You’ve Got a Friend

     Please read John 14:15-21.  Jesus begins the conversation saying, “If you love me, keep my commands.”  At first, we might think, if, what do you mean if?  Our response is, of course they loved Him and of course we love Jesus!  Love is more challenging than we sometimes consider it to be.  I encourage you to read 1 Corinthians 13.  Love means serving with humility, putting aside our egos, helping unconditionally, and honoring equality in all.  Loving Jesus means following in His footsteps: resisting temptation and being obedient. It is easy for us to say we love Jesus, but here Jesus is making it clear that this is not simply sentimentality, it’s showing love.  Jesus loved enemies, forgave without limits, voluntarily sacrificed, took care of the vulnerable and served with compassion even to those who he knew would turn against him.  He sacrificed for the good of others.

    Jesus set the standard, gave the commands and then promised the help providing believers with an ever-present comforter to help and strengthen us. While the Bible never explicitly mentions God as the Trinity, here Jesus explains the Trinity in simplicity with faith.  Believe in God, follow the commands and the Spirit of God will abide in you.  In this, believers are assured of God’s presence.  

     Like Adam and Eve, sometimes we chose not to listen, but here’s the point, God knew that and prepared for that.  Just like there are safety locks on the cabinets and equipment in cars that keep us from veering into another lane of traffic, God protects and guides us to do what is good and right.  God equips us with the gift of prayer, Scripture, and role models, and has given us the gift of the Spirit.  The Spirit gives us the strength to witness reminding us of what we know…but we cannot be reminded of what we do not know, so it is essential to spend time with God and Scripture.  

     I can’t help but think back to the beginning of the school year, watching the parents at the edge of the parking lot, holding on for one more minute and assuring them that it will be ok, and they will be waiting for them when the school day ends.  Separation anxiety is real and here Jesus is assuring the disciples and us of God’s presence.  Through the tears, tantrums, sleepless nights, and stomachaches, the children (sometimes parents) learn to trust and eventually the fear is relieved.  Friends, how much greater is our God who has supplied believers with the comfort of the Spirit?  Who is our safeguard and assists us in our decisions.  Who is our interceder, mediator and advocate, who is with us and in us, gathering believers “moving our hearts toward Christ, and drawing us in love and obedience.”  The Spirit is our helper in our weakness, interceding when we are unable to gather our words, and pleading for us to be in harmony with God’s will.  

      Church, Jesus was keenly aware of the disciple’s frustration, concern, fear, confusion, wonder and stress.  He knew what was ahead and was preparing them.  He was leaving them and was addressing the “what’s next?”  We, too, are often faced with the same question.  The answer is twofold.  He explains, “Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.”  Church, the presence of the Spirit and life eternal in Christ are promised in these words.  

     This text continues telling us how we prevent a heart from feeling troubled. In verse 27 He says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.”  Our world is full of uncertainty; the world cannot give what it does not have. The world knows a temporary and fleeting peace, but the peace of trusting and knowing God is a prevailing peace.  God’s peace is not the absence of problems…but the palpable presence of God during the problems.  Hearing the nightly news highlights that peace is what is missing in this time and that is precisely the point…we need to draw on the strength of the Spirit.  God will direct our steps when we listen, defer to Him, and trust in Him.

     Friends, we will encounter tension and face challenges, Jesus did. It is important to note that He did not remain quiet about what mattered, He modeled for us how to respond with love.  He balanced conflict with grace and forgiveness, never shying away from injustice. He challenged opposition with respect.  

     When we find ourselves anxious, fearful, or worried, as the disciples did, I believe it’s because we are not being attentive to the Spirit’s guidance. The Spirit teaches us what God desires us to learn. If we are not attuned to God’s presence we may miss God’s consul.

     We are not living in unknowns, we are living in hope. Confident in who holds our tomorrows and to whom we belong.  As Eugene Peterson writes, “That’s my parting gift to you... I don’t leave you the way you’re used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don’t be upset. Don’t be distraught.”   We are blessed through God’s goodness, mercy, and strength.  Let’s love, really love, resting in God’s presence, and confident of His promises.  And all God’s people say, amen!

Blessings,

Pastor Kerry

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