May 26 Listen Closely

John 16:25-30 “Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27 No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.” 29 Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. 30 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.”
 
THE disciples have not been able to completely grasp Jesus’ going away. To help them see their future without him, Jesus has sometimes used illustrations that relate what we see on earth to what we will know in heaven. For example: John 14:2 “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.” Yet, the disciples still ask wondering questions. John 14:5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” They do not understand.
   With the cross quickly approaching, Jesus becomes the urgent, insistent Teacher. He wants to sharpen their minds with sharper language, “I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father.”  “Be alert.” he effectively says. “It’s really not that hard to understand.” His method is not to change his language as much as it is to awaken the disciples’ ears to listen. Here is effectively what he wants them to plainly hear:
   “In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf.” Jesus is telling the disciples they all will have complete access to the Father. You won’t need me to ask for you. You will be as close to the Father as I am. I will still intercede, pray for you, but you will be joined with the Father as I am.”
   Second, Jesus teaches, “the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed 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 gospel ministry. “I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.” How much more plain can he be? This is what the disciples witnessed and will witness in the future as they stand by the resurrected Lord, then watch him ascend to heaven.
   What are the disciples going to do with this strong, personal three-point message? Of course, they will say, “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.” They want to please the Teacher.
   But, are they just believing in Jesus now? The evidence will show they still don’t understand. They will flee from Jesus in Gethsemane. Only John, it seems, is at the cross. And not one of them expected to see Jesus alive after the cross. They were emotionally strained in that room, and they were spiritually immature. God would continue to work on them 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?
 
Prayer: Help me Lord with my unbelief. Awaken my soul, Spirit, to know and believe. Amen.