Jesus answered them, “Do you believe now?
Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived
when each of you will be scattered to his own home
and you will leave me alone.
Sometimes we are inclined to think we are further along the path of discipleship than we actually are. We hear enough messages that the content starts to sound familiar. Because it sounds familiar and because we know how it fits into the larger picture of theology we tend to imagine that our own belief is mature and that, as a consequence, we should be able to live is mature disciples. But to know what Jesus is saying is different from living what he says. Faith does have a component of head knowledge that is useful for categorization and explanation. But it also has to do with the application of the truth to reality in our own individual lives. This is why it is one stage to know something but a higher stage to remain with Jesus even when we are put to the test. What was for lacking for the disciples in this case was not necessarily affection for Jesus. We must imagine that Peter held a deep affection for his Lord and yet nevertheless was among those who were scattered and who himself was among those who betrayed him the most deeply.
But I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
I have told you this so that you might have peace in me.
What was the "this" that Jesus told them so that they would have peace in him? He told them that although they would abandon him it did not mean he was alone for the Father was always with him. In a way he was saying that his plans could not be thwarted by our own failures. The key relationship in his life was always maintained. But he did not tell them this to condemn the disciple but rather so that they could have peace in knowing that even their failures were accounted for a factored into his plan for the salvation of the world. In advance he had taken their failures in hand and planned with his Father to use them to bring about our the redemption of the world.
In the world you will have trouble,
but take courage, I have conquered the world.
We tend to think that if we manage to optimize our knowledge or behavior we might then be able to live in the world without trouble. After all, this is a large part of what motivates us to work at it. And we can certainly go a long way to avoid trouble, especially the trouble which is so frequently of our own making. But it does not mean that the world will be transformed into a utopia or that a seemingly endless stream of new and difficult circumstances will stop coming at us. In order to stand tall even amidst such difficulties we need more than right knowledge or behavior. We need the courage that comes from knowing that Jesus has already defeated the difficulties that we still face. That means that even as we face them we can nevertheless have a direct connection to the truth that they will not only end, but end in a way that results in the glory of God.
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (see First Corinthians 15:57).
for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world (see First John 4:4).
For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith (see First John 5:4).
And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death (see Revelation 12:11).
In order to be connected to the victory of Jesus in a way that will make it real, applicable, and useful, in our lives, we need more of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the one who gives us a living connection to our Lord Jesus, not merely one that is abstract. He takes our head knowledge but uses it to change our patterns of thinking in order to renew our minds, allowing us to live a new and victorious way of life. He helps us to realize that even our history of past failures need not define or limit our future hope. Since none of us lives in this victory of Jesus as much as we would like let us open our hearts more to the Spirit who will connect us ever more perfectly with the one who is himself the victor.
No comments:
Post a Comment