The Trouble with Jesus
by Constance Hastings
The Trouble with Jesus was he told his best friends he was leaving them. They thought they were being abandoned. So Jesus made a promise, “I will send you the Counselor…”
No. This isn’t fair!...This can’t be happening….I know he said it, but we just thought it was a mood swing thing. With a little common sense, he’d come around….No, he’s determined to go through with this…. What is going to become of us?....We’re somewhere between done and dead meat….We’ve seen him at his best. Why doesn’t everyone else?....God, NO….Losing him will be the end of everything….I never knew my heart could break like this.
Their Dilemma
It was bad, for sure. Jesus’ friends were finally beginning to get this one thing. When Jesus talked about laying his life down in an act of love, he was going to go through with it. Not like a suicide mission, not by his own hand, but the sacrifice of his life by succumbing to the forces in the world which would have him gone. When it was all over, where would they be then?
Be fair to them. They didn’t know the rest of the story, that what was going to happen in the next day and through the weekend was not the finale. All they could hear was Jesus was going away and that it was for the best. Even so, Judas had disappeared, and Peter was acting like the you-know-what he could be. This was not going well in the moment.
The Promise
Jesus tried. He knew even if they didn’t get it then, they needed his words anyway. Just as much, he desperately needed to tell them, to console them, to promise it wouldn’t always be that way.
“I will send you the Counselor…” Not a counselor as in making a referral for getting through the stages of grief. Rather what he called, “the Spirit of Truth.” Like they would understand all this and more if this Counselor would come. A Helper, Comforter, yeah that would be good because they certainly would need all of it.
But even more, this Counselor would be an Intercessor, one who would plead their case as counsel for the defense. Not as if they would be guilty as charged, but as a Counselor that understands their deepest needs and sees to it they get needs met, as if bringing a gift. Yes, as an Advocate for them to build divine strength to move on and withstand the pressures and trials they’d meet.
Spirit Movement
Jesus was making a promise that he would not abandon them with nothing. This Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Spirit of Truth he called to come alongside them, be as real to them after Jesus went away as Jesus was right then with them. But it could only happen if Jesus left.
Jesus tries to put it as succinctly as possible. This Spirit of Truth would be an active presence, one of movement, meeting people in the core of where they stood with God. Unlike what is commonly assumed though, it wouldn’t be a division of the good people and the bad people. Such thoughts are elementary, ridiculously simplistic, legalistic. The Spirit of Truth, sent by Jesus, burns through such fallacies.
Believe in the Promise
Jesus spells it out. “The world’s sin is unbelief in me.” Break that down. Sin: not the Big Ten or the 613 amending laws or societal norms. Sin: not dysfunctional choices or systemic injuries. Sin: whatever separates one from God and neighbor. To believe in Jesus was to accept his mission to reconcile people to God and neighbor. No one was able to do it on their own. This Spirit of Truth would bring a power that enables those who follow, accept, believe in his message of Truth.
The Counselor would make such an argument to convince the world. Fine, but be realistic. Paint a picture of what that looks like. Bullhorns on street corners, preachers on cable, religious music on airwaves and streaming services? For some, these could work. But what’s most effective, most convincing, what draws persons to at least take a look, a second look even, is Righteousness.
Righteousness? But you just said this wasn’t about good people, the goody-goodies with noses in the air who’d never step foot in a sin-soaked venue. (Sigh now, deep breath, try again)
Act on the Promise
Yes, Righteousness, or if you have to have another expression, being on the side of Jesus. Again, these who follow, accept, believe in his message of Truth. “Your love for one another will prove to the world you are my disciples,” he said. (John 13:35) Love. Love of God, Love of Neighbor, Love of each other, Love of the world.
Love and act on it. The Helper brings the power, this power of Love, this expression of what God wants and intends for all. Be with and provide for those who need that Love in your service and giving. Love the children, the helpless, the losers. Love the oppressed, the foreigner, those who do not look like you. Love those whose values don’t mesh with yours. Love each other, and Love the Other. Prove to the world you are my disciple.
Choose the Promise
I have always given you this choice to follow me. Should you choose otherwise, the Judgement will be on you only, not me. Again, this isn’t about good people and bad people. This isn’t even about philanthropic efforts to improve society. This is about your way and my way.
My way is Love, and I want you to be not just a reflection of that Love, but an embodiment of that Love. I want you to be what I am, and for your words and witness to be permeated in my Love. How you decide your choice is basically your answer to this question of God: What did you do with my Son? Did you allow the Spirit of loving Truth which I sent define who you are? Do you accept this Love I want to give to you so you may give it to others?
“All that the Father has is mine; this is what I mean when I say that the Spirit will reveal to you whatever [the Spirit] receives from me.” Father, Son, Spirit, three united, revealed in one purpose and mission. Love.
And You must also tell others about me
because you have been with me from the beginning.
The Trouble with Jesus: Considerations Before You Walk Away
by Constance Hastings
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