TEXT: Matthew 19:13-15
13 Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, 14 but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” 15 And he laid his hands on them and went away.
In the Name of Jesus.
Dear Tracy, Brad, and Tate (big brother); grandparents, Randy and Denise, Scott and Judy; other family members, friends, as well as fellow saints at Zion Lutheran congregation….
Grace, mercy and peace be unto you from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Today we gather as those who mourn the death of a son, a little brother, grandson, great-grandson, nephew, cousin, fellow baptized believer, saint in the One Holy Christian Church and brother in Christ. And it is okay for us to mourn. Even our Lord Jesus Christ wept at the funeral of Lazarus. Jesus wept, even when He knew that Lazarus would be raised again. We are no different. We may weep, but our tears are not without hope. Rather we weep as those who are confident in the bodily resurrection at the End of Time.
We also gather to care for the body of Nash. And we do that with the resurrection in mind too. The Lord has taken care of Nash’s body these 6 months and we must trust that He will also do with it as He sees fit until He comes again.
The Scripture chosen for the message this morning is taken from Matthew 19, where “Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.’ 15 And he laid his hands on them and went away.”
Mothers made a habit of bringing their children to Jesus…. children of all ages… from newborns (Luke 18:15) to school-aged. All of them came to Jesus. They brought them not for a game of patty cake, or peek-a-boo, or itsy-bitsy spider… although, there is no doubt that Jesus loved to play with children. But the mothers brought their babies to Jesus so that he might lay his hands on them.
But what’s the big deal about getting a pat on the head by Jesus? In the New Testament Church (Acts 8), the laying on of hands was part of Baptism and the occasion for giving of the Holy Spirit. It was no mere, insignificant, “Oh isn’t he so cute,” gesture… no petty, meaningless liturgical act. To have Jesus lay His hand on your child was to receive gifts from God. To have Jesus lay His hand on your child was to receive the same Holy Spirit that lighted upon Jesus during His own baptism. If Jesus laid His hands on you, you left with the Holy Spirit. No doubt about it! And wherever the Holy Spirit is there is the “ticket,” the assurance of being received, into the kingdom of God: Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” (John 3:5-6)
The laying on of hands is still an important part of Baptism today: Jesus Himself, through the office of the Holy Ministry, makes the sign of the cross upon the forehead and heart of the one being baptized to “mark him as one redeemed by Christ the crucified.” During the praying of the Lord’s Prayer, the pastor puts his hand on the one being baptized. After the child is baptized, the pastor lays his hands on person’s head and says, “The Almighty God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given you the new birth of the water and the Spirit and has forgiven you all your sins, strengthen you with His grace to life +everlasting.” The baptismal rite is full of the laying on of hands.
On March 29, 2008, Nash Adam Sievers had the hand of Christ laid upon him at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Plano, TX. St. Paul says that there is “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Eph 4:5) and so Nash through Baptism was made a member of the “one Holy Christian Church, the communion of saints.”
On the day of His baptism, there would be no doubt that little Nash had received the Spirit of God. No, his little tongue could not speak of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. But there is no doubt that little ones can and do believe in the Trinity… that they do confess every article of the Creed. Jesus says so. You remember when the disciples came and asked Him, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a child to Him, put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn (repent) and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven… Whoever receives one such child in my name receives Me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”
Nash believed in Jesus. Nash had received the Holy Spirit in Holy Baptism. In baptism, Nash was saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Nash had all the promises of Scripture given to him in Baptism:
“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.” Mark 16:16
“You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Cor. 6:11
“He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” Titus
Peter said, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children…” and there were 3000 souls added that day. (Acts 2)
The assurance of Heaven is a comfort for Christians. It is a comfort for those of us who cannot but deny that we are sinners and in need of a Savior. Nash was not exempt from sin. King David said, “Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me.” Nash needed a Savior. Even better, Nash has a Savior in Jesus Christ.
But even while we are sure of heaven our mind wonders, “Why Lord? Why my little boy? He was not even quite 6 months old? And the timing Lord, during a weekend when all the family was coming together to celebrate… why this sadness?”
There are things that are a mystery to us. Sin has so tainted our understanding of the things of God that we “see through a veil dimly.” In other words, it is impossible to understand all the things of God. What God ordains is always good. And our prayer must simply be, “God help me in the midst of things I do not understand to believe that You are only interested in what was and is best for Nash and his salvation and what’s best for me and my salvation.”
God is not the author of death… but of life. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and Life.” God is the Living God… the God who breathed life into Adam and Eve and the God who continues to give new life today. Death is not God’s idea… it’s not His creation… death’s not natural but unnatural. Death is the result of sin… it’s the joy of Satan… and the enemy of men.
God in Christ has overcome death. Through Jesus’ holy, innocent sufferings and death, He beat death. And on the third day, Jesus rose again, proclaiming His victory over death.
Just as Jesus rebuked his disciples, saying, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them…,” so He said to you, Tracy and Brad, on July 1st, “Let little Nash come to me and do not hinder him. I have prepared a playroom for Him in heaven. I have died and risen again for Nash, it is time for him to receive his crown of glory. The time is right. The time is perfect.”
Today, Nash Adam Sievers is crawling all over heaven. He is playing patty cake with angels. Nash is being cuddled by great grandma Jane. Today he plays peek-a- boo with great grandpas Leland, Edwin, and Paul. The heavenly chorus is singing him lullabies. There is no tear in his eyes but only smiles and laughter… forever. Just as the Lord Jesus would take up the little children into his arms and cradle them, so Nash is being held by His Savior and tenderly caressed by the Savior who died for Him… the Savior who bore the name “Nash Adam Sievers” inscribed upon His hands right near the place where the nails were driven in.
And make no mistake. This little, precious body that lays here asleep will one day be woken up again. When the angels come to gather the saints, a loud trumpet will sound. All those who have received the gift of faith in Baptism will awake from their sleep. And when you see Him again, there will be no heart problems, no hidden congenital illness. He will be perfect and whole… an extreme makeover of divinely cosmic proportions. We will not see him for a little while, but in a little while, then, we will be with him where our Savior Jesus is - forever.
God will grant it for Jesus’ sake.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
A Sermon on Anger
TEXT: Matthew 5:20-26
20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. 26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
In the Name of the Father, and of the +Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Imagine what it would be like to have a relative who is a serial killer. Imagine the disgrace it would bring on your family. Imagine how horrible it would be.
But now suppose one has a relative who is a church-going Missouri Synod churchman. He is faithful in his giving, regular in the Divine Service, and has even served on various church boards. But there is a problem… He is easily angered. He is quick to give a harsh word. He is known to harbor grudges (unwilling to forgive.) But because he is active in the church and a good-giver, most people overlook his “short fuse.”
Jesus doesn’t overlook this “short fuse.” “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.”
The Lord’s words don’t seem fair. We have our own morality that says that serial killers, abortionists, and cold calculated murderers are more liable, more guilty, and more sinful than someone who gets angry. But what about someone who is generally a pleasant, loving person, but on occasion looses his/her cool. I mean someone who has a really good reason to get mad. Surely, the Lord would have a different standard for them?
No, there is only one standard. Jesus says, “Everyone.” No one is exempt. That includes you and it includes me. It includes every time you and I get mad at the umpire, my children, my parents, my brother or sister, my teacher, my pastor, my parishioner… anyone. When it comes to the 5th commandment, you and I who get angry are as wicked as Osama bin Laden or Charles Manson or Adolf Hitler “Everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says “you fool will be liable to the hell of fire.”
Jesus says it’s not enough to simply stay away from killing someone. No, your lips must be clean too. And not only your lips, but also your heart. You see, if you want to enter the kingdom of heaven then your righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees. IN other words, you must live a perfect life in thought, word, and deed. Never sinning. No, not even once. “And those who have done good will enter into eternal life, and those who have done evil into eternal fire.” (Athanasian Creed)
The Pharisees taught the people that if they simply went through the motions of offering their sacrifices on the altar that God would forgive them. It didn’t matter what the sin was or who was sinned against. Show up at the altar, kill the animal, and “Poof!” everything was all better.
But they were wrong. The Old Testament sacrificial system was meant to be a means of grace. It was for sinners who knew and felt their sins. It was for murderers who in light of God’s Law acknowledged their sins and came running to the infinite mercy of God. It was for those who sinned in thought, word and deed by things they had done and things they had left undone… and they knew it. It was meant to liberate those who were captive to sin… But the Pharisees abused the system. Instead of the sacrificial system being a means of grace they had turned it into a law. They Pharisees taught that sacrifices were something that sinners did to earn God’s favor rather than something God did for sinners.
But sinners can’t earn God’s favor. It’s impossible. Sinners have no righteousness. Sinners must be saved. Sinners need a righteousness that is given to them.
That’s where Jesus comes in. Jesus Christ has the righteousness that exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees. Jesus is not a murderer. Jesus never offered a sacrifice at the altar while harboring a sin against his neighbor. Jesus never insulted his brother, or was angry with him, or called anyone “You fool!” He was perfectly righteous… that is, He never erred in thought, word or deed.
The perfect righteousness of Jesus becomes your perfect righteousness in Baptism. In Baptism, “your old self was crucified with Jesus in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.” Baptism is the seal of righteousness. (Rom. 4:11). In other words, whoever is baptized has the promise and sure confidence that Jesus is their righteousness. In Baptism you really and truly are among “those who have done good and will enter eternal life…”
It is just as St. Paul said, “3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”
What does this indicate? “It indicated that the old Adam in us should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires, and that a new man should daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.”
Jesus has died for your sin of anger. Jesus has baptized you. Daily drown your Old Adam through confession and hear Jesus forgive you.
In the name of the Father, and of the +Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. 26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
In the Name of the Father, and of the +Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Imagine what it would be like to have a relative who is a serial killer. Imagine the disgrace it would bring on your family. Imagine how horrible it would be.
But now suppose one has a relative who is a church-going Missouri Synod churchman. He is faithful in his giving, regular in the Divine Service, and has even served on various church boards. But there is a problem… He is easily angered. He is quick to give a harsh word. He is known to harbor grudges (unwilling to forgive.) But because he is active in the church and a good-giver, most people overlook his “short fuse.”
Jesus doesn’t overlook this “short fuse.” “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.”
The Lord’s words don’t seem fair. We have our own morality that says that serial killers, abortionists, and cold calculated murderers are more liable, more guilty, and more sinful than someone who gets angry. But what about someone who is generally a pleasant, loving person, but on occasion looses his/her cool. I mean someone who has a really good reason to get mad. Surely, the Lord would have a different standard for them?
No, there is only one standard. Jesus says, “Everyone.” No one is exempt. That includes you and it includes me. It includes every time you and I get mad at the umpire, my children, my parents, my brother or sister, my teacher, my pastor, my parishioner… anyone. When it comes to the 5th commandment, you and I who get angry are as wicked as Osama bin Laden or Charles Manson or Adolf Hitler “Everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says “you fool will be liable to the hell of fire.”
Jesus says it’s not enough to simply stay away from killing someone. No, your lips must be clean too. And not only your lips, but also your heart. You see, if you want to enter the kingdom of heaven then your righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees. IN other words, you must live a perfect life in thought, word, and deed. Never sinning. No, not even once. “And those who have done good will enter into eternal life, and those who have done evil into eternal fire.” (Athanasian Creed)
The Pharisees taught the people that if they simply went through the motions of offering their sacrifices on the altar that God would forgive them. It didn’t matter what the sin was or who was sinned against. Show up at the altar, kill the animal, and “Poof!” everything was all better.
But they were wrong. The Old Testament sacrificial system was meant to be a means of grace. It was for sinners who knew and felt their sins. It was for murderers who in light of God’s Law acknowledged their sins and came running to the infinite mercy of God. It was for those who sinned in thought, word and deed by things they had done and things they had left undone… and they knew it. It was meant to liberate those who were captive to sin… But the Pharisees abused the system. Instead of the sacrificial system being a means of grace they had turned it into a law. They Pharisees taught that sacrifices were something that sinners did to earn God’s favor rather than something God did for sinners.
But sinners can’t earn God’s favor. It’s impossible. Sinners have no righteousness. Sinners must be saved. Sinners need a righteousness that is given to them.
That’s where Jesus comes in. Jesus Christ has the righteousness that exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees. Jesus is not a murderer. Jesus never offered a sacrifice at the altar while harboring a sin against his neighbor. Jesus never insulted his brother, or was angry with him, or called anyone “You fool!” He was perfectly righteous… that is, He never erred in thought, word or deed.
The perfect righteousness of Jesus becomes your perfect righteousness in Baptism. In Baptism, “your old self was crucified with Jesus in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.” Baptism is the seal of righteousness. (Rom. 4:11). In other words, whoever is baptized has the promise and sure confidence that Jesus is their righteousness. In Baptism you really and truly are among “those who have done good and will enter eternal life…”
It is just as St. Paul said, “3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”
What does this indicate? “It indicated that the old Adam in us should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires, and that a new man should daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.”
Jesus has died for your sin of anger. Jesus has baptized you. Daily drown your Old Adam through confession and hear Jesus forgive you.
In the name of the Father, and of the +Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Leroy Peck: Departed in Peace
TEXT: Nunc Dimittis
In the Name of +Jesus. Amen.
Dear family and friends of Leroy, as well as fellow saints at Zion Lutheran congregation….
Grace, mercy and peace be unto you from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Today we gather as those who mourn the death of a father, grandfather, great grandfather, and fellow church member and brother in Christ. And it is okay for us to mourn. Even our Lord Jesus Christ wept at the funeral of Lazarus. Jesus wept, even when He knew that Lazarus would be raised again. We are no different. We may weep, but our tears are not without hope. Rather we weep as those who are confident in the bodily resurrection at the End of Time.
We also gather to care for the earthly remains of Leroy. And we do that with the resurrection in mind too. The Lord has taken care of Leroy’s body these 83 years and we must trust that He will also do with it as He sees fit until He comes again.
The Scripture chosen for the message this morning is taken from Luke 2:29-30, where the aged Simeon sang, “Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace according to Thy word, for mine eyes have seen Thy Salvation…”
Luke 2 is perhaps one of the most heard chapters of the entire Scripture. It is the narrative of the birth of Jesus. Every child in Sunday School is familiar with this text as it is often the setting for every Christian Church’s Children’s Christmas Program.
Luke 2 is the story of shepherds in the fields watching their flocks by night. It’s the story of angels singing, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.” It’s the story of the Holy Family, Mary and Joseph and Jesus who is wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. Even more than that, it the account of the Word made Flesh. The birth of Jesus is part of God’s perfect eternal plan to bring about the salvation of all mankind.
But perhaps one of the lesser known accounts of Luke 2 is the story of Simeon and the presentation of the 8-day old Jesus in the temple (the reading is assigned on the 1st S. after Christmas).
The Bible tells us that Simeon was a righteous and devout man who was waiting for the consolation of Israel. “consolation of Israel” is Luke’s way of telling us that he was waiting for the Messiah who would bring comfort to Israel… “Comfort, Comfort ye my people” The Messiah would not bring earthly comfort but comfort from the ravages sin, death and the devil. Simeon was full of the Holy Spirit and that Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die before he had seen the Messiah.
“How strange?” everyone must’ve thought when Simeon had seen Jesus he took Him in his arms and said, “Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace according to Thy word, for mine eyes have seen Thy Salvation…” Especially strange in that to the naked eye Jesus didn’t look anything like a person who would bring comfort. After all, He was only an 8 day old baby and He needed comforting Himself. Nevertheless, the Holy Spirit gave Simeon the eyes of faith that saw past a wrinkly, pink little baby. Simeon knew that He cradled in his arms the Savior of all mankind, Immanuel, the Prince of Peace.
Simeon was a righteous and devout man… there are few, if any, that would deny that Leroy was a righteous and devout man. Leroy was a kind and generous man. Many of you remember story after story about how he would keep gum around and was always looking for a child to give it too… just because. He never expected anything in return. He was a faithful husband and father, and grandfather. He loved animals. He liked spending time outdoors in his garden OR picking asparagus along the side of the road. He had very few, if any, enemies. And even more than all that, Leroy was devout in regular church attendance. Not that Leroy had a personal relationship with Jesus, but that Jesus had a personal relationship with him. God had called Leroy to be his own dear child in Holy Baptism and Leroy lived in that Baptismal grace until this past Wednesday, June 25th, when he died in the Pocahontas hospital.
Leroy was born in 1925, the same year that Adolf Hitler published his famous Mein Kampff (My Battle/Struggle). By the time Leroy was 20 years old he would be engaged in the aftermath of the German surrender to allied troops as member of the US Army. It would be a time of testing and trial for Leroy, but the Holy Spirit was upon Leroy. Leroy’s gift of baptismal faith may have been shaken and jarred at times, but the Holy Spirit kept him in true and saving faith.
I have known Leroy for about 2 years. During those years, Leroy often proclaimed his faith in Jesus Christ. He loved to be in the Lord’s house. He lived the psalmist’s words, “I rejoice when they said to me, ‘Let us go unto the house of the Lord.’”
On the day Leroy died, I visited him in the hospital. He was a little restless and was having a great deal of trouble breathing. When I walked into the room, his eyes went almost immediately to my communion kit. Leroy wanted the Lord’s Supper.
After a little visit, I prepared the communion table and began the liturgy for Holy Communion. Leroy followed along as best he could (oxygen mask and all). I began the confession of sins, “I a poor miserable sinner.” Leroy had trouble speaking, so I asked him, “Leroy is this your confession?” “Yes.” And then he began to go on for a while. It seems there were some other sins that he wanted to confess. Leroy may have been devout and righteous, but he would be the first to tell you that he was also a poor miserable sinner. I forgave Leroy his sins and then the most spectacular thing happened. Leroy interrupted the liturgy and said, “Thank you pastor.” And then he gave me a hug.
Leroy’s last meal was the Body and Blood of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins. And afterwards, we sang together the Nunc Dimittis. Especially those words, “for my eyes have seen my salvation.” The aged Simeon looked at an 8-day old baby and saw the Savior, his Salvation. The aged Leroy looked at plain bread and wine and saw the Savior, his Salvation.
The words of Simeon were some of the last words Leroy heard before he entered heaven. Today, Leroy gets to visit with the aged Simeon in the heavenly banquet that will have no end.
Today we mourn. But we do not mourn without hope. Leroy has fought the good fight. He has received the crown of victory. He didn’t earn heaven… no sinner could do that. But he inherited it as a gift from the Babe of Bethlehem, the Christ child… that Lamb of God who hung upon the cross for Leroy’s sins and for your sins.
The resurrected Christ lives and so does Leroy. Make no mistake. You will see Leroy Peck again on that last Day when the trumpet blows. This body that we lay to rest will rise to live before God forever.
God will grant it for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
In the Name of +Jesus. Amen.
Dear family and friends of Leroy, as well as fellow saints at Zion Lutheran congregation….
Grace, mercy and peace be unto you from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Today we gather as those who mourn the death of a father, grandfather, great grandfather, and fellow church member and brother in Christ. And it is okay for us to mourn. Even our Lord Jesus Christ wept at the funeral of Lazarus. Jesus wept, even when He knew that Lazarus would be raised again. We are no different. We may weep, but our tears are not without hope. Rather we weep as those who are confident in the bodily resurrection at the End of Time.
We also gather to care for the earthly remains of Leroy. And we do that with the resurrection in mind too. The Lord has taken care of Leroy’s body these 83 years and we must trust that He will also do with it as He sees fit until He comes again.
The Scripture chosen for the message this morning is taken from Luke 2:29-30, where the aged Simeon sang, “Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace according to Thy word, for mine eyes have seen Thy Salvation…”
Luke 2 is perhaps one of the most heard chapters of the entire Scripture. It is the narrative of the birth of Jesus. Every child in Sunday School is familiar with this text as it is often the setting for every Christian Church’s Children’s Christmas Program.
Luke 2 is the story of shepherds in the fields watching their flocks by night. It’s the story of angels singing, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.” It’s the story of the Holy Family, Mary and Joseph and Jesus who is wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. Even more than that, it the account of the Word made Flesh. The birth of Jesus is part of God’s perfect eternal plan to bring about the salvation of all mankind.
But perhaps one of the lesser known accounts of Luke 2 is the story of Simeon and the presentation of the 8-day old Jesus in the temple (the reading is assigned on the 1st S. after Christmas).
The Bible tells us that Simeon was a righteous and devout man who was waiting for the consolation of Israel. “consolation of Israel” is Luke’s way of telling us that he was waiting for the Messiah who would bring comfort to Israel… “Comfort, Comfort ye my people” The Messiah would not bring earthly comfort but comfort from the ravages sin, death and the devil. Simeon was full of the Holy Spirit and that Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die before he had seen the Messiah.
“How strange?” everyone must’ve thought when Simeon had seen Jesus he took Him in his arms and said, “Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace according to Thy word, for mine eyes have seen Thy Salvation…” Especially strange in that to the naked eye Jesus didn’t look anything like a person who would bring comfort. After all, He was only an 8 day old baby and He needed comforting Himself. Nevertheless, the Holy Spirit gave Simeon the eyes of faith that saw past a wrinkly, pink little baby. Simeon knew that He cradled in his arms the Savior of all mankind, Immanuel, the Prince of Peace.
Simeon was a righteous and devout man… there are few, if any, that would deny that Leroy was a righteous and devout man. Leroy was a kind and generous man. Many of you remember story after story about how he would keep gum around and was always looking for a child to give it too… just because. He never expected anything in return. He was a faithful husband and father, and grandfather. He loved animals. He liked spending time outdoors in his garden OR picking asparagus along the side of the road. He had very few, if any, enemies. And even more than all that, Leroy was devout in regular church attendance. Not that Leroy had a personal relationship with Jesus, but that Jesus had a personal relationship with him. God had called Leroy to be his own dear child in Holy Baptism and Leroy lived in that Baptismal grace until this past Wednesday, June 25th, when he died in the Pocahontas hospital.
Leroy was born in 1925, the same year that Adolf Hitler published his famous Mein Kampff (My Battle/Struggle). By the time Leroy was 20 years old he would be engaged in the aftermath of the German surrender to allied troops as member of the US Army. It would be a time of testing and trial for Leroy, but the Holy Spirit was upon Leroy. Leroy’s gift of baptismal faith may have been shaken and jarred at times, but the Holy Spirit kept him in true and saving faith.
I have known Leroy for about 2 years. During those years, Leroy often proclaimed his faith in Jesus Christ. He loved to be in the Lord’s house. He lived the psalmist’s words, “I rejoice when they said to me, ‘Let us go unto the house of the Lord.’”
On the day Leroy died, I visited him in the hospital. He was a little restless and was having a great deal of trouble breathing. When I walked into the room, his eyes went almost immediately to my communion kit. Leroy wanted the Lord’s Supper.
After a little visit, I prepared the communion table and began the liturgy for Holy Communion. Leroy followed along as best he could (oxygen mask and all). I began the confession of sins, “I a poor miserable sinner.” Leroy had trouble speaking, so I asked him, “Leroy is this your confession?” “Yes.” And then he began to go on for a while. It seems there were some other sins that he wanted to confess. Leroy may have been devout and righteous, but he would be the first to tell you that he was also a poor miserable sinner. I forgave Leroy his sins and then the most spectacular thing happened. Leroy interrupted the liturgy and said, “Thank you pastor.” And then he gave me a hug.
Leroy’s last meal was the Body and Blood of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins. And afterwards, we sang together the Nunc Dimittis. Especially those words, “for my eyes have seen my salvation.” The aged Simeon looked at an 8-day old baby and saw the Savior, his Salvation. The aged Leroy looked at plain bread and wine and saw the Savior, his Salvation.
The words of Simeon were some of the last words Leroy heard before he entered heaven. Today, Leroy gets to visit with the aged Simeon in the heavenly banquet that will have no end.
Today we mourn. But we do not mourn without hope. Leroy has fought the good fight. He has received the crown of victory. He didn’t earn heaven… no sinner could do that. But he inherited it as a gift from the Babe of Bethlehem, the Christ child… that Lamb of God who hung upon the cross for Leroy’s sins and for your sins.
The resurrected Christ lives and so does Leroy. Make no mistake. You will see Leroy Peck again on that last Day when the trumpet blows. This body that we lay to rest will rise to live before God forever.
God will grant it for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
The Foolishness of God
TEXT: Luke 5:1-11
5 On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. (ESV) And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear; from now on you will be catching men alive.” 11 And having brought the boats to land, having left all things, they followed him. (A. Just translation)
In the Name of the Father, and of the +Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Peter, James and John had fished all night… but they took nothing. That was a hard blow. For the disciples, fishing was not a recreational activity, it was their livelihood. Fishing problems meant worry about economic distress and fretting about money problems.
They had done all they could do. They had used the best of their knowledge, experience and skill. Their boats, nets, and other equipment was sufficient for the job, maybe even better. Sometimes even the best fishermen get skunked. Isn’t that true with most everything? Even the most skilled farmer with the highest GPA from Iowa State could not reach into heaven and turn off the rains the first part of this month.
Who did this son of a carpenter think he was? What do you mean, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch?” Didn’t you hear me, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing? And your suggestion makes no sense. That’ not how you fish. Fish aren’t in the deep in that part of the day… even so, the water is too deep to effectively catch fish. This is a waste a time. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Peter had his doubts. But, Peter also had faith: “At your word, LORD, I will let down the nets.”
How foolish the Word of God often sounds. Lord, do you really expect me to believe that it will do any good to forgive those who have sinned against me? Do you expect me to teach my children mercy rather than eye for and eye, tooth for a tooth? That may be the way it works in heaven but it doesn’t work that way here? When the preacher preaches a hard Word of Law according to your commandments, how do you expect the church to grow? That’s not the way to win friends and influence people. Do you really think people will be attracted to the church by preaching about the crucified Jesus? Who wants to hear about suffering and death? We want peppy, happy, make-me-feel really good, entertaining talks that inspire me…
No, put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch. Don’t do what’s reasonable. Ignore common sense. Shun the advice of the Farmer’s Almanac. “At your Word, Lord, I will let down the nets.”
How interesting that Peter let’s down his net while thinking, “… the Lord’s got it good and wrong this time – we’ve already cleaned the nets, I’m tired and have been working at it all night long, no, I really don’t want to do this but I’ll humor you Lord…” While Peter thinks this way, it’s then the catch of fish is perhaps the largest, greatest, most magnificent catch of his life. The scales fell from Peter’s eyes. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom. And the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.” (1 Cor 1:25)
How often is this not true for us? That we think like Peter. That we put our wisdom above the foolishness of God? That we exert our strength over the weakness of God?
This past week I met a man who was quick to tell me that he was an “agnostic.” “No, I’m not an atheist,” he said, “an atheist doesn’t believe in any god. I’m an agnostic, which means I do believe in a higher supernatural being.” He was proud to be so clever… to seemingly have all of his bases covered by not committing to this god or that god. He chose to believe in the plurality of gods rather than the God who declares, “Hear O Israel, the Lord your God. The Lord is one…. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” This man thought it foolish to have only one god, so he believes that there must be more. This man needs to come to Zion and have declared to him his Unknown God – that is, the crucified Christ.
In the church we also put our wisdom above God’s foolishness. In Baptism a newborn little child comes to the font; some water is splashed; and the Word of God is spoken, “I baptize thee in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” The child looks and acts no different than it did before baptism. The child grows up and sins like many others. So we reason, “Maybe the baptism didn’t take?” Rather, hear the Word of God which says, “Whoever believes and is baptized shall be saved.” “In baptism you were therefore buried with him into death in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead so also you shall walk in newness of life.”
The Lord’s supper is no different. In our intellectual snobbery we reason that bread and wine can’t be the body and blood of Christ when the Holy Supper is rightly administered. Or we reason, I only need the Lord’s Supper once a few times a year, or at most, once a month. No that’s human wisdom talking. The foolishness of God says that we need the Lord’s body and blood every week, every day, even every moment of our lives. That’s why the Church has traditionally offered the Lord’s Supper at least every Sunday. But human wisdom says, “If we offer the Lord’s Supper every week, people will stop coming to church because they won’t want to set through a long service. But that kind of thinking is putting our wisdom above God’s foolishness. For Jesus declares to us that we are to eat and drink often.
Peter said, “At your Word, lord I will let down the nets.”
May we ever speak such words of faith to all the foolishness of God.
In the name of the Father, and of the +Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
5 On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. (ESV) And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear; from now on you will be catching men alive.” 11 And having brought the boats to land, having left all things, they followed him. (A. Just translation)
In the Name of the Father, and of the +Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Peter, James and John had fished all night… but they took nothing. That was a hard blow. For the disciples, fishing was not a recreational activity, it was their livelihood. Fishing problems meant worry about economic distress and fretting about money problems.
They had done all they could do. They had used the best of their knowledge, experience and skill. Their boats, nets, and other equipment was sufficient for the job, maybe even better. Sometimes even the best fishermen get skunked. Isn’t that true with most everything? Even the most skilled farmer with the highest GPA from Iowa State could not reach into heaven and turn off the rains the first part of this month.
Who did this son of a carpenter think he was? What do you mean, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch?” Didn’t you hear me, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing? And your suggestion makes no sense. That’ not how you fish. Fish aren’t in the deep in that part of the day… even so, the water is too deep to effectively catch fish. This is a waste a time. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Peter had his doubts. But, Peter also had faith: “At your word, LORD, I will let down the nets.”
How foolish the Word of God often sounds. Lord, do you really expect me to believe that it will do any good to forgive those who have sinned against me? Do you expect me to teach my children mercy rather than eye for and eye, tooth for a tooth? That may be the way it works in heaven but it doesn’t work that way here? When the preacher preaches a hard Word of Law according to your commandments, how do you expect the church to grow? That’s not the way to win friends and influence people. Do you really think people will be attracted to the church by preaching about the crucified Jesus? Who wants to hear about suffering and death? We want peppy, happy, make-me-feel really good, entertaining talks that inspire me…
No, put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch. Don’t do what’s reasonable. Ignore common sense. Shun the advice of the Farmer’s Almanac. “At your Word, Lord, I will let down the nets.”
How interesting that Peter let’s down his net while thinking, “… the Lord’s got it good and wrong this time – we’ve already cleaned the nets, I’m tired and have been working at it all night long, no, I really don’t want to do this but I’ll humor you Lord…” While Peter thinks this way, it’s then the catch of fish is perhaps the largest, greatest, most magnificent catch of his life. The scales fell from Peter’s eyes. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom. And the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.” (1 Cor 1:25)
How often is this not true for us? That we think like Peter. That we put our wisdom above the foolishness of God? That we exert our strength over the weakness of God?
This past week I met a man who was quick to tell me that he was an “agnostic.” “No, I’m not an atheist,” he said, “an atheist doesn’t believe in any god. I’m an agnostic, which means I do believe in a higher supernatural being.” He was proud to be so clever… to seemingly have all of his bases covered by not committing to this god or that god. He chose to believe in the plurality of gods rather than the God who declares, “Hear O Israel, the Lord your God. The Lord is one…. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” This man thought it foolish to have only one god, so he believes that there must be more. This man needs to come to Zion and have declared to him his Unknown God – that is, the crucified Christ.
In the church we also put our wisdom above God’s foolishness. In Baptism a newborn little child comes to the font; some water is splashed; and the Word of God is spoken, “I baptize thee in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” The child looks and acts no different than it did before baptism. The child grows up and sins like many others. So we reason, “Maybe the baptism didn’t take?” Rather, hear the Word of God which says, “Whoever believes and is baptized shall be saved.” “In baptism you were therefore buried with him into death in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead so also you shall walk in newness of life.”
The Lord’s supper is no different. In our intellectual snobbery we reason that bread and wine can’t be the body and blood of Christ when the Holy Supper is rightly administered. Or we reason, I only need the Lord’s Supper once a few times a year, or at most, once a month. No that’s human wisdom talking. The foolishness of God says that we need the Lord’s body and blood every week, every day, even every moment of our lives. That’s why the Church has traditionally offered the Lord’s Supper at least every Sunday. But human wisdom says, “If we offer the Lord’s Supper every week, people will stop coming to church because they won’t want to set through a long service. But that kind of thinking is putting our wisdom above God’s foolishness. For Jesus declares to us that we are to eat and drink often.
Peter said, “At your Word, lord I will let down the nets.”
May we ever speak such words of faith to all the foolishness of God.
In the name of the Father, and of the +Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Father is Merciful
TEXT: Luke 6:36-42
36Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. 37 “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” 39 He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. 41 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.
In the Name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Perhaps one of the most beautiful examples of fatherhood in the Scriptures is that of Jacob, aka Israel. Jacob was the father of twelve sons. He was not a perfect father… he loved Joseph more than he loved his other sons. Jacob’s favoritism led the other sons to hate Joseph. Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers and they faked his death and lied to their father, Jacob. They told him that Joseph had been killed by a fierce animal.
The LORD God took care of Joseph while he was in Egypt. Joseph eventually won the trust of Pharaoh and when 7 years of famine followed 7 years of plenty, Joseph was put in charge of the food supply. When Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt to get food Joseph seemed to have every right to get even with his brothers. But his father bid him not to. Rather, his father had told him, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”
Jacob was not a perfect father, but he was a merciful father. And he was not a perfectly merciful father. Even though he taught his children to be merciful it must be true that he fell short and failed at this too. But as a father who knew the Heavenly Father, He did not wish for his sons to be overcome with evil, but rather that they overcome evil with good (Rom. 12:21).
Jesus taught His disciples to “be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” To be merciful means to “judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you.” It is just as Jesus taught us to pray in the Lord’s Prayer, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” That’s what mercy is.
We are not a merciful sort. Mercy is even contrary to who are. By nature we don’t like mercy… rather, we love justice; we love what’s fair.
The unmerciful are blind. The unmerciful are proud and arrogant who seek to be above their teacher. The unmerciful are nit-pickers who complain and belly-ache about faults of their neighbor, never mind they have plenty of faults on their own. The unmerciful are hypocrites. In other words, they are actors and pretenders; they put on a show. They live as if they have no sin when the truth is that they have sin in good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over.
Today when you confessed that you were a poor miserable sinner, you confessed that you were unmerciful. You confessed that your lack of mercy exudes from you because you are by nature sinful and unclean. By nature you do not want to feed your enemy when he is hungry. “Let him starve… that’s they way he treated me.” By nature you want to take vengeance into your own hands rather than waiting on the Lord, “I’ll show him.”
Suppose the Heavenly Father were to treat you this way? Suppose the Father were to take vengeance upon you for every time you used His name in vain, or every time you skipped Sunday service because you had more fun things to do, or for when you were stingy and withheld your offerings, or when you encouraged your children to chase after the things of this world rather than to set their mind on things above, and the list could go on? Suppose the Father would deal with you according to His justice? According to what was fair and right. And since He has told you that the wages of sin is death, you know what would be just and right. You would have to die.
But The Father doesn’t deal with you this way. Rather He deals with His own Son Jesus Christ this way because of you. The Father charges Jesus with your crime of being merciless. God the Father sent God the Son to be less than God… to be the chief of sinners, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. The Father takes the logs out of your own eyes and fashions together a cross and allows His Son to be crucified upon it. God’s mercy is for you who cry with blind beggars, “Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.”
The mercy of God is overflowing and ever flowing and is given to you in good measure, pressed down, shake together, running over, and will be put into your lap. His mercy comes not so much in what is seen but what is heard. He declares to you in the Absolution, “I forgive you all your sins.” That’s mercy. He declares to you in Baptism, “Whoever believes and is baptized shall be saved.” That’s mercy. He declares to you in His Holy Supper, “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” Yes. Now, that’s mercy.
In the name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit.
36Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. 37 “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” 39 He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. 41 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.
In the Name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Perhaps one of the most beautiful examples of fatherhood in the Scriptures is that of Jacob, aka Israel. Jacob was the father of twelve sons. He was not a perfect father… he loved Joseph more than he loved his other sons. Jacob’s favoritism led the other sons to hate Joseph. Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers and they faked his death and lied to their father, Jacob. They told him that Joseph had been killed by a fierce animal.
The LORD God took care of Joseph while he was in Egypt. Joseph eventually won the trust of Pharaoh and when 7 years of famine followed 7 years of plenty, Joseph was put in charge of the food supply. When Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt to get food Joseph seemed to have every right to get even with his brothers. But his father bid him not to. Rather, his father had told him, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”
Jacob was not a perfect father, but he was a merciful father. And he was not a perfectly merciful father. Even though he taught his children to be merciful it must be true that he fell short and failed at this too. But as a father who knew the Heavenly Father, He did not wish for his sons to be overcome with evil, but rather that they overcome evil with good (Rom. 12:21).
Jesus taught His disciples to “be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” To be merciful means to “judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you.” It is just as Jesus taught us to pray in the Lord’s Prayer, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” That’s what mercy is.
We are not a merciful sort. Mercy is even contrary to who are. By nature we don’t like mercy… rather, we love justice; we love what’s fair.
The unmerciful are blind. The unmerciful are proud and arrogant who seek to be above their teacher. The unmerciful are nit-pickers who complain and belly-ache about faults of their neighbor, never mind they have plenty of faults on their own. The unmerciful are hypocrites. In other words, they are actors and pretenders; they put on a show. They live as if they have no sin when the truth is that they have sin in good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over.
Today when you confessed that you were a poor miserable sinner, you confessed that you were unmerciful. You confessed that your lack of mercy exudes from you because you are by nature sinful and unclean. By nature you do not want to feed your enemy when he is hungry. “Let him starve… that’s they way he treated me.” By nature you want to take vengeance into your own hands rather than waiting on the Lord, “I’ll show him.”
Suppose the Heavenly Father were to treat you this way? Suppose the Father were to take vengeance upon you for every time you used His name in vain, or every time you skipped Sunday service because you had more fun things to do, or for when you were stingy and withheld your offerings, or when you encouraged your children to chase after the things of this world rather than to set their mind on things above, and the list could go on? Suppose the Father would deal with you according to His justice? According to what was fair and right. And since He has told you that the wages of sin is death, you know what would be just and right. You would have to die.
But The Father doesn’t deal with you this way. Rather He deals with His own Son Jesus Christ this way because of you. The Father charges Jesus with your crime of being merciless. God the Father sent God the Son to be less than God… to be the chief of sinners, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. The Father takes the logs out of your own eyes and fashions together a cross and allows His Son to be crucified upon it. God’s mercy is for you who cry with blind beggars, “Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.”
The mercy of God is overflowing and ever flowing and is given to you in good measure, pressed down, shake together, running over, and will be put into your lap. His mercy comes not so much in what is seen but what is heard. He declares to you in the Absolution, “I forgive you all your sins.” That’s mercy. He declares to you in Baptism, “Whoever believes and is baptized shall be saved.” That’s mercy. He declares to you in His Holy Supper, “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” Yes. Now, that’s mercy.
In the name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus Calls Tax Collectors and Sinners His Friends
TEXT: Luke 15:1-10
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” 3 So he told them this parable: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. 8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
In the Name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Tell me something. What is a friend like? Someone who is willing listen to you when you’re happy or sad? Someone who will keep your darkest secrets? Someone who understands you? Someone who likes to spend time with you? Someone you can count on?
Usually a friend is someone we like… someone we care for… someone we love.
There are those whom we know that we would never call, “Friend.” They’re not our type. They have different interests. They do wrong things…. Bad things. They’re a bad influence. They’re sinners.
The Scribes and Pharisees were surprised that Jesus would eat with sinners. The Pharisees thought these sinners weren’t the type to be friends with a prophet of God. They did wrong things…. bad things. Even worse, they weren’t typical sinners – liars, cheaters, thieves, fornicators. These were the worst of sinners. Even the liars, cheaters, thieves and fornicators didn’t like these people. Imagine Jesus eating with rapists, serial killers, child-pornographers… with the man that molested your daughter… with the terrorist who killed your loved one by crashing a plane into his twin tower office building. Jesus ate with the armpit of society. They were the worst of the worst.
It doesn’t seem right. AND… it definitely doesn’t seem fair. We are Americans. Americans demand justice. IN our world it’s only fair when sinners have to pay what they’ve done. We feel justified when sinners feel the pain that we’ve suffered. Our simple philosophy of justice mirrors the Charlie Daniels song: “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. You’d better watch where you are going. Remember where you’ve been. That’s the way I see it. I’m a simple man.”
Maybe… for the more morally conscious Christian, we might be satisfied enough if Jesus came to change their ways. To make them better people. To make them morally straight. For the moral Christian, they’d be happy enough if Jesus would offer some psycho-therapy. If Jesus would make them good, law abiding citizens.
No. That’s not the kind of friend Jesus is. “Even while you were yet sinners, Christ died for you.” The parable of the lambs and of the woman who lost her coin both proclaim that notorious sinners and the Pharisees are all His lambs… They are all His coins… They are all His friends…. Even though they are all sinners.
“Greater love has no one than this…. That Someone lay down his life for His friends.” That Someone is Jesus. He wants to be with sinners… to eat with them… to enjoy their company. No, he didn’t come to make them morally straight. He didn’t come to teach bad people a lesson. He came to save them. To love them. To lay down His life for them. His friends include His enemies. They include those who spit upon Him, crowned Him with thorns, and drove nails in to His hands and His feet. Jesus calls them all friends. He prays for all of them saying, “Father, forgive them. For they know not what they do.”
Jesus is shameless. He doesn’t care about his reputation. He doesn’t worry about His image. Jesus searches for sinners, receives them, bathes them in baptism, pardons them in His absolution, and forgives them by giving His Body and Blood for them. He forgives them and expects nothing in return… He doesn’t even ask that you go out and convert anyone… that’s the Holy Spirit’s job.
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Yes, it’s true… The free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus. Jesus loved you and gave Himself for you!
The day of your baptism caused the angels to sing. When the pastor forgives your sins the heavenly hosts rejoice. When you receive Jesus your friend at this altar the whole company of heaven laud and magnifies Jesus’ Name.
Dear Friends of Jesus. Know that Jesus receives sinners like you and eats with you. Know the joy of Heaven to see one sinner who repents rather than ninety nine righteous persons who need no repentance. Rejoice with your Forever Friend Jesus Christ, who looks for sinners and when He finds them makes them His treasure.
In the Name of the Father, the +Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” 3 So he told them this parable: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. 8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
In the Name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Tell me something. What is a friend like? Someone who is willing listen to you when you’re happy or sad? Someone who will keep your darkest secrets? Someone who understands you? Someone who likes to spend time with you? Someone you can count on?
Usually a friend is someone we like… someone we care for… someone we love.
There are those whom we know that we would never call, “Friend.” They’re not our type. They have different interests. They do wrong things…. Bad things. They’re a bad influence. They’re sinners.
The Scribes and Pharisees were surprised that Jesus would eat with sinners. The Pharisees thought these sinners weren’t the type to be friends with a prophet of God. They did wrong things…. bad things. Even worse, they weren’t typical sinners – liars, cheaters, thieves, fornicators. These were the worst of sinners. Even the liars, cheaters, thieves and fornicators didn’t like these people. Imagine Jesus eating with rapists, serial killers, child-pornographers… with the man that molested your daughter… with the terrorist who killed your loved one by crashing a plane into his twin tower office building. Jesus ate with the armpit of society. They were the worst of the worst.
It doesn’t seem right. AND… it definitely doesn’t seem fair. We are Americans. Americans demand justice. IN our world it’s only fair when sinners have to pay what they’ve done. We feel justified when sinners feel the pain that we’ve suffered. Our simple philosophy of justice mirrors the Charlie Daniels song: “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. You’d better watch where you are going. Remember where you’ve been. That’s the way I see it. I’m a simple man.”
Maybe… for the more morally conscious Christian, we might be satisfied enough if Jesus came to change their ways. To make them better people. To make them morally straight. For the moral Christian, they’d be happy enough if Jesus would offer some psycho-therapy. If Jesus would make them good, law abiding citizens.
No. That’s not the kind of friend Jesus is. “Even while you were yet sinners, Christ died for you.” The parable of the lambs and of the woman who lost her coin both proclaim that notorious sinners and the Pharisees are all His lambs… They are all His coins… They are all His friends…. Even though they are all sinners.
“Greater love has no one than this…. That Someone lay down his life for His friends.” That Someone is Jesus. He wants to be with sinners… to eat with them… to enjoy their company. No, he didn’t come to make them morally straight. He didn’t come to teach bad people a lesson. He came to save them. To love them. To lay down His life for them. His friends include His enemies. They include those who spit upon Him, crowned Him with thorns, and drove nails in to His hands and His feet. Jesus calls them all friends. He prays for all of them saying, “Father, forgive them. For they know not what they do.”
Jesus is shameless. He doesn’t care about his reputation. He doesn’t worry about His image. Jesus searches for sinners, receives them, bathes them in baptism, pardons them in His absolution, and forgives them by giving His Body and Blood for them. He forgives them and expects nothing in return… He doesn’t even ask that you go out and convert anyone… that’s the Holy Spirit’s job.
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Yes, it’s true… The free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus. Jesus loved you and gave Himself for you!
The day of your baptism caused the angels to sing. When the pastor forgives your sins the heavenly hosts rejoice. When you receive Jesus your friend at this altar the whole company of heaven laud and magnifies Jesus’ Name.
Dear Friends of Jesus. Know that Jesus receives sinners like you and eats with you. Know the joy of Heaven to see one sinner who repents rather than ninety nine righteous persons who need no repentance. Rejoice with your Forever Friend Jesus Christ, who looks for sinners and when He finds them makes them His treasure.
In the Name of the Father, the +Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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