The earliest Christians followed a Jewish tradition of pausing to pray, preferably together, first thing in the morning, about mid morning, at noon, about mid afternoon, and in the evening. “Just a Note” posts are brief observations made from Scripture readings not related to a lectionary. If I have one to post, it normally appears about 9:00 in the morning, at “the hour of prayer.”
Yesterday we noticed that Jesus told his disciples they knew the way to go to join him. He also said he would come to get them. In John 14:5-7 Thomas, the bold one, says that he doesn’t know the way. This, we will remember, is the same Thomas who had said, when Jesus was going into Judea because Lazarus was dead, that he was willing to go and die with Jesus. This is the bold one. Yet even the boldest soldier who doesn’t know where the enemy is cannot face battle. Where are we supposed to go? We really don’t know.
Jesus tells them that they follow him to be with him. He is the “road” and the truth, and the life. This is how you get to the Father. It’s by following Jesus, the road. Because the disciples have known Jesus, they know the Father. Because they have seen Jesus, they have seen the Father.
The disciples are about to see the terrifying road that Jesus will follow. They will also have to follow him. Yet they are prepared for it. Not because they are braver than death. Not because they think death doesn’t work. But they will be ready to follow Jesus because they will see him come out on the other side of death. He will show himself to be the resurrection. This is the great news of the Gospel. We can follow Jesus right through death and into life. That’s the way.
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