Jesu Juva
1 John 5:1-8
May 9, 2021
Easter 6B
Dear saints of our Savior~
The Scripture readings for this morning remind us that the world we live in is not all it’s cracked up to be. On sunny spring days—with blue skies and blooming flowers—it’s easy to forget that this world is out to get you. It’s easy to forget that Satan is described by Jesus as “the prince of this world” (Jn. 16:11). It’s easy to forget that our citizenship is in heaven—and that we’re only temporarily deployed here on earth to be the light of the world—even while called to battle against the world.
In the writings of Saint John, “the world,” stands for all the forces of evil that are arrayed against Jesus Christ and His church. The world is part of that unholy trinity that’s out to get you—the devil, the world, and your own sinful nature. Now, it’s okay to enjoy blue skies and the blooming flowers of spring. But don’t dare forget that you are a soldier on the front lines of battle, taking aim against the world. Your marching orders are to “overcome the world,” to stomp it under your boot and live in love as children of God. Jesus once said, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” And St. John picks up that theme, and adds to it, in today’s epistle: “Who is it that overcomes the world,” he asks, “except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”
But can I let you in on a little secret about the world? Most of us have grown rather fond of the world. Despite all the tears, all the trials and tribulations we experience in the world, most of us are at peace with the idea of staying right here—in the world. Yes, heaven sounds awfully nice. But you can say all you want about the glories and beauties of heaven, the truth is, most of us are in no hurry to get there. Maybe it’s the fear of dying or anxiety about the unknown. But whatever it is, most Christians would prefer to sing songs about heaven’s streets of gold, but while continuing to tread on streets of asphalt.
We secretly sympathize with Lot’s wife (remember her?), she who was so attached to life in this fallen world. She—along with Lot and their two daughters—lived in Sodom. And apparently, this family of four souls comprised the only righteous people in the entire city of Sodom. You would think that Lot’s wife would have been glad to leave that terrible place, where sexual perversion and violence had gone mainstream to such a degree that the behavior of the Sodomites became legendary—so bad that the Lord rained down sulfur and fire from heaven to utterly destroy Sodom. And yet, Lot and his family practically had to be dragged away from the place by angels. But as they fled, Lot’s wife was unable to obey the clear warning of the angels. She couldn’t help herself. She looked back with longing, and became a pillar of salt.
What about you? How fond have you become of your life in this fallen world? Now you may claim that you want to hang around here simply so that you can serve your fellow man; but nobody really believes that, least of all God. For the records would seem to indicate that serving others hasn’t been your top priority. You may also claim that you want to hang around a bit longer so that you can more fully enjoy the gifts of God—gifts like family and friends, good food, tasty beer, beautiful spring days. These are indeed gifts of God. But the truth is, we love to turn these gifts into idols. We’ve bowed down to the pleasures of this world. These pleasures have become our top priorities. They have taken first place in our lives, instead of the God whom we should fear, love and trust above all things. We are both “in the world” and “of the world,” despite claims to the contrary.
But God’s Word today reminds us of the question we ought to be asking: “Who is it that overcomes the world?” Who is it that successfully fights off the desires of the flesh, and the desires of the eyes? Who is it that battles triumphantly against pride and prejudice and possessions? Who is it that doesn’t give a rip about wealth or honor or success in this world? Who is it that lives already today—here and now—as a citizen of heaven? Who is it that gives this world a
knee to the groin and a fist to the gut and lives as a holy child of God? Only one, John writes, only one—the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. That one will overcome the world.
So, you believers, battle on—battle on against your sinful desires. But know that in your battles you will lose as often, or more often, than you win. Turn away from what tempts your eyes, but know that even blind men lust. Or if that’s too much, then simply abide in the love of Jesus—love others as He has loved you. It sounds easy enough. But even on this day when we celebrate the love that mothers have for their children and children for their mothers, even that love (we have to admit) is flawed and fickle and prone to failure.
On this day, and every day, we need to repent. We need to believe. For I’m here to tell you: You have not overcome the world. The world has overcome you. You are road-kill on this world’s highway—a casualty on the battlefield of good and evil. The world has overcome you—but . . . it has not overcome the One in whom you believe. And that makes all the difference—all the difference in the world.
St. John asks, “Who is it that overcomes the world? [It is] the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” This same Jesus once created the world—a perfect world. He created the heavens and the earth from a watery chaos. And now this same Jesus has come to remake this fallen world—to do it all over again—not just by water, but by water and blood. He saved Noah and his family through water. He saved the Israelites at the Red Sea through water. And now He has come to save you, not by water alone, but by water and by blood. If it sounds messy—if it sounds violent—that’s because it was. The business of saving fallen sinners in a fallen world was both messy and violent. As your sacred substitute Jesus endured the spit and the insults, whips that flogged Him and nails that pierced Him—and in death even the thrust of a soldier’s spear. And from that spear-inflicted wound came forth water and blood. St. John writes, “This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by water only but by the water and the blood.”
By His crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus Christ has overcome the world for you. For only Jesus was truly “in the world” but not “of the world.” Jesus really did desire only to serve and not to be served. Jesus kept all the commandments you don’t keep. And Jesus rejected all the idols to which your knees have bent. He is God’s gift to the world. He is God’s love in human flesh and blood—God’s love in water and blood.
Beloved in the Lord, the water and blood that once flowed from the Savior’s side are still flowing today, here in the church. For that water is the very same water that splashed over you at the Baptismal font. With that water God is at work to save you. By the water of your Baptism, your miserable failures on the battlefield of this world are liquidated, the stains of your sin are showered away, and you are born again—readied for life in the world without end. That’s the water; and now comes the blood. In Holy Communion we have blood from the Savior’s side—blood that declares that your sins have all been paid for in full—blood that delivers the perfect peace of knowing that all things are now right between you and the Father—blood that breaks this world’s death grip on your life and frees you to love as you are loved, to live and to die in the glad confidence that Jesus Christ chose you—that you are a friend of Jesus.
Believing in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, you can gladly cut your ties to this dying world when you are called to the Savior’s side. Believing in Jesus Christ, you can live “in the world” but not “of the world.” You can love as you have been loved, and you can bear fruit that lasts. You can live as a pillar of faith instead of a pillar of salt. Who is it that overcomes the world? It is you. You have overcome the world in Jesus, who overcame the world for you.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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