God is glorified in Jesus on the cross.

 

Sermon for Easter 4, Jubilate, April 25, 2021

Grace, mercy, and peace to you all from God our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.  Amen.

John 17:1-8  After Jesus had spoken these things, he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the time has come.  Glorify your Son so that your Son may glorify you.  ²For you gave him authority over all flesh, so that he may give eternal life to all those you have given him.  ³This is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you sent.  ⁴I have glorified you on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.  ⁵Now, Father, glorify me at your own side with the glory I had at your side before the world existed.  ⁶“I revealed your name to the men you gave me out of the world.  They were yours; you gave them to me, and they have held on to your word.  ⁷Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you.  ⁸For I gave them the words you gave me, and they received them.  They learned the truth that I came from you.  They believed that you sent me. (EHV)

God is glorified in Jesus on the cross.

Dear friends in Christ,

            As their celebration of the Passover supper neared its end, Jesus closed the meal with what has become known as His High Priestly prayer.  Jesus’ prayer helps us understand why St. Paul would later write, “Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.  We preach Christ crucified, because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” (1 Corinthians 1:24-25)  Here, we learn that God is glorified in Jesus on the cross.

Nothing about Christianity makes sense to the world.  To the mind trapped in inherited sin, God coming down to earth to save sinners does not seem possible.  God creating the world in six days just as impossible.  Yet, what truly causes the sinner to stumble is the idea of the Savior of the world being convicted of treason and blasphemy, then nailed to a tree until dead, and finally buried.  The natural man says, “Who could believe in a Savior so weak?  Who could believe God would allow Himself to be killed for the sins of men?”  However, that is how God glorifies Himself.

Our God, the Creator of the world, took upon Himself to redeem mankind from sin and death.  It wasn’t something any of us asked for, neither does anyone deserve such grace.  Yet, throughout history, God shows Himself as pure unadulterated love.  Though mankind rebelled against its Creator and violated every law and instruction God gave, God continues faithfully to provide the necessities of life for every created thing including us sinful people.

Still, God was not satisfied to simply provide for our earthly lives then at the end condemn us to eternal punishment for our sins.  Instead, the God of love intervened for us all, “in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them.” (2 Corinthians 5:19)

That long ago night when Jesus celebrated the Passover meal He had so looked forward to, He gave His disciples some last-minute instructions, then “After Jesus had spoken these things, he looked up to heaven and said, ‘Father, the time has come.  Glorify your Son so that your Son may glorify you.’”  The culmination of Jesus’ work to reconcile people with God had arrived, and fully understanding what lay ahead of Him that night, Jesus prayed for His Father in heaven to carry that process through to its bitter end.  By giving all the sins of the world to His Son, God the Father brought the glory of His unlimited mercy to the field.  Then by willingly bearing the sins of friend and foe alike, Jesus was glorified in the Father’s eyes.

Jesus prayed, “For you gave him authority over all flesh, so that he may give eternal life to all those you have given him.”  Like Father, like Son.  Though man had rebelled against God, God had promised mercy and grace.  Likewise, the Son, having full authority over all mankind and full authority to judge the world for its guilt, substituted His own life in payment for ours so that we could be reunited with God.  In full agreement with His Father’s will, Jesus prays that God accept this exchange so that He could grant life everlasting to those who, otherwise, could never have it.

All of this seems unbelievably weird to the sinful nature.  By nature, we don’t want to be caught in our sins, but when we are hurt by the sins of others, we demand revenge.  This truth plays out daily as reported in the constant stream of tragic events.  Mothers weep for the deaths of disobedient children.  People of all ages rage against authority and rebel against the requirements of the law, yet at the same time demand that everyone else around them be held accountable for even the smallest infraction.  We are by nature quick to accuse but slow to repent.

For times such as this, St. Paul’s warning is on target, “For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemous, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, not able to reconcile with others, slanderous, without self-control, savage, haters of what is good, treacherous, reckless, puffed up with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to an outward form of godliness but denying its power.” (2 Timothy 3:2-5)

No one could stand before God’s judgment with such accusations against them, yet Jesus offers us a sure and certain hope: He said, “This is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you sent.”  To know the Triune God means to believe in Him and everything He has promised.  On several occasions, Jesus promised reconciliation by faith.  When Martha grieved her brother’s death, Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in me will live, even if he dies.  And whoever lives and believes in me will never perish.” (John 11:25-26)

A world trapped in sin could not be obedient to God, so on our behalf, God’s Son lived in human flesh exactly as God desired, without fault, error, sin, rebelliousness, or wicked thought.  Jesus confidently confessed to His Father, “I have glorified you on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.”  Because you and I fail to be always in harmony with God, it was God’s will for His Son to live this way for us, and Jesus accomplished it perfectly.  Even if the devil, or any man, should say it can’t be done, the Man, Christ Jesus, lived according to His Father’s will in every possible way.

Then, for the conclusion of Jesus’ work, He prayed, “Now, Father, glorify me at your own side with the glory I had at your side before the world existed.”  Jesus knew the cruel cup He would have to drink to set sinners like us free from death and condemnation, yet He prayed that God would go ahead with the plan set forth from before Adam and Eve fell into sin.  “It was the Lord’s will to crush him and to allow him to suffer.” (Isaiah 53:10)  God sent His Son to bear the punishment for sin in our place, and of Him, St. John testified, “The Word became flesh and dwelled among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory he has as the only-begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

Jesus knew the prophecies of His coming suffering and death; He knew the hell He would have to pay for you and me, but Jesus also knew the will of His Father to save, and Jesus knew the power God had given Him over death.  Jesus told His disciples, “I lay down my life so that I may take it up again.  No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own.  I have the authority to lay it down, and I have the authority to take it up again.  This is the commission I received from my Father.” (John 10:17-18)  Thus, God is glorified in Jesus on the cross.

Not only did Jesus pray that God be glorified in His life and sacrifice, but He praised His Father in heaven for giving saving faith to those He had chosen to believe in the Son.  He said, “I revealed your name to the men you gave me out of the world.  They were yours; you gave them to me, and they have held on to your word.”  From before the beginning of the world, God chose those who are His.  For the sake of all who will believe and be saved, God sent His Son to live and die, and for the revelation of that Good News that works saving faith in the hearts of sinners, the Father and the Son together send the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacrament, because “No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:3)  Thus, the Word made flesh rescued the fallen and lifted them to life everlasting by the power of His message.

Jesus said, “Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you.  For I gave them the words you gave me, and they received them.  They learned the truth that I came from you.  They believed that you sent me.”  This confirms what Jesus had earlier declared to those who were persecuting Him: “Amen, Amen, I tell you: Anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life.  He is not going to come into judgment but has crossed over from death to life.” (John 5:24)

Dear friends, this promise belongs to you and me as well, confirmed by Jesus’ words, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.” (Mark 16:16)  In a world throwing ever increasing temptations against us, temptations both to do evil and to trust in something other than the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord, Christ’s work on our behalf grows ever more important to cling to and to share.  The devil, the world, and our own flesh battle against us continually, but Jesus has won the war and cannot be defeated.  Immediately before He spoke this prayer, Jesus promised His friends, “I have told you these things, so that you may have peace in me.  In this world you are going to have trouble.  But be courageous!  I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

Dear friends, the glory of God is revealed in Christ Jesus.  He is the Son God sent to save a world of sinners.  God is glorified by the sacrifice Jesus made for you and me.  God is glorified by His mercy shown to the unworthy.  And, God is glorified when people believe, not if we should believe in ourselves, but when we believe in the Savior He sent.  God is glorified in Jesus on the cross.  Amen.

The peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting.  Amen.

 

Follow your Shepherd’s example of love.

 

Sermon for Easter 3, Misericordias Domini, April 18, 2021

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  By His great mercy He gave us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.  Amen.

1 Peter 2:21-25  ²¹ Indeed, you were called to do this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example so that you would follow in his steps.  ²² He did not commit a sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.  ²³ When he was insulted, he did not insult in return.  When he suffered, he made no threats.  Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.  ²⁴ He himself carried our sins in his body on the tree so that we would be dead to sins and alive to righteousness.  By his wounds you were healed.  ²⁵ For you were like sheep going astray, but you are now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (EHV)

Follow your Shepherd’s example of love.

Dear lambs of the Good Shepherd’s flock,

            The world knows little about love.  Oh yes, many sing songs about love and most people profess love for those near and dear to them.  Many people willingly make sacrifices for those they love, for their country, and their own skin color or kin, but how many will sacrifice for the benefit  of those who hate them?  Until we are willing to give up everything to give life and hope to enemies, we will always fall short of the love God expects all of us to live.

Now, I know that talking about making sacrifices for our enemies sounds more than a little nuts, but in essence, that is the love Jesus demonstrated for the world, for “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)  Paul doubled down on that thought by affirming, “while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son.” (Romans 5:10)

Our sermon text comes as Peter teaches us to endure suffering willingly, even unfair suffering that comes our way for doing what is right and good.  There is no merit gained for suffering what we deserve, but our Lord wants us to do as He did in suffering for those who didn’t know or love Him.  Therefore, the Holy Spirit compels us to Follow your Shepherd’s example of love.

It goes against the grain of human flesh to be willing to take a beating we don’t deserve.  In truth, very few people enjoy punishment of any kind, and those who seek abuse are often considered mentally ill.  However, being willing to endure unjust suffering is what Peter is talking about when he writes, “Indeed, you were called to do this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example so that you would follow in his steps." 

Naturally, we are not called to bear this suffering without purpose.  Jesus died for the purpose of saving the world from its sins.  Because He died for all people, our Lord “wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4)  It is only through hearing the truth about the condemnation deserved for disobeying God that anyone will know their sin, and it is only through the proclamation of what Jesus has done for them that anyone will be given saving faith in Jesus.  However, the sinner seldom receives that news graciously.  Martin Luther wrote about this conflict:

The godly Christian, who looks for eternal life after the present one and who aims to help others to attain unto the same happy goal, assuredly must act the part he professes, must assert his belief and show the world how it travels the broad road to hell and eternal death.  And to do so is to antagonize the world and incur the displeasure of the devil.[i]

That is the task before us, to live for Christ and to show His love to the world, yet at the same time to expect that the world will reject us even as it rejects our Lord and Savior.  The unbelieving souls cannot desire to have Jesus save them because they are dead in sin and enemies of God while under the devil’s control.  It is only by the power of the Holy Spirit working through the gospel that anyone is saved.  Thus, the gospel must be proclaimed to break the chains of Satan’s control and grant the salvation God desires for all people.

So that we might be beacons of light to the lost of the world, Jesus gave us an example of holy love: He did not commit a sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.  When he was insulted, he did not insult in return.  When he suffered, he made no threats.”  Peter had followed Jesus for three years, seeing everything Jesus did and said while He poured out love on all who came to Him.

If you listen to the news of whatever tragedy is in the news these days, there are always those who claim to seek justice, but what they demand is revenge.  Numerous also are those who despair of hope and end their lives without thought for tomorrow.  Jesus, on the other hand, never gave up trust in His heavenly Father, never uttered a bad word about anyone, not even those who reviled and hated Him, even when they falsely accused Him, beat and mocked Him, and nailed Him to a tree.  Even for the worst of those, and you and me, Jesus prayed for forgiveness and peace.  Rather than fight against those who mistreated Him, Jesus gave all things into His Father’s hand, fully confident that not only was this the only way to save the millions of people Jesus loves, but it was the Father’s plan to raise Him again in glory everlasting.

Of course, imitating Jesus’ example is a tall order to live up to.  I often look through magazines or websites and see marvelous creations of woodworking, art, and recipes.  In my imagination, I can see myself doing some of those things, but when I try, it always comes out far short of my expectations.  So, if I cannot match the skills of ordinary people, how will I ever measure up to the perfection of God’s Son?  As St. Paul would lament, “I fail to do the good I want to do.  Instead, the evil I do not want to do, that is what I keep doing.” (Romans 7:19)

The instruction we are given is Follow your Shepherd’s example of love, and as Christians, we truly do want to live for our Lord as He lived.  The love His Spirit has worked in us as we were brought to faith in Christ drives us to do good.  Yet, we know we never do as much as we should, but dear friends, that is why Jesus lived and died for us.  That is why He continues to bless and strengthen us through His Word and Sacrament, not so that we don’t serve Him or don’t try to give others a shot at salvation, but so that He could be the righteousness we so desperately need.

Peter wrote, “He himself carried our sins in his body on the tree so that we would be dead to sins and alive to righteousness.  By his wounds you were healed.”  This is not a wish but a certainty made sure by Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.  Through faith in Christ Jesus, we are dead to sin and alive to righteousness.  By His life and death, Jesus removed our sins forever, not so that we don’t try to live right, but so that everything we do out of love for Him and our neighbor, according to God’s commands in the law, is righteousness in God’s eyes.  Healed by the wounds Jesus received for our sins, our humble service becomes a beacon of light to the world around us. 

Do you sometimes wonder if you make a difference in the world?  Keep following Jesus and you won’t wonder anymore.  Keep coming to church to hear about the love of God for sinners.  Keep eating and drinking Jesus’ body and blood in the Lord’s Supper for that is a testimony to the world that you believe Jesus lived for you, died for you, and rose from the grave triumphant on your behalf.  Keep praying for the opportunity to invite others to know Jesus for forgiveness and life, and be prepared to answer those who ask why you strive to live faithful to Jesus.

And if—no make that when—the world mocks you, hates you, abuses you, threatens your life, and even takes it, when your friends betray you, know that Jesus is there with you to help and befriend you and bear you up under the threat, because His blood was shed to make you clean.  His life was given to be your death payment for sin.  Know that by Jesus’ wounds, your entrance into heaven is certain and sure, because though salvation cannot be won by the works we do, it is given to us freely by the Son who carried out His Father’s mission of redeeming grace for sinners like you and me.  Therefore, when persecution comes upon you for trusting in Jesus, react as the apostles did when they were abused and mistreated for proclaiming the Good News to sinners, “rejoicing that they were considered worthy to suffer shame for the Name.” (Acts 5:41)

Peter once boasted that he would never betray his Lord, but only a few hours later, he shamed himself beyond measure as he denied knowing Jesus three times.  Yes, Peter knew sin, but after the resurrection, Peter also learned God’s grace, for Jesus restored him to his position as an apostle, and three times Jesus invited Peter to feed Jesus’ sheep.  It drove home in that sinner’s mind the infinite love and grace Jesus has for all.  By His wounds we are healed.  All our sins are removed from us as far as east is from the west.  Furthermore, no matter what troubles we might face in this world, Jesus has given us eternal riches, peace, and life in the mansions above.  “For you were like sheep going astray, but you are now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” 

The Holy Spirit working faith in you through the gospel in Word and Sacrament brought you back to Jesus.  Though once you and I were strays destined only to destruction, heaven is now our home.  Do not despair of how the world may and will fight against us.  What should concern us solely is how we can live for Jesus.  How can we shine His light in the world?  How can we live to show love to friend and enemy alike?  The Lord will give us the opportunities.  The Lord gives us the tools in His Word.  The Lord makes us holy in His Father’s sight, and the Lord will carry us home.  For the good of your neighbors, friends and enemies alike, Follow your Shepherd’s example of love.  Amen.

The peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting.  Amen.

---

[i] Luther, Martin. The Complete Sermons of Martin Luther. Vol. 4.1-2. Ed. John Nicholas Lenker. Baker Books: Grand Rapids, MI. 2000, 249.

Your Redeemer lives and so shall you.

 

Sermon for Easter 2, Quasimodogeniti, April 11, 2021

This is the day the LORD has made.  Let us rejoice and be glad in it.  Amen.

Job 19:25-27  ²⁵As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the end of time he will stand over the dust.  ²⁶Then, even after my skin has been destroyed, nevertheless, in my own flesh I will see God.  ²⁷I myself will see him.  My own eyes will see him, and not as a stranger.  My emotions are in turmoil within me. (EHV)

Your Redeemer lives and so shall you.

Dear friends in Christ,

            In the days after Jesus’ death, His disciples locked themselves away from the world in fear of what might happen to them since their Lord had been killed.  Even though early that morning, the women had brought the shocking news that Jesus’ body was no longer in the tomb, they seemed to forget Jesus’ promise that He would rise on the third day.  Peter and John had run to the tomb to see for themselves, but even after the women brought the news they heard from the angels that Jesus was raised from the dead and He would meet the disciples in Galilee, the disciples were still uncertain of what it all meant.  If only they had remembered Job’s words as they hid in that upper room.  Likewise, we too should listen to Job as we wait for our Savior to return, for we learn that Your Redeemer lives and so shall you.

The disciples hid in fear that the Jews or Romans would do to them what they had done to Jesus.  Maybe they remembered Jesus saying, “If they persecuted me, they will persecute you too.” (John 15:20)  Considering that passage, how often are You and I also afraid as we observe the rebellious attitudes of so many around us?  Like the disciples eventually faced, many Christians in our world, and Christian teachings too, are under constant attack from the devil’s friends.  With so much turmoil going on around us, it is not surprising that many are afraid of whatever bad things could happen to us, to our children, to parents, or to our friends.  To be honest, though, fear shows a lack of faith.  Yet, our Lord Jesus instructed us, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.  Rather, fear the one who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:28)

Job, the man in our sermon text, was under vicious attack.  Satan was trying to prove that Job believed in God only because God had blessed him so richly.  In his jealous attack, the devil went as far as God allowed.  Satan took every blessing from Job except his life.  The devil destroyed Job’s children, his servants, his wealth, and eventually even his health.  At the time he spoke these words, Job was covered from head to toe with painful boils.  But you might say, “Wait a minute, Job still had his wife and friends.”  However, those who should have been a blessing and comfort to Job seemed to join in the devil’s attack on the man.  His friends accused Job of committing terrible sin for which God was rightly punishing him, although they had no evidence of such sin.  Job’s wife told him he should give up on God and die.  With frenemies like that, who could survive?

Job tried to defend himself against his friends’ attacks, but for believers, including Job, there is really only one defense when the devil attacks—true, humble faith in God’s promises.  So, as we look at Job’s faith, we will look at the object of his faith and the salvation brought to him through faith, and we will see that Your Redeemer lives and so shall you.

Job said, “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the end of time he will stand over the dust.”  What an amazing testimony Job gave over two thousand years before Christ was born!  It shows that Job had been given faith in the Redeemer God promised to Adam and Eve.  Furthermore, Job acknowledges that the Redeemer could not be just a man, but the One who lived then, who would live on earth to redeem him, and who lives forever. 

In our creeds, we proclaim that Jesus is the Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds.  Our Redeemer lives—from eternity to eternity.  This is the reason for our confidence—Jesus lives.  Eternally begotten of the Father, He is fully God even as He is fully Man.  He lives before the creation of the world.  He lives at the time of Job.  He lives with the eleven disciples locked in that upper room.  He lives with you and me.  Risen from the grave, Jesus lives yesterday, today, and forever. 

Now, of course, we know that Jesus died; that is how He became our Redeemer.  The Holy Son of God, set aside His heavenly glory to take on human flesh and pay the debt of death required for the sins of the world.  Throughout the first half of the Church year, we learned of Jesus’ humble birth, holy life, and sacred ministry in preparation for His dying.  The great debt for the sins of the world required a great offering to God to cover it, so the Son of God, Himself, became that all-sufficient sacrifice for all people as Jesus died on the cross to pay the debt for all our guilt, including our sins of fear and doubt. 

Only Jesus could pay that price because only Jesus had no sin of His own for which He needed to pay, but Jesus remained true God as well as Man, so that He could rise again.  Here in the Easter season, we celebrate that Jesus didn’t stay dead.  The fact that He rose from the grave, alive, assures us that Christ’s sacrifice is accepted by God as full payment for our sins.  It shouts to the world that Jesus is who He says He is, and Jesus says, “Because I live, you also will live.” (John 14:19)

The Bible declares that because Jesus sacrificed Himself for us, God has set Jesus at His right hand to judge the world.  That Day of Judgment is what Job looks forward to as he says, “at the end of time he will stand over the dust.”  Today, many people tremble in terror of Judgment Day.  Often, they won’t admit that fear, but subconsciously, it drives them to be terrified of the future, of opposing ideas, of death, strangers, climate change, and other threats.  It also causes them to fear the cross, and Christians, because the cross reminds them of deadly punishment for their sins, and Christians (even if we don’t say anything) remind them that the Almighty Creator will judge in the end.

The Christian, on the other hand, can look forward to Judgment Day with anticipation, because the Holy Spirit, through the Gospel in Word and Sacrament, gives us confident faith that we have been declared innocent because of Christ’s sacrifice and therefore welcome in His eternal home.

Now, Job recognized that he didn’t deserve redemption.  He understood that he had sinned against God.  Reading the book of Job, you may wonder about this because of the way Job argues his innocence, but we see that Job understands his guilt as he says, “even after my skin has been destroyed.”  Job recognized that he had sinned, and death would be the consequence of his sin.  Because of sin we all will die, but trusting in His Redeemer, Job was not afraid of physical death for faith gave him the assurance of his own resurrection. 

Job said, “Then, even after my skin has been destroyed, nevertheless, in my own flesh I will see God.  I myself will see him.  My own eyes will see him, and not as a stranger.”  Just as Jesus rose from the dead, on the last day, you and I and Job will also be raised from the dead.  We can have the same confidence as Job.  In fact, we can be even more confident because Jesus’ resurrection is an already accomplished fact.  Job looked forward, trusting in God’s promise that He would send a Savior, a Redeemer.  We have the eyewitness testimony of those who saw Jesus raised and living after His crucifixion, death, and burial, and like for Job, Jesus promises us, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)

Through faith in the promises handed down from his forefathers, Job knew that God would restore his body at the last day.  Jesus’ resurrection is not a mystical, spiritual resurrection some pretend.  It is a true restoration of Jesus with glorified body and soul.  Likewise, for us—our souls will be reunited with our bodies, raised in a glorified state, for all sin will have been removed. 

St. Paul wrote, “Look, I tell you a mystery.  We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.  For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality.” (1 Corinthians 15:51-53)  That is the great day we anticipate, when our bodies are changed, and no matter the state of our present earthly flesh, we will be raised to live forever with glorified, sin-free bodies, and from that moment on, we will see our risen and glorified Lord.  Thus, we join in Job’s yearning plea to see that day, as he says, “My emotions are in turmoil within me.”  Though feeling the great pain of his losses, Job recognized the joy of his future. 

Without faith in the Redeemer, Job would have been one sorry and troubled individual when the devil attacked him with such vengeance.  But throughout all his troubles, Job could express this simple yet incredibly deep faith in the Redeemer.  That really is the definition of faith—to believe despite contrary evidence.  Job could have thrown up his hands in disgust and simply walked away from God as his wife suggested.  Job looked at the earthly evidence and saw only trouble, but then he looked at the spiritual evidence of God’s promises and would not, could not, turn away from the love of God.  That is why God allowed the devil to test Job, because God knew that the faith Job had been given would be strong enough to preserve his eternal life. 

For our assurance and hope, God promises us that faith as small as a mustard seed is saving faith.  Faith in the Redeemer, Jesus Christ, preserves us through anything the devil, the world, or our own flesh might use against us.  Thus, we have nothing to fear except letting go of God-given faith. 

So, how can we strengthen our faith in Jesus?  The same way that Job was kept in the faith, through the promises of God.  Connected with Jesus in His Word, God keeps us in the faith.  As we make use of God’s Word: hearing it in worship, reading and studying the Bible, as we continue to strengthen our souls with Christ’s body and blood in the Sacrament, God keeps us in the saving faith.  Dear Christian friends, trust God’s Word, for Your Redeemer lives and so shall you.  Amen.

Now to Him who is able to strengthen you—according to the gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, . . . to God, who alone is wise, be glory forever through Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Peace to you in Life-Giving Hands.

 

Sermon for Easter Sunday, April 4, 2021

This is the day the Lord has made.  Let us rejoice and be glad in it.  Yes, His mercy endures forever.  Amen.

Dear blessed ones in Christ Jesus,

            They thought they knew Him!  Jesus’ disciples had been following Him for three years!  They had left everything of their former lives and careers to follow Jesus (Matthew 19:27), but for what?  Mixed up in their agony of grief for the execution of the Man they thought was the long-promised Messiah and the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16) came the loss of purpose, and the feeling of betrayal.  If Jesus is the Lord how could He have let these horrible things happen?  How could He not have fought against the authorities?  Had He deceived them?  Was Jesus not who they thought He was?  On the other hand, if He is the Christ, did He die because they failed to help Him when they all ran away at His arrest?

Oh, what a horrible three days those disciples had endured.  Immersed in guilt and grief, and bewildered over the arrest, trial, crucifixion and then death of the One they thought had come from God to reestablish David’s kingdom, the disciples, men and women alike, were also stricken with terror wondering what would happen now that their Leader had been arrested and killed.  Would the Jews who accused Jesus, now come after His disciples?  Would they also be in danger for believing Jesus is God’s Son?  On top of all that, on the first day of the week they had to face the perplexing news that Jesus’ body was missing.  As soon as they heard it, Peter and John had run to the tomb to see for themselves, but what did it mean?  If someone stole the body; why?!  If Jesus is alive, as the women claimed, what retribution would He demand for abandoning Him?

Hindsight is twenty-twenty we so often say.  It’s easy for us to sit here two thousand years later knowing how it all turned out and ask, “How could they not understand?  Why didn’t they have stronger faith?”  But then, the same questions could be asked of us.  Why do we allow people to make us doubt when they deny Jesus is the Christ of God?  Why do so many of us and our children abandon Jesus so soon after they make their confirmation vows?  Why are so many willing to abandon what the Bible says just because the world wants to believe something godless?  How many of us haven’t turned away from Jesus as soon as our trials grew hot?  Are we always as faithful to the Lord as God demands?  In a time of trial, are we willing to face death rather than deny we know Jesus?

If we really examine our own faith, and our own deeds, it’s pretty easy to see how we fall short of what Jesus would call good.  We all must admit that Jesus could just as often say to us, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31)  Thankfully, instead of the judgement we deserve, Jesus brings Peace to you in Life-Giving Hands.

John 20:19-23  ¹⁹On the evening of that first day of the week, the disciples were together behind locked doors because of their fear of the Jews.  Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be with you!”  ²⁰After he said this, he showed them his hands and side.  So the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.  ²¹Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you!  Just as the Father has sent me, I am also sending you.”  ²²After saying this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.  ²³Whenever you forgive people’s sins, they are forgiven.  Whenever you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” (EHV)

A band of disciples gathered, weak in faith, fearful of the enemies, troubled with guilt, confused about the news, when surprisingly Jesus enters the room.  He didn’t come knocking.  He didn’t open the door.  Just suddenly, Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be with you!”  Where was the judgment they deserved?  The anger they might have expected?  Yet, there is none of that in the Savior.  Jesus came to announce to them and to all that peace is now established between all of us sinners and God.  Of course, they were astonished.  Of course, they were unsure.  Was this a ghost, or a hallucination?  Of course, they still had to be questioning how could this be? 

Every sceptic would demand proof.  Therefore, Jesus immediately “showed them his hands and side.”  At that point, who could doubt that this truly is Jesus, the Teacher with whom they had walked for three years—the Miracle Worker they had seen feed thousands out of next to nothing—the Man who walked on water and changed water into wine—the Great Physician who had healed every broken or sick person who pleaded for help, and who had raised from the dead a little girl, a widow’s son, and Lazarus.  Of course, now it made sense.  Jesus is exactly who He and the Father had claimed Him to be.  Therefore, resurrected from the grave, Jesus came,… and said to them, “Peace be with you!” 

But why?  Because the world needed peace between God and men.  That was Jesus’ mission just as the angels had announced the night of His birth.  The light was finally coming on in the disciples’ minds.  They remembered that Jesus had told them He would suffer and die and be raised on the third day.  They remembered that He came to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.

Old Testament law demanded that to be valid testimony, two or three witnesses had to agree in their witnessing.  Here on Easter Sunday, we have ten eyewitnesses who each saw Jesus, face to face, who each could touch the hands that had been nailed to the tree, to put their hands into His side that had been rent by a Roman soldier’s piercing spear.  “So the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.”  Ten men would leave that room boldly testifying that they had seen Jesus, not a dead body, not a mirage, but the real, living Savior of the world.

What does this mean for you and me?  If Jesus didn’t stop into that room to condemn His disciples who had abandoned and betrayed Him, He will also have mercy for us.  If Jesus didn’t stay dead but truly rose from the grave, every promise of the Scriptures is true, and that means that all of us who believe in Him have our sins forgiven, because “God made him, who did not know sin, to become sin for us,” (2 Corinthians 5:21) and the Bible promises, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  For in Christ Jesus, the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:1-2)  God had long ago declared, “The soul who sins is the one who will die.” (Ezekiel 18:20)  However, because Jesus took our sins, that law no longer reigns over us.  Jesus conquered sin and death by living and dying in our place, then rising from the grave just as He had foretold.  And, because Jesus lives, we too will live forever. (John 14:19)

“Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you!  Just as the Father has sent me, I am also sending you.’”  Some three years earlier, Jesus had chosen those men for this very purpose: that they would be His witnesses to the world of everything He had done and still does, so that we may enjoy His victory over sin and the devil, and therefore have victory over death.

Some of the direst weaknesses we face are the same ones that troubled Jesus’ disciples until He rose from the dead.  Just like them, we struggle with guilt.  We struggle with worry and fear.  We struggle to see how everything the Bible says can be true.  We struggle to see beyond what is happening in our physical presence, so if we don’t see it right now, we struggle to believe it.  That is why we need faith and why we need the Holy Spirit to give us that faith, because at this time, we can’t see into heaven any other way.  Yet, Jesus promises, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)

Today, the Holy Spirit works through the testimonies of those who did see it all with their own eyes.  They saw Jesus arrested, saw Him nailed to the cross, saw the horrible abuse He suffered, saw Him dead then laid in a tomb after the soldier made sure He was dead.  Yet, after all of that, after their uncertainty and fear, they saw Jesus live!  They experienced the victory firsthand, and by the testimony of those eyewitnesses, the Holy Spirit works faith in Christ in everyone who believes.

Of course, we live in a skeptical world that really wants to go its own way—a way, however, that leads to destruction.  Many today refuse to believe those ten disciples who say they saw Jesus alive, resurrected from the grave.  To the skeptic, we can boldly say that there are more—many more who saw Jesus alive after He had been dead.  Paul reports more than five hundred eyewitnesses saw Jesus at one time. (1 Corinthians 15:6)  In fact, Paul himself could be considered a hostile witness, because at one point He hated Jesus and tried to destroy anyone who confessed faith in Him, but Paul met Jesus alive on the road to Damascus, and Paul became a changed man. (Acts 9:3-5)

But, all of this together isn’t given to us just to win arguments with worldly people.  It is, instead, given to us so that we might have true peace.  “Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you!  Just as the Father has sent me, I am also sending you.’  After saying this, he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.  Whenever you forgive people’s sins, they are forgiven.  Whenever you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.’”  Jesus bore the sins of the world, paid their price in full, and after reconciling the world to His Father in heaven, (2 Corinthians 5:19) He wants you to know, without any doubt at all, that you are forgiven of every and any sin.  The slate has been wiped clean and where there is no sin there is now no condemnation for there is peace with God.

Jesus wants you to know that it is because the Father loved the world enough to send His Son to die for you that He went to the cross to suffer for your guilt.  He didn’t do it so that you would have to pay later; Jesus did it so that you never have to pay at all.  Having wiped all sin from God’s memory forever, there is no more retribution necessary or planned for you or anyone else.  There is no reason for anyone ever to be punished in eternity. 

At the same time, Jesus charges us that we must warn anyone who foolishly refuses the loving grace God offers for without faith in Christ Jesus no one could be saved.  Every day until this world ends in a fiery destruction, Jesus stands before His Father in heaven offering and pleading for peace to you.

Dear friends, your sins are forgiven for Jesus’ sake.  That is the message of Easter.  The resurrection is living proof that Jesus has conquered sin, death, and the devil on your behalf, so that you may enjoy peace with God and life everlasting in heaven.  Believing that Good News is truly the gift of the Holy Spirit.  “The promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far away, as many as the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:39)  Give thanks that through Jesus, there is Peace to you in Life-Giving Hands.  Amen.

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and in His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and establish you in every good work and word.  Amen.

Nail-Pierced Hands.

 

Sermon for Good Friday, April 2, 2021

Peace to all of you who are in Christ Jesus.  Amen.

Luke 23:32-34  ³²Two other men, who were criminals, were led away with Jesus to be executed.  ³³When they came to the place called The Skull, they crucified him there with the criminals, one on his right and the other on his left.  ³⁴Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. (EHV)

Nail-Pierced Hands.

Dear sinners called to be saints,

            Wherever you look, you will likely find some people who expect you to do something for them.  Maybe it is someone who legitimately expects your help, such as your boss, your spouse, or your children.  They all look to you for your service because the relationship requires it.  On the other hand are those who want you to do something for them for their profit: a car salesman wants you to sign on the bottom line, a telemarketer tries to trick you into giving up your money, or the utility companies expect to be paid for their services.

There is One, however, who asked nothing of you before He committed everything for your benefit.  To see this One who truly loves you above any material thing, look to the Nail-Pierced Hands.

One could debate, I suppose, about which celebration is the highlight of the Church year.  Some would pick Christmas.  Many would say Easter is the highlight because that is the day Jesus rose from the dead.  Yet, while Easter shows the extant of Jesus’ power, and without that, we could not be saved, on this day, Good Friday, we see the greatness of Jesus’ love for the unworthy.

The night before, Jesus’ disciples had argued with Him when He told them they would all soon betray Him.  All of them refused to believe they could be so unfaithful even when Jesus said, “I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘He was counted with lawless ones.’  Indeed, what is written about me is going to have its fulfillment.” (Luke 22:37)  Within mere hours, everything Jesus had said came true.  The world saw Jesus counted as a criminal, the centerpiece of a trio sentenced to die for unspeakable crimes.  God’s Son, Jesus, was made to be sin for the world (2 Cor. 5:21), shamed before men, abused by those who hated Him, abandoned by those who said they loved and trusted Him, and even God the Father turned away from the Son He loved, all because He loves us.

No one would be surprised if Jesus had cursed everyone who had hurt Him.  That would likely by the reaction of most men—especially men of power, but Jesus is not most men.  Jesus was committed to love, committed to deal with the wickedness of the world on His own terms.  Therefore, we don’t see Jesus respond in anger, hopelessness, helplessness, nor even fear.  Instead, Jesus displays the boundless, self-sacrificing mercy of our God and Father, as Jesus willingly bore our sins and our punishment as He allowed His feet and hands to be nailed to the cross until He was dead.

For the soldiers who had whipped and abused Him, and were now nailing Jesus to the cross, Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

For Israelite leaders who had judged Jesus blasphemous, called Him a liar, and falsely accused Him of countless other crimes, and for the governor who failed to free Him, Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

For disciples who abandoned Him the moment He gave Himself into the hands of His enemies, Jesus kept on praying, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

Two days ago, I read an article about a college in Texas where a student group had scattered around campus 250 plastic Easter eggs containing Bible verses intended to encourage their fellow students.  This is now being considered a hostile, triggering event that is offensive to those who don’t believe in Jesus, but for both sides of that incident, both for the students who were doing something for good, and those who reacted with vile hatred and threats, Jesus was praying, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

For you and me who have desired to do what is right, but like St. Paul must continually admit, “I fail to do the good I want to do.  Instead, the evil I do not want to do, that is what I keep doing,” (Romans 7:19) Jesus kept on praying, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

You see, dear friends, there as Jesus hung on that cross suffering all the wrath the whole world deserved for sin, even suffering the unimaginable agony of separation from the Father who is love, Jesus kept on praying for sinners, because that is the kind of people Jesus came to save.  Jesus didn’t come for the righteous, if any could be found.  Jesus came to rescue those who without His intercession would have to spend eternity separated from God in the prison designed to hold Satan and his angels.  Therefore, Jesus prayed for the Father to forgive the sins of the world.

When all His work was accomplished, even a last sip of sour wine, and His final prayers had been spoken, Jesus declared with a surprisingly loud voice, “‘It is finished!’  Then, bowing his head, he gave up his spirit.” (John 19:30)  A few days earlier, Jesus had told His disciples, “No one has greater love than this: that someone lays down his life for his friends.  You are my friends if you continue to do the things I instruct you.” (John 15:13-14)  Alone, lifted up before the world, Jesus, with Nail-Pierced Hands, showed the greatest extent of love the world has ever known.

Dear friends of Jesus, listen to Him as He invites you to come to Him with all your troubles and especially with all your sins and weaknesses, for He has paid the full price to bring you into His kingdom, and we know this is true, because on the third day after He died and was buried, Jesus met His disciples in an upper room to announce to them and to the world, “Peace be with you!” (John 20:19)  The wounds in His hands, feet, and side were the evidence that this truly was Jesus who had suffered and died, but was now raised, and Jesus’ Nail-Pierced Hands became the trophies showing the world His resounding victory over the devil, sin, and death.

From now on, Jesus’ Nail-Pierced Hands show us that matter what happens in this world, we have peace with God and a sure Advocate at the Father’s side working all things for our everlasting good.  Those Nail-Pierced Hands are visible proof that the Savior lived and died to redeem us, and they convince us that Jesus will never stop interceding with His Father for you.  Amen.

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you faultless in the presence of His glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, be glory, majesty, power, and authority through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all time, now, and to all eternity.  Amen.