July 03, 2012

Show and Tell

John 17:1-5

“Father, the hour has come.”
—John 17:1

— 

The apostle John could have been a good kindergarten teacher. He was a “show and tell” kind of writer in the way he drew pictures of Jesus, showing that our Savior is fully human while also being fully God.

John tells us that Jesus looked up to heaven. He shows an obedient servant, “who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness” (Philippians 2:6-7). Jesus was sent to do the Father’s work. His mission was to please the Father and complete his assignment of bringing us to God the Father.

How could that happen? John wonderfully relays the words of Jesus by saying, “This is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” When we accept Jesus as the one whom God sent to save us from our sins, we experience the wonder of salvation. Jesus was the best thing that ever happened to this world.

How about you? The Light of the world has come, and the timing was perfect for all of us. He came to save us from ourselves. He shows us a life that brings us into the family of God. He promises to shine his light into our lives. Shine Jesus! Shine on us!

Dear Lord, thank you for coming to display God’s work and bring us into the blessing of eternal life. Help us all to glorify the Son in our lives. Amen.

About the author — Reginald Smith

Dr. Reginald Smith is senior pastor at Roosevelt Park Community Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he has served for seventeen years. He has also served as a pastor in Paterson, New Jersey. He and his wife, Sharon, have three daughters, Janelle, Katrina, and Mariah.

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