Week 03–communion

This Week’s Reading:

Communion wasn’t instituted at Jesus’ death–it has been an eternal reality that predates humanity (17:24), humming behind everything good, true, and beautiful in the created world, and will reach glorious consummation at the “very end,” (13:1). Creation itself was birthed from the loving communion of the triune God, and Jesus’ own obedience was a response to the eternal love of the Father through His Spirit (15:10)–communion.

Connection and connectivity are not only en vogue but twin idols of the modern age. In contrast, authentic communion is uncommon and ground-shaking, its whisper still louder than the raging sea of instant information. Yet the only way we can access this communion, or sharing with God and one another, is to follow Jesus’ way–there is no communion, or “abiding,” “apart from him,” (15:5). Our love must be rooted in His love (13:34) and our communion with one another rooted in His communion with the Father (15:9-12). Jesus borrows Isaiah’s metaphor (Is. 5) for Israel–a vine (John 15.1-8) –and challenges his disciples to remain connected to Him through “the Spirit of Truth,” (John 16:13-15). 

However, like the last meal with His disciples commemorates, communion with Jesus through the Spirit includes sharing in his suffering and death; a profound pain and weeping while our information-intoxicated “world rejoices,” (16:20). Yet, this slow, faithful process or “remaining in Jesus” 15:5) will produce “fruit that remains,” (15:16), unlike the quick shelf-life of the genetically-modified, fast fruit of a fast culture. The slow stroll with God’s Spirit is as ancient as Adam (Gen. 5), yet it still outlasts the anxiety of an entire world of tribulation (16.33).