Life in Jesus’ Name

(A conversation with God)

John 20:19-31

“But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.”

What does it mean to have life in Jesus’ name? 

Do you really want me to answer that?

What?

Do you really want me to answer that?

I heard what you said, but are you in my head?

Well yes, but also no.  I am in your heard, your heart, your body.  I am in the stars, the moon, the ocean, I am…

Okay, I get it.  But who are you?

Well you asked what it means to have life in Jesus’ name, right?

Well, yeah.

So, I am answering you.

But, who are you?

I am the energy in which you live and move and have your being.  I am what you Christians call God.

But you sound like a woman!

Well, it’s not that simple.  I am not really a woman.  At least not the way you understand it. 

Then, why do you have a woman’s voice?

I do for you.  I mean I come to you in the way that you are most likely to hear me, so for you it is the voice of a woman. 

So, you’re saying that you sound like a woman because you knew I would understand you better in a woman’s voice?

Something like that.

You can speak using different voices, different people and different languages?

Yes, of course.  I can also use the wind and waves and I can use animals.  I get a kick out of using birds.  If you think they are laughing at you, they just might be.

I have so many questions for you; I am not sure where to begin. 

Well how about the first question you asked?

You mean the one about life in Jesus?

Yeah, that one.

The one from the Gospel of John?  Well, the scripture ends with a bold statement that all of this Easter stuff happened so that we could know what it means to have life in Jesus’ name? 

Right.

Well, what does it mean?

What do you think it means?

I figured you would answer a question with a question.  I knew Jesus got it from somewhere.

He learned from the best.

I guess from what I know, life in Jesus’ name means that if we follow the message that he gave us, we can have the best kind of life possible.

That’s a start.  But what do you think his life was about?

I don’t know.  He said so much and did so much.  Most of his stories are so confusing that I get lost in the details.

Well, if you could sum it up, what would you say his life was about?

That’s easy, his life was about love.

Well, it’s not easy.  Remember Jesus asked you human beings to not only love me (the ground of being), he asked you to love yourselves, he asked you to love strangers, he asked you to love your parents (I have heard from some prayers I have received, that this one can be quite challenging), he asked you to love your neighbors and he asked you to love your enemies.

You are right love isn’t easy, so why does Jesus ask us to do it so much?

Do you think that because something is difficult it isn’t the best way?

No, but I guess I thought that being a Christian wouldn’t be so hard.  I mean last week was Easter and you can’ t imagine how hard it is to understand what in the world a story like that is supposed to tell us?

You are kidding right?

About which part?

Do you really think that I don’t know about the whole empty tomb, angels, tears and Easter morning thing?

Well, I figured you did, but these things seem to be easier for you.

That’s true, but you seem to worry too much.  Why do you need to solve all of these mysteries?  Don’t you know that you have everything that you need to have abundant life?

What?

You have everything that you need to have the best kind of life.

Like what.

All you need is love.

Do you listen to the Beatles?

Of course, it’s great music.  But seriously, you are looking for something that is already within you.

Like what?

First, you need a heart open enough to surrender to what I have in mind.  Second, you need to spend some time in prayer and believe me, you people can do this anywhere.  I get prayers from showers, road sides, traffic lights, office cubicles, bedsides, kitchens and I could go on.  You need to make time for me in some way, whatever works for you.  I often get prayers that are as simple as “Hello, I am trying to talk to you, are you there?”  Prayers like that are so perfect because I know that they are genuine.

Wait a minute, you mean I just need an open heart and some time with you to have the best kind of life.

Well there’s more, but I don’t want you to be overwhelmed since this is the first time that you have heard my voice.

I am already way out of my league here, so you might as well tell me what you have in mind.

Okay, well you need to worship me, but not just for me, you need to worship me so you remember that the world doesn’t revolve around you.  You human beings seem to forget this quite a bit.  Next, you need to be my hands in the world.  I mean, I don’t really have hands since I am more like energy than flesh, so I need yours.  I need you to use your hands to love the people who are the hardest to love.

It always seems to come back to love.

That’s right.

Is there more?

You need to keep learning.  Keep learning your whole life, about the world that I created and all that it is in it.  It is another way to keep your humility.  The more you humans learn, the more you seem to believe that this whole earth is too wonderful to have been an accident.  Finally, you need to be generous.

What do you mean?

Abundant life unfolds when you get to focus on the good stuff.

What do you mean by good stuff?

Experiences and relationships.

Well, what does generosity have to do with that?

Unless you are generous with your time, generous with what you have earned and generous with your gifts, it is easy to lose sight of the good stuff.

What exactly do you mean?

You don’t need stuff to make you happy.  Focusing on experiences and relationships will prevent you from being anything but generous.

I think I have it.  I need an open heart, I need to pray, I need to use my hands to help people.  I need to worship you, keep learning and be generous with my time, my gifts and my money.  Is that all?

Is that enough?  Well, it’s all you need. 

It still seems like a lot.

If you get lost, just remember love.

All you need is love.

Right.  Life in Jesus’ name is a life grounded in love, at the very least.  Start there and the rest will come.