Reading: John 14:1-14

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.

And you know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves.

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.

Reflection

These are some of Jesus’ most powerful words, spoken to his closest friends just before his death. Essentially Jesus is saying, trust me, I’ve got you, just do what I have taught you. It seems so very simple, but is it? It is often hard to put our full trust in God and believe that our future will work out. We often want to be the ones in control. We want to know what’s next and see for ourselves. But Jesus asks us to trust him, believing that he will provide for all that we need. I love that he tells us that we can ask anything in his name, and he will do it. I’m sure he doesn’t mean the material things of this world, but I could use a new car! He wants us to ask for things that will bring glory to God, peace, healing, love, community, and forgiveness to name a few. When we ask for these things, we are not only granted them, but it tells Jesus that we do place our trust in Him and know that he’s got us!

–Karla Leiby

Prayer

Gracious God, we do trust in you and also in your Son, Jesus Christ. We thank you for the gift of his life that we may know him and trust that he is the way, the truth, and the life. We ask that you grant us whatever we need so that we may serve you and bring you glory.

Amen.