"The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved" St John 21. 19b-24 the Sermon for the Festival of St John, Apostle preached at St Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church—UAC by the Rev. Frederick E. Davison, Pastor December 27, 2008
+ + + Grace, Mercy, and Peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus the Lord. Amen. The sermon for the Festival of St John, Apostle, Evangelist speaks from the Holy Gospel appointed, the Holy Gospel according to St John, chapter 21, with particular focus on these words: "[Jesus] saith unto him, Follow me. Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on His breast at supper. . ." Thus far our text. Please be seated. In the Name of the Father and of the X Son and of the Holy Ghost. [Amen.] "Disciple whom Jesus loved" was the very one and the same "Disciple whom Jesus loved" who leaned on Jesus breast during that very First, Holy Communion, where Jesus first took bread and wine and spoke it to be His Body and His Blood saying, "This is My Body!" "This is My Blood!" And knowing the it is this same Jesus who would go to the cross, laying down His life, not for some generic friend, or some issue or cause, but specifically for him, St John, "the Disciple whom Jesus loved." Yes it is not at all odd that St John should not speak more highly of himself by writing his name into the text, but He preaches Christ humbly yet forthrightly. Seemingly without concern for offending the minds and intellect of those who would hear His Gospel proclaimed, He simply spoke of Himself rightly in relation to His Lord Christ. Indeed, later in His life according to the Word of Christ, St John would not die a bloody martyrs death, but nonetheless would suffer for the testimony of Jesus being abandoned to the Isle of Patmos, of course even there, separated from the saints He so loved, the world to whom he so desired to proclaim Christ, he would have grace upon grace, indeed "the Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave to him…" again John speaks not of himself, withholding even his own name, He preaches Christ. It was Christ St John was concerned to proclaim, and offending our ability to reason was not his primary concern if at all, for St John recalls for us that Jesus said, "I am the Living Bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of This Bread, he shall live for ever: and the Bread that I will give is My Flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." And again, "Whoso eateth My Flesh, and drinketh My Blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day." Yes this is he who leaned against Jesus breast when He first spoke "This is My Body!" "This is My Blood!" It's natural that John should think of himself so highly as to not think of himself, but He who gave His life, not for fame or fortune, but friends, particulary one named St John. He who once was called Boanerges, or Son of Thunder, was now simply known as the "Disciple whom Jesus loved." For indeed He did eat His Flesh and did drink His Blood, regularly and though it be "for the life of the world" St John knew it was for his own, indeed, for it was he who wrote, "we have communion one with another, and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." Indeed, it is by this most Holy Communion, Communion in His Body and His Blood, you become as he, that is you, too, become a "disciple whom Jesus loved." God grant it for His most Holy Passion's sake. [Amen.] In the Name of the Father and of the X Son and of the Holy Ghost. [Amen.] May the peace that passeth all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. [Amen.] -- the Rev. Frederick E Davison, Pastor St Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church--UAC the Pastor's E Mail: [email protected] the Pastor's Cell: 608-475-0860 Box 230 23357 CR AA Richland Center, WI 53581 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "For the question is not (to borrow words from Cyprian) what someone before us has done but what He who is before all both did before and commanded us to do." Martin Chemnitz, Examination of the Council of Trent, vol. II, p. 250. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ___________________________________________________________________________ 'CAT 41 Sermons & Devotions' consists of works that are, unless otherwise noted, the copyrighted property of the various authors; posting of such gives members of this list implied consent for redistribution _with_ _attribution_ unless otherwise specified by the author, as well as for quoting or use in a congregational setting _with_or_without_attribution_. Note: This list's default reply is to the *poster*, NOT the list. Do *not* reply to the list with your comments, but to the poster. Subscribe? Send ANY note to: [email protected] Unsubscribe? Send ANY note to: [email protected] Archive? <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/> For more information on this or other lists offered by Confess And Teach For Unity, you can contact the CAT 41 list administrator at: Rev. Fr. Eric J. Stefanski <[email protected]>
