Salvation Revealed: a Sermon on Isaiah 52:7-10

In the Name of Jesus, the little baby with God’s face, dear fellow redeemed,

                   More than any other Old Testament prophet, Isaiah helps us understand what Jesus means. He paints the most vivid pictures of the Lord’s coming and work for us. Even though he’s writing some seven hundred years before Christmas, Isaiah helps us understand what’s going on with Jesus’ birth.

                   To help us understand what Isaiah’s saying about Jesus’ birth, we’re going to take a look at this picture. You saw it when you came in and it’s in the bulletin. The painting is an Ethiopian rendition of our Lord’s birth and the coming of the Magi. Ethiopia has been a Christian nation since ancient times and has a very long history of Christian art.

There’s one thing that really sticks out about this painting. It’s the eyes. Artists can show you a lot by the way they paint eyes. For example, when you look at a painting, follow the eyes of the people in the painting and they will draw you to the thing the artist wants to make sure you see. In this painting all eyes—even the eyes of the cattle—are on Jesus and His mother. They are looking at each other.

                   One of the features of Ethiopian art is to paint people’s eyes much bigger than they actually are. They’re way out of proportion! You sort of get the feeling that the people in the painting are staring back at you! They did this intentionally to draw you into the picture and into the narrative. [1]

                   Our text says, “The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice; together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the LORD to Zion.” Here in Isaiah, the eyes are important too. God is coming so close that you can see Him face to face! You can see God and there is joy!

                    We know that this is not the way things usually play out when God shows up. Remember in Genesis 3 when Adam and Eve sinned and then God came walking in the garden? They were afraid to even stand in God’s presence! When Moses saw God in the burning bush he had to cover his face. When God appeared on Mt. Sinai the people asked Moses to speak for God instead of God speaking to them, Even Isaiah, who saw just the train of God’s robe when he was called, knew that standing in God’s presence as a sinner was a really bad thing! In that moment of terror he says, "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!" For sinners like us, standing in God’s presence should be the end of us!

                   Even in the New Testament, this trend continues. When Peter has Jesus in his boat and Jesus gives him a miraculous catch of fish, falls down before Him and says, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” When the disciples where with Jesus and saw Him in all His glory at on the Mount of Transfiguration, they could not help but fall down in terror.

                   God’s holiness and human sinfulness simply cannot mix. We cannot stand in God’s presence. We haven’t done the things we should have done. We’ve gone and done things we shouldn’t have done instead. God showing up among us shouldn’t be a good thing. If God is coming to us, we should be terrified!

                   But look again at the people in our picture. None of them have a look of terror in their eyes. None of them have shocked expressions on their face. Even the cattle are at peace. Actually, everyone is smiling in this picture.

                   Why is Christmas different? Why is the LORD’s appearance among us celebrated with joy instead of terror? Why does Isaiah say over and over again in this text that the LORD’s arrival will be marked with singing and rejoicing?

                   The answer is found in the baby. God didn’t come to us in a burning bush, terrifying mountain, or horrible vision, but as a little baby. All of those times God appeared to His people show that God wants to be with us. He isn’t content to let everything drift further and further out of control. He’s steps in and helps His people when they are in trouble.

Every terrifying appearance of God in the Old Testament reaches its fulfillment in this little baby. A baby isn’t scary. His arms have those little rolls that you just want to pinch and squeeze and you just want to count all the toes on His beautiful little feet! We can relate to that. All of us were babies once.

God lets us see Him. Normally looking at God face to face would mean death for sinners. But since Jesus comes like one of us, we can look at Him and He doesn’t have to hide anything. Hebrews 1:3 tells us what this means, “He is the radiance of the glory of God, the exact imprint of His nature.” Here is God’s glory in the face of a little baby. So Mary and Joseph get to look at God eye to eye in the face of the little baby they are holding. There is no terror, only love. They love their baby and their baby loves them—more than they can know.  

Those of you who have held your newborn child know what this is like. You look into the babies eyes and he or she knows you! They’ve been listening to your voice for nine months in the womb and now they recognize you. You’ve been waiting for them and expecting them. It is love at first sight.

The same is true in an even greater way with baby Jesus. We look into His eyes and see the one we’ve been expecting and longing for. He looks at us and He loves us. Not just because He’s been with us for nine months already, but because He made us and He is here to save us.

 “The LORD has bared His holy arm before the eyes of all the nations” The LORD is rolling up His sleeves and He is ready to get to work. We know what that work is going to be. Just a few verses later we hear these words about what will happen to this baby.  

Isaiah 53 says, “He was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have—every one—turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

These beautiful feet would not look pretty covered with blood and with nails sticking through them. These arms would be striped bear and hands nailed to a cross. These are the beautiful feet which have come to bring us good news. This is the arm of the LORD, which stretched out to show God’s salvation to the ends of the earth.

When this would happen, we get to see just what it is like to look into God’s eyes when He is angry. Jesus did that for you so that you don’t have to. He himself is our peace and He brings peace to you.

If that were all there was to Jesus, there wouldn’t be so much joy in Christmas. But His resurrection from the dead gives us joy far beyond anything else this world has to offer. Those feet with nail scars come to bring you good news to you today. That living arm reaches out to embrace you with His love. The little Lord Jesus is our living LORD and redeemer. Whenever He comes there’s reason for us to rejoice.

Look at what happens to the shepherds. After seeing Jesus, they go out with joy to share the good news with everyone! Shepherds are not known for having nice looking feet. But that night the shepherds of Bethlehem had the most beautiful feet in the whole world. That’s because the message they brought was so beautiful, it couldn’t help but make all them as radiant as the sky when the angels appeared to them.

We get to share this good news. We get to have beautiful feet when we bring this good news to our friends and family. All the ends of the earth are going to see this. Look at how this good news has made it to the ends of the earth! Here we are, the children of Europeans, sitting in the United States, looking at a picture made in Ethiopia! In all three of these places, people are celebrating today. They rejoice because Jesus has come for them.

We rejoice too. Usually we celebrate other people’s birthdays by giving them a gift and sharing in their joy that way. We celebrate Jesus’ birthday by giving everyone else presents. What if people celebrated your birthday that way? Imagine someone coming up to you and saying, “Hey man, I’m so excited about your birthday, that I gave everyone else presents!” What would you think?

Jesus doesn’t mind. In fact, we come to God’s house today and He gives us more! Come to His table today and receive the gift that He has for you in the Lord’s Supper. Today we get to see Jesus, not quite like Mary, Joseph and the Shepherds did that first Christmas, but we get to see Him nonetheless. He comes to us today in bread and wine. We get to see Him in a way that we get to touch, taste, and smell. This is how we proclaim His death until He comes again.

He is coming again. There will be a day when we won’t need pictures anymore because we will Him face to face. There will be a day when all the prophecies and promises are fulfilled. There will be a day when sorrow and sadness, disease and dying, trouble and turmoil will all be put to an end. There will be a day when every eye will see that our God reigns!

On that day there will be singing and rejoicing as the tombs are opened and we see Him face to face. First John 3:2 says “We know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.” Our joy today is just a little taste of what that joy will be like—joy that will never end. Amen.

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[1] http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1996-08-11/news/1996224118_1_ethiopian-art-processional-cross-iconic-art

http://www.thenextcanvas.com/about-ethiopian-art/

An Unexpected Advent Part 1: Unexpected Trouble

A sermon on Judges 2:6-23 

In the Name of Jesus, our Savior, dear fellow redeemed,

The Book of Judges is unfortunately one of the more obscure books of the Bible. We don’t ever get to read it in our regular readings on Sunday mornings. Judges covers roughly three hundred years between the death of Joshua and leads up to the beginning of Israel’s kings. These were dark times in Israel. There are tons of massive battles. If you want “blood and guts Old Testament”, here it is. However, we can’t help but see ourselves as we read this book. [1]

In this reading we have an outline of the book of Judges. There’s a cycle that you can trace through almost every account recorded for us here. First, the people start worshipping other gods. Second, God gives His people over to foreign oppression. Third, the people cry out to the Lord. Fourth, God sends them a Judge to save them. Fifth and finally, the people serve God as long as that Judge lives.

This isn’t just how things happen throughout the book of Judges, but also how things sometimes happen with us. Paul describes the idolatry Israel had committed earlier in their history saying:

“Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:11-12)

Let’s look and see how that can be.

First, Israel strays from the Lord. The people did what was evil in the eyes of the LORD. Instead of worshiping Him alone, they started worshipping Baal and Asherah—the chief god and goddess of the Canaanite pantheon. Because, hey, why have just the LORD bless you, when you can have Baal and Asherah bless you too?   

How could they do this? Don’t they know everything God had done for them?

                   Joshua entered Canaan with the children and grandchildren of those who left Egypt with Moses. Now those generations were all dead. Now we’re talking about the great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren of those who saw the plagues, Passover, and Ten Commandments. They didn’t know what God had done, so they didn’t do what God said.[2]

Are we any different? We stray from the Lord. We may not openly reject the Christian faith and run off to Buddhism or Islam, but we do it in our own way. Think about this: what idols have I set up in God’s place? Maybe it’s money or your job. Maybe it’s friends or fame. Maybe it’s sex or pornography. What am I fearing, loving, or trusting more than the God?

How could we do this? Don’t we remember that everything we have is a gift from the LORD? We worship the gift rather than the giver. Don’t we remember that the LORD has promised never to leave us for forsake us? We are afraid because we don’t think we’re going to have what we need. Don’t we remember that the LORD is faithful to us? We try trusting all sorts of other things.

So, what does the LORD do to His people who stray so often? He allows trouble to come their way. For them, it comes in the form of plunderers who plunder them. That’s what plunderers do.

However, we shouldn’t see this necessarily as punishment. The LORD specifically calls it a test. We see the same word used in verse 22 as is used in Genesis 22 where God tests Abraham by asking him to sacrifice Isaac.

What should we think when we see testing of different sorts in our lives? We know that we are sinners just like ancient Israel. But it isn’t quite the same. They had a specific warning from the LORD. We have the promise that “He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.” Like Israel, God may test us.  This testing doesn’t mean that we’ve rejected God—a lot of people are tempted to think that. God can test unfaithful Israel. And God can test people when they are faithful, like Job.  

                   We shouldn’t understand this as punishment because this is very much what we do to our own children. When our kids are very small, we carry them in our arms. But when the time comes, we help them crawl. A little later, we support them as they learn to walk and catch them when they fall. But when your kids grow up, you’ve got to let them be tested a little more. You’ve got to do things that stretch them. Then they will be ready.

If this is the way we treat our children, think about how the God our Father cares for us. It’s very similar. The LORD carries us. The LORD supports us. He even catches us when we fall. But there are still times when the LORD stretches us. He tests us.[3]

 Sometimes the LORD will strip everything else away from us just so that we know that we have nothing but Him. If we have Him, and Him alone, will that be enough? The LORD does not give us our trials because He knows we can handle them on our own. He gives us trials so that we turn to Him because we can’t handle them on our own. Realizing this, my friends, is faith!

When they realized their idols weren’t helping, Israel cried to the LORD for deliverance. It says, “For the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who afflicted and oppressed them.” (Judges 2:18) He was ready to hear their prayers; He was ready to save them. Despite their rebellion, Israel was still His people. He had brought them out of Egypt and given them this land. He wasn’t about to let them be destroyed.

And so, we do the same. We cry to the LORD in our trouble. God has compassion on us because we are His people. Through the waters of Baptism, we have been united with Christ in His death and resurrection. We have been made part of God’s people!

The people cry to the LORD and the LORD sends them a savior who saves them, that’s what saviors do. God called different people, placed His Spirit on them, and they went out and did wonderful things. They led the people of God into battle and the LORD won stunning victory after victory for them.

Enemies who had plundered God’s people were plundered. Idols which led Israel astray were torn down. Evil kings were killed. People saw the mighty deeds that the LORD had done for their ancestors in their own lives. Faith was rekindled and hope was renewed.

We cry out to the LORD because the LORD has already sent us a savior who saved us. That’s what our Savior did! God the Father sent Jesus and put the Holy Spirit on Him. He went out and did wonderful things!

Enemies like sickness and disability had to yield when Jesus stepped into people’s lives. Idols like our ego and money are powerless because Jesus gives free forgiveness. Death and the Devil lost their cruel grip over God’s people as Jesus went to the cross for you.

“For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.” (Romans 5:10)

Who would die for people who had rejected Him? Who would die for someone who had replaced him with someone else? Who would die for people who couldn’t care less? Jesus would. Jesus did.

Israel was faithful to the LORD as long as the Judges lived but then fell back into their old ways. Actually, each generation was worse than the last. Again and again people failed to walk in the LORD’s ways. The cycle would start all over again.

                   The cycle throughout the book of Judges is really a downward spiral. You start off with some really great Judges: Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar (there’s one verse about him “After him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who killed 600 of the Philistines with an oxgoad, and he also saved Israel”), and Deborah. You move to guys to who make some bad decisions like Gideon (later in his life), Jephthah (who made a horrible rash vow), and Sampson (who could never get away from foreign women). Then you get to the last five chapters where everything is just an absolute mess! The book ends say, “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”

                   No human Judge or King would be able to bring what the people needed. What we need is Jesus. Those Judges died—every last one of them. Our Savior lives! He lives forever! This is where the cycle is broken for us because Christ is risen from the dead. That’s why we walk in His commands. We have no excuse for falling away if we do. Our leader lives and loves us. Walk in His ways and watch for His coming. Just as our hymn says:

He comes to judge the nations, a terror to His foes,

A light and consolations and blessed hope to those

Who love the Lord’s appearing. O glorious Son now come

Send forth Your beams so cheering, and guide us safely home.[4]

Amen

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[1] Longman III, Tremper and Raymond Dillard. An Introduction to the Old Testament: Second Edition. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006 p. 133

[2] Franke, John R. Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture, Old Testament Volume IV: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1-2 Samuel. Origen “Knowing and Doing” p. 104 Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 2005.

[3] Franke, Ancient Christian Commentary. John Cassian “Didactic Grace Works Through the Will” p. 108

[4] Gerhardt, Paul “Oh Lord, How Shall I Meet You” verse 7. Lutheran Service Book 334 

“We Thank God for You”

Mrs. Debra Lange celebrated twenty five years of teaching on October 23, 2016 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, New Minden, Illinois. All of those years have been at Trinity-Saint John Lutheran School in Nashville, Illinois. I was her student in fourth grade for the 1995-1996 school year and was asked to come back and preach for the occasion. My goal with this sermon was not to make it about Mrs. Lange, but about Jesus and why Christian education is so important. Mrs. Lange’s service has been a good example to explain this.

In the name of Jesus, who made all things and will complete all things, dear fellow redeemed, especially you, Deb,            

I’m sorry, there’s a nine year old screaming inside of me who still has to call you Mrs. Lange. Today he’s going to win a lot.

            Without thinking of it, we probably use something that we learned from each of our elementary school teachers each day. Fourth grade is kind of a sweet spot. On the one hand, you’ve got kids who are still at least a little interested in school. On the other hand you’ve got kids who have learned enough to start asking some really interesting questions.

You learn a lot in fourth grade. It’s one of the first times you really start taking a look at history. You’ve moved beyond just writing sentences. For us it was the first time we started putting sentences together into paragraphs for essays. I remember that paragraphs had to be at least four sentences long and have an introduction sentence. It’s an important step—the move from grammar to logic. I know I use that skill several times a week. To this day, as I’m writing sermons, I still sometimes look at paragraphs and wonder if they would pass muster for Mrs. Lange.

For all of this and so much more, we thank God for you. That’s what Paul says as he begins his letter to the church at Philippi. As we walk through this text together, we’ll see that we thank God for you for many of the same reasons that Paul thanked God for his friends at Philippi.

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” (Philippians 1:3-5)

            Teaching in a Lutheran School is all about partnership in the Gospel. We heard in Deuteronomy[1] that it is parent’s responsibility to teach their children the faith. Do it when you get up in the morning, when you lie down at night, when you’re driving down the road, and when you’re sitting at the dinner table. Make it a part of you and your home. Kids will consider what you teach them (or don’t teach them) by word and example to be true.

If it is the parent’s job to teach the faith, why do we have Lutheran Schools? We do it because the church, parents, and teachers have something in common. The thing we have in common is very simple. We want people to have faith in Jesus. We know that faith comes by hearing His word. We know that He doesn’t want a day to go by when we don’t have the Holy Spirit using His Word to work on our lives. We just heard[2] that Jesus invites even babies to come and be with Him. So, the church is comes along side families and multiply the work that parents are doing.

Paul touches on why this is so important in the next verse:

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)

            God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has sent us the Holy Spirit so that we received faith, either in the water of Holy Baptism or by hearing the word when we were older. Either way, it was all God’s action. He sent Jesus to live for you. He sent Jesus to die for you. He raised Jesus from the dead for you. He started working on us. Faith is the good work God began in us.

            God is going bring our faith to completion when Jesus comes again. That’s “the day of Jesus Christ”. When Jesus comes again faith will no longer be necessary. Instead of believing without seeing, we will both see and believe. Faith will be brought to completion when all of God’s promises are fulfilled when Jesus changes our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body, as Paul would say a few chapters later.

            All through this life, God helps us along. We are baptized. We hear His Word. We receive the Lord’s Supper. We receive encouragement from fellow Christians. Mrs. Lange, for all of us, you have helped us learn God’s Word. You have encouraged us as a sister in Christ.

For most of us you weren’t the first to tell us about Jesus. For most of us you weren’t the last to tell us about Jesus. God has already started working in us and He is far from complete by the time we’re in fourth grade. But we thank you for your work in our life of faith.

As Paul continues, he tells us the main reason why you have been such a help to so many: 

“It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.” (Philippians 1:7)

We are “partakers with you of grace”. You were able to tell us about God’s love because you’ve known that it is true for yourself. Since you have known this in your own life, you are able to share it with others. Let me explain how this works.

Fourth graders have to deal with sin. I’m sure this is something you deal with just about every day. Two boys start squabbling. It quickly turns from shouts, to shoves, to blows. Two girls exclude another girl from their games and then their friendship. Who’s there to stop it, but Mrs. Lange? The beauty of working in a Christian school is that you not only stop the fight, but you care that the kids involved forgive each other.

It’s a good thing we learn this in grade school because we haven’t changed much. As adults we still shout at people and exclude them from our friendships. But this isn’t the playground at TSJ anymore. We don’t have a teacher to stop our fights and heal our friendships. We need to, with the help of the Holy Spirit, do that without a teacher prompting us.

            You are able to help kids with this because you know that you are a sinner. It’s a good thing you’re not perfect, otherwise you would be no help to kids at all when they mess up. But as a fellow sinner, you can share God’s grace with them as someone who has received God’s grace. Grace is more meaningful that way.

            Fourth graders deal with the effects of sin. I’m sure this is something you have to deal with more than you would like. How many kids have come into your class with families and lives broken by divorce? How many kids have dealt with awful diseases and injuries? How many kids have already lost hope? These are fourth graders. They haven’t even been on this planet for a decade! They shouldn’t go through these things. Such is life in a sinful world.

            You are able to help kids with this because you’ve have your own difficult moments in life.[3] You know that Jesus has been there for you. He has comforted you with His love. He has been present with you as you went from doctor to doctor, from one test to another and in and out of surgery. He has neither left you nor forsaken you. Deb, I know that the trials you have been through have been a blessing to us because you know that Jesus carries you through.

            Fourth graders deal with death. When I first found out about today, I thought of my memories from fourth grade. Wednesday, February 29, 1996 we were pulled out of school and drove straight to Ft. Wayne, Indiana where Grandpa Mueller was in the hospital. He would die two days later—the first time in my life anyone I had really known died.

            We missed something like a week of school. But I’m glad I was where I was. Grandpa certainly had faith in Jesus and so did I. Had I not been in a Lutheran school, that faith would still have been strengthened in church, Sunday school, and in our family devotions. But, looking back, I’m so glad that my parents, my church, and my teacher had me in a place where I was hearing about Jesus every day in religion class and doing memory work.

            You’d be surprised, but last year when I was going into surgery for cancer, the words that came to my mind as I went into the operating room to give me comfort where words that I had for memory work for the first time in fourth grade:

I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the virgin Mary, is MY Lord. Who has redeemed ME, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won ME from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; now with gold or silver, but with HIS holy precious blood and with HIS innocent suffering and death, that I may be HIS own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity, This is most certainly true.

            So, kids out there today, that’s why we have you learn memory work. Mrs. Lange has several students, who are already there with the Lord. What they learned from her strengthened their faith and now God has taken them to Himself.

            Paul continues:

 “For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:8)

I don’t know if anyone yearning to go back to fourth grade. Yes, things were simpler then. The biggest thing you had to worry about was the spelling test at the end of the week or maybe some multiplication tables. Fourth grade might not be so bad but who wants to go through middle school, high school, and college again?

Paul is writing this as a pastor. One of the biggest difference between being a pastor and teacher is the length of time you’re called to serve someone. For as pastor, it’s from the time you take the call to the time you accept another call. For a teacher, your call to that group of students mostly happens over the course of one school year. You receive them from one teacher and you get to hand them off to another teacher.

But just because the time is shorter, doesn’t mean your work is less important. Consider this, if the school year is about 180 days, then at six hours a day, you have about 1,080 hours with these kids. Do you know how long it takes to spend 1,080 hours in church? That’s going to church every Sunday for twenty years.

So, if kids are in church every Sunday, by the time they finish fourth grade, they have spent half as much time in church on Sunday morning as they have in the class room in just that one year of school. That’s probably going to be more contact time with you, then with their pastor. A lot of pastors don’t stay for twenty years--Dad. For a lot of your kids they will have more time with you then they ever will have with any one pastor. That’s quite an impact you’re able to make and have made on us. 

            And so Paul concludes:            

 “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:9-11)

Mrs. Lange, our prayer is the same for you. May your love for your kids and for Jesus abound more and more. May your knowledge of Christ overflow so that you and your students stand together, forgiven and blameless when Jesus comes again. May everything that happens in your classroom and in all our classrooms be to the glory and praise of God.

For twenty-five years you’ve been there for us—giving us Jesus every day. We give thanks for your work among us not just because you’re a great teacher, but because you show us the greatest teacher, Jesus. In His name, Amen.

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[1] The Old Testament reading was Deuteronomy 6:4-9 “You shall teach them [these commands] diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (Deuteronomy 6:6-9)

[2] The Gospel reading and text for the children’s sermon was Luke 18:15-17. “Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, ‘Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.’”

[3] Mrs. Lange was born with a heart condition and has been blessed to serve in spite of it.  

More than Enough: A Wedding Sermon on John 2:1-11

(Trent Driver and Ashley Washelesky were married this afternoon at Concordia City Lake. It rained 20 minutes before the wedding, but cleared up for a beautiful service. The readings were: Genesis 2:18-25, Colossians 3:12-17, and John 2:1-11. Here is the sermon on the text from John 2.) 

In the Name of Jesus, who brings Joy to your marriage, dear fellow redeemed,

Especially to you, Trent and Ashley, on your wedding day

            The passage we’ve chosen for our text today is Jesus’ first miracle. Given the weather forecast at the beginning of this week it seemed like Jesus stilling the storm might have been a better choice. But here for now, things seem to be okay.

            The weather is one of hundreds of extra details you and your families have to worry about with an outdoor wedding. There are a lot of details to take care of and in two thousand years that doesn’t seem to have changed. Although here, the detail they seemed to have overlooked is one that I’m sure you’ve got covered. They ran out of wine. I’m sure you guys are well stocked for tonight.

            Just on that note, this is worth mentioning. Jesus’ gift of over abundant wine shows that God is not opposed to drinking alcohol. Psalm 104 says that God gives “wine to gladden the heart of man.” We do, however, need to be mindful of what is good both for ourselves and for our neighbors. So let’s not drink tonight in a way would make us regret what we do or hurt someone else. That’s not the memory these two want for their wedding.

If Jesus cares about the beverage supply at a wedding, then we can be certain that He cares about everything that goes into a marriage. After all, we heard in Genesis 2 just a few moments ago about how God created marriage and blessed Adam and Eve as they began their life together.

The same thing is true for you on your wedding day. Jesus Christ is here to bless you as you begin your life together. The unnamed couple who received this wine needed Him there and so do you. You, like the rest of us, need to be forgiven each day. God’s forgiveness for you overflows in Christ Jesus.

To see how God’s love for you overflows, take a look at how much wine this actually is. There were six jars, each held twenty or thirty gallons. If we take an average, that’s one hundred fifty gallons of wine. What does that look like? That’s seven hundred fifty six bottles of wine or sixty three cases. That’s a lot. That was more than enough to finish the party. When Jesus gives, He gives fully and completely.

Here’s the good news for you. Jesus has more than enough forgiveness and love for you. Every sin you will ever sin against each other, every fight you will ever fight, every argument you will argue, all is settled.

Jesus says, “My hour has not yet come.” Jesus’ hour would come. When He talks about His hour, He’s referring to His death. In that hour, Jesus took your sins and the sins of the whole world with Him to the cross. He paid for them all there long before you were even born. He rose from the dead so that you would be forgiven.

Because Jesus forgives you, you can come to Him in prayer. As a married couple, you can go to Him together united in faith. Ashley, a lot of people can claim to be baptized, confirmed, and married at Holy Cross Lutheran Church. But very few can claim that it happened all in one year. We’re glad to have you.

So since you are united in your faith, Jesus is with you as you pray. In this text, Jesus’ mother gives us a good example of what faithful prayer looks like. Jesus is actually testing Mary here. You have to imagine Mary saying this with a twinkle in her eye. “They have no wine”

        Jesus’ response seems harsh. “Woman, what does this have to do with me?” Compare this to the answer we get when we pray. Today you are promising to love each other “for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health.” Quite often in those worst times, we may think God doesn’t care about what we’re asking.

        When that seems to be the case, what should we do? This is where Mary is a good example. She doesn’t scold Jesus. She doesn’t think that Jesus will forget. She goes and tells the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.” Mary shows that she trusts that Jesus will do something. She doesn’t know what. She doesn’t know when. But she trusts that it will be good. Jesus does not let her down. He responds to the need in His time and in His way. It was more amazing then Mary would have imagined at first.

            This is an interesting choice for Jesus for His first miracle. Most of Jesus’ other miracles were directly helping someone who was suffering or dead. Here the people are just out of wine.

            It’s helpful to think of it this way. With each of Jesus’ miracles He’s giving us a glimpse into what eternal life is going to be like. The blind will see, the deaf, will hear, the lame will walk, and the dead will live. All of these things happen and there will be joy! There will be lots of joy! There’s going to be a wedding reception that never ends!

            It isn’t going to end because Jesus is coming back to death under His feet once and for all. We will be with Him and all of things that make like here in this broken world unbearable will be over.

            So, today, as you say your vows, you will pledge to love each other until death parts you. Even when that happens you know that Jesus’ love for you overflows from this life into eternity. Already through baptism into His death and resurrection, you have eternal life with Him.

            Jesus disciples believe in Him because He did this miracle. As you hear about what Jesus has done for you, trust in Him as you begin your marriage.

            Jesus takes what is ordinary in life and makes it amazing. With that, your marriage becomes more than just the permanent step in your relationship. Your marriage becomes the highest calling you will receive in your life. You are called to love each other, your children, and your neighbors together. With Jesus’ help and overflowing grace, He will do it. Amen.  

Fall 2016 Bible Study “Menu” for Holy Cross Lutheran Church

Here are some options for our Bible Studies this fall. This list was also printed in the August newsletter. Please let Pastor know your choice by August 21. 

Fear

                We don’t like to admit how often we are afraid. We try to cover up or ignore the things that scare us. In this study we will see what God has to say about our fears. We will also learn what it means to “fear the LORD,” a phrase used over and over again in the Old Testament. While we won’t force you to face your fears directly (no snakes, spiders, or heights will be involved) we will see how God wants us to look to Him when we are afraid.

The Large Catechism

                In confirmation, we studied Luther’s Small Catechism, written in 1529. That same year, Martin Luther also wrote the Large Catechism. (The Small Catechism is actually only about 50 pages. The Large Catechism, at 150 pages, is shorter than Luther’s Small Catechism with Explanation.) This class will provide a more in-depth look at the Christian faith as taught by Dr. Luther. This class will require a little bit of knowledge of Christian teaching.

From Luther to Us: Church History from the Reformation to the Present

                On October 31, 2017 we will celebrate the 500^th Anniversary of the Reformation. To prepare for this, we will look at the history of God’s people from Luther’s time to our own. A major focus will be placed on understanding both our own history and the history of other denominations and their teachings. We will also discuss the present state of the church throughout the world and the future of the body of Christ.

Your Worst Life Now: What God Says on the Day of Disaster

                Life in this world is filled with disasters. Some, like war or tsunamis, impact whole nations. Others, like tornadoes, impact a region. Some impact you personally. Whatever the disaster, God has words of hope and comfort for you. (Pastor’s Dad used this study in Thailand in 2005 after the Tsunami hit that nation.) This study will explore those words of comfort as we face discord and disaster in our world, nation, and in our own lives.

Contending for Creation (Before Evolution)

                Our generation is not the first to defend the claims of Genesis to an unbelieving world. Before Christianity became popular, there were many other theories about how the world came into existence. In Old Testament times, the people of Israel were completely surrounded by other nations who had different theories about how the world came into existence. This study will examine the way that the Bible and early Christians talk about the creation of the world. We will see how God uses this to comfort us.

The Book of Genesis

                The Bible’s first book sets the stage for the rest of the Old Testament, New Testament, and God’s plan of action for the rest of human history. In this study we will simply read the text of Genesis and glean from it what God says about the world, humanity, our sin, and His unfailing promise. While the accounts of Genesis are familiar to some, there are always new things for us to learn. This study would be easily accessible for people who don’t feel like they know the Bible well.   

The Book of Isaiah

                Over the course of the church year, our Old Testament readings quite often take us to the prophet Isaiah. His book is also often quoted in the New Testament. In this study we will read through Isaiah and learn more about God’s promises to His people of Isaiah’s day and how they apply to us as well. This study would be easily accessible

Why We Build This Way

The house we’re building is nothing like anything we build in the States. It may seem puzzling,  but there been a lot of careful thought put into every block and beam. We've asked a lot of questions and Carl Nell, our project leader, has been very good at not only answering all our questions but also explaining the reasons why the design and technique make sense. Here are some of our questions and the answers we’ve been given.

Why is the house made of cement blocks? A frame building would be so much easier.

I have helped build a frame building on a mission trip to Mexico and it was much easier. In South Africa,  termites are a force to be reckoned with. They build massive mounds all across the country side. A frame house would quickly be turned to sawdust. That's why we use cement blocks.

If I've laid block before, will it be the same? What kind tools do they use?

It is very much the same, however the differences are important. First of all, we don't use rebar or pour pillars of concrete down through the blocks. Instead, more mortar (here they call it Duggar) is used between blocks. The duggar also has more sand than our cement. For the effects on structural integrity, you'll have to ask an engineer.

As for tools, we used the ones you would expect; trowel, level, string and scaffolding. The biggest surprise was looking back at the end of the week and realizing what we hadn't used. Never once did we use a power tool of any sort. Even the cement was mixed by hand. Other than that we didn't need any. Blocks were cut using a trowel or hammer (which works better than you might think). There wasn't any wood to cut until the roof went on and even then it wasn't, more than a dozen beams.

Why are the new project houses scattered across the community? Wouldn't it be easier to put them all together?

That's actually what they did when they started back in 2004 or so. Someone donated land on the road into town and more than 30 houses were built there. It was pretty obvious that these houses were different and therefore there residents were different. No one likes being labeled different --especially if that means you are from “the project.” Now houses are built throughout the community rather than in one location.

Can we make the house bigger because we raised more money?

The house is really simple. At 430 square feet, it doesn't seem that big when you look at the concrete slab on the first day. But as the walls go up, you start to see things come together. The front door of the house brings you straight into the living room. It isn’t huge, but it will be cozy. Through a walkway, There is a kitchen with a back window and a side door. Each these rooms leads you to a bedroom.

This is a typical size for a house in Shongweni. There are some professionals who are building their own very nice homes around, but these size is typical. Actually with some nice flooring,  electrical work, and coat of plaster, it could be upgraded to a place about like the one where we stayed. Building a house this way gives the family the opportunity to not only have a better place now, but also to invest and personalize their own home.

Why doesn't the house have a bathroom?

The house is small, but the first ones built in Shongweni had bathrooms. Why hasn't this continued? Simply put, people were using their bathrooms as storage closets instead (I've seen it with my own eyes). They were more comfortable using their outhouses (Seriously) and would rather take a bath the traditional way--standing in a little tub and pouring water over themselves. Eventually the church asked the builders to redesign the houses and put more space in the bedroom. The builders obliged.

Why don't we put in electricity?

This, again was one of my questions. We had the people who could have done it and we could have easily paid for it. However, this was an investment the family needs to make for themselves. This, again, is part of the family taking ownership of the house.

What don't you just pay a builder and save yourself the trouble of going to Africa?

First of all, where's the fun in that? However it is a fair question. The house only costs $8,000 to build, but our team raised about $80,000 to do the whole trip. On paper, we could have built ten houses!

But would people in our families and congregations have given that much money without a personal connection? With our team coming from six congregations in Missouri and two in Illinois, we quickly had thousands of people supporting us. People I had never met before asked me about how the planning was going. Thousands of people followed our every post on Facebook and even more drenched us in prayer. As a project, it really brought our community together. We just wouldn't have been able to do that by sending a check.

Building a house for someone certainly is a work of mercy. But there's always more than mercy that goes into these trips. Our life together with the church in Shongweni and the family are very important parts of this work. We get to be an extension of Shongweni Lutheran Church and further their work in the community. Since we work on the house, Pastor Thwala joins us as we work, giving him a chance to know the family better.

Our presence also encourages the family. We built this house for a man named Philip Machnu and his family. He is sick, his wife struggles with mental illness, and their daughter was raped and now has AIDS. It would be understandable for a family in their situation to feel like God and the whole world have forgotten them. Having a team of foreigners come in and show mercy means that they are not forgotten. We wanted to be there for them and, more importantly, God has not forgotten them. It's really hard to do that by just sending a check.

As for the builder, we actually worked with a builder from Shongweni named Phanie. He taught us how to build the house and did some of the more difficult masonry himself. He also finishes what we don't get done. Sometimes that's a lot. The man is a wizard with trowel and block. At least once several of us just stood watching in amazement as he laid block. He did get paid for helping us. Basically he got free help from us on his job and will be able to move on to a new job quickly. He also enjoys working with these teams of volunteers because we share our love for the community. Phanie has been working with Carl on builds since 2007.

Are the people who get the house going to help?

Philip was not able to help more than a few minutes the first morning because he is ill. However, his adult son, Siabonga (which means thank you), was a huge help. At night he would bring more blocks to the worksite. Each morning he greater us with a huge smile and helped with some of the hardest work on the site. Although he couldn't speak a word of English, we learned that he is planning on earning some money for better plaster for his parent's new house. This is what we want to see.

Does this family belong to the church?

No they don't. Pastor Thwala suggests families based on need, not church membership. They will receive a Zulu Bible and an invitation to church. However, houses are given with no strings attached by the congregation. On a happy note, Philip’s daughter did come to church the Sunday after we finished. That alone gave us as much joy as any other part of our work.

How far along do most teams get with the house?

It's different for every team of course, but Julia did say that out team was the first she had seen to put the roof on the house, which we did. The last nails went into the roof just before we dedicated it.

Basically I think it is fare to say this, the Machnu family's house was built to fit in and not stick out. You can also see that we are continually learning how to do this better so that the people are better served.

In closing, here is a prayer for the house and those who live there.

Oh Lord, almighty Father,  everlasting God, you give hope to the hopeless and strength to the weak. Bless this house and all who stay here. Show them your love and mercy each day. Send them Your Holy Spirit to show them Christ’s love and mercy so that they would have faith in the Savior. Drive far away all the forces of evil and send Your Holy angels to watch over them. Grant it all for the sake of your mercy, oh Lord, for you live and reign with the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.