Christmas 2025

Christmas Schedule at Good Shepherd

 

Christmas Eve

Candlelight Service

Tuesday, December 24, 

7:00 PM

Christmas Day

Festival Service

Wednesday, December 25,

10:00 AM

Today's Earworm -- Longfellow Serenade by Neil Diamond

The source of today's earworm is easy to figure out.  I heard it on Sirius XM not too many days ago.

It has stuck in my mind for a few reasons.  One reason is that I had not heard this song in a long time, probably decades.  But I think another reason it has stuck is because it is a hit song by Neil Diamond that has not been overplayed on the radio.  

There are a few artists who have produced many hit songs but only have one or two that receive constant airplay.  In the case of Neil Diamond, I think a few people could ask in surprise, "Did you know that Neil Diamond sang other songs beside Sweet Caroline?"

In any case, here is Longfellow Serenade by Neil Diamond.  Enjoy.

Sermon -- 2nd Sunday of Advent (December 8, 2024)

LUKE 3:1-6

THE LORD SENDS REAL HOPE FOR REAL SINNERS.

In the name + of Jesus.

     There are many religions throughout the world.  They generally have two things in common.  The first is this: They all acknowledge that there is a God.  They don’t agree on who God is, what he is like, or what he wants.  But all the religions acknowledge that there is a God.  The second thing all religions agree on is that we should be good.  Exactly how one defines “good” may vary from religion to religion.  But this emphasis on being good is a reflection upon who God is.  God himself is good, and he expects us to be as well.  Because of these two points, many conclude that all religions are the same.

     One of the places Christianity differs from other religions is that the Bible is firmly placed within the events of human history.  Works of fiction are often placed in fabricated worlds.  Superman comes from the planet Krypton.  Star Trek has encounters with Vulcans, Klingons, and Romulans.  Even if the settings are real places, the people and events are made up.  They come with a disclaimer: Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.  

     The Bible is not fiction.  It records the names of real people, many of whom are well known.  It is set in real places, most of which can be found on a map or visited in person.  It records real events, many of which can be corroborated in secular histories.  And it often establishes a date for the people and events it records.  Other religions are more philosophies rather than histories.  The Bible is a record of history, but it is more.  It is the record of God working in history to bring salvation to a world of problems.  The Lord sends real hope for real sinners.

     Today’s Gospel might seem like a boring introduction to the ministry of John the Baptist.  But it is actually the precise work of a historian.  St. Luke pinpoints the life and ministry of John the Baptist to a specific time and place—during the reign of a world leader, of regional governors, and of local dignitaries. 

     “In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene—during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the wilderness” (Luke 3:1-2).  A tetrarch was one of four rulers who governed his assigned territory.  If you count it up, Luke only mentions three.  Secular history informs us that Herod Archelaus, the son of Herod the Great, had been tetrarch of Judea.  But he proved to be a poor leader, so the Romans came in and took over.  That’s what puts the Roman governor Pontius Pilate over Judea.  Luke did not record that for us, but his original audience would have known the story.  Luke did not waste paragraphs of Scripture explaining what everyone knew.  Luke is remarkably detailed and accurate about these things.  So, why should you care?  Because he is remarkably detailed and accurate about matters of your salvation.  John the Baptist is not a fictional character.  He is a real man who lived in a real world.  And he urged sinners to deal with the reality of their sins.  The Lord sends real hope for real sinners.

     While Luke plants John the Baptist in history, he is more interested in the message of John than in the politics of the day.  “The word of God came to John … in the wilderness.  He went into the whole region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Luke 3:2-3).  The Lord sent John to prepare the way for the Savior.  In order for people to be eager to receive the Savior, they must recognize their need for that Savior.

     John declared, “Prepare the way of the Lord” (Luke 3:3)!  The Lord was coming.  The only question is whether he would come in wrath or in mercy, to destroy or to save.  If the Lord were coming to judge and to destroy, they would want to set up barricades and strengthen their defenses.  But Isaiah foretold that when the Lord came, “Everyone will see the salvation of God” (Luke 3:6).  Therefore, John preached: “Prepare the way of the Lord!  Make his paths straight.  Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be made low.  The crooked will become straight, and the rough ways smooth” (Luke 3:4-5).  If the Lord was going to save his people, the people would not want anything to suggest he was not welcome.  To welcome the Savior, they should be sure that nothing would hinder his coming. 

     But the Lord is not usually welcomed by sinners.  Sinners are convinced that God’s Law is bad because it makes us feel bad.  It restricts beliefs and behaviors.  It threatens punishment on all who transgress it.  We might even think that the Law brings death.  But the Law of God is good.  Yes, it threatens punishment on wickedness, but that’s because disobedience to God’s Law is a rejection of God who is good, and it is destructive to your neighbor and to yourself.  Yes, God’s Law is restrictive, but that is to maintain good order.  It is like traffic laws.  Complete freedom would mean you could drive your car wherever you want and however you want.  But laws restrict driving to roads and direct you to obey stop signs and speed limits.  This is for the good of drivers and pedestrians.  And yes, God’s Law limits your beliefs and judges your behavior.  The government does not care if you hate your neighbor as long as you don’t beat him.  God cares if you harbor hatred in your heart for anyone who is created in God’s image.  And God cares if you give the honor due him to anything else.

     The Lord takes an honest look at your heart, and he sees the sin that dwells there.  The Lord declares, “The heart is more deceitful than anything.  It is beyond cure.  Who can understand it?  I, the Lord, am the one who searches the heart and examines the mind, to reward a man according to what he has done, according to what his deeds deserve” (Jeremiah 17:9-10).  If you take an honest look at your heart and compare it to God’s Law, you will see that it is not a good heart.  It harbors bitterness, jealousy, lust, and greed.  It resents God because he holds you accountable.  Repent.

     God’s Law reflects God’s goodness.  Our failure to keep the Law reveals our sinfulness.  To insist that we are good enough and nice enough for heaven is to believe fiction.  God’s Law shows our reality—we are guilty before the Lord.  We have earned God’s wrath.  God’s Law can make us feel bad.  It might even make us commit to doing better.  But God’s Law does not change what we are.  And feeling bad about our sins does not take them away.  The Lord, therefore, sends real hope for real sinners. 

     Giving careful attention to God’s commandments allows us to make an honest assessment about ourselves, and there is a blessed relief to that.  Rather than come up with reasons why our sins are not that bad, we can be honest and confess reality: “I am a poor, miserable sinner.  Lord, have mercy upon me.”  The Lord sends real hope for real sinners. 

     John came “preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Luke 3:3).  God works repentance in us when his Law crushes our hearts.  But “a broken and crushed heart, O God, you will not despise.” (Psalm 51:17).  Those with broken hearts seek relief from guilt.  They will rejoice in John the Baptist’s message.  John prepares the way.  Jesus comes for sinners.  And “everyone will see the salvation of God” (Luke 3:6).  The Lord sends real hope for real sinners.

     The Lord does not ignore your sins.  He pays for them.  Jesus Christ does not suspend the punishment for your sins.  He suffered the punishment for you.  Jesus’ torturous and cursed death was no fiction.  Real Roman nails pierced his true flesh to a real wooden cross.  He bore a real curse on behalf of real sinners.  Therefore, the wrath of God and penalty for sins have been dealt with in the death of Jesus Christ.  You receive a full pardon for every offense.  So, you can freely confess that you are a real sinner.  For, you have been given a real hope—forgiveness of sins, new life in God’s kingdom and under God’s tender care, and eternal salvation.  Your guilt has really been removed.  Your death has really been overcome.  Your Savior is really risen and lives.

     When John proclaimed baptism, he was pointing you away from yourself.  John could have declared, “You need to do better.  Prepare the way.  Stop your sinning.  Strive for more decent behavior.  Be kinder to people.”  He wouldn’t have been wrong.  Everyone can admit that they should be better.  And, in fact, all religions teach this.  But where is your hope?  Where is your peace if you try harder and still aren’t any better?  Where is your comfort when God’s Law still shows you are failing to do the good God demands?  John points you away from yourself.  He proclaims a baptism for the forgiveness of sins. 

     The Lord sends real hope for real sinners.  And there is real hope for you in your baptism.  Your hope is not found in what you are doing for God.  It is found in what God has done for you and gives to you.  Jesus Christ has won your salvation, and he gives you the benefits of this salvation in Holy Baptism.  There, he washes away your sins and purifies you from all unrighteousness.  There he cloaks you in his own innocence.  There he creates in you a clean heart and renews in you a right spirit. 

     This right spirit is strengthened by God’s word.  The Holy Spirit causes you to love God’s Law, having convinced you that it is good, right, and beneficial to others.  The Lord continues to sustain you in the true faith and guides you to live according to it.  He continues to foster in you a penitential spirit which puts away sin and strives for holiness.  The Holy Spirit also directs you to rely on Jesus alone for hope and salvation.  He is the only real hope sinners have.

     The Lord sent John the Baptist to preach in a real world of real problems among real sinners.  The Lord did not pretend that things weren’t that bad.  He knows they are.  So, he acted to bring a real rescue from sin and all the problems that come with it.  Jesus Christ has supplied that.  No one else has, will, or can.  Other religions may tell you to be good.  Jesus Christ provides his holiness to you.  He bestows God’s favor upon you.  He opens heaven to you.  There is real hope for real sinners—a real Savior who brings a real salvation, real comfort, and real peace.

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

Update from Good Shepherd (December 5, 2024)

Greetings!

REGULAR SCHEDULE 

Divine Service is Sunday at 10:00 AM.
Sunday School is on Sundays at 9:00 AM.
Adult Bible Class is on Sundays at 9:00 AM.

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

INTRODUCTION VIDEO FOR GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH

          Here is a video to introduce people to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Novi. Share it as much as you can.

MID-WEEK ADVENT VESPERS
           To prepare our hearts for Christmas, we offer additional services in the Advent season.  Our Advent Vespers (a prayer service) will be conducted on the Wednesdays in December leading up to Christmas.  We will serve a supper at 6:00 PM.  Vespers will be at 7:00 PM.  The schedule for topics and preachers can be found here.

CHURCH DECORATION

          After church this Sunday (December 8), we will be putting up decorations around the church for Christmas and decoration the tree.  We will be offering a lunch for anyone who would like to stick around for that.  Please RSVP to welsnovi@aol.com regarding the lunch so we know how much food to provide.  Early predictions suggest sandwiches from Jimmy Johns.  

          And, if you are so inclined, a group of people will be retrieving the tree and figures for our outdoor Nativity scene from the attic on Saturday, December 7 at 10:00 AM.  Besides getting the tree down, it will also be erected so that it will be ready for decorating on Sunday.

COOKIE EXCHANGE

          On Sunday, December 15, the Ladies of Good Shepherd will sponsor a cookie exchange and offer other baked goods for your consumption.  If you want to contribute, bring a few dozen cookies or other baked goods.  Members may gather them up and give a free will donation to the Ladies of Good Shepherd in appreciation for their labors of love and holiday goodies.

OPEN FORUM/VOTERS' MEETING HIGHLIGHTS (November)

>    We are looking into updating the kitchen at the church.  Several ideas have been proposed for what will best suit our purposes.  If you have any ideas to enhancements to our kitchen, please speak to Bob Wozniak.  All suggestions will be received, but we may not be able to achieve all of them.

>    A proposal was made to renovate the kitchen in the parsonage.  This is a much larger project and would not happen until late in 2025.

>    We will be getting postcards printed to give out as invitations to our Christmas services.  In order to make these postcards worth the cost and effort, it will be up to our members to distribute them as invitations to friends and family.  You may also want to invite friends and family to a new Bible Information Class which will begin in January 2025.  Start date still TBD.

>    We passed a budget for the 2025 year.  If you would like to receive a copy of the budget, please contact Dan LeFevre.

>    Elected to Church Council offices are the following – Ken Reisig, president; Tom Brisbey and Ron Rose, elders; David Kirvan, treasurer; Matt Crenshaw, evangelism committee chairman; Philip Schroeder, stewardship committee chairman.  Each of these men will serve a two-year term, beginning on January 1, 2025. 

BAD WEATHER POLICY FOR SERVICES AT GOOD SHEPHERD
          We will always have services as scheduled at Good Shepherd. Since I live across the parking lot, I can get to the church no matter how bad the weather gets. Even if the service is just me and my family, we will be here. For everyone else, please use your God-given common sense to determine whether or not you will get on the road to attend any service when the weather is bad. We don't want anyone to risk his or her life to be here. But if you do venture out, the scheduled service will take place. It may be only a handful with a cappella singing and/or spoken liturgy, but we will be here.
           Bible Classes and meetings may be canceled due to weather. Check your email regarding announcements to see if any of those scheduled events are canceled. If there is no email about it, it is not canceled. But again, use common sense to determine if you can make it, and call the pastor to let him know if you will not be coming.

EVERYONE OUTREACH – FOLLOW-UP
             Our one-day seminar, Everyone Outreach, was completed on Saturday, September 21. But to establish an outreach culture, we will need to keep our goals present and encourage one another to pursue them.  There will be follow-up meetings (TBA) where we can encourage efforts and discuss what has been accomplished so far.  The Church Council will be taking the lead as we will dedicate a good portion of our next meeting to how we will implement our plans. 

A NEW WEBSITE – MADEKNOWN.NET
          The made. known. website was introduced at the WELS Youth Rally earlier this summer. madeknown.net is dedicated to “walking with you in faith through identity, gender, and sexuality.” It does this through a growing library of written resources and connection to personal support.
          We pray madeknown.net can be a resource to you as you embrace Christ’s enduring message of grace and forgiveness for yourself and your loved ones.

GOOD SHEPHERD ON YOUTUBE

          Services are uploaded to YouTube each week. Feel free to share the videos. Here is the service from December 1, 2024: Good Shepherd Novi, Divine Service, December 1, 2024

REGULAR OFFICE HOURS

            The pastor will try to hold formal office hours Monday-Thursday, 9:00 AM – Noon. It should be noted that some meetings are scheduled for those times. It is best to call or text to confirm any meetings with the pastor (248-719-5218).

 

DO YOU LIKE US?

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

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

In Christ,
Pastor Schroeder

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REGULAR SCHEDULE
DIVINE SERVICES are on Sundays at 10:00 AM.
Sunday School -- Sundays at 9:00 AM.
Adult Bible Class -- Sundays at 9:00 AM.

Advent Vespers -- Wednesdays at 7:00 PM.  (A supper will be served at 6:00 PM.)
Bible Matters will resume in January 2025.

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE
www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

PASTOR SCHROEDER’S BLOG
www.LutheranSubject.blogspot.com 

YouTube -- 1st Sunday of Advent (December 1, 2024)

Here is the Divine Service from Sunday, December 1, 2024.

Something from ... Gottesdienst regarding pastoral care

It is always nice when someone writes my articles for me.  Rev. Rick Stuckwisch (LC-MS pastor) wrote an article back in 2018, recently reposted on the Gottesdienst blog.  Gottesdienst is a blog overseen by a group of confessional pastors in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.  

Pastor Stuckwisch makes an appeal from a pastoral heart about the people he serves and his desire to see them more often.  In addition to more regular church attendance from all his members, he also is eager to provide pastoral care throughout many other moments in his members' lives.  I concur with his thoughts.  You can read Pastor Stuckwisch's article here.

Sermon -- 1st Sunday of Advent (December 1, 2024)

LUKE 19:28-40

BLESSED IS THE KING WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD.

In the name + of Jesus.

      The Gospel for the first Sunday of the Church Year has historically been the account of Jesus riding into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.  He entered Jerusalem as a king, and that is how the crowds received him.  “The whole crowd of disciples began to praise God joyfully, with a loud voice, for all the miracles they had seen, saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!  Peace in heaven and glory in the highest’” (Luke 1:37-38)!  The Psalm of the Day encouraged people to receive this king willingly and gladly.  “Lift up your heads, you gates.  Lift yourselves up, you ancient doors, and the King of Glory will come in.  Who is this King of Glory?  The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle” (Psalm 24:7-8).   

     In times of war, a city would close its gates.  They would deny entrance to an approaching army while the citizens would stay inside for refuge.  The plan was to outlast the enemy, hoping that they would run out of supplies and then withdraw.  When Alexander the Great marched on cities, some kings knew that their cities could not overcome or outlast his army.  So, they opened their city gates to let him in.  They surrendered and willingly subjected themselves, hoping that Alexander the Great would treat them favorably.

     The Psalmist urged the citizens of Jerusalem to open the gates, to lift up those ancient doors, so that the King of Glory would come in.  This King is Jesus.  He came not to subject the people to cruelty and slavery, but to liberate them from their enemy.  He came to establish a kingdom of peace.  The people of Jerusalem were urged to welcome this king and receive him because he is good and because he saves.  And this, they did.  They sang his praises and thanked God for his coming.  Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord.

     This is where the Psalm and Jesus’ appearance seem to be at odds with one another.  When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the crowds cheered him enthusiastically.  They escorted him right into Jerusalem.  But Pontius Pilate did not call upon any forces to confront him.  That’s because Jesus came into Jerusalem riding on a donkey.  He came in humility, without any military force or weaponry.  That’s not how the Psalm describes him: “Who is this King of Glory?  The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.  …Who is he, this King of Glory?  The Lord of Armies—he is the King of Glory” (Psalm 24:8,10).  The Psalm says that this king has come to do battle, and that he is the Lord of Armies. 

     So, what kind of battle is this king engaging in?  Who is his enemy?  What does he hope to gain?  And how does he hope to conquer when all he has is a donkey, and a borrowed donkey at that?

     The Passover crowd was partly right in what they hoped for from Jesus.  St. Luke said, “The whole crowd of disciples began to praise God joyfully, with a loud voice, for all the miracles they had seen” (Luke 19:37).  Part of the havoc that sin wreaks on this world are the illnesses, disabilities, and diseases that we face.  St. Luke was a physician.  He had tended to people with various ailments over his lifetime.  He did not dismiss every problem as demon-possession.  The good doctor was acquainted with the various ailments that Jesus encountered, and he identified them accordingly.  Luke recorded Jesus healing a fever (Luke 4:38-39), leprosy (Luke 5:13), paralysis (Luke 5:24-25), a withered hand (Luke 6:10), and even restoring the dead back to life (Luke 7:14-15 and Luke 8:54-55).  The crowds had seen these miraculous healings and rejoiced that the Lord had sent such great relief from suffering.  That in itself was all the reason they needed to praise him.  Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!

     But the Psalm does not praise Jesus for healing.  It identifies Jesus as a warrior who goes out to battle.  He did not ride forth on his donkey to bind wounds, but to inflict them.  He came to trample the enemy under his feet and to put the enemy to death.  “Who is this King of Glory?  The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle” (Psalm 24:8). 

     The King came to destroy the enemy who had taken his creation captive.  Satan claimed the whole world for himself when he seduced Adam and Eve into sin.  Once they had eaten the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve were controlled by sin.  Sin influenced all their motives and emotions, words and works.  And nothing has changed.  Psalm 24 asks, “Who may stand in [the Lord’s] holy place?  He who has clean hands and a pure heart, whose soul is not set on what is false, who does not swear deceitfully.” (Psalm 24:3-4).  We all have dirt on our hands.  Our hearts are unclean and uncharitable.  How much of what you do is determined by your own self interests?  If you are generous and hope to get recognition for it, is that not done for yourself?  If you are polite in order to receive special treatment in return, is that not done for yourself?  If you do good works expecting God to notice and to reward you for it, aren’t those good works done for your good?  Even our good works are not good.  Sin also produces evil thoughts, insulting words, and petty, vengeful acts in us.  The devil may plant the ideas in your head, but you are the one who willingly does them—just as Adam and Eve willingly rebelled against God.  In this way, you were held captive by the devil.  And just like the snake that he is, he wraps you up in his coils to drag you down to death.

     But see!  Your king comes to you.  The Passover crowds greeted him rightly: “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!  Peace in heaven and glory in the highest’” (Luke 1:38)!  The king has come to wage the war we could not win.  He has come to conquer our foe and to set us free from this terrible captivity to sin, death, and the devil.  He has come to restore peace between God and mankind by taking away everything offensive in you.  If he takes away your sin, then the Father has no reason to be angry with you.  And you have no reason to fear or flee from the Father.  There is peace in heaven and peace on earth.  It has been secured by Jesus who has come to restore you to life, to pardon you of all guilt, and to grant you peace.  Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord.

     Of course, you know how the Lord Jesus has delivered you from your enemy.  He entered Jerusalem without weaponry or military support.  He came to conquer by being slain.  He set you free by giving himself in exchange for you.  He who had clean hands had them nailed to the cross for you.  He who had a pure heart had it pierced with a spear for you.  He who did not swear by what is false silently died for every sinful syllable you have uttered.  Jesus exchanged his innocence for your guilt.  Jesus exchanged the Father’s love for his divine wrath.  Jesus gave up his life and cast himself into death. 

     Satan thought he could possess the entire human race if he put the Son of God to death.  But in doing so, Satan produced his own defeat.  Jesus’ death paid for the sins of all mankind.  The Father’s wrath was emptied out upon Jesus.  But because he suffered and died in innocence, the perfectly obedient Son who did the will of his Father, death was not able to keep him.  Jesus burst forth out of the grave.  Jesus left the battlefield alive and victorious over sin, death, and the devil.  Satan is as powerless as a corpse on the field of battle.  The devil’s reign of terror has ended.  Jesus has established a kingdom of peace. 

     Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord.  Jesus came in the name of the Lord to win back all the people who were taken captive by Satan.  The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle has won you for himself.  You are now his prize, his cherished possession, the object of his affection.  Your Lord, Jesus Christ, lives and reigns for you.  Jesus has established a kingdom in which he gives new life to all who believe in him—a life of peace with God, a life of peace in a world of strife, and a peace that will go on into eternal life. 

     Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord.  He still comes to you as God’s word is preached and his sacraments are administered.  We come with our hearts flung wide open to gratefully receive our Savior-King and the blessings he brings to us.  We still sing the song of the Passover pilgrims when our Lord is about to give us his body and blood.  “Hosanna in the highest.  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”  Our King comes to us humbly veiled in bread and wine.  He comes to save us.  He makes us participants in his death and resurrection.  The sinful self is put to death, and the new creation is raised up to live before God in righteousness, innocence, and blessedness.  Jesus has revealed his salvation which allows us to go through life and even to depart from this life in peace.

     Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord.  He comes and gives us his words of truth so that we remain faithful to him.  Our King guides us so that we are no longer seduced by the devil’s cunning lies.  Our King corrects us so that we flee from the sins which would take us captive again.  Our King consoles us so that we are not overcome by the sorrows of this world.  Our King encourages us to continue in good works even when they are not acknowledged or appreciated.  Even though we appear humble and weak—just as Jesus appeared riding on a donkey—our King leads us triumphantly through life.  For our King reigns, and our glory will be revealed in the kingdom to come.  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. 

     The King of Glory came into this world as a humble servant who lived and died to win us for himself.  The King of Glory comes to us regularly when we gather in his name to receive his good gifts.  The King of Glory will come again to judge the living and the dead.  Then, his glory will be evident to all.  And when all people see him, they will have no choice but to bend the knee to King Jesus.  Not only will this be our choice, it will be our delight to bend the knee before King Jesus.  After all, it is our joy to do it now.  Our King will open the gates to his heavenly kingdom so that we may come in and dwell with him forever.  We will forever declare him blessed; and to our endless joy, he will call us blessed, too.

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