Have you ever flown in an airplane and got a seat in the “exit row”?There’s more space in front of you, so it’s comfortable.Great leg room.But with privilege comes responsibility.The flight attendant comes up, kneels by your aisle seat and says, “Have you read the instruction card that tells you how to open the door in the case of emergency?I need a verbal answer.”You fudge the truth a bit and say “yes” when the truthful answer is “no.”I mean, does it take a rocket scientist to know that you simply swivel the handle and push the door out and to the side?So you tell her: “Yes, I’ve read the card.”But she’s smart.She says, “If an emergency happens, I’ll be depending on you to open that door.Dozens of other people will also be relying on you, too.So are you sure you know what’s on that card?”Suddenly, she has your attention.

After studying our text today, it occurred to me that this was like the way Jesus dealt with his disciples.For three years, He had been teaching them about the Kingdom of God, and the mission they would have to spread the good news about Him.And they had been nodding their heads yes and saying that they understood.And Jesus was smiling and saying, “Yes, I’ve told you all that you need to know, but just in case, I will be sending the Holy Spirit to tell you again and remind you of everything I have taught you – so you know what to tell others.Millions of other people will be relying on you – so it is very important for you to know what’s on the card!”

It also occurred to me that we aren’t much different today.We listen to a sermon, go to a Bible study, hear a great message from the Bible, but are we listening?Have we read the card?Will we know how to “open the door” if something in life goes wrong?Too often it seems that the church crowd nods their heads – “Yes, I’ve read the card” – but blow the test when crunch time comes.A relationship turns sour; health breaks; a job is lost; an ugly thing happens, and we panic, blame God, get mad, or leave.And in the middle of the chaos, with people lined up behind us, we cry out, “How do you get this door open?”And I can just hear that flight attendant calling out, “Read the Card, Blockhead!”…I really do read those cards now.

The late advice columnist Ann Landers used to receive almost 10,000 letters a month. When asked what seems to be the most common topic, she answered that most people seem to be afraid of something. They are afraid of losing their health, their job, or their family. They are afraid of upsetting their neighbor, alienating a friend, or committing a social faux pas. Many are even afraid when there is no reason to be afraid. Ours is a world of fearful people, isn’t it?So Jesus says, Read the Card!Listen to Him!

God’s Word, the message Jesus taught us, brings faith in Jesus.That message is what the Holy Spirit works through to lead you to trust Jesus and strengthen your trust in Him.The Holy Spirit connects you with Jesus through the Word, Jesus has connected you with God through his work here on earth, and because of that, God loves you and lives in your heart!Then, that faith in your heart brings forth “fruits of faith” – loving God and loving other people.And so, God and his Son make their dwelling in your heart when you trust in Jesus as your Savior!

Jesus told his disciples all about this plan in person.But after He would ascend and return to his Father in Heaven, He would continue speaking to them.But now, it would be through the third person of the Trinity – the Holy Spirit.He would send them the Holy Spirit in a very special way on Pentecost Day – to equip these men for their special mission of starting the church.The Holy Spirit would give them the gifts they needed to get people’s attention and preach the important message they needed to hear.He would equip them to be able to open that “exit door” for people!He would also remind them of all the exact words Jesus spoke so they could record those for people who would come later –you and me!

And so, the Holy Spirit is still reminding us of Jesus’ Words – of everything we need to know – right here in the Bible.This is the Holy Spirit speaking Jesus’ words.Listen to it!Read the Card!Study it! Our hearts are troubled.They are afraid.We need to know that someone is helping us.Our hearts need the assurance Jesus has given us the help we need!We need to know God is there – we need to hear the Holy Spirit’s comforting voice.

A little girl was taking her first train ride with her parents. That night, the mother lifted the girl, who was clearly quite anxious, onto the upper bunk of the sleeper. She told her that God would watch over her.As silence enveloped the young lady, she became afraid and called softly, "Mommy, are you there?" "Yes dear," came the response. A little later, in a louder voice, the child called, "Daddy, are you there, too?" "Yes dear," was the reply. After this had been repeated several times, one of the passengers sharing their sleeper car finally lost his patience and shouted loudly, "Yes, we're all here, your father, your mother, your brother, and all your aunts and cousins; now settle down and go to sleep!" There was a moment of silence and then, in hushed tones a little voice asked, "Mommy, was that God?"

You may be someone who never had many doubts about God's presence in your life. You might be someone who has always felt comfort from God. If you are one of these people you are one of few, for most people fear. They fear the darkness, they fear the day, they fear people, the law, family, friends, enemies, life, and death. You name it. Fear is all around us. So Jesus made it clear to his disciples that He wanted them to have peace and that He would leave that peace with them.He said: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.I do not give to you as the world gives.Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Jesus was preparing his disciples for tough times. He was about to ascend to the Father and they would be on their own. And yet, they would not be alone. For He would be with them in the presence of the Comforter, the Counselor, the Holy Spirit.

In 1520 Ferdinand Magellan battled for an entire year to find a passage around South America. At the tip of the continent, in its icy waters he encountered some of the worst weather on earth. Raging seas, towering ice floes, and a mutinous crew plagued his efforts. When he finally made his way through those straits (today – Straits of Magellan), he entered a great body of water that lay beyond, and as he and his men gave thanks to God, he named the new ocean "The Peaceful One - the Pacific Ocean." In our text, Jesus desires to lead us in the same way to a place of peace. It is his hope to direct our lives from the paths that would lead to hell to his place of peace. "Let not your hearts be troubled," He says, “neither let them be afraid."

Jesus’ peace is different than the world’s peace.The world’s peace consists of empty words with no lasting value.It often becomes an illusion – a vanishing dream.Jesus’ peace is different.You see, you are at war with God.Oh, I know you are a good person.You come to church, help out here, are kind to people, have a good family at home, and are a helpful neighbor.You give God a decent offering.Your language is clean.Your temper is under control.You have a good standing in your community.

But inside, you are raging a war against God!You secretly want more than you have.Worship on Sunday is often an afterthought.You don’t always look forward to studying his Word.You compromise what you know you should do.You have awful thoughts about people you meet or things you see on TV.You think more about yourself than people around you or the One who created you.You harbor resentment.Deep down, you don’t really forgive others for certain things.You gossip.Spread rumors.Tell lies.Do you realize that your life and mine are an all-out assault on a Holy God?We are waging war against Him.Now, who do you think is going to win?And what do you think He does with prisoners?How should He treat you for the way you have acted?You want to find out?Is your heart trembling in fear?It should be.

But the truth is, you will never find out.Because of Jesus Christ.He stepped in front of you in the firing line.He took the deserved punishment that should have been given to you and me.He took the wrath of his heavenly Father by being separated from Him and dying on the cross.And by doing that, He has made real peace between God and us!The war is over!God is no longer angry with you!Don’t let your hearts be troubled or afraid!Look at God’s face.He’s smiling at you!And your joy can be complete, because just as sure as Jesus ascended visibly into heaven, He is going to return the same way to take us to our home with God in heaven!

One of the best comic strips of all time is Calvin and Hobbes. Early one morning, Calvin comes marching into the living room. His mother is seated there, sipping her morning coffee. She looks up at young Calvin. She is amused and amazed at how he is dressed. Calvin's head is encased in a large space helmet. A cape is draped around his neck, across his shoulders, down his back and is dragging on the floor. One hand is holding a flashlight and the other a baseball bat. "What's up today?" asks his mom. "Nothing, so far," answers Calvin. "So far?" she questions. "Well, you never know," Calvin says, "Something could happen today." Then Calvin marches off, "And if anything does, by golly, I'm going to be ready for it!" Calvin's mom looks out at the reading audience and she says, "I need a suit like that!"

That's the way many of us feel as we see the news and deal with life. Sometimes this world seems quite violent and people seem to be at each other's throats. A suit like that would help, so we could say with Calvin, "Whatever may come my way, I'm going to be ready for it! Bring it on!" Well, I don't have a suit like Calvin's to give you this morning, but I do have a word for you this morning: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Jesus made peace between you and God.He died for you.He rose for you.He ascended into heaven – which guarantees that He came from heaven and will come back.In the meantime, He and the Father will make their home in your heart.The Holy Spirit will daily remind you of the peace Jesus made for you as He speaks to you through God’s Word.And so, that peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, will be yours forever, make your joy complete, and be something you can be absolutely sure about. It will remove the fear from your hearts and lives.You are sitting on an airplane.In your hand, you hold the card that gives you this peace, the card that shows you the guaranteed path to salvation and freedom from fear.Not only will you be saved through that “card,” but so will many others sitting behind you.The airplane is about to take off.Your seatbelt is buckled.So, have you read the card?I need a verbal answer.Amen.

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