YouTube -- 2nd Sunday in Lent (March 16, 2025)

Here is the Divine Service from Sunday, March 16, 2025.

Sermon -- 2nd Sunday in Lent (March 16, 2025)

JEREMIAH 26:8-15

THE MAN OF SORROWS YEARNS TO SAVE JERUSALEM.

In the name + of Jesus.

     The prophet Jeremiah had a ministry that no one would envy.  The Lord had told him, “You must go to everyone to whom I send you and say whatever I command you” (Jeremiah 1:7).  So far, this sounds like a great honor.  Not only was it a great honor, but it sounds like a pretty easy job.  The Lord gives you the word, and you repeat it.  Easy, right?

     But the Lord told Jeremiah what he was in for.  “I will pronounce my judgments against Judah because of their wickedness.  They have abandoned me. …Rise up and tell them everything I am commanding you.  …They will fight against you” (Jeremiah 1:16,17,19).  Jeremiah was told that he would be hated and attacked for preaching the word of the Lord faithfully.  God was not lying.  Several times, people in Jerusalem including even Jeremiah’s family members plotted to destroy him.  They despised the word of the Lord and wanted to silence the prophet who preached it.  No wonder Jeremiah is known as the weeping prophet.

     Jesus was known as the man of sorrows.  It was not only because of the sufferings he endured, but also because of his grief over the unbelief of the people.  Just as Jesus wept over Jerusalem because of their unbelief, so Jeremiah also wept over Jerusalem.  The man of sorrows yearned to save Jerusalem.  So, despite how much people hated to hear his preaching, Jeremiah faithfully delivered the message which the Lord gave to him.  He yearned to save Jerusalem.

     The Lord had sent Jeremiah to the temple courts to preach to the worshipers and to the priests that God’s judgment was about to fall down hard on them.  If they were going to live according to the word of the Lord, the Lord would not accept their worship.  He would dismantle the temple himself.  It would become like Shiloh.  That was where the Lord’s tabernacle had once stood, but it was overrun and destroyed by the Philistines.  Jeremiah warned the temple would suffer the same fate by the Babylonians.  Jesus also warned the Jews that their temple would soon suffer that fate.  “As some were talking about the temple, how it was decorated with beautiful stones and offerings, Jesus said, ‘These things that you see here—the days will come when there will not be one stone left on another—every one will be thrown down’” (Luke 21:5-6).  It was a stern warning, calling people to recognize the depth of their sin so that they would repent.  The man of sorrows yearned to save Jerusalem.

     Out of love for sinners and out of a great desire to see no one perish because of his sin, the Lord sent prophets to preach the word.  Jeremiah was in a long line of preachers whose message was consistent.  He yearned for the people to heed the whole word of God and to repent.  How was it received?  “The priests, the prophets, and all the people seized him and said, ‘You must die!  Why do you prophesy in the name of the Lord that this house will be like Shiloh and that this city will be desolate with no one living here?’  All the people crowded around Jeremiah in the House of the Lord” (Jeremiah 26:8-9).  The man of sorrows yearned to save Jerusalem, and they hated him for it.  Why?  Because they hated God’s word.  They did not believe it was true.  Oh, there were certainly parts of God’s word that they did like.  They liked that God had put his name on their temple.  They liked that God had called them his people.  They probably even liked the pageantry of the worship in the temple.  But they did not like the parts of God’s word which commanded chastity, charity, sobriety, humility, honesty, and the like. 

     This still occurs today.  People like to hear that God loves all mankind.  They believe that Jesus is a really nice man who never makes anyone feel bad about themselves.  They claim that Jesus would never condemn anyone.  People like the parts of God’s word that speak of love and mercy and welcoming.  But that doesn’t mean people like all of God’s word. 

     Everyone likes the part of God’s word that speaks of heavenly peace and glory.  People are repulsed by the teaching of hell and reject its existence.  Everyone loves to hear that God pours out gifts upon us.  People hate to hear that God has expectations of us.  Everyone likes to hear that Jesus forgives all sins.  People do not like to hear that Jesus tells us that we should also renounce and flee from them. 

     The Gospel shows us God’s love for mankind and demonstrates God’s goodness.  What seems to be lost is that God also gave his Law out of love for us and that it also shows God’s goodness.  Both God’s Gospel and God’s Law are God’s word.  Both God’s commands and God’s promises are good and true.  You cannot believe one and reject the other.  It is either all true and all good, or it is not. 

     When we see people who are dear to us adopting behaviors or accepting beliefs that contradict God’s word, we are torn.  On the one hand, we want to believe that God’s word is true.  On the other hand, we love those who are dear to us.  We want to see them happy.  It is unthinkable to us that God would condemn them because we love them.  The temptation is to deny or ignore the parts of God’s word that convict them.  We do this in the name of freedom, or happiness, or harmony.  That makes it sound noble.  But if you were asked, “Do you believe that God’s word on this issue is true?” and you answer, “No,” that is unbelief. 

     If we truly love those who are dear to us, we will not excuse their sins.  If we yearn for them to be saved, we will confess the truth and issue the warning.  And you might be hated for it.  But this betrays the true problem: They hate God’s word.  They reject it, and they want you to reject it for their sake.  But even if the whole world rejects God’s word, it is still true and God will judge everyone accordingly.  If you end up being hated for upholding God’s word, Jeremiah and the prophets of old will tell you that you are in good company.  In our sorrows, we will still yearn for the salvation of sinners.

     Our Lord demonstrates a perfect love for both his word and for the sinners who live in opposition to it.  Out of love for the sinners, he called us all to repent.  That’s what Jeremiah did for the people of Jerusalem.  He said, “The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the things that you have heard.  Now reform your ways and your actions, and obey the Lord your God.  Then the Lord will relent and not bring about the disaster he has pronounced against you” (Jeremiah 26:12-13).  The Lord did not want to destroy Jerusalem.  He sent the weeping prophet, Jeremiah, for their good.  The man of sorrows yearned to save Jerusalem.

     The Lord yearns to save all mankind.  When he issues warnings, he does not send empty threats.  The warning for the people of Jerusalem was genuine.  Moses had warned that failure to follow the word of the Lord would result in the destruction of Jerusalem and its people.  Jeremiah was only repeating what the Lord had promised.  That’s why Jeremiah was able to say, “As for me, look, I am in your hands.  Do with me whatever seems good and right in your eyes.  But you can be certain of this.  If you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood on yourselves and on this city and on those who live here, for it is true that the Lord has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing” (Jeremiah 26:14-15).  

     Jesus could say the same about Jerusalem.  The man of sorrows yearned to save Jerusalem, but they were not willing.  They rejected every overture that God made.  And while Jeremiah was spared on this day, Jesus was not.  They shed his innocent blood—the blood of the very one who had come to save them from divine punishment.

     Some people ask, “If God loves everyone, then why didn’t he save everyone?”  The reality is that he did.  Regarding God’s desires for the salvation of all mankind, this is what the Bible says, “God our Savior … wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:3-4).  Regarding God’s action in winning salvation for all mankind, this is what the Bible says, “[Jesus Christ] is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the whole world” (1 John 2:2).  Regarding our Lord’s sincerity about the salvation of all mankind when they reject the gift that could be theirs, this is what Jesus said, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, …how often I have wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing” (Luke 13:34)!  Let it be known and make no mistake: God has done everything to secure the salvation of every person on earth.  Let this truth also stand: People reject God’s gift because of their stubborn unbelief.  It grieves our Lord that this happens, because he takes no delight in the death of anyone.  But God’s word is true, and he will uphold it.  So, Jerusalem was destroyed as Jeremiah had forewarned.  The man of sorrows took no joy in it.  The temple in Jerusalem was destroyed a few decades after Jesus’ ascension.  Most apostles did not live to see it, having been killed for their testimony.  Still, they would have take no joy in it.  And God will damn all who do not believe in Jesus.  We take no joy in that, either.

     Only Jesus has the words of eternal life, and he commissions his people to go into the world and proclaim them to as many as we can.  These are the words that show us how dearly God loves us.  These are the words that expose the devil’s lies and show us that his promises end up in death.  These are the words that guide us in lives that honor God with loving obedience and benefit our fellow man with loving service.

     It grieves our Lord when his words are rejected.  It grieves our Lord when the love he pours out on all mankind is met with ridicule and rebellion.  The man of sorrows yearns to save all people.  But our Lord has never considered his lavish grace a waste, and Jesus does not regret his sufferings and death for sinners.  That grace has been poured out upon you.  That grace covers over all your sins.  That grace leads you to trust God’s word is always good and true and brings a blessing to all who live according to it.  And that grace in intended for all.

     Jesus is the man of sorrows—dying in innocence on behalf of the guilty, and grieved that many would rather die in their guilt than confess it.  But that man will come again, not in sorrow, but in glory.  He will come to deliver you to the heavenly Jerusalem which will forever be the dwelling of the redeemed.  By God’s grace, that means you.

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

Sermon -- 2nd Sunday in Lent (February 25, 2024)

MARK 8:31-38

CHRIST COMES WITH A CROSS.

In the name + of Jesus.

      We all have expectations because of our Christian faith.  Many of those expectations are valid.  At the conclusion of the Nicene Creed, we confess, “We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.”  We expect this for one reason: Our Lord told us.  We also know what to expect in the life of the world to come.  Jesus promises to everyone who believes in him, “(God) will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4). 

     We also have expectations for what life here and now should be like for Christians.  Unfortunately, our expectations are often based on our assumptions rather than anything that God has promised.  We know that God is good, and he loves us.  Therefore, we assume that he will make our lives good, comfortable, easy, and prosperous.  That is appealing.  Who wouldn’t want that?  Everyone wants life to be whether they are Christians or not.  But God has not promised that.  To expect it, then, is setting yourself up for disappointment.  You may even conclude that God has failed you.

     Such assumptions are not unique to you.  The apostles had some expectations of what life as a Christian is supposed to be like.  They based their assumptions on what they were seeing with Jesus.  He was wildly popular with the crowds.  They came streaming to him.  He healed their sick and brought relief to those who were suffering.  He spoke compassionately to those who despised, forgotten, and broken-hearted.  Everything seemed to be wonderful for Jesus and his disciples.

     But then Jesus informed his disciples what was coming.  Christ comes with a cross.  “He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.  And he said this plainly” (Mark 8:31-32).  Jesus was not throwing out suggestions, as if the next course of action were up for grabs.  He spoke plainly.  It was necessary for these things to happen.  This was the plan.  I suspect that the disciples did not grasp that last part, rising from the dead on the third day.  They heard suffering, rejection, and murder.  That is the polar opposite of the popularity they were enjoying.  Why would they forfeit this glory for suffering and shame?

     That is why Peter rebuked Jesus.  This is not what he had in mind for Jesus, for himself, or for any of Jesus’ disciples.  He had higher expectations.  But Christ comes with a cross.  Perhaps Peter suggested, “If this is what happens when we go to Jerusalem, let’s just not go to Jerusalem.  If you don’t go to Jerusalem, you won’t suffer, be rejected, or be killed!”  The Law required them to go to Jerusalem for religious festivals.  Avoiding Jerusalem was not an option.  None of it was.  It was necessary.  Christ comes with a cross.

     If Jesus had listened to Peter and avoided the cross, he would not have paid for our sins.  Our guilt would remain upon us.  The devil, who had overcome the world by leading it into sin, would still rule over all things in this world.  We would die under God’s curse.  We would receive the punishment we deserve, and we would suffer eternal torment in hell.  Jesus was sent into the world to save us from all that.  To turn away from this mission was a Satanic plan, which is why Jesus rebuked Peter so harshly.  Peter wanted and expected ease, comfort, and popularity.  Jesus, however, was focused on what God the Father had given him to do.  Christ comes with a cross.

     Then Jesus gathered many disciples around him to teach them that belonging to Christ also comes with a cross.  He said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Mark 8:34).  Once again, Jesus was not making a suggestion or tossing out some options.  All three verbs are imperatives: You must deny yourself.  You must take up your cross.  You must follow him.  These are necessary, too.  Christ comes with a cross.

     What is a cross for?  It is for killing things.  So, what needs to be put to death?  Our sinful inclinations and desires.  Our self-glorifying goals and lust for personal glory.  Our assumptions that being a child of God means that God will always grant us ease, comfort, popularity, and success.  God never promised any of these things to us.  He may grant them to some extent, but they are not a right.  In fact, ease, comfort, popularity, and success can tempt you to abandon Christ, especially if this is all you want.

     Jesus calls on you to bear a cross.  It is not a punishment, although it may feel like one.  Some crosses come because this is a broken, sinful world and bad things happen in it.  We are well acquainted with a world of broken bones, broken hearts, and broken homes.  For some, it is more crushing than others.  Can you imagine the pain that Job and his wife felt when the Lord took from them all their flocks and herds, all their servants and workers, all their wealth and prestige, and all ten of their children?  Even if a few servants escaped to deliver the horrific news, Job had no work for them anymore.  It was all taken away.  This was the cross that the Lord had Job bear.  And, by the way, in chapter 2 it got even worse as the Lord let Satan inflict a crippling blow to Job’s body and health.  No matter what Job felt, no matter how bad his situation got, no matter how heavy was the cross that Job had to bear, Job believed that his Father in heaven was still good.  God took from Job almost every earthly blessing he had, but God never removed the promise of salvation from him.  And in the end, that is all Job or any of us really need.  Was life easier with all that wealth?  I would think so.  But Job lived on the opposite end of Jesus’ question: “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul” (Mark 8:36)?  Job lost his whole world, but not his faith.  Christ comes with a cross, but you do not have to carry that cross without Christ.

      We may become envious of people who look like they have gained the whole world.  But you don’t see what their hearts and minds are like.  You don’t see their fears, doubts, or suspicions.  Most people don’t share or admit them.  They show you see the image they want you to see.  It may look like they have no cross, but if they have no Savior, why would you envy them?

     Christ comes with a cross.  Every day, we need to deny ourselves all our natural, sinful cravings.  While we could go on and on listing thoughts, words, and actions that stand in rebellion of God’s word—and they all need to be put away—we will limit ourselves this morning to our false expectations.  We know that life is full of struggles and problems—not just for God’s people, but for everyone.  We know people who are suffering.  We know the stress and pressure of trying to meet all our responsibilities.  There are victims of war, oppression, poverty, and injustice.  And we know that these things are not right.  Even the efforts to correct the problems are flawed: Why that group and not this group?  Why address that problem and not this problem?  We know it is broken, and we want it fixed.

     All these things happen because this is a sinful world.  But then we add to our sins: We blame God—as if he introduced these problems.  God did not bring sin into the world; man did.  God does not sin against you; other people do, and you sin against them.  Nevertheless, we believe we are owed better from God.  But now ask yourself, and be honest:  What does God owe you?  Why does God owe you?  Do you deserve better from God?  Well, we answered that question in our confession of sins: “I deserve your punishment both now and forever.”  Those may be hard words to say, but they are honest.  This is why we take up our cross—to put those sinful, selfish assumptions to death.  Whatever good gifts we receive from God are given because he is good, not because we are.  Even when we bear our cross, God it still good.  He never withholds all blessings.  But when our cross gets heavy, we are forced to turn to God for strength, comfort, and hope.  Where else can we turn?  What other hope do we have.  If the cross we bear teaches us to despise this world and long for the heavenly kingdom, then the cross is good, right, and salutary.  The goal of the Christian faith is not to enjoy ease, comfort, and prosperity in a dying world.  “We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.” 

     Christ comes with a cross.  The cross you bear is necessary.  It is even good for you.  Every day is a battle against the devil, the world, and our own sinful nature.  Every day is a struggle to align our mind and our will with God’s.  To cast off the cross is to cast off Christ.  To forfeit the battle against your sin is to surrender to it and to forfeit your soul.  Therefore, the cross is necessary.  It may prove to be heavy.  You may fall under it.  But it is not your cross which saves you.  Jesus’ cross does. 

     The Christ had to go to Jerusalem and suffer.  He suffered the punishment you and I deserve for our sins.  Jesus had to by rejected, not just by the religious leaders but especially by his heavenly Father.  He was rejected and disowned as one cursed; for he was cursed for us.  Jesus had to go to Jerusalem to die.  For that is the wages of sin.  It was necessary for Jesus to do this to save us.  By giving himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all, Jesus gained the whole world.  For what can God give in exchange for the world?  He gave his one and only Son, so that whoever believes in him will not perish, but have eternal life.

     Christ comes with a cross.  But do not forget the last part: “after three days [he will] rise again” (Mark 8:31).  It was not enough that Jesus tended to the sick and diseased and healed them of their ailments.  That brought relief, but not forgiveness of sins.  That brought comfort, but not eternal life.  Jesus secured that by his death and resurrection.  He lives, risen with a body that cannot perish or suffer, and whose glory does not fade.  Jesus took on a human body to secure these things for our human bodies.  This is why we look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. 

     Jesus has given us great expectations for the life of the world to come.  All things will be made right.  All suffering will be relieved.  All sickness put away.  All death will be undone.  There will be no war, poverty, oppression, or injustice.  Through Jesus, we get everything we long for.  We get it better than we imagine, and we get it forever.  You have every reason to expect this; for Jesus has told you so.

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

Sermon -- 2nd Sunday in Lent (March 5, 2023)

JOHN 3:1-17

WHOEVER BELIEVES IN JESUS SHALL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.

In the name + of Jesus.

     Nicodemus is an interesting character.  He was one of Israel’s teachers, that is, a rabbi and a Pharisee.  He was a member of the Sanhedrin, one of seventy elders in Israel who made rulings over religious matters.  So, he was a man of influence.  When the Sanhedrin gathered to plot the arrest of Jesus, Nicodemus spoke against their unjust condemnation of Jesus.  He protested, “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does” (John 7:51)?  So, Nicodemus was a man of integrity. 

     It was likely that integrity which moved Nicodemus to come to Jesus and ask him questions.  He was motivated by curiosity but also by fear so that he made his visit at night.  He did not want to lose the favor of the other Pharisees.  But let’s at least give Nicodemus credit for doing something no one else from the Sanhedrin did—honestly speak with Jesus about his teachings, desiring information, not entrapment.

     “This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him’” (John 3:2).  I suppose Nicodemus figured that complimenting Jesus was a good way to disarm him—no animosity, just curiosity.  Perhaps he and Jesus might discuss spiritual matters as equals.  However, they were not equals in matters of the faith and the Scriptures. 

     Nicodemus saw Jesus, but did not see the fulfillment of God’s promises.  Therefore, Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).  They had hardly begun their conversation and Nicodemus already failed in his spiritual understanding.  He took Jesus’ words in an earthly way.  “‘How can a man be born when he is old?  Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?’  Jesus answered, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit’” (John 3:4-6).  People come into this world in a worldly way and remain worldly.  They are flesh-born and have fleshly knowledge and intentions.  In other words, people cannot see the kingdom of God.  We live by what we can see and feel.

     What do fleshly people feel?  We feel an insatiable need for pleasure.  We are ruled by our stomach, our wallet, our lust, and our pride.  We feel like we must be entertained, and that boredom is a curse.  We feel that others owe us respect and the benefit of the doubt.  We feel that we do not owe explanations for our actions or apologies for our words.  Usually, our conscience limits how far we take these things.  God’s Law, written in our hearts, works like a curb and keeps us from giving in to our feelings completely.  But the conscience also makes us feel the guilt of our sins.  We know that we should be better than we are.  We feel accountability to God, but our feelings cannot tell us to how to make amends.

     “Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).  What we see is a world of confusion and chaos.  We see a world shaken by earthquakes and storms.  We see people treating one another with impatience, insincerity, and injustice.  We see that the world is broken, and it never gets better.  Hospitals never empty out.  The funeral home is not limited to the elderly; young fathers, teenage girls, and children are there, too.  Life is hard, and it is not fair.  Based on what we see, God either does not have control or does not have concern.  We may become disappointed in him.  We may even despise him.

     This is what it means when we cannot see the kingdom of God.  Nicodemus could not see it.  He was still ruled by his experiences and the conclusions he drew from them.  You and I still trust in our experiences, too.  From what we see and what we feel, we draw conclusions that provide no hope or comfort. 

     God, however, has not forsaken us.  St. John wrote, “God so loved the world” (John 3:16), that is, “God loved the world in this way: He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).  This love is not based on what we can see or feel.  It is based on what God tells us.  God makes his love for us manifest in Jesus Christ.  God sent Jesus to deliver us out of a confused and chaotic existence.  He saves us from a depraved and dying world.  Whoever believes in Jesus shall have eternal life.

     The key to this verse has to do with the word, “believe.”  The Holy Spirit enlightens you to see what God reveals rather than what mankind can see in Jesus.  Nicodemus saw in Jesus a rabbi, and even a servant sent from God.  But later on, Nicodemus would see Jesus falsely accused and wrongly condemned.  Then he would see Jesus beaten to a bloody pulp.  He would see Jesus mockingly robed in a Roman soldier’s cloak and crowned with thorns.  He would see Jesus pierced to a cross, and the charge above his head which read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews” (John 19:19).  Casual observance of these events would lead no one to conclude, “Surely Jesus is King!  This is a kingdom I want to be part of!” 

     But “Truly, truly…, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).  To be born again means that God the Holy Spirit regenerates you as a new creation.  The one who trust in what he sees, feels, and experiences is put to death.  He is reborn as one who hears and trusts what God reveals in his word.  The Holy Spirit enlightens you to see who Jesus is and what Jesus does.  He is not merely a teacher of God’s word; he is God who teaches his own word.  He is not merely a servant sent from God; he is the Son of God sent to save.  He is not merely one who dies a cursed death at a cross.  He is the one who bears the curse for all and dies in our place.  By the sacrifice of himself, Jesus demonstrates God’s love for sinners.  He died publicly so that all the world can see how God saves us.  Jesus is the sin offering which atones for all guilt.  Whoever believes in Jesus shall have eternal life.

     “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life” (John 3:14-15).  True to his word, Jesus was lifted up on a cross.  True to God’s prophecies about the Christ, “The Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.  He was crushed for the guilt our sins deserved.  The punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:6,5).  The kingdom which Jesus has established by his death and resurrection is a kingdom of forgiveness, mercy, and life.  It is the refuge from the rule of sin and death.  It is God’s gracious reign and God’s faithful blessing. 

Those who have been born again by the Holy Spirit see the kingdom of God.  Whoever believes in Jesus shall have eternal life.

     Jesus’ death on the cross outside the walls of Jerusalem is a historical fact.  It took place about two thousand years ago.  But you and I cannot travel back in time to go and get the salvation that Jesus won for us.  Even if we were there, salvation is not attained by witnessing Jesus’ sufferings, death, and resurrection.  Many Pharisees saw Jesus die, and they still could not see the kingdom of God as Jesus established it right before their eyes. 

     Jesus told Nicodemus, “Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’  The Spirit breathes where it wishes, and you hear its voice, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes.  So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit” (John 3:7-8, wind-blow-sound and Spirit-breathe-voice are each possible translations).  God’s voice is heard when his word is preached and read.  Some hear this voice and refuse to believe.  But where and when he wills, the Holy Spirit gives new birth and new life to sinners.  Whoever believes in Jesus shall have eternal life.  We continue to hear that voice so that our life of faith is strengthened.  But sometimes you may wonder if your faith is strong enough.  Perhaps you don’t know God’s word that well.  Perhaps you are struggling with doubts.  If you are staring death in the face and you may become fearful because of your sins.  What if you are afraid that your faith is not what it should be?  Such thoughts are terrifying.

     The Lord alleviates such doubts and fears.  Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:5-6).  In holy baptism, the Lord delivers to you everything you need for your salvation.  It is the washing of regeneration—by it you are born again.  It washes away sins.  It has put to death the sinner so that God raises you up a saint.  It imparts the gift of the Holy Spirit.  These are gifts given to you.  Just as it would not be up to you to make a life-preserver buoyant (it is buoyant no matter what you think of it), so it is not up to you to make baptism valid.  It is God’s work, God’s promise, and God’s deliverance.  Baptism is valid for those who are infants, for those who are sleeping, for those who have Alzheimer’s Disease, and for those who are fearful or weak.  If you ever wonder if you are truly forgiven for sins, then console yourself with these words: “I am baptized.” 

     Blessed are you who see the kingdom of God, that is, the gracious redemption of Jesus.  Whoever believes in Jesus shall have eternal life.  Until he brings us into Paradise, we will feel this world’s pains and sorrows.  We will see impatience, insincerity, and injustice among sinners.  But we do not trust what we see and feel.  We trust in Jesus, knowing that our Lord has neither lost control or concern in all this mess.  We may not understand what Jesus is doing, but we can be content because Jesus knows what he is doing.  Everything he does, he does with the goal of bringing you to eternal salvation.  Even the sorrows you feel, the wickedness you see, and the sins you experience against you Jesus uses for your eternal good.  He teaches you to flee from a confused, chaotic, and cursed world and to come to him for peace, comfort, and compassion.

     By the way, Nicodemus did end up seeing the kingdom of God.  He confessed his faith in Jesus when he was there, pulling Jesus’ lifeless body from the cross and providing lavish spices for Jesus’ burial.  He saw what you see: The cursed death of Jesus produces a blessed life for all who believe in him.  This world offers you no hope; Jesus delivers you a hope that cannot be broken and a life of glory that never ends.

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

YouTube -- 2nd Sunday in Lent (March 13, 2022)

Here is the service from Sunday, March 13, 2022.

Sermon -- 2nd Sunday in Lent (March 13, 2022)

LUKE 13:31-35

JESUS WAS MINDFUL OF HIS MISSION.

In the name + of Jesus.

     When the Pharisees came to Jesus and warned him that King Herod wanted to kill him, it sounds like they were doing him a favor.  Their warning seems plausible.  After all, King Herod had arrested John the Baptist and had put him to death.  But the Pharisees were never interested in doing Jesus any favors.  They criticized his miraculous healings.  They found fault with the behavior of his disciples.  They belittled Jesus over the people he ate and drank with.  Privately, they even plotted how they might kill him.  So, their counsel, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you” (Luke 13:31), was most likely an effort to make Jesus forsake his work.  If he acted cowardly and was derelict in his duties, they could prove that he was no true prophet.

     Jesus did not fear dying.  In fact, he was headed to Jerusalem for that very purpose.  And Jesus knew that he was not going to die at the hands of Herod.  Galilee was not going to be the place where Jesus would be slain.  That would be Jerusalem, a city with a history of killing the prophets.  The sins of Jerusalem would reach their fill when they would put to death the Christ, the Son of the living God.  In any case, Jesus would not refrain from the work which the Father had given him to do.  Jesus was mindful of his mission.  The message he gave to Herod was likely meant for the Pharisees.  “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course’” (Luke 13:32).  In other words, neither threats nor death would prevent Jesus from carrying out his work.  Jesus was mindful of his mission.

     Jesus, then, lamented over his final destination.  “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it!  How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing” (Luke 13:34)!  Of all the nations in the world that the Lord could have chosen for his own purpose, he chose the people of Israel.  Of all the places in the world that the Lord could have put his name, he chose Jerusalem.  It was there, at the Temple, that the sacrifices were made to proclaim atonement between God and the people.  It was there that the priests were to be devoted to God’s word and to teach that word to the people.  Unfortunately, as time went by, the priests and the people grew negligent of that word. 

     Moses had warned about this even before Israel had set foot in the Promised Land.  Shortly before Moses died, the Lord had him teach a song to the people.  The song, recorded in Deuteronomy 32, was a warning about turning a deaf ear to God’s word and forfeiting God’s grace.  Faithfulness to God’s word meant blessing and grace and life.  Failing to hear God’s word, to take it to heart, and to live according to it would result in God’s wrath and rejection.  But the people did not heed the warning. 

     The Lord was grieved that his people no longer listened to the word of the Lord.  As far as the people of Israel were concerned, their sins were addressed by mind over matter.  They didn’t mind, so God’s word didn’t matter.  The Lord, therefore, sent prophets to call the people to repent.  They were all falling under a bitter judgment for ignoring the word of the Lord.  The word of the Lord made the people chafe.  They did not want to hear that people who mind their own business should rather mind what the Lord says.  They did not repent.  Instead, they silenced the word of the Lord by killing the prophets.  The rebuke from Moses was fitting: “They have dealt corruptly with (the Lord); they are no longer his children because they are blemished; they are a crooked and twisted generation.  Do you thus repay the Lord, you foolish and senseless people” (Deuteronomy 32:5-6)?  The Lord desired to bless them and to be their God.  But they were not willing.

     These words serve as a warning for us.  You, dear Christians, are God’s chosen people.  You have been chosen to receive grace, blessing, and everlasting life.  Jesus has redeemed you from your sins so that they will not condemn you.  But we are always in danger of neglecting God’s word.  Familiarity with God’s word easily becomes an excuse to overlook it, and we can be easily deceived into thinking that we are keeping it just because we had studied it and are familiar with it.

     Here is how that can happen.  We usually judge others and ourselves based on how we treat one another.  There is some truth to that.  “Love your neighbor” is the second table of the Law.  If you are sinning against your neighbor, that is a problem.  But the first table of the Law is “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.”  Many people will accept that it is good to love your neighbor even if they do not care about God’s word.  But your neighbor will not be your judge on the Last Day.  Your neighbor can neither condemn you by saying what a jerk you were nor save you by saying what a great guy you were.  All judgment has been entrusted to the Son.  It is his word that matters.  It is his word that endures.  It is his word that either saves or condemns.  Be mindful of that; for that is what matters. 

     When Jesus lamented over Jerusalem, his lament applied to all people who turn away from God’s word.  “How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!  Behold, your house is forsaken” (Luke 13:34-35).  Jesus longs to spread his wings over us so that his innocence covers our guilt.  Jesus longs to spread his wings over us so that he absorbs the brunt of God’s wrath for us.  Jesus longs to save us, protect us, and to preserve us.  But if we wander away from his word and no longer listen to him, we forfeit his benefits.  It is not because Jesus is unwilling.  It isn’t even because Jesus withdraws his benefits.  It is because stubborn hearts refuse to come to Jesus and be covered by his mercy.  Anyone outside of Christ is exposed—exposed as a sinner, exposed to damning judgment, and exposed to God’s wrath.  If we are forsaken by Jesus, it is not because Jesus wants to ditch us.  It is because we have forsaken him.  If anyone refuses to be mindful of God’s word and goes his own way, God will finally let him go as he desires.  Heed the warning.  The people of Jerusalem did not, despite God’s repeated efforts with many prophets and even with Jesus himself.

     Dear Christians, Jesus was mindful of his mission.  He longs to be your Savior who delivers you from death and gives you life.  Jesus longs to be your Lord who speaks to you words which guide you away from sins and into godly living.  Jesus faithfully delivers to you the words of eternal life so that you would faithfully follow him.  Oh, how he longs for your salvation!  Oh, how he is grieved when people abandon him and neglect his word.  For, there is no salvation apart from his word.

     “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, …how often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing” (Luke 13:34)!  Even if they were not willing, Jesus was.  Even if they would not be faithful, Jesus would be.  Jesus was mindful of his mission.  And how faithful he is!  Jesus was not dissuaded by the threats of the Pharisees.  Jesus was not deterred by the death which would meet him in Jerusalem.  Jesus was minded to complete his mission because the will of his Father mattered to him.  Jesus was minded to suffer and die because sinners matter to him.  Jesus went to Jerusalem mindful of you, because you matter to him.

     Jesus was mindful of his mission.  His Father sent him to save sinners.  So, Jesus went to Jerusalem for Herod who killed the last Old Testament prophet, John the Baptist.  Jesus went to Jerusalem for the Pharisees who despised him and continually undermined him.  Jesus went to Jerusalem to atone for the people who killed the prophets and stoned those who were sent to them.  Jesus was mindful of all these people because they mattered to him.  Sadly, many resisted the call to be gathered under Jesus’ care for forgiveness and salvation.  They stubbornly held on to their unbelief and perished.

     But the fact that many will perish did not dissuade Jesus.  He was sent to be the Savior of the world, and so he went to Jerusalem to suffer and die for all.  He was mindful of his mission.  He went there for his apostles.  He went there for tax collectors and prostitutes, for people whose sins are scandalous or secret.  He went there for people who are afraid, who doubt, who battle against temptations and fail often.  He went there for the lonely, the depressed, and the dying.  He went there for you.  For his mission is to save sinners.  Faithful to that mission, Jesus suffered all things for you.  He endured God’s fiery wrath to spare you from it.  Satan pinned on Jesus every accusation of sin and guilt to exonerate you of them.  Jesus shelters you from death and punishment as a hen shelters her chicks under her wings.  He takes the blow so that you are delivered.  He was committed to his mission.

     Jesus lamented over Jerusalem.  It was the place where the Lord dwelt with his people to bless them and be with them.  But after so many years of rejecting God’s word, Jesus let them go their way.  “Behold, your house is forsaken” (Luke 13:34), he said to them.  Their hope would not be found in Jerusalem anymore.  It would only be found in Jesus.  It is delivered only in his word and sacrament.  Therefore, Jesus said to them, “I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord’” (Luke 13:35)!  If they would not receive Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God, and the Savior of the world, they would never know him.  But to you who cling to Jesus as the Savior and crave his word, you see him and know him as he is.

     We are mindful of Jesus because we know he comes for our highest good.  Therefore, we sing, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” (Luke 13:35), when we celebrate the sacrament.  For here, Jesus comes to us.  Jesus delivers to us the body and blood which were given to save us.  Here is the living bread which sustains faith.  Here is the blood which purifies sinners.  Therefore, we have no reason to be dissuaded from a godly life by threats.  We have no cause even to fear death.  Be mindful of Jesus and his word; for these are the only things that matter for this life and for the next.  Rejoice that Jesus was mindful of his mission.  He is faithful to you, for you matter to him.

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

YouTube -- 2nd Sunday in Lent (February 28, 2021)

 Here is the service from February 28, 2021.

Sermon -- 2nd Sunday in Lent (February 28, 2021)

MARK 8:31-38

YOU CANNOT HAVE CHRISTIANITY WITHOUT THE CROSS.

In the name + of Jesus.

      Every year, people make New Year’s resolutions.  Either you resolve to address an area of your life where you could do better, or you resolve to improve yourself by doing something new.  If a New Year’s resolution is an admission that you need to do better, Lent is a season which admits that you are broken.  It is a season of repentance.  If your focus is on repentance, the focus must also be on your sins—the thoughts, words, and actions you need to be repentant of and to root out.

     The Bible has often tied repentance with fasting.  Fasting is done as an expression of grief.  If you have ever grieved over some difficult experience, you probably did not feel like eating.  Your nerves were frazzled.  Your stomach was in knots.  Your heart was broken.  You were told to eat something because you needed to, not because you wanted to.  This is why fasting has been tied to Lent.  We are grieved over our sins.  With fasting, repentance ends up being more than a mental exercise.  We engage our bodies in it so that our bodies and souls both grieve over our sins.

     In Luther’s Small Catechism, we memorize these words: “Fasting and other outward preparations may serve a good purpose.”  If fasting—or the more generic “giving up something for Lent”—enables you to focus on your need for Jesus, then it serves a good purpose.  But if it is something you do just to boast that you went 40 days without chocolate, then it is useless.  Giving up something for Lent is supposed to be a discipline that curbs your flesh, fights against the sins you struggle with, and highlights your need for Jesus.  That is the only thing that makes any ceremony any good.

     This is what the Lord says, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Mark 8:34)  You cannot have Christianity without a cross.  It isn’t optional.  When Jesus tells you to deny yourself, it is an imperative.  An imperative is not a suggestion; it is a command.  But “Let him deny himself,” is far more than denying yourself chocolate or soft drinks during Lent.  It is denying your very self.

     We all have a sinful nature that desires what exalts us.  We want praise, acceptance, ease, and luxury.  We want the closest parking space, the first place in line, the biggest portion of dessert, and the most important job title.  We don’t want these things because we can benefit others with them; we want them for our own benefit.  The sinful nature loves itself above all things.  It corrupts us and co-opts our attitude.  Since we appear to benefit from granting our sinful nature what it wants, we do not want to give it up.  But this is what the Lord says: “Whoever would save his life will lose it…  For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:35-36)

     If you do not take Jesus’ words seriously here, it is only because you don’t think you can really gain the whole world.  Not even Bill Gates or Warren Buffet can have that much.  But the reality is you can gain the whole world.  How?  By going along with the world in all its corrupted attitudes.  Today, people are goaded into denying God’s word and celebrating perversion.  You can be rewarded by being “on the right side of history,” or you can be cancelled for refusing to comply.  You can be erased from social media for saying the wrong thing.  You can lose your job for simply stating what the Scriptures teach about God’s created order or what the Commandments decree about right and wrong.  Increasingly, it seems that there will be a cost for standing on God’s word.  If your highest good is to save your life in this world, to enjoy the opportunities it offers, to be compensated and celebrated in this world, it is easy to do: Learn to confess the world’s creeds.  But by doing so, you will have to profess your shame in God’s word.  You will gain the world and everything in it, but the cost will be to forfeit your soul.  And the Lord Jesus will be ashamed of you when he comes to judge the living and the dead.

     Even if you don’t adopt the world’s creeds and causes, you still will battle with yourself.  This is why Jesus tells you to take up your cross.  It is only when the Lord puts a cross on you that you recognize how much of a sinner you still are.  What is the cross for?  It is for killing people.  And your sinful nature does not want to die.  It does not want to lose praise, pride, pleasure, or possessions.  We would rather avoid the cross or to cast it off.  But you cannot have Christianity without the cross.

     “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Mark 8:34)  A life of repentance is not optional.  And to make you see what you need to repent of, Jesus tells you to deny yourself.  This means to put others first.  You put the needs of your wife above yours.  You help your neighbor carry his burdens.  You seek the good of your co-workers even when they are rude, obnoxious, or spiteful.  And when you recoil at this and consider it nonsense, Jesus has you ponder: “If you love those who love you, what reward do you have?  Do not even the tax collectors do the same?  And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others?  Do not even the Gentiles do the same?” (Matthew 5:46-47)  “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.  For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:44-45) 

     If we are to be children of the heavenly Father, we are to be like him.  But we are not.  Our heavenly Father’s love is pure.  He does not play favorites.  We do not love as we ought.  We do play favorites, and we give our love as a reward rather than for free.  So, rather than defend ourselves, let us deny ourselves.  We have nothing to boast about or be proud of.  We take up our cross and crucify the sinful nature which wants only to save its pampered, self-centered life in this world.  For, repentance is not a theoretical exercise; it is put into practice.  Repentance does not merely admit that sins are bad; it engages in the discipline to renounce them and to crucify them.  You cannot have Christianity without the cross.

     Of course, it is not your cross that saves you.  It shows that you need to be saved.  It puts to death the sin which is in you so that it will not ensnare you.  But you are not saved by how well you deny yourself, by what you give up, by what you suffer, or by how repentant you can make yourself feel.  That would mean your salvation is up to you.  It is not.  It is up to Jesus.  And even for Jesus, there is no Christianity without a cross.

     That is what Jesus told the apostles: “He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.  And he said this plainly.” (Mark 8:31-32)  This is what Jesus must do.  It was necessary.  It was not optional.  And it certainly was not easy.  Jesus did not get to choose how he would save you.  This is what was foretold and proclaimed throughout the Scriptures.  Yes, Jesus would crush the head of the serpent, but the serpent would strike his heal.  Yes, there would be atonement made for sinners, but atonement means a sacrifice.  Blood would have to be shed on behalf of those who would be pardoned.  Redemption would be won, but to redeem someone, there has to be a payment made.  What payment could deliver the entire world from death?  The life of God the Son.  The Son of Man must suffer many things, be rejected, and be killed to do this.  If he does not, there is no atonement, no pardon, no resurrection, no hope.  You cannot have Christianity without a cross.

     It was perfect love which drove Jesus to that cross.  He had to suffer many things.  He suffered from people who sinned against him.  He had to endure lies and slander.  He was subjected to entrapment by public challenges to his teachings and to intrigue by secret meetings to kill him.  He had to endure disciples who boasted of their importance and who failed to understand the kingdom of God is about grace, not greatness.  He was betrayed and denied by friends; he was falsely accused and unjustly condemned by enemies.  In all of this, he still loved those for whom he was sent and for whom he was slain.  He was crucified for those who sinned against him, even for those who fail him, who are ashamed of him, and who curse him. 

     No matter what your sins are, he died to atone for you.  His love is pure, and he did not play favorites.  Jesus had asked, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:36)  In contrast, Jesus gave up his soul into death to gain the whole world.  He is the Lamb of God who was slain so that every soul could have life eternally.  If anyone perishes, it is not because Jesus Christ was stingy with his grace.  People may reject and deny Jesus, but Jesus will never deny who he is—the Son of God in the flesh who has suffered and died for mankind.  Salvation may be forfeited by men, but it will never with withdrawn by the Son of Man.  That faithful love that was poured out at the cross was poured upon you in your baptism and is poured into you from this altar to save you.

     You cannot have Christianity without the cross.  The cross is where your sins are paid for, and the resurrection is proof that the payment is sufficient.  The resurrection is the proof that there is new life for all who believe in Jesus.  Jesus has snatched you away from your sins to give you this new life.  He calls you to deny yourself and to take up your cross so that you are not snatched back by your sins.  He calls you to follow him, to cling to him, and to trust in him for your salvation.

     Fasting and other outward ceremonies may serve a good purpose.  They provide a discipline against your flesh and highlight your need for Jesus.  Bearing the cross that Jesus puts on you is good; for it puts to death the sin which is in you and it drives you to Jesus.  Jesus’ death on the cross is your highest good; for that is where he has atoned for you.  This is the focus of our faith.  It has to be.  For you cannot have Christianity without the cross.

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

Sermon -- 2nd Sunday in Lent (March 8, 2020)

ROMANS 4:1-5,13-17

RIGHTEOUSNESS COMES

BY GRACE, THROUGH FAITH.

In the name + of Jesus.

     The more you read the Bible, the more you become acquainted with the people in it.  We learn their names.  We retell their stories.  We even call them heroes.  They are, but not for the reasons you might think.  Some view the people in the Bible as examples of righteousness, morality, purity, honesty, and so on.  You might even think about teaching your children to act like them.  Well, that may not be so great an idea.  While Simon Peter was the leader among the apostles, he also denied the Lord.  While David was called a man after the Lord's own heart, he was also guilty of adultery and murder.  And Samson?  Sure, you might be impressed by his feats of strength, but you don't want your children to grow up and act like Samson.  If you doubt me, read Judges 13-16. 
     Our epistle mentions the patriarch Abraham.  He is also among the heroes of the Bible.  But he is not a hero for what he does—no more than Peter or David or Samson.  St. Paul wrote, “What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh?  For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.” (Romans 4:1-2)  Abraham was not honored by God because he did more things or better things than other people.  And even if he was good and holy, he did nothing more than what God demands.  But Abraham could not even boast that.
     How do you remember Abraham?  We usually think of him in terms of good deeds.  He left behind an idolatrous home.  He was gracious with his nephew Lot.  When their flocks grew too large to share the same grazing land, Abraham let Lot have first choice with which land he wanted for grazing.  Abraham accepted the lesser quality land to keep peace.  When Lot was taken captive by enemies, Abraham gathered an army to rescue Lot and all the citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah.  See how righteous Abraham was! 
     Or, perhaps you remember Abraham differently.  When Abraham felt that his wife, Sarah, would be desired by people with more power and authority than him, he had Sarah lie about their relationship.  For his conniving, Abraham was given lavish gifts from duped kings.  When Sarah could not get pregnant, Abraham took her maidservant Hagar as a concubine and fathered a child through her.  When that resulted in family strife, Abraham sent Hagar and her son Ishmael away.  So, he was a liar, a polygamist, and an absentee father.  Do you really think Abraham deserves the title “hero”?
     Now, let's turn this on you.  How will the world remember you?  Are you good or wicked?  I am sure you have friends who could recite glowing eulogies about you, telling how wonderful you are and that your place in heaven is undisputed.  But unless you are lying to yourself, you know better.  “None is righteous; no, not one.” (Romans 3:10)  Everyone has a dark side—words we regret or fantasies which would wreck marriages or ruin careers if they were made known.  Or is your dark side that you remember only the faults of others and continually hold their sins against them?  Are you self-righteous—condemning others and declaring, “Well, that guy is no Christian because he has done this or that”? 
     Guess what.  The problem is not that we recognize people who do wicked things don't deserve a place in heaven.  That is true.  They don't.  The problem is that we think we do.  The problem is that we are convinced that we have done better and therefore deserve better.  The problem is that we tend to think that salvation is for the good and damnation is for the wicked, and then we believe that we have a say in who is good or who is wicked.  This usurps a place that belongs to God alone.  Repent.
     Now, to be sure, Abraham is a hero, but he is a hero of faith.  God does not praise Abraham for what he did; God blesses Abraham for what he believed.  St. Paul noted: “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” (Romans 4:3)  Righteousness comes by grace, through faith.  God extended a promise to Abraham that he would send a Savior for him, that he would give Abraham a place in his kingdom, and that God would be faithful to him.  That word was planted in Abraham, took root, and sprouted into a living and active faith.  This was God's work.  God graciously worked saving faith in Abraham, and then God rewarded Abraham for that faith.  “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” (Romans 4:3)  Righteousness comes by grace, through faith.
     What is true for Abraham is true for all Christians.  No one is chosen because he has done something worth a reward.  Now, in the world, that thinking makes sense.  If someone got the promotion, it is because he worked hard.  If someone made the team, it is because she trained for it.  Scholarships are awarded to those who put in the hours of study.  Imagine a worker who showed up late, who openly mocked his boss, and who spent the day eating bagels, drinking coffee, and dishing office gossip.  Now imagine that he was the one who got the big promotion.  People would be screaming bloody murder.  This would be a grave injustice.
     But what does St. Paul write?  “To the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness....” (Romans 4:5)  God is determined to be a gracious Savior.  If you need to be saved, it means that you are not righteous and you have no hope of changing your situation.  God must act.  If God is gracious, that means his salvation comes to you for free.  It means people who have done wicked things are credited for doing good things.  It means people who have done nothing are rewarded for doing it all.  It means the lazy are credit as industrious.  It means that the guilty are declared innocent.  God does not grant salvation based on justice.  Righteousness comes by grace.
     Righteousness also comes through faith.  That faith rests on a promise, and the promise rests on the work of Jesus Christ.  Jesus does all the work that needs to be done to save you.  And the work had to be done.  God's Commandments are not optional.  Righteousness is found only in the one who loves God above all and loves his neighbor as himself.  Only that person has God's favor upon him.  So, Jesus demonstrated the love that eludes us.  To those who deserved scorn because of their wickedness, Jesus showed mercy.  Even Jesus' disciples did not get it.  When they saw Jesus having a conversation with the town tart at the well in Sychar, they were astounded.  Jesus, on the other hand, saw a woman in need of forgiveness.  He extended a promise to her, and she believed it.  Jesus justified the ungodly; even she would be called righteous.
     Your place in God's kingdom is not based on your behavior; it is based on a promise.  The promise is that Jesus would make himself a sin offering on behalf of the wicked.  The Son of God would be slain for the ungodly.  Righteousness is not a wage that you earn; rather, Jesus has given his righteousness to you.  He delivers it to you by grace, as a gift.  He proclaims it to you as a promised to be received by faith.  Jesus Christ has done all the work to save you; so the work has been done.  And what do you have to do in order to be saved?  St. Paul tells you: “To the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness....” (Romans 4:5)  Righteousness comes by grace, through faith.  Baptism is poured upon you.  Absolution is proclaimed to you.  Holy Communion is served to you.  God works, and you simply receive.  God does this so that he remains a gracious Savior, and so that you can have the confidence that, since God has done all the work, it was all done perfectly.
     We do well to consider the people in the Bible whom we regard as heroes.  They are not heroes of virtue or morality or honesty or even decency.  They are heroes of faith.  They are the ungodly who were justified by faith in Jesus who lived and died for them.  For, if God is pleased to save the five-time divorced Samaritan woman, someone who plots murder like David, womanizers the likes of Samson, and liars the likes of Abraham, then he is pleased to save you too. 
     In truth, there is only one hero in the Bible, and that is the one who laid down his life to purchase forgiveness for sinners, who grants new life which sets apart the wicked for godly living, and who promises everlasting glory for those who have reason to be ashamed.  Jesus has saved you.  He forgives you, cleanses you, and supplies the righteousness you need for life in heaven.  That is God's promise.  And to the one who believes, his faith is counted as righteousness.

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