Peace That Will Never Pass Away :: John 15:26-16:4
It’s difficult to hear the lessons for today and not see all kinds of red flags being raised and all kinds of alarms sounding off.
In his epistle, Saint Peter speaks of the end of all things drawing near. And now you see those fiery trials enveloping our world, don’t you (1 Pt 4:7, 12)? Men are demanding to be called women, and women men. Even worse, our world is demanding you support abortion. Meanwhile, Jesus speaks of the faithful being tossed out ... locked out ... barred from gathering for worship. Although we aren’t currently locked out, it was forced upon us, wasn’t it? As Jesus said, These things they will do because they have not known the Father or me (Jn 16:3).
Our world will tell you that they love the Father, but then they will hate you. Our world will tell you they love the Son, but not only will they not forgive, they’ll do whatever they can to murder you. Worse yet, they’ll even say they’re serving God by doing that. As Jesus said, These things they will do because they have not known the Father or me.
Understand: I’m not talking about anti-Christian regimes like those of Afghanistan or North Korea, the two most dangerous countries in the world for Christians. Instead, open your eyes to what is happening in our backyard. Missouri is being sued for trying to stop the mutilation of children. Idaho, Mississippi, and Texas are being sued by those who advocate for abortion. These lawsuits are being defended by self-professed “good Christians” who legislate for it, fund it, and condone it with their votes, firmly believing they are “good Christians,” serving God and their neighbor with their murderous ways. As Jesus said, These things they will do because they have not known the Father or me.
Yes, it’s difficult to hear the words of our lessons today and not see red flags or be alarmed.
5.
But here’s the thing: That’s not really the point of our lessons today on the Seventh Sunday of Easter. Jesus said, I have said [and continue to say] these things to you in order that you are not scandalized [... that is, to stumble or fall into sin] (v 1).
And there it is!
Jesus does not say that bad things MAY happen throughout the course of history. No! All this evil WILL happen ... and when it does ... These things I have said to you in order that when their hour comes you may remember them (v 4).
Brothers and sisters in Christ, we are living in the end of days, and it’s been this way since Jesus first declared ... It is finished! ... from the cross. All the end-time prophecies in the Old Testament about darkness blotting out the sun, about earthquakes, about the dead rising from their graves ... that all began to take place on Good Friday as God himself was dying for our sins. So, yes, we’re living in the end of days. And now Jesus is calling us to repent. I have said [and continue to say] these things to you in order that you are not scandalized [... that is, fall into sin] (v 1).
4.
Christ himself realizes well the great necessity of telling the disciples this and impressing it upon them in order that we will be well prepared. He realizes that forty days after Easter, even in 2023, we still need to be reminded constantly of who he really is, what he has really done for us through his birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension. Because, even today, I cannot by my own reason or senses believe in Jesus or come to him. I have said [and continue to say] these things to you in order that you are not scandalized [... that is, fall into sin] (v 1).
Now remember how Jesus himself was treated when he walked this earth and people beheld him with their own eyes [hold up the crucifix]. He was betrayed, mocked, accused falsely, scourged, crucified. Jesus stood in your place, receiving the wrath of God for your sins.
Do you honestly think things would improve once people no longer recognize their sin died with Jesus on the cross? Do you honestly think things would improve once he’s no longer seen? Now take careful note of how I worded that last question. Do you honestly think things would improve once he’s no longer seen?
The words “no longer seen” are not the same as “absent” or “no longer present.” Our Lord ascended to the right hand of God, an image of power, so that he can always be with you. Still we struggle to believe it. Even the apostles who witnessed Jesus disappearing into the heavens ... full forty days after the resurrection ... they still didn’t get it. They still didn’t understand who Jesus was. They didn’t understand why God had come to them in the flesh. They didn’t understand why he had to die. They were still asking Jesus if he was now going to pull the trigger and usher in the great worldly empire they had been imagining and expecting.
When Jesus ascended and the two men in white asked ... Why are you continuing to look into the heavens? ... the disciples thought that was it. They thought Jesus was gone. We began to think we were now all alone and on our own.
It was only after the working of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, which comes next Sunday ... when they were fearfully gathered in an upper room ... again ... behind doors and out of sight ... that they were finally able to begin understanding ... but not because of anything they thought or did. It was only then they were able to begin repenting. The Holy Spirit opened their eyes and ears of faith so that they could confidently and fearlessly behold and hold fast to Christ and his sacramental promises that come in baptism and the Lord’s Supper: Behold, I am with you always until the end of the age.
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So ... what’s so different with us today? NOTHING!
[Jesus said,] But when the Paraclete comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of the truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me (v 26).
Our Lord continues to send his Holy Spirit to work and nurture that same confidence and fearlessness of saving faith in us, even in the midst of our trials and tribulations ... just like he promised. This same Holy Spirit continues to open our eyes and ears of faith to see and hear the Gospel of what Jesus has done and continues to do among us. The Holy Spirit continues to enable us to hold fast to the very same Word and Sacraments ... the very real and truly present Christ ... that those first apostolic martyrs did so many centuries ago. I have said [and continue to say] these things to you in order that you are not scandalized [... that is, fall into sin] (v 1).
Brothers and sisters in Christ, where do you look when the struggles and tribulations and persecutions come? Where do you look when your faith is being put to the test and beat down? And let’s face it: We get it on all sides, don’t we? Sickness ... Pain ... Loss of friendships ... Loss of loved ones. Just in the last four years your farms and communities suffered through record flooding on Truman and a serious drought.
So where do you look in these dark and uncertain times? Where do you flee? To what or whom do you flee? What are you looking for? Look for Jesus! I have said [and continue to say] these things to you in order that you are not scandalized [... that is, fall into sin] (v 1).
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This is why Christ brings the victory of his cross and resurrection to us! This is why he has given us baptism, absolution, and the Lord’s supper. These means proclaim his righteous life, his blessed death on the cross of God’s wrath, his glorious resurrection for your justification, and his ascension to begin sanctifying you. These means show us our Lord is at work among us.
Look to the font. There we are reminded of the baptism that he baptized you with, for it is in the waters of Holy Baptism (like Ezekiel says) that Almighty God gave you a new heart and new spirit. There, he cleansed you from all uncleanness; from the death sentence of sin. There, he pours out his Holy Spirit upon you. There, he makes you his own, giving you his name, just as we heard last week. There, he marks you as one of the redeemed. He has given you victory over sin and death ... why? Because you died with Jesus in baptism in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead, you too might walk in the newness of life.
This same God and Lord has also promised to be with us always. He says ... Take and eat. ... Take and drink. This is my body and blood. It is for the forgiveness of your sins. I have said [and continue to say] these things to you in order that you are not scandalized [... that is, fall into sin] (v 1).
1.
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I don’t know what the future holds for us on this side of eternity. Maybe it will get better later rather than sooner. Maybe this is as good as it ever gets. Maybe it will get worse. Whatever the case, through it all, you can now rest assured that your Lord is keeping his promise! He is not absent. He’s not silent. His voice is heard through the scriptures. I have said [and continue to say] these things to you in order that you are not scandalized [... that is, fall into sin] (v 1).
GOD GIVES YOU THIS PEACE SO THAT YOU NEVER FALL AWAY
Your Immanuel ... the Lord with you ... draws near to you and abides with you so that you may never fall away from him. May this Christ-centered grace and peace ... this real and sacramental truth ... give you peace at all times in every way ... in Jesus’ name.