“Abide in Me” (John 15:1-8)

John 15:1-8

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Pastor Tom Johnson, April 29, 2018

Jesus compares the Christian life to a grape vine. This is a recurring image in the Old Testament. God’s people are collectively compared to a vine or a vineyard. God is the farmer who wants the vine to be healthy, grow, and bear fruit. The vine is planted in the soil. It draws moisture and nutrients from the soil into its roots. The sap travels up through the roots, stem, and branches. Like trucks loaded up with produce, sap travels down the main highway of the stem, turns into the side streets of the branches, and then bears fruit. The vine is a solar-powered organism. It is designed to collect the energy of the sun and nutrients of the soil. It puts those resources together and somehow it wondrously, beautifully, and deliciously puts out fruit.

Jesus says he is that Organism. He has planted his roots into the soil of humanity in the incarnation—the Word has become flesh. He is the Light of the world that powers the plant. His is the lifeblood of the plant that gives life and strength to the branches, stems, leaves, and fruit. Jesus is the vine. We are the branches. We are members of Christ. We do not sustain ourselves. We do not feed ourselves. We do not live by ourselves. Our lives, our being, our nourishment, and our strength are in him. That is why Jesus says, “The branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine.” And, “apart from me you can do nothing.” And so, Jesus calls out to us to abide in him—to draw close, to be rooted in him, let the sap of his life fill our veins, to be in relationship with him.

This is an invitation to remain and cherish where we have been planted in our baptism. It is a gracious call to find our strength in the Gospel daily—just as we pray for him to give us our daily bread. Jesus is pretty descriptive about what happens when we do not abide in him. When we cut ourselves off from the vine the branches are only good for feeding the fire. As a caring Teacher and Shepherd of our souls he wants us to know what life is truly like without him. God the Vinegrower does not threaten or punish the vine when he prunes it. He disciplines the vine. He makes it healthy. He cuts the things out of our lives that are not producing godly fruit. He does that so that the sap will be more efficiently channeled to the healthy branches of our lives. The overall health of the vine is what is at stake. God wants us to be healthy and whole. He is actively nurturing, caring, and pruning us as individuals and as a community—as the vine and body of Christ.

The call is for us to abide in the vine. We are the ones who grow distant and drift away. Like the Isaiah text the Ethiopian eunuch was reading, “All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his and her own way.” We are the ones who pull away from the vine. We are only cheating ourselves from what God gives us. When separation occurs from God and our lives in Christ, that is the very definition of death—separation from God our light and our life. Pride will keep us from growing dependent on God or on the life in community of the vine. We do not want to be vulnerable. We do not want to humble ourselves and admit that we need the life-giving sap of God’s Word and the rich heavenly food flowing into our being day by day.

“You have already been cleansed by the Word that I have spoken to you.” That is what I love about this Scripture. Jesus is saying that his grace is followed by even more grace. As our epistle so clearly says, “We love because he first loved us.” “We do not live by bread alone but every Word that flows from the mouth of God.” Scripture is the nutritious sap that we need to continually flow through every artery, vein, and capillary of our being. To abide in Jesus is to plug ourselves into the life of worship, prayer, and Scripture. We are created in Christ Jesus for good works.

The sap of God’s grace has flowed into our lives. The fruit we bear is the natural result of lives rooted in God’s grace.  The lifeblood of the plant is also the true Body and Blood of Jesus. Here at this Altar—at the Lord’s Table—Jesus gives us himself as heavenly food. Here he calls out to you and to me, “Take, eat. Drink of it, all of you.” “Abide in me as I abide in you.” “My grace precedes more grace. I am the Word made flesh. And I give my Body and Blood to abide in you.” And so, God the Vinegrower invites us to draw close as he has drawn close to us. The sap of life flows from his pierced side into the cup of the New Testament for the forgiveness of our sins. His nutritious Body is broken and given for you to strengthen you and preserve you to life everlasting.

Easter triumph, Easter joy!
This alone can sin destroy;
From sin’s pow’r, Lord, set us free,
Newborn souls in You to be.

Father, who the crown shall give,
Savior, by whose death we live,
Spirit, guide through all our days:
Three in One, Your name we praise.
          “At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sin” (LSB 833, vv. 7 & 8)

“Go, tell!” (Mark 16:1-8)

Mark 16:1-8

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Pastor Tom Johnson, April 1, 2018

Some say our Gospel reading is incomplete—that Mark would never end his story with the women saying “nothing to anyone.” That’s not the way you end a good story. It is a rather anticlimactic way to end the account of the resurrection: “They said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.” Some say the extended ending was torn off from the original, damaged, or lost in transmission. But I think think it is completely intentional, in fact, genius.

The three women start off to anoint Jesus’ body with spices—to complete the burial of their Lord. They go early in the morning to avoid detection. They are already anxious about the large stone covering the entrance to where Jesus’ body was. These women have tremendous love for Jesus and courage. They didn’t ask for an escort or protection. To their surprise, an angel says not to be afraid but to go, tell his disciples the good news Christ is risen. They go but they do not tell. They are in shock. They say nothing to anyone, for they are afraid. God’s command to tell others is incomplete. And who can blame them? They are still devastated by the crucifixion and death of their Lord. We know from other accounts that the disciples would often not listen to them because they were women. At least for now, they say nothing to anyone because everything is just too overwhelming.

As Christ’s disciples, we too have been commanded to go and tell the good news. We will end our service today with “Go in peace. Share the good news!” Like Mark’s story, our worship is unfinished—until we tell the good news. Mark’s unresolved ending is designed to make us ask ourselves, “What is keeping me from telling others about Jesus?” “What fears do I have that prevent me from stepping out, reaching out, and proclaiming Christ?” Are we ashamed of our faith? Or that we don’t want to be known as a Jesus freaks? Or that we don’t want people to feel judged or preached at? Or that we don’t want to impose our faith on others? Or are we confused about our mission? God sent his Son from heaven to earth. God sent an angel from heaven to the women. Why would God want to send frightened women—or any of us? We are only human—easily overcome by our fears. Or do we not believe we have a voice or a compelling story to tell? Do we think our age, gender, or station in life is an obstacle? What is keeping us in missional paralysis? What is making our telling of the good news incomplete?

God’s command is simple: “Go, tell.” God believes in these women. We know they will finally overcome their fears and boldly proclaim the Gospel. Likewise, God believes in you and me. We have a story to tell. God sent his eternal Son for us. We have learned about what it truly means to love God and love our neighbor. Jesus has broken down divisions and the hostilities between peoples. He has elevated women and non-Jews. It does not matter if you are male or female, Jew or gentile, slave or free. Each of us has a voice. We have the wisdom of Christ. It has transformed our lives and minds.

Jesus was crucified, died, and was buried. He has been raised. He is not at the tomb where the women thought they would find him. He died and rose again to take away our fear of condemnation, guilt, evil, and death. In Christ we have the full pardon and forgiveness of our sins. In our resurrected Lord we have the assurance of eternal life! And there is a world out there that desperately needs this good news. Mark’s story is incomplete. It is, however, a profound mystery why God does not just write it in the clouds, always send his angels, or send trained theologians. But it is also a privilege and joy. God wants to add us to his beautiful story. We get to participate in telling the greatest story ever told! The story does not end with these women saying nothing to anyone. The story continues where you and I pick up. Jesus goes ahead to make a way. We now go with confidence and joy and tell the good news, “Alleluia! Christ is risen!”

The foe in triumph shouted
When Christ lay in the tomb;
But lo, he now is routed,
His boast is turned to gloom.
For Christ again is free;
In glorious victory
He who is strong to save
Has triumphed o’er the grave.

This is a sight that gladdens—
What peace it doth impart!
Now nothing ever saddens
The joy within my heart.
No gloom shall ever shake,
No foe shall ever take
The hope which God’s own Son
In love for me has won.

          ("Awake, My Heart, with Gladness," LSB 467, vv. 2 & 3)