Benefits of a Connected Life With the Father

Recently my phone’s battery would get empty by 3pm. It’s a fairly new phone, and such a situation was really unwelcome. Thinking that some apps that I recently downloaded may be the culprit, I deleted most of the apps.

After all my attempts failed, I was joking with my friends that the best option is to just shut off the phone in the morning after charging it, then the battery won’t drain out too quickly. (Later, I was able to get the phone repaired under warranty, and it works just fine now.)

Of course, the phone is doing its job of constantly staying connected to the cell phone tower. When in an area where the connection is too weak, the phone repeatedly makes attempts to make that connection. Of course, this drains the battery even faster. Nevertheless, the phone continues its constant quest to stay connected to the tower.

Jesus had a similar quest to stay connected to the Father. He was completely dependent on his heavenly Father. Several times Jesus expressed his complete dependence when he said “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise” (John 5:19).

The dependence of Jesus was so comprehensive that he felt completely incapable without the Father. He depended on the father for direction, judgement, honor, life, words, authority, and for everything necessary to live and work while on this earth.

Later, the Jews were surprised at the teachings of Jesus who did not have formal advanced education. “So Jesus answered them, ‘my teaching is not mine, but his who sent me’” (John 7:16). His dependence was not just an internal matter, but something that was clearly evident to others.

Jesus instructed his disciples to be connected to him in a similar way. Without that connection they would be able to do nothing. He said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:5). The branches are the life source for the vine. It’s connection is the only way of survival for the vine.

Jesus wants such a life giving and life sustaining relationship with his followers. For without him, we can do nothing. Jesus demonstrated such a relationship with the Father in his life and ministry. Now, he wants us to have such a relationship with him.

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