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jn_en_2014_07_17

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Expectations ...

Thursday, July 17, 2014. What do you expect when you look into your immediate future? Our kids will start their summer holiday soon - currently they are waiting to get their final marks, and then have six weeks of to enjoy and do what ever they want to do. They expect to have a lot of fun very soon …

Twofold …

What expectations do you have into your future? What is going to happen? Of course, there are many unknown in our plans and calculations. We might win some contracts, or we might loose them to competitors. There is usually a broad mixture of experiences, no one wins everything. What are the bigger lines of our expectations?

When we look into the Gospel of John, Jesus talks a lot about his own future. He is moving towards the cross - he will die soon, and he knows. The whole story about the resurrection has been a topic in the discussions with his disciples, they all remember well that they had difficulties to understand him, before it all happened. Let us listen to him, how he talks about his expectations, and about those of his disciples:

25 “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; 27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.1 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”

29 His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! 30 Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” 31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16: 25-33)

Overcome …

There are several important things in this little passage. It is remarkable that Jesus clearly states that within the world we will have tribulation. It is not all easy, even if you follow the central force of the universe. In the world, we are weak. We are not the Lords and governors of this world. But that should not lead us into despair! Jesus had it in a similar way: he even died at the cross. God chose to be weak, to be human, to be approachable and normal. And so are we - as those who live with him.

What does it mean that he has “overcome” the world? We know today, that he rose from the dead. He lives - and thus has overcome all the trouble and pain which he had to suffer himself, and which we have to suffer to some extent. He is through, and he will bring us through as well. That is indeed encouraging.

Jesus is with the father, and he sent his holy spirit to be with us, to talk to us, to guide us. It is good to ask for the spirit, and to open to the spirit. It is good to follow God, with all what we do, and experience him as the living God, who is there in the middle of our life, with all its joy and all its troubles. (Roland Potthast) ... more texts

jn_en_2014_07_17.txt · Last modified: 2017/06/18 16:48 by 127.0.0.1