JESUS THRU THE EYES OF JOHN
©Copyright 1997 Randall D. Hughes
John the beloved. The closest friend the man Christ Jesus had
on this earth. He was at his trial. He was at the cross. He was instructed to
care for the Mother of Jesus. It seems John had greater insight to who Jesus
really was than the rest of the Gospel writers, or at least it seems he
expresses his knowledge in an easily understood way. He was the one writer that
God gave vision of the future to in a revelation like no other. A close
examination of the writings of John will leave us with a greater understanding
of who Jesus really is!
In the writings of John we find a incredible link
between the Father and the Son that is not expressed so greatly by the other
writers. We will examine this link and see if we can come to the same
understanding John longed to express.
The words of Jesus revealed by John show us who Jesus
really is! Jesus tells us "the Son can do nothing of himself." John
5:19. This is repeated in verse 30. "I can of mine own self do
nothing." This thought is expressed in John 5:17, 19, 30, 36; 8:28, 29;
9:4; 10:25, 32, 37; 14:10,11, 31; 17:4; Fourteen times John records this fact,
the works Jesus did were not his own, but they were the Fathers!
Jesus tells us the words he spoke were not his own. In
John 12:49, Jesus says, "For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father
which sent me, he gave a commandment, what I should say, and what I should
speak." This thought is expressed in John 7:16-18; 8:28, 29, 38; 12:49, 50;
14:24,31; 16:15; Nine times John records Jesus revealing the words he spoke were
the Father’s!
Jesus goes on to reveal the Father was in the Son and the Son
in the Father. This is stated in John 8:16; 10:38; 14:10, 11, 20; 16:32; 17:21;
Seven verses record such a claim.
Jesus said, if you knew the Son you would know the
Father also. This is recorded in John 8:19; 14:7, 9; 16:3; 17:3; Five verses
record this information.
Jesus said to see the Son was to see the Father
also. John 12:45; 14:7, 9; Three verses record this fact.
Jesus declares he came in the Father’s name. John 5:43;
12:28; 17:6, 25-26;
John records Jesus claimed to have been sent by the Father.
John 8:42; 10:36; 13:16; 17:8, 18, 21; 20:21; Seven times.
Jesus declares the Father gives him all things. John
5:26; 16:15; 17:7, 11;
It should be getting easier to understand just who
Jesus really is. The most remarkable statement Jesus makes in the book of John,
really shouldn’t be surprising. In light of all the truths Jesus has declared
about himself to this point. But in John 12:44, Jesus says, "He that
believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me."
Is it any wonder? The works were the Father’s. The words
were the Father’s. Know the Son know the Father. See the Son see the Father.
John 13:20, receive the Son, receive the Father. The name was the Father’s. 1
John 2:22, 23, indicates that in denying the Son you deny the Father also, and
in acknowledging the Son you have acknowledged the Father also. 1 John 3:1,
indicates that the world did not know the Father. The only opportunity was
through Jesus Christ. 1 John 5:1, indicates in loving the Son you love the
Father also. Jesus is the "Everlasting Father" prophesied by Isaiah
9:6. God manifest in flesh. 1 Tim. 3:16. "For in him dwelleth all the
fullness of the Godhead." Col. 2:9. Jesus is "God with us,"
Emmanuel. "And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an
understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is
true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal
life." 1 John 5:20. "He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he
hath both the Father and the Son." 2 John 9.
Something incredible to notice while reading through the
above verses, is the Holy Ghost is not mentioned once! Also, if there is a
trinity of persons in the Godhead, co-equal, co-eternal, then why didn’t
Jesus come as "God the Son?" It is obvious from the writings
of John he was the manifestation of the Father. This is also consistent with the
Bible as a whole. If the above mentioned verses do not expose the error of three
co-equal beings, John tells us "the Father is greater than all." John
10:29, 13:16; 14:28; So much for co-equal!
The primary reason the Holy Ghost is seemingly
overlooked is this: 1. God is a Spirit, John 4:24. 2. God is Holy, 1 Peter
1:15-16. 3. There is only ONE Spirit, Eph. 4:4. So to try and make the Holy
Spirit a separate person is not possible. It is simply another way God has
manifest himself to us.
Overview of God
- God is a Spirit, John 4:24
- God’s Spirit is everywhere, Ps. 139:7-12
- God is invisible, Col. 1:15
- A Spirit does not have flesh and bones, Luke 24:39
- There is only ONE Spirit, Eph. 4:4
- God is not a man, Num. 23:19
- No man hath seen God, John 1:18; 5:37; 1 John 4:12
- God does not change, Mal. 3:6
- There is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 1 Tim.
2:5
- There is ONE God, Deu. 6:4, Mark 12:29
"And this is life eternal, that they may know thee the
only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." John 17:3 If you
know Jesus, you know the ONLY TRUE GOD! "I and my Father are one."
John 10:30
©Copyright 1997 Randall D. Hughes