Month: January 2020

John 14:1-14

Talk about being shocked and surprised by hearing the truth, since it was pastor appreciation month, a young couple in the church invited their pastor over for Sunday dinner. While the lovely couple was in the kitchen preparing the meal, the pastor sat in the living room making small talk with their 7-year-old son, and says to him, “Billy, what are we having for dinner?”

Billy answers, “Well pastor, I’m pretty sure we’re having goat.”

“Goat?” replied the pastor, wondering how the boy had come up with that one. “What makes you think we’re having goat?”

“Last week, I heard Dad say to Mom, ‘Might as well have that old goat for dinner next Sunday as any other day.’”

I imagine that Jesus’ disciples were almost as shocked when Jesus said to them, “The truth is, anyone who believes in Me will do the same works I have done, and even GREATER WORKS, because I am going to be with the Father” (John 14:12).

“I tell you the truth” (John 14:12).

Other translations bring out what the New Living Translation lacks: the solemn significance of this statement. The NASB renders this “Truly, truly, I say unto you.” The King James has “Verily, verily, I say unto you.” In the original Aramaic Jesus spoke, “Amen, amen, I say unto you.” One of my favorite commentators says this phrase can best be understood as, “I most solemnly assure you.” ¹

Perhaps we’re not far off in thinking Jesus is saying here, “I am Lord of heaven and earth, and I approve this message.”

Leon Morris, in his commentary on the gospel of John, tells us that this holy formula “marks the words as being uttered not only before men and women, but more importantly before God, who is thus invited to bring them to pass.” ²

Bring what to pass? The GREATER WORKS, that’s what!

“The truth is, anyone who believes in Me will do the same works I have done, and even GREATER WORKS, because I am going to be with the Father” (John 14:12).

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John 14:6-11

St Peter stood at the pearly gates, waiting for incoming. He saw Jesus walking by and caught his attention. “Jesus could you man the gate while I go on an errand?”
“Okay,” replied Jesus, “what do I have to do?”
“Just find out about the people who arrive. Ask about their background, their family, and their lives. Then decide if they deserve entry into heaven.”
“Sounds easy enough; I think I can handle that okay.”
The first person to approach the gates was a wrinkled old man. Jesus summoned him to the examination table and sat across from him. He peered at the old man and asked, “What was it you did for a living?”
The old man replied. “I was a carpenter.”
Jesus remembered his own earthly existence and leaned forward, and said, “So was my dad; did you have any family?”
“Yes, I had a son, but I lost him.”
Jesus leaned forward some more, “You lost your son? Can you tell me about him?”
“Well, he had holes in his hands and feet.”
Jesus leaned forward even more and whispered, “FATHER?”
The old man leaned forward and whispered, “PINOCCHIO?”

In John 14:8 we have one of the biggest asks in the Bible: “Lord, show us the Father and we will be satisfied” (John 14:8).

To see the Father?! He might as well be asking to see the dark side of the moon! Who does Philip think he is making such an enormous and brave request?

I am sure he was aware that the Old Testament indicated it was a risky venture to actually see God. In Exodus 33, Moses makes a Philip like request: “Show me Your glorious presence” (Exodus 33:18). And God says, “No one can see My face and live” (33:20).

Is Philip being brave or is he just plain stupid?

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John 14:1-6

As we come to John 14, we come to one of the most beloved chapters in the Bible. Right up there with Psalm 23, Luke 15, and Romans 8, many Christians say that their favorite chapter in all of the scriptures is the one we are going to be contemplating over the next several weeks.

The reason for this becomes obvious as we read the headings that various translations of the Bible precede this chapter with: “Jesus Comforts His Disciples,” “Comfort for Troubled Hearts,” and “Hope for Troubled Hearts.” It’s obvious that these captions come from the first verse of the chapter: “Let Not Your Hearts Be Troubled” (John 14:1).

Now, it’s no wonder their hearts are troubled. To fully appreciate why, we need to take a peek at the preceding chapter where Jesus is speaking:

Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for me, but you can’t come where I am going. So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” [Peter isn’t interested in talking about loving one another, he’s more interested in Jesus going away, so] Simon Peter asked, “Lord, where are you going?” And Jesus replied, “You can’t go with me now, but you will follow me later.” “But why can’t I come now, Lord?” he asked. “I’m ready to die for you.” Jesus answered, “Die for me? I tell you the truth, Peter—before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me (John 13:33-38).

All of them, to be sure, Peter the most, but all of them are befuddled and bewildered and suffering from what psychologists would call today ‘separation anxiety;’ that is being separated from someone you have come to love. They have all left their lives in Galilee to be with the most amazing and marvelous person they have ever encountered. Now He says, “I am going away, and sorry but you guys can’t come along.”

Peter speaks for them all as he expresses his desire to remain with Jesus: “Why can’t I go? I’ll do anything if you’ll let me come with You. Can’t you see that I am so devoted to You, totally sold out that I am ready to give my life for You and Your cause.”

“Oh yeah, Peter, will you really lay down your life for me? The truth is, in less than 12 hours you will deny you even know Me.”

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Deuteronomy 5:1-5, 12-15
Mark 2:23-28

Is it safe for me to assume that all of us knows what it’s like to ride a bicycle? Can I also assume that there was a time when your bike tires were a little low? You ever wonder where that air went. You know you didn’t let it out; it just went, somewhere, somehow. And so you had to get out a hand pump and re-inflate them? And if we didn’t want to take the time or energy to do so we soon discovered that it takes more exertion to pedal with low air pressure.

Life can be like a low bike tire. We don’t purposefully take air out … it just sort of leaves. Rough day at work? Hissssssssssss (that’s the sound of air leaking). Have to work overtime? Hissssssssssss. Too many e-mails to answer? Hissssssssssss. Too much information overload. Hissssssssssss. And just as it’s harder to pedal with flat tires, it’s not as easy to live well when air leaks out of our lives.

Modern life just has a way of deflating us, of sucking the air out of life.

For many, OUR WORK is sucking the life out of us.

Americans are working longer weeks than ever. “The Center for American Progress reports that 86% of men and 67% of women now work more than 40 hours a week. Add to that how many check work e-mail at home and over the weekend and it’s not hard to imagine the toll this takes on family and one’s personal life. Working overtime is associated with poorer perceived general health, increased injury rates, more illnesses, and increased mortality. Two recent studies have linked long work hours to a higher risk of depression. We are skipping vacations to boot. After 10 years of service, the average German gets 20 days of paid vacation, the English, 28, and the Finns, 30, Americans, 15. And we’re not even taking them. ¹

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