Year A

John 14:1-14

The Rev. Denise Vaughn

For Those Who Do Believe

The Gospel today, much like last weeks Gospel, is another unlikely one for the Easter season because it takes us back to those days just before Jesus’ death. Jesus and his disciples are at the Last Supper. He has just washed his disciple’s feet and predicted his betrayal by Judas and Peter. He tells them that he will be with them only a little while longer and that where he is going they cannot follow at this time. These words of Jesus leave the disciples confused and saddened and their response was like that of children playing on the floor who look up, see their parents putting on coats and hats, and ask: Where are you going? Can we go too? Then who is going to stay with us? These are the questions that Jesus addresses throughout the farewell discourse, of which this reading today is a part of, especially at the beginning when he says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled,”…. and do not let them be afraid.”

These words are most often heard at funerals and appropriately so, for at the departure of loved ones their absence is felt the most, and those left behind may also fear the thought of their own death. Jesus is preparing his believers to consider not only his journey through death to life, but their own and He is giving them instructions about how to live as he taught without his physical presence in their midst. Therefore, this text is appropriate any time we feel the absence of Jesus or feel lonely or afraid. Jesus’ word for troubled hearts is “believe.” I am going said Jesus but I will return to take you home. My mission is to prepare a place for all who put their trust and hope in me, a place of joy where we will live with God. And you already know the place where I am going.

 But our beloved Thomas had to be sure. So he expressed his doubts and his failure to understand, and the wonderful thing is that it was the question of a doubting man, which provoked one of the greatest statements Jesus ever said. Jesus said to Thomas: “I am the way, the truth and the life.” In this statement, Jesus addresses not only the universal human search for the right way among a maze of alternatives; I am the road to God. He addresses those who search for truth among conflicting claims; I am the accurate understanding of God, and he addresses all who search for a life that is worth living; your very existence comes from God.  The meaning of this statement is important to us in many ways but mostly because as Christ followers we understand it to mean that the life promised by Jesus to his disciples is “eternal life” with God forever therefore, we never have to fear life or death.

His words should give the disciples assurance regarding “the way” forward after he leaves by pointing out that through the presence of “the way” Him, their hearts need not be troubled. Yet the longer Jesus talks, the harder and harder it becomes to follow, let alone trust, all that he is saying. Philip reaches his breaking point, by asking “Show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” “Where is God?” “What is God like?” We are finding it difficult not to let our hearts be troubled with your words Jesus. Frustrated, Jesus says to Philip, “Have I been with you all this time and you still do not know me?” God is right here, Philip. “Whoever sees and knows me has seen and known the Father.” If, you can’t believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, than look at the works themselves; everything about me, my words, and the works that I do, make the Father known.

“Those who do believe will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.” This promise is not only made to the disciples sitting around the table that night but to anyone who believes in Jesus. We have varied and amazing gifts given to us by God to be used to glorify God. To begin with, each of us has the potential power to give love to each other and the more we allow God and God’s Son to live within us, the more this powerful love can grow and flow out to others. We can be intentional about identifying, growing and sharing the particular abilities we have to teach, educate, heal, affirm others, generously share material possessions, and spiritual insights with those whom God brings into our lives. Through the help of the God’s Spirit we can use the power Jesus has promised us, so that we can partner with God to do the work that God has planned for us to accomplish in this world.

In the 1 Peter reading today, written by Peter who was sitting at that upper room table with our Lord that night, we hear him exhort God’s people to become living stones, built upon Christ the living stone, the cornerstone, and through whom we are called into a holy priesthood being built into in the structure which is the house of God. First Peter insists that the Christian life equips us with all we need to proclaim the mighty acts of the one who died and rose from the dead. It equips us to be the Church built into a spiritual house. A people for God’s possession; these are the people Jesus goes to prepare a place for. Do not be afraid, Jesus says. I will be leaving, yet continue to be present through the Holy Spirit’s work in each of you. Just believe, and you will do greater things.

It should be a little easier for us not to worry, knowing what we know, than it was for those poor disciples. We know the story doesn’t end at this dinner table, or at the cross, or even at the empty tomb. It doesn’t end at all. The triumph of the Resurrection molds a scattered anxious group of former fishermen and tax collectors into a community; a community that changed the world and continues to change the world. So today, let us remember that we are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, God’s own people, in order that we might proclaim the mighty acts of God. In order that we might celebrate our savior’s resurrection rejoicing in “the life” that overcomes death, believing “the truth” that the risen one is “in the Father” as he taught, seeking always to follow “the way” he pioneered for us. Our hearts need not be troubled when we believe and follow Jesus’ steps in the ways that lead to eternal life. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! This is enough to empower us for the days ahead.