Some of the people of Jerusalem therefore said, "Is not this the man whom they seek to kill? And here he is, speaking openly, and they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ? Yet we know where this man comes from; and when the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from." So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, "You know me, and you know where I come from? But I have not come of my own accord; he who sent me is true, and him you do not know. I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me." John 7:25–29 (RSV)
Many years ago, as the eighth-grade confirmation class arrived, I wrote "God" on the blackboard. Once they had settled in for the lesson, I announced that there was a quiz. I pointed to the word "God" and told them to write at least one page on that topic.
There was a long, perplexed silence. Not one confirmand picked up a pencil or paper. After it seemed, to the confirmands at least, like an eternity, one of the more vocal students spoke: "How do you expect us to write about God?" It was the question I was seeking. How do you begin to write or talk about God?
We would need to begin by looking carefully at what we think we know. As we take the time to examine what we think we know thoughtfully, we will soon discover how little it is. If we are honest with ourselves, we have to confess such poor knowledge of God as to be nearly complete ignorance.
We see this often in Scripture where people think they know Jesus, either dismissing him as the Messiah or getting lost in unimportant details. Behind these misunderstandings of Jesus lie what we believe God should be doing. When we think that way, we often miss what God is doing.
We come closest to the heart and purpose of God when we stop trying to fit him into what we think he ought to be. When we become silent before the Father, when we set aside all we believe God is and should be, then we begin to see the mercy and grace at work in Jesus.
When we begin with who God the Father has revealed Jesus to be, we begin to understand him. However, as I tell my confirmands, it is their faith in Jesus that is closer to the heart of God than all our knowledge.