+In Nomine Iesu+
CANTATEEaster 5 St John 16:12-22 2 May 2010 See ya later. A very common phrase. If we havent used it our self, we have certainly heard it. See ya later. But what does it mean? Its rather indefinite, isnt it? Later. In a half-hour? Tomorrow? A week from Wednesday? We have something of this uncertainty in the Gospel this morning. <> A little while, and you will no longer behold Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me. The disciples heard these words and they were befuddled. They scratched their heads. We would have, too. We know the disciples were confused from what we read later on. Jesus knew that they wished to question Him . . . Confusion was written all over their faces. <> As we consider the Gospel this morning it is important to bear two things in mind. Fist, Jesus speaks these words before His crucifixion. And, secondly, we have the rest of the Gospel to tell us what happened. The disciples, as they listened to Jesus, didnt. <> So, first, Jesus speaks the words of our text before His crucifixion. When we keep that in mind we can begin to understand some things. A little while . . . Very soon in a matter of hours Jesus would be arrested. Things would move very quickly. Arrest, trial, crucifixion all these would pile up in quick succession. Humanly speaking, it wouldnt be long and the disciples would no longer see Jesus. He would be crucified. He would be dead. Buried. <> But in a little while they would see Him again. Remember, crucifixion was not the last word. After Jesus death came His resurrection. Death would be unable to hold Him. He would live again. And, after the resurrection on Easter morning the disciples would see Him again. They wouldnt understand it all right away. Indeed, they wouldnt all even recognize Jesus. And they certainly wouldnt be able to put all the pieces together. There would be great confusion among them that first Easter. And yet, it was true in a little while they saw Jesus again. <> But this is only part of the story. As I mentioned, we have the rest of the Gospel the rest of the Bible to inform us. We have promises from God that the disciples had not yet heard when Jesus spoke the words of our text. For instance, we have Jesus last words recorded by St Matthew. Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Thats present tense language. Jesus promises to be with us always. But more on that later. We also have the promise of the angels at Jesus ascension. This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven. At the time of our text the disciples had not yet heard that promise. We have. <> But what is a little while? In the first instance it was but a matter of hours. Jesus going and His coming were all accomplished by Sunday morning. From Thursday evening to Sunday morning that certainly qualifies as merely a little while, doesnt it? <> But there is something more here. That something more is Jesus final return. Can the second coming of Jesus on the Last Day in any way be defined as just a little while off? The answer is yes. St Peter writes, But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. The point is that we do not think as God thinks. Our view of time is not like Gods view. We think we know what a little while should be. God has a different definition. And His definition fits His desires. <> But because mankind is so wrapped up in himself so drawn into himself he cannot comprehend the ways of God. In that we are no better than the disciples in our text even though we should be. Man looks round and sees no evidence of Jesus return and comes to totally invalid conclusions. Well, its been 2000 years now. No Jesus yet. No ones seen Him since He left. Must have forgotten. Maybe He didnt mean it in the first place. Maybe Jesus really isnt all that dependable if, indeed, there ever was a Jesus. And the result of such thinking? Man follows his own inclinations his own ideas. Instead of looking to God in anticipation of Jesus return, man serves himself, thinking everything will simply take care of itself. Man reasons in this way: Im okay. Things are fine. The future will be okay, too. The only thing that really matters is the present, the right now. Thus he falls victim to Satans greatest temptation. Man becomes his own god. He depends upon himself. Sets his own standards for life his own agenda. Man does as he pleases. And the result? For many life is an empty shell. Surrounded by sound and glitter man lives in the midst of rust, dust, and decay. Life becomes a constant repetition of eat, live and be merry, for tomorrow we die. No real thought is given to anyone except that great trinity of Me, myself, and I. Oh yes, man will deal with others but always for his own benefit, not theirs. Man lives for himself, not for his neighbor. The disciples almost became guilty of that after Jesus crucifixion. In fear of their lives they hid in the locked upper room. Utterly terrified. Trying to protect their lives. No thought for anyone but themselves. If Jesus had not come to them that Easter evening they would have been lost. Lost not just in the sense of we dont know what to do, but also lost in the sense of being eternally dammed. Their hiding was nothing else than the evidence of unbelief. They doubted what Jesus had said. That in a little while He would come to them. In their fear they denied their Lord all over again. <> We can become guilty of a similar sin. Not that we hide, perhaps. No, actually, the opposite. We sometimes push ourselves forward. We can easily lash out at others push them out of the way. Wed never call it that, of course. Its simply taking care of business. We look out for ourselves. Economically. Socially. Politically. It can happen in many ways. And all because we have lost sight of Jesus promise of in a little while. <> I mentioned earlier that there was something else that should be mentioned. When Jesus promises His ongoing presence among His disciples he uses present tense language. That language applies yet today. Jesus is with us present tense. For what purpose? To bring us to repentance. To forgive us. To make our faith in Him stronger. Remember what St Peter wrote? Jesus does not wish that any perish, but that all come to repentance. Jesus comes to us now in order to absolve us. Forgive us. It isnt that He might forgive He does. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven. Thats the promise. To all who desire forgiveness it is given. Period! <> One final comment. In a little while. This morning we see that promise of Jesus fulfilled once again. What will you be doing in a little while? A very little while? You will be receiving the Most Holy Body and Blood of Jesus. There He will be. In the flesh. In the flesh, for you. There His promise to remain with you always will take on a very specific form. To you in a little while your Lord will come. For what purpose? To forgive you. To make your faith in Him more firm. To save you. <> It all sounds quite complicated when Jesus speaks of being with His disciples, and then not for a little while, and then, again, in a little while with them again. But sometimes this is how Jesus speaks so that only Christian can understand. To the world its all garbled nonsense foolishness. But not to you, dear friends, not to you. You understand. You understand because you belong to Jesus. He is yours and, equally certain, you are His. He has redeemed you. Forgiven you. Promised you eternal life. And that promise is forever certain. And finally, in a little while when you die you will be with the Lord forever. Remember the promise? He that believes and is baptized will be saved. Period. When you die time will cease. That will mark the beginning of eternity when you, too, will live in the constant present of God. Amen +Soli Deo Gloria+ ___________________________________________________________________ '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 long as no charge is made for the work and it is not made part of a compilation), 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 <MoM [at] lists (dot) cat41 <dot> org>
