EDITOR'S NOTE: On Oct. 23, 2021, I was ordained as a minister of word and sacrament in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and installed as pastor at Faith Lutheran Church in Wolverton, Minn. I also served the same church for four years from October 2017 to October 2021 a synodically authorized minister. The journey together these past four years has been an amazing one, full of learning, growing and a deepening of my theological mind. This sermon took place on May 7, 2023.
This week's gospel: John 14:1-14
Jesus the Way to the Father
14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And you know the way to the place where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, but if you do not, then believe because of the works themselves. 12 Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.
The message:
Look at all of you modest folks here today.
I mean, mighty superheroes like you … and not a one of you wore your cape or superhero outfit to church today. … Well, unless you’re hiding it there under your clothing.
I guess that wouldn’t be that unprecedented. … After all, Clark Kent always wore his Superman outfit underneath his suit, didn’t he?
So, what about it …. Are you hiding your capes under there this morning?
You all look a little perplexed. … Surely you know what I’m talking about?
No. … Well Jesus refers to it right here in our gospel text today. … Here, in verse 12: “Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.”
Does that ring a bell?
Presumably Jesus is talking about each and everyone of us sitting here today. … After all, I assume that your presence today indicates that you do INDEED believe in Jesus Christ.
And as such … we are being called to great things. … To DO great things.
Super heroes. … That is what our belief in Christ makes us, Faith Family.
I see a lot of hesitant looks out there today. … Does it sound a bit daunting to you? … Being super heroes? … Being compared to Jesus Christ? … Our savior. The Messiah.
Well, I don’t think you’re alone. … I wince thinking of that pressure too.
Now, I don’t question your faith. … Don’t get me wrong. … In fact, I think there are a great many of us who find believing in Jesus worth the return of everlasting life.
But, if I’m honest, there’s a little something in Jesus’ words today that maybe could sound like there's a catch, isn’t there?
“But, wait just a minute, pastor,” I hear some of you thinking. “Yeah, a catch. It sounds like Jesus is talking about a catch?”
And you so you might be thinking further to yourself, “Pastor, you’ve mentioned time and again that God’s love … God’s mercy comes for free. … Not a one of us has to earn it.”
Well, yes … That is what I hope I am preaching and teaching each week. .... I try very hard to emphasize that point. … God’s free love. … God’s free mercy.
Then what gives with Jesus in today’s gospel? … What does Jesus mean that whoever believes in him will do great works?
I thought the gates of heaven were open wide to me. … Great works or no works, regardless.
And here is one of the hardest theological points for us humans to understand. … Yes, our grace is freely given to us by God. All you have to do is believe in our savior, Jesus Christ.
So 1 + 1 still does equal 2.
But here is the divine mystery at work.
Those who truly believe in Jesus Christ … are then changed … spiritually, mentally and physically … so that because THEY have received everlasting life, they … in turn … want to help Jesus continue his work here in this earthly kingdom.
Remember the last few words of that verse I read you earlier? … “... because I am going to the Father.”
Faith Family, Jesus is very plainly telling us that after he leaves, after he is crucified and sacrifices his life for ours … remember, so that we too may have eternal life … well, then, Jesus’ work … became our work.
Jesus is telling us today that … our belief in him should motivate us to carry on his pastoral care … should motivate us to carry on his ministry … should motivate us to carry on his healing … and, yes, even to carry on his miracles.
So 1 + 1 really does equal 3 … after all.
Faith Family … whether you know it or not. … Each and everyone of you is a superhero. … Not by our own making, of course.
But through our belief in Jesus Christ, the one and only living son of a loving God who transforms us.
Whew … How are you feeling? … Does that feel like a lot of expectation? … A lot of responsibility?
There is a lot expected of super heroes, isn’t there? … I imagine that we’ve all seen at least one of those Hollywood superhero movies. … That does seem like a lot of responsibility? … No getting around that.
And you might be silently thinking to yourself, “I don’t know if I’m cut out for that kind of work, Pastor.”
Well, let me put you at ease. … Because I think you’re already doing the work of Jesus Christ … the same very great works that he is referring to in today’s gospel text.
Every time you help to feed the hungry. … Every time you visit the lonely. … Comfort the sick. … Cloth those who are naked. … Give water to those who are thirsty. … Every time you help the least of these, you are doing the work of God, Faith Family.
But our very earthly challenge is that … there is no shortage of the poor, the ill, the lonely, the imprisoned, the estranged, the thirsty, the heartbroken, the crushed, the defeated.
And so what Jesus is calling on us to do today … each and everyone of us sitting here … and anyone else who professes to believe in him … is to keep doing the work HE set out on this earth to do.
Now, there is no telling what Jesus could have accomplished in these past 2,000 and some years … if our greed and jealousy and hate wouldn’t have killed him.
But we’ll never know … because Jesus was indeed crucified and took his rightful place alongside our Creator in the heavenly kingdom.
And so … that leaves us … Faith Family.
And, no, we may not be able to turn water into wine. … And you might not think that you can restore a blind man’s sight. … Much less bring a man back to life.
But Faith Family … we should not sell ourselves short. … Every single one of our acts of love and compassion are great no matter how big … or how small.
The “great” that Jesus is referring to isn’t measured in size or how people they impact or even monetary value. … The “great” that Jesus is referring to in today’s gospel is about how true and selfless and divinely inspired your acts are.
That is what makes you a superhero. … The simple fact that you are acting out of your belief in Jesus, and so you are moved to love and mercy and compassion. … That is the “great.” … That is the work. … That is what we are to do in this world now that Jesus handed that baton to us.
While Jesus was speaking to his disciples in this gospel text today … he also was speaking to us.
The story doesn’t end with his crucifixion, Faith Family. … Oh, well, sacrificed himself for me. … Thank you, Jesus! … I’m done. … I’m just going to wait around here for my just rewards. … Just going to kick up my feet here on earth until I’m called to my Creator’s kingdom.
No, Faith Family … the story doesn’t end here … it doesn’t end on the cross. … RATHER, we’re actually just beginning the next chapter of the story.
And Jesus has tapped us on the shoulder to tell us … your turn.
Faith Family … I don’t have to tell you how broken this world is. … It seems every day we are reading about a new mass shooting. … Several just in the past week alone.
We read about wars … and those dying from hunger … and the warming climate … and the waste we pollute our world with … and yet it seems all that we see around us is division, distrust, anger … even hate.
And so what can we possibly do as one individual. … The weight of this world seems overwhelming … so overpowering.
But take heart, Faith Family, what Jesus is asking of us today is … to just simply live out of love. … Leave the fear behind. … And if we do that, our capes will be revealed to the world … and the rest will come naturally.
If you say to yourself today, “I am going to accept that baton Jesus handed to me.” … I guarantee you that your perception will change … because the Holy Spirit will inevitably inspire change.
The Holy Spirit will move you to love … in small and big acts every day … in all parts of your life.
And that is what being a superhero in the eyes of the Lord means, Faith Family.
So be proud. … Strut out of this sanctuary today with God’s cape streaming out behind you … knowing that we have the divine ability to absolutely make 1 + 1 equal three.
Because we walk in Christ.
And that is the Good News for this Fifth Sunday of Easter, May 7, 2023. … Amen.
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