Grace Congregational UCC

“Guess Who's Coming to Live With Us?”
Revelation 21:1-10, 22:1-5
John 14:23-29

May 13, 2007 - Kim M. Henning

For three years twelve disciples dedicated their lives with Jesus. When Jesus said, “Follow me,” that is what they did. They walked the dusty roads of Galilee along with him. When Jesus stood before crowds and taught ‘the kingdom of God’, Matthew, Thomas, James and the others were listening..... along with everyone else.

The disciples ate with Jesus at meal time. With Jesus, they would gaze together at the sun at its rising—and they probably say things like, ‘isn’t that just the most beautiful sunrise you have ever seen!’ Can you envision the ways in which the disciples and Jesus would live their lives together?

That community of thirteen lived together like this [hands clasped]. And then came the day.....when Jesus said......I am going away. I will not be with you much longer. But I will not leave you orphaned.

Those must have been some difficult words for the disciples. First Jesus says, “follow me.” Then he says, “I am going away, I will not be with you much longer.” This was one they had grown to love. Now he was leaving? Someone must have said, “no, Jesus!”

But that is not all that is difficult with this scripture. Indeed, Jesus says, “I am leaving. I will not be with you much longer.” Then Jesus said, “But I will not leave you orphaned.” [alone. Without me] Then he says, “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.”

That is huge. That is gigantic. That is outrageous. About the time we think that all that matters are these physical relationships that you and I treasure so much; about the time we think that all that is real what the eye can see and what the ear can hear—Jesus says that he and his Father are going to make their home among those who love him.

If you love me....Jesus said..... If you keep my commandments....Jesus said..... we will come and make our home with you.

Fay and I have been taking care of our grandson this week-end. Jacob’s parents are away. They’ll be back this afternoon. He’s been with us since Friday. It is amazing how beautiful our home is whenever Jacob is there.

His smile is contagious. His honesty is brutal. Jacob, would you rather be held by your grandfather or your grandmother? Grandma. (Then he puts on this big smile.) Everyone is a little more jovial when Jacob is around. We’re all a little more focused.

If Jacob is not able to enjoy a certain family activity, we just don’t do it. We’re careful with loud noises. Do you know what the presence of one....is able to do to a home?

With Jesus and God-- it is exactly like that, only more so. When Jesus met with his disciples the evening before his death, he said, “I’m leaving. But guess what? “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.” It is a great promise and a necessary one.

Home. Home is where we get our heads on straight. (Isn’t this a great Mother’s Day text?) Home, according to Douglas Meeks, is that place where there is always a place at the table for us. It is where we are known by name. Home is where we are spoken to honestly. Home is where when we say we’re sorry, we’re forgiven.

Home is that place where sandals are put on our feet. Rings are put on our fingers. Robes are put on our shoulders. And we are embraced.

Isn’t it the oddest thing? When we’re young...something inside us so often needs to break away.... A rebelliousness gets into us. But then when we come to ourselves, there is nothing we desire more than the expectations, the responsibilities, the joy of home.

“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.” Guess who’s coming to live with us? Home....is our sanctuary. It is where we are kept safe. When Jesus and God make their home with us, we can be assured that our lives are no longer a place where ‘anything goes.’

Back in 1971, a new piece of technology came into our lives. Back in 1971, the VCR was invented....and then cable television followed and for the first time words were spoken and things were seen in our homes that had never been heard or seen there before.

It was one thing to see certain things in the theater. The theater is a make-believe world. But when it came into our homes.... where certain levels of integrity are upheld, where our best behaviors are expected of us, something changed. Walter Brueggemann recently told me that he has no television at all in his home. What he has gained is so much more than what he has lost.

Jesus said, “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....” Take notice: Jesus is saying that home is never so much a structure or a building or a piece of architecture....as it is relationship.

Paul wrote to the church and said, “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection.” Inside him, Paul knew that his deepest need was to have his mind, his body, his soul visited by the power of Jesus’ resurrection.

Paul is not content with just living, or just a body. Paul wants, prays for, begs for...a resurrection spirit like that of Jesus.

Once again, Jesus said to his followers, “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.” Can you think of anything more necessary for our homes than that?

Peace. “Not as the world gives, do I give you.”

Peace. “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” That’s a command.

Peace. “Do not let them be afraid.”

There is plenty that troubles us. There is plenty that makes life hard—here on earth.

There is plenty that makes us afraid. There is plenty in this world that is working to undo us.

I am thinking today of the mothers and fathers who lost children at Virginia Tech.

I am thinking today of mothers and fathers who have lost children in Iraq.

I am thinking today of mothers and fathers who are overwhelmed with the heartache and the disappointment and the evils that woven into the fabric of our world.

I am thinking today about step-mothers and step-fathers who assume just an incredible amount of responsibility and it places so much stress on marriages the second time around.

I see the weary looks. I know there are tears that no amount of counseling will take away. And my question is quite simple: “Guess who’s coming to live with us?”

Children of the heavenly Father safely in his bosom gather

Nestling bird or star in heaven such a refuge ne’er was given.

God is own doth tend and nourish in his holy courts they flourish

From all evil things he spares them, in his mighty arms he bears them.