How and where is Jesus present to guide and sustain us in these troubling times? The long discourse in John’s Gospel that runs from chapter 13 through to chapter 17 offers us some encouragement.

The disciples are troubled, probably by Jesus’ repeated statements that he is going where the disciples cannot follow (13:33, 36), so Jesus reassures them about life when he will no longer be physically present with them. This is also highly relevant for the situation of John’s later community – and for us. Like much else in this Gospel, the disciples don’t understand what Jesus is saying.

Some key messages from John chapter 14 that we read this week are …

  • Jesus will not abandon the disciples, but will send another helper – the Holy Spirit or paraclete – to be with them – and with us –  always
  • Jesus is the way, the truth and the life … the doorway to relationship with God
  • To know Jesus is to know God … as Jesus reveals the heart and character of God
  • Even now, Jesus is preparing to return to God and will prepare a place for the disciples in God’s house (note that in John’s Gospel, Jesus was with God from the very beginning and came from God and is now returning to God)

The disciples ask what God is like. ‘Just like me’ says Jesus … who embodies the ways and priorities of God … bringing healing and wholeness, lifting religious burdens, breaking down exclusive and exclusionary practices, welcoming and offering hospitality to all including the outcast and those considered unloved or rejected … enjoying an intimate relationship with God through God’s Spirit … so that Jesus can claim he is ‘in’ the Father and the Father is ‘in’ him.

If we want to live in this same close relationship with God that Jesus enjoys, we will keep Jesus’ commandments (John 14:15) and especially the command to love one another (John 13:34-35). As we do so, we will be doing the works of Jesus (14:12). How will we know how to do this? Through the gift of the Spirit of truth, whom God will send in Jesus’ name, who will remind us of everything Jesus said (John 14:26) and who will be ‘in’ us, bringing us into relationship with Jesus and with God.

You may like to spend some time this week reflecting on what you find most encouraging in this passage, and also what you find most challenging.

Click here for worship@home resources Jesus promises to be with us - 10 May 2020

This Sunday, we will be holding a Zoom worship meeting from 9.45 am. I will host the meeting from my home but it will be an opportunity to hold a larger (virtual) gathering and to see each others’ faces. We will be basing our worship on the attached worship@home resource for this week, so it would be handy to have a copy present. We can send you a link to the meeting or a phone number and meeting details if you sign up by emailing the Croydon UC church office on office@croydon.unitingchurch.org.au or using the form in the sidebar.