Plain Speaking

While the disciples were privileged to spend time with Jesus, the things He did many times were so foreign to their thinking, they remained mystified. They even spoke among themselves to try and understand many things He said. In order to help them understand, [Jesus said,] " I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.” His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God” - Jn. 16:28-30 (ESV). There are times in all our lives when various pieces of information come together and we have an “ah ha” moment. Suddenly, things around us make sense to us and we have a better understanding. For the disciples and most others at that time, the Messiah was expected to reestablish the supremacy of the Israelite nation; those who held the nation captive would be defeated and the nation freed, as in the Egyptian captivity. Instead, Jesus came to free each individual from sin. Changing from a group mentality to an individual focus was challenging. However, once the individual relationship with God was restored, then the relationship with others among the group could thrive. It could even be extended to others outside the group. What was the "ah ha?"
Jesus was with the Father in heaven before time began. At the Father’s command, Jesus created all that there is (Jn. 1:1-5) and the Spirit hovered over the waters to provide organization (Gen. 1:2). The creator loved His creation so much He chose to come and live among His created world as one of the created ones, both God and man. The solution to the challenge of sin was to allow Himself to be totally rejected and then sacrificed for those He loved. While it appeared He was defeated by the insurmountable force of death, God demonstrated His control over all things by raising Jesus from the dead and restoring Him to his initial place in glory. To continue His work in a cleansed creation called a kingdom, Jesus poured out the Holy Spirit to guide His servants along their individual unique spiritual journeys in the created world. In whatever place a person finds themselves along the journey, they live with the promise that He has prepared a place with Him in heaven. Those on this journey have been sealed (Eph. 1:13) to assure all creation Jesus will return and bring them to the place He has prepared.