John 14:1-12
The disciples were slow learners. However, Jesus never gave up on them. The Lord had to repeat Himself many times in order for them to understand what He was trying to tell them.
Was really not their fault because the disciples had been raised to think of God as vengeful, who would get angry when they sinned, who would punish them for their offenses. God had spoken to Moses and reveled Himself with an unpronounceable name. They knew the Law. The goal of every Jew was to keep the 613 Commandments. No one would have thought of having a personal relationship with an unapproachable God. Jesus introduced an entirely new image of God. People were shocked when Jesus called God “Abba”, “Daddy”. Jesus said, “When you see me, you are seeing the Father. I am in the Father and the Father is in me.” Their heads were spinning. The disciples were totally confused because they had no foundation to accept what Jesus told them. His words were like a foreign language. How could looking at Jesus be the same as looking at God? How could Jesus make Himself equal to God? Consider the leap of faith that the disciples had to make: From the Burning Bush who only spoke to Moses to a God who had flesh and bones like all of us. Jesus revealed a Father who is patient, kind, forgiving. Much to their disappointment, Jesus also bled. He allowed Himself to be killed—a sorrow that the disciples could not understand. How could Jesus have so many powers and still submit to crucifixion? Was the afterlife the place where He said He was going? “Where I am going you know the way. Master, we do not know where you are going, how can we know the way? Jesus said, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life.’” Well, that certainly clarified matters! They were probably more confused than before. However, they trusted Jesus because they knew that He loved them, and they loved Him.
Trust is a necessary element in any relationship. We want to believe people when they say they are telling the truth and we want to be believed, to be trusted. When deception enters into a relationship, trust is very difficult to reestablish—not impossible, but difficult. Jesus never told lies. That’s why He identifies Himself as the “Truth”, which points the way and leads to life. The Lord often spoke about truths that were countercultural. Jesus mentioned that we are all loved by God. Therefore, our salvation does not depend upon our merits, but on God’s mercy. Jesus forgave notorious sinners, associated with untouchables. Little wonder that He got into a lot of trouble for speaking the truth.
Since all of us are a part of God, we all hold a piece of the truth—our own truth and the truth of who God is. For what truth are we willing to die? What is non-negotiable in our heart? Consider the fact that we are loved without conditions and when we die, we are going to see God face to face. There is a place prepared for each of us, even before we were born. Therefore, God’s plan is for us to live forever with Him in heaven. God not only takes care of us now, but will take care of us forever. Questions surface about heaven. What will our dwelling place be? Will we recognize our family? Questions that matter now will not be important later. Yet, no doubt that we will be present to those we love and who love us—like our spouse, children, fathers and mothers. Happy Mother’s Day—both living and those who have gone to their dwelling place. Mothers always work hard for their family because they are the heart of a home, the pulse, the voice of forgiveness. Regardless of a jail sentence, failed marriage, error of career choice—a mother always receives her children with open arms. Wisdom says that the love of a mother is very similar to the love of God. Jesus compared Himself to a mother hen. If we were ever curious about playing with baby chicks while the mother hen was around—we found out quickly that the baby chicks were off limits. The mama hen protects her babies as God protects us.
Thank you, mothers, for all the sacrifices you made. Thank you, God, for inventing the gift of motherhood and showing us unconditional love.
The disciples were slow learners. However, Jesus never gave up on them. The Lord had to repeat Himself many times in order for them to understand what He was trying to tell them.
Was really not their fault because the disciples had been raised to think of God as vengeful, who would get angry when they sinned, who would punish them for their offenses. God had spoken to Moses and reveled Himself with an unpronounceable name. They knew the Law. The goal of every Jew was to keep the 613 Commandments. No one would have thought of having a personal relationship with an unapproachable God. Jesus introduced an entirely new image of God. People were shocked when Jesus called God “Abba”, “Daddy”. Jesus said, “When you see me, you are seeing the Father. I am in the Father and the Father is in me.” Their heads were spinning. The disciples were totally confused because they had no foundation to accept what Jesus told them. His words were like a foreign language. How could looking at Jesus be the same as looking at God? How could Jesus make Himself equal to God? Consider the leap of faith that the disciples had to make: From the Burning Bush who only spoke to Moses to a God who had flesh and bones like all of us. Jesus revealed a Father who is patient, kind, forgiving. Much to their disappointment, Jesus also bled. He allowed Himself to be killed—a sorrow that the disciples could not understand. How could Jesus have so many powers and still submit to crucifixion? Was the afterlife the place where He said He was going? “Where I am going you know the way. Master, we do not know where you are going, how can we know the way? Jesus said, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life.’” Well, that certainly clarified matters! They were probably more confused than before. However, they trusted Jesus because they knew that He loved them, and they loved Him.
Trust is a necessary element in any relationship. We want to believe people when they say they are telling the truth and we want to be believed, to be trusted. When deception enters into a relationship, trust is very difficult to reestablish—not impossible, but difficult. Jesus never told lies. That’s why He identifies Himself as the “Truth”, which points the way and leads to life. The Lord often spoke about truths that were countercultural. Jesus mentioned that we are all loved by God. Therefore, our salvation does not depend upon our merits, but on God’s mercy. Jesus forgave notorious sinners, associated with untouchables. Little wonder that He got into a lot of trouble for speaking the truth.
Since all of us are a part of God, we all hold a piece of the truth—our own truth and the truth of who God is. For what truth are we willing to die? What is non-negotiable in our heart? Consider the fact that we are loved without conditions and when we die, we are going to see God face to face. There is a place prepared for each of us, even before we were born. Therefore, God’s plan is for us to live forever with Him in heaven. God not only takes care of us now, but will take care of us forever. Questions surface about heaven. What will our dwelling place be? Will we recognize our family? Questions that matter now will not be important later. Yet, no doubt that we will be present to those we love and who love us—like our spouse, children, fathers and mothers. Happy Mother’s Day—both living and those who have gone to their dwelling place. Mothers always work hard for their family because they are the heart of a home, the pulse, the voice of forgiveness. Regardless of a jail sentence, failed marriage, error of career choice—a mother always receives her children with open arms. Wisdom says that the love of a mother is very similar to the love of God. Jesus compared Himself to a mother hen. If we were ever curious about playing with baby chicks while the mother hen was around—we found out quickly that the baby chicks were off limits. The mama hen protects her babies as God protects us.
Thank you, mothers, for all the sacrifices you made. Thank you, God, for inventing the gift of motherhood and showing us unconditional love.
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