Words of Love

This comes from a bigger text today. This is called the final discourse. The words Jesus gives to his disciples before he is arrested and crucified. We started into this section last Sunday. It all is words of dwelling in love. In the ultimate love Jesus has given us. So, we are not orphans, not left alone in anything because the Spirit is given to us.

How many times are we told about abiding one in another between the Father, Son, Spirit? Then because we know these three, we are led to be a part of this. We are led into relationship, into this love because we are fully known and loved.

Sit and dwell on it for a moment. (allow silence) We are as much a part of this trinity because we have known Jesus. Think of all the stories we know about Jesus (allow space for reflection). There is so much love in each and every one. 

This final act of love is words and prayers for the disciples before Jesus leaves them. Jesus wants them to know, to have a memory of what has been shared on every step of the journey. Each of them might have a different favorite, a different story which means so much to them they can see the love they dwell in. The care given to them. 

We are often in need of this care and compassion. This great heart of love. The dim word of Paraclete doesn’t even begin to encompass all this word means. Come alongside, be and advocate for, intercessor for, take on the part of indwelling when we most are in need of it. 

Isn’t it awesome to think that Jesus cared enough to give these last words of encouragement. These last words which come down through the ages and right to us. They are words of healing and help for whenever we need them. A friend explained it in these terms, “If we truly believe God is in Jesus and Jesus is in us through the Spirit, we can open ourselves and be within the hands of healing love.” 

Read this whole passage again: (Do this by not assigning, but letting people take a verse at time read, ponder, go on to the next). 

John 14:1-31

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. 2In 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? 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.

4And you know the way to the place where I am going.” 5Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” 8Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” 9Jesus said to him, “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’? 10Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves.

12Very 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. 13I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

15”If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. 17This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.

18”I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. 19In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. 20On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.” 22Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23Jesus answered him, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.

25”I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 26But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. 27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.

28You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I am coming to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. 29And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe. 30I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me; 31but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us be on our way.

This says more than any sermon does. Rise, be on your way.