Good Morning Friends,
There is a question asked in today’s text from John and answered in John but experienced in our lectionary passage from Acts. It is about why Jesus did not reveal himself to the whole world in the flesh. And since I often ask questions that have no answer of certainty, I follow it up with a question of a personal nature that has no right or wrong answers. So, In What Ways Has The Holy Spirit Been Revealed To You?
Scripture: And when an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them, the apostles learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country; and there they continued proclaiming the good news. In Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet and had never walked, for he had been crippled from birth. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. And Paul, looking at him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And the man sprang up and began to walk. When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates; he and the crowds wanted to offer sacrifice. When the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting, “Friends, why are you doing this? We are mortals just like you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. In past generations he allowed all the nations to follow their own ways; yet he has not left himself without a witness in doing good giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, and filling you with food and your hearts with joy.” Even with these words, they scarcely restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.
Acts 14:5-18 (NRSV)
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.” Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered him, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.”I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you
John 14:21-26 (NRSV)
Message: Jesus could have revealed himself to the whole world and taken over the world but that is not how God planned it out. Jesus wanted us to experience the fullness of life and was teaching us how this is done. He revealed himself to the disciples teaching them that they were to live as he lived…in obedience of the Father. If he had revealed himself to everyone, they would have been obeying him for all the wrong reasons. Just look at what happened to Paul and Barnabas in today’s passage from Acts. Still Paul and Barnabas obeyed. They realized that there is only one God. So, from the story of creation to the end of Revelation, it’s difficult to turn a page that doesn’t deal with God’s call for obedience. And maybe that is how you experience the Holy Spirit too. It is a central theme and is related to today’s question. You see, the way of obedience is often ignored or dismissed because it confronts our sin and challenges our lives. But obedience of God is not exactly like obedience of people. We are to obey, not because we must or because we need to, but, because we want to. And the thing is the world is facing new rules that people have yet to love to do. The whole thing is not a power trip for God or even for political leaders hopefully. But if you are open to the opportunity change permits, and we are experiencing change, it might just increase our enjoyment of life though the Holy Spirit. We need to experience our obedience as the evidence of God’s love that calls us into the presence of the divine and transforms us. It is understandable why the events in Lystra and Derbe turned out the way they did. You see, everyone who is united with Christ expresses that union with Christ by living like Christ, by walking as he walked. That is why he gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit so we could walk in unity on a lifelong journey finishing the race. That is what Paul and Barnabas were engaged in doing and it is what we are to do as well. For sometimes we might be blessed to have the Holy Spirit manifest a presence in such a way that miracles occur in our lives. Still, as is portrayed in the storyline from Acts, there is much confusion on the role of the Holy Spirit and the risk of being seen as being more than we are. Regardless, if everyone shared the examples of this work, I am sure it would demonstrate that the Holy Spirit’s mission is very wide, and deeply involved in human affairs and the birth of the Church and our own personal sanctification. By giving the gift of the Spirit to believers, the Spirit witnesses to us and the world that we been adopted into the family and belong to God to glorify Jesus.
And So, Jesus said that the disciples would do greater miracles than he did, and it is hard to get our head around this until we realize that the third member of the Trinity is more than an influence. We rarely explore the personality of what scripture calls the Creator of the World. I have always considered this person of the Trinity to be more of the Sustainer and Inspiration of life…a breath of fresh air to fuel the fire that does not consume. But the question is not about how I perceive the Holy Spirit but how you do. Some might consider the work and ministry of this Spiritual Presence to include guiding us with the right words to say and the leading, revealing, birthing, renewing, and discerning… things that enlighten us to the truth. The mission work here is as a witness to life and as an agent of comfort and conviction for the sanctification of people, but also creativity in how lives move forward toward the goal God intended. So, you might have miracles in your life you need to share. But it is pointless to share them without the power of the Holy Spirit guiding them into reality. The beauty is that the same Spirit that empowered the prophets, raised the dead, makes intercessions in the lives of those healed, is same person who gives life to our mortal bodies and creative acts that glorify God. So, think about the miracle of the very writing of the Bible, for it is a product of the work and power of how ideas and people are nudged in history by the Helper and Advocate to Glorify Jesus. But you may wonder why Jesus did not stay around in the flesh and maybe it is so we Gentiles could honor God by becoming more like the Christ, that the Word made flesh would dwell in us too. The question today is a very relevant question on our journey from Passover to Pentecost, but you will have to answer it for yourself with the help of the Spirit.
Pray we share the Spirit of strength that guides us to obey. Pray we obey the command to love in unity with the gift of Jesus’ Spirit. Pray we obey for all the right reasons. Pray we understand that love and obedience are yoked together across time and that the yoke is much easier than we would sometimes think. Pray therefore we are abiding in Christ, walking like Christ, and living like Christ would have us to live. Pray our obedience is not forced, burdensome or painful. Pray our obedience not spring from fear, selfishness, legality, self-praise or custom. Pray our obedience be easy, natural, and pleasant. Pray we realize that some things that appear of earthly good and benefit to society may not benefit a person spiritually. Pray we believe in only one God. Pray we realize we are not God.
Pray we realize that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is progressive, personal, truth-centered, and Christ-centered and Christ-glorifying. Pray we are guided in the truth. Pray we trust Jesus. Pray we are empowered to live out the teachings of God’s Word.
Pray the Spirit of the Lord indwell each of us. Pray the Spirit of wisdom and understanding…the Spirit of counsel and might…the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord instruct us. Pray we remember what Jesus has taught us. Pray we learn to walk in dependence on the Spirit. Pray we are filled to overflowing with peace. Pray we learn to love and be loved.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 