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And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20).

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!

In 1981, Jeffrey Stout, a professor of religion and philosophy at Princeton University, published a book called The Flight from Authority. In it, he described a social and philosophical trend in western society. Collectively, he argued, we have been on a “flight from authority” for several centuries. In the Reformation, we fled the authority of the church. Under rationalism, we ran from the authority of Scripture. With Kant, we turned our backs on the authority of reason and then morality. The flight continues in our own times as we resist conformity to governments, social norms, and institutions in general. Obedience is out. Autonomy is in. Simply put, we like to be in charge. We have authority issues.

This is nothing new, of course. Shortly after this week’s Old Testament reading from Genesis, the first humans exerted their autonomy against the will of their Father and Creator to their own detriment (and ours). Among other things, the continuing result is we all have authority issues. Just watch the news; you see it play out every day. Someone tells someone else what they should do. Someone else tells someone to go jump in a lake. Someone pushes back with even harsher orders. Someone else ignores the orders and just does what they want to do.

It’s so easy to notice when other people have authority issues; isn’t it? Look at them! They’re not social distancing! Look over there! There’s no respect for private property or the rule of law. Look! Those guys are infringing on my rights!  

But you and I don’t have to look out there in the world to see someone with authority issues. All we need to do is to look in the mirror. None of us are immune. From the cute little two year-old-girl, who, upon being told what she is supposed to do, puts her hand on her hip, scrunches up her face, points a finger at you and animatedly tells you what you’re going to do. Or the stubborn little man who melts like a skeletonless puddle when it’s time to go and he doesn’t want to. Or their Papa who seeks to find ways in which he can appear to at least minimally comply with executive orders and suggested protocols, even as he is rebelling inside. We all have authority issues.   

We like to be in control. I think that’s probably one of the things that makes pandemics and stay-at-home orders and social distancing so distressing. We like to be in control. We want to know exactly what’s coming next. And times like this show us that is impossible. Our desire for control is a pipe dream.

Just look what has happened in the last few months. The stock market took a dive. People are out of work in record numbers. There’s a worldwide pandemic of infectious disease the likes of which we have never seen during our lifetimes. Millions have contracted the virus. Many have grown gravely ill, and hundreds of thousands have died. Governments all over the world have responded by restricting our travel and limiting human contact to slow the contagion. Some would say they are doing too much, others not enough. Rumors swirl. Media fan the flames of public fear to near-panic proportions, while some dismiss it as fake news. Seemingly overnight, the world as we knew it is turned upside down.

Some of you are thought to be especially vulnerable. Your grown children may have enforced their own private quarantine. Perhaps they’ve distanced themselves to avoid inadvertently infecting you if they are asymptomatic carriers of the virus. You haven’t been able to see your grandkids. Some of you haven’t even been able to see your own spouse for months.

Things have been changing rapidly, almost daily. Businesses, governmental agencies, and churches have embraced new technology and implemented digital connections, but not everyone is comfortable learning new technology; the learning curve can be quite high and frustrating, and pixels on a screen can never replace in-person, flesh-and-blood interaction. Perhaps worst of all, no one can tell us when it’s going to end. No one really expects “normal” to return anytime soon, if ever.

We despair because there doesn’t seem to be anybody in charge who can help us. And we rage at the ones who get too heavy-handed to suit our tastes. Depending on who’s in charge in our jurisdiction and based upon our own individual experiences and political leanings, we don’t trust the government or legal system. We hear so many conflicting opinions we don’t know who to believe. Yes, even we men, women, and children who have studied the Catechism and understand that the 4^th Commandment means “we should fear and love God so that we do not despise or anger our parents or other authorities, but honor them, serve and obey them, love and cherish them,” even we, have authority issues.

What’s even worse is that at the heart of all our authority issues is, actually, rebellion against God, for He is the one who puts in place all earthly authorities. St. Paul exhorts and warns: “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment” (Romans 13:1–2).

These authority issues came to my mind as I pondered Jesus’ words in Matthew 28:18, “All authority,” He says, “has been given to Me.” This is a striking claim. “All authority in heaven and on earth,” after all, leaves out nothing. Who can fathom this brief utterance of Jesus? The kingly authority of Jesus embraces heaven, all that lives and has its being there, angels and archangels, powers, principalities, might, dominion, thrones, and the saints in glory. This authority is exercised also over the evil spirit world, whose prince is conquered and despoiled, and whose hosts lie in abject submission beneath Jesus’ feet. All the powers of heaven are in Jesus’ hands to do His bidding without question or pause. This, the disciples are to realize as He sends them forth. Never did a human army have such resources behind it. All the earth is also subject to Him, its inhabitants, both friend and foe, and all the powers that are in the earth.

During the period of His self-humbling, in ways that we cannot really understand, Christ set aside authorities and powers intrinsic to His divine nature. He did not lose them; He set them aside, emptying Himself. Included in this category of emptying Himself is the very fact that He was a mortal man, subject to weakness and death. Now, however, since His resurrection to immortality, because of which He cannot die again, something new has happened in the history of the world and in God’s plan of salvation—death has been conquered.

And now that this climactic action has taken place, Jesus says, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20).

It is to the risen Son that all authority that is in heaven and on earth has been given. It is in the name of the Father and of the risen Son and of the Holy Spirit that the disciples are to be baptized, even as they are taught to guard all the teaching of Jesus, which has now been validated because He is risen from the dead.

Crucified and risen, Jesus puts all His power and His authority behind the commission to evangelize the world. What would otherwise be absolutely impossible now becomes gloriously possible, yes, an assured reality. Now, the authority that has been delegated to Jesus by the Father, He, in turn, delegates to His disciples. He gives them the authority and responsibility to make disciples of all nations by baptizing them in the name of the triune God and by teaching them to obey everything He has commanded.

With His command, Jesus adds a promise. “I am with you always, to the end of the age.” There is grace in this promise. Jesus promises to be with His disciples to forgive and renew them, and to lead them to delight in His will and walk in His ways. Jesus promises to be with His Church as it continues His ministry here on earth—baptizing and teaching. Jesus promises to be with you to forgive and renew you, and to lead you to delight in His will and walk in His ways!

But there is also accountability in this promise. The Lord, who is with us, retains authority over us. His promise calls for trust and obedience, to remember Who is really in charge. Jesus has all authority. Despite appearances to the contrary and our thirst for autonomy, the risen Christ is Lord over all. Try as we might, we cannot escape His rule. If we had our heads on straight, we would never want to, for He exercises authority with wisdom, mercy, and grace.

We have authority issues, and for these we must repent. We must confess our sins and trust in God’s grace! For the unfaithful ways in which we have fled the authority of God and sought to live our own way, we need to repent. For the unfruitful ways in which we have operated autonomously, we need to repent and follow the commands of Jesus. For the fearful ways in which we have fretted over our loss of control, we need to hear the promise of the One who makes Himself graciously present with His forgiveness, life, and salvation.

What we could not do, what we would not do, Christ has done on our behalf. For your authority issues, for mine, Jesus humbled Himself and placed Himself under the authority of sinful men. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way, and the Lord laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth (Isaiah 53:6-7).

Christ did not demand authority, He submitted to the will of His heavenly Father. “He did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:6-11).

May Christ’s holy, bitter suffering and death not be lost on us, but at all times may it be our comfort, and may we boast in it; and as we ponder it, may all evil desire in us be snuffed out and subdued, and all virtue implanted and increased, so that we, having died to sin, may live in righteousness, following the example Christ has left us, walking in His footsteps, enduring evil with patience, and suffering injustice with a good conscience.

For Jesus’ sake, and with the power of the Holy Spirit, may we submit to will of our heavenly Father and the authority of His holy Word. May we honor and obey the earthly authorities that God has so graciously provided and receive and recognize them as His earthly representatives. May we daily pray for all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

Go in the peace of the Lord and serve your neighbor with joy. You are forgiven for all your sins.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Now this He said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (John 7:37-39)

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!

Today is the Day of Pentecost, which commemorates Christ’s sending of the Holy Spirit to His Church. The Church lives and moves and has her being through the gracious inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Without God’s Spirit, no one could come to Christ or believe in Him. No one would be saved. The fifty-day celebration of Easter ends with this joyous festival. The risen and ascended Savior has sent the Holy Spirit to be our Sanctifier, entering our hearts at Holy Baptism, nurturing us through the Word, and enabling us to understand the Gospel and to live a life that honors God and serves our neighbor.

The Day of Pentecost traditionally turns our eyes outward. We see God gather many nations in Jerusalem, speaking the message of salvation in many languages, and sending out disciples to the end of the earth. This Pentecostal outpouring of the Spirit turns our eyes outward as we celebrate the mission of God.

There is another dimension to Pentecost, however, and it is a dynamic we may not always celebrate as it turns our eyes inward. It asks us to meditate on the depth of the Spirit before we celebrate the breadth. This is the dynamic mentioned in the Gospel reading. The Holy Spirit is the gift of living water that flows from within (John 7:38). I invite you, this day, to “Come to the Living Water” and to consider how Jesus emphasizes the depths of the Holy Spirit.

Crowds have gathered in Jerusalem for the Festival of Booths. It is the last and greatest day of the feast, where each year Israel gathers to remember God’s provision. After gathering the harvest, God’s people come together and dwell in booths, often made from the branches of fruit and palm trees. They recall how God provided for them during the forty years of wilderness wanderings and anticipated how God would continue to provide for them in a land flowing with milk and honey. They were encouraged to remember that whether wandering in the wilderness or living in the land, God provides for His people.

By the time of Jesus’ ministry, a ritual had developed that each morning during the seven days of the feast, at the time of sacrifice, a priest proceeded to the fountain of Siloam with a golden pitcher. He filled it with water, and, accompanied by a solemn procession, carried it to the altar of burnt sacrifice. There, he poured  the water, together with the contents of a pitcher of wine from the drink offering, into two perforated bowls. The trumpets sounded, and the people sang Isaiah 12:3, “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” This ceremony commemorated the water that miraculously gushed out of the rock at Meribah and that was intended to quench the thirst of the multitude in the wilderness, a foreshadowing of the spiritual Rock, Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4). 

All faithful Jews were expected to be in Jerusalem for this third of the annual feasts proscribed by God. At first, it looks like Jesus won’t make it, because the Jews are seeking to kill Him. His unbelieving brothers taunt Him: “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing…If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” Jesus does not go with His brothers, but goes later, not publicly but in private. About the middle of the festival He begins teaching in the temple. Many people believe in Him, some seek to arrest Him and kill Him, but no one lays a hand on Him, because His hour has not yet come.

On the last day of this feast, the great day, Jesus stands up and cries out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”

Interestingly, this is not the first time Jesus has spoken about living water. Earlier, when Jesus conversed with the Samaritan woman at the well, He offered her living water (John 4:10). What was then said in private is now being proclaimed publicly. What was said in Samaria is now uttered in Jerusalem. In both cases, however, there is a future harvest in view.

With the Samaritan woman at the well, Jesus opens the eyes of His disciples to the field ready for harvest as the Samaritans from the town come to the well to greet them. With the people of Israel in Jerusalem, Jesus opens their eyes to a future harvest that will come when the Spirit is poured out at Pentecost.

In either case, there is a stress on the living water of the Spirit. Yes, Pentecost celebrates the outreach of the Spirit among those who believe. Whether they are in public or in private, whether they are an Israelite or a Samaritan, whether they are included or excluded from community, Jesus gives them living water, the gift of the Spirit, from whom divine life will continue to flow.

God’s love is not bound by our experiences of separation. Christ has borne our sin in crucified isolation so He might be our salvation in all places of life. He promises us the living water of His Spirit. His is an internal resource which never fails. He does not leave us as orphans. He does not leave us alone. He promises to be with us always. And where two or three are gathered in His name there He is in the midst of them.

This is certainly good news for us as we have just started gathering once again in the Lord’s house. For though the Church has been scattered and forced to go underground at times during its history, the Christian faith was never intended to be a private matter, but a shared faith. Yes, the Lord still comes to us even in isolation, but the Church was intended to be a gathering of God’s people around the means of grace—God’s Word and Sacrament. While I thank God that we have so many ways of communicating so easily at our disposal—social media, Facetime, and Zoom are poor substitutes for actually gathering with your family, friends, and fellow believers for worship. Much less is live streaming or services on television fully satisfactory substitutes for the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ in His means of grace and the fellowship of our brothers and sister in Christ who are gathered with us. The Lord has made us members of His body.

I pray that we will celebrate this Day of Pentecost with a new-found sense of community. I pray that the physical presence of others, gathered around Word and Sacrament, so often done but so seldom noted in the past, will now be appreciated in a deeper way. May our physical presence together today help us to celebrate the Holy Spirit, His gathering of God’s people together from all nations to form the body of Christ, even as we long for the day when we may all gather together again.

Whether you are sheltering at home on Pentecost or gathering together with your fellow Christians in Church today, you and I have reason for praise. Jesus Christ is the source of the Spirit and that Spirit will never fail. Jesus offers to everyone His promise of living water, the life of the Spirit, and that life flows from the heart of all who believe.

Come to the living water! Through the proclamation of the Word of God, the Spirit is at work to bring Christ to you, that He might forgive your sins and dwell within you. The Holy Spirit brings your risen Savior to you this day, that Christ might cleanse you of sin and satisfy your thirst with living water, that you might be His people forever.

The Holy Spirit works through the spoken Word of God. Moses spoke the Word of God to the rock in Horeb, and water flowed. We proclaim to you the Word of God and living water flows; for by the work of the Spirit, Christ is here to take away your sins. Furthermore, as you speak the Psalm and chant the liturgy, and as you sing the hymns this day, living waters flow from you as you proclaim the Gospel to one another—just as they flow when you share the Gospel with those whom you encounter in your daily vocation. Thus we rejoice in the Word of God and its proclamation today.

Come to the living water! In Holy Baptism, the Holy Spirit works in the hearts of the youngest infant or the oldest man or woman, to deliver Christ by water and the Word. There at the font, He washes our sins away. There the only-begotten Son of God makes us sons of God and heirs of His kingdom. By water and the Word, the Spirit delivers Christ; and Christ delivers His living waters of salvation to you, that you might be His forever.

Come to the living water! In Holy Communion, the Holy Spirit delivers Christ to you. Jesus, who turned water into wine at Cana and who multiplied bread for the 5,000, now gives you His body and blood in with and under the bread and wine of the Lord’s Supper. There, at His altar, He grants forgiveness and nurtures faith; there He strengthens and preserves you, body and soul, unto life everlasting.

Dear hearers, rejoice! The Lord is truly among you. He was with His people at Massah and Meribah, giving them water from the rock to sustain their lives. He was among His people, in the flesh, in Jerusalem to proclaim His Word and to promise living water. And because He sent His Holy Spirit at Pentecost, He is here among you by His means of grace. You are delivered from your wilderness of sin. Your thirst is quenched. Your sins are forgiven.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.