It’s evening, and the disciples have gathered with Jesus to share a meal together. It is the last meal they will share before his crucifixion and death. During supper, knowing what is to come – Judas’ betrayal, Peter’s denial, his own suffering and death - Jesus gets up, ties a towel around his waist, and washes their feet. Soon after, Judas leaves, and then Jesus starts talking (this is the end of John 13) and doesn’t stop until chapter 18.
Wait a minute, you might be thinking. Didn’t we just hear this story, back on Maundy Thursday? Yes. And isn’t it now the season of Easter, where the focus is on Jesus’ resurrection, and glory, and life? Also yes.
So, why the big leap backwards in the narrative? Well, these three chapters are often referred to as the “Farewell Discourse.” Jesus is preparing his disciples for his coming death, but, perhaps more importantly, he’s preparing them for his ascension. In other words, he’s not just going away for three days and returning in glory at the resurrection. Soon, he’ll be going away forever. His disciples are, understandably, confused, fearful, uncertain, and anxious. It doesn’t really inspire confidence in them when Jesus says (not once, but twice!) “Where I am going, you cannot come.” It is in the midst of this swirl of emotions that Jesus speaks. In preparation for what lies ahead, Jesus has more things to teach; a couple of points to reinforce; a few notes of caution; and some words of comfort, and strength, and reassurance for the friends he so deeply loves.
In the verse immediately preceding today’s Gospel reading, Jesus predicts that, before the cock crows, Peter will have denied him three times. How powerful it is, then, that such a difficult, painful prediction is followed by these words of reassurance and promise: “Do not let your hearts be troubled.”
It seems important to note that this isn’t some trite, empty platitude. Jesus is not saying, “Hey, chin up, guys! You’ll figure it out!” Instead, the reason they need not have troubled hearts in the midst of what is most definitely a troubling situation is because Jesus promises that they’re not alone. It’s as if Jesus is saying, “I know this is scary, but you believe in God, and you believe in me – and we’ve got you!”
The disciples don’t need to wonder how they’ll manage to get a reservation for the place Jesus is going, because in that place there are many dwelling places. They don’t need to be afraid that they’ll somehow screw things up and end up in the wrong place, because Jesus himself will be there to receive them. They don’t need to be fearful that they’ll get lost along the way, because they already know the way - they know Jesus!
See, the dwelling places to which Jesus refers and the way to get to them are not geographical locations, not plottable on a map. The “dwelling places” are not physical structures, not room or mansions; the way to get there is not the golden road through the pearly gates. No, the dwelling place of which Jesus speaks is not geography, but relationship. The disciples know the way because Jesus is the way…and they know Jesus! The disciples will have a dwelling place because abiding with and in Jesus, with and in the Father is the dwelling place.
In the next chapter of the Farewell Discourse, Jesus paints the picture of himself as the vine and his followers as the branches. “Abide in me as I abide in you,” he says. It is this abiding with Jesus, with the Father, that is the dwelling place that Jesus promises. It is this abiding with Jesus that strengthens the disciples and gives them life. It is this abiding, this closeness with God, that comforts their troubled hearts. It is this abiding, this mutual relationship, that empowers them to do the works of Jesus and to bear fruit.
While this story seems to take us backwards in the narrative, it ends up being pretty timely. Troubled hearts? Check. Uncertainty about the way forward? Check. A plea for answers? Check. I don’t know about you, but in the midst of these tumultuous and fearful times, I need these words of comfort, reassurance, and hope.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled,” Jesus says to the disciples, and to us. I am with you. I am with you so closely that your dwelling place, your abiding place, is with me. You know the way to where I am going because you know me, Jesus says. I am the way! I will draw you into relationship and hold you through whatever comes. I will forgive you and strengthen you. I will take you to myself, so that where I am, you may be also.
This Gospel passage is one I return to, again and again, for funerals, but the promises here are not just that we will abide with Jesus after we die. Even now, as we search for the way forward and fret over preparations of all kinds, Jesus abides with us and we abide with him. Whatever comes, wherever we are, Jesus is there too.
Wait a minute, you might be thinking. Didn’t we just hear this story, back on Maundy Thursday? Yes. And isn’t it now the season of Easter, where the focus is on Jesus’ resurrection, and glory, and life? Also yes.
So, why the big leap backwards in the narrative? Well, these three chapters are often referred to as the “Farewell Discourse.” Jesus is preparing his disciples for his coming death, but, perhaps more importantly, he’s preparing them for his ascension. In other words, he’s not just going away for three days and returning in glory at the resurrection. Soon, he’ll be going away forever. His disciples are, understandably, confused, fearful, uncertain, and anxious. It doesn’t really inspire confidence in them when Jesus says (not once, but twice!) “Where I am going, you cannot come.” It is in the midst of this swirl of emotions that Jesus speaks. In preparation for what lies ahead, Jesus has more things to teach; a couple of points to reinforce; a few notes of caution; and some words of comfort, and strength, and reassurance for the friends he so deeply loves.
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| Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash |
In the verse immediately preceding today’s Gospel reading, Jesus predicts that, before the cock crows, Peter will have denied him three times. How powerful it is, then, that such a difficult, painful prediction is followed by these words of reassurance and promise: “Do not let your hearts be troubled.”
It seems important to note that this isn’t some trite, empty platitude. Jesus is not saying, “Hey, chin up, guys! You’ll figure it out!” Instead, the reason they need not have troubled hearts in the midst of what is most definitely a troubling situation is because Jesus promises that they’re not alone. It’s as if Jesus is saying, “I know this is scary, but you believe in God, and you believe in me – and we’ve got you!”
The disciples don’t need to wonder how they’ll manage to get a reservation for the place Jesus is going, because in that place there are many dwelling places. They don’t need to be afraid that they’ll somehow screw things up and end up in the wrong place, because Jesus himself will be there to receive them. They don’t need to be fearful that they’ll get lost along the way, because they already know the way - they know Jesus!
See, the dwelling places to which Jesus refers and the way to get to them are not geographical locations, not plottable on a map. The “dwelling places” are not physical structures, not room or mansions; the way to get there is not the golden road through the pearly gates. No, the dwelling place of which Jesus speaks is not geography, but relationship. The disciples know the way because Jesus is the way…and they know Jesus! The disciples will have a dwelling place because abiding with and in Jesus, with and in the Father is the dwelling place.
In the next chapter of the Farewell Discourse, Jesus paints the picture of himself as the vine and his followers as the branches. “Abide in me as I abide in you,” he says. It is this abiding with Jesus, with the Father, that is the dwelling place that Jesus promises. It is this abiding with Jesus that strengthens the disciples and gives them life. It is this abiding, this closeness with God, that comforts their troubled hearts. It is this abiding, this mutual relationship, that empowers them to do the works of Jesus and to bear fruit.
While this story seems to take us backwards in the narrative, it ends up being pretty timely. Troubled hearts? Check. Uncertainty about the way forward? Check. A plea for answers? Check. I don’t know about you, but in the midst of these tumultuous and fearful times, I need these words of comfort, reassurance, and hope.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled,” Jesus says to the disciples, and to us. I am with you. I am with you so closely that your dwelling place, your abiding place, is with me. You know the way to where I am going because you know me, Jesus says. I am the way! I will draw you into relationship and hold you through whatever comes. I will forgive you and strengthen you. I will take you to myself, so that where I am, you may be also.
This Gospel passage is one I return to, again and again, for funerals, but the promises here are not just that we will abide with Jesus after we die. Even now, as we search for the way forward and fret over preparations of all kinds, Jesus abides with us and we abide with him. Whatever comes, wherever we are, Jesus is there too.
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