The Tenth Sunday after Pentecost (G)

John 16:23-33

²³ In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. ²⁴ Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. 

I Have Overcome the World

²⁵ “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. ²⁶ In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; ²⁷ for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. ²⁸ I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.” 

²⁹ His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! ³⁰ 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.” ³¹ Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? ³² Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. ³³ I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” 

Everyone at one time or another loves different figures of speech. We like to listen to stories that have different meters or cadence to them. We even enjoy listening and quoting poetic sayings, especially if we think they have some kind of deeper truth behind them. Thus, philosophers like to frame their teaching into stark phrases. But even the less educated or posh people like one of the greatest forms of figures of speech, sarcasm.

I think Jesus is using sarcasm, even here in our text. But since most of the time sarcasm is done with voice inflection it is difficult to read. "Do you now believe?" Is it now that the disciples have finally come to believe in Jesus? How does that even relate to them, "when [they] will be scattered, each to his own home,"? They still don't believe! The disciples may be getting closer to some level of understanding, but belief?

When we talk about the faith of a child, or the faith of a disciple, or even those who are really strong in the faith, do we think of the disciples here on the night when Jesus was betrayed? Maybe we think of them at the foot of the cross watching as their savior dies. Maybe you think of them proclaiming the good news at Pentecost. But just maybe one or two of you think of Thomas saying, "My LORD and My God!!" There is finally when there is no more figure of speech but the truth is spoken plainly for all to hear.

Jesus Christ is our LORD and God who died for our sins and rose again from the dead as the first fruits of our Resurrection. He is the Son of God given for your sins as the perfect sacrifice. He is one with the Father who sent him and with the Holy Spirit who now is sent with us to all tell all the world, without figures of speech the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help us God.