Month: December 2025

December 14, 2025                                         Text:  John 18:36-37

Dear Friends in Christ,

            Have you ever met a king?  A real blue blood, noble, aristocratic.  In America it would be rare.  In Europe not so much.  That is where blue blood originated.  Probably in Spain with the noble Castile family.  They were all quite pale and you could see their veins.  These people were “sangre azul” or “blue blood.”  They tried to marry with in the family so that this blue-blooded group of people could continue without getting mixed in with the commoner.

            Now to be sure, there have been used car kings, monarchs of the movies and sovereigns of the playing fields.  Over ten years ago now, we had a homecoming king living under our roof.  Thankfully he was humble and never lorded it over us!  None of these folks are true Blue Bloods.  There has been only one real, genuine, completely authentic King – not a pretender, but a bona fide Blue Blood.  Our series “Advent Blues” arrives at another part of who Jesus is this morning . . .

“BLUE BLOOD – JESUS AS KING”

            Jesus as King reigns from no golden throne and wears no diamond-encrusted crown.  His kingdom is not one of boundaries or border agents.  His people are not those united by language or race or ethnicity.  They are united by faith and prayer and the sacraments – by God’s word and Christ’s church.  His rule extends over the universe, but he has no embassies.  He has a palace of hope, where He dwells and lives.

            This is the One we know as Christ the King.  This is the infant who drew Wise Men over the desert miles from the east seeking the birthplace of history’s most important King.  This is the one who Isaiah wrote, “He will reign on David’s throne…forever.”  (Is. 9:7)

            Born in no palace.  A crown of thorns and a reed for a scepter.  His regal cloak was faded and gambled on by his captors.  He didn’t rule an army from the back of a stallion, he rode a donkey into death.  He touched the sick with healing hands and absolved the repentant of their awful deeds.  He was a King to save people from their sins.  He rose from the dead to rule with love and grace.  He dispenses forgiveness and not retribution.  Welcomes everyone into his eternal Kingdom.  He was and is the most unpretentious Blue Blood this world will ever know.

            Oscar Wilde’s The Happy Prince almost describes our King Jesus – regal Blue Blood, who is also a regular, ordinary friend.  In the story, the people who lived in the prince’s kingdom, wanted to remember this always happy ruler with a marvelous statue.  It was brightened with gold leaf, sapphires for eyes, a ruby in its sword, the neck decorated with precious stones and pearls.  Whenever they looked at this statue of the Happy Prince, they became happy, too.

            Late one fall, a swallow perched on the Happy Prince to spend the night.  A drop of water landed on this weary bird.  How could it rain on a cloudless night?  He looked up and saw the Happy Prince was not happy at all – he was crying.

            He told his new friend he had been happy behind palace walls, but now he saw the condition of his people.  Poor and struggling.  Enduring pain and heartache.

            The prince enlisted the bird to fly the ruby to a poor widow caring for a sick child.  The Happy Prince was still sad, so he had the bird fly the jewels to another family evicted from their home.  The prince asked for more tasks before the bird headed south.  He dropped the gold into the cups of beggars.  He took one sapphire to an orphan selling matches.  The other went to a student destitute and hungry.

            By now the bird had delayed his journey so long, that he would not go south.  He would stay and be the eyes for the Happy Prince.  To tell him about the happiness spreading among his people because of the prince’s love for his people.

            The Happy Prince is a legend.  The King of Kings is genuine.  He gave not gold and jewels but his life for those he created.  He brought joy to the world not with glistening sapphires, but the sparkling gifts of salvation and love.

            He came to be King of our hearts, so we can love as He loves.  He came to be King of our heads, so that we can think of others as he does.  He came to be King of our souls, so that we can live as he lives – forever.

            Jesus is our joyous King, the happy Prince of Peace.  This King’s blood was so royal that it was shed for all his subjects to redeem them eternally.  His Royal Highness – Jesus as King – a true Blue Blood.

                                                Amen.     

December 10, 2025 – Mid-Week Advent 2 2025    Texts:  Isaiah 9:1-2,6-7;

2 Corinthians 4:3-6; John 1:1-9

Dear Friends in Christ,

            The property board of a church wanted to improve the property.  They voted to add a chandelier.  One member frowned at the idea saying, “I am against for three reasons.  First, nobody in this church can spell chandelier.  Second, nobody in this church knows how to play it.  And third, what we need above all else in this church is more light!”

            We need more light.  Not visible light per se, but more spiritual light.  We need the light that Christ brings into the darkness of our sinful world and sinful lives.  We need His light to guide us in the path of righteousness.  Blessedly, in His advent, Jesus has come to bring us that much-needed light.  Seeing Christ in the Christmas decorations . . .

“LIGHTS”

            Light are everywhere this time of the year.  Our homes have extra lights.  Communities string lights on streets and poles.  Business and shopping centers decorate with more illumination.  We even have a “Festival of Lights” in our area.

            Our sanctuary is adorned with more lights.  Five candles on the advent wreath that gets brighter and brighter as we approach Christmas.  The lights on the tree and hanging off the church balcony.  The light in the creche.

            Why decorate like this?  Sentimental value?  Or is there a deeper significance?  Last week we learned about the beginning of Christmas trees in Germany in the Middle Ages.  By the 1500’s they were attaching candles to the trees.  First with pins, then by holders, then by lanterns.  These lights reminded Christians of the lights that accompanied Christ’s birth – the Bethlehem star and the angels who lit up the night sky with the glory of the Lord.  They reminded people that Christ is the light of the world.

                        Eventually, this practice came to America.  As lights became more affordable, lights started to become commonplace in 1950’s America.  Today 150 million sets of holiday lights are sold lighting over 80 million homes.  According to statistics in December of 2015 the USA produced more electricity in one month than the country of El Salvador used the entire year.

            Christmas lights are beautiful.  I love to just sit at home with only the Christmas lights on and relax.  But for the Christian it goes deeper than that.  Our sin represents darkness.  We can ignore the light, turn our back on the light or just plow ahead with our dark thoughts and deeds.  But God promised to break this march into the abyss.  Isaiah foretold it, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.” (Is. 9:2). The light breaking came in the form of a birth, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given.” (Is. 9:6)

            Jesus’s birth was signaled by the light of the special star that guided the Wise Men.  John doesn’t write about the birth of Jesus, but he writes about the impact of that blessed event.  “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.” (John 1:9). When Jesus became an adult He announced, “I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

            By grace through faith.  Once in darkness we now receive Christ’s light of righteousness and glory.  The apostle Paul declared, “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Cor. 4:6)

            The lights also point to the second coming of Christ.  Jesus’ return will inaugurate a new creation in which the darkness of sin ends, and the light of righteousness endures forever.  We who are made righteous through faith in Christ will abide in that eternal righteous realm.

            On Christmas Eve, many churches like Good Shepherd hold a candlelight service.  The flame that night is spread from the Christ candle to the Pastor’s candle to the ushers’ candle to your candle.  This signifies that the coming of Christ brings the light of righteousness to all who believe.  So, every time you see the lights of Advent and Christmas emanating, remember the message:  Jesus has come and will come again to bring you the light of forgiveness and glory.

                                                            Amen.      

December 3, 2025 – Mid-Week Advent              Texts:  Hosea 14:4-8, John 11:17-27

Dear Friends in Christ,

            Do you know a Christmas tree once caused a scandal and in a Lutheran Church no less.  It happened on Christmas Eve 1951 in Cleveland, Ohio.  Pastor Heinrich Schwan, the 3^rd president of the LCMS, erected an evergreen tree in the church sanctuary, attached candles to it and placed a silver star on top.

            This tree was so revolutionary that the one newspaper called it nonsensical and asinine.  Some in Cleveland accused Pastor Schwan of heathen and idolatrous practices.  They maintained the tree was a pagan symbol.

            But the members loved the tree.  For these German immigrants it brought back memories of their homeland.  Still, it caused controversy.  So, Pastor Schwan did some research and was convinced they were a godly custom that celebrated the Savior’s birth.  He wrote letter to the papers and to people who objected making the case for the tree.

            The next Christmas, 1852, he erected a Christmas tree as did many of his members.  Even people not members of the church adopted the practice.  Within a decade, Christmas trees appeared in churches and homes across America.

            Indeed, the Christmas tree has become the universal symbol of the Christmas season in all cultures.  In our sanctuary we have a tree and wreaths and garland.  They point us to spiritual truths.  What is the significance?  That is what we will answer in our midweek Advent sermon series, “Every Heart Prepare:  Seeing Christ in the Holiday Decorations.”  Tonight then . . .

“EVERGREENS”

            Historians tell us these decorations were first used in Europe during medieval times.  The Christmas tree appeared in Northern Europe around 1000.  By 1400, most Germans had trees in their homes.  Around this same time green holly and ivy appeared in England during Advent and Christmas.  This presented the hope of life in the dead of winter.

            Green is the symbol of life.  In cold climates, many plants lose their green in winter and appear lifeless.  But evergreen plants such as fir, pine, and holly trees retain green leaves in the winter.  They have become a symbol of life when other plants appear dead.

            Moreover, evergreens are a symbol of eternal life.  This is because they are ever green.  They prevail over death, even in the dead of winter.  This is why people have decorated their homes with evergreens.  It is a reminder of the gift of eternal life that Jesus’ advent offers.

            Christ’s first coming was to restore eternal life that had been lost when Adam and Eve sinned.  They had access to the tree of life, but they forfeited it when they sinned.  Thorns infested the ground as a symbol of the curse of death.

            Jesus, the Second Adam, came to restore life that was lost in humanity’s fall.  In his advent two thousand years ago, God the Son came as a human being to give His life so that we sinners might receive eternal life.  The evergreen holly branch is associated with Christ’s death because its thorny leaves remind us of the crown of thorns He wore on the cross.  Its red berries remind us of the drops of blood that fell from His head.  His death destroyed death, and His resurrection restored life.  Jesus proclaims, “I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die.” (John 11:25-26)

            God the Holy Spirit indwells us and empowers us with His life.  He compares Himself to an evergreen tree in Hosea 14:8:  “I am like an evergreen cypress; from Me comes your fruit.”  God is our never-failing source of life and fruitfulness.

            So, look around at the evergreen decorations that were lovingly put up this past Sunday by members of Good Shepherd.  They convey the message of eternal life.  That is what Advent and Christmas are all about:  the eternal life Jesus won for us at His first coming, which we will experience fully at His second coming.  Every time you look at the evergreen decorations be reminded of this – Jesus has come and will come again to give you everlasting life.

                                    Amen.      

December 7, 2025                                                  Text:  Hebrews 5:5-10

Dear Friends in Christ,

            Have you ever won a blue ribbon?  God blessed me with speed, so I collected quite a few in track and field during my elementary and junior high days.  The boys have quite a collection in their rooms as well.  Safe to say all of ours are sports related.  But maybe you received one for academics or music or that Baked Alaska you presented at the county fair.  It feels good to use God-given talent to accomplish something.

            What about Jesus?  Could we say He has won top honors with a blue ribbon?  It would take a long time to list all the things Jesus did that could receive a blue ribbon, but Scripture boasts of at least one:  “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” (Heb. 5:6)

            This a.m. our Sunday morning theme of “Advent Blues” continues with . . .

“BLUE RIBBON:  JESUS AS PRIEST”

            There could be no loftier award.  Melchizedek was the most highly regarded priest of the Old Testament.  His family became the Levitical priesthood.  Melchizedek was both priest and king of Salem, Jerusalem’s old name.  He met the founding father of Judaism, Abraham with bread and wine following Abrahm’s rescue of his nephew Lot from the four kings.  This blue ribbon of priesthood is the most distinctive kind – ancient and honorable – like the formal blue sash nobles wear to signify a high honor.

            For us today we cannot see how being compared to Melchizedek has importance.  As it has been taught in Junior Confirmation over the years, I am not sure it has been fully understood.  The key thought is that Jesus is not just another prophet.  He is truly a high priest of the loftiest kind.  A blue-ribbon leader.

            The author of Hebrews sees Jesus as both priest and sacrifice.  He is Lord of Lords and King of kings.  Jesus is God in his redemptive role as healer and guide.

            That understanding, however, must stretch beyond the academic to reach the personal.  While knowing Jesus as a blue-ribbon priest like Melchizedek is vital knowledge, it is knowing him personally, knowing his sacrifice, that makes Him a life-giving friend rather than an austere champion or celestial celebrity.  Jesus is our priest, who ministers to us with his sacrifice, as well as his sacraments.  He ministers as a priest should – to heal the body as well as the soul.

            Look at what Jesus did.  He healed the sick and raised the dead.  The blind saw; lepers were cleansed; the bedridden walked; the mentally deranged made sane.  Jesus could not ignore these afflictions.  He does the same for us.  We are afflicted with sin, diseased with bad behavior and sometimes a little mentally unhinged.  The devil wants to use this to divide us from God, separate us from our Creator, and claim us as his own.  Jesus came to make us whole.  He doesn’t want to see shattered lives.  He wants to see us complete.  He preached not only to hearts and minds but to withered limbs and sickened organs.  His touch healed.  His Word cured.  His ointments of saliva and dirt were a prescription for wholeness.

            Let Jesus be your Melchizedek to bring you bread and wine as the original one did for Abraham, to forgive your sin so that you may experience healing of the body as well as healing of the soul and soundness of the mind.  Holy Communion is a healing gift that Christ, our great High Priest, has given to us.  Do not fail to celebrate it, not for the ceremony, the sip of wine and taste of bread, but for the assured forgiveness Jesus shares with his body and blood communicated in that gift.  It is his way of making us whole with him.

            As our priest, Jesus also offers up prayers for us.  Martin Luther wrote, “along with, and beyond, His sacrifice Christ prayed to God the Father in our behalf.  Isaiah 53:12 speaks of this function, ‘He bore the sins of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.’..He continues to exercise this office as our Mediator and Advocate before God.”

            I, and many of you are not for participation blue ribbons.  A blue ribbon should be earned.  But in the salvation story, we pray that our Advocate and Priest Jesus who earned it for us, will grant to all who believe the ultimate winning ribbon – the salvation of their soul.

                                                                                                                                                Amen.       

December 3, 2025 – Mid-Week Advent                       Texts:  Hosea 14:4-8, John 11:17-27

Dear Friends in Christ,

            Do you know a Christmas tree once caused a scandal and in a Lutheran Church no less.  It happened on Christmas Eve 1951 in Cleveland, Ohio.  Pastor Heinrich Schwan, the 3^rd president of the LCMS, erected an evergreen tree in the church sanctuary, attached candles to it and placed a silver star on top.

            This tree was so revolutionary that the one newspaper called it nonsensical and asinine.  Some in Cleveland accused Pastor Schwan of heathen and idolatrous practices.  They maintained the tree was a pagan symbol.

            But the members loved the tree.  For these German immigrants it brought back memories of their homeland.  Still, it caused controversy.  So, Pastor Schwan did some research and was convinced they were a godly custom that celebrated the Savior’s birth.  He wrote letter to the papers and to people who objected making the case for the tree.

            The next Christmas, 1852, he erected a Christmas tree as did many of his members.  Even people not members of the church adopted the practice.  Within a decade, Christmas trees appeared in churches and homes across America.

            Indeed, the Christmas tree has become the universal symbol of the Christmas season in all cultures.  In our sanctuary we have a tree and wreaths and garland.  They point us to spiritual truths.  What is the significance?  That is what we will answer in our midweek Advent sermon series, “Every Heart Prepare:  Seeing Christ in the Holiday Decorations.”  Tonight then . . .

“EVERGREENS”

            Historians tell us these decorations were first used in Europe during medieval times.  The Christmas tree appeared in Northern Europe around 1000.  By 1400, most Germans had trees in their homes.  Around this same time green holly and ivy appeared in England during Advent and Christmas.  This presented the hope of life in the dead of winter.

            Green is the symbol of life.  In cold climates, many plants lose their green in winter and appear lifeless.  But evergreen plants such as fir, pine, and holly trees retain green leaves in the winter.  They have become a symbol of life when other plants appear dead.

            Moreover, evergreens are a symbol of eternal life.  This is because they are ever green.  They prevail over death, even in the dead of winter.  This is why people have decorated their homes with evergreens.  It is a reminder of the gift of eternal life that Jesus’ advent offers.

            Christ’s first coming was to restore eternal life that had been lost when Adam and Eve sinned.  They had access to the tree of life, but they forfeited it when they sinned.  Thorns infested the ground as a symbol of the curse of death.

            Jesus, the Second Adam, came to restore life that was lost in humanity’s fall.  In his advent two thousand years ago, God the Son came as a human being to give His life so that we sinners might receive eternal life.  The evergreen holly branch is associated with Christ’s death because its thorny leaves remind us of the crown of thorns He wore on the cross.  Its red berries remind us of the drops of blood that fell from His head.  His death destroyed death, and His resurrection restored life.  Jesus proclaims, “I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die.” (John 11:25-26)

            God the Holy Spirit indwells us and empowers us with His life.  He compares Himself to an evergreen tree in Hosea 14:8:  “I am like an evergreen cypress; from Me comes your fruit.”  God is our never-failing source of life and fruitfulness.

            So, look around at the evergreen decorations that were lovingly put up this past Sunday by members of Good Shepherd.  They convey the message of eternal life.  That is what Advent and Christmas are all about:  the eternal life Jesus won for us at His first coming, which we will experience fully at His second coming.  Every time you look at the evergreen decorations be reminded of this – Jesus has come and will come again to give you everlasting life.

                                    Amen.