The Seventh Sunday of Easter
John 15:26-16:4
It seems to me that we hear these words of the Gospel each year, in addition to this Sunday, but in a different way. Let’s ponder them for a moment, and forgive me, but I’m going to paraphrase the Gospel here.
Jesus says He’s sending the Helper, the Holy Spirit, to the disciples to show them what He has done for them by dying on the cross and rising again on the third day. But they, likewise, will then need to bear witness to the world for what Jesus has done, or as we commonly say today in the church, “Confess” Jesus, His cross and resurrection to the world.
Then Jesus goes on to say that He’s telling the disciples these things because He doesn’t want them to fall away from Him – to fall away from faith in Him.
Jesus is telling the disciples these things because after His death and resurrection, they will be rejected by their people, thrown out of their synagogues, and killed in the name of religion.
In fact, Jesus says these people will think they are offering a sacrifice to God by killing them.
Jesus says they will do these things to His disciples because they don’t actually know His Father. They don’t understand the Scriptures, nor why Jesus came in the first place, to save His people from their sins.
But Jesus tells His disciples these things because when—not if—the time comes to suffer for His name, they will remember His words and know that He is with them, that they carry His divine truth, and even if believing in Jesus costs them their earthly lives, eternal life remains for those who have faith in Him.
And this is exactly what happened to many of Jesus’ disciples.
St. Peter, Andrew, and Philip were crucified for their witness and faith in Jesus.
St. James, son of Zebedee, beheaded.
St. Bartholomew, flayed alive.
St. Simon the Zealot, sawn in half.
St. Matthew, killed with a sword.
St. Jude, also known as Thaddeus, killed with arrows or an axe.
St. James the Lessor, stoned to death, as was St. Matthias.
Alright, so where else do you hear this little sermon about suffering for the witness and faith in Jesus Christ?
In the Rite of Confirmation, where the often young disciple of Christ is asked twice if they are willing to die rather than fall away from their witness and faith in Jesus.
Just listen to the questions from the rite now.
The Confirmand is asked,
P Do you intend to live according to the Word of God, and in faith, word, and deed to remain true to God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, even to death?
R I do, by the grace of God.
P Do you intend to continue steadfast in this confession and Church and to suffer all, even death, rather than fall away from it?
R I do, by the grace of God.
If you happened to grow up in the time of The Lutheran Hymnal, otherwise known as TLH, these same questions were there, just with slightly older language.
Twice, the Confirmation student confesses their desire to die rather than fall away from the Christian faith. Twice, they confess to remaining steadfast, even if the world or, worse, those who are supposed to be in the church with them, try to cause them to stumble in their faith.
Isn’t that interesting, the danger of being led away from Christ within the Church?
You see, the Greek word for “Falling away” or “Being led away” is σκανδαλίζω, meaning to scandalize.
Consider this: in some cases, a person’s death may actually stem from turning away from faith out of fear of death itself, while others, even within the church, work to silence your faith.
But an amazing thing, as you reflect on the deaths of the Apostles we listed earlier, is that they never fell away. After the resurrection, they didn’t turn away from Jesus, they did not turn; they stood their ground and confessed their faith, even to the point of death.
How could they stand so firm in the face of death?
Because the Holy Spirit remained with them, Jesus and His Father kept their promise and sent the Holy Spirit to give them faith and courage, forgive their sins, and assure them of eternal life.
This is, after all, what the Confirmand confesses after they’re asked if they’ll suffer death rather than fall away from the faith, “I do, by the grace of God.”
What is grace?
Grace is God’s undeserved, free gift of mercy and forgiveness to sinners, by which He declares them righteous solely on account of the works and merit of Christ.
Grace is the gift of God’s favor and His working within you.
But how do you receive this grace and favor of God?
This is the work of the Holy Spirit.
Remember what you learned in Confirmation: what is the Third Article of the Creed?
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
What does this mean? I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers. On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ.
This is most certainly true.
And because this is true, the disciples of Jesus never doubted Him, but rejoiced that He sent the Helper, the Holy Spirit, upon them to grant them the gift of forgiveness and faith, won for them upon the cross of Calvary, so that even if they had to suffer for the Christian faith and bear their own crosses, they would never fall away from the faith because eternal life and glory awaited them.
The disciples’ confidence and faith were the gift and grace of God, worked within their hearts by the Holy Spirit.
This remains true for you; the Christian faith is only yours through the Helper, the work of the Holy Spirit within you. None of you may remain in the Christian Church without the gift of grace, the forgiveness of God, unless the Holy Spirit dwells within you.
So, how do you ensure the Holy Spirit has access to your heart? By being present where Jesus has told you He is located for you, by being in Church, gathered around the grace of His Word, the sacrament of this altar, for the forgiveness of your sin. It’s in this way, the means of grace located in Word and Sacrament - the Holy Spirit delivers forgiveness, calls you by the Gospel, and enlightens you with His gifts.
Only with these gifts are you kept in the true Christian faith and given faith to face any type of death as a Christian.
Now, while none of us expect to die a martyr’s death, one must still be ready if that day might arrive.
But the greater threat you face is from within — the worst scandal of the faith. It’s knowing today that the Holy Spirit comes, offers forgiveness of sins, works faith in you, and gives you strength for life’s struggles, yet you don’t come to receive it.
You confessed with your lips the same words as St. Peter on the day of your confirmation, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” (Matthew 26:35)
However, that’s exactly what one does when they don’t gather around Jesus, when they don’t bring the little children unto Him, they deny Christ and fall away from Him.
My friends, the days are getting shorter for all of us, which means the urgency must be great among us and for our children and grandchildren to be strengthened in the faith, to be ready for the attacks of the devil and the world, to guard against becoming slothful and lazy in the Christian faith, because eternal life depends upon it.
And if you think about it, reflect on what kind of deaths the apostles were willing to suffer for this faith.
When you said you were willing to suffer even death rather than fall away from it, did you mean it?
Because this faith isn’t for the faint of heart, it’s filled with trials and tribulations, accidents, illnesses, diagnoses, disagreements, breakups, and deaths. The possibility of persecution, whether it’s mockery or job loss, losing a prized role in a play, or being cut from the team for missing Sunday games is a reality for being here each Sunday morning. I mean, sadly, you might even face hardship within your own family, who judge you for being absent from family gatherings, or getting tasks done around the home for being in the sanctuary of the Lord.
But remember these words of Jesus, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26)
The cost of this faith is high; just look at Jesus’ cross and see. He loved you so much that He was willing to die in this way for you, beaten, naked, and left alone.
That’s a great love He has for you.
As the Easter season nears its end, don’t ever forget the cost Christ paid for your salvation, and if you find yourself struggling, remember these words from the Gospel, “I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.” (John 16:4)
The Holy Spirit is sent upon you to place before your eyes the love of Jesus Christ, to grant you enduring faith to carry the crosses of your life, and be made ready to die when that day comes, when you can be gathered with all the martyrs and confessors of the Christian faith in the resurrected life that will never end. +INJ+
Rev. Noah J. Rogness
Pastor, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Tomah, WI
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Website: www.goodsheptomah.org
The Shepherd’s Voice Podcast: https://goodsheptomah.podbean.com/
