Lent 4 [Series A] - preached March 30, 2014 at St. Paul Dewberry, IN and Resurrection Centerville, IN

Sermon Text:      John 9:1-7,13-17, 34-39

Title:          “The Blind leading the Seeing?”
I.        Those who have sight will be blinded.
II.       Those who are blind will have sight.
 

JESUS – THROUGH HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS AND RESURRECTION FROM THE GRAVE – MAKES THE SIGHTFUL BLIND SO AS TO SEE WITH THE EYES OF FAITH THE SALVATION HE BRINGS.

Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father, and from our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.

The sermon text for this Sunday, is taken from the Gospel lesson just read, I would read again a portion of the verses…

35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” 37 Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” 38 He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. 39 Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.”

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I.

Jesus often times works and operates in the world paradox.  Think back to those old English classes we had as kids and we were taught what a paradox is – and in answer to your question, yes I had to look it up to make sure I remembered it correctly! The dictionary definition for paradox is “something absurd or contradictory: a statement, proposition, or situation that seems to be absurd or contradictory, but in fact is or may be true.”  Uh – yeah – Jesus definitely works paradox a whole bunch.”

In our text today we are dealing with the blind and the seeing.  Jesus runs into this blind man, not by accident, but on purpose.  For what purpose?  To show the power of the Almighty that is in Him – that He, Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior of the world, the very Son of God.

So you see – Jesus is not there by happenstance.  It isn’t a chance encounter that Jesus has with this blind man.  No, Jesus has been directed here – to this point in time – to teach and reveal.  Through this poor, blind man Jesus is naming Himself the Son of the Most High – the true Light of the world – that all should follow Him.

And Jesus shows here the urgency of His work.  Things must be done while it is still day, for the night is coming when their will be no work.  The majority of work done in the world at this time was done in the day.  At night people rested for the most part.  The urgency is apparent in what Jesus says. He must work to bring all to the Light of salvation – which is also our charge as Christians today – to bring the Light to the world; for the night is coming when it will be too late.

Then the blind man is taken before the Pharisees, the religious leaders of the people. And here the blind man is put to the question.   

Remember, just before this text Jesus had spent a lot of time in the temple teaching and preaching about who He is – namely the Savior of the world. The Pharisees were already ticked off at Jesus and how He always seemed to point to them as the wrong doers and not to the people.  After all – they were keeping the Law – right? Therefore, their works were making them righteous – not like these people, this rabble, not like this blind man. These Pharisees sound awful lot like the evangelicals of today who will tell you that you are blind because you don’t pray hard enough!

The Pharisees were looking for a way to trap Jesus in the Law and they think they’ve got Him in His performance of this ‘so called’ miracle worked on the Sabbath.

So they begin to question the formerly blind man. They ask what happened and the man tells them. There seems to be some debate here between the Pharisees. The text says there’s division among them – two groups debating. And if I don’t miss my guess – we find our friend, the Pharisee Nicodemus whom we just saw two weeks ago sneaking out to be taught by the Master. 

One side shouts ‘Law breaker!’ The other says, ‘how can this be?’ And the debate goes on.  They then come back to the blind man and put him on the spot and ask, ‘who is this man?’ One side looking for one answer and the other side looking for another.  The blind man calls Jesus a prophet.

So after sending the blind man away, the Pharisees call upon him and begin to question him again. Finally in verse 24 the Pharisees say to the man…

“Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.”

And the man replies…

“Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”

The blind man is starting to get under the skin of the Pharisees. They ask him once again how and what was done to him. The blind man answers that he has already told them and asks them if they want to be Jesus’ disciples.  You can imagine how this went over with these leaders of the faith.  The text says they reviled the blind man saying that they are disciples of Moses.  Then the blind man gives an outstanding testimony about Jesus.  He says to the Pharisees…

“Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. 32 Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”

At this the Pharisees bristle with anger.  You can imagine the shouts of blasphemer and hear the ripping of robes and probably even the calling for this blind man’s death.  The Pharisees say…

“You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?”

And they threw him out.

II.

And when Jesus hears of this He goes looking for the blind man and when He finds him, Jesus reveals Himself to this lowly one of Israel.  He tells him that He – Jesus, the healer of his blindness – is the Savior, the One sought by many, including this man.  The man’s reaction is breathtaking, one of pure faith and yet very simple ‘Lord, I believe.’ 

Then Jesus gets to that paradox. He says that He came into the world to give sight to the blind and take away sight from the seeing.  Here Jesus speaks not only of this believing blind man who sees and the unbelieving sightful Pharisees who are blind – but truly of the world.  There are many in the world who claim to ‘see’ GOD through Allah or Vishnu or Buddha or even – like the Pharisees – through their own good works. Truly, these sightful people are the blind ones. Blind in their faithlessness. Blind without the true Light of the world – Jesus the Christ!

Jesus healed the man’s physical needs in giving him his eyesight back – but more importantly Jesus healed the man’s spiritual needs by giving him the eyes of faith. We must become blind in order to see.

That’s right we are back to paradox. Jesus deals in paradox from the get go. He is born of a Virgin and He is a living dead man! It takes not the physical eyes to see this, but truly, the eyes of faith. On the surface – from our eye sockets and our brains this Jesus is just another man, nothing more and certainly not the Son of GOD!

But in the water and blood that spills forth from His side on the Cross – truly, Holy Baptism and Holy Communion – our spiritual eyesight is redeemed, and in its restoration, our eyesight sees in true clarity Jesus is who He says He is – the Son of GOD Who comes to take away the sin of the world. Our response? LORD, I believe. Amen.

The peace of the LORD – which surpasses all understanding – will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, the Light of the world. Amen.

 

+ Soli Deo Gloria +

Lent 3 [Series A] - preached March 23, 2014 at St. Paul Dewberry, IN and Resurrection Centerville, IN

Sermon Text:      John 4:5-26

Title:          Living Water
I. Water quenches our thirst, but over time we grow thirsty again.
II. Living Water quenches our thirst, and we will never grow thirsty again.

JESUS CHRIST QUENCHES OUR PARCHED SOULS WITH THE LIVING WATER OF SALVATION.

 In the name of the Father and the Son + and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father, and from our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.

The sermon text for this Sunday, is taken from the Gospel lesson just read.  I would read again these verses…

13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty forever. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.”

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I.

Have you ever been working really hard out in the summer sun and no water is in site? I remember this kind of thirst when I was in high school and I was on the soccer team. Now even if you know nothing about soccer everybody knows that you run, run, run! And yes – I know – it’s hard to see me in this role today, but believe it or not I used to be able to run like the wind. All of that running, in the hot August sun led to the greatest thirst I had ever known. Day in and day out for four years I ran my tail off – and each day, half way through practice we were allowed to go to the hose for water. What a thirst we all had. Guys would stand there doubled over drinking long drinks of that cool water. It tasted like nothing else. I think you could have offered us just about anything in place of that water and we would have turned you down flat. Water never tasted so good!

In the Gospel lesson today Jesus speaks of thirst and water. He tells the Samaritan woman at the well that He is thirsty. This is a miracle in and of itself that Jesus is speaking to a Samaritan. The Jews and the Samaritans are not the best of friends and you might even call them enemies.  Yet Jesus – this Jewish man – speaks to this Samaritan woman.

Why does Jesus say to her that He is thirsty?  For one – He is simply thirsty.  Remember Jesus is not just true God – He is also true Man. He is human just like the rest of us.  He must work and sweat and be hungry and tired and yes – even thirsty.  Jesus and His disciples were in the Judean countryside and were on their way to Galilee which meant either taking the long way around Samaria or going through it. Jesus chose to go through Samaria and it is in the text today that we see why He chose to do so.

Jesus arrives at Jacob’s well and there He meets this Samaritan woman.  He is tired and He is thirsty.  John writes…

There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)

Jesus speaks to the woman and tells her to draw water for Him. The woman is shocked at this gesture. She is dumbfounded and asks Him why He would ask such a question of her – a woman and a Samaritan woman to boot.

Jesus answers her…

“If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”

Jesus has already turned the conversation from one about base needs for the body to one of base needs for the soul. Here Jesus points to her lack of spiritual knowledge when He says to her, “If you knew the gift of God.”  He says this because if she had known who He is – meaning that He is the Messiah – she would have asked Him for the Living Water that only Jesus – the Son of God – can give.

But she still isn’t quite there yet, is she? We see this in her response to Jesus.  She says…

“Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.”

Now, she does at this point call Jesus “Sir” so there is something going on there, but she doesn’t call Him LORD – not yet. She begins to point out the impossibilities Jesus faces in giving her water. She says that He has no bucket. She says the well is deep. She asks where He can get this Living Water from. She asks if He is greater than Jacob. She points out that this water has been good for hundreds of years. For many generations of people have come to this well to water their livestock and themselves. How can you do this?

Sounds a bit like us doesn’t it?  We, many times in our lives, wonder in our minds – and even out loud – how it is that God can help me this time?  How can He possibly get me out of this jam?  How can someone I’ve never met help me? Does He love me? Why did He let this happen to me? Why did my friend have to die? Why was I left behind? Why did I lose my job? Why LORD? Why!? Watch and learn.

Jesus answer to the Samaritan woman’s questions is simple. He says…

“Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again…”

Isn’t that the way it is for every human being on the face of God’s green earth? We are never satisfied when it comes to many things in life, but especially when it comes to thirst. We drink and drink and drink.  If you went to the parsonage right now and opened up the fridge you would find no less than two gallons of milk, two gallons of kool-aid, a gallon of tea, a gallon of water, a couple of two liters of Diet Coke and perhaps a German beverage or two. Drink - we can’t live without it. Jesus is right, we will be thirsty again. This is the Law of the text – that we need not only water to quench our dry and parched throats – but more importantly we need Living Water to slack the thirst of our very souls – and only Jesus can ladle out this Water.

II.

Then Jesus gives the Water soaked Gospel in all its purity and glory and satisfaction.  Jesus says…

but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty forever. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Jesus is offering the Water of Life to this enemy. Jesus in this small section of Scripture no less than five times uses the word “give.”  Do you think this word is important to the text?  Remember what I said Wednesday night – when the LORD repeats Himself in Scripture it’s important. Jesus has come into the world to “give” the gift of Life and salvation through the forgiveness of sins. Here at the well with this Samaritan woman Jesus is working. That is to say, He is in the mode of evangelizing this sinner – this unchurched Samaritan. He is reaching out to her and giving her the gift of Life, the gift of Living Water.

Jesus has reached out to all of you too. He has preached this message time and time again to each and every one of you. You too, like the Samaritan woman are a sinner in need of the Life giving Waters of Jesus Christ. And it is on His Cross that Jesus earns the salvation of the world.  We stand beneath that cross and the Waters of Life cascade over us from our Savior’s side.  It is here in this Baptismal flood that we are receiving the Living Water that Jesus speaks of today.  What a wonderful gift the LORD has given us, and we will never thirst again.  Amen.

The peace of the LORD – which surpasses all understanding – will guard your hearts and minds in Jesus Christ – the Living Water.  Amen.

 

+ Soli Deo Gloria +

Lent 2 [Series A] - preached March 16, 2014 at St. Paul Dewberry, IN and Resurrection Centerville, IN

 

Sermon Text: John 3:1-17

Title: Lifted Up

I.   Nicodemus doesn’t get it.
II.  Sunday school is in session.
III. Christ must be lifted up.
IV. One more lifting up


IN THE LIFTING UP OF OUR SAVIOR ON HIS CROSS – WE TOO ARE LIFTED UP – OUT OF SIN AND INTO HEAVEN.

In the name of the Father and the Son + and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father, and from our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

The sermon text for this Sunday, is taken from the Gospel lesson just read…

Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except him who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.


Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I.

Nicodemus this ruler of the Jews doesn’t get it. It doesn’t matter that he is a Pharisee. It doesn’t matter that he is a learned man of the Holy Scriptures. It makes no difference that he is a leader and ruler of the people of Israel. Jesus tells him that unless one is born again, born of water and the Spirit, one cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. 

And Nicodemus stands there and you can just see him – mouth hanging open not comprehending what Jesus has just said. This man Nicodemus is one of the few of the Pharisees who in secret, follows Jesus. He is a man who has quite possibly risked his life, and certainly his job and reputation to meet with Jesus this night. And this is what Jesus says to him?! With a completely dumfounded look on his face, Nicodemus asks Jesus, “How is this possible?”

Jesus looks at Nicodemus and a heavy sadness fills His voice and maybe even tears glisten in His eyes and He says to Nicodemus…

Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?

This should not have been such a foreign concept to this religious leader of the people of Israel. They knew a life of transformation in the rite of circumcision. And yet here is the learned Nicodemus standing there not understanding this basic truth that Jesus is revealing to him. And it is for this reason that Jesus is saddened.

Jesus goes on to say…

Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony.

Who is the “We” that Jesus speaks of? You may have guessed it. Most theologians see this as the divine “We” meaning that this is the Trinity. It would also include those who follow Jesus, that is the disciples, John the Baptist, and other followers. 

And then Jesus point blank tells Nicodemus he is wrong when He says, “but you do not receive our testimony.” What a positively refreshing bit of fresh air for us today who are choking on the political correctness of the day when one cannot say another is wrong. Jesus says it to Nicodemus and we need to be more assertive in our pointing out the wrongs of the world when we see them, but do so in Christian love.

Jesus goes on to say…

If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except him who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.

What are the earthly things Jesus speaks of? Here He speaks of the regeneration of Baptism. He goes back to what He was speaking of before, of being born again through water and Spirit. This is an earthly act performed in the hearts of men through the power of the Holy Spirit. Now Jesus is about to tell Nicodemus of a very important heavenly thing, namely the atonement, that is the sacrifice that will soon be accomplished for all men. Where Baptism is regenerative in man, the atonement – Christ’s death on the Cross – will be for man. 

II.

Then Jesus begins to give Nicodemus a bit of a Sunday School lesson. Jesus says…

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness…

Here Jesus refers to something that is very familiar to this teacher of the people of Israel, the story of Moses in the wilderness. Here he is reminded of the wickedness of the children of Israel with their complaining and grumbling against the LORD and Moses which resulted in their being afflicted with a plague of fiery serpents. He is reminded how many in Israel died from this, and those remaining alive and in pain and agony cried out to Moses to intercede for them with the LORD. And the LORD hears their cry for mercy, and by grace – gives them a way out of this terrible affliction. He commands Moses to make a fiery serpent and set it on a poll and all who are bitten can look to this poll and live. This account is all very familiar to Nicodemus. 

III.

Then Jesus goes on and says…

…so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

In other words, Jesus tells Nicodemus that He – Jesus Himself – is the Savior of the world. Just as this fiery serpent brought life to all who looked on it, so too will this Son of Man Who will be lifted up on a cross of execution bring life to all who look upon Him and believe. 

Here Jesus is speaking words of life to Nicodemus. He is telling Him, “I am the One you’ve been waiting for. I am the One that the fiery serpent foreshadowed. I am the promised Messiah, look no further. I will die the death of all the sinners of the world and all those who have been snake bitten by the serpent, the devil himself, God the Father is providing a way out for them too, just like He did for the Children of Israel in the wilderness. I will be lifted up and all they need do is look upon me and believe, believe that I am their Savior and that God has rescued them. This is the perfect love that the Father has for the world. He sent me not to condemn it, but to save it.”

IV.

And from this lifting up there comes one more lifting up. The lifting up of us from the depths of sin to the heights of heaven through the living waters of Holy Baptism. That’s right. We are lifted up too. But our lifting up is not on a cross. No, for us our lifting up is Jesus scarred hands lifting us up. He bends to us in our shame and sin and lifts us up through Baptism, through the Word. He puts his arm around us and helps us up, cleans us off and says come on, let’s go, the Father is waiting to see you. And then He smiles and tears once again glisten in His eyes, but this time it is for joy – the joy of bringing you home. Amen.

The peace of the LORD – which surpasses all human understanding – will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus – lifted up for our sins. Amen. 

+Soli Deo Gloria+

Lent 2 [Wednesday] - preached March 12, 2014 at St. Paul Dewberry, Indiana

Sermon Title: We Should Fear and Love GOD.
[Part 2 of Christ our Teacher and Redeemer - The Ten Commandments]

I.   What does it mean to fear and love GOD?
II.  How does Christ teach us through the Ten Commandments?
III. How does He redeem us through the Ten Commandments?

CHRIST OUR TEACHER AND REDEEMER SHOW US THE PROPER WAY

TO FEAR AND LOVE GOD BY KEEPING THE TEN COMMANDMENTS PERFECTLY

FOR US - SAVING US FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW

AND LEADING US TO SALVATION IN HIM

  

In the name of the Father and the Son + and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Grace, mercy and peace from GOD our Father and our LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Our sermon text for this evening is taken from the lesson just read Exodus chapter 20:1-21. I will refer to these throughout the sermon.

Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off ¹⁹ and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.” ²⁰ Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.” ²¹ The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ -

I.

 

Most of you probably have seen the movie A Christmas Story - a movie about a young boy named Ralphie who wants a BB gun for CHRISTmas, but is foiled at every turn. And just when this boy has had it up to here he has a run in with the neighborhood bully and instead of turning tail and running he takes him on and actually beats him up - and at the same let's fly with a bunch of cuss words. His mom drags him off of the bully and into the house. She calms him down and has him lie down until his dad gets home. As he lies there in his bed crying, he thinks to himself that he is dead when his dad gets home.

 

Remember those days? I do. Although my mother had enough of her mother in her that she took care of things on her own - there were a couple of times I remember hearing the words, "Wait until your dad gets home," then I knew I was really in trouble!

 

We find in our text today a very similar situation. The Children of Israel are in deep trouble with their heavenly Father. Let the grumbling begin!

 

They grumbled about bitter water.

They grumbled about no food.

They grumbled about the food the LORD provided - the manna.

They grumbled about being thirsty.

They grumbled early and often.

 

Then they find themselves at the foot of Mt. Sinai and at the top is the LORD in the midst of lightning and thunder and a loud trumpet and the mountain actually smoking - and they were afraid. Moses writes...

 

Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off ¹⁹ and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.” ²⁰ Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.” ²¹ The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.

 

Do you hear their fear? It's not the same fear we have when there is about to be an accident or a fear of war or a fear of someone punching us in the nose. In other words it's not a fear of evil or evil being done to us. No - that is not GOD.

 

No - this is the same kind of fear we had as kids waiting for Mom or Dad to get home - a fear borne of respect - not a fear of evil. Do you see the difference? They feared the LORD because He is GOD and can rightly judge them as sinners, and therefore, can rightly punish them. But if He can punish, it also means He has the power and authority to have mercy as well. That's fear of GOD, and we do love Him for it.

 

II.

 

How does Christ teach us through the Ten Commandments? He does so by keeping them perfectly. GOD showed the Children of Israel what was already written on their hearts - the Law, right? The prophet Jeremiah says so, as well as St. Paul in his letter to the Romans.  Jeremiah writes...

 

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Jeremiah 31:33

 

And St. Paul writes...

 

They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts... Romans 2:15

 

It's written on their hearts and our hearts too. And we are grumblers just like they are aren't we? We gripe when everything doesn't go our way. When the pot boils over, when the car doesn't start, when we forget to grab the thing we went into the kitchen for and make it all the way back to the living room - we all grumble and blame GOD just like our brothers and sisters at the foot of Sinai.

 

Well that Law is written on Jesus' heart too - after all He is true Man as well as true GOD. And it's by His actions and words throughout His life that shows He has it right there on His heart too. He even goes so far as to sum up the Ten Commandments when He tells us to put the LORD first in our hearts and our neighbors second. If we put the LORD first and our neighbor next and ourselves last we got it made. Unfortunately that is an impossible task.

 

III.

 

 

And that's where Christ redeems us through those Ten Commandments. He knows - as well as our heavenly Father who gave the tablets to Moses in the first place - that we cannot do it. We cannot keep the Law. In fact this inability to keep the Law - is revealed not at Mt. Sinai but in the Garden of Eden to Adam and Eve. The LORD tells them that they will need a Redeemer to get them out of their mess - and  that Redeemer is the God-made-Man Jesus Christ.

 

Christ Redeems us through the Law by keeping the Law for us making Him sinless - but nevertheless taking all of our sin on to Himself and receiving our wages - death on His Cross. There on Golgotha murdered between two thieves the Son of Man shows all the glory of heaven in that He was willing to give His life for His brothers and sisters.

 

 

CHRIST OUR TEACHER AND REDEEMER SHOW US THE PROPER WAY

TO FEAR AND LOVE GOD BY KEEPING THE TEN COMMANDMENTS PERFECTLY

FOR US - SAVING US FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW

AND LEADING US TO SALVATION IN HIM

 

And just as Christ on the Cross was clothed in our sins - we in our Baptisms are clothed in Christ's righteousness. What a great exchange! To Christ be the glory forever and ever. Amen

 

The peace of the LORD - which surpasses all understanding - will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

 

 

+ Soli Deo Gloria +

 

Lent 1 [Series A] - preached March 9, 2014 at St. Paul Dewberry, IN and Resurrection Centerville, IN

Sermon Text:      Romans 5:12-19

Title:           “Adam and the Greater Adam.”

I.  Adam was a man who sinned and fell from God.

II.The Greater Adam was the Son of Man who did not sin and ascended to God.

SIN CAME INTO THE WORLD THROUGH ADAM,
AND SALVATION FOR THE WORLD CAME INTO THE WORLD THROUGH THE GREATER ADAM, JESUS CHRIST.

In the name of the Father and the Son + and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father, and from our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.

The sermon text for this Sunday, is taken from the epistle lesson just read.  I would read again these verses…

18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I.

Out with the old and in with the new. We’ve all heard it whether it was a garage sale, a new hairstyle or new clothes. This phrase reminds me of the old cartoons when Tweety has saved Sylvester from drowning and he is pumping Sylvester's legs saying out with the old and in with the new.

Our Catechism speaks of this getting rid of the old and bringing in the new. Only in this case it is getting rid of a condition and bringing in a new condition. Martin Luther speaks of this concept in this way…

Baptism signifies that the Old Adam in us should, by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil lusts and, again, a new man daily come forth and arise, who shall live before God in righteousness and purity forever.

What in the world is Luther talking about here. Did Luther write this after having one too many Meister Braus? Is he off his rocker? What’s he getting at and where is he getting it?

Look no further than our text today. Although this explanation of Luther found in the Catechism sites Romans six as the source of his clarification on Baptism, the concept of the two Adams clearly comes from this section of Romans that is our text today.

So let us begin at the beginning which means going all the way back to the Old Testament reading for today. There in Genesis three is an important part of Holy Scripture, where we see the fall into sin. There in the Garden we see in vast detail man’s leap into sin – choosing himself over GOD. Adam follows his own heart rather than the LORD’S Law. He chooses to give into his own lusts rather than treasure the will of GOD. What follows is the revealing of the consequences, first to the serpent, then to Eve, and lastly to Adam, the one with whom God’s covenant had been made.

Here as GOD is pronouncing judgment we see for the first time the story of the two Adams. We see that first glimmer of what is to come – another Adam Who will set things right.

Then you have our Gospel lesson where Jesus – this one who is said to be the Messiah, the very Son of the Most High – is being tempted in the wilderness by none other than that old serpent from the Garden. Time after time Jesus resists the devil by turning to the Word of GOD. The devil knows he’s up against it and flees the scene leaving Jesus to be cared for by angels from Heaven. 

Jesus has passed the test set before Him by the Father. For in the wilderness – and truly all through His earthly life – Jesus was enduring His own personal Garden of Eden, being tested just like Ada – just like you and I. Truthfully Satan’s words aren’t all that from Adam to Jesus. Satan is appealing to a base desire of man – his stomach.  For Adam it was the forbidden and for Jesus it was bread in the stones around Him. This is where the Great Deceiver goes to get Adam, and it is the first place that old rascal goes with Jesus. The temptations are very similar – but the similarities end here, for the outcomes are is dissimilar as they come. Jesus resists the devil trickery where Adam did not.

So what does all of this have to do with our sermon text today? A lot.  In his letter to the Romans St. Paul begins at the beginning like we have done today. He takes them to the Garden of Eden and presents his case much like a lawyer would in a court of law. Here he parades Adam in front of the church at Rome and says, “Guilty as charged.”  He then goes on to explain why.  St. Paul says…

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned… Romans 5:12

Then St. Paul leads in the Greater Adam – Christ Himself – and says, “Innocent.” And then he goes on to explain why. 

For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 If, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

And then St. Paul says something unexpected – he tells them that this Greater Adam – Jesus – although He is innocent, nevertheless He dies. And then explains that this is necessary for the salvation of the world.  For St. Paul writes…

18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.

In the death of this Innocent Man Christ was saving the world. He was making the disobedient obedient, and the unrighteous righteous.  He was making

sinners into saints through His suffering, death and resurrection. 

Jesus is the Greater Adam the one spoken of and promised by God to Adam and Eve. And that death was not only promised for Adam and Eve – it was promised for you and for me.  We too are in need of saving for our text doesn’t only condemn Adam, but you and me too, for all have sinned.

II.

St. Paul wrote to that church in Rome to convince them that they were sinners and that they were in need of the blood of Christ in their lives for their salvation and though the letter was addressed to the Church at Rome, God saw fit to make sure the world heard this letter.  For in this letter are words of forgiveness, life and salvation. In this letter is the love of the LORD not just for a select few – but all mankind. 

There is another Garden of Eden moment for Jesus – in the Garden of Gethsemane. Here Jesus prays for another way to do His Father’s work pf salvation – truly the Father’s will. But Jesus follows that up with – ‘not My will but Thy will Father’ – and in that moment chases away the devil and his tempting spirit for the last time. Jesus chose to go the road of the cross – the road of torture and suffering – with you in mind – not just mankind but you specifically in mind. He chose you and not Himself – out of love. He is the Greater Adam indeed – choosing the will of the Father in all things.

And through the gifts sent by the Father above we are given this forgiveness earned for us on the cross. One such gift is the gift of Holy Baptism – which brings us back to our Catechism and Martin Luther and this idea of two Adams. The Old Adam in us is drowned through the miraculous waters of Holy Baptism, both on the day of Baptism and each and every day thereafter. 

Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation, the old has gone the new has come.  2 Corinthians 5:17

Out with the old and in with the new? Absolutely! Amen. 

The Peace of the LORD – which surpasses all understanding – will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus the Light of the world.  Amen.

 

+ Soli Deo Gloria +

Ash Wednesday - preached March 5, 2014 at St. Paul Lutheran Church Dewberry, Indiana

Sermon Text:      Acts 18:24-28

Title:          Catechesis: What does this mean? [Part 1 of Christ Our Teacher and Redeemer - Catechism]

I.        Christ our LORD teaches us through His Word

II.       Christ our LORD teaches us through Our Catechism

THROUGH CHRIST AND HIS CROSS HE TEACHES US WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW IN ORDER TO SEE OUR SIN AND OUR SAVIOR – THROUGH HIS WORD AND THROUGH THE CATECHISM.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father, and from our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.

The sermon text for this Ash Wednesday, is taken from Acts 18…

24 Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. 27 And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, 28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I.

It is once again Ash Wednesday – that time of the Church year where we begin our journey through Lent. It wasn’t too long ago we were singing hymns about a silent night and a manger. We were decorating our homes with lights, going to choir concerts, buying presents, baking and watching our favorite TV shows and movies. If we listen closely we can still here the faint, distant echo of CHRISTmas bells and singing and laughter fading into the past.

Yes, here on Ash Wednesday things seem much darker and foreboding. The shadows seem longer and deeper, as if they are reaching out to us. The hymns have taken a turn toward a minor key. The subject of such hymns are sin, death and the devil. More to the point – this time of year we see and hear and even feel the purpose of that Baby born in Bethlehem – His death.

This time of year we reflect on the true Reason for the Season – our sin. We take time to dig deep into our souls and reveal what we don’t want to see – that we are sinners in need of a Savior – and we even have a dark smudge upon our foreheads this evening as a reminder.

During this Lenten season we will journey the Via Dolorosa – the path Jesus took to the Cross – and examine what Holy Scripture says regarding our sin and our salvation. We will at the same time examine Luther’s treasure given to the Church – his Small Catechism – and there we will discover a deeper and fuller understanding of GOD’S Word to us in the form of this small, yet significant book.

We begin by taking a look at our text for this evening. St. Luke writes in the book of Acts…

Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.

Once again – just like this past Sunday – we take a look at a small word and discover that in this small word is a whole lot to be discovered. There in verse twenty-five we see the word instruction. Do you know what that word is in the original Greek? It is none other than the word Catechesis which means to instruct. Apollos had been catechized or instructed in the faith in Alexandria – which would be considered today an Ivy League education.

How was he catechized? Certainly through the very Word of GOD – where and when it was available. The Word of GOD supersedes all other writings and works and teachings. However, where other writings and works and teachings seek not to be above Sacred Scripture, but merely seek to flesh out the Word – these are considered helps and are a part of the catechesis process.

A sermon is catechetical. It is based in the Word but uses the pastor’s knowledge learned through seminary, experience and study of Holy Scripture, but also reading the works of others to help in understanding the very Word of GOD and be able to relate it to the flock.

Why is this so important? Because it shows us that a) catechesis was going on all the way back at the beginning of the Church, and b) it is important for Christians to be catechized. And no – it wasn’t Luther’s Catechism – but it was catechesis.

II.

Apollos needed to be instructed in the faith and so he was catechized – he was instructed. For what purpose was Apollos instructed? It’s twofold really.

One, it was for his own good. Apollos needed to be catechized so that he understood what it was he believed. And then when he shows up in Ephesus – this learned man from Alexandria – he needed even more instruction – more catechesis. He needed to understand it.

Does this mean NOW he knew everything there was to know about GOD and knew it perfectly? Of course not. When handed a math book in third grade, is it expected of you to understand Quantum Theory? Of course not. Nevertheless Apollos was instructed – he was catechized – to understand and know the faith to make him a more learned Christian.

The second purpose for Apollos catechization was so that he could tell others what he knew. It’s important that all Christians know their faith – not just for themselves – but for others too. This is a part of the Great Commission when Jesus tells the disciples to go into all of the world baptizing in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit AND don’t forget the rest of the commission - teaching them all that I have commanded you.

So it is important – not just for kids age 12 -14, but ALL PEOPLE – to be catechized and continue in catechesis throughout their lives. And that means you too. And that means me too.

When I was at Seminary my academic advisory Dr. Quill told me that I should never call the place where I park my desk – at the church or at home – my office. Never call it an office – it’s a study. Why? Because even though you have a master’s degree in theology and even though you will be ordained and be a pastor – you will never stop studying the Word – it will be a pursuit and endeavor and hard work for the rest of your life. And so it is for me and so it is for you.

We need to study the Word and use the gifts we are given like Luther’s Small Catechism to keep us sharply honed theological tools ready to give the answer to our faith – Jesus died a sinner’s death not for Himself but for me and for you. All so we might go to Heaven to be with Him for all eternity. This is the free gift of GOD – His grace to us.

Thanks be to GOD for His Word and thanks be to GOD for tools like the Catechism to help us understand our sin and our crucified Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.  

Peace of the LORD – which surpasses all understanding – will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our LORD.  Amen.

 

+ Soli Deo Gloria +

Transfiguration Sunday [Series C] - preached March 2, 2014 at St. Paul Dewberry, IN and Resurrection Centerville, IN

Sermon Text:      Luke 9:28-36

Title:           “The Greatest Exodus.”

I.  Moses led God’s people from slavery to the promised land.

II. Jesus leads God’s people from the slavery of sin to the Promised Land.

THROUGH CHRIST – THE GREATER MOSES – AND CHRIST’S CRUCIFICXION WE ARE DELIVERED FROM THE SLAVERY OF SIN TO OUR HEAVENLY PROMSIED LAND.

Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father, and from our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.

The sermon text for this Transfiguration Sunday, is taken from Luke 9…

Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. 30 And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. 33 And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said. 34 As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” 36 And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The focus of our message and the text today is on one tiny little word of Holy Scripture. Can one word be so important? Let’s see.

One night in the fall quarter of my first year at seminary I sat down to do some Greek translation homework. I remember thinking to myself – is this really all that important? We have English Bibles don’t we? The text I was wrestling with that Fall night in 2002 was our text today. What you will hear now is how I found out that a pastor’s translation of the text each week is that important.

The word we need to focus on is often times translated as departure as it is in our text just read.  In the original Greek the word is exodus which when broken down ex means out and hodos means way literally meaning way out.

This word exodus is very familiar to you isn’t it?  It is the second book of the Bible, but probably made more famous by Charlton Heston in the 1956 classic “The Ten Commandments.”  Whichever way you came to know the word exodus it means one thing to all people. It means the deliverance of God’s people out from under the burden of slavery imposed by the Egyptians.

We all know the story. God chooses Moses, sends him to Pharaoh demanding that he free God’s people with the famous line, “Let my people go.”  Pharaoh denies Moses and God time and time again, and in between each of those times a plague is sent against the people of the land.  Eventually Pharaoh grows tired of the plagues especially when the last one takes his own son.  Pharaoh releases the children of Israel.  And to make a long story short the children of Israel reach the land they were sworn to receive by God Himself, the promised land – forty years later. 

All of this sounds familiar, right?  Not just because of the Old Testament exodus but also now because our reading today speaks of exodus too. St. Luke writes…

And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

Now remember, the word departure here should be translated exodus meaning way out.  Just like Moses, Jesus is to lead an exodus too.  Jesus is to lead a way out.  But a way out of what?  We look to ourselves and there are no chains on our wrists and ankles.  We don’t feel the sting of the foreman’s whip upon our backs.  We know of no slavery that we are bound to. 

Or do we?  Don’t you feel the shackles around your wrists and ankles cutting deeply into your flesh, as does the foreman’s whip upon your back? Take a look your lives. Aren’t they filled with chains and whips? Do you find yourself sinning day and night?  Do you say things that are hateful to others?  Do you do things that are spiteful to others?  Do you love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul and mind?  Do you love you neighbor as yourself?  Do you love your enemies?  Do you turn the other cheek?  Do you give of your first fruits to God first and then to others and then to yourself?  Or is a better description of you a soul bound to sin like a manacle bound to your wrists?

I remember sitting there at my desk that night at the seminary thinking – ok maybe there is something to this translating stuff.

So do you want to rethink that whole bit about chains and stinging whips and slavery?  Show me a day without sinning and I will show how to jump to the moon. We cannot not do them.  It is a part of our fallen nature.  It is a side effect of our original sin, this actual sinning that we do.  And yes, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, we are slaves to it.  Like Ebenezer Scrooge who could not see Jacob Marley’s chains we too look about us wondering where they are. But just like Marley explains his were invisible to himtoo – until he died. Then they became very visible.

Make no mistake Brothers and Sisters – they are there and we are bound by them.  We are slaves to sin just as St. John writes… 

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. John 8:34

In a breath, Jesus says it all.

II.

But remember, the word exodus recorded in our text today means a way out.  And it is through Jesus Christ and His death on the cross that we have our exodus our way out.  Why?  Because only someone who is true man and knows our plight personally, and only someone who is true God who can resist the debauchery of sin, can truly save anyone.  Jesus was NOT a slave to sin, but a slave to righteousness.  His master was the Father and His neighbor and to please them was His delight.  And He has done that for you and for me, for He knows that we cannot deliver ourselves.  Salvation must come from without, not within – for to come from within means it is tainted corrupted by sin and is no salvation at all –but rather the opposite condemnation.  Thanks be to GOD Jesus comes from without.  He comes from Heaven above as the hymn goes and He has come into our world of sin, death and the devil and has conquered all three.

And now when we look down to our wrists and ankles we see no chains and they are not there, even invisibly.  They have fallen away through the waters of Holy Baptism and through the very body and blood of our crucified and risen LORD and Savior. 

And now – even though we still sin – we are not slaves to sin.  We have been washed and reborn – for Jesus leads us into the waters of Holy Baptism just as Moses did when he led the children of Israel into the Red Sea.  There the children of Israel were saved by water and we too are saved by water.  We have been led out of the slavery of sin through the greatest exodus and it is the very Son of God, Jesus, who is leading the way, the way of His cross which is our way out.

So indeed one word of Holy Scripture is that important and it is also important of your pastor to know and translate Greek. In this one little word exodus we see a thread – tiny it may be – but strong as steel it is. In this tiny thread is the connection between Old Testament and New Testament, between Moses and Jesus, between Promise and Fulfilment. In this tiny word exodus we see the full and rich tie that binds GOD’S promises to deliver man – and His execution of those promises in Jesus Christ and His life and death and resurrection lived and died and raised for you and me. So yes – this little word is important and we are reminded in the great Reformation hymn A Mighty Fortress penned by our dear, sainted Martin Luther – “one mighty word can fell him.” Thanks be to GOD for this small and significant word – kept for our salvation. Amen.

Now the peace of the LORD which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  Amen.

 

+Soli Deo Gloria +