THE STORY OF JESUS: John 14:8-14
“Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me.” (John 14:11)
How can a human being be ONE with God the Father?
Jesus’ words are often read to mean that Jesus was equal to God.
(Which I do believe is true, based on John 1:1-2, Colossians 1:15-17)
But could this refer to the way that Jesus, like Adam, was the image of God?
Adam could honestly say, ‘I am in the Father and the Father is in me.’
Not ontological unity (same being) but relational, representational unity.
Humanity was as God to the creation, God’s image and reflection.
What set humans apart was the power of God’s Spirit in them.
“The Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:7)
This enabled humans to do things no other creature could do.
“At least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.” (John 14:11)
Look at how God worked through them (before the Fall), this revealed humanity’s oneness with God.
Jesus came to restore humanity’s place in creation.
Since Adam’s fall, He is the first human to live fully as God’s image-bearer.
As such, through Jesus the new Adam, God’s kingdom (Genesis 1:26-28) is restored.
This idea is important, because it shows us who we are supposed to be, and saved to be!
And it explains how we can do even greater things than Jesus, by His Spirit (v.12).
Through Jesus and the Spirit, we can say, ‘I am in the Father and the Father is in me.’
Through Jesus and the Spirit, we are able to do God-like works, to produce God-like fruit.
The proof will be in fruit of that Spirit in us, ‘the evidence of the works themselves.’
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, when I see You, I see what God is like. Sadly, the same is not true for me… yet. Transform me more and more into Your likeness, the image and likeness of God.