Sixth Sunday of Easter (2025)

John 16:23-33

My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, what a great joy we have here in our Gospel Lesson as Jesus prepares the disciples for their time to approach the Lord in all confidence, and that they will have access by what Christ has secured on Calvary and they will be able to ask in the name of Jesus. They will need this for they will be scattered but that does not mean that Christ has forsaken them, Jesus promises His disciples that even in the midst of tribulation that we can take heart, for He has overcome the world.

Approaching the Father

This sounds terrifying to people.

Now you might think well what’s the concern, who is God that we should be afraid of Him, what is the concern at all? This is because we know Him through the Cross of Jesus who died for us and won for us eternal life and salvation. We hear in our passage today that kind invitation to approach God in prayer through the name of Jesus. But consider who we are without Christ.

Who are we that God should listen?

He is the Creator of the Cosmos, He is the one that Is Holy, He sets up rulers and dashs nations into nothing, His Holy and Righteous the Judge of not just our good times, but also the judge who holds our lives in the very balance and casts all who are found unworthy into hell for all eternity. Men who were before Angels fell down in fear, and we are to approach Him whose Law we have violated? What are we by comparison.

How do we stand before God?

For what sinner can stand before the throne of God. What is our status, are we condemned to die? Do we have any hope? How do you stand before God?

Coram Deo

We fear God’s wrath.

This is why many are terrified to come into the presence of God when they hear of His great judgments. For no one is righteous no not one and we are all guilty of sins before God. This is why every mouth is stopped before the presence of the Lord, but this why it is very important to remember.

We can’t rely on the Law for salvation.

Any one who deludes themselves into thinking that they have done enough good to satisify God’s requirements and plans to approach God on the basis of their own merits, will stand before God without Christ to protect them. For by relying on your works, you take Christ down from the Cross and say that you have made his sacrifice unnecessary. Do not rely on the good inside of yourself for that would be sheer folly you will perish eternally. Rather look at what Jesus says to the Disciples,

The name of Jesus gives us hope.

We are able to approach and stand before the throne of God not on the basis of our works, or our goodness, but rather by what Jesus has done for you. He is the one that has made peace with God through the Cross and that’s why.

Jesus’ Ascension

Jesus ascends for our sake.

Now he tells his disciples that it is better that he departs and I can imagine that we like the disciples wonder how on earth this could be. How is Jesus’ ascension for our sake good? Well it’s because when Jesus ascends, Jesus stands..

Jesus stands before God for you.

Jesus goes to the place that we were denied access on account of our sins, and could not enter, and so the perfect sinless Son of God stands before the throne of the Father and pleads for you. Now why should the Father listen to Him? Well because

Jesus fulfilled the Law.

When Jesus fulfilled the Law he didn’t do it for himself, Jesus did it for you. So that you might have peace with God, and that your sins might be paid for by the blood of Jesus so that you might be able to go to the Father in heaven.

Going to the Father

Jesus went ahead for us.

That’s why its so good that He ascended for our sake to make interecession for us. So our prayers are not heard on account of our goodness, our works, it is because Jesus has claimed you as His own through the waters of Holy Baptism, and welcomed you into His Father’s house. So Jesus whose name is exalted, and is seated at the right hand of the Father, invites you to approach God who has become your Father through the work of Christ.

So ask the Father for help.

Now if we ask for sinful things, God will not give us that for He is a loving Father who will not seek to poison his children or cause them harm. But pray and especially pray as Christ has taught us to in the Lord’s Prayer, or use the Psalms as a guide, but you are able to cast all our anxieties on him because He cares for you.

The Spirit also intercedes.

For how often do our own prayers fall short of the troubles in this life. We wonder is God even listening, I really messed that one up. The Holy Spirit that was given to us in Baptism, that works upon us through the Word and creates faith, also intercedes on our behalf so that our prayers might be heard. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit work in unison so that you might have access to your Father. For the Father sent the Son, and the Spirit proceeds from the Father and Son, that you might be children of God. So we are able

Facing Tribulation With Courage

Life will be filled with trouble.

This promise all of us both young and old have seen fulfilled without fail for we are all living in a broken world that has been corrupted by sin, and we long to be free of it. For we know this is not as the world ought to be, so much of this suffering is the result of Adam’s sin that broke the world and corrupted humanity. So we don’t look to the world for that peace which surpasses all understanding,

Our peace rests in Christ.

Who laid down his life for us while we were yet still his enemies. We are still in the easter season and rejoice in HIs resurrection. For Christ Is Risen, He is Risen indeed Alleluia! But what does that mean?

Jesus has won.

All the troubles the world throws at us, brokenness that plagues us still, the frustration, the trials, the diseases, the illnesses, the fears, and everything else that surrounds us. We are not the first to experience these things, but we look at Christ who has secured the victory for you. For Jesus went to calvary that he might win for us the assurance that our sins are forgiven and we have peace with God. That’s what it means when he says Take heart, He has overcome the world. This isn’t about us being strong, invincible or unconquerable it is that you have a champion, who didn’t want this broken world to be the only thing you knew and so He overcame, sin, death, and the power fo the devil that you might have the hope of something better.

Now my Brothers and Sisters in Christ, if we are thankful for our peace in this land that has been secured by soldiers who served our nation and gave up their lives, then we should be filled with abundant thanksgiving for the eternal peace that Christ has secured for us on Calvary. For while earthly peace is temporary, Christ has secured a place for us in His Everlasting Kingdom where all sin, all troubles, and all pains will stop, and there will be no more tears. For that Christ deserves our thanks and prasie. In Jesus name. AMen.