Sixth Sunday of Easter

May 5, 2002

The Rev. Dr. David M. Wendel

Saint Luke’s Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Lessons:    Acts 17:22-31;  1 Peter 3:13-22;  St. John 14:15-21

     Today, we hear in our gospel lesson Jesus comforting his disciples saying, “I will not leave you orphaned.”

     Funny, we don’t talk much about being orphaned, these days.  As a child, I don’t know if I knew what the word “orphaned” meant, but I remember well the fear of being orphaned.  Do you remember such feelings?  I always thought I was odd, because I worried about things like that.  And then, I found that many of my friends had similar feelings.  When your parents would go on a trip without you, it was natural to worry that maybe they wouldn’t come back.  When dad had to take a business trip and mom would go along-- it crossed your mind, that maybe, just maybe, there would be a plane crash, and you’d be left alone;  orphaned.  Your parents are supposed to be your grounding, your security and safety—so it’s no wonder that we have such fears.  And since September 11^th, it would be no surprise if children today were even more worried about that than when I was a kid.  Because, as we know all too well, sometimes, children are left, alone--orphaned.  Sometimes, the parents we trust so deeply, die, and we find ourselves in a whole new, frightening existence.  Another funny thing--I thought those feelings would end when I became an adult.  I thought I’d no longer worry about being orphaned.  But I was wrong.  Though the worries have taken on a different dimension.  Though the situation is different, still, even as adults, we worry about the day when we will loose our parents.  A day when we will still feel, very much, alone, orphaned. 

     As Jesus’ disciples came with him to Jerusalem for the last time, they all had a certain fear,  that Jesus would be taken from them.  When Jesus talked about going to Jerusalem, they tried to convince him NOT to go—because the Jewish establishment was already looking for him.   They had already been trying to trap him.  They wanted nothing more than to do away with Jesus once and for all, to end his criticism of them, and his influence on the people. The disciples feared for Jesus, and for themselves, and this was no idle concern.  When Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, in spite of the warm welcome, and the parade into the city, everyone of the disciples knew, that there was a storm cloud gathering against Jesus, that would threaten him, and likely, end up leaving them, orphaned.  To us, it seems a little unusual that Jesus would talk about his relationship with his disciples in this way.  We then to think of Jesus and his followers as companions, co-workers, associates in ministry.  But Jesus and his disciples realized that their relationship was something more—much more than just a business relationship.  We see it in the fact that Jesus often referred to his followers as “these little ones of mine”.  He spoke to crowds and said to them, “Little children”.  Today, we might hear such words as patronizing; bordering on insult, as we like to think of ourselves as grown, mature, responsible adults.  But the fact is, there is a little child, still, in each of us.  The fact is, even when we are grown, there’s a child inside us who feels, at times, vulnerable, lost, alone.  There’s a child inside us who needs, a parent—to love us, and comfort us, and guide us, and forgive us, and calm our fears and give us courage and hope.  Maybe that’s why Jesus said, “Unless you become like a little child, you cannot enter the kingdom of God.”  Because we have to become humble and trusting, like a little child, to have the faith to cast our hopes and fears, on Him.

     It’s in that sense, that Jesus is truly, our parent.  And why the disciples were so afraid, when they came to Jerusalem, that they would be left orphaned.  The entire 14^th chapter of the Gospel of John, records Jesus trying to calm the fears and anxieties of the disciples, while knowing full well, that He would die in Jerusalem.  And that, was what made it all the more difficult, to get that message across to the disciples.  He was trying to tell them that He would not leave them orphaned, even while He was preparing them, for His death on the cross.  On the one hand, he was telling them, “In a little while you will no longer see me, because I will offer myself in sacrifice on the cross, die and be buried.”  On the other hand, He was telling them, “I will not leave you orphaned;  I am coming to you—I will remain with you.”  It’s no wonder that the disciples didn’t understand.  It’s no wonder that when they saw Him suffer on the cross—when they saw Him die—when they saw Him being carried to the tomb—when they saw the stone rolled into place, to seal the tomb—they felt very much alone, and orphaned.  It’s no wonder.  Just as it’s no wonder, that at times, today, we still feel, alone, and orphaned.  When we’re facing tragic loss in our lives;  when we’re struggling with cancer or other illness;  when we’ve lost our job and don’t see clearly what the future holds for us;  when we’re caught up in abuse of alcohol or drugs;  when we’re stuck in the deep pit of depression…it’s no wonder that we sometimes feel orphaned.  That we look around us and ask, “Are you still here, Jesus?  If you are, then where are you, because I need you?”  Anyone who has lived, has had those moments when it seems like Jesus is dead and buried, like an ancestor who lived a long time ago, and is now long gone.  But Jesus speaks, not just to the disciples, back then—but to you and me, today.  And He says, “I will not leave you orphaned;  I have not left you orphaned!”  He says, “yes, most in the world no longer see me, but with the eyes of faith, you can still see me, and because I live, you also will live.  And you will live, and you will see me, because I have sent to you, the Spirit—my Spirit, the Spirit of Truth—whom the Father has sent to be with you, forever.  The Spirit who abides with you, and is in you.”

     Yes, Jesus has not left us orphaned, but has sent His Spirit, to be His resurrected presence, with us.  To abide with us, and be in us, every day of our lives.  So that Jesus will not be like the unknown god of the Athenians, whom Paul is speaking about in Acts;  so that Jesus will not be like the great Buddha, who died, and has left only gold and silver statues of himself behind.  So that Jesus will not be like Mohammed, who died and left only great teachings behind.  No, St. Paul says, Jesus is not like all the rest, but is God, in the flesh—God crucified and risen, in Jesus, to be not far from us—but to be so close, that in Him, we live and move and have our being—since we are his offspring.  Since we are, His children.  Since we are still, His children, and He is still, our parent, resurrected to be with us;  raised, to live with us forever, in and through the Holy Spirit.  Raised, to walk with us every day of our lives, to give us hope and courage, and comfort, and forgiveness and love.  Raised to be with us at the moment of our earthly death; raised, to reach out to our cold, lifeless bodies, and say, “I will not leave you orphaned;  I have come to you, and because I live, you also will live!”  And live, we will, indeed.

     We will live, fully, in the present, because Jesus is with us.  We will live, without fear, now, because Jesus is with us.  We will live, forever, because Jesus is with us, and in the power of the Spirit, will be with us, forever.  And this, He says to us, so that, when you are afraid;  when you feel lost and alone;  when you are confused and uncertain, you can hear these words of Jesus, spoken confidently to you — to give you hope;  to give you comfort;  to give you strength;  to give you courage.  These words of Jesus are for you, today, and for you, any day that you are feeling fearful and afraid:  “I will not leave you orphaned—I abide with you, and am in you—and because I live, you also, will live.  I will not, leave you orphaned.”  Amen.