God’s Rest in a Changing World

Bulletin: 2018-10-07 LWML Sunday Bulletin

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Text: Psalm 62:1-8

“For God alone, O My soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.” These are the words of the inspired prophet King David, selected as the text for this year’s LWML Sunday. Today we give thanks to God for His 76 years of blessing this organization and, through the same, blessing His people around the world. The theme chosen for this year is reflected in all our readings – God’s Rest in a Changing World. The text is Psalm 62.

Recall, if you will, the reign of King David. It was a long reign, but a difficult one, wasn’t it? It began well, with the slaying of Goliath and David being anointed by the prophet Samuel. But, soon, Saul’s jealousy became all-consuming and he pursued David to kill him. For years, Saul chased David all around the land in an attempt to take his life. Saul eventually failed and took his own life. After Saul, perhaps the most dangerous enemy to David came from his own house: his son Absalom. Absalom led a conspiracy and rebellion to dethrone David – and did – for a time. Included among the conspirators was David’s best friend and most trusted advisor. Long story short, King David knew a bit about life. He knew that life was filled with trials and afflictions. Yet, David trusted in the Lord His God. The Lord was to David a refuge and fortress. The Lord preserved David’s life unto eternity and granted him rest from this restless world. He is the same for us. We learn from the Psalm that God our Father is our refuge, our hope, and our rock through His Son Jesus Christ.

I.

Our psalm text today comes from the Holy Spirit through King David. We don’t know when exactly David composed this psalm. It may have been late in his life, as some scholars feel; it may also have been during the period that he was on the run from his own son, which is when the psalms surrounding this one were written. In either case, this psalm is a psalm of trust and reliance on God, despite all things appearing to the contrary. It is a song of finding rest in God alone, for in the world there truly is none. There are many things that the give the promise of rest and peace, but they ultimately fail and we are left with neither. And instead, the world rolls over us like waves upon the deep sea.

In our psalm, the source of David’s distress was people. Perhaps, his own son. Absalom’s rebellion began when killed his brother Ammon. Absalom fled, fearing punishment, but eventually returned to Jerusalem. He remained in David’s household for two years without speaking to his father. But, after the Lord had put it into David’s heart to be reconciled to his son, Absalom devised a plan to turn the people against their king. His plan worked, and David was forced to flee Jerusalem. Yet, within all this, David’s trust in God did not fail. He found in God refuge, a rock, and hope.

Though our lives are greatly distanced from King David’s through time and space, one thing hasn’t changed: the world. The experiences of life in David’s time and in our own aren’t so different. Just as David could find no rest in the world then, so also us, now. David said in the psalm that so many seek only power, and they beat against a man until they get it. They, “take pleasure in falsehood…bless with their mouths, but inwardly…curse.” These words seem to apply in our time as well, as we are amidst another political season. Promises are made on television and in print, but seldomly are they kept and, even then, with strings attached. “Put not your trust in princes.”

In many other ways, we often receive no lasting rest in our lives. In many ways, we live busier lives now than many other generations, and not in a good way. With so many activities and responsibilities, we barely eke out time to rest our bodies, to say nothing of finding rest for our souls in Christ’s Word and Sacrament. For some of us, our health is sapping out of us each and every drop of life. And, often, along with it, our wealth – what little of it we have. The experience of our lives is filled with failed and broken promises, declining and failing health, little and no rest. But we can find rest in God our Father through His Son Christ Jesus, our Lord.

II.

King David sang in our psalm, “For God alone, O My soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.” In the psalm, David describes God in a number of ways, but I think three are of great comfort and applicable to us today. The first is, as David says, “my refuge is God.” A refuge is a shelter from danger or trouble, somewhere you turn to for safety when there is none. David found in God refuge from his enemies in a literal sense. David was a man of war who did not die in war, but as an old man in his bed.

Second, David found in God a rock, a strong foundation upon which to build. Though David is well known to us as much a sinner as a saint, the Scriptures describe him as man after God’s own heart. David sought the Lord and the Lord granted him success. David built his rule and kingdom upon the rock of God’s Word. Lastly, David’s hope of salvation rested in God alone. David knew that his sins were as many as the grains of sand yet trusted that in the Lord’s Christ, he was forgiven. David saw in the Spirit the death and resurrection of Jesus for the forgiveness sins and in faith awaited a joyous future.

The Lord was not only David’s refuge, rock, and hope of salvation, but He is the same for us. As it says in Hebrews, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” As He Himself said in the Gospel text, “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Jesus is, first, our refuge. He is our refuge from this life, from all its sin and death. He became so when He became the victor over sin, death, and the devil, by His own death and resurrection. Because He is risen from the dead and has secured for us forgiveness of our sins, He is our refuge when all else fails. Jesus Christ is love and mercy, and He provides rest for our weary souls.

Knowing this, we can also be confident in Christ our rock. He is our rock and our redeemer and by faith in Him, we can withstand all things. That don’t mean we will be happy in all situations or that life will always be pleasant, but we can know that there is nothing that may happen to us that will separate us from our Father’s love toward us in Jesus. By faith in Christ, we endure all things. In fact, that’s how the translators of the Greek Old Testament phrase the psalm. They say, “my endurance is from God,” (Ps. 62:6 in LXX, my translation).

Finally, with King David our hope is in God. Everything else in our lives fails and fades; nothing in life that promises rest truly fulfills, save Christ and His love. Out of His great love for us He died for us, and then He rose for us. By faith in Him, His death becomes our death and His life becomes our life. By His grace our sins are forgiven and when we die we will be at His side. When He returns, He will raise our bodies and we – with all who have loved the Lord – will enter body and soul into the new creation. This is our hope and our confidence. And, knowing this, we can have rest. King David found His rest in Christ. Let us be encouraged by his words – the last words of our text – “Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.”

Jesus Loves the Little Children

Text: Luke 18:15-17

Bulletin: 2018-09-30 Christian Education Sunday

Listen to “2018-09-30 Christian Education Sunday” on Spreaker.

Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.” He spoke these words to His disciples when they were preventing parents from bringing their children to be blessed by Jesus. They were actually blocking them because, to the Disciples, children were beneath the radar – so to speak. In terms of salvation, children, well, need not apply. Of course, right after our text, they let the rich young ruler through to Jesus without hindrance. Why? They did not yet understand completely how salvation works. Though salvation by God’s grace through faith in Jesus had been clearly preached by the prophets, the Disciples lost sight of that and blocked the children, thinking that they were incapable of meriting salvation.

Jesus set them straight by telling His disciples to let the children through, for He came to save them, too. The kingdom of God belongs also to children, because entrance into that kingdom is by grace through faith, which even a child can receive and have. It is not by our own works or merit. Jesus then said, “Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” He means that unless one receives the kingdom like a child, that is, by faith, he will not enter it. Jesus said that His kingdom belongs even to little children, for they, too, receive Him in faith.

I.

By the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit, St. Luke framed our text today between two other texts that are well-known to us. He did this to teach us something key about how salvation works, about the doctrine of justification, really. The two texts that surround ours today are the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector and the account of the Rich Young Ruler who left Jesus saddened. He left saddened because he had grown fonder of his riches than God’s kingdom. Both of those texts teach a similar lesson – salvation is not something that is earned. It is given by God’s grace through faith. If it had been by works, then surely the Pharisee (and not the tax collector) would’ve gone home justified and the rich young ruler would’ve been rewarded for his good works. But, that’s not how salvation goes. The Disciples weren’t quite tracking this.

So, when parents began bring even their little infants – and the word in the Greek includes children yet in the womb – to be blessed by Jesus, the Disciples blocked them. They rebuked them, it says. The sense is that the Disciples gave a strong and persistent disapproval to those parents and children. They did not want the children coming to Jesus. They weren’t worth His time – not like the rich and powerful young man who would come by in just a bit. The children could wait their turn, for all they cared. But, Jesus said, “Let the children come to me…for to such belongs the kingdom of God.”

II.

This is another text where we often find ourselves falling into the Disciples’ place. Most likely, not in intention or motive, but certainly in end result. The Disciples’ motive for rebuking the parents and children was that they weren’t worth Jesus’ time. I don’t say that we fall into that error. But, we do sin when the end result of our actions (or inaction) is the same as the Disciples’ rebuking  – children being prevented from being brought to Jesus. This happens in many areas of our lives. It can happen when we aren’t as diligent in raising children in the faith as we should be. Raising children in the faith means knowing and studying the Scriptures ourselves, modeling the faith in family life, teaching it at home, and having regular family devotions. Grandparents, the responsibility to teach and model the faith to your children doesn’t stop when your children are themselves adults; it just takes a new form as you continue to encourage both your children and your children’s children.

The end result of our actions is the same as the Disciples, also, when we as a congregation don’t actively pass on and share our faith with the next generation. This happens when we absolve ourselves from responsibility, saying that our time to teach has come and gone, and now it’s someone else’s job. It happens when we as a congregation don’t give the support to our youth that they need or to those who do teach the support and encouragement they need. It also happens when we aren’t given to the work of evangelism and mission. As a congregation, we exist not only to hear the Word and receive Sacraments ourselves, but also as the hands and feet of Christ to call all people to His wedding feast.

Jesus said to let the little children come to Him, because the promise of the forgiveness of sins is for them, too. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost, all of them. St. Paul wrote that sin came into the world through the one man, Adam, and by natural descent has spread to all mankind. By the Holy Spirit, King David taught that we are all conceived and born in sin. We are all – even children – by nature, enemies of God. Therefore, Jesus became like us in every respect. He endured the assaults of the devil and kept God’s Law perfectly. He suffered and died on the cross, bearing all the guilt of sin, so that by His death, all can be forgiven. The forgiveness of sins which He earned He gives to all as a gift, through faith, so that even children can be part of His kingdom. But, as St. Paul said, “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?” Or, remember how the Ethiopian Eunuch responded to Philip when he asked him if he understood the Good News. The eunuch told asked him, “How can I, unless someone guides me?”

III.

As we heard in our Old Testament text (Deut. 6), we have been given the command and responsibility from God to teach our children the one true faith. Jesus desires this and encourages this because He came to die, also, for all the little children of the world. He gives forgiveness and salvation to them by His grace through faith. The Holy Spirit works faith in them when His Word is read and taught in our homes and lives, when it is read and preached here, and through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. We have this solemn and joyous responsibility from God, but we have not always honored it. We have excused ourselves from it, we have failed to do it; sometimes we’ve become disheartened and stopped doing it. In this, we have sinned.

Hear, again, these words of Jesus before we close. He said, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.” Also, “Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” Jesus didn’t mean that if you don’t receive the kingdom as a literal child, that you won’t enter it. Rather, it’s a childlike faith that receives His grace. Everything a child has is given to him. He doesn’t earn it. In fact, most of the time a child dis-earns what he has by bad behavior. Rather, a child has what he has because His father loves him. It’s the same for us. Salvation is by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ and not by our works. If it were by our works, we would be out of the kingdom forever simply for the times we have been less than enthusiastic to teach our children. But, today, let us recognize that and confess that, and believe that – in Christ – though our sins are like scarlet, we are made white as snow.

And so, as we embark and have begun a new Sunday School year, let us confess our sins and believe that, in Christ – by His death and resurrection – we are forgiven. Let us pray for the grace and aid of the Holy Spirit to teach and model the faith to our children, both those within our congregation and those outside. And, let us trust that God by His Holy Spirit will continue to bless our children with the forgiveness of their sins and the promise of salvation, even as we adults, too, have been forgiven by God’s grace through faith in Christ.

“Who is the Greatest?”

Listen to “2018-09-23 Proper XX – Gospel, “Who is the Greatest?”” on Spreaker.

2018-09-16 Worship Bulletin

Text: Mark 9:30-37

Jesus once said,

You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

He taught this to the Disciples on the eve of His triumphal entry into Jerusalem after James and John asked to sit at His right and left hands in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus’ point was that, as He – who, above all, deserves to be served – came to serve, so also we should seek to be of service to others.

Jesus teaches this at many points in the Gospel, and, also, the Apostles in the Epistles. The life of a Christian is meant to be spent in service toward others, and not building up glory for ourselves. Our Lord and His Apostles repeat this over and over again because, so often our lives are given to the pursuit of glory, riches, happiness; to have more than those around us, and to be worth more. We are taught by our society that those who have more are better than those who have less, and we live our lives in that pursuit. Jesus, however, became greatest by becoming the least, and He teaches us to do the same.

I.

The question, who is the greatest, is not a new question. The quest for greatness seems to have driven human affairs since time immemorial. Even in Eden, it was what drove our first parents to eat from the forbidden fruit, wasn’t it? The desire to be like God, to be wise like Him, to be great like Him? Greater even? The pursuit of greatness and glory has sparked conquests and wars throughout recorded history, sometimes ending in – temporary – glory, sometimes in defeat. Still, the pursuit isn’t always bad. The pursuit to be the greatest has brought many innovations in literature, technology and healthcare that make life today more comfortable than it has ever been. But, the pursuit of greatness and glory comes at a cost. Often, that cost is other people.

Ingrained in our lives is the constant pursuit of greatness, though we call it by another name – success. We strive after it all our lives: in sports, in our jobs, and in relation to other people. We teach our children to dedicate their entire lives to athletic pursuits, while we sacrifice their and our souls by neglecting God’s Word and Sacrament. We are always in search of higher wages, never content with what blessings God has already given us nor trusting in His future provision. We seek to be esteemed by our peers and be spoken about in glowing terms. We are always seeking greatness and glory, but often the cost is other people. Because, we have all been taught that to have more is better and to have less is bad. If I’m better at my sport, I am better than that person. If I make more money than that person, my position is more valuable. If I have more toys, my life is more enjoyable than that person’s.

II.

Jesus’ teaching today comes after His second passion prediction. St. Mark wrote, “Jesus was teaching His disciples, saying to them, ‘The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.’” Jesus taught the Disciples that the plan of God from the foundation of time was to reconcile the sinful world to Himself by the sacrifice of His Son. God knew that the depth of man’s depravity and sinfulness, his inherent search for self-glorification, was so great that only by one giving up glory could things be fixed. Salvation couldn’t be accomplished by a man, because – by nature – no man is able to be entirely self-less. It couldn’t be God the Father Himself – for He cannot sin. Rather, by the self-emptying and sacrifice of the Son of God, who is also the Son of Man, mankind is forgiven.

By the definite plan of God, Jesus was handed over into the hands of sinful men. And, He went willingly. He set aside His crown and glory, He resisted and endured all the same temptations that we do – yet, without sin. Then, like lamb is led to slaughter, He was nailed to the cross. He who, above all, deserves worship and glory, was mocked and spit upon while He hanged there dying. But, by His death, He atoned for our sin. Jesus said, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” These words apply, first, to Him.

Jesus became the greatest by becoming the least. He became servant of all by becoming true man and suffering death for us on the cross. He suffered and died to win for us forgiveness for our sins of selfishness and greed, which are both idolatry and sins against the First Commandment. He died to win forgiveness for the times when we have pursued worldly things other than the things of God, which are the Second and Third Commandments. He died to win forgiveness for the times where we have placed our needs, our wants, and our selves above others – which is all the rest of the Commandments. Jesus teaches us today that true greatness is not measured in glory, wealth, or possessions, but in service toward others.

III.

St. Paul wrote, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,  but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” In our text, we heard how the Disciples were arguing among themselves about who was the greatest, best, and most valuable among them. Though they were wrong, we dare not fault them – since we do the very same thing, we and all mankind. Therefore, Jesus became the least and servant of all by dying for all on the cross. He has won for us the forgiveness of our sins.

He not only has He given us that forgiveness through His Word, in Baptism, in the Absolution, and in the Lord’s Supper, but He also has given us His Holy Spirit by these things. And, the Spirit gives us a new heart and mind. By this new heart and mind, we are led to think of ourselves and others not as we once did, but in Christ. That is to say, we are led to think of ourselves less and of others, more. With the mind and heart of Christ, we are taught that our lives should not be led in pursuit of glory, wealth, and riches but how best to use the gifts God gives us in service to our neighbor. True greatness comes not from lives of plenty, but lives lived in love toward others.

Thanks be to God, than, that though we have failed to think of others as greater than ourselves and have thought of ourselves greater than others, though we have lived our lives in pursuit of our own greatness, Jesus lived His life in service toward others. He lived His life and died, so that we might be forgiven. He gives us His Holy Spirit by His Word and Sacrament so that we, too, might live by serving others. Greatness comes not from glory, but service. God grant this unto us all, amen.

Help My Unbelief

Text: Mark 9:14-29

Listen to “2018-09-16 Proper XIX” on Spreaker.

The Lord God once described the work of His Messiah, Jesus, through the mouth of the prophet Isaiah. He said this: “Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench.” The Lord described His chosen servant as humble, even humble enough not break a bruised reed or snuff out a faintly burning wick. And so, Jesus was. Yet, the Lord wasn’t speaking about the reeds in the swamplands or saying that Jesus never put out a candle. He was taking about people.

Jesus came not to beat down, tear down, or destroy; but to build up, care for, and die for all mankind – even, and especially, for those who are burdened by this life. We saw this play out in our text. Jesus cast a stubbornly mute and deaf spirit out of boy, but not before having a conservation with the boy’s father. In the conversation, the father revealed that he believed in Jesus but still found in himself some unbelief. He cried out to Jesus for help, and Jesus heard him. Our Lord has compassion for all people and heals even those who are weak in faith.

I.

Our text this week takes place, perhaps, some time after last week’s Gospel reading. Last week, we were in Mark 7 and heard how Jesus cast a demon out of the Syrophoenician woman’s daughter and opened the ears and mouth of a deaf man. Since then, Jesus has fed the four thousand and healed a blind man. This week, we find Jesus just after He had come down from the mount of Transfiguration. At the Transfiguration, His appearance was changed to shine like the sun and Moses and Elijah appeared to speak with Him about His death and resurrection. When Peter suggested they remain on the mountain in glory, God the Father spoke from heaven that Jesus was His Son and they should listen to Him when He says that He must suffer and die.

Jesus, Peter, James and John, came down from the mountain and found the remaining disciples in an argument with some scribes and a crowd around them. Jesus asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” At this time, they were some distance from Jerusalem. So, the scribes must’ve come all that way to keep an eye on the disciples (and Jesus) and, in the course, got into a fight. Then, a man from the crowd said, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” Remember that this is after Jesus earlier sent the disciples out two-by-two into the villages to preach the Gospel. St. Mark wrote earlier that Jesus gave the Twelve the authority to cast out demons, and they did. This time, however, was different.

Jesus lamented the Disciples’ continued lack of faith. He told them later that the reason they couldn’t cast it out was because of their lack of faith and prayer. It’s possible that while Jesus was on the mountain, the remaining disciples became tempted and thought that the power to cast out demons resided within them and not in the Word of God. When they tried to cast out the demon by their own authority – without the Word of God and prayer – it didn’t work. Seeing the crowd was beginning to press in, and perhaps spark a panic, Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” The evil spirit cried out loudly, threw the boy to the ground, and came out. The convulsing was so violent that people thought he was dead, but Jesus took him by the hand and he got up.

II.

There are so many things to learn from our text that it’s hard to pick just one. But, the aspect of the text that jumps out to me this week is the short conversation between Jesus and the father. Maybe, first, that the conversation happened at all. Jesus had just come down from the Transfiguration. He clothes had become brighter than any bleach could ever get them and God the Father Himself spoke from heaven. Were you or I to receive such treatment, we might be a little full of ourselves. Often, that happens after even much smaller accolades. But, not with Jesus. He saw the crowd gathered and stopped to see what was going on. Then, when the man brought up what was happening, Jesus inquired to see how long the boy had been suffering. This wasn’t because Jesus was a doctor and needed to make the right diagnosis – He asked because He cared.

The man had brought his son to Jesus’ disciples because he believed in who Jesus was. But, when they were unable to cast the demon out, he had become disheartened. He asked Jesus, “If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Jesus said to him that all things are possible for one who believes, to which the man responds, “I believe; help my unbelief!” And, Jesus did. A bruised reed Jesus would not break nor a smoldering wick, snuff out. Jesus didn’t think it beneath Himself to help a struggling father who had witnessed his own son be thrown by a demon into fire and water. Instead, Jesus had compassion. He cast the demon out of the boy.

Sometimes we find ourselves in line with the father in this text. We are here because the Holy Spirit has brought us; most of us have probably been Christians for as long as we can remember – and before. And yet, because we are but flesh and blood, the Old Adam continues to claw away within our hearts. In our hearts, there is a constant battle between faith and unbelief. Sometimes we’re not aware of this, sometimes we are. And, sometimes, we doubt. To doubt is not to sin. If we entertain our doubts and begin to despair or disbelieve, then we are sinning. But, a doubting faith is still faith. And, a doubting faith, Jesus does not cast away.

III.

Jesus is mercy, love, and grace – even to those who have doubts. For, He died for all mankind, to win forgiveness even for those who struggle. He did not say to the father in our text, “be gone,” because his faith wasn’t strong enough; He embraced him and strengthened his faith. It’s not how much faith you have that saves, it’s what your faith is in. Therefore, Jesus is able to have mercy on those who doubt, by forgiving them and strengthening their faith. Jesus shows this same compassion also to us.

First, He forgives us our sins. Jesus, out of His great compassion for all the world, suffered and died for us. Daily and richly, the Catechism says, He gives that forgiveness to us in our Baptism. By His Holy Spirit, He daily puts to death our sinful nature and leads us in His righteousness. Through the Word, the Holy Scriptures, the Spirit both brings us to repent of our sins and points us to Christ for forgiveness. In the Word, He daily teaches and reminds us of all Christ said and did for us. In the Lord’s Supper, Jesus binds up our wounded and broken hearts by feeding us His true body and blood for the forgiveness of sins and the strengthening of our faith.

In our text today, we witness again Jesus’ great compassion. Out of love, He cast the mute and deaf spirit out of that poor boy. He did not turn away the man because his faith was not great enough, but rather had mercy on Him, forgiving him and strengthening his faith. A bruised reed He doesn’t break and a smoldering wick He doesn’t put out. Through His Word and Sacraments, He forgives us also our sins and strengthens our faith until such time as we no longer walk by faith, but by sight.

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I Will Give You Rest

Text: Matthew 11:25-30

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. May the peace of Christ’s resurrection and life be especially with you [family names]; and with all of Zelma’s family and dear friends. Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, that I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” These words from the Lord are both an invitation and a promise, a promise which He has fulfilled for Zelma. He has clothed her with the garment of salvation, the robe of His righteousness. He has given her rest from the good fight and from all her labors. In Jesus, Zelma has found rest from her labor, rest for her soul.

I.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Jesus spoke these words to a crowd of His followers at a time when it appeared as if His ministry was failing. Though He had performed many miracles – healed the blind, the sick, and the lame, even raised the dead – there were many who did not repent of their sins nor believe in Him. But, to those who, by the work of the Holy Spirit, did receive His Word in faith, Jesus gave this invitation and promise – rest. Rest for those who weary and are heavy laden. Rest for those who are burdened by the weight of life in this world. Rest for souls.

Zelma Mae was born December 14th, 1942. She was baptized into Christ’s death and resurrection on March 25th, 1951. June 9th, 1963 she was united in holy matrimony to Gary and became Zelma Mae Fink. She was confirmed in the Lutheran confession of faith, here, on April 28th, 1974. Throughout her many years of membership here she remained active in various positions and as a member of our congregation’s women’s group. She also served decades in the American Legion Auxiliary. But, amidst all these things, Zelma was also one who was burdened and heavy laden. Perhaps, most of all – as of late – by her health.

I had the opportunity a few weeks back to visit Zelma in the hospital. During or shortly after my first sermon here, she took ill and went to Waterloo. Later, when I visited her, she received me warmly. We prayed together and spoke of the hope we have as Christians in Christ and His resurrection. I learned there and since, that her health was an ongoing concern for Zelma. Between bouts of cancer, her heart, and the pain that seemed frequently to be present, it is safe to say she was heavy laden and burdened. Weary, even. Beyond her health and the trials of this life, there was another burden Zelma carried – a weight which all men bear – sin. Zelma, as all born since Adam and Eve, inherited the corruption of original sin. Having inherited this corruption, Zelma did sin; She was not perfect. But then, neither are we. Had she been perfect we would not be here today, for she would not have died. More seriously, if she were perfect she would not have needed Christ. But, now, she has found rest from her burdens and labor. She has found rest for her soul in the arms of Jesus.

II.

Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” This is both and invitation and promise. Jesus is able to promise rest, even for our souls, because as He says, He is gentle and lowly. He is humble even, to suffer death – a death He did not deserve – death on a cross. Though Jesus is both fully God and fully man, He did not count that as something to be prideful of. Instead, He set aside His glory and became the servant of all mankind. He bore the burdensome weight of all sin – of Zelma’s, yours, and mine – in His body on the tree. He suffered, died, and was buried. Then He rose. By His death, He paid the price for all sin. By His resurrection, He restored eternal life to all who believe. He brought eternal life back into the picture for Zelma. This is the rest He promised.

Zelma received that promise as a child, by the Holy Spirit’s work through the Word of Christ. She received here the true body and blood of Christ for the forgiveness of her sins and the strengthening of her faith. By these things her burden was lightened, and she was led to fight the good fight. Now her burden is fully-lifted and she has received the yoke of Christ, which is light and easy. She has received and now enjoys rest for her soul. This rest, however, is not a sleep, but a joyful experience of Christ’s presence, and fellowship with all the Christians who have gone before her. This is the rest we also aspire to, the rest promised to all who, like Zelma, are the beloved of Christ.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Let us hear these words today and be comforted. By His death and resurrection, Jesus has secured for us the forgiveness of sins and eternal life – rest for our souls. And let us also be thankful, that though we are saddened and mourn Zelma’s death, we know that she has found rest for her soul in Jesus. She is now in His presence and awaits with all the faithful the Day of Resurrection and our joyful reunion in heaven. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though He die, yet shall He live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die,” even Zelma. Amen.

Be Strong; Fear Not!

Text: Isaiah 35:4-7a

“Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who have an anxious heart, ‘Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.’” Thus, were the words of the Lord spoken through the mouth of His prophet Isaiah. Isaiah was sent to preach to God’s people in a time of distress, turmoil, and anguish; a time of uncertainty. Many, if not most, in both Israel and Judah had fallen away from the faith and into idolatry. Violence and greed were rampant, and the threat of invasion from a godless nation loomed overhead. And yet, the Lord’s Word to His people was, “Be strong; fear not!”

The word the Lord spoke then bears repeating now in our time, as well. We also live in a time of distress and turmoil. Around the world, we hear of unending disasters, wars, and rumors of wars. In our country we are increasingly divided politically, the Lord’s institution of marriage is constantly attacked, and children are murdered for a fee. Yet, to our weak hands and feeble knees, to our anxious hearts, the Lord says “Be strong; Fear not!” There will be a day when the wicked will be no more and the righteous in Christ will shine like the sun. The Lord will come and save us. The Lord came to the rescue of His people of old; He will save us, too.

I.

The Lord spoke through Isaiah the words we’ve heard, “Say to those who have an anxious heart, ‘Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.’” He continued, “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water.” When Martin Luther lectured on the Book of Isaiah in 1528, he taught that in order to understand the prophecies of Isaiah, we must first understand the context.

Isaiah prophesied during the reigns of four kings, some 700 years before Christ’s birth. During these reigns, the kingdom of Judah was at the height of its power and wealth – second only to the reigns of David and Solomon. But, with the increased wealth and power came temptation. The kings and people fell into idolatry, both the worship of actual idols and worship of self. Because of this, the Lord allowed the Northern Kingdom of Israel to fall in 722 B.C. and, through Isaiah, said that the same would happen to Jerusalem if she did not repent. Sadly, they persisted in their idolatry, violence and greed. Soon, the people feared for their own well-being. The Assyrian army laid siege to Jerusalem itself, and after them, an envoy from Babylon spied out all its riches. During this time the faithful of the Lord found themselves persecuted and feeling as if they had been forsaken. Church tradition says that Isaiah himself was also martyred.

Though Isaiah prophesied so long ago across the ocean, the emotions of God’s people then and now are not so different. As we all know, it seems that the world goes from one disaster to another, one war to another. In our own country, we are rife with divisions and animosity. The only unity we sometimes see is our society’s aversion to the truth of God’s Word. In the American Church at large, our church body is increasingly put down as being “backwards,” for believing that the Bible is without error and in a literal account of the Creation. Beyond all these things, for some of us, our health is continually going back and forth between bad and worse. Yet, we hear these words today, “Be strong; fear not.” But, why?

II.

“Say to those who have an anxious heart, ‘Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God…He will come and save you.’” These were the words given Isaiah to preach, the Lord’s words to His people. Though the world seemed to cave in around them, though their hearts were filled with anxiety and grief, those fears would turn to joy. The Lord would come and save them. And He did. It is true that, for their sins, the people of Jerusalem were carried off into exile. Still, the Lord remained with them and blessed them in their time of captivity. Then, during the reign of Cyrus of Persia, the Lord returned His people to their home. He rescued them and saved them, just like He said He would.

“‘Behold, your God…will come and save you.’ Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.” These words were applied by our Lord in St. Luke’s Gospel to His own ministry. When the Baptist asked if Jesus was the promised Messiah, He responded that blind were seeing, the lame were walking, and the deaf were hearing. That is to say, that not only did the Lord save His people physically in the days of old, now He was bringing a greater salvation – the forgiveness of sins. The miracles foreshadowed the healing we will all receive at the Resurrection. Throughout His ministry, Jesus opened the eyes of the blind to see His Light and the ears of the deaf to hear His saving Word. By His death and resurrection, He won for all mankind forgiveness and eternal life. By this Good News, He brings water to parched ground, breaking forth streams of living water in the desert of our hearts.

“Be strong; Fear not…[The Lord] will come and save you.” Words worth repeating, which we hear again today. We hear them knowing that the Lord rescued His people of old from their physical enemies, and has saved us and all the faithful into eternity by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. And, we know that there remains yet another day of salvation, The Day of Salvation, the day when our Lord will return on the clouds to raise the dead and gather all the faithful to His side. St. Paul said that we will meet Him in the sky and forever be with the Lord in the new heavens and earth. There the blind will forever see and the deaf hear; the lame will leap like deer and the mute sing for joy. Then, will our anxious hearts be forever calmed and be at peace in Christ.

Therefore, be strong and fear not. The Lord will come and save us; He will save you. We know that His will for us is always good and that nothing in all creation – not even death itself – can separate us from His love. The Lord has promised to come and save us, and He will do it. Let us therefore encourage each other with this good news: The Lord has saved us from our sins, He is with us now in His Word and Sacraments, and we will be with Him soon on the Day of Resurrection. Amen.

It’s What’s on the Inside that Counts

Text: Mark 7:14-23

“It’s what’s on the inside that counts.” You may have heard these words before or had them pass through your own mouth. With these words we express that the measure of a person is what’s inside them. The measure of a man is not his clothes, job, possessions or income; it’s not the color of his skin. It’s what’s on the inside that counts. Sometimes this idea is helpful, especially this time near the start of the school year, where children are beginning to make or re-make friends. Sometimes, though, this phrase isn’t so helpful. Because, if it’s what’s inside that is the measure of a man, then – according to our text – we’re all in trouble. 

Our Lord taught in the text, “There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” This is Jesus continuing the discussion from last week’s Gospel. The Pharisees were overly concerned with outward purity and set aside God’s Word for their traditions. In contrast, Jesus said, what makes a man pure or not is not what’s outside, but what’s inside. What comes from inside a person is what makes him unclean, unfit to be in God’s presence. It’s what’s on the inside that counts, and what’s inside us by nature is not good. Jesus teaches that our hearts are evil and separate us from God, therefore He gives us new ones in Baptism.

I.

As we said, the Gospel text this week is connected to the appointed Gospel for last week. Last week we heard about the Pharisees and scribes who had come up from Jerusalem to test Jesus. Their test for Him was a question: why did His disciples eat with unwashed hands? By eating without washing their hands, the Pharisees believed that the Disciples were distancing themselves from God. They held that a person’s standing before God could be measured externally, by one’s actions. In order to insulate themselves from breaking a Commandment, rabbinical Judaism set up all sorts of additional laws as safeguards around the Commandments. The problem was, those safeguards – those manmade laws – became more important than God’s Law. The Pharisees should’ve known that God was not chiefly concerned without outward purity, but inward. It’s what’s on the inside that counts.

This is what Jesus taught the crowd after He dismissed the Pharisees and scribes. He said, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” To be defiled means to be unclean. To be unclean is to be unfit for being in God’s presence or to receive His blessing. According to Jesus, what makes a man unclean is not whether he washes his hands or what he eats or wears but what comes out of him, out of his heart. And what comes out of man’s heart? Jesus lists some things. He says, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” 

Lest we think that these come from some peoples’ hearts but not my heart, let’s hear from other portions of Scripture. In Genesis 6, before the Flood it says, “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Man’s evil heart continued even after the Flood. King David sang in the words we know so well (Psalm 51), “I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” St. Paul wrote to the Ephesians that, apart from faith, they were “dead in trespasses and sins,” and by nature, “were…children of wrath.” These words are true of us. Deep down in our hearts, there is nothing but corruption and evil. All who have been born of flesh and blood have inherited the corruption of original sin and are, by nature, unclean and unfit to be near God. In different ways and combinations, out of all human hearts – and our hearts – comes sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, envy, pride, and so on. Our standing before God isn’t based on who we are or how we look, whether we feel like good people or not. It’s what’s on the inside that counts. And what’s inside all mankind by nature is bad.

II. 

Last week we sang, “Lord Help Us Ever to Retain.” The second stanza said, “Help us Your holy law to learn, to mourn our sin and from it turn in faith toward You and to Your Son and Holy Spirit, three in one.” We are reminded by those words that God’s Law (His Ten Commandments) shows us what’s in our hearts. Even if Jesus didn’t teach in our text what comes out of man’s heart, we’ve all learned it from our failures to keep the Commandments. It says in the Gospel that Jesus knows what’s in man’s heart. He knows what’s in our hearts. He knows what evil and darkness is in there, what jealousy and pride and laziness. He knows the human heart is so corrupt and evil, that there’s nothing to be done to fix it. It must be gotten rid of and a new heart take its place.

That’s why Jesus took on our flesh. He knew that the thoughts and mind of human beings is continually sinful, therefore He took on our flesh to fulfill God’s Law in our place. He became like us in every respect, He suffered every temptation we do – yet without sin. From His heart came nothing but peace, mercy, and love for God and man. Though there was no evil coming out of His heart, He gave Himself up to death to pay the price for our evil deeds. Though He had a clean heart and clean hands, they were pierced for our transgressions. And by His wounds, by faith in His stripes, we are healed.

The Lord once spoke through the prophet Ezekiel,

I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

Here the Lord speaks prophetically about what happens in Baptism. In Baptism, God puts to death the old sinful nature we inherit from our first parents. Like the Flood washed away sinful man, the Baptismal flood washes away the guilt of our sin. Though we were born subject to sin and wrath and under the influence of the devil, in Baptism he is chased out to make way for the Holy Spirit. And, the Holy Spirit makes our hard hearts, hearts of flesh.

Though by nature nothing good dwells within us, in Baptism we receive a new heart and spirit. In Baptism we are united to Christ’s death and resurrection, and by faith in the same our sins are forgiven. In Baptism, our will is renewed to do God’s will. Then, and only by the work of the Holy Spirit, what pours out of our hearts is love and forgiveness for our neighbor in Christ. What comes out of our hearts by nature is all the stuff Jesus listed in our text, and probably more, and that is what makes us unclean. In Baptism, Christ gives us a new heart. It’s what’s on the inside that counts.

It’s what’s on the inside that counts. That’s what Jesus teaches us today. Normally, we mean by the phrase that people are valuable because, what’s on the inside is good. But, from our Lord’s mouth, we hear that what’s inside of all of us is not good. It’s evil, sinful. Therefore, Jesus atoned for our sin by His perfect life and sacrificial death, and, by Baptism, gives us a new and clean heart to do His will. The Lord grant that we, who have been cleansed by the washing of Holy Baptism, would continue to be kept in the true faith, that our words and actions would come not from our sinful hearts, but the new hearts we receive from Him. Amen.

Sweet-Smelling Children of Light

Text: Ephesians 5:1-9

This week we take a special time out of the year to celebrate and thank the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League for their many years of service as one of the two official auxiliaries of the Missouri Synod. The LWML has been active for over 65 years, sharing the love and Good News of Jesus Christ, the world’s redeemer. The theme for this year’s LWML Sunday, which this sermon is loosely based off of, is “Fragrant Sacrifices and Offerings,” Now, as I was researching some ideas this week I learned a couple new words. The first is Dysosmia. Dysosmia is a disorder that involves any alteration in quality or distortion in the sense of smell. This usually manifests in one of two ways: either something smells different than you remember, or you start smelling something that isn’t there.

Now, with the disorder of the sense of smell that leads you to smell something differently than how you remember, to be quite frank, it usually means that you are going to smell something rotten or decaying instead of the good smell. But, there are rare occasions where one might smell something good instead of bad. This is called Euosmia; instead of smelling correctly that something is dead or rotten, one would smell the dead thing as a pleasant smell. In the Epistle text we read how Christ offered Himself as something εὐωδίας, literally – a good odor, a fragrant offering. By offering Himself as the sacrifice and offering in our place, Jesus became a fragrant offering unto God. Through faith in Him we have become sweet-smelling children of the Light.

I.

The text begins, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (vv. 1-2) St. Paul is calling to mind the long history of sacrifices among the people of Israel. We have record of sacrifices pleasing to God as far back as Genesis 4, where Abel offered up the firstborn of his flock to God. After Noah and his family got off the ark, he built an altar to God and sacrificed. God smelled the pleasing aroma and vowed to never again curse the ground because of man or strike down every living creature. The sacrifices continue so on and so forth throughout Old Testament history, even up to the time of Christ.

These sacrifices were instituted by God because of the hardness of human hearts. The Apostle Paul says, “Let no one deceive you with empty words…for at one time you were darkness.” (vv. 6, 8) Earlier in Ephesians we hear that we were dead in our trespasses and sins in which we once walked, following the course of this world. (Eph. 2:1-2) As those dead to Christ, we were darkened in our understanding. In our natural selves, we do not understand the things of God. We were alienated from God because of our ignorance and hardness.

The word that the Lutheran confessors use to describe our natural sinful condition is concupiscence. This means that not only are we born with original sin, but it is evidenced in that fact that we have a natural inclination to sin and are by nature turned away from the things of God. And finally, in our sin we were callous towards God. I hate to pick on a specific group of people, but being in sin is kind of like being a teenager. What are 3 of the most common words out of their mouths, “I don’t care.” (Cf. paragraph w/Eph. 4:18-19)

In our sin we neither cared about our neighbor in need nor did we want to do anything about it. We didn’t care about God; instead we fashioned gods of our own making and desires. Therefore, Jesus Christ became the fulfillment of all sacrifices, the ultimate fragrant offering unto God. Hebrews 9 says, “He [Jesus] entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of His own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.” (9:12) Because we by ourselves are dead in our trespasses, we smell rotten. We smell dead; in our sin, we walk around with a gagging smell of decay – we might not smell it, but God does. Therefore, “Christ [also] suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God.” (1 Pet. 3:18) Jesus Christ offered Himself up in our place, as payment for our sins – a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

II.

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children…for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.” (vv. 1, 8a) I don’t mean to ascribe things to God our Heavenly Father, who is formless, beyond what Scripture does; but it’s like God the Father has Euosmia. Because of the sacrifice of Christ on our behalf, we are made a fragrant offering unto God. The “good odor” that is Jesus, has spread to us through the gift of faith. Paul writes, “We are the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” (2 Cor. 2:15) In Ezekiel 20 God says, “As a pleasing aroma I will accept you, when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you have been scattered. And I will manifest my holiness among you in the sight of the nations.” (Ezek. 20:41) God says that He will accept us as a pleasing aroma when He brings us out and gathers us. This is what Jesus did on the cross. He suffered and died to separate us from our sin. Through His grace and the gift of faith we are brought out of the dying masses in the world and made holy and righteous. This is because God has dealt with us for His name’s sake, and not according to our evil deeds.

John Chrysostom, whose name means “golden mouth,” was archbishop of Constantinople in the very early 5th century. He wrote, “We are then, as it were, a Royal censer, breathing withersoever we go of the heavenly ointment and the spiritual sweet savor.” Because of Christ’s offering of Himself as a fragrant offering, that sweet smell extends to us. We are the sweet-smelling children of the Light. As Christians, like Chrysostom says, we walk around like bowls of Royal incense, breathing heavenly ointment to those around us. Paul urges us to, “Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true).” (v. 9) This means fleeing from all sin, from sexual immorality and impurity, from covetousness and filthy or crude joking. These are the sorts of things that our sinful nature wants us to do. Our sinful bodies want to covet and be crude.

“But thanks be to God,” Paul writes, “who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere.” (2 Cor. 2:14) Thanks be to God, who despite the temptations of our flesh, continues to come to us through His Word. He continues to give us the free forgiveness of sins won for us by Jesus on the cross. Through faith in Him we smell sweet to God. Therefore He leads us in the triumphal procession. We live in the world spreading the fragrance of Jesus Christ, the good news that through Him sins are forgiven and all things are made new. In His love we no longer live with the decaying stench of death and decay, but the sweet smell of grace and healing forgiveness. This is not of ourselves, but it is the free gift of God in Christ Jesus.

Euosmia is a condition where, instead of smelling something nasty, one smells something pleasant in its place. Through the fragrant offering of Himself, Jesus has, in effect, given our heavenly Father Euosmia. He no longer smells us as dead and rotten in our sin, but as His own sweet-smelling Son. Today we give thanks for the Lutheran Women Missionary League and for the work they do. They stand as an example for us to follow. Made fragrant through the death of Jesus, we walk as children of the light, as beloved children of God, covered in the sweet smell of the blood of the Lamb, even Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Romans 4, The Promise is Realized through Faith

“For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.

That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.” (Romans 4:13-16)
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Ro 4:13–16.

Romans 4 is an important chapter in the book. Beginning in chapter 1, the Apostle Paul has been talking about how the righteousness of God is revealed in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and it is received by faith. The promise of God, the promise of the forgiveness of sins, salvation, and eternal life, has always been that – a promise. It is never based upon our own works or performance, for we all fall short of the glory of God, both Jew and Gentile alike. Now, in chapter 4, Paul is going to back up a little bit to the patriarch Abraham to show that God’s relationship towards us has always been based upon the promise of Jesus Christ.

Searching the Scriptures

  1. Read vv. 4-5. How do these verses underscore the free and undeserved nature of God’s grace?

 

 

 

  1. Read v. 11. What was the significance of Abraham’s circumcision?

 

 

 

  1. How does Abraham’s story as recounted in chapter 4 make the same point as earlier chapters about the extent of God’s mercy and about the means by which human beings are saved?

 

 

 

  1. Verses 3-4 and 22-23 use a form of the expression “counted…as righteousness” (from Genesis 15). How does this relate to the meaning of “justification” as that term was used in connection with chapter 3?

 

 

 

  1. Romans 4:25 is both a summary of what has gone before and a thematic verse for the entire book. In fact, some scholars believe that Paul is here quoting from an early Christian confession. How does this verse use Jesus’ crucifixion and His resurrection both to highlight the futility of human efforts to attain righteousness and the certainty of God’s saving act in Jesus Christ?

 

 

 

The Word for Us

  1. How is a life by faith and a life lived by the Law a contradiction? How are they mutually exclusive?

 

  1. On the basis of the material in this chapter, how might we respond to those who despair of their attempts to “live a Christian life” and as a result wonder how God could possibly be favorably disposed to them?

Unexpected Missionaries

Text: Matthew 21:23-32

Don’t you hate it when people say one thing and do another? We all know people, who for any other reason are probably great people, but for whatever reason sometimes say they’ll do something but then never wind up doing it. I myself am a shining example of this, but I can probably speak for most men – and wives, you can tell me if this is right or not. There’s a joke that goes like this: If a man says he’s going to do something, he’s going to do it; there’s no need to remind him every six months. So we hate this trait in other people, and it can really set you off. But what happens when it turns out that we are the ones saying we’re going to do something, but then don’t actually do it? In the text the Jewish leaders question Jesus by what authority He is working. He responds in part by telling them the Parable of the Two Sons. Today we pray that like in the first son, the living and active word of God would work in us to lead us to repentance and a faith that reaches out.

I.

            Jesus begins the parable, “’What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?’ They said, ‘The first.’” (vv. 28-31a) In the text today we’ve moved into Holy Week. Almost all of our Gospel readings for the rest of the church year will fall into this time period. The events in today’s text would be on Monday. The day before was the day of the Triumphal Entry. Crowds of people gathered to spread their cloaks and palm branches on the road before Him. Then Jesus headed to the temple where He drove out all who were buying and selling the temple. He said, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.” (v. 13)

The next day as Jesus entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to Him with a question as He was teaching. These are the folks who were in charge of keeping the temple and worship in order. Jesus overturned their apple cart the day before, so they are probably hot under the collar. We begin to see here and in the next few chapters a more concentrated push between the Jewish leaders and Jesus. He didn’t quite fit into their paradigm of the Messiah, and yet they couldn’t deny that He was doing some miraculous things. They ask Him by what authority that He is doing all of these things. But when He asked them in return where John’s baptism was from, those who were so in the know were suddenly out of the loop.

Jesus illustrates their refusal to accept the preaching of John, the preaching of repentance and faith in Jesus as the Messiah, with this parable of two sons. There’s a man who has two sons. He goes to the first and tells him to go and work the vineyard. He at first refuses, but later is brought to repentance and goes to work. The second son was told the same. He assured his father he would go and work, but he did not go. Jesus identifies the second son with the Jewish authorities. These are the ones who were more concerned with image, outward praise without inward renewal. Jesus spoke rightly of them, “This people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men.” (Isa. 29:13) How many times do God’s people in the Old Testament promise to follow God’s Word and then don’t?

Jesus shows in the parable, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” (Ps. 51:17) The leaders admit this by saying it was the first son that did the will of the father, not the second; though they did not realize until later that Jesus was speaking about them. (v. 45) It was not the one who paid lip service, who said he was going to work that was the true son, but it turned out that it was the one who had fully intended not to work but then repented that was the true son. He heard the word of his father, repented of his unwillingness to work, and took up the task his father gave him.

Today we are observing our annual mission festival. In just a little while we are having a communal meal and donating the money to benefit those around us in need. But still, there’s yet a lesson to be learned. We hate those who say one thing and do another; it’s so irritating. But what happens when we are the ones? We gather here to worship every Sunday, to abundantly receive God’s free gift of the forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ. In the words of Holy Absolution you receive the forgiveness of sins from Jesus Himself. Here we are strengthened in the promise of eternal life. And yet so often we let our offerings on Sunday be the extent of our work. Don’t get me wrong, giving offering regularly is fantastic. Scripture even says that God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Cor. 9:7) But a lot of the time we are tempted to take the back seat, to let others lead the way. We convince ourselves that others are better at everything than we are, and we don’t realize that each of us has gifts from God. They may be different gifts, but they should all be used to the glory of God.

II.

           Jesus continues, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.” (vv. 31b-32) Jesus said that the tax collectors and prostitutes, the worst of the worst sinners, go ahead of the Jewish authorities in the kingdom of God. This is because they heard the Word of God, they were convicted by His Law, and repented of their sins. Instead of focusing on outward appearance and maintaining the status quo, they realized that they are sinners. They knew that there is no way they could’ve lived up to God’s demands. And they knew that they were among those for whom Christ took upon human flesh, lived the perfect life and fulfilled God’s Law, suffered and died for.

In the same way we are sinners. We come to church and say we are going to do one thing, but then often don’t do it. We usually mean it honestly and with the best intentions, but our sinfulness gets hold of us and we don’t follow through. We break God’s Law and deserve to be punished like rest. St. Paul writes, “While we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly…while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:6, 8) While we are sinners, and would much rather sit back and not do anything, Jesus Christ died for us. He took our sin, our complacency, and nailed it to the cross, and He left it there. When Jesus rose He left the grave empty, and so has our slate been made completely clean. When we hear the Word of God and repent of our sins, we truly are made clean, washed white in the blood of the Lamb.

Romans 7 says that we are now, “released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit.” (7:6) This morning we gathered here as sinners. But soon we will leave as saints. You received in Holy Absolution the forgiveness of Jesus Christ Himself. And in just a few moments you will come to the altar to receive the very body and blood of Jesus to strengthen and preserve you in the true faith and the forgiveness of sins. By this precious meal, you are strengthened and led by the Holy Spirit to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ in word and deed. Be strong and courageous, for God is with you. We pray that He would continue to convict us of our reluctance to live according to His Word, that He would strengthen us with His forgiveness, and lead us to serve those around us with His love.