Luke 8.26-39; The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost; June 30, 2024;

Life in Christ Lutheran Church, Grand Marais, MN;

When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.” For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him. He was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert.) Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” for many demons had entered him. And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned. When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him. Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus’ feet, he implored him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. As Jesus went, the people pressed around him. And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.” While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.” And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat. And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.” (Luke 8:28–56, ESV)

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

Well, it is a great account of our Lord, healing people in great need of healing. I noticed a few things about what’s going on here. First, Jesus is clearly identified for who he is. Legion the demons yells out at him, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?” and later when Jesus is going to leave he tells the man to tell what God had done for him. The man recognized God’s work in Jesus by telling everyone what Jesus had done for him. Although we wouldn’t use this as a proof that Jesus is God, it clearly shows the man knew who was helping him and that God was working through Jesus.

Secondly, I noticed that the first guy who Jesus was helping really needed help. It seems to me that lots of people tried to help him and failed. I’m not sure they locked him in chains and kept watch over him just to protect themselves. He had family and friends that didn’t want him to hurt himself. Even if they were very selfish in trying to help him by confining him, they couldn’t do anything anyway because he broke the chains and ran back to the desert. This guy living naked in the graveyard, foaming at the mouth, screaming at the top of his lungs, was quite helpless and in great danger. The danger was very real.

Notice also how everything is in turmoil in the account. Jesus comes ashore; he’s confronted in a loud voice. There’s a herd of pigs nearby (they are not necessarily quiet animals). There’s the description of the man’s activities, and the argument with the demons called Legion. They are begging with Jesus and he’s telling them what they are going to do. “Please don’t cast us into hell! We don’t want to go there yet! Can’t we live in those pigs? We won’t be too much trouble there?” I think Jesus just waved his hand and pointed to the herd. Off went the many demons thinking they had won a victory against Jesus. But instead, the pigs were sent screaming into the lake to drown; noise, anger, death, drowning pigs what a commotion that must have been. No wonder the folks who saw it were afraid. Now the contrast is really what this reading is all about. The pig herders ran off to tell everyone what happened. When everyone comes to see Jesus the man who had the demons is dressed, in his right mind and sitting a Jesus’ feet. He’s learning from Jesus. Hanging on Jesus words, it reminds me of Mary and Martha. Remember Martha busy in the kitchen working a frenzy to get everything ready and Mary sitting quietly at Jesus feet listening. Jesus says it is the one thing needful. What Mary needed, what the man who no longer had a legion of demons needed, what you and I need… is to listen to Jesus, to sit at his feet and take in his Word.

The last thing to see here is how everyone is afraid. The pig herders are afraid. The town’s people ask Jesus to leave because they are afraid. In the face of Jesus power and his ability and in recognition that he’s connected to God in some great way people are afraid of him and just want him to go away.

So that’s what we see in this account. Now the interesting thing is this one is right in the middle of two other accounts that have the same kinds of things happening. Right before this Luke tells us that Jesus and his disciples were boating across the lake and were caught in a storm. The waves were crashing over the boat, the disciples were in grave danger. They were helpless, the boat was going to sink, and they were going to die. Jesus was sleeping. They wake him up and he calms the storm. They are afraid. “Do you have no faith?” Jesus says.

After the Legion account Jesus is waking through crowds of people. They’ve come because of all that they’d heard about him. Some want to be healed, some want to see the guy who casts out demons, some want to see what’s so special about a guy from Galilee. He was “almost crushed” by the crowd as he was trying to move along. A man named Jairus comes and asks Jesus to heal his sick daughter. She’s helpless, too, because she is dying. On the way another helpless person touches Jesus’ robe because she is just sure that if she does Jesus can heal her 12 years bleeding illness. Jesus calms the crowd to find out who touched him. She was healed by faith in Jesus. Then news of the little girl’s death comes to Jairus. “Master, don’t bother the teacher anymore, your little girl is dead.” Think of the sense of helplessness that must have fille him standing there with the person who he was sure was his last hope, and the delay caused by the crowds and a sick woman cost him his daughter. Think of the fear of facing his wife… and seeing his little girl dead…. well, you know the story, Jesus arrives at the house and the mourners are shouting the grief of death. Jesus quiets them and raised the girl to her mother’s arms. And again, everything is calm.

Do you see the pattern? Chaos, trouble, helplessness, Jesus, calm. In fact, in these four short stories (that actually happened!) Jesus shows that he’s more powerful than nature, Satan and his demons, sickness and even death.

Chaos, trouble, helplessness… that is where we are most of the time in our lives isn’t it? Surgery doesn’t just cause us pain; it takes away our ability to care for ourselves and we must depend on someone else. It may even mean a change in how we’ve always done things. The wind blows and the house creaks and the water rise. We panic about all the stuff we’re going to lose in the storm. We send out storm spotters to watch so we can scurry to cover and protection. Murderers live closer than we care to even talk about. News of father killing mothers and unborn children leave us wagging our heads and feeling well out of control. Drug dealers are selling to our kids. Talk about helpless… and danger. My heart aches for the families that will be hurt when Satan’s handiwork comes to its fullness. Death hovers over us. We’ve not done a funeral here but sooner or later a casket will be set before this altar with broken hearts. All these dangers are real. We get sick, we can’t control or even predict the weather, there’s real evil out there, and people die every day. Satan is constantly trying to get us to focus on our troubles instead of Jesus. We need money for the roof. So be it. The roof isn’t more important than God’s word proclaimed under it. We think we’ve got to do something to make people give more money to fix it… well remember that everything is in God’s hands…

Chaos, trouble, helplessness… Jesus. Jesus on the cross. He hung on the cross because of all that chaos, trouble and helplessness would be all that our lives were about if we were left in our sin.

Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed.” (Galatians 3:23, ESV)

That’s a way of saying that whatever we get, chaos, trouble, helplessness we deserve because of sin. But that’s not what God wants. This story of Jesus casting out Legion and sending them drowning in the lake is to show us that Jesus is in control. The healing of Jairus’ daughter show us that God is in control. Jesus suffered, he cried out in pain, he was helpless, there on the cross bearing our sin. He lay in the coldness of death in the tomb, but he overcame it all. He is in control of it all, the whole time. Nothing is more powerful than our God and Savior Jesus Christ, not even chaos, trouble, pain, death, taxes and church budgets.

Jesus brings us here… to be calm; to receive his word; very specifically his word about sin. It’s not a word of judgment. It’s a word of forgiveness. The chaos we face, and oh boy, do we face it, isn’t to punish us, it’s to remind us that He has it in his hands. He can and does control all things. He’ll take care of all things when he takes care of you. Psalm 46 says it…

though the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam… though kingdoms totter… be still and know that I am God.

That man that Jesus saved from the Legion of demons was dressed, in his right mind and sitting at Jesus feet, listening to his word. Jairus’ daughter got up at once, even though she had been dead. That’s what God wants for you.

Are you afraid of what Jesus can do and does? Well, join the crowds… what Jesus does is frightening. Fear is a natural reaction to God’s Word. But dear brothers and sisters in Christ, your panic, and planning, and fighting, and trying to control others is never going to change your life (or this church). That’s trying to chain up chaos. The chains just get broken, and we end up living in the cemetery again. If you want calmness in your life and among us here in the church, it is only going to come through the gifts that God gives: Sitting at Jesus feet, listening to him, eating his meal, his very body and blood, pouring water, and in the name of Jesus receiving the forgiveness of our sins.

That’s what the man had to say about Jesus. Jesus said, “Go home and declare how much God had done for you.” He says that to you do. So, let’s start right here. Say this with me:

“Jesus is in control. Jesus has forgiven my sin.” Amen.

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

Job 38:1-11; The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost; June 23, 2024;

Life in Christ Lutheran Church, Grand Marais, MN;

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

How can you summarize the book of Job? Theodicy is the word most scholars use, that means a writing about why people suffer. As one Jewish scholar put it, “When bad things happen to good people.”

You can really see it in the book of Job. Job is a righteous man, and yet he suffers the loss of everything he has; his children, his livestock, his home, everything. And if this isn’t enough, his wife and friends pile it on. They all insist that Job has obviously done something sinful and that is the reason God is punishing him. The text of his friend’s speeches goes on and on, page after page. They are summed up by Job’s wife when she says, “you are guilty, just give up.”

Then his wife said to [Job], “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.” (Job 2:9, ESV)

With people like that in your life, who needs enemies?

But Job maintains his innocence. And the author agrees. The book leaves no doubt about it. It starts with,

There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.” (Job 1:1, ESV)

It isn’t a treatise on Original Sin. Job was certainly a sinful person. The point of the book is not about that issue, but to set up Job as a faithful man of God. It sets up the question,

“Why is this happening to Job?”

The book tells us exactly why. It has to do with conversations between God and Satan. God says,

And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” (Job 1:8, ESV)

And Satan responds, “Well, that’s because you are protecting him. If you wouldn’t do that and allow some trouble in his life he’d curse you, just like other people.”

So, God allows Satan to do all the bad things that happen to Job that we read in the book, with the noted exception that Job himself is not to die.

Over and over Job pleads with God to tell him why all this is happening, and God is silent. It is never revealed to him why he is suffering. Through it all Job maintains his innocence. He pleads for a mediator. “If I could just put my case to God in person, he’d relent.”

And finally, God does answer. But it isn’t the answer Job is expecting. It starts with our text for today.

Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? “Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb, when I made clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band, and prescribed limits for it and set bars and doors, and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed’?” (Job 38:1–11, ESV)

This is only the tip of the iceberg. It goes on for two chapters. God points out his creation to show his power and control of the universe. He asks Job particularly if he was there when God set up the bounds of creation. Job realizes how little he understands about God, himself, and the vast difference between divine and human knowledge. You could sum it up with this saying,

There are two fundamental principles of human enlightenment.
1. There is a god.
2. You are not him.

Job is often touted for his patience. But really, he should be commended for his humility.

Then Job answered the LORD and said: “Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further.” (Job 40:3–5, ESV)

So, what is the point of suffering? Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do bad things happen to Christians?

The Apostle Paul talks about this.

"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." Romans 5:3-5 (ESV)

Suffering builds endurance, character and hope. There is the saying, “No pain, no gain.” In a sense it is quite true. But there is more to what Paul says than first meets the eye. He ends with hope. For Christians hope linked to faith isn’t a misty vague future that we wish for. It is a certainty. Christian hope is founded in the promises of God in Jesus Christ. The promise that suffering will end and what comes after is even greater than we can imagine.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:18, ESV)

Suffering then builds reliance on God, and him only.

"Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." Philippians 2:12-13 (ESV)

Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling… What he means is that there is no reason for boasting when you consider that it is God, and only God, who works in you to saves you. That is, humility to accept God’s actions for what they are, beyond our understanding. It is indeed God alone who works salvation in you, through faith in Christ Jesus.

As innocent as Job was (not counting for original sin), Jesus was even more so, in fact perfectly so. Jesus was sinless. A perfect person. And yet, Jesus suffered even more than Job. His ultimate suffering was on the cross. The cross was an inhuman form of torture. It didn’t just kill, it caused great pain for hours or even days. It played the innate desire to live against certain suffocation. Death only came after exhaustion proved greater than instinct. Added to it was humiliation on public display. The naked body of the victim hung next to the main thoroughfare of town.

But Jesus suffering was so much more than the physical suffering of the cross. His was the punishment of everyone. The punishment of hell for all people. From the hymn “My Song is Love Unknown”

Here might I stay and sing–
no story so divine!
Never was love, dear King,
never was grief like Thine.
This is my Friend, in whose sweet praise
I all my days could gladly spend. (LSB 430)

And through faith in this unknowable suffering of Jesus for us, we have the forgiveness of sin, eternal salvation.

Let’s face it. We all suffer. From a paper cut to an incurable disease; from a lover’s tiff to divorce; from a lecture from the boss to getting fired. Suffering is the common denominator of human existence. And, even worse is the fact that we most often suffer because of our own fault, our own sin. I think this is one of the reasons why God chose to save the world through the suffering of Jesus. We can relate. Even though Jesus’ suffering was far greater, we know what suffering is, because we bear it. We know, in part, what our sins cost Jesus in suffering.

The appearance of God in the whirlwind is the turning point of the book of Job. God appears and Job reacts in humility and faith. “Thy will be done.” In other words, “you are God, I am not.”

Suffering doesn’t always lead us to the end of our rope. But every suffering is a pointer to Jesus, a reminder that he suffered for us.

We think, like Job, that if we just knew the reason for our suffering, we could deal with it. We search every crevasse of our lives for an answer. When we can’t find one, we may fall into despair, that too is like Job. Sometimes, there is simply no earthly answer. Sin is the answer. It is so pervasive that no one can avoid its reach. Sin so thoroughly invades everything in our lives. No part is untouched. And so, we suffer. St. Paul calls it groaning.

For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. (Romans 8:22–23, ESV)

And there it is, hope. The effect of our suffering. Paul says, “we wait eagerly”. That’s hope. Every suffering we endure pushes us toward hope, “and hope does not put us to shame.” Paul explains a few chapters earlier. Hope and faith go hand in hand. Faith makes hope sure and certain. Faith in the work of Jesus to forgive our sins, produces a certain hope in our “adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” In other words, an end to all suffering.

Paul has one more thing to say about suffering. In 2 Corinthians he talks about his own. He had a thorn in the flesh that he begged Jesus to remove from him. We have no idea what it was, scholars have debated it for centuries. I personally think it was a speech impediment. Jesus didn’t remove it.

But [Jesus] said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9–10, ESV)

The weakness that Paul suffered with, whatever it was, made it perfectly clear that Christ was in his work. Because of the thorn, Jesus shown thru as the reason behind Paul’s words. When Paul was weak, Christ was revealed as the power behind him. Paul reacted, “I am content”; “Thy will be done.”; “you are God, I am not.”

Our suffering, even the self-inflicted kind, is temporal. That means there will be a time when it is not. It makes us even more eagerly anticipate the resurrection. It shows Jesus at work in us. When we appear weak, Jesus is strong. When suffering is strong, Jesus is stronger.

we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope Hope has its foundation in faith in Jesus Christ, and his redeeming work on the cross. His forgiveness that makes hope sure and certain. Amen.

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

2 Corinthians 5:14-21; The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost; June 16, 2024;

Life in Christ Lutheran Church, Grand Marais, MN;

For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:14–21, ESV)

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

I have never been there, but I’m told that people will stand staring up at the “Creation of Adam” for hours. This painting is the very center of the work that Michelangelo labored for 4 years, lying on his back on a very high scaffold much of the time, to create. The ceiling is considered one of the greatest artistic works ever accomplished in human history. No projected image can do it justice.

You’ve probably seen a print of this great work of art, on a poster, greeting card, or even a coffee mug. In the picture two hands stretching out toward each other. There in the picture is God and Adam reaching out. As you look at the picture your eyes are constantly drawn to the hands then the fingers and finally you realize that it is the focal point. The tension of the whole painting really is found in the tiny space that exists between the two fingers. It’s a beautiful work of art, God the creator reaching out to give life to Adam. In his arms you see the future promise of abundant life as he carefully cradles in Eve. And all of heaven looks on with joy. Adam rests there on the ground, from which he came, ready to receive the gift of life from God himself. And then there is that gap, it’s just about to happen… Heaven and earth, eternity and time, God and man are just about to collide in the creative work of God. Time stands still as you look at the picture you and you wait for it to happen… If you are standing on the floor of the Sistine Chapel looking up your neck would begin to ache. But actually, you might rather have your neck ache than to look around you at the whole world and all that’s going on around us, and find that it’s your heart that aches instead.

The picture has a tiny gap between God and man, but here around us we see a much larger gap. You don’t have to look very far to see the results of what happened after God created human beings. The evidence of the human fall from grace is all around us, and it makes your heart and mind ache. Human beings have certainly fallen a long way from the touch of their creator. High schools are like war zones; unborn children die by the thousands every day; hate explodes in violence; on and on, it makes your head spin and your heartache. We are not lying peacefully on the ground like Adam. Our activity shows just how far we have fallen from the touch of God.

It is amid all that activity that Paul gives these words to us:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)

He says to us “Behold!” The word is there even though some translators leave it out. It’s a little word (even smaller in Greek ἰδοὺ), but it means a lot. “Behold!” Paul says because he wants us to notice what God is doing. He wants us to see God’s creative work again.

“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.”

A new Adam!

“The old has passed away and behold the new has come!”

Look at what God is doing amid all of the turmoil of the world. He is bringing a new creation into being. Just like the picture we looked at before, God is reaching out his had to human beings again. That’s the message of reconciliation: that God is doing something about the heartache that we feel because of sin and death.

Paul wrote those words to the Church at Corinth. It was a Church in a whirlwind of activity, not all of it godly. At one time they were divided into factions. Some people followed Peter, other Apollos and others still declared allegiance to Paul. At another time sexual immorality plagued them. Still another, unhealthy Communion practices, and lawsuits, denial of the resurrection of the dead, and many more. All these problems caused Paul’s heart to ache. Paul longed for the work of God for healing and correcting. He spent 5 years writing, teaching, sending emissaries, and even personal visits. But after all that he found that he himself was under attack. False teachers were calling into question Paul’s life and ministry. They demanded proof of Paul’s credentials. And even though Paul had plenty to give he directs the Corinthian Christians not to himself, but to Jesus instead.

“The love of Christ compels us!”

“Behold!” Look at what He has done among you already. “See what God has already done, the new has come!”

The “Creation of Adam” painstakingly painted on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel focuses on the gap between God and man, the space between their fingers. But Paul focuses on the connection: God reaching out to human beings with a human hand, becoming a human being himself. “God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ.” In Jesus Christ, God is present in his own creation. He doesn’t fly above his creation looking on and allowing it to destroy itself. He comes into the world to seek and restore. He takes on human flesh and becomes man in Jesus Christ. He reaches out his hand to gather the world and reconcile it to himself. And it’s not just that he comes, he comes to reconcile.

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Cor 5:21, ESV)

He took upon himself the task of closing the gap created by human sin. Sin requires death as its punishment. Jesus Christ took that punishment to the cross. He removes the barrier that lies between God and man. He becomes sin in God’s eyes as he hangs on the cross. God’s anger over our sin is all placed on Jesus, and he suffers eternal punishment for us. He suffers eternal separation from God: that is what hell is. And God opens his heart to us. We can now experience eternal love and connection with God. We are no longer enemies but friends. Behold!

That is the wonderful creative work of God, making all things new.

That’s what makes Paul see everything differently. Paul knows what Jesus Christ has done to reconcile the world to God, and that changes his heartache to hope. He knows that the Church at Corinth is a place where God promises to be and be at work, creating everything new. Paul knows that none of the problems that they were facing were beyond God’s reach. Not only had God reconciled the world, (and that included the Church of Corinth) but he had given the message of reconciliation to Paul. Paul doesn’t live or speak for himself, instead he lives for and speaks for God. As he lives and speaks to people, he watches the hand of God reach out and touch them and bring about new life. God, through the message of reconciliation, brings people back into relationship with himself, and he brings them back into relationship with one another. Paul sees that reconciliation even though there is fighting among God’s people. Because it is the work of God, creating all things new among them. God has reached his hand into a fallen world and done it. “Behold! The work of God,” says Paul.

“Behold!” God is at work right here at the Church of Grand Marias. We look and see the wonderful creative work of God right here. He continues to reach out his hand and bring about a new creation. He continues to send his message of reconciliation through messengers. The world is full of all kinds of activity. Your heart can ache at the trouble you find in the papers. But it’s not only out there, some of the activity in the church can cause your heart to ache too. There’s plenty of activity that happens in the church… not all of it godly. There’s confusion over how to worship God, lack of unity in the practice of the Lord’s Supper, disagreement about the teachings of the church, petty arguments over unimportant things, arguments about money, and many more. Over time these kinds of problems can burden the hearts of God’s people. But that’s exactly why it is such a blessing to have Paul’s words today. His letter causes us to stop and say “Behold!” Paul intervenes and points us to Jesus and the wonderful Good News of how he has reconciled us to God.

It’s not some ceiling that you must crane your neck to see. It’s right here with God’s presence. He comes to us right here today with his message of reconciliation. He comes proclaiming his word of forgiveness. He comes in his body and blood at this altar. He comes as pastors that he has called and sent proclaim the message that is given to proclaim. God reaches out his hand in reconciliation, to touch us, and make us a new creation. The hand he does it with isn’t like the hand of God in the painting. This hand is pierced and bloody. There is no anger, dispute, harsh feeling, or hurt that can’t be forgiven when placed into the hand of God in Jesus Christ.

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Our hearts no longer ache but are filled with hope. And the message has been given to you to proclaim to those who you find around you. There are lots of ways to do it. You don’t have to leave your job, your home or your family to become a missionary or a pastor to do it. God performs his wonderful reconciliation anywhere his people are found. It happens wherever there are people who no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them.

On the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, you can see and image of God creating man. It’s a beautiful picture. You and I may never see it in person, because it’s too far away. Right here, right now you have something more beautiful that’s been created. It’s God’s new creation in you. It’s God hand reaching out to you to reconcile you to him. It removes separation and restores. Behold and see God’s new creation in you, that makes hearts ache less and hope more. Amen.

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

Psalm 130; The Third Sunday after Pentecost; June 9, 2024;

Life in Christ Lutheran Church, Grand Marais, MN;

If You, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with You there is forgiveness, that You may be feared. Psalm 130:3-4

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

What would happen if God kept score? What would happen if the Lord and a divine score card where every deed, both good and bad were tallied up? Every time you sin, count that one for Mary; Count that one up for Bob. Every time you do something completely perfect, completely selfless, with pure motives... What would happen? Would you win or would you lose? Well, that's how we would run the world. That's how we would keep things going and keep evil in check. After all, that would be fair, right? You get what you pay for, you get what's coming to you.

But if God kept score, we would all languish in hell forever. The law of God makes this perfectly clear. Sometimes God's word does that to you, you hear a sermon, you read a text and the law slams you between the eyes and backs you up in the corner. If God kept score, you would be lost, you would lose. If God kept score, I would be lost, I would lose.

“If You, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?” (Psalm 130:3)

That is the question. The answer is very clear. No one! Not a single one of us could stand if God kept score. None of us can stand up to the perfection that is required of God's perfect law.

That is why the psalmist cries out,

“Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord!” (Psalm 130:1)

As we look upon the cross, the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ we see that he dies for us. He dies for you. He dies for me. You are in the crowd shouting "Crucify him!" You are Herod who wanted to see a show. You are Pilate com committed Jesus to death. You are the soldiers who pierced his hand and feet and side and hung him on the tree. You are the disciples who scattered at the first sign of danger. It is your sins that nailed him there. They are real and they killed the son of God.

If You, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? (Psalm 130:3).

Left to ourselves we are lost, condemned creatures. Left to ourselves we are dead in our trespasses and sins. Left to ourselves... BUT we are not left to ourselves! That is the Gospel! The wonderful message of Salvation in Jesus Christ.

But with You there is forgiveness, that You may be feared (130:4).

We learn two things from seeing God die on the cross. First, we learn that our sins put him there. Second, we learn the God forgives. Forgiveness is a word we say as if it costs nothing. Yet it is the most expensive word ever to be spoken. That word, forgiveness, cost Jesus Christ, the son of God, his very life. That word sent him from his Father's side, to earth, to live, and walk, and teach, and give. That word led him to be beaten, mocked, pierced and crucified. That word led him to be killed, especially for you.

But with You there is forgiveness, that You may be feared.

When Jesus cried out from the cross, "It is finished." He paid the price of that word forgiveness. he cried out of the depths. He was abandoned and smitten by God, and afflicted. He bore all this so that you can be forgiven. So that you would not have to endure the very suffering of Hell that he endured for you. It is in the death of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and only in him that we have forgiveness. It is only in his death that we can rejoice in forgiveness.

The Psalmist prays,

He will redeem Israel from all his iniquities [from all their sins] (130:8)

God redeemed you, bought you back from Satan's hold. God dragged you out of the pit of hell. That work of forgiveness continues in you every single day. The word of Absolution, "I forgive you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" is the sweetest sound you can hear. Ever so much sweeter when we hear it spoken directly to a troubling sin. Look forward to that gift. Long for it. Ask for it as often as possible. Flee from sin to God's Word of forgiveness. Don't let the sun go down on your sins. The tree of death is the tree of life for you.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

It was your sins that put Him on the cross, but it was also God’s love that put Him on the cross. Jesus could have come down. He could have given in and gone His own way. But He stayed the course. He said Amen to God’s love for you. And His love for His Father meant that His love for you would never end.

If You, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with You there is forgiveness, that You may be feared (Psalm 130:3–4)

God forgives. He gives you Himself. He washes you and makes you clean. He feeds you with His very body and blood. He puts the word of absolution into your ears. You will not die, but live, and proclaim the great works of God. Truly this is Good Friday. For the greatest good was accomplished by Jesus Christ today. Your life. Amen.

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

Mark 2:23-3:1-6; The Second Sunday after Pentecost; June 2, 2024;

Life in Christ Lutheran Church, Grand Marais, MN;

One Sabbath [Jesus] was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. And the Pharisees were saying to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God, in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?” And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.” Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.” (Mark 2:23–3:6, ESV)

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

The pharisees go up against Jesus, again. He violates the Sabbath, according to them. It usually doesn’t turn out good for them. “Look, why are your disciples violating the law of the Sabbath!” Jesus responds with an example from the Old Testament. David and his men were hungry, they ate the bread of the Presence. This bread was set aside for the priests (the sons of Aaron), it was place before the Ark of the Covenant as a sign that God provides for the people Israel in all things. David commanded the priest to give it to his men, because they needed food after their long journey, and no other bread was available. Jesus uses this example to show that the ceremonial law must give way to human necessity. He caps it off by saying,

And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27, ESV)

Then Jesus caps it off by going into the synagogue, and healing a man with a withered hand, on the Sabbath! He did it in full view of the Pharisees, who were watching for just such a violation. Jesus’ question to them puts the whole discussion into context,

And [Jesus] said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But [pharisees] were silent.” (Mark 3:4, ESV)

The pharisees were silent. The word in Greek is σιωπάω which means they were ‘unable’ to speak. Jesus words made them silent. They are caught in their hypocrisy. They couldn’t answer for fear of being found out. They hate being trapped and shown to be what they are by Jesus. And hate is understating it. Their loathing for Jesus is so strong they side with the Herodians, who were in bed with the Romans, in other words their political enemies, to destroy Jesus. Again, the word destroy is mild. The Greek word means to “destroy in battle”. They set the Son of Man as their enemy. So violent is their intention that nothing Jesus says will convince them otherwise. According to the Pharisees, Jesus must die.

Where does this hatred come from? Jesus is confronting their hypocrisy. He is challenging their authority to declare what is right and wrong for God’s people.

Later in the Gospel of Mark,

And [Jesus] cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” (Mark 8:15, ESV)

When Jesus puts the Pharisees together with Herod, he points out their thirst for power. In context, the disciples are worried about having enough bread to feed them. Jesus reminds them of his feeding of the four thousand, and how he provided for the peoples needs. The pharisees and Herodians depend on their political power. God’s people are to depend on him.



So, what does Jesus mean when he says,

“The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”

The Sabbath was God’s provision for working people. He established the Sabbath day so that people had a day of rest from their labors. Especially, those who work menial jobs. Everyone needs a day off, especially those whose work is difficult. The Sabbath was set aside by God for just that. Luther recognizes this in the Large Catechism.

In that way [the observance of the Sabbath Day] both man and beast might recover and not be weakened by endless labor. (LC, 80)

He goes on to say,

Later, the Jewish people restricted the Sabbath too closely and greatly abused it. They defamed Christ and could not endure in Him the same works that they themselves would do on that day, as we read in the Gospel [Matthew 12:11]. They acted as though the commandment were fulfilled by doing no manual work whatsoever. This, however, was not the meaning. But, as we shall hear, they were supposed to sanctify the holy day or day of rest.

We see it in our reading for today. They could not endure Jesus’ activities on the Sabbath, because it didn’t bring them control and power over people.

Luther says that we honor the Sabbath day, even though we don’t do it on the correct day, by hearing God’s Word. It is something we ought to do every day, but sometimes our work prevents us. So, God has set aside a day for just that. We use Sunday (Luther calls it the Lord’s Day because it is the day Jesus rose from death). On this day, Luther says, we have the freedom and time to attend divine service.

But our primary focus is on God’s Word. Especially, hearing and learning it. As he says in the Small Catechism,

You shall sanctify the holy day. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we may not despise preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred, and gladly hear and learn it.

In the Large Catechism Luther says,

Whenever God’s Word is taught, preached, heard, read, or meditated upon, then the person, day, and work are sanctified. This is not because of the outward work, but because of the Word, which makes saints of us all. Therefore, I constantly say that all our life and work must be guided by God’s Word, if it is to be God-pleasing or holy. Where this is done, this commandment is in force and being fulfilled

God has provided a place and time for you to hear preaching and the Word, for your meditation. The day and place are holy, not because of the day itself or even the place itself, but because of what God does here, and what you do here. I hope you have a feeling for how rare it is, especially in a location like ours. It is only by God’s blessing that it continues. Every week I preach justification by faith to my people, because every week they forget it. Martin Luther

Luther isn’t talking about how forgetful his people are, he is commenting on how Satan, the world and our sinful flesh work against it. You need to hear about Jesus for you constantly. You need to hear that you are sinner who cannot be justified in any other way but Jesus. You need to hear about his life, all that he did for you, he death on the cross where he took your sin into death. You need to hear that he rose again from death on the third day. You need to hear about his pending return to bring you to himself. It seems such a simple message, but as Luther says, you forget it every week. And it isn’t because you are forgetful, there is so much noise out there, and in here. It all fights every day against the Good News of Jesus for you. Sometimes it is very subtle, sometimes it is overt.

God provides for you a way to fight it. It’s here. This place isn’t holy because of anything we do but because of what God does here. I’ve been told (not here) that I am a one-point preacher. Well, if that one point is Jesus, I’m doing what God has called me here to do. If you hear about Jesus here, especially how he won your forgiveness, if you take that into your everyday life, it is enough. You need to hear it every day, because you forget it every day.

Do you break this commandment? I’d be a poor preacher if is said no. You have your sinful flesh that wants to stay in bed instead of hearing God’s Word. You have work calls for you not to attend. You don’t let God’s Word permeate all that you do every day. You keep silent when you should speak. You fight for your best interest instead of what is best for the church. Your mind drifts instead of paying attention to the Word and preaching here. There are even times when you forget all that Jesus did for you. You are not alone. I do it all too. Your brothers and sisters sitting next to you have the same sins. We are all weak.

We all need a Savior. No one more than your preacher. That’s what this place is all about. Proclaiming your Savior to you. Proclaiming his life, death and resurrection to cover even those sins. That’s what makes this day, time and place holy. It is God’s gift to you, for you. Amen.

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