Sermon for Easter V
May 19, 2019
John 16:12-22
Before he turned the tender age of four years, our son, Andrew, had two surgeries where he had to be put under. The first was surgery on his eye to deal with a muscle that was pulling too strong in one direction. He also had his tonsils taken out. We didn’t tell him what was going to happen. It would have scared him. It was better that he didn’t know what was going to happen. As the nurse came to get him, our hearts ached knowing what he would experience. As they wheeled him away in the little wagon, he was given a balloon with a form of laughing gas that would sedate him. He wasn’t ready for the truth. We are grateful to the Lord as both surgeries went well. Now we can talk about it
In recent weeks we have had the post-Easter appearances of the risen Christ, on Easter, the Thomas account, and Jesus’ preparing a breakfast of fish and bread after a night of fishing. Last week was Good Shepherd Sunday. Today we switch gears a bit and go back in time to just prior to our Lord’s arrest, in the Upper Room as He celebrates the Passover with His disciples. He knows that the hours that lie ahead will be painful for them as they watch Him suffer and die. This is why Jesus is reluctant to reveal everything to them.
The full truth would be too difficult for them to bear. In a few short hours He would be given over the authorities as Judas would betray and Peter would deny Him. He would go through an unlawful trial, be whipped, spat upon, crowned with thorns, and crucified upon a bloody cross. It was simply too much for them. The truth would crush them. He had told them earlier that “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” Luke 9:22
Now, it was about to happen, in a little while. Out of compassion for these dear companions, Jesus spared them the specific details regarding what He knew would happen to Him and to them. “I have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, He will lead you into all truth.” You can’t handle the truth now, but there will be a time when the truth will carry you.
Many scholars believe Jesus is literally preparing the disciples for the next 72 hours and that is all. The hard cold truth is that Jesus must die. That will be hard for the disciples to grasp. “You will see me no longer.” He would be hidden in death. They would not see Him as His lifeless body lay wrapped in burial cloths in the deep darkness of a sealed, guarded tomb. Life as they knew it had drawn to a close. They would be completely lost. That’s what happens when we hear about the tragedy of one’s death. How can life go on?
But Jesus didn’t leave them without hope? “A little while, and you will see me now longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” When the disciples ask what Jesus means, He explains, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.” The world was seeking the demise of Jesus. The world would rejoice because she was convinced that God was dead, that death now reigned. Those in the world put themselves in the place of God. The world’s joy and the weeping and tears of the disciples was only for a moment. Jesus would be the unblemished, sacrificial Lamb on this Passover. He gave Himself as the ultimate sin offering, in our place. Sadness and sorrow would come. Followed by great joy.
Jesus rose from death on the third day. Easter happened and it turned sorrow into joy. His lifeless body was raised to life. As a result there was joy. Their joy was not manufactured from within them. John 20:20 “They rejoiced when they saw the Lord.” The joy came from without, from Jesus, risen from the dead. Easter turns sorrow into joy.
Our situation is vastly different than the disciples. We know what happened. We live as Easter people. We have heard the account of these eye-witnesses. We know that Jesus lives. And still, we live in the now, not yet. Heaven is our sure and certain hope where our joy will be out of this world. But we still live in this miserable world where we struggle against the unholy three, the devil, the world, and our own selfish sinful flesh. We continue to struggle. We struggle with weeping, with mourning while the world is rejoicing.
And the world does rejoice. The world that hates God rejoices when we do nothing to defend the powerless or to help those in need. We have seen in recent days how the world clamors for death as many hold that the killing of innocent children should be celebrated. The world that hates God rejoices when our comfort is more important than discipleship. I have found that more and more people in our community do not have transportation. Are we willing to reach out to people who don’t live within walking distance of the Shepherd to bring them to church? The world rejoices when love grows cold and we only talk to the people who agree with us. The world rejoices when we refuse to serve others without expecting something in return. For whom did you make a difference this past week? Who’s day did you make through a word or act of kindness? It is our opportunity to share the joy of Jesus.
We shed tears for many reasons. We know that Jesus wept when Lazarus died. Death brings separation and sadness. A 26 year old killed in a roll over on Friday morning near Wilton. We hear about a murder, suicide in the small town of Ryder. Emotions erupt and the tears begin to flow. Physical pain can be overwhelming. Many people live with chronic and seemingly unending pain. We are disappointed when others let us down or when we don’t meet the expectations of others.
The world that hates God loves to see families destroyed and churches silenced. “How dare you talk about life or marriage based on God’s Word? You Christians are so hateful!” While the world is against us, there are certainly times when we join the world in rejoicing over things that should bring only tears or sorrow. These are sins for which we are guilty and deserve eternal weeping and gnashing of teeth. Because God so loved the world, we are not doomed to die for our agreeing with the world. God sent His Son to remedy our sin and our sadness.
So where is the joy? Joy comes when things go well. We saw great joy as we attended the Fargo Marathon on Saturday. The two women who qualified for Olympic tryouts were joy-filled as they crossed the finish line. Some 10,000 runners ran and completed either a 10K, a half marathon, or a full marathon. Yes, it was painful during the time. It was miserable day with temps in the 40’s, rain and wind. It was worth the pain to experience joy.
Jesus talks about the joy of a mother who forgets the pain of childbirth when her child is born. The Lord delights in you. He desires to spend eternity with you. That is why He sacrificed His own dear Son. Joy is expressed in our hymns. Joy to the world, the Lord is come! The Hosanna handbells make a joyful song. In John 15, when Jesus talks about being intimately tied to Jesus as a branch abides in the Vine, bearing fruit. He desires us to be with Him forever. “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” These words echo the words of our text from John 16, “So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.” The work of the Spirit is to bring joy to us through the Word and Sacraments. We gather in God’s house to be filled with joy. “I rejoiced with those who said, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
EASTER! Easter turns sorrow into joy, because you can look for your sins but you won’t find them. As you confess your sins and look to Jesus, your sin is forgiven. You can’t see them. The Lamb took them into the tomb and He left them there and there is joy. You look at a world that looks out of control and then you remember that death could not hold Him. You feel the world beating against you and then you remember that Jesus is stronger. He lives to grant you daily breath. Easter turns sorrow into joy.
The devil, the world and our own sinful flesh have been conquered by Christ our Lord. We can hear and face the truth. We know the truth of what took place in the hours after this conversation in the Upper Room. Our loving and tender Savior was preparing His disciples for what would happen to Him. After Jesus rose from death, the image became much clearer for them. It was necessary for One Man, the God-Man, to die for the sins of the people, yours and mine included.
The promised Holy Spirit came on Pentecost and some 3,000 souls came to faith as they heard the truth about their sin and their Savior. Jesus has sent the Spirit who revealed the truth, through the hand of the eye-witnesses, pointing clearly to Christ, to His perfect life, His crushing death, and glorious resurrection. He desires to give you all of the gifts won for you by Christ. Your sin is washed away in your baptism. You are refreshed, forgiven, and strengthened as you receive Christ Himself in His Holy Supper. True and everlasting joy will be to dwell in the house of the Lord, in heaven, with Jesus. You may have sorrow now, but Jesus promises He will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.