Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ (Ro 1:7). Amen.
We use comparisons to make concepts clear. Take life, for example. How do you define it or how do describe it? Life is …? There is more to it than inhaling and exhaling—breathing air in and blowing it out (although certainly part of it as well as essential to it).
So we use a picture. Life is a marathon. That makes sense as we make our way from our earthly home to our eternal one. It is not a short burst like a sprint, but a long haul like a 26.2 mile race. And how often don’t we feel out of shape and out of breath? So we call, “Lord, save me!” (Mt 14:30). And he stretches out his hand. Or we cry, “Lord, help me!” (Mt 15:25). And he sends us healing. We turn to the Lord for our strength and support.
Or we could take a cue from the psalmist. Life is a pilgrimage. That may not be as common and might require some explanation. A pilgrimage is a trip that a pilgrim undertakes.
That fits with Psalm 121. It has the heading “A song of ascents” (Ps 121). It is one of a collection of songs that carries that title (Ps 120-134). The Israelites may have used these hymns as they journeyed to Jerusalem for one of the great festivals on their calendar—Passover, Pentecost, or Tabernacles (Ex 34:24; Dt 16:16). That city was significant as they went there to worship. The temple was there—the visible presence of God among his people.
Obviously in the days before planes, trains, and automobiles, they did a lot of walking. And that could be hazardous. As they chanted, they were cheered. The Lord protects the pilgrim. That is true for us as we make our trek through life.
You go up to Jerusalem because it is like Denver, the mile high city. It is set on a high slope. It is not so strange that the psalmist starts by directing us to an elevation. “I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from?” (Ps 121:1). But that question is ambiguous as far as assistance is concerned. We might take that in two ways:
Mountains could be a source of danger—the home of wild animals or cruel robbers.
Mountains could be a symbol of security. Think of a fortress standing tall on a peak. That sounds like the assurance that the Lord extended to his struggling prophet: “I will make you a wall to this people, a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to rescue and save you,” declares the LORD” (Je 15:20).
Which is it—concern or comfort?
We are not left guessing. “My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Ps 121:2). He supplies what is needed. And note who he is.
He is “the LORD” (Ps 121:2) [5x in these verses]. His power does not crumble. His love does not erode. He does not change.
He is “the Maker of heaven and earth” (Ps 121:2). He brought the world into existence. If he can create it, he can care for it. That goes for all he has made. You. Me.
That is helpful to remember on our pilgrimage. He is present. And he is not just willing, but able to provide and protect. I might want to fix your car, but I don’t have the capability. There is nothing above and beyond “the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Ps 121:2). Not even our sin as he sends the guilt away.
The rest of the verses are an ascending promise of protection for the pilgrim.
“He will not let your foot slip” (Ps 121:3). We have all tripped. That can be embarrassing. Especially when it is on a smooth surface like the living room carpet. That does not mean that the Lord has tripped up. How can we be so confident? “He who watches over you will not slumber” (Ps 121:3). Sleep is a blessing for us. It refreshes us and restores us. We require it, even request it. But not God. There is no power nap. There is no nodding off. He never stops watching. (That verb comes up 6x in this section. [It is translated either “watch” or “keep.”]) The Lord has his attention on us always and in all ways. And not as a casual spectator like when you watch a TV like a person getting supper ready, but as a concerned protector like a mother bending over the crib of her newborn to see if he is hungry or why he is hurting. And he is not some internet hacker trying to get your personal information or tracker who wants to extend your customer loyalty with pop up ads. But he is an intense guardian and guide.
The psalmist emphasizes that. It is almost as if he says, “Hey, look at this:” “Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep” (Ps 121:4). There is no quick siesta. There are no eyes closing for the recommended 8 hours of sleep per night. He is taking care of us carefully, intently, and diligently.
“The LORD watches over you—the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night” (Ps 121:5,6). Israel is hot and sunny (kind of like Minnesota the second week of September this year). Cover is crucial when that fiery orb is in the sky. Exposure to the UV waves is not safe. Those who struggle with skin cancer because of pasty white skin instead of golden brown thus keeping dermatologists in business are very aware of that. So they put on sunscreen that is the consistency of mud. All to be sheltered from the harmful rays from the sun. But there is something worse—sin cancer. And it is deadly. But Jesus put himself between us and God to spare us the fatal reality our offences. That is why Jesus was so specific about his work as the Christ. “Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life” (Mt 16:21). The Father caused our sin to strike his Son in our place. He endured the intense heat of punishment for us on the cross. Jesus has taken the awful affects away. He came out of the grave to prove it. Through Jesus we are protected from more than the real damage of sunburn or imagined threat from moonbeams.
“The LORD will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life” (Ps 121:7). Maybe we have a question about that, specifically when we consider the recent natural disasters in the form of hurricanes. There has been devastation, if not death. What about that?, we wonder. But just because we don’t see the truth of that doesn’t mean it is not true. I may not understand that it is September 17th today. That doesn’t change the reality of the calendar. It is important for us to recall that the Lord can hold off evil or hold us up in evil (Ps 91: 9,10; Ro 8:28). But keep in mind that when we frequently pray, “Deliver us from evil,” he will ultimately answer that as he welcomes us to the place prepared at his side in heaven.
In the meantime, we now use our moments and our days as the apostle Paul encouraged us to serve him. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship” (Ro 12:1).
And he is by us to bless us. “The LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore” (Ps 121:8). The Jew had come to Jerusalem and now was returning home. How special that thought was as he left the capital behind. Only one day to revisit. The Lord observes every step we take, perhaps going back all the way to our baptism when he adopted us into his family through baptism like he did with Stetson this morning, until we step into the perfect dwelling in paradise. The Lord watches over our coming and going both now and forevermore. That is because the Lord protects the pilgrim, even if life is a marathon.
We read from Psalm 121:1-8:
A song of ascents.
1 I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD watches over you—the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life;
8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you (Ro 16:20). Amen.
September 17, 2017
St. John Lutheran Church Sermons
Monday, September 18, 2017
Monday, September 11, 2017
The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Matthew 16:13-20)
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ (Ro 1:7). Amen.
Like it or not (and it is usually not), the fact of back to school soon sets in. All too quickly the eagerness to see old friends and the excitement to sport new clothes gives way to the reality of academics and the rigors of homework. Mix in some late nights and lost sleep and it gets old fast. And then, sooner or later, there are tests.
But here is the thing. Tests are not bad. There might be those who want to argue that point—specifically when they have one scheduled. But it is good to review notes and to reflect knowledge. Especially when you know the right answers.
It was test time for the disciples. Jesus and company were in northern Israel near the headwaters of the Jordan River (kind of like Lake Itasca is to the Mississippi River). They were away from the crowds—not for recreation, but for education. When they arrived at “the region of Caesarea Philippi” (Mt 15:13), Jesus quizzed them.
There were two questions. The first was: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” (Mt 16:13). Jesus isn’t panicking as if he cared about his approval rating. He isn’t going through a mid-ministry crisis as if he is concerned about failure. He was open about who he was—“the Son of Man.” That was his favorite designation for himself. He was true man, identifying with those he came to save—living under the law and one day dying on the cross. But he was also true God, indicated by the Scriptures (Da 7:13). He was affirming that fact—God in flesh.
Jesus was probing. Did others get it? Did his faithful band grasp it? He wanted the 12 to do some comparing, or really some contrasting.
It doesn’t appear that they had to think for long because folks were talking. The responses came immediately. “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets” (Mt 16:14). That sounds like a multiple choice offering on an exam. Jesus, the Son of Man, is …
a) John the Baptist (cf. Mt 14:2)
b) Elijah
c) Jeremiah
d) one of the prophets
At first glance, that is not a bad list. If you are an aspiring pro athlete, you don’t mind being mentioned in the same sentence as a LeBron James or a Tom Brady. But Jesus was more, much more, than another man. The interesting thing about those possibilities is that it would have required someone coming back from the dead.
And while they are flattering, they are still faulty. Those men were not the Christ.
a) John the Baptist made clear that was not the case (Jn 1:20). But he made known who was, Jesus, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn 1:29).
b) Elijah turned the people back to God so that they could cry, “The LORD—he is God. The LORD—he is God” (1 Ki 18:39).
c) Jeremiah wrote about the “The LORD Our Righteousness” (Je 23:6). The One who would come would cover all with his perfection, his holiness.
d) The same is the case for prophet after prophet, spokesmen for and from God, who predicted the One who was to come.
In other words, we would have to choose e—none of the above. Of course, we have to add that letter to the list. (You can’t do that in school.) This is a pass/fail question. There is no grading scale of A-F, with some plusses and minuses in between. The people got an “F.”
Many do not fare much better today when they consider who Jesus is. Jesus, the Son of Man, is …
a) a good teacher who spoke about compassion
b) a grand philosopher who talked about issues
c) a merciful humanitarian who pushed for kindness
d) a magnificent physician who cared about illnesses
Those might be examples of individuals thinking well of Jesus or highly of him. But not well enough or highly enough. “F.”
Then question number two, the critical one. It comes down to this: “But what about you? … Who do you say I am?” (Mt 16:15). They had been with Jesus for two years. What had they observed as he preached sermons? What had they absorbed as he performed miracles?
Peter was ready. He rose to the occasion. There was no mistaken identity like when you think you recognize someone at the store, but when you greet them, you get embarrassed because you have tapped on the shoulder of a complete stranger. And you have to apologize. Not so with Peter. “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Mt 16:16). And he was right. (Every once in a while he had a shining moment when shooting off his mouth.) That can only be the result of being around Jesus. Like a familiar meal, the psalmist encouraged us as we spend time with God: “Taste and see that the LORD is good” (Ps 34:8).
The Apostle Peter’s Creed was straightforward and spot-on as much as it was elegant and essential.
“You are the Christ” (Mt 16:16). That is, the Messiah, the Anointed One—the One who would be the Prophet to herald God’s Word in truth, the Priest to shed his blood in death, the King to establish his rule of peace. That was his work. The LORD held to his covenant, his agreement, to Moses and the Children of Israel: “I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob” (Ex 6:8). That is where ultimately the Messiah would call home.
“The Son of the living God” (Mt 16:16). That is, true God. That is his person. He is alive and active, who gives physical and spiritual life. He fulfilled the law perfectly and his death counts universally.
If that was what Peter would have scribbled on a piece of paper for a short answer question, he would have gotten an “A.”
But Jesus reminds him that Peter did come up with that on his own, figuring it out after some careful and concentrated study. “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven” (Mt 16:17). That kind of knowledge was above him and beyond him. Flesh and blood cannot impart that. But the Father can instill that. He uncovers that like a teacher unveils new math facts to his students. He has done the same as the Holy Spirit allows us to call Jesus “Lord” (1 Co 12:3; Explanation of Third Article). That is completely and entirely a gift of God.
Matthew records this assessment, intending for us to stand beside those men. “But what about you? … Who do you say I am?” (Mt 16:15). We don’t have to sweat or squirm. As Jesus inquires, we echo Peter. It is short and simple admission: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Mt 16:16). “You are the promised Savior who hung on the cross and headed out of the grave. For me.” The faith that God carefully created in our hearts confidently comes out of our mouths (Ro 10:10). Know the right answer about the Christ—true God, true man, who took on our sin to take away our guilt. We get an “A.”
There was more to Jesus’ lesson plan. The rest is lecture. “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church” (Mt 16:18). Jesus uses a play on word in the original. The name “Peter” does mean “rock,” like a stone. But Jesus isn’t planning on constructing his church on a person, but on his profession. “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” is the rock, like bedrock (Mt 16:16), something solid that will support a foundation like a family home or a downtown skyscraper (Mt 7:24,25).
Peter did not always live up to his name. He could be more sandy than sturdy like when he failed to see why Jesus had to go to the cross or when he fell asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mt 16:22; 26:40). But the strength was in his confession. And note two important words—“I” and “my.” “I will build my church” (Mt 16:18). Know the right answer about the church. It belongs to Jesus and he blesses it.
Jesus brought the church into existence. He will be with it for eternity. So much so that Jesus could contend: “And the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Mt 16:18). Hell itself will not be powerful enough to withstand such an acknowledgment. Despite what it seemed then or now as enemies launch their attacks, those called out of darkness will defeat the devil. And with thrilling success. We can march out and march on to free those who are held captive by Satan. And the church will not fail. “And the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Mt 16:18). That is Jesus’ promise.
That is because of the message that Jesus mentions: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Mt 16:19). Jesus uses an illustration that is easy to understand as we proclaim the good news about him. A key locks and unlocks, or “binds” or “looses.”
“Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven” (Mt 16:19). Those who hold on to their sin, they are not forgiven. They retain their sin. That is the law. Heaven is bolted shut.
“Whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Mt 16:19). Those who come clean about their sin, they are forgiven. Jesus removes their sin. That is the gospel. Heaven is blocked open.
That is a right that a pastor has and a responsibility that we all have (Mt 18:18; Jn 20:21,22). By Jesus’ authority we declare God’s judgment or dispense God’s grace. We speak in his place. Know the right answer about the church. It announces what comes from Jesus—not forgiven or forgiven.
At first Jesus’ strict warning strikes us as strange: “Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ” (Mt 16:20). But there was reason for it. People certainly had definite misunderstandings and the disciples occasionally had different ideas about who the Christ was.
Jesus was not an earthly King, but a heavenly One. It wasn’t until after Jesus’ death, resurrection, ascension, and the arrival of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost that these men go out as true witnesses of the Christ to spread the message about him (Acts 1:8).
We now join the disciples now as the Christian Church broadcasts the Christ (Acts 11:26)—the one and only Savior—to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Know the right answer about the Church. It points to Christ who hands us freedom from sin.
At times there is anxiousness or anxiety when it comes to tests in school. Did I catch enough from the day before? Did I cram enough the night before? There is no need for that because we know the right answer about the Christ—he is the Son of the living God. And we know the right answer about the church. It will not falter because Christ will not let it fall as it publicizes free forgiveness in him. See, tests are not bad when you have the right answers. And you do. “To him be the glory forever! Amen (Ro 11:36).
We read from Matthew 16:13-20:
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.
18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
20 Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.
To the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen (Ro 16:27).
September 10, 2017
Like it or not (and it is usually not), the fact of back to school soon sets in. All too quickly the eagerness to see old friends and the excitement to sport new clothes gives way to the reality of academics and the rigors of homework. Mix in some late nights and lost sleep and it gets old fast. And then, sooner or later, there are tests.
But here is the thing. Tests are not bad. There might be those who want to argue that point—specifically when they have one scheduled. But it is good to review notes and to reflect knowledge. Especially when you know the right answers.
It was test time for the disciples. Jesus and company were in northern Israel near the headwaters of the Jordan River (kind of like Lake Itasca is to the Mississippi River). They were away from the crowds—not for recreation, but for education. When they arrived at “the region of Caesarea Philippi” (Mt 15:13), Jesus quizzed them.
There were two questions. The first was: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” (Mt 16:13). Jesus isn’t panicking as if he cared about his approval rating. He isn’t going through a mid-ministry crisis as if he is concerned about failure. He was open about who he was—“the Son of Man.” That was his favorite designation for himself. He was true man, identifying with those he came to save—living under the law and one day dying on the cross. But he was also true God, indicated by the Scriptures (Da 7:13). He was affirming that fact—God in flesh.
Jesus was probing. Did others get it? Did his faithful band grasp it? He wanted the 12 to do some comparing, or really some contrasting.
It doesn’t appear that they had to think for long because folks were talking. The responses came immediately. “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets” (Mt 16:14). That sounds like a multiple choice offering on an exam. Jesus, the Son of Man, is …
a) John the Baptist (cf. Mt 14:2)
b) Elijah
c) Jeremiah
d) one of the prophets
At first glance, that is not a bad list. If you are an aspiring pro athlete, you don’t mind being mentioned in the same sentence as a LeBron James or a Tom Brady. But Jesus was more, much more, than another man. The interesting thing about those possibilities is that it would have required someone coming back from the dead.
And while they are flattering, they are still faulty. Those men were not the Christ.
a) John the Baptist made clear that was not the case (Jn 1:20). But he made known who was, Jesus, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn 1:29).
b) Elijah turned the people back to God so that they could cry, “The LORD—he is God. The LORD—he is God” (1 Ki 18:39).
c) Jeremiah wrote about the “The LORD Our Righteousness” (Je 23:6). The One who would come would cover all with his perfection, his holiness.
d) The same is the case for prophet after prophet, spokesmen for and from God, who predicted the One who was to come.
In other words, we would have to choose e—none of the above. Of course, we have to add that letter to the list. (You can’t do that in school.) This is a pass/fail question. There is no grading scale of A-F, with some plusses and minuses in between. The people got an “F.”
Many do not fare much better today when they consider who Jesus is. Jesus, the Son of Man, is …
a) a good teacher who spoke about compassion
b) a grand philosopher who talked about issues
c) a merciful humanitarian who pushed for kindness
d) a magnificent physician who cared about illnesses
Those might be examples of individuals thinking well of Jesus or highly of him. But not well enough or highly enough. “F.”
Then question number two, the critical one. It comes down to this: “But what about you? … Who do you say I am?” (Mt 16:15). They had been with Jesus for two years. What had they observed as he preached sermons? What had they absorbed as he performed miracles?
Peter was ready. He rose to the occasion. There was no mistaken identity like when you think you recognize someone at the store, but when you greet them, you get embarrassed because you have tapped on the shoulder of a complete stranger. And you have to apologize. Not so with Peter. “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Mt 16:16). And he was right. (Every once in a while he had a shining moment when shooting off his mouth.) That can only be the result of being around Jesus. Like a familiar meal, the psalmist encouraged us as we spend time with God: “Taste and see that the LORD is good” (Ps 34:8).
The Apostle Peter’s Creed was straightforward and spot-on as much as it was elegant and essential.
“You are the Christ” (Mt 16:16). That is, the Messiah, the Anointed One—the One who would be the Prophet to herald God’s Word in truth, the Priest to shed his blood in death, the King to establish his rule of peace. That was his work. The LORD held to his covenant, his agreement, to Moses and the Children of Israel: “I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob” (Ex 6:8). That is where ultimately the Messiah would call home.
“The Son of the living God” (Mt 16:16). That is, true God. That is his person. He is alive and active, who gives physical and spiritual life. He fulfilled the law perfectly and his death counts universally.
If that was what Peter would have scribbled on a piece of paper for a short answer question, he would have gotten an “A.”
But Jesus reminds him that Peter did come up with that on his own, figuring it out after some careful and concentrated study. “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven” (Mt 16:17). That kind of knowledge was above him and beyond him. Flesh and blood cannot impart that. But the Father can instill that. He uncovers that like a teacher unveils new math facts to his students. He has done the same as the Holy Spirit allows us to call Jesus “Lord” (1 Co 12:3; Explanation of Third Article). That is completely and entirely a gift of God.
Matthew records this assessment, intending for us to stand beside those men. “But what about you? … Who do you say I am?” (Mt 16:15). We don’t have to sweat or squirm. As Jesus inquires, we echo Peter. It is short and simple admission: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Mt 16:16). “You are the promised Savior who hung on the cross and headed out of the grave. For me.” The faith that God carefully created in our hearts confidently comes out of our mouths (Ro 10:10). Know the right answer about the Christ—true God, true man, who took on our sin to take away our guilt. We get an “A.”
There was more to Jesus’ lesson plan. The rest is lecture. “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church” (Mt 16:18). Jesus uses a play on word in the original. The name “Peter” does mean “rock,” like a stone. But Jesus isn’t planning on constructing his church on a person, but on his profession. “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” is the rock, like bedrock (Mt 16:16), something solid that will support a foundation like a family home or a downtown skyscraper (Mt 7:24,25).
Peter did not always live up to his name. He could be more sandy than sturdy like when he failed to see why Jesus had to go to the cross or when he fell asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mt 16:22; 26:40). But the strength was in his confession. And note two important words—“I” and “my.” “I will build my church” (Mt 16:18). Know the right answer about the church. It belongs to Jesus and he blesses it.
Jesus brought the church into existence. He will be with it for eternity. So much so that Jesus could contend: “And the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Mt 16:18). Hell itself will not be powerful enough to withstand such an acknowledgment. Despite what it seemed then or now as enemies launch their attacks, those called out of darkness will defeat the devil. And with thrilling success. We can march out and march on to free those who are held captive by Satan. And the church will not fail. “And the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Mt 16:18). That is Jesus’ promise.
That is because of the message that Jesus mentions: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Mt 16:19). Jesus uses an illustration that is easy to understand as we proclaim the good news about him. A key locks and unlocks, or “binds” or “looses.”
“Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven” (Mt 16:19). Those who hold on to their sin, they are not forgiven. They retain their sin. That is the law. Heaven is bolted shut.
“Whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Mt 16:19). Those who come clean about their sin, they are forgiven. Jesus removes their sin. That is the gospel. Heaven is blocked open.
That is a right that a pastor has and a responsibility that we all have (Mt 18:18; Jn 20:21,22). By Jesus’ authority we declare God’s judgment or dispense God’s grace. We speak in his place. Know the right answer about the church. It announces what comes from Jesus—not forgiven or forgiven.
At first Jesus’ strict warning strikes us as strange: “Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ” (Mt 16:20). But there was reason for it. People certainly had definite misunderstandings and the disciples occasionally had different ideas about who the Christ was.
Jesus was not an earthly King, but a heavenly One. It wasn’t until after Jesus’ death, resurrection, ascension, and the arrival of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost that these men go out as true witnesses of the Christ to spread the message about him (Acts 1:8).
We now join the disciples now as the Christian Church broadcasts the Christ (Acts 11:26)—the one and only Savior—to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Know the right answer about the Church. It points to Christ who hands us freedom from sin.
At times there is anxiousness or anxiety when it comes to tests in school. Did I catch enough from the day before? Did I cram enough the night before? There is no need for that because we know the right answer about the Christ—he is the Son of the living God. And we know the right answer about the church. It will not falter because Christ will not let it fall as it publicizes free forgiveness in him. See, tests are not bad when you have the right answers. And you do. “To him be the glory forever! Amen (Ro 11:36).
We read from Matthew 16:13-20:
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.
18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
20 Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.
To the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen (Ro 16:27).
September 10, 2017
Sunday, September 3, 2017
The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Matthew 15:21-28)
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ (Ro 1:7). Amen.
Tomorrow is Labor Day. It is more than the unofficial end of summer. (That is usually when school starts. For some of you that has already happened.) The holiday was set up to celebrate the accomplishments of American workers. We are certainly grateful for the contributions that employers and employees have made to the strength and well-being of our country. But we are also thankful to God for the abilities and talents that he gives us to earn a living and to make an impact—whether great or small (Explanation to First Article). We work together for the benefit of society.
But what about the things that we can’t do? And the list is long. What then? We turn to someone else. That is what the Canaanite woman did. And so do we. Lord, help me in your mercy and with your might. We read from …
Matthew 15:21-28
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus, our merciful and mighty Savior,
I am sure that you have seen some footage of the damage, if not the destruction, of Hurricane Harvey. It is hard to imagine a deluge of 40 to 50 inches of rain in such a short time. We are not talking about looking at a light rain from your living room. But sitting on your roof staring at the high water.
If you were to find yourself perched on top of your home, I would guess that it would be a horrible feeling. What could you do but wait for help—from a helicopter flying overhead or boat passing by? That is the only way you are getting to safety.
Perhaps that what that woman in the area of north of Israel felt like—hopeless. We probably can identify with her. When it is critical, like her, we cry out with a short prayer:
Lord, Help Me!
1. In your mercy (21-25)
2. With your might (26-28)
1. In your mercy (21-25)
When in trouble, we want someone to be concerned. If we are sick, a doctor can have a cold stethoscope as long as he has a warm heart. That is mercy—seeing a need and being moved to help. That is how Jesus deals with us when we say, “Lord, help me in your mercy.”
Jesus’ enemies were relentless with their attacks. Responding to them prevented Jesus from teaching his disciples. So he took action: “Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon” (Mt 15:21). Those cities were located a bit north and west of Israel. It wasn’t for a quick vacation, but for some quiet instruction.
But it didn’t last long. Matthew draws our attention to an interesting individual. “A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him” (Mt 15:22). It wasn’t just the unbelieving area she was from, but the unexpected address from her mouth. This Gentile was calling out, and not in a whisper: “Lord, Son of David” (Mt 15:22). Jesus was the Lord—all-powerful, yet all-loving. In spite of the idolatry of her neighbors, she knew the identity of Jesus as the promised descendant of David who was to come to release the world from sin (2 Sa 7:11ff.). She certainly fits the description of the ones whom Isaiah described: “foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD to serve him, to love the name of the LORD, and to worship him” (Is 56:6). God had gathered her to himself (Is 56:8).
She explained what she wanted. “Have mercy on me!” (Mt 15:22). She pleads for pity. And she expressed why she wanted that. “My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession” (Mt 15:22). The devil had a cruel hold on this girl—in whatever form it took. Anyone who is a parent can sympathize with this woman. No mom and no dad like to see their child suffer even a skinned knee. It breaks their hearts. How much more this?
And that is how we approach Jesus. It is not to brag about something, but to beg for everything. We echoed her words earlier, “Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us” (CW p. 15). And we didn’t have to wait for it or wonder about it. “God, our heavenly Father, has been merciful to us” (CW p. 16). And then we heard of how God sends away our sin because Jesus satisfied God’s anger and sacrificed himself. Lord, help me in your mercy because of my sin. And he does through his Son.
But it didn’t appear to be the case with this Canaanite. “Jesus did not answer a word” (Mt 15:23). Not one syllable. That strikes us as strange. Silence. That would be like a person who keeps rowing in his canoe past a person sitting up on his shingles who yells, “Hey, I’m up here. Over here.” That is cold and calloused. But Jesus knew what he was doing.
The twelve couldn’t take her persistence any longer. (She is worthy of our admiration and imitation.) “So his disciples came to him and urged him, ‘Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us’” (Mt 15:23). She was not going to take “no.” They were tired of her being behind them, going after them and groveling. It is hard to tell if they wanted to get rid of the demon or just the distraction. This was getting annoying.
Then Jesus replied with this statement—not even to her: “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel” (Mt 15:24). That was a summary of Jesus’ personal ministry even though he came to save the whole world. Salvation for the Jews then would go from the Jews. It was never at the expense of the Gentiles. As the apostle Paul reminded the Romans that God’s mercy is on all (Ro 9:32). But in a sense it seemed as if Jesus didn’t care. We could compare it to the mommy who chases down a doctor in the parking lot and he replies to his buddies with him: “I only care for those who have an appointment.”
The Canaanite woman did not come back with a “how dare you talk to me and treat me that way.” Instead of being insulted, she was insistent: “The woman came and knelt before him. ‘Lord, help me!’” (Mt 15:25).
Have you been there? You pour out your heart and Jesus puts you off? He is more of a stranger than a shepherd. It may look like that but it is not like that. Instead of lashing out at him in anger, we can look to him in humility. We head to the cross to remember his love and his mercy. We return to the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls (1 Pe 2:25). The One who takes away our guilt turns his attention to us. Lord, help me with your mercy. And it is there. We hang on to him like that Canaanite in trust. He is not against us, but for us (Ro 8:31).
2. With your might (26-28)
When in turmoil, we want someone to be competent. The doctor is to write the correct prescription or recommend some physical therapy to get us back among the healthy. Jesus is there with his muscle when we state, “Lord, help me with your might.”
Finally Jesus speaks to this woman on her face at his feet. “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs” (Mt 15:26). Some definitely spoil their four-legged friends. But not at the expense of their kids. It would be out of line to feed the family pet what is intended for the rest of the family. That is not proper or appropriate.
This is not an insult but an invitation. Jesus is not thinking of a dog roaming in the streets, but one staying in the house. And she picked up on it. His comment was correct. It is true that children sit at the table and dogs under it.
But it can happen that a tidbit or two may accidentally be dropped or intentionally be tossed. “Yes, Lord, … but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table” (Mt 15:27). She understood her position. And she wanted just the scraps. Those who have a furry animal know that they can be relentless in their quest for a potato chip or French fry at supper. They stand and stare and stare and stare until something makes its way to the floor (but not for long). The woman was persistent too. She reminds us of Jacob who wrestled with the Lord and refused to let him go until God blessed him (Ge 32:26). And he did with him.
And with her. “‘Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour” (Mt 15:28). Jesus demonstrated his immediate and immense power to help and to heal. At once the girl was cured of her demon possession. “Help me, Lord, with your might.” And he did from a distance.
Our plea is the same. Far too often we accuse Jesus of a “crumby” deal instead of appreciating his total control. As the psalmist reminded us, the Lord is “Maker of heaven and earth” (Ps 134:3). If he can call it into existence, he can care for it. And for us. Jesus may remove our problem in a situation or he may refresh our strength along our path. He is aware of how and when to bless us—even under the table.
And then the Lord can compliment the very thing that he has created just like that lady, “You have great faith!” (Mt 15:28). It reaches a high level because of the object of the confidence—Jesus. “Lord, help me with your might.” And he is there. We hold on to him like the Canaanite woman. And he gives us his ear and gives us a hand in his way and according to his will.
The first Monday in September is a reminder of the contributions of the workforce to our nation no matter what the occupation or profession. We especially think of the rescue workers in southern Texas toiling long and hard, battling the floodwaters. As we commemorate Labor Day, we don’t work for one day and take the rest of the year off. In fact, most people don’t have to punch in tomorrow. We labor for the Lord and that is never in vain (Col 3:23; 1 Co 15:58). And he is by us to benefit us in anything and with everything. So we pray boldly, “Lord, help me in your mercy and with your might.” It shall be so. Amen.
To the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen (Ro 16:27).
September 3, 2017
Tomorrow is Labor Day. It is more than the unofficial end of summer. (That is usually when school starts. For some of you that has already happened.) The holiday was set up to celebrate the accomplishments of American workers. We are certainly grateful for the contributions that employers and employees have made to the strength and well-being of our country. But we are also thankful to God for the abilities and talents that he gives us to earn a living and to make an impact—whether great or small (Explanation to First Article). We work together for the benefit of society.
But what about the things that we can’t do? And the list is long. What then? We turn to someone else. That is what the Canaanite woman did. And so do we. Lord, help me in your mercy and with your might. We read from …
Matthew 15:21-28
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus, our merciful and mighty Savior,
I am sure that you have seen some footage of the damage, if not the destruction, of Hurricane Harvey. It is hard to imagine a deluge of 40 to 50 inches of rain in such a short time. We are not talking about looking at a light rain from your living room. But sitting on your roof staring at the high water.
If you were to find yourself perched on top of your home, I would guess that it would be a horrible feeling. What could you do but wait for help—from a helicopter flying overhead or boat passing by? That is the only way you are getting to safety.
Perhaps that what that woman in the area of north of Israel felt like—hopeless. We probably can identify with her. When it is critical, like her, we cry out with a short prayer:
Lord, Help Me!
1. In your mercy (21-25)
2. With your might (26-28)
1. In your mercy (21-25)
When in trouble, we want someone to be concerned. If we are sick, a doctor can have a cold stethoscope as long as he has a warm heart. That is mercy—seeing a need and being moved to help. That is how Jesus deals with us when we say, “Lord, help me in your mercy.”
Jesus’ enemies were relentless with their attacks. Responding to them prevented Jesus from teaching his disciples. So he took action: “Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon” (Mt 15:21). Those cities were located a bit north and west of Israel. It wasn’t for a quick vacation, but for some quiet instruction.
But it didn’t last long. Matthew draws our attention to an interesting individual. “A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him” (Mt 15:22). It wasn’t just the unbelieving area she was from, but the unexpected address from her mouth. This Gentile was calling out, and not in a whisper: “Lord, Son of David” (Mt 15:22). Jesus was the Lord—all-powerful, yet all-loving. In spite of the idolatry of her neighbors, she knew the identity of Jesus as the promised descendant of David who was to come to release the world from sin (2 Sa 7:11ff.). She certainly fits the description of the ones whom Isaiah described: “foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD to serve him, to love the name of the LORD, and to worship him” (Is 56:6). God had gathered her to himself (Is 56:8).
She explained what she wanted. “Have mercy on me!” (Mt 15:22). She pleads for pity. And she expressed why she wanted that. “My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession” (Mt 15:22). The devil had a cruel hold on this girl—in whatever form it took. Anyone who is a parent can sympathize with this woman. No mom and no dad like to see their child suffer even a skinned knee. It breaks their hearts. How much more this?
And that is how we approach Jesus. It is not to brag about something, but to beg for everything. We echoed her words earlier, “Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us” (CW p. 15). And we didn’t have to wait for it or wonder about it. “God, our heavenly Father, has been merciful to us” (CW p. 16). And then we heard of how God sends away our sin because Jesus satisfied God’s anger and sacrificed himself. Lord, help me in your mercy because of my sin. And he does through his Son.
But it didn’t appear to be the case with this Canaanite. “Jesus did not answer a word” (Mt 15:23). Not one syllable. That strikes us as strange. Silence. That would be like a person who keeps rowing in his canoe past a person sitting up on his shingles who yells, “Hey, I’m up here. Over here.” That is cold and calloused. But Jesus knew what he was doing.
The twelve couldn’t take her persistence any longer. (She is worthy of our admiration and imitation.) “So his disciples came to him and urged him, ‘Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us’” (Mt 15:23). She was not going to take “no.” They were tired of her being behind them, going after them and groveling. It is hard to tell if they wanted to get rid of the demon or just the distraction. This was getting annoying.
Then Jesus replied with this statement—not even to her: “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel” (Mt 15:24). That was a summary of Jesus’ personal ministry even though he came to save the whole world. Salvation for the Jews then would go from the Jews. It was never at the expense of the Gentiles. As the apostle Paul reminded the Romans that God’s mercy is on all (Ro 9:32). But in a sense it seemed as if Jesus didn’t care. We could compare it to the mommy who chases down a doctor in the parking lot and he replies to his buddies with him: “I only care for those who have an appointment.”
The Canaanite woman did not come back with a “how dare you talk to me and treat me that way.” Instead of being insulted, she was insistent: “The woman came and knelt before him. ‘Lord, help me!’” (Mt 15:25).
Have you been there? You pour out your heart and Jesus puts you off? He is more of a stranger than a shepherd. It may look like that but it is not like that. Instead of lashing out at him in anger, we can look to him in humility. We head to the cross to remember his love and his mercy. We return to the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls (1 Pe 2:25). The One who takes away our guilt turns his attention to us. Lord, help me with your mercy. And it is there. We hang on to him like that Canaanite in trust. He is not against us, but for us (Ro 8:31).
2. With your might (26-28)
When in turmoil, we want someone to be competent. The doctor is to write the correct prescription or recommend some physical therapy to get us back among the healthy. Jesus is there with his muscle when we state, “Lord, help me with your might.”
Finally Jesus speaks to this woman on her face at his feet. “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs” (Mt 15:26). Some definitely spoil their four-legged friends. But not at the expense of their kids. It would be out of line to feed the family pet what is intended for the rest of the family. That is not proper or appropriate.
This is not an insult but an invitation. Jesus is not thinking of a dog roaming in the streets, but one staying in the house. And she picked up on it. His comment was correct. It is true that children sit at the table and dogs under it.
But it can happen that a tidbit or two may accidentally be dropped or intentionally be tossed. “Yes, Lord, … but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table” (Mt 15:27). She understood her position. And she wanted just the scraps. Those who have a furry animal know that they can be relentless in their quest for a potato chip or French fry at supper. They stand and stare and stare and stare until something makes its way to the floor (but not for long). The woman was persistent too. She reminds us of Jacob who wrestled with the Lord and refused to let him go until God blessed him (Ge 32:26). And he did with him.
And with her. “‘Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour” (Mt 15:28). Jesus demonstrated his immediate and immense power to help and to heal. At once the girl was cured of her demon possession. “Help me, Lord, with your might.” And he did from a distance.
Our plea is the same. Far too often we accuse Jesus of a “crumby” deal instead of appreciating his total control. As the psalmist reminded us, the Lord is “Maker of heaven and earth” (Ps 134:3). If he can call it into existence, he can care for it. And for us. Jesus may remove our problem in a situation or he may refresh our strength along our path. He is aware of how and when to bless us—even under the table.
And then the Lord can compliment the very thing that he has created just like that lady, “You have great faith!” (Mt 15:28). It reaches a high level because of the object of the confidence—Jesus. “Lord, help me with your might.” And he is there. We hold on to him like the Canaanite woman. And he gives us his ear and gives us a hand in his way and according to his will.
The first Monday in September is a reminder of the contributions of the workforce to our nation no matter what the occupation or profession. We especially think of the rescue workers in southern Texas toiling long and hard, battling the floodwaters. As we commemorate Labor Day, we don’t work for one day and take the rest of the year off. In fact, most people don’t have to punch in tomorrow. We labor for the Lord and that is never in vain (Col 3:23; 1 Co 15:58). And he is by us to benefit us in anything and with everything. So we pray boldly, “Lord, help me in your mercy and with your might.” It shall be so. Amen.
To the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen (Ro 16:27).
September 3, 2017
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