Nougat 1

Have you ever wondered about divine hierarchy? I suspect that if you read or watched The Shack, it might have crossed your mind. A conversation with some friends yesterday brought it back to the fore; and I thought there’s a hierarchy among the Trinity. Consider today’s Holy Nougat

“Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am.” ‭‭John‬ ‭14:28‬ ‭NLT‬‬

God is greater than Jesus!

We were chatting about various things that included the power of God over all idols. And the story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff came to mind. In summary, there’s a field filled with luscious green grass on the other side of a valley of goats. That field was only accessible via a bridge. Many a goat desired to access the field, but there were trolls and dangerous beasts that presented a danger to any goat who tried to get to that other side.

One day a little goat, perhaps unaware of the danger, wandered away from the flock and reached as far as the bridge. But a great mean troll guarded that bridge, and it enjoyed eating goats – the bigger the better! The troll snatched the little billy goat and prepared to drag him under the bridge.

But the little goat offered the troll a better option; Middle Billy Goat. The troll agreed and the little goat ran to get the middle goat to take his place. When the middle billy goat arrived at the bridge, the hungry troll awaited him. The goat sized up the situation, and perhaps realized that he couldn’t overthrow the troll, made a new negotiation: he would give the troll an even bigger goat. Big Billy Goat Gruff was accepted as the substitute (to make the fight fair and as a rounded meal).

Of course, the troll had not counted on the size and power of Big Billy Goat Gruff; not even when Big Billy’s steps caused the bridge to tremble. When Big Billy Goat arrived, the troll went to meet him with great anticipation.

Now Big Billy Goat Gruff wasted no time in destroying the troll. All the goats were free to access the field and they lived happily ever after.

While this reads as a fairy tale, yesterday I heard it in a new light. For, as the goats in the field, we seek access to spiritual food that is often blocked blocked by the enemy of our souls. And we know that the devil’s desire is to kill, steal AND destroy us all.

When we wander and find ourselves in troll territory however, we ought to remember that there’s One Who took on flesh to be our substitute. Jesus is like the Middle Billy Goat Gruff. And, God’s Word assures us that when we know not how to pray, Jesus and the Spirit of God will intercede for us before God (see Romans 8:34).

In this regard God is the Big Billy Goat Gruff, the greatest of all. We can be happy that Jesus not only died and rose; but also that He ascended to Heaven and sits at God’s throne; where He intercedes for us.

And hear the best news – if Jesus kept the intercession part of the promise (and He did); He *shall* come back to take us to where He lives.

And no Troll can stop Him.

So we thank God for offering us The Intermediate Intercessor, Jesus Christ.

If you wish to hear the Three Billy Goats Gruff on YouTube, here’s a short video

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May all we seek be found in Christ