Scripture Text: John 8:26-28
So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me.
John 8:28
Why would Jesus say in John 8:28, “I do nothing of myself?” If he is God, can’t He do anything He wants?
Basic Christian theology teaches that Jesus is both divine and human at the same time. In other words, Jesus has two natures: God and man. In support of this, verses from the Bible stated that “the Word was God and was with God,” (John 1:1) and “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,” (John 1:14). Also, Colossians 2:9 says that Jesus “dwells all the fullness of the Godhead and bodily form.” Therefore, Jesus is both divine and human in one person.
Moreover, we can see from the Scriptures that even though Jesus was in the form of God, He emptied Himself (Philippians 2:5-8), made Himself lower than the angels (Hebrews 2:9), and was also under the law (Galatians 4:4). Then, we could see that Jesus grew in wisdom and stature (Luke 2:52) because Jesus Christ is a man as well as divine. But His divine nature cooperated with the limitation of His humanity in order to fulfill the Law—to die for our sins. Certainly, based from the above biblical references, we can conclude that:
Jesus was subjected to the Father (John 5:30).
Jesus did not come to do His own will, but to the will of the Father (Luke 22:42).
Jesus was not sent due to His own initiative but to the initiative of the Father (John 8:28).
Under the law, Jesus was obligated to fulfill that law, which included worshipping God (John 17).
Having laid this foundation, this does not mean that Jesus is not divine. It means that Jesus, having two natures, voluntarily subjected Himself to the law, as a man, and completely operated under the requirements of a man.
Furthermore, we can see why Jesus said that He could do nothing of His own initiative. It is not that He doesn't have the will nor desire to do it. The issue is that Jesus Christ came to do the will of the Father and to show His complete subjection to the Father.
Therefore, in that complete subjection, this does not mean that Jesus is not divine. It means that Jesus, having two natures, and one of them being human, subjected Himself voluntarily to the law, as a man, and operated completely under the requirements of a man.
Reflect
1. Do you see how Jesus submits to the Father?
2. Will you also humble yourself to the Father as Jesus did?
3. What will be your hindrances from fully surrendering everything to God?
Remember
A proper and godly man would do nothing of his own initiative but would do anything and only everything that God would have him to do.
Read
John 3:13-17, 12:23-33; Matthew 27:54
Pray
For Your wondrous love, O God, I praise and thank You. For Your incredible sacrifice, Lord Jesus, I praise You for Your obedience and Your love. Amen.
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