I just came across two examples of people thinking “it’s a good thing that Christ has us to help him.”
The first occurs at the Transfiguration. Peter wants to put up tents. “And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”— not knowing what he said. As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud” (Luke 9:33-34).
The second occurs when James and John ask Jesus to punish the Samaritans who reject Him. (As if Jesus couldn’t call on legions of angels to incinerate the Samaritans). “And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, ‘Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?’” (Luke 9:54).
As if Jesus needs us!
How often have I in my proud independence thought that I could accomplish something good for Christ, especially when it was a bit costly, i.e. reaching out to an unlovable person, or some financial sacrifice.
Does Christ want us to do things? Of course! But we are the recipients. We are the beneficiaries, not Christ. He can easily get the job done without us. If we aren’t available he’ll find someone else to be the blessed vessel. Or, He’ll just do a miracle and take care of whatever needs doing without any help from a needy human agent.
After all, he is the God who has aseity. Aseity is just big word that just means “No need!” God has no needs that we can satisfy. By contrast, our needs are infinite. ––Judy Farley
Good thought Judy. When Bruce Ware visited Spokane he mentioned that when he was a little boy in Sunday School a teacher said we were created because God was lonely. Given the intratrinitarian love he has sinced learned of and teaches and of which D.A. Carson teaches in “The Difficult Doctrine of God's Love” as one of God's five types of love, we know God has no need of our love but graciously makes it possible for us to experience both his love and love for him. What marvelous grace extended to us!