Seven More MIles

 

When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.  If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, abut you will follow afterward.” (John 13:31-36 ESV).

 

Don’t you hate waiting? I suppose I’ve gotten a bit better as I have aged. The pace certainly has slowed and schedules are not as critical as I might have thought in year past. However, I still find the act of waiting to be difficult. My son, David, reminded me of how I used to remind him and his brothers to be patient when he and his family were on a lengthy trip recently. We were talking on the phone hands free and the kids were being a bit rowdy in the background when Maggie asked, “When are we going to be there Daddy?” David said to me, “Dad how much longer is the trip?” My immediate answer was: “Seven more miles.” We all had a good laugh as he had already told his children the same thing several times. That was my standard response when we were on a long trip. They came to understand that it was a bit further and patience was required.

 

The night before his death, Jesus said something like that to his disciples. They had followed him through many things, but they could not follow him to the grave or to his coming glory in the ascension, at least not yet. Peter raised an objection, but he didn’t understand what Jesus had to do. As Peter’s actions show later (cf. John 18:15-18, 25-27), our impatience can often lead us away from our Lord. But Jesus promises a strength that sustains us as we wait. He has loved us. He has given his life for us. The love of Jesus informs the way we live now, as we wait until the day when we will journey beyond death to live with him in the glory of God’s presence forever.

 

After the resurrection and ascension, Jesus’ followers remembered his words. Jesus did not tell us how long it would be till he returns, but he did tell us how to wait. With love, we can share his grace with others. The ascension shows us that we do not yet follow Jesus to glory, though we will someday. But it also reminds us to love one another as we wait. It’s just seven more miles!