Dear friends,
I pray this message finds you well.
Here is today’s worship service:
If you’d prefer to listen only to the sermon, you can listen here:
https://soundcloud.com/stacey-nalean-carlson/love-is-the-final-word-a-sermon-for-the-5th-sunday-of-easter
The sermon this week is based on John 14:1-14:
[Jesus said to the disciples:] 1“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. 2In 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? 3And 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. 4And you know the way to the place where I am going.” 5Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
8Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” 9Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11Believe me 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. 12Very truly, I tell you, 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. 13I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.”
Beloved of God, grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus.
Near the end of The Greatest Showman, P.T. Barnum, played by Hugh Jackson, sings From Now On. Having come so close to losing everything, blinded by his ambition and his need to prove his worth, Barnum realizes what is most dear to him are the relationships in his life, the love of his wife and daughters. He sings, from now on these eyes will not be blinded by the lights, from now on what’s waited ‘til tomorrow starts tonight, it starts tonight. And let this promise in me start like an anthem in my heart from now on, from now on. The song ends with this promise: and we will come back home, and we will come back home, home again! Home is his marriage, his family. Home is the relationships he treasures. Home is love.
From now on, Jesus says to his disciples as he prepares to leave them and return to the God who sent him, you do know God and have seen God. This is a turning point. From now on, life is different, changed.
In the opening chapter of the gospel of John, the writer sets the scene for an unfolding story line with these words: No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made God known (John 1:18). Throughout the gospel, Jesus himself names this reality. Facing criticism for healing on the Sabbath, Jesus says to his critics, his persecutors: the Father who sent me has testified on my behalf. You have never heard God’s voice or seen God’s form…because you do not believe him whom God has sent (John 5:38). Later, as his death draws ever nearer, he cries aloud: Whoever believes in me believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me (John 12:44-45).
Finally, gathered with his disciples on the eve of his death, Jesus recognizes the fear of his friends. He sees that their hearts are troubled. He assures them that there is a home for them with him. And you know the way to the place where I am going, Jesus tells them.
Thomas, I imagine overwhelmed with grief and by the prospect of an unknown, uncertain future, challenges his teacher: How can we know the way?
I can relate to Thomas these days—filled with grief, overwhelmed by the prospect of an unknown, uncertain future. I, too, want to say to Jesus, How do we know the way? How do we know?
The way, it turns out, is not a clearly marked road, all signs pointing to heaven. It’s not a line on the map. It’s not Siri or Alexa—artificial intelligence—calling out directions. The way is a real, down-to-earth human being. The way is the Word made flesh. The way is Jesus himself.
If you know me, you will know my Father also, Jesus answers Thomas and all the others. From now on you do know God and have seen God. In others words, from now on you know me. You’ve seen all there is of me. You’ve seen me perform signs. You’ve seen me work miracles. You’ve seen me kneel down and wash your feet. Soon, you will see me go to the cross out of love for this world. Soon, you will see me descend to the depths of hell and rise again.
So, from now on, you know me. You know my heart. You know my mind. You know my voice. So, from now on, you know God. You know the way home. Home is a person. Home is a relationship. Home is God’s love with you—not just at the end, but here and now.
And, of course, the disciples still don’t get it. Philip takes his turn speaking for the others, Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.
Philip has been on the scene since the beginning moments of Jesus’ ministry. Jesus sought him out and said, Follow me (John 1: 43). And then Philip went and found Nathaniel, invited him to Come and see this Jesus (John 1:46). Philip was the one who told Jesus six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little, and then watched as Jesus fed 5,000 with five barley loaves and two fish (John 6:7). Still, Philip doesn’t understand that he has seen God.
When I read Jesus’ response I find myself yearning to hear him in person. Was he exasperated? Was there a deep sigh of resignation in his voice? Did he speak gently, kindly? From his words, we can tell that Jesus is willing, still, to accommodate, to offer whatever is needed to help his disciples understand. Believe me 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. You don’t have to take my word for it, Jesus essentially says. Trust what you’ve seen. Trust what you’ve seen me do.
And then, in a line that is nearly impossible for me to believe, Jesus tells Philip and us, Very truly, I tell you, 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.
Greater works?!?
Jesus changed water into wine, brought joy and abundance out of scarcity and frustration (John 2). Jesus cleared the temple of sellers and money-changers, acting for the sake of those oppressed and kept in poverty by a system that benefited only a few (John 2). Jesus healed on the Sabbath, setting aside the letter of the law for the overarching purpose of the law—wellbeing and wholeness for all of God’s people (John 5). Jesus gave thanks to God and then fed the masses, so that there were leftovers when all was said and done (John 6). Jesus refused to condemn the ones others pointed fingers at, saying I do not judge; I testify (John 8). In the presence of death, Jesus was deeply moved. In the presence of grief, Jesus wept (John 11).
I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these!
We will do greater works than these!
Can you believe it?
From now on, our eyes will be opened to the Light. From now on, what’s waited waits no more. From now on, it starts today. Let this promise in me start like an anthem in my heart: from now on we know the Way. We have seen God. From now on, Jesus is our Way home.
From now on, the love of Christ is home—the place, the relationship, from which we go out into the world to heal, and feed, and bless, and testify.
From now on, the love of Christ is home; it’s the place, the relationship, to which we return to be healed, and fed, and blessed, and given a word to speak to a weary, wounded world.
From now on, we have seen God! We’ve heard God’s voice. We know the Way from now on. Amen.
________________________________________
I’m so grateful for my colleagues who gathered for text study this week via Zoom. Out of that time together, searching and studying God’s word, a song emerged as I tried to wrap my head and heart around this promise that we will do greater works than what Jesus did as he walked the earth. Today, I’m still struggling to believe. Can we sing that death is defeated when grief encircles us all around? Can we sing of freedom from fear when we are so afraid? Can we live, as the first witnesses of the resurrection did, with fear and great joy? In the strength of the risen Christ, I cling to the hope that we can together.
Song: Love Is the Final Word
Jesus, you came here sent by the God you praise. Teacher, you called us, but now we don’t know the way. So, show us God and satisfy us. Show us God and make it clear. Where you’re going we can’t follow; when you leave us we’ll be lost in fear.
Death is relentless. Tyrants won’t leave their thrones. Demons won’t listen. Don’t leave us here alone.
Oh, friends, you have already seen God. Friends, you know just what to do. Friends, you know the way to follow. Friends, I’m standing here in front of you.
Chorus Death is defeated. Freedom from fear is here. Life is abundant. Love is the final word.
I am the Way when life is heartless, am the Truth when lies obscure, am the Life when death is threatening, am the Love of God who holds us near.
You are my body. You are my mind and heart. You are my voice now. We’ll never be apart.
You will do the work I started; greater things are possible. In my name, you’ll love as I love. With my spirit in you, you will sing: Chorus
So, we will work for peace and justice. We will answer Wisdom’s call. All who thirst and all who hunger, turn in here and see what life is for. Chorus
So, we will weep with those who suffer. We will speak a word of peace. We will break down walls of hatred. We will pray that all divisions cease. Chorus
So, we will seek the lost and lonesome, shepherd them to waters still. Open-armed, reach out in mercy; open-hearted, ask to do God’s will. Chorus