Pastor's Sermon - April 16th 2026 - The Fourth Sunday of Easter
John 14:1-14
Jesus’ disciples are getting a feeling. They’re sensing what is coming. Christ has hinted at it many times, but now it’s settling in. Christ isn’t going to be with them always—not like He is currently. The time of walking, talking, eating, drinking, and simply dwelling with Christ in His physical body is coming to an end. Like any group of friends, the thought of being separated is not a pleasant one. Think of the heartache high school friends endure when they know graduation is leading to going separate ways for college. The disciples are getting it—Jesus will be leaving soon and things will be different. That hurts. Maybe it’s even a little scary.
Why wouldn’t it be scary? These men have been walking with Jesus the Christ—THE SON OF GOD HIMSELF—with an ally by your side like that, who could ever rise against you? They’ve been walking with a man that not even the Pharisees or Sadducees could outmaneuver. With Jesus at their side, they’re practically invincible! Even the demons must flee at His Word! Any man that has stood beside Jesus and seen how vehemently the demons and mankind has sought after Christ can recognize that if Jesus wasn’t there to guard them, there would be a good chance that Satan and the world would turn on His disciples in a flash. And where would be there defense then?
I think I succumb to these kinds of fears, too. As Christians, we confess such a sure and confident hope. Nevertheless, the feelings come in, like a kid trying to scare away the bullies on the playground—if my dad was here, he’d show you! If my older brother was here, you’d be in for it!
I confess Christ and I follow Him, thank you, God, yet, my weak and fallen flesh cannot help but sometimes become worried and afraid. The world presses in on me. The world mocks my faith and belittles my calling. The world laughs at my faith and makes me out to be a fool and an easy target. That’s the problem, isn’t it? Christians will stand up for others, but who will stand up for us? Christians love their neighbors and we’re labelled haters. Christians help the poor and it’s said that the Church only wants your money. Christians submit to their proper authorities and we’re called dangerous. Christians confess our sins and seek forgiveness and reconciliations and we’re called hypocrites.
And don’t I sometimes feel like turning to Jesus and saying, “If you were just here—if you’d not left your Church without you—then they wouldn’t be able to say these things,” “If you were really here with me, like really here with me, I wouldn’t be so beaten down and confused.” “Lord, if you were truly here, I wouldn’t feel so hated and alone.”
It can feel like God set us up for failure. He put this Church together, said we’d be persecuted, and then ascended far away.
But that’s where we need to check our feelings. We must ask ourselves: Has Christ abandoned us? Has God ditched us? Are we alone?
Christ knew the disciples feelings and even heard their very questions—their claims of needing more! He didn’t answer with a “too bad, I’ve done all I needed to do, see ya’” He gave them a very honest and very comforting response. A true response.
Christ’s ascension is not an indicator that He has abandoned us or that He has forgotten us. Not only would He give His Church the sure promise that He would never leave nor forsake her, even now to the disciples, He gives the hopeful truth.
This world—the one that has turned on us and hates us—is not our home. This is not where we shall remain. Indeed, Christ has a place prepared where we will really be with Him forever. He has not left us without hope. Yes, we endure much now. But the time is coming that Christ will fulfill His eternal plans to be together in joy.
He tells them that the reason He is going is so that He can prepare a place for us. It’s not to get away from us. It’s to set things up to be with us forever! Never has it been part of God’s plan to forsake or abandon His people. Never shall it be! In fact, Christ’s entire mission—the incarnation, the death, the resurrection, and yes, even the ascension is all so that we would dwell with Him forever! It is all so that we can remain together!
Like a young boy sorrowful that his father must leave every morning to go to work, leaving him behind. What is the purpose? Dad leaves to earn wages so that he could provide a home where the whole family can dwell together daily. Dad is only a foggy reflection of the perfect love and perfect intent of our Father in Heaven.
God’s entire purpose is to ensure our togetherness. His entire desire is to remain our loving and providing Father forever. Christ is the means by which our wonderful God has elected to accomplish this merciful act. Christ has forgiven sin, bridging us back to God in reconciliation. Christ is the one who has conquered Satan, securing safety for us. Christ is the one who has defeated death, promising us life with our God forever.
No, Church of Christ, we are not abandoned. We are not without our God’s aid. We are not hopeless or defeated. The world may hate us. Sin may sting us. Satan may rage against us. Yet, our eyes and our hopes are set on Christ. His presence with us--the Word of God and the Sacraments. In these sure gifts, God has assured us of His abiding presence and help. We don't need wandering eyes to find God with us. Our eyes are set on Christ. In His body and blood. And our eyes look to the clouds--if Christ has gone there to prepare a place for us, then He will most assuredly return to bring us with Him. And in that glorious moment, we will see. We will feel. We will know.
Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. And in Him, life is ours. Forever.
In Him, we’re good. Our troubles are answered. Our burdens are lifted.
We’re good.
In Christ,
Amen.