Obedience to Him shows our love: Love Inspires our obedience

After Philip's question (John 14:8), one from Judas (John 14:22). It is the question of evidence fro the resurrection. And the answer is that he will be known in experience, (John 14:23) that is, he will be known ('seen') only by commitment to him and by participating in him. Notice the sequence: we love him, we therefore want to obey him, and in the act of love and obedience the Father and Son appear to us, in us, to abide with us. Anything less than this 'knowing and participating' leaves us on the outside of the resurrection looking in, perhaps intellectually convinced that Jesus lives as we consider the evidence, but not 'seeing' him in a way full of conviction and assurance, enflaming the heart.

1 Cor. 15. That does not mean of course that the only evidence for the resurrection is subjective 'belief'; but it is only the believer, who has received the Lord by love and obedience, who is in a position to weigh up the evidence. There is a way of knowing people which is different from anything else.

Matthew 6:22. We only get the real person if we come with a generous and trusting frame of mind. No less with seeing the living Lord. He said that the single eye (sincere) allows the whole personality to be flooded with light. When we come to him with the single eye of love and obedience He dawns upon us; "my eyes by seeing learn to see" And this is the great work of the Holy Spirit who is 'another counselor' (John 16,17), and because 'another' therefore in continuity with the first counselor, Jesus himself. All that Jesus ever was to his people is realised in us by the presence of the Holy Spirit. 'Counselor' is one of numerous attempts to express 'Paraclete' in English. Perhaps 'advocate' is as near any any one word can get - pleading, arguing, instructing, suggesting courses of action. In New Testament times 'advocate' could describe a friend who takes action on your behalf in times of need, who does whatever is necessary to forward your best interests. And John 14:23 is in our very best interest.
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