Continue in the Word
sermon based on John 8:31-36
by Rev. Rick Thompson

     It’s easy to quit.

     We get frustrated with work—with the hours, or the co-workers, or the pay, or the boss—and the day comes when we walk away and say, “I quit!”

     We get frustrated or hurt in a relationship, and soon we’re announcing, “I quit!”

      It’s easy to think about quitting when the going gets tough.  It’s a lot harder to persevere, to press on, to continue, to keep giving it all we’ve got to give.

     In this gospel story, Jesus is in conversation with some quitters.  They are Jews from in and around Jerusalem who had been attracted to Jesus at one time.  We don’t know why that was—maybe it was something he said, maybe it was the miracles and signs he did, maybe it was his willingness to stand up to the powerful that gave them encouragement—but, whatever it was, they had been attracted to Jesus.  But now they had quit.  We weren’t told why they had believed in Jesus, and we aren’t told why they stopped believing.  We’re only told that once they had been followers, and now they were not.

     And they get in a conversation with Jesus.  It will get a little heated, with accusations flying back and forth.  And in the midst of it all, Jesus uses these former followers as a negative example, and says to any who consider following him now, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples.”

      This weekend in the Lutheran tradition, we mark Reformation Sunday.  We recall, give thanks for, and reflect on our heritage of nearly 500 years.  We give thanks for those who have continued in this heritage, and passed it on to us.

     We remember that it all began with a monk in Germany, Martin Luther by name, who got discouraged with the church of his day, studied the scriptures deeply, and came to a new and fresh understanding of Christianity.  Thanks to Luther’s re-discovery of the gospel, we live in the joy and freedom of knowing that, no matter what—even if we sin, even if we die!—we belong to God because of all that God has done for us in and through Jesus Christ.

     It is a wonderful heritage, and a long and proud heritage—though certainly there are black marks in our history as a church.  The church is founded and sustained by the pure grace of God. And the church is populated by and led by humans—humans who, whether we like it or not, are sinners.  We mess up.  We hurt each other.  We disappoint God.  And the church suffers as a result, and looks foolish in the eyes of the world. 

     That is our heritage as Christians with roots in the Reformation.

     Today we celebrate that heritage—warts and all.  And this weekend, as we give thanks for that heritage, we are also challenged to promise: “With the help of God, I will continue in the word!” 

     That’s exactly what Jesus urged his opponents to do—the ones who had previously believed in him. 

     And that’s what he urges us to do, too.  “Continue in the Word.  Don’t quit!  Don’t give up!  It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it, so continue in the Word!”

     And what is that word?

     It’s a good word.  In fact, it’s the best word ever spoken!

     It is the Word who became flesh, on a Christmas long ago.  He grew up among us humans.  He had a mission from God—to live among us, so that we could receive the life he came to bring, abundant and eternal life with God.  He was so determined to complete that mission that he went to death and rose up from death in resurrection. 

     What if Jesus had quit?

     And now the Word is with us in other forms.  Jesus has returned to the Father in heaven, but the Word remains.  The Word is given to us in the scriptures, the Bible, which tells the story of God’s incredible love and grace, and how it came in all its fullness in Jesus.  The Word is given to us as we proclaim it to one another—in worship, in teaching, and in our faith conversations.  The Word of God remains the great heritage of the church, and our call is to continue in that Word!

     And it is a good word.  It’s a word of freedom and truth.  “If you—that is, you all, as a community of my followers—continue in my word,” Jesus says, “you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

     And what is that truth?  The truth that nothing—nothing you do or nothing that happens to you, not even your sin, not even your death—NOTHING can take away from us the life that God gives us in Christ!  THAT’S THE TRUTH!

     And that truth makes us free.  Free from having to prove ourselves to God.

     A person came to the proverbial gates of heaven to be greeted, as the story goes, by St. Peter.  Peter asked the new arrival if he could give a brief history of his life on earth, highlighting the good deeds he had done.  “You’ll need 1,000 points to be admitted to heaven,” Peter announced.

     “That will be a cinch,” the man thinks to himself.  “I’ve been involved in the church since I’ve been a youth.”  He beings to list his activities for Peter.  “I was a leader in my youth group.  I’ve been on the church council and all the church’s committees.  And I’ve been a Sunday School teacher and a worship volunteer.”

     “That’s very impressive!” Peter says with a twinkle in his eye.  “We seldom see people who’ve done as much good as you have.  You’ll be pleased to know that you’ve earned 327 of the 1,000 points you need to be admitted to heaven!”

     The man breaks into a cold sweat.  He reaches deeply to recall every kind act he’d ever done—giving food to the hungry, being kind to his siblings, volunteering at a homeless shelter.  And Peter responds enthusiastically, “This is quite exceptional!  You now have a total of 402 points—only 598 more, and you’ll be admitted to heaven.  Can you think of anything else?”

     The distressed man strives to recall good deeds.  “I helped a little old lady across the street!  And I gave $100 to the Humane Society!”  “Wow!” says Peter, “that brings you up to 431 points!”

     And the man responds.  “I’m sunk!  I’m hopless!  What more could I have done?  O Lord, all I can do is beg for your mercy!”

     “And that,” exclaims Peter, “is worth 1,000 points.  Welcome to heaven!”[i]

     That’s the truth and freedom we know when we continue in God’s Word: that we don’t measure, but that God has done all that is necessary for our salvation.  Through the mercy of Christ, and by faith in his mercy, we are saved.  We belong to God!

     That’s the truth that makes us free!

     Free—when we continue in God’s Word!

     When we continue in Christ—not in the Church, but in Christ, who is known to us as we share life in God’s Church.

     That’s the challenge that comes to us this weekend.  Do we intend to take on the challenge and invitation of Jesus, and “continue in God’s word”?  Will we keep on worshipping and growing together in Christ, keep on serving and reaching out joyfully to all?  It’s not easy.  There may be times we want to say “I quit!”  But, let me tell you, the promise is worth keeping!

     That’s the challenge before us: Will we continue in the word?  Do we hang around the church because it’s a comfortable place, almost like a club, or do we share life in the church because, in the community of God’s people, we know Christ?  Will we keep on studying, and praying, and serving Christ—because we know the wonderful truth that we live by the mercy of God?  Will we continue worshipping and growing together in Christ, serving and reaching out joyfully to all?

     That’s what Jesus asks of us today—and every day.

     And to those who say “yes”, to those who promise to serve Jesus to the end, he makes a promise, too.  “You are mine!” Jesus says.  “You are my forgiven children!  You are mine.  You are mine!  Now and forever—you are mine!