Home Alone? Reflections on John 14:23-29

April 28, 2013 by Alyce McKenzie

Continued from Page 1

Several truths come home for me in meditating on this one poignant verse in its broader context.

"Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them" (Jn. 14:23).

We will never be unwelcome guests in the household of God. God calls us to abide in him.

We are to make time and space now to welcome Jesus in his relationship to the Father and the Spirit into our lives. Welcoming Jesus to abide in us as we abide in him is "the primary and preferred way John describes discipleship" and it is the "primary and preferred" priority of our lives.

We are to welcome other people to abide in our lives and homes in the guest rooms, the spaces that Jesus inspires and empowers us to provide.

Our lives may contain disappointments and people may let us down, but we can pledge not to leave God alone in an empty house that God has prepared for our abiding.

"Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them" (Jn. 14:23).

Sources Consulted

Andre Brower Latz, "A Short Note Toward a Theology of Abiding in John's Gospel," Journal of Theological Interpretation 4.1 (2010) 111-118.

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About Alyce McKenzie

Alyce M. McKenzie is the George W. and Nell Ayers Le Van Professor of Preaching and Worship at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University.

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