John 13-14: the wonderful truth of the trinity
John 13:31-14:31 - read the full passage here.
Having washed their feet and shared the Passover meal, Jesus talks with his disciples. Imagine what it must have been like, talking in that room together with Jesus! And yet, they still don't truly understand who Jesus is. In some ways it's no surprise, as Jesus talks with them about the amazing and yet mind-bending nature of the triune God (trinity). How does this work?
1) The separate members of the Trinity are bringing glory to each other
“My time has come; the glory of God will soon surround me—and God shall receive great praise because of all that happens to me. And God shall give me his own glory, and this so very soon". (John 13:31-32 The Living Bible translation)
In this particular passage, we only hear about the Father ('God') and the Son (later in the passage, Jesus also introduces the Holy Spirit as the third member of the Trinity), but we learn that each is giving glory, or 'glorifying' (as other translations put it) to each other. This sounds strange because it's not a word we use much in the way it's being used here but the best way to understand is to think about human relationships. In a marriage, friendship, family or team, it is possible to imagine a situation where each member is putting the other or others first - giving them the praise for what they have done, and ultimately loving them. Such a situation never happens 100% of time with people, but we can imagine it in theory!
In fact, I agree with the many others who believe that the fact we are relational beings is part of the way in which we are made in the image of God. Genesis 1:27 says:
So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
Diversity and dependence on each other is so fundamental to who we are that we cannot reproduce without it. Not all of us are called to marriage, but without it we would not exist. In reproduction, work, and worship; God made us a people, not individual persons.
When we understand that God is trinity, we can do away with the uncomfortable idea that God is a self-centred despot. The creator of the universe is love itself, and just as healthy human relationships look outwards and bless others, so the creation of humanity in the image of God is an overflow of that love.
2) God is also one
When I was young I used to often fall into the trap of thinking that if I told one of my parents something, the other would automatically know! I had to be reminded several times that they weren't actually one person!
The analogy of human relationships, although God-given, will only take us so far. Philip asks Jesus show us the father (14:8), to which Jesus replies (with some exasperation...)
Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking to see him? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I say are not my own but are from my Father who lives in me. And he does his work through me. 11 Just believe it—that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. (John 14:9-11 The Living Bible translation)
“If you love me, obey me; and I will ask the Father and he will give you another Comforter, and he will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit who leads into all truth. (John 14:16-17 The Living Bible translation).
There is no more we need to come to the Father than Jesus' death. And the Father will send the Holy Spirit in the name of the Son Jesus (14:26), who will be the spirit of Truth (24:17). When we trust in Jesus we get the whole of God - there are no layers to climb. Jesus teaches how the Holy Spirit will teach the disciples - when the Holy Spirit is present, God is there - all of Him. This is why Jesus can say to the disciples - I will not leave you as orphans (14:18).
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