1 Corinthians 15:26; The Festival of the Resurrection of Our Lord, Jesus Christ; April 20, 2025;

Life in Christ Lutheran Church, Grand Marais, MN;

The last enemy to be destroyed is death. (1 Corinthians 15:26, ESV)

Grace and peace to you from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

The grave. Everyone must face the grave. That rectangular, deep, black hole waits for us all. It is no respecter of persons. The richest man in the world to the penniless. The Buddhist, the Mormon, the atheist, the Christian. Life ends in the grave. It is the single biggest mystery of human existence. For millennia people have struggled with the grave. Religion tries to give an answer. The struggle with the cause of death is the province of world religions. It is a natural thing, some say. Dharma and karma are the ideas that we die because we haven’t figured out life, so we must do it again and again until we do. Still others say death is willed by God as part of his divine plan. And still another says death comes from suffering, that is caused by desire and ignorance. But all are the same, in one way. The solutions they offer are living a better life makes what happens after death better. Even those who don’t believe anything lies after death, promote doing good things as the answer to life’s fulfillment.

All these things that world religions struggle to answer show how serious the human condition is. None has an answer that satisfies. The grave is still waiting. The grave is patient. The grave is persistent. The grave is eternal. The grave is totally inclusive.

The biggest problem with religion is it offers no real proof. All the ideas that are touted as the answer were made by people… who died.

So, how do you choose? Most people are born into a religion. They don’t question its teachings. They simply believe because their parents believed. Others have bounced around from one belief to another, until all meaning in any is lost.

You could just try each one out. It seems like a worthwhile project, until you consider how many there are. ChatGPT tells me that religions are countless, but world religions exceed 4000. So, how do you start, alphabetically? How much time do you give each one? World life expectancy is 70 years. If you get started at 20 (quite early actually) divided evenly that would be 4 days for each. How can you evaluate the truth of a religion in 4 days? Even if you narrow it down to just the top 12 (those with the most adherents) the number drops to 4 years for each. Even that is unrealistic because the tenants for most of them require you to die to find out.

Maybe you choose the most important doctrine of each (called the Material Principal)?

Material and Formal Principles of Major World Religions

They all sound important. But they all fall short of the real human problem. None of them has an answer to death, that rectangular, deep, black hole waits for us all.

There are only (Judaism, Islam, Zoroastrianism, Christianity) four even believe in a resurrection, a physical, bodily raising from death. Since death is the greatest problem that faces humanity, I think this is a pretty poor showing.

Of the four, one (Zoroastrianism) doesn’t claim divine inspiration (from God) for the writings that talk about resurrection. Only three do. Now we are getting to the nub. The three that we have left are Judaism, Islam and Christianity. And yet, only one offers any real proof of bodily, physical resurrection. In fact, of all the religions in the world, it is only Christianity that claims that its major teacher, Jesus, defeated death.

On the point of the grave, only Christianity offers any real solution, that, it claims, is proven. And, in fact, it claims that the religion is ultimately disprovable. Listen to Paul from 1 Corinthians 15:

And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.” (1 Corinthians 15:14–19, ESV)

While most religions ground their truth in ethical teachings, mystical insight, or subjective experience. Paul, in contrast, puts everything on a public, falsifiable historical claim:

If Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless.

Let’s make this very clear. If Jesus hasn’t risen, the disciples are liars, Christians are still in their sin, the dead are all just dead, faith in Jesus is futile, and Christians are deluded, pitiful fools. But mostly, there is no answer to that rectangular, deep, black hole that waits for us all.

Paul says,

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. (1 Corinthians 15:20, ESV)

In Greek, Paul uses the phrase Νυνὶ δὲ (But now) translated here as “but in fact”. It stands in contrast to what he said before about the verifiability of Christianity. It is a declaration of reality over speculation. He’s not just stating a hope, but a fact.

From a historical perspective—not theological—the resurrection of Jesus cannot be dismissed easily. It remains one of the most attested and transformative events in ancient history, with no natural explanation that fully accounts for the evidence. (ChatGPT)

To quote the great philosopher Sherlock Holmes (Arthur Conan Doyle),

“When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.” — The Sign of the Four, Arthur Conan Doyle

And of course, Occam’s Razor, that states that the simplest explanation that accounts for all the evidence is likely to be the truth.

Yet, for us Christians, the resurrection isn’t only a historical curiosity. Historians agree that it is defensible, grounded in early eyewitness testimony, and the explosive growth of the Christian church. We don’t get to it by eliminating all the other alternatives. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is at the very heart of the Gospel. Paul says it has a meaning beyond simple life. He says that because of Jesus we are forgiven.

[Jesus] was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. (Romans 4:25).

Jesus’ resurrection is God’s very public declaration that Jesus did just that. His atoning sacrifice for sin was accepted. The solution to death is Jesus. He died on the cross for our forgiveness. Jesus defeated death. We are justified. And what’s more, Jesus, the one who rose from death, the only one, promises a solution for the grave. Our resurrection.

Jesus said to Mary, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.’ John 11:25–26

For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 1 Thessalonians 4:14

Knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 2 Corinthians 4:14

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 1 Corinthians 15:20–22

So, the rectangular, deep, black hole waits for you. You have some options. You can hitch your wagon to any one of the myriads of world religions that offer no real solution to the very real problem. Or you can put your faith and trust in the one who defeated death. The one who confirmed his promises with his resurrection. The one who offers not only your resurrection but a solution to your sin. There really is no option because,

The last enemy to be destroyed is death. (1 Corinthians 15:26, ESV)

Χριστός ἀνέστη, Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Amen.

The peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Luke 22:14-20; Holy Thursday; April 17, 2025;

Life in Christ Lutheran Church, Grand Marais, MN;

And when the hour came, [Jesus] reclined at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” (Luke 22:14–20, ESV)

Grace and peace to you from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

On this holy night, we remember that Jesus gave us his supper. Tomorrow, he hangs on the cross to forgive our sins. On Sunday he rises from the dead, to give us the promise of resurrection. Tonight, he makes his last will and testament. This text says, covenant, but it is the same thing. Jesus, himself, gives us this supper as his testament and promise of our sins forgiven and our resurrection.

We would do well to look at exactly what he does, what he says and what he asks us to do when we celebrate this supper. This being a will, the words are very specifically chosen. No one says anything in a will that is useless, or unmeaning.

Firstly, the context, all this takes place during the celebration of Passover. That’s when the Jews gather to remember God’s salvation from Egypt. God sent plagues to convince Pharoah to set them free. Pharoah refused until the final stroke. God sent the angel of death and killed all the first born in Egypt. He made one provision. Every house that had the blood of a lamb spread on the door post would be spared. So, as the people of God sat in their houses with blood on the door, God’s angel brought death everywhere else. For them it was an act of faith. Those who believed God’s promise lived. Afterwards, Pharoh couldn’t wait to get rid of them. His own son was dead. He would later change his mind, but that’s another story.

This event, Passover, is the major saving event of the Old Testament. God’s name YHWH is a reminder of that. It’s the name he gave them to use at that time. He gave it to Moses when the whole process of ending their slavery began. Every time that name is used, every time rescue is mentioned, every time the promised land is mentioned, in the Old Testament, every Hebrew would make the connection to the Passover.

It is in this context that Jesus makes his new covenant. Simply stated, Jesus’ blood saves us from slavery to sin and death. Just like the sacrificed lamb’s blood. Of course, I’m preaching to the choir when I say it is much more than a symbol of what he is doing. When we look at the actual words he uses, one in particular, chosen with great care, we see that. The word is is. In Greek

τοῦτό ἐστιν τὸ σῶμά μου (literally: this is the body of me)

You could say this phrase in many ways and Greek doesn’t require the linking verb, is. But remembering that Jesus is choosing his words very carefully, is is very important. It’s not “depends on how you define, is” ala Bill Clinton. From the context, the importance of what Jesus is doing, Passover and the blood of and actual lamb spread on the door posts, is means is.

There may have been more ink spilled on this single word, theologically speaking, than any other word. William of Ockham was a late 13th-century philosopher and theologian who despised overcomplicating things. His theorem, called Occam’s Razor, points this out.

Entities should not be multiplied beyond necessity. — William of Ockham (c. 1287–1347)

In plain English it means:

When you’re faced with competing hypotheses that make the same predictions, the one with the fewest assumptions is preferable.

Or even simpler: The simplest explanation that accounts for all the facts is usually the best one.

So, how does this apply here? Well, in Greek the word ἐστιν means is. It is never used to mean symbolically. In fact, Greek has another word for that Σημαίνω. It means signifies. Should Jesus have just used this word to avoid confusion? I think it’s fair to say the creator of the universe knows what he said. I would rather stand before the throne of God, having to explain why I took Jesus at his word than the other way around. In other words, given all the facts, the context, and the words, the simplest meaning is that is means is. What Jesus meant to say is that the bread and wine are his body and blood. How that is true is a mystery.

There is one more phrase that is critical in understanding the supper. The words in Greek again are: τὸ ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν διδόμενον. Or “the thing given on behalf of you” or as we say in the Words of institution “given for you”. And the phrase is a present passive participle. That’s fancy grammar for “starting right now” it’s not just a future event on the cross but already beginning in the Supper when Jesus gave. So, the gifts, forgiveness, life and salvation are for you in this meal beginning now. The disciples at the table received Jesus body and blood and the forgiveness of their sins.

Martin Luther said about these words,

“The words ‘for you’ require all hearts to believe. This treasure is not begged for nor earned by our works. It is offered without cost and is to be received with thanksgiving.” — Luther, LC V.62–64

So, the for you is exclusive. It is for those who believe. In other words, it is for some, but not all. Every church has exclusions from the supper. Most would deny it to Buddhists, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, or even the Klu, Klux Klan. If you ask them why they will say they lack faith in Jesus (even though the KKK claims to be Christian). The question is, where do you draw the line as to who is excluded and who is included? It is in the for you. Quite simply, Jesus first gave it to believers and said it was for them, for believers. The Supper of Jesus is for the Church, that is, for the community of believers.

The Lord’s Supper is not neutral. Through faith it gives grace. Without faith it gives judgement.

Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 1 Corinthians 11:27–29 (ESV)

In some ways, I think we don’t take these words seriously. But it is serious, in fact, deadly serious. Paul adds,

That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. 1 Corinthians 11:30 (ESV)

So, in this Congregation of Corinthians, there were those who were sick and died, because they weren’t discerning the body. Paul is being literal. Is he only speaking about unbelief? No, obviously, it is a congregation of believers. This was an admonition, not of faith, but wrong faith. The body isn’t only the presence of Jesus, his body, in the supper but the body of faith.

How do I know this? Paul, himself, in the next chapter of the letter, calls the church, the Body of Christ.

You are the body of Christ and individually members of it. (1 Cor. 12:27)

And in 11:20-22 he condemns the Corinthians for division and selfishness in the Supper. In this larger context Paul says to discern the body is to: Recognize your brothers and sisters in Christ, act with love, humility and unity in the gathered body. And to avoid factionalism and pride. So, the church is responsible for avoiding obvious division in the Church, especially when considering the Supper of the Lord.

I think it is fair to say that Church of Christ is divided, much more now than when Jesus gave this gift to her. On any topic from the Real Presence of Jesus body and blood in the supper to what will happen at the end of time. What it means to be saved by faith and how works are active in the life of a believer. Not to mention the gross distortions of unrepentant homosexual behavior and support for the killing of the unborn. These are serious divisions in the body of Christ. Should they not be considered when it comes to the Lord’s most holy gift to the church? Paul says so. This is the simplest understanding of what he says.

Earlier in the Letter, Paul also says this,

This is how one should regard us: as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 1 Corinthians 4:1–2, ESV

He is of course talking about pastors here, as stewards. Stewards of the mysteries of God. The Lord’s Supper is one of the greatest mysteries of the faith. The word steward (οἰκονόμος) here means one who is obligated to follow the instructions of the master. I take these words (in fact all of scripture) seriously. I don’t own the supper; I am responsible for its distribution. It is improper (that is not being a faithful steward) to give sacred food to those who are hostile to the faith. Anyone who doesn’t believe what it is, Jesus body and blood for the forgiveness of sins, those who are unrepentant, that is, those who don’t seen the need for repentance, and are not united in faith. This responsibility can be and often is a great burden. But thankfully there is forgiveness for err. And I have often done so.

The question is, what is unity? The divisions in the church are clearly defined. Baptist churches don’t believe in the real presence, ELCA Lutherans believe in supporting homosexuality. Roman Catholics believe they participate in their salvation. I realize that not all members of these churches believe in everything they teach. But it is the responsibility of Christians to seek out churches that teach the word faithfully. It is my responsibility to faithfully administer the Sacrament according to God’s Word. And the word warns against spiritual harm for those who do not discern the Body of Christ. The supper isn’t for everyone. A pastor is responsible for this work, in his own congregation, not as a doorman, but as a steward.

So, what about the gift? We return to Jesus’ words, for you. That is what Paul means when he says, examine yourselves, he is talking about you confidently grasping the gifts offered in the supper for you. He is talking about you firmly holding on to the promise of salvation for you, in the forgiveness of your sin. He is talking about your confession of faith, in all that Jesus has said. The attitude should be one like the desperate father in Mark. His son was demon possessed. He asks for healing for his son. Jesus says to him, “All things are possible for one who believes.” His response: “I believe; help my unbelief.”

In this context, the supper is here for you. Doubt isn’t the issue. We all have doubt. In fact, doubt is reversed through the gift of faith and assurance of forgiveness that is offered in this sacred meal. If you believe in the for you of the supper, it is indeed here for you.

Again, Luther says,

If a person does not desire the Sacrament, I let him go. [I do not preach much to him about the benefits, for he is a coarse pig; he does not desire it.] But if he comes on his own and says, ‘I want to be a Christian and receive the Sacrament,’ I cannot refuse him, if only he gives evidence of his faith and receives instruction, lest we give it to swine and dogs. Luther’s Works, AE 51:98

He doesn’t mean he lets him go to the supper, he means he lets him go without it. Then he says what is necessary to receive it. gives evidence of his faith and receives instruction.

You may not like the practice of closed communion. Sometimes, I hate it. But we must for the sake of what Jesus and Paul say, continue to do it. Amen.

The peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Luke 22:14-20; Holy Thursday; April 17, 2025;

Life in Christ Lutheran Church, Grand Marais, MN;

And when the hour came, [Jesus] reclined at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” (Luke 22:14–20, ESV)

Grace and peace to you from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

On this holy night, we remember that Jesus gave us his supper. Tomorrow, he hangs on the cross to forgive our sins. On Sunday he rises from the dead, to give us the promise of resurrection. Tonight, he makes his last will and testament. This text says, covenant, but it is the same thing. Jesus, himself, gives us this supper as his testament and promise of our sins forgiven and our resurrection.

We would do well to look at exactly what he does, what he says and what he asks us to do when we celebrate this supper. This being a will, the words are very specifically chosen. No one says anything in a will that is useless, or unmeaning.

Firstly, the context, all this takes place during the celebration of Passover. That’s when the Jews gather to remember God’s salvation from Egypt. God sent plagues to convince Pharoah to set them free. Pharoah refused until the final stroke. God sent the angel of death and killed all the first born in Egypt. He made one provision. Every house that had the blood of a lamb spread on the door post would be spared. So, as the people of God sat in their houses with blood on the door, God’s angel brought death everywhere else. For them it was an act of faith. Those who believed God’s promise lived. Afterwards, Pharoh couldn’t wait to get rid of them. His own son was dead. He would later change his mind, but that’s another story.

This event, Passover, is the major saving event of the Old Testament. God’s name YHWH is a reminder of that. It’s the name he gave them to use at that time. He gave it to Moses when the whole process of ending their slavery began. Every time that name is used, every time rescue is mentioned, every time the promised land is mentioned, in the Old Testament, every Hebrew would make the connection to the Passover.

It is in this context that Jesus makes his new covenant. Simply stated, Jesus’ blood saves us from slavery to sin and death. Just like the sacrificed lamb’s blood. Of course, I’m preaching to the choir when I say it is much more than a symbol of what he is doing. When we look at the actual words he uses, one in particular, chosen with great care, we see that. The word is is. In Greek

τοῦτό ἐστιν τὸ σῶμά μου (literally: this is the body of me)

You could say this phrase in many ways and Greek doesn’t require the linking verb, is. But remembering that Jesus is choosing his words very carefully, is is very important. It’s not “depends on how you define, is” ala Bill Clinton. From the context, the importance of what Jesus is doing, Passover and the blood of and actual lamb spread on the door posts, is means is.

There may have been more ink spilled on this single word, theologically speaking, than any other word. William of Ockham was a late 13th-century philosopher and theologian who despised overcomplicating things. His theorem, called Occam’s Razor, points this out.

Entities should not be multiplied beyond necessity. — William of Ockham (c. 1287–1347)

In plain English it means:

When you’re faced with competing hypotheses that make the same predictions, the one with the fewest assumptions is preferable.

Or even simpler: The simplest explanation that accounts for all the facts is usually the best one.

So, how does this apply here? Well, in Greek the word ἐστιν means is. It is never used to mean symbolically. In fact, Greek has another word for that Σημαίνω. It means signifies. Should Jesus have just used this word to avoid confusion? I think it’s fair to say the creator of the universe knows what he said. I would rather stand before the throne of God, having to explain why I took Jesus at his word than the other way around. In other words, given all the facts, the context, and the words, the simplest meaning is that is means is. What Jesus meant to say is that the bread and wine are his body and blood. How that is true is a mystery.

There is one more phrase that is critical in understanding the supper. The words in Greek again are: τὸ ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν διδόμενον. Or “the thing given on behalf of you” or as we say in the Words of institution “given for you”. And the phrase is a present passive participle. That’s fancy grammar for “starting right now” it’s not just a future event on the cross but already beginning in the Supper when Jesus gave. So, the gifts, forgiveness, life and salvation are for you in this meal beginning now. The disciples at the table received Jesus body and blood and the forgiveness of their sins.

Martin Luther said about these words,

“The words ‘for you’ require all hearts to believe. This treasure is not begged for nor earned by our works. It is offered without cost and is to be received with thanksgiving.” — Luther, LC V.62–64

So, the for you is exclusive. It is for those who believe. In other words, it is for some, but not all. Every church has exclusions from the supper. Most would deny it to Buddhists, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, or even the Klu, Klux Klan. If you ask them why they will say they lack faith in Jesus (even though the KKK claims to be Christian). The question is, where do you draw the line as to who is excluded and who is included? It is in the for you. Quite simply, Jesus first gave it to believers and said it was for them, for believers. The Supper of Jesus is for the Church, that is, for the community of believers.

The Lord’s Supper is not neutral. Through faith it gives grace. Without faith it gives judgement.

Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 1 Corinthians 11:27–29 (ESV)

In some ways, I think we don’t take these words seriously. But it is serious, in fact, deadly serious. Paul adds,

That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. 1 Corinthians 11:30 (ESV)

So, in this Congregation of Corinthians, there were those who were sick and died, because they weren’t discerning the body. Paul is being literal. Is he only speaking about unbelief? No, obviously, it is a congregation of believers. This was an admonition, not of faith, but wrong faith. The body isn’t only the presence of Jesus, his body, in the supper but the body of faith.

How do I know this? Paul, himself, in the next chapter of the letter, calls the church, the Body of Christ.

You are the body of Christ and individually members of it. (1 Cor. 12:27)

And in 11:20-22 he condemns the Corinthians for division and selfishness in the Supper. In this larger context Paul says to discern the body is to: Recognize your brothers and sisters in Christ, act with love, humility and unity in the gathered body. And to avoid factionalism and pride. So, the church is responsible for avoiding obvious division in the Church, especially when considering the Supper of the Lord.

I think it is fair to say that Church of Christ is divided, much more now than when Jesus gave this gift to her. On any topic from the Real Presence of Jesus body and blood in the supper to what will happen at the end of time. What it means to be saved by faith and how works are active in the life of a believer. Not to mention the gross distortions of unrepentant homosexual behavior and support for the killing of the unborn. These are serious divisions in the body of Christ. Should they not be considered when it comes to the Lord’s most holy gift to the church? Paul says so. This is the simplest understanding of what he says.

Earlier in the Letter, Paul also says this,

This is how one should regard us: as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 1 Corinthians 4:1–2, ESV

He is of course talking about pastors here, as stewards. Stewards of the mysteries of God. The Lord’s Supper is one of the greatest mysteries of the faith. The word steward (οἰκονόμος) here means one who is obligated to follow the instructions of the master. I take these words (in fact all of scripture) seriously. I don’t own the supper; I am responsible for its distribution. It is improper (that is not being a faithful steward) to give sacred food to those who are hostile to the faith. Anyone who doesn’t believe what it is, Jesus body and blood for the forgiveness of sins, those who are unrepentant, that is, those who don’t seen the need for repentance, and are not united in faith. This responsibility can be and often is a great burden. But thankfully there is forgiveness for err. And I have often done so.

The question is, what is unity? The divisions in the church are clearly defined. Baptist churches don’t believe in the real presence, ELCA Lutherans believe in supporting homosexuality. Roman Catholics believe they participate in their salvation. I realize that not all members of these churches believe in everything they teach. But it is the responsibility of Christians to seek out churches that teach the word faithfully. It is my responsibility to faithfully administer the Sacrament according to God’s Word. And the word warns against spiritual harm for those who do not discern the Body of Christ. The supper isn’t for everyone. A pastor is responsible for this work, in his own congregation, not as a doorman, but as a steward.

So, what about the gift? We return to Jesus’ words, for you. That is what Paul means when he says, examine yourselves, he is talking about you confidently grasping the gifts offered in the supper for you. He is talking about you firmly holding on to the promise of salvation for you, in the forgiveness of your sin. He is talking about your confession of faith, in all that Jesus has said. The attitude should be one like the desperate father in Mark. His son was demon possessed. He asks for healing for his son. Jesus says to him, “All things are possible for one who believes.” His response: “I believe; help my unbelief.”

In this context, the supper is here for you. Doubt isn’t the issue. We all have doubt. In fact, doubt is reversed through the gift of faith and assurance of forgiveness that is offered in this sacred meal. If you believe in the for you of the supper, it is indeed here for you.

Again, Luther says,

If a person does not desire the Sacrament, I let him go. [I do not preach much to him about the benefits, for he is a coarse pig; he does not desire it.] But if he comes on his own and says, ‘I want to be a Christian and receive the Sacrament,’ I cannot refuse him, if only he gives evidence of his faith and receives instruction, lest we give it to swine and dogs. Luther’s Works, AE 51:98

He doesn’t mean he lets him go to the supper, he means he lets him go without it. Then he says what is necessary to receive it. gives evidence of his faith and receives instruction.

You may not like the practice of closed communion. Sometimes, I hate it. But we must for the sake of what Jesus and Paul say, continue to do it. Amen.

The peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Luke.20.9-20; The Fifth Sunday in Lent; April 7, 2019

Life in Christ Lutheran Church, Grand Marais, MN

Grace and peace to you from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

We love stories. People have always loved them. Around the campfire, dad tucking the children in for sleep, tales about family escapades… and Jesus’ parables. Some folks say that Jesus’ stories, his parables, are earthly stories with heavenly meaning. I think it’s much simpler than that. Jesus’ parables are Jesus-parables. In other words, the stories Jesus tells are about him. It’s the simplest rule to keep in mind when reading and hearing them. Without that, people won’t understand them. When the disciples asked him to explain the parable of the sower…

he said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’ ” (Luke 8:10, ESV)

The secret is knowing Jesus and seeing Jesus in the parable. It is about him. The hard part is that we are going against our sinful nature. You see, whenever we start to talk about religious ideas, we go into a kind of auto pilot. Our first thought is us. In fact, without the work of the Holy Spirit through God’s Word that’s all human religion is, human work to raise up humans. Any example you look at is going to show that. Buddhism, Mormonism, Islam, etc., they are all religions about what people do. Christianity is the only religion that is about what God does, and the key to it all is Jesus. His life, death and resurrection are God doing, God saving.

And so today we have this parable. And right here in the middle of it we have a great example of this very thing I’ve been talking about. Before I read it again, I want to set up the context and remind you of the keys to interpreting parables. First the context:

This is probably Monday after Palm Sunday. Remember Jesus rides into Jerusalem surrounded by people shouting, “Hosanna! The king is here.” He weeps over Jerusalem’s upcoming destruction. He goes into the temple, the “home territory” of his enemies, and flushes out the money changers. Then comes this important sentence:

And [Jesus] was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy him, but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were hanging on his words. ” (Luke 19:47–48, ESV)

So, Jesus’ enemies confront him in the temple asking where he gets his authority. He shuts them down by asking,

“I also will ask you a question. Now tell me, was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?” (Luk 20:3–4, ESV)

They are afraid of the people. If we answer “from heaven” Jesus could ask why they didn’t believe what he said. If they answer “from men” they were afraid of the people’s reaction because the people knew he was from God. So, they answer “We don’t know.” So, Jesus doesn’t answer their question either. The tension is thick. The people are hanging on Jesus words. The priests and scribes have blood in their eyes. Then Jesus tells the parable… not to them but to the people.

Now the parable: Remember the two helps in interpreting the parable. First, it’s about Jesus. Second, watch for the thing that would never happen and that’s usually describing what Jesus is doing.

And [Jesus] began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard and let it out to tenants and went into another country for a long while. When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, so that they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. And he sent another servant. But they also beat and treated him shamefully and sent him away empty-handed. And he sent yet a third. This one also they wounded and cast out. Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.’ But when the tenants saw him, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours.’ And they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

Ok so it’s about Jesus. It’s obvious that the son in the parable is the Son of God. The servants are the prophets. The vineyard is God’s people who reject prophet after prophet and finally Jesus. But take care. The thing that would never happen isn’t that the tenants would kill the son. According to the law of the land, this could happen. And the tenants would be in a good position to take the property because the landlord was out of the country. It’s the people who hear the parable that tell you what’s out of place. When Jesus says,

What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” When they heard this, they said, “Surely not!”

Do you see what they’ve done? They have made the parable about them losing the vineyard. Almost like saying, “That could never happen!” They are thinking, “God would never do that!” That’s what we are likely to do too. When we hear it, we start asking questions like, “What do we have to do to not be like the people in the parable?” Do you see how we automatically center it on us? Jesus tells them they’ve missed the point. Listen:

But he looked directly at them and said, “What then is this that is written: “ ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’? Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”

Jesus directs them back to the main thing, him. He is the son who will be cast out of the vineyard and killed. He is the rejected stone. In a matter of days, they are going to see it in all its bloody detail. God’s glory, his work for us, God doing what is needed, is accomplished by the rejection of his son. In the garden the priest’s thugs arrest him and beat him. In an illegal trail they condemn him. They force Pilate to put him to death on the cross under threat. And so, Jesus dies just as he tells in this parable. Rejected! He is the cornerstone. The parable is about him and his work for us, his people. On Wednesday nights we’ve been singing the Magnificat. It’s Mary’s song about God’s great reversal in Jesus Christ. God working to undo injustice. God turning the world’s order upside down. God doing things like no one else would do them. Jesus talks about it like this. You may have wondered why that song is so prominent in that evening prayer service. Listen to some of the words:

Oppression halted; The meek exalted. Full are the hungry; Empty, the wealthy— O sing the greatness of God the Lord!

It’s not a song about the rich getting their comeuppance. It’s about God turning making everything right again in Christ, the rejected stone becomes the corner.

And there’s even more here than meets the ear… Jesus says:

‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’? Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.

It’s a quote from Psalm 118:22, and an explanation. I want you to notice something here too. He says everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces. He’s not just talking about the scribes and priests that rejected him. He’s not just talking about today’s religious leaders that lead God’s people astray with false teaching. He’s not just talking about popes and pastors who push their works before the work of Christ, he says everyone. Yep, he means you and me, too. Everyone who falls on this stone will be broken. He does that to us. We must be broken and crushed. Otherwise we fall into to our old selfish patterns. We make ourselves the center of our religion. Repeatedly Our Lord breaks us with the law. He doesn’t do it the way we do. We use the law to show how good we are. See I keep the law. I haven’t stolen from my neighbor even though he deserves it. I haven’t cheated on my husband, even though I could do much better. No, Jesus uses the law to kill us. He shows us that we must be perfect, and nothing short of perfect will do. When we see our sin clearly, we fall at his feet and call on him to save us. He does. The stone the builders rejected becomes the corner stone. He was cast out of the vineyard and onto the cross for us. We are forgiven. He is our savior. In repentance, the gift of faith, we broken sinners cling to Jesus for forgiveness and receive it. Those who reject him, he falls on them and they are crushed.

Jesus is the ultimate stumbling stone. Jesus is Christianity, not good works of any kind, not transforming culture, or getting good laws through the legislature. Jesus only. Jesus for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus the rejected stone. Jesus for you and me.

And that’s how the text ends today too.

The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people. (Luke 20:19, ESV)

It all begins just as Jesus told in the parable. Amen.

The peace of God the passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Luke.4.1-13; First Sunday in Lent; March 9, 2025;

Life in Christ Lutheran Church, Grand Marais, MN

And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’” And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’ ” And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’ and “ ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ” And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.” (Luke 4:1–13, ESV)

Grace and peace to you from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

This is one of those texts that is so rich, so full of meaning. Here is the epic battle of good and evil played out. Here is Satan making his stand against God’s Messiah. He knows if he wins here, he wins here (in the heart). He’s confident, using the same ploys on the Second Adam, Jesus, that worked so well on the first. And it is the same in so many ways. St. Luke wants you to understand that. Just to make sure, he does what the other Gospel writers don’t do. After Jesus is baptized by John, he goes into the desert to be tempted. But in between the events, Luke sticks the genealogy of Jesus, his family tree. And it starts with Jesus and goes all the way back to Adam. Listen to the last few lines, because they are very important in setting up the understanding of this text.

the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God. ” (Luke 3:36–38, ESV)

Adam, the son of God. Wow isn’t that what Satan says to Jesus. “If you are the son of God…”? Satan won his glorious victory over Adam in the garden, causing countless years of death and pain and sorrow. Now he renews the attack again. But there is a difference. Jesus wins. Satan withdraws. God stands on the field of battle victorious, as he always does, and always will. You see, this text is about Jesus. Oh, I know, you’ve probably heard this text used as a teaching on how to resist temptation when it comes. Just do what Jesus did. Just throw the right scripture at Satan and he’ll give in and you’ll win. Well, I hate to tell you this, but if you alone take the field against Satan, the outcome will be like the garden of Eden. You will lose. How do I know? Well, let’s just look at Satan’s arsenal.

First off, he tempts Jesus with material comfort. Jesus has been in the desert for forty days, and all that time he hasn’t eaten a scrap. And don’t think he got anything else easy either, because Satan has been at the temptation thing here for all forty days! Jesus was in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. Satan goes after Jesus for the whole forty days and then finally here at the end we get these three. It all begins here with one of those great understatements of the Bible. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. Of course, he was hungry. He was famished. He was starving. Most people would be dead, as a matter of fact. What Satan is putting toward Jesus is necessity. Look at you and me. We fail and we aren’t even faced with death. How often do we choose our own creature comfort over other people’s dire need? Here’s a simple example. You walk past the homeless person on the street and don’t help. Oh, I know, the excuse is always the same. If you give them money, they’ll just drink it away. And so, using that excuse you don’t help. You see, we’ve already failed our temptation. And we aren’t even starving. You know God requires us to help the hungry every time we are able. Anything less is sin. That’s the difference. There is nothing in us that can resist this temptation, even when nothing is at stake. But Jesus does. He could make the manna miracle all over again. He stands up to Satan in his hunger where we fail. He defeats Satan for us. He chooses God’s way, the perfect way.

Ok what about the second temptation? Satan takes a different tact. He shows Jesus the whole world. And he lies. Well, it isn’t a complete lie. He has control of the world. He has it through fraud. He has convinced people that his way is the best way. He gives them what they want, power and authority. It is appealing, too. But he never lives up to his promises. Just look at Eve. He promised she’d be like God. He promised she’d know good and evil. She took what wasn’t hers to take and death entered her life. It should be mine, I deserve it. She thought. He played on her pride. How about you? Could you resist this temptation? No. You have failed this one already. Ever told a little white lie? You know the kind that never hurt anyone. It’s easier, than earning someone’s respect. After all you deserve to look good in other peoples’ eyes, right? The worst part is most of the time you don’t even have to lie. But you do. I’ve done it, too (but of course never to any of you!). You’ve done it for such little gain. Now, you know what God requires. He says even one time deserves death. You have to never lie to gain an advantage. Anything less is sin. That’s the difference. Jesus the temptation was the same. Why should God have to go to the cross to have what was already rightfully his. He could brush the cross aside and get what he deserves. But he doesn’t. Listen to Paul’s description.

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:5–8, ESV)

Then there’s the last temptation. Scholars have been arguing over this one forever. But it is quite simple. Jesus uses scripture. Satan mis-uses scripture. The temptation is this. Jesus, God’s Son, trusts God to provide all that he needs. He trusts because of God’s word of promise to him. If Jesus is such a great, trusting son, he should prove it in a bigger way than just going hungry for forty days and trusting that food is at the end. If God really wants us to trust him shouldn’t he do it in a big way, rather than such a simple way? Throw yourself down, if you really trust God to catch you. Now we have it. We claim to trust God, don’t we? And yet, our trust fails at the first sign of trouble. The paycheck runs a little thin and we wonder where the money to do what we need is going to come from. Ages ago, my sister-in-law won the Nebraska lottery. $100k. Boy, was I jealous, I could have used that kind of money. God wouldn’t it show folks your power much better if a pastor got that kind of cash? God we’ll really show your power if we all pray and you heal my friend of cancer. Ok, how about this simplest of examples. Every Sunday, God promises to make faith grow right here through the simple words of his servant. Often at this altar he provides food for faith, bread and wine, Christ himself, for you to eat and drink. We take it for granted. We think we’ve got to do something, anything to make what God does here better, bigger. It’s just too simple a miracle. It isn’t attractive enough to my friends. We don’t trust that God will do what he promises, in these simple things. Of course, we don’t trust God perfectly in all things. And yet, he requires perfect fear, love and trust in him. Anything else is sin. Anything else deserves his anger and punishment. That’s the difference. Jesus trusts God, the Father completely. He even trusts him to allow Satan to take him to the top of the temple. He could have jumped. He would have been saved. Satan wasn’t lying. But Jesus chooses instead the way of trust even though it means the way of the cross. Jesus wins with a word.

Do you see the drama here? Do you see how easily we are drawn into the story? Even though God’s struggle against Satan isn’t even a fair fight, what a story it is. It is your story and mine. Jesus isn’t out there in the desert for himself. He’s out there for you. He’s fighting and winning against Satan for you. When we listen to St. Luke’s telling we should really come away with a couple of thoughts. We should despair in our ability to do anything to be able to resist Satan. I like that saying, “when Satan bugs you, all you can do is flea!” Yea, flee to Jesus. He’s got Satan right where he belongs, hell bound. This is just chapter one in the story. There is more to come, more drama, more struggle, more Jesus! He wins. He dies on the cross for you. If you think Satan is tough in the desert, just look at Jesus deserted on the cross! When Satan departed from him until an opportune time, that was it. Just listen to him speaking there.

One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” (Luke 23:39, ESV)

But he stays on the cross. Deserted by God the Father, he is our sin. He is our punishment. He wins by dying and rising again from our death! That’s the other thing you should see here. We are such great sinners, but we have such a great Savior. He

he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. ” (Titus 3:5–7, ESV)

My dear Christian friends, Satan is out there and he’s going to try to put you through the ringer. But he is like a dog without teeth. He has no power over you anymore because Jesus has defeated him. He’s all growl and no bite for those whose faith is in the one who stands on the battlefield alone and victorious. That’s Jesus your Savior. Amen.

The peace of God that passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

2 Corinthians 5:20b-21; Ash Wednesday; March 5, 2025;

Life in Christ Lutheran Church, Grand Marais, MN;

Grace and peace to you from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Lent begins with ashes, solemn hymns and repentance. Repentance is sometimes the hardest to understand. We want to see the joy of Jesus’ victory over sin. We don’t really like the phrase “poor miserable sinner” in our Sunday morning confession. We want the joy, God’s children should be filled with joy always, because of all the Jesus has done. But, in Lent, with its focus on repentance, we believe that joy must be set aside.

Well, Lent is indeed about solemn reflection on our sin. But in that reflection, there is reason for great joy. In that repentance there is overwhelming thanksgiving for what Jesus has done. If there is no joy in the forgiveness won for us by Jesus on the cross, we are missing the point.

Remember that Jesus himself calls for repentance.

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17, ESV)

The need for repentance didn’t end with the coming of his kingdom, we are still sinners. Luther says, of this verse, in the 95 Thesis (1517):

When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, ‘Repent’ (Mt 4:17), he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.

So, let’s talk about what repentance is, the Augsburg Confession says in Article XII that repentance has two parts. First, contrition, genuine sorrow over sin. Second, faith in Christ’s forgiveness, that is, trust in God’s mercy through Jesus. In the Large Catechism Luther doubles down:

Thus a Christian’s entire life is nothing else than a daily baptism, begun once and continuing ever after.

He ties repentance directly to Holy Baptism, a continual drowning of the old sinful nature and a daily rising of the Christian to new life in Christ.

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4, ESV)

The verb buried (συνθάπτω) is passive. Meaning that the burying is done by God, not human beings. And it also is a onetime completed action (aorist). One Lord, one faith, one baptism Ephesians 4:5 emphasizes it. God has buried us in baptism one time. The result of that burying is that we live in it every day as an ongoing fact. For Luther, that means living everyday as a repentant, baptized child of God. And that brings us to our text. 2 Corinthians 5:20b-21, Paul writes:

We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake [God] made [Jesus] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:20b–21, ESV)

He starts with be reconciled to God. If you hear be baptized you are right. Paul uses the verb reconciled as passive, again, the work of God, and a onetime completed action (aorist) with its result ongoing in our lives. The tie to Holy Baptism is very strong. God reconciles you. It is a fact of the past in your baptism. Here he urges people to take advantage of what God offers. If you are already baptized, he is urging you to live in the ongoing result of it. In other words, live in repentance.

So, where is the joy? Well, that’s what the second part of the text is about.

For our sake [God] made [Jesus] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in [Jesus] we might become the righteousness of God.

Paul is describing in a few short words what happens to you because of faith in Jesus through Holy Baptism. For our sake [God] made [Jesus] to be sin… Jesus because sin. It was not his own but the sin of the whole world for all time. Jesus became the greatest sinner of all time, even though he personally knew no sin. The cross is in focus here. Jesus suspended between heaven and earth on that cold day so many years ago. Jesus crying out to the Father,

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? (Psalm 22:1, ESV) (אֵלִי אֵלִי לָמָה עֲזַבְתָּנִי)

As God must do to all sinners, as the greatest sinner of all time, Jesus was forsaken to death and hell. The Father turned away from his only son and allowed the punishment for all that sin to fall on his shoulders. Jesus suffered our hell on the cross. His death, in Holy Baptism, becomes our death. He became our sin, all of it, from the little white lies you tell every day, to ignoring the needs of your neighbor, acting in your own self-interest, and on and on the list of sins goes. Every single one of your sins is laid on Jesus’ outstretched arms. The punishment is dealt out with prejudice. Where is the joy in this? Do you think that Barabbas wasn’t overjoyed at not having to die when the crowd chose him over Jesus? It is a very joyful thing not to have to face the eternal consequences of sin. What we faced was eternal rejection by God, the Father. Eternity in hell. Jesus hung in our place and took it from us. If that isn’t enough to elicit joy, I don’t know what is.

Repentance is recognition of Jesus for you. Jesus’ willingness to die for a poor miserable sinner, who doesn’t deserve any of his grace. Repentance is seeing your sin for what it is, damnable, and seeing the forgiveness Jesus gives you freely through faith in the for you of what he did.

But there is more, with God, there always is.

…so that in [Jesus] we might become the righteousness of God.

Jesus takes our sin on himself, and he gives us his righteousness. When we are baptized, God gives us righteousness. It isn’t ours but it belongs to Jesus. And just as Jesus is made sin, we become righteous. It’s not a slight of hand, but a sure and real transaction. Think of an accounting register. Our debt of sin, written in red, doesn’t balance. It is moved to Jesus’ account. He becomes sin. Our debt is removed, the balance is even. But even more miraculously we become righteous. Jesus’ righteousness, all that he did in his life, from never lying, to not ignoring the needs of his neighbor, and acting in your interest, on and on goes his list of righteous deeds. It is far from a fair exchange. But it is ours. And that is how God sees now you through faith in his only son. God sees you as righteous. You are righteous because God has declared it so in Holy Baptism.

So, what about the solemn reflection? Well, you still sin every day. It is the curse of life on earth. It is the curse of being born human, with a sinful nature. It is the curse of Satan continually pointing out our sin and saying, “God can’t forgive that!”

In his commentary on Galatians, Luther writes:

When the devil throws our sins up to us and declares that we deserve death and hell, we ought to speak thus: ‘I admit that I deserve death and hell. What of it? Does this mean that I shall be sentenced to eternal damnation? By no means. For I know One who suffered and made satisfaction in my behalf. His name is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Where He is, there I shall be also.’ (Luther’s Works, Vol. 26, p. 196–197)

That is repentance. That is the Christian’s whole life lived in repentance. It is the joy of repentance. “I admit I deserve death and hell, but Jesus was made to be sin for me, he gave me his righteousness, and now God sees me a sinless.”

So, repent! Confess your sins, and in joy receive the forgiveness that Jesus offers. Amen.

The peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Deuteronomy 34:1-12; Transfiguration of Our Lord; March 2, 2025;

Life in Christ Lutheran Church, Grand Marais, MN;

1Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. And the Lord showed him all the land, Gilead as far as Dan, 2all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the western sea, 3the Negeb, and the Plain, that is, the Valley of Jericho the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar. 4And the Lord said to him, “This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, ‘I will give it to your offspring.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there.” 5So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord, 6and he buried him in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth-peor; but no one knows the place of his burial to this day. 7Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eye was undimmed, and his vigor unabated. 8And the people of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days. Then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended. 9And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the people of Israel obeyed him and did as the Lord had commanded Moses. 10And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, 11none like him for all the signs and the wonders that the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, 12and for all the mighty power and all the great deeds of terror that Moses did in the sight of all Israel. Deuteronomy 34:1-12 (ESV)

Grace and peace to you from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

The American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is brave five minutes longer.” Over the past few years we’ve begun to view some emergency workers, like firemen and paramedics, and soldiers as heroes, and that’s very good and long overdue. At first, I was going to start this sermon by saying, “Everyone needs a hero.” But, as I was doing some research, I found out the really, here in America, we don’t have any heroes anymore. James Patterson and Peter Kim say in their book The Day America Told the Truth that 70 percent of Americans have no living heroes. So, that kind of killed my first premise. It’s sad, in a way, because one of the important things about heroes is the desire to be like them. The desire to do what they do and do it well. Call it inspiration, or leadership.

On the other hand, maybe it’s not that we don’t need heroes, maybe we just don’t have them. Well, the bible is full of heroes. If you’re looking for a hero maybe, you could go there. Just look at Samson, who was so strong he brought down a whole building with his bare hands. Or Isaiah who preached, and preached, and preached, even though almost everyone ignored everything he said. Job who endured more suffering in his single life than most collections of a hundred people. Or St. Paul, who went from God’s enemy to His greatest preacher, and endured beatings and imprisonment for bringing God’s message.

What makes a hero a hero? Is it merely a matter of timing, a matter of 5 minutes as Emerson says? How do these heroes of the bible become such strong heroes? And since we do have so many, and heroes are to be emulated, how is it that we do that?

Well, let’s consider a biblical example. Really the first and arguably one of the most important biblical heroes is Moses. That’s what our text is about: And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses…

Moses was a hero. Maybe we don’t think of that at first but certainly the people of Israel always viewed him that way. And for good reason, just look at his list of qualifications. He knew God face to face. He talked directly to God, spoke his mind and even changed God’s mind about punishing the people. He had God’s trust, too. God spoke to him directly and clearly. And he saw God’s glory. Now that’s heroic, considering everyone else in the world would have dropped down dead on the spot. Now on top of all of that there was

none like him for all the signs and the wonders that the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, and for all the mighty power and all the great deeds of terror that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.

That’s clearly hero status.

But there’s another side to this hero, too. First, remember his beginning, that crying baby floating helplessly in a raft / bassinet. And he was nursed by a hired hand. That’s a very unsure beginning for a hero. And look at this passage that is written in Numbers 12:3:

Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth. (Numbers 12:3, ESV)

And in case you are wondering what the word “meek” means Webster says it means

“soft”; “deficient in spirit and courage : SUBMISSIVE” AND “not violent or strong : MODERATE”

And in the end, God didn’t even let him into the land he promised the people because Moses had gotten angry and sinned against God. That doesn’t sound much like a hero, does it?

Actually, it looks like Moses was a pretty ordinary man. Actually, that first quote by Emerson,

“A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is brave five minutes longer,”

might seem to fit Moses well. Really, in Moses’ case, the difference isn’t time, but the difference is God. God is the one who enabled this ordinary man named Moses to do such great things. God chose him, selected him out for God’s own purposes. And don’t forget the sin. Moses was a sinful man just like you and me. His sin prevented him from entering the Promised Land. Moses was both an ordinary man and a sinful man. And yet, God used him in big ways, to accomplish what God wanted done. God’s power and purpose made Moses a hero of faith.

Are you and I “hero material?” Well, just like Moses we are ordinary people. Some of us are meek, quiet and reserved. Some of us are bold and assertive. But we are all human beings with varied gifts and varied strengths and varied weaknesses. And most important to remember, we have all sinned against God in many ways (and often!). I’m sure you’ve heard the prayer:

Dear Lord, So Far Today God, I've Done Alright. I Haven't Gossiped, Lost My Temper, Been Greedy, Grumpy, Nasty, Selfish Or Over-Indulged. I'm Very Thankful For That, But In A Few Minutes I'm Going To Get Out Of Bed, And Then I Really going to Need Your Help. Amen.

We laugh because it’s true. But really, we even sin in our sleep, we can’t help it because sin is a part of our nature. The question for us today is, “if we are so ordinary and so sinful can God use us like He used Moses?” and the rational answer is “No! of course not!” Who among us sitting here could ever possibly live up to a hero like Moses? But the real answer has nothing to do with logic or rational thought. The real point is not who we are but who God is. The real point is not our abilities, but God’s power. God is the one who raises up people to do His will. He chooses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. But even when we are raised up, we still miss the mark that He requires, we still fall far short of His expectations.

There is someone we are told about in the bible who is a real hero. Jesus did what no human being could ever do. He lived up to God’s every expectation perfectly. So perfectly, in fact, that because of His perfect life, you and I are forgiven of our imperfections. Because He took our sin to the cross and was punished there for us, and He is even a hero over death. He beat it by rising again. It is the life, death and resurrection of our Hero, Jesus that gives us life and salvation! In Jesus, we see God face to face, just like Moses did. We see Him right here in His Word and in His very presence in Body and Blood in Holy Communion. In Christ we can bear God’s presence, He is with us in this place just as He promised to be whenever we gather in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In Jesus Christ we, even though we live in sin every day, even though we regularly miss the mark, we are brought to God in clean and transfigured robes of perfection. It’s not our perfection but the perfection of Jesus, given to us in Baptism.

So, to that list of Heroes of Faith that I made earlier, you know, David, Samson, Job, Isaiah, you may as well add your name to that list. Because you and I are heroes of the faith. Hey, it’s not because of our own strength or power, it’s not because of anything here in our hearts. It’s because of the Real Hero. It’s because of Jesus who stood on the mountain shining like the sun and took His road to the cross to remove our sin. He was transfigured in glory and leaves that mountain to complete His work for us. When we fall, He picks us up. When our strength fades, He gives His to us. When we fail, He forgives and embraces us.

That means that no matter what, in everything you do, you can be a hero. But you’re a hero not because you’ve got the strength to do it but because Jesus has chosen you and works in you in the things you do every day.

Heroes of the Faith are heroes because of Jesus has done His work and gives us His power through the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The peace that passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.