Loved by the Father - John 16:16-33

On Sunday, Pastor Alan’s sermon was about Jesus’s last message and discussion with his disciples. He had always spoken in parables and mystery, a very effective tool that left his followers’ interest piqued. Here, he tells his disciples that: “in a little while you will see me no more, and then after a while you will see me.” Naturally, this is confusing and no more enlightening when Jesus talks about how their mourning will turn to joy with a reference to a woman being in labour.

Finally, seeing that his disciples are FULLY ready and eager to hear and understand, he speaks plainly to them, telling them that he will be leaving, going to be with God and that they can pray to God in his name, that they don’t have to speak to Jesus as an intermediary because they now believe in Jesus, believe he is truly God’s son.

Not only that, but his disciple were able to speak directly to God because of his love for them (and therefore us). The LOVE in this passage so subtly changes from agape (sacrificial love) to phielos (brotherly, friendship love). That subtle shift is ever so meaningful. It is a movement from that of sacrifice to an almost reciprocal kind of relationship, whereby his disciples are asked to take part in a friendship, and with that, also in the sacrifice (trials, tribulations, mourning, grief) which will turn into joy in the end.

Jesus tells them that he came to this world and now he is leaving and going back to see his Father in heaven. He continues on to say that troubles are coming for them but that their sorrow and tribulation will turn to joy.

He asks his disciples, “Do you believe?”

What struck me about this conversation and then what was highlighted by Pastor Alan was that the entirety of creation, the whole universe was created for this entire purpose, that we would say “YES” to a decision to enter into that “phielo” love, to believe, to have a relationship with God, that we would say, “Yes, I believe.”

This decision has so many parallels to it as I think of the creation story where God places a tree in the garden of Eden, giving Adam the choice to obey God or have the knowledge of good and evil. God wanted Adam to choose, to have that freedom to choose, much as with this choice to believe. Everything is on the table, everything is at stake. The universe was created for this one proposal, will we say “Yes” with the risk that some would say no.

 
Listen to this sermon here!