Lasting Hope

In light of some recent events, I wanted to share some thoughts with the hopes of encouraging you.  As we all know there have been some very disheartening events transpiring recently with regards to our country.  Following the election (if it can be called that) there have been countless claims and indicators of fraud that cannot be ignored.  However, there are some in positions of power and influence who want us, the American people to do just that, ignore it.  As Christians we are instructed to “Abhor that which is evil and cleave to that which is good.” (Romans 12:9)   We clearly know that there are evil forces at work behind the scenes puppeteering people and even so-called “leaders.”  Make no mistake, we are indeed talking about good and evil not merely one political philosophy versus another.  I am convinced from a preponderance of Scripture that there is nothing neutral, as Paul states “whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” (Romans 14:23)  There doesn’t seem to be any room for a third category in the Apostle’s mind. 

     If this is the case, the conclusion that we may lean towards is one of defeat and discouragement.  If good and evil are at war did evil win this round?  Being first a Christian and second a patriot, and a rather fierce one at that I will default however to seeing things through a Biblical lens rather than strictly a red, white, and blue colored one.  In order for us to be effective ministers of the gospel (in any country), we must make sure our priorities are properly oriented.  The question that I have been asking myself is “where is my home?”  If my answer is America then I will be much more tempted to react out of fear which is never a good idea.  However, if I remind myself that my citizenship ultimately is otherworldly then I am on the path to actually being useful to my earthly country.  This seems counterintuitive but it relates to Jesus’ teaching about losing your life in order to find it.  Throughout the history of the Church those individuals who made a real difference in the furtherance of the gospel were those who were unshakably grounded in who they were and where their allegiance was.            

      I am going to explore the passage in John chapter 14.  In this section of Scripture, Jesus is preparing his followers to go on without him, even though he was actually going right along with them.  This is exactly what Jesus was trying to convey to them, to live by faith and not by sight.  Jesus knows that one thing these disciples are going to need is hope that only comes from having deep roots. 

 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.  And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

     Jesus begins this passage with an outlandish claim; he likens himself to Yahweh!  No Jewish Rabbi would dare claim anything like that, its blasphemy!  Unless of course it’s true.  Further he speaks of his Father’s house as a place he is intimately familiar with and in some way he is still there with Him even though he is on earth with his followers. He then invites his followers to join him in the near presence of God. 

     Traditionally, this passage is understood as predicting Jesus’ return thus, inciting hope in the hearts and minds of the disciples.  That view may very well be the case however, Jesus also may be alluding to a more immediate manifestation of hope grounded in his resurrection.  When Jesus says “I go” we assume he means he’s going to Heaven to make reservations at our future mansions for us.  Perhaps, he is speaking of going to the Father in a different way, the cross.  Why would he do that?  So that we can have a place with the Father just as he does.  A place that can be ours while we are still on earth; “that where I am, there you may be also.”   I view this passage much more relationally rather than locationally.  Actually, what Jesus’ predominantly Jewish audience would have likely understood from hearing this, was that Jesus was actually giving a marriage proposal. 

     Let me explain, in those days when a man was keen on a woman and there was an agreement among the families, the man would have given a proposal of sorts and he would then go away for a time to build on a dwelling connected to his father’s house.  Then, when it was complete, he would return to get his bride and bring her to their new home.  If you have ever seen photographs of ancient dwellings in Israel they look like many cube shaped rooms built out from a centralized one.  This is especially noticeable with homes of large families.  In some of the English renderings like the KJV, the word “mansion” is used.  This can be problematic because it stirs a nuanced image of what a mansion is.  I often envision a large southern plantation home, which is of course not what first century Jews would have thought of.  Further, after Jesus went to prepare this place he promised to come back to them and he did.  We know that following the resurrection of Jesus these disciples were so emboldened by the hope of the gospel that it didn’t matter where they went, they were sure of their home. 

     If we are not just as grounded as they were, our actions will be tainted by a fear of “losing our home” rather than a passion for carrying out the will of the Father “on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6)   Remember that the hope of resurrection is that everything that is taken by evil will be restored.  Jesus makes all things new and if these current trials present us with crosses to bear then we will bear them knowing that resurrection is sure our Redeemer Lives!