The Gospel
John 14:1-14
The challenge of preaching this Gospel is that there are four readings, or themes, within this one appointed portion of the 14th chapter of the Gospel according to John.
In the tradition of my childhood, this wouldn’t be such a problem. The sermon was the central and longest portion of the gathering of the faithful in worship. A sermon lasting 40 to 50 minutes in that Christian tradition, and those like it, would be more than acceptable. In such an arena, a preacher could easily spend 10 minutes on each of these themes and weave them together. But Episcopalians and our liturgical cousins are not so fond of such length in preaching. Therefore good preaching on such a reading as this demands that the preacher focus on one of these four themes and leave the others for another time.
Here are the four themes as I have identified them…
“In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places…”
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Jesus said, “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.
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“I am the way, and the truth, and the life…”
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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.
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“Lord, show us the Father…”
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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.
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“The one who believes in me will also do … greater works than these…”
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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.”
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Fr. Timothy+
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The Rev’d Timothy Alleman, M.Div.
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