I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life, Part FiveB

We have all needed help at times in our lives. Perhaps you have had to call and ask someone for help. May the following experience is eerily familiar to you.

Just Wanted To Be Extra Extra Sure

College & University, Help Desk | Pittsburgh, PA, USA | Uncategorized

(The power went out on campus. We have generator power in some parts of the school, particularly where I am. Then, an admin assistant calls…)

Me: “Help Desk, this is ***, how can I help you?”

Admin Assistant: “How can I shut my computer off?”

Me: “Okay. The beeping you hear in your room is a UPS. It’s going to keep your computer powered on for only about 19 minutes at best, so it’s good you called. Go into your Start menu and shut your computer down through the shut down option.

Admin Assistant: “Okay, where?”

Me: *explains how to shut down a computer*

Admin Assistant: “I don’t see where you’re talking about.”

Me: “Okay, do you see your computer screen?”

Admin Assistant: “No, it’s dark in here. It’s dark everywhere. The power went out.”

Me: “Yes, I know. It’s out all over campus. ”

Admin Assistant: “Yeah, so I can’t see anything in here. My computer is off.”

Me: “Okay… your computer is off? Then why did you call? What do you need?”

Admin Assistant: “I don’t know. I just wanted to know how to shut my computer down.”

(I’m not kidding. This really happened. I’ve read similar stories on other web sites. But this is actually what happened to me when I was working a university help desk. Computer Science department, no less.)

Or for those not electronically inclined….

Not Remotely Intelligent

Call Center, Help Desk | Texas, USA | Top

Me: “Hello, thank you for calling ***. May I have your phone number, please?”

Caller: “This thing doesn’t work!”

Me: “Sir, I’ll be happy to help you with that.”

Caller: “Just help me with this thing!”

(Eventually, I find out he needs help with a DVD remote.)

Caller: “The movie doesn’t play! It doesn’t do a thing!”

(I hear the crunching of plastic as he tries to push the buttons really hard.)

Me: “Okay, sir, so you’re pressing the play button and it’s not working. Correct?”

Caller: “Which one’s the play button?”

Me: “The one that says ‘play’ above it. It should be in the shape of an arrow that’s pointing to the right.”

Caller: “I can’t read any of this! I don’t have anything like that. There’s just one that points to the left.”

Me: “Sir, go ahead and turn the remote around.”

Caller: “What, backwards?”

Me: “Yes, so that the other side points at the DVD player.”

Caller: “Oh…it works now!” *click*

Reality is, we all need help at times. Perhaps not with computers, or tv remotes, but with more serious life issues.

And the comforting thing is, we have been given a helper far more capable then a help desk.

Began three weeks ago talking about the helper we have been given…

5th cure – An abiding presence

A Helper

Spirit of truth

Teacher

Testifier of God

Convictor of Sin

Glorifier of God

What's more is that Christ also give us Himself.

Himself – Vs. 14:18-24; 27-31 (3 Manifestations of Himself)

His Presence – Vs. 18-24

18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.

Leave – same word we translate elsewhere as forgive, or divorce. Leaving, removal, etc.

Orphans – word also translated bereaved or desolate. That is the idea here.

Orphans – Child without parents: Spiritual orphans

Romans 8:9- Won’t leave them alone.

9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

If we are alone, its because we don’t belong to Him. If we are His, the Spirit is always with us.

Implications of this….

Never alone; abandoned; never forgotten

Never a private sin

I will come to you…physical after resurrection

John 20

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

Grows out their questions regarding HIM. It is almost as if Christ anticipated their question. He has been telling them He has to go away but will send another helper. They want to know about him.

It’s as if they are saying “Ok, so we get the helper, the Holy Spirit, but what about you?”

Vs. 19 – Yet a little while...His going away is rapidly approaching.

Vs. 19 –Yet a little while and the world will see me no more… They will not see him because he is going to die and ascend. No record of Jesus appearing to any unbelievers before his ascension.

Vs. 19 - THEY WILL SEE because He will appear to them physically. HE WILL LIVE, He will rise again, and as a result, THEY WILL LIVE; spiritually.

Because He lives, because they will be given life, Christ gives Himself to them and to us for eternity.

Romans 5:10; Eph 2:5; Rev 20:4

Romans 5:10

10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

Ephesians 2:5

5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

Revelation 20:4

4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5

In that day…

…the day he appears to them after resurrection, then they will know for certain and will understand how He and the Father are connected. Resurrection will be the ultimate proof of all He has revealed.

…when the Holy Spirit, the helper comes.

...all that they have failed to see and understand they will understand fully after his resurrection.

I am in the Father, and you in me, and I in you. Relationship…

In that day, the relational dynamics will come to life.

Christ is present with us through the Holy Spirit

Expands in chapter 17, high priestly prayer…

Christ’s prayer and desire, UNITY, ONENESS. FOR US AS HE IS WITH THE FATHER.

Cure for troubled heart, for loneliness, unity with God and through unity with God, unity with each other.

Lack of unity oneness; excessive loneliness, signs of lack of oneness with God.

God’s desire we experience Him and find oneness with Himself (and others) and find cure for that which troubles our heart.

Vs. 21 - Repeats…whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is that loves me…evidence of true love

Result…loving Christ finds reciprocal love from God and Christ

Not that we initiate this relation of love by our obedience and invoke God’s love as a response. Rather, there is an ongoing relationship between Jesus and his disciples characterized by obedience on their part and conditioned by it. They love and obey Christ in the same way that Christ love and obey His Father. (Summarized from Carson)

Begins by God showing His love for us to send a Savior, we respond in obedience out of love for His sacrifice, He responds by pouring out His love even more as he is pleased with our obedience, and we obey more and more as our love grows….and round it goes.

Manifest Myself – reveal, make known, disclose

How? Judas (Not Iscariot asks…)

First thought, reveal himself to them physically after his resurrection.

In Septuagint, Greek translation of OT, it is used in Exodus to refer to Theophanies

2 Tim 1:10 uses it to refer to Christ’s coming in its entirety

8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

Used also to refer to His second coming (2 Thes. 2:8; 1 Tim. 6:14; 2 Tim. 4:1, 8; Tit. 2:13)

It is used in other locations in other manners.

It is a broad word, but giving the context, and various meanings and usages, it is safe to conclude, it is probably referring to all manner of Christ revealing himself to those who believe.

He is the manifest giver. He will reveal Himself.

Judas asks…question derived from his understanding that the kingdom of God will arrive in splendor and honor (future kingdom with God bringing kingdom to earth, coming down, battle, etc)

Jesus’ response one of a different manifestation – again not of earning God’s love but God simply responding to our love.

DA Carson comments….So at one are Jesus and the Father that according to Jesus the one who loves him will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him. The idea is not that the believer initiates this relation of love by demonstrating obedience, and that Jesus and his Father simply respond. After all, the Fourth Gospel repeatedly makes it clear that the initiative in the relationship between Jesus and his followers finally lies with Jesus (cf. notes on 6:70; 15:16) or with his Father (cf. notes on 6:37; 10:29). The idea, rather, is that the ongoing relationship between Jesus and his disciples is characterized by obedience on their part, and thus is logically conditioned by it. They love and obey Jesus, and he loves them, in exactly the same way that he loves and obeys his Father, and the Father loves him (cf. 3:35; 5:20; 8:29; 14:31).

How else manifest? Indwelling…making home…sending Helper to dwell within, to teach, guide, instruct, etc.

So, how will he manifest himself?

Physically after resurrection

Future return

Through the indwelling Spirit

Through the Word of God

Through Creation

Through believers

Through circumstances

Through trial and blessings

The way to know the Father is through the Son and the Spirit.

Jesus wants us to know Him and makes every means possible or us too. He does not leave us alone, lonely, He gives Himself, He gives the Helper, He gives the Father, He gives the body of Christ.

Secondly, He give us His peace…

His Peace – Vs. 27

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Peace – Cessation of war, prosperity, blessing, lacks fear, tranquility, communicates blessing, right relationship,

What is peace?

Absence of trial, pain, or conflict? No.

Absence of danger? No.

Absence of doubt?

Absence of uncertainty of future or circumstance? No.

IT IS absence of fear. It is confidence and assurance that provides rest and composure in times of uncertainty

Leave – same word (Will not leave you as orphans)

Gives peace; MY PEACE; Not as the world gives do I leave with you.

Christ’s peace

Eternal

Abiding

Satisfying

All powerful

Rests upon God Himself

World’s peace

Temporal

Fleeting

Cannot satisfy

Weak and needy

Rests upon man, circumstances

What does this look like for everyday living?

Example: Dorothy and Grisanti; when Dorothy first got cancer, both Christy and Dorothy said, It is in God’s will and His will no matter what happens.”

Example: Nightmares and Waking terrors of losing Kelly and what I would do.

RESTS ON PERSON: Christ (Relationship)

Won’t know how this looks till you face it

Must be maintained and strengthened in an everyday pursuit of Christ.

Repeats command of 14:1 – Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Afraid – literally, cowardly.

Why? Cause you have HIS PEACE.

Example: Hit me this week, me who is often fearful of temptation and myself; I was not at peace because I was trusting in myself and my strength rather than in the person of Christ and I know how weak I am. Thus, no peace. God humbled me and pointed out my misplaced confidence and the reason for my fear and lack of peace.

We can have peace, when we trust the person of Christ.

Col 3

15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

Phil 4:4-7

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Source of peace; Trust, confidence, assurance. Peace is possible ONLY through trust, confidence, and assurance in the PERSON of God.

That’s why….Not as the world gives – temporal, fleeting, insecure, BUT ETERNAL, TRUE, UNWAVERING PEACE.

There is a third provision Christ’s make in the abiding presence of Himself that promotes peace for troubled hearts….

His Power and Position – Vs. 28-31

28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me,31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.

You heard – Reminds them what He told them and what they heard.

Then rebukes…If you loved, you would have rejoiced…Father is greater than I

There is a failure to understand and trust. They still fail to understand who He is and by that understanding, trust Him….this is a failure to love.

On one hand acknowledge him as messiah and as son of God but fail here to understand and apply that truth.

Rather than rejoice for Him and with Him, they mourn for themselves and allow fear and troubled hearts to take over.

Focus is now on themselves and their earthly circumstances rather than on Christ and His Father.

Father is greater – Not a diminishing of Jesus deity, but an affirmation He is returning to where He belongs and it is good. Returning to His Father is better in His undiminished glorious state than Christ is in his incarnate state. AND WITH THAT RETURN, Christ takes back His undiminished glory which He had before the foundation of the world with God.

And when He does, He takes up the role of advocate, mediator, and intercessor for us!

1 John 2

Christ Our Advocate

2 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

1 Timothy 2

5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

Romans 8:34

34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

Peace comes with trust, which flows from love.

Told you before, so you believe when it happens….

Ruler of world is coming, has no hold…Father is more powerful

Look to me, trust me, not the circumstances, Christ says…

Depart….

God gives an abiding presence as a cure for all that troubles our hearts.

Holy Spirit

Himself

His presence

His peace

His power and position

Conclusion: