John Wesley once said, “Bring me a worm that can comprehend a man, and then I will show you a man that can comprehend the Triune God.” The Trinity, Three-in-One, is confusing any way you try to look at it. It is the reason that Muslims say we believe in three gods. If it confuses you, then you are in good company because it confused John Wesley, too.
It is Trinity Sunday, a Sunday that our church and many others set aside to worship the Godhead Three-in-One. Our belief in the Trinity is a doctrine that the church universal has believed since the 4th century, and it has caused many arguments since—but that is another sermon.
John Wesley uses 1 John 5:7 as the Scripture upon which he based his sermon on the Trinity. “There are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: And these three are one" (1 John 5:7). He admits in his sermon that he does not insist upon anyone using the word “Trinity” or “Person” to describe the relationship. He said, “I use them myself without any scruple, because I know of none better.” His only scruple might be with those who would argue the verse I just read to you.
Why is it important that we observe this day or even talk about this today? Why do we need to know about this? We need to know and understand because just a few minutes ago we said that we believe it: we stated our belief in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit when we said the Apostle’s Creed. We sang about it when we sang the Gloria, and we will sing it again when we sing hymn 64, “Holy, Holy, Holy.” We need to understand the Trinity to understand parts of the Gospels, and many of Paul’s writings. If we are going to state our beliefs and sing our beliefs, then it is important to understand our beliefs.
Let’s look at this morning’s Gospel message, John 16:12-15. Please find the passage in your Bibles and let us stand for the reading of the Gospel. When we have finished reading, please keep your Bibles open as you are seated.
Jesus is preparing his disciples for his departure – telling and teaching them many of the things they will need to know after he is gone. He has told them so much that by the 12th verse he tells them he has a lot more to say but they just would not be able to bear it. So, let's look at verse 13. Jesus speaks of the Spirit – He – the Spirit of Truth. The Spirit is a person – He – and Jesus gives one of the Spirit’s names – Spirit of Truth. What Jesus says next is very important to understanding the relationship between these two parts of the Trinity: He will not speak on his own. He will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
The Spirit doesn't make stuff up. He is only going to tell them what he is given to tell them. Take note of that because that is very important in helping you understand the relationships within the Trinity. So, for the last part of that verse...as time passes, he will continue to instruct them.
Verse 14 helps make clear what Jesus is saying in verse 13: He will glorify me. The Spirit will be telling them about Jesus, and the words of “the things they cannot bear now” (verse 12) will be words directly from Jesus – “because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.” Let's let that sink in for just a minute...It is FROM me that HE will make known to YOU.
Verse 15 brings in the third member of the Trinity, God. “All that belongs to the Father is mine.” This one might seem a bit tricky, because we aren't talking about "stuff." If we look back to John 10:30, we find Jesus in a heated conversation with some Jewish leaders, he says, “I and the Father are one.” Back to our 15th verse, “All that belongs to the Father is mine” means that Jesus knows everything God knows.
The rest of that 15th verse tells us, “That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.” What comes from the Father, Jesus knows, and because Jesus knows it the Spirit knows it, and the Spirit will make it known to us. When the Apostles come into communion with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, they will know what they are supposed to know. It is straight from God’s mouth because God, Jesus, and the Spirit are One. There is a proof I remember from geometry and algebra—If A=B, and B=C, then A=C.
The Trinity is three persons, and they are all made of the same essence —their natures are the same—the nature of God. The distinction is made in terms of their relationship to each other: The Father is the Father because of his relationship with the Son. The son is Son because of his relationship with the Father. Spirit is the Spirit because of his interaction with the other two. Each is still an individual with his own personhood, but they work in relationship with each other in all things.
I want to share something with you. This is The Icon of the Holy Trinity. I've printed it on the front of your bulletin. It was painted by Andrei Rublev, a Russian monk, in 1425. The painting is based on the story of the angels visiting Sarah and Abraham having a meal. When you study it, the painting becomes one of the Trinity.
Three angels are seated at what looks like a stone table, possibly an altar. (This can be read any way you choose, but I have chosen right to left) If we read this icon from right to left, we can see the Father clothed in creation colors of blue and green with the mountain behind him.
In the center is the Son. His two fingers pointing out with the others tucked in suggests the two natures of Christ—human and divine. (The same reason we have two candles on the altar.) The blue and red of his robes point to his royalty and sacrifice while the gold sash suggests the government will be upon his shoulders (Isaiah 9:6). His throne is the earth.
The figure on the left is the Holy Spirit. It is unclear what the colors in the fabric are doing in the light. Is the light supposed to be making them more transparent than the other two? The building above him with two openings may signify the Father’s house that Jesus alludes to John 14:2, In my Father’s house there are many rooms.
So, just as we said a little while ago in the Apostles’ Creed, the Son “sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.” The Son is leaning his head toward the Holy Spirit. Their halos point out a circular motion that centers around the cup. In that cup is a calf’s head left from the hospitality of Abraham that stands in for the sacrifice of the Lamb of God, reminding us of our participation in Holy Communion.
The shapes of the mountain, tree, the halos and heads bring the eyes into a circle. The Father points in blessing toward the chalice, encouraging his Son in his work, the Son who offers himself for the world looks toward the Spirit.
In between the feet of the Father and the Spirit, there is an open space. In the center of that open space is a rectangular opening, the place in the altar where the relics of martyrs were placed representing us – the world. The Father sends his son. The son offers himself for the world, and through the Spirit, the world is brought to the Son and Father.
We are invited into this wonderful circle. The question is whether we are going to go all in, or are we going to play the Hokey Pokey with it. The disciples who were in the Upper Room on the day of Pentecost did not play Hokey Pokey. They put their “whole self in and they shook it all about.”
I want you to think about something this week when you pray and when you seek the Lord’s counsel. Are you calling Him to you, or are you standing in the complete presence of the Godhead praying with them.
I began this message with a John Wesley quote. “Bring me a worm that can comprehend a man, and then I will show you a man that can comprehend the Triune God.” I don’t think the worm understands me any better. Prayers that you fared better than the worm.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Note: the information concerning Rublev's icon was came from Gasque, Laurel. "Artway.Eu". Artway.Eu. Last modified 2019. Accessed June 21, 2019. http://www.artway.eu/content.php?id=730&lang=en&action=show. and Seamands, Stephen A. Ministry In The Image Of God. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 2005.
