“No Fear”
based on John 17:11b-19
by Pastor Richard Mau
7th Sunday of Easter – June 1, 2003
Immanuel Lutheran – Des Plaines, IL
Scripture for Today
Psalm 133 Acts 1:15-26 1 John 4:13-21 John 17:11b-19
Hymn: “Have No Fear, Little Flock” LW 410
Today we are honoring the graduates in our midst. We have the 8th graders receiving promotions to high school. There are all of those anticipations of what goes on in those big places called high schools. The excitement and enthusiasm of the different classes, the myriad of activities, more options on the lunch menu. High School seniors are going off to other institutions of learning, the military, and various jobs. The graduates are now in the interview pools and work environs. What am I going to do with all of this freedom from classes and assignments and school schedules? What am I going to do with all of this money people are paying me to do what I trained to do? What am I going to do with all of the bills that are just going to start appearing with my name on them?
Notice how the questions begin to change gears. Combined with the long awaited changes are sudden fears about what the real world is going to be like. The challenges and fears the real world throws at an individual may change their color, shape, and texture, but keep coming on no matter how short or long you live. What are some of the fears you had in the past as a little child, in your youth, at different stages of your life? What are the fears of the world that are overwhelming you today and as you look at tomorrow? As with the fears, what are some of the temptations that pulled you away from trusting and following God’s commands as a child, in your youth, at different stages of your life, and today as you look for tomorrow? What kept you in the past and what keeps you today confident of the promises God has given, delivers them to you daily, and will give you for all eternity?
By one’s self, one is weak indeed. But with the father’s enabling grace and the guidance and illumination of his Spirit, you will fulfill the mission you are entrusted, to remain in faith and bring glory to the Father through the Son.
Jesus is no longer in the world as he was. He has ascended into heaven. But we, as members of his church remain in the world. It is the continuation of when Jesus ascended and the disciples remained in this world. That is the reason and objective of Jesus’ prayer for his disciples as he prayed it in their presence on that Thursday evening just before he was betrayed. In this prayer for his disciples, Jesus explains how this is God’s plan for the salvation of souls. The disciples then and all Christians today are the ones who are placed in this world for the purposes God has called us to be here.
There are two purposes. One is to take care of the world for him as given at the creation. The other purpose is to bring the message of salvation through Jesus to others in this world, teaching all people and baptizing those who believe. As we look at the world, both purposes of the faithful, being stewards of his gifts and proclaiming the gospel publicly are frightening and overwhelming. It is a mean and vicious world that does not like God’s commands and does not understand his love. Today we are comforted and strengthened by Jesus’ prayer for his disciples. That prayer is for you and me today.
First of all Jesus asks God to protect his disciples by God’s name, the name God gave Jesus. That name Jesus means he came to save people from their sins. Saving from sins is saving from death and Satan, the two real fears anyone has. In being protected by that one name, all believers are joined together in one body, just as the Father and the Son are one God. The bond of believers in Christ surpasses all bonds established here on earth, those of blood, of community, marriage, vocation, etc. The unity of believers in Jesus is the strongest fellowship, period! The name Jesus is above all names in heaven and on earth.
Jesus states how he has protected the disciples during his time with them. All of his teaching and actions kept them from any harm from outside. Jesus stilled the storm, fed them, and healed their loved ones. There is no time in the Gospels that we see any harm done in any way to any of the disciples. The only harm suffered is the harm Judas brought upon himself as we read of his rejection of the love in today’s reading in Acts. That is a strong warning that nothing can harm your faith except one’s own doing. And that is rejecting the love God gives in Jesus Christ. God reinforces that message through Paul, “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” [1 Corinthians 10:13]
The reason for this prayer that Jesus states is so that his joy is made full in all believers’ hearts. As Jesus rested in the Father’s love, you now rest in Jesus’ love knowing he gives you all things. He does not want you to be content with just a touch of his joy now and then. He wants you to live in the fullness of that joy, knowing what it is like to be loved as God loves you, and to love others the same. How great forgiveness is to receive, and to give!
How does all of this happen? Jesus gives all of this through his Word, God’s Word. The Word is the substance of what protects and saves. It is not emotion. It is not unique experiences or revelations. The Word is the gift. The Word is the power. The Word is the agent that makes all things happen. The Word created. The Word promised. The Word became flesh. The Word heals and forgives. However the Word is not understood by the world. The world disobeys the Word. The world puts itself selfishly ahead of the Word. And those in the Word find themselves as strangers and aliens in the world. The Word is given by the Father through the Son who is the Word. We take the Word for granted as it is so simple. The Word is the gift. The only way to enjoy a gift is to receive it and use it as it is intended.
It is only through the Word that one knows the love of God in Jesus and comes to faith in that love. It is only by the Word that water washes away all sins and presents an unholy being as a new being made holy by the blood of Christ. It is only by the Word that bread and wine now bring the forgiveness of sins that comes only in the sacrificed body and blood of our Savior. It is in the Word that all are made one with Christ as he makes himself one with them in Word, Water, and Spirit that works by that Word. As new creatures and as adopted sons and daughters in the water and the word, each one is joined together in the family of believers, brothers and sisters in Christ and co-heirs with him of all of God’s glory, the glory we hold today in faith, the glory we will live at this life’s end.
It is by faith alone in that Word alone that one receives forgiveness of sins and life everlasting. It is by faith alone in the name Jesus alone that protects one from Satan and all of his forces. There is no more fear in the hearts of believers, in your hearts and mine, because Jesus protects you by his name and the power of his word alone.
His Word is given freely to you.
His holy body and blood is given freely to you.
His name that is above all other names is given to you as your own.
His entire kingdom is given to you.
His almighty power against sin, death, and the devil are given to you.
Jesus holds you together in the unity of all believers in God’s love through him. There is one God, one baptism, one faith, one gift of the Word from the Father through the Son whom he sent to save you.
Have no fear. As frightening as the world is, Jesus is with you as you remain in him. Just as the vine brings life to the branches, Jesus brings life to you. The fruits of his life are different than those expected by the world. But, the fruits of his life do not perish. The fruits of his life are not dependent upon the Dow Jones. The fruits of his life are not dependent on negotiations for peace on the streets or in all corners of the world. The fruits of his life are not dependent upon the whims of presidents and governors, legislators and judges. The fruits of his life protect you from the temptations of a society that does not know him as you know him. The fruits of his life that he gives you, strengthen and preserve you in true faith to life everlasting, and send you out to witness through those fruits to bring that same joy and peace to others who have not heard.
As the body of David Livingstone was being brought back to London to be buried in Westminster Abbey, throngs lined the streets of the route. One man was obviously much moved. Someone standing next to him asked, “You knew the missionary well?”
“Yes,” was the reply. “David and I were boyhood friends. Later we went to Africa together. David went for Africa’s souls, and I went for Africa’s gold. And today I realize I concentrated upon the wrong world!”
It’s so easy. The Lord in his high-priestly prayer helps us again to set our priorities in proper order.
Today, Jesus is the same as he always has been and always will be, showing his love through the Word of forgiveness of sins and life everlasting in him. Today, we need not be afraid as this is a congregation that is ready to begin new work in this congregation and community, strengthened by the Word and a Savior who will never leave or forsake us. Today, this congregation is not afraid to gather together in prayer, to ask their pastor and other members to pray with and for them, to seek help from each other, because this congregation is rooted in the name of Jesus who holds this congregation together in a time when nothing else would bring this group of people together. Today this congregation can and will step forward in the boldness that the disciples did, not the night of the betrayal, but the years following the ascension and gift of Holy Spirit at Pentecost. That is because this congregation need not fear, but can step boldly forward in its will to tell others about Jesus because this congregation will remain rooted in the word, the name the Father gave his Son, the love the Father gives through his son, and the name that will remain above all names now and forever, the name of Jesus. Amen.
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