Sunday the Fifth Week of Easter

May 7, 2023 Today's Reading:  John 14:1-14Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 20:1-16; Luke 11:37-54Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (John 14:13) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Alleluia! Christ is risen!  Have you ever been on the line with customer service or tech support? It’s already been forty-five minutes, when they tell you, “I can’t help you with that. I’m going to have to transfer you to someone who can help you.” Crestfallen, you realize you must have taken a wrong turn in the phone menu and you’ll have to start from scratch with someone new. Although there was none of that in the upper room, the disciples had the impression that Jesus was something less than He is. Despite being with Him for so long, they think there’s some higher tier that actually rules the universe. Even though He is sitting with His disciples in the flesh, He is the same one who goes to prepare a place for them. Jesus Himself is the Lord, the “I Am” who appeared to Moses (Exodus 3:14). He is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life,” by whom no man can come to the Father except through Him. The Lord Jesus is both true God, ruling over the universe, and true Man, sitting right there talking with them. He isn’t an intermediary like Moses. He himself has divine power and authority. And what will He do with such power and authority? Prepare a place for you and I to dwell in the Father’s house. He will hear and answer what we ask Him. He will put His Name upon us so that by His authority, we are called children of God (John 1:12-13). We often think the promise, “I will come again and will take you to myself” is merely for the end of our life. He says, “Where I am you may be also.” Where is He now?  He has passed through the grave, never to die again. He is risen. He has ascended into heaven, to intercede for us and to sit at the right hand of the Father Almighty. That is to say, He has “all authority in heaven and earth” (Matthew 28:18). So why wouldn’t we come to Jesus with our prayers? He has come to us with His most-worthy name and by His merit we will be brought into eternal life. Today, in Him, we can be confident that we are not being pawned off to someone else who can “really” help us. Jesus is Lord, and He is here for you.  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. O God, You make the minds of Your faithful to be of one will. Grant that we may love what You have commanded and desire what You promise, that among the many changes of this world our hearts may be fixed where true joys are found; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.- Pastor Michael A. Miller is Pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Lebanon, OR.Audio Reflections Speaker: Jonathan Lackey is an LCMS seminarian.Study Christ's words on the cross to see how you can show more Christlike grace in your life. Perfect for group or individual study, each chapter has a Q&A at the end, and the back of the book includes a leader guide. Available now from Concordia Publishing House.