Following in My Father's Footsteps

He has shown you what is good and what the Lord requires of you -- do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8).

Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does (John 5:5-21).

Children learn by example: that adage rings true in families all over the world. Kids mirror their parents, both intentionally at times and also unconsciously.

In John 5 Jesus heals a man who has been an invalid for 38 years. Verse 6 says, “When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked, ‘Do you want to get well?’” 

I notice two things here -- first, Jesus saw the man. His eyes were open to the pain. He chose to look at the man rather than to turn away. 

Secondly, Jesus took interest in the man. He learned about him, so he must have sought out more information either by asking others or the man himself. Then Jesus tells the man to get up and walk, and the invalid is miraculously healed.

Following this scene, Jesus gets accused by the religious leaders of breaking rules by working on the Sabbath. In his defense, he declares, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working” (vs. 17) and “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing (vs. 19).

Jesus defends himself by asserting He’s just doing what He’s supposed to be doing, following in His Father’s footsteps. He watches Him and does what He does. No more, no less. 

Dear God, Am I watching you and learning from your example? How can I improve? Where are you leading? Help me to follow in your footsteps and to walk humbly with you...no more, no less.

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