“On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” (John 14:20, NIV)
In reading for biblical literacy, we continually look for what the scriptures teach us about the nature and character of God. A challenging concept about God’s nature is his triune being. Generally referred to as the Trinity, this means that God is three in one (being a tri-unity): God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
It’s important to pause and consider whether we may have false conceptions or expectations of the Godhead. Cultural Christianity may have taught us to believe in what we desire God to be instead of knowing who he truly is. So, let’s look at who God reveals himself to be.
Jesus describes the Father as one who has opened his home for his ever-expanding family, and Jesus presents himself like a groom who is preparing a place where we can dwell with him.
“My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?” (John 14:2, NIV)
When the home is ready, he will come and take us to live with him. Jesus’ disciple Thomas thought that “the way” to this dwelling required directions to a literal location.
Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” (John 14:5, NIV)
“Cultural Christianity may have taught us to believe in what we desire God to be instead of knowing who he truly is.”
Jesus’ response teaches us about identity in the Godhead. Jesus is the path. The Father is the destination. Sin separated humans from God, and Jesus’ purpose is to reunite us. The way back is not a physical path but a spiritual journey.
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 15:6, NIV)
In order to know God, we must know Jesus; and if we know Jesus, then we know God. 
A common misconception is that there is a God of the Old Testament, full of wrath, and he is unlike the Jesus of the New Testament, full of love. The truth is that everything we see beautiful in Jesus is a reflection of his Father. As you read through the Old Testament recognizing Jesus throughout, you can see more clearly that God has always been what Jesus has revealed. God is our Father who longs to gather all his children to himself, redeeming them no matter how high the cost. Jesus said,
“If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:7, NIV)
This is how discipleship works. Now that we have been reconciled to God, we as his children reflect our Father’s love and guide others back home. God the Father has always longed for the family to be united and to see Jesus as the reflection of his love to remove the sin that kept us apart.
“Now that we have been reconciled to God, we as his children reflect our Father’s love and guide others back home.”
Jesus laid the foundation for unity in God’s. He modeled this oneness by his own connection to the Father and promised it to us. Jesus didn’t speak on his own authority but on the authority of God who worked through him. We are given the same ability to demonstrate God to the world through our service in his name. When those who are lost see the family of God overcoming the world with victory, our testimony points to the authority of the Father. God accomplishes what we cannot do on our own.
“Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:11–12)
How is it possible that we can do even greater things? Remember the reason Christ was leaving this world: to go and prepare a place for us in God’s house. He is doing this because God desires that his family expand—that all people be brought into it. The Great Commission sends us to people Jesus never met in his earthly ministry. The Father sent the Son and the Son sent us. We continue in Jesus’ discipleship, teaching and sending others so that all can see the Father. Jesus discipled us by teaching God’s will and showing God’s character. Then God further equipped us by sending the Holy Spirit to be our guide.
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth.” (John 14:16–17, NIV)
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth.”
The Holy Spirit is our seal and defense in this world because he guides us in the truth. Those who are separate from God have a hard time with truth because they have been accustomed to justifying their own way. They can’t see the Spirit physically, and they haven’t been taught to recognize him spiritually. But he is among us, and he can be in us—if we are submissive to the truth. The Holy Spirit teaches us all things through the truth, reminding us of what Jesus says. The disciples were used by the Holy Spirit to continue writing Jesus’ truths for us in the Bible, the inspired Word of God.
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26, NIV)
Just as Jesus came to fulfill God’s will, the Holy Spirit indwells us so we can carry it on. The Spirit equips us all to share this love so that we can return to God with Christ and bring many others with us.
The Father is the destination.
The Son is the path.
The Holy Spirit is the power.
