The Eighth Sunday after Trinity

The Eighth Sunday after Trinity – July 21, 2024

Psalm 48; Jeremiah 23:16-29; Romans 8:12-17

St. Matthew 7:15-23

In the Name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The phrase, “a wolf in sheep’s clothing” is often used to describe someone or something that outwardly appears good, helpful, pleasant, or beneficial, but turns out to be harmful, dangerous, painful, or evil. Such a common use of the phrase is good. It reminds us that Western society is founded on the words of Scripture. But the common use of this phrase is lacking the intensity with which our Lord first spoke it. The result of listening to these false prophets is not bad feelings, sadness, or even death. It is eternal death, condemnation in hell.

Pure doctrine is a matter of eternal life and eternal death. Just before the Gospel text for today, our Lord says, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”[1] This sets the stakes for dealing with wolves in sheep’s clothing.

When you stand before Jesus Christ on the final day, it will be your doctrine that is judged. You cannot blame your misunderstandings or false doctrines on your parents or pastors.[2] Those given the office of preacher will be judged more harshly for they are responsible for communicating the Word of God but that does not excuse the hearer.[3] You must stand and confess your faith on your own.[4] It is your responsibility to maintain the true faith once delivered to the saints.[5]

Pure doctrine is not just facts or words to be memorized. Pure doctrine is to come to know the God who created, redeemed, and sanctified you most intimately. Learning pure doctrine is drawing near to the God who took on your flesh to die for your sins. Knowing the Word of God is knowing that Word that is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

For this reason, it is necessary that all Christians know the doctrines of Scripture. It is necessary that all Christians be able to evaluate, or judge, the doctrine of your preacher. How do you do that? By comparing his doctrine and life to the Word of God. The fruits of the good tree and the evil tree are both the teachings and actions of the prophets. Does he teach the Word of God? Are his teachings in line with the teachings of Scripture? Or does he tell you what you want to hear?[6] Does he tell you what is comfortable instead of what God has stated? Does he let sin go unjudged or does he call you to repentance? Does he lead a life that brings honor to the office of Christ? Is he pious and living outwardly such that he is above reproach? Or does he preach against adultery while committing sexual acts with someone other than his wife?

Now, none of this is to be judged by how you think or feel, what is comfortable or novel. It is to be judged by the Word of God.[7] For this reason, it is necessary that the sheep know the voice of the Good Shepherd; that you know the Scriptures for it is they that testify of Christ.[8] Do you rely on “what you’ve always thought,” or “what you’ve always been told”? Or do you search the Scriptures, seeking wisdom and strength?[9]

This is a difficult task. It is an essential task, but it is a difficult one. It is made even more difficult because the false prophets, the wolves, wear sheep’s clothing.[10] These wolves do not wear undershepherd’s clothing, but they hide among the sheep. What does that mean? It means that the false prophet will often hide his false teachings and his wicked life as being common, being “just the way things are done.” He might claim, “well, the Scriptures say that only men are to teach in the church, but that isn’t true here; we’ve always had women read the lessons.”

Such false doctrine is most obvious in the mainline denominations today.[11] Look at how quickly denominations have capitulated not only to women’s ordination, but to accepting, blessing, and upholding homosexuality. A hundred years ago, very few in the church would’ve dreamed of talking about such degeneracy, let alone blessing it. A hundred years before that, and it would be common for preachers to speak of strict legal punishment for such sins because they harm our society, our families, and our children, even if we, ourselves, don’t participate.

“But pastor,” you might say, “are you saying that only Lutherans go to heaven?” By no means! There are Christians in every denomination who confesses the doctrines of Scripture.[12] The Church is not constituted by human organizations. The Church is wherever Christians gather to hear the Word of God taught in its truth and purity and to receive the Holy Sacraments rightly administered.[13] However, every false doctrine they believe is like a dead bug in your soup. Can you survive eating one dead bug? Probably. What about two? Three? Each false doctrine believed by a denomination adds to the filth of their teaching until the whole soup is ruined. Jesus said, “a little leaven leavens the whole lump.”[14]

“But pastor,” you might say again, “what if you are in one of those denominations (let’s say, the Methodists) but you don’t believe that false stuff. What then?” Thanks be to God you do not believe the false doctrines of the Methodists, but I would ask why you are still in fellowship with them? To be a member of a congregation is like being married to it.[15] If you are publicly married to one congregation but claim to believe differently, then you are secretly in bed with someone else, some other church. Make it right by joining yourself to the Church which teaching the purity of God’s Word.

What then are you to do, or what is a congregation to do, should you find yourself being led by a wolf in sheep’s clothing, a false prophet who is teaching evil doctrine or living a wicked life? The first thing to do is talk to him.[16] Call him to repentance. Make sure that in doing so, you are able to show him from the Scriptures where his error lies. Make sure it isn’t something that you just don’t like or are unhappy with. Which commandments is he breaking? Which doctrine is he violating? Where in Scripture is he wrong?

If he repents of his false doctrine, thanks be to God! You have won your brother from the fires of hell. Depending on the severity of the false doctrine or the manner in which it was taught, it is then incumbent upon him to publicly repent and teach the proper doctrine.

If he repents of wicked living, the matter is a bit more difficult. Was his sin something that disqualifies him from the Office of the Holy Ministry? If so, then the fruits of his repentance is to resign. If his sin was not to that degree, then again, rejoice for you have won your brother’s soul from hellfire.

If you show your pastor where he has clearly erred – in doctrine or life – and he refuses to repent, then take it to the elders of the congregation and possibly involve the Circuit Visitor. If he still refuses to repent, then it is necessary that the congregation remove him from the Office. This should never be taken lightly, nor should it be the goal of calling the pastor to repentance. Just as the goal of excommunication is the salvation of souls, so too the removal of pastors is for the repentance of sins.

How do you arm yourself to judge the doctrine of your pastor? Immerse yourself in the teachings of Scripture. Too daunting? Begin with the Small Catechism. It is the summary of all doctrine necessary for salvation. Begin there and with reading God’s Word. Read the Bible from beginning to end. Start with the Gospels, then the histories of the Old Testament, then the Epistles, and finally the prophets. Pray the Psalms and the Proverbs. Do this over and over again and you will be equipped with everything to need to judge doctrine.

“We have thought on Your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of Your temple. As Your name, O God, so Your praise reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filed with righteousness.”[17]

In T Jesus’ name. Amen.

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[1] St. Matthew 7:13-14.

[2] Ezekiel 33:1-11.

[3] James 3:1.

[4] Galatians 1:8.

[5] Jude 1:3.

[6] 2 Timothy 4:3.

[7] 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

[8] St. John 5:39.

[9] St. Matthew 22:29.

[10] St. Matthew 7:15.

[11] Ephesians 4:14.

[12] St. Luke 9:50.

[13] Ephesians 4:5-6; AC VII; SA XII.

[14] 1 Corinthians 5:6; Galatians 5:9; St. Matthew 16:5-12.

[15] 2 Corinthians 6:14.

[16] St. Matthew 18:15-20. What follows is an outline of the teachings of this passage. It should be noted, though it was outside the scope of this sermon, that public sin (such as public teaching) does not always require private admonition. What is contained in this sermon assumes an existing relationship between the pastor and the parishioner.

[17] Psalm 48:9-10 (the antiphon to today’s introit).

The Ascension of our Lord

The Ascension of our Lord – May 9, 2024

Psalm 47; 2 Kings 2:8-15; Acts 1:1-11

St. Mark 16:14-20

In the Name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Forty days after the Resurrection, Jesus gathered the Apostles on a mountain near Bethany and taught them directly, one last time. He said many things to them, important things. He spoke to them about how the Old Testament testified of Him, foretelling His coming, life, death, resurrection, and ascension; that all of this was done for your salvation. He “opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.”[1]

He commanded them to preach the Good News about His life, death, resurrection, and ascension to all the ends of the earth[2] but first to wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit had descended upon them.[3] Then, He instructed them to begin in Jerusalem before going into Samaria and all the ends of the earth.[4]

How is it that the Apostles are to accomplish this? How are they to bring this saving Gospel to all people? By baptizing and teaching, for, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”[5] After saying these things, Jesus was received into heaven, being lifted up into the sky until a cloud covered Him and removed Him from the sight of the Apostles.

It would be tempting to think that Jesus went away at the ascension. Afterall, when Elijah was carried up into the sky on a flaming chariot, he was no longer present with his dear student, Elisha. If I walked away and went out of your sight, I wouldn’t be with you anymore. I would be somewhere else, with other people. The difference between me, Elijah, and Jesus is that Elijah and I are not God. Jesus is God. He is true God and true Man.

When Jesus ascends to the Father, He sits down at the Father’s right hand. The right hand of the Father is not a golden throne floating somewhere in the sky. The Father’s “right hand” is a phrase that means Jesus is the Father’s power, the one through whom and in whom the Father works. It means Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords, who rules the entire universe not by being away from it but by being present within all of it. And Jesus does this ruling as both true God and true Man.

A truly great theologian of our church, Martin Chemnitz, says it this way,

There are many clear statements in Scripture regarding the presence of Christ in the church, which is His kingdom. And not the least part of the work of Christ as our Mediator and Savior is that as Head He is present with His members, gathering, ruling, defending, preserving, and saving His church. For in all our afflictions and temptations—in the depraved infirmity of our nature, among the various offenses and the many pitfalls under the powerful tyranny and the rage of Satan, the world, and all the enemies of the church—our greatest and only comfort is our knowledge that Christ is present as our King, our High Priest, our Head, and the pastor of us who are His sheep in the midst of ravening wolves. He does not place the burdens of governing in His kingdom on the shoulders of others through delegated work, as the custom of our kings is, for the government is always on His shoulders (Is. 9:6), but when He Himself is present He cares for us, governs, defends, preserves, and saves us, as His peculiar people whom He has bought with His own blood. As John says, ‘He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world’ [1 John 4:4]. And Ezekiel 34:24 says, ‘My Servant David is prince in the midst of them.’[6]

Christ is present with all of Creation because He is God, but He has especially promised to be with His Church through the means of grace. The means of grace are those things through which God works to bring you the forgiveness of sins. These are the Word of God, Holy Baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and the Absolution.

When it comes to the Word of God, Jesus is always working through His Word. That means when you hear the Bible read in Church, when you attend Sunday School, when you read the Bible together as a family, and when you read the bible on your own, Jesus is speaking to you. He is working through His Word. But Jesus has also established the Office of the Holy Ministry to give voice to that Word. He has established preaching so that His Word would be brought especially to you in this time and place.

With the other means of grace, those that we call the Sacraments, Jesus has combined His Word with physical elements—water in the case of Holy Baptism; bread and wine in the case of the Lord’s Supper; and the voice and hands of the pastor in the Holy Absolution. He is doing this not because Pastors have special powers but so that you would know that Jesus is true God and true Man. He has established His Office—into which He places men—such that when a human being, a man, baptizes, gives you the Lord’s Supper, or absolves your sins, you would know that Jesus Christ, in His human body and in His divinity, is present delivering it to you. It is easy to remember that Jesus is God. It is difficult to remember that He is man. So, He has set His means of grace into the hands of men as a reminder that God became man to forgive your sins.

Now, we mustn’t forget that immediately before and immediately after His ascension, the Apostles are rebuked for their lack of faith. Before the ascension, they are rebuked because “they did not believe those who had seen [Jesus] after He had risen.”[7] Even though the Apostles themselves had seen the risen Christ, they questioned others who had seen the same. Perhaps they still didn’t believe the resurrection themselves. Perhaps they thought it necessary for an Apostle to be present to make it a true appearance of Christ. Or perhaps they thought themselves to be above the “normal” disciples so that only their word could stand. It was probably a little of everything.

Then after the ascension, two angels rebuke the Apostles for staring up into the sky. This is the same rebuke Jesus gives to Mary Magdelene on the day of the Resurrection, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father, but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.”[8] Mary and the Apostles have a job to do and standing on a mountain, staring into heaven is not it. They are to go and tell others about Jesus. They are to live in this world, even if they are citizens of heaven. In fact, because they are citizens of heaven. They are to live in this world as citizens of Christ’s Church, as subjects of the Almighty God who has ascended to His throne, “far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come; and hath put all things under His feet.”[9]

For you, that means being in the place that Jesus has promised to give you His means of grace, that is, most especially His Church. That means receiving those means of grace—His Word, Holy Baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and the Holy Absolution. It also means to carry this grace with you as you go about your station in life. Be the best mother that you can be, changing diapers and teaching your children to pray. Be the best husband and father you can be, working hard to provide and teaching your children the catechism. Be the best child you can be by obeying your parents, paying attention to your studies, learning about the world around you, and paying attention in church.

Do all of this because Jesus is with you. He is with you as true God and true Man. He is not absent in anyway, but He is present in many ways. Do these things because your King reigns from the right hand of the Father, where you will be with Him for all eternity.

In + Jesus’ name. Amen.

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[1] St. Luke 24:45.

[2] St. Mark 16:15.

[3] Acts 1:8.

[4] Acts 1:8.

[5] St. Mark 16:16.

[6] Martin Chemnitz, The Two Natures in Christ, translated by J.A.O. Preus (1971; repr., St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House, 2007), 423.

[7] St. Mark 16:14.

[8] St. Luke 20:17.

[9] Ephesians 1:20-23.

Cantate (Easter 4)

Cantate (Easter 4) – April 28, 2024

Psalm 98; Isaiah 12:1-6; James 1:16-21

St. John 16:5-15

In the Name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

This morning’s portion of the farewell discourse of our Lord reveals a significant stumbling block to the faith of the Apostles. We tend to look at the life of the Apostles and envy them since they had the privilege of walking with Jesus during the time of His local presence, that is, when He was present with them in such a way that you could distinguish His knee from His elbow.

But today we see that while the Apostles did experience Christ’s local presence, they also had to experience life in the Church after Christ ascends to the Father. They knew both types of Christ’s presence and they had to endure the transition from one to the other. They had grown accustomed to Christ’s local presence and it is now time for Jesus to prepare them for the time when He would no longer be present in that way.

Thus, Jesus says, “It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment…when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth.”[1] Enduring the transition from Christ’s local presence to His Ascension, as we know the Apostles did, was not on the basis of their reason, knowledge, understanding, or strength. It was by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth. Based on these Words of Jesus, what is this work of the Holy Spirit and how does He accomplish it?

From the Small Catechism, we know that the work of the Holy Spirit is to “call, gather, enlighten, and sanctify the whole Christian Church on earth and keep it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.”[2] The statement of Jesus that the Holy Spirit will “convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment,” is another way to say the same thing.

The first thing to know is this word “convict” might be a bit confusing. It sounds like a strictly negative thing. When a person is convicted in court, it usually means that he is guilty. When a person is found innocent, we say he is “acquitted.” That is not how Jesus is using the word “convict.” He is using it in the same way we might speak of someone’s conviction, that is to say, they are absolutely convinced of something. The Holy Spirit will convince – persuade beyond any doubt – the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment.

The Holy Spirit convinces the world regarding sin because the world does not believe in Jesus. The first work of the Holy Spirit in any heart is to convince you that you are a sinner in need of a Savior. If you are not a sinner, you have no need of Jesus. If you have no need for Jesus, then you do not believe in Him and have no part in Him.

This work of the Holy Spirit does not stop once you are a Christian. Reach your hand up to your chest and feel if you are still alive. If you are, you are still a sinner and thus still need forgiveness. You are still in this world, even if you have received the second birth of Holy Baptism. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to confront you with your sin so that you would have reason to trust the words and promises of Christ.

This is, in fact, the primary use of God’s Law – to show you your sin. The Holy Spirit brings the Word of God’s Law into your ears so that you would be terrified of your sins and flee to the Risen Savior. To ignore this work of God is to refuse to be convinced by the Holy Spirit. But refusal to be convinced by the Holy Spirit will only last so long. There are no atheists in hell. Refusing to see your sin for what it is will only last until you depart this life or Christ reveals Himself on the last day. Then, all will be made plain, and you can no longer hide from your own sinfulness.

The second work of the Holy Spirit described in the text is to convict—or convince—the world of righteousness. This is a reference to what I said about the Apostles that is also true of all people. “I cannot, by my own reason or strength, believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but [it is] the Holy Ghost [who] has called me by the Gospel.”[3] You can provide all the logical, historical, and archaeological proofs of the resurrection and yet no one is converted by them. Conversion is strictly the working of the Holy Spirit. And not only conversion, but retaining the faith, that is, staying a Christian, is only the work of the Holy Spirit. Only by the grace of God, delivered by the Holy Spirit, does anyone remain a Christian unto salvation.

The Holy Spirit works through means to bring you the faith and to keep you in it. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. The Holy Spirit brings you pastors to preach and teach the Word of God. He gives you mothers to read the Word of God to you. He gives you fathers to teach you the catechism that you would understand what the Word of God says. He works in the Word of God combined with water that your sins would be buried with Christ and then you would rise as a new creation.

The sustaining of your faith is chiefly worked out by continuing to hear the Word of God and by receiving that Word of God combined with bread and wine in the Lord’s Supper. The Holy Sacrament is for the forgiveness of sins and the strengthening of body and soul to life everlasting. It is the food to sustain you on your way. It will sustain your faith.

These means of grace are the ways in which the Holy Spirit convicts the world of righteousness.

The third work of the Holy Spirit our Lord describes today is to convict the world of judgment because the ruler of this world is judged. On the one hand, this means that the Holy Spirit convinces the hearts of man that sin is wicked, and that this world is passing away. Without the Holy Spirit, man can conclude that there is something wrong with this world and it needs correction. By the illumination of the Holy Spirit, man can see that what is wrong with this world is his sin and that this sin has been judged by God. By this illumination, man can see that all who belong to this world, who cling to the kingdom of the ruler of this world, have already been judged in the death of Jesus and will receive the inheritance of their father, the devil.

But this conviction regarding judgment has a second side. On the other hand, it is the Holy Spirit who enlightens the hearts of Christians to see that they too have already been judged. Those who are in Christ have nothing more to fear from the judgement of God. The verdict was passed and the sentence carried out on Calvary. All that is left is to receive the inheritance promised to you in Holy Baptism. This judgment is the acquittal of the righteous, who have received and continue to receive the Holy Spirit and all His blessings.

And although such a judgment is done and over, yours by faith, it does not remove the very real possibility of refusing the judgment. It sounds insane but it is entirely within the power of the Christian to turn to God the Father and say, “I do not need your declaration of innocence because I am innocent according to my own conscience.” While it would be helpful if such a verbal declaration was necessary for one to lose his faith, it is not. Declaring you know better than the Word of God, as in transgenderism, is such a declaration. Rejecting the Words and means of the Holy Spirit, as in women’s ordination, Unitarianism, and Anabaptistry, is such a declaration. Living contrary to the Word of God, as in fornication, is such a declaration.

Our Lord’s description of how the Holy Spirit will accomplish these things is quite interesting. “When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.”[4]

The simplest understanding of the majority of these words is something I’ve already said—the Holy Spirit works through means. He works through the means of the Word and Sacraments. What’s more is that we learn that the Holy Spirit does not add anything to the Word of God that Jesus Christ has already brought within Himself (for He is the Word of God). The Holy Spirit does not testify to Himself nor reveal new messages for man. He speaks only that which He has heard from the Son and the Father. He proceeds from the Father and the Son. He is the herald of the great King of Kings, not authorized to add-to or subtract-from the Word of the King.

But we know that the Word of the Spirit is truth because He is the Spirit of Truth. This describes the inspiration of Holy Scripture. It describes that God has ordained that human men would be the means through which He worked to put His Word into writing that it may be proclaimed to man throughout time. We can be certain of the truth of the Holy Scriptures because it was communicated by God Himself, the Third Person of the Holy Trinity, and He is the Spirit of Truth.

But why utilize human authors? When a human means? First, it is entirely consistent with every way that God works in man. He works through the means of this world. Even the concept of communicating in language such that man can understand it is a means of this world. Second, it is in keeping with the Incarnation. Christ took on the flesh of man to redeem the flesh of man. Therefore, it is fitting that He would “enflesh” His Word in the words of man. And, just as Jesus Christ is True God and True Man, so too are the Words of Scripture the pure Word of God and written by Inspired human hands.

The four Gospels do not compete or contradict but there are occasions where they describe something differently. This is the mark of the human authors who are describing events from different perspectives. Even these perspectives have been used by the Holy Spirit to communicate the different facets of the faith.

Third, the Holy Spirit works through present means to deliver this faith to you. This is the Office of the Holy Ministry. God did not leave the Church alone after the Ascension nor the death of the Apostles. He established the Office of the Holy Ministry that men might stand in the stead and by the command of Christ to bring you His Word and Sacraments – the means of grace. He has placed men into the Office for the sake of loving and caring for the present needs of the Church – to preach and teach the faith but also to forgive and retain sins. These are activities of the Holy Spirit as He guides the whole Christian Church into all truth.

How is it then, that we know when we are hearing the Holy Spirit and when we are hearing the doctrine of demons or the teaching of men? The Spirit of Truth will glorify Jesus. If the Scriptures are glorifying Jesus, they are the Word of God. If the pastor is glorifying Jesus, he is speaking on the authority of the Holy Spirit and standing in the stead of Christ. If, however, he is telling tales, building himself a following, or submitting to the human authority of the pope, he is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He is a hireling. He is not speaking by the Holy Spirit because the Spirit of Truth glorifies Jesus.

In + Jesus’ name. Amen.

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[1] St. John 16:7-8, 13.

[2] Small Catechism II 3.

[3] Small Catechism II 3.

[4] St. John 16:13-14.

Jubilate

Jubilate – April 21, 2024

Psalm 66; Isaiah 40:25-31; 1 Peter 2:11-20

St. John 16:16-22

In the Name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

From the very beginning, sin has been a rejection of God’s order; a questioning of His authority, and an assertion that we know better than He does. Satan’s temptation of Eve centered on the question, “Did God really say?” Sometimes we use that phrase as shorthand for the tendency of the sinful mind to subvert God’s wisdom, authority, and knowledge. God set all of creation in order and since that first bite of the forbidden fruit, man has gone about setting the world into disorder.

The twentieth century and on to today has fully embraced this type of thinking. Whether you agree with the statement or not, the idea that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” has dominated all western thought for over a hundred years now. It suggests that my taste is more important than something objective, something that exists outside of myself. This applies to the visual arts – paintings, sculptures, architecture – as well as music, dance, hymnody, and the worship of the Triune God. If something is pleasing to the eye, then it is valid. If you like it, then it must be beneficial, if not true.

This is the foolishness of the world, and it is sin. It is sinful to think that you know better than God. If God has said that the Body and Blood of Christ are bodily present in the Lord’s Supper, who are you to deny Him? As the Bride of Christ, we are often the object of such ridicule. The world laughs at our worship, our faith, and our suffering because it is not pleasing to the eye. At the same time, the world rejoices in sinfulness. The world rejoices because there is nothing else. There is nothing to look forward to. The world says, “Eat, drink, and make merry, for tonight we die!”

It is always amazing when we insist on something because it is the only thing we know. According to God, the only thing we know is sin. Faith is a radical departure from what we know of our own experience and the desires born in our hearts. The entire Christian life must be one of seeking the wisdom, authority, and knowledge of God while putting our own inbred thoughts to death.

The desire to seek God is born within you in Holy Baptism. It is born in you by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. But this desire does not spontaneously give you holy thoughts and liver shivers, provable only because it is something you like. Holy thoughts are born by the indoctrination of the Word of God, being steeped in the eternal truths given to Abraham, Moses, Peter, and Paul, then carried forth by Augustine, Luther, Chemnitz, Walther and more.

Such wisdom of the saints is recorded in our text as weeping and lament. How is that wisdom? It is wisdom in weeping and lamenting our sins. We cannot escape sinful desires. The Old Adam was drowned in Holy Baptism but he is a strong swimmer. We must continually put him to death by lamenting our sins. 

What does that look like? It looks like confessing. It looks like confessing before God Almighty, “I, a poor miserable sinner, confess unto You all my sins and iniquities…” And then trusting in the Word of the Almighty God that the absolution spoken by your Pastor is the very same as though God were speaking it directly from heaven.

It also looks like taking the things of God seriously. When was the last time that you obeyed the words of Saint Paul, “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup,”[1] by coming to confession before receiving the Lord’s Supper, reviewing the Christian Questions and their Answers in your catechism, or simply reciting the Ten Commandments and determining where you have fallen short and where you need the shed Blood of Jesus for the forgiveness of those sins?

These are not laws in the sense that you must dot your Is and cross your Ts before you may commune. They are an admonition of God to take His gifts seriously. This is wisdom. This is the lamentation of the Christian in this time.

And this lamentation leads to joy. It leads to joy here in time and there in eternity. It leads to joy here as your sins are forgiven and you are unburdened. If you take the forgiveness of sins lightly, then your burden will only be lightly relieved. Given great weight, the forgiveness of sins will move the mountain of sins that weigh you down.

This joy, this true joy, will then lead to the enjoyment of the right ordering of God’s creation. Weighed down by sexual sin, you cannot enjoy the bliss of the marital union. Weighed down by the sin of wrath, you cannot enjoy the bliss of company, activity, or competition. Weighed down by the sin of anxiety, you cannot enjoy the bliss of determination, purpose, and direction.

That doesn’t mean that coming to hear private absolution will make everything joyful for you. It will relieve the burden of sin, but it may not “fix” your life. That is the sorrow of a world bent out of order by sin. The whole world fell in Adam’s fall and you still live in the world. You are still effected by this disordered world.

So long as you live on this side of glory, in one way or another, you are still the woman in labor. You will have moments of joy, when you see beyond the sorrow of this world and glimpse the glory of heaven, but the labor persists. Still, the promise of Christ stands, “Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.”[2]

The labor will come to completion and then you will have such joy that the danger, pain, and sorrow of labor will be forgotten. It will be forgotten in the joy that you now behold the Son of Man in your arms. You will see the face of Christ and rejoice. You will forget the sorrow and weeping that marks this life. Your lamentation of sin will come to an end. You will no longer seek the absolution because your absolution will be made complete, made whole, in the direct presence of Christ, now enjoyed by all the faithful.

In + Jesus’ name. Amen.

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[1] 1 Corinthians 11:28.

[2] St. Luke 6:21.

Misericordias Domini

Misericordias Domini – April 14, 2024

Psalm 33; Ezekiel 34:11-16; 1 Peter 2:21b-25

St. John 10:7-18

In the Name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

It is not an accident that so many of our fathers in the Old Testament were shepherds. Abel, Jacob, David, and Amos are just a few who shared this profession. Especially with the life of David, the image of the shepherd is also associated with kings. The primary job of the shepherd is to guide, provide for, and protect his sheep. A king’s duty is the same—to guide, provide for, and protect his people. God has thus established Himself as the Shepherd of His people as He has promised to guide, provide for, and protect them.

A shepherd guides his flock from the front, that is, he walks in front and the flock follows behind. He sets the example of where to walk, where it is safe to graze, and where to lie down for the evening. Our Lord, Jesus Christ does the same for you. He was in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night that led the Israelites out of Egypt. He was with David when he went before the army of Israel and slew the giant, Goliath. He walked perfectly in the Law of the Lord to fulfill the Law on your behalf but also that you would see what it is to live according to the Word of God.

More directly, Christ has sent His Holy Spirit upon you that you would not be alone. If left alone, you would not follow Christ, your Shepherd. You couldn’t. It is the Holy Spirit that carries your limping body and aching soul along the way that you might look to Christ and be guided upon the narrow path of salvation.

And of course, Christ has given you His Word to guide you. “Thy Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” God’s Word guides you in how to live and behave but it also guides you to your final destination. His Word even tells you that this narrow path of salvation will be full of danger and suffering. Christ has called all who would follow Him to take up the cross. Such suffering in this life is not aimless. It is for the strengthening of your soul and in fact, plays it’s own role in conforming you to your Lord. Such suffering is small compared to the suffering of our Lord, but it serves to gather you into the image of Christ.

How then, does the Good Shepherd provide for you? “He daily and richly provides you will all you need for this body and life.” All material things that you need to survive are provided by the hand of God. If for even one moment, God stopped providing for the world, it would cease to exist. Out of His divine, Fatherly, “Shepherdly” goodness, He provides for the needs of every living thing.

The Good Shepherd is even more abundant in His blessings than this. He provides not only for your material needs but also for your spiritual needs. Chiefly, He provides you with His Word. He has communicated to you through the hands of His prophets and Apostles so that you might hear the voice of your Shepherd and know Him.

He also combines this Word with physical elements in the Sacraments. Because He knows how easy it is for you to doubt His Word, Christ has bound His Word to water, bread, and wine so that you can feel, taste, and touch the promises He has given you. He provides for you in thought, word, deed, and sensory perception.

He provides for you the voice of an undershepherd, a pastor, who speaks to you the words of absolution. These words of forgiveness are just as true and certain as if God Himself spoke them from heaven. This is a gift to you directly from God.

He provides the Church, the gathering of the saints to hear God’s Word and receive His gifts. He provides brothers and sisters in Christ that, yes, are able to provide you with temporal blessings, but far more importantly are able to uplift your soul in the worship of the Triune God; are able to support your voice even as Aaron and Hur supported the arms of Moses; are able to orient your mind and body toward the things of God when you would rather turn away toward the passing things of this world.

How then does Jesus, the Good Shepherd, protect His flock? He protects you chiefly from sin, death, and the devil. He does this by dying and rising again. This is what makes Him the great, noble, beautiful Shepherd. He lays down His life of His own accord and takes it up again. No man took the life of Jesus. Jesus laid it down for you. By doing this, He destroyed the Goliath of death. He snatched you, His sheep, from the very mouth of hell and placed you in the sheepfold of His heavenly kingdom.

He continues to protect His flock using the very same things He has provided for the flock. What are you to do when you are assaulted by temptation, sin, or demons? Use the Word of God. Recite the Creed. Call your pastor. Pray the Psalms. Jesus continues to work through means, and these are sure and certain weapons against the agents of Satan. That which He provides He also uses to protect you.

In + Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Feast of the Resurrection

The Feast of the Resurrection of our Lord – March 31, 2024

Psalm 8; Job 19:23-27; 1 Corinthians 5:7-8

St. Mark 16:1-20

In the Name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Very early in the morning, just about sunrise, three women made their way to the tomb of Jesus. They brought spices to anoint His body, showing how much they loved their Lord. Perhaps it was the grief, sorrow over the death of Jesus, that distracted them from the fact that a large stone had been placed over the entrance to the tomb. Along the way, they realized this problem and grew concerned over how they would get into the tomb to tend to Jesus’ body.

But when they arrived at the tomb, they discovered the stone had been rolled away. The door to the tomb stood open. Inside the tomb, the women did not see the body of Jesus. They saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting where they expected to see Jesus. This man was an angel, sent by God, to inform the women of Jesus’ resurrection.

The women were afraid of the man, but he quickly gave them the reassurance commonly heard from holy angels, “Be not afraid.” The angel knows they are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, the Crucified One, and he boldly proclaims, “He is risen! He is not here.” The angel then gives them a job—go tell the disciples, including Peter, to seek the Lord in Galilee as He told you before His death.”

These women quickly fled from the tomb, trembling and afraid. It is somewhat suspicious that our text tells us the women were afraid but not what they are afraid of. We know the Apostles will gather that first Easter evening behind locked doors for fear of the Jews. Perhaps the women are also afraid to tell anyone about the resurrection for fear of the Jews. Or, perhaps they are afraid of the angel. This particular angel appeared in the form of a young man, so his appearance would not have been supernaturally frightening. Maybe he spoke with such authority that the women were afraid of his confidence.

Or maybe, the women were afraid of Jesus. Jesus had taught all His disciples very clearly about the necessity of the crucifixion and the resurrection. He even told them that they would scatter. These women, like almost all the disciples, didn’t really understand or truly believe what Jesus had said. Again, maybe their grief was blinding them to reality. So maybe they were afraid that Jesus really had risen and here they are, carrying spices to anoint His dead body—evidence of their lack of faith in Jesus’ words. Whatever the reason, these women choose to disobey the word of the angel by telling no one what they had seen.

But Mary Magdalene returned to the tomb and encountered our Lord. She was the first person to whom Jesus revealed Himself in His resurrected and glorified state. After seeing Jesus, she ran quickly to tell the disciples what she had seen.

Then our Lord appeared to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, walking with them until evening. They did not recognize Him until He agreed to stay with them for a meal. When He took bread, gave thanks, and broke it before them, the eyes of these disciples were opened and they saw the glorified Lord. Immediately, Jesus departed from them. These two disciples then ran quickly to tell the others that they had seen Jesus.

Forty days later and after revealing Himself to many disciples, Jesus gathered with the Eleven on the Mount of the Ascension. He offered to His disciples His final teachings before being received into heaven and sitting at the right hand of the Father:

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”[1]

What wonderful words to hear from our risen Savior! Imagine if you truly believed them. Because there are many in error who have taken to dancing with venomous snakes and drinking poison, we are quick to dismiss these words. Those who do such foolish things are tempting God—something Satan tried to get Jesus to do but Jesus refused. Rather than take these things as necessary requirements for faith, something to test out to see if you really have faith, we should see them as flowing naturally from faith.

I said, “Imagine if you truly believed these words.” What I mean is, imagine what it would be like not to be afraid of the Jews, the harsh words of Jesus, your neighbors, your coworkers, your children? What if you believed the words of Scripture to say exactly what they say and lived according to them? What if the next time somebody asked, “Any plans this weekend?” you responded, “Yeah, I’m going to go to church and learn more about Jesus”? They might look at you like you’re crazy. They might laugh at you. So what? It’s true. It should be true.

The Creator of Heaven and Earth, the Almighty Word by which creation came to be, took your sins upon Himself; died the death you deserve so that your sins would be buried deep in the earth; and then rose again to new life so that you would receive eternal life with Him in heaven. Why be ashamed of that? Why be afraid to tell someone about that? Doesn’t make much sense, does it?

Rather, revel in the resurrection of Christ. Enjoy the feast of the resurrection. Celebrate the death of Jesus for you, knowing that because of it, you will see Him with your own two eyes, just as Job proclaimed.

In + Jesus’ name. Amen.

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[1] St. Mark 16:15-18.

The Great Vigil of Easter

The Great Vigil of Easter – March 30, 2024

Genesis 1:1-3:24; Genesis 7:1-9:17; Exodus 14:10-15:1; Daniel 3:1-30

St. Matthew 28:1-7

In the Name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Why put in the effort tonight? Why all the ceremonies, long readings, and prayers? It is because tonight we celebrate the heart of our faith. Each prayer is an earnest plea to God for rescue from temptation, sin, and death. Each ceremony is a physical manifestation of that faith, handed down from our forefathers to teach our bodies what it means to confess Jesus Christ as Savior. Each reading focuses our hearts and minds on the singular focus of all Scripture – the salvation of man found in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

There is no room this night for nostalgia, theatrics, or performance. On this most Holy Night, we celebrate the victory of our King. We celebrate His bursting from the bonds of death. We celebrate His victory because it is our victory. It is our victory over temptation, sin, and death.

It is too easy to let phrases like “He is risen!” or “Christ is King” become statements of historic fact or expressions of joyous sentiment unconnected to the Person of Jesus Christ and without impact on your person. The proclamation that Christ is risen means that He was dead. It means that He died for the sins of the world but more importantly, for your sins. Yes, He died for original sin but He also died for the sins you committed this morning, this afternoon, even those you’ve committed since the beginning of this service.

It is a historic fact that Jesus rose from the grave 2000 years ago, but it is far more important that this resurrection brought life to you. He is risen and that means that your sins, which He carried into the grave, remain buried in the tomb. It means that your sins are buried in the earth, never to rise. He is risen and that means that you, too, will rise with Him. You have already risen with Him in the waters of Holy Baptism. You have arisen a new Creation, a new creature, born from above and made in the image of Christ’s righteousness.

It is also a fact that Jesus Christ is King. St. John’s Gospel, especially the Passion as read yesterday in the Chief Service, emphasizes this fact. Again and again, Pilate questions Jesus’ regarding His kingship and never once does Jesus deny being King. But as a historic fact, this is little more important than the fact that Caesar crossed the Rubicon, Charlemagne was crowned Holy Roman Emperor, or Washington crossed the Delaware. These events matter in the course of the world but mean nothing in heaven. When the world is destroyed on the last day, these events will lose all meaning.

It is an entirely different statement to say that Christ is your king. A king is not elected or chosen by his subjects. A king is not under constant threat of deposition by the will of the people. A King is sovereign. A King governs by His will and by His right. Christ is King because He holds all creation in His hands. He is King because He is the very Word by which Creation came to be. And He is your King.

He is your King because He is on your side. He is your King because He has chosen you to be His subject. He is not a King who leads from the rear. He is a King who commands His people to stand in safety while He faces our foes. He is like David, who marches by himself to fight Goliath, the terror of the Israelites and soldier of Satan. Unlike David, your King must lose His life to win the war. Unlike David, your King faced not just the soldiers and power of Satan, but the Adversary himself. And your King won.

The implication for you is that Satan has no power over you. You belong to the King of kings, not to the Ancient Dragon. Temptation, sin, and death constantly seek your life, but your King has ensured victory over them. Should you fall for their lies, you have a King who is strong to save, who has already, before you could fall to sin, devoured your sin in the grave. You are His and He will never leave you, nor forsake you. You are His and His is the victory.

Alleluia, Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed.

In + Jesus’ name. Amen.