Sermons from Grace/Bethel: Recent Episodes
Mark Haefner
Weekly audio recordings of sermons presented at Grace Lutheran and Bethel Lutheran churches Seward and York NE. Mark A. Haefner, Pastor
Gratitude is the appreciation we feel when someone does something kind to us or for us. Two factors affect the intensity of gratitude. First, there is the deservedness factor. Say you do a favor for your neighbor. A month later, your neighbor does a favor for you. You are grateful, but not overwhelmingly so, because you deserved his help to some degree. However, if you have been an unkind or selfish neighbor, and yet your neighbor provides help when you are in need, you are extremely grateful precisely because you know you are undeserving. Second, there is the generosity factor. Imagine you pick up the mail for your neighbor for the three days he is out of town. When he gets back, he gives you a hundred-dollar bill. You might protest, “This is too generous!” He insists, and so you are very grateful. Apply this to God. Deservedness. How deserving are we of his blessing? What does God owe us? Generosity. What has God done for us? What blessings has he given us now? What blessings has he promised us in eternity? As we answer those questions, we are stunned by the undeserved generosity our God has shown us. The effect? We overflow with gratitude.
As someone rises through the ranks at work, there are typical benefits: higher salary, more authority, and better benefits. However, there is often a corresponding increase in responsibility: longer hours, more meetings, and raised expectations. So, if someone is offered a promotion, they might ask, “Is this worth it?” It is similar in God’s kingdom. As our faith grows, there are obvious benefits: the comfort of knowing you are a redeemed and loved child of God, the peace of knowing your eternity is secure. However, increased faith also increases duty. There are ever more opportunities for service. This week, Jesus has sharp words for those who want the benefits of being Christian but would shirk those responsibilities. However, to lead us to take up those responsibilities, our Savior doesn’t threaten or cajole. He helps us see that while increased faith increases duty, increased duty increases delight. The believer knows he serves the One who came to serve us first. Just as Christ’s service brought him great joy, so does our service to others.
What do John D Rockefeller, King Solomon, Henry Ford, and Joseph Stalin all have in common? Two things. First, they are all in the list of the twenty wealthiest individuals who have ever lived. Second, they are all rotting in the ground. The reality is that while money may help you achieve some objectives, it fails to prevent death. So Jesus speaks some sharp words this week, warning that those who live with hearts filled with love for money and void of love for God will receive the only eternity that money can buy— one void of God and filled with torment. Money seems helpful, but it fails in death. Conversely, what often seems of little help in this life will be our only source of help in death. The world scoffs at those who set aside plenteous time to listen to Jesus’ words and eat his holy meal. “Of what practical good are such things?” Only this. Such things enable us, at death, to receive a reward that dwarfs even the best things money can buy.
There are more than 2,300 Bible passages that speak about money. Why? Money is a master Satan frequently tempts us to serve. In fact, out of all the masters competing for our service besides God, money is probably at the top of the list. Money provides us with a false comfort and sense of security. Money serves as a source of pride. This week, Jesus’ sharp words identify the impossibility of serving more than one master. More, Jesus teaches that if we dedicate our lives in service to money, money will always let us down. In contrast, God has proven that he is a master worth serving. When we serve God, money is put in its proper place. Instead of it being a master to serve, it becomes a tool in our service of our true Master.
“He’s lost.” We use that term not only to refer to someone who is bewildered about where they are but also to refer to someone who is in a helpless, hopeless state. Mankind’s natural state is one of complete spiritual helplessness, a profound lostness. It manifests itself in countless ways. The one who simply wants God to leave him alone: lost. The one who feels she can handle life on her own: lost. The one who thinks he has the right to repent of his sins on his own timetable and terms: lost. The one who thinks God owes her in some way: lost. Wandering around physically lost can lead to winding up in bad places. Jesus’ wounding words this week teach that wandering around spiritually lost puts you in the worst place of all. Fortunately, Jesus does not leave us in our lostness. He relentlessly seeks us. He involves the rest of the Christian community in seeking the lost and rejoicing over the found.
This week, Jesus’ sharp words expose our desire to pursue comfort and avoid pain at all costs. Jesus explains that following him will be hard. Jesus’ disciples will be called to let go of things they love and embrace things we naturally loathe. Jesus promises that discipleship comes with crosses—a unique type of pain. So, Jesus tells us that we must count the cost of following him. He wants us to do that now, ahead of time, rather than waiting until we are in the heat of the moment and emotions are running high. However, our calculations must not only consider what we might give up for Jesus. They also entail calculating what we get through him! When we perceive the infinite blessings we find in Christ, the decisions we make, while difficult, will be clear. Whatever is lost as we follow Jesus pales in comparison to what we gain.
Everyone knows that humility is a positive trait, and pride is a negative one. So, why bother talking about what we already know? Despite that knowledge, we still helplessly fall into the trap of pride. We all desire acclaim, recognition, and praise. Jesus’ sharp words this week teach us that seeking exaltation in futile and fleeing ways will only result in receiving the opposite. Those who attempt to exalt themselves will eventually be humbled by God. In contrast, Jesus promises that those who leave their exaltation to God will receive honor and glory far greater than any that can be awarded in this life. Our exaltation does not need to be our responsibility, because Jesus has already made it his.
When it comes to the uncomfortable topic of who goes to heaven and who goes to hell, it is natural to want to avoid the issue. One way we do that is to direct our attention to more theoretical questions. “What is heaven like?” “How old will we be there?” Today someone asks, “Lord, are only a few going to be saved?” Jesus brushes all such questions aside. Instead, he answers the question we should be asking. “How might I be saved?” Jesus explains there is only one way—entering through a very narrow door. Jesus’ words cut deep! For he teaches that it is very easy to develop a false sense of security about our standing before God based on some superficial familiarity we have with him. Jesus warns that many who think they are on the path to heaven will end up shut out. These wounding words of Jesus provide healing, pushing us toward that narrow door: faith in him.
We often divide humanity into groupings that are not really significant: this ethnic group versus that one, men versus women, wealthy versus poor. Yet, every ethnic group is under God’s law. That law equally convicts men and women of sin. Because of sin, both the wealthy and the poor will die. Only through faith in Christ is sin forgiven and the sting of death removed. God’s Word creates that saving faith, but not in everyone who hears it. Fallen mankind retains the awful power to reject the Word and God’s gift of faith. Therefore, God’s Word produces the only people distinction that matters—believers and unbelievers. We desire to live in peace with other people. But Jesus teaches, this side of heaven, that desire is a pipe dream. Those who embrace the gospel in faith will inevitably face hostility. Following Jesus will come at a price. Yet he promises that our perseverance will be rewarded.
Last week, Jesus warned us against overvaluing earthly wealth. This week, Jesus warns against undervaluing heavenly treasure. Last week, Jesus exposed the folly of greed. This week, Jesus exposes the folly of worry, even when faced with the prospect of having a seeming shortage of resources. This week might be the bigger challenge! When it seems we lack providence or protection for our daily lives, it can be hard to avoid worry. So, Jesus asks us to give our undivided attention to him, that he might take our worries away. Jesus points to creatures that do not labor or toil yet eat every day. Even more, Jesus points to our Father who promises to give us the heavenly treasures of his kingdom. Jesus assures us that our Father will provide any necessary earthly possessions as well. We can rest from our worries, confident that our loving Father knows all we need.
Money. Possessions. Perhaps more than anything else, those things have the power to turn our attention away from what is truly important. It is no surprise, therefore, that Jesus frequently teaches about wealth. Christ wants us to understand that it is our heavenly Father who provides us with those useful resources. However, we need to understand why our Father gives them: what they are useful for and what they are not. Those resources cannot give our lives on earth purpose or meaning. They cannot give us security for life after this earth. However, the blessings God provides can bring some joy to our lives. More importantly, our wealth is extremely useful in our efforts to serve God and others. This week, let us give our undivided attention to what Christ says about the useful resources our gracious Father provides to us.
In a sense, prayer comes naturally to us. We want, so we ask. We hurt, so we cry out. We are frustrated, so we vent. We are blessed, so we give thanks. Natural! What does not come naturally, however, is a proper understanding of the privilege of prayer. Prayer is a privilege, based entirely on the unique and unearned relationship we have with God, our Father. And the purpose of prayer is not to tell God what we want, but to claim that which God wants for us. Prayer provides the opportunity to bring our will into conformity with God’s will, not the other way around. This week, we give our undivided attention to what God says about this access we call prayer. Along with Jesus’ disciples, we say, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1).
Most would agree with Jesus’ teaching that “Few things are needed” (Luke 10:42). We understand that people often confuse their wants with needs. We may want many things, but in reality, we only need a few. So, we would agree with Jesus. “Few things are needed.” However, Jesus said more. “Few things are needed—or indeed only one.” Now we might object. There seems to be more than one true need. We need water, food, clothing, shelter, friendship, etc. Yet, what Jesus said is true. Because only one thing—the gospel—can create and sustain the faith that makes one God’s dear child and an heir of the everlasting kingdom. If you didn’t have water, you would die in a few days; without oxygen, in a few minutes. But without Jesus speaking to us through his Word, there is no hope for eternal life in heaven. We literally need the gospel more than water or oxygen. Let us listen to Jesus speak, giving Him our undivided attention.
We tend to think of distraction and focus as opposites. If someone is focused, they are not easily distracted by random events and encounters. If someone is focused, every decision about how to spend time and resources is calculated. Apart from Christ, that type of focus spells disaster for our neighbor. We may dismiss the needs of our neighbor, thinking, “If I spend time helping him, that will distract me from other things that need my attention.” This week, Jesus teaches us that he has set us free to live a life of such distraction. No matter the neighbor and no matter his need, we are free to give him our undivided attention, even if that seems senseless. Christ has set us free to bear any cost and go any distance to serve a neighbor as Christ himself would serve them.
In recent weeks, we learned that everyone who has seen the grace of God will, whenever the opportunity arises, serve as a witness for Christ. However, Scripture teaches that there is also a need for individuals for whom gospel proclamation is their full-time focus. There are many different terms for these workers: shepherds, pastors, teachers, ministers, missionaries, etc. These workers are called by God himself through the Church to proclaim law and gospel in some public capacity. Called workers carry out their calling, not because of what they might gain from the flock, but because of what the flock might gain from Jesus through public ministry. Jesus taught that there will always be a want for such workers. “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few” (Luke 10:2). So, this is a topic worthy of our undivided attention.
There is the type of fan who follows his team if they make the playoffs. Then there is the type of fan who, regardless of his team’s record, watches every game and knows the stats for every player. There are different types of followers: the half-hearted versus the committed. Jesus is uninterested in followers who pay attention to his Word and will only when their other pursuits provide the time. Jesus wants followers who are all in . . . who love him above all things . . . who would be willing to leave everything else behind if that were what it would take to be with him. We simply do not have it inside us to produce that level of commitment. But in the gospel, we see how Jesus went all in for our salvation. As we witness the way Jesus made our eternal happiness the focus of his undivided attention, the Spirit creates within us the very commitment that Christ seeks.
We tend to think of mission work as being “over there,” something done in a far-away place. It is good and right to support foreign mission work with our prayers and offerings. However, something is off if we allow our appreciation for “over there” mission work to take our eyes off the mission that is right before us. Here is the two-fold reality worthy of our undivided attention this week. First, if we have seen the grace of God, we will serve as witnesses for Christ. Second, we need not cross the ocean to share the gospel. We can simply cross the street. In our various callings—parent or grandparent or sibling, friend or neighbor or coworker—God will provide one opportunity after another to serve as the witnesses Jesus has made us to be. So, let us continue to pray for and support “over there” mission work. But let us also give our undivided attention to the mission that God has placed right before each of us.
At the top of the list of things worthy of our undivided attention: God. That does not mean that if we focus long and hard, we will understand all there is to know about God. That is impossible! For example, Scripture teaches that there is one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Our reason objects, “How can three be one?” So, God’s very existence is a mystery, far beyond our ability to comprehend, no matter how long we ponder it. Yet, while we cannot understand everything about our God, he is still worthy of our undivided attention. For there is plenty about God’s majesty that we can understand. We can understand that God provides for us as a loving Father. We can understand how much God loves us, for that was proven in the sacrifice of God the Son. We can understand that every time we gather in the name of our Triune God, the Holy Spirit grants us the greatest of blessings. These truths are worthy of our undivided attention!
Jesus ascended into heaven. That does not mean the gospel has ceased to spread around the world. For Jesus promised to send another advocate to represent God to the world: the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is the constant companion of believers in these Last Days. We conclude this worship series with this glorious thought: because he lives, Christ sends us his Spirit. That raises some questions. Where? How? If God now reveals himself by his Spirit, where is the Holy Spirit found? How does he come to us? God has not left the answer to those questions in doubt. When Jesus promised to send the Spirit, he indicated that the Spirit’s work would be connected to words, specifically to God’s Word. As a result, we need never wonder where we can find the Spirit or how he comes to us. Where the Word is proclaimed, there you will find the Holy Spirit’s presence and blessing.
After he rose, when Jesus’ followers gathered together, they comprised a group that was not very diverse. They all belonged to the same ethnic group, grew up in the same culture, spoke the same language, and followed the same customs. That would change drastically on Pentecost, when the gospel would be proclaimed in many languages to people from “every nation under heaven” (Acts 1:5). This diversity has always been part of Christ’s plan. Rather than eliminating differences among the Church’s members, the Church’s unity is built on truths that transcend those differences. The Church truly is a communion of saints. Differences in our world often lead to division. That is not to be the case in the Church. Because he lives, Christ creates unity within diversity. And when the world sees the unity in diversity that characterizes Christ’s Church, it will recognize something unique and special about Christians.
Conventional wisdom suggests that joy is a direct result of circumstance. Our disposition is merely the product of the events, conditions, and relationships that constitute our lives. Therefore, it seems that for our disposition to change, our circumstances must change. However, Jesus offers a joy that is superior. It is not a product of circumstance; it’s a product of Easter. Easter demonstrates that God can take what typically causes people to weep and transform it into what makes people rejoice. Sin, death, and shame entered Jesus’ tomb. Forgiveness, life, and glory emerged. Our risen Savior gives us a joy that remains constant in the highest of life’s highs and the lowest of life’s lows. Because he lives, we experience deep and lasting joy.
If someone saved you from a horrible death, what would you do to thank them? You would probably do just about anything they asked! You would be that grateful. Jesus not only saved us from eternal death in hell, but he also won for us an eternity in paradise. What shall we do to thank him? This week, we see that Jesus asks for just one thing—love. He asks us, in every interaction with others, to demonstrate the same selfless love that he has shown us. That is how we thank him. Fortunately, Jesus doesn’t just ask us to show love; he empowers us to do so. The same divine power that raised Jesus from the dead now raises us up to a new and better life, enabling us to set aside our natural selfishness and self-glorification and instead live in a more excellent way. Like Christ, we strive to do everything for the benefit of others. Because he lives, we live lives of lavish love.
The world is filled with talkers. Many people claim to care about you. However, we know what many of those individuals do when it's time to turn their words into action. Jesus tells you in his Word that he cares for you dearly... that he would do anything for you... that he’s leading you into the green pastures of paradise. How do you know you can trust him? Simple. Jesus followed up his words with action. Jesus promised he would die to save you from your sin. He did. Scripture promised the Savior would rise from the dead, proving that payment for sins was complete. It happened. Jesus always follows through on what he says. Every promise he makes is fulfilled. Jesus once illustrated this point with a striking metaphor: that of the Good Shepherd. All shepherds use words, calling to the sheep in hopes they will follow. What sets the Good Shepherd apart is that his words are accompanied by action, including his willingness to lay down his life for his sheep. Because he lives, we know Jesus is trustworthy and true.
A recent survey asked Americans which five senses they would least like to lose. 77% chose sight. Navigating life blind poses many challenges that the sighted do not face. This is why Scripture often uses the concept of blindness as a metaphor for how hard it is to navigate life without a correct understanding of Christ. Spiritual blindness can take many different forms. In some cases, it is hostile opposition to the message of Jesus. In others, spiritual blindness might be demonstrated in confusion about Jesus’ true identity. In others, spiritual blindness might be the inability to understand our spiritual condition. No matter the form spiritual blindness takes, Easter can replace it with sight. Easter allows us to see where we, as sinners, stand with a holy God. It enables us to see the path through life worth pursuing (as opposed to those that lead to a dead end). Spiritual sight allows us to see who holds our future in his hands and who is worth our eternal worship. Because he lives, we can see things clearly.
If Jesus had stayed dead, he would have been only a good example. His followers would simply share advice: “Love like Jesus did,” or “Think about money like Jesus,” or “Pray like Jesus prayed.” But because Jesus is alive, our mission is much greater. We don’t just share teachings—we testify to the truth: Christ is risen! Jesus isn’t just a model for living; he’s our Savior and the way to eternal life. His resurrection to glory will be the resurrection of all who put their faith in him. That’s the good news we are called to share. The Sunday after Easter might feel like a letdown—fewer people in the pews, no choir, and the lilies are fading. It might seem like the celebration is over. But it’s not—the real adventure is just beginning. Because Jesus lives, we have purpose. Because he lives, we are sent with a mission that matters. Let’s not miss the moment. Let’s open our eyes to the incredible privilege and opportunity we’ve been given. Christ is risen—and that changes everything.
Death can sting in many ways. It casts a shadow over every joyful moment, reminding us that nothing on earth lasts forever. It separates us from those we love—no more conversations, no more hugs. It can also stir fear about what comes next, a sense that judgment waits beyond the grave. But notice the word "can." For those who trust in the living Lord, death has lost its sting. Because Jesus lives, we know God accepted his sacrifice as full payment for our sins. There is no condemnation for those in Christ and no judgment to fear. Even more, Jesus’ resurrection assures us that our Christian loved ones are not gone forever. We will see them again in the resurrection. Christ’s victory over death means we, too, will rise to a life of unending joy. Death still brings sadness. But it no longer brings dread. Because Jesus lives, we can face death with peace. Death has been defeated. Its sting is gone.
As we begin Holy Week, we see Jesus bury humanity’s endless attempts at seizing power. In our world, power dynamics are almost always in play. Those who don’t have power want it, often more than anything else. Those who have power are willing to do anything to keep it. In contrast, Jesus, who possesses all power as the Son of God, willingly surrendered his power and placed himself in the hands of his enemies. Why? What he wanted more than anything else was not power, but you. So, Jesus begins this Holy Week riding into Jerusalem on a donkey colt, knowing full well that he was riding to the cross. He would surrender himself to the punishment that our sins deserved, so that through Spirit-wrought faith we might seize the glory and heaven that only he deserves.
This week, we see how our Father makes the treasures of His house available to all. He places them in the last place we’d expect—the trash. In God’s family, the things the world prizes and pursues are counted as worthless. Conversely, what the world rejects and discards is considered priceless and worth pursuing. The best example of this is Jesus Christ himself. The Father sent his greatest treasure—God the Son—to earth. And many considered Jesus to be a trash that needed to be taken out... a troublemaker that needed to be killed. In truth, Christ is the precious cornerstone that God used to build his house, the one with the open door.
We assume people get what they deserve. We assume that what goes around comes around. We assume God helps those who help themselves. Those assumptions are false. God does not operate on the principle of merit but of grace. No one is beyond the reach of God’s grace. God never turns it off. At the entrance of God’s open door is not a Father looking to condemn us, but a Father who has eagerly longed for our return. When we do, he takes us in his loving arms and assures us we are still his child. When the weight of our sin makes us fearful of God’s condemnation, he reveals his grace yet again.
The heavenly Father is always present in the lives of his children. He sees every sorrow we endure. He also sees every sin we commit, even if only in our thoughts. He is always present. Yet, he is also always patient. God does not snap at us the second we turn from him. He gives us time to see the error of our ways. He assures us that the door back to him remains always open. By giving us room to share our struggles and shortcomings, he works in us the very repentance he desires and saves us from the judgment that would otherwise be ours.
The door to God and the glory he has prepared for us stands wide open. However, he has mapped out a very specific pathway to that door. It is not an easy one. As it did with Jesus, this route takes us through opposition, suffering, and even death. While our human nature may cause us to want to detour around these things, Jesus' life shows us that no detour is allowed. His cross came before his crown. The same path lies ahead of us. However, at the end of it, through the open door, we are offered a reward far superior to anything the world can offer.
Normally, in a family, everyone must do their part. . . pitch in. . . pull their weight. In God’s family, he assigns and accepts the work of one on behalf of all. In God’s house, God’s Son—our brother, Jesus— stands alone on the field of battle against our enemies in our place. He fights vicariously. He fights victoriously. This week, we see one man, Jesus Christ, stand against Satan. We simply sit and watch with eyes full of wonder and repentant faith. Because Christ fought that battle as one of us, he won that battle for all of us. The door to heaven stands wide open for those who believe in him.
Would you look directly at the sun? Only if you wanted to burn your retinas and have permanent blind spots. Would you like to look directly at God? It sounds wonderful in theory. Yet Scripture describes God’s glory as being brighter than the sun. Moreover, one component of God’s glory is his holiness. Being holy doesn’t just mean God loves good; he also hates evil with burning intensity. And we sin every day. No wonder the Lord once told Moses, “No one may see me and live” (Exodus 33:20). Sinners would die of fear if they saw God in all his holy glory. So, how then can we possibly know God? How can we draw near to him without dying of terror? In our final epiphany moment of this season, God explains. God hides his glory to reveal himself. To carry out his good and glorious work of salvation, Jesus hid his glory and went to the cross. To allow sinners to stare at his glory without fear or harm, God hides it in the gospel. In the gospel, we see the glory of Christ’s love, power, and salvation. The reality is that when God’s glory is hidden, it is most on display.
Throughout this season of Epiphany, Jesus has described the governing principles of his kingdom as being completely opposite to the governing principles of the world. This week, Jesus asks us to befriend our enemies, love those who hate us, and repay evil with good. Worldly logic would say that is a recipe for being walked all over. Yet, haven’t we seen this tactic work? When we were Christ’s enemies, he loved us to the point of death. He repays our daily wrongs with the daily goodness of his mercy. In doing so, he won us for himself. Here is the epiphany we badly need to have. Following the strategy Jesus lays out—loving our enemies—is not a capitulation to evil. It is a means of conquering it.
Jesus calls us to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. In Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus reminds His followers of their God-given identity and purpose as redeemed children of God. He calls them the "salt of the earth," preserving the truth of God’s Word in a world prone to decay, and the "light of the world," reflecting the light of Christ through their lives. This light shines through faithful witness to the gospel and service to God and our neighbors. Jesus encourages believers to live out their faith boldly, trusting that the Holy Spirit works through them to bring others to glorify the Father in heaven.
Imagine needing heart bypass surgery. When meeting your surgeon, you ask, “How many of these have you done?” He smiles and says, “You’re my very first patient!” Would you feel honored—or anxious? For important jobs, we know qualifications matter. And what job could be more important than sharing the good news of salvation? You might expect Jesus to entrust that task to the most qualified, like the angels. But instead, he sends the least qualified first. In love, Jesus doesn’t leave us unprepared. He calls sinners into his presence, cleanses us, equips us, and sends us out. Once forgiven, we eagerly become the messengers through whom God works. This is your epiphany moment: You may feel unqualified to share the gospel, but Jesus calls and sends you—just as you are. The least qualified are the first sent.
In 2009, Facebook introduced the “like” button, and Twitter added the “retweet” feature. It is easy to think that the more people like us, the more successful our lives must be. Likewise, it is easy to believe the more people like a church, the more successful it is. But popularity does not equal success. While the gospel and its messengers may sometimes be popular, that is never the goal. A church that prioritizes self-improvement, healing, or social justice may attract a crowd but misses its true mission. Christ set the agenda for His Church: preaching and teaching the gospel of forgiveness. That remains our focus.
Sharing important information can feel discouraging when someone refuses to listen or rejects what you’re saying—especially when it’s the gospel. We share the good news because we want others to know Christ’s love. When people show disinterest in God’s Word, it can feel like failure. Here’s this week’s epiphany: rejection is not failure. Because the gospel is God’s divine revelation, it’s expected that many will reject it. God’s Word often offends, like an unwelcome diagnosis from a doctor. When someone rejects it (including us), it’s proof that God’s Word powerfully confronts humanity’s deepest problem—sin. The very words that cut also heal. Jesus’ words may sting, but they bring the power to restore. That truth encourages us to receive God’s Word with joy and proclaim it boldly to others.
When God says “no” to a request, it’s easy to feel we’re getting less than we wanted. However, we need to see the bigger picture: God always wants more for us than we want from Him. If He said “yes” to everything we ask, it might lead to less joy, fewer blessings, and a diminished life. God’s “no” is not about withholding but about giving us something greater. He isn’t just a “help desk” or a 911 dispatcher. His love for us is like a groom's deep, devoted love for his bride—far beyond our expectations or understanding. In that love, God always delivers more than we could imagine, never less.
“Who is Jesus?” Many people initially answered, “Mary and Joseph’s son” or “a carpenter from Nazareth.” While true, these descriptions fall short. At Jesus’ baptism, God the Father revealed his true identity: Jesus is the dearly loved Son of God, chosen to be the Savior of the world. Now consider the question, “Who are you?” You might respond with your name, where you’re from, or your job. Sometimes, in moments of doubt, you might even think, “I’m no one.” But none of these truly define who you are. To understand your identity, look to your baptism. In baptism, God declares you his dearly loved child. Just as Jesus was anointed, so are you—empowered to live a life of selfless service. May this truth bring clarity and peace, just as it did for Jesus at the Jordan.
Waiting is always hard, especially when what you're waiting for is very important. Waiting an hour for your food at a restaurant isn’t a big deal, but waiting a week for an electrician to restore your power is much harder. The more we need something, the harder it is to wait. After the fall into sin, God’s people waited for the most important gift—a Savior. Centuries passed, and they wondered, “Where is he?” Unable to save themselves from sin, death, and hell, they could only wait. The first Christmas came at just the right time, and the Savior was born. The faithful rejoiced! This week, we are reminded that God always works on the perfect timetable. Those who wait for him are never disappointed, for God satisfies those who patiently trust in him.
The Son of God took on flesh for two reasons: to be our substitute and our sacrifice. You see, when God created mankind in his image, he desired that we live holy lives full of love for him and our fellow man. When mankind fell into sin, that became impossible. So, the heavenly Father sent Jesus. He is the only human being who can keep God’s law perfectly. He did that as our substitute. Through faith, we claim his perfection as our own. But we needed another gift—one who could pay for the sin we had committed. And so, the Son of God became human for another reason—so that he might die as the sacrifice for our sins, removing that barrier between us and a holy God. Understanding that we needed both a substitute and a sacrifice helps us better understand Jesus’s saving work. That work includes more than Jesus’ death on the cross. Jesus' saving work began when he was born under the law and obeyed it. This week, we thank God that Jesus served us in these much-needed ways!
By this time of the holiday season, people are often weighted down. They feel guilty about presents that are not perfect, parties that did not go as planned, or year-end projects that did not get completed. To top it all off now is when it dawns on people how little attention they have given to the spiritual preparation Advent invites. If that is how we feel, perhaps the frenzy of December has done us a favor. We have been stretched to our limits. We have been made painfully aware of our shortcomings. We have been humbled. Perfect! Being aware of our weaknesses does not disqualify us from God’s care. It does the opposite. It is what prepares us for the work he does best. He is a God who lifts up the lowly.
Multiple studies have proven that the holiday season exacerbates mental health issues. The pressure to have “a perfect Christmas” can be overwhelming for some. For others, their loneliness is amplified. Such people need a real Christmas, one that results in great joy. But joy is not the same thing as happiness. It is infinitely better. Happiness is an emotion. Joyfulness is a condition. Happiness comes from your circumstances. Joyfulness comes from Christ assuring you of his abiding love and your glorious future. Therefore, happiness—“holiday cheer”—is fleeting. Joyfulness is enduring. The historic Christian Church gave Latin titles to each Sunday. They titled the Third Sunday in Advent “Gaudete,” which means “Rejoice!” As we reach the midway point of Advent, we ask Christ to empower us to do just that.
The closer we get to Christmas, the greater the pressure. There is so much work to be done! We want our houses to look good for out-of-town guests. We want to impress people with the thoughtfulness of our gifts. What a welcome relief, therefore, to hear what is required to be ready for Christmas: only repentance. You see, repentance is the opposite of work. It is the candid and honest admission of our sin combined with the joyful trust that Christ has already done everything needed to bring us close to God. At this frenetic time of year, the call to repent is not another demand to do something more. It is a gracious invitation to set down our work to make way for Christ’s work. Rooted in that repentant rest, we can fully enjoy a real Christmas.
It is easy to get so caught up in the imagery—a tiny newborn baby lying in the straw-filled manger under a star-filled sky—that we forget the why. Why did the Son of God come into our world and take on human flesh? So that he might die as the sacrifice for our sins. One Christmas carol puts it this way. “Neither crib nor cross refuses; all he suffers for your good to redeem you by his blood.” Advent marks the start of a new Church Year. We begin at the end, watching Jesus ride into Jerusalem on a donkey colt, knowing full well that he would be killed before the end of the week. The events of Palm Sunday serve as a microcosm for all of Jesus’ work, proving the Son of God was willing to humble himself and endure anything for our salvation. That is precisely why Christ came. And a real Christmas requires remembering why Christ came.
“Eyes on the prize.” That axiom stresses that when pursuing a good goal, focus is important. You don’t want distractions or a lack of self-discipline to keep you from obtaining whatever that prize might be. “Eyes on the prize.” You summon the willpower to fixate on that good thing. You let nothing divert your attention from obtaining the prize. The prize that we want most is spending eternity with Jesus. As the Church Year ends, Jesus promises that he will come again “in clouds with great power and glory” to give us that prize. That prize will be so unbelievably good that it is worth fixating on. It merits our striving to set aside all that would distract us from Christ. Let us be ready. Let us keep watch. Let us live with our eyes on the skies.
Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) affects many millions of adults. It is more than shyness. SAD includes an acute fear of being judged. An individual with SAD struggles with everyday tasks like talking to people at work or school because he is terrified that he is constantly being evaluated. Even if you don’t have that disorder, perhaps you have experienced that uncomfortable feeling that others are watching you, trying to find something to criticize. We don’t want others to judge us. It is bad enough listening to the voice inside our head whispering that we aren’t worthy. How do we overcome the fear of judgment? It begins by realizing that only one person's opinion ultimately matters—the Judge. Everyone is going to live forever in one of two very different places. Where you spend eternity depends on a judgment that Jesus will render. This week, we see why his judgment need not trigger any anxiety. Judgment day is something we can joyfully anticipate. We can live free from the fear of judgment.
Perhaps you have heard the axiom, “Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die.” In other words, while you still can, use what you have in order to enjoy life to the fullest. If this life is all there is, St. Paul agrees that would be a good philosophy. Paul wrote, “If the dead are not raised, ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die’” (1 Corinthians 15:32). However, note the “if.” Paul was saying that the epicurean approach to life makes sense only if this life is all we have. But it isn’t. Jesus will raise us from the dead and take us to live in his home, a place of perfect comfort and beauty. Knowing that, we are set free from the need to live a self-indulgent life now. Instead, we can be generous people, using the wealth that God has given us to serve both him and others. We can live a life of startling generosity.
“It will get better.” We say that to try to comfort someone having a bad day (or maybe a whole string of bad days). Perhaps tomorrow will be better. But perhaps it’s worse. In this life, there are no guarantees that things will improve. That isn’t the case with the life that is to come. That life isn’t just going to be better. It will be perfect. Since the seventh century, Christians have marked a day to celebrate those who have died in faith and now realize the perfect joys of heaven. It is called “All Saints’ Day.” We thank God for bringing our Christian loved ones out of the troubles and turmoil of this world and into eternal bliss and glory. And we ask God to preserve us in our faith so that we might one day join the saints in that place where life is far more than better.
Jesus repeatedly told his followers that living as his disciples would bring hardship. Living according to God’s Law will make one appear odd in the eyes of the world, perhaps even evil. Sharing a message of mankind’s sin and God’s gracious salvation can cause offense. So why not just stay silent if that makes life easier? Why not keep our faith private? Answer: because we are going to live forever. In gratitude for Christ saving us and giving us eternal life, we share the gospel with others, hoping they will believe and be saved too. Since we know we will live forever in the perfection of heaven, we don’t worry if being a witness for Christ brings hardship or even death. Martin Luther wanted to reform the false teachings of the church. He stood firm in the truth of the gospel, knowing it might cost him his life. But Luther knew that, thanks to Christ, he would live forever. So will we. Therefore, like Luther, let us live a life of courageous witness.
“What’s in it for me?” It’s easy to look at life through the lens of that question to make decisions based on perceived personal benefit. Perhaps we look at Christianity through that lens at times, wondering what we will gain from following Christ. “What’s in it for me?” Jesus first disciples asked that question. They hoped that following Christ would bring prestige and honor. They assumed following Christ would make life easier. But it doesn’t work like that. Followers of Christ are called to sacrifice for the well-being of others. “What’s in it for me?” Everything! Because of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice, followers of Christ have the peace of his forgiveness. Followers of Christ have the joy of meaningful purpose. Followers of Christ look forward to an eternity of glory in Christ’s heavenly kingdom. In Spirit-wrought gratitude, followers of Christ make selfless sacrifices with joy.
People think that establishing priorities is about ranking things in order of importance. But it is more than that. We do not have unlimited time and energy. So, establishing priorities enables us to say “no” to things that might be good yet not truly important. Without proper priorities, one will inevitably pursue what is nice while downplaying what is needed. Throughout Scripture, believers are urged to prioritize. It is the heart of the First Commandment: “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). Jesus calls for prioritization when he says, “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). Good news: followers of Christ maintain proper priorities. Even better news: followers of Christ receive his forgiveness for all the times their priorities have been improper.
Love can cause harm. Consider the wife whose husband wants little to do with church. She loves him and does not want to upset him. So, when her husband wants her and the children to stay home Sunday morning, she complies without protest. That wife’s love for her husband hurts him, her children, and herself. Or consider the father who loves his child so much that he gives the child everything the child asks for. That father’s love is toxic. It shapes that child into a selfish, entitled adult. In our families, it is not enough that there is love. We need to love rightly in a way that leads to blessings for those we claim to love. This illustrates the need for followership. In Jesus, we see perfect, self-sacrificial love. Jesus loves us as we are. He also loved us too much to leave us as we are. So, in love, he gave his life up so that we might be holy and blameless. His love for us shapes the way we love our spouse, our children, our parents. Today, we see that followers of Christ know how to love their families.
Green Berets. Rangers. SEALs. Delta Force. These special forces groups are part of the United States military. They are elite: highly trained with unique skill sets. Many of their important missions are carried out in total secrecy. Two weeks ago, we acknowledged that we are in the middle of a massive spiritual war. Today, we thank God that we fight this war with the protection of special forces. Since the fifth century, Christians have observed the Festival of St. Michael and All Angels. We commemorate that God has sent Michael, one of the great archangels described in Scripture, and countless of his fellow angels to protect and serve mankind. Let us rejoice that followers of Christ have powerful allies!
Humility and pride are polar opposites. Pride exalts self at the expense of God and others. Humility exalts God and others at the expense of self. Pride is the essential vice, for it increases one’s hunger for all other sins. Humility increases one’s hunger for the forgiveness and healing found in Christ. The one who is proud demands to be served. The one who is humble is not content unless serving others. St. Augustine described it this way: “It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels.” As we see all Christ did to serve us, our hearts melt. Within us grows a Christ-like obsession to serve others without counting the cost, without any desire to be repaid. Those who are in positions of Christian leadership understand that their leadership can only be achieved through service. For followers of Christ are humble servants.
What is the worst war in human history? One might point to World War II, which had the highest death toll of at least 90 million people. Or consider the Three Kingdoms War, which not only resulted in over 40 million deaths but also lasted for most of the third century. There is no end to the sad list of nominations: the Thirty Years War, the Taiping Rebellion, the American Civil War, and World War I. None of those is the correct answer. The worst war in human history began when the first shot was fired in Eden. It has been raging since. It is a war against “spiritual forces of evil” (Ephesians 6:12). This is not a war over land or resources. It is a war for souls. The reality is that there are demonic forces that want to do more than kill you; they want to claim you for all eternity. The good news is that Christ has already called you his own and equipped you for this war. Followers of Christ are armed for the battle.
Power is neither inherently good nor bad. Fire is powerful. The chef uses fire to create meals. But the arsonist uses fire to destroy homes. Nuclear fission is a powerful force. The engineer harnesses it, producing abundant electricity. The tyrant harnesses it, threatening others with nuclear weapons. What matters is the purpose of the one who has that power. Jesus has limitless power, as the numerous accounts of his miracles demonstrate. Those who witnessed those miracles understood that Jesus used his power for good. That doesn’t mean they all understood Jesus’ true purpose. Some thought Jesus’ purpose was to make this temporal life better. And while Jesus did that at times, his ultimate purpose was to save us from sin and give us the gift of eternal life. Followers of Christ see the true purpose of his power.
A loving father gives his son and daughter a list of rules and regulations. Chores, curfews, civilities, dress code—the father makes his will clearly known. The son strives to follow the rules for two reasons. 1) He wants to get his allowance. 2) He is afraid that if he breaks the rules, his father will punish him. The daughter strives to follow the rules, also for two reasons. 1) She believes her father established those rules not to control her but for her safety and blessing. 2) She wants to demonstrate how much she loves and trusts her father. Those two children’s actions might look almost identical. Their hearts are very different! Likewise, following Christ is not simply a matter of outward observance of laws. It is a matter of the heart. The Law was given so we could see God’s heart and demonstrate how his heart has affected our own. The followership Christ seeks flows from hearts that have been radically transformed by God’s law and gospel. Christ wants his followers to be less like the son described above and more like the daughter. This week, we see that followers of Christ obey his law from the heart.
As Jesus concluded his Bread of Life discourse, many said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” and walked away. Read carefully. They did not say the teaching was hard to understand. The meaning was clear enough. Jesus was teaching that the only chance to enjoy eternity in heaven is through a close connection to him. He is the only bread that gives eternal life. That isn’t hard to understand, but it is hard to accept. Eating this bread means reordering our lives so that Jesus is by far our highest priority. It means loving the Blesser infinitely more than his earthly blessings. It means realizing that Jesus is the only thing we really need. If we had nothing but him, we would not lack anything that ultimately matters. Jesus watches the multitudes walking away from him. He turns to the Twelve—he turns to us this week—and he whispers, “You do not want to leave me too, do you?” May the Spirit give us the wisdom to answer, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”.
There are many different theories about the healthiest way to eat. There’s the old food pyramid, built on a foundation of whole grains. There’s the Mediterranean diet, the Atkins diet, the Paleo diet, and many others. We can debate which is best, but what is undebatable is that whatever your diet, you are going to die. Perhaps a vegetarian diet is indeed easier on your heart. Still, your heart is going to stop eventually. But in his Bead of Life discourse, Jesus offers food that enables us to live forever. There are foods you might never have tasted without someone working hard to convince you to try them. Likewise, this spiritual food that Jesus describes is something no one finds appealing at first but distasteful. And so today, Jesus explains that we need God to work within us so that we have the wisdom to see that this food gives life and the faith to find this bread most delicious.
Physical food is a blessing from God, without which we would literally wither away and die. That is why Jesus lovingly and miraculously fed thousands of followers with only five loaves of bread and two fish. Yet, while physical food is a good thing, it is far from the greatest thing God provides us. The greatest blessing God provides is spiritual food. The best thing God gives us is his Son, the bread of life. Without that spiritual food, we wither and die in a much worse way. This week we see the multitudes coming to Jesus looking for two things: ever more temporal blessings— full bellies, healthy bodies—and an explanation of how to gain them. Jesus explains the greater need for spiritual food. He assures us that there is nothing we do to earn it. Our Father urges us to come to him for our daily bread, asking him to provide for our temporal needs. But may we hunger most for our greatest need: spiritual food that Christ freely gives.
Shortly before he ascended, Jesus told his followers they were to engage in meaningful ministry—to work their way through the world, sharing the good news of salvation. Our loving Lord knew that was a big and often intimidating task. So, his next words were a promise. “Surely I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20). God’s people still need to hear that promise. For several weeks, we have been discussing the reality that the Lord of the Church has called all believers to meaningful ministry. Ministry will come with challenges. It can cause fears to arise: the fear of rejection, the fear of inadequacy, the fear of persecution. So, listen again to your Savior. “I am with you always.” We conclude our series on meaningful ministry empowered by that gracious promise.
King David explains, “The earth is the LORD’s and everything in it” (Psalm 24:1). That word “everything” doesn’t leave any wiggle room, does it? That word “everything” means that your home and all its furnishings, your vehicle and all that’s in the trunk, your bank account, the twenty-eight dollars in your wallet, the wallet itself, and the pocket in which you carry your wallet all belong to God. Everything you have was given to you by your good and gracious Father. We need to understand that. But it is just as important that we understand why God provides for our physical needs. As we have seen throughout this worship series, God has called us to ministry. He asks us to reflect his love in meeting the physical and spiritual needs of others. Believers want to serve others in those ways. By providing for us, God meets our need to meet others’ needs. This week, Jesus promises that he will provide the resources necessary to conduct meaningful ministry.
In the ancient Middle East, a shepherd needed certain skills to do his job well: knowledge of edible grasses, ability to trim hooves, capacity to fend off predators, and competency to birth lambs. However, the greatest qualification of a shepherd is much simpler. A good shepherd needed to care for his sheep. Without that, none of those other skills would be fully utilized. In Scripture, meaningful ministry is often pictured as a compassionate shepherd caring for his sheep: Jesus’ care for us; a spiritual leader’s care for his “flock.” Certainly, gospel ministry requires specific skills: the ability to actively listen to people, the aptitude for applying the gospel to someone’s situation, etc. Ultimately, meaningful ministry requires a compassionate heart and profound care for others. An individual might know God’s Word backwards and forwards. But if they lack compassion, they will not fully perform meaningful ministry. Today, we ask the Spirit to see how Jesus models a compassionate shepherd’s heart so we might be filled with that same compassion.
When a child asks a sibling to do something, there isn’t much certainty as to the results. The sibling might simply ignore the request. However, if that same child goes to a brother or sister with “Dad said so,” it’s a very different story! Now, the father’s authority is behind the child’s request. As believers carry out gospel ministry, encouraging others to turn to Christ in repentance, people might push back. “What gives you the right?” Maybe we ask that question ourselves. “I’m far from perfect. So, what gives me the right to talk about things like sin?” This week, we are given the answer to that question. “Dad said so.” When our God calls us to do ministry, he also gives us authority. In calling us to ministry, God isn’t asking us to share our advice or our opinion or even our values. We are sharing God’s own authoritative Word. Gospel ministry is conducted by believers but with God’s own authority behind the effort.
If ministry involves serving others with love and compassion, you would think that people would respond only with glee and gratitude for the help they received. Sometimes, but not always. If you offer to help a family member who is having trouble paying his bills, he might be offended, wondering if you are implying that he is not a good provider. Likewise, if you try and share the gospel with someone, he might resent the message that he is a sinner in need of salvation. You are trying to minister to this man’s greatest need. Your intentions are loving. Yet he responds with rejection and resentment. When our ministry efforts are met not with glee and gratitude but rejection and resentment, we are in good company. The prophets, apostles, and even Jesus himself all had those who responded negatively to their ministries. When that happens to us, it doesn’t mean our ministry is no longer meaningful. For if others do not appreciate our efforts to serve them, God still appreciates our efforts to serve him.
Most people fear death to some degree. Some fear death because they assume it is the end. Others fear death because they assume it isn’t the end at all but that there is some sort of reckoning after death, which might not go well for them. And have you seen what happens to a dead body? It is far from pretty. So, it is understandable that most people would fear death. Not so for those to whom God has given a top-down faith. Christianity teaches that for God’s children, death is not discipline but deliverance. The living Lord gives Christians such a radically different view of death that they can have the confidence to face death in their effort to give Christ glory. They understand that death does not cut us down but only raises us up. Finally, the Christian has been given the top-down faith that believes Jesus can wake us from death as easily as we can wake a sleeping child from his nap.
A powerful tornado rolls through your neighborhood. A massive hurricane heads straight for your city. A bolt of lightning sends 300 million volts to earth. The raw power and unpredictability of storms can inspire both awe and terror. We cannot stop storms from coming. We can only hope to survive them. However, we know the Almighty God can stop storms. He can calm literal storms. He could remove metaphorical storms and other types of troubles and trials. So, if he can, why doesn’t he? Well, would you rather have a God who was distant from you but removed all the storms of life? Or would you rather have a God who allowed some storms to come but promised to be right there by your side within them, holding you close? May God give us the top-down faith that sees that the latter is by far the better option. God promises to be with us through all the storms of life. Sometimes, he removes them. But when he doesn’t, it’s only because he has plans to use even storms for our eternal good.
Usually, a kingdom advances and is secured through things like military might, political force, or worldly wealth. It can be tempting to believe the same holds true in the kingdom of God. Perhaps we think churches would flourish if we had the right rulers passing and enforcing the right laws. Or we believe that for a church to do good, it requires a robust budget. Political force. Worldly wealth. This way of thinking is breathtakingly wrong. We need God to give us the top-down faith that grasps the fact that the kingdom of God advances in imperceptible ways. Through something that seems insignificant to most—the gospel—the King of kings establishes his reign in human hearts. Even Jesus taught that the gospel seems unimpressive, for he often compared the gospel to a tiny seed. Yet within a seed is hidden life. As the seed of the gospel is planted, the largest of all kingdoms grows.
Look at our lives—the problems, the pains—and it’s easy to conclude that we are losing. Look at the world—the brokenness, the bedlam—and it’s easy to believe that the devil is winning. It all can lead us to despair. Yet this turmoil is exactly what God said would happen in the Garden. There, God declared that until the end of time, enmity would prevail between the devil and mankind. But God promised more than that. He promised that from humanity would rise one who would completely defeat the devil. We need a top-down faith to understand that things are not what they seem. Yes, the devil and his allies are constantly doing their worst. Their work always brings pain. Yet, ultimately, Jesus always wins. And his victory is our victory. Jesus’ victory is so complete that even when Satan continues to cause chaos, Christ uses it to reveal his glory and grace to those gifted with top-down faith.
After a long day of work, you have earned the right to sit in your favorite chair, put your feet up, and watch your favorite program. After a hard week on the job, you have earned the opportunity to relax a bit that weekend. After doing your job well for many months, you have earned those two weeks of vacation at the beach. This is how everyone thinks: rest is something you earn through hard work. We even teach that to our kids: no gaming until homework is done, no playing with friends until chores are complete. Since the concept of rest being earned is deeply engrained in us, properly understanding spiritual rest requires a top-down faith. God needs to send us the Spirit so that we can grasp this truth. True spiritual rest cannot be earned. In fact, the harder you try, the more restless and the less peaceful you become. Spiritual rest is a gift that God gives. The rest we need most—from guilt, from worry, from shame, from hopelessness—is graciously given to us by the Lord of the Sabbath.
Christianity, at its heart, is all about relationships. It’s about our relationships with God and with one another. And it’s about how, even though we have broken these relationships with our sins, God has fixed them by sending his Son Jesus into the world to accomplish the work of our salvation by his death on the cross.
Jesus told his disciples that, though he was going to ascend into heaven, he wouldn’t leave them alone. He would send “the Advocate,” a title for the Holy Spirit. But Jesus wasn’t sending the Spirit to keep us company. Jesus would have the Advocate give us spiritual power so that we might participate in Christ’s saving work. Here is the final resurrection reality. The Spirit gives us the ability to raise the spiritually dead to life. We see this happen on Pentecost. The festival of Pentecost was held fifty days after the Passover. (Pentecost is Greek for “fifty.”) It was a time to thank God for the harvest. But on that day, through the Church at work, the Holy Spirit gathered another harvest, a harvest of souls. Therefore, Pentecost is the third great festival of the Church, along with the Nativity and the Resurrection. With the Festival of Pentecost, the festival half of the Church Year comes to a close.
This world is broken. Oh, certainly, we still see beauty in nature. By God’s grace, we have plenty of happy moments. But that does not change the fact that this world does not function as God designed it to. It is dangerous, especially for God’s children. Jesus once promised that those who live for him will be hated (just as Christ was hated) by those who live for the world. The even greater danger is that the priorities prompted by this broken world tempt the careless Christian to devalue what truly matters. This world is very broken. For that reason, our gracious, living Lord promises that one day, soon enough, he will take us to a better world. Moreover, he promises that until that time, his Father will protect us, preserving our faith through the truth of his Word. This is the resurrection reality. By God’s grace, we will overcome this broken world.
God’s Word can be summed up in one word: love. God’s Law is all about love. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart…” and “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37,39). The gospel is all about love: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son…” (John 3:16). From his compassion for the sick and broken to his sacrificial death on the cross, to the peace he provided after his resurrection, Jesus was the perfect embodiment of love. Love is his business. Therefore, love is our business, too. The resurrection reality is that with the same supernatural power by which God raised Jesus from the dead, God now enables us to live a new life, one marked by radically selfless love. The motivation and ability to do this come from seeing the endless love Christ has for us. We love only because he first loved us.
Generally, our actions are shaped by our beliefs. People who eat low-carb diets do so, probably not because they hate pasta but because they believe it is the healthiest. If a man buys stock in a company, it probably is because he believes in its business plan. Our beliefs shape our behavior. This is true of Christians’ belief in the resurrection. We believe Christ’s resurrection guarantees our resurrection to a glorious eternal life. That inevitably shapes how we will act now. However, not simply the facts of the resurrection shape our behavior. It is the person of the resurrection. Jesus is not some wise, dead sage whose advice is in dusty books. Jesus lives! Therefore, he can work on our minds and hearts through His Word, molding them to his perfect will. Here is a resurrection reality. Jesus fills us with his Spirit, not only so that we have faith but also so that we produce the fruits of faith he seeks.
Scripture frequently pictures spiritual care in terms of a shepherd watching over sheep. Even folks unfamiliar with shepherding can grasp the meaning. Sheep are helpless animals—an easy meal for predators. For sheep to survive, they needed a shepherd who not only leads them to sources of food but who also is willing to tangle with a pack of wolves. Jesus is such a shepherd. He proved he was willing to lay down his life for his sheep. The word “pastor” comes from the Latin word for “shepherd.” Today, there are plenty of people— pastors, religious leaders, etc.—who claim they can provide healing for your soul. Yet, Scripture warns that “many” of these are “false prophets” (1 John 4:1) who “distort the truth” (Acts 20:30). Many! But the resurrection reality is that our Good Shepherd is faithful. He will raise up true sub-shepherds who know Christ and proclaim the truth of his gospel.
A platitude is a statement aimed at helping soothe some sort of emotional unease. “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” Or “Life is a mystery.” Or “Good things come to those who wait.” While platitudes may be well-intentioned, at best, they come off as trite. And since platitudes provide no real help, they can actually make a situation worse. Tell the one whose heart is shattering, “Life is a mystery.” They won’t appreciate your platitude or you. The resurrection gives believers the ability to offer more than platitudes. We have a meaningful message to share—of repentance, of forgiveness, of peace, of power. The reality is we have something important to say to every single person that God brings into our sphere of influence. And our risen Savior gives us the courage and power to share that meaningful message.
In most world religions, the alleged foundational event was experienced by only one person. A self-proclaimed prophet would allege he alone had some special encounter with God. “No, really! Just trust me. It really happened.” The resurrection reality is so very different. In the Great Resurrection Chapter (1 Corinthians 15), St. Paul writes an entire paragraph listing all the people to whom Jesus appeared after he rose, including a group of over five hundred at one time. It is like St. Paul is telling skeptics, “You don’t need to take my word for it. Hundreds of us saw Jesus back from the dead.” The proof of Jesus’ resurrection brought peace and strength to those early believers. They knew there was more to their existence than their time on earth. They knew the reality that eternal life was theirs, a gift from their living Lord. It gave them incredible joy and courage. May the resurrection reality give us the same.
The film director Woody Allen once said, “I’m not afraid to die, I just don’t want to be there when it happens.” Studies have shown that most people fear death to varying degrees. This fear is so common that there is even a field of psychological study called thanatology. It examines human reactions to death and dying. One of the biggest reasons people fear death is the perception of its permanency. In the normal realm of human existence, dead is dead. Someone dies, and all you have are pictures and memories. That is how people typically think, but it is far from reality. Today, Christ proves to us that death is not final at all! Easter teaches us that Christ is the first fruits of those who have died. Just as Christ rose, “so in Christ, all will be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22). That changes everything: the way we grieve the death of a Christian loved one, the way we feel when our health fails, the way we look at the purpose of life right now. Let us rejoice in this resurrection reality: All will be made alive!
Most religions believe in a powerful God. It is assumed that God will use that strength to benefit his followers. That is a reasonable assumption, but it begs the question. What is real strength? It is easy to assume that real strength means exerting your will over another using any necessary means, including force. But this week, we see Jesus Christ demonstrate a different kind of strength. We have come to Holy Week. It begins with Jesus humbly riding a donkey colt straight into the hands of his enemies. As the week progresses, it will appear that Christ’s adversaries are the ones in a position of power, and Jesus is in a position of weakness. Yet what Christ does this holy week—setting his divine strength aside, being passive in the face of death—would change the world. To do what Christ did for us and our salvation took real strength.
Religious sociologists sometimes divide Christians into two groups: committed Christians and cultural Christians. The former are usually defined as those who are active in a congregation, pray regularly, and read Scripture. The latter are those individuals who call themselves Christian and perhaps have some Christian beliefs. Yet, they do not strive to live a Christian life. They are not interested in church involvement. Those definitions are interesting when trying to understand shifts in American Christianity. However, they demonstrate a false assumption about the Christian religion. There is indeed a devoted commitment at the center of Christianity, but it is not man’s commitment to God. Even believers will, at times, demonstrate lukewarm commitment at best. Instead, at the heart of Christianity, we find God’s devotion and commitment to us. It is a devoted commitment so strong that it puts God on the cross.
While not every religion uses the word “sin,” they all embrace the concept. Every religion acknowledges that mankind’s flawed attitudes or misguided actions are a source of pain, both now and potentially in eternity. So, every religion offers a solution: a set of laws, a moral code, a path to more enlightened behavior. What do they have in common? We are to solve sin through human effort. Be better! Try harder! This is the heart of every false religion. Those who correctly understand they will never overcome their sin are crushed by guilt. Those who ludicrously believe they have defeated their sin are killed by pride. True religion offers a better way—one that frees us from guilt and has no room for pride. Jesus teaches that the solution to our sin is not to work harder. It is to trust in the work he has done for us. Salvation comes through Spirit-wrought faith in Christ.
Person A never attends worship. He can’t see the point. Person B attends every week out of a slavish sense of obligation. Her mind wanders during the services, for she views the activities of worship merely as tasks for her to complete. Who is worse off? Rather than debating the point, let us just admit neither understand the true worth of worship. And that is exactly what Satan wants. Many think worship is about what we do for God. It is the other way around. As we gather around Word and sacrament, the Spirit moves us to love and trust in God above all things. Moved by the cross of Christ, we bow down before our God. We commune with him. And that’s exactly what God wants.
We know that the cross was an instrument of torture and execution. However, Scripture also uses the term “cross” to refer to any suffering that one endures because he is a believer: the painful denial of the desires of the flesh, ridicule and persecution from unbelievers, etc. This is one reason people reject religion. They see Christians struggling in life with these crosses, while non-Christians often seem perfectly happy. Even the prophet Jeremiah asked, “Why do all the faithless live at ease?” (12:1). Today, Jesus asks us to rethink suffering under the cross. It is not pointless pain. Our crosses are not how we pay for sin. Jesus already did that on his cross. Our crosses are not redemptive, but they are constructive. Any suffering unbelievers face is only bad, a foretaste of worse to come. But the suffering believers face under the cross is only good, a way Christ connects us tightly to himself with fire-tested faith.
“If God loves us, why doesn’t he remove all the trials, tests, and temptations we face?” That question demonstrates the religious assumption that those things are bad. They aren’t. In the hands of a loving God, they are tools by which he refines our faith. He uses tests as a way to compel us to be less self-reliant and instead trust in his strength. He uses trials to teach us that this broken world is not our true home. God even takes Satan’s temptations and uses them for our good. Trials, tests, and temptations are not exceptions to God’s love. That’s a false assumption! These are examples of God’s love. Proof that God allowed his beloved Son Jesus to face trials and temptations so that he might be our perfect savior and substitute.
We began this worship series in the Jordan River. At his baptism, Jesus heard his Father’s glorious voice: “You are my Son, whom I love” (Mark 1:11). From that day, in word and deed, Jesus began to reveal more about himself. He demonstrated the extent of his authority, power, and love. Along the way, we had an epiphany. Jesus has to be the very Son of God! Yet, Jesus looked so normal, like an ordinary carpenter or your average rabbi or just another prophet, until today. We have traveled from the river to the mountain. Today, on the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus gives us a glimpse of his true glory. As we see him in his dazzling brilliance, the Father speaks again, this time to us: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” This final epiphany prepares us for the journey of Lent, where we will witness the most glorious work that Jesus would do when he came down from this mountain.
Martin Luther once said, “Where God built a church, there the devil would also build a chapel.” Satan and the other demons hate God. They demonstrate hatred by hurting those that God loves in any way they can. The epiphany Christ wants us to have is this: demons are real, they are plenteous, and they are dangerous. But Christ would also have us see that he is continually undoing the devil’s work. More, through his Word, Christ Jesus gives us the power to resist the devil and stand firm in the faith.
Authority is the power to determine what happens, the ability to give direction or even commands. Authority is limited. Authority is limited in duration. Parents have authority over their children until they grow up and move out. Authority is limited in scope. A governor has authority over the people of his state only, not the neighboring state. Authority is limited by levels. A manager has authority over employees unless the company owner—a higher authority—demotes him. Authority is limited in duration and scope. It is limited by higher levels of authority. This week we see that there is one man—only one!—who has absolute authority. There is no one, not even the demons, who is outside his authority. As the Son of God, there is no higher authority than Jesus. And his authority is everlasting. But here is the best part of this epiphany: Jesus graciously uses his absolute authority for our benefit and blessing.
To whom does the work of salvation belong? Simple question. There is only one Savior. But this is how good Jesus is. So that our lives might have profound meaning and eternal purpose, he shares some of that work with us. He calls us not just to be followers, but to be follower-makers. Jesus asks some — prophets, apostles, pastors, missionaries, teachers — to do this full-time. But ultimately, Jesus asks all believers to serve as his ambassadors, sharing the gospel with whomever he brings into our sphere of influence. This lofty charge requires commitment — a willingness to abandon everything else should faithfulness require it. This is the life-changing revelation for this week. Jesus has committed us to a lofty charge: the privilege to play a role in his saving work.
We try to hide our faults and failures from others. We want people to see us at our best. Perhaps we assume that if people knew what we were really like, they would want nothing to do with us. There’s no hiding anything from God. He is all-seeing and all-knowing. Christ Jesus has witnessed our very worst, even the sins that only occurred in our heads. The psalmist says, “You perceive my thoughts from afar. You are familiar with all my ways” (139:2,3). Yet even though Jesus knows all our faults and failures, he badly wants something to do with us. So, he calls us to follow him. He wants us to be with him, secure in his love of forgiveness. Here is this week’s epiphany: Jesus shows kindness when he calls us to discipleship. More, he shows kindness by giving us the ability to answer that call, so that we might always be near him and his blessing.
Guest Preacher: Pastor Bounkeo Lor, Hmong Asia Ministry Coordinator
There are various needs we have in this life. Needs for things like food, shelter, and water. In our Gospel reading for today we hear of a Samaritan woman who had needs she hoped would be filled by Jesus as she was drawing water from a well. But Jesus didn’t give her what she was looking for. No, he instead elevated the conversation to the one profound need she had. Jesus led her to see that he is the water of life. He used the mirror of the law to incite in her a thirst for mercy that only he could provide. And this woman who saw Jesus for who he was and what he provided then couldn’t help but go and tell others about the one she believed to be the Christ!
On Christmas Eve a choir of angels sang, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” So, where is this peace on earth? Between nations? There are always wars going on somewhere. In our country? Disagreements have only grown more contentious, one group screaming angrily at another group. We might not even have perfect peace in our homes! So, what were the angels singing about? They were singing about peace between a holy God who hates sin and human beings who sin every day. Because of what Christ did as our Savior, there is no hostility between us and God, only peace and love. We have the peace of salvation in our hearts. As we draw near the end of life, like elderly Simeon or Anna, we have the peace of knowing the glorious eternal life that is to come. As this peace with God fills our hearts, it moves us to live in peace with each other too.
How can an omnipresent God be held in his mother’s arms? How can an all-powerful God be too weak to walk? This is the mystery of the incarnation—that God took on human flesh. We cannot understand how it can be so. But the Spirit enables us to grasp that this incomprehensible truth is very good news. This is the Savior we need! As true man, he was born under God’s law, all the commandments that we have broken. Where we have failed, Jesus was perfect. As true God, when he laid down his perfect life, it was a sacrifice valuable enough to pay for the sins of the world, so that we might be adopted as God’s children. Christmas Day fills us with wonder—that the Creator God could become flesh and dwell among us and that, in his great love for us, he would do such a thing. Let us marvel at this good news of great joy!
In Eden, mankind fell into sin, bringing death and despair to Paradise. God immediately promised to send a Savior who would undo that devastation. This Savior would be a descendant of Adam and Eve—a human being. Century after century, through the prophets, God reiterated and expanded upon that promise of a Savior-King. In a manger in Bethlehem, on that first Christmas, God’s promise was fulfilled. The perfect faithfulness God demonstrated in keeping all his promises about Christ’s first coming at Christmas is what gives us the certainty and comfort that God will keep his promises about Christ’s second coming on judgment day. The King shall come!
The historic Christian Church gave Latin titles to each Sunday. They titled the Third Sunday in Advent “Gaudete,” which means “Rejoice!” As we reach the midway point of Advent, we remember that when the King shall come, he will bring us perfect and everlasting joy. Joy is not the same thing as happiness. Happiness is an emotion. Joyfulness is a condition. Happiness comes from your circumstances. Joyfulness comes from your King entering into your heart and assuring you of his abiding love and your glorious future. Therefore, happiness is fleeting. Joyfulness is enduring.
Scriptures teach that King Jesus is the Son of God in flesh and the only hope for salvation. Jesus himself claimed that he is the only way into the glorious kingdom of heaven. You do not approach meeting someone like that casually or carelessly. You prepare meticulously. What does that mean? What does a life of readiness—ready to meet such a King—look like? In one word: repentance. If we insist on hanging onto our sins, how can we receive the One who came for the very purpose of taking those sins away? Throughout history, God has raised up called servants—like John the Baptist—to preach a message of repentance. This repentance is central to our preparation for the Lord’s coming. Without repentance, the King’s coming only terrifies. But all those who believe and repent look forward to the coming of the King and the consummation of his everlasting kingdom.
Rulers plan, administrate, and govern. They typically do not save. If your house is on fire, it will not be the mayor who shows up to save you from the flames. If America were attacked, the President would serve as the commander in chief of the armed forces. The President would not pick up a weapon, go to the front lines, and fight to save you from the enemy. Jesus is different. He is both infinitely greater than all other rulers, yet also infinitely humbler. He does not consider it beneath his rank as King to risk his life for his subjects. He is willing to fight for us. He is willing to die for us. For King Jesus came into our world for one reason—to save us.
Consider the Christian man whose body aches from both the cancer and the chemo. Look at that faithful old woman, back arched by time, fingers twisted by arthritis, eyes close to blindness. These believers may pray for death, precisely because they know that for the children of God, death is not the end of life. Death is the end of sorrow and pain. They yearn for the end of those things, and the beginning of their perfect eternity with Jesus. We have come to the end of the Church Year. It is time to talk about the end of this world on Judgment Day. That day does not scare the believer. The first time Christ came he saved us from our sins and the accusations of the devil. The second time Christ comes, he will save us from everything else. On that day, disease, gone. Abuse, gone. Heartache, gone. Even death is ended. None of those things will exist ever again. But we will exist forever with our Lord Jesus. Until then we live in the time in between. As we look at all Christ did at his first coming, we yearn for him to come again to end this broken world and to usher all the saints into everlasting glory.
On Thanksgiving Day people love to talk about being thankful for the wealth and possessions they have. Yet people are often thankful with the mindset, “I’m thankful for everything that I have done and for all of the things I have earned through the work of my hands.” Our readings this morning remind us that every good and perfect gift has been given to us by our heavenly Father. Since God is the one who blesses us with everything we need for body and soul, let’s give thanks to the God who has blessed us so richly.
As we wait for Christ to return, we are not to be sedentary. The reason Christ has not yet returned is that there is still work to be done. And Christ carries out his good work through us, his Church. So, until Christ comes again and says, “Stop!” believers will be busy with faithful service. Christ has given every believer gifts and talents. And when Christ entrusts us with those gifts and talents, he calls us to use them all for his glory. In the time between Christ’s first and second coming, we use everything the master has given us to live according to his will and to carry out his mission.
Imagine you are planning to take the family out to dinner. You all have to wait for someone to get ready. Minute after minute passes. What can happen in that situation? It is easy to focus on something else and completely forget the original goal. When that family member is finally ready, you’ve become immersed in a movie. Or perhaps, as you were waiting, you grew drowsy and fell asleep. As we wait for Christ to return, as day after day passes, it can be easy to get distracted, to lose vigilance, to become spiritually drowsy. God forbid that Christ should return and find us spiritually asleep. Today we are reminded that the time in between Christ’s first and second coming is a time for watchfulness. The Church prayers, “Lord God, keep us ever watchful for the coming of your Son that we may sit with him and all your holy ones at the marriage feast in heaven.”
Childbearing is an excruciating process. Yet each day countless women, wanting a baby, willingly become pregnant. This shows that pain can be endured if we know it is temporary and that happier times come immediately after. Likewise, the time in between Christ’s first and second comings are going to be full of hardship, especially for believers. How do we bear it? We remember that this is temporary. Happier times are coming! That truth is made crystal clear on this All Saints’ Day. On this day we remember every saint who has gone before us—all those who had faith in the Lamb of God: the heroes of faith in Scripture; our faithful Christian family members, now fallen asleep. They all endured hardship and pain. But no more. Now they enjoy perfect glory, peace, and joy. As we journey through this time in between, how do we endure? We remember all the saints. We focus on the future glory that waits for us.
In the great timeline of human history, there are only two ultimately significant points: the first time Christ came to our world to win salvation by his life, death, and resurrection; and the second time Christ will come to consummate his everlasting kingdom. We live in the time in between those two points. It is a time of tension. We know that peace and perfection are ours already because of what Jesus did the first time he came. Yet we do not enjoy a peaceful and perfect existence now already. We will not know such a life until Christ comes again. And so we wait and watch, living in the time in between. As the church year draws to a close, Scripture points us toward the end of time when Christ will come again. Until then Christ teaches us how to live in the time in between.
“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established” (Romans 13:1). Note the absolute language: no authority. None. Stated positively, every government and all government authority figures have power only because God gave it to them. Therefore, as citizens of the United States, we don’t support the government because those we voted for were elected, because we approve of the current tax policy, or even because freedom of religion is enshrined in the First Amendment. We support our government simply because it was instituted by God. Jesus himself taught that we owe respect and obedience to our government, even when it doesn’t align with our political preferences. Christians sometimes struggle with this. We see that government and rulers can be evil. Certainly, if government asks us to sin, “we must obey God rather than human beings” (Acts 5:29). But the existence of corrupt government and evil rulers does not negate what Scripture says to be true. “There is no authority except that which God has established.” Therefore, when we talk about “godly government,” we are not saying that the only legitimate governments are those who do what is perfectly godly. We are confessing our belief that the King of kings is in perfect control of all the governments of this world and that he works in all things—including tyrants and dictators—for the eternal good of his dear children.
There are invitations we might be tempted to reject: an invitation to an event you are not interested in, an invitation to a party that takes place at the same time as something else you want to do. There are other invitations that people would say you’ve lost your mind to reject: an invitation to go on a free tropical vacation, an invitation to go backstage and meet your favorite musical group, or an invitation to the Super Bowl. We get so many invitations. Some we accept; others we reject. Where does God’s invitation to participate in his heavenly banquet rank? Scripture often pictures eternal life as a joyful party, full of friends and family, laughter, and the finest foods. Through a story, Jesus teaches us how insane it would be to reject God’s gracious invitation to that eternal celebration. More, Jesus tells us what we need to get into that best of all banquets.
Patience is a virtue. But can too much patience be a vice? If you are too patient, waiting to see if that pain in your stomach goes away with time, you might make a problem worse. If you are too patient with an incompetent employee, you will lose productivity before the inevitable—his firing—occurs anyway. Too much patience would seem not to be a virtue, but reckless behavior. Yet that is exactly what God demonstrates to a rebellious human race—reckless patience. Through a story, Jesus teaches exactly what God’s patience means for us.
You have maybe heard the accusation or perhaps even made it yourself: “He’s so fake!” That charge claims someone’s friendliness or kindness is a sham. Such insincerity bothers us. We would generally rather someone be honest about how they feel about us than be fake. Through a story, Jesus teaches us that God feels the same. God doesn’t want us to simply go through religious motions like some sort of show. He sees right through that. God’s desire is that our repentance would demonstrate sincere sorrow over sin. God wants us to see the grace and forgiveness he has shown us in Christ, and in response, to love him back deeply and sincerely.
Give a single bag of M&Ms to two four-year-olds and tell them to share. You will witness counting done with accountant-like precision. Each child will get an equal amount of candy because that is fair. Human beings have an incredibly strong sense of fairness. That is why it can be so perplexing when we see how God dispenses blessing and grace. We see people who mock God, who are more prosperous than believers. We see people who convert on their deathbeds, and Scripture tells us they obtain the same salvation as someone who has been Christian all his life. How is that fair? Through a simple story, Jesus teaches us a profound truth. We need to stop expecting God to be fair. God is not fair. He does not give us what we deserve, and that’s called mercy. In fact, he gives us what we don’t deserve, and that’s called grace. No, God is not fair. He is breathtakingly generous.
“Pay it forward.” That phrase means that when someone does something for you, instead of paying that person back directly, you pass along kindness to another person instead. Doing something kind for someone else is a way of thanking the person who originally did something kind for you. Today, God applies that concept to forgiveness. God forgave our countless sins. He was willing to pay an incomprehensible price—the death of his Son. Obviously, we will never have the occasion to do the same for God. We will never have to forgive God because everything he does for us shows perfect love and care. God never wrongs us. But others may do us wrong. Others may cause us pain. And when we are quick to forgive, it is one way we thank God for being so quick to forgive us. This is what God wants in his Church—people who, like him, are quick to forgive.
Imagine, late one night, you notice the house across the street is on fire. You see no activity inside. You say to yourself, “Pounding on the door in the middle of the night might scare the family. I’m sure they’ll realize what’s going on eventually.” Ridiculous! You would never do that! To let a family sleep while flames surround them would be cruel. Your inaction would make you a killer. The truth is you would pound on their door at 3:00 AM, screaming. You would throw a brick through their front window if that was what it took to warn them. You would not care if it startled the family. This is a matter of life and death! Love compels you to do whatever it takes. God wants the people of his church to be willing to say hard things to people when that is what is necessary to save them from an even worse type of fire. Warning against sin is not easy. It upsets people, even offends them. But saying hard things is the loving thing to do when it is a matter of eternal life and death.
Some churches teach that if one follows God, God responds by granting prosperity and peace. Today Jesus teaches that is nonsense. The Son of God tells us that if we are his disciples, if we are part of his Church, we will have to bear crosses. Believers will suffer in this world, oftentimes for no other reason than they are believers. It is painful to struggle against the temptations and priorities of this world. It can be agonizing to face the same scorn and ridicule Jesus faced. Why bother? We carry our crosses in gratitude for Jesus carrying his cross, one too heavy for us to bear because it was weighted down with our sins. We carry our crosses because we know that in those moments of struggle, we are forced to turn to Christ and rely on his strength. The church takes up its crosses, because this is the Christian path, the one Jesus himself walked: first the cross, then the crown.
Jesus asked, “Who do you say that I am?” Make no mistake. That is the most important question in the world. And it is a question every human must answer. A complimentary answer can still be dead wrong. Some in Jesus’ day thought he was John the Baptist or the prophet Elijah come back from the dead. Complimentary, but dead wrong. Today plenty of people believe Jesus existed. They believe he was a wise teacher or a role model for love. Complimentary, but dead wrong if missing the main point. Jesus is both Lord and Savior, the Messiah, the Son of the living God. This truth is the core of saving faith. It is the central message God has called our church to proclaim. What does God want in a church? He wants a church that really knows Jesus.
“All are welcome!” Is that true at our church? Historically, it rarely is true. In the gospels, the average Jewish person would have thought it odd, even offensive, if someone who wasn’t an Israelite walked into their place of worship. Taking it a step further, some of the Jewish religious leaders would imply that church was meant for those who zealously followed religious customs and traditions. Those were “good church folk.” So church was meant for people of the right heritage and who behaved the right way. What about us? Is it conceivable that a stranger could walk into our church, and for some reason, you would ask yourself, “What is someone like that doing here?” Or, just perhaps, you are asking that question about yourself? “There are some seemingly godly people here. I’m not like them. Do I really belong?” Today, Jesus shows us that God wants church to be for all people. All of us—regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, or social status—have the same problem of sin. And we all have the same Savior. Therefore, anyone who comes to Christ’s Church and cries out, “Lord, have mercy!” is more than welcome.
Wherever faith clings to the promises of God, doubt is always lingering in the back of our mind, constantly asking the serpent’s garden question, “Did God really say?” How striking to think that one must have faith in God before it is even possible to doubt him! It is not uncommon that, in times of adversity, doubt rears its ugly head—doubts about God’s care, God’s promises, God’s providence. In those times, the true answer to doubt is not found in some great miracle that removes adversity but in the still small voice of our Savior God whispering to us in his Word. Through that Word, Christ reaches out to us with nail-scarred hands, proof of his great love. Jesus gently says, “Why did you doubt?” Our faith is restored. The Christian answers doubt with faith because Jesus makes it so.
The hardest times to trust in God are the times we need him most. It’s easy to trust God when your job is great, your health is fine, your relationships are strong, and your family is well. It’s easy to trust God when the sun is shining, but what happens when your life is suddenly overshadowed by dark days? When tragedy or conflict affects us, we may wonder if God continues to care and provide for us. At those times the Christian focuses on certain foundational facts. The Christian was chosen, predestined, and adopted as God’s dear child. God has provided the Christian with innumerable spiritual blessings and promises the Christian an eternity of glory, peace, and joy. If we look at those spiritual blessings God provides to us, how could we doubt that he will, at the right time, give us everything we truly need? The Christian trusts God to provide.
What do you consider your life’s priorities? If you made a list, what would be near the top? Faith, family, and friends would probably head the lists of many. Financial security and health would be right up there. Reputation and recreation would likely make the cut. But perhaps a more interesting question than “What do you consider your life’s priorities?” is “Which of the items on that list would you be willing to sacrifice to save your top priority?” What if you had to give up the whole list—family, friends, finances, health, reputation, recreation—to save just one priority: faith? This week we are given an honest assessment of what really matters in life. The kingdom is worth everything. Worldly wealth can buy the things of this world, the type of things that rust and decay, things that will not last. True wealth is spiritual wealth. It can be found only in God and his eternal blessings for us in Christ. The Christian seeks spiritual wealth first and will sacrifice anything to obtain it.
The wheat that grows in the Middle East is a variety that looks much like wild grass or weeds. It is difficult to tell wheat and weeds apart until shortly before harvest time when the wheat stalks develop a head containing the kernels of grain. Try and pull the weeds out of a wheat field, and you will likely pull up a fair amount of wheat accidentally. So you need to wait for the harvest to separate wheat from weeds. This week Jesus uses that image to illustrate life on this side of heaven. Christians are pictured as wheat planted by the Lord. Evil and unbelieving evildoers are pictured as weeds. We might want God to take care of evil now—to pull up all the weeds. But he tells us to wait for the harvest. God is going to fix the problem of evil in this world, but it might not be today or even tomorrow. What does God want us to do while we wait? He wants us to live like wheat among weeds, serving the purpose for which he planted us. That means being faithful, fruitful, and mindful of the coming harvest.
Planting seeds by hand can seem magical. In your hand, the seed looks insignificant and lifeless. Yet you put the seed into the soil, and the natural process of life begins. All by itself, the seed germinates and sprouts and reaches to the sun. Except when it doesn’t! Plant multiple seeds, and often only some, perhaps just a small amount, will sprout. As these few sprouts grow, birds, pests, weeds, and weather attack. The reality is that once the seed leaves your hand, you are at the mercy of forces beyond your control. Today, God uses that experience from nature to explain the supernatural process by which God calls humans to faith through the gospel. The Christian is planted by the Word. The Christian can plant the seed of the gospel into the soil of another’s heart. What happens after that is completely beyond our control. Yet God promises us that his Word always accomplishes his good purposes. God’s Word is powerful, all on its own, without our help.
Without rest, we suffer. Studies show that after 36 hours without sleep, most people will experience extreme fatigue and hormonal imbalances, resulting in decreased attention, poor decisions, and even speech impairment. Other studies show that if someone takes no breaks during their workday, their productivity is lower than those who take periodic breaks. We need rest. Christians know they need more than sleep or breaks. We need more than physical rest. We need spiritual rest. The Christian knows that the only place to find that type of rest is Jesus. Jesus provides more than a pause in work, more than enjoyable recreation. Jesus provides the removal of our sins, the cleansing of our guilty conscience, and a gentle new yoke of discipleship. In Jesus, the Christian finds rest from his burdens, rest from his battles, and rest forever in heaven.
Not all love is good. It is self-destructive to love bad things. However, it is just as harmful to love good things in a bad order. For example, it would seem to be a good thing that a man loves his dog. But if he loves his dog more than he loves his wife, his “love” for both is disordered. That is not in the best interests of the man, his wife, or even his dog. For love to be healthy, it needs to be properly ordered. The Christian loves God above all things. For the Christian understands that everything in this present world is transitory. Relationships fail. Empires fall. Accomplishments are quickly forgotten. But nothing about God is transitory. God’s love is eternal. He promises the Christian everlasting life. And so the Christian struggles not simply to avoid loving bad things. The Christian struggles to love God above all other good things too. Because the Christian understands that God is of ultimate value.
“When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion on them” (Matthew 9:36). The Greek word translated “compassion” refers to a type of love that almost overwhelms one’s emotions. Imagine a father looking at his little girl lying in a hospital bed near death. The father’s heart aches. That father would allow the surgeon to cut any organ out of him, without anesthesia, and transplant it into his daughter, if that’s what it took to save his little girl’s life. That’s the idea behind the Greek word for “compassion.” Jesus looks at the people and is willing to do anything for them—to make any sacrifice, even the ultimate one at the cross. In that same compassion, the Lord of the Church raises up ministers. As those ministers share his grace and mercy, Christ saves eternal lives. More, he fills those ministers with his Spirit, so that they also feel compassion for God’s people.
From its birth, the New Testament Church has been persecuted. The religious leaders in Jerusalem tried to stamp it out, but they only succeeded in spreading Christianity throughout Judea and Samaria. The Roman Empire persecuted Christians with stakes and lions, yet God’s Church exploded with growth in those early centuries. In Martin Luther’s day, both the pope and the emperor sought to stop the gospel movement that was spreading from Germany. But God was a mighty fortress for the Church. Still today, the Church is persecuted. Every day thirteen Christians worldwide are killed because of their faith. Another twelve are arrested or imprisoned simply because they profess faith in Christ Jesus. In the U.S., we have freedom of religion enshrined as a constitutional right, but that is no guarantee for a life free of persecution. Until Judgment Day, some will attempt to shout down the truth of Christ. We will be persecuted. That won’t stop us. The holy ministry preaches Christ despite persecution. Christ never promised his Church that ministry would operate unopposed. But he did promise to give courage to his witnesses.
They never forgot their past. Moses never forgot how, in a fit of anger, he killed a man. Paul never forgot how he had savaged the Church of God, overseeing the persecution and execution of Christians around Jerusalem. Matthew never forgot how, as a tax collector for the Roman Empire, he was disdained as a swindler and traitor to his people. These men never forgot their past. But God did. God forgave them all their sins and called them into the gospel ministry. The holy ministry is not filled with perfect people. The holy ministry is filled with sinners whom God has called out of his boundless mercy. The holy ministry is God’s gift to the Church. But it is also God’s gift to ministers, who certainly do not deserve the privilege of being God’s public servants. God calls sinful and weak individuals into the ministry so that as his kingdom advances, we give credit where credit is due—to the Holy Spirit.
In the first half of the Church Year (Advent through Pentecost), we look at the life of Christ—his birth, ministry, death, resurrection, ascension, and the sending of the Holy Spirit. In the second half of the year, we look at the teachings of Christ. We begin by looking at one of the most mind-blowing truths: that God is triune. Already in the very first chapter of the Bible, we read, “Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image…” (Genesis 1:26). Note the singular “God” and the plural “us.” Scripture teaches us that there is only one God but that he exists as three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He is triune (three-in-one). This teaching is not some logical exercise or philosophical excursion. The doctrine of the Trinity is central to our salvation. The triune God is our Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier. Lose this doctrine, and as the Athanasian Creed says, you lose it all. A Jesus who is less than God is also less than a Savior. So often, when life gets hard, we get frustrated. We don’t understand how God is always working for our good. But the doctrine of the Trinity teaches us we cannot even comprehend God’s existence. How, then, could we ever comprehend all his workings? On this Holy Trinity Sunday, let it be enough to know that all three persons—Father, Son, and Spirit—love us with everlasting love.
Fifty days after the Passover, God’s Old Testament people celebrated Pentecost (Greek for “fifty”). Pentecost commemorated the gathering of the harvest and was also used to remember the giving of the Law on Mt. Sinai, the start of the Church of Israel. Christ chose Pentecost to be the birthday of his New Testament Church too. By pouring out his Holy Spirit, Christ empowered the Church to gather in the great harvest of souls won by the Son. Pentecost is the third great festival of the Church, along with the Nativity and the Resurrection. The early church fathers mention the Festival of Pentecost often enough to lead many to believe it was celebrated annually already at the time of the apostles. Pentecost closes the fifty-day period after Easter and ends the festival half of the church year. The Church dresses in red this day to remind us of the tongues of fire that marked the Spirit’s gift, as well as the blood of the martyrs, which was the seed of the Church.
The Church waits. The Church in Jerusalem waited for ten days between Christ’s ascension and the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost. The Church today waits through the millennia between Pentecost and Christ’s second coming. We are waiting for the gifts that Jesus promised. We live in eager expectation of glory! That glory is not dimmed by early suffering. Rather, our current sufferings only remind us of the glory that awaits us. We are simply following in Christ’s footsteps. First comes the cross, and then comes the crown. Knowing what is coming lets us view our current troubles as light and momentary. They cannot mute the joy of living in eager expectation of glory. While we wait in the time between Christ’s ascension and return, we live knowing that we will suffer persecution for our faith in Christ, but God will work it for glory.
“The LORD God commanded the man, ‘You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die’” (Genesis 2:16,17). In giving that command, God showed love to man by making it clear that it is lethal to live contrary to God’s will. In giving that command, God provided man with the ability to demonstrate love for God—through obedience. True love involves obedience. Jesus did not simply say he loved his heavenly Father. He proved it by obeying his Father, even when that obedience meant dying on the cross for our sake. Love for God, who lives in us, leads us to a life of obedience. The God who lives in us calls us to live for him. It is as simple as that. Love for our risen Lord means obedience to his commands.
The gospel is the most inclusive message in the world. The benefits of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are meant for every man, woman, and child who ever lived. The gospel is also the most exclusive message in the world, for it maintains that salvation can only be found in one place—the person of Jesus Christ. Just listen to how Jesus speaks: “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). Jesus doesn’t say, “I will show you the true way to eternal life.” The prophets and apostles could say that. But Jesus says, “I am the way. I am the truth. I am the life you crave.” And note that definite article: “the,” not “a”! Jesus is not a way into heaven. He is the way. There is no other way than through faith in the One who died and rose again. The unbelieving world finds this claim—that Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven—to be the most offensive teaching in all of Scripture. Yet this is the very truth upon which Christ builds his Church.
Every culture has the concept of an ideal citizen, someone who typifies its values. For much of the United States’ history, the ideal citizen was the American farmer: hardworking, innovative, vital to our collective well-being. Even some of our first presidents were farmers. For the people of Israel, the farmer wasn’t their ideal citizen. It was the shepherd. Sheep were an invaluable source of clothing and food. But they were hard to keep in the Judean countryside. Its sparse grasslands are intermixed with desert. For sheep, food is sparse, but predators are plenteous. The survival of sheep was dependent on their shepherd. There he is. Weather-beaten. Sleepless. Armed. In the dusk, he scans the land, counting his sheep, making sure they are all accounted for, every one of them on his heart. You see why Jesus chose the shepherd to illustrate how he cares for us. He feeds us with his Word. He protects us from that roaring lion, Satan. Jesus is leading us into the green pasture of eternal life. For centuries, the Church has observed this Fourth Sunday of Easter to celebrate that he lives to be our Good Shepherd.
Imagine someone you love is near death. Their only hope of survival is risky brain surgery, one so complicated that only one surgeon in the state will attempt it. The surgery is scheduled. But as that doctor drives to the hospital, he is killed in a car accident. Any hope you had for your loved one’s salvation died along with that surgeon. That is how Jesus’ disciples felt after his death. “We hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel,” they said (Luke 24:19). Their hope for a better life died along with Jesus. They had let their personal wants and expectations cloud their view of Scripture which said that the Messiah’s death and resurrection were actually the source of all hope! So, the living Lord appeared to his disciples. He explained. He opened their minds to the truth of God’s Word. And in doing so, he restored their hope. There is little worse than a feeling of hopelessness. Christ’s disciples have victory over that feeling. He died, but he is dead no longer. The one who can heal us and give us life to the full lives! He lives to restore our hope.
Thomas had been taught and trained by Christ himself. He heard Jesus predict his death and resurrection. Yet, even after hearing the eyewitness testimony of friends, who all saw the resurrected Jesus, Thomas had doubts: "Rising from the dead. That can’t be possible!" Today is a day of great comfort for any follower of Jesus who wrestles with doubt concerning Christ’s promises or doubts about God’s Word. Jesus does not come to rebuke Thomas’ weak faith. Jesus comes to strengthen Thomas’ faith, giving him proof of the mind-bending reality of the resurrection—to let him feel it, touch it, explore it. Jesus didn’t reject Thomas. Jesus engaged Thomas and gave him peace. Still today, Jesus comes to his disciples in Word and sacrament. The living Lord speaks to us. He lets us partake of his true body and blood. When we show weakness of faith, he does not reject us. Just as he did with Thomas, Jesus engages us, giving us proof and peace.
A dead Jesus would do no one any good. But a resurrected Jesus? That would change everything; that would make Easter the most important event that has ever happened. Today God wants us to know with certainty that Jesus lives. Because if Jesus lives, then so will his believers. God had told his Church what was going to happen. Jesus told his disciples what would transpire in Jerusalem. The disciples were slow to believe the Easter truth. But God ensured that his people had witnesses to proclaim that Jesus lives again. He suffered and died according to Scripture (Second Reading), he fulfilled the sign of Jonah (First Reading), and it was attested to by angels (Gospel). Christ is risen indeed! Mankind is redeemed! Jesus has removed the fear of eternal death. Jesus has transformed physical death. It is not punitive. For the believer, it is the pathway into Paradise. Jesus has made us spiritually alive by giving us faith in his resurrection. Jesus lives! So, in every possible way, Jesus takes us from death to life.
Pick any head of state: the president, a prime minister, a king. Hopefully, they care about the people over whom they have authority. But even if they care, they live and operate above the people. The British royals live in a palace, not a three-bedroom ranch. The President does not fly coach. He sits in a recliner on Air Force One. There’s nothing wrong with this. Those offices are worthy of high respect. The point is these rulers live and operate above us. If a thief is breaking into your home, call 911 and see if your governor shows up. Your governor doesn’t even know your name! But, cut him some slack. He is only human. Jesus is not. Jesus is the King of kings, God and man in one person. He knows you intimately. More! He is willing to do absolutely anything necessary to serve and protect you. We see that this Holy Week. It begins with Jesus riding a donkey colt into Jerusalem—as the prophet foretold. As this week nears its end, Jesus is given a crown of thorns. He carries a cross out of Jerusalem and is nailed to it. Placed on his cross was this sign: “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” The sign was partially right. Jesus is a king, just not of the Jews. He’s our King, infinitely mightier than any ruler in history, while also being infinitely humbler. King Jesus has come to save us. Those other heads of state can serve as blessings. But this is the greater type of king that we need most.
The author and poet George Eliot once wrote, “Our dead are never dead to us, until we have forgotten them.” The Roman philosopher Cicero said much the same. He wrote, “The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living.” What second rate comfort! But that is the best the unbelieving world can offer—the sappy sentiment that our dead loved ones somehow “live on” in our memories. It is a sad way to attempt to cope as you walk through the cemetery. Jesus provides a better solution to death. He promises life. One day Jesus will give your faithful dead back to you—to love and to laugh and to hug and to dance. Body and soul, living and walking in the new heaven and the new earth. How do we know Jesus can and will keep that promise? Because the Son of God descended into the darkness of death himself and emerged on Easter Sunday as the first fruit of the resurrection of all God’s people. In the creed we confess, “I believe in the resurrection of the body.” Yet again, Jesus satisfies our greatest needs.
We know that unbelief will have consequences in the future—eternal separation from God. But unbelief also has consequences now. It makes you blind, in a sense. The unbeliever is unable to see the world as it really is. That which is harmful the unbeliever considers good; that which is good he considers meaningless. The unbeliever cannot see the danger that lurks behind temptation. He cannot see the blessing contained in God’s Word. The unbeliever cannot see the tragic fate that lies in his future, and he certainly cannot see the Savior. The Old Testament said that restoration of sight to the blind was one of the works of the Messiah. In his ministry, Jesus healed those who were physically blind. But even if our eyes work just fine, we still need Jesus to give us spiritual vision. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” Christ comes to shine his light into our darkened eyes that we might see him and live. Jesus meets our greatest needs. He provides sight for the spiritually blind.
A person can survive between one and two months without food. But a person can survive only two to three days without water. Water is one of our greatest needs. Research shows that even slight dehydration will adversely affect your mood, memory, and motor coordination. Become seriously dehydrated, and life ends quickly. This helps us understand what Scripture means when it says things like, “My soul thirsts for God” (Psalm 42:2). If one is separated from God, he is adversely affected. If he remains separated from God, he will die an agonizing eternal death. Not all admit it; yet it remains true for all. Everyone has a deep spiritual thirst. In our heart of hearts, we all long for everlasting life. Unbelievers try to satisfy that deep thirst with worldly things, a strategy doomed for failure. Believers look to the One who has promised, “Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.” Jesus meets our greatest needs. He alone possesses the water that satisfies those who are spiritually parched. He alone grants eternal life.
When assessing the seriousness of need, one factor is how widespread that need is. A homeless individual needs food. During a famine, an entire nation needs food. It is substantially easier to meet the needs of the former than the latter! The more widespread a need, the greater the need. When Jesus said, “No one can enter the kingdom of God,” he declared that the need for salvation is universal. He rightly condemned humanity as a whole. There is no one on the face of the earth who can make the case that they deserve God’s blessing. Yet, ages ago, God declared that all nations would be blessed. God declared his love for the world and promised he would save the world. God’s gift of salvation is meant for all people. Some interpret this to mean that all people will be saved in the end. This is not true. The gift of salvation is meant for the world; however, it is received by faith. “Whoever believes in him…” the Gospel says. However, the good news is that faith is also God’s gift, imparted through that gospel.
Our modern English word “champion” comes from an old English word that meant “warrior.” In ancient times, when two armies gathered to fight, sometimes as a prelude to the battle—and sometimes in place of the battle—each army would pick a mighty soldier, and these two men would fight each other. These elite warriors, these champions, would represent their people in battle. They would meet in the middle of the field. With everyone watching, they would fight to the death. Today we are reminded of an ancient war that began in Eden. The perfect peace and prosperity of Paradise were lost when a fallen angel convinced mankind to follow the demons in rebelling against their Creator. When Adam fell, he condemned the world to darkness and death. The enemy of God claimed that the children of men now belonged to him. God was having none of it. He promised he would send forth his champion, his Son. And so, today, we see a battle of champions. The demons send forth their strongest warrior—Satan. God sends forth the best of men, Jesus Christ. Jesus does what Adam and we could not. In crushing the devil, Jesus meets one of our greatest needs.
Throughout his ministry, Jesus said astounding things and did astounding things. Yet, he looked like a normal man. The prophet said, “He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him” (Isaiah 53:2). This would all change one day atop a high mountain. There, Jesus gave his disciples—gave his Church—a glimpse of the glory he set aside to be our Savior. And the voice of the Father thundered from the heavens, just as it did at Jesus’ baptism, announcing Jesus’ true identity to the world—the glorious Son of God. And so the Transfiguration of our Lord serves as a one-week bridge between the season of Epiphany, where Jesus is revealed as the true Son of God, and the season of Lent, where we witness what the Son of God came to do. On the Mount of Glory, St. Peter declared, “It is good for us to be here.” Indeed! For here we see the God of Majestic Glory, who became a man to suffer and die for us, just as Moses and the Prophets had foretold. Oh, how much this glorious God loves us!
The word “holy” comes from an Old English word, “halig” which means “whole” or “healthy.” We have a holy God. He wants us to live a holy life, one that is wholly dedicated to him, one that is spiritually and emotionally healthy for us. So, as Jesus continues his Sermon on the Mount, he makes a crucial point that not all his followers (including present day followers) understand well. Jesus came to free us from sin. He did not come to free us to sin. God commands that we live a holy life. He provides dire warnings to remind us just how holy he wants us to be. Today we face a rapid decline in public morals and private piety. Yet, Jesus calls his followers to be different. He urges personal purity. After examining our lives, we can only despair over our lack of holiness. So, the Gospel Acclamation reminds us to flee to Christ, who loves us despite our failures and who sacrificed himself for unholy people. Secure in his grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit, each day, we strive to live the holy lives to which we have been called.
There are many voices in this world that lead us to believe we can’t do the work of evangelism. These are the same voices that can tempt us to fall into sin and believe that God would never love a sinner like us. But God’s Word silences all of these voices. As we see in our Gospel reading for today, there were thousands of demons possessing a man, but they couldn’t stand up to the single voice of Jesus. His voice cuts through all of the evil influences of this world. Because of this everyone can proclaim the one true Savior! As we go out into the world, we aren’t carrying an empty message, but the powerful Word of God. This Word has the power to cut through unbelief and create faith in the hearts of those who hear it. So, with our many voices, we can go and point others to the one true Savior.
Jesus begins the Sermon on the Mount with a series of blessings. “Blessed are…” Jesus says, again and again. In the Latin Vulgate, these all begin with the word “beati” which translates as “blessed” or “happy.” Thus, this portion of the sermon is often called “The Beatitudes.” It had to give Jesus’ listeners pause. For what Jesus calls blessed, the world never would. The world praises the strong and the self-sufficient. Jesus calls blessed what others would see as weak or stupid. But, like any good preacher, Jesus is trying to drive home one crucial point. The weaker you are, the more ready you are to rely on God’s strength. The more difficult your present circumstances, the likelier you are to yearn for future reward. All the readings for today teach this truth. We have no real strength or wisdom of our own. But we don’t need it. Because God’s strength is enough to give the kingdom of heaven to the humble and poor in spirit.
The prophet Isaiah vividly described humanity as “people walking in darkness.” We are completely enveloped by sin and suffering and death. Worse, when we honestly assess the content of our minds and hearts, we find darkness there too. However, the prophet also foretold that within this deep darkness, a light would shine. The light would be so brilliant that it would be impossible to miss. As Jesus began his teaching and preaching ministry, that prophecy was fulfilled. Today Jesus continues to shine his light by preaching repentance and the good news of the nearing kingdom. He invites us to live a life that is illuminated by him. He calls us to walk in the light of love for God and for the brothers and sisters around us. Our Savior is the Light of the world, and so we shine his reflected light onto everyone around us.
For centuries the priests of Israel offered sacrifices to God for sin. Over and over blood flowed, testifying that the penalty of sin was death. But over and over a substitute stood in the place of the sinner. Countless animals died under the priestly knife as generations of the faithful brought lamb after lamb to the temple. This week we see the Lamb that God himself was bringing to the temple. This was the Lamb that God himself would sacrifice. In the great act that would remove our condemnation, the Messiah took our sins, stood in our place, and died as the substitute for sinful mankind. This was the fulfillment of the entire sacrificial system. Every lamb and goat and bird pointed to God’s Lamb who takes away our sin. The heart that sees his Savior willingly becoming the Lamb cannot help but take this news of salvation to the ends of the earth.
“Christ” is not Jesus’ last name, of course. It is a title. The Greek word “Christ” and the Hebrew word “Messiah” both mean the same thing—“The Anointed One.” Anointing was the practice of pouring liquid (typically oil) over the head of someone to signify selection for some special task. However, when the Lord anointed heroes to do his saving work, what he poured over them was his Spirit. For centuries people of faith had patiently waited for the promised Messiah, the servant of God who would bring the salvation we so desperately need. The time had come for Jesus to be revealed as the fulfillment of that divine promise. So, Christ our Lord came to the Jordan River to be baptized, that he might be recognized by John and revealed to Israel. At his baptism Jesus was anointed—marked as God's special servant and empowered by the Spirit of the Lord.
Christmas holidays mean family time. Extended family travel and visits. Meals are prepared, gifts given, memories are made. The memories might not all be good. Sometimes, Christmas dinners end in fights. Sometimes, hurt feelings keep family from coming together during the holidays. The painful reality is that we sinners fail our families, and our families fail us. God knows what that’s like. He, too, wanted his children to be everything he hoped for them to be. But he was sorely disappointed. That’s why he made a plan. God the Father sent Jesus to be the son that he always wanted—reciprocal in love, perfect in obedience, unwavering in devotion. Jesus came to be everything that God wanted from us. By coming to be the true Son of the Father, Jesus gives us rights to be redeemed sons and daughters—sons just like Jesus with the rights, the relationship, and the privileges of heirs.
For centuries on Christmas Day the Church has read chapter one of St. John’s Gospel. There, in just a few simple words, Scripture describes the indescribable: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14). The word God had spoken in the Garden, promising to send a Savior who was part of mankind, came true. God himself became flesh and blood—to be born under law, to suffer, and to die that he might redeem us. The Greek word translated “made his dwelling” can also be translated “pitched his tent.” That word describes a temporary dwelling place. God came into our broken world to dwell for a time, so that one day we might go to God’s perfect home and dwell for all eternity. Unlike those Christmas Eve shepherds, we cannot see Christ with our eyes. Yet still he dwells among us. For he is the Word made flesh. As we listen to the Word today, we truly are hearing the voice of Christ. As we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, we partake of his true body and blood. In Word and sacrament, still today, our Savior dwells among us, feeding our faith, preparing us for our true home.
This time of year, it is so easy to get caught up in the beautiful trappings of Christmas and forget why this birth had to take place. Mankind fell into sin. Sin brings an awful burden. Hatred and oppression. Suffering and pain. Guilt and shame. The devastation of death. These are all natural consequences of sin. And what can we do about any of it? Nothing of substance. We can numb ourselves to pain, but we cannot avoid it. We can fill our lives with distractions in an attempt to forget about our guilt. But our conscience is always nagging. And death… no one avoids that. Man can do nothing to shake off the burden of sin. Therefore, the Church prays that God would come in power to remove that burden for us. Since the Garden, there has been only one plan to do that: God would take on flesh and blood. To do what mankind could not do—remove all the burdens of sin—God became man. When you look into the manger, what do you see? A baby? Yes. But, more. That is Immanuel, “God-with-us.” The Son of God became Mary’s son, so that he could do for us what we could not do for ourselves
Humanity wants a made-to-order Messiah. We want the Savior we want. The Jews wanted a political Messiah who would remove Roman oppression and reestablish the kingdom of Israel. The generic Christian of today wants a Messiah who is a good teacher and an inspiration for brotherly love. Even faithful Christians face the temptation of a made-to-order Messiah. We want a Messiah who isn’t bothered by the sin that keeps cropping up in our life, who doesn’t call for total dedication but is fine if we only want a relaxed association with him. We want a Messiah who dispenses blessings liberally, to ensure that our life is blessed, as we would like to define it. That is not the Messiah who came. Jesus defies the expectations of Israel, the world, and us. Jesus reminds us that “blessed” is a term that he defines, and it begins with not rejecting the Messiah because he fails to meet our expectations. One proof that Jesus is the Messiah is that he fulfilled every prophecy. Therefore, blessed people respond to adverse circumstances with patient waiting and confidence that, at just the right time, their Messiah will fix all that is broken in their lives.
When Jesus comes back as judge, everyone will face a binary outcome. Either they will be judged righteous and experience the peace and joys of Paradise. Or they will be judged wicked and suffer unquenchable fire (Matthew 3). John the Baptist’s job was to point to the only way to prepare for a judgment, one where the stakes are that high. Repent! And look to the Lord Jesus. For when Jesus came into our world the first time, it was not as judge, but as Savior. All those whose faith is in Christ have already been judged righteous. Please, take these words to heart: the reign of God draws near, and his judgment is inevitable. As John the Baptist once said, “All people will see God’s salvation.” The only question is if one sees Christ’s second coming with joy or regret. For those who fail to repent, the coming of the Judge brings certain doom. But his people will see that Judge like a banner on the hilltop, rallying us to his glorious side.
Why would the Church Year begin by speaking about Christ’s second coming, which will usher in the end of the age? While it seems odd, it makes sense when we realize that this is the focus of the plan of salvation. The reason Christ came in the first place was to win salvation and he will come again to bring all of his believers to be with him in heaven. While no one knows the day or hour, it is a certainty that this day will come, and so we begin the church year with a reminder to keep watch so that we are prepared.
Theme: How could a man with no official authority, no military might, and no loyal allies possibly be a king? Yet this is what Jesus claimed to be. And for this bold statement, the religious “leaders” at that time roused the people against Jesus to the point that they called for his crucifixion. But in the unlikeliest of ways, this is how Jesus would show himself to be the king he truly is. Because in going to the cross, he would suffer the punishment for the sins of the world and win paradise in heaven for all who believe in him. For the thief on the cross and us, we see Jesus as the king who is now at God’s right hand, ruling over all things.
Our world is full of victims of abuse, violence, and oppression. In many cases, this evil goes unnoticed or unpunished. Injustice can drive victims in two possible directions. They can be filled with despair over the unfairness of the situation. Or they can be filled with hatred and a desire for revenge. While Christians wait for Christ’s return on the Last Day, they are by no means the only ones who suffer at the hands of others. They are, however, often included among them. Believers have always faced opposition from a world who rejects the one we believe in. When we suffer, what are our options? Do we throw up our hands in despair? Do we take matters into our own hands and seek vengeance? The certainty of that Last Day gives us a better option. We can leave justice up to the Judge. We can be confident that on the Last Day every wrong will be righted. We can look forward to the Last Day—also known as Judgment Day—because we are confident of where we stand with God through faith in Jesus Christ.
We believe in “the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints” (Apostles’ Creed). All with saving faith in Jesus as their Savior are holy. (Saint comes from the Latin word sanctus which means holy.) God grants the status of saint to all believers. Since sainthood is achieved through faith in Christ, we refer to believers as the invisible Church. Members are unknown to us since only God can see the heart. Furthermore, even if we knew the identity of each saint on earth, they would not look all that different from the rest of mankind. Believers still struggle with trials, temptations, and sin. Nor does membership in the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints make life easier. In some ways it makes life more difficult as we struggle against a world that is hostile towards Christ. However, some members of the communion of saints no longer struggle with trial and sin. They are not oppressed by an anti-Christian world. These are all the saints who, through their Christian death, have triumphed over all these things. The blessedness of being God’s saint is no longer invisible for them. They live in the glory of Christ’s light. This week, we thank God for those members of the communion of saints who have gone before us and now enjoy everlasting life. We feebly struggle, just as they once did. But now, thanks to Christ, they in glory shine. Their example encourages us as we patiently wait to join them.
We value freedom and strive to protect freedoms. But do we truly understand freedom? Freedom for many means doing what you want without control or coercion. Jesus helps us to understand true freedom: “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (Gospel). Jesus says that you will never be free by living however you want. Take that attitude towards life and you'll be a slave. You'll only be free—spiritually, emotionally, eternally—“If you hold to my teaching” and therefore “know the truth.” A key principle Martin Luther established through the Reformation is sola scriptura, Scripture alone. Luther thought it was the answer to all of life’s fundamental questions. On what basis is a belief or practice justified of rejected? Scripture alone. Who or what is the final arbiter of truth? Scripture alone. Heirs of the Reformation still bind themselves to Scripture. Does restricting ourselves in this manner curtail freedom? Just the opposite is true. God’s divinely inspired truth brings freedom. It frees us from slavery to sinful delusions, the burden of guilt, and any earthly power. This week we see that when we willingly bind ourselves to truth, Jesus keeps his promise. The truth sets us free.
Last week we heard Jesus ask, “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8). As we consider Jesus’ question, it might be easy to assume that any decrease in faith we observe in the world corresponds with an increase in secularism and disdain for God’s Word. That type of unbelief certainly can be observed in our world. However, today we see there is another type of unbelief, a type that looks upright and moral. The absence of the faith Jesus seeks isn’t always complete and total rejection of God or the Bible or even Jesus. It is possible for someone to have respect for Scripture and Christ, yet ultimately trust in his own goodness when it comes to his relationship with God. It is natural for us to want to believe that our relationship with God revolves around our obedience to his commands. We desperately desire to believe that, if we just apply the right spiritual advice and effort, we can earn God’s approval and eternal inheritance. This, too, is unbelief, just as much as paganism or secularism. This week Jesus uses God’s law for its chief purpose: to expose sin and crush our natural pride. In Christ’s hands God’s law is a powerful tool used to shape in us the faith he seeks—one totally dependent on God to do what only he can do.
Disciples of Jesus need to learn how to pray. We need Jesus to teach us to ask for those things which our Father in heaven promises us. We need to learn to claim in prayer what he wants for us more than what we want from him. However, learning to pray is not like many of the other things we learn to do in our lives. Once we know how to write our name, tie our shoes, or ride a bike, the learning is done. There is virtually no danger we will forget how to do those things. Not so with prayer. Prayer is not something we learn to do once and then know how to do correctly for the rest of our lives. Learning to pray consists of a lifetime of persistence and struggle. But when we struggle with God in prayer, it is not an indication that something is wrong but that everything is right. Struggle is part of the very nature of prayer and at the heart of the blessings it brings in our lives of faith.
Gratitude is the appreciation and thankfulness we feel when someone does something kind to us or for us. There are two key factors that influence the intensity of gratitude. First, there is the deservedness factor. Say you do a favor for your neighbor, picking up his mail when he is out of town. A month later he does a favor for you, giving you a ride to the airport. You are grateful for his help, but not overwhelmingly so. You feel by doing a favor for him, you deserved his help to some degree. Second, there is the generosity factor. Say you do that favor for your neighbor, picking up his mail when he is out of town. When he gets back, he gives you a hundred-dollar bill. You’re stunned. “I can’t accept. This is too generous.” Apply this to God. Consider the deservedness factor. What does God owe us? How deserving are we of his blessing? Consider the generosity factor. What has he done for us? What blessings has he given us now? What blessings has he promised us in eternity? As Jesus increases our faith, so that we accurately answer all those questions, we become more than grateful. We overflow with gratitude.
Look up “duty” in the dictionary. It's defined as “something that one is expected or required to do.” Look up “duty” in a thesaurus. Some of its synonyms: chore, burden, obligation, work. “Duty” can carry some strong negative connotations. Now, consider this. In the world, as you rise through the ranks, you are able to leave many duties behind. For example, if you are high-up on the corporate ladder, you can delegate things you don’t want to do to someone else. In Christ’s kingdom it works just the opposite. An increase in faith does not lessen duties at all. It increases opportunities to serve God and others. Increased faith means increased obligations and work. But here’s the good news. The same faith that increases our duties leads us to delight in them. For through faith we know that we serve the one who first came to serve us. We consider it a privilege to imitate Christ in our service to others. Just as his service to us brought him great joy, so does our service to others.
Last week we learned the hard truth that while money can help make life easier in some ways, it cannot bring true happiness and fulfillment. This week we see that as much as money lets us down in life, its ultimate failure to deliver on its promises happens in death. Those who live with hearts filled with love for money and void of love for God will receive the only eternity that money can buy: one void of God and filled with pain. Though we might be fooled into thinking money helps in life, it will certainly fail us in death. Conversely, that which seems to offer little help in life will never fail us in death. The best example of this is the gospel. Those who hear and heed the Scriptures often appear to receive little benefit in life. Living by God’s Word doesn’t make life easier. In fact, faithfully following Christ often means a more challenging life, one filled with crosses and self-denial. Great wealth gains you the admiration and respect of the world. Being true to Scripture is more likely to gain you scorn and ridicule. Yet those who find the help they need in God rather than in money will never be disappointed. In death, they will receive a reward that dwarfs even the best things money can buy.
There are more than 2300 Bible passages that speak about money. Why? Money is a master Satan frequently tempts us to serve. And that evil foe knows how successful his efforts with money can be. Money provides us with a false comfort and a sense of security. It serves as a source of pride. It serves as a wonderful tool for a favorite pastime: justifying ourselves in our own eyes and the eyes of others. Jesus knows that serving money makes it impossible to serve God. The human heart is not big enough for both. As a result, Jesus does all he can to expose the futility of serving money. He also helps us see that the only one truly worth serving is our gracious, loving God. When we serve God, money is put in its proper place. Instead of money being a lord to serve, it becomes a resource for serving the Lord. This is the hard truth. There is no way for us to serve both God and money. But we can serve God with our money.
“He’s lost.” We use that term not only to refer to someone who is bewildered about where they are but also to refer to someone who is in a helpless, hopeless state. Mankind’s natural state is one of complete spiritual helplessness, a profound lostness. It manifests itself in countless ways. The one who simply wants God to leave him alone: lost. The one who feels she can handle life on her own: lost. The one who thinks he has the right to repent of his sins on his own timetable and on his own terms: lost. The one who thinks God owes them in some way: lost. Wandering around physically lost can lead to winding up in bad places. But the hard truth is that wandering around spiritually lost puts you in the worst place of all. Fortunately, Jesus does not leave us alone in our lostness. He relentlessly seeks us. He involves the rest of the Christian community in seeking the lost and rejoicing over the found.
It is an unavoidable hard truth. Our relationship with Jesus will put us in situations where we must decide where love for him ranks compared to love for other people and things. And Jesus is not content to be one of many important things in our life; he wants to be first. He wants us to follow his Word unwaveringly, even when he asks us to do difficult things. As a result, following Jesus will force us to let go of things we love and embrace things we would naturally loath. Jesus is loving and honest. He doesn’t hide this hard truth! Instead, he tells us up front that we must count the cost of following him. That means calculating what we might have to give up as his followers. He wants us to do that now, ahead of time, rather than waiting until we are in the heat of the moment and emotions are running high. However, our calculations should not only consider what we might give up for Jesus. They also entail calculating what we get through him! When we perceive the infinite blessings we find in Christ, the decisions we must make, while difficult, will be clear. Whatever is lost as we follow Jesus pales in comparison to what we gain.
Everyone knows that humility is a positive trait and pride is a negative one. So, why bother talking about what we already know? Because in spite of that knowledge, we still helplessly fall into the trap of pride. We cannot help but think that our ascent to the exalted status we desire is our responsibility. We even take our exaltation into our own hands, either by treating poorly those we believe we can stand on top of or by showing favoritism to those we believe can provide us with upward mobility. Rather than minimizing pride as a sin that is common or harmless, Jesus’ words today confront us with this hard truth. Those who exalt themselves will be humbled by God. But Jesus also gives us the promise we need to be freed from pride’s trap. Our exaltation doesn’t need to be our responsibility because Jesus has already made it his. Those who humble themselves, Christ will exalt.
When it comes to the difficult and uncomfortable topic of who goes to heaven and who goes to hell, it is natural to want to avoid the issue. One way we do that is to direct our attention to theoretical questions. “What is heaven like?” “How old will we be there?” Today, someone asks Jesus, “Lord, are only a few going to be saved?” Jesus brushes these questions aside. Instead, he answers the question we should be asking. Rather than talking about how many will be saved, Jesus explains how to be among the saved. What he teaches today through his Word is a hard truth. The doorway into heaven is narrow. Scripture consistently teaches that those individuals who are certain they will be first through that door are more likely to be last, if they make it through at all. Instead, the one who believes he is the last one God should let into his kingdom and that his only chance of getting in is through the grace of Christ will enter first.
We often divide humanity into groupings that are not really significant: this ethnic group versus that one, men versus women, wealthy versus the poor. Yet, every ethnic group is under God’s law. That law convicts both men and women of sin. Because of sin, the wealthy and the poor will both die. Only through faith in Christ is sin forgiven and the sting of death removed. God’s Word creates that saving faith, but not in everyone who hears it. Fallen man retains the awful power to resist the working of the Spirit inside him… to reject the gift of faith. Therefore, God’s Word produces the only people grouping that ultimately matters: believers and unbelievers. We want to overcome division and live in peace with other people. Here is a hard truth: total peace is impossible for the believer to achieve. Those who embrace the gospel in faith will inevitably face hostility and opposition. Following Jesus will come at a price. Yet he promises us our perseverance will be rewarded.
Last week Jesus warned us against overvaluing earthly wealth. This week Jesus warns against undervaluing heavenly treasure. Last week, Jesus exposed the folly of greed. This week, Jesus exposes the folly of worry, even when faced with the prospect of having a shortage of earthly wealth. This week might be the bigger challenge! When it seems we lack providence or protection for our daily lives, it can be hard to avoid worry. But Jesus focuses us. He points to creatures that do not labor or toil, yet are daily fed and clothed. Even more Jesus points to our Father who promises to give us the heavenly treasures of his kingdom. Jesus assures us that Father will throw in needed earthly possessions as well. We can pursue heavenly treasure wholeheartedly, confident that our Father knows all we need.
Jesus wants focused followers. However, one of the things that can most easily get in the way of our focus is our earthly possessions. It is no surprise, therefore, that Jesus’ words so frequently focus his followers on wealth. Jesus’ followers don’t reject earthly wealth or despise it. They can be grateful for every good gift that comes from the hand of God. However, Jesus’ followers value earthly wealth correctly. They understand what earthly wealth can and cannot do. They don’t give earthly wealth a role in their lives it will never be able to fill. This week we focus on the fact that the identity and security earthly wealth can never provide is found fully and freely in Christ.
In a sense, prayer comes naturally to us. We want so we ask. We hurt so we cry out. We are frustrated so we vent. We are blessed so we give thanks. So we sometimes define prayer as “speaking to God from the heart.” Seems so easy. What does not come naturally, however, is the focused prayer God wants for us. We need focus when it comes to the basis of our prayers. Our prayers are based entirely on the unique and unearned relationship with have with God, our Father. We also need focus when it comes to the content of our prayers. Yes, we can speak from the heart and ask for anything we want. But our Father invites us to pray specifically for the things he wants to give us. Prayer is the opportunity to bring our will into conformity with God’s will, not the other way around. We have much to learn about prayer. So, along with Jesus’ disciples, we say, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1).
We call worship a "service.” Which raises the question: who is serving whom? In answering that question, it is easy to focus on what we do in worship. “I set aside time in my week to come to church. I am singing praise to God. I brought him an offering. Clearly, I am serving him.” True enough. However, as God speaks this week, he clarifies our focus, letting us see that worship is primarily about him serving us. Through Word and sacrament, he delivers every spiritual gift he wants us to receive. Our service to God is good. His service for us is perfect. Our service to God is important. His service for us is essential. God loves our service to him. But we desperately need his service for us. Receiving his service is actually the highest form of worship. “God wants to be worshipped through faith so that we receive from him those things he promises and offers” (Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article IV).
Christ has not only given us his powerful Word. In his grace, he gives us ministers who proclaim that Word to us in whatever ways we need at the time: words of comfort, words of instruction, or even words of rebuke. Those who are entrusted with the care of Jesus' flock are expected to shepherd that flock just as Jesus would. They humbly assume that privilege, not to proclaim their own ideas or opinions, but to speak Jesus’ own words. They share Christ’s words, not just when it is welcomed gladly by those who hear it, but also when it is not. Ministers carry out their calling, not because of what they might gain from the flock, but because of what the flock might gain from Jesus through them. God’s words possess God’s power. Therefore, God provides us with ministers to proclaim God’s Word, so that God’s kingdom might come powerfully among us.
On this Sunday of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, the focus will be on “Believing Humility,” which the Tax Collector displays in the Gospel Lesson. He recognizes his immense sin and turns to Jesus for full and free forgiveness. This is the Christian life of repentance, worked in our hearts by the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacrament. In the sermon text from Psalm 32, we will see David inspired by the Spirit write about being convicted of his sin and the forgiveness the Lord shared with him through Nathan.
Victory! It’s something that we all want – whether it’s in sports or in life. And yet, in this sin-cursed world, we often face just the opposite (the struggles of the mother in the Old Testament lesson is an example). But listen to Jesus’ message in the Gospel! This gives Paul confidence in the Verse of the Day and the sermon text. We are more than conquerors through Jesus!
Paul told the Philippians that he thanked God every time he remembered or thought of them. As he wrote this letter to them from prison, he wanted them to know that thinking about them gave him joy even in his unhappy situation. We don’t know much about what the future holds, but, like Paul, we can be confident of one thing. God is in control.
As we read God’s Word from the first verse of Genesis to the last verse of Revelation, he gives us hints and glimpses of his Triune nature. God dwells in a “majesty and mystery” that far exceeds our understanding. But here is what we can understand. Every time we gather in the name of the Lord, our Triune God, we receive indescribable blessings.
God interrupted the rebellion of the people of Babel by confusing their language. On Pentecost he enabled the disciples to overcome all language barriers in order to communicate the good news about Jesus. The Holy Spirit worked through the good news they proclaimed to bring 3000 to faith in Jesus.
Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us. He is coming soon to take us to be with him there. Because we are washed in the blood of the Lamb we can say, "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
It may not always seem that Jesus is ruling all things for his bride, the church. But John sees Jesus riding a white horse to victory. He is our bridegroom, our knight in shining armor, who will come to rescue us from all evil and take us to the wedding banquet that never ends.
We must through much tribulation enter the kingdom of God. Paul and Jesus point us to the secret to having joy in the midst of trouble. It's seeing Jesus. Trusting that because he is our risen Lord and Savior we have forgiveness and eternal life.
Jesus gave his disciples a new command. Love One Another. If you know your Bible you might wonder what's new about that. The summary of the second table of the law is "Love your neighbor as yourself." Jesus explains what's new when he adds - As I have loved you, so you are to love one another." He wants us to show the same selfless love for others, everyone, as he has shown us, a love that moved him to leave heaven, live humbly in this sinful world, be betrayed, condemned and crucified, all to save sinners like us. The more you know and appreciate God's selfless love for you, the more you will be enabled to show selfless love to others. When you do, others will recognize that you are one of Jesus' disciples and God will be glorified.
Promises that go unfulfilled are empty words. A promise that you can be right with God by keeping rule and laws is an empty promise. Paul proclaims the fulfilled words of God. The resurrection of Jesus proves all God's promises are trustworthy. It is through faith in that we are justified, forgiven.
Everyone is born spiritually blind. It is only by means of a miracle that anyone can be brought to see that Jesus is the savior. Jesus worked this miracle in Saul by appearing to him on the road. He works it in our by letting us see him in his word.
Satan uses everything he can to keep Christians from witnessing. He uses our own fears and insecurities, threats from others, whatever he can think of because he knows that the Holy Spirit works powerfully through the word of God Christians share to bring people to repentance and faith. Knowing we have powerful good news to share helps us overcome restraint and share the good news about Jesus.
Because of Jesus' life, death and resurrection death has been swallowed up in victory. God gives that victory to us.
Who would have imagined that God would destroy the power of by death. Because Jesus died our death, fulfilling the law and paying the debt of our sins, death no longer has power over us.
The old covenant was a shadow of things to come. The sacrifices foreshadowed the Sacrifice of Jesus. Because he shed his blood for us we are priests who can enter the presence of God. He gives us his body and blood along with the bread and wine to assure us of forgiveness, strengthen our faith and inspire us to confess our faith without wavering.
Jesus entered Jerusalem humble and gentile, riding on a donkey colt so that he could suffered and die to pay for our sins.
Jesus took hold of us. He redeemed us with his blood. He made us his own, heirs with him of eternal life, citizens of heaven. History shows a long line of people who took their heavenly citizenship for granted and ended up losing it, like the Jewish leaders who rejected Jesus. With Paul, we want to pursue the goal of entering eternal life the way an athlete pursues a gold medal. Hold fast to what you have been given. Let no one take your crown.
Pastor Justin Dauck
Because Jesus willingly obeyed the Father in everything and then suffered for sin in our place the condemnation that was brought on us by Adam and by our own sins has been cancelled.
The father in Jesus' parable had two rebellious sons. We have walked in their shoes numerous times in our lives. He showed his rebellious sons mercy, welcoming his openly rebellious son home and going out and calling his inwardly rebellious son to repentance.
Like Israel, God has showered us with blessings. The temptation is to take them for granted and think that we can indulge in common sins as Israel did. Jesus crushes our false security with his call to repentance. May his blessings move you to serve him and your neighbor in thankful love.
The warning from the Pharisees that Jesus should leave Galilee because Herod wanted to kill him was a temptation hidden in the pretense of caring. Jesus crushed the temptation, trusting that his times were in the Father's hands. He was determined to carry out the Father's will no matter what threats he faced. We are thankful that he crushed this temptation for us because we often take shorts out of temptation instead of the way out that God has provided. May we trust that our times are in God's hands and are determined to carry out his will no matter what threats we face.
By resisting every temptation perfectly, living with out sin, Jesus can sympathize with us, offer help to us when we are tempted, but most importantly, his perfection is credited to us by grace through faith.
Being yoked to Jesus means that we get the benefit of his live, death and resurrection.
Jesus prepared his disciples for his suffering and death by letting them see his glory, and to see Moses and Elijah in glory. When his suffering tempted them to question whether he was the Christ they would be strengthened and encouraged by what they saw on the mount of transfiguration, and the words from the Father which reminded them to listen to Jesus who had also promised that he would rise from the dead on the third day.
The world says, "stand up for yourself. Don't get mad, get even." God says, "bless and pray for those who persecute you. Overcome evil with good." Jesus overcame evil by taking it on himself. He overcomes our evil with the good of the forgiveness he won for us. Only in view of his mercy to us can we bless those who persecute us.
What may seem to be a blessing may actually be a curse, what may seem to be a curse may actually be a blessing. Example: Paul's thorn in the flesh.
Jeremiah, Moses, David, the Apostles - They are not people we might have expected God to choose to proclaim his word. But that's who God usually chooses. People who are humble, who realize they can't do what they Lord is asking of them on their own. They need God to forgive them, enable them and inspire them so that they respond with Isaiah, "Here Am I, Send Me!"
Jeremiah received a message from God that was very unpopular. God told him he must say what needed to be said, to speak the word he had given him. Paul tells Timothy the same thing. There will always be those who don't want to hear what God's Word says. If we are faithful, we speak the words God has given us in the Scriptures even when they are unpopular.
When even Jesus who never said or did anything wrong is rejected, should we be surprised if people reject our witness? The Bible makes it clear that, because of our sinful nature, we all reject Jesus by nature. Only the Holy Spirit working through the word can bring anyone to faith in Jesus. May God grant us the ability through the Spirit the boldness to share the word no matter what the reception we receive.
Paul prays that the Spirit, working through the word, would enable us to comprehend more and more how much he loves us.
John looked like he might be the Messiah, but God decreed that he would only prepare the way for the Messiah. Jesus didn't look like he could be more than just a lowly carpenter from Nazareth, but God decreed that he was his one and only son and that he was pleased with him. What we see in baptism looks like simple water, but God decrees that it is a washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. When we look in the mirror our eyes see a sinner deserving of God's punishment, but in connection with our baptism God decrees we are his dear children, washed by the blood of Jesus.
God has made it clear in many ways that the Savior is for all people, not just Abraham's descendants. Abraham's true children are those who share the faith of Abraham. The Wise Men certainly fit that description as they worshiped a helpless baby as their Lord and King, and obeyed the word of the Lord they were given.
The pandemic has reminded us of our mortality. Nothing here on earth is permanent. Thankfully, in Jesus, we have a permanent city that can never perish, spoil or fade, kept for us in heaven.
Jesus didn't come to earth to help angels. They were either beyond help (demons) or not in need of help, confirmed in glory. He came to earth to live and die as our substitute.
No one can see the face of God and live, but Jesus reveals God to us and pays for our sins so that we can live in the glory of God forever
Elizabeth and Mary showed their humility in accepting the word of the Lord and giving him praise. The Lord lifts up all who humble themselves and look to Jesus as their Savior.
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart because God has removed his judgment against you. He is among you as a hero to save you.
Be careful what you ask for. That was what God told his people through Malachi. They wanted the Messiah to come and bring justice thinking they were the good people. God reminds them, and us, that only he is good. We are all sinners who need to be purified and cleansed from our sins. Thankfully Jesus didn't come in justice but to win salvation. God's soap is his blood shed for us on the cross. It cleanses us from all sin.
How does the Lord come near us now, between his first and second comings? He comes near to us in the Word and Sacraments, assuring us of his presence with us and his forgiveness of our sins.
Jesus entered Jerusalem with humble confidence and went to the cross to pay for the sins of the world Because of what he did in our place we too have humble confidence that our sins are forgiven and that we have a place in heaven.
Paul was able to be contend no matter what his situation in life was because he talked to the Lord in prayer, he focused on things that were excellent, praiseworthy and eternal, he was strengthened by Jesus through the word, and he rejoiced in the fellowship he had with other Christians.
Earthly rulers will always disappoint. They don't fulfill their promises. They can't save you. If you are looking for a ruler/king who always keeps his promises, who is always there for you, who is able to save you and grant you eternal life and peace, look no further than Jesus, King of kings and Lord of lords.
Everyone must appear before the judgment seat of Christ. What is the basis upon which we will be judged? Jesus says it is his word. It is whether or not we listened to his voice and trusted his claim to be the only way, truth and life.
John was comforted by the vision of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus still living and reigning with Jesus.
The three men in the furnace, Jesus, Peter and John, Paul, all these and more stood up for Jesus. Thanks to them, and others like Hus and Luther, the good news of the gospel has been preserved to us today. It's now up to us to continue to stand up for Jesus even in the face of threats or persecution.
When we remember that Jesus gave everything for us we are moved to give everything for him. The widow gave all she had trusting God's promise to bless all who put him first.
In Jesus' parable of the talents he praises both the servant who gained 5 and the servant who gained 2. The amount they gained was not what he praised. He praised their faithfulness. God looks for faithfulness in his serants.
God challenges his people to consider their priorities to see if anyone or anything is more important than him. He has made us his priority by taking on flesh and blood in order to pay for all our sins.
Like Bartimaeus, in response to what Jesus has done for us, we follow him. We refuse to be quiet about who he is and what he has done for us.
God often told his people to care for and protect foreigners, fatherless and widows, those who are easy targets for those who would abuse others. Jesus picks up on this theme as tells us to protect children, reminding us that it would be better for those who take advantage of them to have been thrown into the sea with a heavy stone around their necks. As we realize that we have not always protected children as we should we rejoice that Jesus always did in our place. He paid for every sin and cares for each person individually.
Moses showed humility. Miriam and Aaron showed what James warns about, pride and selfish ambition, when they complained about Moses. The disciples argued about who was the greatest and Jesus reminded them that in his kingdom, those who humble themselves and are willing to be servants of all are the greatest. Like Miriam, Aaron, and the Disciples, we often give in to pride and selfish ambition. Thankfully Jesus came to earth, humbled himself even to death on the cross and paid for our sins of pride and selfish ambition. When we recognize who God is and what he has done for us we are moved to give him humble praise.
As soon as Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ, Jesus make sure Peter, and we, understands what it means. Jesus must suffer. And Jesus reminds us that, if we follow him, we to must expect hard time.
The deaf man had friends who brought him to the one who cared more for him than anyone ever did or could. Jesus healed him. These men and Jesus showed love and care for a disabled man. We too can show love and care for the disabled, but not just for their bodies. The best thing we can do is bring them to know Jesus as their Savior from sin.
When it comes to eternal life, flesh is no help at all. God chooses to provide us with eternal salvation through is powerful word.
People were offended when Jesus talked about eating his flesh. Why did Jesus say things that offended people? He wanted to challenge them to say with the young boy's father, "Lord I believe, help me overcome my unbelief." Jesus wants us to "eat" his flesh, to take him in and trust him so completely that nothing he says or does will cause us to stumble in our faith.
Manna was a great blessing from God, but those who ate it still died. Jesus gives his flesh for the life of the world. Those who "eat" him, the bread of life, live forever.
Jesus worked hard to get the people to see that their source of their real hunger was their lack of righteousness. He wanted them to have a hunger and thirst for righteousness so that they would come to him as the only one who could satisfy that hunger and thirst. He alone has the Father's seal of approval. He alone is righteous. In grace he gives us the righteousness we need to stand in the judgment as a gift receive through faith.
With the feeding of the 5000 Jesus teaches us to trust him to provide for our needs, reminds us not to waste anything he has given us, and most importantly, shows that he is the Prophet, the Messiah who will not serve as an earthly king, but the heavenly king he alone can give eternal life.
The Bible presents a number of times that God tests his people. Think of Abraham being asked to offer Isaac. God tests us to help us grow in faith and trust in him. Through the tests he allows to come to us he is asking us what he asked Abraham, and Israel. "Am I #1 in your heart and life? Will you serve me and follow my instructions even if they don't make sense or if they contradict your own ideas?"
Give everyone what you owe them - To those in authority, honor, respect and obedience. To God, Fear Love and Trust above all things.
What temptations do Employees and Employers face? God calls on Employees to respect and obey their Employers and to remember that they are really working for the Lord not people. God calls on Employers to treat their Employees with empathy, compassion and fairness, to pay them fairly and in a timely manner. Ultimately none of us fulfills what God requires of us perfectly, but Jesus did. And, he paid for all the times we didn't. His love and forgiveness is what motivates us to do everything we do to the best of our ability and to the glory of God.
God tasks fathers with bringing up their children in the training and instruction of the Lord. Proverbs gives us examples of how to do that.
Catechism series. Third Article, the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit calls us out of the darkness of unbelief to the light of faith in Jesus through the gospel. As we continue to hear the gospel and use the sacraments the Holy Spirit strengthens and keeps us in the faith, and encourages and enables us to do and say what brings God glory.
The word Redemption, or Redeem, summarizes the great truth of Scripture. We were help captive by sin and Satan, born dead in sin. But from eternity God had a plan of redemption in place. He revealed it to Adam and Eve. He carried put it into action when Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary. By his perfect life and his innocent suffering and death he paid the price to redeem us, to set us from from sin, death and Satan. No perishable thing like Gold or silver could pay the price to set us free. Only the precious blood of Christ, the lamb without blemish or spot could and did. He set us free, so that we might serve him gladly and willingly, now and forever.
God gave Ezekiel a vision that assured the captives in Babylon that they were not forsaken or cut off by God. The Spirit works through the word Of God to give life to those who are dead in sin, and on the last day he will give life to everyone who has died.
Jesus prays that the Father would keep us connected to him and that he would protects us from The Evil One as we live as strangers in the world.
We are connected to Jesus by his love for us that moved him to give up his life for us. His love for us moves us to show the same kind of self-sacrificing love to others.
Jesus is the true vine. He produces/makes us branches, provides all the nourishment we need and enables us to produce fruit that brings glory to God.
Even though the disciples saw Jesus we made sure that they were convinced from the Scriptures that he is the Messiah, their savior.
Jesus brings true and lasting peace by his resurrection which proves our sins are forgiven and that we too will rise.
The scars on Jesus' hands and side are evidence of his resurrection. When he comes again and raises us from the dead we will see them and live in his glory for all eternity.
Jesus humbled himself, not just to wash his disciples' feet, but even to the point of death on the cross in our place. Knowing what Jesus did for us moves us to humble ourselves. It helps us see our purpose in live is to humbly serve God in faith and our neighbor in love as we wait for the time he will return and exalt us with him forever.
Like David we have enemies that pursue us relentlessly, the Devil, the world and our flesh. Like David we have an all powerful helper whose promises never fail.
David understood the struggle with guilt. He learned that the only thing that removes guilt is confession and absolution. Only God removes our guilt by taking it off of us and putting it on Jesus.
God reveals his true glory in his Word, the Law and the Prophets. He shows himself true to every promise, the most important of which is his promise of a Savior. Through his word he guides us in ways that are pleasing, and strengthens us to recognize and avoid temptation.
Like the Psalmist we too are bothered when we see the wicked prosper while believers suffer. Like him we find the answer when we go to the sanctuary of God and are reminded that this life is not the end. God's justice will be delivered on the last day when those who have rejected Jesus and mocked God will be sent away to eternal punishment while those who are righteous through faith in Jesus will bask in the glory of God for all eternity.
David was being chased by an enemy army led by his rebellious son as he was reminded of his sins. How did he respond? He turned to the Lord in prayer and trusted that the Lord would deliver him. Like David, we too can trust that the Lord will deliver us from all our enemies because Jesus has defeated the Devil for us and continues to intercede for us.
Peter wanted to hold on to a little heaven on earth. But to keep Jesus in glory on the mountain would have kept him for doing what was needed for our salvation. The Father reminded Peter and us to listen to Jesus. Listen to everything he says.
Jesus showed his authority by healing every illness and ordering demons to be quiet and come out. But illnesses and demon possession were only symptoms of the real problem he came to solve. He came to forgive sins and destroy the devil's work forever.
The Holy Spirit teaches Stewardship. True Stewardship is a fruit of faith that comes when we focus on the Grace we have received from God. His grace to us fills our hearts with joy, trust and generosity. It moves us to use all that we are and have to bring glory to God and good to our neighbor.
Unity? It has to start with being reconciled to God. It means recognizing everyone is equally sinful in God's eyes, and that Jesus died to pay for everyone's sin.
Add, Increase, Grow. These are words Peter uses to encourage us to life-long study of Scripture. As we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus we will gladly share the good news with everyone.
The writer holds up the Faithfulness of God to inspire us to gather for worship. As we gather, we encourage each other to show love to God and to one another we let our light shine and have opportunities to share the good news about Jesus.
Nothing the world offers can give true and lasting peace. Simeon found that true and lasting peace comes from seeing the Lord's Salvation. That's our source of peace as well.
The Word was God. The Word was with God in the beginning. They Word became flesh. The Word is Jesus. He is the promised seed of the woman who took on flesh and blood so that he could redeem us from sin, death and Satan by his perfect life in our place, his innocent death in our place, and his glorious resurrection from the dead. Through faith in him we are children of God and heirs with him of eternal life.
Mary demonstrated humble faith, but it wasn't blind faith. She knew the prophecies. She trusted that no word of God could ever faith. The same should be true of us. Like Mary we wonder why God would choose us and give us his grace and favor. Like Mary we know that no word of God can faith. Nothing is impossible with God. So no matter what he promises us, no matter how unbelievable it seems, we know it will happed. We say with Mary, "I am the Lord's servant."
Like Israel, we might wonder if we have reasons to rejoice. In Jesus we always have reason to rejoice because he has clothed us in his robe of righteousness and covered us with garments of salvation. He alone gives us everlasting joy.
Prepare for a proper celebration of Christmas by recognizing your need for a savior, recognizing that Jesus is that savior, and remembering your baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
Jesus is like the man who went on a journey and gave each servant a job to do until he returned. Jesus has given each of us gifts to use to serve him and our neighbor while he is gone. He hasn't told us when he will return, but he has given us signs so that we might know the time is near. Watch. learn and pay attention to the signs. In the mean time, remember that the wise and faithful servant is the one the Lord finds doing the work he has been given when he returns.
Thanksgiving cancelled? God's mercy endures from everlasting to everlasting. There is always a reason for thanksgiving.
Does it seem that God is King, ruling over all the earth? The evil in the world is not God's fault. He is ruling all the earth in the way that fulfills his promise of salvation. He showed this clearly as he turned the evil actions of the Jewish leaders and the sinful action of Pilate into salvation for all through the death and resurrection of Jesus. No matter what it looks like, trust that God is in control for your eternal good.
Everything we have belongs to God. We are his stewards. Considering the fact that we don't deserve anything from him, yet in his grace he gives us Jesus, and trusts us to use his possessions while we live on earth, we are motivated to use them faithfully. Stewardship is about attitude. Consider the difference in attitude between the two faithful servants and the unfaithful servant.
Believers are plantings in God's vineyard. Considering all the blessings he showers on us he has the right to expect that we will produce good fruit, the we will be a planting for the display of his splendor.
Ever sins Adam and Eve sinned we all have a heart that wants to blame others as they did in the garden. In order to take responsibility for our sins and trust Christ for forgiveness we need a new heart and a new spirit. God creates this new heart and spirit in us through the word and sacraments. As renewed children of God through faith we realize that no one else it to blame for our sins. We realize that each person is accountable to God. He will not punish us for someone else's sins, nor will he save us because of someone else's faith.
God showed Jonah grace upon grace. He rescued him from drowning. He gave him a second chance to obey him and preach in Nineveh. He provided a vine to give him shade. But Jonah struggled to be gracious to the Ninevites and rejoice in their repentance. So God provided a worm to destroy the plant and teach Jonah what it meant to be gracious to others.
Peter wanted to know how he could forgive someone more than 7 times. We wonder how Joseph could forgive his brothers for the terrible things they did to him. How can we forgive those who harm us? Jesus' parable of the unmerciful servant brings to life Paul's statement that we forgive as God in Christ has forgiven us.
God tells Ezekiel and us that we are watchmen responsible for giving his warning to those who are living contrary to God's word and will. God then gives us an example of how such a warning is delivered in love as he pleads with Israel to turn from their sin because he doesn't want them to die in their sins.
After John sees a vision of the last day, the sun turning dark and the mood blood red, the stars falling from the sky, the question is asked "Who can stand?" Who can stand before the judgment throne of God? No one can on their own, by their own power, on the basis of what they have or have not done. All have sinned and deserve the wrath of the Lamb. But God provides John, and us, comfort. He shows him that before the judgment comes, those who belong to God through faith in Jesus are sealed for safety. Are you sealed for safety on the day of judgment? Look to your Baptism, look to the Lord's Supper, look to the objective promises of God that he has redeemed you. You belong to him. He has marked you with is seal.
Jesus' interaction with the Canaanite woman shows that he came to save all people, Jews and Gentiles. She is one of the two people Jesus holds up as an example of great fatih.
Jesus sailed across the lake to get away from the crowds and to get some rest. But the crowds were waiting for him when he arrived. Instead of getting back in the boat and leaving, Jesus had compassion on them. He healed the sick. He taught them about the kingdom of heaven. And he fed them. Jesus cares for the whole person - body and soul. On the last day our bodies will be reunited with our souls. Yes, Jesus cares for our bodies.
Solomon showed proper, godly priorities when he ask for wisdom, not for himself, but so that he could properly govern God's people to God's glory. Moses showed proper, godly priorities when he chose to identify with God's people instead of enjoying the riches and pleasures of Pharaoh's palace. When we see that Jesus is our priceless treasure, our pearl of inestimable worth, we too will have proper priorities. We will make every decision in life by first asking how it will affect our relationship with Jesus and our eternal life. We won't want anything to be a greater priority than our eternal life in Jesus.
Why is there evil? How will it end? When will it end? Jesus answers these questions for us in his parable of the Weeds among the Wheat.
With a lot of experts saying different things about wearing masks or not wearing masks, about kids going to school or not going to school, it can wear you out trying to find the truth. The situation in which we find ourselves helps us identify with the people of Jesus' day who had to contend with great Rabbis telling them different things about what they should be doing and what was sinful and what wasn't. They were wear and burdened trying to find the truth. To them, and to us, Jesus says, "Come to me for rest."
Adam and Eve could do nothing to restore their relationship with God. In grace, God took the steps necessary to restore his relationship with them. He gave them a promise. He would send a seed of a woman to crush Satan's head. By paying for sin Jesus, the seed of a woman, the virgin Mary, removed the wall of separation between God and man. Because of Jesus we are called Children of God again.
When Adam and Eve distrusted God and doubted his word they sinned. Sin destroyed their perfect relationship with God and their perfect relationship with each other. Worst of all their sinful nature has been passed down to us so that our relationship with God and with others has been destroyed. As Jesus explained to Nicodemus, flesh gives birth to sinful flesh. That's why we need to be born again by the power of the Holy Spirit working through the Gospel in word and sacrament. Only then can our relationship with God and others begin to be restored.
Before the fall into sin Adam and Eve had a perfect relationship with God and with each other. We look forward to that perfect relationship being restored in heaven. In the mean time, as the image of God is being restored in us through faith, we strive to improve our relationships as we strive to have Christ-like love for others, especially our spouses.
Adam and Eve were placed in Paradise to work it and take care of it. While still in their perfect state they had work to do. God still gives us work to do as opportunities for meaningful service to him and to our neighbor. We often fail to see work in this way. We tend to prefer idleness. Thankfully Jesus served God and his neighbor perfectly and then paid for our idleness, laziness and discontent by his death in our place on the cross.
God created Adam and Eve as special beings, unique, different from the animals with body and soul. Some equate this with the phrase "Image of God". But when Adam and Eve sinned they lost the image of God, yet remained special, unique beings different from the animals with body and soul. Paul helps us understand the essence of the image of God as he speak about the New Man being restored in the image of the creator, in righteousness and holiness. We look forward to the day when this image of holiness, righteousness and perfection is completely restored in us.
One of the rock solid foundations of the Christian Faith is that God is the creator of all that exists. He is Eternal, Almighty, All Wise, and loving. He also reveals himself as completely other - three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, in one divine being.
The Holy Spirit works through God's Word to convince us about our sin, that Jesus is our Righteousness, and that Satan has been condemned.
The Bible says that Jesus is at the right hand of the Father interceding for us. What is he asking the Father to do for us? Jesus' high priestly prayer in John 17 gives us some hints. He asks that we be protected from the Evil One, that we are sanctified, and that we are glorified.
What Paul found in Athens is what we find in our world today - Many worship an unknown god. Paul shows us that to proclaim the true God to them we will have to start, not with the Bible they don't know, but with what they do know, the natural knowledge of God.
Jesus is the living stone. He rocks because he lived and died in our place and rose from the dead. In him we are acceptable to the father. Our sins are all washed away. When the Holy Spirit leads us to Jesus and brings us to faith we become living stones. God considers us his chosen people. A holy priesthood, we are able to offer ourselves as living sacrifices and proclaim his praises.
Our Good Shepherd willingly goes after us, his wandering sheep, and brings us back to his fold with changed hearts that want to live for righteousness and live with him forever.
The church isn't a building, it's people. It is people brought to faith in Jesus through the Gospel in word and sacrament. It is people who devote themselves to the word, the sacrament, fellowship and prayer. It is people who let the light of Christ shine in everything they do.
Rejoice- God has given you new birth; an Indestructible Inheritance; You are Shielded by God's Power; Tested for Your Eternal Good; You Believe without Seeing.
Christ is not dead. He is risen just as he said. He will come again in victory to destroy our enemies and take us to be with him in his glorious kingdom forever.
Jesus reminds us that, although everything bad is a result of sin, we shouldn't think it's a punishment for a specific sin. The ultimate punishment for sin is Hell. He promises that everything can be used by God for our good and his glory.
Jesus models for us how to share the living water of the Gospel with others.
Share Living Water
· In _______________________ places
o Like:
· With _____________________ people
· Let them know you have ____________________________________________
· Help them recognize their ______________________
· Manage their objections by
o Avoiding ________________________
o Focusing on _____________________
It doesn't seem fair that because Adam sinned we die. But remember, it's not fair that because Jesus lived a perfect life and died in our place we get to live with God in glory forever.
You don't often think of war in connection with Jesus, but Isaiah reminds us that he is a warrior. He left heaven and came to earth on a mission to defeat sin, Satan and death for us. He was victorious over his enemies. In grace, the Father gives his victory to us.
Don't look for glory on earth that doesn't endure. Look forward to the eternal glory Jesus won by his life and death in our place. Jesus endured it all for us by looking forward to the glory he would inherit after his resurrection.
Like Israel, we have many times each day when we have a choice to listen to God or to listen to Satan or the wisdom of the world. Considering all that God has done for us, choose life, listen to his word.
As sons of God through faith in Jesus you ARE salt and light for the world. Share the salt of the Gospel so that others are brought to faith in Jesus and preserved in the judgment. Let the light of your faith and the love of Jesus shine in all you do and say. Don't keep your faith to yourself.
Like Israel, you might feel God has wearied you, but the fact is, you are blessed. Treating God like an idol that you can manipulate is what wearies you. Seeing God as your Savior inspires you to serve God and your neighbor with joy.
All too often Christians major in minors. They focus on buildings and carpets and style of music. They insist on their own personal preferences and end up causing divisions that hinder the mission of proclaiming to gospel to all. Paul encourages us to focus on what matters, the salvation of souls, the proclamation of the gospel. When we do, divisions will disappear.
In the midst of the troubled times of the last days Paul reminds us to keep pointing our children in the right direction, to Jesus and the the Scriptures.
At his baptism Jesus identified with us. He fulfilled all righteousness. He kept God's law as our perfect substitute.
The Magi from the East set an example of what it means to be truly wise - They watched for the signs God gave, they acted in faith, worshiped the infant Jesus as their King and Savior, Gave gifts fit for a King, and obeyed the Lord's instructions not to return to Herod.
The words of the blessing given in Numbers 6 are not just a pious wish. Through them God himself puts his name on us and WILL bless us.
God sent Jesus into the world at just the right time to redeem the world. He sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts at just the right time so that we would be considered heirs with him of eternal life.
God loves us. Christmas proves it. He gave his Son to save a world who didn't deserve to be saved.
Joseph was a righteous man. When the Bible calls someone righteous it means that they trust in the one true God and his promise of a Savior. Like Abraham, righteousness is credited to a person through faith. Those who are righteous through faith show that righteousness in their lives, as Joseph did.
Jesus is the Key of Knowledge. He warns us about things that distract us, or keep us from seeing him as the one who reveals God to us.
Did John have doubts about Jesus? Whether he did, or his disciples did, John knew what to do with doubt. He went to Jesus and Jesus removed doubts by pointing him to the prophecies of Scripture he was fulfilling.
God, the God of Hope, provides hope for that hopeless because he is always faithful to his promises. Most importantly he kept his promise to send a the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ.
The only way to be truly enlightened is by the Holy Spirit working through the word of God.
Just as Noah did we need to prepare an ark for our family. We do this by making sure everyone in our family knows that Jesus is their ark, their only hope of salvation when the last day comes.
The Psalmist prays for God's blessings so that, through us, his salvation my be known to all.
God's law is truth but it can't sett you free because you break it. Only he Son can set you free by his life and death in your place, and his glorious resurrection from the dead. He has set you free from sin, death and Satan so that you can serve the Lord without fear and your neighbor in love.
Psalm 2 describes what Jesus faced as the Pharisees and Sadducees tried to trap him with difficult questions. When they were finished he asked them a question that made it clear that the Christ was to be both the son of David and the Son of God. Jesus is true God and true man, just who he needed to be in order to save us. Always take refuge in him.
There is no sacrifice we can make to pay for sin. The only sacrifice that paid for sin was the sacrifice that Jesus made in our place. As we acknowledge our guilt and look to Jesus for forgiveness we will be moved to do what is just and love mercy.
Paul prays with freedom and confidence that we would be strengthened by the Spirit, know the greatness of God's love for us, and be filled with all the fullness of God.
Jesus tells us not to worry and gives us excellent reasons not to - God cares for birds and flowers and we are worth much more than they. Paul reminds us that God sacrificed Jesus to save us and if he did that, why wouldn't he provide for our lesser needs? Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath learned from experience what it means to put God first, trust him and he will provide.
The parable of the Good Samaritan tells us that everyone is our neighbor, even our enemy. Leviticus 19 give us practical examples of how we can show love for our neighbor.
We confess that Jesus does everything well. Because he did he was able to win our eternal salvation. But how often don't we contradict our confession by doing the opposite of what Jesus commands as these people in the Decapolis did?
Paul was a sinner saved by grace. We are just like him, sinners saved by grace in Jesus.
Earthly things can't bring lasting peace. Only forgiveness and the promise of eternal peace in Jesus can bring lasting peace. Earthly Jerusalem was supposed to be a place of peace but it has never lived up to it's name. We look forward to the New Jerusalem, the heavenly one, where there is perfect peace.
"Known by Their Fruit" Test the fruit of a teacher's doctrine. If it agrees with God's word it is good fruit, if it doesn't agree with God's word it is rotten, poisonous fruit. Test the fruit your produce. If the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Such fruit comes as we daily remember our baptism, crucifying our sinful nature by daily contrition and repentance, and rejoicing that, through baptism, God has united us with Jesus in his live and death.
Abraham and Lot experienced consequences for their sinful and selfish choices. But in the midst of those consequences they experienced God's Grace. God's grace to Abraham moved him to be gracious to others.
God is merciful to us who are ungrateful and wicked. While we were still sinners Christ died for us. Having experienced his mercy to us we are moved to be merciful to others.
Be alert and always watching because Satan is like a lion ready to pounce when you are distracted. Trust God's promise to to help, to lift you up when you are humbles, to strengthen and support you no matter what.
God invites us to feast on his word and sacrament, and in his eternal kingdom. Don't ignore or take his invitation for granted.
The Holy Spirit provided everything the disciples needed to preach law and gospel. He does the same for us today.
Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to be our coach and prepare us to witness about him and to suffer for him.
Our hearts need not be sad or troubled. Jesus is preparing a place for us and we will see him again.
Pure Religion - Beliefs and values based on God's word alone. Putting those values and beliefs into action out of gratitude for all God has done for you in Jesus.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd who gave his life for the sheep. Therefore, we lack nothing now and have eternal life.
Only Jesus can give us the peace we need - the peace that comes from knowing he is alive and that our sins are forgiven.
Keep on remembering Jesus, true man, descended from David, and true God, risen from the dead. This is the gospel of our salvation that enables us to face tomorrow and removes all our fears.
It is finished. Every prophecy of Scripture concerning the Messiah has been fulfilled. The work the Father gave Jesus has been accomplished. There's nothing left for us to do or suffer. Thank you Jesus!
Sermon presented at Grace Lutheran Church, Seward NE on April 4, 2019 by Pastor Timothy Kemnitz
God shows that he can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine, most importantly, by sacrificing Jesus so that we could have forgiveness and eternal life.
Jesus lets us know neither He nor Satan are divided. In fact, you can't be neutral about Jesus. You are either with him or against him.
Great Faith: Jesus tested the faith of the Canaanite woman so that we would be able to see the great faith she had in her heart. Great faith rests on Jesus alone for help and salvation, and shows itself when tested.
Jesus is the "I AM", the one true God, the one who offered himself to protect his disciples, to suffer and die to pay for our sins.
The Transfiguration of Jesus makes us certain; certain that Jesus is true God, our Savior; certain that the Scriptures are the very word of God; and therefore certain that we have eternal life in Jesus.
God is Merciful and Just. Paul shows how that applies in our lives by the example of Israel in the wilderness, and the fact that he works hard to control his sinful nature so that he doesn't abuse God's mercy and end up being lost.
Even in hopeless situations Jesus asks "Why are you afraid?" He has power over wind, wave and water. Has power even over death. He has rescued you from the most hopeless situation of all - the punishment you deserve for your sins.
The Centurion from Capernaum showed proper humility and great faith. God's law gives us proper humility. Knowing who Jesus is, what he has done, and promised us gives us confident faith.
God gives every Christian gifts. Paul encourages us to use whatever gift God has given us in humble service to him and our neighbor.
Jesus' purpose as Messiah was to proclaim the good news he came to win. Our purpose from God is to be like an oak tree that displays God's glory.
At his Baptism Jesus showed his willingness to take our place, to fulfill all righteousness for us. He added his righteousness to Baptism so that it has the power to wash away all our unrighteousness.
God was at work across the miles and through the ages to help the Wise Men get to know Jesus, and frustrating the evil of Herod. He is still at work through out History making sure we know Jesus and frustrating evil in our day with the goal of bringing us to eternal life with him.
Sermon for All Saint's Day - The Souls of believers never die, they go to live and reign with Jesus.