Daddy, where is Jesus? I can't see him.
He returned to his father, and sent the Spirit to us.
I don't like that, daddy. If Jesus loves me, I should see him.
Jesus said it was better if he left and we couldn't see him till later.
But how will I know about him, the things he did?
The way I do, sweetie. God taught men; they teach me; I teach you.
But how will I know that he became a man, a real man, a man man?
The way I do, sweetie. Almost everything Jesus did is the same as me.
Watch me. Watch mom. Even watch the sour grouch who lives next door.
He did NOT just do what everybody does. A lot looked the same, but the OTHER stuff . . . And, the other things-- remember that word from Thursday dinner, "trans-fig-u-ra-tion?" Well the best I could do was read what Scripture says and be pretty amazed-curious-wondering-- just like any other child. Mark used that word, and it helps with the shining and the clothes and face-too-bright and the cloud. And Jesus talking to Moses and Elijah-- just like people do.
Peter was scary scared. And the cloud told him to listen. I bet he had a headache after that.
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Daddy, is all your knowing Jesus from the Bible?
I only know Jesus because God wrote it in the book.
But, Jesus is not a book, daddy.
The book describes Jesus as 100% man like any man and 100% God like the only God. And that 200% is a funny number.
You said 100% truthful is like a cup all the way up. All man; all the way up. All God; all the way up. That cup sure is full. That sounds like one cup being fuller than two cups.
You can know him 200% by living with His people, when we pray and sing and talk about him at the table-- you listen, and you'll start hearing how he is both but only one person.
Daddy, if I knew math more than Go Fish, I bet what you said would be confusing.
I know, the math thing. I'm really not very good with math, not like your big sister. Remember how you thought the way I counted all the hot dogs with only one look was magic-- but I called it multiplication; it's not magic, it's an ordinary that you will get when you get bigger. Just keep watching.
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Daddy, you have never ever seen Jesus, have you? Not at all, right?
Nope, not a bit of a piece of an ever.
But, you still love him so very much! Is that the Spirit? Is that the better? Is that why Jesus isn't here-here, see-here, right-here-right-now-here?
He did say it was better. I don't think I can show you better until you are bigger, not that I know when that is. You are bigger than yesterday.
Well, mom said I ate twice my share of pizza, so probably. But you mean better is something I figure out as I get older? Is that how it is supposed to be?
Well, Peter-- you remember who he is, right? Even though you have never seen him?
Daddy, you are poking. Yes, I remember: he was the fatty stickman on that Sunday school book at Aunt Lottie's. Now, I'm poking. He is one of the applstotles, the perfect messengers.
You like to silly words. Who taught you that? Well-- about better and being bigger to see the better. I want to give you one of the book sentences; in fact, one of Fatty Stickman's sentences. When you think about Jesus not being here, and you don't like it, come tell me and we'll enjoy this one together.
And, yes, we'll have to talk about ten times to even know what we are talking about, but the sentence won't ever change. The mountain won't move just because we are climbing it:
"Though you have not seen him, you love him.
Though you do not now see him, you believe in him
and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory."
Gosh, daddy, that is a real mixed salad one. I get the point, don't see him, that's nothing new, Love, believe, rejoice-- is that the better?
That's a good question. And how do we answer questions?
Yes, sir, o.k.: "By not ignoring OUR questions, or shutting OUR ears, by not nodding like OUR sheep and or demanding OUR answer today. We don't answer, OUR God does."
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Daddy, I'm gonna talk weird like you when I grow up, aren't I.
Oh, you'll talk better than me, better and better and better.
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