Musings about Faith

We have come to the final story and the final sign that Jesus performs in the Gospel of John. This then is also the final installment in our sermon series on John.   And in this final chapter 21 John brings everything together for us and focuses us on the two most important and central themes in the Gospel.   And these are…         First – God loves the world! God loves the world and all that God has created more than we can even find words to describe; accordingly God loves you.   We see this love of God’s in the incarnation – the en-fleshing of God in Jesus - and in Jesus’ giving up himself in love at the end in the crucifixion.   And the subsequent resurrection proclaims and celebrates that it is love that will always win in the end.   Nothing is stronger than the power of God’s love. And as long as we remain attached to the Vine we are always connected to the source of God’s abundant love.     ...

“It is finished!” These were Jesus’ last words on the cross before he died.   But what is finished?   This is the question that John leaves with us as we conclude the story of Jesus’ crucifixion.   It is finished – as Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus lovingly care for Jesus’ body, anointing it with spices and wrapping it in a linen shroud.   It is finished - as they then place Jesus’ body in the tomb and the stone is rolled into place.   It is finished!   It is over!   The end!   Now what? And it is not only those of us who are reading this story who are struggling with this question.   Obviously the disciples, the Judean authorities and even the Romans are pretty convinced that it is all over, it is finished, done!   Well, we took care of that “Jesus” problem!   But, not so fast… “And the Word became made flesh and dwelt among us…” – and tented among us, and moved into the neighborhood!   God became en-fleshed, incarnate...

Jesus’ ministry is now over.   The Incarnation, the en-fleshing of God is also coming to an end as Jesus moves from the last supper to the garden where he will be arrested and the events of the Passion will begin to unfold.   Before this though Jesus has performed one more sign and then interpreted this sign for his disciples.   In many ways this final sign – the foot washing – brings together all of the other signs along with Jesus’ entire ministry.   This sign helps us all to see that it all comes down to one thing: LOVE.   Earlier in the Gospel we had met Nicodemus who was struggling to understand what in the world Jesus was doing.   Jesus told him – “God loves the world so much that those who believe, those who are in relationship with God will remain – will Abide – in this love of God’s forever!”   Now the sign, the foot-washing, is a sign of this love that Jesus, God en-fleshed has for the disciples and for the world.   “A new commandment I...

What’s it all about?   This question is sometimes asked of these 3 chapters in John – 14, 15 and 16 – which are called the Farewell Discourse.   What’s it all about?   Jesus washing the feet of the disciples at the last supper?   What’s it all about?   Jesus going to crucifixion, death, burial and then resurrection.   What’s it all about?   Let’s start here: “Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end… Jesus got up from the table, took off his outer robe and tied a robe around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him…”   This amazingly shocking incident occurs during the last meal that Jesus shares with his disciples and this act of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples demonstrates unconditional love in a way the disciples have never, ever experienced before.   It also demonstrates to us an overwhelming love and c...