Title: Arise and Go!
Text: Jonah 3:1-5, 10
3 Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.” 3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days' journey in breadth. 4 Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” 5 And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them.
Last weekend we heard the call of Jesus to “follow me.” In today’s gospel reading the call is to “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” As we learned last week as well, God calls us to faith in Christ by the gospel and the working of the Holy Spirit through word and sacrament, the means of grace, and then we are called to action.
The call to action is not always where and when we expect. It is not always how we imagine God might use us and at times it can be uncomfortable. Also, at times the will of those called is not in accord with the will of the Lord. Take Jonah for example.
3 Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.” 3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD.
Jonah is one of the minor prophets of the Old Testament and our midweek study group did an extensive study on the book of Jonah. You might be familiar with the story and of the great fish that swallowed Jonah. As the reading in Jonah chapter three begins, 3 Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time. We need to take a step back to chapter to when the Lord first called Jonah. The call God and Jonah’s reaction were a bit different.
1 Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah …, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.”
The work of a prophet was to speak forth the word of God to those that the Lord directed the prophet to, to bring the word God to them as he has directed. The Apostles too spoke as they were directed by the Holy Spirit and the entire word of God is given for our benefit.
The Apostle Paul in Romans 10:17 tells us: 17 consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. NIV
So, even God’s word proclaimed here, during the sermon is speaking prophetically, speaking forth the word of the Lord … and the will of the Lord.
3 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.
By this we can see that God’s word though is not always heeded and listened to.
But Jonah was called to, Arise and Go!
At times the word of God is listened too, as we read in the gospel with Simon and Andrew.
18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him.
For others it may take longer and require a bit of coaxing. Even the gathering together regularly for worship, as the writer of the book of Hebrews reminds us can be hard for some:
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another,
We may hear the call but may not always heed the call.
Jonah went the other way, down in the belly of the ship to sleep and headed in the opposite direction of where the Lord wanted him to go. You might have felt this way too. What was your Nineveh? Where had God directed you that you didn't want to go and what did God desire you to do that you didn't want to do?
Ill.
A story is told of a Christian woman who was reading the Bible on an air flight. The passenger next to her kept looking over at her and finally asked, “You really don’t believe all that stuff in there, do you?” The woman responded, “Of course I do; it’s the Bible.” The man said, “Yeah, but what about that guy that got swallowed by a whale?” She replied, “Oh, you’re talking about Jonah. Yes, I believe that’s true.” Jesus even mentions Jonah. He asked, “How do you think he survived inside a whale?” The woman said, “I don’t really know. I guess I’ll ask him when I get to heaven.” The man responded, “What if he isn’t in heaven?” She said, “Well, then, I guess YOU can ask him.”
Ill. Jonah, Running from God by K. Edward Skidmore
That may be a funny story but the reality is that there are consequences to what we do concerning God. Do we listen and follow … or do we ignore his word and his will and go our own way?
Jonah ran away but God pursued him. God sent a tempest, a storm of great proportions upon the sea, so that the way of escape was hindered.
You too have the way of peace with God broken by sin. Just as Adam and Eve hid from the Lord after the fall we too hide in darkness of sin and flee the light of forgiveness for fear of condemnation that our sins would be made known. Jonah too hid from our all knowing God.
During the storm Jonah was found out. “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” But the sailors wanted to know what they could do to appease God? So Jonah told them. “Pick me up and hurl me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you, for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you.”
And God sent a great fish to swallowed Jonah.
And God has sent Jesus to rescue you.
For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here.
Arise and Go! How will you respond?
The second call of the Lord upon Jonah was much different.
3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD.
He didn't want to but he knew what running away from God had gotten him. He hated the people of Nineveh … for they were wicked and despicable. He also knew that when he called out for their repentance … that they would repent and god would forgive and Jonah couldn't stomach that; that these worthless sinners would be forgiven. He knew it. He hated it. He complained about it and … he was right.
4 Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”
The city is big, three days to just go through it. It is probable the worst Godless place Jonah could think about and the people … the worst sinners imaginable. And Jonah does what God commands he calls them to repentance. “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”
And what happens?
5 And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them.
They repented.
10 [And] when God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.
He forgave them. He forgives you, even when at times you can’t forgive yourself, even when you forget him, God pursues you, because he loves you, he has redeemed you, so that you to might be forgiven.
“Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
Monday, January 26, 2015
Monday, January 19, 2015
Sermon Jan. 17-18, 2015
Title: Jesus calls you to follow him!
Text: John 1:43-51
43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.”
It is suggested that you should not take a position of leadership in church unless you are prepared to be honest, pure, and loving in your lifestyle. Leadership is a privilege, and with privilege comes responsibility. God holds teachers of His truth doubly responsible because those who lead are in a position where they can either draw people toward Christ or drive them away from Him. This is illustrated in the life of the famous author Mark Twain.
Church leaders were largely to blame for his becoming hostile to the Bible and the Christian faith. As he grew up, he knew elders and deacons who owned slaves and abused them. He heard men using foul language and saw them practice dishonesty during the week after speaking piously in church on Sunday. He listened to ministers use the Bible to justify slavery. Although he saw genuine love for the Lord Jesus in some people, including his mother and his wife, he was so disturbed by the bad teaching and poor example of church leaders that he became bitter toward the things of God.
Indeed, it is a privilege to serve as an elder, a deacon, a Sunday school teacher, service guild member or a pastor. But it is also an awesome responsibility.
It is therefore important to make sure we attract people to the Savior rather than by our words and actions drive them away.
Source Unknown.
44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
This past Sunday I went to the ordination of my friend Bob Scott. I met Bob at the seminary in Fort Wayne as I was beginning my third year and he was beginning his first. As I participated in his ordination Sunday I thought too of my own ordination already now two years ago.
Bob worked at GM for 30 years before retiring and also has written or edited three books on the Civil War. He is quite gifted and talented in that regard. When he was thinking of retirement he also had planned to spend more time in his retirement writing. Little did he know that the Lord had plans of his own … and too, would have him writing … just not about the Civil War.
Finding the savior is not our work but Gods. He finds us even though we at times don’t know we are lost. Jesus found Philip and called him to “Follow me.” To this Philip responded in faith and called to Nathanael, “We have found him!” and “Come and see.”
God calls us to faith and then to action. He called Bob Scott to faith in Christ and then made a way for Bob to serve Christ. He did that with me too. Not always, does God call us to ministry or even to service as church workers, though that is a blessed call. He calls us all first to faith, he opens heaven to us through Baptism. And with you who are his in Christ he is well pleased. It is then that he uses us as his people to serve others. For some, it is in service here at Peace and Lord knows we have many places to serve. For others he calls us to be a witness to our friends and neighbors just as Philip was to Nathanael calling him to “come and see!”
I've had the joy of doing both. Where and when will the Lord call you?
Jesus calls you to follow him!
At times it is when you least expect it. Take Samuel in our Old Testament reading today:
8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
I felt the Lord’s calling me to service for the last 25 years but it took quite a while for me discern his call, and to hear just how he wished to use me and where.
This past year we lost some blessed servants who heard God’s call and served. But every time we lose someone who dies in Christ or is called to move we see the Lord work in the hearts of others to serve. In the last few years we've had need of a few Elders. Both Jim Rich and Bob Poe answered the call. Jim took some time to prayerfully consider becoming an Elder and as he told me, “Pastor, I didn't want to accept the position unless I was willing to meet the obligations of the position and God kept pursuing me.”
Bob is not new to service here either serving in many capacities over the last 20 years. He had been asked to consider being an Elder but after the Doxology conference the Bob and I attended and the need to support the pastor with service as an elder Bob, told me on the way home, “Pastor, I’m ready to serve on the Board of Elders.”
Finally, after being a member here for over 25 years, Jay Squanda heard and answered the Lord’s call to serve here at Peace as President of our Congregation. Jay too has been very active in service as an elder, Vice President, Secretary and even bought the chicken and cooked for the Chicken BBQ that we have all enjoyed in June the last few years. Jay told me, “Well, maybe the Lord needs me to serve at this time in this way.”
There are so many stories like this to tell. Ladies guild, Altar guild, Sunday school, worship committee … the list goes on and on. As we were doing our Men’s Breakfast Bible Study last Sunday many volunteers came to take the decorations down. Judy Harroon asked me if we could bring the boxes out so they wouldn't disturb our study. I told the men when I came back in, “Guys, we couldn't get anything done in the church if it wasn't for the women!” For that we can all be truly thankful.
But even though Jesus calls … all of us at times only hear the sinful call of our own selfish desires. Whether it is our own sinfulness, 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” or the work of the devil to put the game just at the same time that the Lord needs you at church.
No kidding, One pastor told Bob Scott last Sunday, “Bob, I hope you appreciate me giving up the second half of the football game with my beloved Packers!” And, I believe that he was only partially kidding.
Service is hard. It requires sacrifice. Jesus knows you and he knows me. Truth be told we all would take the easy way out … at first.
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” or it might be interpreted: ‘Behold a son of Israel, who is in no way a son of Jacob.’
In some ways we might be in Christ but not of Christ, following the way of deceit and missing the opportunity to serve, missing the mark which is sin.
Jesus calls you to follow him!
You might ask, “How do you know me?” as Nathanael did. Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”
Christ sees you and me. He knows what we've done. He knows all our sins because they became his sins too. He took the sins you've committed and he has taken the ones that you have yet to commit to the cross. There he crucified your sins and mine. And no matter our guilt he has taken that away too.
Ill.
A story is told of an elderly widow, restricted in her activities, who was eager to serve Christ. After praying about this, she realized that she could bring blessing to others by playing the piano. The next day she placed this small ad in the Oakland Tribune: "Pianist will play hymns by phone daily for those who are sick and despondent--the service is free." The notice included the number to dial. When people called, she would ask, "What hymn would you like to hear?" Within a few months her playing had brought cheer to several hundred people. Many of them freely poured out their hearts to her, and she was able to help and encourage them.
Source Unknown.
Jesus calls us to follow him! How will you respond?
49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
It is indeed, a privilege to serve God and man here at Peace but God can use you in so many ways. It is a privilege and a responsibility. May you always be blessed, as you hear and serve wherever the Lord our God calls, because:
Jesus calls you to follow him!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
Text: John 1:43-51
43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.”
It is suggested that you should not take a position of leadership in church unless you are prepared to be honest, pure, and loving in your lifestyle. Leadership is a privilege, and with privilege comes responsibility. God holds teachers of His truth doubly responsible because those who lead are in a position where they can either draw people toward Christ or drive them away from Him. This is illustrated in the life of the famous author Mark Twain.
Church leaders were largely to blame for his becoming hostile to the Bible and the Christian faith. As he grew up, he knew elders and deacons who owned slaves and abused them. He heard men using foul language and saw them practice dishonesty during the week after speaking piously in church on Sunday. He listened to ministers use the Bible to justify slavery. Although he saw genuine love for the Lord Jesus in some people, including his mother and his wife, he was so disturbed by the bad teaching and poor example of church leaders that he became bitter toward the things of God.
Indeed, it is a privilege to serve as an elder, a deacon, a Sunday school teacher, service guild member or a pastor. But it is also an awesome responsibility.
It is therefore important to make sure we attract people to the Savior rather than by our words and actions drive them away.
Source Unknown.
44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
This past Sunday I went to the ordination of my friend Bob Scott. I met Bob at the seminary in Fort Wayne as I was beginning my third year and he was beginning his first. As I participated in his ordination Sunday I thought too of my own ordination already now two years ago.
Bob worked at GM for 30 years before retiring and also has written or edited three books on the Civil War. He is quite gifted and talented in that regard. When he was thinking of retirement he also had planned to spend more time in his retirement writing. Little did he know that the Lord had plans of his own … and too, would have him writing … just not about the Civil War.
Finding the savior is not our work but Gods. He finds us even though we at times don’t know we are lost. Jesus found Philip and called him to “Follow me.” To this Philip responded in faith and called to Nathanael, “We have found him!” and “Come and see.”
God calls us to faith and then to action. He called Bob Scott to faith in Christ and then made a way for Bob to serve Christ. He did that with me too. Not always, does God call us to ministry or even to service as church workers, though that is a blessed call. He calls us all first to faith, he opens heaven to us through Baptism. And with you who are his in Christ he is well pleased. It is then that he uses us as his people to serve others. For some, it is in service here at Peace and Lord knows we have many places to serve. For others he calls us to be a witness to our friends and neighbors just as Philip was to Nathanael calling him to “come and see!”
I've had the joy of doing both. Where and when will the Lord call you?
Jesus calls you to follow him!
At times it is when you least expect it. Take Samuel in our Old Testament reading today:
8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
I felt the Lord’s calling me to service for the last 25 years but it took quite a while for me discern his call, and to hear just how he wished to use me and where.
This past year we lost some blessed servants who heard God’s call and served. But every time we lose someone who dies in Christ or is called to move we see the Lord work in the hearts of others to serve. In the last few years we've had need of a few Elders. Both Jim Rich and Bob Poe answered the call. Jim took some time to prayerfully consider becoming an Elder and as he told me, “Pastor, I didn't want to accept the position unless I was willing to meet the obligations of the position and God kept pursuing me.”
Bob is not new to service here either serving in many capacities over the last 20 years. He had been asked to consider being an Elder but after the Doxology conference the Bob and I attended and the need to support the pastor with service as an elder Bob, told me on the way home, “Pastor, I’m ready to serve on the Board of Elders.”
Finally, after being a member here for over 25 years, Jay Squanda heard and answered the Lord’s call to serve here at Peace as President of our Congregation. Jay too has been very active in service as an elder, Vice President, Secretary and even bought the chicken and cooked for the Chicken BBQ that we have all enjoyed in June the last few years. Jay told me, “Well, maybe the Lord needs me to serve at this time in this way.”
There are so many stories like this to tell. Ladies guild, Altar guild, Sunday school, worship committee … the list goes on and on. As we were doing our Men’s Breakfast Bible Study last Sunday many volunteers came to take the decorations down. Judy Harroon asked me if we could bring the boxes out so they wouldn't disturb our study. I told the men when I came back in, “Guys, we couldn't get anything done in the church if it wasn't for the women!” For that we can all be truly thankful.
But even though Jesus calls … all of us at times only hear the sinful call of our own selfish desires. Whether it is our own sinfulness, 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” or the work of the devil to put the game just at the same time that the Lord needs you at church.
No kidding, One pastor told Bob Scott last Sunday, “Bob, I hope you appreciate me giving up the second half of the football game with my beloved Packers!” And, I believe that he was only partially kidding.
Service is hard. It requires sacrifice. Jesus knows you and he knows me. Truth be told we all would take the easy way out … at first.
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” or it might be interpreted: ‘Behold a son of Israel, who is in no way a son of Jacob.’
In some ways we might be in Christ but not of Christ, following the way of deceit and missing the opportunity to serve, missing the mark which is sin.
Jesus calls you to follow him!
You might ask, “How do you know me?” as Nathanael did. Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”
Christ sees you and me. He knows what we've done. He knows all our sins because they became his sins too. He took the sins you've committed and he has taken the ones that you have yet to commit to the cross. There he crucified your sins and mine. And no matter our guilt he has taken that away too.
Ill.
A story is told of an elderly widow, restricted in her activities, who was eager to serve Christ. After praying about this, she realized that she could bring blessing to others by playing the piano. The next day she placed this small ad in the Oakland Tribune: "Pianist will play hymns by phone daily for those who are sick and despondent--the service is free." The notice included the number to dial. When people called, she would ask, "What hymn would you like to hear?" Within a few months her playing had brought cheer to several hundred people. Many of them freely poured out their hearts to her, and she was able to help and encourage them.
Source Unknown.
Jesus calls us to follow him! How will you respond?
49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
It is indeed, a privilege to serve God and man here at Peace but God can use you in so many ways. It is a privilege and a responsibility. May you always be blessed, as you hear and serve wherever the Lord our God calls, because:
Jesus calls you to follow him!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
Monday, January 12, 2015
Sermon Jan. 10-11, 2015 The Baptism of the Lord
Title: In Christ, the Father is well pleased with you!
Text: Mark 1:4-11
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
Being well pleased is something I think we all would enjoy. At times we are pleased to be recognized for things we do. It might be at church, work or school where the work we do is seen by others, or it just might be a self awareness of things we have done that we are pleased about.
In our lesson today:
11 … a voice came from heaven [saying], “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
It is great to know that in Christ the Father is well pleased … because:
In Christ, the Father is well pleased with you!
As I mentioned in last weekend’s sermons, the next time we will read about Jesus, after his sitting in the Temple as a 12 year old boy, is when he is 30, beginning his ministry and recognized by John as “The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.”
Here, Jesus goes out to where John is Baptizing. We know very little about what went on over the last 18 years of Jesus’ life from his sitting in the Temple questioning the teachers of the Law to now the beginning of his earthly ministry. But Mark’s gospel begins with a quote from the prophet Isaiah:
“Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way,
3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,’”
John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way. He called the people to repentance – to recognize their fallen state as sinners. To this water and to this repentance Jesus comes to John as one, who is mightier than John and even the sandals of Jesus, John is not worthy to untie.
So why baptism, why Jesus and why by John?
Well, John was sent to prepare the way. He was sent to fulfill what the prophet had foretold. He was to be the herald to the one who would come. Mark believes that his gospel and Jesus’ baptism is a fitting place to start.
John had had great success and the people were going out to John, to repent of their sin and to receive this Baptism of Repentance from John. Jesus came to this baptism not so much to replace John, but to replace you.
When Jesus was baptized he fulfilled what was promised and was marked as a sinner in your place. He had no sin, he needed no repentance, but he came for you and for all who are born in the natural way, conceived and born in sin. His baptism was a baptism of death, in that Christ Jesus was marked to be the Lamb of God who takes away your sin, and the sins of the whole world, so that you can be marked not for death … but for life.
With Christ the Father is well pleased and:
In Christ, the Father is well pleased with you!
We daily fall short and are not well pleasing to the father and others most of the time.
Ill.
Thomas Edison's manufacturing facilities in West Orange, N.J., were heavily damaged by fire one night in December, 1914. Edison lost almost $1 million worth of equipment and the record of much of his work. The next morning, walking about the charred embers of his hopes and dreams, the 67-year-old inventor said: "There is value in disaster. All our mistakes are burned up. Now we can start anew."
Alan Loy McGinnis, The Power of Optimism (A longer version of this story is found below).
But not for you and not for me … the disaster of sin and all of our mistakes are not burned up. Because of sin and its consequence we live with the reality of being separated from God and of being God’s enemies. We live with this disaster and we die with this disaster because the wages of sin is death. Rom 6:21
And you [and I] are dead in trespass and sins. Eph 2:1
We are born dead. Sounds funny? But spiritually we are dead. We are separated from God and it will take an act of God to restore us, to make us right with God and this is done only by Christ and only in Christ. With you and with me God is not pleased as we stand in our sinfulness and covered by our own righteousness.
But, Jesus came to be your substitute; to stand in your place; to be marked as a sinner, in your place, for you.
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
Here Jesus takes your place as the repentant one, he is without sin and acceptable by the father to be the once for all sacrifice.
10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
The Father is well pleased with Christ and in Christ the Father is well pleased with you!
The Baptism of Christ leads from the waters of repentance by John to Jerusalem Jesus and ultimately to the cross for you.
Luther in his Large Catechism brings to light the importance of Baptism as instituted by Christ and who baptism is by and for whom it is intended.
Luther writes:
3] In the first place, we must above all things know well the words upon which Baptism is founded, and to which everything refers that is to be said on the subject, namely, where the Lord Christ speaks in Matthew 28:19:
4] Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Likewise in St. Mark 16:16:5] He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
6] In these words you must note, in the first place, that here stand God's commandment and institution, lest we doubt that Baptism is divine, not devised nor invented by men.
…
10] For to be baptized in the name of God is to be baptized not by men, but by God Himself.
Therefore, although it is performed by human hands, it is nevertheless truly God's own work. From this fact every one may himself readily infer that it is a far higher work than any work performed by a man or a saint. For what work greater than the work of God can we do?
Jesus Christ has gone into the water of repentance for you. He then goes to finish the work for which he came and to give you what you need and could never attain on your own merit. He gives you life and salvation by his death and resurrection and he give you the kingdom of God by his saving act for you.
Sound improbable?
Ill.
In WWI, the American 308th regiment was surrounded by enemy forces and under severe mortar and machine gun fire. Casualties were heavy and supplies were short. The unbearable situation intensified when American artillery began shelling the sector where the 308th had dug in. The only communication was by carrier pigeon. In desperation, a sergeant released the last bird with a note pleading for the Americans to hold their fire. As soon as the pigeon lifted off, a stray bullet grazed the side of his head and tore out his left eye. Then a piece of shrapnel hit his chest, shattering his breastbone. But his homing instinct was strong and he struggled onward. Somewhere in the flight another piece of shrapnel tore off his left leg, leaving the message canister dangling from torn ligaments. The pigeon made it to his loft, however, and the order went out immediately to stop shelling. The 308th survived.
Source Unknown.
In Christ, the Father is well pleased with you!
Though may seem improbable for some it is not with God who makes all things new in Christ. Dear friends you are made new by Christ and in Baptism you are united with him in his death and resurrection and:
In Christ, the Father is well pleased with you!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
Text: Mark 1:4-11
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
Being well pleased is something I think we all would enjoy. At times we are pleased to be recognized for things we do. It might be at church, work or school where the work we do is seen by others, or it just might be a self awareness of things we have done that we are pleased about.
In our lesson today:
11 … a voice came from heaven [saying], “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
It is great to know that in Christ the Father is well pleased … because:
In Christ, the Father is well pleased with you!
As I mentioned in last weekend’s sermons, the next time we will read about Jesus, after his sitting in the Temple as a 12 year old boy, is when he is 30, beginning his ministry and recognized by John as “The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.”
Here, Jesus goes out to where John is Baptizing. We know very little about what went on over the last 18 years of Jesus’ life from his sitting in the Temple questioning the teachers of the Law to now the beginning of his earthly ministry. But Mark’s gospel begins with a quote from the prophet Isaiah:
“Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way,
3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,’”
John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way. He called the people to repentance – to recognize their fallen state as sinners. To this water and to this repentance Jesus comes to John as one, who is mightier than John and even the sandals of Jesus, John is not worthy to untie.
So why baptism, why Jesus and why by John?
Well, John was sent to prepare the way. He was sent to fulfill what the prophet had foretold. He was to be the herald to the one who would come. Mark believes that his gospel and Jesus’ baptism is a fitting place to start.
John had had great success and the people were going out to John, to repent of their sin and to receive this Baptism of Repentance from John. Jesus came to this baptism not so much to replace John, but to replace you.
When Jesus was baptized he fulfilled what was promised and was marked as a sinner in your place. He had no sin, he needed no repentance, but he came for you and for all who are born in the natural way, conceived and born in sin. His baptism was a baptism of death, in that Christ Jesus was marked to be the Lamb of God who takes away your sin, and the sins of the whole world, so that you can be marked not for death … but for life.
With Christ the Father is well pleased and:
In Christ, the Father is well pleased with you!
We daily fall short and are not well pleasing to the father and others most of the time.
Ill.
Thomas Edison's manufacturing facilities in West Orange, N.J., were heavily damaged by fire one night in December, 1914. Edison lost almost $1 million worth of equipment and the record of much of his work. The next morning, walking about the charred embers of his hopes and dreams, the 67-year-old inventor said: "There is value in disaster. All our mistakes are burned up. Now we can start anew."
Alan Loy McGinnis, The Power of Optimism (A longer version of this story is found below).
But not for you and not for me … the disaster of sin and all of our mistakes are not burned up. Because of sin and its consequence we live with the reality of being separated from God and of being God’s enemies. We live with this disaster and we die with this disaster because the wages of sin is death. Rom 6:21
And you [and I] are dead in trespass and sins. Eph 2:1
We are born dead. Sounds funny? But spiritually we are dead. We are separated from God and it will take an act of God to restore us, to make us right with God and this is done only by Christ and only in Christ. With you and with me God is not pleased as we stand in our sinfulness and covered by our own righteousness.
But, Jesus came to be your substitute; to stand in your place; to be marked as a sinner, in your place, for you.
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
Here Jesus takes your place as the repentant one, he is without sin and acceptable by the father to be the once for all sacrifice.
10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
The Father is well pleased with Christ and in Christ the Father is well pleased with you!
The Baptism of Christ leads from the waters of repentance by John to Jerusalem Jesus and ultimately to the cross for you.
Luther in his Large Catechism brings to light the importance of Baptism as instituted by Christ and who baptism is by and for whom it is intended.
Luther writes:
3] In the first place, we must above all things know well the words upon which Baptism is founded, and to which everything refers that is to be said on the subject, namely, where the Lord Christ speaks in Matthew 28:19:
4] Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Likewise in St. Mark 16:16:5] He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
6] In these words you must note, in the first place, that here stand God's commandment and institution, lest we doubt that Baptism is divine, not devised nor invented by men.
…
10] For to be baptized in the name of God is to be baptized not by men, but by God Himself.
Therefore, although it is performed by human hands, it is nevertheless truly God's own work. From this fact every one may himself readily infer that it is a far higher work than any work performed by a man or a saint. For what work greater than the work of God can we do?
Jesus Christ has gone into the water of repentance for you. He then goes to finish the work for which he came and to give you what you need and could never attain on your own merit. He gives you life and salvation by his death and resurrection and he give you the kingdom of God by his saving act for you.
Sound improbable?
Ill.
In WWI, the American 308th regiment was surrounded by enemy forces and under severe mortar and machine gun fire. Casualties were heavy and supplies were short. The unbearable situation intensified when American artillery began shelling the sector where the 308th had dug in. The only communication was by carrier pigeon. In desperation, a sergeant released the last bird with a note pleading for the Americans to hold their fire. As soon as the pigeon lifted off, a stray bullet grazed the side of his head and tore out his left eye. Then a piece of shrapnel hit his chest, shattering his breastbone. But his homing instinct was strong and he struggled onward. Somewhere in the flight another piece of shrapnel tore off his left leg, leaving the message canister dangling from torn ligaments. The pigeon made it to his loft, however, and the order went out immediately to stop shelling. The 308th survived.
Source Unknown.
In Christ, the Father is well pleased with you!
Though may seem improbable for some it is not with God who makes all things new in Christ. Dear friends you are made new by Christ and in Baptism you are united with him in his death and resurrection and:
In Christ, the Father is well pleased with you!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
Monday, January 5, 2015
Sermon Jan. 3- 4, 2015
Title: Christ desires to be in the Father’s house with you!
Text: Luke 2:40-52
46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?”
In November of 2013 my father passed away and over the next 6 months I spent quite a bit of time with my brother in my father’s house. Much of my time was spent clearing out and cleaning the house with my brother Ron. Many memories were rekindled by things in the house or areas of the house which brought back thoughts of days long past that my brother and I shared together.
On one such day I got to the house a bit earlier than my brother and had a chance to just walk through, sit by myself and think of my relationship with my father, what he had taught me and how much I missed him and how comforting it was for me to … be in my father’s house.
So too the reading for our gospel lesson today. Jesus desires to be in his Father’s house. But also:
Christ desires to be in the Father’s house with you!
40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.
As was the custom of the family, Mary, Joseph and Jesus went to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast of the Passover. And on the occasion of this visit when Jesus was twelve years of age 43 [that] when the feast [had] ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem.
For any of you who have been on a trip and misplaced a child … well … it can be very difficult and tenuous time to say the least.
Mary and Joseph did not know [Jesus was missing], 44 but supposing him to be in the group, so they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.
So you can understand as a parent Mary’s frustration at Jesus staying behind in Jerusalem. Here he is in the Temple sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
Jesus was no ordinary 12 year old.
48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.”
And Jesus reminds Mary and Joseph, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?”
The time had gone by so quickly. Jesus, this child born of a virgin is now in our lesson twelve. It is amazing how much some children learn and can do at such a young age.
Ill.
Back in the early 90’s I use to go to the Chet Atkins guitar festival in Nashville with my friend Rob. We would take our guitars and meet old and new friends who had great appreciation for Chet’s music and ability. It never ceased to amaze me how many young boys and girls who were in their early teens who could play circles around me! They had learned many of Chet’s songs and committed them to memory. They were a good imitation of the guitar style Chet had pioneered. But on closes inspection many of these child prodigies lacked a wisdom and maturity in their playing. Over time some would grow to become mature adult musicians while others would slip into obscurity of fall victim to their early success never able to attain that level of accomplishment again. Some of these polished 12 year old kids even signed up and took lessons from my friend Rob where his years of wisdom could bring out the best in them.
This Jesus was different! As has been said, Jesus was no ordinary 12 year old.
… in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
Those who heard him were amazed. This was no ordinary 12 year old. It is something we all need to be reminded of. This child born of Mary on Christmas day is God in the flesh. This Tuesday January 6th, we celebrate the Epiphany of our Lord. It is the day that Jesus is recognized as the savior of all people. It is why the wise men came to worship him and to bring him gifts.
This young boy who was recognized as the savior and who was brought gifts as a young child is now listening and teaching at the feet of the teachers, not as one who simply copied what he had heard and was parroting it back to his teachers, but as one who was and is the source of that wisdom from God on high.
The house of God, the Temple where Jesus sat and taught, is also here at Peace where the true word of God is proclaimed by word and sacrament and also it is you who are His Temple where God indwells all believers by His Spirit pointing you and me to the finished work of Christ. By his Spirit you see Jesus for who he is … the savior of the world … and that by faith you can trust his word of promise, so elegantly proclaimed in John Chapter 14 to:
14 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
Christ desires to be in the Father’s house with you!
Jesus is the one who make the way for you and for me. He is the one that the magi’s came to bring gifts to. He is the one revealed as the savior, of the nations come. He is the one who at twelve years of age was, as the writer of the book of Hebrews says:
2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.
And the next time we encounter Jesus he will be pointed out as the Lamb of God who take away the sins of the world, who will take your place being baptized by John the Baptist with the baptism of repentance, being marked as the chief of sinners for you and then will go to Jerusalem taking your sins to the cross and nailing them there … It is finished he will proclaim.
It is true. This is no ordinary boy sitting among the teachers, teaching with wisdom and power and gently reminding his mother that he needed to be in His Father’s house.
50 And [his parents] did not understand the saying that he spoke to them.
But, in submission, this God who made the world and all things, obeyed his parents …
51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother [the Blessed Virgin Mary] treasured up all these things in her heart.
She, knowing who he is and what he was appointed to do, to be the consolation of Israel and the savior of the world - the Messiah – Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, which means God with us.
52 And Jesus [ as he continued to grow] increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
Christ desires to be in the Father’s house with you!
Just as I desired to be in my earthly Father’s house, to be among the things of his and to be reminded of all he did with me and for me so too Jesus desired to be in His Father’s house and he too desires you to be in his house as his child and so that he has prepared a place for you and for all who will believe – to whom the Lord God will call to himself – to be in his father’s house forever.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
Text: Luke 2:40-52
46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?”
In November of 2013 my father passed away and over the next 6 months I spent quite a bit of time with my brother in my father’s house. Much of my time was spent clearing out and cleaning the house with my brother Ron. Many memories were rekindled by things in the house or areas of the house which brought back thoughts of days long past that my brother and I shared together.
On one such day I got to the house a bit earlier than my brother and had a chance to just walk through, sit by myself and think of my relationship with my father, what he had taught me and how much I missed him and how comforting it was for me to … be in my father’s house.
So too the reading for our gospel lesson today. Jesus desires to be in his Father’s house. But also:
Christ desires to be in the Father’s house with you!
40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.
As was the custom of the family, Mary, Joseph and Jesus went to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast of the Passover. And on the occasion of this visit when Jesus was twelve years of age 43 [that] when the feast [had] ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem.
For any of you who have been on a trip and misplaced a child … well … it can be very difficult and tenuous time to say the least.
Mary and Joseph did not know [Jesus was missing], 44 but supposing him to be in the group, so they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.
So you can understand as a parent Mary’s frustration at Jesus staying behind in Jerusalem. Here he is in the Temple sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
Jesus was no ordinary 12 year old.
48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.”
And Jesus reminds Mary and Joseph, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?”
The time had gone by so quickly. Jesus, this child born of a virgin is now in our lesson twelve. It is amazing how much some children learn and can do at such a young age.
Ill.
Back in the early 90’s I use to go to the Chet Atkins guitar festival in Nashville with my friend Rob. We would take our guitars and meet old and new friends who had great appreciation for Chet’s music and ability. It never ceased to amaze me how many young boys and girls who were in their early teens who could play circles around me! They had learned many of Chet’s songs and committed them to memory. They were a good imitation of the guitar style Chet had pioneered. But on closes inspection many of these child prodigies lacked a wisdom and maturity in their playing. Over time some would grow to become mature adult musicians while others would slip into obscurity of fall victim to their early success never able to attain that level of accomplishment again. Some of these polished 12 year old kids even signed up and took lessons from my friend Rob where his years of wisdom could bring out the best in them.
This Jesus was different! As has been said, Jesus was no ordinary 12 year old.
… in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
Those who heard him were amazed. This was no ordinary 12 year old. It is something we all need to be reminded of. This child born of Mary on Christmas day is God in the flesh. This Tuesday January 6th, we celebrate the Epiphany of our Lord. It is the day that Jesus is recognized as the savior of all people. It is why the wise men came to worship him and to bring him gifts.
This young boy who was recognized as the savior and who was brought gifts as a young child is now listening and teaching at the feet of the teachers, not as one who simply copied what he had heard and was parroting it back to his teachers, but as one who was and is the source of that wisdom from God on high.
The house of God, the Temple where Jesus sat and taught, is also here at Peace where the true word of God is proclaimed by word and sacrament and also it is you who are His Temple where God indwells all believers by His Spirit pointing you and me to the finished work of Christ. By his Spirit you see Jesus for who he is … the savior of the world … and that by faith you can trust his word of promise, so elegantly proclaimed in John Chapter 14 to:
14 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
Christ desires to be in the Father’s house with you!
Jesus is the one who make the way for you and for me. He is the one that the magi’s came to bring gifts to. He is the one revealed as the savior, of the nations come. He is the one who at twelve years of age was, as the writer of the book of Hebrews says:
2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.
And the next time we encounter Jesus he will be pointed out as the Lamb of God who take away the sins of the world, who will take your place being baptized by John the Baptist with the baptism of repentance, being marked as the chief of sinners for you and then will go to Jerusalem taking your sins to the cross and nailing them there … It is finished he will proclaim.
It is true. This is no ordinary boy sitting among the teachers, teaching with wisdom and power and gently reminding his mother that he needed to be in His Father’s house.
50 And [his parents] did not understand the saying that he spoke to them.
But, in submission, this God who made the world and all things, obeyed his parents …
51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother [the Blessed Virgin Mary] treasured up all these things in her heart.
She, knowing who he is and what he was appointed to do, to be the consolation of Israel and the savior of the world - the Messiah – Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, which means God with us.
52 And Jesus [ as he continued to grow] increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
Christ desires to be in the Father’s house with you!
Just as I desired to be in my earthly Father’s house, to be among the things of his and to be reminded of all he did with me and for me so too Jesus desired to be in His Father’s house and he too desires you to be in his house as his child and so that he has prepared a place for you and for all who will believe – to whom the Lord God will call to himself – to be in his father’s house forever.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
Monday, December 29, 2014
Sermon Dec. 27-28, 2014
Title: Depart in peace according to your word!
Text: Luke 2:22-40
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.”
In a speech made in 1863, Abraham Lincoln said:
"We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us."
God has indeed made us, and has remade us in Christ and as a result you can:
Depart in peace according to your word!
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 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 matter of another thirty-three days. These forty days denoted the days of the cleansing, or purification, from 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 of “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” And while there, to do as the Law required, 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 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.
You may get a feel for this as we here at Peace too see when a baby is brought into the Lord’s house and all the people come and gather around wanting to hold the baby with smiles and joy on their faces. But this brings a bit of a different reaction:
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 sung by this congregation following the reception of the Lord’s Supper, as we too will sing in joy with Simeon what the Lord has given for the forgiveness of the sins of the world.
Isaiah 61:10English Standard Version (ESV) OT lesson
10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD;
my soul shall exult in my God,
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
Sin and its brokenness, brings death. That is what sin does. We who are born in sin will die. It is at that time when many of us who get older contemplate our life. Things we’ve done and things we wish we would have done and we look at our finite lives and the eternity that continues after death wondering what will be.
If you think about measuring up and being good enough, how good will you need to be? But, it’s bigger than that. It’s who we are. As those born in sin we come to this life separated from God. Hard as it may seem to us we are born God’s enemies and apart from God’s work we are condemned.
Simeon had,
26 [it] revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
He had great joy in the Good News that a savior – this baby - would be the reconciliation and the peace of Israel but not just the chosen people but for all whom the Lord would call tom himself. Even you and me can joy in the child that would be the peace between God and man.
Depart in peace according to your word!
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 lose loved ones and think about this frail existence we inhabit here in this world we can have peace. Not on our feeling but on God’s word of promiss.
Luther in his poem, The Unchanging word says:
“Feelings come and feelings go,
And feelings are deceiving;
My warrant is the Word of God–
Naught else is worth believing.
Though all my heart should feel condemned
For want of some sweet token,
There is One greater than my heart
Whose Word cannot be broken.
I’ll trust in God’s unchanging Word
Till soul and body sever,
For, though all things shall pass away,
HIS WORD SHALL STAND FOREVER!” ― Martin Luther
Comfort and peace is in Christ, The Word of God, who has come to rescue you.
Comfort and peace knows the joy of Christ Jesus in your life.
Comfort and peace is being called to follow Christ by God’s Holy Spirit who indwells all believers and is called the comforter by Jesus himself.
“[Who is] the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through [him].
Dear friends, you have access to the father through Christ Jesus our Lord who came to live, suffer, die and rise again for each one of you and will give you true peace, the perfect peace, found only in His saving arms that were outstretched upon the cross as He gave His life for you. Because of his peace:
You rest beneath the Almighty's shade,
Your grief expires, your troubles cease;
Thou, Lord, on whom your soul is stayed,
Will keep you still in perfect peace.
Charles Wesley.
So when the trials of life burden you and the storms of life rage you can rest in the peace of Christ and in the loving hands of the savior who reminds us in the gospel of John:
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)
That child, that babe that brought Simeon great joy is your joy as well. In him true peace is found.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
Text: Luke 2:22-40
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.”
In a speech made in 1863, Abraham Lincoln said:
"We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us."
God has indeed made us, and has remade us in Christ and as a result you can:
Depart in peace according to your word!
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 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 matter of another thirty-three days. These forty days denoted the days of the cleansing, or purification, from 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 of “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” And while there, to do as the Law required, 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 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.
You may get a feel for this as we here at Peace too see when a baby is brought into the Lord’s house and all the people come and gather around wanting to hold the baby with smiles and joy on their faces. But this brings a bit of a different reaction:
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 sung by this congregation following the reception of the Lord’s Supper, as we too will sing in joy with Simeon what the Lord has given for the forgiveness of the sins of the world.
Isaiah 61:10English Standard Version (ESV) OT lesson
10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD;
my soul shall exult in my God,
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
Sin and its brokenness, brings death. That is what sin does. We who are born in sin will die. It is at that time when many of us who get older contemplate our life. Things we’ve done and things we wish we would have done and we look at our finite lives and the eternity that continues after death wondering what will be.
If you think about measuring up and being good enough, how good will you need to be? But, it’s bigger than that. It’s who we are. As those born in sin we come to this life separated from God. Hard as it may seem to us we are born God’s enemies and apart from God’s work we are condemned.
Simeon had,
26 [it] revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
He had great joy in the Good News that a savior – this baby - would be the reconciliation and the peace of Israel but not just the chosen people but for all whom the Lord would call tom himself. Even you and me can joy in the child that would be the peace between God and man.
Depart in peace according to your word!
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 lose loved ones and think about this frail existence we inhabit here in this world we can have peace. Not on our feeling but on God’s word of promiss.
Luther in his poem, The Unchanging word says:
“Feelings come and feelings go,
And feelings are deceiving;
My warrant is the Word of God–
Naught else is worth believing.
Though all my heart should feel condemned
For want of some sweet token,
There is One greater than my heart
Whose Word cannot be broken.
I’ll trust in God’s unchanging Word
Till soul and body sever,
For, though all things shall pass away,
HIS WORD SHALL STAND FOREVER!” ― Martin Luther
Comfort and peace is in Christ, The Word of God, who has come to rescue you.
Comfort and peace knows the joy of Christ Jesus in your life.
Comfort and peace is being called to follow Christ by God’s Holy Spirit who indwells all believers and is called the comforter by Jesus himself.
“[Who is] the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through [him].
Dear friends, you have access to the father through Christ Jesus our Lord who came to live, suffer, die and rise again for each one of you and will give you true peace, the perfect peace, found only in His saving arms that were outstretched upon the cross as He gave His life for you. Because of his peace:
You rest beneath the Almighty's shade,
Your grief expires, your troubles cease;
Thou, Lord, on whom your soul is stayed,
Will keep you still in perfect peace.
Charles Wesley.
So when the trials of life burden you and the storms of life rage you can rest in the peace of Christ and in the loving hands of the savior who reminds us in the gospel of John:
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)
That child, that babe that brought Simeon great joy is your joy as well. In him true peace is found.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
Saturday, December 27, 2014
Sermon Dec. 25, 2014 Christmas Day
Title: Jesus became flesh for you!
Text: John 1:1-14
Readings - Isaiah 52:7-10, Hebrews 1:1-6, John 1:1-14 (ESV)
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Albert Einstein once said:
He who can no longer pause to wonder, is as good as dead.
To this Madeleine L'Engle a writer of young adult fiction wrote in reply:
“I share Einstein's affirmation that anyone who is not lost on the rapturous awe at the power and glory of the mind … behind the universe … is as good as a burnt out candle."
Well, today as we celebrate that working of that mind behind the universe and the coming of the Christ child and His incarnation, where we see in the manger, a baby and say in awe: “Here is God!”
Jesus became flesh for you!
John 1:1-18 has been one of my favorite sections of scripture. It expresses the deity of Jesus Christ, His glory that he has with the father and the abundance of His name which is full of grace and truth.
Let us look at the significance of three words; “Word,” “Glory,” and “Name.
In the beginning, God, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit parallels in John 1:1 what is said by him in Genesis 1:1. As God, in the beginning created the heavens and the earth, so too we learn from John’s gospel that “in the beginning was the Word,” that the “Word was with God.” And that “the Word was God.”
What is evident in Genesis 1 is that God is a plurality as creator and that His Spirit hovered over the face of the waters and that God spoke and said, “Let there be light.”(Genesis 1:3) This is in John’s gospel elaborated, expanded and explained … as the Word, that from the beginning … was with God and that He was God and that through Him, through the “Word,” all things were made.
In Genesis the light that God set forth by His “Word” is the light of men and though the darkness cannot overcome it, this light of the “Word” continues to shines forth.
God’s light that shines forth in his Word and by whom God is made known, is revealed by the One who has seen God and is God and to whom his children believe and know his name. This name of the “Word” is the eternal name which John came to testify to, so that the world might recognize and know him … the eternal God. YHWH, is the name by which the Word, from eternity, has been made known to the world, and by revelation and by faith we know Him to be Jesus.
Jesus became flesh for you!
Not all see the “Glory” that is only revealed by faith in the Christ child. Not all see salvation in him; but though not recognized, salvation is there none the less.
We’re told in the Hebrews text for today that this Christ child:
3 … is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
He came in the flesh so that those who are unable … you and me … and that the entire world can be made righteous, can be made new and can be born again … from above … born of God … given new life in Him.
The world doesn't want to hear this, and the world doesn't want to see this, and that is what makes this child, Jesus, and his birth ever more amazing! Because he came anyway, despite the hatred and despite the sin, he came for you.
Ill.
Pres. Teddy Roosevelt once told of a very interesting incident in his own life. He wrote, "On the beautiful little island of Islamorada, there are several hundred homes that belong to people who come to stay for the summer. He says, “I fell in love with that island and spent four summers up there."
"I had often heard of a salty ‘down easter’ who lived up there & was called ‘Uncle John’ by everyone. He was so quaint & such a character that he was a welcome guest in the homes of all the prominent families. Once when I went to visit in one of those homes, I was asked if I had ever met Uncle John & I told them, ‘No, but I've been wanting to meet him.’ ‘Well, he’s in our kitchen right now. Come on out.’
"They introduced us & we liked each other right off, so we sat & chatted for nearly an hour. When I got up to leave, I held out my hand & said, ‘Uncle John, I surely am glad I got to meet you. If ever I can do you a favor, I want you to feel free to call on me. Will you?’
"He answered, ‘I certainly will, Mr. President. In fact, there is a favor I would ask of you right now, something that you can do & I so wish that you would do it.’ Then Uncle John smiled. ‘Look,’ he said, & he pointed to a little white church up on the hill. ‘Pres. Roosevelt, you’re a Christian, but I haven’t seen you up there at church. If you, the President of the U.S., would come up there to church, all of the people on this island would flock up there. [There they would hear God's word and by God's Holy Spirit they would believe and God would work in them.]
Teddy Roosevelt wrote, "I hung my head in shame & told him, ‘I’ll be there this Sunday.’ Sure enough, there was standing room only in that church the next Sunday. The President never missed another Sunday in that little white church while he stayed up there. He wrote, “I was ashamed of myself before my Heavenly Father that I had been such a poor witness for Him."
MELVIN NEWLAND Ridge Chapel
And just like Uncle John that’s how it is with God! From the very beginning, the word of God tells a story about how God has pursued us with an unchanging and unquenchable and UNDESERVED love, because he wants us to be his! And he has made a way through the sending of his son who came to reconcile you to the Father.
Jesus Christ his son became flesh for you!
The joy we feel today is reflected in Christ, the child in the manger that we celebrate today. Though given as a gift there was a real price to be paid. This very son of God came to redeem the world by His life, death on the cross for you and his glorious resurrection assures that you will rise too!
(Page 4)
Today you too need to see Jesus for who He is; the author and finisher of your faith. He is the one who has taken away the sins of the world and in Him you have life eternal. The good news is that through the working of the Holy Spirit you have been brought to faith and through the means of grace, of word and sacrament, you are continually built up in Christ being made holy in Him, this beautiful child of Bethlehem that was prophesied long ago.
The truth that we are given in this Christ is not fiction. It is the true and blessed working of our Lord to redeem the lost, you and me. You have been forgiven and are found in him. Rejoice in this blessed gift of God!
Jesus became flesh for you!
Do not fear what this world gives but see the rapturous awe and the power and glory of the mind … behind the universe … Who came in the flesh as the babe in Bethlehem – God with us!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Text: John 1:1-14
Readings - Isaiah 52:7-10, Hebrews 1:1-6, John 1:1-14 (ESV)
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Albert Einstein once said:
He who can no longer pause to wonder, is as good as dead.
To this Madeleine L'Engle a writer of young adult fiction wrote in reply:
“I share Einstein's affirmation that anyone who is not lost on the rapturous awe at the power and glory of the mind … behind the universe … is as good as a burnt out candle."
Well, today as we celebrate that working of that mind behind the universe and the coming of the Christ child and His incarnation, where we see in the manger, a baby and say in awe: “Here is God!”
Jesus became flesh for you!
John 1:1-18 has been one of my favorite sections of scripture. It expresses the deity of Jesus Christ, His glory that he has with the father and the abundance of His name which is full of grace and truth.
Let us look at the significance of three words; “Word,” “Glory,” and “Name.
In the beginning, God, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit parallels in John 1:1 what is said by him in Genesis 1:1. As God, in the beginning created the heavens and the earth, so too we learn from John’s gospel that “in the beginning was the Word,” that the “Word was with God.” And that “the Word was God.”
What is evident in Genesis 1 is that God is a plurality as creator and that His Spirit hovered over the face of the waters and that God spoke and said, “Let there be light.”(Genesis 1:3) This is in John’s gospel elaborated, expanded and explained … as the Word, that from the beginning … was with God and that He was God and that through Him, through the “Word,” all things were made.
In Genesis the light that God set forth by His “Word” is the light of men and though the darkness cannot overcome it, this light of the “Word” continues to shines forth.
God’s light that shines forth in his Word and by whom God is made known, is revealed by the One who has seen God and is God and to whom his children believe and know his name. This name of the “Word” is the eternal name which John came to testify to, so that the world might recognize and know him … the eternal God. YHWH, is the name by which the Word, from eternity, has been made known to the world, and by revelation and by faith we know Him to be Jesus.
Jesus became flesh for you!
Not all see the “Glory” that is only revealed by faith in the Christ child. Not all see salvation in him; but though not recognized, salvation is there none the less.
We’re told in the Hebrews text for today that this Christ child:
3 … is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
He came in the flesh so that those who are unable … you and me … and that the entire world can be made righteous, can be made new and can be born again … from above … born of God … given new life in Him.
The world doesn't want to hear this, and the world doesn't want to see this, and that is what makes this child, Jesus, and his birth ever more amazing! Because he came anyway, despite the hatred and despite the sin, he came for you.
Ill.
Pres. Teddy Roosevelt once told of a very interesting incident in his own life. He wrote, "On the beautiful little island of Islamorada, there are several hundred homes that belong to people who come to stay for the summer. He says, “I fell in love with that island and spent four summers up there."
"I had often heard of a salty ‘down easter’ who lived up there & was called ‘Uncle John’ by everyone. He was so quaint & such a character that he was a welcome guest in the homes of all the prominent families. Once when I went to visit in one of those homes, I was asked if I had ever met Uncle John & I told them, ‘No, but I've been wanting to meet him.’ ‘Well, he’s in our kitchen right now. Come on out.’
"They introduced us & we liked each other right off, so we sat & chatted for nearly an hour. When I got up to leave, I held out my hand & said, ‘Uncle John, I surely am glad I got to meet you. If ever I can do you a favor, I want you to feel free to call on me. Will you?’
"He answered, ‘I certainly will, Mr. President. In fact, there is a favor I would ask of you right now, something that you can do & I so wish that you would do it.’ Then Uncle John smiled. ‘Look,’ he said, & he pointed to a little white church up on the hill. ‘Pres. Roosevelt, you’re a Christian, but I haven’t seen you up there at church. If you, the President of the U.S., would come up there to church, all of the people on this island would flock up there. [There they would hear God's word and by God's Holy Spirit they would believe and God would work in them.]
Teddy Roosevelt wrote, "I hung my head in shame & told him, ‘I’ll be there this Sunday.’ Sure enough, there was standing room only in that church the next Sunday. The President never missed another Sunday in that little white church while he stayed up there. He wrote, “I was ashamed of myself before my Heavenly Father that I had been such a poor witness for Him."
MELVIN NEWLAND Ridge Chapel
And just like Uncle John that’s how it is with God! From the very beginning, the word of God tells a story about how God has pursued us with an unchanging and unquenchable and UNDESERVED love, because he wants us to be his! And he has made a way through the sending of his son who came to reconcile you to the Father.
Jesus Christ his son became flesh for you!
The joy we feel today is reflected in Christ, the child in the manger that we celebrate today. Though given as a gift there was a real price to be paid. This very son of God came to redeem the world by His life, death on the cross for you and his glorious resurrection assures that you will rise too!
(Page 4)
Today you too need to see Jesus for who He is; the author and finisher of your faith. He is the one who has taken away the sins of the world and in Him you have life eternal. The good news is that through the working of the Holy Spirit you have been brought to faith and through the means of grace, of word and sacrament, you are continually built up in Christ being made holy in Him, this beautiful child of Bethlehem that was prophesied long ago.
The truth that we are given in this Christ is not fiction. It is the true and blessed working of our Lord to redeem the lost, you and me. You have been forgiven and are found in him. Rejoice in this blessed gift of God!
Jesus became flesh for you!
Do not fear what this world gives but see the rapturous awe and the power and glory of the mind … behind the universe … Who came in the flesh as the babe in Bethlehem – God with us!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Sermon Dec. 24, 2014 Christmas Eve
Title: In Christ alone your salvation is found!
Text: Matthew 1:18-25
Readings - Isaiah 7:10-14, 1 John 4:7-16, Matthew 1:18-25 (ESV)
21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
Although out of pure grace God does not impute our sins to us, He nonetheless did not want to do this until complete and ample satisfaction of His law and His righteousness had been made. Since this was impossible for us, God ordained for us, in our place, One who took upon Himself all the punishment we deserve. He fulfilled the law for us. He averted the judgment of God from us and appeased God's wrath. Grace, therefore, costs us nothing, but it cost another much to get it for us. Grace was purchased with an incalculable, infinite treasure, the Son of God Himself."
Martin Luther, Daily Walk, May 5, 1992.
That is our joy tonight, as we celebrate the birth of our savior, Jesus Christ. Not just a holiday joy of man made origin that is merely here today and gone tomorrow, but it is a joy -in the truly divine gift- of the God/man Himself, who at His incarnation, born of a virgin, became man so that through Him the forgiveness of sins and salvation might be freely given.
So the Gospel reading for tonight tells of the dilemma Joseph faced. His betrothed – or the one he was pledged to marry, had been found to be with child. Not through the course of natural events but by the Holy Spirit, Mary was pregnant.
Before a betrothed virgin was formally given in marriage, Mary had made a pledge and promise – a betrothal contract to marry Joseph to be faithful to him … and to be his wife. There was no cohabitation during this betrothal period but the virgin would use this time to prepare and put all things in order at her father’s home for the upcoming wedding.
This contract was as binding as a marriage was and Joseph is also called “her husband.” The fact that a “divorce” was required to break the betrothal shows the seriousness of this legally binding contract. To be found guilty of adultery during the betrothal period would have caused Mary to be subject to the punishments that the moral law required – even death.
Now Joseph, even in this tenuous situation …
being a just man and unwilling to put Mary to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.
True love looks to the needs of another and Joseph, though he didn’t understand the situation … was still loving … towards Mary, in how he thought he might dissolve the contract not causing her shame.
20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” (Matt. 1:20)
Through this awkward betrothal, God Himself took on flesh and became man to endure the shame and guilt that you deserved, taking your sins with him and nailing your sins to His cross some 30 years after His blessed birth.
There was no other way because:
In Christ alone your salvation is found!
Shame is a difficult feeing to deal with.
Ill.
The Bible is very blunt about sin – it doesn't matter how YOU grade your sin, if you don’t accept that you’ve sinned… you can’t fix the problem.
It’s like a man having a deadly disease. He experiencing distressing physical problems but doesn't KNOW he’s going to die ... he’s just afraid that might be the outcome.
So what does he do? Does he go see a doctor. Noooo. Going to the doctor would be admitting that he might die and he refuses to accept that.
If he doesn't go see the doctor, then there’s no verdict that he will die. Therefore, he won’t die. And yes, that’s the way some people reason.
But since this ailing man refuses to see a doctor, he can’t fix what’s wrong in his life.
And so ... he dies.
And so it is with sin.
God is the doctor.
Sin is the disease.
Dr. Karl Menninger once noted: "The word SIN… has an 'I' in the middle."
I have sinned.
It’s MY fault.
MY problem.
MY guilt.
MY shame
Psalm 85 tells us:
2 You forgave the iniquity of your people;
you covered all their sin.
And God has done this in the sending of his son.
Jeff Strite Church of Christ at Logansport
Our loving God and savior Jesus Christ could have left you to the fires of Hell and damnation. It was not His sin for which you and I are condemned but the sins and falleness of this broken and corrupted world. The sin of rebellion is alive and well, as seen daily in print, TV and online. Life is directed to self interests rather than to serving others and Christmas has become nothing more than a two plus month push and economic indicator of the retail wellbeing of our country.
The “Christmas spirit” we are told comes to life as people focus on the joys of giving gifts, and celebrating family and friends, and the love we share for and with one another. But, true love came down from heaven, in the form of a babe in a manger, born of the Virgin Mary who was called by God to this special task.
“Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
Christ comes to you and to each and every one of us, dear friends, not by our Christmas spirit but by the working of the Holy Spirit, who calls and gathers all who would believe to the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ our Lord through faith in His blessed work.
In Christ alone your salvation is found!
Martin Luther had this to say about the human heart:
“Hearts are polluted with idolatries, vain thoughts about God, lust, and other vices which arise from the fact that they do not have a sound knowledge of God. All of this our fine bath attendants neglect; they are only concerned that their bodies and clothes should be clean. But, O God, cleanse Thou my heart, that I might acknowledge Thy will as it is, good and gracious, lest I be led away to wicked opinions by wild speculations about God.”
Martin Luther – LW Vol. 12 Selected Psalms 1 pg. 378
“Take a look at your own heart, and you will soon find out what has stuck to it and where your treasure is, Luther continues; It is easy to determine whether hearing the Word of God, living according to it, and achieving such a life gives you as much enjoyment and calls forth as much diligence from you as does accumulating and saving money and property.”
Martin Luther http://dailychristianquote.com/dcqluther.html
True joy is not found in the things you work to possess, but in that which you receive and which you are freely given that you could never work for or truly deserve.
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”
(which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
In Christ alone your salvation is found!
True joy, dear friends, is found only in Christ Jesus our Lord! This Christmas, may the joy of the Christ child, this beautiful babe of Bethlehem who came down from heaven to bring you, himself, the divine gift of salvation, comfort and peace wrapped in the human flesh of Jesus our baby king.
God himself has paid the price for your salvation with a gift of priceless worth … his only begotten son.
And, the Apostle John said much the same thing in our epistle reading for today:
13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. (1 John 4:13-15)
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Rom. 10:9)
Confess it, say it and ask for it, for salvation is found in Christ alone!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Text: Matthew 1:18-25
Readings - Isaiah 7:10-14, 1 John 4:7-16, Matthew 1:18-25 (ESV)
21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
Although out of pure grace God does not impute our sins to us, He nonetheless did not want to do this until complete and ample satisfaction of His law and His righteousness had been made. Since this was impossible for us, God ordained for us, in our place, One who took upon Himself all the punishment we deserve. He fulfilled the law for us. He averted the judgment of God from us and appeased God's wrath. Grace, therefore, costs us nothing, but it cost another much to get it for us. Grace was purchased with an incalculable, infinite treasure, the Son of God Himself."
Martin Luther, Daily Walk, May 5, 1992.
That is our joy tonight, as we celebrate the birth of our savior, Jesus Christ. Not just a holiday joy of man made origin that is merely here today and gone tomorrow, but it is a joy -in the truly divine gift- of the God/man Himself, who at His incarnation, born of a virgin, became man so that through Him the forgiveness of sins and salvation might be freely given.
So the Gospel reading for tonight tells of the dilemma Joseph faced. His betrothed – or the one he was pledged to marry, had been found to be with child. Not through the course of natural events but by the Holy Spirit, Mary was pregnant.
Before a betrothed virgin was formally given in marriage, Mary had made a pledge and promise – a betrothal contract to marry Joseph to be faithful to him … and to be his wife. There was no cohabitation during this betrothal period but the virgin would use this time to prepare and put all things in order at her father’s home for the upcoming wedding.
This contract was as binding as a marriage was and Joseph is also called “her husband.” The fact that a “divorce” was required to break the betrothal shows the seriousness of this legally binding contract. To be found guilty of adultery during the betrothal period would have caused Mary to be subject to the punishments that the moral law required – even death.
Now Joseph, even in this tenuous situation …
being a just man and unwilling to put Mary to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.
True love looks to the needs of another and Joseph, though he didn’t understand the situation … was still loving … towards Mary, in how he thought he might dissolve the contract not causing her shame.
20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” (Matt. 1:20)
Through this awkward betrothal, God Himself took on flesh and became man to endure the shame and guilt that you deserved, taking your sins with him and nailing your sins to His cross some 30 years after His blessed birth.
There was no other way because:
In Christ alone your salvation is found!
Shame is a difficult feeing to deal with.
Ill.
The Bible is very blunt about sin – it doesn't matter how YOU grade your sin, if you don’t accept that you’ve sinned… you can’t fix the problem.
It’s like a man having a deadly disease. He experiencing distressing physical problems but doesn't KNOW he’s going to die ... he’s just afraid that might be the outcome.
So what does he do? Does he go see a doctor. Noooo. Going to the doctor would be admitting that he might die and he refuses to accept that.
If he doesn't go see the doctor, then there’s no verdict that he will die. Therefore, he won’t die. And yes, that’s the way some people reason.
But since this ailing man refuses to see a doctor, he can’t fix what’s wrong in his life.
And so ... he dies.
And so it is with sin.
God is the doctor.
Sin is the disease.
Dr. Karl Menninger once noted: "The word SIN… has an 'I' in the middle."
I have sinned.
It’s MY fault.
MY problem.
MY guilt.
MY shame
Psalm 85 tells us:
2 You forgave the iniquity of your people;
you covered all their sin.
And God has done this in the sending of his son.
Jeff Strite Church of Christ at Logansport
Our loving God and savior Jesus Christ could have left you to the fires of Hell and damnation. It was not His sin for which you and I are condemned but the sins and falleness of this broken and corrupted world. The sin of rebellion is alive and well, as seen daily in print, TV and online. Life is directed to self interests rather than to serving others and Christmas has become nothing more than a two plus month push and economic indicator of the retail wellbeing of our country.
The “Christmas spirit” we are told comes to life as people focus on the joys of giving gifts, and celebrating family and friends, and the love we share for and with one another. But, true love came down from heaven, in the form of a babe in a manger, born of the Virgin Mary who was called by God to this special task.
“Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
Christ comes to you and to each and every one of us, dear friends, not by our Christmas spirit but by the working of the Holy Spirit, who calls and gathers all who would believe to the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ our Lord through faith in His blessed work.
In Christ alone your salvation is found!
Martin Luther had this to say about the human heart:
“Hearts are polluted with idolatries, vain thoughts about God, lust, and other vices which arise from the fact that they do not have a sound knowledge of God. All of this our fine bath attendants neglect; they are only concerned that their bodies and clothes should be clean. But, O God, cleanse Thou my heart, that I might acknowledge Thy will as it is, good and gracious, lest I be led away to wicked opinions by wild speculations about God.”
Martin Luther – LW Vol. 12 Selected Psalms 1 pg. 378
“Take a look at your own heart, and you will soon find out what has stuck to it and where your treasure is, Luther continues; It is easy to determine whether hearing the Word of God, living according to it, and achieving such a life gives you as much enjoyment and calls forth as much diligence from you as does accumulating and saving money and property.”
Martin Luther http://dailychristianquote.com/dcqluther.html
True joy is not found in the things you work to possess, but in that which you receive and which you are freely given that you could never work for or truly deserve.
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”
(which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
In Christ alone your salvation is found!
True joy, dear friends, is found only in Christ Jesus our Lord! This Christmas, may the joy of the Christ child, this beautiful babe of Bethlehem who came down from heaven to bring you, himself, the divine gift of salvation, comfort and peace wrapped in the human flesh of Jesus our baby king.
God himself has paid the price for your salvation with a gift of priceless worth … his only begotten son.
And, the Apostle John said much the same thing in our epistle reading for today:
13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. (1 John 4:13-15)
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Rom. 10:9)
Confess it, say it and ask for it, for salvation is found in Christ alone!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
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