Volume 2 Post/Email 7 – John 15:4
This is our 7th post of thoughts on spiritual formation, and a continuation of the 6th message on the concept of prayer and union with God.
In Thomas Brodie's Commentary on the gospel of John, he argues persuasively that the starting point of John's theology is abiding restful union.
1. The prologue speaks of Jesus being "at the Father's side" (literally - 'in the bosom of the Father') in John 1:18.
2. We see "the disciple whom Jesus loved" reclining on Jesus' bosom in John 13:23.
3. John repeats this intimate moment at the very end of his gospel in John 21:20.
In the middle of the gospel narrative, we find Jesus speaking not only of his oneness with the Father (as in Jn. 17:22-23 from last week), but also of Jesus' union with us. He states in 15:4a, "Remain in me, and I will remain in you."
Brodie writes, "Thus there is a form of restful union which exists first of all in God, but in which humans can participate both during this life and during a later life." (1)
The Apostle Paul speaks of this concept of oneness with Jesus in several of his writings. One example is Galatians 2:20a - "I no longer live, but Christ lives in me."
Biblical scholar John McKenzie writes about our experience and recognition of the divinity of Jesus (such as John 1:1a "In the beginning was the Word."), and the immediate cause of psychological and spiritual change.
"We recognize that the person whom we have encountered speaks to our innermost being, supplies our needs, satisfies our desires. We recognize that this person gives life meaning. I do not say a new meaning supply, for we realize that before we encountered this person life had no real meaning. We recognize that this person has revealed to us not only himself, but our own true self as well. We recognize that we cannot be our own true self except by union with this person. In him, the obscure is illuminated, the uncertain yields to the certain, insecurity is replaced by a deep sense of security. In him we find we have achieved an understanding of many things which baffled us. We recognize in his person strength and power which we can sense passing from him to us." (2)
Lastly, back to Brodie's commentary, he explains:
"Oneness with the ultimate reality is not an abstract idea; it is a spiritual experience of knowing that the timeless God is at the door inviting you to full union. It is an attentiveness to the present, a readiness, at every moment, to receive reality, to enjoy deeply even the simplest things." (1)
-Brian
1 Thomas L. Brodie, The Gospel According To John (New York: Oxford University Press), 60-61.
2 Dictionary of the Bible (New York: McMillian, 1965), 269.
