Category: Sermons

Redeemer

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(Galatians 4:4-7)

While a sermon isn’t typically the place to look for hot stock trading tips, this morning you’re in for a treat. Years ago you might recall a video rental chain by the name of Blockbuster. There was a new service entering the movie rental industry that allowed you to go online to choose which movies you wanted to rent, and this company would mail the DVDs directly to your home. This company was called Netflix. Its growing success was threatening Blockbuster’s business model, causing Blockbuster’s stock price to decline significantly as a result. But, since Blockbuster was starting to get on board with the mailing model and already had 1,000s of physical locations from which to operate, I jumped on the stock, convinced it would be a matter of time before it caught up and jumped back to the top in the industry. 

I was wrong. Would you care to know how much each share of Blockbuster is worth today? About 1/10 of a cent. It’s worthless. It is of no value whatsoever. Be sure to follow me for more hot stock tips! 

Share prices of stocks go up and down in value. In fact, the value of a thing can fluctuate, can’t it, as its value is really determined by how much someone thinks it is worth. This morning as we continue our What Child Is This? series, in addition to the answer Isaiah provides us with on Christmas Eve, that this Child is the Prince of Peace, we also today see that he is our Redeemer. Through this title, we see how valuable we are to God because of the worth he attaches to us.   

Most of us are familiar enough with the term redeemer. We will talk about a person needing to redeem himself. When we speak of it in this sense the implication is that someone has carried out some wrongdoing in general or some damage to a relationship with another individual. When sufficient effort is then made to remedy the situation or reconcile with the other individual, we speak of that person having redeemed himself. So there is a sense of righting a wrong when it comes to the idea of a redeemer. 

Now that may work in a court of human law or public opinion, but there is a courtroom where no man can redeem himself or another: God’s. The psalmist writes, “No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them – the ransom for life is costly, no payment is ever enough” (49:7-8). Suppose I borrowed $10,000 from you to buy up all that Blockbuster stock. Now, years later, you ask for your money back. For obvious reasons, I don’t have the money, but offer to pay you back in shares of Blockbuster. Would you accept? Of course not! It’s not worth anything! No lender would accept payment in the form of the same worthless investment that just lost you a significant investment! So neither can we who have by our own sin made ourselves worthless, pay back anything to God! The very thing that put us into the position of needed to be redeemed – sin – is what taints us so much that we can never offer anything of ourselves of value to redeem ourselves before God!

But boy do we still try! We have solutions for trying to redeem ourselves. Some religions emphasize the ongoing effort to redeem ourselves by becoming better, by being good people. Sounds good enough, but it ignores the real issue that needs redeeming: sin.

An increasingly popular approach in our age of secularism is to deny God and any need for redemption at all, but this, too, falls short. Sin is real. It separates. Ignoring it, calling it something else, pretending there is no God who takes issue with it, these offer no redemption.

So Paul helps us understand precisely why God came into our world bearing a body. “But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship” (Galatians 4:4-5). First, let’s talk timing. Paul says “when the time had fully come.” What he means is that in God’s governing over all things, he had determined the exact time for the promised Savior to arrive on earth. One can look at the Roman world at the time and see how ideal it was for Jesus to be born. The Roman Empire was enjoying a season of peace from war. A universal language was used, making communication much more effective. The Roman system of roads made places far more accessible for travel. It was an ideal time.

Yet, we might think that today would be much more suitable. After all, consider all of the technological advancements. Think of all the ways we could communicate the birth of Jesus if he had been born in 2021. Seems like now, not 2,000 years ago, would have been a better time, doesn’t it? 

Ironically, one could also argue that all of the reasons for now being a better time could also be used to argue against it. How well would the message be received in an age when we are inundated with more information in a month than people of the past were in a lifetime? And the technology – a blessing, for sure, in so many ways… and yet a constant distraction at the same time. Does technology serve us or enslave us? So maybe Paul had it right when under divine inspiration he argued that God had determined the best time for the Redeemer to enter our world. And how would he carry this out? Why did it have to be done the way it was done? 

If a person is to be rightly rescued – redeemed – then it stands to reason that he must be rescued from the actual threat facing him. You don’t save a drowning person by running to the hospital to grab a stretcher. You don’t treat a broken bone with a band-aid. No, for the solution to provide an actual cure, it has to address the real problem. What is the problem that we all needed solved? Make no mistake – the real threat is having to answer for our sin or suffer the consequences of a real hell.

To rescue those being crushed and condemned under the weight of the law, God – who by his holiness established the law in the first place! – bound himself to keeping it so that, placing it on his shoulders and flawlessly fulfilling it, he could keep it from crushing us with its eternal condemnation in hell. While by our disobedience we disqualified ourselves according to the law, Jesus was born to keep the law, so that by his obedience God’s expectation of perfection could be met. Since only man and not God himself who gave the law is bound to it, God became a man so that he could keep it. 

Imagine a youth claiming to be able to drive her whole life without ever breaking the speed limit. While that’s a bold claim to make, she has no way to prove it. She must first be of the legal age limit to drive, and then pass her test to get a license. Once she does those things, she could then set out to prove her claim by maintaining a perfect driving record. But until she is actually bound by the law, it’s not possible for her to keep it. So it is with God – to keep the law he had to first bind himself to it, so he was born into this world bearing a human body, so that he would be bound to the law.

Notice how Paul effortlessly slips into his next thought with the clear implication that Jesus did in fact keep the law. After explaining how it would happen so that we might be adopted as God’s sons and daughters, the verse that immediately follows point out that we are sons and daughters! Jesus did it! He succeeded in perfectly obeying the law, for we are now adopted sons and daughters, no longer slaves, but free heirs to receive the glorious riches of an eternal inheritance, along with all the treasure house of blessings lavished on us while here on earth in the meantime! Now we have that most intimate of relationships, being able to address the Father as “Abba,” akin to “daddy,” a relationship unique to father and child. Now the Son born in Bethlehem calls our hearts his home. 

Now we are worth something, for we have been redeemed. Jesus’ redemption is what has given us value. Apart from him we were worth nothing. We are by nature just like all the BOGOs and discount coupons for this store and that restaurant stashed in your drawer at home – worth nothing until actually redeemed! Until you actually show up, purchase something, and redeem the coupon for whatever discount it is, the coupon is worthless. It has to be redeemed to be of any value. 

So it is with us. Christmas means we are worth something, for that child, that Prince of Peace came into this world to be our Redeemer. And because he redeemed us with his own precious blood, we are worth something. How much, you ask? Considering no price can be attached to Jesus’ holy, innocent blood, and that that was the price paid for you and me, how valuable does that make us? If something of inestimable value was used to buy us back, to redeem us, then how valuable are we – priceless! And that is just how God sees us. For he would not have offered up his only Son as the redemption price for our very souls if he did not treasure us beyond measure! 

What Child is This? He is our Redeemer. Because we have been redeemed, we are sons and daughters who are God’s own heirs, standing ready to receive his greatest blessings both now and for eternity. What other gift that you unwrapped this year even begins to compare to that!?! Merry Christmas!

Prince of Peace

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(Isaiah 9:2-7)

One of the simple things in life that brings joy to just about everyone every time it is shared is the announcement that a couple is expecting or a baby has been born. I know of at least one friend whose family gathering this Christmas will include his daughter sharing the news that they are expecting. Whether it’s the shared anticipation of a couple who is expecting or the exciting news of the baby’s arrival at birth, it’s the kind of news that just makes us happy. 

News of a birth also means wanting to hear all of the details. When was the baby born? How long was labor? Boy or girl? How much did it weigh? What’s the length? These curious questions are a natural follow-up to news of any birth, as we want to get to know a little bit more about the baby.

We heard a baby announcement today from the prophet Isaiah. While we aren’t used to such announcements being given any further out than about nine months at the most, Isaiah shared his announcement some 700 years before the due date! And, he didn’t wait until the baby had been delivered to share the details, but declared them ahead of time. His words today, and the words we’ll look at for the next two Sundays of Christmas, will provide us with the necessary information to answer the question raised by the beloved Christmas hymn, What Child Is This? 

So just who is this Jesus whose birth is celebrated across the world by people of every nation and language? He must matter a great deal, for who else’s birth has been cause for such universal celebration every year ever since it happened?!? That fact alone deserves our attention, doesn’t it? Regardless of what anyone believes, isn’t this birth worth looking into if so many people all over the world have celebrated it for so many years?

What, then, does Isaiah tell us to provide insight into an answer for the question, What Child Is This? Quite a lot, actually! Isaiah tells us he’ll be a beacon of light in a world steeped in darkness. He will be a source of joy. He will bring victory. Then, we get to verses that have served as the basis for some of the most beautiful music ever played or sung; words that have inspired so many in the world of music and the arts; words that have filled hearts with hope for 2,700 years – the words of Isaiah 9, verse 6: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” While each of these designations could provide sermon upon sermon or even series upon series, on this day we will give our attention to just the one title that answers the question before us, the title, Prince of Peace. 

To be designated as the “prince” of something is to say the one bearing the title is considered to be the authority in that field or area. The dictionary describes the title as “a man or thing regarded as outstanding or excellent in a particular sphere or group.” So what does it say about Jesus that his birth announcement 700 years before his arrival did not merely associate him with peace or describe that he might bring in a season or period of peace, but that he himself is the prince of peace? It means that any understanding of peace apart from Jesus is either an inadequate or incomplete understanding of what peace is, for he is the prince! A person cannot, therefore, have peace apart from the One called the very Prince of Peace!

But sadly, that doesn’t stop the world from either pursuing peace in all the wrong places or simply flat-out avoiding the things we perceive to be disrupting it. We do have phrases that incorporate the word peace, like “peace of mind,” being “at peace” with a decision, or “making peace” with someone. In one way or another, each of these expressions has to do with something that is unsettling or causing tension or conflict. To achieve peace, then, is to settle the matter, ease the tension, or eliminate the conflict. The result should then be peace. 

Another solution is to simply avoid the things that are unsettling or cause tension or conflict. But with a few rare exceptions avoiding such things isn’t a real solution. It may perhaps buy some more time toward a solution, but the act of avoiding is itself no solution, and very often only exacerbates the problem. This happens especially when avoiding is paired with some attempt at escape like substance abuse or any of the other escapes we explored back in our October and September sermon series. 

If any of these supposed solutions for peace worked, then how does one explain why our world is as unsettled as it’s been in any of our lifetimes? If these solutions worked, then do so many express the feeling that things are getting worse, not better? Shouldn’t we be “at peace” and finding “peace of mind” if we’re finally addressing climate change, calling out privilege and racism, if “our guy” is finally elected President, if individuals are free to identify as whichever gender they prefer, if… the list goes on. But how come all this “progress” hasn’t resulted in more peace? Why is drug and alcohol abuse on the rise? Why is depression debilitating more and more? Why are suicides so regularly in the news? Where is the peace? Is this what peace looks like?

The answer is “no.” This isn’t peace. Peace isn’t found in the absence of COVID or conflict; it’s found in the presence of Christ. Remember, Isaiah already told us what peace looks like! It’s not just Isaiah, either. Peace and God go hand-in-hand throughout all of Scripture. Micah, another prophet at the same time as Isaiah, said this when describing Jesus in a birth announcement of his own: “And he will be our peace” (5:5a). The apostle Paul, who wrote a good chunk of the NT, frequently referred to the God of “grace and peace” in the greeting of his letters. Another writer in the Bible wrote, “Now may the God of peace… equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:20). Peace and God go hand-in-hand!

So just how did Jesus secure this peace that all the progress in the world cannot provide? “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in [the Son], and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross” (Colossians 1:19-20). Jesus came not just to be born in a manger, but to die on a cross. His very life was the price for our peace with God. Someone had to answer for our sin that separates us from God, or heaven would have been permanently shut off to us. God had communicated through Old Testament sacrifice that payment for sin was required. Jesus made that payment for us. Since we are no longer in debt to God for the payment of our sin, then we are at peace with him.

And the added bonus that comes with this peace? When you have it, it won’t ever run out. It isn’t a passing peace or a fleeting peace, but a permanent peace, as Isaiah shared in his announcement: “Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end” (v.7a). This kind of peace won’t end. That also means your circumstances won’t change it. The things that happen to you can’t diminish it. Wherever you are, God’s peace through Jesus is with you – even if you’re in jail, like Ruffino Fernandez. 

It was in jail that Ruffino came to faith in Jesus after hearing the Word of God during a seminar. Being so positively impacted by the Word of God in that seminar, he attended another the next time it was offered, explaining, “The teaching and love in these seminars has meant so much to me. I wanted to learn more before I left [prison].” Later, a third such seminar was announced, and Ruffino was very eager to attend. The problem? It was set for the same day as his release from prison, meaning he would miss it because he was being set free. So what did he do? He asked his parole officer for his release from prison to be delayed until after the seminar! (Source: Prison Fellowship fundraiser letter dated July 24, 1984, signed by Charles W. Colson.) Who would do that? Why would anyone do that? Because the prison walls made no difference at all to someone who knew the Prince of peace. Whether held inside the walls of a prison or released into freedom, it didn’t matter – he had peace either way. And because of Christmas, because God made good on Isaiah’s baby announcement and gave you the gift of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, you have peace, too.

He Lifts Up the Humbled

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(Luke 1:39-55)

How many gifts will it be this year? Do you have a record of how many gifts it’s been in the past? You know the ones I’m talking about – the ones we made a big deal about, the ones we convinced ourselves and others we really wanted – no, needed… only to see them end up unused, forgotten, or re-gifted to someone else. I would imagine you could spend some time over the holidays just looking back on everything in your home, your garage, and/or a storage unit if you have one, and so much of it would be a record of things that at one point were “must-haves.” Going through that process would probably serve to give us pause the next time we convince ourselves that we have to have something. We may not want it as badly as we think we do.

Couldn’t we say that about humility as well? We’ve reflected on humility for the past three Sundays, and honestly, isn’t humility a bit like that gift you think you want, but when it comes right down to it, isn’t as interesting as we thought? We even know that humility is one of those desirable qualities God wants us to have, so we should want it, but really we don’t. Because humility means giving up something I’m really good at: me. Humility means actually doing what Jesus called us to by denying self. Humility means going against my natural self-interest and doing what I’m best at by nature, making my life about me. So humility sounds virtuous and noble and it should be not only on our Christmas list, but an ongoing pursuit of ours, but… the reality is that we aren’t too willing to part with our pride. Like a child throwing a tantrum after being stripped of a toy for misbehaving, we naturally kick and scream against anything that threatens our pride. And humility does just that. 

That’s what makes it so difficult. “No pain, no gain” – it’s unlikely you’ll open up a Christmas card to find those words inside. I don’t recall the phrase being included in any Advent or Christmas hymns. Spend as much time perusing the aisles of Hobby Lobby for something to add to your collection of Christmas decor, but you won’t see the words, “no pain, no gain” painted across a piece of wood in some nostalgic font. The words would seem to be out of place for this time of year.

But maybe they’re more applicable than we might think. As we conclude our Humble Expectations series this morning and you reflect on the past three weeks, has the concept of humbling yourself or being humbled resonated with you as a pleasant experience? If so, forgive me for saying so, but I think you’re a little bit weird. Being humbled – more specifically, the repentance required for that to take place – is a tough pill to swallow. Who likes to be put in their place? Who enjoys having their faults found out and exposed? Who likes being at the dead end where no blame, no excuses, and no rationalizations allow us any outs, where there is nowhere to turn for escape? No one! Provoking our pride is a painful process!

But it’s a necessary one, and this morning we focus on why. Today we look at the end result of that process of humbling and being humbled; today we look at the gain that results from the pain. 

How refreshing it is this morning to see what humility looks like in not one, but two of the women, Elizabeth and Mary, who played important roles in the birth of our Savior. While what has come to be called The Song of Mary, or The Magnificat, is the focal point of these verses, don’t miss the humble greeting that Elizabeth expressed upon Mary’s arrival. “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (v.41-43). Remember that Elizabeth was the once-barren, but now-expecting mother herself, and she could have very understandably been bitter toward Mary for arriving and stealing her thunder, or for rubbing it in that she was the one chosen to be the mother of the Savior. But we don’t see that from Elizabeth at all. Moreover, Elizabeth not only acknowledged Mary’s blessed privilege of being the mother of the Savior, but counted herself unworthy of a personal visit from her. This was not false humility. This was not Elizabeth trying to butter up Mary or get on her good side. This is what genuine humility looks like. And Mary takes a page out of the same book of humility.

Mary didn’t spring into a self-centered song spelling out all of the understandable reasons why she was in fact such a good candidate to be the mother of the Savior. Instead, notice who is at the center of her song: the Lord. Her song is not filled with “me’s,” but “He’s.” 

That’s an important element of humility. Humility doesn’t toot its own horn. Humility doesn’t call attention to itself. Humility doesn’t announce its presence in the room. Instead, humility is made known only when all attention is directed elsewhere. Mary does just that, highlighting God’s glorious resumé of rescuing his people throughout history. And how might we describe that resumé? She points out that God has a track record of doing two things: 1) humbling the haughty who think they can stand against him, and 2) lifting up the lowly, those who in genuine humility know and believe that they have zero business seeking an audience with a holy God. 

Mary described the various ways the Lord has for humbling the haughty. “He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts… has brought down rulers from their thrones… has sent the rich away empty” (v.51-53). To those thinking they can hide their pride by keeping it limited to their thoughts – he shoos them out of his presence. To those in positions of power or authority who pat themselves on the back as if achieved by their own doing – he topples them from their lofty place. To those relying on riches or truly believing there is such a thing as a “self-made man,” he sends them away empty-handed. 

Here’s the problem with pride: we think our pride is justified. We think we actually have some good reasons not to be humble, that being humble is actually beneath us. Actually, we don’t even see it as pride. We wouldn’t call it that at all. It’s rather just who we are. We know that no sinful pride is justified, so what we feel, what we think about ourselves must not be pride, because we know that’s not acceptable for God’s people… so we don’t identify it as such. Nevertheless, we still struggle with humility, because we think too highly of ourselves to think humility should apply to us. Mary’s song glorifies God for humbling the haughty, for not allowing others to pridefully rob him of his glory.

Mary’s song also glorifies God for lifting up the lowly. “He has… lifted up the humble… has filled the hungry with good things” (v.52-53). The good news for those who know they have no business in God’s presence is that he will in fact lift them up in his presence! Those who know how spiritually starving they are on their own will be permitted to taste and see how good the Lord truly is! God has no time for the proud because his schedule is booked with raising up the repentant to the joyful heights of forgiveness and salvation! He is far too busy filling up the empty-hearted with grace and all of his richest gifts!  

So as we wrap up this series, into which of these categories do you wish to find yourself? The haughty will be humbled while the lowly will be lifted up. I think we all know what the answer should be, but will our attitude and actions reflect that, or will everything stay the same? Will we continue thinking of humility as a virtue, a noble thing to pursue, but defiantly refusing to trade in our pride for humility? Or, can we see the bigger picture and in humility make our lives less about us, confident that in due time, Jesus will lift us up to himself and exalt us in a way the world never can? Knowing that it isn’t natural to us to desire humility, consider bringing that desire before the Lord. Ask him to help us imitate the humble spirit demonstrated by Elizabeth and Mary, who found genuine joy, not based on all the pregnancy preparations they had to do, but on what God had done. Let your joy this Christmas be based not on your planning and preparations, but in humble gratitude for what God has done.

And ask him to wrap you in his humility. Ask him to help us see that apart from him we are nothing so that we truly embrace that in him, we have everything. Bow low then, as you prepare to gaze again at the manger and see with eyes of faith the one born into humility, that he might raise you up and fill you with good things for now, for Christmas, and for eternity. 

He Humbles My Enemies

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(Zephaniah 3:14-17)

I know the beloved annual Festivus tradition of the Airing of Grievances is still a few weeks away, but that’s the tradition that comes to mind when I think of this morning’s theme. When you consider the word “enemy,” who comes to mind? Do your thoughts shift to the international level and to other nations, nations that are either overtly hostile or even unfriendly to the US? Are those your enemies? Do politics come to mind and you immediately consider anyone associated with your opposing political party to be your enemy? Perhaps your enemy resides on the other side of the fence along your property line or works in the cubicle adjacent to yours. Some may be convinced the enemy is even closer to home than that – living with me right under my roof – a spouse or family member. Who is your enemy?

We’ve got our own list of enemies that come to mind. The Bible names its share of enemies, too. Many are rather easily identified in the Old Testament by their opposition to God’s chosen people, the Israelites. The Egyptians enslaved the Israelites and then, after allowing them to leave Egypt, sent their army to hunt them down. Clear enemies. The Philistines, known for sending their champion, Goliath, to defy Israel and God, were clear enemies. The Assyrians and Babylonians, responsible for the downfall of Israel’s Northern and Southern Kingdoms, were obvious enemies. 

Enemies are listed in the New Testament as well, although not as easily identified since they aren’t as much associated with a specific nation or people. Paul identified one type of enemy on his missionary journey. Speaking to a sorcerer named Elymas, who was trying to turn a believer away from his faith, he said, “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?” (Acts 13:10). So our enemies are those who stand against what is right and pervert the ways of the Lord.

Paul also referred to those who oppose Christ’s cross as enemies. “For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ” (Philippians 3:18).

Enemies are also included not just among those who fiercely or directly oppose Christianity, but among those who cozy up too much with the world and its ways. “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God” (James 4:4).

And Jesus himself warned his followers that yes, enemies may even lurk under your own roof in your families as unbelievers, stating the harsh reality, “A man’s enemies will be the members of his own household” (Matthew 10:36). 

That last one might be the toughest enemy of all… until we point out one more: you. It isn’t natural to think of ourselves as enemies. The designation “enemy” is something we typically reserve for others, not ourselves. We don’t consider ourselves enemies to others, but rather consider others who might be viewed as enemies to us. And yet the Word of God is clear – we are in fact natural enemies to God. 

“The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so” (Romans 8:7). “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior” (Colossians 1:21). You’ve heard the phrase, “I’m my own worst enemy.” Do you realize how true that is?

Or to state it more accurately, we were natural enemies to God. But God forever changed that. “For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!” (Romans 5:10). We were enemies, but God himself changed that when through the death of his own Son, Jesus, he paid the price for the sin that separated us from him, transforming his enemies into his friends. His enemies who have been bathed in baptism are now his friends. His friends now have the joy of receiving his body and blood in the sacrament. His friends never tire of hearing the assurance that his grace and forgiveness forever changed everything. What you were is not who you are – Jesus made sure of it.

Ultimately, what was necessary for that to happen? Jesus had to defeat THE enemy, Satan. Finally, the devil is the one directing every ounce of opposition against God. After turning against God along with a number of rebellious angels, he recruited his first mercenaries in Eden when Adam and Eve through their disobedience switched their allegiance. He has been successfully recruiting for his army through unbelief ever since. “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). He does not let up. He is relentless. 

But he is fighting for a lost cause, for he has already lost the battle. Because God made good on the head-crushing promise he gave in Eden, Satan cannot win the war. So those who fight for him are fighting a losing battle. He has already been defeated. His head has already been crushed. Yet he lashes out with the last bit of his remaining energy until the victorious Christ returns again on the last day when no one – not even Satan himself – will stand in opposition to him.

At that time, Zephaniah’s words will sink in perfectly. Then we will truly know what is like that “He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17). What? Who am I that God should delight in me? Who am I that God himself should crank the volume all the way up and rejoice over me with singing? Who am I? Who are you? We are the ones he thought enough of to send his own Son to suffer in our place. Surely a Father willing to do that must truly delight in us! So until the resurrected Son returns on the Last Day, we, too, can rejoice and be glad, because he delights in us and because we know that what he has done to Satan will apply to all of those who stand with Satan and refuse to humble themselves before God. 

A word about that. We can rejoice and be glad, not with a focus on the eternal wrath that awaits our enemies, but rather that justice will be served. Wickedness will not go unchecked forever. Opposition to Jesus and his church will not be tolerated. Everyone will be humbled, either willingly or unwillingly. Our heart’s desire is the same as the Lord’s, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. Our heart’s desire would be that the Holy Spirit would work humble repentance in every human heart. 

But in the cases where that doesn’t happen because hardened hearts refuse to be softened, God will have the last say. He will not be made out to be a liar. Those who placed their faith in him, trusting him for salvation, will not have done so in vain. Every knee will bend and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord (cf. Philippians 2). Many will do so out of faith; many others will do so when faced with the cruel reality of regret that their refusal to believe God’s gracious promises results in their being given for eternity what they chose during their lives on earth – an existence without God. 

Faith in Jesus, though, guarantees a different eternity than that – one in the presence of our faithful Father. So check your body language and posture and don’t hang limp (v.16). Do not hang your head at the gloom of this world. Do not mope. Jesus has given you the victory. “Sing, Daughter Zion; shout aloud, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy. The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm” (v.14-15). You are not victims, but victors! 

Therefore, do not fret over your enemies, at least not in terms of worrying if justice will be served. No, rest assured, God will take care of that. God has already taken care of that, in fact, and it is merely a matter of time until the whole world acknowledges it. That means we are freed for something greater: loving our enemies, just as Jesus calls us to.

God has not enlisted your help in making sure that vengeance is carried out or that justice is served. But he has enlisted your help to counter the devil’s efforts at recruitment. He has enlisted your help in recruiting to the winning side. After all, why all the shouting and glad rejoicing? It is not only because that’s a natural reaction on our part, but also so that others may be drawn in by it. Shout aloud and declare to others what you know – that the Lord has turned back our enemy and we have nothing whatsoever to fear. The battle, carried out in stages at Jesus’ birth, throughout his life, at his Good Friday death, and finalized from the empty tomb, has been won. Jesus has defeated the enemy. Jesus will defeat every other enemy. But you, dear Christian, you, by his grace, he has made his friend.

He Humbles Me

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(Luke 3:1-6)

It doesn’t matter which highway around San Diego you’re on – you don’t have to be on it very long before you see all the signs from your car. The heavy equipment that cuts and carves into the hillsides. The piles of dirt. The wooden stakes jutting out all over, polka dotting the area with ribbons of various color. The flattened future lots. What used to be a landscape of uneven rocky and rough terrain spilling down the hill or mountainside has become smooth and level. All of that earth is moved around, shifted, dug down, or piled up to make way for a future subdivision, apartment complex, or commercial development. 

Of course we know why this is all necessary. Building cannot take place on an uneven surface. A foundation poured on uneven earth will crack sooner than later, as will the walls and roof of any building erected on top of it. Parking lots and landscaping that aren’t graded to drain water properly will retain water and flood during the rainy season. Any building project requires no small amount of preliminary work before the finished product can even begin to take shape.

So it is with the building project that God is doing in each of us. As a child I had a hand-stitched picture of a curly red-head boy with his head down and a slingshot in his back pocket, implying he had just gotten in trouble with the slingshot. Accompanying the picture was the caption, “Please be patient – God isn’t finished with me yet.” How true that statement is, no matter where we are in life! This morning we will consider how God goes about with his ongoing building project in each of us, but before we do, we remember how important last Sunday’s message was to set the tone for our Humble Expectations series.

Last Sunday God’s Word reminded us that the only way hell-bound sinners and a holy God could be reconciled and brought into a right relationship was for Jesus to bring himself to us, to make himself less, to humble himself. And he did just that. That, of course, is the celebration we’re all eager to get to in three more weeks – God humbling himself to endure childbirth, a life that was the farthest thing from any semblance of a charmed life, ridicule and punishment for committing no crime whatsoever, and finally, a crucifixion reserved for convicted criminals. 

But there is more to the story. Though Jesus humbly endured all of that to make a relationship with rebellious mankind possible, sadly, not all of mankind will benefit from it. Why? There’s too much uneven rocky and rough terrain spilling out of our hearts and reflected in our lives. Unless all of that is moved around, shifted, dug down, or piled up to make way for the humble Savior, then he cannot reside in our hearts. So not only Jesus, but we, too, must be humbled. 

That was John’s mission. John was the earth-mover, the one called to do the heavy lifting and the scraping and the leveling among mankind to prepare the way for humble Jesus. You know the work John was called to do by another name: repentance. He came to call a rebellious world to repentance. One general way to consider what repentance means is to capture it with the picture of turning around. If you see a “Dead End” or a “Bridge Out Ahead” sign while driving, you’re wise enough to know to turn around and go the other direction. Repentance is seeing God’s law as a sign that indicates going our way instead of his is the wrong way. But we can break down repentance even further than that.

Repentance really starts with realizing and acknowledging that our hearts are defective. When you have something that’s defective, it won’t work properly. It isn’t a matter of double-checking the directions. No amount of trouble-shooting will matter if the object is defective. You don’t shake it around a bit or kick it or give it a good cleaning and hope it will work. It’s defective. It isn’t merely contributing to the problem – it is the problem. Sometimes, talk of repentance moves directly from this step right into the step of turning around. But there is a necessary transition that must happen between the first step of acknowledging our defective hearts and turning from our rebellion and sin. We could call that transition, contrition. 

What is contrition? Sorrow over sin. It is a different thing than merely acknowledging wrongdoing. For example, a criminal can acknowledge he did something without showing an ounce of remorse over it. But such cannot be the case for sinful mankind before a righteous God. Genuine repentance cannot bear genuine fruit without the soil of contrition. 

Let’s stay on this for a bit more. What does contrition look like? A few thoughtful questions might help you identify its presence or absence in your life. When it is discovered that you did something wrong, do you feel bad about what you did, or do you just feel bad about getting caught? When you apologize or ask for forgiveness, do you do so in a way that avoids accountability (e.g., “I’m sorry that you were offended/hurt by what I said.”) or do you own up to what you did wrong and take full responsibility (e.g. “I’m sorry that I ________ and that my words/actions hurt you.”)? 

Here’s another way to dig beneath the surface to try to discover genuine contrition; ask yourself if you even want to be more holy or if too long ago you comfortably embraced the fact that you’re not. If you’re willing to take a good hard look at your own heart, you may notice some areas where a progression in sin over time has resulted in contrition gradually eroding away. Here is what that progression looks like.

The first time the sin is committed there is guilt and remorse – we genuinely feel awful about it. That is contrition. Then, a few more times of the same sin and we become somewhat complacent. There is still a knowledge that we shouldn’t be doing it, but it definitely bothers us less than it did initially. Then, a few more times of the same sin and we become complicit. This is where we start to justify it in our own minds or even rationalize it as being normal and/or acceptable. Finally, after enough time in that stage, the last step can turn into openly welcoming and embracing the sin – we commend it. When this happens, a person typically drifts toward associating with other people who feel the same way, which results in reinforcing our thoughts on that sin. Not only has contrition completely faded in those cases, but the sin which once caused sorrow and guilt is now praised and celebrated. 

Paul actually spoke this very point of embracing sin in two places. In Romans 1:32, he wrote, “although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.” In his letter to the Philippians, he observed of those opposing Christianity, “Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things” (3:19). It may go even further still to result in aggressive opposition to other Christians who continue to call out that same sin. Once that whole process has played out, it’s back to the beginning of the process of repentance all over again. But you better believe the work that John the Baptist calls us to do is FAR more difficult from that point on (cf. Hebrews 6:1-6).

But if instead, that first step of genuine contrition and the Holy Spirit continues to work in us a genuine loathing of sin and a desire to squash it in our lives, then here is where the turning around comes in. It’s what Luke described in our verses this morning. “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth” (Lk. 3:4c-5). It’s leveling my pride and seeing my sin for the damning spiritual roadblock that it is. It is refusing to insist that my crooked path is the better alternative to God’s way. It’s confessing that my default to blame others for the damage my sin has done is the real culprit cutting me off from God. We aren’t talking about filling a pothole here or sealing a crack there – we’re talking about a complete demolition and removal to clear all the sinful debris for God to carry out his building project on us.

Finally, there is the last crucial step of repentance, the absolutely most important one: looking to the One who humbled himself for my forgiveness and salvation. For even an unbeliever can merely acknowledge he did something wrong,  feel contrition over it, and strive to turn around on his own. But that is quite a different thing than the repentant believer who longs to turn away from sin and to the grace and forgiveness Jesus extends freely to him. Recall that Luke spelled out the purpose of John’s call to repentance in verse 3 – that John came “preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” The goal is not to leave us wallowing in guilt and shame, but rather to see that humble Jesus came to lift up humble sinners out of the muck of guilt and shame and dress us with his perfection, his righteousness.

This is the final goal for us, for you. This is the final goal for all people, as John stated it: “And all people will see God’s salvation” (Lk. 3:6). So this call to repentance is absolutely essential, for without it, we are not able to see salvation because of the obstinate obstructions in our way that are sin. 

Think of a time you arrived late at the movie theater. After grabbing your popcorn, candy, and drink, you make your way into the dark theater. Once you find a spot, you then have to climb over any number of theatergoers to get to your spot. What is happening while this is going on? Not only are you missing out on the movie while trying to avoid spilling your drink on someone’s lap, but you are also keeping them from seeing the screen as you walk in front of them.

The goal of repentance is that everyone can see God’s salvation in Christ Jesus, and that not even our own sin would obstruct the view of others, or keep us from seeing our own need of salvation. Repentance clears the way for us to clearly see what God has done for us in Christ. Repentance clears the way for the star of Bethlehem to spotlight our salvation born on Christmas. Repentance clears us out of the way so that our own sin doesn’t cloud the view of others, and all people can see God’s salvation. Jesus humbled himself for us – may he also continue to humble us so that we can believe and appreciate it. 

He Humbled Himself

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(Luke 19:28-40)

What does your to-do list look like this year? Christmas gift budget. Send a letter or cards. Schedule gatherings. Finalize travel plans. Decorate the Christmas tree. Trim the palm branches for display… 

Wait, palm branches? Well, based on our verses from Luke for today that would seem to be appropriate. Even though Luke doesn’t specifically mention them in his account from our Gospel this morning, we can hardly reflect on the Palm Sunday account of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem without thought of palm branches. But what do palm branches have to do with Christmas, or to be more liturgically correct, the season of Advent, which begins today?

Actually, more than you might think. The season of Advent, after all, isn’t merely the precursor or warm-up act to get us ready for Christmas. Rather, its focus on preparation and readiness includes the bigger picture of all the ways Jesus came to us, comes to us, and will come again. God’s people had been waiting thousands of years for Christ to be born. And what happened after that? They waited some more. They waited for thirty more years to discover what his coming to earth really meant, what it was all about. Even on the day of our text, when Jesus made his final grand entrance into Jerusalem amidst all the fanfare, the crowds – and even the disciple themselves – didn’t fully comprehend what it was all going to amount to.

That wouldn’t be revealed until the end of the week. Then it became clear. The cross. Not Pilate’s palace. Not one earthly empire. Not an earthly king’s crown. The cross. That’s why he came. To die. When we fail to connect Christmas wreaths with palm branches, when our celebration of Christmas is divorced from his Good Friday sacrifice, we open the door to a rather secular celebration of Christmas. We are more inclined to take a page out of the world’s celebration of Christmas rather than a Christian celebration, which is keenly aware that the real wonder of Christmas isn’t found in movie miracles, but in the Gift who came to give Himself as the perfect sacrifice for sin. Keep Christmas connected to that and this year will not only meet, but exceed, your expectations.

Speaking of which, what are your expectations? Even as we’re still working on clearing out the Thanksgiving leftovers, our focus shifts to the holidays and the preparations and expectations. We recognize that this year will differ from the last regarding our preparations and expectations. But I wonder something: do we take the time to reflect and consider exactly what our expectations are each year? Or do we just rush from one thing on the schedule to the next, as if our next month is already determined for us, as if this time of year is filled with obligations and we don’t have a say in how we’re going to prioritize what matters to us?

That’s just it. You do have a say. No one is forcing you to get swept up in commercialism. You don’t have to buy the lie that the world knows better how to prepare for and celebrate this time of year than Christ’s church does. There’s no need for any FOMO in deliberately emphasizing the spiritual over the secular. Tempering those expectations and aligning them with God and his Word is really what this series is about. And this morning, it starts with Jesus setting the tone as he humbled himself.

Have you ever met a celebrity or famous individual? Some of us have probably met multiple famous or prominent people. If I asked you which experience was the most memorable, why would you pick the one that you did? Might it be that the one that stands out to you is the one who seemed to you to be the most down-to-earth? The one who didn’t leave you feeling as if you were somehow beneath them or inferior, but that they were just another person like you? The one who was… humble? It’s kind of ironic, isn’t it, that the people we are often enamored with or think so highly of are more likely to leave an impression on us by how much like us they really are? We may think the world of them, but your interaction with them made you feel as if you were just as important in their eyes as they were in yours.

This morning we begin our Advent focus under the theme, Humble Expectations, and we begin the series looking at how Jesus humbled himself for us. Unlike a down-to-earth celebrity, however, Jesus had a different reason for humbling himself: your salvation. Think of how God appeared to his people in the Old Testament accounts and what accompanied his appearing – terror, fear, dread – and rightfully so! A holy, righteous God who alone sets the standard of right and wrong, who determines mankind’s moral compass, is not one before whom sinners can stand! If God and men were ever to have the eternal relationship he craved, it could never be on the basis of our rising up to his level to meet him. No, it had to be God who humbled himself to our level, that through his work we might be taken up to him. Drawn to him versus driven from him. The difference is he humbled himself.

As he humbly entered Jerusalem, it wasn’t Jesus who made all the fuss; it was the crowds, and their excitement was all based on expectations. Jesus wasn’t the one who needed to ramp up the public relations efforts when he came into Jerusalem. The only directions he gave were to secure the foal of a donkey so that Scripture could be fulfilled. The rest of the fanfare was not of his making – it was the peoples’. It was the crowds shouting, the people placing cloaks before him and waving palms. The fanfare was not of Jesus’ making – he didn’t pay to pull in crowds from out of town to serve as his entourage. It was the crowds who ramped up their efforts to make the event such a big deal.

Don’t we often feel the need to do the same with Christmas? We go big with everything, as if Jesus needs us to make Christmas a bigger deal than he already did by his flesh and bone birth into our world, taking on the human body he needed to serve in humble obedience and so that body born on Christmas could experience death in our place. Was that not enough? Does he need the flashiest front yard decked out with a display that will be the envy of all the neighbors? Does he need the gifts we exchange to be bigger and better than the past – especially after last year’s limitations, so much so that we also find our credit card debt bigger as well? Does he need us to deck the halls to make Christmas matter?

You know what I enjoyed about our celebration of Christmas last year? We were forced to scale back. Our gatherings were limited, our celebration in general was rather muted. Because when all the other stuff was stripped away, all we were left with was… Jesus. As it should be every year. Pondering. Reflecting. Marveling. Quietly. Undistracted as the world whirls restlessly by. Just Jesus. Will this year be like that again, or… will we slip back into the older practice of thinking Christmas will be less if we can’t somehow make it more? Do the holidays (holy-days) need our help to make them matter? 

While it is not a part of our text this morning, in the very next verse, Luke records Jesus’ lament as he overlooks Jerusalem:

“As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.” (vs. 41-44). 

Would it be too much of a stretch to question if Jesus’ reaction to our Advent preparation and Christmas celebration would perhaps be similar? What led to his lament? The people of Jerusalem failed to see the peace he came to bring and they “did not recognize the time of God’s coming” (v.44). How many in the weeks that follow will not only completely miss out on the peace Jesus came to bring, but will actually add more distress in their misguided preparations and oversight of what this season brings? How many will remain oblivious to God’s coming the first time in Bethlehem at the birth of Christ, his ongoing coming to us in Word and sacrament, and his promise to come to us again on the last day? Jesus’ lament over Jerusalem before he rode into it to die could just as well be his lament over our world today in 2021! 

May it not be his lament over you. Set the tone for the season by revisiting – and repeating as necessary – the reason behind Christmas. He came to us. God came to us. It’s the only way it would work – for him to descend to us. Do not, as so many in Jerusalem did in Jesus’ day, keep hidden from your eyes the peace that he came to bring. Peace to slow down our frenetic pace. Peace as an anchor for our anxiety. Peace to cease to our stress. Peace to forgive and restore and refresh weary souls. And that peace is ours because he humbled himself. 

Humility marked Jesus’ first coming as the Babe of Bethlehem. Humility marked Jesus’ life. Humility marked this day as he entered Jerusalem. Humble Jesus, though, is not a picture of whimpering weakness. He did not humble himself because there was no other option or because he was somehow incapable of displaying his divine power or majesty for all the world to see. No, he humbled himself so that it might be possible for the Almighty God to come among his lost and fallen creation to rescue and redeem. He became less to save those who are the least: rebellious sinners like you and me. He became less and humbled himself to walk the path of perfect obedience upon which we daily stumble and fall. He became less and humbled himself so that an immortal God could die the death that all mortals deserve. He became less and humbled himself so that hell could be his to suffer and not ours. He became less and humbled himself so that his heaven could be our heaven.

What does your to-do list look like this year? Don’t overload it with stuff that doesn’t matter. Humble your expectations and direct your focus on the One who humbled himself for you.

Heaven Is… a Great Banquet for Everyone

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(Luke 14:15-24)

When you attend a significant event, the number of people present matters. How would it feel going to hear your favorite band or singer in concert at a large venue and being surrounded by empty seats? What if you received a special exclusive invite to the opening of a trendy new restaurant and only a handful of other people were there? It was one thing to have to witness that kind of emptiness during the pandemic when in-person attendance was not permitted, but barring those restrictions, we expect big events to bring in big numbers of people. If not, and attendance is sparse, it can result in lower expectations, second-guessing the level of quality associated with the function, or wondering about the organization of the whole thing. Numbers matter. We are impressed by large attendance numbers at events – they give credibility to something.

Have you ever wondered what the attendance numbers in heaven will be like? On the one hand, we have pictures of multitudes gathered around the throne. Each of Daniel and John’s (Revelation) visions make reference to thousands upon thousands and ten thousands upon ten thousand – numbers which may refer to just angels or could also include believers. Jesus preached to large crowds and many came to faith. Throughout the book of Acts we are told the Holy Spirit added thousands to the faith here and there through the preaching of the Word. World statistics of professing Christians currently top 2.5 billion, to say nothing of the total number of believers existing throughout history. So it would appear that heaven will be pretty full.

But Jesus also said, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to” (Lk. 13:24). And in the parable before us this morning there are clearly a number who excuse themselves for a variety of reasons, leaving the master to conclude, “I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet” (14:24). So will it be many or few? What will the numbers be like in heaven? We can’t say for sure, and while I know few of us like to hear that answer, we must be willing to accept it frequently in regard to questions about heaven. Instead then, let’s give our attention to two matters that we DO have control over: 1) making sure we get there, and 2) taking as many with us as we possibly can.

I know it feels rather odd even to state it that way, to “make sure we get” to heaven. There’s nothing for us to do! Jesus did it all, so what could we possibly need to “do” to make sure we get there? He traded heaven for earth to make sure that one day we would be able to trade earth for heaven. His perfect obedience replaced our daily disobedience. On the cross he was forsaken so we could be forgiven. How do we cover that debt when it has already been paid? How do we convince a judge who’s already declared us innocent because of what Jesus has achieved as our Sacrifice and Substitute?  

It’s really more about what we can make sure we don’t do rather than taking credit for anything we can do. Simply put, don’t lose what you’ve been given. Don’t reject the free gift of salvation. Don’t misplace your invitation. Don’t let the big day arrive and find you unprepared because you allowed enough excuses to mount up over time that you became preoccupied with this life at the expense of the next one. It’s as if every time you make an excuse, you are pounding in yet one more tent stake to make this your permanent home instead of heaven.

It would appear this is a very legitimate concern on the part of Jesus. At least that’s the way it comes across in the parable. Not only do the servants receive a variety of excuses from the invitees when the party is finally ready, but notice how many times the host has to send out his servants to bring in more guests – three times they are sent out! That would seem to emphasize two important truths. One, many will end up on the outside looking in when it comes to heaven. Two, God really means it when he says that he wants everyone to be saved. Why else would he continue to send out his servants to invite others? “Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full” (v.23). There’s still room. 

There’s still room. You probably noticed the Trunk or Treat invites in your worship folders. Those invites aren’t for you, because you already know you’re invited. But they are for you to pass along to someone else. Heaven is the same. You already know it’s for you, but now the invite is for you to pass along to others. 

So each and every one of us can focus on one or both of the two things we DO have control over. If you are in the excuse-making camp of the banquet invitees in the parable and are dangerously close to forfeiting your spot at the heavenly banquet, then that needs your urgent attention. Get your act together and make your faith the priority it needs to be so that you don’t give up what you’ve been given. And if you are solid in that department, then you can give attention to your role of passing along the invites. One or the other or both is where we all should be. Make sure you get there and do your best to help as many others as possible get there. 

Where exactly is “there?” What will “there” be like? After all, that’s what we’re really interested in – the information about what the accommodations in heaven will be like, right? So will there be an actual feast, a banquet, as heaven is so often depicted in Scripture? Will the most tantalizing food and drink imaginable be served? The perfect cut of meat, perfectly cooked, or for those who prefer, the perfect Beyond Meat plant-based product perfectly imitating the perfect cut of meat, perfectly cooked? Will the food melt on your tongue the moment it touches it? Will the beverages be served chilled so they aren’t too cold or not too hot so they avoid burning your tongue? Will there be appetizers? How many courses? And dessert – what about dessert??? Now that I’ve lost you for the rest of the sermon… will we actually experience any of this? 

Or… is it all figurative picture language to make heaven more relatable to us? It would make sense that Jesus would speak a parable involving a great feast, given he spoke these words this morning while he was a guest at a Pharisee’s house for a meal. And, the comment made to Jesus leading up to the parable referenced the blessing of feasting in the kingdom of God. So is Jesus merely tying his description of heaven to something we can conceptualize, something we could connect to through personal experience? After all, as much as both the Old and the New Testaments speak about heaven as a sit-down saintly smorgasbord, the Bible also says that no one in heaven will ever hunger or thirst. Therefore, if there is eating and drinking, it won’t be out of a need of sustenance, but rather out of the joy and pleasure associated with it.

Here is another thought: why should we ever experience any good pleasure at all in a broken, fallen world? Why should we be able to enjoy tasty delicacies and delightful drink? Surely a world of rebellious sinners has not and could not earn the right to such pleasure? No, but God is good. God is gracious. Maybe there is another reason behind God allowing us such enjoyment – perhaps such pleasures have an even greater purpose: merely to whet our appetite for what is coming in heaven. Certainly no good, no excellent experience here on earth was ever intended to attract us so strongly to this temporal world; rather could it serve all the more to provide us with teaser upon teaser of how splendid heaven will be? 

And don’t forget another part of a great meal – one enjoyed with favored guests! After all, a meal spent with old friends can make even the blandest food palatable. And even outstanding food is only made better when enjoyed in the presence of those dear to us. Think of that part of a feast or banquet – not so much about the food, but about the guests gathered together to enjoy it together. That is real joy! Gathering around food builds community. Meals are where stories are shared and memories are made. Traditions and family rituals so often involve food. Food satisfies, but sometimes the biggest role it serves is to bring people together. And that is certainly one of the main themes of heaven, isn’t it – all of God’s blood-bought saints finally being brought together in perfect unity and harmony? No polarizing division. No draining disagreements. Just Jesus-centered gathering.

Years ago there was a popular series of T-shirt slogans that had a statement regarding one’s favorite sport. It had a simple phrase indicating that one’s favorite sport was life, and the rest was just details. “Basketball/tennis/golf/baseball/etc. is life. The rest is just details.” The point was clear: nothing else really mattered. The wearer of the T-shirt was claiming that other concerns in life were quite trivial in comparison to the favorite sport. 

At the end of the day, there is much speculation about what heaven will be like. There are many unknowns. We don’t know if there will be a literal banquet feast or if the imagery is merely figurative. But there is one known: Jesus will be there. And we’ll get to be with him. Nothing will be better. In heaven we could rightly sport the T-shirt, “Jesus is (eternal) life. The rest is just details.” Let’s make sure that when we’re done here on earth, each and every one of us – and as many others as we can possibly bring along – are all wearing the same shirts.

Heaven Is… Coming

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(Matthew 25:31-46)

More and more evidence points to the reality that the happiness associated with a certain experience has less to do with the experience itself and more to do with our anticipation of it. Studies that measured brain activity and the subjects’ feelings of happiness prior to a positive experience and during that experience have seen higher dopamine levels before than during the experience itself. So it seems that looking forward to a positive experience is many times the most exhilarating part of all.

I won’t disagree. When I got to the last book of the Harry Potter series, I recall how bittersweet it was. While it was always exciting to finish one book in the series and look forward to starting the next, I knew I wouldn’t have anything to look forward to after I read the last one. So, I actually put off starting the final book for some time just to extend the time I had to look forward to it. We’ve probably all experienced something similar in the past at some point regarding vacations. We were so eager to plan and look forward to and anticipate an upcoming vacation – but the vacation itself didn’t match our anticipation of it. Or, we look forward to watching an episode of our favorite show, but how bummed are we when the last episode airs? Now we don’t have anything to look forward to anymore. It is the anticipation of the experience – not the actual experience itself – which is so often the most exhilarating part. 

Heaven, dear friends, will be the exception. Are we eager about heaven? Do we anticipate it? Are we looking forward to getting there? Absolutely. But unlike every other experience we have had on earth, it will not be the anticipation of heaven that fills us with the greatest joy, but our experience of it. Our experience of heaven will absolutely surpass in every possible way any detail we could have imagined about it. No matter how high the dopamine levels register in our anticipation of heaven, they’ll be off the charts when we actually experience it!

When it comes to anticipation, studies have shown that two primary factors play the biggest role in heightening our good feelings about an experience: 1) simply looking forward to the experience itself, but also 2) the increased likelihood that it will happen. When those two factor in together, we experience the height of anticipation. You get a rush from placing an online order, but that anticipation is heightened when your tracker tells you the delivery truck is only two stops away! The opening music to your favorite show starts playing on the screen and you get a quick rush no matter how good or bad the episode is. You look forward to the possibility of reconnecting with an old friend, but that anticipation is heightened when your phone pings with a text confirming the date and time. It’s really going to happen! It’s a certainty!

Jesus provides us with the same certainty as he introduces his teaching on heaven this morning. He started out, “When the Son of Man comes…” (v.31). There is no uncertainty in those words, is there? Jesus doesn’t say “I’m hoping to” or “I’ll really try” or “I might be available”; he says, “when the Son of Man comes.” Everything then, which follows, will happen. Jesus will return. He will come back to us. Doesn’t that heighten our anticipation?

And we are so in need of that repeated reminder, aren’t we? As more time passes, we wonder more. We question ourselves. We question God. The world worsens. Is Jesus’ return a reality we can count on, or is it just wishful thinking? Am I foolish for believing it or looking forward to it? Jesus puts that to rest. Jesus doesn’t lie. He laid out what will happen when he returns. He will return. 

And his return will be glorious! While Jesus’ first coming into our world was meaningful and marvelous in its own right, I don’t know that “glorious” is the description we’d use for the child born in a barn. Jesus highlights the difference between the first coming and the second coming – “in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne” (v.31). Glory – what a contrast to Jesus’ first arrival! That last glorious day is described elsewhere in Scripture in this way: “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God” (1 Thessalonians 4:16). No secluded stable, but the most glorious announcement, accompanied by hosts of angels and trumpet calls – “Jesus returns!” 

And why is he returning? To judge. Notice both parties on that last day are shocked, but for different reasons. They are surprised at the criteria behind Jesus’ judgment. Believers were not even aware of their service to others amounting to service to Jesus himself. The believer, from whom faith naturally springs into action to love and care for and serve others, thinks nothing of those things. They weren’t carried out to earn points with God or to elevate our standing before him, for we know that nothing good lives in us by nature. Yet through faith, God works much good in the lives of believers!

Unbelievers, on the other hand, were not aware that their selfishness and lack of service to others amounted to selfishness and lack of service to Jesus himself. The unbeliever was convinced he was doing enough to be on good terms with God, that he was a pretty decent guy or gal, making some positive contributions in the world. At the very least, better than a whole lot of other people. And they’re absolutely shocked to not be acknowledged by God.

So the sheep and the goats, believers and unbelievers, were both surprised, both shocked. In other words, you will be shocked on that last day. The question is, for what reason? Will you be surprised by how effortlessly and naturally your faith flowed into service for others without ever thinking of recognition or reward? Or will you be surprised because you were pretty sure you were going to hear from Jesus’ lips, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, take your inheritance…” (v.34), but instead will hear “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (v.41)? I don’t imagine too many people actually expect they will hear those words from Jesus, but he makes it clear that he will speak them. Will they be spoken to you? 

They may be, if you should make the terrible mistake of presuming that how you live doesn’t matter, that you treat your faith like a hazmat suit that somehow protects you from caring for others and serving their needs. You may hear those words if you make the grave mistake of treating grace and forgiveness as merely a free pass to live as you please. Those words may be spoken to you if your confession of sins and confession of faith are merely empty words that have no root whatsoever in your heart. Now before you blow off that possibility, are you really willing to gamble that you might be wrong? Maybe you don’t believe there is a hell. Maybe you don’t believe a loving God would actually ever send anyone there. One, do you really want to chance that, to take that risk, and two, are you comfortable with calling Jesus a liar when he lays out that this is exactly what will happen on the last day? Hell and eternal punishment are real and many are really going to end up there. Don’t let it be you.

Let us instead hear the other words of Jesus, music to our ears: “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world” (v.34). We are finally going to experience what all the “fuss” is about! We’ll finally experience the culmination of everything he’s done for us and the blessings laid out for us from the very beginning. Jesus calls you “blessed.” You think you know what that word means now? People toss it around as a blanket term that covers anything good that happens to us – whether or not they acknowledge God as the source of blessing. Rest assured, the word will take on a new meaning in heaven. If the best it can do this side of heaven is describe only the stuff we know now, imagine what it will truly mean to be blessed when we hear that word on the last day in reference to what’s waiting for us. 

And what is waiting for us is an inheritance. An inheritance is always a good thing. No one leaves behind an inheritance that is intended to harm another or leave them worse off. An inheritance is always a good thing. How much more so with heaven! What will that inheritance include? How can we use known terms and experiences to describe what can’t be known or experienced here on earth? It will simply surpass the best of the best in this world by leaps and bounds, and exclude anything and everything that is undesirable and unpleasant. 

Jesus described that inheritance as “the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.” He is not referring to just an object or item, but an entire kingdom, a way of life, a world, an experience that completely overshadows anything we could know or experience in this life.

And imagine how much the Lord has been longing to grant this to us – he’s had it prepared from the beginning. Ever shopped for someone and found the perfect gift that you know they are going to love? But you have to wait to give it to them. You want to right now, but the occasion has not arrived yet, so you have to wait. Imagine God holding on to this amazing gift that he knows will blow our minds, and he’s been waiting this whole time, throughout the entire history of our world, from creation until that last day, to give it to us. He must be about to burst every day that he waits!

What will determine who receives this gift? In a word, faith. Only Jesus doesn’t use that word; rather, he describes what it looks like. Think of faith like this. Coaches in many sports speak of the importance of follow-through. A golf or tennis swing with a strong follow-through matters. A shooter in basketball knows the importance of follow-through after he releases his shot, as does the pitcher on a baseball mound. Follow-through is important. It matters. Faith alone saves, but faith has a follow-through: works. Works are the follow-through of faith. They are the continuation of it. They are how faith shows itself, how it manifests itself. So without works, faith is not only incomplete; it simply doesn’t exist. There is no such thing as saving faith that is not accompanied by works. Jesus makes this clear by referencing works to determine who are the sheep and who are the goats, as those works are the follow-through of faith. 

Heaven is coming. Anticipate it. Strengthen your faith to be sure of it. Get to know the voice of Jesus more and more through his Word, so that you will be confident of the words he will speak to you on that last day, leaving nothing up to chance. Believe, boldly show that belief in how you live, and long to hear those words of eternal life, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world” (v.34). Amen.

Apologize

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(1 Peter 3:13-16)

If this morning’s word is not familiar to you in the context of evangelism, then it might be necessary to clarify that we aren’t talking about saying we’re sorry for believing in Jesus. Though apologies in that sense may have their place if we need to come clean before somebody else we may have wronged, the word apologize this morning carries with it a different meaning than “I’m sorry.” Apologetics refers to the field of defending the Christian faith. One of our Confessions in the Book of Concord is called the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, which is not Lutherans saying we’re sorry for ever confessing our faith as expressed in the Augsburg Confession, but rather a defense of what that Confession states. So while we are never sorry for our Christian faith, there is great benefit in being able to defend it. 

One important caveat when it comes to apologizing, or defending, our Christian faith: strictly speaking, defending our faith is not evangelism. No single soul was ever ushered into heaven because of a convincing or compelling defense of the Christian faith. Only the gospel awakens faith in the human heart. So what role, what place does defending the Christian faith have? 

If you’ve ever gardened, you know there is value in tilling the soil. Doing so prepares the soil for the seeds that will be planted. It removes the stones or pebbles or debris in the dirt that might otherwise impede growth and never give the seed a chance to take root. Growing in our ability to defend the faith can serve the same purpose – it doesn’t convert souls, but it may help to jar loose some of the other debris in someone’s heart or mind that could decrease the likelihood of the gospel being clearly heard or understood.

Some of that opposition to Christianity is based on the perception that the Christian faith is unreasonable. Now on a side note, what a perfect time for Christianity – our world is completely unreasonable right now! We see a lack of reason all around us. So in a world in which so few people actually make any sense and seem to be acting unreasonably, then Christianity ought to fit right in – an unreasonable religion for an unreasonable world! 

While I say that tongue-in-cheek, the reality is that Christianity is actually quite reasonable. Jesus thought so, as Luke recorded in our First Reading from Acts. “After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God” (1:3). Note that Luke referred to Jesus providing “convincing proofs.” That is, the evidence that Jesus displayed after his resurrection was apparently very reasonable. If something is truly unreasonable, then we would presume there would be no amount of evidence that would ever appeal to someone’s reason. Yet, people had seen enough from Jesus over the forty days after his resurrection to conclude that his rising from the dead was not so unreasonable after all. Their reason was in fact convinced by the proof.

So apologetics matter – appealing to people’s reason can make a difference. In one case it may serve merely to pique someone’s curiosity who is then open to hearing more of God’s Word, regardless of whether or not that results in saving faith. In another case appealing to one’s reason may serve as the very compelling and convincing element they needed to put them on the path to faith in Jesus. If we can then help people be open to the possibility that perhaps Christianity isn’t so unreasonable after all, we may have removed just enough obstacles in the way that previously kept that person from being open to the power of the Holy Spirit to work through the Word.

If the thought of being an apologist, of having to defend your faith, terrifies you, or if you don’t feel confident in that arena, you live at a good time. Because there is something else that others may be willing to listen to than the truth of the Bible, which doesn’t carry the same authority in many people’s minds today as in the past; they’re more than willing to listen to your truth. Much as we might cringe at such a statement, it might be an extraordinary time for us to take advantage of it. Here are two reasons why this is true.

One, our culture is anti-institution, so inviting someone to church may not be received as warmly as in the past. For some who seem disinterested or even turned off by Christianity, the real issue may not be Christianity itself, but the organized church they’ve come to associate with it. Some of those reasons are understandable; others perhaps not. When a pastor or religious leader associated with a certain church has fallen from grace, or when someone has been personally burned by a bad experience in a church in the past, we can understand why they may want nothing to do with the church as an institution. Those scenarios can be more challenging for us to help them navigate through. Then there are the general ones like “the church just wants your money” or “the church is full of hypocrites” that have always been around. Regardless, where people today may not trust the church as an institution, you are most likely the best thing we’ve got going. For that reason, we need to shift our perspective a bit to seeing ourselves – not necessarily our church – as an instrumental stepping stone to connecting others to Jesus. 

Two, if you’ve ever had doubts about your own faith, if you’ve ever had questions, guess what? That makes you 100% relatable. While many Christians wish they were as well-equipped as a pastor or a professor at a theological college or seminary, let me ask you something. Do you think the average unchurched person relates better to the theologically trained expert, or to you, someone much more like them who has real struggles and an imperfect faith that is a work in progress? The answer should be quite clear, shouldn’t it? So chances are, the individual who seeks out a pastor or trained spiritual leader is someone who may be curious or just be interested in seeking out an answer to a specific question. However, to whom do you think the person genuinely interested in Christianity and the possibility of pursuing the Christian faith is going to go? You. Someone just like them. Someone to whom they can relate. In this regard, that makes you uniquely equipped to defend your faith and expand on it for others. 

Now if you see the sense in these two reasons, perhaps your next question is why aren’t people coming to you with their questions? Why might others not approach us? One possible reason: they think Christians are unintelligent dim-wits. Is this justified? On the one hand – nope; we embrace the role of fools that Paul speaks of in 1 Corinthians. On the other hand, are we? When is the last time you read a book? When is the last time you educated yourself on how to talk to skeptics and defend your faith. Maybe they think we’re dim-wits because… we are? Simple evangelism doesn’t have to mean shallow evangelism. Have I been avoiding personal spiritual growth for too long? Then it’s time for us to make a change. 

The other reason people don’t ask us about the reason for the hope that we have? They don’t see hope in us. Why would they ask about what is absent in our lives? If they don’t see the hope in how you speak, live, and engage with others, don’t be surprised when no one asks you about it. If you put Debbie downer to shame with your constant gloom and doom, you might be waiting a while before anyone asks you for the reason for a hope they don’t see in you.

If it isn’t obvious to others, where do we find that hope? Don’t forget the name of this series: “simple evangelism.” At its center, the message of the gospel is profoundly simple, so much so that a child could explain it: we are sinners who have in Jesus the Savior from sin that we all need. That makes heaven ours. It really does not need to be any more complicated than that. 

Question: are you able to apply the hope of that gospel of forgiveness to yourself? Peter wrote, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15). Do you need to revisit that hope? Do you have it? Do you embrace it every day and live in it, breathe it? Does it smother you, cover you, envelope you… or do you allow your own guilt or the crud of this world to pin you down while hope seems out of reach, like an inflated balloon, drifting out of sight high up in the sky? 

Hope is here! Right now! We live under the shadow of the cross. We live in the reality of a vacant tomb. We live in the certainty of a hope-filled home in heaven. That is your lot in this life, your hope. And the reason behind that hope? Jesus. No more. No less. Jesus is your hope. So when your situation feels hopeless or your hope seems distant, chances are, so is Jesus. Keep him near and hope will also be close by. 

It would seem Peter knew that, as he encourages us, “in your hearts revere Christ as Lord” (v.15a). Imagine your reaction if you showed up today and looked to the front of the church and saw the cross had been removed from behind me. In its place was a very nice tasteful painting. Or a floral arrangement. Or a decorative light. I think no matter how nice any of those things might look, you’d be quite shocked and probably downright disgusted to see something replace the cross. That’s what goes on in our hearts when Christ is not revered as Lord, when he is set aside or replaced by some other love in our lives. Let him alone rule. When he alone rules in your heart, so does hope. When that happens, look at what else happens. 

We’re eager to do good, and to do it with gentleness and respect (cf. 1 Peter 3:13-16). These things alone would do wonders for our witness, as they are such a rarity in our day and age. Doing good with gentleness and respect for others is radical; it’s other-worldly. It’s attractive. It’s craved. It’s appealing. And the icing on the cake? When you live this way, even when you suffer certain consequences because of it, that’s when the questions come. That’s when people want to know why you put up with it and what hope you cling to in order to get through it. It’s like the opportunity to shine the spotlight on Jesus is being served up to you on a silver platter! When those times come, listen. Witness. Always. Apologize. Keep it simple. Let Jesus do the work. 

Always

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(Psalm 34:1-18)

Why does she order the same entree every time at this restaurant? Why is that the same beverage I see in his hand every time I see him? Why does he always want the same type of cake for his birthday every year? The answer to all of these is the same: they’ve tasted something that’s good, they like it, and so they don’t waver from it. 

That also explains where David was coming from. Why would he write, “I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips” (v.1)? The answer is in the final verse: “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him” (v.8). David had acquired a taste for the Lord. He knew from firsthand experience how good the Lord was, he liked it, and so he didn’t waver from him. He extolled him and praised him… always.

I will state it plainly: there will be no “always” to your witness without first acquiring a taste for the Lord, as David did. Until that happens, evangelism will be anything but simple. It will be infrequent – if it even takes place at all – and it will be perceived as something we are required to do rather than something that flows from our lips at all times, always. 

After all, it is possible to know a lot about the Bible without ever having tasted how good the Lord is. Many an academic, a scholar, and a skeptic know the Bible quite well – without ever having tasted how good the Lord is. Sadly, the same can be said of many Christians. We can know the Bible quite well – without really tasting how good the Lord is. 

The story has been told some time ago a dinner social gathering brought a number of people together. Among them were an actor and a pastor. The host invited the actor to recite the well-known psalm 23. He agreed. As was expected, he read it beautifully, with clear articulation and at the perfect pace, raising and lowering his tone to properly reflect all the meaningful words and phrases. When he finished, many felt it may have been the finest reading of the psalm they had ever heard. 

After the actor had finished, the pastor was also invited to read the psalm. At first, he declined, knowing himself well enough to realize that his recitation of the psalm would not be on nearly the same level as the actor’s. Somewhat reluctantly, however, he did finally agree to read through it, on the condition that he was permitted to provide some commentary on the beloved psalm. After he had finished, the guests agreed that they had been treated to quite a gift to be able not only to hear the psalm, but to hear it explained in such a profound way. Later, as the guests discussed the unique characteristics that the actor and the pastor each brought to the psalm, they finally agreed on this noticeable distinction: the actor showed how well he knew the psalm; the pastor how well he knew the Shepherd.

That’s the secret to simple evangelism: knowing the Good Shepherd well, knowing Jesus. What does that look like? It looks a lot like what David describes in Psalm 34 for us this morning. “I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips” (v.1). David writes that he will extol the Lord “at all times” and his praise for the Lord would “always” be on his lips. Those phrases indicate a full-time thing. Exalting the Lord was not a part-time job for David. It wasn’t a hobby he putzed with on the weekends. It was an all-the-time thing. It was always.

And the introductory description at the beginning of the psalm provides the backdrop for us to believe that was true for David – all times, good and bad. At the time described, David was not at a high point in his life. He was not only on the run from Saul, who was trying to hunt him down and kill him, but he was also seeking refuge in enemy territory – the territory of the Philistines. Remember them – the ones David had embarrassed when he, the little shepherd boy, took down their mighty towering giant, Goliath? Not only was David willing to hide out in enemy territory, but he had to play the part of a man who had lost his marbles, an insane man drooling on himself and marking up doors and gates. Yet even during this time – not his finest moment by a long shot! – David penned the words of this psalm that expressed the ongoing confidence he had in the Lord.

Christian friends, as you picture a person who fits the descriptions given in this psalm, do you imagine that many in the world might just be attracted to that type? What’s more, if the world notices this consistent upbeat optimism at all times – in both good and bad – isn’t it even more likely to make an impression on others? It is surely one thing for a person to have a cheerful disposition when everything is going his way, but others really take note when that cheerful disposition is still there even when the wheels have come off and everything in life is falling apart. That’s why it always matters that we’re always radiating God’s radical grace! Doing so in the tough times is when it comes across as something real to others.

And we all appreciate when others are real with us. Unless you are someone who appreciates the craft of sales, most of us don’t really like being marketed to and can tell when someone is pitching something or trying to sell us some good or service. In sales and network marketing, the distinction is made between selling and sharing. We can tell the difference, can’t we? We’re pretty good at being able to tell when someone just sees potential dollar signs when they look at us and when someone shares something that they not only feel passionately about but also genuinely feel could benefit us. There’s a big difference between the two approaches.

The same is true of simple evangelism. If you’re trying to “pitch” Jesus, others will see right through you. So how do you avoid coming across as “salesy” when it comes to evangelism? It has to be genuine, and it’s genuine for them when it’s genuine for you. And it’s genuine for you when the words before us from Psalm 34 are not just nice-sounding platitudes, but personal experience. So are they descriptive of your personal experience? Have you tasted and seen that the Lord is good (v.8)?

If you have to think about the answer to that question, that’s probably not a great sign. If you answer yes right away, but can’t describe or explain what it means that you’ve tasted and seen that the Lord is good, that’s probably not a great sign, either. When getting up for church on Sunday morning is routinely a drag rather than a delight, not a good sign. When Bible reading and devotions are deferred daily in favor of every other important task and then subsequently forgotten, not a good sign. When I am disinterested in Bible study opportunities that are offered, not a good sign. 

Because think of it, when you experience something good, no one has to coax you to experience it again. You don’t find a great show to stream and then watch just one episode. You don’t find a good place to eat and then never dine there again. You don’t drink a great cup of coffee one time. You don’t find a great outfit and wear it just once. When you experience something good, you want to return to it again and again. If that isn’t the case when it comes to your relationship with God, one has to ask if you’ve really tasted and seen how good he is, if you’ve really acquired a taste for the Lord.

David shared a number of different ways we taste and see how good the Lord is. There are many! The Lord provides the afflicted with reason to rejoice (v.2). Exalting his name provides a reason to gather together with others (v.3). The Lord delivers from fears (v.4). The ones looking to the Lord are radiant because he has removed their shame (v.5). He saves those who are down and out (v.6). He protects those who are his and delivers them (v.7). Any who take refuge in him are blessed – they need only try him out and they’ll find it to be the case (v.8)! See all the reasons David had to always praise the Lord? See all the reasons you have to always praise the Lord?

If simple evangelism is to be an “always” thing, then my time with Jesus will first be an “always” thing. When that isn’t the case, we are more likely to view evangelism as a program or an event rather than a lifestyle if we don’t regularly taste and see how good the Lord is. But the more of Jesus we have in our own lives, the more we want more Jesus in the lives of others.

So do you get it yet? The key to being an exceptional evangelist is not making sure you’re thinking about evangelism all the time, that every time you leave the house or every time you’re engaging online your thoughts are 100% focused on telling others about Jesus. No, the key to being an exceptional evangelist is making sure that you yourself are always filled up with Jesus and his forgiveness, always tasting and seeing how good the Lord is. When that happens, we acquire a taste for the Lord, and the first verse of this psalm will be descriptive of each of us as well: “I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips” (v.1). When that happens, evangelism will naturally follow. It’s that simple. Always.