Reflections of Jesus – Study Overview
In his book “The Indwelling Life of Christ,” Ian Thomas says in chapter 13, “The Perfect Man,” he describes Jesus as being willing to empty Himself and to humble Himself in being born as a human being (Philippians 2:6–8) clothed with our humanity, the Lord Jesus advertised Deity through everything He did, said, and was, allowing that Deity to be heard, seen, known, and loved.
“This is why Jesus could tell Philip, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.… The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works” (John 14:9–10). He was fulfilling the role for which God created you and me: to live and act in the image of God, fully displaying the truth about Him.“
Everything that Jesus did, was God Himself at work through Christ the man. God was at work in and through the Lord Jesus, “in the completeness, sinlessness, and perfection of His humanity. Here was man as God intended man to be! Here was true normality, as evidenced by the good works which God the Father accomplished through His Son and which He now wants to accomplish through you.“
In this study we will explore how Jesus did that. As we follow Jesus footsteps, and observe his interactions, and watch what he does, we will be watching to see how this plays out.
- What evidence do we see of God Himself at work through Him?
- How did Jesus submit to the Father? What did that lead Him to do?
- What can we learn about God through how Jesus interacted with others?
- How was Jesus God’s Words in the flesh? How did He display (turn the light on) what God is like?
“The reason this is so important is because this is the divine vocation into which you have been redeemed: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). You are called and created in Christ Himself for a preordained life of good works.
“This vocation can be fulfilled only in the energy and power of the One who indwells you now by His Spirit, just as He once walked only in the energy and power of the Father who indwelt Him through the Spirit. Of Himself He said, “The Son can do nothing of Himself” (John 5:19), and of you He says, “Without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).“