Skip to main content

279. Clarity

John 16:17-33
Key Verse: "I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father."
John 16:28

The light bulb goes on and now, the disciples finally get it. Jesus has plainly stated that He is Messiah. No one would make that claim in jest, for to do so would be blasphemy, worthy of stoning by God's own law. Jesus has spoken using metaphor and figurative speech up to now, especially with the Jewish leadership. Now, among His closest friends on this earth, He has spoken plainly and they understand.

What made it clear to them? It's hard to put a finger on exactly what. He demonstrated for them once again that He knew what they were thinking and that obviously played its part. There was the entire history of their walk with Him, the miracles, the teachings, the compassion, it all came together finally, for this one brief moment of conviction. "Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that You came from God." (John 16:29-30) For that brief moment in time, the veil was lifted. It would resettle again in just a matter of hours and soon be replaced by doubt and despair. This moment was a precious one for all of them because Jesus knew that they knew and they knew that they knew as well.

Yet, Jesus continues to do what He can to prepare them. He continues to hold up a picture of grief and struggle because, after knowing Him, things can never be the same. They are His now and no longer of the world. The world hates Him and so the world will hate us. In His final words, He leaves His friends with one more tool to help them in the journey that they will soon be on.

"I tell you the truth, My Father will give you whatever you ask in My name. Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask, and you will receive, and your joy will be complete." (John 16:23B-24) What a powerful tool this is. Solomon claimed that, "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe." (Proverbs 18:10) Even just the Lord's name is a refuge of protection.

This does not mean that Jesus is our vending machine. Remember that He has told us what will really bring us joy is not the prospect of having any thing we want.  Real joy is in having a living relationship with Jesus.  "I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” No matter what, the Holy Spirit will help you know that Jesus is with you. You know that He is alive and no one can take that away. In Him, you will ask for the things that will bring Him glory. He will not refuse such a request.

Then, Finally, Jesus repeats what he said earlier in (14:27), just to clinch the deal. "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

May God bless the reading of His Word and may it minister to us, His disciples of today.

Hymn: (chorus) "Heavenly Father I Appreciate You”

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

211. The Sons of Thunder's Request

Matthew 20:20-28 , Mark 10:35-45 , Key verse: "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all." Mark 10:43B-44 In our readings for yesterday, in which Jesus outlined what was about to happen to Him, for His disciples, the passage in Luke ends: "The disciples did not understand any of this. It's meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what He was talking about." ( Luke 18:34 ) Now, we see just how truly clueless they were. Jesus had laid out a plan before them of pain and suffering and death and now James and John are focused on a promotion. The disconnect is so obvious. It's really not important to know whether James and john came up with this request on their own or if their mother put them up to it. The request was made and James and John thought that they could handle the responsibility that would come with it. What is that saying, "Fools rush in where angels fe...
Post a Comment
Read more

These Boots are Made for Walking

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-15 These Boots are Made for Walking. Of course, I picked that title because it has a reference to popular culture, and it connects with our text today about “feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.” I was tempted to play the video of that song, but it’s really not amenable to worship. If you remember that old song, it was quite confrontational. The singer had a righteous complaint against a boyfriend or spouse who was cheating on her. She’s not going to put up with that, and the song goes on to say, “One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you!” And that “take a stand” bravado made her a hero! It was a #1 hit in 1966. I mention it because it has one interesting parallel and one major contrast with the message of grace and forgiveness. That parallel is this. God has a righteous complaint against the entire human race for cheating Him out of the loving relationship He desires with us. As the God who created us, he h...
Post a Comment
Read more

186. Ten Healed, Or One?

Luke 17:11-19 Key Verse: Then He said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well." Luke 17:19 At last, Jesus has left the crowd behind and again is continuing His journey toward Jerusalem. His path takes Him and His disciples along the border of Judea and Samaria, between the pure Jews, and the hated half breeds of the day. On His way, Jesus encounters an interesting group of people. We only learn the nationality of one of them and, though we don't know the nationality of the others, because Jesus sends them to the priests in Jerusalem we can probably assume that at least some of them are Jews. Isn't it interesting that through leprosy, a disease that causes much suffering, the dividing wall of hatred has come down for the sake of companionship? We encountered one leper earlier on our Journey. Lepers were the dreaded untouchables of the day. Their disease cut them off from all they loved. It was a very lonely life. No wonder these people had ...
Post a Comment
Read more