There are so many voices clamouring to influence and lead these days; but often they only lead back to themselves. There is only one way and that is Jesus Christ. John the Evangelist’s purpose in his gospel is to make this known and to proclaim Jesus as Lord and Saviour. In his prologue he describes him as the Word, who was there in the beginning. He uses people like Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman to shed further light on his identity, and at the Last Supper he does the same with Philip and Thomas, who ask very basic questions. The extract from today’s gospel is taken from the Discourses, a gathering of Jesus’ teachings, which John places at the Last Supper. Jesus was parting from his beloved friends, and the evangelist wanted to highlight what he had taught on this occasion. The questions asked by the apostles allow Jesus to speak at a profound level about himself and his relationship with the Father.
The late Enda Lyons wrote a book entitled Jesus: Self-Portrait by God. In the Old Testament God revealed himself in various ways through the prophets; but Jesus - God Incarnate - showed what he was really like. We read the gospel from a post-Resurrection perspective, but the apostles were still very confused and needed to learn that the way was not a path but Jesus himself, and that if they looked at him they could see the Father.