"Those who are bonded into Jesus will know a Truthful Spirit who will (Verse 26): 'Teach you everything; and remind you of all that I have said to you.'
We, who like Philip, have been with Jesus all this time, and still do not know him, should receive this promise with great joy and thanksgiving at Jesus' generosity. We will not be left alone."
Year C
Season of Easter
Pentecost Sunday
Click here to read the complete Holy Textures background commentary on John 14:8-17, (25-27).
Click here, John 14:8-17, (25-27), for an easy to print or email Adobe PDF version of this note.
Once again we have a small excerpt selected from a much longer, richer, and more complex lesson which is the whole of John, Chapter 14.
These verses are part of an address by Jesus to his followers (then and now) on why they should not let their hearts be troubled (See Verses 1 and 27) even though he is about to leave them.
The Chapter consists of three exchanges in the pattern:
- Jesus explains why they should not let their hearts be troubled;
- One of the disciples, Thomas, then Philip, then Judas (not Iscariot), misunderstands;
- Jesus adds further clarifications.
The text for today follows the question / misunderstanding by Philip who makes the request (Verse 8):
Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.
I would love to have been a fly on the wall and heard Jesus' tone of voice as he responds to Philip:
Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me?
Do you think there might be just a tad of exasperation in Jesus' voice?
Hasn't Jesus in fact been with Philip all this time? Yes, Jesus has. And doesn't Philip STILL not know / not SEE who Jesus is? Yes, Philip STILL does not know.
Jesus has been with Philip, but apparently Philip - or Philip's attention - has been somewhere else.
So before quickly skimming on through the rest of this passage, stop and take 20 minutes - or twenty years - and ponder Jesus' question to Philip as one he asks you. Put your own name in the question:
Have I been with you all this time, *** your name ***, and you still do not know me?
But before falling into inescapable despair by facing the truth of how deeply shallow is our knowing of Jesus, take comfort in the fact that Jesus immediately and patiently responds to Philip's great longing.
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Click here to read the complete Holy Textures background commentary on John 14:8-17, (25-27).
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