Sermon Feb 9, 2013 - Transfiguration

Title: Jesus Christ is the glorious chosen one, for you!
Text: Luke 9:35-36

35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!”36 And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.

Dear friends in Christ,

St Francis had this to say about the pride of man:

“Some men become proud and insolent because they ride a fine horse, wear a feather in their hat or are dressed in a fine suit of clothes. Who does not see the folly of this? If there be any glory in such things, the glory belongs to the horse, the bird and the tailor.”

St. Francis de Sales.

Jesus took Peter, John and James and went up on a mountain to pray. Not an unusual thing for our Lord to do. However, on this trip up the mountain the crowds that would have usually been following Him would be nowhere to be found.

You know the crowds; the ones who had followed Jesus; the ones who had just been filled. The five thousand, who had just been fed by the five loaves and a two fish?

16 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing over them. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. 17 And they all ate and were satisfied. And what was left over was picked up, twelve baskets of broken pieces. (Luke 9:16-17)

These crowds were nowhere to be found. It was just Jesus and three of His closest disciples, Peter, John and James who went up on the mountain … but as it had been many times before it was Jesus who was praying. The others it appears were asleep. How do we know this? Well, Luke in his transfiguration account tells us this:

29And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. 30And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, 31who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.  (Luke 9:28-30)

His departure which in the Greek is translated Exodus (ἔξοδος), for the Jew this meant freedom from slavery in Egypt. The Jews had been released from bondage in Egypt; being led by Moses for forty years, in the desert, before entering the Promised Land. This same Moses is now speaking with a glorified Jesus who will soon take His Exodus (ἔξοδος) heading towards Jerusalem, the Cross and death - a death that will ultimately lead to freedom from sin, death and the power of the Devil for all who are brought to faith by the power of the Holy Spirit’s work and believe. This reconciliation between God and man is made possible only by the once and for all atoning sacrifice of the God/man himself Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is the glorious chosen one, for you!

Moses, the Law giver who carried the tablets of stone, etched by the finger of God, measuring the requirements that God has set and our inability to measure up - as it were - to the standards that God has set … is now in the presence of the disciples Jesus has brought with Him, standing with Elijah the prophet, who pointed towards the coming Messiah - Jesus Christ - now transfigured on the mountain … and we read:

32 Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. 33 And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here.

St. Francis pointed out that men become prideful of themselves because of the things that they have, the closes they wear or the horse they ride that are not of themselves but are added to themselves to give an appearance of  glory.

Jesus Christ, on the other hand has to remove the cover of His humanity to reveal the true glory that is His but has been veiled for a time from the eyes of the world.

Peter continues …

 … Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said.

Peter may have been half asleep or he may not have really understood what had just happened or he just may have been confused. To be there in the presence of a glorified Jesus; a preview of the resurrected Christ drawing both the Old and New Testament focus together upon Himself … had to be revealing and may be even transforming because:

Jesus Christ is the glorious chosen one!

We too fail to recognize the true glory of Jesus at times, seeing only a good man that can be an example for us to follow. But what did Peter say just a short while earlier in our reading for today when Jesus asked the disciples:

“Who do the crowds say that I am?” 19 And they answered, “John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.” 20 Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”

Peter’s confession that Jesus is “the Christ of God” didn’t help him to understand fully what our Lord had to do in turning his face toward Jerusalem; knowing full well that what awaited Him was the Chief Priests and Scribes, rejection by the people, a trial, guilty verdict and death on a Cross – all this for you.

As Jesus is transfigured, Peter is thinking about building tents - building tents? It could be that Peter was just very confused by what was happening or in some way wanted to preserve what was happening and contain the glory of God as the children of Israel desired to do in the wilderness. Tents or no tents, Peter concludes, “It is good that we are here.”

Martin Luther put it this way:

Although out of pure grace God does not impute our sins to us, He nonetheless did not want to do this until complete and ample satisfaction of His law and His righteousness had been made. Since this was impossible for us, God ordained for us, in our place, One who took upon Himself all the punishment we deserve. He fulfilled the law for us. He averted the judgment of God from us and appeased God's wrath. Grace, therefore, costs us nothing, but is cost another much to get it for us. Grace was purchased with an incalculable, infinite treasure, the Son of God Himself."

Martin Luther, Daily Walk, May 5, 1992.

Jesus Christ is the glorious chosen one, for you!

34 As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!”

As they were standing in the presence of our Holy Lord, Jesus Christ, covered in their own righteousness, they were afraid, as it should for anyone who relies upon themselves for their own righteousness.
What about you? Sitting here today in the pew? Do you ever miss the mark? Do you ever fall short? Do you see your sin constantly in front of you? Do you carry the guilt that comes with your sin? Are you burdened and weighed down? Have you fallen short of the mark!

36 And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.

… until the proper time …

Many times we are silent.  We miss the mark and opportunity to share the Good News with those we come in contact with. Friend, neighbor, relative, Co-worker all are in need of the same forgiveness that you have received from your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, crucified for you and have the blessed assurance of an eternity in Heaven with Him.

Thank and praise God daily that Jesus didn’t miss His mark! Thank and praise Him that you can listen to Him in His word proclaimed and His word preserved in the writings of Holy Scripture. Thank God you can partake of His body and Blood given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. Thank and praise God that the Cross was His mark and His destination. Thank Him that he fulfilled his goal as He resolutely headed towards Jerusalem, the Cross and death where He received the full wrath of God poured out upon Him as He suffered and died on this Cross and on this Mount of Calvary, for you!

His crucifixion and death satisfied God’s justice for the sins of the world for you. His death brought freedom for you and I as we receive the blessed exchange of His righteousness for our sins nailed once and for all to the Cross with Him. His death released you from the guilt you may at times still carry when you fail to cast all your burdens upon Him. His death accomplishes all of this because on the third day …

He rose … in the glory of His resurrected body, transfigured, incorruptible for you.  And you will too - and so will all who name the name of Jesus Christ having been brought to faith by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Knowing that in your Baptism you were washed clean in the blood of the Lamb given and shed for you!
“It is good that we are here.” It is truly good, right and salutary that through our Lord’s suffering and death at the Cross and His glorious resurrection on the third day that we can be made sons and daughters of our heavenly Father by faith. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be and abide with us all.

J.S. Bach said, "All music should have no other end and aim than the glory of God and the soul's refreshment; where this is not remembered there is no real music but only a devilish hub-bub."

He headed his compositions:

"J.J." "Jesus Juva" which means "Jesus help me."

He ended them "S.D.G."

"Soli Dei gratia" which means "To God alone the praise."



May our Lord and savior Jesus Christ who has redeemed you, through the power of the Holy Spirit who has called you, comfort you with this blessed Good News now and forever!

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

Amen

Sermon Feb 2-3, 2013

Title: Jesus is the Good News … and for you!

Text: Luke 4:42-44

42 And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them, 43 but he said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.” 44 And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

The great Hungarian concert pianist Andor Földes tells the remarkable story of the watershed moment in his rise to world renown. He was 16 years old and already a veteran of years of intense practice and performance. The pianist Emil von Sauer, Franz Liszt's last surviving pupil, came to Budapest and asked young Andor to play for him. Having listened intently to him playing Bach's Toccata in C Major, von Sauer requested another piece. Andor put all his heart and skill into playing Beethoven's "Pathetique" sonata.
Finally, after a long pause, von Sauer slowly rose, took the young man's head into his hands, and kissed him on the forehead. "My son," he said tenderly, "when I was your age I became a student of Liszt. He kissed me on the forehead after my first lesson, saying, 'Take good care of this kiss—it comes from Beethoven, who gave it to me after hearing me play.' I have waited for years to pass on this sacred heritage, and now I feel you deserve it."

From: Andor Földes, "Beethoven's Kiss," Reader's Digest, November 1986, 145

As Christians we have the sacred heritage of having the same message passed on to us that was the message of truth being passed on in our Gospel lesson in Luke today.

This Gospel, from the one who is “the way the truth and the life,” was earlier rejected in his home town of Nazareth when He got up in the synagogue and proclaimed:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
    and recovering of sight to the blind,
    to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”
20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them,

“Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

This is the same Jesus who cast out the unclean spirit’s who cried out:

34 “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.”

And this same Jesus, who then went in to see the mother-n-law of Simon who was ill and, rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them. And as word spread, all who were sick, diseased or possessed of demons came to Him … and He healed them.

This brings us to the place in the Gospel for today where Jesus … departed to a desolate place. It reminds me of the look on the face of a surgeon who has just completed a delicate operation. Everything went well … he is well satisfied in the results and can now make an encouraging prognosis and give a good report. But he also looks tired, drained from his work and in need of a little time on his own to rest, regroup and to give thanks for his skill, training and God given talents.

But in this desolate place, those who were following Jesus and saw the healings continued to seek him out. Because as the text says, and would have kept him from leaving them. These who saw the healings wanted this man of extraordinary means to stay with them. They would have kept Him from leaving.

“No, you can’t go away from us!” It is as if you can hear them call to this Jesus … this Christ … this one who brings power over sin, death and the working of the Devil … this destroyer of Demons.

But, we are told by Jesus himself:

“I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.”

Jesus is the Good News … and for you!

Just a few weeks ago, I was sitting at church and it was a Wednesday. Heinz Hoffman was having surgery and I went over to St. Joseph Mercy Care in Pontiac, hoping to see Heinz and offer a prayer before he went in for the operation. I walked in to the surgery wing after being told that Heinz was in pre-op, I was met by Erica who was coming out and she said that they had just wheeled him back for surgery.

Well, as a new pastor I was a bit disappointed to miss the opportunity to offer a prayer with Heinz but I sat with Erica and talked while the surgery was going on. When it was completed we were escorted into a consultation room to meet with the surgeon. He gave us a very good report of a successful operation. And, looking every bit the part of a man that God has blessed with skill, training and God given talents he in a diligent and detailed way talked of the recovery time and the good news of renewed life with less back pain for Heinz.

But then Erica asked him about his trip and vacation. “Oh, it’s not a vacation, he said. I’ll be going on a medical mission trip to the poorest part of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico where we donate our services for these people who could never afford the care that we have here. I love to use my skills to help others in need, he continued … but I really go so I can tell them the Gospel and to share the Good News about Jesus with them.”

And while we talked I could almost hear: And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them, 43 but he said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.”

Jesus was sent for this purpose. But we too have opportunities to speak of God and his gracious working in our lives, his sacrifice and gift of faith. Whether it is from the pulpit or in conversation with friend and family members or in sitting in a consultation room we can all tell the Good News to those who in spiritual poverty need to hear.

Jesus is the Good News … for them … and for you!

Christ Jesus … 31 … went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the Sabbath, 32 and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority.

This word that possessed authority to drive out demons, to heal the sick and to free the sinner from their sin is this same Christ Jesus who would, according to God’s plan, take away the sins of the world.

The demons knew, “I know who you are—the Holy One of God,” they cried but Jesus commanded them to “Be silent and come out of him!” This word of God made flesh is God over all. He commands freedom from sin, death and the power of the Devil for the world but the world asked then:

“What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!”
Earlier in the Gospel lesson of Luke those from His hometown too asked:

“Is not this Joseph's son?” How could this same son of Joseph they wondered, speak and teach with such authority? But the demons that were demanded to “come out” cried all the more: “You are the Son of God!”

Jesus is truly Good News!

What these demons proclaimed and what you also can know for certain is that this Jesus that called you to believe when you were conceived and born in sin, is this same Carpenter’s son who healed the sick and those with diseases brought to him, when they were healed simply by His touch and the laying on of his hands.

He, Jesus, was sent for this purpose for you too, so that His touch through the water and the word in your Baptism might wash you clean of sin as He Himself covers you with His spotless righteousness.

He, Jesus, was sent for this purpose for you too, so that by His touch through his true body and blood received in and with the bread and wine might be given for you for the forgiveness of sins.

He, Jesus, was sent for this purpose for those in poor communities that have so little, that they might receive the greatest gift of all … the Good News brought to them, in the wilderness of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, by the witness of a doctor sent to heal a temporal illness but bringing also an eternal cure.

He, Jesus, is the Good News … for all who hunger for righteousness!

Emil von Sauer, Franz Liszt's last surviving pupil said:

"My son," 'Take good care of this kiss—it comes from Beethoven, who gave it to me after hearing me play.' I have waited for years to pass on this sacred heritage, and now I feel you deserve it."

But Christ says:

“I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.”

You have heard the Good News preached! You are forgiven! You are Christ’s child! In Him you do not receive what you deserve but you receive that sacred heritage that you don't deserve!

May this blessed Good News by the power of the Holy Spirit in you comfort you now and forever!

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

Amen

Sermon Jan. 19-20, 2013

Title: If Christ is involved, it’s always good!

Text: John 2:3-4

3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.”

In Elmer Bendiner's book, The Fall of Fortresses, he describes one bombing run over the German city of Kassel:

Our B-17 was barraged by flak from Nazi antiaircraft guns. That was not unusual, but on this particular occasion our gas tanks were hit. Later, as I reflected on the miracle of a twenty-millimeter shell piercing the fuel tank without touching off an explosion, our pilot, Bohn Fawkes, told me it was not quite that simple.

On the morning following the raid, Bohn had gone down to ask our crew chief for that shell as a souvenir of unbelievable luck. The crew chief told Bohn that not just one shell but eleven had been found in the gas tanks--eleven unexploded shells where only one was sufficient to blast us out of the sky. It was as if the sea had been parted for us. Even after thirty-five years, so awesome an event leaves me shaken, especially after I heard the rest of the story from Bohn.

He was told that the shells had been sent to the armorers to be defused. The armorers told him that Intelligence had picked them up. They could not say why at the time, but Bohn eventually sought out the answer.

Apparently when the armorers opened each of those shells, they found no explosive charge. They were clean as a whistle and just as harmless. Empty? Not all of them.

One contained a carefully rolled piece of paper. On it was a scrawl in Czech. The Intelligence people scoured our base for a man who could read Czech. Eventually, they found one to decipher the note. It set us marveling. Translated, the note read: "This is all we can do for you now.

Elmer Bendiner, The Fall of Fortresses.

In our Gospel lesson for today we hear of a wedding; One that our Lord’s mother Mary was invited to. Most commentators believe that Joseph was by this time deceased, but we also learn that Jesus too was invited to the wedding … and with His disciples. This could have been quite a large affair as Jesus and His disciples themselves might have been a sizeable group.

Now at some point Mary makes the statement:

“They have no wine.”

Now this might have been a result of poor planning or just inviting too many people but none the less … no wine.

Mary, the mother of our Lord simply calls out a need to Jesus. She knows and remembers what the angel and the visitation had said concerning her son.

32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” (Luke 1:32-33)

It is a call in prayer from the mother of our Lord, knowing that he can do what is needed and what is asked according to his will. Christ Jesus came for those in need. Christ came to fill the need of those left in bondage to sin.

So what comes next may sound and short, unloving and harsh coming from the mouth of our Lord:

 “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 

Mary was going beyond her responsibility as a parent. It was not her need to fill the needs of the wedding’s host. It was a question infringing on Jesus and His Messianic work and time … but though Jesus asked the question … “Woman, what does this have to do with me, His words, though rebuking, really are asking Mary: “What do you and I have to do with this?”

But we can know:

If Christ is involved, it’s always good!

You and I too come to our Lord in prayer and at times the requests we make may, through reflection, seem odd. As though we can hear the Lord say, “What does this have to do with me?”

Other times we don’t come to the Lord in prayer because we think, “This isn't important, or God doesn't need to be bothered with my little concerns.” Too often those who need God the most, and are in needful situations, fail to think of Him or ask for Him. At times, here even at Peace, we who are in the business of bringing God’s care and comfort to those in need are the last to know of a member, in the hospital or having brokenness in the home or other concerns in the world or in this life. The world can be your friend but leave you wanting.

James admonishes us in worldliness when he warns:

Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He (Jesus) yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:4-6)

Ill.

The writer Chuck Swindoll put it this way:

The world system is committed to at least four major objectives, which can be  summarize in four words: fortune, fame, power and pleasure.

First and foremost: Fortune, money. The world system is driven by money; it feeds on materialism.

Second: Fame. That is another word for popularity. Fame is the longing to be known, to be somebody in someone else's eyes.

Third: Power. This is having influence, maintaining control over individuals or groups or companies or whatever. It is the desire to manipulate and maneuver others to do something for one's own benefit.

Fourth: Pleasure. At its basic level, pleasure has to do with fulfilling one's sensual desires.

Charles Swindoll, Living Above the Level of Mediocrity, p.219.

Though we are in the world we are called to … not be of the world … and though we daily fall short in all we say or do … we can be sure:

If Christ is involved, it’s always good!

5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

The working of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the everyday lives of his people brings salvation and peace. Mary knew to trust in what He would do.

The jars used for purification rites and ceremonial washing's in Jewish life were large and it not very important the number or the size. The miracle was certainly evident on all involved.

Those servants, who gathered the water to the brim as it were, knew what they had put in those jars and those who had tasted the water turned into wine knew as the master of the feast exclaimed:

“Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 

Just as Jesus does with the means of grace where He dispenses His grace to us through the common things of water and word, bread and wine; and in our lesson today He uses the common servants to fill the common jars with simple common water that He, who is creator of all things, then brings to this common wedding where man is joined to woman and where God, through this blessed union on husband and wife, fills His creation with His children whom He came to redeem.

If Christ is involved, it’s always good!

God, in Christ, has brought the peace that passes all human understanding to you through the simple element of water connected to His word of promise.  He has washed you clean, not with a washing that cleanses, for a time, but through the transforming bath in baptism that takes away the sins of the world not for a time but for eternity!

You are clean! You are washed! You are forgiven! And, you always will be His because you are the new wine, in Him that is poured forth daily as you remember what He has done for you.

If Christ can turn the common water into the miraculous wine of our wedding story in Cana He can also turn the filthy sinner into washed saint through His word of promise in and through Baptism. Jesus also will refresh us with His body and blood given for you in the sacrament of the Altar that we soon will partake of, sustaining and renewing our faith in this blessed gift.

It is His true body and blood given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins in and with the brand and the wine … and we know that:

If Christ is involved, it’s always good!

Whether the miracle of unexploded shells left in the fuel tanks in our story of the flying fortresses from WII or the story of the miraculous transformation of the water filled jugs into the finest wine served at the wedding in Cana or the blessed body and blood of our Lord in and with the bread and wine, Jesus Christ, if involved in your lives … the ups and the downs ... is always good and is always there and will be their when you can’t go on, to lift you and carry you. He is the one who will never leave you but will sustain you through the trials of this world promising the life eternal in his name where the comfort and peace of a home in His house is secured by the gift of faith in his blood shed for you!

If Christ is involved, it’s always good!

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

Amen

Sermon Jan 12-13, 2013

Title: Christ, in baptism, frees you from sin and makes you His child!

Text: Luke 3:21-22

21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

Writer Charles Swindoll once found himself with too many commitments in too few days. He got nervous and tense about it.  "I was snapping at my wife and our children, choking down my food at mealtimes, and feeling irritated at those unexpected interruptions throughout the day," he recalled in his book Stress Fractures. "Before long, things around our home started reflecting the patter of my hurry-up style. It was becoming unbearable.

"I distinctly remember after supper one evening, the words of our younger daughter, Colleen, he said. She wanted to tell me something important that had happened to her at school that day. She began hurriedly, 'Daddy, I wanna tell you somethin' and I'll tell you really fast.'  "Suddenly realizing her frustration, I answered, 'Honey, you can tell me -- and you don't have to tell me really fast. Say it slowly."   "I'll never forget her answer: 'Then listen slowly.'"

Bits & Pieces, June 24, 1993, pp. 13-14.

After ordination and installation last Sunday here at Peace - which was a glorious and blessed day in my life - I was talking to my friend Paul, who did the song for me the and special music with my daughter Amy for the ordination service and we both just marveled at how quickly the years of our life had gone by … since that crazy picture of me playing banjo with that towel on my head!

I’m sure many of you would agree that your lives too seem to go by in an instant … so it is with that in mind that I wish to focus today on a marvelous truth that you can be reminded of daily … and that is that:

Christ, in baptism, frees you from sin and makes you His child!

You can almost hear the hope in the people in our Gospel reading for today as they wonder and reason about John the Baptist:

15 As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ,

John, being the unique character that he is … was causing quite a stir as the people questioned about who this man could be. Is he the Christ, they wanted to know? And while the excitement of this man, out of the wilderness, may have made quite an impression on the people, when it came to his attention, as to who the people thought he was … he quickly put all speculation to rest:

16 John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

From our bible study on the Book of Ruth last year we learned that:

[A common method of threshing in ancient Israel employed an implement called a threshing sledge which is a heavy wooden slab with teeth made of stone, metal, or potsherds fastened to the underside and Oxen or mules dragged the sledge back and forth over the sheaves to allow the teeth to break down the stalks into husks, straw, and grain kernels.

A wooden pitch fork was used to lift away the straw.  The kernels were then separated from the husks by winnowing, tossing the pile of threshed grain into the air with a winnowing fork and wind, whether caused by a natural breeze or artificially generated by winnowing fans, blew away the lighter chaff while the heavier heads of grain fell down to the threshing floor.

The kernels were then sifted and collected for storage.  The chaff was burned as fuel and the straw became animal fodder. ]

Copyright © 2009 Mark A. Myers


This Christ that John preached would be a refining fire to those people who were looking for Him, this Messiah, this:

Jesus who is the Good Shepherd and the light of the world!

This Jesus came to John to be marked with you through baptism as one who heard repentance call. He also was marked with a Baptism of fire, marked to carry the sins of the world, your sins, upon Himself to Jerusalem and finally to the cross.

When Christ returns He will separate the wheat from the chaff; the believers from the unbelievers. Those who have been baptized and are covered by Christ’s righteousness will be gathered to Heaven and to an eternal life of joy and peace and those who stand covered in the filthy rags of their own righteousness will be cast into the fires of hell made for the Devil and his minions, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. (Matt. 6:19)

Your life and mine is one of continually falling short. We daily miss the mark in what we say and do. But as one who has been Baptized we are called to daily die and rise as we remember what Jesus did in being marked, not only with sinners, but with you so that we too can be renewed in our faith daily and grow in our Christian walk as we are by the power of the Holy Spirit made holy or as the tern sanctification is used to say that we are being made holy daily and set apart for the good works that God has prepared for us to do.

Now, as Lutherans we tend to get a little up in arms when we think about Good Works! This is not to undermine the work of Christ who came to take the sins of the whole world upon himself so that you would be declared righteous on account of His sacrifice. But by the grace of God and through the gift of faith you are made holy by the working of the Holy Spirit in you.

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Eph. 2:8-9)

The boasting is God’s because we know that:

Jesus is the Good Shepherd and the light of the world!

The Old Testament reading today points to the one who is active in the life of the world in God’s work of redemption when we read:

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
    I have called you by name, you are mine.
For I am the Lord your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

And while God is speaking to the children of Israel in these verses He too is speaking of His redeeming love for all of his children – domestic and imported:

13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:13)
And our Lord will accomplish all that He has set out to do because He declares:

5 Fear not, for I am with you;
    I will bring your offspring from the east,
    and from the west I will gather you.
6 I will say to the north, Give up,
    and to the south, Do not withhold;
bring my sons from afar
    and my daughters from the end of the earth,
7 everyone who is called by my name,

God has called you by name in your baptisms. He has washed you and gathered you to the foot of the cross of his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. He continues through the working of the Holy Spirit in the your daily lives and in the lives of all His children to make you holy and to keep you by the power of His Spirit connected to Him so that we grow in Him through this same Spirit.

Ill.
A story is told of:

Charles Spurgeon and Joseph Parker were pastors who both had churches in London in the 19th century. On one occasion, Parker commented on the poor condition of children admitted to Spurgeon's orphanage. It was reported to Spurgeon however, that Parker had criticized the orphanage itself.

Spurgeon blasted Parker the next week from the pulpit. The attack was printed in the newspapers and became the talk of the town. People flocked to Parker's church the next Sunday to hear his rebuttal. He said, "I understand that Dr. Spurgeon is not in his pulpit today, and this is the Sunday they use to take an offering for the orphanage. I suggest we take a love offering here instead." The congregation was delighted. The ushers had to empty the collection plates 3 times. Later that week there was a knock at Parker's study. It was Spurgeon. "You know Parker, you have practiced grace on me. You have given me not what I deserved, you have given me what I needed.”

Moody Monthly, December, 1983, p. 81.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd and the light of the world!

God in Christ has given you and me not what we deserved but what we needed. He continues to give to us the blessings of His Son through the good times and bad. He blesses us through word and sacrament and daily sustains his you with His loving kindness and does not remember your sin but sees you through the veil of Christ which you are covered with. In Christ you receive His full attention when you pray so you can ask anything in Jesus name according to his will and He will hear, and is not hurried or bothered when you cry out to Him and will listen patently, intently and slowly because He loves you and cares for you as a father cares for a dear child.

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

Amen

Sermon Jan 5-6, 2013

Title: Jesus is the Good Shepherd and the light of the world!

Text: Matt. 2:6

6 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

Telemachus was a monk who lived in the 4th century. He felt God calling him to go to Rome. He was in a cloistered monastery. He put his possessions in a sack and set out for Rome. When he arrived in the city, people were thronging in the streets. He asked why all the excitement and was told that this was the day that the gladiators would be fighting and killing each other in the coliseum, the day of the games, the circus.

 He thought to himself, "Four centuries after Christ and they are still killing each other, for enjoyment?" He ran to the coliseum and heard the gladiators saying, "Hail to Ceasar, we die for Ceasar" and he thought, "this isn't right."

He jumped over the railing and went out into the middle of the field, got between two gladiators, held up his hands and said "In the name of Christ, forbear." To hold back; refrain) The crowd protested and began to shout, "Run him through, Run him through." A gladiator came over and hit him in the stomach with the back of his sword. It sent him sprawling in the sand. He got up and ran back and again said, "In the name of Christ, forbear." The crowd continued to chant, "Run him through." One gladiator came over and plunged his sword through the little monk's stomach and he fell into the sand, which began to turn crimson with his blood. One last time he gasped out, "In the name of Christ forbear." A hush came over the 80,000 people in the coliseum. Soon a man stood and left, then another and more, and within minutes all 80,000 had emptied out of the arena. It was the last known gladiatorial contest in the history of Rome.
Source Unknown.

This weekend we celebrate the Epiphany of our Lord. We also will celebrate a very special day in my life and in the life of our church, (on/this) Sunday afternoon, when I am ordained and installed as pastor here at Peace.

On Epiphany we celebrate God becoming manifest or appearing in the person and work of Jesus Christ our Lord, the Good Shepherd, who came to deliver His people from their sins and the brokenness of this world and to restore them to the original righteousness that God had created them with before the fall.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd and the light of the world!

The story of the wise men and their traveling far to find … Him, who has been born King of the Jews, is one we have all heard from the time of our youth … and how these men followed the star to find the true light.
The story is a familiar one, but also one that may be even darker than you know. History refers to the Herod in our lesson for today as Herod the Great, largely because of his political savvy, diplomatic shrewdness and great energy that resulted in a huge building plan and grand expansion throughout Judea. Herod had secured the governorship in Galilee by the age of 25 and was later made tetrarch and was finally declared King of Judea by the Roman Senate.

Herod though was also known for his great incredible wickedness, having put to death one of his 10 wives and three of his own sons.  By such a degree of bloodthirstiness was his reign characterized that the slaughter of the innocents at Bethlehem is omitted by secular historians as an insignificant episode.1
1. Paul Kretzmann Commentary

This was who Herod was that these wise men were summoned to see in verse 7 and 8 or our Gospel lesson. Knowing what we know of Herod, I’m not sure that you or I would have felt too comfortable being called into his presence.

7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”

But the idea that Herod wanted to come and worship this King of the Jews may have seemed reasonable to them and the extent of his wickedness may have been foreign to these foreigners from the East who had traveled so far:

And we are also told:

12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd and the light of the world!

Is the light of Christ your focus? Do you follow Him with exceeding joy like the wise men that left everything to find this King of the Jews? No, you don’t and neither do I.

The cares of this life and the working of our sinful nature, compounded by the lies of the Devil, help us to take our eyes off of Jesus. The culmination of the last three years of family, church, my former job and seminary classes for me have led to this point where we stand together ready to embark on a new chapter in the life of this church. But, many things have been thrown in the way over this past year too.

My dad’s illness last winter, all the members who were hospitalized this past summer, Monica’s bone infection in her foot and now my mother-n-laws hospitalization can be distracting influences that can take our focus off of Jesus and place it on the cares of this life. But too, these distractions can be used by God to draw us back to the appearing of our God made manifest as we celebrate the joy of a God who loves you so much that he would die in your place to set you free!

Jesus is the Good Shepherd and the light of the world!

The wise men:

9 After listening to the king … went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

Whether there is any special significance in the gifts we don’t know. Though it has been commonly understood that Gold, was given to the King as a precious gift and also that incense was given in service to the divineness of God as a sweet fragrance in worshiping Him and finally that myrrh was given for one who was destined to die and that  it would be used to anoint the body.

There was even a medieval rhyme that has it:

“The first was gold, as most mighty King;
“The second incense, as Priest of priests being;
“The third was myrrh in token of burying."
Martin Luther's explanation is a bit simpler:

"Although they [the wise men] enter a poor house, find a poor young woman, with a poor child, and also there is an appearance so unlike a king, yet they are not troubled, but in great, strong, full faith they put everything out of their eyes and mind which our human nature with its arrogance might cause and bring into play; they simply follow the verse of the prophet and the testimony of the star and believe Him to be King, fall down, worship Him, and give presents to Him."

Even though their reason might say otherwise, they know that:

Jesus is the Good Shepherd and the light of the world!

Christ has come in a form that confounds the wise of this world. God uses that which seems weak to the mind of sinful man - like the little monk in the arena of great gladiators - to overpower the strong.
God has given you the same light by the power of the Holy Spirit … but unlike the gifts that were brought to the babe in Bethlehem by the wise men this baby king gives you the gifts of His eternal kingdom that you received by faith in Christ’s once and for all sacrifice over sin, death and the power of the Devil.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd and the light of the world!

As I look towards my ordination and service here at Peace, as Christ’s under shepherd, I must take just a moment to thank Pastor Merrell for the faithful under shepherd that he has been to us all by God’s working in and through him here over these last 32 years. I have benefited greatly from his mentoring but more so we have all benefited from his wisdom, good council and blessing to the body of Christ here at Peace.

As one who has served in lay-leadership here for many years and will now serve as a brother Pastor … I will value your friendship more and more as the years of your retirement unfold. Well done, good and faithful servant!

 And it is with great hope that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will bless you and Nancy with a joyful and long retirement as you continue to be used by Him for His greater Kingdom.
God bless you both.

And God bless Peace Lutheran Church!

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

Amen

Sermon Dec. 22-23, 2012

Title: Christ is the fruit that satisfies your need!

Text: Luke 1:41-42

41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

While crossing the Atlantic on an ocean liner, F.B. Meyer was asked to address the first class passengers. At the captain's request he spoke on "Answered Prayer." An unbeliever who was present at the service was asked by his friends, "What did you think of Dr. Meyer's sermon?" He answered, "I didn't believe a word of it." That afternoon Meyer went to speak to the passengers with the lower class accommodations. Many of the listeners who had heard the morning sermon went along, including the unbeliever, who claimed he just wanted to hear "what the babbler had to say."

Before starting for the service, the unbeliever put two oranges in his pocket. On his way he passed an elderly woman sitting in her deck chair fast asleep. Her hands were open. In what he thought would be a bit of fun, the unbeliever put the two oranges in her outstretched palms. After the meeting, he saw the old lady happily eating one of the pieces of fruit. "You seem to be enjoying that orange," he remarked with a smile. She replied, "Oh, my Father is very good to me." "Your father … surely your father can't be still alive?" "Praise God," she replied, "He is very much alive." "What do you mean?" he asked. "Well Sir, I have been seasick for days. I was asking God somehow to send me an orange. I suppose I fell asleep while I was praying. When I awoke, I found He had not only sent me one orange but two!"

Our Daily Bread

Oh yes, our Father is very good because:

Christ is the fruit that satisfies your need!

In our study of the Book of Ruth during our adult mid-week Bible class this year, we learned that Bethlehem Ephrathah means “the house of bread.” It will play a special role in God’s plan as the prophet Micah records in our Old Testament reading for today:

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. (Micah 5:2)

This “house of bread”, Bethlehem, would become the place where the true bread from heaven, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior would come down to save His people from the power sin, death and the Devil’s working in their lives. From this tiny town the salvation of the world would emerge.

Mary, who just a little bit earlier in Luke’s gospel reading, would have a visitation from the Angel Gabriel, announcing that she would have a very special role as well to play in God’s plan for restoring the gulf that was fixed by sin between God and man and we also these past two weeks heard how John the Baptist would be used by God to prepare the way.

Today our Gospel reading moves back a bit in the story, some 30 plus years, to Mary’s visit to Elizabeth, another women used by God for a very important role. She would bear the prophet, John, who would be the greatest of all prophets as Jesus said in our Gospel reading from last week, 28 I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John.

But this visit from Mary to Elizabeth was a bit different.

Mary with joyful energy and as the text says, “Arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah,” and came to the house of Zachariah, where she greeted Elisabeth, just as you or I might great a relative or dear friend. But then God performed a miracle. By the working of the Holy Spirit this unborn son of Elisabeth, at hearing Mary’s voice, was filled with the Holy Spirit. And so too Elisabeth, by this same Spirit acting in a miraculous way, also filled her as she spoke:

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord (by special gifting of the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth was given the knowledge and trusting faith to know who this child Mary was carrying truly was) should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.” (Luke 1:42b-44)

Christ is the fruit that satisfies your need!

So what does the knowledge given you by the Spirit about Jesus bring you? Is it an unstoppable kind of joy that might even cause you to leap?  If you’re like me, I joy in Christ and that he has given me freedom from sin … but the Christmas season can be a drag. Having worked in sales for most of my adult life I have found it hard to get joyful working extra and being consumed with all that needs to be done.

Then add to all of that the fact that this child, this babe from Bethlehem, would become and is an offence to many. He is an offense in our world for sure so much so that Merry Christmas has become Happy Holidays for most of we who spend time in retail that the true meaning of Christmas has been neutered into just another sale. Sound familiar?

The message of who He is, who this child that we wait for this Advent season is, who caused the child in the womb of Elizabeth to jump for joy, this child Jesus Christ, came to conquer the power of evil and brokenness in the world, for you.

“Merry Christmas!” Try that greeting and see at times how you are received. “Jesus loves you,” another phrase that seems to bring anger in the hearts of those outside the faith.

There is a story I read this month from Hemant Mehta, who runs a blog called the Happy Atheist. In it he describes a situation of a Nativity scene placed outside of the Cottondale Elementary School in Florida.

(What’s that? Oh right, “Tradition.”) but not anymore. In order to avoid any lawsuits that they would lose in a heartbeat, the school has put the Baby Jesus in a closet:

The principal of the school told the television station that after a visit from the Department of Education:
“In an attempt to be fair to everyone, the principal said, “We decided that we would just not put the Nativity scene out on campus.”

“There are people in the community that are threatening to sue the school board (over separation of church and state issues), and it costs a tremendous amount of money to defend something you know you will lose,” she said.

It is after all the law. But, is it really just a church and state issue? In a funny turn to the story, a business across the street put the schools Nativity on their property so those of the community could still enjoy it. Needless to say our happy Atheist was none to happy … “They’re acting like they’re beating the system by doing it … but they’re not. They’re perfectly within their rights to do this and no one will tell them to remove it.”

via Atheist Lutheran

Is this really just about church and state? No if you look into any of these situations, it’s always about those who are unbelievers … who are offended, not wanting this unbelievably offensive, Christ child, in their face. And while they seem to be fine with the nativity across the street from the school, they’re not, because they believe that the school thinks that they’re beating the system and if they could make it illegal to have a nativity everywhere … they would.

Why, because it’s not about a character, who leaves presents under trees or where they believe that the date of Christmas is said to be taken from a pagan holiday and then Christianized. I posted an article on the churches Facebook page entitled:

How December 25 Became Christmas
12/07/2012
By Andrew McGowan where he writes:

“Around 200 C.E. Tertullian of Carthage reported the calculation that the 14th of Nisan (the day of the crucifixion according to the Gospel of John) in the year Jesus diedc was equivalent to March 25 in the Roman (solar) calendar.9March 25 is, of course, nine months before December 25; it was later recognized as the Feast of the Annunciation—the commemoration of Jesus’ conception.10 Thus, Jesus was believed to have been conceived and crucified on the same day of the year. Exactly nine months later, Jesus was born, on December 25.d”

You can read the rest of the article on our Facebook link if you want to. It is quite fascinating.
So the truth may be a bit simpler than just picking a pagan holiday and it may also be quite a bit older than the world wants to admit. We celebrate on March 25: The Annunciation of the Lord when the angel Gabriel visited Mary to announce that she would be the mother of the Christ child and then we simply have 9 months between the date of the Annunciation and the date of Christmas and celebrate Dec. 25th in the liturgical year for the birth of Jesus.

Christ is the fruit that satisfies your need!

For John in the womb and Elizabeth, the joy that is the Christ child came in a miraculous and unexpected way through Mary’s visit. We too receive the joy that is Jesus Christ our Lord when He calls us to gather together in His name; where we receive his word and his sacraments giving us both faith and joy in this Christ child who came to free sinners, like you and me, from the enemy of our sin, from the death that it has brought to all who are conceived in sin and brought fourth in iniquity, (Psalm 51.5) and finally to join us to Him who is God in the flesh for all eternity!

Christ is the fruit that satisfies your need!

Finally, the true joy of Christmas and the Christ child can come for some in the lights of a police car in the rear view mirror of a man who was pulled over for an expired registration.

Hayden Carlo who was pulled over by a Plano, Texas, cop for driving his car with an expired registration, said he told the officer the truth:

"I said there's no explanation for why I haven't done it, except I don't have the money. It was either feed my kids or get this registration done," the 25-year-old told CBS news.

The cop handed Carlo a blank ticket, along with something extra, "I opened it up and there's a $100 bill," said Carlo. "I broke down in my car, what else could I do?"

The mystery police officer chose not to be identified.

Still, the department plans to honor him anyway. A Police Department spokesman told CBS, "As he told me, this man needed it more than him, and it was the right thing to do."

Carlo said. "He helped me out when I needed it. I appreciate that, I'll never forget that man," "It definitely restored my faith in God."

Christ is the fruit that satisfies your need and then He gives the joy of sharing that same love with others!

Joy in the Christ child that we await. He came for you and by the power of the Holy Spirit gives you faith to leap for joy from the womb of death that you are born into, and by that same Spirit He lifts you into his loving arms never to let sin, death or the Devil pull you from the eternal life he gives.

Christ is the fruit that satisfies your need!

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

Amen

Sermon Dec. 15-16, 2012

Title: Christ is the one to come, rejoice in this Good News!

Text: Luke 7:20 & 22

20 And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’”  22 And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.

As a little boy, I use to get presents from relatives in Pennsylvania. As the presents came in they would get arranged according to whom they were for and then … a certain little boy … I’m not saying who, would start counting the presents! If one of his brothers or sister had more presents, it could take the joy of the Christmas season and make it joyless.

Today many of us are wrestling with the tragedy that occurred in Connecticut this past Friday. For many their Christmas has become joyless or nonexistent. But as we look at the Advent banner for today we can Rejoice in the one to come, who will take all our pain away and has given us joy in His Gospel message that:

Christ – the promised one - is the one to come and we can rejoice in this Good News!

The work of John the Baptist was talked about this past weekend. He was the one who would prepare the way, for another, but who?

The disciples of John had been reporting all these things to him. Of Jesus’ healing the Centurion’s servant … you remember the story … from earlier in Luke chapter 7:

“Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof … But say the word, and let my servant be healed. 8 For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; … 9 When Jesus heard these things, … and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” (Luke 7:7-9)

Or, the funeral procession of the widow’s son from the town of Nain that Jesus came upon. And he said a little further in Luke 7:

“Do not weep.” 14 Then he came up and touched, the man and he said, “Young man … I say to you, arise.” And he gave him back to his mother.(Luke 7:14-15)

This is the question that John wanted his disciples to answer …

“Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”

John knew that his own calling was to prepare the way … to be the one crying out in the wilderness … to point his followers to the messiah, the Christ, the one who was to come. The question that they asked of Jesus, “Is it you? Are you the one? What should we tell John?”

Jesus, answering them said:

22 … “Go … tell John what you have seen and what you've heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. 23 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

Christ is the one to come, rejoice in this Good News!

I had a nice sermon prepared but when I came here to run through it on Friday, the events of the day in Connecticut overwhelmed my preparation.

How do you deal with tragedy of this magnitude? How do you deal with loss of life, especially when it involves children between 6-7 years of age?

On Friday I was driving to an elementary school in Pontiac in the afternoon to play my banjo with a co-worker for a program for mentally challenged students. Many of these students are between the ages of 18-26 and are being prepared for living outside the home. As I drove to the John F. Kennedy Elementary school on Baldwin Rd. in Pontiac, I felt a connection to the school and the teachers in Connecticut, confronted and dealing with an event of unspeakable magnitude. When I drive I like to listen to Sports Talk Radio and as I was driving the radio host comes on and says, “I want someone of faith to call and explain this to me!”

What he was really saying, was … where was God? Why would a loving God allow this type of tragedy and suffering?

Well, I turned into the parking lot and entered the school and met the teachers and students, carrying my big banjo case and having no problem getting in or finding my friend, the teacher that invited us, and where we were to go. Many of these students have debilitating physical illness, some appear normal but have mental problems and others that are dealing with all of the above. We all had a joy filled time and both my friend Paul and I were blessed to play for them and to see these dedicated teachers and workers who love and care deeply for these special children of God.

Pastor Merrell and I attended our circuit meeting this past Tuesday and Pastor Tom Fisher did a sermon on God interrupting lives through the preaching of John the Baptist. Well, there was a terrible interruption this past Friday and Tom’s message said, "We must always be prepared for being interrupted by God". This interrupting opens us all up to God’s will and is one of the core objectives of Advent's message; … prepare ye the way of the Lord!"

My life, like yours, was interrupted Friday both by tragedy but for me, also joy. As I wrestled with the sad loss of life in Connecticut one minute, I was blessed by the faces of God’s special need children being cared for and loved by these teachers and workers, many like Paul's friend Deb who are Christian and who bring through their vocation, God’s caring hands to His special children in need.

… rejoice in this Good News!

“Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. 23 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

Jesus asks and wants to know a very important thing from these disciples who were following Him.

“What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in kings' courts. 26 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is he of whom it is written,

“‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
    who will prepare your way before you.’

28 I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John.

Is there no one greater than John? This prophet who would prepare the way for the Lord? When you think of some of the prophets; Moses, Jeremiah, Isaiah, and on and on and John … is the greatest of all of these …

Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

Christ is the one to come, for you, who are least in the Kingdom of God. Rejoice in this Good News!

You, who are the least in the Kingdom, are greater than John! Think about that! Christ has lifted you up. He has redeemed you. He has made you His own. He has called you to be his child. He has washed you clean in the blood of the Lamb. He will feed you on His very body and blood given and shed for you.

You who deserve death have been given new life in Him. Rejoice in Him!

Martin Luther who was not only a great theologian and defender of the faith but quite a good hymn writer as well wrote this little hymn that it a great comfort for all who live this Christian life of faith:

“Feelings come and feelings go, And feelings are deceiving;

My warrant is the Word of God--Naught else is worth believing.

Though all my heart should feel condemned, For want of some sweet token,

There is One greater than my heart, Whose Word cannot be broken.

I'll trust in God's unchanging Word, Till soul and body sever,

For, though all things shall pass away ... HIS WORD SHALL STAND FOREVER!”

― Martin Luther

Christ is the one to come, rejoice in this Good News!

This Advent as we watch and wait, know that there is one who knows you and has known you from the foundation of the world and has called you to be His own and has forgiven you your sin so that the righteousness that you had before sin came into the world could be restored to you in Christ, by faith.

You who are least in the kingdom of God:

Christ is the one who came for you. Rejoice in this Good News!

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

Amen