Jesus cares. You matter. (John 15:6)

Not all candy and roses

What a wonderful occasion this is. I’ve had the privilege of serving with many of you around this great community of ours. You’ve done a lot for your neighbors and your fellow students. And I commend you for it. Continue to serve others above yourself.

Tonight is a reminder for you graduates, and for all of us, that there is more to life than academics. More to life than accomplishments. There is a narrative that is bigger than all of us. And in this busy season, it is good for us to stop, slow down, and think about life’s big questions.

And the one thing that keeps coming back to me as I think about all these next two weeks mean for you… I remember what it was like for me many moons ago. And that one thing is this: it’s not all candy and roses. Yes, tonight is encouraging and inspiring. And over the next few days, you’re going to celebrate and party and be reminded that all the hard work has paid off. But I know full well, that underneath the veneer of the celebration, many of you have doubts. Many of you have fears. Many of you have anxiety. Many of you feel overwhelmed. Many of you feel like you’re going to collapse under the weight of all the expectations. It’s not all candy and roses.

“Hopes and Dreams”

And in those moments of fear and anxiety, it becomes a question of identity. Where do you get your identity? Two words that get tossed around during graduation season are “hopes and dreams”. Hopes and dreams are good things. This world is already a messed up place. It’s worse if there are no hopes and dreams. The danger of hopes and dreams is that, if we’re not careful, they become our source of identity. The career, the job, the academic degrees and achievements, the bank account, the car, the toys, the boyfriend, the girlfriend, the spouse, even the family… these are all good and proper, but they are also a source of identity.

And what happens if your source of identity disappoints you? Lets’ you down. Worse, disappears. What happens when any one of those things, family, career, bank account, relationships, goes missing? If anyone of those things goes missing… so does the identity.

Identity from outside

Many of you have already experienced this. Live long enough and you will experience this. The only thing, the only Person, that will sustain you in these moments of anxiety and doubt: Jesus. Your identity is given to you. Jesus is your identity. Your identity is that you are forgiven and you’re a child of the Father. Jesus has done that for you. No matter what happens in life, no matter what you do in life, no matter how successful you are, no matter how bad you mess up, you are forgiven. You’re a child of the Father. That never changes. That is who you are. That identity is more true than any identity you can find or manufacture.

You’re not alone

And there’s also this: Jesus promises in His Word that he will never leave you, he will never abandon you. Ever. There are going to be times in the next few days, months, years, where you’ll feel all alone. It’s not true. Jesus always has you. Always.

Jesus cares. You matter to Jesus.

And here’s why: Jesus cares. You matter to Jesus.

The great missionary St. Paul writes in a letter to a church gathering near Rome… a church which is struggling with identity and purpose:

Romans 8:35–39 “Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Nothing can separate you from the love of Jesus. Nothing. That’s what gives you hope. That’s what gives you purpose. That’s what gives you identity. You’re loved. The number one purpose, the meaning of life is this: to be loved by Jesus. No one, no thing can take that from you. You’re not alone. You’re forgiven of all of your sins… past, present and future. You’re absolutely loved by Jesus. Jesus cares. You matter to Jesus.

My Confidence

So that’s your hope. That’s your identity. In those moments of stress, place your confidence and your hope in Jesus. At The Table, from time to time, we remind ourselves of where we are to place our hope and confidence and faith. I invite you to say this with me this evening:

My confidence, my worth, is not based on me

or on what other people think about me,

but is solely ANCHORED in Christ my Savior,

Who gives me all of the confidence I need to live my life.

My confidence rests in Jesus, knowing that I am so valuable to God,

that He sacrificed His Son to make me His own and give me His name.

I can say with all confidence, assured through the Word and Sacraments,

that I am a son or daughter of the King.

Christ is my anchor.

Christ holds me fast.

Christ is my confidence.

PRAYER

Let’s pray. Jesus, in your word, in your sacraments, and in your salvation, we come to know the full depth of your love. In dying for us, You give us your grace, your mercy, and your love. In rising from the dead for us, You give us freedom and new life. You have freed us from the darkness of error and sin. Help all of us to hold fast to your Gospel in faith and with fidelity. Give these students confidence in Who You Are FOR them.. their Savior, their Forgiver, Their Rest. We ask this through You, the One who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.