JOHN 14:22-24 DYING TO LIVE

22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”

23 Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

With Jesus’ earlier talk about the time having come for him to be glorified (John 13:31-32), Judas has become confused. As Philip was looking for a vision, Judas desires a magnificent public manifestation of Jesus as the Messiah that will thoroughly vindicate their decision to give up all and follow him. In his question the disciple is drawing the line of division between the followers of Jesus and the rest of the world; the “in crowd” and everyone else. For Jesus the line is located elsewhere. It will be those who obey his teaching, those who love him that Jesus will return after the resurrection. The criterion for experiencing Jesus in one’s life is not knowledge, genealogy, affiliation, or profession. It is a life lived in accordance with God’s will. And the manifestation will not be a public spectacle but a moment-by-moment presence of God in one’s life. It will not be an event but an intimate relationship.

As we live into our baptism vows we declare our intention to live in obedience to God and open ourselves to the indwelling of God, the Holy Spirit. The only thing that stands between us and the full manifestation of God in our lives is our disobedience. The potential for a perfect relationship is there because our Partner is perfect. Any imperfection in the relationship is due to us. Our justification has been achieved by Jesus’ death on the cross. Our salvation is assured by our faith in Jesus. It is the level of our experience of living a resurrection life this side of the grave that is determined by our obedience to God. As witnesses to Jesus Christ, our attitude must be summed up in the words of John the Baptizer, “He must become greater; I must become less” (John 3:30). If we are to grow in our relationship with Jesus, his will must have an increasing influence over our lives, while there must be a concomitant decrease in the exercise of our own wills. This is what the Church means when it teaches that you must die to self in order to live in Christ.

Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, p. 219)