John 14:8-17;25-27

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? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‚Show us the Father‘? ¹⁰ 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 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 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.

¹³ I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it. ¹⁵ „If you love me, you will keep my commandments. ¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. ¹⁷ 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 „I have said these things to you while I am still with you. ²⁶ 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 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)

Brothers and sisters in Christ, grace and peace to you from God the Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.

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)  Although our Gospel lesson for today happens 6 chapters before Jesus’ 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.  Today our lesson isn’t about Thomas, but instead about Philip, who apparently doesn’t find satisfaction in the work Jesus is doing.  Philip has witnessed Jesus turn water into wine, cleanse the temple, feed 5000, heal people, and even walk on water.  He has heard Jesus’ teaching, and perhaps in the most telling act of Jesus’ ministry, Philip has seen Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead.  In all this, Philip finds no satisfaction.  He has a specific goal in mind:  He wants to see God the Father.

As humans, we try to rationalize the very things we do not understand.  Our lesson from Acts shows us this.  Filled with the Holy Spirit, the disciples spoke in different languages.  While many were amazed, others laughed, sneered, and came to the conclusion that the disciples were drunk at 9:00 in the morning.  Why do we do this?  Why is it not enough to live by faith instead of having to explain everything so that it makes sense in our minds?  Perhaps because it is hard to live by faith.  It is hard to simply say “that is God at work.”  Like Philip, we seek out the things that are visible to us.  We seek the knowledge of truth that only God can provide.  But like Philip, we fail to see how God is at work right in front of us.

Philip is not mentioned again in John’s account of the Gospel.  We don’t know if he learned from Jesus’ chastisement, or if he understood it at all.  But we know Jesus explained it in a way that we all can understand it if we are willing to listen. “The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. ¹¹Believe 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.”  Jesus is reminding Philip of all he has seen, and that even if he doesn’t believe Jesus’ words, to believe because of what he has already seen.  Philip has seen something very tangible.  His humanity is getting in the way though.

As part of the church that exists now, we must also face the reality that our humanity can get in the way.  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.  Furthermore, we have seen things Philip has not.  We have seen the church at work in the world.  We have seen people come to the font.  We have seen the good that the church at large can do in the world.  This is how we see the Father today.  From quilts being shipped to Africa, to school supplies and shoes provided to those in need in our own community.  These are the greater works that still exist in the world today…the very works that are still works of Christ in the world.  The Holy Spirit continues to call people to be the hands and feet of Christ in a world that desperately needs it.  And as part of the church, we are a part of that.  We are a part of those that “have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

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.  We give thanks for the ability to carry on the ministry of Jesus, to help care for God’s 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.  In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.