An act of worship at home
10th May 2020
Reading John 14 vv 1-14
‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling-places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.’ Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.’
Philip said to him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.’ 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”? 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. 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. 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. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.
Reflection
I like Thomas, he seems to have been the one disciple who refused to accept anything at face value, even from Jesus, and would go on questioning and challenging until he finally understood and believed what was being said. When the disciples were gathered in the Upper Room after that first Easter, it was Thomas who brought them all down to earth by refusing to believe that Jesus could possibly be alive.
Some like to live life wrapped in a comfort blanket of accepting whatever we’re are told by someone we think has authority. But Thomas needed to know for himself. And through his refusal to accept anything until he had tested it out for himself Thomas shows that it’s alright to ask questions, to challenge what others say and to search for the truth.
In today’s reading, in response to Jesus’s statement “You know the way to the place where I am going”, it’s Thomas who asks the obvious question, the question which no one else dared to ask. “Lord, we don’t know where it you are going so how can we know the way?” And so Jesus began to explain telling them “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
Once Thomas had asked his question others began to dare to ask their own. Philip is the next to speak, asking Jesus to show them the Father but Jesus explains that through his life he has been showing them the Father all along. And Jesus goes on to talk about how all his actions and words come from God’s presence within him. Later he describes the God within as the Holy Spirit dnd he promises that once he has left them they too will experience the God within.
Perhaps it wouldn’t be possible for the disciples to experience the God within while Jesus was still with them. Perhaps they depended so entirely upon him that they would be unable to begin to rely upon resources within themselves while he was around. Why should they look any further than Jesus?
When life is easy and good, it’s very easy to cling to something or someone and to look no further. It’s only when we’re stripped that we’re thrown back onto God, because there’s nowhere else to turn. On the Cross Jesus was stripped of everything, even of the presence of God. But even though he was unaware of God’s presence with him, he was thrown back onto God because there was nothing else. And so he bowed his head and gave up his Spirit.
But the result of that final, total submission was that he experienced God in a completely new way. He was raised by God to a vibrant, exciting new life in a different dimension, a life in which he was one with God. And he has promised the same for all of us.
Crucifixions, however small they are, are agonising. But it’s through the stripping process, the crucifixions of this life, that we can grow more aware of God’s presence within. And as every baby eventually discovers, there’s much more freedom in life when we don’t have to carry a comfort blanket around with us but know the living presence of God around us and within us.
Prayer
Gracious God, you are the rock of our lives.
Your strength sustains us. Your power delivers us. Your mercy brings forgiveness to us.
We come to you in love, praising you that our whole life is in your hands – held, sustained, protected.
We pray Lord, for a world where many people live in fear; many have had their lives and livelihoods destroyed;
many grieve for loved ones who have died.
May they may know your strength and peace, loving God: be for them a rock and a stronghold.
We pray Lord for a world where many do not have money to pay for food;
many are reaching the end of their tether;
where many people are alone and do not know where to look for comfort and encouragement.
May they may know your strength and peace, loving God: be for them a rock and a stronghold.
We pray for ourselves when we struggle and doubt; when we don’t know what to say or do;
when life overwhelms us and we turn to you.
May we may know your strength and peace, loving God: be for us a rock and a stronghold.
In the name of the living Lord Jesus. Amen.
Hymn StF 303 – I know that my Redeemer lives
I know that my Redeemer lives—
what joy the blest assurance gives!
He lives, he lives, who once was dead,
he lives, my everlasting Head!.
He lives, to bless me with his love;
he lives, to plead for me above;
he lives, my hungry soul to feed;
he lives, to help in time of need.
He lives, and grants me daily breathe;
he lives, and I shall conquer death;
he lives, my mansion to prepare;
he lives, to lead me safely there.
He lives: all glory to his name;
he lives, my Saviour, still the same;
what joy the blest assurance gives,
I know that my Redeemer lives!
Blessing
May God bless us, give us the strength and the assurance of his love.
May God bless us and fill our lives with his presence – today and always. Amen.
