The Father is in the Son, the Son in the Father. They send the Helper – the Holy Spirit. The Son will go where the disciples cannot follow, although he goes to prepare a place and will return to take them there – to his Father’s house. The Helper (it can also be translated Counselor/ Comforter/ Advocate) will remain forever. Jesus works from the Fathers Authority, and although he will send the Spirit we already know him.
We are getting a glimpse of the inner workings of the Trinity here. The words are simple, but when I read them and start to wonder, I get the sense of being in deep water. It’s over my head.
And I’m okay with that. I’m not sure I’d be comfortable with God if I completely understood Him. It’s pretty clear that the disciples didn’t fully understand what Jesus was talking about either. Thomas says, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Philip requests, “Lord, show us the Father, an it is enough for us.” Jesus’ responses make it pretty clear that their understanding of the situation is somewhat deficient.
What is clear here is that Father, Son and Holy Spirit are in perfect harmony with one another. The technical term for the inner workings and relationship of the Godhead is perichoresis. It’s a word that means something like, “dancing around one another” or “circle dance.” It’s a beautiful image.
In the dance They are All together. Every move of every Dancer supports the Others. They are All involved in each part of the dance. The Father leads, but the Son has His part, too, and the Spirit as well. The Father leads, but that does not make Him more of a Dancer than the Son or Spirit. The Spirit is sent, but that does not make Him less of a Dancer than the Son or Father. It’s a co-equal relationship, which becomes even more complicated when we begin to ponder that they are not just Three Dancers – Three Persons – they are One God.
And They/He want us to be with Them/Him. So Jesus prepares a place for us. He shows us the Father – that He loves us and wants us to know him. He will in the next few hours of His life show how much He loves us! And having seen the Father’s love in the Son, the Spirit comforts, guides, teaches, and brings to our remembrance what Jesus has said to us.
God has prepared everything – as for a journey - to bring us to the Father’s house. And although Jesus must go to where we cannot yet follow – back to Heaven – He leaves us the Spirit to get us there. He gives us peace, knowing that we will face conflict in this world because just as the world rejects Jesus it rejects his followers. He also gives us work. Yes, work. And he says the works that we will do will be greater than the works He did. (Now that’s heady!)
But it strikes me that these works are not things we do alone. The Spirit strengthens and guides, as we participate in Jesus’ work – the work He began and continues to bring the message of God’s love to this world – and it is all for the glory of the Father who loves us and wants us to know Him.
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Holy Spirit. Help us to learn, remember and be guided by Him so that we may give glory to the Father and help people to know His love. Amen.
We are getting a glimpse of the inner workings of the Trinity here. The words are simple, but when I read them and start to wonder, I get the sense of being in deep water. It’s over my head.
And I’m okay with that. I’m not sure I’d be comfortable with God if I completely understood Him. It’s pretty clear that the disciples didn’t fully understand what Jesus was talking about either. Thomas says, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Philip requests, “Lord, show us the Father, an it is enough for us.” Jesus’ responses make it pretty clear that their understanding of the situation is somewhat deficient.
What is clear here is that Father, Son and Holy Spirit are in perfect harmony with one another. The technical term for the inner workings and relationship of the Godhead is perichoresis. It’s a word that means something like, “dancing around one another” or “circle dance.” It’s a beautiful image.
In the dance They are All together. Every move of every Dancer supports the Others. They are All involved in each part of the dance. The Father leads, but the Son has His part, too, and the Spirit as well. The Father leads, but that does not make Him more of a Dancer than the Son or Spirit. The Spirit is sent, but that does not make Him less of a Dancer than the Son or Father. It’s a co-equal relationship, which becomes even more complicated when we begin to ponder that they are not just Three Dancers – Three Persons – they are One God.
And They/He want us to be with Them/Him. So Jesus prepares a place for us. He shows us the Father – that He loves us and wants us to know him. He will in the next few hours of His life show how much He loves us! And having seen the Father’s love in the Son, the Spirit comforts, guides, teaches, and brings to our remembrance what Jesus has said to us.
God has prepared everything – as for a journey - to bring us to the Father’s house. And although Jesus must go to where we cannot yet follow – back to Heaven – He leaves us the Spirit to get us there. He gives us peace, knowing that we will face conflict in this world because just as the world rejects Jesus it rejects his followers. He also gives us work. Yes, work. And he says the works that we will do will be greater than the works He did. (Now that’s heady!)
But it strikes me that these works are not things we do alone. The Spirit strengthens and guides, as we participate in Jesus’ work – the work He began and continues to bring the message of God’s love to this world – and it is all for the glory of the Father who loves us and wants us to know Him.
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Holy Spirit. Help us to learn, remember and be guided by Him so that we may give glory to the Father and help people to know His love. Amen.
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