The scriptures are always more than a little surprising as to what they reveal, especially when reading more closely.

The week of the 4th Sunday of Easter began like most every other week, I spent the first days of the week with what might be called “worship paperwork and logistics.”  Between Jennifer and I we work to assemble all of the pieces necessary for worship the next weekend and, sometimes, the next. That’s when the lectionary … the series of readings we use for worship … stepped in to make its impact on my thinking … and preparing … and praying.

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” John 15:5

The Greek word that gets translated here as “abide” is a word that is used in its various forms nearly 120 times in the New Testament, one-third of them by the evangelist John in his Gospel. It’s one of his favorites. He uses it in all sorts of contexts: from the story of Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan through his ministry and even up to and including his resurrection appearances.

The word is translated differently depending on its context. It describes John the Baptist’s recollection concerning the descent of the dove at Jesus’ baptism. It’s the way the evangelists speak about Jesus’ extended visits to the homes of those who hosted him. It describes his geographic location. And is the same word John places on the lips of Jesus as he teaches his disciples about the necessary connection between the vine and branches.

The more I considered the word and its various translations into our language, the more significant the lesson I found myself learning from Jesus. Abide … it’s a word that in our common usage usually refers to paying attention to or following the desires of another “I will abide by your decision.” Other English equivalents are mostly understood by their opposites.  Remain … as compared to being separated from someone. Stay … as compared to leaving.

But the one that made the most dramatic impact on my Spirit this week reinforces the idea that our task as disciples is not unlike the work of God in Christ … to “endure.”  As in the food that endures to eternal life (John 6:27). I re-read other references from John’s Gospel, especially those from the 15th chapter, which were the lessons appointed for the 5th and 6th Sundays of Easter. That’s when the Gospel, the good news of God’s love took on even more meaning.

Endure is not something we can do alone … or at least that is not usually what happens.  Endurance most often requires the help or assistance of another. It often requires learning something from experience, as well as a strong focus on the possibilities for the future. Endurance requires preparation … patience … and peace, which focuses on what God has promised rather than on what I can accomplish.

I tried to re-translate the now familiar verse from John 15:5 and could not without also changing the preposition … as in “endure with” in place of “abide in.” I suddenly recognized the critical nature of continuing a relationship with God. Abide is a great word since it recognizes the importance of “place,” of being in the same place as God. Endure, however, pushed me to see God’s presence in my work in Jesus’s name. Remain … stay … both sound kind of “static” … endure, on the other hand, seems way more active, describing my daily living as God’s child. “Abide” seems focused on the present, while “endure” gets me thinking about the future.

“Endure with me, as I endure with you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it endures with the vine, neither can you, unless you endure with me.” John 15:5