What Does Your Future Hold?

I preached today at Austin Taiwanese Presbyterian Church for their English Ministry.

The sermon text is John 17: 6 - 20.

Some of you are about to finish (or just finished last night) a significant milestone in school. What does your future hold? Will you attend a different school with different classmates and different teachers? Will you be leaving home to study or to learn technical skills for a job? Will you be searching for a job? Change can be unsettling.

Others of you find yourselves in transitions of another kind. What does your future hold? Has the slow economy sent you in search of another job? Are you leaving this area for job opportunities elsewhere? Is your role in your family changing—to spouse? to parent? to “empty-nester”? to in-law? Do you find your mind, body, or spirit flagging? Change can be troubling.

What does the future hold for the ATPC English ministry? Your Pastor Nominating Committee has been searching for an associate pastor. The process is taking longer than anyone had expected. You’ve had disappointments along the way.
And while you wait to call an associate pastor, the work of the English Ministry continues. Your service to each other, the body of Christ, this church continues. Your mission to serve others outside this church continues. Your desire to learn and to grow in Christ continues. And because of the various job, school, and other personal transitions, there is a need for new leadership in worship, study, and fellowship here.

It’s troubling and confusing and a little frightening to face an uncertain future.

In John's gospel, chapters 13 - 17 (that's the big picture, the setting, for our text today), what began as a night of celebration is turning into a series of confusions. Jesus and the disciples are together in a room in the city of Jerusalem on the eve of the Passover celebration. Before beginning the meal, Jesus takes a basin of water and a towel. Kneeling before each disciple, one at a time, he washes their feet. Now this is the job of the lowliest of servants, but Jesus, their rabbi, their teacher, their leader kneels before each of them and washes their feet. How confusing! He tells them he is showing them his way of leadership. Leading through serving?

Next he says one of them, his close band of followers, will betray him. And he says Peter will deny him 3 times this very night. Now this is troubling!

He talks for awhile about loving one another, about sending an Advocate for them in his absence (his absence?), he talks about leaving them with peace (leaving them?). It is as if he is summarizing his entire ministry during this meal.

And now (in the passage we just read), he begins praying to God. The disciples overhear his petitions on their behalf. "Father, I remain in the world no longer. I am coming to you. Protect them.” They're thinking: What? Did Jesus just say he is going to be with God? What does that mean for us? It sounds like he’s leaving us. Why? What will we do without him? We’ve spent the last 3 years of our lives with him. We left our families and our professions to follow him. Can we return to our former livelihoods, to our families, now, 3 years later? What are we going to do? If the understanding that Jesus is preparing to leave them hadn’t hit them yet, it does now—in this prayer.

Unlike the disciples, we know when we hear this passage, that this is their last meal with him. When they leave this place, Jesus will be arrested. He will be tried and convicted. He will be nailed to a cross. He will die. Even for those of us who know how the gospel ends, this passage is troubling.

At this event, this last supper with Jesus, the disciples are facing an uncertain future. Their life, as they have lived it for the last 3 years is about to change—dramatically. What does their future hold? Naturally they are troubled; they are confused; and they are afraid.

In our text, Jesus is praying for his disciples. He knows his time on earth is about to end, and he is thinking about, worrying over, and praying for his disciples. In his prayer, he uses and re-uses language of possession. Please listen again- (NIV) “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me . . .They were yours; you gave them to me. I pray for them, . . . for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. . . They were yours. They are yours. All I have is yours.

Do you hear that possessive language? In this prayer, Jesus gives his disciples to God. For 3 years they were his disciples. They spent all their time with him. They ate, they drank, they slept, they worked, and they traveled with him. They heard his words. They witnessed his miracles. They tried to understand his teachings. They enjoyed this intimate relationship with him for 3 years, and now, Jesus is giving them to God. He is asking God to continue that intimate relationship with them. He wants their relationship with God to be as his relationship with God. He says it in his prayer “so that they may be one, as we are one.” And because Jesus is one with God, he knows God will answer his prayer. He knows God will wrap God’s loving arms around the disciples and keep them close like a hen who wraps her wings around her chicks and keeps them close to her.

How can the eavesdropping disciples know God will be with them? Well, they can look to the past. They can remember God’s faithfulness to the people of the covenant, their ancestors.

Abraham faced an uncertain future. God told him to leave the family he was born into, to leave his home, to leave the land where his flocks grazed and to go to a place God would show him. God promised Abraham a new life in a new land with a family of his own. Yes! God promised Abraham a child, even though he and his wife Sarah were way past the age of having babies. To leave what he knew, to follow God into the unknown—that’s an uncertain future. But Abraham trusted God, and God was faithful to the promise. God led Abraham to the new land and the new life God promised. God gave Abraham a child, Isaac, and through him so many descendants that they were like the stars in the night sky—uncountable. Abraham belonged to God, and God was with him.

Hundreds of years later, the Hebrew people were enslaved in Egypt. God told Moses to lead them out of Egypt. They faced an uncertain future in a different land. But, they trusted God and followed Moses. Like Abraham, they left what they already knew and followed God into the unknown. God was faithful and led them to a land “flowing with milk and honey.” The Hebrew people belonged to God, and God was with them.

Hundreds of years after that, the people of Israel, exiled in Babylon, faced an uncertain future. Separated from friends, separated from their homes in Judah, separated from the temple where they had worshiped God, these exiles heard God’s promise through the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. God called them to return to Jerusalem, to rebuild the ruins of their city and to rebuild their lives. They belonged to God, and God was with them. (Isaiah 61: 1 - 4; Jeremiah 32: 36- 41)

Yes, if the disciples can recall their people’s past, they can remember God’s faithfulness to the covenant God made with their ancestors. They can remember God’s words in the past: To Abraham-- “I will bless you, in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3) To Moses-- “[these people] shall be my treasured possession out of all of the peoples.” (Exodus 19:5) to Jeremiah, "I will be their God, and they shall be my people." (Jeremiah 31:33) If only the disciples can remember that God has been faithful to the people in the past . . . But even if the disciples can't claim it, they still belong to God. God is still with them, even as they struggle with uncertainty and fear.

Events unfold quickly after Jesus prays this prayer. It turns out, this is their last meal with Jesus. When they leave this place, he is arrested. He is tried and convicted. He is nailed to a cross. He dies. And then, he beats death, for he is raised from the grave. They see him again--Mary Magdalene sees him in the garden of the empty tomb, some of them see him (and one of them, Thomas, touches him) in a locked room, some of them eat the fish he cooks for them on a beach.

And all of them are present on that day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit blows through the room where they were meeting, alighting on them like tongues of fire and filling them with the strength, the courage, and the power to proclaim the good news of Christ’s life, death and resurrection. Now, they remember God's faithfulness to their ancestors in the past. Now, they see God's faithfulness to them in the present. Now, they know they belong to God, and God is with them.

Jesus’ prayer in this passage is for us now as well. In verse 20 he says: "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message." We belong to God, and God is with us. How can we know this? Like the disciples, we can look to the past and remember God’s faithfulness to the people of the covenant, our spiritual ancestors. We can remember God’s faithfulness to Abraham, to the Hebrew slaves, and to the exiles. And we can remember God’s faithfulness to the disciples. God’s words of promise to them are God’s words of promise to us.

You belong to God. Wherever you find yourself--in another school, in another city, in another country; you belong to God, and God travels with you to this other place. Whatever different role you find yourself playing—student, job-seeker, spouse, parent, in-law, empty-nester; you belong to God, and God stands beside you in this new role. Whatever condition your body, your mind, your spirit is in; you belong to God. God is with you, strengthening you, healing you, empowering you.

We can also remember God’s faithfulness to us, in our own pasts. 23 years ago, God called 6 Taiwanese families living in the Austin area to worship together. That group became Austin Taiwanese Presbyterian Church. 10 years later, God called this church family to build these buildings to accommodate this growing congregation. A few years ago, God called the now-grown children of the first members and other young adults to form the English ministry of ATPC, this worshiping community. You are a vibrant and growing congregation, dedicated to study, worship, fellowship, and mission. God has been with you in your past. God is with you now. And God will be with you in the future.

As you continue to pray for this congregation’s future, Jesus prays with you, Jesus prays for you as he prayed for his disciples on the night of his last supper. God will answer Jesus’ prayer. ATPC English Ministry belongs to God, and God is with y'all. Trust that God is preparing you, this congregation, for the pastor God is planning to lead to you. Trust that even now, God is preparing that pastor for you.

Just as the Holy Spirit blew through the disciples and empowered them to proclaim the good news of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, the Holy Spirit empowers you to do the same, to continue God’s work here at ATPC. For you belong to God, and God is with you . . . always. Amen.

My 2nd sermon in Intro to Preaching Class

This sermon is a lectionary sermon. As I understood lectionary preaching, I was supposed to pull in all of the lectionary readings--maybe not refer to them, but have them lurking in the background of the sermon.
The other lectionary texts for this Sunday were John 10: 11 - 18; Psalm 23, and Acts 4: 5 -12

A reading from the 1st epistle of John (I John 3: 16 – 24)
We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.  And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.

This is the word of the Lord.
(Thanks be to God.)


We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us. With the events of Holy Week still fresh in our minds, these words conjure vivid images. Jesus tied to a post—pain in his eyes, his body slumping a little lower with each lash of the whip. Jesus carrying the cross through winding, narrow streets—his raw shoulders and back sagging under the weight of the cross and the pain it’s inflicting. These words bring forth haunting sounds. The snap of the whip tearing his flesh. With each lash, a gasp from Mary Magdalene. The pounding of the nails; the thud as the now-lifted cross falls into its appointed slot. Rasps as Jesus struggles to breathe on the cross. His words “It is finished.” We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us.”

Yes, so soon after Holy Week, these words seem to evoke his painful death on the cross. Then the author of this epistle says “and we ought to lay down our lives for one another.” That makes me want to run away as fast as I can. I can’t answer that call to discipleship. Maybe you can, maybe not. To willingly, obediently, quietly endure a gruesome, painful, slow death? Why would God ask such thing of us? (pause) Does God ask this of us? Maybe we are not clearly seeing what is on the page.

Maybe we need to get our eyes checked, find out if the prescription in our spectacles (you remember Calvin and spectacles, don't you?) needs to be changed. Visit the optometrist, and let her pull what looks like a big viewfinder up to our eyes. One by one, she’ll flip a series of lenses. As she does, she asks through which lens in this pair are we seeing more clearly. She works with the left eye, then with the right eye. When she’s finished, as we look through the final set of lenses, we can we clearly read what’s on the bottom line of the eye chart—G-R-A-C-E. Yeah, maybe we need to get our spiritual eyes checked in order to better understand what this passage is telling us today.

The corrections to our prescription will include reading this passage through the lens of other scripture-- the complementary texts assigned for this Sunday in the lectionary. They include the Good Shepherd passage in the gospel of John, Psalm 23, and the account of Peter testifying before the Jewish religious leaders in the book of Acts. Speaking of the lectionary, our new prescription will correct for the lens of where we are in the liturgical year. And, our new prescription will account for understanding this passage through the lens of the Word, with a capital “W” –Jesus.

John tells us the Good Shepherd knows his sheep and they know him. Have you ever thought about how a shepherd watering his flock at the same watering hole as other shepherds can keep his sheep separate from those of the other shepherds? Well, he can’t. Those sheep intermingle with each other, pushing and shoving to get to the water. The shepherd just stands back and watches them all. But when he is ready to move his flock on, he gives a call, his signal. The sheep that belong to him recognize his voice. They leave the water, and follow the sound of his call. At night, he builds a sheepfold and lays himself across the opening so that the sheep can sleep safely. If someone comes to the gate of that sheepfold to lead them out, they won’t follow unless it’s their shepherd. They recognize him. They respond to his voice. The Good Shepherd knows his sheep, and they know him.

They know he will lead them to water and grass. They know he will walk slowly, so that they can keep up. They know he will build the sheepfold and will stay with them through the darkest part of night. They know he will be there when they wake up in the morning, ready to eat more grass and drink more water. They know he will spend his life with them.

Jesus says “The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” There’s that phrase again. But here it’s in the context of relationship with his flock. The Good Shepherd will provide sustenance, care, rest, and protection for his flock. The good shepherd won’t run away when the wolf comes to snatch and scatter the sheep. And the sheep know that! The Good Shepherd remains in relationship with the flock no matter what happens. We are that flock! Even when the wolf of hunger, poor health, bad news, disappointment, poverty, or despair tries to snatch one of us or scatter us, the Good Shepherd is here, with us. He faces that wolf. He looks it in the eye and says, “You have to come through me before you can get to my sheep.” My sheep--we are those sheep.

According to the liturgical calendar, we are on the other side of Holy Week. Not only has Jesus died, but he has also risen from the grave. Death has no claim on him. During the last three weeks, we’ve read, pondered, and rejoiced over resurrection stories. Jesus appearing to Mary Magdalene, comforting her. Jesus appearing to a group of his disciples, who are huddled behind locked doors, dispelling their fear. Jesus walking with two of his followers, explaining the scriptures, telling why the Son of Man had to die, and breaking bread with them. Jesus grilling fish on the beach, waiting for his disciples to bring their boat back to shore. By now, the fourth Sunday of Easter, we know Jesus has risen. He has risen indeed! Death has no claim on him.

So, when we read “he laid down his life for us,” focus on the words “life” and “us.” Jesus spent his life in loving relationship with God. His love was active, visible, and tangible. It was not ethereal words or concepts to ponder, but actions to observe, to enjoy, and to participate in. He drew others into that loving relationship---especially those who thought they didn’t matter, those on the outside. “He laid down his life for us” means he spent his life loving God and loving others. We are those “others.” Jesus draws us into loving relationship with him and with God.

We are not called to willingly, obediently, quietly endure a gruesome, painful, slow death. Instead, we are called to spend our lives in loving relationship with God and with each other. “Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.” We are called to love in active, visible, and tangible ways: to provide emotional, physical, & financial support for our seriously ill classmate; to fast from speaking to raise awareness of how our society and our church silences our GLBT sisters and brothers; to take lecture notes and outline assigned readings to share with our hospitalized classmate; to cook meals to feed our classmates with newborns.

Spending our lives seeking to invite others into relationship with God and with us requires energy. It requires creativity, courage, and love. It requires trust; trust in Jesus, our Good Shepherd, who promises to send us the Holy Spirit. She is the one who will sustain us. She is the one who will guide us. She is the one who will blow on the coals of the love that Jesus lit in our hearts. In the Acts passage, we see evidence of the Holy Spirit.

Peter stands before the Jewish high priests proudly testifying that the power of Jesus’ name has healed the lame man who begs at the gate of the temple. This is the same Peter who fell asleep in the garden when Jesus asked him to pray and keep watch. This is the same Peter who skulked around the edges of the fire in the courtyard. This is the same Peter who three times flatly denied any relationship with Jesus. But, here in Acts, Peter accuses the religious leaders, “You crucified Jesus of Nazareth, but God raised him from the dead.” Where did the faith to heal that lame man come from? Where did the courage to speak boldly? The Holy Spirit—the same Holy Spirit Jesus promises to send to us.

“We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us--and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. . . And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.” Laying down his life for us, is about living, not dying. Laying down our lives for one another is also about living. It's about living in community not isolation. This call is a call to relationship. We need not fear this call. Instead, we can be assured that God has given us proof that our Good Shepherd is with us. God has given us the Holy Spirit who gives us the strength, the courage, and the wisdom to lay down our lives for one another—to love one another.

Context: my classmates--hence the reference to Calvin & spectacles, the reference to liturgical year/lectionary, and the examples of helping classmates.

Changes I would make: Stick with just the "laid down his life for us" and the "lay down our lives for one another" theme. Don't try to weave in an explanation of the Holy Spirit's aid in that. So, I would cut the next to the last and the next to the next to the last paragraphs---bringing in the Acts reading of the lectionary. I would also cut re-reading verse 24--"And by the is we know . . . " in the last paragraph.

What do *you* think?