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April 20, 2008
Scripture: John 13: 1-14
Sermon: "The Way and the Truth"

There is something about that moment when one chapter in your life ends and another begins. It is a scary moment. It is an emotional moment. It is a deeply personal moment. Whether that moment comes when you are leaving one career to start another, or maybe retiring after 20 odd years at a job. This moment could come as you watch your youngest child go off to college or this moment could come as you watch your loved one being taken away by the hands of death.

What do you do when that moment happens? You try to stop time by wishing for the clock hands to stop. You know that you want to impart knowledge to those left behind or leaving to try a new adventure. You want to remember this moment and never forget it. You struggle with this moment because you want to say all that you have wanted to say to that loved one and you try to fit it in to that one moment of time.

That one moment before the clock starts up again, that one moment before time marches on and the new chapter of your life begins.

What would you do in that moment? How would you create and leave a legacy? Many of us have heard about the professor at Carnegie Mellon who was asked to speak as part of the university’s last lecture series. The idea is for the speaker to think about their last ever lecture. What would they say? What words of wisdom would they give? How would they want to be remembered?
So the university asked this one beloved professor to be a part of this series and ironically enough, a month later he was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. So in essence, this was his last lecture.

On the day of the lecture, people came from all over. Former students, students, colleagues, and family filled the room. Over 400 people came to hear this man’s last lecture. They all wanted to hear what this man would say for his last lecture. He had inspired them with his classes. He had pushed them to achieve their goals. He had pushed them out of their comfort zones and to strive to reach their full potential. And now, his moment had come. this was his last lecture.

On the day of the lecture, the professor charmed the audience with stories about his childhood dreams. He challenged to them to see beyond the “brick walls” in their lives. He made them want to be more, to do more, to achieve more. And after the lecture was over, the crowd gave him a standing ovation.

And now this professor’s “last lecture” has become a phenomenon across the internet. Over 3 million people have watched and have heard this professor’s words of wisdoms. He has changed the lives of million through his words of encouragement. He has been Oprah. He has interviewed with Diane Sawyer. He has become famous in his last months for his “last lecture.” Lives have been changed simply because people heard his last lecture and it resonated with them, inspired them, comforted them, encouraged them, and gave them hope.

And after all this, the thing that boggles his mind is that he didn’t write this last lecture for the people in that room of the lecture hall. He did not write this last lecture for the millions of people who have seen it on the internet or who have read the book. He didn’t write the lecture to be famous.

This last lecture was written for his children who he will never see grow up and achieve their childhood dreams.

He has said, “I am glad that my last lecture touched so many lives and has inspired people to live their lives to the fullest, but really, I only wrote this lecture for three people and when they’re older, they’ll watch. I wanted to leave them with a piece of me. I wanted to give them a moment in time where they could look back and be comforted. I wanted to give them something to remember me by and to be inspired. I wanted to give them hope!”

A few words of comfort. A few words of hope. A few words to encourage. Just like our Scripture today. In this Scripture, we get to experience and to be a part of that moment in time for Jesus before all things would change and would end.

This moment is a personal, private moment between Teacher, and students, between Master and follower, between beloved friends. Jesus didn’t turn to John and say, “John, I need you to make sure that you get all this down. Word for Word. I’m going to give you some instructions about he days ahead.”

It didn’t happen like that. Jesus looked around at his disciples. And he know-that the moment had finally come when one story would end and another would begin. The moment had finally come when the end of Jesus’ time on earth was drawing to a close and the disciples would be afraid, would be forsaken, and would scatter.

So what did Jesus do in this moment? He shared stories with them. He lovingly washed their feet. He gave them words of comfort. He gave them words of instruction. He encouraged them. He promised that they would be together again.”

And they don’t understand. Jesus, where are you going? Jesus, we don’t know the way. Jesus, we are confused.

So Jesus tries again. “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also.

And they still don’t understand. “Jesus, show us the Father and we will be fine. You don’t need to worry about us. We will know all the answers to all the questions as soon as you show us the Father.”

Jesus feels the hot breath of Time on his neck. He knows that the minutes, the seconds are slipping away. And the disciples just don’t understand.

So Jesus tries again: “Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and in fact will do them better than me. Just trust in the Word of God. Just trust and believe in me.”

The hands of the clock start ticking away again. And we know what follows this story: Jesus is betrayed and crucified. And the disciples scattered.
What do you do in a moment like this?

And it is through the lens of the resurrection that Jesus’ last lecture to his disciples makes sense. And the disciples remember what Jesus said to them when they realized that a new chapter in their lives was beginning and Jesus had given them the words of comfort and hope to continue the journey.

To follow Jesus’ teachings in their lives, to follow Jesus’ teachings in their lives. To follow Jesus’ example: to follow Jesus, the Way, the Truth and life.

And today we find ourselves in a similar moment in time: discouraged, lost, and hopeless, wondering how we will be able to continue to live a faithful life in a world that is so filled with darkness and hurt?

And then we remember Jesus’ words once more: “Believe in me. Believe in God.” We remember Jesus’ words once more: “I am the Way, the Truth, and Life.” We remember Jesus’ promises to us as people of faith: “You are going to do great things as my disciples.”

And we continue the journey, filled with hope, encouraged and inspired because through Jesus Christ, we have experienced the compassion and the unconditional love of God. Because Through Jesus Christ, we have been given the reassurance of God’s everlasting presence. Because Through Jesus Christ, we have received the basis knowledge of God which will be “the road map [for our] continuing journey of faith.

Because through Jesus Christ, “we can trust in the God of compassion in which there is a place for us and we can know that the meaning of life is to share that compassion in the world.”

For John, he recognized that these words that Jesus shared with only a select few needed to be heard and would resonate with the believing community that was left behind to continue Jesus’ ministry. Two thousand years ago, these words held power, mercy and grace. And today is no different. We are a believing community who is struggling to live in a very confusing and very dark world. And today we hear these words once more so that we are comforted and given hope, so that we are inspired and encouraged, so that we hold to the promise of God’s Coming Kingdom.

We are given these words to strengthen us for the continuing journey. WE are given these words to energize us to go out into this community as the hands of God, working to bring about the Kingdom of God. WE are given these words so that we can be encouraged and inspired to be Jesus’ disciples.

May we continue the journey, following the Way, the Truth and Life. Amen.

Rev. Heather McColl
Midway Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

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