The other day I was sitting in church. And the pastor mentioned something, that I have heard many times before. He said, that God is invisible. Well, yeah, of course. Thank you, Captain Obvious. But for some reason, this time it bugged me. Because I realized then and there, that I was wrong. He really isn’t.
I love the Gospel of John. For a long time, Luke was my favorite. He is so clearly a scientist. Being a physician and all. And since I’m a scientist myself, his way of telling the Story of Jesus resonates with me. He is so accurate, that his Book of Acts is still one of the best sources about everything ship related in the ancient world. But Luke is also somewhat un-emotional. I liked that. At least, as long as I tried to suppress my own emotions. I gave up on that a while back, which turned out to be a really good decision. And since then, I love the Gospel of John. It is not so much a “Jesus did this and then He did that” kind of storytelling. It even seems like John is getting his timeline confused. (He is for example the only one, who mentions three different Passovers, while the other three have one each. The one with the Crucifixion. That is, why scholars think, that Jesus had a three year ministry. But, you know, it is difficult to say, if we can trust John on this one. He somehow does not mind. His focus is somewhere else.) John, being “the disciple Jesus loved” (as he humbly called himself), is far more emotional. It is less what Jesus did and more why He did it. And he gives us insight into the close relationship between Jesus and the twelve. 5 of the 21 chapters are reserved for everything Jesus said during the Last Supper. That is almost one fourth of the book. Luke, for example, puts all of that somewhere in chapter 22 (of 24). All in all I love the Gospel of John, because Jesus is so personal, so near, so loving. And when anyone mentions, that he wants to start reading the Bible, I always suggest, starting with John. Get to know the Person of Jesus. You can learn the facts later.
In chapter 16 of John’s Gospel, right in the middle of the Last Supper, Jesus drops a bomb on His disciples. “I am leaving you until the end of time.” Wait! What? That can’t be the plan. Didn’t God become flesh to dwell among us? I mean, this is how John starts, right? So why should He leave us again? And in order to make things worse, He even says, it is better that way.
Especially during my teenage years I imagined how cool it would be, to have lived during the time of Jesus. Seeing Him perform all His miracles, must have been awesome (like in “producing awe in someone”). So why was I born in the late 20th Century in Central Europe and not in 1st Century in the Middle East? For a while, I struggled with this question. And consequently I had massive problems with the passage in John 16. How can anything be better, than to see God incarnate? It turned out, I just had a very poor understanding of who the Holy Spirit is. I saw Her (Yep, the Holy Spirit is female. At least in Greek and Hebrew.) as the friend who stands beside me. An advocate in times of trial. And as nice as that is, this would really not come close to the Person of Jesus.
A study of the Spirit of God in the Old Testament reveals something different. Right in the beginning, Genesis 1:2, the Spirit moves over the desolate face of the earth. Almost like a hen caring for her egg. This image is repeated over and over again with the Spirit of God resting upon people to give them wisdom, prophecy, courage, strength, and so on. She was there to create the universe. The good version. Before we spoiled it. And She is there time and time again to empower people to do the work of God. She gives everything that is needed. In time and in abundance. Moses, you need to lead the people of Israel? Here you have all the wisdom you need. And here it is for the 70, who help you. Oh, and I’ll keep you young and strong until you are 120. Bezaleel, son of Uri, you want to build the Arc of the Covenant? I know, you are the best handyman already, let me give you wisdom, and understanding, and knowledge in all manner of workmanship. Gideon, you shall destroy the Midianites, but you are timid. Here, I give you all the courage you need, to start in your own home. Samson, you want to fight the Philistines? Here, let me give you supernatural strength. And the list goes on and on. The Spirit is coming to rest on people. And that is “only” the Old Testament. The crazy thing is, we have two mayor changes after the death and resurrection of Christ. Until then, the Spirit came on a few for a time. Now She is falling on all flesh (see Joel 2 and Acts 2) and She is here to stay. She is staying to bring the New Life to fulfillment in us. It is not some for a time anymore. She comes on all forever.
Jesus as God incarnate was the perfect unity of God and man. He was filled with the Spirit of God, free from Sin and Death. And together with His Father in Heaven He did all the awesome stuff I longed to have seen. And here we are now, the Body of Christ. Though His death and resurrection freed from Sin and Death. Reunited with our Father in Heaven. And since Pentecost we even have the Spirit of God. And then Jesus calls us, to pick up His work, where He left it of. Oh, and He mentions, that we will do greater things than He did. So basically, the Body of Christ is God incarnate. And as anyone, who saw Jesus, saw the Father, anyone who sees us, sees Christ. Yes, the World thinks, God is invisible. But we are here, to show them, they are wrong.
