Active Paradox
For apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 NASB
Nothing – The Greek word translated “nothing” is oudeis, from ou (meaning “not”) and heis (meaning “one”). Literally it means “not one thing.” Yeshua is speaking to His disciples. He tells them that He is the vital energy of their lives (the vine). They are the recipients of that vital energy (the branches). What they accomplish in life (the fruit) is only accomplished because of the connection they have to Him. Then He says, “If you are not connected to me, you can’t do one single thing.”
This statement contains a hidden paradox. Look around you. Everywhere people are accomplishing things. It doesn’t seem to make any difference if they are connected to Yeshua Ha-Mashiach. Non-believers create great empires, become famous, are wealthy, do amazing works for charity and give their lives to causes. It is obvious that they are able to do all sorts of things. So, why does Yeshua say that apart from His vital energy, not a single thing can be done? Maybe He is only talking to believers. Maybe His statement does not apply to the non-believing world. In that case, Christians are in a kind of competition with non-Christians. The only difference is that Christians must rely entirely on Christ while non-Christians rely on their own efforts. If we “spiritualize” this verse, we may conclude that the world has its own source of energy apart from Christ while believers have this added energy source. But to think this way would be a great mistake.
The paradox in this verse is that everything is ultimately under Yeshua’s power. John makes it clear that “not one single thing” was brought into being without Yeshua’s direct involvement. Since this is true for all things, Yeshua only points out what should have been crystal clear for His disciples: not one single thing will be done without their total reliance on Him. They are to act explicitly on the foundation that is implicit in creation. They are not to live in a fog about who is behind it all.
There is a personal paradox here too. It is the paradox of a believer like you and me acting in ways that support the false belief that we have to take care of some things on our own. It is the false belief that God leaves the little things up to us while He takes care of cosmic issues. This word shouts a resounding “NO!” Not one single thing gets done unless Yeshua is behind it. This is an indictment against us every time we think, “I have to do this on my own.” More importantly, it tells us that we need to be deliberately conscious of our connection before we try to do anything at all – otherwise “not a single thing” will get done.
Of course, it is also possible (and likely) that Yeshua is using a double meaning here. Not only is it true that He is the foundation of all human actions, direction connection to Him is also the basis of every action that has divine purpose behind it. So even if the rest of the world is unaware of the underlying connection, we as His followers must not be unconscious in our actions. In order to accomplish what He purposes, we must be connected to Him. As the manifestation of God in human form, He connects us to God’s will. To act without acknowledging or employing this connection is to misconstrue our purpose. Not one single thing that matters in God’s great scheme can be accomplished without this deliberate connection.
Topical Index: nothing, oudeis, vine, branches, John 15:5
How delighted I was to speak recently with two Messianic Jews. It was such a thrill for me to meet and spend time with these two wonderful women. Oh, but how my heart reached out to them, and the question burned within, “do you know Yeshua HaMashiach, Jesus (who is the Anointed) ONE? One yes, and she prayed (oh, how she prayed over me!) -the other had questions concerning the “literalness” of the word(s) of God. This encounter reminded me of my ancestors in the Garden and the words of the serpent/nachash:
“has God said?”
~ Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden?’ ~ (Genesis 3.1)
Has God said? The seed of doubt was subtly implanted. And amazingly, if there ever was a “literal language” -it is the Hebrew language! Lol!
lit·er·al
[lit-er-uhl] Show IPA
adjective
1.
in accordance with, involving, or being the primary or strict meaning of the word or words; not figurative or metaphorical: the literal meaning of a word.
2.
following the words of the original very closely and exactly: a literal translation of Goethe.
3.
true to fact; not exaggerated; actual or factual: a literal description of conditions.
4.
being actually such, without exaggeration or inaccuracy: the literal extermination of a city.
5.
(of persons) tending to construe words in the strict sense or in an unimaginative way; matter-of-fact; prosaic.
Not being one prone to deny my imagination, I would like to reconstruct the scene and review this question with what would have been, could have been, might have been, “should have been” a different ending..
First, the question: Did God really (literally) say that? And Adam, using perhaps for the first time the mind God had given him said, “Yes!,” -as a matter of fact, God did (literally) say, “don’t eat the fruit.” – and thank you for reminding me. Adam and Eve both failed to do something. They failed to “shema,” to remember and to do the instructions, the words of YHWH who had (literally) said, “don’t eat the fruit.” Maybe they didn’t know, (I wasn’t there)- God says what He means and He means what He says. God is able (literally) to communicate His instructions for life. Did God (literally) come in the flesh? Yes. Was the Messiah (literally) born in a barn in Bethlehem? Yes. – Shall we continue?
There is no need to doubt the word(s) of God- none whatsoever. When Elisha called down fire from Heaven to consume the Sacrifice- was it literal fire that fell and did it literally consume the wet wood and the wet stones? Was Elisha a real man? Or Moses? Or Abraham? Or Joseph? Did these people really exist and eat real food? Lol!- Yes!- “real people, -people.” Some question the existence of God and some even question the existence of people! Do people really exist? Lol! But,- is there “existence” without life? Sadly, yes. For He has said, “without Me, you can do nothing.” (John 15.5) Life begins and ends with Christ. ~ In Him was (is) life, and the life was the light of men ~ (John 1.4)
“Both” a blessed (happy) beginning and a happy ending. And things, (all things) go better with Christ! The words are (literally) true, “He is my life, my strength, my song,” –This Cornerstone this solid rock, -firm through the fiercest doubt and storm.” Is He worthy of worship? Yes. Literally or figuratively?
Bow the knee, (literally) and find out!
“God wins the battles, but we must still swing the sword.”
This is the sentence that comes to mind after reading about the war with Amalek in Exodus 17. It seems to me, that the story defies some typical Greek dissection techniques of ‘Faith’ vs. ‘Works’. How much of the battle was fought by God? Were the soldier being passive? Try assigning a percentage to who was responsible for the victory.
So in my personal war against the flesh, my mandated generational war on Amalek — I know that NO program, no psychology tricks, no system, no amount of practiced self-discipline — will win the battle. Only raised hands in dependence on God will slay the enemy,…. but God may still want me to put some intense effort into the battle.