(John 14: 1-14)
Practicing law in the south is an experience, especially criminal defense. If you’re poor, black, of just don’t matter, the system can be very unforgiving. It can be really scary if the State wants to make an example of you as a deterrent for future wrongdoers. Every once in a while I’d have a poor client, usually black, who was being vigorously prosecuted and, because they were nobodies, we had little leverage. Here’s the best deal you’re going to get, take it or leave it. At that point, my only leverage was that I was not afraid to go to trial which, sometimes worked to my client’s benefit. After laying out all the bad news, with no good news, they would astonish me with their faith in God. In the face of a frightening unknown, their hearts were not troubled. They believed in God and trusted Jesus. They knew their future was secure regardless of what happened in man’s courtroom.
And, this is what Jesus is trying to tell the disciples in our scripture reading for today. This conversation comes right after they’ve shared the Last Supper with Jesus. The disciples, simple people just like you and me, were awash in a turbulent sea of confusion and uncertainty, fear and doubt They’ve been following Jesus now for a couple of years and this ministry, to some of them, does not appear to be going in the direction they had hoped. The powers that be were lining up against them and the tension was palpable. Jesus keeps predicting his death. Where does that leave them? They may not be ready to die.
Jesus says; Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. He senses that they are scared and in fear for their lives and he wants to give them words of assurance. He tells them; In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? In my studies of the four gospels I’ve learned that it is rare for Jesus to come right out and say exactly what he means. He couches his words in a way that is thought provoking, designed to make you think and look for the deeper meaning. I mean, he could have said something like; “Look fellas, it’s fixing to get real here. It’s going to get ugly and almost all of you, save for John, are going to meet with an unnatural death because of me.” “But don’t worry. Believe in me and God, it’s all good. I’m going on ahead to prepare a real nice place for you to stay after you are dead.” Jesus’ words show the way to eternal life, though unseen, is secure, as secure as you trust in Jesus. He’s telling them, and us, that the way to eternal life has already been prepared. The only issue that may be unsettled is our willingness to believe. It was during this extremely troubling time for his disciples, who had put it all on the line, that Jesus felt the need to calmly reassure them that, in the end, everything would be okay because he was going on ahead to prepare a place for them, a place too beautiful for words to describe. And, he tells them, he will come back for them, that he will come again and take them to himself, so that where he is, there they may be also. He says; And you know the way to the place where I am going. Thomas speaks up and says: “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus responds; I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him. You have to appreciate Thomas because he speaks his mind and asks those questions everyone else is afraid to ask. Jesus tells him that he is the way to God, the only way. He is the way because he is both God and man. What Jesus is telling us is that by uniting our lives with his, we are united with God. Jesus is saying that if you like him, trust him, and love him, then you’re really going to love God. He’s not that scary guy portrayed in the Old Testament. He is a God of love, mercy, forgiveness and compassion.
Because Jesus says he is the only way to God the Father, some people may argue that this way is too narrow. I mean, after all, Jesus expects and asks way too much. You know, like loving our enemies, helping those people, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, taking care of the sick, visiting people in jail? Doesn’t it say somewhere in the Bible that God helps those who help themselves? No, actually, it doesn’t. What it does say is that we, as God’s people, are charged with doing his will and his way here on earth for people who need someone to be the answer to their prayers. So, instead of worrying about how limited it sounds to have only one way, we should be saying; “Thank you God, for providing a sure way to get to you!” As the way, Jesus is the path to the Father. As the truth, he is the reality of all God’s promises. As the life, he joins his divine life to ours, both now and eternally. Jesus is, in truth, the only living way to the Father.
So, Philip chimes in and says; “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” You can almost see Jesus shaking his head as he exhales slowly and says; Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show us the Father?” Do you not believe that I am the Father and that the Father is in me? In Philip’s defense, this is a pretty big concept to take in and get your head around. I’m not sure I would have gotten it the first time either. Jesus explains that the words he speaks are not spoken on his own, but that they are the words of the Father who dwells in him and does his works. Jesus is the visible, tangible image of the invisible God. He is the complete revelation of what God is like. He’s telling Philip, and us, that if you want to know what God looks like, look at him. If you know Jesus, you know God. It’s that simple.
To further stress the point he is trying to get across, Jesus says; Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. To me, this just about sums it all up. If you believe in Jesus you will be able to do the works he has done and, in fact, you’ll surprise yourself by doing even greater works. Do I honestly believe that we can have the power to restore sight to the blind, help the lame walk, and raise the dead? Well, in a way, yes, I do. With the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can help people see there is a better life ahead, that there is hope for the future. We can help those who have been knocked down and don’t see any point in getting up, to stand on their own two feet and move forward with confidence with the assurance that they do not walk alone. We can raise the dead, those who have given up, those who have descended into their own pit, an abyss, by showing them that if they know Jesus, they know God and his unconditional love, and can live again. I know this is true because I have seen the Holy Spirit at work in our church as we continually look for more and more ways to be the heart and hands of God reaching out to people whose hearts are troubled by the fear of the unknown in their lives.
We close out our scripture reading for this morning with Jesus telling us that he will do whatever we ask in his name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it, Jesus says. Now this isn’t like the Janis Joplin 1971 song where she asks the Lord to buy her a Mercedes Benz and a colored tv. It’s not about us, it’s about doing his work and his will. In our asking, we must remember that our asking must be in his name, that is, according to God’s character and will. You know, it’s like when we see a wrong that needs to be righted, an injustice that needs to be confronted, a person who needs help, we ask God for the resources and means in which to accomplish the task or meet the challenge. God, I’m just one person, or God, we’re such a small church, show me, show us, the way in which we can help. God will not grant requests that are contrary to his nature or his will, and we cannot use his name as a magical formula to fulfill our selfish desires. But if we are sincerely following God and seeking to do his will, then our requests will be in line with what he wants, and he will grant them.
We can look forward to a better life ahead because Jesus has promised it to us, to all who believe in him. And, although the details of eternity are unknown, we need not fear the unknown because Jesus has prepared a place for us and will spend eternity there with us in a place too beautiful for words to describe.
Please pray with me.
Gracious and loving God, how grateful we are that we know you are always there for us during those times when our hearts are troubled and that we can petition your loving son, Jesus, for the comfort and reassurance that you will never leave us, even in our darkest and scariest moments when all seems lost. And how comforting it is to live securely in the knowledge that in your house there are many dwelling places and that one day we will have a place with you in eternity. We are grateful for those times that we can lean on the strength of your everlasting arms and that, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can reach out to the lost and the lonely and help them see you, help them walk with you, and to help raise their spirits from a life dead in sin. Move us to do thy will and thy work until that glorious day when we all get to heaven. What a day of rejoicing that will be. In Jesus name, we pray, Amen.