows the Son is His will. He shows Him His grand master plan that He is weaving. Friends, I believe that as children of God we too are invited to understand His will for our lives and His will for His church and the world. 

 

5.Joy in Serving

And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him. (John 8:29)

 

The Father’s presence is with Jesus wherever He goes. Jesus explains that He never gives a reason for the Father to leave Him: He only ever does what pleases God and so God is always with Him. That is to say, Jesus is faithful and true: He has never done anything that betrayed the love He shared in the Trinity. Following the will of God was so important to Him that after ministering to the women at the well, He is so overjoyed by her reaction that He rejects an offer of food from His disciples:

 

Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.’ (John 4:34)

 

I can’t say I’ve ever been satiated by doing holy work but I can relate to the sense of joy and satisfaction that results from seeing His Kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 

 

6.Oneness 

For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that l should honour the Son just as they honour the Father. He who does not honour the Son does not honour the Father who sent Him. (John 5:22-23)

 

This verse is clear: without acknowledging Jesus we cannot give God glory. God has committed the judgment of the Kingdom into His Son’s hand. And only God could rule over the Kingdom. Jesus is God, He is One with the Father. Therefore He is God.

 

So, let us know in the comments below: which verse about the Father-Son relationship did you enjoy the most?