St. Paul's United Church of Christ

Dear St. Paul’s Family,

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.”  (John 14:1)

I would have a nice little pile of cash if I had a dollar for every time that I have preached from the fourteenth chapter of John’s gospel!  Excerpts from this chapter are super comforting for those of us who have ever been touched by grief and loss.  Over the years, family members and I have sat together planning a loved one’s memorial service and 90 percent of the time, it’s John 14 they select as one of the readings. 

There are many reasons for this.  To start off, the setting of this text, right before Jesus’ own suffering and death seems to offer immediate comfort.  Jesus is one of us.  He’s well acquainted with grief and shortly, he will be well acquainted with death.  Jesus understands what we’re up against. 

This text also brings healing to our grieving lives as Jesus assures us that there is a place for us in God’s house.  He goes to prepare such a place for us, and by extension, for all his children, including our dearly departed loved ones.  In other words, life beyond death is eternal life at home with God.

A final reassurance that Jesus offers us in John 14 is the promise that we will never be left alone.  Loved ones and friends may leave us and even Jesus will leave his disciples as he ascends to the heavens, but the Holy Spirit (the Advocate) will be sent to always be with us.  We will not be spiritual orphans no matter the loss. 

All these assurances are well and good, but my fear is that we too often frame John 14 as a scripture that is about getting to heaven instead of living fully into the Kingdom of God.  Jesus’ words of reassurance to his disciples weren’t meant to only give them hope for a heavenly reward, but rather a promise to help them live in this world as they lived out their calling to usher in the realm of God.  In other words, the home that he is preparing for them, and for us, is an abiding with God for all eternity, in this world and the next.  

The thing that makes John 14 so powerful is that far from being Jesus’ last will and testament before he dies, it is Jesus’ blessing over the disciples as they continue his earthly work.  John 14 will propel the church forward, guided by the Holy Spirit, to prepare a place for God and mortals to dwell together in the world.  The disciples, once Jesus leaves them, will become Christ’s hands, feet, eyes, and ears—his resurrected body—living in the world.  They will not only preach the gospel that God is alive and not dead, but they will embody that living message as they care for the poor, the sick, the outcast, and the broken hearted.

We stand on the shoulders of the disciples as the church today as we continue to abide with God and to help others abide with our Savior and Creator.  May we bring John 14 to life in our words and actions.  May our neighbors discover the abiding God through our loving actions, peace bearing, and hospitality that builds community.

May our lives of faith help to untrouble hearts near and far, in this world and the next.  

Blessings on your journey,

Pastor Matt