John 5:19-24 (NRSV)

Jesus said to them, 'Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise.  The Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing; and he will show him greater works than these, so that you will be astonished.  Indeed, just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomever he wishes.  The Father judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.  Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgment, but has passed from death to life.

Astonished is my word for today.  I even like the sound of it; astonished.  It captures the true meaning of the gospel for me.  Full of wonder, amazement, excitement, etc…  I would hope that everyone is “astonished” at Jesus’ works, but not only his works, his presence.

In this passage, there is some clarity to Jesus’ identity and authority.  To the teller of the good news, in this case, John, Jesus is the full embodiment of God (the Father).  Therefore, Jesus does nothing on his own.  God works through him, and those who see are astonished.

God raises the dead, judges justly, and is to be honored and respected.  Showing dishonor and disrespect to Jesus is showing the same to God.  However, if we believe in Jesus (believe that he is the true embodiment of God) then we receive the promise of eternal existence with God – everlasting life.  We pass from death to life.

The call today to me is believe.  But, not just believe in - be in wonder and amazement that God has been fully embodied as a human.  God has come close to us in the person of Jesus, so that we might know God, and believe.  God loves us so completely that he wants us to be reconciled to God's self.  God, the creator of all things, has promised that those who believe will not “die” but receive life and an eternity reconciled with the source of all being.

John 17:20-26 (NRSV)

'I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one.  As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.  Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.  'Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me.  I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.'

This is a continuation of the prayer from Thursday 2/23.  It is interesting that we skipped versus 9 through 19 of Jesus’ prayer in chapter 17 because of the commemoration of St. Matthias on 2/24, so we ended up missing some of the prayer.  Today we pick it up at verse 20.  You can read the missing part here.

‘Know’ or to ‘make known’ is the word that stands out today.  Jesus prays for his disciples to know God more closely so that they may participate in the divine relationship.

Everything is tied together and interwoven into these verses – the Father in Jesus, Jesus in the Father, their divine glory and love.  Jesus wishes this divine unity be available to the world.  He prays for his glory to be revealed to the world so that people may believe and participate in the divine relationship of love.

This goes along with my personal theology of God.  God is a God of relationship.  God is in relationship with God’s self in the Godhead; Father, Son, & Holy Spirit – And God’s people are in relationship with each other.  The gathered people of God (the Church) are in relationship with God, and the divine love of Christ is shown forth in this relationship.  In order for people to experience God’s glory in Christ, they must be brought to the knowledge of the divine love through God’s gathered people.

I feel the call today is to be with Jesus in this divine relationship.  To know Jesus as he is made known to us, participate in his Love, and then be catalysts of that love within the world - so that the world can know Christ and be reconciled to God.

John 10:19-30 (NRSV)

Again the Jews were divided because of these words.  Many of them were saying, "He has a demon and is out of his mind. Why listen to him?"  Others were saying, "These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?"  At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem.  It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon.  So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense?  If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly."  Jesus answered, "I have told you, and you do not believe.  The works that I do in my Father's name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep.  My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.  What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father's hand.  The Father and I are one."

The word “plainly” sticks out to me like a sore thumb.  I’m not sure why.  Maybe it’s because Jesus has not only told them and told them, he has shown them, and many have testified to his great works.  However, the “Jews” still don’t believe.  (I really have a hard time with the way the writer of John uses the word Jews - please see some of my previous posts on the subject).

The Pharisees are at the point of pressuring Jesus, to the point of using the phrase, “If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”  Jesus claims to have told them and they just don’t understand because they do not yet believe.  He tells them that believers follow him and believers receive eternal life.  No one can take a true believer away from Jesus.

John is filled with more explanations to the Pharisees about who Jesus is and what he came to do.  This has gone on for a few chapters and will go on for a few more.  We have heard many calls along the way.  I feel today would be believe.  We are called to believe because it is “plain” to us that Jesus is the Lord, He is the Good Shepherd, He is God (as said in the last sentence of the passage).  We are called to believe and testify to that belief not only with our word, but with our lives.