Scripture: John 14:1-7, 15-21

1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.
4 And you know the way to the place where I am going."
5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?"
6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
7 If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him."

15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever.
17 This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.
18 "I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you.
19 In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live.
20 On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.
21 They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.”

       These strong and beautiful words from Jesus kind of wash over us in reassurance.  “Do not let your hearts be troubled…”  I have read these words hundreds of times and yet they remain fresh and vibrant.    The vast majority of my readings of these words has taken place in a funeral setting.  As grief and loss are experienced it is important to know God cares, that God knows what we are going through and that God responds. At a graveside these words touch us with compassion “Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Believe in God, believe also in me.  In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.  If it were not so, would I have told you. Do you not know  that I go and prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.”

       Those who believe in God know what the world does not know, they see what the world cannot see. There is a particular presence in Jesus that provides power and resilience even,  maybe especially, in the face of death and challenges.  What troubles you???  Here are some things that trouble me.  Sick folks, gas prices/economy, Sunday School attendance, environment, Building Study Committee, Health care, Church Camp  and evangelism.  In this gospel reading which takes place around the table at the Last Supper we see Jesus deep in conversation with the disciples, basically saying “good-bye” to them.

       Anxiety is heightened; there is worry, confusion even fear.  But Jesus does not leave his disciples alone.  He does not expect them to find their own way the best they can.  Jesus wishes to relieve troubled hearts.  “I will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever.  This advocate will be the Holy Spirit the same Counselor, Comforter and Guide that Jesus has been.  As you may know an advocate is one who pleases your case or who testifies in your behalf.  Someone called in who gives comfort, counsel, strength, someone who comes to your aid- thus the honorable legacy of the legal profession. 

       The beauty and strength of Jesus’ words to these anxious  disciples come trickling down to us    “ I will not leave you orphaned;    I am coming to you."

       There was a nature show on television about a black bear that gave birth to two cubs, One cub died right away. Three weeks later the mother died and the remaining cub was left to fend for itself. An orphaned cub in that condition is like a walking buffet for predators. And of course the camera immediately showed a hungry-looking mountain lion who began to stalk this orphaned cub.
                                            
       One day the orphan cub encountered a giant male black bear. The little cub cowered at the bear's sheer mass. The larger bear peered around and seemed to realize that the mother bear wasn't anywhere to be found. He gave the little cub a friendly nudge. The camera then showed the little bear happily trailing along after the larger one. The adoption papers were signed, sealed and registered at the county seat in that nudge. Papa bear proceeded to show the cub how to grub for insects and how to catch fish and how to scratch his back against a tree.

       One day the two bears became separated. The cub began to cry and looked frantically for his new father, but couldn't find him anywhere. The cub approached a stream where he'd learned to fish and something caught his attention. He looked up to see a mountain lion ready to pounce. That same mountain lion had stalked the cub for the entire show. There was no way that mountain lion would've gone for that cub with Papa bear around, but now....

       The camera zoomed in on the cub. He automatically mimicked the posture of his adopted father when threatened. He stood on his hind legs and bared his teeth. Then, in the exactly the same way his new father would have done, this cub let loose a mighty growl that should have reverberated throughout the forest. But, only a tiny bear cub squeak came out.

       Well, you know what was coming. But, to everybody's astonishment the mountain lion lowered his head and ran off in the opposite direction.

       The camera panned back to the proud little cub still standing tall on his hind legs. And then all the viewers saw what that little cub Could Not- a few yards behind him, at full, ferocious height, his sharp, white teeth bared in a snarl, stood Daddy bear. He may not have made a sound, but he was there, and even though the cub couldn't see his father, his father stood guard, protecting his young. The little cub had power available greater than anything he could produce on his own. There was a greater power watching over him.

       Jesus said, [21] "They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them." What keeps the disciples from being orphaned is not something the world cares to see or understand.

       Jesus made it plain if you love me you will keep my commandments.  Not legalism, or love earned through forced obedience but affirmation, relief for troubled hearts and a place where our hearts find a home.

       We keep Jesus commandments out of love for him, he is the way – the truth and the life and we know in troubled times we are not alone.

                                                        Thanks be to God, Amen.