I Will Continue to Make It Known

I Will Continue To Make It Known”  

John 17:20-26

     On this Mother’s Day, I would like you to think about what you consider to be the most important thing that a mother should do for her children.  I’m sure you could come up with a number of things that would be very important.  Certainly you would want to love them with an unconditional love that models the kind of love that you have received from God.  Certainly you would also want to provide for their basic needs of food and clothing and shelter. You might also want to consider teaching your children some important life skills like cooking and cleaning and being good stewards of all the blessings that God has given to them.  Teaching good manners would also be somewhere on that list.  As you work your way through the list of important things that a mother should do for her children you come to the realization that it is a big job being a parent.  Your work is never done.  The responsibilities of parenting can be overwhelming.  Fortunately all these things that have been mentioned and more do not have to be taught all at once.  Some lessons can start very early and others can wait until the children are ready to handle some of the more complex skills and attitudes that are a part of growing up. 

     I recently read a short book by entertainer Dolly Parton.  It was an extended version of a commencement speech she gave at the University of Tennessee.  In it she spoke about what she considered to be one of the most important things her mother taught her.  She taught her a love of reading by reading her the Bible.  Interestingly enough, by doing that, her mother was carrying on what Jesus talked about in our Gospel lesson for today.  As we look more closely at what Jesus had to say, may you recognize the role that you play in Jesus’ work of being our Prophet, Priest and King. 

     The Gospel lesson for today is part of what has been called Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer.  It takes up all of chapter 17 of John’s Gospel.  This took place just before Jesus and His disciples left the upper room where they took part in the Passover Meal.  He prayed to His heavenly Father about the events that were soon to take place.  He prayed for His disciples that they would continue to be guarded in the truth.  He prayed that they would be sanctified, made holy.  In the section where our reading for today picks up, Jesus prayed not only for them but also for those who will believe in Him through their word.  Do you realize who is included there?  You and I are a part of that group of people who have believed through their word.  Through the teaching and writing of the Apostles, the Gospel has been passed down from generation to generation right up until the present day.  Pastors, teachers, and parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters have been part of the process of making the Good News of salvation by God’s grace through faith known to the next generations.  In the last verse of the prayer Jesus said the words that I read before, “I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

     I mentioned before that Jesus was carrying out His work as our Prophet, Priest and King.  As our Priest He offered Himself as the Sacrifice for our sins.  A priest would also pray for the people.  This is what Jesus was doing as He came to His Heavenly Father in prayer on behalf of His disciples and those who would believe through their teaching.  He was also carrying out His office as our Prophet.  A prophet was to speak for God.  Since Jesus was Himself God, when He spoke it was God who was speaking,  He did this during His earthly ministry as He told His hearers all about the kingdom of heaven often through parables and at times simply telling them plainly about God’s will.  You have an example of that in John 16 where Jesus spoke plainly about what was going to happen.  The disciples even commented in verses 29 and 30, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech.  Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.”  He continues to carry out that work of speaking for God through the people who are sent today to speak His word in churches and classrooms and in homes. 

     Here we begin to see the answer to the question about what is really important for a mother to pass on to her children.  Jesus said that He would continue to make the Father’s name known.  When he talks about the Father’s name, He is referring to everything there is about the Father and His relationship to His special creation.  He is talking about the Father’s love in promising a Savior when mankind fell into sin.  He is talking about how God provided for His chosen people when they were rescued from their slavery in Egypt and as they wandered in the wilderness for forty years before He led them into the promised land.  The message continues as the Father sent His only Son into the world to live a perfect life in the place of fallen mankind and then caused Him to sacrifice His life as the punishment for your sins.  He overcame the power of sin, death and the devil when He rose again and then ascended into heaven to rule over all things.  There He carries out His role as our King.  One day He will come again to judge the world and lead His faithful in victory to their heavenly home.  That is the message that Jesus will continue to make known. 

      One of the ways that He makes that message known is through our families.  The first teacher that a child has is its mother.  No one is closer and no one has more influence in those early years than a mother.  Did you ever consider that part of your task as a mother was to be a part of Jesus’ promise to continue to make the Father’s name known?  What an awesome blessing to be a part of that process! 

     Jesus adds then, “that the love with which you have loved me may be in them and I in them.”  That is the love that assures you of the forgiveness of your sins, forgiveness for the times when you have neglected to apply God’s love to the situations in your life when your patience was tried to the breaking point; forgiveness for the times when you allowed the devil, the world and your sinful nature to rule your life and as a result you made bad decisions that had a negative effect on your children; forgiveness for the times when your example was not consistent with all that is wrapped up in God’s name.  We are all sinners.  We are not perfect.  But God’s message of love and forgiveness in Christ picks us up and gives us the freedom and courage to continue on and be a part of the process of making the Father’s name known to your children and your children’s children.  You can teach and model God’s love in Jesus to your children because you have experienced that love yourself. 

     The teaching starts early as you care for that helpless infant that God has placed in your care.  The blessings of Baptism soon follow through the power of the Holy Spirit. It continues by teaching prayers and reading to your child about the love of God as we find it in His Word.  Bible story books can become favorite stories at bed time.  Teaching children to be Christ-like in all they do helps them to learn attitudes of humble service to others and a love for others, especially those who need to know about the love of God in Christ Jesus.

     It all comes down to another part of the prayer that Jesus prayed.  I’m sure it is a prayer that every mother, every Christian parent, would pray for their child.  In verse 24 we hear, “Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.”  Jesus wanted His disciples to be able to see his glory in heaven.  Isn’t that what you want for your children as well, for them to see Jesus in all His glory in heaven?  What a blessing to be part of Jesus’ plan to continue to make the name of the Lord known!  He does that today through you as you pass on the Good News to the next generation.   Amen.

Rev. Gerald Matzke
Mother's Day  2013
Zion Lutheran Church
Painesville, Ohio