You CAN Do It

Jesus was calling his disciples to live and love in ways that seemed impossible. They couldn't do it, not without the Spirit. Yet with the Spirit- there’s very little they can’t do. A little bit before he promises the Spirit Jesus says promises something daring and bold- and crazy sounding. "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."

Huh? This is not the same way Jesus is portrayed in the other Gospels. In fact John is such a different telling of the story that it stands out- on its own. Why?

Well one of my hunches is that since John was the last of the Gospels written and circulated it is as much a reflection on what the early Christians themselves experienced. I can hear John, a very old man, sharing his thoughts to his students many years after the event. They sit there trying to capture them. Time is running out. The times have changed. The memories of Jesus are all oral or written tradition.

They may have been discussing something that had just happened in their city. They may be responding to an event they have heard of from some other early Christian community. It might be of some miracle or some new conversion or something that seems beyond possibility.

John stops the discussion with a wave of his hand and a deep and soul-affirming smile. You know, he says, that is a great example of what the Master told us on that Passover night. He told us that we would do greater things than even he was able to do. See, he says as the power of the Spirit fills him- See. It’s true. It IS true.

Look around. Not just here, but wherever two or three or hundreds gather today. Miracles- hope and life- are happening. Promises are coming true. It’s all in the Spirit- and it’s all in the love that he started with. And is now ours to share. Greater than what he did? Sure. 2000 years ago he couldn’t have touched the people we can touch today. More people will have heard the Good News in the last couple hours right here in Minnesota than in all of Jesus lifetime. And that doesn’t count the TV and radio shows or the private conversations or readers on their computers.

It’s all in the love. His love for us- and our call to love others. It’s all in the Spirit- His Holy Spirit that is right here keeping us in touch. Forever.