In John 14:15-31, Jesus provided His disciples a circular line of thought: if His disciples loved Him, they would keep His commands; if they kept His commands, they would be given the Holy Spirit; if the Holy Spirit was among them, they would be at home with Jesus and His Father; if they were at home, the Spirit would teach and remind them of what Jesus had taught; if they were taught and reminded, they would know Peace; and if they knew Peace, they would love Jesus and would keep His commands. That this line of thought is circular does not undercut but rather, I think, undergirds its force: being at home, where the Spirit teaches and reminds.
I’m not certain what you expect during the Christmas season, but culturally we are encouraged to think of “home.” Neither do I know what you thought and/or expected when you first heard the Christmas story, particularly that announcement: Mary would bear a Son, and He would be called “Immanuel,” which means: “God with us.” I’m not certain what I first thought, but whatever that expectation, in John’s Gospel we see the meaning of God with us:
In an upper room, John 13-16, at a moment of heightened expectation, when Jesus might seize the moment, He instead donned the attire of a slave, washed His disciples’ feet, spoke of a betrayer, and declared that He was leaving them. Surely, this was not what they expected. Likewise, a similar question can be asked of those who claim to be searching for God: Once they have found Him, what will they do? Will they obey their Creator’s commands? Will they love God? Or, will they determine that God does not fit their expectations — and that His commands are unreasonable?
As I look upon my life, I recognize that I have not experienced what I had expected: I did not expect fulfillment through writing; I did not expect pastoring in New England – or in Bangladesh, Malawi, and Romania; I did not expect my insecurities and/or pride to hound me; but whatever I did not expect, I have experienced “Immanuel,” “God with us.” That is, I increasingly find that I am “at home,” so often the longing of many during the month of December.
I truly believe: in Christ we may be at home with family (Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit of Peace), with whom the abiding commandment is: love one another even as we are loved.
Thoughtfully,
Stan