Monday, December 27, 2021

Name of Jesus

 

Name of Jesus – January 1st and 2nd, 2022 – Luke 2:21

In the Name of Christ Jesus, our Newborn King +

And at the end of eight days, when He was circumcised, He was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. And that's the whole Gospel lesson set down for New Year's Day, the 8th day of Christmas, one week after Christmas as we might say. It seems an awfully short Gospel lesson, but actually it is one of the most profound texts we get. Not to be too blunt about it, but it's the first time that our Lord and Savior sheds His blood to redeem us. We will speak of Jesus' Passion come Good Friday, and rightly so, but what we ought to remember is that Jesus' suffering starts off right away. A week's gone by, so we can move past the ideas of the beauties and joys of childbirth; a week in with the kid waking you up all hours of the night and plenty of diapers means some of the romantic notions have worn off. And so here we see the reality of what Jesus' birth entails. The same normal, typical, mundane hardships of life that we get. When our God becomes man, He doesn't skip the strange, hard, awkward parts. This Child is an infant, helpless – yet He is God Almighty.

And this Child is born to a human family, a Jewish one, born under the Law, and so He is bound to all the Jewish rites and customs. Including that of Circumcision. Circumcision was the promise that Jesus, the LORD Himself had given Abraham, the promise and reminder that Jesus Himself would be born of Abraham's descendants. And so the instruction, so as to not forget this, was the males are to be circumcised. Moses lays down that this will happen on the 8th day. And only then, under the Law, would a boy child get a name. And so there is God Incarnate, and His blood is shed, just like so many other boys before Him and after Him – all pointing to the fact that one day God Himself would come and would shed His own blood for the sins of the people. Every other little boy – only a few drops were required; but the Messiah would give all. And the son of Mary is circumcised, and He is given His name – Jesus – the LORD Saves. Because that's what the LORD is there doing, saving. Even as a child.

This does teach us and show us what the point of all the ceremonial laws of the Old Testament were. Jesus had the Jewish people do some strange things, things that just didn't fit in with the rest of the culture in the area. Their worship, their sacrifices, their customs – they all kept Israel different, distinct. Holy, one could say – set aside for a purpose – that purpose being that they would be the people to produce the Messiah – so everyone look here, watch here, wait here. Listen to how Paul explains it in Galatians. Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. Now this is one of the most wondrous verses, and we blow by it because it sounds so familiar. Faith and Jesus Christ are one and the same thing here. Before faith came, but then Christ came, so now faith has come and you are in Christ Jesus. Faith is always faith in Jesus. And thus Paul explains the entirety of the Old Testament here. Before the Messiah came, before our hope, our Savior, our faith, the One we believe and trust in came – Before Jesus the Law with its customs and regulations imprisoned everyone, kept them in check. Jews here, gentiles there. Nary the twain shall meet – and why? Because the Messiah is coming. The promised One, the One we look to in faith is coming.

And now Christ has come. Faith is here. And faith is here to justify you – the goal is that you would be justified by Jesus Christ. And so there He is, born, come in the flesh – and He is going to do all that we sinful folks couldn't. We sin and fall short of the glory of God – Jesus does not, for He is God Himself. We have fallen into sin and are alienated from God; Jesus is without sin and is in fact True God and True Man at the same time. We are bound to death; Jesus will come and rip apart death from the inside. This is the promise that was told over and over again in the olden days – and to keep our focus from wandering, to keep us from forgetting, the Law was given, the Torah was written by Moses to keep everyone waiting right where they should be. But now Jesus is here – the LORD saves – I know that my Redeemer lives – Immanuel, God is with us to rescue us. And indeed, everything humanity had lost due to sin will be restored. Adam and Eve were lost – now in Christ Jesus Adam and Eve, and all their children, whether they be Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female, whatever distinction there might be in the world – in Christ Jesus, in this faith, they are restored. You are restored, Baptized into Jesus, a part of Him, you identity shaped and conformed by Him. If I ask any of you who you are, there are many answers you could give – your family, your job, where you live, what you do. The most important thing is this – you are baptized into Christ Jesus and thus you are a child of God. Everything else is just gift that flows from God.

We don't understand how radical this is. The world talks about “love” - but the love of the world really seems to be utility. If you are useful to me, I'll love you. If you make me feel good feelings, I'll call that love. If you agree with me politically, then you and I are on team love (but everyone else is dangerous, dirty, wicked). If you conform to the current trends and cultural customs, have the right clothes, the right hairstyle – then you'll be “loved” - at least until you buck a trend. None of that's love. That's all just hate – hate whoever is different, hate whoever doesn't toe the line. And the kicker – the world's goal is really to get you to hate yourself. To look at yourself and just despise yourself, because you don't “fit in”. To hate your life, your family, your community, your school, your country, your job – to want it all to be something else. To hate even your own body, the way you look, the way you move – even to hate the fact that you are male or female. To be told that you are a blight on the planet and literally ruining it. Think of all the discontent and angst and disdain that gets showered upon you by the world.

Jesus says no to all of that. None of that defines you, and it certainly doesn't define you negatively. First and foremost – you are a child of God. You are created by God, and you are redeemed by God. While the world might treat you like junk, you are valued by God. Jesus says your life, your life that the world tells you to grouse about, your life is of more value that His. See, He laid down His life for your. You are worth more to Jesus than His own life. How dare the world say you are of little value. And all the things about you that the world tells you to hate, to fuss about and complain – they are actually gifts to enjoy, quirks to delight in – each of us fearfully and wondrously made by God. Brought forth by God simply because He delights in you – actually delights in you. The fact that you exist makes God smile.

I mean that literally. Moses tells Aaron to bless the people this way – The Lord bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you.... Did you hear it. When Jesus sees you, His face lights up with joy. That's the image – when Jesus sees you there's joy – we even say that someone's face lights up – that's the point. And it goes on – the LORD lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. Your countenance is the old fashioned, fancy word for this – for your mouth and nose area. The part of you that smiles or frowns – that's your countenance. If you are sad, if you start frowning – your countenance falls. But Jesus, the LORD who has saved you, doesn't frown from He sees you – nope, He lifts up His countenance – any frown is turned upside down as with joy and love Jesus gives you peace, shalom, welcome back into His presence and His family, now and forever.

Jesus – the LORD saves. That's what Jesus came to do. Because He delights in you, His Creation, and He will do whatever it takes to rescue you from sin and death and the power of the Devil. He will pay whatever cost, suffer whatever humiliations are required – because you are worth it to Him. And He'll not put up with anyone telling you otherwise. Oh, there's so much anger, so much sin, so much disdain of God and His gifts that swirl around out there – that swirl around in here (in our own hearts) – but there was no way in the world that Jesus would leave you to that, abandon you to that. So He comes, and He redeems you with His own precious blood, and He claims you by water and the word, and He gives Himself to you in His Supper, and He speaks His Word to you to keep you in the faith, to keep you in Him – all so that you will receive His blessings with the joy that ought to be yours, that is your birthright as a child and creature of God.

Everything you see Jesus do in the Scriptures, He is doing it simply so that for all eternity He will be able to see you and smile, and have there be joy and peace. And Jesus sees that this will happen without fail. Merry Christmas, my friends in Christ Jesus! Amen. In the Name of Christ Jesus, our Newborn King +

Monday, December 20, 2021

St Stephen

 

St. Stephen's Day – Acts 6 and 7

In the Name of Christ Jesus, our Newborn King +

Good King Wenceslas looked out/ on the feast of Stephen.” On the feast of Stephen, today, December 26th. It at first seems strange to suddenly go from Christmas to such a sad story as Stephen’s, the first Christian Martyr. However, it makes sense. We have just celebrated the feast of the Nativity, the birth of Christ. But Jesus' birth doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It's not just a nice tale that we tell and then forget. No, Christmas has an impact and an effect on our lives. From Stephen, we can see what that is.


First, on account of Christ, we are all called to service. Let me read from just before our epistle text. Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.  But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”  And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit.... This is how we meet this Stephen, this is the first time he shows up. And what is he? A man of faith, a man alive in Christ, a man who has the Holy Spirit. What clearer sign is there that the events of Christmas have impacted Stephen than this? Christ Jesus comes down and takes on human flesh, works out the plan of salvation, and what do we see? Stephen now filled with faith and the Holy Spirit. The result of Christmas and Christ’s life is that Stephen knows who God is, that Stephen believes in the Salvation won for Him by Christ Jesus, and that the Holy Spirit now dwells in him.


On account of this, Stephen is called into service. Stephen is asked, “for the good of your fellow believers in Christ, please do this. See that everyone is cared for fairly and kindly.” The faith and life that Stephen has is put into action. Faith isn’t just some dead possession, the Christian life is not something that we keep on a bookshelf and have to dust off every now and then, it is a relationship with God that moves us to action. Think of it this way. I’m sure many of the kids here this morning got new toys yesterday, and well, probably quite a few of us adults got new toys as well. So, are these toys just to be kept in the box, oh, look, I have a toy, how nice? No, they are to be played with, they are to be used. That’s the way it is with the Christian faith. We aren’t supposed to just keep it wrapped up, but rather we are to exercise our faith in the service of others. We live.


But sin still wants you dead, and your faith with it. Because of sin, we humans are the masters of the excuse, of dodging and shifting responsibility. When it comes to service of others, all too often our gut instinct is to avoid, to grumble, to wonder why someone else isn’t doing this, isn’t helping out, why am I the one stuck with this. There are times when our faith is an inconvenience to our schedule, and we’d rather just stick it in the closet with that gift our aunt gave us 7 years ago rather than actually use it. This is the temptation we are to avoid and beat down. As Christians we must remember that we are always going to be called into service, called to show love to our neighbor, to reflect back the love that we have received from Christ. This is something that Stephen does, and it is something which we ought to emulate.


Stephen also demonstrates another aspect of the Christian life. On account of Christ Jesus, we are called to confess. In our text today we see Stephen getting in trouble because he speaks plainly and clearly the Word of God. Stephen has been preaching and performing miracles, but the powers that be are upset, and so he is taken before the Jewish rulers and called to account. And what does Stephen do? Does he start playing the great game of cover my hide? Oh, this is all a misunderstanding, there’s no big deal, just let me go. Things are getting a little tense, a little hot in here, I had better stop what I’m doing, drop it, and just roll away? No, that’s not what Stephen does. We skip most of what Luke records for us in Acts, but we get the end of it. Stephen preaches, Stephen rips back and calls a spade and spade, giving them a good double barrel blast of the law. And they kill him. They drag Stephen out, they pick up rocks, and beat him to death.


So, was Stephen foolish? Was he unwise? No. Stephen was full of faith and the Holy Spirit. As Christians, as those who know who God is, who have tasted His Salvation, we are called to proclaim, to speak out the truth of God's word. Now, by this I’m not telling you all to get your sandwhich boards and stand out on the side of the road and start screaming at passer-bys in cars. But when you are questioned, when you are asked, “Who is this Jesus”, when one comes and denies your Lord, your duty is to confess Christ, whatever the consequences.


And that's not easy. Few things are more scary, more terrifying than speaking. Think in your own life apart from religion specifically. How many of you have things that you would like to tell someone but are afraid to? Someone is doing something wrong that hurts them, but. . . you just can’t say it, because you might upset them. Someone could use some advice, you have a recommendation, but what if they take it the wrong way. All too often we don’t speak when we ought to. Instead of showing love and care and service, instead of helping out, we say nothing. We have that fear of someone becoming upset with us, and that fear runs and rules our lives, not the love that we have from Christ.


Fear of speaking comes in even with good things. Who here hasn’t felt their knees turn to jelly when you want to say something sweet and romantic to someone? I’d wager that there are some guys here who have been married quite a while who still ho and hum before they work up the courage to tell their wives that they love them. Why then, should we be surprised when we have to confront fear when speaking the most wonderful words ever, speaking of Christ Jesus our Lord? Being bold in your faith can be hard, it can be frightening. There can and will be negative consequences in this life. If you doubt that, look at the prophets, look at the Apostles, look at Stephen, look at the cross itself. Nonetheless we are called to Confess, to speak boldly about Christ and Him Crucified when the opportunity presents itself.


So how? So far we have talked about many demands, much law. I, a poor miserable sinner, am called to service which I grumble about and do not do, I am called to confess Christ, and man, there are times where I just back down and run away. What now? Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. What now is this. We remember what else we are called to. We are called to be with the Son of Man, called to be with Christ Jesus. Dear friends, the Christ child does not remain idle, Jesus doesn’t just keep a low profile. Rather, He grows and suffers and dies and rises again. Why? So that He would call you to His side, that He would send His Holy Spirit to call you by the Gospel and Enlighten you by His gifts. At any and all times, we are to look to this, to remember this fact. Jesus, God Himself, calls you to be with Him. Emmanuel – God with us! This is what Stephen sees even as he lies dying, as the life is pounded out of him. Christ Jesus His Lord calling to Him, giving more and more forgiveness, bringing more and more Salvation. When Stephen sees Him, Jesus is there ruling at the Right Hand of God, calling His servant Home.


God constantly calls you as well. You are called by His Word to hear again and receive again the forgiveness of our sin. He calls you to the Altar, to His Supper, to receive His Body and Blood for the strengthening of your faith. When you are burdened, when you see your lack, you are called to look at Christ and see His love and Salvation, which is beyond anything else in the world. By His Word God constantly strengthens you and refreshes you when the world batters you down. Here in His house He gives you the gifts you need, preparing you to go out into the world and live the lives of service, the lives of confession that He calls you to. Here Christ Jesus fills you again with faith by forgiveness, by preaching, by His Supper, so that you are kept strong and firm, so that you are picked up whenever you stumble. Here in His House, we are gathered by Christ, just like a mother hen gathers her chicks, and under His protective wings you receive all that you need to grow in faith towards Him and in fervent love towards one another. Here in His house the Christ Child is at work for you, forgiving you and leading you.


And so, dear friends, on this December morn, we see who God is, who this Babe of Bethlehem is. He is the God who calls you to service, the God who calls you to confess him, but more than that, Jesus is the God who constantly calls you to be with Him, to come to Him, and to receive His blessings. And this He shall do, even until you see Him standing at the right hand of the Father yourselves. In the Name of Christ Jesus our Newborn King + Amen

Monday, June 8, 2020

Trinity 1 Draft

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit +
Last week, we sang This is the Feast for the first time in 15 weeks. That's a long time. See, we normally take a break from singing it in Lent – This is the Feast or the Gloria in Excelsis go away in Lent. And the last few years I've been using DS4 in Lent, the more talky service – and then back to the Feast with gusto on Easter. And there's a reason for that – the image of joy and celebration that tops all others in the Scriptures is that of a feast. The Scriptures begin with Adam and Eve in a garden feast – I mean, that's what a garden is for – a feast. God doesn't plant a “forest” - it's a garden. Eat! And the end, Revelation – it's a wedding feast, a reception, a party. Taste and see that the Lord is good! And as let is a time of fasting – we are reserved. But normally that time of fasting is just six weeks. Not 15.
And strangely perhaps this COVID lockdown has taught us something that years and years of the six weeks of Lent just never quite did. We human beings were created by God to be together, celebrating and eating together. That's the Garden – it's not good for Adam to be alone, Eve, be with him. That's revelation – it's not good for Jesus to be alone. The Church shall be with Him forever. This is the feast. From beginning to end, God created us for joy and celebration together. And when that gets curtailed, either in the season of Lent when we pull back on things a bit, or when the world and circumstance prevent us from celebrating – from having our graduations or even our Easter dinners and the like – we see the point of celebration, and we see again what sin does. Sin tries to shutter, to cancel and close down the celebration that we have in all the good gifts that God gives us.
Alright Pastor – enough with the talk about food. Well, we're going to get it for the next three weeks at least, because this idea of feasting and celebration is going on in the background of our lessons for the next three weeks (and in an awful lot of our Gospel lessons the rest of the year too). As for today - the setting for the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus is that of a feast. Listen. There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. So who is this rich man, what do we know about him? No much other than this: for some reason he had been spared the worst ravages of sin in this life, and as such he was able to celebrate and feast daily. They were brilliant feasts – not just good food but lights, the whole shebang. Yet he is not the only character in the story. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. And there's Lazarus. Who wants to feast, well, not even feast. He'd be happy with table scraps, with left over – with trash. And this blessed rich man is so callous, so blind to his neighbor in need, that he lets Lazarus starve to death on his door step. No feast for you, no scraps for you, nothing for you, Lazarus!
This is a stark and gross depiction of what the Scriptures would call “injustice.” Justice in the Scriptures isn't about legal rights or jail time – not at all. Justice is this – recognizing that there is sin in the world, and instead of taking advantage of that fact, using the gifts you have received from God to mitigate and lessen the impact of sin. This is why we get in the Catechism things like we support our neighbor in his body and life, or to help him protect and improve his possessions and income. That's what justice is scripturally speaking. It's stewardship – it's you using the blessings God has given you for the good of your neighbor. It's you being your brother's keeper. It's you treating them fairly, even if they are desperate and couldn't fight back if you con them or rob them blind. And the rich man, who had been sheltered by God from the harshest impacts of sin in his life couldn't care one lick about justice. And Lazarus suffers for it.
But in the end, the wages of sin isn't just a bit of trouble. The wages of sin is death. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. They both die. And for the sake of the story, they can see each other. And what you probably missed is that Lazarus is at a feast. If you remember the old fashioned translations they would say that Lazarus gets taken to the bosom of Abraham. Lazarus is laying on Abraham – and do you know when you laid on each other in Jesus' day? At a feast. Because you didn't sit on a chair at a table with the person next to you at your side, you reclined at a low table, and to fit, you'd be laying up, supporting yourself on the person on your left. This was also why you didn't eat with the lepers – eating with involved contact. Or why they freak out when Jesus “eats with sinners” - it's not Jesus across an 8 foot table saying, “would you pass the Grey Poupon” - it's contact, it's closeness. Not quite the same closeness as that of a nursing child with her mother, but still pretty close.
And the rich man sees Lazarus at the feast with Abraham, and the rich man has none, and he wants it. Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame. He doesn't have to touch me, just a bit of water. Something. No dice, fella. Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. Comforted, Paracleted – the Paraclete was the comforter, the counsellor, the advisor at your side, right next to you. Lazarus knew the word of God, knew the Spirit, and by faith Lazarus was saved, even though he saw such wickedness in his lifetime. And you, well, apart from faith there's just sin and death. And I can't bridge that chasm for you.
Well, Abraham, send Lazarus to go warn my family. And Abraham refuses to dismiss Lazarus from the feast. Abraham says, “They have Moses and the Prophets, let them hear them.” This is lovely. What are you complaining about – they have Moses and the Prophets. I didn't have the Scriptures in my day – I didn't have the Scroll of Isaiah. I might have to wait 10 years for the Word of the Lord, they've got it all over the place. Go listen there. No, Father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent. Yeah, Abraham, I know I'm burning in hell and you're Father Abraham and all, but you don't know what in the, well, hell, you are talking about. Arrogance and injustice go hand in hand. And Abraham has enough of it – If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead. Listen to the Word, that's where it's at.
If you don't hear the Word of God, if you ignore the Scriptures, you miss out on the feast. You don't see the world for what it is, you don't recognize sin, you don't recognize blessings, you don't understand death and you don't know where there is salvation if you don't listen to the Word.
Because you know what the Word of God proclaimed, what Moses and the Prophets taught and teach until this day? That the LORD, Jesus Christ, is Himself our shield. That He Himself will secure for us every blessing, and not just for a century or so, but for eternity. For the Scriptures declared from Genesis 3 onward that God Himself would become Man, that the LORD Himself would be our Savior, that He would take up the wages of Sin upon Himself, that He would die and rise again. And that is what Jesus Christ has done, and what He has done for you.
And so Jesus calls you here. This place – it's a place of His Word. If I'm over at that Lectern, I'm going to be speaking His Word. If I'm in this pulpit, I'm going to be preaching His Word – and it better not be just my hobby horse or my opinion, otherwise I've got no business saying that it is in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and you've got no business saying Amen at the end. And the Word of God is true – and it shows us our sin. And it shows us our disdain. And the Spirit uses it to make us see things about ourselves that we'd rather not admit. But the Scriptures also show God's plan of Salvation in Christ Jesus for you. And the Scriptures declare that Jesus is for you. And being immersed in the Scriptures, to where we are gathered here and we hear His Word and speak His Word – because the Words you've said and sung are just Scripture or pretty hymns plagiarizing the Scripture, the Holy Spirit works repentance and faith upon us. There is no repentance apart from the Word and Spirit, there is no faith apart from the Word and Spirit.
And with all that going on, all that being done to us – we say Amen. We pray the back to God the promises that He has made to us in His Word, indeed the very words that Jesus taught us (if I don't forget and skip it) – and then, out of His great love and mercy, Jesus calls us sinners to His table for His Supper, and we receive forgiveness, life and salvation. This is the feast. And here we touch upon and join in the heavenly eternal feast, with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven – even until we are there ourselves in the Resurrection.
See the feast. See the everyday feasting of daily bread that you have, and use your daily bread with justice for all. And come to the feast of forgiveness and mercy, even until our Lord brings you to the feast of Victory that will have no end. You are invited. Christ Jesus has died and risen for you, so you belong here. In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit +

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Pentecost Draft

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit +
So, we are moving closer to being able to reopen for worship, and there is much fear swirling around the reopening of Churches. I saw reports out of Germany earlier this week that there were 107 infections out of one church – and I saw many throwing fear and outrage over that. And California released plans for reopening – and as for Illinois...? But sooner or later we will be gathering here together again, because when they are able, the people of God gather in His house. That's just how things work – when we can we go to church. Even back on the day of Pentecost, people gathered from all over the world to God's house in Jerusalem. But Pastor, what about safety! How quickly we forget, how little we understand the history of worship – we forget that safety in worship has always been on the hallmarks of the Christian faith.
Let's start with the basics – what is the first commandment? (You shall have no other gods.) And what does this mean? (We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.) Fear has always been part of the Christian faith – a healthy fear, a proper fear, and understanding that you don't mess around with God, you don't run ram-shod over Him. That if you presume to just saunter up on to God and do things your way, things go poorly. Our lesson from Genesis today – there's no fear, no respect of God – we'll just build our way up to Him. God puts a stop to that. Or even earlier in Genesis – Cain is discouraged because he worshiped wrongly, made lousy sacrifices. There is a respect, a decorum to be had in the presence of God.
This continues throughout the Old Testament. When Moses sees the burning bush, what's the first thing he gets told? Take off your sheep-stained sandals, you are on holy ground. Holy – where there's something different, something special – and you act differently when you are here. And with the Tabernacle – you don't just traipse in there – the priests operate with respect. The second day the Tabernacle is open two of Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu decide to just ignore God's instructions and do things their way, and they die. There's a right and safe way to worship God, to give God the honor, respect, and glory due Him.
Now, we are in the New Testament times, and things are much easier with worship. As Christ Jesus has made the final sacrifice for sin, I don't really have to cut or burn anything anymore, which is just fine with me. The temple curtain was torn in two, and we enter God's house baptized and clean and forgiven – much of the danger has passed. That's a great thing. But we still have maintained a sense of reverence, a sense of decorum. This is because we do acknowledge that great things happen here in this place – that while God could choose to bring us His Word, His Baptism, His Supper in a multitude of different places, He has set aside this place for you, He has made this Holy place for you to receive His good gifts. And I would hope this break would rekindle your sense of how this place is a holy place. And we treat it as such. I'm not the most stodgy of pastors (nor as I the most casual), but you've never seen me, let's say... sit on the altar. Probably have a hard time even imagining it. It's good that that would be hard to imagine, because we maintain respect and decorum and still teach it here because of respect for what Jesus gives us here.
And so, when we do resume open worship – we'll have reverent, joyous worship where we receive Jesus' good gifts of life and salvation. We will just have some extra layers of reverence and decorum and respect that are added. Respectful of each other – which is most certainly fine, for if the temple of old was to be respected, how much more ought we show respect to each other, for we all are baptized children of God, temples of the Holy Spirit. Because this is what we see start on Pentecost. It's not that the New Testament is actually less formal or less stuffy than the Old, it's that the angle has changed. In the Old Testament, everything was funneled to Jerusalem, because it was in Jerusalem where Jesus would come and suffer and die on the Cross and redeem the world, and all eyes, all nations where to be focused there. That's why we see folks from all over the place drawn to Jerusalem in our Epistle. But now in our days, we are on the outward path – the Holy Spirit is given, is poured out, and the news, the proclamation of what happened on Cross in Jerusalem nearly 2000 years ago is take forth and away from there unto all the world. There is no longer one temple to go to, but rather every Christian is made a sacred and holy temple of God – for prayer and proclamation. And wherever Christians are gathered – be it just 2 or 3 – because I've done plenty of services for folks where there's only been the two of us – or be it 10, or 50, or whatever – there Christ Jesus is present in His Word and His gifts – all over the world. And this is a wondrous thing – and so we do have places and buildings still today so that the locals know where they can come. Any new person showing up in Herscher can see this building and tell that it is a Church, that it is a place where Christ Crucified for the forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed.
Because that is the proclamation of the Church. Even from the beginnings of the New Testament Church at Pentecost. Consider how Peter really starts his sermon: Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. The law is proclaimed. Bluntly. The Christ, the Messiah came, and He was put to death. And note – Peter is talking to many people who weren't even in Jerusalem when Good Friday happened – yet the reality is this. Their sin, our sin – that's why Jesus was on the cross. Let us in the Church never soft pedal the impact of sin, or brush it off as unimportant. Nor should we be surprised when we see the impact of sin upon the world. The wages of sin is death. We know this and teach this. And the wonder is this: Jesus decided to take up that wage in your place, so that even should you die you will not remain dead. That is a jaw-dropping awesome thing. Yes, Jesus died on our account, but also true is this - God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. Jesus who died has been raised, and life has been restored. Death has been defeated. Yes, your death has been defeated. You death from whatever, be it old age or cancer or an accident or whatever of the myriad things that have put people we know and love in the cemeteries and one day will come calling for us – your death has been defeated by Christ. Death cannot hold Christ Jesus, and because Jesus holds on to you, has bound Himself to you in Holy Baptism, death will not have any hold on you either. Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself. This promise indeed is for you, even though you are far off in both time and space – for you are those whom God has called unto Himself.
And Peter ends his sermon saying this way: And with many other words he bore witness to them, and comforted them saying, “Be saved from this crooked generation.” Peter comforts, exhorts – paracletes them. Proclaims the Word and the Holy Spirit comes upon them, and those who received his word were baptized and saved. Salvation happens. God's plan of rescue, your rescue, continues. Doesn't matter what you see swirl around you, it doesn't matter the fears and dangers that arise – fears and dangers arise in every day and in every generation – only a people with no fear of the Lord would expect otherwise. This still is true: You are saved and redeemed by Christ.
This is why Jesus told the disciples, and why through them He declares to you, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” Jesus died and rose so that you would have peace, that you would be forgiven – and nothing stops that. Nothing can change, cancel, close, or destroy that. And while things in the world swirl around and change – in the world they need to swirl and change because the world is a dizzying and confusing place – in Christ Jesus you do have peace. And He has had His Word proclaimed to you, and He has seen you baptized, and He has poured out His Spirit upon you, and He and the Spirit dwell with you. And this is a wondrous truth – one that we should marvel at, that we should treat with reverence. It is a truth to be proclaimed in all places – and also in this specific place and building as well.
So, I do not know what the future holds – but then again, I never have. None of us ever know what the next week will hold in store – or what new strangeness and fears will pop up this June. What is steadfast and constant is what we are focused upon here – the love of Christ Jesus for you. That He has died and risen, and we are saved by Him. God grant that we might soon again safely gather together and receive His good gifts together – but know and remember that you still receive His good gifts even while we are apart. This is the joy of being the Baptized – a wondrous gift the world will never understand, nor that they can ever take away. Amen. In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit +

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Easter 7 Draft

Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed, alleluia! +
Man, bad stuff will happen. I mean, peel the paint off the wall bad stuff will happen. This is what Jesus tells the disciples that Maundy Thursday evening – and not just bad stuff to Jesus, but bad stuff is going to happen to them. They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think that he is offering service to God. And it happens. The disciples in that upper room are all driven out of the community, forced to run – most of them are murdered cruelly and harshly. John dies naturally, but off in exile. Bad stuff will happen.

I use to get really annoyed when I'd have to run into the Christian book store to pick up supplies, because I'd pass the racks of the current best sellers, and so often they'd be these incredibly happy go lucky things. Here's the Christian guide to success and power and victory – it was like walking into a self-help section with a slathering of Jesus tossed onto it, and I would get really annoyed, because it was making a false promise. Jesus doesn't say that everything will go well. In fact, Jesus is quite often blunt, telling us that in this life, in this sinful world where you are surrounded by sinners, bad things will happen. Some you will bring upon yourself – some will just happen to you. And the lives of all the saints of both the Old and the New Testaments are examples of this. Bad things happen – and being faithful doesn't mean that they won't happen to you. In fact, being faithful to God paints a target squarely on you and Satan is going to fire away.

Bad things happen. And Jesus is honest with us about that. But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. When bad things happen, we are spiritually assaulted. We are assaulted by Satan and our own sinful flesh. And fears and doubts come crashing in. It wasn't supposed to be like this, did I do something wrong, why isn't God doing X, Y, and Z to fix it? We see the bad things, and we are hounded by Satan and sin with the threat and specter of death – hounded away from Christ.

So, remember what Jesus told you. Jesus has never blown smoke up your skirt about how everything will be rosy. He's not some prosperity preacher – it's take up your Cross and follow Me. That “oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz” song isn't Scripture, it's Janis Joplin. Jesus has been utterly blunt and honest with how there will be hardship and difficulty and pain and death in your life. And so what we see today should be no surprise. Christians don't get a get out of COVID free card, we don't get to ignore governmental regulations without consequence just because we're Christians. No – Jesus has placed you as a Christian squarely in the middle of the real world, the real, harsh world. The real world that will fight tooth and nail against itself and doubly so against you because you are a Christian and Satan wants nothing more than to crush you and drive you away from Christ.

So over and against this, Jesus wants you to stay focused on the message, on the Gospel, on the good news of your salvation. Because you know what is true about all the bad stuff you see – it doesn't change the fact that Jesus Christ has died for you. Do you see your sin? Doesn't change the fact that Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary that first Christmas. Doesn't matter how big that sin that bugs you is – Jesus still was born. Is the world gone all crazy and dangerous and foolish? Doesn't change the fact that Jesus, True God and True Man, died and rose for you to win you forgiveness and win you eternal life. Easter service was sort of canceled or just stuck on line – not Easter itself, not the Resurrection itself. All the hardships we face, all the trials – they're not going to catch Jesus off guard. It's not like they are some surprise twist that Jesus didn't see coming – and even with them coming, He did everything He needed to do to be your Savior, to forgive you and redeem you and save you. He doesn't forget you – we're the ones tempted to forget, but Jesus never forgets His love for you.

And thus, He sends the Holy Spirit. When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness about Me. Jesus sends the Holy Spirit – and you know what the Holy Spirit's job is? To give you Jesus. To fix your eyes upon Jesus. To come to you in and by the Word of God, and to place your eyes smack dab upon Jesus, in good days or bad days, in normal days or strange days, yesterday, today, and forever. The Holy Spirit bears witness about Jesus – proclaims over and over to you that Jesus is your Lord and Savior, that this is true, and that nothing in the world can change that fact.

And this is what the Apostles were sent to preach. The Holy Spirit works through the Word, and the Apostles were sent to proclaim the Word of God. And we who have been given the gift of faith by the Holy Spirit, we who have heard the Word – we too are given to proclaim it.

And this is important, something much more important than the question of why do bad things happen? Bad things happen because we are sinners in a sinful world. Don't give me that “why do bad things happen to good people” junk – sinners in a sinful world. You're not “good” - you're a forgiven sinner – you are declared good and righteous in Christ Jesus. And so the bigger, the more profound question isn't “why do these bad things happen” but why did God put you right here, right now, right smack dab in the middle of this badness right now?

When we see bad things, our sinful flesh likes to jump to the idea of punishment, but often that's just our sinful flesh thinking we can dig our way out of things. If I've been bad, maybe I can be good and work my way out of it. Well, I suppose diet and exercise might make me less likely to get sick but there's something more profound at work than Jesus just telling me to put down the junk food. Might be part of it – but only a small part. No – why are you here, right now, in the middle of all this badness?

Let's ponder the Apostles again for a moment. Next Sunday is Pentecost – and we will hear them preach, and it will be neat, and all that. And they get sent into some lousy places, full of badness and wickedness. Why? Not for their own good – but to do good for the people God put into their lives. To be God's instruments of love and compassion, of proclaiming the Gospel. God put them in the middle of the bad because that is where God needed His love proclaimed the most, His love shown the most, His care given forth the most.

Why are you here, now, in the middle of all this badness? To love. To forgive. To show mercy. Over and against and in the midst of all this sin and death surrounding us – you are sent by God to love and serve your neighbor, to care for their bodily needs, as well as to proclaim the peace of Christ Jesus, His forgiveness, and the hope of the resurrection in the midst of a world that desperately needs it. Because really – the world and its situation isn't any more bad now than it was last year at this time. The main difference is perhaps we see it a bit more clearly now. We see the panic, the fear, the danger, the isolation and loneliness all the more clearly. We see it in ourselves more – we feel it more clearly ourselves. And God in His wisdom and in His love for His creation that is being sorely abused by Satan and the powers of hell has forgiven you, and been merciful to you – and He has placed you right into the middle of the fray to be His own instrument of love and mercy and forgiveness to people who desperately need His love and mercy and forgiveness.

And some won't appreciate the love. And some won't want to hear the mercy or peace. And some will scoff at the forgiveness. So be it – Jesus told you that this would happen. Show the love anyway. Forgive people anyway – even if they don't deserve it, because no one deserves God's forgiveness. That's the point of it being forgiveness. Love and forgive each other – and in that way God will see that you yourself receive His love and forgiveness, His encouragement and strength. And God will bless you with the Holy Spirit to keep you and strengthen you in Christ Jesus for the love He would have you show, for the works that He has prepared for you to walk in, even until He chooses and knows that it is best to give you rest. You have received the love of Christ, and He sends you forth with that same love to cover the multitude of sins, of badness that we see unleashed upon this world – because your neighbors need that love just as much as you do.

So, do not fear the badness that you see. Do not be shaken by it. Do not be driven away from Christ Jesus by it. Rather – know it for what it is. It's Satan attacking the world, attacking the people for whom Jesus died for. And Jesus will not stand for that – and so here you are, and He is with you, to give you daily bread as you tend to the daily needs of your neighbors, to forgive you as you forgive those who trespass against you. And He will not lead you into a temptation that you cannot bear, and He will deliver you from evil. He has done so – for you are a baptized child of God, and nothing you see can change that. You need not flee wickedness – God destroys it through His love and forgiveness that He gives to you and through you. This is what Jesus' death and resurrection for you has accomplished. Amen. Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed, alleluia.

Monday, May 11, 2020

Easter 6 Draft

Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed, alleluia!
Sinful human beings like control. We want to be in charge of things; we want things to be done our way. This is why these stay at home orders chafe so much. For almost two months I've been told I can't run up to Darien and sit down and have a nice, Lithuanian Lunch, or whatever other stupid whim of the moment that my mind fixiates on in the moment when I'm staring out my window. And on top of that, we certainly don't like being told what to do by others. Don't tell me I'm supposed to wear a mask in public – though really it's not that big of a deal and it's just a matter of being polite. See, I've got my mask on, I promise I won't cough on you (I can't wear one in service, you have a hard enough time hearing me as is). But this whole control mess – not having control, seeing places where others control you – we could even add in the times where you've been domineering over other people and tyrannical yourselves – this whole control mess epitomizes what sin is. We want control. And the fact that we don't have control angers and terrifies us.
And we can do stupid things to try to gain control back in our lives. We can jump through all sorts of justification hoops – whether it's conspiracy theories or I'm acting for the greater good, or they started it – sin is basically me wanting to control everything, me not wanting to let God be God, me not wanting to receive the days that the Lord my Maker gives unto me. We see a story about this in our Old Testament lesson. And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.” Now think briefly on the Exodus – the children of Israel had seen the 10 plagues shatter Egypt, they crossed the Red Sea and saw with their own eyes God destroy the armies of Pharaoh, and they saw the Pillar of Fire, the Pillar of Cloud. They saw water from the Rock, and the worthless food was manna and quail! How can they complain like this – if you are left to die in the wilderness it is because you refused to believe the Lord when He said that He would lead you into the promised land! Why do you grumble so? Well, you see God, it's like this – I really want more variation in my diet. And so they grumble. Instead of seeing the miraculous care that they had received from God, they grumble.
Sound familiar? I can look at my pantry, my freezer, and I can loathe this worthless food because I want Lithuanian and I want to get a Kugelis – which is this wonderful potato dish... get the point? We really are no different, and although we like to do the whole “if I were there, I would have behaved better” - yeah, you probably wouldn't have. I probably would have been one of the idiots swallowed up by the earth in the rebellion of Korah – thank you Lord for saving me from my own stupidity. These days – well all days, but especially these days where we are frustrated are good days to remember the 1st Article of the Creed, the 4th petition of the Lord's Prayer. God still is your Creator, and He still takes care of you and preserves you. He still provides you daily bread, and He still protects you from harm and danger. God keeps on being God.
But I want to continue on in the Old Testament for a moment – let's push that a bit further. Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you.” Punishment and hardship comes, and they recognize that it comes from the Lord. Yes, God is letting these serpents run around and He is teaching us a lesson – again, understand why Pastor Brown doesn't like object lessons. And the people learn from it. They are driven to repentance.

Now, consider our days. Well a virus is less exciting and more tedious than fiery serpents, but how do we understand this? We are right to understand this as something which God in His wisdom and His Fatherly love has allowed, and even sent, to us to chastize us and to drive us away from our pride and unto repentance. I'm guessing in the extra time of reflection you've had these past two months you have seen things about yourself that you realize are not good. Excellent – you are being repented by God, and the mirror of the law is doing it's work. Our sin is revealed so we can repent it and fight against it.
However, there is a danger, and false move and shift that the American preachers are want to do in times of tragedy. The temptation is to want to name someone else's sin. God's unleashing this upon America because of... sin that I conveniently don't happen to like or engage in. A conservative type might want to say this is vengeance against abortion or homosexuality; I've seen a few liberals saying that this is punishment for our capitalistic greed. But those are all pinning the tail on some other donkey – that's really blaming other people. And that's an attempt to exert control – because if we just change what THEY do, then everything will be better. And then of course, there are the more extreme attempts at control – Pastor, what if you made a pole and stuck a bronze virus on it – okay, maybe not bronze but we could take a styrofoam ball and stick push pins in it and it would make a really need crafty model for a virus.... Not the point. It's not the time to blame, it's not the time to try to control things not given to you to control. It is a time to pause and ponder our own sin.
Moving forward to the Gospel lesson – it had turned dour in the Upper Room that Maundy Thursday evening, for after dinner Jesus had given this sad, confusing speech about scary things, how He's going away and we're going to have sorrow. And then, towards the end, He says, “In that day you will ask nothing of Me. Truly, truly I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in My Name, He will give it to you.” And Jesus has addressed the sorrow and the hardship that the disciples will face, the sorrow and hardship that we ourselves face, and He gives the solution. Pray. You, O Christian, have been given a fantastic gift, a wonderful access to God Almighty. When you pray, the Father has promised to hear you. You do not call upon His Name in vain when you pray, but rather He has promised to hear you. And Jesus has instructed you to pray - “Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”
And here's where we need to hold our sinful horses a moment. We are control junkies, we love control – and we hear “whatever you ask” and “ask and you will receive” and we hear this through the idea of control... whatever I want? Even the pony? I want to point out two things, the important things, that we forget. In My name, in Jesus' name – and for joy.
To pray in Jesus name is to pray with His authority – it is to pray confessing that Jesus is in control, not you. It is to pray in accordance with what Jesus has instructed us to pray – like what we pray for in the Lord's Prayer. And if we go outside of what Jesus has instructed, if we try to take control of the situation we we would want, well, that's bad. Consider this as an example – let's say I tell my son Victor, “Go tell your brother Ambrose to come inside.” If he tells Ambrose, “Dad said to come inside” - that's great. If he says, “Dad said to come inside and that you are supposed to clean my room” that's missing the point and bad. Likewise, when we pray in Jesus' Name, we pray what He has told us and instructed us to pray for – that's the range of the whatever we get. Prayer isn't something we use to control God – it's not witchcraft or sorcery – that's taking God's name in vain. Rather our Prayer throws us to God, places us back in Jesus' Word, reminds us that God is in control and that He is in control for you.
And we know this, because Jesus has said that He wishes our joy to be full. Joy doesn't come from me getting my way – if I get my way on one things, I'm still grumpy and unhappy because there's something else I'll want my way on. It's why you can't please a person who constantly complains and why if you're a complainer you're never happy. That's all about control, and there is no joy in our control. Where is there joy? There is joy in Christ Jesus for you. There is Joy in Jesus Christ saying to you, “see all this sin that is driving you into misery and despair – see all you wicked thoughts and stupid wants and perverse plans – see your wretched mistakes and grating grumblings and casual cruelties – see your shame and your guilt and your anger and your fear... well, I have taken that all away from you, and I have carried it to the Cross, and I have borne it all for you, and I have died and I have risen and you are forgiven. You are forgiven and you will rise to new and glorious and utterly enjoyable life – not because of what you do, but because of what I have done for you. And what I have done for you – well, it is finished. It's good. And in Me, you are good again.
That's what Joy is. Restore unto me the Joy of Thy Salvation. And that is what God will give you, that is where His gift of prayer will lead you. When you pray in Jesus' Name you are thrust back into your Baptism where that Name of Jesus was placed upon you, washing away your sin. When you pray in Jesus' Name, you are thrust back into the words and promises of forgiveness, life, and salvation that He has made to you. And Jesus' promise to you holds true. Even in hard times. No, you needn't take control. And yes, you may see your desire for control as the sin it is an repent of it. Jesus is in control, and He is in control for you, to redeem you. And this is true even today – hear again what He has said to you. “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart, I have overcome the world. Amen. Christ has risen...

Sunday, May 3, 2020

Easter 5 Draft

Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed, alleluia!
Sometimes our Lord will cut across our bravado. What's the old phrase – pride goeth before a fall? Our Lord has expressly told us that He will cut across our bravado, our false boldness, our bluster. Jesus Christ is the Truth – and tall tales and boasts are not of the truth. And so, part of what Jesus does that Maundy Thursday night is call the disciples' bluff a bit. Remember, they had been all bold and boisterous that evening – we'll never leave you Jesus. Peter had the whole “I'll never deny you” - oh really, well remember that boast Petey when you hear the Rooster crow, alright? These were the disciples, they were supposed to be in the know, in the inner circle – they could handle anything!
And Jesus takes them down a peg – gently, mind you. The Passion is terrifying for the disciples; Jesus gets them thinking so it's not quite as big a shock. Now I am going to Him who sent Me and none of you asks Me, “Where are You going?” But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Getting taken down a peg hurts, even if you need to be taken down a peg. Being reminded of your weakness, of your need for God hurts – we see this clearly today in the rampant fear. And for the disciples it was extra scary – because if Jesus goes away, it's going to fall to them to take care of things. Daunting – you betcha that is! Oh well, disciples – adulting is hard. And their boasts and pride war with their fears and doubts – a mess I'm sure you're familiar with – and Jesus is talking about going away, this is bad, isn't it?
Nope. Not bad at all. In fact – Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you. What's coming is better. What's coming, what the Church will look like in 20 years is better than it is now, disciples. It will be better for everyone when you're Apostles instead of disciples. And it's true – even now, even in the midsts of pandemics and all that jazz, it's better. We've got a leg up on what the disciples had when they were following Jesus. Why? Because we live in the post-Pentecost Church.
Right here Jesus points the disciples and us to Pentecost, where the Holy Spirit is poured out – the Helper, the Comforter, the Paraclete. That's a great word there – that word “Helper” is the Greek Word Paraclete. Right, so what's a Paraclete. Well, when you were in court on trial for a crmie your Paraclete was the person who sat along side you (para, like parallel) and called (cleted) out to you to tell you whatever it is you needed to know. It's your defense lawyer, the person who faces off against the Accuser – the Satan in Aramaic. And your Paraclete would speak to you all the things you would need. He'd calm you down if you were panicking, he'd explain what the Accuser is doing with all his tactics, he'd tell you how to counter them – and if you were going to go say something stupid to the judge he'd stop you. Useful fellow, a good paraclete.
Jesus here is describing what the Holy Spirit does for you. You have received the Holy Spirit. You are Baptized, washed with water and the Word and made a temple of the Holy Spirit. You are part of the same Christian and Apostolic Church with the same Spirit given at Pentecost. Jesus sends you His Spirit along with His Word, and whenever you hear the Word of Jesus, Jesus gives you the Holy Spirit at the same time – you don't need to try to find the Holy Spirit or Catch Him – He is with you and He is with the Word.
And what does the Holy Spirit do? Well, glad you asked – And when He comes He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment. When the Spirit comes He's going to lawyer on up and take the case square on, and He's going to have His fancy and fine lawyer talk and take it to the world – and He's going to smack the world around over three things – sin and righteousness and judgment. First - Concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me. The Holy Spirit will show sin to be sin. In fact, you can't really know sin to be sin apart from the Holy Spirit and believing in Jesus. Most other cultures, they don't really have the idea of sin. People might make mistakes – but most of the time they deny that fact. Or people might have bad habits – but those get swept under the rug. But the idea of sin – the idea I am corrupt and that I fight against my creator and that every action I take is tainted and twisted – that even I, Eric Brown, as I stand here in the Church and preach, am a poor miserable sinner – in thought, word, and deed – corrupted and vile and deserving of death? Or that you, the folks listening, hearing – that you yourselves are sinners to, and that even believing in Jesus you'll need to confess, that every week in service we'll rightfully start confessing our sins? That makes no sense to the world. That makes no sense to us apart from the Holy Spirit giving us faith in Jesus. In fact, the only reason we could bear to consider the weight of our sin is because we have been given to know Jesus, that He takes our sin up upon the Cross and Crucifies it. And that's what the Holy Spirit reminds you of via the Word of God, and that's what we proclaim to the world.
Second – Concerning Righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see Me no longer. The Spirit will proclaim Christ Crucified. Okay, Christ Crucified, Risen, and Ascended and seated at the right hand of the Father – Christ Crucified. Because that is what righteousness is. The world thinks that to be righteous is to be nice, a decent fellow. But in reality the world doesn't know what righteousness is. What proof? Go get into a debate with someone about how we should handle governmental policy concerning Covid. What's the “right” thing to do – oh, you'll hear so many theories about what the right thing to do is. Even we here might toss our own two cents, our own two worthless cents into the discussion. No, you want to know what righteousness is? While you were yet a sinner, Christ Jesus died for you. He takes up the weight of your sin, and in its place He gives you all that He is – for He is righteous, no one is good but God alone, and Jesus Christ, true God gives you all that He is, and you are made righteous, justified in Him. Righteousness has nothing to do with what you do or your thoughts or plans – righteousness is Jesus for you. And the Holy Spirit will proclaim Christ Jesus for you in a world that often forgets or ignores Jesus.
And the third – Concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. Oh, and just in case you get freaked out by what you see in the world, just in case the sin and death and chaos and illness and bicker that Satan has wound up gets you a bit concerned, the Holy Spirit will proclaim again and again that Satan has been defeated by Christ the Crucified, that Jesus has risen and you will rise and that there's not a thing that Satan can do to stop your resurrection. Jesus wins. Period. This world's prince may still scowl fierce as he will. He can harm us none! He's judged, the deed is done! We can forget that sometimes. Sometimes we get overwhelmed. The Holy Spirit doesn't. And so in His Church the Spirit will proclaim the Victory of Christ by Christ Jesus' own Word of Truth, and He will keep you in this victory and truth. That's what the Spirit does.
And this is the life of the Church. I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. The disciples couldn't get everything right at that moment. And to be honest, we don't get everything at all moments. There are some things about the Christian faith I understand better now than I did years ago, and there are some things about the faith that I understood better as a Second Grader. That's life. And that doesn't surprise Jesus. In fact, that's why He sends the Spirit – because the Spirit will continually guide us into Truth, to Jesus – the Spirit will make you see Jesus for you in all the ways that you need to see Jesus for you on the given day you're in. He's got it under control, and He has it under control for you. And the Spirit will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come. The Spirit will over again over proclaim what is coming – not what Tuesday's powerball number is going to be or when I can go to a game at Wrigley again (I'd even be happy getting up to Comiskey or whatever they call it these days again). The Spirit will proclaim to you Christ's Victory and the truth that He shall come again. And everything God knows you need to hear about Jesus until then, the Holy Spirit has got that in the bag. The Spirit will give you Jesus – He will glorify me, for He will take what is Mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that He will take what is Mine and declare it to you. The Holy Spirit will Gospel you, He will pour out the good news of Christ Jesus' salvation – so that whatever else is going on, you know, you hear that you have Jesus. That you are forgiven, redeemed, and bound for eternal life. That every good blessing of the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is yours.
And that's true today. Still is. Because the Holy Spirit is still with you now, in the Word of Christ Jesus. God has comforted you, He has given you the Comforter, the Spirit – so that even now and in all your days, you know that Christ Jesus is your Lord and Savior, and that you have forgiveness and life in His Name. And this is a free gift of God, with no boasting needed. So, let the Lord cut across your bravado – He gives you something better. He gives you the Spirit, who proclaims always that Christ is Risen....