Sermon -- Chapel at MLS (June 26, 2019)

This was preached at Michigan Lutheran Seminary in Saginaw for the Pastors' Summer Quarter on Wednesday, June 26.

LUKE 7:18-23

EXPECT WHAT IS PROMISED.

In the name + of Jesus.

     Immediately after Jesus raised up from the dead the young man from Nain, St. Luke recorded how John the Baptist was languishing in Herod's prison.  John's disciples reported to him the miracles that Jesus was doing, and how his popularity was surging.  Jesus was receiving praise for the works of God which he performed, and John the Baptist was suffering for the word of God which he proclaimed.  You can understand why John had questions for Jesus.  More to the point, John had questions about Jesus.  John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” (Luke 7:19)

     You and I have not had to face jail time for preaching.  If that should change, so be it.  But we do face some level of wrath and ridicule for preaching the word of the Lord.  Even faithful members will get angry with us when our preaching calls them or their children to repent of their sins.  To make matters worse, we see other churches who pervert the gospel.  They proclaim some form of the message “Love wins,” preaching a Jesus who is cuddly, but not crucified.  These churches are bursting at the seams. We even lose members to them.  It is easy to wonder, “Lord, I am trying to be faithful.  Is this the reward for it?”

     Repent.  A servant is not above his master.  Although the people praised Jesus for giving sight to the blind, giving strength to lame legs, and even raising the dead, they turned on Jesus when he told them that the kingdom of God is more than healing what ails you at the moment.  The works they liked because they benefited from them.  The words they hated because it exposed their wickedness and need for a Savior.  If this is how they treated Jesus and John for their preaching, should you expect any different?  Expect what is promised so that you will not be deceived or despair.

     The people we serve have their share of doubts, too.  They expect that life will be easier and happier.  They are dismayed when it is full of hardship, sorrow, and pain.  They expected that life in the Church would not see problems or pettiness.  Then they see their fellow Christians commit sins, and they are sinned against by their fellow Christians.  They expected that the Christian faith would give them all the answers.  Then their faith gets challenged by arguments based on science, politics, and emotions.  They find themselves stumped.  They fear that they’ve been duped.  They may be reluctant to say it out loud, but they wonder, “Is this all the Christian faith is, or should I expect something better?”

     You are not unique with your doubts and fears.  We confess that God is our merciful Father in heaven.  We teach our children to sing, “Jesus loves me.”  But it does not often feel like it.  We want answers.  So did John the Baptist.  And John rightly sent his disciples to Jesus for answers.

     And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord...  And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’” (Luke 7:19-20)  You might have expected Jesus to answer differently.  Jesus could have uttered a direct, “Yes.  Tell John: I am the one.”  But that would have not settled John's doubts and fears.  After all, wouldn’t a conman have answered that question the same way?  Instead, Jesus urged John to expect what was promised.  

     (Jesus) answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.  And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” (Luke 7:21-23)  The Lord urged John the Baptist to expect what had been promised.  Isaiah had foretold that the Messiah would do exactly what Jesus was doing.  God had made a promise, and Jesus was fulfilling God's word to the letter.  Therefore, Jesus is the Christ and the Savior.  John should not trust what he was feeling or enduring.  Herod's sentence on him was not the word which mattered.  Even if John would be faithful to the point of death, he did not need to doubt.  He had not been duped.  God had told him what to expect.  Jesus urged him to expect what was promised.  Blessed is he who believes what is promised rather than be offended by what he experiences.  Blessed is the one who is not offended by the way the Lord reigns over his Church.

     And so it is with you.  Expect what is promised.  Cling to his word.  Trust with your ears rather than with your eyes or your emotions.  The Lord Jesus never promised you that life would be easy, but he did promise that he would be with you.  Jesus never promised that people would love you and be faithful to you, but he did promise that he would be.  And though you are not told that you will be happy, you are told that you are blessed.  No matter what anyone thinks of you, God's favor rests upon you; for, Jesus has paid the price for your sins.  No matter who despises you, God's love is yours; for it has been declared through holy, innocent blood of Jesus.  His blood covers you, cleanses you, and nourishes you through this harsh life until heavenly glory.  No matter what you feel about yourself, God's verdict upon you is “innocent,” beloved, redeemed.  That verdict was proclaimed by Jesus' resurrection from the dead.  Jesus lives and reigns to enforce it.  It is applied to you in baptism and at the Lord’s Supper.  It is repeated to you in every absolution and benediction.  

     Doubts, fears, and frustrations will come, even to the likes of John the Baptist.  But God's words are the only words that matter.  Flee to God's promises of mercy, forgiveness, salvation, and faithfulness.  Then, expect what is promised and hold God to his word.  For, the word of God stands firm.  The one whom God promised has come and has delivered you from sin.  He promises that he will come again to deliver you to glory.  Blessed is the one who believes and expects what he has promised.

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