Promises, Promises: Jesus' Commencement Address

May 22, 2011 by Alyce McKenzie

Continued from Page 2

Jesus' Commencement Address holds out the promise of a God who doesn't just wave from the porch and wish us luck, but who lives and works in our hearts and in our homes. My friend Gayle, a United Methodist pastor in the Dallas area, has a teenaged nephew named Luke. When he was a little boy, he had a lot of questions about God. He decided to write his questions down and give them to God. So he would write one at a time on a small piece of paper, ready to hand over to God. "Where should I leave the note?" he asked his mother. "On the porch, or is God too big to come inside?"

"Let's ask Aunt Gayle," said his mother. "She's a pastor. She'll know." When they called her, Aunt Gayle said, "Put it on the coffee table in the family room. God is not too big to come into the house."

Commencement speeches often keep at a distance from listeners, waving from the porch as the graduates drive away into their futures. "Good luck! Stay in touch! We hope you turn out well! " But Jesus' commencement speech shows us that God is not too big to come in the house of our fears, our dreams, our futures. God is not too big to help us struggle with the enigmas and tragedies of life. God sends the Spirit to support our godly goals and to calm our troubled souls. Jesus' commencement address is my personal favorite of all the speeches I've ever heard. Because it not only promises, it delivers.

Sources Consulted:

Raymond E. Brown, The Anchor Bible Commentary on the Gospel of John XIII-XXI (New York: Doubleday and Company, 1970).

Page: 3 of 3

5/22/2011 4:00:00 AM

Mainline Protestant

Preachers

Edgy Exegesis

Holy Spirit

Mainline Protestantism

Preaching Resources

Sacred Texts

Christianity

more at patheos

The Bible Was Never Banned: America Just Forgot Its History

Feyi Obamehinti

Now is your chance to attend Wild Goose Festival

Jim Meisner Jr.

Continuing to Pray for Her

Jared Ingle

UnitedHealthcare CEO Shooting: Court Update Today

Dennis McIntyre

About Alyce McKenzie

Alyce M. McKenzie is the George W. and Nell Ayers Le Van Professor of Preaching and Worship at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University.

Patheos Logo Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Subscription Support Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In

Follow Patheos