Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, 

We have come to a new and glorious day, glorious because it comes to us from a gracious God reveled to us fully in Christ Jesus. Our faith is both gift from and witness to the relationship of the Father and the Son. We are drawn into this faith by the work of Christ who brings the truth and will of God into our lives. And this faith drives us into relationship with one another and the world we inhabit with the ability and capability of living out and carrying forth the work of mission and ministry begun in Christ Jesus and all the faithful who have gone before us.

In John 14, some of Jesus' disciples request that Jesus would reveal the Father to them in more satisfying terms. But Jesus indicates that any fullness of vision of God the Father has already been "seen" in the person of Jesus, exemplifying the unique and intimate relationship of Father and Son, evidenced in the work Jesus himself revealed and actualized. Jesus asserts, "The words I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, them believe me because of the works themselves" (John 14:10-11). To come to know Jesus is to know God and to know what God wills for us. And because of Jesus this will of God revealed in Christ comes to us with great possibility  (and responsibility. 

Jesus continues, "Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, if fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father" (14:12). In essence, Jesus is indicating that by virtue of our faith we have been given, we have also received the call and the power to act as Jesus has acted in ministering to one another and to the world with the immeasurable love given by God. More so, the sheer numbers of the faithful will result in "greater works," works exhibited by countless numbers and opportunities. Further, we may be certain of this for Jesus said, "I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son." So let's continue to do the work that Jesus calls and equips us to do.

Grace and peace.  Pastor John