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)

A man of troubled heart does not have faith. Jesus is trying his best to make his disciples men of faith. This faith that Jesus speaks of is not on principles or dogmas. But it is on God and Jesus who is the revelation of God.

Jesus is not only the revelation but he is also the way to reach the Father. Jesus has said so much about the Father and his relationship with the Father and the whole gospel is a narration of this relationship. Yet, the disciples have not understood that Jesus has come from the father and has to go back to the Father.

What Jesus has said as “I am the way…” can trigger of many questions. People are bound to ask; are there not other ways etc? But when we read the passage in its context, what Jesus says is that He is the way to the Father in washing the feet of the others, he is the way to the Father in laying down his life for the others, he is the way to the Father in leading the sheep like a good shepherd, he is the way to the Father in feeding the people, he is the way to the Father in showing compassion and so on. 

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)

This passage is just after Jesus had washed the feet of the disciples. We too do the same foot washing as a ceremony. We play the role of a leader. Foot washing has become a sign of leadership. But when Jesus did it, it was the work of a slave. We are acting it out. We do it because Jesus has done it.

A truly Christ-like leader is the one who does the menial, annoying, messy things with ease and spontaneity. The works which a servant or a slave would do, will be don by a Christ-like leader. In stead we are like little princes in the kingdom of Jesus creating little spheres of influence, of power, and we enjoy exercising it.

What we ought to do is to look away from us and look into the world which we are supposed to be serving. We should be where the world needs us; ready even to take up insignificant roles.