Has anyone gone through rehabilitation? Has anyone gone through physical therapy? Maybe it is just exercising or eating right? Is it easy to do? Is it painful? Why do we do it? A lot of people have seen me on my crutches and how slow I go and say hey can’t you use your scooter? Yeah I could and it would be easier, but my leg wouldn’t get better. I could keep using this boot and crutches, but again my foot would never get better. I have to go through pain, difficulty, strain, and time so that I can walk again. It is a lot of work, it’s not easy, and I have to push myself to do things that sometimes I am scared to do. Believe me that I don’t want to do it, but I know it is the only way that I can walk correctly again.

Your old man wants you to be comfortable. It tells you that it’s okay to eat that extra helping, you deserve it. It’s okay to just veg out on the coach instead of exercising you deserve it. Go ahead and play video games instead of working. Your old man wants you to feast sumptuously on this life. Your old man wants you to take on all the comforts that this world has to offer. Why? You deserve it.

Let’s talk about what you deserve. What do you deserve for working hard? Nothing. Just as Adam was told this carries on to you.
“Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
What do you deserve for taking care of your body? Nothing. Just as Adam was formed by God that carries on in the proof from Jeremiah “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” You are supposed to work hard, you are supposed to take care of your body because you are God’s creation. Your sin inherited from Adam and your actual sin that you commit daily means you deserve nothing, but damnation just like the rich man.

Too many times you are whispered to “You deserve this…” or “You deserve that…” from the world, from satan, and especially from your sinful self. This takes your eyes of what you truly are deserving of and who is really deserving of your time, attention and energy.

In this life you are commanded to follow God’s Law. You are to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind and love your neighbor as yourself. Will this be easy? No. Will this be painful? Most likely. Just like anything that is truly for your benefit takes time, discipline, sacrifice and most likely giving up comfort. It is comfortable just to come to the divine service and do no more in this church. It is comfortable to say I don’t need to come to bible study, I already have had enough of God. It is comfortable to say I have already done a lot for this church so I don’t need to do anything else. It is comfortable to say I don’t have to be involved, someone else will take care of it. Are you finding comfort in this world or the next? It’s comfortable not bringing up God in front of your neighbors, it’s comfortable doing your will and not God’s, but just as the rich man if you seek your comforts in this life you will be in anguish in the next.

Let it also be clear that you don’t have to live in squalor, or in extreme poverty like Lazarus did to get to heaven. This is not the takeaway from this Gospel reading. Him being poor is not why Lazarus is comforted in Abraham’s bosom. Neither will giving up your comforts in this life. If salvation was based on your works no one would be in heaven. On the other hand, if you don’t know God’s Word, just like the rich man you also will not believe in the Messiah.

Lazarus trusted in God. This is implied because he was in Abraham’s bosom, because he has a name and the rich man does not. This is also implied because Abraham tells the rich man that his family has Moses and the Prophets. Are Moses and the prophets still alive? No. These are the writings, this is the Torah the laws of God, and the Nevi’im the prophets. This is speaking ot the Holy Scripture which you also have. For in scripture Lazarus knew of the promise of the Messiah. He looked to the Messiah as the one who would save him from himself, that would save him from this sinful world. You too have the scripture that tells you of Christ. It tells you are a sinner in need of a Savior and that He Jesus Christ is that Messiah, He died for you to forgive you of your sins.

Jesus gave up the comfort of heaven, He gave up the comfort of a home, He gave up the comfort of popularity and went toward suffering and death for your sake. He gave up comforts because He knew that you could not, that you would fall short. However, He did everything perfectly. He suffered in your place so that you could have a new life so that you could be perfected. It is through His knowledge of the Word that He could keep it perfectly and fulfilled all of it to the dot and the tilda. He became the scapegoat so you could be declared innocent. He bore the cross and faced the wrath of God unto death so you could be at the feast of victory, that you could be part of His flock.

Now you truly do have comfort. You have comfort that you are saved. You have comfort knowing that your name is in the Book of Life. You have God’s name placed upon you, you have the Holy Spirit. Forgiveness of sins is yours. For Christ says that you receive through scripture that your sins are forgiven. You have eternal life. This is the comfort that this world does not know. This is the comfort Lazarus has. This is the comfort you dear Christian have. You are in the bosom of Abraham for you are covered in the blood of the Lamb. The blood of the all atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. You have this comfort because you are baptized. You know you are washed clean. You have this comfort in confession and absolution because God declares you forgiven by the office of the keys. You have this comfort in the Lord’s Supper where the Lord gives you His very body and blood for the forgiveness of sins. You have this comfort in His Word which continues to reveal His grace to the lost and the dead.
The comforts in this world are only temporary and never give reprieve. The sacrifices you make are no benefit if you don’t have the Lord. Only through Christ can you have comfort. He has given you this comfort so you have hope in this fallen world. He has given you comfort that when you do face trials He will be with you. He gives you comfort so that you may face pain and difficulty. He gives you comfort so that you can have the peace that surpasses all understanding. He has opened up eternal life to you, He has given you a new home. You have that guarantee. He has even given you the comfort that when you do fall short that He will forgive you. He gives you comfort knowing that He will hear your prayers and give you the strength you need. He continues to sustain you and strengthen you. Jesus Christ, the suffering servant, has robed you with perfection, and given you riches beyond measure. He gave this to Lazarus and He gives this to you. He has given you His Word both the Scripture and as a promise that you will be with Him in paradise.

SDG

Pr. Daniel Holm

Luke 16
19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.'”

Many people try and connect the Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit to worldly things so we can understand it. Some people use the apple to depict the Trinity. The skin is like God the Father, because He protects us. The flesh is like God the Son, because Jesus Christ took on human flesh. The seeds are like God the Holy Spirit, because He helps us to grow. Each of the parts of an apple is different, but they are all ‘apple.’ Others have used an egg with shell, white and yolk
These illustrations try to explain the oneness and threeness of God, but they do a terrible job of illustrating God. And the reason is simple. Apples and eggs are material and are composed of parts. God is immaterial and is not composed of parts.
Another is water. People try to explain God as water. Ice, water and steam. Yet, it can only be in one state at a time. The heresy there is that God can only be Son at one time, or the Father at one time or Spirit at one time. God does not put on certain personas at times. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are at all times existing and still remaining three persons.

The trefoil or clover is one of the most common symbols of the Trinity, often found in Gothic church windows. It depicts a three-leafed shamrock created and used by St. Patrick to illustrate Trinity’s doctrine and unity – the three separate leaves of one clover-like plant.

However, the three-leaf clover can therefore mislead a person, especially a child, into falling into the heresy of Tritheism. Tritheism was (and is) a heresy which taught that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit were three distinct Gods who shared a similar nature rather than the truth of there being one God in three persons who share an identical nature.

Even the triangle, one shape with three vertices or points is used to represent the trinity, but even that fails because one point doesn’t represent the whole. Scripture tells us that God the Father is fully God, not just a part of God. Of course, the same is true for the Son and the Spirit. This heresy is fittingly called Partialism.
This was the problem with Aaron. He made the golden calf to show the strength of God, but this was heresy. God is stronger than His creation. This is why the people were punished and God was upset. Here again, when you try to equate God to His creation it will always falter. All analogies fall short and are insufficient in different ways. However, since analogies of the Trinity are seeking to help us understand the very nature of God, faulty analogies are going to result in faulty knowledge of God. Since our discipleship rests on our growing knowledge and love of God you have to be particularly wary of using these poor understandings of God in the way pastors teach the body of Christ. This was why Athanasius wrote the creed for the church.

Too many times satan, the world or even your own fallen understanding interfere with God and try and turn you away ever so slightly. This slight deviation leads to false understanding and heresy which ultimately leads to destruction. It is only by God, the will of the Father for Christ’s sacrifice so that the Holy Spirit works in you so you will understand His Word rightly. Through Scripture you know there is one God and at the same time there is a Father, there is a Son, and there is a Holy Spirit. All three of one accord, all three encompassing the whole Godhead, yet at the same time distinct. This is why the Athanasian Creed is so long. It goes in great detail about the Trinity and the Persons of the Trinity. It speaks on the Father, on the Son and on the Holy Spirit. It goes in great detail to battle the heresies that were attacking the Church at that time, but these heresies continue to sprout up from misunderstanding. The Athanasian Creed is a summary of Scripture on the subject of the Trinity. It is okay not to understand it logically, but to still believe it fully.

Poor Nicodemus could not understand what Christ was saying because he did not see Jesus for who He was. He did not understand scripture correctly or would have acted like Isaiah in the OT reading. God was standing before Him and Nicodemus says “We know you are a teacher come from God. He almost got it right, but almost doesn’t count. Jesus is God or not. Jesus tells Nicodemus how he is to be saved. “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Your sin, your earthly understanding does not comprehend God. It will not understand the the Trinity. It is only through the revelation of the Holy Spirit through Scripture that you may believe and confess the Triune God. It is only through the Holy Spirit that you can believe Jesus Christ is not just a mere good teacher sent from God, but that He is God incarnate. The understanding that only God can obey HIs Law perfectly, it is only God that can make the justification of the sinner happen through His all availing sacrifice.

You beloved of Christ understand, by no means of your own, that this birth that Jesus speaks of is baptism. It is the unification of a sinner into the death and resurrection of Christ. In this, the dry bones are brought to new flesh, death turns into life. Sinner now becomes saint, exiled becomes a child.

The wind blows where it wishes, the Holy Spirit works where He wills, but it is the same will as the Father and the Son, this Will is for the glorification of God. You in the flesh may not understand His workings, but His ways are above your ways. Yet, you know that For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Here on Holy Trinity Sunday. We thank God for all He has done. It is only through He, He who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
It is by Jesus Christ and His sacrifice that was payment for the whole world that the Spirit could come to you so that you may understand God. It is through Christ that you understand the Father. That He has made the visible and invisible. He takes care of these things to this day and forever. It is through Christ, that you are given the Spirit, which has formed the Church, that you have the Sacraments, that you know that His Word, the Holy Scripture, is true. Jesus says
“I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
This is why Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. For He is all of God, who reveals the Father and Himself to you through His Spirit. The Holy blessed Trinity!

It is okay that your logic may fail you with 1+1+1=1. It’s okay that you don’t use apples, eggs, clovers, water or shapes to describe the Trinity. The Trinity is pronounced in the Gospel and the Holy Spirit gives you the wisdom to believe it. Christ has saved you! This has been the will of the Father before all worlds, this is the message that the Holy Spirit spreads where He wills. Thank God that He spreads it here. That He has come to serve you today and every Sunday. That He brings you to His table and feeds you His very flesh and blood. It is here where His Word and Sacraments are the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! God has given you eternal life through the Son! Praise Father, Son, and Holy Spirit Amen!

SDG

Pr. Daniel Holm

John 3
1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

Isaiah 6
1 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory!”
And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”
Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.”

Romans 11
33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
“For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor?”
“Or who has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?”
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

In the Gospel and the Epistle speak to the fiery trials that Christians will face. Almost all the apostles died a martyr’s death. Life in worldly terms was not easy. Still isn’t. Martin Luther throughout his life dealt with persecution and health issues. Many Christians since the apostles on have had lives that have been filled with nothing but persecution and pain. Now that you all have decided to call a pastor you are going to be more intensely attacked. The enemy is going to try and thwart every effort for you to remain true to the Word and Sacrament. Most likely he will try and be sly about it trying to nudge you away from the truth. For example, abandoning the liturgy to hopefully bring in more people, cutting out the law so that people don’t feel bad about themselves, allowing anyone to take communion so no one feels alienated. Maybe it is changing hymns out for more catchy music. I am not saying you are going to do any of this, but you will be tempted. This is why Christ has said all these things to you to keep you from falling away.

He, Jesus, clearly tells the disciples what they will have to face. From the fall of Adam in scripture you see what the people of God have had to face. The devil, the world and even your own sinful selves are at battle against you. The goal is to get you to take your eyes off of Christ. This is why we talk of the church militant. This is also why the Word speaks of the armor of God to avoid the fiery darts of the devil, and satan prowling like a lion seeking whom to devour. The unholy trinity tempts you with no suffering, to give you relief from your situation, but it only leads to damnation. Your life may feel overwhelming, you might feel like everything you do ends in disappointment or failure, or everyone is out to get you. The dream of escaping and getting away from it does seem nice, but so does a mirage. Maybe it’s more insidious and the people you love most or care about most continually get on your nerves. So you wish they were different. Maybe you question the choices you made and you wish you could take things back because life would be better now if you had. These things are sinful. These things take your eyes off of Christ and put you at the center of everything. Repent and trust in the Lord.

The epistle tells you to be self-controlled and sober-minded in your prayers. Love each other earnestly. Show hospitality to one another. Use your gift to serve one another. Here in Good Shepherd as you move forward these are crucial so that you are of one accord. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. Why? So Christ is glorified. So that either Christian or not, people will look to your church and see it is the work of God and not of man. Rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed.

How are you supposed to do all of this and face suffering? The Gospel tells you, Christ tells you. The Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me, meaning Jesus! Next week at Pentecost the Holy Spirit comes to the apostles so that Christ will be glorified. Here you hear of the Holy Trinity. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are in one accord. The three Persons, in One God are here to serve you. In your hour of need He will give you the strength to face any situation. How do you have this strength because of what Christ has done. It is His through Christ’s suffering and sacrifice that you are healed. It is because He paid for your sin, when you have turned away from God and fallen to the enemies fiery darts or fallen in your trials. He remained steadfast, He remained unblemished and died for you. Through His payment He has covered you with His blood to wash you clean, to make you righteous. You now have the shield of this faith that can extinguish those darts. Knowing that Christ has died in your place you can confidently say that you are saved. That even in suffering, that even when things look bleak you have joy that this world can never understand or know.

The Holy Spirit, which gives you the truth that you are redeemed, girds you with the truth that no matter what comes your way you can declare that you are baptized. You know that the victory has been won. The unholy trinity has been defeated by the One True God is victorious. Jesus, the Lamb who was slain has begun His reign. This truth comes to you in Word and Sacrament. God has given you these gifts so that you will remember what Jesus has told to you.

The OT gives witness to this truth. God declares I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God. Christ, the Messiah, the Redeemer of the World has always been promised and what joy for you that He has already given this to you.

How do you know about all of this? The Holy Spirit has revealed the truth to you in His Word. He has given you the Gospel. The love God has for His people, for His creation. The steadfast love He continually shows His people even when they falter and sin. He remains steadfast and His love endures forever. You have this fact, it is pronounced in the Word, in His sacraments, and in your liturgy. This love God has for you, is found in Christ, this is the cornerstone of the church upon Him the church is built.

Understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. Yes, fiery trials will continue to come on this side of life, but Christ is with you. God’s promise to you is a fact. He does not abandon you and will give you strength in your hour of need. The suffering you face, is not fun and I don’t want to make light of it, but He is with you in your struggle. He gives you His very Spirit so that in all situations you can look to HIm in hope and joy knowing that you are His. His Glory, the glory of the cross is and has been revealed to you. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is with you now and forever.

SDG

Pr. Daniel Holm

John 15
26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.
16
1 “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.

Ezekiel 36
22 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came. And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Lord God, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.

1 Peter 4
7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

Today is a big day for Good Shepherd. Today you will be voting on whether or not this church should call a pastor. Right now some of you may be feeling like the Israelites in our OT reading. “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness?” Remember that you live in a world that is against God. The world, the devil, and sin all are trying to put out His light wherever it shines. However, this church, this city, this world is not our permanent residence. It is with the Father. Also, know that God is actively working in His church. Again, I don’t mean the physical church, I mean the invisible church, all the believers. His power doesn’t wane, it has not dried up, but is there, it is here, more than ever.

Remember, that in the Lord’s Prayer Thy will be done. You must hold fast to this. This is what James was talking about. Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. This is talking about faith. Do not just hear that God is in control, but believe it. Do not just hear that He cares for you, but believe it. Do not just hear that he died for you, but believe He died for you. Trust in Him, that He continues to care for you physically and spiritually. Believe that Christ has done all for you and your sins are forgiven. Have confidence that He was victorious and has paid for you with His death and resurrection so that you are counted as righteous. Whatever, happens on this earth, here in this church, will be for good. I know all of you want to make a God pleasing decision. Yet, I want you all to understand that in trusting in Him, having faith that God is in control, whatever decision you do make will be God pleasing.

Whatever you do, ask! Jesus says “Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.” Do not just hear that you can ask the Father in Jesus name, but believe He will give it to you. I remember when my sons didn’t know the price of things and they would ask for the most expensive things innocently as if there was a chance to get them and I would have to tell them no it is too expensive. I am on a budget, but your Father is not. Your Father, loves you, He loves you as His children. Why? You have been made His children by being brought into Christ’s death and resurrection in your baptism. You literally, had and still have His name placed upon you. Look at the OT example, God’s people after being rebellious cried out for salvation and were given a pole with the bronze serpent on top to spare them from death. Even more powerful, God sent His son to this rebellious people to hang on a cross so that you would be spared eternal death. The Lord provides for His people.

What does it to ask in the name of Christ? It means you have faith that all things Christ did and said are valid. You confess as the disciples confessed “We believe that you came from God.” You have faith that all of it culminated at the cross in which He paid for the sins of the world, died and was buried. It is knowing that He is the only Way, the only truth, and the only Life. It is knowing that it is only by Christ’s payment that you indeed have a relationship with the Father. Through this relationship you are shown the love the Father shows His Son. You are given what you ask because Christ has robed you with His righteousness.

Listen to these words from Christ “The Father Himself loves you, because you have loved me and believed that I came from God.” The Holy Spirit has given you the faith to believe in Jesus. He has done that through His Word and Sacraments. Your faith in Jesus, your love toward Him is why the Father loves you. God has started this snowball of love. Where it continually gets reciprocated, from Him to you, from you to Him, and so on and so on. The love you give is only from the love you have received. You love because He first loved you. Your ability to love is because you have been grafted into the love that continually is shared back and forth from the Father and the Son. You have been given His Spirit, the Holy Spirit, and now you too partake in this love that is poured out in a superabundance.

Jesus continues with “I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.” Again, this is Christ doing. This is God’s expression of His love that He came down from heaven from the Father, to come into the world so that He could redeem the world. He leaves it so that your new home with Him would be established in heaven. All of this is God showing you His love. He speaks plainly and the disciples now hear Him plainly. Here Christ has summed up who He is and what He is to do so that mankind could be reconciled to God. Upon hearing this truth. The disciples respond with their confession. We know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.

Dear Christian, you know this truth too. Do you still question Him? Have you forgotten that He knows all things? Do you hold fast that He is in control? If not repent.

He knows that you will not always hold fast to the truth. Christ even tells the disciples, “Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone.” Here Christ reminds you that you will falter that you will go run off to what makes you feel safe and leave Christ alone. Just as the disciples abandoned Jesus before He went to the cross, so do you also abandon Him. Look to the law and see how you have fared.

In this Christ also shows you that the life of a Christian is not easy. There will be many trials, there will be many tribulations. There will be heartache and hurt. All of this not caused by Him, but because you now are one of His. However, look to the Israelites as a reminder that all of the pain, suffering, and hurt you face in this life is temporary. That even though things may not seem clear and the future looks bleak God delivered the Israelites. Even though they were a stubborn and stiff necked people God was faithful to them. If He was faithful to them. How much more confidence do you have that He will be faithful to you as His son or daughter. God’s faithfulness to you will always remain even in your darkest hour. This guarantee is found in Christ crucified and solidified in Christ resurrected.

So, yes, you as the disciples have left Christ alone, and He knew this. He knew this before He came down in the first place. He knew this before the world was created. He knew your sin and still came anyway. He, Jesus, knew that He would be and still is victorious. That even your sin cannot withstand the love God has for us. He knew the tribulations that would come to mankind, but what does Christ say? I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace.

Whatever comes your way, whatever you face, have peace! Christ gives you peace. He gives you peace because death, sin, and the devil have now sway over you. You are free. Your home is in heaven. The New Jerusalem, the possession of peace. He has made you a citizen by His spilt blood because He faced God’s wrath alone so that you could be more than conquerors. Take heart, Jesus has overcome the world. He gives you the ability to ask and receive so that your joy may be full.

SDG

Pr. Daniel Holm

John 16
23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
“I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”
His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Numbers 21
4 From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.” Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

James 1
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Have you ever felt abandoned, lonely, isolated? All of these are hope eaters. The world, sin and the devil play on these to get you to despair, fear, doubt so you look to or chase after something that will never satisfy yout. Loneliness is a big issue in this country. Here in the United States there is a mentality of individualism. An idea that you can do everything on your own. This is not a Christian view. Either you get too haughty with how great you are and you make yourself your god or you fall into despair and depression because doing everything by yourself is overwhelming.

Christianity is all about dependency. You depend on God the Father for all physical and spiritual needs. You depend on Christ for the forgiveness of sins. And what Christ talks about in the Gospel reading is you depend on the Holy Spirit to have faith and truth. Secondly, you depend on either family or friends, as I have found out very clearly, but also your community, especially here your congregation. This is most excellently expressed in the table of duties on how you are to love your neighbor. For you are also dependent on your neighbor because how are you going to love your neighbor as yourself if you don’t have any. God even said it is not good for man to be alone.

In the Gospel today the disciples were feeling like they were being abandoned. Here Christ just came back from the dead, resurrected and now He is telling them He is leaving. They were distraught. Christ says that “Sorrow has filled [their] heart[s]” These disciples who felt directionless and hopeless at His death most likely are having flashbacks of not again. Yet, Christ is doing the very opposite. He is going to heaven to sit at the right hand of God, but so it is that His Spirit, the Holy Spirit could go forth. What the disciples don’t understand is that they are getting something better. The disciples see this physically come to fruition in just a couple of weeks on Pentecost.

Christ’s departure, or return to heaven is necessary for the fulfillment of all things. His return to heaven solidifies everything He has done. His ascension to heaven is the exclamation point to why He came down to earth. His ascension shows that what He said has been fulfilled. His ascension shows that His sacrifice and His victory are final. It also shows that this place where you are right now is not the final destination. This is not the land of milk and honey, this is not your promised land. He has something greater for you and it is not here in this veil of tears.

Plus, as Christ says to His disciples “it is to your advantage that I go away,” In Christ’s departure He sends you His Helper. The importance of having the Helper, the Holy Spirit come Christ tells you three reasons: concerning sin, concerning righteousness, and concerning judgment. In these three areas The Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth. This declaration to His disciples also rings true for His bride, the Church, today.

Concerning sin, Jesus says “because they do not believe in me.” To clarify, humanity already knows of sin. It was addressed with Moses and the 10 Commandments. Even in remote villages laws are in place because God’s Law has been written on man’s heart. Here it is the focus on belief in Christ. The Holy Spirit is coming so that the world is convicted of it’s unbelief. The Holy Spirit will work through the Word to crush hearts and lead people to repentance for the lawlessness and sinful ways or either harden their hearts against the belief in Christ. Just as Christ pronounces this in John 8 I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins. The Holy Spirit comes to show you that you are in need of a Savior, that salvation must come outside of yourselves, and it is only found in Christ Jesus, the crucified and risen Lord.

Concerning righteousness, Jesus says “I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer,”. In mankind’s fallen state, you always like to justify your sin. “I only did this because…” If I didn’t do that then…” At least I am not as bad as so and so…” I often here well at least I am good person. What does that even mean? What standards are they referring to in order for them to confess this. Do you think that paradise awaits those who rely on good deeds? You like to justify your sin and not deem it as damning as it is. The law is to be followed to the iota and to the dot. If you cannot do this then you are cursed to hell. It is Christ’s work on the cross that makes you righteous. Who can forgive sin? Who can acquit you of your lawbreaking? Is it by man that sin can be forgiven or must it come from God? Even from the mouth of the scribes they confess the truth “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” The Helper, the Holy Spirit reveals to you that only God can forgive your sins. Solace can only be found in Christ. He goes to the Father, and because He goes to the Father righteousness comes to you through Him. It is because He has fulfilled the law perfectly, it is because He was the scapegoat for you, it is because He was the unblemished lamb that was slaughtered as our blood price that you could be robed with His righteousness. You can be pronounced forgiven and declared righteous by Jesus’ death and resurrection. He goes to the Father in His exaltation that He is the victor! The battle has been won and sin, death and the devil are defeated.

Lastly, concerning judgment, Jesus says “because the ruler of this world is judged.” In the reading ruler of this world is referring to satan the accuser. Christ’s ascension means that satan has been judged, he is defeated. When Satan thought he was victorious in the death of Christ that was God’s greatest victory. In Christ’s resurrection that was the declaration that death has been defeated and in Christ’s going to the Father signals that all is done. Satan’s conviction is final, he has lost. This does not mean that he will not continue to pull as many souls as he can into defeat. Yet, the Holy Spirit gives you the truth that all has been completed. This is how you can have peace because if satan has been judged then that means also that the judgment of God on Christ in your stead has been completed. The Holy Spirit gives you the confidence, the assurance that all penalties, all sin was paid for at the cross. Payment is no longer needed, it is no longer necessary. It was done roughly 2000 years ago and it still carries on today and into tomorrow, until the end of the age. The Spirit reveals this victory and this judgment to you so that you have peace that surpasses all understanding.

Christ has made sure you are never alone. His coming to earth. His humiliation was all for you. He saw the separation humanity had with God and He bridged the gap. His death on the cross secured that man no longer is abandoned, lonely and isolated. He made sure that despair fear and doubt no longer rule your hearts. He is the one that satisfies completely and wholly so that you can be joined to God forever. He lowered himself and took the full wrath of God, He took all of your punishment, the world’s punishment for all sins and paid for it. He gives you peace and hope knowing that He has bought you with His blood. He has joined you to Himself in baptism and continues to succor you and abide with you in His very flesh and blood. You are not alone. He has given you His Spirit. You have it now. He is here with you now to guard you and keep you. He has given you the Helper to let you see the truth, here the truth, believe the truth that you are Christ’s. He is with you now and forever. He has made you his child, you are are His children. You know this because He has paid for your sin, He has given you righteousness through His propitiation, and He has judged you innocent because the Bridegroom has covered His bride. He has made sure you are never abandoned. He is with you always. This peace He gives to you.

SDG

Pr. Daniel Holm

John 16
5 But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

Isaiah 12
You will say in that day:
“I will give thanks to you, O Lord,
for though you were angry with me,
your anger turned away,
that you might comfort me.

“Behold, God is my salvation;
I will trust, and will not be afraid;
for the Lord God is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation.”

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And you will say in that day:

“Give thanks to the Lord,
call upon his name,
make known his deeds among the peoples,
proclaim that his name is exalted.

“Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously;
let this be made known in all the earth.
Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion,
for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.”

James 1
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

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

Christ is risen!

Our liturgical life together as the body of Christ in these Sundays after Easter can be thought of in two distinct parts – at least, when we’re using the historic 1-year lectionary. Easter Sunday and the two Sundays that followed focused on the joys of the Resurrection, Christ’s absolving greeting of peace, and on the Good Shepherd’s gathering of His sheep into the green pastures of His kingdom where He waters and feeds us with His Holy Word and Sacraments.

Beginning today, and continuing for the next two Sundays, we’ll hear more of what Christ would teach us in the 16th chapter of John’s Gospel. We’ll be led away from the peaceful joys of the Resurrection and into the Christian life of trial and warfare. Today’s Gospel Reading starts that journey for us by pointing to the reality of Christ’s Ascension into heaven which He told the disciples was coming, saying: “A little while, and you will see me no longer … ‘because I am going to the Father’?”

We call this Sunday Jubilate – Rejoice Sunday – because ultimately, the sorrow of being separated from Christ that the disciples experienced was turned into a joy that no one could ever take from them as Jesus had promised. That pilgrimage from the sorrow of this world to the never-ending joy of heaven is your pilgrimage … and the pilgrimage of all Christians. And the Word of God appointed to be read this day sets you on that path, readies you for the arduous journey, and comforts you with the promise that in Christ, no one will be able to take your Easter joy away from you for we’ll see Him again in His heavenly kingdom where all such sorrow will be brought to a glorious end.

As Easter Christians, we know that heaven is our true home. Where Christ the Bridegroom has gone, His bride – the Church – longs to follow. But we haven’t been called to our heavenly home yet. We remain in this world – this vale of tears – for as long as God deems best. Whether our time here is many years or only a little while, St. Peter’s instruction and warning to us is the same: “Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.”

We who belong to Christ are to take up our many crosses and follow our crucified Lord.

Consider again the words of our Collect: “Almighty God, You show those in error the light of Your truth so that they may return to the way of righteousness. Grant faithfulness to all who are admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s Church that they may avoid whatever is contrary to their confession and follow all such things as are pleasing to You.”

In this Collect, we pray that as those who’ve been admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s Church by baptism and faith might – by God’s grace – live Christian lives that think, do, and say what is pleasing to God and that avoid all such things as are displeasing to God: not only for our own spiritual well-being, but also so we don’t end up disgracing the name of Christ and bringing shame upon our Christian brothers and sisters in the world.

Your life – as one who is baptized into Christ’s death and resurrection – is truly a paradox. You’re in the world, but not of it. And since you’re not of the world, you should always regard yourself as a foreigner and view the world as an outsider looking it. Never imagine for a moment that everything going on out there in the world is good or right or acceptable for you. In a real sense, you should have a certain detachment from the things that the world craves. Wealth, power, pleasures … there are many things in this world that are allowable for the Christian, but the “passions of the flesh” (as St. Peter calls them) are contrary to the Christian life because they “wage war against your soul.” They seek to displace our fear, love, and trust in God above all things.

So, where we have given in to these passions of the flesh, let us repent and receive the forgiveness Christ won for us by His passion, death, and resurrection.

But even though we should have a certain Christian detachment from the world, we also have a duty to the world. If our detachment is one of personal pride and contempt for the world, then we’re being just as sinful as if we’re embracing and participating in the sins of the world.

It’s our Christian duty to set an example. St. Peter writes: “Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.” In other words, we’re to condemn the world by showing it a better way: the way of godliness … the way of Christ. We’re called to show the world what’s wrong with it by doing what is right. And when we do what God would have us do, the world can see the joy, and hope, and comfort that belong to us because we know that Christ has died for our sins, that the gates of hell will not prevail against Christ’s Church, and that eternity in the bliss and joy of heaven is truly ours.

It’s also our Christian duty to be submissive. St. Peter writes: “Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.”

Wise laws reflect God’s wisdom and just laws reflect God’s justice. Obedience to such laws is the basis for societies. And such societies are God’s means of blessing us with orderliness, liberty, and prosperity.

Now, I’m sure none of us is ever completely happy with our governing authorities. And no particular form of government is commanded by God. But whatever the form of government – republic, democracy, monarchy, oligarchy – whatever the form may be, the authority is from God and Christians are obliged to be obedient to the laws of the land. The exception to this, of course, is when such laws are contrary to God’s will; in which case you are bound by conscience to defy your government “for the Lord’s sake,” as the text says – so that (just as with abstaining from the passions of the flesh) we don’t give a bad name to Christ and our fellow Christians.

St. Peter also teaches us that it’s our duty to serve God and neighbor: “Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.” This is another paradox of your life as a Christian. In Christ you are free: free from sin, free from death, free from the power of the devil. But the problem is that you sometimes use that freedom as a “cover-up for evil”: thinking that in your freedom, you can do whatever you want. In that sense, we’ve become slaves again: this time, enslaved to ourselves. But Christ has freed us from sin and death to serve God. As a Christian, you’ve been freed – to be a slave. So “Honor everyone [even those who despise you]. Love the brotherhood [- your fellow Christians]. Fear God [giving thanks for the atoning sacrifice of Christ even as you strive by His grace to do His will]. Honor the emperor [even if they’re pagan sinners] … [because] if, when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.”

[Jesus said:] “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.”

Our lives of Christian example, submission, and duty are right now. It’s the first “little while” that Jesus warned us about by warning the disciples, and it’s the “little while” that will be filled with heartache and suffering, trial and tribulation, ridicule and persecution as we strive to be the people of God that we’ve been called to be, but repeatedly fall short of the mark and have to cry out for mercy with contrite hearts brought low by the reality of our sinful flesh.

But then the second “little while” will come. The “little while” when we will see Christ again and our “sorrow will turn into joy.” And Jesus gives us an example of what this will be like – an example that’s perfect for us on this Mothers’ Day as we give thanks to God for the holy vocation of motherhood and for the faithful Christian mother’s who’ve reared us to fear, love and trust in God above all things. Jesus says: “When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.”

This second “little while” is our great comfort even now. It’s the unsurpassed joy of our certain reunion with the One who bore our sins on the cross and rose again from the dead as the firstfruits of the resurrection. It’s the comfort of knowing that the burdens of this life that weigh so heavily on us as sojourners and exiles will be done away with. And that the anguish we’re experiencing as those who remain faithful will no longer be remembered when our pilgrimage is ended. “You have sorrow now, but [Christ] will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.”

And to seal that promise to us, and to sustain us on our pilgrimage through this world to the kingdom of heaven, Jesus gave us His Supper. He comes to us here in the Holy Sacrament as He promised and He’ll come again on the Last Day as He promised. So as often as we eat this bread and drink this cup we proclaim the Lord’s death – and receive His forgiveness, life and salvation – until He comes and leads us home to our heavenly fatherland.

Christ is risen!

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

Pr. Jon Holst

The Gospel comes from John 10, a very controversial chapter. Here in this chapter you hear the “I AM” declarations.  He says “I AM the door.”, “I AM the Good Shepherd.”  He also states “just as the Father knows me and I know the Father”.  Christ is declaring His divinity and also His equality in Godhood with the Father.  These are bold statements.  For if this was spoken from any other mouth this was heresy which most likely end in death and even though Christ is God Him stating that He was led to His death.  

The words Christ spoke here are still controversial to the world.  Who is Jesus?  You can see that the world puts out that He was a great teacher, He helped revolutionize social change, He was an alien, but saying He is God is where many draw the line.  Nope He cannot be.  The denial of His death and resurrection even though historically and factually it happened is something that the world cannot handle.  Even in the Gospel reading right after the selection it says:
Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?” Others said, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?” 

Why can’t the world see Christ for who He is?  Sin.  Sin has separated the world from God.  It has separated you from God.  Even when God was amid all these people they could not see Him for who He was.  When the Word is taught rightly and purely those without the Holy Spirit cannot understand them or they rage against them.  

However, those who see and hear correctly are given life-giving water, food and drink that can satisfy the soul completely.  For in that Word you are given Christ.  This is what today is for you.  This is what God does for you every Sunday.  He comes to relieve you, to remind you, to forgive you, and to bless you.  He comes to give you that very life giving water, He comes to feed you with His flesh and blood because He is both man and God, He is the 2nd person of the Godhead.  This is what you hear today in the Gospel and the peace that comes along with it.

He declares “I AM the Good Shepherd.”  Why is this so valuable to you?  Again, it is Christ saying that He is God, but also a God that takes care of His flock.  He takes care of His people.  In Ezekiel you hear that Christ Himself will search for His sheep and will seek them out.  He promises to rescue you from all places where they have been scattered on a a day of clouds and thick darkness.  He promises to bring you into your own land and He will feed you with good pasture.  He will seek the lost and will bring back the strayed, bind up the injured and strengthen the weak. How is this all possible?  Only through Christ’s sacrifice.  It is by His death and resurrection that He has made you part of His flock.  It is through Christ that the lost, the strayed and the injured can be welcomed into the fold and made whole.  He laid down His life so that you would be covered by Him, that you would be fed by Him, that you can rest in Him.  

As your Good Shepherd He also leads you in the way.  In 1 Peter 2 He leaves you an example so that you might follow in his steps.
He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
Peter wrote this to the Christians in exile in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.  This letter is to you as well here in America.  Do not sin, The sin that you are struggling with, that sin that you cannot shake, repent and believe the Good News that it is forgiven for Christ’s/the Good Shepherd’s sake.  Do not have deceit in your mouth.  Jesus Christ who brings the truth has made you His children.  Therefore, speak only truth.  Let your words reflect your faith.  Who did Christ entrust Himself to? The Father.  So you to trust in God for all things.  Even when things seem to be going wrong, when things seem hopeless, or there looks like no good answer trust in Him.  Jesus did this in the wilderness, He did it in the Garden of Gethsemane and He did it on the cross.  Let His will be done.  

Christ continues to lead you in His way.  You are continually being sanctified by the Holy Spirit.  Your body is a temple for the Holy Spirit and the Spirit continues to put to death the deeds of the body.  He works in you so that you will bear the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

However, when you do sin, when you do speak deceit, when you don’t trust in God.  Repent!  Knowing full well that Jesus suffered for you.  He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.  

This church has the name of the Good Shepherd.  This is a great reminder that He always has you under His care.  That He is your Shepherd and He does lead you.  He does send you Pastors like me in His stead, but He is true Shepherd of this congregation.  Know that even in the times that don’t seem ideal or when your way seems unclear He still leads you.  He will continue to feed you and give you rest.  Be strengthened and have joy knowing that He calls you His sheep and you do know Him.  He will never leave you nor forsake you.  As long as this church professes the Word and administers the sacraments rightly you know that God is with you, that this church is part of the Good Shepherd’s flock.  Trust in His will whatever happens and you know you will be taken care of.  Rest and have peace in Him.  The joy that He is your Shepherd is knowing that He has already purchased you, you have already been bought by His blood.  

The Good Shepherd tends His flock.  He does not let idly sit by and rest, but He is ever vigilant.  He faces the wolf, He defeats the wolf so the sheep will not scatter.  He continually seeks out those  that wander off.  Have confidence that He will lead them back.  He continually helps those that are injured and heals them, He continually gives the weak strength.  You are those sheep.  You know people that are those sheep.  Continually pray for this church and those that have left.  He is the good Shepherd.  He will give hope to those that are losing it.  Remember, he said,
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
The cross is the prime example of that strength.  The world and the devil saw that as the weakest and that is God’s greatest victory.  Do not fear for Christ is with you.  He is the cornerstone and from His foundation nothing built upon it can be shaken.  Yes, earthly buildings may fall or close, but His church, His people, His bride remain lifted up by the the Bridegroom, the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ.

Here in this ark, this church,  as you journey to His land, the land He brings you to know that He is with you.  Yes, just like in the wilderness the Israelites faced hardships, yet God was always before His people.  He dwelt with HIs people.  He has given you His Spirit so you too have the Lord always before you and dwelling with you.  He leads you to green pastures to lie down, He leads you beside still waters.  It is the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, that Has and continues to restore your soul.  Evil and death you do not have to fear for He is with you.  His Word, both Law and Gospel give you comfort.  Here He prepares a table for you, where you can eat and drink of Him and find restoration.  It is by His sacrifice you have been anointed as the chosen people of God.  It is because He continues to lead you and reside with you that goodness and mercy will bless you all the days of your life.  He has laid down His life as the good shepherd for you so that you can dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

SDG.

Pr. Daniel Holm

John 10
11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

1 Peter 2
21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Ezekiel 34
11 “For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord God. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice.

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

Christ is risen!

There’s a whole lot that could be said about today’s Gospel Reading. It relates the account of Christ’s Easter appearance to His disciples. It tells us about the gift of Holy Absolution. It teaches about our need to receive God’s gifts not just once, but repeatedly. It tells us about Thomas’ encounter with the risen Christ and the doubt that the devil, the world, and our sinful flesh likes to sow in our hearts. And it teaches us about the importance and purpose of Holy Scripture. In fact, the overarching purpose of our Gospel Reading – and of all Holy Scripture – is this:
“These [things] are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

So let us read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest those things that the risen Christ would say to us for our salvation.
“On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.'”

The disciples were behind locked doors and full of fear. The Jews had been successful in their plot to kill Jesus and there was the looming possibility that they might come for the disciples next. There was also talk about Jesus being alive. If so, then how would Jesus feel about Peter who had denied Him three times or the rest of the disciples who had abandoned Him?

The disciples were like Adam and Eve in their attempt to conceal themselves. They were sinners and they knew it. They not only denied and abandoned Christ, but they didn’t trust Him above all things either. They didn’t hold fast to His divine Word when He told them that He must suffer and die but would rise again on the third day.

As the disciples are contemplating all of this, and in spite of the fact that the doors were locked because of their fear, Jesus came to them and stood in the midst of this band of fearful sinners.
Jesus said to them: “Peace be with you.” This wasn’t just a friendly greeting. It’s Christ’s Word of absolution to these troubled souls.
Jesus is there to comfort the disciples with the forgiveness He’s won for them. He’s is their Savior. He’s put away their sin. He’s buried it in His empty tomb. Peter’s denial and the others’ abandonment was all forgiven because the risen Christ was there speaking ‘peace’ to their consciences that were weighed down by the burden of sin.

Then Jesus showed them where this forgiveness flowed from: presenting the wounds in His hands and side – wounds that He still bears to this day. He could have gotten rid of those marks in His resurrected body, but He chose to let them remain. Those marks in His hands and feet and side are marks of His incomparable, perfect, self-sacrificial love for His fallen creation. As we heard at the Easter Vigil, “By His wounds we have healing both now and forever.”

The disciples’ fear was turned into great joy and gladness when they beheld these marks of the crucifixion because they knew that it was Jesus who was in their midst. They knew that their Redeemer lived, they beheld Him with their own eyes in the flesh, and because of that, they knew there was truly nothing to fear.

We should see ourselves in the disciples. We’re weak, sinful people who are prone to denying Christ or abandoning Him when faced with persecution for our Christian faith. Our sinful nature doesn’t want to trust Jesus to handle our sins and to care for our lives. We often act like Christ doesn’t bear the marks of His crucifixion: as if He didn’t shed His holy, precious blood to atone for our sins and wash them away. We try to hide, cover up, excuse, or even deny our sinfulness.

And, as they should, these sins weigh on us because we really do know our transgressions and our sin is ever before us. So, as with the disciples, Christ comes into our midst to speak His life-giving Word: not once, but over and over again as often as we need to hear it (which, in this life is a constant necessity because of our daily struggles with sin).
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them.

The apostolic ministry – the men who are called and ordained to be pastors in Christ’s Church – are instructed to pronounce the forgiveness of sins to repentant sinners weighed down by their many and grievous faults and to bind the sins of the unrepentant.
As Lutherans, we should be used to hearing about the Office of the Keys and Confession since it’s the Fifth Chief Part of the Catechism – not that we’re always so good about making use of this gift, this Means of Grace that Christ has instituted for our eternal well-being. But for the disciples, it was something completely new. Jesus, God in the flesh, was giving the authority to forgive and retain sins to His called and ordained servants.

In spite of Christ’s explicit directive, many Christians still deny that pastors have been given the responsibility and authority to forgive sins.

But, these things are written so that we might understand the meaning and power of Christ’s resurrection, and so that we might also avail ourselves of this life-giving gift of God when we’re burdened with the guilt of sin.
When we hear the words of absolution, we’re hearing the life-giving voice of Christ Himself. The absolution is His. We receive the absolution from the pastor as from Christ Himself, not doubting but firmly believing and trusting that our sins are fully and completely forgiven – that Christ’s absolving Word gives exactly what it says: the forgiveness of all your sins.

As Christians, we should always be about confessing our sins. As Scripture says: “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, [God] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness:” Words, I would add, that St. John is addressing to Christians under His pastoral care – showing that the Christian life is always one of contrition and repentance.

In fact, if we don’t think we have anything to confess, or aren’t troubled by our sins, then we’re deceived and worse off than we know. If your not troubled by your sins, you should examine your place in life according to the Ten Commandments. Remember that Christ came to fulfill the Law and not to abolish it. God’s moral Law is just as binding today as it ever was in spite of what those who would sugar-coat sin have to say. So, when we examine ourselves according to God’s moral Law, it becomes clear just how deeply rooted the disease of sin actually is within us.

But it will also show us how desperately we need Christ’s mercy – how desperately we need Him to say to us: “peace be with you.”

The Good News is that our sins are never too great or too many to be forgiven by Christ and He will speak His forgiveness to us over and over again as often as we need to hear it (which is pretty darn often – all the time, in fact).

Even though Thomas wouldn’t believe until he saw tangible evidence, Jesus was still gracious to him. He came into the midst of the disciples and told Thomas to touch His wounds. “Do not disbelieve, but believe.” The Words of Christ and the physical contact with his Lord created faith in Thomas: faith that caused him to confess the truth about Jesus, calling Him “My Lord and my God!”

In one sense, this historical account is helpful to those of us who are 2000 years removed from the resurrection of Jesus, because it shows that these early Christians were not the type of people who just believed every claim of Messiahship and resurrection from the dead that came down the pike. Thomas examined the evidence that Jesus presented to him and could come to no other conclusion than that the man standing before him was truly the risen Christ: His Lord and God with whom He’d spent the last few years.

But even though Jesus gave the disciples this empirical proof of His resurrection from the dead, He also made it clear that He wouldn’t continue this type of evidence by saying: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Which isn’t to say that Thomas and the other disciples weren’t blessed – they were, they believed.

But for most people – including all of us – faith isn’t founded on what we’ve seen but is created in us by the living and active Word of God. Sure, Thomas’ did what we’d all like to do, but we’re blessed in that Thomas’ doubt and examination of the physical evidence is written down for us in the inspired and inerrant Word of God through which the Holy Spirit works to create and sustain saving faith in each of us.

These things are written that you might believe the truth that our Lord Jesus Christ is risen from the dead. These things are written so that you might know that your sins have been paid for and that in Christ you will also rise. These things are written so you may know that your life is always in God’s gracious care no matter how terrible things seem at a given moment. These things are written that you might know the truth that the resurrection of Jesus is life and salvation for all who believe. “These [things] are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

And let us, with such repentant and believing hearts, hear Christ say to us, “The peace of the Lord be with you always” as He invites us to His Holy Supper where He nourishes our souls with Himself: the life-giving bread from heaven.
“Blessed are [you] who have not seen and yet have believed. (Jn 20:29) For by believing in the name of the Son of God … you may know that you have eternal life. (1 Jn 5:13)

Christ is risen.

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

Pr. Jon Holst

Sermon for Easter Day, the Resurrection of Our Lord: April 17, 2022 jj
Rev’d Mark B. Stirdivant, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Yucaipa, California
✝ sdg ✝

Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

For Christians there’s nothing quite so glorious as the brilliance of this Day. For Easter is the high point of your life on this earth. Easter makes every Sunday the Lord’s Day, the Day of Resurrection, the day of New Creation. This is when you savor a marvelous foretaste of heaven and eternal life. There is no greater contrast in the liturgical year than the difference between exuberant alleluias today and the bitter simplicity that was just witnessed on Good Friday. The fragrance of the Easter lilies rise like incense while the beautiful hymns of Easter echo in your ears. All your senses are participants in the life and vitality of this great Feast.

Gathered here as you are on this First Day of the week you can’t help but marvel at the goodness of your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who has risen from the dead just as He said He would. All of creation praises Him who has done such marvelous things. And wouldn’t it be great if we could enjoy springtime a little longer before it gets too hot? But these things about Easter are easy to notice, for they are on the surface. What you need on this happy occasion is the Godly perspective that today’s Bible readings give. The Holy Spirit bids you to notice what is under the surface, the hidden reality that has gone on during this holy observance of our Lord’s Passion, Death and Resurrection.

A battle has taken place under your nose. “It was a strange and dreadful strife,” Martin Luther wrote in his hymn, “When life and death contended.” This is no mythical clash of the titans that the Church somehow made up to scare you into believing. It may be true that the majority of so-called religious experts out there today believe nothing of what the Bible actually says, especially about miraculous events, but that does not make it any less the true Word of God. It may be hard to believe that a horribly executed Man walked out of the tomb on the third day after His death, but that does not mean it didn’t happen. The ones who saw and felt and cried and wondered and experienced the whole thing for themselves—they were the ones who wrote it down and passed it on to you the church. But even they knew later on that the real events were much greater than what had appeared to their eyes and ears. The disciples of Jesus, and Paul not too long afterward, understood that Death which tarnished our world in a bad way, had just been wiped out decisively. “The victory remained with life, the reign of death was ended,” as Martin Luther exults.

Spiritual matters are making a comeback. For a while, it was unpopular to be thinking about spirits, ghosts, or what they call “paranormal activity.” Now, there’s a host of experts who can talk all day about phenomena, most of which, curiously enough, occurs only at night, and only in creepy old buildings with strange and sometimes violent histories. Whether it’s really a leaky pipe, a figment of someone’s over-active imagination, or an actual spirit that is mistaken for a specific person, it matters little. You must let God’s Word remind you that the spiritual realm is real, and not a joke or source of entertainment. You must also realize that this battle between death and life involves you and your eternal destiny. This is not a game or hobby to decipher great-great-grandpa’s nebulous message to you from the beyond. The real question, the only one that matters, is this: will you enter into the joy of your heavenly Father, or will you be joining the devil and his evil angels in the utter destruction of hell, where there is eternal weeping and gnashing of teeth?

I must admit, it is a little unfair to put this issue forth in the form of a question. Why? because It is not your decision to make, heaven or hell, pick what you want, simple as that. The answer to this spiritual quandary was already given for you, long ago. And its results were handed on down to you. You had decided for the option of death, way back through your ancestors Adam and Eve. Separation from God was what they wanted, being like God, yet acting in rebellion against Him, following the rebellion of Satan himself. And the curse of God, the penalty for separation from His life-giving love, was pronounced upon your ancient parents, “You shall surely die,” and it rings in your ears too from the Almighty Judge’s throne.

To be sure, you are not an innocent victim. You’ve added your own sins to the heap of death upon which you were flung. Going through God’s holy commandments, you can easily find where you have broken all of them. Your self-serving human nature has done its damage and thanks to God’s unbelievable mercy, you may be aware of some of the hurt. The rest you may be trying to explain away as though it were someone else’s fault, or you had no other choice. And that is far more dangerous because at those times you are apathetic toward your sin, you think it doesn’t matter and you pave the way for death and the spiritual forces of evil to root themselves deeper inside you. Every day you must repent, or death will win the victory over you.

There is no negotiation with this enemy, that is, the hidden, but very real powers of death. That was clearly evident by our Savior’s agony already in the Garden of Gethsemane. There was no way to bring life to your death but through the cross. For on Golgotha’s grisly hill the battle line was drawn. It looked like Jesus was getting swallowed up in pain, blood, shame and death, but in those lowly, nasty experiences, He fought like a champion! He won the all-important battle between death and life. When He died, He said, It is finished, and it truly was! Death was swallowed up in victory! That is precisely why even at Easter, the Church proclaims Christ’s death with joy. Good Friday was not reversed, nor taken away, but confirmed with God’s confident statement of “Mission Accomplished!”

Your Lord who once was dead has now shown the world that He was victorious in His death. He is the firstfruits of them that sleep. That means for you and me that death is not the end for us, either. Death will not prevail in this ages-old spiritual battle. Life has won, and let it be proclaimed and shouted from the mountaintops on this Day of Days, the Day of our Lord’s Resurrection! The payment of God’s own shed blood was enough. Your sins have been paid for in full. Your forgiveness was achieved in your place and Life has claimed you forever. Death has lost its grip and your sinful human nature, sometimes called the “Old Adam” has drowned with the Egyptians in the Red Sea of baptism. You are free with God’s people, the church, the true Israel. The promised land is yours for the taking!

Sure, Death, and the Devil and all kinds of evil spirits, and even your own flesh may at times attack you and try to scare you, but do not fear. You have the Crucified Lord’s Easter victory to give you all the confidence you need to withstand any trial. Whether your enemy is visible or unseen, greater is He who is in you by the power of the Holy Spirit, than he who is in the world. In fact, Christ on this day places in your mouth His very Body and Blood given and shed into death to strengthen you in body and soul. Remember also your baptism which with the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, also drowned death and drove out Satan from you, to make you the Lord’s servant, a child of God.

On this Holy Day and for the rest of your life, you have reason to rejoice in the victory of your triumphant Savior. No reason anymore to have fear or bewilderment like the women had when they discovered the empty tomb. You do not have hope in Christ to make your life feel better now, for as Paul wrote to the Corinthian Christians that would make us of all people most to be pitied. No, you have an even greater benefit from our Lord’s resurrection—eternal life in His heavenly kingdom. All your enemies, both physical and spiritual, are undone when Jesus died and rose from the dead. Now we know what it truly meant when Jesus declared in the midst of His agony on the cross: It is Finished! O Death, where is thy sting? O Grave, where is thy victory? Thanks be to God, who has given us the Victory in our Lord Jesus!

Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!

In the Name of the Father and of the ✝ Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Readings:
Job 19:23-27 I know that my Redeemer lives
1 Cor. 5:6-8 a little leaven leavens the whole lump
Mark 16:1-8 Who will roll away the stone

Pr. Stirdivant