Amazedنموونە

Deserving of Honor

A good friend asked me, “What is the most important verse in John Chapter three? I shared a
couple of thoughts, such as verse three (you must be born again) and verse sixteen (for God so loved the world...). My friend then gave his answer: “The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand” (John 3:35, ESV). While the most crucial verse in the chapter is open to discussion, my friend’s perspective does have merit.

For instance, the Father’s love for the Son is the reason he shows him all that he’s doing (John 5:20). It also underscores the reason judgment is entrusted to Jesus, “That all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him” (John 5:23).

Out of love for Jesus, the Father has granted him the right to judge, which, along with the capacity to give life, is another one of the “greater works.” As a result, the Son is to receive the same honor as the Father. Therefore, what began with a healing now includes this bold assertion—that Jesus is to receive honor. And when Jesus is honored, so is the Father.

Giving honor to Jesus begins by believing who he is and responding in faith to what he did on our behalf. This goes beyond the mere outward forms of “religion” as the Lord himself pointed out. “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life” (John 5:39-40). Thus, unless we come to Jesus for life, unless we recognize our spiritual poverty and desperation, unless we cry out to him to forgive our sin and reconcile us to Almighty God, then we cannot honor Jesus or the Father. When we do, when we cross over from death to life through faith in the Son of God, we’ve taken the initial step of bringing honor to him and his Father. Then, you and I can begin to live (with his enabling) in ways that continue to value, honor, and, in essence, love him, because he first loved us (1 John 4:10, 19).

Prayer: Father, guide and strengthen me by your Word, that I may live in ways that honor you.

John 5:23, 37-44
John 17:1-5
1 John 4:9-10, 19.