Thursday 10 July 2014

Background

Although Grenada is an English-speaking country,sometimes language can be the biggest barrier. The differentspeeds, rhythms, words and pronunciations can make understandingdifficult both for me and also for those with whom I am trying tospeak, especially when working with children. Sometimes words canjust get in the way.

Today's passage gives some detail to the statement that Jesusmakes in John 5:17. It is an attempt to explain thenature of the relationship between God the Father and God the Son.The explanation is dense and complex, revealing the impossible taskof trying to explain the mystery of God in human terms. Words seemto get in the way. Sometimes we must remind ourselves that there isa mysterious nature to our faith, and we need to hold that alongwith our rational scriptural study. We learn from the passage thatJesus is in a loving relationship with the Father. Jesus is showneverything that the Father is doing, closer even than one who is inthe inner sanctum of a government, and is obedient to the Father'swill and sending. We also learn that the Son has been givenauthority from the Father, over judgement and power to raise fromthe dead. Whoever honours the one who is sent, honours the sender,because there is this almost indivisible relationship betweenthem.

To Ponder

• Do you honour those who are 'sent' by God, and those who havegiven up certain things to serve?

• How do you respond to the idea of Jesus as judge, sorting goodfrom evil?

• In what way does a mysterious nature to God impact upon yourfaith?