“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do 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 with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever 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 authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. John 14:1-14 (ESV) John 14:1-14 (ESV)

Religious Options in the Modern World

The God Within: Oprah Winfrey, Elizabeth Gilbert, Eben Alexander

Religious Options in the Modern World The God Within: Oprah Winfrey, Elizabeth Gilbert, Eben Alexander God dwells within me, and I just need to get in touch with the inner divine spark that exists within me.

Religious Options in the Modern World The God Within: Oprah Winfrey, Elizabeth Gilbert, Eben Alexander God dwells within me, and I just need to get in touch with the inner divine spark that exists within me. This God rarely makes a demand on me except to be the best version of me that I can possibly be.

Religious Options in the Modern World The God Within: Oprah Winfrey, Elizabeth Gilbert, Eben Alexander God dwells within me, and I just need to get in touch with the inner divine spark that exists within me. This God rarely makes a demand on me except to be the best version of me that I can possibly be. This religion has remarkable similarities to traditional eastern religions. (Hinduism, Buddhism, Toaism)

Religious Options in the Modern World A transcendent religious option.

Religious Options in the Modern World A transcendent religious option. (Judaism or Islam.)

Religious Options in the Modern World A transcendent religious option. (Judaism or Islam.) In their purest forms these religions tend to stress the distinction between God and the person.

The Old Testament

At times God appears unapproachable.

The Old Testament Moses said, “Please show me your glory”... But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” And the L ORD said, “Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.” Exodus 33:18, (ESV) Exodus 33:18, (ESV)

The Old Testament God wants to speak to his people.

The Old Testament God wants to speak to his people. Genesis 1-3

The Old Testament God wants to speak to his people. Genesis 1-3 Yet the communication from God to his people is mediated: priests and prophets.

For the Jews of Jesus day, and for us, the problem is how do we approach the God who is unapproachable.

Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever 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 authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.

Incarnation

Incarnation Jesus is the union of the transcendent with the approachable God.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. John 1:1-3, 14 (ESV) John 1:1-3, 14 (ESV)

Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever 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 authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.

Two Errors

We stress the approachability of Jesus.

Two Errors We stress the approachability of Jesus. We stress the demands of Jesus.

Incarnation Jesus is the union of the transcendent with the approachable God.

Incarnation Jesus is the union of the transcendent with the approachable God. Jesus is both the God we can approach, and the God who demands much from us.

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

Without Jesus we are left on our own.

Without Jesus we are unable to approach the transcendent God.

Only in Jesus can we find both a transcendent God and an approachable man.