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

Christ Came to a Hostile World

12/31/2021

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Picture
The Stoning of St. Stephen, Rembrandt, 1625. Public Domain.
St. Stephen’s Day 
2 Chronicles 24:17-22; Acts 6-7; Matthew 23:34-39 
Pastor James Preus 

 
   When we think of how the Old Testament prophesied of Christ, we usually think of prophets speaking and writing. Yet, God also spoke through the prophets by their actions as well as by the actions done to them. We see clear examples of this in how Abraham tried to offer his only son Isaac whom he loved, as a sacrifice to the Lord, and how Jonah was trapped in the belly of a great fish for three days, prophesying that God would offer his only Son whom he loved as a sacrifice and that the Christ would remain in the tomb for three days. When King Joash murdered Zechariah the prophet and priest in the temple, it was a prophecy that the Christ would be murdered for preaching the truth. The persecution and murder of all the prophets were prophecies that the Christ would suffer violence at the hands of wicked men and die an innocent death. This is made clear in Jesus’ parable about the vineyard and the tenants, where the master sends servants, who represent the prophets, to gather his fruit, but the tenants beat, murder, and stone his servants. Finally, the master sends his own son, the heir, who represents Christ. Everyone listening to the parable knows that these tenants who killed the servants will also kill the son.  


And so, we remember on this second day of Christmas, that our dear Lord who came to us as a sweet little baby, entered a hostile world set to commit violence against him. This fact is not hidden from Christmas, even amidst the joyful carols, as December 26th commemorates the death of St. Stephen, the first post-Pentecost Christian martyr and in a couple days the Church will remember the Slaughter of Holy Innocence, when Herod murdered the little boys of Bethlehem in an attempt to destroy Christ. Even the Gospel lesson for Christmas Day tells us that Jesus “came to his own, but his own people did not receive him.” (John 1:11) And Jesus was well aware of his violent mission, repeatedly telling his disciples that he would be betrayed into the hands of sinners, be crucified, and on the third day rise.  


Jesus came to a world at enmity with him to win reconciliation with his blood. And he repeatedly warned his followers that whoever followed him, would be hated by the world. You’ll notice in our Gospel lesson that Jesus does not speak merely of the prophets murdered in former days, but of prophets, wisemen, and scribes whom he would send and whom they would persecute and kill in the future. Before we even learn Stephen’s name, we know from Christ’s words that those whom he sends will be murdered for preaching the Gospel.  


St. Stephen has the honor of being named the first  post-Pentecost Christian martyr. In Acts chapter six, Stephen is named as the first of seven men to serve the church, so that the Apostles may devote themselves to prayer and the preaching of the Word. Stephen is described as one full of faith and of the Holy Spirit. He immediately becomes distinguished by the great wonders and signs, which God did through him. Stephen was a preacher. He proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For this he was maligned as a blasphemer and accused of being an enemy of the temple and of Moses. Stephen responds by giving a detailed summary of the Old Testament, from the time of Abraham to the last prophets. He convicts the people of Israel for their idolatry and violence against the prophets. Finally, he convicts his own adversaries for following in the unbelief and violence of their fathers, having murdered the Righteous One, who is Christ Jesus.  


But these unbelieving Jews would not listen to Stephen’s preaching. They even put their fingers in their ears! They charged Stephen, brought him out of the city, and stoned him to death. And Saul, better known today as St. Paul, held the cloaks of the murderers as he approved of Stephen’s execution. As Stephen died, he saw a vision of Christ Jesus standing at the right hand of God the Father. This vision bore witness to Jesus’ words from his Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:11-12) Stephen was honored to join the company of persecuted prophets before him, and especially, the company of Jesus Christ, for whom he was hated by the world.  


And so, we learn on this St. Stephen’s Day, that we should expect persecution from this world. It is unlikely that any of us will rise to the rank of St. Stephen, who was murdered while bearing beautiful testimony of Christ. Yet, we should recognize the hatred the world has toward our Lord Jesus and the hatred it has toward those who love him. St. James tells us that friendship with the world is enmity with God (James 4:4). Jesus tells us that if the world hates us, know that it hated him first. We must recognize this hatred, so that we do not fall away from loving God.  


The first thing you must know about this hatred, is that it hates God’s Word. Notice how Stephen’s murderers plugged their ears when they didn’t like what Stephen was preaching. The world plugs its ears today. Whatever tries to silence the preaching of God’s Word and the proclamation of the Gospel of Christ is at enmity with Christ and you. When governments seek to close churches, whether out of overt hatred for   the Gospel or using the pretense of a health emergency, this is the hatred of world against Christ and his Christians. When extracurricular activities are scheduled on Sunday morning when Christians are known to worship, this is an attack on Christ and his Christians. These attacks don’t always involve the shedding of blood and imprisonment. But they always involve the silencing of God’s holy Word.  


Jesus came to win reconciliation with God for the world. Christians are called to confess and preach this reconciliation. Yet, it is this very message of reconciliation that is so hated by the world. Reconciliation means that someone has sinned against another. Sinners don’t want to admit that they have sinned. They don’t want to be forgiven; they want to be told that they are right. And so, they plug their ears to Christ’s preaching and they react in violence against those who seek reconciliation. It’s the saddest thing in the world. Reconciliation means to make friends with your enemies. Christians make friends through forgiveness won by the blood of Christ. Yet, enemies often want to remain enemies. They do not want to humble themselves. They don’t want to be forgiven or to forgive. Jesus’ blood is spurned. Jesus’ Christians are hated.  


And so, we learn from Stephen how to behave as Christians. When others hate you for confessing Christ, pray for them. When your invitation to come to church is disrespectfully brushed off, don’t despair, but stay the course. Continue to pray and invite others to hear God’s Word. When others refuse to be reconciled with you, refuse to repent of their sins, refuse to forgive you your fault, refuse to hear of Christ’s forgiveness, continue to confess Christ and pray for them. When you are persecuted, maligned, and even assaulted for your faith in Christ, bless; do not curse. Pray for those who persecute you.  


On Christmas, we often receive many gifts. These material things, which often break or are spent before the next Christmas, are supposed to be a reminder of God’s greatest gift of his Son, whom he gave to save us from our sins. St. Stephen’s Day is a good reminder that Christ is the gift worth losing every worldly gift and pleasure for. Your new watch or stack of books, the clothing and toys and money, these all pale in comparison to Christ. There is nothing that you own or could own that compares to Christ. There is nothing you do or could spend your time doing that compares to being with Christ. Jesus entered this cruel world to save you from its cruelness and sin, to reconcile you with your Heavenly Father, and give you eternal life. And on top of that, he promises that he will continue to provide for the needs of your body while you live on this side of the resurrection of all flesh. Jesus is worth suffering for. He’s worth losing family and friends over. He’s worth losing job and lands and presents over. To have Christ is to have a greater treasure than owning the whole world.  


And so, it is actually fitting that most people know this day by the carol, “Good King Wenceslas, an apocryphal tale of a Bohemian Christian King known for giving alms to the poor. In the carol, King Wenceslas strengthens his page’s spirits to brave the harsh winter weather to bring a feast to a poor man. This fits the tradition of giving food and gifts to the poor on St. Stephen’s Day. On this day we remember that the great gift we received on Christmas was Jesus. We are happy to help those less fortunate than us, just as we are joyful even to suffer shame for the name of Christ. God gave us everything when he gave us Christ Jesus as our Savior. We cannot lose. Poverty, shame, hatred, persecution, slander, even death are powerless against the one who has Christ Jesus.  


The name Stephen means crown. Having been murdered for the sake of Christ, Stephen received a crown of righteousness that cannot fade in heaven. Such crowns are stored up in heaven for all who love the appearing of Christ. May God keep us faithful, so that we may at last wear them with St. Stephen and all the saints before the throne of Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.  
 
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A Savior, Who Is Christ the Lord

12/26/2021

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Picture
The Angel Appearing to Shepherds, Rembrandt van Rijn, 1634, Public Domain.
Christmas Eve  
Luke 2:10-12 
Pastor James Preus 
Trinity Lutheran Church 
December 24, 2021 
 
10And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. 11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” ~ Luke 2:10-12 

 
Although you might not realize it from reading the first two chapters of Luke’s Gospel, an appearance from one of God’s angels is a once in many generations event. And because this is such a rare occurrence for an angel to appear, you might be surprised by how short and to the point the angel’s message is. He doesn’t preach for very long, but gives a short, two or three sentence homily. Yet, the few words the angel says are worthy of our meditation tonight and our entire lives. The angel announces the birth of Jesus, and gives him three titles: Savior, Christ, and Lord. Each of these titles has immense meaning about our salvation, what it means to be a Christian, and what we are celebrating this Christmas.  


Unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior. I think if this angel were to arrive today with this announcement, most people would be disappointed. “What do I need with a Savior? If a being from outside this world is going to light up the sky to give me good news, it should be something more exciting than a Savior.” Truly, this is how people think. When I was a boy, the movie Aladdan came out. Most viewers’ favorite character was Genie, a funny blue creature who lived in a lamp, who had great magical powers. When Aladdin found him, Genie promised him three wishes. That’s what most people wish they could have: A jinni offer them three wishes, not an angel of God who gives them something they didn’t ask for. If I had a jinni, I could ask for whatever I wanted: an endless supply of money, immunity from every disease, super powers, health, comfort, anything I could imagine! Indeed, I think it’s fair to say that most would rather meet a jinni who gives three wishes than an angel declaring good news they didn’t ask for.  


But thank God he sent an angel and promised a Savior. Everything money can buy gets ruined. And even if we were given an endless list of wishes, we would sooner ruin our lives than make them better, because of our sinful inclinations. What we really need is a Savior. But what is a Savior?  


The angel told Joseph to name the baby Jesus, because he would save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). This is the type of Savior the angel promises: one who saves us from our sin. We are corrupted by sin. This corruption runs so deep, that no one in the history of the world has been able to heal himself from it. Our thoughts are so ruined by sin, that the more power a person has, the more miserable he makes his life. History attests to this. And was anyone here alive when the angel visited the shepherds? Of course not. That was over two thousand years ago. Because of sin, we die. No one here was alive a mere one-hundred years ago. Like the grass of the field, we fade away. Yet, unlike the grass, when we die, we are held accountable to God for our lives. Our deeds are weighed. If we are found lacking, we are damned to hell. Our sin makes us enemies of God. We need a Savior.  


And this is what God gives us. That Jesus is our Savior, means that we are saved by grace, according to his mercy. It means that he loves us! “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy…” (Titus 3:4) To us is born a Savior, who rescues us from our sin. He does not do this on account of any work we have done, but only out of his great love and mercy toward us! 


And so, this first title given by the angel is a word of great joy. You have a Savior from your sins. He comes to take them away. He comes to rescue you from sin and hell; to take God’s wrath away. See how much God loves you! He’s not like some imaginary jinni, who will satisfy your base desires, but can’t actually help you. Your God knows your greatest need and he provides you with it without you asking.  


Unto you is born this day, a Savior, who is Christ. The word Christ means anointed one. Anointed by whom? Anointed by God. This means that this Savior born to us was chosen by God! This is as joyous news as the news that we have a Savior! Because if it were up to us to choose a savior, we’d do a miserable job. In fact, many have clued in that sin is our greatest and most urgent problem and have sought saviors from sin. And all of these saviors discovered by men have been utter failures! This is because all of these false-saviors focus on our own works and abilities. Nearly every religion invented by man has diagnosed sin as a great problem and has promised salvation from sin. Yet, all these religions invented by man make your salvation dependent on your own works. Allah saves the Muslim who is submissive enough. The Mormon god saves the Mormon who is obedient enough. Every sect that has broken away from the Christian Church has made salvation dependent on your own works. These false saviors leave you a more miserable sinner than you were at the beginning, deeper in debt, and more doubtful of your salvation.  


But to us is born a Savior, who is Christ. That means he is chosen by God. That means that he cannot fail. He is the Son of David prophesied of old, which is why he is born in the city of David. This means he is truly our brother, born in human flesh. He is born of woman, born under the Law to redeem us who are under the Law. He fulfills God’s Law for us. And he suffers the punishment of our sins in our place. And that he is the Christ means that he is true God, David’s Lord, as David himself confessed (Psalm 110:1). This means that Jesus’ death upon the cross is a sufficient price for all your sins and the sins of the whole world. Only God could have chosen such a Savior for you. Such a mystery would have never entered any of our minds. That our Savior is the Christ, means that he is the true Savior sent by God.  


For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Jesus is your Lord, your Master. People today don’t like the idea of having a Lord and Master. “We don’t have a master! We’re free!” That’s what the Jews told Jesus nearly two thousand years ago (John 8:33). But Jesus says that whoever sins is a slave to sin (John 8:34). This means that before Christ becomes your Lord and Master, your lord and master is sin and the prince of sin, Satan. It is an illusion that you are free when you follow the passions of your own flesh and when Satan can turn you to follow his will like a pilot turning the rudder of a ship. True freedom is having Christ as your Lord and Master.  


And Christ Jesus indeed is your Lord. He has purchased you as his own, not with silver or gold, but with his holy precious blood and innocent suffering and death. That little baby in the manger has come for the purpose of winning you for himself. To have faith in Christ Jesus is to acknowledge him as your Lord, who has won you as his very own precious possession.  


That Jesus is the Lord means that he is God. He is the Lord, who made himself known to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who appeared to Moses in the burning bush, who rescued Israel from all its enemies. That little baby lying in the manger, is the God who holds all the stars of heaven in his hands. That young man hanging nailed to the cross, is the God who formed you in your mother’s womb. That man risen from the dead and ascended to the right hand of the Father is your Lord, your God and Savior.  


So, what does it mean to live with Jesus as your Lord? It means to live free from guilt of sin, to be forgiven. It means to be free to love your neighbor and forgive your enemies. It means that your entire purpose in life is to serve your Lord and Master. The greatest joy a Christian has is to do what pleases his Lord, Jesus Christ.  


And Jesus’ burden is not hard for us his servants to bear. His yoke is easy and his burden is light. In Jesus we have forgiveness of all our sins, safety from Satan, and assurance of an eternal inheritance in heaven. Our service to Christ involves listening to his holy Word, praying to him, and praising his name. Our service to Christ involves loving others and forgiving those who harm us, being patient and kind. And when we fail in this service, our Lord graciously welcomes us back. He brings us to repent of our sin, forgives us and restores us to our place. This is why we keep going back to him, to grow in his Word and receive his Medicine. Jesus is our Lord and God. There is no sin too great for him to forgive, no problem too great for him to solve. He is our Good Master, our Dear Lord from Whom we never want to be separated.  


Dear friends in Christ, unto us is born a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. He alone saves us from our sins and grants us eternal life as a free gift. He alone was chosen by God to save us. He alone is the Lord. There is no other God than He. And he has purchased us with his own blood to make us his own. This indeed is good news of great joy for all people. May we celebrate this joyous birth tonight and always. Amen.  


Let us pray: Oh, the joy beyond expressing When by faith we grasp this blessing, And to You we come confessing That Your love has set us free. Amen. 
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Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

12/23/2021

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Picture
"Saint John The Baptist In A Landscape Pointing At The Figure Of Christ", Annibale Carracci, 1580s-90s. Public Domain.
Advent 4 
John 1:29 
Pastor James Preus 
Trinity Lutheran Church 
December 19, 2021 
 
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29 
 
When John the Baptist declared that he was the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, “Make straight the way of the Lord,” as the prophet Isaiah said, he was calling himself a preacher. John prepares the way of the Lord Christ by preaching. This is the only way to make way for the Lord, because Christ can only be received through faith. And faith comes by hearing. John prepares the way of the Lord by bringing sinners to repentance. We are familiar with John’s Law preaching. He calls the Pharisees broods of vipers. He warns that the axe is laid to the root of the tree ready to cut down any tree that does not bear good fruits. He tells people who have plenty to share with those who have little. He tells tax collectors not to collect more than they are authorized, and soldiers not to extort money, but to be content with their wages. John dies preaching the Law, as he preached against King Herod’s sexual immorality, which led to his head being cut off.  


Yet, John is also the greatest Gospel preacher who ever lived. As he preached the Law in unwavering strictness, so he proclaimed the Gospel in sweet purity. John preached the Law in order to make way for the preaching of the Gospel; he exposed people’s sins, so that he could share with them the remedy for their sin-sick souls.  


There are plenty of popular televangelists and radio preachers, with swaths of listeners, clinging to their “practical” advice and feel-good preaching. For centuries, churches have heard nothing from their pulpits but lists of rules and virtues they must follow in order to live a Christian life and be saved. And even today, although churches tend to be mostly empty, podcasts multiply continuously with innumerable listeners seeking knowledge and advice that will make their lives better. Yet with thirteen simple words, John the Baptist preaches more than these talking heads on television, radio, podcasts, and yes, in pulpits say in their countless hours of yammering and blabbering.  


“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” This is a sermon that gives more hope and comfort than a thousand sermons, books, or podcasts. This is a sermon you cannot hear too many times. It has sustained the church for two thousand years. It has been cemented into our Sunday liturgy. It is a message that will prepare your heart to face death and meet your Maker.   


Behold! This means, “Look!” John is not one of those Old Testament prophets, who look and inquire into their own prophecies, trying to inquire what person or time the Christ would come (1 Peter 1:10-12). No, John can see Jesus Christ before his very eyes. You can follow the direction of his finger and see Jesus before him. “Behold! Look. He stands in the midst of you, he who comes after me, who was before me!”  


And this address is as urgent to us today as it was to those who could see Jesus walking along the banks of the Jordan River. Behold! Look! Whatever you were looking at before, stop and give your attention to Jesus. Whatever is occupying your mind right now, set it aside. Something more important demands your attention. Christ Jesus is here. We are not ignorant as the saints in the Old Testament were of when or who he would be. We know him. His Gospel has been given to us. We have his Baptism. He offers us his body and blood. And so, the call of John rings out into a twenty-first century with no sign of being silenced anytime soon. Behold! Turn your attention to Christ! 


The word, “behold,” is a call to repentance. There are two words most commonly used in the Bible for repent. The one literally means to turn. The other literally means to change your mind. The word, ‘behold,’ demands that you turn away from what you are doing, what you are thinking, and focus on the one, who alone can save you.  


What are we supposed to turn our gaze to? “The Lamb of God.” The title, “Lamb of God” has implications easy to recognize for anyone who knows the Old Testament. Lambs had been sacrificed to God since God first commanded Adam to sacrifice a beast, so that he could clothe himself and his wife and cover their shame (Genesis 3:21). Abel continued this practice by offering the first of his flock and their fat portions (Genesis 4:4). And God established the Levitical Priesthood and commanded the priests to offer a lamb sacrifice every morning and evening, not to mention the yearly sacrifice of the Passover lamb and many other sacrifices to be carried out by the descendants of Levi and Aaron.  


John the Baptist, of course, is a Levite, the son of a priest named Zechariah. His mother was a daughter of Aaron, the first High Priest. Yet, John does not grow up to be a priest. He does not sacrifice lambs at the temple as his fathers before him did. Rather, John points to the Lamb who ends all lamb sacrifices. John acknowledges that the priesthood of Aaron must decrease and the priesthood of Melchizedek must increase.  


By calling Jesus the Lamb of God, he is calling Jesus the Christ, the anointed sacrifice, prepared by God to make atonement for all sin. God commanded that they shed the blood of lambs, because without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins. Sacrificial lambs needed to be without blemish, the best of their flock. The connotation was obvious. Lambs had their blood shed in order to save the lifeblood of people. The blood of lambs was smeared on the doorposts of the Israelites as death passed over their houses and then struck the firstborn of Egypt (Exodus 12). The firstborn of Israel were ransomed with the blood of lambs.  


And so, by calling Jesus the Lamb of God, he is calling him a sacrifice without blemish. He is blameless before God. He is without sin. By calling Jesus the Lamb of God, he is declaring that he will shed his blood for others, that he will forfeit his life to save others. There is no forgiveness of sins without the shedding of blood, but the blood of bulls and goats and countless lambs cannot take away sins (Hebrews 9:22; 10:4). Only the Lamb of God can take away sins. Only the true Shepherd of his sheep, who takes on human flesh and fulfills the Law in their stead, the only man ever to live without blemish, who truly is their God, can wash away their sins with his blood. This is a unique Lamb of God. He is the only one. And John tells us to look to him.  


What will this Lamb of God do? John answers us, “He takes away the sin of the world.” Isaiah prophesied that the Lord would lay upon the Christ the iniquities of us all and that he would die for our transgressions, going forth silently as a lamb to the slaughter (Isaiah 53). Christ is blameless as a lamb prepared for sacrifice. Yet, he bears the sins of all, so that he may take them away with his own blood.  


There is no message more comforting and pressing than this. You have no greater need than the forgiveness of sins. Sin is the cause of your death. Sin is the cause of your anxiety. The reason you have a troubled marriage, why you have enemies, why you feel pain, why you feel guilt and shame, why you are afraid to talk about certain things, why you fear death, why you are going to die. This all has to do with your sin. Your sin separates you from God. It creates doubt in your heart. Your sin warrants you eternal punishment in hell. We use euphemisms to cover up the ugliness of sin. We talk about being broken, imperfect, flawed, and many other expressions meant to soften the accusations of the Law.  But it is sin. This is convicting. Sin means that you have committed the wrong. It is your fault. Sin means that you have broken God’s Law, that you have harmed others with your selfish words and actions, that you have lacked love and been rich in hate. Even worse, sin means that your offense is against the righteous God, who has the right to throw you in hell. Whoever thinks his sin is no big deal, not something worth addressing or worrying about, is a fool. Unless it is taken away, your sin will damn you to hell.  


Yet, John proclaims that this Lamb of God takes away the sin of the world. Well, are you in this world? Then this Lamb of God takes away your sin. Now you see why John tells you to drop everything and look to him. This Lamb of God sheds his blood for you, so that your sin will be washed away. This is the heart of the Gospel. This is what we sing every Sunday. And we will sing his sermon as a hymn of praise to the Lamb of God as he sits on his throne for ever and ever.  


He takes away the sin of the world!  This gives you confidence to speak to God, to call Jesus your friend. Pop-culture has re-casted Jesus as a soft-spoken nice guy, who is accepting of everyone, who doesn’t rebuke, but ignores sin. This is how churches and religious organizations, who support and defend the most horrendous sinful behavior condemned by Scripture, still claim Jesus as their leader. They simply have reimagined Jesus. But Jesus is not approachable, because he doesn’t call sin, sin. Jesus isn’t your friend, because he calls wickedness good and ignores what the Law of God says. No, Jesus is approachable, because he has removed from you what is offensive to God. Jesus is your friend, because he has taken your sins away.  


This proclamation of John truly is the greatest sermon preached by a mortal man. These are words that you can shout to Satan to get him to slither back into his fiery hole. These are words you can use to bind up the broken heart and comfort the troubled conscience. This sermon draws you near to God to pray to him in confidence, to praise him as your God and Lord. This message of comfort causes true repentance, a turning away from evil, and a change of mind. This message prepares the way of the Lord into your heart, so that you receive him in faith.  


Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! The time to behold him is now. The time to believe on him and call upon him is now. He is your Savior. He is your victory over sin and death. Let this sermon be imprinted on your heart forever, so that you may dwell with Christ in victory forever.  


Let us pray,  
On my heart imprint Your image,  
Blessed Jesus, King of grace,  
That life’s riches, cares, and pleasures 
Never may Your work erase;  
Let the clear inscription be:  
Jesus crucified for me,  
Is my life, my hope’s foundation,  
And my glory and salvation! Amen.   
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These Are the Sign That You Should Mark

12/18/2021

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Picture
St. John the Baptist Sends Two Disciples to Question Jesus, Ermenegildo Lodi, 1598-1616. Public Domain.
Advent 3 
Matthew 11:2-10 
Pastor James Preus 
Trinity Lutheran Church  
December 12, 2021 
 
 “These are the signs that you shall mark;  
The swaddling clothes and manger dark.  
There you will find the infant laid 
By whom the heav’ns and earth were made.” 


So paraphrased Martin Luther the words of the angel to the shepherds in his great Christmas hymn, “From Heaven Above to Earth I Come.” The angel gave the shepherds a sign: a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. If the shepherds searched for the Christ in the king’s palace or in the temple in Jerusalem or in any other fine and noble setting, they would not have found the Christ. But since they looked for the signs given to them by the angel, they found Christ Jesus as they had been told, wrapped in linens, lying in a manger.  


In our Gospel lesson, John the Baptist is in prison. John had proclaimed Jesus the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He proclaimed him as the one who comes after him, who was before him, whose sandals John is unworthy to untie. John’s entire ministry was pointing people to Jesus and proclaiming him the promised Christ. Yet, two of John’s disciples are visiting John in his dungeon. They are doubtful that Jesus truly is the Christ. If Jesus is the Christ, then why does his forerunner languish in prison waiting execution by the godless King Herod? So, John does what he always does. He points them to Christ. He tells his disciples to go and ask Jesus if he is the one to come or if they should wait for another.  


“The one to come” refers to the Christ. Christ or Messiah means anointed one. God promised through his prophets that he would send the Christ to set his people free and rule over them in righteousness, justice, and equity. The Christ or Messiah is the one to come. Is Jesus the one to come? Is Jesus truly the Christ, the promised Messiah? That is what John’s disciples have come to ask Jesus.  


Jesus does not answer simply yes or no, but rather says, “Go tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”  


Jesus answered them by pointing to the signs he has done, which prove that he is the Christ. Yet, it is not only that the signs Jesus has done are remarkable. I’ve seen illusionists perform stunts that I could not explain, that have stumped even other illusionists. And certainly, there have been those who have availed themselves of satanic arts. These certainly are not signs that they come from God. The reason these miracles Jesus has performed are signs that he is the Christ, the promised one to come, is because God foretold these miracles by his prophets. Isaiah prophecies in chapter 35, “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.” Again, in chapter 61, he speaks for the coming Christ, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.” Isaiah even prophesies that this Christ, who restores sight to the blind and preaches good news to the poor will be a cause of offense. He writes in chapter 8, “And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many shall stumble on it.” All the signs point to Jesus as the Christ.  


This week of Advent, we deal with doubt. John’s disciples doubted. They aren’t the only ones. You’ve heard of Doubting Thomas. Of course, all of Jesus’ disciples doubted at times. And doubt certainly is a weapon Satan wields against us Christians today. Doubt is the most brazen attack on your faith, which you will encounter. Yet, it clings to your heart like burs on a coat, or better, like tar to cloth. If we are to prepare ourselves for Christ’s second advent, we must overcome the doubt, which arises in our very hearts.  


We overcome doubt with the signs, which God has given us in his Holy Word. Yet, this is difficult, because people don’t want to look at the sign’s God gives us, but rather at signs they have invented themselves. People doubt the miracles Jesus performed, especially that he rose from the dead. Why do they doubt this? Hundreds of people witnessed Jesus’ miracles and resurrection. Multiple written sources document and corroborate these events. “Well, because these miracles are impossible.” Who said they’re impossible? Jesus is God. All things are possible with God. “Well, because Jesus can’t be God. No one can know God. God might not even exist.” So, you see, these signs of Jesus’ are only in doubt, if you accept the arbitrary criteria of biased skeptics, who themselves cannot prove their own presuppositions. Their anti-supernatural bias causes them to deny events reported by multiple eye witnesses, while they espouse “scientific” theories, which are unprovable and far-fetched at best. 
 

The signs that will overcome your doubt are given to you by God in his Holy Word. But people do not want to look at God’s Word. They want to make up their minds with their own shallow judgments. I once met a young man, who left the Lutheran Church and became a Pentecostal. I asked him why. He said, “Because he became convinced by their fruits of the Spirit.” He meant speaking in tongues and miraculous healings, which he had witnessed. Now, we could critique these so-called speaking in tongues and healings, and point out that there is no actual proof that they are speaking any real language, and much proof that these noises they make are just made up (subconsciously or not). And the supposed healings are usually proven to be fake as well. Yet, we don’t even need to disprove the speaking in tongues and healings to prove that you shouldn’t leave the Lutheran Church, where the Gospel is proclaimed to join a church that rejects God’s work in Baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and the creation of faith. You simply need to look at Holy Scripture and the signs, which Christ promises will mark his Church.  

Where does Jesus promise that his Church is where there will be speaking of tongues and healings? He does promise that these signs will accompany the apostles, but he never promises that these signs will endure to all ages (Mark 16:17-8). In fact, St. Paul explicitly tells us that speaking in tongues will stop, as they have since the apostles died (1 Corinthians 13:8). The signs that point to Christ are not necessarily the things that cause you to marvel. The signs that point to Christ are the signs that Christ has given us, so that we know him. These signs are called the Marks of the Church.  


The Marks of the Church are the signs that Christ promises to be with his Church, so that you can identify him in this world. These marks are Baptism, the Lord’s Supper, Absolution, and the preaching of the Gospel. One of the greatest tragedies among Christians is when a tormented soul becomes convinced that he needs to be re-baptized. Such a person usually thinks it takes much faith to be re-baptized, but it is quite the opposite. To be baptized again is to doubt the promise God made in your first and only true Baptism. Scripture says there is one Baptism (Ephesians 4:5). Scripture says that Baptism gives the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). Jesus says that whoever believes and is baptized will be saved (Mark 16:16). St. Paul promises that whoever has been baptized into Christ has put on Christ (Galatians 3:27). To be rebaptized means to doubt God’s promise, which he attached to Baptism and to trust in yourself to do what only God can do: create faith and forgive sins. But when you look to Baptism as God has given it to you, you see an endless stream of grace and forgiveness. When you sin, when doubt assails you, when death frightens you, look to your Baptism and the promise of forgiveness, restoration, adoption, and eternal life God has attached to it, and your doubt flees.  


Many are offended at the teaching that the Lord’s Supper is Christ’s true body and blood. Lutherans have been called cannibals for teaching this. Many protestants have called us slaves to the Papacy, as if the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church convinced us that the Sacrament is Christ’s body and blood and not the clear words of Jesus, which says, “This is my body; This is my blood.” But the Sacrament of the Altar is a mark of Jesus’ Church, because Jesus said it is. “Do this in remembrance of me.”, Jesus commands us. In this meal Jesus promises forgiveness in his blood, which is the greatest sign of Christ.  


The most offensive mark of the Church was the last sign Jesus mentioned to John’s disciples, “and the poor have good news preached to them.” The proclamation of the Gospel is a sign of offense to many, yet it is also the most comforting and reassuring mark of the Church.   


The proclamation of the Gospel is offensive, because it denies your pride. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, but whoever humbles himself will be exalted. That is the message of the Gospel. The Gospel leaves John the Baptist in prison, soon to have his head cut off, while insisting that it liberates the captives. That is because the Gospel deals with the kingdom of heaven and eternal life, not the transitory glory of this world. The Gospel denies your ability to save yourself or exalt yourself above others. Your list of good works will not win your salvation. Rather, the Gospel offers free salvation to those who did not work for it, to those who offend you by their weakness. The Gospel gives free salvation to those who do not deserve it by the merits of Christ Jesus. The Gospel proclaims Christ crucified, a hero who forsakes all earthly glory and instead suffers a miserable and embarrassing death. This is why the Gospel is offensive.  


Yet, the Gospel is the only sign that can dispel all doubt. Baptism, Absolution, the Lord’s Supper, these are all vessels of the Gospel message. They relay the Gospel and they cannot abide without the preaching of the Gospel. The Gospel dispels doubt, because it proclaims God’s promise of forgiveness and acceptance for Christ’s sake. Do you doubt whether God loves you? Look at the cross! See where God’s Son hangs! And know that he did that willingly for you. Before God sent Christ Jesus to become man and die for your sins, he already knew every sin you would commit. Before Jesus took on the sins of the whole world and carried them to the cross, he knew all your sins, even the most grievous and embarrassing. And he intentionally went to the cross to forgive them with his blood. Why would God send his Son to die for your sins, if he did not intend to forgive all your sins? Why would Jesus willingly suffer for you if he did not intend to save you?  


The Gospel message leaves no room for doubt. The Gospel message demands to be believed, because it is clearly true. Christ Jesus did die for the sins of the world. He is risen from the dead. And he has clearly stated that he has done this to save sinners. And the Gospel message has power to be believed. The promise of your Baptism insists on the Gospel message. The Absolution and Supper reinforce the Gospel truth. These are the signs that you should mark to find Jesus and know what he has done for you. These are the signs that turn doubt into faith. Amen.  
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Written for Our Learning

12/8/2021

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Advent 2 
Luke 21:25-36; Romans 15:4-13 
Pastor James Preus 
Trinity Lutheran Church 
December 5, 2021 
 
“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”, wrote St. Paul by inspiration of the Holy Spirit in the 15th chapter of his letter to the Roman Christians. St. Paul was teaching them and us that the Bible was written for our instruction. The Bible is God’s Word. Yes, the Bible was written by about forty human authors over a span of over 1,500 years. Yet, these human authors did not write by their own interpretation, but they wrote as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21). When you read the Bible, you read God’s Word. When you hear the teaching of the Bible proclaimed, you hear God proclaim his word to you. When we say, “The Bible says,” we are saying, “God says.” The Bible itself makes no distinction between Holy Scripture and God’s Word. In Galatians 3:22, St. Paul wrote, “But Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.” St. Paul wrote nearly an identical statement to the Romans in chapter 11, “For God imprisoned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.” Scripture imprisoned everything under sin. God imprisoned all under disobedience. These say the same thing. Holy Scripture says what God says. The Bible is the Word of God.  
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And the Bible was written for our instruction. That means we should listen to it and learn from it. Although even a small child can grasp the good news that Jesus loves him and died for him, a Christian is never done learning God’s Word. St. Paul also writes, “All Scripture was breathed out by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 2:16) God’s Word is not only a source of priceless knowledge, but a source of hope and encouragement that cannot be replaced by any human knowledge. This is why the Bible is called the true fountain of Israel. It is the only true source of salvation and heavenly wisdom.  


St. Paul uses Holy Scripture to encourage the Roman Christians with the proof that God called the Gentiles, that is, the non-Jewish nations to faith in Christ Jesus, so that they might be united in faith and love toward one another in a common hope. The words of Jesus written in our Gospel lesson from Luke 21 were written to prepare us for the return of Christ, his second advent. This too is so that we might have hope and be encouraged to keep the faith.  


Jesus tells us that his second coming will be preceded by signs in heaven and on earth. These signs will be clearly seen and noticed by all people. Yet, they will not be recognized as signs of Jesus’ coming by all people. Most will not believe in the signs. Rather, the effect the signs will have on them will be an increase of distress, confusion, and panic. We see it already in our day. People hyperventilate about drastic changes in the climate, anxious about the roaring of the sea and waves. There are wars and rumors of wars that capture the attention of the masses. People are more concerned about learning about the next coronavirus variant, about its effect on their travel plans and health than they are about learning God’s Word and growing in faith. Inflation, supply shortages, crime, these distract the minds of the masses. Everyone is concerned about their bank account, their bills, their property, the stresses and pleasures of this life. They see the signs in sun, moon, and stars. They see the earthquakes, fires, storms, and wars. Yet, they do not recognize that God has placed these signs in their lives. He’s in control of them all. They will pass away, but not God’s Word. But rather than focus on God’s Word, the masses become even more deeply entranced by the cares of this temporal life.  


Yet, Christ tells us that these are signs we should pay attention to, so that we are not distracted. Christ’s first advent came when he was conceived and born by the Virgin Mary. He was wrapped in meekness. He didn’t threaten or flex his might as he was reviled by men. It was easy to mock him as he trudged up Golgotha with his cross, as he hung torn and bloody on that cursed tree. There was no fear in his scoffers’ eyes. Likewise, today, Christ comes to us in his means of grace. He is with us as his Word is proclaimed and his Sacraments received. But there is no terror in the eyes of those who refuse his Word and spurn his grace. It’s easy to ridicule the gospel and the Christians who believe it today. But Jesus’ second coming will not be in meekness as his first advent was. Jesus’ second advent will not be hidden under means of grace as his dwelling is with us now. No, when Jesus comes again, every eye shall behold him. Even those who have died will be raised from the dead to stand before this powerful Judge. Jesus’ return will be a terror to those who rejected him in his meekness and grace. No one will be able to escape his judgment.  


Yet, Christ does not tell us of the signs of his coming to terrify us, but rather to exhort us to be prepared. He tells us that when we see these signs that we should lift up our heads, because our redemption is drawing near. Redemption is salvation. It means to be bought back, redeemed from sin, death, and hell. This redemption was not wrought with gold or silver, but with the holy precious blood of Christ and his innocent suffering and death. Christ Jesus has already won our redemption. In fact, he won the redemption for all people by dying on the cross for us. Yet, this redemption is only received through faith. To straighten up and raise your heads means to have faith in the promise of God’s forgiveness for Christ’s sake. Scripture says that in Christ we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14). So, it is only through faith in Jesus and his suffering for you that you can receive your redemption. If you hold onto Jesus in faith when he comes to you in meekness with his grace today, then you will raise your head to receive him in joy when he comes to you with redemption in glory.  


This redemption can be lost, however; if faith is lost. Faith is lost when the things of this world distract the Christian from Christ Jesus. The signs of Jesus’ second advent will not alert the world of Jesus’ coming and bring them to repentance. Only God’s Word can do that. Only the one and only true fountain of Israel, the Holy Scriptures, which were inspired by the Holy Spirit, which are indeed God’s holy words can bring a sinner to faith in Christ Jesus our Savior. Unless God’s Word creates faith in your heart, these signs will only become an increased distraction, a source of anxiety, worry, and panic. So also, when a Christian abandons this fountain of Israel, God’s Holy Word, the Bible, then he misses these signs. He becomes distracted. He loses his faith.  


Yet, when you continue to hear, mark, learn, and inwardly digest the Holy Scriptures, then you abound in the hope of Jesus Christ. The signs become clear. As you recognize the signs of spring and summer, and prepare your house and yard or field for its coming, so you see the signs in the sky and on earth, and prepare your heart for the coming of your Lord, who comes not to deal with you according to your sins, but to redeem you.  


Jesus warns the Christians against their hearts being weighed down by three things in the last days, which we currently are in: dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life. Dissipation is when you become numb to God’s Word. God’s Word ceases to have an effect on you. You grow cold. Like birds snatching seed off a path, so God’s Word is taken from your ears. Drunkenness certainly includes drinking too much alcohol and getting drunk. Yet, this also includes any cravings of the flesh, which take over the mind and distract from learning God’s Word, whether liquor, drugs, or sensual lusts. This is why the apostle says, “Do not get drunk with wine, but be filled with the [Holy] Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:18)  And finally, there are the cares of this life. These last things are not sinful, in and of themselves. Yet, when we place our money, job, leisure, friends, even spouse and children above God’s Word, then we become unprepared for Christ’s coming. Christ ceases to be our God. Then Christ’s return will catch us like a trap.  

Now, no one knows when Jesus will return. Christians do not have secret knowledge of when the Last Day will be. And when someone claims to know that day or hour, that is a good indication that he is a false prophet. Yet, those who remain faithful to Christ, who turn from their sins daily, who trust in his death and resurrection for them and receive his forgiveness through faith, that day cannot catch them like a trap. Because it will not come to condemn them. When it comes, it will be a joy. Christ comes with redemption. He comes to claim what he has purchased with his own blood on the cross.  


Jesus says that this generation will not pass away until all this takes place. By this generation, he means that there will always  be unbelievers. Until the end, there will be those who spurn God’s Word, who mock Christ, who misinterpret the signs. Yet, Christ also promises that his Church will remain. Not even the gates of hell will stand against her. There will always be on this earth, until the return of Christ, a remnant of believers, who trust in Jesus’ forgiveness and salvation for them. There will always be a remnant who drinks faithfully from the true fountain of Israel, the Bible, and learns to have hope that endures and comforts forever. We stay watchful, as Jesus warns, by paying attention to his Word, and not interpreting his Word based on what the sinful world tells us, but rather, interpreting the world and the signs in accordance to what Scripture tells us. Christ has not left us alone or unprepared. He has given us everything we need to stand on that awful day, so that that day may be a joy for us.  


Dear Christians, straighten up and raise up your heads. Your redemption is drawing near. He comes to save us from sin and death and every trouble. We know him. He has made himself known to us in Holy Scripture. And what joy it will be to know him face to face. Amen. 
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    Rev. James Preus

    Rev. Preus is the pastor of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ottumwa, IA. These are audio and text of the sermons he preaches at Trinity according to the Historical Lectionary. 

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