First Sunday in Lent
March 13, 2011
Lead Us Not Into Temptation
Matthew 6:13
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Dear friends,
Sometimes God seems to be the enemy.
From time to time we feel that God gives us too much to handle. We sense that God is allowing too much temptation into our life. From our point of view here on the earth it even may seem as though God is the one who is tempting us, directly or indirectly. It seems like He is the enemy.
Dear children, do you remember your parents telling you about what God asked Abraham to do Isaac?
Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.” (Genesis 22:2)
He asked him to kill Isaac, his only son. God seemed to be so cruel. He asked Abraham to destroy the one thing in his life that he truly cared about, his miracle son, Isaac. He asked Abraham to commit kill an innocent man. He asked Abraham to destroy the plan of salvation that God Himself had promised to Abraham, when He told him that all nations on earth would be blessed through his offspring (Genesis 18:18).
On top of all that, God makes Abraham think about all of this during the three-day walk to Mt. Moriah (the future location of Jerusalem), the intended place of Isaac's sacrifice.
Dear children, doesn't God sometimes seem to be the enemy?
And dear grown-ups, what about Job? Later today tell your children what God did to Job.
And this kind of thing doesn't stop in the Old Testament.
Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.” Jesus did not answer a word. So His disciples came to Him and urged Him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”
He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” The woman came and knelt before Him. “Lord, help me!” she said. He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.” (Matthew 15:21-26)
Where is gentle Jesus, so meek and so mild?
Even in the Lord's Prayer, is there not a hint of the possibility of God as the enemy? We cry to Him: “Lead us not into temptation!” St. James tells us, “When tempted, no one should say, 'God is tempting me.' For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone.” (James 1:13) Luther echoed this thought in his explanation to the Sixth Petition—God is never the source of temptation.
But still, given the examples mentioned, does not God at times appear or allow Himself to be perceived as the source of temptation? And isn't this what we are asking of God when we prayer His prayer? Please dear God, don't deal with me like this, don't act like You want me to fail and fall and despair and die without You! Don't appear as the One who would lead into temptation!
How are we supposed to love a God who seems to hate us? This is the question that has haunted the faithful for thousands of years. And what is the answer? Job's wife advice to her husband was to curse God and die (Job 2:9). But the answer of the faithful is the answer of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
“O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (Daniel 3:16-18)
When faced with the temptation to doubt God's love, the answer of the faithful sounds feeble, but it is still the answer. We confess absolute trust in God's ways, just as Abraham trusted God.
By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death. (Hebrews 11:17-19)
When you pray, “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner,” you are confessing total trust in God and His ways and in His way of doing things. And His ways of doing things was to ask His only begotten Son, Jesus, to sacrifice Himself on Mt. Moriah, Jerusalem. And Jesus willingly answered His Father's request.
And He spent not three days with the knowledge of His sacrifice, but thousands of years. And He still went.
He faced real temptations for 33 years on earth. And He still went.
He went for us.
Amen.
________________
This sermon was adapted from the wonderful and insightful words of Prof. Em. Daniel Deutschlander (The Theology of the Cross: Reflections on His Cross and Ours, pages 56-60). Any confusing or inaccurate portions belong to me alone. Indeed you must read this insightful work many times to mine its treasures. It is available from Northwestern Publishing House.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Transfiguration Sunday
Transfiguration Sunday
March 6, 2011
Moses and Elijah Say A Lot
Matthew 17:1-9
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Dear friends,
About a week after Peter correctly confessed that Jesus is the Son of God, Jesus went up a mountain—we're not sure which one—and allowed His glory to shine. The visible glory coming from Jesus, along with the Father's voice from heaven, combined to confirm with certainty that Peter had been right earlier in the week.
And speaking of time, Jesus showed His glory at this specific time for a specific reason. He showed His glory not at the beginning of His public ministry or shortly after calling His disciples. Instead, His transfiguration happened shortly before He travels to Jerusalem to die.
He dazzled Peter, James, and John at this specific time to finish His work of revealing Himself to them. If you will, this was the final act of His epiphany, His revealing Himself to other people.
In addition to Peter, James, and John, there were two other men there that day: Moses and Elijah. I think one of the most interesting aspects of Jesus' transfiguration is the presence of Moses and Elijah.
To understand why Moses and Elijah were there that day you have to understand who they were. In short Moses was the Law and Elijah was the Prophet. They represented a bridge between the Old Testament and the New Testament.
Jesus and His apostles often use the nickname “the Law and the Prophets” for the Old Testament.
For example... [Jesus said:] “All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:40)
[Jesus said:] “The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.” (Luke 16:16)
After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue rulers sent word to [Paul and Barnabas], saying, “Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak.” (Acts 13:15)
[Paul wrote:] But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. (Romans 3:21)
Moses symbolized the Law and Elijah symbolized the Prophets.
God used Moses as His representative to Pharaoh and under his leadership God led Israel out of Egypt (Exodus 2-14). Then God gave Moses the Ten Commandments on the mountain of Sinai (Exodus 20). To every Israelite, Moses was the Lawgiver, the ambassador that God had chosen to reveal God's perfect expectations for every human being.
Elijah was one of the greatest prophets who ever lived. He was the prophet of God who challenged hundreds of false prophets to a contest to see whose God was the true God (1 Kings 18). After God won the challenge for him, Elijah led the people to kill the false prophets. This caused the evil king of Israel, who liked the false prophets, to chase after Elijah. And Elijah ran to Mt. Sinai, where God appeared to him as a whisper (1 Kings 19).
Moses and Elijah shared this experience—they both encountered God on Mt. Sinai. Another common bond was that their lives ended in extraordinary ways.
Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo... across from Jericho. There the Lord showed him the whole land... And Moses the servant of the Lord died there in Moab, as the Lord had said. [The Lord] buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is. Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone. (Deuteronomy 34:1,5-7)
As [Elijah and Elisha] were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. (2 Kings 2:11-12)
These two men knew God. And God took a personal interest in how they left the earth. And now Peter, James, and John saw these men standing next to Jesus and talking with Him. St. Luke tells us that they spoke about His departure, which He was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem (Luke 9:30).
Moses and Elijah represented the Old Testament or Promise; Jesus represented the New Testament, but even more He was the New Promise. He was going to fulfill eve perfect expectation that He, God, had for every human being.
Just by being there, Moses and Elijah say a lot about who Jesus is and what He did for us.
Amen.
March 6, 2011
Moses and Elijah Say A Lot
Matthew 17:1-9
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Dear friends,
About a week after Peter correctly confessed that Jesus is the Son of God, Jesus went up a mountain—we're not sure which one—and allowed His glory to shine. The visible glory coming from Jesus, along with the Father's voice from heaven, combined to confirm with certainty that Peter had been right earlier in the week.
And speaking of time, Jesus showed His glory at this specific time for a specific reason. He showed His glory not at the beginning of His public ministry or shortly after calling His disciples. Instead, His transfiguration happened shortly before He travels to Jerusalem to die.
He dazzled Peter, James, and John at this specific time to finish His work of revealing Himself to them. If you will, this was the final act of His epiphany, His revealing Himself to other people.
In addition to Peter, James, and John, there were two other men there that day: Moses and Elijah. I think one of the most interesting aspects of Jesus' transfiguration is the presence of Moses and Elijah.
To understand why Moses and Elijah were there that day you have to understand who they were. In short Moses was the Law and Elijah was the Prophet. They represented a bridge between the Old Testament and the New Testament.
Jesus and His apostles often use the nickname “the Law and the Prophets” for the Old Testament.
For example... [Jesus said:] “All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:40)
[Jesus said:] “The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.” (Luke 16:16)
After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue rulers sent word to [Paul and Barnabas], saying, “Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak.” (Acts 13:15)
[Paul wrote:] But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. (Romans 3:21)
Moses symbolized the Law and Elijah symbolized the Prophets.
God used Moses as His representative to Pharaoh and under his leadership God led Israel out of Egypt (Exodus 2-14). Then God gave Moses the Ten Commandments on the mountain of Sinai (Exodus 20). To every Israelite, Moses was the Lawgiver, the ambassador that God had chosen to reveal God's perfect expectations for every human being.
Elijah was one of the greatest prophets who ever lived. He was the prophet of God who challenged hundreds of false prophets to a contest to see whose God was the true God (1 Kings 18). After God won the challenge for him, Elijah led the people to kill the false prophets. This caused the evil king of Israel, who liked the false prophets, to chase after Elijah. And Elijah ran to Mt. Sinai, where God appeared to him as a whisper (1 Kings 19).
Moses and Elijah shared this experience—they both encountered God on Mt. Sinai. Another common bond was that their lives ended in extraordinary ways.
Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo... across from Jericho. There the Lord showed him the whole land... And Moses the servant of the Lord died there in Moab, as the Lord had said. [The Lord] buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is. Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone. (Deuteronomy 34:1,5-7)
As [Elijah and Elisha] were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. (2 Kings 2:11-12)
These two men knew God. And God took a personal interest in how they left the earth. And now Peter, James, and John saw these men standing next to Jesus and talking with Him. St. Luke tells us that they spoke about His departure, which He was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem (Luke 9:30).
Moses and Elijah represented the Old Testament or Promise; Jesus represented the New Testament, but even more He was the New Promise. He was going to fulfill eve perfect expectation that He, God, had for every human being.
Just by being there, Moses and Elijah say a lot about who Jesus is and what He did for us.
Amen.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany
Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany
February 20, 2011
Jesus Goes the Extra Mile
Matthew 5:41
Dear friends,
You really got to hand it to David. He really pulled a stunt that people have been talking about every since. He and a buddy snuck into the enemy camp and stole the enemy king's water jug and spear.
Now this prank won't make any sense unless you know that this enemy king, Saul, was trying to kill David. You also need to know that God had anointed David as the new king of Israel, specifically to replace corrupt Saul.
From the world's point of view, David had every right to take out Saul. Some might even say that this was self-defense, since Saul had already hurled a couple of javelins at David.
From a believer's point of view, killing Saul might have justified since Saul was essentially a usurper to the throne. A king who respected God's word would have abdicated the throne to God's chosen successor.
But David was having none of that. He honored his king, God's representive, and refused to harm him. The words of the Fourth Commandment and its explanation show us David's thinking:
Honor your father and mother, that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth. This means that we should fear and love God that we do not dishonor or anger our parents and others in authority like kings, but honor, serve, and obey them, and give them love and respect.
David went the extra mile. From every human point of view he had every right to protect himself, but because above all things he trusted in God, he chose to put the best interests of others before his own best interests.
What a great guy, right? Wrong. Little David, whom Samuel had anointed to be the next king, who killed Goliath, and who had lead Israel's armies to many victories, showed who he really was when he committed adultery with Bathsheba and then had her husband eliminated.
David walked many extra miles because of God's mercy, but in the end he fell into the ditch.
Listen. There are times when I know you go the extra mile.
When friends come to you with juicy gossip about a personal enemy, you amaze them by refusing to participate in their sharp words, and perhaps even speaking well of him.
There are times when you use blasphemous words in front of our children and instead of pretending that it's okay to use God's name in vain, you amaze your children by confessing that your words are sinful and that you are ashamed of yourself and will strive to run away from those words in the future.
One of my favorite things about the Hy-Vee is watching the kind workers and shoppers help each other. Maybe something as simple as a bag boy running after a shopper who forgot their milk. Perhaps someone noticing that a small child is alone and risking a misunderstanding by stepping in to make sure that she is reunited with her mom.
Believers and unbelievers alike go the extra mile. But in the end we must admit that we are just like David. He said:
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to Your unfailing love;
according to Your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me. (Psalm 51:1-3)
David saw that no matter how many mountains of earthly good he did, it added up to barely a hill of beans to God. All the extra miles David walked didn't get him one inch closer to God.
But David still asked that God wash away his sin. In light of what I just said, this doesn't make much sense. But in view of Jesus and His cross-bearing for us, God will wash us clean because Jesus went the extra mile. And He walked for us in our place.
Ever done a walk-a-thon? You walk for other people who can't walk and they pay money to your charity based on your mileage.
Jesus walked for us.
We didn't pay Him;
He paid for us.
We don't donate anything on His behalf to anyone;
instead He rewards us by bringing us near and into His kingdom.
We walked because He first walked for us first. We love because first He loved us.
Jesus walked the extra mile for us. Period.
Amen.
February 20, 2011
Jesus Goes the Extra Mile
Matthew 5:41
Dear friends,
You really got to hand it to David. He really pulled a stunt that people have been talking about every since. He and a buddy snuck into the enemy camp and stole the enemy king's water jug and spear.
Now this prank won't make any sense unless you know that this enemy king, Saul, was trying to kill David. You also need to know that God had anointed David as the new king of Israel, specifically to replace corrupt Saul.
From the world's point of view, David had every right to take out Saul. Some might even say that this was self-defense, since Saul had already hurled a couple of javelins at David.
From a believer's point of view, killing Saul might have justified since Saul was essentially a usurper to the throne. A king who respected God's word would have abdicated the throne to God's chosen successor.
But David was having none of that. He honored his king, God's representive, and refused to harm him. The words of the Fourth Commandment and its explanation show us David's thinking:
Honor your father and mother, that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth. This means that we should fear and love God that we do not dishonor or anger our parents and others in authority like kings, but honor, serve, and obey them, and give them love and respect.
David went the extra mile. From every human point of view he had every right to protect himself, but because above all things he trusted in God, he chose to put the best interests of others before his own best interests.
What a great guy, right? Wrong. Little David, whom Samuel had anointed to be the next king, who killed Goliath, and who had lead Israel's armies to many victories, showed who he really was when he committed adultery with Bathsheba and then had her husband eliminated.
David walked many extra miles because of God's mercy, but in the end he fell into the ditch.
Listen. There are times when I know you go the extra mile.
When friends come to you with juicy gossip about a personal enemy, you amaze them by refusing to participate in their sharp words, and perhaps even speaking well of him.
There are times when you use blasphemous words in front of our children and instead of pretending that it's okay to use God's name in vain, you amaze your children by confessing that your words are sinful and that you are ashamed of yourself and will strive to run away from those words in the future.
One of my favorite things about the Hy-Vee is watching the kind workers and shoppers help each other. Maybe something as simple as a bag boy running after a shopper who forgot their milk. Perhaps someone noticing that a small child is alone and risking a misunderstanding by stepping in to make sure that she is reunited with her mom.
Believers and unbelievers alike go the extra mile. But in the end we must admit that we are just like David. He said:
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to Your unfailing love;
according to Your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me. (Psalm 51:1-3)
David saw that no matter how many mountains of earthly good he did, it added up to barely a hill of beans to God. All the extra miles David walked didn't get him one inch closer to God.
But David still asked that God wash away his sin. In light of what I just said, this doesn't make much sense. But in view of Jesus and His cross-bearing for us, God will wash us clean because Jesus went the extra mile. And He walked for us in our place.
Ever done a walk-a-thon? You walk for other people who can't walk and they pay money to your charity based on your mileage.
Jesus walked for us.
We didn't pay Him;
He paid for us.
We don't donate anything on His behalf to anyone;
instead He rewards us by bringing us near and into His kingdom.
We walked because He first walked for us first. We love because first He loved us.
Jesus walked the extra mile for us. Period.
Amen.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany
Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany
February 13, 2011
Jesus Hates Hate
Matthew 5:21-22
Dear friends,
Is it ever okay to hate something?
If by hate you mean getting emotional and angry, then the answer is no.
But if you mean recognizing that something to be dangerous and saying as much, then the answer is yes, and it would be foolish not to.
Jesus recognizes that sin is dangerous and He says that the sins of murder and hate are really the same sin and both are dangerous to our souls.
“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. (Matthew 5:21-22)
Even unbelievers recognize that ending another human life when they have no right to do so is evil. Murder is wrong. There are many unbelievers who recognize the truth that abortion is the murder of unborn children. You don't have to trust in Christ to call murder a sin.
But even believers struggle to properly recognize that hate is sin. Jesus hates hate. That is to say that Jesus, our perfect Savior, recognizes that burning grudges and angry thoughts against our fellow man are dangerous to our souls. He hates hate.
We do everything we can to pretend that hateful thoughts and silent anger aren't dangerous. We even call these sinful feelings good by pretending that they are directed toward people who are different from us. Since we are good and they are bad, then it is okay to hate them. And these “bad” people have probably done something to you, probably something that you never bothered to bring up with them because if they didn't know what they've done wrong, then you have every right to go on hating them.
I used to shepherd a large congregation. It was filled with many wonderful folks. But it was also a place where many grudges were alive and growing. Old conflicts that had never seen the light of Christian conversation or rebuke had become the bitter lifeblood of many members. And not just the older folks.
I've been here less than two years. So far I haven't seen that kind of bitterness here, and I thank our gracious God for this blessing. I mention all of this because it is better to talk about these sins openly and by Jesus' mercy, to run away from the temptation to hang on to hate.
Jesus hates hate. He regards these sinful thoughts seriously and rebukes them harshly. Years after the Sermon on the Mount, He inspired His Apostle John to say that anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in Him (1 John 3:15).
This means that all of us don't deserve eternal life because all of us by nature love to hate. Maybe we rarely lose our temper, but hate can be quiet, too. Every time we put our selves first we are hating our brother and loving me first. This is natural. It is also sinful. We love to hate.
But Jesus hates hate and this precisely why haters like us will have eternal life. Only the perfect Son of God who hides Himself in human flesh can perfectly avoid hate and always love others in a perfectly selfless way. His every thought was in perfect harmony with His Father's will and His Father's will is that all should be saved. He wants the best for everyone. And He sacrificed Himself to get the best for us.
So when you hear Jesus' rebuke that anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, despair of yourself and put your trust in Jesus, who hates hate perfectly. He is love in the flesh. And His love sent His body to the cross and suffering.
Through Baptism He has given Riley new life and a new heart of love. And for her whole life whenever she is tempted to hate, she can run to her refuge and strength, Riley's every present in trouble. And should anger overwhlem her, she will turn her eyes to the cross and to her heart to her Baptism, where Jesus died and where she personally was made clean forever.
Jesus hates hate, but He loves Riley and He loves you.
Amen.
February 13, 2011
Jesus Hates Hate
Matthew 5:21-22
Dear friends,
Is it ever okay to hate something?
If by hate you mean getting emotional and angry, then the answer is no.
But if you mean recognizing that something to be dangerous and saying as much, then the answer is yes, and it would be foolish not to.
Jesus recognizes that sin is dangerous and He says that the sins of murder and hate are really the same sin and both are dangerous to our souls.
“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. (Matthew 5:21-22)
Even unbelievers recognize that ending another human life when they have no right to do so is evil. Murder is wrong. There are many unbelievers who recognize the truth that abortion is the murder of unborn children. You don't have to trust in Christ to call murder a sin.
But even believers struggle to properly recognize that hate is sin. Jesus hates hate. That is to say that Jesus, our perfect Savior, recognizes that burning grudges and angry thoughts against our fellow man are dangerous to our souls. He hates hate.
We do everything we can to pretend that hateful thoughts and silent anger aren't dangerous. We even call these sinful feelings good by pretending that they are directed toward people who are different from us. Since we are good and they are bad, then it is okay to hate them. And these “bad” people have probably done something to you, probably something that you never bothered to bring up with them because if they didn't know what they've done wrong, then you have every right to go on hating them.
I used to shepherd a large congregation. It was filled with many wonderful folks. But it was also a place where many grudges were alive and growing. Old conflicts that had never seen the light of Christian conversation or rebuke had become the bitter lifeblood of many members. And not just the older folks.
I've been here less than two years. So far I haven't seen that kind of bitterness here, and I thank our gracious God for this blessing. I mention all of this because it is better to talk about these sins openly and by Jesus' mercy, to run away from the temptation to hang on to hate.
Jesus hates hate. He regards these sinful thoughts seriously and rebukes them harshly. Years after the Sermon on the Mount, He inspired His Apostle John to say that anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in Him (1 John 3:15).
This means that all of us don't deserve eternal life because all of us by nature love to hate. Maybe we rarely lose our temper, but hate can be quiet, too. Every time we put our selves first we are hating our brother and loving me first. This is natural. It is also sinful. We love to hate.
But Jesus hates hate and this precisely why haters like us will have eternal life. Only the perfect Son of God who hides Himself in human flesh can perfectly avoid hate and always love others in a perfectly selfless way. His every thought was in perfect harmony with His Father's will and His Father's will is that all should be saved. He wants the best for everyone. And He sacrificed Himself to get the best for us.
So when you hear Jesus' rebuke that anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, despair of yourself and put your trust in Jesus, who hates hate perfectly. He is love in the flesh. And His love sent His body to the cross and suffering.
Through Baptism He has given Riley new life and a new heart of love. And for her whole life whenever she is tempted to hate, she can run to her refuge and strength, Riley's every present in trouble. And should anger overwhlem her, she will turn her eyes to the cross and to her heart to her Baptism, where Jesus died and where she personally was made clean forever.
Jesus hates hate, but He loves Riley and He loves you.
Amen.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Christmas Day
The Nativity of our Lord
Christmas Day
December 25, 2010
Proclaim the Good News:
God Has Kept His Promise!
Isaiah 52:7-10
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Dear friends,
Did you do any jumping this morning? Did anyone jump on you?
Why the jumping? Because of the excitement. Why the excitement? Because of the presents.
Presents are great. Toys, tools, music, games, clothes, and more. But the older you get, the less jumping you do as Christmas. Part of that comes from knowing that these superb presents won't last long. Even the ones that last won't make you jump for joy next year.
Enjoy your presents. Say thank you. Write thank yous. Be thankful and show it to the givers of these superb presents.
A long time ago Isaiah jumped up and down (so to speak) about a present he never even got to open. The present was Jesus. Instead of waiting one month to get his present, Isaiah spent his whole life waiting for Him. Instead of waiting one year to get Him, Isaiah's countrymen spent hundreds of years waiting for Him.
But to wise and faithful Isaiah and his countrymen, the present of Jesus was already certain. He was coming down to earth to live for us and to present Himself as a blood sacrifice for all sin of all mankind.
This was His promise to Isaiah, even though he died before Jesus was born. So many Jews had lived and died, waiting for the Present to arrive. Abraham, Aaron, Abner, Amos, and more. So the joy of the anonymous shepherds was the joy of someone who is opening a long-expected present.
Isaiah captures this joy in words.
7 How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
who bring good tidings,
who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
“Your God reigns!”
9 Burst into songs of joy together,
you ruins of Jerusalem,
for the Lord has comforted His people,
He has redeemed Jerusalem.
Do some jumping and bursting and singing. It's okay. Who cares about what other think? Or just sing. Sing at home. Take a hymnal or two home with you today. We got plenty. And sing with your family. Sing carols and hymns as you enjoy your Present.
"From heav'n above to earth I come
To bear good news to ev'ry home;
Glad tidings of great joy I bring,
Whereof I now will say and sing:
"To you this night is born a Child
Of Mary, chosen virgin mild;
This little Child of lowly birth
Shall be the joy of all the earth.
"This is the Christ, our God most high,
Who hears your sad and bitter cry;
He will Himself your Savior be
From all your sins to set you free.
Jesus is our Present. Jump for joy, little lambs. Sing your hearts out, you sheep of God's holy flock. Bear this good news to your home this Christmas!
Amen.
Christmas Day
December 25, 2010
Proclaim the Good News:
God Has Kept His Promise!
Isaiah 52:7-10
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Dear friends,
Did you do any jumping this morning? Did anyone jump on you?
Why the jumping? Because of the excitement. Why the excitement? Because of the presents.
Presents are great. Toys, tools, music, games, clothes, and more. But the older you get, the less jumping you do as Christmas. Part of that comes from knowing that these superb presents won't last long. Even the ones that last won't make you jump for joy next year.
Enjoy your presents. Say thank you. Write thank yous. Be thankful and show it to the givers of these superb presents.
A long time ago Isaiah jumped up and down (so to speak) about a present he never even got to open. The present was Jesus. Instead of waiting one month to get his present, Isaiah spent his whole life waiting for Him. Instead of waiting one year to get Him, Isaiah's countrymen spent hundreds of years waiting for Him.
But to wise and faithful Isaiah and his countrymen, the present of Jesus was already certain. He was coming down to earth to live for us and to present Himself as a blood sacrifice for all sin of all mankind.
This was His promise to Isaiah, even though he died before Jesus was born. So many Jews had lived and died, waiting for the Present to arrive. Abraham, Aaron, Abner, Amos, and more. So the joy of the anonymous shepherds was the joy of someone who is opening a long-expected present.
Isaiah captures this joy in words.
7 How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
who bring good tidings,
who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
“Your God reigns!”
9 Burst into songs of joy together,
you ruins of Jerusalem,
for the Lord has comforted His people,
He has redeemed Jerusalem.
Do some jumping and bursting and singing. It's okay. Who cares about what other think? Or just sing. Sing at home. Take a hymnal or two home with you today. We got plenty. And sing with your family. Sing carols and hymns as you enjoy your Present.
"From heav'n above to earth I come
To bear good news to ev'ry home;
Glad tidings of great joy I bring,
Whereof I now will say and sing:
"To you this night is born a Child
Of Mary, chosen virgin mild;
This little Child of lowly birth
Shall be the joy of all the earth.
"This is the Christ, our God most high,
Who hears your sad and bitter cry;
He will Himself your Savior be
From all your sins to set you free.
Jesus is our Present. Jump for joy, little lambs. Sing your hearts out, you sheep of God's holy flock. Bear this good news to your home this Christmas!
Amen.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Third Sunday in Advent
Third Sunday in Advent
December 12, 2010
The Holy Highway
Isaiah 35
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Dear friends,
You don't have to be a perfect driver to drive on our roads. Pass a few tests, pay some money, and you're good to go.
Could it work any other way? Wouldn't it make more sense to thoroughly scrutinize each and every driver? And by scrutinize I mean having someone shadow you for one month every year. Some would talk to your family and friends about how you drive. They'd put a device on your car to monitor speed.
Would this help? Would this make our highways and roads safer? Probably. Would you like these rules to be put into effect? Absolutely not, because no one would be able to drive.
A government official who follows you around for a month is going to observe enough mistakes to keep you off the road. Your family and friends—assuming they tell the truth—are going to give up embarrassing or dangerous anecdotes about your driving. Your speed monitor is going to catch you speeding and beep your transgression over to the DOT.
But as it is now, both good drivers and bad drivers travel on the same roads and highways. It isn't perfect. It was the same in the olden days when everyone walked.
A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. (Luke 10:30-32)
This is the beginning and middle of the Parable of the Good Samaritan. Jesus told it to make it clear that everyone is our neighbor. But it also reminds us that our journey as believers is not easy. Sometimes we are the guy who gets attacked and gets left in the ditch. Sometimes we are the robbers who beat other people up with our words, instead of our fists. And a lot of the time we are the priest and the Levite—we are indifferent to the needs of our neighbors.
There are a lot of bad people on life's highway. Sometimes they look bad and sometimes they're good-looking. But whether they are ugly or attractive, many are going to the same place. Jesus said: “Wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.” (Matthew 7:13)
But not you. Why? Because our Good Samaritan gives us the credit for all the good things He has done. Consider Isaiah's prediction about the Savior.
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened
and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
Then will the lame leap like a deer,
and the mute tongue shout for joy. (Isaiah 35:5-6)
These are the same words and more that Jesus used to prove to John that He was the Savior.
The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. (Matthew 11:5)
Jesus is who He says He is. His virgin birth, His many miracles, His perfect life, and His innocent suffering, death, and resurrection prove that He is Emmanuel—God with us.
And He is with us now, and not just one month out of every year. He is with us all the time. This fact should terrify us because He knows all our dirty secrets. But instead, because He has forgiven us, His presence comforts us and encourages us to avoid evil in our lives.
And because of the holiness that Jesus has given to us, we now look forward to His Holy Highway.
And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness.
The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way;
wicked fools will not go about on it... But only the redeemed will walk there.
(Isaiah 35:8,9)
In heaven our days of traveling through the dangers of life will be over. Just like the heavenly mansions and the holy city and new heavens and earth, God made this holy highway for His holy people. Just for you.
Amen.
December 12, 2010
The Holy Highway
Isaiah 35
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Dear friends,
You don't have to be a perfect driver to drive on our roads. Pass a few tests, pay some money, and you're good to go.
Could it work any other way? Wouldn't it make more sense to thoroughly scrutinize each and every driver? And by scrutinize I mean having someone shadow you for one month every year. Some would talk to your family and friends about how you drive. They'd put a device on your car to monitor speed.
Would this help? Would this make our highways and roads safer? Probably. Would you like these rules to be put into effect? Absolutely not, because no one would be able to drive.
A government official who follows you around for a month is going to observe enough mistakes to keep you off the road. Your family and friends—assuming they tell the truth—are going to give up embarrassing or dangerous anecdotes about your driving. Your speed monitor is going to catch you speeding and beep your transgression over to the DOT.
But as it is now, both good drivers and bad drivers travel on the same roads and highways. It isn't perfect. It was the same in the olden days when everyone walked.
A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. (Luke 10:30-32)
This is the beginning and middle of the Parable of the Good Samaritan. Jesus told it to make it clear that everyone is our neighbor. But it also reminds us that our journey as believers is not easy. Sometimes we are the guy who gets attacked and gets left in the ditch. Sometimes we are the robbers who beat other people up with our words, instead of our fists. And a lot of the time we are the priest and the Levite—we are indifferent to the needs of our neighbors.
There are a lot of bad people on life's highway. Sometimes they look bad and sometimes they're good-looking. But whether they are ugly or attractive, many are going to the same place. Jesus said: “Wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.” (Matthew 7:13)
But not you. Why? Because our Good Samaritan gives us the credit for all the good things He has done. Consider Isaiah's prediction about the Savior.
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened
and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
Then will the lame leap like a deer,
and the mute tongue shout for joy. (Isaiah 35:5-6)
These are the same words and more that Jesus used to prove to John that He was the Savior.
The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. (Matthew 11:5)
Jesus is who He says He is. His virgin birth, His many miracles, His perfect life, and His innocent suffering, death, and resurrection prove that He is Emmanuel—God with us.
And He is with us now, and not just one month out of every year. He is with us all the time. This fact should terrify us because He knows all our dirty secrets. But instead, because He has forgiven us, His presence comforts us and encourages us to avoid evil in our lives.
And because of the holiness that Jesus has given to us, we now look forward to His Holy Highway.
And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness.
The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way;
wicked fools will not go about on it... But only the redeemed will walk there.
(Isaiah 35:8,9)
In heaven our days of traveling through the dangers of life will be over. Just like the heavenly mansions and the holy city and new heavens and earth, God made this holy highway for His holy people. Just for you.
Amen.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Saints Triumphant
Saints Triumphant
November 14, 2010
Blessed Eternal Sunshine
Revelation 22:1-5
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Dear friends,
Before he died and went home, St. John, writer of the Gospel and several letters in the New Testament, saw some amazing things.
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. (Revelation 22:1-2)
This city, which is heaven, points all the way back to the beginning of the world. It points back to the Garden of Eden. Eden had rivers, and the new city has a river, too. One crystal river, flowing with the water of life. This special river points us back to Eden and also to Jesus' words to the Samaritan woman at the well:
Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. (John 4:13-14)
Jesus' living water is the very Gospel itself. We use this picture of water because the Gospel does what water does. It washes us clean before God and we drink it and are refreshed. Thousands of believers throughout time from the beginning have been washed clean and have been refreshed with the water of life, which is the Gospel.
In addition to the water of life, there are trees of life. This, too, points back to the beginning. God made two trees in Eden. If you ate from the first one, you'd live forever. If you ate from the second one, you'd separate yourself from God and die.
Our ancient ancestors, Adam and Eve, ate from the second tree. So out of love for His rebellious creatures God driven them out of Eden so that they would not eat from the first tree, the tree of life, at the wrong time.
22 And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” 23 So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life. (Genesis 3:22-24)
God did them a huge favor because they wouldn't face an eternity on a sinful planet with their sinful selves. Getting back to this tree and many variations on this theme has been a dream of many throughout the years. But the foutain of youth can't heal you; it can only make you live with yourself forever. Why would anyone want to live with themselves forever? What a horrible prospect. It sounds like hell to me.
But our Savior offers us the tree of life with our sins forgiven and ourselves healed. John spoke more of what he saw: the leaves of the tree [of life] are for the healing of the nations (Revelation 22:2).
Could you imagine the conflict between nations continuing forever? Trade wars and terrorism and low intensity conflicts and failed peace talks... year after year after year? Again, no, thank you, it sounds terrible.
And thanks to Jesus, this will not happen. Wars will cease, but even better, in heaven believers from Russia and Georgia (the one in Asia), the USA and Iran, Pakistan and India, and all the rest will live together in perfect harmony.
But the very best thing about heaven is that Jesus lives there and we will live there with Him and we won't be under a curse anymore.
No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and His servants will serve Him. They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. (Revelation 22:3-4)
The curse that we live under right now is our sin that we inherit from our parents and is a daily fact of our lives. Right now the curse of sin is such reality that we learn how to filter it out, just like we filter out trains at night, jets overhead, and farm odors below. God made us to be adaptable creatures, but when this flexibility is combined with the strench of sin, it makes for a deadly combination. We become comfortable in our smelly ways and in our selfish thoughts.
Sadly it takes a death to snap us back to the truth, especially when it is an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years (Isaiah 65:20).
Death is a harsh reminder that all are sinful, even the very old and the very young, people who couldn't hurt a fly. But we are all sinful and death follows us around down here on earth.
But in heaven the curse of sin will be long gone. Death will never again haunt our steps. Isaiah put it like this: he who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere youth; he who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed (Isaiah 65:20).
That's his inspired way of saying: you're never going to die. Ever. And for eternity we will talk with Jesus face-to-face. Our eye-closed prayers here will turn into actual eye-to-eye conversations up there. All this will come true because will bear Jesus' name. As Christians here on earth we bear the name of Christ—Christians. This will not change in heaven.
But there will be one big change in the new city.
There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 22:5)
Two pastors I know just took calls to serve congregations in Wasilla and Kenai, up in Alaska. In June the sun will rise at 4:30 in the morning and it will set at 11:30 at night. But in heaven we won't have to depend on the rotation of the earth for light because the city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp (Revelation 21:23).
We will be blessed with eternal sunshine. Our dearly departed in the Lord are enjoying this paradise right now. And you will join them for Jesus' sake.
You will drink from the crystal river.
You will eat from the tree of life.
You will bask in eternal sunshine.
And best of all, He will gather us up and we gather around His heavenly throne. And you will see the face of the Lord.
I myself will see Him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! (Job 19:27)
Amen.
November 14, 2010
Blessed Eternal Sunshine
Revelation 22:1-5
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Dear friends,
Before he died and went home, St. John, writer of the Gospel and several letters in the New Testament, saw some amazing things.
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. (Revelation 22:1-2)
This city, which is heaven, points all the way back to the beginning of the world. It points back to the Garden of Eden. Eden had rivers, and the new city has a river, too. One crystal river, flowing with the water of life. This special river points us back to Eden and also to Jesus' words to the Samaritan woman at the well:
Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. (John 4:13-14)
Jesus' living water is the very Gospel itself. We use this picture of water because the Gospel does what water does. It washes us clean before God and we drink it and are refreshed. Thousands of believers throughout time from the beginning have been washed clean and have been refreshed with the water of life, which is the Gospel.
In addition to the water of life, there are trees of life. This, too, points back to the beginning. God made two trees in Eden. If you ate from the first one, you'd live forever. If you ate from the second one, you'd separate yourself from God and die.
Our ancient ancestors, Adam and Eve, ate from the second tree. So out of love for His rebellious creatures God driven them out of Eden so that they would not eat from the first tree, the tree of life, at the wrong time.
22 And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” 23 So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life. (Genesis 3:22-24)
God did them a huge favor because they wouldn't face an eternity on a sinful planet with their sinful selves. Getting back to this tree and many variations on this theme has been a dream of many throughout the years. But the foutain of youth can't heal you; it can only make you live with yourself forever. Why would anyone want to live with themselves forever? What a horrible prospect. It sounds like hell to me.
But our Savior offers us the tree of life with our sins forgiven and ourselves healed. John spoke more of what he saw: the leaves of the tree [of life] are for the healing of the nations (Revelation 22:2).
Could you imagine the conflict between nations continuing forever? Trade wars and terrorism and low intensity conflicts and failed peace talks... year after year after year? Again, no, thank you, it sounds terrible.
And thanks to Jesus, this will not happen. Wars will cease, but even better, in heaven believers from Russia and Georgia (the one in Asia), the USA and Iran, Pakistan and India, and all the rest will live together in perfect harmony.
But the very best thing about heaven is that Jesus lives there and we will live there with Him and we won't be under a curse anymore.
No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and His servants will serve Him. They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. (Revelation 22:3-4)
The curse that we live under right now is our sin that we inherit from our parents and is a daily fact of our lives. Right now the curse of sin is such reality that we learn how to filter it out, just like we filter out trains at night, jets overhead, and farm odors below. God made us to be adaptable creatures, but when this flexibility is combined with the strench of sin, it makes for a deadly combination. We become comfortable in our smelly ways and in our selfish thoughts.
Sadly it takes a death to snap us back to the truth, especially when it is an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years (Isaiah 65:20).
Death is a harsh reminder that all are sinful, even the very old and the very young, people who couldn't hurt a fly. But we are all sinful and death follows us around down here on earth.
But in heaven the curse of sin will be long gone. Death will never again haunt our steps. Isaiah put it like this: he who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere youth; he who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed (Isaiah 65:20).
That's his inspired way of saying: you're never going to die. Ever. And for eternity we will talk with Jesus face-to-face. Our eye-closed prayers here will turn into actual eye-to-eye conversations up there. All this will come true because will bear Jesus' name. As Christians here on earth we bear the name of Christ—Christians. This will not change in heaven.
But there will be one big change in the new city.
There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 22:5)
Two pastors I know just took calls to serve congregations in Wasilla and Kenai, up in Alaska. In June the sun will rise at 4:30 in the morning and it will set at 11:30 at night. But in heaven we won't have to depend on the rotation of the earth for light because the city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp (Revelation 21:23).
We will be blessed with eternal sunshine. Our dearly departed in the Lord are enjoying this paradise right now. And you will join them for Jesus' sake.
You will drink from the crystal river.
You will eat from the tree of life.
You will bask in eternal sunshine.
And best of all, He will gather us up and we gather around His heavenly throne. And you will see the face of the Lord.
I myself will see Him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! (Job 19:27)
Amen.
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