Vol. 16 No. 36 | September 9, 2013
John chapter 13 ends and chapter 14 begins with a pretty emotional conversation between Jesus and His disciples. He has initiated a discussion revolving around His departure and reminding them that although He will be gone from them physically, He will still be with them and will be preparing for them to join Him at a later time.
Needless to say, His disciples are having a difficult time comprehending what He means about leaving, preparing a place, and knowing who He is and where He is going.
Peter says, “I’m going with you. I’ll die for you.”
He knows they are attached to Him and that their understanding is limited, so He tells them:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”
They still don’t understand. Thomas speaks up.
Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
Jesus assures them that they do know the way even if they don’t realize the know the way.
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
Philip chimes into the conversation in a way that reminds me of me when in verse 8 he said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be
enough for us.”
This is where I see myself. “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough.” But it is not. I want more. I want more explanation. I want more to be explained. I want more clarification. I want more time. I want more conversation. I want more evidence that everything is going to be okay. I want proof that He is working. I want clearer directions on what I am supposed to do and be and say. I may say, “That will be enough” but it seldom is enough.
Fortunately for me the conversation did not end there. In verse 16 Jesus said, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth.” Later He says this Spirit of truth will “be in me” (20-21) and will “teach me all things” (26) and give me “peace” (27).
I find comfort in knowing, even when I feel like I do not know, He is helping me. I find comfort in knowing that He is with me and in me, even when I cannot feel or see or sense Him. I find comfort in knowing that His peace is available to me, even when I do not feel His peace.
So, here is my prayer.
Father, when You show me who You are and who the Father is and when You promise me that Your Spirit will be with me, and in me, and teaching me, and helping me, and offering me peace, I want more. Even when I see You, I want more. Even when I feel You, I want more. Lord, I always want more. I feel like I should not want more, but I want more. Thank You for loving me even when I want more.
Tom
© Copyright 2013 Tom Norvell. All rights reserved.