Plainly Speaking
When Jesus spoke to them plainly, they believed him.
On that day you will ask nothing of me. Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete. ‘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, but will tell you plainly of the Father. On that day you will ask in my name. 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; again, I am leaving the world and am going to the Father.’ His disciples said, ‘Yes, now you are speaking plainly, not in any figure of speech! Now we know that you know all things, and do not need to have anyone question you; by this we believe that you came from God.’- John 16:23-30
For six months after my cataract surgery, I could see clearly without glasses for the first time in my life.
But now, the fluid in one eye is changing and I have a floater that causes the vision to be cloudy as it passes into my field of vision. I am told my brain will adjust to it, but it is annoying.
Once we have experienced the truth, we have a hard time going back.
I am sure that is the way it was with the disciples. Once they realized that Jesus, their friend and teacher, was God in the flesh, how could they see him as one of them any longer?
Jesus tells them that they are now considered children of God and can speak with the father directly. They are free to use his name.
What a great gift they and we have been given. It is better than being given three wishes. We can ask God for anything at any time and be assured that he will hear us and answer us.
The challenge is we must believe.
If we doubt, we go back to who and what we were before we knew the truth.
If I want to continue to see clearly, I have to learn to control the flow of the liquid and thus manage the movement of the cloud in my eye.
I have to seek to see clearly. And then I will be ok.
So, the work is ours. Jesus has given us a challenge and a gift all in one. See God clearly and be His.
More to come...