Giving and Taking          John 13 : 31 35               Easter 5c             May 5, 2007 

When a person knows they’re going to die soon, they often try to take care of any unfinished business. They want to see close family members and friends, make amends, and offer last minute advice regarding the future, and discuss what life will be like once they’re gone with those they love. It’s serious business of course. And it’s a blessing when we have the opportunity to bring closure at the end our lives for those we love.

In our gospel reading we have just a snippet of a much longer discourse that stretches from Chapter 13 through 17. At this last supper, Jesus said to his disciples: "I am with you only a little longer." Jesus knew that in a short time he would be separated from his friends, arrested, tried and crucified. At this last supper in the other gospels, Jesus instituted Holy Communion for the forgiveness of sin.

Here in John’s gospel he showed his love to the disciples by washing their feet. He said that he was no longer just their teacher, but his friends. He gave final instructions and a new commandment, Love one another as I have loved you.

During this supper, at the beginning of the 13th chapter of John, Judas had dipped the bread into the wine, and left the room. Now this brings up an important point about the extent of God’s grace and the forgiveness of sin we receive in Holy Communion. Jesus offered it even to Judas, who he knew full well was about to betray him to the authorities. Immediately after that, Judas realized the grave sin he had committed, and hung himself.

Yet Jesus forgave Judas while he was in the act of going out to commit the worst possible sin against him and against himself. This shows us God’s unlimited love grace and forgiveness. As the song goes, there’s a wideness in God’s mercy that is broader than the sea!

Secondly, as near as we can tell from the four gospel accounts, Jesus life on earth was but a short span of three years, perhaps as little as one year, depending on which gospel we follow. And he lived but 33 years as best we can determine. The second message from this is simply, life is short, and time is the greatest gift of all. The point is, make the most of the time God gives us! Jesus wants them to hear what he has to say. Those who have suffered a serious illness or has lost someone close to them knows only too well how short life can be.

As a pastor, I have had the privilege of hearing folks give their last testimonies. Many say they always hoped there would be more time. They regret that they were too stubborn and let their egos get in the way. Others have a sense of peace and well being. They tell me that they give thanks to God. So, the question is, how do we make the most of the life that God has given us?

Unfortunately, there are many answers you’ll hear out in the world. Until recently, “Just do it” was a slogan used to advertise Nike shoes. Others like "live life to the fullest"; to "reach for the golden ring" also come to mind. A Beer company once had a slogan, “Go for the gusto!” These sayings focus on what we should take from the world. What we take from the world we will lose in our death. But what we give to God and our neighbor we will keep for eternity.

Jesus said no less than 13 times throughout the gospels that those who try to save their lives will lose it, but whoever loses their life, whoever gives it away in love, will keep it for all eternity. Jesus love was so deep, he never counted the cost of giving his live to and for us what he went to the cross.

In sermon preparation this week, I ran across a wonderful old fable titled "The Dance of the Heart," told by Glenn E. Ludwig. It story goes, Once upon an ancient time in a distant land lived a king and a queen who had a son and a daughter. The two children fought like brother and sisters often do. They fought and nagged each other in ugly ways that upset their parents.

They often argued about who would get the royal inheritance and rule over the other as king or queen. "Maybe we are spoiling them," said their queen mother. "They don’t know how to love one another. They are mostly concerned only for themselves." "This is not a good quality for the future king or queen, or for the nation" said their king father.

The king and queen discussed how to prepare their children to inherit the kingdom. When the children were old about 18 years old, the emperor and the empress called them to the throne room. "Our gift to you is a wheat field ready for sowing," they said. "How you handle the harvest will tell us if you are ready to take your rightful place as king and queen of the kingdom."

The children weren't sure if they understood their parents' wishes, but they did understand farming, and set off, delighted, to plant and tend the field. They worked very hard together, which wasn't always easy. When their first harvest came in, they were proud indeed. "See the wheat we have grown with our own hands! Let us build a storage place for the grain. Then we will have some for now and some for later. Perhaps this is the lesson we are to learn."

So they set about to build a barn in which to store their harvest. One day the king and queen came to visit. "Mother and Father," said the young prince, "see the wheat we have grown and how much we have saved for the winter!" "Very good, my children," said the king. "Your minds are certainly working. Your hearts, however, are still sleeping. We will come to visit you again next year."

Once again the children plowed and planted, and again they had a good harvest. When they gathered their grain, they said, "Let us put some away and trade the rest for presents for our parents." They took their grain to market and sold it, and bought home huge boxes and bags of gifts they bought at the marketplace. "Now," they said, "We’ll give our parents gifts for all their kindness."

The parents came for their annual visit and once again inspected the work of their children. They received their gifts and thanked the prince and princess warmly. "My children," said the mother, "your hearts are no longer sleeping. Your hearts have learned to walk; now, you must let them dance. We will come again next year."

When harvest time came, the children were puzzled, and a little miffed at their queen mothers response. What did she expect them to do with this year's harvest? They decided once again to save some of the crop and to take the rest to the market place. "This time let us not be in such a hurry," the young prince suggested. And so they set out.

Along the road they met a mother and two bouncing children carrying their grain to market on a windy day. Just as the prince and princess went by, children tripped their mother and all three fell down. The grain in the woman's basket tipped over and the wind blew most of it away. The children stood up, and looked at their mother, who did not get up. She laid face down on the road.

The price and princess turned around to help them. "Here," said the young princess, “Let me help you." But the woman said, "It is no use. That grain was all that I had, and now it has all blown away. Now my children will be hungry when winter comes." The small children tried to comfort their mother. "It's all right. The birds will eat the grain. They are hungry, too.”

What the children said made their hearts dance. The price said to the princess, “Those children lost everything, but they counted it as a generous gift to the birds.” Yes what they did made my heart skip a beat, even dance, like mother said during her last visit.

Suddenly, the prince and princess saw with new eyes. They both said, "We will share our grain with you!" They hurried to fill the woman’s basket with grain, twice as much as she had before. The family was so happy, as they skipped and danced down the road.

After the family had gone, the young prince said, "Now my heart has skipped a beat!” And off they went to market with the rest of their grain.

To their surprise, they saw many people in the marketplace in need of one thing or another. They gave a little grain here or and a little act of kindness somewhere else. Each time they gave, their sense of joy increased. At the end of the day, their hearts were full of joy and peace.

When the emperor and empress saw how the young prince and princess had begun to share their gifts with all who lived in the kingdom, they allowed them to rule with them. The children never forgot the lesson they learned. The prince and princess were great rulers for many years together. Here’s the lesson for us. Jesus is our king and savior. He taught us to love, and he gave his life for us. He wants us to inherit his kingdom, and to rule with his peace and justice. Let us love one another as he has loved us, and give as he gave to us. Then we will have our peace and joy knowing that the heavenly Zion will come down to us, and Jesus is with us today and forever. Amen