
Focal Passage: John 14:8-11,16-20, 23-26
I don’t really know how my car works. I understand that I have to to put the key in the ignition for it to start. I understand that my car needs fuel. But mostly, I appreciate my car’s ability to get me to where I need to be. I don’t have to understand every moving wire and gear to get to work every day. While I don’t set aside the importance of knowing the inner workings of my vehicle, I don’t have to have that all figured out to be able to get to the grocery store.
I hesitate to compare my relationship with my car to the doctrine of the Trinity, but there are some similarities. Scholars and disciples have been studying God’s trifold nature for centuries, and we still have trouble putting words to it. But that doesn’t stop us from knowing and loving God in the process.
What we can know is that knowing Jesus is the same as knowing God the Father. In John 14, Jesus does not specifically mention the Trinity. In fact, this term is not used anywhere in scripture. However, Jesus tells His disciples that He is one with the Father and that, if they’ve seen Him, they’ve seen the Father too. They are of one mind as well, as Jesus was obedient to the Father by coming into the world to redeem fallen humanity.
If you are in Christ, then the Holy Spirit is also present in your life. Just as Jesus the Son and God the Father are one, the Holy Spirit is one with them as well. The Spirit is in agreement with the Father and the Son as He helps believers. The Holy Spirit is sent from God the Father to continue the work of the Son. Since Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father, the Holy Spirit is now at work. He is comforting and teaching believers. He is also drawing those who are unsaved to God.
While we may never fully be able to understand a God who exists in three distinct persons, we can marvel and rejoice in the fact that He is working in the world. We can take heart because God the Father sent Jesus to save us and He sent the Holy Spirit to help us. We can delight that God is mindful of us. The Trinity is the one person of God bringing the Kingdom of God to bear here on earth.