6th Sunday of Easter
John 14:23-29
"The Legacy"
John 14:
23* Jesus answered him, “If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
24* He who does not love me does not keep my words; and the word which you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.
25* “These things I have spoken to you, while I am still with you.
26* But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
27* Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
28* You heard me say to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I go to the Father; for the Father is greater than I.
29* And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place, you may believe.
Grace and peace to you from our Lord and Saviour, Jesus who is the Christ. Amen
For those of you who are younger than let us say around 52 years, the following might not have very much meaning, for those of you who are older than let’s say 52 years, you will understand very readily what I am saying and talking about. I can remember very clearly, the first TV that my father brought into our house. It was a Sylvania set with that white glow light around the picture tube which was to soften the glare. I can remember with great excitement, watching the first show, turning the dials and seeing the picture come alive for us. It was very exciting.
It was thrilling. Now we take watching television for granted, like it has been with us since the beginning of time.
One of the first favorite television shows that I was permitted to watch, and I mean permitted to watch, was a program entitled, "I remember Mama". My mother viewed this television thing as something that would not control her house or her children, so she decided which shows and how many shows we would be able to see each night. She always said that we could find better things to do that sit in front of that thing so she made sure we did. But one of the shows that I did watch and really enjoyed watching was, "I remember Mama". It was a show about a girl recalling the day of growing up. I can remember the first scene of the show always being in the big kitchen, with Mama there baking or cooking the food. Even though it was
in black and white always looked good enough to eat. This program always made me feel cozy and warm. It was a nice show, a show about families, about growing up in a time that was different than my time. It was a show about memories, a show about how a girl remembered her mama.
As I thought about that show, as I think about this mother’s day, as I relate all of this to the gospel lesson this morning, I wonder what kind of legacy you and I are leaving behind?
Jesus is talking about leaving a legacy of love behind for his disciples as he prepares to ascend into heaven. We celebrate the ascension this Thursday, May 17th.
I wonder what kind of memory you as mothers would like to leave behind for your children? Or what kinds of memories as children do you have of your mothers? What kind of legacy do we leave behind?
My mother passed away last year right before Christmas. I think the legacy she left behind for me was one of love, caring, and an attitude of not quitting. For she was the force behind me getting over my polio. The doctor always said he could to the operations to make my legs better, but if we weren’t willing to do the work afterwards, the exercises, then nothing would be accomplished. My mother was willing and she instilled in me the spirit of willingness. It hurt. It was difficult, but we did those exercises. I did get better from the polio.
That was her legacy to me.
There are a lot of legacy we can leave behind. Some people strive to leave vast estates of money, land and gold. Others have buildings built in their honor so that their name might live on and on.
Jesus is talking about the real legacy we can leave behind is love. The legacy of loving for one another as he says in the text: “If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him."
Jesus is preparing the disciples for the day he will no longer be with them, the day they will be on their own to carry out His mission on this earth. Jesus prepares this disciples for this day because he is counting on them to tell others about the love of God the Father for His children through the life of Christ Jesus. Jesus is not only preparing them for His journey, his ascent into heaven, but as well as their journey out into the world as they will proclaim the coming of God’s kingdom through Jesus.
"There is an old legend which says when Jesus had ascended into heaven, the angel Gabriel asked him, "Lord what plans have you made for carrying on your ministry in the world? How will people learn of what you have done for them?" Jesus responded, "I left that to Peter, James and John, Martha and Mary. They are to tell their friends and their friends will tell other friends until the whole world has hear] the good news."
Gabriel then asked,"What if Peter is so busy with his nets and Martha so full of her housework and the friends so preoccupied that they all forget to tell their friends? Don’t you think you should make some other plans?" Jesus answered, "I have made no other plan. I am counting on my children to spread my name and my love."
Jesus is preparing the disciples for the Day of Pentecost. Jesus wants the disciples to keep his word,and to love one another. The legacy that Jesus left the disciples is for them to love one another and to spread the word of his resurrection to all lands. He wants all the disciple, plus the women, plus as we believe the larger group which followed Him, to spread the word and His love to everyone.
Jesus is saying in our gospel lesson that he will send the disciples help in their task. The text says: But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
Jesus is telling the disciples that the Holy spirit will come and teach them and allow them to remember all that he said to them. The Spirit will help them remember what Jesus said about the Lost Sheep, the Good Shepherd, and we could go on and on. The disciples will need the Spirit’s power to recall all that Jesus said and did in their midst the last three years.
Jesus wants us to remember the plan of salvation and His deeds on this earth, also. And we also have help in that matter. We have the Holy Spirit, plus we have what the disciples did not have, God’s written word. We have been filled with the Spirit and the Word of God through the sacraments and preaching to spread the good news of the gospel.
What kind of legacy are you leaving behind? Is it one of loving one another, and sharing the faith?
Are you leaving the legacy of the kind of love in the following story:
According to legend, a desert wanderer discovered a spring of cool, crystal-clear water. It tasted so good, he filled a leather container with the precious liquid so he could bring it to the king. After a long journey, he presented his gift to the king, who drank it with great pleasure and lavishly thanked the wanderer, who went away with a happy heart.
The king’s son tasted the water and spit it out. It had picked up the smell of the old leather canteen and had become foul. The boy asked his father why he pretended to like the awful tasting water.
The king said, "Son, that man gave me a gift from his heart. It wasn’t the water I enjoyed; it was the sweet taste of his generosity. When someone gives you something with genuine love, the thing given is simply the container. The real gift is the thought inside." 1
The real gift is the thought inside. The real gift of love is the unconditional thought inside you are you express love through words and deeds. Mothers and fathers have that kind of thought inside. They love their children unconditionally. Not I love you if or when or what you do, but love period.
It is that kind of love for our neighbor that Jesus wants us all to have.
Jesus not only promises the Holy Spirit to the disciples as he prepares them for the mission on this earth, he also grants them His peace as the text says: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Jesus give the disciples his peace. A peace which says that even in the midst of troubles, even in the brokenness of life, even in the turmoil of this chaotic world, even in the sorrow of death, even in the pain of broken relationships, even in the normal process of growing older, in all of this, there is a sense of peace.
A peace which says everything need not be made right, but a certain calm which comes and says there is a comfort, a sense of courage, a serenity which allows Christ to be in control.
A poem says:
A turmoil rages in my heart, The wind has stripped my soul all bare And I’m in need of rest God’s rest! Before I’m torn with my despair.
I know where lies tranquility, But to approach it can I dare?
A peace so great it’s violent
A love that conquers all that’s there
There lies the lake of God’s own peace! But am I ready for the dive? To gamble with infinity I do not
know who can survive.
As deep as all the bluest skies, And wider than the Milky Way
It’s darker than the path of death And brighter than the light of day
But I will fling away my doubts, I’m ready for my greatest swim!
I’m longing for the peace of God So I will lose myself in Him! 2
Amen
Written by Pastor Tim Zingale May 7, 2007
1 from Christmas_story_lovers e-mail group
2 © Benjamin Graber bgraber@neo. rr.com
http://www.findingt hesecret. com/ This poem may be used in its entirety, with credits in tact, for non-profit ministering purposes.
