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2. The Holy Trinity descends on believers by the Comforter (John 14:12–25)
JOHN 14:21
21 One who has my commandments, and keeps them, that person is one who loves me. One who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him, and will reveal myself to him.”
The stream of blessing and grace overflows from Jesus Christ into his Church at all times. Even if all believers were filled with the overflow, an ocean of grace will remain. Before his enemies Jesus had to stand up to his claim to be Messiah and God’s Son. With the disciples, however, he revealed the riches of his union with the Father in these last hours. May our hearts be opened wide so that the fullness of the deity of Christ may fill us.
Jesus told us that his disciples’ love for him was no mere emotion springing out of goodwill only, but that this love was built on obedience to his commands and its practical outworking. The natural man does not recognize the advice implicit in Christ’s love. He opens the treasuries of heaven to us and sends us out to serve the lost and the upbuilding of our brothers; he grants us the ability to realize his plans for us. His commands are not burdensome or impossible since the joy of the Spirit impels us, and the Spirit of truth stirs us to confess every vile or deceitful act we have committed. This Spirit strengthens us to keep his commands because he loved us and saved us to the uttermost, we therefore love him and walk in his Spirit.
Do you love Jesus? Do not answer at once with a cheerful "Yes". Nor reply gloomily "No". If you are born again, the Holy Spirit in you will say, "Yes I love you, Lord Jesus, for your majesty and meekness, your sacrifice and patience; you have created in me the ability to love." This conversation with the Holy Spirit in us is not a vain hope or a fancy, but is based on the resolve to carry out loving actions. The Lord creates love in his beloved and grounds them in it by grace.
God loves those who love Jesus. The Father placed all power and mercy in his Son to save mankind. He who receives Jesus, receives God, and whoever rejects the Son, rejects God. Do you realize that God calls you, "My beloved", because the Spirit of Christ has changed you and made you a loving person. You are not good in yourself, but God’s love makes you a new creature. Christ works in you interceding for you with the Father and will keep you for all eternity. He will reveal himself to you with spiritual assurances. However much you grow in the knowledge of your Savior, that knowledge will stay feeble, because knowledge means growth in obedience, love, sacrifice and self-denial.
JOHN 14:22-25
22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, what has happened that you are about to reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If a man loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our home with him. 24 He who doesn’t love me doesn’t keep my words. The word which you hear isn’t mine, but the Father’s who sent me. 25 I have said these things to you, while still living with you.
Jesus had still another disciple called Judas, not Iscariot. He realized that Jesus had shifted the subject since the betrayer left. He suspected that some fateful event was to take place.
Jesus did not answer him directly, but announced the prime objective of the Church as well as its need to die to the world. Jesus showed them the stages leading to the genuine knowledge of God. That is the fact that knowing Jesus and accepting him produces an openness to him and new life with the Holy Spirit’s power to keep his commandments and to experience God’s love. Then, Jesus uttered a moving sentence, "We come to the believer and there we make our dwelling." He does not here speak of the Church in general, but to believers singly. The Holy Trinity visits the believer and abides in him. This saying rings in the heart of man as if he were in the embrace of the Holy Spirit, the Son and the Father. Entering the progress of salvation, a person finds that God encloses him completely and protects him personally. Every one who trusts Christ experiences this true mystery.
PRAYER: O Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I worship you, thank and magnify you. You have visited me, and indwelt me a sinner. Forgive my sins. Thank you for the power of love given me, and for the Spirit of love in my heart. Keep me in your name.
QUESTION:
- How does our love for Christ grow and how does the Holy Trinity descend on us?