Sermon – Page 7 – St. John's and Grace Evangelical Lutheran Parish

Call His Name Immanuel

We hear in the Gospel that this passage is about Jesus: that the Virgin Mary conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and gave birth to the eternal Son of God. This is the sign to us that the Lord is with us – to forgive us, to bless us, to defend us, and to save us from our true enemies of sin and death.

A New Prophet

The Law, with its thunder and lightning, was set in place to show us our sins and bring us to repentance. Yet, the Lord promised through Moses – and has made good on it – another Word, the Word of Gospel. By the Good News of Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection, we are set free from sin and we will live eternally with Christ, our Lord and brother.

A Revelation of Pardon

We rejoice because in the Incarnation of Christ, the glory of the eternal God is revealed to us. It is revealed to us for this purpose: that our captivity to sin be ended, our iniquity pardoned, and we receive from the Lord’s hand double forgiveness according to His great mercy.

Every Word is Possible For God

With these words, all the promises of God concerning the birth of the Messiah come to fulfillment. By these words, the Holy Spirit caused the virgin Mary to conceive in her womb the second person of the Trinity, the Son of God. He who created all flesh became flesh for us to redeem us from all sin, from death, and from the power of the devil – for nothing will be impossible with God.

The Sun Rises

This Sun promised by God, would be His own Son, Jesus Christ. The healing that He brings is the forgiveness He earned for us by His perfect keeping of the Law and by the giving of His life in trade for ours. The healing He gives is the free, full, and complete forgiveness of sins.

The Lord is Our Righteous King

We have true peace and true comfort, even in this sinful world. We have a true and righteous king who dwells among us for our good, who reigns to our abundant blessing. Today He is with us, and He will remain with us throughout this new year and unto all time. He is our righteousness and our peace, even Jesus Christ our Lord.

He Provides for Every Need

“God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” God will supply our every need according to His glory in Christ. What does that mean? And, deeper down, what does it mean that our needs are provided for according to God’s glory in Christ?

Watching for the Bridegroom

This is how our Lord’s return will be. He will come at an hour we do not expect. Therefore, lest we be found unwise and unprepared, He encourages us to keep watch and ready to enter His wedding feast.

Whoever Receives You, Receives Me

Our Lord’s judgment will not be some long drawn-out procedure, but an immediate pronouncement and separation of the righteous from the wicked. And this is the judgment, Jesus said, “whoever hears My Word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life. He does not come into judgement, but has passed from death to life.” (Jn. 5:24)

Don’t Be Deceived (about the Coming of Christ)

As we approach the end of the Church Year, we hear our Lord’s teaching about the destruction of Jerusalem and His return. One will come with a warning; the other, not.