John 14:12 “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.”

The lack of Biblical l knowledge in the United States is astounding.  Studies have shown that not many in the ELCA read the Bible, so in answer to that the ELCA started “The Book of Faith Initiative.”  The Book of Faith initiative invites the whole church to become more fluent in the first language of faith, the language of Scripture, in order that we might live into our calling as a people renewed, enlivened, empowered, and sent by the Word.  Scripture is the source that teaches us about God, the whole world, and ourselves.  As people of God we have a calling to know and share that which is rooted in scripture.  We’ll be focusing on this in the national church, as well as in our own. 

There are three well-known yet often misinterpreted quotes from Jesus:

1.    "Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.”  John 14:1.  People often think that Jesus was focused on the sadness of his disciples about His death.   Instead, he was probably focusing more on encouraging them to stand firm in the face of his departure, to keep up their ministry.  These words can be seen as a triumph over death and a reminder that God always triumphs in the end.

2.    Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”  John 14:6.  Some Christians are offended by this statement because it closes the door to the other faiths.  It has been used as a weapon, stating that Christians have the market on God.  Many scholars don’t agree.  It is a calling for us to know our identity through Christ.  This was written in a different time and context.  We cannot truly answer the question of other faiths, but we can celebrate our faith through Jesus.

3.    Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  John 14:13. Many Christians conclude their prayers in Jesus’ name, believing He will do whatever they ask.  In truth, Jesus knows and sees what is better for us.  We should pray in accordance with His name, trusting him to guide us and provide for us as He sees fit.

Shepherds were known in biblical times as those who watched over flocks.  It was a “dirty rotten job” because they could not be purified and do what other faithful people did to attend worship.  They were, however, a trusted part of the community that kept an important resource safe from harm.  Throughout the Bible, God and other leaders were recognized as shepherds – this is important because people understood that they stood between them and peril.

Jesus speaks of those we must be wary of.  Some people were pretending to be shepherds, and in our world they still do.  Today’s false shepherds might be more dangerous than those of Christ’s day because they take advantage of society’s greed.  “The more we give them, the more God will give us.”  These people live extravagantly and do not open their financial books.  (As Lutherans, we have complete access to know what happens to the dollars we give.)   These false shepherds suck the life out of a church.

The key is to know that as Christians, we are to be about bringing life to the world.  We come to church to find out what God wants us to do and how to use our gifts.  When led by false prophets, churches have grown isolated and afraid.  Extremes have led to mass suicides.   Jesus tells us that we are to be in the world, working to spread God’s love for all.

Cleopas and his companion might have been one of the 70 Jesus sent out in pairs to spread His message.  Put yourself in their shoes, traveling along the road to Emmaus.  They carried all of the baggage they had acquired through the previous week, when Jesus had been crucified.   In their sadness, anger and depression, they did not recognize Jesus when he met them on the road.  They had discredited the reports the women had given them of Jesus disappearing from the tomb.   Although they had heard his preaching about what would happen upon his death, they still considered him a prophet; one that they had hoped would redeem Israel.  They, like us, saw what they hoped would happen and felt sad and frustrated when it did not.   Like we do today, they prayed for God’s intervention and did not see that the God’s answer was in front of them.  Unlike us, they had the advantage of Jesus standing in front of them.  Jesus understandably grew frustrated by how slowly they realized who he was and what had happened. 

“He is risen!”  So now what?  On Easter Sunday we sang, heard, and rejoiced about it.  Now that we are filled with excitement, it is time to share the news with the Earth.   Some of us, like Thomas, can’t get into that excitement.  He did not believe that Christ had risen because he wasn’t there to see it.  Maybe we are like Thomas, we have heard about it and can’t join in the joy.  We wonder “What does this mean for me?”  We aren’t any happier.  John included this story in his gospel for those of us who are like Thomas, who are not really up for celebrating the holy days.  Thomas might have thought that the other disciples were crazy or hallucinating when they said they had seen Jesus in the flesh.   But Jesus doesn’t just leave him to wonder, he comes back, walks directly up to Thomas, and invites him to put his fingers into His hands and sides.  He came back just for Thomas because he cared about him.  When Thomas touched Him, he must have felt a great release of fear and pain and he cries out “My Lord and my God!”  This is the most powerful and complete confession of recognizing Jesus in the Gospel of John. 

Imagine that on your travels you saw that all of the cemeteries were empty, left open, with their occupants nowhere to be found.  When they saw Jesus’ tomb was empty on the first Easter, all of the soldiers fainted and were scattered around.  They experienced the power of God first hand, and nothing would ever be the same.  The war isn’t over, but the ultimate victory is assured through God’s love and power over death.  We are free from guilt and fear because of the price Christ paid. 

Although it was easy for the angel at the tomb to tell the women “Don’t be afraid,” it is a pretty sure bet that they were.  A few moments later, it was hard for them to believe when the angel said that Christ was raised and was not there.  God had chosen women, who could not be witnesses in those days, to witness his greatest act of love and forgiveness.  He changed and continues to change the lives of those who have struggled.  Jesus reached out to them, and we know that we are not alone because Christ is with us just as he was with the women.