Easter 6C

Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year C

In the name of the Father, and of the +Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Brothers and sisters in Christ: grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Our Gospel lesson this morning picks up where we left off last week, in John chapter 16. John’s main purpose in writing his version of Jesus’ story is to drive home the point that Jesus *is* the Son of God. Much of the earlier portion of his book includes accounts that detail people who did not believe this. Some were brought to the faith by a sign, or from hearing Jesus speak. Others were not brought to the faith despite signs or the words of Jesus’ mouth…and that was their choice.

The scene depicted in chapter 16 is part of a lengthy description of the conversation between Jesus and his apostles on the night of his arrest. This takes place after they’ve eaten the “Last Supper”, and after Jesus has washed their feet. Now, he’s taking an opportunity to share with them some last mentoring and teaching, and preparing them for what’s about to happen: his arrest and execution.

All along this journey, Jesus has been pointing to how the Messiah (Jesus himself) must die in order to fulfill his purpose. It seems pretty clear from the reaction of his followers that they think he’s speaking in metaphor (“figure of speech”) every other time he says this. They typically don’t think he’s actually going to die. At least, the Gospel story doesn’t really give us any examples of them getting terribly upset about it.

In this passage today, Jesus starts by telling them that “in that day you will ask nothing of me.” What day is he talking about? Remember last week - “in a little while” - he’s talking about how, very soon, when all the bad stuff is over and done with, the Father will send the Holy Spirit (the “Spirit of truth”) to “declare … the things that are to come.” (John 16:13) The Spirit will teach them, and they won’t have to ask Jesus any more for knowledge. They won’t have to ask Jesus to tell them what is true.

Now, there’s an important distinction to be made here: just because they will have knowledge, doesn’t mean that they won’t still have needs. So Jesus tells them how their needs will be met: “Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.” They haven’t asked in Jesus’ name before, because they have been praying in the Jewish tradition. They prayed in the same manner as Abraham, Moses, David…all of the generations before them. Now, however, it’s different. Messiah is right there with them, and he is telling them to pray in HIS name now. Things are about to change.

What I find interesting in this verse is that not only are we to ask the Father in Jesus’ name, but the Father will give in Jesus’ name. “…[T]he disciples must use this name. They must in all their needs come not merely with the name “Jesus” on their lips or attached to their prayers but with the revelation ... of Jesus in their hearts by faith.” [R. C. H. Lenski, The Interpretation of St. John’s Gospel (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Publishing House, 1961), 1100.]

Faith that was once directed toward the keeping of the Old Covenant must now be re-directed to adapt to the New Covenant…and that means focusing not on God’s Law, but on God’s Son. His name is now to be included in all of their prayers. This will serve God’s purpose: “that your joy may be full.” Although we may not get exactly what we ask for, our Loving Father will give us whatever it is that will fill our cup of joy right up to the very brim.

The next part of what he tells his closest friends is something that I wish had come much, much earlier in Jesus’ teachings: “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father.” Oh, if only EVERYTHING in Scripture was written plainly and without room for a variety of interpretation! In the previous chapter, he said “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.” Vines and branches and fruit… by the time he got to that metaphor…after so many other different metaphors... I can only imagine that these students must have been starving for some plain, clear language.

The problem is, they’re just not quite ready yet. And even though Jesus is using “figures of speech” here and in other places, that’s not the only hindrance. All of his teachings have been “veiled” up to this point. The disciples haven’t really been opened up to all of this yet. They need the help of the Holy Spirit, who hasn’t been given to them yet. They were no more capable of it than we are…on our own: “I believe that by my own reason or strength I cannot believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to him. But the Holy Spirit has called me through the Gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, and sanctified and preserved me in true faith…” [Theodore G. Tappert, ed., The Book of Concord the Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. (Philadelphia: Mühlenberg Press, 1959), 345.]

“When Jesus says that ‘the hour is coming’ when he will be able to lay aside such veiled language and instead use utter plainness of speech” [Lenski] he’s talking about the Day of Pentecost. THAT is when the Holy Spirit will come to them. And once that takes place, the prayers and petitions lifted up to the Father by the disciples will no longer need Jesus support or intercession in order to be granted by the Father. [Lenski] Why? Because of the Father’s love for them. Once Jesus’ death and Resurrection are completed, and the problem of sin has been removed, the Father’s love is no longer hindered by anything. There’s nothing to get in the way. His love is now fully available to them, ready to supply their every need. [Lenski]

Now notice the next verse: “for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.” The way this is written, it looks like the Father’s love is conditional upon our loving Him first. This is where English fails us. God has always loved us first. But that is His divine, self-emptying love - agape. It is that love that led to the Father sending His Son to us. It is agape love that was the reason Jesus suffered and died for us. It is agape love that was there for us before we were ever born. God has always loved us first.

In this verse, it’s a different word for love. This one is phileo - brotherly love. Love of neighbor. Let’s call that “affection” instead of “love” here to help distinguish between the two. “Our affection toward Jesus calls forth the Father’s affection toward us. Love is rewarded with love. All the answers to our prayers prove this reward. Our relation to Jesus is here first expressed by [affection] and then by [faith]. Because love always springs from faith...” [Lenski, 1104] For the disciples, having daily contact with Jesus developed both close attachment and tender affection for him. And for this affection, the Father also has affection.

If we want a close relationship with God, can we access that also? Can we have daily contact with Jesus? Would that lead to close attachment and tender affection for Jesus? Word and Sacrament…daily?!? Hmmm… For the disciples, “The more their affection for Jesus grew through their intimate contact with him, the more they believed in his divine origin… The longer the disciples were with Jesus, the more they were certain of his divine origin (person) and of his saving mission (work).” [Ibid, 1105] So as their affection for Jesus grew, so did their faith in him. I hope none of you find that surprising. If we want our faith to grow, spend more time with Jesus.

It’s kind of like a teacher before the final exam, right? “Ok class, this is my last chance to make sure you get the important stuff before the big test.” No, it’s not a perfect example…especially since Jesus was coming back afterwards to make everything better. But the were about to face a huge test of their faith. Things were about to get really bad, and Jesus even tells them that they’re about to run away in fear and scatter, looking out only for themselves. They’re not ready for what they’re about to witness.

There is a lot of talk in the world around us about how bad things are. The economy - by all objective measures - is doing really poorly. Our society is divided and people are just absolutely vicious to each other. We have evidence of corruption in more places than we’d care to admit (all through our government and in the governments of some of our closest allies). There’s a military conflict going on right now that involves the only other country that’s ever truly challenged the nuclear armament capabilities of our country…and their leader has hinted that he’s willing to use them to ensure his victory. And right now, his side isn’t doing so well. The actual threat of nuclear war isn’t so far-fetched.

That’s not an exhaustive list. That’s just a broad overview of some of the headlines we’re seeing every day. I didn’t mention the baby formula shortage, the renewed abortion fight, monkeypox… there’s lots of bad news to be found. You could definitely say that times are looking pretty bleak for the average citizen right now.

If it gets worse, will we, like the apostles, run away? Will we scatter and separate and look out only for ourselves? Not everyone ran away on that night. Jesus didn’t flee. He stayed right where he was and took the great burden that he came to bear. And bear it he did. Notice that he didn’t scold or admonish his friends as he told them what they would do. He offered no judgment; he just let them know what would happen. But the burden was not theirs to bear - it was his. And that was all that was needed.

Like the disciples, we believe that Jesus is Lord and Messiah, and we trust in his teachings. Like the disciples, we look to Jesus for peace. “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation.” We need the peace that only Jesus can bring. We need it just as the disciples did. It is that very peace that Jesus wants to leave to his disciples before he departs from them. This peace is not just the absence of conflict; it is the objective condition and situation when all is well between us and God. This is the kind of peace that the world simply has no concept of…because it involves faith in the Word of God. They have the faith to receive this peace, and Jesus has now given it to them…and in this peace they will remain. No matter what the world does to them, they have peace with God through Jesus. [Lenski]

God did not want that peace only for those few followers in that little room that night. God wants that peace for all of His children. We, too, are allowed and encouraged to have that peace. “In the world you will have tribulation” Jesus tells us. Yep. We have plenty of that to go around, no doubt. But no matter what the world does to us, we have peace with God through Jesus.

And that’s where Jesus puts their fears to rest: “But take heart; I have overcome the world.” Again, the battle is already won. The wicked foe would have us believe otherwise. He fights on, trying to convince us that there’s a chance we’ll lose. Unfortunately for the devil, he’s already lost.

The good Dr. Lenski sums it up perfectly: “Jesus has conquered all the powers of evil as they are centered in the hostile world. All his last words pulsate with this victory and triumph. Its fact stands. The disciples believe that fact. All they need is to get the power, courage, and joy of it into their hearts. In trying to achieve this for them Jesus is not working merely for immediate results. He knows all things (v. 30), also the limitations of the present hour for the disciples, which, however, shall soon pass. Then full peace and joy shall fill their hearts when they realize, indeed, that Jesus has conquered the world.” [R. C. H. Lenski, The Interpretation of St. John’s Gospel (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Publishing House, 1961), 1113.]

Full peace and joy shall fill their hearts when they realize that Jesus has conquered the world. I can’t help but think that I take that for granted…so much so that maybe I don’t realize it anymore…or maybe I just don’t *recognize* it? But he *has* conquered the world…and sin…and death. And the more I realize that, the more peace I find. Let us all find that peace that’s just waiting for us in Christ’s victory.

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed. Alleluia!