The Gospel of John 14:8-17, 25-27
Philip said to Jesus, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, `Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.”
“I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”
Collect for The Day of Pentecost: Almighty God, on this day you opened the way of eternal life to every race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Let us Pray: Mighty God, as we are gathered together, we join in hope and in faith, we ask you to minister to our needs. Send the Holy Spirit to fill the hearts of your faithful people and kindle in them the fire of your love. This we pray in the name of the Holy Spirit. Amen
As I read the lessons each week, it is easy to see how they apply to life today. Those words written so long ago still provide us with guidance. This week’s Gospel is no exception.
In the Epistle of Acts 2:1-21, when the day of Pentecost had come, the disciples were all together in one place. As Jesus spoke to the disciples in that upper room on Maundy Thursday, they were questioning all they had seen and were trying to understand. Jesus reminded them that whoever had seen Him had seen the Father, even though they had difficulty accepting it. And even though we haven’t seen Him or the Father we can believe.
As believers read this again: Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, That says a lot, it is an extension of what Jesus promised us if we believe. He expanded it to if you do things that enhance The Kingdom of God the father will do whatever you ask in the name of Jesus. Sounds like a challenge, one that if you are a believer you will pick up and run with. There is another part to this though: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. Highlighting the intimacy between Jesus, the Father, and the Spirit. It reassures believers that even in times of uncertainty, they are never abandoned. And as Jesus broke the news, He was going to leave them they were devastated. Jesus told them Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” We need those words today. we are in a world with so much turmoil, with war and political turmoil those words should offer us comfort. We need to accept the same peace; He gave His disciples with the promise of an Advocate in the person of the Holy Spirit. “I will ask the Father and He will give you another Helper, who will stay with you forever. He is the Spirit of the Father and Son, Another Helper, Another Counsellor. Another Comforter. One who comes alongside to help, comfort, strengthen, and encourage. With the Father and the Son ever abiding in them, there cannot be, even when He is about to leave them, room for trouble or for fear. So, with the Holy Spirit as the Advocate for us we should have no room for trouble or for fear. Like the disciples we ask what can we do? What are we going to do? Our hope, our faith, our belief is there to get us through. By asking and realizing by doing something we help reduce the stress of those experiences. Doing things that help those in need and hurting can become a way of life. To be thoughtful of others and realize not everyone has the same feelings of sharing the love of the Lord as we who believe do. As with the Apostles, the Spirit has given us strength to go out into the world. But whereas Jesus is alongside us, God and the Holy Spirit is also with us. The Holy Spirit is the Helper living inside us. God with us and in us! This is the miracle of Pentecost. God walking with us as the Holy Spirit in us.
As this closes Jesus offers peace: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” Amen
Reflections by Bob 