John 16
John 16:7 But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.
I love to see the relationship between the Father, the Son and The Spirit here. Jesus makes it clear that he came to do the will of the Father and that he speaks or is the spoken word of the Father. Then Jesus says that he will leave for our sake so that he can leave us the Holy Spirit. Jesus knows that for us to have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that He must leave. The son came to die for man, the Spirit to live in man and to convict the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgement.
John 17 The Prayer Chapter
Jesus prays for himself demonstrating his relationship with the Father, his humanity and his divinity. Jesus prays for his disciples that they would be protected from the evil one (vs. 15). Then Jesus prays for those that would follow because of their testimony, including us. He prays that we would be one not divided by silly disputes and non essential theologies or styles of music or worship service practices. But that we would be one on mission to continue to worship and declare the gospel to the world.
Jesus knows that severe trial and tribulation is coming to himself, to his disciples and one day to others that follow him. His first work is prayer. He doesn't seek to remedy the situation, try to fix things or try to prevent it; he prays. Prayer is his first work, not his fall back plan.
John 18
Jesus is in the garden with his friends and the soldiers and mob come to arrest him. When Jesus declares who he is the mob draws back and falls down. Peter lobs off the ear, Jesus puts it back on. Finally Jesus is put before Pilate the roman governor and questioned. In verse 37 Jesus proclaims he has come to the world to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice."
Pilate says "What is truth?"
He doesn't discredit Jesus testimony, he knows that would be futile. Instead he discredits truth in general. He proclaims to the jews that he finds to guilt in him but he's not willing to face the truth Jesus spoke but would rather keep truth ambigious. The claim to have no truth is an excuse to not have to live up to that truth.
Comments