We wait for light, and lo! there is darkness; and for brightness, but we walk in gloom. We grope like the blind along a wall, groping like those who have no eyes; we stumble at noon as in the twilight, among the vigorous as though we were dead. Isaiah 59:10 NRSV.

You are those who have continued with Me in My trials. Luke 22:28.

This morning in our Friday Zoom Retreat, we recognized that we are together with spiritual soul friends. That, as the video by John Ortberg said so well, we are “gripped with the reality of God”. And that it is in community with others that we truly go deep and stop living shallow, self-centered lives. We need help to understand Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit. And this chapter, John 14…Jesus, the Son, goes deep. “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way where I am going.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.” Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” v. 1-15. Jesus knows the way and He is the way. I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. God is faithful and Jesus showed us the way and it is the Father’s love. “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me, because I live, you will live also. In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” v. 16-21. Jesus trusted the Father while He lived among us. God is faithful. The greatest lesson we will ever comprehend is that God is faithful and we can trust Him, just as Jesus did, for all things. Judas (not Iscariot), said to Him, “Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?” Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me. These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. Now I have told you before it happens; so that when it happens, you may believe. I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me; but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. Get up, let us go from here.” v. 22-31.

In this world there is confusion and darkness. And the ruler of this world has nothing in Jesus the Son or the Father or the Holy Spirit. But take heart. As we turn to God who is faithful, as we trust Him, He abides in us. This was never meant to be a solitary sojourn. He wants to be with us – and for us to be with others with Him – who love Him and are eager to learn with Him and with each other as we share our experiences with God that go deep. Creator God will bring all things, all creation, into unity in Him. Do you trust Him? For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all. Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to Him again? (Job 35:7). For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen. Romans 11:32-36. God is faithful. Be thankful! And we have this assurance from Jesus the Son…If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also…In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. Truly? Why, how? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. I can’t accomplish that, none of us can…but our Creator God does!