The One Called Alongside
Elaine Poproski Download: Audio
Scripture Reading: John 14:15–21 (NRSV)
15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. Read more…
Looking to Sunday
by Elaine Poproski
How many conspiracy theories around this Pandemic do you think there are in total? There are the ones about the virus being cooked up in a lab somewhere and then, depending on which conspiracy theory you read, either accidentally or intentionally unleashed on the world. There’s the one that claims the flu vaccine actually makes a person more vulnerable to this virus. There’s the one that suggests that wearing a mask activates the virus and the ones claiming any number of drugs or treatments are effective, despite what leading health officials are saying. And let’s not forget all the ones questioning the ethics and motivations of groups like the World Health Organization or various national health leaders. If ever there was a need for TRUTH in our world, this is the time.
In John 15:17 (which is part of what we’ll be reading on Sunday), Jesus is telling His disciples about the Holy Spirit. He’s promising that even though He will be leaving them, they won’t be abandoned; the Spirit of Truth is promised. I think it’s really interesting that Jesus uses truth as His descriptor of the Spirit, especially in this day and age. But truth, here, doesn’t just mean scientifically verifiable facts and figures; it means Jesus, Himself. Do you remember, from last Sunday, the words of John 14:6 in which Jesus declares Himself to be “the way and the truth and the life”? When Jesus, in this week’s part of this same conversation with His disciples, promises the Spirit of Truth, He’s promising His own Spirit; He’s promising that which is authentic, real, honest, and true.
It’s popular to talk about truth as a relative thing. We use terms like my truth and your truth and this way of speaking isn’t wrong; speaking of relativized truths, particularly when speaking of a person’s experience of life or of the world, is a helpful reminder that truth is often multi-faceted and nuanced. But that doesn’t mean there’s no such thing as outright lies and falsehoods. If Jesus truly is the truth and if His Spirit – the Spirit of Truth – is truly in us, which John 15:17 tells us He is, then what does that mean for the way we live and speak and share things on the internet? About a month ago, Christianity Today published a great article by Ed Stetzer titled in part, “Gullibility is not a Spiritual Gift”, in which he challenges Christians to wisdom and discernment. Essentially, his challenge to Jesus’ disciples is that we live and speak as people within whom the Spirit of Truth (Jesus’ own Spirit) actually does live.
On Sunday we’ll be considering the words of John 15:17 – 21, which are a continuation of Jesus’ words to His disciples which we read last week. They’re words that don’t just challenge us to be people of truth, but that also offer incredible hope and comfort. They remind us that we’re not alone and that we’re deeply and forever loved. As you prepare for Sunday, perhaps spend some time considering what it means to be loved – not necessarily by God, but just to be loved in general. Have you ever experienced being deeply, truly loved by another person? How does experiencing being loved effect the way you live? How does it effect the way you love?