a child of god
this is the way, run in it
![]() I've been reading in the gospel of John, lately, as part of my read-through-the-bible-in-a-year program, and what is standing out to me this time round is Jesus' relationship with God the Father. Everything Jesus does, as God the Son on earth fulfilling his mission from heaven, is to point to the Father and to provide the way to the Father. Jesus has been out among the people, He has been in the temple teaching the people, He has been healing people, feeding people, raising the dead, freeing people from demons by casting them out, answering their questions and always, consistently, pointing to the Father and saying, the kingdom of heaven is here - do you believe in Me? Repent and believe! Do you believe I came from the Father to bring salvation, healing, redemption? He is calling people to come to Him, the Son of God, who was the Son of Man as well, to repent of their sins, turn to Him, enter His Father's kingdom, the kingdom of light, and leave behind forever the kingdom of darkness. I think this is why sometimes when Jesus responds to people in the gospels they are confused and don't get it. They ask a question for a reason, but Jesus replies not with the answer they are expecting or looking for, but with a declaration of the truth. There's a moment in John 12 which I love. Jesus is teaching. This is after his triumphant entry into Jerusalem, which we remember as Palm Sunday, and which caused the Pharisees to respond in dismay, "you see that you are not doing any good; look, the world has gone after Him!" (v.19). Jesus is talking about his approaching death and the necessity for it, but his disciples can't understand this yet. And out of His distress, "My soul has become troubled..." (v.27), Jesus cries out. "Father, glorify Thy Name!" And God's voice thunders from heaven. "I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again" (v.28). What I love about this passage is Jesus' call and God the Father's response. Jesus cries out to the Father, and the Father immediately answers Him. It's a BOOM moment. A relationship revealed moment. And people hear it, some people can hear what God the Father says, others think it is thunder - so they heard something, they just couldn't discern the words. And we wonder sometimes why God doesn't speak out loud to us so we can hear Him! What if He is but we just can't hear Him? Oh may I have ears to hear my Father God. Now before you flip out on me and say, she wants to hear the audible voice of God, I know that God has spoken to us already through His revealed Word - the Bible. And I believe that. I love reading His word and learning from it and hearing Him speak to me through it - as this blog site should demonstrate. And I know that scripture only records three times that God the Father spoke out loud in the gospels, where people could hear Him other than Jesus - so that is not often. But I do want to hear my Father God's voice. I want to hear Jesus' voice. And I want God the Holy Spirit to reveal to me wisdom and teaching and understanding from God's word, which Jesus said the Spirit would. But I do also deep down desire a BOOM moment with God, when He breaks through into my life supernaturally and I am aware of Him, awed by Him, spoken to by Him. I love it when God makes me aware of His presence. It isn't usually audibly, but He does make His presence known/felt and those relationship moments are to be treasured. Jesus wants us to know the Father. Here's another verse from John 12, "If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall My servant also be; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him" (v. 26). It's all about belonging. It's all about relationship. And Jesus is the way, the truth and the life - to God the Father and eternal life with Him. I am so thankful I belong to Jesus and that He made that possible through His life, death and resurrection.
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Franci Ballwatching and working for the kingdom of God in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham - UK Archives
January 2019
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