Direct Access


John 16:25-33
25“I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. 26In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; 27for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.” 29His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! 30Now 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.” 31Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. 33I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Back in the Dark Ages I took Geometry Class. I call them “dark ages” because it seems like about a thousand years ago and they were very dark days for a dyslexic 10th grader. Every day I would sit in the class and dutifully copy the stuff the teacher wrote on the board, obediently shake my head in the affirmative like I actually understood the material and then fail every test – miserably. I was always pretty good at getting my name at the top of the paper and the teacher generously gave a few points for that. Those were generally the only points I received on the test. Jesus’ instructions for us continue as He faces His final hours. His Disciples claim that they finally understand although that is not exactly true. They will understand but the time for that has not yet come. The good news for the Disciples is that they didn’t have to understand what Jesus was trying to teach them in that moment because the Holy Spirit was going to come and bring everything to light for them. (Unlike the Disciples, the Holy Spirit never did come along and explained geometry to me. I still don’t know what that’s about!)

What Jesus explains to them in these verses is that they will soon have direct access to His Father. We know through our hindsight lens that His shed blood would pave the way to the Father’s throne and we can speak directly to the God of the Universe. This is a huge gift and I stand in awe every day that this access has been granted. Who am I to be allowed to speak to God? It puts me in mind of Queen Esther in the Old Testament. She needed to speak with her husband the King of Persia, but doing so without his invitation would mean her instant death. She risks it and God graciously moves the king’s heart to show her mercy and hear her plea for help. We are not like Queen Esther. We don’t face death for daring to speak to the King. Because of Jesus we instead receive a warm welcome and an open ear. Don’t ever think you have to go through someone (alive or dead) to speak with Jesus or make requests of the Father. Jesus’ blood paid the price and you are granted free access.

That brings up the next question. Are you taking advantage of that gift paid for at tremendous sacrifice? How often do you approach the throne of God with your words of praise, worship, and petition? Those are the questions that arise for me today. Am I taking advantage of this tremendous gift or do I set it aside, distracted by other far less worthy things? You’ll notice I write these thoughts as questions for that’s exactly what they are in my heart today. I don’t have a lecture or a lesson. For me, these words are convicting. Jesus opened the path of direct communion with God and I want to walk it – regularly and faithfully. He paid a great deal for this gift. I want to never cast it aside for worldly trash.

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