John 14:8 Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." 9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, "Show us the Father'? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. 12 Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it. 15"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. 17 This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you. 25 "I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.
In the midst of having announced His death, Jesus still speaks of life. He has spoken to the disciples about His Father's House and how Jesus is preparing a place for them and here comes the question, "How can we be sure?" Philip didn't phrase it quite that way, but he is asking for a little more clarification. He's grieving that Jesus will die and perhaps may be a bit scared about his own death and so the question really asks, How can we be sure? Jesus lovingly answers, I've been with you all this time, you've seen things that you had never seen before and I'm even telling you that if you have seen me you have seen the Father. I make you a promise that "whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son" I will do. "If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it." Then Jesus adds that if we love Him, we will keep His commandments, and then promises the coming of the Advocate, Who will be with us forever. And the Advocate's role will be to teach and remind us of everything that Jesus had shared with us. Then Jesus says, peace is ours. And our hearts should not be troubled.
We're like Philip in all things that scare or frighten us. We're like Philip when we face serious illness or serious challenges in our lives or in our places of work or even in our churches. The word from Jesus is love, peace, and obedience. In the midst of what we face, we have Someone with us. Believe that. That Someone helps us be reminded of all that Jesus has shared with us.
And our hearts? They should not be troubled.
PRAYER: Loving and Mighty God, in the midst of today's challenges, speak a word of peace and hope. Let us see beyond the realm of fear and doubt to the reality of Your presence. May the Holy Spirit truly be at work in us. This we pray in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
