John 16:23-33
Collect for Easter Six O God,
the giver of all that is good, by Your holy inspiration grant that we may think
those things that are right and by Your merciful guiding accomplish them; to
that end Risen and Ascended LORD Jesus, bless Thy Word that we might trust in
Thee.[1]
We pray to the Father in Jesus’
Name
Jesus said, “In this world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have
overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Jesus has opened the way to the Father,
so that “whatever you ask of the Father,”
in Jesus name, “he will give it to you.”
(John 16:23)
You pray, therefore, in the confidence
that you will be heard and your requests answered, that your joy may be full (John 16:24). You pray because the Gospel has
been preached to you. And the LORD has
opened your heart to believe the Gospel. (Acts 16:10, 14)
Today, sadly, there are many
almost preoccupied with either the past or the present. Giving little thought
to the future. This is the now generation; wanting pie on earth. Not in the
sky. We are encouraged to “eat, drink and
be merry,” for there may be no tomorrow. We’re encouraged to build barns of affluence
to the neglect of the soul. We exploit and waste natural resources not caring
if tomorrow’s generation will have adequate energy. Today, Jesus shows us that
the Christian’s ultimate end is heaven to be with the Father and the saints triumphant.
The words of Jesus today remind us that life today is enriched by the hope of
heaven.
1.
We live hopefully.
A. Heaven
gives us something to live for.
1.
The author of the letter to the Hebrews speaking
to the people of the Old Testament reminds us that these people lived as
strangers. These people all died controlled and sustained by their faith, but
not having received the tangible fulfillment of the LORD’s promises, only having
seen it and greeting it from a great distance by faith, and all the while
acknowledging and confessing that they were strangers and temporary residents and
exiles upon the earth. (See Geneses 23:4; Psalm 39:12)
2.
They knew that the LORD had promised certain blessings,
but they did not receive them. The best that happened to the saints of old was
that they had glimpses of what the LORD had in store for them.
3.
Abraham and Jacob at one time built homes for
themselves but neither really settled down in the land. To the end of their lives,
they were pilgrims rather than residents. It was faith that enabled all these
great men of old to recognize their true possessions citizens of heaven and
thus as aliens everywhere on earth. They considered themselves, “resident aliens.”
B. Heaven
is a place we anticipate dwelling.
1.
“I go to
the Father,” (v.28) says, Jesus. This is a promise the Savior has given to
you. Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts
be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house, there
are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to
prepare a place for you?” (John 14:2)
2.
“I go away
and I will come to you,” (v.28) Jesus further promises. “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I
will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may
be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going. Thomas said to
him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’ Jesus
said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the
Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From
now on you do know him and have seen him.’” (John 14:3-7)
Transition: We live hopefully, anticipating our transfer into
glory. Meanwhile we live circumspect lives on this earth.
2.
We
live responsibly.
A. Accountable
to the LORD for our lives.
1.
Two things that are as certain as death and taxes
are our moral imperfection and our own mortality. How will you enter eternity?
There will come a time in which each of us will have to give an accounting for
our life’s work. This will happen when Christ breaks into time and space, when
every eye shall see Him, or when we draw our last breath and enter eternity.
What shall be said at the end of our days?
2.
We do not live merely for ourselves. We have a
higher calling. Life does not center on you and it’s not about you. Consider or
farming community. Do you work for yourself only? Of course not! There is a
bigger picture to be considered. By your work, you care for the planet. “Indiana Farmers feed the world,’ is more
than a FacebookTM page of which you can befriend and become a
follower. It isn’t a mere marketing ploy. You live a reality of faithful
service each day. For this reason, you live responsible and honorable lives.
B. Ultimate
accountability comes on the last great day.
1.
“It is not
unreasonable to assume to assume that there very well be a judgment for which
every person must be ready. Since it is clear that we are not the cause of our
own existence, there must be a Creator/God and since He has made us all with an
inborn sense of right and wrong it seems very likely that He will hold us to
account for moral and immoral choices we have made.”[2]
2.
The old song sings, “Faith clings to Jesus Christ alone, who did for all the world atone. He
is our one redeemer.”[3]
Peter reminds us of this reality when he says, “Christ bore your sins in His body on the tree that you might die to sin
and live unto righteousness. For by His wounds you were healed.” (1 Peter
2:24)
Transition:
3.
We
live patiently.
A. St. Paul reminds us in his letter to the Romans, “the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Romans 8:18
1.
Whatever pain, sorrow or misfortune we may
experience in this life will be over in time. It cannot last. It is a slight
irritation compared to eternity. And whatever misery you may endure in this
life Christ will comfort you. John writes in the book of Revelation, “for the Lamb in the center of the throne will
be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God
will wipe every tear from their eyes. “
2.
Christ Jesus, the very Lamb of God is in the
midst of the throne and He is your shepherd. He will guide you to springs of
living water.
B. Thursday
is Ascension. A feast day in which we realize that this world is fading. A new
age is dawning.
1.
Jesus ascended into glory to prepare a place for
you. Where He is, is where you will be also. This is your comfort. You have Christ’s
promise. He is already in glory. Very soon, you will be there also.
2.
Your hope and comfort is found in Jesus’ sure
words. Comfort yourselves with the words Christ has given you. Rely on Christ’s
sure promises. Yes, you might face suffering before the return of Christ. Yet
the LORD now preserves His Church, even in the midst of suffering. His is now
your shepherd; guiding you safely, wiping your eyes free of tears and sorrow.
What the Savior reminds you is simply
to live a balanced life. You have your feet firmly planted in two kingdoms; the
Kingdom of grace and the Kingdom of glory. You affect people with the gospel
today so that you can spend eternity with them in glory.
Passive Sentences – 5%
Readability – 77.3%
Reading Level – 5.5
[2] Luther’s Legacy by Cameron A MacKenzie, Life of the World Magazine, Vol.14 No. 1 Concordia Theological Seminary. Ft. Wayne, IN
[3] Salvation unto Us has Come, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. St. Louis
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