Sermon for Easter 6: "Overcoming the World" (John 16:23-33)

 

Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen!

 

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

 

[Intro]

 

Christ Himself says: “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

 

So, why, then, do we fear the world as if it were triumphing over us?

 

Have you found yourself worrying about the future? Do you ever feel like the world is winning the culture war?

 

You may be depressed seeing the morals of Christianity shoved to the side in favor of hate, violence and sexual immorality. We see this all the time if you turn on your television set. The moral-oriented television shows of the past have been replaced with sex and violence.

 

Our news programs have been replaced with non-stop political bickering and constant opinion and conspiracy theories.

 

The world keeps telling Christians how to live out the faith. The world desires that Christians keep their faith to themselves, rather than allow Christians to tell others about Christ.

 

The world opposes Christianity and desires to suffocate the good news of Christ.

 

We may feel like our religious freedom is at stake, which it might be. But should that deter us?

 

That surely didn’t deter Jesus as He accomplished His earthly ministry. Jesus was always at odds with the world.

 

“He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him” (John 1:10-11).

 

Jesus came to bring peace to this troubled world, even if the world didn’t want it.

 

So, what are Christians to do in this world that seems to thrive on hatred, violence and sexual immorality?

 

What are Christians to do when we feel we are out of place, out of step, out of time? What are we to do?

 

[The Answer]

 

In this morning’s gospel lesson, Jesus gives us the answer. He teaches us to rejoice and to pray.

 

As the world comes at us with attacks, Christians, one and all, rejoice, with exultation springing. We proclaim the wonders God has done, how His right arm the victory won!

 

First, we rejoice knowing that by grace through faith in Jesus, we are saved. We are reconciled with God the Father. We are secured through Christ’s death and resurrection! As Luther writes in our hymn: “For I am yours, and you are Mine, And where I am you may remain; The foe shall not divide us.” (LSB 556, stanza 7)

 

You see, the foe is the world and the world is led by its prince, Satan. So, no matter what the foe throws at us, as long as we remain in Jesus, we are protected from the evil one.

 

Second, Jesus speaks of prayer. He teaches His disciples to pray once more in order to endure the future. We pray to endure the future.

 

Now, the world is against prayer. The world doesn’t want anyone speaking to God. This is why over and over again, the world says: prayer doesn’t work.

 

The world would rather see humanity respond with unconstrained emotions, rather than speaking to God and reading His Word for answers.

 

In today’s gospel lesson, Jesus speaks to His disciples on Maundy Thursday and teaches us that we are not alone in worldly tribulation, for He has given everyone in Jesus direct access through prayer.

 

Jesus teaches us that through Him, we have access not just to Jesus, but to the Father and the Holy Spirit.

 

Even though Jesus has not died and rose as of yet, He has declared victory over the world. He declares victory, because He knows the outcome. He knows the future. He knows, because He is the very Son of God.

 

Through Christ’s death upon the cross and His resurrection from the grave, we are now free to pray to the Triune God – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – whatever is on our mind. Jesus alone has reconciled us to God the Father by grace through faith in Him.

 

But are there any exceptions to what we can pray for? Well, we are to pray for all things that are good and right, as we prayed our Collect of the Day this morning. The only things we can’t pray for are things that are the opposite, which are evil things and wrong things.

 

To put it simply, God will not accept a prayer about harming your neighbor or anything else that conflicts with God’s Word, but we are free to pray for anything that is good and right, even stupid things, small things, as well as large and impossible things. And when we pray, we are to pray knowing that God’s will is done, not our will.

 

So, we pray when we have doubts, questions, desires and especially when we face tribulation.

 

[Tribulation]

 

Again, today’s gospel text takes place on Maundy Thursday, the very night when Jesus was betrayed. Tomorrow would be Good Friday, the day of His death.

 

For the disciples, they were soon going to face tribulation. They were soon going to face doubt and fear.

 

Jesus knew what His disciples would do when He would be arrested, tried, crucified and die. He knew that they would scatter.

 

Jesus said, “Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone” (John 16:32).

 

And so they did. They scattered and hid from the Jewish authorities in fear that they would soon face the fate of Jesus.

 

They thought the three years with Jesus all came to a close. For it appears that they didn’t expect to see Jesus again, even though Jesus just said a riddle about His death and resurrection, “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while you will see me” (John 16:16).

 

We, too, scatter much like Christ’s disciples. They said they believed Jesus came from God the Father, but when the pressure came, they ran from their confession of faith. They deserted Jesus.

 

We say the same confession in the Creed. But, how many of us run from our confession of faith when we’re questioned if we abide in Christ’s teachings?

 

The world is always assailing us. Sometimes we give in, but when we turn back to God through repentance, we are forgiven. Christ’s disciples were forgiven for their unbelief. Likewise, we receive the same forgiveness.

 

Jesus has promised tribulation as we live in the world. As Christians, we are outsiders to the world. We love as Jesus taught us to love, yet we are persecuted. When we do good by promoting life, we are punished as evil doers. We are attacked precisely because we have one Lord Jesus Christ. We are attacked because we are not one with the world.

 

But, each time our Christian faith is attacked by the world, we should remember that the victory has been won. Jesus has overcome the world. Jesus has conquered the powers of sin, death and Satan upon His people. Sin, death and Satan no longer have any power of us.

 

[Peace]

 

Jesus gives us assurance that we will come out of the tribulation and receive peace.

 

Jesus says, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33)

 

For His disciples, they were in much tribulation following Christ’s death, but their tribulation turned to joy when Christ appeared to them in the locked room three days later and said, “Peace be with you” (John 20:19).

 

At that moment, they were at peace. Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!

 

No longer did the threats of the world bother them. They knew that Jesus was victorious over the world! Jesus gave them peace!

 

Today, we will have much trouble. The world is against us – just like it was for Jesus and His disciples. But, we know the ending! We know that Jesus has overcome the world. We know that by God’s grace, all who believe and trust in Jesus inherit eternal life.

 

In the meantime, we pray amid tribulation knowing that God is listening. We know that whatever we ask the Father in Jesus’ name, He will give it to us. We know that through Christ’s life, death, and resurrection, Jesus has given us direct access to the Father. We know that we share in Christ’s victory over the world!

 

Each Sunday, Jesus reminds us that we are at peace as we receive strength for our weak faith in the Divine Service. We remember our baptism as we begin each Divine Service with the Invocation. We receive forgiveness of sins and strength for our faith with the Means of Grace, as we hear His Word and receive His Sacrament.

 

[Jesus Has Triumphed]

 

So, why, then, do we fear the world as if it were triumphing over us?

 

We should feel encouraged. We should be at peace. But, as Christians, we live in two spheres. In the world, Christians will face tribulation. We will face trouble, turmoil and persecution, precisely because of our faith in Jesus.

 

In contrast, we also have peace. We have peace in Jesus. Jesus assures us that whatever the tribulation, peace will prevail by grace through faith in Him.

 

Jesus has overcome the world. The battle has been waged and won by Jesus. He won this battle for you and for me. Despite the world continuing its wretched attacks, those in Christ share the victory He has won. As long as we remain in Christ, we cannot be harmed by the world’s evil.

 

We have overcome the world through the blood of Jesus, shed for you and for me. We have overcome the world through the bodily resurrection of Jesus, which gives us sure confidence in our peace. Amen.

 

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.

 

T SOLI DEO GLORIA T

 

Sermon for Easter 3: "Chosen Instruments" (Acts 9:1-22)

 

Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen!

 

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

 

[Intro]

 

Two chosen instruments of God: one a fisherman; the other, a Pharisee. The first man was with Jesus during His entire ministry, but later denied being one of His disciples. The second man believed he was devoutly loyal to God, but later God revealed to him that he was persecuting God’s people.

 

Our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ summoned these men and countless others, including us, to confess the name of the Lord. Despite the unworthiness of Peter and Paul, Jesus redeemed them and all believers through His death upon the cross and His bodily resurrection from the grave. Jesus died, so that everyone who believes in Him would be redeemed and receive God’s grace of forgiveness. Jesus rose, so we would be certain of our hope.

 

Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!

 

[Paul, the Persecutor]

 

In the earliest years of the Christian Church, it would have been difficult to find a more dedicated opponent of Christ than Saul of Tarsus. From supporting the stoning of Stephen to rounding up and imprisoning Christians in Jerusalem, Saul did his best to destroy the Christian Church. 

 

Why would Saul do this? Well, at the time he believed he was fulfilling the will of God. You see, Saul was a Pharisee of Pharisees. He boldly spoke God’s Word as he knew it. And, what he believed was that Judaism was the true faith and Christianity was totally fake. What he couldn’t get over is why anyone would follow a man who died a criminal’s death — death by crucifixion.

 

Now, Saul believed that Jesus’ death was justified. He believed that Jesus was a fraud. He believed that Jesus was leading people away from the true God.

Saul was also well aware of the claims that Jesus had been resurrected from the dead, but he thought those claiming this were crazy. He thought everyone speaking of His resurrection was delusional.

 

So, Saul considered it his holy duty to persecute the Christians without let-up and without mercy. He felt this was his godly duty to protect the Jewish faith from these delusional and misguided followers of Jesus.

 

In doing so, Saul was filled with righteous rage and righteous hate. Saul believed it was his duty to arrest Christians and bring them back to Jerusalem for punishment.

 

Today, persecution of Christians continues. Christians in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia deal with persecution every day. Islamist and communist governments murder Christians and destroy churches just because they can. Here in the United States, we typically don’t see the physical persecution, but we do see a sinful culture that daily identifies Christians as haters and lifts up Islam as a true religion, which it’s not.

 

This constant fear of death, but hope in Christ’s promises, is similar to what the First Century Christians faced with Saul. Instead of one Saul, there are many Sauls. This is what the Christians in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia face today. They each know they may have to suffer and die for their faith in Jesus. But, they also know that they will enter paradise for their faith in Jesus. As North American Christians, this should also be our expectation. As Christ was persecuted, we should expect persecution.

 

This is how we can picture Saul. First Century Christians knew what to expect when Saul entered the area. They expected to become a martyr.

 

[Jesus Appears to Saul]

 

Now, one day, Saul received permission from the High Priest Caiaphas — via the Sanhedrin — to expand his persecution to Damascus, so he could arrest Christians there and bring them back to Jerusalem for punishment.

 

Jesus, though, had other ideas.

 

As Saul was on his way to Damascus to persecute Christians, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:4b) Saul responded: “Who are you, Lord?” (Acts 9:5a). “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do” (Acts 9:5b-6).

 

Everyone traveling with Saul witnessed the bright light and heard sounds, but it was only Saul who experienced the fullness of this revelation. Only Saul heard the voice of Jesus.

 

Immediately, Saul’s eyesight went blind, but he began to see things clearly. He realized that in persecuting the Christian Church, he had been persecuting the true Messiah. He realized that he had been persecuting God.

 

With this knowledge, Saul was led by his men hand-in-hand to Damascus to await what he was to do.

 

While in Damascus, Saul neither ate nor drank, but only prayed to God for he now knew that the Scriptures testified about Jesus.

 

[Jesus Appears to Ananias]

 

Jesus also appeared to Ananias, a disciple of Jesus, who lived in Damascus — a man that likely Saul came originally to arrest. Jesus told Ananias to visit Saul so that he would regain his sight. But Ananias knew of Saul. He knew Saul’s reputation. He knew that Saul could arrest him. He was puzzled. He was confused.

 

Jesus later said to Ananias: “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15). 

 

Later Ananias came to Saul, laid his hands on him, and baptized him in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Through God’s gift of healing, Saul’s eyes were opened to see, and through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, Saul was brought out of darkness into God’s marvelous light.

 

Saul had been Christ’s enemy, but Christ graciously forgave him and transformed him into a friend. 

 

By God’s grace, Saul had been unconditionally forgiven and unconditionally restored by Christ. Jesus then sent out Saul as his chosen instrument to bring that same gift of reconciliation to the world. He received grace and now Saul proclaims this grace to all people.

 

Through God’s wisdom, our Lord chose to send the message of grace to sinners through sinners. Who better than Saul, who called himself the chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15), to speak the comfort that Christ is the friend of sinners?

 

[Forgiveness Isn’t Easy] 

 

Even though Saul was forgiven by God, forgiveness from fellow Christians wasn’t as easy. You see, they remembered how Saul terrorized them. They remembered his threats against them. Eternally, Saul was forgiven, but temporally, he was seen as the same old Saul. Even Ananias wasn’t rearing to visit Saul, until Jesus calmed his fears by calling Saul His chosen instrument.

 

We might not have participated in the organized persecution of Christians, but we are every bit dependent on God’s saving grace as Saul.

 

We each come into this life with a fallen, sinful nature that looks in toward itself rather than up to the Lord. We, by nature have a mind that is hostile to God and we do not want to submit to God’s moral law. In short, we are all by nature enemies of God.

 

Our sinful nature wants to withhold forgiveness. Our sinful nature likes having a sense of power over one another.

 

Likewise, our sinful nature doesn’t like saying, “I’m sorry,” either. Our sinful nature always thinks of itself as always right.

 

Our sinful nature does not want to forgive others who wrong us. This is how the early Christians thought about Saul.

 

So, when someone who has terrorized you suddenly desires to be your friend, how would you react? Wouldn’t you be cautious? Would you wonder why? Would you forgive them if this person said they were truly sorry for what they had done?

 

In time, Saul was trusted by the fellow Christians since he never wavered when he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues saying: “He is the Son of God” (Acts 9:20).

 

As a sinner forgiven by Christ, Saul received God’s grace and we too, receive God’s grace. The Holy Spirit inspired Saul to write about God’s grace more than a hundred times in His epistles, which gives every Christian confidence that through Christ’s death and bodily resurrection, everyone who trusts in Jesus as Lord is eternally saved by grace through faith in Jesus alone.

 

[Chosen Instrument]

 

Now, Jesus continually calls those considered least likely to serve His plan of salvation. No one expected Saul – a persecutor of the faith – to become a messenger of the gospel. No one also expected a ragtag group of fishermen, who didn’t always understand Jesus, to become messengers of the gospel. No one would expect Peter to be forgiven for denying Jesus three times as his Lord faced trial. But that is exactly what Jesus does.

 

Jesus said to Peter three times, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” (John 21:15, 16, 17). And for three times, Peter responds in repentance saying, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you” (John 21:15, 16, 17). Jesus absolves Peter saying: “Feed my sheep” (John 21:17).

 

In His threefold exchange with Peter, Jesus restored His disciple to service to Him and His flock. Jesus gave him grace.

 

You see, our own past sins and failures often make us feel unworthy to serve God. We may think, “Why would God ever forgive me? I wouldn’t forgive myself.” But Jesus continues to comfort our souls with forgiveness of sins and with compassion. He gives us grace.

 

This is extremely true for Saul. Saul was on the fast track to influence and power among the Jewish authorities. He was rounding up Christians that he believed deserved what they received by the Sanhedrin. Saul may have eventually become a leader among the Jewish authorities, but instead God chose him to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

In proclaiming the gospel to the Gentiles, Saul uses his Greek translation of his name, Paul. As now God’s chosen instrument, Paul becomes a special messenger of the Gospel.

 

As a Roman citizen, Paul is now able to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ far and wide throughout the Roman world. At the same time, Peter continues to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ among the Jews.

 

[Our Call]

 

Today, the Christian Church continues where the apostles left off.

You see, all of us here today are also chosen instruments of God. Just as Christ did for Saul and Peter, He came to each one of us personally to give us the new life that He purchased for us upon the cross and in His resurrection. By water and the Word, He shined His light into our hearts. Having paid our ransom upon the cross, He came to us personally to free us from sin, death and Satan.

 

Just as Christ cared for Paul and Peter in their mission work, Christ continues coming to us to give us forgiveness and strength for our weak faith in the Lord’s Supper. He comes to us through His Body and Blood in the bread and wine to restore us as His chosen instruments.

 

Though we have not earned this, it is given to us as God’s free gift in Christ through His death and resurrection. This is grace. 

 

As forgiven, redeemed and justified like Paul and Peter, we are chosen instruments of God. As chosen instruments, we live out the one true Christian faith in our words and actions. We live our lives forgiven and tell others of the grace we have received.

 

We were enemies, but through Jesus Christ, we have been transformed from enemies into friends. We have been transformed into Christ’s chosen instruments.

 

So, if someone asks you about your hope, we are to proclaim like Paul and Peter that everyone who repents and trusts in Jesus is no longer God’s enemy, but is God’s friend. It doesn’t matter the sin of thought, word, or deed. Through repentance, we are forgiven!

 

For this, we should celebrate God’s grace! This is exactly what we do each Sunday morning in the Divine Service. We celebrate what God has done for us and what God continues to do for us! In response to God’s grace, we tell others what God has done for you and for me as His chosen instruments! We were enemies of God, but by grace through faith in Jesus, we are forgiven!

 

Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia! Amen.

 

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.

 

T SOLI DEO GLORIA T