Sermon -- Ascension of our Lord, transferred (May 17, 2026)

JESUS IS EXALTED TO EXALT YOU.

EPHESIANS 1:15-23

In the name + of Jesus.

M:       Alleluia!  Christ is risen!

Cong:  He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!

     Every Sunday, we confess about Jesus, “He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty” (Apostles’ Creed).  Jesus Christ is exalted above all things, just as St. Paul wrote: “(God) raised (Jesus) from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule, authority, power, and dominion, and above every name that is given, not only in this age but also in the one to come” (Ephesians 1:20-21).  There is no one who is greater, more powerful, more sovereign than Jesus.  He is exalted above all things and all people.

     During his life, Jesus was not exalted.  Rather, we speak of his humiliation.  In this case, humiliation is not embarrassment.  God the Son was not embarrassed to become a man.  But God the Son humbled himself to take the form of a servant—subservient to the demands of God’s Law and subservient to the trials, temptations, and troubles of a sinful world.  Jesus made himself subservient to his enemies who slandered him, seized him, and sentenced him.  God the Son humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross.  Jesus humbled himself so that he could exalt you.

     You and I have every reason to humble ourselves.  Consider what St. Paul wrote to the Philippians: “In humility consider one another better than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3).  How are you doing with that?  How many people do you consider better than yourself?  Who knows your sins better than you do?  You might see some sins in other people, but you know all of yours.  Despite our sins, we don’t humble ourselves as we ought.  If you believe that your sins deserve God’s righteous judgment, then how could you boast that you deserve honor?  And how could you exalt yourself over others?  This is what the Lord says, “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled” (Matthew 23:12).  If you will not humble yourself before the Lord, he will humble you at the final judgment.  Repent.

     God the Son humbled himself to die on a cross.  More than that, God the Son humbled himself to be cursed for us.  Jesus willingly took the lowest place, dying as THE sinner on behalf of all sinners.  Jesus humbled himself in order to exalt you.  His humility atones for your exalting yourself over others.  He died in shame to secure eternal glory for you.  He has pulled you up from an eternity of hellfire so that you will receive the everlasting peace and joy of heaven.  Jesus was humbled to exalt you.

     We think of Jesus’ crucifixion as a beautiful thing.  We have adorned our sanctuary with a processional crucifix.  For, it is not the bare cross that paid for the sins of the world, but it was the God who suffered and died on that cross which pays for the sins of all.  Faith sees the crucified Lord as something beautiful and glorious, but there was never any beauty in crucifixion.  There was never intended to be.  The Romans carried out this sentence publicly so that no one else would be emboldened to attempt what the condemned man had done.  They stripped their victims to die naked.  They made this death as shameful as they could.  In many cases, the bodies were also left on the cross to rot, left for birds of prey.  If this disgusts you, that’s what was intended.  There was no glory in crucifixion. 

     We are not scandalized by the cross because we know that was the payment for our sins.  Just as we are not scandalized by Jesus’ humble sufferings and death, neither are we astounded by Jesus’ exaltation and ascension into heaven.  Who is surprised to hear that God rules over everything?  Even though God the Son humbled himself to be our Savior, he never stopped being God.  He never lost his power, glory, or majesty.  So, it’s not like he was given back glory that was taken from him.  That God, who humbled himself, is now again exalted does not come as a shock.  The shock is that a man has been exalted.  Jesus did not shed his humanity when he rose from the dead and ascended into heaven.  This man now possesses all power, glory, and majesty.  The hosts of heaven proclaim his praise: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing” (Revelation 5:12).  Now, a man has all things under his feet.  Now, a man holds all authority in heaven and on earth.  Now, a man has ascended to reign in heaven, equal to the Father and the Holy Spirit.  This is what it means that Jesus is exalted.  This is certainly worthy of praise. 

     On June 10, 1945, there was a parade in New York City.  General Dwight D. Eisenhower was honored with a ticker-tape parade.  It is estimated that over 5,000 tons of paper, confetti, and cloth were thrown from the buildings.  An estimated four million people were there to celebrate General Eisenhower.  Now, if the celebration were just to honor Eisenhower for being a general or for coming to New York, the celebration would have served no purpose except to stroke his ego.  But the people celebrated because Eisenhower commanded the Allied troops to defeat Nazi Germany and save thousands, if not millions, of lives.  So, the people celebrated not just because of Eisenhower’s victory, but because Eisenhower’s victory benefited them.  He conquered the enemy for them!

     If Jesus’ ascension is only about his glory and honor, then we might think, “Well, good for him.”  But St. Paul reminds you that Jesus’ ascension is not for his exaltation alone.  “God placed all things under his feet and made him head over everything for the church” (Ephesians 1:22, emphasis added).  Jesus lives and reigns over all things for you!  This man went into death to redeem you from damnation.  This man conquered the grave so that death and the grave would not hold mankind.  This man ascended into heaven, paving the way for mankind to enter the glories of heaven and to dwell with the Father in peace.  This man now lives and reigns over all things for you.  Jesus is exalted to exalt you!

     God the Son became a man to redeem mankind.  Upon completing this mission, Jesus is exalted to the highest place.  But he did not stop being a man.  Instead, Jesus exalts our humanity.  He shows us what God intends us to be.  And at the resurrection, you will not be changed into another person or become something completely different.  You will be raised up perfect people—with whole bodies, sound minds, pure thoughts, and godly attitudes.  God first created mankind to be holy and he called them good.  Jesus will exalt you back to such glory.  Jesus is exalted to exalt you.

     “He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty” (Apostles’ Creed).  “God placed all things under his feet and made him head over everything for the church” (Ephesians 1:22, emphasis added).  Here is where we still need to practice our humility.  If Jesus is ruling over all things for the good of his Church, we might ask, “Then why isn’t everything good?  Why do I have to endure weaknesses?  Why must I bear a cross?  Why do I still endure a troubled world?  Why do I still struggle with sin and temptation?” 

     Dear Christians, Jesus is ruling all things for your good.  But understand that Jesus’ goal is not just to make life easy so that you can coast through it.  If he did, you would conclude that you don’t need Jesus.  But he lets you suffer weaknesses so that you will call upon him for strength.  He makes you bear a cross so you will put to death desires for a perfect world when your desires should be for the Paradise to come.  He leaves you in a troubled world so that you can bear witness to many troubled souls that Jesus is the remedy for all troubles. 

     He humbles you for the time being so that he will finally exalt you forever.  After all, this is the pattern Jesus himself followed when he walked the earth.  On the earth, Jesus dwelt in a state of humiliation.  It was not until his resurrection that Jesus was exalted to glory.  And so it is with you.  In this world, you are humbled, but at the resurrection, you will be exalted to glory.  That is the good that Jesus intends for you, and it is the good that he is working in you and for you.  Jesus is exalted to exalt you.

     This is the prayer that St. Paul prayed for the Ephesian Christians, and it is still the prayer for Christians today.  Paul wrote, “I keep praying that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, will give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in knowing Christ fully.  I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope to which he has called you, just how rich his glorious inheritance among the saints is, and just how surpassingly great his power is for us who believe” (Ephesians 1:17-19). 

     The prayer of the Church is that we get to know Christ more fully and to benefit from the gifts that he gives.  We not only get to know him more fully, we also become more like him.  He became one of us so that we could become more like him—pure in thoughts and speech, devoted to godliness and good works, waiting to be exalted and welcomed into heavenly glory.

     But do not lose sight of this: Jesus has exalted you already.  You are children of the Most High God.  You may not feel like it.  It does not look like it, but it is true.  You have God’s own word on it.  When Jesus walked the earth, he did not look like God the Son.  He did not radiate with glory.  He did not appear in dazzling splendor, with one exception (his transfiguration).  Nevertheless, Jesus is and always was God the Son.  It’s just that his divinity was hidden in his humble state under frail flesh.

     So also, you are children of the Most High God.  You are heirs of heavenly riches.  You are saints destined for endless glory.  Jesus has told you so.  And since his word is supreme, you can be sure that it is true.  It is as St. John wrote in his first epistle, “See the kind of love the Father has given us that we should be called children of God, and that is what we are!  The world does not know us, because it did not know him.  Dear friends, we are children of God now, but what we will be has not yet been revealed.  We know that when he is revealed we will be like him” (1 John 3:1-2). 

     Jesus is exalted to exalt you.  And Jesus will lead you through the path he has set—humility, then glory.  Death, then resurrection, then ascension to the glorious kingdom.  “He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty” (Apostles’ Creed)—and all for you.

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

YouTube -- 6th Sunday of Easter (May 10, 2026)

 Here is the Divine Service from Sunday, May 10, 2026.  It joins the service in progress at the sermon.

Sermon -- 5th Sunday of Easter (May 3, 2026)

JESUS REVEALS A LOVING FATHER TO YOU.

JOHN 14:1-11

In the name + of Jesus.

M:       Alleluia!  Christ is risen!

C:        He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!

      When St. Paul preached to the philosophers in Athens, he said, “From one man, [God] made every nation of mankind to live over the entire face of the earth.  He determined the appointed times and the boundaries where they would live.  He did this so they would seek God and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us” (Acts 17:26-27).  In other words, everyone is religious.  Everyone has an innate desire to know who God is.  The atheist is the exception, not the rule.

     You can travel all over the world and find people who practice many different religions.  They all have the same goal—to get on God’s good side.  The way that people try to get on God’s good side is through some act of obedience.  The specific acts of obedience vary from religion to religion, but they all focus on being good and doing something to appease God for the evils they have done.  This is why people insist that all religions are the same.  Do good.  Appease God for your sins.  And hope that you have been able to make God happy enough with you that you can enjoy a good life after death.

     Everyone has this innate desire to know who God is and what he wants.  But how can anyone know he is right?  On what do they base their hopes and their beliefs?  If an eternity hangs in the balance, this is no time to guess. 

     The Lord Jesus makes a bold claim.  Jesus declared, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life.  No one comes to the Father, except through me” (John 14:6).  Some may say that all religions are just different paths to heaven, Jesus rejects that completely.  Jesus states emphatically that the only way into that kingdom is through him.  Jesus rejects every other religion on earth. 

     Jesus said, “‘No one comes to the Father, except through me.  If you know me, you would also know my Father.  From now on you do know him and have seen him.’  ‘Lord,’ said Philip, ‘show us the Father, and that is enough for us’” (John 14:6-8).  Philip’s request resonates with all mankind.  Of course, the problem is that we don’t see God.  As a result, people end up trying to reach up into heaven to envision what God wants, what God likes, and what God does.  Often, the result is that we craft a god who is just like we are.  God likes what I like.  God hates what I hate.  If I despise someone, God must hate him too.  If I like that person, she must be going to heaven.  This god is nothing but a mirror.  It is also a great deception because it leads people to believe that they stand on a good footing with God even though they do not know what God says or wants.  It comes down to, “I’m okay with me, so God must be okay with me.”  This is idolatry and blasphemy.

     “Lord, show us the Father, and that is enough for us” (John 14:8).  Our conscience gives us some idea what God is like.  There is fairly common agreement on what is evil and what is good.  But what about appeasing God when you have failed to live up to the dictates of your conscience?  What would be acceptable?  Sacrifice?  And if so, what kind of sacrifice?  And how often?  And how do you know that it would actually appease God?  This is where people are left groping for hope and for comfort.  There is no comfort in guessing.

     Rather that remain hidden, God the Father has chosen to make himself known.  He revealed his words in the past through Moses and the Prophets.  But to give us the most vivid and accurate depiction of himself, God the Father sent his Son into the world.  If you consider what Jesus said, what he did, and how he interacted with other people, then you can see what God the Father is like.  Jesus said it: “If you know me, you would also know my Father.  From now on you do know him and have seen him.  The one who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:7,9).  Jesus reveals a loving Father to you. 

     What evidence does Jesus present?  He said, “Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me.  Or else believe because of the works themselves” (John 14:11).  Jesus performed many miraculous signs.  They are called signs because signs point you to something.  They point you to the fact that Jesus is God in the flesh.  Nicodemus recognized this when he told Jesus, “No one can do these miraculous signs you are doing unless God is with him” (John 3:2).  But the signs point to more than Jesus doing what only God can do.  Through these signs Jesus reveals a loving Father.

     God the Father Almighty is the Maker of heaven and earth.  He created a perfect world filled with beauty.  He crafted holy people to dwell in it.  And even though sin has sullied this world and produced many handicaps in people, God the Father still creates people with sound bodies, with sight, with hearing, with speech, and various abilities as he sees fit.  Does the fact that some are born blind, deaf, or with birth defects negate the Father’s goodness?  Hardly!  Most are not blind, deaf, or crippled.  Even though sin corrupts us, the Father still produces new lives with sound bodies.

     When Jesus encountered people with these handicaps and hardships, they appealed to him for mercy.  And just as your Father in heaven is good and merciful, so was Jesus.  He brought healing to the diseased and relief for the oppressed.  The Father sent Jesus to do this work because the Father loves his creation.  He does not discard this world or its people in disgust; he redeems it in love.  The miraculous signs that Jesus performed also point us to a greater future.  When all things are restored, the blind will see, the lame will walk, and the deaf will hear.  Bodies will be whole and spirits will be refreshed.  Jesus reveals that you have a loving Father; for Jesus does what the Father sent him to do.

     We can also see the Father in the way that Jesus dealt with sinners.  One example: Jesus had been invited to feast at the home of a Pharisee named Simon.  Being a Pharisee, he was a devout and religious man.  He would have been moral and decent and knew how to keep polite company.  Jesus reclined at the table in his home, laying with his left arm on a pillow with his body stretched away from the table.  While he was there, a sinful woman came up to him.  We don’t know what particular sins she was guilty of, but she apparently had developed quite a reputation for herself.  She wept over Jesus’ feet as they extended away from the table.  She washed them with her tears.  She dried his feet with her hair.  She kissed his feet and anointed them with perfume. 

     Simon’s reaction was disgust.  He questioned Jesus’ credibility as a prophet of God.  Simon said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would realize who is touching him and what kind of woman she is, because she is a sinner” (Luke 7:39).  Simon wasn’t wrong in labeling her.  Her reputation seems to have been earned, and he judged her according to her sins.  For Simon, the way to make God happy was by obedience.  Simon believed he had done this; the woman had not.  Simon expected each to be judged by their own merits.  For Simon, sadly, he was.  Jesus, on the other hand, did not kick this woman away.  Rather, Jesus may have been the first person to not treat her like a sinner.  While Jesus does not excuse sins, neither does he treat us as our sins deserve.  And rather than rub her face in her sins like Simon did, Jesus came to scrub her clean of all her sins. 

     Jesus reveals a loving Father to you.  For, the Father has compassion on sinners.  He longs for us to be freed from them—free from the shame of our past, free from the weight of our guilt, free from the fear of punishment and death.  In fact, the Father wants us to be free from the fear of him!  And to bring such consolation to us, the Father sent his Son into the world to rescue us from all our sin and to reconcile us to himself. 

     To do that, Jesus had to be treated as our sins deserve.  The Father does not excuse our sins anymore than Jesus does.  Sins bring consequences.  “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), St. Paul reminds us.  Sin produces a curse, as the Lord had decreed to Adam and Eve when they first brought sin into the world.  Sin brings consequences to everyone—whether jail time, fines, a broken home, a loss of trust or friendship or a job.  But even if you think you are getting away with your sins because they are done in secret, your own conscience afflicts you.  It testifies to the one consequence that all people face—God’s wrath and judgment.  All religions know it.  We have not done good.  We cannot appease God.  Does he even have a good side to get on?

     Jesus reveals a loving Father to us.  In love for sinners, the Father sent his Son to take on all the judgment, the punishment, the curse, and the death for our sins.  God the Son did this on behalf of all sinners, so there is no need for different nations to have different religions.  St. John wrote in his first epistle, “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the whole world.” (1 John 2:2).  Jesus’ sacrifice has appeased his Father.  Jesus’ sacrifice atones for all sins.  Jesus has done what no other religion can do or promise.  This is why Jesus said, “No one comes to the Father, except through me” (John 14:6).  Only Jesus brings a full pardon for all sin.  Only Jesus has overcome death.  Therefore, only Jesus will reveal to a loving Father to you.

     Some get the idea that God the Father is an angry Lord who is eager to strike people down, but that God the Son stepped in to calm him down.  If that were the case, then God the Father and God the Son would be of two different minds.  But they are not.  Jesus made that clear: “If you know me, you would also know my Father.  … The one who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:7,9).  If our threat was God the Father and our hope was in Jesus, Jesus would have promised to take us far away from the Father.

     Instead, Jesus promises that we will be taken to the Father.  This is his promise: “In my Father’s house are many mansions.  If it were not so, I would have told you.  I am going to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to be with me, so that you may also be where I am” (John 14:2-3).  Jesus has ascended to heaven to prepare a place for us there.  For, God the Father wants us to be with him permanently—without terror, without troubles, and without end.  Jesus promises to take us to his Father’s house.  And, thanks to Jesus, he is your Father too.  Jesus reveals a loving Father to you.  He has made you his blessed children.  And he is eager to have you home.

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

Sermon -- 4th Sunday of Easter (April 26, 2026)

THE GOOD SHEPHERD BRINGS ABUNDANT LIFE.

JOHN 10:1-10 

In the name + of Jesus.

M:       Alleluia!  Christ is risen!

C:        He is risen indeed!  Alleluia! 

     The entire tenth chapter of St. John’s Gospel is devoted to Jesus as the Good Shepherd and we as his sheep.  Many people are insulted by the idea of being called a sheep.  Sheep are considered to be gullible, stupid, defenseless, and harmless.  The truth is, sometimes we are gullible, buying into worldly attitudes.  We are stupid in giving into sins when we know better.  We are helpless and defenseless against our foes.  None of us can erase our sins.  None of us can evade death or the judgment that follows. 

     Those who hold a high opinion of themselves would never humble themselves to be compared to a sheep.  But our Lord warned, “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled” (Matthew 23:12).  There is an adage that says, “A man who has himself has a lawyer has a fool for a client.”  It is all the more true that a man who has himself as his own Savior is a fool.  Anyone who is too proud to be a sheep and to have Jesus as his or her Good Shepherd will die outside of God’s grace and mercy.  Pride may win points in this world.  People who defy God with bold assertions may impress us with their confidence.  But pride and boldness will have terrible consequences in the judgment that is coming.

     Before Jesus speaks about himself as the Good Shepherd, he introduced this image: “I am the door for the sheep.  All who came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.  I am the door.  Whoever enters through me will be saved” (John 10:7-9).  The door is the only legitimate way into a home.  If someone climbs through a window, there is a problem.  Either he locked himself out or he is an intruder.  Either way, it is not normal. 

     Just as the door is the only right way to enter a house, so also Jesus is the only way to enter the kingdom of God.  That’s because Jesus is the only one who enables us to stand before the Lord without fear.  This is what the Lord says, “Who may go up to the mountain of the LORD?  Who may stand in his holy place?  He who has clean hands and a pure heart, whose soul is not set on what is false, who does not swear deceitfully” (Psalm 24:3-4).  Who is up to that?  Who can boast that his hands are clean from obscene or threatening gestures, from grabbing after what God has forbidden, or from being tight-fisted to the needy?  Who can claim that his heart is pure and free from lust, greed, anger, jealousy, falsehood, or self-worship?  If we do not have clean hands and a pure heart, we cannot stand before the Lord.

     Jesus is the door to the kingdom of God.  Jesus is the way into God’s holy place.  That’s because Jesus’ clean hands have touched and blessed the sick and dying.  Jesus’ innocent hands bear the marks of the nails which give evidence that he gave his life as the payment for our sins.  Jesus’ pure heart always had compassion for sinners.  Jesus’ pure heart moved him to take the lowest place as one convicted, condemned, and cursed for us.  And Jesus’ pure heart was pierced to produce a flow of water and blood which provide perfect cleansing from every iniquity.  Jesus’ innocence covers our guilt.  Jesus’ purity cleanses us from all filth.  The only way to stand in the Lord’s holy place is if we enter his presence through Jesus.  The only way to an abundant life is through Jesus.

     Jesus said, “I am the door.  Whoever enters through me will be saved.  He will come in and go out, and find pasture.  A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.  I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:9-10).  The Good Shepherd brings abundant life.  He did not come to get something out of you, as if he needs anything from you.  Jesus said, “A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10).  There are always people who want to take advantage of you.  This is one big reason we hate telemarketers.  No one who sees “Potential Spam” show up on his cell phone thinks, “Oh, good!  Someone is calling me to make my life better and easier and give me a great deal in doing it!”  No, we consider it an invasion of our time and a threat to our finances. 

     Jesus, however, is not out to fleece the flock or rob you of anything.  Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and everything Jesus does is for the good of the flock.  He has come to comfort, to protect, to encourage, and to save.  If Jesus kills anything, it is your sinful nature which needs to be put to death so that you will be raised up as a new creation.  If Jesus destroys anything, it is the kingdom of the devil so that you are released from the devil’s claims and influence.  If Jesus steals anything, it is you whom he has stolen from the icy grip of death.  The Good Shepherd brings abundant life.

     What do you consider an abundant life?  Let’s reshape the question.  When you think of someone who has lived life to the full, who comes to mind?  Titans of industry like J.D. Rockefeller or Cornelius Vanderbilt?  They had enormous fortunes that allowed them to live lavish, pampered lifestyles.  Or maybe top tier celebrities whose fame gives them access to just about any place they want to go.  Or maybe world leaders whose power shapes a nation or the world.  Maybe for you, life to the full is boiled down to having a long life with lots of friends.  

     Fine; but understand this: Even if you should enjoy a lavish life and a pampered ego, these are focused on the here and now; and the here and now is soon over and gone.  And none of those things delivers forgiveness of sins or delivers you from the grave.  On her deathbed, Queen Elizabeth I cried out, “All my possessions for a moment of time.”  In the end, she got neither.  But with Jesus, you receive heavenly riches and endless time.  Jesus promises, “I am the door.  Whoever enters through me will be saved” (John 10:9). 

     The Good Shepherd brings an abundant life.  Too often, we limit that to eternal life.  On the one hand, that is what we long for because we know the benefits that await us at the resurrection.  Oh, to have a life that does not know sorrow or loss!  Oh, to have a home where there is no fighting, a workplace where there is no pettiness, a community where there is no crime or danger!  We long for bodies that are healthy and strong, for eyesight that is not blurred, for ears that no longer need us to keep asking, “Can you repeat that?”  We long for gardens without weeds, for cabinets without medication, and for seasons without allergies.  And do you know what?  Your Good Shepherd will bring you to that perfect life.  The Good Shepherd who passed through death will have you pass through the valley of the shadow of death to life eternal.  And that life is eternal, glorious, and perfect.  The Good Shepherd brings an abundant life.

     So, what does he do for you in the here and now?  Dear Christians, the Good Shepherd still brings you an abundant life!  You live in the same corrupt and cruel world as every other person on earth.  Everyone has to cope with anxiety, uncertainty, and frustration.  Many suffer through these hardships without hope or help, but the Lord Jesus is with you.  The Good Shepherd continues to speak to you.  If you want your Good Shepherd to speak to you, read the Bible.  If you want to hear your Good Shepherd’s voice audibly, read it out loud.  Your Good Shepherd speaks to you to comfort, to strengthen, to encourage, and to admonish you so that you do not drift off into sin and death again.  He guides you through your tears, through trials, and through temptations.  He repeats his promises.  He expresses his faithful love and care.  He guides you to live without fear because your eternal hope is secure.  The Good Shepherd brings an abundant life.

     What’s more, your Good Shepherd does not have you merely survive through your trials and temptations, and amid the turmoil in this turbulent world.  He invites you to feast and to celebrate in the midst of these things.  King David wrote about this in Psalm 23.  He confesses of the Lord, his shepherd, “You set a table for me in the presence of my foes.  You drench my head with oil.  My cup is overflowing” (Psalm 23:5).  This is in the midst of his enemies!  They didn’t go away, but it did not matter.  He got to feast because his Good Shepherd was there with him.

     The same is true for you.  Is the devil going to leave you alone?  No.  Is the world going to learn to behave?  Will it cease and desist trying to entice you away from the Lord?  No.  Will you ever tame your own sinful desires?  No.  All the enemies that seek to bring about your destruction are continually around you.  But Jesus remains with you.  In fact, he sets a table for you in the presence of your foes.  He summons you to come and feast and rejoice here.  He feeds you with the body which has overcome death and sustains your faith.  The cup overflows with God’s salvation.  Week after week, the Lord’s blood is poured into you, and it never runs out. 

     The Good Shepherd always prepares his heavenly feast for you, even in the midst of your foes.  So, the devil, the world, and your own sinful flesh do not get to have you.  Instead, Jesus cleanses you of your sin; it cannot condemn you.  The world will pass away, but the Good Shepherd has established you in an eternal kingdom.  The devil snarls and snaps, but Jesus says, “Fear not.  All is well.  My rod and my staff guide you and beat your enemies back.  My peace rests upon you.”

     The Good Shepherd brings an abundant life.  And his gifts are not limited to spiritual gifts, either.  He cares for all your physical needs, and he does not give you the bare minimum.  He provides sunshine, daffodils, art, laughter, butterflies, kittens, strawberries, and bacon.  Even in a broken and bitter world, the Lord presents beauty and gives you reasons to enjoy your life.  The here and now may be temporary, but it can still be good. 

     The Good Shepherd brings an abundant life.  He “calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  When he has brought out all his own sheep, he walks ahead of them.  The sheep follow him because they know his voice” (John 10:3-4).  You are not some nameless, faceless person to him.  Your Good Shepherd knows you.  He likes you.  And he wants you to be his.  That is why he speaks to you, comforts you, feeds you, and protects you.  The path to the heavenly kingdom may be rocky, but the Good Shepherd knows where he is leading you.  He has walked ahead of you through death to the life of glory, perfection, and peace.  He is the one who will lead you there.  He is the only way in.  Enter through the Door.  Listen to your Savior.  Follow your Good Shepherd.  For he, and he alone, brings you abundant life. 

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

Sermon -- 3rd Sunday of Easter (April 19, 2026)

TO SEE THE RISEN SAVIOR, THE SCRIPUTRES MUST BE OPENED TO YOU.

LUKE 24:13-35

In the name + of Jesus.

M:       Alleluia!  Christ is risen!

C:        He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!

      Noah and his family sat in the ark for a long time.  We usually think of 40 days and 40 nights, but that is only as long as the rains poured down.  The water crested for 150 days, then receded slowly before the ark came to rest on Mount Ararat.  All told, Noah spent more than a year on the ark.  Noah and his family might have wondered if God had forgotten them.  They were not told how long this Flood would last.  All they had was what the Lord had told Noah, “I will establish my covenant with you.  You shall come into the ark—you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you” (Genesis 6:18).  The ark would preserve them, implying that they would survive the Flood and replenish the earth.  For over a year, Noah had only the word of the Lord to sustain his hope.

     Fast forward to the children of Israel in Egypt.  God had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that they would become a great nation and inherit the Promised Land.  But in Egypt, they experienced centuries of slavery and oppression.  Many died not seeing God’s promise fulfilled.  They had to wonder if God had forgotten them.  The only thing they had to sustain their hope was God’s promise.

     Now fast forward to Passover, about 29 AD.  Jesus was crucified during the feast.  He was buried quickly before the Sabbath began.  Two disciples of Jesus were in Jerusalem for the feast.  They were walking to a village called Emmaus, presumably because that was the nearest lodging available due to the pilgrims thronging Jerusalem for Passover.  They were grappling with the events over the past week.  They were dejected and disappointed, and they did not hide why.  They said, “Jesus of Nazareth … was a prophet, mighty in deed and word before God and all the people.  The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be condemned to death.  And they crucified him.  But we were hoping that he was going to redeem Israel” (Luke 23:19-21). 

     Noah sat in the ark for over a year, but he still had hope that God would deliver him.  The people of Israel were enslaved and oppressed for centuries, but the nation was not snuffed out.  They still had hope that God would deliver them.  The disciples on their way to Emmaus considered all hope lost.  They had put their hopes in Jesus, but Jesus was crucified, died, and buried.  Noah’s hope and Israel’s hope were strained; the hope of these disciples was dashed.  What hope could you put in God’s word when it appeared that it had failed?

     This is the part of the story we would have written differently.  St. Luke wrote, “They were talking with each other about all of these things that had happened.  While they were talking and discussing this, Jesus himself approached and began to walk along with them.  But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.  He said to them, ‘What are you talking about as you walk along?’  Saddened, they stopped” (Luke 24:14-17). 

     Wouldn’t this have been a wonderfully satisfying story if Jesus had proved himself alive as soon as they saw him?  Their sadness would have turned instantly to joy.  Their dejection would have been converted to jubilation immediately.  Their hopes would have been restored, knowing and seeing that God keeps his promises!  But instead of granting them instant relief, Jesus gave them what they actually needed—not to have their eyes opened to see the Risen Savior, but to open the Scriptures to them.  To see the Risen Savior, they needed to have the Scriptures opened to them. 

     You and I have our difficult days.  The stress and the strain can go on for some time.  As it was for Noah, your suspense could go on for a year.  Like the Israelites in Egypt, you may live with your stress until the day you die and never see the relief you pray for.  You may wonder if God has forgotten you.  You may become dejected, perhaps even concluding that God’s promises have failed.  You see and feel your fear and your pain.  You want to see and feel relief and refreshment.  Where is God in these moments? 

     It is at these times that we judge God.  We assess his performance and declare that God has come up lacking.  Some even turn away from the Lord, looking for a god that will bring instant gratification.  Money problems?  Try embezzling.  Ego problems?  Prop yourself up by slandering others.  Relationship problems?  Try to gratify yourself with seedy websites.  After all, if God is failing you—as it seems—the devil will offer quick fixes to bring momentary thrills.  But he hides the price tag, which is eternal sorrow.  Beware, and repent.

     Our desire for instant relief often fails to remember the goal of every Christian life—to dwell in the house of the Lord forever.  Yes, it would be wonderful if God made your life easy, your body sound, your bank account full, and your neighbors respectful.  But recognize that he has not promised you that.  If you hold God accountable for promises that he has not made, you are guaranteed to be disappointed in God.  To see what God has promised, the Scriptures must be opened to you.  Then you will recognize what God has promised.  Then you can cling to what God has promised, and that will not fail you. 

     “Jesus himself approached and began to walk along with them.  But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.  He said to them, ‘What are you talking about as you walk along?’ …They replied, ‘The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth.  …They crucified him.  But we were hoping that he was going to redeem Israel.’  He said to them, “How foolish you are and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!  Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and to enter his glory?”  Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself” (Luke 24:15-27). 

     To see the Risen Savior, the Scriptures must be opened to you.  Everything that was written points us to Jesus and the work he has done to save sinners.  For reasons known to the Holy Spirit, St. Luke did not record the sermon that Jesus preached on that seven mile walk to Emmaus.  I think it would have been fascinating.  Perhaps it was not recorded in St. Luke’s Gospel is because it was documented throughout the entirety of the Old Testament.  The words of Moses and the Prophets give us plenty to ponder as they foretell and foreshadow the Messiah and his work of redemption.

     To see the Risen Savior, the Scriptures must be opened to you.  They present to you the Lord who acts to deliver his people—whether being delivered from the Flood in an ark or being delivered from the bondage or slavery to freedom.  The Lord delivered his people through the Red Sea and sustained them on their forty-year journey through the wilderness to the Promised Land.  The Lord provided deliverance through judges such as Gideon and Samson and through kings such as David and Jehoshaphat.  Every act of deliverance foreshadowed God’s ultimate deliverance.  Jesus has delivered you from the enemies that would seek to destroy you—sin, death, and Satan.  And Jesus sustains your life and faith as you journey toward the heavenly Promised Land.

     To see the Risen Savior, the Scriptures must be opened to you.  They present the sacrifices that were made to atone the sins of the people and to reconcile them to God—whether it is Isaac who carried the wood up the hill to be slain by his father, Abraham, or the ram which ended up being the substitute for Isaac.  It was seen in the daily sacrifices made in the temple and in the annual visit into the Holy of Holies by the high priest and in the scapegoat which carried the sins of the people away from God’s presence.  All Scripture has been fulfilled by Jesus.  He is the substitute Lamb who was slain for your accusations that God is uncaring or incompetent.  He is the scapegoat who carried away your sins of impatience and complaining against God.  He is the great High Priest who carried his innocent blood into the Holy of Holies to atone for all your guilt. 

     To see the Risen Savior, the Scriptures must be opened to you.  Jesus said it: “‘Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and to enter his glory?’  Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself” (Luke 24:26-27).  All Scripture testifies of Jesus.  And you have the benefit of pondering the fulfillment of all that was foreshadowed and foretold.  Jesus suffered and died because it was necessary to fulfill Scripture and to pay for sins.  And Jesus now has entered his glory.  He lives and reigns to secure your resurrection to eternal life and will enable you to enter his glory.  And that is the goal for every Christian, whether you receive that glory at age 5 or 105.

     “When he reclined at the table with them, he took the bread, blessed it, broke it, and began giving it to them.  Suddenly their eyes were opened, and they recognized him” (Luke 24:30-31).  This is how we recognize the risen Savior, too.  The bread and the wine are consecrated, and Jesus comes to us.  To see that, you need to hear the words of Scripture where Jesus tells you: “This is my body, given for you.  This is my blood, shed for you.  Take it.  Eat.  Drink.  It is for you, for the forgiveness of sins.”  And though you may not feel forgiven, Jesus has taught you not to believe in your feelings, but in his words and promises.  The risen Savior delivers forgiveness to you and sustains your faith for the journey homeward.  To see it, the Scriptures must be opened to you.

     The Emmaus disciples had their hope resting on what they could see and feel.  When they did and when they saw the Messiah killed, all their hope was gone.  Since Jesus wanted them to rest their faith on God’s promises and not on their senses, Jesus opened the Scriptures to them.  Their faith was strengthened.  Their hearts were kindled.  Their confidence was restored.  Then they saw the risen Savior.

     If you are experiencing hardship, and if you are not seeing the blessings you hope for, the Lord has not forgotten you.  His word remains strong and steady and true.  Soon, our risen Savior will come again.  Then we will see and feel permanent relief.  Then we will experience endless glory.  To see the risen Savior now, the Scriptures must be opened to you.  To see the risen Savior in glory, “wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord” (Psalm 27:14)! 

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

YouTube -- 2nd Sunday of Easter (April 12, 2026)

Here is the Divine Service from Sunday, April 12, 2026.

Sermon -- 2nd Sunday of Easter (Apri 12, 2026)

THE RISEN SAVIOR BRINGS PEACEFUL ASSURANCE.

JOHN 20:19-31

In the name + of Jesus.

M:       Alleluia!  Christ is risen!

C:        He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!

      “On the evening of that first day of the week, the disciples were together behind locked doors because of their fear of the Jews” (John 20:19).  The Jewish religious leaders had demanded the crucifixion of Jesus.  Jesus’ disciples feared that they were next.  So, they locked themselves in this upper room while the pilgrims in Jerusalem were still celebrating the Feast of Unleavened Bread.  But the disciples of Jesus had other fears weighing on them.  By the evening of that first Easter, they had already heard the reports of the women.  The women spoke of the angels at the tomb.  They could even report they had seen the risen Jesus.  Peter and John could report that Jesus’ tomb was, indeed, empty.  This should have resulted in joy; it did not. 

     The disciples remembered the last time they had seen Jesus.  For most, that was in the Garden of Gethsemane.  While Jesus was being apprehended, they fled into the night.  Peter had seen Jesus from Caiaphas’ courtyard right after Peter had denied him three times.  John witnessed Jesus’ death from the foot of the cross.  All had failed him.  If they saw Jesus risen from the dead, what could they say to him?  What would he say to them?  They may have feared the Jews, but they probably feared seeing Jesus, too.

     “Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, ‘Peace be with you!’  After he said this, he showed them his hands and side.  So the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord” (John 20:19-20).  The risen Savior brought a peaceful assurance.  He did not come to express disappointment or regret.  He did not bear a grudge.  Yes, they all failed him, but he had paid for that sin and for every other sin they had committed. 

     “Peace be with you!” he said.  While our translation says that he showed them his hands and side after he declared peace to them, it is also possible to translate it this way: “As he said this, he showed them his hands and side” (John 20:20, emphasis added).  This gesture would have been more than just an identifier, that is, Jesus showing himself as the crucified one.  It would also have been the proof that God’s peace was theirs.  The marks on Jesus showed that this is how their sins were paid for.  Jesus’ risen body is the proof that the payment was sufficient.  The Lord was not angry with them.  He sought no vengeance against them.  The risen Savior brings a peaceful assurance.  Sins are forgiven.  The Lord blesses you.  His face shines upon you.  He gives you peace.

     Unfortunately, peace eluded one of the apostles.  Thomas was not there.  Thomas had just as much reason for fear and guilt as the other apostles.  Sadly, his fear and his guilt still ruled over him.  He would not believe the testimony of the women.  He would not believe the claims of his fellow apostles.  None of them had a reason to lie to him.  And certainly their joy and enthusiasm should have convinced Thomas that they were telling him the truth.  But when someone is consumed by fear and guilt, that is the only thing they believe.  The prophet Isaiah declared, “There is no peace, says the LORD, for the wicked” (Isaiah 48:22).  If you are weighed down by your sin, you have no peace.  That is when the devil will seize you with unbelief and despair.

     Judas Iscariot is the chief example of this.  Judas had betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver.  But St. Matthew notes, “When Judas … saw that Jesus was condemned, he felt remorse.  He brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders and said, ‘I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.’  But they said, ‘What is that to us?  That’s your problem’” (Matthew 27:3-4).  The priests did nothing to atone for his sin.  For Judas, there was no pardon, no peace; therefore, there was no hope or comfort.  Since Judas could not fix or reverse what he had done, he chose to kill himself rather than to live with the burden of guilt.

     Judas’ suicide was tragic enough, but dying in unbelief and despair meant that Judas perished eternally.  Judas’ story is especially sad, because the risen Savior had come to bring peaceful assurance to sinners.  It is also sad that Judas’ story is repeated by so many.  Perhaps you know the terrible burden of sin, the likes of which haunted Judas.  Perhaps you are weighed down by guilt that will not lighten up.  People who are hounded by such guilt often deal with it in destructive ways.  Some medicate with drugs or alcohol.  Some figure they are a lost cause and choose to continue in their sin.  If you’re going to hell anyway, why not?  Others, like Judas, feel the only way to escape guilt and despair is by killing themselves.  But there is no forgiveness in any of these.  There is no peace.  And, saddest of all, there is only hell that awaits those who die in their sins.

     No one should have to live with such a burden of guilt.  No one needs to wallow in despair.  You have a Savior whose wounds testify that your sins have been paid for.  The feet that took Jesus to Mt. Calvary were nailed to the cross for you.  The hands that brought healing to the hurting were driven into the wood to bring healing to your troubled conscience.  Jesus’ heart—so filled with compassion for sinners—was pierced for you.  It brought forth a flow of blood and water which provide cleansing for all sin and guilt.  The Savior who died to rescue from sin, death, and hell now lives and declares, “Peace be with you!  You have been acquitted of all guilt.  You have received a full pardon.  The cloud of guilt has been lifted.  The sun of grace shines upon you now!”  The risen Savior brings peaceful assurance to you.

     To further assure you of that peace, Jesus had commissioned his ministers to deliver it to you.  “Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you!  Just as the Father has sent me, I am also sending you.’  After saying this, he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.  Whenever you forgive people’s sins, they are forgiven.  Whenever you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven’” (John 20:21-23).  Jesus has given charge to his ministers not merely to talk about the forgiveness of sins, but to administer it. 

     If you were a defendant in a court of law, you could ponder the idea of being acquitted.  You could dream about it, pray for it, and hope for it.  While such thoughts would be appealing, none of them would acquit you.  Nor would it do you any good if the judge sat in his chamber and thought good thoughts about you.  Even if he sat at his desk and muttered to himself, “That guy should go free,” how would that help you at all?  The only way you can be acquitted in a court of law is to have a judge formally declare you “Not guilty.” 

     Likewise, you don’t find forgiveness in your own private thoughts.  And it would not do you any good if God sat in his heavenly glory and thought good thoughts about you.  How would you know if he did or didn’t?  To know that your sins are forgiven, the judge must formally declare you, “Not guilty.”  All judgment has been entrusted to the Son.  Jesus will come again and sentence people either to everlasting life or everlasting damnation.  His verdict is the only one that matters.  Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection have won your pardon from all sin.  But to know that you are forgiven, it must be formally proclaimed to you.  The Lord Jesus has commissioned his ministers to do just that.  You have forgiveness delivered to you as the minister speaks in the stead and by the command of the Lord Jesus Christ.  The “I forgive you” is the voice of your Savior, delivered through the mouth of his minster.  In this way, the risen Savior brings peaceful assurance to you.

     You know Jesus’ words and promises.  They were applied to you in your baptism.  So, day after day, you can be confident that you stand forgiven before the Lord.  However, like the apostles, you may have a sin that haunts you and will not let you go.  For such times, the Lord summons you to private confession and absolution.  It is private; you are the only one present.  So, there is no confusion about who is meant when the absolution is proclaimed.  Jesus, through his minister, brings the peaceful assurance, “I forgive you.”  Jesus sends you home justified; you get to depart in peace.

     The apostle Thomas was not present that first week to hear Jesus proclaim peace.  On the next Sunday, Thomas was with them.  Suddenly, Jesus stood in the midst of his disciples again.  And what did he say to Thomas?  “Tsk, tsk, tsk.  You should have listened to these guys.  I am so disappointed in you”?  Rather than shame Thomas for his guilt, fear, and doubting, Jesus declared, “‘Peace be with you,’ he said.  Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at my hands.  Take your hand and put it into my side.  Do not continue to doubt, but believe’” (John 20:26-27).  Once again, the risen Savior showed the wounds that he received to take away the guilt of sinners.  Once again, the risen Savior showed himself the victor over death and the one who has the right to pardon all offenses.  Once again, the risen Savior brought peaceful assurance. 

     Now, if Jesus’ appearance to Thomas was for his sole benefit, it would not have been recorded for yours.  The Holy Spirit guided St. John to record these things to give you further assurance and greater peace.  John acknowledged that there is much more that he could have written.  No doubt, it would have been fascinating.  But the Holy Spirit does not waste his breath with anecdotes and trivia.  He is intentionally selective about what is written and about what we need to know.  St. John acknowledged that.  He wrote: “Jesus, in the presence of his disciples, did many other miraculous signs that are not written in this book.  But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:30-31). 

     The risen Savior brings peaceful assurance.  It was shown in the wounds he sustained in making the payment for our sins.  It was shown in the immortal, resurrected body which proves the payment is sufficient.  Jesus’ risen body also provides a glimpse of the immortality that awaits us at our resurrection.  That peaceful assurance is proclaimed when sinners are absolved by Christ’s ministers who speak and act in the stead and by the command of Jesus Christ.  And it is bestowed on the pages of Scripture which are written for your hope and comfort. 

     Jesus Christ is risen.  He lives to bring peaceful assurance.  You get to live in peace.  You get to die in peace.  And you will receive everlasting peace.

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

YouTube -- Ascension of our Lord, transferred (June 1, 2025)

Here is the Divine Service from Sunday, June 1, 2025.

Sermon -- Ascension of our Lord, transferred (June 1, 2025)

LUKE 24:44-53

JESUS’ ASCENSION EXALTS HUMANITY.

In the name + of Jesus.

M: Alleluia!  Christ is risen!

C:  He is risen indeed.  Alleluia!

     Very rarely are departures a happy experience.  Sometimes, people are embittered with each other and go their separate ways angry with each other.  Most times, parting is sad.  When a child heads off to college, a mother will watch with tears until the car disappears.  If a family moves to a new state, they must bid farewell to a familiar town and townsfolk.  The worst is death.  The college student will come home.  That family may return on vacation to visit.  But death is final.  Parting usually produces tears.  St. Luke recorded how the Lord Jesus parted from his disciples.  “While he was blessing them, he parted from them and was taken up into heaven” (Luke 24:51).  Over a period of forty days, Jesus had appeared to his disciples and then disappeared.  But this parting was different.  He was lifted up from the earth and hidden by a cloud.  They would not see him again.  So, their reaction seems strange.  “They worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy” (Luke 24:52). 

     Perhaps the best explanation for this comes earlier in our reading.  “He said to them, ‘These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.’  Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures” (Luke 24:44-45).  The apostles had witnessed the sufferings, death, and resurrection of Jesus.  They recorded the facts in the Gospels.  But Jesus enlightened them to understand that everything had happened according to plan.  All that was necessary to be done, Jesus accomplished.  The curse of sin has been removed.  Humanity can be spared damnation.  Jesus’ ascension means that humanity has been exalted.

     Jesus opened the minds of his apostles so that they could see how the entire Old Testament foreshadowed and foretold all that had to happen.  Everything points to Jesus.  Since sin has been taken away, the cherubim no longer prevent the way into Paradise.  Rather, at our last hour the angels come and deliver us into the Paradise of God.  The waters of the Flood had destroyed the whole wicked world, but now the waters of Holy Baptism lift us up from death and damnation and we are kept safe in the ark of the Holy Christian Church.  Just as the Lord had delivered Israel and drowned the Egyptians in the Red Sea, Jesus Christ has delivered us and has drowned our enemies in the waters of baptism.  Just as the Lord fed Israel in the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land, so also our Lord feeds us bread from heaven on our way to our heavenly Promised Land.  Like David who went out to slay Goliath, the Son of David went out to slay the devil for us.  Like Hosea whose wife was unfaithful to him but was redeemed and restored to him, our heavenly Groom redeemed and restored his Church to him.  And on and on it goes.  Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms pointed to Jesus, and he has fulfilled all things.  Therefore, the Father has exalted Jesus and given him all authority over heaven and earth.  Jesus’ ascension means the exaltation of his humanity.

     Every week, we confess about Jesus, “He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty” (Apostles’ Creed).  To sit at the right hand of God the Father is to possess all honor, glory, and power.  It is hardly a shock to confess that God rules over all things.  It would surprise many that we confess that a man is ruling over all things.  And yet, that is the case.  Jesus became a man to unite himself to humanity and to take up our cause.  He has never stopped being a human being—not when he rose, not when he ascended, and not when he took up his power to reign over all things.  In the same way, Jesus never stopped being God.  He did not make use of his divine powers and majesty except for the miracles he did.  Instead, he willingly suffered and died in weakness to secure our salvation. 

     No longer is Jesus living in weakness and humility.  Jesus’ ascension exalts his humanity.  The man, Jesus, now makes full use of his divine majesty.  What is true of God is true of the man Jesus.  This man possesses all power and majesty.  This man sees all things, knows all things, and is present in all places.  Shortly before he ascended into heaven, Jesus made this promise to his disciples, “Surely I am with you always until the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).  He did not mean that he will be with us in our hearts or in our thoughts.  He is actually with us.  Even though the Christian Church covers the entire world, Jesus is with each and every Christian.  Because this man is omnipresent, Jesus’ body and blood are on the altars of every Christian church on earth.    Jesus’ ascension exalts his humanity.

     I suppose Jesus’ exaltation could be terrifying.  If he sees all things, he sees what you try to get away with.  If he knows all things, he knows the secret thoughts of your heart.  If he is present everywhere, there is no escape from his watchful eye.  If all judgment has been entrusted to him and he judges justly, then he has you dead to rights.  The Bible says, “Death and Destruction lie open before the Lord—how much more human hearts” (Proverbs 15:11)!  You and I might try to defend our sins with clever arguments or appeals to emotion.  Jesus calls evil what it is, and he does not justify it.  Repent.

     Jesus lives and reigns over all things.  He has been entrusted with judging the living and the dead—the man who will either acquit or condemn each man or woman.  But let’s remember what has given this man the right to do so.  Jesus said, “This is what is written and so it must be: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day” (Luke 24:46).  Having fulfilled what his Father sent him to do, Jesus was exalted to the highest place.  Jesus’ ascension exalts his humanity.

     But Jesus’ ascension also exalts your humanity.  His death has taken away your sins.  His judgment upon you is nothing to be feared; for he has proclaimed a pardon for all who believe and are baptized into his name.  His continual presence is not something you need to escape.  For, if Jesus is always with you, then his mercy always rests upon you.  There is no place you can go where his righteousness fails to cover you.  There is no headline or tragedy or political action that cuts you off from Jesus’ gracious promises.  Jesus lives and reigns over all things, but he lives and reigns for you.

     Jesus’ ascension exalts your humanity.  That is why he became a man to begin with.  Mankind had fallen into sin which corrupts all things.  Sin corrupts hearts so that we desire what is evil.  Sin corrupts minds so that we are guided by fear or anxiety more than God’s promises.  Sin corrupts governments so that leaders use their power to fight against Jesus Christ and pass legislation that violates God’s word.  Sin corrupts this world so that an avalanche wiped out an entire town in Switzerland.  Sin corrupts our bodies so that the beauty and agility of youth become wrinkles and arthritis.

     Sin has caused people to seek contentment by perverting the body and life God has given us.  God created man with a special purpose and design.  Because of sin, we despise God’s purpose and pervert his design.  God gave us people to love and things to use, but we end up loving things and using people.  This despising of God’s creation has led many to think that God has made a gross mistake with the bodies he has created.  Men insist they are women and women insist they are men.  While this rejection of God and his creation is terrible, it is also particularly sad.  What kind of confusion and discontentment leads young, healthy people to reject their God-given bodies and think that happiness is found in hormone suppressors and mutilation?  What’s worse is that we have a government who supports this perversion and prosecutes those who want to offer correction and relief to confused and deceived people.

     But there is hope for those who are confused.  There is correction for those who have been deceived.  There is even forgiveness for those who have desecrated themselves.  The scars may not be reversed, but the people can be redeemed.  And in the end, even the bodies will be restored at the resurrection.  This is true for all bodies whether sin has affected us physically, mentally, or emotionally.  For, we are all corrupted by sin. 

     But Jesus’ ascension exalts our humanity.  At the resurrection, he will raise us up with bodies that will be perfected.  Our hearts and minds will be purified.  We will be content and happy when God makes all things new.  Our place will be the home of righteousness.  For the Son of Man, the Christ, has paved the way into Paradise.  This man has opened heaven to mankind.  Just as Jesus became man to dwell with us and to unite himself to us, so he will bring us to dwell with him in unity and purity.  He will make our bodies, our mouths, our minds, and our hearts what they were always intended to be.
     Jesus’ ascension exalts mankind.  And you are already being exalted.  You have been rescued from a life that is pointless and purposeless.  You do not need to turn to alcohol, drugs, carnal pleasure, greed, or self-glorification to cope with life.  You do not need some alternate identity or to be validated by social media.  Jesus’ ascension means your humanity has been exalted.  Your identity is found in him.  You are a child of the Most High God.  You are a special creation.  You are unique in your interests, talents, abilities, and goals.  God directs those so that you live for his glory and for the benefit of others.  He designed you for his glory, and he is improving the image of God in you.  It will be confirmed in perfection when you are taken up to dwell with your ascended Savior who redeemed you from sin and reconciled you to the Father.

     Until then, you get to declare the praises of God who exalts you.  This is the mission Jesus gave to his Church.  He told the apostles what must happen: “Repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations” (Luke 24:47).  This is what we are given to do.  Just as we bear the name of Jesus, so also we proclaim it to a world that needs it.  Jesus rescues people from the depravity and depression that come from sin, and he exalts mankind to what God intended us to be.  Jesus’ ascension exalts humanity.  Just as Jesus is with you to the very end of the age, so also you will be his in the age that never ends.

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

YouTube -- 6th Sunday of Easter (May 25, 2025)

Here is the Divine Service from Sunday, May 25, 2025.

Sermon -- 6th Sunday of Easter (May 25, 2025)

JOHN 16:16-24

NO ONE CAN TAKE YOUR JOY AWAY.

In the name + of Jesus.

M: Alleluia!  Christ is risen!

C:  He is risen indeed.  Alleluia!

     Americans have become sloppy with their words.  Words get misused and can even end up with their opposite definition.  A perfect example is the word, “peruse.”  If I asked you to peruse something quickly, you would think that I mean you should skim it.  The actual definition of “peruse” is to concentrate on the words and to soak them in.  It cannot be done quickly.  When someone tells you to peruse something quickly, it is meant to be humorous.  But our misuse of it is changing its definition.

     Bible translators have a difficult task in trying to convey the Greek and Hebrew words into different languages.  Some word choices are poor.  For example, a proper translation of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount is, “Blessed are the merciful…  Blessed are the pure in heart…” (Matthew 5:7-8).  Some translate the word “blessed” as “happy.”  Now, a person who is blessed probably is happy.  But the translation becomes nonsense if it is: “Happy are those who mourn…  Happy are those who are persecuted…  Happy are you when people insult you and persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me” (Matthew 5:4,10,11).  I would not be happy if I were mourning, or persecuted, or insulted, or falsely accused.

     “Happy” and “blessed” are different things.  Likewise, “happy” and “joy” are different things.  Happiness centers in me.  How I am being treated determines if I am happy or not.  If circumstances change, happiness instantly becomes sorrow or anger.  Happiness comes and goes.  But your status as God’s blessed child is constant because the blessing comes from God, not from your circumstances.  So also, joy is based on God’s promises.  Since God’s promises do not change and cannot be undone, joy remains no matter what circumstances you face.  That is why no one can take your joy away.

     On the night he was betrayed, Jesus was preparing his disciples for life without him physically being with them.  He alerted them, “In a little while you are not going to see me anymore, and again in a little while you will see me” (John 16:16).  This refers immediately to Jesus’ death and resurrection.  The death of Jesus would result in the apostles’ sorrow and grief.  Jesus told them that would happen.  “Amen, Amen, I tell you: You will weep and wail, but the world will rejoice.  You will become sorrowful” (John 16:20).  They trusted that Jesus was the Messiah and that he would usher in a kingdom which is eternal and glorious.  They were kind of right.  The apostles had thought in terms of an earthly kingdom.  So, when Jesus was put to death, all their hopes and dreams died with him.  But Jesus’ kingdom is a spiritual kingdom.  It is established in people’s hearts.  So, it is not a kingdom that can be seen.  The glory of this kingdom will not be seen by us until we depart from this world. 

     But the apostles would see Jesus again.  When Jesus rose from the dead, they would see him, speak with him, touch him, and eat with him.  Jesus would prove his victory over the grave which assures you that your sins are forgiven.  His resurrection means that the payment for all sins is sufficient.  Jesus would prove his authority over the grave.  Death does not get the last word; Jesus does.  He will raise all people from the dead, and all who believe in him will be raised up to everlasting life and endless glory.  When the apostles saw that, their sorrow turned to joy; and no one could take that joy away from them.  Christ is risen.  Therefore, his kingdom has been established.  It is a kingdom of grace and glory in which sinners are forgiven and eternal life is secured.  This promise is yours.  Therefore, this joy is yours, and no one can take your joy away.

     Jesus also had said, “because I am going away to the Father” (John 16:16).  This is included in the “In a little while you are not going to see me anymore, and again in a little while you will see me” (John 16:16).  The apostles saw Jesus for forty days; then he ascended into heaven.  They have given their testimony, and we rejoice in it.  We have not seen Jesus, but in a little while, we will see him.  Life is short.  Even people who live to 100 will tell you so.  Our “little while” will give way to the everlasting kingdom Jesus has prepared for us.  When we close our eyes in death, we will open them to see Jesus.  And no one can take that joy away.

     But for now, we have our moments of sorrow.  Life is short, and it is often hard.  Sin produces grief and pain.  Sometimes that grief and pain are self-inflicted, as we sin against God’s word and despise ourselves for giving into temptations yet again.  Sometimes the grief and pain come from enduring the scorn of a world that embraces the sins we strive to flee from.  St. Peter warned that worldly people are “surprised that you do not plunge into the same overflowing river of filth with them, and they slander you” (1 Peter 4:4).  It is hard to live and work with people who mock the Christian faith.

     But such sorrows will happen.  St. Paul told the Christian churches, “We must go through many troubles on our way to the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22).  The apostles certainly learned this.  For preaching about Jesus, they were slandered, attacked, and died gruesome deaths.  Their lives were cut short on this earth, but not in the kingdom of God.  They endured the hardships, but no one could take away their joy. 

     It is no different for you, no matter what kind of grief or sadness you might endure.  Remember, we are not talking about happiness.  Happiness depends on how you feel.  And if your focus is on being happy, then you might devote yourself to your sins.  After all, you commit sins because they make you happy.  But sins do not produce any confidence or hope.  And the “happiness” that sins bring does not last.  That is why people keep on sinning.  We keep on chasing happiness which never lasts.  Repent, and do not be deceived.  Those who strive for such happiness will be sentenced to eternal sorrow and suffering.

     But no one can take your joy away.  Joy depends upon Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.  This is where we find an enduring hope and complete confidence.  And since joy depends upon Jesus, no one can take your joy away.  There is nothing in the world that can change the perfect life Jesus lived for you.  There is no threat or problem that can nullify the death of Jesus which has paid for all your sins.  There is nothing—not death or the devil himself—which can undo Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.  It is Jesus who has established a kingdom that cannot be overthrown.  It is Jesus who has made promises which cannot be nullified.  It is Jesus who has made your salvation secure.  No trouble, no struggle, no enemy, no threat, not even death—no one can take your joy away.

     To aid us through the griefs and sorrows of life and to increase our joy, the Lord Jesus gives us another promise.  He said, “Amen, Amen, I tell you: Whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you.  Until now you have not asked for anything in my name.  Ask, and you will receive, so that your joy may be made complete” (John 16:23-24).  This is a marvelous promise, but we need to understand it properly so that we don’t accuse Jesus of lying to us or think that the Lord has failed us.

     Jesus told us to pray “in my name.”  There are two truths to understand with those words.  The first is what it means to pray in Jesus’ name.  This is to believe in Jesus as your Savior and as the one who has reconciled you to God the Father.  God does not automatically hear the prayers of everyone.  The prophet Isaiah tells us why: “It is your guilt that has separated you from your God, and your sins have hidden God’s face from you, so that he does not hear” (Isaiah 59:2).  But Jesus has taken your sins away.  Nothing separates you from your heavenly Father.  He not only will hear your prayers, he wants you to pray to him and to cast all your cares upon him.

     You are children of the heavenly Father.  That means you are able to approach him with all the boldness of children who ask their parents for things.  Children are not shy about asking for anything, even for things that they know the answer will be, “No.”  “Can we have dessert before we eat dinner?”  Who knows?  Maybe Mom and Dad will say, “Yes!”  So, you can ask your heavenly Father for anything, from the grandiose to the trivial.  From remission of cancer to a safe trip to seeing more butterflies in your backyard. 

     That brings us to the other part of praying in Jesus’ name.  It is to pray according to his will.  God will always say, “Yes,” to his will.  In some cases, we know exactly what God’s will is because he tells us.  He directs us in his word so that we know what to do and what to desire.  If you pray for the Holy Spirit to lead you to desire those good things, God will answer and bless because that is his will.  In other cases, we don’t know what God’s will is.  Will he alleviate my suffering?  Will he silence those who mock me?  Will he provide me with a godly spouse?  We pray to our Father, and we trust that he will do what is best for us.  Your prayer might be that God would make you happy.  But God’s goal for you may not be to make you happy, but to draw you closer to himself and to strengthen your faith by testing it.  This is one of the ways he increases your joy—he shows you that the things that bring you momentary happiness are not as good as the things that teach you to long for everlasting joy.

     Even if you weep and wail for a little while, your future is unending joy.  Jesus said, “A woman giving birth has pain, because her time has come. But when she has delivered the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, because of her joy that a person has been born into the world” (John 16:21).  So also, the grief that we experience now is nothing compared to the joys that await us in the heavenly kingdom.  That is our ultimate goal.  That is what we long for and pray for.  And our Lord will certainly answer those prayers because that is what he desires, too.

     When the day comes that we close our eyes in death, we will open our eyes and see Jesus.  Then, our joy will be complete.  You will be perfected in your thoughts and desires, and delivered from all sorrows and strife.  Although your joy is not complete now, it is still sure.  Then, in Christ’s eternal kingdom of grace and glory, you will not only have joy.  You will be eternally happy.  For, your circumstance will never change.  You will see Jesus.   You will dwell with the Father.  And no one can or will take your joy away.

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