John 16 (Seven) Transparency

Good day

For as long as it takes we are going to study the gospel of John chapters fourteen to seventeen.

To pick up the topic, you may need to read the one or two postings preceding this one.

“I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father,” (John 16:25-28).

Up to this point in time Jesus still took all the initiative. As discussed in the previous message there was no need for the disciples to ask Him anything, since He observed their needs and met them automatically. He also interceded on their behalf whilst on earth, since they were still learning about Father God and the Kingdom. Prior to Jesus’ coming, life in Israel consisted of religious activity, which involved pleasing the religious leaders and not so much having a relationship with God. For this exact reason did Jesus not consider it necessary to give them all the information about Father God and the Kingdom outright, because they would not have grasped it. He had to reveal the truth to them gradually in order to build up knowledge in their minds so they could have a good foundation, just as it is done in modern schooling.

To Jesus everything was about Father God. His purpose on earth was to make His Father known to the people, for this would be the foundation of Kingdom living in the future – a relationship with Father God and not the religious activities that they used to do. Jesus was therefore weaning His disciples. Up to then they loved Him and adored Him, hanging onto His every word. He, however, was to leave soon and then they had to become dependent on God the Father directly. To them it was a concept that was not easy to grasp, for God to the Jews was holy and lifted high. They knew Him as living in the holy of holies behind the curtain in the temple where the high priest entered once a year to make atonement for their sins. So to grasp the concept of talking with God directly and even having a relationship with Him was something to get used to.

This is why Jesus told them that in future they will ask of Father God directly in His name. There would be no need anymore for Him to ask on their behalf. To make it easier for them, Jesus told them not to worry, since because they loved Him and believed that He was from God, Father God loved them. He was not the awesome, distant God which religion impressed on their minds, but was ready to be a dad to them.

Do you understand this intimacy that God the Father offers you, or is He still a distant God to you? Are you aware that God can handle it if you are angry with Him, speaking your heart to Him, being honest with Him about your feelings? I have just finished reading a book called ‘Heaven is for Real’, a stunning testimony of a four-year-old boy’s experience of heaven as told by his dad Todd Burpo. Todd shared how he was extremely angry with God for bringing all these bad circumstances over their family, and when his son Colton were hospitalised, Todd really gave the Lord his mind in an aggressive and rude manner. Some time later Colton told Todd that Jesus sent him back to earth from heaven in answer to that particular prayer of Todd.

When family members who love one another have arguments and become very angry with one another, it usually does not result in separation. We may be angry for a little while and then everything returns to normal. Why is it? It is because we love one another. The Father’s love is much higher and greater than ours, and if our love for one another can bear all things, believe all things, hope all things and endure all things (1 Corinthians 13:7), how much more the Father’s perfect love.

Jesus came to make Father God known so we could have the same kind of

relationship with Him than Jesus has. Father God wants us to be transparent with Him for He knows us in any case. We may ask what the point is then to be transparent with Him if He already knows us. Being honest and transparent with Him sets us free, relaxes our relationship with Him and helps us to grow into open intimacy with Him that allows for us to get to know Him as Jesus knows Him.

Father God, I want to know you as a daddy.

Thank you Lord that your Word went out from your mouth, via your servant’s pen, and it will not return to you empty, but will accomplish what you desire and achieve the purpose for which you sent it.

Please pass this on if you think others may benefit by it.