Week 37 John 16
Yesterday I noticed that people in the gospels had a hierarchy of connection with the Lord. Circles #1 & #2 & #3 each had a different position on the Familiarity Gradient. Circle #1 people had a close day-to-day tightness with Jesus that decreased in Circles #2 & #3 (the numbers rose as physical distance increased). But the one really unique & rare advantage that all three shared was that every one of them had an actual sensory connection with the human Jesus. Whether closer or more distant all of them had material contact with Jesus. So…I need a fourth circle for people who never saw him.
Circle #4 is numerically the biggest circle and it includes every person who has ever heard Jesus’ teaching and had their soul animated and has decided to follow him (and in that way Circle #4 is similar to Circles #1-3).
The big difference is that no one in Circle #4 has ever had any contact with the physical Jesus. That seems like a disadvantage. Which I think is why Jesus in his last conversation told the disciples: I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send him to you.
The coming of The Counselor was guaranteed to be a definite benefit. Even so none of us in Circle #4 have gotten to see Jesus. Which seems like a liability.
Note: quote from John 16:7 (CSB). See also September 5/26 post ‘concentric circles’.