THE JEWISH LAW OF AGENCY

Jesus said to the Pharisee’s “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). What was he indicating to the Pharisees?

If we read what he said to them in the previous verses (vs. 24-25) we will see Jesus referring to himself as acting under the Jewish Law of Agency regarding his words and work.

John 10:24-25: Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, how long do you make us to doubt? If you be the Messiah, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you, and you believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.

Now we hear from Jesus' own mouth that the works he does is in the Father’s name. In other words, he is acting as the agent sent by his God and his Father.

Notice: John 14:10: Believe you not that I am in the Father and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwells in me, he does the works.

Again, we see that the words that he speaks are not of himself, but the Father that indwells him; He does the works – working through His chosen agent, the Messiah Jesus.

More: Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the One who sent me. The one who looks at me is seeing the One who sent me… whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say. (John 12:44-45, 50)

Now according to the Jewish Law of Agency, the agent fully represents the one on whose behalf they are acting, so that the two are identified as one and the same person.

The Jewish Law of Agency is expressed by these words, “a person’s agent is regarded as the person himself.” And that is why Jesus told the Pharisees, “I and the Father are one”.

The reason they started to throw rocks at him for saying that is because they rejected any idea of him being the Messiah.

Now the question that we as disciples of the lord Messiah should ask ourselves is when we go forth preaching and publishing the message Yehovah our God gave to Jesus to give to us are we acting as his agents? The answer is yes!

Notice: 2 Corinthians 5:20: Now then we are ambassadors for the Messiah, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in the Messiah’s stead, be you reconciled to God.

Here Paul is saying that we as ambassadors of the Messiah are also acting on behalf of our God in beseeching people to be reconciled to God! So when we are acting as one’s who have been sent forth as ambassadors of the Messiah Jesus we are also acting not only as his agents but also as agents of his Father and our Father Yehovah.

So that being said do we truly realize that when we speak forth the good news (gospel) message that our God Yehovah gave to Jesus to be preached to the world, we are acting as agents of the lord Jesus, so that what we say, is as if he were saying it, according to the Jewish Law of Agency!

Now we all understand that we cannot properly act as the agents of the lord Messiah properly without being enabled to do so by the indwelling power of the Spirit of our God and Father and of the lord Jesus in us.

We draw upon the indwelling power of our God Yehovah and our Messiah Jesus to carry out what they have commissioned us to do.

Note: John 14:20: At that day you shall know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. That day began on the day of Pentecost for Jesus disciples, and for all that are in him to this day! 

Note: John 14:23: If a man loves me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

What an awesome responsibility has been given to us to act as the agents of our God and Father Yehovah and the lord Messiah Jesus.

Now the words that Paul spoke have deep meaning for us now:

1 Thessalonians 2:2: That you would walk worthy of God, who has called you unto His kingdom and glory.

Indeed, and to walk worthy of our calling requires the enabling power of our God Yehovah working in us and through us.