The Message, May 10, 2026: "It's All About the Love," JOhn 14:15-21

Author: Rev. Scott W. Cousineau
May 10, 2026

 

“It’s All About the Love”
A Message by Rev. Scott W. Cousineau
John 14:15-21

Setting the Scene:

     For those of you who may not have been here last Sunday, and for those of you who were here … but dozed off during the message … let me set the scene for you.

            You may see at the top of our worship bulletin that today is the Sixth Sunday of Easter. According to the liturgical calendar year, we have been celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ for the last six weeks.

            However, the creators and framers of the lectionary took us back in time last week, and we continue back in time this Sunday. As we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, the disciples and Jesus are gathered together around the table. We join them on the night of their ‘Last Supper’ together.

            On this night, we heard Jesus say to Judas, “Go and do what you must do.”

            On this night, we heard Jesus tell Peter, “You will deny me three times before the cock crows.”

            This is the night when Thomas said to Jesus, “Lord, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

            This is the night that Philip asked Jesus to show him, to provide evidence, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

            This is the night that Jesus said to his disciples, “Do not let your hearts be troubled … believe. Believe in God, believe also in me. Place your trust in me. You can depend upon me.”

            This is the night that Jesus’ own spirit was troubled. This was the night that Jesus would go to the Garden of Gethsemane and pray to God, “My God, if this cup could pass from me … yet not my will but your will.” (Matt. 26:39)

            Even as Jesus spoke these words of comfort and reassurance, Jesus knew what Judas was going to do. Jesus knew that Peter would deny him. Jesus knew that they were struggling. He knew the questions that were still swirling in their hearts and minds. He knew the dangers that they would face. Jesus knew that they would not truly believe … until later.

            But Jesus knew them. He knew their strengths and their weaknesses. He knew their gifts and their talents. He knew what they were capable of even when they themselves still had questions. Jesus believed in them. Jesus had faith in them. That is why he said to them, “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these.” (John 14:12)

            The opening verse of this morning’s passage: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” May sound transactional or coercive if lifted out of its context. But Jesus was NOT saying, “Do this and God will love you. Do this and I will love you.”

            In John’s Gospel, love is not a feeling; love is not an emotion. Jesus was not saying, “If you have warm affection for me.” For John, love is faithfulness, love is obedience. When it comes to being faithful, “Love” means walking the walk. Certainly, the disciples do have affection for Jesus. Their warm feelings and their faithfulness are intermingled.

            Jesus had been very open and honest with the disciples. He had told them that his “Way” would not be easy. In fact, it was just the opposite; it would be quite difficult. He was also saying that real “love” or genuine “love” also has its challenges. One can easily profess their love; profess their warm feelings or their faithfulness, but then they can betray that “love” or that “faithfulness” in the things that they say or do. They can betray that love when things get difficult or contentious. There may be times when we choose to be like Peter and say, “No, I do not know that Jesus guy! Why would you think that?!” There are times when we may choose to take the easier path.

            Jesus had just told his beloved disciples that they would continue doing the things that he had done, in fact, they will do greater things. Jesus could offer those words of encouragement because he knew them. Jesus could say to them, “You will do these things because you are faithful, and because you are faithful you will be able to do all these things that I showed you.”

            “And do not worry, do not let your hearts be troubled, I will ask God to send you another.” Depending upon which translation you read, “God will send you another Comforter … or Advocate … or Helper.” The translations vary because the word that Jesus used was “Parakletos.” Paraklete is one of those ancient words that has no precise English equivalent. It is sometimes ‘Comforter,’ or ‘Advocate,’ or ‘Helper,’ but the closest translation in English is “one who is called in” or “one who comes alongside.”

            The paraclete might be someone who comes alongside to give testimony or provide a defense in a legal trial or a court case. The Advocate.
The paraclete might be someone who comes alongside to give advice during a difficult situation. The Helper.
The paraclete might be someone who comes alongside to lift someone’s spirits when they are disturbed, or depressed, or distressed. The paraclete might come alongside to give someone strength or courage. The Comforter.

            But the paraclete is ALWAYS one who comes alongside to help someone in their time of need or trouble.

            And listen again to that promise that Jesus made. “And [the Father] will give you another advocate … another paraclete … to help you and be with you forever.” (John 14:16) The focus or emphasis this time is on the word “another.” God will send ANOTHER one who will come alongside and help you in your time of need or trouble.

            And if God will send another … who was the first? You can do the math with me. It is Jesus.

            With that one word ... another … Jesus assured the troubled disciples to take heart. God was not sending a substitute. God was not sending the stand-in. God was not sending in one who is less than Jesus. God would be sending in one who is of the same substance, the same Spirit – the Spirit of Truth. Believe in God. Believe that God is faithful and steadfast. Believe that God will not leave you without someone to guide you and help you. Believe that God will not leave you as orphans. You will continue to abide in … dwell in God’s special affection.

            “I will send another” was not about the Parousia … it was not about the “second coming.” It was about the continued presence of Jesus Christ, the continued presence of God with the disciples. The physical body of Jesus was just one manifestation, one incarnation of God’s love. Jesus’ words of assurance remind the disciples of what he had said to Philip only moments earlier. “When you see me, you see God. I am in God and God is in me.” But this time Jesus included them. “On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” (John 14:20)

            “I am in God. God is in me. I am in you. You are in me.” Relationships do not get any more intimate than that.

            As I wrote in my Weekly Update this week … I am not a mother. I have never given birth to a child. I have never carried a child within me. I have never felt it kick or move. I will never truly know what it means to be that intimate with another. I will never experience that blessing.

            But I do know what it is like to have someone come alongside of me when I needed them.
            I do know what it is like to have someone sit beside me and take me by the hand.
            I do know the power and the comfort of love simply in the presence of another.

            It is all about the love.

            As the disciples sat around that table, with their troubled hearts, listening to Jesus speak to them, they might not have been able to see or understand fully what he was talking about. They may not have believed what he was saying. “What does he mean he is in us?!” But Jesus knew that one day they would come to see; one day they would come to understand. Jesus knew that one day they would recognize that Jesus really and truly is with them. One day the “eyes” of their hearts will be opened.

            It is about faithfulness. It is all about the love.

            As we sit here this morning, thinking of our own lives, thinking of the world around us, perhaps experiencing our own troubled hearts, we too need to hear those words that Jesus offered the disciples. “I am calling you to a difficult task. I know that. In many ways and at many times you will be at odds with the world around you. But take heart. I know you. I love you. There may be times when you feel overwhelmed, but you are not alone. You are never alone. I will come alongside of you. I will support you, and guide you, and help you. I will take your hand when you are weary. I will embrace you and hold you tight at those times when you can do nothing other than weep.

            “You see me. You know me. You follow my way because that is who you are. Know that I am with you. Feel the peace of my presence deep within you.

            “My beloved child, do not let your hearts be troubled. Do not be afraid. For I am with you. I will always be with you. I love you with all that I am.”

            Amen.

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