Sermon for May 26, 2019

Suitcases are packed & at the door, the taxi is waiting in the drive. You give your family a final embrace & tell them you will continue to be with them, even though you are soon departing to places elsewhere.

How can you still be with them?

This past Thursday would have been my sister’s 48th birthday. Although this was her 8^th birthday following her death, she remains very much with me & still reaches me in a number of ways. You know what I am talking about as we have all had the experience of love and loss & the deep emotions that we feel & the experience of feeling left behind & alone. Losses change us & life around also changes. The placement of our lives is up rooted, for change has come. Our love does not diminish nor the bond break; it changes but our love continues on. Soon we realize that we are not alone.

The disciples are soon to experience just what we are talking about. They soon will experience a great loss in their lives, as Jesus would soon be crucified. Jesus is preparing them for this time and His going away, the disciples are confused I am certain & are wondering what their future would hold.    Where we stand with Jesus in the scripture text today is very close to where we stood last week with the disciples & Jesus in the upper room. Judas Iscariot has departed to implement his betrayal of Jesus & receive his 30 pieces of silver.  Jesus takes this time to prepare the rest of the disciples for what is going to happen. It is like His suit cases are at the door & His final preparation is to ready the disciples for what will be. Jesus is going away. He says vs 18“I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you.” In a little while the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.”  ²¹ Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

Judas, not Iscariot, asks Him, well just how do you intend to show yourself to us, but not to the world?

²³ Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. What an astounding promise of presence!

He will come and make our home in them! Jesus isn’t talking about a short visit or texting you now & again to check in. He & God will reside with us, will be there for us, at all times. Making a home – doesn’t that sound inviting, setting up a space, residence, a place to live, a place to abide to be comfortable, when home is a place you want to be, it is a special place. Jesus wants to dwell with us, share our lives our hearts our moments.

We live in a world where people are more technologically joined than ever before. We can skype & see one another on our screens from just about anywhere in the world. We can, talk to one another even from space. Technology has done wonders to enhance our ability to communicate & order things and shop (battery for my computer said up to 2 weeks, at my door the next day). More people are able now to work from home. But many people seem still to be lonely; or lonelier still. Many people now working from home & are not forced to get out of their homes & meet others. Causing some to not leave their homes for longer periods of time and not have face to face communication, physical contact with other people which is so important for our well-being & our socialization. It is important, to share news, complain about the weather, laugh & reminisce, all important. As well people who may be isolated physically and yet connected in trans-dimensional modes of connection are not always pulled out of their isolation by electronic means. It is a way of communicating, but it is electronically. Feeling alone can be a profoundly difficult thing to experience.  Once you close out your screen or turn your device off, the space around you returns. 

This is what the disciples are likely to fear most: isolation from their teacher and friend.  They have changed their life course and their ways of life and have been about Jesus’ life and journey & mission. Now His suit cases are at the door, and HE is leaving but HE promises them that they will not be alone.

Into this physical reality that seems apparent does not go empty. In vs 26 Jesus names the reality of His presence, now in a different form, but none the less the very presence of God in Christ. This spiritual presence resides with us; comes once Jesus returns to be with God where they prepare the eternal dwellings & still be present with their disciples in the present.                 The 40 days following Easter is this Thursday Ascension Day; the day given for Christ’s return to God following his resurrection. The Spirit of God, Advocate, Holy Spirit, sent by God in Jesus’ name to be present with the followers of Jesus (verse 26). This gift of God’s presence with us we acknowledge as the third component of the Trinity – Father, Son & Holy Spirit & we celebrate the gift of God’s Spirit on Pentecost two weeks from today on Pentecost Sunday, this year also CV’s 174 anniversary. We will celebrate the gift of God’s Spirit that has guided and nudged the people of His church throughout those many years & beyond, leading the people to first build the original church & rebuild it again after the fire. Same with the Newburgh Church. The Spirit of God has counselled & led His people throughout their soon 161 years. We cannot see the Spirit of God itself, but no doubt we have all at times felt it & have been strengthened & renewed in its presence, it’s embrace. Verse 26 is the first time Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit in His teaching here in John. The Advocate is a presence the disciples will need in order to love as they are called to love. It will, as Jesus promises, be as if he is still with them. Further to that, the Spirit will serve as their teacher, in Jesus absence. Just as Jesus has been a profound presence in the Gospel message and continuing this teaching – His teaching, will be the Advocates role.

Not only will God’s Spirit continue our Lord’s teaching, but in vs. 27 Jesus says to us “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Peace is a commodity that we profoundly need in our world and is absent for way to many. Jesus knows this. In His dialogue concerning His absence, Jesus reassures them, as they are obviously concerned, confused, afraid. HE reassures them they will not be left alone, conveys peace on them. HE does this not merely saying it, but giving them peace. This not a wish, this is a gift and a gift of very profound importance, especially in this moment of their lives. He was aware of what upheaval lay ahead for them & like last week, love & peace are marks of true discipleship that are a requirement for all disciples past & present. Working Preacher

Recall with me Jesus first words when He appears to His frightened disciples after His resurrection. John 20:19-21 ¹⁹ On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”

Pastor James Wright says “Peace gives strength to everything you do. It doesn’t matter if you are working, studying, raising a family, or lying in bed in a nursing home with no hope of recovery. Knowing that Jesus died and rose to give you eternal life is the most peaceful of all experiences. It gives you the strength to cope with any hardship. It calms the restless soul. It lifts the lowest spirit. It is the only true peace we can ever know in this earthly life.”"The Peace of the Lord be with you always." Pastor James F. Wright Peace is not seen as passive, but as actively working toward peace in and number of situations. The Spirit and peace entwined move the disciples and later on the church into active discipleship and mission. With the gift of peace and the Holy Spirit, we are able today as did the disciples, live lives of faithfulness.

As the disciples are told and we are reminded of where Jesus was returning, we all know that this was what HE was meant to do. To return to be with His Father; with God Himself. From this time on through the presence and guidance & teaching  of the Holy Spirit the community of believers would grow and blossom as the hearts of believers would be blessed with the peace and Holy Spirit of God.   Even if the suitcases are at the door, and someone dear to us, is called to leave, we are never, ever abandoned. Not even in the midst of the loss, the pain, and sorrow that are a part of life in this broken world. ¹⁴ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth continues to make His home with us. His Spirit of presence will be constant in the hearts of those who believe and reflect that love in their lives. Jesus will be at home in our hearts.

Sermon 12 May 19

How many times we were advised/ told to tie our shoes growing up? How many times were we told to wear a hat, sit up straight, brush your teeth, mind our manners, do your homework, work hard, be good. Directions that were given to you multiple times over and maybe you headed to them or maybe not. But in another way they stuck with you through the years, because you heard yourself repeating them to your own kids & maybe your grandkids.                                                                                               

 Sometimes we have to just experience for ourselves some of the  downfalls of not taking the advice we are given as a child. Such as a nasty cold for not wearing our hat, our coat or tripping on our shoe laces, or not tying them up until after we have walked through the mud puddle. Experience can be a lasting lesson.  No doubt Little Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, will be given similar advice in the days & years to come in his life. Experience leads to us discovering what life is about and who we ourselves are.

The people gather around Jesus and ask Him: “How long are you going to keep us in suspense here? We want to know who you really are? What a heartwarming / inspiring question to be asked? Are you a lunatic or not? They are thinking Jesus just tell us & then we will know what to do? Don’t keep us in suspense any longer.

I am certain that we can all appreciate the question. There are times in our lives when we have some understanding, but we need more. When it comes to checking off a name on our ballot for an election, we may find ourselves in the ballot box asking ourselves these questions. What do I know about this person, what do they stand for? Is this person the best choice? What about when you are making a life decision, maybe you are thinking of moving, downsizing, upsizing & you just want someone to say this is a good move for you. You are thinking of getting married, people congratulate you,  but affirmation that you have chosen well, provided you have, would be good to hear. With politics we are funny, we don’t want to say who we voted for, as there are varying opinions, but if others shared your thoughts that yes, this is the best choice on the ballot; we would feel more confident in our choice . We want clarity. We want answers definite answers to our physical symptoms we may be experiencing, to our span of life, how long do I have. Right now we would like an answer to when the rain will cease.

The people gathered await Jesus answer. They just want an answer to who Jesus is.  But in true Jesus form, He responds with   “I have told you and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; but you do not believe because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.

Jesus listeners were looking for a cut & dried answer, they got one, but it was not the straightforward “yes I am”, “no I am not” answer they wanted. Although it was pretty clear.  They wanted to be able to check off on their ballot sheet who Jesus was. A lunatic or the Son of God; they would have to come to that conclusion on their own. It would be up to them to make that decision, based on what they knew, knowing that checking off the Messiah box, meant a change in their lives too. Were they willing to make that decision of change.                                                                               

  If we were to read on further in the passage today, we hear that the Jews were picking up stones preparing to stone Jesus.

I often have people tell me about their loved one whom has died. They are often very passionate and there is laughter and tears & I often wish I could have meant the person for myself. But I can only go with what I am told from those how knew the person directly.

People can tell us about Jesus, but He invites us to know Him personally, (intimately); it is the only way. It is an individual decision, no one can come to faith for us; there is no substitutions. We cannot ride as they say on the coat tails of our parents or grandparents’ faith or their dedication to the church community, that doesn’t automatically make us shoe-ins. It is by our personal profession of faith, our faith, that we become a full member of the church.

There is always an abiding presence there for us; but individually we have to figure that out.

On this Christian Family Sunday –we pray for the presence of the shepherd to guide our families and to offer strength and healing. It is difficult when others around us, in the same house or family unit do not share our beliefs, our convictions, but we certainly include them in our devotions and in sharing with them our experiences of faith and worship, just as we share our events of our day to day lives. When we can speak from the experience of our own faith and the impact it has had on us personally, we move from telling, (like when we were told to wear our hats and mitts) about our faith to living it and our witness can only be genuine. As it has moved from the head to the heart; Christ becomes vivid & real through us and our experience and in the sharing of it with others He becomes real to us.

 It is only with the eyes of faith that one can see the truth concerning Jesus. Those who belong to Jesus, who hear and recognize His voice and follow him.  Everything depends on God’s initiative. God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him (3:16-17). At the same time, the result of Jesus’ coming into the world is that those who do not believe are subject to judgment (3:18-19).

There are many voices all around us that tell us many things even for instance, there are many voices that tell us how to grow closer to God: by having a prescribed religious experience, by believing the correct doctrine, praying this prayer,  by reaching a higher level of knowledge or a higher level of morality.

The voice of the Good Shepherd is a voice that liberates rather than oppresses. It does not say, “Do this, and then maybe you will be good enough to be one of my sheep.” It says, “You belong to me already. No one can snatch you out of my hand.” Amidst all the other voices that evoke fear, make demands, or give advice, the voice of the good shepherd is a voice of promise -- a voice that calls us by name and claims us as God’s own. Secure in this belonging, we are free to live the abundant life of which Jesus spoke earlier in the chapter: “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).

The Good Shepherd tells us that everything depends on belonging to Him. Never does our status before God depend on how we feel, on having the right experience, on being free of doubt, or on what we accomplish or how much money is in our bank account. It depends on one thing only: that we are known by the shepherd: “My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish” (John 10:28).

Dr. Charles Allen, Methodist minister, tells the story of a friend who came to see him one day. His friend was nervous, tense, and he had literally worried himself sick. The man’s physician had suggested that he see his minister. So they talked for a while, and then Allen took a pad of paper from his desk drawer.

“If you went to see a doctor, he would give you a prescription, and that’s what I want to do,” Allen said. “Take the prescription exactly as I write it. Five times a day for seven days I want you to read prayerfully and carefully the twenty-third psalm. When you awaken, before each meal and at bedtime, read the psalm.” Charles Allen says that in a week his friend returned literally a different person. The power of the Shepherd’s psalm is a prescription for the problems and pressures of our day. One of the things that we certainly need if we are going to have a life worth living is a faith in something that is big enough for life. The psalmist begins where we always need to begin…with a God worth serving.

 Can you honestly say –“The Lord is my Shepherd.”?                                                                    

Every promise in the 23 psalm hangs on the power of this promise. The psalmist says, I believe in God; I believe that God cares, and I believe that God cares about me.” The Lord is my Shepherd. The Lord is my shepherd and leads me all the days of my life AND shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

How sad it would be to believe in God but never really trust Him, like a sheep trusts the shepherd. Faith is more than belief. It is the trusting of ourselves to God, depending on Him to lead us to a life worth living. Charles B. Bugg In his sermon “A Life Worth Living”

The abundant life of which Jesus speaks is not necessarily about abundance in years, or in wealth, or status, or accomplishments. It is life that is abundant in the love of God made known in Jesus Christ, love that overflows to others (John 13:34-35). It is eternal life because its source is in God who is eternal (17:3), and in Jesus, who is the resurrection and the life (11:25-26). (Elisabeth Johnson Working Preacher)

Karyn Wiseman & Elisabeth Johnson  - Working Preacher                           Sermon Writer John 10:22-30,                                                                 Three Shepherd Stories: Good Shepherd Sunday – Sermon Central