If a person has ever pulled weeds in a garden, tried to pull out a tree stump from the ground, or seen the frustration of a potted plant that has outgrown its pot and is beginning to suffer and die, you know what the “root” of the problem is: roots.

As I am sure you know, roots are the part of the plant that dig down deep into the earth, growing with the plant and for the sake of the rest of the plant, to absorb water, nutrients, and help with all the chemical reactions that take place within the cells of all the plants around us.

If you are trying to grow a specific crop of grain, or a forest of trees, you want to help encourage the seeds to take root or the saplings to establish their roots. You would not plant them on ground that is compact already or upon rocks, not because things cannot get planted there, but because they will not do very well, and will most likely end up sickly and dead.

Roots must be healthy in order for a plant to withstand wind, short droughts, or small floods, to live, grow, and produce grain or fruit. Good roots are needed to be established to fight off the competition of weeds that implant themselves nearby, which would try to choke out the plant. Disease may strike, but the plant may yet survive if the roots hang on. But if the roots of a plant die, the plant or the tree is dead. If a seed is not able to put down roots, it may germinate but it will not survive.

Good roots, strong and healthy roots, take time to grow. The great oak trees on our lawn in front of the church took years to become so tall, so grand, with such beautiful branches, yet even these great oaks started as acorns in ordinary soil. But it took time, for those trees to get to their size today. Through countless Santa Anna winds, they have stood firm with their roots.

In the parable that Jesus tells today, we are not the plants, we are not the seed, we are not the roots. Spiritually speaking we are the soil, the earth, movable pots of soil it seems, maybe we are pots made of clay. But we are the soil in which true life must be planted.

Spiritually speaking all people have something planted in them. As I tell my confirmands, all people have faith in something. Maybe what they have planted in them are rocks, so little to nothing grows, or they are beaten down and compacted soil which grows nothing but the imprint of the world and their outlook in life is controlled completely by whatever the world is doing and believing at any moment and yet weeds emerge.

Then there are those wild weeds which come up in soil that has been prepared to receive the good seed, but the weeds are those selfish cares, worries, anxieties, pride, and bad things which naturally occur in our sinful flesh and minds. Those thorns have no good use but to waste our time and our soil and choke out anything good that may have been planted.

And then there is the seed of God’s Word which is the news of God’s Law and demands, but also the Gospel that Jesus Christ has fulfilled the demands and taken upon Himself the punishment of our sin. This is the seed of true life often planted with water in Holy Baptism to germinate and give birth to the root of faith. Faith when fed then reaches out to grasp the cross of Jesus Christ and with it, eternal life. It is faith when fed and nourished that grows strong roots and digs deep in hearts that are made good, roots which would keep the soil of our hearts from being wasted, from being eroded and destroyed forever in eternal damnation.

My questions for you this morning then are these: What do you have planted in you? And how does your garden grow? That is, what is it that is important to you and what are you doing to nourish it and encourage its roots in you?

This is an important question. Your attendance here indicates that the Word of God has been planted in you because faith desires to be fed. What does it desire to be fed with? The rain of forgiveness which comes down to wash away the polluted air of sin, the sunlight of God’s blessing and wisdom in His Word preached and in the Sacrament of the Altar which fertilizes the soil and makes hearty the roots of faith within the hearts and minds of men and women.

These must be applied in regular intervals so that in the life of the plant which is faith its roots may become more established and the plant grow. If at any point in the life of this plant, these sources of life and nourishment are taken away what do you think will happen?

We Lutherans do not believe in the doctrine of “once saved always saved.” There is constant danger to faith because of the weeds within our hearts and the disease and trampling of the world and all its cares which would try to destroy this faith. Just because you believe today or believed last year or when you were a kid does not mean that the roots of that plant of faith are still alive with saving faith. Many Lutherans and Christians do not appreciate this reality. Faith needs to be constantly fed to withstand the assaults of the devil, the world, and the flesh. The soil needs constant tending and care which only the Lord can bring about where He promises to be.

It reminds me of a few years ago at our previous parish, we tried planting a garden where a garden hadn’t grown for a long time. We planted, we weeded, we watered, but left for a two week vacation, when we came back the weeds were everywhere. Because of our sin, and our sinful flesh all people have the weeds of our flesh pollinated by the cares of this world springing up among us quickly and constantly. These weeds spring up, trying to crowd out, climb up, choke out any faith planted within us. How are those weeds kept in check? How are they tended? By continually and often returning here to confess our sins, which mows down and uproots the weeds of our sin, then resettles the plant of faith within our hearts by the forgiveness of sins. If this is not tended to, faith will be choked out by the cares of the world over time.

We must remember that our baptism saves, but Holy Baptism saves because of the Work of the Holy Spirit that causes the plant of faith to begin to grow out from the seed, and enter the flesh. It is the root to which we return because it first connected us to Christ crucified, but what if it isn’t nourished? What plant survives if it is watered and placed in the sun initially, but then is put in a closet only to see the sun or only to be watered once a month or twice a year at most?

Baptism cannot save if faith begun has not and is not fed and returned to church to be nourished by the truth of God’s Word which tends and strengthens faith. This Word does the uprooting of sin and chasing away the crows and vermin of the devil and His demons. Without this Word, faith is choked away by the cares of life, and in essence rejected.

So how are those roots of faith within you? Have you allowed them to be starved? What roots of sin have been implanted in you this week or even this day? Repent, and be saved. Be here as often as you can to be weeded, healed, and fed. Are your faith roots weak? Be made strong in Christ, but do not be impatient, strong roots take time, they need the care and direction of God’s Word. Come to Bible Class, ask your pastor questions, let him counsel you through troubles so that He may deliver God’s care and guide so that you may stand firm.

Do not stay away for any reason, pride, shame, anything in between. Confess it, come out of the dark and into His light, because even dead roots can be made to live again in Jesus Christ who has died for your sins and He has risen again for you. Let Him pull out from your heart your pet weeds which would kill that faith which gives you life. And you will grow stronger, day by day, week by week, so that no storms, no waves of panic, no weeds of the flesh will be able to uproot you from the Love of God in Christ Jesus.

Rejoice. Sing, spread your branches and bask in His light, receive His life giving body and blood in the bread and the wine, and then in Him bear fruit of gladness, strength, and assurance unto eternal life. Let them who has ears to hear: hear and believe in Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

Pr. Aaron Kangas

In September of 2023, California had passed AB 1228, a new law in California, which did two main things. First, it increased the minimum wage for “fast food restaurant employees.” Second, it establishes a “Fast Food Council”, which is empowered both to make future increases to the minimum wage and to adopt other minimum employment standards for fast food restaurants. They established $20/hr. as the starting point which went into effect April 1, 2024. The purpose was to make wages “more fair and equitable” for fast food employees. Why the government targeted fast food employees for the increase but other laborers remain at a $16.50/hr. minimum wage, and undocumented field laborers are only given $6 an hour and get $2.15 per box when picking strawberries is a matter beyond the scope of this sermon.

Regardless of what you think about this law and legislation, the idea of a fair wage seems reasonable, and it would seem especially reasonable if you are one of the workers.
But how does this translate to spiritual matters? How does it relate to the kingdom of God and those who are called to work in God’s vineyard?

That is the theme in the parable in this morning’s Gospel lesson. What is a fair wage? What does the master owe His workers? The kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. The master went out to the market place 4 more times: at the third, sixth, ninth, and finally the eleventh hours, each time finding and hiring more laborers saying: “whatever is right I will give you.” At the end of the day, the master had the foreman pay out the wages starting with those who started working at the 11th hour. Work days at this time were 12-hour work days, so that means this last group of laborers worked only an hour in the vineyard. What were they paid? A denarius. And so likewise all the laborers who had been hired at the various times were given a denarius. When it got to those who were hired first, who had worked in the vineyard the longest amount of time, they thought it would only be fair if they were paid more than those who worked a shorter time. They expected more. They reasoned that it would only be fair. They worked longer than the others. So, when the master through the foreman gave them only a denarius, they grumbled and complained. In fact, the text says, they grumbled AT the master of the house, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’

Were they wrong? It is true that they had worked longer, they had worked the longer hours, working and contributing more even during the hottest parts of the day. Where did they go wrong? Well, they judged and begrudged the master for His generosity to the other laborers. It wasn’t their wage to give, and as the master points out, they had agreed to the one denarius. They received exactly what was agreed upon no more, no less. The master asked them: “Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me?” He gave them the denarius and dismissed them. And Jesus said: “So, the last will be first, and the first last.”

Quite often we are like those laborers hired at the beginning of the day. In fact, this is how people are in general. People generally think too highly of themselves. They believe that God owes them more than whatever it is they are given. People in the church and people outside the church have this same notion with respect to God. “He owes me”. When the heat of the day in this sin-filled life strikes people and troubles come upon us, it is tempting to say: “I can’t believe this is happening to me: it’s not fair.” People in the world will even use that as an excuse for rejecting the Word of God in Jesus Christ. They will ask: “How can a ‘loving’ God allow such evil or this event or that tragedy?” They do not look to the cause of the trouble in this world: the wickedness of the hearts of mankind, including their own, and the curse of sin in general. They do not focus upon but instead reject the generosity that is offered by God, not only in a Savior, but in acknowledging His constant caretaking of the world. Indeed, God is constantly creating and continuing His creation providing life for billions of people, most of whom do not believe in Him, who actively sneer at God, and often even persecute His laborers in the field of the Church. Then within the Church, people will often judge God and inwardly begrudge Him giving the promise of Grace to those who were hired/called at various times of their life from the idleness and wickedness of this world and their own behavior. Despite their wickedness, they were called and repented later in their life, but a long time or lifelong Christian may be tempted to think “they enjoyed their idleness, their wickedness in the flesh in this life, but then they repented, and now they also receive the same eternal life? It isn’t fair!”

Yes, the whole thing isn’t fair. None of it is fair. The real question regarding fairness is this: Does God owe humanity anything? Does God owe you and me anything? What are fair wages, especially with regard to sin? What are the wages of sin? Death! Not just death of the bodies, but eternal torment forever in hell. That is the wages of sin. The wages of missing the mark of God’s Law of not doing the established labor properly. The Law established by the master and creator of the universe. It is His right as the One who created all people and things to demand obedience and labor in return for His caretaking and giving of life.

So, what does God owe sinful, lazy, jealous, people the world over? What does He owe you and me? Nothing. We, on the other hand, owe Him everything. Everything that is ours in this world and life, great or small, we owe to Him.

If we are honest, what would be fair: because we have sinned against Him and against our neighbor? Because we have even judged God in various ways at differing times, because we owe Him so much? What would be fair would be for God to leave us in the marketplace of a dying sin filled corrupt world to inherit and receive the wages due our sin: death and judgement.

But God has called you by the Gospel, yes, to repent of your sin, but also to enter into His vineyard and His special presence and bask in His grace and hope. We have not been the laborers that we should have been, but in His generosity and love, He provides even more than what we need for our daily needs and life. Knowing that we are incapable of keeping the Law perfectly, He sent another laborer to do and complete the work that we could not do. He sent Jesus, His own Son into the work fields, to suffer the true heat of the day. He kept the Law perfectly and then received in His Holy and perfect flesh the wages which you and I deserve: God’s wrath, hell, and suffering upon the cross. He even received scorn and hate from those whom He came to redeem. Was this fair? No, but it was gracious. It was and is the great testament to the Love and generosity of God.

He gives us more than we deserve. Giving us the free gift of redemption and salvation and payment for our sins in Jesus Christ. He has called by His Word, redeemed us by the blood of His Son in Baptism, and called us already in this life to the joy, safety, and comfort of His presence. So, we believe, and we receive from Him here, refreshment, life, comfort by the forgiveness of sin and strengthening of faith as we hear His Word. His grace is proclaimed in Jesus Christ, but then He feeds us and gives us His water of life in the Sacrament of the Altar as we rest in the shade of God Almighty, as Psalm 121 says: The Lord is Your keeper, the Lord is the shade at your right hand”. As we work in the “heat of the day” of this life and become exhausted, frustrated, hurt and anguished, He comes to us here and He takes our anger, our frustrations, our hurts, our pain unto Himself. He gives us rest from our labors here. Then He sends us out, led by the good news of Jesus Christ, by His cross as soldiers, to speak and do battle against the devil, the world, and our flesh. To run the race that He has given us to run and overcome it all and finish by His Holy Spirit and receive the wage that Christ has earned for us.

We do this in joy. We have been redeemed. We do not beat the air meaninglessly in our labor. We know that the victory for us is already won in Jesus Christ. The harvest is His, and He shares generously with us the fruit of His labor: even eternal life.

He knows your earthly pain and suffering. He gives you all that you need for comfort and strength in Himself, in Jesus Christ. He gives you all the instruments of His gracious presence and love in His Word and Sacraments. Pray and be comforted. He hears you, He answers you in grace, love, and mercy in Jesus Christ. His generosity is never ending. He is more than fair, He is gracious because He views you as more than a laborer and servant, but as His child whom He loves. And at the last day, He will give you the crown of life everlasting, the promised redemption for the sake of Jesus Christ, to you and all who have believed and in faith have served, witnessed, confessed, and hoped in Him. Then all believers will rest from their labors in the eternal joy and perfect presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Lord keep you in that hope and faith through the generosity and love of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Pr. Aaron Kangas

Later today as you probably know, much of the world will be celebrating the great spectacle of the Superbowl. Two teams will play for the championship, one will defeat the other and celebrate the victory. Emotions will run high for the players and fans. Even though it is just a game, tears will be shed by victor and loser alike, words will be said, confetti will fly, and songs will be sung. When the game is over, the anticipation is done, the sweetness of victory attained, the fans, the players, and owners of the winning team, will want to bask in that moment of victory and prolong it for as long as they can.

But they cannot. Even as some people, wanting to preserve the moment, will buy overpriced t-shirts and hats to commemorate the victory, and others may use the victory or loss as an excuse to riot, loot, and pillage. Eventually, all people will have to come down from the emotional peak, down from the moments of escapist entertainment back to reality. People will have to shut off the television or go home and go back to their jobs or whatever it is they normally do. Athletes will have to return to their training and contract negotiations. The owners too will have to start planning for the next season. There will be an emotional letdown even before the hometown parades start for the winning team.

In today’s Gospel text we hear of another event: a great and glorious event that was even greater than any Superbowl or athletic event: The transfiguration of our Lord. A time of epic celestial and divine glory which Peter also did not want to end.

This event in the ministry of Jesus Christ is recorded in 3 of the gospels, and referenced in St. Peter’s 2nd epistle as we heard today. Every year we observe it, and celebrate it because of its importance.

The previous verses in Matthew’s Gospel tell us that six days before the transfiguration Jesus told the disciples that there would soon be a battle between the sides of good and evil. That soon He would rejected, betrayed, suffer and die, but that on the third day, He would be raised. This was no mere spectacle or game with short lived entertainment value but would settle eternal matters of life and death.

Jesus let this prediction regarding His death soak in the disciples’ heads for 6 days before showing some of them in this transfiguration, a momentary foretaste of what was on the other side of the sorrowful cross and battle which would look momentarily like defeat: A glory, light, wonder, and joy that shall never fade away in the eternal victory that He would accomplish by His sacrifice and would be revealed in His resurrection. All this because Jesus was and is the Christ.

Therefore, on that original day of Transfiguration, Jesus took Peter, James, and John up to the mountain where Jesus was transformed and transfigured. His face shone and His clothes made dazzling white, and He was joined by Moses and Elijah.

Peter, James, and John saw this glorious and wondrous thing. Perhaps not knowing what else to say, certainly not wanting this glorious vision to end, Peter said: “It is good Lord, that we are here, If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” But a bright cloud came and overshadowed them, and God the Father spoke and said: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” The disciples fell on their faces and were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.”

This transfiguration was a moment in which heaven came down to earth. When the glory of Jesus as God’s Son was revealed, His face radiated the light and holiness as of God. This showed that Jesus Christ was and is the bridge and connection between heaven and earth. The fulfillment of Law and Gospel. The One who was to bring God and mankind together.

Yet, as glorious as that moment was. As wonderful and powerful as it seemed. It was not to last because the victory to which it pointed had not yet been achieved by Jesus.

A time of darkness and deep sorrow: the cross and the tomb lay ahead before the glory of the resurrection could be shown again.

Peter had been caught up in the emotion and wonder of the moment in a way in which I think we can all identify with. All too often, we let emotions get the best of us. Emotions, which are a gift from the Lord, can sometimes be that which the devil and the world manipulates to cause us to fall into sin and temptation by the weakness of our flesh.

Is it not because of our emotions, that we speak harshly to people without thinking about what we are saying? How often have we let our emotions get the best of us to offend and be offended? Because of our momentary fear and anger uncontrolled.

How often have we attached ourselves to fast fleeting moments and memories that seem happy and warm and affirming to the point that they become our god? Feelings so strong that we wish to re-enact them to the point of being controlled by them? How often do we get caught up in shows, movies, games, sports, or anything else so that it isn’t just a harmless past time, but becomes an all-consuming escape from reality.
The fact is, that we do need an escape from our reality: our reality of sin and temptation of sickness and death. Of emotions and reason, our own fickle minds and hearts which would enslave us.

Yet the very thing that would save us and center us, we take for granted. The devil and world and the flesh may say, “this liturgy is dull, the pastor’s preaching doesn’t touch my heart, it doesn’t feed my emotions. I am not entertained.” Perhaps we become spiritually lazy and we say or think: that we don’t need to come to church, we don’t need Bible Study, absolution, preaching, or communion, no, there are other priorities in our life more important.

How often do we take the preaching and teaching of God’s Word for granted? We hear but we do not listen. We listen, but we do not take to heart? But the Father says, “This is my Son, listen to Him”, for a reason.

Let us all repent. Let us turn, and by daily contrition, be saved. Saved from empty escapism, enslavement to sin, and addiction to raw uncontrolled emotion.
There is a greater glory and greater joy and light that cannot fade with time. There is a victory celebration which will not leave us ashamed and hung over or will fade with time. Because Jesus Christ did join heaven to earth. Jesus did fulfill the Law and the prophecies of the Old Testament. He was and is the Son of God: His appointed Christ to save the world, so that we may share in His victory. Unlike the Superbowl or other athletic spectacle, we are not limited to being mere spectators watching and admiring athletes from a distance and can only participate by buying memorabilia, no Jesus Christ, by faith, we are truly given a victory celebration.

God is not far away but near to you in Christ Jesus for your salvation even now. The glory of God is revealed not in the light of His unapproachable Holiness which our earthly eyes cannot bear and the thunder of His voice which would terrify us in our sin. No, He came to share in our flesh. To share our sufferings, to teach and preach, and bear the Law for you and me. To exercise the fine balance of emotion and reason that we cannot. With reason and mercy, He showed forth the glory of God by dying on the cross for you and me. He comes near to you in Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and in His Word preached and heard in His Divine Service.

The beloved Son speaks; listen to Him! Be not afraid, forsake your sin. Look to the cross and hear His voice: “Father, forgive them.” and believe that He means you.

And this my friends is the beauty of the Transfiguration. Because Jesus died on the cross, the glory that was shown but for a moment on that mountain from the face and clothes of Jesus points to the glory of His triumphant resurrection. Life conquering death. Light dispelling darkness. The glory which all believers will also receive at the last day. So this transfiguration of Jesus Christ points to our future resurrection in Him.

This glory of God’s presence, He brings us already by His victorious death and resurrection in our baptism, where we have lost our old lives, drowned by water and the Word. Christ and the clean brightness of His righteousness have been placed on us. We have confessed our sins and been forgiven, today. His Holy Spirit is given and works faith to be His transfigured, transformed Holy people outside and inside living in His glorious light even in a world darkened by sin and death.

He continues to come and dwell with us wherever His Word is preached and taught in truth and purity. In His sacramental presence He comes to transfigure us by His body and blood bringing heaven to us, so that we may already share in His holiness. Listen to Him: “Take eat, this is my body, take drink this is my blood.”

Yes, we must depart for a time again after the service, go back to our jobs, our schools, to dwelling with people we may not like, back to dealing with our own weakness, fear, and worry. But rise, be not afraid. Jesus is with you now as He has come to you. You do not have to give in to your baser instincts. Pray for strength as He works here in His word for your forgiveness and renewal. Rejoice in the Good news of victory in Him which is revealed already and shall be revealed in eternal spectacular fashion in the resurrection of all flesh when Christ shall come again with trumpet blast and a shout of command.

In the meantime, know that this victory is yours, and He will keep you and all His people where His prophetic Word is confirmed in His presence of Word and Sacrament until we are brought to dwell forever with Him in the glory which will not fade or end. The glory which Jesus Christ has accomplished and gives to you by the forgiveness of your sin. Amen.

Pr. Aaron Kangas

In this morning’s Gospel lesson, we are told that “there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but He was asleep. The disciples went and woke Him saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.”

Have you ever felt such desperation in your life? Desperation that you are about to be overwhelmed, swamped, overturned, and sunk by the troubles of whatever you have going on? Maybe it’s deadlines and expectations at school or work. You have to get this done and that done by this time, and nobody else can do it but you, and it must be perfect!

Maybe it’s something that attacks your emotions as you worry about someone else: a loved one is making seriously bad life choices, maybe they are suffering for it, but maybe they are not yet ready to admit it and repent. Maybe a loved one or a neighbor is sick and suffering, and there is nothing you can do to help them.

There are so many things have happened and that can happen, it is difficult to have any peace of mind. We cannot forget about local and international threats which cause us to worry about the future. Taxes, inflation, social upheavals, emboldened criminals, threats from China, North Korea, Russia, threats of war and mass terrorism, plane crashes, the threat of never ending world wide pandemics.

Maybe you yourself have had one disappointment after another: sickness, injury, or other health issues, financial failures, friendships or relationships ended badly or tragically. Maybe these or other things have all happened to you. Maybe all at once or over many years, but they accumulate in our hearts and minds. And each thing individually and collectively threaten to swamp us, capsize us, and drown us in fear and frustration, so that we may be tempted to lose faith. Why do these things happen?

St. Paul tells us in today’s epistle lesson for today, that creation itself is groaning. It is groaning under the weight of the curse of sin, groaning as in childbirth waiting with longing and expectation for the end of this creation and the advent of Christ’s final triumphant return. That is why there are these storms that arise in life. That is why each and every storm that arises is really a spiritual attack.

So it’s no surprise that storms in your life happen– on a daily basis whether you see them feel them, notice them, or not, you are in the midst of a spiritual storm. Sometimes these storms happen in your life just because it’s a sinful world full of human beings! In a sinful world full of sinful human flesh, sinful, dreadful, deathly things happen all the time. Sometimes even as a result of our own personal sinful behavior, things that we just insist on doing end up being harmful to us. Sometimes it is our own sinful behavior that causes those storms. And what do sinful human beings do, right? They hurt others. So maybe we say hurtful things to people or about people as a “defense mechanism”, maybe we justify it because we have been hurt before. That is no excuse. So yes, sometimes the storms in your life happen because you have caused it, sometimes it is because things come upon you outside your own action. However they come, the sinful world, or its prince the devil will use them to actively try to you tear you away from God, as he is trying to prowl on you and devour you, or cause you to be angry at God and turn away.

But consider this, sometimes a peaceful life is not such a great thing either. A life free from any trouble will work against us as well. A peaceful life may tempt a person to simply ignore God and His Word, or even to hear it and dismiss it as unimportant or unnecessary. Or to believe that they surely must be more righteous and loved by God because no tragedy has befallen them… then hypocrisy arises and mercy for those suffering disappears from the mind. And if one has only know easy calms seas, what strength of faith is there when the storms come upon them? Will they remember to whom they should turn?

So in a way, the storms of life, as terrible, frightening, troubling, sorrowing, and trying as they are, can be used by God to bring us back to what is good and right. So that we don’t forget Him or take Him for granted. So that we remember that we should not live for our own plans, our own selfish treasures, so that we are not tempted to worship possessions, people, governments, health, or whatever. So that we learn to depend upon the Lord in humble repentant faith.

This is the lesson of what happened with Jonah, and that is what happened with the disciples. The disciples were shaken in their misplaced faith, and terrified that they were dying and convinced that Jesus did not care. Yet with what faith they could muster, they turned rightly to Jesus for help.

That is how it is for us too. When we finally realize that we cannot handle the problems and threatening storms of this life in the moments that they threaten to destroy us, we are driven to the Lord. We worry that God has forsaken us, but we are driven by desperation to remember the Lord and cry out to Him in hope.

And then God in Jesus Christ answers. “Why are you so afraid? O you of little faith.” When the Lord is saying that. He isn’t belittling the situation of the disciples. He isn’t saying, “danger, what danger?” No, as He spoke to the disciples so He speaks to you and me, when we have let these dangers cause us to fear the danger more than we trust God. “Why are you so afraid? I the Lord your God, love you. I know your needs. I know your situations. Recognize the dangers around you and turn to me and cling to me, right away before you are overwhelmed. You are overwhelmed because you did not trust me and turn to me sooner. I have sent my son, Jesus Christ, to overcome the world, the devil, the flesh, death, and even your own sin. He came to die for those sins, so that your eternal future and life would be secured by the forgiveness of your sin. How would I not also provide peace for you for each day of this life?”

Therefore, look at Jesus, crucified. Look at Him who is raised to show His power over creation; the storms and enemies that rage outside of us and inside of us. Repent of your sin which would overthrow you. Receive His forgiveness. Each day and during the day, pray for strength, wisdom, and peace, and you shall receive it in that moment. Rebuke your thoughts and temptations by saying “Peace, be still, in the name of Jesus Christ.”

Always, remember what the Lord has done for you and continues to do for you. He has purchased you to be His own in Jesus Christ. He has drowned your sins in Holy Baptism. He puts you into the ship of His Church and will guide you safely to the shores upon which waits eternal life. In the meantime, He is here in this ship for you. He is not asleep, but He is ascended and He actively descends to you here in bread and wine with the same precious body and blood that purchased and won you from sin, death, and the power of the devil. This He gives for you to eat and drink and be reminded that He has not nor will He ever abandon you as you cling to Him by faith. Receive His peace. Be made whole. Let him take care of your worries, pains, fears, troubles, trials. And each day, when earthly responsibilities seem to be too much: sigh a little prayer, look to Christ, and say “I will do my best to the Glory of God and He will get me through it one step at a time.” And He will.

Truly we are people who need the Lord in every moment: for our every breath and every blessing. But you know what? As long as we remember that and give thanks to God for that, when troubles come along, God will give us the power to weather them, and we know that He will ultimately deliver us from them whether here on earth or forevermore in heaven. He is ultimately in control over all things. Though we may occasionally groan as we wait for the redemption of our bodies as St. Paul said. the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us at the end. Until then, do not forget Him. Do not lose heart or faith. He has not and will not forget you. He will pilot you, guide, and comfort you through the storms of this life. He has made it so that you will not perish eternally, but that you will live eternally, through Jesus Christ, our loving and peace bringing Redeemer. Amen.

Pr. Aaron Kangas

Early in the earthly Ministry of Jesus after His Sermon on the Mount, He was returning to Capernaum and He was approached by two people. Two people who had great faith. One a leper and one was a Roman centurion. The witness and words of the centurion was such that we are told that Jesus marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith.”

What is faith? The Book of Hebrews defines faith as “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” There are many things in this life that we believe are true, not because we have done experiments ourselves to prove that it is true, but because we trust that it is true. For example: how many of us, have ever seen an oxygen molecule? None of us, I would suppose, have seen an actual tiny microscopic oxygen molecule in its atomic level, yet we are told that it exists. The evidence for its existence is there even as we know and can see that we need something like oxygen to breathe.

What is faith, when it comes to things that pertain to our promise of life eternal, matters of our salvation, that which directs and guides the basis of our existence as persons and people of God? Faith must have an object. Faith is not just a vague hope or idea in something general. Faith can only be an assurance and hope based in something specific especially for salvation, for ongoing assurance, comfort and strength.

For many, their faith is in the concrete visible things of this world, the strength of government, of armies, faith in money, their own work skills, businesses, or workplaces, that the strength of their youth and one’s own arms and backs will get them through any tough times. Then faith in friends and family will fill in the gap hoping they will be there for help and comfort in times of need.

Now these aren’t necessarily bad things, especially if we see them through the lens of faith in God: that they are instruments through which God blesses us for a time here on earth to protect and provide for our physical needs and our neighbors. However, these physical things will all fail at some point: governments become corrupt, armies may lose battles, money is fast fleeting and empty, work skill requirements may out pace ones’ ability to adapt, our bodies may become weak and frail by illness and old age, friends and family may turn on us or be inconsistent in their help, they may move away, they too may become weak or die and cannot be there to help.

None of these can comfort or give us lasting and eternal hope and peace.

Every false religion out there preaches that faith, hope, salvation, and assurance can be placed into an object that can be seen, touched, and felt: Ourselves. But you and I know that we fail every day. Fail in our thoughts, in our reactions, our intentions, and if our hope is only in and for this life, we are the most to be pitied.

That is what is so remarkable about the faith of the leper and the Centurion in today’s text. Their faith was placed outside themselves. They both understood that they could only receive their request by believing in One who is merciful and more powerful and Holy than themselves. The leper came to receive mercy for himself, the Centurion came on behalf of another: his beloved slave who was suffering terribly. The centurion understood that as a sinner and a Gentile sinner he was not worthy of such a Holy visitor. He trusted that Jesus had far more power and authority than He had shown to that point in His Ministry. The centurion understood his own unworthiness under the law and that he did not deserve mercy, yet, he was given the eyes of faith to perceive Jesus as the Christ and Messiah!

He even called Jesus: “Lord”. That is profound! How strange that a Roman officer would call a Jewish man, “Lord” or Kurios. In calling Jesus, Lord, he was giving Him the title of ruler and master even over himself. This was a title reserved for the emperor.

He understood, by faith, that Jesus had authority and command; not just earthly command, but command over heaven and earth, that He was the Son of God. He understood that He had no right to ask favors of Jesus because of his own Gentile uncleanness and sin yet for the sake of mercy on his slave, he interceded. In Luke's Gospel the centurion referred to him not as "his slave" in this sentence but "pais" or "his child". He said in faith, "Only say the Word and he will be healed." Even as the leper said: "if it is your will, you can make me clean". Both knew that Jesus could demand obedience from the disease even as an officer could a soldier, or a master a slave.

Great faith as Jesus pointed out is lived out and confessed in a spirit of humility, of submission and gratitude. Not "Give me what I want or else.", not a "How dare you judge me?" attitude. This is a faith that can only be given by the Holy Spirit through the power of God's Word.

Have we always shown the kind of faith of the centurion or leper? Let us then repent of our hard-heartedness and with a humble hope pray for mercy to receive the Word of God and trust the power of that Word to forgive, strengthen and heal that faith in Jesus Christ. We need this Word of God each and every day, as individuals: and as members of this household of faith. We need this reminder and true strength over and against our flesh which so longer desires faith only in the things of this world.

The Word that we need to overcome our unbelief is Jesus Christ. He, God’s only Son, came down to earth to show God’s mercy, to preach and teach, and finally take the punishment of sin which we deserved. We who were enslaved in our sin, death, and unbelief. Behold and wonder that the true Master dies for slaves: to heal them and command them to be set free from the clutches of the devil.

This He has done again, today in Confession and Absolution, returning us to the Grace of our baptisms, when God first commanded the disease of sin and unbelief to leave you and me. He gives you faith by His Word to believe in that higher power outside yourself: Jesus Christ crucified and raised.

He healed us, and continues to heal us, so that we may grow in His grace and cling to Him and His cross, so that together we may live in His harmony as His people. So that His good in us can overcome evil from within and from without.

So have faith in the proclamation that it does what it says it will, that His works would be received by the very faith which His Word and sacraments give. So that even though we cannot see His Spirit working in Holy Baptism, we see its effect. Even though we cannot feel His touch we taste it in the Lord’s supper, can observe the fruits of His forgiveness as He pours His love into our hearts. And we in turn love one another and care for each other.

We still live in the flesh, but now we live by faith in the Son of God who loved us and gave Himself for us. This is the hope that will never fail us. This is the promise that is ever sure: God loves you and gave Himself for you. He intercedes to the Father on Your behalf even now. You have confessed your sins, you are declared healed of your sins by the wounds of Christ’s sacrifice. You are forgiven for Jesus Christ’s sake, changed by His Holy Spirit, and reconciled to the Father through the Son and given faith.

So enrich that faith, by continuing to come to receive His grace and strength which feeds that faith, and cleanses us by His powerful grace. In humble thanksgiving we gather here to confess this faith in response to His Word, to receive His gifts and be strengthened in that confession throughout our lives as we hear again and repeat again God’s promises. As we hear and receive, we become more assured of that hope which is in Christ, and more convinced even in the true reality which cannot be seen with earthly eyes.

As we listen to His voice, we are more prepared to give an answer to those who ask what we believe and point them to Jesus Christ. And yes, also more able to recognize and refute any false teachings that would direct faith to something other than Jesus Christ.

We are called together to pray for one another, that we would be kept steadfast by God’s Word. To share in each other’s joys and lift each other up in trial.

Having been examined, having confessed, having been absolved by the will of God for our salvation, we can come in peace and the unity of Christ’s teaching to receive the true body and blood of Jesus Christ crucified and risen for the forgiveness of sin and a balm for our healing.

God keep you and give you great faith to now speak, live, and confess Christ crucified in your life. He is your great assurance through this life unto the life eternal which He has prepared for you in His joy and in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Pr. Aaron Kangas

Weddings between a man and woman are often joyous occasions. They celebrate the union of one man and one woman who leave their parents to become one flesh, to become one in purpose, to aid one another in life, in the blessings of parenthood, until death parts them.

It is worthy to be celebrated but when it comes to the celebration: who usually does the planning? Usually the bride, maybe with some help from their mother, sister, or friends. Sometimes the groom gives ideas and may help with some planning. The pastor should be the one directing the parts of the ceremony and service, but most often it is the bride who picks out the clothing and chooses the flowers, the decorations, the reception meal and other of the many details. The expense of the celebration has in our culture anyway, generally been that the father of the bride would pay but, now in these days, it is often a shared expense.

The wedding and its celebration is only a one day event, maybe two if you include the rehearsal. This all is interesting because as maybe some of you know, in the Old Testament and at the time of Jesus some of these things were different.

For example, almost everything from the arrangement of the marriage contract, including a pledge of money to the bride’s parents, to the secure provision of a house and income for the married couple was on the shoulders of the groom. Whatever celebration was going to accompany the wedding often involved providing food and wine for the wedding guests for more than a few days quite often up to a week, and it was the groom who shouldered the cost.

He also would be the one to plan and purchase everything necessary and hire a steward to distribute those items throughout the feasting. His reputation was at stake, not only to the community invited but also to his new bride and her family. If he failed in providing enough for the guests, it would be shameful. It would reflect badly upon him as a bad planner, a bad provider, a breaker of promises for his bride and he would be seen as potentially untrustworthy in future dealings with those in that community.

Yet, where is the perfect bridegroom? A Bridegroom who has it all together. Who is prepared for His bride in order to take care of her and give of himself completely for her from the moment of betrothal and beyond? All of us can look around, but we shall not find it here on earth. The meaning here actually goes beyond earthly marriage. The theological meaning of this text is for all us married or unmarried, young or old. For it is talking about our relationship to God as well as to our neighbor.

How many of us have been good and faithful planners? How many of us have made plans to be better but have not followed through? To treat our neighbor with care and concern as we should, but added “I’ll start tomorrow” and then forget about it. Or maybe we say: “next week I will start taking the sermon to heart and not just let it disappear once the pastor says: Amen.” Then we do anyway. How about: “I will not put anything before my love of God…” and yet, we end up putting our family, our pride, our lusts, our weaknesses, our comfort as our god and priority over and above God in our daily lives? When we put faith in ourselves or the things of this world, we are not planning well for the future. We are not showing ourselves to be trustworthy or faithful to God. We waste our time and take for granted God and all He does for us. We have His name placed upon us, but we shamefully destroy that reputation by our back-biting, our gossip, our mistreatment of those within the Christian community and even those in the world. We have been unfaithful as members of the union between God and mankind that He has tried to establish by His redemption. We do not deserve His love.

But then why did Jesus choose a wedding celebration as the location for His first miraculous sign? Often in Scripture, God is portrayed as a bridegroom and Israel as a bride, a very unfaithful and wicked bride, but a bride whom the bridegroom redeems again and again from her unfaithfulness. Could it be that this miracle at a wedding in Cana was foreshadowing the day of God’s marriage fulfillment with His people through Christ? Yes. As God spoke in Isaiah: “You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married: for the Lord delights in You…as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.”

Yes, as the perfect groom who has plotted and planned and made the perfect calculations for marrying His beloved bride, God planned to send forth of Himself, Jesus, the Christ to redeem you and all who would believe. That wedding at Cana points to Himself as the truer bridegroom who provides beyond our need and even our wants. Despite our unfaithfulness along with unfaithful Israel, He pays the price to redeem us from our first father, the devil, by paying with His own blood the contract of our sin. The groom lays down His life at the cross for His bride so that she may live rather than receive the full measure of her trespass. The church, His bride is not beautiful to outsiders and the world, nor according to our sin, but to God: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the church is the most beautiful thing in all creation, that which will be restored to her full beauty that is due her at the end of time when believers shall receive the gifts of His resurrected body and all shall become one in purpose and faith.

Jesus is your perfect caretaker and caregiver. When Christ was crucified and His side was pierced what poured forth from His side? Water and blood. He uses the power of water and His blood to wash you and redeem you as members of His bride to be made beautiful according to His righteousness. He has used His Word of command, and the water of purification in Holy Baptism to give you His royal name: to bring you into the unity of faith into communion with God.

As St. Paul wrote in Ephesians chapter 5: “Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that He might present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.”

Now you in Christ Jesus are reckoned without blemish, spot, or wrinkle, already decked out in the celebratory garments of Christ’s righteousness. This we received in Holy Baptism, and this is the power and the garment we receive anew by faith when we are returned to Him by repentance and absolution.

The blood which He shed He then gives in the wine during the wedding feast of victory in the Sacrament of the Altar. Therefore, we celebrate that God has not discarded us, but has redeemed us to be His own, to live before Him even now in righteousness and purity. He has a plan for you, a plan for salvation and eternal life in Him.

Let us then eat, confess, and praise His name and rejoice. The bridegroom comes even this day to His bride and we rejoice in His plan for our salvation, soaking in the generosity of His grace, receiving His power to remain faithful to Him as He is to us.

That is the significance of the 6 stone water jars used for the miracle of water changed to wine. These jars were used for the Jewish rite of purification. The making the impure, imperfect, the sinner, pure and whole again. These jars held between 20 and 30 gallons for a total of 120-180 gallons, which Jesus said to be filled to the brim. More than was needed, and it was of the best wine, the finest.

The Lord provides for you the finest wine and gives you grace and grace aplenty for all believers to provide for the cheer and strength of our spirits and bodies. His Word of Law and Gospel which speak His Love, His Divine Service which expresses that love to us from the cross… This is our gladness, for in Jesus Christ we, the Church are not forsaken, but declared God’s delight. We are married to Him, He is faithful to us. He gives us the power to be faithful to Him by His Holy Spirit, to continue to manifest and witness His love to the world around us. Your God now rejoices in you, let us now rejoice in Him. Then in the right and perfect time according to God’s plan we will be brought to the home that the Bridegroom Jesus Christ has prepared for us to live with Him in His joy and love for ever after. Amen.

Pr. Aaron Kangas

Today, we heard the words, “This is My beloved Son; with Whom I am well pleased”. This was spoken by God the Father to His beloved Son immediately following His baptism in the Jordan River. Why was God the Father pleased with His beloved Son? God was pleased because Jesus was baptized.

This isn’t the same as when we baptize our children or we see our grandchildren baptized or any other person baptized and we are pleased by it. This was different.

WHY was Jesus baptized? Isn’t baptism for sinners who need to be turned from sin? That’s what God tells us in His Word. “Repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of all your sin” also “Baptism now saves you.” Was Jesus sick and infected with the deadliness of sin that infects each and every one of us? Was He in need of the life-giving medicine of Holy Baptism? No, not by His nature. He was not a sinner, He was not infected with sin like men and women; He was the perfect Son of God. John the Baptizer also knew that. Matthew tells us that John actually would have prevented Jesus from being baptized because he knew who Christ was—the blameless and perfect lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. Jesus didn’t need to be baptized because He had no sin to repent of…yet Jesus came to be baptized and was baptized. To John’s objections, Jesus said that this baptism was done to fulfill all righteousness. This answers the question “why did this baptism please the Father?”

This pleases the Father, because in this baptism Jesus, God’s Son, was indeed fulfilling all righteousness. Jesus was taking the place of sinners. He was substituting His righteousness in the place of sinners by becoming the scape goat upon which the sins of all people was laid. Notice also where Jesus comes from in order to be baptized—out of the midst of sinners. Out of the midst of that repentant crowd thronging John, those seeking a baptism of forgiveness of sin, Jesus steps into the waters of baptism. He steps out of the water as the perfect substitute for you and me; He steps out as one placed under the name of “sinner” except He Himself was without sin and guilty of none. In other words, in His baptism, Jesus was repenting in our stead, repenting for all actual sinner, He is the fulfiller of true repentance, true contrition, and true faith. Jesus was not being washed clean in the waters of Baptism as one who needed His sins washed away. Rather, He was fulfilling the Law as the true substitutionary sacrifice for us. Again, He became and was the scape goat placing your sins and mine upon His head so that our sin and our trespasses would be taken from us in Holy Baptism.

As the one who takes our place in this Old Testament baptism, Jesus was sanctifying, that is, He was making holy the water for the Holy NT baptism that He would establish in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit which gives the power of His atoning sacrifice at the cross which was part of the “fulfilling all righteousness”. The baptism of Jesus is now a sign of the power of all Christian baptisms done in His name and by His gracious command. Another way to look at it is that, you could almost say Jesus is in His baptism for our baptism serving as a sin filtration plant. All the filth and death of sinners goes into the water and is absorbed by Christ here at His baptism to be taken away from us and to His cross upon which He would die. Now all that flows through Christ and from Christ is holy, pure, and life-giving, including the gift of Holy baptism which imparts forgiveness of sins and the Holy Spirit giving faith. 

This last week we celebrated Epiphany, which celebrates the manifestation, the revealing of God and His mercy in the person of Jesus Christ to the Gentile wise men who followed His star and came to worship Him. Here in Jesus Christ’s baptism, God’s plan and promise of salvation for all mankind was being manifested; being revealed in the person of Christ right there in the Jordan River. The Holy Spirit in the form of a dove shows that in Jesus Christ, God and Man are now reconciled in that righteousness that He was fulfilling as the sinners’ substitute as He began His earthly ministry. And the Father’s voice affirms that this Jesus was His Son who was fulfilling His Father’s saving will.

We can recognize the significance of Christ being baptized by John. He fulfills the role of our substitute, the go between. He, at the river Jordan already stands between you and your sin which would condemn you and God in His righteous wrath against your sin. Why? because Jesus wasn’t just baptized and then forgot about it. He took that sign of sinner taking the sin of the world and its burden all the way to the cross to die where we deserved to die forever because of our sin.

Christ then gives us again His victorious righteousness through His means of Grace. This is what St. Paul is talking about in the Epistle lesson for today. We were not wise, nor powerful, nor of noble birth. Sinners admit that they are low and beneath God’s standards. We are not worthy of being saved by our innate “goodness”. Yet this admission of guilt and humiliation is considered foolishness to the world. The world takes pride in sin, and calls that pride “wisdom and power” and even sometimes nobility. But we who admit that we are sinners and need this salvation, will admit to the world, “yes, if you think repentance and faith is foolish, then yes, I am a fool. I am a fool for Christ. And I will boast in the Lord.”

We have been baptized into the blood of the One who was considered the lowest of the low, the most despised and foolish One, the One who suffered death and humiliation though He deserved none of it. Yet it was by this lowly man who was also the Son of God, that God in weakness shows His strength, in whom and through whom the wisdom and the revelation of God are made known. To the world; foolishness. To those who are being saved, the greatest of knowledge, salvation, and wisdom: Jesus Christ crucified and raised for our sin. Through this same Jesus, God will bring to nothing the pride of this world and its Satanic prince.

Dear brothers and sisters, you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

The victories of Christ’s death and resurrection continue to flow into our lives and are made ours by Christ Himself through the waters of Holy Baptism. We cannot ascend into heaven and secure this eternal victory for ourselves. We cannot overcome our sin, the temptation of our flesh, the accusations of the devil, nor the threat of death. That’s why in baptism, God brings the victory of the cross to us. Through it the Holy Spirit has come to us by the power of His Word working through the water and we are anointed with His name. We were baptized into Jesus Christ’s death, buried with Him, so that we would die to sin. This was done so that just as Christ was raised from the dead we too might walk in newness of life and be united with Him in a resurrection like His. In baptism, Christ’s victories are, in God’s eyes, made our victories. Now we are set free from sin as we live with Christ.

For the faith that clings fast to the promise and Word of God in baptism, there is nothing to fear on this side of eternity; not sickness, not suffering, not even death! Why? Because we are baptized by God into Christ, He who overcame and crushed all of these things for us. Death no longer has dominion over Him, the same is now true for baptized believers who have been baptized into His death, His resurrection, and now live by faith in Him as He lives in them.

A baptismally alive faith in Jesus Christ also can’t help but freely share this Good News with others. God has chosen to use the simple means of the faithful confession of each and every baptized person to make known the wonderful news that all mankind is forgiven in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He uses that simple confession and witness to bring others to the waters of Holy Baptism. Will people mock you, tell you that you are so preachy or a foolish fanatic? So be it! Through you, God is still manifesting and making Christ known to a world buried in sin and darkness. God doesn’t call you to give a grand dissertation or offer up your opinion or offer up some mathematical proof to the world regarding His working of salvation in Christ. He doesn’t call you to speak about anything other than what He has already done for you and for the entire world in the work and person of Jesus Christ: namely forgiveness, joy, life, and freedom from sin, death, and the devil. 

God grant you the strength, the courage, and the peace that comes with sharing and living in the blessed realities of the life that has been baptized into our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. What have you to fear? You ARE baptized into Christ. You ARE a child of paradise. As you confess and stand firm in that faith in Jesus Christ and for His sake the Father says to you “You are My beloved child, with whom I am well pleased”! In Jesus Christ’s name, Amen

Pr. Aaron Kangas

A blessed Christmas to each of you! Today is the 12th and last day of the Christmas season, but tomorrow or tonight at sunset, begins Epiphany! Therefore, a blessed Epiphany to you all, as well!

Epiphany is the Gentile Christmas. It is the day when we celebrate the fact that God manifested, “Epi Phany” that is, shone upon the world and publicly revealed Himself to the Gentiles as their God and Lord. Yes, salvation is from the Jews, but not just for the Jews. On Christmas we remember how God had shown His glorious heavenly glory to the Jewish shepherds so that they would know about Jesus being born in Bethlehem and would go and see their Savior. So, on Epiphany we celebrate the historic event and reality that God also enlightened the Gentiles with the message of their salvation by the guiding of the Star to lead them to the greatest of all light and truth, the Son of God, Jesus Christ.

Therefore, on January 6th, which we are observing today, we give thanks and praise that what Isaiah wrote in chapter 9 has come true: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.” And in chapter 60
“the Lord will arise upon you,
and his glory will be seen upon you.
 And nations shall come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your rising.”

In the Gospel text we read that sometime after Jesus had been born in Bethlehem, Magi, often translated as “wise men” from the East came to Jerusalem.

We don’t know much about these wise men. We don’t even know how many there were. It could have been 2, 3, or 23. We just know there was more than one, and they made a big enough of a scene in Jerusalem to warrant an audience with King Herod. The Greek refers to them as magi, which means they most likely were coming from the regions of Babylonia and Persia (modern Iraq and Iran) and they were astrologers, teachers, seers, interpreters of dreams. They were pagan sorcerers and star gazers. Yet to the chief city of Israel they came. Why? They said “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” They came to see the King of the Jews. Yet if they did not search the royal house of Herod. They were looking for one greater than he. No, they understood that this King of the Jews had command over the stars and creation. They recognized that the great star and celestial sign which they had seen rising in the sky belonged to this one who had been born. It testified to the birth of a god king.

Herod heard of these strangers who were asking these questions. He was greatly troubled because he was afraid of usurpers, he was afraid of losing his power. Historically, we know that Herod killed his own sons, and various relatives to hold on to the title of “king” which had been a position given to him and his line by the Romans. This jealousy drove him into all kinds of evil acts including the slaughter of innocent babies of Bethlehem after this epiphany.

After consulting experts in God’s Word, which could have been an opportunity for Herod to be converted, except for the hardness of His heart. They found that this promised one was to be born in Bethlehem. He was going to be a king who would shepherd God’s people. After finding this out, then Herod called the magi, wise men, to consult them and find out when this star had appeared so as to figure out how old this baby king was. Then King Herod directed them to Bethlehem and expressed an interest in a pious way. He said, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”

Really, he desired for them to spy out this rival so that He could then deal with it according to His murderous plan.

We are told that the magi, listened to Herod and went on their way, when behold the star which must stopped shining for a while reappeared and went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. Where was the child. Often, we place this visit of the wise men as coming to the manger scene in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve, but the text in Matthew implies that it was a good amount of time before the wise men came to see Jesus. In fact, it is possible that the reason the star appeared to lead the wise men on, was to lead them to Nazareth and not Bethlehem, for as the Gospel of St. Luke tells us and we heard last week. “And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.”

 We are told that when the magi saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. God confirmed their travel of faith, that He was going to lead them to their object of devotion! What joy was theirs.

So then, going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

They went into the house and saw the young child which the Greek calls paidion or toddler. When the shepherds found Jesus, he was a brephos or newborn. So, they saw the toddler Jesus, with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshipped Him. They prostrated themselves: laid themselves right out. For they knew that this was no ordinary king, but the Son of God. The creator of the universe. And the gifts they brought were inspired by God’s light and direction even as He directed them to Scripture, and here to their Savior. Gold, frankincense and myrrh. These gifts pointed to the 3 fold office Jesus the Christ was anointed to fulfill. Gold for His kingship, frankincense for His office of priest, and myrrh for His office of prophecy, signifying that He would die a prophet’s death. For myrrh was often used as a burial spice and ointment. Then they returned a different way having been warned of Herod in a dream.

So, what do we make of all this? We see that God in His mercy comes and shines His light: the light of His Word, His Law/Gospel, and the light of His Son even to those who walk in darkness.

So that we too who have sinned, many who do not have the heritage of Abraham’s blood, we who have so often fallen into the trap of the wisdom of this world, the weakness of the flesh, who all too often have been jealous and selfish and self serving like Herod, carrying on in the darkness that surrounds us. Great sinners that we have been, we too have been called to God’s light and gathered by His truth to see and behold the great light of salvation in Jesus Christ. Though we so often fall back into the darkness of our sin, and the world, God awakens us again. Reminding us of what Jesus has accomplished. He is the glorious morning star. He is the rose springing up from the line of David. Son of God and Son of Man to take our place of judgement by being the prophet of prophets revealing the will of God in Himself, and He is the fulfillment of all priesthood by becoming the chief and perfect sacrifice for sin on the cross so that sin and death were defeated.

It is significant that the magi spoke of “seeing His star when it rose” and that it seemed to cease shining for a time to rise and shine again. For our glorious morning star, Jesus Christ seemed to have his light and life darkened at the cross on Good Friday when He died and then was buried into the ground, but this star, this Jesus Christ, rose again. He showed that the evil jealousy of the devil could not win. That death was truly defeated, that the price of sin was paid at the cross. Now the light of light eternal shines in Jesus Christ who has risen from the dead so that we can see Him as our Savior and our king. For now, He reigns with His righteousness, by His wisdom and grace through His Word and Sacraments. We who were far off have been brought near through baptism into His blood and have been purified and declared forgiven by His name. We are brought to the place of His presence where the King of Kings an Lord of Lords, the creator and redeemer, redeems us again in this Divine Service. Where we too are invited to cast off the so-called wisdom of this world, and behold Him and receive Him in His body and blood given in the bread and wine for us to eat and to drink, and be sent again into the world a different way: a way of life, a way of love. So that we have been freed to live in hope by faith, to be led by the cross of Christ which is our victory. So that as He has shown us His great love we may show the light of His love in His love.

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you! Let us like the wise men come into His presence with thanksgiving. We have seen His light, we behold here our God and Savior in His flesh and blood. We see His light which has shown upon us in His grace. Now that we see Him our star of beauteous wonder and grace, let us also rejoice exceedingly with great joy. Your Savior is come. A very blessed and joyous Epiphany through Jesus Christ!

Pr. Aaron Kangas

Last year for the 1st Sunday after Christmas I emphasized vs. 22ff of Luke 2, but today I am going to focus on Luke 2:21. The Advent midweek theme was all about the names given to the promised child of Bethlehem. In today’s text, we hear again that name given above all other names. In one little verse in Luke, easily overlooked in the midst of the narrative of Jesus’ birth and infancy and the account of Simeon and Anna. We have “at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.” Luke 2:21 

Up until this verse, Luke does not refer to Jesus by name. In Bethlehem’s manger he is simply a baby, a swaddled newborn with no name. When the shepherds visit, they don’t ask what most people ask when a child is born, “What’s his name?” He didn’t have a name at Christmas. But He received His name the name the day He got the mark of the covenant: circumcision.

The official day which the Church observes this festival of His circumcision is Jan. 1, eight days after Jesus’ birth. While the rest of the world will be nursing its new year’s hangover and wishing one another “Happy New Year!” and settling in for some college bowl games and parades, we of the Church see January 1, the eighth day of Christmas, as a day to celebrate the naming of and the Circumcision of Jesus. Unless you are Jewish by background, this seems like a really weird thing to celebrate.

The 8th day is prescribed in the Levitical law by God’s command. There was no notion of waiting until the child was old enough to decide for himself whether or not he would be circumcised. There was no sense of an age of accountability or any such thing. Circumcision was God’s way of teaching about humanity’s sinful and helpless condition. God was showing the OT believers that sin was something that was part of them from birth, something that needed to be removed in order for them to belong to God’s people. All people are sinful by nature and need to have their sin taken away and destroyed in order to belong to God. You need someone else’s help to overcome your sinful nature, and that help needs to be drastic – drastic like taking a knife to the one body part that least wants to feel a knife. No eight-day-old baby is going to grab that knife and circumcise himself. It had to be done for him, when he could not do it himself, before he could be God’s. Therefore, on the eighth day every baby boy born in Israel received this sign of the covenant and became a son of the covenant, an Israelite, a son of Abraham and an heir of promise redeemed from the curse of his father Adam, cut out from the world. With this identity, he now was to get a name.

And so it went with this child. He is given the name Y’shua: Jesus, which literally means “Yahweh is salvation”, as the angel had said “for He will save His people from their sins.” How will He accomplish this? How will He save His people from their sins? By becoming obedient to the Law, by becoming a son of the covenant, by shedding His blood under the Law to redeem those who were under the Law, those held captive by sin and death. This is precisely why the Son of God became Flesh and was born. He was “born of a woman, born under the Law, to redeem those under the Law.” And here is His first act of obedience for the redemption of mankind.

The sweet little Christmas lullaby speculates, “but little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes.” I doubt that was true when He laid Him in a manger. I doubly doubt it was true on the eighth day when He experiences in His own infant flesh what it means to be “under the Law.” Think of this as a prelude to the pain and cries of the cross. In order to understand this day and the significance of Jesus’ circumcision, you need to understand fully who Jesus is as the Son of God become flesh. He really is the second Adam, the truer Adam. He’s all of humanity in one Person. He is the Stand-in for the entire human race, and He embodies all of humanity in His own body.

The apostle Paul explains this for us in his letter to the Colossians. “For in Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.” (Col 2:9-12)

What’s Paul saying? First, that in Jesus the fullness of divinity dwells bodily. That means that even as an 8 day old baby boy, Jesus is fully God of God, Light of Light, true God of true God. Fully divine as well as fully human. And that union of divinity with humanity means that He is able to embrace others into Himself so that what happens to Him also happens to them in Him.

Now in that truth understand this, that in Him, all of you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands in the circumcision of Christ by the power of God. That includes the boys and the girls. This cutting out wasn’t done on you, it was done on Jesus, and being done on Jesus, for His sake, you were included. In other words, you might say that when Christ was circumcised and became a son of Israel, so did you in Him. And that’s why circumcision was no longer a binding law in the New Testament, it became something completely free, optional, and religiously unnecessary. Because, when Jesus was circumcised, the old Law was fulfilled in Him and all believers in Him are now assumed into Israel.

Circumcision represented the putting off of the body of the flesh, the mortification of the old Adam. Adam has to die, sin needs to be cut off and cut out. Circumcision signified that, but now something more has accomplished this, for you were buried with Christ and had the old Adam drowned in Holy Baptism. So not only did you become an Israelite in Christ, you were also joined to Him in His death and burial through Holy Baptism. You were raised with Him through faith from your weakness, death, and sin to His life, pure, and holy. In a way, you are even exalted, seated and glorified at the right hand of God in Christ, but only in Christ.

You are still existing in this body of death, in this old Adam that needs to be threatened, punished, disciplined, and put to death in confession and absolution remembering your baptism day in and day out. But now you, by faith in Christ, are reckoned perfectly free, perfectly alive, justified, forgiven, sanctified, and even glorified in Christ.

In His circumcision two gifts from God in Christ are extolled and glorified: His obedience under the Law and His Name. His obedience is the undoing of Adam’s sin. As Adam brought all of humanity into Sin and Death, so Jesus takes all of humanity into justification and life. As in Adam all die, so in Christ will all be made alive. He kept the Law perfectly in your place. That perfect obedience is yours, your clothing, your covering, your justification before God. You have been baptized and now the name of the Triune God and Jesus Christ identify who you are as a Christian believer, and you can stand before God, forgiven, rescued, redeemed for His sake alone.

Now you are free from the selfishness of Adam and your flesh to be who you really are in Christ, to do the goodness and mercy of God for your neighbor, for those around you. You are free to lay down your life in service of others, not to please God nor to earn His favor and forgiveness, but as one redeemed and saved in the name that is “above every name.” An ordinary, common human name. But joined to His divinity, the name of Jesus becomes the fulfillment of “Yahweh is salvation” for you. For there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we are saved.
With His Name comes the promise of His presence, that where two or three are gathered in His Name, there He is in their midst. With His Name comes the mandate to preach repentance and forgiveness of sins to the ends of the earth. With His Name is the promise of prayer, that whatever you ask in His Name, His Father and your Father in heaven will grant it. With His Name is the promise of forgiveness, of life, of salvation, of peace: Peace which the world cannot give, but can be given in His name, in His body and blood given and shed for you for your good, for your life unto eternal life.

Baptized with Jesus Christ circumcised on the eighth day and raised on the eighth day of the week, you also have the sign of eight upon you. That is the sign of the new day of the new creation, of eternal life for soul and body forever redeemed in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ which is our hope.
None of us knows what the new calendar year will bring in terms of health, wealth and love. The days and the seasons are the Lord’s, and everything we do always is within the framework of “If the Lord be willing” as James rightly says.

But we do know this and have it as our certainty in the midst of uncertainty: We have Jesus’ obedience under the Law, His perfect righteousness, innocence, and blessedness. And we have His Name which is now our name, the Name by which we are saved from our sins.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

Pr. Aaron Kangas

In the beginning…
John begins his Gospel of Jesus Christ with the same words that start the creation account of Genesis. “In the beginning”.  It’s no accident, of course. The same Son of God who was there in the beginning is the one who comes in the flesh to save us born at Christmas. Yet, Bethlehem is not His beginning, nor even is the womb of Mary. The origins of Jesus Christ are from of old, even, from before the beginning.

What was at the beginning? Secular Quantum physicists have tried to reason out and discover the secrets of the universe. They examine how the smallest particles that make up our world might fit together. Using their intellect, they’ve come to the conclusion that everything had a beginning, but not by the will of an intelligent Divine creator, but by chance at the Big Bang. There and then, they believe, everything started with an explosion and all matter spread out from a single point. Of course, this is from their own fantastic theory. No one was there to see it. When pressed, even they admit their best theories break down into absurdity when pushed to the limit. Time itself becomes meaningless as they begin to speak of billions and trillions of years.

That’s their word on the subject. But we Christians have another word about the beginning, and that Word is Christ. He was with God in the beginning, for He is God. All things, therefore, begin with Him. By Him all things were made. Nothing exists that wasn’t created through Him. Not even smarty-pants physicists. Not even you or me.  

That this Baby born in Bethlehem is the Creator of all things is not something to lightly pass over. The ultimate being, the holder of all reality, God of gods, Lord of Lords, Eternal, all-knowing and all-powerful would bring Himself down to come down, to be one of us, to be conceived and born, born in the most usual way we humans are. He of such glory and majesty that even to look on Him before was surely death, but now He’s a baby and everything that it means – crying, needing his mother, making dirty diapers and all. God of the universe, here in time, for you. The one from before the beginning, now makes His fleshly beginning as one of us. Wonder for a moment at that.

John calls Him the “Word”, the “Logos” (in the Greek). How can a word be alive? How can a word be eternal? How can all things depend on this word?

In our everyday experience, words can mean very little or be tainted with sinful intent. You say something, but you don’t mean it. You hear words like advertisements. The latest words of politicians. The store checker trying to sign you up for their credit card. None of these words mean all that much. Gimmicks. Words to lie and lead and take advantage of people. But they are the words of man.

So often we use words in a negative way. We say things that aren’t true. We make promises that we know we won’t or can’t keep. We curse, swear, lie and deceive. We tear others down while acting like it is for their good. Our words are so often poisonous, bubbling out of the polluted heart and doing nothing but spreading the chaos of sin and death. We must confess with our unclean lips, that we are ruined if not for the saving Word of Christ, the very living Word of God.

The Word of God is wonderfully different. This word is creative. It made all things. This Word is powerful and has the authority of God. The Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two edged sword. It cuts away the lies and false words of pride and self-justification with the law’s accusations, but it also severs us from guilt and shame by the Good News of Jesus Christ. The Word of God is eternal: none of His words will pass away even though the heavens and the earth will. This Word stands alone.

Jesus Christ is that living Word. This is John’s Christmas account: a more theological word of explanation of the events of Luke 2. It explains the meaning of the incarnation. In Jesus Christ, God became flesh. There in the manger, the silent Word is pleading for us. There in the manger, the Word that one day will be pierced by nails and spear, has come to speak the word of comfort.

In Him was life and that life was the light of men… Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, is both Life and Light. He is the source of all Life, since by Him all things were made. He is the Light of Lights, from whom even the first light shone.

“Life” mystifies the scientists and philosophers. It’s hard to define, and far harder to explain. They madly search for life on other planets, yet do not value human life here on earth. Those steeped in Darwin’s theories of evolution cannot grasp any explanations for life’s origin and purpose. Is life so complex? Where did this information tattooed on the cells of each being come from? DNA, RNA, microscopic systems that exceed the most cutting edge technology we can design. Life, which is designed to overcome obstacles and seems adapted for every challenge to its existence. Life in all of its wonderful variety yet miraculous order. Human life is in a category of its own. A PhD in biology won’t even scratch the surface of the mysteries of life. But we Christians know from whence life comes. It is from Him, the ever-living one. Life was in Him, from the beginning. The life that is the light of men. And all life and light is found in Him, even today.

But the fulfillment of life is not where we “live”, in our sinful nature in this fallen creation. The First Adam brought death because of sin. It broke God’s design. Therefore, every new life here on earth has a beginning but a tragic end: in death. We sinners know little of life, but we are well acquainted with death. We see it all around us and we fear its effects creeping in on us. We hear of this shooting and that cancer. Though we often speak of death in whispers, or hide it in hospitals, or try to sanitize it with euphemisms like “pass away” or “no longer with us”, still it exists.  We know well the wages of our sin.  It’s like a dark cloud that follows us everywhere and eventually swallows us up.  

But Christ is the life. And He brings that life to us through His death. But He is so much life, that death cannot hold Him. Risen from the dead, He gives life to all who believe on His name. He gives them the same life, making them, making us: children of God. We’re in the family. We’re of shared blood. Not of regular flesh and blood, but born of God. Because He was born of flesh and blood, for us. He has poured that blood out from the cross as a sacrifice that now covers us in Holy Baptism.

Another thing of mystery to the scientists: is light.  It’s nature, still not fully understood. It’s speed is constant, and nothing can go faster. Yet light can bend and warp. It’s a wave and a particle, depending on when and how you’re looking.  One of the simplest and basic elements of creation, still its true nature eludes our brightest and best minds. So common, so necessary to our experience as humans, and yet a mystery.

Who can see anything without light? Who can see anything without Christ? All else is sitting in darkness. Like death, we know the darkness well. Our sin loves the darkness, for in the darkness, it thinks it can hide: afraid of exposure. Woe to anyone who tries to cast the light upon our sin! “Who are you to judge me!? You’ve got your own sin, too! Your darkness is worse than my darkness”, I tell myself, and the darkness makes us more dull and blind.

The light of Christ casts out all darkness. It shines through and not only exposes sin but chases it away with the light of His truth. The true light, the source of all light comes into the world to dispel the darkness, ignorance and the lies cast by sin and bring hope and faith in its place.

John the baptizer came, preparing the way and making straight the path for the greater one to come. The one whose origins are from of old, even from before the beginning. John wasn’t the light, but he testified to it, pointed to Him, Jesus Christ the light of the world. The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.  The Glory of God now revealed in human flesh.

Some will see Him, with eyes enlightened by faith.  Others will remain in the darkness. He came to His own, the people who should have known Him, but they did not.  Many others who you wouldn’t think would, would come to the light. Some will prefer the shadows of sin and death, but others will believe in Him and live. This is the meaning of Christmas for you who believe: Life. Light. And an eternal word of salvation.

In the love and hope and joy and peace that God gives this Christmas, we see a child, born to die, a perfect little one: truly innocent in every way. The Word made Flesh. The Light of the World. The Life of all mankind, wrapped up in this little bundle of Bethlehem joy. Thanks be to God for this one, this Jesus, the Christ, who brings us grace and truth, even today. In the beginning, at the manger, from the cross, in the fount, in His Holy Supper, and in His Word always for your salvation. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Pr. Aaron Kangas