A Scriptural Basis for “Jesus in Idaho Falls” (short version)

 A Scriptural Basis for “Jesus in Idaho Falls” (short version)

When Jewish leaders questioned Jesus why He was doing what they considered “work” on the Sabbath, He responded, "My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.” (John 5:17) and added, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” (John 5:19)

These verses can help us interpret Hebrews 12:2, fixing our eyes on Jesus…. If Jesus “saw” in real time what the Father was doing and based His own actions on it, and even limited what He did to what He saw the Father doing, should not believers in Jesus be looking to see what He is doing on earth?  That is not to exclude of course, looking to Jesus as High Priest, worshiping Him who was raised above every authority and is seated at the right hand of the Majesty in the heavens. And it doesn’t exclude studying His word and His works when He was on earth.  But His word says that He is at work in His believers, and that His church is His temple through which He can be seen.

Back to Hebrews 12, the purpose of fixing our eyes on Jesus is to “run with endurance the race that is set before us.” Is the opposite true, the less we see Jesus at work in us and around us, the harder it will be to keep on track, following Him, doing the works He prepared for us to do?  Seeing and hearing Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, we respond in faith, being witnesses to His life in us, allowing others to see His glory.

One of Paul’s prayers for the church in Ephesus was “that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe…” (Ephesians 1:18-19).  We look for Jesus with understanding, through the lens of Scripture and guided by His Spirit.  This passage also guides us as to where to look for Him – in how He calls believers, in how He is at work in His saints and in His continued acts of power, even comparable to the power of His resurrection.

 Some of the other passages that tell us how Jesus is at work in our world include include:

 1. Actions in response to our prayers

 Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. (John 14:13-14)

 2.  Building His church

 I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.  (Matthew 16:18)

 3. Perfecting the saints [see the comments and verses cited in the longer version; this also overlaps with #6]

 4. Drawing people to Himself

 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.  (John 12:32)  

 5. Sending out His disciples

 So Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you." (John 20:21)

 6. Working in and through His disciples

 I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)

May the God of peace… equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ (Hebrews 13:21) 

…for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13)

 7. Communicating with His disciples

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.  (John 10:27)

The above is not an exhaustive list but have guided us in looking for Jesus at work in the history of Idaho Falls and in the present.

Our intent is not to divide too finely the members of the Trinity in looking for Jesus, and thus we have the wind of Old Testament passages pushing us to remember and publish the works of the Lord as well:

1. Passages that exhort us to remember the deeds of the Lord

Remember His wonderful deeds which He has done, His marvels and the judgments from His mouth  (Psalm 105:2 & I Chronicles 16:12)  Also Psalm 77:11, 111:2 & 4, 143:5

2. Passages that instruct us to tell the next generation about the works of the Lord

One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts. (Psalm 145:4)

We will not conceal them from their children, but tell to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and His strength and His wondrous works that He has done. (Psalm 78:4)

 3. Passages that tell us to proclaim what God has done

Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples. (Psalm 96:3) Also Psalm 9:1, 64:9, 71:16, 105:1 and Jeremiah 51:10)

4. Passages that tell us to give thanks for His deeds

 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men…  (Psalm 107: 8, 15, 21, 31) Also Psalm 9:1 & 105:1

Again this list is not exhaustive.  And we realize our perspective and our sources are very limited.  There are many memories of saints of the past, acts of the Lord that they witnessed, that we would have liked to have captured for our benefit and the benefit of future generations.  So to expand our vision, we invite you to join us in documenting how Jesus has been and is at work in Idaho Falls.

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