Monthly Archives: April 2024

Spirit-Guided – Sermon on John 16:5-15 for the Fifth Sunday of Easter

John 16:5–15

5 “But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”

Alleluia! Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Our expectations rarely match reality. Often times, it’s not even close. When I was 15 years old, I was eagerly anticipating being in a sailboat race across Lake Superior in July. Thanks to Gordon Lightfoot, I knew that “gales of November” don’t come that early. My expectations for that race were largely shaped by movies of majestic boats efficiently gliding across rolling waves driven by strong winds. But I also worried that there would be 10-15 ft. swells that would toss our 25 ft. boat around like a leaf making me seasick and struggling to stay on the boat. The reality ended up being two and a half days of cold, drizzling rain, and barely a whisper of wind, and the only thing that made me sick was the inescapable fumes of fiberglass varnish which sent me and the other crewmembers to the side of the boat more than once.

We plan and prepare for things to be a certain way, but then the moment or event comes and is completely different than what we imagined. Sometimes, the reality is better; sometimes, it’s worse; and sometimes, it it’s just different. As a kid, you probably expected that being an adult would come with the independence and freedom to do whatever you wanted whenever you wanted. Then, reality came. Now, you realize being an adult can mean the autonomy to do what you want, but most often it means carrying out the responsibilities God has given you. Even if adulthood isn’t the total freedom and independence you thought it might be, it’s still very fulfilling.

In this Gospel reading, we don’t know exactly what the disciples expected as Jesus talks about His departure and going away to the Father. We just know their reaction – they are sorrowful (Jn. 16:6, 20, 22). They don’t know what to expect. That’s why Jesus comforts them and us by teaching about the Holy Spirit.

The first thing we need to get straight is that, when Jesus says that He has to go to Him who sent Him and that it is to their advantage that He goes away, He doesn’t mean that He is going to be completely absent. Jesus had already promised His abiding presence. He guarantees, “Where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I among them,” (Mt. 18:20), and before He ascends into heaven He says, “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Mt. 28:20). Yes, Jesus has gone to the Father who sent Him, but He is also truly, physically present with us – especially in Holy Communion. When Jesus says that He is departing, He is saying that He must go to the cross, pay for our sins, and ascend into to heaven where He continually presents His work on your behalf to God the Father (Heb. 9:24; Ro. 8:34).

That’s the reason Jesus is departing. It isn’t that He’s leaving and is gone. No. His departure is the fact that He goes to work your salvation, and to continually present His work to God the Father. Christian, your life is hidden with Christ where He is seated (Col. 3:1-4). That’s why the Holy Spirit comes. The Holy Spirit is constantly present with you to be your Helper, Advocate, and Comforter constantly pointing you to all the things Christ has done for you. The Holy Spirit comes to point you to all the benefits that Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension give you. The Holy Spirit comforts you with the gifts of Jesus.

That is why we need Jesus’ teaching here about what the Holy Spirit does. So many Christians have wrong expectations about the Holy Spirit. Throw out all of those expectations and listen to what Jesus teaches about the Holy Spirit’s work. The Holy Spirit works to convict us concerning sin and righteousness and judgment. And don’t get put off by that word ‘convict.’ Most of the time we use the word ‘convict’ today, it means to find guilty. And when Jesus talks about the Holy Spirit convicting concerning sin and judgment, we tend expect this will be a bad thing. But being convicted isn’t always a bad thing.

We will talk about a person having deep convictions, meaning they are sure and certain about what they believe. They are convinced of the truth of something. That’s how we should understand this as Christians. Jesus goes on to summarize the Holy Spirit’s work as guiding us into all the truth. The Holy Spirit is guiding us to be convinced of certain things concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment. When Jesus tells us why the Holy Spirit convicts or convinces of each of these things, each of the why’s isn’t what we naturally expect. Let’s take each of these in order.

First, when Jesus says that the Holy Spirit will convict the world concerning sin, we would expect Him to say the Holy Spirit does that because you people are so bad and evil. But that’s not what Jesus says. The Holy Spirit convicts the world concerning sin because they do not believe in Jesus. I’m guessing Paul had these very words of Jesus in mind when he wrote in Ro. 14:23 that says, “whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.” In other words, you can do the best, most merciful work, but apart from faith in Jesus, it is of no benefit; in fact, Scripture says the mercy of the wicked is cruel (Pr. 12:10). Confessing your sins is an article of faith. It is the Holy Spirit who has taught us to confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean in thought, word, and deed. And the Holy Spirit guides us to continue our confession by saying that we flee for refuge to God’s mercy freely given through Christ.

Second, when Jesus says that the Holy Spirit will convict the world concerning righteousness, we would expect Him to say, “Because they don’t have any righteousness and need to do better.” But that’s not what Jesus says. The Holy Spirit convicts concerning righteousness because Jesus goes to the Father. When you consider this in the context of the rest of Scripture, this is stunning. The Man Jesus has opened the path to heaven so you can follow Him and be brought there too by the working of the Holy Spirit.

Imagine being in a line waiting to stand before God’s judgment. How would you feel as you wait in that line? Probably pretty nervous – especially because that judgment will determine where you will spend eternity. But now imagine that you’re standing in that line and Jesus is standing right next to you waiting for His turn to be judged. Do you think He would be nervous? No, Jesus isn’t going to be worried at all! He’s confident and knows He is perfect and hasn’t committed any sins. Well Christian, you need to know, you need to be convinced, that through faith you occupy Jesus’ place in that line. His righteousness is yours. God made Jesus, who knew no sin, to be sin, so that in Him you would become the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21). To believe that takes the working of the Holy Spirit.

Third and finally, the Holy Spirit convicts concerning judgment. We would expect this is needed because judgment is coming. Again, that’s not what Jesus says. The Holy Spirit convinces you that the ruler of this world, Satan, is judged. Think of that! Satan, which means accuser, is the one who is judged. The one who tries to accuse you before God has absolutely zero credibility in God’s courtroom. The devil isn’t losing; he has lost. Satan is utterly defeated and conquered. Yes, this takes faith. But the Holy Spirit will continue to point you past what you may see in this world back to these words of Jesus which clearly state that the devil is judged.

Sable, that brings me to you. Sable, today you are Baptized. God has placed His name upon you, claimed you as His own, and has given you Jesus’ righteousness. And from this day forward, the Holy Spirit will continue to guide you into these truths and convictions, convincing you of your sin so you will believe in Jesus. Convincing you of the righteousness you have been given. And convincing you of the judgment of the devil.

Sable, and all of you here, it’s hard to know what to expect for your future. But know this: the Holy Spirit will continually guide you into all the truth, convicting and convincing you that Jesus’ work for your salvation is perfect, complete, and finished. Amen.

Alleluia! Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Now & Not Yet – Sermon on 1 John 3:1-3 for the Fourth Sunday of Easter and Confirmation Sunday

1 John 3:1–3

1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

Alleluia! Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

We live in a noisy world. On any given day, all sorts of things are constantly trying to grab your attention. We get dings and vibrations and taps that let us know who sent a message, what news story is breaking, or who liked that thing you posted. If you have to spend even ten minutes in a waiting room or a restaurant, you’ll find televisions turned to a game or news channel with the constant crawl of information that isn’t important enough, at least at that moment, to be on the main part of the screen. You’re watching the news about what’s going on in the Middle East and get the latest OJ Simpson’s death. Or you’re watching the NBA playoffs and learn about some guy’s hot take on what the Vikings are going to do in the first round of the NFL draft. And on and on it goes.

Now, this isn’t a sermon about how pointless and exhausting this barrage of information is. It’s just an acknowledgement of the conditions in which we live. Our attention is being constantly pulled in a myriad of directions, and all sorts of things shout at you, “Pay attention to me!” Well, this epistle reading (1 Jn. 3:1-3) is calling for your attention. In fact, it’s commanding you to pay attention. So, for the next few minutes, don’t be distracted, don’t be pulled, don’t be thinking about what’s going to happen this afternoon or this week or next summer. Right now, God, through His holy Word, calls you to focus and see. See this.

See the kind of love the Father has given to us. It is the kind of love that calls you, believer, a child of God. It is a love that calls all y’all, Christians, children of God. That is who you are – a child of God. Look around at the believers surrounding you here today, people whom you love and who love you, see that they through faith are also children of God.

See the kind of love that turns sinners and enemies of God into children. See the kind of love that isn’t earned or deserved. See God’s love for you that is demonstrated in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Ro. 5:8). This is the purest kind of love. It’s God’s love that is not based on the lovableness of the individual. It’s a love that is freely given because, in spite of our unloveliness, God determined to seek your highest good and make you His child.

God’s own child, that is what you are, believer. That is what God has called you, and what God says creates reality. Everything in this world – including your own thoughts, opinions, and experiences – will try to convince you otherwise. It will attempt to get you to believe this isn’t true. Don’t listen to any of that. See. Behold. God’s love has made you His child.

Christian, God’s love has given you a new birth. In his Gospel, John says this explicitly. To all who did receive Jesus, those who believe in His name, He gives the right to become children of God (Jn. 1:12), and this right came when you were born again of water and the Spirit (Jn. 3:3, 5-6).

You confirmands, you have this new birth as a child of God. Logan, you received this new birth when you were Baptized on July 3rd, 2011 at Bigwoods Lutheran Church in Bigwoods, MN. Brayden, you were born again as God connected His Word to water on November 16th, 2013 at St. Henry’s in Perham, MN. Maddie, same place, but for you on April 16th, 2011 that was when and where you were born as a child of God. Brady, July 7th, 2013 right there at that font, you became a child of God. And Asher, same font, on November 25th2012, God declared that you are His child. The rest of you here, I’m sorry, but I don’t have your exact information in front of me.

This command to see this kind of love is in the present tense. That means it is a command that you always and continually see this kind of love. That love is to color everything else in your life. Keep holding on to that love because it is the most precious thing you could ever have. That love makes you God’s children now. Right now. What will we children of God be when we grow up? We don’t know, not yet.

John admits that even he doesn’t know exactly what glorious things are in store for us children of God. Think of that. John had seen some glorious things. He saw Jesus’ miracles and transfiguration. John saw the empty tomb. It was so glorious that he kept bragging about the fact that he outran Peter and was the first disciple to see it (Jn. 20:2-5, 8). The evening of Jesus’ resurrection, John had seen Jesus’ resurrected hands, feet, and side (Jn. 20:19-20; Lk. 24:36-43). As best as we can tell, John wrote this epistle after he had seen the vision of recorded in Revelation. That means John had seen Jesus clothed in a robe with a golden sash. He saw Christ’s eyes like a glorious flame of fire. John saw Jesus’ face shining like the sun in full strength (Rev. 1:13-16). And still John says here, “I don’t know what we children of God will grow up to be. I haven’t seen it yet because it hasn’t appeared” (1 Jn. 3:2). “But,” John says, “But we know that when Jesus appears we will be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is.” 

You confirmands and everyone here today, it can be dangerous to look to the past. And it can be troubling to think about the future. If you do look to the past, look at it through the lens of being God’s beloved child. When you consider your present, keep this command and see the constant love God has for you. When you look to the future, have in mind that you, through faith, are a child of God. And keep longing and hoping for that moment when Christ, your Savior, returns knowing that then you will be like Jesus.

That faith, that hope is what makes you pure – pure as Jesus is pure. God wants to orient you to the present reality that you are His child. Because of His love, you have a seat at His table where He gives you His Body to eat and His Blood to drink for the forgiveness of all your sin. You have a seat at His table. Child of God, as you wander through this world, know that you belong among God’s family. Welcome home, children of God. Amen.

Alleluia! Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Recognizing the Shepherd – Sermon on John 10:11-18 for the Third Sunday of Easter

John 10:11–18

11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

Alleluia! Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Jesus says that the chief identifying mark that He is the Good Shepherd is that He lays down His life for you, His sheep. Jesus has the authority to lay down His life and the authority to take His life up again. Your Good Shepherd wants you to know Him as the Good Shepherd precisely because He is crucified and risen for you. And Jesus, the Good Shepherd, gives the clear identifying mark of His sheep – the sheep of the Good Shepherd listen to His voice (Jn. 10:16).

This is such a beautiful image, but to get the picture something needs to be clear: Jesus isn’t referring to a shepherd with large ranch. When I was younger, I imported my idea of what a ranch is to this image. My grandpa was a veterinarian in South Dakota, and when we’d visit, I would periodically go with my grandpa to these large cattle ranches to help him do his work. The average size of a cattle ranch is about 1,000 acres. Sheep are what, maybe ¼ the size of a cow? So, I figured sheep ranches were around 250 acres, but that isn’t the picture here.

In Jesus’ day, everyone owned a handful of sheep because that was how they would get their winter clothing, their milk, meat, and leather. Every family needed to have a few sheep, but they couldn’t only take care of those sheep. So, when a whole block of families each have a handful of sheep, you’ve got a decent flock – 60, 80, 100 sheep. Typically, one person from that block had the responsibility of being the shepherd for that block’s flock of sheep. 

During the day, the shepherd would lead the sheep where they had good grass to eat and clean water to drink. But as the sun would set, the shepherd would lead his sheep back into the village where there was a large pen where all the different flocks would spend the night together so the shepherds could go home and sleep. They hired some college student to watch the 400-500 sheep through the night. Then in the morning, the shepherds would return to that pen where all of the flocks were mixed together. But that wasn’t a problem because each shepherd would call his sheep by name, “Come on, Long-ears. Time to go, White-nose. Get a move on, Stubby-legs.” And each sheep would hear the voice of its shepherd calling its name, and they would all follow him to go out in the fields for the day. That’s the picture Jesus is using throughout John 10.

At the beginning of the chapter (Jn. 10:1-5), Jesus says that the gatekeeper opens the pen for the Shepherd. The sheep hear the voice of their Shepherd, and He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. When He has brought His own sheep out, He goes before them, and the sheep follow Him. Keep that order in mind. The Shepherd leads and the sheep follow because they know His voice. Those sheep won’t follow the voice of strangers. A little bit after our text (Jn. 10:27), Jesus says His sheep hear His voice. He knows them, and they follow Him.

Now, with that imagery and context in mind, listen again to what Jesus says in v. 14-16, “I am the Good Shepherd. I know My own and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. So there will be one flock, one Shepherd.” In other words, Jesus says to these crowds in Jerusalem almost 2,000 years ago, “I’m going to gather some other sheep into My flock as well.”

Now, you have to recognize that this is the second week in a row where Jesus directly speaks about you. Last week, after Thomas saw Jesus and confessed that Christ is his Lord and God, Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen Me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed”(Jn. 20:28-29). Jesus had you in mind when He said that. Now here, Jesus had you in mind when He talks about bringing in other sheep who will listen to His voice and be part of the one flock with Him as the Good Shepherd.

Isn’t that beautiful? The voice of your crucified and risen Good Shepherd is what brings you into the flock, keeps you in His flock, and calls you back to the flock if you have strayed. In your Baptism, Jesus put His name on you, and He also calls you by name. By that calling, you belong to Him (Is. 43:1). As part of His flock, Christ’s voice continues to call, gather, lead, guide, and direct you. And as His sheep, you follow Him. Wherever He leads, you follow – whether it’s to green pastures and still waters or through the valley of the shadow of death. 

My fellow sheep, you need to be attentive to the voice of your Good Shepherd. What does that mean because, of course, there’s no recording of Jesus’ voice? You don’t know the tone, timbre, and pitch of His voice. So, how can you recognize His voice if you don’t know what His voice sounds like? It’s simple – to know the voice of your Good Shepherd is to know what He says, which means knowing your Bible. Knowing the Scriptures is how you recognize Jesus, your Good Shepherd. You can’t follow the Shepherd without hearing and recognizing His voice.

My fellow sheep, be in the Bible daily. People talk about wanting to hear God’s voice. If you want to hear God’s voice, read your Bible. If you want to audibly hear God’s voice, read it out loud. Scripture is clear that faith comes by hearing (Ro. 10:17), so hear the voice of your Shepherd from His holy, inspired, infallible, inerrant Word.

Spend specific time in God’s Word several times each day. If you aren’t doing that already, start today. Start small and build on that. Even if it’s just one short chapter (even the same chapter) every day – do it. Read it. Mediate on it. Write out specific verses that are comforting, encouraging, and challenging on note cards where you will see them as you’re brushing your teeth or doing the dishes. Be in God’s Word. Know what He says in it. Paraphrases like The Message and The Living Bible shouldn’t be considered the same way as a translation. Think of them as commentaries. There can be times where they are helpful. But if you had a letter from your parents or grandparents, you wouldn’t want a paraphrase, you’d want the real thing.

Also, know that Your Shepherd’s voice isn’t always going to say what you want to hear. It might be calling you back to the flock if you are straying. Your Shepherd will always say what’s good for you. When God’s Word is difficult or confusing, you can always come to me and ask me about it. I might not always have the answer right away, but I’ll do some digging and help you understand what your Shepherd is saying. That’s part of my job and calling as a pastor, which is to be an under-shepherd of the Good Shepherd.

Jesus’ voice, which calls to you from the Scriptures, is how you recognize Him. Remember, your Good Shepherd leads, and you follow. Jesus doesn’t drive you from behind with a whip yelling at you. No, He walks ahead of you. Your Good Shepherd leads where He knows will be good for His flock. Jesus will not lead you to places you can’t handle. And if you stray, He will seek you out. Jesus, your Good Shepherd, leads and what follows you? His goodness and mercy follow you all the days of your life, and you will dwell in His house forever (Ps. 23:6). Amen.

Alleluia! Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Unlocked – Sermon on John 20:19-31 for the Second Sunday of Easter

John 20:19–31

19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” 

26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Alleluia! Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Normally, I try to have one main theme or point in my sermons. Today, I’m throwing that out the window, and you’re going to get three mini-sermons. Yes, each of them is mini.

Sermon #1 – Jesus unlocks the New Creation. When God the Father created the world, He formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living creature (Gen. 2:7). Now in our Gospel text here, the resurrected Son of God stands among His disciples the very evening He rose, and He breathes on them saying, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any it is withheld” (Jn. 20:22-23).

The way the Holy Spirit inspired this to be written, we are supposed to see those two things – Jesus’ breathing on the disciples and also what He says about the Holy Spirit and forgiveness – as one action. In other words, Jesus’ statement is how Jesus breathes on the disciples. With the breathing of those words, Jesus is unlocking the new creation to you, believer. You who are in Christ through faith, you are a new creation; the old has passed away and the new has come (2 Cor. 5:17).

Sermon #2 – Locked doors don’t matter to Jesus. This text drops us into the room with the disciples Easter evening, so 1,991 years and seven days ago. It had been a chaotic day. Angels were appearing and talking to people. The resurrected Jesus has been popping up all over the place. Even with all of that going on throughout the day, the disciples and the women are gathered together in a house with the doors locked because they were afraid.

Luke in his Gospel also tells us about that evening (Lk. 24:36-49), and the way Luke records it, it seems like there is a disagreement between them all. It seems like some of them believe Jesus is raised, but some of them think something else is going on because Luke says that even when they see Jesus they think He is a ghost (Lk. 24:26-27). 

The way John words things here in v. 19, it makes it seem like Jesus invisibly goes through the locked door, but once He’s through He is suddenly visible. But listen to how Luke records it (Lk. 24:36): “As they were talking about these things, Jesus Himself stood among them, and said to them, ‘Peace to you!’” The way that is worded makes it seem like Jesus was right there the whole time, and He suddenly appears – He makes Himself visible – while they are all confused and trying to make sense of everything that had been going on that day.

Then, Jesus asks for some food, and He eats a piece of broiled fish because, of course, ghosts wouldn’t be able to eat food. Then Jesus shows them His hands, feet, and side (just like He does here). The disciples touch Jesus. Not only do they see Him, they also feel Him hug Him. Who knows? Maybe they even gave Him high fives and fist bumps.

Now, here’s the point of mini sermon #2: Just because you can’t see Jesus with your eyes, that does not mean that He isn’t here. Jesus promised, at least a few months before His crucifixion, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them” (Mt. 18:20). Dear saints, Jesus is really, truly, actually here with us this morning. If He wanted to, He could appear and ask for something to eat. Anyone carrying a can of sardines? But even better, He is here and will give you His Body to eat and His Blood to drink. Jesus is here. So, believe.

Sermon #3 – Jesus has some unlocking for you to do. When Jesus gives the Holy Spirit, He gives Christians the authority to forgive and to bind sin (Jn. 20:22-23). Remember when the lame man was lowered through the roof to be before Jesus (Mt. 9:1-8; Mk. 2:1-12; Lk. 5:17-26); what did Jesus say to him? “Your sins are forgiven.” The Pharisees grumbled because they rightly said that only God can forgive sins. Then, Jesus proves He is God and has authority to forgive sins by healing the man. Well, the one who has the authority to forgive sins extends that authority to His Church the same day He rose from the dead.

I’ve used this analogy about absolution before, but it’s helpful and worth hearing it again. Imagine you are found guilty of a crime and locked in prison. As you sit in your cell, a judge looks over your case and rules that you are innocent. He sends an order to the guard of your prison to set you free. The guard comes to your cell with the keys, unlocks the door, walks you out of the prison, and releases you back into society. Now who set you free – the judge or the guard? Honestly, the answer is both. The judge uses his authority to free you, and the guard uses his hands and feet to free you. Both things work together – the judge’s authority and the guard’s releasing because of that authority. 

When we gather together as God’s people here in God’s house, it is right for us to confess our sins together. And it is right for the man you have called to be your pastor – which is me – to proclaim God’s absolution and forgiveness for those sins. In the church, the pastors are the guys with the keys (Mt. 16:18-19). And please know that I wouldn’t have the guts to declare that forgiveness if Scripture didn’t clearly say that is what I, as the pastor, am to do. That is why the absolution is “by Christ’s command and authority.”

And this authority isn’t only given to pastors to announce over congregations. Jesus gives all believers this authority. You can announce this forgiveness. If someone comes to you and tells you about their sin and guilt and shame, point them to Jesus. Tell them that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. And tell them, “I forgive you of your sins because of what Jesus has done. And I do that because that’s what Jesus Himself would do.”

Dear saints, Jesus is way better at forgiving than you are at sinning. The absolution is a great gift that Jesus has given to the Church. That is the message Jesus has sent us into the world to announce (Jn. 20:21). That is the peace that Jesus gives when He says, “Peace to you.” It is the peace that declares those sins are gone. As far as the east is from the west, so far has Jesus removed our transgressions from us (Ps. 103:12).

Dear Ava, that brings me to you. Ava, today you are Baptized. Today, Jesus has joined you to Himself by placing His name upon you (Mt. 28:19) and clothed you with Himself (Gal. 3:27). In your Baptism, Jesus joined you to His death so that you have a Jesus-kind of death – in other words, a death that doesn’t last long and ends in resurrection (Ro. 6:3-11). Ava, you have been born of God; stay in the faith which overcomes the world (1 Jn. 5:4).

Our service today opened with 1 Pet. 2:2, “Like newborn infants long for the pure spiritual milk of the Word.” May all of us continually be fed and nourished by that Word that unlocks our sin and opens the way to eternal life. Amen.

Alleluia! Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.