Sermon -- 4th Sunday after Epiphany (January 31, 2021)

DEUTERONOMY 18:15-22

JESUS IS THE TRUE PROPHET WITH THE TRUE WORD.

 In the name + of Jesus.

      When the people of Israel stood at the foot of Mt. Sinai, they saw the glory of the Lord engulf the mountain with a thick, black cloud, with peals of thunder, and flashes of lightning.  Then they heard the voice of the Lord utter the Ten Commandments.  Understandably, they were terrified.  Each pleaded with Moses, “Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.” (Deuteronomy 18:16)  The Lord replied, “They are right in what they have spoken.  I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers.  And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.” (Deuteronomy 18:17-18)

     Moses was recognized as the Lord’s prophet, and for good reason.  The Israelites saw the signs that Moses had performed in the name of the Lord.  They heard the words of Moses come true with the plagues and with Israel’s deliverance from Egypt.  Then the Lord’s own voice declared that Moses spoke for him.  But Moses was not immortal.  Eventually he would die, and eventually other prophets would come who would speak in the name of the Lord.  Or, at least, they would claim to speak in the name of the Lord.  So, who would be a true prophet?  Who was to be listened to, and who was to be ignored, and even condemned?  The question was on the mind of the Israelites: “How may we know the word that the LORD has not spoken?” (Deuteronomy 18:21)  It is still a valid question today, isn’t it?  Your eternal welfare rests on knowing the answer.

     The theme of this sermon is the answer: Jesus is the true prophet with the true word.  But this deserves more consideration than just asserting it to be true.  After all, others make similar statements.  The Muslims declare: “Allah is God and Mohammed is his prophet.”  Mormons declare that the testimony of Joseph Smith in the Book of Mormon are the true words of God.  And there are many others who claim to have the true word of God.  If eternity were not on the line, I don’t know that we would really have to care about this.  But when putting your faith in the wrong source means eternal damnation, then we had better be sure that we have it right.

     The God who appeared at Mt. Sinai publicly and unmistakably told us where to look for the true prophet with the true word: “I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers.” (Deuteronomy 18:17)  The true prophet whom the Lord sends does not come out of the blue.  He would come into the world in the common way, growing in wisdom and stature among his people.  Thus, Jesus did not suddenly show up in the world as a thirty-year-old man whom no one had ever met before.  He was a Nazarene.  The people of Nazareth testified of knowing him as the son of the carpenter, and being familiar with his relatives.  They were not insulted that some unknown preacher suddenly showed up and claimed authority as a preacher; they were insulted that someone familiar did so—someone from among their brothers.

     More than that, Jesus claimed that he did not speak on his own, but he spoke only what his Father had given him to say, and that he alone had the words of eternal life.  In other words, Jesus claimed to fulfill just what the Lord had said would happen.  “I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.  And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him.” (Deuteronomy 18:18-19)  Jesus showed himself to be just what the Lord had foretold.  Jesus is the true prophet who speaks the true word.    

     By contrast, the false prophets who have gained a following do not live up to what the Lord had foretold.  Mohammed declared himself to be the true prophet.  The source of his message was an angel who no one saw but him.  Mohammad claimed to be the corrector of all the corruption of the Bible, and declared that salvation must be earned by submission and obedience.  Likewise, the Book of Mormon showed up out of the blue in 1820’s.  Joseph Smith claimed to receive from an angel (again seen by no one but him) golden tablets (which still remain unseen) with a message written in a language no one had ever heard of before (making it untranslatable to everyone except Joseph Smith).  Once again, Smith sought to correct the Bible and declare that salvation is to be gained by obedience.  Still others claim to be the true interpreters of Scripture.  They may use the Bible as the source of their teachings, but then they betray themselves when their teaching amounts to, “Well, that’s what the Bible says, but that is not what it means.”  No matter how much people like find the new meaning to their liking, it is still a denial of the Bible, or a denial that the Bible is true.

     Jesus is the true prophet with the true word.  It is one thing to simply say Jesus is the one who fulfills the promise made through Moses, but we ought to be able to recognize that fulfillment so that we are confident it is true.  Again, our eternal welfare rests on this.  And if we are going to suffer ridicule, disdain, or even real persecution for this faith, we had better be convinced of it.

     The Lord addresses these concerns.  This is what the Lord says: “If you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the Lord has not spoken?’—when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously.  You need not be afraid of him.” (Deuteronomy 18:21-22)  God cannot lie.  When he makes a promise, it must come true.  So, when God’s prophet speaks, his words must come true too.  If they do not, that prophet is a liar.  He should be ignored and scorned.

     So, how does Jesus measure up?  He was born in Bethlehem, as foretold by Micah.  He is the Seed of Abraham as recorded by Moses.  He is the Son of David as foretold by Nathan.  He was betrayed by a companion, pierced in his hands and feet, and crucified with criminals, as foretold by David and Isaiah.  We could go on.  The Old Testament books all point to the prophet who would be like his Israelite brothers, raised up among them, put to death, and raised from the dead to save sinners.  All prophecies and promises are fulfilled by Jesus of Nazareth.  Jesus is the true prophet with the true word.

     In addition to that, Jesus had some bold prophecies to make about himself.  He foretold that he would be betrayed, condemned by the religious leaders of his day, crucified, and on the third day rise again.  He said it plainly, and repeatedly.  He even told his enemies that all of his claims and teachings would be vindicated by his resurrection from the dead.  None of this was done in secret.  Jesus’ death by crucifixion was certified by the Romans who were good at their job.  Jesus’ resurrection was witnessed by hundreds.  If Jesus’ resurrection had been staged or fabricated, it could have been falsified.  Not only did the apostles bear eye-witness testimony of all of this, they and many Christians suffered and died willingly for confessing it.  None of these people gained any worldly advantage for believing and teaching it.  Nevertheless, they confessed in their lives and by their deaths this truth: Jesus is the true prophet with the true word.

     There will always be men who claim to speak for God.  Some are faithful pastors; some are misguided in their teachings; others are charlatans and liars.  How can you tell who is who?  “How may we know the word that the Lord has not spoken?” (Deuteronomy 18:21)  The good news is that you don’t have to guess.  God has already given you his word.  Therefore, we flee back to God’s word, and see for ourselves what is true and trustworthy.  Jesus is the true prophet with the true word.  If a preacher of the word is faithful, he will rest all of his teachings on Jesus’ words and works.  No faithful preacher will preach himself or his opinions.  No faithful preacher will attempt to correct or to improve what God has revealed in the Scriptures.  If you don’t want to be deceived, give your full attention to the words of Jesus.  A preacher who is worth anything will point you there, because Jesus is the true prophet with the true word.

     While everything Jesus teaches is important, the most important word from Jesus has to do with how you are saved.  As we had considered earlier, the common thread that runs through Islam, Mormonism, and other teachers is that you are to give the proper obedience to be saved.  While the particular commandments vary among various teachers, they all command you to live a good life to be saved.  On the one hand, their teaching seems sensible.  Your own conscience tells you that you are supposed to be good.  But your own conscience also testifies that you have not been good.  How, therefore, can you be saved?

     Jesus delivers to you a message different than all the world.  This is what he tells you: “The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)  You are not saved because you serve God; you are saved because God serves you; not because you are good, but because Jesus is good and merciful.  Jesus gave his life as a ransom for yours.  First, he submitted himself to God’s Law and lived a perfect, obedient life for you.  He answers for all of your sins by his obedience.  But then he made the payment to redeem you.  The ransom payment was that holy life—the Son of God went into death so that the children of mankind can live.  He was condemned so that you are pardoned.  This is Jesus’ work, done for you.  And what is the work that you do?  Jesus tells you: “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” (John 6:29)  God has even done work—granting you faith in Jesus.  By this faith, Jesus credits you with the holy life he lived for you and with the holy life he sacrificed for you.  This is what saves you—not because I say so, but because Jesus say so.  Jesus is the true prophet with the true word.

     Everything that Jesus said is true.  Therefore you are right to trust the promises yet to be fulfilled—the resurrection of the dead and the life everlasting.  The Lord Jesus became your brother so that you would dwell forever as his brothers and sisters in the Father’s kingdom.  And he who was raised up among his people will raise you up to live forever as his people.  This is the true word—promised by God through the prophets, fulfilled by Jesus the Messiah, purchased and won by Jesus’ death, guaranteed by his resurrection, and delivered to you through the preaching of the true word. 

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

Something from ... Martin Luther on the hope of the resurrection among the Patriarchs

"We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come."  This is from the Nicene Creed and is the final hope of all Christians.  The resurrection of the body, however, is not a New Testament innovation.  It has always been the hope of God's people.

This is also recognized in the Old Testament among the Patriarchs.  They faithfully endured hardships and clung to promises which remained unfulfilled at the moment of their death.  If they did not believe in "the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting" (Apostles' Creed), why did they willingly endure hardships and refrain from indulging every twinge of lust, greed, gluttony, drunkenness, etc...?  They fought against their sinful urges and remained devoted to the word of the Lord for this reason: They looked for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.  They sought a better life, a perfect home, and an everlasting peace and glory.

While the resurrection is taught much more clearly in the New Testament, it is clearly believed in the Old Testament, as Luther explains here:

"Christ says: 'God is not God of the dead, but of the living' (Matt. 22:32).  Therefore all the fathers who hoped in God undoubtedly also believed in the resurrection of the dead.  This can be clearly demonstrated from the argument of Christ: Abraham, Isaac, and the other patriarchs endure even unto death with the firmest faith; therefore they believe in the resurrection of the dead.  For if no other and better life remains after this one, what need is there of faith or of God Himself or of hope in God beyond death?  If the resurrection is not to be expected, there is also no faith and no God.  On the contrary, if there is faith and any hope in God, it is necessary that there be a God who is the God of all who trust and hope in Him and for His sake retain the hope of immortality.  For since all must face death and the godly trust in God in spite of this, they confess the necessity that after this life another, eternal life remains." (Martin Luther.  Luther's Works: American Edition.  Volume 7 (Lectures on Genesis, chapters 38-44, pages 116-117)

Update from Good Shepherd (January 28, 2021)

Greetings!

REGULAR SCHEDULE

Divine Services are at 10:00 AM on Sundays, in person and on Facebook Live.  Share our services and invite friends to tune in.

Sunday School is on Sundays at 8:45 AM.

Adult Bible Class is on Sundays at 8:45 AM.  We are continuing our series on Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  The schedule can be found at this link.

Bible Matters is a discussion group is on Wednesdays at 7:00 PM.  The topic for February 3 is "When God is silent, what is our confession?"  The full schedule for our winter sessions can be found here.

OFFICE HOURS

          Office hours are Monday-Thursday, 9:00 AM – Noon.  

          The pastor will be in his office unless a meeting has been scheduled elsewhere (consult the weekly schedule).  The pastor is also available by appointment.  Call or text (248-719-5218).  You may also email (welsnovi@aol.com), but the response may be slower.

Good Shepherd 40th Anniversary Photo Compilation 
          This year is the 40th anniversary of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church! To commemorate the occasion we would like to put together a compilation of photos to develop into a video. If you're interested, please find up to 6 photos of your time with the congregation that you would like to share and email them to Brian Wilder, Pastor, or Dan LeFevre so we can compile them into a video. Also, if anyone has experience developing a video for this type of project and would like to assist in the creation any help would be greatly appreciated! Please submit your photos no later than March 17 (Ash Wednesday).

CHANGES TO THE SERVICE
          We are continually striving to find a good balance between limiting the risk of spreading the COVID virus and enjoying the full benefits of our liturgical worship in the Divine Service. We are continuing to maintain social distancing in the chairs, and we are still encouraging the use of masks. Even if you are convinced that masks are useless, others have a different concern. We do not want to be dismissive of those concerns. Based on attendance for some of the Sundays in January, more people seem ready to return to the service. If attendance tampers with distancing between worshipers, we will direct people to the fellowship hall where the service will be projected on a large screen.
          With a reasonable amount of precautions already in place, our Church Council has encouraged the return of more elements of the service. Beginning in Lent, we will return the order of Holy Communion to the regular part of the service rather than do it separately after the live-stream has concluded. Those who worship online will still be able to sing a hymn during the distribution of the sacrament. We will likely add more singing to the service as well, particularly the canticles during the Communion portion of the service.
          If you have any concerns about these additions, please speak to Pastor Schroeder or one of our elders—Dan Rauchholz, Ken Reisig, and Dan Schneider. We want to strike an appropriate balance, but we will need people to let us know if they believe the balance is off.
          As always, let us continue to pray for one another and to seek each other’s good.

CONCERNING PASTORAL CARE

        Pastor Schroeder is available for private devotions, Holy Absolution, and Holy Communion to members in small groups or to individuals.  You may call to set up an appointment at any time.  Visits by appointment can be done either at church or at your home.

        If you want to ask for intercessions for loved ones, we will certainly remember them in our prayers, too.  If your loved one has no pastor, ask if they would like Pastor Schroeder to visit them.  

GOOD SHEPHERD ON YOUTUBE

         Feel free to share the videos.  For other services, do a search for "Good Shepherd Novi."  The service from January 24 is here: (1) Good Shepherd Novi, Divine Service - Jan. 24, 2021 - YouTube

         Bulletins for services can be downloaded from here (scroll down): 

http://goodshepherdnovi.org/worship

OFFERINGS

While we may not be meeting for worship, we do have financial obligations to meet.  You may either mail your offering into Good Shepherd, or you can set up your offering to be transferred electronically from your bank.  If you are interested in the automatic transfer of funds for your offering, please contact the church at (248) 349-0565 or welsnovi@aol.com.

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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 is 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.

In Christ,

Pastor Schroeder

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

REGULAR SCHEDULE

DIVINE SERVICES -- Sundays at 10:00 AM  (We also stream on Facebook Live )

SUNDAY SCHOOL & ADULT BIBLE CLASS on Sundays at 8:45 AM.

BIBLE MATTERS on Wednesdays at 7:00 PM

ASH WEDNESDAY is February 17.

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE

www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

PASTOR SCHROEDER’S BLOG

www.LutheranSubject.blogspot.com  

YouTube -- 3rd Sunday after Epiphany (January 24, 2021)

 Here is the service from Sunday, January 24, 2021.

Sermon -- 3rd Sunday after Epiphany (January 24, 2021)

1 CORINTHIANS 7:29-31

CRAVE WHAT IS PERFECT, NOT WHAT IS PASSING AWAY.

In the name + of Jesus.

      You likely have heard the phrase, “Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good.”  You will rarely get what is perfect.  It is, practically speaking, unattainable.  Still, we want the perfect moment, the perfect sunset, a perfect marriage with perfect children, perfect health, and so on.  Whoever waits for these will be forever disappointed.  If you are waiting for the perfect job, you will probably never accept an offer for one.  But that doesn’t mean such things can’t be good.  Your moments, your marriage, your children, your job, and your health can all be good, and God can be praised for it.

     It is different, however, in the kingdom of God, especially in regard to the goal of our salvation.  We are not waiting for a heavenly kingdom that will be “good enough.”  It will be perfect.  There will be no sin, no struggles, no stress, and no sadness.  We will always have joy, peace, security, and rest.  These blessings will not be tainted.  The perfection will not get interrupted.  It will be the Paradise that our Lord always intended us to have; and God himself will be with us.  We will marvel at God, but we will not hide from him.  We will welcome him as a friend.  This is not fantasy; these are divine promises.  So, crave what is perfect, not what is passing away.

     When we read St. Paul’s instruction to the Corinthians, it might seem that St. Paul is telling us to abandon our responsibilities and our associations with everybody.  They are bold words, to be sure.  “This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short.  From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it.  For the present form of this world is passing away.” (1 Corinthians 7:29-31) 

     This world in its present form will come to an end.  Or it may be that your end comes before this world ends.  In either case, everything in this world has an expiration date.  In some cases, you will be able to rejoice and say, “Good riddance!”  Good riddance to the bitterness produced by politics.  Good riddance to the righteous anger whereby people try to establish how noble they are, rage against some injustice (whether real or perceived), and vilify people who have different opinions.  Good riddance to every heart-breaking loss.  Good riddance to every ache, itch, cramp, and blemish.

     But the end of all things also means the end of good things.  St. Paul said, “Let those who have wives live as though they had none.” (1 Corinthians 7:29)  Anyone who has enjoyed a good, strong marriage does not want it to end.  But they all do when death finally separates them.  St. Paul said, “Let those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing.” (1 Corinthians 7:30)  God gives us many reasons to rejoice.  We rejoice over our families, our friends, promotions, recognition, and accomplishments.  These are great blessings which fill life with pleasure and purpose.  But they will come to an end, too.  St. Paul advises, “Let those who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it.” (1 Corinthians 7:30-31)  God gave us this creation to use and to enjoy.  Some of it is luxury; some of it is necessity.  But all of it will pass away.

     Our Lord Jesus Christ issued a number of warnings about clinging to the world.  Jesus referred to Lot and his family when they were told to flee from Sodom.  Sodom had been marked for destruction because of the great sins that stood against it.  God sent angels to get Lot out of the city, but he dragged his feet.  Even if Lot was repulsed by the wickedness of Sodom, he still had a home and friends there.  He was reluctant to let it go.  Finally, the angels grabbed him and his family by the hand and pulled them out.  But against the word of the Lord, Lot’s wife turned back to watch the destruction of the city.  She perished immediately.

     Therefore, Jesus warned: “Just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building (and these were all good and necessary to sustain life), but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all—so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. Remember Lot's wife.  Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it. (Luke 17:28-30,32-33)  Understand that we will take nothing with us from this world.  Therefore, Jesus urges you not to cling to it.  For, even if it is good and provides blessing, it will not save you.  Crave what is perfect, not what is passing away.

     In the world, we do not want perfect to be the enemy of good.  Your blessings do not need to be perfect to be good.  But when it comes to the kingdom of God, do not let good become the enemy of perfect.  If you have a wife or a husband, it is good for them to love and honor each another.  If you buy goods, it is because you need them or because they make your life nicer.  No one needs scented candles, but they make the house smell nice. If you make use of this world, it is for the good of your family and your fellow man.  But if you only care for the good that you receive in this world, you may forfeit the perfection that God has set apart for you.  Beware, because this is what many people do.  But you: Crave what is perfect, not what is passing away.

     We all love this world more than we want to admit.  We invest much energy into what is passing away, trying to accumulate, protect, and preserve as much of it as we can.  But this is what the Lord says: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” (Luke 21:33)  If it will all pass away, how could we ascribe more value to it than to the word of the Lord which endures forever?  Crave what is perfect, not what is passing away.

     The word of the Lord is perfect, true, and eternal.  It protects, guides, comforts, encourages, and saves.  It delivers to you everything that Jesus Christ has done for your sake.  Only Jesus can save you from a corrupted world which is passing away and in which you will die.  Jesus died on a cross outside of Jerusalem to pay for your sins, but you will not find forgiveness just by visiting Jerusalem.  Jesus conquered death by his resurrection, but you will not find eternal life taking a tour of the site.  Jesus delivers his salvation only through the word which is preached and which is attached to the sacraments.  There, Jesus doesn’t just talk about the forgiveness of sins, he applies it.  There, Jesus doesn’t just refer to purification of sins; rather, he cleanses you in baptism and presents you as holy to God the Father.  There, Jesus doesn’t just speak about the atoning sacrifice; rather, in holy communion he delivers to you the body and blood which have paid for sin and which have risen to live forever.  

     Crave what is perfect, not what is passing away.  The perfect life of Jesus was lived on your behalf.  By his perfect life, Jesus rejected any idea of establishing a kingdom on earth.  Even if governing officials were corrupt or religious leaders were hypocrites, Jesus did not come to build a new capitol building or a more impressive cathedral.  He came to have mercy upon sinners, to heal the sick, and to seek in the lost, to take away sins, and to destroy death.  Jesus’ ministry shows us that the kingdom of God is nothing like this world.  Earthly governments rise and fall.  Church buildings can be destroyed, and church bodies can teach false doctrine.  None of them is perfect, and all of them pass away.  The kingdom established by Jesus, however, endures forever.  His word endures forever.  And all who believe in that word shall live forever with Jesus in his kingdom.  Crave what is perfect, not what is passing away.

     “The appointed time has grown very short.  From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it.  For the present form of this world is passing away.” (1 Corinthians 7:29-31)  Do not let good be the enemy of perfect.  The things St. Paul mentions are, for the most part, good.  There is no shame in any of them.  But all of them are temporary, no matter how good they are.  You will bid farewell to them at some point in time.  So, you ought to be ready and willing to do so.

     But do not forsake or neglect or even think lightly of Jesus’ words and sacraments.  Even when you lose everything in this life, you still have not lost God’s mercy, salvation, forgiveness, and hope.  The only way you lose these is if you forsake hearing God’s word.  If you forsake hearing God’s word, faith will eventually die.  Sure, you can still remember facts about the Bible.  You are not saved by knowing facts, but by faith in Jesus’ promises.  Faith not only came by hearing the word, but faith continues to come as you continue to hear God’s word.  Faith is only sustained and strengthened by God’s word and sacraments.  Therefore, these are paramount.  As we have vowed in our confirmation rite, we should be willing to suffer everything, even death, rather than fall away from the teachings that God reveals to us.  Eventually, you will suffer death, but whoever believes in Jesus will not perish but has eternal life.  Whether you die wealthy or poor, married or single, rejoicing or weeping, that won’t matter.  It will all pass away.  But our Lord will save all who cling to his word and yearn for the perfect Paradise of God.  Therefore, crave what is perfect, not what is passing away.

     On the Last Day, our Lord Jesus will return.  This world in its present form will pass away.  Better than that, it will be perfected.  St. Peter wrote, “The day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.” (2 Peter 3:10)  This is a fire that will refine and purify the world from every evil.  We will be raised up with new, perfected bodies, and we will receive a new heaven and a new earth.  In this new, eternal home, we will not just have all things good, but perfect.  The Lord Jesus will be with us, and we will be with him in his kingdom.  Neither his kingdom nor his word nor his glory will fade or pass away.  These endure forever; and we will endure because of him and with him.

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

Something from ... Martin Luther on abandoning our presumptions about ourselves, whether good or bad

 The devil will always use what he can.  He does not care.  His goal is your damnation.

This means that the devil may convince you that you are such a good person.  He will cite your admirable qualities and will show you your acts of charity.  He will teach you to put your trust in those so that you take pride in how good you are.  But the devil is a liar.  Do not believe him.

On the other hand, he is also willing to flaunt your sins in your face.  He will remind you of regrettable and shameful things you have thought, spoken, and done.  He will use these to prove to you how wicked you are and convince you that not even God could forgive these.  He makes your sins heavy so that they would crush you in despair.  But the devil is a liar.  Do not believe him.

Martin Luther addressed both ends of that spectrum and points you to the only place where you will find assurance and comfort from either extreme.  He points you to the mercies of God, revealed, obtained, and delivered by faith in Jesus Christ.  Those mercies were demonstrated to the Old Testament people.  Some were examples of piety and goodness; others were exposed as blatant sinners who were guilty of murder, intrigue, slave trading, incest, and so on.  But none of them was saved by their goodness or rejected by God because they were sinners.  God's mercy saved them and sustained them.

Luther urges us to take these examples to heart so that we are not deluded by Satan to take pride in how good we have been or lose heart because of the sins we have done.  All are saved by faith in Jesus.  All are consoled by the mercies of God.  God does not lie when he reveals these things to us.  Contrary to Satan, God desires your salvation and wants to grant you peace.  Here is something from Luther on how this relates to the patriarchs and to us.

"Moreover, examples of this kind are recounted to us for the purpose of teaching and consolation, and for the strengthening of our faith, in order that we may consider the immeasurable mercy of God, who has saved not only the righteous--namely, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob--but also the unrighteous--namely, Judah, Tamar, Reuben, Simeon, and Levi, who were outstanding sinners.  Consequently, no one should be presumptuous about his own righteousness or wisdom, and no one should despair on account of his sins." (Martin Luther, Lectures on Genesis (chapters 38-44), Luther's Works: American Edition, pp 10-11)

Update from Good Shepherd (January 21, 2021)

 Greetings!

REGULAR SCHEDULE

Divine Services are at 10:00 AM on Sundays, in person and on Facebook Live.  Share our services and invite friends to tune in.

Sunday School is on Sundays at 8:45 AM.

Adult Bible Class is on Sundays at 8:45 AM.  We are continuing our series on Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  The schedule can be found at this link.

Bible Matters is a discussion group is on Wednesdays at 7:00 PM.  The topic for January 27 is "Why Lutheran?"  The full schedule for our winter sessions can be found here.

OFFICE HOURS

          Office hours are Monday-Thursday, 9:00 AM – Noon.  

          The pastor will be in his office unless a meeting has been scheduled elsewhere (consult the weekly schedule).  The pastor is also available by appointment.  Call or text (248-719-5218).  You may also email (welsnovi@aol.com), but the response may be slower.

Good Shepherd 40th Anniversary Photo Compilation
          This year is the 40th anniversary of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church! To commemorate the occasion we would like to put together a compilation of photos to develop into a video. If you're interested, please find up to 6 photos of your time with the congregation that you would like to share and email them to Brian Wilder, Pastor, or Dan LeFevre so we can compile them into a video. Also, if anyone has experience developing a video for this type of project and would like to assist in the creation any help would be greatly appreciated! Please submit your photos no later than March 17 (Ash Wednesday).

CONCERNING PASTORAL CARE

        Pastor Schroeder is available for private devotions, Holy Absolution, and Holy Communion to members in small groups or to individuals.  You may call to set up an appointment at any time.  Visits by appointment can be done either at church or at your home.

        If you want to ask for intercessions for loved ones, we will certainly remember them in our prayers, too.  If your loved one has no pastor, ask if they would like Pastor Schroeder to visit them.  

GOOD SHEPHERD ON YOUTUBE

         Feel free to share the videos.  For other services, do a search for "Good Shepherd Novi."  The service from January 17 is here: Good Shepherd Novi, Divine Service - January 17, 2021 - YouTube

         Bulletins for services can be downloaded from here (scroll down): 

http://goodshepherdnovi.org/worship

OFFERINGS

While we may not be meeting for worship, we do have financial obligations to meet.  You may either mail your offering into Good Shepherd, or you can set up your offering to be transferred electronically from your bank.  If you are interested in the automatic transfer of funds for your offering, please contact the church at (248) 349-0565 or welsnovi@aol.com.

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!

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 is 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.

In Christ,

Pastor Schroeder

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

REGULAR SCHEDULE

DIVINE SERVICES -- Sundays at 10:00 AM  (We also stream on Facebook Live )

SUNDAY SCHOOL & ADULT BIBLE CLASS on Sundays at 8:45 AM.

BIBLE MATTERS on Wednesdays at 7:00 PM

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE

www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

PASTOR SCHROEDER’S BLOG

www.LutheranSubject.blogspot.com  

Intercession for our Leaders

With President-Elect Biden being sworn in as President Biden today, it will be appropriate to include him in our prayers this Sunday.

The prayer of the church will include numerous intercessions and petitions which will also allow the congregation to assent to each one with their, "Hear us, good Lord," "Hear our prayer," and "Amen."

Among the intercessions, we will include prayers for our newly inaugurated president, Joe Biden, the governor of Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer, the mayor of Novi, Bob Gatt, and all governing officials, we will pray as follows:

M:    Preserve our nation in justice and honor, that we may lead peaceable lives of integrity.  Grant health and favor to all who bear office in our land, especially to President Biden, Governor Whitmer, Bob Gatt the mayor of Novi, and all those who make, administer, and judge our laws, and help them serve all citizens according to your holy will.

Cong:    Hear us, good Lord.

Such prayers are in obedience to the Scriptures which encourage this: "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.  This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,  who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

Christians ought to recognize what we pray for and what we do not.  There are some policy positions we would pray fervently against, such as the support and defense of abortion.  In fact, we will pray against that on the very same Sunday.  Such a prayer is not a personal attack on our leaders, but a plea that God would protect and defend the sanctity of life despite the opinions of our leaders--such an opinion that we consider abominable and a blatant sin against the 5th Commandment.  However, we do not seek the death of anyone.  We have been convinced by the Holy Spirit to agree with our God to be obedient to those in authority (Romans 13:1-7), to bless all who would oppose us (Matthew 5:11), and to willing suffer for doing good if we must (1 Peter 3:13-17).  

While we cherish the freedoms we have in our nation, our greatest good is not the kingdom of the United States but the kingdom of God.  If these should come into great conflict with each other, we will stand firm in the kingdom of God and still pray for our nation and its leaders as we have been directed by the King of heaven and earth.

While not everyone will be in agreement with the policies and positions of every politician, all Christians can be in agreement with the specific intercession, "help them serve all citizens according to your holy will."  When wouldn't we pray for that????

YouTube -- 2nd Sunday after Epiphany (January 17, 2021)

 Here is the service from Sunday, January 17, 2021.

Sermon -- 2nd Sunday after Epiphany (January 17, 2021)

JOHN 1:43-51

JESUS CONNECTS HEAVEN AND EARTH.

In the name + of Jesus.

      After Jacob had attained his blessing from Isaac, his twin brother Esau was enraged.  He had plans to kill Jacob, assuming the blessing would go to him by default.  Before Esau could act, Jacob was sent away to his mother’s family far to the north.  Jacob went alone—with no family (although he was told he would become the father of a great nation), with no companions (although he was told that people would serve him), and no estate (although he was told that the riches of the earth would be his).  As Jacob settled down for the night on his journey, the Lord appeared to Jacob in a dream. 

     “He dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven.  And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it!  And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, ‘I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac.’” (Genesis 28:12-13)  After the Lord reaffirmed the blessing Jacob had received from Isaac, “Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, ‘Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.’  And he was afraid and said, ‘How awesome is this place!  This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.’” (Genesis 28:16-17) 

     Sometimes people talk about climbing Jacob’s ladder, referring to us getting closer to God.  But never once did God tell Jacob to climb anything, and Jacob did not even take a step.  The point was not that Jacob, or anyone, is supposed to climb up to God; it is that God must come down to us.  And he has.  Jesus connects heaven and earth.

     While Jacob was awestruck by the Lord appearing to him, others were not awestruck when Jesus appeared.  When Philip told Nathanael about Jesus, “Philip … said to him, ‘We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.’  Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’” (John 1:45,46)  Not only was Jesus’ appearance common, but his hometown was not impressive either.  Why should anyone take notice of what comes out of Nazareth?   

     You might know people who are unimpressed that you go to church or believe the Bible.  They might wonder, “What good comes from that?!”  If so, they may have preconceived notions about church, like we come together to hear how good we are and how bad other people are.  They might think the Bible is just a list of rules, and they have enough burdens in their life without having to add a divine to-do list to them.  One possible way to address their reluctance is to confess why you find such comfort in God’s word and to tell them what benefits you have in gathering with God’s people.  Another way to reply is by repeating the words of Philip: “Come and see.” (John 1:46)  To show people why the Bible matters and why church is important, let them see and hear it for themselves.  At the very least, they will no longer reject the Bible and the church because of ignorance.  Our prayer, of course, is that others will find the value and comfort in it that we know.

     Nathanael may have been skeptical, but he was not stubborn.  He went with Philip and met Jesus.  As soon as Jesus saw Nathanael, he said, “‘Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!’  Nathanael said to him, ‘How do you know me?’  Jesus answered him, ‘Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.’” (John 1:47,48) 

     Can you imagine how hard those words might have hit Nathanael?  “I saw you.”  If you had someone say that to you, you might be a little bit unnerved, especially if someone began a conversation that way.  You enter a room, and your boss says, “I saw you.”  You would be trying to figure out what you might have done wrong.  Or was it something embarrassing, like you were lip syncing to your iTunes at your desk?  If you had done something wrong and someone said to you, “I saw you”, you would wonder who else saw.  How much did they see?  What does this mean for you?  How bad is it?  If only one person saw, can you keep others from knowing about it, too?   Such fears are understandable, but they also reveal our sinful condition.  If we are caught, we are more upset that we will look bad than we are about the bad that we actually did.  Rather than regret the sin, we regret being seen.  You may be able to hide your sins from others, but not before God.  He sees.  He always does.  And he holds you accountable—not because your sins look bad, but because you are.

     When Jesus saw Nathanael under the fig tree, we are not told what Nathanael was doing.  We are told how Jesus characterized him.  “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” (John 1:47)  In other words, Nathanael was not a phony.  He was not about putting up good appearances.  He did not lie to himself about being better than he was.  In addition, he was a true Israelite—one who was awaiting a Savior who would give him the righteousness he needed to stand before God without shame or fear and who would purify him of every stain of sin.  Nathanael’s skepticism changed to excitement when Jesus spoke to him.  No longer did Nathanael think that Jesus was just some random guy from backwoods Nazareth.  Instead, he confessed, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God!  You are the King of Israel!” (John 1:49) 

     While it is awesome that God sees and knows all things, it does not provide any comfort.  If you have dirty little secrets, you at least take comfort that they are secrets.  Not with God.  And so Jesus told Nathanael that there was something greater than him seeing Nathanael under the fig tree before Philip called him.  There was something more comforting, something more important for Nathanael to see.  It is this: Jesus connects heaven and earth.

     Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe?  You will see greater things than these.”  And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” (John 1:50-51)  Here again is the ladder to heaven.  And again, Jesus did not tell Nathanael that it was up to him to climb it.  No one on earth can work his way up to heaven.  No one can have God look into his life and his heart so that God would say, “Heaven is open to you.  Come on up; you’ve earned it!”  The greater thing is that God comes to us and that he delivers heaven’s gifts to us.  Jesus connects heaven and earth.

     This is why the Lord became a human being.  St. Paul reminds us, “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:5)  Jesus is the mediator because he is both God and man.  He is of heaven and of earth.  He is God who stands before us and speaks to us, and he is the man who stands before God and speaks to him on our behalf.  Jesus connects heaven and earth.

     Jesus came from heaven to earth is to reconcile the world back to God.  As we had considered, God sees what we are like.  God knows our sinful hearts.  And God knows that we cannot change our sinful nature or fix our broken condition.  The earth is marked for destruction because it, too, is corrupt and in a state of decay.  No climate change policy will ever fix that.  But Jesus comes to rescue us from our dying world and from our depraved condition.

     Heaven and earth meet in Jesus.  First, he endures everything that puts heaven and earth at odds with each other.  The wickedness of the world cannot be ignored; God sees it.  Therefore, Jesus took all wickedness, sin, and guilt into himself.  God the Father saw it, and he held Jesus accountable for it.  Jesus was made the target of God’s vengeance when he was nailed to the cross.  The Father’s rejection of his Son was publicly demonstrated for all to see—not only by Jesus’ crucifixion being a public display, but also by Jesus himself bearing witness under the sunless sky when he cried out, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)   

     In this way, Jesus rescued you from divine wrath and rejection.  And in your baptism, the holy, innocent blood which was shed for you was applied to you.  By baptism you are connected to Jesus.  Now God sees you dressed in the righteousness of Jesus.  He knows that you believe in his word; for he has put that faith there.  And because you are a child of God, God commissions his angels to watch over you, to fight for you, and to protect you from the harm the devil wants to inflict upon you.  Jesus connects heaven and earth, and the angels ascend and descend by his command for your good.

     To this day, it is not our job to climb up to heaven and work our way closer to God.  It is God who continues to come down to us on earth.  But he does come, and when he does, we get to join in with angels and archangels and the likes of the patriarch Jacob, the apostles Philip and Nathanael, and all the company of heaven—all true Israelites—in praise of the God who saves us.  Behold!  The Lamb of God comes in the Lord’s Supper, and Jesus connects heaven to earth.  He delivers to us the body and blood which have taken away the sin of the world.  As we partake in these, Jesus delivers the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.  And as we are connected to him, Jesus intercedes for us and guarantees our place in the kingdom of God.  The Father sees, and he knows, and he accounts us as righteous for Jesus’ sake.

     Jesus connects heaven and earth.  When the day comes that we depart from this earth, the angels will descend to bring our souls to heaven.  And when the Last Day comes, Jesus will descend with his angels to raise us up from the dead to live with him forever.  He will give us a new, restored creation in which true Israelites will dwell forever in peace.  The man Jesus has assured us that mankind will dwell with God.  And our God Jesus gives us the words and sacraments to bind us to himself forever.

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

Update from Good Shepherd (January 14, 2021)

Greetings!

REGULAR SCHEDULE

Divine Services are at 10:00 AM on Sundays, in person and on Facebook Live.  Share our services and invite friends to tune in.

Sunday School is on Sundays at 8:45 AM.

Adult Bible Class is on Sundays at 8:45 AM.  We are continuing our series on Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  The schedule can be found at this link.

Bible Matters is a discussion group is on Wednesdays at 7:00 PM.  The topic for January 20 is "Does God speak through dreams?"  The full schedule for our winter sessions can be found here.

OFFICE HOURS

          Office hours are Monday-Thursday, 9:00 AM – Noon.  

          The pastor will be in his office unless a meeting has been scheduled elsewhere (consult the weekly schedule).  The pastor is also available by appointment.  Call or text (248-719-5218).  You may also email (welsnovi@aol.com), but the response may be slower.

CONCERNING PASTORAL CARE

        Pastor Schroeder is available for private devotions, Holy Absolution, and Holy Communion to members in small groups or to individuals.  You may call to set up an appointment at any time.  Visits by appointment can be done either at church or at your home.

        If you want to ask for intercessions for loved ones, we will certainly remember them in our prayers, too.  If your loved one has no pastor, ask if they would like Pastor Schroeder to visit them.  

GOOD SHEPHERD ON YOUTUBE

         Feel free to share the videos.  For other services, do a search for "Good Shepherd Novi."  The service from January 10 is here: Good Shepherd Novi, Divine Service - January 10th, 2021 - YouTube.  

         Bulletins for services can be downloaded from here (scroll down): 

http://goodshepherdnovi.org/worship

OFFERINGS

While we may not be meeting for worship, we do have financial obligations to meet.  You may either mail your offering into Good Shepherd, or you can set up your offering to be transferred electronically from your bank.  If you are interested in the automatic transfer of funds for your offering, please contact the church at (248) 349-0565 or welsnovi@aol.com.

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!

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 is 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.

In Christ,

Pastor Schroeder

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

REGULAR SCHEDULE

DIVINE SERVICES -- Sundays at 10:00 AM  (We also stream on Facebook Live )

SUNDAY SCHOOL & ADULT BIBLE CLASS on Sundays at 8:45 AM.

BIBLE MATTERS on Wednesdays at 7:00 PM

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE

www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

PASTOR SCHROEDER’S BLOG

www.LutheranSubject.blogspot.com  

YouTube -- 1st Sunday after Epiphany (January 10, 2021)

 Here is the service from Sunday, January 10, 2021.

Sermon -- 1st Sunday after Epiphany (January 10, 2021)

MARK 1:9-11

SEE WHAT GOD MANIFESTS BY BAPTISM.

 In the name + of Jesus.

      On the night of Jesus’ birth, the angel said to the shepherds, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11)  What was spoken so succinctly on Christmas eve is driven home throughout the season of Epiphany.  The word epiphany has to do with a revelation, an appearing, or something that is made manifest.  Throughout the Epiphany season, we hear lessons which reveal that this Jesus of Nazareth is, indeed, the Christ, the Son of God, and the promised Savior.  In fact, today, God the Father makes it as clear as he can.  From the heavens, God the Father declares, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:11)  See what God makes manifest by baptism.

     St. Mark’s Gospel begins with Jesus’ public ministry.  Although Jesus had lived for 30 years prior to this, St. Mark wants to get to all that Jesus said and did as the Christ.  If Jesus is the Christ, then he is the Anointed one.  At Jesus’ baptism, he was marked for God’s special purpose.  To be sure, Jesus had always been marked for this purpose, but now it was publicly manifested.  This is the one.  This is the Christ.  See what God manifests by Jesus’ baptism. 

     “When he came up out of the water, immediately … the Spirit [was] descending on him like a dove.” (Mark 1:10)  Anointed by the Spirit, Jesus began to make use of the divine power he had always possessed.  From this point on, we hear of miraculous healings and signs.  Each of these declares: “This is the one.  This is the Christ.  Behold, the Son of God who has come for sinners.”  See what God manifests by Jesus’ baptism.

     “When he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open.” (Mark 1:10)  This is a staggering observation.  John the Baptist had performed countless baptisms by this time, but never had anyone seen anything like this.  When the heavens are torn open, this tells us that there is something different about Jesus.  And then the Holy Spirit descends upon him.  And then God the Father testifies about him and speaks directly to him: “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:11)  “This is the one.  This is the Christ.  Behold, the Son of God who has come for sinners.”  See what God manifests by Jesus’ baptism.

     It is no small matter to have God’s pleasure upon you.  If God is pleased with you, that means you are good in his sight.  It means that you are free from fear of judgment.  It means that you are welcome in God’s presence and will partake in eternal peace and joy.  Outside of God’s pleasure is death.  It is punishment for sins, and rejection for now and for all eternity.  Some might view freedom from God as a relief, but it is not.  It is shame, bitterness, and endless suffering and regret.  Jesus heard from the Father: “With you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:11)  We all need to hear it and to know it.  It is not enough to guess or assume or hope God is pleased with you.  That is no comfort at all.

     Just ask the jailer in Philippi.  He was a family man with a wife and children.  Perhaps he was even well off enough to have household servants and their families under his charge.  As a resident of Philippi, he was almost certainly a Roman soldier.  Roman soldiers who served faithfully were often offered a retirement plan in Philippi.  For a Roman soldier, it would have been a pretty nice life.  However, when an earthquake jarred open the cells, he assumed his prisoners had escaped.  The penalty for the jailer would be his life.  In an effort to die with some degree of honor, he was about to run himself through with his own sword.  The Apostle Paul cried out to prevent this and to assure the jailer that all the prisoners were still present.  There was no reason for his death.  However, coming that close to death—to standing before God and to have to give an answer for his life—the jailer was petrified.  Would God delight in him?  Should he?  This is a moment when “I hope so” is a useless comfort and when one’s best works are reduced to a charade.  The jailer knew he was a sinner.  The jailer recognized that he was without God’s favor, but Paul and Silas knew something he did not.  So “trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas … and said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’” (Acts 16:29-30)   

     Now I suppose we could attribute the jailer’s fears to crimes he had committed against humanity.  Perhaps the years of brutal and bloody service as a Roman soldier came back to haunt him.  Perhaps.  But perhaps he was bothered that he was not as good to his wife as he should have been.  Maybe he had regrets that he had found more interest in wine than in his children.  Maybe he had a sharp tongue and belittled people with it.  Maybe he had developed a hatred for people who had different political opinions.  Maybe he finally recognized that being okay with his own sins was not going to be okay when he had to answer to God for them.  He knew he was doomed.  He yearned to be saved, and he did not know how that could happen.  This is what caused his trembling and fear.  It was not enough to assume, guess, or hope that God was pleased with him.  He needed to know.  What must I do to know God wants me, that God accepts me, that God loves me?

     See what God manifests in baptism!  For this is what Paul and Silas brought to the jailer and his family.  They told him about Jesus with whom God was pleased because of his holy life.  They told him about Jesus with whom God is pleased because he rescued us from God’s fair judgment and fierce anger over our sins.  Jesus had accepted a sentence of condemnation even though he was not guilty.  Jesus submitted to God’s fierce anger on behalf of sinners, no matter who that sinner is or what that sinner has done.  God proved he was pleased with Jesus by raising him from the dead and by giving him the highest authority and glory in heaven and on earth.  This Jesus, whom Paul and Silas revealed, has secured for us God’s favor and pleasure.  He has taken away your sins.  Therefore, God has no reason to be angry with you, much less to condemn you. 

     But more than just tell the jailer and his household about Jesus, Paul and Silas applied all of Jesus’ gifts to them.  It was not that the jailer and his household had to do something to be saved.  Jesus has done the work of salvation.  The benefits have already been won; they just needed to be given.  God’s salvation, God’s mercy, God’s favor, and God’s pleasure are given and sealed to all who are baptized.  This is why the jailer needed to be baptized.  This is why you needed to be baptized.  See what God manifests by baptism!

     When we come back to St. Mark’s gospel, we might wonder: “Why did Jesus need to be baptized?  Was the Father not already pleased with him?  If baptism delivers the forgiveness of sins and Jesus had no sin, what was the point?”  By his baptism, Jesus has united himself to you and to all mankind.  And at his baptism, he was anointed to publicly begin the work to save you.  This pleased God the Father who sent Jesus for this very purpose.  For God does not delight in banishing people to hell, but would rather they be saved.  So, to save all mankind, the Father sent his Son.  At Jesus’ baptism, the Father manifested him to us: “This is the one.  This is the Christ.  Listen to what he has to say.  Pay attention to what he does.  Because all he says and does is for your eternal good.  Behold, God the Father has manifested his Son who has come for sinners.” 

     See what God manifests by baptism.  What God has manifested at Jesus’ baptism is amazing.  Your baptism did not appear to be glorious at all.  You may have been dressed in a white gown.  Some of your relatives were probably there.  Pictures were taken, and a certificate was handed to your parents.  But there was no voice from heaven.  No dove descended.  The heavens were not torn apart.  While it may have been memorable to your parents, chances are it is not remembered by you.  Since it was not spectacular, you may wonder if it was even significant. 

     Just as Jesus united himself to you in his baptism, so also he has united you to himself through your baptism.  Jesus has taken from you all that is yours and he has given to you all that is his.  By his baptism, Jesus accepted your sin; at your baptism, Jesus put upon you a robe of righteousness.  While it may not be manifest to the world, God has made it manifest by his promises.  Therefore, everything the Father manifested at Jesus’ baptism also applies to you. 

     See what God manifests by baptism.  “Jesus … was baptized by John in the Jordan.  And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open…” (Mark 1:9-10)  And what is it that opens up heaven to the jailer in Philippi, to his family, and to you?  It is that God finds pleasure in you and sees no fault in you.  Since sins are washed away in baptism, baptism opens up heaven to you so that you can dwell with God without fear.

     See what God manifests by baptism.  “Jesus … was baptized by John...  And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw … the Spirit descending on him like a dove.” (Mark 1:9-10)  In baptism, the Holy Spirit has come to you, as St. Paul wrote to Titus: “he saved us … by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior.” (Titus 3:5-6)  The Holy Spirit plus water results in a new creation.  It did in Genesis 1, and it does in your baptism.  You are renewed and redeemed and reconciled to God the Father who is surely pleased with you.

     See what God manifests by baptism.  “Jesus … was baptized...  And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:9,11)  Jesus is THE Son of God.  We are not.  Yet, the Bible declares: “In Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.  For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” (Galatians 3:26-27)  If you are sons of God, then you are all heirs of his heavenly kingdom.  And what is manifested now by promises will finally be manifested publicly at the resurrection of all flesh on the Last Day.

     See what God manifests by baptism.  Jesus was manifested as the Christ, the Son of God, and the Savior of mankind.  And by your baptism, God has manifested that you are God’s family, God’s redeemed, and God’s beloved.  God has done all of this so that you can know you are wanted, accepted, and saved. 

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