The Ah-Ha Moment

As chapter 16 in John finishes out, I love how Jesus speaks to His disciples. They don't get what He is saying, so He lovingly clears it up for them. And then they have the Ah-Ha! moment where they get it (vs. 31). Notice that Jesus tells them ahead of time that they will run from Him, but that He isn't alone even then. He comforts them before they are heartbroken.

But what of the point on the cross where God turns His back on Jesus? Did Jesus not know that part was coming? Honestly, I don't know. On the one hand, He could have been protecting the disciples by not telling them everything that was to come. He doesn't tell them every detail beforehand, so that could be the case here.

But the Bible is also clear that Jesus learned as He went, that somehow God gave Him knowledge as He got older. So maybe Jesus didn't yet know that God would separate from Him and turn His back on Him on the cross.

The whole thing is confusing to me, I have to admit. What did He know, and when? I would love to hear what everyone else understands about this idea.

Either way though, we see in Jesus this desire to care for those around Him, even as they are getting ready to dessert Him in His worst hours. What love He has for them, for me, for us! I bail on Jesus all of the time, yet He continues to love me. That is an example worth trying to follow.

I would love any feedback you may have.

Letting Go

After a couple of weeks, I'm jumping back into the book of John. I'm in chapter 16, verse 5. This passage is so tough. Jesus is trying to get his disciples to understand that He is leaving, but that God is still with them. I love the word used for the Holy Spirit, it means a counselor or friend. Don't think of a professional counselor who is there for you because you pay them. Think of someone who desparately wants to be a part of your life, to stand by you, to support you, to listen and has great advice. That is the role of the Holy Spirit. He brings God's power and wisdom to us, and offers it freely.

The older I get, the more I realize that there is little secret to finding this wisdom. If we will honestly ask, and then trust what He gives us, then we are safe. I've seen it over and over and over. It doesn't require a spiritual giant, it just requires enough faith to let things be. It's that issue of dying to ourselves and letting God have charge of it. We often make it into this monumental task that is way harder than it needs to be.

I think we do that because we overestimate our own power and ability, and underestimate God's. If we see that God is completely in charge, and has all the power He needs, and that He really truly loves us; then it changes us. If we can realize that we really do not control anything, that all of our abilities are really shadows of His power, then we can take the responsibility off of ourselves to fix everything. The Bible never calls us to fix things. God is the one who does that. So why worry? He is strong, we are not. He is truly Loving, we are selfish. He has all we need, we really can't produce anything. We are in good hands. So, pray, let the Spirit pass on His wisdom, and follow.

We just have to keep practicing at it. Even when we fail, we are growing. Whatever you are facing right now that you are holding onto, keep letting God have it bit by bit. He will wait for you. Just keep trying to let it go and listen.