Fellowship That Illuminates Truth

Jesus is sitting on a throne in Heaven right now and the people that have gone before us who believed in Him are there also. I often wonder what that must be like. It must make Jesus very happy that those people are there. He Is God who forever took on the 'form' of a man and people need people no matter who you are.

Jesus really had no one to fellowship with on Earth that understood Him. You can see His frustration at times...

"And Jesus answered, "O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me."" - Matthew 17:17 ESV

"Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?" - John 14:8-9 ESV

So many things must have seemed 'self-evident' to Him but the people around Him were blind to those realities.

As a thirty year old man He met with an older teacher in Israel that seemed to know some things. Most of the other teachers stood against Him but not this one. This one wanted to meet and talk...

"Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him." Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?" Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?" - John 3:1-12 ESV

I read this and see Jesus as a 30 year old man hoping to connect with an older respected person but they hit a wall because the older man is blind to what Jesus plainly sees as true.

Ministry is often filled with times when we converse with others and find that they know something deeply that we were blind to. Then on other days we know something that the Spirit taught us that the other person is blind to and gracious interaction is needed to bridge that gap.

"Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit." - Matthew 15:14 ESV

So true.

If we find someone who sees beyond what we see it is wise to be quiet and listen. The Spirit will give witness and we have scripture to act as a guide. Real wisdom will never fall outside what scripture says. Wisdom from above will be illuminated by scripture and will connect concept to concept. Jesus will be central. Grace will be in the mix. God will become bigger and Heaven will seem closer.

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