Easter is a time when the gospel of grace comes clearly into view.

People tend to think about relationships only on a horizontal level. It is easy to become preoccupied with those around us in the various interactions we have in the home, in social activities and in the school or workplace. This passage, however, speaks about the most important relationship of our lives and one about which most are either unconcerned or are misinformed.

The apostle John records Jesus’ words for us which raise 2 questions about our relationship to God. How well do we really know him? How do we get to know him better? Jesus uses his relationship to the Father to describe his relationship with his disciples. He says “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’. And also ‘Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father’.

Jesus goes on to make a number of promises to his disciples. These include that they will work his works, that their prayers will be answered, that he will give them life, love and peace. He then goes on to tell about his authority in making these promises … that it is from the Father and from the evidence of the miraculous works he has done. The priority in our lives needs to be relationship with God. This comes through Jesus Christ and what he accomplished at the cross. He is the one who leads us away from sin and self.