Dr. Leonard Sweet writes of a close friend who has an awareness of birds and animals. One day, as they were riding on Route 70, his friend remarked, “Isn’t that hawk beautiful!” Sweet slammed on the brakes, slowed down, and strained to see the hawk. He said that he had not seen a hawk in years, even though he drives Route 70 all the time, but sure enough, there was a red-tailed hawk sitting on a hedge post, looking out over a stretch of farmland.
Sweet began driving again and a few minutes later, his friend exclaimed, “That hawk is as beautiful as the last.” Again, Sweet slammed on the brakes, slowed down, and gaped in amazement, as there sat another hawk. “How do you see them,” Leonard asked in astonishment. His friend answered, “I look. Let’s see how many we can count in the next 30 minutes.” Thirty minutes later the two of them and seen and counted 27 hawks – more than Sweet had seen in his entire lifetime.
Sweet says that now wherever he goes, he has become aware of hawks because his vision has been awakened. He knows where to look for them, what time of day they hunt, and what terrain they like best. He has become aware of their presence.
Today’s scripture lesson is about the vision of Jesus’ disciples being awakened. Part of a larger discourse of Jesus’ teachings that are included in the 13th through 16th chapters of John and placed in the context of the evening preceding his crucifixion, the vision of Jesus’ disciples is awakened as Jesus:
- takes on the role of a servant in the 13th chapter of John by washing their feet
- teaches in the 14th chapter of John that he is the way to the Father
- commands his disciples in the 15th chapter of John to love one another as Jesus has loved them
- assures his disciples in the 16th chapter of John that they may have peace because Jesus has conquered the world
Affirmation of the disciples’ vision being awakened is found near the end of this discourse in John 16:30 as they tell Jesus: “Now we know that you know all things and do not need to have anyone question you; by this we believe that you came from God.”
A key verse in the disciples’ vision being awakened in the discourse of John 13-16 is John 14:28 where Jesus says, “I am going away, and I am coming to you.”
The setting for this promise by Jesus is found in John 14:1-3 which is often read at funerals.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am there you may be also.”
While this is appropriate scripture to be read as the promise of eternal life is claimed and proclaimed by followers of Jesus, John 14:28 offers another way for this promise by Jesus to be heard: “I am going away, and I am coming to you.”
This is not only a promise about Jesus’ presence in eternal life. This is a promise about Jesus’ presence in the present life. Jesus teaches that there are two ways his disciples will have the vision of their lives awakened as they become aware of his presence in their present living:
First, Jesus’ disciples become aware of Jesus’ presence by loving as Jesus loved.
“Those who love me, will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” John 14:23
Second, Jesus’ disciples become aware of Jesus’ presence in their present living through the Holy Spirit.
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I have said to you.” John 14:26
John Wesley, the Father of Methodism, defined the Holy Spirit as the essence of God’s presence in the life of Jesus’ disciples:
As the “breath of God,” the Spirit inspires “every good desire” in the heart as the believer exhales back to God “unceasing love and praise and prayer.”
Thomas Jackson, ed. The Works of John Wesley, 14 vols. (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1984, reprint), 1:434, 436; 3:203.
Charles Spurgeon, a 19th-century minister taught that “without the Spirit of God, we can do nothing. We are as ships without the wind, branches without sap, and like coals without fire, we are useless.”
It is significant that Jesus teaches his disciples about the Holy Spirit as he tells them that he will be “going away and coming to you.” For the first time in the Gospel of John, the Christian understanding of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit provides the foundation for the wakening vision of Jesus’ disciples as they become aware of the presence of their Savior in their present and their future.
In September of 2018, Bishop Lewis told me that she was going to appoint another person as the Director of Connectional Ministries for the Virginia Conference. While I was not surprised to hear this news as I was serving in my 11th year of this appointment, I began a journey of trusting in the presence of Jesus in the present and the future. Wrestling with whether I should be appointed to a new ministry setting or retire, after several months of discernment, I decided to enter into a retired relationship with the Virginia Conference after serving for 42 years in different ministry settings. At the same time, I felt that even though I was becoming a retired elder in The United Methodist Church. I should still be open to possibilities for ways that God may be calling to serve. I spoke with Scott Davis, the Lynchburg District Superintendent, and told him that I was open to appointment to a local church as a retired elder if the Cabinet felt that I could be of service to that congregation. As the annual process of appointing pastors was coming to an end in May of 2019, it did not appear that there would be any open appointments, but then Scott unexpectedly called me about a church that had unexpectedly had an opening for a pastor. As we spoke, I felt at peace as I trusted in Jesus for the present and the future. Beverly and I spoke about the possibility of serving as pastor of Fort Hill, and I called Scott to tell him I would be very happy to serve as pastor.
I am happy to announce that starting in July of this year, I am projected to begin a fourth year of serving as pastor of Fort Hill United Methodist Church. In looking forward to the time ahead, it is my prayer that our vision as a community of faith will be awakened to the possibilities of God as we trust in the present and future presence of Jesus.
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Becoming Aware of Jesus
by Pastor Marc Brown
May 22, 2022
Accompanying Scriptures: John 14:23-29
Fort Hill United Methodist Church
Order of Worship for May 22, 2021
Scripture Lesson John 14:23-29
The Good News “Becoming Aware of Jesus”
Music “I Saw the River Flowing” by Benjamin Brody
Prayer
Blessing
Closing Music “Brother James’ Air” arr. Penny Rodriguez
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