I Can Do Nothing on my Own

 “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just, because I seek to do not my own will but the will of him who sent me.
“If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who testifies on my behalf, and I know that his testimony to me is true. You sent messengers to John, and he testified to the truth.
-John 5:30-33

Jesus is telling his listeners that it impossible to live a faithful life alone, without the help of the Father.  The Lord’s Prayer is specific when Jesus taught us through His words – Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.  Once again Jesus refers to John the Baptist who came before Jesus and foretold in his testimony of the One who would come after him.  Now Jesus is telling His listeners that He is doing the works that His Father has sent Him to do and the completion of those works testify that the Father sent Him.  Jesus scolds those that don’t believe He was sent by the Father to give them eternal life and also because they do not believe Jesus is who He says He is.  He questions them as to how they can believe in a false witness who will come and yet not believe in Him. 

It would seem Jesus is using strong language to convince his followers and listeners and us that we must focus on the power of Jesus’ word and works to show us the way to the Father as it is the way to our salvation.

-Bonnie McClure

Let us pray…

Dear gracious Father, open our hearts and minds to listen carefully and intentionally to the words you speak to us.  Help us to follow your teachings and examples in order that we might be like your disciples and carry out the works you would have us do in your Holy Name, through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.