Sermon -- 1st Sunday after Epiphany (January 12, 2025)

LUKE 3:15-17,21-22

THE TRIUNE GOD POURS OUT HIS GRACE IN BAPTISM.

In the name + of Jesus.

     St. Luke’s record of Jesus’ baptism is the shortest in the Gospel, except for John who does not record it at all.  Even though St. Luke is brief, what he records is amazing.  Luke records three things that happened at Jesus’ baptism.  It happened, first, that “heaven was opened” (Luke 3:21); second, that “the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove” (Luke 3:22); and third, that “a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love.  I am well pleased with you’” (Luke 3:22).  Each event teaches us a lot about Jesus, and they give us great comfort in regard to our own baptisms.

     First, we hear that heaven was opened.  What this actually looked like I don’t know.  No Gospel writer gives any details about it.  Maybe it just meant that there was a break in the clouds.  But maybe it should be understood metaphorically.  The Son of God had left the glories of heaven to live in our world.  The first thirty years of his life were unspectacular.  Jesus grew up in Nazareth and lived obediently under his parents’ watch.  Presumably, he worked as a carpenter’s apprentice under his earthly father, Joseph.  He did not do any miracles or preach in the synagogues. 

     Jesus left the glories of heaven, but he was not banished from it.  When he was baptized, the heavens opened up.  That brought about the sending of the Holy Spirit and the voice of the Father.  The Triune God was made evident as each person of the Trinity was distinctly seen and heard on that day.  The Triune God poured out his grace at this baptism.

     St. Luke noted, “The Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove” (Luke 3:22).  This is where Jesus was revealed as the Lord’s anointed.  Anointing usually signaled the authority and the gifts granted to those who served God’s people—whether it was the high priest, like Aaron, the king, like David, or a prophet, like Elisha.  Those men were anointed with oil and were recognized as God’s appointed men with the authority for their particular office.  Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit to fulfill all three offices.  As prophet, he proclaimed the good news of salvation.  As king, he went out to fight for us the battle against sin, death, and the devil and to conquer our foes for us.  As high priest, he was to make the sacrifice which reconciles us to God the Father.  And, in fact, he IS the sacrifice which reconciles us to God the Father.  At his baptism, Jesus was publicly revealed as the Christ and was set apart to do the work as our Savior.

     If there were any doubt about who Jesus is, God the Father made it abundantly clear when “a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love.  I am well pleased with you’” (Luke 3:22).  Jesus is God the Son.  This relationship has existed between the Father and the Son from eternity.  Normally, the relationship between a father and a son has a start date.  I did not become a father until the birth of my first child.  The birthday for each of my children is on our calendar, and we celebrate it every year.  Every year, we mark how many years we have enjoyed these children. 

     The relationship between me and my children is 30 years or less.  But not so with God the Father and God the Son.  That relationship goes back to eternity where there is neither a clock nor a calendar.  Time does not exist in eternity.  We don’t ask about a when for that relationship, but a what.  God the Father and God the Son are eternally Father and Son—as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be world without end.  At Jesus’ baptism, the Father revealed who Jesus of Nazareth is.  “This one,” he declares, “This one is my beloved Son.”  Jesus is God the Son in the flesh.  The Father is well pleased with him because he has come to do the Father’s will, which is to save sinners. 

     Baptism is for the forgiveness of sins, so Jesus did not need it for his sake.  He did it for yours.  Jesus was baptized in order to unite himself to you.  The three things that happened at Jesus’ baptism happened to you in yours.  The Triune God pours out his grace in baptism.

     When you were baptized, heaven was opened to you.  The one thing that keeps people out of the kingdom of heaven is sin.  Nothing sinful can stand in the presence of a holy and pure God.  Therefore, Jesus came to take away all your sin and guilt.  That happened about 2,000 years ago on a hill just outside Jerusalem.  There, Jesus suffered to pay for all sins and died bearing the curse deserved by all sinners.  So, how does that payment for sin get applied to you now?  Through your baptism!  Baptism washes away all your sin and purifies you from all unrighteousness.  And since sin no longer clings to you, heaven is open to you.  The Triune God pours out his grace in baptism.

     Secondly, when you were baptized, you receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Now the Holy Spirit dwells in you.  He has created faith in you which receives the benefits of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.  He has convinced you that God’s word is true and good and right.  Therefore, he also works in you to live and think according to God’s word.  He puts your faith into action.

     However, you and I never stop being sinners.  We struggle with it day after day.  It is not because we are ignorant, as if we don’t know what is good and God-pleasing.  God has told us what pleases him.  Faith concurs with it and delights in God’s commands.  But the sinful nature in us does not.  So, we continue to sin.  You are probably guilty of breaking Poe’s Law.  Poe’s Law is that you interpret someone’s joke in an email or a text as if they were serious.  Imagine a boss who responds to a petty, office squabble by writing, “Maybe I need to fire the whole team.”  An ironic comment which was supposed to defuse a spat blows up into anger, back-biting, fighting, accusations, and so on.  You sin against the boss and others because you would rather assume the worst than seek clarification.

     Or, what if someone sins against you?  You know what Jesus says to do.  Turn the other cheek.  Have mercy.  Forgive freely from the heart.  And the Holy Spirit in you would have you agree.  But the sinful nature in you wants revenge.  You want to lash back and make him feel more pain than he inflicted.  So, which will it be?  We all struggle with our sinfulness in countless ways.  Sometimes we fight off the sinful inclinations.  Sometimes we give into them.  If we ever get to the point where we stop the fight and just let sin have its way with us, the Holy Spirit may depart from us because we have made it clear that we prefer sin to righteousness. 

    This is an on-going work of the Holy Spirit in you, and you need to continue in God’s word and to feast in the sacrament so that faith will continue to be fed, grow, and increase your good works.  John the Baptist told us what Jesus gives us in our baptism.  He said, “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Luke 3:16).  The fire is not God’s damning judgment.  Rather, it is God refining you to strengthen your faith and to purify your heart and mind.  When gold is purified, it is put through intense heat.  It is turned to liquid so that impurities float to the top.  Then they are skimmed off, because no one wants flawed gold.  Likewise, the Lord is not content to have us live with our flaws.  He puts us through trials.  We would call it suffering and pain but it is discipline.  God works through that to rid us of things we don’t need and should not have.  While trials by fire are not fun, they are good for us.  And they prove that all we truly need in this life is Jesus Christ and his gracious promises. 

     The Triune God pours out his grace in baptism.  And that brings us to the third thing God does in your baptism.  You did not hear the voice of the Father audibly speaking from heaven, “You are my (child), whom I love. I am well pleased with you” (Luke 3:22), but it is recorded in the Bible for you.  In your baptism, God adopted you into his family.  He put the family name upon you: Christian.  If you are in God’s family, then you receive all the benefits of the kingdom.  Your sins are pardoned.  The grave has been robbed of its power.  You have been delivered from the devil and all his accusations.  The Father is pleased with you because you have been clothed in Jesus’ innocence.  And if you are a child of God, then you are also an heir of his heavenly kingdom. 

     The Triune God pours out his grace in baptism.  And what a comfort it is that you have been baptized!  You have the promises of God sealed upon you.  It is more than hearing God’s word and taking it to heart.  That is good, too, but the devil is quick to divert our attention away from God’s promises and turn the focus to ourselves.  How many Christians live in terror because they fear that they do not have a strong enough faith?  That happens especially when you are confronted by death.  You know you can’t escape it.  But then your fear takes over.  You assess your life and your faith and you wonder if you are really good enough.  If you focus on yourself, you will throw everything into doubt and confusion. 

     But the Triune God has poured out his grace upon you in your baptism.  He has done all the work.  Jesus has taken up your sins, so they do not condemn you.  Jesus has overcome the grave, so it has to give you back.  Jesus has opened up heaven to you and sent his Holy Spirit upon you.  The Father has marked you as his own dear child.  All of this is yours not because you have believed strongly enough.  It is yours because God has put it upon you in your baptism.

     Think of it this way.  Why are you a member of your family?  Is it because you loved your parents enough?  Is it because you have contributed to the family estate?  No, it is because you were born into it.  You have your family’s name upon you because you were born into it.  You benefit from your parents providing and protecting because you are their child.  You did nothing to earn this special place.  It is the same in God’s family.  God has brought you into his family in your baptism.  This is the grace he has poured out upon you.

     Jesus Christ was baptized to unite himself to you, and you were united to Jesus in your baptism.  The Father is pleased with you.  The Spirit dwells in you.  Heaven is opened to you.

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

YouTube -- Epiphany, transferred (January 5, 2025)

Here is the Divine Service from Sunday, January 5, 2025.

Sermon -- Epiphany, transferred (January 5, 2025)

ACTS 13:46-49

JESUS IS REVEALED AS THE SAVIOR OF ALL NATIONS.

In the name + of Jesus.

     When St. Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome, he stated, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes—to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16).  That might sound like God has a preference about who is saved—that Jews are his primary concern and then he might get around to the Gentiles.  To come to this conclusion, however, you would have to ignore quite a few Old Testament prophecies. 

     God chose to work through the nation of Israel to bring the Savior into the world.  Therefore, God sent his prophets primarily to the Jewish people to guide them, guard them, and give them warnings so that they would not lose what God had promised.  Even though God worked through the people of Israel, neither God’s word nor God’s Savior was their exclusive property.  The Savior came through one nation, but he came for all nations.

     Still, St. Paul honored the pattern he had written about in his letter to the Romans.  When he traveled to a new town, his first stop was to his fellow Jews at the synagogue.  Paul’s teaching at the synagogues could be summarized by this verse from Acts: “As was his custom, Paul went to the Jews, and on three Sabbath days he led them in a discussion from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead.  He also said, ‘This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ’” (Acts 17:2-3).  Paul would refer to all the prophecies about the Christ—particularly that he had to suffer, die, and rise from the dead.  Then, Paul would reveal that Jesus of Nazareth had fulfilled every promise and prophecy God had made.  Jesus was revealed as the Savior.

     Our reading from Acts records Paul’s visit to the synagogue in a city called Pisidian Antioch.  It was in modern-day Turkey.  At first, the Jews there received Paul’s message well.  How thrilling to learn that God had finally sent the Messiah they had been waiting for!  They enthusiastically invited Paul back to preach and teach more about the Scriptures and about Jesus.  On the next Sabbath day, the whole town showed up.  Not just the Jews, but even the Gentiles came to hear the Gospel Paul was preaching.  And this is when the problems erupted. 

     “When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with envy and began to contradict what Paul was saying by slandering him” (Acts 13:45).  What would fill the Jews with envy?  They were convinced that they were the sole possessors of God’s affection and of God’s revelation.  They believed the Messiah was a Jew who was meant for Jews.  When all the Gentiles showed up in the synagogue, the Jews reacted as if to say, “What are you doing here?  What right do you have to any of this!?  These are our Scriptures.  These are our promises.  This is our church.”  The Gentiles were not welcome to the good news because they were the wrong kind of people.

     This is why the story of the Magi is so shocking, or at least, it should be.  It was not surprising that dignitaries from a foreign nation should come to Jerusalem to consult with King Herod the Great.  Great leaders often make efforts to meet with one another.  The surprise is that these foreigners came to the Christ-child and were welcomed there.  If he was born the King of the Jews, Mary and Joseph could have treated these guests with contempt and demanded, “What are you doing here?!  The angel had clearly told us about this child, ‘He will save his people from their sins’ (Matthew 1:21).  Did you get that?  ‘HIS people.’  You are not the right kind of people.”  But there is no one who is the “wrong” people.  Jesus is revealed as the Savior of all nations.

     Unfortunately, the envy and self-centered spirit die a hard death.  It is very easy for us to remain comfortable with the people we know and to be content with our little group.  When we gather for worship, we are quick to greet our friends and ask how our lives are going.  We gravitate to those most familiar to us, but to some it may look like our kindness is reserved for a select few.  If you are newer to our congregation, maybe it feels like you are not quite in the inner circle or that you don’t really belong.  If so, that is a pity.  Long-time members should embrace newer people and encourage them.  Newer people can help themselves immensely by coming to Bible classes and church outings so that we can forge these bonds better and stronger.

     But sometimes strangers come in.  Maybe they look different.  Maybe they have an accent or barely know any English.  Maybe they have come because their lives are a mess and their shameful reputation has been earned.  In theory, we know that they are welcome here.  In practice, our body language might suggest to them, “What are you doing here?!  You are not the right kind of people.”  Then we are like the Jews who had no interest in receiving Gentiles in their midst, suggesting that God’s affection and God’s salvation are reserved for a privileged few.  Repent.

     Jesus is revealed as the Savior of all nations.  All need him because there is no difference in any of us.  There is only one human race and we are all in it.  We all come from the same parents, Adam and Eve.  Even though we have different skin pigments and varying accents, we all bleed the same color and breed the same way.  We were all created in God’s image, but that image corrupted by sin in all of us.  St. Paul reminds us, “There is no difference, because all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:22-23). 

     There is no difference whether you are a man or a woman, whether you are black or white, whether you are an American or not, or even whether you are a Christian or not.  All people sinned against God.  You have assumed that God thinks and judges as you do, and therefore you have faulted God as unjust because he thinks and acts differently than you.  How easy to forget: He is God and you are not.  All people sinned against their fellowman.  You have looked upon him with scorn rather than in mercy.  You don’t know him or his story, but you judged him anyway.  None of us can claim that we have earned God’s approval.  We all must confess that we have earned God’s judgment.  We all need a Savior to rescue us from a damning judgment and an endless death.

     Jesus is revealed as the Savior of all nations.  This is what St. Paul told the people of Pisidian Antioch.  Unfortunately, it was not received well there.  When the Jews realized that God does not play favorites and that no one has preferential treatment in God’s kingdom, they despised Paul and Barnabas and slandered them.  “Then Paul and Barnabas responded fearlessly, ‘It was necessary that God’s word be spoken to you first.  But since you reject it and consider yourselves unworthy of eternal life, look: We are now turning to the Gentiles!  For this is what the Lord has instructed us: I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the end of the earth’” (Acts 13:46-47).  

     At first glance, it would seem that Paul and Barnabas were the light for the Gentiles and that they would be the ones to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.  However, Paul and Barnabas were only preachers.  Their message was useless unless it was true, and their message could only be true if someone else had accomplished this salvation.

     Isaiah had prophesied that Jesus is the light of the world and the Savior of the nations: “The Lord, who formed me from the womb to be his servant…, the Lord said: It is too small a thing that you should just be my servant to raise up only the tribes of Jacob and to restore the ones I have preserved in Israel, so I will appoint you to be a light for the nations, so that my salvation will be known to the end of the earth” (Isaiah 49:5-6).  Jesus enlightens us to see that God’s love is not limited to a privileged few.  God’s love is based on who he is, not on who you are.  God IS love, and he loved the world.  That is why he sent his Son to be the Savior of all nations. 

     Jesus is revealed as the Savior of all the nations.  Jesus did not save us by his skin pigment, language, culture, diet, or wardrobe.  Jesus saved us by becoming one of us.  Jesus is a child of Adam—a human being joined to the human race.  And as a man, he lived and died for all mankind.  While we may despise other people, Jesus lived with a perfect love toward all—from Jewish tax collectors, fishermen, and prostitutes to Roman soldiers, demon-possessed Canaanites, and Greek pilgrims.  Jesus’ perfect life answers for our sinful lives.  And then Jesus offered up his perfect life as the sacrifice which atones for our sins.  He endured the scorn of sinful men while paying the price for the scorn we have had for others.  He bore the curse for the false assumptions and unjust accusations we had made about God.  Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. 

     Jesus is revealed as the Savior of all the nations.  There is no one Jesus would turn away, demanding, “What are you doing here?” because Jesus came for all.  No sinner is so grotesque or vile that Jesus would chase them away.  No religious person is so pure that Jesus is not needed.  We celebrate the death of Jesus Christ because there we see the love that God has for sinners.  We don’t have to make any assumptions about God’s love or forgiveness.  Jesus has proven it by his death.  He has guaranteed it by his resurrection.  He sends his people to make his salvation known to the world.  The world has no other Savior, but then the world does not need any other Savior. 

     Jesus is revealed as the Savior of all the nations.  “When the Gentiles (in Pisidian Antioch) heard this, they were rejoicing and praising the word of the Lord” (Acts 13:48).  We, too, rejoice.  The Savior who has cleansed our hearts also cleanses our minds so that we do not think evil of anyone or dismiss anyone as a lost cause.  We know that we have what the whole world needs.  Therefore, we pray for all people because we know that Jesus died for them all.  We open our church and our hearts to them because our Lord wants all people to be saved, even if they seem strange or scary.  For, our goal is not to keep ourselves safe in our little group.  Our goal is to serve our Lord for as long as he is pleased to keep us in this world, and then for all eternity.  Besides, if we are in Christ, we are safe; our salvation is secure.  This is the good news of great joy, and it is for all the people.

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

YouTube -- Epiphany, transferred (January 7, 2024)

Here is the Divine Service from Sunday, January 7, 2024.

Sermon -- Epiphany, transferred (January 7, 2024)

NOTE: Some of the thoughts in this sermon were cleaned from Rev. David Petersen of Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church of Fort Wayne, Indiana.

MATTHEW 2:1-12

JESUS IS THE SAVIOR OF THE UNLIKED AND THE UNLIKELY.

In the name + of Jesus.

     If you’ve ever read the first nine chapters of 1 Chronicles, you’ve probably gutted through them for the sake of completing them, but also wondered, “Why on earth is this in the Bible?  Who cares?  I don’t even know who these people are!  It’s like reading a phone book!”  (Note for anyone under 25: Phone books listed the names, addresses, and phone numbers of people in your city.  Every house had a phone book.)  The genealogies mattered in the Old Testament because it proved their connection to the covenant.  To prove you were from Israel was to prove you were God’s chosen people.  The New Testament does not have such lists because the new covenant is not focused on one nation.

     If any of the names in 1 Chronicles resonates with you, it is because you remember something they did.  For the most part, though, you will only know name and nationality.  You know nothing else about those people.  Today’s gospel gives us the exact opposite of that.  We hear about the Magi and their connection to Jesus.  They had some words to say.  They had gifts to present.  They knelt before the baby Jesus, perhaps a year old by this time, probably younger.  And they had traveled some distance to see the Christ.  So, we know what they did, but we know very little else about them.  Tradition gives them names; the Bible does not.  Tradition gives them a homeland; the Bible does not. 

     The Bible says they were “wise men from the east” (Matthew 2:1).  It is assumed that they came from Persia.  The word “Magi” is a Babylonian word, so that’s reasonable.  And Persia is east of Jerusalem.  At the same time, the prophet Isaiah had foretold that “a multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come.  They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall bring good news, the praises of the Lord” (Isaiah 60:6).  Midian, Ephah, and Sheba are equivalent to Saudi Arabia and Yemen.  If the Magi came up from the south, they would have come up the east side of the Jordan River and crossed over at Jericho, which means they came from the east.  The etymology of the word “Magi” suggests Iran, but the prophet Isaiah hints at Yemen.  So, their names are unknown.  Their homeland is an educated guess.  Even their number is in question, other than the fact that Magi is plural.  Three gifts do not guarantee only three visitors.

     The Magi would have surprised the Jews because they were foreigners.  The Magi did not come with credentials or with a 1 Chronicles-type lineage.  We are not so surprised since we do not depend upon our nationality for God’s favor.  What surprises us about the Magi is their vocation.  It is not merely off-putting; it is offensive.  The word “Magi” means that they practiced magic arts and were astrologers.  They interpreted the constellations for divine revelation and spiritual guidance.  If we had been there, we would have sneered at them and thought to ourselves, “What makes you think you belong here?”  It would be like seeing psychics from Iran or members of Hamas showing up here for worship.  But Jesus is the Savior of the unliked and the unlikely.

      The same could be said of the shepherds.  The shepherds were the lowlifes of society.  We might compare them to people who have been released from prison and now need employment.  Even if they were good at their job, that does not mean people respected them.  And yet, who is it to whom the angels preached good news of great joy?  And who was it that “made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child” (Luke 2:17)?  The Lord did not summon the people who were deemed worthy or proper.  Jesus is the Savior of the unliked and the unlikely.  So, these are the ones whom we see with the Christ Child.

     Of course, the powerful and influential were involved too.  The Magi sought the king of the Jews, so they went where you would expect to find him—to the palace in Jerusalem.  But “when Herod the king heard (their reason for coming), he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him” (Matthew 2:3).  Herod knew about the Christ, but he had no desire for him.  Herod’s interest in the Christ was only political.  He summoned the priests and rabbis to find out where the Christ would be born.  Finally, someone opened a Bible and saw that the prophet Micah had foretold his birth would be in Bethlehem.  Now, how did the powerful and influential respond to this?  Herod plotted to kill the Christ.  The Bible scholars did bother to travel the six and a half miles to Bethlehem to check it out.  It was the Magi, the unlikeable foreigners and the unlikely magicians, who completed their long journey to see the Christ, the king of the Jews.

     We find the account of the Magi endearing because they represent us.  We were not a part of the Old Testament covenant.  We are the outsiders whom God has graciously brought in.  If you have been in God’s kingdom from birth and have known nothing different, then thank God.  Many people have not known this much grace.  But our life-long heritage can tempt us to think like the priests and the rabbis who were in Jerusalem.  We want to preserve our little kingdom and keep it safe from the unliked and the unlikely.  Perhaps that is the reason the priests and rabbis did not lead the charge to Bethlehem.  Jerusalem was safe.  It allowed them to enjoy their wealth, their influence, and their control.  To leave Jerusalem was to enter a messy, uncontrolled environment with risks and discomfort.

     If you remember about eight years ago, many people fled Syria because of the conflicts that were going on with ISIS.  Thousands ended up in Germany.  Many of those Muslim refugees reported having what is known as the “Jesus dream.”  In this dream, Jesus appears and tells them, “Go to a Christian church.”  Many Muslims dutifully obeyed.  A Lutheran pastor in Berlin ended up baptizing hundreds of Muslims into the Christian faith.  We are all filled with amazement and joy over the conversion of so many into the Christian faith.  But let me ask you, what if dozens (we won’t dream of hundreds) of Muslims showed up for church here?  How would you feel?  Would you sneer and think to yourself, “What makes you think you belong here?”  Would you want to refer them to a different church?  Would you want to preserve our little kingdom and try to keep things safe, clean, and controlled?  Are we any different than the priests and rabbis from Jerusalem?  Repent.

     Jesus is the Savior of the unliked and the unlikely.  The Magi were no saints.  They had practiced magic arts.  They worshipped the stars, seeking from them divine revelation and guidance.  And in fact, God used a star to bring them to something better.  When the Magi got to Jerusalem, they were given something much more reliable than the stars.  They heard the words of Scripture.  God’s love and God’s salvation are revealed there.  In the same way, those Muslims who were guided to the Christian church by a dream were not told to rely on their dreams any longer.  They were baptized into Christ and pointed to the Scripture as the only source of truth and light.  That is where the Lord speaks.  The stars do not hold secrets, and dreams are weird.  But the word of the Lord is firm and true.

     Jesus is the Savior of the unliked and the unlikely.  Therefore, the Magi were not chased away from the Christ.  Rather, they made a strong confession about him.  Besides traveling a great distance to come to him, they also expressed the reason for their visit: “We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him” (Matthew 2:2).  Worship is reserved only for God.  If they worshiped the Christ Child as God, they no longer had need for the stars or magic.  Forgiveness of sins and salvation cannot come from stars or tricks or even miracles.  They can only come from God who has come to earth as a human being.  This the Magi needed to see, to confess, and to worship. 

     Jesus is the Savior of the unliked and the unlikely.  The Magi presented their lavish gifts—gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  Their gifts were also acts of worship.  However, it was Jesus who would give up everything to deliver the Magi from all their sins.  Jesus has come for the unliked and the unlikely.  Like the Magi, there is nothing in us that God should like—not when we think that we are superior to other people, not when we despise others because their lives are so messed up, not when the fear of what we might lose means more than the mercy that others might gain.  Jesus has come to suffer everything so that we will not suffer for our sins.  Jesus has endured the agonies of divine wrath so that we would receive divine mercy.  He was condemned so that we would be pardoned.  How unlikely that the pure and innocent Lord would bear responsibility for the sins which he does not like!  But he did, and he did it gladly to secure our salvation.  He purifies hearts stained by loveless attitudes.  He provides cleansing for all who have made a mess of their lives.  He proclaims words of truth to any who have yearned for guidance for their lives.  Jesus is the Savior of the unliked and the unlikely, and he makes us his beloved.

     Since the Lord has poured out so much mercy upon us, it is good and right for us to have mercy upon others.  If we truly fear what we might lose, then we are clinging too tightly to things that will perish anyway.  But you cannot lose the mercy of God by extending it to others.  And you cannot lessen the value of salvation by giving it away.  Even if others reject God’s goodness, God is still good to you.  But let it never be suggested that Jesus has nothing to offer to someone whose life is messed up.  Let us never refuse to offer hope in Jesus’ name.  Yes, it might get a little messy because sinners have messy lives.  People who are broken often don’t have their lives in order.  Rather than focus on our comfort, let’s strive to provide comfort for the hurting, the lost, the lonely, and even the unlikeable.  Jesus comes for such people with healing and hope.

     The Magi “rejoiced exceedingly with great joy” (Matthew 2:10) that they got to see the Christ.  Whatever their past was, Jesus would wipe the record clean.  Whatever anyone would have thought of them, the Lord had made it clear that he loved them.  He made a place for them in his kingdom.  That place did not depend upon their names, their nationality, or their past.  It depended upon the Savior who forgives sins and purifies us from all unrighteousness.  If nobody remembers your name, if nobody remembers what you have done with your life, even if people do not like you, the Lord Jesus does.  He is the Savior of the unliked and the unlikely, and he desires you to be his forever.

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

Meditation on the Epiphany of our Lord

          Today is the Festival of Epiphany.  Epiphany means revelation or manifest.  If you say, "I had an epiphany," that means something has become clear to you.  At the Festival of Epiphany and in the Sundays that follow, Jesus of Nazareth is manifested as the true Messiah, the Son of God, and the Savior of the world.  This is made evident by his miracles, his teachings, the testimony of John the Baptist, the proclamation of the Father from heaven, and so on.

          In a portion of St. Athanasius' (296-373) "On the Incarnation," Athanasius gives a refutation of the Jews and Gentiles who deny that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.  His refutation of the Gentiles seems to be more philosophical in tone.  But his refutation of the Jews leans on the Old Testament.  He would have us consider the prophecies made about the Messiah--what he would be, what he would do, what would be the results of his coming.  If Jesus did not do these things, he is not the Messiah.  If he did accomplish them, what other conclusion could be drawn except that he is the Promised Messiah?

          St. Athanasius demonstrates the main point of Epiphany and the Sundays after Epiphany: Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and the Savior of the world.  He has fulfilled all promises and, thereby, grants us comfort and confidence in our salvation.  Something from Athanasius:

               “For what more has he who is expected by them to do when he comes?  Call the Gentiles?  But they have already been called.  To make prophet and king and vision to cease?  This has already happened.  To refute the godlessness of idols?  It has already been refuted and condemned.  To destroy death?  It is already destroyed.  What then must Christ do, which has not been done?  Or what is left unfulfilled, that the Jews now rejoice and disbelieve.  For if, as we thus see, they have neither king, nor prophet, nor Jerusalem, nor sacrifice, nor vision, but the whole world is filled with the knowledge of God, and those form the Gentiles are abandoning godlessness, and henceforth taking refuge in the God of Abraham through the Word, our Lord Jesus Christ, it should be clear even to those who are exceedingly obstinate that Christ has come, and that he illumines absolutely all with his light and teaches the true and divine teaching concerning his Father.” (On the Incarnation, paragraph 40; translation by John Behr; St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press: Yonkers, NY. © 2011)

Sermon -- Epiphany (January 6, 2019)

MATTHEW 2:1-12

WE MAKE OUR CONFESSION

WITH OUR ACTIONS.

In the name + of Jesus.

     Wise men from the east came to worship Jesus.  Many people come to church at Christmas to worship Jesus, too.  The reasons vary.  For some, it is nostalgia.  They went to church as children, so going to church at Christmas is the traditional thing to do.  Others like Christmas because the baby Jesus is cute.  But the Magi did not come to see Jesus because he was cute.  The Magi came to worship Jesus because he is the Lord.
     The Magi had put forth a great deal of effort to see Jesus.  They saw the sign which had indicated his birth.  So, to some extent, they were watching for it and expecting it.  They may not have expected to see this sign in their lifetime, but when it appeared, they knew what it meant and they acted on it.  They made preparations for a journey of hundreds of miles.  Whether that journey was mainly on camel or on foot, it was no easy trip.  They had to be sure they had enough provisions to eat and to drink until they got to Judea.  They also had taken pains to pack gifts—extravagant gifts!  So, this cost them not only time and energy, it also cost them a good deal of wealth to do it.  The wealth was not to make themselves comfortable on this journey.  The wealth was devoted to the one who had been born king. 
     Their time, their efforts, and their gifts were not given out of obligation, but out of pure joy.  The king of the Jews had been born.  In an earthly sense, he had no power or jurisdiction over the Magi.  They had their own king back home.  But according to the word of God, the one born in Bethlehem was king not only of the Jews, but king of the universe.  The Magi made this confession by their actions.  They did not put forth this much effort because Jesus was cute.  They put forth this much effort because Jesus is God, because Jesus is King, and because Jesus is the Savior of the Nations.  He came to the Jews, but he also came for the Magi.  They made their confession by their actions.
     The Magi came to worship Jesus.  We do not make trips to Bethlehem or to Israel to worship.  We make our confession by our actions, too.  We come to church.  Sadly, fewer people in America bother to come to church anymore.  That makes a confession, too.  People, by their actions, confess that they don't need Jesus and his salvation.  They care about other things.  By their actions, they show what that is.
     I suspect that if you ask people why they go to church, they may not be able to give a clear answer.  And perhaps that is why church attendance is dropping in America.  One person had posted on Facebook a sentiment that went something like this: “I believe that church is about praising God.  But I also believe that God can be praised on a car ride, in my living room, at the campsite, and at the ball game.”  If church were only a matter of praising God—that is, what I do for God—then the previous sentiment is true.  Granted, we do praise God here.  We sing hymns, say prayers, and confess the Creed.  But if that is all it is, you can do that at home, in your car, or at the campsite.  So, why do you come?
     The Magi made their confession with their actions.  They took great pains to see the baby Jesus.  They knew the promises even before they left home.  They left anyway.  They came to Jerusalem where the priests and scribes read the prophecies.  They pinpointed the town where Jesus would be born.  The Magi continued their journey.  The priests and scribes did not leave Jerusalem.  They knew the promises, but they were not moved by them at all.  Knowing the facts was enough for them.  The Magi, on the other hand, went to the place where God had come for them.  They made their confession with their actions.  The Christ child mattered to them.
     Likewise, we make our confession with our actions.  We come to church not because God needs us to be here to do things for him.  God is glorious, holy, merciful, and almighty no matter what.  If you rejected every syllable of the Bible, God would not be less glorious, less holy, less merciful, or less mighty.  Neither your songs nor my prayers make God better, and our failure to give them does not make God worse.  Our primary purpose for coming to church, therefore, is not for us to do something for God; it is where God does things for us.  Here, God serves us.  Here, God comes to us with blessing, forgiveness, mercy, and salvation. 
     We make our confession with our actions.  The simple act of coming to church declares to people that you take God's word seriously and that you seriously need God's mercy.  God's word shows us that we do not live up to the standard he demands of us.  We do not honor his word with our actions throughout the week.  Our actions prove that we are sinners, whether we confess it or not.  We withhold our time, efforts, and treasures from others and we hoard it for our own pleasure, comfort, and glory.  We are devoted to ourselves, even being annoyed that God would infringe upon our lives.  We find it burdensome to take the time and effort to pray, to meditate on God's word, or to order our lives according to his Commands.  When we take God's word seriously, we are alarmed by our sins and fear his judgment.
     But God has infringed upon our time.  He entered our world to save us from our sins.  The eternal God entered our time and put forth great effort to deliver us from our sin and from the death it deserves.  The Christ child grew up, faced temptations, and overcame.  He patiently endured the ignorant comments and the intentional scorn of sinful mankind, and he did not fail to love them despite their sins.  Rather, he took up their sins, and he took up your sins.  He paid for your redemption at great cost.  Though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9)  In fact, he has enriched you with his grace and made you heirs of eternal glory. 
     The Magi came to find the King of the Jews, and yet they knew he had come for the Gentiles, too.  Jesus' kingdom is for all people—regardless of race or skin color, language or accent, or even regardless of one's past.  Here, in Jesus, you find full forgiveness and free salvation.  God does not merely love you in his head, he showed with his actions.  The Christ has come for you—to live for you, to suffer for you, to die for you, and to conquer death for you.  And by his actions, he has secured your salvation.
     We make our confession with our actions.  Yes, we know the facts.  That informs what we confess.  But merely knowing facts about the Bible does not save you.  Even the devil knows the facts.  The priests and the scribes did not receive mercy or forgiveness merely by knowing the facts.  Their confession was clear from their inaction: They heard the word and remain unmoved.  Therefore, we make our confession with our actions.  The Magi did this when they saw the star, when they heard the prophets, and especially when they saw the Christ child.  They fell down and worshiped him.  Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. (Matthew 2:11)  The Magi demonstrated their faith by falling to their knees, and then put their foreheads to the ground before the Lord.  They declared themselves to be his subjects; for he alone was the source of their salvation. 
     We make our confession with our actions.  Therefore, we come to church; for this is where our Lord now comes to us with his gifts of mercy, forgiveness, blessing, and salvation.  We rightly fall in our knees as the body and blood of Jesus are given to us for the forgiveness of our sins.  We put forth time, effort, and expense not only to come to receive God's blessings, but also to make sure others know that the Savior has come for them.  For, the way we speak and act toward others makes a confession, too. 
     The Magi fled to the place where the Lord said he would be found.  They were directed by the star and also by the prophets.  That is where they found the one who takes away the sins of the world.  Likewise, we flee to the place where our Lord tells us we will find him for our salvation—to the word and the sacraments.  We gather in Jesus' name to receive Jesus' gifts.  It is the most basic confession we can make with our actions, and it is where God's mercy is delivered to his people.

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

Sermon -- Hymnfest Devotions (November 25, 2018)

HYMNFEST 

This year's Hymnfest featured hymns which represented Christian hymnody as it progresses through the Church Year – Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Ascension, Pentecost, and End Times.  Every year, the Church repeats the life of Jesus who lived, suffered, died, and rose for the salvation of his Church.  He sent his Holy Spirit to gather us together as his family of believers.  By repeating the words and works of Jesus every year, we are reminded of his mercies, strengthened in the faith, and properly focused on what keeps us in the Christian faith.  Our Hymnfest will not only allow us to sing a sampling of these hymns, but we will also consider the stories of the hymn writers, the background of the hymns, or ponder the message in them.  (NOTE: These were written in the footnotes of the bulletin.)

        Here are a few of the devotions from Hymnfest.


EPIPHANY          John 2:1-11

When Jesus was born, the angels proclaimed to the shepherds that Jesus is Christ the Lord.  Such angelic announcements did not continue to announce Jesus throughout his life.  Nevertheless, Jesus revealed his identity with miraculous signs.  Each sign proclaimed him to be Christ, the Lord.
The first such miraculous sign was at Cana, at a wedding.  The celebration was about to come to an abrupt, shameful halt because they had run out of wine.  Jesus graciously supplied what they needed and abundantly more. 
Jesus is the one who supplies all that we need for salvation.  He supplies in abundance.  He does not forgive only a few bad sins.  He does not merely pardon a bunch of sins which we do not feel are that bad.  He takes all sins and pays for them all.
Jesus Christ has supplied all that we need to enter the heavenly wedding banquet.  When our time on earth ends, even if it is abrupt, it will not be shameful.  Rather, our place at the wedding feast has been secured by Jesus.  That banquet will be everlasting.  For, the Christ supplies all that we lack.  At our baptism, the Lord has bestowed upon us our wedding garments.  Therefore, our joy will be eternal as we and all the Church will feast with the heavenly bridegroom.

LENT          John 19:16-31
“He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.” (Apostles' Creed)  These are historical facts.
“Who for us men … became man.” (Nicene Creed)  Jesus Christ did this for us.  That is theological fact.
The agony of Jesus' sufferings and death was far beyond the cruelty of execution on a cross.  It is that Jesus drinks the cup his Father gives him.  That was the cup of God's wrath.  It was given to Jesus who bore our sins and guilt.  He, though innocent, died the death of the guilty so that we, who are guilty, would be forgiven and found innocent in God's sight.
Some ask occasionally why we have images of Jesus on a cross when he is risen.  The idea is that we should think of the victorious resurrection and, therefore, live as victors.  I suspect that some also think it means we should always be happy and prosperous throughout life.  While we are always victors, life is not always happy.  Jesus knew the bitterness that comes with sins.  But rather than tell us to buck up, Jesus takes our sins and guilt away from us.  The payment for your sins was at the cross.  There is the propitiation, that is, the sacrifice which diverts God's wrath from you to Jesus.  That is where God reveals love, mercy, and salvation.  And that is why we preach Christ crucified, and proclaim Christ crucified for you.


ASCENSION          Acts 1:1-11

“He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.” (Apostles' Creed)  We are not confessing a literal place, but a position of authority.  He who is a man has ascended into heaven, the presence of God.  Wherever God's arm extends, there Jesus is.  Therefore, Jesus rules over heaven, earth, and all things.
In ascending into heaven, Jesus shows what the future of his redeemed people is: We, too, will go to dwell in the presence of God forever.  For all eternity, he will remain our Immanuel—God with man and men dwelling with God.  For, our God loves and desires to be with us forevermore.
Until that day, Jesus lives and reigns over all things for our good.  You and I may not understand why Jesus permits what he does in this world or in our lives.  But nothing happens apart from Jesus' authority.  And all of Jesus' authority is devoted to our eternal good. 
Just as Jesus has ascended into heaven, so he will return to judge the living and the dead.  Rather than dread his return and his judgment, we pray for it.  For we shall be taken into glory with him, and we will live and reign with him forevermore.


PENTECOST          Acts 2:1-21

At Babel, the arrogance of man was dealt with by God's judgment.  He confused the languages of the people who were there, which caused them to be divided and to fill the world.  He created nations, tribes, peoples, and languages.  No longer does the world speak one language.  And no longer is the world united for a common good.  Now we know nation against nation, kingdom against kingdom, and race against race.
But when the day of Pentecost came, the Lord addressed the division of languages.  Rather than reversing the curse entirely by bringing back the world to one language, the Lord blessed all the languages and brought them all into the Church.  No longer was the Church to meet in one place to find God's presence among them, such as the Temple in Jerusalem.  Now, the Lord dwells with people who gather in his name, where the word and the sacraments are.  In fact, your body is now the temple of the Holy Spirit—for, he dwells within you.
Therefore, all languages have been sanctified for the praise of the Lord.  We still retain the language of the saints of the past.  We share the Jews' “Hallelujah!”  We speak with the Greeks, “Kyrie, eleison!”  We repeat the Latin hymn, “Gloria in excelsis Deo!”  And in order to declare the wonders of God to people of our own land, we speak American English so that the average person may know that the Savior of the Nations includes them.
When St. John caught a glimpse into Revelation, he heard your language.  “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before them Lamb … and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God....!” (Revelation 7:9-10)  For, everyone who calls on the name of the Lord—no matter with what langauge they call—shall be saved.

Sermon -- Epiphany, transferred (January 7, 2018)

MATTHEW 2:1-12

SALVATION IS FOR ALL, 
BUT BY FAITH ALONE.

In the name + of Jesus.

     The word “Epiphany” has to do with a revelation or an appearing.  If I say, “I had an epiphany,” I means that something has occurred to me.  Either I did not know it, or I finally connected all the dots.  In the season of Epiphany, the Lord gives us a revelation about Jesus of Nazareth.  The Lord gives us an epiphany, revealing what we could not know unless God himself enlightened us to it.   The focus of the entire Epiphany season is that Jesus reveals himself to be the Son of God and the Savior of the world.
     Even before Jesus could speak, he was revealed as the Savior of the world.  The angel had appeared to Jewish shepherds to reveal that the Christ was born.  That Jews would celebrate the birth of the Son of David is not too remarkable.  However, when a star arose which lead the Magi to Jesus in order to worship him, that was remarkable.  The King of the Jews had come for the benefit of Gentiles, too!  Also remarkable are the effort, the expense, and the energy that the Magi invested in coming to see Jesus.  The coming of the Magi reveals this to us: Salvation is for all.
     We do not know where the wise men came from.  Some think they were Persians.  Others, based on our reading from Isaiah, believe they were Arabians.  St. Matthew does not identify their homeland, and it does not really matter.  Whether they were Persians or Arabians, these Magi would have had a king in their homeland who was their sovereign.  They did not stay to pay homage to him; they came to see the one who had been born King of the Jews.  So, they went where you would expect to find a king—to the palace at Jerusalem.
     When the Magi got to Jerusalem, they asked a good question: “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?  For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:2)  But they asked a bad man.  When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. (Matthew 2:3)  Herod was troubled because he had no interest in having a rival to his throne.  Herod had already killed his own family members when he suspected that they were a threat to him.  When foreigners came to Herod and asked about the one who had been born King of the Jews—well, that may as well have been a coup.  Herod had no interest in sharing his glory with anyone.  There was one throne in Jerusalem, and he would not give it up for anyone.
     Herod is not alone in his zeal.  Every one of us has a throne in our heart.  Like Herod, we want ourselves ruling there.  We make ourselves the authority over everything.  That is why we assume other people are idiots.  We don't know what burdens others are carrying, and we usually don't care—as long as we are not inconvenienced by it.  We assume the worst of others, and we are angry when they do not assume the best about us.  We even make ourselves the authority over God.  If we do not like what God has to say, we refuse to apply it.  “So I get drunk.  So I use obscene speech.  So I fornicate.  So I lie at work.  So I slander coworkers and family members.”—as if refusing to apply God's word means God's judgment does not apply either.  If, like Herod, you occupy the throne in your heart, you will eventually despise anyone who disagrees with you and you will reject God's word which is the only thing which can save you.  Repent.
     Herod's problem is not that he was unfamiliar with God's word.  When the Magi asked where the King of the Jews was to be born, Herod consulted with the priests and scribes.  They preached God's word to Herod, letting him know that from Bethlehem would come a ruler to shepherd God's people.  Herod did not listen to God's word about this shepherd.  Herod wanted his throne and rejected God's word.  Your problem also is not that you are unfamiliar with God's word.  God is very clear about what is good and evil, and God is very direct in calling us to repent of the sins we have committed.  And while it is good and right to stop doing what is evil and to align yourself with God's word, no one can ever achieve the perfect obedience God demands.  We still want the right to excuse ourselves for behavior that we condemn in others and that God condemns in us.
     King Herod had no use for a Savior.  The Magi, however, had left their king back in their homeland, and they sought a greater king than Herod the Great.  They came not merely to show respect, but to worship.  That is because the King of the Universe had come into the world for them.  It did not matter of the Magi were Jews or Gentiles.  It did not matter if we know their names or not.  God had revealed that their Savior had come—a Savior for all.
     And here is the good news for you, too: Salvation is for all.  The Savior comes into the world for sinners.  It does not matter what your blood line is, if you've been to church every Sunday or if you've just shown up for the first time today.  It does not matter if your reputation is squeaky clean or if you are treated like dirt.  Jesus Christ has come for you, because salvation is for all.  But salvation is not just given by God.  If Herod would refuse God's gifts, God would not foist his salvation upon him.  Salvation is for all, but it is received by faith in God's promises attached to this Savior.
     Once again, we need an epiphany to know what those promises are.  The Magi came to Bethlehem to worship their King.  God had revealed that to them.  However, what also must be revealed is what kind of King Jesus is.  Herod was a king, and Herod acted like most kings.  He kept control of his power and glory by having other people die for him.  Herod had put his sons to death.  Later, Herod would order the infants of Bethlehem to die in order to preserve throne.  Jesus, however, is a very different King.  Jesus does not come to have us die to advance his kingdom and to preserve his glory.  Rather, Jesus comes to die for us and to gain glory for us.
     Salvation is for all, and it was purchased by Jesus who took upon himself our guilt.  Jesus submitted himself to divine judgment for sins he did not commit.  This righteous and obedient one died for people who have been defiant and disobedient.  Jesus did not despise us because of our sins.  Rather, in his compassion, he died for us to take away our sins.  The King was crucified for rebels.  This is the promise that God has made to all mankind: Jesus Christ is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:2)  And again, God promises, “Whoever believes and his baptized will be saved.  Whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:16)  Salvation is for all, but by faith alone.
     Jesus came into the world for Herod just as much as he came for the Magi.  The Magi believed God's promises and rejoiced over them.  Herod did not.  God did not love Herod less.  That's impossible, because Jesus came for Herod and suffered and died for him just as much as he did for you.  But Herod would not accept another on the throne of his heart just as he would not allow another on the throne in his palace.  Herod, therefore, rejected the salvation God had provided for him.
     Salvation is for all, but by faith alone.  God revealed his promises to you so that you can know your sins have been taken away.  They do not condemn you anymore.  You are forgiven.  Jesus suffered and died for you, but also rose from the grave to show you that you, too, will have eternal life in him.  Death cannot have you; it must give you back.  The resurrection to everlasting life is yours.  And by your baptism, the Lord has put to death the heart that loves itself more than anything else.  He has given you a new heart in which Christ dwells and rules.  Therefore, you no longer view other people as your rivals.  Even if others are rude, the Lord works in you a compassion that understands it may be coming from a burden you know nothing about.  Such people do not need your snark, but your sympathy.  Your King reigns in your heart and teaches you to live and act toward others with the same love that Jesus has for you.
     At Epiphany, God reveals his salvation to the world through Jesus.  The Magi were made wise for salvation by God's epiphany to them.  The Lord enlightenss you to know his promises so that you will be saved by them, too.  Salvation is for all, but by faith alone.  Therefore, devote yourselves to what God has revealed so that you will always have God's salvation.

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

Sermon -- Epiphany, transferred (January 5, 2014)

MATTHEW 2:1-12

THE STAR PROCLAIMS A TRUE KING.

In the name + of Jesus.

     The Bible is filled with stories about kings.  Some were good, and some were not.  Of course, the way the Lord assessed who was good and who was not is different than the way we assess whether or not a leader is good.  We elect our leaders based on whose policies and promises we like.  We grade our leaders based on whether or not they have improved the state of the country.  Or perhaps more specifically—whether or not our wallets are thicker after the leader leaves office.

     God’s grading system is very different.  God’s judgment had nothing to do with economies, foreign policies, or infrastructure.  Every king, especially those of the nation of Israel, was judged on this scale: Either he did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord, or he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.  History books care about what is material or military.  The Lord, however, looks at the heart.  That’s all that matters.

     There are a number of kings in our Gospel today.  First was King Herod.  He was influential and powerful enough that history has given him the title Herod the Great.  And Herod did wield a great deal of authority.  He was a crafty man who jockeyed his way into power, always managing to play the right side in Roman power plays.  He had worked hard to gain his position.  Herod kept his position by keeping his subjects scared and his enemies either distant or dead.  Herod would not tolerate any challenge to his power.

     So naturally, when Herod had other royals come to see him, and when Herod had heard that they were seeking the one who had been born King of the Jews, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. (Matthew 2:3)  The wise men had declared that the star had proclaimed a true king.  They had come to worship him.  Herod would not.  Herod would not tolerate a rival, much less bow down to him.  Herod wanted him dead.

     But Herod was a fraud.  No matter how much power and authority he was convinced he had, Herod was only dust and breath.  He was just as mortal as any man, and history has proven it.  Herod is dead, and he no longer scares anyone.  He has learned that death has authority over him.  He has learned that he must answer to the God he had tried to destroy.  Herod would not humble himself before anyone, even before the Lord.  And therefore, God humbles Herod for all eternity, keeping him forever imprisoned and tormented in hell.

     Be warned, so that you are not guilty of the same arrogance and rebellion as King Herod.  Herod’s problem was not ignorance.  He consulted the teachers to hear what God’s word said.  Herod simply would not listen.  He would not humble himself.  He would not repent or believe.  Herod had deceived himself into believing that he truly was Herod the Great.  But now his power is gone.  His breath is gone.  He is only dust.

     The star proclaims a true king.  Listen to what the teachers of the law said about the Christ: “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” (Matthew 2:6)  Jesus would shepherd his people.  That means he leads you where you need to go.  If you need to feel to poking and prodding of the shepherd’s staff to keep you from going astray, the shepherd will do that.  A good shepherd does not simply let the sheep go where they please, even if they are very pleased to go there.  The shepherd’s role is to care for the flock—to provide and protect, not to pander.  And so there are times when, through the shepherds he has called, Jesus will call you to repent of your sins.  But like Herod, you will not like it.  The sinful nature is not willing to be corrected, much less convicted or condemned.  And like Herod, you may find yourself refusing to humble yourself before the true king.  Your sinful nature wants to deceive you into thinking that you are great, that you owe apologies to no one, that your will should be unrivaled.  But do not deceive yourself.  No matter how great you think you are, like Herod, you are dust and breath.  Your wit, your will power, and your opinion of yourself cannot save you.  Therefore, humble yourself.  Repent.

     The star proclaims a true king.  When his star first appeared, Wise Men from the east recognized it.  Isaiah had foretold: “Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.” (Isaiah 60:3)  It is for this reason that the Wise Men are often called kings.  Though they may have reigned over many lives, they were not so high and mighty that they would not humble themselves.  The Wise Men were not frauds.  They had honestly assessed themselves.  They knew they needed a Savior, and they rejoiced when the star proclaimed he had come.

     The Wise Men went to the palace in Jerusalem to see the one born king of the Jews.  But this was far more than a diplomatic visit.  The Wise Men confessed, “We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:2)  True to their word, that is exactly what they did when they came to Bethlehem.  Going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. (Matthew 2:11)  The Wise Men literally fell upon their faces, completely humbling themselves before an infant.  In him, the saw their Savior and the King of the Universe.  This was the one before whom they would have to stand in judgment.  But before standing in judgment, they fell on their knees before Jesus.  For, they knew that this was the One who would speak on their behalf.  He had come to save them from their sins and grant a full pardon for all their guilt.

     The star proclaimed a true king, and the gifts of the Wise Men confessed who this king was.  Besides the royal gift of gold, they also gave him frankincense and myrrh.  The presence of the Lord was marked by the smell incense in the Holy of Holies.  The morning and evening sacrifices were offerings of incense.  And therefore, Jesus became a fragrant offering for you.  He covered the stench of your sin by his sacrifice of himself.  The King of the Universe and the King of kings humbled himself not just to be born a frail human being, but especially to die an accursed death on a cross.  He died for your sins.  He atoned for your guilt.  And then, he was laid to rest in strips of cloth and myrrh.  The empty tomb and the risen body of Jesus are no longer marked by a stench of sin and death, but proclaim that your sins are forgiven and that you are delivered from death to life.  And so he saves you from your sins.  He restores all things.  This divine King proclaims that the very presence of God is where you will dwell forever, and it is all because this King first chose to come and dwell with you.

     The star proclaims a true king.  There will always be people like King Herod who demand their respect, who intimidate, and who will not change their ways.  They may even live long lives and seem to get everything they want.  But that is all a farce.  For, we are all dust and breath.  We all have to stand before the true king.  How much better and wiser it is to approach our Lord as the Wise Men did—on our knees, with broken and contrite hearts, and with great joy that a Savior has come for us!  And while we give of our best to him, we also recognize that we are blessed because this king has given the best gifts to us.  Your heavenly King declares that you are good and right in the eyes of the Lord.  His royal decree is salvation.

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

Sermon -- Epiphany (January 6, 2013)

MATTHEW 2:1-12

WE HAVE COME TO WORSHIP HIM.

In the name + of Jesus.

     When Magi came to Jerusalem, they made a confession: “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?  For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:2)  The Magi only came to Jerusalem because the Lord had revealed the news to them through a star.  We know precious little about what kind of star this was.  Even among scholars, their best guesses remain guesses.  But what we do know is that the Magi credited the star with revealing to them that the King of the Jews was born.

     King Herod did not know that Jesus had been born.  It was not revealed to him by a star.  He did not even know it from the Scriptures.  So he called in the priests and the scribes to find out what had been foretold about the King who would be born to the Jews, the Messiah.  The Scriptures had foretold that they should have expected a star.  Speaking even through a pagan prophet, Balaam, the Lord had foretold: “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel.” (Numbers 24:17)  The star had arisen.  The King was born, as the Lord had promised.

     The question lingered for the Magi and for Herod: “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?” (Matthew 2:2)  Herod consulted the ones who should know.  Sure enough, the priests and scribes knew exactly where to look.  They said, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” (Matthew 2:5-6) 

     Each continued to make a confession by their words and their actions.  The Lord had revealed good news.  The priests and scribes quoted God’s revelation, but they did not go and see.  They would not waste their time.  Herod heard the revelation from the Magi and from the Prophets.  He wanted the newborn king killed.  He would not tolerate a rival.  The Lord had revealed his good news to the Magi first by the star and then by the Scriptures.  The star summoned them to Jerusalem.  The Scriptures sent them to Bethlehem.  Then the star pinpointed the very house.  The Magi made no secret of their intentions.  “We saw his star … and we have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:2) 

     In writing the account of the Magi, St. Matthew highlights the surprise that they came at all.  Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem…. (Matthew 2:1, emphasis added)  You could almost imagine the people who saw them say, “What are they doing here?!”  After all, Jesus was the star out of Jacob.  He is the scepter from Israel.  He is the King of the Jews.  And yet, the Magi came.  They confessed, “Even though we come from pagan astrologers, he is our star.  And even though we are foreigners, he is our king.  He holds the scepter for us.  We have come to worship him.”

     In many ways, the reaction is the same regarding you.  Any time we gather around God’s word and sacraments, people could justifiably be asking, “What are they doing here?!”  Whether you are kneeling by the manger or kneeling at God’s altar, you don’t deserve a place here.  Your origins are no different.  You were conceived in sin.  You had no claim on God’s kingdom.  For, you have transgressed against the Lord.  You and I have been like the priests and the scribes.  We know what the Lord says.  We know what the right thing to do is.  But instead of doing what is right and good and kind, we do nothing.  It is always easier to do nothing.  It is always easier not to lend a hand and not to sacrifice a minute of your time.  It is easy to tell the Lord, “I don’t have time to come and kneel before you.  I’m so busy.  I have things to get done.”  And I’m sure you do.  We all do.  We fault the priests and scribes because they put forth no effort to come and see the newborn King.  But aren’t we under the same condemnation for our negligence?

     Or worse, we are as guilty as King Herod.  Every heart has one throne in it.  Herod had no room for anyone but himself.  He would kill Jesus before he would honor him.  How often do your words and actions confess, “Lord, this is my time.  This is my will.  This is my opinion.”?  That is what we confess with every sin we commit.  We would not have Jesus as our King.  Rather, we confess, “Right now, I will be King.  This time, I will be lord.”  With such sinful hearts, we have come again to God’s house.  The angels and archangels might well be asking, “What are they doing here?!”

     Dear Christians, you are not here because you are better or smarter or more worthy than anyone.  You are here because God graciously revealed to you that a Savior has been sent for you.  You are here because the Lord has called you through the Gospel to know that forgiveness is yours through this Savior.  The Lord has revealed that Jesus Christ is God who has come for you to deliver you from your sins of neglect and rebellion.  He is not a King who slays you for your sins.  Rather, he is a King who would be slain for you for your sins.

     Therefore, you come as the Magi did.  We have come to worship him.  We fall on our knees before him in humility.  We acknowledge that he is God.  We confess that he is our Savior.  And even if the devil would taunt you and challenge you by asking, “What are you doing here?!” as if you don’t belong, then confess: “The Lord has called me here.  He has revealed his mercy here.  He delivers his forgiveness to me through this Savior who has been born.  I am here because I need him.  So, even though I have been rebellious, he is a merciful King for me.  And even though I have sinned against him, he is a Savior for me.”  We have come to worship him, and we are eager to receive the gifts he brings.

     The Magi arrived at Bethlehem and fell in worship before Jesus.  They presented Jesus with gifts to honor him.  And even their gifts make a confession.  With gold, they recognize Jesus as their King.  Frankincense was often combined with sacrifices.  And so the frankincense confesses that Jesus would be the sacrifice which pays for all of your sins.  Myrrh is used for embalming the bodies of the dead.  And so the myrrh confesses that Jesus would go to the grave wrapped in aloes and myrrh to deliver you from death and the grave.  Jesus came to die for your sins and rise to give you deliverance from death and hell.  Jesus came for you.  He is your King and brings you into the kingdom of God.  The Herods of this world may attack it, but they can never destroy it.  Your King forever reigns.  His sacrifice always atones.  Your eternity is safe.

     The Magi went to Bethlehem to find God revealed in human flesh.  That is where God’s mercy was revealed.  Jesus is the only one who could supply it.  Today, we kneel where the Lord reveals and delivers his mercy and forgiveness.  We gather at God’s house because here the word is preached and here the sacraments are administered.  Here, God reveals your salvation.  We have come here to worship him, knowing that he is the one with the gifts which save.

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