“Jesus Came For Me” Matthew 1:18-25

S-1524 2MWIA/3C 12/09/15Hymns: #338; #357; #348

Texts: Psalm 67; Exodus 3:7-12; Acts 1:6-11; Matthew 1:18-25

Theme: “Jesus Came For Me” Matthew 1:18-25

Question: “Has anyone done something special for you?” (13^th sermon at Trinity).  

Fellow travelers on our journey to eternity, in the name of the Babe of Bethlehem, Jesus Christ, a blessed Advent to you; The text is a portion of the Gospel lesson. “Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.  But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins,” (Matthew 1:18-21).

In Nomine Iesu 

God’s beautiful and Advent people, the movie “The Day after Tomorrow” is a touching story, of a drama, emotions and destruction all due to a “superstorm” that is setting off catastrophic natural disasters throughout the world. A world-renowned paleoclimatologist Prof. Jack Hall, played by Dennis Quaid, warns of the impending disaster that is about to take place. Many people around the world ignore the warnings. His teenage son goes to New York City from Washington D.C. for an academic competition. While his son is in New York, the natural disasters on a global scale strike the Earth, the planet plummets into an ice age virtually in one day and many people are caught unaware and die by freezing to death. While the son is trapped in New York, Jack and his crew must travel by foot from Philadelphia, braving the elements, risking his own life to get to Sam before it is too late.  Out of his great love for his son, the father doesn’t stop until he reaches his son and rescues him from the impending disaster.

The Advent message for all of us this evening is to know that God’s gracious love moved Him to come to rescue me—the sinner. We see this soon after the Fall of man in the Garden. God came to them while hiding to deliver them from the impending death. We see His hand’s of mercy extended to rescue the Israelites from the bondage of slavery by sending Moses to be His mouthpiece. Walk through the corridors of Holy Scripture and you will see God’s blue print in sending one prophet after another to care and deliver His people from the spiritual enemies—the devil, the world and our sinful flesh.

The Gospel chosen for this evening is a reminder that God sent His Son, Jesus Christ to be born   in the flesh for me. He didn’t send Him only for the world (2 Corinthians 5:19), but for me. God cared enough to send His Holy, innocent and ONLY Son to earth to take upon Him flesh and blood to be like us. He loved me enough to spare nothing to deliver and save me from death, hell     the eternal punishment. Yes, and so also for you too who thinks of yourself so highly.

 The message of the Angel to Mary is God intervening in the lives of those who are broken and bleeding because of sin and doing EVERYTHING to rescue, restore and redeem mankind from the curse of sin and the power of the grave and the bite of Satan. PAUSE.

Beautiful and precious God’s Advent people, this evening we reflect on the coming of the Babe of Bethlehem, His perfect life, His unimaginable suffering at the hands of His enemies who nailed Him to the cross and put Him to death; and was raised to life again on the third day states clearly that you and I needed saving. And we are so thankful for what Dr. Luther once said: “Is it NOT wonderful news to believe that salvation lies outside of ourselves.” And indeed it is! Salvation is NOT found in the glittery gifts under the Christmas tree, or still to be purchased from a store. NO! It is God’s gift to humanity—me—the sinner; of His only Son.

The coming of the Babe of Bethlehem in the flesh is the story of our redemption. As we have been brought to this house of prayer called Trinity, this evening, we are reminded again and again of God’s enormous love for us sinners in sending His Son for me.

Jesus came for me. If I was the only person in the world, Jesus would have come to rescue, restore and redeem me. Thanks be to God for Advent that shows me what real love looks like—a great and glorious sacrifice that cost this Child of Mary to die for me. In the manger, outside of us we see love par excellence. God’s love is manifested in a gift that is freely given. This is the love of God that comes into our hearts and we cherish. On His shoulders we see the price paid. In His blood we see the cleansing agent of our sins, and by His resurrection on the third day, we know God the Father accepted the price paid by His Only Son for me—the sinner so that I might become His Son forever and ever. NEVER to be separated from His gracious and pierced hands. PAUSE

  

Beautiful and precious God’s Advent people, the movie “The Day after Tomorrow” is a Hollywood fiction story. It is the story of a father who does everything humanely possible to save his son.

As we reflect and meditate on the Gospel of St. Matthew we see not a made up story, but true and living pageant.  In this story we see our loving Father, God, who sent His Son Jesus to Earth to save us from the coldness of sin and apathy and unbelief. God would stop at no lengths for us. He traveled much further than from Washington D.C partly by SUV and the rest of the way on foot. God traveled from Heaven to Earth for us! He would travel that lonely road up to Golgotha, all for you, beloved! So complete is His love for us. His love is so powerful it breaks the bad climate of sin in our lives and it melts icy hearts with the warmth of the Gospel. Great is God’s love for us.

This is the great and glorious “love that the Father has lavished upon us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are” (1 John 3:1).  By the grace of God you and I are the recipients of this undeserved love and through this love we know that Jesus came for me.

Tonight, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we say thank you Jesus for coming for me, blessing me and giving me heaven. Amen and Amen.

Now the peace…

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“Numbers of Hope-30” (Matthew 26:14-16)

S-1489 MT/3B 4/02/2015 Hymns: (O) #388; (S) #370; LS #146; #314; #155;

Texts: Psalm 130; Zechariah 11:7-14; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29; Matthew 24:14-25; 27:1-4

Theme: “Numbers of Hope-30” (Matthew 26:14-16)

7^th sermon in sermon series on “Numbers of Hope”

Question: What is the most treasured possession you have?

“Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I deliver Him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray Him.” Matthew 26:14-16

People of the cross, tonight we are bystanders in the Upper Room in Jerusalem. As you are standing in the shadows listening and observing, I want you to look closely at the figure in the center of the room—Jesus. In the middle of supper Jesus does something totally unexpected. Taking off His outer garments He goes around the table washing the disciples’ feet one by one, the way the lowliest slave in the household would. It is a demonstration of His absolute humility, love and care-a demonstration He will repeat for the whole world the next day on the cross not with towel and basin, but with His hands and feet pierced with nails and with His blood issuing from His pierced side and brow.

This night was one the disciples would NEVER forget. It is a confusing, confounding and depressing night! Their Lord and Master washes their feet like a slave He tells them the unthinkable that one of them will betray Him and another deny Him and He will meet His fate on the wood of the cross. He told them it was coming, but they couldn’t see it right before their eyes! What a confusing, confounding, and depressing night!

That night the disciples will behold the depravity of man and the delight of God. They will see on display the lawlessness of man and the love of God. They will see the gruesome heart of man, and behold the grace of God. They will see the darkness of man, and the light of God who reveals His plans to bless His people for which He came to save them…by giving Himself as the ultimate sacrifice on the hewn cross of Calvary.

This night we are drawn to Jerusalem and into the Upper Room to see, hear and learn the love of God the Father in sending His Son to be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver. PAUSE.

Saints in Christ, it was Shakespeare who said “That ingratitude is sharper than a serpent’s tooth.” The old Serpent from Genesis three with venomous desire was still going after the children of God. Tonight, this evil foe had hooked Judas to perform one of the most treacherous and traitors deeds in history. And yet, Jesus loved Judas and the eleven till the very end.

His unconditional love did not cease. Therein is our hope as we think about the number 30. For thirty pieces of silver the Lord of heaven and earth is sold, betrayed, and made the pawn of a bribe. The august leaders of the Sanhedrin had changed from the Supreme Court of the law to a supreme court of lawlessness. They were willing to do anything to silence Jesus and put Him to death.

We must also remember that Jesus loved them—He loved them until the end. Upon the cross as history’s Great High priest Jesus would pray for them...“Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”

Let it be known among us that these religious leaders knew what they were doing. They had no idea they were being used by the devil, doing the very bidding of the one who had seduced Adam and Eve into sin, rebellion, darkness, and lawlessness.

The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil observed St. Paul. The religious leaders were fearful not only of losing power but also money. Jesus’ second clearing of the Temple threatened the plush income of at least nine thousand priests.

When Judas asked the religious leaders the question saying, “What will you give me if I deliver Him over to you?” They chose carefully their response. They offered Judas with a shameful pitiful amount, “Thirty pieces of silver.”

Exodus 21:32 made clear that “thirty pieces of silver” was the price of a slave, or the price for two donkeys. Moreover, that amount was the going rate for some 1500 years earlier. So Jesus was worth, in their perverted minds, the price of a slave from 15 centuries before.

Martin Luther said that one drop of Jesus’ blood was worth more than all the treasures this earth could offer. Tonight we receive Jesus’ body and blood in the Lord’s Supper because of a meal Jesus instituted on the night He was betrayed—for thirty pieces of silver. Thirty becomes a number of hope for us because it reveals Jesus steadfast love for all mankind even in the midst of the wrecked betrayal. It becomes a number of hope because it implicitly reveals that Jesus kept the law of God perfectly in our place even under the most adverse circumstances.

Anyone who has ever been betrayed knows the deep hurt. And to be betrayed for the price of a slave—the low price of a slave from 1500 years before—was triple insult. Any of us at this point would have been tempted to say, “To Hades with you all! I am going to call down the holy wrath of my heavenly Father upon the whole lock, stock, and barrel of you all.” Instead, Jesus loved them to the end, even knowing ahead of time He would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver. After all, that is what Zechariah had foretold in the O.T. reading. PAUSE.

For 30 pieces of silver the life of Jesus is purchased. For the price of a slave, Jesus is sold. This price is paid by the corrupt officials in the hope of silencing and putting Him to death. But they fail to see that these 30 pieces will change our lives forever—we, who have been slaves of Satan and sin; in Christ, become free and blood-bought children of our loving Savior.

Ironically, the 30 pieces of silver weighted about 12 ounces. Jesus would endure this insult to bring about salvation for the 12 tribes of Israel, the 144,000 number that no one could count. We noted in our last sermon, we as the Israelites through being baptized into the body of Messiah Jesus are part of that number. For us, Jesus endures the 30 pieces of silver to turn it into salvation for the 12 tribes, symbolized beneath the surface by the 12 ounces of silver. That is the nature of Jesus, constantly working everything together for the good of His redeemed.

You should also know that the 30 pieces of silver was equivalent to about 120 days of wages for a common worker. Mary Magdalene who anointed the feet of Jesus saved up a whole years worth of wages to purchase the expensive perfume she used. Ironically, Mary worships at the feet of Jesus, just as Moses did at the Burning Bush and Joshua did just shortly before the walls of Jericho coming down. Moses, Joshua, and Mary Magdalene—all connected in their worship of the anointed One. Mary, by the power of the Holy Spirit, understands not only that Jesus must die for the sins of Israel, but she understands far more than the religious leaders of Israel, the worth of the Holy Son of God. She evidently caught on early what the disciples missed...what the wise men alluded to...that Jesus was born to die, specifically for the Jews first and for all nations.

Her hope was built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness. Thirty is a number with many facets: The children of Israel mourned for 30 days when Aaron died and when Moses died. It is, of course, a number for betrayal as well as for the perfect and triumphant. King David was 30 years old when he began his work as king just as Jesus was 30 when He as King began His ministry. Joseph was 30 years old when He ascended to the right of Pharaoh; Jesus was 30 years old as He began His work toward the ascent to the Right Hand of the Father as Risen Savior. Thirty is a number of 3 times 10, the 3 for the Triune God times 10 for His completed work—His completed work of salvation. If Jesus indeed is the perfect High Priest who was like us in every way except without sin, then He must go through betrayal...betrayal by His own people, the Supreme Court of religion, and by Rome and US. For we too, sadly have betrayed Him.

Beloved people of the cross, on Maundy Thursday Jesus gave to His disciples a new commandment. A Mandatum...the root word for Maundy...A new mandate I give you, that you love one another even as I have loved you. This would be a love that overcomes betrayal, abandonment, torture, humiliation, and more. Moreover, Jesus knew that He would rise from the dead and give to His disciples a great commission to bring the gospel to all people, to run the good race, and live out a life of faith.

In order to do this...they would need grace upon grace. Such grace would come in Holy Baptism, Holy Absolution, and the preaching of the Holy Gospel. But Jesus wanted to give His disciples an added gift—the Lord’s Supper. Knowing full well that many of His own disciples would suffer betrayal throughout history, on the night Jesus was betrayed for 30 pieces of silver, a price of a slave. Jesus took on the role of a slave—for US. PAUSE.

On this night we remember that Jesus willingly suffered for us this betrayal precisely because it led to the cross. There Jesus would do His deepest redemptive work and reveal to us the only love strong enough to work faith in our hearts and make us truly humans—people who through the working of the Holy Spirit take the living God of all grace at His Word. The 30 pieces of silver gives us hope because they are part of the story that leads us to the cross and open tomb, baptismal washing and the Lord’s Supper.

For 30 pieces of silver He was willing to be betrayed, so that we might be blessed. He was willing to endure the Cup of suffering to give us His Cup of salvation. He was willing to be sold for a slave’s price to make us His princess and princesses. Jesus was willing to be beaten, to give us His bounty in the blessed meal that awaits us. Therefore, I say to you rejoice tonight as you receive this sacred Meal...a Meal of love—first consecrated on the night our Lord was betrayed. Receive something worth more than 30 pieces of silver, or all the gold in the world, Jesus’ body and blood for the forgiveness of sins. Amen.

Now the peace…

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“Humbled Couple” (Matthew 1:18-19)

S-1461 2MIA/3B 12/10/2014 Hymns: (O) #274; (S) 114; (C) #61

Texts: Psalm 24:1-10; Isaiah 7:10-14; Matthew 1:18-25

Theme: “Humbled Couple” (Matthew 1:18-19)

Question: “Have you ever heard of unbelievable news?” 2^nd in sermon series on: “Humility in the Holy Land”

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia. The text for 2^nd Midweek in Advent is from the Gospel Lesson: “Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly” (Matthew 1:18-19).

Beloved and beautiful children of the heavenly Father, last week we traveled throughout all of the Holy Land. Tonight, our travel draws us to a village in the northern part of Galilee—Nazareth. 2100 years ago in this back wood village lived a young lady a maiden called Mary and a young soon-to-be husband named Joseph. To them the angel of the Lord was sent with news that turned their lives upside down and caused chaos, confusion and heartache. Both received news that shocked them and caused them to wonder about the plans of God to redeem mankind.

The news given to this young lady was a hard pill to swallow. Here is what she heard in her room that night long ago when the angel Gabriel visited her. “…Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to Him the throne of his father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1:28b-33). What a shocking announcement! What a scandalous episode! This unmarried lady will become pregnant and give birth to a son.

Gabriel called her “O Favored one…” Really! How can a young lady in a backwoods village in Nazareth be favored when she will become the laughing stock of the whole community? Come closer and walk with me through this village; see and hear of the pain in her heart and in her eyes as she walks down the streets.

Her heart is churning; her emotions are messed up, she is heavy-laden as she walks ever so slowly to tell her would-be-future husband—Joseph that she is now with child. Can you see his face? Can you see the steam coming out of his nostrils? Can you see the anger building up? This news filled him with anguish and pain. This news shattered his hopes and dreams of the future wife he wanted to marry. PAUSE.

We might think it was easy for Mary and Joseph to receive this news, but it wasn’t. This couple had to deal with much pain though Scripture says favored by God. But what kind of favor is this? People are laughing, ridiculing, pointing fingers, and looking at her with those suspicious eyes. Every person is gawking at her as she brings her water jar to the well to fill it up. The village ladies stand around and whisper behind her back. The gossip is flowing throughout the fields, carpenter shops, in the market place and in the synagogue. Even her mom and dad were suspicious of what she said. Can you see the tug on her heart strings?

But this pain is not hers alone. Let us go to the other side of the village and see Joseph. Do you see him pacing the floor, shaking his head, scratching his hair, pulling on his beard and asking how can she do this? How can she betray me? How could she ruin my life? I had hoped she would be the mother of my children and my-life-long partner.

Into the midst of this confused couple that the angel comes. He comes with the assurance that this is the work of God. God’s Spirit will come upon Mary and she will give birth to the Most High God. She will be the virgin Isaiah spoke about saying, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). This couple was chosen by God to be the humble couple who will care for the God who would become man. They were chosen to be the care givers, providers and protectors to the infant Jesus as He enters our world to save it from the wrath of God. They were chosen to teach Him how to live in this world and raise Him up in the fear of God—God of their father’s Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

By the grace and mercy of God Joseph and Mary humbled themselves to be servants of the most high God. They permitted themselves to endure all sorts of evil to fulfill God’s promise—in sending His only begotten Son—Jesus into our world. They humbled themselves to suffer every accusation, every gossip, and every injustice to do what God has called them to do.

The life of the humble couple wasn’t easy though they were favored by God. Yet they held on to the sure and certain hope given to them through the Word of the angel. The Word of God was and is the anchor that held them together as they faced the barrage of dishonor and shame. PAUSE.

Likewise, we, children of God the favored ones, struggle to live the perfect life in this inhospitable world. We are at times called fools for Jesus because we live our lives different than the world. We struggle just like this humble couple because we have to listen to the gossip, endure the evil the world throws at us and put up with every injustice. As the children of God living in this broken world we are called fools because we follow the Word and live by the Word.

The world might call us fools. But we are NOT!!! We are God’s own and dear children. John the Apostle put it this way: “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know Him” (1 John 3:1). Indeed, we are the children of the heavenly Father. By grace through faith we have received the adoption through the waters of Baptism. Some people call us fools because we baptize infants. Some people call us fools because we dine at His altar receiving His body and blood. Some people call us fools because we dedicate time to be in His house, give of our first-fruit gifts to serve Him and His people; and some call us fools for trusting in an eternal paradise. In the world’s eyes we might be fools, but not in God’s eyes.

We know that fact well. That is why Advent helps us to focus on the One who was indeed favored by God our Savior—the One Isaiah spoke about 2700 years ago. That is why Advent helps us to concentrate on the One the Angel told Mary about 2100 years ago. That is why Advent encourages us to remain steadfast in our hope and trust in His Word—the Word made flesh and tented among us in Bethlehem’s manger.

If you think that life for the humble couple was difficult! If you think our lives as Christians is difficult! Then know the truth that it is. However, their lives and ours are not as bad as what happened to the true Favored Son of the Father. The Babe of Bethlehem had to endure much worse. While an infant his parents had to flee to Egypt. As He grew up He was laughed at by many and during His crucifixion became the laughing stock of those who deride Him, spit on Him, shamed Him and beat Him to the point of death. Yet He endured it so that He can be their Savior and ours.

On this holy night, may our hearts be filled with the joy of knowing that God uses us in spite of us so that in humility we can serve Him and bring glory to His holy name and cause others to learn more about the Savior who came to earth to save them through His death and resurrection.

What a blessing this humble couple were and are to the world! What a blessing you as humble servants are to the world. But above all, what grace and mercy we receive from the humble servant—Jesus Christ—the Babe of Bethlehem who gave us eternal life and peace with God forever. Amen.

Now the peace of God…

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“Love the Children!” (Matthew 18:1-4)

S-1449 13SAP/3A 9/07/2014 Hymns: (O) #593; (S) #594; (C) #744 LSB

Texts: Ezekiel 33:7-9; Romans 13:1-10; Matthew 18:1-20

Theme: “Love the Children!” (Matthew 18:1-4)

Question: “How do you show love to children?”

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen, indeed! Alleluia! The text is from the Gospel lesson: “At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ And calling to Him a child, He put him in the midst of them and said, ‘Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven’” (Matthew 18:1-4).

Precious children of the heavenly Father, a long time ago I heard this statement: “Children are to be seen but not heard.” How sad that statement is. This is not what Jesus said and taught in the text before us. On the contrary, He emphasizes the fact that we can be taught by children’s examples to be humble and trusting of our heavenly Father.  He teaches us to have the heart of a child and to know how much children are valued and loved by Him. Therefore, as we welcome a little child, as we show love to a child, we are indeed welcoming the One who loves the little children—all of them, Jesus Himself. 

In this text, the disciples ask a very important question. “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” That question is still being asked today: “Who is the greatest basketball, football, baseball, soccer player in the world. Who is the greatest golfer, Tennis player, car racer, swimmer or sharp shooter in the world? This is what the world is concerned with—looking to themselves for glory and power.

But again, this is not what this text is about. This text digs deeper than what you see on the surface. It demonstrates through the teaching example of Jesus taking a child into His bosom, how much children trust those who love them and care for their needs. This text shows us how highly the Lord God Almighty cherishes children and loves them. By taking the child into His bosom, He foretells His heart’s desire to hold in His loving and pierced arms every son of Adam and every daughter of Eve.

Oh, that we would learn to love the children and care for them as Jesus cared for His children and still does. Oh, that we would pour into their hearts the love that will carry them as they travel through this journey we call life. PAUSE.

Saints in Christ, in ancient days children were not valued as Christians value them today. In many cultures they were sacrificed to the make-believe gods of pagans. We think of the god in the OT called Molech. Jesus commanded Moses to tell God’s people to have nothing to do with this false god.

In the days of Jesus often children, especially if they were baby girls were thrown into the streets to die. In Rome this was a common practice where sons were esteemed but women were considered property. It is the same today in the Arab world and these girls are sold to the highest bidder.

Today, all across this land and the world, children are sold into sexual slavery or their parts are harvested by wicked people who have lost all sense of right and wrong. Add to that the many children who are being sacrificed on the altar of the pagan god of choice through abortion.

Even though we may not do these wicked and horrific things, or sacrifice our children through abortion or sell them into slavery; in our own way, we don’t love them like we should. Don’t misunderstand me. I am not saying that you don’t love your child[ren] but we don’t love them in the right away and we don’t teach them of the love of Jesus and His everlasting truth that leads to eternal life.

I know we do love our children. I have seen you show love to your children. But loving children is not sitting them in front of the TV, giving them a video game, cash, or letting them loose. Loving the children is so much more than what the world offers. To love the children is to be a godly parent to them. It is NOT only protecting them from harm, providing shelter or giving them food to eat or closing to wear; it is feeding their souls with the heavenly manna as they sit at the feet of Jesus to hear His Word and receive His blessings daily, weekly and yearly.

To love the children is to be a responsible parent who will in word and deed show them the way to church—to spend time in His Word, on your knees and in His presence. To love the children is teaching them that Jesus is their Lord and Savior.

The biggest damage we do for children is when we lie about our relationship to and with God. We often stand here as these folks have done this morning around the baptismal font and promise to bring them up in the fear and admonition of God. But as soon as the service is over, many children don’t enter His house and they grow up without any spiritual food and they are dying on the inside. How tragic that is. Someday all of us parents will have to stand before the judge eternal and will have to answer to our negligence. PAUSE.

Today, by the grace of God you have come to His house to hear His Word. Today, through the Spirit working through the Word you have heard of the Love of Jesus who picks up a child and puts Him in His bosom to show in what manner He loves them to the end.

After all, is this not why Jesus became a little child that He might be not just an example but in fact the Savior of the world? So that all who place their trust in Him might be saved. Jesus died for all the children of the world—all of them—including you and me. Jesus the once child of Bethlehem gives to infants a miracle—Holy Baptism whereby our all powerful, all loving Lord, grants great gospel gifts. God so loved the world—implies that He has a way to save little children. And He does it through the majestic gift of Baptism as you witnessed today not only one miracle—but three—Anna Sue, Rylee Grace and Audrey Marie became children of Him who loves the children—Jesus the Christ.

Beloved in the Lord, we are all God’s children whether we are 10 days old or a hundred years old. It doesn’t make any difference. In the sight of God we all become His children and receive His Amazing Grace and Love. Know this truth and hold it dear, God has no grandchildren—only children (here point out to the congregation). PAUSE.

Saints in Christ, “During the terrible days of the Blitz, a father, holding his small son by the hand, ran from a building that had been struck by a bomb.  In the front yard, was a shell hole.  Seeking shelter as soon as possible, the father jumped into the hole and held up his arms for his son to follow.

Terrified, yet hearing his father’s voice telling him to jump, the boy replied; “I can’t see you!” The father, looking up against the sky, tinted red by the burning buildings, called to the silhouette of his son; “But, I can see you…Jump!”

The boy jumped, because he trusted his father. Likewise, the Christian faith enables you to face life, or meet death; not because you can see—but with the certainty of knowing you are seen by the One who made the eye and looks after us in all situations. The prophet Isaiah wrote “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation” (Isaiah 12:2).

In Jesus Christ, fear is out, and His peace is in….Jesus said…“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27). Because of the love and kindness of Jesus—demonstrated on the hewn tree of the cross, we all have become His children. As such we enjoy all of the riches of God’s Kingdom—pardon for sins, peace with God, promise of eternal life and faith to make us strong.

In the world’s eyes children are nothing, but in God’s eyes we are part and parcel of His Kingdom—that has no end. Our God in His grace through the Child Jesus our Savior has made us His beloved and precious children forever. Now that is loving the children. Thanks be to God for His love to us—His CHILDREN. Amen and Amen.

Now the peace…

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“Sent Out” (Matthew 10:5, 27-28)

S-1438 2SAP/3A 6/22/2014 Hymns: (O) #123 1-4; (S) #506; LS. #370; #304; #310 (C) #123 5-8

Texts: Jeremiah 20:7-13; Romans 6:12-23; Matthew 10:5a, 21-33

Theme: “Sent Out” (Matthew 10:5, 27-28)

Question: “Have you been sent out on an errand?” Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen, indeed! Alleluia! The text is from the Gospel Lesson: “These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them…‘What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell’” (Matthew 10:5, 27-28).

Saints in Christ, legend has it that in 490 BC, a young messenger named Pheidippidies, after fighting in a fierce battle with the Persians, was sent on a 26.2 mile run from the battlefield of Marathon back to Athens. His task was to announce that the Athenians had defeated Persians who threatened the very way of life they knew and cherished. According to the legend, he ran the entire distance without stopping. When he arrived in Athens, he burst into the assembly of the leaders and proudly blurted out the greatest news of that day—WE HAVE WON! Then upon making this announcement, he collapsed and died! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marathon_race).

Now if that isn’t enough to keep you from ever strapping on your cross-trainers and running 26.2 miles just for fun, then nothing will! I can assure you that when I contemplate traveling 26.2 miles, roughly the distance from here to Parkston, the LAST thing I think about is running. I personally just don’t get the draw of running like this! Running great distances is hard work! I have played soccer and I know after running for a long time, my joints and body aches. While I have never felt it, I hear that there is something called “the Wall” that runners hit where their bodies start to rebel against them. With what limited running I do, I am absolutely certain that if I even tried to run HALF a marathon right now, I would meet the same end as old Pheidippidies. PAUSE.

As we look at the text before us today, we see that our Lord Jesus is sending His Disciples out on a mission. While the mission that He sends them on doesn’t sound like Pheidippidies run from Marathon to Athens, the trip that Jesus sends them on will be every bit as grueling! Jesus sends them out on this journey because of the condition of the world. Earlier in Chapter 9 in Matthew’s Gospel account we hear Jesus point out that there is indeed much work to be done in the world. We are told that When He saw the crowds, He had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” What the Disciples didn’t know at that point was that they would be the initial answer to the prayer. The 12 would be the ones that were sent out, running from town to town on a mission to deliver a message: the kingdom of Heaven is at hand!

What is most amazing with this blessed charge by Jesus is this. That God in mercy and compassion is in the ministry of sending. In Holy Scripture we see God’s care for the lost as He sends out His messengers to share the good news. The sending begins soon after the Fall in the Garden. God promised to send a Savior who will crush the serpent’s head. Even as time passes the promise of the One being sent does not diminish. Noah was sent with instruction to build an Arc. He was sent to bring comfort (as his names states) from the burdens that were going on in his world. Through Moses Yahweh sends a message of seeking to Pharaoh saying “let my people go! The sending continues through the prophets.

Isaiah the prophet of God, in midst of disaster speaks gracious words that God will send the “Shiloh” 8:6 (the sent One) to bring about deliverance and hope (vv. 11ff). The sent One will accomplish much for the benefit of the people and on their behalf.

The Shiloah is fulfilled in the life of the heaven-sent Savior, Jesus Christ. In the book of Hebrews Jesus Himself is called an “Apostle” (3:1) that is the “Sent one.” He is the One promised by God and sent by God to bring deliverance and hope. He is the One who will bring comfort and consolation. He is the One who will bring joy and peace. He is the One who will accomplish what no man has ever been able to accomplish—saving their souls and receiving forgiveness.

In love the Father had compassion on His people and sent His Son. Jesus in mercy and compassion for the lost, in obedience to God’s will goes to Jerusalem, to Calvary, to the cross and ultimately to death for the whole world. By His rising from the grave, He announces the victory over our enemies. He declares the Good News of sins forgiven and life with God is given.

Today’s text reminds us of Jesus compassion that the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Therefore, He commissions His disciples and sends them out into the world to tell, teach and testify of His grace for them. These twelve were sent on a mission to go to the whole house of Israel and speak of Jesus—the sent One who has come to earth to be with us and deliver us from the eternal punishment of hell and His great accomplishments.

The Sent One in last week’s Gospel account sent out His disciples to carry out the ministry that will bring us into the fold—the ministry of baptizing and teaching. By the mercy of God we have the Word and water that makes us alive. Through this gift we become apostles sent out one to tell the world Christ’s Good News.

We are sent out to confess the name of Jesus boldly and fearlessly. We, as His 21^st century apostles are sent out in the same kind of way to go out to every place and share the sweet message of our redemption.

As God’s people by the working of the Holy Spirit we take up our cross and follow Him so that we seek to share the Good News of His love with those who do not yet know Him. This is our privilege and honor to speak of what we know of our salvation.

As the ones who are sent by Jesus, we are called to be on the front lines telling of the victory we have on account of His death and glorious resurrection. We are sent out to give hope to the hopeless and help to the helpless through the only Savior Jesus Christ. We are sent out to tell the enemies of the cross of the love of the One who died and rose for them. We are sent out to tell the loveless, that they are loved. PAUSE.

In truth there really isn’t any special training you need for this marathon. You don’t need a doctorate in theology or even be ordained into the Office of the Holy Ministry. The only training you need is what the 12 had in the text: time with Jesus in His word and at His table. Then, as you are going about running the marathon of your everyday life, you get to tell others about Jesus with both your words and your actions! And know that you don’t run alone. Jesus runs with you. The Holy Spirit runs within you and there are over one billion others across this planet that are running the same race you are running; and by the Grace of God are sharing the message of victory in Jesus!

This good news that we share is more than just a story. It is not the story that Jesus ran 26.2 miles of Marathon to Athens and then dying. But it is about delivering the news of a great marathon and the One who ran it for us. This marathon is about One that brought Him from heaven to earth. He continued to run this race all the way to Jerusalem and ultimately to the cross. He didn’t burst into the assembly announcing that He won the battle and then died. No! He died first on the cross of Calvary and then burst forth from the grave saying, I have won! The battle is over. I have overcome the world! The victory is real and forever.

Because of the Cross and empty tomb we have all that we need to run the marathon the Lord has called us. There we have the life we need to run. In the Resurrection, the dead are made alive. This is the free gift of God! It is ours to live in and ours to share. St. Paul expresses it well when he reminds the Romans and us But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

In Christ and His cross we are free. Free to live. Free to run the marathon of the Christian life. And we run because we have the great news of a victory won. And this victory is not mythological like the story around the first marathon. In this assembly I can tell you the victory is ours! This victory is no myth. No, in Jesus this victory is real and it is ours for now and forever! Amen

Now the peace…

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“A Question of Suffering” (Matthew 27:46)

S-1421 4MIL/3A 3/26/2014 Hymns: (O) #153 vv 1-2; S #156; (C) # 153 vv 3-4

Texts: Psalm 27:7-14; Hebrew 9:23-28; Matthew 27:45-49

Theme: “A Question of Suffering” (Matthew 27:46)

Question: “Have you experienced loneliness?” Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, the text is from the Gospel lesson “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46).

INTRODUCTION: In Nomine Iesu.

As we continue our journey this evening to Golgotha, remember the precious truth—Jesus lived and died for sinners. His sacrifice is the means by which the Lord forgives and saves. But there’s more to our salvation than the tale of an unfair death. Jesus’ third-day resurrection is proof that the Redeemer is alive and can bless and be with His people always. We pray this evening, that the Holy Spirit will be with us in this lonely world.

There is nothing more dreadful than being alone. Loneliness is a silent cry, a deep moan, a wail, a gasp, a sigh that comes from the center of your heart and the core of your being. It is the fire that burns the soul of man.

Though we have over 7 billion people in the world it is still a very lonely place. I would like to introduce you to Walter Samaszko, Jr. of Carson City, NE. I would like you to meet him, but I can’t because Walter was found dead in his home in June of 2012. Sadly, Walter Samaszko, Jr. had died sometime in April or May. Walter died and nobody noticed. That surprises me because Walter had lived in that home since the 1960s. He was part of a community, a neighborhood. Even so nobody knew or missed him; nobody checked on him; nobody knocked on his door. Walter died a lonely man.

Walter died a lonely man, but not a poor man. He was not a destitute soul who cut himself off from others because he feared somebody might laugh at his poverty. No, Walter wasn’t poor. As his house was being cleaned for sale, authorities discovered gold bars; gold coins, both common and collectable. Best estimate: Walter had $7,000,000 worth of gold. Even so, $7 million in gold wasn’t enough to stop Walter from dying alone; it wasn’t enough to stop him from passing from this world unremembered, unmissed, and unmourned.

But Walter isn’t alone in this tragic life style. Many people are lonely. Listen to a portion from a diary of Judy Bucknell of Miami, Fl who was found dead with seven stab wounds. “Where are men with the flowers and champagne and music? Where are the men who call and ask for a genuine, actual date? Where are the men who would like to share more than my bed, my booze, my food…I would like to have in my life once before I pass this life.” She goes on: “I see people together and I’m so jealous I want to throw up. What about me! What about me!” Though she is surrounded by people, she was on an island. Though she had many acquaintances, she had few friends. Here is another entry: “I feel so old. Unloved. Unwanted. Abandoned. Used up. I want to cry and sleep forever…” (Madeleine Blais, “Who is going to Love Judy Bucknell? Part 1, Tropic Magazine, The Miami Herlad, 12 October 1980). PAUSE.

This is a lonely world and you know it too. Can you hear the loneliness? The abandoned child, the divorced mother of 3, the empty home and emptier mail box; the long days and longer nights, a mound of dirt at a cemetery, a forgotten birth­day, a silent phone.

Cries of loneliness are loud! Listen again. Tune out the traffic and turn down the TV. The cry is there. Our cities are full of Walter Samaszko and Judy Bucknells. You can hear their cries. You can hear them in the convalescent home among the sighs and the shuffling feet. You can hear them in the prisons among the moans of shame and the calls for mercy. You can hear them if you walk the crowded streets, forgotten dreams and aging homecoming queens. Listen for it in the halls of our high schools as a kid sit on the basketball bench and where peer pressure weeds out the “have-nots” from the “haves.”

This cry is known by all people in our society. From the top to the bottom, from the failures to the famous, from the secular to the spiritual, from the poor to the rich; from the married to the single. Walter Samaszko and Judy Bucknell were not alone.

You, too, have tasted this loneliness. You have had your share of tears and sighs and gasps. You have tasted the bitterness of the long days and longer nights. Maybe you have pretended like others that everything is ok. Maybe you have fooled some of your friends to think you got it all together; but as you look into the mirror the stark truth rears it is ugly head and you know that you are alone and miserable. Then, in the seclusion and darkness you lift your eyes heaven ward and cry out to God “Dear God why have You abandoned me?” PAUSE.

It is a lonely world. Come closer and listen as we stand by the cross tonight. Listen carefully to that figure suspended like a ladder between heaven and earth and hear the most gut-wrenching cry of loneliness in his­tory. This cry didn’t come from a prisoner or a widow or a patient or a high school student. No, it came from the cracked lips of the Messiah—God’s Son—His only Son.

For three excruciating hours Jesus hangs in darkness, cut off from any comfort, any hope. He is battered and ravaged as His Father unleashes wave after wave of His furious wrath at our sins, which Jesus—the heaven sent Savior has taken upon Himself. On that dark and dismal Friday the Man from the cross screamed out “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” “Dad, why did You abandon Me!?” Never have words carried so much hurt. Never have words expressed such deep grief. Never has one being been so lonely—as that night when Christ was crucified.

Jesus’ screams to His Father is heart-wrenching and gut-splashing. He wants relief and not to be abandoned by the One whom He loves and serves. But tonight, on Skull Hill, Jesus the Lamb of God becomes the sin-bearer and alone. Every lie ever told, every object ever coveted, every promise ever broken, every filthy thought and deed is on His shoulders. He is SIN. And God…turns away.

The despair is darker than the sky. For the first time from eternity Father and Son are at opposite sides. He who was in the beginning with the Father is now alone. The Christ, who is an expression of God is abandoned, forsaken, left out in the cold and heat to die a lonely death. The Trinity is dismantled. The Godhead is disjointed. The unity is dissolved and Jesus can’t take it anymore.

Jesus withstood the beating, the humiliation, the mockery, the departure of His closest friends, the mock trial. And yet He remained strong. But not until His Father turned his face away from Him did He cry out “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” He just couldn’t take that loneliness away from the loving Father and the comforting Holy Spirit. The wail rose, the anguish increased, the pain suffocating and hell tasted.

His lips are cracked, His heart is broken, His eyes are swollen and He knows He becomes the scum of the earth in the sight of His Father. He knows God sends His wrath upon Him; and punishes for the sins of all of humanity. That is why He screams out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” PAUSE.

Certainly, the world is a lonely place. But thanks be to God twenty centuries ago the Son of God changed our lot. He who was forsaken by God, died and rose so that we may never be forsaken. He who was abandoned because of sin, now takes our sins away, so we will never be abandoned. He who endured the wrath of God, gives us His grace and love every day so that we will never taste God’s wrath.

Though Walter and Judy are the poster-children for this world, yet they are still cherished by the Savior of the World and so are we! On account of the sin-bearer we don’t have to be lonely any longer. Certainly, the world is a lonely place. But none of us have to be alone. The Lord who has saved us is here tonight. And because of this saving, we are joined to Him forever and ever. To Him alone be all the glory now and always. Amen.

Now the peace of God…

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“Shining the Light of the Lord” (Isaiah 60:1; Matthew 9b, 10)

S-1406 EOL/3A 1/05/2014 Hymns: (O) #126; (S) #127; (C) #129

Texts: Isaiah 60:1-6; Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12

Theme: “Shining the Light of the Lord” (Isaiah 60:1; Matthew 9b, 10)

Question: “Are you letting the light of the Gospel shine?” Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen, indeed! Alleluia! The text for the Epiphany is from O.T. and the Gospel lessons “Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you…And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy” (Isaiah 60:1; Matthew 9b, 10)

INTRODUCTION: In Nomine Iesu.

Most precious people of God, today we observe and celebrate the Season of Epiphany. This Greek term means: “To appear, to manifest or to reveal.” And the church throughout the centuries have observed January 6^th as a Christian feast celebrating the manifestation of the divine nature of Jesus to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi. Thus, Epiphany is about light. That means Epiphany is about life! Without light there can’t be life in our world. Light is the first of God’s creative gifts that we see in Genesis 1. From light comes life. Did you know that without light we cannot breathe? Light is the main component in the process of photosynthesis. That is the process where plants use the combination of light and carbon dioxide to give off oxygen! No oxygen and there would be no life! Light is that powerful!

Epiphany is about light. That means Epiphany is about safety too. When a room is awash in light, you can see where all the dangers are. You are far less likely to step on a toy that your kids got for Christmas, or stub your toe in a light filled living room, as opposed to the middle of the night as you try to make your way to the kitchen for a glass of water. Light can also keep us safe when we are away from home. When walking at night and you have a light source, you can see all the dangers that lurk: That raised section of sidewalk that could trip you as you walk that not-so-friendly dog that belongs to your neighbor or even that person who is intent on doing you harm. When there is light, you can see the dangers and avoid them.

Epiphany is about light. That means Epiphany is about exposure too. That very same light that would give us life and keep us safe is also the same light that can reveal things about ourselves that we really don’t want others to see or know about. When the light is shined on those things we do in secret, we are exposed to the world. That light is what will show the world that we are doing something that is illegal, immoral or both. That light shows that we are not always who we make ourselves out to be. Underneath the façade of goodness, holiness and righteousness that we like to portray, the light of God’s Word is searing! It exposes all of what we like to keep in the shadow. It doesn’t leave anything hidden. It exposes us to all of the shame and guilt that our sins deserve. That is why St. John tells us that we prefer darkness to light! We like to hide in the shadows.

But Epiphany is about light. Light exposes! While this exposure can be painful, it is also the only thing that can bring about true, lasting light. When our sin is exposed to the One who is the Word Made Flesh and the Light of the World all at the same time, the death of our sin and the dangers of the world and flesh are revealed. But they are not just exposed for a divine “gotcha!” They are laid open so that the light can heal. When the disease of our sin is exposed the Lord of Life heals us! His Word of forgiveness and life overcomes our sin and death. That is why we can hear the Word of the Prophet and rejoice about this light that has come! This Light has not come only to kill us, but also to make us alive. And the life that we receive from this light will be the life that lasts forever!

And we are called to reflect this light. We don’t originate it. It doesn’t come from us. No, by grace through faith this light is placed in us by the Holy Spirit like a flame is placed in a lantern. The lantern’s job is only to reflect the light that it has been given. Through us the Light of God’s word then does its work. It gives life to others as they see the light in us and are led by the Lord to repent of their darkness. Through us the Light of God’s Word gives safety as it leads our family and friends and neighbors and co-workers out of the perilous, sin-filled world into the Light of Life that only comes through Jesus the Christ. The Holy Spirit uses that light that shines through us to expose sin in others so that the death in them might be revealed and healed.

Epiphany is about light. It is about a light that has been revealed to all peoples. It was a light that first shone brilliantly in creation. While sin and death cast a dark pall over creation, that Light would not be extinguished. That light was carried through the ages in the promise of the One who would be that light. The arrival of that Light was first announced in the glory of angels talking to shepherds in the Judean hill country. But that light could not just be contained there. That light was revealed to the Gentiles, that’s you and me, through the light of a brilliant star that led Magi from the East all the way to Bethlehem, where they would see the Light of Men in the face of Jesus.

And that light still shines for all people. It shines in the proclamation of the Word of God even here today. This light will expose and give life. It will do that for you today! And then that light will be carried out by you as you too go home by another route. Like the Magi of old, you can’t head back to the certain death that Herod promised. There is a new way for you to go. It may be uncertain. It may cause you to do things that you would never think of doing. But it is the way the Light of Christ—who is the Light of the world is calling you to go.

For some that might mean heading into the Office of the Holy Ministry. For others it may simply mean reaching out to that brother or sister in Christ that has wronged you and you shine the Light of God’s forgiveness on them so that you might be reconciled to them. It could be like a friend of mine who called this week, saying, “Nabil, I was going through my checkbook and I realized I haven’t sent any money for the Bike-For-Life. I will be dropping the check in the mail today!” On Thursday I received a check for a $1000.00. Praise The Lord (PTL). Or even like the Jewish convert to Christianity from Tel Aviv, who was harassed for reading the New Testament by a Rabbi Slovstowski who hated Jesus and the mention of His name. But when this Rabbi confronted the new believer and told him how much he hated Jesus Christ. You know what this new believer who had seen the Light of Christ did? He gave him the Hebrew New Testament to read. When the Rabbi started reading, he couldn’t stop. He read till 3 a.m. and then said, “I have found 270 reasons, why Jesus is truly God and Messiah.” PTL.

Epiphany is about Light. Epiphany is about life: Life with our Lord, Life in the Church and life in the world. By the grace of God, you and I have seen this light. You and I have daily opportunities to the let the Light of Christ shine through our words and actions as we are exhorted by Matthew saying: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to Your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)

Having seen the Light, the Holy Spirit sends us out to speak of the glorious Epiphany to those who are still in darkness. Therefore, Epiphany is about Light. Epiphany is about life: Life with our Lord, Life in the Church and life in the world. This light is life. Life for now and life forever. It is the gift that the Lord gives us each and every day in Jesus WHO is the Light of the World. AMEN.

Now the peace…

SOLI DEO GLORIA.

“The Advent Tree!” (Matthew 1:1, 16-17)

S-1398 2MIA/A 12/11/2013 Hymns: (O) #272; (S) #370 LSB; (C) #338 LSB

Texts: Daniel 7:13-14; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Matthew 1:1-17

Theme: “The Advent Tree!” (Matthew 1:1, 16-17)

Question: “Do you know your family tree?” Armour, SD 2^nd in sermon series on: “The Three T’s of Advent”

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia! The text for our 2^nd Midweek is from the Gospel lesson: “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham…and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ. So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations” (Matthew 1:1, 16-17).

INTRODUCTION: In Nomine Iesu.

Beloved in the Lord, I share with you tonight a true and shocking story that happened at Zion Lutheran Church in Cleveland Ohio on Christmas Eve, 1851. I don’t know if it is proper to share this story during the joyous Advent season, but they did something so scandalous at that church that evening that it was reported in the local newspapers. What they did was called, “a nonsensical, asinine, moronic absurdity” in one local paper. What did the good people of Zion do that it drew such a negative public response? Their pastor, Henry Schwan, had placed a candlelit tree in the church, topped with a silver star he had brought from Germany. His parishioners loved it and the beautiful memories it brought back to them of the “old country.” But they were ridiculed for “worshipping a tree” and “groveling before a shrub.” The businesses of some members even suffered because others in the community wouldn’t trade with people who would engage in such “heathenish and idolatrous” practices in their church. Can you believe this happened only 162 years ago?

But, but, Pastor Schwan didn’t stop there. At the urging of his good wife, Emma, he continued the practice. He researched the history of the Christmas tree and was confirmed in his belief that it wasn’t a sacrilege but a good Christian custom that celebrated the joy of Christ’s birth. After writing many letters and receiving many replies, he again put up a Christmas tree on Christmas Eve in 1852. The difference was that decorated trees began to appear all over town, and within five years, Christmas trees began to appear in homes and churches all over America. Today a historical marker in Cleveland still marks the spot where what was once considered a scandalous action became a commonly accepted Christmas tradition in America. PAUSE.

The “scandal” of the first Christmas tree used in a church in our country is nothing compared to the scandals mentioned in the family tree of the heaven-sent Savior—Jesus as recorded in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. These two gospel writers give us a different perspective of the genealogies—Matthew traces the line back from Joseph, the “legal father” of Jesus to Abraham and Luke traces it back from Mary’s line; all the way back to Adam and Eve. Thus we see the family tree from both father and mother and a double descendant of King David.

However, if you study the list of Christ’s family Tree you will be shocked at what you discover. Abraham is highly revered as the “father of all believers” and we like to sing songs about “Father Abraham” having many sons, “and I am one of them, and so are you.” Yet, the father of the faithful in fear for his life, lied about his wife Sarah and almost brought shame on her by saying to Pharaoh and Abimelech that she was his sister. Thankfully, God intervened and a worse scandal of dishonoring her was averted.

Things continue to deteriorate. Judah, the great-grandson of Abraham, slept with his daughter-in-law—Tamar and fathered a child through her. The son born of Judah and Tamar is in the family Tree of Christ. You may read this story in Genesis chapter 38.

Up and down Christ’s family Tree there are suspicious characters! Rahab, a prostitute; Ruth a Moabite; and even, Bathsheba that entered into the line because of the infidelity of King David. Solomon took hundreds of wives and concubines. Names like Rehaboam, Abijah and Manassah litter the branches of this family Tree of our Savior. One might well think that this Tree should have been cut down and thrown in the fire long before Jesus was born!

But our Lord was not seeking a perfect tree. No, He grafted perfection into an imperfect tree. In doing this He shows that Christ’s family Tree is no different than ours! All of us have secrets in our family tree and some of the information is very scandalous indeed. But what this also shows is that in Christ’s State of humiliation, He takes upon Himself the whole human race to be like us, yet without sin. In the family Tree of Christ we see the famous and the infamous. Jesus is not that aloof. He stoops low enough to be among the human race. Even Luther once said, “Christ is the kind of person who is not ashamed of sinners-in fact He even puts them in His family tree. If the Lord does that here, so ought we to despise no one… but put ourselves in the middle of the fight for sinners and help them.” PAUSE.

His family Tree demonstrates to us that Christ is not ashamed to call us His very own or be numbered among sinners like us. In Luke chapter 15, the Pharisees and Scribes accused Him of eating and spending time with sinners (15:1-2). How right they were! Jesus did come for the purpose of spending time with sinners so that He may forgive them their sins and make them saints.

In His perfect obedience to the will of the Father Christ lived the perfect life in our stead. Yet, there were those who mocked His family Tree saying, “Is not this the carpenter’s son?” (Mt. 13:54) and in the Gospel of John the Pharisees mock Jesus after healing a blind man saying, “…We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where He comes from” (John 9:29-31). These Jewish leaders were mocking Him and questioning His authority and His family Tree.

Though these Synagogue leaders claimed they didn’t know where Jesus comes from, yet the Author to the Hebrews stated: “Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might destroy Him who holds the power of death-that is, the devil-and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels He helps, but Abraham’s descendants. For this reason He had to be made like His brothers in every way to become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that He might make atonement for the people. Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted” (2:14-18). If Jesus had only perfect people and no sinners in His family Tree, there would have been no reason to come to earth to rescue us from our sins. If Jesus had not come to suffer like us, we wouldn’t believe Him when He invites us to come to Him when we are weak and heavy laden with problems. Certainly, Jesus knows what we need and He fulfilled that need by dying in our place and rising again on the third day to give us life eternal with Him.

But Jesus did more than just that. Christ’s work at the cross and empty tomb makes HIS family Tree OUR family tree. We were adopted in the waters of Holy Baptism. In that watery work, we were grafted into Christ’s family Tree. We become part of Him and He part of us. Our line is forever linked by grace! He is among us so that we will always be with Him: in life, in death and for eternity!

When we trace Christ’s Tree, it is not some exercise in futility. It is tracing OUR tree. He makes the tree and us, despite our shame and scandal, holy and acceptable in the Father’s sight! This is our Tree. It is a Tree that beams with light. And it is catching on, not unlike Pastor Schwann’s tree! The scandal of that tree died down. The scandal of the Tree of the cross never will because it is that very scandal that gives us life! Father, make this Tree our tree! Amen

Now the peace of God…

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“Jesus In the Upper Room” 7th in sermon series Places of the Passion

S-1309 MT/3B 4/05/12 Hymns: (O) #154; (S) #156; L.S. #163; #307 (C) TLH

Text: Psalm 116; Exodus 12:1-14; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Matthew 26:17-29

Theme: “Jesus In the Upper Room” 7^th in sermon series Places of the Passion

Question: “What is the best meal you have ever eaten?” Armour, SD.

Faithful followers of the Savior, the text for the Maundy Thursday is from the Gospel Lesson: “Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body.’ And He took a cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink of it, all of you, for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom’” (Matthew 26:26-29).

Saints in Christ, last Sunday during the Triumphal entry to Jerusalem we heard these words: “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” That began a week of wonder and amazement. May God bless you as we continue to the Places of the Passion and journey from the throngs greeting Christ at the Eastern city gate to the gift of grace in the Upper room, to the solemnity of the Garden, to the mockery and scorn of the abuse heaped upon Him, to His suffering and anguish on the cross, to His being laid in a borrowed grave and finally to our waiting in vigil for the announcement of His resurrection and the ensuing celebration.

Jesus in the Upper Room and the Setting (Passover), it is a Solemn, Sacred, Sublime event with special meaning not only to those who were celebrating the Passover then, but to us too, when we behold the Divine Physician in mercy dispenses the medicine of immortality.

It is in the quiet, stillness and calmness, that we see the love of and face of Jesus fully in the Upper Room. Tonight, in this place we, behold the Carpenter from Nazareth exchanging the tools of His trade—wood, hammer and nails, to basin, water and towel; then stooping so low that He becomes a servant for His 12 followers and washes their feet.

This act which was only reserved to the lowest servants in the house is performed by Him who is the Greatest Servant of all—Jesus Christ. Then, He continues to serve them, by preparing for them the Passover Meal—a sumptuous Meal for the forgiveness of sins and strengthening of their faith.

This Meal is delicious. This Meal is beneficial. This Meal is for the healing of both body and soul. And whoever is privileged to eat of this Meal knows the joy that fills his heart and the blessings received by it. This is not a Meal that satisfies your physical hunger, but spiritual. This cup is not one that quenches your thirst, but in you it becomes a living spring of hope and peace. PAUSE.

Perhaps, you remember statements such as this: “You’ve got to taste this!” So said our mothers as they thrust lima beans into our face. “You’ve got to taste this!” So say our spouses as they thrust their latest concoction of hot dish into our face. But all this pales in comparison to the taste test conducted by a gourmet cook as she thrust dog food upon an unsuspecting guest!

That’s right, you heard me right…dog food! It all happened at an elegant reception near Denver, Colorado. The dog food was served on delicate little crackers with a wedge of imported cheese, bacon chips, an olive, and a sliver of pimento on top. You’ve got it. It was hors d’oeurves a la Alpo. The hostess had just graduated from a gourmet cooking course and decided it was time to put her skills to the ultimate test. After doctoring up those miserable morsels and putting them on a couple of silver trays, with a sly grin she watched them all disappear. One man just couldn’t get enough. When they broke the news to him he probably barked and bit her on the leg! In all likelihood, he was famished for real food and thirsty for a gallon of water.

Tonight, in this place the Carpenter who becomes chef and server, serves us a truly gourmet Meal—not dog food, but Lamb’s food. As He entered the Holy City of Jerusalem through the Eastern Gate otherwise known as the sheep gate, He knew that He would be slaughtered. He knew He would be butchered. He knew His blood would be spilled to ransom the world, so that the angle of death would pass over His followers and they would never be forsaken by God.

On that Solemn, Sacred, Special night in the Upper Room, Jesus left His disciples the greatest gift He could. It was a gift built on the Old Testament sacrifices that had pointed to His death for many centuries. When a worshiper brought his sacrificial animal to the priest, he laid his hand on the animal’s head. As he confessed his sin, God transferred his guilt onto the animal, which was then killed in his place. In one special sacrifice the meat of that sacrificial animal was roasted and then given back to the worshiper and his family to eat. By eating the very body of the sacrificial victim who died so they might live, they were reassured they were forgiven by their God.

Gathered together around the table, Jesus gave His disciples His own body, miraculously united to the bread—the very body that would carry their guilt and sin to the cross. In the wine He gave them His own blood, soon to be shed for the forgiveness of all people. As Jesus’ followers continue to receive His body and His blood in Holy Communion tonight, they receive the assurance of their forgiveness for Jesus’ sake.

Here in this place beloved in the Lord, Jesus becomes the Chef of dispensing food and drink for the soul that brings life and salvation. The hymn writer captured it correctly when he wrote: “Draw nigh and take the body of the Lord; And drink the holy blood for you outpoured. Offered was He for greatest and for least, Himself the victim and Himself the Priest” (TLH 307 vs. 1).

This High Priest who is after the order of Melchizedeck offers to His disciples of old and us the miracle of LOVE. He left us the treasure of His Holy Supper, in which He gives His true body with the bread and His true blood with the wine so that penitent sinners might be assured of forgiveness. “Go in peace,” this Priest tells the penitent, “your sins are forgiven as surely as the body and blood prepared that forgiveness which you now have just received.”

Oh, the blessings we have tonight on this most Sacred, Sublime and Solemn night. Jesus knows what lies ahead for Him—suffering, extreme agony, shame and humiliation and finally crucifixion and death—death on a Roman cross. Yet, He doesn’t think of Himself for this is the reason He came to earth to win man’s redemption by the shedding of His blood as the Passover Lamb.

Oh, the privilege He gives us tonight, to dine with Him and drink with Him the Holy FOOD and the Life-giving CUP to take away our shame and disgrace and give us eternal life.

Unlike the gourmet cook in Denver who prepared dog food, Jesus gives us Lamb’s food prepared on the wood of the cross for you. Therefore, when this Meal of LOVE is offered soon, come please, come eat, come drink and receive the GRACE and Treasure of heaven in, with, and under the bread and wine His body and blood for the forgiveness of your sins and the strengthening of your faith.

THIS IS GIVEN FOR YOU, by Him who loved you then, and loves you now. And when you receive this gift, go home in peace knowing full well your sins and forgiven you and heaven’s gate is opened wide.

No wonder THIS IS A SPECIAL NIGHT FOR US. Amen.

Now the peace of God…

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“Jesus in the Courtyard” 5th in sermon series Places of the Passion

S-1305 5MIL/3B 3/21/12 Hymns: (O) #151 vv. 1-4; (S) #145; (C) #151 vv. 5-7TLH

Text: Psalm 26; Exodus 14:26-31; Acts 25:1-12; Matthew 27:1-2, 11-14, 24-26

Theme: “Jesus in the Courtyard” 5^th in sermon series Places of the Passion

Question: “Have you ever stood for a long time?” Armour, SD.

Faithful followers of the Savior, the text for the 5^th Midweek in Lent is from the Gospel Lesson: “When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put Him to death. And they bound Him and led Him away and delivered Him over to Pilate the governor” (Matthew 27:1-2).

Saints in Christ, Jesus has had a very rough night filled with emotions, anguish, and pain. It all started out in the Upper Room late last night, when He told Judas His betrayer, “What you are about to do, do quickly!” and it just kept getting worse. From there they head to Gethsemane. There He is all alone. The disciples fall asleep while He is praying and no one is there to soothe or comfort Him. He prays profusely so that His sweat is like drops of blood. Then the betrayer comes and with a kiss sells His friend for 30 pieces of silver. They chain Him, dragging Him first to Annas, then to Caiaphas and there more torture and humiliation. By now His body is aching from all that He has gone through.

From the moment the Rabbi woke up on Thursday morning till now, it has been a little over 30 hours without sleep, without rest and without peace. And most of the time He has been standing for interrogation. But it is still getting worse. As the night came they put Him in a dungeon.

Having condemned Jesus, the Jewish leaders now bind Him, lead Him away and deliver Him over to the Roman governor Pontius Pilate—exactly as Jesus predicted several times before. It is now early Friday morning. Off they go to the Governor’s Palace and drag the bound-up Jesus with them to be tried as a criminal against the State of Rome—and Pilate as the Judge to condemn Him to death by crucifixion. But they themselves did not enter the Praetorium in order not to defile themselves before the Passover by being in the house of a gentile.

What hypocrisy do we witness in the early morning hours of Friday in the Courtyard by these Jewish leaders? What holy men are these! They had just most out­rageously sentenced an innocent man to death. They had been the chief accusers to the crime of perjury, they were criminal participants in the outrageous treatment given Jesus; but, ironically, they could not step within the shadow of a pile of stone and mortar for that would make them unfit. What a strange compound is human nature. How blind sin makes it. What terrible things it will do in the name of religion, to serve their cause. What injustice do we behold them acting.

Like ravenous wolves, the Chief Priests and the Jewish leaders began to make one accusation after another. They were waiting for blood to spill from His sacred veins. There is no denying it; they wanted Him dead. They wanted Him out of the picture. But since they can’t crucify Him, they bring Him to Pilate to be the judge and jury and sentence Him to death on a cross.

What irony we behold in the early morning hours, as we review the scene. Jesus is fatigued, weary, haggard, pale, bearing the marks of physical abuse, and ready to fall from exhaustion, Yet He stands tall and strong. He doesn’t try to defend Himself against His accusers. No, He remains silent. Through Scripture we learn the truth that they wouldn’t understand or believe: “He came unto His own, but His own received Him not.” How sad. What mockery and travesty. All is playing out in the courtyard.

Consider the scene before us and what a strange scene it is! On the throne of judgment sits a regional governor of a conquered province: before Him stands in chains, the Judge, the King, of heaven as well as earth. What irony we behold here; the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy: “He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth” (Is. 53:7).

Why might you ask? Why does Jesus the King of heaven and earth remain silent? You and I are different. When we are accused the first thing we want to do is defend ourselves. We want the world to know the truth that we are not as bad as they are painting us to be. We swear in the name of God that we are not guilty. That is our nature.

Even the Apostle Paul, wouldn’t remain silent before Festus in Caesarea (our second reading for tonight). He speaks in his defense and tells them the truth he is not guilty of any of the charges against him. He wouldn’t let Festus send him to Jerusalem to be tried, but asked to go to Caesar instead.

But not Jesus! Jesus remained silent for you and me, for this reason He came. St. John put it this way: “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (1:29). Yes, behold Him please as He in the early hours without sleep, without companions, without anyone to defend Him or rescue Him—standing all ALONE for you my beloved. PAUSE.

With His silence Pilate is amazed at this strong Man before Him. After reviewing the case and the evidence, Pilate came to the clear conclusion that Jesus is innocent of all charges. Saying, “I found no fault in this man. I will scourge Him and release Him”. But that wouldn’t do. Their eyes pop out and the vessels on their necks expand as they scream for His death. They wouldn’t let the Judge give the innocent verdict.

Yet, since we read in every Gospel account that Pilate found no fault in Jesus and wanted to set Him free, we have to ask: What happened to justice? Why did Pilate change his mind? Matthew even says that Pilate’s wife, Claudia Porcula, had dreamed about Jesus and sent word to her husband: “Don't have anything to do with that innocent man” (Matthew 27:19). But the screams of the Jewish leaders prevailed. They kept pushing Pilate into a corner.

He finally asks Jesus to get away from the crowds and follow Him inside. And there in the quietness of the chamber, He asks Jesus, “Are You a King?” Jesus answers, “Do you say this of yourself or others told you about Me?” Pilate is in a frenzy. He doesn’t know how to get out of this situation. He knows without a shadow of a doubt that Jesus is innocent but not a threat to Rome, so he decides to pull the Ace in his sleeve.

It is the governor’s custom to release a prisoner of minor offenses during the festivities to show favoritism to the Jews. But early Friday morning, he will up the ante and decides to give them a choice between a real criminal Barabbas or this simpleton, Jesus. And again with a roar, the Jewish leaders ask for Pilate to crucify Him. At long last, Pilate can’t take it anymore and gives in to the ravenous wolves and condemns Jesus to be flogged and then be nailed on the cross. PAUSE.

My beloved and His beloved, Pilate asked a very important question that you and I must answer also. Who is Jesus—a rebel or royalty; a murderer or Messiah; a sinister or Savior? Is He a King? But more importantly is He Your King and Lord.

I pray that you and I would be bold enough to stand shoulder to shoulder with Christians and proclaim that He is not only a King, but my King who lives in my heart and I would gladly pay homage to Him any day and anywhere.

In our O.T. reading we read of the great redemptive deliverance Moses brought about in the early morning hours as the Israelites walked on dry ground but Pharos’ army drowned in the Red Sea. Tonight as you and I stand in the early hours of Good Friday, we see greater and far grandeur redemption—ours—worked in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Know this my beloved. In the early hours that long ago Friday the Jews wouldn’t go into the palace because they didn’t want to defile themselves, so that they can observe and celebrate the Passover. But Jesus takes the punishment of our sins, so that we, who are defiled may not remain outside the Palace of Grace or in the courtyard; but be brought in with Him to the Holy of holies and live with Him forever.

Yes, behold Him in the early hours of Friday standing in the courtyard in your place. Amen.

Now the peace…

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“Jesus before His Betrayer” (Mt. 26:47‑49). 3rd in sermon series Places of the Passion

S-1301 3MIL/3B 3/07/12 Hymns: (O) #551 vv. 1-3; (S) #153; (C) #551 vv. 4-6 TLH

Text: Psalm 16:81-88; Isaiah 45:5-11; Galatians 6:1-10; Matthew 26:47‑56,

Theme: “Jesus before His Betrayer” (Mt. 26:47‑49). 3^rd in sermon series Places of the Passion

Question: “Have you ever been stabbed?” Armour, SD.

Faithful followers of the Savior, the text for the 3^rd Midweek in Lent is from the Gospel Lesson: “While He was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, ‘The one I will kiss is the Man; seize Him.’ And he came up to Jesus at once and said, ‘Greetings, Rabbi!’ And he kissed Him’” (Matthew 26:47‑49).

Beloved in the Lord, last week, we saw Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane pleading with His heavenly Father for help to take away the Cup of Suffering, but there was none; to His disciples and they were sleeping. He spent hours in prayer and preparation for the final battle. And at the end of the raging conflict in that dark, dismal and dreary night, Jesus came to His disciples, and said: “Rise, let us be going; see, My betrayer is at hand.” (Mt. 26:46b).

Never had that bright Middle Eastern moon looked down on a deed of darkness such as is now to be executed; never before or since has it been the sad duty of historians to tell of such a heinous crime; only in the heart of those who sneak and slither in the dark and slimy corridors of hell could such an act of iniquity have been born.

Come with me now as we continue on the journey to the Places of the Passion and behold that Fateful Kiss that condemned an innocent man to death. Come and see with your own eyes a very dear and precious son of Abraham, convicting The Son of Abraham with the “kiss of death.” PAUSE.

It all started few hours ago in the Upper Room in preparation for the Passover Meal. The Rabbi had taken a basin and towel and washed the disciples’ feet. While they were reclining and partaking of The Meal of Forgiveness, Jesus said: “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me” (Mt. 26:21). Soon after, Jesus watched one of His own—Judas, walk away from the Meal of LOVE, knowing that forgiveness would be there for this fellow, but he was not going to believe it. What a hard thing it must have been for Jesus to say, “It would have been better if he had never been born.”

Look at Jesus’ face in contrast to the bright Middle Eastern moon and see the pain etched on His face. Do you see the sting and sorrow, anguish and ache, the pang and pain in Jesus’ face? Throughout His earthly ministry He has been teaching and telling others, “For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mk. 10:45). But the One Jesus loved wouldn’t permit Jesus to serve him, love him, save him or forgive him.

My precious saints, if you’ve ever been betrayed by a close friend, family member, or even a husband or wife, then you know what bitter pain will strike Jesus when He watches one of His own disciples bringing soldiers into the garden where He often met with His band of followers to betray Him with a kiss. But why?

Judas seems to have had every possible spiritual advantage. He was chosen to be one of the twelve by Jesus. For three years, he traveled and lived as a disciple of the Rabbi. Judas heard Jesus teach, preach and tell parables; he saw the many healings and other miracles; He helped pass out food during the feeding of the 5000; he was there to see Jesus raise the dead and he was even in the boat when Jesus calmed the storm at sea. Imagine what those three years must have been like. He tasted first-hand, the sweet message of love and grace from His Rabbi Jesus.

How could Judas do such a dreadful thing, after all that he had seen & done? How could he be exposed to Jesus everyday, for all that time, hearing the incredible and amazing things Jesus said, seeing the marvelous and miracles Jesus did, how could he in the end, betray Him? How could he be so unmoved, so little effect on him as to not respond with amazement and gratitude? Doesn’t it make you wonder, how come and why did Judas do it?

Let me be very candid. The Bible is quite explicit, that it was Judas alone as the culprit. He had a choice. The text holds him responsible for his decision. He wasn’t a puppet or pawn, patsy or powerless to do anything else. On the night of the Last Supper, in the Upper Room, this disciple was next to Jesus in the place of honor, and Jesus washed his feet as an expression of love. Scripture is clear that even then, Jesus was holding open a door, a possibility – a desire to Judas to repent, and to not go through with his terrible arrangement. Judas had another option, but he chose to betray His Lord. How sad.

Certainly, that betrayal by His closest companion, one of His very own, with the Fateful Kiss, sealed His fate; and shows the depravity of man. Here we see the heart of man for what it really is—always evil. Sin is never as horrible as when it uses holy things to accomplish its wicked end. It is like putting poison in a drink.

But what about us? How many times have we betrayed our Lord? How many times have we done the evil under the Midwest moon and like a snake slithering into the slimy and murky waters of death and destruction? How many times have we witnessed the mighty miracles of Jesus in our lives, only to turn and join camps with the devil? How often have we dishonored and disobeyed the Lord of heaven and earth, because He didn’t do what we thought He should do. PAUSE.

Tonight, as we witness first-hand the betrayal of the Sinless Son of God with that Fateful Kiss, let me share with you that we are not above Judas or any other person. Let us not stand in pomp and power saying, “I will NEVER do anything like this!” But oh, we do, and often. We sin much, we fall flat on our face, and we run and hide from God, because our hearts are filled with sin and malice.

That is why Jesus came to earth. That is why He entered Jerusalem. That is why He prayed in Gethsemane. That is why He allowed Himself to be betrayed. Ant that is why He is here this evening with you and me to give us comfort as we hear the Word spoken and applied to our broken hearts.

When Judas came, he had a host of people with Him, with lanterns and swords. They were expecting Jesus to be hiding and afraid. Instead, He walked to them and spoke 3 very important Words that should give us hope, comfort and joy. “I AM HE!”

“I Am He,” answered Jesus. “I Am Jesus of Nazareth, whom ye seek.” It appears that with these words, Jesus affirmed all of the things He had spoken about Himself. These enemies knew these things about Him. With these 3 words: “I Am He,” they were all explained. “I Am the Light of the world; he that follows Me will not walk in darkness”. “I Am the true Bread which came down from heaven; if any man eat of this bread he shall live forever”. “I Am the resurrection and the life; he that believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live”. “I Am the good shepherd”. “If you don’t believe I Am He you shall die in your sins.” “Before Abraham was I Am.” Certainly never had any mighty one spoken words of such honor, such majesty, and of such power as the Lord Jesus in these words: “I Am He”.

Notice with your eyes tonight beloved in the Lord, the might and power of these three words: Before Jesus gives His life over into the hands of His enemies; the unrighteous must fall into the dust before the King of Truth—this demonstrates that Jesus will reign supreme over every evil force; and shows Himself the Victor and Conqueror. And the Words of the Apostle Paul in Philippians are a foreshadow of that which is to come: “Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”. Yes, Jesus is not afraid of His betrayer or those who came to arrest Him. He goes willingly to the cross.

Tonight, as we stand beneath the Midwest moon and see the Betrayer doing his evil deed, and hear Jesus speak His mighty and powerful three Words: “I Am He,” may we take comfort that He will never betray us. He will never leave us, but always and forever, He is reaching out to us in mercy and love and calling us to repentance. Here tonight, you will learn anew the love of Jesus who came as the heaven-sent Ambassador to lay down His life as a ransom for many—YOU DEAR SAINTS.

Join me therefore, in proclaiming to the world, that Jesus is He who has saved us, forgiven us, and loved us to death. In His name and for His sake, Amen!!!

Now the peace…

SOLI DEO GLORIA.