Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Co 1:2). Amen.
There is no shortage of questions from day to day. They come from different people depending on who is around us and in different places depending on where we are. It can be a simple, “How are you?” to a straightforward, “Who are you?”
Not that that is wrong. We need the facts. We want the answers. In fact, we are often encouraged to ask because there is no such thing as a question that is dumb. (That is not a challenge to come up with one.) A good question then deserves a good answer.
There are the standard questions words: who, what, why, when, where, and how. You determine or decide which one based on the situation or circumstance. A reporter will apply any or all of them to get the scoop on a breaking story for the nightly news.
The writer of a section of the book of Proverbs, his name is Agur (That is about as much as we know about him.), poses a series of 4 “who” questions:
“Who has gone up to heaven and come down?” (Pr 30:4).
“Who has gathered up the winds in the hollow of his hands?” (Pr 30:4).
“Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak?” (Pr 30:4).
“Who has established all the ends of the earth?” (Pr 30:4).
Then he follows it up with 2 “what” questions:
“What is his name?” (Pr 30:4).
“and the name of his son?” (Pr 30:4).
Finally there is the challenge: “Tell me if you know!” (Pr 30:4). It is along the lines of “because you possess that information.” That is reminiscent of the instance when the Lord addressed Job. We recall Job. He was incredibly rich, but lost it all—wealth to family—in a day. His three so-called “friends” came to comfort him. Really to confront him. “Job, you must have done something really bad for this to have happened.” Job wanted to speak to God to assert his innocence.
The Lord did come. In a storm (Job 38:1). He bombarded Job with questions about the beginning of the universe. “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone” (Job 38:4-6). God compares himself to an architect, a surveyor, and an engineer. He didn’t need Job’s help. He didn’t badger Job with that barrage to humiliate him, but to humble him. God is in charge. He knows what he is doing. He wanted Job to get rid of his pride and hold on to him in trust.
We recognize his greatness and goodness without having to give us an explanation as if he owes us one. He is above us. We realize our frailness and feebleness. We are below him. We stand in awe of him.
And we do know him. Because God himself has told us. We know his name—not only what designations we call him (Father, Messiah, Holy Spirit), but also everything that he has revealed to us about himself (kind and compassionate [Ex 34:6,7]). We know the name of his Son, Jesus (Ps 2:7).
But if we review those questions, it is more than just the standard, catechism answer “God,” even though that is right because they are not rhetorical.
Who has gone up to heaven and come down? (Pr 30:4). Yes, God. But there is more.
- Think of the occasion when the Lord came down to see the city and tower that the men of Babel were building, reaching up to the heavens (Ge 11:1-9). He doesn’t do anything in an arbitrary fashion. He can spot sin.
- Call to mind what Jesus once mentioned: “No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man” (Jn 3:13). God gave his Son to the world (Jn 3:16). The apostle Paul pointed out that God did it to reconcile us to himself (2 Co 5:18)—changing our relationship from one of hostility toward him to harmony with him. He stated how so succinctly “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Co 5:21). Jesus took on our sin so that he could put on his holiness. That is a great exchange. Jesus died in the place of and instead of all and was raised again (2 Co 5:14,15). We are now “a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Co 5:17).
Who has gathered up the winds in the hollow of his hands? (Pr 30:4). Yes, God. But there is more. There Jesus is asleep when that sudden squall came up on the Sea of Galilee. When his fearful disciples woke him up, he “rebuked the wind …, ‘Quiet!’” (Mk 4:39). And it was immediate. No more blowing in their face. The wind submitted to him. The breeze was nonexistent.
Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? (Pr 30:4). Yes, God. But there is more. From the back of the boat, Jesus also bellowed: “Be still!” (Mk 4:39). And it was instantaneous. No more beating against the ship. The waves surrendered to him. The lake was glassy smooth.
Who has established all the ends of the earth? (Pr 30:4). Yes, God. But there is more. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Ge 1:1). He did it with his almighty word. “Let there be” and there was. Jesus was there too (Jn 1:1). “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that that has been made” (Jn 1:3). And now our “help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Ps 121:2).
And when we revere God for who he is, we respect him for what he says (cf. First and Second Commandments). “Every word of God is flawless” (Pr 30:5). The content of what he communicates is perfect and pure—just like when gold is tested and refined. There are no longer any impurities or imperfections. What God relates is completely reliable and what God declares is totally dependable. It is absolutely true.
The proverb writer then makes a comparison: “He [that is, God] is a shield to those who take refuge in him” (Pr 30:5). He is like the small weapon that a soldier takes with him into battle to protect himself from attack. We go to our God because there we find safety and security. The tallest to the tiniest is helpless by himself, but helped by his Savior. When we turn to him, we can trust in him.
Consider that in the context of the disciples. These experienced fishermen thought that the unexpected gale would do them in (Mk 4:38). They run to the right person, but proceed with a rude inquiry: “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” (Mk 4:38). Of course he did. But that sounds like a child to his parent now that Mother’s Day was a month ago and Father’s Day was a week ago—especially when he doesn’t get his way: “Don’t you care?” How quickly the gratitude and gratefulness turn into criticism and critique. Those followers of Jesus called him “Teacher,” but they apparently didn’t take his teachings to heart.
We have been there. You don’t have to raise your hand. What goes through your mind when the “storms of life” hit. And not a gentle rain that is refreshing, but a hard downpour that is draining. “Jesus, this doesn’t seem to be a care to you. What is happening? Why is it happening?” It is almost as if we take God to court, to call him to account. What do we do with those questions? We need to listen to his Word.
The dangers and difficulties will come. That is not shocking or surprising to you. We know to whom to look and on whom to lean: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea” (Ps 46:2). Those are certainly catastrophic events. But “The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress” (Ps 46:7,11). We can be confident of his presence and power and not convinced of our own reason or resources, not depending on our might, but delighting in his muscle. We can’t hear it too often: “Be still and know that I am God” (Ps 46:10). And God keeps his word. He will not leave us, not even in death.
God doesn’t have a problem with questions—who, what, why, when, where, and how. As long as we are ready and willing to pay attention to him. God’s Word answers good questions. The Creator of is the Controller of all. And because his word to us is consistent, we can take shelter in him. Those answers are from him and to us in the darkest hour to the brightest day on earth all the way to eternity.
We read from Proverbs 30:4,5:
4 Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered up the winds in the hollow of his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and the name of his son? Tell me if you know!
5 Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all (2 Co 13:14). Amen.
June 24, 2018
St. John Lutheran Church Sermons
Sunday, June 24, 2018
Monday, June 18, 2018
The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost (Psalm 92:1-15)
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Co 1:2). Amen.
It is kind of bland, if not blah, when someone states: “It is good to _____ .” And then there is a follow up of something “good” to do. The word “good” in that sentence doesn’t sound all that great. Kind of take it or leave it. For example: “It is good to grill out on Father’s Day.” That comes across as nothing more than a useful suggestion or some helpful advice. (Plus, it also has a hidden assumption of who will turn on the gas or lay out the charcoal. Of course, dad can pick what he wants to make over the open flame. It is his day, after all.)
That is not what the psalmist had in mind. It is not a simple recommendation, but a sincere invitation. More along the lines of “it is good and right so to do” (CW pp. 21, 33). It is good to praise the Lord for his faithfulness and for our fruitfulness. We read from …
Psalm 92:1-15
Dear People of the Lord our God, who once saved us and now strengthens us,
We have another one of these special celebrations today. Father’s Day. And so we say, “Happy Father’s Day.” We pray that it is.
If you are a father in the present or have been a father in the past, you know that it is not always easy. (That is not to talk anyone out of that role in the future. It is an important responsibility from our God.)
While there is no perfect father, it is not a bad thought to show some thankfulness for all that a dad does—whether it is known or even notable, from paying bills to offering prayers. It is good to be grateful to him.
Even more so the Lord.
It Is Good to Praise the Lord
1. For his faithfulness (1-8)
2. For our fruitfulness (9-15)
1. For his faithfulness (1-8)
Being a dad is a full-time charge, not a part-time one. And it is time-consuming and can be sleep-depriving. That is not meant to be a bit of negativity, but a dose of reality. We might not be so good at acknowledging the day-to-day or appreciating the day after day—especially if dad is a constant. But even if, or when, an earthly father may falter, our heavenly Father does not fail. It is good to praise the Lord for his faithfulness.
Not every psalm has a heading. This one does. It was intended to be sung to musical accompaniment—a melody with words (cf. heading—“ A psalm. A song.”). The singer even mentions some instruments: “to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp” (Ps 92:3). He is not being restrictive, but instructive. We can praise the Lord in various ways. Today we have an organ as we chanted the refrain and verses. Nothing wrong with the piano either. The same is true of a guitar or violin or you name it. Music is a means to express our excitement.
And so the psalmist begins with a parallel idea and a precise identification:
“It is good to praise the LORD” (Ps 92:1). It is something pleasing to make a public confession of who God is and what God does. After all, he is the LORD—the One who does not change when it comes to his love (Ex 34:6,7).
“It is good to … make music to your name, O Most High” (Ps 92:1). God’s name is everything that he reveals about himself—his qualities and characteristics, from punishing sin to promising salvation. And he can do that as the one who is above all, mighty and majestic. In fact, in the very middle of the psalm, he stops to shout: “But you, O LORD, are exalted forever” (Ps 92:8). He is on high and we hold him high.
If you go back to the initial information, this was composed “For the Sabbath day” (cf. heading). That was Saturday, the 7th day of the week. The Lord reserved that for rest—physical and spiritual. There was to be no work. But there was to be worship. The children of Israel were to reflect on the refreshment that the Messiah would bring for their weary and worn souls.
Whether it is that day or this day, we recall that God sends our sins away. Our hearts are no longer bothered by or burdened with guilt. All because of what God has done for us in Christ. Time praising God is good for us (Mk 2:27).
But not just one day, every day—all day:
“to proclaim your love in the morning” (Ps 92:2). After a night of safekeeping, God is there with his mercy every new day (La 3:22,23). He sees our needs and supplies them—both around us and in us. Luther captures that in his morning prayer: “I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger. Keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please you” (CW p. 139). We go forward with him watching our coming and going (Ps 121:8). It is good to praise the Lord in the morning.
“to proclaim … your faithfulness at night” (Ps 92:2). The Lord is dependable and reliable through the challenges and changes of the day. He proves it with his presence and with his power. We trust in him as we turn to him. Again Luther leads us: “I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have graciously kept me this day. Forgive me all my sins, and graciously keep me this night” (CW p. 139). We close our eyes in sweet slumber, safe and secure. It is good to praise the Lord at night.
While there are times that we sing in sadness, the psalmist does it with gladness. “For you make me glad by your deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the works of your hands” (Ps 92:4). The Lord has been active all through history—from the creation of the world to the care of his people, even bringing them back to Israel from their captivity in Babylon. All so that the Savior could be born—to carry our sin, going to the cross on Good Friday, and to cry out in victory, coming from his grave on Easter Sunday. Who can measure his initiative and his intention? We add our voices in exclamation: “How great are your works, O LORD, how profound your thoughts!” (Ps 92:5; cf. Ro 11:33). There is no scale or gauge for that. We simply stand in awe of them and of him.
That doesn’t mean that everyone gets it. “The senseless man does not know, fools do not understand” (Ps 92:6). In a way, the comparison is to a cow—somewhat dull. It is not intellectual ability, but spiritual ignorance. They don’t get why it is good to praise the Lord. The singer details their lack of discernment: “that though the wicked spring up like grass and all evildoers flourish, they will be forever destroyed” (Ps 92:7). You may be mowing your grass regularly—much more so than in January. Those who are guilty may bud and blossom, but they will not last like your lawn come the fall. Those who practice what is harmful to their relationship with God will be ruined eternally. There will be that sad end. We hear that so that we heed it.
But we give our attention to God. And we give our devotion to him. We don’t want to miss any opportunity, any chance. It is good to praise him for his faithfulness. God doesn’t just make a promise, he keeps it. Through Ezekiel, the Lord used picture language to assure of his action: “I myself will take a shoot from the very top of a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain” (Eze 17:22). That is a reference to the Messiah to come for them—who has come for us. Jesus Christ is the One who came from David to sit on his throne to rule forever (Lk 1:32,33). He even punctuates it—almost as if it is an exclamation mark: “I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it” (Eze 17:24). We consider that every Christmas. We enjoy it every Easter. We praise the Lord for his steadiness.
That is valuable all our life. The apostle Paul pointed out that we spend our days in an “earthly tent” (2 Co 5:1). It is temporary. Our home in heaven is eternal. We look for it. We long for it. And one day it will be ours. In the meantime, “We live by faith, not by sight” (2 Co 5:7). But there is no question about it. God has given to us his Holy Spirit “as a deposit” (2 Co 5:5)—like a down payment. When we take out a loan, we put down some cash, pledging that there will be more to follow. God asserts: “There is more to come.” We will live in heaven with him. It is good to praise the Lord for his faithfulness on earth to eternity.
2. For our fruitfulness (9-15)
There is that cliché: “like father like son.” There is often a similarity between the two—their opinions and outlooks, their walk and talk. Our heavenly Father’s work in our hearts leads to work in our lives. It is good to praise the Lord for our fruitfulness.
Once more the psalmist references those who are hostile. And he is emphatic. “For surely your enemies, O LORD, surely your enemies will perish; all evildoers will be scattered” (Ps 92:9). That is even the case at times with those who bring us trouble and cause us hardship: “My eyes have seen the defeat of my adversaries; my ears have heard the rout of my wicked foes” (Ps 92:11). We await his timing and anticipate his triumph. God is there: “You have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox” [A horn is a symbol of power.]; fine oils have been poured on me” [Oil is a sign of prosperity.] (Ps 92:10).
And he picks that up with another illustration: “The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon” (Ps 92:12). We are right with God because he covers us in Christ’s righteousness, his holiness. The tall, slender palm tree produced fruit—even in hot, dry climates. The large, magnificent cedar tree was used for construction—beams and pillars. “Planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God” (Ps 92:13). God has put the seed of conviction in us. And now like a tree does what it is meant to do—an apple tree yielding apples, so do we. The gift of faith causes fruits of faith—good works. Paul spells it out like this: “So we make it our goal to please him” (2 Co 5:9). We no longer live for ourselves, but for our Savior. And there is growth as Jesus mentioned in his parable: “All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head” (Mk 4:28)—from first planting to final harvesting (Mk 4:29).
And it is not just for a season or a time. “They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green” (Ps 92:14). As trees age become older, they may become sickly, affecting the crop. But even past the prime of life, we stay strong in our praise: “proclaiming, “The LORD is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him” (Ps 92:15). We announce that he is not crooked—a place of solid and sturdy protection, in whom there is nothing bad. It is good to praise the Lord for our fruitfulness.
Father’s Day comes once a year. But we ought not limit our expressions of gratitude to that many times. “Happy Father’s Day” can translate into “Thank you, Dad” (also when he cooks outside). That is good. But it is good to praise the Lord for his faithfulness. That is the way he is morning and evening, day in and day out. It is good to praise the Lord for our fruitfulness. As we live with him, we live for him. That is good. Amen.
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you (1 Co 16:23). Amen.
A psalm. A song. For the Sabbath day.
1 It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High,
2 to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night,
3 to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp.
4 For you make me glad by your deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the works of your hands.
5 How great are your works, O LORD, how profound your thoughts!
6 The senseless man does not know, fools do not understand,
7 that though the wicked spring up like grass and all evildoers flourish, they will be forever destroyed.
8 But you, O LORD, are exalted forever.
9 For surely your enemies, O LORD, surely your enemies will perish; all evildoers will be scattered.
10 You have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox; fine oils have been poured on me.
11 My eyes have seen the defeat of my adversaries; my ears have heard the rout of my wicked foes.
12 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
13 planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green,
15 proclaiming, “The LORD is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”
June 17, 2018
It is kind of bland, if not blah, when someone states: “It is good to _____ .” And then there is a follow up of something “good” to do. The word “good” in that sentence doesn’t sound all that great. Kind of take it or leave it. For example: “It is good to grill out on Father’s Day.” That comes across as nothing more than a useful suggestion or some helpful advice. (Plus, it also has a hidden assumption of who will turn on the gas or lay out the charcoal. Of course, dad can pick what he wants to make over the open flame. It is his day, after all.)
That is not what the psalmist had in mind. It is not a simple recommendation, but a sincere invitation. More along the lines of “it is good and right so to do” (CW pp. 21, 33). It is good to praise the Lord for his faithfulness and for our fruitfulness. We read from …
Psalm 92:1-15
Dear People of the Lord our God, who once saved us and now strengthens us,
We have another one of these special celebrations today. Father’s Day. And so we say, “Happy Father’s Day.” We pray that it is.
If you are a father in the present or have been a father in the past, you know that it is not always easy. (That is not to talk anyone out of that role in the future. It is an important responsibility from our God.)
While there is no perfect father, it is not a bad thought to show some thankfulness for all that a dad does—whether it is known or even notable, from paying bills to offering prayers. It is good to be grateful to him.
Even more so the Lord.
It Is Good to Praise the Lord
1. For his faithfulness (1-8)
2. For our fruitfulness (9-15)
1. For his faithfulness (1-8)
Being a dad is a full-time charge, not a part-time one. And it is time-consuming and can be sleep-depriving. That is not meant to be a bit of negativity, but a dose of reality. We might not be so good at acknowledging the day-to-day or appreciating the day after day—especially if dad is a constant. But even if, or when, an earthly father may falter, our heavenly Father does not fail. It is good to praise the Lord for his faithfulness.
Not every psalm has a heading. This one does. It was intended to be sung to musical accompaniment—a melody with words (cf. heading—“ A psalm. A song.”). The singer even mentions some instruments: “to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp” (Ps 92:3). He is not being restrictive, but instructive. We can praise the Lord in various ways. Today we have an organ as we chanted the refrain and verses. Nothing wrong with the piano either. The same is true of a guitar or violin or you name it. Music is a means to express our excitement.
And so the psalmist begins with a parallel idea and a precise identification:
“It is good to praise the LORD” (Ps 92:1). It is something pleasing to make a public confession of who God is and what God does. After all, he is the LORD—the One who does not change when it comes to his love (Ex 34:6,7).
“It is good to … make music to your name, O Most High” (Ps 92:1). God’s name is everything that he reveals about himself—his qualities and characteristics, from punishing sin to promising salvation. And he can do that as the one who is above all, mighty and majestic. In fact, in the very middle of the psalm, he stops to shout: “But you, O LORD, are exalted forever” (Ps 92:8). He is on high and we hold him high.
If you go back to the initial information, this was composed “For the Sabbath day” (cf. heading). That was Saturday, the 7th day of the week. The Lord reserved that for rest—physical and spiritual. There was to be no work. But there was to be worship. The children of Israel were to reflect on the refreshment that the Messiah would bring for their weary and worn souls.
Whether it is that day or this day, we recall that God sends our sins away. Our hearts are no longer bothered by or burdened with guilt. All because of what God has done for us in Christ. Time praising God is good for us (Mk 2:27).
But not just one day, every day—all day:
“to proclaim your love in the morning” (Ps 92:2). After a night of safekeeping, God is there with his mercy every new day (La 3:22,23). He sees our needs and supplies them—both around us and in us. Luther captures that in his morning prayer: “I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger. Keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please you” (CW p. 139). We go forward with him watching our coming and going (Ps 121:8). It is good to praise the Lord in the morning.
“to proclaim … your faithfulness at night” (Ps 92:2). The Lord is dependable and reliable through the challenges and changes of the day. He proves it with his presence and with his power. We trust in him as we turn to him. Again Luther leads us: “I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have graciously kept me this day. Forgive me all my sins, and graciously keep me this night” (CW p. 139). We close our eyes in sweet slumber, safe and secure. It is good to praise the Lord at night.
While there are times that we sing in sadness, the psalmist does it with gladness. “For you make me glad by your deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the works of your hands” (Ps 92:4). The Lord has been active all through history—from the creation of the world to the care of his people, even bringing them back to Israel from their captivity in Babylon. All so that the Savior could be born—to carry our sin, going to the cross on Good Friday, and to cry out in victory, coming from his grave on Easter Sunday. Who can measure his initiative and his intention? We add our voices in exclamation: “How great are your works, O LORD, how profound your thoughts!” (Ps 92:5; cf. Ro 11:33). There is no scale or gauge for that. We simply stand in awe of them and of him.
That doesn’t mean that everyone gets it. “The senseless man does not know, fools do not understand” (Ps 92:6). In a way, the comparison is to a cow—somewhat dull. It is not intellectual ability, but spiritual ignorance. They don’t get why it is good to praise the Lord. The singer details their lack of discernment: “that though the wicked spring up like grass and all evildoers flourish, they will be forever destroyed” (Ps 92:7). You may be mowing your grass regularly—much more so than in January. Those who are guilty may bud and blossom, but they will not last like your lawn come the fall. Those who practice what is harmful to their relationship with God will be ruined eternally. There will be that sad end. We hear that so that we heed it.
But we give our attention to God. And we give our devotion to him. We don’t want to miss any opportunity, any chance. It is good to praise him for his faithfulness. God doesn’t just make a promise, he keeps it. Through Ezekiel, the Lord used picture language to assure of his action: “I myself will take a shoot from the very top of a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain” (Eze 17:22). That is a reference to the Messiah to come for them—who has come for us. Jesus Christ is the One who came from David to sit on his throne to rule forever (Lk 1:32,33). He even punctuates it—almost as if it is an exclamation mark: “I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it” (Eze 17:24). We consider that every Christmas. We enjoy it every Easter. We praise the Lord for his steadiness.
That is valuable all our life. The apostle Paul pointed out that we spend our days in an “earthly tent” (2 Co 5:1). It is temporary. Our home in heaven is eternal. We look for it. We long for it. And one day it will be ours. In the meantime, “We live by faith, not by sight” (2 Co 5:7). But there is no question about it. God has given to us his Holy Spirit “as a deposit” (2 Co 5:5)—like a down payment. When we take out a loan, we put down some cash, pledging that there will be more to follow. God asserts: “There is more to come.” We will live in heaven with him. It is good to praise the Lord for his faithfulness on earth to eternity.
2. For our fruitfulness (9-15)
There is that cliché: “like father like son.” There is often a similarity between the two—their opinions and outlooks, their walk and talk. Our heavenly Father’s work in our hearts leads to work in our lives. It is good to praise the Lord for our fruitfulness.
Once more the psalmist references those who are hostile. And he is emphatic. “For surely your enemies, O LORD, surely your enemies will perish; all evildoers will be scattered” (Ps 92:9). That is even the case at times with those who bring us trouble and cause us hardship: “My eyes have seen the defeat of my adversaries; my ears have heard the rout of my wicked foes” (Ps 92:11). We await his timing and anticipate his triumph. God is there: “You have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox” [A horn is a symbol of power.]; fine oils have been poured on me” [Oil is a sign of prosperity.] (Ps 92:10).
And he picks that up with another illustration: “The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon” (Ps 92:12). We are right with God because he covers us in Christ’s righteousness, his holiness. The tall, slender palm tree produced fruit—even in hot, dry climates. The large, magnificent cedar tree was used for construction—beams and pillars. “Planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God” (Ps 92:13). God has put the seed of conviction in us. And now like a tree does what it is meant to do—an apple tree yielding apples, so do we. The gift of faith causes fruits of faith—good works. Paul spells it out like this: “So we make it our goal to please him” (2 Co 5:9). We no longer live for ourselves, but for our Savior. And there is growth as Jesus mentioned in his parable: “All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head” (Mk 4:28)—from first planting to final harvesting (Mk 4:29).
And it is not just for a season or a time. “They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green” (Ps 92:14). As trees age become older, they may become sickly, affecting the crop. But even past the prime of life, we stay strong in our praise: “proclaiming, “The LORD is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him” (Ps 92:15). We announce that he is not crooked—a place of solid and sturdy protection, in whom there is nothing bad. It is good to praise the Lord for our fruitfulness.
Father’s Day comes once a year. But we ought not limit our expressions of gratitude to that many times. “Happy Father’s Day” can translate into “Thank you, Dad” (also when he cooks outside). That is good. But it is good to praise the Lord for his faithfulness. That is the way he is morning and evening, day in and day out. It is good to praise the Lord for our fruitfulness. As we live with him, we live for him. That is good. Amen.
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you (1 Co 16:23). Amen.
A psalm. A song. For the Sabbath day.
1 It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High,
2 to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night,
3 to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp.
4 For you make me glad by your deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the works of your hands.
5 How great are your works, O LORD, how profound your thoughts!
6 The senseless man does not know, fools do not understand,
7 that though the wicked spring up like grass and all evildoers flourish, they will be forever destroyed.
8 But you, O LORD, are exalted forever.
9 For surely your enemies, O LORD, surely your enemies will perish; all evildoers will be scattered.
10 You have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox; fine oils have been poured on me.
11 My eyes have seen the defeat of my adversaries; my ears have heard the rout of my wicked foes.
12 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
13 planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green,
15 proclaiming, “The LORD is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”
June 17, 2018
Monday, June 11, 2018
The Third Sunday after Pentecost (John 8:31,32)
Grace and peace be yours in abundance (1 Pe 1:2). Amen.
Every year there are anniversaries. That is almost insulting because it is so obvious. That is the very definition of one—an annual remembrance on the date of a notable event.
While every one is special like the celebration of a birthday year after year, there are some significant ones. Usually they end in a 5 or a 0. (A 25th or 50th Anniversary, for example.) But what about when there are two zeros? That is something to overlook.
This is not a commercial, but 2018 marks the 100th anniversary of happenings in the history of two well-known companies.
The first Chevrolet truck rolled off the assembly line for GM.
John Deere also entered the tractor business.
Both of those are recognizable since they are still around today.
But there is another one that is meaningful and momentous. At least for us. It is almost to the day. On June 13, 1918, 130 confessional Lutherans met at Trinity Lutheran Church here in St. Paul to establish the Minnesota District of the Evangelical Lutheran Joint Synod of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Other States. We consider that today.
But it is not about us, or them. But about God. And his grace. How do we observe this anniversary? Continue in Jesus’ Word with faith and for freedom. We read from …
John 8:31,32
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus, the Truth whom we look at and lean on,
An anniversary is beneficial because it allows the opportunity to reflect. Think of a husband and wife as they contemplate whatever number of years that they have spent together on the date of their wedding.
And it could be in all three directions.
Acknowledging the past,
Appreciating the present,
Awaiting the future.
That is what this observance is about. As we go forward, we recall where we have come from and rejoice about where we are. Among the challenges and changes, the Lord remains the same. And so does what he says.
Continue in Jesus’ Word
1. With faith (31)
2. For freedom (32)
1. With faith (31)
The Third Article of the Apostle’s Creed is instructive. In it Luther reminds us: “I cannot by my own thinking or choosing believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to him.” But what we could not do. The Holy Spirit did. “[He] has called me by the gospel (Luther’s Catechism p. 5). He invited you and me into God’s family through God’s Word. That is why our forefathers joined together. They had the same faith in our Triune God. They wanted to stay in that Word. We do too. Continue in Jesus’ Word with faith.
Jesus didn’t shy away from conversation. This time he was speaking “to the Jews” (Jn 8:31). They are described as those “who had believed him” (Jn 8:31). The Word had been planted in their hearts. Jesus’ desire was that it persist. Some turned to Jesus while other turned away from him (Jn 6:66).
It comes down to a connection with Christ. That is critical. Jesus comments as he stresses: “If you hold to my teaching” (Jn 8:31). Really, “if you remain, abide, in my word.” It is interesting that earlier in his Gospel, John identifies Jesus as “the Word” (Jn 1:1). That is how we communicate with one another—with words, what we think, what we feel. That is how God conveys what is on his heart—through Jesus, the Word. That God loved us and sent his Son to go to the cross and come out of the grave to give us life (Jn 6:68; 20:31). The result: “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples” (Jn 8:31). That is one who listens to a teacher and learns from him. The mark of a disciple, really the essence of a disciple, is that he or she gives his ear or her attention to Jesus.
It is not surprising that Moses mentioned that as he was taking leave of the people whom he had faithfully led for the last 40 years. “Now, Israel, hear the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live” (Dt 4:1). He reemphasized the Ten Commandments, but more important, God’s tremendous love. He chose them to be his own. They were to cherish that bond. They were to keep before them the Messiah who would come from them and for them to remove their sin. They were to guard that carefully and closely—passing it down from generation to generation (Dt 4:9). The psalmist Asaph spoke along the same lines: “We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done” (Ps 78:4).
It was Jesus who used that familiar illustration to instruct: “I am the vine; you are the branches” (Jn 15:5). He has grafted us to himself. We are alive. We witnessed that in a very powerful and beautiful way. God adopted Belle into his family through water and Word, bringing her to trust in him, just as he did with us. That has been going on for last century in the Minnesota District. God has used his Word to bring people to faith and build them up in that faith. That includes us. He leads us to him and keeps us with him. Continue in Jesus’ Word with faith. That makes us real disciples of him.
2. For freedom (32)
It is helpful that Luther states: “In the same way he [that is, the Holy Spirit] calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church he daily and fully forgives all sins to me and all believers” (Luther’s Catechism p. 5). There is a liberty that we enjoy. Just like those 100 years ago. Continue in Jesus’ Word for freedom.
John quotes Jesus as he was comforting his disciples in the upper room before his crucifixion the next day and his resurrection on the third day. “I am the way and the truth and the life” (Jn 14:6). What he says is true. But it is also the truth (Jn 17:17). The Truth speaks the truth. He is not like the devil, “the father of lies” (Jn 8:44).
And so Jesus informs us that if, better when we continue in his Word, “Then you will know the truth” (Jn 8:32). We will come to realize what is firm, and not false. It is not just intellectual knowledge, but personal experience. And that means that based on that Word, this is correct for both of us:
I confess that I have sinned—in many ways and at many times.
I contend that I have a Savior who lived and died in my place.
Then Jesus goes on to relate the outcome: “and the truth will set you free” (Jn 8:32). He has released us …
From sin. It no longer enslaves (Jn 8:34). We don’t live to sin or love to sin (Ro 6:1,2). It doesn’t condemn us anymore because Jesus clears us forevermore. That is because Jesus laid down his life for his friends, for us (Jn 15:13). That is freedom.
From death. It no longer frightens. Heaven is ours. As Peter put it: “In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade” (1 Pe 1:3). No one and nothing can take that away from us. God gives it to us and guarantees it to us. That is freedom.
From the devil. He cannot dominate us because Jesus has defeated him (He 2:14,15). That is freedom.
For service. Linked to the Vine, we produce fruit—“fruit that will last” (Jn 15:16). We do things that are good—whatever fits under Jesus’ command: “Love each other” (Jn 15:17). That is freedom.
Like those before us, we leave a legacy for those after us. Continue in Jesus’ word for freedom for eternity.
A 100th anniversary doesn’t happen every day. It is traditionally labeled the “Centennial,” or the “Platinum Jubilee.” (It is not the green and gold of John Deere or whatever color the first Chevy pickup was.) It is more important how we commemorate it than what we call it. For 100 years, the Minnesota District has recognized the importance of Jesus’ Word. We follow their lead. Continue in Jesus’ Word with faith and for freedom. Happy Anniversary. Amen.
Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen (2 Pe 3:18).
June 10, 2018
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Every year there are anniversaries. That is almost insulting because it is so obvious. That is the very definition of one—an annual remembrance on the date of a notable event.
While every one is special like the celebration of a birthday year after year, there are some significant ones. Usually they end in a 5 or a 0. (A 25th or 50th Anniversary, for example.) But what about when there are two zeros? That is something to overlook.
This is not a commercial, but 2018 marks the 100th anniversary of happenings in the history of two well-known companies.
The first Chevrolet truck rolled off the assembly line for GM.
John Deere also entered the tractor business.
Both of those are recognizable since they are still around today.
But there is another one that is meaningful and momentous. At least for us. It is almost to the day. On June 13, 1918, 130 confessional Lutherans met at Trinity Lutheran Church here in St. Paul to establish the Minnesota District of the Evangelical Lutheran Joint Synod of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Other States. We consider that today.
But it is not about us, or them. But about God. And his grace. How do we observe this anniversary? Continue in Jesus’ Word with faith and for freedom. We read from …
John 8:31,32
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus, the Truth whom we look at and lean on,
An anniversary is beneficial because it allows the opportunity to reflect. Think of a husband and wife as they contemplate whatever number of years that they have spent together on the date of their wedding.
And it could be in all three directions.
Acknowledging the past,
Appreciating the present,
Awaiting the future.
That is what this observance is about. As we go forward, we recall where we have come from and rejoice about where we are. Among the challenges and changes, the Lord remains the same. And so does what he says.
Continue in Jesus’ Word
1. With faith (31)
2. For freedom (32)
1. With faith (31)
The Third Article of the Apostle’s Creed is instructive. In it Luther reminds us: “I cannot by my own thinking or choosing believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to him.” But what we could not do. The Holy Spirit did. “[He] has called me by the gospel (Luther’s Catechism p. 5). He invited you and me into God’s family through God’s Word. That is why our forefathers joined together. They had the same faith in our Triune God. They wanted to stay in that Word. We do too. Continue in Jesus’ Word with faith.
Jesus didn’t shy away from conversation. This time he was speaking “to the Jews” (Jn 8:31). They are described as those “who had believed him” (Jn 8:31). The Word had been planted in their hearts. Jesus’ desire was that it persist. Some turned to Jesus while other turned away from him (Jn 6:66).
It comes down to a connection with Christ. That is critical. Jesus comments as he stresses: “If you hold to my teaching” (Jn 8:31). Really, “if you remain, abide, in my word.” It is interesting that earlier in his Gospel, John identifies Jesus as “the Word” (Jn 1:1). That is how we communicate with one another—with words, what we think, what we feel. That is how God conveys what is on his heart—through Jesus, the Word. That God loved us and sent his Son to go to the cross and come out of the grave to give us life (Jn 6:68; 20:31). The result: “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples” (Jn 8:31). That is one who listens to a teacher and learns from him. The mark of a disciple, really the essence of a disciple, is that he or she gives his ear or her attention to Jesus.
It is not surprising that Moses mentioned that as he was taking leave of the people whom he had faithfully led for the last 40 years. “Now, Israel, hear the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live” (Dt 4:1). He reemphasized the Ten Commandments, but more important, God’s tremendous love. He chose them to be his own. They were to cherish that bond. They were to keep before them the Messiah who would come from them and for them to remove their sin. They were to guard that carefully and closely—passing it down from generation to generation (Dt 4:9). The psalmist Asaph spoke along the same lines: “We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done” (Ps 78:4).
It was Jesus who used that familiar illustration to instruct: “I am the vine; you are the branches” (Jn 15:5). He has grafted us to himself. We are alive. We witnessed that in a very powerful and beautiful way. God adopted Belle into his family through water and Word, bringing her to trust in him, just as he did with us. That has been going on for last century in the Minnesota District. God has used his Word to bring people to faith and build them up in that faith. That includes us. He leads us to him and keeps us with him. Continue in Jesus’ Word with faith. That makes us real disciples of him.
2. For freedom (32)
It is helpful that Luther states: “In the same way he [that is, the Holy Spirit] calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church he daily and fully forgives all sins to me and all believers” (Luther’s Catechism p. 5). There is a liberty that we enjoy. Just like those 100 years ago. Continue in Jesus’ Word for freedom.
John quotes Jesus as he was comforting his disciples in the upper room before his crucifixion the next day and his resurrection on the third day. “I am the way and the truth and the life” (Jn 14:6). What he says is true. But it is also the truth (Jn 17:17). The Truth speaks the truth. He is not like the devil, “the father of lies” (Jn 8:44).
And so Jesus informs us that if, better when we continue in his Word, “Then you will know the truth” (Jn 8:32). We will come to realize what is firm, and not false. It is not just intellectual knowledge, but personal experience. And that means that based on that Word, this is correct for both of us:
I confess that I have sinned—in many ways and at many times.
I contend that I have a Savior who lived and died in my place.
Then Jesus goes on to relate the outcome: “and the truth will set you free” (Jn 8:32). He has released us …
From sin. It no longer enslaves (Jn 8:34). We don’t live to sin or love to sin (Ro 6:1,2). It doesn’t condemn us anymore because Jesus clears us forevermore. That is because Jesus laid down his life for his friends, for us (Jn 15:13). That is freedom.
From death. It no longer frightens. Heaven is ours. As Peter put it: “In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade” (1 Pe 1:3). No one and nothing can take that away from us. God gives it to us and guarantees it to us. That is freedom.
From the devil. He cannot dominate us because Jesus has defeated him (He 2:14,15). That is freedom.
For service. Linked to the Vine, we produce fruit—“fruit that will last” (Jn 15:16). We do things that are good—whatever fits under Jesus’ command: “Love each other” (Jn 15:17). That is freedom.
Like those before us, we leave a legacy for those after us. Continue in Jesus’ word for freedom for eternity.
A 100th anniversary doesn’t happen every day. It is traditionally labeled the “Centennial,” or the “Platinum Jubilee.” (It is not the green and gold of John Deere or whatever color the first Chevy pickup was.) It is more important how we commemorate it than what we call it. For 100 years, the Minnesota District has recognized the importance of Jesus’ Word. We follow their lead. Continue in Jesus’ Word with faith and for freedom. Happy Anniversary. Amen.
Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen (2 Pe 3:18).
June 10, 2018
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Sunday, June 3, 2018
The Second Sunday after Pentecost (Mark 2:23-28)
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Co 1:2). Amen.
Do you have a day on the calendar that is significant? One that stands out or sticks out in your mind? It could be on a national level. Last week we commemorated Memorial Day. It might be on a personal note. We celebrate a birthday.
For the Jews, it was not once every year. But once every week. The Sabbath Day.
It is just a loan word from Hebrew. Sabbath. We take the letters from the original and replace them with English ones. At least the corresponding sounds. There are some facts that are probably familiar.
The Sabbath day was the 7th day of the week (Dt 5:14). That translates to Saturday. It was a special day. As Moses reminded the people of Israel: “Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy” (Dt 5:12). It was to be set apart from and separate from the other 6 days. The Israelites were to guard that carefully like we do with anniversaries when they come around. We refer to it as the Third Commandment.
“Sabbath” signifies rest. There were two aspects to that.
1) Physical rest: “On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor the alien within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest, as you do” (Dt 5:13). In sense, they were to unplug from work as some suggest that we do with our phones. But that is just sage advice. We might do well to try it. This wasn’t a suggestion. The Lord who created our bodies knows that they can’t work all the time or around the clock.
So far so good. Jesus’ enemies, the Pharisees, would have no problem with that description, or better, definition. That wasn’t the problem. It was the application of the second part.
2) Spiritual rest: But it was more than just God being understanding. It was a day for worship—to reflect on the rest that the promised Messiah would one day bring, rest from a guilty conscience—the forgiveness of sins.
And it wasn’t just a matter of jealousy. There was that. The Pharisees were not excited when the people listened to and learned from Jesus. But it was also a question of philosophy. The Pharisees had altered or adapted God’s commands over the years. They had their own “What does this mean?” ME! It is on me and about me. The Third Commandment, as well as the others, was a way to amaze God. “Look at what I am doing.” They viewed it as part of their elaborate rules and intricate regulations to be kept to earn salvation by themselves. For example, they added what could and couldn’t be done on that day—like how far one could walk during those twenty-four hours (Acts 1:12).
Or what theoretically constituted “work.” So in their effort to trap Jesus, they finally had an airtight case against him. What lawyer wouldn’t want a slam dunk? And here it was: “One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain” (Mk 2:23). Those men were not stealing. That was permitted in the Old Testament (Dt 23:25). You could go into your neighbor’s field and get some wheat (as long as you weren’t taking a sickle to it). We might think along the lines of a snack. It wasn’t as if you were sneaking in the middle of the night and taking every single tomato from the garden next door.
“The Pharisees said to him, ‘Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?’” (Mk 2:24). They were shocked by what they witnessed. What made it improper was it went against their tradition, their augmentations or attachments of the Sabbath Day. Jesus’ disciples were breaking rabbinic code. Harvesting—rubbing the grain in their hands to remove the chaff before chewing the kernels (Lk 6:1)—was working. And Jesus didn’t stop them. What kind of a teacher was he?
It is almost as if Mark puts us at the scene of the action as Jesus recalls an account that they were certainly acquainted with. “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need?” (Mk 2:25). Of course they had.
It might require a bit of refreshing for us. It happened once when King Saul was chasing after David to kill him (1 Sa 21:1-6). Jesus relates the incident: “In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions” (Mk 2:26). Every week 12 loaves of bread, representing the 12 tribes of Israel, were placed on the golden table inside the holy place of the Tabernacle. The priests were the only ones who were to eat the old ones (Le 24:5-9). It was from those that David and company dined out of an emergency. There was no condemnation of him. Human need trumped Ceremonial Law. Mercy always wins (Ho 6:6; Mt 12:7).
Jesus goes on with his instruction. He draws a conclusion: “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mk 2:27). The Sabbath Day was for man’s benefit, a gift from God—to serve him, not enslave him, as a break, not a bother. It is not the other way around. God gets nothing out of it. And Jesus can decide. He is emphatic about it: “So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath” (Mk 2:28).
He is Lord—over all and above all. He has all authority—even when it comes to the Sabbath.
He is the “Son of Man.” That is Jesus’ favorite designation for himself. He identifies with the ones he came to rescue—us, yet at the same time he is God (Da 7:13).
It comes down to the two approaches to how an individual is saved.
1) One attempts to do it all by himself or herself. It comes from inside of us. Like an arrow from me to God.
2) One admits that he or she needs God’s mercy. It comes from outside of us. Like an arrow from God to me.
God did not give us the law so that we could impress him. But to impress on us that we cannot obey it perfectly, completely, or totally (Mt 5:48; Ja 2:10; Ga 3:10). We are not holy as he is (Le 19:2). The Pharisees might not have seen it. We do. And that is why Jesus came.
To keep the law perfectly for us—in our place. He did.
To take our sins willingly on himself—on his cross. He died.
And now he invites us to come to him (Mt 11:28). And we receive refreshment of our weary and worn souls—the elimination of any and every charge against us, from when our minds stray during worship to when we stay away from worship. That is better than air-conditioning on a hot, humid day. That is why we join Paul in stating: “We do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord” (2 Co 4:5). And with the psalmist we sing: “The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy” (Ps 126:3).
The apostle Paul lumps the Sabbath Day into the category of “a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ” (Col 2:17). It pointed ahead to Jesus as it pictured real rest in him. We no longer look at a silhouette of the Savior when we have him no more than we gaze at a person’s outline on the ground when they are in front of us. We see him clearly.
But that also doesn’t make Sunday the new Sabbath Day. We have the freedom to worship. (Note that I did not say “freedom from worship,” but “freedom to worship.”) We happen to follow the lead of the early Christian church which chose the first day of the week when we worship. It was a reminder of when Jesus exited his tomb emphasizing that his work was sufficient (Ro 4:25).
We can gather around his Word and sacraments any time. As long as we are in them and around them—at church and at home. As a child of God, we delight in that. Or as we call to mind Luther’s explanation of the Third Commandment: “We should fear and love God that we do not despise preaching and his Word, but regard it as holy, and gladly hear and learn it” (Luther’s Catechism, p. 1).
You know other Hebrew words that we bring into English. Hallelujah is “praise the LORD.” It is not so strange that we do it with Sabbath. Rest. The Pharisees wrongly defined the Sabbath day as earning something. Jesus rightly redefined the Sabbath as enjoying everything. It is not requiring, but receiving—the removal of all our guilt through him. We rest in him. We rest easy.
We read from Mark 2:23-28:
23 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain.
24 The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”
25 He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need?
26 In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.”
27 Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all (2 Co 13:14). Amen.
June 3, 2018
Do you have a day on the calendar that is significant? One that stands out or sticks out in your mind? It could be on a national level. Last week we commemorated Memorial Day. It might be on a personal note. We celebrate a birthday.
For the Jews, it was not once every year. But once every week. The Sabbath Day.
It is just a loan word from Hebrew. Sabbath. We take the letters from the original and replace them with English ones. At least the corresponding sounds. There are some facts that are probably familiar.
The Sabbath day was the 7th day of the week (Dt 5:14). That translates to Saturday. It was a special day. As Moses reminded the people of Israel: “Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy” (Dt 5:12). It was to be set apart from and separate from the other 6 days. The Israelites were to guard that carefully like we do with anniversaries when they come around. We refer to it as the Third Commandment.
“Sabbath” signifies rest. There were two aspects to that.
1) Physical rest: “On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor the alien within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest, as you do” (Dt 5:13). In sense, they were to unplug from work as some suggest that we do with our phones. But that is just sage advice. We might do well to try it. This wasn’t a suggestion. The Lord who created our bodies knows that they can’t work all the time or around the clock.
So far so good. Jesus’ enemies, the Pharisees, would have no problem with that description, or better, definition. That wasn’t the problem. It was the application of the second part.
2) Spiritual rest: But it was more than just God being understanding. It was a day for worship—to reflect on the rest that the promised Messiah would one day bring, rest from a guilty conscience—the forgiveness of sins.
And it wasn’t just a matter of jealousy. There was that. The Pharisees were not excited when the people listened to and learned from Jesus. But it was also a question of philosophy. The Pharisees had altered or adapted God’s commands over the years. They had their own “What does this mean?” ME! It is on me and about me. The Third Commandment, as well as the others, was a way to amaze God. “Look at what I am doing.” They viewed it as part of their elaborate rules and intricate regulations to be kept to earn salvation by themselves. For example, they added what could and couldn’t be done on that day—like how far one could walk during those twenty-four hours (Acts 1:12).
Or what theoretically constituted “work.” So in their effort to trap Jesus, they finally had an airtight case against him. What lawyer wouldn’t want a slam dunk? And here it was: “One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain” (Mk 2:23). Those men were not stealing. That was permitted in the Old Testament (Dt 23:25). You could go into your neighbor’s field and get some wheat (as long as you weren’t taking a sickle to it). We might think along the lines of a snack. It wasn’t as if you were sneaking in the middle of the night and taking every single tomato from the garden next door.
“The Pharisees said to him, ‘Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?’” (Mk 2:24). They were shocked by what they witnessed. What made it improper was it went against their tradition, their augmentations or attachments of the Sabbath Day. Jesus’ disciples were breaking rabbinic code. Harvesting—rubbing the grain in their hands to remove the chaff before chewing the kernels (Lk 6:1)—was working. And Jesus didn’t stop them. What kind of a teacher was he?
It is almost as if Mark puts us at the scene of the action as Jesus recalls an account that they were certainly acquainted with. “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need?” (Mk 2:25). Of course they had.
It might require a bit of refreshing for us. It happened once when King Saul was chasing after David to kill him (1 Sa 21:1-6). Jesus relates the incident: “In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions” (Mk 2:26). Every week 12 loaves of bread, representing the 12 tribes of Israel, were placed on the golden table inside the holy place of the Tabernacle. The priests were the only ones who were to eat the old ones (Le 24:5-9). It was from those that David and company dined out of an emergency. There was no condemnation of him. Human need trumped Ceremonial Law. Mercy always wins (Ho 6:6; Mt 12:7).
Jesus goes on with his instruction. He draws a conclusion: “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mk 2:27). The Sabbath Day was for man’s benefit, a gift from God—to serve him, not enslave him, as a break, not a bother. It is not the other way around. God gets nothing out of it. And Jesus can decide. He is emphatic about it: “So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath” (Mk 2:28).
He is Lord—over all and above all. He has all authority—even when it comes to the Sabbath.
He is the “Son of Man.” That is Jesus’ favorite designation for himself. He identifies with the ones he came to rescue—us, yet at the same time he is God (Da 7:13).
It comes down to the two approaches to how an individual is saved.
1) One attempts to do it all by himself or herself. It comes from inside of us. Like an arrow from me to God.
2) One admits that he or she needs God’s mercy. It comes from outside of us. Like an arrow from God to me.
God did not give us the law so that we could impress him. But to impress on us that we cannot obey it perfectly, completely, or totally (Mt 5:48; Ja 2:10; Ga 3:10). We are not holy as he is (Le 19:2). The Pharisees might not have seen it. We do. And that is why Jesus came.
To keep the law perfectly for us—in our place. He did.
To take our sins willingly on himself—on his cross. He died.
And now he invites us to come to him (Mt 11:28). And we receive refreshment of our weary and worn souls—the elimination of any and every charge against us, from when our minds stray during worship to when we stay away from worship. That is better than air-conditioning on a hot, humid day. That is why we join Paul in stating: “We do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord” (2 Co 4:5). And with the psalmist we sing: “The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy” (Ps 126:3).
The apostle Paul lumps the Sabbath Day into the category of “a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ” (Col 2:17). It pointed ahead to Jesus as it pictured real rest in him. We no longer look at a silhouette of the Savior when we have him no more than we gaze at a person’s outline on the ground when they are in front of us. We see him clearly.
But that also doesn’t make Sunday the new Sabbath Day. We have the freedom to worship. (Note that I did not say “freedom from worship,” but “freedom to worship.”) We happen to follow the lead of the early Christian church which chose the first day of the week when we worship. It was a reminder of when Jesus exited his tomb emphasizing that his work was sufficient (Ro 4:25).
We can gather around his Word and sacraments any time. As long as we are in them and around them—at church and at home. As a child of God, we delight in that. Or as we call to mind Luther’s explanation of the Third Commandment: “We should fear and love God that we do not despise preaching and his Word, but regard it as holy, and gladly hear and learn it” (Luther’s Catechism, p. 1).
You know other Hebrew words that we bring into English. Hallelujah is “praise the LORD.” It is not so strange that we do it with Sabbath. Rest. The Pharisees wrongly defined the Sabbath day as earning something. Jesus rightly redefined the Sabbath as enjoying everything. It is not requiring, but receiving—the removal of all our guilt through him. We rest in him. We rest easy.
We read from Mark 2:23-28:
23 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain.
24 The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”
25 He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need?
26 In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.”
27 Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all (2 Co 13:14). Amen.
June 3, 2018
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