The way

 

Proverbs 4:10-18; John 14:1-14

Today’s Gospel text is a portion of the story of the last supper Jesus had with the disciples.  Jesus says, “Don’t y’all let your hearts be troubled.” Maybe this is similar to the angels’ encouragements found throughout scripture, “Don’t be afraid.”

Jesus continues, “But I need to tell you some things. You need to know some things. In my Father’s house are many dwelling places and I go to prepare a place for you.” The Greek word monai translated as place also gives the sense of abiding, remaining. Jesus has used this word in the image of us being branches who abide, cling, to the vine. But we cling to the vine all our lives, not just after we die. So there must be more to this image than a fancy house in heaven. Let’s read on.

Since Jesus is preparing a place, he is also preparing a way for us to get to the place. The concept of the way is about more than getting to the dwelling place we will go to or cling to. The way is following Jesus. The way is welcoming all, respecting all, healing all, and loving all. The way reminds us of Nicodemus, the Samaritan woman, the man who was blind, Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, wine from water, an abundance of bread and fish, the good shepherd.  The way is life through death to resurrection.

Jesus has spoken often about being one with the Father. Tonight, Philip puts it right on the line. Show us the Father. Jesus replies, “When you see me, you see the Father. If you don’t believe my words, believe my actions, believe what I do. What I do is follow the way the Father planned.” The way leads to the cross, and to the empty tomb.

… We might think the concept of the way is new to Jesus, but if we read the Hebrew scriptures, we find lots of similarities. For example, the book of Proverbs is filled with them. Many of the sayings in Proverbs are from Solomon, who lived 1,000 years before Jesus.

¹¹ I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness.

¹⁴ Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evildoers.
¹⁸ But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.

In Proverbs, the way, the path, leads to righteous behavior, which leads to a healthy relationship with God.

The way is what we pray Isabelle, whom we baptize today, will follow, as she grows up. We all are charged with helping her know what the way is. Together, we will help her come to know Father, Son, and Spirit are always present with her, guiding her, loving her. We will demonstrate for her what it means to be a child of God, following the way to Jesus, and the way of Jesus.

… Following the way means to trust in Jesus, to love like he loves, to care for all like he does. We follow the way imperfectly, but hopefully, faithfully, and more concerned with following the way than with where we will be when we die. It is enough to know that Jesus has prepared something good for us, along the way, and when we get to wherever it is we are going.

This week, I encourage you to consider some ways that you have been led along the way to Jesus, and the way of Jesus. Amen