Sermon Tone Analysis

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TITLE:     The Home Inside Us                                  SCRIPTURE:    John 14:23-29 \\ \\ \\ SERMON IN A SENTENCE:    When God comes to make his home with us, he transforms our "inside home" -- the home within us -- to a microcosm of that holy city sent from heaven, a grand hotel for the universe, a place of peace.
\\ \\ \\ EXEGESIS:   \\ \\ VERSES  1-31:   THE CONTEXT \\ \\ Jesus' death is immanent, but his concern is for the disciples rather than himself.
He reassures them that they will not be alone, and promises them peace.
He offers hope not only to his immediate disciples but also to all who love him and keep his word (v.
23).
\\ \\ Verse 23 seems an odd place to begin.
In v. 22 (not included in this Gospel lesson), Judas asks, "Lord how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?"
The author is careful to inform us that this is not Judas Iscariot, but another Judas -- perhaps Judas, the son of James (Luke 6:16; Acts 1:13), but we don't know for sure.
\\ \\ Our Gospel lesson begins with Jesus' somewhat oblique answer to Judas' question.
"Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them."
\\ \\ In v. 18, Jesus says, "I will not leave you orphaned."
Jesus will be going back to the Father (v.
28), but not at the expense of the disciples.
He will make provision for the disciples, current and future, through the gift of the Spirit.
Again, this gives us peace, because we have not been abandoned.
\\ \\ \\ VERSES  23-24:   THOSE WHO LOVE ME WILL KEEP MY WORD \\ \\ 23 Jesus answered him, "Those who love me will keep my word (Greek: logon), and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home (Greek: monen) with them.
24Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.
\\ \\ \\ "Those who love me will keep my word" (Greek:  logon -- from logos) (v.
23).
This Gospel begins with the proclamation, "In the beginning was the Word (logos), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (1:1).
\\ \\ -- Jesus is the logos, or the faithful expression, of God.
The logos that he brings is not his creation, but "is from the Father who sent me" (v.
24).
\\ \\ -- Jesus calls us to demonstrate our love by keeping his word.
As he reflects God's image by faithfully obeying God's will, he calls us to reflect his image by obeying his will.
\\ \\ Love is at the heart of Jesus' word.
Jesus has just given the disciples a new commandment, "that you love one another.
Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another" (13:34; see also 14:15; 15:12).
Keeping Jesus' word means, at a minimum, loving one another.
\\ \\ In the Synoptic Gospels, Jesus identifies two great commandments -- to love God and to love neighbor (Matt.
22:36-40; Mark 12:28-31), but in this Gospel the only commandment is to love one another.
\\ \\ "we will come to them and make our home with them" (v.
23).
The Greek word translated home is monen.
In v. 2, Jesus promised the disciples a home in heaven, "In my Father's house there are many monai, (dwelling places or rooms).
If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?"
In v. 23, he promises that the Father and Son will make their home with us where we are.
Therefore, whether in heaven or on earth, God is with us.
As Paul says, "whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's" (Rom.
14:8).
\\ God's promise to dwell in the midst of his people has its roots in the OT (1 Kings 8:27; Ezek 37:27; Zech.
2:10), and received graphic display in the form of the tabernacle and temple.
While these buildings were made with human hands (2 Cor.
5:1), they were nevertheless holy beyond measure, because God dwelt there in the Holy of Holies.
Only the high priest is permitted access to the Holy of Holies, and he only once a year, on the Day of Atonement.
At Jesus' death, the veil guarding the Holy of Holies will be rent from top to bottom (Matt.
27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45), signaling that all the people of God, and not just the high priest, have full access to the presence of God.
\\ \\ In the NT, Jesus speaks of himself as a temple (Matt.
12:6; John 2:19).
Paul speaks of Christians as God's temple (1 Cor.
3:16; 6:19; 2 Cor.
6:16), which reflects Jesus' promise that the Father will send the Holy Spirit to dwell in us (14:25-26), just as he dwells in the temple.
\\ \\ We say, "Home is where the heart is," meaning that home is the place where we live with loved ones, a place where we love and are loved in return.
Home is where they know us best and love us anyway.
In vv. 2 and 23, Jesus promises us a place where we love and are loved in return, both here and in heaven.
It is quite a promise.
Home is where we are with the Lord -- and we are with the Lord now -- and will be with the Lord forever.
\\ \\ Jesus makes this promise to the church, the community of faith, rather than to individuals.
"All of the personal pronouns in these verses (12-24) are second-person plural, not singular" (O'Day, 749).
This is an important insight for an age that glorifies the individual.
We are tempted to celebrate individual spirituality and to downplay the role of the church, but the church is the body of Christ, the agency through which God chooses to dispense blessings and to keep promises.
We cannot honor the head (Christ) while despising the body (the church).
Cyprian said, "Who has not the Church for mother can no longer have God for father."
His wording might be a little sharp, but only a little.
\\ \\ "Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me" (v.
24).
If it is true that those who love Jesus will keep his word, the converse is also true.
Those who do not love Jesus will not keep his word -- will not obey his new commandment -- will not love one another.
This is "a practical principle for distinguishing insiders from outsiders....  Later, in 1 John, much use will be made of this principle when the community finds itself torn by internal dissension among those who are and those who are not keeping Jesus' words (e.g., 1 Jn 2:4-5).
The principle is so important that Jesus emphasizes that it is not his word 'you [plural] are hearing' but is from 'the Father who sent me' " (Howard-Brook, 323).
\\ \\ \\ VERSES  25-26:   THE ADVOCATE WILL TEACH YOU EVERYTHING \\ \\ 25 "I have said these things to you while I am still with you.
26 But the Advocate (Greek: parakletos), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.
\\ \\ "I have said these things to you while I am still with you" (v.
25).
Imagine going on a long trip and trying to tell your children or work associates all that they need to know while you are gone.
You feel your lips moving and know that you are saying the right words, but it is difficult to imagine that your listeners fully appreciate the import of your instruction.
Only later, after they have done the work without your help, will they really understand.
It is clear to Jesus that the disciples do not understand, but he must tell them anyway.
Later, they will remember his words, and the Holy Spirit will teach them everything and remind them of all that he has said.
\\ \\ "But the Advocate (Greek: parakletos), the Holy Spirit" (v.
26).
Jesus assures the disciples that he will not leave them alone.
The word, parakletos is translated variously as Advocate, Comforter, Counselor, or Helper, and describes a Spirit who remains at our side forever (v.
16) to represent us, defend us, argue our case, give peace, or provide counsel as needed.
Unlike defense lawyers today, who are not responsible for revealing truth but instead must try to secure a favorable verdict for their client, the parakletos whom Jesus introduces here "is the Spirit of truth" (v.
17).
Barclay says, "Always a parakletos is someone called in to help when the person who calls him is in trouble or distress or doubt or bewilderment" (Barclay, 194).
The Paraclete gives us peace, because we know that our Advocate, Comforter, Counselor, and Helper is always present with us.
\\ \\ "whom the Father will send in my name" (v.
26).
Being sent in the name of another person is the mark of an emissary.
"Just as Jesus came in his Father's name (5:43; 10:25), i.e., as his Father's emissary, so the Spirit comes in Jesus' name" (Carson, 505; Brown, 653, sees this differently).
\\ \\ The Paraclete~/Holy Spirit "will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you" (v.
26).
Jesus has taught the disciples a great deal, but they will understand only after the resurrection.
Then the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, will help them to remember Christ's teachings and to interpret those teachings for their immediate situation.
The Paraclete, the one who stands beside them day and night, will make all things clear.
"This does not mean that he will make new revelations; rather he will bring back to the disciples' memory all the things that Jesus had told them" (Morris, 583).
\\ \\ This is still an encouraging word today.
The Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, stands beside us to guide us.
If we follow, the Spirit leads us to truth.
If we obey, the Spirit leads us to life.
But the blessings are not automatic.
We must follow; we must obey.
\\ \\ \\ VERSES  27-29:   PEACE, I LEAVE WITH YOU \\ \\ 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.
28 You heard me say to you, 'I am going away, and I am coming to you.'
If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe.
\\ \\ \\ "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you" (v.
27a).
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