The Advocate, The Holy Spirit
We are in the season of Eastertide where we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord and reflect on what it means to be the Easter people. This is the sixth of the seven weeks of Eastertide before we celebrate Pentecost. In these days of celebration, awe, and mystery we will discern together the places, people, and ministries we feel called to. While we continue to celebrate Easter in this season, we will be exploring dimensions of our Christian walk as individuals and as a church community. This extended season gives us time to rejoice, experience, and articulate what we mean when we say Christ is risen and that we, as the church, are the body of the Risen Lord. If Lent was a season of renewal and preparation, Eastertide is a season to take bold steps of faith. It’s a season to be attentive to and respond to the work that Spirit has empowered us to undertake in Jesus’ name. This is a season of mystery, celebration, and empowerment. This week, just prior to the ascension, we find Jesus who is on the verge of departure. Today we continue on in Jesus’ Last Supper discourse but find the disciples noticeably distraught. Today we shall see, perhaps paradoxically, that Jesus’ departure enables us to have a more intimate relationship with God.
First Peter (John 13:36), then Thomas (14:5), then Phillip (14:8), and then Judas, not Judas Iscariot, (14:22) ask for clarification about what Jesus is telling them.[1] We hear them say, “Where are you going?” “How can we know the way?” and in our passage “Why appear to us and not the world?” The uncertainty is palpable in their words. This Jesus whom they have called Lord and Messiah—this miracle worker, promise keeper, and perfect teacher—why would he now leave them? Why would the one who they have staked their lives on—who they have followed for three years—not only leave but face such suffering, affliction, and humiliation? How could the death and departure of our Lord ever be a good thing? Accordingly, the disciples are disoriented, unnerved and afraid; Thomas’ wide-eyed question is emblematic: “How can we know the way?” (John 14:5).[2] I personally understand where the disciples are coming from. Change is hard. It brings uncertainty. It leaves us anxious. When I moved to New Jersey for Seminary it was the first time I had lived outside of Michigan—where I had grown up. People talked differently. Folks had different expectations. The sun went down sooner and rose earlier. By the time I got used to that, Emma and I moved again! To a state we had never visited. To a culture we had not yet experienced. Away from friends, family, and safety nets. During our weeklong travel across the country last year I remember asking myself similar questions, “Where are we going?” “Is this the way?” and “What on earth have we done!?!” But beautifully, Jesus answered these concerns and he answers the concerns of the disciples.
Jesus answers each of these concerns. “You will follow later,” “If you really know me, you will know the Father,” and in our passage “We will come to those who obey and make our dwelling with them.” In each of these responses, Jesus maintains that he will go away and depart them, but he has also promised not to leave his disciples orphaned.[3] Though he will be betrayed, humiliated, and killed, they will not be left alone. God is starting in them a new work. Jesus promises that his departure will make way for the procession of the Holy Spirit. Jesus names this one as an Advocate, the Spirit of truth, and later Counselor. Jesus says that the Spirit will teach them everything--even beyond what Jesus has taught—and at the same time “remind” them of Jesus’ teachings and commands. While Jesus could only remain with them for a while, this One is to dwell with them forever and continue the work that he has begun.[4] This One who will be their witness to Jesus, who will pray on their behalf, who will point them toward the truth shall be their guide for the journey ahead.
Earlier Jesus had spoken to his disciples of the “many dwellings” in his Father’s house, where he was going to prepare a place for them.[5] Here, Jesus says not only will he prepare a future dwelling with them in his Father’s house, but that he and God will come and make their dwelling with those who love him and keep his word. This dwelling place in made possible by life in the Spirit. This is an important point. Jesus is clear. The way forward for the disciples will be to remain in Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. His prayer for the disciples is not to take them out of the world, but that they would be sent into the world just as Jesus was.[6] The disciples go into the world equipped and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Jesus says that the Father will send the Holy Spirit to be alongside his disciples, to teach them and remind them of all that Jesus has said to them.[7] Jesus meets their fear of abandonment, with a word of comfort. He implores them to keep his commandments, to vivify the love of the Father, and to remain in the Holy Spirit. Despite going away, the connection he has with his disciples will be so integral to their lives that their connection with God would increase. Their everyday lives of following Jesus’ instruction, vivifying the life affirming, dignifying love of God, and remaining in the Holy Spirit are the sign and symbol of their ongoing communion with him.[8] Although he is going away, God will remain with them evermore.
His absence, then, gives rise to new futures and possibilities. It makes way for the new presence of the Spirit, gives rise to the community of the witnesses we know as the church, and enables even “greater works” to be done in Jesus’ name.[9] In other words, Jesus leaves in order to make possible an even more intimate communion with us, and with creation as a whole. Accordingly, Jesus is both coming and going: “‘I am going away, and I am coming to you’”[10] In John’s Gospel, salvation and eternal life begins here and now! Eternal life does not begin after we die, but it is life in relationship with God through Jesus Christ.[11] Even while Jesus prepares eternal dwellings for us with the Father, he and our Creator will continue to dwell with us in the present.[12] For John, then, the ultimate goal is not merely to follow Jesus or obey his commandments, but rather to live in Jesus as he lives in us.[13] This sort of mutual indwelling is true to Jesus and true to us. It looks like us being authentic to ourselves and the people God made us to be. It looks like dignifying, unconditional, unmerited, role-reversing love. It looks like peace—the peace of a buzzing, blooming, fruitful community, coming and going, alive with the Spirit, healthy and whole.[14] The incarnation, the ministry, the death and resurrection of Jesus, the sending of the Spirit—all of these events together demonstrate the depth of God’s love for the world. Above all else, it is this profound love of God that Jesus has made known to his disciples and that the Holy Spirit continues to make known to us.[15]
For Emma and I, a move as big as this one has brought its fair share of struggles. We certainly miss our families. We have found some of the culturally axioms a bit confusing. I have learned the value of humor. We have been sick over two prolonged periods as our bodies adjusted to the climate. At times, it has been a struggle. Yet, importantly, this change has given way to a season of great growth. We have had to make our way without many of the support systems we had. We have enjoyed a time of great cultural learning and found our perspectives to be here at an important moment. We have had to lean on one another and God, more so than ever. Our lives had to change in order to make way for new possibilities and new growth.
Today we might find ourselves disoriented. Where once the limits of our understanding ran to a fence line, we find ourselves in global neighborhood connected by technology. Where once dirty laundry was aired over dinner, we find anger, frustrations, and discontent littered in news media, on social media, and on emotionally charged billboards and bumper stickers. Life around us has and is changing. The Bitterroot Valley today is not the same as it was five, ten, fifteen, or twenty years ago. It will not be the same tomorrow as it is today. Here we might find ourselves disoriented—not understanding what God is up to. We might not understand how people moving to the Bitterroot could result in anything good. We might not understand why people are protesting a supreme court decision. We might not understand why folks care so much about the environment. We might not understand why all this seems to be happening so fast. We might think that the Spirit of God is farther from us than ever but let us be assured that God has promised to dwell with us in the present. Change is not the mark of godlessness, but of God’s Spirit at work in our age, in our time, and in this place.
God is here. God is here in our midst visibly and in ways we are yet blinded to. Population growth is an opportunity for our church to expand its witness. Anger, frustration, and political discontent provides an opportunity to participate in alternate witness of the Kingdom. Technology provides the opportunity for us to maintain and create new connections that were otherwise impossible. Economic problems provide the opportunity for us to advocate for better wages, healthcare, and opportunity for all people to flourish. As the Easter people we believe and proclaim that God is a God of resurrection—this One who has overcome evil and death. In this way we have been given the Spirit. The Spirit assures us that we are never abandoned, even in the midst of the loss, pain, and sorrow that are part of life in this broken world. Here we are invited to extend this life of connection, wholeness, and flourishing to all those around us. We are invited into further connection and to be ones that heal disconnection through the power of the Spirit. Change is not a threat to the gospel, for Christ is Lord and God in every age and every place. Change is not a threat to us here in the valley but is a grand opportunity to participate in the reconciling works of God. Today we hold this treasure in clay jars, that the Word who became flesh and lived among us continues to make his home with us, even as he prepares our eternal dwelling with God.
[1] Elisabeth Johnson, “Commentary on John 14:23-29,” Working Preacher (Luther Seminary, March 30, 2022), https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/sixth-sunday-of-easter-3/commentary-on-john-1423-29-5.
[2] Elizabeth Myer, “Coming and Going: Salt's Lectionary Commentary for Easter 6,” SALT Project (SALT Project, May 17, 2022), https://www.saltproject.org/progressive-christian-blog/2019/5/22/coming-and-going-salts-lectionary-commentary-for-easter-6.
[3] Jn. 14:18.
[4] Jn. 14:16.
[5] Jn. 14:12.
[6] Jn. 17:15-18.
[7] Johnson, “Commentary on John 14:23-29.”
[8] Myer, “Coming and Going.”
[9] Jn. 14:12.
[10] Myer, “Coming and Going.”
[11] Jn. 17:13.
[12] Johnson, “Commentary on John 14:23-29.”
[13] Myer, “Coming and Going.”
[14] Myer, “Coming and Going.”
[15] Johnson, “Commentary on John 14:23-29.”