Sermon: John 14:1-14

You know how you walk into the store at Mother’s Day (or Father’s Day) and there are all these things that say, “BEST MOM EVER.”

While I have tried to be the “BEST MOM” I can assure you that I am not –

I wouldn’t let our kids go to Rated R movies until they were 17. I heard then about how I was the worst mom on the planet. They would say, “But all the other kids are going…”

And, then I had this saying, “Nothing good happens after midnight.” They would argue with me and ask why I would say that…but then it wasn’t too long before my two boys did a good job proving that one true for me…So, I eventually won that argument.

And, then there were promises made…We promised our daughters that we would let them finish high school before we moved again. And, we did…except on the “day of” graduation, the moving truck was being loaded…

But, I can assure you there were many promises that I made – and I am often reminded of those promises in which I was unable to keep.

People break promises every day – Their promises to each other in a marriage that most often are made before God, their promise to their children when they are baptized to be raised in the life of the Church, but often never go back to church; promises of saying that you will do something at a specific time, but never show up.

Promises, promises and promises…and when a promise is broken…

We are disappointed, angry at the one who broke the promise, and then we may find it difficult to ever TRUST that person again…

Jesus is with the disciples. It is the night before his crucifixion and he has just washed the feet of the disciples. He has told them now three times about what was going to be happening to him – about his death and how Pontius Pilate would hand him over to the Jews to hung on the cross.

The disciples are afraid – afraid for Jesus and afraid for themselves. Their fear was that if they were associated with Jesus, they too may be killed. But also, they were afraid because if Jesus were killed, what was going to happen to them?

What will they do? What are they supposed to do? And so, they begin asking questions:

Thomas asks: “Lord, how can we know where you are going and how can we know the way?”

Philip asks Jesus to “Show him the Father.”

And then Jesus asked: “Do you not believe?” And, even if you cannot believe that the Father is in me and I am in the Father, at least believe in the works that you have seem me do –

In other words, think of what you have seen – the water turned into wine, the feeding of over 5000 people with just a couple of fish and loaves of bread, the blind to see, the crippled to walk, and the raising of Lazarus from the dead…

Jesus then says, “Whoever believes in me will do greater works than these – I will do whatever you ask in my name…14If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.”

Jesus doesn’t say, “I might do it…or I’ll think about it…But, I WILL DO IT!

This is something that you can count on! This is a promise!

Here is the thing…Jesus has NEVER broken any of his promises…

He promised to go to the cross for the forgiveness of our sins…And, he did!

He did it for us so that we can have a relationship with God! He did it for us so that we can have eternal life! He did it for us so that he can prepare a place for us to be with Him…

Jesus could have easily broken that promise! He could have backed out and no one would have blamed him!

And, Jesus asks – Do you believe me? Do you believe that I love you that much? Can you fathom it? Can you grasp that Jesus wants to be with YOU so much that He would do anything – even to the point of death – death on a cross.

Because if you can – you will have the ability to do works greater than Jesus Christ – Jesus promises this!
And, if we ask in his name, He will do it!

I have experienced it! I have seen things that I know only Jesus could have done…

We promised homeless folks fresh watermelons. That morning we only had 2 small watermelons to feed over 75 people – after lifting the watermelons for a blessing -up to Jesus for a blessing, one of the homeless began to slice them. Suddenly, there was more than enough, including leftovers. I remember looking around the room and every plate had watermelon on it and the bowl was being passed around for a second helping.

Jesus says, if you ask in my name, I will do it!

It was a Saturday morning and I was discerning about this call. We owned a lake house and it needed to sell before we could even think about trying to move. That morning I ask the Lord to help me discern – what did God want me to do. That afternoon we got a call with an offer. The client had never been to see the house. I was free to come here to this place and proclaim Christ!

Jesus says, if you ask in my name, I will do it!

My prior congregation in PA had never reached out to their community before. After research of trying to discern how we could help our community, it was decided to open a pantry for folks who were living in poverty with minimum wage jobs. They now serve over 20 families every month – looking to open more than just once a month.

Jesus says, if you ask in my name, I will do it!

Jesus says, Believe in God, believe also in me – you will do even greater works than these – Ask in my name, and I will do it!

Here is what I think…If you can believe that Jesus can raise us from the dead, then God can do anything that will give Him the glory…

We are called to proclaim Christ, to serve others in the name of Christ, and to bring others to Christ –

Money should never be the issue when it comes to growing the kingdom of God. Our lack of faith demonstrates our lack of BELIEF in the one who promises us that if asked in His name, He will do it!

We are Holy People! Called to grow and nurture the Kingdom of Heaven in this place – putting our faith in the promises of Jesus Christ!

Jesus says, if you ask in my name, I will do it!

I know I have broken promises to my children and others…I know because of my broken promises, I have disappointed others and lost the trust of those I disappointed.

But, with Jesus Christ, we have no reason to believe that He would not keep the promises he has made us today…

Believing in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is belief in the One who made it happen…

You are a Holy People – Your actions will demonstrate your belief in Jesus Christ.

Amen.