παράκλητος

Jesus answered, “Whoever loves me will keep my word. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever doesn’t love me doesn’t keep my words. The word that you hear isn’t mine. It is the word of the Father who sent me. “I have spoken these things to you while I am with you. The Companion, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I told you. “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you. I give to you not as the world gives. Don’t be troubled or afraid. You have heard me tell you, ‘I’m going away and returning to you.’ If you loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than me. I have told you before it happens so that when it happens you will believe. (John 14:23-29, CEB)

Jesus says, “The Companion” will be sent. The word in the original language is παράκλητος, paraclete. It is a term that applies to the Holy Spirit, which Jesus says after the term in our reading today, it is often translated as advocate, helper, or comforter. In the translation above, it is translated as companion. Louw & Nida gives a definition of helper, encourager, or mediator.

So the paraclete is not something you wear to play sports, or a bird you might have as a pet. It is a companion, a helper, an encourager, a mediator, an advocate.

Someone who stands in the gap and helps you on the journey and keeps you connected to the things that allow you to be who you were/are created to be.

We all have a παράκλητος, maybe it is time we all be a παράκλητος.

Stand in the gap for those who are losing rights.
Be an encourager for those who are being made less than human.
Be a companion to those who seem to be alone.
Help those who are being held down.
Advocate for the last, least, lost, and little.

This is what Jesus calls us to do by keeping his word.

Love all the world and be a παράκλητος.

Loving People. Loving God.

Who?

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through town. A man there named Zacchaeus, a ruler among tax collectors, was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but, being a short man, he couldn’t because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed up a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. When Jesus came to that spot, he looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down at once. I must stay in your home today.” So Zacchaeus came down at once, happy to welcome Jesus. Everyone who saw this grumbled, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” Zacchaeus stopped and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my possessions to the poor. And if I have cheated anyone, I repay them four times as much.” Jesus said to him, “Today, salvation has come to this household because he too is a son of Abraham. The Human One came to seek and save the lost.” (Luke 19:1-10, CEB)

If Jesus were here today, who would he ask to go eat with?

As I typed that sentence, I thought of the current occupant of the White House. But then I also thought Zacchaeus sought out Jesus. Climbed a tree so he could see him. I can conjecture what the occupant of the White House would do, but I can not say for sure. But when Jesus would go to visit there, people would be upset, not those who think the current occupant is following Jesus, but those who are sure he is not.

We think we know the mind of God and that what we want is what God wants. That is a sure way to know that your god is not actually God, but your own creation. None of us gets what God wants all the time.

Be surprised, and do not let that surprise get in the way of God moving in the world.

Loving People. Loving God.

He did what?

Paul reached Derbe, and then Lystra, where there was a disciple named Timothy. He was the son of a believing Jewish woman and a Greek father. The brothers and sisters in Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. Paul wanted to take Timothy with him, so he circumcised him. This was because of the Jews who lived in those areas, for they all knew Timothy’s father was Greek. As Paul and his companions traveled through the cities, they instructed Gentile believers to keep the regulations put in place by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in the faith and every day their numbers flourished. Paul and his companions traveled throughout the regions of Phrygia and Galatia because the Holy Spirit kept them from speaking the word in the province of Asia. When they approached the province of Mysia, they tried to enter the province of Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus wouldn’t let them. Passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas instead. (Acts 16:1-8, CEB)

“Paul wanted to take Timothy with him, so he circumcised him. “

Now, did Paul actually do that, or did someone else, and Paul had Timothy get circumcised?

“This was because of the Jews who lived in those areas, for they all knew Timothy’s father was Greek.” But is not Paul the one who told us there is no Jew or Greek and circumcision is not needed? Yes, he is, but that, my friends, is a different book of the Bible, and why interpreting the Bible is so much fun.

You see, there are at least four Pauls in the New Testament. There is Paul, who wrote some of the epistles attributed to him. There is the Paul who is not Paul, meaning other people wrote under the name Paul. There is the Paul that might be Paul, or might not, scholars can not agree, and there is the Paul in Acts, who is the Paul who traveled and wrote, but sometimes seems to do weird things that are not in the letters attributed to Paul. And we jumble all of these into our heads, and they come out as one person. That is what makes interpreting the Bible interesting.

So is circumcision needed? Did Paul have Timothy circumcised?

Grace says no it is not. But Paul still may have to make things easier, because people do not always follow what God has called us to do.

So love. So your friend does not have to get circumcised to make things easier.

Loving People. Loving God.

Disagree?

Some time later, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit all the brothers and sisters in every city where we preached the Lord’s word. Let’s see how they are doing.” Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them. Paul insisted that they shouldn’t take him along, since he had deserted them in Pamphylia and hadn’t continued with them in their work. Their argument became so intense that they went their separate ways. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus. Paul chose Silas and left, entrusted by the brothers and sisters to the Lord’s grace. He traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. (Acts 15:36-41, CEB)

Here is a story where disciples of Christ disagree on something that does not take away from humanity, and they move forward.

Paul did not want to take Mark because he had deserted them. We do not know the details of this just Paul thinks Mark deserted them, and Barnabas does not speak against Paul. Barnabas does not see what happened as a reason to not bring Mark. So they decide Barnabas will take Mark and go one way, and Paul will go another.

We can move forward and not completely agree on everything. As long as our disagreement does not take away from someone’s humanity.

Loving People. Loving God.

Love!

A legal expert stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to gain eternal life?” Jesus replied, “What is written in the Law? How do you interpret it?” He responded, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus said to him, “You have answered correctly. Do this and you will live.” (Luke 10:25-28, CEB)

“You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.”

That easy.

That hard.

Just love.

Love God.

Love everyone.

When in doubt, love.

Loving People. Loving God.

Support

About that time, some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, Agabus, stood up and, inspired by the Spirit, predicted that a severe famine would overtake the entire Roman world. (This occurred during Claudius’ rule.) The disciples decided they would send support to the brothers and sisters in Judea, with everyone contributing to this ministry according to each person’s abundance. They sent Barnabas and Saul to take this gift to the elders. (Acts 11:27-30, CEB)

There was a prediction of a severe famine, and in preparation for it, those who follow Christ decided to send support to help those who would be worst affected.

Can you imagine this today? Or in the United States? Where the elected officials are currently meeting to dismantle health care for the elderly and most vulnerable?

Most people only care for themselves. But those who follow Jesus know that we need to care for others, because we are all in this together.

Loving People. Loving God.

Christians

Now those who were scattered as a result of the trouble that occurred because of Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch. They proclaimed the word only to Jews. Among them were some people from Cyprus and Cyrene. They entered Antioch and began to proclaim the good news about the Lord Jesus also to Gentiles. The Lord’s power was with them, and a large number came to believe and turned to the Lord. When the church in Jerusalem heard about this, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw evidence of God’s grace, he was overjoyed and encouraged everyone to remain fully committed to the Lord. Barnabas responded in this way because he was a good man, whom the Holy Spirit had endowed with exceptional faith. A considerable number of people were added to the Lord. Barnabas went to Tarsus in search of Saul. When he found him, he brought him to Antioch. They were there for a whole year, meeting with the church and teaching large numbers of people. It was in Antioch where the disciples were first labeled “Christians.” (Acts 11:19-26, CEB)

In the beginning, those who followed Jesus were called Followers of the Way. It wasn’t until later that they came to be called Christians.

Sometimes in the world today, I hesitate to say I am a Christian, and lean more towards a follower of Jesus, or a Disciple of Christ.

We should focus our journey on doing what Christ called us to do. Love like he did.

Showing love will help bring the kingdom to fulfillment.

Christian.
Follower of the Way
Disciple of Christ.

Whatever we are called, we need to be about love. Love for all.

That is how the world will know who and whose we are.

Loving People. Loving God.

How?

When Judas was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Human One has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify the Human One in himself and will glorify him immediately. Little children, I’m with you for a little while longer. You will look for me—but, just as I told the Jewish leaders, I also tell you now—‘Where I’m going, you can’t come.’ “I give you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, so you also must love each other. This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, when you love each other.” (John 13:31-35, CEB)

Jesus gave them a commandment. Not a suggestion. Not an idea for something to do if they thought they could. It was not something we could shrug off.

Jesus told the disciples to love each other as Jesus loves them. Even when they failed, or did not follow where they were led. Jesus loved them. Period. Full stop.

That is how the world knows we are followers of Jesus, by our love.

Not the time we spend sitting in pews, or being in a building. Not by the songs we sing or anything else, except love.

Love like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.

The time came…

Then the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshipped God. They said, “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and was, for you have taken your great power and enforced your rule. The nations were enraged, but your wrath came. The time came for the dead to be judged. The time came to reward your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.” Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the chest containing his covenant appeared in his temple. There were lightning, voices, thunder, an earthquake, and large hail. (Revelation 11:16-19, CEB)

Soon it will be time. The wait will be over.

God will rule and come to be with God’s people. The dead will be judged, servants, prophets, and saints will be rewarded, and everything will be as God intended.

All in God’s time, who is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

Not my timing, or yours, but God’s. The time will come. We just need to trust and wait, and in the meantime, love.

Loving People. Loving God.

Kingdom!

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven saying,
“The kingdom of the world has become
    the kingdom of our Lord and his Christ,
        and he will rule forever and always.” (Revelation 11:15, CEB)

The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and his Christ!

And the Lord, our God, will rule forever and always.

No matter what is happening now or how bad things are. Our God wins in the end and rules over everything forever!

Love like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.