John 14:18-27
April 2, 2025
Fees, Sludge, Divorce. What do these words have in common? They are all ugly words as they describe things that are ugly or unpleasant. We don’t like to hear them or even say them. I’m sure all of you could come up with some ugly words, but perhaps one of the ugliest words imaginable is the word, “Alone.” This word originated by combining two words that sometimes can sound very nice: all and one, to give us all-one, or as we pronounce it, alone. Being all alone is an ugly thing. Being alone means being lonely, vulnerable, and isolated.
In our Gospel lesson for tonight it appears that the disciples feared being alone. In John 14, as Jesus told His disciples about His impending death, Jesus said, “Let not your hearts be troubled…I will not leave you as orphans” (John 14:1,18). Jesus said this because their hearts were troubled and they were afraid that He would leave them all alone as orphans. Thankfully, Jesus spoke to their fears and concerns. And tonight, Jesus speaks to our fears and concerns. As our friend and protector, Jesus promises that through faith in Him we are never alone.
Every time I am confronted with loneliness, I take great comfort in the fact that God never has and never will want us to believe that we are alone. Throughout the pages of Scripture God shows us that the problem of loneliness for His people is nothing new. The first human being, Adam, was lonely, and so God did something about it and made Eve. Even after Adam and Eve sinned and destroyed their perfect relationship with God, our God did not leave them. In Genesis 3:8 it says, “Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day…” When God’s people wandered in the wilderness, God promised, “I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people” (Leviticus 26:12). Later in the Old Testament, God’s protecting presence was with David as he fled from King Saul and probably would have been caught and killed, but God sent Saul’s son, Jonathan, to befriend
David, to assure him he was not alone, and to protect him. Many times in the New Testament people who were suffering from some terrible diseases were told they had to separate themselves from the community and live elsewhere for a while so that no one else would catch their disease. When that happened they were terribly lonely, but God’s protecting presence was seen in Jesus as He did something about it by healing them, which often involved touching them – to show His love for them. The thing that God did in every instance of loneliness recorded in Scripture was to provide His presence, protection, and help.
In fact, everywhere Jesus went, God’s protecting presence went with Him. Jesus protected the disciples from wandering when He called them to follow Him. Jesus protected people from despair when He declared, “Your sins are forgiven.” Jesus protected people from fear when He told the raging seas, “Peace! Be still!” Jesus protected people from hate when he saved the life of a woman guilty of committing adultery from an angry crowd. And Jesus protected people from death when He walked up to the tomb of Lazarus, called his name, and brought him back to life.
Jesus told His disciples in our Gospel lesson as He was preparing to be crucified, “I will give you another Counselor, the Holy Spirit, to be with you forever. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:16,18). Just imagine how you would feel if you were one of those original disciples who had finally found the One who gave you hope and fulfillment in your life and now He’s telling you that He is going to leave. Or put yourself at the table with the disciples during the Last Supper when Jesus said in the verses leading up to our text, “My children I will be with you only a little longer. Where I am going you cannot come” – John 13:33. Can’t you just imagine all of us replying like Peter when He said, “Lord, where are you going? Why can’t I follow you now” (John 13:36-37)? Peter and the other disciples were facing loneliness. Jesus was leaving and they did not want to be left alone; and neither do we. But just like He has always
done, Jesus does something about it. He sends His Holy Spirit to live in their hearts and ours, to comfort those disciples and all of us with His presence. As Jesus says, “You in me and I in you.”
Therefore, you can face the day knowing that your protecting friend Jesus is with you. You can face financial concerns knowing that you have a protecting friend. You can stare cancer in the face knowing that you have a protecting friend. You can go toe-to-toe with loneliness, despair, career changes, life changes, and hardship knowing that you have a protecting friend in Jesus.
We don’t gather around God’s Word and His Sacrament of Holy Communion every Sunday to simply remember what Jesus did for us against all odds. No, we gather here in this place of worship, because Jesus is here, among us, living in us and working through us. And not in a pretend way or a magical way, or in some warm and fuzzy kind of way. Just as God’s presence lived and breathed and walked around in Jesus, so God’s presence lives and breathes and walks around in us through His Holy Spirit. He walks with us, guides us, and helps us every step of the way in our daily lives. The Holy Spirit has been described as being “closer than our hands and feet, and nearer than our breathing. He is our companion in prayer, our helper in times of trouble, and our comfort when we lack confidence and trust.” God is always that close to us, and simply knowing that makes all the difference in the world in times of loneliness.
Consider for a moment what your greatest concern is right now. Do you feel lost and alone in life? Are you troubled and burdened by sin and guilt? Are you lonely? Are you struggling for some direction in your life? Has a loved one recently died? Are you facing a health concern? Are you struggling with a big decision you need to make? Whatever it is you are facing right now, face it with the protecting presence of Jesus. What a friend we have in Jesus as He promises to all of us, “You in me and I in you.”
