Tag Archives: Words

Dilemma of a Hard Heart

With all the discussion about soft hearts, I find myself somewhat troubled.

On one hand, I’m encouraged by what I’m learning about a soft heart.  Especially, as I grow in recognition of the many ways Holy Spirit may speak.  These lessons about a soft heart are comforting and instructional; yet, I remain bothered.  What about those whose hearts have become hardened?  Are they doomed to life with an inability to recognise and respond to God?

I understand that there may be some who have rejected God, His Word and His goodness for so long that their hearts look more like a concrete car park rather than the compacted soil of a foot-path in Jesus’ parable.  But does this mean that God’s Word cannot penetrate the armour of their heart?

In addition, I have experienced enough of life to know that many people have a hard edge to their heart but, deeper down, their hearts are soft.  They are merely putting up defences in attempts to protect themselves.  Many people who have a hardened exterior, have actually been hurt, disappointed or disillusioned and are attempting to keep others, or God, from getting too close for fear of being hurt again.  But, if these people have allowed hardness to build up around their hearts through the continued rebuffing of God’s good news, will He leave them trapped within the cavern of their callouses?

These, and similar examples, are where I sense the dilemma.  How will God’s message of goodness and truth pierce through the outer layers of a heart which have been solidified by someone’s choices?

We know that God is a good Father who desires that all people are in relationship with him (Rom 8.16; 1 Tim 2.4).  We know that the Word of God contains the Life and Essence of God Himself (Jn 6.63).  We know that it is with the heart that one believes (Rom 10.17) and we know that in order for one to believe the message of God’s Word, it must be presented and explained to them (Rom 10.14).  But, if the heart is hard, how is one able to hear and receive the seed of His Word?  If the heart is hard, how is one able to recognise the voice of God apply faith, and respond?

We briefly considered this challenge in an earlier part of our discussion (see post) but at the time we were building on the concept of learning how to listen.  The problem now becomes much more poignant; and Jesus’ explanation of the parable of the soils gives an insight into God’s solution.

Lessons of a Soft Heart

If, as we’ve discussed, the soil of the soft heart enables the seed of God’s Word to germinate, take root and grow, it is vital that we monitor the state of our hearts.  Regularly taking stock of the heart’s condition will help keep us attentive to Jesus’ instruction, sensitive to the Spirit’s direction and responsive to the Kingdom truths we hear.  This attention to the heart facilitates our ability to identify with the heart of God as we relate to the world around us.

This appears to be what Jesus expects of us as well.  After his resurrection, in conversation with the two disciples on the Emmaus Road, Jesus scolded them for not being able to apply the Scriptural truths (what Jesus had taught them) with the circumstances of recent events.  But he didn’t call them out for being insincere or apathetic.  He didn’t chastise them for not being able to apply chapter and verse to the recent events.  He simply said they were “slow of heart to believe” (Lk 24.25).   The heart usually recognises truth before the head.  A heart enriched with soft soil, that is cleared of weeds and stones, will be quicker to respond to the truths of God when we come across them.  This is what Jesus had expected of these two disciples.

It is with the heart that we believe, so we must give careful consideration to what we hear.

The rest of his conversation with them gives further insight into this dynamic and highlights the importance of recognising what is going on within our hearts.  After Jesus mysteriously disappeared from their table, the two disciples compared their experience and recognised their hearts had been burning while Jesus spoke with them (Lk 24.32).

It is with the heart that we believe, so we must give careful consideration to how we listen.   

This story also illustrates two more components in the process of belief.  As we give attention to what is going on within our hearts our ‘eyes’ are opened to see, or perceive, the truths being sensed by our hearts (Lk 24.31).  But, as we discussed previously (see post), merely ‘seeing’ the truths does not imply an immediate or complete understanding of these truths.  We need for our minds to catch up with our hearts.  We need our minds to be opened in order to grow into deeper understanding (Lk 24.45).

These are the ideas to which we’ll now turn our attention.

 

 

Soil of the Heart

I really like studying the parables of Jesus.   Whenever I go back over them I frequently discover new meaning, deeper truths or an application to my circumstances I hadn’t realised previously.  I especially like reading how, after telling a parable, Jesus would explain its meaning to the Twelve.  My favourite explanation is from Matthew 13 when Jesus explains the parable of the soils.

The common denominator for the different individuals referred to in this parable is the condition of the ‘soil’ of their heart.  But another element that stands out to me is the part that understanding plays in the growth of the seed.  If someone hears the message of the kingdom but does not understand it, the seed that was sown is snatched away.  Notice that the soil which represents this situation is along the path.  Any path I’ve ever known is hard, packed-down by footsteps over time.  Not even grass grows in the worn soil of a path.  This provides the perfect imagery for a heart that is hardened over time.  And, in the context of our recent discussions, a hard heart is unlikely to be able recognise the voice of God when he speaks.

This worn, hardened soil of the path is a stark contrast to the good soil of a soft heart.  A location where seeds can be placed and plants can easily grow, is soil that has been cleared of rocks and weeds.  The rough soil at the top has been gently broken up, nourished and watered.  It has been nurtured.  The soft heart is ready to hear the message of the kingdom because it knows how to consider carefully what it hears.  The soft heart is skilled at recognising the voice of God, the words that come from Jesus; and is prepared to respond to his voice in an instant.  The soft heart doesn’t need to deliberate or hesitate; immediate response is its habit.  And, because the soft heart knows that the voice of God is the source of its nourishment, it trusts that the message which is carried by the voice, contains only what will be good for the soil.  With that perspective, obedience to the message is never questioned.

This is, I think, how the heart with good soil is able to hear and understand the word.  The soft heart begins from a premise of belief; and, understanding flows from belief.   In contrast, the harder the soil of our heart, the more difficult it is to operate from a premise of belief.  In that instance, one will find it more difficult to truly understand.

With that in mind, it is very important that we cultivate the soil of our heart; doing our best to maintain a soft heart, guarding ourselves against offense, bitterness, anger and other postures that cause hardness.  It is also important that we develop regular habits and disciplines which help us identify and remove the ‘weeds’ that attempt to take root.  And, it is essential that we learn vulnerability within a Christian community so our brothers and sisters can encourage and assist us in removing the rocks and rubble we inevitably uncover in our journey toward Christ-likeness.

The heart is the seat of belief (Rom 10.17) so maintaining a soft heart is prerequisite to being able to recognise and respond to the voice of God.

Listening & Hearing

In college, I had a lecturer who was known for alerting his students to what was going to be on the test.  At any given point he would interrupt the flow of his lecture and speak with a different tone of voice, effectively catching our attention and drawing us into what he was about to say, and then state, “This will be on the test.”  Then he would pick up his lecture voice and continue on as if nothing unusual had occurred.  It didn’t take long for students to realise the truth of his pronouncements.  It also didn’t take long for some students to allow themselves to drift into a state of semi-consciousness during his class, only to become instantly alert when they heard the shift in his tone.

It’s funny how we can listen without really hearing.  I often find myself wondering what is was like for people to listen to Jesus’ teaching.  I can only imagine sitting on his every word with an expectation, awe and even, quite possibly, a holy fear.  But I’m amazed at how often Jesus said things like, “Listen,…”, “I tell you the truth…”, or “Whoever has an ear let them hear.”  Why did Jesus need to catch people’s attention in this way?  Had the people been so lulled into a state of absent-minded listening that they had forgotten how to listen?  Or, was Jesus, like the college professor, simply trying to ensure that people really did pay particular attention to his next statement?

 

Jesus was a master story-teller.  We can surmise by the crowds that gathered around him, people enjoyed being with him.  Not only would it have been quite refreshing for the common people to hear a Rabbi speak against the hypocrisy of the religious leaders, but they would also have been able to relate to Jesus’ stories that clearly reflected their culture and society.

Imagine, a scene in a busy village market.  Jesus is in conversation with a few people; a few others stop to listen-in, and before long, a crowd gathers.  As Jesus speaks, voices from the crowd laugh or comment in agreement.  Someone is unable to hear what was said so another person repeats it.  Those nearest Jesus are fully engaged in his every word, others further out from him are more curious as to the reason for the crowd. The sounds from the market cause background noise and passers-by create a distraction.  So, in this environment, it is not surprising that Jesus, when wanting to get across the real point of his story, would pause and give notice, “Listen… it is important you hear what I’m about to say”.

Jesus understood the importance of his words.  He knew that his words were Life and Spirit.  But he also realised that people could hear his words without receiving them.  He knew people could have been hearing without listening and listening without hearing.  So, being a master teacher, he changed his tone of voice and alerted them that something important was about to be announced.  He knew that he needed to do everything possible to increase the potential for people to truly hear his message so he would say, “Listen…”; “Incline your ear…” or “Truly I say to you…”.  And then, when he finished speaking he would often state, “Anyone who has an ear, let them hear.”

 

 

Courage of Clarity

As a young boy I remember watching the Wizard of Oz.  While the Scarecrow was my favourite character, I remember being impacted by the lesson in courage that was delivered through the Cowardly Lion.  Courage, as the Lion came to learn, does not mean one has no fear.  Rather, courage is acting even though one is afraid.

Courage is when you make a choice, take a decision in the face of uncertainty.  Courage doesn’t necessarily guarantee an outcome, but it does help the process of obedience. Courage helps you face a fear and act anyway.  It helps you take a risk.

I remember the first time I prayed for the physical healing of someone outside a church environment.  I was beyond nervous; I was actually afraid.  My body went through the physical sensations of fear: shaking knees, dry mouth, stuttered speech, quivering voice … it was pathetic!!  But, what kept me going in that moment was the fact that I had heard Holy Spirit speak.

The man was limping and wincing in obvious pain.  As if from behind me, in my ear I heard/sensed “Pray for him”.  So, knowing I’d heard Holy Spirit speak, I pushed through the symptoms of fear and prayed for his knee.  God did something absolutely amazing. (see post , this will take you to another blog site).

I’ve often thought back to that situation and wondered how I may have handled things had I not heard Holy Spirit speak so clearly.  I was in the early stages of learning how to hear God’s voice.  I had never met the man before.  Our meeting was part of my job and we were in a warehouse.  There was no prayer line; no worship band; no atmosphere of expectation.  But I knew I had heard God speak.  He didn’t give specifics.  He didn’t promise any results.  He just said, “Pray for him”.

The clarity of having heard from God gave me the confidence to act.  But when the symptoms of fear started taking over I began to question if I really wanted to take the risk.  But I steeled myself, tried to control the violent shaking inside me while I squeaked out an offer to pray for his knee.  When the man looked at me as if I was some kind of alien – I had to rely on more than confidence, I had to find some courage.

I’m learning that courage is usually required because acting in faith almost always involves RISK.  Courage doesn’t mean we have less faith, it demonstrates we’re willing to act on the faith we have.  I sometimes wish we could live from a place of peaceful confidence where risk isn’t scary and courage isn’t necessary – but, that’s not the way things work.  What would Jesus have said to that idea after resolving that the cup of the cross would not pass by him?  What would the Apostle Paul have said to that as he lay prostrate for days while the flesh on his back healed from the whippings?  And the nameless faithful, described in Hebrews 11 who didn’t see what they hoped for; what would they say to that idea?

Faith requires action.  Action involves risk.

Clarity provides the confidence for action.  Courage helps us take the risk.

Faith spelled R.I.S.K.

I remember being in a meeting years ago in which the speaker asked the audience, “How do you spell faith?”  Before anyone could respond he went on to answer his own question saying, “Faith is spelled R.I.S.K.”

I don’t think this was the sum total of all this man really believed about faith, but I like the point he was making.  He was simply trying to help people realise that faith requires an action, and, most times, acting in faith means taking a risk.  Regardless of how much faith we think we may have, we can never be 100% assured of the outcome of our action.  We can be sure of our desire.  We can be sure of what ‘should’ happen.  We can even be sure of what we believe God has said about the matter.  But the outcomes of our actions, even when we’re convinced we’re acting in faith, can rarely be predicted.

(If we are convinced we have faith, and act with a pure heart, but the results do not match the standard of God’s word; then we need to go back to God, be brutally honest with ourselves and ask Holy Spirit to help us identify what we misunderstood.  But this is another topic that needs more time to discuss at another point.)

By acknowledging that faith requires taking a risk; we’re presupposing that faith requires an action.  If we say we have faith for something but do not, in some way, act on that faith I question if we truly have faith.

When we talk about the faith of the Centurion, Syrophoenician woman, or others, it is easy to fall into the trap of forgetting that they took risks (see post).  I’m always eager to investigate what I read in Scripture; especially when we read of decisions people made.  What was it these people experienced which enabled them to act in an unusual level of faith?  How did they come to obtain a faith that Jesus commended?

There could be a number of responses to these questions.  One response that ties in with what we’ve been discussing is, these people likely had a clarity of what they heard from Jesus.  They appeared to be sure of what they believed Jesus could do for them.  They were clear in what they desired, and their requests were specific: “…just say the word…”; “…even the dogs eat the crumbs”; “…if only I could touch…”; “…I want to see.”  It would seem they had an internal clarity that gave them confidence to act.  And that confidence gave them courage to take a risk.

Clarity leads to confidence.  Confidence leads to courage.  The greater the clarity of hearing what God has spoken, the more likely we are to have confidence to act on that word.  For these reasons, it is extremely important that we learn to recognise how God speaks

Consider carefully what you hear and how you listen.     

 

 

Belief and Knowing

“…they knew with certainty (in truth) and they believed that you sent me.” (Jn 17.8)

There is a relationship between belief and knowing.  They are interconnected.  Belief in God always carries a level of knowledge of God.  However, knowledge about God doesn’t always carry a level of belief.

Any self-revelation of God, any way God makes himself known, leads to a level of knowledge about him.  This is what it means for God to reveal, manifest, uncover, make himself known.  The more God reveals of himself, the more opportunity we have to encounter him.  The more we experience of God, the more we know him.

One can have an intellectual awareness of facts about God, but this alone falls short of belief.  Belief, on the other hand, can only come from hearing the Word of God (Rom 10.17); which leads us to God himself.  Jesus points people to the Father (Jn 14.6) and the Father draws people to himself (Jn 6.44) and any who come to him will be welcomed (Jn 6.37).

But let’s be careful not to put limits on how hearing the Word of God may take place.  God speaks in a lot of ways and sometimes he uses English (or whatever language you speak).  Some have come to belief through the good news of the Kingdom being spoken in one conversation or over a long period of time [hearing].  Some have come to believe by observing [seeing] the lives of those who already believe and being motivated to enquire about their reasons for such a life.  I have met many people who came to belief in God through the supernatural demonstrations of God [action] in a variety of ways (miracles, healings, words of knowledge, dreams, etc.).

Although belief carries a level of knowledge, it does not mean that one who believes has a full or complete knowledge.  I’m not aware of anyone who would think this way – but sometimes that is the impression given by many church-goers.  Belief, by its nature, requires a soft and humble heart so there is no room for arrogance or vain self-importance.

Again, it comes back to WHO we believe rather than WHAT we believe.  If we concentrate on the ‘what’, we will get caught in the trap of insisting on ‘right’ behaviour; or trying to give the ‘Christian’ response; or only associating with those who have ‘correct’ doctrine.  But concentrating on WHO we believe leads us into an ever-deepening, ever-expanding, ever-increasing relationship with the ONE who is LOVE – which enhances our process of becoming like Him.

In that relationship, it matters very little if our belief doesn’t bring immediate, comprehensive knowledge about spiritual things; because through Him we receive a peace that goes beyond our ability to understand.  In that relationship, we learn not to view life from a perspective of fear; but from the reality of our new nature as children of God, seated with Christ in the heavenly realms.  In that relationship, we learn the strength of articulating to Him, with integrity, the challenges of life; recognising that we are being renewed into the likeness and character of Jesus.  And, importantly, through that relationship, we are in a family with fellow-believers who strengthen and encourage one another until we all become mature, attaining the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

The disciples believed and entered a process of KNOWING that, though it may have been mustard-seed-small, it was considered a certainty by Jesus.  Like the disciples, we learn that we don’t need an explanation to the minutia of all our questions – we learn to trust him as children trust a good Father.  Our belief deepens and broadens as we learn to assimilate the nature of WHO we believe through every area of our lives.  Further encounters with Him, lead us into deeper understanding of ourselves and life itself.

God has been revealed through the life of Jesus.  Belief in WHO He is, is the foundation on which we build our understanding of His character and His kingdom becoming manifest in our lives.  Belief leads us into a knowledge that can only be made clear through Him.  This perspective shapes our understanding of our world, our culture and our circumstances.  We do not believe because we understand; we understand because we believe.

 

 

Jesus Revealed & They Believed

“I have revealed you to them… I gave them the words you gave me and they received them.” (Jn 17.6, 8).  

I frequently come back to the question of wondering what it was like for the disciples to repeatedly hear Jesus teach of himself as the Son of God, yet not actually ‘get it’.

The disciples had been in a three-year process of hearing Jesus teach.  They would have been there as he taught publicly to the crowds and to individuals who came to him.  Even more significantly, they had full access to him on a day-to-day basis.  They had heard Jesus describe the nature of the Father and had watched as he demonstrated the reality of His Kingdom through miracles.

Through all these experiences, I think it’s safe to presume that some of what Jesus said had become familiar to them.  I would guess that much of his teaching had become so familiar they could easily repeat it.  So, when they went out to preach and when they were praying for healing, they probably repeated a lot of what they had heard Jesus say.  But, interestingly, it wasn’t until Jesus’ final evening with them that the Disciples collectively proclaimed their belief in Jesus as the Son of God.  This is one of the reasons I find this passage so intriguing.

Even though they heard Jesus’ teaching and, would have been able to repeat much of it, why did it take so long for them to actually ‘get it’?  I think the clue is in the passage quoted at the top of this post (Jn 17.6,8).  Specifically, in the statement that Jesus revealed the Father before he gave the Disciples the Father’s words which they received.  Before the Twelve could believe it, they first had to receive it.  Before they could receive it, it first had to be revealed.

We have discussed previously that Jesus was the Father (see post).  Not only did Jesus display the Father’s nature (Jn 12.45) but he, himself, was the exact representation of the Father (Hb 1.3).  This is one of the fundamental reasons for Jesus ministry on the earth – to reveal the Father (Jn 14.9).  And his act of revealing the Father is the foundation for how the Disciples are able to come to belief.

I realise this sounds somewhat obvious and rudimental, but I ask you to think with me.  How is that we can sit in a classroom not understanding a concept, sometimes for days, and then all of a sudden, the penny drops and we ‘get it’?  How can we be Christians for so long and still ‘not get’ some of the basic truths of the Gospel?  How did the disciples spend three years around Jesus and not ‘get it’?  The truth must be revealed.  It must be made known.  It must become manifest.

The Greek word that is used for ‘revealed’ in Jn 17.6 literally means ‘to manifest; make clear; uncover’ and can also be translated ‘to make known’ (RSV).  This is what Jesus’ life was all about.  He was making clear; revealing; making known the life and nature of the Father.  He was uncovering the true nature of the Father – peeling back layers of false assumptions and religious trappings that had built up over centuries.  Jesus’ teaching and his actions were to manifest the true character, nature and heart of the Father.

In all of our discussions about being able to hear the Words of God, we have presupposed that we know what the Words of God sound like.  That we have been exposed to Him.  That He has been revealed or made known to us.

This is the very thing Jesus acknowledged was the first part of his work with the disciples.  Once he had revealed himself to such a degree the disciples ‘got’ that they knew God.  Jesus spoke Words that led them to an understanding of who they were in relationship with God.

A clue to understanding this faith-principle is in Jn 16.27 where Jesus said to the disciples: “The Father loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.” Jesus

Consider the context of this conversation.

  • Jesus had revealed the Father so the disciples knew WHO they believed (Jn 14.9, 17.6)
  • Jesus told the disciples they believed (16.27)
  • The disciples then told Jesus they believed (16.30)
  • Jesus told the Father, the disciples believed and knew with certainty (17.8)

After having the Father made known to them, the disciples were able to recognise the Life and Spirit within the words Jesus spoke.  Then, their soft hearts received the substance of those words and combined faith to what they heard.  They didn’t need to fully understand it all, but no matter how immature their belief may have been, Jesus affirmed their belief by asserting they knew with certainty.

Jesus revealed the Father so they could believe His Words.  And, their believing led them into a process of knowing.

 

 

 

Now We Can See

“Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.” (v. 30).

I’d like to go back to the question asked at the end of our first session in this topic (See Post, The 12 Finally Got It).

I’ve often wondered what was it about this evening’s conversation that helped the disciples ‘get it’?  Were they listening to Jesus in a different way?  Or, is it possible they could have heard him say something different?  Did Jesus say something he hadn’t said before; something that, literally, opened their ears of their heart?

In an earlier session, we considered that the disciples may have been guilty of misapplying their belief in Jesus.  The verse we’re focusing on now contains a declaration that I’ve always interpreted as their belief that Jesus was the Son of God.  But what if their statement of belief was something different….?  Or, more to the heart of my question, what if their statement of belief included something else?

Consider carefully what you hear…

In the earlier part of this passage Jesus told the disciples that soon would come a day when they would no longer ask him anything and the Father will give them whatever they ask in Jesus’ name (Jn 16.23).

Is it possible this was the statement that triggered the disciples’ belief?

Consider carefully what you hear…

Jesus continued by telling them it wouldn’t be long before he would no longer speak in figures of speech, but would tell them plainly about his Father (v. 25).  He then tells them they will ask in his name, and goes on to tell them the Father loves them because they loved Jesus and believed he came from God (v. 27).  At this point in the text is when the disciples excitedly relay their belief.

“Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.” (v. 30).

They could finally hear it clearly.  Jesus spoke in simple, clear, plain terms; and not in figures of speech.  They do not need to ask Jesus any questions – they can go directly to the Father.

Consider carefully what you hear….

I always wondered why, in verse 30, the disciples said Jesus didn’t need people to ask him questions.  I always thought this was some kind of recognition that Jesus knows all things and, because he knows, he shouldn’t be subjected to the constant questioning of those who reject him and attempt to trap him.  This is a true statement; but I’m no longer as sure this is the whole of what the disciples were declaring in this verse.

“In that day you will no longer ask me anything…my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.”         “…you do not even need to have anyone ask you any questions.”

What if the disciples grasped, at the same time, Jesus’ nature as the Son of God and their nature as children of God?  What if this exclamation is a result of them realising their own relationship with the Father?  …of realising their role?  And, in this moment, they have caught a glimpse of the magnitudinous implications of WHO the Father is, WHO Jesus is and who they are in this relationship?

Consider carefully what you hear….

 

 

 

Jesus Gave the Words

Another aspect of this story is the way Jesus, when talking with the Father, described his interaction with the disciples.  He said, “I Gave them the words you gave me…”.

The phrase intrigues me.  Why did Jesus say it this way?  Why didn’t he say ‘I told them what you told me to say’…?  Or, ‘I taught them as you instructed’…?  Even if he had said, ‘I passed on what you told me to say’, it would have sounded …. well, it would have sounded like the way we talk today.  As it is, Jesus’ way of describing it, sounds very literal; very transactional.  Father, you gave me the words to say and I gave them to the guys.

We know from other places in Scripture that Jesus only spoke what he heard from the Father (Jn 5.19).  He repeatedly told people that what he taught was not his teaching, but was that of the Father (Jn 7.16).  So, I’m not surprised that in this story Jesus would confirm the words he spoke were words he heard from the Father.  I’m just a little surprised at the way he phrased how this speaking took place.

“I gave them the words you gave me and they received them…”.

The Greek for ‘words’ used here is rhema, which means that which is spoken, by a living voice; a declaration of one’s mind put into words. *  In the context, then, God manifested his mind through his words spoken to Jesus who, in turn, gave them to the disciples.  But, I am extremely curious about the way Jesus speaks about the words.  To say it the way he did implies that the words from God are substance, material or tangible.

As we have seen in previous sessions, the words spoken by God contain, in their very essence, Life and Spirit (see post).  So, when the disciples heard the words spoken by Jesus, which were originally given by the Father, the disciples received not only the content of the words, but a portion of God himself – a portion of his Life and Spirit.

But the disciples did not merely hear the words spoken by Jesus.  The Bible says they received; they accepted; they took possession of the words given to them.  The words weren’t merely spoken concepts that passed into their consciousness through their physical ears; the words were a substance which the disciples actively grasped.  In doing so they received the life and spirit the words contained.  To put it in the way we’ve been discussing: they recognised something tangible within their spirit and responded by receiving the message and combining faith to what they heard.

Consider carefully what you hear…. Consider carefully how you listen…

Additionally, this passage says that they received the words and knew with certainty.  On this point, I would ask you to consider your own process of hearing and knowing.  Think back to a time when you heard/felt/sensed God speak.  In these moments we usually experience a deep confidence, an inner peace, an assurance that we just encountered the Living God.  Even if this experience is momentary, if we allow ourselves to embrace what we heard from Him, it enhances our understanding of WHO he is.  If we were to analyse that moment, we would likely speak with confidence of who God is and how this newly realised truth is crucial to life.

This is, I think, what happened with the disciples that evening.  They heard an eternal truth from Jesus, recognised the Life and Spirit within that truth and responded, in faith, by receiving this truth.  Through taking possession of the truth, it was as though a seed was implanted into their spirit and Jesus knew this was all that was needed at this point.  The soil of their heart was ready and the seed carried a life of its own.

  • The Father gave the words to Jesus.
  • Jesus gave the words to the disciples.
  • The disciples received the words (belief)
  • Receiving the words led them to know with certainty.

Later would come the lessons of learning how integrate this truth into their circumstances and allowing it to alter their way of perceiving themselves and the world around them.

 

* TDNT Vol 4: 69,505