Once again, we are confronted with the kerygmaor the “proclamation” that Jesus was the Christ, that he died and rose, that one day he will come again, and that forgiveness of our sins was accomplished on the cross and is offered to us and is our salvation.
It is the fundamental and central teaching about the Lord, and is fully uttered in the “Nicene Creed.”
There is a beautiful presentation at www.catholic-resources.com by Father Felix Just, S.J., called “Structural Outline of the Fourth Gospel” that incredibly visually presents an outlined peek at this portion of the Gospel.
This kind of presentation shows off the talent and creativity of the biblical writers. John is at his best here!
And so at the Last Supper, Jesus begins to really prepare his apostles for his departure — the arrest and cross, his death, and his rising.
He reveals with clarity that the way to the Father was through himself.
But they really did not get it.
Their questions, especially Thomas’, makes that obvious. But Jesus reveals little by little the great mystery that he is in the Father and the Father is in him.
But in a most mysteriously spoken message, Jesus also reveals that when we follow him (the way) and do the works that he shows us to do, mysteriously, the Father is also in us.
Simply put, we become like God.
Isn’t that the plan from the beginning — “make human beings in our image, after our likeness”? Thank you, Genesis!
“Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father./ And whatever you ask in my name, I will do.”
It is pretty essential that these words are fully consumed, believed, and lived by us!
Those last words at the Last Supper must become the words that we live out each day.
Then, unlike Thomas, we will really understand with spiritual clarity how the Father and the Son and the Spirit live in us and we in them!
