“Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.
What do you look to your father for? Help; guidance; discipline; comfort? What you see in a father probably depends a lot on the kind of father you had, if you were fortunate enough to have a father in your life.
What kind of father is God? In the Old Testament, he is the one who allows Job to be tested, who tells Noah to build the ark and then floods the world, he calls Abraham to the Promised Land, gives him a son in his old age, then tests him by asking that he sacrifice his son. The Old Testament God leads the Israelites into Egypt and then out again. He gives them his law; He gives them a place to live; He is faithful to be patient with them and faithful to punish them.
Then the Son of God arrives. He is preceded by a herald, John the Baptist. He demonstrates supernatural power again and again. He is generous to a fault, healing all who come to him for healing, forgiving those who have sinned, feeding the hungry, and generally demonstrating that he has power over all of creation. Are these the works of His Father?
The Father provides all that we need to live: a planet with air and water, sunshine and gravity, bodies and brains. Our bodies are self-healing in many cases – a gift from God. Food grows on the land and we benefit from it. Yes, Jesus did the works of the Father, but he personalized them in a way that the Jews of his time did not understand. They were looking for a pill that would solve their social and political problems. Jesus brought them the pill that brings eternal life.
Lets Discuss: How do you think the works Jesus did reflect the works of his Father?
I think Jesus it is as you suggested, Jesus is the personal implementation and fulfillment of The Father’s plan of redemption. The Word was there at the beginning inacting creation and will be there at the end ruling the new heavens and new earth.
Jesus is the visible expression of the very character of God. If we look at Him, we see the Father (John 1: 18; 14: 9; Hebrews 1: 1 – 3). His works reflect the Father’s will and character. We can know a lot about our heavenly Father by observing Jesus.
There is a great deal of imagery in the Bible describing heavenly beings with multiple faces on a single head. If we think of God as “three in one” then perhaps God the Father is the face of the O.T. covenant and Jesus is the face of the New Covenant. Same God, different visage?