Claimed, gathered and sent

This is the sermon I preached on Pentecost Sunday, June 5 at St. Timothy Lutheran Church . The text is John 14:8-17 . Today’s gospel is a really different approach to Pentecost. We’re so used to the  excitement of tongues of fire and power and all the activity of thousands of people becoming believers in Jesus. Then we come to this quiet Pentecostal passage. And it all begins with a question, much like the one Thomas asked a few verses earlier. Thomas asked to be shown “the way,” while Philip takes it up a notch, asking to see the Father. The exchange between Philip and Jesus illustrates their relationship, the heart of this gospel. To answer Philip, Jesus talks about his interrelational relationship with the Father. Typical of Jesus, his answer seems like a non-answer. Jesus is in the Father and the Father in Jesus. This is a major part of what defines us as Christians—the relationship between Jesus and the Father. Disciples believe either through Jesus’ words, which come from the...

Here are some thoughts on this Sunday's gospel.  Gospel: John 14:8-17 8 Philip said to [ Jesus, ] “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” 9 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’? 10 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. 11 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. 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. 13 I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.   15 “If you love me, you will keep my c...