Abide in me

When someone says goodbye it normally is over quickly. Jesus takes 6 chapters, according to John or whoever wrote the Gospel, to say his goodbye speech. In John 14:23-29 we are some way from the crucifixion but Jesus is trying desperately to drop hints of his departure. Jesus knew he was coming to the end so he’s gathered his friends – men and women alike. He shares this speech – called the Farewell Discourse. He could have sung Abide in me.

Jesus’ Disciples Confused

I wonder how the disciples would have felt: sad that Jesus is speaking of going when he’s yet to overcome the Roman empire. Some thought he was to be a mighty military revolutionary Messiah. Some might have felt confused. We might having read these words after Easter, so equally confused. Fortunately Jesus offers those disciples (and us) Peace – don’t be anxious.

Jesus will send the Advocate. I’m always thinking of a lawyer at this point which, forgive me please any legal folk reading this, may not really describe the Holy Spirit. The Advocate reminds us that Jesus is with us always. With the Spirit Jesus offers that peace that also remains – more than a BOGOF. Abide in me.

Not Judas!

Interestingly the passage starts with a mention of Judas – no, not that one. It explicitly makes a case that this is not that nasty Iscariot chap. This is the good Judas, the son of James (Luke 6:16), also known as Thaddaeus (Mark 3:18). I, personally, would argue that Judas Iscariot was poorly portrayed due to the disputes when the Gospels were written. Consider how often Paul writes of Judas in his letters.

Here is one of the last mentioned apostles asking a significant question: why are you saying this to all of us but not the world?

• The disciples (men and women) love Jesus, follow him and pour out their love to others.
• The world is troubled and inward looking.
• The disciples know that death is not the end. Death is but a bus station on the journey of life, it is not the bus station at the end of the line.
• The world forgets Jesus.

Why couldn’t God use a booming voice to tell the world, wave his hands in the sky, crying out “I’m over here”?

Why say this?

Just as Jesus, when tempted to jump off the top of the Temple in Jerusalem and be caught by the Angels, would have made amazing headlines in the ‘social media of the day’, it doesn’t happen. People need to have faith through learning, understanding, reasoning and experience not soundbites, headlines, Bible verses taken out of context. We see this, especially in the US, with political parties misusing Bible verses to reflect their own perspective.

This passage shouts out, not in a booming voice, but in a calm measured loving tone: “abide in me”. Can we?