"The Way" of God

I had so many directions to choose from for this week's sermon and I was so tempted to dive into the First Reading from Acts 7 with the stoning death of Stephen. But I am accepting the limitations of my abilities, and acknowledging that these readings will come around again in another three years. God willing, I will still be a priest and still serving somewhere. I can always preach on the Acts 7 reading at another time. 

Instead, I think it was important to touch on this very touchy line from John 14 about Jesus being "the way, and the truth, and the life." 

See what you think.

Text: John 14:1-14

+++

One of my good friends once did a radio commentary in which she discusses how each one of us has “the way” things are to be done. 

There is “the way” one folds the laundry.

“The way” one puts dollar bills back into their wallet or pumps gas or any myriad of things that we feel needs a “way” of doing them.

And, naturally, whatever is your “way” is “the way”. 

Incidentally, questioning “the way” should be done at your own risk.

We hear Jesus in our Gospel lesson this morning refer “the way, and the truth, and the life.”

It seems Jesus has “the way,” too.

This passage is one of the favorites for funerals, and rightly so.

Jesus is launching into his own farewell speech to his disciples.

He’s assuring them that even though he is going to be leaving them, they are never alone.

Jesus starts “Do not let your hearts be troubled.”

He says that as a follow up to an exchange with Peter who had just said that he will lay down his life to follow Jesus wherever he’s going…and Jesus, of course, tells Peter that when the cock crows three times, Peter will deny him.

Such a betrayal of friendship is one of the loneliest feelings in the world.

For family and friends in grief and looking upon a casket or an urn, that ache of loneliness is real, so Jesus words “don’t let your hearts be troubled… I am the way” are there to meet them in that place and give them the comfort that Jesus is right there with them…sitting beside them and offering to hold this grief with them.

This portion of John’s Gospel is both comforting… and it can be a bit confounding.

See: there are some who hear this passage and reach the conclusion that Jesus is throwing down the gauntlet… and excluding anyone who does not profess a belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God.

Christians have taken these words meant to comfort and reassure… and turned them into ways to bludgeon the “non-believer” into submission.

But bludgeoning and attacking…and especially killing….that’s not “the way” of Jesus.

It isn’t “the way” he wanted those sitting at the table with him to behave… or any of us who are following him in the 21^st Century.

So what the heck does Jesus mean when he talks about “I am the way, and the truth, and the life?”

To be clear… our Evangelist John may have adopted this exclusionary tone because his community of followers of “the way” were having a nasty sibling dispute with their fellow Jews back in 100 CE.

But the Jesus of John’s Gospel is not an exclusive Jesus.

If we remember Jesus’ discussion with Nicodemus… and the quote made famous by sign waving football fans with John 3:16…

“God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son to the end that all might not perish but have everlasting life” there’s nothing exclusionary in that statement.

The Word became flesh… for the world… for all.

Earlier in John’s Gospel… Jesus is talking about sheep…and sheep hearing and following the voice of the shepherd.

Jesus says “I am the good shepherd…”

In that same chapter of the Gospel… Jesus says:

“I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them along also, and they will listen to my voice.” (10:16).

Jesus doesn’t intend to leave anyone behind.

Once again… we see in Jesus that he’s not exclusive.

So then… why is it that so many of us who call ourselves Christian have used this line about “I am the way, and the truth and the life” to be a line of “accept Jesus or else!”?  A way of thinking that has led to wars… and inquisitions… and attacks against people who are not “one of us”?

Maybe it’s because we are more like the apostle Philip than we are like Peter or even Thomas.

After all the time of being Jesus’ presence…and seeing how Jesus ministers to the sick and the friendless… how he challenges the privileged and the powerful to put their abundance to better use for the whole community and not just their own kind… Philip still doesn’t understand what Jesus is all about.

After Jesus has told them that if they’ve known him…been around him… they’ve got what it takes to know “the Father”…

And Philip is like, “Show us the Father. Then we’ll get it.”

I think we’re the same way.

We come to church.

We are fed with the Word of Scripture.

And we are fed on the Body and Blood of Christ at the table. We pray in words and song…. and we praise God.

We’ve been shown and presumably we know Jesus.

But if we leave here… and treat strangers or even fellow church members with disrespect… if we sigh with indifference at the violence plaguing our society… if we ignore or dismiss people who are in trouble… then we are as blind as Philip to the way, the truth, and the life that Jesus has been demonstrating to us.

When Jesus says “I am” in any of John’s Gospel… whether it’s “I am the way” or “I am the good shepherd”… Jesus is pointing us back to God.

Remember what Moses hears when he asks that burning bush in Exodus for its name?

The response is “I Am who I Am”? (Exodus 3:14)?

The God that was, is, and will be forever.

When Jesus says, “I am the way” he is really saying, “God is the way.”  

And Jesus is the embodiment of that I am.

He’s basically telling Philip… and us…

“If you want to see God… if you want to know what it means to do God’s will… to walk in God’s way… to live and be God’s true self… you have already seen it, lived it, and done it because I am that Word made flesh for you!

I have demonstrated to you that true power…real leadership and being the Messiah… is not about taking up arms and committing violence… but by leaving the table and washing the feet of the weary and tired (John 13).

I have taught you to free the oppressed. I have lived a life of doing justice and showing mercy to others.

This way is the way we’ve been living, moving and having our being…caring for others… and you’ve seen it!”

We are fast approaching the Day and Season of Pentecost. This is the ideal time for us to look at the life and lessons of Jesus.

We can take in these examples and teachings… and fashion them into our context for how we are to live.

Get to know our neighbors and what’s going on in our neighborhood…and bring love and compassion to those who are hurting and alone.

God calls us to be ready to engage with our community… and to make this world a place of health, healing, and hope with unconditional love for all people.

That is God’s way… and God’s truth and God’s dream of an everlasting life for all of us.

In the name of God… F/S/HS.