Easter 6 2025

John 14:23–29 (NIV84)

23 Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. 25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 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. 28 “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe.

This past Thursday was Call Day at our Seminary in Mequon, WI. Last week was Call Day at our college (MLC) in New Ulm, MN. These are two very special days for our future pastors and teachers in the WELS. It marks the end of their preparation for the preaching and teaching ministry and assigns them to their first fields of labor which may span the next 40 or 50 years. (Not necessarily all in the same place, of course.) What confidence can we have that they are properly prepared to carry out the privilege and responsibility of shepherding God’ s people to feed his lambs and his sheep in public ministry?

Education

Training

Faithfulness

Integrity.

Divine Call.

Combination of having learned Jesus’ teaching, love for God, and Spirit led integrity to obey God’s Word.

These are men and women who do not have merely a “mail order” diploma or ordination certificate so they can perform weddings or self-appointed teachers with minimal training. They are people who have been systematically trained in God’s word and who have practiced the disciplines necessary for ministry. We can be confident that they have confessed a common faith in God (Lutheran confessionalism) and that they are approved workmen and women who are determined to give glory to God in what he was called them to do.

Not all pastors and teachers have had that historically and at times people have questioned even the most sincere and gifted of religious teachers.

It may come as a surprise that Jesus was one of those people. Or maybe we aren’t surprised because we know the Gospels.

Jesus’ position was confirmed at his baptism by the Spirit and his Father’s confirmation. John the Baptist explains this. (cite passage).

And yet, after three years of public ministry, we have this probing question by the chief priests and elders of the people. (see Matthew 21:23-27) Note how Jesus answers this question with a question of his own.

Matthew 21:23–27 (NIV84)

23 Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?” 24 Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 25 John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or from men?” They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘From men’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.” 27 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” Then he said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

See cross references on God giving Jesus authority to carry out his work.

Matthew 28:18 “18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

Matthew 11:25–27 (NIV)

25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do. 27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

John 17:1–5 (NIV)

1 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

While it is true that Jesus as true God from all eternity would have all authority, a part of his state of humiliation is that while on earth, he operated under the authority of God the Father. This was evident with his miracles and with his teaching. Regarding his teaching he emphasizes the source of his teaching. It is not from himself alone but he is the revealer of God’s word (see passages from text and Treasure of Scripture Knowledge.)

John 8:27–30 (NIV84)

27 They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. 28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. 29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” 30 Even as he spoke, many put their faith in him.

John 12:47–50 (NIV)

47 “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. 49 For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”

Application: Those whom Jesus taught directly who listened to him could be sure that he was teaching the truth.

This demonstrates that Jesus has authority and that people should obey him.

Jesus emphasizes that he will be obeyed. He also teaches why his followers will obey him. It is out of love for him.

John 14:15–16 (NIV84)

15 “If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—

2 Corinthians 5:14–15 (NIV)

14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

1 Peter 1:8–9 (NIV)

8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

2 Corinthians 8:8–9 (NIV)

8 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

Those who loved him would respond (or should respond) by being consistent and obeying his commands.

How does this apply to authority in the church today?

Luke 10:16 (NIV84)

16 “He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

John 13:19–20 (NIV)

19 “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am. 20 Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”

1 Thessalonians 4:3–8 (NIV)

3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 13:17 (NIV84)

17 Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Our called workers should be regarded as those who have authority.

Why? Because they teach the authoritative Word of God which the Bible teaches us is very special and unique. It is the Word of God. [Although the great danger now is those so called wise men who seek to undermine this authority with any manner of mental gymnastics.] Illustration of the truth is the truth whether you believe it or not. One law of nature is that of gravity. What goes up must come down and what is not supported will fall. Let’s say you don’t really believe that. You are on a ladder ten feet off the ground and decide to step off the rung. Whether you believe it or not, what is going to happen?

Conclusion