Sermon March 29, 2024 – Good Friday

Title: Christ has been lifted up!
Text: Isaiah 52:13-53:12

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13 Behold, my servant shall act wisely;
he shall be high and lifted up,
and shall be exalted.
14 As many were astonished at you—
his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance,
and his form beyond that of the children of mankind—
15 so shall he sprinkle many nations.
Kings shall shut their mouths because of him,
for that which has not been told them they see,
and that which they have not heard they understand.

Why? Why me? I, just don’t know why it happened to me?

When confronted with the whys of our own life, we in many cases turn to despair. So many in our church live with sickness and the knowledge of continued suffering.

Some lose loving parents and find it hard to go on without them daily in their lives;

Some deal with their own suffering and the daily pain that endures;

Some just wish to depart this life and have the suffering they endure … end.

It is with Good Friday and the suffering of Jesus that we too can call out with persistent cries, “why?”

Jesus’ life was service and healing not crime.

He turned no one away.

He gave sight to those who were blind, raised the dead and told the woman caught in adultery;

“Neither do I condemn you … Go and sin no more.” John 8:1-11

As Isaiah says:

… he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows
… was afflicted, pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities;
He was oppressed, he opened not his mouth, he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people and they made his grave with the wicked
Though he had done no violence and no deceit was in his mouth.

Through suffering God declares his love.

Isaiah called the Suffering Servant oppressed, and like a sheep being led to the slaughter he was silent.

Yet, there was a purpose for his suffering. It was for the transgressions the sins of the people. For sin, he would die, he would be cut off and make his grave with the wicked.

11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
make many to be accounted righteous,
and he shall bear their iniquities. [sins]

Through suffering God will bring peace to Israel through His servant.

God promises good news, peace, happiness and salvation to His people Israel.

It is also made known that God chooses to be the God of all people and that the way he will accomplish this is through his servant. The Lord will be the one who brings salvation to all the earth.

Paul speaks of this in Philippians 2 when he says:

… though [Jesus] was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Jesus was lifted up though many were appalled at his appearance.
He was disfigured almost to the point of not being recognized as human.

Sin needed an atoning sacrifice that was without blemish and acceptable to appease God’s wrath.

God provided the sacrifice himself in His Son – God in the flesh - who was the spotless Lamb of God. The price of the servant’s sinless life and death brought peace for you and for me.

Through suffering we have peace and healing.

he poured out his soul to death
and was numbered with the transgressors;
yet he bore the sin of many,
and makes intercession for the transgressors.

When you suffer you are connected to Christ Jesus the Suffering Servant. By being connected to him, when we too suffer, we can know God’s true love for us as he endured all for you and for me … even death.

Christ’s model is our victory.

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. Heb. 4:14

Because of Christ’s death we know that death has been conquered by him once and for all. Death has been swallowed up in victory.

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Heb. 4:15

Because of Christ’s sinless life and death in our place we have received what he earned for us by faith in him - namely our forgiveness and salvation.

Remember though, he didn’t do it for himself … he did it for you!

16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Heb. 4:16

Because Jesus suffered, we can understand suffering as it pertains to sin and the brokenness in this world. Not as something from God but as a result of the corrupted world broken by sin.

Christ’s victory is your victory!

Christ’s forgiveness is your forgiveness!

By his death you receive eternal life in his name!

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen

Sermon March 28, 2024 – Maundy Thursday

Title: The fruit of forgiveness for you!
Text: Mark 14:12-26 Ex 24:3-11; 1 Cor. 10:16-17

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There is something mysterious and wonderful about celebrating the Lord’s Supper on the night when it was first given. What a joy and privilege to re-live that first Maundy Thursday and to share the very same gift Jesus gave his disciples centuries ago.

Last week we finished our midweek services on the Story Worth Repeating, and our time of repentance in our lead up to Holy Week. As we get closer to Christ’s death on the cross and his resurrection on Easter Sunday, the importance of his true body and blood in the Lord’s Supper, becomes clear.
22 And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” 23 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. 24 And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Mark 14:22-24

Doing Real Love

The gift of Christ’s love for us is made known to us in his sinless life, death in our place, and glorious resurrection on Easter Sunday, and as we’ve walked during Lent with Jesus on his journey to the cross the time of fulfillment is coming near, and Jesus now gives us all - one more blessing – the Lord’s Supper.

This gift from Christ himself connects you and me to his death and the forgiveness he won and also … the life that we share together as fellow redeemed.

The Tree of Life in the garden of Eden brought life to those who ate of it’s fruit and following the fall into sin God, in his mercy banished them from the garden and the Tree of Life so that they might not eat of it’s fruit and live forever in their fallen state.

God sustained his children in the wilderness for 40 years through the means of the bread from heaven, gathered and consumed by the people for their sustenance and life. This bread of life Christ calls himself.

32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

In St. Paul’s writings he looks to connect the blessings of Christ to you, and you and me to each other through this gift.

What had been celebrated then is celebrated today as we receive the very body and blood of Christ for the forgiveness of our sins and the strengthening of our faith.

As Lutherans we take Jesus simply at his words for what they are - not reading more into them than what He said or believing less than what he meant.

22 And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” 23 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. 24 And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. 25 Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

In a real sense the Real Presence and our understanding of Jesus and the sacrament are truly profound but also very simple or maybe it is just as Lutherans we like to - let Scripture interpret Scripture.

As St Paul tells us in 1 Cor. 10:16-17

16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.

In this blessed gift we hear the words of institution as the elements are consecrated, and we receive the bread and the wine by our mouth, but in a mysterious way that we can’t fully comprehend in the sacramental union, we also receive the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in and with the bread and the wine, not because we fully understand it but because Jesus and his word says so.

In the Passover meal the spotless lamb was sacrificed and the blood placed upon the lintel and door posts but the lamb was also consumed by God children.

5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats, 6 and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs at twilight.

7 “Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. 8 They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted on the fire; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it.

The bread of life that is Jesus is given to us in this memorial meal.

Not just a remembrance but a participation.
What a blessing for you and me!

For we are one body and partake of the one loaf - 1 Cor. 10:17
Participation in the sacrament puts us on the side of Christ uniting us with him, and he with you and me, and we with each other.

We gather together at the table of the Lord and are identified as members of the body of believers – this one loaf - and we are also connected to what is believed, taught, confessed and received here at this altar and in this church.

We believe Christ is truly present in the Lord’s Supper and that we receive this blessed gift for the forgiveness of our sins in a real and tangible way.

The unity we receive from our Lord in the supper connects us to him.

But, sin and death in this life remains.

Over the last number of years, the word vaccine has become a part of life. Some vaccines are very effective we are told and others no so much.

The Lord’s Supper - is that vaccine for sin, given to you individually as we gather together and receive the body and blood of the Lord and it is 100% effective.

Into your mouth you receive the vaccine for sin, which is Christ’s body and blood for the forgiveness of your sins and strengthening of your faith.

This is as real now as when it was instituted on that first Maundy Thursday and is really present for you and me here.

There was no bread and wine at the cross but there was the real body and blood of Jesus shed for you.
In the same way, Jesus’ very body and blood are united with the bread and wine so that the vaccine for sin and the forgiveness he won at the cross comes to you, united with the bread and wine in the sacramental union.

His love for you is real and so is his gift given and shed at the cross and given into your mouths for the forgiveness of all our sins.

We can’t explain how this IS … but simply trust God’s work and the words of Christ.

“Take; this IS my body.” 23 And he took a cup … 24 And he said to them, “This IS my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.

This is a gift for we who have been brought to faith by God’s Holy Spirit to believe.

This is not for the world’s forgiveness; this does not comfort unbelievers; and unfortunately, the real presence of Christ in the sacrament can cause division.

This eating and drinking of Christ brings forgiveness, and by faith we are united with Jesus and with each other connected to this meal.

It is the word of God made flesh and his sinless life, suffering, death and glorious resurrection that makes peace with God. The Lord’s Supper brings to our lips this reality connecting us to the very death of Christ for our benefit. It is a meal of forgiveness - God’s favor on account of Christ for you and me … now and always.

Believe and receive this gift!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!

Amen

Sermon March 23-24, 2024 – Palm/ Passion Sunday

Title: Jesus is the Christ?
Text: Mark 14:61-64; 15:1-47

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61 … Again, the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?”62 And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

Are you the Christ?

That is the question the High Priest asked Jesus? And on Palm Sunday or the Sunday of the Passion, we might ask ourselves this question. Is this - Palm or Passion Sunday - a day to remember the triumphant ride of Jesus into Jerusalem, or is this a day to reflect on what lies ahead in Holy Week for this same humble servant Jesus?

I assume the answer is as Lutheran’s say, both and.

Both the Kingly entry into Jerusalem of Jesus, humble and riding on the foal of a donkey, and the crucifixion of Jesus, the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world are needed. To the mind of sinful man both seem impossible and contrary to the will of God.

To reign as a King requires power and might not the humility of a servant, and we might think of the death of Jesus as the end of all hope - not the glory of God and the power of God in the man who is the Christ of God.

Power hates humility

This humble Jesus who rode into Jerusalem was hated by those in power.

The Chief priests and Scribes saw the joy of the people as they welcomed Jesus’ riding on the colt the foal of a donkey with palm branches and their cloaks placed before him. They saw and heard him preach, teach, and heal those afflicted with demons and disease. The anger of the Chief priests and Scribes conspired against Jesus accusing him of blaspheme, bringing him to the attention of the Roman leaders as a radical bent on disrupting the peace, and turning the people’s joy from,

“Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” Matt. 21:9

To,

“Crucify him!” “Crucify him!” Mark 15:14

The power of sin corrupted the will of love.

The perfection of creation was destroyed by the will of disobedience.

The gift of life became a life of death.

We too enter into this world in humility as a babe marked for death. Helpless and hopeless we ride into this life with the promise. “You can’t take it with you!”

Death is the one destination for we who are born sinful and unclean from the time of our conception. Psalm 51:5

The world gives us hope,

Think positive!

Have faith in yourself!

Trust your heart!

But the object of your thinking, your faith, and your trust is you - and in you - there is no hope eternal. No everlasting peace.

Strength hates weakness.
The Jewish leaders hated Jesus. As a loving servant he challenged their power and their might. Paul makes this clear in our epistle reading for today as Jesus:

7 made himself nothing by taking the form of a servant, and being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Phi. 2:7-8

The cross, to the sinful man looks like weakness, and death looks like the end, but with God we see the great reversal.

God takes the weakness of the cross and confounds the strong, wise and powerful; he takes loss and turns it to gain, and he makes Jesus’ death a life giving, death for you and me and for all who look to him by faith.

The tables have been turned!

Even for those mired in the unbelief of this world there is hope in the impossible. Not only hope but assurance …

March Madness always begins with the hope of an upset ... a Cinderella story … and the unexpected victory.

Joy and euphoria for some, anger and a bracket demolished for others.

Life is full of truth and consequences.

The truth of life and death;

the truth of winners and losers;

the truth of sin and grace;

and the truth of faith and unbelief all come to play in Palm Sunday and the Sunday of the Passion. The consequence for we who are born sinful and unclean is clear.

Apart from faith … all that remains is death.

But faith is not dependent on self and hope does not disappoint when the object of your faith is Jesus.

You see Palm Sunday needs Holy Week and the Passion of Christ.

Without Jesus’ death on Good Friday his ride into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday means nothing for you and me.

Without his death at the hands of sinful men we too remain in our sinful condition dead to God and without hope.

Without his death there is no resurrection joy and God’s peace is lost to history on a day of palm waving, by a people who thought this Jesus was the promised Messiah – the redeemer of Israel – the Christ of God.

Without his passion there is no hope for you and me.

61 … Again, the high priest asked [Jesus], “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?”62 And Jesus said, “I am, and you [and I] will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!

Amen.

Sermon March 20, 2024 - Lent 6 - Pastor Moyer

Title: The Story worth repeating! "Dead to Begin With" Pastor Moyer, Faith, Highland
Text: John 11:17-4

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Sermon March 16-17, 2024

Title: Christ came to serve sinners!
Text: Mark 10:35-45

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43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Power in serving

My friend is a man of means. He came up through a family dedicated to hard work. He was skilled, he had a plan, and he worked very hard every day to make his plan a reality. It has paid off in many ways for him. Many successes in his business and personal life followed. I can’t remember anyone so completely skilled and focused on the task needed to succeed, and succeeding at what he put his mind on.

I also remember someone so completely generous with his time, talents and treasures. He was always willing to share and help. At times he worked more for the benefit of others then they did or would do for themselves. He served their needs but it also served the greater good of the company and his family a well … a real win-win situation … strength, power and service all in one package.

Our reading for today deals with power and service but with different people and with different intentions.

James and John, the so called “Sons of Thunder” by Jesus in Mark 3:17 show here why Jesus had given them that name designation.

Seemingly as a spoiled child might ask for that which they know they don’t deserve or shouldn't expect to get we hear 35 …“Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.”

This same James and John in another memorable gospel moment in Luke Chapter 9 had inquired of Jesus:

“Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?”
Luke 9:54

This they did after the Samaritan village had not received Jesus and seeing that he was steadfast set to go to Jerusalem.

The Lord’s, all knowing mind, seems to have given James and John a proper title – for they were these young followers and disciples of Jesus who had left their fathers boat and work to go and follow him.

But here too we see where they are focused.

37 … “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.”

Or, in Matthew’s gospel “in your Glory” is translated as “in your Kingdom”, spoken by their mother, Salome the wife of Zebedee who intercedes for her two boys - who quickly seconded her request.

The disciples here didn't understand Christ’s mission, work or glory but were thinking in terms of an earthly kingdom and an earthy ruler and a place of honor for themselves.

But our good news is that Christ came to save sinners!

Humility and servant hood is hard for you and me as well. We too look for the choice seats, to be recognized and to be rewarded.

But to be a true servant is to model Christ.

2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb. 2:1-2

But can we run the race, can we remain faithful until the end, can we endure the trials in this life? For we too like James and John don’t know what we are asking.

38 … “Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” Jesus said.

Paul in his letter to the Philippians brings peace when he writes:

2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Phil 2:1-3

As children who have been brought to the Lord by loving parents and as parents who love our children we bring those who are unable to bring themselves to the Lord.

In humility we consider them more significant than ourselves, and with life given into our care, we look to their wellbeing more than our own - giving them to the Lord - and promising to be the ones who raise them in the faith and instruction of the Lord.

We all fall short to be sure, but just as we wouldn't feed a child once and leave them to fend for themselves; faith also requires an active parental role to keep these precious gifts of God in their baptismal grace, so that they too might grow to know him, Jesus Christ both as Lord and Savior who

“came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45

James and John were looking for the earthly glory that a Kingdom of this world provides. They received much more then they or their mother had asked for.

Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” Jesus asks.

39 And they said to him, “We are able.”

Herod had James put to death by the sword as the early church was persecuted. Acts 2:2

His brother John would remain and live to an old age leaving his thunderous youth behind to become the apostle of love, writing his Gospel and letters in exile on the island of Patmos, and giving a glimpse of the end of the age from visions given in the book of Revelation.

Heeding Christ's command:

But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,

My friend Jim had another side as well. When we were younger and working together, he took on another task. Through a contact with an acquaintance, he began visiting a disabled man who was Wheel Chair bound and in declining health he would go once a month and take him out to lunch.

It wasn’t easy but each month Jim would say “I’ll be back in a while,” and go.

I only found out the particulars down the road. He never talked much about it at the time. After a few years of this, the man couldn’t go out anymore and eventually passed away.

He never talked about it but years later I asked him about it. I remember him saying,

“I’ve been blessed so much it was just a way to give back … though it was hard.”

Thank the Lord that God has not left us alone but has done everything needed for us and has given us – his word and sacraments - for us so that we might be brought to faith and given life in his name and in humility serve the needs of others.

It is not always easy to give up ones seat at the table, or to allow another a place in line ahead of you.

It is not always easy to see to it that the light of Christ shines forth into a dark world that gets darker every day.

It is not always easy to stand firm when even the fabric of our own faith seems weak and unable to endure.

But Christ, who is the one who will never leave you nor forsake you, has stood in your place and he has completed the course for you. In him you have everything that you could not earn because he humbled himself for you.

45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45

In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!

Amen

 

Sermon March 13, 2024 – Lent 5 - Pastor Johnson

Title: The Story worth repeating – Christ the Judge – Intercession "The Lord our God is Just." Pastor Johnson Christ Milford
Text: Hebrews 4:14-5:10; Rev. 16:5-7

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Sermon March 9-10, 2024

Title: Jesus has been lifted up so that you too are raised!
Text: Numbers 21:4-9; John 3:14;

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8 And the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

A number of years ago I interviewed a man for a job with the store I worked at and managed. He had been in the appliance business for about fifteen years in the Brighton area, working for a family run business, much like the family run business I worked at.

Well, as he considered his situation, he looked at what he had and the prospect for advancement and being enticed he decided to leave his company for greener pastures at another company across town. As we talked, I told him of all the opportunities and benefits my company provided and I saw a look of real sadness come over his face.
“Boy, he said, I really didn't know how good I had it. All the benefits you mentioned, I already had with my previous job and I was skilled and good at it. Now, I’m out of work and hoping I can find a job as good as the one I left.”

The blessings we have often seem ordinary and mundane and we take them for granted or complain about them. God’s people, in our Old Testament lesson for today, saw their blessings as a curse and murmured against the one who was their provider, protector and sustainer.

God had been the protector of Israel in the wilderness for 40 years. He had guarded them throughout all their trials and provided for them in the as they made their way to the Promised Land. He brought them through the waters of the Red sea on to dry ground and also provided manna from heaven to sustain them … and still they grumbled.

5 And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.”

It was noted that this manna was rich in nutrients by one scholar as they were able to march through this wilderness and not have their feet swell so that they were not lacking anything. God’s provisions were complete, full and rich.

Yet, they murmured eight times against God over these forty years. This, the final murmuring against the Lord had happened just after God had provided water from a rock and now he brought fiery serpents that up to this time had been plentiful in the area, but for some reason had left them alone.
6 Then the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died.

These serpents, which it is believed received their name because of their color and the fact that their bite produced venom that caused great swelling and burning, bit the Israelites causing death to many. In their distress they once again turn to Moses in repentance to intercede for them and pray to the Lord to take the serpents away.

So Moses prayed for the people.

8 And the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

We too find our blessings at time mundane and boring and grumble about what we don’t have instead of looking to all we do have. Something as simple to you and me as water … running water … hot and cold … in our house …

We all can imagine how different our lives would be without this blessing but still we grumble … so too with our faith and our God.

At times when we need to trust in Him for whatever our condition in life is, we fall back to our sinful ways. God gets blamed. “Why Lord, why?” We all might cry not knowing the mind of God and his plan for our life. Instead, he just might be taking us on our way around one battle toward a greater battle with better reward. Or, it might be his protection against certain doom.
One gentleman I know, who had been a loyal member of a particular company for over 20 years and had a job offer from a competitive company. He really didn’t want to take it. He would have preferred to stay in his comfort zone where he was. As it happened to turn out, the company he was at closed a little over a year after he left. In our day-to-day existence we have no guarantee of continued blessings in fact one of God’s promises tell us:

33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John16:33

God's healing cure for the bite of the fiery serpents was faith in His word of promise. He directed Moses to make a serpent in the likeness of the ones that caused death. To make it out of bronze and to place it on a pole and when anyone looks at it they will be healed. Our text concludes with:

9 So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

A simple act of faith in God’s word brings the cure.

Luther had this to say about the cure:

It might have been expected that the Jews who had been bitten by the serpents would shun this cure, for it is only natural for us to shy away from anything that has harmed us. Even to see a picture of it fills us with sadness and abhorrence.

But Moses calmly proceeded, molded a serpent with the form and figure of the live fiery ones, and suspended it before their eyes.

Thus those who are bitten by fiery serpents – that is to say, those who are cast into sin, death and eternal damnation by the devil – must look at this bronze serpent, that is belief in Christ; and they will be guaranteed righteousness, life, and salvation. Faith in Christ, the Son of God and true man, will do this.

LW 22, pg. 341

Jesus pointed to His being lifted up just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness. Just as the serpent Moses lifted up in the desert was not the one biting and causing death, so too our Lord Jesus Christ was not the sinner or cause of sin but became the sin-bearer that took the sins of the whole world upon Himself that He crucified sin in His body on the cross for you.

This lifting of the serpent and trusting in God’s word of promise did bring about their healing. Just so all who trust in Christ also trust in God’s word and His promise that by faith in Christ’s sacrifice we too are freed from sin, death and the power of the Devil.

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

God’s word of promise is for you and for all who will be brought to faith by the power of the Holy Spirit.

It is said that the brazen image of the serpent was taken by the Israelites to Canaan, and preserved till the time of Hezekiah, who had it broken in pieces, because the idolatrous people had presented incense-offerings to this holy relic. 2 Kings 18:4

God has given us His word of promise and the means of grace that in Baptism He creates faith by the power of the Holy Spirit connected to the water so that we believe. He has promised that in the bread and wine He is present and that by our eating and drinking we receive Him and our faith is strengthened. He has promised that when two or more are gathered in His name that He is there too.

He has promised:

38 … that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

Whatever your place in life is, whatever you are or hope to become, whatever your successes or failures are, know that God is with you. He will be there through the good and the bad with you and He will never leave you nor forsake you. He has suffered the scorn of the cross - for you - and has taken your sin upon Himself and has exchanged it with the royal robes of His righteousness – for you.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!

Amen

Sermon March 6, 2024 - Lent 4 - Pastor Tkac

Title: The Story worth repeating – Christ the savior – Deliverance and salvation

Text: Psalm 71:1-6 Hebrews 5:1-10

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8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 10 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

As we continue with the Story worth repeating in our Lenten sermon series, we’ve learned that stories connected to the Gospel can be powerful or funny, historic or personal, written down for the many or shared one-on-one with the few. It can be a story written, read, spoken or sung.

Growing up a child of the 60’s gave me fond memories. Guitars, the Beatles, the Summer of Love, as well as the wisdom of Roger Miller.

“King of the road”, “Dang Me”, “Chug-a-lug” and “You can’t roller skate in a Buffalo heard” were all etched into my young and impressionable memory.

John Glenn’s first flight around the world, and the Apollo moon landing, took me to places I only dreamed about. I loved comedy and listened to the Smothers Brothers, Woody Allen, and Bill Cosby on long-playing Vinyl albums.

I was the oldest of four children and another thing I remember all too well was:

“Go to your room and think about what you did!”

That was how my dad would respond to me when my mom would let him know about something, I did wrong and needed correction.

My dad followed it up with, “And wait for me.”

That was usually not good news.

Obedience and suffering … needed for this son.

Obviously, my obedience had not been what it should have been and so the waiting began my suffering.

How would it end?

Waite for me.

Jesus’ obedience was different than mine. He didn’t miss the mark. Me on the other hand, pretty much every day.

My dad would come home from work and say to my mom if she had that look on her face,

“Well, Line them up and tell me who I need to hit!”

Now my dad wasn’t a mean man. In fact, he was a good man and I loved my dad, but I didn’t always obey my mom as I should. You see, my dad expected his children to obey and listen to my mom, so when we didn’t - there was a time of waiting and suffering.

The children of Israel saw God as unapproachable.

They needed a Mediator.

The priest was seen as the means to approach God, to come to him for forgiveness and to have their sins atoned for.

He was the mediator. The one between the sinner and the righteous judge.

They could come to him as they did in the wilderness to Moses - God’s prophet – who spoke to the people all that God directed him to say and who pleaded to God for them.

Also, Aaron, Moses’ brother, was called by God to be his priest and to make sacrifices for the sins of the people standing between God and man. The people brought their animal sacrifices to Aaron who presented their good and acceptable sacrifices to the Lord. One life for another.

Sins continued and so did the sacrifices. Each day … week … month … and year … Being reconciled and having their sin atoned for.

Jesus was sent by God the Father to bring forgiveness in a real and tangible way. Our sins needed to be reconciled, and Jesus – the word of God made flesh - came for that purpose. To stand in our place.

He came as the perfect prophet. Not as an imperfect man called to deliver God’s word but as the eternal word of God made flesh speaking directly to the people.

He came as the perfect priest. The one to mediate and to intercede for the people to the father with whom he is well acquainted and, in his person, he reflects the image of God as one who has seen the Father and is intimately connected - as we see the Father in him.

He came as the perfect sacrifice. Not as a continual sacrifice, daily brought to appease the wrath of God, but as the once and for all sacrifice for sin that is Holy and acceptable to the Father.

The Jews in Jesus day shunned the cure and returned to Moses and the Law for the comfort of their reconciliation.

They live in that reality still today.

Today, the people in our day want a new mediator.

They want a Jesus who sees sin, not defined by God’s word, but defined by the world.

One who gets us, is okay with us, who requires nothing from us.

They want to kill, where God has conceived and brought to life.

They want to unite and expand, where God has placed limits.

They want to change and redefine, what God has defined already.

They want to eliminate the mediator, and mediate for themselves.

If you’ve ever been in a court of law you might want to think twice before choosing to represent yourself. Even good Lawyers, it seems to me, hire a competent attorney to represent them!

When the Law is placed before us in our world, we have three choices.

Follow the Law

Break the Law or

Change the Law

There are consequences for each.

As we look to God’s word and his Law the choices remain the same. In court a good Lawyer might get us off for breaking the Law or a Government Legislature might change or amend a Law which then nullifies the offence, but not with God.

His Law requires one answer which is perfect obedience. Not that we follow the Law, but that we break the Law continually and the Law, written in stone and on our hearts, can’t be changed.

We need one to plead our case.

We need a mediator.

Jesus is the Perfect -Mediator! The God/man himself.

He is appointed by God as the only way to reconcile his wayward children in his broken creation.

5 So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him,

“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”;

6 as he says also in another place,

“You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek.”

Not only the Prophet and Priest but also the perfect once for all sacrifice for sin that he might atone for the sins of the whole world once and for all.

Jesus is perfect for our salvation!

This prophet Jesus speaks God’s truth perfectly!

This Priest Jesus is perfectly acceptable and able to stand before God for man because,

This Jesus is the perfect sacrifice for sin to appease God’s wrath

because his perfect obedience to God’s perfect Law fulfills the Law perfectly!

7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.

In a sense the Father saying, in response to Jesus’ prayers:

Wait for me.

Salvation for all because of Jesus’ obedience.

This perfect Prophet, Priest and Sacrifice is also the Perfect King of Kings and Lord or Lords who by his just decree can give forgiveness and proclaim as the eternal judge the sentence of not Guilty on account of Christ’s merit to whom he wills.

Jesus is everything we need!

9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 10 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

Jesus is a priest superior to Aaron likened to that of Melchizedek whose name means king of righteousness, King of Salem, the [Shalom] of Salem [the prince of peace] being a type of Christ and high priest of God that predates the priesthood of Aaron and to whom Abraham pays a tithe.

23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24 but [Jesus] holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Do not look to earthly or false prophets to be your hope and salvation.

Do not stand before God in unrighteous arrogance as a priest with sinful demands.

Do not think your Gold, Silver or pleading an acceptable sacrifice.

Do not demand a King’s ransom from a King that gives himself to you for free.

Receive the word of God in humble reverence.

Receive Jesus who stands in God’s presence for you.

Receive his perfect sacrifice of Christ for your sin.

Receive the Kingdom of God given and shed for you.

Repentance and Forgiveness – the Gospel story worth repeating!

“Now, go to your room and wait for me!”

You know as a child in my room, I learned obedience and suffering.

My dad though showed me mercy, forgiveness and love as a loving Christian father. He would come in, at times after a very long time of waiting, and ask,

Did you think about what you did? Yes.

Are you going to do it again? No.

Okay. “You know I love you?” Yes dad.

Jesus showed perfect obedience, suffering and love for you and me and all – broken in sin – but now has raised you to the newness of life in his perfection. Forgiving your sin and giving you everlasting life!

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit

Amen

Sermon March 2-3, 2024

Title: The Father’s love and zeal for you is in Jesus!
Text: John 2:13-22

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17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

18 So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

Jerusalem is a hot bed for so much of the world’s religious as well as political turmoil but so is the Temple Mount.

The second Temple was destroyed in 70 AD. For Jews today their activity is restricted on the Temple mount. The Dome on the Rock is there and is holy to Muslims and Jews are not allowed to pray there, though some do pray under their breath. For Jews in Jerusalem there is a growing need to rebuild the Temple, to resume the temple sacrifices and to wait for the coming of the messiah.

In our gospel reading for today we move to the book of John. As we looked at our gospel lesson in Mark last week, Jesus explained that he must suffer, be rejected by the Elders, Chief priests and the scribes, be killed and after three days, rise from the dead. Mark 8:31

Jesus was zealous both for his Father’s House in driving out those who had made it a house of trade selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, [along with] the money-changers [who were] sitting there, just as he was with Peter last week, rebuking him for “not setting his mind on the things of God.”

The Jewish leaders now ask Jesus – what is the evidence that you can give us as to your authority for doing such things, by casting those out of the temple?

22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, Paul tells the Corinthians in our epistle lesson for today. 1 Cor. 1:22

So Jesus tells them,

19 … “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

As you can imagine, the Jews that Jesus is talking to believe he is talking about “The Temple” the building of the second Temple that had taken 46 years to build, where all the daily sacrifices had taken place.

This is the place where God dwells … where sin is atoned for.

You can see that not much has changed in the nearly 2000 years since the cross of our Lord. The Jews today are still rebuilding the Temple … and the cross as Paul says in our epistle is:

23 … a stumbling block to Jews and folly [or foolishness] to Gentiles,

But we who have been blessed to be brought to the foot of the cross see Jesus as our savior and trust in his work; where true temple worship is in his once and for all sacrifice for sin.

Jews look to rebuild the Temple and resume the sacrifices while Gentiles see foolishness in belief of a saving God, especially one who has taken on flesh.

Their wisdom tells them to trust in themselves.

25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 1 cor. 1:25

But many fall short. For some, the stumbling … or the foolishness is just plain stubbornness.

It remains a problem for many still today. For the Jews the Temple remains something to be rebuilt and stumble while others believe that the Cross of Christ remains [foolishness], or something to be seen as weakness and not the power of God.

The cross is an offence, so much so that at times we shy away from it, especially in the midst of the world.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer in his book: Life together writes,

“Jesus Christ lived in the midst of his enemies. At the end all his disciples deserted him. On the Cross he was utterly alone, surrounded by evildoers and mockers. For this cause he had come, to bring peace to the enemies of God.

So the Christian too, belongs not in the seclusion of a cloistered life but in the thick of foes.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Faith in Community

In the turmoil of the world the cross of Christ will be a stumbling block or foolishness.

When I went back to college to get the required courses so that I might get qualified for going to the seminary I took a class on the Bible. It was a secular class that looked at the text and asked us to analyzed in our papers what we thought it said and what we believed it meant.

Most people took the class to fulfill an elective requirement and thought it might be easy or as a class for non-credit but of interest and enrichment.

I sat next to a nice Jewish man who turned to me during one of our classes and said,

“When we get to the New Testament, you’re going to have to help me!”

Not an unexpected response. It was not part of his understanding.

My friend Mark had a different obstacle. I bought him a Bible during one of our many years of discussions and he had a problem – a stumbling block with just one page.

It was the one page between Malachi and Matthew. It read The New Testament. Mark said to me,

“I couldn’t get past it so I tore it out. Now, it’s one book.”

The stumbling and foolishness of that one page was just too much for him. But, God by his Spirit gave him wisdom to see and overcome it. God has opened the eyes of his understanding and has brought him into his family of faith.

For many though, Jesus’ life death and resurrection remain a stumbling block and foolishness.

21 But [Jesus] was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

In spite of our weakness and in spite of our failings God in Christ was focused on the cross for you. The Temple of his body that was destroyed for you is victory! It is victory because the full wrath of God was poured out on Jesus and as a result you have no fear of standing before our holy God.

God in Christ has taken your sin and my sin upon himself and has given you and all who believe his righteousness in exchange for it – what wonderful good news – and as a result we are free of the bonds of sin, death, and the devil and are covered by Christ’s righteousness and made his child through faith by the power of the Holy Spirit

19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

Christ is consumed with his zeal for you and just as he has been raised … you too will rise!

May our Lord and savior Jesus Christ, who has redeemed you, and called you through the power of the Holy Spirit to faith, complete this blessed good work in you now and forever!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!

Amen

Sermon February 28, 2024 Lent 3 - Pastor Moyer

Title: The Story worth repeating! "Will Everything Sad Come Untrue?" Pastor Moyer, Faith, Highland
Text: Jeremiah 31;10-17, 31-34; Romans 8:18-25

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