John 14- preparing for the Ascension
Next Thursday is the feast of the Ascension. Our Gospel reading today is preparing us for that event.
The Ascension is when Jesus enters into the reality of heaven. I believe that is like entering into another dimension of reality. It is like a 2 dimensional person becoming 3 dimensional. As he enters that new dimension, it seems to us that he is leaving. But, from Jesus’ perspective he is even more present with us because to be in the dimension of heaven frees him from certain earthly limitations. To remain on the earthly plain is to be present in one place at a time. When Jesus enters the heavenly he is freed from that limitation. … So, I don’t think that Ascension is about Jesus leaving us. He told us in Matthew 28:20,
The Ascension is when Jesus enters into the reality of heaven. I believe that is like entering into another dimension of reality. It is like a 2 dimensional person becoming 3 dimensional. As he enters that new dimension, it seems to us that he is leaving. But, from Jesus’ perspective he is even more present with us because to be in the dimension of heaven frees him from certain earthly limitations. To remain on the earthly plain is to be present in one place at a time. When Jesus enters the heavenly he is freed from that limitation. … So, I don’t think that Ascension is about Jesus leaving us. He told us in Matthew 28:20,
“…And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age”.
But, the Ascension makes it look like leaves because he is no longer present as he had been. The Ascension has this apparent contradiction to it. As Jesus says in John 14:28,
“I am going away, and I am coming to you.”
Jesus has three things to say to prepare his disciples.
First, Jesus encourages them to continue to follow his teachings saying,
"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” (Jn 14:23).
Jesus wants to encourage his disciples to continue to live as he taught them. His teachings would remain. They don’t expire with the Ascension. To claim to love Jesus and to ignore his teaching is to live in contradiction. As Gregory the Great said,
“The proof of love is its manifestation in deeds. … One who is still wandering here and there through his unlawful desires does not really love God” (Forty Gospel Homilies 30.1).
So, if we want to follow the teachings of Jesus more closely, our focus should actually be on how we can come to love Jesus more. Our disobedience to his teachings is a love problem.
God’s dwelling within us is connected to our following the teachings of Jesus. And perhaps that is the real point of Jesus’ teaching- to prepare us for the indwelling of God within us. God is also working to prepare a home within us- it is a cooperation. As Origin said,
God’s dwelling within us is connected to our following the teachings of Jesus. And perhaps that is the real point of Jesus’ teaching- to prepare us for the indwelling of God within us. God is also working to prepare a home within us- it is a cooperation. As Origin said,
“[God] consumes evil thoughts, wicked actions and sinful desires when they find their way into the minds of believers. … After their vices and passions have been consumed, he makes them a holy temple, worthy of himself” (On First Principles 1.1.2).
The process then is that as we grow in love for Jesus, we will have a equal desire to follow his teachings. As we follow his teachings, we become a more suitable dwelling place for God.
The second thing he wants to tell them in preparation for his leaving has to do with the Holy Spirit. He says,
“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” (Jn 14:26).
Jesus constantly says that his going into heaven is important because the disciples will gain a new relationship with the Holy Spirit, who will be their Comforter, (or Advocate, or Helper). The Holy Spirit will be with the disciples in an important way after the Ascension- In a way that wouldn’t be possible without the Ascension.
We shouldn’t think that these are the only things the Holy Spirit does, but there are two important roles that Jesus points out. The two things Jesus highlights here is that the Holy Spirit will teach and remind.
Last week we spoke about a difficult decision the church had to make regarding how non-Jewish people were going to join the church and follow the Jewish Messiah. The question was “how Jewish do you have to become to be able to be a follower of Jesus?” There were different opinions on this. Here we see the Holy Spirit teaching.
Peter receives a vision of animals on a sheet. These animals are not supposed to be eaten according to kosher laws. But the voice comes instructing Peter to not call something unclean that God has called clean. Then Peter is invited to a Gentile’s home. Gentiles were considered ritually unclean, and yet when Peter starts speaking about Jesus the Holy Spirit fills the Gentiles who are listening. … But that is not the end of the teaching.
There is also a gathering of the leaders of the church who discuss and pray about this issue. At the end of that meeting they say,
We shouldn’t think that these are the only things the Holy Spirit does, but there are two important roles that Jesus points out. The two things Jesus highlights here is that the Holy Spirit will teach and remind.
Last week we spoke about a difficult decision the church had to make regarding how non-Jewish people were going to join the church and follow the Jewish Messiah. The question was “how Jewish do you have to become to be able to be a follower of Jesus?” There were different opinions on this. Here we see the Holy Spirit teaching.
Peter receives a vision of animals on a sheet. These animals are not supposed to be eaten according to kosher laws. But the voice comes instructing Peter to not call something unclean that God has called clean. Then Peter is invited to a Gentile’s home. Gentiles were considered ritually unclean, and yet when Peter starts speaking about Jesus the Holy Spirit fills the Gentiles who are listening. … But that is not the end of the teaching.
There is also a gathering of the leaders of the church who discuss and pray about this issue. At the end of that meeting they say,
“For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to impose on you no further burden than these essentials” (Acts 15:28)
and they go on to give some basic guidance. … As individuals and as a community the Holy Spirit was actively teaching them. Jesus had not spoken to them about this particular issue, so the Holy Spirit was teaching them how to move forward.
The other role of the Holy Spirit that Jesus highlights has to do with reminding the disciples of the teachings of Jesus. The Holy Spirit was actively bringing the teachings of Jesus to their minds. And that would have been an incredibly important matter as the New Testament was being written, we benefit from the reminding that the Holy Spirit did as pen was being put to paper in the midst of the Early Church community. … The Holy Spirit was reminding them as they were teaching new followers who never met Jesus. …
And this is a role of the Holy Spirit that is important for disciples to this day. An experience that is very common is that when someone experiences the intimacy of the Holy Spirit they can suddenly read Scripture with a new clarity and they can also remember the teachings of Scripture in a new way. That is obviously important as we attempt to live as Jesus has taught us. … We are not alone in trying to live the life of a disciple of Jesus. The Holy Spirit is present helping us in exactly that task.
The third and final thing he wants to tell his disciples in preparation for his leaving has to do with peace. Jesus says
The other role of the Holy Spirit that Jesus highlights has to do with reminding the disciples of the teachings of Jesus. The Holy Spirit was actively bringing the teachings of Jesus to their minds. And that would have been an incredibly important matter as the New Testament was being written, we benefit from the reminding that the Holy Spirit did as pen was being put to paper in the midst of the Early Church community. … The Holy Spirit was reminding them as they were teaching new followers who never met Jesus. …
And this is a role of the Holy Spirit that is important for disciples to this day. An experience that is very common is that when someone experiences the intimacy of the Holy Spirit they can suddenly read Scripture with a new clarity and they can also remember the teachings of Scripture in a new way. That is obviously important as we attempt to live as Jesus has taught us. … We are not alone in trying to live the life of a disciple of Jesus. The Holy Spirit is present helping us in exactly that task.
The third and final thing he wants to tell his disciples in preparation for his leaving has to do with peace. Jesus says
“Peace 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” (Jn 14:27).
There is a lot that can be said about peace, especially in its connection to the Hebrew word Shalom. Jesus speaks it over his disciples a lot- It might be among his top used words after the resurrection. …
The peace the world promises has to do with removing all that might disturb us. The world promises us peace because we have retirement savings, and good health, and good friends, and family that don’t make mistakes, and we live in a prosperous country with no war. The peace of the world has to do with the removal of problems. …
The peace Jesus gives doesn’t necessarily have to do with our outward circumstances changing to suit our desires or expectations. The peace Jesus gives is a peace in the midst of trouble. A couple chapters after our reading Jesus says,
The peace the world promises has to do with removing all that might disturb us. The world promises us peace because we have retirement savings, and good health, and good friends, and family that don’t make mistakes, and we live in a prosperous country with no war. The peace of the world has to do with the removal of problems. …
The peace Jesus gives doesn’t necessarily have to do with our outward circumstances changing to suit our desires or expectations. The peace Jesus gives is a peace in the midst of trouble. A couple chapters after our reading Jesus says,
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (Jn 16:33).
Jesus is not promising a life without trouble. He is promising a way to have peace in the midst of the trouble. He is not promising to calm every storm, he is promising peace in the midst of the storm. … It is something Jesus has promised us as his disciples and we can claim it as our own. That doesn’t mean our troubles will go away, but it means we can have peace in the midst of our troubles.
In preparation for his Ascension Jesus leaves them (and us) with three things. First, he encourages them to match their lives with their love of him. If they love him, they will obey him. Second, he tells them that they are not alone in their task. The Holy Spirit will comfort them, actively teaching them and reminding them. And thirdly, they are given a peace they can hold onto in the midst of trouble. … These are not only for ancient disciples- These are for us as well. AMEN
In preparation for his Ascension Jesus leaves them (and us) with three things. First, he encourages them to match their lives with their love of him. If they love him, they will obey him. Second, he tells them that they are not alone in their task. The Holy Spirit will comfort them, actively teaching them and reminding them. And thirdly, they are given a peace they can hold onto in the midst of trouble. … These are not only for ancient disciples- These are for us as well. AMEN
Comments
Post a Comment