His disciples said, ‘Yes, now you are speaking plainly, not in any figure of speech! Now we know that you know all things, and do not need to have anyone question you; by this we believe that you came from God.’ Jesus answered them, ‘Do you now believe? The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each one to his home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!’This passage follows yesterday's and is basically the end of the Last Supper according to John. A short reminder that John's version of the Lord's Supper is more like a dinner at which there is a guest speaker. Jesus takes this last chance to help his disciples understand what is going on. Apparently it worked because we begin with the disciples saying they get it and have no more questions; they believe.
Jesus, on the other hand, questions and challenges their belief. He tells them that in fact they will do the exact thing Jesus has been teaching them not to do. They will choose to not be in community and not show love and live in fear - for a while anyway. Jesus tells them they will leave him when he needs them most.
But Jesus isn't worried because he knows he's never alone as long as there is a God. I agree with Jesus that there is a God who never leaves us, always loves us, and accepts us for who we are, where we are. I heard a story the other day about a teen who talked about how her mom has decided to verbally mistreat her because of a decision to be honest. This teen told her mom and dad that she had sex, and was sorry it happened. What this young woman was looking for was an understanding that she made a mistake and help from them in not making this mistake again. What she got instead were days upon days of name calling and put-downs.
She began to believe those words so deeply that in a moment she felt completely alone and abandoned by the people she had sought love from the most. She confided that she actually considered ending her life but decided not to because of how it would affect the people who love her and went to sleep. When she awoke she no longer hurt as deeply as she did and was happy she didn't do anything to hurt others around her.
She had found her peace in the realization that she wasn't alone after all. I want to tell you that neither are you. There will always be someone who loves you - always. That knowledge is all you need to help you overcome any sorrow you may have.
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