Sermon - Cantate 2020 - John 16:5-15

Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Christ said, “Now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.” Indeed it does seem like a terribly sad thing that Christ would ascend away from this earth and into heaven. Afterall, one of the most joyful events to have ever happened in history is the incarnation, when Christ descended from heaven and became man, which we celebrate at Christmas. 

We’d like to think how marvelous it would’ve been if Christ had not ascended into heaven, but had remained on earth indefinitely. He could’ve set up some sort of community or nation even in which He rules us all with truth and peace. Whenever we get sick He could’ve healed us and dispeled our sorrows. How nice that would’ve been! 

But that wasn’t Christ’s plan, because that was never God’s plan for us on this earth. From the very beginning God’s plan was that we would eventually be taken from this earth to God’s kingdom in heaven. Christ didn’t come to set up some earthly civilization; His kingdom is not of this world. So He told His disciples “I am going to Him who sent Me.” “I am going to heaven, and You’re going to come with me.”

“Nevertheless,” says Jesus, “I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” Christ’s ascension into heaven is to our advantage, because it means we’re not alone, but the Spirit of truth has come to guide us into all the truth. The plan was never for us to remain on earth indefinitely, but for us to eventually go to our Father in heaven. Meanwhile, before we reach our heavenly goal, it’s most definitely to our benefit that we would have the Paraclete, the Helper, the Comforter, the Holy Spirit come to us and guide us into all the truth.

Thus, the notion that since Christ has ascended into heaven He is therefore far away from us, is absurd! Christ’s ascension into heaven doesn’t take God away from us, but in some sense brings Him closer to His little Christians on earth! Wherever the Holy Spirit is present, there the Father and the Son is also present, because “He [the Holy Spirit] will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak.” Our Lord continues, saying, “All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that He [the Holy Spirit] will take what is mine and declare it to you.” Christ’s ascension into heaven actually brought Him closer to us all through the Holy Spirit.

As such, the ministry of Christ is the ministry of the Holy Spirit, and the Ministry of the Holy Spirit is the pastoral ministry, as Christ made clear when He breathed on His disciples saying: “Receive the Holy Spirit.” What does that pastoral ministry consist of? Our Lord says, “Whosoever sins you forgive, they are forgiven; whosoever sins you retain, are retained.” Also, “Therefore as you are going, baptize all nations and teach them whatsoever I have commanded you.” And, “Do this in remembrance of Me.” The pastoral ministry, the ministry of the Holy Spirit, is to forgive repentant sinners, baptize Christians, preach to them God’s Word, and feed them the Lord’s Supper. 

God is active in our lives to comfort us through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, who works through pastors, by tangible means, in our midst. Christ may have ascended into heaven, but that doesn’t alter the fact that He is still with us even now! You may not see Him before your eyes, but He’s still here and active! It’s not too terribly different to how Christ disguised Himself in the form of a gardener before Mary Magdalene, or in the form of a stranger before the disciples on the road to Emmaus. He’s here even if He’s disguised.

This means that the Ministry of [Peace/St. Paul] Lutheran church isn’t our own ministry, but it’s the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Likewise, I don’t have a personal ministry of John Koopman, no pastor really does, my ministry is just that of the Holy Spirit to deliver Christ to you. In fact, for that matter, no one has their own ministry because there’s only one ministry, that one ministry belongs to Christ who sent the Holy Spirit.

This ministry of Christ isn’t just an essential business, like a hospital or a grocery store, because what’s happening here in Christ’s church is beyond the confines of this world. This is no mere business, but it’s the eternal Triune God serving His people with gifts which not only aid us in this life but which make us immortal! This ministry of the Holy Spirit isn’t virtual or bodiless, it’s not just a spiritual or psychological gathering, but it takes place within the confines of where 2 or 3, or more, gather together bodily in the name of Christ to receive these gifts of the Holy Spirit’s ministry.

The aim, the goal, of the Holy Spirit’s ministry isn’t just to minister to your felt needs or make you feel good and happy, but “He will guide you into all the truth.” The goal of the Spirit is to bring you out of the miseries of this world, to lead you out of your sins, to guide you away from this world’s ruler (Satan), and to bring you to your heavenly inheritance by guiding you into all the truth!

However, being led into all the truth by the Spirit isn’t necessarily comfortable in this life. Christ warns us of this when He says, “when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.” Not only does the Holy Spirit comfort, but He convicts. 

Being led into the truth of Jesus means being convicted of our sins so that we may repent and receive the gift of eternal life with Christ is heaven. What James says isn’t just good advice, but it’s part of living the Christian life as we’re led into the way of all the truth. “Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” The Ministry of the Holy Spirit reveals that we’re wretched sinners, full of filthiness and rampant wickedness, and we need to stop it. By convicting you, the Holy Spirit is actually helping you.

The Holy Spirit is your helper and comforter! He wants for you to know the joys of everlasting life and to confess the truth with Jesus that when you die, you’re going to the Father, you’re going to your inheritance! The Spirit wants to comfort you with the truth that your sins are forgiven. He wants to comfort you with Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life, who came that you may have life in His name! The Spirit’s ministry is to lead you to the place where the Truth now resides: in paradise at the right hand of God the Father almighty.

In these last days since Christ’s ascension into heaven, let us not be filled with sorrow and despair, but rather let us be convicted and comforted by the Holy Spirit. Let us learn to know and hate our sins so that we might learn to believe in God. Let us learn to drop the false pretense of self-righteousness and rely upon Christ’s righteousness. Let us abandon all worldliness, since the ruler of this world has been crushed by Christ.

Dear Christians, the Holy Spirit has entered into our midst in order to extol Christ. The way in which the Holy Spirit extolls and glorifies Jesus is by leading us, as He does right now, by teaching, convicting, and comforting all in the name of Jesus through God’s most precious Word. You’re not alone, Christ is with you. Be unafraid! Be courageous!
Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!