[0:00] The word peace. The word peace seems to be used less and less in our vocabulary today.
[0:13] ! We are witnessing wars in Eastern Europe that are ongoing between Russia and Ukraine.! We are seeing volatile fighting in Eastern and Western Africa.
[0:25] And of course, we are engaged in a conflict with Iran, where China is making moves behind the scenes to bolster their own ambitions and supremacy.
[0:37] And this does not even include Israel's war with Lebanon, or the displacement and death of the Palestinians happening over in Gaza and the West Bank.
[0:49] Now, it's not my calling or vocation to make sweeping geopolitical statements from the pulpit. But the point I'm simply making is that war, not peace, is on our minds.
[1:05] And we are reminded of this every time we go to the gas pumps. And although the world can be a frightening place, we need to remember it's not something unique or new to our time.
[1:21] As a matter of fact, our Lord said in Matthew chapter 24, verses 6 through 8, Here in our gospel text of John chapter 16, Our Lord is explaining what the future for his disciples was.
[2:03] He said in John chapter 16, verses 32 and 33, Indeed, the hour is coming, and it has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave me alone.
[2:18] And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. These things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world.
[2:38] Our Lord is describing what would eventually happen in Gethsemane, when he was left all alone in prayer, as his disciples slept.
[2:50] He is describing his death. He is describing his arrest. He is describing his death. And he is describing what would happen after his resurrection, when he would ascend to his father in the heavenly realm, where he would take his rightful place as the universal king and the destroyer of death.
[3:10] But along with this, our Lord says, In me you have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world.
[3:28] What our Lord is describing here is what we are called to have, all of us, as Christians, and that is faith. We are to believe and trust that our Lord will have the last word.
[3:44] And that word will be one of peace. And we heard that prophesied in our Old Testament reading of Ezekiel chapter 34.
[3:56] Despite the fear that induces the world into greater panic, we have peace in the midst of all the unrest, and that we have faith that God will do what he has promised.
[4:11] The world says the sky is falling. Our Lord says, relax. In me you have peace.
[4:22] For I am the king over all creation, because I am the creator of all that is good, beautiful and true. Therefore, trust in me.
[4:35] Trust my word. Have faith. The world says, choose a political ideology and team in order to fight the civil and cultural wars.
[4:48] Our Lord says, my kingdom's not of this world. All the guns and bombs will not save you because death is inevitable for all of us.
[5:00] But Jesus has conquered death. Death. And he says, I give you my peace. And this peace is what we receive through his blood, through his cross.
[5:15] As we read in Colossians chapter 1 verses 19 and 20, this amazing text. It says, for it pleased the father that in him, Jesus, all the fullness of deity should dwell.
[5:28] And by him to reconcile all things to himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of his cross.
[5:42] Yes, we will have tribulations in this life. We might even be rejected by family and friends because of our faith.
[5:56] We will see irrational behaviors and unconscionable terrors take place like human trafficking, mass shootings, and the rich elites literally getting away with abuse, lying, theft, and murder.
[6:14] We will live through recessions and maybe even a depression economically. And we witness our own bodies betray us with disease or our organs simply begin to give out.
[6:34] And we feel more and more like we do not belong here. We feel as though it sometimes might be better to just check out of this savage world.
[6:48] But on this Rogation Sunday, where we dedicate and where we offer the earth and the crops to our creator, we live by faith remembering what our Lord says.
[7:02] Be of good cheer. I have overcome the world. And the world here means the system that opposes Christ.
[7:16] And because Christ has vanquished death and because he's triumphed over Satan and the powers of hell, he now gives us his peace through the blood of his cross.
[7:30] And this peace is intimately tied to our faith in him, trusting in Christ, not in ourselves. And we believe that Christ has sent his Holy Spirit to guide us through this life and through the tribulations and through the trials and through the difficulties.
[7:51] And when this life is over, after we have lived a life of trusting in God, believing his word, believing his promises, we believe that he will see us through.
[8:08] And we will enter into the presence of God with his saints in that indescribable peace where we wait for Christ to return to this earth as its rightful judge.
[8:21] And then the reigning king will subdue all things. And every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
[8:38] But until that time, we are called to deepen our faith. We are called to deepen our faith by praying.
[8:52] Pray that our Lord would come to bring righteousness to a world that is filled with darkness. Pray for God's peace in your life.
[9:03] Read our Lord's words in the Gospels and ask him to calm your heart and your mind so that you might know his peace. Pray with your brothers and sisters as you come and receive our Lord's body and blood in the Holy Eucharist.
[9:20] Pray that your life might be consecrated to God, offered to God as a living sacrifice until he takes you home into eternity.
[9:36] Pray for your loved ones, your church, and her leaders. Pray for people that are suffering. And don't miss this point.
[9:50] Pray that you will become more and more a stranger to the ways of this world with its lust for greed, power, sexual deviance, lying, gossip, and backbiting.
[10:05] And pray that the Lord would give you a desire to love him more deeply, to love others sacrificially, and to grow in his holiness where peace and beauty reign supreme.
[10:22] That's our calling. That is our calling. Amen. Have faith. Have faith. Have faith, dear church.
[10:33] And remember those words of our Lord this morning. In the world you will have tribulation. But be of good cheer.
[10:44] I have overcome the world. Praise God. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Amen.