St. Timothy Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lombard Illinois Podcast. This podcast contains sermons from our worship services.
St. Timothy Evangelical Lutheran Church
Jesus tells us in our text that, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
Just what has sin brought—what have we brought into the world? Diseases and sicknesses of all sorts. They hurt us and, yes, kill us.
False Prophets 15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'Matthew 7:15-23 In these last days... …there are people...baptized people...who deny Jesus' divinity...deny the whole idea of His atoning sacrifice for sin... Slandering the Triune God by...well, with all sorts of explanations...for who God is...or isn't… They declare the Bible to be just so many fables. These are the wolves in wolves clothing. We can easily tell. If and when a person blasphemes God, he undoubtedly has lost the true faith from his heart...if there was any there…and has turned away… And from those we can protect ourselves…these are easily spotted prophets of the devil. But these are not what Jesus is warning about in our text. No, Jesus is talking about the most dangerous kinds of false prophets…those who look pretty good…do pretty good…preach what seems to be pretty good stuff. When Satan wants to lead Christians astray, he disguises himself as an angel of light. If the wolf wants to get in close to the flock, he wears sheep skins…. True prophets, Jesus is saying, appeal…point to…and insist on God's Word in all the doctrines they proclaim. Yet, even so…a prophet who does so…teaching nothing but pure doctrine from the Bible…still he should not be quickly taken as a true prophet. St. Paul commends the Bereans for listening, but more fort going home to compare all that he said with Holy Scripture. Be wary Jesus says. He may still yet be a wolf in wooly white… As…heretics always appeal to Scripture. Even the devil himself, when trying to temp Jesus says: “For it is written… (Luke 4:10). But our Lord answered him, with Scripture. Just because the Bible is held out…used…pointed to…care is still needed. Let it sit awhile. Think on it. Go home, like the Bereans…check out what the rest of the Bible says on the subject. Mull it over… And soon it will be shown to be what it is…whether the preacher should be believed. And another thing… True prophets do not appoint to themselves. Instead, they are rightly called to their office by the congregation… …and no one ought to reject him because he has appealed to it…just as Paul did to his apostolic office. God has assigned him to it. It is valid. He can and should point that out, when the need arises. But we are not to be deceived here either. Is the office used…as sheep's clothing? It can be. That call and the place he is called from…and the training received can be right and good, but the doctrine can be false. If those who are rightly trained, sent, and called turn out to be wolves, Jesus orders us to flee from them. Now…we have to also say that True prophets walk in godly ways. Examples to their flocks. If we see a preacher walk around in outward piety and holiness…who are friendly toward everyone…gentle toward those who offend him…charitable to the poor…helpful to those who are in misery and misfortune… Constant and faithful in the ministry...he should not be rejected. But we must still be wary…because these too can be a mask. The life of anyone can be blameless before men…but if his philosophy, theology, and world-view be off…not Scriptural… What good is that to himself or to others? Good men go to hell. Good men lead others there too. The best of them. If they do not have Christ, and Him crucified and risen, and proclaim this…believe this…then all the rest amounts to nothing. All the rest is only good if it comes from a true and right faith…from right teaching. If not, a wolf lurks inside. … and dangerous because people will be taken in and tempted to follow somebody like this. All the best intensions of everyone…of course… but still it all points to the same place. Damnation. What about the gifted preacher? God can and will give great gifts to His prophets. They can shake people out of slumber by the thunder of the Law. They can soothe and console…with the sweet Gospel. They can show their knowledge of all the doctrines of the Bible. They may also be great apologists and refute all the arguments the world can throw at them. But again…false prophets also can have great natural gifts. Ever hear Hitler speak? Preach is more like it. Even if you know no German… He moved people! He still does. There are modern Nazis…and they watch their master…are motivated by him. Be cautious. No matter how great they appear…do not let yourselves be deceived. So now what? This is great that our Lord has warned us, but what are we to do? What's to be done? How do we proceed with caution? God's Word. Read it. Study it. Memorize it. Talk about it. Discuss it. Do the same with our Lutheran Confession in the Book of Concord. Yes…question. Question what you hear….what you see out there…what you see and hear...even in this place… …so really, don't just take my word for it. You are the Baptized Children of God, who have the gift of the Holy Spirit. He promises to bring light to our path…to be here to guide and lead. Jesus is your Savior. Yes, even from these tricksters and charlatans. Even from our own stupidity. He is the Savior of the church. He does not pull us out of sin and vice and just dump us at the front door of a church…and leave us on our own. No, because He knows...and we all know that His church gets into messes. His church gets confused and misled. In fact, that is where the devil attacks the most. He wants us back. He is miffed that God saved us from him. So, we need saving even more, then! And that is what Jesus promised to do…is doing…and will do. We are not left as orphans. We are never without Him. He will not let anyone take us out of His hand. But He wants us to have and know…to use and to repeat what He says. He allows these false prophets to come and speak...so that we do not rely on our own abilities, but rather are sent right back to His Word. That we find our comfort there. Our assurance there. From it we come to know Him, in truth and purity...and find that we always are dependent...are getting what we need from this...from Him…alone. This is His way with us. His Word is the source…and the means by which He does all things…especially in His Church. By it He puts on us the whole armor of God—and it's in here...this is done...by hearing...by being washed and then eating and drinking His Word… Him… And so, His Word is for us the very source and the means by which we also are to do all things. Make it your own. Come and hear. Listen. Imbibe. Breathe it all in...and then breathe it out. Live in it and by it, because He has and is the Word of Eternal life, given for you and for me. Amen.
If we hear and take to heart our Gospel lesson...that was just read to us...and wonder if the fruit we bear...is good or not...
Man does not live on bread alone… A bad metaphor? Why…because Jesus had crowds following Him? Okay, but not for long…
This is something to tell people. I mean, those Pharisees were pretty good at doing church and church stuff.
Not A Whistleblower, A Failure Matthew 25:14-30
June 3, 2026 Compline Mesage Wednesday Night Compline Service Message from June 10, 2026
Some have thought that this story in Luke's Gospel to be just another one of Jesus' parables... But it does not begin that way...not the way Luke will say: "He spoke by a parable," and Jesus does not end it with "he who has ears, let him hear..." either.
June 3, 2026 Compline Mesage Wednesday Night Compline Service Message from June 3, 2026
Why would Nicodemus come to Jesus like this--at night...in secret?
This day celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit and the establishment of the New Testament church on earth... But... What has happened since?
Why does Jesus rebuke them...or us for not believing...and notice it was not believing when seeing, but believing THE REPORT...THE MESSAGE...THE WORD...THE WORD OF PROMISE here...?
St. James is telling us a reality of the Christian life. He is repeating the idea that Jesus talked about earlier. Jesus says there were two sons. Their father asked them to go and work for Him. One said yes, but did not go. The other said no, but changed his mind and went and did.
Isaiah is speaking about us, this day. We ARE giving thanks today…
Sometimes, though...we just cannot see...this...see Him... Right? These times… in our lives… in life… we cannot see any good, any hope...anything...for the future. We cannot hold up, as Jeremiah states.
Who is wounded now? Jesus. Yes, He is. But wait, isn't He healed and alive and risen from the dead to never die again…to be without pain, suffering…
You look and see Him…on the cross…dead. Your sins are paid for. You are free to go…to go about your business…to now live—a life…to be…to do. But what do we do?
God knows we weren't built for a sinful world, but here we are, like the Hebrews in Egypt.
It is a sad thing that we will cheer and carry on over a football game...more readily...more exuberantly... Many are even willing to appear pretty nuts...foolish... With the face paint...body paint even…costumes...and whatnot....
No Wiggle Room 46 Who among you can convict me of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me? 47 The one who is from God listens to God's words. This is why you don't listen, because you are not from God.” 48 The Jews responded to him, “Aren't we right in saying that you're a Samaritan and have a demon?” 49 “I do not have a demon,” Jesus answered. “On the contrary, I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 50 I do not seek my own glory; there is one who seeks it and judges. 51 Truly I tell you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” 52 Then the Jews said, “Now we know you have a demon. Abraham died and so did the prophets. You say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.' 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham who died? And the prophets died. Who do you claim to be?” 54 “If I glorify myself,” Jesus answered, “my glory is nothing. My Father—about whom you say, ‘He is our God'—he is the one who glorifies me. 55 You do not know him, but I know him. If I were to say I don't know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him, and I keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad.” 57 The Jews replied, “You aren't fifty years old yet, and you've seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.” 59 So they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus was hidden and went out of the temple.John 8:46–59 So many think that Jesus is this gentle, mild-mannered man that never raised His voice, was always politically correct, was interested in only helping minorities and... …was just plain nice... Really? Yes, and there are all sorts of other versions of Jesus... like this one... running around... out there.... in people's minds... And… when you hear the words, "Now what would Jesus do?" What does… come to mind? What are people getting at? It is usually not the Jesus of the Bible, that they are asking we emulate. What does Jesus do? He Judges. He condemns. He is a surgeon with a very precise hand, cutting away with a very sharp knife... … the many things we hold dear... the many things we would like to keep... But He never compromises...He never gives one inch to sin coddlers...or their sin...of any kind. Yes, He comes for sinners...and yes...to forgive sinners... But that is not the same thing as people think. First...He judges...and this all the time... ...and when He says not to judge...it is not what people are quoting Him for. No, Jesus gives no one... any wiggle room! None! In fact, He presses the Law more than anyone else. That Law, that Jesus preached...and taught...and insisted upon... … was not just about what we did... with our hands... outwardly... No, it was about what we conceive inwardly...in our minds and hearts. What did you dream of? What did you want and desire? What secrets were we harboring? Jesus tells us that even if we don't actually do any of that...what we wanted to do...what we thought about...fantasized about... According to God, we have, in fact already had done it. So... no... there is no wiggle room...to slink away with...then. No... there is no wiggle room to escape justice… then. None! We are what we are...what He says we are... And we know it...even if we are not sure of the details of our case...but...be sure...He does. So, when we encounter this Jesus, understand that this IS the real one...our Jesus...the same Jesus...as He always was...is and will be. This is the Jesus who preaches the unfiltered...non-watered down Law. Who passes judgment on our...and all sin. And we CAN say...as so many do...all manner of things about Him. We can call Him insane...a megalomaniac who thinks He is God, a magician...in league with the devil...a fake...or just another would-be religion maker. Or we can ignore the Bible and come up with our on own version of Jesus as so many also do. But when we meet Him in the Bible, we meet Him as the Word of God who uses His Word as a mirror to show us who we are and how we measure up to God's...His... Jesus' standards. And we either face these standards...and our lack of measuring up to them, or we do what most people do... ...remain unconverted and head right into hell. But make no mistake about it, when He points the finger...He is pointing it at me...at you...and at everyone. So...stop then...stop trying to justify yourself. Stop trying to find legal loopholes. Stop trying to re-interpret what He is condemning us for...as something other than just what it is: Sin...wrong...and destructive. Accept it. There is no way out of His verdict of our guilt. What is the best thing to be done, then? Plead guilty. Let His Word turn us around. Let Him cut you...let Him cut as deep as needed to bring His healing process. Well...but that would kill me! Well...yeah! That it will. That is how bad we are. We need to be killed. He needs to kill us...and that is exactly what He is doing to us... ...all so that He can resurrect us without that which He is condemning us for...what He is condemning us to death for. All so that we will end up without our disease. That is the purpose of the Law. To Kill us. In the end it will kill us all. It must. There is no way to rise again healed unless we let Him do this...kill us. He will not compromise. There is no other way. We cannot do better...ever! We cannot make up for any of it, no matter how hard we try. Humankind cannot be rehabilitated. We have to put down. Each and every one. So go ahead. Pharisee. Go ahead follower of the devil...and you are if you hold to any of his lies. And we do... Go ahead, adulterer...fornicator...sodomite...pornographer... Go ahead, murderer, gossip...thief... ...coveter...idolater... You who are stingy and inhospitable... You who are despisers of God's House...preaching and His Word. Go ahead and plead guilty. Let Him stop and kill all of that in you...as He must do...same as in me. Yes...let Him change your mind. Accept His declaration of all of it...as being as evil, damnable sin. What is left then...? … dead and dying ground that He plants saving faith in... Because He has already been condemned, punished and killed for all of those sins listed...and for any that were not. He has stepped in and took your place at the executioner's head-chopping block...firing range...lethal injection table. He has already been blamed for all that you are and all that you do...and… in eternity He did the time in the dark black cell. What is left then? What do you do now? Contrary … yes we are to be contrary… to all that is listed above... Yet this can only be done IN HIM...within His walls...under and by His Grace and Mercy...and only because of the Freedom He gives through the Gospel...in the Gospel...by the Gospel.... That is, only by and in... because of...and in the midst of Him... with His things… Where He gives them… by His Word... Which is the same thing...for us...right now. Only a person forgiven of a crime can know what forgiveness is...can walk away free. Only a person who is forgiven a life-time of evil, guilt and shame...can know true forgiveness...and really be free. If in our condition, we think we are already free...free to do what we please because we have decided what is good and right for us to do... We are bound up tight in a very dark place. And we will remain there if we refuse His sentence...His Judgment... The Son must set you free. Then and only then are you in fact. But it is only again ever so in Him...in Christ...with Him... You in Him and He in you forever. That is the true human condition. We are only what we were meant to be...what we were created to be...in that state. We were made to be companions of God...together. We cannot even be true companions to each other unless it is with Him too. As one pastor said once, plead guilty so that you can be acquitted and go and live forever with the judge. That is the only way out of all of this. He is the ONLY Way...the ONLY Truth...and the ONLY Life...no one gets to the Father...the Judge...the King...but in this way. And He is offering. It is a limited time offer. It only lasts as long as your life...or as long as the world lasts...whatever comes...or I should say, goes first. So yes, you are guilty. Yes, you are facing a death and an eternal life sentence. But Jesus is offering you complete forgiveness without any strings. To make you truly human...like He is...the way you were created to be: Living, breathing, running, singing...laughing... Forever... Forever to live in His House and...out into the wide open fields...at play...as a child of God. It is yours right now. Amen.
What if Jesus came back today for a look see at our fruit? What fruit is He looking for?
Prayer is a funny thing. I mean odd...not laughable...although....to hear some of my prayers... When put on the spot… and yours…
The Kingdom Has Come Upon Us 14 Now he was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon came out, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were amazed. 15 But some of them said, "He drives out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons." 16 And others, as a test, were demanding of him a sign from heaven. 17 Knowing their thoughts, he told them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is headed for destruction, and a house divided against itself falls. 18 If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say I drive out demons by Beelzebul. 19 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? For this reason they will be your judges. 20 If I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his estate, his possessions are secure. 22 But when one stronger than he attacks and overpowers him, he takes from him all his weapons he trusted in, and divides up his plunder. 23 Anyone who is not with me is against me, and anyone who does not gather with me scatters. 24 "When an unclean spirit comes out of a person, it roams through waterless places looking for rest, and not finding rest, it then says, 'I'll go back to my house that I came from.' 25 Returning, it finds the house swept and put in order. 26 Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and settle down there. As a result, that person's last condition is worse than the first." 27 As he was saying these things, a woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to him, "Blessed is the womb that bore you and the one who nursed you!" 28 He said, "Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it."Luke 11:14-28 [CSB] Whatever argument you hear...whatever logic is, was and will be applied...whatever other explanation is given... For all THIS--for what we are and what we do in this place...as well as everything else that makes up the church militant on earth... a place like this… right smack in the presence of the all and every nay-sayer, detractor, unbeliever, and out-right dangerous enemy... We say to them, and to our wavering and weak faith... 20But if it is by the finger of God that [Jesus] cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. But what really has been brought about? What happened to the universe a little over 2,000 years ago? What has been given to it...to us...placed here...put into our lives...? You see, it is either true or it is not. As St. Paul says, if this is not all true, then we are to be pitied above everyone else. And I mean ALL TRUE. As it holds together. It fits and works only one way. If it is by Grace through faith, then it is not of works...not of our doing...not a choice...not because we are this or that...or good...or able... Else, we are still in the place everyone else is...in the same lost condition...DEAD IN OUR SINS says St. Paul...because we have… …and always will fail. If you cannot trust the Creation accounts. If there is doubt whether Jesus was born of a virgin... If we question the miracles that He did… Or if He was really dead… and then rose on the third day... If Jesus was only a man and not God… Then nothing else is True...and we should just give up now ...walk away... go home... eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die and... So, all of it MUST...BE...TRUE! HAS to be...for any part of it to be true. Well… because then nothing is really done, or left undone...or really matters in the end... NO…NOT AT ALL...NOT ONE BIT. So, all those people who ignore a part of Scripture...say its is merely a cultural thing and God does not mean it to apply to us... …or worse! …and say that NO PART is the WORD of God... Should just toss out the whole Bible then... as it will and cannot do anyone any good… No… not unless all of it is God's Word. Jesus' point about the devil applies to God's own kingdom. If it is divided...if it is not whole and consistent...if He says one thing at one time and something else entirely...or the opposite… at another... It all falls apart… and there is no sure place for faith to stand on...no foundation to build a life or church upon...and then… … there is not much hope...if anything...if anything is left... And it is even weaker… than if we went with trying to work hard...trying to be good enough... As everyone agrees that God wants us to be moral and to help our neighbors... Well...at least we thought so...at least people used to think that way...and told everyone that people ought to be decent... But whatever the current cultural moral climate... that a few move...even a little...move in that direction... try to be decent and good for a change… And when it looks like it... (that there is a nice corner of sunshine) it ends up being just surface stuff for the most part...that never lasts too long ... 20But if it is by the finger of God... If Holy Baptism does save... If Holy Absolution does declare… THERE AND THEN… that our sins are forgiven...and it is so because of those Words proclaimed… RIGHT there and then… to us and for us... If the Words of Scripture from Law...kills...and the Words of Scripture from the Gospel produces faith for eternal life... If these Words of God preached to you here and now...bring you to salvation... If the Words of the Liturgy, taken from Scripture...if the Hymns sung containing the Law and the Gospel... If the Body and Blood of Jesus, with the bread and wine, DO forgive sins, bring and strengthen faith... ...then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Did God really say? Yes… YES! He said all that! … and it is ALL TRUE! And it must ALL BE BELIEVED to be of value. Because that is how the Kingdom of God has come upon you...and me....and on into the world after Jesus rose from the dead. He is the Word made flesh… and He then...after rising to fill the universe in that flesh and blood body...sends it into the Church, to be read and heard...to be put into Water, bread and Wine... So that it continues to keep coming upon us... That is why Jesus told that woman...the one paying Him that supposedly wonderful compliment--to Him and His mother Mary... 27As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” Jesus says...wait...no Lady, not really...because really the truth is: “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” Because even the other Mary could not hold onto Jesus after He rose from the grave. Remember that? In John 20:17, Jesus tells her she cannot... Or rather it would not do her any good that way... Better to hold onto Him in Word and Sacrament--after He ascended...because He will send the comforter...the Holy Spirit to bring Him.. Jesus to her...and to us... As there is where He comes to us...all the time...comes upon us...goes to the very core of us...and remains... And this through the Inspired Word of God...heard and believed...and kept, as His mother did... Remember? She stored up all those things said about Jesus in her heart. Keeping God's Word is less about doing works, than believing it with the faith provided in its hearing. No, rather keeping His Word is hearing and then taking it to heart, believing it. That is what turns into action. This is done over our entire lives. Read. Hear. Believe. Think about. Meditate upon it...working it about...working through... And believing...and repeating this again...then confessing it as true...to and with those around you... Then this is what causes us to act upon it...in the way God prescribes. We must become Biblically minded...heart filled with His Word people...believing what He says...before we can apply it and ever do it. And this is the finger of God in each of our lives. This is how the devil is thrown out… and this is how... the kingdom of God has come upon you. It has, this very day! Amen.
…do this and you will live…who me? Who...you? I don't think so…as no matter how hard we try… we fail…and so… What is failure? Sin. What is earned by sinning? Death.
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?
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