Now Your Servant Can Depart in Peace – Mary Bellis

Text: Luke 2:25-32

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord of Life, Jesus Christ. Amen. May the peace of Christ’s resurrection and the hope of our own in Him be of special comfort to you: Bob and Jean, (Carolyn); and to all of Mary’s family and friends gathered here today. Though we grieve the loss of our beloved Mary, we do not grieve as those who have no hope, as St. Paul says, for we know that Mary has been received into the loving arms of her savior. She is alive now with Him, with Earl, and with all the saints who’ve gone before us, including Simeon, of whom we heard in the Gospel text.

I.

Our text today is from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 2. This passage relates to us the events that took place 40 days after our Lord’s birth. In the Church, we celebrate these events with a holiday called the Purification of Mary and the Presentation of Our Lord. This falls every year on February 2nd, this past Sunday. Under the old covenant of the Law, the Lord God gave various commands concerning childbirth. One was that, 40 days after giving birth, a mother would travel to the Jerusalem temple and offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving for the gift of a child. Another command of God was that every firstborn male was to be dedicated to the Lord. Therefore, trusting in the Lord’s Word and obeying His commands, the holy parents brought our Lord up into the temple.

Now, in the temple there was a man named Simeon. Simeon, as tradition holds, was a well-aged man. And yet, he had received this promise from the Lord, St. Luke relates, “it [was] revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.” (Luke 2:26, English Standard Version) Simeon was a righteous man by faith, and was waiting for the consolation of Israel. What that means, is that Simeon was awaiting the promised Messiah. The Messiah is the one promised by God to come and destroy sin, death, and the devil; to bring forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and peace to those who trust in Him. When the holy parents brought Jesus into the temple, Simeon took the baby up in his arms and sang, “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace…for my eyes have seen Your salvation.” (vv. 29-30) Simeon knew that, in Jesus Christ, the salvation of the world had come. He saw in Christ, with his own eyes, the peace of forgiveness and eternal life and, thus, Simeon knew he could die in peace.

II.

When I was visiting with Bob and Jean the other day, they shared with me a conversation they had with Mary. I won’t try to give the whole of it, because I’d butcher it, but the gist is: when the topic of Mary’s age came up, she was likely to say she felt more 1,096 than the actual 96 she was. When Mary and I had similar conversations, I would remind that she was “only” 96; she would reply, “if you say so.” Certainly, using Mary’s own feelings, she would qualify as well-aged, just like Simeon. And, also, like Simeon, Mary received many blessings from the Lord. She was united by Him in holy matrimony to her beloved Earl on February 12th, 1943. From their union came the blessings of children: Bob and Carolyn. The Lord blessed Mary with grandchildren, and with a long and fulfilling career. The Lord also blessed many others in the community, including ourselves, through Mary. 

The chief blessing which Mary received, though, is what she now enjoys: eternal life with Christ and those who have gone before in the Christian faith. Mary was born May 16th, 1923 and was baptized in Fairbank as a young child. In her baptism, Mary was united to Christ and became a member of His body, the Church. Through the witness and encouragement of a friend, Mary began attending here at St. John’s while still a child and was confirmed in this sanctuary in 1937. She publicly confessed her faith in Christ and her hope in life everlasting. For 83 years, Mary received the body and blood of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of her sins and the strengthening of her faith. Through her baptism, in the Word, and in Christ’s Supper, Mary saw the Lord’s Christ, and in Him, she has departed in peace. She has passed from this earthly life, to eternal life. She awaits with Earl the day of Christ’s coming and the resurrection of the dead.

III.

In the reading from Isaiah, we heard the words of Christ – that He has come to bring good news to the poor, to bind up the brokenhearted, and to lift out of sadness those who mourn. We confess today, that these words describe us. We are poor before God because of our many sins. We are brokenhearted at the loss of our sister, and we mourn her passing. Yet, it is for these reasons that Christ came. These reasons are why He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. These are the reasons why He was brought into the temple while still a child. Jesus came to fulfill the will of God for us and to die on our behalf. He was “pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities,” St. Isaiah says. (53:5) Jesus did not just die for us; He also rose for us. This is why Simeon sang he could depart in peace, and why Mary could as well. They both saw Christ and knew He died and rose for them.

Simeon and Mary both saw Jesus and departed in peace. Simeon held Him Him in the temple; Mary saw the Lord through His Word and Sacraments. The same peace which Christ became for them, He is for you and me. It was not just for the world, and not just for them that He died and rose, but for you and me, too. The forgiveness and eternal life which He secured for Simeon and Mary, He won for you. He sets no condition on it, but gives it freely to those who trust in Him. Those who believe in Him, will live, even though they die. Such is true for Mary. We give thanks to God for the blessings bestowed on Mary, for the blessings we received through her. We know that, though she has departed from this life, she departed in peace and is alive with Christ. 

The Shining Face

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Text: Exodus 34:29-35

Today we celebrate the Feast of our Lord’s Transfiguration. Transfiguration, which means “changing,” is the word we use to describe how our Lord’s appearance changed to shine like the sun. In the presence of Peter, James, and John, our Lord spoke with Moses and Elijah concerning His own death and resurrection for our salvation. A bright cloud also overshadowed the group, and God the Father Himself told us that Jesus is His Son and the one to whom we should listen. We should also note that today, February 2nd, is also the 40th day after Christmas. This is the day our Lord’s parents brought Him up to the temple to be dedicated, when St. Simeon sung the words of the Nunc Dimittis. 

The change in our Lord’s appearance at the Transfiguration was for our benefit, that we might see just a bit of the glory to be revealed to us at the Resurrection and in the new creation. The shining face of Jesus also reminds us that He is the one who speaks God’s Word to us. This is why Moses’ face also shone in our Old Testament text. As Moses’ face shone, demonstrating that he spoke for God, so did Jesus’.

I.

We were last in the book of Exodus about two weeks ago. We heard then from chapter 33, and what we heard happened right after the incident with the golden calf. While Moses was up on Mt. Sinai speaking with God, his brother Aaron fashioned for the people an idol made of gold, which they then worshiped. As punishment, the Lord told Moses that he and the people must leave the mountain and head toward the Promised Land. Whereas before, the Lord’s presence went with them directly, now they would be led by an angel – lest the anger of the Lord consume them. Moses pleaded with the Lord on behalf of the people, that He should have mercy on them and remember His promise to be with them. The Lord did have mercy and, as a sign of His presence, would make Himself pass before Moses and be seen by him. That does happen in Exodus 34.

After the calf incident, Moses went back up the mountain. The original copy of the Ten Commandments God made Himself, but now Moses had to cut the rock and engrave it on his own. The Lord made His glory pass before Moses and proclaimed His Name before him. Moses and the Lord spoke on Mt. Sinai, again, for 40 days. Then, our text begins, 

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. But Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses talked with them.

Exodus 34:29-31, English Standard Version.

Apparently, Moses’ face did shine for a while. He would speak with God and then bring His Word to the people. When he finished speaking, Moses would put a veil over his face until he spoke with God again.

II.

So, Moses had a shining face; this we have heard. Now, let’s ask the Lutheran question: What does this mean? The Holy Spirit answers that question for us right in the text. He tells both why Moses’ face shone and what it means. Verse 29, “Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God.” Moses’ face also shone when he spoke God’s Word to the people. Moses’ face was made to shine from the glory of God’s presence and the wonders of His Word. His face shone as a sign to the people that, when Moses came to speak to them, it was not his word but God’s. In some ways this was necessary because even Moses’ own siblings, Aaron and Miriam, played the role of false prophets at some points and tried to lead the people in a different direction. Their faces didn’t shine, though. Moses’ face shined because he had been speaking with God and was the one to speak His Word to the people.

There are a couple other spots in the Bible where someone’s face shines. You might remember St. Stephen from the book of Acts. He, as you know, was the first Christian martyr in the New Testament (if we count The Baptist as part of the Old Testament). Stephen was an eloquent and wise preacher of Christ. Some enemies of our Lord dragged him before the Jewish council, where he, unafraid, offered a beautiful sermon demonstrating that God keeps His promises; and he called the people to repent. Unfortunately, the people did not listen to Stephen but, instead, stoned him. St. Paul, before he was a Christian, held the coats of the people doing the stoning. St. Luke tells us, though, that the people who sat in the council and heard St. Stephen saw that, “his face was like the face of an angel;” that is, shining. (Acts 6:15) Stephen’s face shone because he was speaking God’s Word to the people. Somebody else’s face shines in the Bible, too. It’s what we celebrate today. At the Transfiguration, Jesus’ face shined like the sun.

III.

Let’s carry the same thought. The Holy Spirit tells us that Moses’ face shined because he had been speaking with God. Moses was God’s representative, bringing His Word to the people. Jesus’ face shined for the same reason. The Father Himself said, as we heard in the Gospel, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.” (Mt. 17:5) Jesus’ appearance changed so that we might receive a glimpse of His eternal glory, and so that we might recognize that He brings us the true Word from the Father. Now, when the Father says that we should listen to Jesus, that is a reference to something that Jesus has said. Just before the Transfiguration, St. Matthew wrote that, “Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” (Mt. 16:21) Just after the Transfiguration, Jesus said, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day.” (17:22-23)

Moses’ face shone because He spoke God’s Word to the people. Jesus’ face shone because He was speaking the Word to us. More specifically, it is God’s Word to us that Jesus is our Passover lamb. He is the one upon whom our sins have been laid. Though we were dead in our sins, God the Father turned toward us a loving heart. He sent His Son into the flesh to die and rise for us. St. Simeon knew this, it’s why he took the baby Jesus into his arms and sang. He knew that, in Christ, God’s salvation has come and we can be at peace. Let this be our confidence, then. The Transfiguration marks the beginning of our Lord’s walk to the cross on Good Friday. The change in Moses’ appearance benefited God’s people by showing them Moses was His true representative. Our Lord’s appearance changed so that we might be assured that He truly speaks God’s Word to us, particularly that we, by His death and resurrection, have the free and full forgiveness of our sins. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Servants in Sound Doctrine

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Text: Titus 1:1-9

Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Titus. A feast day is a day set aside by the Church to remember and give thanks to God for a particular blessing. Most often, feast days are celebrated on events in our Lord’s life; for example: His conception, His birth, His Baptism, the Transfiguration, His Resurrection and Ascension. In Christian freedom, we also celebrate the blessings of God we have received through certain people. In Lutheranism, and specifically in the LCMS, we limit these celebrations to those directly connected to Christ and who were mentioned in the Bible. We do not celebrate these days for the benefit of those who have passed before us, nor because we are required to do so. We celebrate them so that we might learn from and be encouraged by the faith and life of those who’ve gone ahead of us and, perhaps, follow their example. It says in Hebrews, “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the Word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.” (Hebrews 13:7, English Standard Version)

Today, January 26th, is the day that the Church considers St. Titus. In the history of the Church, there have been other days set aside for this purpose. In the 60s, however, when the Roman Catholic made some changes, this change was among them: the date of St. Titus was moved to today, so that one could celebrate St. Timothy on January 24th, the conversion of St. Paul on the 25th, then today. You can find this in the front of our hymnal. Now, since we are talking about St. Titus, we should answer the question: Who is he? If you look in the front of the hymnal, you’ll find him listed as “Pastor and Confessor.” (pg. xi, Lutheran Service Book). A confessor is one who physically suffers for the faith, yet does not die. This is why we are in white today, while the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul in June is red.

A.

Our text today is from the Epistle of Titus. He was the one who received the letter and not the one who wrote it. That would be St. Paul. Paul wrote to him, “To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you.” (Titus 1:4-5) From this we can learn a few things about Titus. Firstly, he was acquainted with St. Paul and, in fact, near to him; St. Paul called him his “true child in a common faith.” We also learn why this letter was written, as instruction and encouragement for Titus as he carried out his work of putting things in order and training pastors on the island of Crete. Titus, as both Scripture and tradition indicate, was the first bishop of Crete. However, he didn’t start that way.

Titus was born a Gentile unbeliever. We don’t exactly know where, but perhaps in Corinth or Antioch, he came into contact with St. Paul. He heard the Gospel preached by Paul and was brought to the Christian faith through the Holy Spirit. He became a traveling companion of St. Paul. They went to Jerusalem in Acts 15, where it was recognized from Scripture that the Gentiles were, indeed, heirs of the same eternal life in Christ as those who had come out of the Jewish faith. Later, Titus became St. Paul’s representative to the Corinthians. The Corinthian congregation had many areas in which they were unfaithful to God’s Word. St. Paul wrote them a severe letter, which remains lost to us. Paul feared that they would not receive his preaching of the Law well and sent Titus to them. Titus wrote back to Paul that they did receive the letter well, repented of their sins, and expected to receive Paul again lovingly. It is because of this that the Church remembers Titus for his churchmanship, his compassion, and his steadfastness in the Gospel.

This is also why St. Paul left him in Crete. The island of Crete was a difficult one; the culture was especially hostile to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Yet, where the Word is preached, there the Holy Spirit creates faith. And He did, though it was initially a small flock. And, no sooner than the true Gospel spread did false teachers also come. Titus’ job in short: raise up men in every town to serve as pastors. In Scripture, the words “elder” and “overseer” are interchangeable, and both describe what we know as the pastoral office. This was the end goal of Titus’ work, that these men, “hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that [they] may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.” (v. 9) We confess, we know little about St. Titus outside of the epistles of Paul and the book of Acts. Early Church tradition is that Titus remained in Crete for his entire ministry, dying there as an old man in about 96 A.D. He was placed into a hotbed of paganism and unbelief, but he did not waver. The Lord worked through him and the Word spread, even unto us.

B.

Titus’ job was to train and equip men for service to the Church, men who were able to both teach pure doctrine and protect their flocks from false doctrine. This same work is necessary today. None of us came into this world as Christians. We confess with King David in Psalm 51 that we were both conceived and born in sin. That sin was washed away through Holy Baptism, where we each received the forgiveness of our sins through the gift of faith. Throughout our lives we’ve learned and grown in our knowledge of God’s Word, most often not from our own efforts, but through the teaching and prayers of our pastors, our Sunday school teachers, and others who assisted the pastor in teaching us the faith. So that the spread of the Gospel might continue and increase, the Lord continues to call men to serve us, His Church.

Who should be considered for the pastoral office? St. Paul writes he should be considered who is, “above reproach, the husband of one wife,” and who, if so blessed by God, has children faithful to Christ. (v. 6) The pastor, St. Paul says, “as God’s steward…must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.” (vv. 7-8) This is a formidable list, and humbling one for one who serves as pastor, as pastors too are sinful men. We would do well to recognize, though, that these things are fruits of the Spirit, which He works in us through our Baptism into Christ. The Holy Spirit works clean hearts in us continually to love what is good and be self-controlled, to live an upright, holy, and disciplined life in Christ. For this reason, all Christian men should at least consider whether the Lord is calling them to serve, and we as a congregation should encourage the same among our young men.

C.

I said way back at the beginning of this sermon that we celebrate feast days not because we have to, but we get to, and because we can learn something from those who’ve gone before us. What is something we can take away today? Look at the middle of verse 2. St. Paul praises God, who ”never lies.” In particular, God cannot lie about the salvation He has provided for us in Christ. God the Father set forth His own Son as the payment for our sin and freely – completely – forgives our sins and gives us eternal life through Jesus. Though the whole world falls apart, and though it will be burned up and dissolved as Peter says, this thing remains eternally: the salvation we have in Christ. This is what caused St. Paul to speak and labor. It is why St. Titus worked tirelessly to raise up and train pastors – so that more and more and more would hear the Gospel of Christ and receive the free forgiveness that we have in Him.

This work isn’t limited to pastors, mind you, but it also happens in each of our lives according to our vocations. Some of us are parents, some grandparents, some a step beyond that. We are workers, we are retirees; we are students. It is the Lord who places us where we are, and it is He who works through us to share His love in both word and deed. I happen to serve as pastor, and I pray that the Lord would continue to raise up ever more pastors. Let us all, though, hear St. Paul’s encouragement to Titus, that we also hold fast to the Word we’ve been taught and cling wholeheartedly to the God who does not lie. May the Lord work through each of us according to our vocation, that we – like Titus – would teach the Word truthfully and live faithfully. Amen.

The Lord Manifests His Glory

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Text: Exodus 33:12-23

Today in the Gospel reading we heard about the first miracle of Jesus. At a wedding in Cana, Jesus changed water into wine. As a sign of His good will and His support for marriage, Jesus made it so that the celebration need not stop. In fact, the master of the feast commented that the best wine had been saved until then. The Holy Spirit tells us through St. John why this particular account is included in the Gospel. He says, “This, the first of His signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested His glory. And His disciples believed in Him.” (John 2:11, English Standard Version) In St. John’s Gospel, the miracles are called “signs,” because they point to the truth about who Jesus is and are, in themselves, little manifestations of His glory.

The manifestation of the Lord’s glory is what we celebrate in the Epiphany Season. The Lord manifested (He showed) His glory to the Gentiles by way of His star and Word. The glory of the Triune God was both seen and heard when Jesus was baptized; the Holy Spirit descended from heaven and the Father Himself spoke. Today, Jesus manifested His glory and gave us a picture of the wedding feast in heaven, where there will be no end to the celebration. In the Old Testament reading, which serves as our sermon text, when Moses was filled with doubt, the Lord made His glory be seen by him to comfort and strengthen him. Today we confess that, as the Lord manifested His glory before Moses, so is God’s glory shown to us in Christ.

I.

Now remember, one of the most important rules for interpreting and understanding a Scripture passage is to look at it in context. If something in Scripture is difficult to follow, the surrounding passages often shed some light. Let’s put our Old Testament reading in context. 1446 B.C. is about when God led the children of Israel up out of slavery in Egypt. He led them through the Red Sea on dry ground and then through the wilderness for about three months, until they came to the base of Mt. Sinai. He led them with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. It was there, at Mt. Sinai, that God revealed through Moses the Ten Commandments. As Moses was delayed coming down from the mountain – God and he were speaking for 40 days – Aaron built for the people a golden calf, which they then worshiped as the true god who led them out of Egypt. These are the things that happened in the chapter before today’s reading. This is what God said to Moses just before the start of our text, “Depart; go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought up out of the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob…I will send an angel before you…but I will not go up among you, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people.” (Ex. 33:1-3)

Essentially, the Lord was telling Moses that they had to leave His mountain and head toward the Promised Land and, though He would lead them with an angel, God Himself would no longer travel with His people – lest He punish them for their sinfulness. Of course, hearing this, Moses and the people were greatly saddened. This is where Moses is coming from when he said, in verse 15, “If Your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in Your sight, I and Your people? Is it not in Your going with us…?” (33:15-16) Up to this point, the Lord had been with His people. He called them and set them apart from all the nations of the earth. The nation of Israel alone among all the nations had their God actually show Himself to them – for He is the only one that exists. But, now, because of their sinfulness, God was taking that away. Moses, for his part and on behalf of the people, received this preaching of the Law and repented. 

The Lord then had mercy on Moses. He said, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in My sight, and I know you by name.” (v. 17) In order to comfort Moses and strengthen his (and Israel’s) faith, the Lord would cause His glory to be seen. The Lord told Moses stand on a rock. Then, as He drew near, He would put Moses in a cleft of the rock and cover him with His hand. When the Lord had passed by Moses, He would remove His hand and Moses would see His back. Moses would see the Lord’s back because, as He said, “man shall not see Me and live.” (v. 20) What the Lord told Moses He would do did happen in chapter 34. In order to comfort Moses and strengthen his faith, the Lord manifested His glory before him.

II.

When we put the text in context, we can see the reason behind Moses’ desire to see the Lord’s glory. He and the people now had to come down from the mountain and wander through the wilderness to a place which they had never known nor seen. What’s more, as a discipline, the Lord would lead them by an angel and no longer by His direct presence. It must’ve felt like the rug was pulled out from under them. Maybe God was no longer with them, maybe they were on their own. But, if they could just get a glimpse of His glory, all would be okay. If they could just have some indication that God is with them, they could draw strength and have a good conscience before Him. I dare say, when we consider the reading like this, we at times feel very similar things to Moses and the people. We also wander through the wilderness of life. We live in a different time and place, but it’s a wilderness the same. Sometimes in our wandering, even as Christians, we feel like a ship out on the ocean with no rudder. But, just as the Lord comforted and forgave Moses by manifesting His glory to him, so He has done the same for us.

God has made His glory known to us in the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the eternally-begotten Son of the Father, who was appointed and sent to take on flesh for us. In Christ, we see the glory of the eternal God, for in Him the fullness of deity dwells bodily, as St. Paul says. In Christ, the fullness of God’s glory is made manifest for the forgiveness of sins. He came and dwelt among us not in judgement, but in grace. He came to take our sins upon Himself and to make payment for them in His death. By His resurrection, He opened the gates of the Promised Land and He brings us into this eternal kingdom by faith. Not only has He done this great and glorious thing, but He – even now – continues to make His glory shown to us. We see the glory of Christ in His Means of Grace.

In the Word, Christ makes Himself known to us. He reveals to us His saving acts throughout history and brings us into them by the Holy Spirit. In Baptism, though we see only a simple action with our eyes, yet the glory of Christ is manifest in it. It isn’t the pastor’s hands who Baptize, but they are truly Christ’s hands that wash us with pure water and unite to Himself. In Holy Absolution, it isn’t the forgiveness of the pastor we receive, but the glory of Christ’s forgiveness. In the Sacrament of the Altar, though with our eyes we see only bread and wine, yet with the eyes of faith we perceive that it is the true body and blood of Christ given to us for the forgiveness of our sins and the strengthening of our faith.

Moses feared that he and the people were being sent out into the wilderness to drift and that, without the Lord’s presence among them in the same way as before, they would be overrun. To strengthen and comfort him, the Lord made His glory known to Moses. He has also manifested His glory to us in the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. As with Moses, He doesn’t send us out adrift; He continues to reveal His glory to us and be with us in His Holy Word and Sacrament. When we seek Christ and the assurance of His presence and goodness, let us ever learn to find Him here and, having been refreshed by His presence, go forth in peace and joy. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The One For Us

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Text: Isaiah 42:1-7

The “chosen one” is a common idea in popular media. Whether it’s in movies, books, television shows, operas, whatever, the idea of a chosen one is probably familiar to us. It’s hard to give an example that everyone’s going to know, so you’ll have to supply your own if these make no sense. Star Wars is in the theaters now. In the original trilogy, Luke Skywalker was the one chosen to bring balance to the Force. When I was in high school, Lord of the Rings was popular. The hobbit Frodo Baggins was chosen to throw the One Ring into the fires of Mount Doom. Last one: the young boy Charlie was chosen to take over for Willy Wonka upon his retirement from the candy business. Whether representing only himself or all people, the function of the chosen one is to do what no one else can. We can see something like this in our readings today.

At the beginning of His ministry, our Lord was baptized by John in the Jordan River. John’s job, as we’ve spoken about before, was to prepare the way of the Lord. He was to preach and teach ahead of Jesus, and to baptize, so that what we heard happen in the Gospel reading today might be revealed to us. When Jesus came up from the water, God the Father Himself spoke from heaven that Jesus is His beloved Son, in whom He is well pleased. This event is a fulfillment of our Old Testament text. At His Baptism, God the Father proclaimed that Jesus is the chosen one for us. 

I.

I mentioned last week in the sermon that Epiphany is one of the oldest Church holidays. Originally, it celebrated both Jesus’ birth and His Baptism. Sometimes, other items were talked about on the same day, too, such as the changing of water into wine and the Transfiguration. What’s happened over time is that we’ve spaced these things out so that, now, we can give thought to each of these things in place every year. Today is Jesus’ Baptism, next week the changing of water into wine, next month the Transfiguration. So, let’s talk about the Baptism of our Lord. St. Matthew records for us, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the facts of the matter. The Gospel says,

Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented Him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?’ But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then he consented.

Matthew 3:13-15, English Standard Version

John the Baptist, the prophet greater than all the rest, would have kept Jesus from being baptized. After all, if Baptism is for the forgiveness of sins, why would He who is without sin need to be baptized? Yet, upon Jesus’ Word, John agreed. Then, as soon as Jesus came up from the water, the heavens were opened. The Holy Spirit descended in the form of a dove and rested upon Jesus. “And behold,” St. Matthew writes, “a voice from heaven said, ‘This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’” (v. 17) Here we see all three members of the Trinity. As they were united in purpose at the creation of the world, so now. As the Father spoke then, so now. But, why?

II.

When we heard these texts last year, we looked at what it meant for Jesus to be baptized. It meant that He was becoming united with us in our sin and death, so that we might be united with Him – through our Baptism – in life. Today I want us to ponder the Father’s words: “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” This should make us think of the Lord’s words in the reading from Isaiah 42. This is how our Old Testament reading started, “Behold My servant, whom I uphold, My chosen, in whom My soul delights; I have put My Spirit upon Him.” (Is. 42:1) They sound familiar because one is the fulfillment of the other. The Isaiah text is the promise, the Baptism of Jesus (and His ministry after) is the fulfillment. Some 700 years before Jesus’ conception and birth, God promised to send a “chosen one.” This chosen one would be anointed with the Spirit of God to bring His Word to the nations. 

Not only would He bring God’s Word to the nations, but, the Lord said through Isaiah (in words addressed to Jesus), “I will take You by the hand and keep You; I will give You as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations.” (v. 6) The chosen one of God would be a sign of His good will toward mankind, His desire to love and forgive. This chosen one would open the eyes of the blind and bring the prisoners out of the dark dungeons. At Jesus’ Baptism, God the Father speaks and shows us that His chosen one is Jesus. Jesus is the promised offspring of Abraham, the son from David’s own body. He was given as a sign of God’s grace and favor, to be His chosen one for us.

III.

What good news this is! You see, apart from Christ we were (and are) eternally lost. We were given to all kinds of sin and evil; we were blind to all the goodness of the Lord. God revealed to us on Sinai what is good and right, He even wrote it on our hearts. These things, however, we did not desire to do by nature. Left to our own devices, we fully merited God’s wrath and were subject to the eternal condemnation of hell – which is the darkest of all dungeons. But, God had mercy so that we might be saved eternally. He promised to send a chosen one who would save us from the Fall, open our eyes and lead us out of prison. This is what Jesus has done for us. He was born for us and lived for us. He perfectly kept God’s Law in our place and, for our benefit, bore the punishment of our sins Himself on the cross. By His resurrection, He broke the bars of death; He leads us out of the dungeon by faith.

By faith in Jesus we receive all His benefits. By our Baptism into Him, we are united with Him. Jesus is God’s chosen one to redeem us from sin. By our Baptism, we become God’s chosen in Christ. In Confirmation class this last week, we started the Lord’s Prayer. We learned that, with the words “Our Father,” God calls us His own children so that we might have boldness and confidence before Him. This is not because of anything in us; we only call ourselves His children by His grace and love toward us in Christ. We see this, this week in our Lord’s Baptism. God the Father put forth His own Son as the chosen one for us so that, by His life and death, we might be redeemed and led out from the dark dungeon of death. Thanks be to God. Amen.

How Men are Made Wise

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Text: Matthew 2:1-12

“We did not follow cleverly devised myths,” go the familiar words of St. Peter, “when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty…for we were with Him on the holy mountain. And we have something more sure, the prophetic Word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place.” (2 Peter 1:16, 18-19; English Standard Version) With these words (which we’ll hear again next month), St. Peter reminded his hearers to hold fast to the sacred Scriptures, which are the very Words of God. They alone are able to make us wise for salvation, as St. Paul would say, for they are the instrument by which the Holy Spirit works. Through the Word, the Holy Spirit reveals Christ to us. Through the Word, He creates and strengthens faith.

We see this, this week in the visit of the Magi to the child Jesus. Though the star went before them, it was actually the Word that revealed and pointed out Christ to them. The star led them to the Word. It only moved to exactly where Jesus was after they heard from the prophet. By the Word, these men were made wise. As the Magi were led by God’s Word to Christ, so also are we led by the Word to worship our newborn king. But, first, the history.

I.

The Church holiday we celebrate today is Epiphany. Epiphany comes from a Greek word that means “appearance,” or maybe “manifestation.” Epiphany, which falls every year on January 6th, is one of the earliest Church holidays and originally celebrated both Christ’s birth and His baptism. In the Western Church, of which Lutheranism is a part, Epiphany celebrates the visit of the Magi to Jesus about 2 years after His birth. We’ll celebrate Jesus’ Baptism next week; today we’ll focus on the visit of the Magi. You’ll notice that I keep saying the word Magi and not wisemen. That’s because in the Greek, the visitors to Jesus are called Magi, which is where we get the word magician from. The visitors to Jesus in Matthew 2 were not kings, they were court officials who were likely well-versed in science and witchcraft. Seems like unusual candidates to come worship Jesus but, then again, so are we; maybe that’s the point.

In any case, our text takes place about 2 years after our Lord’s birth, during the reign of Herod the Great. It happened that some Magi from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw His star when it rose and came to worship Him.” (Matt. 2:2) By God’s gracious activity, a star was made to appear to these Magi. They followed it and came to Jerusalem. After all, wouldn’t the newborn king of the Jews be born in a palace in the capital of the Jews, Jerusalem? They did not yet know whom they were truly seeking; but neither did King Herod. By this point, Herod had ruled for a long time. He himself was not an Israelite, but an Edomite – a descendant of Esau. Edom and Israel were enemies, and that made Herod paranoid. He ruled with an iron fist and would not abide challengers to his throne. Which is why he was troubled. Suffice it to say, when the Magi got to Jerusalem, they did not find the king they were looking for. They had not yet been made wise.

II.

Herod called together the chief priests and scribes of the people, and they consulted the Scriptures to see where the Christ was to be born. They found these words: “And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.” (v. 6) Having heard these words, and after receiving instructions under false pretenses from Herod, the Magi – now wise – left for Bethlehem. St. Matthew records for us, “And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.” (v. 9) You see, the star led them to the Word of God. Only after they heard from Scripture that Jesus was in Bethlehem did it lead them to the exact house in Bethlehem where He was.

As smart as these men were, and as well-versed in various topics as they may have been, they were not yet wise. Two Sundays ago we spoke Psalm 111 together. Part of it went, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding.” (111:10) The fear of the Lord, the knowledge of Him and of His ways, how He feels toward us, is worked only through the external Word. Because of the Fall into Sin and the corruption that ensued, mankind is unable by nature to know or love God. We are unable to know or love God by nature; we must be led to Him. The Magi show us this. They went to Jerusalem seeking an earthly king in a palace. The Scriptures revealed to them that the true king was in Bethlehem. Filled with this good news and seeing the star, the Holy Spirit tells us, “They rejoiced exceedingly with great joy…they fell down and worshipped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh.” (vv. 10-11)

III.

I read from St. Peter, at the beginning of the sermon, these words: “We have something more sure, the prophetic Word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place.” The Scriptures were the lamp to the Magi’s feet, it’s what made them wise men – if we can call them that. The star brought them to Jerusalem, but the Word first showed them Jesus. The Word is what points us to Jesus, too. We, also, were born subject to the Fall. We were born dead in sin, lost in trespasses, blind to all of God’s goodness. What’s worse, we didn’t even know it. But God, in loving kindness, sent forth His Son into the world. He was conceived and born for us, so that He might also die and rise for us. Christ, by His Holy Spirit, sent His Word out into the world so that we might hear all this. He caused the prophets and apostles to preach and write; He gave them the words. He has caused the Word to spread to us, that we also might be wise.

When we were yet unborn and our mothers attend Divine Service, where the Word was read and preached, the Spirit was at work. Then, when by God’s grace we were baptized, the Holy Spirit worked again through the washing of renewal and rebirth of the water and the Word to create faith in our hearts. Throughout our lives, and even now in this hour, the Holy Spirit is at work: reminding us of all the Lord has done for us, strengthening our faith in the forgiveness we have in Him, making us bold witnesses to the same. In short, the same way the Magi became wise men, so have we. Though by nature we knew nothing about God or His love, He has made us wise unto salvation through the Word we’ve heard, read, sung, and received.

This is why we celebrate Epiphany. The Epiphany means that the Savior of God is revealed to the world. He was revealed to the Magi through the Word and the leading of the star; He is revealed to us through the same Word. Since we are also made wise, let us also offer Christ our gifts of thanksgiving and praise.

God For Us

Text: Romans 8:31b-39

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31, English Standard Version) Such was St. Paul’s conclusion as he wrapped up the first half of his letter to the Romans. We see in Christ’s death and resurrection, including especially at this time His birth, that all things have been accomplished. We have salvation, the forgiveness of our sins, and the Lord of all things fights for us. If the one who created all things is on our side, who can stand against us? No one, that’s who. As fitting for the end of one year and the beginning of another, we confess tonight that – since God is for us – nothing will overtake us.

I.

Really, verse 31 in our text is a sermon in itself. If God is for us, who can be against us? The obvious answer is, no one and nothing. But, upon what does St. Paul base this confidence? He said later in our text, “I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (vv. 38-39) St. Paul bases his confidence on the fact that God the Father did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up into death on our behalf. St. Paul’s language here should remind us of the sacrifice of Isaac. God the Father placed the wood of the cross on top of His Son, Jesus. Whereas Abraham’s hand was stopped as he prepared to sacrifice his son, God the Father did not stop His hand. Instead, He gave the only one not deserving of death into death for us.

By His death, Jesus made the perfect and full atonement for all sin. There is no sin for which He did not merit forgiveness. Not only did Jesus win for us the forgiveness of our sins, but He continues to intercede on our behalf before the Father. He does this gracious thing because, even though we have received the forgiveness of our sins, we continue daily to fall into sin. We sin in our thoughts, our words, our deeds. We sin both by the things that we do and the things that we leave undone. In our sinfulness, we make light of the Father’s sacrifice for us; but Jesus pleads our case. He continues to stand between the Father and us, holding up His own pierced hands, reminding them both of their great love for us. When the Father looks down toward us, He sees His Son and is reminded of His great love for us and that He is for us. This is the picture St. Paul gives us, a God who is actively for us: the Son who died, was raised, and pleads our case; the Father, who loved us and gave up His Son for us.

II.

If such is the case – and it is – then what can be against us? What can overtake us? Nothing. However, this isn’t always so apparent, is it? St. Paul listed a number of things, saying, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?” (v. 35) The words the Holy Spirit uses through St. Paul for tribulation and distress basically mean anything that causes, literally, pressure on us from the outside and turmoil on the inside. I dare say that we’ve had some of that ourselves; all of us. In one form or another, or sometimes, combinations – we’ve all had our bits of pressure and turmoil this year. Some of it comes in general because of the fallen creation. Some of it might be punishment of our sin; although, we should be careful to not peer too deeply into what sin is punished how. Some of it is the Lord disciplining us as a loving father does his children, for their good.

Yes, we have had our bits of pressure and turmoil this year, but we are still here. And you know why? Because He loves us. God has blessed this year beyond what we can know or count. He has preserved us from danger and brought us through it. Our woes have not overtaken us because, as St. Paul said, “in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” (v. 37) Jesus Christ took on flesh; He died for us. If He was willing to die on the cross for us and continually pleads our case in heaven, how could there possibly be anything that would separate us from His love? Well, there isn’t. “Neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (vv. 38-39) None of us have suffered to the point of death this year, but when that day does come – not even death can separate us from God’s love. We pass with Him through the gate of death into the eternal paradise of heaven and of the new creation.

So, it is fitting as we end this calendar year to be reminded that the Lord was with us through it all. He was with us in our times of happiness and our times of sadness. He was with us in both our times of joy and of sorrow. He is with us now. As we enter a new year in Christ, let this be our confidence, “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?” Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

The King Who Reigns Forever

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Text: 2 Samuel 7:1-16

In the Gospel reading today we heard about the events that happened 40 days after our Lord’s birth. In keeping with His Word, Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus up to the temple in Jerusalem. This visit was for the purification of Mary from her childbirth and for the dedication of Jesus, as their firstborn son, to the Lord. It is written, St. Luke reminded us, “Every male that first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord.” (Luke 2:23, English Standard Version) It was then that Simeon took Jesus up in his arms and blessed God, knowing that he could die in peace, having seen the Messiah. These events are celebrated in the Church as a holiday called the Purification of Mary and Presentation of our Lord. It falls every year on February 2nd, which this coming year will also be the Transfiguration. 

Simeon took Jesus in his arms, knowing that he could depart in peace because Jesus is the promised offspring of David. The Lord promised David in our text that an offspring from his own body would sit on the throne and reign forever. That promised king is Jesus, Simeon confessed, and the kingdom He rules over is the Church. Here, Christ reigns over us in truth, mercy, love, and grace.

I.

Our Old Testament reading this week takes place during the reign of King David, as we heard. It happened shortly after he began to reign from Jerusalem. The backstory here is that, after Saul died, the Lord told David it was time for him to be king – only from a town called Hebron, and not Jerusalem. David reigned in Hebron for seven years until inhabitants of Jerusalem came to him. They recognized that he had been chosen by the Lord and promised to submit to him as their king. From then on, David reigned as king from Jerusalem – for about 33 years. When he came to Jerusalem, he brought the Ark of the Covenant with him and built a tent for it to dwell in. Now, here comes the start of our text. “The king said to Nathan the prophet, ‘See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.’” (2 Sam. 7:2)

You have to read between the lines a little bit but, essentially, David recognized an inequality here. He lived in a house of cedar, but the Ark of God – which housed the Ten Commandments, the manna, and Aaron’s staff – stayed in a tent. David wanted to build a fitting temple for God. It was a good desire, as Nathan recognized, but God had a better plan. He said to David, through Nathan, “Thus says the Lord: Would you build Me a house to dwell in?…The Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house…I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish his kingdom forever.” (vv. 5, 11-13) In short, rather than David building a house for God which, at best, can only be impermanent, the Lord is going to build him a house which will last forever. 

II.

Now, this word “house” can mean a few things. Many times in Scripture it’s used as a synonym for the temple. If you’ve been to a burial from one of our congregations, often Psalm 122 is spoken at the grave, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’” (122:1) The house of the Lord means the temple, or for us, church. Yet, “house” can also be used for a family, a lineage; a kingdom, perhaps. This is part of what makes prophecy fun. Prophecies, such as the one in our text, can sometimes have more than one fulfillment. For example, we know from our lessons that David was not the one to build the temple. It was his son, Solomon. Solomon built the temple. David gathered supplies and did a lot of the planning, but the temple was actually built during Solomon’s reign. David knew this would be the case. He told Solomon in 1 Chronicles 22, “My son, the Lord be with you, so that you may succeed in building the house of the Lord your God, as He has spoken concerning you.” (1 Chron. 22:11)

As great as building the temple was, and as wise as Solomon was, his reign did not last forever. Though the Lord treated Solomon as son – disciplining and forgiving as a kind father – Solomon was at times more of a wayward son. This is where God’s promise stretches beyond Solomon to something else, someone else. St. Matthew’s Gospel begins, “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David.” (1:1) The blind man Bartimeus called out to Jesus, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mk. 10:48) Gabriel told Mary, “The Lord God will give to [Jesus] the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” (Lk. 1:32-33) What God promised to David in 2 Samuel 7 finds its true fulfillment in Christ and the kingdom He builds. But what is that kingdom?

III.

This is the question that Pilate had to consider, isn’t it? Remember what Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world.” (Jn. 19:36) No, the kingdom which Jesus brings and which lasts forever is not an earthly kingdom. It is a heavenly kingdom and rule; it is the Church. The Church is the kingdom of Christ which cannot be shaken, eternal in the heavens. It is invisible, encompassing Christians throughout time and space, though it will soon be seen by all at Christ’s return. In this kingdom, Christ reigns forever because He is forever. He is the one who created all that exists. Not one thing that exists came into being apart from His hand, not even us. Yet, for our sake, He became and is as we are – flesh and blood. He was conceived and born. He submitted Himself to the Law for us, even shedding His blood for us when He was circumcised on the eighth day.

By His birth, life, death, and resurrection Jesus established a kingdom that will not end, His Kingdom of Grace. Not only did He establish a kingdom, but He has brought us into it. As we heard on Christmas, we receive all the blessings of Christ by our Baptism into Him. Through that same washing, we are severed from the kingdom of the devil and planted in Christ’s. When we receive the Lord’s Supper together, we partake of the victory feast now happening in heaven and which will reach full glory on the Last Day. In the kingdom of which we are now a part, we have the continual and free forgiveness of our sins. As our confirmation students have learned, in this kingdom the Holy Spirit daily and richly forgives our sins and the sins of all believers.

Lastly, Jesus said, “I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Mt. 16:18) In a way, Jesus comments on what was promised to David – an eternal kingdom. Though devils all the world should fill, we tremble not. The kingdom to which we belong is not some earthly power that rises or falls, but the Holy Church of God and Christ. Here we have the forgiveness of sins and, where there is no sin, there is no death. And so, when it is time for us to depart, we will – with Simeon – die in peace, for we are citizens of an eternal kingdom that extends beyond the grave into a new creation. This kingdom is the Church, our king is Christ, and He reigns forever, just as He promised David. It says in Hebrews, “Let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.” (12:28)

Saved by Kindness

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Text: Titus 3:4-7

St. Paul wrote to Titus, “When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us…so that being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:4, 7; English Standard Version) With just a few sentences, actually one in the Greek, St. Paul sums up the meaning of what has now come to pass. We celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ today and every year because it means that we are saved. The goodness and kindness of the eternal God has broken forth into our own time and our own lives. By it, we have been made heirs of the hope of eternal life. Today we give thanks that, according to His kindness and love, the Lord has saved us for us eternal life, which He pours out on us in Baptism.

I.

The text begins, “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us.” That English conjunction “but,” is present in the Greek and it signals us that what the Holy Spirit is telling us through Paul in this verse is building on something which he’s already said. So, in order to understand this passage today, we need to jump back a few verses, or maybe even just one. Remember that one of the rules for interpreting Scripture is to look at the context. Besides, in order to be saved, you need to be saved from something. That’s what “to save” means. From what has God provided salvation for us? 

Titus 3 begins, 

Remind them [the Christians in Crete] to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.

Titus 3:1-3

St. Paul encouraged Titus to remind the Christians in Crete how they were to behave in the world and from what God has saved them. St. Paul said that they were once lost in foolishness, disobedience, slavery to various pleasures, malice, envy, and hatred. These things may all be summed up in one word, sin. These words are also a valid description of how we once lived, and the temptations that we still bear as we live in the flesh. Each time we have given into the temptation to do these things, we have brought upon ourselves the righteous wrath of God and the eternal condemnation of hell.

II.

“But,” St. Paul said, “when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy.” (vv. 4-5a) Rather than leave us to our own devices: being hated and hating in return, envying, slandering, gossiping; The Lord has had mercy. St. Paul literally praises God here for His gentleness and love of mankind. To be gentle means to be mild, tender, and kind. Rather than thunder against us in the fury of His of judgment, God has behaved gently toward us by granting us forgiveness. He has behaved so toward us not because we have deserved it – quite the opposite – but because of His own love for mankind. God is our maker, after all.

It has to be this way, too, because, even on our best days, all our goodness – whatever we may think exists in our hearts – counts as nothing before God. It says in the prophet Isaiah that all the things that we might on our own consider righteous are as polluted garments before God. (Is. 64:6) Everything we are and everything we have is tainted by the corruption of sin; everything, that is, except for the salvation that God grants to us by His grace. Rather than leave us in our sin and misery, He made His kindness and love appear before us in the birth of a savior: Jesus.

III.

This is why we are here, is it not, to celebrate the birth of the savior of the world. Jesus Christ is the eternally-begotten Son of God. Light of Light, very God of very God, He is the one by and through whom all things were made. Yet, in our time, He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. For us, He stepped forth from His kingly hall and became an unborn child in her womb. For us, He was born and grew up. For us, He wandered in the wilderness and resisted the assaults of the devil. For us, He lived, died, and lived again. By His birth, His perfect life, His sacrificial death and triumphant resurrection, He has won for us the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life.

This forgiveness which He won and the eternal life that is in Him, He gives to us in a profound, yet simple way. You heard it, “He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.” (v. 5) Here St. Paul clearly teaches how the salvation that is in Christ gets to us: through Baptism. Baptism is the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit. In Baptism, the Holy Spirit takes what is Christ’s and gives it to us – faith, forgiveness, righteousness, eternal life. In short, everything that Jesus Christ did and won, you have received in your Baptism into Him. All the benefits of the birth we celebrate today are yours in Baptism, because God is good and kind.

For that, we celebrate. Though we ourselves were once lost in and given to sin and death, God has caused His goodness and love to be manifested among us. The eternal Son of God became flesh and blood, just as we are, so that as He lives, we might live also. He has saved us from death and sin by His own death and resurrection. By Baptism, He has poured out the Holy Spirit on us so that we now share in all that is His. We are heirs having the hope of eternal life. For all this, and more, we celebrate this day of our Lord’s birth. Thanks be to God.

Call His Name Immanuel

In the name of the Father and of the ☩ Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz: ‘Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.’ But Ahaz said, ‘I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.’ And he said, ‘Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.’

Isaiah 7:10-14, English Standard Version

These words were given from the Lord through the prophet Isaiah in the time of King Ahaz. King Ahaz reigned in Jerusalem during a time of great distress and turmoil. There was war all around them on every side, and the nation that was leading most of the wars – a nation called Assyria – had their eyes set on Jerusalem.

The result was the whole city of Jerusalem, both king and people, were filled with fear about what was going to happen to them. And so, to comfort them, the Lord sent a prophet. He sent Isaiah to tell King Ahaz that things would be alright. He only need wait for the Lord, and the Lord would act to defend them from their enemies, to save and rescue them. This would be the sign that the Lord is with His people, “The virgin will conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Immanuel, is Hebrew for “God is with His people.” 

In a number of ways, our times are not so different from King Ahaz’s. We also live in a time of conflict, of war and social upheaval – both around the world and in our own country; and we, likewise, are filled with fear. We’re afraid of what’s going to happen to the world, what’s going to happen to the country, what’s going to happen to us. Yet, the Lord gives to us this same sign He gave to Ahaz. “The virgin shall conceive and give and bear a son.” This prophecy, though delivered some 700 years before the birth of Christ, is fulfilled in Jesus.

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.

This is why we are here tonight. We recognize that the way of the world is not good. Neither are our own ways always righteous. We are here this evening to worship and sing praise to God, but if we reflect on our behavior this past year, we have not always behaved in God-pleasing ways. And by this, we mean we have sinned. We have deserved this year the punishment of sin, which Scripture says is death. 

But rather than pour out His wrath on us our God has poured out His mercy and His love. He has sent His Son Jesus Christ to take on our flesh and to be born of the Virgin Mary. He was born so that might also suffer and die for us. This is why we call His name Immanuel. Jesus Christ, even in the manger, is God with us to forgive us, bless us, to defend us, and to rescue us. 

In the name of the Father and of the ☩ Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.