8<\/sup> Philip said to him, „Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.“ 9<\/sup> 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‘? 10<\/sup> 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. 11<\/sup> 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. 12<\/sup> 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.<\/p>\n 13<\/sup> I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14<\/sup> If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it. 15<\/sup> „If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16<\/sup> And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. 17<\/sup> 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. 25<\/sup> „I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 26<\/sup> 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. 27<\/sup> 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. (John 14:8-17,25-27 NRSV)<\/p>\n Brothers and sisters in Christ, grace and peace to you from God the Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.\u00a0 Amen.<\/p>\n A few weeks back we heard Jesus tell Thomas: „Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.“ (John 20:29 NRS)\u00a0 Although our Gospel lesson for today happens 6 chapters before Jesus\u2019 post-resurrection appearance to Thomas and the disciples, his words to the one who doubts he has risen from the dead still ring in our ears. \u00a0Today our lesson isn\u2019t about Thomas, but instead about Philip, who apparently doesn\u2019t find satisfaction in the work Jesus is doing. \u00a0Philip has witnessed Jesus turn water into wine, cleanse the temple, feed 5000, heal people, and even walk on water.\u00a0 He has heard Jesus\u2019 teaching, and perhaps in the most telling act of Jesus\u2019 ministry, Philip has seen Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead.\u00a0 In all this, Philip finds no satisfaction.\u00a0 He has a specific goal in mind:\u00a0 He wants to see God the Father.<\/p>\n As humans, we try to rationalize the very things we do not understand.\u00a0 Our lesson from Acts shows us this.\u00a0 Filled with the Holy Spirit, the disciples spoke in different languages.\u00a0 While many were amazed, others laughed, sneered, and came to the conclusion that the disciples were drunk at 9:00 in the morning.\u00a0 Why do we do this?\u00a0 Why is it not enough to live by faith instead of having to explain everything so that it makes sense in our minds?\u00a0 Perhaps because it is hard to live by faith.\u00a0 It is hard to simply say \u201cthat is God at work.\u201d\u00a0 Like Philip, we seek out the things that are visible to us.\u00a0 We seek the knowledge of truth that only God can provide.\u00a0 But like Philip, we fail to see how God is at work right in front of us.<\/p>\n Philip is not mentioned again in John\u2019s account of the Gospel.\u00a0 We don\u2019t know if he learned from Jesus\u2019 chastisement, or if he understood it at all.\u00a0 But we know Jesus explained it in a way that we all can understand it if we are willing to listen. \u201cThe words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11<\/sup>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.\u201d\u00a0 Jesus is reminding Philip of all he has seen, and that even if he doesn\u2019t believe Jesus\u2019 words, to believe because of what he has already seen.\u00a0 Philip has seen something very tangible.\u00a0 His humanity is getting in the way though.<\/p>\n As part of the church that exists now, we must also face the reality that our humanity can get in the way.\u00a0 We have not had the privilege of being able to see what Philip saw, but we have heard, and through the witness accounts we have come to believe.\u00a0 Furthermore, we have seen things Philip has not.\u00a0 We have seen the church at work in the world.\u00a0 We have seen people come to the font.\u00a0 We have seen the good that the church at large can do in the world.\u00a0 This is how we see the Father today.\u00a0 From quilts being shipped to Africa, to school supplies and shoes provided to those in need in our own community.\u00a0 These are the greater works that still exist in the world today\u2026the very works that are still works of Christ in the world.\u00a0 The Holy Spirit continues to call people to be the hands and feet of Christ in a world that desperately needs it.\u00a0 And as part of the church, we are a part of that.\u00a0 We are a part of those that \u201chave not seen and yet have come to believe.\u201d<\/p>\n As we celebrate this Pentecost Day, we celebrate the continual work of God in world, through Christ and through the gift of the Holy Spirit.\u00a0 We give thanks for the ability to carry on the ministry of Jesus, to help care for God\u2019s creation, and to lift up the grace of God, given so all the world may come to believe that one day we will reside with him.\u00a0 In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.\u00a0 Amen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Pentecost | June 5, 2022 | John 14:8-17; 25-27 | Dr. Judson F Merrell | 8 Philip said to him, „Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.“ 9 Jesus said to him, „Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? 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