Day 210: John 13:1–5

Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into His hands, that He had come from God, and that He was going back to God (v. 3).

When Christ came to this planet, He forsook many of His intrinsic divine rights in order to accomplish His earthly goals. Philippians 2:7 says he “emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men” (hcsb). John 1:3–4 tells us “all things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created. Life was in Him, and that life was the light of men” (hcsb). Yet Christ didn’t walk around saying, “Hey, bud, do you see that dirt you’re walking on? Who do you think made that?”

To our knowledge, Christ didn’t sit with the disciples in the moonlight and tout His ownership over the heavens by giving them all the proper names of the stars. In alphabetical order. When we consider that Jesus Christ came to earth as the fullness of the Godhead bodily, He actually showed amazing restraint in exercising His divine rights. Matthew 26:53–54 offers one example. As the mob was arresting Him, He told Peter to put away his sword. “Do you think that I cannot call on My Father, and He will provide Me at once with more than 12 legions of angels? How, then, would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?” (hcsb).

Jesus made a point of fully exercising one right, however, to the constant chagrin of the Jews. Jesus freely claimed His Sonship to the Father. None of the comparative statistics between Gospels is more staggering than the number of references to God as Father. Approximately 110 times out of 248 references to God as Father in the New Testament occur in the Gospel of John. No other New Testament book comes close.

Never lose sight of the fact that relationship came to mean everything to the apostle John. When you think about John from now on, immediately associate him as one who was wholly convinced of Jesus’ love. In turn, John had much to say not only about reciprocal love but love for one another. We will see the concept only swell over the remaining course of this book. I don’t believe we’re off base in assuming that the priority of relationship with Christ is exactly what fitted him to receive the great Revelation.

To John, identity came from association. He very likely absorbed this philosophy from tagging along with Jesus.

Christ knew His constant references to God as His Father incited the Jews riotously, yet He was so insistent, He had to make a point. Through His actions and expressions, Christ seemed to say, “I’ve set aside My crown, My position, My glory, and soon I’ll set aside My life for all of you. But hear me well: I will not lay down my Sonship. God is My Father. Deal with it.”

Dear child of God, if you and I were as unrelenting in exercising our rights of sonship (or daughtership), our lives would be transformed. Satan would never be able to dislodge us from God’s plan and blessing. You see, Christ had to make the decision to lay aside many rights, but because He retained the most important one of all, His right of Sonship, Satan could not win. Christ led many sons to glory and got to once again pick up every right He laid aside.

And as those who have received Christ’s Spirit of Sonship, the same is true for us. Times may arrive when God asks us to lay down the right to be acknowledged in a situation. Or the right to give our opinion or take up for ourselves. The right to a promotion we think we deserve. The right to leave a spouse even though we might have biblical grounds. The right to withhold fellowship when the other person has earned our distance. The right to be shown as the one who was right in a situation. The right to our dignity in earthly matters. The right to our basic human rights.

But let this truth be engraved on your heart: You will never be required to lay aside your rights of sonship, nor must you ever fall to Satan’s temptation to weaken your position. As long as you exercise your rights of sonship, constantly reminding yourself (and your enemy) who God is and who you are, Satan will never be able to defeat you or thwart any part of God’s plan for your life. Any loss or other right God permits or persuades you to lay aside is temporary. You will ultimately receive a hundredfold in return.

Hold your position, beloved! Never let anything or anyone talk you out of exercising your rights of sonship! The very reason Satan targets us is because we are the sons (or daughters) of God. He is defeated when we refuse to back off from our positional rights. The last thing he wants to hear from you is, “I am a born-again, justified child of God, and I exercise my right to rebuke you! You, devil, are defeated. You can’t take me from my Father nor my Father from me.” So, say it!

God will never turn a deaf ear to you or look the other way when you are treated unjustly. As His child, you have 24/7 direct access to Him. You aren’t left to “hope” He hears you, loves you, or realizes what’s going on. Know it, Sister. Never view your situation in any other context than God as your Father and you as His child.