November 5, 2023 – All Saints     Text:  John 5:1-15

Dear Friends in Christ,

How are you going to die?  Isn’t it something we all think about?  Haven’t we all had dreams about it?  In my dream, Toni and I have taken the grandkids to the Willis Tower Observation Deck in Chicago – 103rd floor – highest in the U.S.  Since I hear from grandparents that grandkids can get you out of your comfort zone, they talk me into going out into one of the glass boxes that protrude out the side.  I am scared of heights, and I know that the floor of these boxes have cracked twice.  But I do it for the little cherubs.  Then they get me to jump up and down and before I remember that these boxes were built by Chicago union labor, I am hurtling toward South Wacker Drive.  Hello Jesus.

My other dream is a little more realistic.  When driving on a two-lane road I always expect the car coming toward us to cross the center line.  If it’s a semi I just pray he has no medical emergency.  Because of this I usually hug the right side.  Fine in flat central Illinois, but in my dream, we are in the mountains of Colorado.  Yep, you guessed it, we get too far to the edge and it’s sunshine on my shoulders as I am standing around the throne of the Lamb.

What is your dream?  Today is our observation of All Saints Day.  The subject of death is prevalent, but it isn’t all sad even when we ponder . . .

“HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DIE?”

Apart from our dreams, death is more likely from cancer, as we have 2 million new cases a year in the U.S.  Or heart disease, the leading cause of death that affects every 1 in 13 Americans.  Death is inevitable, but for the Christian it is a going home.

John 5 is our text.  Jesus is in Jerusalem for one of the annual Jewish festivals.  He goes to a pool called Bethesda.  Half of the pool was used to wash the sheep for the temple sacrifice, the other half for people.  This was no ordinary pool of water.  Mysterious and at different times this pool would stir.  The people believed it had healing qualities, but only for a moment.  Because of this many of the ill and infirm would gather there.

When Jesus gets to the pool, he sees a man who has been coming for 38 years.  That’s 13,879 days!  He waited. He hoped.  He asked for help.  Nothing.  When Jesus asked, “Do you want to be healed?” (v. 6), the only thing he says is that no one can put him in the water.  But Jesus says, “Get up, take your bed, and walk.” (v. 8). And he does!

Jesus cared about this man’s physical well-being.  But that is not His only concern.  A short time later He sees the man in the temple.  Jesus says, “See, you are well again.  Stop sinning, or something worse may happen to you.” (v. 14). What does Jesus mean?

To understand what He meant, we must first understand what He didn’t mean.  He didn’t mean that some sin caused the man’s affliction.  Jesus is not saying that at all.  What Jesus is saying is that living with his physical ailment for 38 years has been difficult, what would be even worse is to have no hope of salvation in your life.  What is worse is to not know that God has unconditional love for you.  What is worse is to be eternally separated from the God who created you.  What is worse is to live without the forgiveness and peace God offers you by Jesus’ death and resurrection.  All of that would be worse.  Jesus’ point is that no matter what else may be going on in your life, physically or otherwise, to be spiritually infirmed would be worse.

Jesus addresses the man’s physical needs, but more importantly he addresses his spiritual needs.  One thing that is easy to skip over is the man’s response after Jesus asks if he wants to be healed.  If you lived with something for 38 years and were asked if you wanted to be healed, wouldn’t you respond “Yes, yes, alleluia!”  Don’t you think he asked for help all these years?  Only to be turned down.  Discouraged.  Depressed.  A man with no hope.

Jesus brought the man hope that day at the pool of Bethesda.  Healed him.  Breathed new life into him spiritually.  And why not?  God has created every one of us with body, mind, spirit.  Maybe you are suffering physically, or spiritually, or mentally.  Thinking about your death or what could be.  Trying to cling to hope, but having a tough time.  On this All Saints Day remember those who suffered before you.  The hope they had they are now living in heaven with the Hope-giver Jesus.  Jesus’ hope transcends all circumstances – spiritually, physically, and mentally.  

In Hebrews 2 we read:  “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things.” (v. 14). These words remind us that if anyone understands our physical well-being, our spiritual well-being, and our mental well-being, Jesus does.  Why?  Because He was one of us.  But not only was Jesus like us in His human nature; in His divine nature He also came to love us, to redeem us, to save us, to forgive us, to give us hope and an eternal future – spiritually, physically, and mentally.

The man healed went away and told others with joy.  Let us do the same.  Death for the Christian is just the beginning.  The hope that becomes reality with Jesus in heaven.

Amen.    

October 29, 2023 – Reformation                                                             Text:  Matthew 28:11-20

Dear Friends in Christ,

            We like to spout off about “follow the science” or “fake news” or “it’s a fact” because I heard it on Fox News or CNN or MSNBC.  We want others to adopt the reality we have decided upon.  Online profiles are distorted.  We have a penchant for replacing substance with shadows. 

            There was plenty of “fake news” in Martin Luther’s day.  His very first hymn was written and sung to cast light on the shadows of a lie being spread about the martyrdom of two young men for believing the Gospel, the first Lutheran martyrs.

            Five hundred years ago, on July 1, 2023, Heinrich Voes and Johann Esch were burned at the stake in Brussels, Belgium for refusing to deny the Gospel of the Reformation that we are saved from our sins by grace, through faith, for Christ’s sake alone.

            Shortly after their murder, the fake news began that they had denied their faith in their last moments.  In response, Luther turned to the most powerful media platform of the day.  He wrote a ballad praising these martyrs and upholding their confession of faith.  By late summer the song had gone viral, and it showed Luther the power of song to overcome the shadows of deception.  We just sang the verses as our sermon hymn.  They were printed in the TLH Red Hymnal of 1941 as Hymn #259. 

“SONGS AND SHADOWS”

            Fake news is dispelled easily as Luther shows in “A Mighty Fortress.”  He says of the devil that “one little word can fell him.”  And still we cling to his lies.

            What drives our dishonesty?  Why do we spin our sins like some Washington DC lobbyist?  Little white lies are ok.  Lust isn’t hurting anybody.  My self-centeredness is just self-care.  Does God really care what I am saying in a world boiling over with violence and hatred and rampant inhumanity?  I might be dismissive toward my family members, but I have a low carbon footprint.  I might neglect my spouse, but I volunteer a lot.  I have friends heading for hell and I am not sharing the Gospel with them, but I voted the right way in the last election.

            These shadows leave us in the dark and we spin sins as virtues.  We are okay because we are doing pretty good in most areas of life.  Our shadows leave us in desperation.

            God wants us to have life and have it to the full.  Those who burnt Heinrich and Johann were afraid of the Gospel.  They were fearful it would change their little world of lies.  They didn’t understand that the Gospel doesn’t change the world.  It changes the people in the world.  The world remains the same fallen place, even after Jesus’ resurrection.

            Jesus lets us know that our sins are real, and they must be atoned for.  They deserve death, and someone must die for them.  Christ takes the mantle, and He pays for them with his innocent life.  We remain sinners, but because Christ has redeemed us, we are also saints.  This is no made-up fantasy, it is our reality.  For this truth Heinrich and Johann were burned.  This is the truth that Luther wants us singing about.  This is the truth that sets of free from our spin doctoring.  In the long run, we are set free from damnation and eternal separation from God and His people.  Being set free puts us on a path to live new lives.

            We don’t have to pretend to be someone else to be at peace.  Christ allows us to be set free from the shackles and chains.  He gives us His forgiveness in the Word and Sacraments.

            God’s grace changes us.  We were dressed in this grace at our Baptism.  We hear this grace in the Pastor’s Absolution.  We taste this grace at Christ’s altar.  This is the faith that gives us hope and offers hope to the rest of the world.  We can’t help but sing when the news is this good.  We can’t help but tell the truth when it is so liberating.  One of the ways we can do this is by telling of the saints who have gone before us.  Men like Heinrich and Johann.

            The Psalms tell us of this truth and beauty.  They encourage our new song.  Here are just a few references:  Psalm 96, verse 1 – “Oh sing to the Lord a new song.”  Psalm 40, verse 3 – “He put a new song in my mouth.”  Psalm 144, verse 9 – “I will sing a new song to you, O God.”  The new song begun by Luther, sung forever by the saints in glory.

            Sinners, yes.  Saints, most certainly.  Everyone who has lived and died in the confession of the faith, made the same confession as Heinrich and Johann made unto death.  We are justified by grace through faith for Christ’s sake alone.  This strengthens our faith and trusts no fake news.  The love of Christ that replaces shadows with song.

                                                                                                            Amen.       

October 22, 2023   Text:  Isaiah 45:1-7

Dear Friends in Christ,

Rev. Daniel Schmidt was a missionary in southern Africa and when he was there the crime rate in South Africa was rising.  One Sunday morning in his sermon, a Pastor of the Free Evangelical Lutheran Synod encouraged parishioners to believe that God is in charge in spite of the daily experience of crime.  When he came out of worship, his pickup truck was gone.  Stolen.  He stood in that parking lot, silently struggling with God, that this could happen after he just preached on the subject.  But he had a second service to conduct at a neighboring congregation.  The organist gave him a ride.

On the way they passed a mobile speeding camera.  Several cars were pulled over.  As the organist slowed, the Pastor realized one of the trucks pulled over was his.  The thief had been stopped by the police.  God used a person of authority to return the Pastor’s property to him in a way that he had not expected.  Just imagine how he preached on the same theme in the second service!

In our text we see God using a person of authority, a king no less, to further His work and His kingdom.  A gentle reminder for us.  Even when things look there worst . . . 

“GOD OVERSEES HISTORY FOR HIS PURPOSE”

Evil must bow to God.  What do you think about that?  In our Old Testament Reading, God calls Cyrus, King of Persia, “his anointed” one:  “Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him and to loose the belts of kings, to open doors before him that gates may not be closed.” (v. 1). The shocker here.  Cyrus is a pagan.  He has no faith in God.  He will come to rule over God’s people only because he is a conqueror.  Twice in our text it says Cyrus does not know God.  Yet God says, “I call you by name, I name you.” (v. 4b).  Cyrus is even called by God “anointed.”  Guess who else was called that?  The Messiah – Christ.  Pagan Cyrus sharing the same title as Jesus!?

What is the Lord going to allow Cyrus to do?  He is going to conquer foreign powers – even mighty Babylon.  He will collect the wealth of his enemies.  And so it happened.  History records that the Persian empire conquered lands with unprecedented speed and ease.

What is God doing here?  Why is He allowing these evil unbelievers to have such success?  Don’t we ask ourselves the same thing?  Why do oppressive governments prosper?  Why are terrorists allowed to attack?  Why does our government permit evil in the streets?

Closer to home, we might wonder why schools can get away with politically correct nonsense.  Why does our job require sensitivity training?  Why do our friends or family think that some of this evil is good?  God what are you doing?  Wake up!

Cyrus did lead the Persians to defeat Babylon.  For what reason did God direct this history?  We read in verse 4:  “For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen.”  Jehovah pours out his grace upon his chosen Israel through this conquest and through an unholy nation that does not acknowledge the one, true God.  How did He use this conquest?  After seventy years of Babylonian captivity, the fall of Babylon destroys the captors.  After Cyrus’s greatest victory, one of his earliest decrees is that the Jews can go home.  God uses Cyrus to return his chosen back to their homes and worship.

Throughout Scriptures there are examples like this.  Judas who betrayed Jesus.  Caiaphas who sent Jesus to Pontius Pilate with false charges.  The crowd that called for Jesus’ crucifixion.  The Roman soldiers who mocked him, beat him, and nailed him to a cross.  Look what evil can do.  It looks like God is not in control, that evil is stopping God’s intentions.

That is, until you hear the words of Jesus who calls out to His Father to forgive them.  Then you marvel at how the Father chose to forsake his Son for us.  You marvel even more that this Son would be punished in your place so that the evil in you could be forgiven.  Do you see that even the evil in you must bow?  When evil bows down, the righteousness of God is yours.  Isaiah writes, “I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the Lord, who does all these things.” (v. 7)

May you rest in knowing God oversees history for His purpose.  I serve on the Church Extension Board for the district.  We decide on loans for churches and schools.  Do you know what we are seeing more and more of?  Requests for loans for Christian schools.  You always hear me say this, “actions have consequences.”  If our public schools want to continue to push an agenda contrary to God’s Word, then the God of Isaiah, who used a pagan Cyrus for His purpose, is going to open more doors for our young people to be exposed to Christ and his teaching.  It’s that simple.  The God of history is awake.

Amen.

October 15, 2023 – LWML Sunday Text:  Psalm 24:7-10

Dear Friends in Christ,

Who in this sanctuary would like to be lifted up?  OK then.  Please follow me and we will get on the elevator!  That makes no sense because I won’t even get on the church elevator.  So, let’s try this.  Let’s be lifted up together by the Word of God.

Our text from Psalm 24 reminds us that we can be lifted up by the King of glory.  We celebrate LWML Sunday and we are blessed to hear that we are . . .

“LIFTED UP BY THE KING OF GLORY”

You hear the words “Lift up your heads, O gates.”  Now that could refer to gates being lifted up, but normally in the Bible lifting up is about lifting up your spirits.  Lifting up in hope.  Lifting up in joy.  Lifting up in anticipation.  “Lift up your heads, O gates…that the King of glory may come in.”  The hope, the joy, the anticipation is that the Lord of glory will come in:  “Lift up your heads, O gates!  And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.  Who is this King of glory?  The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle!  Lift up your heads, O gates!  And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of Glory may come in.  Who is this King of glory?  The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory!” (vs. 7-10)  Hope and joy erupt when the King of glory will enter into that heavenly home, that glorious place of God’s almighty presence.

But that leads to a question:  “When did he leave?”  When did the Lord of glory leave that glorious home?  The answer is Christmas.  From heaven above to earth below came Jesus.  He left heaven’s glory to become one of us.  You know the word Immanuel – God with us.

We want to be lifted up.  We want God with us.  We can get mighty low at times.  Broken relationships.  Broken families.  Broken government.  Our health problems that drag us down.  The continued wars and diseases and poverty and parts of our world seeming to live with no hope.  Spirits sag.  Attitudes are left wanting.  Faith flickers.

Lift up your heads.  Our sermon hymn says it this way, “Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates!  Behold the King of glory waits.  The King of kings is drawing near; The Savior of the world is here.  Life and salvation He doth bring.”

Jesus with his hands, heals those who are broken.  With his heart, He welcomes those who have been left out or damaged, those who seemingly have no hope.  With his words, He forgives those who have done wrong with their hands, hearts, and words. 

A dark day comes.  Jesus hanging on a cross.  In his darkness, swirling about Him are the unclean things our hands have done; whatever impure desires, thoughts, and motivations have come from our hearts; whatever hurtful words left our lips.  Everything that would keep us from entering God’s almighty presence is there, on Jesus.  And God shuts his heavenly gates on Him as Jesus cries out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  It is called Good Friday, for on that cross, Jesus gives us forgiveness along with His righteousness and salvation.

Then, on Easter morning, the doors open up again.  A stone is rolled away.  Jesus is alive.  Forty days later, the heavens open again.  This time Jesus is ascending into heaven.  The disciples are looking up as Jesus rises from their sight.  What is happening here?  Jesus is entering into His holy place.  Lift up your heads, and the disciples are looking up with hope and joy and anticipation.  The Lord of glory is entering His heavenly home once again.  And why?  Jesus entered the gates of heaven to give us righteousness and salvation so that we, too, will one day enter His holy gates.

As the Lord lifts us, we can then be lifters for Jesus.  The mission of the LWML is all about lifting up.  They lift the church up in prayer.  They lift the church up in the giving of their mites.  They lift seminarians who need help getting through school.  They lift up pregnancy centers who provide support to fathers and mothers.  They lift up missionaries as they provide resources for a chapel or a school or bibles or Sunday School materials.  They lift up the blind and the lame and the weak.  They lift up the cold soul who needs a quilt.  They lift up the child who needs school supplies.  I invite you to go to their website lwml.org and look at all their mission projects.  The King of Glory is shining through their work.

We share in the mission.  Opportunities are in our church and district and synod.  Get a mite box and lift a weary soul today.  Share the Gospel in your corner of the world so that the downtrodden will know of Christ, God’s coming King of glory.  He provides redemption and everlasting life.  It is what men, women, and children need . . . TO BE LIFTED UP BY THE KING OF GLORY!

Amen.