For Sunday, May 15, 2016 – John 14:8-17, (25-27)
Philip says to Jesus, “Show us the one you call Father. Then we will be satisfied.” Jesus is taken aback: “How can you say that? After all this time, what am I, chopped liver?” Even more audacious is Philip’s idea that seeing what lies beyond them will satisfy them, will ease all their uncertainty and misunderstandings. Jesus knows better. He knows satisfaction will not come from seeing more or knowing more, but only from choosing to believe—in our current condition, here and now.
If we cannot believe for the sake of belief, Jesus says, then perhaps we will believe because of his works. And if we still cannot believe, then maybe we will believe because of our own good works, which he says are going to be greater even than those he has done.
Let’s pause for a show of hands. Who among us has accomplished works greater than the works attributed to Jesus? Anyone? My guess is that not many of us consider even our noblest and most self-giving acts to rank anywhere close to his. Most of us are just trying to get through the day, through the traffic, through the long lists that trail us. Our works range from running errands for a sick friend, to listening longer than we prefer, to babysitting when we would rather be reading a book, to paying it forward at the toll booth—all good, but not quite the caliber of miracles attributed to Jesus. What could he have meant when he said we would do the works he did, and in fact would do even greater works than these?
Truly, I would like to know. Click the link below and share your thoughts with the rest of us. One thing he says here that does grab my ear is this: If you ask for anything in my name, I will do it. Maybe my good works seem weak compared to his because I have not yet asked for very much more. I am so small and the world’s need is so big. One thing is sure—if I am going to take him seriously, I will need an Advocate. Maybe this is one of my tasks, to ask for help with what I alone cannot do. Maybe our greatest work is getting out of our own way and letting God be God.
