2013 April 27 - revealing word

2013 April 27 - revealing word

From now on you do know him and have seen him.” 
Philip said to Jesus, 
“Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” 

It is a dark sort of knowing.  That is how Philip can turn and ask Jesus for the very thing that Jesus just said was the case.  We need to trust Jesus even when he tells us mysteries that we will never fully grasp.

Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? 

Yes, LORD, we believe, but we don't fully understand.

Fortunately the LORD is always working in us to reveal himself more and more.  We may never fully understand it, but Jesus is telling us about his unity with the Father for a reason.  One of the consequences of this unity which Jesus wants us to understand is that he shares the power of the Father and bestows it on his disciples when they ask for anything as long as they ask in his name.  He is the word of the Father and when that word is spoken by his disciples it always has power.

Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever believes in me will do the works that I do,
and will do greater ones than these,
because I am going to the Father. 

And whatever you ask in my name, I will do,
so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 

This is amazing.  We are right to be taken aback by it and to wonder at it.  But it is also necessary for the great mission he has for us.

For so the Lord has commanded us,

I have made you a light to the Gentiles,
that you may be an instrument of salvation
to the ends of the earth.”

In order to steward the "word of salvation" which we have been entrusted we need to understand that it comes from the Father and is therefore utterly unique from all human words.  His word contains his power.  When it is proclaimed he himself acts to reveal himself.

The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. 

The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. 

The words are words of salvation for the whole world.  Let us give thanks with the psalmist.

All the ends of the earth have seen

the salvation by our God.

Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;

break into song; sing praise.