Prelude: Nowhere to go…
John 13:37-38
37 “But why can’t I come now, Lord?” he asked. “I’m ready to die for you.”
38 Jesus answered, “Die for me? I tell you the truth, Peter—before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.
I’ve been in this space. No room to maneuver. Out of options. Rock bottom. Fearful. Uncertain. Alone. This is the realization unfolding before disciples. Jesus has informed the disciples that he is leaving. This will be their last... supper... together.
Interlude: “..my Redeemer lives”
John 14:1
1 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.”
Out of the fog. A light in the darkness. His voice soothes. His presence heals. Jesus wants his disciples to know that all is not lost. He also wants them to know that he is still an integral part of God’s plan for them, but how?
John 14:2-3
2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home.[a] If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?[b] 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.
Their reservations are confirmed. Jesus lets his disciples know their accommodations await them. And in time, he will return for them. They are not abandoned.
John 14:4-5
4 And you know the way to where I am going.”
5 “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
I’ve had conversations like this, haven’t you? You are saying one thing and, apparently, the person you are conversing with is saying something entirely different. Up is left, Down is in. What? Listen to Thomas, “Lord… we have no idea…” We are still grasping for understanding. Lord, help us.
John 14:6-7
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. 7 If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is.[c] From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”
Here’s where you have to listen with your heart. Allow me to paraphrase Jesus’ words in order to provide clarity. Jesus said, “ I AM. No one can come to the I AM except through the I AM.” Did you get it”
John 8: 58
58 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I am
John 10:30
30 “The Father and I are one.”
Jesus has provoked his enemies with these same words: I AM. Now he seeks to provoke his closest friends….in their deep despair… to faith, and in doing so, to hope… in love. I AM from the lips of Jesus… no sweeter words.
John 14: 8
8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”
“Immediate Need Gratification” or, in more modern terms “Instant Gratification”
is the desire to experience pleasure or fulfillment without delay or deferment. Basically, it's when you want it; and you want it now. ... Waiting is hard, and there is an innate desire to have what we want when we want it, which is usually without any delay.
My mother finished college after having started a family. Subsequently, she would transfer knowledge from her classroom to our living room on a regular basis. We learned the term “Immediate Need Gratification” from one of her Psychology classes. I am certain that she embraced the term as a teaching tool for five children for whom ‘enough was never enough’ and who wanted what they wanted when they wanted it. Who knew there was a name for such a thing? I have another question: who knew that something that we thought was a product of our ‘fast food’ society would be an identifiable and entirely human dysfunction in biblical times? And yet, here’s an exasperated Philip asking Jesus to just ‘show us the Father…”, “Just show us the end of the movie”, ”just give us the CLIF NOTES version”, “Scottie, beam us up!”.
John 14:9-10
9 Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me.
Now Jesus presses the point, plainly restating that he is the I AM, the First and the Last, The Lord of Heaven’s Armies, Literally, the ‘Ancient of Days’. How are the disciples to process this great truth? How are we?
John 14:11
11 Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.
In this moment, the disciples are face to face with the Creator of all that exists. So are we. What does that imply? If God...bothered...to come to you... personally…. with a very simple imperative, “Just believe!”, how would you respond? I mean….it’s...GOD? What do you do? Is there anything that God can require of you that cannot be accomplished by you? Let me put it another way…
“Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:14a)
The short answer is ...no. Armed with that information and that assurance, what next?
John 14:12-14
12 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. 13 You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. 14 Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!
‘Just ask!’. After all. It’s not about what you asked. It’s about who you asked. Don’t overthink it. Just keep a pure heart … and ask!
Selah..
wb
Micah 6:8
...the Lord has told you what is good,
and this is what he requires of you:
to do what is right, to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God.
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