Trinity

During our latest lockdown, I have rediscovered the pleasure of knitting. It isn’t completely new to me, but in the recent past I haven’t had much time for it, so although I could do the basic stitches (knit and purl) that was about my limit. I was also rusty about how to follow a knitting pattern and had no idea about how to make a more elaborate stitch This week I have been investigating some stitch patterns which each have a special name. I’ve discovered ‘Moss’ stitch, ‘Blackberry’ stitch, ‘Granite’ stitch, and amazingly one which was called ‘Trinity’ stitch.

Now I realise many of you may not be at all interested in knitting, so the exact details might be a bit much for you. Suffice it to say that the pattern requires you to make one stitch into three and then to join the next three stitches into one, hence the name ‘Trinity’. I felt it was an interesting practical example of something that is often hard for people to grasp.

The doctrine of the Trinity isn’t specifically mentioned in Scripture by that name, but Jesus confirms it as truth when He sends out the disciples in what we call the Great Commission to baptise in the joint names of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).

But Jesus also confirms our understanding in His teaching. He tells us ‘I and the Father are one’ (John 10:30), and ‘He who has seen me has seen the Father’ (John 14:9). Jesus and God the Father are clearly indivisible.

But what about the Holy Spirit? Well, John’s gospel reports how Jesus encourages the disciples that they will not be left as orphans when He returns to His Father (John 14:17). He introduces the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, to them. He tells them that, at this time, ‘He’ is dwelling with them, but later ‘He’ will be in them.

It seems to me that Jesus is pointing out that ‘He’, Jesus the man, who now lives with them and is known by them, is the same as the one who will dwell ‘in’ them, (the One we know to be the Holy Spirit). God is three in one and one in three.

This is the Trinity, which I saw reflected in the knitting stitch of the same name. How wonderful that God can use such an everyday thing as knitting to help me, and maybe you, understand a profound and wonderful truth of the Kingdom and who He is.

Prayer: Father God, we come to You in Jesus’ name and encouraged by the Holy Spirit living in us. We praise You for who You are and for all You have done for us. We thank You for Jesus, our one and only Saviour, and for the Holy Spirit who inspires us, encourages us, and comforts us. You are beyond our human comprehension, yet You understand us so completely and eternally care for us. Thank You for Your amazing love. Amen.