Author Archives: pastorsamwise

The Holy Spirit’s Work – Sermon on Genesis 11:1-9; Acts 2:1-21; and John 14:23-31 for the Day of Pentecost

Genesis 11:1-9; Acts 2:1-21; & John 14:23-31

23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.

25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.”

Before I officially begin the sermon, I’d just like to ‘let you in’ a little bit on sermon preparation. There are times when preaching is similar to athletic events. For example, in competitive diving, your final score is dependent on two factors: degree of difficulty and execution. Certain dives that score only 7’s and 8’s on execution but have a high degree of difficulty will get that competitor a higher score than another competitor who scores 9’s and 10’s on a dive with a lower degree of difficulty. What I’m attempting to do in today’s sermon is, in my estimation, a high degree of difficulty. I know my execution of today’s sermon will probably only score 7’s, but I hope and pray the payoff will be worth it. I’ll need your assistance though with an attentive ear, so help a preacher out.

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

To help us get a better handle on Jesus’ remarkable teaching about the Holy Spirit in this Gospel lesson, we need to make some observations from our Old Testament (Gen. 11:1-9) and Epistle lessons (Act. 2:1-21). First, from the Old Testament lesson:

There is a theory about what the people of Babel were doing that dates back to several centuries before Jesus was born. Please know that this isn’t drawn directly from Scripture, but it does help us understand what was going on a little better. Babel wasn’t just a bunch of people who decided to live together in a big tower. Instead, the mighty man, Nimrod (Gen. 10:8-10), has gathered people and said that together they could make a name for themselves and be greater than God who had judged the world with the flood just two generations prior. In other words, they want to be their own little ‘g’ god. They figured they could build a tower so high that the true God could not drown them again. God had already promised that He would never repeat that kind of judgment, but they didn’t trust God’s promise. Instead, they are going to try and make themselves safe from God’s wrath.

Again, the Holy Spirit didn’t inspire this theory, but it is still a very good theory. First, it clearly explains what the people were trying to accomplish. They weren’t trying to build a tower to get closer to God; rather, they were trying to establish an earthly, man-made peace by shielding themselves from God and His anger over their sin. This theory also explains why God saw their plan with such hostility and put a swift end to their work. But notice how God put an end to their work. He didn’t destroy the tower with a tornado or earthquake. Instead, God came down (I love how that phrase is used twice [v. 5, 7]). God had to come down to see this great tower which was going to have its top in the heavens. And God confused their languages so that they dispersed over the face of the earth. Now, God did this as a curse, but He also did it so they wouldn’t continue to live in their sin. Even God’s punishment turns into a blessing.

Now, when we come to the day of Pentecost and giving of the Holy Spirit in the Epistle lesson, God doesn’t quite undo the curse of Babel. He doesn’t reunite all the languages of the earth and make all mankind into one nation again. Instead, God had gathered His people together to celebrate the feast of Pentecost which is also called the Feast of Weeks. God’s people had come to Jerusalem, our text says, from every nation under heaven (Act. 2:5). They would have been daily listening to God’s Word in the Temple, and the Temple had strict rules that the Bible was only read in Hebrew. It didn’t matter if some, or even, most of the people didn’t even understand Hebrew, that’s just how it was.

But then on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out on the disciples. Back in Act. 1:15, we are told that the number of faithful believers was only about 120. The Holy Spirit arrived with the sound of a mighty, rushing wind, and the people from all over the world who were visiting Jerusalem for the feast were brought even closer together. They heard that sound which made them gather in one place. But the sound of the wind was not the most important thing they heard that day. The most important thing they heard is the disciples speaking the mighty works of God in their own languages (Act. 2:11).

Here’s the interesting part: for these visitors to be able to get around in Jerusalem, they would have had to be able to communicate in at least one of four languages: Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic, or Latin. But here’s the beautiful thing, the Holy Spirit didn’t limit the number of languages that proclaimed those mighty works of God. Those 120 believers were filled by the Holy Spirit in such a way that they were able to speak in every language that existed even though it would only have been necessary for Him to have the Gospel preached in only four languages. In other words, the Holy Spirit sanctifies and makes holy every language on earth to carry the Gospel of Jesus’ death and resurrection to every nation on the day of Pentecost. Now, keep all of that tucked in the back of your mind as we move to this Gospel lesson.

The night Jesus was betrayed and arrested He taught His disciples a lot of things about the Holy Spirit; chapters 14-16 of John’s Gospel is probably the fullest, clearest teaching we have about the Holy Spirit. But, basically, all of this teaching boils down to the fact that the Holy Spirit’s work is to point us sinners to Jesus (Jn. 15:26). Whenever you hear Jesus proclaimed as the Savior of sinners, you can know without a doubt that the Holy Spirit is actively working in your life.

Specifically in this text, Jesus says that the Holy Spirit will teach the disciples all things and bring to their remembrance all that Jesus has said to them (Jn. 14:26). Then, notice the first word Jesus says after that is ‘peace.’ “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.” And please notice that Jesus, the eternal Son of God, gives His own peace. This means your situation, Christian, is that there is nothing to disturb your relation to God. On the cross, Jesus has won and established this peace between you and God by His death and resurrection.

The only way for this peace to be undone, you would have to do two things. First, you would need to create a time machine and travel 2,000 years back in history and go to Mt. Calvary when Jesus hung on the cross. And that would be the easy part. Second, you would have to somehow pry Jesus off of the cross and undo God’s plan of salvation that He had prepared before the foundation of the world (1 Pet. 1:19-20). So, according to Jesus, the Holy Spirit’s job is to continually proclaim to you the message of the peace that Christ has won.

Jesus goes on to say, “Not as the world gives do I give to you.” The question I have there is this: Is Jesus talking about the motivation of giving (the ‘how’ the world gives), or is He talking about the content of what He gives verses the content of what the world gives? In other words, when we sinful people give something, we always have wrong motivations. We often give and have some expectation of getting something in return. Think of the phrase, “I’ll scratch your back and you scratch mine.” The false notions of karma and luck are also related to this. Deep down, that’s always the motivation behind the world’s giving.

Or is Jesus saying that the peace He gives is different than the peace the world gives. So many times, the world will offer all sorts of ideas that they think will bring peace to this fallen, broken world. Politicians, celebrities, beauty pageant contestants, musicians, etc. all do this. But none of their policies or ideas will bring peace because they are not able to bring true peace. The only thing that can bring true peace is the atoning blood of Jesus. Now, the Holy Spirit is the one who reminds and points you to Christ’s peace which surpasses all understanding (Php. 4:7).

Over the last week, we have heard a lot of talk about how to solve the evil of mass shootings in our country. I’m not going to preach on that because mass shootings are not the problem – they are only a symptom of a spiritual and moral problem. Even if you got a giant gun magnet and got rid of every gun in the world, evil people would figure out a way to kill and harm others. A lot of politicians are saying things like, “We need to come together and fix this.” The problem is that when sinners work together, it is generally in service to evil. Babel in our Old Testament lesson is just one example, but Scripture is filled with more. Any attempt to bring about a unity that isn’t centered around the forgiveness of sins in Christ is going to turn evil quickly.

The Holy Spirit brings something better. He unites people from every tribe under heaven in the faith. He brings us together to hear the Gospel, receive forgiveness for all our sins, and places us in the Church. And that same Holy Spirit leads you to this altar, to this table, to receive the true Body and Blood of your Savior Jesus Christ. Through this meal, the Holy Spirit strengthens and empowers you to be His instrument in this dark, evil world.

Again, Jesus says, “Not as the world gives do I give to you.” All the world has to offer you is trouble and tribulation. Jesus says, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (Jn. 16:33).

So come; receive what Christ freely gives. Let the Holy Spirit do His work in you so that He may also do His work through you as you go back out into a world full of evil. And you can do that work and navigate all that evil with confidence because the Holy Spirit will continually point you to your true peace which Christ has won for you. Amen.

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

Enthroned – Sermon on Luke 24:44-53 for the Ascension of Our Lord (Observed)

Luke 24:44-53

44 Then [Jesus] said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

50 And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. 51 While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. 

52 And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple blessing God.

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

And today, we will add.

Alleluia! Christ is ascended!
He is ascended indeed! Alleluia!

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Back in our epistle reading (Act. 1:1-11), Luke gave us a few more details about Jesus’ ascension than he gave us in this Gospel reading. I still have some questions about how this took place. How fast did Jesus ascend? Was it a constant speed from start to finish, or did He accelerate? If so, how fast did He go from 0-60, and what was His top speed? Of course, those details don’t really matter; if they did, Scripture would have told us. Once Jesus is out of sight, both Acts and this account of Jesus’ ascension shift our focus to the disciples.

As the disciples watch Jesus ascend, they gaze into heaven as a cloud takes Him out of their sight (Act. 1:9). Even though Jesus’ isn’t visible, they continue to stare into the sky. This leaves us with more questions. How long did they stare, was it minutes or hours? Did they talk with each other? Did anyone pass by and look up with them trying to see what they were gazing at? Again, we don’t know, and Scripture leaves us to have a holy, sanctified curiosity about those details. What is important is what the angels say when they arrive, “This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven.” Then, the disciples return to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the Temple blessing God.

For three years, they had followed Jesus, enjoying His presence and teaching. They had watched Him heal the sick and raise the dead. Now, He is gone, and they didn’t know how long He will be away. But there they are in the Temple filled with joy and blessing God. You would think that the disciples would have felt lonely, abandoned, or even afraid – similar to how they felt between Jesus’ crucifixion and when He appeared to them after the resurrection, but they aren’t. They aren’t because their minds have been opened to understand all the Old Testament (Lk. 24:44-45), so they know Jesus’ ascension means that He is enthroned over all creation.

Jesus doesn’t ascend to heaven because He is leaving or abandoning us. He ascends to take His rightful seat next to God the Father on the throne of creation. Dear saints, right now your Savior rules and reigns over all things. But too often, we think that Jesus’ ascension is similar to how sleazy dads will say they are going out for cigarettes but never return. That isn’t the case. The ascension is not a farewell, it’s a coronation. Jesus has not left you as orphans (Jn. 14:16-18). When Jesus ascended, He didn’t desert you and vacate the world; instead, Christ was enthroned as King of all creation with all authority in heaven and on earth (Mt. 28:18). This is true even though it doesn’t always feel like it.

Down here on earth, we see Christians being persecuted in China, Egypt, and all over the planet. We see churches that used to proclaim the forgiveness of sins but now abandon every single doctrine of the Scriptures and even actively promote sin. We see all this and ask, “What kind of a king would allow this to happen?” And the devil whispers in our ear that the reason these things happen is because Jesus is an absent king.

We see wars and hear rumors of wars. We watch as economies and cultures crumble and collapse. We see a large portion of our nation fighting with all their strength to be able to kill their own children in the womb. We see evil, violent people shooting in our cities and schools in Buffalo and Uvalde. And the devil lies to you saying, “If your King Jesus were still here, this wouldn’t be happening. He would whip these wicked people into shape. But He’s gone and I get to have my way down here.”

You see and feel your sins. You dive back into those transgressions of lust, greed, pride, and covetousness. You know that you should joyfully bow your head in thankfulness for all the gifts God has given you. You know you should open your Bible and bathe in God’s promises of mercy and grace. Yet, you’re perpetually unhappy and dissatisfied. You know you should be at peace, but you are always filled with anxiety because it appears as though Jesus isn’t listening to your prayers. And in all of this, you think, “If Jesus were here, I wouldn’t be struggling with these things. If I could just see Jesus, I wouldn’t give into these temptations and fears.”

Dear saints, repent. The truth is that even if Jesus were physically present and visible on earth, your life wouldn’t be any different. During His earthly ministry, Jesus healed the sick, cast out demons, and raised the dead. Jesus preached the Gospel to the lost souls of this world. For three years, God in the flesh proclaimed His kingdom to those under the devil’s power. And yet, they still didn’t recognize or acknowledge Him. Instead, they persecuted Him, spit on Him, and put Him to death. And during that same time, Jesus’ own disciples, who stood next to Him and touched Him, they denied Him, betrayed Him, and fled from Him.

Even though your doubt and sorrow scream otherwise, and even though the devil pushes you to discontentment and nudges you toward the cliff of unbelief, know that you wouldn’t be any better off if Jesus were standing right here in front of your eyes. And that is why Jesus ascended into heaven and went to His coronation and is, even now, enthroned over all things.

Jesus, the eternal Son of God, has ascended and brought His human flesh into God’s presence. Through faith, you are a co-heir of His glory and a brother to the King Himself. Christ is seated at God’s right and is telling His Father that you are worthy of eternal life because He has buried every sin you could ever commit through His death and resurrection. Jesus has fulfilled His promise to send the Holy Spirit, and whenever you hear His Word, the Holy Spirit is present with you. Now you, Christian, bring evidence of the saving power of Jesus wherever you go, tearing lost souls out of Satan’s grip.

As the Gospel spreads throughout the earth in every generation, Christ has been and continues to be present with His church. Even though He is hidden from our eyes, He is here claiming us as His own and delivering us into His kingdom. In the Absolution, Jesus is shredding and destroying the devil’s claim over you. Christ is present in His Supper healing and restoring you with His true Body and Blood (1 Cor. 10:16, 11:29-30). And because of His ascension, Jesus is able to do this in more than one place at one time. Because Jesus is ascended, He can unite every patch of His kingdom throughout the world and all time. Through His Word and Sacrament, Jesus brings you to Mt. Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem. He unites you with innumerable angels in festal gathering and with the whole assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven (Heb. 12:22-23). And from His throne, Jesus, your Savior, is the King who hears every one of your prayers.

So, when the devil and the world are screaming at you that Jesus is absent, come to your church, and here you will find your King. Come, receive His gifts, and stand in His promised, though invisible, presence. Whenever you see evil and darkness, remember it isn’t happening because Christ has abandoned you; it is happening because He is with you and has claimed you as His own. This makes you a target for the devil, but Satan will always fail in his futile, vain attempts to snatch you from the nail-scarred hands of Jesus, your Savior.

Dear saints, you have been raised with Christ, so seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, when He appears, then you also will appear with Him in eternal, splendid glory (Col. 3:1-4).

Jesus, your Savior and brother, ascended with His hands raised in blessing, and He still blesses you from His eternal throne. And He will return again in blessing to usher you into His eternal kingdom.

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

Alleluia! Christ is ascended!
He is ascended indeed! Alleluia! Amen.

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

Ask & Receive – Sermon on John 16:23-33 for the Sixth Sunday of Easter

John 16:23-33

23 [Jesus says,] “In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

25 “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; 27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”

29 His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! 30 Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” 31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

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

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

I’m a complete sucker for advertisements. My wife will confirm this. If I hear about a product, a service, or food on one of my favorite podcasts or on social media and the ad makes that thing even slightly appealing, I’m probably going to give it a try. Well, in this text, Jesus gives the best advertisement for prayer in all the Scriptures. Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”

Jesus means what He says here. Whatever you ask of God the Father in Jesus’ name, God will give it to you, so ask and you will receive. But we sinful humans take this statement from Jesus and tend to fall into one of two errors.

Some fall into the name-it-and-claim-it error. Some will preach that this statement of Jesus means that God will give you whatever you want. All you have to do is ask and believe enough. And it’s no wonder that those types of preachers are popular on television and make a lot of money preaching that. They’re wrong. And if you want that type of preaching, you’ll have to find another preacher because that isn’t what Jesus is teaches.

Jesus says that whatever you ask of the Father, in Jesus’ name, God will give it to you. This does not mean that throwing a quick, “in Jesus’ name,” to the end of your prayers is the magical “abracadabra” that gets God’s attention and make Him your slave so He must do your bidding. No. We have a sinful nature that does not desire the right things. So, if you pray for $500 M, if you really want it, and if you ask for it in Jesus’ name, that doesn’t mean that God is obligated to give it to you. (More on this later.) To pray in Jesus’ name is to pray according to Jesus’ will.

That leads us to the other error. And, in my opinion, this is more common among us (myself included). Too often, we have a fatalistic approach to our prayer, and here’s what I mean by that. We know that God is omniscient. He knows everything; He knows everything that will happen – past, present, and future. And we know that God is omnipotent, or all-powerful, and He rules over everything. Those are important truths that the Scriptures teach. But when we take those doctrines with us into prayer, we can come to the wrong conclusion that our prayer isn’t going to do any good or change anything because God has already determined what He will do and will do it no matter how we pray. But that line of thinking makes prayer pointless because our prayers won’t change anything. Well, that view is also just plain wrong.

The Bible teaches the opposite. Christian, when you pray, you pray as a child of God, and God reacts to your council and input on what is going on in the world. Picture it this way: When a president or king is fighting a war, he has advisors. They sit around a table and strategize, consult, and plan together. Those advisors are important, and the person in charge values their input and alters his plans based on that discussion.

Scripture teaches that you, Christian, you, child of God, are at that table. When God commands you to pray, He is inviting you into His war room to give your input as to how things should be handled on the battlefield. God wants your thoughts and ideas on how situations should be handled. God turns to you and asks, “My beloved child, what do you think we should do?” And your prayers are your response.

For your sermon homework today, you can chose one of three optional assignments (you’ll get extra credit if you do all three): The first would be to read Gen. 18:22 to the end of the chapter. There, God lets Abraham know about the judgment He is going to rain down on Sodom and Gomorrah. And Abraham intercedes for those cities and negotiates with God in prayer. Through Abraham’s intercession, God agrees to not destroy those cities if He finds ten righteous people there (Gen. 18:17-33). Prayer works.

Your second optional assignment is to reread our Old Testament lesson (Num. 21:4-9). There, God’s people sinfully complain about being in the wilderness and about the mana and quail that God daily provided for them. When God sends the fiery serpents to punish and judge them, the people ask Moses to intercede and pray for them. And God answers Moses’ prayer by providing the bronze serpent. And if anyone was bitten by the venomous snakes, they could look at the bronze serpent and be saved from death. Moses’ prayer worked and saved lives.

Your third optional assignment is to read Jonah 3. There, the people of Nineveh have heard Jonah preach about God’s impending judgment for their sins. After they hear that sermon, the king of Nineveh orders all the Ninevites to pray as a last resort. The king says, “Everyone needs to fast, pray, repent, and stop being evil. Who knows? Maybe God will relent of the disaster and judgment He is bringing upon us.” The Ninevites pray, and God responds by changing His mind. Jonah 3:10 says that prayer worked, “God relented of the disaster that He had said He would do to them, and He did not do it.”

I could have you look at a whole bunch of texts, but the reason I mention those three is because of the different degrees of proximity between the one praying and those being prayed for. Abraham prays that God would be merciful toward the people of Sodom and Gomorrah even though Abraham has no connection to their sin, and God responds. Moses prays for God to be merciful to the sinners all around him, and God responds. The king of Nineveh prays for God to be merciful to him (and, yes, the sinners around him), and God responds.

It is true that God always knows what is best to do, but when we pray, we are at the table as God’s advisors and counselors. He desires your input through your prayers. Now, I promised you that I’d come back to this. Again, God hasn’t bound Himself to answer every prayer exactly how we pray for it.

As a congregation, we’ve been praying for our dear sister, Phyllis. We’ve asked God to heal her and give her strength. Nine days ago, she died and is now with the Lord. But God has answered and is answeringour prayers. When Christ returns, Phyllis will rise again. Her body and soul will be put back together, and she will live eternally with no more pain, sorrow, tears, fatigue, etc. We have prayed and interceded for her. We have asked in Jesus’ name, and we are receiving the answers to those prayers. Maybe it isn’t the timing we wanted or in the way we wanted. But God always works all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Ro. 8:28). He has promised!

Remember, even Jesus had one of His prayers denied initially. Jesus prayed to not go to the cross, “Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me” (Mt. 26:39). That prayer from Jesus, your Savior, was the most futile and impossible prayer that has ever been prayed or will ever be prayed. Jesus’ death was the only answer for our sin. But God listened to Jesus’ prayer, and He loved to hear it. Jesus prayed that prayer without sinning, and God still answered Jesus’ prayer because Christ also prayed, “Nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

Dear saints, don’t ever be embarrassed about praying to God for trivial and simple things. If you want something, it doesn’t matter how small or silly it is, pray for it. Whenever you ask God for something, you’re going to the right Source! You are asking your merciful, loving, generous, and kind heavenly Father for what you want. God will listen to your prayers and answer them to mold and shape what happens in this world, and He will use your prayers to help mold and shape you. Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” When the Lord is what you want and desire, when His good gifts are the object of your delight, you have everything you want and desire.

So, pray. Prayer is your ultimate weapon against evil. Prayer is your defense spiritually and physically. Your prayers spring God into action with His divine power. So, be people of prayer, and if you haven’t been praying, start.

Before I conclude here, I want to give you three quick and easy prayers to put in your back pocket. I’ve preached this before, but it bears repeating. I think one of the best ways to be more regular and faithful in prayer is simply to do it more often, and these three little prayers can help with that. It might not feel like these prayers are important, but they absolutely are.

The first little prayer is for whenever you see something good happen. Pray, “God be praised.” It is good and right for you to verbally and mentally acknowledge and recognize that that good thing, whatever it is, has come from God.

The second little prayer is for whenever you see something bad or evil. Pray, “Lord, have mercy.” This is a perfect prayer in the face of any evil or disaster because God always desires to give you His mercy.

The third and final little prayer is for whenever you are making plans or looking to the future. Pray, “Lord willing,” or “If the Lord wills” (see Jam. 4:13-15). I think one of the most important lessons God was teaching us through COVID was a reminder that we are not in control. And I sincerely hope and pray we all take that lesson seriously. That prayer will help you remember that everything is in God’s merciful hands.

Dear saints, you have the ear of the One who created and rules all things. Jesus promises that whatever you ask in His name, God will give to you. So, pray and watch how God acts for your good and for the good of others. 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.

Shout & Sing for Joy – Sermon on Isaiah 12:1-6 for the Fifth Sunday of Easter

Isaiah 12:1-6

1 You will say in that day: 

     “I will give thanks to you, O Lord, 
for though you were angry with me, 

     your anger turned away, 
that you might comfort me. 

2   “Behold, God is my salvation; 
I will trust, and will not be afraid; 

     for the Lord God is my strength and my song, 
and he has become my salvation.” 

3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. 4 And you will say in that day: 

     “Give thanks to the Lord, 
call upon his name, 

     make known his deeds among the peoples, 
proclaim that his name is exalted. 

5   “Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; 
let this be made known in all the earth. 

6   Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, 
for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.”

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

In the name of Jesus. Amen.[1]

The day of salvation that Isaiah speaks about is today (1 Cor. 6:2). Because Christ has died and risen for you, now is the day of salvation. God was angry with you because of your sin, but now His anger has turned away. Jesus lives and reigns in heaven. He is your salvation. God is your strength and your song. And here, today, you will draw water from the wells of salvation which will never run dry.

So, “Sing praises to the Lord, for He has done gloriously. Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion,” (i.e. you Christian), “for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.” The Scripture readings today have called you – in fact, they have commanded you – to sing to God five times (Ps. 98:1, 4; Is. 12:5, 6).

Now, why does God command us to sing; isn’t speaking good enough? Apparently, no. There is a great passage in Zephaniah 3:17, listen to this, “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” It is an absolutely beautiful picture. But the reason I mention this passage is that this is the one place in all the Scriptures where God sings, and the reason He sings is His joy over you. When God expresses His joy over you who have been redeemed by His beloved Son, God sings. He sings because nothing else will do.

Music and song is the only thing capable of expressing the joy that God has because of you. God sings in joy over you, Christian. So you join with God and sing back to Him for joy. This is why we sing in church. We don’t have music in our services to make them more interesting or entertaining. The music may do that, but it isn’t why we do it. Instead, we sing because music and song is, in fact, a form of spiritual warfare that fights back against the sin, the devil, and demons.

Remember how God removed His Spirit from Saul because of Saul’s disobedience. In place of the Holy Spirit, Saul was regularly tormented by a harmful spirit. Some of Saul’s servants suggest that someone come and play music to drive that harmful spirit away. One of Saul’s servants is familiar with David and suggests that he come to play music for Saul. And whenever the harmful spirit tormented Saul, David would play, and the evil spirit would depart (1 Sam. 16:14-23). And this isn’t the only place in Scripture where music and singing is a weapon against the enemies of God’s people.

In 2 Chronicles 20, faithful King Jehoshaphat is ruling in Judah, and his kingdom was threatened by the armies of the Moabites and Ammonites. The king doesn’t know what to do, so he calls all the people of Judah to come to the Temple to pray. While they are praying, a prophet comes in and says that the people don’t need to be afraid of the armies that are coming to fight against them. That prophet says that Judah’s army won’t even need to fight because the Lord will fight for them. When the people hear this, they all bow down with their faces to the ground. Suddenly, two clans of priests, the Kohathites and the Korahites, stand up and begin singing loudly. Those two classes of priests had been appointed by King David years earlier to be the singers in the Temple. Basically, they had been appointed to be the church choir.

The next morning, the battle lines are formed. And Jehoshaphat appoints the front line to be – guess who – the Kohathites and the Korahites, the choir. Since the Lord was going to fight for them, why not have the singers be the first into battle? The army marches out behind the choir and listen to what Scripture says, “And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon [and] Moab… who had come against Judah, so that they were routed” (2 Ch. 20:22) Through singing, God defeated the enemies of His people.

In Acts 16, Paul and Silas have been beaten with rods, arrested, and thrown into prison for preaching about Jesus. While they are there in that dark, dank, stinky dungeon, guess what they do. Of course, they prayed, but then they began, you guessed it, to sing hymns (Act. 16:25). Now, they wouldn’t have had a hymnal with them, so this impromptu hymn sing would have been from memory. They weren’t worried about the other prisoners hearing them sing. In fact, Acts tells us that the prisoners were listening to this powerful witness of song in the dungeon. Paul and Silas sing, and God acts. God sends an earthquake that opens all the prison doors, and the shackles of all the prisoners in that jail fall off.

So, we have several examples of singing as a means through which God’s power is active, and Scripture says similar things about music. The end of Psalm 96 says this, “Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it!” and listen carefully now, “Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness” (Ps. 96:11-13). Here, and several other places in Scripture, give us a picture all creating singing at the return of Christ to make all things new.

I included a quote in your Scripture insert from Peter Leithart about music and musical instruments.[2]Leithart says something there that I think is very insightful; he says that musical instruments are a foretaste of when Jesus will come and make all things new because, at His return, all creation will be turned into an instrument of praise to God for what Christ has done through His death and resurrection. Remember how the Pharisees asked Jesus to rebuke His disciples for singing His praise as He rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, but Jesus responded, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out” (Lk. 19:40). Every time a musical instrument plays, it is a sign and reminder of the New Heavens and Earth becoming an instrument of praise. Now, when a guitar or cello or piano or flute is crafted from wood and metal and makes music, it is a foretaste of your eternal life with God in the new heavens and earth because creation is being turned into an instrument of praise.

Dear saints, I hope you see from Scripture that music and singing is powerful in the fight against the devil and the demons. So, it isn’t surprising that Satan uses all sorts of tricks to keep all of us from singing and making music. He uses our culture to get men to think that singing in church is for women and children. Men, don’t believe that lie. The most important thing you can do for your family is to daily spend time with them in God’s Word. And it is good to have that time in God’s Word also include both prayer and singing. And let your singing be songs that are richly filled with the very Word of God that speaks clearly and powerfully of Jesus and the victory He has won on the cross because that is what the Bible says our Christian songs and music should do (Col. 3:16).

If Satan tries to get you embarrassed of your voice or ability to sing, get over it. God doesn’t care how good of a singer you are. He gave you the voice and ability you have. He’s not looking for Grammy winners or finalists from American Idol or The Voice. Just sing.

Sing when you are happy. Sing when you are depressed. Sing when you are apathetic. Sing of Jesus. Sing of His victory. Sing of His deliverance and forgiveness. Sing how His right hand and holy arm have rescued you. Sing because the battle belongs to the Lord, and He has won the victory over Satan, sin, and death. Sing and watch the devils flee. 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.

[1] This sermon was reworked from 2019.

[2] “A musical instrument is a real presence of the eschaton, an effective sign of the destiny of all things, creation transformed into an instrument of praise.” – Peter Leithart

Never-Ceasing Mercy – Sermon on Lamentations 3:22-33 for the Fourth Sunday of Easter

Lamentations 3:22-33

22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; 
his mercies never come to an end; 

23 they are new every morning; 
great is your faithfulness. 

24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, 
“therefore I will hope in him.” 

25 The Lord is good to those who wait for him, 
to the soul who seeks him. 

26 It is good that one should wait quietly 
for the salvation of the Lord. 

27 It is good for a man that he bear 
the yoke in his youth. 

28 Let him sit alone in silence 
when it is laid on him; 

29 let him put his mouth in the dust— 
there may yet be hope; 

30 let him give his cheek to the one who strikes, 
and let him be filled with insults. 

31 For the Lord will not 
cast off forever, 

32 but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion 
according to the abundance of his steadfast love; 

33 for he does not afflict from his heart 
or grieve the children of men.

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

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

I mentioned the name of this Sunday at the beginning of the service; does anyone remember what today is called? (Yes, “Make a joyful noise,” Sunday.) So, why, on a day where we are making joyful noises, are we listening to a sermon from Lamentations, the book of the Bible whose name contradicts the name of the Sunday? Why even bother with Lamentations? I’m glad you asked.

The book of Lamentations was written by the prophet Jeremiah and is basically a funeral hymnal with five dirges; each chapter is its own song. But whose funeral is Jeremiah writing about? It is the funeral of God’s people. The Babylonian empire has come. Jerusalem has been destroyed. The leaders of Judah have been taken into exile. The Temple has been torn down and left in charred ruins. And the Ark of the Covenant, the place where God had promised to meet with His people, was gone. God’s punishment of His people has been severe.

Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, begins the book, “How lonely sits the city that was full of people!” (Lam. 1:1). He says that Jerusalem had been “the perfection of beauty” but is now the laughingstock of the world (Lam. 2:15). God’s punishment against the sins of idolatry, wickedness, and injustice that were so prevalent among His people has come, and it stinks. And Jeremiah calls on the people to recognize that God’s intention with this punishment is to bring the people to repentance. God longs for His people to confess their sins and be forgiven. All this punishment isn’t just to make God’s people uncomfortable and miserable; instead, this suffering is meant to heal and restore them.

So, Jeremiah paints this pathetic picture about the suffering of God’s people. He asks that God would see all their suffering under the punishment of their sins. Then, Jeremiah just sits back and waits….

Jeremiah can wait because he knows, “though [the Lord] cause grief, He will have compassion according to the abundance of His steadfast love; for He does not afflict from His heart or grieve the children of men” (Lev. 3:32-33). Dear saints, the only rescue from God’s wrath against sin is found in the very nature of God Himself. Let me say that again in case you missed it:

The only rescue from God’s wrath against sin is found in the very nature of God Himself. That is why there is hope throughout the funeral songs of Lamentations. The reason for this hope is that God’s steadfast love never ceases, and His mercies never – never ever – come to an end. They are new each and every morning. Great is His faithfulness (Lam. 3:22-23). That is why Jeremiah can wait for God, and that is why, in the midst of suffering and sorrow, you can too. “The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord” (Lam. 3:25-26). “[God’s] anger is but for a moment, and His favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning” (Ps. 30:5).

Dear saints, whenever you face suffering, whether it is because of your sin and God’s punishment or whether you are suffering because of the devil’s attacks or whether you are simply suffering because of this fallen, broken world, whenever you face suffering that is not the time to run from God; that is the time to run toHim. His steadfast love, mercy, faithfulness, and compassion is your hope.

Whenever you face trials, tribulations, hardships, and suffering, it is always, always, a call to faith. When we suffer, we try to look for answers, answers to questions like: Is God punishing me for some sin; if so, what is that sin? Is Satan tormenting me? Am I suffering because of the evil that surrounds me? We look for answers to those questions, but in the midst of suffering, both the cause of our suffering and the answers to those questions are often hidden from us. Remember Jesus, even in the midst of His suffering on the cross, asks the why question. “My God, My God, why? Why have You forsaken Me?” (Mk. 15:34).

In the book of Job, we see Job looking for those same answers. Job’s friends are all insisting that Job must have some secret sin that he needs to confess. But we know that isn’t the case. Repeatedly in the book of Job, God says that Job is righteous, blameless, and upright (Job. 1:8; 2:3). But God does allow the devil to cause Job great suffering – the loss of all his property and even the death of his children. God knows that Job can handle and navigate all of that and still retain his faith (Job 2:6). And of course, Job does. He continues to trust in God’s mercy and grace. And at the end of it all, Job is restored (Job 42:10-17), and his faith is strengthened.

Now, in the case of God’s people in Jeremiah’s day, God’s people were suffering because God was sending the punishment for their sins and calling His people to repent. Even when you are suffering because of your sins, it is a call to faith. Repentance always requires faith. You don’t repent or bring your sins to God, unless you know there is the possibility of forgiveness. Otherwise, you simply try to hide your sins, pass the blame to others, or ignore them all together. But none of those options ever work.

To repent and confess your sins is always an act of faith. Both repentance and confession is simply believing and saying what God says about your sins. First, you say that those sins have angered God and harmed your relationship with Him. They have brought God’s anger and wrath. Typically, we don’t have a problem with that part of confession and repentance. We know that. But the other part of repentance and confession is to continue saying what God says about those sins – that they are taken by Jesus (Jn. 1:29). That the wrath those sins deserve has been poured out upon Christ as He hung on the cross (1 Thess. 1:10). That those sins are removed form you as far as the east is from the west (Ps. 103:12).

So, again, whenever you face trials, tribulations, and suffering, faith and trust is always the proper response. In suffering, God doesn’t always give you answers to all the questions you have, but He does always give you promises.

Most importantly, God has given you the promise of His grace and mercy. God has sent His own Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus bore the yoke of our sins (Lam. 3:27; Is. 53:6, 12). Jesus put His mouth in the dust (Lam. 3:29) when He took on your humanity. He gave His cheek to be struck (Lk. 22:63). Christ took the insults that belonged to you. And on Good Friday, as darkness covered the face of the earth, Christ cried out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Mk. 15:34). There, in that moment, God forsook His own Son so you could be accepted as God’s own child. But God did not reject Jesus forever.

When Jesus cries out, “It is finished,” (Jn. 19:30) on the cross, God’s wrath against sin was done, completed, and ended. The resurrection proves that God accepted the offering Christ made for you.

Dear saints, God’s anger has an end. God’s anger ended with the death of Christ. The only way God’s anger could continue against your sin is if you continually reject what Jesus has done for you. Those who are lost in their sins and spend eternity in hell are those who reject God’s mercy in Christ.

But, dear Christian, that isn’t you. You trust in God’s mercy. You repent, confess, and receive forgiveness for all your sins. For you, God’s wrath and punishment, what the theologians call God’s ‘alien work’ – in other words, what God doesn’t naturally do – has come to an end. You live and abide in His mercy.

 And His mercy is even more certain than the rising of the sun. Mercy is who God is and how God is toward you who believe in Christ.

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

Amen.

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

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

John 10:11-18

11 [Jesus says,] “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 isn’t giving us any compliments here. He describes us as sheep. Dumb, stupid sheep. Sheep who get themselves in all sorts of trouble, who are stalked by hunters, who are dependent. Sheep who keep falling into the same pits of sin. “All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned – every one – to his own way” (Is. 53:6), but Jesus, our Good Shepherd, has taken the iniquity of us all. He has voluntarily laid down His precious, holy, innocent, perfect life for us all.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and God the Father loves Him, because He lays down His life for the sheep (Jn. 10:14-15, 17). This statement is shocking. This isn’t the actions of a good shepherd. Shepherds keep sheep for wool and meat, so normally, a good shepherd is defined by being successful and profitable in doing that. Immediately after our text here, many of the people who heard Jesus say this figure He has a demon and is insane (Jn. 10:19-20). But Jesus is good because He is the shepherd who gives His sheep what they need – His holy and precious blood. Now, ‘good’ is a legitimate way to translate what Jesus says when He calls Himself the ‘Good Shepherd,’ but the word Jesus uses is deeper than our word ‘good.’ In Greek, Jesus calls Himself ‘the καλός Shepherd.’

Yes, kalos does mean ‘good’ but not in a subjective sense that is open to anyone’s interpretation. Kalosmeans ‘right, fitting, true, beautiful, and competent.’ Jesus is uniquely qualified to be the Shepherd of sinful sheep. Christ is the ‘good for you’ Shepherd. Jesus, the kalos Shepherd, does what is unimaginable. He overcomes, defeats, and destroys the wolf by filling the wolf’s mouth with His own Body and saving you from being lost and devoured.

Hear this, you wandering sheep: When you had cut yourself off from God by your sin, Jesus, the kalosShepherd, came down to die on the cross for you. Jesus could have run away like the hired hand, but He didn’t. And, if Jesus didn’t run away then, what would cause Him to run away from you now? The answer is nothing. There is nothing that will make Him throw up His hands and say, “Well, I’m done with that sheep.” Jesus is with you. He is for you and is completely invested in you. And for that, God be praised.

Today is Good Shepherd Sunday, but it is also Confirmation Sunday. So, Nolan, Josh, and Leah, you dear sheep, God be praised for each one of you today. You have done a lot of work. You have read, studied, memorized, and learned a lot to get to today. But none of this would have been possible without Jesus, your Good, Kalos Shepherd leading and guiding you, and He has done that through the work of others.

I hope that each of you confirmands recognize how Jesus has used your parents in His shepherding of you. Matt and Lisa, Joel and Marilyn, Jon and Mel, you have all been faithful to the promises you made to nurture and raise your child in the faith when they were Baptized. God be praised for that, and I hope that each of you confirmands thank God for your parents’ faithfulness. Not all children have parents who faithfully raise their children in the faith, but you do. You can also thank your Baptismal sponsors (or godparents, if that is what you call them). They also have been faithful in their prayers for you and supporting your parents in their duties.

So, today is a day to celebrate. It is a day to celebrate all the work that you and your parents and sponsors have done. Even more so, it is a day to celebrate because you will receive Jesus’ very Body and Blood for the forgiveness of your sin. But I do want to caution you. Just because you have come to this day of your confirmation, that doesn’t mean that you are done being shepherded.

The beginning of Hebrews 12 talks about the life of a Christian as a race. And everyone, listen carefully. Hebrews 12:1-2 says, “Let us lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” The Christian life is a marathon; it’s a race that requires endurance. Nolan, Josh, and Leah, each of you are off to a good start, and you are running well. But none of us can say exactly how far along you are in the race. Today isn’t time to slow down. Keep up the pace. Keep pressing on; keep learning; keep growing in your faith. You aren’t at the finish line – not yet.

And to some of you Christians here today, maybe you have been slacking and slowing up in the race of faith. Repent. Consider this your reminder to keep running. Maybe you’ve gotten lazy and started walking. Maybe you have quit running all together. Maybe you have gotten completely off the course. Now, today, is the time to come back to the race. Put your past failures of loafing, slacking, and being lazy behind you. Start running again (Php. 3:13-14).

Now, whether you are being confirmed today, were confirmed years or decades ago, or are not yet confirmed, it is good to remember what Confirmation is. Confirmation is simply a recognition of God continuing to work in your life through the faith He gave you in your Baptism. When Jesus, your Good Shepherd, instituted Holy Baptism, He said that disciples are made by Baptizing and teaching (Mt. 28:18-20).

So, today, you confirmands are simply confirming and publicly confessing that the work that God began in you when you were Baptized has continued and that you have kept the faith that God gave you in your Baptism. In your Baptism, you were born again (Jn. 3:3, 5) and clothed with Christ (Gal. 3:27). So, just briefly:

Nolan, you were Baptized on August 7th, 2011 at Christ the King Lutheran in Wilson, WI by your grandpa, Pr. Les Johnson. And your sponsors are Les, Dawn, Dale, and Jeanette.

Josh, you were Baptized December 7th, 2008 here by Pr. Gary Jorgenson. And your sponsors are Carson, Heather, Evan, Joye, and Ginny.

Leah, you were Baptized April 12th, 2009 here by Pr. Gary Jorgenson. And your sponsors are Roger, Lisa, and Mikal.

In the waters of your Baptism, Jesus shepherded you to still waters and restored your soul. Through His Word, He leads you in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. And Jesus leads you through the valley of the shadow of death. He can do this because your Good Shepherd knows the way through that deathly valley. He went down it Himself and has come out of the grave. Now, Christ is risen from the dead. Jesus had the authority to lay down His life, and He had the authority to raise it up again. Your Baptism joined to Jesus’ death and resurrection (Ro. 6:3-11). Now, because He lives, Jesus is the living Shepherd and watchful Overseer of your soul (1 Pet. 2:21-25). And I love how each of you have picked verses that confess that.

Nolan, you chose Isaiah 41:10, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous hand.” Jesus, your Good Shepherd laid down His life, but He will always be with you to strengthen you and uphold you with His almighty, righteous hand.

Josh, you chose 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing,” which I love because that was a portion of my Confirmation verses as well. You can pray to and through Jesus, your Good Shepherd, because He lives forever and is always watching over you. He hears you every time you call to Him and gives you what is best.

Leah, you chose Proverbs 3:5-7, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.” Jesus is and always will be with you in all your ways. Your life, and the life of every Christian here isn’t just the story of your life. It is the story of Jesus’ walking with you, leading, guiding, directing you, and making your paths straight.

My dear, fellow sheep: Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and you are His sheep. You are not called to stand toe-to-toe with the devil. Satan, sin, and death are the wolves, and you are the sheep. Hide behind Jesus. Christ, your Good Shepherd and Overseer of your soul, places Himself between you and every danger to rescue you from every threat that you face. But even as you hide behind your Good Shepherd, you do not cower in fear. You stand confidently behind Jesus knowing that He has overcome the wolf. He has won the victory, and His victory is your victory because you belong to Him. 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.

Forgiven & Blessed – 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.” 22And 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.

The evening of the Resurrection, Jesus seeks out the disciples just like He sought Adam and Eve when they hid themselves behind some fig leaves in the Garden. Fear had reduced those ten disciples to a bunch of dead bones (Ezk. 37:1-14). It was only ten of them because Judas had betrayed Jesus, and Thomas wasn’t there. Where was Thomas? The text doesn’t specifically say, but we do have some clues from Scripture. So, put on your Sherlock Holmes hats, and let’s do some deductive reasoning together.

Early that morning, Peter and John saw the empty tomb and the neatly folded burial cloths (Jn. 20:1-10). And throughout the day, Jesus had been appearing to all sorts of people. First, to Mary Magdalene (Jn. 20:11-18), and shortly after that, to the other women who had gone to the tomb (Mt. 28:9-10). At some point, Jesus appears to Peter privately (Lk. 24:34) and to two other disciples, who were not part of the twelve, on the road to Emmaus (Lk. 24:13-35). So, Jesus is popping up all over the place, but the disciples have locked and imprisoned themselves in that upper room afraid for their lives.

They knew that the Pharisees had Pilate set a guard at the tomb to keep the disciples from trying to fake a resurrection (Mt. 27:62-66). These ten disciples are afraid that a bunch of soldiers are out looking for them to kill them just like they had killed Jesus. So, again, why isn’t Thomas there? The Gospel of John seems to suggest that Thomas wasn’t afraid. Thomas has been given the unfortunate nickname ‘doubting Thomas,’ but he may have been bolder and more fearless than the other disciples. Back in John 11, which was probably just a few weeks before the crucifixion, Thomas was ready to die with Christ. In John 11, Jesus suggests that they all go to Judea where He will raise Lazarus. Eleven of the disciples aren’t too keen on the idea because Jesus was almost stoned there twice (Jn. 8:59, 10:31), but Thomas speaks up, “Let’s go with Him that we may die with Him” (Jn. 11:16).

So, back to the day of Jesus’ resurrection: Peter and John tell the other disciples that they had found the tomb empty. Mary Magdalene reports that she has seen and talked with Jesus (Jn. 20:18). The other women tell the disciples that they have seen and talked with angels and with Jesus (Lk. 24:10-11). The two disciples who were on the road to Emmaus and Peter all say that they have seen Jesus (Lk. 24:33-35). All these reports of Jesus’ resurrection are coming in, which might have made Thomas curious. Now, Scripture doesn’t say explicitly, but it isn’t a stretch to imagine that Thomas isn’t behind those locked doors because he is out trying to find Jesus. If he gets caught by the soldiers and killed, so what? He is ready to die with Jesus.

But while Thomas is away, Jesus appears to the ten, speaks peace to them, shows them His wounds, breathes the Holy Spirit on them, and sends them out to with the authority to forgive sins. Then, Jesus leaves. At some point, Thomas comes back and the ten say, “Jesus was here, and you just missed Him.” Thomas is frustrated, and he doesn’t respond well at all. He defiantly says, “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.”

It ends up, all eleven disciples had locked themselves up, just in different ways. Ten had locked themselves in the prison of the fear of death, but Thomas has locked himself in the prison of unbelief because he hasn’t seen what the others have seen. Well, those prison bars and doors aren’t a problem for Jesus. Christ appears through the locked doors of fear to forgive the sin of the ten. And Jesus gives the disciples the authority to forgive sins saying, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” Then, one week later, Jesus will appear to Thomas and unlock the doors of unbelief. But let’s consider for just a minute how Jesus gives the ten the authority to forgive sins.

Think back to when Jesus healed the paralytic who was lowered through the roof (Mt. 9:1-8; Mk. 2:1-12; Lk. 5:17-26). Instead of healing the guy right away, Jesus says to him, “Your sins are forgiven.” The Pharisees grumbled at this saying that only God could forgive sins. So, Jesus heals the paralytic proving that He has the authority to forgive sin. Now, on Easter evening, Jesus passes that authority on to the disciples and, ultimately, all Christians.

Sin has put all humanity behind bars in the prison of death. But Jesus has come to give release to everyone who is in captivity to sin (Lk. 4:18; Is. 61:1). Because God has called me to be the pastor here, I am called to give that same release of sin. It is why, after we have confessed our sins and receive the absolution, I say, “As a called and ordained servant of Christ and by His command and authority, I declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins.” Because Jesus has the authority to forgive and passed this authority to all Christians, it is as though Jesus is doing it Himself. Think of it this way.

Imagine you are guilty of a crime and in jail. As you sit there in prison, a judge across town rules that you are innocent. That ruling doesn’t do you any good until that judge sends an order to the guard of your prison to set you free. Then, the guard comes with the keys, unlocks your cell, and releases you back into society. Now, in that scenario, who set you free, the judge or the guard? Honestly, the answer is both.

If the judge declares you innocent but the guard doesn’t go to your cell and open the door, you are still behind bars. On the other hand, if the guard lets you out without any order or declaration from the judge, you are free, but you will live the rest of your life waiting to be arrested because you haven’t been justly declared innocent.

Now, non-Christians live as though the guard has let them out, but the judge hasn’t issued the ruling that they are set free. They are like Thomas on the evening of the resurrection. Jesus has taken the punishment they deserve and forgiven them of all their sins, but that freedom doesn’t do them any good because they don’t believe that they are really, truly free.

Christian, that is where you come in. You can announce this forgiveness to others. If someone comes to you and tells you about their sin and guilt and shame, you can tell them of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Tell them that Christ is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, and His resurrection shows that God accepted Jesus’ sacrifice. And tell them, “I forgive you of your sins because of what Jesus has done.”

There is another side to this. Some Christians are like the ten disciples. They live as though the judge has issued the ruling, but they stay in their cell as though the guard hasn’t let them out. So, they remain in prison fearing that that freedom will get them in trouble. Dear saints, when you hear the absolution, it is nothing more than the guard letting you out of the prison of sin and death by Jesus’ ruling that you are forgiven. You really are free, and your sins are removed from you as far as the east is from the west (Ps. 103:12).

That is the Gospel message. That is the authority Jesus has given to the Church. That is the message Jesus has sent us into the world to announce. That is the peace that Jesus gives when He says, “Peace to you.” It is the peace that, because He died and rose again, sins are forgiven. They are gone.

I want to close with Jesus’ response to Thomas’ confession, “My Lord and my God.” Jesus replies, “Have you believed because you have seen Me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Jesus is speaking about you there. The risen Jesus had you in mind when He spoke those words. You have not seen Your resurrected Savior in the flesh. You don’t see the marks in Jesus’ hands and side. Instead, you see crosses that remind you of the death that Christ died for you. You see the Font where Jesus delivers to you His mercy and forgiveness and washes away your sins. You see an altar on which nothing has ever been sacrificed but which Jesus uses as His table to feed you bread and wine which Jesus says is His risen Body and Blood.

You do not see, but you hear the same proclamation of Jesus, “Peace to you.” That peace is yours because Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from all eternity is crucified, died, and was buried. He is risen again to give you His peace and the forgiveness of all your sins now and for all eternity. Dear saints, you are forgiven and blessed by your crucified and risen Lord and Savior.

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

Amen.

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

Name-Calling Savior – Sermon on John 20:1-18 for the Resurrection of Our Lord

John 20:1-18

1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes. 

11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

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

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Just as a ‘heads-up,’ I’m going to set the scene and fill out some details about Mary Magdalene as well as the events of morning of Jesus’ resurrection. I’m not making stuff up; I’ll be pulling from Scripture. If you want the references for things that I mention that aren’t in this text, ask me after the service, and I can print out the sermon with all the references.

Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb before light dawns the morning of the Resurrection, but she isn’t seeing, hearing, or thinking clearly. She is still filled with grief and sorrow from watching Jesus’ crucifixion. Mary Magdalene stood and witnessed the sad events of Good Friday at the foot of the cross (Jn. 19:25; Mk. 15:40). And the last time she had seen her Lord, He was wrapped in burial cloths before the sun set on Friday (Mt. 27:61; Mk. 15:47; Lk. 23:55-56).

But now, it’s Sunday, the first day of the week. Mary Magdalene was one of several women who went to the tomb (Mt. 28:1; Mk. 16:1; Lk. 24:10). As the women approached, they began to ask each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” But when they got there, they saw that the stone had already been rolled away by an angel who was sitting on it (Mk. 16:1-4; Mt. 28:2). It seems as though Mary Magdalene immediately ran back to the disciples as soon as she saw the open tomb.

For Mary Magdalene, the empty tomb was, initially, another reason to grieve because she thinks that someone has stolen Jesus (Jn. 20:13, 15). She runs back to tell Peter and John about it. She returns to the tomb with them while they investigate her claim (Jn. 20:3-9). They see the empty tomb and the neatly-folded burial cloths (Jn. 20:5-7). But these two disciples can’t comfort Mary because they didn’t believe that Jesus had risen; at least not at this point. In fact, the disciples won’t believe the resurrection until later that evening (Jn. 20:8b-9; Lk. 24:36-49).

Peter and John leave the tomb, but Mary stays there. And sorrow again fills her. She sees two more angles dressed in white robes sitting inside the tomb where Jesus had been laid, and she even has a conversation with them. They ask her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” And you can hear the pain in Mary Magdalene’s voice as she answers, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” This conversation with the angels doesn’t help Mary believe in the Resurrection.

And I wonder what the angels thought about this conversation with Mary. They might have been a bit confused by her reply because, as Mary said this, Jesus is standing behind her.

Mary turns around and sees Jesus standing. But seeing the resurrected Jesus doesn’t give her faith. She thinks He is the gardener. And Jesus, patient Jesus, asks her the same question the angels had asked, “Woman, why are you weeping?” But Jesus adds another question, “Whom are you seeking?”  It’s almost like Jesus is saying, “Hey, it’s Me, I’m right here.” But Mary still doesn’t believe Jesus is raised. She says, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” Even this conversation with the resurrected Jesus doesn’t give her faith.

But then, everything changes when Jesus speaks her name, “Mary.” I wonder what intonation Jesus used. Did He say it with a mild rebuke, “Mary”? Did He say it with a snicker, “Mary”? Maybe, He said it with utter compassion, “Mary.”

No matter how Jesus said her name, she believes. That one word – and not just any word, but her very own name spoken by the lips and voice of her resurrected Savior – pulls her out of her grief and sorrow. This is so magnificent.

The same voice that called seven demons out her (Lk. 8:2; Mk. 16:9) now expels the demon of unbelief. The last time she had heard the voice of Jesus was when He cried out on the cross “It is finished,” (Jn. 19:30) and, “Father into Your hands I commit My spirit” (Lk. 23:46). Now, that same voice, filled with life and peace, speaks her name, “Mary.” Jesus – who had drunk the cup of God’s wrath, had all the sins of the world laid on Him, and had passed through death and the grave – He calls her by name. And Mary believes and latches herself on to Jesus as though she will never let go. But her grip on Jesus isn’t as important as His grip on her.

Jesus sends her with a message to give to the disciples, “Go to My brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.’” Jesus can call the disciples, “My brothers,” and say this because something new has arrived. All who believe in Christ, all His disciples, all Christians, are welcomed into a new world where they are Jesus’ siblings, where God is ‘your God’ and Jesus’ Father is now ‘your Father.’

So, that very moment in the garden next to the empty tomb, Mary experienced the fulfillment of Isaiah 43:1-3. “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”

I’m going to give you some Easter homework: Before you send your kids out hunting for Easter eggs, as a family, read Isaiah 43:1-3 and v. 11-18 of this text, then read Isaiah 43:1-3 again to see the parallels.

Dear saints, what Jesus did for Mary Magdalene the morning of the Resurrection, He does for you. He calls you by name. In John 10, Jesus calls Himself the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep (Jn. 10:11). In that passage, Jesus also says that He is the shepherd who, “calls His own sheep by name and leads them out” (Jn. 10:3). Jesus, your Shepherd, is the name-calling Savior. He calls you by name in your Baptism and places His name – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – upon you (Mt. 28:19). 

Jesus is your God, your Savior. You, Christian – this could be said to each and every one of you by name – you will always have the risen Jesus. He will never leave you or forsake you. He died for you and has forgiven all your sin. Christ leads you through every trial and tribulation you face in this life. And He leads you to the resurrection. Nothing in this world will overwhelm or consume you. You belong to Him. Jesus is your Savior, Redeemer, and Brother, and God is your God.

You are His. You belong to Him. He has bought and purchased you with His holy and precious blood by dying on the cross and rising again for you.

And now, He invites you to come to His table where you will again see Him in Bread, which is His resurrected Body, and in Wine, which is His life-giving Blood. Come, taste, and see that the Lord is good (Ps. 34:8).

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

Amen.

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

Sabbath Rest – Sermon on Genesis 1:1-2:3 and Luke 23:50-24:7 for the Vigil of Easter

Genesis 1:1-2:3 & Luke 23:50-24:7

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

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

As we read through Genesis 1, there was a line that kept repeating. “And there was evening and morning the first day.” “And there was evening and morning the second day.” “And there was evening and morning the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth day.” But then, when we get to the account of the seventh day and expect to hear, “And there was evening and morning the seventh day,” we get nothing but crickets. Moses didn’t write that. But in and through that Holy Spirit inspired silence, there is an indication that the Sabbath day is incomplete. Yes, it was blessed with rest and holiness, but that day was still waiting for its completion and fulfillment.

That fulfillment came today, for us Westerners, or in the Jewish mind yesterday, Holy Saturday. The way days were reckoned in Jesus’ day, the new day began when the first two stars appeared in the sky. That’s why we start celebrating the Resurrection tonight, well before midnight. It’s why we celebrate Christ’s birth on the eve of His birth.

Jesus was crucified on Friday. In our Gospel lesson (Lk. 23:50-24:7), we heard how Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Joseph took Jesus down from the cross and wrapped Him in a linen shroud and laid him in a new tomb. But because the Sabbath about to begin, Joseph, Nicodemus (Jn. 19:39), and the women weren’t able to finish the burial of Jesus. The sun was setting, and they didn’t have time to get the job done. The last verse of Luke 23 says, “On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.”

So, Joseph rested. The women rested. And, most importantly, Jesus rested, fulfilling the seventh day of creation.

Scripture says that after God finished creating everything on Friday, the sixth day, “God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good” (Gen. 1:31). Then, God rested the following day, the seventh day, and made it holy.

On the Friday we call ‘good,’ the day of the re-creation and redemption of all things, Jesus saw everything He had done – His miracles, His teaching, His faithfulness to God and neighbor, how He perfectly obeyed God, how He had borne our griefs and carried our sorrows, and how He purchased and won us back – and behold, it was very good. That is why He could cry out, “It is finished,” before He breathed His last (Jn. 19:30).

Dear saints, Jesus, your slain Creator and Redeemer, endured the cross and labored in love for your peace and so you could have eternal rest. After completing His work, He entered His Sabbath rest as He lay there in the tomb.

Jesus’ task was done. Your sins were atoned for. He had finished His work that He had done, so He rested from all His work that He had done in creation. And now, Jesus has burst from the tomb, spitting in the face of death. The devil’s head has been crushed. Jesus has rested in the grave, and the Sabbath has been fulfilled so you can also enter into that perfect rest (Heb. 4:10).

And this has eternal significance for you. When you bury your loved ones, and when you yourself are buried, they and you follow Jesus into that rest. This is why Christian burial places are called ‘cemeteries.’ The word ‘cemetery’ comes from a Greek word koimeteria which means ‘sleeping place.’ We bury our brothers and sisters in Christ knowing that God isn’t done with them. We put them where they can rest and await the wake-up call that will be the trumpet blast on the Last Day when Jesus returns to raise them.

Dear saints, Christ has completely stripped death and the grave of its victory and sting (1 Cor. 15:55-56). Jesus lives, and so do you. And you have entered into His rest.

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

Amen.

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

Today in Paradise – Sermon on Luke 23:39-43 for Good Friday

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

The disciples, James and John, had asked Jesus if they could sit at His right and left when Jesus entered His glory, but Jesus told them that they didn’t know what they were asking. Besides that, Jesus said that it wasn’t His to grant, and the heavenly Father had already determined who would have those seats of honor (Mk. 10:35-40). In a few minutes, we will hear who gets those positions – two criminals one on Jesus’ right and another on His left (Mk. 15:27; Lk. 23:33).

At first, both of these condemned men mock Jesus as they hang there with Christ on their own crosses (Mk. 15:32). But something happens as the thief on the right watches Jesus suffer. This thief hears Jesus’ words as He hangs on the cross. Maybe, it was when he heard Jesus say, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Lk. 23:34). And faith sprouts in that criminal’s heart. He is converted and is a Christian.

Now, instead of mocking Jesus, he prays to Jesus. And his prayer sounds absurd, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” Here Jesus is beaten, bloodied, stricken, stripped, hanging, and dying on a cross. He is about as far from obtaining a kingdom as you could possibly be. But through faith this thief knows that Jesus isn’t done. He knows that the cross won’t be the end of Jesus. Somehow, and this can only be by the working of the Holy Spirit, this man believes that death won’t be the end of Jesus. He is a king who is coming into His kingdom. And even in that moment this thief believes that Jesus is a Savior who can save him from the condemnation that is the due reward for his deeds (Lk. 23:41).

Jesus looks at him and says, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

And when Jesus dies, His body is run through with a spear, taken down from the cross, and laid in the grave. But Jesus’ soul goes to be with the Father in heaven, and the thief goes with Him. Jesus and this thief meet up that very day in Paradise. Scripture says that to be away from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:8). 

The separation of body and soul that Jesus and this criminal experience when they die is the same separation that you and I will face unless Jesus returns first. Our body will go to the grave, and our soul will go to be with the Lord. But when Jesus returns, He will put you back together. Your body will be raised from the grave. Your soul will be rejoined to your body, and you will live forever. This is our hope and comfort.

But there is something more comforting to learn from the thief on the cross, and it is this: You are saved, not by your works, but by God’s grace. You are justified, not by your deeds, but by God’s promise. You are delivered, not by your efforts, but by God’s mercy. And this is only possible because Jesus takes all your sin and suffers in your place on the cross.

That thief’s story preaches this to you today. He lived a life that earned him capital punishment. But the Holy Spirit got a hold of him. He believed and was converted. And he’s right into heaven. 

The thief isn’t saved because of his works, deeds, or efforts! Even if he wanted to do a good work, he wouldn’t have been able because his hands and feet are nailed to a cross. All he had to face the judgment of God was the promise of Jesus, and that was enough for him. And it is enough for you.

When you stand before God’s holiness and perfection to be judged, there is nothing you can offer – no excuse, no self-justification, no good work. Nothing. 

You have nothing except the promise of Jesus. And, again, that is enough. Jesus says to this condemned criminal, “Truly, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” And Christ says the same to you, dear saint. “Truly, you will be with Me in Paradise.” Amen.

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