Worship Helps for Easter 6

Artwork: The Light of the World

Artist: William Holman Hunt

Date: 1851-53

Worship Theme: In today’s lessons we hear about peace between us and God. How can rebels find peace with their holy Lord and Judge? Not at all by their deserving it, but by his declaring it. God’s peace is so profound, and his willingness to receive us as his children so sincere, that Jesus even assures us that he and his Father will come to us and make their home within us.

Old Testament: 2 Kings 6:15-17

¹⁵When the man of God’s servant got up early and went out, there were soldiers, horses, and chariots surrounding the city. So his attendant said to Elisha, “Oh no, my lord! What will we do?”

¹⁶He answered, “Don’t be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

¹⁷Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, open his eyes so that he can see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw that the hills were full of horses and chariots of fire, all around Elisha.

1. Why didn’t Elisha’s servant have peace?

2. The army had come to capture Elisha. What was ironic about the way Elisha’s servant reacted, compared to the way Elisha reacted?

3. According to this story, what is one reason God’s servants can have true peace?

Epistle: Revelation 3:14–22  

¹⁴To the messenger of the church in Laodicea write:

The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation, says this:

¹⁵I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. If only you were cold or hot! ¹⁶So, because you are lukewarm and not hot or cold, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. ¹⁷You say, “I am rich. I have become very wealthy and need nothing.” But you do not know that you are miserable, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. ¹⁸I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments, so that you may be clothed and the shame of your nakedness may not become public, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.

¹⁹I rebuke and discipline those whom I love. So take this seriously and repent.

²⁰Look, I stand at the door and I am knocking. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will go in with him and dine with him, and he with me. ²¹To the one who is victorious I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.

²²Whoever has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

4. As he wrote to a lukewarm, self-satisfied congregation and to their pastor, how did Jesus describe himself?

5. Does our peace consist in knowing that Jesus is harmless and cuddly?

Gospel: John 14:23–29  

²³Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will hold on to my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. ²⁴The one who does not love me does not hold on to my words. The word that you are hearing is not mine, but it is from the Father who sent me.

²⁵“I have told you these things while staying with you. ²⁶But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I told you.

²⁷“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, and do not let it be afraid. ²⁸You heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and I am coming to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I.

²⁹“I have told you now before it happens so that, when it does happen, you may believe.”

6. How will the triune God make his home with believers?

7. What is the “peace” that Jesus gives?

Answers:

1. Elisha’s servant had no peace one morning when he awoke to discover the city of Dothan, in which he and Elisha had spent the night, surrounded by an army of horses and chariots sent to capture Elisha.

2. The irony was that Elisha was the one the army wanted; he was not afraid. The army was not after Elisha’s servant, yet he was afraid. (How often we are like that servant, fearfully lacking peace, for the wrong reasons.)

3. God’s servants can have his true peace because no matter what army threatens us and surrounds us, many more holy angels surround us. The fast, fiery angels on our side far outnumber our enemies.

4. Jesus described himself as “the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.” What peace we can have, knowing that he will keep his word and that he rules over all things! How we should fear to disregard his Word!

5. Our peace does not consist in Jesus being harmless and cuddly. Jesus is our best friend. Since he is, he rebukes and disciplines all he loves. He insists we get serious and repent.

6. The triune God makes his home with believers through the Word. The Spirit, sent from God, works through the Word. Believers demonstrate that God is dwelling in them by being faithful to God’s Word and putting that Word into practice in their lives.

7. The peace Jesus gives differs from what the world gives. The world’s peace consists of words and feelings with no eternal value. Jesus gives us the peace he won for all mankind. This peace makes us at one with God. It calms a troubled heart and a guilty conscience. Jesus gives us a peace where we can find true rest, now and forever, for we have no more war with our Maker.

Putting your faith into action

Love and obedience go together, especially when it is God loving us. We have opportunity to show our love for him through faithful use of all his gifts to us. The misuse of our time, talents, and financial resources can lead to trouble and unnecessary stress. The Holy Spirit reminds us of the way to be at peace: We are at peace with God knowing our sins are forgiven through Jesus and we are at peace with ourselves as he guides us in responsible living.

A reading from the Book of Concord for Easter 6

God will eternally save and glorify in life eternal those whom He has elected, called, and justified.

God has prepared salvation not only in general in this counsel, purpose, and ordination.  In grace He has considered and chosen to salvation each and every one of the elect who are to be saved through Christ.  He has also ordained that in the way just mentioned He will, by His grace, gifts, and efficacy, bring them to salvation.  He will aid, promote, strengthen, and preserve them.

 All this, according to the Scriptures, is included in the teaching about God’s eternal election to adoption and eternal salvation, and is to be understood by it.  It must never be excluded or omitted when we speak about God’s purpose, predestination, election, and ordination to salvation.  When our thoughts about this article are formed according to the Scriptures in this way, we can simply adapt ourselves to it by God’s grace.

The following also belongs to the further explanation and teaching about God’s foreknowledge to salvation: Only the elect, whose names are written in the book of life [Revelation 21:27], are saved…  We should listen to God’s revealed will.  For He has made “known to us the mystery of His will” (Ephesians 1:9) and made it clear through Christ so that it might be preached (2 Timothy 1:9). – Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, Article XI, God’s Eternal Election (paragraphs 22-26)

760  When Peace Like a River

1  When peace like a river attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll—

Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,  

It is well, it is well with my soul.

Refrain

It is well (It is well) with my soul (with my soul).  

It is well, it is well with my soul.

2  My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought—      

My sin, not in part, but the whole,

Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more:

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

Refrain

3  And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;

The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend;

Even so, it is well with my soul.

Refrain

Text: Horatio G. Spafford, 1828–1888, alt.