Preaching Paths 14 May 2023

Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary

Today’s reading, John 14:15-21, is a continuation of Jesus’ parting words to his followers. Much of its vocabulary echoes  previous verses. Yet, this section presents a significant new element. Jesus discloses a dynamic of multidirectional, mutual love connecting Jesus, the Father, and Jesus’ followers. This love is described not as an emotional state, but as congruence in practice. Parallel statements in vv. 15 and 21 (forming an inclusio structure) underscore this new definition of love. The dynamic love binding Jesus’ followers with Jesus and the Father will be expressed in acts, not just words.

But if Jesus is physically departing, as he has said (vv. 2b-6), how will such congruence of vision, will and action between Jesus and his followers be achieved? Jesus declares he will “ask the Father,” who will send “another Advocate,”  [God’s] “Spirit of truth.” This Spirit who already “abides” with the disciples (v. 17), will “be in” them and will never leave. The “world” –that is, the realm of mundane, earthly human experience—is unable to discern this divine presence (v.19a); but Jesus’ followers will see what the world cannot (v.19b) and will be moved by the invisible currents of divine redemptive love.

Preaching poetic theological texts such as this can be a challenge. One risks leading the congregation into a thicket of lofty abstractions. On the other hand, one cannot simplistically resort to a strategy of “explaining and applying.” This is not instrumental, “how-to” theology, it is meta-theology. Jesus discloses what is and will be, a dynamic of love-in-action, divine and human, not of our making. Yet analogy may help understanding.

When two persons wed, partners lay down single-minded self-determination and commit to honor  the other’s passions, concerns, and aspirations as deeply as their own. Each partner’s life is reshaped to cradle the other’s needs, passions and aspirations. So also, in the Spirit, our passions and actions are reshaped, conformed to the redemptive purposes of the Holy One whose life animates our own.