"An
Advocate"
a condensed version of the
sermon delivered by Rev. Kirk Moore on Sunday, April 27, 2008 at Union Congregational Church, United Church of
Christ, in Somonauk, Illinois.
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Jesus farewell speech to his disciples continues this week. Today we’re experiencing more words of comfort and a promise that the disciples wouldn’t be abandoned. We’ve also got instructions about loving God.
Have you ever done something and caused lots of trouble for yourself? Have you ever helped someone out who was in a jam?
How often have you been asked to help someone who’s put themselves in a difficult situation? How do you support someone who’s made really bad decisions? How can you expect the support of your family and friends when you’ve completely messed up?
Your friend just called from jail. He’s been arrested for burglary and needs someone to bail him out. He needs someone to stand beside him through the upcoming trial.
A relative just called from the courthouse. She’s been convicted of writing bad checks and needs some help paying her fine or she’ll have to spend 2 months in jail. She needs someone to stand beside her and vouch for the judge that she’ll pay her fine so that she can go home.
A childhood friend who is now mostly just an acquaintance just called. He’s been in a car accident and has broken both legs. He’s asking you to go to his home and bring clothes and personal items to the hospital. He’s also asking you to call his estranged children. He needs you to support him and to help him talk with his family.
Each of these folks represents a difficult situation. Some, if not all, of what is going on for them is definitely related to poor decision making on their part. But each of these people needs someone to support them as they face what’s ahead.
In part of this week’s Bible reading from John 14:15-21, Jesus promises that God will send an advocate (or counselor, comforter or helper) so that the disciples won’t be abandoned or alone when Jesus leaves.
I wonder. Would Jesus have said the same words to a group he didn’t trust? Is there anything we could ever do to make it so God’s spirit – the counselor, helper, comforter – advocate – would reject us?
I don’t think so.
Last week I pointed out that this farewell address is targeted to the disciples. I also pointed out that as it speaks to us we have to see it through the lens of Jesus giving words of comfort and assurance. I also said last week that we have to understand Jesus words through the lens of his overall ministry themes of inclusivity, comfort, unity and love. Same thing this week.
The disciples had messed up before and they would mess up again. And Jesus promised that God would send an advocate to stand beside them and to help them.
I think that applies to us, too. This advocate, the Holy Spirit, is here to give us support, comfort, love and care.
But I wonder. There are times in the Bible where Jesus has some pretty harsh words for the religious folk.
(Luke 12:1b NRSV) "Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, that is, their hypocrisy.
(Luke 11:42-44 NRSV) "But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and herbs of all kinds, and neglect justice and the love of God; it is these you ought to have practiced, without neglecting the others. {43} Woe to you Pharisees! For you love to have the seat of honor in the synagogues and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces. {44} Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without realizing it."
(Matthew 23:13-17 NRSV) "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you lock people out of the kingdom of heaven. For you do not go in yourselves, and when others are going in, you stop them. {14} {15} Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cross sea and land to make a single convert, and you make the new convert twice as much a child of hell as yourselves. {16} "Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'Whoever swears by the sanctuary is bound by nothing, but whoever swears by the gold of the sanctuary is bound by the oath.' {17} You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the sanctuary that has made the gold sacred?
When it comes to the powerful exploiting the powerless, Jesus words are less than kind
When it comes to the haves exploiting the have nots, Jesus’ words are less than kind
But even as he calls the Pharisees and scribes hypocrites, he reached out to them, in anguish, to tell them of his love:
(Matthew 23:37 NRSV) "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!
He never said that God had rejected them. God’s love – God’s comforting spirit – is for everyone. No exceptions.
But what about this If-then statement right at the beginning of today’s reading?
"If you love me, you will keep my commandments."
Here’s a way the first readers would have understood that sentence:
"If you love me – and I know that you love me – you will keep my commandments. (And I know you will because you love me!)"
So Jesus wasn’t making a request or even reminding the disciples of an expectation. Jesus wasn’t making a conditional statement. He was making a promise to them that they wouldn’t be abandoned.
And we can bring this one right into our lives today.
Close with prayer.
© 2008 Union Congregational Church, All Rights Reserved