Self-realization!
John 5:19-24 19 ¶ 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. 20 “For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. 21 “For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. 22 “For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23 “that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. 24 ” Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
Paul Miller in his helpful book, A Praying Life, makes this striking observation:
“Because Jesus has no separate sense of self, he has no identity crisis, no angst. Consequently, he doesn’t try to ‘find himself’. He knows himself only in relationship with his Father. He can’t conceive of himself outside of that relationship.”
There is a helpful model here for all who believe on Christ. The Lord Jesus described our lives in Him as a vine and branch relationship. He is the vine and we are the branches (John 15:5). The major point of that analogy is that without Him we can do nothing. The “nothing” here refers to nothing of a fruitful nature. We were created to bring forth fruit to the glory of God. Our individuality comprised of varying personality traits and talents is given by God to be used in honoring Him, doing His work. Sin has rendered that impossible. Sin has turned us to our own way. Sin moves us to use our individuality for our name’s sake in quest for satisfaction in ourselves. Thus, Cain’s sacrifice was rejected, it was a purposeful reflection of his independent thought and talent. Abel’s sacrifice was accepted because he carefully took his cue from God Himself. His purpose was not to demonstrate his individuality so as to bring attention to himself. Rather, his choice was aimed at demonstrating his happy dependence upon the Lord. When Christ said that apart from Him we can do nothing, He did not mean that we could not sin or show irreverence apart from Him. He meant we could not do God’s will or bring forth fruit in our lives for God’s glory apart from Him.
Do we believe that? Are we so reconciled with that notion that we do not attempt to think of ourselves or present an image of ourselves apart from our conscious dependency upon Christ?
Young people are sometimes heard to say that they need to get away from home and parents so that they may “find themselves”, who they really are. And, not only young people say such things but sometimes grown-ups declare that they must have a time away from their spouses and children because they have never really found themselves, their true identity. That has a romantic and adventurous sound. But, actually it is quite dangerous. For the Christian, we do not need to go away from all that holds us accountable into to some distant and new place to discover who we are. We are sinners who have a desperate and constant need for Jesus Christ. It is ruinous for us to be on our own. It is a disaster when we endeavor to exercise our individuality independently of a deliberate looking to Christ. What we are all trying “to find” is a greater sense of need for Christ, a more consistent prayer life wherein we express our need and faith more sincerely, more consistently. We do not want a name or recognition for ourselves. We want a name and recognition as those whose lives are hidden with Christ in God. We want to be those who instead of striking out on our own, follow Christ very precisely in accordance with His Word and example. The far country is not the place to find ourselves. The place to find ourselves is in our private places of prayer. The place to find ourselves is in the world God has appointed for us living in humble submission to His Word and in felt reliance upon His power.
Let us all forget about establishing an identity for ourselves in and by ourselves. Let us, rather, seek to be known as those who are branches utterly and happily dependent upon the Vine. Let us know that we can do all things that become our responsibility to do because of the One strengthening us, even Christ. Let us live optimistically and let us live large, attempting great things for God, because we know how to trust in Christ–because He is our strength.
Who are you, what makes you unique? I am a very dangerous man apart from Christ. But in union with Him and in dependency on Him I am a servant of the living God and whatever I do in word or deed is an act of worship. My life possesses rich meaning and significance because I am in a proper relationship with God. How are you today? I am good because Christ is in me and I am in Him.
