Our sermon text this morning continues a discussion between Jesus and a group of scribes and Pharisees who came from Jerusalem.  The scribes and Pharisees were accusing Jesus and His disciples of breaking the “tradition of the elders” about being clean—His disciples weren’t eating with properly-washed hands.  Jesus blasted the scribes and Pharisees for being hypocrites who are focused on externals but whose hearts are far, far from God.

Mark 7:14–23 ¹⁴ And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: ¹⁵ There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” ¹⁷ And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. ¹⁸ And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, ¹⁹ since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) ²⁰ And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. ²¹ For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, ²² coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. ²³ All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

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

Look at that list again (v. 21-22)—evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, ²² coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.  Maybe you haven’t physically murdered anyone.  And maybe you haven’t committed sexual immorality or adultery.  Those other sins listed—evil thoughts, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander—maybe, you haven’t done those either, at least not too often.  But you get the close of that list where you find—pride and foolishness—you find that Jesus puts you into the absolutely guilty, without-a-reasonable-doubt category.

Also, remember that Jesus said (Mt. 5:21-22), “If you are angry with your brother” you are guilty of murder.  He says (Mt. 5:27-28), “If you look at a woman with a lustful intent, you have already committed adultery with her.”

The worst thing about all this is that all these sins and evil are not ‘out there’ somewhere.  They don’t just come and stick to you.  Worse, they originate from within, out of your heart.  Evil doesn’t find you and defile you.  Rather, you are defiled by what comes out of your heart, not by what you put into your stomach.

You have reached your full potential of being and doing good by yourself, and Jesus says that you have fallen short.  Your heart is far, far from the holy God.

In a book titled The Hammer of God, which I will call a theological novel, the author Bo Giertz follows what happens in the Swedish Lutheran church over a period of about 100 years.  At one point in the book, a member of a congregation tries to explain to his old pastor how he knows he is saved.  He says, “I have given Jesus my heart.”

The old pastor responds,

Jesus, in our text, says it is not anything that you put into yourself that makes you unclean (lit. ‘common’).  He makes a distinction between being sinful and being a sinner.  Both are true of you, but there is a difference.

Jesus (and the rest of Scripture) describes you as being sinful with all those wretched, evil things coming out of you.  When you only think of being sinful, you could come to the conclusion that if you could just get to the point where you do fewer sins—with God’s help, of course—you would make God’s job easier, and He could just remove all of the sin that is filling you.  Maybe then what is left would be good and pure.  That is wrong.

Your problem is not the sin that is “out there.”  The problem is you.

You are a person who is sinful—full of sin—but you are also a sinner.  Sin is part of who you are.  You are a sinner.  Every part of you is soiled with sin.  Your thoughts, words, deeds, and emotions reveal that you are a sinner; it is who and what you are.

The scribes and Pharisees were concerned with foods that entered a person’s mouth that would make them defiled (lit. common), and they made their traditions so binding that they, in effect, worshiped their traditions rather than their Redeemer.

The foods and animals that God had declared unclean in the Old Testament didn’t have anything wrong with them or else Jesus could not have declared all foods clean.

Nothing that goes into you defiles you.  As unhealthy as it is, not even smoking cigarettes makes you a sinner.  Nothing you put into your body makes you evil.  Your body will expel it into the toilet, the latrine, (Yes, Jesus actually uses ‘potty language’ here).

What goes through your stomach and into the toilet does not make you a sinner.  Rather what comes out of your heart defiles you.  The true excrement is from your heart.

The prodigal son revealed what was in his heart.  He had a lust for money, murder, wicked desires, pride, and foolishness.  As he wasted away his inheritance living high on the hog, he was headed down a road that lead him to a life in the pig sty.  Yet, his father looked and waited for his return.  The son had prepared to make things right with his father.  He had a plan.  But the father doesn’t want to be repaid—the son won’t be able to repay him anyway.  The father fully forgives and completely restores his son.

The father doesn’t have a long talk with his formerly lost son about how what he did was wrong, and “it better not happen again.”  The father gives a feast.

It was not the long walk home that changed the prodigal son’s heart; it was the welcome he received when he got there.

The same is true for you.  God isn’t concerned with your resolve to “do better next time.”  God doesn’t want you to rely on what you do because everything you do comes from your heart and will be filled with pride and foolishness.

See Satan wants you to focus on your repentance, to focus on the new life you make for yourself, to focus on your efforts to do better next time for God.  When that is your focus, you will get frustrated.  Satan knows that the more frustrated you are with your sin and your relationship with God, the less you will talk to others about, and maybe, just maybe, you will abandon God altogether.

Don’t focus on your repentance or your commitment to God.  You don’t have anything to offer Him.  You have a defiled heart filled with evil.

But God does have something to offer you in Christ.  Your Creator is a merciful and gracious God.  He sent Jesus to redeem you.  He sustains you with His Word and sacraments to continually give you His grace.

Scripture gets it right, go figure.  From our Psalm today Ps 119:132 ¹³² Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is Your way.

Or as David prayed, Ps 51:10 ¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, O God.  He doesn’t pray, “Make my heart do what you want it to do so that I don’t have to come back here and confess again.”  No He calls upon God to create something where there is nothing.

In Php. 3:9 Paul prays that He would be found in Christ ⁹ not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but [a righteousness] that comes through faith in Christ.

God is never happy with sin, but the good news is that He never grows tired of pouring out His forgiveness through His Word.

Remember that God works through His Word.  When Jesus would speak to deaf ears and command them to hear, they would obey.  The effort and resolve of the individual didn’t matter because they couldn’t hear Jesus anyway.  Luther said it well, “God’s works are His words; He speaks and it is done: because the speaking and the doing of God are the same.”

When you hear God in our Old Testament text (Dt. 4:1-2; 6-9) saying, “Keep [my commandments] and do them,” remember: His Word accomplishes what it commands.

Jesus says again today, “Hear Me, and understand.  This is My body broken for you; this is My blood shed for you for the forgiveness of your sins.”

He welcomes you again to His altar today to give you a feast and to give you a fresh start.  Amen.

May the peace of Jesus Christ strengthen and preserve you until eternity.  Amen.

Mark 7:1–13 ¹ Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, ² they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. ³ (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands properly, holding to the tradition of the elders, ⁴ and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.) ⁵ And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” ⁶ And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written,

“ ‘This people honors me with their lips,

but their heart is far from me;

⁷ in vain do they worship me,

teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’

⁸ You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”

⁹ And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! ¹⁰ For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ ¹¹ But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban” ’ (that is, given to God)— ¹² then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, ¹³ thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”

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

Everyone makes their own rules for certain situations.  A point comes, and each one of us crosses it at one time or another, when we think that the rules and regulations we have set up make us somehow better than others.

This text, as it is written by Mark, gets us upset at these self-righteous Pharisees and inquiring scribes from Jerusalem.  We look at the overview of their washings, and we hear their accusations, and we are so glad that we aren’t like them.  Who would want to be aligned with that pompous, self-righteous religious establishment?

In Jesus’ day, the Pharisees devoted their attention to three areas: dietary rules, Sabbath laws, and circumcision.  God in the Old Testament had given His people instructions about those things, and the Pharisees added to them.  But still, the Pharisees wouldn’t have said that the main theme of the Old Testament was to follow rules.  They would not have insisted that God’s promise resulted in these dietary rules, Sabbath laws, and circumcision.  God’s promise was to send the blessing promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob through Israel.  The creed of Israel was still Dt. 6:4–5 ⁴ “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. ⁵ You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might….”

The Pharisees focused on dietary rules, Sabbath laws, and circumcision to create visible signs which distinguished themselves and those Jews who followed them from people who did not follow those rules and instructions.  They were the super-pious.  They were the “in-crowd” with God.

People are still labeled today.  You see a Volkswagen van plastered with bumper-stickers and people with long hair riding in it—you know that you have found hippies.  You see a man in the grocery store dressed in a suit and tie buying an apple and sandwich from the deli—you know that you have found a businessman.  You see someone get off a motorcycle with leather chaps, a bandana, a long beard, and tattoos all over his neck—you know to walk on the other side of the street.

We label others.  But that isn’t necessarily a bad thing especially if we allow ourselves to realize that our labels might be wrong.

So the Pharisees created all these rules and regulations about washings.  The Pharisees took the dietary laws of from Exodus and Leviticus that were meant for the priests, and they made all sorts of extra rules which people could follow to prove that they were obeying the guidelines that God had given.

These washings proved who was in and who was out.  These customs marked and labeled them.

It is interesting to see how Jesus speaks about the distinctions they made both in this text and next week’s text which will continue Jesus’ teaching resulting from this confrontation.

Mark 6 closed by saying, Mk. 6:54–56 ⁵⁴ And when [Jesus and the disciples] got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized [Jesus] 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.

Jesus is frantically bringing the rule and reign of God (Mk. 1:14-15).  He is doing exactly what the Old Testament lesson (and many other OT texts too) said would happen: “the deaf hear, the eyes of the blind see, and the meek obtain fresh joy in the Lord; and the poor among mankind exalt in the Holy One of Israel” (Is. 29:18-19).

Jesus is doing these signs and miracles, and the scribes and Pharisees are concerned that the disciples are eating with hands that have not been ritually cleansed.  Because that’s important.

Jesus says, “You know, Isaiah did a great job describing You about 700 years ago.  You are a bunch of hypocrites.  You honor God with your lips and your heart is far, far from God.”

Then Jesus cites a specific example.  God had commanded, “Honor thy father and thy mother that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.”  There was a man-made rule which allowed you to take your property which you could use to help your parents, but instead of helping your parents, you devoted that property to God but you could still use it.  You were able to use religion and devotion to God to get out of obeying a commandment that God had given.

Jesus pointed out their hypocrisy.  Look at how hypocritical those silly scribes and Pharisees were.  Aren’t you glad that you aren’t like them?  Aren’t you glad that you have faith and know what God really wants?

You are just as guilty of hypocrisy as they were.

There is a self-righteous Pharisee in every one of you that doesn’t want to die.  You want to be seen as the super-religious and super-pious.  You find all sorts of ways to distinguish yourselves from other not-so-great believers.

You fill your iPod with sermons and Christian music.  You wear your Jesus t-shirts.  You get up earlier in the morning than all your friends to do your devotions.  You repost every, “I-love-Jesus-but-only-1-out-of-10-people-will-repost-this” picture that you see on Facebook.  “You don’t smoke, and you don’t chew, and you don’t go with girls who do.”

You notice that others have a faith that isn’t as mature as yours, and you remember with a chuckle when you used to be like them; but now you have grown up.  Now you have your faith-life together.

You don’t get overly concerned about issues like doctrine; you just “love Jesus.”  Jesus even speaks about doctrines being bad here right?  “In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.”

You do all of those things, and you still look for ways to distinguish your faith from the faith of others.  You search for ways to find a sense of superiority over others.  I know all those things are true about you because, they are true about me and Scripture teaches that they are true about every sinful human being.

You and I want to make ourselves right with God.  You and I have a messiah complex.  We need to quit it!  Jesus didn’t die on the cross so you could be in God’s clique.

We get so caught up in making ourselves look righteous and pious that we lose all joy in life.

The commandments of men—our commandments and traditions—become as doctrine to us.  They lead to frustration and despair and, finally, death.

But there is doctrine which gives life.  God’s doctrine, the pure doctrine of Scripture teaches this:

Only one member of the human race was perfectly righteous, and He was the most inclusive, tolerant member of the human race.  This perfectly righteous human ate and walked and associated with the lowest of the low, sinners, prostitutes, thieves, and murderers.  The most pleasing human in God’s sight became a servant of all (Php. 2:5-8).  He suffered, died, and rose again for you and your sins.  He is now seated at the right hand of God the Father with all rule and authority.  He uses that authority to truly forgive sins, not by making you do your penance and meeting Him half-way by some work.  He forgives your sins and they are gone forever.

You and I, we have our messiah complex.  We want to make ourselves right with God.  The only human Who was ever free of a messiah complex was the Messiah Himself—your Savior, Jesus Christ.

And Jesus still lets His disciples eat with defiled hands.  His undefiled hands were pierced so that you could become the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21).  He endured a death by torture so that all your pious actions become small potatoes.  He died an immoral death so that you could be freed from being bound to morality.

He, not you, makes you right in His sight, not so that you can be looked at as some banner of virtue, but so that when you are reviled because of the good deeds that He gives you to do, you turn the other cheek and press on being content with God’s blessing.  Amen.

May the peace of God guard your mind, body, and soul in Christ Jesus.  Amen.

There are not many things we do for six weeks.  For six weeks now, we have been looking at Jesus’ Feeding of the 5000 (men plus women and children) and teaching that crowd “the following day.”  We are considering Jesus’ final words about it means that this Jesus is the Bread of Life.

John 6:51-69—I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

⁵² The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” ⁵³ So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. ⁵⁴ Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. ⁵⁵ For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. ⁵⁶ Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. ⁵⁷ As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. ⁵⁸ This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” ⁵⁹ Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum.

⁶⁰ When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” ⁶¹ But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? ⁶² Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? ⁶³ It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. ⁶⁴ But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) ⁶⁵ And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

⁶⁶ After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. ⁶⁷ So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” ⁶⁸ Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, ⁶⁹ and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God the Father through Jesus Christ, the Living Bread that came down from heaven.  Amen.

Lives are filled with choices.  Some choices have long-lasting consequences, and some, let’s just face it, are mundane.  Maybe some people sweat about whether to use Head & Shoulders to take care of their dry scalp or to use Herbal Essences so that they can feel like they are in a rain forest every morning.  Hopefully no one will wring their hands solicitously about what to do for supper tonight—whether to go out for an expensive meal or stay at home and make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

But some tears might be shed about where to go to school?  Or what career to pursue?  Where to invest and when to start spending those investments?  Whom to marry?  Whether or not to have kids?  When to have kids, and how many kids to have?  Where to live?  To buy or to rent?  When to refinance?

We consider these to be “bigger” decisions which have more apparent and long-lasting consequences. Our lives are filled with decisions, and often the decisions that we make effect all aspects of our life.

I made a very difficult decision just this past Tuesday, and I have to live with the consequences of that decision, and those consequences still make upset me a little.

My wife and I went on a date to an ice cream shop in Minneapolis called Sebastian Joe’s where they serve dozens of homemade flavors of ice cream.  One of my absolute, all-time favorite flavors of ice cream is Chocolate Coyote from Sebastian Joe’s—chocolate ice cream laced with cayenne pepper and cinnamon.  Cold, chocolaty ice cream that burns in your mouth is a wonderful experience.  But Sebastian Joe’s also makes another kind of ice cream called “Pavarotti”: banana, caramel, and chocolate chip goodness that I wonder if it has been blessed by God Himself.

The problem is they do not make every flavor every day.  When Sarah and I were there Tuesday, they could special make Chocolate Coyote in a bowl, but then I couldn’t get Pavarotti.  So, I had to make a choice.  I chose Pavarotti.  To this day, and even this minute, I am regretting my decision.  As difficult as it is, I have to press on; I will have to live with the consequences which will probably stick with me until I get back to Sebastian Joe’s and get my Chocolate Coyote.

Our lives are filled with choices, some important and some not.  But it’s very important both in the Gospel text and Old Testament text, that we do not see the either “decision” of Joshua or of the people or of Peter as being decisions that they made.  Neither Joshua, nor the people of Israel, nor Peter “choose” to believe, fear, or trust in God.

In the Old Testament text (Jos. 24:1-2a, 14-18), Joshua calls the people to himself and recounts the history of Israel.  In the verses that get omitted (v. 2b-13), Joshua tells how God brought Abraham out of a foreign, pagan land where his fathers were serving false gods.  God took Abraham away from those people and gave him offspring.  God led Abraham through the land of Canaan.  Joshua  remembers God’s faithfulness to Isaac and Jacob and God’s continued faithfulness bringing His children to Egypt.

God continued to be faithful to the Israelites even while they were in Egypt under slavery.  God faithfully brought them out of the land of slavery and delivered them from the Egyptians.  God faithfully brought them into the Promised Land which was inhabited by pagan nations.  God gave them the Promised Land giving them victory after victory over all of these idolatrous nations and people who were stronger than they were.   God gave them a land “on which [they] had not labored” and “towns that [they] had not built.”  God caused His people to dwell there.  God gave them “the fruit of vineyards and olive orchards that [they] did not plant” (Jos. 24:13).

Even though the Israelites did not remain faithful to God, He remained faithful to them.  Even though the Israelites did not serve God, God served the people.  God served them and delivered them and gave them things that they did not deserve.

Joshua reminded these people of all that God had done for them in the past.  Then Joshua gives the call, “Now therefore fear Yahweh and serve Him in sincerity and in faithfulness.  But if it is evil in your eyes to serve Yahweh, choose this day whom you will serve.”  Joshua boldly states that he and his house will serve Yahweh, and the people say the same.

In our Gospel text, Jesus asks a question.  “Do you want to go away as well?”  Unfortunately, we miss some of the nuance behind Jesus’ question.  It is absolutely clear that Jesus expects the disciples to answer His question with a “No.”  It could be translated, “You don’t want to go away as well, right?”  Peter speaks for the disciples.  He says (Jn. 6:68-69), “Where else could we go?  You are the One Who has the words of eternal life.  You alone are the Holy One of God.”

We think, “Wow, look at these great confessions; look at how strong Joshua and the people and Peter are as they say that they will follow God.  I wish I had that strength and conviction.”  But, if we get caught up in looking at Joshua and the people and Peter, we completely miss the point.

Notice, Joshua’s call is not to choose either Yahweh or the pagan gods.  Joshua’s little sermon calls the people to continue relying upon Yahweh Who has been faithful to them.  Joshua says, “Everything you have has been given to you by Yahweh, but if you really want, you can serve other gods.”  The people are free to abandon Yahweh and not serve and fear Him.  Joshua opens a catalog of false gods that the people can serve if they abandon the God of their Fathers, Yahweh, the Great I Am.  But those gods are no gods at all.  Joshua makes it clear right after our text ends that the decision is not between Yahweh and other gods, the people cannot chose Yahweh.  He says in Jos. 24:19, “You are not able to serve Yahweh, for He is a holy God.  He is a jealous God.”

Jesus says the same in our text.  “The spirit gives life; the flash is no help at all.  No one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”  Jesus also says in Jn. 15:16,  “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you…”

Scripture is clear.  You do not come to God; you do not chose God; you cannot believe.  Believer, the God that you serve doesn’t like you because you are likable.  He loves you because He is love.  Your God doesn’t want you to serve Him; rather, your God wants to serve you.   Your God condescends to you to serve and save you.

You have been saved because of what God has done in Christ.  God reconciled you while you were still a sinner when Christ died for you.  When was Christ crucified?  It was a real historical event 2,000 years ago, but in God’s economy of time Christ, the pure, spotless Lamb of God, was crucified since “before the foundation of the world” (1 Pet. 1:20).  And God chose you in Christ “before the foundation of the world” (Eph. 1:4).  Salvation comes not by your choice but by God’s choice.

That is the Gospel.  God has saved you.  No good deed you have done, no religious service you have offered, no decision you have made has made you right with God.   God saved you when you were His enemy, and He sustains you.  He sustains you even when you falter.  If God forgive you in Christ while you were still a sinner and His enemy, He is not going to suddenly kick you out of the camp because your faith isn’t so strong or so great.

Jesus says that He wants to serve you; He wants to give you eternal life.  He is the Living Bread that came down from heaven.  Eat His Bread and live forever.  Feed on His flesh and drink His blood and have eternal life (Jn. 6:53-56).  Jesus’ flesh is true food; His blood is true drink.  Whoever feeds on Jesus’ flesh and drinks Jesus’ blood abides in Jesus, and Jesus abides in him.  As the living Father sent Jesus, and as Jesus lives because of the Father, so also whoever feeds on Jesus will live because of Jesus.

Don’t worry about seeking for God; God has sought you, and He found you.  You were dead when He found you, but that doesn’t matter to Jesus Who is the Resurrection and the Life (Jn. 11:25).   Jesus will continue to sustain you; He will continue to lead you and give you His life.  When you feed on His food, you don’t have to worry about anything else, because His food will sustain you.  When you have His protection, you are safe from any danger in this world.  God will even keep you safe from yourself.

Scripture changes the question.  The question is not do you chose the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit or some false god?  Scripture changes the question, God has already done everything to save you, where else would you prefer to go?  The answer or nowhere.  All other bridges have been burned.

Serve the God Who has served you.  Serve the God Who will continue to serve you through the rest of your life and even through your death.  Serve God who serves you even as your corpse rots on this earth until He raises you from the dead so that He can continue to serve you throughout all eternity at His eternal feast.  Amen.

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

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.

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

Just six weeks ago, our Gospel lesson (Mk. 4:35-41) was very similar to this.  The similarities include: crossing the lake late at night, a strong storm with strong wind, Jesus calms the storm, and the disciples are left in fear and amazement.  But today’s text also has many differences with Mk. 4:35-41.

In today’s text, the disciples are alone in the boat; Jesus isn’t in the stern sleeping while lying on a cushion.  In today’s text, Jesus is very much awake.  Jesus is the Divine, Powerful Master of the storm Who is walking on the water as though it were a hardwood floor.

In Mk. 4:35-41,  the disciples ask, “Who is this that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”  But in today’s text, the disciples are not just questioning Who Jesus is.  They are “unable to understand” Who Jesus is.  Jesus can walk on water like hardened concrete, but the disciples’ hearts are harder than concrete.  Their hearts are so hard because they are unable to understand about the loaves of bread that Jesus had used to feed the 5000 men (plus women & children) Mk. 6:38-44.  Even though the disciples were repeatedly returning to Jesus to get more bread to set before the banquet guests, they did not understand about the loaves of bread.

Jesus reveals more and more clearly that He is God, but the disciples more and more are unable to cope with the fact that He is God.  After Jesus gets into the boat with the disciples, Mark comments that the disciples were “utterly astounded” (lit. standing outside themselves).  Their hearts become harder than stale bread.

Jesus instructs the disciples to go ahead of Him to the other side of the lake while He dismisses the crowd.  So Jesus deliberately creates this separation between Himself and the disciples.  He releases the crowd and climbs up a mountain to pray.  Evening turns to night, and the boat carrying the disciples is now out in the middle of the lake.  Alone on the mountain, Jesus sees them; He sees that the wind is against them.  He also sees that they are literally ‘being tortured’ by the wind and are unable to make headway.

“About the fourth watch of the night,” 3-6 AM, Jesus decides to take a stroll down the mountain, across the beach, onto the water, and out into the middle of the lake.  “He meant/intended to pass by the disciples.”

I think that is one of the oddest phrases in the Bible, “Jesus meant to pass by them.”  What in the world does this mean?  One commentary spends 16 pages discussing what could possibly be meant by this phrase.  A good understanding is to view this as God revealing Himself.  The language here is similar to Ex. 33:19-34:8 where God allows His goodness to “pass before” Moses, and similar to 1 Ki. 19:11-13 when God passed by Elijah not in the strong wind, not in the earthquake, not in the fire, but in the still, small voice.

This “passing by” is what God had done in the past to reveal Himself to people.  Jesus apparently wanted to reveal Himself to the disciples.  And in several Old Testament passages, God is depicted as the Master of the Waters by walking upon them (Job 9:8; Ps. 77:19).  Is 43:16 describes¹⁶ [Yahweh], Who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters.

Outwardly, when people looked at Jesus, they saw a normal man Who smiled, talked, ate, drank, walked, rested, slept, and did all the things an ordinary man would.  Yet, Jesus did things that clearly revealed that He was much more than an ordinary man.  The disciples see that again.

Imagine how the disciples experienced this; think about the day they are having.  They are back in their boat, their normal workplace, after a failed retreat.  Rather than getting a retreat with their Teacher, they are forced to be waiters for the feasting of the 5000—a crowd of (possibly) 15,000 people.  Instead of camping for the night, Jesus now tells them to cross the lake—for the second time that day.  When they finally get to the middle of the lake, a wind comes up and keeps them from being able to cross.  They are being tortured by the wind (they aren’t afraid here, only stalled out and frustrated).  It is somewhere between 3-6 AM.

Then, they look up and see a Person walking on the water as though it were any normal road.  Their reaction, which is probably a ‘normal’ reaction, was to think that they saw a ghost, a phantasm.  You can hear them hollering, “I can’t believe my eyes.”  “You see that too?”  “Can it be real?  It is moving against the wind.”  “Do you see that?”  “Yes.  Let’s get out of here.”  They cry out in fear and are terrified.

So, Jesus is revealing Himself to the disciples, that He is God, Lord of the Storm, Master over the Sea, yet the disciples are terrified, crying out, and not benefiting from the revelation.  Yet, Jesus graciously tells them, “Take heart; I am He.  Do not be afraid.”

The storm stops.  You would expect that the disciples would then breathe a sigh of relief.  You would expect a nice, happy ending to this text where everyone has a good laugh; they reach the other side and go out for a breakfast of carmel rolls.  Instead, the disciples are outside of their minds.  They have some sort of out of body experience.  They just don’t “understand about the bread, but their hearts were hardened.”

Scripture clearly teaches Who God is.  He is the All-knowing, All-powerful, All-wise, and All-loving Creator, Savior, and Sustainer.  Yet, you doubt and become fearful and hardened against Him.  You know it is sinful, but when you hear about 70 people getting shot and 12 of them killed while they are enjoying a movie, you doubt that God is All-knowing, All-powerful, All-wise, and All-loving.  If God were All-knowing, All-powerful, All-wise, and All-loving, why doesn’t He stop evil things from happening?

Too often, you want God to prove Himself to you.  You want Him to prove that He is Who He says He is, and you dictate how God needs to prove it.  That is the height of idolatry.

God doesn’t need to prove Himself to you.  God does not necessarily deliver you from all your troubles in exactly the way you think He should.  God doesn’t necessarily make everything perfect right now so you can “live happily ever after.”

Christians, we are too casual today.  We tend to think God is our Heavenly Friend.  We think He is the Santa Claus in the sky with a naughty or nice list and that He answers prayers according to that list.  But God is so much more awesome, majestic, and powerful than that.  Too quickly, we forget that He is also the God Who commands the waves and the seas.  We forget that He is allowed to do things that we don’t understand.

In Is. 45:5–7 God says ⁵ I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides Me there is no God; … I am the Lord, and there is no other. ⁷ I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the Lord, Who does all these things.

God doesn’t need to prove Himself to you.  God has already proved Himself the All-knowing, All-powerful, All-wise, and All-loving Creator, Savior, and Sustainer.  He proved it in a way that looks like absolute weakness and foolishness.  God proved Himself on the cross.  God showed His love for you on the cross.  He descended to earth and revealed His wisdom and love and power by delivering you from sin, death, and the devil.  And still, you want God to reveal Himself in a new and different way?  Knock it off.  Don’t tell God how to do His job.

As Jesus passes by the disciples to reveal Who He is, they do not understand and become terrified, and yet Jesus speaks graciously to them, “Take heart; it is I.  Do not be afraid.”

Even when you don’t understand, even when you’re terrified, even when you doubt Who God is, He continues to be gracious to you and be patient with you.  He reveals Himself to you in ways that are much more quiet that are much more mundane, maybe, than you would prefer.  He reveals Himself to you through the preaching of the Word and through His Sacraments.

Though you do not understand and though you harden your heart, He continues to be gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and righteousness.  Amen

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

Mark 6:31–44 ³¹ And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desert 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 desert 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 desert 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.

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

This text is strange.  This large crowd followed Jesus and the disciples to a desert, desert, desert place (Mk. 6:31, 32, 35).  And yet, this crowd, this large flock of people who are “like sheep without a shepherd,” is commanded to sit down on the fresh green grass.

This text is referred to as the “Feeding of the 5000” (men plus women and children).  Using the term ‘feeding’ makes it sound like cattle herded to the trough.  It would be better to understand this as the “Feasting of the 5000” (men plus women and children)  This event is a fulfillment of Ps. 23.  This crowd is led by Yahweh their Shepherd Who literally makes them lie down (not just sit but ‘recline at table’) in green grass.  Yahweh literally prepares a table before them even in the Deathly Desert place.

The imagery of Is. 35 is also pictured here in Mark.  Is 35:1, 5-7 ¹ The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom…. ⁵ Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; ⁶ then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; ⁷ the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down, the grass shall become reeds and rushes.

All of this has been taking place as Jesus brings the rule and reign of God.  Blind see; deaf hear; the lame walk; the mute speak.  Now here in this desert place, there is fresh green grass and the crowd reclines at a banquet (see also Is. 25:6-8a).

The crowd receives from Jesus, Yahweh in the flesh, blessings promised in those texts.  Contrast that with the disciples.

In last week’s Gospel text (Mk. 6:7-30), Jesus sent out the disciples.  He gave them authority over unclean spirits, and He told them to take only a walking stick and sandals.  He told them to take no bread, take no bag, and take no money.  So the disciples go out and preach, “Repent,” just as Jesus is preaching.  As the disciples preach, they cast out demons and anoint sick people with oil and heal them.

The disciples return and tell Jesus everything that they had done and taught (Mk. 6:30).  Our Gospel text picks this up and Jesus announces, “Time for a vacation.  C’mon boys, let’s go to a desert place away from the people and rest.”

The disciples have done a lot of work.  They have been giving a lot now it’s time for them to receive and be refreshed.  Jesus wants to provide rest for their souls.

But this retreat isn’t so successful.  The crowds recognize them, and they even arrive at the desert before the disciples and Jesus do.

Jesus sees this crowd and His guts are wrenched because those people are like sheep without a shepherd.  So Jesus begins to teach the people many different things.  The disciples patiently wait for Jesus to teach, but then the hour begins to get late.  Jesus has had His time to minister to this poor crowd.  The disciples, apparently, still hope for a little vacation.  Finally, near supper time, the disciples ask Jesus to dismiss the crowd so they can get some food.

But Jesus will have none of it.  The dialogue between Jesus and the disciples reveals that there is tension.  Jesus tersely commands the disciples, “You give them something to eat.”

The tension continues to rise.  The disciples respond, “Even if we could find enough bread at this time and even if we had the 200 denarii—over half a year’s wages—why would we spend that much to feed this crowd?”

But Jesus doesn’t accept that response from the disciples.  He tells them, “Go, count how many loaves we have.”  Five loaves, two fish.  As the disciples ask Jesus to send the crowd away to get food, had they forgotten that they don’t have enough food for themselves?

Remember Jesus’ invitation to the disciples back in v. 31, “Come away by yourselves to a desert place.”  In this desert place, the disciples could scrounge up only five loaves of bread, at most one loaf was enough for one person for one day.  Their group is thirteen men, twelve disciples plus Jesus, and the disciples don’t even bring enough food for one day?  That wouldn’t make for a very long retreat.  Did they expect Jesus to provide for them?

When Jesus sent the disciples out on their missionary trip, He told them not to take bread.  Apparently, Jesus divinely provided for then during their short-term mission trip.  It makes sense that Jesus would continue to provide for their needs.

Maybe the disciples don’t realize yet that just as Jesus had provided for them during their mission trip, Jesus could also provide for them on this retreat.  If Jesus could provide for the disciples, couldn’t He also provide for massive crowd?

The disciples give Jesus the report that they have these five loaves and two fish which certainly won’t be enough to feed the whole crowd….

Not so fast.  Look at this heavenly feast.

In v. 39-40 there are some details that get lost in translation.  Jesus commands the crowd not just to “sit down” but lit. ‘recline at table.’  We would expect people on a picnic like this to sit down, but what Jesus commands is the language which is used at a banquet.  This meal that Jesus is going to provide isn’t just to get food into their bellies.  This is a banquet feast where the food is given freely, at no cost.

The people are to recline, the ESV reads, “in groups,” but lit. there is a phrase here “banqueting group by banqueting group.”  This is not an ordinary meal, it is a divine feast of a multitude of banquet guests reclining on fresh green grass in the middle of the desert.

The banqueting groups recline v. 40 reads “in groups” again, but lit. it is “garden plot by garden plot” in hundreds and fifties.

This is feasting and reclining in a desert place with green grass and each group is called a garden plot.

Jesus gives thanks for the food.  He repeatedly gives bread to the disciples.  The disciples repeatedly set the bread before the people.  The two fish are divided also.  Every individual in every banqueting group ate and was more than just satisfied—each ate their fill.  They ate until they could banquet no more.  Then the food, which began as no more than a snack for the vacation-deprived disciples is gathered up and there are twelve baskets full—another banquet could be possible.

Just as Isaiah had prophesied (Is. 35), in this dry wilderness there was gladness.  In the desert, were waters and streams for Yahweh’s harassed and helpless sheep.  As Isaiah had prophesied (Is. 25) about the feast upon the mountain where all people would feast at Yahweh’s banquet, this miracle gives us a foretaste of what that will look like.

So today, if you are harassed and helpless, Jesus desires that you recline at His table.  Find your rest on the fresh green grass even though you are in the middle of the wilderness.  Receive from Him until you have your fill and your cup overflows.

If you are a disciple weary of laboring in Christ’s kingdom and even if Christ continues to give you tasks, remember—even though the task before you is impossible and you don’t have the resources necessary to accomplish what Christ commands, remember He provides.  There will still be baskets full.

Christ gave a foretaste of His eternal feast that day.  He continues to give a foretaste of His eternal feast in Communion.  Receive from Him all His blessings.

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

Mark 6:1-6a—He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. ² And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? ³ Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Jude and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. ⁴ And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” ⁵ And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. ⁶ And he marveled because of their unbelief.

Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father through Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Who has walked among us.  Amen.

I hope everyone from time to time enjoys a good book.  Whatever genre you like, I hope you sit and read.  Mark’s Gospel reads like a good story.  Mark has a lot of action and plenty of drama, and it tells about a lot of things that are just plain amazing.  Homework assignment: Read Mark in one sitting this week.  It is only about 25 pages, you could read it in an hour quite easily.

Sometimes, when we read, the story just remains words on paper or pictures in our minds.  The characters stay imaginary.  This is especially true, unfortunately, when we read Scripture.  We underestimate a Character in the Gospel of Mark Who was and is the Son of God in the flesh.  This Man came and dwelt here on earth in history.

We forget that Jesus was in the womb of His mother, and we forget that Jesus was actually born.  We sometimes forget the fact He grew up; He experienced what it was to be a boy.  He learned how to eat, speak, and walk.  He experienced fatigue, pain, hunger, and thirst.  We forget that He lived in an actual town and in a real house.  We forget that He had neighbors and that He had (half) brothers and sisters.  Too easily and too quickly forget that Jesus was a Man.

He experienced every aspect of being a human just as you experience it, and yet He remained sinless.

Jesus’ hometown was Nazareth in northern Israel.  Archaeologists have dug it up and have estimated the population in Jesus’ day was about 400 people.  Most of you, if not all of you, know about small-town life.  Small-town life means everyone knows everything about everyone.

When Jesus was about 30 years old (Lk. 3:23), He left Nazareth and traveled south to be baptized by John in the Jordan River.  After this, Satan unsuccessfully tempted Him to fall into sin; Jesus remained sinless.  Jesus returned to the northern parts of the country where He grew up and began to preach and teach “The Kingdom of God is at hand.”

Jesus healed; He cast out demons; He commanded even the wind and the sea; and He even raised the dead.  People from the north and south were thronging around Him (Mk. 3:7-8) and following Him.  They were listening to His teaching.  This dramatic action goes on for five whole chapters, and Jesus is going full throttle.

But then comes Mark 6.  It is not just that the breaks are hit, this is like running into a brick wall.  Not everyone is impressed with Jesus.

As Jesus comes back to His hometown after having traveled through the area, the crowds were dumbfounded and even repulsed.  “Where did this Man, Jesus, get these things?  What is this wisdom that has been given to Him?  He’s a carpenter!  We know His mother and brothers and sisters, they live just down the street.  We remember Jesus from when He was this tall.  Hey, remember when He ditched His parents and stayed in Jerusalem when He was twelve (Lk. 2:41-52)?”  And they are scandalized by Him.

Jesus’ friends and acquaintances from Nazareth hear Him and are repulsed.  Jesus comes back to His hometown when He is 30’ish and the ‘Nazarethians’ think He is trying to be something greater than they knew that He was—their neighbor, a carpenter.  They robbed Jesus of His divinity.  They look at Jesus, and all they see was the “little boy from down the street.”

The crowds in Nazareth that Sabbath doubted Jesus’ identity and ministry.  They thought Jesus was something much less than He actually was and is.

Who else, gathered in churches throughout this country, minimizes Jesus’ identity and ministry?  Who gathered in the pews of congregations throughout this city believe that Jesus is a Man Who taught a higher standard of morals and broke down the socio-economic walls of His day?  Who here in this sanctuary does not believe in the person and work of Jesus?

Too quickly and too easily, you diminish Jesus and make Him something far inferior than what He actually is.

Who is this Jesus?  Who is this Man Who heals, casts out demons, and has authority over the wind and sea?  Who is this Man Who lived in Nazareth and was a carpenter Who had relatives?

To quote The Princess Bride, “[Him not] Who you think Him is.”

Jesus is the divine, eternal Son of God Who became flesh and dwelt among us.

Jesus is the One Who Himself bore your sins “in His body on the tree that you might die to sin and live to righteousness” (1 Pet. 2:24).  Your sins are not just debts recorded against you in God’s ‘naughty or nice’ list.  Christ wrapped Himself in your sin.  Either you bear your sins in your body or Christ does in His.  When Christ bears your sins, those sins are defeated sins.  Jesus is not Who you think He is.

Jesus is the pure, spotless sacrifice for sins.  The crucifixion was no accident.  Christ came in order to lay His life down for you.  He says, “No one takes My Life from Me, but I lay it down of My Own accord” (Jn. 10:18).  Jesus is not Who you think He is.

Jesus testified against Himself; He didn’t plead the 5^th Amendment.  Instead, Jesus was “numbered with the transgressors” (Is. 53:12; Lk. 22:37).  God had commanded that His people keep themselves separate from the sinful and unclean.  But Jesus didn’t.  He ate with the tax collectors and sinners so often that people accused Him of being a “glutton and a drunkard” (Mt. 11:19).  Christ wasn’t separate from sinners; He was right beside them in the muck and filth.  Christ is the “holy, holy, holy Lord of hosts” (Is. 6:3), and He has fellowship with sinners.  Jesus is not Who you think He is.

Jesus entered His sinful creation which was in open rebellion against Him.  Jesus was “born of a woman, born under the law” (Gal. 4:4).  When the law of God found Jesus living among robbers, liars, adulterers, murderers, and thieves, it condemned Jesus as a sinner—as a robber, liar, adulterer, murderer, and thief.  Jesus is not Who you think He is.

Jesus is the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world (Jn. 1:29).  You were like sheep who had gone astray and turned to our own way, but God laid on Jesus your iniquity (Is. 53:6).  He is the Lamb of God who takes and confesses your sins as though He had done them.  Jesus is not Who you think He is.

Jesus is the Robber of sins.  He is the Divine Thief.  He takes what is not His Own—the sins of the world—and dies for His robbery.  If Jesus has taken away the sins of the world, than He must have also taken away your sins.  Jesus robs you of your worst, secret sins, but He also robs you of your best, righteous deeds—things you have done that you think will please God but are only filthy rags (Is. 64:6).  Jesus is not Who you think He is.

Jesus became a curse (Gal. 3:13) not just ‘cursed.’  Jesus became sin itself (2 Cor. 5:21).  All of this for you.  Jesus is not Who you think He is.

The people of Nazareth did not believe the person or work of Jesus Christ.  They did just the opposite of the people in last week’s Gospel text (Mk. 5:21-43).  Rather than believing, they did not believe and were scandalized.

Because of this, Jesus could do (lit.) “no work” there [You do have to love Mark’s ironic side note, “Well except for healing those few sick people.”].  Mark gives one of the most human insights into the mind of Jesus, “He marveled (was amazed) because of their unbelief.”

This is why the Gospel of Mark should be read in one sitting.  This text follows immediately after Jesus raises Jairus’ daughter.  Mark contrasts faith and unfaith.  He contrasts Jesus’ works of power and the crowd’s sinful doubt.

Faith is not simply a belief in the power of faith.  This faith is in Christ’s ability to deliver what He promises.  Can the Son of God deliver you from sin, death, and the devil?  “If the Son has set you free, you will be free indeed” (Jn. 8:36).

Trust Christ, not your feelings.  He is more than what you think He is.  Amen.

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

Mark 5:21-43—And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. ²² Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet ²³ and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” ²⁴ And he went with him.

And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. ²⁵ And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, ²⁶ and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. ²⁷ She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. ²⁸ For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” ²⁹ And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. ³⁰ And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” ³¹ And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ” ³² And he looked around to see who had done it. ³³ But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. ³⁴ And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

³⁵ While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” ³⁶ But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” ³⁷ And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. ³⁸ They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. ³⁹ And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” ⁴⁰ And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. ⁴¹ Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” ⁴² And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. ⁴³ And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

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

Jairus was a man who was torn between two contradicting realities.  First, Jairus was living in the reality of fear.  He was fearful for his daughter who was at the point of death.  Her end was coming, and Jairus, even though he was a prominent man, a ruler of the synagogue, still feared his daughter‘s death.  He was faced with the terrifying possibility that he would outlive his twelve-year-old daughter.

But Jairus was also a man who had faith.  He had heard reports about Jesus.  In all likelihood, Jairus had seen Jesus act before in his own synagogue where he was a ruler.  So Jairus, being a man of faith, leaves his sick daughter’s bedside.  He takes the risk of not being present for her death to find Jesus.

When Jairus finds Jesus, he makes a confession of fear, “My little daughter is at the point of death,” and he makes a confession of faith, “Come lay your hands on her so that she may be made well and live.”

You too, like Jairus, are torn between the realities of fear and faith.

Maybe your fears aren’t for the life of your child.  Maybe they are a little more mundane and not nearly as imminent, but you live in fear.  You have tasks to do, meals to prepare, dishes to clean, houses to care for, lawns to mow.  You have parents to obey, children to raise, spouses to love.  You have jobs to find and keep, budgets to meet, bills and mortgages to pay.

There are literally thousands of things that you have to do every day of this life, things that weigh you down and burden you.  They may be small, but they begin to pile up.  Those things, as they pile up, cause you to fear.  Maybe you aren’t terrified, but if you are honest, you do fear.

You also, like Jairus, have faith.  You come to church, you read and study God’s Word.  You pray and lay your requests before God.  You trust that He will act.  You know that He can help you in any circumstance.

But sometimes, an obstacle gets in the way.  Time passes, and the request isn’t answered.  God delays, and circumstances change so that God can no longer answer in the way you thought He “needed” to answer.  The delay causes you to doubt, and doubt causes faith to shift back into fear.  You begin to think, “Well, maybe God doesn’t care—at least not about that.”

Fear grows and grows until you almost even begin to wonder, “This God says He cares.  He says, ‘all things work together for good.’  Can I even believe in God anymore?”

That’s what happened for Jairus.  Jesus was delayed.  Servants from Jairus’ house came and said, “Your daughter is dead.  Why trouble the Teacher any further?”. Circumstance caused Jairus to fear for the life of his daughter, and now circumstances caused delay.  And now it is too late.

Jairus couldn’t have done anything to keep his daughter from getting sick.  Jairus couldn’t have gotten Jesus to his house any quicker.  Events outside Jairus’ control brought about his worst fear.  His daughter is dead.

But it was also events completely outside of Jairus’ control that had given him faith.  Jairus’ faith had come from outside of himself.  The faith that Jairus had wasn’t his own; it was a gift of God.

The same is true for you.  Events totally outside your control cause you to fear, and the faith that you have in God is not your own either.

It’s time to stop kidding around.  Faith is not yours.  You do not choose faith; you did not and do not produce faith.  Faith is something God gives you.  Faith is the gift of God.  Salvation does not come by any work; you cannot boast.  You cannot, by your own reason our strength, believe in Jesus as Lord, or come to Him.

It is shocking then, when Jesus commands Jairus lit., “No fearing; only faithing.” How could Jesus expect Jairus to obey this command?  His daughter is dead!  Jairus can’t just decide, “Oh, sure Jesus.  Hakuna matata; no worries.  Don’t worry; be happy.  Even though my daughter is dead, I believe.  Yea, yahoo.”

Events outside of Jairus’ control have caused both his fear and his faith.  Jesus, in His mercy, knows all of this.  Jesus does not expect Jairus to have no fear, but He does expect Jairus to handle that fear.  “No fearing; only faithing.”

The main difference between fear and faith is this: Fear is retreating from the battle inward to where there is no help.  Faith is marching outward into the battle and allowing any help to come—even though it is not the help expected.  Faith and fear don’t mix they are like oil and water.  One will drive out the other because fear is the opposite of faith.

God doesn’t allow you to hide behind excuses.  You’re not allowed to pass the buck and say that your fear is only because of outside things coming at you.  No, fear comes to you because you are sinful and because you don’t believe that God can do what He says He can do.

See, even though bad, terrifying things happen to you, God expects you to be able to handle it.  But He doesn’t expect you to handle it on your own.  God is giving you the tools, and you are responsible for what you do with those tools.  God knows; He knows that you are torn between fear and faith.  He knows that fear is tearing you away from faith, and yet He expects and commands you to be tenacious in your faith.  He expects you, against all logic and reason, to run headlong into the battle because faith knows that the battle is the Lord’s.

In Jairus’ case, there wasn’t any place left for him to go.  His only retreat was outward—to believe in Jesus.  To follow the marching orders of his King Who is bringing the rule and reign of God into the world.

And Jairus believed.  He did not put his belief in his faith.  No, he had faith in Jesus’ Word.  Jesus marched with Jairus, and Jesus proved faithful.

Jesus always proves faithful.

The 1^st Commandment, “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.”  What does this mean?  “We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.”

Fear God because He is your Divine, Heavenly Father.  Love God because He has first loved you.  Trust in God because He is the One Who gives you every good thing.

Jairus does not by his own reason or strength believe in Jesus.  But by the power of Jesus’ Word, Jairus believes and not retreat into fear.  Jairus does what is completely unexpected and waits for Jesus to act.  And Jesus does act, not in the way Jairus had expected when he first approached Jesus, but in a much more wonderful way.

And Jesus still acts today.  He doesn’t always act in the way you expect, but He does act in ways that are much higher and more wonderful than you could ask or imagine.  He has acted today in these waters of baptism.  He had acted as you have been fed by His Word.  And He is about to act as He gives to you His body and blood for the forgiveness of your sins.

He says to you now, “No fearing; only faithing.”  Amen.

Mark 4:35–41 ³⁵ On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” ³⁶ And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. ³⁷ And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. ³⁸ But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” ³⁹ And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. ⁴⁰ He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” ⁴¹ And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

Grace, mercy, and the peace that surpasses all understanding be to you from God the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.

“Who is this?” The disciples asked, “Who is this that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”  The disciples were filled with a great fear (v. 41) and wanted to know.

Who is this Man Who has called the disciples to follow Him?  The disciples have been following and have witnessed Jesus say and do some amazing things.  They heard Him proclaim, “The time is fulfilled and Kingdom of God is at hand.  Repent and believe the Gospel.”  They saw Him rebuke and cast out demons.  They saw Him heal those who were sick in crowds that thronged around Him.

Still, the disciples ask after Jesus calms the storm, “Who is this?  Who is this that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”

Sure it is amazing when a person heals someone of their leprosy.  It is nifty when a person casts out a demon.  But those things had happened before.  In fact, God had given people power to do those things for centuries.  Through His prophets and judges and great men and women, God had done some great things.

This, this is different.  This is different because now “even the wind and the sea obey this Guy.”

Who is this Man in the boat with the disciples?  Who is this Man, this Jesus, Who speaks to the wind and the waves as though they are in His pets, and they listen, and they obey—Who is He?

Jesus had put His disciples in in the driver’s seat telling them, “Hey, let’s go to that other side over there.”  So, the disciples dismissed the crowd and took Jesus in the boat.  On the way across, this ‘great windstorm’ arose—lit. ‘a cyclone, a great, a windy.’  The description is a little redundant, cyclones are usually big and windy.  This one was especially so.

The Sea of Galilee was and still is famous for these terrible storms.  There was a storm in March of 1992 on the Sea of Galilee where waves were measured at 10 ft.  Archeologists have found a boat from around Jesus’ time, its height is just over 4 ft.—remember that about half of that (depending upon how the boat is built) will be under water while the boat is floating.  Now, the disciples were seasoned fishermen; they grew up on this lake.  But this storm had them worried.  The boat was already filling with water.  Jesus had put them in the driver’s seat, and things were not going well.

The disciples looked in the stern, the back of the boat, and there was Jesus, sleeping on a cushion.

Don’t misunderstand the disciples’ question in v.38.  They were not accusing Jesus of being indifferent.  In fact, the opposite.  They, when they ask the question, expect a positive answer.  “Jesus, we are perishing.  You care, right?”

Notice the disciples woke up Jesus to ask this question and then in v. 39 Jesus ‘awoke.’  The disciples woke Jesus up from His sleeping, and their question really woke Him up so that He was ready to act.

But Jesus didn’t trim the sails and ply the oars.  He didn’t tell them to change course to head into the waves so they don’t break over the sides.  The disciples, these experienced sailors, turned to least-seasoned sailor.  They turned to the ‘Teacher’—the carpenter’s Son.

Jesus spoke to that great windy cyclone and to that mighty sea; a better translation would be, “Be quiet, shut up.”

These commands from Jesus were words the disciples had heard Jesus speak before—to demons.  When demons had spoken about Him, Jesus told them sternly to “Shut up” (Mk. 1:25) [sorry parents].  The fact that demons obeyed His commands was amazing, but now Jesus commands the wind and sea.

At the words of Jesus, this ‘great storm’ is turned into a ‘great calm.’  Then this Man Who commanded the wind and sea turned to His disciples and asked, “You become cowardly and timid at wind and waves?  Have you still no faith?”

Do you get the sense that Jesus is frustrated with His disciples?  You should.  But don’t get all self-righteous though, you wouldn’t have done any better.  In fact, you don’t do any better.

The disciples were filled with a ‘great fear.’  Notice the ‘greats’ in this text: a ‘great cyclonic windstorm’ (v. 37) silenced by Jesus into a ‘great calm’ (v. 39) which then produces a ‘great fear’ (v. 41).

It wasn’t the storm that caused this great fear; it’s not the great calm that causes the great fear.  The great fear was caused by the realization that the disciples were in the presence of the One Who can speak and create this great calm.  This fear is the true fear of God.

The disciples woke Jesus up because they assumed that He would act to save them, but the extent to which He saves them causes them to fear greatly.

Today, ask with the disciples, “Who is this?  Who is this that even the wind and the sea obey Him.”

Yahweh, the great I Am, had asked Job in our Old Testament text (Job 38:1-11), “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?  Who determined the earth’s measurements—surely you know!  Who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb?  [Who] prescribed limits for it and set bars and doors, and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed’?”

Job couldn’t answer Yahweh’s question, but Jesus can.  He is dressed for action like a man and can make known to God these answers.

Jesus can answer, “Yes, I was there.  I was the Word which You spoke.  I was there in the beginning with Yahweh.  All things were made through Me” (Jn. 1:1-2).  Jesus is the kind of man Who heals, casts out demons, forgives sins, and even dominates creation, all with His Word.  Jesus has the authority that we think only belongs to God.  Indeed, Jesus is God with us.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was in control over the waters when the earth was created.  He was in control over the waters that destroyed the earth but raised up Noah and his family.  And Jesus was in control of the waters that day on the Sea of Galilee.

Jesus didn’t stop being in control of the waters though.  He has been given all authority in heaven and on earth (Mt. 28:18).  He was in control of the waters of the Red River when they rose to 54.35 ft. on April 22, 1997; He said to the water, “This far shall you come, and no farther.”  He was in control of the waves when the tsunami rolled over Japan; He said, “Here shall your proud waves be stayed.”  He was in control of the waters this past week as they fell on Duluth.

“Who is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”  That word obey that the disciples use in their question might be somewhat surprising.  It literally means “to be under the sound/word of.”  Obey is a fine one-word translation, but it is not the robotic, “I hear and obey.”  It could be translated “be subject to” or “follow.”

“Who is this, that even the wind and the sea are subject to His Word?”

He is Jesus, the One Who still speaks to the waters.  He puts His Word in the waters of baptism.  He tells those waters to flood over you and to wash away sins—and they do.  His Word in those waters brings peace and forgiveness.

Jesus is still Lord over creation.  His creation still listens to Him.  But this text doesn’t give you any promises that Jesus will turn all the storms of your life into a great calm.

The comfort of this text is much greater.  Jesus has calmed the greatest storm of all—the eternal wrath of God that you deserve because of your sins.  He has taken that upon Himself.

When the subsequent storms of this life are stiffed up by this sinful world, remember that Jesus Christ is in you.  Maybe, though, you think He is sleeping.  You think that because you have forgotten His presence.  Rouse Him.  Remember Him.

Pray the Psalms: Ps. 44:23 ²³ Awake! Why are you sleeping, O Lord? Rouse yourself! Do not reject [me] forever!  Ps. 35:23 ²³ Awake and rouse yourself for my vindication, for my cause, my God and my Lord!

He keeps watch within you.  Heed Him.  Be under His Word.  Especially that Word that He has spoken to you which has made you clean (Jn. 15:3).  Amen.

Acts 2:14a; 22-36—But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them…

²² “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— ²³ this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. ²⁴ God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. ²⁵ For David says concerning him,

“‘I saw the Lord always before me,

for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;

²⁶   therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;

my flesh also will dwell in hope.

²⁷   For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,

or let your Holy One see corruption.

²⁸   You have made known to me the paths of life;

you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’

²⁹ “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. ³⁰ Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, ³¹ he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. ³² This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. ³³ Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. ³⁴ For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,

“‘The Lord said to my Lord,

“Sit at my right hand,

³⁵        until I make your enemies your footstool.” ’

³⁶ Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from the Triune God Who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

As I mentioned last week, the sermon text this week is a continuation of Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost.  The people who compiled the lexicon decided to keep a tiny little part of v. 14 to make sure that we remember that Peter is preaching.

Peter’s sermon is interesting.  Peter, you remember is that bold disciple who always has something to say.  Peter was usually the one who would speak when the other disciples were silent.

It was Peter who asked Jesus if he could come out to walk on the water (Mt. 14:22-33).

It was Peter who confessed about Jesus, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Mt. 16:16).

It was Peter who bragged, “Even if all the other disciples fall away, I will never fall away.”  And even when Jesus foretold Peter’s denial, Peter spoke even further, “Even if I must die with You, I will never deny You” (Mt. 26:31-35).

It was also Peter who spoke beside the fire in the court of the Sanhedrin when he was asked three times if he knew Jesus.  It was Peter, when he was asked this third time if he knew Jesus, who called down a curse upon himself (Mk. 14:66-72).

Peter likes to talk.  So what is Peter going to preach about after his Lord Jesus has died, risen, and ascended into heaven?

Peter preaches about Jesus Christ, crucified, risen, and ascended to the Father with all rule and authority.  Peter preaches about Jesus, but he also preaches about his hearers.  Peter says, “You saw this Jesus of Nazareth.  He was in your midst doing mighty works, wonders, and signs.  You saw those mighty works of God that Jesus was doing, but you killed Him.”

Peter puts the Lord Jesus Christ before the crowd.  Peter points his finger at the crowd and says two times, “You crucified Him.”  That’s a pretty bold statement to make, “This Jesus, Whom you crucified.”  That’s a bold statement, Peter.

It was just 50 days before, that Peter denied even knowing Jesus.  And now, Peter isn’t being asked if he knows Jesus, Peter is only being accused of being drunk.  All Peter can do is speak about Jesus.  All Peter can do is put the crucified, risen, and ascended Jesus Christ before the crowd.

Peter declares that this is no surprise.  King David wrote about this about a thousand years, a millennium, before.  King David was a prophet who foresaw by the knowledge of God that Jesus would be raised from the dead.  You can go and see David’s tomb, but not Jesus’ tomb.  Jesus was raised and is exalted and seated at the right hand of God ruling and reigning.

Peter says, “Jesus is both Lord and Christ,” then he puts his finger right back in their faces, “Whom you crucified.”

That’s pretty bold Peter it’s pretty bold to point the finger at your listeners when you were the one who denied Him.  But that is what Peter preaches.

Now, notice what Peter doesn’t preach about. Peter doesn’t preach about when Jesus called him and his brother Andrew saying, “Follow Me, and I’ll make you fishers of men” (Mt. 4:18-22).

Peter doesn’t preach about when Jesus was transfigured on the mountain, when he himself stood with Moses and Elijah and Jesus as the voice of God said, “This is My Beloved Son with Whom I am well pleased” (Mt. 17:1-8).

Peter doesn’t preach about when many followers abandoned Jesus after He fed the 5000.  Peter doesn’t mention his  response to Jesus’ question, “Do you want to go away as well?”  when Peter said, “Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life” (Jn. 6:66-69).

Maybe the most interesting thing is that Peter does not preach about the forgiveness that Jesus gave him even after he had denied Jesus (Jn. 21:1-19).  Peter doesn’t speak about that morning on the Sea of Galilee when he jumped out of the boat for joy because he saw Jesus.  Peter doesn’t speak about how he swam to the shore and ate that breakfast with Jesus by the sea.  Peter doesn’t speak about the three times that Jesus asked him, “Peter, do you love Me?”  Peter doesn’t preach that Jesus forgive him and told him to take care of His sheep.

Peter doesn’t tell the crowd, “Your sin may be great, but Jesus forgave me and Jesus can forgive you.”  Peter doesn’t preach about that.

Jesus had forgiven Peter, but Jesus’ work was bigger than that.  Jesus is the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of Peter (Jn. 1:29).  Jesus went even deeper and bore Peter’s sins in His body (1 Pet. 2:24).  Jesus confessed Peter’s sins as though Jesus had committed them Himself.  But Jesus went even deeper and actually became Peter’s sin (2 Cor. 5:21).

But Jesus didn’t do this just for Peter.  Jesus’ work is even bigger than that.  Jesus did it for you.

Jesus is the Lamb of God Who takes away your sin.  Jesus went even deeper and bore your sins in His body.  Think about your most secret sins—those sins that are so terrible that you haven’t specifically confessed them—Jesus knew about them even before you committed them.  Jesus confessed your sins as though He had committed them Himself.  Jesus actually became your sin.

Jesus told the Law to get off of your case.  He told the Law, “I, Christ Jesus, the Son of God, will become a curse.”  So the Law accused Christ and killed Him.  Then the law, “looked around and found no other sin anywhere in the world” (Paulson, Steven D.).  Christ is the “end of the law” for you (Ro. 10:4).

There is therefore now no condemnation for you who are in Christ Jesus; He has set you free from the law (Ro. 8:1-2).  And if Jesus Christ, the Son of God, sets you free, you are free indeed (Jn. 8:36).  Amen.

Acts 2:1-21—When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. ² And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. ³ And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. ⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

⁵ Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. ⁶ And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. ⁷ And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? ⁸ And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? ⁹ Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰ Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, ¹¹ both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians – we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” ¹² And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What is this all about?” ¹³ But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

¹⁴ But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. ¹⁵ For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. ¹⁶ But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

¹⁷   “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,

that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,

and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

and your young men shall see visions,

and your old men shall dream dreams;

¹⁸   even on my male servants and female servants

in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.

¹⁹   And I will show wonders in the heavens above

and signs on the earth below,

blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;

²⁰   the sun shall be turned to darkness

and the moon to blood,

before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.

²¹    And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be

saved.’

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Pentecost.  The Jewish festival of Pentecost existed before the day of Pentecost.  God had instituted a feast called the Feast of Weeks which was celebrated a week of weeks (7 weeks of seven days), fifty days, after Passover and later became called Pentecost.  The ‘Feast of Weeks’ or Pentecost was a harvest festival—it was a feast similar to our Thanksgiving.  Pentecost was a time for people to rejoice because of God’s provision in the past, to be thankful for God’s provision in the present, and to look forward to God’s provision in eternity.  The festival in the New Testament days, and even for Jews today, had a strong focus on the last days where God would provide for His people.

The Christian Church today is sometimes overly focused on the supernatural events of Pentecost—the wind, the fire, the tongues—to the detriment of the significance of that day for you and I, the Church.  Those amazing, terrifying events—the mighty rushing wind, the tongues of fire, and general commotion of God pouring out the Holy Spirit—are only signs to what God does each and every time the Gospel is proclaimed.

Fifty days after Jesus was raised from the dead, the disciples were all together in once pace sitting.  “Suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house.”  They didn’t stay sitting very long.  They were “all filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages as the Spirit gave them utterance.”  They were speaking specifically about “the mighty works of God.”

The Tower of Babel was reversed.  Yahweh had previously confused the languages of mankind to disperse them.  Now He is un-confusing them in order to unite them in what Christ has done for all mankind.

Speaking in these different languages, the disciples were proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus.  Peter’s sermon is focused completely on Christ.  Peter spoke about Jesus’ miracles (which many of the crowd would have at least heard of if not seen), about Jesus’ deliverance to Pilate, about Jesus’ crucifixion and death, and about Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.

These are the “mighty works of God,” and they all focused on Christ.

After being accused of being filled with new wine to the point of being drunk, Peter begins to preach.  He declares that these, indeed, are the ‘last days’ as described by the prophet Joel.  God is pouring out His Spirit upon all flesh.  Sons and daughters are prophesying.  Young men are seeing visions; old men are dreaming dreams.  Even male and female slaves are receiving the poured-out Holy Spirit and prophesying.  This is the time, as God had declared, that He would act in a new, awesome, and very visible way.  God is acting—just as He acted in the past.

Take the time to read about Israel at the foot of Mt. Sinai as Moses went up to receive the Ten Commandments (Ex. 19-20); or Elijah being taken into heaven (2 Kgs. 2:1-14).

Look at the sending of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost in light of our Old Testament text (Ezek. 37:1-14) Ezekiel in the Valley of Dry Bones.  As Ezekiel stood in that valley, God told him to prophecy over the dry bones and to the wind.  The bones were joined bone to bone with sinews and flesh.  And those bones were given the breath of life.

God says the same happens to all believers.  God hears His people dead in sin and crying out that their bones are dried up, hope is lost, and they are cut off.  But God says, “No.  The day will come when I will open your graves, I will raise you from your graves, and I will bring you into the Promised Land.  Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I put My Spirit within you.  Then you shall live.  I, Yahweh, have spoken, and I will do it.”

That day is Pentecost.  At Pentecost, the Father poured out His Spirit.  Jesus sent the Counselor, the Comforter, the Protector, the Helper to you.  It is done, and yet it continues.

The Holy Spirit was given on that day of Pentecost and we celebrate that coming today.  But while we celebrate this as a historical event, we recognize this is an event that happens continually.  Every Sunday is a little Easter.  Every Sunday is a little Pentecost as Jesus’ Spirit comes by water, by Word, and by bread and wine.  Every time Christ is proclaimed, there is another Pentecost.

Pentecost—that harvest feast—happened corporately for the church 2000 years ago.  The harvest continues individually in the lives of believers as God sends His messengers to proclaim all that Jesus has done.

The first Pentecost was, as Peter said, a “great and magnificent day.”  Imagine the signs, sounds, and words of that day of Pentecost.  We wonder, “Why God don’t we get to see some of those signs today?  Why don’t we get to have this amazing and awesome experience that they had back then?”

One theologian commented, “We too often get distracted by the fireworks of Pentecost to know what the celebration is all about.”  Don’t let the signs distract you from the real meaning of Pentecost.  Jesus has come, died, and risen again—all for you and your salvation.

As you call upon the name of the Lord, you are saved.  In baptism, God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit places His name upon you.  In faith, you call out to God as your Father Who created you, God the Son Who has redeemed you, and God the Holy Spirit Who sanctifies you.

Pentecost happens daily, as you call out to Him in repentance, “Forgive me of my sins.”  It happens repeatedly as you hear the Gospel message of what Christ has done for you.

By your own reason or strength you cannot believe in Jesus Christ your Lord or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called you through the Gospel, enlightened you with His gifts, and sanctified and preserved you in the true faith; in like manner as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and preserves it in union with Jesus Christ in the one true faith; in this Christian Church, He daily forgives abundantly all your sins and the sins of all believers, and at the last day 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.