Hear Jesus. Know Jesus.

Read John 15 thru 17
 
John 16:25-30 “I have spoken of these matters in figures of speech, but soon I will stop speaking figuratively and will tell you plainly all about the Father. 26 Then you will ask in my name. I’m not saying I will ask the Father on your behalf, 27 for the Father himself loves you dearly because you love me and believe that I came from God. 28 Yes, I came from the Father into the world, and now I will leave the world and return to the Father.” 29 Then his disciples said, “At last you are speaking plainly and not figuratively. 30 Now we understand that you know everything, and there’s no need to question you. From this we believe that you came from God.”
 
MANY times the disciples could not fully grasp Jesus’ teachings  because he spoke of heaven and a future they could not see. Jesus used parables and illustrations that related to what we see on earth to explain heaven.
   With the cross quickly approaching, Jesus assured the disciples they would soon completely know what he had been telling them. After his resurrection, he “will stop speaking figuratively and will tell you plainly.” His ascension would clarify his teachings further. And the disciples would have the full grasp of Jesus’ teachings when the Spirit anointed them to preach the gospel.
    There are three points he emphasized. First he tells the disciples of a new relationship they will have with the Father. “Then you will ask in my name.” The disciples won’t need Jesus to ask for them. Jesus will still intercede for them, but they will have full access to pray directly to the Father and receive what they need for their work.
   Second, Jesus teaches, “the Father himself loves you dearly because you love me and believe that I came from God.” This is a significant change in the disciples’ view of God. Remember how Jesus has declared his love for the Father and the Father’s love for him. Jesus now says that same love from God will come to them! Third, Jesus summarizes his incarnation and identity as God. “I came from the Father into the world, and now I will leave the world and return to the Father.” Peter, James and John witnessed at the Transfiguration, and all will witness soon as they stand by the resurrected Lord to watch him ascend to heaven.
   What are the disciples going to do with this strong, personal three-point message? They seem to confess their understanding: “Now we understand that you know everything, and there’s no need to question you. From this we believe that you came from God.”  Do you wonder, are they just beginning to believe in Jesus at that moment? The evidence will show they still don’t fully understand. They will flee from Jesus in Gethsemane. Only John, it seems, was at the cross. And not one of them expected to see Jesus alive after the cross. They were emotionally strained and still spiritually immature in that room. They were as most of us are. We declare, “I know Jesus.” But do we fully grasp his identity?
   God would continue to work on the disciples’ hearts and minds to “that day” when the risen Jesus and the Holy Spirit unified their minds to truly know, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 
   How about you? Are you getting this? Do you know who Jesus is? Really? What then, are you doing about your belief?