The Transfiguration of Our Lord-St. Luke 9:28-36-St. Valentine's Day

‘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 about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his face altered, and his clothing became dazzlingly white. And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah’. (Vv. 28-30)

This event occurred in the middle of the night. Jesus did not want, as He tells these men elsewhere, anyone to notice this or know about this event. In the event of the transfiguration, we get to see something of what happened when Jesus went off to pray by Himself. Luke often tells us of these pauses in Jesus’ ministry. It is a note that was peculiar to Luke’s Gospel.

This dazzlingly white appearance of Jesus as He prayed was then all the more dramatic for the contrast. Jesus also brought these three of His disciples along because He wished to show the true reality about Himself to them and if this happened during the day it would not have the desired effect. During the day, the light of the sun would have washed out Jesus’ transfiguration. Also, if this happened during the day, there would have been the ever present crowds.

So, it is as Paul tells us, ‘For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ’ (2 Corinthians 4:6). So this is not really just about this physical transformation. Jesus’ transfiguration is about your faith. Jesus is trying to teach you and me something about the faith we have been given in Him.

Your faith is rooted in the words of the Old Testament.

We see this in what Luke writes. ‘And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah’. (Vv. 28-30) Moses is used in Scripture for the entirety of the Law of God. Moses was the Lawgiver of greatest excellence. Elijah is seen as the representation of the prophets of God. He was seen as the most excellent of the prophets. In this the Holy Spirit points us forward to the later statement Jesus makes, in chapter twenty-four (vv. 44-45), to the disciples after His resurrection that the Law and the Prophets find their fulfillment in Him. If Jesus had used names He would have said instead, “Moses and Elijah find their fulfillment in Me”.

With Peter and John and James, we see in this glorified appearance of our Savior a small bit of the glory that we have now in Jesus. We do not see this yet until we reach heaven but it is already yours. ‘And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said.’ (Vv. 30-33)

We see this glory of ours pictured in Moses and Elijah as they stand speaking with Jesus about His coming Exodus. That is what the word means here. It is translated for us as “departure”, but the Greek is exodon, that is exodus. What this refers to is Jesus’ going away from earth to heaven. We all know when that happens.

So we are again pointed forward to what Jesus’ mission really is. Jesus was not in the world to rescue people from a government that they did not happen to like or from one that was oppressive. Rather, Jesus came to rescue you from eternal death as the judgement you have received because of your sins.

This as we can tell from the Gospel and from our opening hymn that this is not what Peter was thinking about. After all, we sang ‘’Tis good, Lord, to be here! Yet we may not remain; But since Thou bidst us leave the mount, Come with us to the plain.”’ (The Lutheran Hymnal 135:5) Peter did not have in his head thoughts of eternal salvation. When we have a mountain top experience in our own lives we are often the same way. You and I do not want that time to end. We do not want to go back to our regular life.

Yet, we cannot stay. We cannot make tents for ourselves and for our Lord. We must return to the plain. That is, you must return to your regular life and the troubles and trials that are daily with you. So, we pray with the hymn writer ‘“Come with us to the plain.”’ If we cannot stay on the mountain, we need our Savior to come with us. And He does. Jesus does return to the plain with us. You have Him always with you. He guides and protects you as you go through your individual trials and troubles.

So, it seems that heaven is far off. It seems often times that not only is heaven far off, but Jesus is too! Yet, Jesus tells us where heaven is at the opening of the Gospels when He begins His preaching ministry. After all, Jesus starts that ministry by proclaiming, ‘“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is upon you!”’ (St. Mark 1:14-15) There is a reason that is a remarkable statement. As Luke teaches, what Jesus is really saying is, “I am here among you. Heaven is right here in this place. Heaven is no longer in the temple because that is no longer where God has made His dwelling among men.” What is being said is where Jesus is; there is heaven.

Heaven is here! Heaven is here because Jesus is here giving out His gifts of His Word read and preached and the gift of His Sacrament.

So now we have a pointing backward. ‘As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” and when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.’ (Vv. 34-36)

We are reminded here of Jesus’ Baptism (St. Luke 3:21-22). At that point, the Father spoke as well and made a similar statement about Jesus. Except this time there is a new exhortation for the disciples. ‘“Listen to him!”’ we are told. For remember, you also are a disciple of Jesus. This statement is not simply for these three or for the Twelve, it is a command from the Father for all believers in Christ. As Jesus Himself teaches, no man knows God the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son reveals him (see Hebrews 1:2).

This cloud is also familiar to you and me. There was a cloud at the Exodus out of Egypt (Exodus 40:34-38). That cloud led the people of Israel just as this cloud also leads this the earliest of the New Testament church. This command to listen to Jesus is not listen, except. There is no exception given. We are to listen to all that is contained in God’s holy word. You are not allowed to make exceptions. You are not allowed to pick and chose those things that you agree with or that you like.

This is how you and I follow our heavenly Father’s command given here. We listen to what is said in the Bible. So, we will now listen to what the Bible tells us about our Savior’s suffering and death and resurrection in the coming weeks. You and I will hear again what Paul meant when he wrote. ‘We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 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 Corinthians 5:20b-21)

In Jesus’+ Name. Amen.

February 7-Epiphany 5-St. Luke 5:1-11

‘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.

‘But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart form me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”’ (V. 8)

Our Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod’s first president gives a fitting summary of this verse for us. C. F. W. Walther, in his well-known Law and Gospel, says: “Unless a Christian clearly understands this fact, he ceases to be a Christian. What constitutes a person a Christian is this believing knowledge that he is a miserable, accursed sinner, who would be lost forever if Christ had not died for him.”[1]

Dr. Walther makes this statement to you. He makes this statement to me. This theologian directs this statement of his to each Christian. It is only the trusting faith planted by the Holy Spirit. That faith watered by the word of God and grown into a flourishing tree full of fruit by the third member of our Trinitarian God (Small Catechism II: 3rd). This it is which allows us to be and remain a saint and child of God who knows he is at the same time (Romans 7) a miserable, accursed sinner knowing we are lost forever without Christ.

Dr. Luther phrased an answer to a similar question in this way. Dr. Luther was asked what was the first step in religion. His reply, “Humility.” What is the second? That faithful Doctor stated, “Humility.” What is the third? Again, “Humility.”[2]

It is this same attitude that the Apostle Peter assumed when he was first called as a disciple of Jesus. That great sinner took the same attitude you and I take each Sunday as we confess our sins to begin the service. Peter tells Jesus, ‘“Depart form me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”’ (V. 8) He declared himself to be ‘a miserable, accursed sinner, who would be lost forever’ without Christ.

However, though Peter says all this in his declaration for the group of being a sinful man, he does not yet understand what he asks. At this point, Peter wants Jesus to go away. We know that to ask this would be the worst thing. For you and me to be without Jesus would leave us a poor miserable sinner, condemned to eternal death for our sins.

Peter and the others felt this way because they knew where the fish should have been. Yet those fish had not been where Jesus told them to go for the entire previous night of fishing. These men were experienced professional fishermen so they knew this. Those of you who are fishermen, you know where and when the fish will be biting on Long Lake or Artichoke Lake or Big Stone Lake; wherever you do your fishing.

If you went out and fished all day at the best spots for each time of day and caught nothing then I arrived as you where loading up your boat and equipment. If I then told you to go out and fish one of those spots just one more time, you would think I was crazy. You would probably tell me as much very bluntly. I of course, would have no ability or power to cause the fish to bit anymore than you, but this set up is exactly what Luke tells us happened to Peter and James and John and whoever else went fishing with them that day.

These men probably reacted in much the same way with Jesus. Peter and the others could have told Jesus He was crazy. They could have told Him to do the work Himself. Or, that if Jesus would have preached a shorter sermon, He could have sent the crowds home before it became necessary to use a boat. Yet, they don't. Peter shows that he, at least, had a willing heart. He had been instructed in the faith from the time that he was in the womb through adulthood. Peter trusted in his daily work, as in all of life, that God would see him through. Even if the fish were no where to be found.

After all, this was the age-old struggle for daily bread and such a struggle can create sin and doubts, making us feel distant from God[3]. Peter for one does not seem to be such a person. He seems, from this account of Luke, that he trusted God to provide his daily bread (see, St. Mt. 6:9-15). So, these men were a bit more polite about it because they knew Jesus was a respected teacher and so they humored Him. ‘And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”’ (V. 5)

Jesus may have stepped up the miracle in this case. It is entirely possible that when Jesus told these men to put out to fish, it was to some random spot out in the deep water. When He was in the middle of preaching to the crowds because of the press of those hearers, standing in a boat made sense. It allowed Jesus freedom of space from the crowds and it allowed the crowds to hear Him better. So, instead of Jesus telling them to fish in one of the likely spots, when He was done preaching, Jesus may have just pointed to a random spot out in the deep water.

This would have been understandable for the hearers of Jesus’ sermon and especially to those fishermen Peter and Andrew, James and John. Everyone in this scene, including Jesus, regardless of whether they were professional fishermen or not, understood enough of that occupation from conversation and observation. In other words, they had an idea of a good spot from talking with Peter or John or the others.

So, why then is Peter willing to do this? Jesus’ request of him contradicted everything Peter had learned over his career as a fisherman. In Peter’s experience, the best time to fish on the Sea of Galilee, here called Gennesaret, was at night. Jesus was telling him to try in broad daylight. Peter knew from experience that the fish would be along the shoals on the water’s edge. So he went there for the best fishing. Jesus was saying, “Go out in deep water.” Again, the opposite of what Peter knew to be true.

This connects with you and me. After all, when we are told to trust in God it is often that we are to do something that goes against everything we know to be true. The Word of God at times flies in the face of all human reason. So, you and I go on in faith. ‘Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious, merciful, and righteous.’ (Psalm 112:4) We trust our Savior that He understands what is going on and will guide us through even when it makes no sense.

‘And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”’ (V. 5) Peter is essentially telling Jesus and you, there is no way there are any fish out there right now. Peter and the others were cutting their losses and going home. That is why they are on shore cleaning their nets when Jesus finds them. Peter could have said, “what do you know about fishing anyway Jesus, you’re a carpenter!” We see that teachable heart again in this statement of Peter. Peter complains as one who has worked hard and seen nothing for his effort.

This is different though. Peter is tired and dejected, but he goes anyway. Logic and reason and common sense all would have told him to turn Jesus away, but not faith. Peter’s faith as an Old Testament Christian, one of that faithful remnant (ex. 1 Kings 19:1-18) we always hear about throughout the Old Testament, tells him different. That faith tells him this is the guy to take at His word. So, Peter finally says, “Okay, Jesus. I will go because you say so.”

These are tests of faith we are seeing in Luke. Are they tests to show Jesus if these men are up to the task He has for them? Or are they tasks that are primarily for those who would become four of the Twelve. Leaders among equals.

Jesus still tests you and me. Are we the ones who hear Luther and agree with him? Are we the ones who understand that the first three steps of faith are the same? They are humility, humility, and humility. Do we serve the least of these? Do you wash the feet of others? Do you share a cup of water with one who is in need? Do you forgive that person who tests your patience and needs a bit more grace and forgiveness than most? It is truly a powerful trust given to us through faith when a Christ-follower responds with, “It might be hard, but because You say so, Jesus, I will do it!” Even if the miserable sinner who is still part of each of us says, I don’t want to. Or, I don’t like that person. Or, that is inconvenient. The faith given by the Holy Spirit says to Jesus, “Yes, I will! I will do so with the joy I have been given in Christ.”

‘And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” They left everything and followed him.’ (Vv. 10-11) This is in response to Peter’s desperate cry that he is a sinful man and unworthy to remain in Jesus’ presence. When you get home, read Isaiah 6 for a similar response. Jesus does not brush off this cry for mercy. Rather, Jesus tells this sinner what He has in store for him. Jesus has a greater vision for Peter than catching fish and cleaning nets. We see in Jesus’ words the fulfillment of 1 Chronicles 29:12, which states: ‘Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all.’ Jesus is agreeing with what Peter points out. This miracle had nothing to do with any of these fishermen and Peter knew it. This had everything to do with God’s work. So, God always gets the credit.

Jesus is telling Peter to look at a higher expectation for his own life. Jesus is showing him what a life catching fish had prepared him to do now. The same is true for you and me today.

We also are called not simply to be a neighbor or a student or an employee or a club member or even a churchgoer. Each of us has a “sphere of influence”. Yours is different than mine and likely includes people who I will either never meet or who would never listen to what I have to say. Each of us in our personal “sphere of influence” is a disciple and servant of Jesus Christ. Your love for Christ changes everything about you and about your value system. So, we are called to leave it all behind.

In Peter’s case, this actually meant the abandoning of family, house, friends; the life he had known before. For you and me, it has not been that drastic. Yet, because of our love for Christ and because Christ now lives in you (Galatians 2:20), there are certain people you may have dealings with, but they do not make your close circle of friends. What the Holy Spirit, through Luke, is telling you with this final verse is that you will be called out of you “comfort zone”. There are times when you are expected to share the gospel at a time or with a person you do not especially care for. The same is true for me.

When we are called to this as Christians, do we know where we are going? Not generally. Do we know what the future will bring because of our actions and love for Christ? Most often, no. All each of us knows when we are sent to share the gospel is that Jesus is who He says He is. He is Lord. He is God. He has redeemed you and made you a child of your heavenly Father (Galatians 4:4-7). For you and me, that is all we need to know.[4]

With trusting hearts, each of you has turned your backs on any other life and has followed your Savior. By God’s grace, you have comforted those in need and given them faith (grieving/sickness and hard times of life). You have taught others the faith and led them to Christ (Sunday School/child raising). It is this amazing love of Jesus Christ who died for your sins that you will ‘dwell in the house of the Lord forever’ (Psalm 23:6) rather than be lost forever.

And so it is as we prayed in the Introit Psalm:
‘Praise the LORD!
Blessed is the man who fears the LORD,
who greatly delights in his commandments! …
Wealth and riches are in his house,
and His righteousness endures forever. …
He is not afraid of bad news;
his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.
His heart is steady; he will not be afraid,
until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.
he has distributed freely; he has given to the poor;
his horn is exalted in honor.’ (Psalm 112:1, 3, 7-9)

All is yours because in faith, you are that righteous man. Your are the one the Psalmist refers to and praises the Lord for. This is all true for you because of the great and amazing love of God in Christ Jesus our Savior. You and I have left our selfish life behind and now live for Christ and His kingdom. ‘Praise the LORD!’ Jesus, because you say so, I will!

In Jesus’+ Name. Amen.

[1] Encyclopedia of Sermon Illustrations, p. 47. Entry #169.
[2] Ibid, p. 105. Entry #474.
[3] The Lutheran Study Bible, p. 1716 note on 5:1-11.
[4] See Lutheran Hour Ministries website for their sermon on this text http://www.lhm.org/.

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.