Where do you look to find God?
This podcast (34 minutes) suggests the answer is relational — in the relationships that exist between Jesus, the Father, the Holy Spirit, the people who recognize Jesus’ authority, and the world that doesn’t.
Spoken at Riverview Joondalup, 19 September 2021, it draws from this text:
John 14:8-26 (my translation)
8 Philip says, “Master, show us the Father. That would satisfy us.”
9 Jesus replies, “Have I been with you all this time, and you haven’t known me, Philip? 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 the Father is in me? The words I say to you don’t come from me: you’re hearing the Father who resides in me doing his work. 11 Trust me: I’m operating in the Father, and the Father is operating in me. If you can’t do that, at least trust what he’s doing.”
12 “I tell you the truth, the one who trusts me, that person will do the same deeds I do. In fact, they will do greater deeds than these, because I am going to the Father.
13 And so when you make a request on the basis of my authority, I will do it so that the Father is honoured in the son. 14 If you make a request on the basis of my authority, I will do it.”
15 If you love me, you will keep what I command.
16 I will request the Father and he will give you another Advocate to be with you throughout the era:
17 the Spirit of truth, someone the world is incapable of receiving since it cannot perceive him. You know him because he stays with you, and will be in you.
18 I will not leave you as orphans. I am coming to you. 19 A short time, and the world sees me no more, but you see me. Because I am alive, you also will be alive. 20 That’s when you will know that I am in my Father—with you [plural] living in me, and I among you.
21 When someone has my commands and keeps them, that’s the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father. I will love that person and I will be clearly evident to you.”
22 Judas (not Iscariot) says, “Master, what has happened if you’re about to be clearly evident to us but not the world?”
23 In reply, Jesus answered, “If someone loves me, they will keep my word; my Father will love them, and we will come and make our residence with them. 24 When someone does not love me, they do not keep my words; and the word that you hear isn’t mine but from the Father who sent me.
25 I have told you these things while staying with you, 26 but the Advocate—Holy Spirit whom the Father will send because my authority—he will teach you everything, reminding you of everything I told you.”
Related posts
- How do you know God exists?
- Who are we? (Gen 1:20-31)
- What does it mean to be human? (Gen 2:15-25)
- What is a Christian? (podcast) (Rom 12:9-21)
Seeking the kingdom 
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