Directions

Charlotte Collins Reed
Christ Church Episcopal
May 7, 2023

5 Easter A 

          On Wednesday, I found myself in a downtown Akron parking garage with very confusing directional signs.  The first sign said “Parking” with an arrow straight ahead.  But not fifty feet further, a sign said “Do not enter” with those bumps in the pavement that meant business.  So I turned around.  Then a sign said “No left turn.”  Fine, I won’t turn left.  But when I got to the turn not many feet later, left was the only option and the exit sign pointed left.  The garage was filled with contradictory signs and directions that I am sure made sense to someone, but not to me.  I felt like I had escaped a maze when I finally found the exit.

          The disciples are also experiencing some contradictory directional signs this morning.  In the previous chapter of John’s gospel, Jesus told the disciples that he is with them only a little longer, and that where he is going, they cannot come.  But now Jesus tells the disciples that there are many dwelling places in God’s house, that Jesus will come and take the disciples there, and that the disciples know the way to the place where Jesus is going.  But they don’t!  They don’t know where Jesus is going and they certainly do not know how to get there.  Any directions Jesus has given them up until this point are not directions to a dwelling place in God’s house.  What Jesus has said in the passage just before this one is this: “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”  Jesus will repeat this commandment in the following chapter when he says “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” But that is not going to get them to the place where Jesus is going.

          Or is it?  When Thomas says “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus responds “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”  Does that mean turn left, turn right, or do not enter?  As is so often the case in John’s gospel, the disciples would like some clear direction and all they get are more questions. How is Jesus’ response going to get them anywhere?

          The next verse is problematic.  Jesus says “No one comes to the Father except through me” which sounds like exclusive privilege for those who follow Jesus.  However, Jesus has been clear since the beginning of the passage that there are many dwelling places in God’s house and he is going to prepare one of those dwelling places for his disciples.  Other people, people they don’t know and can’t imagine, will occupy the other rooms.  Also, back in chapter 10 of John’s gospel, Jesus said “I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.”  And, of course, in John 3:16 Jesus said “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”  God sent Jesus so that everyone might believe in God, and throughout John’s gospel, Jesus’ mission is to be a sign that points to God with Jesus’ very being.  So, I find it doubtful that this passage is about who is in and who is out of God’s house and even if it is, Jesus gets to decide and we don’t.  Jesus is actually talking about how we are to follow him, not about how to get a room upgrade in the divine dwelling place.

          At the very end of our gospel reading, Jesus says “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.”  And once again, it looks like the disciples have exclusive privilege as Jesus will do whatever they ask in Jesus’ name.  But the works Jesus has done have not been about exclusivity.  The works Jesus has done have all been to show all people the glory of God and to serve others.  When Jesus promises the disciples that they will do even greater works that his, it is because they will have more time, the power of the resurrection, and the gift of the Holy Spirit to help them use their lives so that the whole world can know the love of God.   

“Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”  What the disciples have seen in Jesus’ ministry is the Way of love, the Truth of God’s love for humankind, and the Abundant Life that comes from abiding in God’s love.  The very clear directions for being where Jesus is are to walk in that way, proclaim that truth, and live that life. 

          In a world filled with gun violence, racial strife, and the inability to have civil conversation with those who differ from us, Jesus is challenging the disciples and us both as individuals and as a congregation to use our lives to show the world what Presiding Bishop Michael Curry continually describes as the Way of Love.  While we would all like more precise instructions, Jesus has been clear.  “Love one another as I have loved you.  But this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”  The passage from 1 Peter tells us that we are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, not for special privilege or power or place, but so that we can proclaim the mighty acts of him who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light.  Jesus calls his followers, not to follow a set of instructions, but to follow Jesus on the Way of Love.  That love will change the world.

                                                                             Amen.