Luke 7:18-30; Third Sunday in Advent; December 15, 2024;

Life in Christ Lutheran Church, Grand Marais, MN;

The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’ ” In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in kings’ courts. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, “ ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” (When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just, having been baptized with the baptism of John, but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.)” (Luke 7:18–30, ESV)

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

Today is "rejoice" Sunday. Right there in the epistle lesson it says, "Rejoice in the Lord always; Again I will say, rejoice." It's why we have that pink candle in the Advent wreath. We rejoice because of what God has done, is doing, and will do in Jesus Christ. This is all well and good, this is what we expect from this time of year. People going around with big smiles on children’s faces. Shopping trips to exotic locations, like Duluth, or the Twin Cities, to show people how much we love them by spending money we don't have. And we have the passage from Zephaniah. It's a rejoicing of what God is doing even in the very midst of trouble in hardship. And so today as we rejoice in the Christmas story, we have the account of John the Baptist reaching out to Jesus by sending his messengers and asking, "Are you the one?"

We should back up just a bit. John doesn't send his disciples to Jesus without any provocation. What he sees doesn't quite reckon with what he's expecting. He stood out knee-deep in water baptizing people warning them about God's wrath to come. "You brood of vipers!" He shouts. But what does he see? Right before this text Jesus heals the Centurion's servant. This is the Roman soldier who other people said was a good guy but told Jesus you don't need to come to my house, I'm not worthy. Jesus marveled at his faith and healed the servant. I'm sure the Centurion was more than happy with the outcome.

And then Jesus raises the widow's son from Nain. They were coming into town and the boy was being hauled out to be buried. The widow was in desperate straits. Her only means of support was about to be buried in the earth. Jesus tells her, "Do not weep." He walked up to touch the coffin raised the dead boy and gave him back to the widow. All the people around the widow marveled at the good thing God had done for her.

And then we get to John the Baptizer. He has some real reasons to question what he's seeing in Jesus. It isn't quite what he expected to see given his preaching. "The ax is already at the root of the trees. Everyone who does not repent will be cast into the fire and burned." And so, he sends his disciples to question Jesus. "Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?"

Jesus sends a message back to John. We might be a bit surprised that he doesn't use the words, "I Am He!" Instead, he sends a picture back to John. John was no uneducated country preacher. The picture Jesus paints is a specific one. A picture of the fulfillment of God's word plucked right from the scroll of Isaiah and Malachi. A picture the points directly to Jesus as God's Messiah.

And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”” (Luke 7:22–23, ESV)

John got the message. Jesus is it.

It's a curious thing though. The reason why John sends messengers is because he can't go himself. He's in prison. Herod the king has him there for speaking out boldly about Herod's sin. Herod's birthday is coming and soon John's head will be on a platter, severed at the whim of a teenager. John is not in a happy place. One might even question if John is reaching out to Jesus with the question, "When is it my turn?" After all we have just seen here Jesus healing every disease, giving sight to the blind, and raising the dead. We have Jesus proclaiming John is the greatest among men. Why didn't he just send a message back, "Get ready for the doors of the prison to spring open." But he doesn't. John is a dead man. It's not fair. Ultimately Jesus answer to John is "... Blessed is the one who is not offended by me."

"Jesus, are you the right one?" This is the very important question of the text. This is the very important question of life. "Jesus, are you the right one?" And it's an especially important question when things don't go the way we want them to go. Cancer is an ugly thing. God can and does heal it from time to time. But sometimes he doesn't. Violent death is out there. It could come for our family members or us at any time. The near miss doesn't always make a family closer. Money is tight. Somebody's got to win the lottery. But even when they do it doesn't make life better. Separation is the hardest thing. Whether it's distance, hardship, stubbornness or death. We grieve at separation and call out for God to end it. He is certainly able, but sometimes he doesn't. It's enough to make you ask, "Jesus, are you the right one?" What does Jesus say? "Blessed is the one who is not offended by me." The word offended is the word σκανδαλίζω. It is related to the English word scandal. It means to be caused to stumble, to be caused no longer believe.

This is the scandal isn't it. We are a consumer society. We are pragmatic, that means we worship whatever works. The world says God should give us Our Best Life Now. Or The Secret to life is how to get the most out of it through God. Shouldn't that happen when we gather and tell God how good he is? Shouldn't we get some consideration for spending our time and money to keep this church going? Shouldn't we get that when we stand with our hands in the air with our pretend smile on our face showing God that we really are happy? Doesn't that make God do what we want? This is the scandal isn't it. God doesn't always give us what we think we need.

But He does promise to give us what we really do need. "Blessed is the one who is not offended by me." Jesus is the one. He does heal and restore life. In fact, he is the way, the truth, and the life. He is the one to hold onto, even when he doesn't spring open the prison door. Even when bloody death reigns down on us. Even when disease plagues us. There is only one answer to these kinds of issues, because these issues have at their very heart sin. The sin sick broken world goes on this way. There are many questions, mostly the question "why?" But there is no answer in the world. The answer comes from God, and Jesus Christ. The answer is in the babe in the manger. Who would think that a pink squirming baby in a manger could be the answer for what sin does in the world. But he's not just a baby in the manger, he is God in human flesh. He is the God-man who does these things:

...the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.

He is the God-man who does these things and promises that all the world will receive its healing. He is the God-man who went to the cross to suffer sins punishment. He is the God-man who reconciles the whole world to God in his life death and resurrection. He is the God-man whose birth we celebrate on Christmas and death we celebrate because of what he has done for us. Because the answering of the "why?" question is answered first in Jesus’ death on the cross for your sin. He reconciles you to God. He removes your sin. He makes the promise of new life to you. He is coming again to make all things new, completely remove the effects of sin in the world, and make a world where human beings live together in perfect relationships with one another and a perfect relationship with God.

So today we rejoice because the joy of the Christmas story leads to the cross. "Blessed is the one who is not offended by me." Do not leave the cross or the resurrection out of the Christmas story. It is the answer. It is the reason for Christmas joy. Jesus is the one, the only one who can save the world. Amen.

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

Luke 3:1-6; Second Sunday in Advent, December 8, 2024;

Life in Christ Lutheran Church, Grand Marais, MN;

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ”” (Luke 3:1–6, ESV)

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

We really get used to hearing about John the Baptist during Advent. After all what would Advent be without singing “On Jordan’s Bank…” I remember singing it in a dark downtown St. Louis Church when I was in kindergarten. Mom and Dad were teachers in the Lutheran School there. I remember sitting next to my mother who said each line quickly in between breaths so I could sing along. I remember standing there singing trying hard to feel the mood of the season (which was much darker than it feels these days). As for me singing about the “Baptist” is something I expect before Christmas.

This second Sunday in Advent is dedicated every year to the message of John the Baptist. There’s something I want you to notice about this text. This little section of scripture is completely full of geography. St. Luke, the Gospel writer, is intent on having us see the geography he almost overloads us with places… He talks about the biggest geographical area occupied by anyone when he mentions Caesar (The Roman Empire), He speaks about Judea (roughly the area of modern-day Israel, Galilee, Abilene and finally he references Jerusalem (if you’re a Jew, you can’t hear about the High priests and not think of Jerusalem!). Luke is making a very strong statement before he introduces The Baptist. Then he tells us that John went into all the region around the Jordan. Luke wants us to be thinking geographically.

But why? Well, let’s look at what John is saying while he preaches and baptizes. Prepare the way of the Lord, make the roads straight fill in the valleys, level the mountains, make the roads all straight, and level out the rough land. Think about what he’s saying. He’s talking about a radical change in landscape. Just think of the huge earth-moving machines that would be required to do what John is talking about. Deep valleys filled in, high mountains and hills leveled, crooked roads made straight, and rough land leveled out. It’s big change that he’s calling for; it’s noticeable change, monstrous change.

Maybe we don’t really have the perspective on this that John’s hearers had. Maybe we don’t really see what a radical change John was talking about. After all, our corner of the world sometimes feels very small. We are surrounded by a boreal forest. I am constantly amazed at how beautiful it is here in all seasons. When I was growing up in Nebraska we had straight roads. Here a straight road is a rare thing. Driving here is like driving down in a ditch because the trees come right to edge of the road. In Nebraska or Iowa, the roads follow a grid pattern set up a long time ago. But it’s really very different in Israel. Israel is a very narrow strip of land only about 30-40 miles wide and a little more than 200 miles long. The whole area would easily fit within the borders of Minnesota. The lowest point (also the lowest point on the globe) is –1338 ft below sea level (the Dead Sea) and the highest point is a mountain peak at 3963 ft (Mt. Hermon?). By the way only 17% of the land there can be used for farming. So, as you can see talk about changing the kind of geography of Israel, is really a project of epic proportions.

But that is the kind of change that John is preaching about. It’s an enormous, noticeable, radical change. Of course, John isn’t really talking about geographically, is he? He’s telling the people around him that they better get their act together. Something radical is about to happen. God is coming. “Get ready!” He’s saying, “the Lord is coming. You’d better get prepared. Level the land! Tear down the mountains fill in the valleys. Do the impossible!”

This isn’t the first time God’s people have been told to make a radical change. In fact, John is using the very same words here that were spoken by Isaiah some centuries before. Isaiah was also calling for radical change. Back then God was telling the people of Israel that even though things looked pretty good right then, they weren’t. They were going to be conquered. They were going to go into exile. It was punishment for rejecting the God who had saved them from being salves in Egypt; the God who had given them the land they were living in. This punishment was going to be harsh; it was going to be radical. God was coming in judgment; it was time for a radical change of heart. That’s what John was saying, too. The Lord is coming! It’s time for a radical change of landscape, a radical change of heart.

Those words also speak to us. Here we are in advent looking forward to celebrating Christmas. Remembering that Jesus has come and more importantly that He is coming again. And He is coming “to judge the living and the dead” as the creed says. It won’t take us too long to see that we need that same radical change of heart that John is talking about. The way of our lives is full of valleys and mountains; full of crooked roads and rough ground. But we are to make our way straight if we are to be ready. We need to live in the way of the Lord.

So, what does it take to live in the way of the Lord? Have you ever really tried? I mean really, really tried to stop sinning. Have you ever tried to stop lying, for instance? What does it take to completely get rid of lies in your life? Well, first, you must hold your tongue. You must not say things that are untrue. Especially things that are untrue about yourself. Oh, but how hard that is when you really need to boost your standing among people you want to impress. How hard it is when you really need to show people your position is well founded. And maybe you can do that; maybe you can stop them some of the time. But don’t they somehow come creeping back when your defenses are down? They are there deep inside you and holding it in just makes it worse.

So that one’s too hard to get rid of: What about gossip? That one should be easier, right? So, you try to stop saying things about people. But Facebook was made for gossip. Those notifications ring with some more news. You tell yourself that people need to be informed; people really do need to know what’s going on. And you know that even the truth can hurt people when it’s spread around. But some things are just too hard to keep to yourself.

Well again let’s try something easier: What about treating all people the same? Ok, you start by vowing to make it work, and then you are confronted by that person who you’ve never trusted. So, you skip them and try to do it for everyone else. But you see a dirty, unkempt person walking toward you on the street and all you just want to crawl under a rock or run the other way. You can’t help thinking about how spend the assistance they receive on cigarettes or liquor, when they should be spending it on new shoes for their kids. No matter how hard you try you can’t treat everyone the same because your feelings about them bubble up from your heart, and the only way to get rid of those feelings is to be dead.

Well, there is always trying to do good things to make up for the bad things you do. So, you try that. You find a worthy cause; build a mountain of Christmas presents for under-privileged kids; volunteer time to stalk the food bank shelves; help your elderly neighbor scoop snow; dig deeper into your pockets and give more money to the church. Those are all great things to do. And you feel good doing them. Maybe that’s the answer to the radical change. If you just do enough good things, you won’t have time to do the bad. But if you think about it, your heart might be in the right place, but you know that your mind wanders. Pretty soon you find yourself saying to yourself, “I hope so-and-so sees me doing this.” Or “at least I’m doing better than that person who never does anything!” or “God sure must be proud of me for all I’ve done for Him.”

Well so much for radical change. That fact is, and you know it as well as I do, that kind of change is impossible. Maybe you know it because you’ve tried and failed. You seem to make progress and when you turn your attention to the next thing the other returns. And maybe you know the things you do are wrong, but you just plain don’t want to stop. You know your heart and you know that sin lives there. You know that the kind of radical change that John is talking about is impossible. It is impossible because the problem is just too deep. The valleys are too low, and the mountains are too high. The roads we really want to go down are not the straight one but the crooked ones. I guess John wants us to do the impossible. We may as well try to level mountains and fill in valleys. The preparation he wants is just as impossible.

If that’s what you’re thinking I have to say that you are exactly right. In order to prepare ourselves for the Lord we’d have to be perfect in every way, no bumps, turns or lumps. Just perfect.

But Luke and John do leave us there. They tell us exactly what to do to prepare. They’re not really saying to get out the monster machines and start digging. And they’re not saying to quit smoking, lying, and cheating. They don’t even say do your best and the rest will follow. They tell us what John’s message is all about. John’s message is more radical than that. John went all over the geographic area of the Jordan proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. He’s saying to take your sins to God and He’ll forgive them.

That’s what the coming of Jesus is all about. It’s about a radical change of landscape. It’s about receiving forgiveness for your sins. It’s about a radical change of heart. It’s about repentance, it’s about turning to God saying, “Lord, I am a sinful person, forgive me!”

We look at the little baby Jesus in the manger, we think about Him sleeping quietly in His mother’s arms. It’s a sweet picture but what that little baby really is really the radical thing that God is doing. That little baby is God’s way of making the rough things smooth. In fact, that little baby isn’t just God’s messenger; He is God coming to do what is impossible for you and me. He comes to live the way of the Lord.

You know all those things that you tried to fix in your life and can’t get done? He didn’t have that problem. He did everything perfectly. Jesus is the truth and the life. Lies are no part of Him. Jesus loves and cares for all people equally. He gives help when help is needed, comfort when comfort is needed. Jesus treats everyone the same, the rich and the poor, even prostitutes and tax collectors. That’s the way of the Lord. That’s the way of Jesus our Lord. Everything He does is perfect and good. His way is very different from our way. His way is something radical. His way leads to the cross. And in His way, He takes the punishment for our lies, and hate, and selfishness. He bears it all in His way. And in His way His death takes our punishment away. His way is a very radical way.

So how do we prepare for His coming? How do we move mountains, the way Jesus did? We can’t. And we don’t have to. The radical thing that God is doing is the radical thing that we can’t. We can’t remove sin from our lives any more than we can make a mountain fill up a valley. But Jesus has done it already, and He does it for you every single day. It’s the same thing that John was preaching about, repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Jesus has taken your sins away. That’s His Christmas gift to you. He’s leveled the mountains and valleys. And He has made a way straight from you to Him. That’s what repentance is. Jesus’ way of preparing you is to say to Him, “Lord Jesus, I have sinned against you in thought word and deed, by what I have done, by lying, and gossiping, and treating people badly, I have sinned in what I have left undone and what I have done with an insincere proud heart. Forgive me Jesus!”

And Jesus says, “I forgive you, my child. I will prepare your heart. I will make the change in you that is necessary. I will make my way, your way.” And today you have the opportunity to receive those words right here at his altar. When you open your mouth God pours in the forgiveness of sins, the radical change of heart that John is talking about.

John says to us, Prepare the way of the Lord. Well, it’s not just something we do for Christmas. It’s something Jesus does for us every day of our lives when we confess our sins to Him. It’s something He does for me and something He does for you. It’s a radical change of landscape. It’s a radical change of heart. Amen.

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

Jeremiah 33:14-16; The First Sunday in Advent; December 1, 2024;

Life in Christ Lutheran Church, Grand Marais, MN;

Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’ (Jeremiah 33:14–16, ESV)

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

So, it begins… Another church year. 2024 we all have hopes it will be a better year than last. Christmas shopping is in full swing. The dark long slog through cold winter nights, snow and late sunrises and early sunsets. We push through it all looking forward to spring. We wait for brighter days and warmer weather.

Jeremiah knew something about waiting. The days are coming… in those days, he says. The text oozes with a sense of waiting. For Jeremiah, the good days were yet to come. The promises were unfulfilled. He can only cling to the promises and wait… But at least he had the promises.

By contrast, we have the promise fulfilled. There are very strong parallels; Jeremiah looks forward to the Christ coming to reconcile the world to God. We look forward to his coming again to restore the world to its full potential. In his time Jeremiah, suffered along with all the faithful of Israel. Our days are also filled with less than pleasant times. We may not see the suffering that Jeremiah endured, but we do know what it is to wait tirelessly for a promise given long ago. For us, amid our daily suffering, today is just like so many before, a slog through suffering, pain, weakness, illness and death.

So, we can relate to Jeremiah. At lest we think we can. And yet, maybe we shouldn’t be so quick to do so. We are, after all, living in the days that Jeremiah longed to see. We are living in those days that he was talking about. The days that were the center point of his hope.

Our time, dreary as it can be, where we live now, is the fulfillment of his hope. God’s master plan for salvation has been accomplished. The promises Jeremiah held in faith are fulfilled. The Righteous Branch has come, in Jesus the Messiah. He sprang fourth with justice and righteousness. And beyond anyone’s expectations, God walked on the earth among the suffering of his people. Those days that so encouraged Jeremiah and inspired him to faith and hope, are now. Today is one of those days. It is not a day of slogging through dreary routines, waiting with painful endurance. It is a day of living in the very reality of the promise fulfilled. We are not waiting for God to do something about our sin. He has already done it in Jesus. What was in Jeremiah’s future is in our past and its effects carry through and set right here in our laps.

Jesus Christ has come. All he did has its fulfillment right for us, now. Day by day we suffer from the death of loved ones, and yet we have the assurance they are with Christ, not suffering pain, or worry, or sin, and most importantly the knowledge that they are looking forward to the resurrection when we will be with them again, forever. We slog through broken relationships spurred on by our own sin, and yet Christ promises that forgiveness can heal those relationships.

As Luther says in his explanation Fifth Petition of Lord’s Prayer:

We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would not look upon our sins nor deny such petitions on account of them. We are not worthy of any of the things for which we pray, neither have we deserved them. But we pray that He would grant them all to us by grace. For we daily sin much and indeed deserve nothing but punishment. So will we truly, on our part, also heartily forgive and readily do good to those who sin against us.

We are affected by our daily sin, heeding to the temptations of the Satan, the world and our sinful flesh, that crush our spirit and bring doubt, but we have the cross before us as God’s promise of forgiveness. The Hymn Abide with Me states it clearly.

I need Thy presence ev’ry passing hour;
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s pow’r?
Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me.

The cross and resurrection of Jesus are that assurance of his presence. We take our sin to the cross Jesus there disposes of it and promises forgiveness that foils the tempters power.

Today, right here, right now, God is active, through the Holy Spirit, bringing the grace we need. He is active in our lives, bringing forgiveness, peace and hope. He is active in our life bringing all we need to support this body and life (as Luther says). We have what Jeremiah was waiting for, and yet we wait for something more. It is the coming again of Jesus, the resurrection of our loved ones, and our own, the setting of everything right, and the life eternal on this recreated perfect planet.

As we anticipate Advent, the coming of Jesus, in our past and in our future. As we wait for that glorious day, we live in the reality of the promises accomplished by Jesus. But, if we are only waiting for something that is to come, waiting for God to do something else, only waiting for better days, then we are failing to live faithfully and joyfully in the reality of what God is doing now. The days that Jeremiah longed to see.

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

Jude.20-25; Last Sunday of the Church Year; November 24, 2024;

Life in Christ Lutheran Church, Grand Marais, MN

You know we are on a journey. Our lives are going somewhere. In fact, they are going toward eternity. It’s a journey that we are on, and one of the primary reasons we gather here every week. But it seems that so often we are focused on today and what we need to get along every day rather than the destination. So, every year at the end of November we concentrate on the destination. We think about eternity coming, and how that affects… at least how that should affect, our travels in this life. The epistle lesson for today is about just that. 20But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; 21keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. 22And have mercy on those who doubt; 23save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. 24Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. Jude 20-25 (ESV)

Grace and Peace to you from Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Imagine you are a pioneer crossing the great plains of America, in a small wagon train. The wagons drone along the prairie making slow progress every day. One day the forward scouts come riding into the group pointing ahead at smoke on the horizon. It’s a great prairie fire raging. It’s moving very quickly fueled by the dry grass and the wind. It’s moving far too rapidly to out run… there is no way around it… in fact there is literally no escape for anyone. Fiery death is approaching and will soon burn everything and everyone.

“There is no time to waste,” the leader of the group shouts. He knows what to do. “Start a fire behind us, back there.” Some in the group object that the suggestion seems crazy. But there isn’t time, and everyone pitches in and follows the instructions. “Quickly,” he urges, “It’s our only chance to survive!” Soon a fire is raging behind, and the situation looks even worse. There is approaching death ahead, and a blazing fire in the only line of retreat. By all appearance you are even more trapped than before. But as you watch you see the fire behind moving away from you and leaving a burned patch on the ground; a dark smoldering barren area. “As soon as it cools,” shouts the leader get everything on that burnt patch! When the fire gets here it will go around us, and we’ll be safe.”

The group act together supporting one another as they move to the safe area. All the wagons, people and animals huddled together, fearfully watching the approaching firestorm. And just like your leader said it passes around. Flames and smoke fill the air choking your lungs and terrifying everyone. But everyone stays put in the safety of the area that’s already burned. Between you and certain death is a patch of ground with nothing to burn. The fire can’t get to you. When the danger is over everyone has survived, and the journey can continue toward its goal.

You and I are on a journey. This is our wagon train, and all these people here are our traveling companions. That’s what the Church is all about. Traveling on our journey toward eternity, the Promised Land. Every day that destination gets closer. We are on this trip together. No single person or family would dare travel the dangerous journey across the Great Plains by themselves. They traveled in numbers for safety and encouragement and strength. That’s what we do here, too. We gather for safety and encouragement and strength.

But it is a dangerous journey. There is fire all around us. Satan is very real and very active. He hates Christians with every fiber of his being. He wants nothing more than for you to leave the safety of the Church where he can drag you into Hell. And there’s more, the world that we want to live in is dangerous to us. It’s easy to get burned out there. So much of what’s around us dries up our faith. What’s worse is there’s nothing we can do about it. Satan is powerful. The world has great influence. The fire burns toward us, and we are helpless to do anything. We can’t get away and we can’t put it out.

But Jesus knows what to do. He makes a way to escape. We know how he suffered for us. He suffered our punishment, the fires of hell, in our place. He hung on the cross and suffered God’s burning anger against sin. Satan attacked him. The world hated him. They dished out the worst they had to give, and Jesus died. He gave his life for us, to give us a safe place to stand.

You see, the ground that we stand on here, in faith, is protected by Jesus. He gave His life for it. He spilled his blood on it for us. The fires of hell can’t get to us. Satan can’t harm us, and the dangers of the world can’t destroy us.

But there all around us is the burning and raging fire waiting, wanting to get to us. Danger and death are there all around us. And the danger is real.
What does the fire look like? Actually, we are enticed by it. It tells us things we want to hear, things that sound so reasonable.
• “It doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you are true to your beliefs and do your best.”
• “All religions worship God in their own way.”
• “There are plenty of ways to get to God, just pick one and be sincere.”
• “Look within yourself. You are all you need.”
• Some Christian Pastors are even calling or for “Deeds not Creeds.”

But these are all lies. They lead away from the safety of Jesus, the only Way to God, our only protection. They say nothing about Jesus’ life, death and resurrection; nothing about forgiveness of sins that He won for us. And without Jesus there is no hope and no salvation at all.

There are other things in the flame that we are attracted to. We think we can play in the fire and not get burned. A little sexuality here and there never hurt anyone. You can see it every day in advertising. You hear it every day on the radio and around the coffee table. “Don’t be such a prude. Sex is fun and free. Marriage is old fashioned. People should be allowed to express themselves in any way they desire. Get with the times.” But that too, is a lie. Sex outside of marriage is pure fire that will burn you up. But how tempting it is… but how dangerous.

And in the fire greed calls to us. We want more and more, and we’ll do just about anything to achieve our goals. Even stepping on our brothers and sisters to push our way to the top. The desire to have the best and have more than anyone is part of the fire. And the rumor mill is in the fire. It churns up stories about each other that we can’t wait to pass on. And the smoke of laziness that keeps us away from worship and God’s Word.

You see the fire every day, all around us, calling to us, attracting us, and lying to us. It is deadly dangerous. Not just because it’s there but also because we are so easily lured into it. We are so easily burned.

Now look around you at the ground you are standing on. It’s safe ground. But, unlike the burned ground from the story this ground is rich and full of life. In fact, it’s full of new life. Life in Christ, you might say. You see, Jesus already was burned in our place. He died for us, but He didn’t stay dead. He rose again to a new life. He’s with us here. He causes everything in this safe place to grow and prosper. He takes care of us even while the fire rages all around. That’s what Paul is talking about when he says, “your most holy faith.” It’s faith in Jesus and what He has done for you and me. That’s what we are built up by. That’s what we are encouraged by. That’s the faith that we can live by and not be burned.

But we aren’t just standing here either. We are on a journey. We are going somewhere. And that somewhere is a place where there is no fire burning around us. That place is a safe place without the temptations that are all around. That place is the place that Jesus said He has prepared for us. And we don’t have to travel alone. We are on this journey together. Paul tells us to, “Travel together, hold each other accountable, love and care for each other, keep each other away from the flames.”

How do we do that? “By building each other up.” He says. You know how to do that. We do it all the time. Kind words are a great encouragement. Look out for each other. Reach out in care and concern when there is pain and hardship. See what needs to be done and do it. It’s not difficult. In many ways it’s just building on the friendships we already have. But building means to expand. And we also need to expand that circle of friendship beyond where it is right now. We need to include other people in our friendships that we wouldn’t normally include. People here in our church and people out there in our community. And if you are expecting that it’s just the pastor’s job to do that you’re missing a very good opportunity to share your faith with someone you know.

Secondly Paul tells us to pray. “Pray in the Holy Spirit.” Speak from your heart to God. Keep each other in prayer about all of life’s troubles, but especially about our faith. Don’t talk to other people about the rumors you hear, pray to God about them. Pray that we’ll keep our eyes on Jesus instead of the fire that is tempting us. Pray that we stand and walk together on this journey.

Finally, Paul tells us to hate what is evil and corrupt. “hating even the garment stained by the flesh.” It’s hard to live in the world that promotes so much of what is evil. It’s easy to say, “I’ll just let that go this time.” It’s hard to stand up against evil alone especially when it seems as if everyone is doing it. We need each other. “No, I’m not going to let my children watch that, or do that. Yes, I’m going to do what God says is right instead of listening to the world.” Doing the right thing is always the right thing.

The fire is all around us, but we are safe with Jesus. We are protected. He died and rose again for you and me. This journey we are on together is leading to a great and wonderful place that we can only begin to imagine. The journey isn’t easy, but our leader, Jesus, calls to us to keep in His love, in the safe place. As we travel, we are to build each other up and pray for one another and hate the evil of the world. You know, this journey won’t last forever, in fact, it will be over soon. When it is we will enjoy the heavenly place that Jesus Christ has prepared for you and me. Amen.

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

Mark 13:1-13; The Twenty-sixth Sunday after Pentecost; November 17, 2024;

Life in Christ Lutheran Church, Grand Marais, MN;

And as [Jesus] came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?” And Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains. “But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” (Mark 13:1–13, ESV)

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

Well, that's not what they expected to hear. The disciples came out of the temple with Jesus they were looking up in awe at the wonderful buildings. They were impressive structures. They were permanent structures. They were set on foundations of deep stone. Surely these buildings would stand forever. And the sacrifices would continue until God's kingdom was fully established. So, when the disciples said "Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings." They didn't expect Jesus to say in a time not too distant they would all be gone.

The revelation was jaw-dropping. Think of the reaction we had when the World Trade Center buildings fell. Think of the horror in their minds as Jesus says "“Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” There was simply no way they could have comprehended what Jesus was telling them. It was unthinkable that God would even allow such a thing. They wanted to understand. So, after a while when they had gone across the valley to the Mount of olives and were looking over on the city of Jerusalem they ask Jesus, "Tell us, when these things will be."

I'm sure in their mind’s things went from bad to worse. They had imagined what they were doing with Jesus was establishing a new kingdom. They were waiting patiently (and not) for Jesus to throw the Romans out. They thought their way of life was going to be established for everyone. This is not what Jesus says. Instead of stability; impermanence, chaos, confusion, wars, famines, earthquakes, and worse. What they hear from Jesus is that the whole world as they knew it was coming to an end. Instead of being in positions of wealth and honor and power because of following Jesus what they should watch for his arrest, persecution and death. The world would not accept Jesus as King. Families would be destroyed. Communities disrupted. And false prophets would lead people astray by telling them what their itching ears want to hear.

Well, that's not what they expected to hear. That's not what they wanted to hear. And then Jesus caps it all off by dropping this bombshell. "But the one who endures to the end will be saved."

Now you know what the disciples asked next. "Will that be me?" Jesus had just turned everything they believed to be true on its head. Of course, he said "Don't be anxious" and "Be on your guard" but when he said "the one who endures will be saved" they had to wonder "And just how do I do that?" I mean just look at what Jesus told them they would face. They had a difficult time getting what Jesus was teaching them right. They knew their weaknesses, and their sins. If the temple, as strong as it was, would not even last, how could they and their fickle, fearful, flesh remain faithful?

And now this is a good question for you and me. Jesus says to you "but the one who endures to the end will be saved." And in a certain sense it should give you chills down your spine. Look around you. You see the things Jesus is describing. Wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes, floods, fires, droughts, tornadoes, and hurricanes. Our soldiers’ boots on foreign soil. And even before they finish with one mission, we add another. Our economy may seem to be getting to a better foundation, it is far from certain. Inflation has taken a huge bite out of our monthly income. Real estate values are out of reach, everything changes. In fact, that's the only thing in this world that we can count on, change. Nothing stays the same. Nothing lasts. Nothing works out the way we think it should. These are the signs that Jesus tells us. The world is coming to an end.

And even spiritual things on the whole are not very good. On other continents our brothers and sisters in Christ face death for confessing the name of our Savior. In Muslim dominated countries loss of employment, home, freedom, and death are constant. And we can see hostility to the Savior looks to be better now, but don’t be fooled, it is growing even here. And we stand between an angry world, and what Jesus teaches, when we confess his name. And even worse, within the church, or those false teachers. They use Jesus’ name as a way to line their pockets. They teach what people naturally want to hear, which is, that they can earn God's favor by doing good things. And if they do good things God will reward them. These teachings lead people astray, sometimes our very own people, even to hell. And just once try to say that these teachers of prosperity see what happens. Talk about hostility. There is no end in sight to false teachers plaguing the church.

If these things make you yawn, either you not listening to what Jesus is saying, or you don't believe it. He tells us these things so that we can be alert and on guard. He tells us these things so that we know how to answer the question, "how am I going to stand and endure to the end?"

Don't think I'm going to give you instructions for stockpiling weapons and food and water. That's only shifting your hope from one shaky foundation to another. I'm not going to tell you that as things get worse Jesus promises you won't have to go through it. Some Christians believe, falsely, that they won't have to live through it. They believe that they will be whisked out of the world before the real trouble starts in the rapture. There is nothing remotely biblical about this belief. There is no rapture escape hatch for Christians. Put your faith in that and it will make you unprepared for the end.

So back to the question "How then shall we stand?" How can we be sure that we will endure? Jesus doesn't answer the question in our text for today. The truth is if he told the disciples what was going to happen, they would not have believed or understood it. They only came to understand it later. The writer of Hebrews believed and understood it. It's confessed clearly in our reading from Hebrews today. The buildings and the priests and the sacrifices they offered in the Temple (and throughout the Old Testament) could never bring forgiveness. They were only shadows, the earthly model of something much greater. Jesus is the priest, the Temple, and the sacrifice, who offered himself on the cross as a once for all atonement for the sins of the whole world.

Built on the Rock the Church shall stand

Even when steeples are falling.

Crumbled have spires in ev’ry land;

Bells still are chiming and calling,

Calling the young and old to rest,

But above all the souls distressed,

Longing for rest everlasting. (LSB 645)

The Rock is Christ. There is nothing else in this rust and decay ridden world that we can depend on to last until the end. The truth of Jesus is the only permanent and powerful thing. Clinging to him for the forgiveness he offers is the only place where strength can be found to endure. The only place to stand in days of trouble is in faith, in Jesus. And how is it that you know that Jesus is worthy of such faith? Jesus proves all that he said and did, especially that his life and death are for the forgiveness of your sins in your reconciling to God, with his resurrection from the dead. Jesus’ resurrection is proof positive that faith in him is not misplaced. That he is the real thing to depend on. And his ascension to the right hand of God is also the guarantee that he rules and reigns over the world and he will come again with glory to place all things under his order and protection.

Jesus words about the Temple came to pass only 40 years after Jesus spoke them. In fact, the holy city of Jerusalem was razed by the Romans. It was a shadow of itself and lay in utter rubble. This world fell to pieces and the disciples only had the truth of Jesus life, death, and resurrection for their forgiveness to stand on. By then they did understand and believe. This truth is what enabled them to stand before kings and hostile crowds and confessed Jesus in the face of death. Trusting in the truth of all that Jesus did is what gave them strength to endure to the end.

The writer of Hebrews gives a specific instruction. "Let us draw near [to God] with a true heart." A true heart is one that recognizes its own sin and weaknesses. A true heart is one the confesses sins, failures and faults. A true heart is one that trust in God's mercy for the sake of Jesus life, death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sin. This is faith in Jesus Christ.

The writer continues, "… With a hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." He is of course speaking of Holy Baptism. It is in Holy Baptism that we are connected to Jesus. In Holy Baptism he promises the results of his life, death, and resurrection for us. He promises that we are washed clean. Hearing this in this place you hear your pastor say to you "I forgive you in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit." That is, to revisit your baptism through your confession and God's pronouncement of your forgiveness. Your slate is wiped clean. You are forgiven. As the writer says you have a "clean conscience".

And so, every day from now until the end we endure with baptismally clean consciences. The writer of the Hebrews says, "Hold fast to the confession of our hope." Our hope is the resurrection and the life of the world to come. All that Jesus did points us to that focus for our future. God is indeed faithful. God completely keeps his promises. Through Jesus, his life, death, and resurrection, and our connection through Holy Baptism these promises are ours and that new life too.

The threats we face in the world a very real. False prophets, betrayals, natural disasters, persecution, all growing in intensity as the final days draw near. The world and all of its strength and glory fails in the face of the birth pangs of the end. But even as the world crumbles Jesus work on the cross for us stands firm. This is the foundation on which we, the church, stand on together. And standing there, in Jesus, we cannot fall. Standing there, in faith, we will endure all life's trials. This is God's promise for you. Amen.

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

1 Kings 17:8–16; The Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost; November 10, 2024;

Life in Christ Lutheran Church, Grand Marais, MN;

Then the word of the LORD came to him, “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.” So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.” And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” And she said, “As the LORD your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.” And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. For thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain upon the earth.’ ” And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the LORD that he spoke by Elijah.” (1 Kings 17:8–16, ESV)

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

It was an unhealthy time to be a prophet. First, I want you to know that being a prophet wasn't necessarily about predicting the future. Although that was sometimes the case. The prophet’s primary job is to proclaim God's Word to a lost and sinful world and a lost and sinful people. Often, in those days, they paid the price of being faithful with their very lives. Israel was ruled by a whole list of Kings whose epitaph may be written as; the King "did what was evil in the sight of the Lord." So, the prophets who spoke to these evil Kings had a dangerous row to hoe. But not only that, but their instructions were very specific. Being faithful wasn't always an easy task. Many died horrendous deaths. They were only given to speak God's word clearly in the face of sin. This is the difficult task that Elijah was given. And God's word was greatly needed. Just listen to what the writer of first Kings says about the King of Israel in those days:

And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him. And as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, he took for his wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal and worshiped him. He erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he built in Samaria. And Ahab made an Asherah. Ahab did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him.” (1 Kings 16:30–33, ESV)

Elijah's task was to proclaim God's Word to Ahab, that Ahab might repent and turn back to the Lord. The confrontation between Elijah and Ahab is legendary. Ahab's nickname for Elijah is "Troubler of Israel". It begins with Elijah telling Ahab that until he mended his ways there would be a famine in all the land. The famine was devastating. But God watched over Elijah by providing for him in a hidden place. No matter how bad things seem God always watches over his own. This is his promise of everlasting love. And that brings us to the widow and her son in our text for today. Yahweh tells Elijah to go to Zarephath and find a widow who would feed him. Zarephath is a small coastal town between Tyre and Sidon.

This is the same area where Jesus later meets the faithful Syrophoenician woman who would not take no for an answer. When she asked for her daughter to be healed Jesus says he has only come for the children of Israel. "It's not right to give the children's food to the dogs." Jesus compares her to a dog. She says she is happy to be a dog and receive even the scraps that fall from Jesus' table. She has great faith; her daughter is healed.

The widow and her son are highly affected by the famine. She expects to die. This is a severe famine. We do not understand starving to death. We think starving is the feeling we feel when we skip a meal. She and her son do not have enough food to live. And yet look at her small act of faithfulness. Elijah asks "Please make me a cake first." And as she acts so she is supplied. God once again provides for Elijah and the widow and her son through this simple act of faithfulness.

This is so much like the instance we find in the gospel lesson for today. Jesus points to a poor widow in the Temple who gave not just a portion of what she had. She gave everything. Jesus says she gave more than all the rest. It was a simple act of faithfulness. She trusts that even though she gives all she has, God is faithful he will provide. She believes this to be true even if she starves to death. And yet it is God who is truly faithful. He provides for Elijah and the widow and her son through her simple act. Her flower jar never empties, and the oil jug never runs out for the whole length of the famine. It seems such a small miracle. And yet for the widow, her son, and Elijah it is lifesaving.

It's a "small" miracle. When we look at the world that we live in we so much want God to do big things. We want him to solve problems through political or cultural change. 0We look at the world's hostility to Christianity, and even the growing hostility here in the United States and want God to put an end to it. We may even look back to the "glory days" of Christianity in the 50s and long for the days when the church was the center of cultural activity. We want God to act to make our church pews full to the brim again, our Sunday schools overflowing, and people to respect what the church says. We want "big" miracles. We want God to act like he did in the Old Testament. We want God to act like he did for Paul and Silas and Peter. We think that the miracles were all over the Old Testament. But the truth is most of them are concentrated in the life of Elijah. We think that miracles were all over the New Testament. But the truth is most of them were concentrated to the time when the Christian church was just beginning. God very seldom acts with "big" miracles. He most often acts through simple acts of faithfulness.

It is our sinful condition that brings these thoughts to mind. We would do it differently if we were in control. We think we know best, better than God. We think it would be so much better for us if we didn't live in a hostile environment. But history shows that the church is built on the blood of the saints. It is not beyond God's care to allow the church to be troubled so that she comes back to what is important. These days we see the church theologically everywhere. So much of the church has become human centered. It promotes abortion, homosexuality, your best life now, transgender, and so many other human centered, human created theologies. The strife in the church is bound to grow. Last week’s election may seem like an answer, but politics isn’t the savior of the world, Jesus is. If you think the task we have as a church is simple and not fraught with danger, you not paying attention to what's going on in the world. If we are troubled is our own fault, for our own sin, because the church as a whole has lost its center in Jesus Christ, and his life death and resurrection for the sins of the whole world.

But even if God does allow persecution for the church to grow we should remember that he is always faithful. Remember that God provides even when we don't see the results. Even when we are unfaithful. We are not called to change the world, that is the work of God's Word. We are called to be faithful in the place and the time that God has placed us. God provided for Elijah and the widow and her son through a simple act of faithfulness. Even though this time that we live in may be "an unhealthy time to be a prophet", God is faithful. If your sinful nature causes you to doubt God's faithfulness, just as mine does, all you have to do is look to the cross. Jesus didn't die on the cross so that you could live a life of ease and comfort. He died on the cross for your sin. He died on the cross to save you from sin and death and hell. He died on the cross to make Satan powerless over you. He died on the cross so that your ultimate destiny his life forever with him. When we don't see the big miracles, our faith can falter. This is a time to run to the cross, cling to the cross, and rely on the one who died on the cross. Ultimately God's salvation of the world does not come in works of great power. They come in love, sacrifice, and servanthood. This is what Jesus does. In Jesus God becomes our servant. He walks the earth in the time and the place that he was given to serve. He preaches a Word of forgiveness, life, and salvation. He is faithful, even to death on the cross.

In light of Jesus faithfulness to us, he calls us to be faithful in what he has given us to do, in the place and time he has given us. We are to speak his Word plainly and clearly. We are to call sin, sin. And we are to proclaim him as the one who covers sin with his blood. And we are not to expect that the world will take this message kindly. Listen to what Jesus says:

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” (John 15:18–19, ESV)

And so we are called to be faithful. Think of the two widows and their small acts of faithfulness. Look at your life; the time that God has given you; the place where God has placed you; the friends he's given you; the workplace where he has given you to serve; and the church he has given you as the means to keep you focused on your Savior on the cross. Serve by being faithful there with small acts of faithfulness for the sake of the one who lived died and rose again for the forgiveness of all of your sin. Amen.

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

Ecclesiastes 5:10–20; The Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost; October 20,2024;

Life in Christ Lutheran Church, Grand Marais, MN;

He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes? Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep. There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt, and those riches were lost in a bad venture. And he is father of a son, but he has nothing in his hand. As he came from his mother’s womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand. This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what gain is there to him who toils for the wind? Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness in much vexation and sickness and anger. Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.” (Ecclesiastes 5:10–20, ESV)

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

There is a lie we live with every day. Every day we live, every day we gain new things, every day we live in good health, we tell ourselves these things have real value. Part of it is that we are surrounded by a culture that worships the pursuit of better clothes, nicer cars, larger homes, and better technology. We are told repeatedly our lives have value because of what these things bring into our lives. And despite what we say, we believe it. We join in the chorus of the praise of things. The pursuit of things is a nearly full-time passion. As retirement draws near, we panic about the things that not working will remove from our lives. The quality of our retirement is determined by the quality of the things we can hang on to or gain. It’s all a lie. Possessions have no ultimate value. That’s what the author Ecclesiastes wants you to remember. You start life naked; if you die before the Lord returns, you will end your life naked. Nothing you have goes with you.

From God’s point of view, possessions have always been gifts from him to direct our attention to him. Anything that is misused, that is used against the way God has given it to be used, becomes a problem. If you try to use a hammer to drive a screw you won’t get the job done properly. If you love silver and set your hopes and hitch your value to material success, this is a pathetic, debilitating evil—not least to your neighbor, who needs you to be better than that. God gives you possessions to serve your neighbor, beginning with your family (your nearest neighbors) and circling out from there.

And yet, food & drink & house & home & land & animals and all that I need to support this body and life are good things. We need these things. God doesn’t expect you to not enjoy them. This text isn’t at call to deny the physical-ness of life. We are instead to give thanks to God for what he gives and use it appropriately. God gives according to his good and gracious will. In faith, in our Savior Jesus, we take our needs and wants in prayer to the Father, who promises to give us all that we need. Jesus says these same things:

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:25–33, ESV)

This is a freeing thing. We have work to do, not merely for the gaining of possessions, and material things. There is much more to our everyday call to work than that. God places us in particular places to be of value to people. Wherever you are, there are people that have needs, people you can serve. You stand before them, and hidden in you is God at work providing what they need. Remembering this and thinking this way “demotes” work and material accumulation to their proper place.

The Fourth Petition
Give us this day our daily bread.
What does this mean? God certainly gives daily bread to everyone without our prayers, even to all evil people, but we pray in this petition that God would lead us to realize this and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving.
What is meant by daily bread? Daily bread includes everything that has to do with the support and needs of the body, such as food, drink, clothing, shoes, house, home, land, animals, money, goods, a devout husband or wife, devout children, devout workers, devout and faithful rulers, good government, good weather, peace, health, self-control, good reputation, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like.

Right there in the Lord’s Prayer we ask God to give us what he already promises to give. We receive it with thanksgiving and gladly do what God would have us to with it.

Your Savior has promised new life, forever life with him. He has forgiven all your sins, even the sin of loving the gifts more than the giver. Even the sin of worrying more about yourself than your neighbors. Even the sin of thinking the gifts are not gifts, but earned. His death on the cross puts an end to the punishment you deserve for your selfishness. God has promised that through faith in Jesus, that is trust that he does exactly what he promises, you have a new heart, that lives just as he would have it live, loving your neighbor as yourself.

So, how does it look? Maybe this:

Sell that expensive car and get out from under payments that are stressing life and the family.

Stop pursuing whatever the next big entertainment thing that comes into your pocket on your smartphone.

Slow down. Think about what it means that God created you and promises to give you all that you need so that you can of value to your neighbor.

Look our culture in the eye and say “no!”

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Long to see what God is doing in your life and in the world, through Jesus. Amen.

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

Hebrews 3:12-19; The Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost; October 13, 2024;

Life in Christ Lutheran Church, Grand Marais, MN;

Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.” (Hebrews 3:12–19, ESV)

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

Take care. The author begins this section of the book of Hebrews with a stern warning. Take care. There is an immediacy that goes with it. He means that the danger is more than real. Take care. There is trouble out there. Even you faithful can experience it. He warns against the evil, unbelieving heart. He’s talking to you and me.

To be sure faith is God’s gift. He gives it through the Word, through Baptism and through the Lord’s Supper. These work in our hearts to draw us closer to the Savior. All of it is God’s gift. But the author says, take care. He’s talking about what you do. God provides the means and the opportunity; you provide the open vessel. You see, the evil, unbelieving heart, exists in all of us. It is a fact that defines a Christian. You are a forgiven sinner, but a sinner you remain. And St. Paul tells us about it in his letter to the Romans.

For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.” (Romans 7:18–20, ESV)

What a struggle. Those who say being a Christians is an easy fight against sin, are lying to you. What Paul shows us is his own sinful heart, his own struggle with sin, and he is losing.

In verse 24 he even says,

Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:24, ESV)

The struggle against sin is real and continuous.



So, we understand when the author of Hebrews says,

Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. (Hebrews 3:12, ESV)

Take care! He says. When the text says, in any of you we may be thinking to be on guard against other people. The comic Pogo has the famous quote. “We have met the enemy, and he is us.” But the most immediate danger for each of us is in each of us. We all have the enemy within who is leading you to fall away from the living God.

Paul answers his own question,

Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7:24b–25a, ESV)

In other words, God is the one, and the only one, who delivers us from our sinful nature. It is Jesus on the cross, Jesus in his preaching and teaching, Jesus in his resurrection, Jesus in his coming again. Your sin is forgiven because of Jesus, all of it, those that you struggle with daily and those that you don’t. Jesus is the answer. That is what faith putting your whole trust in Jesus for the forgiveness he offers.

Hebrews continues,

But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” (Hebrews 3:13, ESV)

Exhort. That is how the author says to take care. The dictionary definition of exhort is strongly encourage or urge (someone) to do something. As long as it is today, that means always.

Later in the letter he says,

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24–25, ESV)

In other words, God has provided the church to you and me, for this encouragement. Back in our text he says,

For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. (Hebrews 3:14, ESV)

This sharing of Christ isn’t to unbelievers, it is to each other. We continually need to hear what Jesus has done for us. We continually need to hear about the forgiveness of our sinfulness. We need to received God’s Word that works in us to tamp down the sinful nature.

Sometimes, we take all that God does here for granted. But what a miracle it is to have our little church here in this pagan place. What a miracle it is to have a Christian church anywhere! As Martin Luther says it is God’s Mouth House. It is where He comes to share Christ with sinners.

And what is the encouragement to take care that comes to you here? Well, Martin Luther begins with remembering your baptism.

What does such baptizing with water signify?
Answer: It signifies that the old Adam in us should, by daily contrition and repentance, be drowned and die with all sins and evil lusts. And also it shows that a new man should daily come forth and arise, who shall live before God in righteousness and purity forever.

That old Adam that he is talking about is the unbelieving heart that you struggle with. That is highlighted everywhere in our worship service. When ever we hear the name of God (our hymnal encourages us to use the sign of the cross when we hear it) we are to remember our baptism and the gifts that God gives through it. It isn’t a one-time thing but an everyday, a today, thing that happens through contrition and repentance. Seeing our sin and knowing that God has done something about it through Jesus.

We are in God’s mouth house. We hear God speak here. We confess our sins, and God speaks of your forgiveness through your pastor. We hear his word read / spoken into our ears and straight to our hearts. The stories of God’s faithful people in the saving story of Jesus. Then the sermon applies it to you. We pray together for the needs of our church, community and the world, and God promises answers. We receive the very body and blood of Jesus, that was on the cross. We open our mouths and our ears to hear that forgiveness is given over our tongue.

We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have re-freshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and in fervent love toward one another

All of this is the found in take care. Take care and use what God has provided. Take care and encourage one another to do these things while it is called today.

Our struggle with sin is real, and dangerous. We can’t tackle it on our own. But God in his grace provides all that we need. First, he gives faith. Then he gives us the church where he causes that faith to grow. In the church he gives encouragement through our brothers and sisters of faith. You can’t be a Christian on your own in this sinful world. You constantly need to be told about Jesus. You constantly need to be told that your sins are forgiven. You constantly need what God has here for you. Amen.

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

Hebrews 2:1-13; The Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost; October 6, 2024;

Life in Christ Lutheran Church, Grand Marais, MN;

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. It has been testified somewhere, “What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, putting everything in subjection under his feet.” Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again, “Behold, I and the children God has given me.”” (Hebrews 2:1–13, ESV)

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

As always, the Law comes at us in force. Here the author of Hebrews says, “pay closer attention to what you have heard.” Now, Hebrews is a treatise on worship, So, when the author talks about “what you have heard” he’s talking about what happens in Church. Hearing the word of God spoken, by aural reading and preaching is key to what he’s talking about. And this is the place where that happens. “Pay attention”, isn’t only talking about not sleeping during the sermon, but the word itself (Greek προσέχω) has the meaning “to listen, hear, or pay close attention to, and usually respond in conformity.” And “be on guard, beware”. In other words, the congregation is to be on guard in what it hears from even and especially its pastor.

If you don’t believe that false doctrine can creep in to any setting, all you must do is look at the myriads of denominations there are. They always begin with a doubt about what God says in his Word, and the error grows from there. If the Christians in those churches were “on guard” they would not have fallen away from the truth. That’s where the “lest we drift away from it.” Comes in.

It is a very strong warning that slipping away from the truth of God’s Word is easy, and very dangerous.

For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? (Hebrews 2:2–3a, ESV)

It’s that “every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution”, meaning all sin is punished by God. And if we fall into false teaching then, God’s justice prevails, there will be punishment. We are very comfortable about God saying he will punish, and rightly so.

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:31, ESV)

Paul addresses this same problem in the Book of Galatians.

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:6–8, ESV)

He highlights how quickly a faithful congregation can fall into false teaching. And how dangerous it is. To distort the Gospel of Christ is to create a different Gospel altogether. And anyone who pushes in that direction “let him be accursed”. Again not what we want to hear. But it speaks to how clearly God wants his word to be taken very seriously. So, what’s a faithful congregation to do? Test preaching. Test teaching. Against what? The Word.

For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you

Think about it, our worship service is set up to help with just that. It begins with declaring who God says we are.

“First let us consider our unworthiness and confess before God and one another that we have sinned in though, word and deed, and we cannot free ourselves from our sinful condition.” (LSB p203)

That’s a truth from God’s Word. We say it first so that we have a check against what comes up in the rest of the service. If a pastor would say, “you can handle sin and get control of it on your own…” The confession of sin says otherwise.

We confess the creeds every Sunday. Their placement next to the sermon provides more context. The creed confesses what scripture tells us about God, himself. If a pastor denies any point, you can call him out on it.

Our liturgy, although ordered by people, is God’s Word to us. It gives context to everything that happens here. It is chalk full of scripture. From the readings to the responses, to the Lord’s Supper. All of it is there for you. All of it is there so you can “pay closer attention to what you have heard.”

We, in this congregation, take God’s Word very seriously. It is because it is the greatest gift from God outside of our salvation. And our salvation is impossible without it.

So, why is pure doctrine important to God? That is what we are talking about, pure doctrine. All teaching about the bible, when ever you say anything about what the bible says, that’s doctrine. God is deadly serious about it because it matters.

Jesus is our savior from sin. Everything he did and said is important. Whenever that message is watered down, or misconstrued, the souls of people are in jeopardy. There is no minor doctrine when it comes to sin and death and hell.

But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” (Hebrews 2:9, ESV)

Jesus himself, became man (lower than the angels), to suffer and die for you, for your sin. It is grace, God’s undeserved love. You have been saved from hell. It happens because Jesus suffered on the cross and took your punishment for sin (by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone).

There is no more important act in all of history, no more important message. It then is our duty to make sure it is proclaimed just as God gives us to proclaim it. Amen.

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

Matthew 5:21-37; The Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost; September 29, 2024;

Life in Christ Lutheran Church, Grand Marais, MN;

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.” (Matthew 5:21–37, ESV)

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

Jesus is preaching. He has a lot to say. And what we hear him say is not always easy to hear. We'd rather Jesus be "Jesus meek and mild" rather than Jesus confronting our sin. Here we have it, Jesus speaking clearly and straightforward about what we are to do and not do. It comes as a part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. Blessed are the poor in spirit. Blessed are those who mourn. Blessed are the meek. Blessed are you. Jesus is describing the life of faith. Those who have a relationship to God through faith in Jesus Christ are indeed blessed. That compels us to live in a certain way. And that's what he's talking about here. He's pointing to the part of the commandments that describe our relationship to each other. He saying "since you have a relationship with God through the forgiveness of sins, the First Commandment is set in place, so live out your life keeping the others." Sometimes we Lutherans get the idea that God doesn't care if we keep the Commandments are not. Jesus is very clear. Because of all that he has done for us, his life, death, and resurrection, we are to keep the Commandments. And more than that, it's not a matter of keeping them on the outside, for the sake of those who see us, but we are to keep the commandments in the heart.

According to Jesus, murder is more than just causing the death of another person. It is murder to insult someone. The commandment is broken in the heart, long before blood is actually shed. You are to have a relationship with other people that does not cause them pain. If you live your life respecting other people, as the commandment calls for, your relationships will be so much better. The idea of not letting the sun go down on your anger is not only good advice, but it's living according to the commandment. Your sins have been forgiven. That forgiveness should flow out to the people around you. Do not hurt or harm your neighbor in his body but help and support him in every physical need. That's Luther's description of what Jesus is saying here. You are a blood bought child of God. You have a responsibility to live according to God's commandments. That responsibility means to live in a way that is respectful to your neighbor and doesn't cause him harm. So important are your relationships with other people, that when they are broken, when you are in conflict with other people, your relationship with God is affected. Don't pretend that your relationship with God is not affected, if your relationship with your brother isn't set straight. Make every attempt to reconcile yourself to your brothers and sisters.

It is also important, according to Jesus, that we keep our relationships between men and women in proper perspective. Breaking the commandment on adultery is also done long before physical contact. Jesus said that the sin that begins in the heart is acted out in the eye and hand. The danger is there long before. In fact, it is not your eye or your hand that causes you to sin, but your heart. Plucking out your eye or removing your hand won't prevent sin. If you could remove sin that easily it would be best to walk around without a hand or an eye and avoid sin. But you are to be that serious about sexual sin. You are a blood bought child of God. You have a responsibility to live according to God's commandments. That responsibility means to live in a way that doesn't turn other people into objects of lustful desire.

Marriage between a man and a woman is entirely sacred, according to God. It is a holy estate. From the very beginning God made man and woman to be joined together for a lifetime. The purpose is companionship and the extending of God's kingdom through children. Husband and wife are to bring their children up in the way of the Lord. They are to teach their children the Commandments. And encourage them to follow. Divorce is nothing other than the breaking apart what God intended to be permanent. A man and woman locked together for a lifetime. A man locked together with a woman watching out for her best interest with everything he has. A woman locked together with a man watching out for his best interest with everything she has. A man and a woman raising children, watching out for their children's best interest with everything they have. There is nothing in divorce that promotes a man's best interest or woman's or a child's. Divorce is always against God's will for people. You are a blood bought child of God. You have a responsibility to live according to God's commandments. That means supporting families in such a way that divorce is unthinkable. So says Jesus.

These are things we would rather not hear Jesus say. We like our sin. We like our flexible morality. Maybe you have heard your hearts say things like this: God forgives me so I can diss my neighbor. My neighbor is such a jerk God doesn't mean I have to reconcile myself to him, surely. That guy doesn't care about anyone but himself, he doesn't deserve forgiveness. God forgives me so my roving eye is just an appreciation of the female form. Besides if men wouldn't dress that way, women wouldn't look at them that way. No one is really hurt by those pictures in the magazine. The models are willing. They make a good living. God wants me to be happy. And I can't be happy unless I get my divorce. These are all lies from the chief liar. Sin begins in the heart. It's in my heart. It's in your heart. It makes it impossible to live the way that God requires. And Jesus makes no bones about it. It is sin in the heart that is deserving of hell.

And so just as Jesus instructs us on what to do, the law accuses us. Whenever we hear the law we see how woefully short we fall. Whenever we hear the law we see God's demand for perfection. When we seek God's demand for perfection we see only the punishment that we deserve. You and I deserve eternal punishment in hell for our sin. It is a breaking of the Commandments. Not just any one particular commandment, but all of them. Commandments 2 through 10 are seated in the 1st. We do not treat our neighbors as Jesus would have us do because we do not love the Lord our God with all our heart or soul or mind.

But, believe it or not, there is good news in Jesus demands. When the law is set before our hearts and we see our sin, when we have nowhere else to turn, there's only Jesus left. When the burden of sin comes down on us we crawl to the cross holdout our hands and ask Jesus to take it from us. This is faith. This is repentance. Seeing sin and knowing where to take our sin. Seeing sin and clinging to Jesus on the cross for our forgiveness. Jesus describes the things that we should do. We see that he is the one who did them perfectly. On the cross Jesus gladly takes our sin. And from the cross we receive his perfect life. It is an exchange that is given to us by God's declaration of forgiveness. Our punishment is satisfied. And our good works come from the life of Jesus. So the things we should not have done are forgotten in the cross. And the things we should do are remembered in the life of Jesus.

And so the demands that Jesus makes in the law are our joy to accomplish. When we are angry with our neighbor, we remember God's anger over our sin was hung on Jesus on the cross. When we are reluctant to reconcile with our neighbor we remember God's reconciliation of us through Jesus on the cross. When our eyes see the things which turn our hearts away from God, we remember Jesus was forsaken by God for us on the cross. We turn our hearts back toward God because of Jesus. When the world tells us divorce is a good solution, we remember our relationship to God has been restored by Jesus on the cross. And we can faithfully and strongly proclaim God's plan for sexuality and marriage. The power to do these things does not come from our hearts. The power to do these things does not come from the proclamation of the law. Instead, it is the gospel, the free gift of forgiveness and eternal life in Jesus Christ, that drives us to do all that Jesus commands. Amen.

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

Mark 9:30-37; The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost; September 22, 2024;

Life in Christ Lutheran Church, Grand Marais, MN;

They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him. And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”” (Mark 9:30–37, ESV)

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

The disciples are acting like children. It happens all the time on my bus route. Two young kids pushing and shoving to be first on the bus. Being first, or greatest, is important to people. It is reflected in Children. The disciples were “arguing”. St. Paul, in his letter to Jude, uses the same word to describe the argument between Satan and Michael the archangel over the body of Moses. It wasn’t a simple argument, but contentious. The disciples were contending over the prospect of being greatest. They were pushing each other aside and down, trying to be first on the bus. They wanted to be greatest.

A few moments before, Jesus told them who was greatest. He is. Listen, anyone who predicts

The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise. (Mark 9:31, ESV)

… and then actually carries it out, is the greatest. It’s and apologetic argument to say to someone who doubts what Jesus says, to tell them, “Well, Jesus said he was going to rise from the dead, and then did it. If he did rise from the dead, he, at the very least, he deserves to be heard.”

But his disciples are afraid to ask about it because they don’t understand. They hear the words, but they can’t comprehend what they mean. Resurrection from the dead was the furthest thing from their minds. And especially that a person could rise by his own power. They were focused on who would be first when Jesus came to power.

In the text Mark gives us another interesting detail.

for he was teaching his disciples (Mark 9:31a, ESV)

The word he uses is διδάσκω. It means to teach. Mark puts it in the imperfect tense. For those of you who aren’t grammatically inclined that means “he had a habit of teaching them” or “he was teaching them, as was his habit” or “he regularly taught them”. It was one of many times he told them that he was going to be delivered, die and rise again after three days. The predictions appear three times in the Gospel of Mark (and three times in, Matthew and Luke also). But it is obvious he said it many more times. So, according to Mark, Jesus told them many times he was going to die and rise again. It just didn’t sink in. The closest they come is when Peter says to Jesus, “I won’t let that happen!” And Jesus calls him Satan. You can see why they might be reluctant to ask about it. The disciples just don’t get what Jesus is all about. They have their eyes on an earthly kingdom. Jesus comes to set people free from sin. It doesn’t really come home to them until after the resurrection. That’s when they see and understand what Jesus was saying. It isn’t because Jesus wasn’t speaking clearly. He tells them who he is when he refers to himself as “Son of Man”. That phrase refers to God himself in the book of Daniel.

“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.” (Daniel 7:13–14, ESV)

The son of man here is very clearly God himself, looking like a human being. So, when Jesus calls himself the Son of Man he is talking about his divine nature, combined with his human nature. There is no way this should get past the disciples, but as I said, they missed it.

So, isn’t it funny that the disciples are arguing about who is the greatest, when the greatest is walking right there with them on the road?

Jesus is, in fact, the greatest among them. He says,

“If anyone would be first, he must be last of all, and servant of all.”

And he uses a child to make his point. To be first, you must even serve even children. To understand this point we must put ourselves in ancient times. Children were indeed precious, however, because of the mortality rate among children, it wasn’t considered profitable to invest much time in them until they were adults. They were only potential adults. But Jesus sets this notion on its head. You must receive the least of us, even children! Jesus does what he always does, turns everything around and sets it on its head. If we look at things from Jesus’ point of view infant baptism makes sense. They are full people for whom he died. They are not only potential people, they are people in need of salvation. Children are worth the investment. It isn’t surprising that he would provide a way for even the youngest of children to be saved.

This is what makes Jesus the greatest one. He values all people, even and especially children. He invested his time in them. Luther understood this also. Each section of The Small Catechism begins with the phrase,

As the Head of the Family Should Teach It in the Simplest Way to His Household .

Household included children. That is why Jesus has such a strong admonition to those who lead children into sin.

but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. (Matthew 18:6, ESV)

Those are strong words of judgment. God is serious about saving children.

Jesus’ attitude shows his greatness. Great people care about the least of people. Jesus cares about children. We get a glimpse of this in Matthew’s Gospel.

But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 19:14, ESV)

He told that to his disciples when they rebuked people who wanted Jesus to lay their hands on their children. Jesus himself says they belong to him in his kingdom.

Jesus also not only predicts his death and resurrection, but he does also it, and he does it for everyone, even children.

When he hangs on the cross suffering, just as he said he would, he has all people, even children, everywhere in his mind. He has you and me, people of all nations, children everywhere, on his lips when he says, “It is finished.” That’s who he dies for, everyone, children included. And he rises from death for them. There is no question about who is greatest. It is the one who gives himself, even to death on a cross, for the sake of all children, and people. And then raises himself from death to prove it. Because of the greatest man that ever lived we, and our children have forgiveness of sin. There is no one who can top that.

When did the Church follow Jesus and hold children in high esteem? Well, it seems they began baptizing infant almost immediately. That’s God’s grace that he even puts faith in children, before they even understand what faith is. That’s God’s care for children.

So, when Jesus gives his example of his salvation being for children also, it is a good thing. The Disciples were acting like children. If we are honest, we too often act like children. We contend to be first on the bus. We hold a grudge when we are hurt. We give the silent treatment to people. We laugh at people who are different from us, under our breath. In other words, we act as if we don’t know better, when we do. We fall into childish sin.

Thank God he saves children, even those who act like children. We don’t deserve his forgiveness; he gives it freely. That what baptism is, a free gift of forgiveness even to those who don’t understand what’s happening. Jesus’ death and resurrection are that for us, beyond our understanding. When we see our childish actions, we know we don’t deserve forgiveness. But God forgives, that is his nature, that is the gift of Jesus.

As with children, we need to hear it again and again, so that it sinks in. Because we are like children, God makes sure we hear it again and again. That’s what church is about. That’s why we focus on forgiveness here. That’s why God has given us various was to hear it, including visuals.

So, thank God he saves children, because we so often act just like them. Amen.

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