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Rev. Dr. Sandra Stevens Poirel - "Promise" · Belin Memorial UMC

• Belin Memorial UMC: the gospel lesson comes to us from the 14th chapter of John, the 15th through the 21st, verses the promise of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, if you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father and He will give you another advocate to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. You know Him because He abides with you and He will be in you. I will not leave you orphaned, I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day, you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me. And those who love me will be loved by my Father. And I will love them and reveal myself to them. This is the word of God for the people of God. Well, we again welcome our at the sixth Sunday of Easter. Now, as we have been celebrating the Sundays after Easter Day, we've noticed that there has been a theme, but there has been a named theme for each one of those days based on the texts that are assigned for that day. Well, there is no assignment of the name of a day, but the focus of this day, the sixth Sunday of Easter, begins to shift. It is the anticipation of the ascension of Jesus, which comes 40 days after Easter day, which means Ascension Day. And I know you already know this because you've already ordered your Ascension Day cakes and sent out your Ascension Day party invitations because it's this thirst. That's Ascension Day. So we are celebrating it today because then after the Ascension, Jesus is doing exactly what he said for the full three years that he would do. That he would live, he would be in ministry, he would die, he would be resurrected, he would ascend, and he would give us a gift. ⁓ lifetime lasting gift which we will celebrate on Pentecost day the gift of the Holy Spirit but today as we continue through the cycle, the gospel reading continues. It's still a part of what we know as Jesus' final farewell or discourse. Each week, some of the readings have come from this final speech of Jesus, and it's a long speech. It covers three chapters. We could read the whole three chapters if you like, but I'm okay with us just having a few verses this morning. And that picked up today where Sunday's text last week left off. So here's where we are. Jesus and his disciples are still in the upper room the day we know as Maundy or Holy Thursday. This is the night before Jesus' death. And while that might seem a little odd that we have taken a step back, It is a part of our focus moving into the next phases of Jesus' story. He and the disciples are gathered in that room. He knows they are gathered in the shadow of the cross. It's following the foot washing and Jesus' new commandment that his followers, his disciples, love one another. Now the disciples are gathered, but they are perplexed. They are filled with fear at Jesus' announcement that he will be leaving them. He is telling them he will be leaving them physically to return to his father at God's side. I've heard someone say that they were probably wondering, are we done? Is it over? What's going to happen now? I'm Jesus About us, you know, we left everything to follow you and now you're going away They are terrified they know that what's about to happen by Jesus' demeanor and his words, whatever is about to happen to the one they have been the closest to and following for three years, whatever this is that he keeps telling them as hard as he tries, whatever it is that's about to happen, they know it's not good. They need comfort, they need reassurance, they need direction, and somewhere in their minds they have to be thinking. If that's going to happen to him, we're associated with him, what's next or is it just over? Now, we can identify with that. When we're in a difficult situation or we don't know what's about to happen and we know that everybody loves change. okay. especially when you don't understand why it's happening. You don't know when it exactly is going to happen and you really don't have any idea what's going to happen. So this is the question they ask of Jesus. So are we done? What's next? Jesus says basically, well, yes and no. Very Jesus answer. Yes, he has told them. my earthly ministry as you know it is coming to a close. He meant it has come to a close that night and into the next day. So the way it's been for the past three years, it's over. But no, the answer to your question is no. We're not done. It's not over. The community and love and faith that we have started together over these past three years, it's not over. It's really just getting started. And by the way, it will never be over because you are going to continue it on after I'm no longer with you. Now, you know that was comforting, right? It was probably a what? But then he tells them everything is, you know, it is about to end, know it's not over and you are going to do it. But There will be a helper on the way. And he uses the words, depending on the translation, he uses the words, a paraclete, an advocate, a comforter will be with you to guide you. Now you know, if we were not on the resurrection side of things and we were in that room and being told, ⁓ but you'll just continue on without me and I'm sending you a paraclete, that would not be a parakeet, okay? This is not the pretty bird, the fluffy little bird. I'm sending you a paraclete. And they're like, what? Think about who Jesus is talking to. This is the reason I am so grateful John gives us all these details. Jesus knew his disciples better than they knew themselves. He knows what's going to happen and almost immediately it's going to start. In just a few hours his disciples are going to fall asleep in the garden after dinner, not that we ever do that. They fall asleep when he needs them the most. He knows his time is limited because Judas has already exited. He's meeting in the temple. He's coming back to identify him and he's going to be arrested very, very soon. The disciples run away and hide when he is arrested. They will deny him. I don't know him. I don't know the man three times. I don't know who he is. They will not all be present and show up at the crucifixion and be at the foot of the cross. We know the beloved disciple was there with his mother. They were not all there. And even after the resurrection, he comes back. He comes back to them. And they have doubts. Just in general, they mess it up. He knows they don't always nor will they ever get it all right. And I see me in that. We don't always get it right and sometimes we just mess it up and Jesus keeps coming for us and says, I'm not gonna leave you, I love you. So it is with this knowledge that Jesus makes this promise I will not leave you comfortless, but I will ask the Father to send you a helper, an advocate, a paraclete, the Holy Spirit, who will be with you forever and will teach you all that I have said to you so that you will be reminded of this relationship. And here, here's where it gets hard for the disciples to understand. Do you hear what Jesus just said? He said to his disciples, I'm gonna go away now, I'm coming back. The more, the more that happened, the more confused they became. But you see what Jesus is telling them is this is no vanishing act. This is not an empty promise. Thank you. This is presence. He's talking about presence. The ministry of the church is not only growing, But the day of Pentecost is coming and they're going to really be shocked at how the ministry of the church continues to grow even though Jesus is not physically with them. They're having trouble understanding this. What they do not yet understand is what's happening in this period for them and for us. is that bridge between Jesus' earthly ministry and ministry with the gift of the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete. This is such good news for eternity. Even though they don't understand it yet. Jesus is not describing abandonment, but rather a shift. Here's the really good news about this, and we often miss it. Why is the ascension so important? Well, glad you asked. Jesus is not saying I'm going away. I'll send somebody, y'all be fine. He's describing a shift in his own presence from localized, geographical, walking with, they can reach over, touch him and say, Jesus, what about? They can take bread from his hand, they can receive bread as he gives it, they share in the cup. They pray together, they sing songs, but Jesus said, it's bigger than that now. Jesus is talking about his presence in all places, at all times, and all locations, including this very day and tomorrow and tomorrow and the next day and the next day. Recorded here in the Gospel of John, Jesus compassionately with great care gives the promise. The promise to people who were terrified, who were ready to go back, and they tried that, we know that, because we're post-resurrection people, they just say, we'll just go back to what we know, we're gonna go fish. Well, he said, yeah, you're gonna fish, but you're gonna fish for people. That's another day and another story, they didn't understand that yet either. But this one who is to be sent to them, this Greek, word that they would have known the meaning, paraclete, literally means that first part of the word para means one who comes alongside. Clete, those are not things you wear on your feet. We don't have birds and we don't have cleats. We have a cleat. The para, the one who walks alongside is the one by definition in this word. is the person who is here this, the one who is called, who is divinely appointed to walk alongside. The image that has often been used is one that stands right beside you, walks with you in a difficult situation, represents you even when you're unable to do it for yourselves. And here is the sentence that the disciples needed to hear. It's one short sentence in the midst of three chapters of a speech. I will not leave you, and here's the word, orphaned. That's the context. I'm leaving, I'm not gonna leave you orphaned, I'm coming to you. That's the whole context of what's going on. They are scared beyond description. This speaks directly to that fear, that fear of being left, being abandoned. This is the emotional reality that Jesus is speaking to. The fear of being separated from someone or something. that is so very significant and important. We can identify with that. It's a scenario that many of us have been through in many different situations. But then Jesus continues to care for his disciples. He tenderly and compassionately prepares them for life without him being present among them physically. The good news of the gospel is to continue. and he tells them you are going to carry this good news to the entire world. There are now 11 of They fishermen. One is a doctor, we think. They have, in their estimation, no skill set for this, but they were the ones divinely called and appointed. So this is good news for us, because in caring for their fears, Jesus speaks to us and cares for us. By introducing them to the paraclete, we have been introduced to the paraclete. And ⁓ whatever the struggles are that they will face, and he knows they will be many, and they will be huge. Some of them will cost them their very lives, and he knows that. But whatever the struggle is that they face, whatever the struggles are that we face, Jesus is reminding them and us, the triune God is always with us. That's why with confidence we continue. Even though we know we're not going to always get it right, we know we're not always going to understand, but we trust and know that we can follow Jesus who has gone ahead of us who has given us the Spirit, the Holy Spirit. And through his suffering, we know that he has already won forgiveness, peace, and true joy. So we can follow him and we continue as the church continues to be strengthened and to grow because we were not charged to do this by ourselves. We do it with each other and we all knit together and held together. by the Holy Spirit. And that is the good news of this bridge time to the ascension. This is the word that this season calls for, the promise of the Holy Spirit, the one who comes alongside and walks with, because this is the one who has been called and divinely appointed to never leave and to never abandon. his disciples. So today Jesus still comes to us to assure us in the midst of life's surprising twists and turns, some good, some we would prefer not to happen, but they do. But regardless, he will never stop loving us. So thank you. Thank you for responding. Thank you for responding to and for living out. that promise to make the presence of the triune God known as one who is present and active called divinely appointed in the name of the father the son and the holy spirit amen let us pray come holy spirit our helper paraclete open our hearts and minds this day and entice us with your presence Help us to keep the commands of Jesus. In you, O God, every family on earth receives its name. Illuminate the homes of this earth with the light of your love, granting courage to those who are hurt or lonely. endurance to those who care for sick family members, and wisdom to those in who fearful times of change are upon them or will be coming. We thank you for the gifts of love that we have received from mother, father, spouse, child, or companion. As we have been loved by you and by others, so may we love. Almighty and ever living God, you hold together all things in heaven and on earth and in your great mercy. Receive these the prayers of your children. Grant us your peace through Jesus Christ, who taught us to say when we pray, our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever amen