<< Back to Sermon Archive

Sermon Date:	May 20, 2007 (Redeemer, Sanford)
Sermon Text:	John 17:20-26
Church Calendar:	7th Sunday in Easter
Delivered By:	Rev. Brian Roberts

"Things Go Better with Christ"

This past Thursday marked the celebration of Christ’s Ascension into heaven. In the church year, this is now the time between that event and Pentecost next week. Yet our Gospel lesson, this week, is a portion of a prayer that Jesus spoke to His Father in heaven on the night before His crucifixion.

The reason for Christ’s prayer is that, through His death, resurrection, and ascension, He would soon be leaving this earth and the disciples behind. And, this would be a difficult time for His followers.

As Jesus ascended into heaven, with His disciples standing on the hilltop, watching Him go, the question had to be on their mind, “Why?” After all that Christ had done, after all that He had started, why was He going away?

Perhaps that question has crossed your mind from time to time: Why did Jesus ascend into heaven? Wouldn’t it be a lot better, if Jesus were still walking around down here on earth like He did in those New Testament times – in person, in the flesh?

He could walk down the aisle, stand here in front of us, and clarify all the differences that so many people have about Christianity. He could deal with our questions, solve all our problems, settle disputes, and heal divisions in the church. He could convince the doubting.

He could personally and visibly lead His church. And, we could use some guidance. In the Gospel lesson today, Jesus is praying for unity among his followers. He is praying for this not just for the disciples, but for you and me also. In verse 20 He says, “My prayer is not for them alone [that is the disciples]. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message [that is, you & me].”

But this unity seems to be in such short supply. So often, our lives are filled with the sinfulness and selfishness that shatters unity. This congregation experienced that shattering of that unity, as part of this congregation left.

There is a true story about two couples in a church in Texas who used to be best friends. The couples went bowling together, played dominoes, ate pizza, rented movies, and attended church together. Now, they won’t speak to each other. What happened? The fellowship hall needed new chairs. The committee recommended the plastic kind that you can stack four or five high. But at the board meeting some opted for regular folding chairs.

They were cheaper and could be easily stored. Others said the plastic ones were more durable. Some said they got brittle and cracked. The two couples who were close friends took different sides and joined the battle. Now, they don’t speak to each other, and one couple left the church.

It’s a sad fact, but our lives and Christ’s church often times, looks more like this story, than the unity that Jesus is praying for. Too often, the first thing that concerns us is what is best for us, personally, and then, how do we get it. And the fastest way to dissolve relationships and unity is to be selfish.

Because of the old sinful nature at work in our lives, we tend to look at the circumstances, the events, and the situations of our lives and focus on what’s wrong – criticizing, gossiping, and tearing down other people – and any hope for unity. Instead of focusing on the blessings, we want to amplify the problems. Sometimes, it all seems pretty hopeless.

And, this is the time to be reminded that Christ has provided a solution for our problems, whether they are relationship or circumstances. If we let Him, Jesus has volunteered to take our problems, and burdens, and fears, and failures upon Himself.

He has volunteered to can take control of the circumstances, events, and situations in our lives. If we let Him, Jesus has volunteered to lead us, and guide us, and protect us, as we experience life’s burdens and problems.

The Bible tells us that Jesus went away into heaven in order to reclaim His rightful position as King of kings and Lord of lords. In Ephesians 1, Paul says that Jesus sat down at the right hand of God “in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given. …And God placed all things under His feet.”

What that means, is that Jesus is in the place of power. He possesses the authority over everything and is in complete control of everything – in the world, in the church, and in our own lives.

Now, in Christ, no struggle, no injustice, no loss, no failure, no sorrow, no suffering stands alone. In Christ there is always something else attached. Always, there is a promise. Always, there is a final word. And that final word is mirrored in the life of Christ.

Look at Jesus’ life: He was born under crisis circumstances – ending up in a barn. His life started out as a refugee in Egypt, because the King wanted to murder Him. He was raised in a backwater town. During His ministry, He was harassed and scoffed at by critics, and hated by church leaders. Finally, He was arrested, tortured, and executed.

By worldly standards His life was out of control, and it ended in failure. Yet, in all of these things, God was building something – through the turmoil there was purpose. God was working out the penalty payment for your sins. His purpose was the application of love and forgiveness in you. From the then and there, He saw you, here and now. “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message.”

Our Lord’s resurrection and ascension was the proof positive that nothing, was actually, out of His control.

In the depths of our troubles – while we are furiously trying to figure things out, God tries to turn our eyes to the cross. He seeks to remind us that even in the harshest times of disappointment and failure, God is at work with His power and bringing about a greater purpose.

In the poisonous attitudes of this world – the empty tomb, reminds us that even when we can’t see any hope, God is able to resurrect hope and a new life. And the ascension to heaven demonstrates that in Christ, all things actually do work out according to God’s plan.

For we, who are connected to Christ by faith – we, who through repentance, release the selfish hold we have on our lives, no setback, failure, loss, or suffering, now stands alone. Never, for us, will such things be the final word in our lives.

Through faith, Christ’s suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension is the spiritual road map that mirrors the course our lives will take. In Christ, we see how our lives will be.

Yes, here on earth we share in Christ’s suffering and death, as we experience the brokenness, the depravity, the sorrow, the guilt, the weariness of a sinful world and our own sinful nature.

We live the cross, every day. We know what those hurts and troubles are like – we all have our own long list of them. We know what it is like to have the enemies of sin, death, and the devil stalking us.

But, through the gift of faith that Christ has given to us, we also are living the resurrection. We have been raised up, spiritually from death, through our baptism – and we are alive in Christ.

Even now, we experience the heavenly blessings of Christ’s presence – through the Word of Holy Scripture and the Sacrament of Christ’s Body and Blood. We possess, now, the forgiving and comforting love of God, who through His Spirit dwells with us, daily. We possess, NOW, the power of God to overcome the struggles we endure.

And as it was Jesus, so it is for us – there is another chapter to follow. Out of the darkness of sin, death, and this world, there is a final word of glory. We will live the ascension.

This is what Jesus is talking about in the Epistle Reading today, when He says, “I am coming soon.” It’s the promise of a perfect heaven that we look forward to when Jesus proclaims, “I will come again to take you to be with me where I am.”

In this time that we live, before Christ returns in the same way He left, so much seems out of control in our lives and world. But we need to be reminded that God is moving us – just as He did with Christ – from death to life, from humility to glory, from confusion, sadness, and sorrow to joy.

Today, God is moving us here at Redeemer, as Ministry Partners with St. Luke’s. Actually, God has been moving us forward in this partnership since, at least, last October.

But once again in this life, Christ is taking the difficult circumstances with which sin tries to break us down, and He is transforming them. Today, Christ commissions us, as His brothers and sisters, to move into a new tomorrow. He is leading us into a unique relationship – Redeemer and St. Luke’s partnered in ministry. He is leading us into the unknown also – not unknown for Him, but for us. The key, however, is that we let Christ lead us.

Sometimes the troubles and pressures of our day cause us to focus on the negative things. Sometimes our worries allow us to see little else. And we descend into anxiety, or pettiness, or bitterness. But, even if it is only out of the corner of our eye – Christ prays that we would not lose sight of the blessings of His death, resurrection, and ascension.

Jesus prays that we would gather in worship and be united with Him and each other, so that we might receive the blessings of forgiveness, and strength and love, which we now have because of the blessings of Christ’s death, resurrection, and ascension.

Jesus prays that we would comprehend how useless life is without Him. And He prays that we would figure out how much of a gift it is to live out His ministry and His purposes in our lives.

God has given us an amazing gift in this new ministry partnership. He is letting us share in His work here in Sanford. And ultimately, Christ’s prayer is this: Never, ever, doubt – no matter what is happening – that God has a plan for us that leads to glory.

As Jesus prays this morning, “Father, I want those you have given Me to be with Me where I am, and to see My glory.”

Amen.

Top of Page

<< Back to Sermon Archive