The Gospel reading this week is from John 14:15-21. If it calls to mind any experiences of Resurrection for you, we’d love to hear about. Or if you have any other experiences of Resurrection, or places you could really use Resurrection, that are not connected with the text, feel free to share those with us as well. (Also, sorry for the delay in sending this. I thought I sent it earlier but it didn’t go through.)
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.“ I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.”
The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, is the sign of Jesus' presence. I've come across testimonies of people who have not known Jesus, yet have had visions of Him. I believe He has chosen to make Himself known to them. However, He says to Thomas: "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” So faith sounds to me more important than experience. The book "Experiencing God" by Henry Blackaby is helpful in building a relationship with Jesus, learning to sit with Him, to hear Him.
Knowing, loving, and abiding grab my attention. There is intimacy here. Relationship. So different from doctrinal arguments or truth claims.
"...the world will no longer see me, but you will see me..." What are the signs of Jesus' presence? How is it that one sees and another does not? How do we develop the this ability to see, to pay attention?
Looking for Resurrection: May 17
The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, is the sign of Jesus' presence. I've come across testimonies of people who have not known Jesus, yet have had visions of Him. I believe He has chosen to make Himself known to them. However, He says to Thomas: "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” So faith sounds to me more important than experience. The book "Experiencing God" by Henry Blackaby is helpful in building a relationship with Jesus, learning to sit with Him, to hear Him.
Knowing, loving, and abiding grab my attention. There is intimacy here. Relationship. So different from doctrinal arguments or truth claims.
"...the world will no longer see me, but you will see me..." What are the signs of Jesus' presence? How is it that one sees and another does not? How do we develop the this ability to see, to pay attention?