By The Rev. Dr. Paul A. Leggett
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Sermon Text: John 14:8-14
Sermon Theme
Philip asks Jesus to show them God the Father. The irony of this question is that Jesus is the revelation of the Father. We only know the Father (and the Spirit) through Jesus. Jesus reveals the Father completely. There is no dark hidden side of God. Nor can God be known apart from Jesus. Jesus however reveals himself in many different ways. We must be prepared to recognize him based on Scripture’s teaching. Jesus calls forth a response in the many different ways he is revealed. Finally Jesus assures us of great power in that we will do “greater works” than he did in his earthly ministry. The source of this power is prayer in which God is glorified.
Sermon Outline
- Revealed. How do we know God? We only know him through Christ. It is true that nature reveals its creator (Psalm 19:1) but because of our sin the world has only become, for us, a source of idolatry (Romans 1:22-25). Jesus alone is the way, the truth and the life. We cannot know God apart from him (John 14:6, Matthew 11:27). Yet Jesus, because he is the Word of God in the flesh (John 1:14), is revealed to us in many different ways. We see him in the hungry, the naked, the prisoner and the stranger (Matthew 25:31-40). We see him in a child (Matthew 18:5). Finally we see him in other Christians. Paul talks about this “mystery” in which Christ is in each of us. He calls this “the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).
- Response. Jesus confronts Philip and, by extension, the other disciples including ourselves, with their lack of faith. Jesus insists that to see him is to have seen the Father (John 14:9). People have at times spoken of the hidden, mysterious purposes of God. There is an element of truth to this but this idea often leads to misunderstanding. God is fully revealed in Jesus Christ. There is not some hidden, dark side of God outside of Christ. To know Christ is to know God. Yet we can never comprehend Christ completely. This is why we need to be able to see Christ in each other as well as in a child and in those who are weak and helpless (I Corinthians 1:27-28). Husbands and wives, parents and children, friends and associates, all of us reveal something of the Lord Jesus Christ to each other. As the body of Christ we are all related to one another. This is why every member of the body is indispensable (I Corinthians 12:12-26).
- Request. Jesus makes the astonishing statement that the disciples will do “greater works” than even he did (John 14:12). If we think of the spread of the gospel we do already see this in the Book of Acts. Jesus makes it clear that we have a tremendous source of power available to us. This power is available through prayer. Jesus promises us, “If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it” (John 14:14). We need to note an important point here. We are not promised some kind of general power which we can use to our own advantage (like Aladdin’s lamp). It is power to do the works that Jesus does. And what are these? They include healing, helping, associating with those that the world rejects and, above all, forgiving (Mark 2:5). This sets up a very different standard from what we find in the world or even in our own inclinations. We do not posses this power ourselves. It comes from prayer in Jesus’ name, that is, prayer according to Jesus’ purposes in which the Father is glorified. We often don’t know exactly what prayers fulfill this requirement (Romans 8:26). Yet we are told to ask “for anything” in Jesus’ name. The tragedy of most Christians is that we fail to make use of the power that Jesus has given us in prayer. When the world sees us doing the works of Jesus then, and only then, will they begin to believe that he is the true revelation of God (John 17:20-21).
Questions for Us
- Are we prepared to see Christ in other people such as other Christians, children and the needy? Why is this often difficult for us?
- How do we experience being the Body of Christ, especially with those members who are very different from us?
- What do you think Jesus means when he says, “If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it” (John 14:14)?
