በመምህር ጸጋ
“I have loved you just as the Father has loved Me; remain in My love” John 15:9
When it was time for the Lord Jesus to go to His Father, He took the place of a slave
and started washing his disciples’ feet. As he finished washing, He started explaining why
He washed their feet, and how they should continue doing the same to each other in love. Then, starting with Peter, everyone began to ask questions about why He was leaving them and what was going to happen. Their question was not concerning where they were going to go after they die. Or if they are going to hell or heaven? Or what kind of mansion they were going to
have? They didn’t ask if they would be able to make it to heaven or not. They didn’t worry if their
salvation was guaranteed or not. Their question was how they were going to live without
Him. The eternal Word, the word that was in the beginning, the eternal Logos, the son
of the living God, the true life and light, the divine yet human, the only begotten son
who created everything, the walking love, the walking life… who was living with them for more
than three years. He showed them a different kind of life. They saw and touched the
Father through Him. Their heart was burning with His Love. Their love was not for things,
but the Glorious Lord Himself. Their love was for Him and only for Him. They were
consumed by His love and were not able to think about anything else. His love was burning
like a fire inside all of them. They don’t want Him to go, yet they want Him to be with them
forever.
Their question was how they were going to live without
Him. The eternal Word, the word that was in the beginning, the eternal Logos, the son
of the living God, the true life and light, the divine yet human, the only begotten son
who created everything, the walking love, the walking life… who was living with them for more
than three years.
They all abandoned and left the world for good. Because of Him and they
don’t have anywhere to go. Therefore, their heart was troubled. There was nothing that could
give them courage except for living in Him and being with Him. Knowing this the Lord said to them “Let not your heart be troubled: believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house
are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place
for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you unto
myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” John 14:1-3. Remember their love is with
him, not with the place in which He lives. Therefore, the reason for taking them is to receive them unto Himself. This is what they wanted but they couldn’t understand what He was saying, and had a hard time believing His word. The Loving Lord continues encouraging them by saying “I will not leave you desolate: I come unto you. Yet a little while, and the world beholdeth
me no more; but ye behold me: because I live, ye shall live also. In that day ye shall
know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my
commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall
be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself unto him.” John
14:19-21.
This is such a sweet promise, yet it was beyond their understanding, so Judas the
apostle asked the final question saying “Lord, what is come to pass that thou wilt
manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If
a man loves me, he will keep my word: and my Father will love him, and we will come
unto him, and make our abode with him” John 14:22-23. The source and the reason for
all these questions and answers was LOVE. They are asking again and again because
they love Him and didn’t want to be separated from Him. He is answering in a way that
comforts and satisfies their hearts. This kind of Love cannot get satisfied with another gift or
promise. The Lord can only be satisfied by having us, and we can only be satisfied by
having Him. Therefore, He is letting them know that after His resurrection, they will be where
He and His father are. After His resurrection, there will be no separation. When we enter into
this territory, we cannot be satisfied with anything but the Lord Jesus Himself. Every day
we want to be with Him and our family in Christ. The Lord is drawing us to Himself
through His Loving word. This is the reason we are loving and missing each other. We
couldn’t have enough of our brothers and sisters in Christ. The more we love, the more we are
thirsty to love more. This is the sign of living in the fellowship of the apostles. And our
fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the
Holy Spirit, be with you all.
Yours in Christ.
Memher Tsega