Joshua 5:13-6:5, 20 - Jericho: A Memorial to the Lord - May 29, 2016

Tomorrow is Memorial Day. What does that mean? It probably depends on who you talk to. Children are eager to get out of school. Travelers will lament the long security lines at the airport. The media is interested in everything from the beginning of hurricane season to how many beach-goers will fall victim to shark attacks to the ongoing presidential campaign. And what often gets lost in the wash? The real meaning of Memorial Day. The reality that the reason that we can travel and go to the beach and peacefully elect a new leader is because men and women in the armed forces paid the ultimate price to gain and preserve those freedoms.   

While it’s sad when people forget the purpose of Memorial Day, a far greater tragedy is that many more people don’t know or remember Bible history – and the memorials it contains of what God did to serve and save our sinful human race. The Church exists to prevent this kind of forgetfulness. Today we travel back in time to the region of Canaan, just west of the Jordan River, to the fortified city of Jericho. Our text only gives a brief overview of the battle of Jericho – but what do you remember about it? Do you recall the Israelites marching around the city blowing horns and shouting? Does your imagination run wild with images of Jericho’s walls tumbling down on the seventh day? While those are the right details, if that’s all you remember, then you’re missing the point. Tomorrow, don’t let the memory of those who gave their lives for your freedom get lost. But today, let us remember Jericho, a memorial to the Lord – where we see that in impossible circumstances, His promises are sure.

The Israelites should have learned this lesson by now. After all, their very existence was only a result of God’s power and promises. God freed them from slavery in Egypt and led them through the depths of the Red Sea. God provided food and water as they wandered in the wilderness. God held back the Jordan River so that they could cross into the Promised Land on dry ground. God had promised a home flowing with milk and honey, and the spies had verified that Canaan was just as promised. But now an immovable obstacle seemed to stand in front of God’s promise. That obstacle was Jericho, the heavily fortified city that guarded access to the Promised Land. Joshua, recognized how impossible this situation seemed. That’s why he was off on his own, looking over the city, probably formulating a battle plan.

In the midst of his strategizing, [Joshua] looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” A natural question when someone pulls a sword on you. The man’s answer is clearer in another translation: No; but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come. (ESV) No? No, you’re not on our side? What kind of an answer is that? This is an important point. We often ask, in our minds and prayers, “God, are you on my side?” That’s the wrong question. The proper question is, “Are you on God’s side?” The Lord is not a mercenary for hire. He does not take sides in human battles. The man made it clear from the outset to Joshua, that if he planned to emerge victorious, he had better be on God’s side, fighting for the Lord and following his will.

Joshua got the message. He took off his sandals and fell on his face before the man. See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. According to the Lord’s commander, the battle was as good as won. The Lord was giving his word that the mighty, never before conquered city, with all its warriors and weapons would be taken by the Israelites. But here is where faith comes in. For the Lord didn’t tell Joshua to arm his men or prepare to besiege the city. No, he said march around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have all the people give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the people will go up, every man straight in. Instead of preparing for battle, the Lord told Joshua to do what? Worship. Worship the Lord for seven days by marching around the city with the Ark of the Covenant, blowing horns and giving a loud shout.

It probably sounded like a foolish, impossible plan, but the Israelites believed and did it anyway. And on the seventh day when the trumpets sounded, the people shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the people gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so every man charged straight in, and they took the city. Everything happened just as the Lord said it would. He kept his promise. Jericho was leveled and the Lord emerged victorious. What did Joshua and the Israelites contribute to the victory? Nothing. God had done everything. He had destroyed the walls and handed them a conquered city. This was to establish an important precedent for Joshua and the Israelites as they continued their conquest of the Promised Land. This ruined city was to be a memorial to the Lord – a reminder to them that no matter how impossible the situation seemed, the battle is the Lord’s and with him and his promises the victory is sure.

The whole point of a memorial, whether it’s a day, a monument, or a written record – is so that people don’t forget. But how often don’t we do just that, forget. How easy it is to forget that we wouldn’t be able to gather here to worship our Lord in freedom and without fear if it weren’t for those who gave their lives to preserve our religious freedom. How often we take for granted and forget that the privileges we have as American citizens – the freedom of speech, to bear arms, to due process, even the ability to vote – aren’t absolute human rights, but privileges purchased with blood. Tomorrow, don’t forget that freedom is not free.

Today, don’t forget the lessons of Jericho. How could we? The message is so clear. The memorial to the Lord at Jericho tells us that no matter how impossible the battle seems, both the battle and the outcome are the Lord’s. But in the midst of life’s turbulence, it’s so easy to forget. And when we forget the Lord, we will fall into one of two ditches of unbelief. The first was on display the first time the Israelites had come here, to the threshold of the Promised Land. Moses had sent spies to scout out the peoples and cities and quality of the land. The majority of spies forgot God’s promise and reported: we can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are…the land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size…we seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them. (Numbers 13:31-33) 40 years earlier, when faced with a similar set of circumstances, the Israelites had forgotten God’s promise, doubted his power and spent 4 decades wandering and dying in the wilderness as a result.

Doubt kills faith. But we all face situations that tempt us to doubt God’s power and love. Normally we think of cancer or disease or death. But those are by no means the only impossible situations we face in life. Raising God-fearing children in a godless world is a challenge for every generation of parents. Living with a spouse who is unfaithful or absent or unloving can feel like a burden too heavy to bear. Dealing with the fallout of divorce puts enormous stress on everyone involved. Facing financial uncertainty or frustrations at work is not easy for anyone. But are they impossible situations? For us, sinful humans, alone – yes. On our own we can’t even defeat the common cold, much less the more serious issues of life. And in moments of weakness we sometimes ask the wrong question: are you on my side, Lord, or not? It’s a question that reveals doubt not faith. It’s also an arrogant question, for it presumes that we know what is best for our lives. When faced with impossible circumstances, don’t doubt the Lord’s promise and power. Fall on your face before him in the humble understanding that his ways are not our ways – good or bad, what he decides is best.

The other ditch is just as dangerous. As the conquest continued, the Israelites set their sight on the town of Ai. The spies gave presumptuous report: not all the people will have to go against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary all the people, for only a few men are there. So about three thousand men went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai. (Joshua 7:3-4) Just like that, the Israelites forgot Jericho. After one victory they began to believe that they could conquer Canaan without God.

For us, arrogant self-reliance might be more subtle. It happens when I credit myself for the food on my plate, forgetting that every meal is a gift from God’s gracious hand. It happens when I imagine that exercise, a healthy diet, medication and therapy can keep this body alive one second longer than God has determined. It happens when I trust my nest egg or pension to secure my future. Even here, sinful pride can raise its ugly head. When we begin to believe that if we can just find the right method or strategy to make the church grow – we are pretending to be God’s equals instead of God’s subjects. Whenever we start to take the credit or rely on ourselves for the victory we are doomed to fail – because pride kills faith too.

And so, in part, Jericho is a call for us to repent for doubting God’s promises and thinking we don’t need his power. The memorial at Jericho reminds us to have the humility to recognize that we are not God; we are not in control, he is. When he promises victory, don’t doubt, believe. When he tells you to trust him and not your own strength or cunning, listen. That’s all wrapped up in the 1st commandment, as Luther explained: we should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.

But there’s good news in Jericho, too. Where? Do you remember the man who confronted Joshua with a drawn sword? It wasn’t an angel – angels don’t accept praise or worship from men. This was the pre-incarnate Savior. This was Jesus. Here is the good news: the one who commands us to trust and forbids us to doubt is not some far off, disinterested deity – he is a warrior. He is the King who came down from his throne in heaven to wage war against our greatest enemies: sin, death, and Satan. And on the cross he defeated them once and for all, winning the battle for your soul. That same Jesus promises to go to war for you in the rest of life’s battles too. Whatever the circumstance is, remember that the battle is the Lord’s. Take it to him in prayer and let him fight. And trust that with Jesus fighting your battles, final victory is as sure today as it was in Jericho.

Tomorrow, remember those who gave their lives to preserve our freedom. Every day, remember the one who gave his life for our salvation. Remember that even though he died to win our freedom, he didn’t stay dead. He rose to life to live with us and to wage war for us. Remember what Jesus did at Jericho. Remember what He did for you on the cross. Remember, believe and in any and every circumstance trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5) Amen.

Ephesians 1:3-14 - The Big Picture of Salvation - May 22, 2016

I.                    Chosen by the Father

In navigating our way through this dark, confusing and uncertain world, it’s important to have a grasp of the big picture. This is something we learn early on. For example, have you ever tried putting together 1000 piece puzzle without looking at the completed picture on the box? It’s nearly impossible. I’ve learned, as our home fills up with mysterious baby related items, that bringing baby home is really only the beginning of the adventure. When it comes to saving, investing and financially planning for the future – the best advice helps you to keep the big picture in mind. Seeing the big picture helps us keep the proper perspective – especially when it comes to dealing with the ups and downs, the tragedies and victories of life. The big picture is what the Apostle Paul presents to us this morning. More important than a puzzle picture or your personal financial picture, Paul reveals the big picture of salvation formulated by the Triune God.

If these verses sounded like a long, complex, somewhat confusing stream of consciousness – it’s not just you. The 11 verses before us are one long sentence, of over 200 words, in the original Greek. It’s quite likely that the format of Paul’s words reflect the nature of his topic – he takes us from eternity to eternity, to reveal what God is up to in past, present and future, he helps us see the cosmic dimensions of God’s plan. It’s a picture so big that, kind of like these verses, we struggle to grasp it all. But, fortunately, the Trinity provides an outline to guide our thoughts: We are chosen by the Father, redeemed by the Son, and sealed with the Spirit.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will – to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

Here we see the work God the Father performed even before the creation of the world. What did God do before creating this universe? He chose you to be holy and blameless in his sight. He predestined you to be adopted as his sons and daughters. Ephesians 1 is where the false teaching of “decision theology” comes to die. Paul pulls back the curtain on how you got to this point; the point of being a baptized, instructed, confirmed Christian – it’s not because you chose God, but because before God created one wave of light or one drop of H20 – he chose you. This is commonly called the doctrine of election and this is good news! This means that even though you were born as God’s enemy, God determined from eternity to bring you into his family. This doctrine confirms that everything in the past, present, and future takes place in line with God’s stated purpose of bringing you to heaven. The doctrine of election takes all the pressure off of us. Salvation doesn’t depend on the strength of our decision or the goodness of our lives. Salvation depends on God. It’s his plan. It’s his work. And he didn’t do it because he knew how cute and adorable we would be – he did it simply because he wanted to, in accordance with his pleasure and will. God chose you, not because you are holy – he chose you to make you holy. That’s grace; that’s undeserved love. Let us praise his glorious grace, which he has freely given us by singing stanza 3 of hymn 194.

II.                  Redeemed by the Son

We know that even if we have formulated the best, most comprehensive big picture plan for our lives – things often don’t turn out as we planned. I have yet to meet the college student who planned to find a job where his degree was just a worthless piece of paper – but it happens. No one intends to default on their mortgage – but that happens too. We can’t look into the future to plan for the car trouble or hospital visit. Our plans fall apart. But God’s do not. If God makes a plan and a promise, he keeps it. And the responsibility for carrying out God’s plan for your salvation fell on the shoulders of one person: Jesus Christ.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment – to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

The root of an awful lot of false teaching and false believing today is the mistaken notion that the Gospel is all about us. It’s not. It’s about Christ. Did you notice how Paul made that undeniably clear? At least 12 times he says that God’s plan for our salvation is “in” or “through Christ.” If heaven is your goal, you need to accept the fact that getting there cannot depend on you or your effort. Why not? Because the Bible reveals the sad truth about humanity: God looked at mankind from his eternal vantage point and determined that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. (Genesis 6:5) David confesses the universal truth: [we] were sinful [from] birth. (Psalm 51:5) Isaiah notes that even our righteous acts are like filthy rags. (Isaiah 64:6) We could go on. But the point is that if salvation depended at all, even .01% on our obedience, it would have failed.

The good news is that God’s plan of salvation never relied on what we have done or will do, but on what Jesus has done. The plan God formulated in mist of eternity was put into action in human history, 2000 years ago, in the geographical area of Palestine, under the reigns of Augustus, Tiberius and Pontius Pilate. The work Jesus came to do is called redemption. This is a word every Christian should have imprinted on their memories and included in their regular vocabulary. Redemption means to buy back or set free from slavery or imprisonment. We were imprisoned by sin and enslaved to Satan, utterly unable to free ourselves. But Christ redeemed us. He set us free. He did it by paying the price of his own blood on the cross – a payment price worth more than all the gold in all the world. In stark contrast to the false view of God held by too many – one where God is happy go lucky and unserious about sin – the Triune God, the only true God, could not ignore our sin or sweep it under the rug, so he addressed it head-on, by holding his Son accountable for all of it. Because Christ paid the price for our redemption, we are forgiven. Every last one of our sins was placed on Jesus’ shoulders and washed away by his blood.

Whenever you are tempted to doubt your salvation, come back to these words. For those times when your conscience leaves you restless, when guilt weighs on your heart, when uncertainty has you wondering about God’s plan for your life – hear this today: Christ has redeemed you. Every one of your sins have been forgiven, sent away, never to be heard from again. No matter how big your pile of sin is – God’s grace is bigger. Whether you’ve been a Christian for 40 years or 40 minutes, Jesus’ redemption applies to you. God chose you before you were born and Jesus redeemed you 2000 years ago on the cross – all according to plan. Believe it, because it’s the only true picture of salvation.

III.               Sealed with the Spirit

When a plan involves 2 or more people, that plan becomes a commitment. And because our commitments are often fickle and prone to failure, we sometimes have to give proof of our sincerity. Sometimes it’s as simple as a handshake or a verbal agreement. But other times it involves something precious: a diamond ring represents a husbands commitment to his wife, starting a business might involve putting your own assets up as collateral. Maybe the assurance we are most familiar with is that of a down payment on a home. It’s the money you give the bank before you ever move in as proof that the rest of the payment will eventually be made. If the picture of salvation involves not only God’s eternal plan and the Son’s work of redemption, but also includes you and me and the other elect – we would expect some proof of God’s commitment, right? That’s where the third person of the Trinity comes in.

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of his glory.

The Father planned from eternity to save us – Jesus did the work of saving us. It’s done, finished. This inheritance is guarded, safe from dust and rust and thieves and taxes in heaven. But the very nature of an inheritance is that we don’t have it yet. Right now we are still subject to disease and disappointment. Right now we still struggle with doubt and sin – and often, with each other. Even if we believe that God has a master plan for our lives, where is the proof that he will follow through – not for Abraham or Moses or Paul, but me and you – in the end? Right here: You also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Whether you first received the gospel when a man splashed water on your head in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit or later when you first heard the message of Christ crucified – that was the moment in your life when God’s plan became more than a fuzzy blueprint; that was when God fit you, personally, into his grand picture of salvation.

Your faith is the work of the Holy Spirit. He is God’s down payment, proof that God will follow through on his plan and promise. Faith is just one of the many blessings God has in store for you, and right now, it’s the most important blessing, because it assures you day after day that more is on the way. Possessing faith in God’s plan is kind of like having someone hand you the winning Powerball ticket. If you have that winning ticket you’re going to carry it with you wherever you go, waking and sleeping – it assures you that millions, though you don’t see them, will someday be yours. The Holy Spirit is God’s seal on our hearts. It proves that he owns us. And the Holy Spirit works tirelessly today and every day to keep us steadfast in the one true faith by showing us again and again God’s big picture plan, executed by Christ and revealed in word and sacrament. When doubt or sin linger, come here, for here is where you receive another installment of God’s down payment to you week after week – a down payment that consists of sins forgiven, life and salvation – signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit.

It’s important to regularly step back to see the big picture. It gives perspective. It aids in planning. It helps you deal with both tragedy and success. In Ephesians 1 Paul presents the big picture of salvation. It is a grand and glorious plan – stretching from eternity to eternity. The Father chose you. The Son redeemed you. The Spirit seals you. What is left for us to do? Nothing but to praise his glorious grace with our lips and our lives. Amen.

John 14:15-21 - We Are Not Alone - May 15, 2016

It’s about WHO you know, not WHAT you know. In everything from running a business to getting your car repaired to enrolling your child in the best daycare – much of life is about building and maintaining relationships. That’s why financial advisers promise to get to know you – not just manage your money. That’s why huge corporations spend millions on public relations and charitable endeavors. It’s also why many churches these days that don’t really talk about Jesus or the Bible will make a really big deal of offering a relationship with God. It’s an attractive concept these days when so many are isolated from human contact behind a computer or smartphone screen. It’s also a completely natural desire because God created us as social beings. Already in Genesis 2 God declared that It [was] not good for [Adam] to be alone, and he resolved to make a helper suitable for him. (Genesis 2:18) It’s perfectly normal for humans to desire intimate, personal relationships – both with each other and with their Creator.

The problem is, no business and not even many churches today are honest about why our relationships with God and others so often seem broken. And unless we understand why our relationship with God was ruined in the first place we cannot even begin to appreciate what Jesus came to do or the words before us this morning. It does no good to point the finger at Adam and Eve, the serpent and the forbidden fruit. We can’t blame our parents or our upbringing or our culture. No, the reason you and I don’t have a perfect relationship with God is because we are sinners. Every one of us. But that begs the question: what is sin? The essence of sin is disobedience to God’s holy will. It is doing what we want rather than what God wants. And what does God want? Jesus declared: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. (Matthew 22:37-40) In other words, God’s will is for us to be focused on himself and others; and to sin is to be bent in on ourselves. To sin is to praise and serve myself instead of praising God and serving other people. Sin is an infectious disease that isolates us from God and from each other. And the wages of sin is eternal death in hell. (Romans 6:23)

But God would not let this situation stand. His love, his very character would not allow his creatures to remain isolated from him. And so, while we were dead in sin, unable to show an ounce of love for God, [He] demonstrated his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8) Jesus spoke these words in the Upper Room on the night he was betrayed and handed over to death. Jesus would leave this room and allow himself to be hung on a cross all to pay for our sins and clear the path for us to have a relationship with God. Everyone who confesses their need for His sacrifice through repentance and trusts it through faith has a restored relationship with God. They – you and I – are, once again, God’s dearly loved children.

And so, when we read these words in John 14 we shouldn’t hear a demand but rather an invitation from the One who suffered hell – total isolation from God’s love – so that we wouldn’t have to. If you love me, you will obey what I command. It’s important to note that Jesus did not say: “If you love me, you will obey what Moses commands.” No. Believers are no longer under the law, but under grace. Jesus did not come to be a new law-giver. Martin Luther explained this well: “Therefore I lay upon you nothing but this, demand and desire only this one thing, that you faithfully preach concerning me, have my word and sacrament laid upon you, and keep love and unity among yourselves for my sake, and suffer with patience whatever on this account comes upon you. These are the brief commandments that are called my commandments; which I lay upon you only as you love me and for my sake do them gladly.”

To be clear, Jesus is not saying that our obedience earns God’s love. God’s love always comes first. (1 John 4:19) God is the sun and we are the moon. We only reflect – often dimly – the love God has shown us in Christ. And yet, even though Jesus has put us back in a perfect relationship with God – we are not able to maintain that relationship on our own. That’s why Jesus goes on: And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

When you fall into sin, when your faith is weak, when you don’t feel close to God – don’t despair, because 53 days after Jesus died for you He sent the Spirit to counsel us in our relationship with God. A counselor is someone who helps you through tough times. The Greek word, Paraclete, literally means advocate. It means that the Holy Spirit stands by our side to testify to us of God’s love for us. That’s why Jesus calls him another Counselor. While Jesus lived with his disciples, he filled that role. He was walking, talking proof of God’s love and grace. Today, we don’t see or speak with Jesus. But we’re not alone. He has sent the Holy Spirit to be with us, as confirmation of God’s love for us.

The world thinks we’re crazy – that maybe we’ve had too much wine – because we can’t prove the Spirit’s presence with reason or put him in a test tube. So where is the evidence of the Holy Spirit’s presence? Does singing old Lutheran hymns coax him out of hiding? Does he arrive when the usher lights the candles? No. We cannot summon God any more than we can make the sun shine. Jesus compares the Holy Spirit to another invisible force: the wind. The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit. (John 3:8) So even though we cannot see or grab ahold of the Spirit, Jesus says, we will see the result of his work. Paul explains: No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:3) The undeniable proof of the Holy Spirit’s presence doesn’t happen in front of your eyes, but in your heart. If you believe that Jesus Christ is both true God and true man, that he died for your sins and rose to life three days later, the Spirit lives in you because only the Spirit can produce that faith in a human heart.

Why doesn’t everyone who hears the Gospel believe it? Jesus explains that too: I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live you also will live. The world doesn’t see Jesus because the world thinks that He is dead and buried – as dead as Moses, Abraham Lincoln and the artist formerly known as Prince. But, by the Spirit’s work, we know and believe the truth: Jesus lives! He lives and he rules all things for our benefit. And because Jesus destroyed death’s power by his own death and resurrection, we know that death has no power over us and we will live with him forever.

But never forget – there is only one way anyone can believe these things – and that is through the work of the Spirit. But if the Spirit is invisible, how can we know where to find Him? Paul explains in Ephesians 1: You also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 1:13) Wherever the means of grace are rightly administered – there the Holy Spirit is present and working. And what is he busy doing?

That’s not a mystery either, Jesus tells us: On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Someday, he says, the disciples and the church would realize that Jesus did everything to restore their broken relationship with God. What day is that? Today, the Day of Pentecost. Pentecost has been called the birthday of the Christian church, because on this day Jesus poured out the Holy Spirit to convict of sin and to create faith in Jesus in the hearts of sinners. From that first Pentecost until the end of time, the Spirit is actively working through the means of grace to assure lost sinners that Jesus has done everything necessary to restore you and me and all believers to a loving, personal relationship with God.

And that, finally, brings us full circle: Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him. Once again, Jesus is not saying that we have to earn God’s love. Scripture is clear on that. But, Jesus is saying that we grow closer to God as we obey him. To illustrate: Parents, I assume that your love for your children is not based on their obedience to you, right? Of course not. But you love them even more when they show their love to you by listening to you. The same is true here. God loved us before we could ever love him. He proved that by sending his Son to die for us, his natural born enemies. But those who hear God’s Word, repent, trust in Jesus and obey his commandments – those are the people God happily calls his family.

Why spend so much time discussing the person and work of the Spirit? Many churches have turned the person and work of the Holy Spirit into at best, a total mystery, and at worst, just another thing we have to do. Neither of those are Biblical or true. The truth is that Jesus sends us the Holy Spirit to comfort us – by reassuring us that Jesus has restored our relationship with God. This does not mean that things will ever be perfect in this life. We won’t be free from sin until God calls us home. But even though we are sinners, we are forgiven sinners – and that is the essence of a relationship with God.

If you ever feel alone and isolated in this world, that’s not your imagination. Sin has isolated us from God and one another. Pentecost means that we are not alone; Jesus has not abandoned us. The Father has given us the Spirit. The Spirit sustains our faith in Christ. Through the Son we are loved by the Father. Through the Gospel, spoken, poured out in Baptism and offered in, with and under the bread and wine, the Spirit proves over and over that Jesus has reunited you in a perfect, loving relationship with the one, true God. Amen.  

Jude 17-21 - But You, Build Yourselves Up in Faith - May 8, 2016

Brody, it’s mother’s day, so I’m going to steal one of the questions moms everywhere love to ask when their children’s friends are planning to do something stupid: “If everyone else jumped off a cliff, would you?” After hearing that question often enough, you might come up with a smart-aleck response like: “Well, they must have a good reason – what are they running from?” All kidding aside, this is the last time I, as your pastor, have the chance to talk to you personally before you become a confirmed member of Risen Savior, before you begin your high school and college years, before you grow – hopefully in maturity as much as height – into an adult. And I chose these verses from one of the shortest books in the Bible, because I feel a lot like Pastor Jude did 2000 years ago. This is what he wrote at the beginning of his letter: Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. (Jude 3) Brody, I would love nothing more than to dwell on the faith that you and I studied over the course of the past two years. I would like to further explore the mystery of the person and nature of Christ this morning, to plumb the depth of God’s love for sinners and to deepen your appreciation for the glory of heaven that awaits believers. But, to paraphrase moms everywhere – I know that when you leave here you will be confronted by many people who will tempt you to jump off a cliff into unbelief. So my final encouragement to you Brody – is to continue to build yourself up in your Christian faith.

If I learned anything from Brody over 2 years, it is a new appreciation for video games. I learned what an FPS is. (First person shooter) I learned that it is possible for a human being to survive an entire weekend in front of a TV on a diet of nothing but Doritos and Mt. Dew. But maybe the most interesting thing I learned is the most popular video games are extremely life-like. What does that mean? Well, not only do the graphics look like real life, but many video games consist of a process of upgrading – upgrading your skills, abilities, weapons, etc. And why do you need to upgrade to make progress? Because the levels get harder, the enemies get fiercer, the stakes (seemingly) get bigger. That’s really the same reason Jude encourages us to continue to build up (upgrade) our faith today.

Jude writes: dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. Like a video game, every stage in life brings with it new challenges, fiercer enemies, and higher stakes. We are living, quite literally, in the final level of world history. God’s creative activity was completed thousands of years ago. Jesus has also completed his mission of redemption; he suffered, died and rose to wash away the sins of all people of all time. You know that Brody. You also know that Jesus’ final earthly act will be to judge the living and the dead. He could return at any time. He will come when we least expect him, like a thief in the night. (Matthew 24) But until that Day, Christians will be surrounded by fierce enemies. Scoffers, Jude calls them.

What is a scoffer? Scoffers are people who laugh at the truths we sometimes take for granted, truths that you have known since your mother and grandmother first taught you about Jesus. They deny the authority of God’s Word and refuse to submit to God’s moral standards for their lives. Instead of following God’s will, they will follow their own ungodly desires. I know you’ve faced these enemies already, Brody. You’ve had science teachers who have laughed at the truth that God created this world in six days. You’ve had health teachers who’ve made a mockery of God’s plan for sex and marriage. You’ve had friends (and probably some teachers, too) who refuse to acknowledge God’s authority as Judge and tell you that the most important rule in life is to do whatever feels good. You’re no stranger to watching scoffers leaping off the cliff of truth into the abyss of unbelief that leads to hell.

But as you get older, as you start taking higher level classes and become more independent – those enemies will get stronger, too. They won’t be satisfied with simply following their own ungodly desires – they will try to divide you from your Savior and from your fellow believers. When it comes to sin they will make the false claim that “everyone’s doing it.” They will point to sociology and psychology to persuade you that God can’t be right when he asserts that there is no one righteous, not even one. (Romans 3:10) There might even be people who call themselves Christians who try to convince you that Jesus just wants you to be happy – even if being happy means sinning against his holy will. The trouble is that there’s a part of you that wants to agree with them, to go along to the edge of that cliff. You know what that part is called, right? The Old Adam. Your Old Adam wants nothing more than to go along with the crowd and satisfy your every sinful desire. And sometimes those enemies will win. You will disobey God’s will and go your own way. That’s when the 10 commandments you memorized will flash through your mind and your conscience will sternly remind you that anyone who breaks even one of God’s commands deserves to go to hell. But you also know what to do when you fail and fall. You know that that is the time to repent: to confess your sins and trust that the God who loves you enough to show you your sins loved you enough to send his only Son to die for them, too.

In life, like in video games, you need to be able to identify your enemies. Remember what the apostles warned about these last days, Brody. You will be surrounded by scoffers who laugh at God and his will. Remember this warning and don’t be deceived – anyone who teaches or lives contrary to God’s Word does not seek your salvation but your destruction. They seek to divide you from your Savior now and forever.

Remember this warning, and then remember the confirmation passage you chose: Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. (Revelation 3:11) I’m glad you chose that passage because it summarizes what Jude says here. When everyone else is jumping off a cliff by giving in to their sinful desires – don’t follow them. But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

Back to the video game analogy. You need two things to beat a game. You need to know your enemies, their strengths and weaknesses – but you also need to build up your own abilities, stick to your strengths and work on your weaknesses. Now, every analogy limps – and so does this one. Because it makes it seem like you’re on your own now when it comes to building up your faith and staying in God’s love. But don’t forget this either, Brody, even as you head off to high school next year and into the world of adulthood, you’re not alone. No matter how tall you get, you will always be Jesus’ little lamb. Wherever you go, God will be with you. And through Jude, God shows you how to remain in the love he gave you when you were baptized.

First, he says, build [yourself] up in your most holy faith. The picture here is building on a foundation. And you have two great advantages here, Brody, the first is that you are building on the most solid and unshakeable foundation ever laid: the Word of God – which will never fade, change, or pass away. The other great advantage you have is that you have Luther’s summary of those basic doctrines locked away in your mind – you proved it last week. You not only know what God demands of you – you know that Jesus has kept every one of God’s demands perfectly in your place. You not only know that God created the world in six days, you know that God plans to destroy this earth and make it perfect and new again. You not only know and believe that the Holy Spirit created faith in your heart through Baptism, you also know that the Spirit preserves and strengthens faith through the means of grace. And that’s key. Because just as your enemies will get stronger, you need to build on the foundation God has given you. How? Read the Word. Hear the Word. Study the Word. Share the Word. Eat and drink the body and blood of the Lord. The world’s temptations, Satan’s lies, and your own sinful desires will shrivel up under the bright light of God’s truth. Don’t just upgrade your video game skills, upgrade your faith by feeding it with Word and Sacrament.

Secondly, pray in the Holy Spirit. After God has spoken to you, speak to him. Tell him things you would never tell anyone else. Tell him your hopes and dreams, your fears and concerns. Thank him for his love and ask him for anything – knowing that he will give you whatever is best. And pray confidently. You are God’s child – baptized and confirmed in faith – and no one can take that from you. Pray, confident that because the Holy Spirit presents your prayers to God – you will always be heard. Pray joyfully, knowing that there’s nothing your heavenly Father loves more than hearing from his children and meeting their needs. In good times and in bad, pray – and know that you remain in God’s love.

Finally, wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Something that you and I and all believers need to remember, Brody, is that no matter how hard we work, no matter how firm our faith and how much we persevere in prayer, we will never be able to completely reform or purify our lives or this world. Both this world and our bodies are terminally ill because of sin. Never forget that Jesus didn’t come to this world to make it holy, but to make us holy and to save us from it. Look forward to that day, because on that day Jesus will destroy all your enemies once and for all. On that day, Jesus will publicly declare what he privately told you in Baptism: your sins are forgiven, you are not guilty. On that day, Jesus will take you into his arms and give you the crown of life. That day will be better than any video game you can ever play, because the joy of the victory Jesus won for you will never end.  

Even if everyone else is jumping off the cliff into unbelief and death, Brody, I pray that you never will. My prayer, Jesus’ prayer, the prayer of everyone here is that you will never fall away from the faith that you were baptized into years ago, that you confessed last week and will be confirmed in this morning. I’m confident that [the one] who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6) He will help you to see your enemies for what they really are. He will build up your faith through Word and Sacrament, through prayer and through the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. You might forget many of the things you learned over the past two years – but don’t forget this: the best level of life – eternal life – is yet to come. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. (Revelation 3:11) Amen.

1 Timothy 2:1-6 - First of All: Pray - May 1, 2016

In my Bible, the heading for 1 Timothy chapter 2 is Instructions on Worship. What was at the top of Paul’s list for worship in Christian churches? Did Paul say “thou shall sing only organ music”? Did he tell Timothy “your sermons shall be relevant and motivational”? No, St. Paul tells young pastor Timothy that when it comes to worship, one thing is to be a priority: I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for everyone. Now, I’ll admit that when I was younger, I didn’t really understand why we spent so much of the service in prayer. I often thought that the prayers were the dullest part of the service, it seemed like an awful lot of standing and listening, and very quickly my mind began to wander to thoughts of what was for lunch and my eyes to what the people around me were doing. But wandering thoughts and eyes are not at all what Paul has in mind when he urges us to pray as a congregation. No, he says, first of all, when you gather for worship, pray, he teaches us HOW to pray, WHO to pray for, and the God to WHOM we pray.

The primary reason that we have many different prayers throughout our service is because God wants us to pray for all kinds of people on all kinds of occasions. He wants all of our prayers to be the result of overflowing hearts that have so much to say. Paul uses four words to bring out the wide-ranging nature of Christian prayer: requests, prayers, intercession, thanksgiving. This, Paul says is how we are to pray: with requests – that is, we come to God like a child comes to his father to ask for whatever we need – knowing that we come to him with empty hands and that he fills us with everything we need, be it health, peace or forgiveness. Prayers is a very general term indicating any kind of devotion or praise to God. When we make intercession to God, we are boldly asking God to do something on behalf of others. Interceding is what we do when we see pain and suffering and ask God to give support and relief where we cannot. Finally, Paul says, we offer thanksgiving: this brings our prayer full circle, so that the blessings we receive from God return to him again in the form of gratitude.

Paul’s encouragement is not only a good model for our prayers here, but for our personal prayer life as well. Sometimes we get into a rut of prayer that is centered on us and what we want and need. We pray for ourselves but forget to pray for others. We ask God for stuff but forget to thank him for the stuff he has already given us. One easy way to remember the different elements of God-pleasing prayer is to follow what is called the A-C-T-S model. Adoration. Confession. Thanksgiving. Supplication. Following this simple outline helps us to keep our focus and serves as a reminder to praise God, confess our sins, and offer thanksgiving before we present our list of requests to God. Prayer is a powerful gift from God, and he wants us to take advantage of that power by taking care in HOW we pray.

Just as important as HOW we pray is WHO we pray for. Paul urges: pray for everyone. That’s kind of overwhelming – how can I possibly know what 7 billion people need, how would I ever have the time to intercede to God for every one of them? In fact, this prayer is very simple. We pray that God would carry out his will for all people, a will which Paul spells out: God our Savior…wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. Our prayer can be as simple as the words of the Lord’s Prayer: thy will be done; or as focused as a prayer for a specific person we know who is stumbling in the darkness of unbelief. In both cases, we pray that God would bring everyone to a knowledge of the truth – the two fold truth that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and are justified freely by his grace. (Romans 3:23-24)

Praying for everyone obviously means that we exclude no one. But Paul encourages Christians to specifically pray for kings and all those in authority. I don’t think I am alone if I admit that the leaders of our government haven’t always been at the top of my prayer list. And yet, Paul tells us to make the conscious effort to pray for those whose responsibility it is to govern.

This was no easy thing for those first Christians to do. Those Christians saw their friends and family dragged into coliseums throughout the Roman Empire where they were tortured and sacrificed as entertainment for pagan Roman crowds. Those Christians found themselves targeted for persecution by the Roman government and Roman people who falsely blamed them for all kinds of problems in society. If Christians were persecuted like that today, we would hear about pastors calling down hell fire on civic leaders and issuing widespread calls for rebellion or at the least civil disobedience. But Paul encourages Timothy to do just the opposite: he urges those Christians to pray for the very leaders who hunted them down and tortured them for their Christian faith. 

Even though they’re not hunting us down or banning Christianity, it’s not always easy to pray for our nation’s leaders today, is it? It doesn’t seem right to us to ask God to bless leaders who introduce laws and policies that contradict God’s will. We hesitate to pray for politicians who are revealed to be corrupt and immoral in both their public and personal lives. But there is a very good reason for us to pray even for unbelieving, immoral rulers; so that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. History teaches that it is easier for Christians to lead quiet, God-pleasing lives when there is peace than when there is war. Examples abound: think of God’s OT people who had to shed blood as they conquered the Promised Land and then were besieged, starved and killed by their enemies; think of the NT Christians who had to weigh denying Christ versus a horrible, painful death; think of how hard it would have been to live for God during the American Revolution or the civil war. Wars and rebellions – even those undertaken with seemingly righteous motives – can lead Christians to do some terrible, evil things – not the least of which is to question God’s love and power. We pray for the leaders God has placed over us so that we might live peaceful and Godly lives, and at the same time, we pray that God would shine the light of his Gospel into their hearts so that they too might know Christ as their Savior.

Pray for everyone Paul says. Pray especially for your nation and government he urges. Why? Because this is good and pleases God our Savior. There are many good reasons to pray – but the most important one of all is that God wants us to. It pleases God when we bring all our thoughts and concerns and praise and thanks to his throne.

In the end, the power of prayer doesn’t come from how we pray or who we pray for. Prayer is not powerful because we are so eloquent and earnest when we pray – because quite often, we’re not. No, prayer is powerful because of the God we pray to. Paul says that we are to address our prayers to the one true God. When we pray, we pray to the omnipotent Creator of the heavens and the earth. We pray to the God who orders the sun the shine and the rain to fall and numbers the very hairs of our heads. We pray to the God who raises and crushes leaders and nations like pawns on the chessboard of history. When we pray, we stand with our petitions before the throne of the king of Heaven and the Judge of all mankind.

Sometimes we forget that. We forget that when we pray, we aren’t talking to a buddy or texting a friend – we are addressing the one, true, holy God. We forget that when we come into church – we are walking into God’s house. This isn’t a movie or a concert – this is different and much more important. When we come here we stand before God, and the only thing we bring to the table is our sins, and the first thing we do is openly and honestly confess how sinful, how unworthy we are to be here. It is an awesome and awful thing to come before the one, holy God. Throughout Bible history, people were shaken to the core when they witnessed the glory of God. The people of Israel shook with fear when God descended on Sinai with flashes of lightning and rumbles of thunder. Peter, James, and John were shocked and awed when Jesus was transfigured before them. Even the mob in the Garden of Gethsemane fell on their knees when Jesus told them who he was. When we come here to stand before God, it is with all humility and sorrow, because we know our sins and how they have ruined our relationship with Him. Let us never forget that on our own, we cannot pray to God or expect that he will hear us; we cannot even stand in his presence dressed as we are in the tattered rags of our own sinfulness.

That’s what makes the last line of our text so important. Paul writes: There is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men. We cannot come to God on our own, and – this is the good news – we don’t have to. We come in Jesus’ name; as his invited guests. We come dressed in the robes of holiness that Jesus earned for us as our perfect substitute. God answers when we knock because Jesus reestablished our line of communication with his Father by his death which served as the ransom price to redeem us from our sins – symbolized by the tearing of the curtain in the temple the moment he gave his last breath. God hears our prayers because our risen and ascended Savior still stands before him as our mediator. Knowing that, knowing what it cost our Savior to give us access to God, will remove any selfishness or shortsightedness from our prayer life. It will instill in us a sense of awe when we come before God and will cause our prayers to overflow with praise and thanks for all that he has done.

So, what should we do when we gather for worship? Expect to be entertained? Motivated? Moved emotionally? Paul tells us: pray. Pray for everyone – because it is God’s will that all people be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. Pray for our nation’s leaders and government that they too might come to faith and that we may live peaceful and Godly lives. Pray at all times and in all places to our Almighty God in heaven, confident that he has the power to do whatever you ask. Pray, because Jesus lived, died and rose to give you that privilege. It’s in his holy name we pray today and every day. Amen.  

2 Timothy 2:8-13 - Remember Jesus Christ - April 24, 2016

“When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” We often summon that mindset when we face difficult or trying circumstances. It is a reminder not to be discouraged, to buck up and grit your teeth and just fight your way through. Sometimes, it works. Visit a fitness center and the sweating and grunting tell you that people are toughing it out to reach their fitness goals. Visit a dormitory in the middle of the night where students fight against sleep to cram for a test. Visit a kitchen table after the children have been put to bed where husband and wife have to make some tough decisions to make ends meet. Visit a hospital room, where a patient smiles and tells the nurse and her visitors that she’s feeling fine when inside she’s feeling a 10 on the pain scale. Sometimes, we can tough it out.

Other times, we can’t. Sometimes the situation is so dire that we can’t see any way to get through it. That same student, though he can fight off sleep, can’t fight off the uncertainty of not knowing if there will be a job waiting for him or the dread of graduating with a mountain of student debt. “When the going gets tough, the tough get going” doesn’t help. When you’re sitting at the kitchen table and the question isn’t about how to pay for vacation but whether you will be able to make the mortgage payment or whether you have to go back to work when you had planned to retire, you don’t really want to hear “just do your best and God will take care of the rest” – because your best isn’t good enough. We might be able to grit our teeth and tough it out through pain, but it’s hard to be tough when you’re facing cancer, surgery, or chronic disease. And so it’s not real helpful when a friend comes and says, “Everything will be ok. Things will get better. You can make it through.”

In situations like that, you realize that being tough doesn’t always work. That’s not your imagination. That’s God’s own truth – imprinted on your heart from the moment you were born. (Psalm 73:26) Deep down, every human knows that their best efforts, at some point, won’t be enough. Christians experience this truth every day. Our faith is never so strong that we don’t struggle with doubt. Our best intentions are riddled with selfishness. Our deepest love can’t help everyone we want to. Not to mention our two biggest problems: sin and death. No amount of toughness or effort can purge the sin from our records or keep us breathing one moment longer than God has determined. How do we not despair? Stop looking inside yourself for strength and answers, stop trying to tough it out. Remember that Easter has changed everything. Remember Jesus Christ.

Both the author and recipient of this letter were familiar with difficult situations and the temptation to despair. Paul was in prison in Rome for a second time. He was fairly certain that this time he wouldn’t be freed. The only way out of his prison cell would come at the end of a Roman sword. 2 Timothy would be Paul’s final letter. And that would be difficult for young pastor Timothy to take. Paul was his father in the faith, the man who had mentored and trained him, he was the one he looked to for guidance and encouragement – and now he would be gone. So what does Paul tell Timothy to do? Tough it out?

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. When the going gets tough, the tough…no, the weak, the sad, the powerless don’t get going – they look to Jesus Christ. In other words, Paul is telling Timothy: “When the going gets tough, don’t look inside – look to Jesus. Remember that in suffering and dying he took away the darkest part of your existence: your sin. And that by rising he defeated your greatest enemy: death. Remember that he set the example: the way of suffering, the way of the cross is the only one that leads to heaven. Remember that Jesus ascended to heaven in order to rule everything in this universe and there is no situation – no matter how tough – that he doesn’t have absolute control over. Remember that even though I will shortly die at the hands of the Roman emperor Nero, Jesus is really the one who directs your destiny. (Which, incidentally, we ought to keep in mind as we fret this election year.) Remember Jesus and remember that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.” (Romans 8:28)

This gospel, the gospel of Christ crucified and risen, Paul says, is my gospel. This was what Paul preached and taught. But, more than that, this gospel gave Paul strength and courage as he faced death. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. Even here, Paul doesn’t pretend that the situation isn’t dire, nor does he claim that as an apostle he has the inner manliness and fortitude to get through it on his own. No, he trusts that the same Jesus, the same good news that converted him from a Christian murderer to a Christian martyr would not die with him – would not be chained even by his death. Paul would endure anything and everything for the gospel – because he knew that it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. (Romans 1:16)

When the going gets tough, remember Jesus Christ…and then, remember his faithful apostle. That’s a humbling exercise, isn’t it? We look at Paul and see how he sacrificed everything – his home, his health, his wealth and finally his life – for Christ and his gospel. And then I look at myself and how I am too often unwilling to give up a moment of “me-time”, how reluctant I am to give my treasure back to the one who gave it to me first, to sacrifice time and energy for the sake of the elect (those God has chosen to come to faith) – and I am humbled and ashamed. Maybe you feel the same way. But that’s not the main reason Paul directs us to think about his own life.

There are two lessons that come from remembering the examples of the saints who have gone before us. First, we’re not alone. Whenever we are tempted to think “woe is me,” pick up your Bible and see that God’s people have endured difficult, trying circumstances since the beginning of time. Open up to Hebrews 11 and 12 and you will see evidence that faith in Christ is a mighty, solid and, yes, a tough thing. But you will also see that those heroes of faith weren’t heroes because of their own strength or character, but because God was faithful to them and for them. See how no circumstance – no matter how difficult – could dim their faith that God would, in the end, deliver them from this world of sorrow to himself in heaven.

Secondly, and this is certainly the more difficult lesson to learn: it’s a lie of Satan that life in a sinful world can ever be free from trials and troubles and tough situations. Remember Jesus, the Son of God, who never deserved any pain or hardship because he never said or did anything sinful – and how the world crucified him. Remember the apostles, who dedicated their entire lives to proclaiming and preserving the Gospel of Christ and that the world killed them too. Most of us have never had to face the trials of famine or tyranny or war like many believers throughout history. We’ve never had to grab our families and a few possessions and run for our lives. We’ve never had to fear that if someone finds out we follow Christ that our families, homes, or lives will be in danger. But all of those have been and continue to be real threats to Christians around the world.

Yes, we have our own problems – financial, family, health, spiritual – and there will always be problems of one sort or another as long as we live. Don’t see problems as a reflection of how God feels toward you at any given moment – look to the Bible for that. Instead, see problems as a reflection of the sin that infects our world and our hearts. See problems at home, at work, anywhere as reminders of your need to repent. Satan has done a very good job of obscuring this, but the truth is that Jesus didn’t come to make life in this world easy or pleasant – he came to save us from this world of sin and sorrow. That is how the message of Easter gives us the strength to endure: in trial and trouble it points us to Christ, it shows us that the way out of trouble is not in our hands but in Christ’s, and the way he has chosen to save us is through death; death that leads to eternal life. If we’re resolved to die in order to go to heaven (like the saints were) – how can any other danger or circumstance rattle us? When the going gets tough, remember Jesus Christ and remember saints like his faithful apostle, Paul.

Finally, remember this trustworthy saying: (likely the words of an early Christian hymn) if we died with him, (which we did when we were baptized into his death) we will live with him; If we endure, (through repentance and faith) we will also reign with him. But there is also this warning: If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself. The sinful nature in us (not to mention countless heretical teachers) argue that God is too kind and loving to ever send anyone to hell. The rationale is this: we often back down on our threats, why should the Lord be any different? But God is faithful. If God were to prove untrue to both his promises and his threats, he would cease to be God. Yes, God is love (1 John 4:8), he is loving enough to warn us that whoever denies [Christ] before men (either by word or action) [Christ] will disown him before [his] Father in heaven. (Matthew 10:33) But he is also faithful to his promise: whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. (Matthew 10:32)

For Paul, this trustworthy saying meant that he would not let any trial or hardship shake his faith in Christ. He would let the world and his enemies do whatever they wanted to him – even kill him – because he trusted that the One who died and rose again to life would never abandon him – and that they could destroy him, but they could never destroy the gospel. For us, this means that the gospel message is indeed the most important thing in life. It is not simply a Sunday morning attraction. It is what guides us through this dark world. It is what gives us the strength to endure tough situations. The Gospel reminds us that we should not expect that life in a sinful world (including the sinner living in each one of us) will ever be easy or trouble free. Instead, the Gospel promise is that Jesus will rescue us from this world. When the going gets tough, don’t get going. When the going gets tough, remember Jesus Christ, remember his resurrection, remember his faithful apostle, remember his trustworthy saying. Remember Jesus and trust that he will never forget you. Amen. 

John 21:15-19 - Do You Love Me? - April 17, 2016

In communication, questions have a unique power that other types of discourse often don’t. If I use an indicative (make a statement) you can, without really thinking about it, agree or disagree with it. For example: “Rocky road is the best flavor of ice cream.” But if I phrase it as a question, you have to look inside yourself and think about it. “Do you think rocky road is the best flavor of ice cream?” Questions have so much linguistic power that some questions – you just don’t ask. For a man, you never ask if a woman is pregnant unless you see her holding the baby. Many people would find it offensive if someone asked them how much money they make or who they voted for. Questions have the power to offend, to lead us to really consider something, and to reveal what is hidden in our hearts. This morning, Jesus has a question; the most relevant, important question of all: do you love me?

In our English translations, it appears that Jesus asks the same question three times. The Greek tells a different story. In ancient Greek there were four words for love – but only two are used positively in Scripture. Agape is the highest form of love, it is willful and intentional. It is the unconditional, undeserved love God showed a wicked world as spelled out in Romans 5:8 – God demonstrates his love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Phileo (Philadelphia) is brotherly love, the love of friends and family – it’s natural love. Both of these terms for love appear in the words before us.

If we paraphrase the exchange between Jesus and Peter this distinction comes out clearly: “Simon…do you love me unconditionally more than the rest of the disciples do?” “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you like a friend.” “Simon…do you love me unconditionally?” “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you like a friend.” “Simon, do you love me like a friend?” “Lord, you know all things, you know that I love you like a friend.” Far from pointless repetition, Jesus’ questions worked from the highest form of love possible (the kind of love and dedication Peter had declared for the Lord (Matthew 26:33)) to the lower – and, in doing so, Jesus pierced through Peter’s pride, knowledge, and self-righteousness; all the way to his heart. Peter was hurt by these three questions – because they served as a painful reminder of his three-fold denial. Why would Jesus do that to Peter? Because he knew all things; he knew that Peter was carrying around a load of guilt – the guilt of having abandoned and denied his Lord. Jesus knew that Peter had tried to rid himself of this guilt – through bitter tears, by sprinting to the tomb, by jumping out of a boat to swim to Jesus – but that those things didn’t work. Jesus knew that the only cure for a guilty conscience was to bring it to the surface so that it could be washed away by his true, unconditional love and forgiveness.

God did not preserve this dramatic exchange for us to sit here 2000 years later and feel pity or compassion for Peter. He preserved it so that we might learn from it; so that we would sit before Jesus and have him, the one who knows what is in a person’s heart (John 2:25), ask us: “Do you love me?”

First, note what this question is not. Jesus does not ask: “have you given a confession of your faith?” He doesn’t ask: “do you believe in God?” “Have you been baptized, confirmed; do you hold membership in a Christian church?” He doesn’t ask: “do you love your family, friends, your dog or your work or your hobbies?” He doesn’t ask Peter or us “How much do you give to the church or do for the church or how much do you witness your faith to others?” He doesn’t ask what others think about him. No, clear all that out of your mind, because the question Jesus asks cuts right to the heart of what it means to be a Christian, a disciple of Christ. Paul summarized the heart of the issue in 1 Corinthians 16: If anyone does not love the Lord – a curse be on him. (1 Corinthians 16:22) So, do you love Jesus?

Do you love Jesus unconditionally – that is, without asking anything of him in return? Do you think you love Jesus more than the people sitting around you? Do you love Jesus so much that you would never deny knowing him in order to escape an uncomfortable situation like Peter did? Do you love Jesus so much that you would leave your job and home rather than leave your Savior? Do you love Jesus more than your money or things? Do you love Jesus more than your son, daughter, husband, wife, mom or dad? Do you love Jesus more than your reputation and accomplishments? Do you love Jesus enough to admit that you don’t know him or his Word as well as you should? Do you love Jesus enough to never let anything come before sitting at his feet and listening to him? Do you love Jesus enough to acknowledge that you have put other things before him? Do you love Jesus enough to open yourself up to him to confess to him things that you have never admitted to anyone else? Do you love Jesus more than you love life? Do you? Do you love Jesus with intentional, agape love?

The book of Hebrews says: the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12) This question is proof. This question is why King David’s confession must constantly be on our lips: I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight. (Psalm 51:3-4)

Why does Jesus ask this question to his disciples, to Peter, to you, to me? Because he knows, better than we do, that as long as we hide our sin or make excuses for it or try to work it off – it can’t be forgiven. When we realize this, we know that it is out of the deepest love that Jesus asks us this question. Jesus brings the darkest, guiltiest depths of our heart to the surface – not to put it on display, not to mock us, not to laugh at us – but to show us how badly we need him – the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. (John 1:29)

Here’s the surprising thing: the real reason we avoid the confrontation of the law isn’t because we don’t want to feel it’s piercing pressure, but because we often forget what the Gospel – the good news really is. What? Well, how many of us, when Jesus’ question pinned us down were thinking, “Ok, I’ll try harder to love you.” That is our default reaction. But Jesus didn’t say try harder, did he? What did Jesus tell Peter? Feed my lambs…Take care of my sheep…feed my sheep. Peter, by his denial of his Lord had forfeited not only his position as Christ’s apostle but his place in heaven. By commanding Peter to feed his flock, Jesus was telling him: “Now that your sin has been brought to the surface, it has been washed away by my atoning blood – and not only are your sins forgiven, but I am restoring you back to your office as my witness, my apostle – not because you deserve it, but because of my love.”

That’s something we always need to keep in mind: Jesus only disciplines those he loves. (Revelation 3:19) Really? By making Peter think about the most embarrassing event of his life, Jesus was loving him? Think of it this way: would you ever speak to someone who had betrayed and denied you? Jesus did. Simply by coming to Peter, Jesus showed his compassion and love for his fallen, broken disciple. By coming to him, likely still with the visible marks of his crucifixion, Jesus left no doubt in Peter’s mind of his love. Recalling the events of Holy Week, Peter couldn’t help but remember that Jesus had washed his feet, had been arrested, beaten and crucified – for him and his sins. While Peter had denied Jesus, he could not deny that Jesus loved him in word and action with true, unconditional, undeserved, agape love.

So we see Jesus’ loving heart for fallen Peter, but where is it for us today? Well, Jesus is here, isn’t he? He’s here in Word and Sacrament. Even though we have betrayed him, he still speaks to our hearts and shows us his heart. Maybe it’s too obvious. Easter and Good Friday seem like a long time ago already, but may we never forget the love Jesus demonstrated in allowing himself to be arrested, beaten, murdered and sent to hell – for us. See Jesus standing before Peter and restoring him to his flock – but see him standing here before you, healing, restoring, and loving you, too. For still today, Jesus speaks to his lambs and sheep. Do you know what he’s saying? “As God’s sacrificial Lamb and by the power of my blood: I forgive you. I forgive you for thinking that you can earn my love by your offerings or effort. I forgive you for your sinful pride. I forgive you for loving your job and things, your children and spouse, your wealth and life more than me. The whole reason I humbled myself to be born in this world, went without riches or glory, allowed myself to be arrested, beaten and hung on a cross was because I knew that you could never love as God demands – so I did it for you. Whatever the sin, no matter the guilt – I have paid for it, it is gone, wiped from God’s memory and mine. No, you don’t deserve my sympathy or love, but I give it anyway – so come forward to receive proof of my love, come forward to receive the very body and blood that I gave up and poured out to forgive your sins. Come for my forgiveness and then go, go in peace because you don’t have to do anything to earn my love. Go back to your life and follow me. Follow me through sickness and health, through trial and trouble, through good and bad – know that I know all things, I know what is going on in your heart and life and I love you, unconditionally, anyway. Go with my love, go as my lamb and go with my blessing.”

Questions have the power to touch us where nothing else can. It cuts us to the heart that Jesus asks us this question. But there’s an even better, more humbling, more comforting question for us to leave here and wonder about: Jesus really loves people like us? Yes, he does. He lived. He died. He rose. All because he loves you. That’s why we’re not done celebrating Easter yet. He is our Lamb because he died for our sin and today he’s our Good Shepherd because Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia! Amen.

John 21:1-14 - A Fish Fry Reveals Jesus' Power - April 10, 2016

According to the gospel accounts that have been handed down to us, our Lord appeared no less than 12 times in his glorified state in the 40 days between his resurrection and ascension – and there were many more that haven’t been passed down to us. He was not merely passing time before returning to heaven, Paul explains in Romans 4 why it was essential that Jesus prove his resurrection from death: He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. (Romans 4:25) Every appearance of our Risen Savior proves definitively that God accepted his bloody sacrifice for our sins and the sins of the world – that on an objective level, God has declared the world not guilty for Jesus’ sake. (At the same time, whoever does not believe this will be condemned. (Mark 16:16)) But each appearance of Jesus had a specific purpose as well. Jesus appeared to the women in the garden so that they could tell his disciples that he had risen. (Matthew 28:10) Jesus appeared to two disciples on the Road to Emmaus to teach that He had to do everything written in the scriptures, including dying and rising. (Luke 24:46) And Jesus appeared to Paul in a blinding vision to both convert his stubborn, unbelieving heart and to provide him with the evidence he would need to rely on for the difficult ministry before him. (Acts 9) But in John 21, Jesus has a fish fry with his disciples. What’s the point of that? It reveals Jesus’ power.

“I’m going fishing,” Peter says. That’s kind of strange, isn’t it? Doesn’t Peter have better things to be doing, like, say, preaching the Gospel? Actually, no. Peter and the six disciples with him were doing exactly what they were supposed to be doing. Recall Jesus’ words to the women on Easter morning: tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me. (Matthew 28:10) So the disciples listened and went to Galilee to wait for Jesus. We don’t have to imagine that there’s some deep meaning behind this little fishing trip either. They were waiting for the Lord to appear, and so they did what many men do to pass the time: they went fishing. Being experienced fishermen, the disciples knew that the best fishing is at night – but that was not the case on this night. The Greek here contains a hint of the frustration they felt at being skunked – a feeling every fisherman knows well.

But then things get interesting. A stranger on the shore calls out to them: “Hey guys, you haven’t caught any fish yet, have you?” “No.” Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some. If you know any experienced fishermen, you know that usually they are stubborn and will do almost anything before they accept the advice of a perfect stranger. But the disciples listened. They hauled in their nets and let them down on the right side. When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. By now you may be thinking that this story sounds familiar. It is. Jesus performed a similar miracle in Luke chapter 5 when he called Peter, James, and John away from their fishing business to follow him.

More important for us here is that already, our Risen Savior reveals his power – his power to teach. Did you pick up on the lesson? It was a lesson the disciples should have learned by now – especially since this was the second time they had fished all night with no luck, only to have Jesus provide more fish than they could handle. Now there are lots of silly interpretations out there – that the left side represented the Jewish people (the disciples wouldn’t catch any of them) and the right side represented the Gentiles who were ripe for the picking. Some might even try to impress some political interpretation on Scripture – right vs. left. That’s foolishness. No, here is one of the many places where we let Scripture interpret Scripture. We turn to Psalm 127: Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat – for he grants sleep to those he loves. There’s a hint. But Jesus himself makes it even clearer in John 15: I am the vine; you are the branches…apart from me you will do nothing. (John 15:5) Bingo. There was the lesson the disciples should have learned by now: apart from Jesus, they will accomplish nothing – neither catching fish nor making disciples.

What are you busy trying to accomplish right now in life? Are you, like the disciples, simply trying to put food on the table? Are you in the middle of the all-important but daunting task of raising children? Are you working to maintain or strengthen your marriage? Are you trying to stay healthy or get back to good health? What’s the message here for us? Apart from [Jesus], no matter what you’re trying to do – from fishing to parenting to healing – you will do nothing. That sounds harsh. Jesus knows that when we are working toward something and don’t seem to be having any success there are millions of places we will look for help before looking to him. We will read a self-help book, we will take a vacation, we will buckle down and try harder, we will ask for advice from a friend, finally, we might even just pay someone else to do it for us – but how often do we turn to Jesus and pray as he invites call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me. (Psalm 50:15) Whatever we leave here to try to accomplish today, this week, or this year – the powerful lesson our Risen Savior is teaching this morning is that apart from him, you will do nothing.

The next verses are something of a character study of the disciples Peter and John, the two most prominent apostles. John is the quiet, contemplative disciple – and the first to recognize Jesus. Peter is the man of action, and the first to leap out of a perfectly good boat to swim to Jesus. Maybe there’s a small lesson here too: God can use both quiet, contemplative disciples and bold, active disciples to carry out his mission in this world.

But let’s not get hung up in the details. For the Risen Savior is not done displaying his power. When [the disciples] landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread…Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. What’s the big, burning question here? What do the 153 fish symbolize? How did Peter, alone, pull the net on shore when seven men couldn’t pull it on board? Why didn’t the disciples dare to ask him who he was? No. (The number, 153, simply shows us that this catch was truly a miracle and that John remembered the very number of fish vividly. Peter’s strength was possibly another miracle. And, the disciples didn’t dare to ask Jesus because the evidence spoke for itself – even though they didn’t recognize him in his glorious state, this could be none other than the Risen Lord.)

No, the big question here is: where did the fire, fish and bread come from? The answer is simple and powerful. Jesus, the Risen Lord, had provided it. What the disciples had tried and failed all night to do, Jesus accomplished by simply willing it to happen. The disciples had great need to realize that in the coming weeks and years, when they would be rejected and hated for their message, when Satan would tempt them to doubt the power of the Word, when they would face danger, poverty and hunger – that no matter what the problem seemed to be, Jesus could and would provide. The book of Acts tells us that Jesus kept this promise. When the disciples were placed on trial for their preaching – Jesus gave them the words to say. When they needed proof that their message came from heaven – Jesus gave them the power to perform miracles as validation. And, when they ventured off into regions unknown to preach the Gospel – Jesus provided open hearts and open homes, believers who loved their Lord and provided for his apostles. The Risen Lord showed his disciples with this powerful miracle that they could trust him to provide.

Is there anything more difficult for us sinful human beings to do than to trust that Jesus will provide what we need when we need it? Too often we are consumed with worry about our lives, what we will eat or drink; or about our bodies, what we will wear even though Jesus tells us not to worry and reassures us that [our] heavenly Father knows that you need them. (Matthew 6:25, 32) Too often we wait until we have exhausted all of our energy and resources before we finally turn to Jesus and lay our problems into his hands. When you find yourself worrying, agonizing, stressed out – remember this fish fry. Remember that it is as easy for Jesus to satisfy your needs today as it was for his disciples then. How can you be sure? What if you’ve worked all night or all your life and have an empty net? You can be sure because Jesus has already taken care of your greatest need: he has taken away your sins of doubt and worry and has given you the riches of the righteousness he earned for you on the cross. You can be sure because Jesus has already done the one thing we haven’t done – he trusted God above all things – and he did it perfectly. Instead of worrying, instead of growing frustrated, instead of exhausting all your resources before turning to Jesus; ask this question with Paul: [If God] did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32) Our Savior is Risen, and he’s not some distant far-away weakling, he’s not a life-coach, his guidance and grace aren’t only for the weak-minded – he’s the powerful Lord of heaven and earth who can and will provide whatever you need, whenever you need it – from something as small as a fish fry to something as big as the forgiveness of all your sins.

John closes this interesting little sea-side story rather abruptly: This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead. Perhaps it pays to note that Jesus appeared more than just three times, but John was only counting his appearances to his disciples. (Easter evening and seven days later) Apart from showing us that he can count to three, what does John hope to express with the abrupt ending? He saved the best for last. It’s not new to us, but it is the most important news we have ever heard. You know what it is, right?

Christ is (still) Risen!!! The one who was shamelessly betrayed, beaten, and condemned to die – he’s not dead! The one who had nails pounded through his hands and feet and a spear plunged into his side – he’s alive! The one who cried out my God, my God, why have you forsaken me as he experienced the torture of hell – he’s walking and talking with his disciples! The one who bowed his head and gave up his spirit – is here, with us and for us! The one whose body was laid in a tomb – is not clothed in decay, but clothed in glory so that his disciples were afraid to even wonder aloud who he was! It’s easy for us, especially in reading a story with as many peculiarities as this one, to get hung up on the details or get lost looking for deep truths. But the central truth, the truth that all the details point to is the all-important one: Jesus Christ who died in humiliation is alive in all of his glory! Your sins are forgiven! You are free from the weight of the law! You don’t have to do anything to earn God’s favor! You are never alone in this life! Nothing in this world can separate you from his love! Jesus will provide for you now and heaven is your eternal home! All because Jesus Christ is your powerful, (still) Risen Savior.

The Holy Spirit never spills ink for nothing. Every page of Holy Scripture strengthens our faith, builds our hope, and guides our lives. Because we see, once again, that Jesus lives, and he’s got power; power to teach, power to provide, and power to comfort. Next time you head out for a fish fry, remember this one, one that teaches that Easter has changed everything – because Jesus lives, he lives to bless us with his love; he lives to plead for us above. He lives, our hungry souls to feed; he lives to help in time of need. (CW 152:3) Amen. 

2 Peter 1:16-21 - What We Have Is Better Than Seeing - April 3, 2016

“I guess you just have to have seen it to believe it.” We use phrases like that when someone expresses skepticism at our description of something incredible. In many cases today, technology has provided a fix for skepticism – it’s called the internet. Someone doesn’t want to believe or accept my story – fine, I’ll just pull out my phone, summon the omniscient power of Google and prove that I’m telling the truth with a news story, some pictures, or maybe even a video. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could use that technique when it comes to convincing people who are skeptical about the bodily resurrection of our Lord? Wouldn’t it be nice, when you’re talking to a doubting or cynical friend or family member, to be able to pull out your smartphone and show them a video of what happened at Joseph’s tomb early Easter Sunday morning? If such first-hand footage existed, do you think God’s house would be just as full today as it was a week ago? If the world could just see what happened on Easter do you think that atheism and other religions would disappear because the video proves them false? After all, didn’t seeing lead to believing for Thomas?

There are several problems with that line of thinking. First, we all know that you can’t believe everything you see. Second, what would we see on such a video? Some soldiers, an angel, some women, Peter and John – but not Jesus, because Jesus hid his resurrection from sight. Third, remember that many of the people who did witness Jesus’ miracles first hand refused to believe that he was the Son of God – which tells us a lot about the power of Satan and the nature of unbelief. We don’t need to hold our breaths for some secret footage of Jesus’ resurrection to surface, Peter says, because we have something better, something firmer, something far more trustworthy. We have the Word of God which is based on eyewitness testimony, is inspired by the Holy Spirit, and deserves our serious attention.

It’s no secret that many people doubt or flat out don’t believe that the Bible is true. That’s not a new phenomenon. Satan sowed the seeds of doubt already in the Garden of Eden with his leading question to Eve: did God really say? (Genesis 3:1) Just like death and taxes, unbelief is inevitable in this world. Many think the reason is that Scripture is just too unclear or unreliable to be trusted. Peter attacks that sentiment head-on: we did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. Speaking on behalf of every NT writer, Peter defends its reliability by establishing two important points. First, he nails down the central focus of Scripture. It’s not a handbook for living in this world, it’s not a guide to happiness or prosperity. The Bible is first and foremost the revelation of God’s plan to save sinners through the power and coming of Jesus Christ. Second, he rebuts the allegation that this book is just a bunch of made-up stories and myths. He and the other apostles were eyewitnesses of the power and majesty of Jesus. They really ate the food Jesus miraculously provided for 5000 people on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Peter walked on that same sea and could vividly recall the fear and shame of sinking underneath the waves, to be saved only by Jesus’ strong arm. They talked with and ate with the risen Lord in that locked room on Easter evening. The Bible is not a book of fiction. It is a book of historical fact.

The poison Satan has sown today is that many people kind of like the idea of Jesus, but they don’t care for the parts of the Bible that seem to disagree with the so-called evidence of modern science or their own “enlightened” ideas of morality. They like to believe that they’re going to heaven (if there is a heaven), but they treat Scripture like a buffet line: they take the parts they like and leave the things they don’t. For many, this means cutting out the miracles. Peter denies anyone the right to edit Scripture to please themselves. In referring to the Transfiguration, he’s saying that readers don’t get to decide what’s true, eyewitness authors do: He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.

Peter witnessed Jesus’ divine glory with his own eyes. He saw Jesus clothed in heavenly radiance from head to toe. He heard the voices of Moses and Elijah as they talked with Jesus about the final days of his mission of salvation. His mouth hung open as the heavens opened and God the Father announced his approval of Jesus and his work. And Peter wasn’t alone. James and John were with him. The Sons of Thunder certainly wouldn’t have let Peter spread this story if it wasn’t true. The same is true of the miracle that serves as the foundation of our faith: the bodily resurrection of our Lord. This is not a myth or a fairytale spun by clever disciples. Hundreds of people witnessed the Risen Lord. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15 that Jesus appeared to no fewer than six different groups or individuals after he returned to life and escaped his stony prison. The most amazing part is that Jesus appeared to people who were skeptical, who didn’t believe the reports of the women and Peter and John. The disciples weren’t gullible fools who would believe anything to make themselves feel better. They were skeptics. But Jesus overcame their skepticism. Despite what other religions teach, in spite of what the critics of the Bible say, Peter testifies that the Bible, including every single miracle, is the eyewitness account of true, undeniable, historical facts – reading and believing this truth is better than seeing it.

That fact alone should make the Bible worthy of our serious and careful attention and study. But Peter goes on: we have the word of the prophets made more certain. If eyewitness testimony doesn’t do it for you, Peter says, then go back to the Old Testament. Search the words of Moses and the Prophets and you will find that every major event contained in the Gospels was foretold hundreds of years before it took place. Anyone can verify that the Savior would be born in Bethlehem, would preach in Galilee, would be betrayed for precisely 30 pieces of silver, and would be hung on a cursed tree. The New Testament is the result of eyewitness testimony, and this testimony in every case agrees perfectly with God’s Old Testament prophecies.

Because of this, Peter says, we will do well to pay attention to [Scripture], as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Isn’t it surprising that Peter says ‘we’ here? Peter was there on the Mt. of Transfiguration. His eyes probed the dim corners of the empty tomb for signs of Jesus’ body. And he was in that room when Jesus appeared to dispel Thomas’ unbelief. But he says that we would do well to pay attention to Scripture. Why did Peter need God’s written Word when he had witnessed the miracles with his own eyes?

Because the age he lived in was no less evil than ours is. The lie of the Jewish leaders, that the disciples had stolen Jesus’ body during the night was still being spread far and wide. (Matthew 28:15) Peter lived among people who fancied themselves too intelligent to believe a tale about a crucified and risen Savior. Peter was a pastor to Christians who, although they accepted the Gospel of Jesus, were beginning to grow impatient for his return. And Peter and his congregation were confronted by false teachers who taught that Jesus wasn’t really alive, but only alive in the hearts of believers and other similar myths. Sound familiar? That shouldn’t surprise us. In this same letter, Peter warned that there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them – bringing swift destruction on themselves. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. (2 Peter 2:1, 3)

Do you ever feel like you’re one of only a few who believes that Jesus actually suffered, died, and rose to win you forgiveness of sins? Does the skepticism and criticism of today’s ‘experts’ ever start to undermine the foundation of your faith? Maybe it’s more practical than that, maybe the sins you have committed in the week since Easter have made you question whether a risen Savior has had any impact on your heart and life. Does your faith ever seem less like a blazing fire and more like a dim or dying flame?

Keeping the flame of faith brightly burning, giving us the strength to overcome sin and Satan, and holding firm to the hope that Jesus will return and it could be at any moment, is exactly why God gave us his written Word. He knows that the world has a way of dragging us down and crushing our joy. He knows how Satan works to smother our faith. He knows how important it is to keep feeding our faith and building our hope. God does that through his Word. But we have to be in it, carefully reading it, daily paying attention to it so that its light may brighten our lives. The world today is just as dark as it was in Peter’s day – he calls it “filthy darkness” – but the Bible is God’s million watt halogen flashlight to lead us through the darkness until that glorious day when Jesus, the morning star, returns to light the world with his presence. The Bible is factual, historical, eyewitness testimony, it is God’s light in a dark world – use it, let it strengthen your faith and increase your anticipation for our Lord’s return.

Peter wraps up his defense of Holy Scripture with a powerful closing statement. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. This is the doctrine of verbal inspiration. Not only is the Bible based on eyewitness testimony, not only does every OT prophecy finds its fulfillment in the New, but God himself – in the person of the Holy Spirit – guided the authors of Scripture to write what they did. The picture here is nautical – the Holy Spirit moved the authors like wind moves a sailboat. Because of that you can be sure that every word – from Genesis to Revelation – came from God himself.

That’s important, especially today when truth seems to be such an unsettled, subjective, constantly changing thing. As Christians, we can be sure that our doctrine, our practice, and our lives now and eternally are not based on polling data or majority opinion or simply what “feels right” – but on God’s own truth which never has and never will change. So today, whether we are talking about abortion or absolution, church or child-raising, evolution or evangelism – when we are guided by Scripture we are being led by the holy, unchanging will of God himself.

Would people be convinced that Jesus of Nazareth died and rose again if we could show them video evidence? I doubt it. Even those who did witness Jesus’ empty tomb didn’t believe it immediately. More than that, Peter, an eyewitness and apostle, didn’t tell anyone to blindly trust his word. He tells us to hold to the written Word of God, and that when we do that we have something better than seeing, because the Bible is based on eyewitness testimony, it is inspired by God himself, and it deserves our serious attention. Today and everyday trust this reliable word for it continues to tell you the glorious, incredible truth of Easter: Christ is Risen and your sins are forgiven! Blessed are [you] who have not seen and yet have believed. (John 20:28) Amen.  

Matthew 28:1-10 - Our Savior's Glory Is Hidden, Even In His Triumph - March 27, 2016

Of all the great and glorious days in history, where does this one, Easter Sunday, rank in your mind? Is your birthday more glorious? Your wedding day? The day your child was born? The day the Packers won the Superbowl? Was the first day of creation more glorious, when God created time and space and all the matter that would ever exist with only his Word? Was the fourth day of creation more glorious, that day when God, just by speaking, created sun, moon, and stars and flung them into the positions and orbits that they hold to this day? Were those days more glorious than this one? Not a chance. For as glorious as those days of creation were, one day God will fold it all up and change it with no more effort than you or I change our clothes.

What about the Last Day, when Christ will return with all his saints and angels, when all the dead will rise to face judgment? Will that day be more glorious than this one? Again, no. For apart from this day, that one would hold nothing but terror for us. Apart from this day, the Last Day holds only a voice that thunders: depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. (Matthew 25:41) No, this day, the day of Christ’s resurrection is without equal; it is the most glorious day in all time and in all eternity for on this day Christ did what no one else would or could ever do: he rose from the dead by his own power. All through Lent we have been looking for the glory of the cross. Today, that glory reaches its climax. And yet, even today, on his day of triumph, we notice what we did throughout Lent, the glory of Christ is hidden.

Now, there’s no arguing that there was indeed glory to be seen in Matthew’s report of the resurrection. The question is: who appeared glorious? It wasn’t Jesus. It was an angel. The angel comes down from heaven, knocks open the grave, and sits on the stone. Where is Jesus? He had already been very busy that first Easter morning. His body and soul were reunited in the grave – but no one saw it. Later that same morning, Peter tells us, Christ descended into hell and proclaimed his victory over sin, death, and the devil – but no one heard the shrieks and howls of hell’s demons. It was hidden. Then, before the angel appeared, Jesus came out of the grave while the stone was still firmly in place. Again, that glorious moment was hidden. The only one that appears glorious in Matthew’s account is the angel: his appearance was like lightning, his face was white as snow. The effect was glorious too: big, tough Roman soldiers were so stunned and terrified that they fell to the ground like dead men.

By the time the women arrived, the soldiers had recovered and run into the city to report the news. These women had been planning to finish the burial preparations they had started on Good Friday, but to their amazement the stone has been rolled away and the tomb is empty. And there, sitting on the stone is an angel, in all of his heavenly glory. And yet, as amazing as his appearance was, his message was even more glorious: He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see…Go…and tell his disciples: He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. If you remember nothing else from this morning, remember those words: Jesus Christ, though he died, is risen, just as he said.

And yet, isn’t it still kind of disappointing? Don’t we want to see Jesus, the risen Lord, on the day of his greatest glory? Don’t we want to see him robed in splendor, with his face shining like the sun and his clothes as white as lightning? Don’t we want to see him looking like he will when he returns in glory to take us home on the Last Day? Shouldn’t his appearance match the glory of the day?

No. Why not? In our Old Testament lesson, Moses sang about what happened when God revealed his glory to Pharaoh and the Egyptian army. Long story short, Pharaoh and his army ended up as fish food. What would happen if Jesus had appeared to those women or to us in all of his glory? There would be no joy. Because we are sinners, we would surely die. But today is a day of joy because even today Jesus hides his glory. Unlike us, he doesn’t have to put on his Sunday best, buy a new tie or a new outfit to impress us. He doesn’t want to scare us to death. There will be a day for that kind of appearance, Judgment Day. But not today. Not on Easter. Why not? Because he doesn’t want to distract us from the most important part of Easter – the whole reason for the cross, the tomb, the soldiers, and the angel. The most important part of Easter is not what Jesus looked like – it’s what his death on the cross accomplished and what his resurrection proves.

What is that? What does Jesus’ resurrection prove? Where is the real glory of Easter? It’s hidden right where Jesus wants it, right where he wants us to find it – it’s hidden in his words. In two short sentences he sums up the whole glory of Lent, the whole glory of Easter, the whole glory of the Gospel. He tells the women: Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.

Don’t be afraid! That’s the profound message the holy God sent to the sinful world on Easter Sunday. Without that message, we would have nothing in this life but fear and dread. For, along with Adam and Eve, we fell in the garden, we too were separated from God by our sin. Death was our destiny in this life and hell our destination in the next. But Jesus died and Jesus rose. He did exactly what he said he would do. He went into battle for us on the cross – and he won. He paid for our sins with his blood. He conquered hell. He has triumphed over the grave. Nothing can separate you from his love. Easter is proof.

But there are always doubts, aren’t there? Even today, our consciences still condemn us, and the devil still tempts us. Maybe some sin from the past will mean that this Easter Sunday isn’t as peaceful as it might have been. How can we be sure that Jesus did all of this for us? You can be sure that this is for you because Jesus said so. Listen again: Go and tell my brothers. Jesus calls the disciples his brothers. Those men who slept in the Garden of Gethsemane when he told them to watch and pray. Those men who ran away at the first sight of danger. Those men who were no better than Peter, who denied him with oaths and curses. Friends like that certainly didn’t deserve to be called brothers, did they?

That’s exactly the point. That’s the whole point of Lent and Easter. The disciples didn’t deserve any of it, and neither do we. For we are no better than they were. But we are no worse either. Their sins are gone, and so are ours. They are buried in Jesus’ grave – never to haunt us again. And that’s why Jesus could call the men who abandoned him brothers – because He had washed their sins away. And that’s why Jesus can call you and I, people who have disobeyed him and rebelled against him – his brothers and sisters – because he has washed our sins away, too. There’s no reason for us to be afraid either. For through faith that was delivered and sealed in baptism – you are now precious children of God. This is the great, hidden glory of Easter: Jesus died. Jesus rose. We are forgiven, redeemed, and reconciled to God. Hell is conquered and death is defeated.

That is the glorious truth of Easter, but if Jesus were to reveal it to us personally in all of his glory, we would still be stunned and afraid. So still today, he hides that glorious truth, not in his physical form, but in his Word. That’s where we find him in all of his glory. Did you notice how that point was emphasized in the Easter story? What did the angel say? He has risen; just as he said. Jesus tells the women to report this news to the disciples. But he doesn’t appear to them right away because he wants them to learn to trust and depend on his Word alone. Why? Because in 40 days he would ascend into heaven, not to be seen on earth again until the Last Day. But his presence would always be with them, until the end of time – in his Word and sacraments.

So where should we go if we want to find the real glory of Easter? You’re in the right place. For here is where Jesus’ Word is proclaimed and his sacraments are administered. Here is where his Word drives away our fears and washes away our sins. Today and every time we gather for worship he still says to you and me and every sinner: “Don’t be afraid. I am not coming to you in glory that terrifies and kills. I am coming to you in the glory hidden in my Word. That Word still declares that your sin is forgiven and you are a beloved child of God. Don’t be afraid. Tomorrow you will still have problems and temptations. But though I died, I am alive and I will never leave you or forsake you. Don’t be afraid. Yes, the grave still lies in your future and your body will return to the dust. But I have conquered death and the grave by my resurrection. Don’t be afraid of anything – not even death.”

Go from here in peace then. For you know that no matter where this life leads, it will end in the arms of your Savior in heaven. Everything he has won he will give to you. And every step of the way, no matter the problem, no matter the sin – you can come right back here, back to his Word and Sacraments – for in these means you will taste and see the glory of the cross – the glory of sins forgiven, of peace with God, of His resurrection and yours. Yes, today is the most glorious of all days. For today Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Amen. 

Isaiah 45:22-25 - There Can Only Be One - March 20, 2016

There can only be one. Even as Americans who pride ourselves on having the freedom and right to disagree with one another, quite often we don’t bat an eye at the assertion that there can only be one. A couple of examples will suffice. On Thursday 64 Division I college basketball teams started the NCAA tournament with dreams of winning it all; but everyone – fans, coaches, and players – understand that there can only be one champion. Over the past year or so, nearly 2 dozen men and women declared their desire to be the next President. Many of them have already dropped out and on November 8th, both candidates and voters know that there can only be one President. There are countless other situations where everyone understands there can only be one.

That’s why it’s so sad that many in our world are determined to deny another far more important truth: there is only one God. You hear it and see it all over. “All religions are basically the same. They all give us ideas on how to live a good life.” Now, in a sense, that’s true. All religions are similar in that they have a god or gods – and they have a way to become right with that god. In Isaiah’s day, heathen nations worshiped a god named Chemosh. They offered human (often times infant) sacrifices to satisfy his anger and earn his blessing. Others worshiped gods like Baal and Asherah. They worshipped by having sex with temple prostitutes to earn the blessing of fertility for their bodies and their fields. Even the Israelites eventually began to see their religion in terms of obedience and reward: wear the right clothes, eat the right foods, rest on the right days – and God will reward you with prosperity. Today, over a billion people worship a god named Allah who demands his worshippers to obey his five pillars to be welcomed into paradise. And so Satan works overtime to get people to believe that Christianity really isn’t any different. We don’t call him Chemosh, Baal or Allah, but Jesus – and what does he expect and demand? Obedience, praise, allegiance. What makes our God any different than the rest? What gives Christians the right to claim that theirs is the only true God?

700 years before Palm Sunday, Isaiah revealed the reason – and the truth hidden behind the palms and praise: turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear. One of many? No. Isaiah makes an exclusive claim: this God, the God of Israel – he is the only God, the only King. That’s not exactly the politically correct, tolerant way to talk about one’s religion, is it? Isaiah says that every knee will bow and every tongue will swear allegiance to this king. But that’s not what we see in Jerusalem or our world, is it? In Jerusalem, the Pharisees called on Jesus to keep the people quiet with these exclusive claims. Today, we’re told that we better tolerate and respect both false religions and man-made philosophies as equally valid and true or run the risk of being labeled narrow-minded bigots. Here’s the thing, we aren’t the ones making this claim – God is. God, who created the universe, destroyed the world in a flood, who regularly demonstrated throughout the Bible his authority not just over idols but over nations and history, and promised and kept his promise to send a Savior born of a virgin – He claims to be the King of the universe and the only true God.

And while we see a partial fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy on Palm Sunday, on Judgment Day all will see it. In Revelation 19 we are given a glimpse of it: I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse whose rider is called Faithful and True…his eyes are like blazing fire and on his head are many crowns…he is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God…out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. (Revelation 19:11-15) On Palm Sunday, Jesus rides in humility on a borrowed donkey. On Judgment Day, he will return with power and glory and an army of angels. On that Day, every knee will bow, and all who have raged against him will come to him and be put to shame. All those who worshipped Chemosh, Baal, Allah, or a god of their own creation will be put to shame when they realize their eternal mistake. But by then, it will be too late. They will bow, not in allegiance, but in terror. For on that Day, they will know the truth: there is only one King who rules the heavens and the earth – he is Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God. Many people don’t want to hear it or believe it. Even many Christians seem ashamed to declare and defend this truth. One day, no one will be able to deny it.

That’s why Jesus didn’t quiet the crowds – because they were right. Jesus’ claim is exclusive – he is the only God, he is the only King, every other religion, every other god is an empty lie. But that’s not all. The truly remarkable part about Palm Sunday is that God’s Son, the real King of the universe, comes into Jerusalem not to rule or rampage or to force us to obey him – but to die. Every other god says: “do this, don’t do that and you will earn my favor.” What does Jesus say? Turn to me and be saved. This is what makes the true God utterly unique. The true God knows that we can’t climb to him, so he came down to us. The true God knows that we can’t live the perfect life his righteousness demands – so he sent his Son to live it in our place. The true God knows that there’s nothing we can do to wipe the sin from our records – so he climbed up onto a cross to pay our debt himself. Instead of demanding that we do something to find favor with him, He tells us to look to Calvary where Jesus reconciled us with God by paying for our sins. Isaiah sums up Jesus’ most exclusive claim this way: In the LORD alone are righteousness and strength.

Ah, but the world is not satisfied with grace, they can even find something wrong with salvation as a free gift. “Sure,” they say, “that’s fine for you middle class Americans. But you’re excluding the poor, the starving, the black and red and yellow people of the world with their cultures and their gods. You’re condemning them to hell without considering their history and heritage.” Are we? Did Isaiah? Does God? Who did his invitation, to turn and be saved, go out to? All the ends of the earth. Not a single person, no matter their nationality, language, skin-color or economic status is excluded from God’s love and the Savior’s redeeming work. Jesus himself said in Matthew 8: I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 8:11) This Savior is not the exclusive property of Midwestern, middle class Americans. He lived a perfect life for all. He shed his blood for all. He is the only Savior – the only Savior for all.

The most important question for us today is: is the only God your God? I suppose today we would say: “sure, we’re here giving our praises, laying our prayers and our palm branches before him.” But remember, the true God isn’t like all those other false gods. A relationship with him isn’t built on what we do for him or how genuine our praise is. It is good for us to worship him as he rides into Jerusalem. But never forget, he didn’t come to receive praise, he came for Good Friday. He didn’t come to show you how to live for him, he came to die for you.

On Palm Sunday, Jesus comes as our Savior, but just as importantly, he’s our Savior for the other 364 days of the year. The days when you totally screw up at work – Jesus is your Savior. When you make a mess of your marriage – Jesus is your Savior. When your kids and grandkids have you pulling out your hair and life seems to be blowing up in your face – Jesus is still your Savior. And especially on the days when you are ashamed and guilty, ashamed of who you are and guilty about what you’ve done remember Isaiah’s words: in the LORD all the descendants of Israel (that is, all believers) will be found righteous and will exult. To have Jesus as your God, your King, your Savior isn’t as much about praising him or living for him as it is standing at the foot of the cross and trusting: “he did this all…for me. He did all this to take away my sins and cover me with his righteousness so that I could stand before God without fear, and so that I can enter heaven without earning it.” Today of all days, we might expect that Jesus wants our praise, or maybe – looking ahead to Good Friday – our pity. But as the only Savior, do you know what he wants most of all? Your faith.

There can only be one national champion and one president. Everyone gets that (although its nearly impossible to find two people who can agree on who that should be). There is only one true God. Whether the world wants to acknowledge it or not, Jesus is the only King of the world and every knee will bow before him – if not today, then on the Last Day. More importantly, there is only one Savior. That’s what really sets the true God apart from the imitators. He’s not a distant being who only speaks when he’s telling us how to live. He became a man to ride into Jerusalem on a borrowed donkey. This Palm Sunday, he comes not to rule us or judge us, but to die for us. Turn to [him] and be saved…for [he is] God, and there is no other. Amen. 

Luke 10:17-20 - Find Joy in the Right Place - March 13, 2016

It was a clear, cold day in January 1961. Washington D.C. was covered with the previous night’s snowfall. In front of the newly renovated United States Capitol building, the man who would serve as the 35th president of the United States was being inaugurated into office. He was assuming the office at a pivotal point in world history: the arms race had begun between the two most powerful nations and political ideologies in history: America vs. the Soviet Union; communism vs. capitalism. One front of this battle had been fought in Korea, a war that ended in 1953 not by victory or defeat, but by an armistice – a cease-fire – which exists to this day. The other long-lasting result of this arms race is still in the news these days – it’s that tiny island 90 miles off of Florida known as Cuba. It was at this time of global tensions that President John F. Kennedy addressed his fellows Americans and appealed to them to “ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.”

When it comes to the civil realm, the realm of nation and government, that’s a fine principle. It’s good and it pleases God for citizens to take an active role in serving our nation; whether that be by enlisting in the military, running for political office, or simply casting a vote and being a good neighbor. But is that approach fitting when we are talking about the spiritual realm – the realm of God’s kingdom? When we’re talking about our relationship with God, which is most important – where should we find our joy and hope: in what we do for God or in what God does for us? That’s the question our Lord addresses in our text this morning as he gives his own encouragement to his disciples to Find Your Joy in the Right Place.

Luke chapter 10 takes place near the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry. He has time for one last preaching tour before he makes his final journey to Jerusalem and the cross. And to get the cities and villages ready for his arrival, he sends out 72 of his disciples in pairs to prepare the way. He sent them out with his blessing and with some simple instructions: Heal the sick [in the towns you enter] and tell them, “the kingdom of God is near you.” (Luke 10:9) And he gave them this assurance: he who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me. (Luke 10:16) We don’t hear anything more about the adventures of the 72, we don’t know if they were welcomed or dismissed, if people rejoiced or rejected the gospel message they proclaimed.

But one thing we do know, the consensus as the pairs returned was overwhelmingly positive, they returned with joy, and they stated the reason for their joy: “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” Jesus rejoiced with his faithful disciples, saying: I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.

There are an awful lot of interesting details in those two verses, aren’t there? First, Jesus testifies to a truth that fewer and fewer people acknowledge: Satan is real, and really dangerous. He is an angel who fell from heaven when he rebelled against God. He continues that rebellion as he tries to ruin as many people as possible by leading them away from Jesus. There’s a reminder for us here. While our country is consumed with a presidential race, fears over terror attacks and the Zika virus, and countless other problems – let us never forget that there is something, or rather someone we should be more concerned about: Satan. There is no military or medication that can protect us from his attacks – and he will continue tempt us and try to mislead us no matter who the next president is, whether the Zika virus comes to Wisconsin or not, whether any of the other problems we worry about grow or go away.

But didn’t Jesus say that he saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven? Yes! When did this happen? Interpreters are divided. Was it the moment Satan rebelled and God cast him out of heaven? Was it the moment Jesus was conceived with the express purpose of conquering Satan? Was it when Jesus defeated Satan in the wilderness? Or maybe Jesus was looking to the future, to the cross where he would crush Satan once and for all. Any and all of those may be true. But the point is not when it happened, but how. The disciples were overjoyed that they were able to drive out demons in Jesus’ name. That’s the key in this context. Jesus is telling disciples of all times that wherever and whenever His name (really the Gospel) is proclaimed, Satan falls from power, he loses his control, he is defeated. (And no, we shouldn’t go looking for snakes and scorpions to step on. Those are simply metaphors for the delusions and deceptions of the devil – those cannot overcome believers.)

So Jesus rejoices with his disciples and the wonderful results of their work in his name. If you read between the lines a bit, you can even see a smile on Jesus’ face – “what did you think would happen when I sent you out with my word and my power?” But in the same breath, Jesus wants them to step back and think about the real source of their joy – is it because of what they have done, the work they accomplished in God’s kingdom, or is there something more, something greater? Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. In other words, Jesus reminds them that the work he has given them to do – including the authority to defeat Satan and his demons by the proclamation of the gospel – that’s all well and good; but they can’t lose sight of the bigger picture. There was a better place for them to find their joy.

Why? Why would Jesus pour cold water on their faithful work and their resulting joy? Because outward activity and success don’t guarantee salvation. In fact, in Matthew 7, Jesus reveals that on the Last Day many of those who seemed to being doing God’s work, who seemed successful, even those who drove out demons will not find a place in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matthew 7:22-23)

This ought to be a wakeup call for us as well. Where do you find your joy? What is it that gives you comfort and confidence to stand before God both today and on Judgment Day? Will we tell God about all of our dedicated service in his name and for his church? Will we present a receipt of our offerings to gain access? Since Jesus is addressing called workers here, can pastors present their sermons, bible studies, baptisms and marriages as an atoning sacrifice for their sins? Will God welcome us into his heavenly home if we show him how kind, patient, and faithful we have been as children, students, parents, brothers and sisters, employers and employees? If that’s where we are finding our joy, if that’s what we are trusting to gain our entrance into God’s kingdom – Jesus warns that we will be in for a shock: ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Why? Why does Jesus warn that many who worked and preached in his name will go to hell? Because, apart from Christ’s justifying and sanctifying work all our righteous acts are like filthy rags. (Isaiah 64:6) Everything we do, even the good things, are tainted by sin. If we’re honest with ourselves, we know it, don’t we? How much of what we do is driven by a desire to be noticed, to be praised, or to feed our sinful pride? How much of our service to others isn’t motivated by self-less love but by the expectation that our kindness will be reciprocated? Too often, even the good things we do are done grudgingly and joylessly. In the end, the real question is: how many of our good works meet God’s standard of perfection? None of them. If you’re finding your joy and confidence in the things you do, you’re looking in the wrong place, because nothing we do can accomplish the one thing we need above all – getting our names written in the book of life in heaven.

So Jesus redirects our focus, away from our work to his. He says: rejoice that your names are written in heaven. This is where we are to find our true joy and confidence – that Jesus’ life mission was our salvation. This is not something you do. (Note: this is a passive verb, literally: have been written.) This is not something you look for or decide on. This is something God does for you. Purely out of undeserved love, in spite of our far from perfect service in his kingdom, God has written our names in heaven using the cross as his pen and the blood of his Son as the ink. This is what Jesus is on his way to accomplish, as his earthly ministry draws to a close. He will allow his name to be written where ours belonged: on a plaque nailed to a cross. Hanging under that plaque he will accept the guilty verdict and the punishment that should have been ours. On that lonely hill outside Jerusalem God will slam down his gavel and pronounce our sentence on his Son: cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the book of the Law. (Galatians 3:10) The name of Jesus Christ, the perfect, sinless Son of God, is cursed to the depths of hell so that ours might be written in heaven.

How can we be sure that God knows our names? You can be sure because God himself called you by name when you were baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Through his called servant the triune God called you by name and put his own name on you. You may not remember it – but God will never forget it. He’s written your name in his book and when Christ returns he will use your name to raise you from the dead – and Satan can’t do a thing about it. This is the right place to find your true joy and confidence.

Does that mean that we shouldn’t want to serve God and work in his kingdom? No. God does want his children to serve as his witnesses in the world. Jesus does want the people he purchased with his blood to support his church with their time, talents, and treasures. And above all, God is pleased when his children faithfully carry out their individual callings – whatever that might be. As you leave here today to go back to work in your own little corner of Christ’s kingdom, praise God that he has given you the ability and opportunities to serve. Do find joy in working in God’s kingdom – and know that Jesus rejoices with you.

But don’t lose sight of the main thing. Remember that your membership in Christ’s church is not based on what you do for him. If you can do a lot, don’t let it go to your head. If you can’t do much, don’t feel like you are unloved or worthless in God’s sight. Because the main thing is not about how much we do for God. The main thing is always what God has done for us in Christ – and every time you remember your baptism, every time you hear and read the Gospel, every time you receive your Savior’s body and blood – you are reminded how priceless and undeserved that gift really is.

With all due respect to President Kennedy, Jesus has a different appeal for us today: “Ask not what you can do for God. Ask what God has done for you.” That’s faith, not works. That’s rejoicing in the main thing. Jesus didn’t want 72 of his disciples to get mixed up on this and he doesn’t want us to, either. Yes, we do rejoice that God blesses the work that he has given us to do in his kingdom. But our real joy – the one, indispensable, unchangeable, eternal joy we have is this: Rejoice that your names are written in heaven. Amen.