Word to the Wise
Saturday, April 28, 2018 - 4th Week of Easter - Sat
[Acts 13:44-52 and John 14:7-14]"Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son." [John]
Jesus' relationship to the Father is on full display today. We might be excused for a bit of confusion since the passage begins with, "If you know me, then you will know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him." The apostle, Philip, serves as the questioner here when he asks Jesus simply to show them the Father. Jesus replies, Have I been with you for so long a time, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father." At this point, Jesus seems to be identifying himself with the Father. But at the end of the segment, Jesus speaks of going to the Father. What we are left with is the close relationship between two divine persons that would later on develop into the trinitarian theology that is part of our faith. Jesus at this point is challenging the disciples to trust that the Father who has sent him is so closely related to him that the apostles can see the Father in him.
At the end of the segment, Jesus promises the disciples that if they believe in him and in his relationship to the Father, they will accomplish the same works that Jesus accomplished. In the Gospel According to John, the most important "work" is to bring others to believe in Jesus. For all of us that means living the life of faith in such a way that others may come to belief. Jesus promises we will receive the help we need. This will be further developed as the Farewell Discourse continues. It is like a rope made up of multi-colored twines, each of which contributes to the meaning. Stay tuned! AMEN