John 17:6-19

"Jesus loves me this is know for the Bible tells me so." Evidence of the love of God is everywhere in the Bible. It is especially evident in the Gospels. That's because Jesus is the living embodiment of God's love. It is a love that not only sacrifices to save us but also gives us an example to follow as we try to live our lives pleasing to God. That is why we call Jesus our example and redeemer.

This example of love is shown to us in the passage I read from John's Gospel. This is part of a prayer that Jesus prayed for his disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane. Most people think of Jesus praying "Let this cup pass from me. Not my will but yours be done." But that is only part of Jesus' prayer in the Garden. A large portion of that prayer is about Jesus' disciples.

Jesus realized that he would soon be separated from his disciples. So he prayed that the Father would care for the disciples. He admitted that they were ultimately a gift from God and that they belong to God. He also knew that he had taught them as best he could. So he released them to the Father's care.

Of course Jesus is an example for all of us to follow, but I believe that today's lesson has a special application for mothers. Jesus said of his disciples, "They were yours and you gave them to me." Almost any mother would agree with the statement that their baby is a gift from God. But how seriously do we take that statement. Do we truly think of our children as gifts from God? Do we think of them as belonging to God or belonging to us?

Most of the time I am aware that my two girls are gifts from God. But then there are times they don't seem like gifts. You know the times when they refuse to cooperate and try your nerves. I am sure the disciples got of Jesus nerves at times. Especially in the garden when they couldn't stay awake just a little while to pray with Jesus.

But our children are gifts from God. They are living blessing from our Eternal Father. Ultimately they are not our own, but belong to God. We are but caretakers of God's blessings. If we can only remember that they are gifts from God, then we can give thanks to God even when they clog up the toilet and take off their shoes for the fifth time while you are trying to dress them for school.

Jesus realized that the disciples were gifts from God and he speaks about how he has cared for them. Jesus says, "for the words that you gave me I have given to them." Throughout his time with the disciples Jesus taught them at every opportunity. A look at the parables and sayings of Jesus is proof of this. Usually he used common everyday things to teach the disciples. He was probably pointing to these things as he used them as object lessons.

As parents we have a responsibility to teach our children the words that God has given us. We are called to teach our children that God is their maker, that Jesus died for their sins, and that the Holy Spirit wants to live in our lives. One of the ongoing trends in church attendance is that some people tend to drop out of church during their young adult years until they have children. Then they begin attending church again because they realize a need for their children to learn of God and have a relationship with their heavenly Father.

But merely bringing children to church is just the beginning. Parents need to know the Gospel too. We can't teach what we don't know. So parents need to go to Sunday School if they want their children to get something out of it. Children also need to see the Gospel at work in our lives. I remember one day seeing the Gospel at work in my Mother's life. I remember returning to the store because the clerk gave my mother a ten instead of a one. I also remember the volunteer work for the Red Cross and the time she spent just listening to me. Our children need to hear us speaking of Jesus, but they also need to see Jesus at work in our lives. If they see hear the words but don't see the actions they will decide that Jesus really means nothing because we are just paying lip service to him. Jesus said "for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they may also be sanctified in truth." In the same way we need to sanctify ourselves as an example for our children.

Finally Jesus gives us an example by simply praying for his disciples. How often do you pray for your children? Most people only pray for their children in a moment of crisis. But we should pray for them daily. We can't be with our children 24 hours a day. During those times we need to surrender them over to God's care because we are powerless.

It may be difficult to think of Jesus as powerless but he was when he surrendered to God's will to die on the cross. It was by his choice, but he couldn't be on the cross and comforting his disciples at the same time. For three days he would be separated from them by his own death. So for that time he surrendered them to the Father.

There comes a point in every parent's life when it is time for the child to move on. That is the goal of motherhood. To raise the child so that they can take care of themselves. Whether it is sending them to first grade or college or into marriage, we have to let go. At those times we have to follow Jesus' example and surrender them, to the Fathers' care. After all they are God's to begin with.

Jesus our example and redeemer gave us an example in his life that applies to us all. I know that many of you mothers know the things I have said today. You already know that your children are gifts from God and you give thanks for them every day. You know that you need to pass on all that you know about Jesus and that your life should reflect the things you say. You also know that you need to surrender your children to God in prayer daily.

But sometimes we need to be reminded. Often it is hard to try to live these ideas in the real world. Jesus knows this because he too faced the same difficulties that we do. Yet in Jesus we have a living example of the word of God in the flesh. An example of how to live out the love we have for our children.

I guess what it all boils down to is the love of God. Mothers love their children just as God loves his children. As humans we often have trouble expressing that love. But in Jesus God has given us a living example of love. In the end we all, mothers included, need to follow Jesus' example. And perhaps we should remind ourselves that Jesus is interceding with the father for us too.

What do we do now? That was the question on all the disciples' lips. After Jesus rose from the dead he appeared to his followers for forty days. During that time he showed them how his death and resurrection were all part of God's eternal plan of salvation. Then at the end of that forty days Jesus assembled the believers. And after telling them to wait for the Holy Spirit he ascended into heaven.

And the assembly looked at Peter and collectively asked, "What do we do now?" Peter after all was the chief Apostle. He was the one in charge. Peter scratched his head and said, "Well I guess we should find someone to replace Judas."

So they cast lots and Matthias was chosen.

What do we do now? It's a good question. What do we disciples of Jesus do now? There is a common way of speaking among theologians which says that we live in "the between time." We live in that period of history between the ascension of Jesus and his return on clouds of glory. So our place on the timeline of God's plan for the cosmos is in between the time that Jesus came and the time when he will come again.

But, what are we supposed to do now as we await his return? (look at watch, yawn, straighten books, brush lint off robe)

Some think that we should be keeping things straight. As we await Jesus' return we should keep the house clean and maintain internal order. That's what Peter appears to be doing: keeping things in order. So we should make sure we have men and women of God in every pulpit and in every office. We should have our crosses polished and our steeples on straight as we wait for Jesus to come again and inspect the troops.

But is that what Jesus wants us to do now? Did Jesus intend that we spend all our time maintaining the church? I think the passage I read from John gives us some clues as to what Jesus' intention was for his disciples. This passage is a prayer. Jesus is praying for his disciples. He knows that he will be taken away from them and that they will be with out his physical presence for a time.

So what does he pray for to help them through this time of separation? Jesus says that he has protected the ones that God gave him.(17:12) But he will no longer be with them in bodily form. So Jesus asks God to protect them. He asks God to protect them from the enemies of this world for they are still in the world even though they are not of the world.

It appears that Jesus just wants them to be preserved until he comes back. But then Jesus says something that changes that perception. Jesus says "As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world."(17:18) God sent Jesus into the world to preach and teach and heal and lead the lost back to God. He was crucified for doing that. So Jesus asks the Father for protection as he sends us to do the same kinds of things he did.

What should we do now as we await Jesus' return? We should be out in the world carrying on the work that Jesus began. Just as the Father sent Jesus, so Jesus sends us. We should be caring for the sick, searching for the lost, teaching one another. This is our mission. Simply maintaining order is not a mission.

So what about Peter and the early church? Were they wrong to focus on maintenance after Jesus ascended. No, because they were told to wait for the Spirit to come upon them. That is what happened a few days later on Pentecost. God's Holy Spirit came down and the church went out into the streets to preach the good news.

The difference between us and the church in this passage I read from Acts is this: They were living before the Holy Spirit came and so they could do nothing. We on the other hand live after the Holy Spirit has come. So we should go forth in mission like Jesus. Jesus is coming soon and there is a lot of work to be done. There are souls to be saved. There are wrongs to be righted. There are hurting people to be comforted. When Jesus returns I hope he doesn't catch us polishing our crosses when there are so many in need. Let's hope that he finds us hard at work fulfilling his wonderful mission.