He Has Overcome the World

Title:  He Has Overcome the World By Pastor Lohn Johnson

Text:  John 16:33 “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."

INTRODUCTION: My dear friends in Christ, for some reason words from an old country western song came to me as I studied this text.  They are: “I beg your pardon; I never promised you a rose garden.”  Then I came across the words again in an old movie.  The movie is about a girl who struggles with the help of a psychiatrist to emerge from an imaginary world and to enter the world of reality. But it’s a real struggle. At one point, the girl throws a bitter remark at her doctor. She cries out: “What good is your reality when justice fails and dishonesty is glossed over and the ones who keep faith suffer?” The doctor responds quickly and just as emphatically: “Look here, Deborah, I never promised you a rose garden. And I never promised you peace or happiness.” Somehow that didn’t really comfort Deborah.

I. In a way Jesus is saying something similar when He says: “In the world you will have tribulation” to His disciples.

A. One of the things that impresses me about Jesus is that he is a realist about life in this world.

1. He never promised them and he never promised us a rose garden. He never promised that life would be easy or that it would be painless.

a. In fact, almost from the day they began to follow Jesus, the disciples were in trouble. Much of the New Testament was written from prison cells. Few, if any, of the disciples died natural deaths.   b. No, Christian discipleship did not involve a rose garden. That was not the promise!

2. That word Jesus used, “tribulation,” is borrowed from the farm. When a farmer threshed his wheat, he used a “tribulum,” a contraption made of wood and rope which he used to beat down upon the stalk to separate the wheat from the chaff. That’s a dramatic image isn’t it? It’s as if Jesus is saying, “Often in life, you and I are going to take a beating.”

a. And there are no exemptions from that, not even for us Christians. Pain, difficulty, and struggle – those are normal experiences and they come to us all. We were never promised a rose garden, a painless, easy, totally successful and utterly enjoyable life.  And, anyone who promises you that is what the Bible calls “a false prophet.”   b. The Greek Orthodox Church has a unique way of illustrating this. In that Church, when a child is baptized….and by "child," I mean a real infant ….after the baptism has been performed, the priest takes the large pectoral cross that is suspended on a chain from his neck and forcibly strikes the child on its chest. The blow is so hard that it leaves a mark….so hard that it hurts the child….and so hard that the child screams. They give the child a whack. What gives?    I'll explain what gives. The symbolism of our Orthodox friends is clear. They are suggesting that any child baptized into Christ must bear the cross….and the cross is not a sign of ease, prosperity or success, but a sign of sorrow, pain and even death.    Like those Greek Orthodox babies, we Christians should not be surprised when trial and tribulation bubble up in the ebb and flow of life's river. Nor should we be seduced by phony versions of the Christian faith which suggest that once we have it, we are immune to trouble. "In this world you will have tribulation." None of us has been dealt a "get out of tribulation free" card. None of us.

B. And you’ve undoubtedly heard the questions or perhaps have asked them for yourselves, “If there is a God why does He allow….” Fill in the blank for yourself.

1. We have no simple answer. All we can say is it is the way God wishes to do things.

a. He allows the city of Man to decay and collapse under its own idolatries. Sufferings are visible all over the world.   b. And when such things happen to us, our first reaction is to ask, “Why me?” But, don’t you see, such a question comes out of a rose garden picture of life. A better question is, “Why not me?” because the experience of difficulty in life is part of living in this world!

2. Maybe one reason God allows this tribulation can be seen, though. Now you need to know that I am not big on amusement parks, given that I no longer do "heights," nor do I any longer do "fast." But one ride does intrigue me.  It’s the Rotor. Not that I’d ever ride it but it is so theologically descriptive.    The Rotor works on the principle of centrifugal force. It's like a circular barrel. You ride it standing up with your back pressed against the barrel wall. Then it starts spinning….slowly at first….then faster and faster, until all that passes before your eyes becomes a blur. And the increasing speed of the rotation forces you against the wall….pins you against the wall, really. Which is a very good thing (being pinned against the wall, I mean). Because the floor drops away, leaving your feet with nothing to rest on but air.    So you can see how the Rotor becomes a mirror of real life. There you are, on the ride of your life, and suddenly the floor falls out. Things on which you stood with confidence suddenly are gone.   Maybe God allows tribulation because it’s a bit like the Rotor Tribulation drops the floor out of all the things we tend to trust in this world.  It’s designed to drive us to the only thing we can really trust.  The only thing that goes beyond this world.

II. That’s why Jesus goes on in our text: “But take heart; I have overcome the world."

A. At the cross, Jesus faced the worst that life can do: betrayed by a friend, abandoned by his followers, put through a mock trial on trumped up charges, ridiculed, tortured, beaten, and then killed.

1. The power of evil in this world nailed Jesus to the cross and left him there to die. He knew about life’s tribulations all right.   2. But the power of evil did not have the final word – he did!

a. On that first Easter he rose from the grave and conquered those evil powers. Jesus has overcome all the evil of the world on that cross.  "I have overcome the world. I leave the world not in defeat and death, but in victory."   b. He rose and is called the First fruits of the dead; implying many will follow.  In a way you could call us the “second” fruits or those who come after Him.

B. Christ's victory is given to us in his Word, in our Baptism, and at his Table, that we might have peace in him.

1. The sin that separated us from God is forgiven.  We are reconciled to the Father; that is peace. The Means of Grace renew this to us every day.   2. But also we can note two things that Jesus did for His disciples at the Last Supper on the evening of our text. These two things He does for us too.

a. For one, He gave them the gift of Holy Communion. In that Sacrament, He gave them His body and blood for the forgiveness of sins. Although they would not be able to see Him face to face, He would still be with them to the end of the age. The Lord’s Supper is how Jesus is present with His people even today.  This is how He gives us forgiveness, life and salvation.   b. But here, in our text today, He reinforces another gift: the gift of prayer.  Until He returns in glory, this is how we speak to our Lord.

-- Now, prayer is an oft-misunderstood gift among Christians, we must remember that prayer is not a means of grace – not like the Word, baptism or the Lord’s Supper.  It’s not something through which God’s gifts are given, but it’s a response to the grace we received in the Word and Sacraments.   --- As we respond to the grace we have received, we have Jesus’ promise that He hears our prayers. He doesn’t pick and choose which calls to return.  He doesn’t send most of your petitions to the junk-mail file. He hears and honors each one, and promises to answer every prayer that is prayed in Jesus’ name. He delights to hear and answer every prayer prayed in Jesus’ name. You can’t bother the Father in heaven in prayer enough.  He’s not bothered by prayer.   ---- “In Jesus’ name.” That’s the key phrase. That is what the promise and gift of prayer rely on. We pray in Jesus’ name. We go before the Lord in prayer by saying, “We are terrible sinners, and we are not worthy of Your grace or mercy or help. Therefore, we do not ask You to help us because we’re deserving. No, we ask You to hear us and to help us because Jesus has died for our sins and risen again for our salvation.  Help us because Your Son has shed His blood to make us Your children.” That is what it means to pray in Jesus’ name.   ----- Now, let us be clear: I do not mean that every prayer is good as long as we attach the three words, “in Jesus’ name,” at the end before the amen. Nor do I mean that an otherwise good prayer goes unheard because we fail to end it with those three words. This is not some sort of magic phrase. But it’s a reminder that any connection with the Father comes through Jesus’ work for us.   ---- You will be tempted to pray on your terms: “Heal me now!” “That job is perfect for me, so get it for me!” “Save this relationship!” “Save this life!” But God’s thoughts are higher than our thoughts. His will is always best, and He often works through hardship to do us good. And while you may not see the benefits of His answers in the short-term, you have His promise that He hears your prayers, and answers them in the way that is eternally best for you.

CONCLUSION: We are not promised a rose garden – not here, not now.  But we do have a Savior who has overcome this world.  He gives us great gifts to carry us through all the tribulations we may face in this world.  He gives the Word, baptism and the Lord’s Supper.  He encourages us to respond to the grace we have received through prayer.  He promises to answer our prayers for Jesus’ sake in ways that are eternally best for us.  But to top it all off, Jesus gives us something better than a rose garden – an eternity in heaven. Amen.

As I Have Loved You, Love One Another

Title:  "As I have loved you, love one another." By Pastor Lohn Johnson

Text:  John 13:34-35   34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

INTRODUCTION: My dear friends in Christ, A group of boys and girls, ages 4‑8 was asked, “What does love mean?” Here are some of their answers:

“Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.” Karl - age 5 “Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss.” Emily - age 8 “Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it every day.” Noelle - age 7 “Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Brad Pitt.” Chris - age 7 “You really shouldn’t say ‘I love you’ unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.” Jessica - age 8

I. Most of these kids define love on an emotional level.  Our society does the same thing.  We see it over and over in books, on TV and in the movies.

A. This view of love teaches us that love is an emotion deep down within our heart; it’s a feeling, a strong feeling that can make us do things and say things we would never say or do if we didn’t have love.

1.  And so when Jesus says in John 13, “A new command I give you: Love one another as I have loved you,” we may think to ourselves, “Jesus is requiring us to feel love for all those unlovable people around us and act on it.”

a. And we even go further, we dumb this down and think that we’re obeying Jesus’ command to love one another if we simply are nice to each other.    b. As long as we smile and put our best foot forward; hold the door; give a warm handshake…if we do these things, what more could Jesus want from us?  We’re showing love to each other, aren’t we?

2. The problem is that Jesus says, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples; if you love one another.”  Now I’ve never been inside a Buddhist temple or a Muslim Mosque, but I would expect that some of the people there would treat each other no different than what this dumbed down emotional love brings.  And they are not Jesus’ disciples.

a. In fact, they may show more love for each other there than we do here.  They may actually have more feeling for each other than we have here.   b. Do we really love each other as Jesus commands?  If an outsider were to observe the effort we put into our worship, would he conclude that we are Jesus’ disciples?  He may reach the conclusion that the Buddhists or Muslims love their god more than we love ours.  Based on the emotional view of love we Christians may not seem any different than those who are clearly not Jesus’ disciples.

B. But Love is not just an emotion.  Rather, the Bible says, “Love is the fulfillment of the Law.”

1. When Jesus says, “Love one another,” He is not commanding us to be nice to each other.  He goes much further and urges us to show our love to each other by keeping the Ten Commandments.

a. Christian parents who do not teach Jesus to their children in their home, and who do not bring their children to church, do not love their children, because they are not obeying God’s clear command.    b. Husbands and wives, who are unfaithful to each other, do not love each other, for they are disobeying God’s command.    c. Children, who disobey parents, teachers, and others over them, do not have love, for they are disobeying God’s command.    d. And don’t say that you love God if you disregard His command to faithfully hear the preaching of His Word, because love is not a feeling in your heart—it is striving to obey God’s commands.

2. “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  But we don’t love each other by this standard or any other standard.

a. And I am just as guilty as you.  I fail to love you as I should.  It doesn’t matter how nice I am to you.  What matters is that I obey God’s command to serve you as He has directed me in His Word.   b. And I fail miserably in this day after day.  There isn’t one of us who loves as Jesus commands.  Even on those days when we really strive to obey God, we always fall short.  None of us can love according to this definition or any other.

II. But here Jesus says, “I have loved you.”  That’s different from, “I love you.”  It’s in the past tense…”I have loved you.”  “Love one another as I have loved you.”

A. This is wonderful comfort and hope for us.  Jesus doesn’t say, “I love you,” as though He has strong feelings for us.  He says, “I have loved you.”

1. Love is the fulfillment of the Law, and Jesus did that for you.  He kept the whole Law in your place, and He was crushed by the Law’s penalty for you on the cross.  Jesus gave Himself up for you.  He suffered the punishments that we, by our sins, have deserved.  He died your death.  The cross of our Lord tells us who He is…He is the One who loved us by enduring hell for us.

a. Jesus’ love is unconditional: Jesus Christ went to the cross and died for your sins, expecting and demanding nothing in return.   b. It is great comfort to hear Jesus say, not, “as you love each other so will I love you,” but rather,” “I have loved you.”  Even before you were born, Jesus loved you.  While we were His enemies, He loved us.  Jesus did not look for love in your heart before He died for you.  Because of His love for you, He died.  Because our hearts were full of sin, He died.  It’s because there was no love within us that He went to the cross for us.

2. “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”  All men will know, but not Jesus.

a.  Jesus knows you are His disciple not because of your love for others, but because of His love for you—His love which poured out of His hands, feet, and side for you; His love which was sprinkled on your head in the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit; His love which is given to you in bread and wine.  You don’t have to prove your love to God.  He doesn’t look at what you do, but at what He does for you.  He calls you His dear child not because you love your neighbor here, but because He made you His own in your baptism.    b. Like this: One pastor tells about a rambunctious little boy named Jarek. Jarek was four years old, and the pastor was performing the marriage ceremony of Jarek’s mother, Danielle, to a man named Andy. Both Danielle and Andy had recently come to believe in Christ.  Jarek was Danielle’s son from a former relationship. Jarek didn’t know who his father was. He didn’t really have a daddy. Jarek’s skin was much darker than Andy’s, so people could tell he was not Andy’s boy. Jarek seemed to know that. Out of his fear and anxiety he was always restless and running about, never sitting still. When his duties were fulfilled as the ring bearer in the wedding, Jarek was all over the place. He wouldn’t sit still. By the time they got to the vows he was quarantined in the front row with relatives on either side holding him down.

As the pastor began to lead bride and bridegroom in the ring ceremony, with Jarek squirming and making noises, all at once Andy stopped the ceremony. “Pastor,” he said to the pastor, “I have to say something.” Andy turned around with everybody watching. Jarek was still squirming in his seat. Andy said, “Jarek.” The boy froze. “Jarek,” Andy continued, “I love you with all my heart and I will always be your daddy, and you will always be my son.” Then something remarkable happened. Jarek got still. He did not move the rest of the service. (6) Jarek was about to discover what it means to be loved.  Jesus does that to us through the Word and Sacraments.  Now we know what it means to be loved.

B. Jesus says, "As I have loved you, love one another." So now we are called upon to love as Christ has loved us.

1. What does this mean?  It means as Jesus has loved and selflessly served you, so you are moved to love and selflessly serve others.  This means that, as Christians, our lives are moved to be full of selfless service to other people.  It means that you are called upon selflessly to serve your neighbor in whatever positions God has given you.

a. Are you a mother? Then you have the holy position of motherhood.  Parents have the holy position of parenting, and children have the position of honoring their parents.  No matter who you are, you have several positions: Employer, employee, husband, wife, single, student, teacher, soldier, commander, pastor, parishioner… the list goes on and on.   b. We are tempted to view these things as the jobs we're stuck with, but that's our sinful-self talking. According to the Lord, He has put you where you are in order to do His will. This means it is within these positions that God has given, that you are to love one another.

2.  It is not a matter of making people feel good, or serving so long as we feel good; it is a matter of treating people according to God's Law and Gospel.

3. “Love each other,” He says, “As I have loved you.”  Will we?  Will you?  Will I?  Not a chance.

a. Jesus’ love is perfect.  We sinners always fall short.  But we are moved to strive to love.  We strive to love because He has loved us.  And in this others will know we are His disciples. And where we fail, He forgives.  He doesn’t forgive because we try to love.  He forgives you because He died for you.   b. We have something here that the Buddhists and Muslims do not have.  They may be nicer to each other (I don’t know).  They may be more dedicated to what they believe in.  But we have Jesus’ forgiveness.  We have His living Word which bespeaks us righteous.  We have His body and blood which gives us life in His name.

CONCLUSION: And so after each day of dealing with life’s problems; visiting with neighbors; rubbing shoulders with coworkers; interacting with the family; when we finally rest our head upon our pillow and we confess that we have not loved others as Jesus has loved us, we can take comfort in the fact that Jesus has loved us nevertheless.  And He forgives you nonetheless.  And that truth stands forever, no matter how much or how little love we have.  Amen.

It's Good to be a Sheep

Title:  It’s Good to be a Sheep By Pastor Lohn Johnson

Text:   John 10: 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.  28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.

INTRODUCTION: My dear friends in Christ, One Sunday morning, following the church service, a layman accosted the pastor and said, “Pastor, this church has been insulting me for years, and I did not know it until this week.” The stunned pastor replied, “What on earth do you mean?” “Well,” said the layman, “Often I hear the phrase, ‘We are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.’ And I have heard ministers over the years call the congregation, God’s flock.’ Then this past week I visited the Chicago stockyards. There I discovered that sheep are just about the dumbest animals God ever created. Why, they are so stupid that they even follow one another docilely into the slaughterhouse. Even pigs are smarter than sheep, and I would certainly be angry if my church called me a pig’ every Sunday morning. So I’m not at all sure I want to come to church and be called a sheep’ any longer...even God’s sheep’.”  The man had a point.

I. We’d rather be something other than a sheep. We would entertain a proud peacock perhaps, strutting its tail feathers for all the world to admire. Or a sleek cat, a loyal dog, a strong horse, a bull. Really, if you’re going to run with animal metaphors, let it be anything but a sheep. Maybe we’d even settle for a pig.

A. But I think it's a good thing that for God's people it was an abomination to eat pigs or even touch them, but there was no such law regarding sheep.

1. If it had been the other way around; if sheep had been considered unclean animals but the people of God were allowed to raise hogs, how different wouldn't things be for us!

a. Instead of Jesus holding a lamb like in the statue above our altar, He'd be holding a tiny pig.   b. The 23rd Psalm would begin, "The Lord is my Hog Farmer..." One of our favorite hymns would be, "I Am Jesus' Little Pig."    c. And every year on the Fourth Sunday of Easter, instead of hearing a sermon about how we are sheep who love to stray, we'd hear about how we are vicious little pigs who bite and devour each other as we slop around in the mud.

2. But really it’s better to be a sheep than a pig.  The picture, for us, is one of which we are much more accepting.  But really pigs are much smarter than sheep.

a. Pigs are aggressive, sheep are followers.  Pigs can take care of themselves.  They are not easy prey for wild beasts.  They do not need someone constantly watching over them.  Sheep do.    b. If you were a pig then you would have no need for today's sermon, no need for the church, no need for a Shepherd.

B. But whether we like it or not, in the language of the Bible: both the Old and New Testaments we are called “God’s sheep.”

1. So why does Jesus choose to use a sheep to represent his disciples? Even in ancient society, sheep and shepherds did not garner the respect and admiration of the rich and famous. But Sheep have one particularly admirable quality. They will follow their shepherd wherever he leads them.

a. The people of God have been placed in a very large field that is often called the world. Many voices are calling us to come and join them. The voice of materialism wants us to deny our faith in the supernatural and believe only in the physical world. The voice of consumerism calls us to fulfill our envy by overspending on vacations, cars, clothing and a home. The voice of entertainment wants to fill our lives with media driven flashes that grab our attention, isolate us from our family and friends and then leave us with nothing but an oversized bill.   b. And out of all this noise God’s flock has been called to follow Him and trust him. And now because we follow Him we are not easily distracted by another shepherd.

c. Like this: A man in Australia was arrested sometime back and charged with stealing a sheep. But he protested that he owned the sheep and that it had been missing for many days. When the case went to court, the judge didn’t know how to decide the matter. Finally he asked that the sheep be brought into the courtroom. Then he ordered the plaintiff, the man who had accused the man of stealing his sheep, to step outside and call the animal. The sheep made no response except to raise its head and look frightened.   The judge then instructed the defendant to go to the courtyard and call the sheep. When the accused man began to make his distinctive call, the sheep ran toward the door and his voice. It was obvious that the sheep recognized the familiar voice of his master. “This sheep hears only him,” said the judge. “Case dismissed!”

II. So we are called sheep and here is what Jesus says of His sheep:  "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, ..."

A. There are four actions taking place here.  Two that we do; two that Jesus does.  We hear and follow.  Jesus knows and gives.

1. Now sheep become confused quite often, and being sheep, this happens with us.

a. We have the tendency to turn these actions around. In our sinful confusion we see ourselves as the ones who know and give, and Jesus as the one who hears and follows. To be a sheep, we think, all it takes is for us to know who Jesus is and to give Him some of our time and money once in a while.  He is the one who hears and follows.  He hears us when we pray to Him now and then, and He follows us around to pull us out of trouble when we need help.  But that's utter confusion!   b. We are Jesus' sheep not because we know Him, but because He knows us; not because of what we give to Him, but because of what He gives to us.  We are Jesus' sheep because we hear His voice and follow Him, not the other way around.

2. Now on the surface it appears that these four actions follow in order.  First we hear Jesus' voice.  Then He knows us.  Next we follow Him.  And finally He gives us eternal life.  But this is not so.  All four actions are simultaneous.  As we hear and follow He knows us and gives life to us.

a. When a baby is at his mother's breast the mother speaks softly to her child while nursing.  The infant hears his mother's voice.  The mother knows her child as her very own.  The child follows her leading to find milk.  Drinking of that milk the mother is giving life to her child.    b. All four actions, really, happen at the same time.  And so with us.  Jesus' sheep hear His voice.  We follow that voice.  And all the while He knows us as His dear sheep and from Him we are receiving life.

B. Now again, because sheep are often confused, so let's understand clearly something about these four actions.  They are in the present tense.  Jesus' sheep always are hearing His voice.  Always He knows His sheep.  Always they follow Him.  Always He is giving life to them.

1. But as confused sheep, we have the tendency to put these actions in the past tense and to say, "I heard Jesus' voice in the past, in Sunday School, Confirmation Class, in church a few times.  And so even though I don't hear His voice in the present much today, because I heard His voice in the past I am His sheep."  "And I followed Him for a while in the past, back when I was not as busy, and so even though I'm not much of a follower today in the present, I am His sheep."    2. But this is utter confusion.  "My sheep," says Jesus, "did not just hear in the past and follow in the past...but they are always, in the present, hearing My voice and following Me."

III. You are Jesus' sheep and it is no accident that you are here today.  Where the Shepherd is, that's where the sheep are found.

A. Jesus made you His sheep in the waters of your baptism.  He washed you and cleansed you, sins and all.

1. Why? Because you are precious to Him; because He is merciful; because He died for you and chose you for His very own.   2. But your Shepherd did not stop with your baptism.  Through Christian parents, teachers, and pastors He taught you of His love and His truth.

a. Through such people, sinners though all of us are, He brought, and brings, His voice to your ears.    b. So when you heard mom and dad reading to you an Arch Book about Abraham, or your Sunday School teacher reading a lesson about King David, or when you hear Pastor preaching to you from the pulpit about sin and grace, you recognize the voice of your Shepherd.

3. You also recognize your Shepherd’s voice in the Words of Institution – and you can see His Hand feeding you with His Body and Blood for the strengthening of Your faith.

B. You never stop being a sheep, and so Jesus never stops knowing you as His own and giving life to you.  He never tires of leading you with His voice.  He never ceases to care for you.

1. Are we perfect contented sheep like the sheep in the statue above our altar--no spots, or wrinkles, or unholy things about us?

a. Not at all.  We're picky sheep, critical sheep, judgmental sheep, lazy sheep, lustful and greedy sheep.  We are sheep with an attitude.  We are sheep with problems.    b. But because you are Jesus' sheep, you are more than anything, forgiven sheep, holy sheep, sheep with hope, sheep who know where you are going--to heaven through Jesus.

2. And so that perfect little sheep above the altar is how Jesus sees you. Not without problems, but problems that vanish in His love.  Not without sin, but completely forgiven, innocent and blameless in His eyes.  You are not a sheep without worries and concerns, but you are happy and content because He is your Shepherd.

CONCLUSION: No pig ever had it so good.  All this is yours, friend, because you are Jesus' sheep.  Amen.