A Word from John 14

Do you ever wish that you could see Jesus? After all, with all the craziness going on in the world—and maybe in your own life—wouldn’t it be great to have him with you, so that he could tell you what to do and give you some assurance that everything is going to be okay?

Well, as today’s word from John 14 reminds us, we might not be able to see Jesus in the way his original disciples did. But he’s with us all the same! And in fact, because of the way he’s with us, we have access to even more guidance and assurance than they did.

In today’s word, Jesus was speaking to his disciples on the night before his death. And he said to them, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. And because I live, you also will live. On that day, you’ll realize that I’m in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you…All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. So, do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (14:18-20, 25-27)

Now I confess: It’s one thing to read those words and believe them in our heads. But it’s another to have them change our hearts and lives. And while I don’t have any “secret technique” that’ll make us more aware of Christ’s presence and that’ll help us experience his peace, I do have a question that I think points us in the right direction: Am I really looking for Jesus? And if the peace he came to give called me out of the world and into the same upside-down kingdom that he taught about, would I really want to see him?

Well, may we seek…and see…and follow Jesus today, because we understand that the only peace worth having comes in him. Amen.