Messiah Lutheran Church

Kenosha, Wisconsin

Exaudi – Easter 6 (May 16, 2010)

John 15:26-16:4

Exaudi2010

[This sermon was edited and modified from a 2005 sermon.  And yes, I know the audio makes it sound like I have a lisp.  I'm working on it...]

TITLE: “He Will Testify of Me”

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.  Our text for this morning is from the Gospel lesson just read, the words of Jesus, But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.

The New King James translation of the Bible lists this little Greek word paraklete as “Helper.”  Other translations will have the word comforter, or even the word counselor, like the right hand man of the king who speaks advice to him on how to run the kingdom.  But what does it really mean, to say that Jesus will send the Holy Spirit to us from the Father?  What does it mean to say that He is the Spirit of truth?  And what does it mean to say that the Holy Spirit will testify or give witness to Jesus?  Those are the questions we will try to answer this morning.

Jesus really gives us this message this morning as a warning and as a source of hope.  The warning is very simple.  If you are a Christian, the world will hate you.  Because you confess the faith once delivered to the saints, you will suffer.  Now I am not speaking here of the suffering that you will face because of sin.  We all suffer because of sin, either sin that we do, our sinful nature, or as a result of sin that is done against us.  That kind of suffering is, to a greater or lesser extent, the suffering that we all deserve in one way or another, because we are sinners.  Sinners do sinful things.  This is not something for us to be proud of, or something for us to expect or want to happen to us.  But there are consequences for sinful actions.

No, what Jesus is talking about here is the suffering that comes directly as a result of being a Christian.  As a Christian, you view the world in a different way.  As a Christian, your life is shaped by the cross of Jesus, and despite our sins and imperfections, that baptismal life shines within you just as surely as Jesus rose from the dead.

So what does it mean to say that you suffer as a Christian?  It means that because you believe Jesus forgives your sins, it means that your life is not lived here and now ultimately, but that you always have one foot in heaven.  This is a great and wonderful gift that God gives to you and I.  No matter what happens in this world.  No matter how messed up your life may become, no matter how dreary and lifeless it may feel at times, not matter what happens, it doesn’t matter.  Why?  Because Jesus has ascended into heaven with the Father, and that you are going there with Him.

But why does that cause suffering?  It causes suffering because the world cannot understand what makes you tick.  They can’t.  You have a whole set of priorities and a worldview that is simply impossible for them to comprehend.  That lack of understanding creates prejudice, hostility, and yes, even hatred.  Jesus tells us that the world will hate you.   Hate is a pretty strong word, dear friends.  But that’s Jesus’ word, so it must be true.  The world will hate you for who you are.  The world will hate you precisely because you are baptized.

The world, dear Christians, doesn’t see the big picture.  They can’t.  It’s out of their vision.  All they see is you wasting your money on offerings, blowing a perfectly good Sunday morning to sit inside and hear the Word of God, spending time teaching your children and even your neighbors the Christian faith.  That’s all they can see.  And they hate you for it.  It’s a waste.  It doesn’t make sense.  And if we are honest with ourselves, you have to admit that there are times when it doesn’t make sense to us either.  There are times when we are tempted to refuse our offering to God.  There are times when going to church seems more of a drag than a delight.  There are times when we forget the big picture and look at the details so much that we almost begin to believe the lies of the world.

But this, dear friends in Christ, is where the Holy Spirit comes in with help, with holy advice, and with comfort that goes beyond the day and into eternity.  The Holy Spirit, after all, is the spirit of truth, the spirit of the Father, the Spirit sent by the Son.  The Holy Spirit comes to you this day with words of hope and comfort.  The Holy Spirit comes to you this day in Water, Word and Meal to give you a hope for the future.  How is this so?  The Holy Spirit gives you Jesus.  It’s that simple.  He gives you the one thing needful.

How can this be?  How can it be that in the midst of all of your sufferings and sorrows, trials and heartaches, problems and pains that the one thing that you really need is Jesus Christ?  Jesus Christ is not simply a name but a person.  Your problems are not solved by answers in a textbook or self-help sort of way.  No.  You need a savior.  You need a rescuer.  You need a redeemer.  You need Jesus.

And here, dear baptized, you get Him.  I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly, Jesus says shortly before our text.  The hope and the life that Jesus gives you grants perspective.  It means that because you are in Christ and Christ is in you, that you have an eternity awaiting you.  The trials and sufferings of this day, as real as they are, and as hurtful as they may be at times, these will pass.  In fact, Saint Paul says, For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (Romans 8:18).

Rejoice this day, dear baptized!  Christ has worked all things for your good.  He has ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father for you.  He has sent you His Holy Spirit for comfort and life.  Believe it for Jesus’ sake.  Amen.

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in true faith, unto life everlasting.  Amen.

TITLE: “He Will Testify of Me”

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text for this morning is from the Gospel lesson just read, the words of Jesus, But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.

In ages past there were certain men who seemed to have a special connection with God. Abraham (Gen. 18:23-33; Gen 20:7, 17), Moses (Exodus 32:11-14, 32; Exodus 34:8f.; Numbers 14:13-19), and Samuel (1 Samuel 7:8f.) come to mind. There were also prophets like Amos (7:2, 5 f.), and Jeremiah (14:7-9, 13, 22).1 These men went to God on behalf of the people and pleaded their cause when God sought to judge them on account of their sin. In the same way the angel pleads before God on Job’s behalf when Job is stricken with a sickness.

Everyone can use someone in your corner at the proper time. These prophets of old are fulfilling one of our great needs in life. You need someone to counsel you on the right way to go. You need someone who will be honest with you, who is willing to speak the truth regardless of the consequences. You need someone who will always fight for you, always try to get what’s best for you, no matter what.

Of course, our problem is that we don’t know what is best for us. Even if we did know what’s best for us, it is unlikely we would actually do it. All you have to do is ask someone in the fast food business to find out about our collective willpower. We can look at the right thing to do, smell it, hear it, feel it, but still we go for the junk food, every time. St. Paul put it this way:

“For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.” (Romans 7:15-20 ESV)

What all of the coulda woulda shouldas mean there is that even when you know the right thing to do, you won’t do it. You won’t do what is best for you. You can’t. It’s not in your sinful nature.

So this brings us back to Jesus and to our text for this morning. St. John writes in his first epistle, “But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” (1John 2:1 ESV) What this means for you is that you have that someone in your corner. You have Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. Jesus is our advocate, our go-between with the Father. He is the one who communicates your needs to the Father and He is the one who communicates the Father’s wishes to you. And what does the Father want for you? That you be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. That’s what God wants for you.

So how does Jesus, the righteous One, deliver the will of the Father to you? He does it through the Holy Spirit. Our text (John 15:26) calls him the helper. That’s not bad, but it could also be advocate, mediator, or maybe supporter. The Holy Spirit, sent by the Father, is the Spirit of Truth. His job is to be a witness. He testifies to you about Jesus. But more than that, He actually delivers Jesus to you. That is why He is called the Spirit of Truth. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. The Spirit of Truth is the Spirit of Jesus, for that is who you receive in Him.

This is so important for us to understand, especially here between the Ascension of our Lord and the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. The Holy Spirit tells you the truth. He tells you who you are according to the perfect will of God. You are a sinner and you are dead and in need of redemption. But you are also a saint, holy and righteous in God’s sight, because of the blood of the Lamb, who died to redeem you from sin, death and the power of the devil.

Ezekiel has made this prophecy of our Lord as well, when He ties Holy Baptism to the coming of the Holy Spirit as follows. Our Lord says,

“I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.” (Ezekiel 36:24-28 ESV)

God is in your corner. He has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. He continues to guide you and lead you in the way you should go, through death and into the resurrection to eternity. He sends you His Spirit, who leads you in all truth, for Jesus is the Truth Incarnate. So come now to His Holy Table. Feast on the True Bread of Heaven. Rejoice in the truth of your salvation. You have been bought with a price. Believe it for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in true faith, unto life everlasting. Amen.

For an audio MP3 of this sermon, CLICK HERE

TITLE: “He Will Testify of Me”

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text for this morning is from the Gospel lesson just read, the words of Jesus, But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.

In ages past there were certain men who seemed to have a special connection with God. Abraham (Gen. 18:23-33; Gen 20:7, 17), Moses (Exodus 32:11-14, 32; Exodus 34:8f.; Numbers 14:13-19), and Samuel (1 Samuel 7:8f.) come to mind. There were also prophets like Amos (7:2, 5 f.), and Jeremiah (14:7-9, 13, 22).1 These men went to God on behalf of the people and pleaded their cause when God sought to judge them on account of their sin. In the same way the angel pleads before God on Job’s behalf when Job is stricken with a sickness.

Everyone can use someone in your corner at the proper time. These prophets of old are fulfilling one of our great needs in life. You need someone to counsel you on the right way to go. You need someone who will be honest with you, who is willing to speak the truth regardless of the consequences. You need someone who will always fight for you, always try to get what’s best for you, no matter what.

Of course, our problem is that we don’t know what is best for us. Even if we did know what’s best for us, it is unlikely we would actually do it. All you have to do is ask someone in the fast food business to find out about our collective willpower. We can look at the right thing to do, smell it, hear it, feel it, but still we go for the junk food, every time. St. Paul put it this way:

“For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.” (Romans 7:15-20 ESV)

What all of the coulda woulda shouldas mean there is that even when you know the right thing to do, you won’t do it. You won’t do what is best for you. You can’t. It’s not in your sinful nature.
So this brings us back to Jesus and to our text for this morning. St. John write sin his first epistle, “But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” (1John 2:1 ESV) What this means for you is that you have that someone in your corner. You have Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

Jesus is our advocate, our go-between with the Father. He is the one who communicates your needs to the Father and He is the one who communicates the Father’s wishes to you. And what does the Father want for you? That you be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. That’s what God wants for you.

So how does Jesus, the righteous One, deliver the will of the Father to you? He does it through the Holy Spirit. Our text (John 15:26) calls him the helper. That’s not bad, but it could also be advocate, mediator, or maybe supporter. The Holy Spirit, sent by the Father, is the Spirit of Truth. His job is to be a witness. He testifies to you about Jesus. But more than that, He actually delivers Jesus to you. That is why He is called the Spirit of Truth. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. The Spirit of Truth is the Spirit of Jesus, for that is who you receive in Him.

This is so important for us to understand, especially here between the Ascension of our Lord and the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. The Holy Spirit tells you the truth. He tells you who you are according to the perfect will of God. You are a sinner and you are dead and in need of redemption. But you are also a saint, holy and righteous in God’s sight, because of the blood of the Lamb, who died to redeem you from sin, death and the power of the devil.

Ezekiel has made this prophecy of our Lord as well, when He ties Holy Baptism to the coming of the Holy Spirit as follows. Our Lord says,

“I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.” (Ezekiel 36:24-28 ESV)

God is in your corner. He has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. He continues to guide you and lead you in the way you should go, through death and into the resurrection to eternity. He sends you His Spirit, who leads you in all truth, for Jesus is the Truth Incarnate. So come now to His Holy Table. Feast on the True Bread of Heaven. Rejoice in the truth of your salvation. You have been bought with a price. Believe it for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in true faith, unto life everlasting. Amen.

You can see that I have the ESV, NKJV and NA-27 open. In the Old Testament tab I have the BHS instead of NA-27. I also have the Book of Concord (Triglotta) open for the BOC reading for the week. In the bottom I have a user note which includes citations, sermon notes, and other items of interest.

What do you think? Could any of you use this, or something like it? I would be interested in hearing from 3-year lectionary folks, if there is something similar.

Here is the file for Exaudi for Accordance:

Accordance workspace for Exaudi

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