+ Easter 7 –
June 1st, 2014 +
Redeemer
Lutheran, HB
Series A:
Acts 1:12-26; 1 Peter 4:12-19. 5:6-11; John 17:1-11
In the Name of the Father and
of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
From the time that we’re young
our parents and teachers tell us (some of more than others) to mind our own
business; don’t be so nosy; stop your eavesdropping. So it seems a bit odd to
us that we’re allowed to listen in Jesus’ prayer.
But of course Jesus prays
publicly for all to hear – his disciples in that upper room just before his
trial, crucifixion, and death; and us, here in this room, who continue to
rejoice in Christ’s death and resurrection. John 17 is a delightful case of
divine eavesdropping.
And for what and for whom does
he pray?
Jesus prays that the Father
might glorify him in his death on the cross. All of John’s Gospel has been leading
up to this, Jesus’ glory on the cross for you.
Jesus prays in order that you
would be given eternal life.
Jesus prays for the Word of God
to take root in you and spring to life and faith in the one true God.
Jesus prays for you and for all
who believe in him. That’s particularly comforting, especially when you don’t
know what to pray, or how to pray for something particularly troubling in your
life. Jesus not only prays with you; Jesus prays for you.
And Jesus prays… “I have manifested your name.” This is God’s
name of course. We know God’s name by many titles in the Old Testament (many
more in the NT as you can see on your bulletin cover). Lord. Adonai. God.
Elohim in the Hebrew. Yahweh – God’s personal name given to Israel. But Jesus
gives us a new name by which we are to address God.
Sure, we have earthly fathers,
spiritual fathers, father figures, and so forth. It’s a common title. But this
is no small name. It is a holy privilege, a great joy, and honor to address God
and call upon him as Father.
For once we had no right to
call him Father. At one time we were all children of darkness, not light. We
were children of Adam, not our heavenly Father. We had no inheritance, no right
to be called heirs and sons; we were enemies of God. This is what sin does. Sin
separates us from our heavenly Father like it did for Adam and Eve, expelled
from Eden. Sin turns us against our family members like Cain with murderous
thoughts and wicked deeds. Like Jacob, sin warps our minds into thinking we can
trick our heavenly Father into blessing us on the basis of our cunning and
scheming. Like Absalom against David, each of us have turned aside from our heavenly
Father in rebellion.
And yet, Isaac blessed Jacob.
David wept and mourned Absalom’s death. Cain was given a mark of mercy. Our
heavenly Father is no different. “I desire mercy, not sacrifice” he declares.
“I do not desire the death of a sinner”, he promises. And so like Adam and Eve,
our heavenly Father clothes us. He sends his Son, his only Son, to be our
sacrifice. Like Jacob you are clothed in blessing on account of your brother in
the flesh, Jesus Christ. Like Cain you receive a mark that covers your murderous
heart of darkness, the sign of the cross upon your forehead and heart to mark
you as one redeemed by Christ the Crucified. And like Absalom, you are anointed
with water and the Spirit by Jesus, your Greater David, who was enthroned in
glory for you on the cross.
This is the kind of heavenly
Father you have. The Father who sends his Son to die for the sins of his
wayward, wicked children. For your sins. For mine. For the world. The Father
sends the Son. And the Son reveals the Father’s name. Jesus reveals the
Father’s glory, chiefly in suffering and dying for you.
“Father, the
hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you
have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom
you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know
you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have
sent.
Calling upon God as Father is
baptismal language.
We heard this at Jesus’
baptism… “This is my beloved Son; listen
to him.” The Father is well pleased with his Son who is the Lamb of God who
takes away the sin of the world. The Father is well pleased by his being your
substitute. The Father is well pleased that Jesus stepped into the Jordan to be
baptized unto his death. The Father is well pleased that through Jesus’ death
you receive a new birth from above, that in Holy Baptism you are born by water
and the Spirit. And now the Father is well pleased with you.
Like all fathers, our heavenly
Father only wants what’s best for us. And so he gives it to you. He gives you
eternal life in Jesus’ dying and rising. He sends pastors to absolve your sins
in his name. He feeds you with living bread from heaven.
God even gives you a new name
in the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Your name is
no longer child of Adam and sinner, but now it is saint, God’s own child.
Children of the heavenly Father.
Now this may sound like a silly
example but I think it makes the point well. In the Disney movie, Toy Story, we learn quickly that Andy,
the young boy whom the toys belong to, is very protective of his toys. So much
in fact that he takes a nice black sharpie and writes his name on the bottom of
each foot of his toy. You see, to be one of Andy’s toys means something: he
loves and cherishes you, you’re his treasured possession, and you belong to
him; you belong to a family.
In Holy Baptism the glory of
Christ’s suffering and crucifixion is made yours. A great exchange. You are
clothed in Christ for he was clothed in your sin. You are made an heir of Christ’s
eternal inheritance because he suffered for all that we had coming to us. Christ’s
mercy is poured out upon you because Christ received the flood and torrent of
God’s wrath over our sin.
God has sent the Spirit of
his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So
you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir
through God.
Today in this font, through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit, Kim and Carter (8 AM) and Kyliegh (11 AM) are made members of Christ’s family. Welcome to the family, Kim and Carter. Welcome to the family, Kyliegh.
And what he has given them today he has given us all, the right to be called children of God. That’s why we pray, “Our Father”. Jesus prays with us. Jesus elevates us to the status of sons and heirs according to God’s promise. And so we join Jesus in praying: “Our Father”. You’re never alone when you pray that prayer, whether you’re in a room by yourself with others. Holy Father, keep us, your children, in Your name.
We give you
thanks, Holy Father,
For your holy
name which you have caused to dwell in our hearts,
And for the
knowledge and faith and immortality
Which you have
made known to us
Through Jesus
your servant;
To you be the
glory forever….
Remember your
church, Lord,
To deliver her from
all evil
And to make her
perfect in your love;
And gather her,
the one that has been sanctified,
From the four
winds into your kingdom,
Which you have
prepared for her;
For yours is
the power and the glory forever.
(Didache, 10)
In the Name of the Father and
of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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