Background for the Gospel Sermon on Jubilate Sunday
This may be repetitive for some, but the basic message needs to be known. I have been studying Karl Barth's early years with Charlotte Kirschbaum (his mistress and uncredited co-author). Together they generated an enormous Church Dogmatics, which has been standard ever since, almost 100 years now.
Their approach was to use the Bible as a platform for their own thought, which was rationalistic and Marxist. Any given passage or concept became a piece of putty for them to mold. The Bible as the Word of God? Their response - The Bible contains the Word of God but is not the Word of God. After that statement, everyone knows, anything goes. The Gospel of John might be symbolic and poetic, they claimed, but the Fourth Gospel is not historically accurate or God's Word. Jesus teaching Himself as the Son of God simply shows that John's Gospel must be set aside and ignored, except when useful.
It became a fad to rely on Mark's Gospel as the earlies and most accurate. But note this. "Are you the Son of the Blessed One?" Jesus replied, "I AM" - citing the Name of God in Exodus 3.
Mark 14: 61 But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? 62 And Jesus said, I AM [ο δε ιησους ειπεν εγω ειμι]: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
No modernist or Fuller graduate mentions that the entire Barth/Kirschbaum philosophy is spun around their own thoughts, which itself became inspired and infallible, according to modern theologians. Fuller Seminary theologians (trained under Barth) publicly rejected the inerrancy of Scripture. Fuller's president argued hilariously that debating Biblical doctrine got in the way of Fuller's Mission, which is translated as Fuller's Money.
The one movement uniting all the mainline denominations with the Church of Rome and the "conservative" Lutherans and Evangelicals - is Church Growth. Its foundation is the modernist and Marxist repudiation of the Scriptures by Barth and his mistress/co-author Charlotte Kirschbaum. Given that filter, many will read this Gospel text and preach their own philosophy. It is subtle but effective in eroding confidence in the Scriptures.
The Four Gospels teach the truth in perfect harmony. The atoning death and victorious resurrection of Christ remain the central theme of the entire Bible - faith in the Savior, the Son of God, taught by the Holy Spirit through the Scriptures.
Hope and Comfort
KJV John 16:16 A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.
John 16:16 μικρον και ου θεωρειτε με
1. First, we will consider this narrative in the simplest manner, as it occurred after the Last Supper, while the Lord was in the garden on the way with his disciples to his last sufferings and death. In this historical narrative of today’s Gospel the Lord preaches his death and resurrection to his disciples, the words of which narrative the disciples at the time failed to understand, these words being to them dark sayings and totally hidden from them — an experience that may easily be ours, those of us who are not yet firmly established in the faith. What, however, hindered the beloved disciples from understanding the narrative? This, namely, that they thought Christ was about to establish a temporal kingdom which would make an impression upon the world, and move along in pure, perpetual life, not in death, of which he here speaks when he says: “A little while, and ye behold me no more.”
The disciples were blinded by grief, fear, and their persistent hopes for a pleasant, Messianic kingdom on earth, which was promised in religious books (but not in the Scriptures). Human contradictions have not changed. One Biblical author predicted the end of the earth and also bought a Mercedes dealership. No one buys a Mercedes with the idea that everything will soon be gone. A Chrysler, yes, but not a Mercedes.
We have a human tendency to cling to contradictory ideas so it is important to sort them out. As we have seen with the current virus, opinions vary quite a bit.
This lesson has seven examples of a tiny word meaning "a little while" - μικρον micron, a term we use today in various forms.
In a very short book like the Gospel of John, the repetition of a word seven times is quite significant. As Luther reminds us in the sermon I am quoting, the disciples at this point had the kind of attitude we often exhibit. We have Christ if we can see Him. If we cannot see His glory, comfort, and love, we have lost Him.
This is extremely important, because Thomas is not alone in is doubts and dismay. We are very fragile and impetuous. If something good happens, we are overjoyed. If something bad looms (even without evidence of coming along) our fears alone are enough to quash our spirits.
That feeling has probably worked through the entire nation, because this universal house arrest is unique in our history. WWII imposed many restrictions, but there were two big, bad enemies as objects of our wrath and reason for our strength. No one is sure why we must hide from a flu that is weaker than previous ones and possibly wait until someone fines a vaccine with uncertain results.
But there are many other distractions too. When the student loan directorate says, "We are here for YOU," those with loans react negatively. I built up a lot of resistance to dealing with them this year, and yet the issue was resolved in five minutes.
For the disciples, being with Jesus was an entirely new life for them, thrilling beyond description though leavened with fear of the Roman and Temple soldiers. Faith in Jesus was the same as being with Him because He was there to challenge, teach, and admonish them. If their trust in His power lagged, His miracles revived and even increased their concept of Him as the Messiah and Son of God.
Both parts of this verse are about Jesus going away. The first concerns His arrest, trial, crucifixion, and death. The second mikon - a little while - concerns His going to the Father. Where is the comfort and hope in losing sight of Jesus?
Fear magnifies our worst thoughts. When I told small children I had something with teeth in a paper bag, no one wanted to reach in. I said it would not hurt them, but no one wanted to reach in. It was a comb. (The parents were also very anxious.)
A better one was the balloon with cellophane tape on it. Anyone could poke it with a needle and balloon would remain inflated for a time. Unfortunately the volunteer was very nervous and missed his spot. It popped in his face. My credibility rocketed - downward - at once.
In Jesus' example, the going away is doubly important. He had to fulfill the Scriptures, which were precise and numerous. The first part is the Atonement and burial. The second is the Ascension, going to the Father.
17 Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father? 18 They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith.
The response of the disciples does not seem to comfort them, but to provoke them to anxiety and distress. This explains why the false teachers only want to offer a "positive message," leaving their audience with no spiritual strength to battle the wars within them when difficulties arise.
As Luther observed, all the disciples fell into the sin of unbelief when trouble came - the arrest, trial, torture, and crucifixion. And they had trouble grasping the resurrection.
9. Since the holy disciples experienced what it was to be overwhelmed by anguish and want, we must not think that it will be better with us. God will not make an exception in our case. But let us remember that Christ foretells to his disciples their fall, fear and sorrow, and also comforts them in order that they may not despair. Thus we should likewise comfort ourselves and allow the same to be spoken to us, so that when we are taken captive by sin and feel our consciences troubled and burdened, we do not despair; but rather remember it will not continue long. Therefore this is a very comforting Gospel to all troubled and terrified consciences. First, because Christ promises here he will not let them be captives to their misery very long; then, because he shows such kindly friendship to them — casts them not quickly from his presence, although they do not at once learn and understand his discourse; but bears with them, instructs them and deals with them most tenderly.
Many times we find a passage like this, and it seems so tangled up and mixed around that we tend to pass it by. If that becomes a habit (and it does with those who pick only the "favorite" passages), then the most significant markers disappear. People can wander like those lost in the morning fog, without those Scriptural markers.
After many attempts to grasp it, with Professor Holy Spirit always helping, the truth shines through. Then the toughest passage becomes the brightest. One example is the Canaanite woman, who said, "Even the little dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the Master's table." She is an example of the greatest Christ-faith in the midst of God's apparent indifference - and even hostility. Why does God allow His greatest enemies to prosper and rule, to trample on the innocent? The answer is - to reveal the faith of the saints (many who are tortured and killed today) and to emphasize the enemy's disgraceful fall from glory.
When we have tumbled into despair and had our energy and hopes drained away, this passage is a marker. It is just "mikron" - a little while.
Then too, those wonderful, peaceful, happy days should be appreciated and God should be thanked, because they only last mikron - a little while.
Some want to be young forever, and pay a lot to project that image. I have told many college classes that "old" is the only obscene word in the English language. I used to say that when someone let "old" slip out and blushed. I told them, "No other word makes you blush, and I have heard them in class and seen them in assignments. But old is the last, naughty word. I like being old. My best friends did not make it to this point in life." There are also the advantages of having many false ideas dispelled over time.
19 Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? 20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. 21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.
This is the most beautiful analogy that Jesus could offer. It is an event that people know from experience or observation. As we grow up we learn how pivotal it is to have the pain of childbirth and the joy of a baby. Even then, a baby's life is fragile and there can be further anguish and then joy.
The last stage of Jesus' public ministry is one of great turmoil and pain. We can only imagine. The bulk of each Gospel is about the Passion of Christ, about 25% in each case. How did it leave the disciples? They were overjoyed and went out to preach the Gospel in great trust. They saw and experienced the triumph of faith in the Savior, and He coaxed them along into a mature and tenacious faith, like that of the Canaanite woman - "No matter how bad it looks at this moment, or this year, or this decade, the ending will be glorious, because God rules over all."
22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. 23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
We lose our mothers many times, if we are blessed to grow up with them. We grow up and are glad to reverse the roles and do things for them, to show them appreciation. Many times they become our children. We have to make sure they are eating well and we have to help keep them clean. Our Army Ranger friend rode in subs and wrestled tanks through war zones, but he was only too willing to help his mother in her last days, his step-father too. That was only a little while. And he misses them. He talks glowingly about how she found enough food to feed two boys, making weiners and beans the greatest possible delight to eat.
My high school friends say the same.
13. In such sorrow and distress the beloved disciples were when the Lord departed from them. They were forsaken by everybody. They had no place of refuge. They stood in the gate of hell, expecting every hour to meet death; and they heard the judgment of God, thinking they had sinned and must now be given over to Satan. But immediately after his resurrection Christ comes and causes them to forget all their affliction and heart-sorrow.
Then they become happy and go and bring forth fruit, and bestir themselves to help all mankind to the same joy. It is a beautiful example and a comforting passage of Scripture for all who experience temptation and trouble. Such should remember that Christ says: “A little while and ye behold me no more and again a little while, and ye shall see me,” and never forget the Gospel of the woman in travail, who gladly goes through all and soon reaches the goal.
