Jesus then predicts the betrayal, his impending death, and the denial of his followers. Yes, I can imagine that the disciples are very confused and afraid. They have felt the tension in Jerusalem grow all week. They did not want to come to Jerusalem but Jesus insisted. Now he is telling them that he will no longer be with them. How can this be? Just days ago there was a big parade and know he says that he won't be with them any longer. What will they do without him as their teacher? They have left their lives behind and followed him and now he says he is leaving! What will become of them?

Then Jesus makes a very intriguing statement which confuses the disciples even more. "In 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? And 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." You might have heard this read at a funeral. These are very comforting words to hear as you mourn the loss of a loved one… to know that Jesus has prepared a place for them.

In the Book of John Jesus' words often have layers of meanings. This is an example. Jesus will go on to explain that he must go but he will return to abide in the followers just as God abides in him. Abide means to dwell with, to remain with, and to be faithful to. Jesus says that he will return to live in their hearts here on earth…to abide with them. He will be as near as their breath. Jesus wants to be in deep relationship with each follower. They don't need to be afraid because he will be with them. So the followers of Jesus have a place at the table of the Lord with Jesus as host and they have a place in God's house and Jesus will have a place in each of their hearts.

In the book of John Jesus proclaims many "I Am" statements, which serve to remind us that Jesus is of God. Centuries earlier God told Moses that God's name was "I Am." Jesus is the son of God, both human and divine. Here Jesus says, "I Am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." These two lines have been the cause of much division in the church and amoung various Christian denominations. Jesus is clearly speaking to his followers. The way they have learned about God is through his teaching, his ministry, and his healing and miraculous actions. God has been revealed to them through Jesus. It is by developing a relationship with Jesus that they can develop a relationship with God. Jesus is a gateway to God and embodies God on earth.

We do injustice to this passage when we interpret it as Christians have the only, exclusive way to God. John is speaking to a particular group who are Christians. The way that we as Christians come to God is through Jesus Christ. It is important to hold two truths at the same time, one in each hand. In one hand, we say that as Christians our way, truth and life comes by having a relationship with Christ which leads us to know God. In the other hand, we hold the truth that God can reveal God's self in a variety of ways and that is God's doing. For the Christian community to whom John writes there is a celebration as Jesus reveals God to this faith community. It is not a statement about the relative worth of the world's religions. John is concerned with helping Christians recognize and name their God and the distinctiveness of their identity as a people of faith. The faith community is a place that we learn of the way, the truth and the life…a place that we can deepen our relationship with the Divine and with one another. We learn what it means to be the children of God, the Body of Christ.

And then poor Phillip speaks, he still doesn't understand that Jesus is of God. He has spent day and night with Jesus for three years and he is bewildered. You know, in a strange way, that gives me comfort. Sometimes I don't understand what a passage really means or I don't dig deep enough for various possible meanings. The Bible can be confusing. Coming to know Christ and God is a long process of seeking and growing, of yearning and maturing, of becoming more and more at one with the Divine within. Jesus must have been frustrated with his chosen disciples. He has given them everything he has and still they don't understand and time is quickly running out. Yet even now he offers grace by saying to Phillip, "Believe 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." The disciples have witnessed Jesus feeding five thousand, healing people from blindness, leprosy, evil spirits, and physical limitations. They even saw him raise Lazarus from death to new life. He did these actions in the name of the Father and with the power of the Divine. They will eventually come to understand that Jesus' very presence in the world, as the incarnate Word, and all that he has said and done, reveals God to them.

I think I must have used the next verse more than a dozen times in sermons in this congregation. Jesus says, "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." It is just amazing to me that Jesus has full confidence and trusts that his followers will carry on the ministry he began and will do even greater things. The disciples' acts of love and mercy will reveal God. If one has a life of faith and deepening relationship with the Divine it will be defined or identified by a way of being in the world that shows the love of Christ. There are times that we are called upon by God, or by others representing God, asking us to take on a particular task or challenge. Often we can be afraid, thinking that we don't have the skill or time or talent to do the work. Perhaps we don't want to be called in a new direction and so we struggle. Jesus reminds followers that if we pray in his name for help in anything that will glorify God we will be given it.

Our love for Jesus and God will be revealed as we walk in the way of Jesus keeping the commandments of God. We will be never be left alone in our walk as God will send the Holy Spirit, the Advocate to dwell within us…to abide with us. The Holy Spirit will empower us to be the faithful disciples that Christ calls us to be. This passage reminds us so vividly that the Bible is a living word and has value and relevance for our lives today. Everything Jesus said to the disciples he says to us. When we face times of fear and uncertainty…when our hearts are anxious, we need to remember that we are never alone. The Holy Trinity abides in us and we abide in God. We all have a place here in this community of faith and in the Christian faith. We have a home with God. We are called to commit our lives to God…to follow the will of God. We have been called to carry out Christ's ministry of love and mercy, of peace and joy. We cannot do this on our own, but with the power of the Holy Spirit working within us Christ knows that we can do amazing work! When we do experience times of fear and worry or find ourselves doubting our ability to carry out God's work let us remember Christ's words, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you."



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