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Mark 6:45-56

⁴⁵ Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. ⁴⁶ And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. ⁴⁷ And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. ⁴⁸ And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, ⁴⁹ but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, ⁵⁰ for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” ⁵¹ And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, ⁵² for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

⁵³ When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore. ⁵⁴ And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized him ⁵⁵ and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was. ⁵⁶ And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

God’s steadfast love endures forever. The goodness of God knows no limits. His steadfast love endures forever. His love and His mercy are endless. His steadfast love endures forever. The steadfast love of the Lord extends to the heavens. His steadfast love endures forever.  His faithfulness to the clouds. His steadfast love endures forever. His righteousness is like the mighty mountains. His steadfast love endures forever (Ps. 136, 36:5-6).

Today’s Psalm (136) makes that abundantly clear. If you don’t get it the first time, that Gospel refrain repeats in each of the 26 verses. In more places than Ps. 136, Scripture makes it very plain that the steadfast love of God endures forever. Scripture says it, and it is true. However, how often do we forget it?

When we have troubles, we question God’s love for us. When we face difficulty, we begin to search for some specific sin that maybe we forgot about and left unconfessed. When we feel the weight of this world pressing down upon us, we begin to wonder if God is so loving after all. We look at our lives that are filled with all sorts of pain and varying degrees of death, and we begin to doubt God’s goodness, mercy, and love.

Now, God’s goodness and mercy toward us doesn’t mean that our lives are perfect. Too often, we buy into the lie that Christianity is about having our best life now. We think that once Jesus is in our lives, everything is going to be peaches and cream. Because we believe these lies, we put on an act that everything is good and life is hunky-dory. The worst is when we believe that our story as Christians is that we are good people who are getting better every day. But that is not what Christianity is about.

Christianity is about bad people being told they have failed to be good. Christianity says, “You are a sinner. You deserve pain. You deserve punishment. You deserve God to stand there and watch as you perish with all the other sinners in the ditch of death.” That’s the Law. But Christianity also says that Jesus takes your place, and the place of all sinners. Christ took your pain and punishment and death. Christianity says that God leaves Jesus in the ditch of death right alongside of you and all sinners.

Because of God’s enduring, eternal steadfast love, God doesn’t just reach down into your pain, into your suffering, into your doubt, and into your death. Instead, God takes your very nature. He becomes flesh and blood, just like you, and Jesus enters into the midst of suffering and death with you and with all sinners.

Neither you nor anybody else can know what God thinks about you based on your experience in the past, present, or future. The only place that reveals what God thinks about you is the cross. The cross, where Jesus interceded for you. The cross, where Jesus steps in to the mess you and I have made of this world. The cross, where Jesus not just takes the brunt of God’s wrath, but drinks the cup of God’s wrath against your down the the dregs (Is. 51:22, Jn. 18:11). That is where you see God’s love. God fully reveals His enduring, eternal steadfast love in Jesus who comes into the midst of your suffering, conflict, and pain.

Today’s text picks up right where we left off last week. Jesus had brought the disciples to a to a place of suffering – to a desolate, desert place (Mk. 6:31-32, 35). The disciples didn’t think that the five loaves and two fish would be enough to feed the crowd. They think that Jesus has to remove the crowd from that place of suffering and desolation in order to provide for them. But Jesus reveals that because He is there, even in the midst of pain and desolation, that He can provide for His people. Because Jesus is there in the midst of pain, the five loaves and two fish became a banquet that filled the stomachs of the 5,000 men plus women and children. Not only that, but there were twelve baskets full of leftovers. Yes, because Jesus was there in the midst of suffering, there was more food left over than there was for the original meal.

Now, the disciples are separated from Jesus, and notice who causes that separation. Jesus sends them off in the boat while He dismisses the crowds. Jesus is the one who sends the disciples off in the boat and, eventually, into the storm to struggle against the wind and the waves without Him. But notice the disciples aren’t scared of the storm. They have been in this place before. They think that this trouble and turmoil that they are in is something they can deal with on their own. They have dealt with this type of trouble before, and they will do it again. So they are not scared of the wind and the waves. What scares them is Jesus showing up. Right there, in the midst of their troubles, is Man who is God. And they are terrified.

Jesus came to them in their hardship. The text says that Jesus “intended to pass by them.” This is the same language that is used when God “passed before” Moses and revealed His glory (Ex. 33:18-34:9). Remember how God places Moses in the cleft of the rock and defined His name, “Yahweh, a God merciful and gracious. Slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.” Well, here is Jesus was revealing His divine glory to the disciples. But seeing the divine in the midst of their troubles, knowing that God was present in the midst of their suffering, creates terror because their hearts were hardened and they did not understand the nature of Jesus even after the banquet earlier that day. Seeing Jesus’ reveal His divinity by walking on the water (see Job 9:8, Ps. 77:19, Is. 43:16) sends the disciples into a frenzied fear.

But Jesus doesn’t leave them in their fear. Instead, in His mercy, Jesus speaks to calm their terror, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid. Here I am with you in your suffering. Here I am delivering you with My words. Here I am to be with you. I am still your God. I am still in control of the situation.”

Jesus is here for you now, and He is with you in the midst of all your suffering and pain. You do not ever suffer alone. You do not die alone. There is Jesus right beside you, bringing you, safely through pain and death. Scripture does not teach that Jesus saves you from all suffering and death. God has never promised to do that. Rather, Scripture teaches that Jesus pulls you through all your suffering and death safely to the other side. So in the midst of your suffering don’t underestimate the goodness of God. Always remember that God would rather destroy His own Son than destroy you.

Christ will pull you through the mess you have made of your life, through the pain of this sinful world, through the death that you rightly deserve. He pulls you through all of that to the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. Amen.

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

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Mark 6:30-44

³⁰ The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. ³¹ And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.

³² And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. ³³ Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them.

³⁴ When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.

³⁵ And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. ³⁶ Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” ³⁷ But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” ³⁸ And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” ³⁹ Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. ⁴⁰ So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. ⁴¹ And taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. ⁴² And they all ate and were satisfied. ⁴³ And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. ⁴⁴ And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Jesus is going to take care of you. Everything that you need for this life and for the next, Jesus has, is, and will continue to provide. As I was preparing this sermon, I asked my wife the other day, “What does God care about more, your body or your soul?” She responded well, she said, “I think this is a trick question.” She said she wanted to answer that God cares about her soul more, but she knew that God cares for both. As her pastor, I was proud of her.

We are all tempted to think that God cares more about our soul than our body. But the God who created your soul also created your body. Jesus death on the cross saves you from your sins, but your sins don’t just effect your soul. They also destroy your body. But Jesus came to die on the cross for you – all of you, soul and body. And in this text today, we see Jesus proving that He cares about all of you – soul and body.

The disciples needed a break. Jesus had sent (lit. ‘apostled’) them with authority over unclean spirits. In the power of Jesus, they preach Jesus’ message of repentance and faith. They cast out many demons and healed many who were sick. Now, they are back excitedly telling Jesus everything they had done and taught. Jesus decides that it is time for them to have a break. Jesus says that He is going to make them rest,  “You guys have been working so hard lately, you haven’t even had time to eat. Come away by yourselves to a desert place and rest a while.” Time for a vacay!

Jesus and the disciples hop into the boat and head to their hot, sandy getaway. However, the people noticed. The frenzied fans see where they are going and leg it to the same place. By the time Jesus and the disciples arrive, the red carpet is ready to receive them. You can imagine the disciples’ disappointment. Their vacation in desolation has been ruined. But notice Jesus’ response. He steps out of the boat, sees the crowd, and has gut-wrenching compassion on them. These crowds were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Jesus, God-in-the-flesh, sees this pitiful crowd and doesn’t tell them to wait. He doesn’t dismiss them even for a measly hour while He and the disciples grab a bite. Instead, He immediately begins to teach them. He feeds their souls.

To every person in that crowd, Jesus gave exactly what was needed. Whether they had problems with their marriage, fights with their kids, struggles to make ends meet, death in the family, or fear of what the future might hold, Jesus knew their need. He taught them, and His words fed their souls. When Jesus teaches, He isn’t merely giving facts, not just describing God, not giving steps to a better life, a better marriage, or better relationships with others. Instead, when Jesus teaches, He gives the words of life. In other words, when Jesus teaches the Word of God, He gives Himself. Jesus gives the Law to expose sin for what it is, and He gives the Gospel – the full and complete release of sin. Jesus steps in as Shepherd, and the lost sheep are made into a flock. But Jesus still isn’t done. He is going to take care of their bodies too.

The day is coming to a close, and the disciples are impatient. All that stuff that Jesus had said about getting away has been interrupted. So they say to Jesus, “Hey Jesus, we’re here in this desert. Do You remember why You had us come here? Send the people away. It’s getting late, and this crowd needs to go get something to eat. Tell the people to go and get some food for themselves.”

Recognize that Jesus is going to feed this crowd no matter what. Even if Jesus had sent the crowd away to spend their hard-earned money on food, He still would have been providing for them. The food they could have bought in the markets came from bakers who get their ingredients from farmers whose crops grew because of God’s gracious provision. The fish in that market were brought there by fishermen who caught those fish from the sea that God sustains. Everyone’s food comes from God.

Jesus will feed you today too. Your food doesn’t come from the fridge or the waitress. Your food doesn’t even come from the grocery store or the farm. Your food finally and ultimately comes from God. But God is happy to use middle-men to provide the needs of your body.

Jesus will feed this crowd no matter what. But here He decides cut out the middle man. Jesus commands the crowd to sit down in the green grass. Hear that echo of Ps. 23, Jesus, the Good Shepherd, makes them “lie down in green pastures.” Even though Jesus, the disciples, and the crowd are in a desert place, there is green grass. Don’t miss that part of the miracle. Jesus gives thanks, maybe from Ps. 145:15-16, “The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in due season. You open Your hand; You satisfy the desire of every living thing.” Jesus hands the bread and fish out to the disciples who, in turn, serve that crowd of 5,000 men plus women and children. They feast. There in the desert wilderness is a banquet prepared by Jesus Himself. He is their shepherd, and they do not lack anything good. And neither do you.

The God who daily provides abundantly for all the needs of your life also provides for all the needs of your soul. God gives you everything you need for this life and the next. He provides for all your bodily needs as well as for all your soul’s needs.

Yahweh is your Shepherd. You lack nothing. He makes you lie down in green pastures. He leads you beside still waters. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, He restores your soul. He leads you in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even as you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, you fear no evil because you are already delivered from death. God is with you. His rod and staff comfort you. Even in the midst of your enemies, He prepares a banqueting table before you. He anoints your head with oil, and your cup overflows. God’s goodness and mercy pursue you all the days of your life. And because Christ’s death is your death and His resurrection is your resurrection, you will dwell in His house forever. Amen.

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

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Mark 6:14-29

¹⁴ King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” ¹⁵ But others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” ¹⁶ But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”

¹⁷ For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her. ¹⁸ For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” ¹⁹ And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, ²⁰ for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.

²¹ But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. ²² For when Herodias’s daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” ²³ And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” ²⁴ And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” ²⁵ And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” ²⁶ And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. ²⁷ And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison ²⁸ and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. ²⁹ When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Herod the Tetrach doesn’t really know what to think. He is hearing reports about this Jesus fellow. The man is wandering the countryside preaching, “The time is fulfilled, and the reign of God is at hand. Repent and believe the gospel.” This Jesus is wandering through the country, casting out demons, healing the sick, calming the storms, even raising the dead. This dude is now sending others out to the towns and villages to do the same thing. Many come to the conclusion that John the Baptizer was raised from the dead with divine, miraculous powers. Herod is worried. He believes with dismay, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”

Herod had had an interesting relationship with John. Herod knew that John was a righteous and holy man. But his new wife, well, she had a grudge against John. Here’s the situation:

Herod the Great, the ruler when Jesus was born, the one who had all the infant boys in Bethlehem under age two killed, had several sons. One of those sons was named Phillip. Phillip was Herodias’s husband. Herodias was Herod the Great’s granddaughter. In other words, Herodias married her uncle Phillip. The Herod of our text was another one of Herod the Great’s sons and the half-brother of Phillip. This Herod convinced Herodias to divorce Phillip and marry him. To do so, Herod had to divorce his wife. Herodias didn’t like the fact that John the Baptizer told them that this wasn’t exactly kosher. So, Herodias convinced Herod, her second uncle-husband, to arrest John. But it seems that Herod was keeping John safe from death. He even liked to talk with John even though he didn’t quite understand him.

But there was that fateful night of Herod’s birthday bash. Herod had invited all his noblemen and commanders came to his birthday party, and things got a little out of hand. Too much drinking, and maybe a few too many drugs were passed around. However it happened, Herod called in Herodias’s daughter. (If you are keeping track, this girl would have been Herod’s great-niece according to his father, niece according to his brother, and stepdaughter according to his wife.) He had her brought into this all male party. Now, women were not allowed at parties like this (notice she has to leave the party to talk to her mother). The only women at this type of party were a particular type of woman. Now, some legalists will use this text as proof that dancing in and of itself is sinful. But this was not some normal wedding reception or prom dance. This was the type of dance that would happen at a particular place with a pole and a lot of dollar bills. This dance “pleased” Herod and his guests. That most likely means they were more than they were just entertained – in all likelihood, they were “satisfied.”

So Herod, this intoxicated idiot, offers her whatever she wishes up to half his kingdom. The girl goes out to talk to her mother, and her mother suggests asking for the head of John the Baptizer. But this girl adds a sadistic little twist of her own. It is a dinner party after all. So she tells Herod to give her the head of John on a platter. Herod was more worried about keeping up appearances with his guests than doing the right, honorable thing. So he sends the executioner to John’s cell. And John becomes a head shorter.

This story is so despicable, so disgusting, what are we to do with it?

Remember that Herod didn’t know who this Jesus was. His seared conscience led him to believe that the man who had been preaching against him and his wife was raised from the dead. Herod couldn’t erase that night out of his head. He was worried because he didn’t want to hear any more sermons calling him to repent, especially after this little incident.

But you know who Jesus really is. He isn’t John the Baptizer raised from the dead. He is the Savior of the world. Yes, even the Savior of Herod. Jesus died for Herod’s sick, twisted immorality just as He died for all your sick, twisted, and wicked ways as well. Jesus has come to save sinners – even ones as bad as us here at Christ the King. We know, deep down we know, that we are no better than Herod. And so we are here, gathered together in Jesus’ name, to find shelter in the blood that Christ shed for all our sins.

Jesus’ blood has washed you clean in your baptism. Jesus gives you the new birth that you need. No sin is so great that it escapes Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Hear that again. No sin is too big to escape Jesus’ forgiveness. Not one sin has been missed by His blood. So, don’t hold any of your sins outside of Jesus’ forgiveness. If you do, you have to atone for it yourself, and you never will be able to. Instead, Jesus, the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, now owns your sin. He dumped all your sin into the black hole of His empty tomb.

You can live knowing that there are worse things than being maligned for believing the Scriptures. There are worse things than being called “old fashioned” and “backwards” for opposing what the world wants to define as “normal.” There are even worse things than having your head lopped off. The worst thing of all is unbelief. Unbelief will cause you to imagine that, somehow, your sin escapes the all-encompassing grace and mercy of God which is found in the cross and empty tomb of Jesus. Holding on to your sin will buy you a one-way ticket straight to hell.

Confess Jesus as your Savior, and let the world do what it will do. Confess Jesus as your Savior, and let the world say what it will say. Confess Jesus as your Savior, and come what may. As the Epistle text said (Eph. 1:3-14), you have been chosen by God from before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless. You are God’s own beloved child. You have heard the Scriptures, the Word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. You have been sealed with the Holy Spirit who is the guarantee of your inheritance until you acquire possession of it. Amen.

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

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Genesis 3:8-15

⁸ And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. ⁹ But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” ¹⁰ And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” ¹¹ He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” ¹² The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” ¹³ Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

¹⁴ The Lord God said to the serpent,

“Because you have done this,
cursed are you above all livestock
and above all beasts of the field;

on your belly you shall go,
and dust you shall eat
all the days of your life.

¹⁵    I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring;

he shall bruise your head,
and you shall bruise his heel.”

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Sin entered the world. God’s good creation fell. Satan spewed his poison. Eve drank it in with her ears. She stretched out her hand and took the forbidden fruit. She put it in her mouth and ate. Eve gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. The fruit looked good and tasted good. But once the fruit was in their bellies, once the sin was in the past, all hell broke loose. They knew their shame. They tried to cover themselves. They acted stupidly.

All sin is like this. Sin looks wise and promises to make you more, make you complete. When you sin, it feels good and you are not afraid. You feel nice and right. While you are sinning, you block out any notion that you are acting contrary to God’s will – otherwise you wouldn’t be doing it. But once the sin is done, things change. You feel guilt. Your eyes are opened, and you fear. You fear others because you know your shame, and you try to cover yourself and your sin. But worst, you fear God and flee from God because you know you deserve punishment. But where can you flee from God? Running from God is stupid. Sin makes you stupid. Watch how stupid.

First, Adam and Eve attempt the impossible. They try to avoid their Creator. They try to hide themselves in the dumbest place – behind leaves and trees. Adam and Eve could have buried themselves under the mountains and God still would have found them. Adam and Eve have been caught, but they still try to flee. God shows up. The leaves haven’t worked. Their little aprons blow away. “The Lord God called to the man and said to him, ‘Where are you?’”

Adam answers, “I heard your voice and I was afraid because I was naked, and I hid myself.” Sin has destroyed Adam’s logic. He was afraid at God’s voice? Adam had heard God speak before. God had told Adam to name the animals; told him to eat of the all the plants and trees; told him to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth. God’s voice never scared Adam before. But Adam says he was afraid of God now because he is naked – even though he had always been naked. Adam’s nakedness was God’s creation and was not shameful before. But Adam has become a different person. He is making up lies to excuse his sin. But all of his excuses simply show his guilt.

God asks, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree which I commanded you not to eat?” God is giving Adam another chance. God is basically saying, “My voice didn’t scare you. And you haven’t been ashamed of your nakedness before. Are you frightened by Me because you ate from the forbidden tree?”

So, Adam is caught. His guilt is out in the open. With his own excuses, Adam has revealed himself to be the sinner he now is. His stupidity is out in the open, but rather than repent, he acts even more stupidly. “The woman. It was her fault. She gave me the fruit, and I ate. And You gave that woman to me. So God, it really is Your fault. I sinned because of You, God.” He simply won’t repent. Adam won’t say, “Yes, God. I sinned. Forgive me, and be merciful to me.” Instead, Adam tries to justify his sin. Instead of running back to God, he keeps trying to flee from God. And Eve does no better. She responds to God, “The serpent, that You allowed to wander around the garden, he deceived me, and I ate. So God, it’s all Your fault.”

Sin makes us stupid. The last step of sin is to insult God and say that sin is God’s fault. We sinners should fear God’s punishment. But God is slow to punish sin, and this text proves it. God could have simply erased all of creation with a simple word. Instead, God seeks out the sinners. God was repeatedly giving Adam and Eve a chance to repent, but both Adam and Eve refused. This text reveals how sinners react toward God – they run and flee and accuse even God. But this text also reveals how God reacts toward sinners – He is patient, merciful, and gracious.

Before He says anything more to Adam and Eve, God curses the serpent. And in cursing the serpent, God preaches the first Gospel to stupid, guilty sinners. God promises that an offspring (lit. ‘seed’) would come from the woman who would crush Satan’s head. After millennia, God’s promise came. Jesus was born. Satan pursued Him through Herod, and  Jesus had to be kept safe in Egypt. Satan pursued Jesus into the wilderness where he tempted Christ just as he tempted Adam and Eve. But Jesus prevailed.

Jesus went on the offensive. Jesus bound Satan and expelled demons wherever He encountered them. Jesus forgave sins. He battled against sickness and death. In a last ditch effort, Satan used one of Jesus’ own disciples to betray Him. The devil used a sham of a court proceeding to condemn Him. With all of his might, the serpent lashed out at Jesus, put Him on a cross, and Jesus died. But through that wound inflicted by Satan, Satan’s head was crushed. The devil was utterly defeated and vanquished forever. Jesus rose from the dead and lives and reigns to all eternity.

Whatever sins you have committed, stop trying to excuse them. Stop trying to flee from God. Don’t be stupid. Instead, flee to God. God is seeking you out and saying, “Where are you?” Repent. Confess your sins. God is here with forgiveness. Jesus gives His body and blood for you. He enters your body to forgive your sins and cleanse you from all unrighteousness. Take and eat the body of Christ which was broken for you and makes you whole. Take and drink the blood of Jesus shed for the forgiveness of your sins. Here is God looking for you. Here is God seeking to restore you. Here is life. Here is rest. Amen.

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

Listen here.

Isaiah 6:1-8

¹ In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. ² Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. ³ And one called to another and said:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory!”

⁴ And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. ⁵ And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”

⁶ Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. ⁷ And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.”

⁸ And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
We can invent all sorts of excuses for sin. The dog ate my homework. He hit me first. I didn’t see the speed limit change back there. I just thought you should know. I didn’t think you’d find out. Everyone else is doing it. The devil made me do it. I didn’t do it. When all the evidence points to us being guilty, we try to find a way around it. We try to hide the evidence. We try to discredit the accusations. We try to hide the sin. We try to hide ourselves because we know we are guilty. We know we are unclean.

But you cannot hide from God. The God who is holy, holy, holy is inescapable. You cannot block His calls or flee His jurisdiction. The whole earth is full of His awesome and terrifying glory. You cannot dodge God the Father. He created the universe. He knows every step you take, every molecule you breathe, every thought you think. You cannot hide from God the Son. He is coming on the clouds and every eye will see Him. Jesus’ blood has stained your hands and my hands, and it cannot be washed off. You cannot elude God the Holy Spirit. He has come to convict the world concerning sin and judgment. And the Spirit will knock down any barrier you set up to avoid Him.

Isaiah experienced this when he stood in the presence of God. As Isaiah saw the Lord sitting high upon the throne, as he gazed at the train of God’s royal robe filling the temple, as he watched the flaming seraphim with their six wings, as he heard the chorus, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts,” as he felt the foundations of the thresholds shake, as his nostrils were filled with smoke, his excuses became invalid. All evidence pointed to Isaiah being a guilty man. Isaiah knew his guilt. He knew that all his alibis and excuses would not clear him of his damned lips. The presence of God was not a comfort – it was a terror he could not escape. All that was left for Isaiah to do was to cry out, “Woe is me! For I am lost. I am undone. I am unmade.”

Today, you have come into this sanctuary and into presence of the holy, holy, holy Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And, no, you didn’t see a vision of God high and lifted up. You can’t see flaming seraphim. You don’t feel the foundations of the thresholds shake. But God is here. Today’s Psalm (29) spoke about it. The glory, majesty, strength, and splendor of God’s holiness fills this place. God sits enthroned forever. His voice flashes forth flames of fire. The Word of God strips the forests bare. And we here in this sanctuary have cried, “Glory!” And the glory of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is a terrifying thing for you and I who are sinners.

The glory and holiness of God sheds light upon our sin. All alibis and excuses are revealed to be utter nonsense. We stand before God with unclean lips. We stand before God with defiled hands. We stand before God with depraved hearts and minds. We stand before the holy, holy, holy God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And our sin has made Him our enemy.

So what is left for us to do? All our avenues of escape are cut off. All our excuses are gone, and all our alibis have failed. Where can we flee? Like Isaiah, we flee from God by running to God. Why would we do that?

Flee from God to God because of what He has said. In our Gospel lesson (Jn. 3:1-17), Jesus said, “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” Flee to God because God the Father who created you, doesn’t throw you away because you are a sinner. God formed you to be His own child. He created you to love you and to share with you all of His good things. So the Father sent God the Son. Jesus was sent to live a holy life free of sin. He lived this perfect life for you. And Jesus died for you. He was pierced for you. His body was broken for you. His blood was shed to cover you. On the cross, Jesus bled out your forgiveness and pardon and life, and He proclaimed that you are innocent. And God the Son handed this innocent verdict to the Holy Spirit. God the Holy Spirit comforts you with the Word of God which declares that because of Jesus you are innocent, righteous, sanctified, and holy.

How can you know this is true for you? Isaiah had a seraph come to him with a burning coal to touch his lips. But God hasn’t purified you with fire. Instead, He has made you pure with water. In your baptism, God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit has washed away your sins. In the waters of your baptism, the holy blood of Jesus covered you and made you holy. In the waters of your baptism, all evidence of your sin was washed away in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In your baptism, you were given the right to no longer fear the holiness of God.

And God continues to remind you of your baptism. God has sent this minister to declare to you that your sin is atoned for. Like the seraphim who had to cover themselves, this minister doesn’t have the right to be in the presence of God either. But God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit has sent me – a forgiven sinner – to forgive your sins in the stead and by the command of Christ. And God continues to feed you and your faith. He gives you the very body of Christ to enter your body. He gives you the blood of Christ poured over your lips and coursing through your veins.

You do not have to run anymore. When the glory, majesty, and holiness of God is present, you can stand there and know that you belong there because God has made you worthy. When God comes you can know that there is your Father, your Brother, and your Comforter. You don’t have to make up excuses. You have the right to forget that your fear of God ever existed. Now, in the glory and majesty and holiness of God, all evidence of your sin is gone. You stand holy and righteous in the presence of the God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

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

Listen here.

Ezekiel 37:1-14

¹ The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. ² And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry. ³ And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” ⁴ Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the  word of the Lord. ⁵ Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. ⁶ And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord.”

⁷ So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a sound, and behold, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. ⁸ And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them. But there was no breath in them. ⁹ Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” ¹⁰ So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.

¹¹ Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.’ ¹² Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel. ¹³ And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. ¹⁴ And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the Lord.”

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Femurs, tibias, and fibulas. Humeri, radiuses, and ulnas. Carpals, metacarpals, tarsals, metatarsals, and phalanges. Pelvises, ribs, sternums, and skulls. The valley was full of them – many of them. And they were dry – very dry. Frozen in death, the bones cried out, “Our bones are dried up and our hope is lost. We are indeed cut off.” Dead. Dry. No resources, no motivation, no plan, no hope. Only despair.

Surrounded by the dead, dry, and dusty skeletons, Ezekiel must have asked God, “Why have You brought me to this defiled valley? Where did all these dry bones come from? What happened here and why?” But one question rose above his own. In the presence of all that decay and deadness, the most haunting question comes from God Himself, “Son of man, can these bones live?”

If you have seen the movie, The Princess Bride, you will remember Miracle Max talking about different categories of deadness. Miracle Max was able to revive “mostly dead” Wesley, but he said there is only one thing you can do when someone is all dead – go through their pockets for loose change.

God asks, “Son of man, can these bones live?” Well, God had raised the widow’s son through the prophet Elijah. But he was “recently dead.” These bones before Ezekiel were really dead, hopelessly dead. “Son of man, can these bones live? Is there still hope for even these bones?”

“O, Yahweh God, You know.”

“Preach over the bones. Tell those bones to hear the word of Yahweh.”

Preach to bones? This would not be a sermon to a sleeping congregation. This worse than Isaiah’s call to preach to people who had ears but could not hear. This goes beyond any of that. Preach to a bunch of empty, hollow skulls. What if they don’t listen? This congregation is hopeless.

“Preach over the bones. Tell them, ‘Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will join your bones with sinews and ligaments. I will put muscle over your bones. I will fill your torso with organs. I will cause blood to flow through your veins. I will cover you with flesh and skin. I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. And you shall know that I am the Lord.”

Ezekiel preaches. As that sermon echoed through that dead, dry valley, the Word of God came to those dry bones. The bones were changed through that Word. A loud sound, a rattling fills the valley. Before Ezekiel is a bunch of perfectly formed yet lifeless bodies. “Well God, it kinda worked.”

Yahweh says, “I’m not done, keep preaching. Prophesy to the breath (A quick side note, ‘spirit,’ ‘wind’ and ‘breath’ are all the same Hebrew word in this text); prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” Ezekiel preaches as God tells him, and the breath, the spirit, came into them. They lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.

Life comes to the valley of bones. Out of despair and hopelessness comes a fighting force. Strange event. Strange sermon. Strange congregation. But as odd and peculiar as this passage from Ezekiel is, it is  not unique. In fact, you essentially heard the same story twice today.

In our text from Acts [2:1-21], the day of Pentecost arrived. People from every tribe, language, and nation were visiting Jerusalem. They came together when they heard the sound of the coming of the Holy Spirit. They all stood there as people who were alive with bones, sinews, organs, muscles, skin, and flesh. But there was no Spirit within them. But as the apostles spoke in other languages, the living dead heard the mighty acts of God in their native tongues. And the Holy Spirit gave Peter a sermon to preach. He preached to those people who lived but were dead. Each of them heard in their own language of the death and resurrection of Christ. The end result that day was that more than 3,000 souls were added to the number of God’s army.

But God still isn’t done. There are still more dead to raise. There are more soldiers to be added to God’s army. God still has more sermons to preach to the dead so they can be raised to life.

You and I are dead in our trespasses and sins. We have dead hands that have clicked on images and videos that fill our skulls with death. Those dead hands have neglected to help our neighbors when possible.  We have dead jawbones that have been used to speak gossip and lies about others. We have dead feet that have brought us to places we should not have gone. We have dead hearts that coldly withhold love and forgiveness.

Yet, here is God once again. He has sent a preacher with nothing but a sermon. Let me tell you something, this preacher often wonders if a sermon is able to bring life out of death. A preacher who, when asked if these bones can live, has no answer but, “O Lord God, You know.”

Yet, as the Word of God is proclaimed here in this valley of death, the Spirit of God is at work to create. The Word of God is always creative. The Word carries with it the power to call into existence that which does not exist.

So hear again, you bones, the Word of God. Your Savior has atoned for your sin. Christ Jesus has passed from death to life. Through God’s Word, He breathes on you today. His breath is His life-giving Spirit. By your own reason and strength, you cannot believe in Jesus Christ, your Lord. But the Holy Spirit is here now calling you through the Gospel, enlightening you with His gifts, and sanctifying and preserving you in the one true faith. He daily forgives abundantly all your sins. And at the last day, He will raise up you and all the dead and will grant everlasting life to you and to all who believe in Christ. This is most certainly true. Amen.

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

Listen here.

John 17:11-19

¹¹ “And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. ¹² While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. ¹³ But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. ¹⁴ I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁵ I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. ¹⁶ They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁷ Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. ¹⁸ As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. ¹⁹ And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.”

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Make a list of the most important days in the Church. You probably start with Christmas Good Friday, and Easter, of course. Maundy Thursday might come next. Throw Pentecost in there too. But then what? Tap your pencil on your notepad a few of times, and scratch your head. Think through the Apostle’s Creed. You confess that Jesus was “born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. On the third day, He rose again from the dead.” Well, you’ve hit all those, and Pentecost comes up when you get to the Third Article, “I believe in the Holy Spirit.” But notice that your list has skipped over the Ascension. “[Jesus] ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.”

The Ascension is easy to miss as an important day in the Church year because it occurs f Jorty days after Easter and always falls on a Thursday. I will admit that the celebration of the Ascension wasn’t on my radar until the last few of years, but that was my loss. I hope, after today, the last scene of Jesus’ ministry recorded in the Scriptures will rise in importance for you because the Ascension is an amazing but fitting end to Jesus first visit to earth.

The New Testament shows us an odd Savior – an other-worldly Savior. If Jesus were a lifeguard, the story would go something like this: A lifeguard, sitting up in his stand sees a body floating lifeless in the surf. He jumps off his stand and quickly swims out to the victim. But instead of rescuing the person and swimming back to the shore, he drowns. Three days later, the lifeguard rises from the dead and proclaims that everything – including the now-buried, drowned victim – is hunky-dory. Forty days later, the lifeguard disappears.[1] If you don’t like that, I’m sorry. It doesn’t make sense to me either. But it is the Jesus we have been given.

All of Jesus’ ministry makes no worldly sense at all. The Savior of the world is born to a peasant, teenage virgin, raised as a carpenter, baptized in the sin-filled waters of the Jordan, tempted by the devil, and rejected by the religious people of His day. Jesus is condemned under a provincial Roman governor, nailed to a piece of wood. He is deader than dead and buried in a tomb. But then, after three days, He rises again from the dead. Jesus appears for forty days to His disciples to prove that He is truly risen from the dead. But resurrected Jesus doesn’t stay around. He does not go on a publicity tour appearing on Meet the Press, The Tonight Show, and Oprah. Instead, Jesus ascends into heaven, where He now sits at the right hand of God. A strange, other-worldly ministry to save you and make you an other-worldly people.

As strange and other-worldly as it is, Jesus’ ascension does not mean that Jesus is absent from us. To say that would contradict Jesus. “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Mt. 28:18-20). The Ascension means that Jesus is with us even more powerfully now than when people could physically see Him.

Risen Jesus is now at the right hand of God the Father. God’s right hand is not a particular place that we can think of. Instead, it is representative of the whole power of the omnipotent God. Jesus is where all God’s power and authority is, and He promises that He is with you. He is with you always. And He is with you even to the end of the age. Because He is going to the Father, Jesus prays this prayer, He speaks these things, for you so that you may have His joy fulfilled in you – even while you live as an alien in this sin-filled, hostile world.

This prayer of Jesus is for your encouragement. Jesus prays, “I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name.” Because of your sin, you are prone to wonder and stray from God. But you are kept in God’s name by the Word Jesus has given you. Jesus prays that you would be sanctified, made holy, in God’s truth. God’s Word is truth which has made and continues to make you holy. Once you were in darkness but now you are in Christ, the light of the world. Once you were not a people, now you are a people holy and blameless in the sight of the Lord. Your old has passed away and the forgiveness of Jesus has made you new. All of this is pure gift, a gift given you when you were baptized into the triune name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

And the world hates you because of it. Yet, Jesus does not ask the Father to take you out of the world but that you would be kept safe from the evil one. The devil and the world hate you and attack you because you are alien and holy. The devil and the world want to destroy you and your faith which makes you holy. Sin has corrupted this world, and even your presence makes the world hate you because you have been made holy. Holiness reminds the world of their sinfulness. The world doesn’t like that, so the world is going to persecute you. Persecution is coming and it is here. We should not be surprised when we meet it.

Brothers and sisters, Jesus says we are in the world, but we are not of the world – an important distinction. Jesus does not call you to change the world. The only thing that can change this world is Christ’s death and resurrection which has already redeemed us and all of creation. But that doesn’t mean that we can just sit back and relax either. We must speak out against sin. But even more importantly, we must announce the forgiveness that Jesus’ death and resurrection has won. We are kept in this world to be evidence of God’s forgiveness. Our lives are witness to the grace and mercy we have received in Christ. The Word which makes us holy is the Word of forgiveness that we are left in this world to proclaim.

And through all of this, Jesus asks the Father that you be kept in the world safe from the evil one. And you will be kept safe. You are Christ’s holy aliens left here to do holy work. Amen.

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.

[1] Illustration from R. F. Capon.

Listen here.

John 15:9-17

⁹ “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. ¹¹ These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. ¹² “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command you. ¹⁵ No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. ¹⁶ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. ¹⁷ These things I command you, so that you will love one another.”

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Husbands, when was the last time you told your bride, “You are my wife, if you keep the house spotless, have supper ready at 6:00, and let me go fishing on Mother’s Day”? Wives, when was the last time you told your groom, “You are my husband, if you let me go shopping every day, send me for weekly spa treatments, and do everything I tell you”? Parents, when was the last time you told your children, “You are my kids, if you make your bed every morning, keep your room clean, and do your homework on your own”? Hopefully, the answer is, “Never. I’d never say something like that to my spouse or kids.” If you have, let me know after the service. We’ll set up a time for private confession and absolution.

Jesus’ words in v. 13, are well-known, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” But did you catch what Jesus said In v. 14? “You are my friends, if you do what I command you.” If anyone besides Jesus ever said this to us, we would ask, “How petty can you be? What kind of friendship is that?”

Last year, one of my children (who shall remain nameless so I don’t have to pay her for using this illustration), this child had a lot of ”girl drama” in her four-year-old preschool class. The girls in the class would get on each other’s nerves one way or another, and the constant threat was, “If you keep doing [whatever],” or, “If you don’t do [whatever], I won’t invite you to my birthday party.” Many tears were shed at our house over all hostage parties. But I am sure my child was not innocent either.

“You are My friends, if you do what I command you.” Those words should be enough to scare us straight. Jesus – the Man who can cast out demons, heal diseases, feed the hungry, and raise the dead – He’s a good friend to have. And He only gives one command, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” You would think we would trip over ourselves to obey Him. “Sure Jesus, whatever You say, I’ll do it. You want me to love others, I’ll do that. I will obey Your command so that I can be Your friend.” And yet, we don’t obey Jesus. We do not love one another.

The disciples didn’t either. Remember, Jesus is speaking these words to the disciples just moments before He is betrayed and delivered to be crucified. The disciples did a poor job of loving Jesus that night. They did not stay awake and watch with Jesus even one hour as He prayed. The disciples all fled, abandoning Jesus when He was arrested. When a little servant girl asked Peter if he was one of Jesus’ disciples, he denied it three times.

Did that cause Jesus to wipe His hands of the disciples? Did Jesus refuse to go to the cross for those unloving, faithless disciples? No! Jesus knew all of this would happen. In fact, moments before Jesus spoke these words of our text, He told the disciples they would all fall away (Mt. 26:31).

Moments before the disciples’ greatest failure, Jesus says to them, “I have called you friends.” Some friends they proved to be. Their friendship failed Jesus, and they fell away. But Jesus loved the disciples. He called them friends. He laid His life down for them, and He lays down His life for you because He loves you. And Jesus makes sure He puts this love in the proper order, “As the Father has loved Me, so I have loved you. Abide in My love.”

With these words, Jesus is calling both the disciples and us to faith. These verses are all about faith, even though Jesus doesn’t say the word ‘faith’ a single time. We hear Jesus talking about commandments, and our sinful minds can only think about all the, “Thou shalt,” and, “Thou shalt not’s.” But all God’s commands are first eternal truths that must be believed.

Actions are the fruit of belief. We first must believe God’s word in His commandments before we can obey. Adam and Eve failed to believe God when He said, “In the day you eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you will surely die.” It was their unbelief that resulted in the action of eating.

When God created Adam and Eve, He said that they were good and needed nothing more to be complete. But Satan told them that they could be something more, something better – they could be like God. They believed Satan rather than God. They took from the tree and ate. They did become something more. After they ate, they knew what evil was, but it was not better.

Look at all the wonderful things Jesus says to you. He says, “Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. As the Father has loved Me, so I have loved you. Abide in My love. Remain connected to me, connected to My love and My promises.”

“Abide in My love.” Jesus does not say, “Work really hard, do everything I command you. Then and only then will you earn My love.” Jesus says we are already in His love. He is the vine; you are the branches. But we do not believe Him. We think that we have to do all sorts of things to earn the love of God. We think that God’s love of us is contingent on our actions.

God’s love for us is not contingent upon our actions. Jesus has already laid down His life for you. Because He was crucified for you, you know that He loves you. He loved you while you were still His enemy. While you were a sinner, Christ died for you (Ro. 5:8). Jesus commands you to do nothing more than believe that His death is for you. Jesus commands you to do nothing more than abide in His love.

When our epistle text (1 Jn. 5:1-8) says that God’s commands are not burdensome, it is true. All of God’s commands are simply to believe what is He says is true.

So believe Jesus when He says that you are His friends, even when you don’t see yourself being especially friendly to Jesus. Believe Jesus when He tells you that already you are clean because of the word that He has spoken to you because God’s word always creates what it says. Believe Jesus when He tells you that He loves you as the Father loves Him because it is true. Believe Jesus when He tells you that you did not chose Him, but that He chose you and appointed you to bear fruit, fruit that would abide.

All these things Jesus has spoken. He has promised and you can believe. That faith will result in the fruit of love for one another because it is the natural fruit of abiding in His love. Amen.

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.

Listen here.

John 15:1-8

¹ “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. ² Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. ³ Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. ⁴ Abide in me, and I am in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. ⁵ I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. ⁷ If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Vines, vines, vines all over the place. Scripture is literally crawling with vines. Jesus is making a big statement in these verses – calling Himself the “true vine.” So we’re going to take a little time  to see how God speaks about His vine in the Old Testament.

First, Psalm 80:8-18 talks about the people of Israel as a vine. This vine was brought out of Egypt, and God drove out the pagan people to plant it. The vine took deep root in the ground and filled the land. Isaiah 5:1-7 picks up the imagery and talks about the vine. God planted Israel on a very fertile hill. God cleared the ground of stones and put a watchtower to guard it. But when God looked for His vine to yield grapes, it produced a bunch of wild, garbage grapes.

So you have this picture of Israel being a choice vine, planted in the perfect place. But they did not produce fruit like they should. God says that He was looking for the fruit of justice, but found bloodshed. He looked for the fruit of righteousness, but there was an outcry (Is. 5:7). So God destroys the vineyard. The vine is reduced to a stump. God breaks down the walls of protection, allows thorns and briers grow up, and commands that the clouds do not send rain upon the vineyard.

But later in Isaiah 11:1, God promised that a shoot would come from that stump. And in Isaiah 53:2, God said that His servant would grow up like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground.

So when Jesus says, “I am the true vine” He is saying that He is the fulfillment of what Israel failed to be. Jesus is the vine who grows where nothing should be able to grow.

Around the dead stump of the cross, Jesus was wrapped like a vine. The bark of Jesus’ skin was torn by a whip. His growth was strangled by a crown of thorns. Jesus was scorched and blackened by God’s wrath against your sin. And His lifeless body was tossed into the ground. But, of course, Jesus, the true vine, grew up from the earth. He rose again.

Jesus, the true vine, has continued to grow and spread out His branches to all the earth. And now, Jesus, the true vine, bears and sustains the branches that do bear good fruit.

“I am the true vine,” says Jesus, “you are the branches.” Jesus speaks about two types of branches – branches that bear fruit and branches that do not bear fruit. According to Jesus, there is only life and death. Either you are alive, joined to Jesus, and bearing fruit, or you are dead, apart from Jesus, and withering.

Carry this analogy out: There are no plants that have branches that are sometimes connected and sometimes not connected. You cannot be connected to Jesus sometimes and disconnected other times. You either are connected or not connected – no middle ground. Unless you are connected to Jesus and His gifts, you wither and die.

But Jesus promises, “Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit.” Seven times in these nine verses, Jesus uses that word ‘abide.’ We don’t use that word very often anymore. But Jesus, your source of life, your true vine, invites you to abide in Him. Grow in and with Him as He delivers everything you need for life. Remain connected to Him where you receive nourishment. Stick with Him through the good and bad seasons of life. And you absolutely will bear fruit.

If you abide in Jesus, you are bearing fruit. Maybe you are having a hard time seeing your fruit. That doesn’t matter. You are not the judge of your own fruit, neither is anyone else. God the Father will take care of that.

But notice that all branches do get cut. Branches that do not bear fruit are cut off and taken away because they are dead. They wither and are thrown into the fire and burned. Branches that bear fruit are pruned. I’m not a plant (obvious statement of the day). But I would assume that getting pruned isn’t the most pleasant experience for a branch. Being pruned might not be pleasant, but it will cause you to bear more fruit. Jesus says the Father prunes you. He cuts off all your sinful dead weight so that you will produce even more fruit.

This pruning takes place through the Word of Christ. If you want to abide in Jesus, abide in His Word. The Father uses that Word to clean you so that you will bear more fruit. And this is so cool. Please, if you haven’t listened to anything else in this sermon, listen to this. Jesus says that every branch that does bear fruit the Father prunes. Then, Jesus says, “Already you are clean because of the word I have spoken to you.” The word ‘clean’ there in v. 3 is the same word Jesus uses that gets translated ‘prune’ in v. 2.

Soak up the Word of God. Read it daily. Come here and drink God’s Word as it comes through the songs, hymns, liturgy, readings, and sermons. Let the rain of your baptism, which is water connected with the Word, precipitate through your whole life. Open your lips to receive the nourishing sap of Christ’s body and blood given in bread and wine.

You will bear fruit. Jesus promises. And this fruit brings glory to your Heavenly Father. Amen.

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.

Listen here.

John 10:11-18

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

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Death died when Jesus rose. The stone is rolled away. The tomb is empty. The grave’s strength is spent. The guards could not keep Him. Death could not hold Him.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd. As Jesus takes this title for Himself, all sorts of Scriptural imagery comes to mind. Psalm 23 naturally connects to these words from Jesus. Yahweh is our Shepherd who leads us to green pastures and still waters, who brings us safely through the valley of the shadow of death, who pours oil on our head and fills our cups until they run over.

Luke 15:3-7 is, of course, another picture of Jesus. The shepherd leaves his 99 sheep to search high and low for that one lost sheep. Then, when he finds it, he calls all his friends and neighbors to rejoice with him.

Other places in Scripture, like Ezekiel 34, God says that the shepherds He sent to His people are not doing their jobs and so God Himself will come to shepherd His sheep. Or in Micah 5 where it is prophesized that God’s appointed Shepherd would be raised and shepherd His flock and make them dwell in security. The Shepherd Himself shall be the peace of the flock.

So when Jesus applies the title of Good Shepherd to Himself, He is claiming to be God – God for you.

Being a shepherd isn’t a glamorous job. Remember that David, the youngest son of Jesse, tended the flock while his brothers were off fighting in the war. Shepherds were on the edge of society. Where were the shepherds were when Jesus was born? Out in the fields in the cold, dark night. Shepherding is a lowly, humble task. But being humble and lowly never stops Jesus.

Jesus says He is a Shepherd who is even more lowly and humble than your average shepherd. Jesus says, “I am the Good Shepherd.” The word ‘good’ there also means right, fitting, true, competent. What makes Jesus the good, right, fitting, competent Shepherd? Jesus tells us, “The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

Sometimes, for us to understand what Jesus is saying, it is good for us to see what Jesus is not saying. Jesus does not say, “I am the good shepherd. I give the sheep everything they want.” Jesus does not say, “I am the good shepherd, and I make sure my sheep are comfortable and enjoy a great life.” He doesn’t say, “I am the good shepherd, and I am here to be your best friend, to be there for you when you are lonely.” Jesus does not say, “I am the good shepherd, and I am here to have a close, personal relationship with the sheep.”

Jesus does say, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” What makes Jesus the Good Shepherd is that He dies – nothing less. He dies for His sheep. The Good Shepherd has blood, His own blood, on Him. The Good Shepherd has holes in His hands and feet, wounds that He suffered on the cross for you. Jesus, the good, fitting, competent Shepherd suffered, bled, and died so that He could be your Shepherd. The kind of shepherd you needed. You needed a shepherd to be really, truly abandoned and condemned by God because of your sin. Jesus, your Shepherd, died a real death and was buried in a real tomb. Your sin was that serious of a problem.

Many Christians will use this phrase: “You need to have a personal relationship with Jesus.” Now, that phrase isn’t untrue, but it is (at best) only half true. You do need to have faith in Jesus in order to be saved, and you can, I suppose, characterize faith as a relationship. But doing that tends to make you focus on yourself. You have to wonder, “Am I holding up my end of the relationship?”

With as often as Christians talk about a personal relationship with Jesus, you would think the Bible would be talking about it all the time. But do you know how many times the Bible uses the word ‘relationship’? I’ll give you a hint – it’s equal to the times that the Vikings have won the Super Bowl. That’s right, a goose egg, zero. Scripture never says that you need a “personal relationship” with Jesus.

If your biggest need is to have a “personal relationship” with Jesus, then Jesus didn’t need to die. Jesus could have just come and hung out with us. He could just sit on the couch and watch Jeopardy or the NFL Draft while eating chips with us or something. Ask yourself this: If a relationship with Jesus is the solution, what is the problem?

You see, our biggest problem is not loneliness. If that were the case, any number of individuals could help us. Our biggest problem is not a lack of companionship. Our problem isn’t even that we have a hole in our hearts that only Jesus can fill. We don’t need a buddy, a chum, or a pal. We need a Savior from sin.

Our problem is that we poor, wretched sinners dash ourselves to pieces against the holy, righteous God. We cannot avoid Him. And the only solution for our true problem – our sin – is the death and resurrection of Jesus, the Good Shepherd. The good news is that the good, fitting Shepherd does lay down His life for the sheep.

Why would Jesus be willing to lay down His life for us? He tells us in the closing sentence of our text. “This charge (lit. ‘command’) I have received from My Father.” Jesus willingly lays down His life for you because the Father commanded and He obeyed. And because Jesus obeyed, He is exactly the kind of shepherd you needed.

When Jesus is your good, fitting, crucified Shepherd, He knows you and you know Him. You’re as close to Jesus as the Father is to Jesus because He lays down His life for you. And Jesus is eternally your Good Shepherd because:

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.