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

Motherhood

5/9/2022

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Picture
Mother and Child, Mary Cassatt, 1900. Public Domain.
Easter 4 Jubilate Sunday 
John 16:21 
Pastor James Preus 
Trinity Lutheran Church 
May 8, 2022 (Mothers’ Day) 
 
‘When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.”  
 
​


Jesus is the greatest teacher who has ever lived. His parables, while hiding the mysteries of God from the wise and understanding, provide simple to understand lessons to the children to whom God has granted faith. And this simple one verse parable clearly teaches what Jesus means by “a little while.” There is no suffering a woman can expect to experience in her life greater than that of giving birth. And so, for a little while the Christian has sorrow in this world. Yet, while there is no suffering like that of a woman in labor, so there is no joy that a woman feels like that of holding her newborn child for the first time. And so, after we Christians have suffered for a little while in this world, we will have joy when we see our Savior Jesus again.   


This parable is perfect, because it can easily be understood by anyone and it reflects the spiritual sorrow and joy that a Christian experiences better than any other physical human experience can. Yet, Satan has viciously attacked this parable by viciously attacking motherhood. Many cannot understand what Jesus means by this parable, because they do not recognize the joy a mother feels at the birth of her child. They no longer desire the joy that a mother experiences when a human being has been born into the world. And so, they avoid the sorrow caused by labor at all costs.  


This Sunday is called Jubilate Sunday, which is from our introit today from Psalm 66. It’s Latin for, “Make a joyful noise.” And that is fitting for this Sunday. We Christians should make a joyful noise to the Lord today, for one thing, because this past week we have heard that the Supreme Court will likely overturn Roe-v-Wade, that 1973 Supreme Court ruling, which declared a constitutional right for a woman to kill her unborn child. Christians in America have been praying for nearly 50 years that this horrid ruling would be overturned, so that our legislatures could pass laws to protect children in the womb from barbaric and violent deaths. And now, after long last, our prayers seem to be answered. Of course, our fight for the rights of the voiceless is by no means done. Unborn children will continue to be killed throughout the country until states pass laws protecting them. So, we must continue to be vocal for those who cannot defend themselves and pray to God that he would change the hearts of our nation to pity these children, and so support laws to protect them.  


Yet, we also should be ashamed of ourselves that it has taken so long to take this step. In the nearly fifty years since Roe was decided over sixty million babies have been violently murdered in their mothers’ wombs. And while many Christians have been very vocal, our so-called Christian nation has consistently rated the economy and other political issues above the life of innocent children. Unborn children are precious in the eyes of the Lord. Psalm 139 states, “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Abortion is clearly wrong, because it is killing such a child in the womb. Yet, abortion is justified by saying that it is necessary to make life better for the mother and father. The Ammonites in the Old Testament had a similar justification. They sacrificed their sons and daughter to an idol named Molech in order to be blessed by this barbaric god. Here is what God warned Israel concerning this child sacrifice, “Anyone of the people of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech shall surely be put to death. … And if the people of the land do at all close their eyes to that man when he gives one of his children to Molech, and do not put him to death, then I will set my face against that man and against his clan and will cut them off from among their people.” (Leviticus 20:2, 4)  


And so, we should also thank God that he has been so patient with our nation, which he could have justly destroyed for closing our eyes to the shedding of innocent blood. No politician, whether Republican or Democrat, should ever have been able to get elected in a Christian nation without committing to defend the unborn.  


Now, while most Christians will declare that they are against the killing of unborn children, they have accepted the premise that the devil laid down, which justifies the killing in the first place. The premise is that children are not a joy, but a burden; that the pain of childbirth is not worth the joy of children, that enjoying immediate gratification now is better than suffering for greater joy later. But we should not accept the devil’s premise that children are not a joy. We should not think that it is reasonable to despise children or that it is understandable to want to get rid of them. “Children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward.” (Psalm 127) That is what God tells us. The desire to spurn children, so that you can enjoy your life the way you want is selfish. Scripture teaches husband and wife to find joy in their children.  


Likewise, we should not accept the devil’s premise that Christ is not our joy. As people increasingly despise children and motherhood, so also, people increasingly despise the joy of Christ. “What do I need Jesus for? Doesn’t he just ruin all my fun? He’s too judgmental. I don’t think I want what he’s offering.” And so, as women do whatever is possible to avoid the sorrow, which leads to the joy of children, so people do whatever is possible to avoid the sorrow, which leads to the joy of Christ Jesus.  


Jesus’ analogy of a woman in labor is the perfect illustration for the Christian’s sorrow in this life. A woman has sorrow, because she is in great pain. The Christian is in sorrow, because he is not in heaven yet. The resurrection of all flesh has not yet happened. We do not yet see Christ in his glory. And so, in this life, we deal with sickness, pain, and death. The world rejoices as we weep and lament. We weep over the wickedness of the world, the suffering of the children, those who fall away from the faith, murder, war, and hatred. We lament that we are persecuted for confessing Christ, hated by those whom we love. We weep, because of our own sin, which we hate and try to avoid, that we have said things and done things that have hurt other people. We’re not in heaven yet. Our knowledge of Christ seems to increase our sorrow, because we are more aware of sin and suffering. Like a woman in labor, we are in anguish.  


Yet, Jesus comforts us in our anguish. It’s only a little while. Jesus’ words are much like the encouraging words of a husband to his wife as she is in labor. “It is only a little while. Soon, you will meet your baby. Stay strong.” And so, Jesus encourages us. You have sorrow now, but soon you will see me and your sorrow will be over. We find this encouragement elsewhere in Scripture. St. Paul tells us, “Hence forth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:8) And so, we deal with our sorrow now by taking comfort in the promises of Christ. Your suffering is not in vain. Though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, your Good Shepherd is leading you to the pastures of eternal life. Though you do not see him now, Christ is with you. And when you see him, you will be like him. Your sins will finally be severed from you forever. Death will pass away. Christians will no longer be persecuted. We will be transformed after the image of Christ. We will see him in glory and we will have no shame. The suffering now is worth it. And it will only last a little while.  


And the sorrow we Christians feel now, God uses for good. When a woman is in labor, she can’t go back. The baby is going to be born. This can be scary. The mother can feel helpless. And so, she does well to commit herself to the Lord, as Jesus said to St. Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” And so, the woman finds strength in her weakness, by trusting in the Lord her strength. And so, God teaches us to be strong in our suffering by being weak. When God permits us to suffer, when we sorrow, because we are pilgrims sojourning through this sinful world, we put our trust in God. We listen to his promises and trust that he will fulfill them. We commit our body and soul to him, who laid down his body for us on the cross and gave up his Spirit to save our souls.  


A husband comforting his wife while she is in labor can feel like a pretty helpless fellow. And as empathetic as he is, his wife knows that he does not actually know how she feels. Yet, when Christ Jesus comforts us in our sorrow, he is not helpless or ignorant. He knows exactly how it feels. You have not nor will you ever suffer greater than Christ suffered for you. Everything you suffer as a Christian, Christ Jesus has already suffered for you. Jesus bore all your sins on the cross, so that your guilt cannot harm you. And he bears with your weaknesses today. The hatred the world hurls on you for being a Christian, they hurl on Christ. And even the blood of the millions of babies who have been killed by abortion in the past half century, which cries out to God for justice, Jesus has satisfied that cry. Jesus not only died for those babies, but he died for their murderers. America is stained by abortion. We Christians have tormented our righteous souls living in a land so stained. Yet, Jesus has borne this sin as well. So, all who bear the guilt of abortion can find forgiveness and cleansing in Jesus.  


For a little while Jesus suffered on the cross for our sins and after a little while, he had joy in his resurrection. And he promises that he is with us in our little while of sorrow. And he has promised that after this little while, our joy will be filled by him. And during this little while of sorrow, Jesus has promised that whatever we ask the Father in his name, he will give us. We asked that Roe v. Wade be overturned, so that the lives of many children may be saved. It appears that God has granted our request. But much more, we ask that we may have eternal life in Christ Jesus, and through faith in Christ we know that God will most certainly grant that request. No matter how great your sin is, no matter what you have done, Jesus promises that God the Father will forgive you for the sake of Jesus’ suffering and death for you.  


Christ’s joy is our joy. Our sorrow is his sorrow. Christ’s sorrow came to an end when he rose from the dead. And so, our sorrow will come to an end soon. As mother and child rejoice in their company together, so Christ will rejoice in us and we in him, when we finally see him as he is. Amen.  
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Jesus Our Good Shepherd

5/1/2022

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Picture
Bernard Plockhorst, Good Shepherd, 19th C. Public Domain
Easter 3 (Misericordias Domini Sunday) 
John 10:11-16 
Pastor James Preus 
Trinity Lutheran Church 
May 1, 2022 
 
Jesus said, “I am the Good Shepherd.” This is a significant statement. In Ezekiel 34, the LORD God says, “I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep.” And in Psalm 23, David confesses, “The LORD is my shepherd.” So, it is unmistakable, when Jesus calls himself the Good Shepherd, he is calling himself the LORD God. Jesus is the LORD God, and yet he is a man. He even lays down his life for his sheep. God cannot die. God cannot lay down his life. Yet, since God has become man, he does die for our sins and takes his life back again. This teaches us that there is only one Good Shepherd. There is only one God. And there is only one man, who is God, Jesus Christ. And he has proved himself to be the LORD by laying down his life for us and taking it back again. Jesus didn’t just die. He described how he would die and he rise from the dead, and he did it. This is why this is such a wonderful Easter lesson. Jesus, before he suffers and dies, makes the grand claim to be the Good Shepherd, which would mean that he is God, then he declares that he will lay down his life for his sheep and take it up again. And then he does just that.  


The Good Shepherd joins his sheep fold. He himself becomes a lamb and dies for his sheep, and then he rises from the dead to shepherd his sheep forever. This is what St. John teaches us in Revelation 7, “For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” The Lamb will be their Shepherd. As the Shepherd becomes a lamb, so the LORD became a man. And as the Lamb continues to shepherd his sheep, so our Lord Jesus is a man forever. He forever makes intercession for our sins.  


There is only one Good Shepherd. If your shepherd is not the LORD God, then he is not the Good Shepherd. If your shepherd did not become a man, then your shepherd is not the Good Shepherd. If your shepherd did not lay down his life for his sheep, then your shepherd is not the Good Shepherd. There is only one Good Shepherd who gives eternal life. Apart from him, you cannot be saved.  


Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd, who lays down his life for his sheep, so that they may have eternal life. And he tells us that he gathers his sheep into one flock. But how does Jesus gather his sheep? We recite from Psalm 23, “He leads me besides the still waters,” but what does that mean? Jesus ascended into heaven. None of us has seen him with our eyes? Jesus says, “They will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.” Jesus’ sheep listen to his voice. Jesus shepherds his sheep with words.  


This is why Scripture uses the word pastor as a name for preachers of God’s Word. The word pastor means shepherd. Now, obviously your pastor is not the Good Shepherd. There is only one Good Shepherd, who is God and man and died for your sins. Your pastor is not God, he is a sinner, and he has not died for your sins. Yet, after Jesus’ resurrection he told Peter to feed his sheep. And St. Paul exhorted the presbyters in Ephesus to “pay careful attention to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.” (Acts 20:28) And St. Peter exhorts the presbyters in chapter five of his first epistle, “Shepherd the flock of God that is among you.” (1 Peter 5:2) So, Christ’s ministers are under-shepherds, who care for Jesus’ sheep by using words.  


The voice that Jesus’ sheep recognize is not a certain pitch or tone or accents or even a language. Jesus’ voice can be heard in every language, and in multiple tones and accents. Jesus’ sheep recognize his voice by the doctrine, that is, by the teaching, which that voice teaches. This is why Jesus keeps repeating, “I lay down my life for the sheep.” This is the chief doctrine that reveals the voice of the Good Shepherd. Jesus died for the sins of all people. Whoever trusts in Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection for forgiveness and salvation will be forgiven and be saved. So, if a voice does not preach Christ crucified, or denies that Jesus’ death makes atonement for all our sins, then that is not the voice of the Good Shepherd.  


Many preachers get bored with the Gospel. So, they try to make their preaching more relevant to their hearers, by discussing issues that are more relevant for the here and now. Heaven is a far way off, but I need advice for today. Yet, what does Scripture say? “If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.” (1 Corinthians 15:19) Jesus died so that we might have eternal life. It is the job of the preacher to proclaim eternal life. Eternal salvation is always relevant. And you will not figure out how to sort out your life if you neglect your eternal life.  


This lesson gives opportunity to warn Jesus’ sheep against false prophets, who, Jesus tells us, come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves (Matthew 7:15). Jesus tells us that we will know them by their fruits, that is, by their teaching. So, Jesus’ little lambs must pay attention to what is being taught to them. They must discern whether the preacher is preaching the Law and the Gospel from the Bible or whether he is teaching some human commandment; whether he is preaching the way to eternal life through faith in Jesus, who alone laid down his life for his sheep, or whether he is preaching a different way that leads to hell.  


Yet, it has become so dire, that the wolves don’t even need to wear their sheep skins to fool the sheep. People will listen to enemies of the Gospel with reckless abandon while ignoring the voice of their Good Shepherd, as if these voices will have no affect on them. Consider this though, how much time in a week do you spend watching television or some other streaming service, or listening to the radio, or reading secular articles and books and how much time do you spend hearing the Word of God at church or reading your Bible at home? Do you know what your children are watching on the internet?  


Recently, Disney has been criticized, because the children’s entertainment company opposed a bill in Florida, which would make it illegal for public school teachers to talk about sexual topics with children third grade and under. In response, supporters of the bill accused Disney of being “Groomers.” Groomers are perverted adults, who use their influence over children to manipulate them so that they may take advantage of them and that they might become perverts like them. It is a form of child abuse. It’s a very offensive title to give someone. Yet, the title fits. Disney, Nickelodeon, YouTube for kids, and many other children entertainment companies have been producing content, which encourages young children to support and explore homosexuality and transgenderism. This includes cartoons. People are rightly horrified by this. Yet, most continue to watch movies and shows from these companies and permit their children to watch this content as well, often without reviewing the content beforehand. But even if you avoid the most offensive content, mass entertainment is filled with messaging that is contrary to the Christian faith. And it has been from the beginning! Disney and Hollywood have been promoting pantheism, moral relativism, the occult, evolution, fornication, and many other messages contrary to what God teaches us in the Bible.  


Do these messages affect you and your children? Of course, they do; especially if you consume many hours of this content. Yet, even if you try to avoid these bad messages (which you should), you’ll never completely silence them. You still live in this world. And even if you did silence them, you’d still have your old sinful nature to lead you astray. “All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned, every one, to his own way.” But now we have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls.  


We need to hear Jesus’ Word. We need to hear his voice. We must be taught what is right. We must learn to turn from our sins and fight our fleshly desires, to reject being conformed to this world. We need to learn that we are sinners, who need a Savior. We need to hear that Jesus laid down his life for us, so that we might have abundant life. But if you will not hear this voice, then you are not Jesus’ little lamb.  


People think that they can be Christians without hearing the voice of their Shepherd. But that’s not true. Jesus says that whoever does not gather with him scatters. What would a flock of sheep look like if the sheep didn’t come when the shepherd called? It would look scattered, wouldn’t it? We need to hear the voice, that is, the teaching of our Good Shepherd Jesus, so that we may have eternal life.  


Jesus says, “I know my own and my own know me.” With these words he teaches election. Election is the teaching that Jesus’ sheep are chosen before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). This is why Jesus says that many are called, but few are chosen. Jesus desires all to be saved. That is why he calls them. But only those who are chosen are ultimately saved. This is a comforting message, because it gives us certainty of salvation. Jesus says in this same chapter of John, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” (John 10:27-29) This is immensely comforting, because no one can snatch you out of your Good Shepherd’s hand. No one can take the life Jesus has given to you away from you. It has been determined before the foundation of the earth.  


Yet, how can you know that you are elect? How do you know that God has chosen you before the foundation of the world? Because you hear his voice and follow him. Don’t try to delve into the mysteries of God’s mind, which not even the angels can comprehend. Rather, listen to the voice of your Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. Jesus’ sheep hear his voice and follow him. Jesus gives his sheep eternal life. If you hear this voice and believe it, then you are Jesus’ sheep. You are elect. No one can snatch you out of the Father’s hand.  


Before you knew him, your Good Shepherd knew you. And he has made himself known to you by the proclamation of his Gospel. He died, so that you may live. He promises you eternal life. If you believe this, you are most certainly Jesus’ little lamb. Amen. Let us pray.  
Lord, my Shepherd, take me to Thee.  
Thou art mine; I was Thine, 
Even ere I knew Thee.  
I am Thine, for Thou hast bought me;  
Lost I stood, But Thy blood 
Free salvation brought me. Amen.   
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The Preaching Office

4/25/2022

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Picture
Incredulity of Saint Thomas, Caravaggio, 1602. Public Domain.
Quasimodo Geniti Sunday (Easter 2) 
John 20:19-31 
Pastor James Preus 
Trinity Lutheran Church 
April 24, 2022 
 
Twice in this Gospel lesson St. John points out that the doors were locked, yet Jesus came and stood among them. How did Jesus do this? Was it just a spirit that looked like Jesus? No. Jesus showed them his hands and his side still bearing the marks of the nails and spear. St. Luke reports that Jesus ate food with them. Spirits do not have scars. Spirits do not eat. Spirits do not have bodies you can touch and feel. So, how does Jesus do this? Jesus is God. He can do whatever he wants. Nothing is impossible with him. And Jesus’ human body does not limit his divine power. The Son of God did not become weak when he became flesh. Yes, he hid his divine glory for a while, as he was swaddled in a manger, as he hungered in the wilderness, as he languished on the cross. But Jesus never ceased to be God. Yet now, after his resurrection, his glory is no longer hidden. Jesus’ body is not limited to space and time the way our bodies are limited, because Jesus is true God. This is also how he was able to exit the tomb with his body without removing the stone. And this is how Jesus is able to be present in the Sacrament of the Altar with his body and blood, even though this seems impossible to us. Jesus is able to do far more than we can either ask or think (Ephesians 3:20).  


Why then the scars? Scripture tells us that Jesus’ body is raised in glory. All things are placed under his feat. And all who believe in him will be raised to new life with bodies formed after the image of this risen Christ. Why then the scars? If in Jesus’ resurrection his body is changed so that it has no imperfections or weaknesses, so that it is even able to be in more than one place at one time and enter into closed and locked rooms without opening a door, why do Jesus’ scars remain? Why does his body still bear the marks of the nails in his hands and the mark of the spear in his side, if he has been raised to incorruptibility? For two reasons: 1. To show them that he is the same Jesus whom they saw crucified and 2. To show them what they must preach in order to save sinners.  


This risen and glorified Jesus is the same Jesus, who covered in blood, bore the sins of the whole world on the cross, died, and was laid dead in a tomb. He is now risen. Our sins are forever banished. Jesus has conquered death. He shows them the nail marks in his hands and the scar of the spear in his side to prove that he is the same Jesus who suffered for the sins of the world, and he has won. The man who suffered and died for the sins of the world is the same God, who is exalted above all things. Those scars prove that he has won our salvation for us.  


Jesus bears the scars to show his disciples what they must preach. It is in this setting that Christ institutes the Office of Preaching the Gospel, so it is in this setting that he shows his ministers his hands. It is as if Jesus is saying, “You must preach the way to eternal life, but that way is not accomplished by works done with your hands. Rather, look at my hands. My hands have done the work needed to be done. See their scars!” And indeed, Jesus has accomplished the work needed to be done to save our souls. That is the content of the Gospel. Preachers of the Gospel do not point sinners to their own hands in order for them to work their own way to heaven. Preachers of the Gospel point sinners to Jesus’ hands, so that they may see who has worked for them and earned their way to eternal life.  


This Gospel lesson gives us the best proof text for the Office of the Keys. What is the Office of the Keys? Our Catechism answers, “The Office of the Keys in that special authority, which Christ has given to His Church on earth to forgive the sins of repentant sinners, but to withhold forgiveness from the unrepentant, as long as they do not repent.” It then quotes John 20:22-23: The Lord Jesus breathed on his disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” 

This is why our church teaches that when the called ministers of Christ deal with us by Christ’s divine command, in particular when they exclude openly unrepentant sinners from the Christian congregation, and absolve those who repent of their sins and want to do better, this is just as valid and certain even in heaven as if Christ our dear Lord dealt with us himself. We believe that when a minister forgives sins, what is called the absolution, that Christ himself is forgiving those sins in heaven. We also believe that when a minister withholds forgiveness, that forgiveness is withheld by Christ himself. The Church is supposed to withhold forgiveness from sinners, who openly refuse to repent of their sins, because they show that they do not have true faith in Christ. You cannot have saving faith while continuing in sin without repenting. Christ commands that His Church withhold forgiveness from unrepentant sinners, so that they learn to repent, so that they may be saved through faith. Yet, Christ commands his Church to forgive the sins of repentant sinners, so that they may know that their sins are forgiven before God in heaven and may be saved through faith.  


The Office of the Keys deals directly with confession and absolution as well as excommunication, which is the practice of removing openly unrepentant sinners from the Christian congregation until they repent. Yet, the Office of the Keys really teaches the entire ministry of the Church. Christ has given his Church the authority to forgive sins. The forgiveness of sins is given through the proclamation of the Gospel, that is, through words. Jesus said to his disciples, “The one who hears you hears me. The one who rejects you rejects me.” (Luke 10:16) This is because Jesus has accomplished all that needs to be done for our salvation. He died for our sins. He rose for our justification. We are saved through faith alone. Jesus told Thomas, “Blessed are those who have not seen, yet have believed.” Yet, how are they to believe? John tells us in this very chapter, “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:31)  


Jesus won for us salvation through his bitter suffering and death for our sins and his glorious resurrection. We receive this salvation as a free gift through faith. Yet, there can be no faith without hearing the words of the Gospel. Many people think that they can come to true faith or keep the faith without the word of the Gospel, but it is impossible. Jesus designed for us to receive saving faith through his Word. That is why he gave his Church the Office of the Keys, so that through words spoken by the minister, sinners may believe that they have a gracious and forgiving God. This is why Jesus instituted the Office of Preaching the Gospel, so that sinners may believe the Gospel and be saved.  


God planned our salvation; we did not. Jesus, our God and Lord, who became our brother by taking on human nature, died for the sins of the whole world. He is risen from the dead, having made satisfaction for all our sins. God’s plan is for us to receive this salvation as gift through faith, that is, by believing and trusting in the promise that our sins are forgiven for Christ’s sake. God’s plan is that we receive this faith through the proclamation of the Gospel. Jesus showed his disciples his hands and his side, demonstrating that only through the preaching of the cross can sinners be saved. We will not find another way to salvation. There is no other message that can create faith or keep faith alive. Do not be fooled into thinking that you can strengthen your faith in Christ by meditating on your own sinful thoughts or by getting in touch with nature or your garden, or that you can become closer to God by the work of your own hands. No. You can only come to true saving faith by hearing the Gospel of what Jesus’ nail-pierced hands have done for you.  


Faith is a gift from God. Because of our sinful reason, no one can believe in Christ unless the Father grants him faith by the Holy Spirit. Thomas proved this by denying the testimony of over a dozen eye witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection, after he himself heard Jesus predict his resurrection, the same Jesus, whom he had witnessed raising the dead. After Thomas confessed the true saving faith, declaring Jesus his God and Lord, Jesus said, “Blessed are those who have not seen, yet have believed.” Those blessed are those whom God has granted faith as a gift. This faith is given through the Gospel message alone.  


We speak of the fruits of faith coming after faith, yet they really often happen instantaneously with faith. When the doubting disciples came to faith, having seen the risen Lord, they received two fruits of faith: Peace and Joy. Immediately Jesus declared to them, “Peace be with you.” Having been justified through faith, they had peace with God. And having seen the risen Lord, they had joy.  


This is peace, which the world cannot give, which surpasses all understanding. Notice that the threat against the disciples, which compelled them to lock their doors, is still there. In fact, nearly all of them will eventually be killed at the hands of Jesus’ enemies. Yet still, they have peace. God is not angry with them. He has forgiven them and looks favorably at them. And this means that they have peace with their fellow Christians. The Office of the Keys doesn’t give authority to forgive sins to the pastor alone, but to every Christian. Through faith in the Gospel, Christians have peace with one another by forgiving one another their sins.  

This peace can only be found in the nail marked hands and the spear scared side of Jesus’ Christ. This is why the pastor says, “The Peace of the Lord be with you always,” as he holds up to the congregation the bread and wine, which is the true risen body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. In Christ alone do we find peace. In Christ alone do we find the ability to be at peace with one another. Saving faith is knowing that true joy can only be found in the scars of Jesus. And no trial, not even the whole world going up in flames can take that joy away from us.  


That man nailed to the cross by his hands and feet with a spear thrust in his side is our God and Lord. In his resurrection he gives his Church the power to forgive sins and grant eternal salvation to all who believe. Where Christians gather around Jesus’ Word, there is Jesus in their midst, not simply in spirit, but bodily present. Do not doubt it or deny it. He is our Lord and God. Nothing is impossible with him. Christ is risen. He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!  
Amen.   
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He Is Risen

4/19/2022

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Picture
Resurrection of Christ and Women at the Tomb, Fra Angelico, 1440 - 1442. Public Domain
Easter Sunday  
Mark 16:6 
Pastor James Preus 
Trinity Lutheran Church  
April 17, 2022 
 
 
Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!  


So what? No, I’m not being flippant. For every what, there needs to be a so what, or better yet, for us Lutherans, a “What does this mean?”. The what is precisely what the angel said, “You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen.” That is the what.  Well, what does this mean? It means that our sins are forgiven, that we are justified by grace through faith in Jesus Christ apart from our works, that we are at peace with God, as St. Paul says in Romans 4 and 5, “Jesus Christ was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jesus died for our trespasses. He was raised for our justification, meaning, that his resurrection proves that the sacrifice Jesus offered for our sins has been accepted by God. Jesus’ resurrection means that God is at peace with us, as Jesus’ first words to his disciples on the night of that first Easter prove, “Peace be with you.” (John 20:19) 


So, on this Easter morning and every day you must believe that your sins are forgiven, that God declares you righteous in his sight, and that you are at peace with God for the sake of Christ’s death and resurrection. You must believe this for two reasons. First, because Jesus did indeed die for the sins of the whole world, as the prophets, John the Baptist, the Apostles, and Christ Jesus himself declared, and he rose from the dead on the third day, proving that what he proclaimed is true, that he is indeed the Son of God, that all our sins have once and for all been washed away in his blood. Second, we must believe that our sins are forgiven and that we are justified before God on account of Jesus’ death and resurrection, because Jesus himself has promised us this, and Jesus is not a liar (John 3:15-16; 6:57; Mark 16:16; Titus 1:2).  

So, now we have the so what, or rather, the meaning of Christ’s resurrection from the dead. Now, we need the therefore. What must necessarily happen on account of the resurrection of Christ? Jesus himself gives us the therefore: therefore, repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations beginning with Jerusalem. (Luke 24:47) Repentance and forgiveness of sins must be proclaimed in Jesus’ name. Because Jesus has done all the work, (he labored on the cross, and he rose from the dead) there is nothing for us to do in order to be saved except to believe the promise. And whoever believes the promise is saved. But how can they believe in him of whom they have never heard? (Romans 10:14) So, in order for people to be saved by Jesus’ death and resurrection, this Gospel must be preached to them. This is why Jesus prayed to the Father the night he was betrayed, “I do not ask for these only (that is, not for his Apostles only), but also for those who will believe in me through their words.” (John 17:20) Faith comes by hearing the words of Christ. (Romans 10:17) Without hearing these words, no one can come to saving faith.  


The content of Jesus’ message is repentance and forgiveness of sins. Now, repentance properly speaking consists of two parts: 1. sorrow over sins, and 2. faith in the forgiveness of sins. This is why the Gospel is not properly preached when the bare message that Jesus died on the cross for sinners is preached without any context. Sinners must know that they are sinners before they can believe that Jesus saves sinners. A sick person must know that he is sick before he will take any medicine. So, those who preach the Gospel must always first preach the Law. They must make sinners aware that they have offended God, that they deserve to go to hell for their sins, that they are by nature no good. You must know that you have offended God, that you deserve to go to hell, that you are by nature no good.  


This sounds mean and impolite, but it is as impolite as a doctor telling his patient he has cancer. It is only when a sinner feels remorse for what he has done wrong and fears God’s punishment that he will then take hold of the Gospel that God forgives all sins for the sake of Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection. Then the Gospel is the most wonderful message in the world. Jesus Christ is risen from the dead. Your sins are left nailed to the cross. Everything has been accomplished. This salvation is a free gift received through faith alone.  


The ‘so what’ of the resurrection is that salvation is a free gift. The ‘therefore’ of the resurrection is that this Gospel should be preached, so that sinners may repent of their sins and receive this forgiveness and salvation through faith alone apart from works. Yet, fruits of faith are bound to follow this faith, that is, the person who repents and believes in this Gospel will do good works, as St. Paul writes, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not of yourselves; it is a gift of God, not of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, that God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8-10) This is why John the Baptist preaches, “Bear fruits in keeping with repentance.” (Luke 3:8), and why Jesus says, “Every tree that does not bear good fruits will be cut down and throne into the fire.” (Matthew 7:19) 


Yet, these good works are called fruit, meaning, they are not produced on account of compulsion, not forced, but done willingly because of a new heart born of the Spirit. This is why Martin Luther writes (and this is quoted in the Formula of Concord article on Good Works):  


Faith, however, is a divine work in us that changes us and makes us to be born anew of God, John 1[:12-13]. It kills the old Adam and makes us altogether different men, in heart and spirit and mind and powers; it brings with it the Holy Spirit. O, it is a living, busy, active, mighty thing, this faith. It is impossible for it not to be doing good works incessantly. It does not ask whether good works are to be done, but before the question is asked, it has already done them, and is constantly doing them. Whoever does not do such works, however, is an unbeliever. … Thus it is impossible to separate works from faith, quite as impossible as to separate heat and light from fire. [LW 35:370:370-71]” (SD IV:11-12) 


To have faith in Christ’s resurrection means to die to sin and to live to Christ. When you trust in Christ for the forgiveness of sins, your new self desires to do what is right. This is why St. Paul answers the question, “Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?”, by saying, “By no means! How are we who died to sin still to live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?” (Romans 6:1-3) He then explains, “Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 6:8-11) 


Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia! You must not say that if you do not believe it! You must not say that and go on living as if Christ is still dead. You must not go on living in sin, hating your brother and refusing to be reconciled, living sexually immoral lives, being greedy and covetous, speaking ill of others, going weeks and months without hearing the Word of God preached, of which Christ said, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciple.” If you believe that Christ Jesus is risen from the dead and that he has put away your sins, then you must also die to your sins and live to Christ. Of course, if you believe that Christ Jesus is risen from the dead after having died for your sins, then you want to put away your sins and do what is right. You want to die to sin forever and live to Christ forever. That is the desire of the new man. That is the fruit of faith.  


Yet, the old sinful Adam still hangs around. He fights against the Spirit within you. Have you checked your fruit and seen that it doesn’t look too good? In this life, Christians produce good fruit in great weakness. They’re always imperfect. So, although true faith does produce good fruit and Christians should be busy doing good works, when we examine our fruit, we always see that we are still sinners. When we compare our fruit to God’s Law, we see that we still deserve to go to hell. This is why we must never forsake the ‘therefore’ and the ‘so what.’ We need the proclamation of the Gospel today. We must hear the call to repentance and the proclamation of the forgiveness of sins for Christ’s sake today. As long as we live in this life, burdened with our sin, with our old Adam drawing us to rebel against God, we need to be brought to repentance. We need to hear that Jesus died for our sins and rose, so that we are forgiven, so that we may be justified in God’s sight and have peace with him.  


Whatever keeps you from hearing this Gospel is from the devil. Our Lord Jesus bore the sins of the whole world. This was not a small task. He suffered hell on the cross in order to pay for our sins. And he rose again, having vanquished sin, death, and hell for us. And what does he say after he wins this victory? He says that repentance and forgiveness of sins must be proclaimed to all. That is the only way people can be saved through faith in what Jesus has done. That is the only way that sinners can be brought to repentance. That is the only way you can be saved. Jesus is not done preaching repentance and forgiveness of sins. He’s not done preaching for your sake, because he desires your salvation. And so, for the sake of your salvation, you must not be done listening. You’re still a sinner. Satan is still trying to destroy your soul. You need to hear what your risen Lord has to say to you in order for you to be saved. And what Jesus has to say is the most comforting message.  


As important as they are, your fruits of faith do not save you. Only Jesus’ suffering and death for your sins and resurrection does. The fact that Jesus rose from the dead means that your salvation has been accomplished for you. Your sins have been atoned for. You are forgiven. Satan has been defeated. You’ve been rescued from hell. Christ has made heaven your home. You too will rise from the dead and live forever with Christ. That is what Jesus’ resurrection means. God grant that we believe it. Let us pray.  
Thou hast died for my transgression,  
All my sins on Thee were laid;  
Thou hast won for me salvation,  
On the cross my debt was paid.  
From the grave I shall arise 
And shall meet Thee in the skies.  
Death itself is transitory;  
I shall lift my head in glory. Amen.  
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Jesus Teaches Us to Die

4/19/2022

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Picture
Christ Crucified (c. 1632) by Diego Velázquez; Diego Velázquez, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Good Friday 
Luke 23:46 
Pastor James Preus 
April 15, 2022 
 
Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.” ~ Luke 23:46 
 
Let us pray:  
 
Teach me to live that I may dread  
The grave as little as my bed.  
Teach me to die that so I may 
Rise glorious at the awe-full day. 
Amen.  (LSB 883:3, Thomas Ken)  
 
“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!”, Jesus cried before he died. This is    same Jesus, who from the cross cried out in dereliction, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34). This is the same Jesus upon whom the sins of the whole world were laid, so that even in the garden before a whip had made a single stripe on his back, he sweat drops of blood under their burden. Where does he get the confidence to commit his spirit into the hands of the Almighty God, who had forsaken him on the cross and who has so willed to crush him? Because Jesus Christ is true God, begotten and beloved of the Father from all eternity, and also true man, and as true man, he is completely innocent of all sin. Jesus is the spotless Lamb of God, who has fully and completely fulfilled the entire Law under which we were once enslaved.  


Jesus did not find himself nailed to the cross by accident. It was for this purpose that he came into the world. John the Baptist declared him the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world at the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry. Jesus himself declared several times that he would be delivered over to evil men and be crucified and on the third day rise. This was all part of God’s plan to redeem us. Jesus said, “For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” (John 10:17-18) This is also why St. Peter declared after Jesus’ ascension on Pentecost, “God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.” (Acts 2:24) And not only did Jesus have confidence that he would rise from the dead on the third day, he had confidence that his soul would dwell with the Father in heaven, as he said to the thief on the cross, ‘Today, you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43). This was all part of God’s plan.  


Yet, this does not mean that it was all for show. Jesus didn’t pretend to suffer on the cross for our sins. He did not pretend to die. He wasn’t acting when he cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me!” No, the suffering Jesus’ endured was real. The divine abandonment was real. The sins he bore were real sins with real guilt. Jesus bore hell on the cross for us. And the death he died was a real death. His soul departed his body. His body became inanimate and cold. Our God and brother hung dead on the cross. Jesus died.  


Yet, he was not afraid to die. He died confident that he had done no wrong, confident that he had fulfilled all that God required of him and of every human being. He died confident that he had fully paid for every sin laid upon him and that he was returning to his Father in peace.  


Jesus’ last words, “into your hands I commit my spirit!”, are actually a quote from King David in Psalm 31. And Martin Luther paraphrases it in his morning and evening prayers, “Into your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things.” So, Jesus is by no means the first or the last person to pray these words to our heavenly Father. Yet, had Jesus not said these words, had he not commended his soul in death to our heavenly Father, no one would ever be able to utter this prayer.  


Jesus once said, “Do not fear those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul, but fear Him who can destroy both body and soul in hell.” (Matthew 10:28) How can we commit our spirit into the hand of him, who has the authority to destroy our soul in hell? God commands that you be perfect. You know the commandments. You shall have no other gods before the LORD. You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God. You shall not despise God’s Word and preaching. Honor your father and mother. You shall not steal. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not covet. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. Well, have you done these things perfectly? Have you satisfied God’s standard of perfection? Are you comfortable committing your soul into the hands of a righteous Judge?  


Throughout history, there have been stories of people, even some ostensibly very righteous people, who have had great fits of terror on their death beds. They are terrified to die, because they know that after death comes judgment. While horrible and faithless as this is, these dying fools had much more sense than seems to be common today. No one sees the urgency in death today. They fear death. You can tell that by how they hide from it and deny it. You see it as people shunned the words of eternal life and the medicine of immortality, because some priests of science told them to give up meeting together in order to stay healthy. But today, few take notice that when they die they will meet their Maker, their Judge. They march toward death in arrogance, claiming to have no regrets. But they would be much wiser to know that it is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:31).  


Yet, should you be so terrified to die? Should the knowledge that after death comes judgement and that you have not fulfilled God’s Law, that God is indeed a righteous God, terrify you? No. Rather, you should have confidence to face death and say, “Father, into your hands I commit my Spirit.”  


When Jesus suffered on the cross for the sins of the whole world, he suffered for your sins, for all of them. That means that when Jesus said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”, he was confident that all of your sins were atoned for by his suffering and death. If any of your sins remained, Jesus would not be able to say, “Into your hands I commit my spirit.” Rather, he himself would be terrified to die. But because Jesus has said, “Into your hands I commit my spirit,” you have the right to say these sweet words as well with confidence that they are true.
 
 

King David first penned these words in Psalm 31:5; the full verse is, “Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God.” Indeed, that is how we may commit our spirits to the LORD. He has redeemed us with the precious blood of Christ Jesus and his innocent sufferings and death. God has purchased our salvation. You have been bought with a price! The prophet Isaiah writes, “The LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6) St. Peter says, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree.” (1 Peter 2:24) St. Paul writes, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) Again the Apostle Paul writes, “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.” (Colossians 2:13-14) Again Scripture says, “He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification, therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 4:25-5:1)  


These words of comfort are not a hypothetical theory. Jesus died for these words. He Himself committed his soul to the Father having taken on your sins. This is not a superficial statement. Jesus took ownership of your transgressions, atoned for them, and then with full confidence, committed his soul to the Father, so that you can do the same.  


We not only commit our souls to our heavenly Father in death, we commit our souls to the Father in life. God alone can keep us faithful. God alone can lead us out of temptation, out of unbelief and other great shame and vice. And he does this through Jesus Christ alone. Every morning and evening we commit our souls to God our heavenly Father for the sake of the suffering and death of his dear Son, trusting that God will guide our ways, lead us out of temptation, forgive our sins, protect us from danger, and keep us in the true faith. And in this way, we are ready for death at all times. Death no longer can terrify us, not because we are ignorant of judgment or arrogant before God, but because Christ has taken that terror away from us. He committed his soul to the Father and in so doing, he has paved a path for our souls as well.  


Let us pray:  
I thank you my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ your dear Son, that you have graciously kept me this day. And I pray that you would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night, for into your hands I commend myself, my body and soul and all things, let your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. 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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