Easter 5 2005
24th April.
Last will and testament.
Acts 7.55-60, Ps 31.1-5, 17-18, 1 Peter 2.11-25, John 14.1-14.
Its pretty hard on those left behind when a person dies without a current will. I have had that experience, and fortunately my dad was not wealthy, or it could have been worse. As it was, it took 2 years to get the superannuation company to pay his policy out. The only thing he actually wrote down was that I was to get his old Falcon. At least that bit was easy. As for a funeral, and whether he wanted to be buried or cremated, well, there was nothing in writing. But apparently he told his partner that he wanted to be buried, and so that’s what we did. And we buried him back in his home town, in Erica, in Gippsland, Victoria. Arranging the funeral was interesting though, cos everyone in the family has their own idea, and when it doesn’t work out the way they want it to, they get upset. So you see, if it had been worked out beforehand, it would have been much easier on those of us left behind, who had to get on with life after he’d gone. In way, leaving a last will and testament is a good way of caring for those left behind.
Jesus, on the other hand, was a lot more organised than my dear ol’ dad. I mean, imagine if Jesus had not done something about preparing things for when he went. What a mess that would have left.
Jesus left his last will and testament, and what we have here in the gospel reading this morning is part of John’s recording of it. And it’s message is just as relevant for us today as it was for his immediate disciples. That’s the thing with much of what Jesus said, its wisdom and truth transcends history.

Jesus knows that his disciples will grieve. This passage begins with him telling them not to let their hearts be troubled. Previously in the Gospel, Jesus had been telling his followers that he would be taken from them soon, betrayed by one of them, and He had actually sent Judas on his mission to begin the events that lead to His death. Jesus had then predicted that Peter would deny him three times. So, for the disciples it was very troubling news. A fledgling community of faith, centered on Our Lord Jesus Christ, about to become leaderless, messiah-less. Troubled hearts are to be expected. To help with their troubled hearts, Jesus speaks about where he is to go. And promises to come back, when it was time, to take them to himself. So the separation is not for ever. He leaves them a promise of hope to come after the hard times that will follow. Just as a persons last will and testament will often have instructions and bequests for the care of those loved ones left behind, or specify funeral wishes, etc, this is Jesus bequest, a bequest of hope in a future that goes beyond mortality, especially important when life could end very quickly through religious and political persecution.

The other two readings for this morning are about hard times as well, and I want to acknowledge them also. I think it’s difficult for us to imagine the context of the death of Stephen and the persecution that was happening to the community that Peter had written to. His letter was about encouragement in tough times as well. The funny thing is, that when times are tough, that’s when the church seems to flourish more. Perhaps the privilege to worship our God is taken all too lightly here in the affluent western world. Whatever the reason though, the result is that we just don’t seem to value our faith. Perhaps it’s just all too easy.

Yet it is hard for us at times. It is harder to be a confessing Christian in the world today than it was 50 years ago. It is harder now to keep a traditional mainstream denominational church open and viable. And often when it does get too hard, when the church as we know it doesn’t work anymore, many people are inclined to give up. I mean, there has even been talk at synod of coming up with a theology of shrinking. That’s a cop out I think. It’s a sign that we are losing hope. I mean, that’s why many people will leave troubled churches, because they lose hope. I guess there is also the fact that no one wants to be associtated with a failure. And that’s what we fear, almost more than death. Failure.

Yet what would have happened to the early church if the disciples had given up? What would have happened if those early communities to whom Peter wrote had chucked in the towel and gone back to being pagans? Who knows. The church, if it indeed still existed, would be very different. But the fact is that they didn’t give up. They grew stronger. Despite persecution and other hardships, despite the threat of failure, the church prospered. Is there a lesson in there for us today? Damn right there is. Its this - don’t give up hope.

And this is a good time now to look at a tricky verse in the latter half of this reading. Its this one “Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these . . . . . ” What does he mean that those he leaves behind can do more than he did? Well, actually, yes.
You see, it all depends what is meant. Jesus did many signs and wonders. He healed many, he drove out demons, he forgave many, and he encouraged many people to join his community. These were all spectacular. Yet were they the real work that he was here to do? Well, yes and no.
Jesus was here to heal to sick, and release the captives. The sick being healed were released both from the bonds of illness and from the bonds of separation from the community, from being considered unclean. So these things he did. But the real job was to proclaim the Gospel, the good news of God’s forgiveness and grace. And it is here that we can see that yes, those He left behind were indeed able to do greater works. After all, when Jesus went to the cross for us, his followers were not a huge number, yet very soon after His death and resurrection His church was growing and the gospel was spreading. So yes, in that sense they did do greater works. But do you know the really scary thing? We are called to do the same. We too, can do greater works, in this sense, than Jesus. I mean, He tells us this himself. We can spread the gospel, in fact, we have to.
So, the lesson for us out of the readings this morning?
As I said earlier, it is partly to not give up hope. Hang on to hope for dear life. But it is also to know that we are called, expected and are quite capable of doing greater works than Jesus. Yes, that’s right, you, me, all Christians are capable. We can ask for help – Jesus even says that, doesn’t he. “I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” Ask for help. How often, when a church is in trouble, do we get in the damage control people, and consultants, and start talks with other parishes aimed at shoring up a sinking ship? Most of the time. We are lucky. We are still a one church parish. We have the potential. We know that we are down, but we are certainly not out.
This message not to give up hope is also intended for us as individual Christians. Because yes, life can be tough for us as individuals. But if hope is there, hope of a life beyond this one, a hope of life now without the fear of death, then that’s good for us. We can be free to live, really live, and be free to share our Christian faith and even, heaven forbid, to be excited by it. And in so doing, be as close to God as we can be.
A thriving faith, a thriving life, a thriving community. Sounds good. No, it sounds exciting. And its all within reach. Pray about it.
The Lord be with you.  ¶ 11:49 PM