Acts 17:22-31
Psalm 66:7-18
1 Peter 3:13-22
John 14:15-21
Frankly at first glance today’s Gospel passage can be a bit mystifying, with its allusions to the coming of the Advocate, Jesus leaving but still somehow being present, and a mystical indwelling between the disciples, Jesus, and the Father.
And the reason it’s hard to paint a full picture with just these seven verses is because they are part of a much bigger whole that gives them meaning.
So often this is the case with scripture. It’s hard to read chunks in isolation and get a deep understanding.
This is the problem with proof-texting – that is, pulling out specific verses to make a point or bolster your point of view. We all do it, for good or for ill. As one of my mentor’s used to say, there’s so much in the Bible that you can search and find a verse to back up just about anything, especially if you ignore the overall context in which it’s written in.
I once saw a great example of this in one of those “scripture a day” calendars. The quoted passage was from Luke chapter 4: To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.”
It’s very inspiring, until you realize who said it. Luke 4:6-7 is the devil tempting Jesus in the desert.
Context matters. I touched on this last week, and it carries over to this week as well since our readings share the same context.
The fourteenth chapter of John shows us Jesus’ final night with his friends before his arrest and crucifixion. He’s trying to tell them both that hard truth, and offer them words of assurance for what will come after.
We call it the Farewell Discourse, but I like to think of it as a master class in pastoral care.
He doesn’t give them platitudes. He doesn’t offer cheap theology. He meets them where they are. He offers God’s unconditional love. He reminds them of whose they are. And he reminds them that they are responsible to each other and the wider world – If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
All of this undergirds the passage from the Farewell Discourse we read today, and it points toward the choreography of the next two Sundays.
Next Sunday is the seventh and final Sunday of Eastertide, and we will read the story of Jesus’ ascension, that final leave-taking Jesus had with his friends. The Sunday after that we will celebrate Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit – the Advocate Jesus promised in today’s reading.
And that promise of the Advocate is where I find hope and assurance for us today.
The Greek word translated Advocate is Parakletos, which means “helper” or more literally someone “called alongside” to help or assist.
As Jesus prepared to leave his friends behind he promised that God would still come alongside them, that this Spirit would assist them, that the comfort he was giving them now would continue.
The original meaning of the word comfort is to give strength or courage.
The Spirit gave strength and courage to the first followers of Christ, and it is our source as well as disciples of Jesus today.
God has not abandoned us or left us orphaned. The Spirit remains a deep and mysterious part of the heart of our faith. It is the Spirit who works through us for the transformation of the world when we share God’s love and compassion.
Right now we need all the strength and courage we can get, and it is indeed a comfort to trust that God is alongside us in all we’re experiencing.
Not giving us platitudes. Not offering cheap theology. But meeting us where we are. Offering us unconditional love. Reminding us of whose we are. And reminding us that we are responsible to each other and the wider world – If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
This stands true no matter the context, and for that I am thankful and give praise.
Amen.