trying to find His way
“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) This pretty much sums it up what it means to trust in Jesus.This world is still filled with trouble – misery, injustice, despair and death.This world is not moved by love, but by hate and hurt, violence and cruelty.We…
“History reminds us that appeals to orthodoxy are never made in a vacuum. Sometimes, orthodoxy is nothing more than a baptized version of the prejudices of the age. Christians throughout the centuries appealed to orthodoxy in defense of slavery, war, the burning of “witches,” the Crusades, colonization, and the persecution of so-called heretics. Simply calling…
“‘Do you now believe?’ Jesus replied.” (John 16:31) The disciples say that they finally see and understand and believe.To which Jesus says, ‘Really, do you really believe now?’Jesus is not being critical, but He is gently challenging.Its easy to say ‘I believe’ when things are going easy.But what about when life gets hard, or believing gets…
“I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.” (John 16:26–27) I have sometimes heard it stressed that God only loves me because of Jesus.It is as if Jesus stands between us and…
“Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.” (John 16:23) I have asked many things through the years that I did not receive.The ‘name it and claim it’ thinking doesn’t work, nor do I think it should.The key to this is what it means to ‘ask in My…
“Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” (John 16:22) Jesus is explaining how He is leaving (dying) but will come back (rising).His coming back will change everything, grief will be changed to joy.We will experience restored fellowship with the…
“When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.” (John 16:13) Jesus is not promising that we will fully understand everything.This is not a guarantee that our theologies will be totally right.Truth is not merely true information, but ultimate reality.The way things are supposed to be, the way God made…
“Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” (John 16:7) Jesus knows He is going to die; this is the way He is going.But suffering and dying is not a defeat; it is the way to the Father.Jesus is assuring His disciples that…
“The Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father — He will testify about me. And you also must testify…” (John 15:26–27) The Spirit of truth will testify about Jesus.The Father, Who sends the Spirit, testifies about Jesus.The Bible too testifies about Jesus (John 5:39-40).And like the Father and the Spirit, we must testify about Jesus.This…
“As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father.” (John 15:24) Both Jesus’s message and His method were gracious, undeserved love and mercy.Those who knew the OT Story would have recognized this as God’s Way.God moves in with sinners and blesses them, despite their rebellious ways.The Jewish religious leaders…