1. Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Heavenly Father, and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. The message from God’s Word as we celebrate the Day of Pentecost is taken from John 15:26-27 & 16:4b-15. Somedays we are simply looking for a mark, a rock at the foot of a tree, something to direct us forward, a few words to let us know we are going in the right direction. Today, Jesus promises us, “The Spirit Who Guides Us in All Truth,” dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
2. Recently, a man was hiking on a poorly marked trail. The AllTrails app that he was using had identified a 5-mile loop and an 8-mile loop hikers could follow. While the 8-mile loop seemed pretty clear at the trail head, as he went along it became a bit sketchy. The trail slowly disappeared and a well-worn path turned into a pathless woods. As the man looked around, trying to identify something resembling a trail, he noticed a small pile of rocks positioned at the bottom of a tree. He went in that direction. After hiking that way for a while, he noticed another similar group of rocks at the bottom of another tree. Some kind hiker had gone before him and left these small marks to guide his way.
3. The experience of this man getting lost on the hiking trail really helps us in our Gospel reading for today from John 15 & 16. Jesus is speaking to His disciples about sending His Holy Spirit. But, Jesus does not use the title “Holy Spirit.” Instead, He speaks of “the Helper” and “the Spirit of truth.”
4. The term ὁ παράκλητος (Paraclete) is difficult to translate. Comforter, counselor, advocate, mediator, intercessor, and helper are a few of the ways it has been done. The Spirit is someone who appears on and in another person’s behalf. He gives aid, counsel, comfort, defense, and help. The Greek word refers to a person who provides legal assistance, who solicits for another’s defense. That is the role of the Holy Spirit. Jesus promises the Spirit will guide us in the Truth. Jesus says in John 16:13, “13When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” So, who is this Counselor?
5. This Counselor was sent by Jesus with a special mission. He is to convict or rebuke the world in three areas: sin, righteousness, and judgment. People rarely see themselves as sinners in need of rebuking. But, the Holy Spirit is sent to help us see our sins. The Counselor came to help us see that the mindset of the world is in reality the mindset of deadly sin. The Spirit convicts us of our sin and leads us to believe in Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins. St. Paul writes in 1 Cor 12:3, “3Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.” Through Baptism he gives us new life. In Jn 3:3–5 Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”
6. As we live our Christian lives, struggling against the sinful nature we still have, the Spirit keeps giving us strength and keeps praying for us before the Father in heaven. St. Paul writes in Rom 8:26–27, “26Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit as our guidance counselor for life. The Holy Spirit came not simply to rebuke our sin but also to guide our lives. Sometimes the Counselor comes to us through a friend, a neighbor, or a pastor. (Rom 8:13–14)
7. If there ever was a trail which has disappeared into the forest, it is the path of Truth. Our culture’s slow shift away from Christianity has made daily life bewildering. Things we used to hold in common with the world – marriage, male, female – are no longer so clear. Public reception of our Christian faith has changed too. From new atheists who think we are ignorant and anti-science to public protestors who denounce us as hateful and homophobic advocates of patriarchy and white supremacy, the way is bewildering.
8. We are not asking for a map. We don’t need to know every twist and turn in this journey of life. But somedays, we are simply looking for a mark, a rock at the foot of a tree, something to direct us forward, a few words to let us know we are going in the right direction. The truth is, we live in a world where many people turn to various guides to find their way through life: whether it’s technology or the Google search engine, materialism, more money, more power, the quest for pleasure, etc. But, people feel abandoned, empty, afraid, and lost.
9. Many of us also have that fear. When I drop my three-year old Julia off at the Early Childhood Center in the mornings, I sometimes get that look on her face that says, “Have I been abandoned?” “Is Mom or Dad going to leave me?” Not only children feel abandoned, afraid, empty, or lost. Adults too experience these things. People see their marriages falling apart. People who lived 50, 60, 70 years in one house suddenly find themselves living in a nursing home. People who were never gravely ill learn they are dying of cancer. People by the millions feel abandoned, empty, afraid, and lost. To whom do they turn for a counselor?
10. Today, Jesus offers a word of hope. He promises to send us the Helper: The Holy Spirit. Pentecost is our celebration that this promise from Jesus has come true. He has ascended into Heaven and sent His Holy Spirit who speaks His words to us, for us, among us, and with us. Hearing Jesus, by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, helps us make our way in the world.
11. In particular, Jesus identifies three works of the Spirit. This Holy Helper will help us see how the world is wrong when it speaks about sin, wrong when it speaks about Jesus, and wrong when it speaks about Satan. Jesus says in John 16:8-11, “8And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment 9concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.” Jesus is the Son of God, even though many in our world do not acknowledge Him (verse 9). Jesus has been vindicated by His Father. Although many thought He was just another moral teacher, a misguided revolutionary, an idealistic leader, a problematic prophet whose reign would end with His death, Jesus has been vindicated by His Father after His death on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins, raised from the dead, and revealed to be the Savior of all (verse 10). And Jesus has defeated Satan. By ending Satan’s reign, Jesus now rules over all things (verse 11) and will bring them to their final restoration.
12. So, the Holy Spirit offers us these three truths about Jesus: A.) He is the Son of God. B.) He has been vindicated by His Father. C.) He has defeated Satan, so He now rules over all things. These three truths are a comfort to the world-weary traveler. When I come to church, I hear these things preached. When I open the Scriptures, I understand these things in what I read. When I speak with other Christians, I hear these things confessed in our conversation. Why? Because the Holy Spirit is at work. Our Holy Helper is offering us these three truths. This Spirit is the one we celebrate today. Hearing Jesus, by the guidance of the Spirit, helps us make our way in the world.
13. Recently, there have been reports of a decline in church attendance. Interestingly, it’s not so much that fewer people are going to church. It’s just that more people are going to church less often. While I can understand the diversity of ways in which people can participate in church, I am less understanding of the decreasing frequency of contact. If anything, I find myself wanting to have more physical contact with my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ rather than less. I find myself wanting to listen to a sermon a second time or call up previous services on-line that were my favorites. Why?
14. Because, for me, going to church is like coming across one of the trees in the forest, a tree that has been marked to point out the way. I have been wandering in the world, confused by what I’m seeing and hearing. Then I come to worship and I hear these fundamental truths preached by the Spirit. Jesus is the Son of God. He has been vindicated by His Father after His death and resurrection from the dead. He has defeated Satan, so He now rules over all things. Like three small stones placed at the bottom of a tree, these truths help me realize someone has gone before me. I have a companion on this journey. The Holy Spirit, sent by Jesus, who helps me has been here. That Spirit reminds me of what is most necessary. That Spirit helps me follow Jesus in a world which has lost its way. Amen. Now the peace of God that passes all understanding guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus until life everlasting. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment