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Finishing The Father's Work
December 29, 2013
I have often thought of
the words of Jesus, first, when he was found to be at the temple with the
doctors and lawyers discussing the Law of Moses. "Wist ye not that I must be
about my Father's business?"
And, when certain of the Jews wanted to stone Him to death, "Many
good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye
stone me?"
Bernie Parsons
Finishing The Father's Work
by Bernie Parsons
Presented to Van Lear Church of Christ on 12-29-2013
Since many talk about the birth of Jesus this time of year, I would like to
consider His birth, and His life, and what it means to us as His followers –
Christians.
The Old Testament scriptures prophesied of a Messiah, or Savior, to come.
Everything pointed to the coming of Jesus Christ as that Savior. Finally, He
arrived.
Luke 2:27 "And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents
brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,
28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy
word:
30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of
him.
34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this
child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign
which shall be spoken against;
35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts
of many hearts may be revealed."
When Jesus was twelve years old, the family had traveled to Jerusalem for
the feast of Passover. On the way home, they noticed that He was missing
from the entourage.
Luke 2:46 "And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the
temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking
them questions.
47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him,
Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought
thee sorrowing.
49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I
must be about my Father's business?"
Jesus came to do His Father’s work, and to finish it -- which means that it
was begun already.
John 4:34 "Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent
me, and to finish his work.
35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I
say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white
already to harvest.
36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life
eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.
38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men
laboured, and ye are entered into their labours."
Jesus did the work that God sent Him to do.
John 5:17 "But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had
broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself
equal with God.
19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you,
The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what
things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise."
John 10:31 "Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father;
for which of those works do ye stone me?"
John 19:26 "When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing
by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that
disciple took her unto his own home.
28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the
scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with
vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.
30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished:
and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost."
Jesus had finished His father’s business, but He told us to follow Him. We
are also God’s children, through adoption.
Galatians 4:4 "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his
Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption
of sons.
6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into
your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an
heir of God through Christ."
Ephesians 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who
hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to
himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted
in the beloved.
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,
according to the riches of his grace;"
How do we approach our Father’s business?
Ephesians 2:4 "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith
he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ,
(by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly
places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace
in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is
the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works,
which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
Do we recall the main two commandments that Jesus discussed?
Matthew 22:37 "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with
all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as
thyself."
Galatians 5:13 "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use
not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love
thy neighbour as thyself."
When we are told to walk in Christ, we are being told to serve one another
in love.
Galatians 5:22 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections
and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one
another."
James 1:25 "But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and
continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work,
this man shall be blessed in his deed.
26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue,
but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit
the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted
from the world."
Jesus finished the work set before Him by His heavenly Father. Now, we need
to finish the work that God has given us, be it a cup of cold water or going
above and beyond like the Samaritan.
