June 8, 2025 – Pentecost Text: John 14:23-31
Dear Friends in Christ,
They were a family of five. Dad, mom, two boys and a girl. The parents were both doctors. The dad was head of surgery at a big hospital in a midwestern city. As part of their work for the Lord they would go on medical missions throughout the world. This particular one around thirty years ago had the family going to the West African nation of Ghana. At the time, healthcare was very limited. Hospitals were nothing like the United States. It would be a challenge.
During their time there they were able to provide care for the people of the region. Medicines were dispensed, surgeries performed, and the mission was going well. A few days before the family was to return to the United States one of the boys started getting sick. High fever, a rash, fatigue. At first, they were not sure what it was. It was diagnosed as toxic shock syndrome. He was lethargic and needed care the city and country could not provide. If not, flown somewhere for care, his body would start to shut down.
This morning Jesus is addressing the disciples. He is about to tell them of his departure from the world. This message is going to be troubling to the disciples. It is confusing and causes them much anxiety. Where is Jesus going? What is going to happen? What can we do?
Maybe we have not faced these exact situations, but we to have had life events where things are confusing, we don’t know what to do and we ask, “What is going to happen?” “What can we do?” Let’s find some answers through our Savior . . .
“PEACE WHEN TROUBLED AND AFRAID”
The young man lay in the hospital. There was only one oxygen tank and once it ran out, their son would probably die. There was a flight the family was supposed to be on, the dad said the wife and two other children needed to go. He would stay with his son. As the family left it was going to be the last time they would see their son and brother alive.
Calls had been made to find more oxygen and it seemed like everything had been exhausted. Then a phone call came in. It was a professor at the university who had been in worship that morning and had heard the prayer for this young man. She knew of an oxygen tank. It was used to help train medical students, but they could have it if they could get it on time. They raced through the capital city, dodging traffic to get this oxygen tank which was on the other side of town. They got it. Took it back to the boy and while he still needed to get somewhere for better care, this bought them some time.
Jesus knew his time was limited, he knew these men who had followed him and joined in the ministry needed help. He told them this, “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (v. 25-27)
Accra, Ghana had and still does have direct flight to London on British Airways. Arrangements were made. Two things would be needed. They would fly the dad and son for $30,000 and the pilot had to give the ok. The pilot talked to the father but was hesitant. The boy could die in the air. But then another guiding of the Holy Spirit, the pilot thought he was talking to the boy’s Dr. When he found out he was also the father, it touched his heart, and he gave the ok. He would even fly low over the African desert if they needed to touch down.
The seven hour flight was made to London. They got the boy to a hospital, got him the proper treatment. He survived and is alive and well today. The cost was still hanging out there. What would the family do? When news of the flight made it back to British Airways and the amazing story of this young man’s survival, British Airways forgave the debt. There was nothing to pay.
If you don’t think the Holy Spirit isn’t working like this every day, you haven’t been paying attention. I see it in my life all the time and hope you do to. We daily fight the disease in our bodies, the devil, the temptations, our flesh. The peace of the Lord gives us comfort. It was earned on the cross by his flesh. It addresses our deepest need: sin. It reassures our conscience. We are forgiven. We are healed. The breath of life that we needed has been blown into our lungs through Baptism – how certain! In Holy Absolution – how personal! In the Holy Supper – how present! Served by the Office of the Ministry – how near! Where the Holy Spirit directs us, there Jesus dwells among us with the Father. He cares for you daily, body and soul. He forgives your debt.
I got the go ahead to share this story from the dad and mom. They hadn’t talked much about it. A question I posed got them to thinking and the father and mother told me all this in the back of a bus riding through the roads of Germany. You never know where the Holy Spirit is going to work. What’s your story? How has the Lord given you peace when troubled and afraid?
Amen.