Sermon Text: John 7:37-39

Sermon Title: "I've Got a River of Life Flowing Out of Me"

Rev. Nathan Kilbourne

Forty days was enough. It was enough time for the disciples to recover from the tragedy of Jesus' death and to experience the joy of his Resurrection. On day 40, Jesus looked at them and said, "I'm ascending to my father and your Father." You've seen my hands and feet. You know I'm alive. It's time for me to head out.

Like the disciples, I too would have likely tried to hold on to him. "Jesus, please stay a little bit longer. I need you. I've got questions. Let's hang out." But Jesus understood the risk if he were to stay. If he stayed, the mission ran the risk of going off course. The disciples would have gathered around Jesus, learned from Jesus, probably tried to protect Jesus. They would have become another internally focused group, focused on their spirituality, seeking spiritual answers, and having little effect on the world.

But Jesus understood 40 days was enough. It was time to offer assurance of his resurrection so that God's larger mission of reconciling all things could continue. What we get wrong with the story of Jesus is we think that his death and resurrection is the end of the story. It is not the end of God's story but the center of it. And the latter half of the story has to be and is being completed.

So, 40 days was enough. And then came the next chapter of the story. We had assurance of the progress of God's redemptive work and now the disciples were given the power for ministry. This band of believers became conscripted into God's reconciling of all things. On day 50, the disciples went from learners to ambassadors. They went from consumers to producers. They went from pew sitters to pew fillers. They went from mere hearers of the word to doers of the Word. When God's Spirit was poured out, Jesus came through on his promise, "I will not leave you orphaned" and "You will do even greater works than these."

Pentecost celebrates the next part of the story. It celebrates God's powerful work of inviting us into the work of God to reconcile and redeem all things. It is the day we celebrate being given the gift of the Spirit to do God's will in the world.

This Sunday we are reminded we are God's people, called by God, to be part of God's redeeming work. And by the power of the Spirit, we are able to will and to do God's bidding. Come let us celebrate and be empowered by the Spirit!

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