Well, it is not easy to say goodbye and Yet,
I'm sure you have found as I have that goodbyes
are a reality in life There are some goodbyes
that are final and crushing But there are other
goodbyes that are transitional and exhilarating
I hope that you will share with me the belief
that the goodbye that we're going through in
the next month or so is the latter kind of goodbye.
It is important for you to know, to understand,
and to believe with all of your heart that Jeanette
and I are making this transition because we believe
with all of our hearts that it is the will of
God. That it is the will of God not only for
our lives, but that it's the will of God for
Grace Church Roosevelt as well. I believe that
God has been preparing us, I mean all of us,
for this change. Although the decision came suddenly
to most of you, this has not been a hasty decision
on our part. It is one that's been in the making
for some time. The most important thing in the
world is to be in the center of God's will, isn't
it? I remember as a young man, I remember as
a younger man, let's say it that way, coming
to discover that God had designed me for a purpose
in this world. It had a plan for me. You remember
when you found that out about yourself? That
as His child, you weren't just a number. You
weren't just somebody else. You weren't just
another one. You were a special person in His
eyes. and He chose you and designed you and fashioned
you for a special purpose and a plan that He
is fulfilling. To me, that's all that counts
in the end is following that track and experiencing
this great adventure of God's will for our lives.
In this transition that we're undergoing, I'd
like for us to follow the example that Jesus
set for us. And to find out about that, would
you open your Bible please with me to John chapter
13. John chapter 13. It says, now before the
feast of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that his
hour had come, that he should depart out of this
world to the Father. Having loved his own who
were in the world, he loved them to the end.
That means to the uttermost. Jesus knew that
the time had come for him to depart. Not just
from Minnesota to California, which is a big
enough transition. But here is a transition out
of this world back to the Father's presence.
This is truly the big transition. This is a greater
transition than any of us can possibly imagine.
Out of this world, back to heaven to the Father's
presence. Jesus knew that the time had come and
certainly he had been preparing his disciples
for this over a period of three years that they
had walked with him. But now on this last night
that he is with them. On this night, as he gathers
with them in the upper room and then goes to
the garden of Gethsemane to pray, on this night,
Jesus does a number of things to help them with
the transition. Jesus lived for his Father's
will, just as I hope you and I live every day.
He said, I do not seek my own will, but the will
of Him who sent me. What a tremendous model for
us that we should not seek our own will our own
desires in life But that we should seek the Father's
will Because even though it may mean pain for
us and Suffering for us as it did in Jesus case
in a way beyond our ability to imagine Nonetheless,
the Father's will is the very best There's absolutely
nothing that could surpass the Father's will.
And so let us with all of our hearts seek the
Father's will, even when that may include some
pain for us in the process of it. Jesus knew
that His hour had come, and of course, that means
the cross. Throughout the Gospel of John, he
kept saying his hour had not come. His hour had
not come. Now he says, my hour has come. He knows
that the cross is at hand. And he announces to
his disciples the big transition. He states it
fairly clearly in verse 33 of this chapter. When
he calls them little children, he says, little
children. I am with you a little while longer.
You shall seek me. And as I said to the Jews,
I say to you now also, where I am going, you
cannot come." I'm not saying that, by the way,
about California. I just want to understand that.
You're welcome to come and visit us. But of course,
Jesus' comment was a particular... comment to
his beloved disciples, and he is saying to them,
I'm going away. And you cannot come right now
where I'm going. And that statement kicks off
a whole series of exchanges between himself and
his disciples, because they realize now for sure
that change was in the air. The big transition
was about to happen. And so Jesus prepared his
disciples for his leaving by giving them some
reminders. It is these reminders I would like
for us to think about today. And obviously, I'm
not going to preach everything that's in John
13 through 17. But we are going to look at this
body of scripture, this very significant collection
of words and statements and conversations, and
pull from here. The reminders that Jesus gave
to his disciples as he was about to leave them.
First of all, Jesus wanted them to be reminded
that some things never change. Some things never
change. One of those things was his love for
them. He mentioned that, or at least John mentioned
it already in verse 1, when it says he loved
them to the uttermost. But look here at verse
34. a new commandment I give to you, that you
love one another, even as I have loved you, that
you also love one another. By this shall all
men know that you are my disciples if you have
love for one another." Jesus wanted his men to
know that though he was leaving them, it did
not mean that he ceased loving them. His love
would continue. and he wanted them to emulate
his love to one another. I want you to know that
as we leave Grace Church, Roseville, our love
for you also is unchanging. We have loved you.
We do love you. And we will continue loving you,
although we will live elsewhere. A piece of our
lives, you see. is here, invested here. For the
good or the ill, it's here. A piece of our hearts
resides here in Grace Church, Roseville. We will
always be interested in knowing what God continues
to do here. We will always want to know about
your continued welfare and the things of God
and how you are progressing in your vision. for
serving God and your love for God, because we
continue to love you too. Jesus wanted His disciples
also to know that His example for them and to
them would never change. On this evening, Jesus
did something very special, as you know. The
first part of this chapter tells us about how
He washed the disciples' feet. He put around
himself the towel of a servant. And when he,
though he was the host of this meal, had gathered
them together, he took the place of the one who
would normally wash their feet for this time
of eating dinner together. And it says in verse
15, Jesus' words. Well, let's back up, verse
14. He says, if I then the Lord and the teacher
washed your feet, You also ought to wash one
another's feet For I gave you an example that
you should also do as I did to you Now there
are some denominations that take this so strongly
that they include as one of the ordinances the
washing of feet They have communion and baptism
and the washing of feet because of what Jesus
says here My own conviction about this is that
Jesus was not putting in place an ordinance But
he was saying to his followers look I have lived
an example before you and tonight. I've culminated
it Being a servant to you washing your feet Now
that example remains It is there for you to follow
in the years ahead to serve one another To lovingly
serve one another with humility My example to
you also continues. That doesn't change. I wish
that I could say my example were always good.
I know that's not the case. There have been times
when I have failed. One of the things that delights
me though about leaving a church and then experiencing
a time break is that people tend to forget your
failures. So I'm excited about that. And I encourage
you along those lines, forget my failures, which
are many. But in whatever way, God has allowed
me to live out an example of Christ to you. I
hope that will remain. That you will keep it
before you in the years ahead. And that you will
deeply desire to serve one another in love, as
our Lord gave us His own example. Some things
never change. Jesus' love for them would not
change. His example would not change. It was
established. It was set for them. Thirdly, His
prayer for them would not change. To see this,
we go to chapter 17, which is the Lord's Prayer,
as you know, the real Lord's Prayer. Here, Jesus
offers up intercession for His own. Just ever
so briefly, notice that He prays in verse 11.
Holy Father, keep them in Thy name. That is,
guard them. Keep them in Thy name. He says in
verse 12, while I was with them, I was keeping
them in Thy name. But now He says to the Father,
you keep them. I'm leaving them. Father, you
keep them. You guard them. In verse 17, Jesus
prays, sanctify them. Sanctify them in the truth.
Thy word is truth. That is, set them apart, Father,
for your holy and good purposes. In verse 21,
he prays, that they all may be one, even as thou,
Father, art in me and I in thee, that they also
may be in us, that the world may believe that
thou didst send me. So here Jesus prays, Father,
unify them. Bring them together as one. Just
as you and I, Father, are one, so may they experience
oneness. And out of that unity, let the world
know that I came from you. And then in verse
24, we have a fourth petition of our Lord. By
the way, he's praying this not only for them,
but for us. He says in verse 24, Father, I desire
that they also whom thou hast given me be with
me. Where I am in order that they may behold
my glory That thou has given me And so Jesus
prays that we all may one day be with him in
glory now question Will the father ever deny?
his perfect son a request Absolutely, not everything
that Jesus prays for here will ultimately be
fulfilled And the Lord Jesus, as you know, made
the big transition, went back to heaven. And
now today is in that role as being our high priest.
So he literally continues to pray for us along
these same lines before the Father all the time.
You see, some things never change. And one of
the things that will never change is the fact
that you will be in our prayers. You will be
in our hearts as we go before God, our Father.
And we will be praying for you. And we ask for
your prayers as we enter into this transition
and move our family and go through all that that
means. And many of you, all of you really know
what is entailed in that. And as then we get
established in a new setting of ministry, we
dearly need your prayers and ask you for them.
We might pray for one another. And in that way,
we share yet in ministry, don't we? Jesus wanted
his disciples to know that the big transition
was coming. He's going away. But there are some
things that never change. But Jesus also wanted
them to know that night that some things must
change. Some things must change. In chapter 14,
as we number the text, verses 12 through 14,
he says, truly, truly, I say to you, which is
a way of saying, listen to what I'm about to
say. What I'm about to say is really, really
important. He who believes in me the works that
I do shall he do also and Greater works than
these shall he do because I go to the father
And whatever you ask in my name that will I do?
That the father may be glorified in the Sun If
you ask me anything in my name, I will do it
wonderful prayer promises Jesus says here I must
go away because something needs to change. He
says, I need to go away so that you then can
pray in my name. When I go away, I'm going to
authorize you to use my name in prayer. And so
when you pray, however many of you there are,
be there 12 or there be 12 million in the world.
As you pray through me, through my name, I will
work. And so because of the scope of what you
will do in the years ahead, men, you will do
greater works than I've done. Because I will
not just be working through me and my human body.
He is saying, I am going to be working through
you in answered prayer. And so some things must
change. In order for the gospel to be declared
to the whole world, Jesus said, I have to go
away. This has to change so that I can do greater
works through you. Secondly, Jesus says that
he must leave them physically. Chapter 16, verse
7, for a very particular reason. Chapter 16,
verse 7. But I tell you the truth. It is to your
advantage. that I go away. For if I do not go
away, the helper shall not come to you. But if
I go, I will send him to you." Now we know he's
talking about the Holy Spirit. Jesus says, this
must change. I need to go away. Because in going
away, that will allow me to send the Holy Spirit
to live in each one of you. And if I don't go
away, he can't come. So this must change. It's
for your advantage, so that the spirit can come.
Some things must change in transition. And there
are some things that need to change in our transition.
For example, it means that I will not be able
to do funerals and weddings and share in those
kinds of special occasions with you. It doesn't
mean that somebody won't be here to do them,
because there will be. But it is not wise for
a pastor who's departed to come back and to do
those kinds of things. It is important for you
as a body of people to focus on your new pastor.
that God will bring and to allow Him the privilege
of ministering to you in those very wonderful
and personal family kinds of way. And so that's
one change that must take place in the transition.
As difficult frankly as it will be for me and
maybe as difficult as it would be for you because
you would like to have us here, that must change.
Likewise, I'm not going to be involved in the
search process. Do I care about the next pastor
who comes? You bet I do. Or in good Minnesota
language, you betcha. I do. I don't want an oofduck
down the road. Nor do you. I do care. But again,
it's unwise for a former pastor to get involved
in those kinds of things. Please honor me in
this and don't call and say well What do you
think about this or how about that because that
really puts me in a very difficult position?
And I wouldn't want to offend you, but I won't
answer those kinds of questions because I cannot
get involved in the Process that must take place
here for your good for your advantage And so
there are some things that must change Jesus
wanted his disciples to know that too And then
Jesus wanted his disciples to know that there
are some things that accompany change. There
are some things that never change. There are
some things that must change. But there are some
things also that accompany change. For example,
normal human emotions. They accompany change.
We are human beings who have emotions. God made
us that way. And so when you hear the news that
the pastor is leaving, going to another church,
there's a whole range of emotions possible. There
are probably some who are surprised that another
church would ever want me. There are probably
some of you who are joyous and say, thank God,
you know, for whatever reason. But I recognize
that broadly in the church there is the emotion
of grief. In fact, as I've done some research
in this whole matter, I've found that grief is
the number one emotion that churches feel when
there is this kind of transition. Because you're
losing someone, as we are losing some ones, there
is grief involved in this. And grief has a number
of stages. There's the shock stage, which some
of you still may be in. There is the anger stage,
which I hope none of you are in. But I recognize
that that's a reality. There is the stage when
you try to bargain, say, well, now, what can
we do? Something should change. Can we do anything
about it? No, you can't. But you go through those
feelings. What can we do? And then there's depression
sometimes that sets in. And then finally there's
acceptance and you go on. Now that kind of a
cycle takes place whether it's the loss of a
loved one or the loss of a job or the loss of
a senior pastor. That's just part of grieving.
We go through that kind of a cycle. The second
most common reaction when a pastor leaves is
that of fear. Tim transparently mentioned that
this morning in the time when he shared with
you. Fear is normal. People are afraid of what
may take place or may not take place, of the
uncertainty of everything. And it's interesting
as you look through these chapters of John, you
see those same kinds of emotions coming out from
Peter and Thomas and Philip and Judas, not Ascariot,
who all interacted with Jesus, and they're named
here, and their human emotions are coming out
as Jesus tells them that he's leaving. So that's
why I say that Jesus is showing all of us here
in this text that there are some things that
accompany change, and one of them are the normal
human emotions that all of us have. But I hope
that there will come a point today, tomorrow,
next month, whenever God brings you there, that
you will see this change as positive. Please.
Don't feel that if you begin to see this change
as positive, somehow that's a mark against me.
That somehow you have dishonored me because that
is not the case. In fact, one of the finest things
you could do to honor me is to allow God to bring
you to that place where you see this change as
really a good thing for us as well as for you.
Because I have never sought to build this church
on me. I have labored to build this church upon
the Lord Jesus. And He is remaining with you.
And it's important for you to see that He is
in this change, and He is not in it for your
ill. He is in it for your good. Now your emotions
may take a while to catch up to that as I say,
but please. Let God bring you there. In his time,
in your time, let God bring you to that point.
Normal human emotions accompany change, but also
ongoing responsibilities accompany change. For
the apostles, it meant taking the leadership
of the church that was just forming here. The
apostles are here being positioned by Jesus.
so that once he has gone back to the Father,
once this big transition has been made, they
would be able to carry on the work he was committing
to them. It is important for you to understand
that in this time of change, responsibilities
go on. I want to beg of you, to beseech you in
the name of Christ, that you not forsake your
commitments to Grace Church Roosevelt. that you
not turn away from being a supporter and encourager
of this ministry. Because this is the work of
the Lord. This work must go on for His glory.
And your commitment, your continuing commitment,
the fulfilling of your ongoing responsibilities
is just vital to that. In a way, What you're
about to experience will be a trial, a trial
that will become the measurement of your and
this church's spiritual maturity. Really, it's
going to be a measurement. The tape measure is
going to get out now and God's going to see just
how mature this church really is, how mature
you really are in the way that we go on from
here. And so I urge you to... Continue with the
ongoing responsibilities that you've accepted.
And if you've not gotten plugged in and not gotten
involved, this is the time to do it. There's
the human tendency to say, well, now I think
I'll just wait and see who the guy is that comes
in next. Wrong response. This is the time to
say, this church is God's work. It needs me.
God needs me. God has a place for me here. And
to find out what you need to do to get involved.
I'll tell you what else goes on, a new community.
A new community was going to be born out of this
transition. Jesus gives the highest value of
all to this community. He says, love one another.
It is the powerful bonding agent. Notice in verse
17 of chapter 15, where it says just succinctly,
this I command you, that you love one another.
This now would be an opportunity for the disciples
to stop the bickering that sometimes went on,
as you know, as they kind of jostled for place
and acted like all of us. This was now an opportunity
for them to pull together and to lay aside who
was going to be the greatest in the kingdom and
who was going to sit next to the Lord on the
throne and so on. Those are unimportant issues.
They were to love one another. They were to come
together as a new community with this powerful
bonding agent of love. And so that is important
in the upcoming change. This needs to accompany
the transition in the coming months, that you
really pull together and love one another, love
one another, serve one another. Something else
that accompanies transition that Jesus points
out is problems Verse 18 goes right on to say
if the world hates you You know that it hated
me before it hated you He just said you love
one another if the world hates you You see how
he does that? Because you see in the midst of
this loving community there's going to be problems
the world is going to hate you persecution He
says is going to come from the world And you
can expect that there will be challenges to your
love. There may be people in other churches who
will say things that you won't like. There may
be things that you will hear within this church
that you don't appreciate people saying. Or things
may be done that you will understand. Listen,
in those kinds of times, just remember, Jesus
told us that in this new community He's forming,
there are going to be problems. They'll come
from the outside. They'll come from the inside.
Even this very night, Judas went out, as you
know. So when change comes, expect that there
will be problems. Don't let them surprise you.
But we have a wonderful word from our Lord. There's
something else that accompanies change in verse
33 of chapter 16. He says, I've spoken these
things to you, that in me you may have peace.
In the world, you will have tribulation. but
take courage, I have overcome the world." And
so here's what else accompanies transition, the
peace of Christ, if you let it. You can experience
the peace of God despite the problems and the
pressures, despite the human emotions that erupt
from time to time. Jesus says, I give you my
peace. And in this upcoming transition, you can
experience the peace of God. That peace of God
doesn't mean that there won't be any problems.
It simply means that you will have the abiding
assurance that God is in control. And so that
whatever you hear, whatever you experience, whatever
you feel, you can just stop and look up to the
Lord and say, Lord, you're still in the throne.
I trust you. And his peace will just flood your
hearts. There are other things that accompany
change, but let me stop at that point and just
say this as kind of a summation. A change and
transition are a part of life, a natural part
of it. And change is a natural development in
the relationship between a church and its pastor.
Although I have been here more than 18 years,
and am not only a long -term pastor, but one
of those formidable animals called a founding
pastor. And I've been here longer than anybody
else just because of that. And so therefore,
some people think change doesn't ever take place.
You need to understand this is normal. This is
normal. All churches go through this. I was talking
to someone this morning, said, well, I was in
First Baptist with Dr. W .B. Riley, and he was
there till he died. But he did die. There are
probably two or three people down there that
haven't discovered that yet, but he did die.
Change happens. Change is real. It's a part of
life. There are transitions and you and I have
the choice in the midst of the transition To
either get all nervous and anxious Or just to
sit back on the promises of God and say Lord
I'm trusting you Lord I'm hurting Lord I have
uncertainties Lord I don't like what's happening.
It doesn't feel good to me I don't know what
the future holds, but Lord, I am trusting you.
And that's where I want to leave us this morning.
I have some more things to say over the next
three weeks. I hope you'll come and listen, but
just for this morning, let's stop at this point
and recommit ourselves and say, Lord, I'm trusting
you. I'm trusting you in the big transition ahead.
Let's pray together. Lord, I pray that today,
as all of us stand on the verge of change, and
as we anticipate what the future may hold, that
you will keep reminding us that there are some
things that accompany change. It's inevitable.
And there are some things that must change, but
there are some things that never change. And
overarching all of that is yourself. You do not
change. And with the coming and the going of
your shepherds, as well as your sheep, you remain.
And so today we say to you as a congregation,
we trust you. We trust you in this change. And
we commit ourselves to it. with gladness of heart,
though perhaps with a tear in the eye, nonetheless,
a gladness of heart that you are at work. And
we pray that you will keep working in us and
through us until that day that we all experience
the big transition when we're brought home to
glory. In Christ's name I pray, amen.