Image from blogs.baylor.edu
Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. “All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14: 8-17, 25-27 NRSV)
May this day find you blessed and refreshed, dear Friend. I pray time spent with the Lord be a new blessing for you and strength for today and this week. I thank you all for your prayers last Friday at the funeral of Mr. Doug Smith. I believe the service went well and that God was glorified. Please continue to pray for Autumn, Sam, Owen, and Ainsley. Pray for one another and for yourselves.
This coming Sunday is Pentecost Sunday. It is a most important day in the Christian Church because on that day, God sent down His Holy Spirit. The account of that day is found in chapter 2 of the Book of Acts, which will be tomorrow's passage. For today, let's look at Jesus' explanation of that arrival of His Holy Spirit. Most of you know that the books of Luke and Acts were at one time just one volume, but scholars believed the story would flow better with the insertion of John's Gospel in between the two. This was because John's gospel is known as the spiritual gospel, because John spends more time talking about the Holy Spirit and explaining His role and purpose in coming than any of the other three gospels.
The passage begins with Jesus and the Disciples having heard Jesus speak of His upcoming death and what would follow. Philip begins the conversation asking Jesus to show them "the Father." Jesus lovingly replies that He and the Father are one and once you know Jesus, you know the Father. Then he introduces the coming Third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. Jesus then speaks of the works that Christ still needs them, and us, to continue for the Kingdom. Jesus said he was going to the Father and He was going to grant whatever we would ask of the Father in Jesus' name. The constant command is that "we love one another." From that love we build onto it, for He will always be with us and work with us to do the works of the Lord. The "Advocate" as Jesus calls Him will "teach (us) all things, and will remind (us) of everything (Jesus) has said to us." The Holy Spriti will give us peace unlike any peace the world could possibly give us.
The Holy Spirit is God. God with us, after Jesus ascended to Heaven. He is called by many names, such as Counselor, Advocate, Helper, Comforter, and even Guide. His role is to better the walk of Christians. All we have to do is call upon God to send us the Holy Spirit to be part of our faith journey. More on this tomorrow.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for the ways You make our faith journey possible, faithful, and fruitful. Guide me and bless me to being a blessing for You. This I pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
