Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Promise
of clarity and knowledge
“Nevertheless
I tell you the truth it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go
away the counselor will not come to you” (7)
God’s
promise - In John’s
Gospel Chapter 13 – 17 clearly reveals Jesus’ knowledge about his crucification
and death, and Jesus was trying to prepare his disciples for the stormy future
that lay ahead of his followers. During his life on earth Jesus had hand-picked
his disciples gave them the privilege of listening to his words and seeing him
perform various miracles. All this he did to deepen their faith and grooming
them to be leaders of his people when he leaves the earth. From the time he
spent with them it was also clear to Jesus that their faith was shaky. As the
time was nearing for his suffering Jesus also sensed the fear and delusion
growing among his disciples as he was talking to them about the manner of his
suffering and crucification. He did not want them to feel abandoned during this
time of turmoil and be scattered. To build up their courage and hope he assures
them that his death is to their advantage, and this important event is going to
set the stage for the descend of the Counselor who will enlighten them with the
truth regarding sin, righteousness and judgment.
The
Transformation - After
the crucification it is the promise of the counselor that prevented them from
being scattered in the chaos and fear that followed. In John Chapter 20 verse
22 when Jesus appears to them after his resurrection be blesses the disciples
with the gift of the Holy Spirit. In Acts Chapter 2 we come to know about
the disciples after the amazing transformation. The men who were sitting behind
closed doors for the fear of the Jews break the chains of fear and begin
preaching about the mysteries of God’s kingdom to the very people who in the
past instilled fear in them. The disciples who when Jesus was with them in the
world had trouble understanding his parables and teachings were transformed by
the counselor into proficient teachers. This transformation helped the
disciples perform more miracles than Jesus, able to build the infrastructure of
Christian faith and travel far and wide in the world spreading teaching of
Jesus their friend and mentor and the mysteries of God’s kingdom.
Prayer- Creator of the Universe in this
passage you have made known to us that being filled with the spirit of the
counselor will transform us with spiritual enlightenment and fill us with
wisdom. We pray for the blessing of this Holy Spirit so that we can live
our life in this clarity and not darkness and this will help us enlighten the
way for those entrusted to us. Amen
Thought for
the day-Pray for the
blessing of the holy spirit and be ready to be transformed to perform the will
of GOD.
Theme of the Week: The gifts of the Spirit.
Abraham and Dr Annie Philip, Rochester, NY