John 16:31-33
A Life Viewed from Above II: Soaring on His Wing!
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A Life Viewed from Above II: Soaring on His Wing!
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Introduction: According to a psychological experiment, we see things in two different ways. To prove it, a teacher hands glasses, filling water half of each, to all students. When some said, “Only half is full,” seeing the half empty part, another said, “Even upto half is full,” knowing how it’s difficult to get even this much full in such a dry season. Besides, there’s still another perspective that see life from above. By trusting in God and obeying His will/plan, we have that privilege—soaring up high above to the sky and looking at life down from a higher ground. Furthermore, we are even expected to live up that perspective daily.
We Are Expected to Live It (15:1-27): Ch. 15 is introduced with the parable of vine and braches. Important concepts of the parable are such as to bear fruit, to prune, to cleanse. However, to maintain a loving relationship with God is the most evident call (cf., vv. 4, 10, 18), for this is the key to fruitfulness (v. 5). The expected fruit, then, is growing into ‘greater love’ (vv. 12-13). However, to naturally ignite that greater love in life, nothing except to remain our loving relationship with God can help (v. 9). Further, this is the only way to soar over troubles in life [cf., vv. 19, 20] and testify fearlessly about Jesus and His greater love by the power of the Holy Spirit (v. 27; 13:35). So, stay in love with God and live this life!
We Are Inwardly Driven to Live It (16:1-33): Further, Ch. 16 expounds that we are deeply inspired to live this higher life-style by the Holy Spirit, energizing us from within. However, to receive this inner spiritual force, there must be a vacuum in our lives (v. 7). In fact, in physical sense, there would be a time of lonesomeness and of alienation (vv. 2, 20). However, the better inner spiritual presence of the resurrected Christ will occupy that empty space to remain forever by the Holy Spirit (vv. 19, 22). That inner force will drive us all the way to live this higher life, by warming up the greater love of Jesus, refreshing our relationship with God, and assuring us the victory of Jesus Christ even over the gates of hell deep down in our hearts (v. 33; 14:27). So, stay in love with God for spiritual empowerment!
Jesus Reflected It in His Prayer (17:1-26): A life, viewed from higher ground, was more reflected in the prayer of Jesus in Ch. 17. Indeed, the major tone of the prayer sounds more about relationship—i.e., of Jesus to the Father as the exalted Son (v. 4) that modeled for how the disciples should related to God (v. 6) in the midst of difficulties (v. 14) and to each others, and that will end into eternal relationship of all with God (vv. 20-21). Basically, this relationship is first conditioned and then modeled by Jesus’ self-understanding of his higher stand as the exalted Son of God. So, it’s a life flowing down from that higher ground.
We Are Expected to Live It (15:1-27): Ch. 15 is introduced with the parable of vine and braches. Important concepts of the parable are such as to bear fruit, to prune, to cleanse. However, to maintain a loving relationship with God is the most evident call (cf., vv. 4, 10, 18), for this is the key to fruitfulness (v. 5). The expected fruit, then, is growing into ‘greater love’ (vv. 12-13). However, to naturally ignite that greater love in life, nothing except to remain our loving relationship with God can help (v. 9). Further, this is the only way to soar over troubles in life [cf., vv. 19, 20] and testify fearlessly about Jesus and His greater love by the power of the Holy Spirit (v. 27; 13:35). So, stay in love with God and live this life!
We Are Inwardly Driven to Live It (16:1-33): Further, Ch. 16 expounds that we are deeply inspired to live this higher life-style by the Holy Spirit, energizing us from within. However, to receive this inner spiritual force, there must be a vacuum in our lives (v. 7). In fact, in physical sense, there would be a time of lonesomeness and of alienation (vv. 2, 20). However, the better inner spiritual presence of the resurrected Christ will occupy that empty space to remain forever by the Holy Spirit (vv. 19, 22). That inner force will drive us all the way to live this higher life, by warming up the greater love of Jesus, refreshing our relationship with God, and assuring us the victory of Jesus Christ even over the gates of hell deep down in our hearts (v. 33; 14:27). So, stay in love with God for spiritual empowerment!
Jesus Reflected It in His Prayer (17:1-26): A life, viewed from higher ground, was more reflected in the prayer of Jesus in Ch. 17. Indeed, the major tone of the prayer sounds more about relationship—i.e., of Jesus to the Father as the exalted Son (v. 4) that modeled for how the disciples should related to God (v. 6) in the midst of difficulties (v. 14) and to each others, and that will end into eternal relationship of all with God (vv. 20-21). Basically, this relationship is first conditioned and then modeled by Jesus’ self-understanding of his higher stand as the exalted Son of God. So, it’s a life flowing down from that higher ground.
Only after we realize our higher role in God’s presence [in union with Christ], we will then be able to start looking at life from a higher ground, and all those in life [tears & sorrows, problems & hardships, fear & doubt, pain & suffering, etc.] will turn into a minor case, a temporary short-time experience of life. Our journey will then be easier. For, this is a journey soaring high above storms and winds with the Holy Spirit, who always reminds us about God’s embracing love, forgiving grace, and living truth that we have found in Jesus Christ!
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