Going and Coming
Sometimes Jesus seems to talk in circles.
"I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. They 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." Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?" Jesus 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. Whoever 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. "I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But 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. 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. You 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. And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me; but 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. - John 14:18-31
Do you think the apostles were confused by what Jesus told them?
He said that he was coming to them, but he was leaving, yet they would not be left alone. The Spirit would be with them, but does that mean Jesus will no longer be with them as well?
It must have been hard for them to accept that Jesus would not become king as they expected, but would leave them to go to the Father in Heaven.
What does that mean? And who is the ruler of the world who has no power over Jesus? Is this someone who will bring evil into the world?
It is understandable if we have trouble making sense of all this. John likes to present Jesus' words this way, forming word pictures and symbols that may stay in our thoughts, but may not be clear.
Jesus is telling them these things, knowing they will not understand until they come to pass.
He wants them to know that it is a good thing that the Holy Spirit is with us to guide and support us. We need all the help we can get in this evil world.
So, even though He is not here physically, we are not alone.
If we learn nothing else from this, that could be enough to sustain us.
But if we are open to faith, we may find that so much more is available to us through the Spirit who not only teaches us, but offers us the words to speak, the wisdom to decide what to do, and makes the connections we need to do God's work.
I believe strength comes from being unafraid. When we release our fears and trust in God, amazing things are possible.
More to come...