St. Timothy Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lombard Illinois Podcast. This podcast contains sermons from our worship services.
St. Timothy Evangelical Lutheran Church
What kind of faith do you have? Great faith? Or not so great? The truth is… whatever faith anyone has...it is the same faith that this women in our text has.
So, are you listening? Are you speaking? Are you growing? Are you learning? Are you living?
Passover 3 1 Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You can't eat from any tree in the garden'?" 2 The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden. 3 But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, 'You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.' " 4 "No! You will certainly not die," the serpent said to the woman. 5 "In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." 6 The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. 8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 So the Lord God called out to the man and said to him, "Where are you?" 10 And he said, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid." 11 Then he asked, "Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?" 12 The man replied, "The woman you gave to be with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate." 13 So the Lord God asked the woman, "What have you done?" And the woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." 14 So the Lord God said to the serpent: Because you have done this, you are cursed more than any livestock and more than any wild animal. You will move on your belly and eat dust all the days of your life. 15 I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel. 16 He said to the woman: I will intensify your labor pains; you will bear children with painful effort. Your desire will be for your husband, yet he will rule over you. 17 And he said to the man, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'Do not eat from it': The ground is cursed because of you. You will eat from it by means of painful labor all the days of your life. 18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. 19 You will eat bread by the sweat of your brow until you return to the ground, since you were taken from it. For you are dust, and you will return to dust." 20 The man named his wife Eve because she was the mother of all the living. 21 The Lord God made clothing from skins for the man and his wife, and he clothed them. 22 The Lord God said, "Since the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil, he must not reach out, take from the tree of life, eat, and live forever." 23 So the Lord God sent him away from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. 24 He drove the man out and stationed the cherubim and the flaming, whirling sword east of the garden of Eden to guard the way to the tree of life. Genesis 3:1–24 [CSB] We may not see...understand or accept the reason...or think it deserving... This...the result and consequences of sin... …especially since it was not us...but our first parents...who did it...who began this journey... Why should we be held accountable for them? Why should we be blamed...we didn't ask to inherit this mess! But we have to stop and think. Let's go ahead and drop the original...the first...and just ask about our own individual sins. Sure, but then we will do what Adam and Eve did...won't we? We are all ready and willing to then blame our parents...or the devil...or anything...else... Yet they remain ours...and they are because of us. But this is Lent. And so...today...we could stand before God...naked...ashamed and guilty... If we chose to try and justify ourselves in anyway… And that which we fear...would overwhelm us with terror...and...dread... So… think along those lines… what are you going to say to Him? What's to be done? This day and age...though...we are all about denial, changing the rules and the definitions...so that we don't have to feel so bad...because if there are less things we do wrong...well...then... They tell us… out there… that we then… need not fear and tremble... ...as we will surely not die...at least not as soon as we once did...we are on the way to finding its cure all on our own... Yes, we will cheat it...we will beat it… so no… don't… let's not call sin, sin. Let's not deal with it as we used to. Live and let live. Or...not too long ago it was all about cover-up. Pretend to be good...put on a good face...at church especially...and maybe no one will notice... …and maybe God is at least pleased that I try.... But… there are other ways too...to deflect all of this...that which we feel...that brings sleepless nights...and worries... We can justify ourselves...you know...say that the ends justify the means...and all that...after all, it was for a good cause... Well, wasn't it? You could also just plead ignorance of the Law... But that is why we have Lent...each and every year...as no matter what we come up with to try and deal with what we are and what we have done... Lent arrives again... And Lent is God coming after us... Lent is all about God exposing our to light reality… bringing it all full bore...right between the eyes of the world… of humanity... …and also, if need be… aiming for the heart. Ours? You? Me? Everyone… lest we forget… but all whom God makes to sit up and pay attention... Again...is this YOU and this is ME? Are you hiding in the bushes...there... Are you trying to cover yourself with things that don't do the job. Are you who like pointing the finger and blaming others. YOU. IS GOD LOOKING AT YOU? IS GOD POINTING HIS FINGER AT YOU? OR ME? And we have nowhere to go… do we and… are there really any excuses left? My hand is caught in the candy jar… Is there blood on our hands? YOU...yes...ME...yes...HE IS TALKING TO US... ARE YOU GETTING UNCOMFORTABLE? Are you yet? What have you done? What have you left undone? You...YOU who knows...THAT HE KNOWS...all too well...in fact... This is about you...this is about your life...and paying the piper...reaping what you have sown... Well, you wanted to dance. You wanted to do your own thing. You wanted to make your own way in the world... With your own rules... How has that been going for you...now that it is the morning after. Now that your head hurts. Now that you are in a fix and cannot get yourself out. Now that you are sick... Now that you are dying... Now that the time of your life is done and gone...and you are old...and you are dying? What now? What do you have to say? What do you have to show for yourself? From dust we are taken, and to dust we will return. Everything comes to an end. Everything crumbles and fades away. Everything is taken away. That is the very meaning of Lent. This is what Lent is for… each year… Lest we forget… Again! We do… with all those voices out there… and in here… saying differently… Lent is to bring us to this place. To this point. Again! To bring us to this understanding about ourselves and our lives. And to show us that there is nothing we can do about it... as if we remain in it… as it will not end well. Sa what's left then? Well...yes, we can continue in this… those many ways,,, that try to avoid or ignore… but...in the end...here we are. Before God, just like our first parents. God has (and thank God He has) brought us to this now...here and now. He is doing this right now. That is what Lent is for. That is what God wants. Because this is the start also of the Passover. His Passover. And His passing over kills. His passing over spills blood, wrecks lives, destroys kingdoms...small and great. Yes. And He passes over all...the whole world this time. He comes. He is coming. He is here. All of this while we are holding the bag...without anything that could help us...that could prevent the fallout...that could be used in our favor. Most will die because of it. And yet...His passing over also saves. Anyone who has His blood covering them… lives. His Sacrifice is offered instead of ours. His life in place of ours. Just like He did for our first parents, He brings His covering to us. Just like He made a way for Israel, Jesus is the way for the whole world...for us. Yet it all begins in facing these terrible facts about ourselves.... It requires pleading guilty. But again, better today, then in the end where there no longer is a covering to hide our shame and remove our guilt. This is what our first parents faced. This is what the Jews faced in the Exodus, and then had to deal with when Jesus exposed their hypocrisy. But they too, like Adam and Eve, all tried to avoid it. This is what we try all too often. We still… knowing all this… we still all too often try our best to cover up, blame and make excuses... Do we want to insist on this? Do we remain stubbornly justifying ourselves? Then doomed they and we are to die. Thrown out of God's presence. But there is no need! As God began the Passover...that which has been there from the beginning. God provided the way out...the way of escape...the sacrifice, time and again. That blood that hid shame and the stain of our sin.... This until the right time...and then God became the sacrifice, once and for all. This once and for all removed the shame and cleansed us of sin. That is why the Passover is such a big deal.
What Is This All For? 12 Even now— this is the Lord's declaration— turn to me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning. 13 Tear your hearts, not just your clothes, and return to the Lord your God. For he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in faithful love, and he relents from sending disaster. 14 Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave a blessing behind him, so you can offer a grain offering and a drink offering to the Lord your God. 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion! Announce a sacred fast; proclaim a solemn assembly. 16 Gather the people; sanctify the congregation; assemble the aged; gather the infants, even babies nursing at the breast. Let the groom leave his bedroom, and the bride her honeymoon chamber. 17 Let the priests, the Lord's ministers, weep between the portico and the altar. Let them say, "Have pity on your people, Lord, and do not make your inheritance a disgrace, an object of scorn among the nations. Why should it be said among the peoples, 'Where is their God?'" 18 Then the Lord became jealous for his land and spared his people. 19 The Lord answered his people: Look, I am about to send you grain, new wine, and fresh oil. You will be satiated with them, and I will no longer make you a disgrace among the nations. Joel 2:12–19 [CSB] What are the ashes drawn in the shape of the cross on our foreheads for? To bring out that mark God already has made on you. When He baptized you into His name...into His Son...on the Cross where He punished Jesus instead of destroying you... Like He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. Like He did other nations. Like He did Israel. Like He will the whole world. Why? Because we deserve to be!Disaster is right on our doorsteps! You think not? People are sneering...fists raised...yes, they are saying they can do what they want...they are defying God. Hear them? Listen to what is really being said: “Ha! We can do what we like. Watch and see! And we will do it again! So where...where… is your God when I do it to His face? Where is He who calls all that we like to do...all what I want to do...evil…? Where is He to punish what He calls sin?” God says, "From dust you were taken and to dust you will return..." No one escapes death. No one. God will not be mocked. He says that, "The wages of sin is death."That is what God told Adam because of his and his wife's sin. Yes, and to dust the world will be reduced to also... …soon now...maybe here in America sooner than Africa. I don't know. But remember, Nineveh repented. God spared them for several generations—over 200 years I think it was. Pray America... pray Illinois… and Lombard… repents also… repents—before it is too late. Yes, because... 12 "even now," declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; 13 and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster. 14 Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord your God? Even so, still....all returns to dust. But only those with the sign of the cross on them will be raised to newness of life. Only those who return to the Lord will be saved...those who return to the place where that mark was made. This is what Lent is for. To mark us again for our burial. Yes, as we know what the consequences of sin are. Death. Yes, from dust we too were taken and will return... But with that mark...made with water… and Word…we won't stay there. 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion; consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly; 16 gather the people. Consecrate the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children, even nursing infants. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber. We have...we are...it is called Lent. It is called the application of ashes...consecrating you again for burial...with Christ...in that living and ever flowing Water...the very waters of life... So that we will be spared eternal destruction...flames and ash... To be instead raised to eternal life. Take the ash now...death now...so that life eternal is ours later. Yes, Lent is preparation for our death now, but only for Easter later—our very own Easter. Easter...our Easter, is only possible with the Cross...with Jesus' death...and our death in Him...in Water...in Word...in this life...in this world...with its ways.... Lent is a time to fast and pray. To die to self. To die to sin. To switch our focus. To remove things in our lives that distract and blind us from the truth...for that which brings death and destruction.... Yes, to focus on dying...to let our sin nature die again...to drown it...that those things of sin to be removed...cleared away...cleaned off...the things that entrap us again in this world...in sin...that bring God's wrath and doom...fire and ash.... ...let them go...walk away...let them die...to be replaced with life...that new life to come...that He even gives a start of this here and now...a down payment from His Easter for the Easter to come... Yes, because then it does... Don't you know, Easter already has come? Then for sure, it is to be ours next! So...yes, lets get ready... 17 Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep and say, "Spare your people, O Lord, and make not your heritage a reproach, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, 'Where is their God?'" We can answer this...we can answer them—answer and say that it is not yet too late...even for them: Tell them that: He is here...in His Word...which endures forever...in the Living Water that marked us forever to be His...and in His Supper where He meets with us...feeds us...helps us to live in this world that is going to be in flames soon...a heap of ash all too soon... And then Easter. Easter is so near. Ours...and yes the Earth's too. It too is waiting...it too will also be reborn out of those ashes...just as we will be, it will be free of sin's decay...no longer filled with death... All new and green...alive...really alive...as it was meant to be...forever. Yes, He has called us. We have come. He has marked us. We have cried out and we will do so until the end—call to Him. We will look to Him. We have turned to Him for mercy. We mourn and cry out: "Spare your people, O Lord...!" And what does He do? How does He answer? He has already...He has acted...has answered. Jesus came and died...Jesus rose again...Jesus came to us—to you in water and word...and does in bread and wine. He has marked us for death so that we can live. Yes, He responds...He answers because.... 18 Then the Lord became jealous for his land and had pity on his people. 19 The Lord answered and said to his people, “Behold, I am sending to you grain, wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied... All of this has started already to come to us...in Word and Sacrament....because of Easter... We are being filled up...with Him....today even...because of Easter... …and then we will see—the world and the devil will see. Easter is almost here. God says, "...I will no more make you a reproach among the nations." This… All because Easter has already come. Ours is next. Morning is about to dawn. He is coming...in the fire of His Glory... He will rise upon the earth—death dying in that intense… on His light. Then it is up and out...for all those marked by sign...in His name...as all is burned into ash.... …and then glory...and then the Easter morning...the forever Son forever...our Emmauel with us… aways, world without end. Amen.
They remained hidden from us... That is because, as St. Paul tells us, only the spiritual can understand the things of and from the Spirit...
What We Have Even Now Sexagesima Sunday 10 For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return there without saturating the earth and making it germinate and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, 11 so my word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do." 12 You will indeed go out with joy and be peacefully guided; the mountains and the hills will break into singing before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thornbush, a cypress will come up, and instead of the brier, a myrtle will come up; this will stand as a monument for the LORD, an everlasting sign that will not be destroyed. Isaiah 55:10–13 [CSB] I will read the last part first…the result, the consequence…of the first part: 12 You will indeed go out with joy and be peacefully guided; the mountains and the hills will break into singing before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thornbush, a cypress will come up, and instead of the brier, a myrtle will come up; this will stand as a monument for the LORD, an everlasting sign that will not be destroyed. Isaiah 55:10–13 [CSB] This is even now… No, it is…as we DO have a little of it… We do…and it is too bad when we don't think so…when we deny it…when we listen to any voice that says it isn't so…when things blind us so that we cannot see it. Nonetheless is it true. Now and forever. Some now and all forever. It began in a manger… and was established in this odd and never thought of place… But then this lonely shoot began to bud, then flower as if on just a bit of bare rock… and it was… it was called Calvary… …then it began to multiply…first right there in Jerusalem, then Judea and Samaria…and then into the uttermost parts of the earth… This is also the beginning…the start, where it begins for us… …from blood and in water…and then in our pilgrimage…here… …through the valley of the shadow of death…until our Lord and Savior makes death dead--the last enemy to be removed forever. Removed even from our lifeless bodies, where the seed is left to wait. Death is defeated, but …not completely taken away…yet. Now is the time of Grace. This is the time of the Church militant…that is, the time we still have to fight sin, death and the devil…our flesh, the world, and the kingdom of darkness…. But as they flee before the Lord who leads the way through… We are not fighting for victory. That has already been won by Jesus. We are clearing the ground…and the air…on our way home. For now we see from afar. We hear the distant song… Faith in Him whom we follow knows this to be true. His Words enable to see in this dim place…to hear amongst the cruel noises…the hopeless cries… And then…all of a sudden…along the way we see a crack in the clouds…and there are those mountains that will soon sing and shake to participate in bringing in the new order of a new creation. Or it may be a special day…when all is quiet…and suddenly the sweet air brings the accompaniment to that high and exulted singing…the trees remind of us of what is to come. That singing is not as it will be…this clapping is not but a slight rustle… But it is all in hope…a hope because we have been given this hope…as creation knows who has come and gives it to mankind… So creation waits… Even if here and there…and only in practice a little…and to remind us of these, His Words…giving us a glimpse…even if ever so slight… You see, I am showing you the results first, because we need to see what reality looks like--what it should have been…what it should be like…what it is to sound like…and what it will be like again. It is so now…by Word of Law--God's law, but it has to be yet enacted fully. It has been declared to be so, but many yet have to believe the Words. They need to hear, know and believe before they can have the result for themselves. And so, as we pray in the prayer that our Lord has taught us: THY KINGDOM COME… Yes…God's Kingdom comes of its own self, but… We pray in this petition that the Kingdom come among us also. And it has come…and it has come here. You are here because of this onward march…this invasion of and in your life by God Himself….as He widens…and lengthens…the restoration of all things… One person at a time. Family by Family. Until there is nowhere left that is enemy territory…until there is no one left to be captured and turned back from the enemy to our Lord. This Old Testament prophet's text is about the coming of this Kingdom of God in, by and through Christ… And it has come…and is still here…at work…moving…into the kingdom of the devil…an invasion force…light into the dark…color into grayness… green into the dry brown…gladness and singing into the groans of pain and suffering…fruitfulness to the barren…life into death… I show you this first because we have to be reminded of what it actually could be like, lest we believe that what we have seen--the darkness…bitterness…horror…pain…the loss…betrayal…and death…lest we accept this as the only reality… lest we surrender again to our enemy. I tell you this because we need to be given hope…expectation…longing…in that which we do actually have now… From what we have already been given…and have heard…and yet…forget…doubt…and let go of… No! The Kingdom of God is among us. Here and now. IN this very place…in your very lives. Today. Why can I say this? Because He--our Lord says so. And what He says…well…listen to what He says about what HE SAYS: 10 For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return there without saturating the earth and making it germinate and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, 11 so my word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do." What God says, happens. What He declares is SO. What He promises is given. This is death to life, because of Grace from His Mercy that Forgives all sin---that sin that caused death and the wilting of creation. This has been defeated and with the resurrection of Jesus is being pushed right out into the outer darkness forever. Never to return. Heaven on a new earth eternal. And eternally to be lived by us and all creation, now renewed. This is the result and the reason--the purpose God sent out His STRONG WORD. It will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven. Because the Strong Word is Jesus. And He has done it. His is the Name, that was made for the Lord… And that everlasting sign is the sign of Jonah and the sign of the cross--our sign now too--our eternal mark---His Mark on us…the mark of the Crucified One who is alive…making us alive…making us alive with Him forever. Amen.
The Kingdom of Heaven…is well…unfair! Ever hear that? Ever say or think that? No, it is not…and neither is our Good, and Gracious God. That, however, is hard to sell to people…most people.
Just like Peter, James and John were wrapped in that Cloud of the Father's Glory on the mountain with Jesus.
The Best For Last 1 On the third day a wedding took place in Cana of Galilee. Jesus's mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples were invited to the wedding as well. 3 When the wine ran out, Jesus's mother told him, "They don't have any wine." 4 "What has this concern of yours to do with me, woman?" Jesus asked. "My hour has not yet come." 5 "Do whatever he tells you," his mother told the servants. 6 Now six stone water jars had been set there for Jewish purification. Each contained twenty or thirty gallons. 7 "Fill the jars with water," Jesus told them. So they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he said to them, "Now draw some out and take it to the headwaiter. And they did. 9 When the headwaiter tasted the water (after it had become wine), he did not know where it came from—though the servants who had drawn the water knew. He called the groom 10 and told him, "Everyone sets out the fine wine first, then, after people are drunk, the inferior. But you have kept the fine wine until now." 11 Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee. He revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him. John 2:1–11: [CSB] Because of how we have conducted ourselves... Because of how we have run things... Because of our inability to solve life's problems... Because of the sin that corrupts everything we do and have... We just end up...giving into it...yes, we just might as well do what everyone expects… the inferior… the poorest… junk… last... But that is not how God does things! Imagine this: In spite of what has happened in His creation...He works it out that it ALL turns out better...better than if nothing bad had happened at all! No, we cannot imagine this...as we still have that monkey on our backs...we still feel the guilt eating at our guts...we still wish that we DID NOT do the things we have done...we wish that we did not cause the harm and hurt that we have caused... We wish that history was different. But it is what it is. We have done what we have done. The consequences are what they are... Until God steps in. He alone could make it so that the VERY GOOD of creation, as He called it when it was finished at the end of the sixth day... He alone makes it so that it all becomes even BETTER than that...than what might have been...what could have been...in His doing of what God loves to do...in His New creation...in the new heavens and new earth that is to come... This with even better...and better off...humans living in it. How is this possible? God says it is, but only God can put all of our past...regrets...guilt...all of that which make this creation less now than it was...not very good anymore...not really good at all... This...all of this...He alone puts into His sea of forgetfulness. Only He can bring about brand new beginnings without THAT taint and its baggage from our past. Only He can keep making it so that the best is yet to come. Even if we have had things fixed. Even if we have tasted grace, forgiveness and mercy, we still have not seen anything close to what HE still has in store... A better yet...a good that He is besting in what we have already tasted...tried...experienced. Imagine it always getting better, rather than worse. Sadly, we can't really. We can only hope at these Words...and that is just what our hope is. We hope because HE says this is what He has done and will do for us. I mean what good is forgiveness if the person forgiven has his past rubbed in his face all the time? What good is mercy if the person is reminded all the time that the person who is merciful would rather bring punishment instead? What is Grace worth if grace is only stingily a little is given out--and even with that, more than a little is needed? What good is a life in heaven--an eternity remember--if we have our past sins, failures, embarrassments, and inadequacies haunting every minute and at every step? That would not be heaven, but just some of the same… But no! This is not so! Not ever! No...instead... It will only get better. God will serve the next and better thing...after we have drunk freely... And then better again...and so on...into forever. This expression of God's favor is on His creation's most important and essential event: a wedding! This little event gives us a view into what He is like. What He is always like... No, go ahead… we can… do believe what we hear and see Him saying and doing.... This is what Epiphany is… and all about… what the Scriptures are for… are all about… like… If you remember how God brought the elders of Israel up onto His mountain in the desert with Moses.... What did they do there? They feasted! They ate and drank with God! That was Holy Communion going on--together...with the whole company of Heaven...with angels and archangels. That was a table laid out in the presence of enemies. That was with cups overflowing... That was grace overflowing... Despite who they were and what their past was. Despite what we are and did and do... He will welcome us...humble repentant sinners, though we be...beggars only... He will take us by the hand and lead us into His banqueting hall...all dressed up... As His children...a prince or princess...Holy Royalty... Brought up to the head of the table...to sit next to the King... Where the food and wine get ever better. Each course surpassing the one before it. This is what this story of the wedding feast a Cana is all about. This first public miracle was to show us...humanity...the world...and His church...just what kind of God He is. To show what He was about to begin...what He was about to bring about... To give us a glimpse into what it is like to be with Him...when He is about His Father's...now our Father's business. The feast has already been prepared. The feast is already made ready. You are invited. What we get even now comes from that same feast table. He brings the first course to us even here...in the presences of our and His enemies. Yes, even here our cup overflows.... Even if we don't...can't… see this. Even now, and each day that we live in Christ, it gets better. Nothing can take this away. He has already changed the bitter waters into a sweet vintage that has been aging from before the foundations of the universe had been laid down. He has prepared a place for you and for me. That is where He is leading us. That is where He is going to take us. Home for the holidays...home for the eternal Holy Day in the House of the Lord. And then it only gets better from there. Amen.
As the Jews told Jesus that they have never been enslaved to anyone, so too, and Americans especially...we who are born free... Say the same. Yet this is not really true.
This is difficult for us. We like the idea of God protecting the baby Jesus… But we can't deal with God not protecting the little boys of Bethlehem.
Christmas is not an end unto itself…Christmas is not the high point of the year, but the start…Christmas is the beginning…just like Sunday is the first day of the week, not the last day of the week's end.
Why is Jesus the reason for this season? The retail industry for cars and furniture have given us a new reason…if you are in the market for a new car…or a lazy-a-boy recliner….
Who are we expecting? Advent is about preparing for the arrival of someone great. It is an expected great event with a person of importance at its center.
Look and See Rightly 2Now when John heard in prison what the Christ was doing, he sent a message through his disciples 3and asked him, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?" 4Jesus replied to them, "Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news, 6and blessed is the one who isn't offended by me." 7As these men were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind? 8What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothes? See, those who wear soft clothes are in royal palaces. 9What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10This is the one about whom it is written: See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you. Matthew 11:2–10 [CSB] We all make the same mistake…as John the Baptist did…as did the people…as the did most of the Old Testament church. Many in the churches across the world still make this mistake. But at least John asked…and did not do what so many do—he did not invent a different Jesus to fit his ideas. Well and no, Jesus did not fit his ideas…at least those he had in his final days. He doesn't fit ours much either. Why? Why would John miss…John…the forerunner…the one who prepared the way…the last Prophet of the Old Testament… The one that Jesus says was greater than any man born in the regular way? Why? And it is not as if all the data -- the information was not there in the Bible…already…from the beginning… And Jesus points this out…reminds John, His and John's disciples…and all of us…what it was that He was to be and do… 4Jesus replied to them, "Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news… What did you expect? What has God been saying all along? But they did not expect Jesus. They actually ignored what the Bible says…and insisted that their Messiah would not be like that…to the point that even when they saw Him and all of what He did, they rejected it…they rejected Him. Because Jesus is not our idea of a Messiah…His way of salvation is not how we would have done it or wanted it. Jesus says, though 6 "…blessed is the one who isn't offended by me." So those who are offended and don't get over it…they will not be blessed at all…but condemned with the world… And that is what Jesus said…that those who are not offended…the tax collectors…the prostitutes…the low life's and losers in this world……for very good reasons don't get offended…no…they want His kind of salvation… The GOOD NEWS…the GOSPEL…that ALL THEIR SINS…in which they are all too familiar with…along with their consequences…yes…because the fall-out has been great…for them…. That their sins are forgiven! Finally, someone who can pay for all that they did and were…because they knew they could not. Not so with far too many people. But…you see those who cannot…ARE the ones Jesus saves…has come for… Not those who think they have done alright….already. Who have done what was expected of them. Who think God should save them because…just because…well…because they think they are good enough…have done enough…. They are offended by Him…with His Message and work. That is the reason the big shots didn't get it… But what about the crowds? What about them? What about any crowd—why do they crowd together around Jesus? Some just want a show. Some want free bread and fish. Some a better health plan. Still all wrong. Still missing the reason for that season. Not because Jesus was not doing this—He has if you have not noticed…all along. We have our being in God the creator…all things come from Him…our life and its sustenance. But they….as we…forget this all too often…and grumble about who we are…what we are…and what we have. So, we are offended by Him too, in another way. Why? Because we don't think we deserve our lot in life…we think we ought to have more and better. And so… We don't think we need what He is selling either. Forgiveness? Not when so many things have happened to us by so many people…. Not when our neighbor has it better…has more…and after all, don't we deserve better? It's not fair…we're not so bad…. So, we are offended by Him. So, Jesus points this out to both groups…to all of us: 7As these men were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind? 8What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothes? See, those who wear soft clothes are in royal palaces. 9What then did you go out to see? What did you expect of God's chosen man? What do you expect of your pastors? Jesus answers us: A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written: See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you. So… God has had this, today's' text, written down so that we stop and think about what we are doing, what we are asking for, what we are demanding of Him…and His pastors as well as the church. What is it for, what is it to be doing? Not fulfilling what Jesus did. No, He already did that. Rather the church is to do what Jesus told it to do. Make disciples wherever we are put in the world. This is done by baptizing and teaching— yes, teaching everything that Jesus told us to teach. This is done by preaching the LAW in all it's severity and the Good News of the forgiveness of sins. Jesus has Luke record the parallel to the above Matthew text. In Luke 24:47, Jesus says: " …that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem." This is the preaching of the Law and the Gospel. That is the main thing—and if nothing else… ALWAYS THIS! Sure, the church can be involved in feeding people…starting hospitals… We help as many and as much as we can…but never at the expense of proclaiming God's Word. You see, everyone misses the message because they cannot…don't want to…and often refuse to look beyond this short life. Free food and cheap health care we will have—but not until retirement—that is—heaven is here. Jesus came to show that these are what is to come, not what we are to have now, here. It is a YES, BUT NOT YET. What He did… pointed to who He was. The creator of all things. The sustainer of all things. And most importantly the fixer of all things broken! And that was His only mission on earth. It was to fix the cause and reason why we didn't have health, wealth and wisdom. Sin. Sin was the cause. Sin had to be dealt with. Then…when that was taken care of…when all was made ready…then we will have those things—and them in abundance… when we are able to handle them… in the life to come. I mean, as Jesus pointed out to the woman at the well…what good is regular water when He had living water to give? Now she was a bit offended at Him…but got over it. We need to as well. We need His living water more than regular water. She discovered this and went and told her whole town… Not about the water at their well, but about a living water that washes away sin. The washing of the water of the Word as St. Paul calls it. And also, just like Jesus told the devil—man does not live on bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God. But with us… …we usually have a full belly… and are starving to death eternally. So, what good is a free meal when in a couple of hours we will be hungry again? What good is being healed of leprosy when cancer will kill you in a couple of years? Lazarus died again, didn't he? The rest matters very little when you are knocking on heaven's door…as death is staring you in the face… Instead, we need eternal life and health. We need His life put on us and in us. We need the food of forever…His medicine of immortality. These must be first and foremost. …and that is what the Messiah came to do…and the neat thing is… the rest will follow. He promises this. In the meantime, we are to be about the business He sent us to do. Preach and teach. Baptized and disciple…and help where and when we can. This until that last day. Amen.
As we heard last week, the coming Messiah, was to be a Prophet. A preacher and teacher…a proclaimer of God's Word. He was. He is.
A few are surprised that Advent uses texts like our Gospel for today…because…well, isn't Advent to be about Christmas?
How many years did the human race wait for redemption…for rescue…from the consequences of their sin?
Right from the beginning…from before creation began, the Bible says…He set these things in motion…
This man was speaking of OUR guilt, you know? Yes, his and the man who was nailed to the other cross.
But What If? 27There came to him some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, 28and they asked him a question, saying, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies, having a wife but no children, the man must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 29Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and died without children. 30And the second 31and the third took her, and likewise all seven left no children and died. 32Afterward the woman also died. 33In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had her as wife." 34And Jesus said to them, "The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, 35but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, 36for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. 37But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. 38Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him." 39Then some of the scribes answered, "Teacher, you have spoken well." 40For they no longer dared to ask him any question. Luke 20 [ESV] Do you know how we like to say, "Yes, but…but, what if…?" Teachers put up with this all the time. God puts up with this from us all the time… …but what if?…We say this after hearing God's Word…don't we? …but…but, my relatives have come to town? Yes…your point is? Take them with you to church, or let them stay home if they won't. You be here. …but what if I have worked a real hard and long year and go on vacation to rest? The best rest is in the Lord's House. …but on holidays I need all the time I can get to prepare the feast…so we can eat on time. …So have snacks ready and eat later. ….yes, but then the game is on…. …so tape it, eat, then watch. Is it the holiday (the HOLY DAY) or the game that is being celebrated? Is it a day of excuses to sin? Come on, what else you got? You see, I can give you a counter answer to almost all of your "what if's" as any good teacher will, or simply answer that that situation you give will never happen in the real world. I can give you an answer because the Bible answers everything that is under the sun. There is nothing new. Yes, God has an answer for them all…and yes, God has heard all the possible reasons for not doing whatever He tells us to do. God says to have no other gods before Him. Other little gods, yes, as God knows we have them, but Our Lord comes first. What do I and He mean here? Go ahead and love other things, but according to the Commandments and in their proper order. God first, then family (wife, then children…husband, then children), then your neighbors, then your vocation, then your hobbies. Love, cherish and care…but not before…not above Him…not out of the order of creation—the way He made them all. Yes, but what if… What if my husband is a work-aholic? My children need me, and since he is not around much, why should I put…let him be first in my life…over them? You both need to repent. Yet each of you are still to do what God says. Despite the situation—even in the situation. What if … Yes? …but…the town does such a lousy job on the roads…and they sent my son over to Iraq and I don't think we should even be there…and look at gas prices…. Show me a coin. Whose image is on it? A president. So, render to the government—to the world—what is theirs, and to God what is His. Pay your taxes, yes, but also give to God what is due Him: YOU. Whose image is on you? Whose image has been once again placed on you? How were you formed and how were you re-formed? Adam was made in the image of God, but then took the "what if" against…and instead of…doing according to how he was made. So, the image of the devil was stamped on Adam…and Eve…and all of us. The world—I don't mean this planet, although effected, yes—but when the Bible talks about this world, it is in the image of the devil. Its ways and its wants. It—the devil—wants to also form the church into its image. He would like to form you again into his image. As a liar. A cheat. A thief. A user. An excuser—an excuser of sin. The devil wants you in the image of death—to die and stay dead. You see, he is the master of the "…but what if…" scenario. He gave Adam and Eve a crash course right in the garden. "But what if God is holding out on you…what if it is a better thing to know good and evil…and what if God really does not want you to be like Him…?" That is where this MO comes from. The devil. The devil tried to do this even to God. He tried the "what if" in heaven…what if he, the devil could replace God and run things for a change…what if that were better? Yet he failed. The Bible says that the devil and his angels that he took with him—a third—lost their former estate. Thrown out of heaven. Adam and Eve lost their former estate too—kicked out of the garden. Pain in childbirth, friction between husband and wife…and more weeds than edible plants from all that hard work. Then Brothers killing each other. It seems that the devil's "what if" was working here, on earth. It has been—working well in the sense that we all do it, but the results…well no good for us has come of it. Yet, we still wonder, "but what if it eventually will be good…" No, as we will be dead. Every one of us. Then the devil, with all his success here, thought he would get another chance at heaven. Yes, especially when the Son of God became man. He even tried to make Jesus into his image. He tempted Jesus. Then because Jesus wasn't taking the bait, he killed him. The devil failed. Using his own work against Him, Jesus was not re-imaged, but actually began the start of humanity's re-imaging. Jesus was not just reclaiming His own body, and life, but also ours…and the world—nature and the universe itself. All will have the full, undiminished, unaffected, untarnished image of God once again. Starting with Jesus the man…then continuing with a band of twelve which then became over 3,000 by the second chapter of Acts, then out into the whole world—all by baptism—Word and Water…and Spirit. Same as at the beginning of the world. The World made by God's Word, the Son, in Water and the Spirit which hovered over the deeps. Just read Genesis chapter 1. All is being remade again according to God's way…again…with Water and Word. You see, by baptism, we no longer have the image of the world. We get God's name, and wherever His name is placed, God is there—His image is there…He is there. A new creation starts there. We Get Jesus as our covering. Jesus is the exact image of God. When we see Jesus, we see God. When God sees us, He sees Jesus. We get—we have Jesus, His Spirit and His Father. We have been reborn…re-imaged…remade…regenerated in His image once again. The planet is next…out into the universe even—everything. So, God has all the "what if's"—every contingency—even ones we have not thought of or ever will—He has got them covered. What if? What if nothing! We are to act now according to how we have been remade…like Jesus…to please His Father…where there are no, "what if's" any longer. There just are none in Jesus. Never! Even if we cannot see the how, it is covered. We are covered. So, we can, then, render to God, what is God's: You. Do so. All of you and yours. Your time, your things, your spouse and children even. Your life even. He who hates his life in this world, Jesus says, will keep it. He who loves it, will lose it. What image do you like best? Stop letting them change you into their image…the way they do things! Stop letting people try and change the image of the church then! We don't vote for choice in the name of freedom. We vote to keep God's commandments. We don't change church and our services just because that is what the world likes. It wants us to reflect them—their image, but we must reflect God's. It wants the church to use marketing and packaging to tempt and lure. It wants us to dress and be like them—to lure and seduce and tempt. All this is the image of sin, death and the devil. The church and its people have the image of Christ—it must or it is not the church. God's image is of life, not the dead. He lives and we live and move and have our being in Him. He is the author and perfecter of our lives. You only live because He says so. You only have because He says so. He gives life to all those who despair of their own. Face the result of your sin—your death. Face the fact that the soul who sins dies and leaves all that he has to someone else. Face that picture. Face that image. Then turn and embrace instead the image God gave you—His. God is the only one who can change that death mask into a face that lives…that reflects Him. He sent Jesus for this very reason. Jesus is the resurrection. He is the way, the truth and the Life. All those who believe in Him, who eat of His flesh and drink of His blood have life in them. These carry His life giving being—God Himself—the very image of God, Jesus, in their very bodies. Whose image do you have? Theirs or His? Those without Jesus' reflection die… …with no if's, no but's, about it. So don't confuse yourselves, or others, with "but what if's." As if…we could stump God. As if we could find wiggle room out of what He expects. As if there are loop holes. As if there were any other way. No, None! He alone provides the way out. Jesus. He alone provides life. Jesus. Yet, He not only gives wiggle room—to live and breath freely in—He brings us to His wide open fields—where we can and will be at play…in the house of the Lord…forever. Jesus came and did this for us,
Do You? Luke 18: 1And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, 'Give me justice against my adversary.' 4For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, 'Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.' " 6And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"Luke 18-18 [ESV] Do you? Yes, I guess all of us do at times. We do think God is like the crusty, angry, old judge in Jesus' story. He is not, but because of our sin and the result of it—our great need, we think of Him in this way. For this reason we always think of Him last when we are in need. We try to solve it ourselves. Yes, we would rather—then, you see, we would rather not be dependent on Him. Even though we are…for everything. Sun, rain, and crops. But the very core of the sinful flesh says that it is better if we could not have to be…that if we can do it all ourselves, we will. We are desperate to. Not that that is possible. Not that that will ever happen. So, do you? Do we, His elect…His chosen people—chosen By His Word in Water a few days after we were born—for most of us anyway—do we bring everything to God in prayer…as the hymn says…as we are told to do? Are you dependent on Him? Be so. You see, Jesus is giving us permission. Even if our evil hearts were to be right about God—that His is uncaring—it is not even close to being true—but even if somehow life, the devil, the world and our own flesh have convinced us that this is the case—even… …even then by our constant prayer He will answer. He says so. Read the Gospel text. So do it. Ask. Ask and it will be given to you…pressed down and overflowing with His goodness to you. Yes, you say, but we don't see that…any of that…even when we have prayed. We have seen the opposite. My mother died of cancer. The twin towers fell in New York. That bridge in Minneapolis… Yes, but who says—dares to say—that this is not a just and good answer? You can't see it? We don't, but justice says sins get punished. Good against real evil. God against sin and sinners. Yet, for us… all of that still does not matter…because He will answer, rescue, save despite all the long list many have against Him—with even that—with each of those on that list. It will be fixed and taken care of. Jesus has, and will, is, in fact doing so right now. Jesus is judging sin, paying for sin, dying for sin…and thus procuring our release…healing the very universe. That is an answer. That is THE answer that answers everything. That—He is—the best answer to prayer. All things will work for the good of those called by God. This is His purpose. This is justice met. This is all we need. Everything is in that—in Jesus coming to earth, living a perfect life for us and dying for all sin, then rising again so that we will too. Prayer answered. Depend on it. Yet, that is not all. He still answers prayer here and now. Even the small stuff… He delivers out of danger, heals sickness, keeps buildings from falling and even helps get you a job, a house a car…a wife and children…cattle, crops…all things. Truly! And you and I don't even know the least of it. We have no idea how many tight spots He and His sent angles have gotten us out of. Or how many times we have not been punished for our sins. Those many times we have escaped death, missed horrible accidents because He said NO! And all this even when we had not asked. Ah,
I remember an art teacher telling me that at the start of his teaching career, he tried to get his students to understand perspective. You know—getting 2-dimentional pictures to look 3-D. He said he failed at first, until he figured out that they did not even know the need for presepective in their pictures. No one notices…not until they try.
Luther was a slave to sin and he knew it. So, he went into the monastery to try and beat it out of himself—literally. With a whip. With fasting. With praying eight times a day.
I have often wondered how many people think these Words—lots of what the Bible says—were meant ONLY for those whom they were written to. That they don't really apply to us today.
Be Honest And Say It Like It Is Luke 12:49–56
In Christ we are arrayed like one who has not toiled, woven, spun…sown, adorned or even picked out what we are covered with.
This preacher though—King Solomon…is speaking God's Word here…to His people—and to the church of both Old and New…to us.
We can divide people into two groups. The ones that are IN and the WANA-BE's. But that of course is from our view of things. What some call the natural order. The way we would make it all work—survival of the fittest and all that.
And so, though this… being in Him…He made us into fishers of men. Sinners to help bring back sinners from exile…to lead sinners away from idols to worship the One True God…
You know when, in the Lord's Prayer, we ask our Father to deliver us from evil? The King James has "evil one" instead.
Do You Know Who Is Visiting Us Today 11 Afterward he was on his way to a town called Nain. His disciples and a large crowd were traveling with him. 12 Just as he neared the gate of the town, a dead man was being carried out. He was his mother's only son, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the town was also with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said, "Don't weep." 14 Then he came up and touched the open coffin, and the pallbearers stopped. And he said, "Young man, I tell you, get up!" 15 The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. 16 Then fear came over everyone, and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen among us," and "God has visited his people." 17 This report about him went throughout Judea and all the vicinity. Luke 7:11–17 I want to start by emphasizing part of verse sixteen—"God has visited His people" What would go through your mind if you were to have a patrol car pull in front of your house and two officers come up to knock on your door? How about your boss walking into your office and closing the door behind him? There is a line in an old song that talks about the taxman com'in a'knock'in. In war time the last thing parents—or wives—want to see is that unmarked car pull-up and a couple of well-dressed military men get out and ring the doorbell. All of these visits are ominous. Many consider a visit from God to be like this. Even the gentle Jesus, as some portray Him… only to be. Why? Why would Jesus coming for a visit be ominous? Because He never leaves things as they were. Jesus revealed sin in the heart, when many only look to outward action… like many of the religious sort… So…how religious are you? What did Jesus do when He visited the so-called pious? He called them out. He called them nicely painted graves, full of dead men's bones. He took time to make a whip and threw some of them, out of His Father's house for doing what they called church business there. How many in our day, consider prosperity, growth, and numbers to be marks of a good Church? Are we moneychangers? Does this place become somewhere to show social position—or religiousness… rather than a sanctuary for refugees of a real spiritual war? This spiritual war we are in not only kills the soul, but the body as well. If it were not so, the young man in our text would not have died. The church is supposed to be a place to find help—a place to call out in our need, in prayer.It is not a place to show how much we—to show anything off…anything other than our sin—to admit our condition— TO HIM… And this … SO AS TO BE FORGIVEN. Yet DO WE compare—our car to the one you pull in next to in the church lot…. Do you wonder about those people in the pew in front of you? Why are THEY here? And MY kids…never, of course, made THAT kind of noise when they were in church! Did you know that Jesus cursed a fig tree because it did not produce fruit. So, can we show Him all the great fruit stored away to our merit? Now, do you know what He expects of you? He says that it is not just a matter of our doing wrong. It's that we do not even do what is right. Simple, common stuff is left undone—day in and day out—hour-to-hour. Do you want Him making a list? How detailed can He get with that? Minute-by-minute… or how about second-by-second? How uncaring, lazy and selfish have we been? All those things left undone! Do you know that this is really the same as hating, stealing, and killing. This is what we are about. Yes, by leaving these things undone, we do these other. Depraved indifference is a crime… "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them." So, Jesus coming to visit… means the truth about us and these… no covering up when He is around…. He points to the corruption and sin of the heart—FIRST.
This has all to do with that fact that the first shall be last, and the last first. It has to do with not just presuming and taking the place of honor, but rather sitting far down the table…
This is a very familiar passage of Scripture—our Gospel lesson. Most of us know it by heart—John 3:16, but is it too familiar?
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