John 1:1-14 Sermon

Just Words

Grace Mercy and Peace from God our Father, and Savior Jesus Christ.  AMEN

In the Beginning was …

1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.  3 And God said, “Let there be” and there was.  Words have power.  Words have so much power that we teach our children sayings like, “Sticks and Stones may break my bone, but Words will never hurt me.” Or, “I’m rubber, You’re Glue, Whatever you say bounces off me, and sticks to you.” Or, “Don’t worry, they didn’t mean anything by that, it was just words.”  If it were really true that what others said did not affect us, would we really need those sayings.  Words can hurt more than cuts, and words can heal more than a bandaid.  We as Christians especially need to remember that the Word, is more than just words.

A few years ago there was a TV show called Firefly, which managed to create a future that combined the genres space and cowboys.  The show didn’t last all that long, but it was interesting how the shows creator took a view on traditions and faith.  One of the characters was called Shepherd, and he could be likened to a future Franciscan monk.   His order does not believe in possessions or marriage, he has rules on how he must dress and look, and he is called to reach out to the lost.  In his travels, he ends up on a space ship of questionable morality and one of its passengers is a girl who is a genius in her own right, but is unable to function in normal everyday life.  He sees it as his mission to reach to this crew and this girl.  Unfortunately for him, to the girl, his bible was broken.  In one of my favorite scenes with these two characters, he walks in and she is furiously trying to “fix” his bible by ripping out pages, scratching out sections that don’t make sense, and rewriting other parts, mumbling and babbling things like "So we'll integrate non-progressional evolution theory with God's creation of Eden”  and "Noah's Ark is a problem - "We'll have to call it early quantumstate phenomenon - Only way to fit five-thousand species of mammal on the same boat -" In her highly logical mind she had to try and make the words make sense in her own special way.  Shepherd attempts to tell her " You don't fix the Bible!" "It's not about making sense. It's about believing in something, and letting that belief be real enough to change your life. It's about 'faith'." "You don't fix faith, River. It fixes you."  In the end though the girl just responds,  looking up at him, sweet, sincere, deadpan. "It's broken. It doesn't make sense."

The show’s writer, who claims to be an atheist, reveals a lot about how we view the bible, and what happens when we underestimate God’s Word to be “just words”.  Churches that focus on the pretty stories and leave out the non-politically correct, do so in the name of education and academic learning. The popular phrase, “the bible is just a book”  attempts to reduce the Scriptures down to just words, words that can be picked and chosen, and if they disagree with you, discarded for something else.  Learned professors, and average people are attempting to figure out which words are just words, and which words are worth listening to.  They are trying to use reason to understand the unknowable, because so often we as human beings hide behind the defense of “its just words”.

Our Words

We us the defense of “just words” because many of our own words, whether intentional or not are words of destruction, words of misrepresentation, and literally just words, words without actions. 

Words of destruction

The whole point of the children’s rhymes at the beginning of this sermon is to protect ourselves from words of destruction.  Children say some mean things, and it hurts when you are the subject of that criticizing.  As bad as children can be, Adults can be much worse though.  A child will call someone a “Meany Face” to their face, but an adult may not be quite as direct.  A few words here and there out of ear shot of the victim can be much worse than any direct insult.  Even the truth can be used to destroy someone unfairly.  Words and truths can be used as weapons, and it is not a pretty sight.  A fist fight lasts at most a couple minutes, but words of destruction last a very long time.  We destroy each other with our words, but it’s ok, it’s just words. 

Words without actions

Then there are our words of promises but without actions.  The popular, “I promise to be better about picking up after myself honey.”  Is almost always followed by a, I’m sorry, I forgot.  For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.  It is easy to make quick promises to ourselves, to each other, and to God, but if they’re not followed through, we might as well have said no.  The empty promises lead only to heart ache.  They were only just words.

Words of misrepresentation

Finally  there are the words of misrepresentations.  These is important because some of the biggest deceptions come not from bold face lying, but a simple twisting of the truth.  White lies, omissions, and exaggerations, all still misrepresent the truth.  Jesus said, “Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”  One the first “minor” deceptions was Adam to God  “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.”  While this was technically truth, it was not the whole truth.  Many white lies are intended to protect someone.  But what happens when the truth comes out?  It is much worse on the person than finding out in the first place.  What does it matter, its just a white lie, its just words.

God’s Word

God’s word is different though.  John 1 is very clear what that word is like.  1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.  They are words of creation, words of Life, and words of light. 

Words of Creation

The First spoken words of the bible, come from the mouth of God.  “Let there be light,” and there was light.  When ever God says, let there be, there is the result of his words.  Not only did he simply create, he sustains, comforts and protects.  He sent his spirit to be the counselor.  We have his WORD.  And just his Word brought forth a new creation, the heavens and the earth and all that dwells in it.

Words of Life

            And his words to his creation Adam and Eve were words of life and promise. “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” This was not a hollow promise, instead we are the children of our first father and mother.  When the actions of humanity brought forth death, God declared the truth, that death had entered the world.  But he did not leave humanity alone.  He sent his prophets into the world promising a messiah that would lift them out of their despair, and he would be called, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Where our words reveal our inaction, his words reveal his actions. All of his Words bring life.

Words of Light

The light of God reveals the truth of his words. “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  The light that shines into the darkness reveals our sinfulness, our inability to bring forth goodness or light.  The light that shines reveals that not everything is as good as we want to believe it is.   He promised death if Adam and Eve ate of the fruit, and death did come.  But the light that reveals our brokenness also reveals himself to us.  Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  His powerful word calls us his own.

Jesus is God’s Word

It was in this power of speaking the Word of creation, life, and light that god spoke to his people.

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

That true and faithful Word, is Jesus Christ our Lord, the one who came as a baby in a town called Bethlehem, raised by the virgin mother and carpenter who adopted him as his own.  This was the Word of God clothed in the flesh of man to fulfill his promises to all people that a new heaven and a new earth shall rein.  Where there are no words of destruction, words without action, and words of misrepresentation.  And this cannot truly make sense to us, because what have we done to be worthy of the grace of God in Jesus Christ?  Can we claim that we found him through our own ability? No.  Can we claim an inherent goodness?  No.  Can we claim anything? Never.  But it is through the Word that calls us by the Gospel into new life that we have fellowship with him.  He has washed us clean in the blood of the lamb, invited us to his supper, and through the mysteries of the Word and Sacraments, we have been made into a new Adam, we have life, and we have the light that shines for all to see.

Our words really are just words.  They have no truth or power.  But the Word of God goes beyond anything that we can understand.  Our understanding may be broken, but his Word never will.  When he speaks it is more than just words.  Amen

Day of Pentecost - Come, Holy Spirit

SUNDAY, MAY 27, 2012 | PENTECOST
              Old Testament       Ezekiel 37:1–14
             Psalm       Psalm 139:1–12 (13–16)
             Epistle       Acts 2:1–21
             Gospel       John 15:26–27, 16:4b–15


EPISTLE - Acts 2:1–21

2 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

            17       “ ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,

                  that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,

                  and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

      and your young men shall see visions,

      and your old men shall dream dreams;

            18       even on my male servants and female servants

      in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.

            19       And I will show wonders in the heavens above

      and signs on the earth below,

      blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;

            20       the sun shall be turned to darkness

      and the moon to blood,

      before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.

            21       And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

GOSPEL - John 15:26–27, 16:4b–15

26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.

4 But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.

“I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

Come, Holy Spirit

Grace, Mercy and Peace be unto you from God our Father and Savior Jesus Christ, His Son our Lord. AMEN

Today is the fiftieth day after easter, Pentecost. Throughout the season of Easter, Jesus demonstrated that he is risen, and he taught his disciples before ascending up into heaven. He made them a promise throughout his forty days, that he would send them a helper and they were to witness of what he has done. And ten days after His ascension the Apostles went out and confessed and witnessed speaking in tongues. Pentecost is often associated with tongues of fire, and the Apostles speaking out in tongues, but the true focus this day is the Holy Spirit. For the holy spirit was sent into the world, as a comforter, councilor, and as a witness so that all humanity could hear and believe that Jesus Christ is Lord.

It is easy to set our focus on the big and flashy things, because they draw our attention, they keep us coming back for more. And so for this Pentecost Sunday we of course give note to the sounds of the rushing winds and the tongues of flame that rest upon all the witnesses of God the incarnate Son. Also the speaking in tongues is a great attention getter. To speak in tongues is to speak a language that the speaker does not already know and the hearers understand. To speak but not be understood would be worthless. The Lutheran Church is a church that boasts in the confessions of the historic church, but we don’t still confess, Credo in unum Deum, Patrem omnipoténtem,Factórem cæli et terræ,Visibílium ómnium et invisibílium. Et in unum Dóminum Iesum Christum,Fílium Dei Unigénitum,Et ex Patre natum ante ómnia sæcula. We confess this whenever we have communion, yet most here do not understand it even though Latin was the language of the church for centuries. Well we are good Lutherans, so perhaps another option of german would get a few more people, Ich glaube an Gott, den Vater,den Allmächtigen, but seeing as I don’t even know German, I dont think it would help all that much. No while these and other languages are the languages of the church historic, they mean nothing without understanding. True the church has spoken many languages over the years, but they mean little outside of their context. The substance of the message is lost without translation. But when the Apostles spoke in many languages appearing drunk to some of the passersby, there were not speaking gibberish, they were not speaking dead languages that only scholars knew. No. they were speaking the tongues of the people so that all could hear and understand the message. They were guided through the gifts of the spirit.

Speaking in tongues is considered a gift of the spirit. And, there are many churches that put special emphasis on receiving the gifts of the spirit. Some see it as a sign of truly believing, a sign that God has chosen them for a special calling. Some of these churches even have their new members fill out spiritual gifts inventories, so that their special skills and desires can be fully realized. It is good to recognize that you are a good teacher, or someone that is good at maintenance, but attempting to focus only upon our skills puts our thoughts not on above, but below. Trying only to receive the Holy Spirit is awefully short sighted and narrow focused.

It is perhaps unique that we speak about the holy spirit in the lutherand church, because of what the role of the holy spirit is according to the biblical accounts. Bbecause the holy spirit’s entire purpose is to direct our gaze upon the Father and the Son. In fact, if our focus did not turn to the Father and the Son, but focused solely upon the Spirit, we would be misunderstanding the spirit. For when Jesus spoke about the Spirit he said, “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, the will bear witness about me.” Yes the winds, and the flames, and the spoken tongues are good right and salutary, but the truly impressive thing that the holy spirit did was a lot more subtle. He gave the words to the apostles to preach. For while it was prophesied that a great signs and wonders would be done in Joel, the focus was not upon the deeds, but upon the result. ““ ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’” (Acts 2:17–21, ESV)

In our gospel Jesus knew that he would be leaving the disciples soon, but he was promising that they would not be left on their own, instead the helper, the Holy Spirit would proceedeth from the Father and witness to them about the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” (John 16:13–15, ESV) If any spirit comes and preaches about himself or about the Jesus revealed through the scriptures, that is a false spirit, one of deceit and not of God. Instead the helper came to direct us to the one and only saving faith in Jesus Christ.

We many never receive an experience quite as visually stunning as the apostles and the tongues of flame or the impressive sounds of rushing winds to herald witness in Chirst. Most of us, including myself, have a hard enough time speaking in English that we probably will never experience speaking in tongues either. But we have received spirit of truth through the washing in the blood of Jesus Christ through the waters of Baptism. We may rejoice and know that the Spirit moves in us, often quietly, so that we may know and confess that Jesus Christ is our lord and savior, that through love and grace he died on the cross, was laid in the tomb, and rose eternally defeating death, the devil, and all the powers of sin and darkness. All this he did for our sake. AMEN.

Easter 7B - What Now?

SUNDAY, MAY 20, 2012 | EASTER

SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

YEAR B

             First Reading       Acts 1:12–26

             Psalm       Psalm 1

             Epistle       1 John 5:9–15

             Gospel       John 17:11b–19 

FIRST READING
Acts 1:12–26

 12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16 “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms,
                   “ ‘May his camp become desolate,
      and let there be no one to dwell in it’;
 and
                   “ ‘Let another take his office.’
 21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” 23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

GOSPEL
John 17:11b–19
 

11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.1 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them2 in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself,3 that they also may be sanctified4 in truth.

Lutheran Service Book Three Year Lectionary (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009).

What Now?

Grace, Mercy and Peace be unto you from God our Father and Savior Jesus Christ, His Son our Lord. AMEN

Our Text today for the Seventh Sunday of Easter comes from the Acts of the Apostles.

What now?

That is a question that I think every single person has asked at some point or another in their lives. If you have had an especially active life, you may have even said it a couple of times already. It can come in times of frustration, anger, productivity, sadness or confusion. What do we do now? A time that I can remember this question being asked often was the end of my sophomore year of high school, when my church suddenly found itself without a leader due to a heart attack. I remember hearing the elders asking in hushed tones, what do we need to do? I remember other congregation members asking similar questions. As the days and weeks went by the question remained on many people’s lips until a new shepherd had been called to lead our tiny flock. Gradually the commotion was over, and the constant what now faded into the background. “What now?” for as short of a question as it, carries with it a lot of weight. It fits into all emotions, and generally signals that change is about to happen. Whether small change or big change, we as human beings are not always ready for it, because we can only plan a short ways into the future, when our clearest vision is of the past. But we have been sent a helper, the Holy Spirit, so that we may be guided by the one who knows the past, the present, and the future.

I’ve got to believe that this question, “What Now?” was on the minds of the apostles following watching Jesus ascend up into the heavens. Just think about it for a moment. Passover came, which is always a busy time of year for the Israelites, and then your leader is betrayed by someone you thought was a friend, taken, put on trial, and killed all within a couple of days. Not only that, a few days later there started to be rumors that Jesus wasn’t really dead. And come to find out, he appeared in the middle of a locked room and proved that he wasn’t dead. He spoke and ate and taught the disciples for forty days after his resurrection until he ascended up into heaven not to be seen by the apostles again. All of a sudden The whirlwind has taken a rest, and everything is changed. The one that once was dead is no longer dead, and neither is he still on earth anymore, he pulled an Elijah and went straight into heaven without the need to die. And because of the actions of the betrayer there is an opening in the ranks of the chosen. What were the apostles to do? The steps of the apostles at this point were simple, fill the void left by Judas the Betrayer and beyond that pray and trust in God. The requirements were simple, “So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” Two men fulfilled those requirements, and they cast lots to let God decide between the men. They did these things to fufill what had been spoken by the prophets. Now what?

It would be a grave mistake to think that these men of God no longer had a purpose or a leader though, or to think that they were alone. We stand this day between Ascension and Pentecost, where Jesus ascended and the apostles went out with the Holy Spirit to witness about the Christ. Even though Jesus Christ was now no longer in the world, having come to the father, and they were still in the world, they were never alone. They had been taught the scriptures by the son of God, sanctified in the Word of Truth and consecrated by the blood of Jesus. They had been prepared for being witnesses to an incomparable event and yet they still had to manage what God had given to them in their time and place, for change was upon them.

There is a danger for Christians to underestimate the necessity of the day to day management that occurs in the church. It isn’t really important, only Sunday morning and the proclamation of the Gospel is important. And while that is first and foremost the responsibility of the church, there is a call to manage what God has given to us. Even the great and mighty apostles had to ask the question what next, because we still exist here in time and space. That is why Voter’s meetings, as dull or exciting that they can be are so crucial to a functioning church, because sometimes the roof has to be repaired or things need to be rearranged so that the word of God may be preached without being dripped upon and the sacraments may be accessible to all people. Even the mundane can assist the gospel. I want to be clear, for I know it could be taken this way, but this is not a reproach to the actions done or not done in a voters meeting, rather it is a pointing out that they serve more than an earthly function, but further the kingdom of God, by giving order in a small way. That is why Pastor begins each meeting with prayer to ask for God’s guidance, just like the apostles did when calling a new apostle to be one of the twelve.

And just like it would be dangerous to think the apostles were out on their own, so too should we remember that it is not through our own strength or power that we are able to care for the church, or even have a church in the first place. The question, “What now” stems from the fact that things change, that the earthly future is uncertain, that we do not always know what the best course of action is. Yet we too have a guide a counselor, the scriptures written through the power of the Holy Spirit. Through the spirit we are able to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, and trust that the Father cares for his church in this place and throughout the world. We may boldly confess in his name, trusting that he will make the rain fall when it is needed, and take care of us in our moments of need. Jesus asked of his father, I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. He has done that through his death and resurrection, so that we do not fear the future, for while our earthly future is uncertain, our heavenly eternal hope is in Jesus Christ, and the eternal life that he has won for us through his cross.

We are not always ready to ask the question, “What now?” but we can be sure and confident that we are not alone. We do not need to fear the changes of this world, for Christ is with us, his rod and his staff they comfort us. He protects and guide us through his spirit both now and forever more, so we can confess, CHRIST IS RISEN, HE IS RISEN INDEED ALLELUIA. AMEN.

Ascension - Out of this World

THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012 | EASTER

THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD

YEARS ABC

             First Reading       Acts 1:1–11

             Psalm       Psalm 47

             Epistle       Ephesians 1:15–23

             Gospel       Luke 24:44–53

  

FIRST READING

Acts 1:1–11

1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with2 the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Out of this World

Grace, Mercy and Peace be unto you from God our Father and Savior Jesus Christ, His Son our Lord. AMEN

Our Text for this Ascension evening is the taken from the Account of the Acts of the Apostles.

We place a lot of importance on where we are when the big important thing happens in our lives. We ask the questions, “Where were you when… when pearl harbor was attacked… when the planes hit the towers… when…?” And we visit the important historical sights, to see where things like the constitution being signed happened, where Martin Luther posted the 95 thesis, where the world changing events occurred. The sight the smells of a particular place can evoke memories of days gone by. It helps us to tie our memories into the present reality. We become a part of the history that took place there. That why moving can be so hard, because we are losing some of our ties to the memories of the past. One of the most thought provoking places are the resting places of our loved ones. The Burial plot is a somber reminder that our loved one is gone, that all that remains of him or her, is a small stone and our memories. Many people find it important to remember historical figures by visiting their graves; to see the final resting place of those who changed the world. And yet, as Christians, we do not have a tomb to go to for the founder of our faith. We do not have a place on this earth to go to see the body of Jesus, for he is not dead, but is living, and is out of this world. For Christ did not come to just die in the world, but to live and reign in heaven at the right hand of the father. We are reminded that this place is temporary, that earth is temporary. He reigns so that we may have an everlasting hope in him.

People have always attempted to “get closer to God.” This desire stems from the idea that if we are closer to God, God will hear us and listen to us. The Israelites were constantly being reprimanded by the Prophets of the Lord, for building the High Places as an attempt to be nearer unto the pagan Gods. They wanted to be “closer to God” yet even though they were in the highest of places they were spiritually farther away from God than they could ever imagine possible. Physically they were right there in the very presence of God, for this is what the Lord says: ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth my footstool. (Isaiah 66:1-2)” “‘Am I only a God nearby,’ declares the Lord, ‘and not a God far away? Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him’ declares the Lord. ‘Do not I fill heaven and earth?’ declares the Lord” (Jeremiah 23:23–24). It is impossible to be physically nearer or farther away from God, because is all present, he is everywhere. To attempt to get closer to God is to limit what God is capable of. For he is not limited by the realm of this physical world, as he created the heavens and the earth, and rules over them accordingly.

We remember today, 40 days after the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ his ascension up into heaven. Christ the incarnate Lord did come down to this earth, to be housed in a body of flesh and blood, one that would succumb to death, death on the Cross. For a time he was limited to one small point, one small location. His disciples were in fact in the very presence of God, they learned from him, and he gave them a mission to go out and make disciples of all nations witness the word that he spoke, and baptize in the name of the Father son and holy spirit. But Christ did not stay with them physically, Christ who was born of this world, died in this world, and rose again over all the world, has no final resting place. We cannot go and seek the place where he lays to because he is not just merely human, but God in the fullest. Christ has risen, he has risen indeed, is a great and wonderful saying, that conveys the true hope and joy of Easter. Our Hopes and joys rest in the knowledge that the man who knew no sin took our sin and died our death and rose again. But that is not the end of the story. No it continues, Christ who was and is both God and Man ascended into heaven to sitteth and the right hand of the Father to judge both the living and the dead.

That Christ sits in heaven does not mean that we do not come into the presence of God. Because there is not a tomb to visit, or a grave to honor, Christians sometimes make the mistake in believing that there is not a place for us to be close to God. But we still desire a personal closeness. While we can never leave his presence we do come into his presence when we gather as brothers and sisters in Christ. We share in the his body and blood, when we are washed in baptism, when we hear the word through his spirit which he sent to his people. We are witnesses of these things, the promises and actions of our Lord Jesus who lives and reigns with the father and the holy spirit forever and ever. AMEN.

Easter 4B - The Good Shepherd

SUNDAY, APRIL 29, 2012 | EASTER
FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
YEAR B

             First Reading       Acts 4:1–12

             Psalm       Psalm 23

             Epistle       1 John 3:16–24

             Gospel       John 10:11–18

PSALM
Psalm 23

             1       The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
            2       He makes me lie down in green pastures.
                  He leads me beside still waters.
            3       He restores my soul.
                  He leads me in paths of righteousness
      for his name’s sake.
             4       Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
      I will fear no evil,
                  for you are with me;
      your rod and your staff,
      they comfort me.
             5       You prepare a table before me
      in the presence of my enemies;
                  you anoint my head with oil;
      my cup overflows.
            6       Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
      all the days of my life,
                  and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
      forever.

GOSPEL
John 10:11–18

11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

The Good Shepherd

Grace, Mercy and Peace be unto you from God our Father and Savior Jesus Christ, His Son our Lord. AMEN

As a Vicar, I am training to be a pastor, under the supervision of an experienced pastor. While serving in this position I am expected to experience many of the duties of a pastor so that I am prepared to serve a congregation on my own in the future when I am sent out into the world. One of the activities that I have enjoyed quite a bit has been doing visitation to our shut-ins, because it gives me a chance to interact with some of the older members of the congregation in a one on one situation. I enjoy conversing with them, and then before I go I read a bible passage and say a prayer. Before going out and doing my first solo visit though, Pastor Karsten gave me one piece of advice, don’t read psalm 23. This seemed a little strange to me, because Psalm 23 is one of the most well known passages of the entire bible. But his advice makes sense, because, when people hear it, they think of death. They focus upon walking through the valley of the shadow of death, and there is a fear that all men have of death. But Christ came not as the bringer of death, but Life. He is our shepherd and has laid down his life for us.

Our Gospel lesson describes the work of a shepherd committed to his charges. This is not the work of one who is afraid to get a little dirty, afraid of danger, or afraid of work. For sheep are a stubborn and stupid lot, they enjoy going off on their own, and they get trapped by the landscape and hunted by wild animals. They walk through the valley of the shadow of death, often because of their own mistakes and foolish decisions. Without a shepherd, many will die, unable to face the destruction of the world and their own foolishness.

And the sad thing is, we are the sheep. We are the ones that wander away finding ourselves in dangerous situations, facing the wolves of this world. And we cannot face them. Through the temptations of the Devil the world and our sinful selves we are spiritually dead, there is no hope for us to find. And spiritual death leads to an eternal death where this is only pain and hopelessness. That is what fear lies in men, a fear that there is no hope. And there is no hope if there is not a good shepherd to guide us.

Psalm 23 does talk about the valley of the shadow of death, but not in fear, but in hope and confidence, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” There is comfort because of the good shepherd. We do not need to fear because Christ came to lay down his life for us, to protect us and rescue us from our sin, from our death, and from the temptations of the devil. No man could force him to do that, yet he did it for the sake of the whole world, that there would not be fear of death, but the sure hope of eternal life. That is what we celebrate this Eastertide, his death came so that we too may have life through the good shepherd.

Pastors and vicars serve here in as shepherds to guide god’s people through the promises that God has given to his people through Jesus Christ our Lord. We do not need to be afraid when that last moment comes, because Christ has already defeated the enemy, and we have life eternal in his name. Through his spirit we can gladly share, Christ is Risen, He is Risen indeed. ALLELUIA. AMEN

Easter 3B - Witnesses

SUNDAY, APRIL 22, 2012 | EASTER
THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER
YEAR B

             First Reading       Acts 3:11–21

             Psalm       Psalm 4

             Epistle       1 John 3:1–7

             Gospel       Luke 24:36–49

GOSPEL
Luke 24:36–49

 36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. 38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate before them.
44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance and3 forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

Witnesses

Grace, Mercy and Peace be unto you from God our Father and Savior Jesus Christ, His Son our Lord. AMEN

If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to witness it, did it make a sound? It is a rhetorical question asked by philosophers, scientists, and parents intended to get people thinking. Of course, the answer is obvious. It does make a sound. And yet, I have heard a physics professor attempt to claim that if there was no one there to experience the sound, there was compression for sound waves, but it is not a sound until an eardrum translates it into a sound. If you are like me, that reasoning seems to be a little thin, yet there is at least one person out there that doubts if a tree makes a sound as it falls in the forest if no one is there to witness it. And technically they are right because the definition of sound is "something that you hear.” The question is really a rhetorical question, asked by philosophers, scientists, and parents, which is intended to get people thinking. If no one witnesses an event, does it really make an impact? This is why for every event recorded in history there must be a reliable witness, preferably more than one if possible.

A witness conveys what happened during a particular event in time. A good witness confesses the truth to what he or she as seen, and a bad witness creates falsehood about the event, either intentionally twisting their story, or accidentally presenting an incomplete picture. All of history can be traced back to one false witness, that changed the story for all of humanity, leading to the fall and introduction of sin into the world. The World, the devil and our sinful selves do not witness in truth, but desires only that which benefits ourselves to rule. But Christ came into the world as the true witness for what God had done for us, through his life and appearance through the 40 days of easter. For God spoke to his people of old by the prophets about a witness of the coming salvation; a witness which was fulfilled in Christ Jesus.

The bible witnesses to us that the story of Easter took place because of false witnesses. The first and greatest of the false witnesses came with the snake in the garden of Eden. Satan used the snake to turn Eve away from the witness of God that had been given to her by her husband, by making her question the veracity of his story. “Did he really say?” the snake cried out causing Eve to think that maybe there was a different set of instructions. Adam had witnessed the instructions given by God, but Eve listened instead to slippery serpent of Satan and slipped into sin. Adam followed closely after, not questioning what was given to him, falling head first into the dirty depths of sin because of the wiles of the devil. And God punished MAN by casting them out of perfection. And he did not stop there, for he punished the snake as well, confessing a prediction of the future, “The LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.””

And the sons of man came and sinned bearing false witness about their own actions, bearing false witness about and to their neighbor, and bearing false witness about the one and only God in heaven. Satan ruled in hearts of the wicked, through their false actions, their false confessions, and their prayers to false idols. The whole of the old testament is filled with the people of God casting aside that which they knew was true, for something else listening to the whisperings of the world.

But God did not give up on this false people who did not know the truth. Instead he sent Prophets, Priests and Kings who knew the truth and bore witness to that truth. And where the true witness was proclaimed some listened and believed. They gave witness to a God of Love and Wrath, who blessed those who believed, but condemned those who refused the true witness. The prophets promised salvation, a messiah. Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.

And so the messiah came, first as a child of Bethlehem, coming fortold by angels and prophets, heralded by kings, and witnessed by shepherds. The infant king’s story was witnessed by the people so that the story could be told and verified. Then came his ministry, first to the twelve, and then to all of Israel, he taught in the open so that all could see and hear what he taught. Christ Jesus came as a witness to the truth of God, teaching about the laws of God and about the Love of God. But the people could not understand his ministry, and the leaders feared him, so they crucified him, as fortold once again by the prophets.

But Christ did not stay dead, he arose, and he appeared to his prophets. Our Gospel for today confesses that he came that Easter evening not in spirit, but in flesh, See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you wear clothed with power from on high.” And the Disciples, the learners, became the Apostles, the sent ones proclaiming the good news of the salvation of Christ.

What about us? On our own what do we witness? This week I have been a witness. I have witnessed the joy of a man experiencing freedom after 20 years of federal prison. I have witnessed the laying to rest of a man that was a husband, a father, a grandfather, and a great-grandfather. I witnessed a woman beginning the first steps in her treatment of cancer. I have been a witness to all of these things. I know that they have happened, because I saw these things. These things were set into motion long before I witnessed them, and yet I can give testimony to what I saw. I witnessed the struggle of humanity. A struggle that we endure because of our own sin, because of the sinfulness of our bodies, and the end result of that sin is the death of our body. As humans we can only witness death, if our focus is upon humanity, because all of humanity will die. And our confessions, our witnesses demonstrate that we are indeed sinful and unclean. We lie, we cheat we steal in our lives against our neighbors, and against our selves. And worse, on our own we cannot confess a witness of God either.

But we are not on our own, for we too have been clothed in the promises of God, through the righteousness of Christ in baptism. We can witness, not just to human suffering, not just to the unfaithfulness of humanity, the suffering that they serve, but we can witness to the faithfulness of God, who has not forsaken us, but has called us each by name.

Satan, the world, and our sinful selves want to be false witnesses, to serve the worlds wants. But Christ has risen, destroying the power of the perjury of the world and has declared us righteous before his Father. So through the Holy Spirit we can confess as witnesses to the World, Christ Has Risen, He has risen indeed. Hallelujah! AMEN

Fifth Midweek in Lent - And lead us not into temptation ... But deliver us from evil

SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 2012 | LENT

FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT

YEAR B

             Old Testament       Jeremiah 31:31–34

             Psalm       Psalm 119:9–16

             Epistle       Hebrews 5:1–10

             Gospel       (Mark 10:32–34) 35–45

GOSPEL

Mark 10:35–45

35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” 36 And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” 37 And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” 38 Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” 39 And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, 40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” 41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. 42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,4 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave5 of all. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” 

Lead Us Not Into Temptation...

Grace, Mercy and Peace be unto you from God our Father and Savior Jesus Christ, His Son our Lord.  AMEN

Our Focus is the Gospel Text and the Sixth and Seventh Petitions of the Lord’s Prayer, Lead us Not into Temptation but Deliver us from Evil.

Human beings are motivated for a number of reasons, but Chief among them seem to be Power, Wealth, and Glory.  Take a look at any story that involves a bad guy, and you will see a person seeking at least one of these, if not all three together.  Power indicates that we are in charge of our own destinies.  Wealth means that we do not need to fear not having enough of anything.  And Glory is what we get from other people, respect, admiration, and fame and honor.  Control, possessions, and being remembered are powerful motivators in life.  The problem is though, that when we allow ourselves to be motivated by power, wealth, and Glory, we are attempting to take what truly belongs to God.  We are being tempted, like Adam and Eve were tempted.  But the Son of God came as a servant, not seeking Power, Wealth or Glory.  For Christ, came into the World, to establish a new covenant through giving his life as a ransom for many. 

In today’s text we see James and John approaching Jesus for a favor.  The favor that they ask for is not a small favor, but a very big favor, one that would set them in an incredible position had Jesus granted them this Favor.  They wanted to sit by him one on his Right side and one on his Left.  Now this request goes well beyond simple seating arrangements for supper, but supper arrangements may help us understand why it matters. 

When we arrange a supper party, we take into a number things into account.  One is to mix up the people so that a number of conversations will hopefully go on, involving much of the table.  Another is to separate people that don’t get along very well.  And the most important, is to set people next to ourselves that we want to talk to, and that we like.  Now if you are a political or business leader, those people have your ear, they can get their own agendas listened to by the guy in charge.  It is a way to have power, when you aren’t the person in charge.  Being seated at the right hand of someone, specifically the host of an event back then was a great honor, it means that you were highly valued, very important, and loved.

So James and John were seeking the best spots for themselves.  They wanted to be the most important disciples.  That is why the other disciples became indignant, not because they were upset at the audacity to ask Jesus for the seats of honor, but because by asking Jesus, they were saying that they were better than the rest of the disciples.

It is tempting to want the best spot for ourselves, to lift us up in the social hierarchy.  In our daily lives we are constantly trying to climb the “Corporate Ladder”, because it shows how important we are to the world.  The important people go up, and the less important people do the menial tasks.   The very first sin of humanity though was giving into the temptation to be like God.  Adam and Eve wanted to be more than they were, they wanted to be like God.  And because of them, they fell, instead of going upwards, they went down, out of the garden and out of perfection. 

What things are you tempted to do?  Maybe it is a simple thing, like have another piece of dessert even though you don’t need more.  Maybe it is a little more complicated, like telling a little white lie, so that you don’t have to deal with the consequences of your decision. “I promise I only had one piece of pie” when in reality the piece was the size of half the pie.  Or perhaps the temptations are more demand, temptations of power, wealth, and glory, that lead to greater and greater sins, in the name of progress.

That’s what makes temptation so terrible.  It promises that your life is going to be better if you do these things, but in general, life does not improve, it just goes downward.  There is always one more thing to do.  For one thing may look like it has improved, but other more important things have been sacrificed to get there.  That why Jesus Taught us in his Prayer to pray, “And lead us not into Temptation.”  God tempts no one. We pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us so that the devil, the world, and our sinful nature may not deceive us or mislead us into false belief, despair, and other great shame and vice. Although we are attacked by these things, we pray that we may finally overcome them and win the victory.

We do not stop though with, “Lead us not into Temptation” but instead we continue with, “But deliver us from evil.”  And We pray in this petition, in summary, that our Father in heaven would rescue us from every evil of body and soul, possessions and reputation, and finally, when our last hour comes, give us a blessed end, and graciously take us from this valley of sorrow to Himself in heaven.  We need to be deliverd from the source of all temptations, the powers of the evil one, and we cannot do it on our own, instead the one who stood up to temptations himself had to stand in our place as a ransom for us all.  For before his ministry began, he face the temptations of earthly possections with turn this stone into bread.  He faced the temptations for Glory, when  he was asked to cast himself down from the temple for all to see.  And he faced the temptations for Power when the devil offered to Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.  Each of these temptations did Jesus Face, and each of these temptations did he turn away from. 

For when seeking to be first, he came as a servant and as a slave of all.  The King of hosts did not come down with trumpets sounding surrounded by wealth, but he came as a servant, a teacher, who would drink of the cup of wrath for all people.  He took it upon himself to face the greatest evil, death. For the son of man came and faced all the temptations of the world and the evil one, and did not give in.  His death upon the cross would be the defeat of death, the devil, and the world for all humanity.  This was not done in the search of Power, wealth or Glory, for those things already belonged to him as the son of God.  He lowered himself, giving up all things for us and for our salvation. 

We as humans still face temptations in our daily lives, but we do not need to fear them.  For the power of the devil has been defeated by Jesus Christ, the perfect Prophet Priest and King.  He faced the temptations that we faced, and did not give in, and by him and through him we can say no to all temptations.  We can rejoice that Christ, came into the World, to establish a new covenant in his blood  as a ransom for all who believe.  To him be Kingdom, the power, and the Glory, forever and Ever. AMEN  

Fourth Midweek in Lent - And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us

SUNDAY, MARCH 18, 2012 | LENT

FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT

YEAR B

             Old Testament       Numbers 21:4–9

             Psalm       Psalm 107:1–9

             Epistle       Ephesians 2:1–10

             Gospel       John 3:14–21

GOSPEL

John 3:14–21

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.8
16 “For God so loved the world,9 that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

Goal: For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Malady: We are broken sinners, and we like holding on to the sins of others.

Means: Christ came into the world to die on the cross so that he could forgive us our sins.

And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us

Grace, Mercy and Peace be unto you from God our Father and Savior Jesus Christ, His Son our Lord.  AMEN

Our Focus for tonight is upon our Gospel lesson and the Fifth Petition in the Lord’s Prayer

Out of the 4 gospel accounts of Jesus from Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, we are presented with the last words of Jesus, 7 of them.  Now out of those seven words, we hear words of Forgiveness and promise.  The Clearest word of Forgiveness  comes after the Roman soldiers had nailed Jesus upon the Cross Crucifying him with a criminal on his left and a criminal upon his right and a sign above his head, King of the Jews.  He spoke not in anger but words of forgiveness, Father forgiveness for they know not what they do.  Here Jesus had the perfect reason to renounce all of the men and women that surrounded him killing the son of God for their sins against God.  But he did not.  Would we have forgiven so easily?   Humans beings like being able to hold a grudge, because we do not let go of the sins of others easily.  But Christ came into the world to die upon the cross, not only for my sins but for the sins of all believers. For God truly did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 

Is there someone out there that you cannot stand because of what he or she did to you?  Someone who was rude to you, that beat you up, did horrible things.  Maybe it was someone that deserved to be punished for the things they did.  Maybe it was because of a fight that you had a long time ago, or even a short time ago.  Is there someone out there that you are harboring anger against? 

As much as we feel like someone deserves what they get, holding a grudge against them is contrary to what God has done for us, unlimited forgiveness.  We like the three strikes and you’re out clause, but when Peter asked Jesus, How many times must I forgive my  brother, seven times?  Jesus responded I tell you not 7 time, but 70 time 7 times.  And when we look at ourselves and our own track records, If we were held even to a 7 times and you’re out clause, we would be in deep trouble. 

Here again there is great need to call upon God and pray: “Dear Father, forgive us our debts.” Not that he does not forgive sins even apart from and before our praying; for before we prayed for it or even thought about it, he gave us the gospel, in which there is nothing but forgiveness. But the point here is for us to recognize and accept this forgiveness. For the flesh in which we daily live is of such a nature that it does not trust and believe God and is constantly aroused by evil desires and devices, so that we sin daily in word and deed, in acts of commission and omission. Thus our conscience becomes restless; it fears God’s wrath and displeasure, and so it loses the comfort and confidence of the gospel. Therefore it is necessary constantly to run to this petition and get the comfort that will restore our conscience.

There is, however, attached to this petition a necessary and even comforting addition, “as we forgive our debtors.” He has promised us assurance that everything is forgiven and pardoned, as a result that we then forgive our neighbor. For if we were to withhold forgiveness, we would be no better than the servant who was spared from debtors prison by the king from a great debt, and then immediately went out and beat up a man who owed him a little, refusing to forgive a little.  What arrogance to be forgive of all, but refuse to forgive another of a little.  For just as we sin greatly against God every day and yet he forgives it all through grace, so we also must always forgive our neighbor who does us harm, violence, and injustice, bears malice toward us, etc. If you do not forgive, do not think that God forgives you. But if you forgive, you have the comfort and assurance that you are forgiven in heaven—not on account of your forgiving (for he does it altogether freely, out of pure grace, because he has promised it, as the gospel teaches) but instead because he has set this up for our strengthening and assurance as a sign along with the promise that matches this petition in Luke 6[:37*], “Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Therefore Christ repeats it immediately after the Lord’s Prayer, saying in Matthew 6[:14*], “If you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. . . .”

The forgiveness that we speak towards our neighbor does not come from ourselves, instead It comes through the Power of Jesus Christ.  Christ spoke words of Forgiveness upon the cross, when we deserved only condemnation.  He did not cry out, “Father cast them down into the pits of fire and hell for they did not listen to me,” Instead he cried out Father forgive them.  Even the criminal at his side who was being justly punished for his crimes, his earthly sins was not without the grace of God.  When all others mocked Jesus and called out to him to save himself, this thief recognized that he was there Justly, but Jesus was there without sin.  His only plea was “Lord Remember me, when you come into your kingdom.” Here was a man that had no more hope of earthly redemption, and yet the words spoken by Jesus were, Today you will be with me in Paradise.   It is a clear enactment of John 3:16 and 17, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.   The man was already condemned by earthly authority, was guilty in his crimes, but he repented and believed in Jesus Christ, and Jesus responded in his full heavenly power, you shall have eternal life.  Sin death and the devil has been conquer through the cross even for the worst of sinners.

Even though we do not deserve forgiveness, we do not need to fear for our forgiveness, for God gives it to us through his free grace, through the Holy Spirit who causes us to believe.  Because of this full and abundant grace, we forgive others because he has forgiven us of everything, and we should not withhold the grace that God gives freely to us.  To Go be the glory forever and ever.  AMEN

Third Midweek in Lent - Give us this Day our Daily Bread

SUNDAY, MARCH 11, 2012 | LENT

THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT

YEAR B

             Old Testament       Exodus 20:1–17

             Psalm       Psalm 19

             Epistle       1 Corinthians 1:18–31

             Gospel       John 2:13–22 (23–25)

GOSPEL

John 2:13–22 (23–25)

13 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. 15 And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
18 So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

Give us this day, our daily bread

Grace Mercy and Peace be unto form God our Father and Savior Jesus Christ his son our Lord. AMEN

Our Focus for this morning is the Gospel Text and the Fourth petition of the Lord’s Prayer, Give us this day our daily Bread.

I’m sure there is someone wondering why are we talking about our daily bread when in today’s text we are hearing about the cleansing of the temple?  The cleansing of the temple is certainly an exciting story of Jesus’ zeal for his father’s house.  And at face value we could talk about not selling things in church.  The thing is I can only think of a couple of churches that could very well use a fire and brimstone speech about not using the church as a house of trade.  The reason why we are talking about daily bread is because it gets to the root of why the oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers were in the temple courts to begin with and why Jesus was so upset to see them trading. The people were supposed to bring their sacrifices to God, and the traders were just making it easier for the people.  The problem came about when people tried to rewrite things in an effort to make it “easier” for the people. 

Sacrifices to God

Most people spend the majority of their lives concerned with being able to have the what they see as the basic necessities of life.  It is the essential reason for why we work, for we are attempting to be able to provide for our families and for ourselves.  It is what man has been doing since Adam and eve were cast out of the garden and were told that they would have to struggle with the ground to grow what they needed.  IN essence we are struggling for our daily bread.  Luther further defines daily bread in his small catechism as What is meant by daily bread? Daily bread includes everything that has to do with the support and needs of the body, such as food, drink, clothing, shoes, house, home, land, animals, money, goods, a devout husband or wife, devout children, devout workers, devout and faithful rulers, good government, good weather, peace, health, self-control, good reputation, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like.  He goes well beyond our modern ideas of necessity of food and shelter, into everything that surrounds us in our lives.  As sinful human beings we often want to accept the credit for having all of these things.  But we recognize as Christians that these things come to us through God and his blessings which he gives to believer and unbeliever alike.   When give to God, we are only giving back to him the blessings that he has already given to us.

When God lead his people out of the promised land, he made it abundantly clear that it was through his hand.  And he gave to Moses His Law for the people to live peacefully with each other, and also the ways in which they were to worship him.  Even his 10 commandments demonstrates the emphasis of living toward God, as the second table are short statements, whereas the first table is explained in detail.  In these laws is included the sacrifices to God, out of the abundance which he had given to them.  This is not a give until it hurts situation, the Sacrifice wasn’t meant to be a hardship for the people, instead the tithe- or Ten percent that was to be given to God was trusting that God had given them everything, even enough to make it through their lives without a portion of their harvest. 

Supposed to be the First Fruits

So those who gave to the lord their sacrifices were giving back to him in thanksgiving the things that he had already given to him.  Now when you give thanks to someone, do you give them your trash as a present to thank them.  Obviously not.  Instead you give them something new, like a thank you card or the like.  When giving to God, the Israelites were commanded to give their best of the best.  If they were shepherds- perfect lambs, if they were rich-oxen, if they were poor doves.  From wherever they lived they were to bring their sacrifice to the temple at least once a year.

Making it easier – Finding loopholes

One small problem though, they didn’t have trucks to bring all these animals to the temple, and if they got hurt on the way they would no longer be perfect for the sacrifice.  Well luckly there were pseople who thought ahead and just had flocks to be sold that way you didn’t have to bring in those animals from so far away.  And for those of you bringing money, we will change out that nasty foreign money with images of Ceaser on it with money that does not have the false images on it.   And we’ll do all this for just a small convenience fee.

Making profits in the loopholes

About here is when most of us should be squirming in our seats.  It sounds good, on the one hand until you look at what is really happening, people are trying to profit off of other’s desire to give back to God!  Yeah sure you can give back to god, I’ll just take my cut before you do.  This is where Christ’s anger comes from -  trying to create Loopholes around God’s Blessings and changing the focus off of what really matters, that God has blessed us with what we need to eat and drink. 

We can do the same thing in our lives.  We can stand in the way of God’s Word because our actions draw away from the true focus.  We can do this by placing our thoughts and desires before God and the universal church.  By doing so we say that we are responsible for taking our daily bread, not just receiving our daily bread.

Christ’s daily bread

But on our own we have nothing.  Lent began with Jesus in the desert absent of daily bread, suffering from temptation and hunger he had no bread to eat.  , go from their to the "Bread of Life" discourse in John

And in John Jesus confesses,  “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

And then in the upper room, He took bread, broke it and gave it to his disciples.  And then, of course to the cross, where He thirsted, again with no bread or water.

God himself gave to the world in the very way that he asked his people to give to his temple.  He sent his one and only son, the first fruit of all creation into the world for us.  HE didn’t just look good, but he walked the walk and talked the talk.  Our sacrifices were to be a representation of our sinfulness and need for God’s blessings, his sacrifice TOOK our sinfulness upon him and brought with him God’s blessings for all of humanity.  He died upon the Cross so that we could have new life, and he gave it freely.  He does not require us to pay for his sacrifice, because he has paid the ultimate price, defeating sin death and the devil.

We need our daily bread, and God gives it to us freely, to the believer and unbeliever in order that we may know his great and abundant mercy and blessings.  We pray that we may recognize this in our lives and give thanks to him forever.  AMEN