Exaudi Sunday – Pr. Anderson sermon
St. John 15:26-16:4 “The Testimony You Behold”
June 1, 2025 | Christ Lutheran Church
In Nomine Iesu
+ + +
Lord God, heavenly Father, we give thanks to You, that through Your Holy Spirit You have appointed us to bear witness of Your dear Son, our Lord Jesus Christ: We beseech You, inasmuch as the world cannot endure such testimony and persecutes us in every way, grant us courage and comfort, that we may not be offended because of the cross, but continue steadfastly in Your testimony, and be always found among those who know You and Your Son, until we obtain eternal salvation through the same, Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever. Amen. (Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary, by Veit Dietrich, p. 157)
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. (Rom. 1:7, etc.)
The sermon text for today is taken from the 15th and 16th chapter of the Gospel according to St. John. We read selected verses in Jesus’ name:
[Jesus said:] “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness about Me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.
“But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you.”
These are Your words, heavenly Father. Sanctify us by Your truth, Your Word is truth. Amen. (Joh. 17:17)
In Christ Jesus, who appointed us to bear witness, and while on our own we are weak and cannot endure, He give us the courage and strength to stand against the enemy, giving us the final victory, dear fellow redeemed:
When we look at the history of war, we see that it can be a great benefit if you are able to raise a large army. The more people you have and the better it looks like you are going to win. Now, taking this army to war can be done for a variety of reasons. Some reasons can be good; others can be not so good. Whatever side you are on, you are on it because you believe it is the right side until you are convinced otherwise. While we are in the church militant, waiting to be transferred into the church triumphant, what makes these terms hard for us to understand is the fact that the war is won. With the war over, unfortunately in this sinful world, we can’t let our guard down. There are skirmishes with our enemy’s large army and though our enemies are on the losing side, they want to do everything they can to convince us to be on their side. To survive the onslaught of attacks, the testimony you behold is the testimony that the war is won, you will be comforted, strengthened, and given courage until you transfer to the triumphant.
The wish might be, why can’t we be in the church triumphant now? We can celebrate Christ’s victory any time, like we do every Sunday and with every festival service like we just had last Wednesday. We know that Christ has risen and now ascended, is seated at the right-hand reigning over all. We are joyous because of this news. We must be active in keeping our guard up. In our text, Jesus is continuing to review what He has previously taught. Even with the knockout blow, it doesn’t mean that everyone will be on board with what Christ has done. Jesus wants His disciples to be confident when His enemies come after them for sharing the Gospel. The enemy won’t rest. We see this as the Jews made a point to go after the disciples after Jesus’ ascension and even groups of them were chasing Paul through His missionary journeys. So, Jesus gives His disciples comfort. His promise of the Helper is so they do not worry and want to flee from the ministry, but Jesus won’t sugar coat what the dangers will be for following Him.
After Pentecost we see how from the beginning, the Church is persecuted. Just listen to how strong it was. St. Paul writing to the Galatians revealed to them, “For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers” (Galatians 1:13-14). First, the disciples scattered when the going was tough. If they ran when Jesus was with them, what makes this kind of trouble any different? The difference is what the Helper brings. The peace that Jesus had is brought to them along with understanding of what was happening. With this comfort and strength, the disciples will behold the testimony of their Savior with a different mindset. This mindset doesn’t run from danger but is able to take a stand against the enemy. A strength they desperately needed.
A strength we also desperately need. Once again, we hear what Jesus told His disciples. “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor Me.” As we hear the echoes of what Paul thought as he was pursuing the early church, we hear these Words, and they still ring true to us. We are looked down on as a church body because our message does not match the message of the majority that fits with the world. The world is growing in number of those who don’t know the Father or the work of the Son. Instead of hearing us out, the attack is an attack of submission. To stand with the testimony of Christ means we will face hostility.
Not only will we face it, but we will also do so willingly. This is exactly what Jesus tells us will happen when we deny ourselves and pick up our cross daily. Many make the mistake that being a Christian will be easy. Maybe we have thought so during the good times. As we face our enemies and hear from our Savior how they will treat us, it is so easy to scatter. It is so easy to submit to the world’s message. It is very possible that we could even die for this faith we hold dear. While the great fear that the disciples had can hang over us as our enemies close in, the disciples recorded their struggles to be a testimony to behold. Even though what Jesus says should be enough, the disciples with inspiration from the Helper let us see their struggles with their enemies. We first see how they sinned and doubted Jesus and His message, which is something we can still struggle with. Then as St. John writes, they point us to the Words of Christ where He says, “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away.” Holding onto the sacred truth of the Gospel, is found in the power of this testimony you behold. The testimony of the war won by Christ which you receive from the Helper.
Christ’s testimony is given to His followers so they will prevail in the end. “But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you.” In the first sentence of Jesus proclaiming the Gospel, He reminds them that He is not going to forget them. They will know what Jesus has taught them because the hour they are looking for is the hour of the promised Helper. The Helper will come and make all things clear. They will see how everything Jesus did was for their good and the good of the world. They will understand how they were failing Him, but it is through His life that they now have life. In the cross that Jesus will go to the next day, they will see their salvation won, the war over! Their enemies were defeated before their eyes, and they will soon have a voice to share this testimony with the world.
As the Helper gives them their voices, they will be able to proclaim the message of the second sentence. Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to protect them because while He was on earth, He was protecting them. In their testimony, we see over and over how Jesus protected them from the power of the enemy. This night, St. John will also record Jesus proclaiming this. Jesus in His High Priestly prayer at the table and being fulfilled in the garden prayed, “While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled (John 17:12). And while He kept His disciples safe from harm and danger, He would also keep Himself safe until this appointed time. Where He would face His enemies as they would arrest Him, find Him guilty of no crime, and then crucify Him.
What looked like defeat as the cross was lifted high above all, was and is the sign of victory. Jesus had done the impossible, washing away the sins of the world. And this testimony that brings you the free gifts of your forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation is brought to you by Helper. It is in His work that you see how the persons of God work together as One true God. “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness about Me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.” As the Father sent the Son into the world and called Him up again to take His rightful place at His right hand, the Spirit proceeds to give you this great testimony from all those years ago. And as this testimony of the life and death of your Savior was with the disciples since the beginning of His ministry, as we heard last week, it has also marked you since the beginning of time.
Since Jesus knew you from the foundation of the world, He knew what it would take to save you. He knew that He would have to go up in front of your enemies who condemned you. The one who tempts you to sin stood before the throne room of God and said you are not worthy of heaven. The righteous judge on His throne sees the world’s sin and knows this to be the case. In your sins, He sees you with the accuser as His enemy. And while scattering has taken place, and submissions to the world’s message have been given, Jesus draws the battle line in the sand and stands before the enemy unwavering. He wins the war with His perfect life and death on the cross, destroying the enemy’s power once and for all. And through His testimony, you behold how this was all done for you. This work is brought to you by the Helper who comforts you before the throne room. He points you to your confession, of the Father making all things, sending His only begotten Son into the world to take away your sins, and the Giver of life proceeds them, speaking to you the comfort and strength you have from your Savior Jesus Christ.
While it won’t be easy, with this comfort, strength, and message that is not your own, you will proclaim this testimony before your enemies in these skirmishes. This is because, You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. (Romans 8:9a). The Helper will continue to bear witness this testimony you behold. And in weakness and pressure where you may turn away, He does not leave. He remains with His faithful Word, bringing you back again to strengthen you to stand in the death and resurrection of your Savior who has indeed destroyed your enemies. You may not face the persecutions like the early church of being put out of your church, hunted down and killed, but even if you do and must, “wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD! (Psalm 27:14) Amen.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, forevermore. Amen.
+ + +