“Setting Troubled Hearts at Rest: Power for the Future”
John 14:7-14
In one of Charles Schultz's ‘Peanuts’ cartoons Snoopy, the hound of heaven, says of Woodstock, that would-be bird of paradise, "Someday Woodstock is going to be a great eagle." Then in the next frame he says, "He's going to soar thousands of feet above the ground." Woodstock takes off into the air and as Snoopy looks on, he sees Woodstock upside-down and whirling around crazily. So he has second thoughts and in the next frame Snoopy says, "Well, maybe hundreds of feet above the ground...." Just then, Woodstock falls to the ground, looking dazed, and Snoopy concludes, "Maybe he'll be one of those eagles who just walk around."
It’s amazing how quickly we settle for less than what is promised and possible. For example, we claim Paul’s assertion that (Eph. 3:20) God is able to “do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…”, yet are hesitant to pray and live boldly. We settle for praying for little things and for living within the limits of what we can do in our own strength. It’s this reality that makes the words of Jesus in today’s text seem almost out of place and surreal. Jesus promises His disciples an immense power for life when He departs from them. He even goes so far as to say that’s why he needs to go away – it’s for their advantage, and for ours. Let’s take a closer look at this dialogue.
In response to Philip Jesus states that POWER BEGINS WITH A CORRECT PERCEPTION. The glasses we wear frame and color what we see. WHAT WE SEE AND EXPERIENCE DEPENDS ON WHAT WE BRING TO THE SCENE. An artist, a minister, and a cowboy were all viewing the landscape of the Grand Canyon. The artist said, “What a beautiful scene to paint!” The minister predictably proclaimed, “What a wonderful example of the handiwork of God!” The cowboy mused, “What a terrible place to lose a cow!” What we see and experience depends on what we bring to the scene.
WHEN WE’RE SO BUSY LOOKING FOR WHAT WE WANT TO SEE WE OFTEN MISS THE OBVIOUS. I read a story of an elderly bachelor and an old maid who each had lived alone for many years. They started ‘going together.’ Gradually the old gentleman recognized a real attachment to her but was shy and afraid to tell her his feelings. But finally he mustered up the courage to say, "Let's get married!" Surprised, she threw up her hands and shouted, "It's wonderful to think about, but who in the world would have us?" She was so busy looking at her age and condition that she failed to see the love of the man in her sight.
So when Philip asked to see the Father Jesus told him to change his perspective, because BEYOND PHYSICAL SEEING THERE IS A MUCH NEEDED SPIRITUAL SEEING. (9) “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father …” “Philip, you’re so busy looking for your image of the Father, you’re missing me and therefore the Father. If you have been with me for three years and yet do not know me, why do you think seeing the Father would help you know Him?” Philip was missing God’s words in Jesus’ words; he was missing God’s power in Jesus’ power. The word Jesus used for “see” means ‘to see with understanding.’ In other words, the one who perceives Jesus as the Son of God is the one who sees the Father.
So Jesus tells Philip to BELIEVE AND SEE. (10) “Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me?” Notice how Jesus compassionately pleads with him. (11) “Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.” “If you believe my words you will find the Father. But if you have trouble seeing the Father through what I say put my words alongside my miracles. Then you will see.” Jesus understands that in the midst of our troubles, trials, doubts, and fears we need, more than anything, to believe what Jesus says is true and that He is the Son of God, that He and the Father are one. As D. A. Carson wrote, “There is no belief more basic to spiritual triumph that that.” If we set this truth in our hearts, our hearts will be at rest because then we will see the Fathers’ loving heart and merciful hands in all the events and circumstances of our lives.
It is this firm belief that enables us to see this POWER PICTURED IN A STAGGERING PROMISE. (12) “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” Two questions immediately arise.
First, what’s this business about going to the Father and how does that relate to this extravagant promise of greater works? Where will the power come from? How does Jesus ‘going away’ facilitate power? ONLY BY GOING TO THE FATHER COULD JESUS SEND HIS HOLY SPIRIT WITH POWER. Later that evening Jesus would teach them more about the Holy Spirit who would come to them; but for now they simply needed to accept that the Father would give them extraordinary power to do extraordinary things. Jesus’ power, while He was present on earth, was limited to where He was – except on those rare occasions when He gave special power to his disciples for a short time. But at Pentecost, He would send the Spirit, with power, into the hearts of believers for all time. Where Christ’s people would be, His power would be present.
So what, then, are these greater works the Holy Spirit will empower? After all, Jesus calmed storms, fed thousands from 5 loaves and two fish, healed people who were sick, drove out demons, and brought dead people back to life. What can be greater than that? We discover the answer in the Book of Acts. Acts is the record of what happened after Jesus went to be with the Father, after He died, rose, and ascended into heaven. In Acts we see the apostles do some miracles. But more importantly we see much more about people turning to Jesus and being saved. Peter preached one sermon on the day of Pentecost and 3,000 people were converted. JESUS CONSIDERS CONVERSION OF PEOPLE A GREATER WORK IN BOTH SCOPE AND QUANTITY than His healing of one person. Jesus’ chief work was not performing miracles but revealing and bringing glory to the Father. 3,000 converts in one day brings glory to the Father! Jesus ascended and left the Gospel message in the hands and hearts of 11 men, and commissioned them to take it to the ends of the earth. Within 300 years Christianity had closed nearly all the temples of the Roman Empire, and numbered its converts by millions. Still today, a testimony by you or me or anyone that leads to the conversion of even just one person is greater in the Lords’ sight than any physical miracle – for this is what brings glory to the Father. Luke, in the 15th chapter of his Gospel, shares Jesus’ parable of the lost sheep. You’ll recall Jesus said the shepherd left the 99 sheep in the fold and went out and rescued the one sheep that was lost. Jesus’ point? He said that there would be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 who do not need to repent. Jesus is more concerned with miracles of salvation than miracles of healing.
And not only are people converted to His glory, but HOLY DEEDS OF MERCY AND COMPASSION ARE DONE IN HIS NAME. While Jesus fed the hungry crowds around Him, His Spirit has sent people around the world teaching people how to produce food in their locations. While Jesus healed people, His Spirit has sent medical personnel and supplies, and built medical facilities, around the world. While Jesus preached to the multitudes in his territory, His Spirit has sent messengers, and broadcast His message, to most every nation of the world.
The Holy Spirit enables us to do what we could otherwise never do and go where we would otherwise never go – all for the glory of God. There’s a poignant story out of South Africa that took place during the struggle for racial equality. Alan Paton tells the story in his 1981 novel, “But Your Land is Beautiful.” The story takes place in the Holy Church of Zion on Maundy Thursday where the ritual of foot-washing precedes Holy Communion. The black pastor invited Judge Oliver to come to the church to wash the feet of Martha Fortuin, a black woman who had raised and cared for the judge's children. Judge Oliver was known as a white man of character, willing to stand against his fellow jurists on issues where principle is involved. The judge accepted the invitation, but no one could have expected what transpired. The judge, remembering how Martha Fortuin had often kissed the feet of his own children, washed her feet and then bent over and kissed her feet. Tears filled the eyes of other worshipers in the tiny church. Somehow the press learned of the event, gave it wide publicity, and it cost Judge Oliver the chief judgeship which was to have been his. A few days later the black pastor called on Judge Oliver to ask his forgiveness for involving him in an act that destroyed his professional future. The judge replied, "Taking part in your service on Maundy Thursday is to me more important than any chief judgeship. Think no more about it." And that is why the people of the Holy Church of Zion renamed their church in South Africa, "The Church of the Washing of Feet." God our Father was glorified – because Jesus went away so He could send His Holy Spirit to empower believers to be the vessels through whom people are converted and holy deeds of mercy and compassion are done in His name, even to the ends of the earth.
Yet all of this will happen only when we grasp Jesus’ other promise. (13-14): “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” POWER IS DELIVERED THROUGH FOCUSED PRAYER. There’s an incident in Huckleberry Finn where Mark Twain has Huck make a very human observation. "Miss Watson took me into a closet and prayed, but nothing came of it. She told me to pray every day, and whatever I asked for, I would get. But it weren't so. I tried it. Once I got a fish line but no hooks. I tried praying for hooks, three, four times, but somehow it wouldn't work. One day I asked Miss Watson to try for me, but she said I was a fool. She never told me why. I couldn't make it out in no way. So I says to myself, if a body can get anything he prays for, why don't Deacon Wynn get back the money he lost on pork? Why don't the widow get back the silver snuffbox that was stole? Why don't Miss Watson fat up a bit? No, I says to myself, there ain't nothin' to it." Huck's concept of prayer rings a bell for many of us. Prayer, too often, is like looking over a menu of what life has to offer and then ordering all the best things, with the full expectation that God, like an attentive waiter, will scurry around and provide them for us. Then when He delivers the good we give Him a tip. And then we have issues with God when the goods aren’t delivered in a timely manner.
But note what Jesus really says – IF WE ASK IN HIS NAME HE WILL DELIVER THE GOODS. To be told “You may use my name” is to be handed a great privilege as well as a great responsibility. To do something in someone’s name is to act in such a way as to uphold their reputation and character. If you do something on behalf of Hope Church, it reflects on the whole church. If I ask you to do something for me, what you do and how you do it will reflect on me. When we use Jesus’ name it means we ask what Jesus would ask, what would please Him, and what would bring glory to Him and the Father. To ask in Jesus’ name is to base our asking on what Jesus has done or promised to do. As Eugene Peterson translates these words in The Message, “From now on, whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing, I’ll do it.”
We’re really back where we started. POWER FOR THE FUTURE IS DEPENDENT UPON BELIEF. “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these…” Jesus reiterates that if you do not want to settle for less than what is promised and possible, if you want to do these greater works, if you want to receive what you ask, if you want power for the present and the future, you must first believe the He is who He says he is, that He is the Son of God, that He and the Father are one. For what you see and experience depends on what glasses you wear, on what you bring to the scene.
It’s true even now as we partake of Communion. Who, what, are you looking for? Do you believe that we are simply eating bread dipped in grape juice, that we are only doing a ritual? Or do you believe that Jesus, as the Living Bread, was broken in body on a cross – that Jesus, as the Living Vine, poured out His life-blood on a cross? What you believe is what you’ll see. Do you believe, as the Heidelberg Catechism (75-76) states, that Jesus “…has also promised that he himself feeds and nourishes (your) soul to everlasting life with his crucified body and shed blood just as certainly as (you) receive from the hand of the (server) and actually taste the bread and cup of the Lord… (that) it is not only to embrace with a trusting heart all the sufferings and death of Christ, and by so doing receive the forgiveness of sins and eternal life; but also to be united more and more to his sacred body by the Holy Spirit who dwells both in Christ and in us, so that, although he is in heaven and we are on earth, we nevertheless are flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone and live and are governed forever by one Spirit?” There’s your power. It’s time for a power meal. What you believe is what you’ll see. Come and believe. Come and see. Behold the man!
