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

Sermon for Palmarum, the Sixth Sunday in Lent: April 10, 2022 jj
Rev’d Mark B. Stirdivant, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Yucaipa, California
✝ sdg ✝

Rejoice, Daughter of Zion, your king comes to you! Cheer loudly and wave your palms to greet Him as He marches in solemn procession on a colt, the foal of a donkey. But be aware of what it means for you to be called the daughter of Zion. This name does not give you much to be proud of. In fact, the unbelieving and overachieving world, the world you know that is drunk with its out-of-control self-esteem fetish, they would take it as nothing else but a slap in the face or backhanded compliment, as if someone were to tell you, “You know you’d be so pretty if you just lost a little weight.” Or “That job may not pay well, but at least you’re able to handle it.” Thanks but no thanks, right? Comments like that can get really humiliating and make you upset. Daughter of Zion refers to the church whenever the Bible uses that name, but it is certainly not a flattering title.

In the Old Testament, the names daughter of Zion and daughter of Jerusalem were used more to announce bad stuff happening to the church rather than good. The prophet Jeremiah witnessed the destruction of God’s city at the hands of an oppressive, terrorist Middle Eastern regime known as the Babylonian Empire. He lamented after this devastating event, and as the dust was still floating over this Ground Zero wasteland, Jeremiah cried, “Oh, how the Lord in His anger has set the daughter of Zion under a cloud!” (Lam. 2:1) He knew the reason why Jerusalem was destroyed. The Lord did it because the daughter of Zion rejected Him. The daughter of Zion was always in trouble. She was the sheep that always loved to stray, looking for better pasture in the fields of another master besides her God. Even to this day, she struggles against her own unbelief and gets bogged down in the sin that so easily entangles, so that she is often not completely free to run the race with perseverance, the way God intended for her.

The daughter of Zion is sometimes full of doubts. She wants to believe and to do what’s right, to stand right up and publicly make her statement of faith right along with all of you, but the trials, the temptations, the everyday life that swirls around her head push her down again. The daughter of Zion has often been brought down low, even forced down to her knees, in order for her to confess and admit she can do nothing to save herself. For her whole life, this struggling child of God has fallen to the temptation to rely on herself, to declare her independence from Christ, her loving Husband, and dictate to Him how He would best serve her. And then, almost invariably, she runs into trouble and she falls flat on her face. She finally realizes that she can’t make any more vows and promises to do better, because she’s going to go right ahead and break her word yet again.

The more the daughter of Zion would read and study the Bible, trying to follow its principles for a better life, the more that same Bible would accuse her and condemn her for the hypocrite that she is. She might have been sucked in by the televangelists, with their high-flying promises to achieve the glorious Christian life—all you have to do is really give your life to Jesus and pray more often. Follow Jesus’ example, she hears from popular preachers, everything will be all right in your life if you could just be a more dedicated believer. But where are those preachers and their great promises when the daughter of Zion faces sickness, the death of loved ones, and persecution because of the Christian faith? She is often led to think that there’s something wrong with her, that God is punishing her and her family for not being as committed to Him as she should. The daughter of Zion must come to terms with her own sin and doubt of God because deep down, in her sinful human heart that she inherited from Adam, there is nothing that could give her cause for any joy. If there is any hope for her, if there is any peace, it cannot come from her heart, but only from the outside.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, you are that stumbling, confused and broken daughter of Zion. Some of you may have tried to convince yourself that because of all your years in church and Sunday School, and perhaps even Lutheran Day School, that you are well on your way past all these things that those infants in the faith struggle with. You think you’re ready for the solid food, that you’re set in position to grasp the baton for the great spiritual relay race, yet really inside you are starving for the milk of God’s Word and the forgiveness that wipes the mud off of you after you’ve tumbled face-down yet again. You have every reason to be proud of the faithful people whom God used in the past to make this church possible, but now you throw your arms up in disgust at the changes going on. You are attacked, not only by the full frontal assault of the devil, but also with his favorite, sneaky, back-door approach, using your own sinful flesh and evil desires against you. Those whom you know who stay away from church are attacked the same way, and yet you find yourself too busy to reach out and help them in some way. Remember, I your pastor am just as much the struggling daughter of Zion as you are.

As I said, the hope for the daughter of Zion is outside, not coming from within your heart. There is no source of divine potential in yourself for you to tap in to. But that hope, and help and peace from outside of you does exist and it is perfect, because it is sent from God. Daughter of Zion, your help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth! He is your King, you are His privileged subjects because you are born into His kingdom through Baptism. What you could never do for yourself, your King Jesus has already done for you. He was born without sin and lived a perfect life, just so God the Father could look at you and no longer see the sin that would condemn you. When He was crucified just a few days after Palm Sunday, you were joined in Baptism together with Him in His death. The sinful flesh you still have is crucified with your King every day as you confess your sins to Him, to each other, to your pastor and then receive absolution, that is, forgiveness from God Himself. You are together with Him in His death, but also you are together with Him in His resurrection, and the new man within you is Jesus Himself, making His home within your heart, feeding your body and soul with His precious body and blood.

Therefore, rejoice O Daughter of Zion! This name of scorn is now your greatest pride, for Christ said, “My power is made perfect in weakness.” Your hardships have turned into badges of honor, for you have been counted worthy to suffer for the sake of Jesus. Behold, daughter of Zion, your King comes to you, righteous and having salvation. He comes to you today not with judgment and condemnation because of your sins and broken promises to Him, but rather He is full of forgiveness, life and salvation because of His sacrifice and victory, and because His promises to you will never fail. He comes to you humble and lowly, though now not riding through on a donkey, but He’s humble all the same and hidden for your benefit in His lowly gifts of water, Word, bread and wine. Though you have often fallen, your righteous King will lift you up and heal you, taking away all your sin. He has the power to restore your broken relationships with the forgiveness and peace that is unknown to our fallen world. He alone can lift our church to remain faithful to His Word and stay strong as a beacon of true saving light, shining forth to our spiritually dark society.

And the suffering, broken, beaten down daughter of Zion will not remain that way for long. In fact, the saints of God who have died believing in Christ and are safe in the arms of the Lord, they are no longer discouraged, they no longer taste the curse of death. Since you are baptized in Christ, and they have died in Christ, you are one together with them, too! You are never closer to this invisible cloud of witnesses than you are at this communion rail. There is true hope for you, the daughter of Zion, for you are one Church together with the blessed citizens of the heavenly Zion, the redeemed children of God who still pray for you and surround you along with the angels and archangels, even though you cannot yet see them.

Rejoice in the presence of your King, O Daughter of Zion! Receive Him in your mouth and drink Him down your throat in a joyful procession. Wave your palms and sing Hosanna for joy, though this week, take to heart the dark, subdued and solemn observance of His death for your sake that we will commemorate as we do each year. Only then on Easter, burst forth with singing and shouts of joyful Alleluia, for your King who comes to you now humble and lowly, will be the same King who will come again in great power to take you to your rightful home in His kingdom. Your Jesus who once was crucified, died and was buried, now lives. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest. A blessed Holy Week to you all!

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

Readings:
Zechariah 9:9–12 your King is coming to you … Lowly and riding on a donkey
Philippians 2:5–11 He humbled Himself … at the name of Jesus every knee should bow … every tongue confess
John 12:20–43 We wish to see Jesus

Sermon for the Fifth Sunday in Lent: April 3, 2022 jj
Rev’d Mark B. Stirdivant, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Yucaipa, California
✝ sdg ✝

Judge me, Lord! Prove me. Try me out. Test and verify that I am faithful. Be my vindication in the time of trial. That all sounds good and right. It’s what you know that God will do from time to time throughout your life. You know it’s good for you to be tested. Until the time of testing actually happens. Then, that becomes the last thing you want! Thank you, O God, for giving me the gift of faith and trust in You alone. But when that faith comes to the test, and something happens that makes me think, Lord, what were you thinking? I wonder, are you still there for me? I thought you always wanted what was good for me. I thought you made promises to your beloved children and kept them. So often, I have to struggle at my work, or my relationships. Temptations sneak up on me. I was about to get into a good rhythm and then something else happens to upset the balance in my life once again. Lord, I love your gifts of faithfulness to me, but the times of testing that seem to sneak up on me? I can do without.

No one could have felt that pain of faith-trial more than Abraham. He finally had a son, Isaac, who fulfilled the Lord’s own promise that he would become a father of many nations. You can’t be father of anything without a son. Without offspring. And so with Abraham and Sarah both in their 90s, Isaac arrived and the Lord’s promise came true. He was their whole world, the laughter, the delight of their old age. They would do anything to protect their little boy from harm, even from the teasing laughter of half-brother Ishmael, whether it was vicious or just a joke, Abraham and Sarah made sure nothing was going to touch this boy.

Then came the command from God, kill your son, your only son, whom you love. Offer him as a sacrifice to Me. Abraham, I am testing you, proving you. You don’t know it now, but I am doing this to vindicate you before all the other ungodly nations. Not only will I prove your cause and give you your son back, as if he had risen from the dead, I will also prove My cause at the same time and display to all the world how I, your God, I am going to come into My world and save it for eternity.

I, your God, will one day undergo and pass my own test, and send My own Son, My only Son, whom I love, and order Him to be sacrificed for the sake of the whole world. Him I will not spare or remove from the cross at the last minute. The ram with horns tangled in a bush would take the place of Isaac that day, but Jesus, with hands and feet nailed to the cross on a hill nearby, would take your place and mine on Good Friday. That’s the day Jesus knew that Abraham saw and rejoiced. Abraham rejoiced when he dropped his knife and took his beloved son off of the wood and the altar. He also rejoiced when he saw the day when the crucified Son of God would be removed from the wood of the cross, laid in a tomb and raised to life on the third day. That was the day when not only Isaac was back in Abraham’s embrace, but you also would be part of that heavenly bear hug from Father Abraham.

Jesus testified to Abraham’s rejoicing when He was undergoing a trial Himself. He was questioned before the official religious leaders who were clearly by this time trying to find a way to stop Jesus, even if it meant putting Him to death. As our Lord answered the questions put to Him, He was not looking for a way out of their traps. Instead, His responses were the very cords that were beginning to bind Him like Isaac was at first tied up as if he were a lamb about to be slaughtered. Jesus testified to His status as the Son of God walking around in a human body and did not hold back the truth, even pointing out the liars who had the power to destroy Him. This was no insult, like these leaders had thought. Jesus could prove that they had constantly misrepresented the truth and corrupted their spiritual official capacity. He didn’t have the demon possessing Him; they did!

They should not have gotten away with their plot to get rid of Jesus. Our Savior should have been vindicated and cleared of all these frivolous charges against Him, from destroying the Jerusalem temple complex all the way up to the ridiculous implication that Jesus wanted to unseat the Caesar himself! But it was the Father’s will that Jesus would not be vindicated by man. He wanted the grossest injustice and greatest evil imaginable to happen—He wanted it to happen to Jesus, that is. God loved you, so that He took the wrongs you have done, all the evidence in your life that says you have not passed His test, and placed the entire blame on Jesus instead. The Son of God was directed to be judged as though He were the Sinner and allow Himself to be punished to the fullest extent. His blood, which poured out in the whipping, beating, nailing, suffocating of Jesus on the Cross, is your cleansing flood that was washed over you in your baptism, and is continually cleansing you to forgive your sins and purify your life, as long as God allows you to take your breaths of earthly air. Then, He’ll call you home to the rejoicing of not only Abraham, but all your fellow saints and the angels too.

Jesus was judged, you were vindicated. You were proven true and faithful in the time of trial, not because you had the stamina to withstand the attack, but rather because Jesus took your place and He was faithful to the heavenly Father for you. For Christ your Savior who died in utter blood and pain, has been raised to life, and when He was raised, not only was He acquitted, proven true, vindicated; you also were acquitted, you were accepted into God’s forever kingdom. Nothing that afflicts you, that sorely tries and tests you while you are still here in the flesh on earth, none of that will ever be able to separate you from the Love of God that has been forever extended to you through Jesus Christ. Follow the example of your fellow Good Shepherd members who recently proved to our observation that they were not fearful of death or painful trial, because they knew what you also know, that every day is one step closer for us to see Jesus face-to-face.

For a little while, you will still have occasional tests. God is going to verify that your complete trust and hope remains in Him alone. Your loving Savior assures you that these tests do not hang your faith or your eternal destiny in the balance. No uncertainty there. These instead are all tests of love, even though they still smart and prick your soul at times with spiritual pain. Death is still a scary enemy, but if it tries to bare its teeth at you, then you will find that Jesus has knocked out all of its teeth! The grave will not hold you away from the open arms of God, because you have been judged, and Jesus assured your verdict to be life forever more.

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

Readings:
Gen. 22:1–14 where is the lamb for a burnt offering?
Heb. 9:11–15 Not with the blood of goats and calves
John 8:42–59 before Abraham was, I AM.

Sermon for the Fourth Sunday in Lent: March 27, 2022 jj
Rev’d Mark B. Stirdivant, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Yucaipa, California
✝ sdg ✝

The money always dries up toward the end of the month. Your health or physical condition is not at the level you would like. Your emotions or those of your family irritate you to the point of insanity. You are going without, and so you face a problem where it looks more and more likely that there isn’t a solution. You find yourself in a condition that seems beyond help. And isn’t it that very condition which then prompts you to ask the question, “Why?” “Why do I have to endure suffering and lack such as this?” “Why must I simply ‘make do’ with it?” “Why can’t the Lord send down a miracle for me like multiplying the bread and fish?” “All I’m asking for is for just enough to live peaceably and comfortably – just enough so that I don’t have to be in constant pain, persistent anxiety, or watch every penny from week to week.” Is that asking too much?

And there it is, right there. Wondering if you’ve asked too much. There’s where you are in danger of losing or damaging your precious faith. Because it’s not a case of asking too much, but actually of not asking for enough. What do I mean? Why stop with asking just for material gain, or for the greater ease of your mental and physical anguish? Why not just go all the way and ask for an absolutely perfect life? After all, wasn’t it Jesus Himself who once said: “Ask for anything in My name … and you shall receive it?” You and I, you see, we seem to have this tendency to view everything backwards – or at the very least, with a severely limited and often self-centered point of view. While God constantly provides for you in His Holy Word a glimpse of transcendent, everlasting life, you tend to be too busy fretting about this miserable and temporary life. While God wants us all to look at suffering and lack of things with a heavenly perspective, we insist on starting with the bad and letting that influence the way we look at the good. That’s what makes our Christian joy feel so scarce in our lives.

Among the most important lessons to be learned from a familiar miracle story like this is that you must recognize that, on your own – at least apart from Christ – you have nothing of value to offer God. Look again at the first part of the Gospel. I want you to note something about this multitude which followed Jesus. They had nothing – and that’s not simply in terms of food. What I mean is that these people had nothing about them which would cause God to love them. Do you see that they were just like you?

Now Jesus had just received news that John the Baptist had been beheaded by King Herod’s orders. It was just described in the verses immediately before the feeding of the 5000 was recorded in the other Gospel books. That event was terrible news for Jesus to hear. A boastful, power-drunk king would rather save face than kill an innocent man. But before you get too offended, you must remember that according to God’s Law you too are also murderers. For Jesus Himself has said that even hating someone in your heart is the same as murder in God’s sight – as is failing to help and befriend our neighbor in every bodily need, as the Catechism explains. So, no less than King Herod, each of us sinners are murderers too. And as such, there’s nothing that you can find within you—whether it is years as a church member, or family pedigree, or amount of “sweat equity” you’ve built up—none of that would invoke God’s love – nor would it dissuade Him from punishing you.

And yet there’s still good news for you, for even though the crowd that pursued Jesus out in the countryside had no redeeming qualities – we’re told that Christ’s heart went out to them. He was moved with compassion for them and healed their sick ones. And so, without reason, without logic, and without any just cause, our Lord Jesus fed them. Then He went beyond that spectacular miracle to do even more– He sacrificed His own life on the cross for miserable, sinful creatures – even for you.

Isn’t it amazing, that here we are, a people who are so caught up with amassing the table-scraps of temporal things for ourselves, while God’s desire is to bless us with so much more, with the ultimate banquet. Here we are so busy trying to get our hands on the mere five loaves of bread and two fish. Yet at the very same time Christ has already secured for us that heavenly food which will satisfy our greatest need – that food which will bestow upon us everlasting life and true Christian joy. Most specifically, that meal is His very own body and blood given and shed for us sinners to eat and drink for the forgiveness of our sins and to strengthen our faith and declare to one another our unity in confessing the one, true Christian faith.

The clues are in today’s Gospel. Did you notice them? If you didn’t, look again at the miracle of feeding the five thousand. It’s really quite significant. First, the people reclined. Then, Jesus took the bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to His disciples. Does it sound familiar? It ought to. Even though at this point in our Lord’s ministry, Holy Communion wasn’t initiated yet, it can’t be an accident that this was the very same action Jesus used when He celebrated the first Lord’s Supper on the night He was betrayed. And notice also what happened when the meal was concluded. There were twelve full baskets left over. It can’t be a coincidence that there are also twelve Disciples – twelve who would carry on the office of Christ and distribute His gifts to the Church. In just the same way, the Pastors of Christ’s Church have continued to do right up to the present day in the stead and by the command of their Lord, and not to fulfill the whims of whoever controls their livelihood.

In Christ, dear friends, you’ve already been given everything you need. You have as your possession the forgiveness of sins, the sanctified life, salvation, and the promise of an eternal home in heaven, and in the resurrection. Nothing you might think is lacking in your life can ever supersede or replace what God’s already given you in Christ Jesus through His Word, through His Spirit, and through His Church. You may recall from Romans the Lord’s promise through Saint Paul that said throughout your tribulation, distress and persecution, you remain more than conquerors through Him Who loved you! It’s all yours. Just ask for it.

But now if that’s so, why do you still have to go through tribulations? Why do you have to put up with heartache? Why do you have to go without? Why doesn’t God simply give you deliverance like you request; or freedom from the pain of this world? Well, that is precisely because you are God’s elect, the ones chosen for eternal life, and so therefore He allows these things to happen.

That’s what explains that whole part about how all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose. Well, the fact is that you have been baptized and called to faith so that you might partake of eternal salvation. And the “things which work together for good,” are described plain as day: “tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, and sword.” God allows those who are His elect to experience such things. Why? Because in the midst of it all you have no other choice but to place your faith in God alone for all things. In your own limited wisdom and understanding you could never fathom how any of this could possibly be for your benefit. And so you simply have to take God at His Word.

You have to accept things in your life the way they are because He says so? Does that make God indifferent or uncompassionate toward you? Not at all – but rather it reveals He has such great love and mercy that He was willing to give up His own Son for the guilt of our sin – and all so that He might then grant you the full assurance, that already in this life – through the Gospel-word-and-sacrament ministry of His Church, which you sing and speak in the liturgy, that nothing – “neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate you from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Can you see yourself among those spiritually hungry crowds following Jesus? Are you faced with the struggles that come with being a faithful Christian in our world today? If so, then you can see your life in the life of Jesus Christ. By faith, His life belongs to you just as much as you belong to Him. In Him you live, and move, and have your being. And if your life is in Jesus, what are you lacking? Nothing. What do you have to be anxious or worry about? Absolutely nothing. And what do you have to look forward to? Absolutely everything – everything in Jesus – both now and forevermore – for His sake – and in His name.

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

Readings:
Is. 49:8–13 In an acceptable time I have heard You
Gal. 4:21–31 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise.
John 6:1–15 Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?

Sermon for the Third Sunday in Lent: March 20, 2022 jj
Rev’d Mark B. Stirdivant, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Yucaipa, California
✝ sdg ✝

As we were preparing for this season of Lent, you may recall that I enjoined you to rest your whole faith and confidence in the power of God’s Word. Three Sundays into the season of Lent, and we have seen very clearly why this must be for us. It’s because we are in a spiritual battle. Satan waged war against Jesus in the wilderness after His forty days of fasting. An evil spirit tormented the daughter of the Canaanite woman that we read about last week. Today, the Gospel begins with Jesus casting out a demon that had made a man mute, then it leads to a skirmish of words with His enemies who claimed Jesus was using demonic power to deceive the masses, and it ends with a correction for those who wish to praise the Virgin Mother Mary at the expense of trusting in God’s Word alone. This is a constant battle, and you have no choice but to be involved in it. Unlike the distance of space and situation that we have between us and the ravages of war going on right now in the Ukraine, this spiritual war hits us much more deeply than our news headlines and gas prices. All along the way, our only weapons, whether they be offense or defense, are found in the Word of God.

As he did earlier in Genesis, when the devil convinced Adam and Eve that they could be like God just by eating the fruit of the forbidden tree, he’s constantly using the tactic against you too, feeding you the delusion that you can get along much better without God calling all the shots. Satan tricked Pharaoh through his court magicians that these divine plagues were just tricks that anyone with magical skills or contacts with evil spirits could perform. Turn your staff into a serpent? We can do that! Turn the Nile River into blood—that’s an old one. Thanks to the devil’s work, our human race has turned into a house divided, for it was he who convinced human beings that they should attempt to declare their independence from God. And when sinful human creatures declare their independence from God, they quickly turn on each other as well, as we’ve seen all too clearly these days.

Do you think you’re safe from this evil scheme? Does your baptism somehow protect you from the assaults of the devil? If you think so, you should guess again. Satan works the hardest against those who are not his. He can divide those in a Christian house against each other just as easily as he could anyone else. But he doesn’t stop with messing up your relationship to God and with other people. The devil also attacks your very self and actually creates a civil war within you.

The Apostle Paul describes this inner conflict in his letter to the Romans: “For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I desire not to do, that’s what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I desire not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.”

What’s true for Paul is also true for you. As a Christian, you want to do what pleases God and helps other people, yet you actually do the very opposite. That’s the war between good and evil also going on within your flesh—a war instigated by the devil himself. And what’s more, he has an ally in your own sinful human nature, a traitor that would make even Benedict Arnold blush. It’s the sin that dwells in you, it’s in your very nature, causing you to divide yourself against God and feed your own lusts and desires. It’s that part of you that says you’d get along much better without God calling all the shots. Your heart is a house divided, and if the devil and your sinful self had their way, you would not stand.

It can start out very innocently, as we read today in Ephesians, the ways of the evil world have always tried to creep in to the family of the Church. Even foolish talk and crude joking can be pathways leading to the total denial of the faith, if they are not checked with the law of God and repentance. The covetous man can hide his idolatry from everyone else, but the Lord has still removed His inheritance from those who love the things of this world more than Him. We must not be deceived. We were once darkness, on the wrong side of this spiritual battle, but now we are light in the Lord, and our Savior Jesus fights for us.

To highlight this battle and what it means for our Christian walk through life, in today’s parable, our Lord likened the devil to a strong man in order to point this out: Jesus is the stronger man, the one who actually has bound Satan and plundered him for all he’s worth. Though we have given in to temptations and disregarded God’s will in favor of the darkness of the slave-holding Egypt that we have left, Jesus stood up to the crafts and assaults of the devil. He prevailed without falling into sin—for our sakes. God has always had the upper hand in these battles with the Evil One. Remember that Pharaoh was convinced that his magicians could match the plagues that Moses dished out? Then when the gnats and the flies started attacking in unprecedented swarms, those magicians could only admit the truth: This is the finger of God. Their snake-staffs were swallowed by the serpents made from Moses and Aaron’s staffs. Even they could see that every time God faced off with the devil, that God would always win. Though we, following our deceived sinful nature, would rather side with the devil and only think for ourselves, Jesus took it upon Himself to rescue us from the slavery that placed us in the house of Satan.

Our rescue was certainly a show of divine power, because Jesus destroyed the power of the devil once and for all. Yet at the same time, it looked the opposite—like the devil was the one who would emerge victorious. With Jesus and what He’s going through as we read in the Gospels, we don’t see cataclysmic plagues unleashed against the bad guys and our Savior’s boot pressing down on the devil’s neck. In fact, the ultimate death blow in this war that had begun at the dawn of time was when Jesus humbled Himself to the point of death, even death on a cross!

He chose to bind your sins to Himself and forced God the Father to be divided against His own Son—after all, who was it that said, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” The rejection and scorn, suffering and dying of His crucifixion, these were in fact the very cords that bound up Satan and rendered him powerless and divided. Now with the strong man tied up, Jesus the Stronger Man robbed his house, taking back you and me, the poor souls who were once lost in our sins and slavery. Once we were rightfully accused of sin and rebellion, of doubt and hypocrisy. Now we are in Christ, the risen and victorious Savior. You are free!

Now that you are released from the devil’s kingdom and made a part of the Kingdom of God, you are no longer a house divided from Him. Instead, Jesus took great pains to unite you as one with Him and with your fellow believers. He does some binding on you, too, a different kind of binding. Christ binds you close to Himself in faith that is His gift to you, and He binds you to your neighbor in love, so that you may fulfill each other’s needs. With His Holy Spirit in you and guiding you, now you walk as children of light and you have the ability that you never had before to pursue all that is good, true and right according to the Ten Commandments. Jesus calls you His brother, sister and mother, because you believe in Him, you trust in the power of His Word, and by His grace you perform His will, not as a requirement but as a naturally-occurring response. Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it.

Renounce the devil, and all his works and all his ways. Resist his evil schemes and deceptions. Instead, turn in faith to your Savior Jesus, who called you out of darkness and into His marvelous light. Continue to rely on the power of God’s Word that always will fight for you in this war that you are in. Do not remain a “house divided” within your soul. Drown that rebel sinful nature in the waters of your baptism into Christ, a baptism that still lives on to make you grow in your Christian life. Remember your baptism by reminding yourself, “Jesus claimed me as His own and no one can take that inheritance away from me.” You are not a possession of Beelzebul. He has no power over you. Instead, you belong to Jesus and your sinful division is mended because of His word of forgiveness.

“A house divided against itself cannot stand.” It is true for us in our spiritual battle as Christians, now that we are free from the bondage of sin, death and the devil. Because of Christ, Satan’s kingdom has been divided and his eternal judgment has come, but we on the other hand stand united in our Lord and share in the everlasting righteousness, innocence and blessedness that God has in store for us. Thanks be to stronger man Jesus, for He bound strong man Satan, and released us from his prison. Now, with God’s Word in your Lenten arsenal, you are in God’s house unto eternity.

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

Readings:
Ex. 8:16–24 the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.”
Eph. 5:1–9 be imitators of God as dear children
Luke 11:14–28 blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!