Jesus is with us

Once again today we get to listen to Jesus speaking with his disciples; his friends; on the night in which he is sharing one last meal with them. This is the night in which he will be betrayed by one of his followers, handed over to the authorities, questioned, mocked, tortured, condemned, and finally, on the next day, crucified as an enemy of the Empire and buried in the tomb of a member of the Jewish council, his body wrapped in linen cloth, with spices provided by another Jewish leader. Such is the power of Jesus’ love for all people; a love so strong it gathers people around him in unexpected ways.

Jesus knows that the time has come for him to depart this world (John 14:1). His work on earth in physical form is almost done. Sitting around the table together with his friends in these last hours, Jesus takes time to offer them words of comfort and assurance, preparing them for the time when he is no longer with them.

Jesus speaks with his friends one last time to give them hope; hope that is grounded in his love for them and their love for him; hope for this present moment and hope for all that is to come.

It’s a long conversation (called “the Farewell Discourse”, found in John 13-17), during which Jesus repeats himself, says the same thing in different words, hoping something will connect with his friends; something will stick and they will begin to understand the mystery of grace – God’s undeserved love and mercy for all people revealed to us through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ; the grace that leads to eternal life.

It is a long conversation about love and life – the abundant love by which God creates all people in God’s own image and the abundant life that Jesus gives to all people who hear his voice and follow his way, no matter what else is going on around them in the world.

And we, called together through the gospel and gathered here today by the power of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, are included in that long conversation about abundant love and that abundant life. Jesus’ words of hope and love are meant for us.

Today we hear Jesus say to his disciples – I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. (John 14:18)

Jesus makes this promise – that he will be present with his friends at all times and in all places. He will not leave them alone. That’s how deep Jesus’ love is for those who know him and see him and follow him. Jesus is always with them.

And Jesus is always with us – coming alongside us with the Spirit of Truth; dwelling with us through his Word; made real to us in the waters of baptism and the bread and wine we receive at the table; standing with us in every circumstance in which we find ourselves.

I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you, Jesus says to us.

Jesus is always with us.

In the time of unexpected death and grief…Jesus is with us.

In the time of sudden change and upheaval in our lives…Jesus is with us.

In the time of joy for a new relationship or a new baby or a new job or graduation…Jesus is with us.

In this time of the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people…Jesus is with us.

In this time of a war of choice on Iran and bombing and destruction and loss of innocent lives…Jesus is with us.

In this time of increased racism in our country, when the right of Black people to vote is being restricted by the courts, and this time of increased transphobia, when the rights of trans people to live as their full and authentic selves is being denied and threatened…Jesus is with us.

And in this time of pastoral transition, as you, the people of Holy Trinity, continue to pray and work and prepare for the calling of a new pastor who will lead you as you follow the example of Jesus, acting boldly to build community with diverse people and to nurture creation; a pastor who will guide you through this season of discernment and mission revitalization….Jesus is with us.

How shall we respond to this good news that Jesus is always with us?

First, we respond with thanksgiving and praise –

giving thanks and praise that we are beloved by God, claimed by God through our baptism
giving thanks and praise that Jesus abides in us and we in him and together we are connected with his Father and through Jesus we are loved and cherished and forgiven as the imperfect people that we are
giving thanks and praise that the Holy Spirit has called (us) through the gospel, enlightened (us) with (her) gifts, made (us) holy and kept (us) in the true faith, just as (she) calls, gathers, enlightens, and makes holy the whole Christian church on earth and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one common, true faith. (Luther’s Small Catechism, The Creed, The Third Article)

Then, we respond with hope grounded in faith –

trusting in the promise of God’s eternal presence among God’s people. In the words from Ezekiel (43:5-7) – the glory of the Lord filled the temple…I heard someone speaking to me out of the temple…. “Mortal, this is the place of my throne and the place for the soles of my feet, where I will reside among the people of Israel forever.”
trusting in the promises Jesus made to his friends – I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. (John 14:18) and …because I live, you also will live. (John 14:19).
trusting in the promise that the Spirit of Truth abides with us forever

Finally, of course, we respond with love, expressed through our words and our deeds –

love for God, who creates all people and all creatures of the earth
love for Jesus, who speaks the word of truth and love and life for all people
love for the Holy Spirit, who guides us into all wisdom and truth
love for our friends, our neighbors, and our enemies, following the example that Jesus sets for us

The good news for this day is that Jesus is always with us. And we are with him.

May the hope of this good news give you strength to stand firm in these challenging times; to live your life rooted in and witnessing to and acting through the power of Jesus’ love for all people, a love so strong it gathers people around him in unexpected ways.

Alleluia! Christ is risen. Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!