April 20 – Christ our
Way, our Truth, our Life
“Do you want to see God?”
Those of you who are old enough to remember
the “wild 60’s” may have been asked that question. I not talking about
at a Bible class or church. Rather maybe
it was back in college, at a late night party, and a friend came up to you and
said “Do you want to see God?” Then he
opened his hand to reveal some pills.
Of course, we all know that seeing God is
not a matter of taking some pills. Yet
maybe a reason for coming to church is we want to see God – hear God – come to
know God.
Trouble is God is – by definition –
invisible and unapproachable, infinite and inaccessible. As Jesus said, “No one has ever seen the
Father.”
A little girl was drawing a picture in
school one day. The teacher asked her,
“What are you drawing?”
“God” was her reply.
“No one knows what God looks like.”
“They will when I get finished with this
drawing.”
As Christians we believe we already have the
definitive, complete, full image of God – Jesus Christ. He said:
If you know me, you will
know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him."
14:7
We are those who believe that when we look
at the life, death and resurrection of Jesus we have seen as much of God as we
can hope to see. We have more than an
idea about God, we received a person – the Risen Christ – who comes to us in
Word and Sacrament, thus revealing himself to us and continuing to speak to us. The Christian faith is based, not on an idea
about God, but on the living presence of Christ among us.
When we see Jesus, how he lived in the world
– When we hear Jesus, the words he spoke to His first disciples and speaks to
us today – When feel His Spirit moving us – then we have seen, heard and felt
God.
Jesus said,
"I am the way, and the
truth, and the life.
14:6
When we Christians claim that Jesus is the
full revelation of God, then we look to Him for the truth and the way for our
lives. His way of humble, loving
service, and His way of inclusive, embracing love is God’s way – and thus
should be our way in life. The way of
Christ is the way of the cross – suffering, self-giving love.
Our acceptance of Christ as the unique way
to God defines us as a church – Christ gives us our identity. So the church follows His way - the way of
self-giving love and service. Unlike
other membership organizations, the church does not exist simply for the
benefit of its members, but rather for others.
We have a mission to reach out and serve - to be like Christ.
Like living stones, let
yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer
spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5
We offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to
God as we give of ourselves - as we offer our time and talent in service to
Christ by serving others. But no one of
us can do it all, since we each have different talents and abilities. So we are gathered together.
Peter describes the church as a “spiritual
house”. Jesus Christ is the corner
stone, and we the members are the building blocks. A couple of years ago we illustrated that
verse by having you write your name and area of service on a “building
block”. Then we put the blocks on a
model of a church to show how together we become the church. The work of the church toward its mission is
the sum of our individual efforts. If
some of those building blocks - some members are missing, the church becomes
unstable - and a wall may begin to crumble.
But you are a chosen race,
a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may
proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his
marvelous light.
1 Peter 2:9
Within the church you have a high
standing. Peter says you are chosen and
holy – a member of God’s own people. You
are a priest - part of a royal priesthood who offer spiritual sacrifices to
God, and proclaim the mighty acts of Christ.
We continue Christ’s ministry, as He said in
the gospel, His followers will also do the works that I do and, in fact,
will do greater works than these. John 14:12
There was a man who owned a Pizza
parlor. He had a large billboard advertising his
pizzas. He ran ads in the local newspaper -
coupons and promotions of various kinds. People had responded to all his publicity gimmicks and
his business was thriving. He sold great pizza. He was so busy selling
pizza that he didn’t have much time to read the papers - he never had time for
the financial news. In fact he was so busy, he decided he should ask his son to join the business. After all, his son had just
graduated from college with a degree in business. With his son at his side, he could expand his business further. His
son politely, but firmly rejected his father’s offer to become a partner in the
pizza business. “Dad, haven’t you been
paying any attention to the business news - to what’s happening to the economy. We’re in a recession. Businesses are downsizing, not expanding. Fewer
people are going to be buying pizza.
Your business doesn’t have much
of a future.” The father thought to himself: “How could I have been so naive? Why didn’t I consult my son sooner. He’s been to
college - he knows about the economy - what’s going on.” With that he stopped all the coupons and special promotions. He decided not to run any more ads in the
local paper - no more bill boards. He
cut back his orders for supplies and even laid off
some of his staff at the pizza parlor.
And you know what - Soon his sales fell to an all time low.
How
we perceive the future can influence how
things turn out for us - our perception, our attitude does make a difference.
Are we confident? Do we look to the future with hope?
Let me rephrase those questions:
Do you trust the promises of God? Do you hope in the Lord?
Remember what Jesus said to His disciples
when they were worries about the future:
“Do not let
your hearts be troubled. Believe in God,
believe also in me.” Don’t be afraid, have faith. Trust God.
We’re not to be like that pizza store owner,
who concentrated on the negatives.
Negative thinking leads to negative results. Rather, listen in faith to the challenge
Jesus puts before us.
“The one who believes in me
will also do the works that I do, and, in fact, will do greater works than
these.” John
14:12
His disciples will not only do the same
things that Jesus, but even greater stuff.
How could they possibly do that?
Christ’s response is they will ask in prayer
and He will empower them to work in His name.
Those prayers will lead to works that the Father may be glorified in
the Son. 14:13
And as you learn from the Book of Acts, they worked and prayed, and did do greater works. They extended Jesus ministry far and
wide.
Could we as a
congregation do “greater works”?
Jesus said “The one who believes in me” - Do we believe His word – “will
also do the works that I do,
and, in fact, will do greater works than these.” Does the
Lord have something “greater” in our future?
And what about you - your future?
Does He want you to do greater works?
Could he have something more in mind for
you?
Because God holds your future, you can anticipate it with hope. His promise to us is that He will never let
us down.
The Spirit of Christ dwells in us, and can change our outlook,
helping us to see the future through
His eyes. No matter what the
circumstances around us may say, with Jesus, we can envision a positive future filled with opportunities.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled.
Believe in God, believe also in me.”
His love, his care for us can keep us secure.
Let Christ change your outlook,
opening
your eyes to the possibilities.
Let Him shape your future,
enabling you to take advantage of the opportunities.
Let Him walk with you into the future,
energizing you with
hope each and every day.
God holds our future in His hands.
And because of Jesus, you know that future is good.
There is only one place to go when you can’t
make any sense out of your life, when everything is falling apart, and you keep
asking “Why, Lord?”
There is only one place to go – to
On the cross the Lord Jesus stretched out
His arms in love, inviting us into His saving embrace.
He offers forgiveness of what is past,
and invites us to new life.
We can turn to Jesus because He knows
what we feel and experience...
and therefore we can trust
Him to be compassionate,
and call on Him no
matter what our circumstance
When you feel weak and
beaten down, look to the cross. The
crucified was beaten, but the victorious Christ can be your strength....
for His divine power is made perfect in human weakness.
When you are afraid - face trials and
troubles, look to the cross. He was afraid, but the victorious
Christ can give you courage... for you are not alone and He is
at your side.
When your heart is almost breaking,
and your head is bowed in sorrow, look at the cross and know
Christ suffers with you and will help you make it through.
Look at the cross, and see the love of
Christ that can sustain you in every dark and disastrous day, turn burdens into a blessings, and see you through every trial and
storm.