John 16:12-15 (NRSV)
Read John 16:12-15 on biblegateway.com
Verse 12"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. Verse 13When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. Verse 14He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. Verse 15All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
Devotion
This week we continue to celebrate the God we worship by focusing on the word "Trinity"—surprisingly a word that never occurs in the Bible. The word "Trinity" comes from later reflection of people of faith through the years as they have sought to be faithful to the scriptural witness about God. And here in this short passage from John that witness is as clear as it gets. God the Father, Jesus, the Son, and the Spirit of truth are all here. Not as independent agents, but as a "Trinity" that is one in purpose. This Trinity works in a relational harmony and unity all for your sake, all to make sure that what Jesus has done in his life, death, and resurrection takes shape and has meaning in your life here and now. Just imagine it! You are the beneficiaries of all that belongs to God. Everything that belongs to the Father has now been given over to the Son. And now the Spirit is in charge of taking what belongs to the Son and handing it over to you. It just doesn't get any better or any more wondrous than that!
Prayer
God of Glory, that you should invite us through the life, death, and resurrection of your Son, to share in your glory is almost too wonderful for us to grasp. But through your Spirit keep declaring that good news to us. And just perhaps one day we will fully understand the deep love from which that invitation springs, that deep love that binds the Trinity in a harmony that would seek to include us as well. Amen.