House of Jesus

John 14:1-14

5th Sunday of Easter

In our Gospel Lesson for today we see the disciples going through an identity crisis. Jesus, this great man, teacher, leader, that they had given up their lives and maybe even careers for now says He would be leaving them. Not only leaving them but having to die and then be separated from them. “How can this be?” they ask. “We thought we would be with Jesus for a long time, for the rest of our lives.” While ultimately this is true, at them time they could only see the separation from Jesus and they were confused. They were having an identity crisis. “Who are we really? Who is Jesus? What are we going to do with our lives?”

These are questions we struggle with too. They go to the heart of our identity. Identity is important. It is how we see ourselves and how we want the world to see ourselves. So how do we get identity? There are many ways we can get. Here is a list of some more prominent ways we get our identity:

Religion – Lutheran, Catholic…
Nationality – German, Asian, Indian, American
Family – Smith, Jones, Borgstede
Generational – Builders, Busters, Gen X
Job – Doctor, Lawyer, Business Person
Political – Independent, Republican, Democrat
Social – Liberal, Conservative, Where I live, associate with, etc.

Each one of these ways helps define who we are; it is our identity. The disciples had associated their identity with the man Jesus and had forgotten or not fully understood that Jesus was also the Son of God. Listen to their questions of Jesus. Thomas asked, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”[1] Thomas didn’t realize that he was looking at more than a great teacher, but the Son of God, and they very way to eternal life. Jesus was more than their leader He is their Savior.

Today we try to control or design our life. But too often the things we can control about our identity are more a matter of style or outward appearances then about true identity. We try to change how we look or the people we associate with and that may help a little but in the end most people still can’t truly control their identity. We have to look outside ourselves for our true identity.

The challenge for disciples of Jesus is not to accept life on our own terms but to accept life on God’s terms.

That statement is as the heart of the second question or statement posed by Philip. Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” [2] A strange question coming from a Jew. Jews have a high regard for God and His holiness. In fact a Jew would not utter the true name of God for fear of using God’s name in vain. When prophets of the Old Testament encountered God they hid themselves or fell face down on the ground. And Philip wanted to see the Father. Either Philip was really brave or he was confused at who Jesus’ Father really was – the Lord God Almighty. Jesus goes on to tell the disciples where His identity comes from; namely the Father. “Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work”.[3] Even Jesus Christ’s identity is tied into something, someone outside Himself. His identity is more than just a mere man or great teacher. He is linked with the eternal God and His identity is eternal. Jesus goes on to say that anyone who is a disciple of Jesus is connected to the Father and has eternal identity too.

The disciples are having an identity crisis because they are only focusing on the here and now. They don’t know what to do if and when Jesus leaves them. They have missed the idea that Jesus’ plan of salvation is greater than their own time and space. So, why the talk about a house? A house is one, strong way of talking about identity. In the past people used to associate themselves with a household. In many cultures a person, especially a son, would be named like this “James and John sons of Zebedee.” Last names that we hold on to today often were associated with households or family backgrounds. So when Jesus uses the language of house or room or place He is giving to his disciples, and to us, an identity. We belong to the House of God or the House of Jesus.

Often we think of house as a physical place. We have a street address that we call home. And while that may be part of the idea of house here – we have a “place” in heaven for us – what Jesus is really talking about is the idea of dwelling. We have God Almighty dwelling with us and we with Him. We are in His presence now and will see Him face to face some day. We have been adopted sons and daughters of the King of Kings because of Christ. We now have an eternal identity.

How does Scripture describe it?

House of Praise – As a member of God’s house we can worship Him and praise Him for all of the wonderful blessings he has given to us. We praise Him for His Son who has freed us from sin and who is preparing a place for us in heaven.
House of Prayer – In God’s house we can communicate with Him. We are not separated but can open up our hearts, share our life and listen to His guidance and leading. Jesus when He drove out the moneychangers from the Temple called that place a House of Prayer.
House not made with human hands – Our house with God will never fail us because it is build by the Almighty God. We don’t have to trust in earthly things that will soon perish but we can trust in God who has built us an eternal home with Him.
House of Hope – That sounds familiar. That is our outreach theme for this year. Our house is in order because of what Christ has done for us. We have hope in Jesus. Now we are called to invite others to God’s house, to offer to them hope eternal life through Jesus Christ.

And this house is eternal. This house gives us identity. We are a part of the House of Jesus!

How many of you have clothes in your closet that you never wear because they are out of style? Most of us do because fashion changes quickly, it is fleeting. And that is how it is if we try to “design” our own identity. It is destined to fail and be fleeting. When we try ourselves, and the trials and challenges of this world shake that identity we are left with only the question, “Why?” But when our identity is based on something outside of ourselves, outside of this world, when it is based in our loving God and Savior, then we have eternal security. It is like in the 1 Peter lesson where Peter states that we are build on the living stone of Jesus. We have a solid foundation that will never fail us. And listen to what kind of identity we have when we are in the House of Jesus:

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”[4]

What a wonderful description! God has given us a new identity through Jesus. Once we were in the darkness of sin, now we are in the light of Jesus, dwelling in His house. Trust in that God given identity. Share it with the world. You are a Disciple of Jesus, a Follower of God, and a part of the House of Jesus.

Amen.

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[1]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (Jn 14:5). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

[2]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (Jn 14:8). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

[3]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (Jn 14:10). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

[4]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (1 Pe 2:9-10). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.