Sixth Sunday of Easter

Richard Davenport May 22, 2022 - 6th Sunday of Easter John 16:23-33 While a lot of what Jesus does during his ministry probably seemed strange to the disciples at the time, it would be interesting to be there when they finally put the pieces together after the fact. The disciples certainly didn't think Jesus had much of a plan during his life. They're always questioning him or telling him he doesn't know what he's doing. Jesus is trying to get them killed or he's trying to get himself killed. He's talking to people someone like him wouldn't normally talk to, which sometimes means travelling places someone like him wouldn't normally travel to. Sometimes he tells stories that make sense, but sometimes not. The Pharisees and priests don't like him and one would think those are the people you'd want to convince if you were going to prove who you claim to be. He doesn't seem terribly concerned what they think of him. He has kind words for some people, but with others he can be pretty harsh. The passage for today would be especially telling. Jesus has this little talk with his disciples here. The disciples seem to understand him this time. They even comment that Jesus isn't being confusing here. He makes sure there's nothing to impede their understanding of what he's saying. I say it's telling, but perhaps poignant is a better term. Chapter 17 contains the prayer Jesus prays on behalf of the disciples, asking the Father to keep them safe. After this, he leads them to Gethsemane, where he is arrested and put to death. This ends up being the last recorded conversation Jesus has with them. "Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone," Jesus says. If the disciples have a response to this it isn't recorded here. Luke's Gospel suggests they brushed this off like they did so many of Jesus's similar statements. Luke tells us somewhere in this conversation Peter states confidently, "Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death." This is not the response of someone who's taking Jesus's words seriously. Jesus would then tell Peter, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me." Peter would later remember these words after they had come true and he would be ashamed of his cowardice and betrayal. But it doesn't look like any of the disciples remembered the rest of the conversation, in particular the section John we have today. It would only be after the fact, after the resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit that the Spirit would guide them in remembering all of Jesus's words and revealing the truth of them. Jesus prophesies that all of the disciples will leave him. But if the disciples had taken Jesus's words to heart and remembered them a short while later, think how much different Good Friday would have gone. In one sense, nothing would have changed. Jesus had to die. That detail had been part of the plan from the very beginning. That couldn't change without unraveling the entire purpose of Jesus becoming a man. The disciples couldn't have really rescued Jesus either. The Roman soldiers wouldn't have tolerated anyone trying to rescue Jesus unless Pilate gave the ok. No, Jesus was stuck going through all of it from beginning to end. His appearance before the priests, before Herod, before Pilate, the jeers, the insults, the beatings, the whips, the thorns, the nails, the blood, the darkness. All of that lay before Jesus at this point. Having everyone turn their backs on Jesus was part of the plan too. That complete and utter loneliness, separated from everyone in the world and even his own Father, Jesus experiences hell on the cross. The one thing no one ever wants to experience, but for many it is too late. The just reward for every sin. Jesus had to take all of that to bring salvation into the world. However, at least at the point we're at in John today, Jesus wouldn't have had to face it all alone. If the disciples had listened and been encouraged by Jesus's words, they would have known there was nothing to fear. For all the hate given off by the Jewish authorities, for all of the brutishness and bullying of the Roman soldiers, for all of the mobs lusting for Jesus's blood, the disciples would have known Jesus is still in control and they could have been beside him the entire time. They may not have changed the outcome, but they could have changed how Jesus faced it. Jesus would not have died alone. Perhaps more importantly, the disciples wouldn't have had to cower in fear in those days after Jesus's death. "I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father." This hasn't quite happened yet, but it is part of the plan and nothing Jesus said has ever failed to come true. Peter and the disciples, of all people, should know this. "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." Jesus says these things before he dies, but he talks like it's a foregone conclusion he will triumph and conquer, because, of course, it is. The reality he's trying to share with them is that they can't really help him over the next few hours. Jesus will have to face all of this alone. However, the disciples themselves don't have to face their troubles alone. Though Jesus is on trial. Though he's getting beaten and spit on, though he's getting flogged, insulted, and nailed to a tree, he is still right there with his disciples. He may be alone but they are not. Jesus thinks nothing of the scourge marks or the blood running down his face. Instead, with each slow and agonizing step, Jesus's thoughts are on his disciples and all of the others he will save by giving his life on the cross. They, and we, are the reason he goes through with all of it. In a way we will never truly understand, Jesus was completely alone while he hung on the tree, abandoned by everyone, including his own Father. But, even there, he was with us. We find ourselves in the same boat as the disciples all too often. Hardship and heartache afflict us. We look around and see no one there. Jesus promises he would be there for us, that he would protect us and keep us safe. But it doesn't seem to happen. We find no comfort there and it's all his fault. He promised to protect us but the hardships keep rolling in. The tragedies don't stop. They just keep hammering us with loss and heartbreak. We never come out on top. You finally struggle to stand up again and some fresh grief strikes and knocks you down again. Looking to Jesus for support feels like a waste of time. He is nothing but empty promises. He either can't or won't help you get a handle on life. You put your trust in him and it gets you nothing but disappointment. It's no use calling to him when you already know what the response will be. Jesus bears a lot of responsibility in the world. He carries all of the pain of Good Friday on his shoulders and he does it alone. He doesn't ask for any help from us, nor could we have helped him even if we wanted to. He bears the cross precisely because we can't. The wonder of it all is that he goes into the whole ordeal knowing exactly what will happen and he does it anyway. He even knows what will happen to the disciples and tells them very plainly, and, in spite of it all, he tells them they will be fine. Though it was a leap of faith the disciples weren't quite ready to take at that point, it didn't make what Jesus said any less true. Good Friday came and went. Darkness covered the land and the world shuddered as the Savior died. And then, a few days later, after Jesus had risen he appears in a room where the disciples are, all huddled together, and everyone is fine. They faced some uncertain times. Jesus never said things would be easy. But he did say they would make it through. The world attacked Jesus with all of its fury, but Jesus overcame it all. The world has no power left to dictate the course of anyone's life. Luther has much to say about this passage as well, "It is natural for our flesh and blood to be bold and cheerful as long as there is no suffering and grief. But when our situation changes, when trials and temptations come along and oppress us, we immediately forget the beautiful promises. Then the comforting thoughts vanish, as though Christ had never given a promise or had left no comfort at all. That is why Christ has cautioned them against this so often and so diligently by saying: "I have said this to you lest you forget it. For I am giving you clear information in advance that you will surely experience anxiety and distress. You must be resigned to this, and you should be prepared for it, in order that you may not lose courage and your comfort. But be of good cheer and unafraid, for I tell you that the battle is already won. You need not be afraid that I am going to send you to where you must venture at random, without knowing whether you will lose or win. This is not a matter of attacking first and risking a battle. No, the victory has already been won, and everything has been gained. But you must cling intrepidly and firmly to what I have told you." We equate the middle of the story with the end. When all we see is heartache and grief we get into our minds that this is it. There can't be anything left for us. But Jesus tells us it isn't the end. We will see it through and we will make it to the other side. What's more, after all is said and done, none of that grief, none of the pain, not even the death, will truly make a difference in who we are or what happens to us. Jesus has overcome the world. Your life is his now and nothing can prevent him from keeping you safe. When we look at the sacrament of baptism, there is so much importance in the grace that God bestows on the Christian through the water and his Word. He claims this new child as his own and that person can now call Jesus a brother. St. Paul describes it as being a death and resurrection, joined to Christ's own. Luther emphasizes this as well when he talks about baptism. Dying to sin and rising to new life. Unless you were immersed it probably didn't feel a lot like death, not that any of us truly know what death feels like, but I suspect it'll be a lot less pleasant if I'm awake to know it's happening. Baptism doesn't carry the fear that death has. Your head gets wet. The pastor speaks the promise of grace and forgiveness in Christ, and then you're done. There never was anything to be afraid of and perhaps that's exactly the point. It sounds like baptism is supposed to be like dying, but it's more likely the other way around. When all is said and done, your death won't be anything more to fear than having some water poured on your head. Jesus promised.