Therefore, Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.” (John 5:19, NASB)
It is a rare occurrence when the weekend before Christmas has the sporting world’s eyes on a live televised golf event, as this is the off-season for the PGA Tour. But this time around at the PNC Championship (formerly known as the PNC Father/Son Challenge), Tiger Woods made his first competitive start in many months after his injury. Last February, Tiger had a horrific car accident that caused significant damage to his right leg.
This exclusive, family-centered event is a favorite amongst participants, who get to bring a family member to compete alongside. A major championship victory is a prerequisite to even be considered for an invitation to the professional player. For anyone who has watched the NBC telecast of the tournament over the years, you cannot help but notice the similarities and nuances of the sons playing with their legendary fathers.
To many fans’ amusement, the broadcast team highlighted this similarity between Tiger Woods and his adorable twelve-year-old son, Charlie (who, by the way, finished Runner-up to Team Daly).
Over the years at this event, we have seen the comparison of sons to many of the greatest players in golf, including Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Lee Trevino, Nick Faldo, Tom Watson, Vijay Singh, Raymond Floyd, and many others.
As a son of a Hall of Famer and someone who participated in this event many times, I can vouch for the other sons. The comparison is welcomed but rarely warranted.
As great of a compliment a comparison to a worldly successful father is, I cannot imagine ever being likened to the Father of all Creation. Yet, this is exactly how the Apostle John refers to Jesus in today’s verse. As followers of Christ, this objective should be ours as well.
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Jesus did not come to make himself famous; rather, his focus in everything was on making his Father known to the world.
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Jesus later went on to say, “For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore, the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me” (John 12:49-50).
Jesus, being just as human as you and me, understood that he could only do his God-given assignment by completely following that which was laid out by his Heavenly Father. We, too, have the heavenly assignment of making God known by adopting his will as our own; however, many personal agendas often get in our way.
We do ourselves a great disservice, often disguised as an excuse, when we claim the Son of God as part of the Holy Trinity (which he is), but fail to see the complete humanity of Jesus of Nazareth.
Jesus depended on God for everything he did and showed us what it looks like to please God here on earth. Jesus did not come to make himself famous; rather, his focus in everything was on making his Father known to the world.
Jesus prayed over his disciples, “I have [made known your character] to the men whom You gave Me out of the world” (John 17:6). It gave him great pleasure to do so while passing along the same assignment to his disciples and to all who would ever believe in him through them.
The model has been set before us on how to become more “like the Father;” we must focus on becoming “like the Son.” The challenge will be to have the humility to remove our own agendas so that we may see his will unfold in our lives.
Therefore, Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.” (John 5:19, NASB)
It is a rare occurrence when the weekend before Christmas has the sporting world’s eyes on a live televised golf event, as this is the off-season for the PGA Tour. But this time around at the PNC Championship (formerly known as the PNC Father/Son Challenge), Tiger Woods made his first competitive start in many months after his injury. Last February, Tiger had a horrific car accident that caused significant damage to his right leg.
This exclusive, family-centered event is a favorite amongst participants, who get to bring a family member to compete alongside. A major championship victory is a prerequisite to even be considered for an invitation to the professional player. For anyone who has watched the NBC telecast of the tournament over the years, you cannot help but notice the similarities and nuances of the sons playing with their legendary fathers.
To many fans’ amusement, the broadcast team highlighted this similarity between Tiger Woods and his adorable twelve-year-old son, Charlie (who, by the way, finished Runner-up to Team Daly).
Over the years at this event, we have seen the comparison of sons to many of the greatest players in golf, including Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Lee Trevino, Nick Faldo, Tom Watson, Vijay Singh, Raymond Floyd, and many others.
As a son of a Hall of Famer and someone who participated in this event many times, I can vouch for the other sons. The comparison is welcomed but rarely warranted.
As great of a compliment a comparison to a worldly successful father is, I cannot imagine ever being likened to the Father of all Creation. Yet, this is exactly how the Apostle John refers to Jesus in today’s verse. As followers of Christ, this objective should be ours as well.
Jesus later went on to say, “For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore, the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me” (John 12:49-50).
Jesus, being just as human as you and me, understood that he could only do his God-given assignment by completely following that which was laid out by his Heavenly Father. We, too, have the heavenly assignment of making God known by adopting his will as our own; however, many personal agendas often get in our way.
We do ourselves a great disservice, often disguised as an excuse, when we claim the Son of God as part of the Holy Trinity (which he is), but fail to see the complete humanity of Jesus of Nazareth.
Jesus depended on God for everything he did and showed us what it looks like to please God here on earth. Jesus did not come to make himself famous; rather, his focus in everything was on making his Father known to the world.
Jesus prayed over his disciples, “I have [made known your character] to the men whom You gave Me out of the world” (John 17:6). It gave him great pleasure to do so while passing along the same assignment to his disciples and to all who would ever believe in him through them.
The model has been set before us on how to become more “like the Father;” we must focus on becoming “like the Son.” The challenge will be to have the humility to remove our own agendas so that we may see his will unfold in our lives.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for sending your Son as a person to make you known and famous. Give me the desire and humility to set aside my agenda for your greater one.