Sinner and Saint

This is Our Day!

Easter 2011

Acts 10:34-43

“This is Our Day!”

 

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior          Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

The Lord is risen! (He is risen indeed! Alleluia!)

 

             Today is our day to celebrate! Easter is our day to rejoice and shout alleluias, isn’t it!—even if on every other day we’d be shy about speaking out in church. For us Christians, Easter is our day! But sometimes…the distractions of life, the hardships we and others endure cause us to doubt that this or any other day…is our day.

             Listen to these words from Acts: "You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached—how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree." (Acts 10:36-39)

             These don’t sound like joyous words…but damning words. The proclamation is that the audience knew what was going on with Jesus. They knew how God the Father anointed Him, how he healed the sick and the lame, and all that He preached. The words that cut to the heart are that even knowing all of this “They killed him by hanging him on a tree.” (Acts 10:39) What those people didn’t want to hear…is what we don’t want to hear: We are guilty of Jesus death. Each and every sin that we have committed or will commit is another hammer blow of the nails that hung Jesus to the tree.

             It sure doesn’t sound like this is our day…does it? It’s also hard to think that today is our day as we endure pain and suffering in this life. It’s hard to be joyous when you have lost a loved one to death. It’s hard to rejoice when you’ve lost your house, your car, or your job. You don’t think about celebrating when you’re suffering from cancer, have lost a limb due to Diabetes or an accident, when you have become debilitated. How can anyone say that today or any day is their day? At most it would seem that if any day was “our” day…it was Good Friday…when Jesus was crucified. That day was all about what we had done…for that day came about because of our wickedness, or rejection of God, our sin.

             My brother’s and sisters in Christ…that is what Satan wants you to believe…and while the facts are that we are poor miserable sinners…there is more to the story than the death of Jesus. The most important fact is that the Lord is risen! (He is risen indeed! Alleluia!).

             “Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached—how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” (Acts 10:34-43)

             Did you hear that wonderful news? God “accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.” (v. 35) “God raised him from the dead on the third day.” (v. 40) “All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” (v. 43)

             The Lord is risen! (He is risen indeed! Alleluia!) Jesus was raised by God the Father. God’s plan from before the creation of the world was completed. The promise given to Adam and Eve, to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, to God’s chosen people, to each of you…to all people is a Savior. The Savior is Jesus Christ who willingly suffered and died; who willingly took the wrath we deserved, that we would have life.

             Easter is God’s Day. Easter is Life Day. Easter is Our Day. It is our Day because Christ has made it our day. If there was ever a person that would feel that today shouldn’t be theirs it is Saint Paul…who persecuted and killed Jesus’ followers. Paul knows what it is to deserve God’s judgment. Listen to His words: “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!” (Romans 5:7-9) While all of us were still sinners…while we stood as God’s enemies…Christ died for us. Why? Out of love. Out of His plan to save us.

             Hear again from Saint Paul: “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:9-11)

             This is our Day. It’s not our day to run and hide. It’s not our day to be silent. This is our day…to rejoice! This is our day…to share the love of Christ with each other and the world around us. For this Day is Jesus Day…and it is for all people. Christ died for you and all the world. How wonderful it is. The Lord is risen! (He is risen indeed! Alleluia!). Christ is risen to save us from sin, death, and the devil. No longer does sin reign over us. No longer does death hold us captive. No longer does Satan reign. For Christ is risen. He has won the victory for you. We are victorious. Salvation is ours. Heaven itself is our reward. For our Savior is Lord and King. The Lord is risen! (He is risen indeed! Alleluia!) Amen.

 

Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.

 

Behold Your King

Palm Sunday, 2011

John 12:12-19

“Behold Your King”

 

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

 

             “Everyone loves a parade.” Indeed, parades are wonderful events! They are usually occasions for celebration. Many of you have probably attended a parade celebrating a holiday, such as Independence Day, Christmas or St. Patrick’s Day. Perhaps you plan to attend an Easter parade this coming weekend. Parades are even held to celebrate people, such as one honoring a hometown soldier who returns from serving in the Middle East.

             In our text today from John 12, we have depicted for us a parade. The crowds don’t throw ticker tape, but they wave palms and lay some of them down before Jesus. A brass band doesn’t play John Philip Sousa, but choruses chant psalms. The honoree is not riding in a Cadillac convertible, stretch limo, or even on a float, but on the back of a donkey. This is a parade unlike any that you’ve ever seen. It’s a parade for a king—in fact, for the King! But he is a King who isn’t what the crowds expect. The crowds appear to glorify this King in the procession. But the fact is that this is just the start of a weeklong procession that will ultimately lead to the King’s coronation…a coronation with a crown not of gold but of thorns; a coronation without the chants of long live the king…but of crucify him…this is a coronation; a coronation of death.

             Processions in the ancient world served to glorify rulers and generals. In the motion picture Alexander (2004), which depicts the conquests of Alexander the Great in the fourth century BC, the conquering hero enters into the city of Babylon and is welcomed by adoring multitudes. Alexander parades through the central corridor of this ancient and glorious city mounted on his stately white horse and flanked by his generals. Behind him follow rank after rank of soldiers who have devoted their lives to their leader’s military campaigns. The citizens of Babylon greet Alexander with cheers and songs of praise. They throw flowers and leafy branches before his path. They reach out their hands in hopes of touching this man they consider to be half-god. Alexander’s entry into the city of Babylon was one in which he was glorified.

            “The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ‘Blessed is the King of Israel!’” (John 12:12-13) Here we see a huge crowd praising Jesus triumphantly as He comes to Jerusalem. The crowd appears to offer similar glorification to Jesus as Alexander received in the movie. The crowd waved Palm branches which were a symbol of their pride in the nation of Israel which they hoped would be freed from Rome. The people shout with great acclimation that the King has come to the capital…to Jerusalem. In the minds of the people this could have become the equivalent of our Independence Day.

            As far as the people understood; Jesus seems to be claiming glory by assuming the posture of a Davidic king. “Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written, ‘Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.’” (John 12:14-15) A donkey might not sound very impressive but the fact is that kings of the line of David processed by riding donkeys. In 1 Kings 1:28ff we are told of King David making his son Solomon King. David even had the priest, Zadok, and Nathan the prophet place Solomon on his own donkey and led him to the city of Gihon to be anointed King of Israel. Zechariah also foretold that the Messiah would enter Jerusalem riding on a donkey “Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (Zechariah 9:9)

            Huge crowds had gathered in Jerusalem for the Passover. It is said that up to 1 million pilgrims could have been in Jerusalem at the time Jesus entered on Palm Sunday. Those gathered welcomed Jesus into the capital city of Israel as King. The people were awed at what they heard of him and all the miracles he had performed. “Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him. So the Pharisees said to one another, ‘See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!’” (John 12:17-19) Even Jesus enemies were now threatened by the following and popularity of Jesus.

            But the crowds misunderstood Christ’s mission; they expected him to be a military leader; an earthly king. They were not the only ones…the disciples also misunderstood Christ’s mission expecting him to be an earthly ruler. In January of 2000, I was able to go to Israel as part of a class while attending Concordia University Wisconsin. I was able to see the Temple Mount, the great walls of the old city, the area where most scholars believe the Temple to have stood. The grand entrance to the area would have been from the East passing in front of the Roman fortress and garrison. If Jesus were to come in as a King to conquer this is where he would have come in…but instead Jesus came in from the South, through a small entrance. Jesus did not want to incite the Romans for his “kingdom is not of this world.” (John 18:36)

            But we, Christians of the 21^st century, misunderstand Jesus’ mission too. There are many who believe, teach, and profess that Jesus will come back again to rule over this world for a certain number of years before the end of the world. There are others that believe that Jesus will come back and after judgment day rule all the saved and forgiven people on this world. There is no basis in Scripture for either of these beliefs. As Lutherans we do not believe this for Scripture plainly quotes Jesus telling us “My kingdom is not of this world.” (John 18:36) But we too misunderstand Christ’s mission for we want Jesus to serve our self-determined needs and wants. We want Jesus to take away all of our problems. We want Jesus to help us win the lottery. We want Jesus to save our marriage. We want Jesus to give us our dream job. We want and want and want…and forget that Jesus gives all that we truly need…which is better and greater than our wildest dreams.

            Jesus procession in to Jerusalem truly leads to his ultimate glorification—his death on the cross. “At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him that they had done these things to him.” (John 12:16) Jesus true glorification did not take place on that first Palm Sunday but on Good Friday.  Jesus identifies his own glorification with his death with the words “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” (John 12:23-24) Glory through dying…glory through dying for others mistakes…it is hard for the world to understand the concept of glory through death. How can you believe in a God that dies…that dies on a cross…that dies being mocked…that dies with common criminals?       

             Jesus’ death is his most glorious moment because it is the accomplishment of his mission to redeem sinners. Jesus’ death and resurrection fulfill God’s plan of salvation, revealed in the Old Testament Scriptures. God’s plan of salvation is that his Son bears the curse of sin so that sinners are forgiven. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17) Because of Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection, you are reconciled to God…you are forgiven. (2 Corinthians 5:19)  

             This very Palm Sunday we again come together to glorify our ultimate King…we glorify Jesus as our King because we know where Jesus went and what Jesus did on the cross for us. On this Palm Sunday we look ahead to Jesus’ suffering and dying on Good Friday and the joyous celebration of Jesus’ Resurrection on Easter. Jesus reigns as our King in heaven. The victory has been won. You are forgiven! Amen.

 

Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen. 

 

Abba, Father

Lent 5, 2011

Romans 8:11-19

“Abba, Father”

 

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

 

            On a cold winter day a man was watching the rapids above Niagara Falls. He noticed the carcass of a sheep floating along in the swift current. Presently he saw an eagle swoop down on the carcass to feed. The eagle was aware of the falls but it had no fear, for when it got to the brink, it could lift its powerful wings and fly away in safety. But the eagle had not considered one thing, namely, the paralyzing power of frost. At the last moment it lifted its wings to fly, but its feet were frozen fast to the sheep’s fleece, and so this “king of birds,” in spite of its powerful wings, went over the falls and was dashed to pieces on the rocks below.

            “Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it.” (Romans 8:12)

            This is a danger that all Christians face. As children of the King that know of God’s forgiveness of all our sins we sometimes forget how dangerous sin really is and take God’s forgiveness for-granted. This leads to a criticism of Lutheranism that I recently read by a Roman Catholic professor. This professor attacks the Lutheran understanding of justification apart from works for this very reason. In this professor’s eyes justification is just a cover all for our sins…it is a false doctrine that allows us to do whatever we want because God will go and forgive us. For further reference he attacks this famous quote of Luther:

            “If you are a preacher of grace, then preach a true and not a fictitious grace; if grace is true, you must bear a true and not a fictitious sin. God does not save people who are only fictitious sinners. Be a sinner and sin boldly,  but believe and rejoice in Christ even more boldly, for he is victorious over sin, death, and the world. As long as we are here [in this world]  we have to sin. This life is not the dwelling place of righteousness,  but, as Peter says,  we look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. It is enough that by the riches of God’s glory we have come to know the Lamb that takes away the sin of the world.  No sin will separate us from the Lamb, even though we commit fornication and murder a thousand times a day. Do you think that the purchase price that was paid for the redemption of our sins by so great a Lamb is too small? Pray boldly—you too are a mighty sinner.” (LW 48:281)

            This can be very confusing to many. As our Epistle lesson warns us we have an obligation but not to the sinful nature. We are to live according to our obligation to the Christians life. This is where many look to good works. But as we know good works do not save the sinner. Herein lies the danger of the Lutheran to ignore good works altogether and to go on and sin boldly.

             Natural man feels that life owes him the pleasures of the flesh. Look around…isn't it so? As Christians we are severely tempted to agree with that. We are often tempted with the “better” things of this life. You and I are constantly tempted by “stuff.” There are many things that we want…but we don’t need. But as Christians we are called to something other than our sinful nature. The believer is one who is under obligation, but what kind of obligation? Paul says in Romans 13:8: "Owe no one anything except to love one another, for the one who loves another man has fulfilled the law." In what sense am I obligated? To follow the promptings of the Spirit to produce the fruits of the Spirit; "We are under no obligation toward the flesh, our sinful nature. It has not done anything good for us." The Triune God has done everything for us from eternity to eternity. We are under obligation to this God, not the flesh.

             Now we can go back to the idea of “sinning boldly.” Those two little words seem to shout out to sin as much as we like. But this is not Luther’s point. Luther's point is not to go out and commit multiple amounts of gleeful sin everyday, but rather to believe and rejoice in Christ even more boldly despite the sin in our lives. Christians have a real savior. No amount of sin is too much to be atoned for by a perfect savior whose righteousness is imputed to the sinner who reaches out in faith.

             ^“If you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” (Romans 8:13-19)

             As children of God we are called to live according to the Holy Spirit living in us. The natural result of faith is good works. Good works do not save but are proof that faith is alive and well in the Christian. This is why James tells us in his epistle “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” (James 2:26)

             Yes, the devil tempts us often. The devil tempts us to believe that we should go on sinning because sin does not harm. Sin always does harm; sin is the cause of Jesus death. Jesus died on the cross to take our sins away…ALL of our sins. But this does not mean that we go on sinning purposely.

             My brothers and sisters in Christ we strive to live free from sin because we are Christian. As the devil tempts you to believe that God doesn’t care or that you don’t need God I pray that you come here to church not because you have to…but because you want to; because you want forgiveness of sins and strength for the day. Thanks be to God that through the death of His only Son we are indeed forgiven. Thanks be to God that this very day we are offered forgiveness and strength in Jesus body and blood.

             Through the faith first given to us in baptism we may cry out “Abba, Father” and receive all that we need in this world and the next. When the devil tempts you remember that you belong to Christ. When the devil accuses you of being a sinner and an heir of eternal damnation remember that you have been redeemed by Jesus. God remembers your sins no more. You are an heir of salvation as a child of God. Rejoice in Christ for he is victorious over sin, death, and the world…and so are you. Amen.

 

Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.

 

Front Row Seats

Lent 4, 2011

Matthew 20:17-28

“Front Row Seats”

 

Grace mercy and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

 

            When you go to a sporting event what are the best seats you can get? If it’s football it’s front row seats on the 50 yard line, basketball…front row seats center court, hockey would be center ice, and if it’s a baseball game it would either be right behind the dugout or home plate. But these seats also cost the most money. The people you see in these seats are usually wealthy, important, or famous. Front row seats…I know I have never had front row tickets…but are they really the best?

            “Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, "We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!” (Matthew 20:17-19)

            The disciples are again with Jesus…they had front row seats with their Lord…and Jesus is telling them something extremely important. Jesus is telling them that He was going to be betrayed, condemned, tortured, and then murdered. Jesus knew the disciples needed to hear this so that they would be comforted when it all would happen. This time the disciples don’t try to stop Jesus or discourage talk about the crucifixion…they must have had something far more important going on.

            “Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. "What is it you want?" he asked. She said, "Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom." "You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said to them. "Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?" "We can," they answered. Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.” (Matthew 20:20-23)

            Salome, the mother of Zebedee’s sons, wanted earthly greatness for her sons. Salome wasn’t thinking of her sons seated next to Christ in heaven…but on earth. She wanted them to be great for all the world to see. She thought they may be powerful like Pontius Pilate or Herod if Jesus would grant her that one favor. Here Salome wants for her sons what Satan tempted Jesus with “Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me.” (Matthew 4: 8-9)

            Are we really any different in our own desires? If we could afford them or aquire them…wouldn’t we rather have the front row seats? Greatness in God’s eyes means service and sacrifice. Our sinful nature seeks to serve…serve itself, to “lord it over” others and to exercise “authority” over those below us.

            This corrupt world is full of sin and sinners. Authority is abused each and every day. We read in the news of police officers being abusive, teachers having improper relations with students, law makers cutting corners or helping out their cronies. The abuse of authority also finds its ways into the life of the Church when Pastors abuse their authority and when the church itself abuses its authority by not sharing God’s Word of love and truth with others.

            As Christians we shouldn’t be battling each other to get to the top but to get to the bottom. We need to seek out ways to serve others, to benefit them, to give them, so to speak, the nice car, the country house, the big chair…the benefits of Christ: Forgiveness and Salvation. The life of the Christian should be one of constant service to others.

            “Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25-28)

            We have been given the greatest example of a sacrificing servant in Christ our Lord. Jesus was constantly seeking people out to help them. Jesus healed all kinds of physical ailments as He reached out to heal their souls. “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:10) Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for all people by taking up the sin of the world and dying for all of us.

            If Jesus would have acted like the God we and the disciples wanted, things would be very different. Jesus would have punished us all and called us out for our sinfulness. He would expect perfect obedience and demand service. If God acted like the tyrants and governments of this world we would have all been punished with God’s wrath. Yet Jesus didn’t act like this. Jesus didn’t live like a King in this world; he was born in a stable, lived in poverty, homelessness, suffered, and died out of love and mercy for us.

            After all this God our Father raised Christ from the dead. Jesus ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father; the seat of authority. Jesus now reigns over all creation as Lord. Yet Jesus still serves His people. Jesus offers to us forgiveness of sins and His very body and blood. All the while our Lord continues to intercede on our behalf to the Father. The Risen Christ continues to serve creation.

            Praise be to God for not being a tyrant, “lording it” over us or seeking to control us. Let’s give thanks that God chose to humble himself, to suffer for us, and to give himself as a sacrifice for us. His love for us is that great. He continues to come and lead us ever downward to the bottom of the world’s pyramid, seeking more and more opportunities to serve others. One day, we will gather around his throne, to his left and to his right, and sing praises forever to our Lord Jesus Christ, who out of service to us is the greatest and most worthy of praise in all the universe.

            Front row seats…they aren’t always the best. Sometimes the best seats are up in the nose bleeds with your child for their first game, sometimes their at home with all your family and friends, sometimes they’re with your aging parents listening on the radio. All the seats in heaven are the best seats for they are in the company of Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.