Humble Hero

Jesus Dependent on the Father’s Power

Jesus rejected the charge of blasphemy. “My authority,” He said, “is that I am the Son of God, One with Him in nature, will, and purpose. I cooperate with God.” HH 89.6

“The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do.” The priests and rabbis were taking the Son of God to task for doing the very work He had been sent into the world to do. They felt self-sufficient and sensed no need of a higher wisdom. But the Son of God was surrendered to the Father’s will and dependent on His power. Christ made no plans for Himself. Day by day the Father unfolded His plans. So should we depend on God, so that our lives may be the simple working out of His will. HH 89.7

The words of Christ teach that we should think of ourselves as inseparably bound to our Father in heaven. Whatever our status in life, we are dependent on God. He has appointed us our work and has given us resources for that work. As long as we surrender the will to God and trust in His strength and wisdom, He will guide us in safe paths, to fulfill our appointed part in His plan. But those who depend on their own wisdom and power are separating themselves from God and fulfilling the purpose of the enemy of God and humanity. HH 89.8

The Sadducees believed that there would be no resurrection of the body, but Jesus told them that one of the greatest works of His Father is raising the dead, and that He Himself had power to do the same work. “As the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.” “The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.” Christ declared that the power that gives life to the dead was among them, and they were to see it revealed. This same resurrection power gives life to the soul and sets us “free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:2. Through faith we are kept from sin. Those who open their hearts to Christ become partakers of the mighty power that will bring their bodies out from the grave. HH 90.1

The humble Nazarene rose above humanity, threw off the appearance of sin and shame, and stood revealed, the Son of God, One with the Creator of the universe. His hearers were spellbound. No one ever spoke words like His or carried himself with such kingly majesty. His words were clear and plain, fully declaring His mission. “The Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son. ... The Father ... has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.” HH 90.2

The priests and rulers set themselves up as judges to condemn Christ’s work, but He declared Himself to be their Judge and the Judge of all the earth. Every blessing from God to the fallen race has come through Him. As soon as there was sin, there was a Savior. He who has given light to all, He who has followed us with tender pleading, seeking to win us from sin to holiness, is both our Advocate and Judge. He who has been seeking through all the ages to free the captives from the deceiver’s grasp is the One who will pass judgment on every person. HH 90.3

Because He has tasted the last drops of human affliction and temptation and understands our frailties; because He has withstood the temptations of Satan and will deal justly and tenderly with those that His own blood has been poured out to save—because of this, God has appointed the Son of man to execute judgment. HH 90.4

But “God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:17. And Jesus declared to the Sanhedrin, “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.” HH 90.5