Sermonette

I really miss my grandkids. I miss them running up to me in church shouting, “Papa, I here!” I miss hearing Isaiah’s loud belly laugh when I zoomed him through the air like an airplane. I miss Auggie’s dancing blue eyes when he’d run towards me saying, Papa, papa, papa!” I guess I just wish they were closer by, like right next to me. I wonder what Jesus’ disciples were saying to one another as they were gathered together after Jesus’ death. “ Remember the time when everyone was jeering and shouting accusations at the adulterous woman and Jesus turned their convicting tones towards her with words that convicted them of their sins instead?” Or, “Remember when the crowds were shouting, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ at the leper, and instead Jesus touched him and cleansed his leprosy and soul as well?” Or, “Remember when He listened to the man no would give the time of day to?” “When His hands touched those whom nobody would go near to?” Or, “The tears He shed when His heart could no longer take the brokenness of the broken hearted?” The disciples missed Jesus a great deal when He died. Their Savior was no longer there to laugh and cry with them as they did. Their Friend was no longer there to confide their innermost thoughts. They were lost. Lives that at one time were full, now seemed empty, and barren of being loved and cared for. Ever miss someone near and dear to you? Somewhat of an aching feeling isn’t it? You turn to share a funny story, an experience you couldn’t wait to tell, and the space next to you is empty. And then you admit to yourself, so now is my heart! How the disciples must have missed Jesus! But remember what Jesus shared to His disciples when He told them He would be leaving? In the Gospel of John, chapter 14, verse 16, we read, ”And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever.” Jesus was referring here to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit walks with us, He talks to us, and what’s more He talks through us. Other versions of scripture refers to Him as being the Comforter. And that’s what we need when our worlds are turned upside down missing someone so! That’s Who we need. With Him there is no empty space or void in our heart. He fills it with His love and compassion towards us. He listens. He answers. He understands. He loves us like no other. The Holy Spirit. Whole books have been written about Him. Thousands of sermons have been shared about Him. One thing is for certain about Him. He will not leave us. He will never quit on us. He will never stop loving us. Take comfort in Him. Jesus would never leave us as orphans. We miss those near and dear to us. Where or who do we turn to now with our emptiness? What can it hurt to look towards heaven and pray about it? The Comforter will indeed bring us comfort. Don’t we all need that? Don’t we all need Him? Come sweet Spirit we need you! Come sweet Spirit I pray!