Sermon -- Festival of St. Thomas, Apostle (December 21, 2025)

FAITH BELIEVES WITH THE EARS, NOT THE EYES.

JOHN 20:24-29 

In the name + of Jesus.

    Joseph, the guardian of our Lord, was a man of great faith.  When he learned that his betrothed, Mary, was pregnant, he decided to terminate their relationship.  He had no desire to publicly shame her or to demand any kind of punishment for her, but neither did he want to become her husband.  Perhaps she loved another, and her pregnancy was the result of that.  If so, let her go to the one she loves.  I don’t think anyone would blame Joseph for his conclusions. 

     But then the Lord intervened.  God sent his angel to Joseph in a dream to inform him what was really going on—something Joseph would have never known or even guessed if left to his own devices.  The Lord revealed to Joseph, “Do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:20-21).  Experience taught him that the angel’s words were nonsense.  Joseph knows how women become mommies.  But Joseph believed the word of the Lord.  Faith believes with the ears, not the eyes.

     Fast forward thirty-three years.  Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.  The eyes were not fooled by these events.  His back was ripped open by the scourging of Pilate’s soldiers.  His wrists and feet were nailed to wooden beams.  He breathed his last and then was pierced with a spear for good measure.  The Romans, utterly successful at death by crucifixion, maintained their sterling record.  Pilate had that confirmed before he granted Joseph of Arimathea permission to take Jesus’ body.  The lifeless body of Jesus was wrapped in cloth and sealed in a tomb.  The death of Jesus of Nazareth was undeniable, publicly witnessed by disciples, soldiers, Pharisees, priests, and passers-by.

     Jesus’ apostles were devastated.  They were scared.  They were also wallowing in guilt for having abandoned their Lord in his most crucial hours.  Even though Jesus had told them explicitly three times that he would rise from the dead on the third day, they did not expect that they would see him again. 

     “On the evening of that first day of the week, the disciples were together behind locked doors because of their fear of the Jews.  Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, ‘Peace be with you!’  After he said this, he showed them his hands and side.  So the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord” (John 20:19-20).  They were overjoyed to see Jesus.  Even more, they were overjoyed that Jesus did not come to pass judgment on them.  He did not bear a grudge because he had to endure torment for their sins.  He declared peace.  All was forgiven—not just their failure to remain by him, but all.  All is forgiven—for you, too.

     The apostle Thomas was not there to hear it.  No doubt, he was consumed by the same fears, despair, and guilt that his fellow apostles had experienced.  Ten apostles had been relieved of their guilt, but not Thomas.  He was still scared, still sorrowful, still devastated.  His fellow apostles were eager to pull him out of it.  “The other disciples kept telling him, ‘We have seen the Lord’” (John 20:25)! 

     It is hard to know why Thomas did not consider the persistent testimony of his fellow apostles reliable.  Thomas demanded proof.  Surely, his experience would not deceive him.  His friends?  Maybe.  But not his own senses.  He would not believe words.  For this, he has been given the name “Doubting Thomas.”  Today, it is applied to people as a rebuke or an insult.  I am surprised that Thomas has not become a hero for skeptics.  Thomas would only believe what he could see with his eyes; he would not accept what he heard with his ears.  He is not unique.

     We constantly seek proof of God’s love and care, but we dictate how that love and care should be proved.  It should be by the end of war and strife.  It should be by the end of sickness and disease.  It should be by crime-free streets and drug-free communities.  It should be by families that are no longer fractured or fighting.  It should be by a robust economy where luxuries are common and all the bills are paid.  It should be by winning the Power Ball lottery.  I suppose you have your own criteria for what would prove that God loves you and cares for you.  If any of our criteria is not met, we may doubt that God loves us or that God is even real.  To paraphrase Thomas, “Unless I see the blessings in my life and in this world, I will not believe.” 

     Repent!  For, the Creator is not answerable to what he has created.  The one who grants life does not take orders from those who live because of him.  Nor is the evil in the world proof that God does not love or care for us.  The holy God is not the author of evil that men do.  God does not sponsor mass shooters.  God does not approve of the murder of babies in their mothers’ wombs.  God does not commission drunk drivers or encourage political violence.  These are the evil acts of sinners.  What you see and what you experience tells you more about this sin-fallen world than it tells you about God.

     The writer to the Hebrews wrote, “Faith is being sure about what we hope for, being convinced about things we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1).  That does not mean Christians live in the land of make believe.  And it does not mean that Christians are so gullible as to believe anything.  Faith believes with the ears, not the eyes.  God declares what is true.  God’s people take those words to heart.  We believe what our Lord tells us, even if our senses suggest something else.  The Bible is full of promises that seemed impossible but were fulfilled by our Lord, nonetheless.  When God says so, it is so.  Just because we don’t see the Lord’s goodness does not mean that the Lord is no longer good.  You don’t see the sun at night, either, but it still shines.

     Faith believes with the ears, not the eyes.  That was not enough for Thomas.  The words of the prophets were not enough for him.  Jesus’ words were not enough for him.  The eyewitness testimony of Thomas’ colleagues was not enough for him.  Thomas demanded more: “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands, and put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe” (John 20:25).

     Jesus did not owe Thomas a special revelation.  In fact, Jesus could have remained hidden from Thomas and let that be an act of judgment upon him.  Instead, Jesus graciously appeared to Thomas and said, “Put your finger here and look at my hands.  Take your hand and put it into my side.  Do not continue to doubt, but believe” (John 20:27).  His wounds were proof of his death.  His body was proof of his resurrection.  His words were proof of his mercy.  For, when Jesus appeared to his disciples again, he declared, “Peace be with you” (John 20:26).  He could have turned to Thomas and said, “Well, not with you,” but he did not.  He spoke to him with tender mercy.  He bestowed his peace, even to Doubting Thomas.

     Jesus has mercy on those with questions, with skepticism, and with doubts.  But he does not address these questions with dazzling displays of power.  When our Lord did display miracles in the past, it did not prevent people from dishonoring and disobeying his word.  Rather than proving himself with what we see with our eyes, our Lord consoles us with words for our ears.  God’s goodness is revealed in promises which are fulfilled.  God’s mercy is proclaimed to console troubled hearts and minds.  Faith believes with the ears, not with the eyes. 

     Our Lord Jesus Christ entered our world at a time when there were not cameras to log video footage.  While some consider that a negative, it shows the wisdom of God.  Videos on YouTube, TikTok, or other media platforms are mostly staged.  Increasingly, videos are becoming AI, so you can’t be sure what is real.

     In his wisdom, the Father sent his Son into the world when we were forced to rely on eyewitness accounts and records passed down to us in writing.  The Bible is overwhelming reliable with these accounts and records.  The Bible is far better attested than any other piece of ancient literature, and it’s not close.  We have more testimony about Jesus than we do about Confucious, Socrates, or Nebuchadnezzar.  It is not living in the land of make believe to trust the words and works of Jesus.  It was all done in public.  It has been recorded, preserved in copies, and proclaimed around the world.  The apostles, even under torture and sentenced to death, never changed their testimony.

     Faith believes with the ears, not the eyes.  Jesus had invited Thomas to touch the nail marks and to inspect his wounds.  St. John does not record if he did or not.  St. John did record Thomas’ confession, declaring Jesus to be God and Lord.  Tradition tells us that Thomas did not continue in his skepticism.  Instead, he preached about the Savior who paid for the sins of all, even for skeptics like him.  He travelled as far as India to preach about the Savior who died for sinners and who rose from the dead.  The way to heaven is not by the Ganges River, but by faith in Jesus.  Thomas testified to the wounds that bore witness to God’s love.  And for that, Thomas himself received wounds that killed him.  In the end, Thomas willingly died for the faith.  He did not die as a skeptic, but as a faithful witness who was sustained and saved by the word of the Lord.  The living Savior is greater than a dying world. 

     Faith believes with the ears, not the eyes.  What you see and experience in this world may be heart-breaking, frightening, or infuriating.  But God’s love and care—and certainly his salvation—are not determined by what you see with your eyes.  His love and care, his mercy and forgiveness, are made known in words.  In that word, he reveals how he left the glories of heaven to come to this sin-riddled world.  In that word, he reveals how he did the work to deliver you from all of life’s pains and sorrows, and that he will bring you to the glories of heaven.  In that word, he soothes your troubled hearts with words of peace and forgiveness.  This world is deceptive.  God does not lie.  When God says so, it is so. 

     Faith believes with the ears, not the eyes.  But faith in his word always results in seeing his glory with the eyes.  Joseph saw it in Mary’s child.  Thomas saw it in the wounds of Jesus’ risen body.  And you will see it in the resurrection to life everlasting.  He who has ears, let him hear.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Local Tourist -- Meadowbrook Hall for Christmas

On Friday, December 19, the Local Tourist and his lovely Mrs. took a tour of Meadowbrook Hall in Rochester, Michigan.  Click on the link for details about this amazing home.  We toured it as it was all decked out for Christmas.  It was fantastic.

Here are some photos.

Update from Good Shepherd (December 18, 2025)

Greetings!

REGULAR SCHEDULE
Divine Service is Sundays at 10:00 AM.
Sunday School is Sundays at 9:00 AM.

Adult Bible Class is Sundays at 9:00 AM.  

Bible Matters will resume on Wednesday, January 7 at 6:30 PM. 

CALENDAR: For a calendar of events and meetings, click here.

CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service -- Wednesday, December 24 at 7:00 PM.

Christmas Day Festival Service -- Thursday, December 25 at 10:00 AM.

COOKIE EXCHANGE

On Sunday, November 21, you are invited to participate in a cookie exchange after church.  Members are welcome to bring a few dozen cookies to swap with others.  Even if you do not bring cookies, pile up some on a plate to enjoy this Christmas season.

MINOR FESTIVAL

This Sunday (November 21), we will observe the Festival of St. Thomas, Apostle.  For more information on this festival, you can check out the blogpost here.

CHURCH COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS (December)

>  We are still planning to have a dry run for our texting service.  The date for that is still to be determined. 

>  As a follow-up to our congregational meeting, we will form a committee to study and make recommendations for larger capital improvement projects and long-term plans which may need to be done in the next ten years or so.  Some projects are necessary; others would be nice.  If you have interest in working with this committee, speak with Dan LeFevre.

GROWING TOGETHER IN GOD’S WORD
          Bible Matters is a discussion group. Each week, we will read through a chapter of, “Your Life Has Meaning: Discovering Your Role in an Epic Story,” and discuss how God’s word applies to our lives. Additional books are still available ($20 each). Friends are welcome and encouraged to join us. The book will be our gift to them. If you need a copy for a friend, speak to Pastor Schroeder. Additionally, all high schoolers who would like a copy of the book may have one for free.
          Bible Matters will begin our discussion of the book on Wednesday, January 7 at 6:30 PM.

GOOD SHEPHERD ON YOUTUBE

           Services are uploaded to YouTube each week. Feel free to share the videos. Here is the Divine Service from December 7, 2025. Good Shepherd Novi, Divine Service, December 7, 2025

BAD WEATHER POLICY FOR SERVICES AT GOOD SHEPHERD

            We will always have services as scheduled at Good Shepherd.  Since I live across the parking lot, I can get to the church no matter how bad the weather gets.  Even if the service is just me and my family, we will be here.  For everyone else, please use your God-given common sense to determine whether or not you will get on the road to attend any service when the weather is bad.  We don't want anyone to risk his or her life to be here.  But if you do venture out, the scheduled service will take place.  It may be only a handful with a cappella singing and/or spoken liturgy, but we will be here.

            Bible Classes and meetings may be canceled due to weather.  Check your email regarding announcements to see if any of those scheduled events are canceled.  If there is no email about it, it is not canceled.  But again, use common sense to determine if you can make it, and call the pastor to let him know if you will not be coming.

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2026

Offering Envelopes – Your 2026 offering envelopes have been placed in your church mailboxes.  If you do not receive one, or if somehow we still have not designated a mailbox for you, please speak to Pastor Schroeder or Terry Barber.  If you prefer your offerings to be done by electronic transfer rather than with offering envelopes, speak with Terry Barber about how to set that up.

Through the Bible in a Year – If you are willing to try to read the Bible in a year, there is a schedule you can find here.   Please note that it is a rather aggressive schedule, expecting 15-20 minutes of Bible reading each day, reading through all four Gospels twice.

Bible Information Class – We will offer a Bible Information Class in the new year, staring in February.  It will meet on Monday evenings, 7:00-8:30 PM.  This class is a review for long-time Christians and an opportunity for anyone to come, ask questions about God and the Bible, and to grow in faith and knowledge.  For now, consider whom you might bring to this class.  Many people have spiritual questions.  This class will address many of them.

Adult Bible Class – We will begin a new session on Sunday, January 4.  Sometimes we have a hard time understanding parts of the Bible.  Some of those words come from Jesus himself.  We will spend a number of weeks considering the Hard Sayings of Jesus.  Adult Bible Class meets at 9:00 AM.  All from grade 7 on up are welcome to attend.

Church Un-decoration

What goes up must come down.  On Sunday, January 4, we will remove and return to storage the Christmas decorations which have adorned our sanctuary through the Advent and Christmas seasons.  Your help is greatly appreciated.

REGULAR OFFICE HOURS
          For the most part, the pastor will be observing formal office hours (Monday-Thursday, 9:00 AM – Noon). Occasionally, duties will take him away from the office during these scheduled times, so you will still want to call or text to confirm any meetings with the pastor (248-719-5218).

INTRODUCTION VIDEO FOR GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH
          Here is a video to introduce people to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Novi. Share it as much as you can.

DO YOU LIKE US?

          Look for Good Shepherd on Facebook. Then “LIKE” us for updates and other postings. Be sure to share posts with friends.

SHARE THIS POST!
          We desire as many as possible to rejoice in the Gospel which we proclaim and confess. Share the information from our weekly email blast, links to our web page, and even to the pastor's blog to let others know that we have a space in our congregation for them!

In Christ,
Pastor Schroeder

==================

REGULAR SCHEDULE

Sunday School -- Sundays at 9:00 AM 

Adult Bible Class -- Sundays at 9:00 AM 

DIVINE SERVICES -- Sundays at 10:00 AM.

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service -- Wednesday, December 24 at 7:00 PM.

Christmas Day Festival Service -- Thursday, December 25 at 10:00 AM.

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE
www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

PASTOR SCHROEDER’S BLOG

www.LutheranSubject.blogspot.com  

Sermon -- Advent Vespers, Week 3 (December 17, 2025)

PROPHECIES PINPOINT THE MESSIAH:

He Is The Child Of Bethlehem.

MICAH 5:2-5a

In the name + of Jesus.

    As we make our way through the Old Testament, the prophecies continue to pinpoint the Messiah.  The focus gets narrowed down from the Seed of the Woman to the Seed of Abraham to the Son of David.  A significant amount of the world’s population no longer can qualify to be the promised Messiah.  Our options are limited more when we consider what God promises he will do or what will be done to him.  In Psalm 22, David wrote, “They divide my garments among them.  For my clothing they cast lots” (Psalm 22:18).  Isaiah had prophesied, “They would have assigned him a grave with the wicked, but he was given a grave with the rich in his death” (Isaiah 53:9).  Again, David declared in Psalm 16, “You will not abandon my life to the grave.  You will not let your favored one see decay” (Psalm 16:10). 

     Therefore, just from these few prophecies, the Messiah has to be one whose garments were divided up and loot which was gambled for.  If he was assigned a grave, that means he died.  His grave had to be given to him, and it had to be done by a rich man.  But the grave did not remain his abode.  If his life was not abandoned to the grave, then it was restored to him.  In fact, to fulfill prophecy, his body could not even see corruption.  For anyone to be the Messiah, all of these prophecies and more had to be fulfilled.  Every word which was foretold of the Messiah finds its fulfillment in Jesus of Nazareth. 

     The prophecies pinpoint the Messiah.  They enable us to identify without a doubt who it is who comes to save us.  Someone who studies probabilities crunched the numbers to tell us the likelihood of one man fulfilling a list of 31 specific prophecies.  Here are the results: “Imagine that someone takes the earth and hollows it out and starts filling it with dimes.  He would need to fill 10 earths full of dimes to represent all of the chances associated with these prophecies.  Next let us paint one of the dimes red. Now, the probability that one person fulfilled all of these prophecies by chance would be the same as one blindfolded person picking that one red dime the first time” (Source: https://www.neverthirsty.org/about-christ/prophecies-about-christ/probability-of-fulfillment/).  God does not foretell all of these things to impress us with the odds.  Prophecies are given so that we rightly identify the promised Messiah.  Every word which was foretold of the Messiah finds its fulfillment in Jesus of Nazareth.  Prophecies pinpoint the Messiah.

     You have been raised in the Christian faith, so none of this comes as a shock to you, although it should.  Words that were written hundreds of years before the events took place describe those events perfectly.  And they are not vague promises, either.  The Lord did not say, “There will be a man, and he will do amazing things.”  That could have been Alexander the Great, George Washington, or Neil Armstrong.  Our Lord is specific in his promises.  They could not have been fulfilled by accident.  Prophecies pinpoint the Messiah.

     This gives us some idea about St. Paul’s preaching when he entered synagogues.  The Bible records this, “As was his custom, Paul went to the Jews, and on three Sabbath days he led them in a discussion from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead.  He also said, ‘This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ’” (Acts 17:2-3).  To prove that Jesus is the Christ Paul demonstrated that everything which was foretold about the Messiah was fulfilled by Jesus.  First Paul presented the promises; then Paul proclaimed the words and works of Jesus.  He used prophecies to pinpoint the Messiah. 

     We have the benefit of hindsight.  We consider the prophecies, and we can see that they have all been fulfilled.  But what if we went back in time?  How easy would it have been, as the events were unfolding, to recognize: “This is the Messiah”?  The prophet Micah helps by narrowing our focus even more.  This is what Micah had foretold.  “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, from you, will go out the one who will be the ruler for me in Israel.  His goings forth are from the beginning, from the days of eternity” (Micah 5:2). 

     Everyone has a birthplace.  You can go to the Sheboygan County Courthouse and find a record of my birth in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.  Although Bethlehem would not have had a courthouse with birth records, they did have a special promise recorded.  The Messiah would be born there.  And to be more specific, Micah identified Bethlehem Ephrathah as the birthplace.  That is because there was also a Bethlehem in the tribe of Zebulun in the north.  Again, the Lord was not vague in his prophecy.  The Lord could have said he would be born in Israel or in southern Israel or near Jerusalem.  Instead, the Lord pinpointed the very place the Messiah would come. 

     Micah acknowledged, “Bethlehem, …you are small among the clans of Judah,” (Micah 5:2).  In some instances such as in the King James Version, the word “clans” has been translated “thousands.”  This refers to a military grouping.  A platoon of one thousand would be under the command of one leader.  Bethlehem was too small to produce a thousand.  Since Bethlehem was a little, po-dunk town, that limits even more the number of people who could qualify as the Messiah.  Prophecies pinpoint the Messiah.  He is the child of Bethlehem.

     We might be impressed that the birthplace of the Messiah was announced about seven centuries in advance.  And it is, indeed, impressive.  But Micah also proclaims a mystery which is much more astounding.  This Messiah would have a birthday in Bethlehem, but “His goings forth are from the beginning, from the days of eternity” (Micah 5:2).  If his origins are from eternity, then he who was born in time is also begotten from eternity.  This is a great mystery. 

     If you were to go to the Sheboygan County Courthouse and look up my birth record, you would see that I did not exist in 1965.  I had a beginning date to mark my life.  The Messiah also had a birthdate, being born in Bethlehem at a specific time.  Before that time, the Messiah existed only in regard to a promise.  And yet, Micah also says that he has existed forever.  Since there is no one who is eternal besides God, the child of Bethlehem is God.  Prophecies pinpoint the Messiah.  He is the child of Bethlehem, and he is eternal God. 

     Micah assures us that the Messiah is the Savior we need.  He is the child of Bethlehem.  He is one of us.  He entered the world through a birth canal.  He lived in our flesh.  He grew in wisdom and stature.  He learned to work with his hands as a carpenter’s apprentice.  He knew a world of callouses, sore muscles, and splinters.  He lived under the watchful eyes of Roman soldiers and experienced tear-filled eyes as one who had to bury his father.  He was subject to the commandments of God.  He is like us in every way, a perfect man who serves as our perfect substitute—a man who comes on behalf of mankind.

     This man is also the eternal God, which enables him to serve as the substitute for all mankind.  He did not live for himself alone, but he is the righteousness of all mankind.  He did not die for himself.  In fact, he was not deserving of death because he was without sin.  Neither the Jews nor the Romans had a valid reason to execute him.  And God the Father had no reason to damn him.  But he took up our sins, the righteous one suffering and dying on behalf of the unrighteous.  The innocent one was convicted and condemned so that the guilty could go free.  And he knew what he was getting into.  He had the words of the prophets which had foretold all that he would suffer.  Sabbath after Sabbath, Jesus read about the cup of God’s wrath which he would drink down to its dregs—all for evils he did not do and we did.  The prophets had foretold it, and Jesus fulfilled it.  He is the mediator between God and man, for he lives in both camps.  He has secured terms of peace.  He has reconciled us to God.

     Prophecies pinpoint the Messiah.  He is the child of Bethlehem, but he did not come just for Bethlehem.  He is the Son of David, but he did not come just for the house and lineage of David.  He is a true Israelite, but he does not limit his salvation to Israel.  The prophet Micah said, “He will stand and shepherd with the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.  They will dwell securely, for at that time he will be great to the ends of the earth” (Micah 5:4).  If his reign extends to the end of the earth, then his salvation and his grace extend to all mankind.  Therefore, you dwell securely in his care.  For he is a faithful shepherd who preserves his flock in the face of every enemy.

     Shortly before our Lord Jesus endured his passion, he prepared his apostles for the sufferings they would endure for his sake.  He was not vague.  He specifically warned them that they would face threats, trials, beatings and even death.  These would come from family and friends, from religious leaders, and from kings.  He told them, “I have told you now before it happens so that, when it does happen, you may believe” (John 14:29).  The apostles should not have been surprised when they faced what Jesus had said.  The prophets of old foretold the work of the Messiah for the same reason—so that when it happened people would believe.  Many regard the Old Testament as ancient history which serves us no purpose anymore.  But these were written so that you would believe all that God promised, and so that you would be confident about all that Jesus has fulfilled. 

     Prophecies pinpoint the Messiah.  As surely as God’s promises were fulfilled, just as surely God’s love is on display through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.  You get to live under God’s peace, confident that your eternity will be spent with the Lord.  The eternal God entered our time so that when our time on earth ends, we will dwell eternally with him.  This is a specific promise, and Jesus will fulfill it, too.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Christmas 2025

Join us for our Christmas services as we worship the Word who became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service:

A Service of Lessons and Carols

Wednesday, December 24 at 7:00 PM

Christmas Day Festival Service

Thursday, December 25 at 10:00 AM

o logos is Greek for "the Word."

Minor Festival -- Festival of St. Thomas

            Lutheran worship is liturgical.  While that often refers to an order of worship, it can also refer to the calendar of the Church Year.  The Church Year includes major festivals, such as Christmas, Epiphany, Easter, Pentecost, etc...  On Sunday, December 21, we will recognize a minor festival, the Festival of St. Thomas, Apostle.

            If we know Thomas for anything, it is his doubting of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.  Thomas, also called Didymus, demanded visible proof that Jesus was risen.  Though Jesus did not owe him such proof (the words of the prophets and apostles should have been enough), Jesus lovingly appeared to Thomas to give the proof Thomas yearned for.  Earlier, Thomas had also demonstrated an unconditional loyalty to Jesus.  When Jesus had announced his intentions to go to Judea despite threats on Jesus’ life, Thomas said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” (John 11:16) Tradition says that Thomas preached and built a church in India where he was martyred with a spear.

Sermon -- 3rd Sunday of Advent (December 14, 2025)

THE ONE WITH QUESTIONS FINDS ANSWERS IN DIVINE WORDS.

MATTHEW 11:2-11.

In the name + of Jesus.

    “While John was in prison, he heard about the things Christ was doing.  He sent two of his disciples to ask him, ‘Are you the Coming One or should we wait for someone else’” (Matthew 11:2-3)?  There is a debate among theologians over who was asking the question.  Was the question from John the Baptist who was languishing in prison?  Or was the question for the benefit of John’s disciples?  There are compelling arguments for both.

     John had preached a message of repentance and warned of the judgment that would come through the Christ.  But Jesus was not breathing fire or cutting down sinners.  He performed acts of healing, not judgment.  For this, Jesus was wildly popular.  John’s reward for faithful preaching was a prison sentence.  Was Jesus, perhaps, a second forerunner and the Christ was still coming?  On the other hand, John had seen the Holy Spirit descend upon Jesus in the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism.  John had declared, “I saw this myself and have testified that this is the Son of God” (John 1:34).  How could John ever forget or question that? 

     If John knew that his death was imminent, his disciples needed to follow the one who is the way, not the one who prepares the way.  Perhaps John was getting his disciples ready to transfer their allegiance to Jesus.  They needed to be sure that Jesus is, indeed, the Messiah.  In either case, the disciples of John came to Jesus with a sincere question: “Are you the Coming One or should we wait for someone else” (Matthew 11:3)?  The ones with questions would find their answer in divine words. 

     When they asked Jesus if he were the Christ, Jesus could have simply answered, “Yes.  I am.”  But a fraud would answer the exact same way.  Jesus warned his Church, “If anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Christ,’ or ‘There he is,’ do not believe it.  For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive even the elect, if it were possible” (Matthew 24:23-24).  If Jesus had simply claimed to be the Coming One, he could have been a deceiver.

     The one with questions finds his answers in divine words.  “Jesus answered them, ‘Go, report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the gospel is preached to the poor’” (Matthew 11:4-5).  If false Christs can perform miraculous signs, why did Jesus refer to his miracles as proof?  Actually, he didn’t just point to his miracles.  He referred to the prophet Isaiah who had said: “Tell those who have a fearful heart: Be strong.  Do not be afraid.  Look!  Your God will come with vengeance.  With God’s own retribution, he will come and save you.  Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be unplugged.  The crippled will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will sing for joy” (Isaiah 35:4-6).  Jesus was telling John’s disciples, “What the Lord had foretold is being fulfilled right before your eyes.  Do not believe it just because I claim to be the Coming One.  Do not believe it just because you see miraculous signs.  Believe it because divine words are being fulfilled.”  The one with questions finds his answers in divine words.

     Perhaps the most compelling sign that Isaiah had foretold is this: “Then the eyes of the blind will be opened…” (Isaiah 35:5).  Jesus had restored sight to a number of blind people.  This was predicted by Isaiah, but it was unprecedented until Jesus.  There are no records in the Old Testament of a blind person having his sight restored.  So, when Jesus said, “Go, report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight…” (Matthew 11:4-5), he is emphatically stating that the divine words are finding their fulfillment in him.  The one with questions finds his answers in divine words.

     After John’s disciples departed to report what Jesus had said and what he was doing, Jesus asked the crowds about him.  “What did you go out into the wilderness to see?  A reed shaken by the wind” (Matthew 11:7)?  The answer was a clear, “No.”  John did not bend his message based on his audience.  He held firm to the divine words he had been given.  John told people what was needed, not what was popular opinion or common practice. 

     Our world continues to change its mind about what is right and true.  There is a temptation for pastors and people alike to change with the world.  Only a few generations ago, couples who lived together outside of marriage were told that they were living in sin.  Today, most couples consider it unthinkable that they wouldn’t live together before marriage.  They want to try each other out to see if it would work.  But anyone who enters a relationship with the idea, “I can always walk away if I want,” is likely to feel the same way when marriage gets hard.  You shouldn’t be surprised that couples who live together before marriage are more likely to divorce than those who do not. 

     But this has become common practice in our society.  So, what should the church do?  Do we change the message so that we don’t turn people away?  Many churches have opted for that.  Like reeds blown by the wind, pastors adopt the spirit of the day.  In doing so, they reject the divine words.  In essence, they call God a liar.  They fill people with a false confidence, telling them that they are good Christians when the Bible says they are defying Christ.  Hellfire burns hot for those who defy Christ, and it burns hotter for the pastors who will not sound the warning to those who do. 

     Our Lord does not command his Church to be liked by the world.  He commands us to be faithful to his word.  Now, regarding those who usurped the blessing of a marriage bed apart from marriage, we proclaim God’s mercy to those who repent.  We urge them to rectify their situation—either move to separate places or get married.  We cannot comply to those who want us to bless what God does not bless.  We cannot be reeds blown by the wind.  Since the divine words do not bend, neither shall we.

     Again, Jesus spoke of John the Baptist.  “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? … A man dressed in soft clothing?  No, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses” (Matthew 11:7-8).  John did not preach to flatter anyone.  John did not preach to win a soft life in the king’s home.  For holding firm to God’s words he ended up in the king’s prison.  Eventually, he lost his life for it.  But he did not lose his place in God’s kingdom.  If John the Baptist had any doubts about Jesus being the Messiah or any fears that God had abandoned him, he found his answers in divine words.  These words apply to him: “Do not fear anything that you are about to suffer.  Look, the Devil is about to throw some of you into prison so that you will be tested, and you will suffer…. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.  …He who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death” (Revelation 2:10-11).  

     Jesus continued: “So what did you go out to see?  A prophet?  Yes, I tell you!  And he is much more than a prophet.  Amen I tell you: Among those born of women there has not appeared anyone greater than John the Baptist.  Yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he” (Matthew 11:9,11).  John the Baptist did the work of a prophet.  He proclaimed the divine words which pointed people to Jesus.  While many prophets of the past pointed ahead to Jesus, only John, when he pointed, had a person at the end of his finger.  This made John the greatest prophet of the Old Testament.  To any who wondered if the Christ would ever come, John proclaimed divine words to give answer to those who questioned. 

     And yet, Jesus says that you are greater than John the Baptist.  The kingdom of heaven is the kingdom over which Jesus reigns.  To secure that kingdom, Jesus had to fulfill what God the Father had sent him to do—to pay for the sins of the world.  So, Jesus took up the sins of us all.  All the divine words find their fulfillment in Jesus.  The divine words which command us to do good are fulfilled in Jesus who has done only good in perfect obedience to his Father and in perfect love for his fellow man.  The divine words which expose our sin and condemn us in them have their fulfillment in Jesus.  He hung exposed on the cross and was condemned there in our place, bearing our guilt. 

     John the Baptist said this would be the case.  When he pointed to Jesus as the Coming One, he did not say, “Watch him.  He is a good man,” or “Listen to him.  He preaches interesting sermons.”  He said, “Look!  The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).  These divine words from the mouth of the prophet declare, “Look!  Here is the one God sent to be slain for sins so that you will not be slain for them.”  John did not get to see his words fulfilled.  You and I live on the other side of his words.  We have the words of the prophets made more certain.  We are baptized into it, covered by the holy blood of Jesus.  We get to feast on the living body and blood of our Lord. 

     So the Church sings, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing” (Revelation 5:12)—the Lamb who was slain.  For, Jesus is risen.  All authority in heaven and on earth belong to him.  He has taken up his throne and reigns over all things.  And he has brought you under his reign.  For you, the salvation from Jesus is not a promise to be fulfilled.  It is a completed act.  If you have wondered if your sins could be forgiven, Jesus lives to declare a full pardon.  If you are a repeat offender against God’s law and question your place in his kingdom, the blood of Jesus purifies you of all sin.  It doesn’t even matter if you are the least in the kingdom of heaven.  Even the least in the kingdom of heaven receives the full benefits of the kingdom.  You don’t need to question God’s grace and mercy.  The one with questions finds answers in divine words. 

     If John the Baptist’s faith was wavering as he sat in prison, I wouldn’t blame him.  When we suffer, especially if we suffer for being faithful to the Lord, we can begin to wonder if it is worth it.  In the case of John or of his disciples, they were even wondering if they were mistaken.  When your life is on the line, you want to be sure that you are trusting in the right things.  If you have such doubts, look where Jesus directs you.  The one with questions finds answers in divine words.  The word of the Lord “revives the soul, …gives joy to the heart, and …stands forever” (Psalm 19:7,8,9).  In his promises, our Lord assures you of his love and faithfulness.  He assures you of your place in his kingdom and under his care.  And what he promises, he brings to fulfillment. 

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.