Tag Archives: Advent

The Word Among Us – Sermon on John 1:14-18 for Midweek Advent 3

John 1:14-18

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Moses saw some amazing, glorious things during his lifetime. It began when he was an 80-year-old shepherd for his father-in-law. Moses saw and talked with God at the bush that burned but wasn’t consumed (Ex. 3:1-2). When Moses approached the bush, God told him to remove his sandals because he was standing on holy ground (Ex. 3:5), so Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God. Rightly so.

Later, as we heard in tonight’s Old Testament reading (Ex. 33:18-34:8), Moses got a lot bolder than he was back at the burning bush. He asked to see God’s glory. God agreed but with a big caveat. “Ok, Moses, I’ll let you see all My goodness and will proclaim My name, Yahweh, before you. But you cannot see My face, for man shall not see Me and live.” In short, God’s presence is dangerous for fallen mankind. God has to hide His glory from sinners. So, God put Moses in the cleft of a rock and shielded Moses with His hand. And God only removed His hand after He had passed by so Moses could see His back.

There in the cleft of the mountain, God revealed Himself. But even better than that, God proclaimed and defined what His name means, “Yahweh, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.” Moses was the only human on the mountain when he saw God’s glory (Ex. 34:3) because God had something better in mind for how to reveal Himself to His people.

Shortly after God appeared to Moses, God’s people constructed the Tabernacle. God had told them build the Tabernacle so He could dwell among them (Ex. 29:45-46; Lev. 26:11-12). God needed to contain His holiness and glory in a way that His people could approach Him without being destroyed. That is why the Tabernacle was constructed the way it was. For God to dwell among His people, the priesthood, the sacrifices, the blood, the incense, and all sorts of offerings were required.

Even with all the safeguards of the Tabernacle, it was only on one day out of the year, the Day of Atonement, that the high priest, and only the high priest, could enter the Holy of Holies where God dwelled. And even then, the high priest would have to change his clothes fourteen times, wash himself almost 10 times, and offer dozens of sacrifices to safely approach the awesome, holy glory of God. That’s the theology of the Tabernacle. Yes, God wanted to dwell with His people, but they needed protection from His holiness and glory so they wouldn’t be consumed.

But now, here in John 1:14, John says, “the Word became Flesh and dwelt among us.” Now, the Greek word translated ‘dwelt’ is skēnē, which literally means ‘tabernacled.’ “The Word became flesh and tabernacled among us.” Because of this fact, we can truthfully sing, “Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; / Hail th’ incarnate Deity, / Pleased as Man with man to dwell; / Jesus, our Immanuel.” And this is the wonder of all wonders.

The Incarnation, the fact that God became one of us, is how God reveals Himself and His glory to us. Yes, God wraps Himself in flesh, but He wraps Himself in a different way than how you use wrapping paper. When you wrap your gifts, you are trying to keep the gift a secret from the person you are giving it to until he or she opens it. Once they tear the wrapping paper off the gift, the gift isn’t a secret anymore. The Incarnation isn’t like that – it isn’t a secret. Instead, it’s a mystery. And the difference between a secret and a mystery is that a secret is no longer a secret once it is revealed. A mystery is different. A mystery remains a mystery even after it is revealed, and the more you think about a mystery the more mysterious it becomes.

The Eternal Word wraps Himself in flesh so He can tabernacle and dwell with you. In Col. 2:9, Scripture says, “In [Christ] the whole fullness of the Deity dwells bodily.” Jesus does this so you can see and behold His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. And this Eternal Word who tabernacles with you is full of grace and truth.

Back in our Old Testament reading, God proclaimed that He is the God who abounds “in steadfast love and faithfulness.” Without getting into too much grammar and vocabulary stuff, that is very phrase – ‘steadfast love and faithfulness’ – that John is picking up when he says that Jesus is “full of grace and truth.” But notice the difference here in Jn. 1. Jesus doesn’t just proclaim that He abounds in grace and truth like He did when Moses was safely nestled in the cleft of the rock. No. Now in Christ, God reveals it.

The Eternal Word humbled and emptied Himself by being born in the likeness of men. God came in human form and became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (Php. 2:8). And from the fullness of Christ’s grace and truth, you receive grace on top of grace (Jn. 1:16).

Dear saints, Jesus makes God known. He reveals what God thinks of you. He gives you His grace, and on top of that, He gives you more grace, and more grace, and more grace…

I want to close these Advent services pondering that:

In our normal, human lives, growing up and maturing is a gradual shift from dependence to independence. When you’re born you are totally dependent on others doing things for you – feeding, cleaning, clothing, sheltering, protecting, etc. And as you grow, you become more independent. You don’t need others as much because you can do it yourself.

Spiritual growth is the opposite. Growing and maturing in faith is becoming more and more like a child (Mt. 18:3-4). Being a stronger Christian is learning that you are needy, learning that you need to borrow all that you are and all that you have from Jesus. Dependent upon Him, you receive grace upon grace from His fullness. That is how you mature as a believer. You receive from Him more and more.

That is precisely why the Eternal Word became flesh. He did it so He could dwell with you. So He could live for you. So He could die for you. So He could rise again for you. So He could ascend into heaven and rule over all creation for you. So He could forgive you. So He could give you His mercy. So He can give you grace upon grace. And so you could live and reign forever and ever with Him. Amen.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Php. 4:7). Amen.

The Word & Children of God – Sermon on John 1:6-13 for Midweek Advent 2

John 1:6-13

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

These verses make the Advent and Christmas seasons feel like the coming of Spring. And I know we just had our first major snowstorm. We’re currently in meteorological Winter, but astronomical Winter is still eleven days away. Daylight keeps getting shorter. I get it. But even though the coldest days of winter are, probably, still ahead of us, this text fills our sanctuary with a hint of Spring. Can you smell it?

Jesus, the Eternal Word, was there at the beginning of creation with God and as God. All things were created through Christ. In Jesus was Life, and the Life was the Light of men. That Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. Jesus, the true Light has arrived, not as a conqueror from a far, distant country, but to rescue you from the darkness of death. The winter of sin is passing. Jesus, the Word made flesh, has come. And the Life that Christ brings is budding all around you even now. Dear saints, because Jesus has come, you now live in the never-ending Spring of the new creation (2 Co. 5:7).

John the Baptizer came as a herald to point to Christ, the Light. John was there calling everyone into Jesus’ Light. But then, when the Light burst through the darkness to shine on everyone, many sank further into the shadows (Jn. 1:10-11). And sadly, this is still too often the case. The Light can be rejected. In Jn. 3:19-20, we learn why it is rejected, “Light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the Light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the Light and does not come to the Light, lest his works should be exposed.”

Light reveals the things hidden in darkness. That’s why, when Jesus came as Light, it seemed to many as though judgment had come. But Jesus was not sent into the world to judge the world. No. He came in order that the world would be saved through Him (Jn. 3:17). Jesus came to give Light to the world, to take away sin, and to give eternal life. But His coming felt like judgment because His presence exposes the darkness and filthiness of sinners. In the Light of Christ, there is no hiding. So, the Light is a threat to the will and the way of every sinner. That’s why sinners hate and reject the Light. Even though the darkness cannot overcome the Light (Jn. 1:5), people can love and choose the darkness instead of receiving the Light (Jn. 1:11).

But to all who did receive the Light, to all who believed in His Name, He gave the right and the authority to become children of God (Jn. 1:12). That’s you, dear saints. You, believer. You are rightfully children of God through faith in Christ. And this idea of being God’s child here in Jn. 1 is so rich and unique. But first, we need to recognize what that phrase ‘children of God’ doesn’t mean – at least not in these verses.

The Bible does talk about all humanity being children of God by virtue of our creation. Because Adam was created in God’s image (Gen. 1:27), he is called the son of God – lowercase ‘s’ (Lk. 3:38). Since your first ancestor is God’s son, you also are a child of God. Malachi 2:10 says that since God created us, He is everyone’s Father. In Act. 17:28-29, Paul says that all people are God’s offspring. So, yes, we are God’s children by virtue of creation. The Bible does teach that. But we have a severe problem if that’s the only kind of childhood we have because our sin has totally and completely alienated us from God. It isn’t a stretch to say that we divorced ourselves from Him by our sin. So, being God’s child by virtue of creation is not the childhood John has in mind here.

Better than the childhood that comes by virtue of your creation is the fact that the eternal Son of God took on flesh and became one of you. So, Moses in our Old Testament reading (Dt. 18:15-19) could rightly prophesy that God would raise up a prophet like him “from among you, from your brothers.” By virtue of Jesus’ incarnation, He has become your Brother. Since Jesus is your brother, you share a Father with Him, which means that you are a child of God. And this is amazing news that we will be pondering for all eternity. But even as wonderful as that is, it still isn’t the kind of childhood that John talks about here.

Dear saints, here John says that you are a child of God by virtue of a birth. None of us here can say that we chose to be born. You didn’t cause your birth or make it happen. In the same way, it isn’t your will, or the will of any other human, that causes you to be born of God. James 1:18 says this plainly, “Of [God’s] own will He brought us forth by the Word of Truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures” (also 1 Pet. 1:23).

So, John is not talking here about a physical birth. It wasn’t anything that nature can accomplish. It’s a miraculous birth that God Himself brings about by the means that He has established. And Jesus teaches about this birth in Jn. 3 when He sheds His Light as He talks with Nicodemus at night. It is a birth that comes from above (Jn. 3:3). It is a birth of water and the Spirit (Jn. 3:5). It is your birth that God has given you through your Baptism. That kind of birth from and of God is solid and sure. God Himself caused it. It’s His action, His working, His doing (Jn. 15:16, 19) that has made you His child.

The Light, which gives light to everyone was coming into the world, and because of what Jesus has done by His death and resurrection, you are born as God’s own child.

Dear saints, again, can you smell it? The winter of sin and death is passing away. The never-ending Spring of the new creation has dawned in Christ. As His Light shines on you now, receive it again. Let it expose and scatter the shadows in and around you. Always cling to the sonship that you have been given. You are God’s child. And in the Spring of Light that He has brought, you will bloom forever in His unending grace and mercy. Amen.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Php. 4:7). Amen.

The Word, the Light, & the Darkness – Sermon on John 1:1-5 for Midweek Advent 1

John 1:1-5

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Texts like this are one of many reasons why I’ll never attempt to create a chronological Bible reading plan. I’m familiar with several of those plans, but none of the ones I’ve seen have these verses from the opening of John’s Gospel anywhere near Genesis 1. And they should be. Parts of these verses are chronologically before the beginning. But I don’t know how exactly how a person could decide where to put them. You have Gen. 1:1, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth,” and Jn. 1:1-2, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” Which of those should come first? How do you order those? Would you put them parallel to each other? I don’t know. There are valid arguments to go either way.

Then, what do you do with v. 3-5? I suppose you could put v. 3-4 after the, “and there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day” (Gen. 1:31). But then, what do you do with v. 5, “The light shines in the darkness”? You might consider putting that back on the first day of creation when God creates light and separates light from dark. But ‘the Light’ there doesn’t refer to light as we know it. There, ‘Light’ refers to Jesus Himself, and He existed even before God said, “Let there be light” (Gen. 1:3). On top of that, “The light shines in the darkness,” is present tense and is always true. Jesus constantly, continually, always shines into and pierces the darkness, and He will never be overcome. So, maybe you’d need to put v. 5 running down the margin of every single page from Genesis to Revelation.

John 1:5 is so comforting. It’s a verse that I would recommend that you tuck in your back pocket so you can contemplate and meditate on it whenever you get the sense that the darkness of this world is gaining the upper hand. It isn’t. Not now. Not ever. The darkness will never win. It can’t. Use Jn. 1:5 to constantly remind yourself, “Jesus is my Life and Light. No darkness will ever overcome Him, so no darkness will overcome me. The darkness simply isn’t strong enough.” Isn’t that a wonderful, comforting thought?

The reason no darkness can overcome Jesus is that He is eternal. There was never a time when He was not. In fact, time itself exists through and because of Him. He created time and everything else that has been made. Scripture clearly teaches that Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem was not His beginning. He always is. Notice it’s not, “He always was” but is (Jn. 8:58; Ex. 3:14).

Look again at our Old Testament reading (Pr. 8:22-31). Jesus, the Word and Wisdom God, is there before the beginning of the earth (Pr. 8:22-23). He was there before the depths were carved. He was there before the mountains were stretched into the sky. He was there before the stars were placed into their orbits and before the foundations of the earth were laid (Pr. 8:24-29). Jesus was right there beside God the Father like a master craftsman (Pr. 8:30). Jesus Himself was the Word that God that the Father spoke and which gave shape and order and beauty to all of creation. And notice the joyful exchange between God the Father and God the Son at the end of that text. God the Son says, “I was daily [the Father’s] delight,” and, “[I was] always rejoicing before [the Father]” (Pr. 8:30).

Jesus delighted in all of God’s creation. But He especially found delight in the crown of God’s creation – the children of man (Pr. 8:31). Just stop and think of that. Do you ever think of yourself as Jesus’ delight and source of joy? You should! Imagine Jesus watching over God the Father’s shoulder as Adam is being formed from the dust of the ground. He stares in amazed joy as God shapes him and uses Adam’s rib to make Eve. And even now, Jesus delights as God knits together every subsequent human who has ever been born – including you (Ps. 139:13-15).

Jesus, the eternal Son of God and God’s life-giving Word, delights in you to the extent that He can’t stand the thought of you being severed from Him. Whenever we sin, we start walking away from God’s Light and into darkness. That is why the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (Jn. 1:14). (We’ll cover that verse in a couple weeks. And I hope I’m not preaching myself into a corner here.) God became flesh for you.

Jesus’ delight in you is so great that even though He was God, He became one of you. He took on your flesh. Now, because of the incarnation, part of God’s nature is that He has a human body. Even though Jesus is true God, He doesn’t refuse to endure the same things that you experience as a human. Jesus got hungry and thirsty. He became tired and weary. Jesus prayed to His Father when He was in danger. 

As God, Jesus is always feeding everyone everywhere in the world. But as a human Infant, Jesus nursed from Mary’s breast and was fed from Joseph’s hand. As God, Jesus never needs to sleep. But as a Man, He sleeps on a pillow in the stern of a boat during a storm (Mk. 4:38). As God, Jesus is the commanding General of all the angel armies. But as a Man, Jesus was strengthened by an angel (Lk. 22:43-44). As God, Jesus put into place the entire starry height of planets, stars, and galaxies. But as a Man, Jesus’ Body is nailed to a block of wood in the shape of a cross. As God, Jesus gives life to all. But as a Man, Jesus’ side was pierced by a spear. Jesus is the One who raises the dead, but He was laid in a tomb for you.

Dear saints, the eternal Word of God – begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God – came down from heaven and was made Man. He did all of this for you. He did this to give you Life and Light. He did this because you are His delight. He will not let the darkness overcome you. And He will bring you to Himself in His eternal city where there will be no more night or darkness. He is and will always be your Light, and through faith you will reign with Him forever and ever (Rev. 21:22-22:5). Amen.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Php. 4:7). Amen.

The Fruit of Liberty – Sermon on Isaiah 11:1-5; Romans 1:1-7; and Luke 4:16-21 for Midweek Advent 3

Isaiah 11:1-5; Romans 1:1-7; and Luke 4:16-21

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Our text from Isaiah 11 tonight (Is. 11:1-5) refers to a shoot, a root, and fruit that will come from a branch rising from an unexpected place – the stump of Jesse. Then, the verses that come immediately after this text (Is. 11:6-10) talk about predators lying down with things that are normally their prey, but none will be hurt or destroyed. Instead, that root of Jesse will be a glorious resting place for all nations. Now, if that portion of Isaiah makes it sound like creation will be restored, you’re hearing it right. All creation will be restored. A harvest of the fruit of liberty will spring from the stump of Jesse.

Our Epistle reading (Ro. 1:1-7) talks about this same Shoot, Jesus, being descended from David. It says that He was declared to be the Son of God in power by His resurrection (Ro. 1:3-4). So, in our reading from Is. 11, we have a picture of hope rising from barrenness, and in our reading from Ro. 1, we have a picture of power from an ancient, kingly line. Now, it might not seem like it at first, but these two pictures are completely compatible.

Many of you know this, but in case you don’t: the Jesse mentioned here in Isaiah was the father of King David. Jesse only does two things in the Bible. In 1 Sam. 16:1-11, Jesse is there when David is anointed to be king after Saul, and he is briefly mentioned in 1 Sam. 17:17-20 when he sends David to see how the fighting is going against the Philistines. David, Jesse’s son, far eclipses his father in the Bible.

That’s why that reading from Isaiah mentions the stump of Jesse and not the stump of David. Isaiah is prophesying that there will be a new David – One who is like David but who will far surpass even what David did. That One is Jesus, who will come and make all things new. The Spirit of God will rest upon Him. The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of Yahweh. This Jesus will be a new and greater King, greater even than David was.

King Jesus will judge the poor “with righteousness” (Is. 11:4a). Normally, when we hear about judging, it means to condemn, but here it means that King Jesus will come to make things right for the poor. King Jesus will, “decide with equity for the meek of the earth” (Is. 11:4b). Unlike the ‘equity’ we hear about today, the kind of equity Isaiah speaks about is a good thing. For the meek and powerless – King Jesus will use His power to make things right.

To summarize what Isaiah is saying in that passage: King Jesus is going to do a whole lot more than simply make the world a little bit better. He is going to defeat death and all violence. He will put an end to suffering. He will restore everything to the way it was in the unshattered bliss of the Garden of Eden.

In Luke 2, we see just how far King Jesus will go to rescue the poor. The Son of God was born not like the son of a powerful general in a mansion, or like a prince in a palace. He was born into the family of a poor carpenter in the tiny village of Bethlehem. He will preach, teach, heal, and die. But from the darkness and gloom of His grave, King Jesus will powerfully rise again (Ro. 1:4).

Now, we’re going to change gears a little bit because we have to consider the Gospel reading (Lk. 4:16-21). One Sabbath, Jesus comes to His hometown of Nazareth, where He had been raised as a Child, and He enters the synagogue. Back in those days, they used a lectionary like we do in church. Certain passages of Scripture were read at different times during the year. That day, the reading was from the prophet Isaiah, and it was Jesus’ turn to read. So, the attendant hands Jesus the scroll.

The way Luke records this, it seems like the attendant had unrolled that scroll to the reading for that day, but Jesus turned the page (I know that’s not how it works with a scroll, but you get the idea), and Jesus reads from a different passage. What He reads is mostly from Isaiah 61:1-2, which was understood to be about the Messiah. The themes of what Jesus reads are very similar to our text from Isaiah 11 tonight, but they are different.

Now, if you read Is. 61:1-2, you’ll see that Jesus does something very interesting. He reads, “The Spirit of Yahweh God is upon Me.” Remember that’s what happened at Jesus’ Baptism. The Holy Spirit descended like a dove and rested upon Him (Mt. 3:16; Jn. 1:33). He continues, “Because [Yahweh] has anointed Me.” The Hebrew word there is the where get our word ‘Messiah,’ and in Greek it would be ‘Christ.’ They both mean ‘anointed one.’ For what purpose did God anoint Jesus?

Jesus keeps reading, “To proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind.” That part about the blind is actually from Is. 42:7 which is a few inches above what He was already reading. Then, Jesus goes back to Is. 61, “To set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of Yahweh’s favor.”

Then, with the reading finished, Jesus rolls up the scroll, hands it back to the attendant, and sits down, which is how they would preach in those days. (When I get older and more frail, we’ll remember this and get a preaching chair for me.) The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on Him. They’re holding their breath to hear what He will preach. But before we consider what He preached, we need to realize something.

This likely took place about one year into Jesus’ ministry. The people had heard that He had been Baptized in the Jordan. They knew that He had turned water into wine, cleansed the Temple, and had done many miracles. They hoped that He would do some of those miracles now, here in His hometown (Lk. 4:23). But Jesus doesn’t. He just sits and preaches this message: “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

There’s more interaction that takes place between the congregation and Jesus that we didn’t hear tonight. But, when Jesus is done preaching, the people drive Him out of the synagogue, out of the town, out to a cliff, and are ready to toss Him over the edge to kill Him. Now, I know I’ve preached some bad sermons in my fifteen years here, but no one has tried to throw me off a cliff afterward – not yet. Maybe, it’s just because we don’t have cliffs in this part of the world. Why do these people want to kill Jesus for His sermon?

Without a doubt, part of the reason was they recognized that Jesus was claiming to be the Messiah. But I think there was more to it than that. It was more personal. When Luke says that Jesus “began to say to them, ‘Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing’” (Lk. 4:21), that’s Luke’s shorthand way of saying he’s summarizing Jesus’ sermon. So, if it was true that the Scripture was fulfilled and good news was being proclaimed to the poor, liberty was being proclaimed to the captives, the recovering of sight was being proclaimed to the blind, and liberty being given to those who are oppressed, do you see what Jesus is calling His hearers through His sermon? He’s saying that they are the poor; they are the captive; they are the blind and the oppressed. They don’t like hearing that, so they want to get rid of Jesus.

Let’s take all of this and apply it to us. First, as we share the Gospel with others, we should be ready for the proclamation that Jesus is the Savior for the poor, captive, blind, meek, and oppressed, we should be ready for that to be rejected simply because all sinners, including us, don’t want to hear that they are those things. If you walked up to a stranger and said, “Jesus forgives you all of your sins,” yes, you are sharing the Gospel with them, but they’re probably going to be offended. They’ll probably respond, “Listen, I’m a good person. Why are you calling me a sinner? Get away from me.”

It’s better to let Christ’s light and love shine through you by being kind, gentle, and merciful and be ready to share why you are those things. Tell them, “God has been kind, loving, and forgiving to me.” With people you know better, just be patient. Eventually, they’ll tell you about their sins, even though they probably won’t use the word ‘sin.’ They’ll talk about their failures, shortcomings, or mistakes. And be ready to share how Christ covers all of those for you.

And as we wrap up this Advent series, that leads to the second way this text applies to us. When God advents (i.e. when He comes), He comes to restore you (Gen. 3:9). They day is soon coming when Christ will return to judge the living and the dead. Until then, you be humble. Be quick to repent. Be quick to believe all that God says to you. When God calls you a sinner, believe Him. When God says that He is faithful and just to forgive sinners and to cleanse them from all unrighteousness (1 Jn. 1:9), believe that too.

Dear saints, the abundant fruit of liberty, forgiveness, and life comes from a place where we would not expect it to come. From the stump of Jesse, from that seemingly dead root, God caused Jesus to sprout, grow, blossom, and bear fruit. Through Jesus, and through Him alone, you have good news. You have liberty. And you have the Lord’s favor. All of that is yours because Jesus has come and defeated sin and death by His cross and resurrection. And He is coming again to bring you to the fullness of His salvation and to eternal life. Amen.

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

Dominion – Sermon on Isaiah 9:2-7; 1 John 2:7-14; & Matthew 4:12-17 for Midweek Advent 2

Isaiah 9:2-7; 1 John 2:7-14; and Matthew 4:12-17

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

When Isaiah tells us that “the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light,” what is the darkness he is referring to? The context of tonight’s passage from Isaiah 9 is the same as last week’s from Isaiah 7. Judah is being attacked by the armies of Syria and Israel, but instead of being firm in faith that God will deliver (Is. 7:9b), King Ahaz is buying help from the evil Assyrian empire (2 Kgs. 16:5-8). In other words, the days were definitely dark because of the enemies they faced.

But because of how the Holy Spirit inspired Matthew to mark the fulfillment of that Isaiah passage in our Gospel reading (Mt. 4:12-17), we know that this darkness is referring to a greater darkness than what covered Judah about 2,700 years ago. The darkness God is promising to deliver His people from is the darkness of sin and death. The light that shines even through that deep darkness is the light Christ brought when He began His ministry calling people to, “Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand” (Mt. 4:17).

Isaiah here was inspired by God to write about something that would happen 700 years later as though the hour of light and redemption had already come. Isaiah spoke as though he was standing before Jesus’ manger, “For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given.” 

A Child, a Son, who will defeat the blackest darkness, becomes a humble, lowly Infant born and laid in a manger.

We love underdog stories. Whether it’s Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer getting the lead spot on Santa’s sleigh, Cinderella or Ariel marrying the handsome prince, Charlie getting the title to Wonka’s chocolate factory, the Mighty Ducks beating the Hawks, Kevin Malone repeatedly booby-trapping the Wet Bandits, or two hobbits destroying the Ring of Power. Even though those are all very different stories, they have the common theme: the outcast(s) overcome their sorrow, pain, and deficiencies to come out on top. The reason those stories captivate us is that they are echoes of the reality of our redemption and salvation that come through the Child who is born and the Son who is given.

This Child and Son Isaiah foretold is born and given for and to you. The Christ-child belongs to you. You are His, and He is yours. Your life depends on Him.

Unlike other under-dogs, He was powerful even from His birth, though it didn’t look like it. Our translation read, “The government shall be upon His shoulder.” I used to misunderstand this phrase. The summer between 3rd and 4th grade, my family drove out to visit my aunt and uncle who were stationed at an Air Force base near Washington D.C. We got to visit the Capitol, White House, and Supreme Court; we saw the Pentagon and the FBI headquarters. All of them are big, impressive buildings where I knew powerful people were making important decisions. After that trip, I would hear these verses from Isaiah and imagine those buildings actually situated on Jesus’ shoulder. Because of that, Jesus was big in my mind, not an infant.

“The government will be on [this Child’s] shoulder.” Each of us probably has a slightly different opinion of the ‘government.’ According to current polls, the government isn’t viewed favorably. Depending on which branch of government people are asked about, the government only has between a 20-40% favorably rating. (That isn’t intended to offene politicians here; it just is what it is.) Because of those different opinions of ‘government,’ probably a better translation of that word for us today would be ‘authority’ or ‘dominion.’ The authority and dominion of all the earth shall be upon this Child’s shoulder. Imagine that. All the authority and all the dominion of all the world (Mt. 28:18) – past, present, and future – is on the shoulder of the Infant in the manger.

The shoulders of the Christ-Child will also bear the entire weight of the world’s sin. He will bear that load to the cross, replacing the darkness of sin and death with His magnificent light. By His coming, spiritual oppression, slavery to sin, wrath, punishment, and judgment are ended, once and for all bringing a perfect and everlasting salvation.

Who is this Child? Isaiah gives us four names: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Each of these names is worthy of a library of sermons, but let’s briefly consider each one:

First, Wonderful Counselor. In this Child, the wonder of all wonders has taken place. In the eternal council of God, a Savior for humanity has taken on flesh to be born. This wonderful, unfathomable, wise counsel of God saves us. Even before the infant Jesus can open His lips, He is full of wonders and counsel.

Second, Mighty God. The Child in the manger is none other than God Himself. God became a Child. That is the greatest thing that could ever be said. Because of Jesus, a human being of flesh and blood is where God dwells among you. The Baby is your God, your Strength, and your Might.

Third, Everlasting Father. This might be the strangest name for a child. The fatherly love of God is demonstrated in this Child who desires to bring God’s love earth. Yes, this name demonstrates the unity between the Father and the Son (Jn. 14:9; Col. 1:15; Heb. 1:3), but even better than that is the fact that this name reveals that the Son of God takes all the love of His Father in heaven and delivers that love down to you here on earth.

Fourth, Prince of Peace. When this Child is born and this Son is given, peace is secured between you and God as well as between you and others. When you have conflict and strife with others, remember how God has become your brother out of His love for you. In a world filled with violence, the Prince of Peace brings His perfect peace that surpasses all understanding.

After giving these four names, Isaiah goes on to tell us about what kind of kingdom and dominion Jesus will have. His kingdom and dominion will continually increase until it fills all creation (2 Pet. 3:13). It doesn’t matter how great, mighty, and powerful this world appears. It is nothing compared to the dominion of justice and righteousness that Christ brings to you.

Jesus doesn’t fight and advance His dominion with weapons. He conquers and expands His dominion through words. His preaching is the iron rod which shatters the nations and the double-edged sword (Heb. 4:12) that converts hearts. And His dominion will last forever. He guarantees it. “The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”

Dear saints, God brings His plans to completion either with us or despite us, and He desires for you to be with Him. Children of God, your sins are forgiven for His name’s sake. Because of Him, you know Him who is from the beginning. Through Him, you overcome the darkness of the evil one. In Him, you know the Father and are made strong because His Word abides in you (1 Jn. 2:12-14).

For you, this Child – who is your Wonderful Counselor, your Mighty God, your Everlasting Father, your Prince of Peace – is given and born. Isaiah foretold it, and you live in its fullness. Amen.

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

The Sign – Sermon on Isaiah 7:10-14; Galatians 4:4-7; & Luke 1:26-38 for Midweek Advent 1 2024

Isaiah 7:10-14; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 1:26-38

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

God’s Word always works. Sometimes, it’s instantaneous. At creation, God said, “Let there be…” and whatever God said on each of the six days of creation simply was (Gen. 1). We see this same thing in many of Jesus’ miracles. Our Lord would say, “Receive your sight,” to blind eyes (Mt. 9:28-29); “Be opened,” to deaf ears (Mk. 7:34); “Your son lives,” to a frantic father (Jn. 4:50, 53); and “Come out,” in front of the grave of dead-as-a-doornail Lazarus (Jn. 11:43). And all of things happened immediately.

However, it’s also true that God will say something, and time passes. The thing God says still happens. It just takes a while. God told Moses to go back to Egypt, deliver His people out of slavery, and bring all of them to worship Him on Mt. Sinai (Ex. 3:10-12). It happened, but it took a while (Ex. 19:1-2). God told Noah that He would send a flood to destroy all flesh (Gen. 6:13-22). That happened too, but only when enough time elapsed for Noah to build the ark and herd the animals onto it – possibly about 100 years (Gen. 5:32; 7:6). Ultimately, It doesn’t matter if God’s Word is delayed. What God says happens.

But we are impatient people. Even though time after time God has proven His faithfulness to His Word, we wrongly start to doubt and take matters into our own hands. Abraham believed God’s Word that he would be the father of many nations (Gen. 12:1-3; 15:1-6), but the delay in the fulfillment of that promise led Abraham to have a son with his wife’s servant, Hagar (Gen. 16:1-4). That momentary unbelief of Abraham, though forgiven, still has devastating repercussions to this day. You can wait and trust that God will come through on His Word (Hab. 2:3).

In our text tonight from Isaiah, King Ahaz of Judah is facing a problem. Neighboring countries are attacking Judah. The king of Israel and the king of Syria joined forces and invaded his land, they have besieged Jerusalem, but they hadn’t been able to destroy it. So, Ahaz devises a plan, but it’s a stupid plan. He asks for help from another one of his enemies, the king of Assyria, to fight against Israel and Syria. Ahaz even takes the gold out of the Temple to buy Assyria’s help (2 Kgs. 16:5-8). But God sends the prophet Isaiah to tell Ahaz that He’s in control and that Ahaz doesn’t need to fear Israel and Syria because they are nothing more than smoldering stumps (Is. 7:1-9).

That Isaiah text (Is. 7:10-14) begins when God invites Ahaz to request a sign for proof that He will deliver Judah from her enemies, and it is an open-ended invitation. Ahaz could ask for a sign as deep as Sheol or as high as heaven. In other words, Ahaz could have asked for anything. He could have been selfish and asked God for a million tons of gold to put in his treasury. But Ahaz refuses in a pious sounding way, “I will not put the Lord to the test.” Ahaz preferred to forge ahead with his own plans. He fancied the formidable Assyrian army over God’s invitation to simply trust and be firm in faith that God would deliver (Is. 7:9b). Bad idea. By rejecting that sign, Ahaz also rejected God’s Word and promise. He treated God’s Word as though it was meaningless and impractical. Ahaz had his own plans, and he didn’t want God to interfere with them.

God wasn’t fooled by Ahaz’s fake piety. But still God is merciful and will give Ahaz not just one but two signs of deliverance. One of them, which we didn’t hear, would be fulfilled in Ahaz’s lifetime (Is. 7:15-17). But the sign we did hear is more wonderful because it isn’t only a sign that Judah would be delivered from her enemies. Instead, the promise is that God would deliver all humanity because God would come and dwell among us.

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel,” which means ‘God with us’ (Mt. 1:23). God promises that He is coming. And when He comes, He comes to deliver and save. But when God’s acts of salvation are met with unbelief, those acts become a judgment to the one who disbelieves. So, for Ahaz, Immanuel means judgment.

About 700 years later, God came through on His promise of Immanuel. In our Gospel text (Lk. 1:26-38), God sends the angel Gabriel to Mary. Gabriel announces to her that the time to fulfill that promise given to Ahaz has come. Though she is a virgin, she will conceive and bear a Son who will be the fulfillment of God’s promise to dwell with His people as well as all the other promises God had given to save His fallen creation. Mary’s response is completely different than Ahaz’s response. She seems to be filled with surprise and curiosity, “How will this be?” Gabriel simply reassures her that nothing is impossible for God (Lk. 1:37), and Mary simply trusts. “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Lk. 1:38).

Sure, God’s promise that the virgin would conceive took a while – 700 years. But it happened at exactly the right time. God sent forth His Son, born of a woman. Born with your flesh and bone. Born to bear your sins to the cross. Born to redeem you. Born so that you could be adopted, chosen, selected into God’s family. Born so that you would be an heir of God (Gal. 4:4-7).

Dear saints, because God has already given you what is most precious to Him and most needful for you, you can believe that He won’t go back on any of His other promises to you. All of God’s promises find their ‘yes’ in Christ, in Immanuel (2 Cor. 1:20).

Jesus is God with you. And even more than that – Jesus is God for you. God is on your side. You can take His Word to the bank. Amen.

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

Coming Soon – Sermon on John 1:19-29 for the Fourth Sunday of Advent

John 1:19–29

19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” 

24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing. 

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

My college buddies and I try to get together every year. We typically meet at a lake cabin that belongs to the family of one of the guys in our group. Sometimes, we’ll joke that the only reason we invite him is that we meet at his cabin. (He’s actually a great guy.) The majority of our time is spent sitting around a campfire. Since there are at least three eagle scouts and one borderline pyromaniac in that group, building and maintaining the fire is no problem.

We sit around those huge, burning logs sharing stories late into the night, but over the years, I’ve ended up being one of the first to go to sleep. Because I’m one of the first to bed, I’m also one of the first up and get back to the firepit in the morning. When I look at the place that was a roaring fire when I went to bed, all I can see is a pile of ash. The flames are all gone. But when I get down close to that gray ash heap, I can fell there are still hot embers underneath. All it takes to get the fire going again is a paper plate, a few twigs, and a little blowing.

Throughout the Old Testament, God had made promise after promise that the Messiah and Savior would come. Like a huge bonfire, the prophetic promises burned bright and hot. But then, God stopped sending the prophets, and the flames died down. For some 400 years, there was no word from God. By all appearances, there was nothing more than an ash heap, but under those ashes were glowing embers ready to ignite anything placed on them.

Those hot coals were detected with the old priest, Zechariah. The people of Jerusalem had heard the story of how he had seen a vision while he was serving in the Temple, and after that vision he wasn’t able to speak for nine months. The strange thing is that vision and silence coincided with his old wife, Elizabeth, getting miraculously pregnant and having a son. Zechariah was only able to speak again after his son was named John, which was reportedly the name given to him in that vision (Lk. 1:2-25, 57-80). And this John grew up to be a peculiar fellow. He lived out in the desert eating grasshoppers and wild honey.

Then, the breeze started to blow on the embers. John was out in the wilderness preaching and baptizing. He would say things that others were too shy to speak. John was calling soldiers, tax collectors, and everyone to repent (Lk. 3:7-17). The religious leaders didn’t have a problem with that call to repentance. The curious thing about this call to repent was the reason John gave, “for the kingdom of God is near.” Where did John get that idea?

John’s preaching had gotten the embers glowing from beneath the ashes, and now huge crowds of people were migrating from Jerusalem, Judea, and all around the Jordan to hear this preaching and to be baptized by John (Mt. 3:5-6). Just like sticks thrown on hot embers, flames were starting to flicker once again. And that is what got the attention of the religious big wigs in Jerusalem. So, they sent a delegation to John to ask him, “Who are you?”

John confessed, “I am not the Christ. No, I’m not Elijah. No, I’m not the prophet. I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” And John goes on to say, “There is One standing among you that you don’t know, and I’m not worthy to stoop down and untie His sandals.” The flames were growing higher and hotter.

Now, Scripture doesn’t say this for sure, but I like the idea that Jesus was present in that crowd when John says, “among you stands One you do not know,” because it was the very next day that John points to Jesus and says, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” With that preaching, the log was thrown on the flames and a new bonfire ignited.

That new fire of Jesus’ ministry brought miracles, healing, and powerful teaching. It burned brightly scattering and dispersing the darkness of demons. But after three years of Jesus’ ministry, something happened. It looked like the fire completely collapsed and the flames appeared to go out as Jesus died on the cross, but they ignited again in His glorious resurrection. By His death and resurrection, Jesus, the Lamb of God, has taken away the sin of the world. Everyone quickly check. Are you part of this world? Ok. Then Jesus has taken away your sin.

This same Jesus is now ascended into heaven where He sits at God’s right hand interceding for you and pleading your case before God the Father. There, Christ your Savior continually reminds God the Father that the wrath and punishment you deserve has been fully paid by His holy and precious blood. With His nail-scarred hands, Jesus now points to you who trust in Him and says, “That one’s sins are removed as far as the east is from the west” (Ps. 103:12).

Yes, you live some 2,000 years after Jesus died and rose again. Sure, it might look like the light of the fire of Jesus’ ministry has been reduced to nothing more than a pile of ashes. But it’s looked like that before. And our perception can be deceiving. The embers are still there and hot. Christ is not as far away as He may seems to be. He is here. Jesus stands among you. He has promised, “Where two or three are gathered in My name, there I am among them” (Mt. 18:20). He declares to you, believer, “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Mt. 28:20). 

Jesus has come once – born in a barn in Bethlehem. He is coming again in glory and power. And He is come now. It doesn’t matter how gray the ashes appear to be in this sinful world. The embers are glowing hot and bright underneath, ready to ignite at any moment.

Lord willing (Jam. 4:15), we will gather here again tonight to celebrate and remember the birth of our Savior, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Celebrating the birth of Jesus helps to prepare us for His second coming. Believer, He came meek and humble when He was born in Bethlehem to be the Savior. That is why the angels could sing, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased” (Lk. 2:14). That faith prepares you to welcome Him when He comes again in glory on the Last Day.

For those who do not have faith, Jesus’ second coming will be terrifying. There will be no angel to tell you, “Fear not for I bring you tidings of great joy” (Lk. 2:10). Because, when He comes again, He will come to judge the earth (Ps. 96:13, 98:9). You who have faith, you already know the outcome of that judgment. Jesus Himself will be your defense lawyer (1 Jn. 2:1) and judge who will declare you not guilty.

For anyone here who does not have faith in Christ, I love you too much to not tell you that – if you persist in your unbelief and sin – the outcome of your judgment on that day is certain. Jesus will say to you, “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Mt. 25:41). So, quit your stubborn, self-centered, self-righteous ways. Repent of your sin, and believe in Jesus. He loves you and wants you for his own.

And for you, dear saints, Jesus is here now, and He is with you always. The day of His return is coming soon. The embers are still hot and ready to ignite. Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.

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

The Word of Yahweh – Sermon on Jeremiah 1:4-19 and Revelation 19:6-16 for Midweek Advent 3

Jeremiah 1:4-19 & Revelation 19:6-16

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Through this Advent sermon series, we have seen Jesus, the eternal Son of God, in the Old Testament before He became Yahweh incarnate. The first week, we saw how Jesus appeared to Moses in the burning bush as the Angel/Messenger of Yahweh calling Moses to deliver His people out of slavery in Egypt. Last week, we heard how Yahweh defines His name, “I am,” to Moses through the book of Exodus. Tonight, we are fast-forwarding just over 800 years (806 to be exact) to the call of Jeremiah where we see how Jesus, the Word of Yahweh, is active in and through His people.

In that Old Testament reading tonight (Jer. 1:4-19), Jeremiah recounts God calling him to be a prophet. Jeremiah tells us, “The Word of Yahweh came to me” (Jer. 1:4). Now, right off the bat, we don’t want to get the wrong impression about this encounter. When Jeremiah says, “the Word of Yahweh came to me,” it isn’t just some voice in Jeremiah’s head or even something Jeremiah merely hears with his ears. No. Look at v. 9. The Word of Yahweh that comes to Jeremiah has a hand that reaches out and touches Jeremiah’s mouth.

Lord willing (Jam. 4:15), we will gather again this Sunday night and hear from Jn. 1:14 that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. In other words, the God who created all things took upon Himself a body. Now, because of Christmas, being human is part of God’s identity. But here, long before Jesus was born, this Word of Yahweh comes to Jeremiah, stretches out His hand, and touches Jeremiah’s mouth because had a plan for Jeremiah. A plan which had been in place for a long, long time.

The Word of Yahweh didn’t wait for the right person to come along, get all the right education, and amass five years of experience before calling him. Nope! Even before Jeremiah was born or formed in the womb, Yahweh had appointed Jeremiah to be a prophet to the nations (Jer. 1:5). But Jeremiah isn’t too keen on the idea because he’s only a youth (probably under 20 years old), so Yahweh gives Jeremiah this wonderful calling and promise, “Wherever I send you, go. Whatever I command you, speak. You don’t need to be afraid. I’ll be with you.” And that with divine hand, the Word of Yahweh reaches out and places His words in Jeremiah’s mouth. And those words set Jeremiah over nations and kingdoms to pluck up, break down, destroy, and overthrow. And those words also enable Jeremiah to build and plant. In other words, God is going to use Jeremiah to speak His words of Law and Gospel.

Jeremiah served in the twilight of his nation, Judah. Jeremiah’s culture, like our culture today, had drifted far from God’s Commandments. That is why four stated purposes of his preaching are related to judgment – to pluck up, to tear down, to destroy, and to overthrow.

But Jeremiah will also build and plant by preaching beautiful Gospel. He would preach about healing and restoration (Jer. 3:22, 30:17). Jeremiah would preach that even though the people would go into exile, a remnant would return (Jer. 23:3, 50:20). He announced that Yahweh would raise up for David the righteous Branch and make His people righteous (Jer. 23:5-6). Through Jeremiah, God foretold the New Covenant Jesus would institute in Holy Communion where Yahweh would forgive iniquity and remember sin no more (Jer. 31:31-34).

In our text, the Word of Yahweh comes to Jeremiah two more times with these visions of an almond branch and boiling pot. For the sake of brevity, I’m not going to go into too much detail about the significance of why God shows those two particular things to Jeremiah. But we should notice the comfort those visions bring. In the vision of the almond branch, the Word of Yahweh promises that He is watching over His Word to perform it. Through the Word of Yahweh, God announces what is going to do (Am. 3:7), and He follows through. God says what He does, and He does what He says.

And with the vision of the boiling pot, the Word of Yahweh declares that His judgment is about to boil over against the sin of His people. That’s why Jeremiah is to dress himself for work and not hold back the preaching of the Law (Jer. 1:16-17). Even though Jeremiah’s audience isn’t going to like what God says through him, the Word of Yahweh promises that He will make Jeremiah a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls (Jer. 1:18). And even though everyone fights against Jeremiah, God promises to be with him to deliver him (Jer. 1:19). And if God promises to do that for Jeremiah, He can also do it for and to you.

But, we need to change gears here because you and I are not Jeremiah. And yet Jesus, the Word of Yahweh, has called us to proclaim His Word to the people He puts in our lives. The world needs to hear what God has to say. In Mt. 10:27, Christ says, “What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.” That, at times is a daunting call. But dear saints, we cannot shrink back from saying what God has clearly said in His Word. The world has turned upside down because we who bear Christ’s name have been either afraid or ashamed to simply say what the Bible says. Repent.

In Mk. 8:38, Jesus warns, “Whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father.” The opinions of evil, sinful men do not change the truth of what God says. Don’t ever be ashamed or afraid of confessing what God has said in His Word. You, like Jeremiah, can speak the Word of Yahweh before kings and not be put to shame (Ps. 119:46). God is with you and will strengthen you like forged metal upon which the forces of this world will break. Jesus promises that when you are dragged before the authorities of this world to bear witness, you don’t need to be anxious or worried about what to say because the Holy Spirit will give you the very words that need to be spoken, and God will speak through you (Mt. 10:18-20). So speak.

I want to close these Advent sermons with the picture we were given in our Epistle reading (Rev. 19:6-16). There, John sees Jesus, the Word of Yahweh, riding on a white horse. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and He wears many crowns on His head. The armies of heaven follow Him, and from His mouth comes a sharp sword which will strike down the nations that He will rule over with a rod of iron.

That picture is how your Savior is today. Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth (Mt. 28:18). Throughout human history, earthly rulers have and will continue to be in rebellion against Christ, and their treachery has brought harm to creation. But, ultimately, those authorities have no power. Jesus, the Word of Yahweh, has more power than all the forces of the world and all their machines of war combined. This Jesus has come once, and He is coming again.

But there is more to that picture. The first half of that reading shows you – the Church and Bride of Christ. You, believer, are part of that great multitude singing the praises of Christ. Because Jesus came in your flesh, suffered, bled, died, and rose again for you, God has granted you to be clothed in fine, bright, and pure clothes. You stand, clothed in the good works and righteous deeds that God has prepared beforehand for you to walk in (Eph 2:10).

Christ – the Lamb and Bridegroom, the Word of Yahweh – has come. This fact brings terror to the faithless, but that isn’t you. You are His beloved. And He is coming to bring you to to Himself and to eternal life, joy, and peace. Hallelujah! Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.

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

Coming Joy – Sermon on Matthew 11:2-11 for the Third Sunday of Advent

Matthew 11:2–11

2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is he of whom it is written,

“‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, 
who will prepare your way before you.’

11 “Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

What do you do when it appears as though God isn’t interested in what’s happening in the world? What do you do when God doesn’t act the way you expect Him to or just doesn’t seem to care? Today’s Gospel text helps us in the midst of those kinds of questions.

John the Baptizer – that camel hair wearing, locust eating, outspoken prophet in the wilderness – is a combination of a biker gang member, wilderness survivalist, and street-corner preacher. Even before he was born, John was excited about Jesus, leaping in his mother’s womb (Lk. 1:39-44). From the time of his birth, John’s parents knew that he was the one who would prepare the way of the Messiah (Lk. 1:76), and that’s what he did. He pointed people to Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He baptized hordes from Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan (Mt. 3:5). John comforted with the Gospel, but he also boldly called people to repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Mt. 3:5). He rightly called the religious leaders of his day a brood of vipers (Mt. 3:7). Like a good preacher of God’s Word, John rebuked political leaders like Herod who had married his brother’s wife (Lk. 3:19-20). And that is why John is in prison when we meet him here. For his whole life, John had been a faithful steward of the mysteries of God’s Word (1 Cor. 4:1-2).

In our Gospel reading (Mt. 11:2-22), John will soon be executed. He sits in a dank, dark prison cell. In that solitary, lonely dungeon, the devil does to John what he often does to those in isolation. He whispers lies and tries to cast doubt. John’s mind begins to wonder if his whole life’s work had been a sham. John knew the Scriptures taught that the Messiah would give sight to the blind, mobility to the lame, cleansing to the lepers, hearing to the deaf, and life to the dead, and Jesus certainly was doing that. But John also knew that the Messiah would bring prisoners out from the dungeon (Is. 42:7), that bonds would be loosed (Is. 52:2), that captives would be set free (Is. 49:9).

Because of the devil’s whispering and his current situation John starts to question: “Jesus, You’re checking all of the boxes except the one that matters most to me right now. What gives? Why am I here, stuck in this prison? Do You even know I’m in this situation?” No matter how many times God proves faithful in keeping His promises, it can feel as though God has abandoned you when some of His promises to you still lie in the future.

Instead of letting those questions fester and cause more and more doubt, John does exactly the right thing. He goes to God’s Word. John sends two of his disciples to ask Jesus, who is the Word made flesh (Jn. 1:14). “Are You the One who is to come, or should we look for another?” And Jesus, in typical Jesus fashion, doesn’t give a simple, “Yes,” or, “No.” Instead, Jesus responds: “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by Me.”

It’s easy for us to fall into the temptation of thinking that God isn’t active in creation when we experience trials and tribulations like John is. Even when God is making good on all of His other promises, if only one of our own boxes is still unchecked, we start to think that something is off. In those moments, it is easy to forget that God is active in and through our suffering. It’s easy to forget that even your suffering has a holy purpose (2 Cor. 1:8-9).

All the evil that the devil and the world tries to throw at you is turned into good by God. You are not at the whim of a god who may or may not care about you. You do not face a devil who is equal in power with God leaving your outcome in question. Joseph, who was sold into slavery by his brothers, told his brothers, “You meant evil against me, but God used it for good” (Gen. 50:19-20). Just as lifting weights is good exercise and builds up the muscles of your body, the suffering you endure in this world is good for your soul and faith, making it stronger.

The fact that Jesus suffered, died, and rose again is proof that God uses even the wickedness of this world and the suffering caused by evil men for your salvation. I’m not saying that it is an easy thing to believe. What I am saying is that Scripture is clear that suffering is not opposed to the Gospel. When God became a creature, He endured suffering so you can live with Him forever. Jesus saved you through His suffering, and He can and does use your suffering to bring about good because God is still active in His creation.

Jesus is the head of the Church, and you, believer, are His body (Eph. 1:22; Col. 1:18). Among other things, that means whatever you do in this world, Christ, the Head, is acting through you, His body. When you do what your boss tells you, you are God’s body being active in creation, and God blesses what you do. Kids, when you do your homework, you are God’s body being active in creation and preparing for the tasks God has for you in your future. As you are faithful in the things God puts in front of you to do, God is acting in you and through you to benefit your neighbor and creation. Be faithful in those things. Our Epistle lesson (1 Cor. 4:1-5) is an important reminder that the most important measure of what we do isn’t success or numbers that can be measured by others. We stewards shouldn’t care what others think. We shouldn’t even try to judge our own success. We are simply called to be faithful (1 Cor. 4:2-3).

But even as you are faithful, you will face suffering like John did. So, instead of falling into despair when you face suffering, God would have you rejoice in your suffering because suffering produces endurance, which produces character, which produces hope (Ro. 5:3-5). When you suffer, go back to God’s Word. Hear His promises. Hold on to those because God has not and will not fail in delivering you from suffering in this fallen and broken world.

Jesus is coming. He is not just coming sometime in the future. He is the constantly coming One. He has come once, He is coming still, and He will come again in the future. So, be bold and confident that the coming One is still active in His creation. Believer, you can have joy because Jesus has come and saved you.

Joy is not the same as happiness. Happiness and sadness cannot coexist, but joy and sadness can. Joy is not the absence of sadness. Instead, joy is confidence and contentment that God is in control and is taking care of things. Even when everything in this world seems dark and fading, God is in control. He has come. He is coming again. And He comes now to give you His Body and Blood which He gave and shed for the forgiveness of all your sins.

Christian, rejoice in the Lord always. Your Lord is coming. In fact, He is at hand now. Amen.

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

The Name of Yahweh – Sermon on Exodus 34:1-10 and Philippians 2:5-11 for Midweek Advent 2

Exodus 34:1-10 & Philippians 2:5-11

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Last week, we considered how God appeared to Moses at the burning bush with a veiled power and enticing grace. Tonight, we are going to consider a little more on who Yahweh is based on His name. Yahweh means “I Am who I Am” or “I Will Be who I Will Be.” The Hebrew language makes it difficult to know if we should translate this as a present or future tense in English. Either way is legitimate.

Now, way back at the end of Genesis 4, after Seth becomes a father, we are told, “At that time, people began to call on the name of Yahweh” (Gen. 4:26). And throughout the rest of Genesis, people will use ‘Yahweh’ as God’s name. Last week, we heard from Ex. 3:13-15 that Yahweh is the name God gives to Moses so he can verify that is the ‘real deal’ and has come to lead God’s people out of slavery in Egypt. God’s people know Him by that name, but throughout the book of Exodus, Yahweh reveals what kind of God He is in several instances where He talks about His name. Tonight’s reading from Ex. 34:1-10 is the climax. But it is good to also consider those earlier passages so we can see who Yahweh is. And that’s what we’ll do tonight.

Back in Ex. 3:13-15 when God gives that name to Moses, you could almost see it as a slap in the face, as though God is saying, “Listen, Moses, you can’t pin Me down. I’ll be whatever I want to be.” And there is a sense of that. God is free and has the prerogative to be whatever He wants to be. But there is also a sense there that God is about to make Himself known as Yahweh. It’s almost like God is saying, “Moses, I’m about to show you what Yahweh means. I’ll make clear to you, to My people, and to the world who I am.” To Moses in Ex. 3, Yahweh shows that He is the God who remembers His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and He is coming to rescue His people from Egypt.

The next time God speaks His name in this prominent way is in Ex. 6:2-8 which is after Moses has arrived in Egypt and everything has ‘gone south.’ Moses gets to Egypt and tells the elders of Israel that Yahweh is going to lead them out of Egypt (Ex. 4:29-31), and the people believed and worshipped. So far, so good. But then, Moses and Aaron go to Pharaoh and tell him, “Yahweh says, ‘Let My people go,’” but Pharaoh responds, “Who is Yahweh that I should obey His voice? I don’t know Yahweh, and I will not let the people go” (Ex. 5:2). Those were dangerous words for Pharaoh to speak. Instead of letting the people go, Pharaoh makes the Israelites’ slavery more burdensome (Ex. 5:6-19). Now, they have to gather their own straw to make bricks and keep producing the same number of bricks each day. After hearing this, the Israelite leaders leave Pharaoh’s chambers and turn to Moses saying, “Yahweh is going to judge you because you have made us a stench in Pharaoh’s nostrils” (Ex. 5:21).

But God reassures Moses (to paraphrase Ex. 6:2-8), “I am Yahweh who appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but I didn’t show them what Yahweh means. But now, I’m going to enter history and show My people what Yahweh means. I’m going to bring them out of their slavery with a mighty hand and outstretched arm. I’m going to bring them into the land of Canaan. I’m Yahweh.” Notice, though, God isn’t really saying anything new – not yet. Yahweh just keeps repeating His promises, “I am coming to deliver all of My promises to you.”

The next statement that reveals Yahweh’s identity comes after God delivers His people out of Egypt in Ex. 20:2-6 where Yahweh gives the Ten Commandments. Yahweh tells His people at Sinai, “I am Yahweh, your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. Have no other gods before Me.” In other words, God says, “Trust Me to be your God, and see how it goes for you.” He goes on to say, “I, Yahweh, your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.”

Now, up to this point in Exodus, who have been the enemies of Yahweh? Pharaoh and his taskmasters. They have had their iniquities visited upon them. And Yahweh has shown His steadfast love to His people. But the people’s grumbling has been growing along the journey, and their wickedness is about to be on full display.

But before we get to the epitome of that wickedness, Yahweh further defines who He is. Yahweh gives His people instructions to build the Tabernacle. He tells them all the things that they have to do to make this tent. Then, In Ex. 29:45-46, Yahweh says about the Tabernacle, “I will dwell among the people of Israel and will be their God. And they shall know that I am Yahweh their God who brought them out of the land of Egypt that I might dwell among them. I am Yahweh their God.” Here, Yahweh says that He is a God who wants to dwell among His people.

So, to quickly recap who Yahweh has shown Himself to be through Exodus: Yahweh is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He has been faithful to His people and delivered them from slavery. Yahweh is the God who fought for His people with a mighty hand and outstretched arm. Yahweh is their God who visits the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation, but He shows steadfast love and mercy to thousands of those who love Him and keep His commandments. And Yahweh is the God who desires to dwell among His people.

But then, we get to the episode of the golden calf (Ex. 32) where God’s own people show themselves to be His enemies who don’t love Him and keep His commandments. They reject Him and His kingship and replace Him with a god their own hands have made. They ascribe to this golden calf the very things Yahweh has done for them. Now, the enemy of God’s people isn’t external. It isn’t Pharaoh or taskmasters. It isn’t hunger, thirst, or other nations. Yahweh has already shown Himself to be powerful enough to overcome those external threats. What will this mighty, powerful Yahweh do now that the enemy of His people is His people? 

First, Yahweh tells Moses, “Get away from this people so I can destroy them.” But Moses prays to Yahweh to have mercy on the people (Ex. 32:11-14), and God does. And that brings us to our text (Ex. 34:1-10). God passes before Moses and defines Yahweh, “Yahweh a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” Yahweh is the God of power and forgiveness, mercy, grace, and faithfulness.

Throughout the Genesis, there are plenty of places where Yahweh is patient with His people and clearly forgives them. But this is the first time in Scripture where God is said to forgive sin. And notice who it is that declares that Yahweh forgives sin – it’s Yahweh Himself. Forgiveness defines Yahweh. He says so in the face of the sin of His very Own people.

And, yes, Yahweh is also the God who, “will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” Yahweh is just. He will not tolerate those who repeatedly and continually rebel against Him. But even before that, Yahweh declares what defines Him – mercy, grace, love, faithfulness, and forgiveness.

And notice how Moses responds. He bows his head, worships, and prays, “If now I have found favor in Your sight, O Lord, please let the Lord go in the midst of us, for it is a stiff-necked people, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for Your inheritance” (Ex. 34:9).

Dear saints, Yahweh has answered that prayer. He has come to pardon your iniquity and sin. Jesus, Yahweh in the flesh, has come to claim you as His inheritance. John 1:16-18 says that from Christ’s fullness you receive grace on top of grace. Jesus – the Savior of the world who has come, died, and risen again for you – He has made God known. At His name every knee will bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Yahweh (Php. 2:10-11)

‘Jesus’ means ‘Yahweh saves.’ He is a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving your iniquity and transgression and sin. This is who your God is. Amen.

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