Sunday, Nov.2, 2014
Funeral Sermon for Betty Gedeon
Text: Luke 2:22-32
29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation
31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”
Dear friends, family and loved ones of our beloved Betty. As we together morn and grieve her passing and our loss, let us comfort and sustain one another with the blessed hope, that in Christ death is a parting for a time but there awaits a joyful reunion for all who believe.
I’m Pastor Russ Tkac from Peace Lutheran Church in Waterford and I’ve had the pleasure of being Betty’s pastor over these last few years. While it had been difficult for Betty to deal with her limited mobility, loss of car use and the freedom that that allowed, Betty too was comforted by her loving family, their help and her trust in Jesus. In this she had true peace.
Ill.
Long ago a man sought the perfect picture of peace. Not finding one that satisfied, he announced a contest to produce this masterpiece. The challenge stirred the imagination of artists everywhere, and paintings arrived from far and wide. Finally the great day of revelation arrived. The judge’s uncovered one peaceful scene after another.
The tensions grew. Only two pictures remained veiled. As a judge pulled the cover from one, a hush fell over the crowd. A mirror-smooth lake reflected lacy, green birches under the soft blush of the evening sky. Along the grassy shore, a flock of sheep grazed undisturbed. Surely this was the winner. The man with the vision uncovered the second painting himself, and the crowd gasped in surprise. Could this be peace?
It was a raging waterfall cascaded down a rocky precipice; the crowd could almost feel the cold, penetrating spray. Stormy-gray clouds threatened to explode with lightning, wind and rain. In the midst of the thundering noises and bitter chill, a spindly tree clung to the rocks at the edge of the falls. One of its branches reached out in front of the torrential waters as if foolishly seeking to experience its full power.
There a little bird had built a nest in the elbow of that branch. Content and undisturbed in her stormy surroundings, she rested on her eggs. With her eyes closed and her wings ready to cover her little ones, she manifested true peace in the midst of all earthly turmoil.
Berit Kjos, A Wardrobe from the King, pp. 45-46.
Peace can take on the many different looks, both young and old, from the baby Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger … to the man Christ Jesus hanging on a cross crying out, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34) But there is both joy and peace in Christ’s life and in his purifying death that it allows all who depart, trusting in Christ Jesus as both savior and Lord to receive that peace!
Our beloved Betty knew and received that Peace!
In our reading from the Luke text today we read:
22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, [Mary and Joseph] brought [Jesus] up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
St. Luke finds it necessary to explain to his gentile audience, like us, the rites connected with the purification because they were not familiar with Jewish laws. The mother was unclean, according to the ordinances of Moses, for seven days after the birth of a son, and must then remain separate for a total of forty days of cleansing, and purification, (Lev. 12). At the close of this period the parents went up to Jerusalem with the Child to present Him to the Lord, for the firstborn of man and beast belonged to the Lord, (Ex. 13, 2,) and had to be redeemed with a sacrifice.
Popular Commentary of the Bible PE Kretzmann NT Vol. 1 Pg 274
So Mary and Joseph bring Jesus to the temple to make a sacrifice to the Lord and to do as the Law required. And while there they run into a man named Simeon who we are told was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, or the comfort and peace of God and we’re told that the Holy Spirit was upon him.
26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation
31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”
The joy of seeing this child, this Jesus brought to fulfillment for Simeon what the Lord by the Holy Spirit had promised, that he would not die until he had seen the Christ. The joy in Simeon’s song is and will be once again spoken at Betty’s committal service tomorrow at Glen Eden, as we also join with Simeon in joyful praise with what the Lord has given for the forgiveness of the sins of the world.
Betty knew that Chris’s purifying death would allow her to depart in peace!
I had a joyful time visiting with Betty at her home and bringing communion to her as she couldn’t get to church on a regular basis. She would always tell me how much she enjoyed being in worship but thankful as well when she could attend and really enjoyed receiving the Lord’s Supper at her home which helped to strengthened her faith.
I visited Betty at Sanctuary the day before her stroke and we had a great visit. She was sitting at the counter having dinner and was able to talk and receive the sacrament. She so looked forward to going home and with Betty that could mean to her home or the Lord’s home or both. I was surprised to hear of her stroke from Kathy on Friday as she had looked and sounded so good.
We can all see the effects of time on our faces as we look into the mirror each morning. As much as we might all hope to have the blessings of a long life like Betty, the reality of death is real and sooner or later we will all answer the door when death knocks. But too, like Betty, we can have comfort and peace because:
Death’s sting has been swallowed up in victory by Jesus Christ and we can all have comfort in His blessed work and this blessed Good News. As we together grieve the loss of our beloved Betty and think about this frail existence we all inhabit here in this world, we can still have peace.
Charles Wesley the great preacher wrote about peace in this way:
I rest beneath the Almighty's shade,
My griefs expire, my troubles cease;
Thou, Lord, on whom my soul is stayed,
Will keep me still in perfect peace.
Charles Wesley.
Comfort and peace, is what Betty knew. That Christ had come to rescue her and you can know that as well. Comfort and peace, knows the joy of Christ Jesus in your life by God grace and mercy. Comfort and peace, is being called to follow Christ by God’s Holy Spirit who indwells all believers and is called the comforter even by Jesus himself.
For Jesus Himself says that:
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Dear friends, you have access to the father as Betty did through Christ Jesus our Lord who came to live, suffer, die and rise again for you and who will give to all true peace found only in His saving arms that were outstretched upon the cross as He gave up His life for you.
Because of Chris’s purifying death he allows you to depart in peace!
So when the trials of life burden you and the storms of life rage and when even death is near, rest in the peace of Christ like Betty and the little bird who sees not the storm, the raging waterfall or the crooked little branch but rests in the loving hands of the savior who reminds us in John’s gospel the wonderful comfort Betty knew:
7 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one.” (John 10:27-30)
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Monday, November 3, 2014
Sermon Nov. 1-2, 2014
Sermon Title: The Father’s love is given to you in Christ!
Text: 1 John 3:1-3
3 See what kind of love the Father has given to us that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
Amy Carmichael, a Christian missionary, when criticized for her humanitarian work in India, responded, "One cannot save and then pitchfork souls into heaven ... Souls are more or less securely fastened to bodies ... and as you cannot get the souls out and deal with them separately … you have to take them both together."
Quoted in: Ruth A. Tucker, Guardians of the Great Commission.
As we today celebrate All Saints Day. We look with favor at all of those the Lord uses to bring the loving Gospel to this world in need. Through the Father’s love, He sent His son to ransom the many and to bring, by the working of the Spirit, to faith in Christ all so that we might know:
The Father’s love and that it is given to you in Christ!
It might have been wonderful just to know that your Loving God has made restitution for your sin. That He sent His son Jesus Christ into the world to pay the price for what you could not pay. But then our loving God does something truly remarkable. He gives us son ship and adopts you and me into his family. He makes us His children and just as He gave His only begotten son He now calls us to be His children in Him, in Jesus.
3 See what kind of love the Father has given to us that we should be called children of God; and so we are.
You are truly His children, even though you didn’t know Him. In your sinful nature you were dead to God and so are all who are born in the natural way. We are all born dead to God spiritually and only by the miracle of rebirth in baptism can we know him as a loving God and Father who desires to make us His children by faith.
The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
Have you ever considered where you might have been had it not been for the love of your parents?
Ill.
This is the story of Matthew. Not the biblical Matthew but a biblical truth just the same. It begins with a fellow SMP student Rennie Kaufmann who is pastor of Risen Christ Lutheran church in Plymouth, Michigan.
Rennie’s wife Karen and two of his children went on a mission trip to China. In the process they met a young boy of 13 who is in an orphanage. At 13 he was closing in on the age limit of 14. If not adopted by 14 he couldn’t be adopted and the chance for the Kaufmanns to bring this child to a new life and home would have passed.
As the Kaufmanns say on the blog designed to help with some of the costs of bringing their new son home:
[We want to be his "Forever Family" and show him how much God loves him. He CANNOT make himself be adopted. We must reach in and PULL MATTHEW OUT. He is 13 years old and if he is not adopted by 14, he NEVER CAN BE. His chance will be gone as will ours with him.
His special needs have a great chance of being helped here in America.
Our Family will do EVERYTHING we can to BRING MATTHEW HOME. He lives about 7,800 miles away. Total cost to bring him home about $31,200. The first part in this journey is to raise ($15,000 or 3900 miles) to get our family’s dossier to China. Please consider sponsoring some miles to bring Matthew home. ]
Rennie and his wife Karen have five other children, 4 boys and 1 girl. The sacrifice and cost is great. But after over a year or more of fundraising and prayer, and looking into how they could make this desire a reality, Matthew Kaufmann is on his way home with his new adoptive parents as a true son of this family.
As Pastor Kaufmann wrote this past week:
“Matthew has a forever family. We said this is for keeps ... no turning back ... For good times and for bad ... sickness and health ... We chose him.
He continues, “So many thanks to so many people. Especially ... I thank you my Lord for choosing us ... for stepping from eternity into time to adopt me and each one of us in my family ... for us to be able to call you Abba Father. Thank you for moving in so many hearts to help us rescue a life and give him a forever family. I am humbled and blown away by this gift of love to us. I pray that MANY, MANY hearts will be stirred to do this journey, too ... to bungee jump out of their comfort zone and adopt ... In the end, at our end, it is ALL about love...”
And today (Sunday) we also saw/ will see God’s wonderful adoptive work in Christ with the bringing of little Sophia to faith and adoption into His family where she will/has received the Kingdom just as you and I have in the blessed name of our loving God in Jesus Christ our Lord.
2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
The Father’s love is given to you in Christ!
Christ Jesus adopts you. He calls you to be His child and He gives you life. He comes to you where you are and makes you his. He brings his means where and when it pleases him and he does what we could never do … save ourselves.
As we think and live today as God’s saints and as we remember all of those who went before us. We can truly rejoice with the words of the Gospel for today.
Blessed are you because Christ was poor in spirit.
Blessed are you because Christ mourned.
Blessed are you because Christ was meek.
Blessed are you because Christ hungered and thirsted for righteousness.
Blessed are you because Christ was merciful.
Blessed are you because Christ was pure in heart.
Blessed are you because Christ was a peacemaker.
Blessed are you because Christ was reviled, persecuted for righteousness sake and as a result the evil that was falsely put against him brought the Kingdom of God to you.
So, 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
One cannot save souls into heaven apart from the bodies that they inhabit. So God calls us out of darkness into his marvelous light. He makes us sons and daughters by his Spirit’s work and because of his work we are Saints, disciples and blessed because heaven is now our home.
May the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be and abide with you now and forever.
The Father’s love is given to you in Christ!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
Text: 1 John 3:1-3
3 See what kind of love the Father has given to us that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
Amy Carmichael, a Christian missionary, when criticized for her humanitarian work in India, responded, "One cannot save and then pitchfork souls into heaven ... Souls are more or less securely fastened to bodies ... and as you cannot get the souls out and deal with them separately … you have to take them both together."
Quoted in: Ruth A. Tucker, Guardians of the Great Commission.
As we today celebrate All Saints Day. We look with favor at all of those the Lord uses to bring the loving Gospel to this world in need. Through the Father’s love, He sent His son to ransom the many and to bring, by the working of the Spirit, to faith in Christ all so that we might know:
The Father’s love and that it is given to you in Christ!
It might have been wonderful just to know that your Loving God has made restitution for your sin. That He sent His son Jesus Christ into the world to pay the price for what you could not pay. But then our loving God does something truly remarkable. He gives us son ship and adopts you and me into his family. He makes us His children and just as He gave His only begotten son He now calls us to be His children in Him, in Jesus.
3 See what kind of love the Father has given to us that we should be called children of God; and so we are.
You are truly His children, even though you didn’t know Him. In your sinful nature you were dead to God and so are all who are born in the natural way. We are all born dead to God spiritually and only by the miracle of rebirth in baptism can we know him as a loving God and Father who desires to make us His children by faith.
The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
Have you ever considered where you might have been had it not been for the love of your parents?
Ill.
This is the story of Matthew. Not the biblical Matthew but a biblical truth just the same. It begins with a fellow SMP student Rennie Kaufmann who is pastor of Risen Christ Lutheran church in Plymouth, Michigan.
Rennie’s wife Karen and two of his children went on a mission trip to China. In the process they met a young boy of 13 who is in an orphanage. At 13 he was closing in on the age limit of 14. If not adopted by 14 he couldn’t be adopted and the chance for the Kaufmanns to bring this child to a new life and home would have passed.
As the Kaufmanns say on the blog designed to help with some of the costs of bringing their new son home:
[We want to be his "Forever Family" and show him how much God loves him. He CANNOT make himself be adopted. We must reach in and PULL MATTHEW OUT. He is 13 years old and if he is not adopted by 14, he NEVER CAN BE. His chance will be gone as will ours with him.
His special needs have a great chance of being helped here in America.
Our Family will do EVERYTHING we can to BRING MATTHEW HOME. He lives about 7,800 miles away. Total cost to bring him home about $31,200. The first part in this journey is to raise ($15,000 or 3900 miles) to get our family’s dossier to China. Please consider sponsoring some miles to bring Matthew home. ]
Rennie and his wife Karen have five other children, 4 boys and 1 girl. The sacrifice and cost is great. But after over a year or more of fundraising and prayer, and looking into how they could make this desire a reality, Matthew Kaufmann is on his way home with his new adoptive parents as a true son of this family.
As Pastor Kaufmann wrote this past week:
“Matthew has a forever family. We said this is for keeps ... no turning back ... For good times and for bad ... sickness and health ... We chose him.
He continues, “So many thanks to so many people. Especially ... I thank you my Lord for choosing us ... for stepping from eternity into time to adopt me and each one of us in my family ... for us to be able to call you Abba Father. Thank you for moving in so many hearts to help us rescue a life and give him a forever family. I am humbled and blown away by this gift of love to us. I pray that MANY, MANY hearts will be stirred to do this journey, too ... to bungee jump out of their comfort zone and adopt ... In the end, at our end, it is ALL about love...”
And today (Sunday) we also saw/ will see God’s wonderful adoptive work in Christ with the bringing of little Sophia to faith and adoption into His family where she will/has received the Kingdom just as you and I have in the blessed name of our loving God in Jesus Christ our Lord.
2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
The Father’s love is given to you in Christ!
Christ Jesus adopts you. He calls you to be His child and He gives you life. He comes to you where you are and makes you his. He brings his means where and when it pleases him and he does what we could never do … save ourselves.
As we think and live today as God’s saints and as we remember all of those who went before us. We can truly rejoice with the words of the Gospel for today.
Blessed are you because Christ was poor in spirit.
Blessed are you because Christ mourned.
Blessed are you because Christ was meek.
Blessed are you because Christ hungered and thirsted for righteousness.
Blessed are you because Christ was merciful.
Blessed are you because Christ was pure in heart.
Blessed are you because Christ was a peacemaker.
Blessed are you because Christ was reviled, persecuted for righteousness sake and as a result the evil that was falsely put against him brought the Kingdom of God to you.
So, 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
One cannot save souls into heaven apart from the bodies that they inhabit. So God calls us out of darkness into his marvelous light. He makes us sons and daughters by his Spirit’s work and because of his work we are Saints, disciples and blessed because heaven is now our home.
May the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be and abide with you now and forever.
The Father’s love is given to you in Christ!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Sermon Oct 25-26, 2014 Reformation
Title: You are free in Christ!
Text: John 8:31-36
31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Fredrick Douglas once said, “Those who profess to favor freedom and yet [deplore] agitation are men who want rain without thunder and lightning.”
Frederick Douglass.
Martin Luther certainly felt the thunder and lightning that he did not expect when he nailed his 95 theses to the Wittenberg castle church door on October 31, 1517. What he intended for theological debate and discussion caused turmoil, divided the Christian church in two, and marked the beginning of what we know today as the Lutheran Reformation. The freedom that we who name the name of Christ received is in the Son and because of His wonderful work:
You are free in Christ!
Today we remember and celebrate the Reformation of the Church, began by the former Roman Catholic Priest and Augustinian Monk, Martin Luther. We also celebrate the joy that we who today benefit from this blessed freedom found in the Gospel message, and will continue together with the whole church to reach the lost with this same saving gospel.
Jesus tells the believing Jews in our Gospel today who had been following Him that:
“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples.
To be a disciple is to be a follower of Christ. One who is connected to God’s very words and who abides in them – is one who accepts and acts in accordance with those words.
Martin Luther had this to say about discipleship in his lectures on the Psalms:
Ill.
“In holy and divine matters one must first hear rather than see, first believe rather than understand, first be grasped rather than grasp, first be captured rather than capture, first learn rather than teach, first be a disciple rather than a teacher and master of his own. We have an ear so that we may submit to others, and eyes that we may take care of others. Therefore, whoever in the church wants to become an eye and a leader and master of others, let him become an ear and a disciple first.”
–Martin Luther, Lectures on the Psalms II, in Luther’s Works, Volume 11 (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1976), 245-46.
And as a disciple Jesus tells the Jews and you as well:
32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
This freedom and liberty of the gospel is what we celebrate today. It is what Luther searched for and why he became a monk – thinking that being locked inside the walls of the monastery and devoting himself to fasting, long hours in prayer, pilgrimages, and frequent confession would keep him away from sin and the power of the devil.
He said:
"If anyone could have gained heaven as a monk, then I would certainly have done so." He described this period of his life as one of deep spiritual despair. "I lost touch with Christ the Savior and Comforter, and made of him the jailer and hangman of my poor soul."
But later he found true peace in the words of Romans 5:1 which reads:
5 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
You too have that peace and are set free in Christ!
Have you felt closed in by the walls of sin? Have you or have your loved ones fled the blessings and peace found only in Christ and his gifts given in word and sacrament? Are you burdened by the Law and a slave to sin?
33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”
Once again from Luther:
“Discipleship is not limited to what you can comprehend--it must transcend all comprehension.”
Luther continues to say that "Thus Abraham went forth from his father and not knowing [where he was going]. He trusted himself to [God’s] knowledge, and cared not for his own, and thus he took the right road and came to his journey's end."
"Behold, that end is the way of the cross. You cannot find it yourself, so you must let [God] lead you as though you were a blind man. [So], it is not you, no man, [and] no living creature, but [Christ] Himself, who instructs you by word and Spirit in the way you should go. Not the work which you choose, not the suffering you devise, but the road which is clean contrary to all that you choose or contrive or desire--that is the road you must take. To that, [Christ] calls you and in that [says] you must be my disciple.”
― Martin Luther
34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.
C.S. Lewis had wonderful insight about slavery. He says:
Ill.
"Mankind is so fallen that no man can be trusted with unchecked power over his fellow man. Aristotle [has said] that some people were only fit to be slaves [and in this] I do not contradict him, Lewis continues … but I reject slavery because I see no men fit to be masters."
C.S. Lewis in "Equality" from Present Concerns, quoted in Christianity Today, February 3, 1989, p. 31.
The truth is you are bound to sin and its cravings. You desire to do the will of your sinful nature which is in opposition to God’s will, and as a result you fall short daily. The world says, “Deep down he is really a good person” - when the truth is the deeper down you go the worse and worse we get. The more you get to the core of who we are, in our fallen human condition, the more you see the sinfulness of man, corrupted to the core from the beginning, by our first parents Adam and Eve.
But Jesus reminds His hearers and you as well that:
35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
The freedom for the sinner is found only in Jesus. That was the joy that Luther found and what we celebrate in the Reformation. In Christ, true freedom from sin is possible and true liberty for we who are bound with the chains of guilt and despair is broken.
Christ has set free those who could not free themselves by His own binding. The binding of His flesh to the cross in your place, the shedding of His blood for the forgiveness of your sin, the death worthy of a criminal for you and I who are guilty and the burial in a tomb meant for another.
In Jesus’ case … Joseph of Arimathea, for it was his tomb where Jesus was laid. But, the tomb and death was meant for you. Jesus took your place, He took your cross, He took your death and He took your tomb and He made them what you couldn't … life, freedom, liberty, salvation and forgiveness.
Because … if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!
Salvation is all of God and not of man. That is the message of the Reformation. Luther restored the gospel truths about Christ and His merits that had been lost, covered by sin in the church and the focus on earthly rulers, once again by shinning the light of the gospel on Christ’s work, for you.
Because Jesus came to live, suffer, die and rise again for you … because of Christ and His merits … because the Son has set you free … you dear friends are free indeed!
May the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be and abide with you now and forever.
You are free in Christ!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
Text: John 8:31-36
31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Fredrick Douglas once said, “Those who profess to favor freedom and yet [deplore] agitation are men who want rain without thunder and lightning.”
Frederick Douglass.
Martin Luther certainly felt the thunder and lightning that he did not expect when he nailed his 95 theses to the Wittenberg castle church door on October 31, 1517. What he intended for theological debate and discussion caused turmoil, divided the Christian church in two, and marked the beginning of what we know today as the Lutheran Reformation. The freedom that we who name the name of Christ received is in the Son and because of His wonderful work:
You are free in Christ!
Today we remember and celebrate the Reformation of the Church, began by the former Roman Catholic Priest and Augustinian Monk, Martin Luther. We also celebrate the joy that we who today benefit from this blessed freedom found in the Gospel message, and will continue together with the whole church to reach the lost with this same saving gospel.
Jesus tells the believing Jews in our Gospel today who had been following Him that:
“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples.
To be a disciple is to be a follower of Christ. One who is connected to God’s very words and who abides in them – is one who accepts and acts in accordance with those words.
Martin Luther had this to say about discipleship in his lectures on the Psalms:
Ill.
“In holy and divine matters one must first hear rather than see, first believe rather than understand, first be grasped rather than grasp, first be captured rather than capture, first learn rather than teach, first be a disciple rather than a teacher and master of his own. We have an ear so that we may submit to others, and eyes that we may take care of others. Therefore, whoever in the church wants to become an eye and a leader and master of others, let him become an ear and a disciple first.”
–Martin Luther, Lectures on the Psalms II, in Luther’s Works, Volume 11 (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1976), 245-46.
And as a disciple Jesus tells the Jews and you as well:
32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
This freedom and liberty of the gospel is what we celebrate today. It is what Luther searched for and why he became a monk – thinking that being locked inside the walls of the monastery and devoting himself to fasting, long hours in prayer, pilgrimages, and frequent confession would keep him away from sin and the power of the devil.
He said:
"If anyone could have gained heaven as a monk, then I would certainly have done so." He described this period of his life as one of deep spiritual despair. "I lost touch with Christ the Savior and Comforter, and made of him the jailer and hangman of my poor soul."
But later he found true peace in the words of Romans 5:1 which reads:
5 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
You too have that peace and are set free in Christ!
Have you felt closed in by the walls of sin? Have you or have your loved ones fled the blessings and peace found only in Christ and his gifts given in word and sacrament? Are you burdened by the Law and a slave to sin?
33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”
Once again from Luther:
“Discipleship is not limited to what you can comprehend--it must transcend all comprehension.”
Luther continues to say that "Thus Abraham went forth from his father and not knowing [where he was going]. He trusted himself to [God’s] knowledge, and cared not for his own, and thus he took the right road and came to his journey's end."
"Behold, that end is the way of the cross. You cannot find it yourself, so you must let [God] lead you as though you were a blind man. [So], it is not you, no man, [and] no living creature, but [Christ] Himself, who instructs you by word and Spirit in the way you should go. Not the work which you choose, not the suffering you devise, but the road which is clean contrary to all that you choose or contrive or desire--that is the road you must take. To that, [Christ] calls you and in that [says] you must be my disciple.”
― Martin Luther
34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.
C.S. Lewis had wonderful insight about slavery. He says:
Ill.
"Mankind is so fallen that no man can be trusted with unchecked power over his fellow man. Aristotle [has said] that some people were only fit to be slaves [and in this] I do not contradict him, Lewis continues … but I reject slavery because I see no men fit to be masters."
C.S. Lewis in "Equality" from Present Concerns, quoted in Christianity Today, February 3, 1989, p. 31.
The truth is you are bound to sin and its cravings. You desire to do the will of your sinful nature which is in opposition to God’s will, and as a result you fall short daily. The world says, “Deep down he is really a good person” - when the truth is the deeper down you go the worse and worse we get. The more you get to the core of who we are, in our fallen human condition, the more you see the sinfulness of man, corrupted to the core from the beginning, by our first parents Adam and Eve.
But Jesus reminds His hearers and you as well that:
35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
The freedom for the sinner is found only in Jesus. That was the joy that Luther found and what we celebrate in the Reformation. In Christ, true freedom from sin is possible and true liberty for we who are bound with the chains of guilt and despair is broken.
Christ has set free those who could not free themselves by His own binding. The binding of His flesh to the cross in your place, the shedding of His blood for the forgiveness of your sin, the death worthy of a criminal for you and I who are guilty and the burial in a tomb meant for another.
In Jesus’ case … Joseph of Arimathea, for it was his tomb where Jesus was laid. But, the tomb and death was meant for you. Jesus took your place, He took your cross, He took your death and He took your tomb and He made them what you couldn't … life, freedom, liberty, salvation and forgiveness.
Because … if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!
Salvation is all of God and not of man. That is the message of the Reformation. Luther restored the gospel truths about Christ and His merits that had been lost, covered by sin in the church and the focus on earthly rulers, once again by shinning the light of the gospel on Christ’s work, for you.
Because Jesus came to live, suffer, die and rise again for you … because of Christ and His merits … because the Son has set you free … you dear friends are free indeed!
May the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be and abide with you now and forever.
You are free in Christ!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
Monday, October 20, 2014
Sermon Oct. 18-19, 2014
LSB Setting III with Holy Communion
Title: Christ has claimed you and made you His!
Text: Matt. 22:15-22
18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. 20 And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” 21 They said, “Caesar's.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” 22 When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away
When Sgt. Ray Baarz of the Midvale, Utah police department opened his wallet, he noticed his driver's license had expired. Embarrassed at having caught himself red-handed, he had no alternative. He calmly and deliberately pulled out his ticket book and wrote himself a citation. Then Baarz took the ticket to the city judge who issued the fine. "How could I give a ticket to anyone else for an expired license in the future if I didn't cite myself?" Baarz asked.
Source Unknown.
Holding yourself accountable is important as we render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s. We are compelled to live within that tension - between the spiritual and civil realm - every day of our lives. So daily we must remember that:
Christ has claimed you and made you His!
15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle [Jesus] in his words.
The Chief priests and Pharisees had not been doing well with Jesus. Previously in the parables they had been thrown out of the vineyard, having had the vineyard given to other tenants (Matt. 21:33-44) and last week they had ignored the invitation of the King to attend the wedding feast, (Matt 22:1-14) and unless you are clothed with the proper wedding garment which is - not certainly the filthy sin stained rags of our own righteousness – but the righteousness that comes only by faith in Christ Jesus our Lord and His finished work.
To say that the Pharisees are not happy would be an understatement and they begin to plot and make plans to trap Jesus. They want to catch Him in something that they can then accuse him of and turn him over to the authorities to have Him tried and ultimately … have Him put to death. This way they are sure that they can get rid of him once and for all.
6 And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians …
The disciples of the Pharisees went to Jesus and also brought some of the Herodians with them. The Herodians are only mentioned 6 time in the New Testament and there is some debate as to whether they were a political party distinct from the Pharisees and Sadducees and supporters of Herod Antipas, or were actually soldiers in Herod’s court. Either way … the Pharisees were bringing politicians or soldiers with them to Jesus, and that was neither meant as a way to get Jesus’ political support or to have him enlist!
… saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone's opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances.
This is what might be called … painting a picture.
“Yea, yea … we believe everything you say because we know you’re telling the truth. You don’t care what other’s say … even if they are the religious leaders so why don’t you say it in front of these politicians or soldiers of … Herod … yea … and of course we mean you no disrespect!
So ... 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
So, speak up so these Herodians can hear you.
Ill.
A few weeks ago, Pastor Merrell and I attended a workshop dealing with issues relating to Church and State. Members Jim Rich and Sue Vogt were also in attendance. It brought to light some things that churches can do to protect the rights and conscience as it pertains to a changing culture. One thing that became very clear was the need to get as many Christians as possible to register to vote. The more true believers who take part in the process and exercise their right as citizens and vote, the more biblical and pleasing of an outcome we might have. But as was pointed out, as Christians we need to be informed voters.
The Pharisees and the Herodians – politics and soldiers - too had an agenda.
18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. 20 And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” as if they didn’t know 21 They said, “Caesar's.”
You and I know the laws. We know what or whom has been placed over us whether it is the laws that are on the books, or the police officer that has just given you a ticket for an expired driver’s license, or political official who has just voted in a way that is contrary to your desire and even God’s desire.
We are all called to proclaim God’s truth in light of civil persecution. We are called to love those who persecute us. If the laws call us to do something contrary to God’s word we need to sand firm and use our ability as citizens to also exercise our rights to bring about change.
Ill.
According to a traditional Hebrew story, Abraham was sitting outside his tent one evening when he saw an old man weary from age and journey, coming toward him. Abraham rushed out, greeted him joyfully, and then invited him into his tent. There he washed the old man's feet and gave him food and drink. The old man immediately began eating without saying any prayer or blessing. So Abraham asked him, "Don't you worship God?"
The old traveler replied, "I worship fire only and reverence no other god."
When he heard this, Abraham became incensed, grabbed the old man by the shoulders, and threw him out his tent into the cold night air.
When the old man had departed, God called to his friend Abraham and asked where the stranger was. Abraham replied, "I forced him out because he did not worship you."
God answered, "Abraham … I have suffered him these eighty years although he dishonors me. Could you not endure him one night?"
Thomas Lindberg.
The things that in this life may grieve us as Christians grieve our loving God as well. But He who is righteous is long suffering.
9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 2:9
God is slow with you and He is slow with me. Not giving up on us and our failings but calling and bringing us by the power of His Spirit to believe. God in Christ has suffered with us for some of us many years as we at times choose to fall away from His word looking to what society and the civil leaders tell us what to believe and do. He is long suffering towards us and we need to be long suffering to those we encounter that also don’t see things as we do.
Then [Jesus] said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.”
This image is very much simple to see. The question of should we pay tax is simple answered by Jesus give to Caesar or give to the State what it requires but then it becomes a bit harder. Give to God what is His.
You are called to respond to the call of the gospel. The Pharisees and Chief Priests had been called and they had refused to care for the vineyard and ignored the invitation to the wedding feast. We too look to things other than the things God’s desires and drift away from Him and his word. God’s desire is you and you fully trust in Him.
He has claimed you and made you His!
Despite the trials of this world God has sent His son to take the fullness of His wrath you deserve. It is finished Jesus said and you are no longer accountable. He has died for all flesh, heterosexual as well as homosexual and calls you to repentance. Broken as you are He restores, forgives and calls you to be his child forever. Your sin is never beyond his redemption.
Christ has claimed you and made you His!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
Title: Christ has claimed you and made you His!
Text: Matt. 22:15-22
18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. 20 And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” 21 They said, “Caesar's.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” 22 When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away
When Sgt. Ray Baarz of the Midvale, Utah police department opened his wallet, he noticed his driver's license had expired. Embarrassed at having caught himself red-handed, he had no alternative. He calmly and deliberately pulled out his ticket book and wrote himself a citation. Then Baarz took the ticket to the city judge who issued the fine. "How could I give a ticket to anyone else for an expired license in the future if I didn't cite myself?" Baarz asked.
Source Unknown.
Holding yourself accountable is important as we render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s. We are compelled to live within that tension - between the spiritual and civil realm - every day of our lives. So daily we must remember that:
Christ has claimed you and made you His!
15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle [Jesus] in his words.
The Chief priests and Pharisees had not been doing well with Jesus. Previously in the parables they had been thrown out of the vineyard, having had the vineyard given to other tenants (Matt. 21:33-44) and last week they had ignored the invitation of the King to attend the wedding feast, (Matt 22:1-14) and unless you are clothed with the proper wedding garment which is - not certainly the filthy sin stained rags of our own righteousness – but the righteousness that comes only by faith in Christ Jesus our Lord and His finished work.
To say that the Pharisees are not happy would be an understatement and they begin to plot and make plans to trap Jesus. They want to catch Him in something that they can then accuse him of and turn him over to the authorities to have Him tried and ultimately … have Him put to death. This way they are sure that they can get rid of him once and for all.
6 And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians …
The disciples of the Pharisees went to Jesus and also brought some of the Herodians with them. The Herodians are only mentioned 6 time in the New Testament and there is some debate as to whether they were a political party distinct from the Pharisees and Sadducees and supporters of Herod Antipas, or were actually soldiers in Herod’s court. Either way … the Pharisees were bringing politicians or soldiers with them to Jesus, and that was neither meant as a way to get Jesus’ political support or to have him enlist!
… saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone's opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances.
This is what might be called … painting a picture.
“Yea, yea … we believe everything you say because we know you’re telling the truth. You don’t care what other’s say … even if they are the religious leaders so why don’t you say it in front of these politicians or soldiers of … Herod … yea … and of course we mean you no disrespect!
So ... 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
So, speak up so these Herodians can hear you.
Ill.
A few weeks ago, Pastor Merrell and I attended a workshop dealing with issues relating to Church and State. Members Jim Rich and Sue Vogt were also in attendance. It brought to light some things that churches can do to protect the rights and conscience as it pertains to a changing culture. One thing that became very clear was the need to get as many Christians as possible to register to vote. The more true believers who take part in the process and exercise their right as citizens and vote, the more biblical and pleasing of an outcome we might have. But as was pointed out, as Christians we need to be informed voters.
The Pharisees and the Herodians – politics and soldiers - too had an agenda.
18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. 20 And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” as if they didn’t know 21 They said, “Caesar's.”
You and I know the laws. We know what or whom has been placed over us whether it is the laws that are on the books, or the police officer that has just given you a ticket for an expired driver’s license, or political official who has just voted in a way that is contrary to your desire and even God’s desire.
We are all called to proclaim God’s truth in light of civil persecution. We are called to love those who persecute us. If the laws call us to do something contrary to God’s word we need to sand firm and use our ability as citizens to also exercise our rights to bring about change.
Ill.
According to a traditional Hebrew story, Abraham was sitting outside his tent one evening when he saw an old man weary from age and journey, coming toward him. Abraham rushed out, greeted him joyfully, and then invited him into his tent. There he washed the old man's feet and gave him food and drink. The old man immediately began eating without saying any prayer or blessing. So Abraham asked him, "Don't you worship God?"
The old traveler replied, "I worship fire only and reverence no other god."
When he heard this, Abraham became incensed, grabbed the old man by the shoulders, and threw him out his tent into the cold night air.
When the old man had departed, God called to his friend Abraham and asked where the stranger was. Abraham replied, "I forced him out because he did not worship you."
God answered, "Abraham … I have suffered him these eighty years although he dishonors me. Could you not endure him one night?"
Thomas Lindberg.
The things that in this life may grieve us as Christians grieve our loving God as well. But He who is righteous is long suffering.
9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 2:9
God is slow with you and He is slow with me. Not giving up on us and our failings but calling and bringing us by the power of His Spirit to believe. God in Christ has suffered with us for some of us many years as we at times choose to fall away from His word looking to what society and the civil leaders tell us what to believe and do. He is long suffering towards us and we need to be long suffering to those we encounter that also don’t see things as we do.
Then [Jesus] said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.”
This image is very much simple to see. The question of should we pay tax is simple answered by Jesus give to Caesar or give to the State what it requires but then it becomes a bit harder. Give to God what is His.
You are called to respond to the call of the gospel. The Pharisees and Chief Priests had been called and they had refused to care for the vineyard and ignored the invitation to the wedding feast. We too look to things other than the things God’s desires and drift away from Him and his word. God’s desire is you and you fully trust in Him.
He has claimed you and made you His!
Despite the trials of this world God has sent His son to take the fullness of His wrath you deserve. It is finished Jesus said and you are no longer accountable. He has died for all flesh, heterosexual as well as homosexual and calls you to repentance. Broken as you are He restores, forgives and calls you to be his child forever. Your sin is never beyond his redemption.
Christ has claimed you and made you His!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
Monday, October 13, 2014
Sermon Oct. 11-12, 2014
Title: Jesus has called and chosen you to attend the wedding feast!
Text: Matt. 22:1-14
11 “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. 12 And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Former NFL head coach John McKay, tells a story illustrating the supreme confidence of former University of Alabama head football coach Bear Bryant: We were out shooting ducks one day he said, and finally, after about three hours, here comes one lonely duck. The Bear fires and that duck just keeps on flying as if nothing happened. But Bear, being the eternal optimist, just watches that duck flap away out of sight. He looked over and said, “John you are witnessing a genuine miracle. There flies a dead duck!”
John McKay, A Coach's Story.
At the wedding feast, the man with no wedding garment was a dead duck so to speak and the King had him bound hand and foot and cast out into utter darkness. So too all who are not covered with the righteousness of Christ but for we who believe and trust in him:
Jesus has called and chosen to attend the wedding feast!
22 And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, 2 “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, 3 and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come.
So Jesus moves right from the master and the vineyard parable from last week to the parable of the wedding feast. The chief priests and the Pharisees had just realized that Jesus was talking about them as the ones who would be removed from the vineyard and it would be given to other tenants.
Now, with the wedding feast parable He once again paints the picture of those who will be welcomed at the feast.
4 Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.”’
Jesus calls all to come. He welcomes all who believe and trust in Him
5 But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, 6 while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them.
The chief priests and Pharisees are once again singled out as those who having abused the vineyard and the servants sent to get the master’s good grapes and now in this parable, they are the ones called to the feast but pay no attention or continue to abuse the servants.
So like the master in the previous parable who will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants:
7 The king [too] was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy.
So He tells them to:
9 Go … to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ 10 And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.
Both … bad and good … those who, to human eyes appear to be worthy, and those who we might assume would never be invited, too are called.
It is very good news that:
Jesus has called and chosen you to attend the wedding feast!
Ill.
A story is told:
A man was headed home late from a wedding reception and had about a two hour drive when a friend said to me, "Remember that for every mile you drive there are two miles of ditch".
He said, “I was in the car before that really sunk in, and then it hit me, for every path we walk, there are two miles of ditch along the journey inviting us to veer off the road. There are twice as many chances to stray away from God.
Few of us ever intend to go into the ditch. No one just drives down the road and says "Hey I'm going to drive into the ditch" For most of us, it is simply hugging the shoulder of the road and little by little we move ourselves from the patch of following Jesus and somehow we end up off the road and in the ditch.
The gift of grace and faith becomes rejected and little by little the wedding garment is removed as you once again put on the filthy rags of your own self righteousness. Those rags unfortunately are so comfortable at times that you might not even notice the change. But the reality is there. You shun God’s word, reject God’s gifts, return to your old ways and if not you … maybe it is rejected by those you love.
Ill.
During WWI a young son of a prominent American family was led to the Lord.
He was in the service, but he showed the reality of his conversion by immediately professing Christ before the soldiers of his military company. The war ended. The day came when he was to return to his pre-war life in the wealthy suburb of a large American city.
He talked to his pastor about life with his family and expressed fear that he might soon slip back into his old habits. He was afraid that love for parents, brothers, sisters, and friends might turn him from following after Jesus Christ. The pastor told him that if he was careful to make public confession of his faith in Christ, he would not have to worry. He would not have to give improper friends up. They would give him up.
The soldier went home and almost immediately met a girl whom he had known socially. She was delighted to see him and asked how he was doing. He told her, "The greatest thing that could possibly happen to me has happened." "You're engaged to be married," she exclaimed. "No," he told her. "It's even better than that. I've taken the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior." The girls' expression froze. She mumbled a few polite words and went on her way.
A short time later he met a young man whom he had known before going into the service. "It's good to see you back," he declared. "We'll have some great parties now that you've returned." "I've just become a Christian," the soldier said. Again it was a case of a frozen smile and a quick change of conversation.
After this the same circumstances were repeated with a young couple and with other old friends. By this time word had got around, and soon some of his friends stopped seeing him. He had become peculiar, religious, and … even crazy in their eyes! The same confession that had aligned him with Christ had separated him from those who did not want Jesus Christ and who, in fact, did not even want to hear about Him.
J.M Boice, Christ's Call To Discipleship, Moody, 1986, p. 122-23.
It is a lonely way at times. But it leads to the wedding feast and a table and place prepared just for you because:
Jesus has called and chosen you to be his and to attend the wedding feast!
11 “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. 12 And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’
The wedding garment is the righteousness of Christ. It is give to you by faith through the working of the Holy Spirit. You are clothed with it in baptism and made Christ’s disciple and follower. The garment of Christ identifies you as one invited to attend the feast and your place is secure at the table.
You are seated there now … in Christ … you have on the wedding garment.
May you be comforted with His call and invitation that you have received because:
The Kingdom is Christ’s and He has called and chosen you to be his and to attend the wedding feast!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
Text: Matt. 22:1-14
11 “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. 12 And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Former NFL head coach John McKay, tells a story illustrating the supreme confidence of former University of Alabama head football coach Bear Bryant: We were out shooting ducks one day he said, and finally, after about three hours, here comes one lonely duck. The Bear fires and that duck just keeps on flying as if nothing happened. But Bear, being the eternal optimist, just watches that duck flap away out of sight. He looked over and said, “John you are witnessing a genuine miracle. There flies a dead duck!”
John McKay, A Coach's Story.
At the wedding feast, the man with no wedding garment was a dead duck so to speak and the King had him bound hand and foot and cast out into utter darkness. So too all who are not covered with the righteousness of Christ but for we who believe and trust in him:
Jesus has called and chosen to attend the wedding feast!
22 And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, 2 “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, 3 and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come.
So Jesus moves right from the master and the vineyard parable from last week to the parable of the wedding feast. The chief priests and the Pharisees had just realized that Jesus was talking about them as the ones who would be removed from the vineyard and it would be given to other tenants.
Now, with the wedding feast parable He once again paints the picture of those who will be welcomed at the feast.
4 Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.”’
Jesus calls all to come. He welcomes all who believe and trust in Him
5 But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, 6 while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them.
The chief priests and Pharisees are once again singled out as those who having abused the vineyard and the servants sent to get the master’s good grapes and now in this parable, they are the ones called to the feast but pay no attention or continue to abuse the servants.
So like the master in the previous parable who will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants:
7 The king [too] was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy.
So He tells them to:
9 Go … to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ 10 And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.
Both … bad and good … those who, to human eyes appear to be worthy, and those who we might assume would never be invited, too are called.
It is very good news that:
Jesus has called and chosen you to attend the wedding feast!
Ill.
A story is told:
A man was headed home late from a wedding reception and had about a two hour drive when a friend said to me, "Remember that for every mile you drive there are two miles of ditch".
He said, “I was in the car before that really sunk in, and then it hit me, for every path we walk, there are two miles of ditch along the journey inviting us to veer off the road. There are twice as many chances to stray away from God.
Few of us ever intend to go into the ditch. No one just drives down the road and says "Hey I'm going to drive into the ditch" For most of us, it is simply hugging the shoulder of the road and little by little we move ourselves from the patch of following Jesus and somehow we end up off the road and in the ditch.
The gift of grace and faith becomes rejected and little by little the wedding garment is removed as you once again put on the filthy rags of your own self righteousness. Those rags unfortunately are so comfortable at times that you might not even notice the change. But the reality is there. You shun God’s word, reject God’s gifts, return to your old ways and if not you … maybe it is rejected by those you love.
Ill.
During WWI a young son of a prominent American family was led to the Lord.
He was in the service, but he showed the reality of his conversion by immediately professing Christ before the soldiers of his military company. The war ended. The day came when he was to return to his pre-war life in the wealthy suburb of a large American city.
He talked to his pastor about life with his family and expressed fear that he might soon slip back into his old habits. He was afraid that love for parents, brothers, sisters, and friends might turn him from following after Jesus Christ. The pastor told him that if he was careful to make public confession of his faith in Christ, he would not have to worry. He would not have to give improper friends up. They would give him up.
The soldier went home and almost immediately met a girl whom he had known socially. She was delighted to see him and asked how he was doing. He told her, "The greatest thing that could possibly happen to me has happened." "You're engaged to be married," she exclaimed. "No," he told her. "It's even better than that. I've taken the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior." The girls' expression froze. She mumbled a few polite words and went on her way.
A short time later he met a young man whom he had known before going into the service. "It's good to see you back," he declared. "We'll have some great parties now that you've returned." "I've just become a Christian," the soldier said. Again it was a case of a frozen smile and a quick change of conversation.
After this the same circumstances were repeated with a young couple and with other old friends. By this time word had got around, and soon some of his friends stopped seeing him. He had become peculiar, religious, and … even crazy in their eyes! The same confession that had aligned him with Christ had separated him from those who did not want Jesus Christ and who, in fact, did not even want to hear about Him.
J.M Boice, Christ's Call To Discipleship, Moody, 1986, p. 122-23.
It is a lonely way at times. But it leads to the wedding feast and a table and place prepared just for you because:
Jesus has called and chosen you to be his and to attend the wedding feast!
11 “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. 12 And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’
The wedding garment is the righteousness of Christ. It is give to you by faith through the working of the Holy Spirit. You are clothed with it in baptism and made Christ’s disciple and follower. The garment of Christ identifies you as one invited to attend the feast and your place is secure at the table.
You are seated there now … in Christ … you have on the wedding garment.
May you be comforted with His call and invitation that you have received because:
The Kingdom is Christ’s and He has called and chosen you to be his and to attend the wedding feast!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
Monday, October 6, 2014
Sermon Oct. 4-5, 2014
Sermon Title: The Kingdom is Christ’s and it is given to you!
Text: Matt. 21:33-46
37 Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ 39 And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. 40 When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” 41 They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.”
"In Other Words," a publication of the Wycliffe Bible Translators, told a story about Sadie Sieker, who served for many years as a house-parent for missionaries' children in the Philippines. Sadie loved books. Though she gladly loaned out some, others she treasured in a footlocker under her bed. Once, in the quiet of the night, Sadie heard a faint gnawing sound. After searching all around her room, she discovered that the noise was coming from her footlocker. When she opened it, she found nothing but an enormous pile of dust. All the books she had kept to herself had been lost to termites. What we give away, we keep. What we hoard, we lose.
Larry Pennings.
That is the blessed good new that we share … because:
The Kingdom is Christ’s and it is given to you!
Following our lesson last week where the Chief Priests and elders questioned Jesus’ authority which ultimately caused Jesus to ask them a question about John the Baptist and whether his baptism was from God or man. To this they answered, “I don’t know” fearing both Jesus and the people. To this Jesus also refused to tell them where his authority came from.
Today we see also Christ’s continued teaching to the Chief Priests and elders with his use of parables. And we know that a parable is a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, as told by Jesus in the Gospels. As a pastor it is also important to use illustrations and stories as we proclaim God’s word so that you too can understand and have application in your lives.
[Jesus said]: 33 “Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower and leased it to tenants, and went into another country.
Jesus here begins with an image of a vineyard. You can imagine a beautiful vineyard contained within a fenced area and all within the vineyard is the masters and it is leased to the tenants. So too this world that God created he gave to the children of Israel who were to manage his creation and produce fruit.
34 When the season for fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to get his fruit. 35 And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another.
As the harvest approaches the master sends servants to get what is His. But they are mistreated, beat, stoned and one is killed. The message of John was to repent, to turn away from sin and to receive the washing of repentance. The Chief Priests and elders knew this, they had hardened their hearts. John was sent to prepare the way. He ultimately was killed.
Fearing Jesus and the crowds, Jesus shows the Chief Priests and elders that they too acted like the tenants treating the servants sent from God as despised and rejected. As those left to tend His vineyard they have fallen short.
36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first. And they did the same to them. 37 [So],Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’
It is not a coincidence that the tenants kill the son for in keeping with the parable Jesus was showing the type of death he too would suffer.
39 And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
Jesus too was led outside the city gates where the prisoners were taken to a small hill called Golgotha to be crucified, so the image of the master’s son being thrown out of the vineyard parallels the Lord’s own rejection. So Jesus asks this question …
40 When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”
We’ll, the Chief Priests and elders answer for themselves:
41 They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.”
The Kingdom is Christ’s and it is given to you!
Ill.
This weekend we celebrate the work of the LWML. LWML does great work in our community and around the world. Those mite boxes and what seems like insignificant giving can be multiplied by our loving God and master of the vineyard to bring about His will and great things in the world.
St. Paul Community Lutheran Church, one of the mission’s we here at Peace support, received a three year commitment from the LWML convention totaling $65,559. This grant has enabled St. Paul to hire a secretary, hire two young musicians and continue to reach out to the community with VBS and other outreach opportunities.
Those mites enabled the LWML to to help 18 like minded work of bringing the gifts of Christ to a dying world to the tune of $1,830,000.00 in grant money.
Ill.
Richard Baxter, an English Puritan church leader once said:
It is a most lamentable thing to see how most people spend their time and their energy for trifles, while God is cast aside. He who is all … seems to them as nothing, and that which is nothing … seems to them as good as all. It is lamentable indeed, knowing that God has set mankind in such a race where heaven or hell is their certain end, that they should sit down and loiter, or run after the childish toys of the world, forgetting the prize they should run for.
Were it but possible for one of us to see this business as the all-seeing God does, and see what most men and women in the world are interested in and what they are doing every day, it would be the saddest sight imaginable. Oh, how we should marvel at their madness and lament their self-delusion! If God had never told them what they were sent into the world to do, or what was before them in another world, then there would have been some excuse. But it is His sealed word, and many profess to believe it.
Richard Baxter.
The point is, that those who had been given the vineyard as tenants to care for the master’s property thought more of the property than the master. Even His son they killed. The analogy of heaven and hell is a good one for Chief Priests and elders desired a heaven apart from Christ. And, a heaven apart from Christ … is hell.
43 Therefore [Jesus says] I tell you; the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits.
Because the Kingdom is Christ’s has been given to you.
Jason, you and your sons received the Kingdom today. You have been marked as Christ’s, redeemed by Christ the crucified. He has washed you, Jason and Jaxon clean and you have been given the Vineyard and heaven is your home.
He also has by his Holy Spirit called you to a joy in that good news and I am looking forward to seeing all that the Lord will do through you. May God bless you daily as you trust in Him.
But, that too is what we all who have been baptized in the name of Christ share as He works by His Spirit in us for His glory.
The Kingdom is Christ’s and it is given to you!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
Text: Matt. 21:33-46
37 Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ 39 And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. 40 When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” 41 They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.”
"In Other Words," a publication of the Wycliffe Bible Translators, told a story about Sadie Sieker, who served for many years as a house-parent for missionaries' children in the Philippines. Sadie loved books. Though she gladly loaned out some, others she treasured in a footlocker under her bed. Once, in the quiet of the night, Sadie heard a faint gnawing sound. After searching all around her room, she discovered that the noise was coming from her footlocker. When she opened it, she found nothing but an enormous pile of dust. All the books she had kept to herself had been lost to termites. What we give away, we keep. What we hoard, we lose.
Larry Pennings.
That is the blessed good new that we share … because:
The Kingdom is Christ’s and it is given to you!
Following our lesson last week where the Chief Priests and elders questioned Jesus’ authority which ultimately caused Jesus to ask them a question about John the Baptist and whether his baptism was from God or man. To this they answered, “I don’t know” fearing both Jesus and the people. To this Jesus also refused to tell them where his authority came from.
Today we see also Christ’s continued teaching to the Chief Priests and elders with his use of parables. And we know that a parable is a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, as told by Jesus in the Gospels. As a pastor it is also important to use illustrations and stories as we proclaim God’s word so that you too can understand and have application in your lives.
[Jesus said]: 33 “Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower and leased it to tenants, and went into another country.
Jesus here begins with an image of a vineyard. You can imagine a beautiful vineyard contained within a fenced area and all within the vineyard is the masters and it is leased to the tenants. So too this world that God created he gave to the children of Israel who were to manage his creation and produce fruit.
34 When the season for fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to get his fruit. 35 And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another.
As the harvest approaches the master sends servants to get what is His. But they are mistreated, beat, stoned and one is killed. The message of John was to repent, to turn away from sin and to receive the washing of repentance. The Chief Priests and elders knew this, they had hardened their hearts. John was sent to prepare the way. He ultimately was killed.
Fearing Jesus and the crowds, Jesus shows the Chief Priests and elders that they too acted like the tenants treating the servants sent from God as despised and rejected. As those left to tend His vineyard they have fallen short.
36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first. And they did the same to them. 37 [So],Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’
It is not a coincidence that the tenants kill the son for in keeping with the parable Jesus was showing the type of death he too would suffer.
39 And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
Jesus too was led outside the city gates where the prisoners were taken to a small hill called Golgotha to be crucified, so the image of the master’s son being thrown out of the vineyard parallels the Lord’s own rejection. So Jesus asks this question …
40 When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”
We’ll, the Chief Priests and elders answer for themselves:
41 They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.”
The Kingdom is Christ’s and it is given to you!
Ill.
This weekend we celebrate the work of the LWML. LWML does great work in our community and around the world. Those mite boxes and what seems like insignificant giving can be multiplied by our loving God and master of the vineyard to bring about His will and great things in the world.
St. Paul Community Lutheran Church, one of the mission’s we here at Peace support, received a three year commitment from the LWML convention totaling $65,559. This grant has enabled St. Paul to hire a secretary, hire two young musicians and continue to reach out to the community with VBS and other outreach opportunities.
Those mites enabled the LWML to to help 18 like minded work of bringing the gifts of Christ to a dying world to the tune of $1,830,000.00 in grant money.
Ill.
Richard Baxter, an English Puritan church leader once said:
It is a most lamentable thing to see how most people spend their time and their energy for trifles, while God is cast aside. He who is all … seems to them as nothing, and that which is nothing … seems to them as good as all. It is lamentable indeed, knowing that God has set mankind in such a race where heaven or hell is their certain end, that they should sit down and loiter, or run after the childish toys of the world, forgetting the prize they should run for.
Were it but possible for one of us to see this business as the all-seeing God does, and see what most men and women in the world are interested in and what they are doing every day, it would be the saddest sight imaginable. Oh, how we should marvel at their madness and lament their self-delusion! If God had never told them what they were sent into the world to do, or what was before them in another world, then there would have been some excuse. But it is His sealed word, and many profess to believe it.
Richard Baxter.
The point is, that those who had been given the vineyard as tenants to care for the master’s property thought more of the property than the master. Even His son they killed. The analogy of heaven and hell is a good one for Chief Priests and elders desired a heaven apart from Christ. And, a heaven apart from Christ … is hell.
43 Therefore [Jesus says] I tell you; the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits.
Because the Kingdom is Christ’s has been given to you.
Jason, you and your sons received the Kingdom today. You have been marked as Christ’s, redeemed by Christ the crucified. He has washed you, Jason and Jaxon clean and you have been given the Vineyard and heaven is your home.
He also has by his Holy Spirit called you to a joy in that good news and I am looking forward to seeing all that the Lord will do through you. May God bless you daily as you trust in Him.
But, that too is what we all who have been baptized in the name of Christ share as He works by His Spirit in us for His glory.
The Kingdom is Christ’s and it is given to you!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Sermon Sept 27-28, 2014
Title: By Christ’s authority you are washed and set free!
Text: Matt 21:23-27
23 And when [Jesus] entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” 24 Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?” And they discussed it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘From man,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet.” 27 So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.
Following the Civil War, a dejected confederate soldier was sitting outside the grounds of the White House. A young boy approached him and inquired why he was so sad. The solider related how he had repeatedly tried to see President Lincoln to tell him how he was unjustly deprived of certain lands in the South following the war. On each occasion as he attempted to enter the White House, the guards crossed their bayoneted guns in front of the door and turned him away. The boy motioned to the old soldier to follow him. When they approached the entrance, the guards came to attention, stepped back and opened the door for the boy. He proceeded to the library where the President was resting and introduced the soldier to his father. The boy was Tad Lincoln. The soldier had gained an audience with the President through the President’s son who had authority to gain access.
Just like the confederate soldier, we are wounded by sin and live in misery. No matter how hard we try we are not able to gain access to God on our own merit. But through the merit of the Son, we are ushered into fellowship with the Father.
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).
Published: Abraham Lincoln as cited by Donald G. Barnhouse; "God's River" Grand Rapids; Erdmans 1958. p 39
By Christ’s authority you are washed and set free!
23 And when [Jesus] entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?”
Who gave you this authority? This is the questioned asked of Jesus. By what authority are you doing these things? Authority has to come from some place.
Ill.
In 1981 and 69 days into his presidency Ronald Reagan was shot. In the aftermath and confusion there was a famous miscalculation by Alexander Haig, Reagan’s Secretary of State. He claimed, wrongly that – he was in charge of the government. Maybe it was just the inclination of a former general who had once been in charge, or as has been suggested, there was much jockeying for power between those in the cabinet. To this Defense Secretary, Casper Weinberger said: “He’s wrong! He doesn’t have such authority,” Reagan eventually signed over authority to George Bush his vice President, because he had the authority to do so.
Jesus replies to the question of his authority with a question of his own because He knows from where His authority comes.
24 Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?”
This gets to the chief priests and elders as they know …
“If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘From man,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”
A least Secretary Alexander Haig was man enough to take a stand in time of crisis even if he was wrong and misguided while the chief priests and elders both show their fear of Jesus and the crowds.
It is by Christ’s authority that you are washed and set free!
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee … 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
The authority of Jesus was given to the disciples who would build the church through Christ’s means of word and sacrament.
Article VII: Of the Augsburg Confession, concerning the Church says:
1] Also they teach that one holy Church is to continue forever. The Church is the congregation of saints, in which the Gospel is rightly taught and the Sacraments are rightly administered.
2] And to the true unity of the Church it is enough to agree concerning the doctrine of the Gospel and 3] the administration of the Sacraments. It is not necessary that human traditions, such as, rites or ceremonies, instituted by men, should be everywhere alike. 4] As Paul says: One faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of all, etc. Eph. 4:5-6.
But where is the church? Is it in a boat on a lake communing with nature and thinking about God and his majesty? No. Is it in the better home and living provided for the family? No. Is it where the children want to go because they have fun and feel welcome? No. It is where Christ is and where his gifts are and where forgiveness of sins is found in His name. It is here … at Peace Lutheran Church and countless churches around the world where the gospel is preached and the sacraments are rightly administered according to Christ’s institution.
As both saint and sinner the devil is quick to point our reason and understanding to other things. Yes, the sporting events the band camps the threat that is even imposed that should you miss a practice you don’t play the day of the game. The coach has that authority.
Here is a little cartoon that was posted on facebook by a fellow Lutheran pastor. It has the young boy who after practice tells his coach:
“Coach, I’m really sorry but I can’t play in the game Sunday morning. I’m signed up to serve as an acolyte.”
We all chuckle a bit but the reality of life impacting the church is real. It is real for families and real for kids too and we shouldn’t have to worry that Sunday mornings have to become and either or in life.
Truthfully I’ve heard it said from one parent that confirmation is more important than the sports related activity on Monday night so they worked their schedule around to be here. That is wonderful and a testament to the faith and working of God’s Spirit in the lives of this family.
It is something that I think about daily as I visit the elderly and those that are shut in and like Orville Kitzman who went to be with the Lord and was laid to rest last Thursday. Orville lived daily for Christ. He was made a child of God and Christ ruled in his life. He was comforted with a heavenly home that awaited him. It is important for me as a pastor to proclaim this blessed good news so that you and all who hear will see that reality in their lives now and forever.
It is by Christ’s authority that you are washed and set free!
God works through his means of grace to bring about his will. It is he who has the authority to forgive and retain sins and it is given to His church on earth for your benefit.
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 [Paul says] by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
You have received your forgiveness from the one who has authority to forgive, Jesus Christ our Lord.
It is by Christ’s authority that you are washed and set free now and forever!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
Text: Matt 21:23-27
23 And when [Jesus] entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” 24 Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?” And they discussed it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘From man,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet.” 27 So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.
Following the Civil War, a dejected confederate soldier was sitting outside the grounds of the White House. A young boy approached him and inquired why he was so sad. The solider related how he had repeatedly tried to see President Lincoln to tell him how he was unjustly deprived of certain lands in the South following the war. On each occasion as he attempted to enter the White House, the guards crossed their bayoneted guns in front of the door and turned him away. The boy motioned to the old soldier to follow him. When they approached the entrance, the guards came to attention, stepped back and opened the door for the boy. He proceeded to the library where the President was resting and introduced the soldier to his father. The boy was Tad Lincoln. The soldier had gained an audience with the President through the President’s son who had authority to gain access.
Just like the confederate soldier, we are wounded by sin and live in misery. No matter how hard we try we are not able to gain access to God on our own merit. But through the merit of the Son, we are ushered into fellowship with the Father.
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).
Published: Abraham Lincoln as cited by Donald G. Barnhouse; "God's River" Grand Rapids; Erdmans 1958. p 39
By Christ’s authority you are washed and set free!
23 And when [Jesus] entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?”
Who gave you this authority? This is the questioned asked of Jesus. By what authority are you doing these things? Authority has to come from some place.
Ill.
In 1981 and 69 days into his presidency Ronald Reagan was shot. In the aftermath and confusion there was a famous miscalculation by Alexander Haig, Reagan’s Secretary of State. He claimed, wrongly that – he was in charge of the government. Maybe it was just the inclination of a former general who had once been in charge, or as has been suggested, there was much jockeying for power between those in the cabinet. To this Defense Secretary, Casper Weinberger said: “He’s wrong! He doesn’t have such authority,” Reagan eventually signed over authority to George Bush his vice President, because he had the authority to do so.
Jesus replies to the question of his authority with a question of his own because He knows from where His authority comes.
24 Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?”
This gets to the chief priests and elders as they know …
“If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘From man,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”
A least Secretary Alexander Haig was man enough to take a stand in time of crisis even if he was wrong and misguided while the chief priests and elders both show their fear of Jesus and the crowds.
It is by Christ’s authority that you are washed and set free!
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee … 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
The authority of Jesus was given to the disciples who would build the church through Christ’s means of word and sacrament.
Article VII: Of the Augsburg Confession, concerning the Church says:
1] Also they teach that one holy Church is to continue forever. The Church is the congregation of saints, in which the Gospel is rightly taught and the Sacraments are rightly administered.
2] And to the true unity of the Church it is enough to agree concerning the doctrine of the Gospel and 3] the administration of the Sacraments. It is not necessary that human traditions, such as, rites or ceremonies, instituted by men, should be everywhere alike. 4] As Paul says: One faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of all, etc. Eph. 4:5-6.
But where is the church? Is it in a boat on a lake communing with nature and thinking about God and his majesty? No. Is it in the better home and living provided for the family? No. Is it where the children want to go because they have fun and feel welcome? No. It is where Christ is and where his gifts are and where forgiveness of sins is found in His name. It is here … at Peace Lutheran Church and countless churches around the world where the gospel is preached and the sacraments are rightly administered according to Christ’s institution.
As both saint and sinner the devil is quick to point our reason and understanding to other things. Yes, the sporting events the band camps the threat that is even imposed that should you miss a practice you don’t play the day of the game. The coach has that authority.
Here is a little cartoon that was posted on facebook by a fellow Lutheran pastor. It has the young boy who after practice tells his coach:
“Coach, I’m really sorry but I can’t play in the game Sunday morning. I’m signed up to serve as an acolyte.”
We all chuckle a bit but the reality of life impacting the church is real. It is real for families and real for kids too and we shouldn’t have to worry that Sunday mornings have to become and either or in life.
Truthfully I’ve heard it said from one parent that confirmation is more important than the sports related activity on Monday night so they worked their schedule around to be here. That is wonderful and a testament to the faith and working of God’s Spirit in the lives of this family.
It is something that I think about daily as I visit the elderly and those that are shut in and like Orville Kitzman who went to be with the Lord and was laid to rest last Thursday. Orville lived daily for Christ. He was made a child of God and Christ ruled in his life. He was comforted with a heavenly home that awaited him. It is important for me as a pastor to proclaim this blessed good news so that you and all who hear will see that reality in their lives now and forever.
It is by Christ’s authority that you are washed and set free!
God works through his means of grace to bring about his will. It is he who has the authority to forgive and retain sins and it is given to His church on earth for your benefit.
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 [Paul says] by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
You have received your forgiveness from the one who has authority to forgive, Jesus Christ our Lord.
It is by Christ’s authority that you are washed and set free now and forever!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
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