Breaking the Word

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where (I) am going you know the way." Thomas said to him, "Master, 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. (Jn 14:1-6)

 

 

Troubled hearts are the signs of lack of faith. This true in the society and it is true in any relationships and it true also in the kingdom. Faith in God and faith in Jesus will be revealed only in untroubled hearts. Troubled hearts are those that give importance to material things; to security; to safety. What is visible, tangible and sure are the concerns of those who are of troubled hearts.

 

Jesus is interested in bringing the people who follow him to the father. Father’s place is so enormous that there is place for everyone. Jesus’ works among the people are not just to prepare them to be with the father, it is also to prepare the places for them. In a sense , (it is only for our understanding)the work is  to prepare the father. This is also to make the next statement that I am the way.

 

"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”. Way is not a road; truth is not a principle; and life is not being alive. All these are Jesus. It is a person. Jesus the person, the individual is the way, he is the truth and he is the life. If one has Jesus in him then he is on the right track and he speaks the truth and he is living. If Jesus is not in him, though he may on the road, though he may be talking principle, though he may be living, yet he is dead, he is telling lies and he is on the wrong track.

 

Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it. I am not speaking of all of you. I know those whom I have chosen. But so that the scripture might be fulfilled, 'The one who ate my food has raised his heel against me.' From now on I am telling you before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe that I AM. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me." (Jn 13:16-20)

 

 

Jesus talks about the position and status of slave in front of the master and the messenger in front of the one who sent him. Jesus picks up the practices in the society and from there he leads them to understand the kingdom. In the society there will be distinctions; there will be different strata; there will be inequality; there will be differences in the rewards; such is the society.

 

In the kingdom where Jesus is the sole master, he chooses the followers. There is not fixed status. Jesus chooses whomsoever he wants. There is equality among all. There is relationship between the chosen and the one who chooses them (I know them). There should not be betrayal from the chosen ones. There should only be loyalty and fidelity. Human negative behaviour in the society which may be tolerated in the society should not be found in the kingdom.

 

The position of the one who is sent is equal to the one who sends. (Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.) In the kingdom the one who is sent (the apostles and the disciples) are received the same way as the one who sends them (Jesus) and Jesus is received and the same way the Father is also received.