Holy Week
“I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.” His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.”
– John 16:25-30
In a moment when Jesus is giving his final words for not only the disciples to learn from, but also the final words we see given to us to be able to learn also, Jesus gives a plain thought for the disciples to understand and to hear. 3 years….that is how long the disciples were with Jesus and on the eve before Jesus would go to the Cross, the disciples feel as though they finally get what Jesus has been trying to tell them all along. There is another moment in scripture when Jesus speaks plainly to the disciples, it was early in the ministry of Jesus, you can see it in Matthew 13. Jesus finished teaching multiple parables in this chapter and the disciples question him of why he always speaks in parables. Jesus then takes the chance to speak plainly to the disciples and he explains 2 of the parables that he speaks.
In this moment though, I ask myself the question – would I be relieved to understand what Jesus is saying to me as a disciple or would I continue questioning what Jesus is saying?
Think about it. Jesus is now telling the disciples that He has come for a purpose from his Father in heaven and now he is getting ready to go back to heaven to be with his Father. The disciples, even though seemingly relieved that they understand what Jesus is saying, most likely have the doubts still creeping in as to whether they can really trust Jesus in this moment or is it the dream that they have been living in coming to a screeching halt.
Jesus finishes John 16’s conversation that leads into a prayer where we see Jesus in some of his most vulnerable moments and to be honest, some of the most hopeful words that we can read.
” I do not ask for these only, but also for THOSE WHO WILL BELIEVE in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” – Jesus, John 17: 20-21
Read those words again slowly.
Jesus is praying for you.
Jesus is setting the stage for what is to come, not what is current. In all of the emotions and situation Jesus found himself in, Jesus stopped and prayed for you. Something that stands out in these words of Jesus: The call to be one together.
In a world full of chaos and war and anger and fear and arguments and distrust, Jesus calls those who believe to be one just like He is one with the Father. That implies some things that we all need to take in to account when it comes to the way that we interact with those around us.
First, it implies that we will think the best of one another and not the worst. We have all been guilty of this at some point. We see someone and we let the external voices and situations sway our opinions of those people. Now, this is not an argument for kum-bya with every single person that we interact with. Given that we live in an imperfect fallen world, there is not expectation for us to be able to attain a good status with all people. Jesus was not able to do that, in fact, Jesus if you really think about it, spoke words of truth that scared people away.
Second, it implies that we understand what Jesus is saying when he says we are together as he and the father are. In fairness, that is a lofty goal and one that really isn’t attainable. Because of our imperfection and the fall and the inherent sin that we have inside of our hearts, it makes it incredibly difficult for us to do this by our own strength or behaviors. I believe what Jesus is trying to get across in this situation is not that we can be one, but we can all be one in our abiding in Jesus as Jesus abides in the Father. This IS something that we can all work towards. Knowing that Jesus abided in his Father to give him strength and love and grace and power and direction, we too can look to Jesus as one to gain strength, love, grace, power and direction. As one, we can be with Jesus, and Jesus can be with us, just as Jesus was with the Father and the Father with him.
Finally, it implies that there is someone that will teach, preach or communicate the words of Jesus to us. This is something that we all have the ability to do, especially when we abide in Jesus and Jesus abides with us. Our purpose and mission on this earth while we are here is to be part of the reconciliation process of God’s creation, bringing those that will hear the words of Jesus and believe in them to create an everlasting relationship with Jesus. But that means that we as a whole, have a part in accomplishing or executing that purpose. Yes, the first calling of our being is to abide with Jesus. We are called to learn from Jesus, pray to Jesus, spend time with Jesus and love Jesus. The second calling however is to love our neighbors as ourselves. There is not much better than doing our best to love our neighbors by, showing Jesus’ love to them, serving them in love, forgiving them in love, helping them through a crisis in love. We have the ability to shares God’s love through his son Jesus in so many different ways, that it can almost feel overwhelming.
Whatever the means that we find the ability to share the love of Jesus with those around us, so that we can help the world believe in Jesus, we should. Even when it is hard, even when it seems impossible, even when the outcome is not what we hope for.
Just like Jesus taught in Matthew 13, the seeds are sown into the soils by those who are not afraid to speak the love of Jesus together.
On this the last post of Holy week, know that as Jesus is beaten, flogged, mocked, spat on and then eventually hung to a tree, Jesus do so for you and me. If we believe this message and accept this grace and love that Jesus offers to all that will believe, we have the ability and purpose to tell others about it.
Pray today that God will open up a space or a chance for you to share the love of Jesus with someone.
Also pray for the courage to speak boldly.
