Gospel | John 14:1-14 (with Nick Locke)

Opening Song:
Getaway by Taya Gaukrodger

Lyrics:
Are you burnt out
On religious things?
Are you worn down
Lacking inner peace?
Take a real rest
Walk along with me
In the pastures of my presence
You can be yourself and you can

Say what's on your heart
I already know it all
Doesn't matter what you say
Come and get away with me
I know where you are
Where you've been and what you've seen
Doesn't matter how you come
Come and get away with me
Get away get away with me
(Get away get away with me)

Are you burdened
From all the heavy days?
It's not your job
To shoulder all the weight
Let me do it
Let me come and take
The lies you've been believing in
The truth is that you have a place to

Grace upon grace upon grace
Let it lead
Get away get away with me
Grace upon grace upon grace
Let it lead
Get away get away with me
Grace upon grace upon grace
Let me lead
Get away get away with me

Say what's on your heart
I already know it all
Doesn't matter what you say
Come and say it all to me
I know where you are
Where you've been and what you've seen
Doesn't matter how you come
Come and get away with me
Oh come away come away with me
Get away get away with me

Passage:
1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.

12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

(John 14:1–14 ESV)

Musical Reflection:
I Need Thee Every Hour (NEED) by Robert Lowry

Reflection Notes:
Each stanza of this familiar hymn was written by Annie Hawks as part of a poem. When she showed the composition to her pastor, Robert Lowry, he added the refrain and set the text to music for their congregation to enjoy. The musical lines always tend upward before falling back down, an apt parallel to the textual pleas reaching up to God.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, we follow you, but we can only come at your bidding. No one can make the ascent without you, for you are our way, our truth, our life, our strength, our confidence, our reward. Be the way that receives us, the truth that strengthens us, the life that invigorates us. [Amen.]
-Ambrose