No Life, No Truth No Way?

May 14 2017   John 14: 1-14  

Mothers Day:  As I get older, I appreciate more and more everything my mom did for me while she was here: the sleepless nights lost worrying about my health  as an infant or whether I getting enough to eat.  The countless hours trying to figure out why I was fussy or crying, was I wet, was I hungry.  As I began my teen years, her concerned about how I would develop and where the circumstances surrounding my life would take me.  There were concerns about my safety either in the home or on the street.  Before I was able to care for myself my every need was always met. There were those loads of laundry washed, the wisdom offered; and I’m sure often there were prayers prayed.  She gave of herself so much to always be there for me. 

I love the image of God as a mother, a mother who is there for her children all the time, caring for them and sacrificing for them. God is our protector; but God is also our comforter and sustainer both Mother and Father.  Both images have become more acceptable in many of the denominations of the Christian Church today. 

Mary just like any mom who gives birth to a child may have had great expectations for her own but life’s circumstance doesn’t always allow the path we would choose for our child.   Oh we have the gift of choosing but circumstances can make great changes in our future.  Mary had no idea of the great joy, the great sorrow, or the great transformation this boy child would bring to their family let alone to the world.  The key again for her and for us is to accept her sons offer for the abundant life.   If we have the courage to enter the fold of the Shephard now, before our physical death, we remain though out our life time safe and secure, saved if you like to use that term.  Then we can shout with assurance “of whom or what shall I be afraid of in this life or in the next.”  This truly is where our security can be found folks.  If this sense of security becomes a fact in your life, then provision and presence cannot be taken from you.  Detrick Bonhoeffer  the German Pastor and theologian who was part of the resistance during the war was arrested in April 1943 by the Gestapo and imprisoned at Tegel prison for one and a half years.  Later he was transferred to a Nazi concentration camp. After being associated with the plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler, he was quickly tried, along with other accused plotters, and then executed by hanging on 9 April 1945 as the Nazi regime was collapsing.  He explained in some of his writings while in the Nazi concentration camp, they could take his dignity, destroy his trust in humanity, his health and his body, but the one thing they couldn’t take was his “love”, his love for his family and friends and all those being oppressed which was etched in his heart not his head.   That for him, it was “LOVE” that gave him the strength to overcome his circumstances.   Was it not the same for Jesus?   I believe he understood what the abundant life really meant.   Regardless of the choices we make or of the circumstances that proceed because someone else made a choice that affects our lives, for those who put their trust in Gods leading, the abundant life will prevail.  Jesus offers us Protection, Provision, and Presence:  What did we discover from last week’s message for those who accept Jesus’ love offering to become part of the fold, “of whom or what shall you fear while in the Shepherds care:  For those who enter are protected.”   His flock have been given all that is needed to survive the storms of life even death itself cannot take your provision away.  And finally to be present to the Lord’s leading in all that you say and do.  That is truly the abundant life, and no thief can steal that which the Lord has given.  But, and I use this But very clearly folks, we must never forget that you can with your choice turn your back to the offer and in doing so remain alone to face the storms of life and death, both here and now and forever more.  Some consider this aloneness or lonesomeness to be Hell.  

The passage today is a great illustration of how the master of the Metaphor can confuse even the best of theologians.  For no theological writer that I have ever read has yet to completely unpack this particular passage in John 14:  The metaphors in this particular passage seem overwhelming for even the best of the spiritually mature.  Rather than try to prove Jesus as being the only way to the father as some seem to want to do.  Or that Jesus himself claims in this passage to be the Father.  I think he has something more important for us to consider.   
We know from science that when we take something into our bodies by swallowing, absorbing sun light while out in the fresh air, by injection, reading, observing nature, or listening to music or someone speak; the effects are felt all over the body, from the head to the toe.  Why, because something entered, it could be something positive and good or it could be some negative and not so good.  Some things are life giving and some are certain death.  Jesus again uses a metaphor to illustrate that He and the Father are one.  But he doesn’t stop there, Jesus goes on to claim because He and the Father are one, if you take Him into your life, You and He and the Father are all one together.  This taking Jesus into your life will have an effect from your head to our toes folks.  It happens not just by saying some words or by being baptized but you have to take him literally into your body, your physic and when you do you will begin to hear, see and participate in life differently.    As you accept his offer and take him into your life, it works just like anything you take into your body it affects everything from your head to your toes.  This truly is the beginning of the abundant life folks.  It doesn’t get any better than this.  We have been singing this refrain for many weeks now, my prayer is that you truly have turned your eyes upon Jesus.  Will you sing it with me.    

Refrain:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.  Amen