Friday, April 29, 2005
John 16:12, 13a, 14b "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. "However, when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all truths for he will take of what is Mine and declare it to you."
THE VIEW FROM THE EMPTY TOMB
As Jesus prepared to conquer the sins of the world for us, He realized that a far more difficult work lay ahead of him than that. Namely that of imparting a knowledge of that salvation to the hearts and minds of his disciples. There on the cross single-handed He defeated all the forces of darkness for mankind. But to give that victory to such fearful, arrogant, untrusting, unstable -- to give that great victory to sinners so that they by faith and love might boldly live in it and give it to others, that was not something to be accomplished in a few hours.
Jesus said, "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now". Jesus could talk until He was blue in the face. But their faith was weak and their knowledge small, and so they could not receive what He desired to give them. He talked to them briefly and of a few things that night. And even then they understood little of what He taught them.
Was Jesus sadden by this spectacle of his disciples? Undoubtedly he was. Was Jesus discouraged by this spectacle of his disciples? Not at all. For He knew that all depended on Himself. He would atone for the sins of the world. He would rise from the dead. He would ascend to heaven. He would send the Spirit of truth, and the Spirit of truth would give them understanding into all that Jesus accomplished for them.
Jesus here teaches us how to view life aright. Whether it is today or tomorrow, joy or sorrow, good or evil, war or peace, life or death, wisdom or ignorance it has no meaning apart from Easter. Only what God does will last forever. Neither the ignorance of the disciples nor the wisdom of the Jewish leaders could prevent the victory of Christ. All must flee before him. The Holy Spirit would proclaim the truth of Jesus' victory over sin and death. That alone will remain. Whatever does not proceed from this victory cannot succeed. For the Holy Spirit will take only that which is Christ's and give it to the Church. May He give to each of us the faith and understanding to view all life from the open door of the empty tomb. Not only our own life but also that of our neighbor.
