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Hosanna on Earth and in Heaven

11/29/2021

Giotto, "Entry into Jerusalem," 1266-1337. Public Domain.

Advent 1 (Ad Te Levavi)
Matthew 21:1-9
Pastor James Preus
Trinity Lutheran Church
November 28, 2021

“Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the Highest!”

These words shouted by the crowds in Jerusalem are a paraphrase from Psalm 118. Psalm 118, along with all the Psalms and the entire Old Testament were inspired by God the Holy Spirit. They are words prepared in heaven for us creatures here on earth. And these words, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” who is on earth, and “Hosanna in the Highest,” sound similar to another familiar hymn of praise, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (Luke 2:14) These words, of course, were proclaimed by the angels to the shepherds at the announcement of Jesus’ birth. In fact, St. Luke even records people in this same crowd welcoming Jesus as he comes into Jerusalem on a donkey saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” (Luke 19:38) So, the crowd not only paraphrases God’s Word from Psalm 118, but they paraphrase the words of the angels at Jesus’ birth! Perhaps, they heard them from the Bethlehemite Shepherds, who were watching their sheep just a few miles away from Jerusalem some thirty-three years earlier. Perhaps the elderly shepherds were even in the crowd!

Regardless, what we have here in Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem is a crowd of faithful people proclaiming words prepared for them by God in heaven, spoken to a man, who himself has come to them from God’s heavenly throne!

Yet, let’s examine these words. “Hosanna to the Son of David! Hosanna in the Highest!” The word “hosanna” is Hebrew for “save us now.” Son of David is a title given to the Christ, the anointed Savior sent by God, as prophesied by numerous prophets (2 Samuel 7:12-16) including Isaiah (11:1) and Jeremiah (23:5). So, the crowd is crying to Jesus to save them. And they are calling Jesus the Christ, the Son of David. The Son of David is on earth, born to a woman, born under the Law. They can see him riding on a donkey. They are also crying, “Hosanna in the Highest!” “In the Highest” refers to God’s holy throne in heaven. How is it that they are crying, hosanna, both to him who is on earth, riding on a donkey, descended from King David; and they are crying, hosanna, to him who is in the highest, enthroned above, surrounded by cherubim and seraphim?  Are they crying hosanna to two different persons? No. They are crying hosanna to the one and only Christ, who has become man, and dwelt with people here on earth, even as he remains in heaven.

These words, “Hosanna to the Son of David” and “Hosanna in the Highest,” teach us about the personal union of Christ. Christ is both God and man, yet he remains one Christ. We Christians confess this. He is God from eternity, begotten of the Father before all worlds. He is man in time and place, born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem over two thousand years ago. Yet, it is important for us to understand that when Christ became incarnate, that is, when Christ became a man, he remained God. We might use the phrase, “He left his throne on high,” and many of our hymns will use such language. But such language is only used to emphasize Christ’s humility to save us. Yet, in fact, when Christ Jesus was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger by his virgin mother, he remained enthroned in heaven, because he never ceases to rule the universe. The Christmas Hymn, A Great and Mighty Wonder, written by St. Germanus in the seventh century articulates this well, “The Word becomes incarnate And yet remains on high.”

This seems impossible, and for our human minds it is. How can Christ remain one, yet be in more than one place? How can he be held in his mother’s arms, yet hold in his hands the sun, moon, and stars? How can he be dependent at his mother’s breast while feeding all living creatures on earth? How can he hang dying on a cross and be laid dead in a tomb, even while keeping alive every creature he created? I do not know. Yet Scripture clearly teaches this. And God made sure that his faithful proclaimed it on this Sunday in Jerusalem, before Christ was crucified for all sins.

Yet, this teaching is necessary for our salvation. “Hosanna to the Son of David.” Save us, Son of David, you who are on earth! Our salvation must be on this earth, because we are on this earth. Our sins are on this earth. Our flesh and blood and stained souls have incurred the judgment for our sins on this earth. Christ must bring his salvation to this earth and die for us, if we are to be saved! The Law of God, which was laid down on earth, must be fulfilled. The sins of the world, which were committed here on earth, must be atoned for. We poor sinners, who dwell on this land need a Savior to come to us. “Hosanna to the Son of David!”

Yet, an earthly savior will not suffice. “Hosanna in the highest!” Our salvation must also be in heaven. Not any man born of woman can save us. No man born of woman can save us, except he who was first born from above from eternity. For, while our sin indeed is committed here on earth, our judgment is not determined here on earth. Your father and mother are not your final judge. Neither are your friends or co-workers or neighbors or classmates. No one on this earth can declare you innocent of all sins. No, your judge is in heaven. He sits on the throne of God in the highest. God alone can declare you innocent of all sins. God alone can accept atonement for your guilt. God alone can forgive you. God alone can save you. Our Savior and salvation must be in heaven!

So, the crowd rightly shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Hosanna in the highest!”, because they rightly needed saving here on earth, and they rightly needed saving in the highest heaven. And they rightly confessed Jesus Christ to be the Savior on earth and in heaven.

Christ Jesus is the promised Son of David, who fulfilled God’s Law for us and died in our stead. The wrath of God against all your sins were laid on Jesus as he suffered for you on the cross. Yet, that man on the cross is also the Lord of heaven. We see him anguish on the cross, yet we cannot see or fathom the great price he pays with his spiritual sacrifice, which reaches up to heaven. Yet, we know that he who sits in the highest heavens is satisfied. The stench of our sins no longer reaches him. Rather, the pleasing aroma of Christ, his beloved Son fills the heaven of heavens (Ephesians 5:2). He who sits in the highest throne in the highest heavens has paid for your sins. He who declares you innocent of all sins is enthroned in heaven. And he sits on a donkey riding through Jerusalem.

Today we begin our observance of Advent. Advent is the season of preparation before Christmas, that wonderful festival, where we celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ in human flesh. This was his first advent, his first arrival. Yet, after Christ fulfilled his course on this earth, having won for us salvation, he departed this earth and ascended to his throne in heaven, where he sits in glory waiting to judge the living and the dead. Advent is not so much a season preparing us simply to celebrate Jesus’ first advent at Christmas, but rather to prepare our hearts for Jesus’ second advent, when he will come to judge the living and the dead. He will pronounce judgment on every human. Some will be damned to hell. Those who are faithful to Christ Jesus will be welcomed into eternal life with him.

Yet, while we wait for Christ’s second advent, we must remember the words, “Hosanna to the Son of David; Hosanna in the Highest!” Our salvation is indeed in heaven. Christ intercedes for us today before God the Father, pleading for our innocence and salvation. Yet, although Christ departed physically from this world, he still remains with us today, as surely as he said, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

When Jesus was on this earth, walking around Israel with his disciples, riding on a donkey into Jerusalem, standing before Pontius Pilate, rising from the dead; he was present also in heaven, but under a different mode. By mode, we simply mean that he was present in a different way, although we cannot explain it. For example, Jesus is locally in heaven. That is where his body has ascended. Yet, we confess according to Jesus’ words, that his body and blood are present in the Lord’s Supper under the forms of bread and wine. We call this presence his sacramental presence. Sacramental simply means mysterious. That is, we confess Jesus’ body and blood to be there, but we do not know how it can be there. We simply confess that God is able to do far more than we can either ask or think. All things are possible with God.

And so, it is possible for Christ to be at the Father’s right hand in heaven, and for him to be with his Church here on earth, not only in his sacramental presence in the Supper, but he is present with us at all times, especially where his Gospel is proclaimed and where his faithful Christians gather to hear his Word. We prepare our hearts to receive Christ at his second advent of glory, by receiving him now in faith as he comes to us with his grace through his Word and Sacraments. The Savior, who came to his people lowly on a donkey, and who will come again in glory on the clouds of heaven, comes to us to day through his promise of forgiveness and salvation.

This is why we continue to use those words here on earth, which were prepared for us in heaven: The words of the angels, “Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men,” which we sing most Sundays of the Church Year; and the words God gave to all believers on earth, “Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest! Blessed is he, blessed is he, blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord! Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest!”  We proclaim these words with the utmost sincerity. Christ our Savior comes to save us today. He who sits in the highest comes to us here on earth, the Son of David who died for us. When the pastor proclaims the Gospel, Jesus comes to us. When we eat the Sacrament, we commune with him who is in heaven. Showered by the means of grace, this church becomes heaven on earth as with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify the glorious name of our God. Our Savior is with us today, even as he is in heaven. And through faith in his name, we too will join him in celestial peace. Let us pray,
Come, then, O Lord Jesus,
From our sins release us.
Keep our hearts believing,
That we, grace receiving,
Ever may confess You
Till in heaven we bless You. Amen.

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Be Watchful

11/29/2021

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"The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins," William Blake, 1799-1800. Public Domain.

Last Sunday of the Church Year (Trinity 27)
Matthew 25:1-13
Pastor James Preus
Trinity Lutheran Church
November 21, 2021

After Jesus ascended into heaven, and Jesus’ disciples were still gazing into the sky where he departed, two angels appeared and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11) And from that moment on, the holy Christian Church on earth has been waiting with great anticipation for the return of our Lord Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead. This will be a joyful event. We will love his appearing (2 Tim. 4:8). He comes with redemption (Luke 21:28). He does not come to deal with us according to our sins, but to save those who eagerly wait for him (Hebrews 9:28).

In our parable today, the Bridegroom is Jesus Christ. The ten virgins are the holy Christian Church on earth. They are going out to meet the Bridegroom. This means that they have separated themselves from the unbelieving world. Through their worship, Baptism, services, devotion, and conduct, they have distinguished themselves from the non-Christians as they wait the return of the Bridegroom. Christ, the Bridegroom, has won their salvation with his bitter suffering and death. He has gone to prepare a place for them. The virgins expect him to return at any moment.

But Jesus tells us that half of the virgins are wise and the other half foolish. This tells us that even within the holy Christian Church on earth there are true believers and false hypocrites. There are those who persist until the end, and there are those who grow weary of waiting, grow unprepared, and ultimately are unready for Christ’s return. The wise virgins who made sure they had enough oil for their lamps were let in. The foolish virgins, who brought lamps with no oil were locked out.

All ten virgins fall asleep. This teaches us that no one knows when Jesus will return, not even the true believers. So, all Christians must be ready at all times for Christ’s return. We should live every day as if it is our last day before Christ’s return.

The five wise virgins fell asleep along with the five foolish. Even true Christians get busy with earthly things. Although being a Christian separates us from the unbelieving world, we are not called out of this world yet. We still have our earthly vocations. We’re fathers and mothers, sons and daughters. We must provide for our families, nurture and raise our children, make sure stomachs are full and bodies clothed. Yet, wise Christians do not place earthly things above Christ and his Word. They do not let their oil run out, even as they sleep. Their sleep is a restless sleep, frequently waking to check their lamps. It is one thing to attend to your earthly duties in this life, while maintaining faith in Christ. It is quite another thing to devote yourself solely to worldly things and to forsake Christ’s Word and run out of faith.

It was wrong even for the wise virgins to fall asleep, but the Lord does not rebuke them for their slumber. He comes with mercy and compassion. He has come to bring them into his wedding hall to celebrate. This is why he has sent his preachers to announce his coming, so that the virgins awake. What was much more important, was that they still had oil. The Lord harshly rebukes the foolish virgins for letting their oil run out, even saying, “I do not know you.”

The lamps are their faith. Faith alone saves, as Scripture clearly teaches (John 3:16; Mark 16:16; Romans 3:23-28; Ephesians 2:8-10; etc.). Yet, not all faith saves. Only that faith which trusts in Jesus Christ, who alone has made satisfaction for our sins. Lamps are no good without oil. They need something to burn. Faith is no good without Jesus Christ and his promise of salvation.

The oil is Christ’s Word and Holy Spirit. It is through Christ’s Word and Sacraments alone that the Holy Spirit works. Faith comes by hearing and hearing through the Word of Christ. Christ alone has won for us salvation. He has done everything. He obeyed the Law perfectly in our stead. He suffered and died for our sins. He rose again from the dead and is seated at God the Father’s right hand, pleading for our innocence by the merits of his own suffering and death for us. And the Father cannot deny his Son. Everything rests on Jesus and on Jesus alone. This is why only faith can save. Faith simply receives the promise. This is why Christ’s Word is the oil. Christ promises us salvation by his own merits. We believe the promise and are saved. This is why the Sacraments are the oil. The Sacraments have their power in Christ’s Word and promise. Baptism saves, because Jesus says it does (Mark 16:16). The Lord’s Supper gives you forgiveness of sins, because Jesus says it does (Matthew 26:26-28). The Absolution spoken by the pastor forgives all your sins before God in heaven, because Jesus promised it does (John 20:23). This is why the Holy Spirit is the oil. The Holy Spirit works through Jesus’ Word and Sacraments. It is the Holy Spirit who creates faith in our hearts and keeps us in the true faith. He does this by means of Christ’s Holy Word.

There are those who claim that the Holy Spirit comes to us apart from Jesus’ Word. They think that they can have faith in Christ without hearing God’s Word preached or receiving Jesus’ Sacraments. They disagree with Jesus. The Holy Spirit only works faith through Christ’s Word. Without God’s Word, faith cannot exist. It dies. This is why our Lutheran Confessions assert in Augsburg Confession Article V, “Our churches condemn the Anabaptists and others who think that through their own preparations and works the Holy Spirit comes to them without the external Word.” Our churches condemn not the persons, but the teaching that the Holy Spirit works without Christ’s Word, because this devilish teaching robs poor sinners of the true Gospel, which saves.

This is why it is so dangerous to skip church and go long periods of time without hearing God’s Word preached or receiving the Sacrament. We cannot by our own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ our Lord or come to him, but the Holy Spirit calls us by the Gospel. Without the Gospel, the Holy Spirit does not call us or sanctify us. The claim that you don’t have to go to church to be a Christian is a lie Satan has been repeating in the ears of Christians for generations. It’s absurd on its face. I know that this is offensive to many, because this is such a popular phrase, but we have to get to the root of Satan’s lie. What is his goal? His goal is for you to not hear God’s Word! Obviously going to a church building doesn’t make one a Christian, but hearing Jesus’ Word does! You go to church to hear Jesus’ Word. Christians listen to Jesus’ Word. Of course, you need to go to church to be a Christian, that is, you need to hear Jesus’ Word. You need oil for your lamp, otherwise it will burn out. And those who cannot physically come to the church building because of sickness or old age still need to hear God’s Word. That is why pastors visit their sick and elderly members, so that they can replenish their lamps with needed oil. Those who say you don’t need to go to church to be a Christian are saying that you don’t need oil in your lamps. It’s foolishness.

The foolish virgins had lamps with no oil. They looked like Christians, but they did not hold in their faith the saving Gospel. They either got caught up with the cares of this world and neglected to hear God’s preaching and receive the Sacrament for long periods of time, thinking, “Oh, I know it. My faith is still good.”, until their lamps are dry and the flame has gone out. Or, they hear the preaching of God’s Word and receive the Sacrament, but they pay no attention to it. They refuse to learn from it. They don’t take it to heart. They grow lackadaisical toward Jesus’ teaching. They grow bitter toward their fellow Christians and their love for others grows cold.  In short, they have no faith in the content of what Christ preaches. They let the oil spill out and don’t put any in their lamps.

It is the oil that gives us confidence that Jesus comes to us with love and mercy. It is the content of our lamps, which gives us confidence that Jesus comes with salvation. St. Paul says in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 that God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain mercy through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep, we might live with him. This is what the oil is. God’s promise of mercy and love. The Holy Spirit works through the message of God’s love and forgiveness through Christ Jesus. Filling your lamps with oil is only burdensome, if you think that Jesus’ love and forgiveness is burdensome, that your sins are not a pressing issue, that God’s judgment is not something to fear. This oil is given to us freely and liberally. It is the message of Jesus’ work of salvation for you. If Jesus willingly went to the cross to die for your sins, why would he hate you? Why would he desire to return to damn you? The oil tells you that you have a loving God and Savior in Jesus Christ.

The Bridegroom told the foolish virgins, who didn’t bother to fill their flasks with oil, that he did not know them. He did not know them, because they would not know him. They didn’t value the oil. They weren’t comforted by the flame of faith that came from their lamps. They spurned the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They would not listen to Jesus’ teaching, or at least, would not take it to heart. They didn’t trust in Jesus’ promise of forgiveness won by his blood. They looked like Christians. They were members of Christian parishes. They even showed up to church, some of them, quite often. But they spilled out the oil, lest it be stored in their heart and burn brightly in anticipation for the Lord’s coming.

The wise virgins were welcomed into the wedding hall. The Bridegroom knows them. They know the Bridegroom. They delighted in his oil. They were comforted by his promise that he would welcome them; that he had paid all their debts. They were filled with the Holy Spirit.

What I speak to you now is the precious oil, which keeps your lamps burning, so that you are prepared for the return of Christ. Jesus Christ, our God and brother, died for all your sins. He is risen, and reigns with God the Father in heaven. He will return to bring those who trust in him to salvation. The Sacrament of Baptism is the oil. It assures us that our sins are washed away and that we are God’s children now. The Sacrament we prepare our hearts to receive is the oil. It declares that Jesus gave up his body and shed his blood for your forgiveness and salvation. The Holy Spirit himself works through the Word and Sacraments, to open your hearts to this promise. If you trust in this Gospel, you are prepared for the return of Christ, whether he comes by night or day, today or tomorrow. If you trust in this Gospel, you are prepared whether death takes you tonight or fifty years from now.

Jesus tells us to be watchful, for we know neither the day nor the hour. We are watchful when we hear and take to heart the Gospel of Christ. Then our flasks are full of oil. Then our lamps are burning brightly. Then we will arise with joy when our Savior finally appears. Amen.

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Saving Faith

11/15/2021

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Gabriel Max, "La Résurrection de la fille de Jaïre," 1878. Public Domain.

Trinity 24
Matthew 9:18-26
Pastor James Preus
Trinity Lutheran Church
November 14, 2021

Our Gospel lesson for today teaches us three things about saving faith.

First, saving faith trusts in Christ Jesus alone. Faith is often generalized as a belief, hope, or trust that is in a person. But what that person believes, hopes, or trusts in is often ignored. Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Mormons, and Christians are frequently grouped together as “people of faith.” People commonly take great pride in their faith, as if it is a quality in their heart, that they will persevere and not give up. They will hope against hope. But faith does you no good if it does not trust, hope, and believe in Jesus Christ. Unless your hope is in Christ Jesus alone, then your faith is not saving faith.

The woman with the flow of blood for twelve years believed, trusted, and hoped in Jesus. This is why Jesus said, “Take heart, daughter, your faith has made you well.” The woman clearly had faith in others before this. St. Mark’s and St. Luke’s Gospels also tell this story with additional details. They tell us that the woman had suffered much from other physicians seeking a cure, even spent all her money on these physicians. But the doctors were not able to heal her. This woman must have had faith in these doctors. She must have hoped in them and trusted in them, otherwise she would not have spent all her livelihood on their treatments. But their treatments failed. Her faith was wrongly placed. It was only when she placed her faith in Christ that her illness was taken away.

Everyone has faith in something. Some trust in some false deity. Others trust in science. And others trust in money, power, and even themselves. These are all false faiths. Money fails. Human power is a façade. Science is limited by our finite minds and propensity toward error. And trusting in yourself above all else is delusional. Christ alone offers forgiveness, life, and salvation. The woman had heard Jesus’ preaching of love and forgiveness. She knew that he displayed the love of God. She knew he was able to heal her, because he had healed so many others before her. Her faith led her to reach out to Jesus. And her faith saved her.

We learn from St. Mark and St. Luke that the name of this ruler with a dead daughter was Jairus. In Mark’s and Luke’s account, Jairus does not tell Jesus that his daughter is dead, but that she is near death. It isn’t until after Jesus begins to follow Jairus that a messenger arrives to report that his daughter had already died, so don’t trouble the teacher anymore. Yet Jesus, hearing this, responds, “Do not be afraid. Only believe and your daughter will be well.” St. Matthew condenses this story, and only tells us that Jairus told Jesus that his daughter had just died, and confessed that that if Jesus only laid his hands on her, she would live. Here, Matthew gives us Jairus’s response to Jesus’ words, “Only believe.” Jairus believes Jesus’ words that his daughter will rise again. He tells Jesus only to lay his hands on her, and she will live. This is what saving faith does. It does not obey the messenger who says that his daughter is dead, so stop bothering Jesus. Faith clings to Jesus’ words and trusts that he has power even over death.

Second, this Gospel lesson teaches us that through faith, Christ receives us as we are. The woman with the discharge of blood would have been ceremonially unclean. This means that she was not only sick for many years, with great discomfort and anxiety over her own life, but she was excluded from corporate worship. She could not eat the Passover or partake in any sacrifice. Anyone she touched would be unclean. Her condition made her unacceptable. Yet, Jesus accepts her. Jesus does not rebuke her for touching his cloak while she was unclean. He tells her to take heart, and that her faith has saved her.

This teaches us something very important about saving faith. Faith is not something you acquire after preparing yourself. If you had to prepare yourself to be accepted by Jesus, you would never be accepted. You could never trust that you had done enough to come before God’s presence. Yet, saving faith does not tell you to wait until you are worthy to come to Jesus for healing. Saving faith draws you to ask Jesus for forgiveness and salvation while you are a sinner, when you are unclean and unworthy. The woman was unworthy, but through faith in Christ, she was received as she was. This is because Jesus accepts unclean people, tax-collectors, sinners, adulterers, Samaritan women and Gentiles. Through faith alone, Jesus receives them as his own.

Yet, there is a difference between Jesus accepting you as you are and Jesus affirming you in how you are. Some emphasize that Jesus accepts us as we are, but they take this to mean that Jesus leaves us as we are, that he does not change us. But that is not true. Jesus indeed receives sinners, adulterers, slanderers, murderers, thieves, homosexuals, liars, revilers, and every type of sinner there is. But Jesus does not affirm them in their sins or encourage them to stay in their sin. Rather, Jesus tells sinners to repent and sin no more. Jesus forgives our sins, and changes our hearts, so that we fall away from our sins and grow closer to him. Jesus loves us as we are, as dirty, unclean sinners. But he does not leave us as we are. Jesus washes us clean of our sins, sanctifies us, and strengthens us through the Holy Spirit and by his holy Word, so that we grow in mature faith and produce good works.
The woman suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years. Mark and Luke tell us that the little girl was twelve years old when she died. This indicates that our whole lives we are victims of death. From the moment of our conception, we live under the tyranny of death. We are incapable of healing ourselves or preventing our own deaths. This is because we are corrupted by sin, and we cannot forgive ourselves or remove our sin from us. Yet, Jesus accepts us as we are. He receives us in our uncleanness. Saving faith depends on this, because saving faith does not depend on your ability to restore yourself, but Christ’s ability and willingness to restore you to perfect health, righteousness, and life.

Third, this Gospel lesson teaches us that through saving faith, we do not call things as we see them, but we call them as Jesus calls them. Jairus arrived at his home to the commotion of wailing and dirges being played on flutes. His own wife’s bawling was likely drowned out by the cacophony of the crowd, so that he could only focus on the anguish in her face as tears flooded out of her eyes and grief distorted her otherwise lovely face. He was told not to bring Jesus. It was too late. He then hears Jesus say to the crowd, “Go away. The little girl is not dead, but only sleeping.” The crowd laughed Jesus to scorn. They thought he was crazy. They themselves had seen the girl’s corpse. How could this man, who just arrived assert that the girl was only asleep? But Jairus consented to Jesus driving these mourners away. He trusted in Jesus. Jairus did not believe the report of the eye witnesses that said that his daughter was dead. He did not believe the tears of his dear wife. He didn’t even believe his own eyes as he looked upon the lifeless corpse of his little daughter on her bed. Jairus did not believe what he saw, but he believed what Jesus said. His sweet little girl was only sleeping. She was taking a nap. Jesus had come to waken her. This is what Jesus said, so he believed it.

This is what saving faith does. Everyone can see that water is plain water, and while it is very useful for washing off dirt and quenching bodily thirst, it cannot be used to remove sins and give eternal life. Yet, Jesus says that whoever believes and is Baptized will be saved (Mark 16:16). Jesus sanctified his Church by washing her with water and the word (Ephesians 5:26). Baptism saves by appealing to God for a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 3:21). So, we listen to Jesus and do not call Baptism just plain water, but a washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit, which works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe.

Anyone can plainly see that bread and wine are just bread and wine, which give limited nutrients to the body and are expelled. Yet, our Lord Jesus says, “This is my body; This is my blood, shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” So, we believe that the bread and wine our eyes see are Jesus’ true body and blood for the forgiveness of our sins. Who doesn’t know that a man is just a man, and that a man cannot forgive your sins before God or grant you everlasting life? Yet, Jesus says to his Church, “Whosoever sins you forgive, they are forgiven. Whosoever sins you retain, they are retained.” (John 20:23) So, we trust that the absolution spoken by the pastor is a voice from heaven, declaring pardon of sins and eternal life.

This is what saving faith does. It trusts in what Jesus says even above what we see for ourselves. We see that we are dying. We see that we are sinners. We see our loved ones dead and buried. But in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we hear that though we die, we will live; that though our sins are as scarlet, they shall be white as snow. And our loved ones who have died in Christ are only sleeping, waiting to be raised.

I cannot fathom a more dreaded sight than the death of one of my children. That is a parent’s worst nightmare. I acknowledge that I will someday endure the death of my parents, and perhaps even the death of my wife, but God forbid my eyes ever behold the death of one of my children. Yet, children do die. Even if we outlive them, they still die eventually. How I wish that we were as fortunate as Jairus, that we could simply walk over to a man and ask him to lay his hand on our child, and know that the child would live, even if she has already died! How fortunate Jairus was. How fortunate that woman with the discharge of blood! Even now at a time of medical advancement beyond any in history, it doesn’t compare to the power of Jesus to heal any disease and even to raise the dead.

Yet, we are so fortunate. We do have Him to Whom we may bring our children, and they will live. Today, we have Him, who lays his hands on our children, so that even if they die, their death is but a nap, a peaceful sleep waiting for the resurrection to eternal life. We have Jesus today in his Word and Sacraments! Parents have no greater duty and joy than to bring their children to Jesus; to teach the Gospel at home and to bring their children to church; to be the baptized, to prepare them for the Sacrament, and bring them to hear Jesus’ preaching. These are the words of eternal life. These are Jesus’ words, which turn death into sleep.

Only an abusive parent would purposefully neglect to give his child food, water, and clothing. A loving parent will search diligently for a cure if his child is sick. Here we have food that does not perish, but gives everlasting life; clothing that covers even the stain of sin; medicine that makes one live forever. May God grant all parents the faith of Jairus, that they may bring their children to Jesus, so that they may overcome death forever.

Amen.

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Blessed are the Saints in the Midst of Battle

11/8/2021

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Gustave Dore, "The Israelites Slaughter the Syrians," 1866. Public Domain.

All Saints Day (Observed)
Revelation 7:9-17; 1 John 3:1-3; Matthew 5:1-12
Pastor James Preus
Trinity Lutheran Church
November 7, 2021

“Let not him who straps on his armor boast himself as he who takes it off.”, so wisely spoke the otherwise foolish King Ahab of Israel to King Ben-hadad of Syria after the latter boasted in the power of his army to defeat Ahab (1 Kings 20:11). The one who straps on his armor has not fought the battle yet. The one who takes his armor off has already won the battle. To boast before you have won is foolish. Had Ben-hadad listened to Ahab’s advice, he would not have gotten drunk with his allies while Ahab was marching with his army to battle. Ahab’s words proved wise when the LORD granted him victory over Ben-hadad and his mighty armies.

Yet, we the Church Militant celebrate All Saints Day by boasting in our victory over sin, death, and Satan even as we are on the battlefield! We heard from Revelation 7, how we will be before the throne of God worshipping him, while being free from every trouble. 1 John 3 states that we are God’s children now. And in our Gospel lesson, Jesus calls us blessed, even as we are poor in spirit, as we mourn, in our humility, as we hunger and thirst for righteousness, as we forgive those who sin against us, as we hold fast to the pure doctrine maligned by so many, as we seek reconciliation with our enemies, and as we are lied about, mocked, scorned, and persecuted for our faith in Jesus. Even in the heat of battle, we saints on earth boast in our victory with the saints in heaven!

Well, if it is foolish to boast yourself as you strap on your armor, is it not foolish for us to boast in our victory even as the fiery darts of Satan assail us from every direction? No! We should boast in our victory, because the battle has been won. Christ Jesus won it. On the cross, after he had paid the debt for all our sins, our dear Lord Jesus proclaimed, “It is finished!” What is finished? The atonement for our sins! The work needed to be done to win our way into heaven. The ancient serpent’s head was crushed when the bruised-heeled Jesus died on the cross. And the Apostle Paul teaches us to boast, “Thanks be to God, who has given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.!” (1 Corinthians 15:57)

So, we will boast in our Baptism, which clothes us in Christ Jesus and washes away our sins. “Satan hear this proclamation: I am baptized into Christ! Drop your ugly accusation, I am not so soon enticed. Now that to the font I’ve traveled, All your might has come unraveled, And, against your tyranny, God, my Lord, unites with me!” (LSB 594:3, God’s Own Child, I Gladly Say It) We boast in the absolution, where we conquer Satan, the ancient dragon with the blood of the Lamb (Revelation 12:11). We boast in the Gospel of Christ, which tell us that we are God’s children now, despite the accusations of Satan, and the persecution of the world.

Faith compels us to boast in this way, because faith does not trust in you, but in Christ. Christ has won the battle. He is risen. He is ascended. He is seated at the right hand of God the Father. He has made propitiation for our sins. We are saved now by grace through faith in Christ Jesus. We must not doubt this or else we doubt Christ Jesus and make shipwreck our faith! We the Church Militant on earth must boast in Christ’s victory for us with the Church Triumphant in heaven, because we are one Church. And Christ has given his victory to his Church.

Yet, you must not take your armor off! The Church Militant is the Holy Christian Church on earth. It is called the Church Militant, because it is at war. Christians on earth must battle the attacks of the devil, who wants to destroy our faith and send us to hell. Christians on earth must battle persecution by the world, which hates Christ for having greater glory than it. Christians must even battle their own sinful flesh, which constantly wants to give up in the battle and join the world for temporary peace. The Church Triumphant is the Holy Christian Church in heaven. Those are they who have come out of the great tribulation. They have been granted a Christian death. They are before the throne of God and neither hunger, thirst, nor weep. They are sheltered by Christ and know sin no more.

Yet, there is only one Church. The Church Militant and the Church Triumphant are both members of the one Holy Christian Church. To this Church, Christ has given victory over sin, death, and hell. This is why we must rejoice with the Church Triumphant. Their victory is our victory. But we must not forget that we are still in the battle. The battle is the LORD’s! His victory is certain. And our victory is certain only if we remain with him.

Our enemy does not fight with swords, or guns, or missiles. He is spirit. He uses words, thoughts, the inclination of our hearts, and the pressures of the world. Satan is our wily foe. He knows our weaknesses. He knows what temptations you struggle with, the chinks in your armor. And he doesn’t rest. So, you must always have your armor on. The Holy Spirit caused St. Paul to write in Ephesians chapter 6, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and for shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.” (vss. 11-18a)

You take the armor of God off when you abandon God’s holy Word, which is the source of truth, righteousness, readiness, peace, faith, and salvation. The Spirit of God speaks through the Word of God. The most common way people take off their armor is by ceasing to come to church to hear the Word of God, pray, praise, and give thanks. When you get the thought in your mind that you’re not going to go to church, because you have more important things to do, because you’re too busy or you’ve heard it before, or you’re mad at the pastor, or you’re mad at someone else at church, or you’re embarrassed about something, or whatever other reason you’ve come up with to not go and hear the preaching of God’s Word and receive Christ’s pardon, take a big whiff, and you might catch the sulfuric scent of Satan’s breath, because he has just whispered a lie in your ear.

Every time you get the idea that you should not listen to God’s Word and learn from Jesus, Satan has lied to you. It is hubris to believe that you do not need to learn from Jesus, that you can handle this whole faith thing on your own. Does Jesus tell you not to go to church? Does Jesus tell you not to go and talk to the person you’re upset with? Does Jesus urge you to nurse that grudge, to stoke that pride, to place him last in your life? You don’t need to guess the answer to these questions! Jesus says, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31). Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27) Jesus says, “Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) Scripture says that Christ has given all things to his Church, so if you want to have victory in Christ, you need join yourself to his Church! Did Jesus tell you to nurse the grudge and not become reconciled with your neighbor? You know he didn’t. Jesus says that if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone, and that if he listens to you, you have gained your brother (Matthew 18). Satan is lying to you. Jesus tells you the truth. Strap on the armor of God by hearing God’s Word. Listen to Jesus. When you have trouble distinguishing between Satan’s lies and Jesus’ truth, you know that your armor has slipped, and you need to be refreshed by Jesus’ pure word.

Those who are members of the Church Triumphant have come out of the great tribulation. This means that those who are members of the Church Militant are currently going through the great tribulation. The great tribulation is suffering for the name of Christ. Jesus tells us that we are currently blessed with a great reward in heaven if we are going through such a tribulation for his name’s sake. Yet, while we are on this earth, we receive this blessing through faith, while we experience with our senses the tribulation. Tribulation for Christ’s sake can take many forms. Some saints endured it through torture and death, stonings, burnings, and being fed to wild beasts. Others suffered the loss of lands, jobs, suffered discrimination, and mean words. Perhaps the worst form of tribulation that has affected Christians throughout the ages is the loss of family. Jesus warns concerning this, saying, “I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:34-39) Jesus clearly teaches that whoever loves his family more than him is not worthy to be a saint. And this causes many to leave the battlefield. When son or daughter, husband or wife lose their faith and grow cold toward God’s word, it becomes too painful to stay on the battlefield.

But you cannot save your loved ones by leaving the battlefield. Rather, by patiently suffering for Christ’s sake, you can bring your loved ones back to the church through your example and confession of Christ. Yes, we must go on boasting in the Lord’s victory, so that all may know that our faith is certain. Yet, we must never take off our armor or leave the battlefield. Because, although Christ cannot lose, we can if we sever ourselves from him.

Today, we remember those saints who have gone before us and preceded us in death. They are rejoicing in their victory and waiting for the glorious resurrection of the righteous from the dead. We must continue to rejoice with them, in their victory through Christ, and ours as well. We must not avoid the battle, but know that the Church Triumphant is praying for our success. Our sorrows are almost over. The battle belongs to the Lord. Hold on soldiers of the cross. Keep your chins up and your eyes on Jesus. Victory is yours for Christ’s sake. He will never fail you. Amen.

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Righteous before God

11/1/2021

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Anton von Werner, "Luther vor dem Reichstag in Worms," 1877, Staatsgallerie Stuttgart, Public Domain.

Reformation Sunday
Romans 3:19-28
Pastor James Preus
Trinity Lutheran Church
October 31, 2021

“But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.” Romans 3:21-22

Five hundred years ago this past April, Martin Luther stood trial before Emperor Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire, king of Spain and archduke of Austria, along with many other princes and bishops of the Church. This trial was no small matter. This was not being sent to the principal's office or going to court for a traffic violation. No one here has experienced the intimidation Martin Luther felt as he stood before the highest human court on earth. What could this lowly friar have done to cause himself to be brought before the emperor himself to stand trial? He wrote and taught God’s Word based on Holy Scripture. That doesn’t sound bad, but Luther was found to be criticizing the councils and decrees of the church and pope! In other words, Luther taught the Word of God instead of the words of men.

Luther was asked two questions in his trial: First, whether the books and pamphlets collected with his name on them were indeed his writings; and second, whether he would recant any of them. Luther admitted that they were indeed his writings. To the second question he answered, “Since then your serene majesty and your lordships seek a simple answer, I will give it in this manner, neither horned nor toothed: Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason (for I do not trust either in the pope or in councils alone, since it is well known that they have often erred and contradicted themselves), I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not retract anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. I cannot do otherwise, here I stand; may God help me. Amen.” And for this answer, Luther was declared an outlaw.

How did Luther make such a strong confession and stand firm before the emperor himself? What gave him the ability to endure this intense trial and stand on what he had confessed? Because, while this was indeed the greatest human court Luther had ever stood before, Luther had been put on trial by a much greater judge than Charles the V. Luther had been put on trial by God, and had been found righteous.

Righteous is a word we don’t use much anymore. Yet, it is perhaps the most important word in any language. The Bible speaks at length about what it takes to be righteous. If you are to go to heaven, then you must be righteous. If you are unrighteous, you will go to hell. There is no greater question than, “Am I righteous before God.” Charles V had the authority to cast Luther’s body in jail or hang him at the gallows. God has authority to throw both his body and soul in hell (Matthew 10:28). To be righteous means that you are in a right relationship with God. To be righteous means that God finds no fault in you, that you are innocent of all sin. Righteousness is the opposite of sin, so if you want to be righteous you must be without sin.

There are two ways that righteousness of God is revealed in the Bible: First, by the Law. This is the first righteousness Martin Luther learned. And it terrified him. Because the Law simply tells you what to do, but it gives you no power to do it. The Law is good. The Law is the eternal, immutable will of God. Do you want to know what God wants? Look at the Ten Commandments. God wants you to do them, not just outwardly, but with your whole heart. God wants you to love him with all your heart, soul and mind, and your neighbor as yourself. And he wants you to do this with your thoughts, words, and actions. If you do this, then you are righteous. If you do not do this, then you are unrighteous and stand condemned before God.

This is what Luther wrestled with. He knew the Law of God. He knew that it is not the hearers of the Law who are righteous, but the doers of the Law who will be justified (Romans 2:13). (Justified means to be declared righteous). And this made him terrified of God. He didn’t fear God with the loving fear of a child toward his father. No, he feared God with utter hatred. “How could God demand such things of me? It’s impossible to accomplish them! How can I love God, when he constantly threatens me with death and hell?” This is how Luther thought. His friends and teachers would try to comfort him with a frequently repeated saying, “If you do what in you lies, God will not deny grace.” In other words, if you do your very best, God will do the rest.

But could Luther be sure he did his best? Have you done your best? Are you a good Christian? Sure, you’ve failed. We all do. No one is perfect. Certainly, God knows that! But have you at least tried your best? Could you have tried to be a better husband or wife? Could you have tried to be a better father or mother, son or daughter? Do you always do your best at school and work? Are you the best Christian you could be?

Do your best is not comforting, because it still depends on you! And if it depends on you, then you will always doubt whether you have done your best. And if you look at God’s Law, you see that even your best is not good enough. Scripture says, “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” (Romans 3:10-12) The Law reveals God’s righteousness in the form of God’s wrath against all sinners, as St. Paul says, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their ungodliness and unrighteousness suppress the truth.” (Romans 1:18) Yes, Luther had already been on trial before God’s Law. And his Law found him utterly unrighteous, a walking damned man.

Yet, Scripture reveals God’s righteousness in a second way, apart from the law, the righteousness of God through faith in Christ Jesus to all who believe. This righteousness is revealed in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus, our God and Lord, took on human flesh and was born under the Law for us. Unlike us, however; he fulfilled the Laws demands. Jesus truly was righteous in human flesh, the only man ever to live a truly righteous life. Yet, to remove the cloud of God’s wrath against all unrighteousness and sinners, Jesus took the sin of the whole world upon himself. The only righteous man ever to live became the only sinner. And God’s wrath poured out upon the sinner Jesus, not that Jesus himself sinned, but he clothed himself in our sins. And the righteous Jesus, our human substitute and God, satisfied God’s wrath against sin. This is what St. Paul means when he says, “whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.” Propitiation is the act of taking away wrath, to turn anger away. Propitiation means that God’s righteous wrath against sin is satisfied, so that his wrath no longer threatens the sinner.

This is what Jesus has done for us in the Gospel. This is a righteousness that depends not on our works, but on Christ who fulfilled all righteousness. And this righteousness is given to us as a gift. That is what grace means. Grace means that this righteousness is given to you as a gift from God.

This righteousness is received through faith. When you have faith in Christ Jesus, God counts that faith as righteousness. Not because faith is some noble work that you do, but because faith holds onto Jesus. God is pleased with your faith, because he is pleased with Jesus. If your faith is not in Christ Jesus, then God is not pleased with your faith. This is also why we must not trust in our works, otherwise, we would not be trusting in Jesus. When you stand before God’s judgement throne, nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness will rescue you from hell. We cling to Jesus and his cross alone.

Christ Jesus is our righteousness. Jesus is righteous and he gives his righteousness to us. We are sinners, and we give our sins to Jesus. This is a great and blessed and strange exchange. But it is the only way we can be saved. We repent of our sins and turn to God for forgiveness, and he forgives us for Jesus’ sake. When you are forgiven, you are declared righteous. When you are declared righteous, you are forgiven. This is God’s doing, out of his own fatherly grace and mercy, for the sake of his Son, whom he sent to save us.

The Law cannot make you righteous. It can only reveal your unrighteousness. Yet, this is good. You must repent of your sins and look to God for forgiveness. The Gospel alone makes you righteous through faith, because Jesus alone is your righteousness. This is the Gospel Luther became convinced of. This is the righteousness that saved Luther in his trial before God. Having felt God’s harsh condemnation, he now felt God’s sweet friendship and peace. Luther was righteous through faith in Christ alone. God said so. No human court, not even an emperor, could make it otherwise.

St. Paul warned the Galatians in chapter one of his Epistle to them, “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.” Luther held to the Gospel preached by Paul, the only Gospel of the Bible (Galatians 1:6-7) He was convinced that Scripture alone taught the true faith. Not an angel from heaven, or an emperor, or Pope Leo X, or all the popes and church councils in the world could stand against this Gospel that a sinner is justified by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone, apart from works.

No other book in the world can claim to be God’s book. No other book in the world can claim to show the way of salvation, except the Bible. Unless our teaching is firmly rooted in Scripture, it is no good. Luther was convinced with the Psalmist who spoke to God in Psalm 119:46, “I will speak of your testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame.”

This is what it means to be Lutheran. It is to know the truth declared by Jesus and to be set free by it (John 8:31-32). It means to hold on to God’s Word and trust that God has justified us for Christ’s sake. Our sins are forgiven. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we are confident that we will stand righteous before God in the heavenly courtroom. Even if we are condemned by men here on earth, God justifies us for Christ’s sake through faith alone, apart from our works.

Verse nine of Salvation unto Us Has Come states:
Faith clings to Jesus’ cross alone
And rests in Him unceasing
And by its fruits true faith is known
With love and hope increasing.
For faith alone can justify;
Works serve our neighbor and supply
The proof that faith is living.

May our faith abound in fruit, so that we may show love to our neighbors and so glorify our Father who is in heaven. Amen.

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"For faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." ~ Romans 10:17

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