Sermon -- Advent Vespers, Week 2 (December 10, 2025)

PROPHECIES PINPOINT THE MESSIAH:

He Is The Son Of David.

2 SAMUEL 7:11b-16.

In the name + of Jesus.

     When the Lord first promised the Savior to Adam and Eve, there was not much information given to identify who he would be.  That first promise said much about his actions, but it said precious little about his identity.  All that was indicated is that he would be a “he” (Genesis 3:15).  The promise was passed on from Adam to future generations.  For a long time, no further information was given—at least, nothing that is recorded in Scripture.  Although the Bible traces the line leading to the Savior from Adam to Noah, I don’t know if each patriarch in that line knew that the line went through him.  Enoch believed the promise.  Did he know that the Savior’s ancestry went through him?  I don’t know.

     Because he was delivered in the Flood, Noah knew that the promise was upheld through him and his family.  When Noah blessed his sons, we infer that Noah declared the line of the Savior would continue through Shem.  Later, the Lord himself narrowed our focus when he told Abraham, “All of the families of the earth will be blessed in you” (Genesis 12:3).  Prophecies pinpoint the Messiah.  A promise which could have been fulfilled through anyone suddenly is zeroed in on one man.  The promise was then passed on to Isaac, then Jacob, and then Judah.  And once again, if the men from Judah’s line knew that the promise flowed through them, the Bible does not say it.  Isaiah had prophesied, “A shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit” (Isaiah 11:1).  But Isaiah's prophecy was some three hundred years after Jesse.  Did Jesse know the Messiah would come through him and his line?  Again, we don’t know.

     The Lord continued to sharpen our focus with more prophecies.  Did David know that the line of the Savior passed through him?  If he hadn’t known it before, he certainly became aware of it after the prophet Nathan spoke to him.  Prophecies pinpoint the Messiah.

     Once David had established himself as king of all of Israel, he arranged to have a palace built for himself in Jerusalem.  He was a king, and he wanted his residence to look like it.  After that, David recognized that the center of Israel’s government was a palace but that the center of Israel’s worship was a tabernacle.  “Tabernacle” may sound fancy, but it was a wood-frame structure covered with leather and goats’ hair. 

     “It happened that when the king was living in his palace, and when the Lord had given him rest from his enemies all around, the king said to Nathan the prophet, ‘Look, I live in a house of cedar, but the Ark of God sits under tent curtains’” (2 Samuel 7:1-2).  Having this realization, David was committed to building a magnificent structure for housing the Ark of the Covenant and for the worship of the Lord.  It was a noble idea, but God had other plans.  The Lord informed David that he was a man of war and of blood.  Therefore, the Lord deemed it inappropriate for David to build a house of worship for him.  The Lord’s temple should not be akin to a war memorial.  It was to be a place that proclaimed and delivered peace.  God did not condemn the idea, but he deferred David’s plan to David’s son.

     The prophet Nathan came to David and announced God’s will.  He said, “The LORD … declares to you that the LORD himself will make a house for you.  When your days are complete and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up after you your seed, who will come from your own body.  I will establish his kingdom.  He will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. … Your house will stand firm, and your kingdom will endure forever before you.  Your throne will be established forever” (2 Samuel 7:11-13,16). 

     Prophecies pinpoint the Messiah.  This prophecy had a partial fulfillment in David’s son, Solomon.  David had made extensive plans for the temple and its furnishings.  He had stockpiled the materials that would be used for its construction.  But it was Solomon who oversaw the actual building of the Lord’s temple.  After six years of construction, the temple was dedicated to the glory of the Lord.  So was fulfilled God’s promise: “(Your seed) will build a house for my name” (2 Samuel 7:13). 

     The Lord’s promise was also partially fulfilled in Solomon as the Lord had said, “I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever” (2 Samuel 7:13).  The Hebrew word “forever” has some flexibility to it.  It can mean eternally.  Sometimes it can refer to an extended period of time which does not have a foreseeable end.  It is similar to our expression, “This cold spell is lasting forever!”  True to his word, the throne of David did endure for an extended period of time.  However, it came to an end in 586 BC when Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem, burned the temple, and deported the royal family.

     When the Lord speaks, he does not lie.  When he makes a promise, it does not fail.  If we pick apart the promise that God had made to David through the prophet Nathan, some may conclude that God’s promise had failed.  God said that David’s throne would endure forever.  It certainly does not exist today.  Therefore, God’s promise must find its fulfillment in another son of David.  Prophecies pinpoint the Messiah.  He is the Son of David.

     The Gospels of Matthew and Luke both include genealogies of Jesus.  Both document that Jesus is of the house and lineage of David.  So, Jesus fulfills that criterion.  But now, let’s consider the rest of Nathan’s words to David, because they do not seem to find a fulfillment in Solomon, at least not one that is recorded in the Bible.

     This is how the Lord spoke of the Messiah through the prophet Nathan: “I will be his father, and he will be my son.  When he sins, I will discipline him with a rod used by men and with blows of the sons of men.  My faithful mercy will not depart from him as I removed it from Saul, whom I removed to make room for you.” (2 Samuel 7:14-15).  Again, this prophecy pinpoints the Messiah more by what he will do than by who he is and where he comes from.  He is the Son of David, but David had lots of sons and daughters.  I don’t know how many people could have traced their ancestry to David’s line as the generations progressed.  So, according to this prophecy, the Messiah would be known by what he would do—or, rather, by what would be done to him.

     Prophecies pinpoint the Messiah.  But what about the phrase, “When he sins” (1 Samuel 7:14)?  We know of Solomon’s sins.  He took many foreign wives.  He not only accommodated them by building pagan temples for their hometown gods, but he also joined them in their worship.  Perhaps he was trying to appease them, as if to say, “Well, if I expect them to worship my God, then I should be polite and worship theirs.”  Whatever Solomon’s motivation was, he had strayed from the Lord.  If he had been beaten with blows of the sons of men, the Bible does not record that.  Some have reasoned that Solomon’s book of Ecclesiastes was written as an act of repentance before he died.  I hope that is an accurate deduction.

     Jesus, on the other hand, had no sins on his record.  Many spoke against him, accusing him of gluttony and drunkenness, of guilt by associating with reprobates, and of being in league with demons.  When he stood trial before people eager to find reasons to convict and condemn him, no one could.  Nevertheless, God the Father found him guilty of sin.  Isaiah foretold it: “He was crushed for the guilt our sins deserved.  The punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.  We all have gone astray like sheep.  Each of us has turned to his own way, but the Lord has charged all our guilt to him” (Isaiah 53:5-6).  Jesus became sin for us in order to deliver us from its curse and penalty.  He was spit upon and scourged.  He was punched in the face and pierced in his hands and feet.  He was despised by priests and damned by his Father.  All this for our sins.  All this to save us from what our sins deserve.  He was punished so that we would be pardoned.

     Yet, the Father’s love was not withdrawn from his Son.  For, the Son faithfully completed all that the Father had given him to do.  The Lord had promised through Isaiah, “I will give him an allotment among the great, and with the strong he will share plunder, because he poured out his life to death, and he let himself be counted with rebellious sinners” (Isaiah 53:12).  The Son was faithful to the Father, being counted as a rebellious sinner.  The Father was faithful to the Son, doing for him what he had promised.  He raised up Jesus from the dead as the conqueror over death.  The risen Savior has taken plunder from the devil—which is you.  Jesus snatched you from the dominion of death and the devil.  Now the dominion of the Messiah, the place where salvation is found, is the Holy Christian Church.  So, as promised through Nathan, “Your house will stand firm, and your kingdom will endure forever before you.” (2 Samuel 7:16). 

     Prophecies pinpoint the Messiah.  Jesus, the Son of David, lives and reigns forever.  He has made you subjects in his kingdom—not to threaten and to tyrannize, but to love and to bless.  You are not peasants he takes advantage of.  He has made you princes and princesses who enjoy the benefits of his reign—forgiveness of sins, peace of conscience, and the promise of future glory in an eternal kingdom.

     Prophecies pinpoint the Messiah.  The prophet Nathan had foretold it, and the apostle Paul declared that it has been fulfilled in Jesus the Nazarene.  St. Paul wrote to the Romans, “This gospel is about his Son—who in the flesh was born a descendant of David, who in the spirit of holiness was declared to be God’s powerful Son by his resurrection from the dead—Jesus Christ, our Lord” (Romans 1:3-4).  The Messiah is the Son of David and the Son of God who lives and reigns over all and forever more.

     Prophecies pinpoint the Messiah to show that your faith does not rest on mindless acceptance.  Your faith, your comfort, and your hope rest on promises that are historical record and have been fulfilled with verifiable facts.  Therefore, your forgiveness is not wishful thinking.  Your hope of the resurrection to eternal life is not fantasy.  Prophecies pinpoint the Messiah.  The Messiah promises everlasting life.  These are trustworthy sayings deserving of acceptance and assuring salvation.

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

Thanksgiving Vespers -- Wednesday, November 26

Thanksgiving Vespers will be Wed., November 26 at 7 PM.  

God has so freely and supplied all our needs—both physical and spiritual.  We recognize his goodness to us in this annual Thanksgiving service.

Give thanks to the LORD for he is good; his mercy endures forever. (Psalm 118:1)

Sermon -- Octoberfest Vespers (September 28, 2025)

MATTHEW 8:1-4

IF YOU ARE WILLING…

In the name + of Jesus.

    This is the first recorded miracle in the Gospel of St. Matthew.  A leper came to Jesus in hopes of being cured of his leprosy.  He came with the politest request that was ever made of Jesus.  Some came and deposited their sick before Jesus.  Others shouted and pleaded, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”  This leper “came to him and bowed down to him, saying, ‘Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean’” (Matthew 8:2). 

     “If you are willing…”  This leper was not so presumptuous to think that he was owed a healing from Jesus.  He expressed his confidence in what Jesus could do for him: “you can make me clean” (Matthew 8:2).  But he recognized that Jesus had every right to decline his request.  “If you are willing,” he prayed.

     Our prayers usually direct God to some specific action to be taken on our behalf.  This is not wicked.  Our Lord summons us to pray: “Call on me in the day of distress.  I will deliver you, and you will honor me” (Psalm 50:15).  St. Peter urges us, “Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).  We get to tell our heavenly Father what our particular trouble is.  We even get to ask for a specific blessing or outcome.  The leper was specific: “You can make me clean” (Matthew 8:2).  A leper who had been cut off from his family, from his friends, from the temple, and from society would long to be cleansed.  His request was no surprise; but his submission to God’s will was.

     “If you are willing…”  It is good for us to recognize that God may have different plans for us than our requests.  When St. Paul fervently prayed, repeatedly, that the Lord would grant him relief from the thorn in his flesh which tormented him, the Lord was not willing to take it away.  When David prayed and fasted that the boy born to Bathsheba through an illicit affair would be spared or even that David could be put to death so that the child would live, the Lord was not willing to honor David’s petition.  The leper who came to Jesus recognized that Jesus might tell him, “I know that your life is hard with leprosy, but I am going to ask you to bear this cross.  You will receive relief and deliverance from your leprosy at the resurrection of all flesh, but for now your flesh will be corrupt.  You will be given the strength and the grace to deal with it, but it is not God’s will for you to be cleansed from it.”  But even when it is difficult, God’s will is always good.

     We don’t often know what God’s will is because he does not tell us.  Is it God’s will that my loved one lives or dies?  Is it God’s will that my pain is alleviated?  Is it God’s will that our nation remains peaceful and prosperous?  We know that God does not will what is sinful, but we also know that God may use evil for his own good purpose.  Whatever our prayer is—and you can make whatever petitions and intercessions you want, and you can make them as specific as you want—our prayer is and remains, “If you are willing….”

     We have a Savior who knows what it is to submit to the will of his Father.  In Gethsemane, Jesus already felt the sorrow, the pain, and the curse he would have to endure to take away our sins.  Jesus “fell on his face, and prayed.  He said, ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me (a specific request). Yet not as I will, but as you will’” (Matthew 26:39) (If you are willing…).  Since there was no other Savior who could deliver us, and since there was no other way to remove the curse of sin from us, Jesus submitted to the will of his Father—not because it was fun, but because it was good.  Jesus took the cup of God’s wrath and consumed every last drop for us.  Why?  Because it is God’s will that sinners would be saved.  And if it is God’s will to save you and to give you everlasting life with him, then God’s will is always going to work for your good.  In fact, he tells you so.  “All things work together for the good of those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

     “A leper came to him and bowed down to him, saying, ‘Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.’  Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him. ‘I am willing,’ he said.  ‘Be clean.’  Immediately he was healed of his leprosy” (Matthew 8:2-3).  In compassion for the leper, Jesus was willing to cleanse him and did.  When we do not know what God’s will is, we pray for whatever we want and, like our Savior, submit to whatever he chooses to do.  And when we do know God’s will, we submit to whatever he would have us do.  For, the will of God is always best, his word is always true, and his love never fails.

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

Octoberfest at Good Shepherd -- September 28, 2025

          Octoberfest will be Sunday, September 28.  (Yes, I know, September. But that’s when they do it in Munich, so there!) 

          The schedule for our Octoberfest is:

               5:00 PM -- Vespers
               5:30 PM – A bratwurst dinner
               6:30 PM – Luther Lecture

          This year's Luther Lecture will focus on someone whom our Lord used to protect Martin Luther, enabling the Lutheran Reformation to take hold.  The theme is: "Frederick the Wise, elector of Saxony, protector of Luther."

          Good Shepherd will provide the bratwurst, buns, condiments, bottled water, lemonade, and coffee.  In order to make sure we will have enough food on hand for this event, please RSVP to welsnovi@aol.com, indicating your name and how many will be coming to this event. If you would be so willing, please bring a salad, side dish, or dessert to round out the meal.

         We hope that all guests of our Octoberfest celebration will gain a greater appreciation for the confessors and the confession of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Sermon -- Advent Vespers: Week 1 (November 30, 2022)

LUKE 1:5-25

THAT YOU MAY BE CERTAIN ABOUT THE THINGS YOU HAVE BEEN TAUGHT --Certain That God Means What He Says.

In the name + of Jesus.

     There was a priest named Zechariah.  Although his main job was to serve as an intercessor for the people of Israel, he would also have been a pastor.  Part of the duties of the priests was to teach the people according to the Law of Moses.  Zechariah would instruct people regarding the holy and the common, the clean and the unclean.  According to St. Luke, both Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth took God’s word seriously.  St. Luke recorded, “They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord” (Luke 1:6). 

     If Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous before God, that means they trusted the promises of God.  By faith, they stood justified before God.  If Zechariah and Elizabeth walked blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord, that means they were careful to avoid sin and to pursue godliness in their words and actions.  They not only took God’s promises seriously, they also took his commandments seriously.  God had preserved this couple in faithfulness their whole lives long.  Still, there was one blessing he had withheld from them.  Despite fervent and frequent prayers, “they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years” (Luke 1:7).

     The Lord’s priests worked on a rotation basis. Each priest was to come to Jerusalem and serve in the temple for a month. During that month, the priests who were eligible were to present themselves for burning incense in the temple in the holy place. The lot was cast, and one priest was selected for what would almost certainly be a once in a lifetime privilege. The lot fell to Zechariah. He entered the holy place, most likely at the evening sacrifice, to serve before the Lord.

     What was an opportunity turned into an astounding encounter.  If burning incense was a once in a lifetime event, this encounter with an angel was unheard of perhaps since the days of Daniel, some 500 years.  “There appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.  … The angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John’” (Luke 1:11,13).  What must have been Zechariah’s reaction to this announcement?  “My prayer?!?  We accepted God’s answer to that years ago!  Now we shall have a son???  Why now?”

     The angel continued and answered such curiosity.  “Many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord.   … He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared” (Luke 1:14-17).  In other words, John would be the fulfillment of God’s promise through Malachi.  It had been four hundred years since God made that promise, and then God went silent.  There were no more promises, no more prophets.  But now, because the time had fully come, God would keep his word.  St. Luke recorded this so that you can be certain that God takes his word seriously.

      Zechariah was skeptical.  He did not doubt that the angelic vision was real.  He did not wonder if he was in his right mind.  Rather, he engaged the angel in honest conversation.  “Zechariah said to the angel, ‘How shall I know this?  For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years’” (Luke 1:18). 

     I suppose we could give Zechariah a pass for his skepticism. After all, this vision and this message defied the natural order of things. Zechariah questioned God’s ability to carry out what he had promised. The angel assured Zechariah that God can do whatever pleases him. “The angel answered him, ‘I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time’” (Luke 1:19-20).  Zechariah had asked for a sign: “How shall I know this” (Luke 1:18)? And Zechariah got a sign. Since he did not believe the word of the Lord, he would have no words to speak until God’s promises were fulfilled. Zechariah may have been uncertain about Gabriel’s message, but Gabriel made him certain that God takes his word seriously.

     If you have ever needed motivation to take God and his word seriously, then know that God sure does.  Every commandment is divine direction to love and to do good.  Now, no one will dispute that we are to love others and to do good to them.  But people do not take God seriously when he tells us what is good and what is not.  And people do not take God seriously when he tells us that love for his word is to guide the way we love other people.  Love does not give approval to whatever makes people happy.  Some people are happy to steal from you.  Some people are happy to gossip about you.  Some people are happy to cheat on their wives.  Love does not condone or celebrate them for finding what makes them happy. 

     Many would reply, “Yeah, well those things hurt other people.  That’s why they are bad.  What about things that don’t hurt anyone else?  Why are they bad?”  But this line of thinking already shows that people do not take God’s word seriously.  For example, Jesus taught, “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it” (Luke 11:28)!  Jesus did not say, “Blessed are you as long as you don’t hurt other people.”  His blessing rests on those who hear his word, take it seriously, and follow it—whether other people are watching or not.  If you are nice to your fellow man but despise God and his word, how can God’s blessing rest upon you?  God takes his word seriously, which first and foremost means: “You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only you shall serve” (Luke 4:8).

     God directs us to what is good, and love holds fast to that.  Love will also move us to call people to repent who defy God’s word because we do not want people to fall under God’s wrath for their sins.  We do nobody favors by letting them think that their happiness is the highest good when they defy God’s word.  Now, some people will refuse to take God’s word seriously no matter how much we implore them to do so.  You can’t stop everyone from sinning.  You can’t make everyone take God’s word seriously.  But you: Be certain that God does take his word seriously so that you do not suffer the judgment that proves it.

      Zechariah sinned against God by questioning if God could do what he promised. Sometimes, we sin by insisting that God will do something he did not promise.  This is a confusion about what God can do versus what God will do.  The Psalms remind us, “Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases” (Psalm 115:3).  So, God can do whatever he wants.  God can put an end to all gun violence.  God can put an end to cancer.  God can make you a millionaire.  God could make it rain M&M’s if he wanted to.  But that does not mean he will do it.  So, when we fault God because he does not do something he can do, we are not taking his word seriously. 

     When Zechariah questioned that Elizabeth would conceive and bear a son, Zechariah challenged a clear word of God.  God not only could cause Elizabeth to get pregnant, he said he would do it.  We recognize that God can bring about amazing events and bring an end to terrible events.  But unless God tells us that he will do it, we dare not fault God for failing to do it.  We do not understand why God does what he does.  He often does not tell us why he does what he does, and he does not owe us an answer.  What God does promise us is this: “We know that for those who love God all things work together for good” (Romans 8:28).  That does not mean we will know how it is good or that it will feel good.  We simply trust that whatever God is doing, he is doing it for our eternal welfare, even when it is painful or costly.  Faith is being certain that God takes his word seriously even when evidence suggests otherwise.

     “The people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple.  And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple.  And he kept making signs to them and remained mute” (Luke 1:21-22).  You can imagine the confusion of the worshipers who were waiting a little long for Zechariah to complete his duties.  When he finally exited the temple, he was unable to proclaim the Lord’s blessing upon the people because he was mute.  Yes, God had taken his word seriously.  He wanted Zechariah and all the people certain that he does.  Zechariah was a sign to them that God is serious when he says something.

     The son to be born to Zechariah and Elizabeth was to be named John.  It means, “The Lord is gracious.”  John would come to prepare people for God’s gracious salvation.  The Lord himself would come in human flesh to deliver people out of their sins.  Jesus would make himself the sacrifice which atones for the times we have challenged God’s love, questioned God’s wisdom, or did not take his word seriously enough to follow it.  Jesus would come to pay for all sins—everything from us finding fault with God to all the faults God finds in us. 

     While it is true that God is serious about everything he says and God is serious about the judgment against all who defy him, God is equally serious about your salvation.  God is serious enough about your salvation that he comes in person to achieve it.  After all, that is what was promised.  And God is serious about what he says.  So that you may be certain of the things you have been taught, St. Luke and the other Gospel writers record what Jesus said and did to fulfill everything.  In this way, you are not merely certain about the historical events as they unfolded, you are also certain about the forgiveness of your sins, the resurrection of your body, and the everlasting glory that Jesus is preparing for you.

     The day will come when God will put an end to all pain, all toil, all sorrow, all loss and all death.  He will make everything new and keep everything perfect.  This will not happen because we think it is a good idea; it will happen because God has promised it.  God is serious about what he says, and he says it so that you can be certain of it, confident in it, and comforted by it.

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

Sermon -- Octoberfest Vespers (October 6, 2019)

JOHN 4:46-54

THE WORD DOES AS THE WORD SAYS.

In the name + of Jesus.

     Jesus returned to Cana where he had performed his first miraculous sign.  Word got around that Jesus had returned.  One official in Capernaum had hoped that this would mean more miracles.  When Jesus had changed water into wine at the wedding in Cana, it was not a life-and-death problem.  The official, however, was trying to resolve a life-and-death problem.  His son was dying.  He traveled about 20 miles from Capernaum to Cana to plead with Jesus to come with him and perform a miracle.
     The official was right in turning to Jesus for aid, but Jesus' rebuke tells us that the official was misguided in his hope.  The official's hope was only for one thing—for his son to be healed.  He did not want a Messiah; he wanted a magician.  As far as the official was concerned, Jesus could have been world-renowned physician, a magic potion, or Aladdin's lamp.  He just wanted a miracle to save his son.
     After the official appealed to Jesus, Jesus replied, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” (John 4:48)  In fact, Jesus did not give this man a sign at all.  He only gave him a word.  The official pleaded, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.”  The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. (John 4:49-50)  
     The editors did not translate Jesus' word correctly.  It is not a future tense, “Your son will live.”  It is a present tense, “Your son lives.”  It was likely translated as a future tense because the man did not find out that his son was healed until the next day.  But Jesus gave an authoritative word, and the word does as the word says.  “Your son lives,” means that he survives and is healed.  It is like God saying the sun in the sky shines.  When we say it, it is an observation.  When God say it, it is a decree.  The sun shines because God says so.  The official's son lives because Jesus says so.
     The word does as the word says.  So when the Bible says that the law is good, it is not just an observation—as if to say, “If we followed God's law, it would be good for us.”  God's Law IS good.  It shows us what good is.  And since we cannot keep it, it shows that we are not good.  God is good.  He is the standard of good.  All he thinks, says, and does is good.  But we all fall short of the glory of God.  We are not good.  We have no place in God's presence because God finds no delight in what is not good.
     But Jesus gives us a new word.  He does not dazzle us with signs and wonders.  He preaches good news.  He takes away our sin and dies our death.  He endures our curse and puts an end to God's wrath.  And he then gives an authoritative word.  He declares that our sins are forgiven; and they are.  He attaches his word to water and says, “By this, you are cleansed;” and you are.  He attaches his word to bread and wine and says, “This is my body and blood;” and it is.  “For you for the forgiveness of sins”—so it does.  The word does as the word says.  So, when Jesus declares that you are children of God, this is what you are.  When the Bible assures you that God sees you as blameless, then you are.  It doesn't matter whether you feel like or look like it, Jesus says you are.  And the word does as the word says.
     The official and his family believed in Jesus because he had been given a word to cling to.  The word which healed the son also delivered the family.  By the word of Jesus, the son lives, and so did the family.  And so do you.  Only Jesus has the words of eternal life.  The word does as the word says.  And so, it saves you.

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

Sermon -- Advent Vespers 3 (December 19, 2012)

REVELATION 20:13-14

THY KINGDOM COME…

…So Sin, Death, and Hell May Be Exterminated.

In the name + of Jesus.

     When we pray, “Thy kingdom come,” we are praying for all of the blessings our Lord Jesus Christ has to give.  Those blessings come through the Gospel.  His word reveals the innocent life and the sacrificial death which atone for our sins and bestow God’s grace upon us.  The sacraments apply those blessings to us personally.  Therefore, if you ever wonder if you are truly forgiven, you only have to say, “I am baptized!”  This is the confidence that the Lord has washed you clean of all your sins.  The Lord has clothed you in the pure, white wedding garments in which you stand before him without stain or spot or any blemish.  Therefore, you shall feast at the eternal wedding banquet in the heavenly kingdom.  God’s kingdom has come to you; its blessings are yours.

     There is one blessing for which we still wait.  St. Paul wrote, “(Christ) must reign until he has put everything under his feet.  The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” (1 Corinthians 15:25-26)  So far, it appears that death reigns.  We are convinced of it because we know that everyone is going to die.  We try to delay that for as long as we can, but exercise, diet, and prescriptions will only work for so long.  Even the person who holds the distinction of being the oldest person on earth does not get to enjoy that title for very long.  The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), and sooner or later everyone gets to payday.

     While many tell you that death is natural, that is not really true.  Yes, death comes to all, but it comes because of a curse.  Death came into this world because sin came into this world.  Sin brings death and decay to all things.  Death is only natural in the same sense that the flu is natural, or hurricanes, or mold, or rust.  Death is a curse, and that is why everyone fears it.  Death is cruel, and that is why everyone weeps at it.  Even our Savior wept at the grave of his friend, Lazarus.  Death rips apart bonds and relationships that we had enjoyed.  Death brings about a separation that we cannot repair and a loss that we cannot replicate.  It is a bitter reminder that we are sinners, that all are sinners.  And that reminder often comes in sudden and tragic and merciless ways.  That is life in the kingdom of the world.  And, sadly, life in this kingdom means death. 

     And so we pray, “Thy kingdom come!”  The coming of the Lord’s kingdom means that sin, death, and hell are exterminated.  Jesus baited sin, death, and hell into taking him in your place.  Satan had hoped to destroy the Son of God—and then ultimately the whole world—with sin, death, and the grave.  And so Jesus let Satan swallow him up at the cross.  But it is Jesus who destroyed sin, death, and hell once and for all.  As the great fish had swallowed up Jonah, so also death swallowed up Jesus in the grave.  But as the great fish had to spit out Jonah on the third day, so also the grave had to give up Jesus on the third day. 

     The risen Savior has exterminated sin, death, and hell.  Jesus’ death is the full payment for sin, so sin cannot condemn anymore.  Jesus’ resurrection renders the grave an empty threat.  Death has been conquered.  Hell has no hold on him, either.  Jesus declares, “I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever!  And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” (Revelation 1:18)  These are not just big words.  Jesus demonstrated that this is a fact by his descent into hell.  Jesus victoriously descended into the very depths of hell to declare his victory to Satan’s face.  He crushed the serpent’s head.  Jesus holds authority over all things.  Even death must answer to him.  And that means that those who die in Christ are not lost at all. 

     You do not need to despair at the death of one who dies in the faith.  Death has won no victory.  Jesus still calls them his own, and they still live in his presence.  You do not need to fear your own death.  Sin cannot condemn you.  Hell cannot claim you.  And death cannot hold you.  Jesus holds the keys to death and Hades.  He will come for you to set you free, to raise you up, and to grant you life forevermore.  

     “Thy kingdom come,” so that sin, death, and hell may be exterminated forever and ever.  St. John had received a glimpse of it—the death of death.  The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done.  Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire.  The lake of fire is the second death. (Revelation 20:13-14)  Though you may feel helpless at the bedside or the grave side of a loved one, you are not hopeless.  Your Savior still has all authority.  Jesus will summon all the dead, and the grave must give them up.  Ashes and dust will become body and soul.  The weak will become glorious.  The dead will be raised immortal.  Those who had succumbed to death will see that death succumbs to the words of Jesus who will raise you up to glorious, everlasting, victorious life.  That is because Jesus has the final word.  Since you have received full pardon for all of your sins, you need not fear the flames.  They have been doused in the waters of baptism.  Your faith saves you.

     This is the faith that pleads, “Thy kingdom come.”  We pray for Jesus’ coming because we know that we will receive good things in his glorious kingdom.  When Jesus comes again, we will not merely say, “Good-bye,” but shout, “Good riddance!” to a world that is stained with sin and infested with death.  We will be done with a world where death and mourning and crying and pain are considered natural.  Jesus will take sin, death, hell, and everything associated with them and heave them once and for all into the lake of fire.  The last enemy to be destroyed is death (1 Corinthians 15:26), and Jesus will finally put death to death.

     But you, dear Christians, will receive life and blessing and salvation from your God.  You will receive a kingdom whose glories cannot be measured and whose joys cannot be diminished.  It is impossible to try to describe what unending and uninterrupted blessings will be like in his heavenly kingdom.  Perhaps it is easier to ponder the extermination of sin, death, and hell and everything that comes with them.  You are receiving a kingdom that knows no problems.  You will never again have to pray for patience with strangers or plead for forgiveness from loved ones.  Never again will the bonds of loved ones be strained or severed.  You will never need to take a pill or grab a Kleenex.  You will never suffer the frustrations of bad hair days or spilled coffee or paper cuts.  And you will never run out of time.  For, the blessings will not expire.  The curse is done.  All the enemies will be destroyed.  Eden is restored.  Paradise is open again.  The wedding feast is ready, and the Lord has given you the appropriate garments.

     The Church cries out, “Come, Lord Jesus.  Thy kingdom come” so sin, death, and hell shall be exterminated, and so that God’s redeemed shall rejoice without end.

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

Sermon -- Advent Vespers (December 12, 2012).

LUKE 11:17-20

THY KINGDOM COME…

…To Put Down the Devil’s Kingdom.

     The Lord has taught us to pray, “Thy Kingdom come.”  But if the Lord’s kingdom must come to us, that means that we are not automatically in it.  And that is, indeed, the case.  The world is the LORD’s…and all who live in it (Psalm 24:1), but Satan seized it back in the Garden of Eden.  Once he coaxed Adam and Eve into defying God’s will and into doing his bidding, the devil laid claim to this world.  All people are conceived and born in sin – with hearts and minds bent on wickedness.  We are the devil’s offspring and we do the devil’s works.  That is not a flattering image, and it is a wretched judgment, but it is what the Lord says: “Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning.” (1 John 3:8) 

     We have made a practice of sinning.  In fact, we cannot stop ourselves from sinning.  Our selfishness affects our actions and our love grows cold.  Our jealousy affects our thoughts and we assign the worst motives to others.  Our bitterness affects our words and we speak with condescension and sarcasm – “Hello!?”  We live in a world which shows little patience, kindness, and mercy, and we have adopted its practice.  We do not follow God’s will, and it steams us when God demands that we must.  We do not want God to be God to us.  We want him to answer to us.  This is precisely what Satan got Adam and Eve to believe, and this is how he got them to eat the fruit God had forbidden with a curse.  We still crave the forbidden fruit.  The curse still stands.  Satan is still the prince of this world.  And we are still doing his works.

     But Jesus came to overthrow Satan and his kingdom.  St. John wrote, “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8)  Jesus demonstrated his overthrow of Satan throughout his ministry.  As soon as Jesus was baptized, Satan tempted him in the wilderness.  Jesus overcame him every time.  The kingdom of God overcame the kingdom of the devil.  When Jesus came across demon-possessed men, he neither desired nor needed the confession of demons.  Therefore, Jesus commanded them to not testify that he is the Son of God.  The kingdom of God overruled the kingdom of the devil.  To free those who were possessed, Jesus exorcised the demons from them.  They had to submit to the divine commands of the Son of God.  The kingdom of God overran the kingdom of the devil. 

     Now, that proves that Jesus is divine and that his word has authority.  It proves that Jesus is stronger than the devil and that his rule will stand.  But you will only be comforted by this news if you know that Jesus’ might, authority, and rule are done for you.  If they are not, you are still in Satan’s kingdom.  You are still lost.  But Jesus has come not just to demonstrate superiority over the devil, but to free you from him.  And so we pray, “Thy kingdom come,” so that he will put down the devil’s kingdom.

     Jesus revealed that the kingdom of God had come by casting out devils from those who were possessed.  Jesus’ enemies accused him of being in league with the devil in order to deceive people.  Jesus highlighted the folly of their argument.  How does Satan gain an advantage by having demons cast out of people?  That means he has lost control.  But if it is the finger of God at work casting out demons, then the kingdom of God has come.  And that is why Jesus had come: to put down the devil’s kingdom, to cast out Satan, and to rescue those who have been held captive by him.

     To do this, Jesus made an exchange.  He substituted himself for you.  He let Satan accuse, condemn and kill him.  He has taken up every accusation that Satan could level at anyone.  He suffered all the taunting and jeering and mockery that Satan’s offspring could hurl at him.  When Jesus stood on trial, he did not bother to refute any of the charges.  He let all accusations stick.  When he was mocked and taunted, Jesus offered no retort.  He refused none of your sin, but silently suffered in your place.  He willingly died under God’s curse for you.  This is how Satan tried to lay permanent claim to you – by killing off your Savior once and for all.

     Yes, Jesus was put to death – but not as a victim claimed by Satan.  Jesus was the innocent, sacrificial victim, the Lamb of God, slain for the sins of the world.  His condemnation means that all guilt has been taken from you.  His death means that all punishment has been removed from you.  The Lord has only blessing left for you.  Satan hoped to claim the whole world by taking Jesus.  But Jesus ended up atoning for the sins of the world by his death.  And then, not even death could hold him.  Jesus rose from the grave to claim you from Satan.  He has put out the kingdom of the devil and he has established his kingdom as your eternal refuge.

     Jesus’ kingdom has come, and he brought you into it when you were baptized.  On that day, the finger of God, the Holy Spirit, touched you and drove out the unclean spirit from you.  You have been cleansed of your sin, and the Holy Spirit dwells in its place.  That is why you flee from the practice of sinning.  You no longer crave what the Lord forbids, knowing that it means banishment and a curse and death.  But what God gives you freely and generously means blessing and life in his kingdom.

     You pray, “Thy kingdom come,” so that you have a faithful shepherd-King who instructs you, guides you, and protects you day after day.  And though you still succumb to temptation and fall into sin, your loving King corrects you and works repentance in you.  You despise yourself for your sins, for you do not want to be the devil’s lackey.  You are a child of God and you want to live like it.  And if you despise what is of the devil and love what is holy, then the kingdom of God has come to you.

     Jesus’ kingdom has come; for he has put down the devil’s kingdom.  Satan no longer owns you.  He does not control you.  His kingdom has been put down.  Now you dwell in God’s kingdom.  Oh, the devil will still scoff at you and try to torment you with doubt and guilt.  But do not fear him.  Do not give him a moment of your time.  Have you sinned?  Sure.  Acknowledge it.  And then tell Satan to ask Jesus what he has done with your sins.  And he will flee from you.  For, Jesus drives out the devil and all the fear, guilt, doubt, and afflictions he would bring to your soul.

     God’s kingdom has come to you, and the devil’s kingdom has been put down.  Now you are free to serve and to live without fear.  You don’t have to go about your life wondering if God is pleased with you or what it will take to make God pleased with you.  Jesus has set you free from such fears.  Jesus reigns; his word is supreme.  And he tells you that God is pleased with you.  He has delivered you into his kingdom so that you may dwell as his own in joy and peace now and for all eternity.

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

Sermon -- Advent Vepsers, Week 1 (December 5, 2012)

ROMANS 15:18-19

THY KINGDOM COME…

…Through the Word and the Spirit’s Power.

In the name + of Jesus.

            I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done—by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. (Romans 15:18-19)

     During Advent, we anticipate the coming of Jesus.  And whenever we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we plead for his kingdom to come.  When we think of the kingdom of Jesus, we ponder the benefits that come to us who dwell in his kingdom.  Perhaps we think in particular of heavenly glory.  While that is certainly included in the kingdom of God, the kingdom of God is not limited to heaven.  You already dwell in the kingdom of God.  You are already receiving its benefits.

     The kingdom of God is not as easy to recognize as worldly kingdoms.  We can locate worldly kingdoms by flags and rulers and borders.  But Jesus taught us, “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:20-21)  The kingdom of God cannot be seen.  Instead, we confess, “I believe in the holy, Christian Church.”  So, if it cannot be seen, we are left to wonder how it can come to us.

     St. Paul declared how, through him, the Lord advanced his kingdom around the Mediterranean world.  He wrote, “I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done—by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.” (Romans 15:18-19)  God’s kingdom comes through the Word and the Spirit’s power.

     As it often happens with worldly kingdoms, the Lord’s kingdom also had to be established through the shedding of blood and the slaying of human life.  The Lord, however, did not have you fight your own way in.  Jesus fought singlehandedly for you.  The battle scene was Mt. Calvary.  There, the Lamb of God was slain.  There, the Son of God spilled his blood.  There, Jesus took all of your sin and put an end to divine wrath, eternal death, and any demonic onslaught against your soul.  Jesus suffered in your place—dying for your sins, receiving your condemnation, and enduring your torment.  By his sufferings and death, Jesus established his kingdom.

     But victory was emphatically declared when Jesus rose from the dead.  Jesus’ resurrection proves that the blood he shed for you was not a waste, but was sufficient payment to redeem you.  Since Jesus is risen, his word of forgiveness absolves you of sin.  He speaks, and the grave must give up its dead.  The devil may try to taunt you, but Jesus’ word overrules him.  Satan must shut up.  Jesus lives and reigns.  He has authority over all things.  Jesus’ kingdom endures forever.  His word stands for all time.  Therefore, when you pray, “Thy Kingdom Come,” your prayer is not that Jesus will reign—for he already does.  Rather, you pray that you will be included in his kingdom and receive his benefits.

     How, then, does God’s kingdom come?  God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives his Holy Spirit, so that by his grace we believe his holy Word and lead a godly life now on earth and forever in heaven. (Luther’s Small Catechism)  

     God’s kingdom comes by the Word and the Spirit’s power.  For St. Paul, the Spirit’s power was seen in miraculous signs and wonders.  The Gospel of our Lord was being preached around the world, but it had not yet been penned.  Therefore, the Lord confirmed the word of the apostles with miraculous signs, as Jesus had promised (cf. Mark 16:20). 

     No longer should we expect to see miraculous signs to confirm God’s word.  Though miraculous signs accompanied the apostles’ teaching, Jesus did not send them out to dazzle.  He send them to preach the gospel.  They have fulfilled their duty.  They have recorded the words and works of Jesus.  It is through the Word that the Holy Spirit works.  It is through the Word that the Holy Spirit reveals a merciful Savior and delivers you into a blessed kingdom.

     The Lord’s kingdom comes through the Word and the Spirit’s power.  The Spirit’s power is demonstrated by the fact that God has worked faith in your heart.  The Spirit’s power is evident in the fact that you no longer delight in your sins, but instead are ashamed of them and no longer want anything to do with them.  The Spirit’s power is made known in that he has come to you who were dead in sin and made you alive in Christ.  He has converted you from being enemies of God into beloved citizens of God’s kingdom who are eager to do God’s will.  By God’s grace, the Spirit is at work in you so that you lead a godly life.

     St. Paul wrote, “I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done….” (Romans 15:18)  Our Lord God advances his kingdom wherever his word is preached and his sacraments are administered.  That is where he creates in you a clean heart and renews in you a right spirit, producing joyful obedience in you.  He fills you with the desire and the strength to serve your neighbor – whether he appreciates it or not; to have mercy on your fellow man – because he is way too stressed about a season that is supposed to bring peace; to console those who grieve – because you have been given words that soothe; to encourage those who are ready to quit the faith – because you know what it is like to be weak and know that the Lord alone provides strength and sustains faith; and to pray for everyone – because often it is God alone who knows how they are hurting and God alone who can bring them hope and peace.

     Citizens of other kingdoms will rally to a flag, knowing that it stands for the protection and blessings their ruler will give.  You also rally where the Lord bestows his protection and blessings.  So cling to the place that he bestows that kingdom upon you.  Flock to the altar to receive his body and blood.  For, there is forgiveness.  Yearn to hear his word proclaimed.  For, there is salvation.  Return daily to your baptism—killing your sin in repentance so that God will raise you up a new creation.  For, there is strength for godly living.  There is the Spirit’s power, keeping you safe from sin, death, and the devil.

     As eagerly as you pray the prayer, “Thy Kingdom Come,” so freely God answers it.  His kingdom comes through the Word and the Spirit’s power.  Jesus has brought you into his kingdom by faith.  And soon, Jesus will deliver you to the gates of heaven where you will see the glories of his kingdom with your own eyes.  And though you may not see the glory now with your own eyes, the blessings are surely yours already.  You are free from sin, death, and Satan; and there is no greater freedom.  You have received God’s love and God’s salvation; and there are no greater blessings.  The blessings of the kingdom are yours; for you are his.

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

Advent Season

We have entered a new church year and the season of Advent.  Advent means "coming," and we consider two "comings" of Jesus.  Naturally, we think of his coming at Christmas.  The deadline is on the calendar already -- three short weeks from today!

But we especially think of Jesus' second coming when he will deliver us from all evil and bring us into his glorious, perfect, peaceful, everlasting kingdom.  The joy Jesus brought at his first coming makes us yearn for his second coming.  He has taken away our sins and has, therefore, prepared us for his kingdom.

As we await the coming of our Lord, we prepare.  We keep watch.  We wait with prayer and humility. 

We will also use this Advent season to slow down for a moment on Wednesday evenings for vespers.  December is hectic enough.  Vespers lets us meditate, pray, and focus on Christ.  This year's Advent Vespers has the theme: "THY KINGDOM COME."  We will remember that Christ's kingdom comes ...
          ... through his word and the Spirit's power. (December 5)
          ... to put down the devil's kingdom. (December 12)
          ... so that sin, death, and hell may be exterminated. (December 19)

A supper will be served at 6:00 PM.
Vespers begins at 7:00 PM.