Listen here.

John 3:1-17—Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. ² This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” ³ Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” ⁴ Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” ⁵ Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. ⁶ That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. ⁷ Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ ⁸ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

⁹ Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” ¹⁰ Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? ¹¹ Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. ¹² If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? ¹³ No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. ¹⁴ And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵ that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

¹⁶ “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Along with the rest of the world, we are all perishing. Like the poisonous serpents came into the camp of the Israelites (Nu. 21:4-9), the snake of sin has come and bitten everything in this world. All humanity has been stung with the sting of death, and the countdown to your death began from the moment you existed. Death is hereditary; it is written in your DNA.

As a child of Adam you are a child of sin and death. You slog through this life slowly, steadily marching towards your death. “The wages of sin is death” (Ro. 3:23). Payday is coming, and what you have earned will, finally and ultimately, come to you.

You get little pay advances of death as you journey through this life, and they all serve as reminders of what is coming. An illness is tossed into your tip jar as a reminder that one day your whole body will be broken. You find the loose change of death when someone gossips about you saying, “A real Christian would do such and such.” The world is always ready to hand you a stipend of death along the way – war, famine, and persecution. After months and years filed with despair, a parent, spouse, or sibling dies battling cancer and you hit the jackpot of death. Ultimately, your payday comes and death visits you personally.

As a child of death, you are what you are, and Nicodemus was what he was. Under the cover of the darkness of night, Nicodemus comes to talk with Jesus. He comes in wonder, for no one can do the signs that Jesus does unless God is with him. Nicodemus comes to talk with Jesus, this God-sent Sign-worker, but Nicodemus comes as an unbeliever. That is why Jesus doesn’t dilly-dally. Instead, He moves the conversation directly to the crux of the matter. “Unless you are born from above, you cannot see the kingdom of God.”

The word that gets translated again there in v. 3 almost always means “from above” only rarely does it mean again. Nicodemus wrongly thinks that Jesus means that he must enter his mother’s womb a second time to be born. That is conceivably possible (pun intended); though, I would tend to think very few mothers would allow their children to enter back into their womb a second time.

Jesus speaks to Nicodemus of a different kind of birth, a birth “from above.” But Nicodemus can only think of one type of birth, the natural type. All this talk about a birth that is “from above” is hard for Nicodemus to understand. He can’t even imagine a different type of birth. But this is not surprising because, “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Co. 2:14).

But Jesus says exactly what this different “from above” type of birth is – a water and Spirit type of birth. Jesus speaks about baptism. Children of God are not born of natural, physical parents. They are born not of the will of flesh, nor of the will of man. They are born of the will of God (Jn. 1:13).

You did not chose to be born physically. No one consulted you about your conception. No one asked you if you were ready to be delivered into this world. But you delivered into this world you were.

In the same way, you do not chose to be born spiritually either. You are dependent upon a birth that comes only from the will of God. In your baptism, God has given you that different kind of birth, that different kind of existence.

Like Nicodemus, we ask, “How can these things be? How can water do such things?” We too come to Jesus in the darkness and night of our own sinful misunderstanding. Jesus says that baptism is not simply water, but water that is connected with the Spirit of God and the Word of God. In the waters of baptism, God gives you the kind of birth He requires. ”The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Your spiritual birth is all God’s doing. The only part you have to play in your salvation is to benefit from it. God has chosen baptism to “give life to the dead and call into existence the things that do not exist” (Ro. 4:17b). God could have chosen to do it another way, but He chose to do it through baptism – the birth from above of water and Spirit.

So that you can have this birth, God the Father sent Jesus, His only begotten Son. Jesus was sent to live a sinless life not for Himself, but for you. Jesus was sent so that you should not perish, but have everlasting life. God sent Jesus to die the death you deserve. Jesus was paid your wages of sin. Jesus has been lifted up to die so that all who look on Him might be saved.

And so that you could be connected to Christ’s death, God gives you baptism. In your baptism, the Holy Spirit dragged your sinful flesh back to the cross to kill it. He placed you into the tomb of Christ, and you were born anew with Christ out of the hopelessness of death. Amen.

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

Listen here.

Matthew 4:1-11—Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. ² And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. ³ And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” ⁴ But he answered, “It is written,

“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

⁵ Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple ⁶ and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,’

and

“‘On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ”

⁷ Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” ⁸ Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. ⁹ And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,

“‘You shall worship the Lord your God
and him only shall you serve.’”

¹¹ Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Find a Bible, and open it to 1 Jn. 2:16, the ESV translates it this way,”For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.” Notice how that follows the pattern of our Old Testament text: Gen. 3:6, “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food [desires of the flesh], and that it was a delight to the eyes [desires of the eyes], and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise [pride of life]…”

Notice that because that same pattern is followed in the three temptations in our Gospel text.

Today’s Gospel text comes immediately after the account of Jesus’ baptism. The Holy Spirit who had descended upon Jesus like a dove now leads Jesus up into the wilderness in order to be tempted by the devil. Jesus looks wholly unprepared for this battle with Satan. Jesus does not go out with legions of angels to face Satan. He doesn’t even go out with His little, loyal band of disciples. Jesus is in the wilderness with no gear to help Him build shelter and find food. Jesus doesn’t even eat; instead, He fasts forty days and forty nights. In the wilderness, He is exposed and vulnerable.

But in reality, Jesus is playing offense. Jesus enters the wilderness with the only weapon that will have any effect against sin, death, and the devil. He goes out armed with the Father’s words recorded just before our text (Mt. 3:17), “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Satan comes to cast doubt on those very words of God. “If You are the Son of God.” This is the very same trick of the devil in the Garden of Eden. Gen. 3:1, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” Satan seeks to arouse the desires of the flesh in order to cause doubt upon the Word of God.

Satan’s words to both Eve and Jesus sound good and right, “Doesn’t God want you to have food? Do you think that if God really loved you that you go through life hungry like this?” Eve fell for the trick, and she dragged all of us into bondage from which we will never set ourselves free. But Jesus, faced with the same temptation, comes out victorious.

Jesus takes what is wrong with us – our mistrust in God’s provision, our unbelief that God will care for us, and our doubt in the promises of God – and strikes back with the promise of God, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Jesus triumphs over the desires of the flesh.

Satan takes Jesus to the pinnacle of the Temple and tries to cast doubt upon the Word of God again, “If you are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. God won’t let You get hurt. He will send His angels to protect You since You are so important.” Satan seeks to stir up the desires of the eyes. Satan tempts Jesus to see if God will really protect Him.

Jesus, again, takes what is wrong with us – our desires to see some fantastic miracle, our desires to see God act in some special way towards us – and He strikes back with the Word of God, “You shall not put the Lord your God to the text.” Jesus triumphs over the desires of the eyes.

Satan then takes Jesus to a mountain to show Him all the kingdoms of this world and their glory. Satan tells Jesus, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Satan seeks to stir up the pride of life. Satan tells Jesus, “You can be king of the lot, Jesus. All the power that is mine I will put at Your disposal. The two of us together can hardly fail, if You will only do things a bit more my way” (Nagel).

But Jesus, again, takes what is wrong with us – our pride, our desire to be like God and control our own destiny – and strikes back with the Word of God, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’“ Jesus triumphs over the pride of life.

Your Savior triumphs over the devil, the world, and sin. You have a Messiah who defeats the desires of the flesh, who casts down the desires of the eyes, who is victorious over the pride of life. And He does it all for you.

Do you see what Jesus did by winning this battle against Satan? He completely reversed the Fall of Adam and Eve. Our Epistle text (Ro. 5:12-19) says that Adam was a type of the One who was to come; that’s Jesus, the new Adam who brings life to all mankind. Look at Ro. 5:18 and let me fill in a few of the blanks there, “As Adam’s trespass led to condemnation for all men, so Christ’s act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.”

Christ has defeated the enemy; He has crushed Satan’s head. And Jesus’ victory is your victory. Everything that Christ has done is credited to your account as though you have done it yourself.

You will be tempted, and you will fall into sin. However, when you fall prey to the temptations of sin flee to Jesus who has already defeated Satan. Repent and return to Christ. “[Jesus] who was tempted for you is never tempted to turn you away. [Jesus’] baptism is your baptism, His conquering of sin is your conquering of sin, His crucifixion, His resurrection, His ascension are all yours. What belongs to the Head belongs to the body, and you are the body of Christ” (Chad Bird). Amen.

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

Listen here.

Matthew 17:1-9—And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. ² And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. ³ And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. ⁴ And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” ⁵ He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”

⁶ When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. ⁷ But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” ⁸ And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

⁹ And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.”

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Today is the last Sunday before Lent begins, and today we are invited to the Mount of Transfiguration. On that mountain, God wants to reveal Jesus.

Imagine Jesus’ metamorphosis. The glory of Jesus, the Son of God, broke through His physical body. Jesus in His flesh and bone shined like the sun. Glory broke through His drab clothes so they became white as light. Jesus doesn’t cast shadows, He casts light. Imagine the signs and wonders as Moses and Elijah appear with Jesus. See the dazzling cloud emitting photons. Hear the thundering voice of God, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.”

As awesome as the Transfiguration is, do not think of this in a wrong way. Do not think that this transfigured Jesus is the real Jesus – the heavenly, glorified Jesus – and that rest of the Gospels show a drab, earthly Jesus. Don’t think that way.

Transfigured Jesus is the same Jesus who called Zacchaeus to come down from his tree. Transfigured Jesus is the same Jesus who went off by Himself to pray. Transfigured Jesus is the same Jesus who fell asleep on a cushion in the back of the boat. Transfigured Jesus is the same Jesus who sat down by a well to rest. Transfigured Jesus is the same Jesus who was wrapped in swaddling cloths and laid in a manger. Transfigured Jesus is the same Jesus who was beaten, whipped, stripped, tacked to a cross, killed, and buried.

The Transfiguration is a reminder that wherever Jesus is, there is the glory of God – even if it is hidden. The glory of God in Jesus remains even when you don’t see it. The Transfiguration is a wonderful scene and is meant to amaze you. It is meant to encourage you for what is coming through Lent.

The Transfiguration happened just six days after Jesus explained to the disciples that He must go to Jerusalem to suffer, die, and rise again. Peter had rebuked Jesus for saying that, and Jesus harshly rebuked Peter for questioning Him, “Get behind me Satan.” Jesus says He must suffer and die, and the voice of God speaking out of the cloud commands Peter and you and I to shut up and listen to Jesus.

The glory of Jesus in the Transfiguration is what is in store for you, believer. In your baptism, God clothed you in Christ (Gal. 3:27). You are God’s children now, and what you will be has not yet appeared; but know that when Jesus appears you will be like him because you shall see Him as He is (1 Jn. 3:2). When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory (Col. 3:4).

The Transfiguration reveals what Jesus does for you. The Transfiguration is meant to comfort you and sustain you reminding you what Jesus’ work is going to accomplish. That is why Jesus tells Peter, James, and John, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.” But there is still another mountain to climb – Mount Calvary.

Jesus brings you to His glory by entering your shame. Jesus will clothe you in His brightness by being clothed in your sin. Jesus will make you children of God by becoming an orphan who cries out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

The same face that shined like the sun is the same face that will be spat upon in Jerusalem. The clothes that shined white as light will be stripped to leave Jesus dying naked. The voice that cried out, “It is finished,” also says to you even now, “Rise, and have no fear.”

Wherever Jesus speaks, there He is. Wherever Jesus has promised to be, there He is. Sometimes He appears gloriously; sometimes He is hidden. But even when Jesus’ glory is hidden, the glory remains.

The same Jesus who was transfigured on one mountain and died on another is the Jesus here, present today. The same flesh and blood Jesus comes to you today in radiant, dazzling glory hidden in bread and wine. He has not left you as orphans wandering in this world of sin helpless, poor, and despairing. He is here.

Have a glorious Lent. Amen.

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

Listen here.

Matthew 5:33-48—”Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ ³⁴ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, ³⁵ or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. ³⁶ And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. ³⁷ Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.

³⁸ “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ ³⁹ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. ⁴⁰ And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. ⁴¹ And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. ⁴² Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. ⁴⁶ For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? ⁴⁸ You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Jesus continues to authoritatively preach today. Some of the words of Jesus in our text have become very well known – even if they aren’t directly quoted from Jesus. “Let your ‘yes’ be ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ be ‘no.’” “Turn the other cheek.” “Go the extra mile.” “Love your enemies.” These sayings have become clichés and have lost most if not all of their bite.

The typical response we have to these commands from Jesus is to undermine them. We try to find excuses to get around, over, or under them. We avoid them at all costs thinking, “Jesus couldn’t really expect  me to be so gullible as to turn the other cheek. Jesus couldn’t really expect me and that vulnerable, could He? I’d get walked all over. Jesus couldn’t really mean to give to everyone who begs and wants to borrow, could He? If I followed Jesus’ commands here, I’d be beaten, naked, and broke. Jesus must be speaking figuratively here, right? Jesus knows that I have a right to protect myself. He knows that I have a right to my own things.”

But then Jesus has got you right where He wants you. You must remember that you are a creature, created by God, and as such you have no rights. Creatures do not have rights, plain and simple.  And we resist being creatures because creatures do not have rights. In its simplest form, sin is  denying our creatureliness, and making little gods out of ourselves. We, discontent with our creatureliness want to be like God. We put our fear, love, and trust in ourselves.

That is why so much of the world around us loves to accept the false teachings of the big bang, evolution, and things like that. If we are not creatures, then we are our own gods. Creatures are not their own; they are the property of their Creator. The sooner we learn that and live that out, the better.

Once we understand the truth that we are given everything – and I mean everything – as a gift, all sorts of things fall into place.

Creatures receive everything as a gift from the Creator. Your life is not your own. Your body is not your own. Your things are not your own. They are all gifts given to you by God the Father.

Based on this fact, Jesus can command you, “Do not take an oath at all. Do not take an oath by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is His footstool. Do not take an oath by your head because you cannot do even as simple a thing as make one single hair white or black.”

Jesus can command you, “Do not resist the one who is evil. If anyone wrongs you, remain vulnerable and turn the other cheek. Your cheeks are not your own anyway.”

People will take advantage of you. You will persecuted for living this way. Persecution will come in many different forms. You might not be nailed to a cross or thrown to wild animals for living this way. You might not be placed in front a firing squad. Christians in other lands have that persecution, but you will be persecuted here too. The persecution of death might be easier to face than the constant ridicule and scorn and loathsome pity that the world throws at you. You are called by God to fight the battle against the world and Satan in the persecutions that do come your way.

Jesus says that when people take advantage of you, when they persecute you, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Love the people who hate you because if you only love the people who love you, then you will only love yourself, and you have fallen back into the error of being your own god.

In the final words of our text, Jesus sums it all up, “You therefore must be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Pause here:

This translation of “perfect” leaves something to be desired. When Jesus hung on the cross, before He gave up His spirit, He cried out the same word. There it gets translated, “It is finished” (Jn. 19:30). The word means “whole,” “total,” “complete.” If you want to show that you are sons and daughters of God the Father, which He has said you are, you must be “complete.”

You will never be this on your own. You will always be found lacking. But if God the Father is your Father – and He declares that He is your Father – then He will make you, His child, whole, total, and complete. God does not have children that are anything less than complete. God will make you complete in Christ. He does this now by faith alone that He gives you. This faith receives the Word of God and says, “Yes, this Word of God, both Law and Gospel, is true and good.”

Hebrews 12:2 says that Jesus is the founder (beginning) and perfecter (same word, completer) of your faith. He endured the cross that you and I nailed Him to as His sinful enemies.

When you, sinner, struck Jesus on the cheek, He turned His back to you and you whipped Him. But Jesus didn’t stop there. After He was whipped, He turned His hands and feet to sinners and received nails, then He turned His side and was pierced. Jesus turned His whole life over to you, His enemy, and was killed. While you did all of that, He prayed, “Father forgive them.” All of this He did in love for you so that you could be children of your Father who is in heaven. Amen.

May the peace of God which surpasses all understanding guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Listen here.

Matthew 5:21-32—“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ ²² But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. ²³ So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. ²⁵ Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. ²⁶ Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

²⁷ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ ²⁸ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. ²⁹ If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. ³⁰ And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

³¹ “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ ³² But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”

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

Fifty days after the Angel of Death passed over the land of Egypt killing every firstborn who was not protected by the blood of the lamb, God descended upon Mount Sinai (Ex. 19:1ff). God spoke to Moses, “Behold, I am coming to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you.” The mountain was wrapped in smoke because Yahweh had descended upon the mountain in fire. Smoke went up like a kiln, and the whole mountain shook, and the people trembled.

God commanded that limits be set around the mountain so the people would not go up. In fact, God commanded that anyone who touched the mountain should be killed – either stoned or shot.

Then God spoke for all the people to hear, “I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

1. “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.
2. “Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His Name in vain.
3. “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
4. “Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
5. “Thou shalt not kill.
6. “Thou shalt not commit adultery.
7. “Thou shalt not steal.
8. “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
9. “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house.
10. “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his cattle, nor anything that is thy neighbor’s.”

As God spoke these words, the people were terrified. They feared the thunder, the flashes of lightning, and the sound of the trumpet of God. They said to Moses, “Do not let God speak to us, lest we die” (Ex. 20:19).

But Moses told the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of Him may be before you, that you may not sin.” The people stood far off from the mountain backing away from the presence of God, but Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was (Ex. 20:21).

Moses and the people heard the same voice of God. They saw the same terrifying signs in the sky and on the earth. Everyone retreated from the mountain – except Moses. Moses went up to the thick darkness where God was.

Now Jesus is up on a mountain. Jesus speaks with the voice of God thundering against sin. Yes, Jesus is against sin. Some might even argue that the Son of God is harsher against sin than the Father. But all Jesus is doing is revealing God’s intention with regard to the Commandments.

The people listening to Jesus knew the Ten Commandments. They could recite them. But they had thought they could deflect the Law’s accusations off of them and remain mostly clean. But Jesus opens up the Commandments to their full condemning weight. Anger is murder. Insults condemn to hell. Looking is adultery. Divorce even causes innocent parties to sin. Jesus takes the Law and preaches it in its harshest form. Jesus uses the Law to condemn everyone.

You too are condemned by the Law Jesus preaches here. Do not think that you are not guilty of murder simply because you have not actually killed someone. You have killed in year heart many times. Do not think that because you have not had an affair that you are innocent of adultery. Do not even think that if you avoid pornography that you aren’t looking with lust. Do not think that your love for your spouse is pure. You hold grudges and do now love sacrificially. Your sin is more a part of you than you realize.

Sin is serious. Jesus says sin is serious enough that you should cut off body parts to avoid it. But you cannot cut enough of your body off. Your might be able to hide your sin so that it is not visible to others, but it is not hidden from God. You deserve hell. Your situation really is that bad. And if you don’t realize that, than Jesus has nothing to preach to you but Law.

If you can hear these words of Christ and not be pierced to the heart, if God’s holy presence on the mountain with thunder, lightning, and quaking does not strike fear into your soul, than you can go on your ignorant, merry little way. Mount Sinai is the only mountain of God for you, and it will always be covered in thick darkness. It will always thunder and shake against you.

But if Jesus’ words of Law from the mountain strike you and make you shudder, if you fear God and His wrath against your sins, then let me tell you about another mountain.

Jesus Himself quietly ascended it. Jesus climbed this mountain bearing your sins, and He hung on a cross for those sins.  On Golgotha, God poured out His wrath in against your sin in thunderings, earthquakes, and darkness. Jesus endured the wrath of God against your sin so that you could stand righteous and holy before God.

Because He loves you, God will not let you remain in bondage and slavery to sin. The Law leaves you nowhere to run to, nowhere to hide. As you hear the Law, you find that God approaches with His wrath against your sin. He leaves you no escape. You find that God’s Law has backed you into death’s corner. The Law has removed any excuse for your sin and forces you to face Him.

When you face Him, you find that He is the Savior from death. Fellow sinners, this is the Gospel. Jesus comes to you this morning. He comes to you to speak His words of comfort. He comes to you to say that God’s thunder is gone. The storm of wrath against sin is over, it has passed. You are no longer a slave to sin.

Remember how at Mount Sinai the people backed away from God while Moses approached the thick darkness? You see, Moses that he did not need to fear the God of thunder and thick darkness because that was the God who had delivered him and all of Israel out of Egypt out of the land of slavery. The God in the darkness was the God who passed over Egypt that night when terror and death filled the houses where no blood covered the doorposts. The God speaking His commands was the God who parted the Red Sea so the people could escape the deadly armies of Pharaoh.

Moses knew that the God hidden in thunder and darkness was the God who is “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin” (Ex. 34:6b-7a).

When you hear Jesus preaching the Law and convicting you of sin, remember that He is the very one who suffered and died for that sin. Your sin can no longer destroy you. “Sin can no more destroy [you] than it can destroy Christ. He has answered for it all. You are free” (Dr. Norman Nagel) Amen.

May the peace of God which surpasses all understanding guard your heart and mind through faith in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Listen here.

Matthew 5:13-20—“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

¹⁷ “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. ¹⁸ For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. ¹⁹ Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰ For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

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

People talk. People talk differently. Some people talk more than others, and some less. Some people talk and cannot help but be funny, and some can’t be funny no matter how hard they try. Some people talk so vividly that they paint pictures in your brain, and some talk blandly. Some people talk timidly and shyly, and some people talk with authority. When someone talks with authority, you tend to listen. But people can talk with authority even though they have absolutely no idea what they are speaking about.

I’ll admit that I have found myself talking as though I had authority about something. But I learn that the person to whom I am speaking actually is an expert. In those instances, I have learned that foot fits in my mouth very well.

In today’s Gospel text, Jesus is preaching what is known as “The Sermon on the Mount” and we will be considering the first chapter of this sermon (Mt. 5) over the next three weeks.

Before we get into the sermon, I want you to consider for a moment how the crowds of disciples respond to Jesus’ sermon. Matthew records (Mt. 7:28-29), “When Jesus completed these words, the crowds were being astonished at His teaching, for He was teaching them with the conviction that He had authority, and not as their scribes taught” (trans. Dr. Jeffrey Gibbs). Jesus speaks with authority because Jesus knows what He is talking about. Jesus could speak with authority on any subject. But in this particular portion of the sermon, Jesus is speaking about His disciples. Jesus is speaking about you, believer.

When Jesus says something about you, it is important to listen. So what is Jesus saying about you, believer? Well, to understand our text today, we need to go back a few verses to the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount – to the Beatitudes.

In the Beatitudes, Jesus gives you blessings. Listen to what He says.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” In other words, Jesus says that people who have nothing to offer God and can never get their act together, these people are blessed. They are so blessed they are saved – the reign of heaven is theirs. All the gifts of the King – forgiveness, life, identity, community – all belong to people who have nothing to give God.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Jesus says that people who are sad because they see that the earth is rotting and dark, they are blessed. They are blessed because, one day, God will take all their sadness and mourning away.

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” People who are powerless are blessed because they will get to live forever in God’s new heaven and new earth.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” People who know things are not right in the world are blessed. They are blessed because God will one day make it right.

Do you hear this? Well, keep listening. Jesus goes on.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” Merciful people are blessed because they will get God’s mercy on the last day. God will cover their sins.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” People who have their hearts set on God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and on no other false god will be blessed. They will see God face to face.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” People who make peace will be called God’s sons and daughters because God gives them peace.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus says that when this world hassles you and persecutes you, you are blessed. Then to make sure you know that all these blessings are for you, Jesus adds, “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you.” You are blessed because God’s eternal, kingly gifts belong to you.

Do you hear this? Jesus is talking to you. Jesus is talking about you. Believe Him. He speaks with authority. God does not lie. When God speaks, He only speaks the truth. Jesus, the Son of God, speaks about how things really are. In fact, God’s Word creates reality.

So now, we come to v. 13-14 and Jesus is still speaking with authority. He says, “You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world.” Notice, this is not a command. This is not an exhortation. This is not a scenario you are to make happen. Jesus simply says what is. Believe Him. Jesus is not yanking your chain. He is not trying to make a fool out of you. Jesus is simply saying what is. He says, “You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world.”

The earth is in bad shape, it leaves a bad taste in everyone’s mouth. The earth needs salt. Jesus says that you, believer, are that salt. The world is a dark place. This world needs light. Jesus says you, believer, are that light.

Even though Jesus speaks with authority you can, of course, chose to not believe Jesus. You can chose to deny the truth. But then things become pretty absurd. Jesus addresses this. He postulates, “What would happen if salt lost its taste? Well, then it is good for nothing but to be cast out and be trampled by people.” That does not sound good.

Jesus says, “You cannot hide a city on a hill.” Being residents of the Red River Valley, you may not know what hills are. They are places where the ground actually rises up kind of like the dike, but even bigger. If you built a city on one of those, it would be pretty hard to hide, right?

Jesus goes on, “How silly would it be to light a lamp in a dark house and then put a bucket over it?” Well, that would be dangerous. It would be foolish and dumb.

So, don’t be absurd. Believe Jesus when He says, “You are the salt of the earth.” Don’t be foolish and dumb. Believe Jesus when He says, “You are the light of the world.”

Jesus says you are salt and light in order to make a difference in the world. Jesus says that your good works are like light in the darkness of this world. Those good works give the world light to see what God is like. When people, believers or unbelievers, see your good works, they will give God the glory.

Jesus doesn’t give you any parameters of what good works to do. Jesus doesn’t give you any specific works to do, so the door is wide open. You don’t have to look far to find places to do good works. Maybe it will be in your own home, maybe it will be in your job, maybe it will be for a friend, maybe it will be for a total stranger – you can find good works to do all around you no matter where you are.

Jesus does give a command here. Our translation renders Jesus’ words in v. 16, “Let your light shine.” That translation makes the word ‘let’ or ‘allow’ the command. It puts the command on you. But do not think that it is somehow up to you to somehow allow your light to shine. No, Jesus’ command here is not to you – the Greek is very clear. The command is “shine,” literally “Shine the light of you.” It is a good thing that Jesus speaks His command to your light because you already know that light obeys the voice of God. When God created the world He said, “Let there be light,” and there was light (Gen. 1:3). Here Jesus, the Son of God, commands the light within you to shine, and it does.

So, even though you are part of this dark world and even though you are part of the problem, Jesus’ words still have authority. Even though your sin casts darkness all around you. Jesus is the true light who comes to the darkness of this sin-filled world (Jn. 1:4-5). Even though you love the darkness rather than the light because your deeds are evil (Jn. 3:19), Jesus says that you, believer, are the light of the world.

It is pretty easy to despair when you hear Jesus command your light to shine. It is easy to hunger and thirst for your light to shine because so often you see that it does not. It is easy to mourn and weep because you cast such long and dark shadows. It is easy to realize that you fail precisely because you are poor in spirit.

But when that happens, remember Jesus’ words. “You are blessed. You are blessed because I give you forgiveness, life, and salvation.” And believe Jesus when He declares, “You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world.” Amen.

May the peace of God which surpasses all understanding guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, now and forever. Amen.

Listen here..

Luke 2:22-40—And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord ²³ (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) ²⁴ and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” ²⁵ Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. ²⁶ And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. ²⁷ And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, ²⁸ he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

²⁹ “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,

according to your word;

³⁰ for my eyes have seen your salvation

³¹          that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

³² a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

and for glory to your people Israel.”

³³ And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. ³⁴ And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed ³⁵ (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

³⁶ And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, ³⁷ and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. ³⁸ And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

³⁹ And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. ⁴⁰ And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.

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

What have you been doing the last 40 days? Today is the 40^th day after Christmas, so we celebrate the purification of Mary and Jesus. And we celebrate it by hearing the Song of Simeon, the Nunc Dimittis.

Simeon knew he was going to die. He knew that because of his sin, he was subject to a life of slavery to death (Heb. 2:14-15). However, God revealed to Him that he would not die until his eyes saw the Messiah. So, when 40-day-old infant Jesus came with Joseph and Mary to the Temple, Simeon rejoiced. Simeon saw the baby Jesus, and knew this was the Lord’s Christ.

Maybe, if God told us that we would not die until we saw something, we would pretend like we didn’t see it even though it was right before us. Maybe we would fight against seeing God’s promise because we would not want to taste the sting of death. But instead of fighting against death, Simeon embraced the Child and welcomed his death.

Simeon took the infant Jesus in his arms and held Him knowing that now he could die in peace. Simeon says, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

Simeon goes on to speak of Jesus as a “sign that is opposed.” Luke has already spoken of Jesus as a sign. The shepherds are told, “This shall be a sign for you – you will find a baby” (Lk. 2:12). Forty days later, the same infant Child of Mary and Joseph, was a sign of Simeon’s death. Yet, Simeon does not see his death as something to avoid. Instead, he sees it as God allowing him to be “set free” in peace.

The church has incorporated Simeon’s song into the evening service called ‘Compline’; in that service, Simeon’s song is the final prayer before going to sleep. That is a beautiful picture isn’t it? God gives his beloved sleep (Ps. 127:2). Recognizing that God has led you through your day and brought you to your place of rest is fitting.

Another place where the church has incorporated Simeon’s song is in response to receiving Holy Communion. After receiving the true body and blood of Christ it is right and good to join your heart with Simeon’s words. As Simeon received the infant Jesus in his arms, you too have received the fulfillment of God’s promise on your lips and in your mouth.

Just like Simeon was told that he would see the Messiah who would save Israel, you too see the Savior. Jesus says that you receive Him as Savior in His Supper, “This is My body; this is My blood of the new covenant shed for you for the forgiveness of your sins.”

Simeon did not see an impressive Messiah, but only a 40-day-old Child. You do not see a grand spectacle either, rather bread and wine.

In that Baby, Simeon saw God’s salvation. In Communion, you too see God’s salvation which is prepared for all people. Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He is the only Savior, and the Good News of Him is good tidings for all people. We, and all people of the world, need to be saved because we are helpless. We are in bondage to sin. We are dead in sin.

In the Lord’s Supper, Jesus the Savior comes to us. Communion is not some sort of spiritual energy drink that revs you up. The Lord’s Supper is not just a different way to end a worship service. Instead, the Lord’s Supper is sustenance for sinners in their walk through this dark and sinful world. Sinners need this Supper; sinners need this food. Every time you come for Communion, Jesus gives to you His body and His blood for the forgiveness of your sins.

“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace.” We sinners need that peace. Left to ourselves, we will never have peace. But having been justified by faith, we have peace with God only through our Lord Jesus Christ (Ro. 5:1).

Because of the Lord’s Supper, you can join with Simeon and embrace, yes embrace, death. You can embrace death because you are joined with the One who conquered death. Where is death’s victory, where is death’s sting? It is gone because of the victory of Christ which He gives here to you.

Come, taste with your own mouth and see with your own eyes that the Lord is good (Ps. 34:8). Then depart in peace for your eyes have seen the salvation which the Lord has prepared before the face of all people. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit as it was in the beginning is now and shall be forever world without end. Amen.

May the peace of God which surpasses all understanding guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus now and to all eternity. Amen.

Listen here.

Matthew 4:12-25—Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. ¹³ And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, ¹⁴ so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

¹⁵ “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gen-
tiles—

¹⁶ the people dwelling in darkness
have seen a great light,

and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,
on them a light has dawned.”

¹⁷ From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

¹⁸ While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. ¹⁹ And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” ²⁰ Immediately they left their nets and followed him. ²¹ And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. ²² Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

²³ And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. ²⁴ So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them. ²⁵ And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

You have heard the saying, “It’s always darkest before the dawn,” but is it true? It often seems so. I graduated from seminary, but four months passed, and I still had not taken a call to a congregation. Needing to do something to help our dwindling bank balance, I traveled to Williston to work the potato harvest while Sarah and the kids stayed back in Minneapolis.

I woke up at about 4:00 AM to drive out to the farm where I would be staying. Once I was out of the city and in the country, it was pitch black. The loneliness of being away from family and the darkness of those pre-dawn moments mirrored how I felt – alone and without a job and without a prospect. However, after driving for about 15 minutes, a faint light started to break. The light grew quickly, and soon the sun creeped over the horizon and blasted my sleepy eyes. I couldn’t have gotten away from the blinding light even if I had wanted to.

I wish I could say that the quickness of that dawn inspired me. It didn’t. However, the darkness of being alone and unemployed did disappear as quickly and inescapably as the darkness of night. As I worked that potato harvest, I got a call from John to come and interview here at Christ the King.

The early church father, St. John Chrysostom, wrote, “For in truth the condition of men was at the worst before Christ’s coming.” The last two verses of Isaiah 8:[21-22], just prior to our Old Testament text which is also the portion quoted by Matthew, speak about the condition before Christ came, “They will pass through the land, greatly distressed and hungry. And when they are hungry, they will be enraged and will speak contemptuously against their king and their God, and turn their faces upward. And they will look to the earth, but behold, distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish. And they will be thrust into thick darkness.”

But then Christ comes. When He arrives, the people dwelling in the darkness and in the shadow of death are unable to escape the light which is dawning upon them. Jesus bursts over the horizon announcing, “Repent, for the reign of heaven is at hand.” The announcement that God is beginning to work banishes the darkness and causes the shadows to flee.

The light comes. Jesus, Christ the King, announces the end of the darkness. But His first actions are different than what we would expect of God when He comes to bring His reign to earth. Jesus goes fishing for fishermen. As the light of the reign of heaven dawned upon the first disciples, Jesus speaks, “Come after Me.”

Andrew and Peter, James and John have no option but follow the Light and do as the Light of the world commands – they come after Him. That word of Christ calling out, “Come after Me,” is so powerful that it confiscates the disciples. In this way, the light overcomes and overwhelms the darkness.

No matter how dark and large a room is, if a small match is lit, the light will be noticeable from anywhere in that room. So it is with Jesus’ message, “Repent, for the reign of heaven is at hand. Come after Me.” The message has grown brighter and brighter throughout the centuries of church history. New voices are proclaiming the same message given first to the disciples. Those disciples became the apostles who took Christ’s message entrusted to them into all nations. They baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They have taught us all that Christ has spoken. And Christ’s promise, “Lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age,” remains true.

I do not know what darkness surrounds you today. Maybe it is a darkness that has plagued you for decades, maybe the shadows of darkness are lengthening and just now creeping upon you. But whatever that darkness is, it is not stronger than the Light of Christ. Jesus is the true Light who gives light to everyone (Jn. 1:9). The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness does not and cannot overcome it (Jn. 1:5).

And even when it appeared that the darkness had fallen so thick and so black that even the apostles doubted, the Light shines again. Not even the death could extinguish the light that Jesus brings to this dark world.

Jesus is the light of the world who overcomes all darkness. His call to come after Him is for you, and you have no choice but to follow. To remain in the darkness is death and hell.

Jesus is not an accessory to make your life better or easier or more flashy. No. Jesus brings the reign of God to earth. Jesus has come and broken into this sinful world to reclaim and save it – He claims you through His Word and Sacraments. And Jesus will come again for the kingdom, the power, and the glory are His now and forever. Amen.

May the peace of God which surpasses all understanding guard your hearts and minds in Jesus Christ, now and forever. Amen.

Listen here.

John 1:29-42—The next day he [John the Baptizer] saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! ³⁰ This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ³¹ I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” ³² And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. ³³ I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ ³⁴ And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

³⁵ The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, ³⁶ and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” ³⁷ The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. ³⁸ Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” ³⁹ He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. ⁴⁰ One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. ⁴¹ He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). ⁴² He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).

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

Dear saints, you could contemplate the first words out of John the Baptizer’s mouth for the rest of your life, for the rest of eternity, and still not exhaust them. “Behold, Jesus, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world is Jesus.

We look around this world, and we find sin. We look at the news, and we find sin. We look at the internet and our Facebook pages, and we find sin. We look at our home life, and we find sin. We look at how we treat our families and friends, and we find sin. We look at our marriages, and we find sin. We look at how we raise our kids, and we find sin. We look at how we spend our time, and we find sin. We look inside ourselves, and we find sin.

Sin and evil and death are all around us. But wherever we find sin, we are to find Jesus.

Jesus is this Lamb who took upon Himself the sin of the whole world. But we refuse to believe this. We insist on taking this honor – yes, honor – away from Jesus. We think it is dishonorable for the holy Son of God to bear all the world’s sin. However, when we do this, we become even worse. We take hold of our sin that sin becomes even stronger. We try to justify ourselves and the sin we have committed. We hold up a shabby bit of improvement in whatever area of our lives even though we have ignored all the other ways in which we have sinned against God.

To show us our sin, God has given His law. God has told you how you should live. God has shown you what you should do and what you should not do. God has given His Commandments to show you what you are, and here is the verdict: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one. Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive. The venom of asps is under their lips. Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes” (Ro. 3:10-18).

God’s Law lays a heavy burden upon you. Your sin is at your throat. The Law has saddled you with your every failure. No amount of good works or pious living will lessen the load of your sin.

Like Isaac, you ascend the mountain with Abraham (Gen. 22:1-14). The wood of your sin is laid on your back, the fire of judgment is in hand, but there is no animal for the sacrifice. And so you ask your heavenly Father, “I see the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” You are bound, set upon the wood, and the knife rises over you.

But just as the knife comes down to kill, there is Jesus. You unexpectedly find the Sacrifice caught in the bush. You discover the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Jesus says to you, “You are no longer a sinner, but I am. I am your substitute. You have not sinned, but I have. The entire world is in sin. However, you are not in sin; but I am. All your sins are to rest on Me and not on you” (Luther). He is willing to become your servant, willing to be your sacrifice. Jesus was slaughtered, roasted on the cross, and eaten (Luther).

Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, is the Holy Thief. He takes what is not His, the sin of the world, and claims it all as His own.

Jesus sees the sin of the world, and He does not, He cannot, remain idle. Jesus confesses all the sin of the world before God, and God lays on Christ the iniquity of us all (Is. 53:6). The Lord strikes Jesus for those sins (Is. 53:8).

Brother and sister, do not doubt that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. This is the Gospel message. This is your salvation.

The Law says that sin lies upon you. But when you see sin surrounding you, overwhelming you, and engulfing you, remember Jesus says that your sin is His.

When Satan comes to accuse you, remember this. Tell him, “I admit that I deserve death and hell. What of it? Jesus says that He has taken those sins from me. Go talk to Christ about those sins; they are His now. The Lamb has stolen my sin.” Amen.

May the peace of God which surpasses all understanding guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Listen here.

Matthew 3:13-17—Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. ¹⁴ John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” ¹⁵ But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. ¹⁶ And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; ¹⁷ and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

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

Jesus keeps doing unexpected things. Last week, we saw the twelve-year-old Jesus in the Temple. Mary was upset that He had stayed behind in Jerusalem putting herself and Joseph through torture. Jesus responds, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my heavenly Father’s business.” With such a response, you would expect Jesus to leave Mary and Joseph behind, begin living on His own, and starting His ministry. Instead He does the unexpected. He returns to Nazareth and is submissive to Mary and Joseph.

Now in Mt. 3, we fast-forward to thirty-year-old Jesus. Maybe, He has matured to be more conventional and predictable, but no He continues to do the unexpected.

John has been preaching out in the wilderness, “Repent for the reign of heaven is at hand” (Mt. 3:2). All sorts of crowds were coming to John the Baptizer confessing their sins and being baptized. And John points the people away from himself and to Another, to Jesus.

John preaches, “I am baptizing you with water for repentance, but the One who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry; He Himself will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing shovel is in His hand, and He will cleanse His threshing floor and will gather His wheat into the barn, but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire” (Gibbs’ translation of Mt. 3:11-12). But what happens next is unexpected.

Jesus arrives in the wilderness. He comes to the banks of the river Jordan, the place where the sinners are coming in response to John’s preaching, “Repent.” Does Jesus come to baptize with the Holy Spirit? Does He come bringing with His winnowing shovel and that unquenchable fire? No. Instead, Jesus unexpectedly comes for the same reason all those sinners are coming – He comes to be baptized by John.

This is shocking because Matthew has told us that Jesus is the fulfillment of the prophecy, “’Behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel’ (which means, God with us)” (Mt. 1:22-23). The angel tells Joseph that the Child’s name shall be Jesus, “for He will save His people from their sins.”

This Jesus, Yahweh with us to save us from our sins, appears among sinners, and what does He do? It’s not what John expected, and it’s not what we would expect God to do either. Jesus stands side by side with sinners in order to be baptized.

John is appalled. John tries to prevent Jesus. “Hang on here Jesus, I am the one who needs to be baptized by You, yet You are the one coming to Me?”

John’s preaching was directed to sinners who needed to repent of their sins. The sinners needed to be baptized in order to enter into the community of God’s people. Why does Jesus come? Does Jesus need to repent? Does Jesus need to be converted? Does Jesus need to be brought back into the people of God? Of course not! And John knows all of this.

Jesus, in essence, tells John, “Allow it, let it be, for now, for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” What righteousness is Jesus talking about? Many places in the Old Testament, but especially Ps. 71 equates God’s righteous acts as the saving deeds of God. Ps 71:15 ¹⁵ My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day (also Ps. 71:2, 16, 19, 24). Jesus, the sinless Son of God, comes to be baptized for sinners to fulfill all righteousness because He is your Savior who bears your sins.

Jesus’ baptism works backwards compared to yours. In your baptism, your sins were washed away (Act. 22:16; Heb. 10:22). But Jesus’ baptism put your sins upon the Son of God. Jesus entered the waters of the Jordan which were filled with the sins of the people who had been baptized by John. Jesus took a bath in your dirty bath water. Jesus does the unexpected; He comes to you, sinner.

As sinners, we have this false conception that we need to move up because God cannot move down. We think that the separation caused by God’s holiness needs to be bridged by us. We think we need to clean up our act and get our life straightened out so we can come to God. But that will never work.

Covered in the slime of our sins, we will never be able to clean up enough. Filthy rags of works-righteousness don’t clean the piles of dung that are our sinful lives.

Jesus does the unexpected; He comes to you. Jesus choses to identify with sinners instead of with God. Jesus comes to us in the likeness of sinful flesh (Ro. 8:3). He does not count equality with God a thing to be grasped and empties Himself.

Jesus takes everything that has gone wrong with us – our sins – upon Himself. Jesus, the pure Son of God becomes the greatest sinner. He does this to fulfill all righteousness to bring salvation to you.

Jesus is the Servant of God described in our Old Testament text (Is. 42:1-9). Jesus brings justice to the nations without breaking a bruised reed or quenching a faintly burning wick. He will not be thwarted until He establishes justice on the earth. He comes to us sinners as a light. He opens our blind eyes; brings us prisoners out of the dungeon and the prison of darkness. Isaiah goes on to tell about this Servant of Yahweh: Though Jesus does no violence, God’s will is to crush Him. Jesus bears our iniquities to make us accounted righteous (Is. 53:9, 11).

As Jesus comes up from the sin-filled waters of the Jordan River, the heavens are opened, and the Spirit of God descends and rests upon Jesus. The voice of God speaks, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

God is certainly pleased with His Son, Jesus. But how can you know if God is pleased with you? Sinner, you stand naked before a holy God in all your sinful ugliness and He in all His perfect holiness with no buffer in between. It is not a pretty picture.

However, at the right hand of the Father, sits Jesus. Jesus doesn’t beat around the bush. He doesn’t give you a list of things to do to make your nakedness less appalling. Instead, Jesus looks down at the nail holes in His hands and feet and says to the Father and the Spirit, “This is what gives him holiness before Us. He is mine. In his baptism, he was with Me in My death. Therefore, He will never die again.” Amen.

May the peace of God which surpasses all understanding guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, now and forever. Amen.