Sermon: John 14:1-14

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Religion

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Some of you know my youngest son and his family live on Grand Cayman Island. I visited them early in March of this year and, as I said goodbye on March 13, I suspected it would be a very long time before I would see them again. The following Monday the island indefinitely suspended all flights and travel to and from the island. In Michigan, everything began to close, and I began to realize the magnitude of this growing pandemic and the fact that it would truly be a very long time before I could again spend time with any of our kids and grandkids. Every time I say goodbye to our kids, especially those who are so far away, I feel this breaking or tearing in my heart and, when I left on March 13, that tearing apart was much more intense. My heart was very troubled as I was becoming deeply aware that we don’t know what the future holds. And, I felt a real sense of grief as I realized we were experiencing the death of life as we have known it. As we enter today’s gospel reading, we find ourselves in community with the disciples as we hear Jesus saying goodbye. Jesus and the disciples had gathered for an evening meal, and he is sharing with them his farewell words. He has told the disciples he will be leaving them, and they simply do not understand. Their hearts are very troubled as they sense their time with Jesus is coming to an end. They have no idea what is going to happen next, no idea that Jesus will be arrested. They do not understand that Jesus’ crucifixion and death loom on the horizon. It is in this setting that we hear Jesus’ words as he prepares them for his departure. I can only imagine the emotion in that room. Jesus knows the political climate is heating up. He knows trouble lies ahead. He also sees the disciples’ anxiety levels rise when they hear him speak words of goodbye. You see, their vision of the Messiah included trusting a strong leader who would liberate them from Roman occupation. I

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