Holy Helper!

The Festival of Pentecost
May 26-27, 2012
John 15:26-27, 16:4b-15

“Holy Helper!”

Inspired by Pastor Campbell’s sermon earlier this month on Confirmation Sunday (May 6), my family and I have been going back and watching the Marvel Comics super hero movies: “Iron Man I and II,” “Thor,” “Hulk,” and “Captain America.” All of these were part of the recent blockbuster film, “The Avengers.” But there’s another super hero appearing this summer from DC Comics. Batman makes his return in “The Dark Knight Rises,” scheduled to open on July 20. So, thinking about all of this made me go back to the “Batman and Robin” TV series from the 1960s – remember these? These episodes weren’t so intense and dark, but hokey and laughable. While Batman was always poised and in control of his emotions, Robin the Boy Wonder was a highly excitable young man. Throughout their exploits, Robin would often find some event, some comment, some thing, completely unbelievable. On these occasions, he would exclaim, “Holy_____, Batman!” Here are some examples: “Holy Fourth of July!” “Holy Sherlock Holmes!” “Holy armadillos!” “Holy birthday cake!” “Holy unrefillable prescriptions!” And the list goes on and on. In fact, I found out that there are some 356 “Holy whatever!” sayings by Robin (http://adamwest.tripod.com/robin.htm) – almost one for every day of the year. On this Festival of Pentecost, maybe we can add another to this long list: “Holy Helper!” Robin the Boy Wonder may not have said this, but the Word of God does as we heard in the Gospel lesson: “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me” (John 15:26). As we celebrate that Holy Helper, the Spirit of truth poured out upon the Church on Pentecost, fifty days after Jesus rose from the dead, the message for this day is entitled “Holy Helper!” May the Lord’s rich and abundant blessing rest upon the preaching, the hearing, and the living of his Word for Jesus’ sake.

In the Gospel of John Bible class that I’m teaching, we looked at some of the verses from today’s Gospel lesson in our session this past Wednesday evening. Members of the class shared how important the person and work of the Holy Spirit is, but how hard it is for us to get our minds around all of this. The creating hand of the Father seen in the wonder and beauty of all creation is pretty clear. The redeeming work of the Son seen in Jesus – his life and ministry, his suffering, death, and resurrection – that also is very clear. But the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit remains strange and elusive to us; much harder to grasp because this is so abstract. Except for the image of that descending dove, as well as the sound of that mighty, rushing wind and those tongues of fire that are central to the Pentecost story, we don’t have much about the Holy Helper that’s very concrete. And let’s be honest with ourselves: we like concrete! We want those clear and concrete images that we can hold on to. We don’t do so well with things that are abstract. In truth, the person and work of the Holy Spirit is actually pretty clear. Jesus tells us: “… he will bear witness about me… When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you” (John 15:26b, 16:13-14). That’s pretty concrete: the Holy Helper guides us into all truth, declares the will and purpose of God to us, bearing witness to Jesus and glorifying him.

The original word for “Helper” has been translated in different ways: Advocate, Defender, Counselor, Comforter. The image here is of someone who comes alongside you to speak in your behalf and act as your defense attorney, representing you. This is what the Holy Helper does for us! In the court of God’s divine justice, the scales do not weigh in our favor. Our shortcomings and sins – the evil we have done as well as the good we have failed to do – testify against us, if not now, then on that great and final day when Christ shall come again to judge the world in righteousness. It is only the cleansing blood of Jesus that tips the scales of God’s divine justice in our favor. Nothing we can do – good works or meritorious conduct – do this; only the blood of Jesus. Now, in this time before Jesus comes again, our risen and ascended Savior who died and rose again for us has sent his Holy Helper to empower us to testify to him; to be his witnesses in the world, pointing friends and family members, neighbors and co-workers, to the One who loves them and gave himself for them. We may feel puny and powerless for this great work, and would rather that somebody else do this for us. But Jesus reminds us: “And you also will bear witness…” (John 15:27).

Recently, I was driving one of my daughters around on an errand and we saw a little boy of pre-school age who was riding his toy tractor. He was having the best time and there was a great big grin on his face! He was so happy because he was really moving down that sidewalk. The reason he was moving so fast is because dad was behind him pushing him along. His toy tractor had one of those long handles that stuck out behind allowing an adult to push while the little one steers. In truth, dad was behind the scenes doing all the work while his son was in the driver’s seat. I believe this is exactly what the Holy Helper does in our lives as disciples of Christ. He’s behind us doing all the work, pushing us along in our journey of faith. We’re not always conscious of the Spirit’s work and activity in our life, but that doesn’t mean he’s not there.

In a few minutes, we’re going to make profession of our faith in the words of Luther’s Explanation to the Third Article of the Apostles’ Creed. Like that watchful dad who’s pushing his little son along, we’ll confess together in who this Holy Helper is and what he does: “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the one true faith. In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian Church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers. On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ. This is most certainly true. Amen.”

Holy Helper! A blessed Pentecost to you as we rejoice in the Holy Spirit. Amen.