Believe in God; Believe Also in Me
These words of Jesus, spoken on the eve of his crucifixion, are not naïve optimism. They are a deep and defiant hope.
Jesus spoke into the hearts of his disciples who were confused, anxious, and afraid.
Today, within the church, we find ourselves navigating complex and often painful decisons—about who we are, how we lead, and how we live together in faith.
Recent developments have stirred both celebration and concern, revealing deep differences in conviction and understanding.
And in the midst of these times of change, our hearts can feel troubled.
But Jesus’ words resonate still today, when he says: “Let not your hearts be troubled.”
Martin Luther and the Courage to Stand
Today we, in the church, remember Martin Luther, the 16th-century German monk whose courage helped spark the Reformation.
But Luther was not seeking division—he was seeking truth.
He wanted the church to return to the heart of the Gospel:
and the central truth that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
Luther’s stand was not easy. He faced condemnation, exile, and danger. But he stood firm, not in defiance of the church, but in obedience to Christ.
“Here I stand,” he said, “I can do no other.”
His legacy reminds us that reform is not rebellion. It is a call to return—to the Word, to the Cross, to the Living Christ.
I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life
In John 14, Jesus does not offer his disciples a system or a solution.
He offers himself.
“I am the way,” he says—not a path among many, but the path to the Father.
“I am the truth”—not just a teacher of truth, but truth incarnate.
“I am the life”—not just a giver of life, but life itself.
And, this is our anchor in every storm.
When the church is divided, when doctrine is debated—Christ remains. He is the centre that holds.
And this is the challenge for us today: to keep Christ at the centre.
Not our preferences, not our politics, not our fears—but Christ.
Show Us the Father
Philip’s request—“Lord, show us the Father”—is the cry of every heart that longs for clarity.
And Jesus responds: “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.”
In Jesus, we see the heart of God.
Not a distant deity, but a crucified Saviour. Not a system of rules, but a relationship of grace.
Luther understood this. In a time when God was often portrayed as a wrathful judge, Luther pointed to the cross.
He reminded the church that God is most clearly revealed in suffering love. “The cross alone is our theology,” he wrote.
Greater Works Than These
Jesus promises that those who believe in him will do greater works.
Not because we are greater, but because he went to the Father and sent us the Holy Spirit.
This is a promise for the church still today. Even in our brokenness, even in our divisions, the Spirit is at work.
Reform is not the end—it is the beginning. And every generation must wrestle anew with what it means to be faithful.
The church is in such a moment. And perhaps, like Luther, we are being called not to comfort, but to courage.
Not to certainty, but to faith.
Conclusion: Let Not Your Hearts Be Troubled
So let us not be troubled. Let us be honest about our fears, but let us be anchored in Christ.
Let us remember Luther—not as a hero, but as a witness. And let us be witnesses too.
Because Christ is still the way. Still the truth. Still the life.
