Amen, Amen I Say to You

Thursday, Fifth Week of Lent

Amen. Amen. I say to You.

Genesis 17:3-9

Psalm 105

John 8:51-5

In the Gospel today twice, Jesus uses the phrase, “Amen, amen, I say to you.” That phrase in the Gospels is the spiritual equivalent of Pay Attention This is Important.  In school, this is the part you would write down because it was definitely going to be on the test.  

The first time is at the beginning of today’s Gospel reading, it says:

“Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.”

Jesus is emphasizing the point. Jesus knows the end is near, and the time for any type of subtlety is gone. Jesus no longer has the time to be elusive. The time for parables and stories to convey his message is over. Now he is speaking clearly and without any pretense. He is talking about eternal life. Jesus promises us heaven.  

Of course, His words cause even more unrest. Still, those listening to him do not get it. They think he is speaking of literal death, the death of the human body, but he is referring to the soul. He is letting them in on the biggest news of all. This world is not the end, it is just a step on the way to eternity. He is making a promise that is not just for them but for every generation to come. 

If you believe and follow the way I have walked, you will live forever. But still, they didn’t get it.

So, he is even blunter. He says,

“Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM.“

He is referencing back to the time of Moses. God spoke to Moses from a burning bush, and when Moses asked him who he was to say sent him. He said, “I AM.” The Jews would have known the story of Moses and the burning bush. Jesus has now equated himself with God. He has said without question that he is one with God. The reading says they picked up rocks to stone him, but he hid and left the temple area.

Jesus is sowing unrest and confusion. Claiming that his followers would never die and claiming a place ahead of Abraham.  Jesus is turning their world order upside down. Jesus knows the end is coming; more and more these days, we read the stories where there is tension surrounding Jesus and his teaching.  

I try to put myself in the shoes of those Jewish people. I imagine I have been a faithful Jew. At this point, that means following all the rules. Believing that God created the world. Believing that God spoke to Abram, changing his name to Abraham and making from Abraham’s descents, His own chosen people. Believing that God spoke to Moses in a burning bush and set them free from bondage. Now, this upstart comes along and begins telling me that we have lost the meaning of what God wants from his chosen ones. And more than that, he is not just a prophet; he is one with God. Not even Abraham or Moses claimed equality with God. I imagine I might have also found that hard to accept. I am grateful to have 2000 years of struggling Christianity to lean on.

So, what about us today here and now in our world? There are really only 2 vital things. They go back to the essential statements we aren’t supposed to forget, the ones that follow “Amen, amen I say to you.” 

Do I walk the way Jesus walked in my everyday life? And, do I believe that Jesus is the living God?

For me, the “Do I believe?” question was the easy one. Yes, I believe. The second question is not so easy. Do I walk in the way of the Lord, and will I inherit eternal life? For that question, my only answer can be,” I try.” 

I succeed sometimes, and I fail others. But each time I fail in walking the way of the Lord, I seek forgiveness and ask His help to get back on the right path. I ask him to help me walk in his steps. I believe that is all he wants.

Sometimes we really want God to give us a floodlight to show us the path to walk that will bring us to the gates of eternity. We are willing; we just need to see the way. When we are concentrating too hard on the path, it is often hard to see where to step next. It feels like instead of a floodlight, we only have a penlight to find our way, primarily through the hard times.  

When it gets hard to see the way we need to remember to look up. God did give us a floodlight. Jesus is the floodlight of God on our earth. His “way is easy, and his burden light” if only we trust enough to follow. Keep your eyes up and focused on Jesus. He is the way.