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- Apr 25, 2006
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23 February 2008
Word on the Web
John 16 v 4b-11
"I did not tell you these things at the beginning, because I was with you then. Now I am going back to the One who sent me. But none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' Your hearts are filled with sadness because I have told you these things. But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go away. When I go away, I will send the Helper to you. If I do not go away, the Helper will not come. When the Helper comes, he will prove to the people of the world the truth about sin, about being right with God, and about judgment. He will prove to them that sin is not believing in me. He will prove to them that being right with God comes from my going to the Father and not being seen anymore. And the Helper will prove to them that judgment happened when the ruler of this world was judged.
As a Chelsea fan I was pretty sad when Jose Mourinho announced he was leaving the football club! However, this pales into insignificance compared to how Jesus' followers must have felt when he told them he was leaving. After all, they had given up homes, families, jobs, to be with him. They had travelled around the countryside with him, had witnessed his miracles, had listened to his teaching about the kingdom. They had got to know him, and had grown to love him. Jesus tells them it's for the best, but that must have been hard to hear. I guess many of us have experienced the leaving of someone close to us, perhaps through bereavement, or through the end of a relationship, and it certainly hasn't felt like it was "for the best". But Jesus' leaving really was for the best. In order for the Helper - the Holy Spirit to come, Jesus had to leave, and the manner of his leaving is the significant thing: through his death on the cross and his ascension to heaven, we can "be right with God". We can know forgiveness of our sins in a miraculous way, and be strengthened and encouraged in our faith through the Spirit, transforming our lives. And we have the promise of eternal life - life beyond death.
Thank you Lord for your obedience in coming to earth, living amongst us, and being prepared to pay the ultimate price in giving your life, so that we can be in a right relationship with God, and know the encouragement of the Spirit in our lives. Amen..
Written by Debbie Orriss
Word on the Web
John 16 v 4b-11
"I did not tell you these things at the beginning, because I was with you then. Now I am going back to the One who sent me. But none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' Your hearts are filled with sadness because I have told you these things. But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go away. When I go away, I will send the Helper to you. If I do not go away, the Helper will not come. When the Helper comes, he will prove to the people of the world the truth about sin, about being right with God, and about judgment. He will prove to them that sin is not believing in me. He will prove to them that being right with God comes from my going to the Father and not being seen anymore. And the Helper will prove to them that judgment happened when the ruler of this world was judged.
As a Chelsea fan I was pretty sad when Jose Mourinho announced he was leaving the football club! However, this pales into insignificance compared to how Jesus' followers must have felt when he told them he was leaving. After all, they had given up homes, families, jobs, to be with him. They had travelled around the countryside with him, had witnessed his miracles, had listened to his teaching about the kingdom. They had got to know him, and had grown to love him. Jesus tells them it's for the best, but that must have been hard to hear. I guess many of us have experienced the leaving of someone close to us, perhaps through bereavement, or through the end of a relationship, and it certainly hasn't felt like it was "for the best". But Jesus' leaving really was for the best. In order for the Helper - the Holy Spirit to come, Jesus had to leave, and the manner of his leaving is the significant thing: through his death on the cross and his ascension to heaven, we can "be right with God". We can know forgiveness of our sins in a miraculous way, and be strengthened and encouraged in our faith through the Spirit, transforming our lives. And we have the promise of eternal life - life beyond death.
Thank you Lord for your obedience in coming to earth, living amongst us, and being prepared to pay the ultimate price in giving your life, so that we can be in a right relationship with God, and know the encouragement of the Spirit in our lives. Amen..
Written by Debbie Orriss
