John 8:25-30
I Do Nothing on My Own
25 “Who are you?” they asked.
“Just what I have been claiming all along,” Jesus replied. 26 “I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is reliable, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.”
27 They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. 28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. 29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” 30 Even as he spoke, many put their faith in him.
John 15:1-17
Parable of the Vine
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
Luke 22:39-44
39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
John 14:1
Trust in God, Trust Also in Jesus
1 Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.
Mark 2:17
Jesus Came to Earth to Save Sinners
17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
Luke 7:48-50
Your Sins Are Forgiven
48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Acts 4:11-12
Salvation is Found in No One Else
11 Jesus is "'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.' 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved."
Today, we have many, many self help books...I have read many self help books...Many of the books teach one about the importance of learning self sufficiency and being more independent...Many authors want us to learn to do all things on our own and to do things my way or our own way...Some authors and their books, teach this importance of self and strong self esteem...Some books even lean toward themes, if we do not go down the path of life our own independent way, it may not quite be the right way to handle life and its problems...If we are assisted or have a support or support system, or some other help it is almost wrong or is labeled wrong...Somehow some authors believe that this independence and increased self-worth will make us and our societies better...Some self help books help us try to relax...Different authors go about this in different ways...
I think independence is a nice thing...Relaxing is a very nice thing...And self-esteem is and can be good...But I think most of us, including myself, has a support or crutch or dependence on one thing or another...Some will argue this, but I think a support or dependence can be money, food, drugs, having a drink, sex, shopping, materialism, cigarettes, one's job, an overdone hobby, or something else...Yet many authors might not see one or more of these things as problematic...
Jesus taught us when He was on earth that He did nothing on His own...He only speaks what His Father has taught Him...He is very dependent on His Father...He wanted to and did God's will and not His...He is completely centered on His Father in Heaven...In His Parable of the Vine, He tells us that we are to depend and to remain in Him...And if we do we will bear much fruit -which is a good thing...Bearing much fruit shows us that we are His Disciples...In this parable He wants us and teaches us to be depending and to trust Him...He wants us to depend on Him...And when He was comforting His disciples He spoke on trust and belief...He want us to trust and believe in both Him and His Father...There is this dependence He wants us to have for both Him and His Father in heaven...So dependency on One Thing, God is a Good Thing...
I think Jesus comes from the premise that there is something wrong with man's nature...We do sin...We do need to seek Him and ask for forgiveness of our sins...This is why He tells us He came to earth...He teaches us He did not come to call the righteous, but He came for sinners...He forgave many, while He was on earth -so we are sinners in His eyes...By Jesus believing that man is flawed and does sin and needs forgiving, we do need something for this condition...The antidote, it seems to me, is a Savior...And for those who believe that we do sin, and did fall from grace in the Garden of Eden, we need a Savior for our sins...Human nature has this sinful side to it...That is just the way it is...Jesus makes perfect sense in saying that we need forgiveness, when one believes that humanity sins...It makes sense that He is the Savior and that Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved...
Jesus teaches the eternities...Those believing in Him seek the Truth...His followers see we need Him and His Father for the condition we are in...We need the cross...