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

Life in Christ Lutheran Church, Grand Marais, MN;

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

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

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Material and Formal Principles of Major World Religions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Paul says,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Life in Christ Lutheran Church, Grand Marais, MN;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In plain English it means:

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

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

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

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

Martin Luther said about these words,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Earlier in the Letter, Paul also says this,

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

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

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

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

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

Again, Luther says,

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

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

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

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

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

Life in Christ Lutheran Church, Grand Marais, MN;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In plain English it means:

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

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

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

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

Martin Luther said about these words,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Earlier in the Letter, Paul also says this,

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

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

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

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

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

Again, Luther says,

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

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

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

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

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

Life in Christ Lutheran Church, Grand Marais, MN

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And that’s how the text ends today too.

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

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

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