MODELED BEHAVIOR

John 5:16-23
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

Jesus Claims to Be the Son of God

16 So the Jewish leaders began harassing Jesus for breaking the Sabbath rules. 17 But Jesus replied, “My Father is always working, and so am I.” 18 So the Jewish leaders tried all the harder to find a way to kill him. For he not only broke the Sabbath, he called God his Father, thereby making himself equal with God.

19 So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing. In fact, the Father will show him how to do even greater works than healing this man. Then you will truly be astonished. 21 For just as the Father gives life to those he raises from the dead, so the Son gives life to anyone he wants. 22 In addition, the Father judges no one. Instead, he has given the Son absolute authority to judge, 23 so that everyone will honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son is certainly not honoring the Father who sent him.


Have you ever seen the TV stop smoking commercial where the little girl is playing dress up while her parents watch from the living room? The girl starts a monologue about how she looks, dressed up in Mom’s clothes. She raises her fingers to her lips and puffs on an imaginary cigarette. Mom drops her head and says, “I really do have to stop smoking.” The little girl is modeling the behavior of the parent.

That is what Jesus is explaining to the Jewish leaders. Speaking of His relationship to His Father, God, Jesus points out that “He only does what he sees the Father doing.” Jesus models the behavior of His Father. He loves … heals … raises the dead … gives new life … judges right and wrong … honors His Father.

Parents, what behavior are you modeling which your child will mimic? Set the right pattern early. Don’t wait until they are older. Your real opportunity to influence their life direction is in the early, formative years. A godly model established early on will bear fruit later in their lives. Don’t let the opportunity slip away. You will regret it later.