A God Who Stoops (John 8:1-11)

How many of you enjoy being publicly humiliated?  How many of you look forward to having your most embarrassing moments shared with the world?  How many of you appreciate it when your most shameful actions become the topic of conversation around the water cooler or the lunch table?  Nobody?  Well, I can’t say I’m all that surprised.

There’s an old saying that there’s no such thing as bad publicity.  But I think we all know that’s not really true.  Sure, for a celebrity or a company almost anything can be spun to their advantage as long as they’re name is in the news.  But for you and me, for regular people…there are things we’d like to keep private.  There are things we’d like to keep anyone else from knowing about.  There are things that we might even wish we could forget about ourselves.

Our gospel reading for today deals with a woman who I have to think experienced a kind of mortifying shame and embarrassment that blows anything any of us have faced out of the water.  To begin with, she was caught in the act of adultery.  Even if she had been with her husband, that would have been hugely embarrassing for people to walk in on.  But when it wasn’t her husband…that just made it that much worse.  And then to add to the insult, she didn’t just face dealing with whispers and gossip about her spreading around the neighborhood.  She was dragged out into the public square.  Her shame was loudly made known, possibly even seen depending on how clothed they allowed her to get.  And then to add injury to insult, she was facing the prospect of rocks being thrown at her until she was dead.

Often when we look at this account from Scripture, we approach it a sort of morality tale.  It’s kind of a go-to story for the idea of “judge not lest ye be judged.”  We focus not on the woman, but the crowd.  We look at the Pharisees and those who were preparing to stone her.  We focus on how Jesus’ words convicted them, how it caused them to drop their stones and go on their way.  The primary relationship in the story becomes not Jesus and the woman, but Jesus and the Pharisees.  The woman’s situation, her safety, becomes an interesting epilogue. 

So often when we look at this story, the grace of Jesus is almost an afterthought.  A happy accident brought about by the angry crowd being shamed into leaving.  But that’s just simply not the case.  Grace is central to this story.  It’s the driving, transformative power at work.  It’s Jesus’ grace toward the woman that leads the change, it’s grace that makes all the difference.  Because here’s the thing we tend to overlook for some reason.  She was guilty.

Jesus: The Standard of Our Savation (John 3:1-17)

In our Gospel reading for this morning, we’re introduced to a man named Nicodemus. We’re told that Nicodemus is a Pharisee, a ruler of the Jews. He comes to Jesus at night on account of the miracles Jesus has been performing. It would seem likely that some of them he’d seen himself, and certainly a man in his position would have heard from others about even more. Having seen these amazing things, Nicodemus comes to find out even more.

I think we all understand Nicodemus’ actions here. I remember back in 1998 when Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa were making their charge toward the single-season home run record. Everywhere you looked, there were Big Mac and Sammy. They were on the news, they were in the newspapers, their faces were on magazine covers…they were two men doing something amazing, and America couldn’t get enough. The attention and interest was so great that people would come to the stadium two hours before the game started just to watch them take batting practice. Fans and journalists alike were itching to know the secrets to their incredible success. How did they prepare themselves? What were their workouts like? How were they able to do what they were doing?

People who played the stock market knew that it was a volatile, risky venture. Even the best and savviest of investors could hit a rough patch. But not Bernie Madoff. For years he could boast a steady, consistent success rate that made him a legend. The more success he had, the more people wanted to entrust their money to him. What was his secret? What made him so amazingly, almost unbelievably successful at what he did?

Of course, in time it turned out that those things, like so many incredible, unbelievable stories before turned out to be less than they were made out to be. Eventually McGwire admitted that steroids helped create the Paul Bunyan physique that helped him crush baseballs at a record rate. Bernie Madoff was caught running the largest ponzi scheme the financial world had ever seen, all his supposed brilliance exposed as a con and a pile of lies.

In his responses to Jesus, it’s clear that while Nicodemus says that he knows Jesus must have come from God, his mind is still firmly stuck on the things and ways of the world. It would appear that in coming to meet Jesus, Nicodemus has come to Jesus to find evidence as to whether or not this miracle man is too good to be true. Perhaps he isn’t quite what he seems, and is yet another false prophet. Another skilled con man using the name of God to make his name and fortune. Though he acknowledges Jesus as coming from God, he seems either unwilling or incapable of understanding Jesus’ words in a spiritual manner. Nicodemus saw the signs, but life-giving faith eluded him. He saw the signs, but he altogether missed the point.

These Things Are Written (John 20:24-31)

Back in July, a number of our teens and a few adults went down to New Orleans. We were joined there by about 25,000 other young Lutherans. During our time down there, we got to do a lot of things. We heard great music. We saw amazingly talented artists. We sang out in praise for our great and amazing God. We even had the chance to serve a community still recovering from the effects of Hurricane Katrina. Most importantly though, we heard and read the Word of God, centered around the theme “We Believe,” taken from John 20:31; “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.”

One thing the Bible studies and skits got me to think about again, was what it must have been like to actually be there. To actually see and hear Jesus speak. I mean, imagine what it would have been like to be there as Jesus went to see Mary and Martha. These sisters hadn’t just heard Jesus speak. They had welcomed him into their home! Jesus had actually eaten Martha’s cooking. Mary had sat at his feet, listening to her savior speak to her, close enough to reach out and touch him. They and their brother Lazarus counted him as their friend. A friend who they could laugh and talk with. And now, a friend they could cry with.

When Lazarus fell ill, the sisters sent word to their friend. They knew that more than any physician, Jesus could heal their brother. They sent word, begging him to come see his friend. But he stayed away. He stayed away as Lazarus’ health got worse and worse. He stayed away so long that by the time he did come, his friend had been dead 4 days.

But then they got to see something amazing. They heard Jesus ask for the stone to be rolled away. They heard Jesus say “Lazarus! Come out!” And then they saw the impossible. They saw their brother come out of his grave. He had been dead, but now he was alive! Can you imagine being a witness to such a sight?

We heard about a woman who went to a well. A woman with a past. A woman with a reputation. She had been married multiple times. She was currently living with a man she was not married to. Most women, respectable women, went to the well in the morning or early evening, when the temperature was cool. But this woman went in the middle of the day. Perhaps to avoid the sneers and whispered comments. Perhaps because she saw yet another man. Perhaps another husband. Or at least another lover.

Whatever she was expecting, it likely wasn’t to be Jesus of Nazareth. She wasn’t expecting a man who not only knew exactly why she was at the well that day, but about everything she had ever done. And the last thing she expected was that he would offer her, an adulterer and a Samaritan to boot, the water that leads to eternal life.

Just a Little While (John 16:12-22)

Grace, mercy, and peace be with you all, from God, our heavenly Father, and Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. The text for our consideration is the Gospel reading from St. John. May the Holy Spirit bless us to be patient . . . as we wait just a little while longer . . . for the coming of Jesus Christ.

It was Spring of 1993. I was working on a final paper for one of my classes at Seminary. The paper was worth at least 1/3 of my grade. My five year old son, Doug, came up to me and wanted me to do something with him. I told him, “Not right now, son. I have a paper to write. But I’ll be able to do something in just a little while.”

Not more than two minutes later, Doug came up to me to ask again for my time and attention. I said a bit more firmly, “Not now, son. I have to get this paper done. And it’s going to take more than just a few minutes.” Maybe about 5 minutes later, Doug came up one last time. This time I lost it. Stress from approaching finals, stress from having procrastinated on the paper, and my own sinful weaknesses thrown into the mix . . . and I yelled at my son. I told him how I had already told him . . . and asked him if he hadn’t listened to what I was saying. As I yelled, the tears started rolling down his cheeks . . . and I was justly humbled and convicted of my sinful failings at being a father.

I learned something from that situation, though. I learned that the definition of “just a little while” in a person’s mind varies. To an adult, a little while might be anywhere from a half an hour to maybe an hour or a little more. To a small child, anything over 5 minutes seems like a long time. Or, when a family is going on a vacation . . . mom and dad may say, “Oh my, we will be leaving in less than a month!,” while the children say, “It’s more than three weeks before we leave!”

In the Word of God before us, this morning, Jesus tells His disciples that He is going to be leaving them. He tells them that, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.” The disciples are confused. Jesus says His disciples will mourn while the world rejoices. The disciples don’t understand. Among themselves the disciples asked, “What does He mean by ‘a little while’?”

There is still some theological debate regarding the answer to this question. For it could mean a couple of things. Certainly, the next day the disciples would see Jesus die. His body would be laid in a tomb. The corrupt religious leaders and the evil world would rejoice at His crucifixion; the disciples would grieve . . . deeply. Yet, on the third day they would see the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ . . . and they would rejoice . . . filled with the joy of seeing Jesus alive again . . . filled with the hope of life after death for themselves as well.

But was Jesus simply talking about the time between Good Friday and Easter morning? Or was Jesus talking about a longer “just a little while.” Two different things move me to believe that Jesus was talking about a much longer, “just a little while.” First of all, the Words that our Lord Jesus spoke prior to our text, He spoke of sending the Counselor, that is, the Holy Spirit, because Jesus was going to the Father. And the outpouring of the Holy Spirit did not happen on Easter, but 50 days later on the Day of Pentecost. Jesus taught that the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, would guide God’s people into all truth. The sending of the Holy Spirit was a part of God’s plan precisely because Jesus was going to return to the Father. Thus, this “little while” had to be more than just the three days.

Secondly, and just as important, if Jesus was only speaking of the three days, His Words would have no application to us. Without a doubt, these words of our Lord have a huge message for us, God’s people living nearly 2000 years after Jesus’ death and resurrection. So, when Jesus says, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.” The little while must include all the time between Jesus’ first coming and His second coming. You and I, we are still living in that “little while” before Jesus returns in glory.

Now you might say, “but clearly, over 2000 years is not a little while.” However, I would remind you of my opening illustration regarding time when you are a child and time when you are an adult. It’s vastly different. So, what about when you are an eternal being, with no beginning or end?? What’s two thousand years to God??? A couple of days . . . just a little while. The apostle Peter proclaims this very thing in his second epistle:

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Jesus said that during this “little while,” that the world would rejoice at the very same time God’s people would be grieving. This remains true in our own generation. The world rejoices in immoral lifestyles; God’s people grieve. The world rejoices in greed and selfishness; God’s people mourn. The world rejoices in the freedom to choose to end a pregnancy; God’s people mourn the destruction of the unborn. The world actually rejoices in sinful deeds and sinful attitudes; God’s people grieve over sin . . . the world’s sin . . . and even their own.

And I’ll tell you something that grieves me to the depths of my heart and soul: young people falling away from Jesus Christ. A recent survey done by a Christian research firm reveals some startling statistics. The survey was given to 18-29 year olds; here are some of the statistics. 65% said they rarely or never pray with others. Almost 40% said they never pray at all. 65% said they rarely or never attend worship services; 67% said they don’t read the Bible at all. A full 50% said they don’t think that Jesus is the only way to God. And of those surveyed who do believe in Jesus, only 17% read their Bible daily. In another study, 70% of Christians who attended regularly growing up, quit attending church altogether in their mid-20’s.

Jesus said that our grief would turn to joy. It’s hard to be joyful faced with the spiritual challenges of living in this world and the spiritual apathy among so many of God’s people. Where is joy to be found. Jesus said that grief would be turned to joy . . . when His disciples saw Him. The grief of Jesus’ death on the cross was turned to joy when the first disciples literally saw Jesus resurrected from the dead. Joy still comes . . . only as we see Jesus . . . in His Word and in His sacraments. And spiritual resurrection still takes place in the lives of people in our generation. One reason to rejoice is that the Lord is patient. That’s why He hasn’t returned yet. There is still a “little while” left in Jesus’ “just a little while” statement. There is hope for those who have fallen away . . . to be restored to Christian fellowship.

If you know a loved one that has fallen away, write them a letter, tell them how much you love them . . . and tell them that trusting in Jesus is the only hope for this sinful world. If you know someone who has quit coming to church, invite them back . . . offer to pick them up on Sunday morning . . . share with them the joy of God’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness. There is a whole world out there . . . going to hell in a hand-basket. Share with them the hope you have even in the midst of a troubled world. Let them know that Jesus came to save them . . . and that He’s coming again.

For the joy we have in our hearts is the joy of knowing that Jesus died and rose again . . . and that He’s coming again, just as He promised. And the day WE get to see HIM face to face, we will experience a joy that will be undiminished and unending. Unending joy . . . or as Jesus said, “. . . no one will take away your joy.” As John heard in the Revelation:

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."

That’s all going to be ours . . . “in just a little while.” As we patiently wait for that grand day of resurrection . . . and the joys and glories that follow, let’s share our hope with others . . . because we only have . . . a little while left. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Pastor B

Made One in Christ (John 17:20-26)

Anyone who has ever played or watched sports knows that there is more to a successful team than talent. Now, obviously talent is important. I mean, no matter how hard they try, a team of high school kids isn’t going to a game against any major league baseball team. Though, with the way my White Sox have played this year, they might not want to risk it. But when you have a number of teams all comprised of people more skilled at what they do than over 99% of the population, the team with the most talent doesn’t always win. This fact is what allows sports movies to keep getting made. From The Longest Yard to Major League to Hoosiers, the halls of sports cinema are full of films about scrappy underdogs defeating bigger, faster, stronger, more talented opponents.

In most of these movies, an initial lack of talent and cohesiveness is overcome through the course of a long season. Usually, some big event serves as the turning point for their season, after which the team gels into a tight-knit, fun-loving group who learn to play together and maximize their respective skills. In the end, it’s the unity and all-for-one and one-for-all mentality that helps them win the day. Rick Vaughan comes out of the bullpen to strike out Clue Haywood. Paul Crewe decides he doesn’t care what the dishonest warden threatens to do to him. Jimmy Chitwood hits the shot that wins the state title for tiny Hickory High.

What rarely gets shown though, is what happens next. Few sports movies get sequels. There’s a reason for that. There’s a saying in sports that winning the first championship is easy; it’s the second one that’s hard. After winning for the first time, many teams experience a “post-championship lull.” What happens is that after winning a title or championship, many players and coaches begin to take their success for granted. They start to buy into their press clippings. They get caught up in the accolades and fame, and focus on themselves rather than the team. The chemistry, the unity that was there the year before disappears. Sometimes it can be recaptured. Often, it can’t.

It seems so obviously self-defeating. From the outside, as a fan, it’s easy to criticize. It’s easy to question how they could forget about what worked the year before so quickly and so easily. It’s so easy to think that you wouldn’t fall into the same trap if you were in their shoes.

Problem is, everyone says that. No politician promises that if you elect him, he’ll go to Washington and be as divisive and partisan as he can possibly be. Nobody tells a new girlfriend or boyfriend that they’re going to put their own wants and desires above the other persons. No one tells the person interviewing them for a new job that they’re going to back-stab and scheme their way to the interviewer’s position.

Everyone says that they want unity. Everyone says they want harmony. Everyone says they want to be a part of the team. And yet the workplace is full of resentment. The republicans and democrats in congress always seem more intent on deriding the other party’s plans than working together to find the best solutions. Families feud and rotate between hurling insults at each other and not speaking at all. Even the church of God is split into numerous denominations, to say nothing of the divisions within individual congregations.

In thermodynamics, scientists study and deal with the concept of entropy. Simplified down to the point that I can understand it, the idea behind entropy is that when left to itself, anything will decay into disorder. To see entropy in action, look at my desk a couple days after I clean it. Or your child’s room a couple hours after their last toy has been put away.

Intellectually, everyone wants unity. In our heads we know it makes sense. We know it makes life easier. We know it makes life happier. And yet we can’t help ourselves. Because of our sinful natures, because we live in a broken and sinful world…discord reigns. As much as we want unity, we can’t help ourselves. We get selfish. We put our own desires first. We put our own careers first. We resent others who are more popular or more successful. We want what they have. While we want unity and team-work, we end up with division and resentment.

All of this makes Jesus’ prayer here at the end of John 17 all the more imposing. In our gospel reading for this morning, we find ourselves again in the upper room on the night of the Last Supper. Chapter 17 of John is commonly known as Jesus’ High Priestly prayer. In the course of it, he prayed for himself, he prayed for the 12, and he prayed for those who would know him through them. That is, he prayed for us. And his prayer for those of us who would call on and believe in his name is that we might be united as he and the Father are united.

Think about that means. Jesus’ prayer is that we, flawed and sinful as we are, might be as united as he and his Father. The Father and the Son have been united since the before the beginning of time. Jesus himself says in verse 24, “You loved me since before the creation of the world.” Not only did the Father and the Son love one another, but as we confess in the Nicene Creed, they were and are of the same substance. Meaning, both are equally true God, the first two persons of the Trinity. Two distinct persons, yet one God. The level to which the Father and the Son are one, are united, goes beyond what our human minds can fully comprehend. And yet it is that level of unity that Jesus prays his followers might have.

It seems impossible. As mentioned, you probably don’t have to look far to find signs of division in your life. Even in happy, loving relationships the level of unity and oneness pales in comparison to that of the Father and the Son. And no constructs we might create, no rules we might put in place are capable of creating that level of unity.

Thankfully, we are not expected to create this unity on our own. Instead, it has already been given to us. Jesus says in verse 22, “the glory that you have given to me I have given to the, that they may be one even as we are one.” The glory that Jesus has given to us was himself. Though it didn’t look like it to the world, Christ’s glory was fulfilled and our glory was won as he hung on the cross and died. And this glory which was won through his death and resurrection has been made sure for us through the waters of Holy Baptism. Paul writes in Romans chapter 6, “Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.”

Because the Son is one with the Father, and because the Son has made himself one with us through the shedding of his body and blood, we have been united both to the Father and to one another. By the grace of God the whole church of God is united through Christ and His Word. As Ephesians 4 says, “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” What Christ won through his death and resurrection was won for all believers throughout all ages.

Jesus’ desire and prayer was that his people would be united in all times, and in all places. But because of sin, that unity is not always evident. We have been given the Word of God to be the one truth around our lives and faith our built. It has been given to us to be the one truth by which the church is united and God is glorified, and yet many alter or reject it in order to suit their own desires. Of these people Paul writes in Romans, “"They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator, who is forever praised." And in 2 Timothy he writes that “the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”

So what are we to do when we see these false teachings make their way into the church? Paul’s instruction to Timothy, to other pastors, and to other believers in the church is “devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”

We in our lives and in our church must seek to not “agree to disagree”, but rather to always speak the truth in love. We must always seek to remain firm and trust in the saving power and grace of God, and pray that His will be done.

When we see division in our lives, when we see division in God’s church, our response should always be to return to God’s Word. To pray to God that he may continue to dwell in us and make his love known to us. To pray that we might have and see the unity that he desires for us. When we fail to live with the unity that Christ desires, we fall at the feet of the one who saves us, thankful that God’s grace and truth are bigger and more powerful than our imperfections. And we look forward to the day that Christ returns, when our unity with one another and with our heavenly Father will be made complete. Amen.

The Best is Yet to Come (John 16:23-33)

There’s a story about a young boxer from Oklahoma who moved to Chicago to train. He arrived in the big city with nothing but optimism and a suitcase under each arm. Upon departing the bus, he put down his suitcases, stared up at the Sears Tower and said to himself “I am going to conquer Chicago.” When he looked back down, his suitcases were gone. I imagine we’ve all had days like that. Days or weeks were it felt like nothing goes your way. Feeling like everything was stacked against you. Those times that it feels like no matter what you do, it’s wrong. That whatever you do, you just can’t win.

I imagine that’s how the Cumberland College Bulldogs felt one October day back in 1916. Cumberland was a small Presbyterian college in Tennessee. Though they fielded a strong baseball team, the school had decided to disband the football team prior to the 1916 season. There was one small problem, however. Back when they had a team, a game had been scheduled against Georgia Tech, a team coached by John Heisman.

When Cumberland asked about cancelling the game, it was made clear to them that this was not an option. Perhaps partly as payback for Cumberland having defeated Georgia Tech 22-0 in baseball earlier that year, the Bulldogs were told that cancelling the game would require full payment of the terms agreed to when the game was scheduled. That is, it would cost Cumberland $3,000; about $60,000 in today’s prices.
So, with few options remaining, Cumberland scraped together a 14-man team and headed to Atlanta to take on their powerful foes. Were this a Disney movie, the scrappy underdogs would have fought bravely before ultimately succumbing in the end.

However, this was no Disney movie. Georgia Tech started scoring early, and didn’t stop until the clock struck zero and the scoreboard read 222-0.
Have you ever had a day like that? A day where you try and try, where you push yourself to do the best you can, for no apparent reason? Maybe you’ve had one of those days where days, weeks, or even years of work seemingly disappear in the blink of an eye. Maybe you know what it’s like to suddenly be rendered numb and speechless by a phone call bearing bad news. Perhaps you’ve found yourself weeping over the sudden loss of a loved one.

Horatio Spafford knew all about those days. In 1871 Spafford was a successful lawyer in the city of Chicago. Early that year, his only son died. Later that fall, the Chicago Fire tore through his city, burned its way through his building, and left him near financial ruin. Two years later, he planned to take a holiday with his wife and four daughters to England. When business issues came up that looked to delay their departure, he sent his family ahead of him, planning to meet up with them a couple weeks later. However, while crossing the Atlantic, the boat they were on was struck by another vessel and sank. His wife survived, but all four of his daughters were lost to the sea.

When Spafford was able to set out and join his wife in England, his ship passed over the place his children had lost their lives. In the midst of his heartbreak, he went to his cabin, and wrote these words… “When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, It is well, it is well, with my soul.” The words that Horatio Spafford wrote in the midst of profound heartache has since gone on to become a dearly beloved hymn sung by others during their own times of grief and mourning.

There are some churches, some pastors out there who will tell you that God wants you to have your best life now. That if you believe in God, good things are going to happen in your life. That being a Christian, that being a child of the heavenly Father means you are going to be blessed with a better job, better behaved kids, a bigger house, and a newer truck. The bad times, it is implied, are the result of a not fully realized trust or faith.

If that’s true, what then do we make of the apostle Paul? In 2nd Corinthians, Paul runs through the list of the trials and hardships he had faced up that point. Just a sampling of his list says, “Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move.” Paul knew trial and hardship. Was it because his faith wasn’t strong enough?

What about Jesus himself? Who was ever more faithful than Jesus? Who deserved a life of comfort and peace more than him? And yet look what he endured. Three years of religious leaders trying to trap him in his words. No bed to call his own. Disciples who would deny even knowing him. Being beaten and mocked. Having nails hammered through his hands and feet, killed for sins he never committed.

Our Savior was intimately familiar with the truth that life is hard. That things aren’t always fair. And it’s going to continue to be that way. At least for a while. Jesus knew this, and told his followers to be prepared to face pressure and persecution. Sin prevails upon us every day, and in every way.

St. Peter writes, “Satan prowls like a roaring lion, seeking whom he will devour.” The evil one comes at us however he can. He wants us to be completely overwhelmed by our times of struggle. He wants us to feel overburdened. He wants us to wallow in the darkness of despair. He wants us to lose hope. He wants us to feel abandoned and alone. He operated this way in Jesus’ time, and he works that way today. And left on our own in a sinful world, he would break us. We would have no hope.

But the good news we have been given is that we aren’t alone, and we aren’t without a sure hope. The last verse of our reading for today quotes Jesus as saying “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Christ spoke these words to his disciples in the upper room a few short hours before he was betrayed by Judas into the hands of the Pharisees.

He knew what was coming, both for him and for his disciples. He knew they were going to be tested in the coming hours and days, and he knew they were going to fail. But his message to them was to take heart. That he was bigger than their trials. That he was bigger than the forces that sought to kill him. That he was bigger than death, bigger than the world. He was in control.

The reason that Horatio Spafford was able to write those words, the reason that we can hope to find peace in the midst of the chaos and tribulations of our own is because of the one to whom we look for comfort. We find peace not in the things of the world, but in Christ. Christ, who took the sins of the world upon himself. Even more, who took the punishment for those sins upon himself. So that we might have peace, he faced the full wrath of God. So that we might live with the hope of life in God’s eternal kingdom, the Son was abandoned and forsaken by the Father. By his wounds, you have been healed.

In our lives, we will face hardship. But in our trials, we are not facing the punishment of God. Jesus has forever removed from us the divine wrath. Instead, we are simply experiencing the effects of living in a sinful, imperfect world. A world in which pain , death, and struggle still exist as it waits for Christ to return again. But all things, we are assured, work out for our good. Every sorrow is used by God to benefit us. These sorrows though cannot compare to the glory that is to be revealed in Christ.

When we feel do feel beaten down by the world, Christ promises to carry us through. He tells us to remember and rejoice in knowing that he has already overcome the world. In our day to day dealings in the world, we might not always feel his presence. We might not immediately feel any less tired or beaten down. So you might wonder what that leaves us with. What we are left with is hope. We are given hope in the knowledge of Christ’s ultimate victory over death and the devil. We are given the hope that comes from knowing that even the good times in this life don’t hold a candle to what is to come.

This isn’t the hope that your request for vacation time gets accepted. This isn’t the hope that your husband remembered to stop at the store and get milk, or to put gas in the car before the price went up again. This isn’t even a hope that we do. It’s a hope that we have been given. It’s an object we can hold on to, not a feeling that may fade away. This is a hope that can only be given to us by the one who makes us and calls us his own. It’s a hope that comes from the one person who has never failed to deliver on a promise. A hope in the promise that when we feel weary, he takes our burdens off of our shoulders and takes them upon his own. A hope in the promise of eternal salvation, and in the promise of eternal peace before the throne of our Lord Jesus. Amen.