Gratitude for Grace (Psalm 103:1,7-13)

Grace and peace be yours in abundance  (1 Peter 1:1).  Amen.

Do you have a working definition of the word “praise?”  We use it frequently, especially here in worship.  It is not as if it is unfamiliar to us.  It has been around for a long time.  King David even opened his psalm with it.  But what does it mean—to praise?

How about this?  To praise is “to speak words of the excellence of an article or an individual.”  Maybe you were just going to go with “to extol.”  Perhaps you don’t find either of those all that helpful.  What, then, is “to praise?”

The thing to note with praise is that there is an object of praise and there is a reason for praise.  As always, an example might be beneficial.  When a quarter or semester ends at school, teachers fill out and send out report cards.  If there are good grades, there is high praise.  (Remember:  “to speak words of the excellence of an article or an individual.”)  So how does that play out?  A parent exclaims as he examines the high marks:  “Son, well done.”

§  The object of praise:  the child.

§  The reason for praise:  the letters that are closest to the beginning of the alphabet on that piece of paper.

David encourages himself and us to do that with our God.  Praise the Lord God for his gift of grace.

“Praise the Lord”  (Ps 103:1).  First it is the who.  The Lord.  This is the One who does not change.  Ever.  Always the same.  He is the One whom we honor.  And not just a portion of us or a fraction of us.  “Praise the Lord, O my soul”  (Ps 103:1).  Every last bit of us and part of us proclaims his praise and gives him glory.  I do it.  You do it.

And what is this Lord like?  David echoes what Moses heard from the Lord himself when he was on the mountain for the second time to receive the 10 Commandments  (Ex 34:5-7).  That is when God really gave a sermon on his own name.  David repeats it this way:

…  “The Lord is compassionate”  (Ps 103:8).  That is not a love that is superficial, but significant.  A deep love like the natural bond of a mother to her daughter.  The Lord has established a closer bond with us than that as his children  (1 Jn 3:1).  And that is what we are.  That is our status in and through Jesus  (Ga 3:26).  Faith allows us to experience that and enjoy that.

…  “The Lord is … gracious”  (Ps 103:8).  That carries the idea of the free quality of his love.  We don’t deserve it, but God dumps it on us.  Generously.  Abundantly.  God’s grace is free like a gift  (Eph 2:8).

…  “The Lord is … slow to anger”  (Ps 103:8).  You don’t have to guess when someone is mad.  You can see it even before they say it.  The nostrils flare.  The nose may get red.  But God’s nose is long.  It doesn’t burn up right away.  God does punish sin  (Ex 34:7).  He is not soft or spineless.  But he is patient.  He wants all to repent of their sin and rely on their Savior, Jesus, turning from it and turning to him  (2 Pe 3:9).

…  “The Lord is … abounding in love”  (Ps 103:8).  God’s mercy—knowing our great need and meeting it—is on the high end of a scale of 1-10.  Actually it is an 11+.

Praise the Lord God.

This is not something that we could come up with on our own.  Certainly we can learn about God by looking at the world around us  (Ro 1:20).  The sky above us and the ground below us, and everything in between, can reveal that God is wise in the way that he creates.  Or he is powerful in the manner that he keeps  (Ps 19:1).  But there is a limit.  Our conscience can condemn us.  But there is a loss.  Who is God?  And what do I do with my guilt?

That is the beauty of the season of Epiphany.  God makes known to us and makes clear his love for us as he sent Jesus—born of a virgin, hung on a cross, gone from a tomb.  We can only learn that from the Bible.  And thus God tells us about himself.

David highlights that:  “He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel”  (Ps 103:7).  The Lord taught them his activity and actions.  Remember how he removed them from their slavery in Egypt with the 10 Plagues?  And they walked out.  Recall how he rescued them from the threat of pharaoh’s army?  In both cases they had no hope—from making bricks under cruel taskmasters to standing scared at the bank.  There was the water ahead of them, the desert to the side of them, the troops behind them.  We hear it in their cry:  “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die?”  (Ex 14:11).  They needed God’s help.  He walled up the sea and they walked through.  Their sandals did not get wet at all.  That didn’t happen when you walked on an unshoveled sidewalk this past week and your toes got soaked with a few inches of snow.  And then with them safely on the other side, the water came crashing down.  There were no survivors.

And then God led them to Mt. Sinai where they proceeded to dance around a golden calf in direct violation of the 1^st Commandment.  But the Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.  And that carried through as they marched through the wilderness as discipline for their disobedience as they tried his patience.  They grumbled, “God can’t provide.”  And there was manna day after day.  They gripped, “The Lord cannot protect.”  And there was victory time after time.  The Lord was always faithful, even when his people were not.

King David’s history read the same as Israel’s.  Scripture records his failures.  There is that tryst with Bathsheba.  And our story is similar.  We have our faults.  There is that time of bitterness.  We are aware of them as are others.  As well as God.  Of all of them  (Ps 103:3).  But where there is sin from us, there is grace from God  (Ro 5:20).  And grace upon grace  (Jn 1:16).  Because of who he is.  And he communicates it to us.  “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love”  (Ps 103:8).  Our response:  “Praise the Lord, O my soul”  (Ps 103:1).

Then it is the why.  And the list is lengthy.  There are quite a few comforting pictures.

“He will not always accuse”  (Ps 103:9).  If it were a matter of standing trial, God would have plenty of evidence against us.  The devil would be happy to add an accusation or two  (Re 12:10).  And we would have no defense.  Guilty.  And yet.  There is a verdict of “not guilty” because we are surrounded by and covered in Christ  (Ro 5:1).  Jesus pleads for us  (1 Jn 2:2).  And his blood cleanses us  (1 Jn 1:7).

“Nor will he harbor his anger forever”  (Ps 103:9).  God does not keep his wrath like we are all too good at.  He continues his kindness.

“He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities”  (Ps 103:10).  He does not do to us what we have coming.  The consequence should be death for all that is crooked, twisted, and bent, but he delivers us from the guilt of all of it  (Ro 6:23).  We have life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him”  (Ps 103:11).  We can try to put a figure on the height of the heavens—the location of the sun and stars.  The distance from the earth to the sun is 92.96 million miles.  Does that even fit into our heads?  I doubt if we round it to 93 million or refer to it in light years that would make any difference.  We are glad when an odometer turns over 200,000 miles or lasts for a decade or three.  The psalmist emphasizes how immeasurable God’s mercy is.  It never comes to an end like the gas in the tank of a vehicle.  We respond with respect for him.

“As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us”  (Ps 103:12).  If you start out heading east, you will never begin going west.  Just east—toward the sunrise, not the sunset.  The two don’t meet.  When God cancels sin, it is complete.  He will not bring it up again.  Our sins cannot attack us.  Keep that in mind in the middle of the night when Satan calls.  God acquits us.  He has the final word.  And it is “forgiven.”

“As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him”  (Ps 103:13).  One more illustration.  Unfortunately we have to qualify it.  God is picturing a good dad.  Such a one shows love for his children and wishes the best for them.  What we could not achieve—living perfectly—Jesus accomplished.  The Father hands that to us as he heaps our sin on his Son.  We react with reverence for him.  Praise the Lord God for his gift of grace.

If you can’t define praise—“to speak words of the excellence of an article or an individual,” you can do it.  Who?  Praise the Lord.  Why?  Praise the Lord God for his gift of grace.

We read from 103:1,7-13:

¹ Praise the Lord, O my soul;

⁷ He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel: 

⁸ The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. 

⁹ He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; 

¹⁰ he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. 

¹¹ For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; 

¹² as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. 

¹³ As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you  (1 Co 16:22).  Amen.

January 29, 2017

Third Sunday after the Epiphany (Matthew 4:12-23)

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ  (1 Co 1:3).  Amen.

It is just one word.  You use it whenever you extend an invitation whether you give your hand or grab one.  Can you guess it?  It is:  “Come.”  You say it when you want someone to enjoy something special or experience something significant.
 A friend calls, “Come over to try how good my spaghetti is.”
 A child commands, “Come upstairs to see how clean my room is.”
That is what Jesus did with the ones sitting in darkness and the brothers fishing on a lake.  “Come, follow me.”  That was some offer.  We are in on it too.  Come, follow Jesus.  He is the One who was sent.  And he is the One who does send.  We read from …

Matthew 4:12-23

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus, the Light of the World,
It has to be worth it if you are going to go with a person when they ask you.
 You are not about to traipse across town to eat one noodle from a plate.
 Nor are you inclined to get excited about one Lego off the floor.
“Come.”  They request.  You refuse.
Not so with Jesus.  It is not a waste of time when it comes to him.  It is an encouragement of love:  “Come, follow me.”  Yes,

Come, Follow Jesus
1.  He is the One who was sent  (12-17)
2.  He is the One who does send  (18-23)

1.  He is the One who was sent  (12-17)
It might not be smart to go anywhere with a complete stranger.  If you walk into a store in the mall, just because another states, “Come here.  Check this out,” doesn’t mean that you automatically do.  You look for a logo on his shirt or a lanyard around her neck.  That is a salesperson whom the retailer sanctions to sell clothes or computers.  The Father sent his Son  (Jn 3:16).  Come, follow Jesus.  He is the One who was sent.
John the Baptizer had been faithful as the forerunner of the Messiah.  He pointed out sin and pointed to the Savior.  But that had cost him his freedom.  He found himself in Herod’s prison because John called him out on his recent adulterous marriage to his brother’s wife  (Mt 4:12).
That is the time when Jesus withdrew from the south in Judea and went to the north in Galilee  (Mt 4:12).  He set up shop, not in Nazareth where he had grown up, but in Capernaum  (Mt 4:13).  That was going to be his home and his headquarters for a while.  It made sense.  That metropolis was located on the Sea of Galilee and on a major trade route reaching from Syria to Egypt.  That made it a thriving center of commerce which led to a bigger population than the surrounding cities.  But Capernaum would serve as a hub from Jesus could work to other towns, reaching out to many more.
But there was more to it than an excellent base of operations.  Matthew zeroes in on the real reason—divine purpose and plan.  It was in fulfillment of prophecy.  The pen of the prophet Isaiah had recorded it and Matthew referenced it  (Mt 4:14):  “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles”  (Mt 4:15; cf. Is 9:1).  Back when Joshua and the Israelites entered the Promised Land, that was the section allotted to those two tribes.
But because of where it was situated, they often were the first ones to bear the brunt of the boots of foreign invaders.  The Assyrians had conquered and carted off a good chunk of the residents and repopulated it and resettled the area with others.  With Gentiles.  Through the years other armies came—the Babylonians, Greeks, Romans.  It really did deserve the title, "Galilee of the Gentiles."
And that led to a problem.  It was gloomy and gray there.  Not because the sun never rose like in Alaska in winter causing sadness.  It was a spiritual issue:  “the people living in darkness”  (Mt 4:16).  In the Bible that stands for unbelief.  And the result is fatal:  “those living in the land of the shadow of death”  (Mt 4:16).  That ugliness hung over them.
But God did not leave them in that dreariness.  They “have seen a great light”  (Mt 4:16).  And on them “a light has dawned”  (Mt 4:16).  If God said so, it would be so.  When he speaks, he keeps  (Nu 23:19).  That region had the honor of the Light—Jesus  (Jn 8:12).  The Light of Jesus chases away the darkness of the devil like the sun in the morning drives out the blackness of the night.  Darkness and light cannot be in the same place at the same time.
And so Jesus started preaching and proclaiming like a courier who is sent to make known and make ready.  “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near”  (Mt 4:17).  He echoes the message of John before him  (Mt 3:2).  It is a hard one because it hits pride, but helpful because it heals hearts.  The difference was that John highlighted Jesus as the Messiah to come.  Jesus heralded himself as the Light who had come, the One who was sent to bring salvation.  He was on his mission to get rid of sin.  He would head to the cross and then out of the grave.  That was all at hand.
Light makes all the difference when you walk into an obscure room.  Even more so when we walk around in the dreariness of guilt.  But there is Jesus.  He shows us our sin, but shines in our hearts.  We repent.  There is a radical change of heart.  We come to the realization that it is not what we do for God, but what he does for us.  We trust, not in ourselves, but in our Savior who forgives our sin.  And then there is a change of actions.  We don’t live for ourselves, but for our Savior who gives us strength.  In Jesus we have the light of life  (Jn 8:12).  We declare with David:  “The LORD is my light and my salvation”  (Ps 27:1).  Jesus has rescued us.  Come, follow Jesus.  He is the One who was sent to dispel darkness and deliver light.
2.  He is the One who does send  (18-23)
I suppose that it is the HR department who authorizes the credentials or IDs that allows a salesperson to stand in an aisle or behind a counter.  One doesn’t just try to make others purchase a product without being on the payroll.  It would be hard to get an outstanding commission from a company by making an offhanded recommendation to a fellow shopper.  Jesus has all authority  (Mt 28:18,19).  He dispatches others with his word.  Come, follow Jesus.  He is the One who does send.
The Sea of Galilee is no small body of water.  That is why fishing was a popular profession.  That is how two brothers put food on the table—Andrew and Peter.  Andrew had been a disciple of John the Baptizer.  He was there that when two days in a row John named Jesus as “the Lamb of God”  (Jn 1:29,36).  He was the One who would pick up sin and put it on his shoulders.  On the second day, Andrew spent a big chunk of time with Jesus.  Afterwards he raced to Peter and reported:  “‘We have found the Messiah’  (that is, the Christ)”  (Jn 1:41).  Those two had hung out with Jesus for a while, but then they went back to catching fish.
But that was about to change while they were along the shore, “casting a net into the lake”  (Mt 4:18).  It was one of those round nets with weights on the ends which would spread out when thrown.  When it would sink, it would surround whatever was below it, capturing anything as it closed around it.  Jesus was about to change their careers for good.  Notice that he sought them out, not the other way around.
Without a long and lengthy interview, he uttered:  “Come, follow me … and I will make you fishers of men”  (Mt 4:19).  They would need the same patience and perseverance as before, but not with a net of mesh to drag fish to the beach, but the words of Jesus to draw others into God’s kingdom.  They didn’t weigh their options or take their time:  “At once they left their nets and followed him”  (Mt 4:20).  Immediately.  Now they would be fulltime listeners and learners as Jesus taught and tutored them as apostles.
The same scene repeated itself with another set of siblings a bit farther down the coastline—James and John.  They were busy taking care of their nets—cleaning, mending, folding them for the next time.  It was a family business.  (I don’t know they had “Zebedee and Sons” stitched on their robes or stenciled on their boats.)  They worked with their father and for him.  When Jesus called them, they quit right away.  Thus Jesus would prepare these men to carry on the work.  He was the One who sent them.
They might not have had any formal education.  Their collars were pretty blue.  But now it would be on the job training.  When I was growing up, my brother and I had a paper route.  He would do half and I would do the other half.  But it wasn’t until after we went together for a time.  He didn’t just turn me loose.  Which houses?  Which doors?  Jesus didn’t either.  Matthew gives a summary statement of what those four saw shadowing Jesus:  “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people”  (Mt 4:23).
Those three things characterized Jesus’ ministry—teaching, preaching, and healing.  Think of all the lessons and the sermons they sat through—from the hillsides to houses of worship.  And the miracles that they witnessed—from lepers cleansed and lame ones cured.  Those were proof that Jesus was the Son of God and Savior of the world.  He attended to their physical and spiritual needs.  Those two sets of brothers observed Jesus who would send them out after his resurrection from the tomb.
The One sent is the One who sends.  Us.  At first that might be intimidating or terrifying.  But we don’t go unprepared or untrained.  If you don’t know how to fish, you go with someone who does.  They instruct how to bait a hook or find a spot.  Andrew and Peter and James and John knew that occupation.  Now they would acquire another.
Certainly God commissions some to fish for men fulltime.  But we ought not leave it to those or latch on to one like those Christians in Corinth:  “‘I follow Paul” … ‘I follow Apollos’ … ‘I follow Cephas’ … ‘I follow Christ’”  (1 Co 1:12).  It is never about the messenger, but always about the message.  Finally, all of us are sent.  We are united, not divided.
So maybe we need to study.  We sit at Jesus’ feet as we scour the Bible.  We are not comfortable with what we know, but look for opportunities to grow—strengthened and supported by Word and sacrament.  And then to go  (Mt 28:19; Acts 1:8)—letting the Light shine and letting our lights shine  (Mt 5:16; Php 2:15).  Come, follow Jesus.  He is the one who sends—common messengers with an uncommon message.
“Come.”  And so we invite.  Possibly some are disappointed with a subpar meal or a substantial mess.  But not with Jesus.  Come, follow Jesus.  He is the One who is sent.  He came for us.  He is the One who does send.  He comes though us.  He reveals himself as the Light and we reflect him as the Light.  We hold on to that Light and hold out that Light.  Happy Epiphany.  Amen.

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you  (1 Co 16:22).  Amen.


January 22, 2017

Second Sunday after the Epiphany (John 1:29-41)

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ  (1 Co 1:3).  Amen.

“Look!”  That one word is meant to grab our attention.  But what is important is what follows.  With another winter storm supposedly around the corner, it might be this soon:  “Look.  3-6 inches of snow on the ground.”  The emphasis is on the white stuff on the sidewalk.  (That can be exciting if you want to go sledding.  Not so much if you have to start shoveling.)  “Look.”  That command draws our eyes to something.
Or someone.  Such was John the Baptizer.  “Look.”  But it was not as a tour guide showing the sights.  But it was as a forerunner, sharing the Savior.  “Look!  The Lamb of God!”  That is a message pointed out to people and a message that is pointed out through people.  We read from …

John 1:29-41

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus, the Lamb of God,
What is your opinion on pointing?
 Perhaps your parents taught you that it was bad manners.  “Don’t point at people” rates right up there with “don’t stare at people.”
 Possibly you have told another that it is an impolite practice.  It makes an individual uncomfortable or uneasy.
Maybe you deem it a bad habit.
But it can be a good one.  It is a privilege to point to something like a cure for a common cold or to someone like the Redeemer of a fallen planet.  John made a living doing it.

Look!  The Lamb of God!
1.  That is a message pointed out to people  (29-39)
2.  That is a message pointed out through people  (40,41)

1.  That is a message pointed out to people  (29-39)
I suppose that we would call it the audience—the one or ones who are to do the observing when the cry goes out:  “Look!”  John was in the wilderness.  But he was not alone.  Many made the trek out to hear him.  He was preaching about the One to come.  And one day he was there.  The Lamb of God.  That is a message pointed out to people.
John the Baptist did his job well—even when there was controversy or criticism from the religious elite  (Jn 1:19-28).  He was to prepare the way for the Lord  (Jn 1:23)—tearing down the arrogant and building up the discouraged.  Just like all the prophets in the Old Testament, he carried out his commission carefully.  He was clear.  He was not the Christ  (Jn 1:20).  He was just a simple messenger.
But with a significant message.  John the Gospel writer gives a great example of how John the Baptizer did that.  “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God”  (Jn 1:29).  It was not a reference to Jesus’ dress—a fleece jacket instead of a camel garment  (Mt 3:4).  But to Jesus’ work.
That designation was not lost on them.  They got it easier than we might grasp it.  They were familiar with their history.  There was the unblemished lamb of the Passover  (Ex 12:1-13).  Before leaving the slavery of Egypt, their ancestors painted that animal’s blood on their doorframes.  The Lord passed over those homes and the firstborn was spared.  And then lamb after lamb lost its life at the tabernacle and later the temple.
That was a valuable visual aid.  Every time a worshipper witnessed a lamb spill its blood, he could claim or she could contend:  “That one died so that I might live.  That one for me.  My sin requires suffering, bleeding, and dying.”
All of that looked ahead to the One who would give his life for their guilt.  It was a powerful reminder that “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness”  (He 9:22).  But note that John did not assert, “a lamb of God.”  But he affirmed “the Lamb of God.”  In the flesh.  He is God’s Lamb, without defect  (1 Pe 1:19).  He was perfect and holy to cover us.  God chose him to give up his life and pour out his blood.  For us.
That is why God sent his Lamb—“who takes away the sin of the world”  (Jn 1:29; 1 Jn 2:2).  He picked up and carried off the mass, the mountain, of sin to the cross.  Isaiah’s pen wrote in prophesy:  “The Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. … He was led like a lamb to the slaughter”  (Is 53:6,7).
And notice whose sins.  The world’s.  Not just Israel’s, or yours, or mine.  But of all.  Those sins were laid on and paid for by the Lamb.  He offered the price to set everyone free  (1 Pe 1:19).  That brings to mind what Isaiah predicted:  “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept.  I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth”  (Is 49:6).  Look!  The Lamb of God.  That is a message pointed out to us.  He has saved his people from their sins  (Mt 1:21).  Our sin is no longer on us, but on our Savior.  He is worthy of our praise  (Re 5:12).
But there was more pointing that day.  At first it could sound as if John is speaking in riddles:  “This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me’”  (Jn 1:30).  But not if we take it apart.
 “A man who comes after me”  (Jn 1:30).  Jesus was born after John and his ministry was after John’s.  That is, in time.
 “has surpassed me”  (Jn 1:30).  Jesus, true God and true man, is of higher rank than John like a general and a private.
 “because he was before me”  (Jn 1:30).  Jesus is eternal—no beginning and no end  (Jn 1:1-3).
That doesn’t diminish John’s efforts.  He understood his role:  “I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel”  (Jn 1:31).  Combining water and word, John’s baptism washed away sin.  He was to reveal the One who would come to rescue them.  It might be like the person who holds up a present for all to see after unwrapping it.  “Look at this jewelry.”  John’s mission:  “Look at this Jesus.”
John took them back to that big day when he baptized Jesus.  He could state the facts just as a witness in a court of law does because of what he had viewed closely as if a spectator at a sporting event who watched an outstanding play.  He saw the Holy Spirit descend in the form of a dove and stay on Jesus  (Jn 1:32-24).  He was there as the Father voiced his approval:  “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased”  (Mt 3:17).  It was obvious to him.  Jesus is “the Son of God”  (Jn 1:34).  Look the Lamb of God, the Son of God.  John points us to him so that we believe in have and have life through him  (Jn 20:31).
The next day John does that again, only abbreviated a bit for two of his followers who heard the full statement the previous day.  Gazing at Jesus as he walking by  (Jn 1:35):  “Look, the Lamb of God!”  (Jn 1:36).  Andrew and the other disciple were aware of the implication.  John was commenting, “That is the One you need to be with—the Christ.”  And they took off after him.
Jesus faced them with a critical question:  “What do you want?”  (Jn 1:38).  Jesus was not being paranoid that two strangers were stalking him.  He wanted them to examine their motive for shadowing him—to search their hearts.  Was it a quest of curiosity or an inquiry of interest?  What were they expecting from Jesus?
That is a good thing for us to stop and mull over in our minds.  What do we desire from the Lamb of God?  It is seven tips for easy living, a pain-free, problem-free life?  Or eternal life, free from all sin?  Because that is what he provides for us and presents to us.
Rarely do you call the doctor when you are sick and there is an immediate opening.  It is usually, “How does next month look for you?”  (By that time you will be better.)  Not with Jesus.  No delay.  When those two wanted to know, “Rabbi”  (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?”  (Jn 1:38), they were requesting a private hearing with Jesus.  His reply was:  “Come … and you will see”  (Jn 1:39).  What an invitation.  Come.  Listen and learn from the Lamb of God.  That pair got to spend that day with Jesus as he explained to them who he was and why he came  (Jn 1:39).  That was so special that mention is made of the time—the tenth hour—like we check our phone for what time a big text came through.  John the Baptizer could point to him; Jesus the Lamb could point to himself.
When we devote time to being with Jesus—in church or at home, in a study or on a cell, we realize that Jesus removes our sin.  Why?  Grace.  And the result?  Peace.  No wonder the apostle Paul started his letter to the Christians in Corinth with that idea, “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ”  (1 Co 1:3).  Those two gifts are ours too—grace and peace, undeserved kindness from God and unparalleled harmony with God as holy ones—free from sin and far from sin.  No accusation can stand up against us  (Mt 11:28).  We are blameless—right now and forever  (1 Co 1:8).  All because of Jesus.  Look!  The Lamb of God.  That is a message pointed out to people.  To us.
2.  That is a message pointed out through people  (40,41)
There is a progression.  Those who have been pointed to something or someone become pointers of the same.  John to the people, to his two disciples.  That is when those two take the lead.  Look!  The Lamb of God.  That is a message pointed out through people.
Andrew did not walk away from that time with Jesus unimpressed  (Jn 1:40).  There was no yawn of boredom or sigh of disappointment.  It is not like you watch an infomercial and realize that you won’t get that half hour back.  This was no waste of time.  It never is when we are with Jesus.
It is apparent in his action.  “The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon”  (Jn 1:41).  Did he go to others?  More than likely.  But Simon initially.  (We know him better as Peter.)  The unnamed other undoubtedly did the same with those near him.  And it wasn’t because of an amazing product, but an astonishing person.
And we have the concise comment:  “We have found the Messiah”  (that is, the Christ)”  (Jn 1:41). It wasn’t a matter of supposing that or suspecting that Jesus was that.  But he was sure and certain.  It was a fact.  “Peter, this is the One whom God anointed and appointed.  We have been waiting for him.  Now he is here.”  It is hard to miss his excitement and his eagerness.
There may be times when we may not be as enthusiastic.  Is with family?  Or with a friend?  What will they think?  What will they say?  So we are silent about the Christ.
Be like Andrew.  When we hang around with Jesus, we talk about Jesus.  He is the Christ. He communicates with us in his Word.  He conquered the devil.  He controls all things.  We can reiterate the remark:  “We have found the Messiah”  (that is, the Christ)”  (Jn 1:41).  With the psalmist we state:  “With my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations”  (Ps 89:1).  “God … is faithful”  (1 Co 1:).  Look!  The Lamb of God.  That is a message pointed out through people.  Through us.
“Look!”  That makes us aware that there is something or someone worthy of consideration.  It may be rude, but not when it is right.  You may even extend your index finger.  Like John, we exclaim, “Look!  The Lamb of God.  That is a message pointed out to us and then pointed out through us.  That is quite an honor for us and then from us.  Happy Epiphany.  Amen.

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you  (1 Co 16:22).  Amen.


January 15, 2017

First Sunday after the Epiphany (Acts 10:34-38)

Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord  (2 Pe 1:2).  Amen.

We talk about Christmas gifts.  Shouldn’t we expect the same with Epiphany?  Think of those wise men and their treasures of gold, incense, and myrrh when they worshipped the baby Jesus  (Mt 2:11).
Before you get all excited about more shopping for those around you  (That is not thrilling in my mind.) and more swiping of the credit card  (That is even less motivating in my opinion.), you don’t have to wrap anything.  It is what you receive—not from others, but from God.
This past Friday was Epiphany.  It is the season of the church year between Christmas and Lent.  We don’t want to miss the meaning.  “Epiphany” has the idea of “showing” or “revealing” like opening a present.  During this stretch we see that Jesus is the Savior of all, the One who was born for all and the One who died for all.  It all comes down to grace.  God’s grace is good for all with the love of all and through the Lord of all.  We read from …

Acts 10:34-38

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus whose love is for all and who is Lord over all,
Gift-giving is difficult.  At least it is for me.  [Slide 5]
 If it is clothes, what style?  What size?  There are different likes and dislikes depending on the individual’s taste.  Formal or informal?
 If it is cars  (Or do those only show up in driveways in December as the TV commercials would have us believe?), what color?   What kind?  There are different makes and models due to the one’s needs.  New or used?
We may struggle with those things when it comes to presents.  God doesn’t.  And it is the same for each of us.  It doesn’t change from person to person or from place to place.  It is grace.

God’s Grace is Good for All
1.  With the love of all  (34,35)
2.  Through the Lord of all  (36-38)

1.  With the love of all  (34,35)
Let’s be honest.  It can come down to a sense of obligation.  You splurge on me; I spend on you.  There is not always the right motivation when we give gifts.  We feel that we have to.  God has to give us his grace.  But he does it with the proper reason.  Love.  God’s grace is good for all with the love of all.
Peter came to that conclusion.  But not right away.  It took some convincing.  But then it was clear.  It started with a vision one afternoon when Peter was on the roof to pray  (Acts 10:9ff.).  The Lord came to in a vision.  He spotted a large sheet coming down from heaven.  It had all different kind of animals on it.  Some of them were unclean creatures, forbidden by Jewish law  (Le 11).  And then there was a voice:  “Get up, Peter.  Kill and eat”  (Acts 10:13).  And not just once, but three times.  At first, Peter questioned.  But the Lord commanded:  “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean”  (Acts 10:15).  Jesus was educating Peter not just about animals, but about people.  There is no unclean individual.  All are clean—Jew and Gentile.
That was to prepare Peter for that knock on the door while he was staying at Simon the Tanner’s house.  Some messengers were coming from Cornelius.  They were to invite this apostle to speak to him and his household.  That might not strike us as strange.  But Cornelius was a centurion—a man in charge of 100 men in the Roman military.  That made him a Gentile.  Jews didn’t step foot in a Gentile house.  But with the Lord’s blessing and direction, Peter journeyed to Caesarea, to address Cornelius and company  (Acts 10:27).
Upon arriving, Peter opened his mouth:  “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation”  (Acts 10:34,35).  Peter got what he didn’t before.  It was now really apparent to him that there was no difference at all between Jew and Gentile.  God doesn’t play favorites, that is, treating someone better than another.
And he gives two qualities of those who are welcome with God:
 “who fear him”  (Acts 10:35).  Cornelius was such a “God-fearing man”  (Acts 10:2,22).  This is not a terror of God, but a trust in God—like a child to a parent as they see the providing and protecting.  There is respect and reverence for God because of his grace and goodness.  This fear is from one who knows that his sin is forgiven, who appreciates God’s grace, the grace that is for all.
 “who … do what is right”  (Acts 10:35).  Faith produces fruit, practicing what is correct.  A person’s life will show that gratitude one has for God’s grace—in the way he or she thinks, talks, and acts, not wanting to offend God, but adore him.  That type of life is pleasing to God.
There is the accusation at times from the student, “My teacher likes her better than me” or from the employee, “My boss treats him better than me.”  Whether it is real or perceived, it is not appropriate.  We are not to be that way, taking into consideration another’s face or form, or taking into account his country or her culture.  All are the same in God’s eyes.  He sent Jesus to save all people from their sins  (Mt 1:21; Lk 2:10).  That includes you and me.  And that excludes no one.
Satan may claim in order to confuse, “Maybe not.”  We contend in order to confess, “Definitely so.”  It is as Isaiah explained about the Servant of the Lord, Jesus:  “a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness”  (Is 42:6,7).  It is not dependent on one’s gender or genes.  God’s grace is good for all.  That is what grace is—undeserved kindness, a gift that is not earned  (Eph 2:8,9).  Instead of the darkness that leads to death, there is light that directs to life.
We have great value in God’s eyes.  We can find that grace at the font.  As water and Word are together, God adopts us into his family.  We are children of God, clothed with Christ  (Gal 3:26,27).  We are all one in Christ Jesus  (Ga 3:28).  What the Father said of his Son, he speaks to us, “This is my dear son or daughter whom I love.   With him, with her, I am well pleased”  (cf. Mt 3:17).  Remember your baptism.  Rejoice in it.  God’s grace is good for all with his love for all—young and old, near and far.
2.  Through the Lord of all  (36-38)
It is safe to say that there are certain limits when it comes to gifts whether that is to family or friends.  It can be that we run out of money or we even run out of time.  It is not that way with God’s grace to all.  It is great because of the greater One behind it.  Grace comes to us from God through Jesus.  God’s grace is good for all through the Lord of all.
Peter wasn’t presenting new material to those gathered in Cornelius’ house.  They were familiar with the word of God which he delivered to his chosen people, “telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ”  (Acts 10:36).  That is what the gospel is—good news.  And it brings peace.  Peter was there on that first Easter evening.  Jesus crucified on Friday rose on Sunday.  He was not dead, but alive.  Suddenly Jesus appeared in in the locked room.  He stood there the middle of the disciples.  His first words were:  “Peace be with you!”  (Jn 20:19).  Jesus gives that peace which he promised, unlike anything the world knows  (Jn 14:27).  To us too.  Our guilt separated us from a holy God.  Our Savior connected us to him.  We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus who is our peace  (Ro 5:1; Eph 2:17).  His perfect life is ours.
That is because of who he is:  “Lord of all”  (Acts 10:36).  No one or nothing is above him because he is over everyone and everything—the One who is Lord of both the dead and the living  (Ro 14:9).  The empty cross displays his power over the devil.  The open grave demonstrates his power over death.  He is Jesus Christ the Lord.  No one is higher or greater than him  (Re 17:14; 19:16).
That is why we can be confident that his payment for our sin is enough.  God’s grace is good for all through the Lord of all.  And that will never end.  As the psalmists had us sing:  “Your throne … will last for ever and ever”  (Ps 45:6).
That was evident all throughout Jesus’ ministry.  Peter highlights the start of that.  “You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached”  (Acts 10:37).  Matthew recorded that event for us.  There is Jesus in the Jordan River with water running down his head.  He was baptized by John the Baptizer, not for his own sins, for he had none.  But there he identifies with the ones he came to save—with us.  It is as if to state:  “Their sins I will gladly take as their Substitute.  What is theirs is mine.  I willingly accept them all.”  And then that booming voice of the Father bellowing his approval.  Isaiah prophesied it so many years earlier as if the Lord was pointing directly at him:  “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight”  (Is 42:1).  The Father was glad that his Son was setting out to head to Calvary.  “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power”  (Acts 10:38).  There was a special outpouring of the Spirit and the strength to carry out his mission to rescue us  (Is 61:1; Lk 4:17-21).  And that is what he did.
With that commissioning Jesus continued on, equipped and empowered.  “He went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil”  (Acts 10:38).  That really is a summary of his service.  What Jesus did was not in some remote corner, but in plain sight.  He restored to health those who were sick and revived to life those who had died.  Such was his ability and capability as the Lord.  Not even the devil who is a cruel tyrant could overwhelm or overcome him.  And why?  “Because God was with him”  (Acts 10:38).  Jesus demolished the devil’s work, undoing the damage he had done  (1 Jn 3:8).  God gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ  (1 Co 15:57).  God’s grace is good for all though the Lord of all.
So the question is not:  What do you give for Epiphany?  It is:  What do you get at Epiphany?  The answer:  Grace.  God makes that known to us during this time from Jesus’ birth to Jesus’ death.  God’s grace is good for all with the love of all and through the Lord of all.  No one is left out because Jesus is right on.  Happy Epiphany.  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).


January 8, 2017

New Year's Day (Numbers 6:22-27)

Enter the New Year with the LORD’s Blessing—Of his protection

Here is a bit of trivia.  What is January 1?  You are pretty safe with an answer of New Year’s Day.  But that is too easy.  That is hardly a challenge.  You could come up with that even if you stayed up to 12:01 last night and are a little tired from watching a ball drop.

I will give you some help.  Here is a hint.  It is eight days after December 25.  If you go back to the Old Testament, the 8th day was a significant one for a male child.  It was his circumcision day  (Ge 17:12).  That procedure was a visible sign of the covenant between God and Israel  (Ge 17:10).

Another important event happened at that time.  That is when the newborn officially received his name.  Luke records the incident in a few words:  “On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was given the name Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived”  (Lk 2:21).  It is something that we could easily miss as it falls on January 1st and many have their minds on other things.

Speaking of names, God referenced his—who he is and what he does.  And then the Lord relays how it is to be used.  We don’t want to skip over its function, especially as we begin a new year.

The children of Israel were camped at the foot of Mt. Sinai.  God had forcefully brought them out of their slavery in Egypt with the 10 plagues.  Those were convincing miracles of his might.  Then when pharaoh’s army gave chase, God gave victory.  His people crossed to the other side on dry land as the Red Sea stopped running.  The soldiers in hot pursuit drowned when the walls of water came crashing down on them.  The nation made their way safely to the sacred mountain.

Before they took down their tents there to take off for the Promised Land, God wanted to place his name on them.  So he spoke.  Note the direction:  God to Moses.  Then Moses to Aaron and his sons—the High Priest and priests.  And finally those men to the people.  “The LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites’ … So they will put my name on the Israelites”  (Nu 6:22,27).  This is more than what my mom did when I was growing up.  With three boys, she would put our initials on our socks so they wouldn’t end up in the wrong dresser drawer.  But we are not God’s possessions; we are God’s people.  He is highlighting this fact:  “You belong to me.”

This benediction is not something that Moses crafted.  Aaron and Company didn’t compose it.  No one was commissioned to author it and the others were convinced to adopt it.  It is from the Lord.  He gave the blessing to them and he gives the blessings in it.  He stands behind it—our Triune God.  And while we hear it as a group, God wants us to have it as an individual—as if the Lord is addressing each of us directly, personally.  And he will do it.  This is a time of resolutions—what we intend to do when it comes to more exercise and less sweets.  (I didn’t say less chocolate.)  But within weeks or days  (hopefully not minutes), we forget or fail in our determination or dedication.  But not God.  And he is emphatic:  “And I will bless them”  (Nu 6:27).  It may have been the priest then or the pastor now who talks, but it is the Lord always and ever who works.

“The LORD bless you”  (Nu 6:24).  This is more than a casual statement from someone after you sneeze:  “Bless you.”  They have no ability to do anything.  This is a constant situation from the Lord as we breathe.  “The LORD bless you”  (Nu 6:24).  It is the changeless Lord—who is gracious and compassionate, who gives his love and forgives our sin  (Ex 34:6,7).  He prospers.  He protects.  He provides.

“The LORD bless you and keep you”  (Nu 6:24).  He watches over us carefully and attentively like a mother hovers over her children at the playground, making sure that they are safe.  But he never slumbers or sleeps  (Ps 121:4).  That is possible because he has all power, that same as he used to call the world into existence  (Ge 1) and now keeps us close  (Jn 10:29).

“The LORD bless you and keep you”  (Nu 6:24).
 The Lord does that for us spiritually.  He creates faith and keeps us in that faith.  We remember our baptism as he connects us to his family.  We read his Word as he communicates with us in black and white.  That can be in public or in private.  And not occasionally, but regularly—in and around the Word.  We relish the sacrament as he comes to us in, with, and under the bread and wine with his Son’s body and blood.
 The Lord does that for us physically.  In spite of our grumbling and griping at times like the Israelites who along the way yearned for the supposed good life of their previous oppression at the hands of cruel taskmasters, God delivers our daily bread—all that we need for body and soul.  The air that we inhale, the food that we eat, the jobs that we perform, those all originate from the Lord.  His guarantee of his guidance includes the problems and pains that we drag into 2017.

What he did in former days, he will do in future ones.  Enter the new year with the Lord’s blessing of his protection.  Happy New Year.

We read from Numbers 6:22-24,27:
The LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites.  Say to them:  “The LORD bless you and keep you.” … So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.’”


Enter the New Year with the LORD’s Blessing—Of his pardon

Names are not just a combination of sounds and syllables.  We can’t hear a name and not think of a person.  I will give you a simple example:  “Jesus.”  That brings to mind a baby in a manger and a body on a cross.  And his name gives us some insight not just into who he is—God, but also what he does—rescues.  The angel announced that as he appeared to Joseph in a dream explaining the child Mary was carrying:  “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins”  (Mt 1:21).  God sent Jesus to save us because he loves us.

The Lord mentions that in the second section of the blessing.  “The LORD make his face shine upon you”  (Nu 6:25).  We can tell a lot about someone by looking at their face—sometimes more than by what comes out of their mouths.  We spot if there is hurt or happiness pretty quickly—if there is a wrinkle in the forehead or a sparkle in the eye.  That is the picture that God uses.  His face lights up like when a military husband who is deployed overseas surprises his wife by coming home early.  God’s face beams like the sun breaking out of the clouds.  It is bright with mercy and pity.  In Jesus there is light and life  (Jn 1:9).

That is not what we might expect for the children of Israel as they partied and pranced around a golden calf.  Or as they moaned and groaned in the wilderness about the apparent lack of food and water.  But God had not left them.

We ought not point the finger until we peer into our own heart.  It is dark with sin—the ones we keep from others or the ones that are clear to them.  David is right when he reminds us:  “The face of the LORD is against all who do wrong”  (Ps 34:16).  We do well to recite another one of David’s prayers:  “Hide your face from my sins and blot out my iniquities”  (Ps 51:9).

But there is more to his face.  “The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you”  (Nu 6:25).  And that is what happens.  He smiles on us and sends our sins away in Jesus  (Jn 1:16,18).  That is why we get so excited to see his arrival and celebrate his birth at Christmas.  God pardons us with his grace—giving us the opposite of what we deserve.  Instead of anger, there is that unmerited kindness in Christ.  That was ours yesterday.  It is ours today and tomorrow.  Because Jesus offered himself for us—his perfect life in our place and his perfect death in our stead  (Ro 5:8), nothing will be able to separate us from God’s love  (Ro 8:38,39), not even death.  It is then that we will see his bright face forever.

Enter the new year with the Lord’s blessing of his pardon.  Happy New Year.

We read from Numbers 6:25:
“The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you.”


Enter the New Year with the LORD’s Blessing—Of his peace

Imagine how many times someone has uttered your name?  It could be either when you were in trouble or when you are in need.  (You figure out which one is more often.)  Now consider how many times the Lord has put his name on his people since he presented this to Moses almost 3500 years ago.  Not just in your life.  And not just in your language.  To different people in different places in various situations and various circumstances—after a church service, in a hospital room, at a deathbed.  The number would be huge.  But the Lord wants us to use it.

There is one more part:  “The LORD turn his face toward you”  (Nu 6:26).  There it is again—God’s face.  If someone is looking down, we can’t see their face.  Is that how the Lord’s is?  That was the accusation of the Israelites in the desert—that God was uncaring because they were hungry and unconcerned because they were thirsty.  But yet manna came down from heaven and water came out of rocks.  He was not against them, but for them.

And the same is the case for us despite our feelings or moods.  At times we find ourselves wondering like David:  “How long, O LORD?  Will you forget me forever?  How long will you hide your face from me?”  (Ps 13:1).  The Holy Spirit allows us to confess Jesus as our Lord and confide in him as our God  (1 Co 12:3; Jn 20:28).  He will not forget us or forsake us.

“The LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace”  (Nu 6:26).  That last word is like an explanation point on the blessing.  Peace.  When the Lord lifts up his face, there is peace.  There is a wholeness and harmony where before there was friction and fighting.  We have peace with God in Jesus  (Ro 5:1), the Prince of Peace  (Is 9:6).  Glory to God in the highest  (Lk 2:14).  All is right between us and God.  Heartache cannot upset us because heaven awaits us.

Enter the new year with the Lord’s blessing of his peace.  Happy New Year.

We read from Numbers 6:26:
“The LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”


January 1, 2017

Christmas Day (Isaiah 52:7-10)

We Have Good News at Christmas


Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus our Lord, whose birth we see again and celebrate today,

What comes to mind when you hear this:  “I have news for you.”?  Maybe two things.
 What kind is it?  In other words, since the word “news” is really neutral, is the news good or bad?
 What is it?  That is, as far as the content.

What about the news of Christmas?  We can cheat a little and let the angel clarify as he comes to some shepherds outside of Bethlehem.  They had punched in that night to protect their sheep, not expecting any heavenly guests.  (That was not a common occurrence.)  And then this courier from God appeared with this communication from God:
 “Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people”  (Lk 2:11).  That takes care of the sort of news.  It is good.
 “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord”  (Lk 2:11).  That covers the substance.  It is about Jesus.

It is obvious how we react to good news.  We rejoice.  It is exciting.  The prophet Isaiah helps us so that as we consider Jesus’ birth.

It would be hard when it happened.  The Lord would send Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians to destroy Jerusalem and deport the people, trashing and torching the temple in the process.  It was a judgment on their idolatry—the fact that they had turned their backs on God.  But that forced captivity in a foreign country would come to an end.  God would bring them back to their homeland.

Isaiah uses the picture of runners sprinting back to Jerusalem from the front lines where Israel’s armies were facing and fighting their enemies.  They race ahead of the others who are returning.  We might compare it to the child who jumps out of the car before it comes to a complete stop in grandma and grandpa’s driveway and heads into their house, “We are here.  We are here.”

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news”  (Is 52:7).  The messenger’s feet are beautiful, even though there might have been a bit of dust and dirt from the paths, because the message they bring is beautiful.  There was victory.

We can almost picture the one proclaiming the triumph panting as he relays three things.
 “Peace”  (Is 52:7).  The relationship between us and God was not right.  It was broken.  But God did not leave it that way.  He restored it by sending his Son, the “Prince of peace”  (Is 9:7).  But it would come at a price, a high one.  Jesus would be crushed for our sins on the cross  (Is 53:5).  “The punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed”  (Is 53:5).  Since that is true, nothing now stands in the way.  God and sinners reconciled   (CW 61:1).  No wonder the angel choir light up the night sky and burst out in song:  “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests”  (Lk 2:14).  That also calls to mind Jesus’ words the night before his death:  “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid”  (Jn 14:27).
 “Good tidings”  (Is 52:7).  What comes from God is good because he is good  (Ps 100:5; 106:1; Ja 1:17).  At Christmas we see that he has brought about his promise of a Messiah to make us one with God.  The release from Babylon foreshadowed a greater release—from our sin.  It is like when you see the first streaks of the sun peak off in the distance you know that that fiery ball will blaze brightly at noon.  The one freedom anticipated the greater one.  It was John the Baptizer who was a witness of Jesus, the Word made flesh  (Jn 1:14):  “The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world”  (Jn 1:9).
 “Salvation”  (Is 52:7).  God has delivered us from danger.  Jesus has done what his name means.  Remember how the angel stressed that as he stated to Joseph the reason for Mary’s pregnancy—conceived by the Holy Spirit:  “You are to give him the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins”  (Mt 1:21).

Peace, good tidings, salvation—that is all good news at Christmas.  But there is more:  “Your God reigns!”  (Is 52:7).  That had always been the case.  It is just more evident now.  And that is true about Jesus.  Jesus descended from David.  But he sits, not on an earthly throne, but an eternal one.  And he is in complete control.  No one will be able to oust or overthrow him.  And one day the King will reappear to take us into his kingdom  (Mt 25:34).

And then Isaiah switches the scene to those standing on the city walls, scanning the horizon.  “Listen!  Your watchmen lift up their voices; together they shout for joy.  When the LORD returns to Zion, they will see it with their own eyes”  (Is 52:8).  As they came face to face with the envoys from afar they erupt in happiness.  We make our way to the manger again this day and we join the shepherds as they made their way from it:  “[They] returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they were told”  (Lk 2:20).  Good news is to be shared.  We speak about it too.  Jesus is born.

And that is what Isaiah encourages:  “Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem”  (Is 52:9).  We associate singing with Christmas.  And with good reason.  We sing when we are happy.  And why not?  “For he has done marvelous things his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him”  (Ps 98:1).  We are his people, belonging to him because Jesus has paid the price to set us free from our guilt with his holy, precious blood, spilled and shed on the cross.  It is not wrong to stand beneath that instrument of torture as we stand beside a trough for animals.  That is why Jesus “became flesh and made his dwelling among us”  (Jn 1:14).  He lived with us so that we could live with him.

That is how God displayed his might.  It is like a weightlifter at the gym will wear a tank top instead of a long sleeve shirt—to show off his muscle as he works out.  God wants all corners of the earth to see his power in Christ and what he has accomplished  (Lk 2:30,31).  “The LORD will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God”  (Is 52:10).  The Lord, whose love never changes, has rescued us from sin and released us from Satan.  It commences at the makeshift crib, continues at the wooden cross, and culminates at the open tomb.  The Father sent his Son—for us and for our salvation.

“I have news for you.”  That may cause you to wonder.  But not today.  I have good news at Christmas.  And so do you.  We have good news at Christmas.  Jesus is born.  Merry Christmas.

We read from Isaiah 52:7-10:
7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
8 Listen!  Your watchmen lift up their voices; together they shout for joy.  When the LORD returns to Zion, they will see it with their own eyes.
9 Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem.
10 The LORD will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.

Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever!  (Re 7:12).  Amen.


December 25, 2016

Christmas Eve (Genesis 49:10)

The Ruler Has Arrived

When you look into the manger, what do you see?  A baby.  I suppose that is a safe answer.  It is obvious in every nativity scene.  There are animals like donkeys and cows, even camels.  There is also the usual cast of characters—shepherds, Mary, Joseph, and, of course, the infant, front and center.

But more, much more than a baby.  He is Mary’s Son, born of a virgin  (Is 7:14).  And he is God’s Son, true God taking on human flesh, true man  (Col 2:9).  That acknowledgement is significant.  He is Jesus—the Messiah, the Christ—Prophet, Priest, and King.  God guaranteed him through prophet after prophet down through the years  (Lk 1:70)—Immanuel, “God with us”  (Is 7:14; Mt 1:23), born in the little town of Bethlehem  (Mi 5:2), The LORD our Righteousness  (Je 23:6).  The faithful were to be watching and waiting for him.  And now he is born.

But there were others, like Jacob, who revealed a Ruler who was to come.  It was on his deathbed at age 147.  He gathered his 12 sons around him while they were still in Egypt and spoke words that are both blessings to them and predictions about them  (Ge 49:1).  He made known that it would not be from Rueben or Simeon or Levi that the Messiah would trace his family tree, but Judah, the fourth son of Leah.  The honor would be his.  And others would praise him for it   (Ge 49:8).  So like his grandfather Abraham passed along the blessing to his son, Isaac, and Isaac to his son, Jacob, Jacob was about to do the same with Judah.

Jacob speaks of a scepter—a symbol of authority—and a staff—a sign of power that when the one in charge sat on his throne, the top of the stick or rod laid on his shoulder and the bottom went between his feet.  Those things would not go away  (Ge 49:10).

David comes to mind, a descendant of Judah many years later.  He was certainly a great king in Israel.  He came and conquered.  Unfortunately many after him did not fare so well.  But One would appear—the One to whom it, this ruler’s scepter and staff, belonged.  On the night before we commemorate Christ’s birth, we consider him.

He is David’s greater Son, really his greatest Son.  Zechariah called him “a horn of salvation … in the house of his servant David”  (Lk 1:69).  It was the angel Gabriel that referenced that when he announced to Mary that she would have a son.  He not only expresses his name—Jesus, but also explains his nature.  “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.  The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end”  (Lk 1:32.33).  This is no common King, but a real Ruler.

And he didn’t symbolize power, he showed power.  He was no mere figurehead.  The King would go to the cross where he would crush the devil’s head  (Ge 3:15).  And then three days later, victorious over all of our enemies, he would come out of the grave.  He saved his people from their sins  (Mt 1:21).  He rescued us.  We now have rest, complete rest—between us and God.  And so our Savior invites us, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”  (Mt 11:28).  He refreshes us with the good news that he has removed all of our wrongs.

This rest is not a short break or slight breather from the flurry, or better, the frenzy of activity around Christmas—“we got to buy this” or “we got to bake that.”  And now that the gifts are all wrapped and cookies are all sprinkled, we step back and finally let out a huge sigh of relief—mission accomplished.  There is more to Christmas Eve tonight and Christmas Day tomorrow than that.

But this rest is for our souls.  Our guilt no longer weighs us down because Jesus lifted it off of us.  All is right between us and God.  No wonder the angel chorus belted out their song:  “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests”  (Lk 2:14).  All because of Jesus, our “Prince of Peace”  (Is 9:6).  His reign will never end  (Re 11:15).  Our God has brought us to believe this and we bow before him in glad obedience, eager to do what is good  (Ti 2:11-14).  We worship him with appreciation on earth and with the anticipation of eternity.

When you peer into the feedbox, what do you spot?  A baby.  Yes.  And more.  The promised Ruler has arrived with perfect rest.  He is Christ the Lord  (Lk 2:11), our King.  Merry Christmas Eve.

We read from Genesis 49:10:

The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his.

December 24, 2016