Sermon -- Chapel at Hope Christian Academy (December 8, 2023)

This sermon was delivered for the chapel service at Hope Christian Academy (formerly Huron Valley Lutheran High School) in Westland, Michigan.

REVELATION 20:10

JUDGMENT FOR THE DEVIL.

In the name + of Jesus.

      A common theme in movies is the bully who finally meets his match.  The story shows the bully mercilessly mocking and threatening and beating up a sympathetic character.  The star athlete picks on the kid in the chess club.  The bully also has groupies who congratulate him every time he belittles other people.  This goes on for a while, making you feel sorrier and sorrier for the one who is picked on.  Eventually, a hero steps in.  Maybe the kid in the chess club gets superpowers.  Maybe someone else shows up who challenges the bully.  The climax of the movie comes when the bully is humiliated and rendered powerless.  This formula works every time because we all want to see justice done.  We want to see the good guy win in the end, and we want to see the villain pay the price.

     Occasionally, the formula means that the hero dies to save others.  That formula should sound familiar.  The battle of good versus evil, especially the good man dying to save others, is taken from the Scriptures.  Its origin goes back to the Garden of Eden.  There, the devil deceived Adam and Eve.  He convinced them that God did not love them.  Why else would he forbid them from eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil?  He declared that happiness comes from taking what you want whether it is forbidden or not.  Adam and Eve bought the devil’s lie.  The devil ensnared them, overpowered them, and claimed them as his own. 

     We have not gotten any smarter or any better.  St. Paul wrote, “The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers” (2 Corinthians 4:4).  The devil is the god of this world.  All people enter this world in sin and unbelief.  The ancient serpent holds us in his grip.  He wraps himself around our thinking and influences our will.  This is why we do not see God’s word as good, but oppressive.  We conclude that God withholds things from us because he does not want us to have fun.  The devil convinces us that happiness comes from taking what we want, whether it is forbidden or not.  Why else do people celebrate drunkenness and revenge?  Why else do we devote energy and time to satisfy our lusts and our greed?  Why else do we gossip, slander, and post insults on social media?  The devil deceives us into thinking that this is how we will find purpose and happiness.  But just like in the Garden of Eden, we discover that the devil’s lies result in shame and death.  Repent. 

     The god of this age had blinded us, but Jesus Christ came to enlighten us.  He shows us that God is not the enemy; he is loving.  His Law is not oppressive; it is good.  When God forbids us from doing things, he is teaching us to avoid what harms and destroys.  It is like he is saying, “Don’t poke your eye with this stick.  Don’t eat too much chocolate or you will get sick.”  This is not to rob you of fun, but to save you from shame.

     Jesus also enlightens you to see that he delivers you from death, that he covers your shame, and that he rescues you from the devil.  Jesus gave himself in exchange for you.  The devil, like a serpent, latched onto Jesus to consume him.  If he could destroy Jesus, he would be able to devour the whole world.  So, all our sins were taken up by Jesus.  The full curse of death was thrust upon him.  He died bearing the curse of all. 

     Even though the death of Jesus results in the payment for all sins, the devil could not help himself when he had the opportunity to put Jesus to death.  He chomped onto Jesus like a fish takes the bait.  But just as the giant fish vomited up Jonah, so death and the grave vomited up Jesus on the third day.  The death blow dealt by the devil was overcome.  Jesus has crushed the ancient serpent underfoot and has nullified the devil’s reign.  He has rescued the devil’s captives, which is you.  You are free from sin, delivered from death, and victors over the devil thanks to Jesus.  The bully has been humiliated, and he is rendered powerless.

     Nevertheless, St. Peter wrote, “Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).  St. Peter wrote that to Christians, to people who had been delivered by Jesus.  The devil continues to bully Christians.  He will make you revisit your past.  He will remind you of the shameful way to you spoke to your parents, the pain you caused when you mocked your friend, and the lack of sensitivity when you laughed at someone else’s problems.  As you continue to go through life, that playlist will get longer.  The Accuser will reissue the charges and rip open wounds that you thought were healed.  That bully will never stop his attacks.  He will taunt you so that you might give up hope.

     But you have been given a sure and certain hope in Jesus.  Jesus is the strong one who fends off the bully.  As long as you remain in Jesus, the devil cannot have you.  While the devil will present the truth when he accuses you of your sins, the devil is a liar.  The lie is that your sins still cling to you.  Jesus has taken them away.  Jesus continues to absolve and encourage through his word.  He exposes the devil’s lies.  He protects you through his promises.  He feeds and strengthens you in Holy Communion so that you do not grow weary in your struggle.  This is why the Church gathers every week to hear God’s word and to partake in the Holy Supper.  We get to feast on the body and blood which have overcome death and the devil.  By this, you are kept safe.  If you continue in this, the devil cannot snatch you back.

     Jesus is the hero who delivers you from that demonic bully.  The Accuser stands accused and condemned.  The sentencing of Satan will finally be executed at the final judgment.  His verdict has already been announced.  He has no hope, no future, no second chance.  And he knows it.  That is why he seeks you so relentlessly. 

     But the devil has been vanquished.  No matter how much he taunts, Jesus’ word overrules the devil.  Jesus has brought you under his reign of peace and joy.  And the day is coming when he will forever silence every lie, every accusation, and every plague of the devil.  Jesus will cast the devil and his demons into the lake of fire.  It is a fire that will never be extinguished.  It will inflict torment forever.  The bully, who sought to consume and torment us for eternity, will suffer eternally.  The devil, who strives to steal and destroy what the eternal God has made, will suffer eternal banishment.

     In the movies, when the bully finally gets his comeuppance, the audience gets a great sense of relief.  Justice was done; the bully cannot cause harm anymore.  How much greater our joy will be when the father of lies is forever silent, when the prowling lion poses no threat, and when the great Dragon can no longer breathe fire because he is being consumed by it. 

     God’s people will be secure.  That battles against sin and temptation will be over.  We will dwell with God.  And we will rejoice.  For, the enemy is dead, and Jesus lives.

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

Sermon -- HVL Chapel (April 21, 2023)

This sermon was preached for chapel at Huron Valley Lutheran High School in Westland, Michigan.  

As of this summer, HVL will be known as Hope Christian Academy, enrolling children grades 6-12.

PSALM 110:1

WE ARE CONQUERORS WHO HAVE A DIVINE INTERCESSOR.

In the name + of Jesus.

     Let’s begin with a pop quiz, shall we?

     True or False?  The one who rules over all creation is a man.

     True or False?  God died on Good Friday.

     If you are having trouble figuring out the answers to this quiz, it is because you are trying to unravel a mystery.  A mystery is different from a secret.  Once I tell you a secret, it is no longer a secret.  You know it.  But a mystery remains a mystery even after you know it.  The best example is the Holy Trinity.  We worship one God.  Our one God is three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  That is not a secret; you know it and confess it to be true.  Each—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—is God, and yet there is only one God, not three.  Don’t try to figure it out.  It is a mystery.

     Another mystery is the two natures of Jesus Christ.  He is true God and true man—two natures in one person.  He is not half God and half man.  He is 100% God and 100% man.  Your math class teaches you that this is 200%.  But Jesus is not two people.  He is one.  Don’t try to figure it out.  It is a mystery.

     Now, God does not reveal these things to us for the sake of religious trivia or just to be theological stumpers.  Everything God reveals to us is for our salvation and for our comfort.  King David revealed to you that the one who is true God and true man serves you for your good.  We are conquerors who have a divine intercessor.

     David wrote, “The LORD says to my lord” (Psalm 110:1).  The first Lord is Yahweh, God Almighty.  He utters a divine proclamation.  But to whom?  David says, “my lord.”  This is not the divine name, Yahweh, but a word meaning master or superior.  David was not speaking about himself, as if God was giving David a place at the right hand of the Father.  He was speaking about his descendant.  Now, if this is David’s descendant, he is a man.  But if he is David’s superior, he is God.  So, he is both God and man.

     The LORD says to my lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool” (Psalm 110:1).  Jesus is given a place at the right hand of the Father.  For most people, the right hand is the dominant hand.  Therefore, Jesus is given a place of dominance.  Jesus told his apostles after his resurrection, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18).  Now, that probably does not surprise you.  “God rules.”  Stop the presses, right?

     But what our Lord is revealing to us is much more.  Jesus of Nazareth lived in humility and weakness throughout his life.  He gave glimpses of his divine nature, mainly through the miracles he did.  But he came in humility and weakness and mortality so that he could die for you.  But Psalm 49 teaches us, “Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life” (Psalm 49:7).  So, if a man dies for you, he does not save you.  But God died on the cross on Good Friday.  God himself makes the payment which takes away your sins.

     On the third day, Jesus rose from the dead.  “God has power over death.”  Stop the presses again, right?  But it was a man who has overcome death.  That means that you who are mankind, will also be delivered from death.  The grave cannot hold you.  Jesus will raise you up.  One man has conquered death on behalf of all mankind.  Then he ascended into heaven, paving the way into heaven on behalf of all mankind.  St. Paul wrote, “There is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).  Jesus is God who has come to earth, and he is man who has ascended into heaven.  He is God who has died for the sins of all mankind, and he is the man who has conquered death for all mankind.  Thanks to Jesus, God will dwell with man and men will dwell with God.  He is your divine intercessor.

     The LORD says to my lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool” (Psalm 110:1).  Jesus of Nazareth, true man, united to you as your dear brother, lives and reigns for you.  He is at the right hand of the Father, which means that this man is making the full use of his divine abilities for your good.  He is your divine intercessor, guaranteeing that God’s favor rests upon you and that all things will work for your ultimate good—maybe not for your immediate happiness, but certainly for your eternal well-being.

     Every enemy will be destroyed and crushed under Jesus’ feet.  The last enemy to be destroyed is death.  On the Last Day, Jesus will raise you up to live forever in glory.  Jesus will guarantee your place there before the Father.  This does not mean that your Father in heaven is one big meany who is disappointed that he does not get to smite you.  Your Father in heaven loves you.  He is pleased that Jesus lived, suffered, died, and rose for you.  Jesus intercedes before him, and the Father delights to hear it and to call you his own.  He is pleased to give you the kingdom. 

     We are more than conquerors, for Jesus has rescued us.  Through Jesus, we have overcome sin.  Through Jesus, we will be delivered from death.  Through Jesus, we are destined for heavenly glory.  We have a divine intercessor who comforts us in our fears and sorrows and who strengthens and keeps us in the one, true faith until life everlasting.  He is our Immanuel.  Because he lives and reigns forever, he will bring us to live and reign with him.

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

Sermon -- Chapel at Huron Valley Lutheran High School (September 23, 2022)

MATTHEW 17:14-20

CONQUERORS: When Challenged by Imperiled Families.

In the name + of Jesus.

      Can you imagine the anguish in this man’s voice?  “A man approached Jesus and knelt in front of him.  ‘Lord,’ he said, ‘have mercy on my son because he has seizures and is suffering terribly.  He often falls into the fire or into the water.  I brought him to your disciples, but they were not able to cure him’” (Matthew 17:14-15).  He was desperate for a solution to his son’s torment.  He had watched helplessly as his son was throttled by seizures.  And what panic he must have had when he saw his son throw himself into a lake to be drowned.  Or worse—into fire to be consumed by the flames!  This young person seemed to be committed to harming or killing himself.  And there was nothing his father could do about it.  He had heard that the apostles had the power to cure diseases, but even they provided no relief for this man’s son.  Can you imagine the anguish in this father’s voice when he begged Jesus, “Lord, have mercy on my son” (Matthew 17:14)?

     We learn later in Matthew’s account that the boy’s problems were not merely physical.  This was demon possession.  How this boy came to be possessed by a demon is not recorded.  But when Jesus meets him, he does not bother to investigate how it happened.  Jesus deals with him just as he is.  “Jesus answered, ‘Bring him here to me.’  Jesus rebuked the demon, and it went out of the boy, and he was cured from that hour” (Matthew 17:17-18). 

     Demon possession seems to have been prominent in Jesus’ day, likely so that he could demonstrate his authority over the demons.  Today, it is not unheard of, but it appears to be rare.  You need not fear demon possession; for the Holy Spirit dwells in you, and the Holy Spirit does not abdicate just because the devil desires you.  The only way you could face demon possession is by inviting the devil into your life through cultic practices or Ouija boards.  Such persistent behavior would eventually grieve the Holy Spirit and cause him to depart.  This would leave vacant space that the devil would be all too happy to fill. 

     While demon possession is rare, what seems to be common today is demon oppression.  That is, the devil torments people with spiritual, mental, or emotional problems.  Some of those problems are legitimate medical issues, such as depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia.  God has blessed us with medicines for these issues.  But many people are overwhelmed by a spirit of fear, anxiety, or despair.  

     Why do we face demon oppression?  I venture what I think is a reasonable guess.  We live in a society where people have stopped giving ear to God’s word.  Many grow up without church, without Scripture, without Jesus’ promises and encouragement.  Since they are not hearing the word of the Lord, another message takes its place.  The devil fills in where the word of God is absent.  So, rather than receiving comfort, people are filled with a sense of fear.  Rather than hope, the devil drives people to despair.  Rather than confidence, the devil sows seeds of doubt and fear.  Rather than trusting a message that is solid and everlasting, we are deceived by messages that continually change.  We expect to be found righteous when we adopt the most recent cause, only to find out that we must adopt the next cause to be righteous, and then the next cause, and the next.  And so it goes.  Soon, we are left feeling hollow and hopeless.  There is no relief from doubt, fear, anxiety, or despair.

     The man who brought his son to Jesus went to the right place and uttered the right prayer: “Lord, have mercy” (Matthew 17:14)!  And he does!  Jesus delivered the boy out of the grasp of the demon with his word.  By that word, Jesus restored him to a sound body and a right mind.  By his word, Jesus delivers you from the devil and all his works and all his ways. 

     Jesus set you free from the devil by giving himself into the devil’s hands for you.  The sins which taunt us and the grave that haunts us are taken up by Jesus.  Jesus made himself man to be put to death and to be the substitute for all mankind.  So, when the ancient serpent had the chance to sink his teeth into the Son of God, he did not waste a moment.  Jesus was pierced to the cross with the sins of the world upon him, and the devil swallowed him up in death.  Jesus was placed in a grave, seemingly defeated by sin, death, and the devil.  But Jesus rose from the grave on the third day.  All sins were put away.  Jesus crushed the head of the serpent, and when a serpent’s head is crushed it is powerless.  And the grave had to vomit Jesus out just as Jonah was vomited out of the giant fish on the third day.  Jesus has conquered.  He lives and reigns.  And he delivers you from the sin, death, and the devil.  Therefore, you are conquerors with him.

     The father came to the right person with the right prayer.  “Lord, have mercy.”  He had to come to Jesus because the apostles had failed to overcome the demons.  Jesus rebuked them; for, he had given them authority to drive out demons.  They failed to believe that they could do what Jesus gave them authority to do.  Jesus told them with such authority that they could even move mountains if necessary.

     Now, you and I are not apostles.  We do not have that authority.  But we do have the word of God.  And the word of God does, indeed, drive off the devil.  The word of God does not merely talk about the forgiveness of sins; it delivers us.  The word of God does not merely refer to the resurrection of the dead; it provides it.  The word of God is your remedy against doubts, fears, anxiety, and despair.  For it reveals a Redeemer who loves you, who created you for a purpose, and who has redeemed you for everlasting glory.

     Does this mean you will never struggle with mental health or emotional problems?  Does it mean that you are a poor Christian if you deal with anxiety or depression?  Not at all.  The devil may still oppress you.  But even in your struggles, especially in your struggles, you have a refuge.  You have a Savior.  He keeps you in his care.  You get to call on him in prayer and to hold him to his promises.  And he promises: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16).  Not, “whoever believes and has his act together.”  Not “whoever believes and is emotionally stable.”  Not “whoever believes and is always cheerful.”  You are saved by faith in Jesus alone.  He is all you need to be a conqueror.

     And since he has conquered, you are his prize.  Since he lives, so will you.  We flee to the right person and say the right prayer: “Lord, have mercy.”  And he does.

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

Sermon -- HVL Chapel (February 25, 2022)

PSALM 51:7-9

LET ME HEAR JOY AND GLADNESS.

 In the name + of Jesus.

     To appreciate the plea in this Psalm, it helps to know what was going on.  The heading of the Psalm gives us the backstory.  “A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba” (Psalm 51, heading).  You know David’s story—the temptation from gazing at a beautiful woman, the adulterous affair, the unwanted pregnancy, and David’s plot to kill off Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah.  It might have even seemed like David got away with it.  When he took Bathsheba into his palace, people may have considered David such a benevolent king that he would care for the widow of one of his highest officers.  David could try to suppress the truth, but David knew the truth, and it ate at him. 

     Perhaps you have known the anguish that comes from hidden guilt.  David described it as his bones being crushed.  You might know it by sleepless nights, or by being unable to eat because your stomach is in knots.  You can slap on a happy face and pretend that everything is fine.  But if you are hounded and haunted by your sins, you are not going to find relief by pretending everything is fine.  Hiding the truth never makes it untrue.

     The Lord sent the prophet Nathan to confront David and to expose his sin.  I suppose it was painful for David to have to hear those words.  And if you have to be confronted about your sins, I am sure that it hurts.  But do you think that God is not grieved when we sin against him?  And do you think that God’s love is so shallow that he would just cast you off when you sin against him?  Friends might be petty; God is not.  If God’s Law crushes your bones or turns your stomach in knots, it is because God wants you to recognize the damage that your sins are doing to you.  God does not want you to lose your salvation or to have your sins choke out your faith.  God’s Law exposes our sins so that we will stop pretending that everything is okay.  If God produces sorrow over sins, it is so that he can finally produce the gladness and joy of salvation.

     Psalm 51 was written in response to Nathan’s preaching.  In it, David expresses his yearning for relief, for joy, and for gladness.  “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.  Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice.  Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities” (Psalm 51:7-9).  David sought relief for his guilt.  He no longer attempted to cover up his own sin.  There were no excuses to explain that his wickedness was actually okay.  “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow” (Psalm 51:7), David cried.  He threw himself at God’s mercy and begged God to save him. 

     Hyssop was used in ceremonial washing for one who is unclean.  The unclean person would not have access to the Lord’s temple or the Lord’s people as long as he was unclean.  The hyssop was dipped in water and flicked upon the person to splash him.  After the washing, he would be clean.  David longed for such cleansing so that the Lord’s favor would be restored to him.

     He also pleaded that the Lord would hide his face from David’s sins and blot out his iniquities.  We might get the idea that David was asking the Lord to turn a blind eye to what he did.  But God cannot do that.  That would mean that God does not take his own word seriously.  Could God really turn a blind eye to David’s adultery?  Could God really overlook David’s orchestrated murder of Uriah?  Can God really command, “Thou shalt not…” and then later say, “It’s okay if you do”?

     You might think it would be a sweet deal if the teachers or the police turned a blind eye to you when you break the rules.  But what if someone were breaking into your car?  Would you be okay with others turning a blind eye to that?  You would demand that people uphold the law, because then you would recognize that the law is there to protect you and to do you good.  It is all the more true with God’s Law.  He gives his Commandments for the good of all people.  When we break God’s Law, we do harm to our neighbor and we fail to honor God.  He does not turn a blind eye to that.

     The Lord knows our sins—from the words and deeds which are known by all to the thoughts that we pray no one ever discovers.  Like David, we can offer no excuses.  We have no defense.  We can only plead to God to act, to have mercy, and to save.  We cry with David, “Let me hear joy and gladness.”

     Jesus does not waste time trying to pick through what sins are serious and what sins are minor.  He pays for them all.  Jesus bore all guilt and died for all sins.  The joy and gladness that you long to hear come from Jesus.  He cleanses you of every spot and stain of sin.  Listen to what Jesus has done.  “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:25-27).  If you are baptized into Christ, you are cleansed of all your sin.  When you hear the invocation, “In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit,” you should hear joy and gladness.  For, in this name your sins are washed away.

     David also prayed, “Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities” (Psalm 51:9).  The Lord does not turn a blind eye to your sins; he covers them.  Listen to what the Lord does: “As many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27).  In your baptism, you were covered with Jesus’ innocence.  When God sees you, he sees the righteousness of Jesus Christ.  And God does not condemn the innocent.  He delights in you—no matter what your past has been, no matter what secrets haunt you. 

     David wrote, “Let me hear joy and gladness” (Psalm 51:8).  He did not write, “Let me feel joy and gladness.”  Because of guilt and regret, our sins may always plague us.  If you feel that way, you are not alone.  Do you think David ever forgot what he did?  Do you think Peter ever forgot his denial of Jesus?  Do you think Paul ever forgot that he persecuted Christians?  Do you think there was ever a day when any of them said, “You know, that just doesn’t bother me anymore”?  That’s why David said, “Let me hear joy and gladness” (Psalm 51:8).  God delivers joy and gladness through his word.  God’s promises do not depend upon your feelings.  God’s promises are confirmed by Jesus.  His death is the payment for your sins.  Your feelings don’t take away Jesus’ crucifixion.  His resurrection confirms God’s favor upon you.  Your feelings don’t nullify the resurrection.  In your baptism, you were covered with Jesus’ innocence—whether you feel like it or not.  Jesus saves you.  God says so.  That is your joy.  That is the gladness of salvation.   

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

Sermon -- All Saints' Day (November 1, 2021)

Note: This sermon was preached for chapel at Huron Valley Lutheran High School in Westland, Michigan. 

MATTHEW 5:1-12

BLESSED ARE THE SAINTS OF GOD.

 In the name + of Jesus.

     This portion of St. Matthew’s Gospel is known as the Beatitudes.  It comes from the Latin word which is repeated here as “Blessed.”  Some have called this portion of Scripture the “BE Attitudes,” suggesting that Jesus is telling you what to be.  “BE Attitudes” is cute, but it is wrong.  These are not commandments.  These are blessings.  “Blessed” is a status that God bestows on all his saints, not a condition that you are supposed to earn by being poor in spirit, meek, or persecuted.

     The first thing we notice is the audience to whom this sermon is directed.  “Jesus … went up on a mountainside and sat down.  His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them” (Matthew 5:1-2).  Jesus is speaking to the saints. 

     Saints means “holy ones.”  Holy means that which has been set apart for God and for his purpose.  For example, Holy Communion is bread and wine that have been set apart and consecrated to be the body and blood of Christ.  Holy Communion is set apart for God’s purpose—for you, for the forgiveness of sins.  The holy things are given to the holy ones.  God has set you apart as his holy ones.  You have been set apart from sin; you are pardoned of all guilt.  You have been set apart from death; your life now rests in Jesus Christ who will raise you from the grave at the resurrection of all flesh.  You have been set apart from damnation; for “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).  Blessed are the saints of God.

     As saints, you have also been set apart for good works.  Since you have been set apart from sin, you do not continue in it.  You have been called to honor God with your life.  You have been set apart for a life that is selfless, honest, pure, and praiseworthy.

     Blessed are the saints of God.  The Beatitudes proclaim both what you are and what you will be.  The first blessing is in the present tense.  “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3).  If you are poor in spirit, that means you recognize that you have nothing to give to God that he should reward you.  We confess our sins, not our worthiness.  If we would have the riches of heaven, God must give it.  And he does!  Yours is the kingdom of heaven.  Jesus has purchased and won it for you with his holy, precious blood and with his innocent sufferings and death.  He gave you all that he won for you in Holy Baptism.  Through that washing, which is set apart for God’s purpose, he set you apart as his redeemed saint.  Yours are the blessings of forgiveness and peace.  The kingdom is yours.  Blessed are the saints of God. 

     For the most part, the remaining blessings concern what you will be.  You are already children of God through faith in Jesus, but you do not yet look like the children of God or act like the children of God.  I am guessing that you don’t always feel like the children of God either.  Fear not.  That blessing will come to you.

     “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matthew 5:4).  Your sins produce your mourning throughout your life.  If you have ever done something that just produces utter shame—the kind of shame that just makes you want to run away and never come back—you are not alone.  That kind of guilt is common.  Satan tries to make it even worse by convincing you that there is no hope for you.  But Satan is a liar.  You have a merciful Savior who consoles you.  No matter what you have done, “the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies you from all sin” (1 John 1:7).  Some regrets never seem to go away.  But listen: You will be comforted.  You are assured now that you are his saints.  Blessed are you—present tense.  But the day will come when Jesus delivers you into the heavenly kingdom where you will never be haunted by shame again.

     Blessed are the saints of God.  “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6).  If you hunger and thirst for righteousness, it is because you don’t have it.  People who are full don’t crave more food.  Those who are famished do.  We continue to come back to our Lord for word and sacraments because we always need his righteousness.  We don’t have it on our own.  Even when we are declared righteous, our lives don’t exemplify it.  Therefore, we flee to Jesus to be filled with his body and blood.  And the day will come when we will be perfected in glory.  We will be satisfied, forever righteous before God—not just in status, but also in our minds and hearts and actions.

     Blessed are the saints of God.  “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8).  Right now, we only know God by his word.  We live by faith, not by sight; for, no one has seen God.  But you will.  Jesus cleanses you of all unrighteousness.  Therefore, you will dwell in the very presence of God and see him in all his glory.  Blessed are the saints of God, for they will all be gathered around the throne of God and praise the Lamb who was slain for them.

     Today is the Festival of All Saints—both the saints on earth and in heaven.  The Beatitudes remind us of what we are now and what we will be.  The saints on earth have not been glorified.  Yours is the kingdom of God, but not yet the glory.  The saints who have been delivered out of this world dwell before the Lord Jesus.  The live forever in uninterrupted peace, purity, and perfection.  But all of Christ’s redeemed—whether in heaven or on earth—are his saints.  Together, all the saints join in praise of God who has loved us and saved us.  Together, all the saints feast at the heavenly banquet—us for the moment at the Lord’s altar, and the saints in heaven continually in glory.  Together, all the saints confess Jesus with our lips and honor Jesus with our lives.  It is what we have been set apart for.
     Blessed are the saints of God.  Many of the blessings will not be seen until we enter heavenly glory, but the status is always in the present tense.  Blessed are you—the poor in spirit, the mourners, the meek, the merciful, the peacemakers, and even those who are persecuted because they live as those who are set apart for salvation.  No matter what anyone says of you, Jesus says you are blessed.  You are blessed because you are his.  Blessed are the saints of God—both now and forever.

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

Sermon -- Chapel at Huron Valley Lutheran High School (March 5, 2021)

This chapel service was conducted at Huron Valley Lutheran High School in Westland, Michigan.

 

HEBREWS 11:13-16

JESUS SATISFIES US WITH A BETTER HOME.

In the name + of Jesus.

     The patriarchs “acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth” (Hebrews 11:13).  You probably understand what it means to feel like a stranger.  If you have ever felt like you don’t belong, you can appreciate how the patriarchs felt.  When you don’t feel like you belong, it is probably because you have different interests than your classmates and friends.  When your interests or personality or sense of humor is different, you don’t fit in like you want to.  You just want to belong, to be accepted, and to be loved.

     For Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their families, it was more than that.  They acknowledged that they were exiles.  Strangers may not feel like they belong in the room, but exiles have been shown the door.  Strangers might be tolerated, but exiles are rejected and despised.  Why would the patriarchs feel that way?

     For one reason, they did not have a country to call their home.  They were nomads, moving from place to place in tents.  God had promised them that they would one day own all the land.  In proclaiming the word of the Lord and the promise of the Savior, they likely told the peoples around them that part of the promise, too.  So, they were not always welcomed where they went.  Some even viewed them as a threat. 

     But the truth is that the patriarchs did not try to blend in with the nations around them.  They did not become like Sodom and Gomorrah so that they would be liked by them.  They did not adopt the perverted worship of the Canaanites.  They would have been received much better if they had, but they refused.  They persisted in their belief that not all religions are the same.  They remained faithful to the word of the Lord.  And they proclaimed and confessed that word, whether it was well received or not.

     If you want to blend into the world, you can.  To do so, you have to adopt worldly thinking and worldly behavior.  And to do that, you will have to renounce the words and promises of God.  If you do, you will be welcomed, accepted, and even praised by the world.  It will feel good, and you may even benefit with possessions, prestige, and pride.  But this is what the Lord says: “Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels” (Mark 8:38).  So you can blend into the world, but then you better know at what cost.  Beware.

     Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and all his family chose not to be received and praised by the world.  Why?  Because they were longing for a better home.  While they enjoyed some blessings in this world—and God grants blessings to all, even to the wicked—they also longed to be free from every form of evil.  They longed to be free from the fear of death.  They longed to be free from pain and sorrow.  They even longed to be free from their own sinful desires which favor acceptance from the world over acceptance from the Lord.  They renounced the world and were willing to be strangers and exiles in it.  That produced its own hardships and challenges, but it was okay.  For, they longed for a better home; and the Savior would satisfy them with it.

     Now you, dear Christians, face the same world and the same struggles as they did.  Granted, you enjoy better technology and nicer houses, but you live in the same wicked world.  The attitudes and actions of this world have not changed.  And you battle the same temptations that they did—wanting to belong, to be accepted, and to be praised by the world.  It is hard to be a stranger, and even harder to be an exile.

     You and I have been no better than the world we live in.  We, too, are sinners.  We prove it with our willingness to abandon God’s word when we want to be cheered by worldly, sinful people.  To feel like we belong, we boast about our sins and laugh with others who boasts about theirs.  What else is this but to be ashamed of our Lord and his word?

     But, dear Christians, the Lord has not been ashamed of you.  He is not ashamed to be called your brother.  He does not merely tolerate you.  He loves you.  God was pleased to become one of us so that he could redeem all of us.  Even though he created the world, he was not received in it.  He was rejected and despised by men and familiar with suffering.  And it was more than just feeling like he did not belong.  He also was rejected and despised by his heavenly Father.  For Jesus took up our sins and was crucified and condemned for them.  He was forsaken by his Father so that we would be forgiven of our sins.  He was rejected so that we would be reconciled. 

     Therefore, now that you have been rescued from the devil, the world, and your own sinful flesh, you are strangers and exiles in the world.  But fear not; for, Jesus satisfies you with a better home.  St. Paul wrote: “You are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” (Ephesians 2:19)  At your baptism, God put his name on you.  Since you now bear the family name, you possess the family treasures—the favor of God, the forgiveness of sins, and the inheritance of the heavenly kingdom.  Jesus satisfies you with a better home.

     He has also given you a place in the Christian church with fellow strangers and exiles in this world.  In the Church, you have fellow Christians who delight in acknowledging Jesus Christ and his word, which also means renouncing the devil and all his works and all his ways.  The world adopts those ways and even calls them good.  You hold onto God’s word and call them evil.  For this, you are rejected and despised.  So, if you feel like a stranger and an exile in this world, it is not because there is something wrong with you.  It is because the Lord has made you lights in the world.  In the darkness, lights tend to stand out.  As it did for the patriarchs, so also for you: It produces hardships and challenges, but that’s okay.  For, like the patriarchs, you long for a better home; and the Savior will satisfy you with it.

     Until Jesus comes and brings you to that heavenly home, you will continue to be strangers and exiles here.  That is why you will continue to need to join together with your fellow strangers and exiles at church.  You will need God’s word and sacraments to keep you faithful.  You will need to pray, a lot.  And you will need the encouragement of your fellow Christians so that you remember you are not the only stranger and exile here.  Yes, you are a stranger and an exile in the world, but you are a dearly loved child in the kingdom of God.  This world will pass way, but the kingdom of our God endures forever.  This world will perish, but you look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.  Jesus grants all of this, and he satisfies you with a better home.

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

Sermon -- Festival of St. James of Jerusalem (October 23, 2020)

This was preached for chapel at Huron Valley Lutheran High School of Westland, Michigan.

JAMES 1:1-12

JAMES WANTS GOD'S PEOPLE TO BE GODLY PEOPLE.

In the name + of Jesus.

      If St. James of Jerusalem should be remembered for anything, it is that he was a pastor who encouraged godly living.  We assume the epistle of James was written by James of Jerusalem.  Some suggest it was written by James the Less, but its emphasis certainly is consistent with what we know about St. James of Jerusalem.  We also know of James from Acts 15.  There, he presided over the Church at a great council.  In the Council of Jerusalem, James guided the discussion which debated how much the Church was to reflect Jewish customs.  In other words, how Jewish should the Church be?  The Council of Jerusalem concluded with instruction to the Gentile Christians about how to live in a way that honors God and maintains harmony among the Jewish Christians.  The point, of course, is not that one is saved by his ethnic heritage, any more than being Lutheran means being German.  It is about God's people being godly people.

     That is the emphasis of his epistle.  James wants God's people to be godly people.  He does not spend any time speaking about how we are saved through faith in Jesus Christ.  James assumes you already know that.  You are God's people and you are confident in God's promises.  Therefore, he jumps right to instruction and encouragement.  James wants God's people to be godly people.

     Giving instruction is easy.  Following that instruction is hard.  And living in a world that resists and ridicules godly living makes it all the harder.  James knows that, and he is aware you will face that.  Therefore, he encourages you, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” (James 1:2-3)  

     You would think that godly living would be easy for God's people.  But we are always fighting against something.  We fight against the temptations that the devil lays before us.  He always makes wickedness look attractive.  We fight against the world which tells us that we are cool only when we adopt sinful choices.  And we also fight against our own sinful desires which always wants to take what God has chosen not to give us.  Every day is a battle with trials of many kinds and tests which can prove to be very hard.

     James knows that you have faced this and will continue to face this.  You might think that it will calm down when you get older.  It doesn't.  You need to be aware of that, but you don't need to be alarmed by it.  In fact, James says, “Consider it pure joy … whenever you face trials of many kinds.” (James 1:2)  Why?  Because “the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” (James 1:3)  Believe it or not, the temptations you face and the trials you endure can serve a good purpose for you.  As St. James wrote, they produce perseverance.  Or, in other words, they teach God's people to be more committed to being godly people and to be more confirmed in godly living.

     Let's compare it to athletic competition.  You know how to play soccer.  You have seen footage of professionals play soccer.  You are aware of the rules and the goal of the game.  You understand strategies which are supposed to help you succeed.  You know all of this in your head.  How many games have you won daydreaming about soccer?  Probably all of them.  But it is different when you actually step onto the pitch.  It is a lot harder when you are facing real opponents, especially if those opponents are experienced players, are skilled in their game plan, and are well-conditioned.  You will only improve as a soccer player and as a soccer team if you put in the work.  The work is not always fun.  If it is actually to improve you as a soccer player, it will not be easy, either.  But continual training will make you better.

     Therefore, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4)  When you are challenged in your faith, you are forced to acknowledge that you have not mastered everything.  First, you must flee back to Jesus for mercy and forgiveness.  For, we often fall into temptation when it seduces us.  But the blood of Jesus continues to mark you as God's people.  Then listen

to Jesus for strength and encouragement.  By his word, Jesus continues to sustain you in the faith so that you remember why you are God's people.  By his word, Jesus strengthens you in the faith so that you remain committed to being godly people.  

     The trials you face and the challenges you endure can serve a good purpose: They force you back to God's promises.  “Why do I believe what I believe?  Why do I confess this hope that others don't care about?  Why do I trust the Scriptures when others tell me that they are untrustworthy?”  Flee to the Scriptures; they are not weak on answers.  “Why do I maintain a godly life when my friends don't and mock me that I do?  What reason do I have to be steadfast in the faith?”  Oh, yes, because I have a Father who is merciful and loves me, because Jesus gives me a refuge in death, because the Holy Spirit gives me a purpose in life, because I have a Savior who has set me free from shame and guilt, and because I am a baptized child of God.  By continuing to listen to God's word, by participating in holy communion with Christ, and by continuing in the fellowship with other Christians, you will persevere.  James wants God's people to be godly people, and this is how our Lord maintains both.

     “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12)  This is James' prayer for you.  This is God's promise to you.  This is the Holy Spirit's work in you.  This is our eternal hope, and it is why God's people want to be godly people.

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

St. James of Jerusalem

Lutheran worship is liturgical.  While that often refers to an order of worship, it can also refer to the calendar of the Church Year.  The Church Year includes major festivals, such as Christmas, Epiphany, Easter, Pentecost, etc...  Today we recognize a minor festival, the Festival of St. James of Jerusalem.

Though not one of the Twelve Apostle, St. James of Jerusalem was the recognized leader of the Christian Church in Jerusalem.  Known also as the brother of our Lord (Galatians 1:19), James was presumably the author of the epistle of James.  James was considered a pillar of the early Christian Church (Galatians 2:9) and presided over a Church Council in Jerusalem which acknowledged that Gentiles too have a place in God’s kingdom (Acts 15).  Tradition teaches that James served his entire life in Jerusalem, finally being martyred about 62 AD by the High Priest Annas II.  James was reported to have been thrown to his death from the pinnacle of the temple, stoned to death, or both.

Sermon -- Chapel at Huron Valley Lutheran High School (October 14, 2019)

This was the basis for a chapel devotion at Huron Valley Lutheran High School in Westland, Michigan.

PSALM 37:25

LOOK AT HIS POWER OVER HUNGER:

I Have Never Seen His Children Begging Bread.

In the name + of Jesus.

     The Psalm from which our verse is taken addresses the frustrations Christian often have in being faithful servants of Jesus.  We want to find joy in keeping God's Commandments.  We want to believe that a life which is lived according to those Commandments will not only be blessed, but will also look and feel blessed.  You might even remember the words in Luther's Small Catechism: “He promises grace and ever blessing to all who keep these Commandments.  Therefore we should love and trust in him and gladly obey what he commands.” (Conclusion to the Commandments)  But our frustration is this: It often does not look or feel like it is true.  In fact, it looks like the wicked prosper.  They do what they want and they get away with it.  Because of that, we have a hard time trusting in our Lord, and we wonder what is the value of keeping his Commandments. 
     King David wrote this Psalm, and he recognized what you do.  He urges you, “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!” (Psalm 37:7)  In other words, don't be deceived when you see the wicked prosper and seem to get away with everything.  And don't be discouraged if it seems like faithfully holding to God's Commandments results in you just scraping by.  Do not assume that the wicked are happy.  And if God decides that you will just scrape by through life, do not assume that this is bad. 
     Our Lord Jesus Christ has not taught us to pray for riches or for fame.  The world runs after these things, thinking that life is measured by how much you own or by how well you're known.  This is why people lie, steal, cheat, boast, and manipulate.  And some are quite successful in doing this.  But King David would remind you: “Mark the blameless and behold the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace.  But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the future of the wicked shall be cut off.” (Psalm 37:37-38)  Even if the wicked prosper for decades, they do not get away with it.  They will perish.  And even if you should barely get through this life, knowing only debt and stress and hardship, your future is an everlasting glory and heavenly riches without end. 
     Even now, you are children of the Most High God.  That does not come because of fame or fortune.  It comes because God has revealed to you that his favor rests upon you thanks to the blood of Jesus Christ.  You and I owed God perfect obedience, and we daily come up short.  But Jesus Christ has canceled your debts.  He has dropped all the charges against you.  More than that, he fills you with what is lacking.  He does not merely say you're okay; he has made you blameless in the sight of his Father.  He daily and fully forgives all your sins.  He daily and freely assures you that you are beloved children of God.  He does not put off his blessings until Judgment Day.  Today he calls you his saints.  He sets you apart for his forgiveness and mercy, for serving him and others, and for blessings—both bestowed by him upon you and then given by you to others.  Today he extends his love upon you.  Even if the world does not know who you are, God does.  And even if the world tells you that you have little value for them, God assures you that you were worth the holy, precious blood of Jesus Christ.
     Now, if this is how God has worked all things to grant you the resurrection of your body to eternal life, will he not also supply your body now with what you need to live?  King David saw it was true.  Even though prosperity was found among those who lie, cheat, and steal, even though prosperity eluded God's people, the righteous were not forgotten or forsaken.  King David testified, “I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.” (Psalm 37:25)  
     This promise is a general truth.  It does not suggest that Christians are immune to famines or shortages.  If the nation should suffer, so will we.  But famines are the exception, not the rule.  The rule is that God does grant daily bread, even to all the wicked.  Every year, our Lord supplies grain and goods, fruits and fields to feed the world.  He gives you each day your daily bread—both in abundance and variety.   And the rule that God works in you is to crave what is good from God's hand. 
     There is no need to envy the wicked who will perish.  You do not need to crave fame, fortune, or even worry about being well-fed.  Food may sustain you for a day (or for teenagers, a few hours), but the word of the Lord endures forever.  That eternal word sustains you through life with peace, comfort, and encouragement.  It even delivers you through death to the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.  So, if we have clothing and food, we can be content.  And since we have Jesus' word and sacrament, we can rejoice.  For by these, we are saved.  By these, we live forever.  By these, we are declared righteous by Jesus, and the righteous are never forsaken.

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

Sermon -- Chapel at Huron Valley Lutheran High School (May 3, 2019)

REVELATION 22:1-5

FIX OUR EYES ON JESUS.

We Look Forward To Life In Heaven.

In the name + of Jesus.

     Is this world a good place, or a bad place?  Is life full of blessings, or of hardships?  If I were going to make you pick one or the other, your answer will be determined by what's been going on in your life or what you are paying attention to.  If you have a new boyfriend, then everything is great.  People are wonderful, and even the dandelions are pretty.  If your grandmother was just killed in a car accident, then everything is clouded by sadness and pain.  You won't care about the Avengers movie, singing birds, or chocolate chip cookies.  This world gives a mix of sorrow and happiness, blessing and hardship.  We have all felt it.
     You know why this world is full of problems.  The Bible reveals it.  When sin entered the world, it corrupted everything.  It corrupts people.  This is why people are jerks.  It is why people steal from you, lie to you, lie about you, and turn their backs on you.  And it is why you say nasty words about other people and then feel ashamed when you learn that those nasty words got back to the person you were speaking about.  Sin ruins relationships.  And it produces all kinds of problems in life—car troubles, health problems, flooding, allergies, and ultimately death.  The Lord is still good and kind to us, and he does fill our lives with blessings, but those blessings are often tainted by the hardships we face.  Sin has given us a broken the world and broken lives.  And we cannot fix it or escape our own sinful condition.
     This is why we fix our eyes on Jesus.  Jesus has come to save us from our sinful condition.  And you know this, too.  Jesus transferred our sins to his account and covered the debt we owe.  The blood of God's Son pays the price for all the children of mankind.  And Jesus transferred his righteousness to our account.  When you were baptized, you were clothed with Jesus' righteousness and cleansed of every stain of sin.  Since God now declares you innocent and regards you as blameless, you are destined for everlasting life.
     Right now, you are all children of God—forgiven of all sins and saints in God's kingdom.  But the world you live in is still broken.  There are still hardships, sorrows, and pain.  You must understand that the path you are on is the same path Jesus walked.  In this world, you will have troubles.  Jesus did too.  Jesus entered his glory after his resurrection from the dead.  And so it will be for you.  You will be raised up free from sin and sorrow, pain and problems.  We fix our eyes on Jesus as we look forward to life in heaven.
     St. John gave us a glimpse of that perfect life.  It will be a new creation, a new heaven and earth.  Paradise will be restored.  St. John packs a great deal of imagery in these few verses.  God is light, and he will forever shine on his people.  The water of life will be there—a great river flowing so that no one will ever thirst for righteousness.  You will have it in abundance.  The tree of life is there—in fact, two trees which continually bear fruit on which God's saints will feast.  The leaves of those trees will bring perfect healing to bodies, relationships, and whatever has been bruised or broken.  “No longer will there be anything accursed.” (Revelation 22:3)  God's redeemed people will serve him perfectly.  Never again will you know regret for your own sins, nor will you be sinned against.
     St. John does not tell us what we might be doing in heaven—what kind of entertainment there might be, whether or not there are sports, camping trips, or roller coasters.  It doesn't matter.  What does matter is that we will be delivered from all evil.  There will be no more sorrow, mourning, crying, or pain.  There will be no disease, disaster, death, or decay.  What does matter is that we will be with Jesus.  He loved us enough to suffer hell so that we will never have to.  Jesus lived for us, died for us, and rose from the grave to destroy death for us.  God is love, and we will be with him, basking in his love, his light, and his glory forevermore.
     We fix our eyes on Jesus as we look forward to life in heaven.  We fix our eyes on Jesus in order to be kept in his care until we are taken to that perfect life in heaven.  He has already put his name on our foreheads in baptism.  We hunger and thirst for his righteousness, and he continually feeds us.  Jesus is the fruit which hangs from the tree of life, which is the cross which has ransomed you from death.  We already get to feast on that when we come to the altar of our Lord and partake of the heavenly meal.  This is how we fix our eyes and ears and minds and hearts on Jesus, and this is how he strengthens and keeps us in the true faith until life everlasting.  We fix our eyes on Jesus until we receive life in heaven; and then we will be with Jesus forever.

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

Manitowoc Lutheran High School Choir at Good Shepherd

Since we are hosting the students from the Manitowoc Lutheran High School Choir at Good Shepherd this weekend, they will be singing in our Sunday service (10:00 AM) as an expression of thanks.  After the service and a quick brunch, they will be heading off to Huron Valley Lutheran High School for the 2:00 PM sacred concert.

LANCER SINGERS

The Manitowoc Lutheran Lancer Singers have had the privilege of making music to the Lord since 1968!  For the past 50 years we have carried the message of salvation out in the Lakeshore community by participating in worship services at our federation congregations, performing in our school concerts, and representing our school at other congregational and civic activities.  We love proclaiming the wondrous works of our gracious God through word and song!

The Lancer Singers are a 24-voice an extra-curricular choir chosen by audition each year from the Manitowoc Lutheran student body.  The Lancer Singers have been extremely successful in the Wisconsin State Music Association district and state competitions.

The past 20 years they have received ratings of 1*and qualified for the state festival.  In April of 2008 the Lancer Singers were selected as the Best Overall High School Choir at the Chicago Festivals of Music.  They have received a gold 1st place rating at the World Strides Heritage Music Festival in Chicago (2012, 2014, & 2016) in the Vocal Jazz Choir category.  Overall, the continuous focus of the Lancer Singers is to sing our Lord’s praises with the gifts and abilities that HE has blessed us with.

        Thank you for allowing us to worship with you here today, and we pray your hearts are moved closer to your Savior Jesus today and every day!

“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your mercy in the morning and your faithfulness every night.” 

Psalm 92:1-2

Sermon -- Chapel at Huron Valley Lutheran High School (October 8, 2018)

This sermon was preached for the chapel service at Huron Valley Lutheran High School in Westland, Michigan.

JOHN 5:28-29

FIX OUR EYES ON JESUS:

We See Jesus As Our Judge.

In the name + of Jesus.

     One of the three ecumenical creeds of the Christian Church is the Athanasian Creed.  It is not well-known, and if your church does confess it in a Divine Service, it is likely only once a year on Trinity Sunday.  What bothers most Lutherans about the Athanasian Creed is probably not its length, but these two lines: “At his coming all people will rise with their own bodies to answer for their personal deeds.  Those who have done good will enter eternal life, but those who have done evil will go into eternal fire.”   
     The Athanasian Creed does not confess some strange teaching that made it in there by accident.  It confesses exactly what Jesus said in our reading from John's gospel: Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. (John 5:28-29)  
     Now, you have been taught the Gospel, and so your confession and your confidence is that you will rise on the Last Day to receive eternal life.  But both the Athanasian Creed and Jesus' words throw all of that into doubt.  Our doubts arise because we take the words of our Lord seriously.  Those who rise to receive eternal life have done what is good.  And those who rise from the dead to receive a judgment of damnation will be damned because they have done evil.  This is what the Scriptures plainly teach. 
     But where do we find ourselves in those verses?  We would like to think that we are good people who have done what is right.  But then we also confess Sunday after Sunday: “I have done what is evil and failed to do what is good.”  And I hope you recognize that such a confession is true.  Because if you say the words but believe in your heart, “No, that's not true.  I am good.  I cannot be faulted for evil,” then the absolution has no value for you at all.  You can't be forgiven if there is nothing to forgive.
     Of course, we all want to go to heaven rather than hell, so it is not hard to figure out why we want to be included among those who have done what is good.  This is one of the reasons people want to have eulogies proclaimed at their funerals.  Eulogy literally means, “Good word,” and people want good words said about themselves both while they are alive and especially after they've died.  They want to believe they are good.  They like the idea of friends telling them how good they are and what good they've done and how much they mean to other people.
     Now, this should not come as a shock to you: Your friends like you.  Your family likes you.  They think you are a good person, and they like to tell you so.  And that is good.  Friends and family should think fondly of you.  However, your judgment is not based on the opinion you have of yourself.  Nor is your judgment based on the opinion that others may have of you.  Your friends' fondness for you cannot save you, but then also your enemies' hatred of you cannot damn you.
     The only judgment that matters is the Judge who actually issues the sentence upon us.  Therefore, we fix our eyes on Jesus whom we see as our judge.  He will come again to judge the living and the dead.  And “an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. (John 5:28-29) 
     So, where do you stand?  You stand where the judge puts you.  No opinion of man matters—whether good or bad.  Not even your opinion of yourself matters—whether you think you are pretty good, or whether you feel worthless or useless.  None of that matters.  These do not define you, so do not trust in them.  The only word that matters is the word of Jesus Christ; for he is your judge. 
     Fix your eyes on Jesus, whom you see as your judge.  Good news!  Your judge is on your side.  Better than that, your judge has already rendered your verdict to you.  Listen, this is what the Lord says: “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)  Those who have done evil will be damned.  But God made Jesus to be sin for us.  Every evil you have done, every word that carelessly flew out of your mouth, every jealous or unkind though which has harbored in your heart—all of this was put upon Jesus who was damned in your place.  Your condemnation has already been received.  The judgment is in: Jesus has suffered and died for you.
     Fix your eyes on Jesus, whom you see as your judge.  Good news!  Your judge is on your side.  Better than that, your judge has already rendered your verdict to you.  Listen, this is what the Lord says: “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)  Only those who have done what is good will rise to have eternal life.  And in Christ, you have become the righteousness of God.  You, who are baptized into Christ, are clothed with Christ.  The perfect obedience of Jesus is wrapped around you; therefore, all the good that needs to be done has been done for and has been credited to you.  There is no other eulogy which matters.  Jesus, who is your judge, proclaims this good word to you and puts that good word upon you.
     Fix your eyes on Jesus, whom you see as your judge.  Good news!  Your judge is on your side.  Better than that, your judge has already rendered your verdict to you.  You are justified in Christ.  You are not guilty of sin.  You are redeemed and righteous; for you are washed, cleansed, and purified in the blood of Christ.  He who has conquered death for you will raise you up for the judgment.  And his verdict is as good as his word.  You are the beloved of God.  You are children of the resurrection.  And you are heirs of eternal life.  We do marvel at this, just as we are saved and comforted by it.

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