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Lectionary A, John 14:1-14 “Key to the Mansion” A beloved
Scripture often heard at funerals is the passage we heard from John’s
Gospel this morning. As it is known in the King James translation of the Bible,
verse 2 of chapter 14 begins: “In my Father’s house are many
mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place
for you.” This is
part of Jesus’ farewell discourse to his disciples. He tells them not
to be troubled about his leaving. He will soon be put to death, but he gives
them the promise of new life with his heavenly Father. Just as he is one with
his heavenly Father, so too they will experience this unity as they are one
in him. In what is known as “I Am” statements, Jesus is
understood to be the Way, the Truth, and the Life. These proclamations are
the “joyous affirmation of a religious community that believes God is
available to them decisively in the incarnation – in the person of
Jesus.” (Interpreter’s Bible) And centuries later in our
Christian experience we have discovered that as we relate our lives to the
risen Christ, we too experience a deeper relationship with the source of all
life – with God. Jesus becomes for us the Way, the Truth, and the Life. A phrase in
this joyous affirmation has caused great consternation, however. A succeeding
phrase reads, “No one comes to the Father except through me.” For
some people this has been interpreted to mean that one cannot know God
without being a professed Christian. Rather than affirming that one is able
to know the Father as Jesus knew his heavenly Father, it is used to exclude
all those who don’t participate in this experience. Thus, the intent of
the farewell discourse is changed into a message of exclusion rather than a
means to find unity and wholesomeness in God. Quoting
this passage to exclude people from God’s grace and love has serious
consequences. If such an interpretation were true, it would mean that none of
the prophets or personalities of the Old Testament would have any chance to
enter the kingdom of heaven. Abraham, Sarah, Isaac and Jacob would be turned
away from the mansion. Moses would have to stay in the desert even after all
the trouble he had delivering the Ten Commandments and leading the people of Fortunately, the fundamentalism
of any religion, sincere or belligerent, cannot force erroneous notions to
become true. A better plan is to keep an open mind so that one can understand
how others throughout history have come to glimpse the mystery of God. Their
experiences may not be the same as ours; but often the differences are a
matter of semantics. In any case, differences do not negate Christian
experience. We are still able to celebrate the God in Christ who leads us
into union with our heavenly Father. Jesus is the key for us who opens the
door to the mansion. This passage in John’s
gospel was probably written 55-65 years after Jesus’ death. To
understand these words as verbatim is quite unlikely. But the words put on
Jesus’ lips to convey the convictions of a small, religious minority in
the ancient Mediterranean world, is true to their experience. It is also the
experience that Christians have enjoyed through the centuries. Think of the beautiful words of
the 17th century priest and poet, George Herbert, who wrote: “Come, my Way, my Truth,
my Life: such a way as gives us breath; such a truth as ends all strife; such
a life as killeth death. Come, my Light, my Feast, my
Strength: such a light as shows a feast; such a feast as mends in length;
such a strength as makes his guest. Come, my Joy, my Love, my Heart:
such a joy as none can move; such a love as none can part; such a heart as
joys in love.” (Hymn 487) The purpose of our beloved
Scripture passage and the poetry it has inspired, is not meant to be
ammunition to do battle over the relative merits of the world’s
religions. “The Fourth Gospel is not concerned with the fate, for example,
of Muslims, Hindus, or Buddhists, nor with the superiority or inferiority of
Judaism and Christianity as they are configured in the modern world.”
(Interpreter’s Bible, Vol. IX, p. 744) Our attention is better directed
to proclaim the love and mercy of God that we know in Jesus, and to extend
that good news to any who may not have heard these words of life and hope. No
restrictive Christian label will be able to prevent God from loving the
entire creation. We can rejoice that Jesus is our
key to heavenly mansions. And let us not shut the windows through which
others enter into the presence of God. There are many rooms in the heavenly
mansions; and we can trust that heaven would like to fill them with all who
respond to God’s love. |
2007 July 8
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