Rev. Dr. Jonathan Blanke, Senior Pastor
Pastor’s Corner for May 3-9, 2026
GPS Not Needed
(John 14:1-14)
Ever wondered what Jesus’ disciples must have thought when they heard Him say He would “go and prepare a place” for them in His Father’s house…but didn’t say how, or even where He was going? All anyone knew was that Jesus was going away. He spoke in His characteristically mysterious way: “Let not your hearts be troubled! Believe in God. Believe also in me. 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? And if I go…I will come again and take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas was confused: “Lord, we do not know where You are going. How can we know the way?” Good old Thomas. He asked the questions I would have wanted to ask had I been there! It seems Thomas and the others got impatient with Jesus as they groped in the dark for understanding. It didn’t help that they were worried and confused about what the future held for them.
You and I live centuries after the death, and resurrection of Christ. We have hindsight that comes from faith in Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins. We know God loves us. And we love Him! But aren’t there also times we can relate to the disciples who wished they knew where Jesus was going and where He was taking them? Are there times we get impatient with God and wish a Waze or a Google Maps or a MapQuest app could track our progress and give us updates about unforeseen hazards and detours up ahead on our faith journey?
When the Blanke children were small, the weekly vacation day was always another adventure in the car to a new park or beach or attraction or landmark near our home. Nobody would ask, “Dad, where are we going today?” They just piled into the car. It was enough to know that Dad knew where everybody was headed! The mood in the car was not based on ETAs or red lines vs. blue lines on a smart phone. It was based on the relationship of child to parents. Simple. No one wondered if it would all be OK. They just trusted it would be.
Jesus does not want us to get caught up in the particulars of what lies around the corner. Instead, he says, “You already know the Way.” How is that, Jesus? “I AM…the Way, the Truth, and the Life!” Jesus not only prepared the way for us to go home to the Father by going away to a cross to die…by sleeping in a tomb as the dead man He would be…by rising from the dead and living forever! He was and is our Way home. Striding calmly and confidently into the future is not so much about knowing the route ahead of time. It is all about realizing we are passengers in a car where Jesus is at the wheel.
No GPS? No worries! All that truly matters is…Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Peace and joy,
Pastor Jonathan
Pastor Jonathan Blanke grew up in Richmond, Virginia. He received his Bachelor's degree from College of William and Mary in Virginia and attended Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, where he earned a Masters of Divinity degree and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Biblical Studies, Book of John. He served as a Vicar at Messiah Lutheran Church in Richardson, Texas.
The Blanke family lived in Japan while he served as pastor and missionary to Okinawa Lutheran Church and taught Biblical Studies at Japan Lutheran College in Tokyo.
Pastor Jonathan lived in southern Maryland from January 2014 to November 2019 and was thankful to have served as the Sole Pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lexington Park, Maryland.
He and his wife, Juli, have two grown children. In his free time, Jonathan likes to travel, "play around" on the piano, and enjoy the outdoors.
Click HERE to view a brief video from Pastor Jonathan.