Rev. Patty Ebner

June 16, 2019

Can We Bear It?

I like to preach from John because it correlates well with Christians and Christianity in the 21st century–people are in different places with their faith.  Some hold to their Judaism and remain in the synagogue.  Others combine Christianity with Judaism and name themselves as Jewish-Christian; some of them are allowed to worship in the temple while others are either cast out or choose to leave.

In the 21st century, we have Christians of many types—fundamental, evangelical, traditional and progressive.  We also have Christians who identify as Jewish-Christian, as Buddhist-Christian, and as Trinitarian Christians.  We have Christians who celebrate their Christianity at Christmas and Easter.

I like to preach from John because of the hope it offers to us.  John was writing to a community in a certain amount of turmoil.  There was tension between Jewish Christians and the synagogue authorities.   The book was intended as a source of inspiration for believers in the community and not to be used in changing the beliefs of others.

Today’s scripture not only introduces us to the members of the Trinity, it conveys the need for it as we seek to live into God’s will for our lives.  It stresses the role of the Holy Spirit as Jesus begins to prepare his disciples for his physical departure from their lives.

Verse 12 opens with a zinger of sorts when Jesus says to the disciples, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.”

When I read this verse, I was immediately reminded of the 1992 movie A Few Good Men.  After a long period of questioning in which Lieutenant Kaffe is pressuring his witness to admit to wrongdoing which has resulted in the death of a Marine, Colonel Jessup answers Lieutenant Kaffee’s at the top of his lungs.  “You Can’t Handle the Truth.  I have a greater responsibility than you can imagine.  You have the luxury of not knowing what I know.  Yes, I ordered the Code Red.”

Now, I’m certain that Jesus would not have been shouting at the disciples in the same manner that Jack Nicholson (Colonel) was addressing Tom Cruise (Lawyer).  But the meaning behind Colonel Jessup’s words do contain some truth.  In that time and place, Jesus held a greater responsibility than the disciples could imagine.  Unlike them, he knew his time with them was limited, that soon, they would be on their own.  For three years, he had been able to walk and talk with them, to lead them in ministry and service to others.  Not unlike a manager, director, or Vice President leaving on a business trip, or a Lead Pastor going on sabbatical, how would the disciples carry on in his absence?  Would they remember the lessons?  Would they have the courage to carry on in the likeness of Jesus?  What would become of Jesus’ Great Commission?

Since Jesus seemed to know that the disciples could not bear everything that they needed to know in order to carry out God’s mission, he had little choice but to continue preparing them for the future—a future without himself.  To accomplish this, Jesus attempts to explain what we have come to understand as the Trinity—God (Jesus’ Father), Jesus (God’s Son), Holy Spirit.  “The Trinity holds to the idea of one God in three Divine Persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  The three Persons are distinct, yet are one “substance, essence or nature”.

While I am not one who struggles with the Trinitarian concept, I am one who struggles with a “reasonable explanation” of it.    How do we give words to that which is unseen?    I often ask myself, Why aren’t the teachings of Jesus enough?  As I read today’s scripture, and how carefully Jesus prepared the disciples for their recognition of the Spirit, I realized I have been asking the incorrect question.  Instead of asking “why aren’t the teachings of Jesus enough,”