“There’s a huge difference between being a replaceable cog on the assembly line and being the one who is missed, the one with a unique contribution, the one who made a difference.” – Seth Godin
Few people look forward to getting replaced at work. Rather, they fight to preserve their jobs. Or if they know that the inevitable is coming, they look for another job as quick as they can. It’s a distressing process but one that some folks can’t avoid.
Jesus knows all about this experience because He volunteered for it. We explored last week how He relinquished His governance over creation to become One of us. The mystery of the Incarnation.
But there’s more.
Love
Jesus loves His disciples; He has little reason to leave them. Or to turn them over to the care of another. But He has to.
“It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.” – John 13:1
The disciples don’t realize that the Master’s routine they’d followed for three years was coming to an end. But the Lord knows His time has come; the way of life He’s enjoyed with His team is almost over.
This isn’t easy for Jesus. He enjoys the company of His disciples but He must prepare them for change.
“When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. ‘Do you understand what I have done for you?’ he asked them … 14‘Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.’” – John 13:12, 14-17
For three years, Jesus had taken care of His disciples. In an act of humility, He does so once again by washing their feet. This lowly action communicates a message: look out for each other and serve each other. Why? Because He won’t be around to do it Himself.
“My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. 34A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” – John 13:33-35
Jesus combines leaving and loving. From our standpoint, these stand in opposition. If you love someone, you don’t leave them. But Jesus interprets the meaning of love in light of the plan of God. The disciples can’t grasp it yet, but the Lord wants to get them ready for His death, resurrection, and ascension. And for what would comes after!
So He provides them a substitute for Himself–themselves! Yes, Jesus dares Christians to replace Him so well that onlookers would admire.
Temporary
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” – John 14:1-3
A tip of the hand–Jesus’ absence won’t last forever. Our separation from Christ has a deadline. We await reunion!
So what do we do in the meantime?
Service
“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” – John 14:12
We exceed the ministry of Jesus. Sounds impossible, arrogant, even blasphemous! True–if we ourselves concoct this claim. But these are Christ’s words. Not only does He intend for His followers to replace Him, He wills that we eclipse His impact.
And how do we pull that off?
Spirit
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever–17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” – John 14:16-18
A second Substitute–the Holy Spirit. Jesus replaces Himself with disciples, and also with the Holy Spirit to lead and support us. What we achieve we do under His auspices.
“Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.’” – John 14:23
I’m confused; has Jesus left or hasn’t He? What’s this talk about both Father and Son living with and in us?
The answer lies in the substitutionary role of the Spirit. The Comforter brings the presence of God to us. We know the Father and the Son by the Spirit.
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” – John 14:26
We can represent Christ to people only when we know what we’re talking about. And the only way we’re going to be able to do that is if the Paraclete teaches us. The more we listen to Him, the more we’ll know Jesus and the better we can serve as His successors in this world.
“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father–the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father–he will testify about me. 27And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.” – John 15:26-27
But we won’t be promoting ourselves. And the Spirit won’t promote Himself. We team up with Him to bear witness to the crucified and risen Savior.
“But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” – John 16:7
Apart from the Spirit, there’s no way we can replace Jesus. If this is the job He’s given us, we need the Spirit or we’ll never pull it off. That’s why it’s to our advantage that Jesus replaced Himself with the Spirit. From the perspective of relationship, we may disagree; we prefer to see the Lord face to face. But to continue the ministry which Jesus started, we need the anointing!
Pain
“A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 22So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” – John 16:21-22
Jesus doesn’t shy away from pain and difficulty. After all, He endured the cross for our sake. But He also warns us about the travails of ministering in His absence. And that’s the point–we miss Him! We want to see Jesus and when we do, the trials we’ve weathered will fade before the joy that overwhelms our hearts! Again, to testify of Jesus in a world which rejects Him requires the presence of His Spirit. In our present context, we’re better off with the indwelling Spirit than we are with Jesus by our side.
But when our days of service conclude, we will find fulfillment in the vision of Christ. When Jesus returns to set up the kingdom of God, we will rejoice over having loved Him.
To honor Jesus as His substitute in the power of His Spirit? It’s worth it!
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