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By Mike Caton

John 5:20, For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed.

Why does the Father love the Son? Is it because he is in this confrontation with the stubborn religious leaders? Is it because he has done miracles? Is it because he has taught the people the truth? Has the son done something to earn the Father’s love? No, fathers love their children simply because they are their children. If you are a parent, you will understand this. You loved your child long before they were born, maybe even before they were conceived! But once you looked into that little red and maybe mashed up face for the first time, you were hooked! You knew you were in love and there was no going back.

And God the Father was going to work through Jesus the Son to show even greater works than have already been done. Jesus has just healed the invalid, and he had healed the official’s son who was close to death, and he had done more signs in Jerusalem at the Passover festival. But there are more signs to follow, many more. And the culmination will be when Jesus himself rises from the dead. If that is not amazing, I don’t know what is. But the point Jesus is making is that he is not doing these things on his own, he is working with his Father. There is a relationship here, and the Jews understand it. They realize Jesus is calling himself the Son of God, not a son of God, but the Son of God. And these men do not like it one little bit.

Obviously, we are not and never will be Jesus. But we can be sons and daughters of God! We need to commit ourselves to doing the works of God, the things we see our Father doing. And we must realize that God can and often does do things through us that are far beyond us. God blesses those who commit themselves to him. He already loves us, there is nothing we can do to change that. But God works through those who are committed. And when we see what God can and does do, we too are amazed.

Father, help me be like you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Mike Caton is the preacher at Mount Olive Church of Christ in Belhaven. He volunteers at the Ponzer Fire Department and works part time with Hyde County EMS. If you would like to receive daily devotions in your inbox, email mikecaton@centurylink.net.

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