January 31-Epiphany 4-St. Luke 4:21-32

‘Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.’ (Ps. 19:14) Amen.

‘Grace, mercy and peace will be with you, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love.’ (2 John 3) Amen.

‘And they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority.’ (V. 32)

This word, authority, carries a special meaning. We may not get what Luke is really trying to tell us when we hear or read our translations. Here is a story to illustrate this fact.

E. V. Rieu was a distinguished British scholar, well known for his translations of the works of Homer into English. After a time, this man was asked by his publisher to translate the Gospels. This happened when this scholar was at the age of sixty. He had a lifelong agnostic, that is, he refused to choose whether there was a God or not. He agreed in spite of this to try his hand at translating the Gospels.

At this time, E. V. Rieu’s son stated, “It will be interesting to see what father makes of the four gospels. It will be even more interesting to see what the four gospels make of father”. What a curious statement!

Within a year, Dr. Rieu was converted to Christianity. He observed, “I got the deepest feeling that the whole material was extraordinarily alive. My work changed me. I came to the conclusion that these words bear the seal of the Son of Man and God.” Again, what a curious statement. So, why was it that the people in Capernaum, after Jesus was run out of Nazareth, found Jesus’ teaching to be remarkable?

This story tells us what Luke meant by the word translated as ‘authority’. The words of Jesus, the words of the Gospels that is, are extraordinarily alive. So, let’s explore a bit of that teaching.

‘And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?”’ (Vv. 21-2)

So, Jesus tells the people of His hometown that the Messiah had come. The words of Isaiah (Is. 60:1, 2) were fulfilled in their hearing. That is, what Jesus preached was what that Old Testament text spoke about. This statement that ‘“Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”’ (V. 21) was simply a first sentence to what Jesus preached that day. Because this was all so remarkable to the people, Jesus went on to explain what He meant by this statement.

On this day and later on, the people would hear Jesus preaching good news, proclaiming freedom and the year of the Lord’s favor (Vv. 18, 19). So Jesus must in this way be the One that Isaiah spoke of. Jesus is telling the people, and you, that He is the Savior sent to save us sinners from sin and damnation by dying in your place. This preaching was not meant simply to convince minds but more importantly, win hearts.

Luke tells us that these Jews thought Jesus’ words were ‘gracious’, which is only to say that the words sounded good to them. In other words, Jesus sounded to these Jews as if he were a smooth talking huckster. We can see this from how they object. They complain that He is Joseph’s son.

What they are telling us as hearers is that, well, this guy can’t be the Messiah. He must be lying to us because we know where He comes from. We know who this is, they thought that when the Messiah came they would not know where He came from. They did not expect Jesus to be the One because they had grown up with him. These Jews only went as far as their eyes would take them.

Some of us are like this with the subject of Chemistry. It is hard for some students to grasp the subject of chemistry because they cannot actually see what is being studied. We can see a rabbit; we can handle it and dissect it. We cannot do the same thing with an oxygen atom or water molecule. These Jews could not comprehend that which they could not handle and see for themselves.

We have this problem even today. We cannot get our sinful minds to go beyond the idea that Jesus is more than simply a great teacher, a good example. We cannot see that He really is the Son of God. So His words amaze us. This teacher speaks with authority. Christians are different. You and I are not different because of some great thing within us. Rather, we are only different from the world because of the faith created in our hearts by the Holy Spirit (SC II: 3rd part). This faith comes not from seeing but by hearing. (Rom. 10:17; St. Jn. 20:29) You and I too need to be on our guard against letting our reason or the outward appearance, as the world describes it, from getting in the way of faith in Jesus and God’s sure promises.

‘And he said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Physician, heal yourself.’ What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.” And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown.”’ (Vv. 23-24)

Jesus knew what the people were thinking. He could probably tell just by watching their expressions. It was understandably hard for these men to understand and accept what Jesus said because they had either seen Him grow from a boy into a man or they had grown to manhood right beside Him. We have the same problem. We have this problem when someone who grew up in our hometown returns and tells us fantastic things. We most especially have the same problem with Jesus as these people. Our sinful reason thinks, “How can this be? He is just a man.”

Again, we see these people viewing Jesus as just another kind of entertainment. A huckster come to entertain them with wild and amazing stunts. They wanted Jesus to show off to them by doing miracles like He had done in Capernaum. After all, Nazareth was Jesus’ hometown. They should get some pride of place. What they are doing is testing Jesus. They are demanding proof that they might believe Him. We might find ourselves doing the same thing. Don’t we from time to time demand a sign? Especially when God does not seem to be near? Sometimes we require of God that He prove He still exists. For in this “real world”, so-called, God must play to our demands. What a bunch of arrogant clay flower and water pots (see also, Is. 45:9; 64:8) we are.

‘[Jesus said:] “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Physician, heal yourself.’”’ (V. 23) We, with these listeners to Jesus’ preaching, are the ones in need of healing. You and I are the ones with deadly sores and we are the ones demanding to tell the Physician how to go about His work.

Jesus tells these people something else. He tells them that a prophet, including Himself, is not welcome in his hometown. For this reason, a pastor is not usually sent to the place that He grew up. As we see from Jesus’ experience, the called one of God sent to preach, whether prophet or pastor, is still apt to be second-guessed. This in spite of the pastor getting what he is saying from the Bible. This set up is hard for the faith of both the hearers and the preacher.

Often when a preacher speaks in his hometown, it is like what happens to Jesus, the people refuse to believe. These people at Nazareth still treat Jesus like the little boy they remember and they think He does not know any more than they do.

‘When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down a cliff. But passing through their midst, he went away.’ (Vv. 28-30)

How do these people react when they hear the preaching of the Gospel? What happens when Jesus tells them what He meant by saying, ‘“Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing”’? (V. 21) They are furious. The Gospel often angers people because it does not tell us what we want to hear.

We may threaten or demand from God that He do what we wish, when we wish. Yet, God will not humor us in this. God, in Jesus, tells us what we need to hear. He never tells us what we want to hear. The only way that you hear what you want to hear in the true preaching of the Gospel is because of the power of the Holy Spirit working faith in your heart. Praise God that you do hear what you want to hear! If you did not, then would be the time to fear.

It is as the Psalmist tells us, our wickedness is without limit. We do not see that our iniquity can be found out by God. In spite of any attempt made by you or me to hide (Gen. 2, 3). And yet, over against this, God continues to love each of us. Though we are sinful, He continues to lavish us with His love through Jesus. Even when on our part, we do not want to believe the gospel. (St. Lk. 16:31)

‘Transgression speaks to the wicked
deep in his heart;
there is no fear of God before his eyes.
For he flatters himself in his own eyes
That his iniquity cannot be found out and hated. …
How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on the abundance of your house,
and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light do we see light.’
Ps. 36:1-2, 7-9

In Jesus’+ Name. Amen.

+Funeral Sermon for Gordon M.+

‘Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.’ (Ps. 19:14) Amen.

‘Grace, mercy and peace will be with you, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love.’ (2 John 3) Amen.

Gordon was a steadfast man. He continued to farm no matter what life through at him. In spite of many setbacks in his life, Gordon continued to farm. He continued farming in spite of the injuries that this work gave him. He continued until he became ill.

Gordon spent his entire life in the country around Odessa. Gordon farmed on the same farm that he was born on. He was born there and he spent his entire life on. He farmed on the same farm through which, our loving heavenly Father provided for him, his wife Delores and for the raising of six children. As the hymn we just sang told us, we have a friend in Jesus.

Gordon had that same friend in Jesus. What is more, because of Gordon’s baptism out at Immanuel, Yellowbank, he had an older brother in Jesus. Because we have been baptized, we who trust in Jesus for our salvation are now baptized into God’s family (Gal. 4:4-7). Because of this close relationship that our God gave to Gordon, Gordon was able to go about his life with quite confidence. Gordon knew where he was going and so the fears and worries of this life in the end did not matter.

‘Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”’ (Vv. 28-30)

These words of Jesus seem to be made for Gordon. With the injuries from machinery and animals that he received while working his farm, Gordon seemed to be one who was heavy laden. For those who are toiling and burdened, there are no greater words than this. Jesus gives us the chance not only for rest but also for restoration. When we rest in Jesus, as He tells us to do here, we are able to “rest up”.

So, Gordon rested in his Savior.

Gordon rested in Jesus and received peace. So, he could go about being a husband and father all while working the home farm. Gordon enjoyed playing baseball and boxing and other sports. Even when his body would no longer allow him to be a player, Gordon continued to be involved in baseball by working as an umpire.

In these past-times and in other leisure activities that Gordon enjoyed, he was able to enjoy life. Gordon was free from any nagging worry as to what would happen once he passed on and left this life. Gordon knew what kind of God he worshipped. Gordon knew what his God had promised to do for him through Jesus. In Jesus, Gordon, and you and me and all those who trust in Jesus for our salvation, we have all been given peace. Your yoke is easy and your burden is light also because of Jesus. In Jesus we are taught to ‘in lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself’ (Phil. 2:3).

So, because we have been given that Life in Christ, your yoke is easy and light.

This idea of a lowliness of mind which counts the other better than oneself and therefore we show Christ to the other through our actions. This idea was not one that Jesus’ listeners would have seen as a good thing. Humility was then seen as servility. It was Jesus who made humility a virtue. Jesus teaches us each to be humble and because of the salvation that He has given to us through faith in Him. So, we can be humble so as to win others to that same gift of faith and trust in Jesus. To win others to that same confidence of where we will remain for all eternity. Heaven.

You too can live your life as one who knows where you are going. That is, you are then going to heaven with Jesus to live forever.

In Jesus’+ Name. Amen.

January 24-Epiphany 3-St. Luke 4:14-21

‘Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.’ (Ps. 19:14) Amen.

‘Grace, mercy and peace will be with you, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love.’ (2 John 3) Amen.

‘And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him.’ (V. 17)

Does this sound at all familiar?

It should. Think about it. What happens every Christmas Day service? Or every Ash Wednesday or every Good Friday or every Easter? Do we hear the same Gospel lessons each year? Well, yes. As you know probably better than I do, when Easter comes, you will hear about the Resurrection of our Lord. When we came up to Christmas Day, if we had had that service, we all would have heard a reading from the Gospel of Luke. It would have been the same one as last year, and the year before and the year before.

So, what is happening here? Jesus showed up in Nazareth on a specific day in the church calendar for the Jewish people. He knew what would be the reading for that Sabbath. Now, often when we hear such things as this, we are tempted to give it some supernatural reason for this particular passage from the prophet to be given to Jesus to read.

Remember though, the Jews had a set series of readings from God’s Word given to them to read from each Sabbath service. Just as with us, we have an idea of what we will hear when we go to church and that Sunday’s readings are given. There is a set group of Gospel lessons that tend to come up each year during the season of Epiphany. The Jews had certain texts that would be expected each Sunday.

There may have been something of the divine power of Jesus in action here. It is just as likely that because Jesus, in His human-ness, like us heard the same readings each church service knew what He would be given to read that day. So, Jesus chose that day to announce His ministry in His hometown.

Jesus reads the appointed lesson for the day and then He sat down in order to teach the assembled people. Now, Jesus was a visiting Rabbi, a famous one at that, He probably brought in a larger crowd of believers and unbelievers than the regular Rabbi would have. It was the custom when a Rabbi visited a congregation; it was expected for Him to teach. As Luke said, it was Jesus habit to go and teach in the Synagogue on the Sabbath. If He did not want to teach, Jesus would not have shown up.

Yet, as has always been the case in the true Church through all ages, Jesus teaches us by His attendance at services, that this is where the gifts of God are given out. This is where you and I need to be in order to receive the blessing of God and know that we will receive it. Our Savior is free to bless His children in the places of His choosing. However, we are bound to the services of the church because that is where our Savior tells us in His word that His gifts are given out in Word and Sacrament. So, Jesus goes with everyone else to the place these gifts are given out.

‘And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.’ (Vv. 14-15)

Even before this appearance of Jesus in the Nazareth synagogue, however, Jesus is already famous. He returned after His baptism and temptation filled with the Holy Spirit. And it is true of Jesus what He reads from the prophet Isaiah: ‘“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.’ (V. 18; Is. 61:1)

Just as in a different manner, the same Spirit is upon you as one of the Father’s baptized children. So in those few words, Luke establishes the pattern for Jesus’ ministry. He traveled first around the region of Galilee filled with the Holy Spirit and preaching. Jesus became increasingly famous and He used the synagogues as a means to teach the people. In this preaching the power of the Holy Spirit was in Christ like He still is in you and me. That power is described by Luke as like dynamite. We all have an idea of that. We have either seen its use in removing massive boulders or heard about it in the work of mining and road construction.

The power of the Holy Spirit in the work of Christ must have been an incredible thing to behold!

Yet, remember that there is a bit more of Isaiah in what I earlier quoted. After all, Jesus reads ‘“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.’ (V. 18; Is. 61:1) The Gospel is foremost for this group. The Gospel of the Good News of salvation is for the poor. As Matthew tells us in his account of the Sermon on the Mount, ‘blessed are the poor in spirit’ (St. Mt. 5:1-12).

It is these poor that Jesus is also speaking about. These may be poor in worldly wealth, but that is not what the prophet or Jesus is primarily concerned about. The ‘poor in spirit’ could just as easily be blessed with very great material wealth. The poor of Isaiah’s prophecy here are those who recognize their own sinfulness and need for a Savior. Considering you are all here on a Sunday morning and not sleeping in or preparing for the Viking’s game later today, you are the one’s that our Old Testament lesson and Jesus speak of.

‘He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down.’ (Vv. 18-20)

Jesus gives at the end of our lesson the stunning proclamation, ‘“Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”’ (V. 21) Because now in this latter half of the reading from Isaiah, we hear of the mission that Jesus is now working on. That mission, in the work of the church, continues even into today. We are still, as the body of Christ, embarked on this same task. Liberty is being proclaimed to the captives. The prophet here speaks about our spiritual state. We are being told that release out of the bondage of our sins is yours in Christ. Yet, the language that the prophet Isaiah uses here is the language of war.

Jesus is telling us that He is a herald like the patriarch Noah was before the flood (cf. 2 Peter 2:5). Jesus is now God’s Apostle to you and me and all men (cf. St. Jn. 17:3). So, now, just as with Noah, who preached a release from the sure and certain washing away of unrepentant sinners in the coming flood Jesus now proclaims to you and me our release from captivity. In other words, Jesus is telling us in the words of the prophet that prisoners of war will be released. As we pray for the release of the current POW, Bowe Burgdahl each Sunday, so you have already been released from POW status as a captive of the devil.

You have been released by the power of the Holy Spirit who created and still sustains faith in your heart. You have been released from bondage.

Finally, Jesus reads ‘to set at liberty those who are oppressed to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”’ (V. 19) Isaiah is telling us about those who are oppressed or bruised. Such as these are ones that have been broken into pieces. This is in both body and heart. We all know someone who has experienced such points in life as this. You may be now or earlier in your lives experienced this yourself. This is part of Jesus mission here on this sin-ravaged planet. He came to bind up the broken hearted. Jesus came to mend those of us whose hearts have become like broken pieces of pottery[1].

‘Oh, make Thy Church, dear Savior,
A lamp of burnished gold
To bear before the nations
Thy true light as of old!
Oh, teach Thy wandering pilgrims
By this their path to trace
Till, clouds and darkness ended,
They see Thee face to face!’ (TLH 294:4)

Through the love of God in Christ, you have been set free from this. You have been healed, the love of God, the truth of God, has truly set you free (cf. St. Jn. 8:32).

In Jesus’+ Name. Amen.

[1] Word Pictures in the New Testament, Robertson, vol. II pp. 55-57.

Sermon Backlog

For those of you who read my sermons when I publish them, few though you may be, here are all of those I preached while we were without a computer. I have been busy with various trips and meetings and so I did not get to it until now. Also, I was just not in the mood to be on the computer much. So, enjoy!

January 10-The Baptism of Our Lord-St. Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

‘Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.’ (Ps. 19:14) Amen.

‘Grace, mercy and peace will be with you, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love.’ (2 John 3) Amen.

‘“He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”’ (Vv. 16-17)

Does this sound familiar to anyone? It should. After all, we still do this same thing when the harvest comes on an average year. When you go out in your combine what comes out the back end as you harvest the grain? The chaff. I see it most years, all the combines going through the fields collecting the grain. As they drive along, out the back end comes a shower of plant matter. The chaff.

We do not do things the way that the farmers of the first century did, but we still do much the same things. This is what John describes here. He is telling his hearers what they already know, what a farmer does at harvest. The difference is in what John is connecting this to for his hearers. John is telling you and I that what we see happen at harvest will happen when Jesus comes. He is keeping the end in view as Christians always do. Paul and the prophets teach us this as well (1 Thess. 4:13—5:11). As the prophet Malachi proclaims: ‘for behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.’ (Mal. 4:1)

In the first century a farmer would use oxen to walk the threshing floor having his oxen step on the stalks of grain piled on the floor. Then he forked away the loose straw. Next the farmer got out his large shovel or basket and used it to toss the grain mixed with chaff up into the air to catch the breeze. The wind would blow the chaff aside. The heavier grain fell to the floor. At last the grain was all gathered into containers for storage, and the chaff was burned.

In the same way, John is telling everyone who hears his preaching that the Messiah will separate believers and unbelievers. His judgement will be thorough. John is saying that this judgement is already in progress.

It will become public and final on the last day when he will ‘“gather the wheat into his barn,”’ and ‘“the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”’ (V. 17) Believers, you and I and all Christians, will enter into eternal life, prepared for you from before the beginning of the world (Eph. 1:3-10). Unbelievers will then suffer the punishment of hell. This punishment would be eternal. The fire John speaks of cannot be quenched. That is, it cannot and will not be extinguished[1].

This is Luke’s opening for bringing Jesus to be baptized.

In the verses left out by the readings, we hear that John the Baptizer was imprisoned by Herod. As with the Apostle Paul, this did not stop John’s preaching. We learn later that John had disciples even there. In this continuing of his prophetic office, John is strengthened in his faith and confidently and without resistance, he went to his death. He was given for the path God had set for him to walk by the words of your Savior. Even in prison, John was free indeed (St. Jn. 8:34-38)

This is a lesson for you and I as well. We, because we have been baptized, are given strength for the journey. It is the words of Jesus given along the way by Jesus Himself, which strengthen you for that journey. It does not matter who it is that gives these words; it could be a pastor, a friend, a stranger, or whomever. Jesus gave to John the words of the prophet Isaiah telling what the Messiah would do when He finally came. This was what Jesus was doing throughout His ministry. In the same way, by whatever means, Jesus gives us words of comfort and strength to carry us through in faith until the end.

‘Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”’ (Vv. 21-22)

Just as on New Years Day, we hear of Jesus’ circumcision and naming with that first shedding of blood. It is a foreshadowing of what would come on Good Friday with Jesus’ suffering and death. So here we have a connection again. Here at Jesus’ baptism, we see that even in this, Jesus is numbered with we who are transgressors (Is. 53:12)[2].

Jesus was sinless as Paul tells us, ‘For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.’ (2 Cor. 5:21) Jesus was not baptized for Himself. Instead, Jesus was baptized to be numbered as One bearing your sins. In this act then, Jesus takes upon Himself all the sins of our sinfulness and bears them from this point until He pays for them on the cross. We see Luke making this point as we read through the Gospel. The whole Gospel takes on a darker and darker cast as we travel closer to Golgotha.

Jesus submits Himself to being baptized by His servant, John, in order to make holy all water. He does this to make possible your baptism and mine. For instead of cleansing the One, who was baptized here, the waters of the Jordan were purified instead and were honored with blessings! This is all part of the mystery of baptism. That is, how this one washing in the muddy waters of the Jordan River in Palestine could cleanse every flood and stream so that water is now able to cleanse you and I when combined with the word of God.

Jesus submitted to this washing not so that He might be cleansed. Rather, He was washed both to gather up your sins into Himself but also to cleanse the waters for your sake[3].

In the manner that this happened we are taught how God wants to be known. He is not simply one God. Rather He is one God that is three. This is the nature of the Trinity. We see this played out for our learning when we read these two verses.

‘Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”’ (Vv. 21-22)

When Jesus goes into the water that He might be baptized, He teaches us to always be praying. You or I may often wonder about such commands to be continually in prayer. We feel inadequate because none of us do this. We are eating and getting dressed or we are working and going to school. It is always something.

What we think Jesus and Paul mean by this is not what they actually mean. When the Apostle instructs you and I to be continual in our prayer he is referring to the two times Jews were commanded to pray. They were given to pray both when the awoke and when they went to sleep in the evening, thus Dr. Luther gives us prayers for both of those times (SC: How to Pray).

Yet, have you ever wondered why the Holy Spirit chose a dove for His bodily appearing? Well, remember the Flood (Gen. 6-7). When Noah wanted to know if the waters had gone down he sent out a dove. Noah wanted to know if there was finally peace between God and man. We are washed in Baptism so that we might be innocent as doves. We are washed so that finally you are at peace again with God; your sins have been washed away. So also in Baptism we are made innocent and are gathered into the ark of the Church so that we might be rescued from the flood of sin covering the earth[4].

You now are washed clean and made to be at peace with God. You are no more an enemy of God. Your heavenly Father now declares over you ‘“You are my beloved son; with you I am well pleased.”’ (Vv. 21-22)

In Jesus’+ Name. Amen.

[1] Sermon Studies on the Gospels, Series C, p. 68. Northwestern Publishing.
[2] Ancient Christian Commentary Series, vol. III p. 67. Cyprian The Good of Patience 6.
[3] Ibid. Maximus of Turin Sermon 13A.3.
[4] ACCS vol. III p. 67. Ambrose Exposition of the Gospel of Luke 2.92.

January 3-The Epiphany of Our Lord-St. Matthew 2:1-12

‘Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.’ (Ps. 19:14) Amen.

‘Grace, mercy and peace will be with you, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love.’ (2 John 3) Amen.

‘Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem’. (V. 1)

In an old “Peanuts” cartoon by Charles M. Schulz, little Lucy throws up her hands in utter despair and shrieks, “For months we looked forward to Christmas. We couldn’t wait till it came, and now it’s all over!”

Even Christmas is a fraud, it would seem. For a few brief moments there is a special glow in the air. Life is softer, more joyful, more exciting somehow. For a few breathless moments the world is a magic land where everybody loves everybody and problems melt away.

But then the magic moment is past. The tinsel wasn’t silver after all, only aluminum foil. The problems all return, and the gaiety and laughter turn out to be only whistling in the dark. The warm glow of friendship disappears, and people become strangers again. They pass each other by, unknown and unrecognized[1].

When we read or hear this passage, it really does seem this way. After all, this past Thursday night, New Year’s Eve, we heard the previous verses at the end of chapter one. Those verses told us about Jesus’ birth and the angel’s appearing to Joseph to reassure him. Joseph is finally given “top secret clearance” so to speak. Before this time, Mary had not told him what was going on. It seemed so fantastic to her that she did not believe that she had any right to expect him to believe her statement that she was pregnant by the Spirit of the Living God.

Once Joseph received the word of the angel that what was done in Mary was of the Holy Spirit, he not only stopped considering putting her away, but he also took her home as his wife. So, Jesus was born in wedlock. Joseph proved himself worthy of his name, his name means “upright”, showing that he was an upright man in a most difficult situation.

Yet, the whole account here in Matthew seems a bit cut short. We are used to hearing Luke’s account and so this seems to brush off the great story of the Nativity of our Lord too quickly. So, when we hear the first words of this Gospel for Epiphany, it seems as if Christmas was only a bit of whistling in the dark.

Think about it again, Matthew himself only appears to be passing over the birth of Christ to get to the appearance of the Magi. The evangelist spends more time on this event than he did retelling the birth of the Savior. So, glory of the whole Christmas event seems over and done in a matter of moments.

‘Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”’ (Vv. 1, 2)

This account of the coming of the Magi to worship Jesus is an interesting one. In contrast to Luke’s account of the shepherds, there is silence for these men. With the shepherds, there is the angel giving the remarkable proclamation of God come down to men. Those lowly men watching their sheep heard the heavenly soldiers pausing from their ongoing war with the fallen angels who remain in open rebellion against God that they could go and sing the praises of the newborn God-Man to these simple Jewish men.

The scene is a glorious one. It was probably the highlight of their lives, something they spoke of for years to all that would listen. Here in Matthew, we have nothing of that. There is no scene of heaven being rent open. There are not angelic legions singing praises. There is not mention of even the one angel. All these men were given was a sign. Hence St. Paul’s words, ‘prophecy has been given for believers not for unbelievers, but signs have been given for unbelievers and not for believers’ (1 Cor. 14:22).

So, Joseph had the words of the angel to him. These men only had the sign of a star. The ancients placed a lot of importance on the movements of the planets and stars. It was said that at the birth or death of great men a star would appear. So, for these gentile wise men, it was only natural that a star should be given at the appearance of the Messiah. Possibly they had heard the prophets words about the coming Messiah from the Jews exiled to their city. At any rate, they would have been traveling to where the star led to see a man such as the philosopher Plato or the great conqueror Alexander.[2]

At the coming of Jesus, the Messiah, both the angelic proclamation was given and the very creation itself showed forth His arrival. The reason that the Jews heard from an angel was, as people who had been given faith, they could again use their reason and so a reasoning being, an angel, appeared to them. The magi were likely not believing, and so a sign, a star, was given to them. Without faith, they could not yet make full use of their reason to know the Lord.[3]

This is what the Apostle meant by saying that prophecy is for believers but unbelievers will only be given signs. Wordless proclamation of the Gospel message.

‘And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.’ (Vv. 11-12)

As these truly wise men arrive they come bearing gifts, for they recognized the coming of our Savior when so many others did not. So also it is for you and for me.

At our second birth at Baptism, Jesus, the wise man of so many Old Testament prophecies comes bearing gifts for you and for me. Jesus was given gold, frankincense and myrrh. You and I are given new life, you are rescued out of your spiritual bondage from the devil and you are given a seat at the heavenly banquet table with Jesus and the Father as the Father’s adopted son.

It is to this promise of sonship with Jesus that we cling to throughout our lives in faith. This word of God promise and prayer are our weapons against the lies Satan whispers in our ears. Ours is a defensive struggle. We are called to stand firm in faith until the end. No matter what.

In this word of promise you have been given a truth that should be clung to and believed no matter what comes our way. God does not abandon or desert us. God does not and will not abandon His people. God’s love is there when a treasured loved one dies. God’s love is there when worldly affairs do not go our way; no matter what that may include. God’s love is there when we weep and mourn and His love is there when we rejoice and sing. His love was there when Jesus was arrested accused and crucified. That love was there in the garden when Jesus was in great spiritual agony and when He died for your sins.

We are encouraged by this Epiphany Gospel to remember that God’s love is there even when He does not seem to be. At those times when it appears we have only been given a silent sign and no spoken prophecy.

It is then that we trust and cling all the tighter to the truth of God’s Word that Jesus is still your Savior. He is still there beside you. He will lead you through pain, fear, worry, and even persecution to peace. In this we remember the words of our Introit Psalm:
‘For he delivers the needy when he calls,
the poor and him who has no helper.
He has pity on the weak and the needy,
and saves the lives of the needy.
From oppression and violence he redeems their life,
and precious is their blood in his sight. …
May his name endure forever’.
(Ps. 72:12-14, 17a)

In Jesus’+ Name. Amen.

[1] Encyclopedia of Sermon Illustrations, CPH, p. 39, entry #133.
[2] Word Pictures in the New Testament, Robertson, vol. I Matthew and Mark pp. 16-17.
[3] ACCS NT vol. I p. 22. Gregory the Great Forty Gospel Homilies 10.1.

December 31-The Eve of the Name of Jesus-St. Matthew 1:18-21

‘Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.’ (Ps. 19:14) Amen.

‘Grace, mercy and peace will be with you, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love.’ (2 John 3) Amen.

‘Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.’ (Vv. 18-19)

The Book of Genesis is a book of beginnings. We see that in the very name of the book. The word genesis means exactly that, beginning.

When you read the first book of the Bible, you hear immediately of God’s creative work in the beginnings of everything that exists in our world and our universe. It does not seem terribly detailed in that account, but all that is necessary for life to become reality and to exist happened in those first six days.

So, do you make connections to any of the other later books of the Bible? Perhaps you do, perhaps not. Paul speaks of such beginnings in his letter to the Romans. The book of Genesis is full of events in the lives of the patriarchs, which look ahead to the life of Christ and His redemptive work for you.

So, what is happening here?

What Matthew is trying to tell us is that his narrative is similar to what we read in the first book of the Bible, Genesis. Moses tells us of the creation of the heavens and the earth. Matthew intends to tell us, briefly, of the beginnings, Genesis, of Jesus. The Evangelist is going to describe here in these verses the genesis of Him who created the heavens and the earth. The One who will yet make a new heaven and new earth.

This is Joseph’s side of the story. The Gospel of Luke kind of tells us Mary’s side of this story. We hear of what the angel tells her and we hear about her hymn of praise, the Magnificat. We hear the songs of praise sung by Zechariah and Elizabeth, Mary’s cousin. Yet, here in Matthew, we hear from Joseph’s side. This entire first chapter of Matthew is not a competition between him and Luke, as some overly learned “theologians” would have us understand. Instead, Matthew’s genealogy and his nativity story are a compliment to Luke’s. Matthew fills in the part for us that Luke chooses to leave out.

Joseph begins thinking that he will do the just or right thing for Mary, his betrothed. After all, according to the Law of God (Gen. 29:21; Deut. 22:23f), betrothal was a serious a thing as marriage. The only difference being one of living together. Now, we know from Leviticus what the punishment was for adultery. Joseph could have put her out and made a public spectacle and she would have been stoned for what Joseph thought she had done.

In this case, the angel appears to Joseph in order to set him right in what had been conceived in his wife. As a just and upright man, the angel would have been asking this man to take a big leap of faith into the unknown. This was really a leap of faith for Joseph. He had to take the angel’s word for it that this was truly the will of God. Mary had not told him any of what had happened. After all, would any of you ladies tell your families or the one to whom you were betrothed a story like Mary had to tell? She had no right to expect that she would be believed.

Yet, this is the sort of position our heavenly Father and His Son our Savior puts us in throughout or lives. Our life as Christians is a life of faith. Both you and I are often seemingly left in a situation in life where we simply must trust that our God has not abandoned His promises or we His children.

Whether it is the actions of our government, the economy and our retirement savings or our livelihood. Or it could be any number of other events in our lives. In our area, this can easily happen even to those who are farmers. Farmers are often held up as ones who have more or greater faith than others in society. This is often the case. However, as I am sure you who are farmers know, you have just as much opportunity to doubt the steadfast love of God as any of the rest of us sinful humans.

Just as Joseph had no reason, humanly speaking, to trust the word of the angel. He had every reason to trust his own eyes and his reason that told him that he had been betrayed by Mary. So also, events in your lives give each of you reason to doubt the faithfulness of your Savior. This is not to say that you fall to that temptation. You may or, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, you may not.

It is as the eighth Psalm tells us, ‘what is man that you are mindful of him’ (: 4). Yet, your God is mindful of you. He has sent Jesus to be circumcised on this day and ‘to fulfill all righteousness’ (St. Mt. 3:15) so that your redemption may be made complete. He does this, not because of you, but because of His own great mercy (Titus 3:4-7). Jesus has redeemed you now. He will see you through all trial in this life as well. He has promised you this, Jesus has told us that He will never leave you or forsake you (Heb. 13:5, 6), and that He will be with you unto the end of the age (St. Mt. 28:20).

With your redemption accomplished and now made yours by faith given by the Holy Spirit (Small Catechism II: 3rd pt.) in view, remember the words of the Psalmist.
‘O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all
the earth!’ (Ps. 8:1, 9)

In Jesus’+ Name. Amen.

December 25-The Nativity of Our Lord-St. Luke 2:1-20

‘Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.’ (Ps. 19:14) Amen.

‘Grace, mercy and peace will be with you, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love.’ (2 John 3) Amen.

‘And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.’ (V. 9)

Have you ever seen something in the night that was strange and a bit frightening? Probably. I know I have sometimes seen out of the corner of my eye movement. So, because I am driving, I look off in that direction expecting a deer. Yet, I see nothing. I have never been sure if it has been a trick of my eyes or what it is I see.

You have probably had a similar experience. At least in the sense of seeing something strange that you cannot explain. That is what these shepherds saw. After all, imagine if you will you are sitting on a hillside with some of your buddies. All of you are surrounded by the sheep that you are watching over as you do most nights.

Perhaps you have built a sod fire, remember much of the wood of the region has been stripped from the countryside for other uses for years. This is of course assuming there was enough extra grass growing that you could afford to waste it on a fire. Most likely these men were sitting in the dark either talking or just dozing, half asleep.

Watching grazing animals would not have been terribly exciting. At the most, there was the random and infrequent attack by a thief; either of the animal or human variety. All of a sudden, in the midst of a star thick sky, there appears this creature you have never seen before and whose radiance was blinding. It would have been easy to be afraid. In fact, it is a miracle of our merciful God that these men were not driven mad by the appearing of the angel. He boomingly declares to all of you a glorious message, if true. Then the scene takes a turn and becomes crazier. A mighty host, the size of a great and glorious army appears and begins singing!

‘And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”’ (Vv. 10-12)

Considering what was the response of these men, that is, abject terror, it is no wonder that the first angel to appear to them begins the way he does. This angel begins as the angels always begin when we meet them in the four Gospels, he tells them, “Fear not!”

Have you ever noticed this message? I mean, really noticed it and thought about it?

Think about it now.

What is the angel really telling you and me? He is telling us an incredible and amazing mystery. Consider those glorious words again. ‘[He] “who is Christ the Lord. … You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”’ (Vv. 11-12) The first, for the angel to declare that the one born is the “Lord” is to use a Greek word commonly used to refer to God, either the true God or pagan idols. In other words, the angel is saying that God has been born to all people that night. Again, the second statement that the angel gives us tells us for sure that the individual being referred to really is a tiny newborn baby. For this one is wrapped in swaddling cloths.

Such a wrap, as young mothers know, is even today common for newborns as it helps them to adjust to the abrupt change from womb to the outside world. So, we have an angel making proclamation to these poor rejected men using divine terms and terms for infants. Such a contradiction would have only confused these men all the more.

How is it that our big God put himself into the confines of a tiny baby? Not simply the smallness of a newborn, but the microscopic smallness of a newly conceived baby! We cannot comprehend such a thing, but there it is. This is the reality of our merciful and loving God. He not only came into this sin-filled, yucky world of ours to rescue us from our sin. Jesus, the second member of the Trinity, became one of us!

Now think about what is going on in our lives today. The government is getting evermore into the personal details of our lives. And this they do whether we have asked them or not. They are assuming that the government knows better than any of us here. This current government is grabbing for power that is not given them by our Constitution. Not only this, our economy is still struggling. Large numbers of our fellow Americans are out of work. We may be one of them. We very likely know at least one person who is out of work because of the economy. In view of this, those who are out of work are in grave danger of major depression and other mental and thus spiritual trials.

On top of all these things, the harvest has been a trial for many. At the very least it has been an exercise of patience for the farmers as they have worked to get the crops out of the field. None of this is what we would have wished for ourselves at last Christmas. Yet, remember that proclamation of the angel. ‘[He] “who is Christ the Lord. … You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”’ (Vv. 11-12)

If our big, infinite God can know how to get Himself into the form the size of a newborn baby, it is our blessed confidence that this same God can also know and want to see us through all that we are now experiencing. No matter how bad it may be, we know this for sure. ‘But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we mighty become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.’ (Titus 3:4-7)

Your Savior has rescued you from your sin. He did not do this because you deserved it for some reason. No, Jesus rescued you because of His own mercy. So, we can be confident that our God will rescue us and bring us through whatever trial and trouble has come our way this year. Whatever you are going through, the Savior whom you trust in for your salvation cares. He has promised never to forsake (Heb. 13:5, 6) His chosen ones and He has promised to also provide what you need.

With this in view, we sing with the angelic hosts:
‘“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among
those with whom he is
pleased!”’ (V. 14)
God loves you and has reconciled you to Himself. His armies now declare this peace to you and me. Let us now worship and adore our incarnate Savior and God with reverence and awe.

In Jesus’+ Name. Amen.

December 24-Children's Christmas Program-St. Luke 2:1-20

‘Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.’ (Ps. 19:14) Amen.

‘Grace, mercy and peace will be with you, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love.’ (2 John 3) Amen.

What are we doing here? Are we simply going through a rote reading of the Gospel from Luke? No. Christmas is programs and Christmas Eve services are not simply times to read aloud the Christmas Gospel from St. Luke. Instead, we are praising God.

We as we do this praising; we are standing with the Shepherds from tonight’s Gospel reading. We are standing before our incarnate God on His throne [motion to the altar]; we are praising God with the heavenly hosts. This is what we have been doing throughout this service. It is a service of lessons and carols and as happens in such a service, we as faithful Christians rejoice that our God has come to save us.

When I hear this passage from Luke read aloud I always think of Linus from a Charlie Brown Christmas. It is Linus’ voice, which runs through my mind as I listen, even if I am the one who is reading.

I love hearing this Gospel passage. This passage is the essence of God’s saving message for you. It is God stepping into this mess we call life and fixing it. He stepped in and gave us an answer to our sin. He gave us His forgiveness, which provides you and me with new life.

Rejoice with the Shepherds. ‘When all was still, and it was midnight, Your almighty Word, O Lord, descended from the royal throne’[1] Rejoice with the Psalmist: ‘Sing praise to the LORD, praise His name; proclaim His salvation from day to day.’ (Ps. 96:2)

In Jesus’+ Name. Amen.

[1] Christmas Eve Introit Antiphon, liturgical text. Lutheran Worship p. 14-15.

December 20-The Visitation-Luke 1:39-55

‘Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.’ (Ps. 19:14) Amen.

‘Grace, mercy and peace will be with you, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love.’ (2 John 3) Amen.

‘And she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!”’ (Vv. 40-42)

In a city in India, named Krishnasamadrum, lived an old, blind Christian teacher, whose heart burned for the Savior. Like Simeon, (St. Lk. 2:30) this man had seen the salvation of the Lord, though in his case it was by the spirit that he had seen it. So, he could not help but go and tell others of this salvation.

One day, a missionary came and passed through that city. He found 26 converts ready for baptism, converts brought forward by that old, faithful teacher. So a little congregation was organized. That small church grew until the name of the city was changed from “the City of Krishna” (the pagan god) to “the City of Christ,” Kristasamadrum[1].

Such a response brought out by faith in the Savior, this is what we heard from Elizabeth in today’s Gospel lesson. We even saw it given by her unborn son, John the Baptizer. After all, he leapt in her womb!

This child would bring many to a preparation for faith in the promised Savior, Jesus. He would plant the seeds for untold numbers of faithful followers of Christ. John’s preaching in preparation for Jesus’ preaching planted the seed of faith even in some of the disciples and so in turn prepared the way for the changing of the Roman Empire from a pagan empire to a Christian empire!

We have all of these canticles like the one from Mary in our Gospel set to music. Mary’s is the Magnificat; we have that to sing during the order of Vespers (TLH p. 41). Zechariah’s song, the Benedictus, which comes with the birth of John, is the alternate canticle for today’s order of service (p. 32). Simeon’s song and the song of the angels are given for us to use in the regular Sunday service in the Gloria in Excelsis and the post-Communion canticle, the Nunc Dimittis (p. 5 and 15).

The names come from the first word in Latin. However, Elizabeth’s song is not so recorded. We do not have it set to music. Except, she did sing these words when Mary greeted Elizabeth at her door and John leapt in her womb. All of these are responses of faith, inspired by the Holy Spirit, to the events shown to these faithful saints.

They sang because singing is the highest form of praise we humans can give. ‘Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth! Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.’ (Ps. 96:1, 2)

Let us back up though, ‘In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah’ (V. 39). I back up to the beginning of our reading because this is a humble thing that Mary does. She did not have to, but chose to go and see her cousin to serve her. Those ladies, who conceived and were pregnant later, you understand the need of a helper.

Now, imagine conceiving a child now. That is, when you are long past naturally being able to conceive and bear a child. This was the position Elizabeth found herself in. Yet, many mothers, if they have a child later in life have other children in the house who could help. Elizabeth had no such help. She had never born any other children and very likely was not in the position of Sarah. Abraham was wealthy and could afford a slave to be only concerned with Sarah’s needs. When Sarah bore Isaac, she had Hagar to serve her and help when she had need. (Gen. 17:15-21; 21:1-21)

Elizabeth was not in such a prime economic position. Her husband, Zechariah, was not wealthy and so could not afford to hire someone to help her during her pregnancy. So, as I stated, Mary came to serve her cousin. As a virgin, and an attentive one, she came that she might commit herself to ministering to a woman of advanced age. Mary came to help at the end of the pregnancy, when Elizabeth would most need her assistance. So also, you and I can show Christ to our neighbor by helping him in his need.

This was a humble thing for Mary to do, she could have complained that it was too long of a journey and she would soon not be in a position to help anyway. After all, she, having already conceived Jesus in her womb (Vv. 26-38). She did not have to go and help her cousin. Yet, as we find out through the latter half of our reading, in Mary’s song, she is a humble young girl. She did not see it as being above her to serve her cousin Elizabeth, to help the older woman in her need[2].

‘And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”’ (Vv. 43-45)

How true are the words of the prophet, ‘but this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.’ (Is. 66:2; see also, LXX) What the prophet means by the speaking of the Lord looking upon someone is, upon whom does my spirit rest. In other words, the pregnant woman Elizabeth. She, and also Mary, were humble women. They did not see or count this as being because of their own merit that these things should be happening to either one. Elizabeth, though she had been blessed of God to finally bear a child, and what is more a son, which considered a special blessing in the ancient world as in this way the family line would be preserved. She did not count this or her close family relationship to Mary as any reason why Mary might visit her.

Due to the great things that they would have to do as mothers, both of these women would likely have received from the Holy Spirit, a special and extra helping of humility and strength. For consider Mary or Joseph, how would they or any of you here raise a sinless Son? What would you be able to teach him? How would you take knowing that you had sinned in your raising of Him?

Or, consider Elizabeth, she was unlike the mothers of such prophets as Elijah or Isaiah or Micah, their mothers did not know what they would become when they bore them. It was only later that anyone knew that these men would be the great prophets of the Most High God. That status as prophets which they became later by the power of the Holy Spirit. How would you raise even a sinful son knowing that he would be the prophet of God, the very ‘voice of one crying in the wilderness’ (Is. 40:3-5)? I would expect even that would be difficult in its own way. So, very likely, Elizabeth and Zechariah were blessed with an extra measure of humility and strength they would need for their task.[3]

Thank the Lord that He does give us the strength for the tasks He lays before us. You also are given the words to say (cf., St. Lk. 21:13-15), or the humility or the strength or whatever else you may need. You are given such blessings not because of any merit within you, but rather because God has chosen you to do something for Him. As much as you or I or any other Christian fails in our task, one of our tasks is this, to share the hope that is in us (cf., 1 Pt. 3:15) in that place in which we have been put.

It is ours to share this joyous message that Jesus has come. Jesus has become the sacrificial Lamb, sacrificed on the wood of the cross (Gen. 22) to pay for each of your sins. And, our task is also to warn. For as we know, Jesus is coming again. This time there will be no preaching, as Jesus did, ‘“Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand”’ (St. Mk. 1:15). At that time, it will only be one of two messages. Either, ‘“Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world”’. Or, it will be heard, ‘“Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”’ (St. Mt. 25:34, 41)

Praise the Lord that you here will hear that first message. ‘“Come, you who are blessed by my Father”’. Sing with the Psalmist: ‘Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth! Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.’ (Ps. 96:1, 2)

In Jesus’+ Name. Amen.

[1] Encyclopedia of Sermon Illustrations, CPH, p. 209, entry #979.
[2] ACCS NT vol. III p. 21. Bede the Venerable Homilies on the Gospels 1.4.
[3] ACCS NT vol. III p. 22. Bede the Venerable Homilies on the Gospels 1.4.

Epiphany 2-St. John 2:1-11

‘Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.’ (Ps. 19:14) Amen.

‘Grace, mercy and peace will be with you, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love.’ (2 John 3) Amen.

‘When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.”’ (Vv. 3-4)

Mary shows her faith in this passage. She remembered all those things from the infancy narrative (St. Lk. 1:26-45; 2:22-38) and from when Jesus was twelve and stayed in the Temple (St. Lk. 2:41-52). She remembered all those events of which Luke tells us, Mary treasured all these things in her heart. The trouble came with what Mary expects of Jesus.

Jesus had just been baptized and so was inaugurated into the public portion of His life (St. Lk. 3:21, 22). Jesus was no longer a young child who was sent this way and that by His mother fulfilling errands. He was no longer subject to her demands in the same way. Mary has not quite grasped that at this point. She still sees Him as her little boy.

Jesus means no disrespect to His mother. He is simply making such a point clear to her and the others with Him. Yet, Jesus still fulfills the fourth commandment and honors His mother (Small Catechism I).

Do any of you remember that time in your life when you were just beginning to step out on your own? You had begun to be your own public person, no longer connected to either of your parents? Well, this is the point at which Jesus and Mary find themselves in. It probably took you a bit to gain your bearings when it came to your adult responsibilities. It probably took your parents just as long to understand this also.

When Jesus responds to His mother’s expectation with ‘what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.”’ (V. 4) He means no disrespect. Jesus is only telling her that it was not her place to tell Him what to do when it came to His calling. In this, Mary was not Jesus’ mother. Rather she was just another sinner in need of His forgiveness.

Isn’t this the height of comfort to know that Jesus own mother is not treated any differently than you or me?

Mary can be forgiven for her assumption. I would suspect most of us in a similar situation would think the same thing. After all, Jesus had just been very publicly baptized and so this would seem a good opportunity to continue that work. This seemed to Mary to be a good time to show forth His majesty and announce that this carpenter-teacher was really God in human flesh.

We are reminded in this that God’s timing is not always the same as yours or mine. That is what Jesus is trying to communicate here. He is not saying that it would be bad to help this couple out of their embarrassing situation. Rather, Jesus is saying that He is working on a different timetable. He is working on a divine schedule.

‘What does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.”’ (V. 4)

Did you catch it? Probably. Mary did when Jesus told her these words. Jesus did not tell her “no”. Instead, Jesus told her, “not yet”. So, in response, Mary does not order her Son around. Mary simply tells the gathered servants, ‘“Do whatever he tells you.”’ (V. 5) Mary understood what Jesus was getting at. She knew now that her Son was no longer the young lad that she ordered around with messages for Joseph or other errands. She understood that it was finally time for Jesus to enter into that work which His Father had sent Him into the world to accomplish.

Mary learns here faith. She learns that her Son, Jesus, is the Son of God.

‘Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it.’ (Vv. 6-9)

This embarrassment that the bridegroom and bride would have suffered at being found without enough wine for the expected seven-day feast was enough for Jesus to step in and be merciful. Mary had left it to Jesus to decide what He would do. Jesus chose here a way, privately, to show His mercy but not to step forth publicly as the God-Man.

In this, Jesus shows us that His primary goal in coming in the flesh was as a mercy journey. Christ’s coming in the flesh for you and for me was because His ‘mercies never come to an end’ (Lam. 3:22). Even in this small thing, this preserving of the joy of the marriage feast, Jesus not only blesses the couple with His presence. Jesus also preserves their joy. So, Jesus does not tell anyone what He was doing. The servants probably thought that what they were being told was quite odd. However, as servants, it was not theirs to question.

So, sometimes, it is not my place or your place to question why things happen the way that they do. We simply do as these servants and trust our Savior to know what He is doing. We do what the official does in regard to the healing of his son by Jesus a little bit later, the man took Jesus at His word. (cf. St. Jn. 4:50) We trust that when we do as Jesus has ordered us, it will be what the master expects.

Unlike those servants, you and I know that our Savior is a merciful Savior and God. We know that He loves us as a bridegroom His bride (cf. Is. 62:5). We know then that He will care for us in both the small trials and the great trials of life.

Because we see Jesus being concerned with the relatively minor embarrassment of running out of wine at your own wedding, so we know He will be concerned with the greater troubles of life. We know because of this passage in John that our God will always look after us. You are His adopted son and so the Father loves you as He loves His own only-begotten Son (cf. Gal. 4:4-7).

When life gives us trial. When we find ourselves without work set adrift seemingly in life without that anchor to give us understanding of our place in society. It is a truth that many people, at least in this country, define themselves by their job. They see themselves as having worth because they are gainfully employed.

We may all know that this is not the truth, but it does not change how some view themselves. In this, Christ will also see us through. He will provide us with the ability to redefine ourselves or He will provide you with a new job. Our loving God will provide whatever it is that each of us needs when trials come.

This bridal couple learns faith. They learn that Jesus is the Son of God.

As I said before, Jesus gave this couple a precious wedding gift. First, He did this by accepting their invitation. After all, it is a sad thing when you throw a party to have the people you most want in attendance to decline. Beyond this, Jesus solved for that couple an embarrassing problem. Finally, Jesus chose that day of all days, and that event as the occasion for His first miracle. When we read of a miracle being performed in the New Testament, the Greek word always refers to a sign given that people might believe. That is, a sign pointing toward Jesus, the Messiah. Only unbelievers refuse to accept such an obvious sign[1].

We see this also in the words of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians of our Epistle lesson. Paul begins His words about the gifts of the Spirit by speaking first of the gift of faith. We hear Paul’s words: ‘I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says, “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit’ (1 Cor. 12:3). Here we see a comparison of the unbeliever on one hand and the believer on the other. So in this way, we see this to be true in the case of Jesus’ disciples. He had at least five: Peter, Andrew, John, Philip, and Nathaniel.

These men already had put their faith in Jesus. If they had not, they would not have been following Him. This event provided to strengthen that seed of faith. As John writes: ‘This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.’ (V. 11) So also, with our own baptism, you and I have been given the same gift of faith through the working of the Holy Spirit (Small Catechism II: 3rd). ‘He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.’ (Ps. 40:3) We trust that our Savior and Brother, Jesus, will see us through the both the great trials and the small.

In Jesus’+ Name. Amen.

[1] Sermon Studies on the Gospels, Series C Northwestern, p. 74.

Praying for the people of Haiti

There are some very good responses to the earthquake in Haiti. Here you can read the words of a New Orleans pastor. Here and here you can be told what we know from the LC-MS World Relief and Human Care head. Finally, you can go here if you wish to donate for this crisis. Whatever you are able or choose to do, I urge you to pray for the people of this poor Island nation. As the first pastor, the one from New Orleans states, the missing pastors include some of his, and my, classmates at seminary.
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.