Sixth Sunday of Easter - Video of Divine Service and Sermon Text
Sixth Sunday of Easter
1 Peter 3:13-22
John 14:15-21
Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
O Lord, let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, my rock and my redeemer. Amen.
One of many things I enjoy about being called to serve St. Luke and Our Saviour is the relatively sane driving conditions I enjoy as I travel around the region. I enjoy the two-lane roads, except, of course, when I get behind a large vehicle that is going less than the speed limit and I have somewhere to be.
The challenge of the two-lane road is safely passing the one, two, or three vehicles that prevent expeditious travel. Often, we, or I, cannot see around the vehicles enough to know what is coming and whether the oncoming traffic is far enough away. And, is the person driving slower because they will soon turn left at the next road or driveway?
What will happen next? Do I or don’t I? Do I wait or go? And, if I do pass, will I shortly be met with another rolling roadblock? We just do not know what happens will happen next.
One of the themes arising from the reading on this sixth Sunday of Easter is the work of the Holy Spirit guiding Christians to make a defense of their faith. The thing about speaking about our faith is that we do not know what is going to happen next. What kind of response will come forth? A shrug of the shoulders, curiosity, mockery? We don’t know.
What we do know though, is that right before Jesus entered His time of trial and suffering for the sake of the world, Jesus spoke at length with the disciples. John 13-17 occurs on Holy Thursday. The Gospel reading for today is one small part of that conversation. The church places this text before us because next Thursday, the church will gather to remember the Ascension of Jesus and reflect upon its meaning for us.
The Lord never wants His disciples to feel abandoned. There will be great anxiety, confusion, and fear when Jesus is betrayed, arrested, and crucified. Before all of that starts, while ther is still relative calm, Jesus shares reassuring good news with the disciples. After Jesus completes his mission and ascends to heaven, the Holy Spirit, the Helper, will forever abide with them and all believers. The Holy Spirit will create and sustain faith within us. The Holy Spirit will dwell within us. The Holy Spirit will lead us into the faith and will encourage us to keep Christ’s commandments and to grow in the love of Christ. Through the Holy Spirit, the Lord Jesus is ever with us. Through the Holy Spirit, we are directed in our faith walk.
This assurance, among many others, is the foundation upon which we stand and dwell. Christ is with us. The Holy Spirit dwells with us. The Holy Spirit is the spirit of Truth. As Jesus explains elsewhere, this Truth is to be shared.
When we share our faith, we do not really know what is going to happen. We cannot see into the future. We are faced with a choice, Do we stay quietly in our proverbial lane or do we venture forth? If we venture forth, what happens after that? How will what we say or do be received? We know what we say, but what will people hear? We don’t know. We cannot see around the future.
While we don’t know how what we say or do will be received, we do know that the Holy Spirit is with us. We know this because Jesus tells us. Jesus says that the Holy Spirit will give us words to say. Jesus says this and so do the Apostles.
In his letter the Apostle Peter offers words of wisdom as he addresses a young church which includes Jews and Gentiles. The Jews have the witness of Moses and the prophets. They faced challenges and resistance while speaking for God. People were not always receptive to their words. The Gentiles do not have this heritage to draw upon.
Peter wrote this letter around AD 67. Jesus was crucified, risen, and ascended in AD 33. The church is only 34 years old. For Gentiles, there is no tradition of witnesses for them to learn from. Peter’s witness and encouragement is essential for them. As are their church family and Pastor. When Gentiles received Baptism into Christ’s promises, people would have noticed a change in their behavior. They no longer go to pagan worship sites or participate in pagan festivals. Their language would change. Rough and vulgar language would diminish. Married men may well be treating their wives and children differently. Through Christ, they may suddenly see them as the gifts that they are and begin to cherish them. The slaves will become more obedient and faster to defend their masters and co-workers. People notice changes like this. Someone is bound to inquire about what is going on and why aren’t you with us anymore?
Peter’s words come forth as you decide how to respond. “…even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts regard Christ as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.”
With Peter’s experienced words and the words of Jesus, and with the assurance that the Holy Spirit that created faith within you and dwells within, you dare to speak honestly “with gentleness and respect.” You do not know what will happen. You do know that Christ is with you and that He is to be shared. So you begin, “The change is because I have met my Redeemer. He is Jesus of Nazareth. He is the Son of God. He died on the cross and rose again on the third day. He forgave all my sins. I was in darkness. I worshiped false gods. I now live in his light and love with hope.”
What will be the reaction? Who knows? Regardless you are the Lord’s. His gift of life and grace far outweighs any discomfort or suffering. For what is suffering for Christ in this transitory life in comparison to eternal life with God?
Acts 17 shows the Apostle Paul having a wild adventure in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Verse 16 tells us that Paul was “waiting for them at Athens.” Waiting for who and why? “Them” is Silas and Timothy. Before Athens, Paul was in Thessalonica. But he had to leave abruptly because men from Berea, the town before Thessalonica, were inciting the crowds against Paul because of his preaching the Gospel. The brothers put Paul on a ship in order to get him out of town. He lands in Athens.
What a roller coaster experience Athens is. He starts out in the Synagogue, then he is in the marketplace where amongst others he dialogues with philosophers from the Epicurean and Stoic schools of thought. They, in turn, grabbed hold of Paul and took him to the Areopagus to speak with the crowd there.
You may recall that the Areopagus in Athens, Greece is where four centuries earlier the philosopher Socrates taught. Two of his students went on to publish and their writings survive. Xenophon wrote the Anabasis. Plato wrote the Republic and other writings. Plato’s student was Aristotle who later became Alexander the Great’s teacher.
Amid all this rich intellectual history, the Apostle Paul witnesses to Christ crucified and risen for you. When Paul spoke in the synagogue, the marketplace, and the Areopagus, he did not know what was going to happen. Verses 32-34 tell us the rest of the story: "32 Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” 33 So Paul went out from their midst. 34 But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris and others with them.” Some believed, some mocked. Paul was faithful to God’s leading in that moment.
Spiritual darkness and confusion are still very much with us. You are called into faith in Christ crucified and risen for you. The forgiveness, grace, and hope that sustains you is still needed in our world, even our two-lane road world. We can no longer assume that everyone knows or has heard. Jesus calls you to be His witness.
Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
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