5-25-25      John 14:23-29. E6 C

23 Jesus answered [Judas (not Iscariot),] “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me
  25 “I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I am coming to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe.”

May our risen Lord bring peace to you for whatever disturbs your rest.

      Yes, this is Memorial Day weekend and you would think it was designed for furniture retail marketers who sell mattresses and not to honor those who made sacrifices for their country. We are told that if we just purchase the right bed, at the right price, their price, then we will gain all that sleep we are currently missing out on. Picture it now; you with your eyes closed, a blissful smile on your face, you are floating there in comfort, sleeping without interruption for hours.  That would be a real dream for you and me! 

     Our Scripture lessons for today take us into that experience of dreaming. From Acts we read that Paul had a vision with a man beckoning him from a far away country. “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Paul was not dreaming of the anxieties he had during the day. Rather, it was a vision of new possibilities that were opening before him. He was being summoned by people who had never heard of Jesus and the will of God whom he had served. Beyond the sea, there were minds and hearts opening to hear Paul’s message of hope and promise; if only he would catch this vision.

     Revelation is a book packed with visions. The writings contain images that anticipate developments that can be grasped to bring hope to believers bringing prophetic significance. John wrote of a new city, an upgrade for Jerusalem, one in which the inhabitants will know real security by means of a reliable, supportive community.

     We are given these accounts from the Lord that resulted in giving glory to God and bringing benefits, true and real blessings to all kinds of people. You may not feel that you have received such a vision. Perhaps yours has not been as clear as the one provided to Paul, that’s true. Yet your very own hopes and imaginings that come during your waking or sleeping hours, may indeed be a vision. It may provide the very nudge that you need to dream up and create plans for your own future. During the Synod Assembly we heard of some visionary experiments that are being played out and other creative possibilities that await us, when we seek out the Holy Spirit to guide our thoughts and dreams, for new ways to be church. 

     In the gospel we are directed to how these visions can result in the ministry Jesus desires for us to tackle. This passage is part of Jesus’ farewell discourse to his disciples on the night before his death. The disciples have been told that Jesus is not going to be with them in the same way they have become used to, as a touchable companion. Naturally they have questions and concerns. In the verses before our assigned text Judas asks: "Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?" He asks this because Jesus had said: I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. 17This 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…19In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. 20On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. This did not make sense to Judas or to the others.  It may not make logical and practical sense to us either. We do have the advantage of knowing that Jesus is risen! [ ] On Easter Jesus left the tomb and death itself behind him. But his abode would no longer be in Galilee or Judea. Jesus will be present to his followers in the Advocate, the Holy Spirit who is gifted to us in our Baptism. That Spirit brings us the truth and the faith that Jesus abides with us, and so also the Father who is united with him. What was difficult for those disciples to appreciate was that Jesus leaving would be to their advantage. The Word of God, the power of Christ, the fruit of the Spirit, would then work powerfully through them. That same expectation is gifted to us, to the church.

     It is love that unlocks Jesus’ presence within them and in us. That love is something the world does not understand or value. For Paul the vision he had was not merely a sense of spiritual awakening that made him feel good, that he was loved. It was like a pager going off, it alerted him to a need to which he was to respond. For Paul a trip was required. He had to go into unfamiliar territory where customs and traditions were different. These people knew nothing of Jesus. He had to take them back to the beginning of God’s call to Abraham and the unfolding of God’s work through His chosen people. Then he told the story of Jesus and how he had been sent to bring God’s mercy and grace into the world. Certainly he also told them how his own life had been turned around so that he became a follower of Jesus. Then he baptized those who were eager to come to faith and be a part of the new community of believers. So an large investment of his time and energy was made that had begun with that initial vision, as well as for those he took along with him. Then we hear that Lydia opened her heart to that love which Paul made known to them. By her receptivity and faithful response another community was formed that grew and spread the gospel. The peace which Jesus gives came to these new believers. 

     Dreams, visions, creative imaginings come to fruition through the efforts of individuals, of your efforts, joining together with other believers. It spreads the Word of Christ, exposes the very presence of Jesus in love and peace with us and in us. The Advocate will be at your side all the way. May God give us blessing!