Bible Text: John 14:1-14 and 1 Peter 2: 2-10 | Preacher: Rev. Jenn Geddes
In the summer of 1998 eleven 17 year old teenagers decided to spend 5 nights and 7 days hiking 35 km along the highland backpacking trail in Algonquin Park. Believe it or not I was one of those eleven teenagers and it was a trip of a lifetime. There was the site that was right beside a waterfall, the moose calf that surprised us as we went for a swim, the night re-hydrated chili was the best meal I had ever had, and the day we had a massive thunder and lightning storm and pouring rain for an entire 7km of the hike. I am sure that there were times I wanted to give up, times I wanted to turn around or just radio for an evacuation, but I don’t remember those moments. I only remember the scenery, the adventure and that I am still in contact with many who were on that hike. One of those eleven is an elder at his church, another is a Christian Educator at hers, another is a parish nurse, one works at the national offices, and two are now ministers in the Presbyterian Church in Canada. I know that six of the eleven are involved in their churches and that is in part because this hike was led by Camp Kintail, a Presbyterian camp on Lake Huron. We not only grew as teenagers but also we grew in our faith. If you have ever been to any of them, you know that Christian Camps are a way in which youth are able to really define their faith. I can say with certainty that without my experiences at certain camps I would not be where I am today. Camp has a special way of nurturing one’s faith. This is one of the reasons why I felt it was important for us to acknowledge that some youth within our congregation are involved in Christian camps. It is our responsibility as a congregation to encourage them, pray for them and support them in this adventure. Through camp these young people can develop their faith through growth, confidence and trust. Hiking for 7 days in Algonquin taught me much about trust. We had to trust that everyone had packed their backpacks with the right amount of food, the right tents, bug spray and that someone clearly had the first aid kit. You had to trust that the one in charge of putting up the tent had put the pegs in deep enough, or that the one in charge of winching up the food in the tree to keep it away from bears had hung it high enough. And our parents had to trust that our guides were equipped with the right skills to lead us.
Jesus encourages the disciples to trust in his opening statement this morning. The disciples have just heard that Jesus is leaving them, that it is in part due to betrayal by one of their own, and that the perfect student, Peter, is going to deny even knowing Jesus. They are anxious, upset and concerned. Their hearts are troubled. But Jesus says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” He then encourages them to have faith, “Believe in God, believe also in me.” While Jesus says he will be leaving them, he is not abandoning them; his return to God is good news for them, not something to cause anxiety or upset. They must have trust and trust that Jesus is all they need.
Jesus then says what is possibly one of my favourite lines, “In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places and I go there to prepare a place for you.” It is perhaps my favourite because it taps into my travel instincts. Like a cozy hotel room after a long journey, or a campsite already all set up after a long hike, or a cabin by a river, this dwelling place will be all set up just for you by Jesus, the one who loves us and knows us deeply. This knowing deeply is also important because Jesus knows us, knows our likes and dislikes, knows our strengths and weaknesses; Jesus knows how hard it is to trust and faith. But then Jesus will also dwell with us in a special relationship that only comes from knowing God. Relationships at camp are so completely different than relationships anywhere else. I am closer to people with whom I spent one week at camp than I am with people who I went to high school with for 4 years. Those relationships are so deeply rooted in something more than similarities; they have to do with that trust and growth.
Thomas takes Jesus’ words literally as he talks about this place with many rooms, and he wants a trail guide to this magical place. But Jesus responds that Jesus, himself, is the way, is the trail map. Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” You see there is no need to desperately search through your overflowing backpack to find the map, nor is this some treasure map to which only a few have the clues. We all have access and we only need to look to Christ for direction. Now unfortunately this verse has been used to threaten people, force conversion, and push people away. I want to point out that nowhere in the passage does Jesus say, “The Church is the way or even that Christianity is the way.” In fact, there is a part of me that wonders, if Jesus could see the church now, would he say it was what he had envisioned for faith? This statement is not supposed to be a threat rather it is supposed to bring comfort. Jesus is all they need.
Philip than gives his two cents worth and asks the question again. Don’t just tell us the way to God, show us, be my guide, then we will be satisfied that you are not abandoning us. I kind of sense a bit of exasperation in Jesus’ response, “Have I been with you all this time and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” We don’t hear it in our English translation but when Jesus says, “If you know me, you will know my Father also.” In Greek, the grammar is such that it is a condition of faith which means that the condition is understood to be true. So, a more accurate translation would be, “ If you know me, and you do, you will know my Father also.” Throughout all the Gospels, but the Gospel of John in particular, Jesus has one mission, to make known the Father, essentially to reveal who God is to God’s people. Through this revelation then others are able to grow in their faith and trust in God. They are also able to have confidence that God is with them, and that Christ dwells among them and that they have the tools to be Christ’s disciples.
Perhaps one of the other reasons why camp can be such an important part in a young person’s life is because it builds them up. It gives them confidence, and confidence often comes when one knows their identity. Here Jesus is giving them their identity, “trust me, this is who you are” and in his first letter Peter defines who the believers are, gives them an identity and confidence. Peter tells the community how they are to behave in a post-resurrection world. The Message translates it like this, “Now, like infants at the breast, drink deep of God’s pure kindness. Then you’ll grow up mature and whole in God.” This is priestly work and we are chosen to be holy people, set apart to be God’s instruments. Once we were nothing and now we are something, transformed from rejected to accepted.
Believe it or not, congregations can become like camp, a place where people feel surrounded by family, a place that feels like a home away from home, a place where trust is developed, confidence grows, and faith is nurtured- you don’t have to be a teenager to want all of that. So, as we support our youth in their summer endeavours and adventures at camp, let us also think about how we can be those chosen, called, and crafted people for our community. Amen