Tag Archives: Seen

Holy Hope – Sermon on 1 John 3:1-3 for the Fourth Sunday of Easter

1 John 3:1-3

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

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

At some point every child learns that plants come from seeds. I can’t tell you exactly when I learned it, but I must have been very young. When I was four years old, my friends and I had epic watermelon seed fights at Blue Dog Lake near Waubay, SD. We’d take a big ol’ bite and spit the seeds at each other like tiny black bullets. A grandpa who was there warned me, “Don’t swallow one of those seeds or a watermelon plant will grow out of your stomach!” Of course that isn’t actually possible, but I did know those seeds could grow into watermelons. So that warning terrified me, and I made sure I spit out every single seed.

But just imagine for a moment that you never learned that plants came from seeds. If you saw those tiny black seeds, you would simply think they were annoying little inconveniences that come with enjoying the sweet fruit. You wouldn’t guess that inside that little shell is everything needed for a sprawling vine that will produce two to four melons, each weighing fifteen pounds that are bursting with hundreds of more seeds. The potential is hidden.

This touches on the picture of what it is to be a child of God right now. Now, please know that this is not a perfect analogy. It fits with this text, but don’t use it with other texts like Jesus’ parable of the Sower and the Seed. Fair?

Dear saints, see what the kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God—and we are. The world glances at you and sees nothing special. Sometimes, we look in the mirror and wonder the same thing: “Am I really God’s child?” But don’t let the world fool you. The world did not recognize the eternal Son of God when He came, so it should come as no surprise that it does not recognize us either (1 Jn. 3:1). That’s why the apostle John presses his point. “Beloved, we are God’s children now” (1 Jn. 3:2). The living DNA of Jesus’ divine sonship is alive inside of you. It’s growing. It’s maturing. It’s advancing—even when no one else can see it.

But there is more still to come. “What we will be has not yet appeared. But we know that when Jesus appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is” (1 Jn. 3:2). One day Jesus will appear in glory, and suddenly the full-grown plant will be plain for everyone to see. No more hidden potential. Fully ripened. Glorified. Pure. Perfect. Recognizable as the Father’s own.

Even now, before Christ returns, this hope is doing something powerful in you. Listen to v. 3 again, “Everyone who thus hopes in Him purifies himself as He is pure.” The words translated ‘purifies’ and ‘pure’ both have the root word ‘holy,’ so ‘pure’ is a good translation. That means this hope is active and purifies you right now. It purifies you as Jesus Himself is pure. This hope works like sunlight and steady rain on that buried seed. It draws outward and upward from the life of Christ. It cleanses your thoughts, words, and choices. It makes you holy today because you know what you will be on the day of Christ’s return.

When temptation rises and anger spills out, this hope remembers, “I am a child of Jesus, the Pure One. I don’t need to live like the world lives.” When guilt tries to bury you, this hope declares, “My sins are already washed away in the blood of the Lamb.” When the world mocks your faith or you begin to doubt your own identity, this hope lifts your eyes to Christ, “The world didn’t know Him, so it doesn’t know me. But He knows me. And one day everyone will see what He has been growing all along.”

That brings me to each of you confirmands. Today, you stood before us to say, “Yes, this holy hope is mine.” The seed planted in your Baptism is still growing, and this hope will keep purifying you until Jesus appears.

Wes, you were made God’s child on December 9th, 2012, right over there when God used my hands to Baptize you. Whenever fears or doubts creep in, keep hearing the promise that nothing is impossible for your God (Lk. 1:37).

Graeham, you were made God’s child on August 4th, 2013, at your home in Fargo when your grandpa, Pr. Steve Papillon, Baptized you. Keep confessing with your mouth and believing in your heart that Jesus died and rose for you (Ro. 10:9).

Taavi, you were made God’s child on January 19th, 2014, when I placed those waters on your head from that font. Remain strong and courageous. Do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go (Josh. 1:9).

Sutton, you were made God’s child on November 23rd, 2014, when I Baptized you right here. All of your life, cast every anxiety and care on your God who cares for you (1 Pet. 5:7).

Alex, you were made God’s child on March 3rd, 2015, when I had the joy of Baptizing you. Always call on your God who answers and is always by your side (Is. 58:9).

Syneva, you were made God’s child on June 28th, 2015, at Trinity Free Lutheran Church in Grand Forks when Pr. Dan Antal Baptized you. Continue to be adorned by the gentle, quiet spirit God has given you (1 Pet. 3:3-4).

You Confirmands and all you saints, when the world fails to recognize you and when you even fail to recognize yourself, remember the seed. The Father planted it. Christ is tending it. And the Holy Spirit is causing it to grow. This holy hope purifies you today, tomorrow, and every day until Jesus returns. Live in it. Abide in it. Let it shape your thoughts, your words, your choices, and your love for others.

Dear saints, you are God’s children now. And there is even more to come. Hold fast to this holy hope. Let it purify you as Jesus is pure. The day is coming when we will see Him as He is. On that great day, we will be like Him. Amen.

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

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

Far More – Sermon on John 20:19-31 for the Second Sunday of Easter

John 20:19-31

19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” 

26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

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

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Imagine you were building a house. You wouldn’t start by arranging the furniture or painting interior walls because there aren’t any rooms or walls to paint. You’d begin with the foundation – a foundation that is solid and will stand firm in the midst of wind, rain, snow, and all the other things our northern climate could throw at it because the prettiest walls and nicest furniture won’t save a house from collapsing.

Our faith has a foundation that can withstand all the things that the devil, the world, and our own sinful flesh can and will throw at it. John wrote to give that foundation. He clearly states that he doesn’t record all the signs Jesus did – there were far more. In fact, John says that even if he tried to write everything Jesus did, the whole world wouldn’t be able to contain the books that would be written (Jn. 21:25). But the signs John does record provide a solid foundation for eternal life (Jn. 20:30-31). John says that he chose his signs to reveal Jesus’ identity as the Christ and Son of God. But each of those signs are rightly read and understood only when we consider the ultimate sign – the eighth sign – which is Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection.

As I was considering what to preach from this text, I thought it would be fun to preach on the last two verses because preaching on them meant skimming through and summarizing the entire Gospel of John with all the signs that it contains. So, here we go.

The first sign John records is Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana (Jn. 2:1-12), which reveals that Jesus has authority over creation. Jesus uses His authority to provide not just what is good, but what is extravagant and delightful. The sign invites us to see that, In an empty world, Jesus fills our lives with His abundant joy.

The second sign John recorded was Jesus healing the royal official’s son (Jn. 4:46-54). Jesus simply speaks a word while He’s about sixteen miles away from where that boy lay dying, and the child was healed in the same moment. This sign shows Jesus’ boundless authority over both distance and death.

The third sign is when Jesus heals a crippled man who lay by a pool in Jerusalem (Jn. 5:1-14). Because Jesus does this sign on the Sabbath, it reveals that Jesus is the One who brings true rest by making the broken whole. That sign shows that in a world paralyzed by sin and pain, Jesus restores.

We heard the fourth sign a few weeks ago – the feeding of the 5,000 men, plus women and children with five loaves and two fish (Jn. 6:1-13). That sign recalled how God had fed His people in the wilderness with manna, but Jesus says He has come to do far more. The sign shows that He is the very Bread of Life from heaven (Jn. 6:35) who nourishes us for eternity.

The fifth sign immediately follows that when Jesus walks on water (Jn. 6:16-24). As the disciples battle a storm, Jesus walks to them on the sea, and when He gets into the boat, they immediately arrive at their destination. This sign also reveals Jesus’ dominion and authority over creation. But here, Jesus also invokes the divine name – Yahweh, “I am” – on Himself (Jn. 6:20). This sign shows that Jesus is the God who safely brings the troubled to their desired haven (Ps. 107:28-30).

The sixth sign is when Jesus heals a man who had been blind from birth (Jn. 9). This sign confirms Jesus’ claim that He is the Light of the World (John 9:5). Jesus has come to give us more than simple sight. In a dark world, Jesus opens our eyes to the light of His truth.

The seventh sign is Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead (Jn. 11:1-45). Lazarus had been dead four days, but Jesus simply calls him out the grave. This sign reveals that Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life (Jn. 11:25). This sign shows that Jesus is the Author of Life (Act. 3:15).

These seven signs show Jesus is the gracious Creator, the mighty Healer, the generous Provider, and the Lord over death. John chose these seven signs, and again, he admits that he could have written far more. Those seven signs point to the fact that Jesus was sent by God. And yet, do they really prove that Jesus is God’s Son? Other prophets who had been sent by God had done similar signs. Moses had turned water into blood (Ex. 7:14-25). Elijah and Elisha had healed and raised people from the dead (1 Kgs. 17:17-24; 2 Kgs. 4:18-37). Elisha also miraculously fed a crowd with a tiny amount of food and had some left over (2 Kgs. 4:42-44).

However, Jesus is more than a prophet. He’s the Christ and Son of God who brings life to all who believe in Him. When John wrote this Gospel, he wasn’t out to prove that Jesus was a powerful individual. John wants far more than that. He wants you to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and Savior so that you would have life in His name (Jn. 20:31).

That’s why John doesn’t say what all the signs are pointing to until after Jesus’ death and resurrection. Those seven signs point to the most important, eighth sign – Jesus’ dying and rising. On the cross, Jesus’ glory shines brightest (Jn. 12:23-24). He takes your sin and your shame. And the empty tomb is what seals the deal. Christ died and raised Himself to life (Jn. 10:17-18) so you can know that all sickness, sin, death, and fear; all pain, sorrow, and sadness; all trouble, toil, and tribulation will be done away with forever. That’s the solid foundation.

Mary Magdalene sees the risen Jesus and worships (Jn. 20:11-18). The fearful disciples see and rejoice (Jn. 20:19-20). Unbelieving Thomas has his disbelief melt into the declaration, “My Lord and my God!” (Jn. 20:28). Christ’s resurrection proves more than every other sign because it shows that Jesus is where you find far more than temporary blessings. Jesus is where God gives you grace upon grace (Jn. 1:16) and manifests God’s saving love for you (Jn. 1:18).

The signs John writes down to strengthen and encourage your faith weren’t tricks. They aren’t fables or nice stories. They’re evidence. Faith in Christ isn’t a blind leap. John’s signs are rooted in history, witnessed by real people. Their initial doubts actually bolster our faith. Most of the eyewitnesses of Jesus chose to die rather than denying Him and the things He did because Jesus proved that He is the Son of God.

Believe, and have life in Jesus’ name (Jn. 20:31). Jesus has defeated sin, death, and the devil. He is the sure, sturdy foundation on which you can build your entire life. Jesus is the Christ. In a crumbling world, you have a Savior who has come to restore all things and make them new (Rev. 21:5).

You can build your entire life on the foundation of Christ. The cross and resurrection are the sure cornerstone. A life built on that is no flimsy shed. It’s a fortress. Trust Jesus because, in Him and in Him alone, you have life – eternal, abundant life in His almighty name. Amen.

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

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