Sermon Nuggets Fri Sept 12
Theme Preparing for Parting
Verses John 14:7-14 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."
8 Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us."
9 Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?
10 Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.
11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.
12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. (NIV)
Jesus Presents a Promise for Us
Before His parting Jesus makes His Divinity clear to His disciples. He wanted to reveal the Father by having them see Himself. If you want to see the Father, look at Jesus. If you want to see Jesus look at the Father. All that Jesus had done and has said is from the Father.
Now Jesus is going to depart and be with the Father and the challenge is given to these special 11 friends. They are going to do greater thing that Jesus did while on earth. Whatever they ask of Him in his name the Son will do so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.
In choosing the word "Father" to represent God, Jesus chose a word that is both warm and reassuring. It combines both authority and approachability. Ideally speaking, to a child a father is one who is capable and competent in any situation. He represents power, provision, and protection. He is the source of the child's security. The child should feel completely safe within his care.
I am constantly amazed each Olympics how new records are broken, how athletes continue to build upon those before theme. I am at wonder how newer discoveries and new technology goes beyond the things done previously. But Christ is different from all the rest of us. If He were only a man why has He not been reduplicated or surpassed? If he was simply a product of evolution why did the human race peak 2,000 years ago? Why with our advance in knowledge haven't we had new record breakers and people of influence greater than Jesus? There is no more of God that can be shown than was seen in Jesus Christ.
So when Jesus said that one day the disciples would do what He did, why has that not happened? How can anyone do greater than Jesus? That passage has often bothered me, until I read how the church has been unleashed, with the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus never left Palestine and the gospel was limited to the embodiment of Christ's earthly body. When Peter preached and the Spirit was released in power 3,000 people were saved. Now we have the privilege of the power of Jesus in each life in the Holy Spirit. Prayer is availing us to Jesus now.
What a promise!
Pastor Dale
