Sermon 05-29-2011

Message for all Ages                      Psalm 66:1-8 John 14: 1-14

“Where is Jesus Going?”

Some of you have perhaps heard of Harold Camping; a man who believed that he could predict the end of the world and the coming of Christ. I do not know what impact or the kind of questions this may have caused you, if any? On the morning of May 21, 2011, I got a call from my daughter in Abu-Dhabi saying: “Mom I wanted to let you know that if the world ends today, I love you! What do you think about this prediction? I told her, “I am ready, I am not afraid of death, I know where I am going, and I know who I ‘m following…” How does the idea of the end of the world affect you? Do you know that for months some people have been preparing for that May 21st date. People wondered what to wear for the rapture, some sold or gave away their possessions and others even quit their jobs. What does it say about Harold Camping and his movement? Now they’re saying the date was miscalculated, miscalculated according to what, the book of Revelation? What does it say about his accountability and spirituality? How do you feel about your own faith and spirituality? PRAYER When we read this passage we notice that we go back to Jesus’ farewell speech to his disciples before his death. It is a text that is used after Easter and usually not before. I believe it has to do with understanding the assurance of the resurrection. After the resurrection we may need to ask ourselves the question that Thomas asked Jesus, where are you going? Where is Jesus going? Invite the children forward… On this Memorial Day weekend, we remember those how have died for our country in different wars and military action. We also remember our loved ones who have died, because we loved them and miss them so much. So, today we are going to light candles in memory of them, but first, I would like to invite you to work on some of the butterflies, they are butterflies of hope. If each one of you take two butterflies, one to keep and one to give away later in the service, that would be nice. You also can take five or six peeling stickers and decorate them as we talk. You probably know where butterflies come from. Do you know that what happens to butterflies is an example of the ‘circle of life’? They are born as caterpillars, and live in that form till they have grown and become adults, then they die and a protective shell or cocoon forms around them. What is really happening is a change of their form, they become a new creation, very different form from the original caterpillar. It can no longer be a caterpillar, but something far more beautiful, a butterfly. Now let’s ask the adults, do you think of our circle of life as being very similar to that of the butterfly? We are born, we grow up, we become teenagers, youth and young adults, and in those years we go to school, we play, we learn, we go to college or vocational school to become independent and to learn how to make a life for ourselves. We find a partner, we form a family, we grow old and older, and wiser, and how does life end? with death? And then… When Jesus was talking about dying, the disciples again asked, “Where are you going?” Jesus said to them, I am going to heaven, to the house of God, to prepare a place for you and for you and for you! The disciples did not get it, so they asked again, if you go how are we going to keep in touch with you? Do you have a direct line? Can we get your, e-mail address? Can we find you on facebook or tweet you on Twitter? And Jesus said, yes, you can keep in touch with me! I am the direct line to God, believe and feel free to connect with me with your thinking and your heart! In other words, if you believe in me, you believe in God, so you can keep in touch with God when you pray in my name. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life, you can come to God through me.” John 14:6. What we see here is the connection between God the great “I am” of the Old Testament and Jesus’ affirmation of who he is. “Jesus… embodies the way to God and therefore “the way” of discipleship. Jesus is also the “truth,” revealing the nature of his Spirit, one of grace and truth. The entire purpose of Jesus’ mission was to bring “life” to the world. The “life” promised by Jesus to his disciples is the “eternal life… the participation in the very being of God.” (Donald Senior, “Feasting on the Word,” Year A, vol.2, p. 469) Finally, “those who believe in him are promised that they will do greater works Because (1) Jesus will be with God, a place of advocacy and intercession, and (2) these works (of his people) will bring glory to God through Jesus, (3) the disciples are instructed to ask in his name and he assures them he will grant what is asked.” (Molly T. Marshall, “Feasting on the Word,” Year A, vol.2, p. 470) In the meantime, what do we do? We pray, we share the love, the good news and the message of Jesus, so we live and we die and we wait, because we do not know when Jesus is coming again. In Matthew 24: 36, we read, “But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels, nor the Son, but only God.” And in verses 42-44, we read, “…but understand that if an owner of the house had known at what moment of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Be ready for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.” Jesus said: “and one day I will come again, so I will take you to myself, to be with me and with God.” This is what we as Christians believe as we wait in hope for the second coming of Christ. “The promise of eternal life is fundamental in this passage. Despite the separation that death will cause, the bond of love and fidelity between Jesus and those who believe in him cannot be broken.” (Donald Senior, “Feasting on the Word,” Year A, vol.2, p. 469) What happens after death? In the case of someone else, we are sad for a while, because we love and miss those who are important to us and are now gone, but like the butterflies, we know that they become something more beautiful and special. How are we doing with those butterflies, are you ready to keep one and place the other one on the table. Thank you! BENEDICTION Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life, You can come to God through me.” When we pray we align our spiritual longing with that of one’s Lord. When one believes in Jesus, one believes in God with the same depth of truth and hope, from which the Spirit flows through prayer. In the mean time we wait for the second coming of Christ! Amen!