“Not Orphans” John 14.15-21, Ascension Day May ‘18

1.                   Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Heavenly Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  The message from God’s Word on this day we observe the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ and also celebrate Mother’s Day is taken from John 14:15-21 where, “15[Jesus said:] “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.18“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”  The message is entitled, “Not Orphans,” dear brothers and sisters in Christ

2.                Dr. James. Dobson described the morning when his last child left home for college—the official beginning of the “empty nest” for him and his wife, Shirley: “I felt the chilly breeze of change blowing through my home this morning” (Focus on the Family letter, July 1989). We’ve all experienced the anguish of departure: the last hug at the airport, Mom and Dad waving in the driveway, leaving the deathbed of a loved one for the last time, as me and my family have experienced this past week, with the death of my mother in law, Janice Wurm. A chilly breeze blows through our hearts. Similarly, Jesus’ talk about leaving in John 14 before His ascension into heaven must have left the disciples with an overwhelming sense of abandonment and loneliness. But, Jesus promises to leave them and us with the gift of peace, a peace that the world can’t give.  The gift of peace that comes through His death and resurrection and the sending of His Holy Spirit.

3.                   But, as we think of Jesus’ ascension into heaven, we can’t help but think that Jesus has left us as orphans.  Orphanages are heart wrenching. There are scores of children waiting for someone to love them, someone to welcome them into their home.  On this Mother’s Day weekend our heart goes out to those children who don’t have mothers, whether because their moms have died or because they’ve been abandoned. Then there are other orphans, often older, who have all but given up any hope of ever being adopted.

4.                   But, the ascension of our Lord Jesus into heaven reminds us that Church is not an orphanage. It’s true that Christ did go away. He died, He rose, and He ascended into heaven. But, though we can’t see Him, that doesn’t mean He’s gone for good. He gives the promises that He dwells in us. We enjoy a close relationship with Him; He is with us always. Where two or three come together in His name, He is there to bless. He feeds us with His own body and blood to sustain and strengthen us in the faith until we see Him when He comes again in glory on the Last Day.

5.                   We as the Church are not orphans.  We have the Church as our Mother that gives us a new birth through water and the Word of God in Holy Baptism and that feeds and nourishes us in God’s Word and the Sacrament of our Lord’s body and blood. The ascension of our Lord Jesus into heaven reminds us that God the Father has sent the Holy Spirit in the Son’s name. The Spirit is the Helper who teaches us all things. The Spirit leads us to remember all that Jesus has said and done, so we are centered and focused on Him.

6.                   We are not orphans, for Christ gives us His peace. His is a peace found nowhere else; no earthly peace can imitate it. It is a peace that comes from sin forgiven, a peace that is ours since we have been reconciled to the Father through His blood. It is a peace that calms our troubles and takes away our fears.

7.                   We are not orphans in the Church, yet we often act as though we are. It appears as though we believe that Christ is as far from us as the heavens are from the earth. We forget that Christ and His Spirit dwell within us. We spurn the presence of Christ and the gifts that He gives to us in the Divine Service. In times of need, we neglect the Sprit-filled words of Scripture, words that are given to comfort and encourage us. We allow our fears to get the best of us rather than clinging to the peace that Christ gives.

8.                   Despite our sin and our slowness of heart to believe, Christ refuses to abandon us. He does not sever the relationship but preserves it. He continues to come to us, dwell in us, and give us His peace. His Spirit continues to teach us all truth and to help us in our time of need.

9.                   There are six reasons our Lord’s Ascension into heaven is important for us as Christians. First, Jesus’ ascension assures us that we can go home, too. Jesus tells His disciples a little later that he’s going to prepare a place for them in His Father’s house (John 14). Because Jesus returned to the Father, I can say with Paul that, “to live is Christ, and to die is gain,” when I die, I will be with Jesus. 

10.               Second, Jesus’ ascension assures us that He intercedes for us to God.  Jesus, the God-man, speaks on our behalf to God our Heavenly Father. He knows what it’s like to be human (Hebrews 4:14–16), but He’s not just asking God to give me a break. Jesus Himself was broken for my sin, and because of His perfect sacrifice on the cross, He sustains our right relationship with God (Hebrews 9:15).      

11.               Third, Jesus says we should rejoice in His ascension. Jesus says, “If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father.” This alone is reason to be glad. 

12.               Fourth, Christ’s ascension has given us the Holy Spirit.  This Mother’s Day weekend is a time to show love and appreciation to our Moms. Many see the day as a test. Much counsel is given on how to show love: florists counsel giving flowers; Hallmark tells us to give a card; restaurants urge us to take Mother out to eat. These are not reliable counselors, since they are self-serving. They seek their own profit, not your mother’s welfare. But, on this Day we observe the Ascension of our Lord we remember that the best and most reliable counselor in matters of love: is the Holy Spirit.  Jesus tells us that He must leave in order to send the Holy Spirit (John 16:7). The Spirit teaches, convicts, and comforts us while we’re here on earth. 

13.               Fifth, we have the inspired Gospels. Jesus promises His disciples that the Holy Spirit will teach them and remind them of all that He said (John 14:25–26). And that’s good for us, because the disciples were able to give accurate accounts of events they didn’t understand while they were happening (Matthew 15:15–17; 16:9; Mark 6:52; 9:32; John 12:16). 

14.               Sixth, my king is where He belongs. Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, has taken His seat in glory at the Father’s right hand (Hebrews 1:3). He obeyed, and at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that He is Lord (Philippians 2:9–11).

15.               Jesus lived. Jesus died. Jesus rose. Jesus reigns forevermore.  On this Ascension Day we remember that our Lord Jesus hasn’t left us as orphans. In the same post-resurrection body He invited Doubting Thomas to touch, Jesus invites us to full humanity today. He ascended with a body, he shares in our humanity, and He’s coming back for our bodies. Christ is preparing a room for us in heaven, and we know it’s real because He Himself is real.  Amen.