“A Name With A Meaning” (Luke 2:21).

S-1159 12/31/09 NY/3C (O) #123; (S) #114; L.S. #124; # 125; (C) #47

Texts: Isaiah 9:2-7; Acts 4:1-12; Luke 2:21

Theme: “A Name With A Meaning” (Luke 2:21).

Question: “How valuable is your name?”

SOLI DEO GLORIA, Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! The text for our New Year’s Eve celebration is from the Gospel Lesson: “And at the end of eight days, when He was circumcised, He was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb” (Luke 2:21).

Introduction: In Nomine IESU

People of God, chosen and beloved; blessed New Year to you and yours. This evening we gather in the Lord’s house NOT only to observe the passing of the old year and prepare for the New Year; but to observe and celebrate the naming of the Child of Bethlehem in accordance with the Law of God.

By God’s com­mand in the Old Testament (Genesis 17), every male child was to be circumcised on the eighth day. By circumcision, the child was incorporated into God’s covenant with Israel. This was the command God gave Father Abraham. The chief purpose of the circumcision was the child would receive his name. Just as when God changed Abram’s name to Abraham at his circumcision.

We often underestimate the importance of names in our world today. Many of us have been given names simply because our parents liked how they sounded. It hasn’t always been so. At one time, a person’s name was a literal definition of who they were or what they had done, and in some places that remains true yet today. Many family names have been derived from the vocation of some long-forgot­ten ancestor, such as Sawyer, Smith, Potter, or Cooper. Some came from where people lived, such as Rivers, Burger, Hill, and so on.

Your “good name” is your reputation; it is how you are known as a person. Companies spend vast sums of money to try to make their brand names recognized and respected in the marketplace, and the curse of a name that is poorly selected or damaged in the marketplace can haunt a product for years. Just as we have observed recently with Tiger Woods. PAUSE.

After the American Civil War the managers of the infamous Louisiana Lottery approached Robert E. Lee and asked if he’d let them use his name in their scheme. They promised that if he did he would become rich. 

Astounded, Lee straightened up, buttoned his gray coat, and shouted, “Gentlemen, I lost my home in the war. I lost my fortune in the war. I lost everything except my name. My name is not for sale, and if you fellows don’t get out of here, I’ll break this crutch over your heads!”

People of God, chosen and beloved, Names are very important indeed. You can have a good name or a bad name. The name identifies you. The name lets people know of your reputation whether good or bad. Names truly matter.

Sometimes simply the name of a person, place, or thing conjures up vivid images or recollections, favorable or unfavorable. Gettysburg, Pearl Harbor, Normandy, Vietnam, Watergate. Twin-Towers, Iraq, Afghanistan, Nazareth, Bethlehem, Calvary.

Tonight, the Holy Spirit has gathered us in this place to learn more about the name which is above every—the Name of Jesus. Luke put it this way: “And at the end of eight days, when He was circumcised, He was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb”. This is a heavenly name given to the Christ child before He was born. Jesus’ name comes from the Hebrew word Yeshua, or Joshua. Literally, the word is taken part of the name of Yahweh and part of the word for rescue or salvation. Taken together, the very given name of our Redeemer is Yahweh Saves.

Yes, indeed, the name of Jesus is a name with Meaning. When the angel told His parents what to name Him, it is yet another example of God saying what He will do and doing what He says! This name identified Him as the One who would come from heaven on a mission to save man-kind. That name was not given lightly, because God doesn’t take sin lightly. He gave the name that fits the work and ministry of what the Heaven-sent Messenger—Jesus would accomplish in His birth, life, death and resurrection.

We heard this evening of other names for Jesus. In our Old Testament reading Isaiah put it this way, “His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Is. 9:6b). All of these names fit the Babe of Bethlehem to a tee. And again in our Acts reading Peter declared this Gospel truth: “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). That is to say there is no one or nothing in this world or the next that can save you except the Savior, Jesus Christ. PAUSE.

The whole Bible is filled with references to Jesus in one way or another. Beyond that, the primary message spread by the Lord Himself and His followers was to go directly to Jesus Himself, place a submissive-obedient faith and trust in Him and continue [endure] to the end for salvation. It is very easy to see why we are directed by God to do this after noting the various ways the Lord Jesus is described by His many names and titles. Each refers to yet another important place or position that Jesus holds in God’s plan for man’s salvation. Please ponder how precious and preeminently important Jesus is for man’s salvation. The truth is: Jesus is the all-sufficient Savior. No other savior is needed besides Him or with Him. (There are over 100 names given to Jesus. Please know that the following is just a partial listing of the many Scriptural names and titles of the Lord. There are others not listed here.) I shall name but few for you to consider

Advocate (1 John 2:1)
Almighty (Rev. 1:8; Mt. 28:18)
Alpha and Omega (Rev. 1:8; 22:13)
Amen (Rev. 3:14)
Apostle of our Profession (Heb. 3:1)
Atoning Sacrifice for our Sins (1 John 2:2)
Author of Life (Acts 3:15)
Author and Perfecter of our Faith (Heb. 12:2)
Author of Salvation (Heb. 2:10)
Beginning and End (Rev. 22:13)
Blessed and only Ruler (1 Tim. 6:15)
Bread of God (John 6:33)
Bread of Life (John 6:35; 6:48)
Bridegroom (Mt. 9:15)
Capstone (Acts 4:11; 1 Pet. 2:7)
Chief Cornerstone (Eph. 2:20)
Chief Shepherd (1 Pet. 5:4)
Christ (1 John 2:22)
Creator (John 1:3)
Deliverer (Rom. 11:26)
Eternal Life (1 John 1:2; 5:20)
Faithful and True (Rev. 19:11)
Faithful Witness (Rev. 1:5)
Faithful and True Witness (Rev. 3:14)
First and Last (Rev. 1:17; 2:8; 22:13)
Firstborn From the Dead (Rev. 1:5)
Firstborn over all creation (Col. 1:15)
Gate (John 10:9)
God (John 1:1; 20:28; Heb. 1:8; Rom. 9:5; 2 Pet. 1:1;1 John 5:20; etc.)
Good Shepherd (John 10:11,14)
Great Shepherd (Heb. 13:20)
Great High Priest (Heb. 4:14)
Head of the Church (Eph. 1:22; 4:15; 5:23)
Heir of all things (Heb. 1:2)
High Priest (Heb. 2:17)
Holy and True (Rev. 3:7)
Holy One (Acts 3:14)
Hope (1 Tim. 1:1)
Hope of Glory (Col. 1:27)
Horn of Salvation (Luke 1:69)
I Am (John 8:58)
Image of God (2 Cor. 4:4)
Immanuel (Mt. 1:23)
Judge of the living and the dead (Acts 10:42)
King Eternal (1 Tim. 1:17)
King of Israel (John 1:49)
King of the Jews (Mt. 27:11)
King of kings (1 Tim 6:15; Rev. 19:16)
King of the Ages (Rev. 15:3)
Lamb (Rev. 13:8)
Lamb of God (John 1:29)
Lamb Without Blemish (1 Pet. 1:19)
Last Adam (1 Cor. 15:45)
Life (John 14:6; Col. 3:4)
Light of the World (John 8:12)
Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Rev. 5:5)
Living One (Rev. 1:18)
Living Stone (1 Pet. 2:4)
Lord (2 Pet. 2:20)
Lord of All (Acts 10:36)
Lord of Glory (1 Cor. 2:8)
Lord of lords (Rev. 19:16)
Man from Heaven (1 Cor. 15:48)
Master (Lk. 5:5; 8:24; 9:33)
Mediator of the New Covenant (Heb. 9:15)
Mighty God (Isa. 9:6)
Morning Star (Rev. 22:16)
Offspring of David (Rev. 22:16)
Only Begotten Son of God (John 1:18; 1 John 4:9)
Our Great God and Savior (Titus 2:13)
Our Holiness (1 Cor. 1:30)
Our Husband (2 Cor. 11:2)
Our Protection (2 Thess. 3:3)
Our Redemption (1 Cor. 1:30)
Our Righteousness (1 Cor. 1:30)
Our Sacrificed Passover Lamb (1 Cor. 5:7)
Power of God (1 Cor. 1:24)
Precious Cornerstone (1 Pet. 2:6)
Prophet (Acts 3:22)
Rabbi (Mt. 26:25)
Resurrection and Life (John 11:25)
Righteous Branch (Jer. 23:5)
Righteous One (Acts 7:52; 1 John 2:1)
Rock (1 Cor. 10:4)
Root of David (Rev. 5:5; 22:16)
Ruler of God’s Creation (Rev. 3:14)
Ruler of the Kings of the Earth (Rev. 1:5)
Savior (Eph. 5:23; Titus 1:4; 3:6; 2 Pet. 2:20)
Son of David (Lk. 18:39)
Son of God (John 1:49; Heb. 4:14)
Son of Man (Mt. 8:20)
Son of the Most High God (Lk. 1:32)
Source of Eternal Salvation for all who obey him (Heb. 5:9)
The One Mediator (1 Tim. 2:5)
The Stone the builders rejected (Acts 4:11)
True Bread (John 6:32)
True Light (John 1:9)
True Vine (John 15:1)
Truth (John 1:14; 14:6)
Way (John 14:6)
Wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:24)
Word (John 1:1)
Word of God (Rev. 19:13)

To be sure Jesus has a name with a meaning. When we say, “Jesus” we are calling upon Him to hear us and do what we ask. We can’t use the name of God in the wrong manner. God opposes this. The Name of God is so important that He warns us in the Second Commandment NOT to use His name in the wrong way; but to honor that Name and speak of it in the most reverent way possible.

Jesus’ name is a name with a meaning. Throughout our liturgy Services the name of Jesus is used often. We begin our worship service by calling upon the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—reminding us of our Baptism. In the Confession we call upon God to forgive our sins for the sake of Jesus. In the Absolution, I forgive you, your sins in the stead and by the power of Jesus. And at the conclusion of the service, I bless you when I share with you the great benediction of Numbers 22:6 to remind you that you belong to God and His name is over you as you go into the world.

Names are very important indeed. The Divine name is the most important of all, because it is a name that saves, delivers, frees and brings peace and joy into our hearts. And yet sometimes we don’t value the names that we have.

At least in this culture, (I don’t make myself better than others) we sometimes shorten the name because we think it is too difficult to say. Here is what we do with names: William = Bill; Robert = Bob; Patricia = Patty, Elizabeth = Liz; Michael = Mike; Gabriel = Gabe; Nathaniel = Nate; Donald = Don and so forth. But we dare not shorten the name of Jesus, or allow it to be changed to something other than what it means—for He is the Savior—Your Savior and mine. That is the name given Him by the angel before He was born.

What do we get when we have the Name of Jesus on US? We get Peace, and the Prince of Peace. We get Righteousness, and the Righteous One. We get Counsel, and the Counselor. We get Wonders, and the Wonderful One. We get the Kingdom, and The King. We get Salvation, and the Savior. We get forgiveness, and the Forgiver.

Beloved in the Lord, you are more than a number in a system. You are more than merely a name; you are God’s chosen and beloved children. And His name is over you even as we close one year and begin another. And that name brings us joy and life eternal. What a blessing to know the name with a meaning—the name of Jesus our Savior. Amen.

Now the peace…

“Set Apart” (Exodus 13:1-2, 11-12).

S-1158 12/27/09 1SAC/3C (O)

Texts: Exodus 13:1-3a 11-15; Colossians 3:12-17; Luke 2:22-40

Theme: “Set Apart” (Exodus 13:1-2, 11-12).

Question: “Have you seen the Salvation of the Lord?”

SOLI DEO GLORIA, Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! The text for our Fourth Sunday in Advent is from the Gospel Lesson: “The LORD said to Moses, Consecrate to Me all the firstborn. Whatever is the first to open the womb among the people of Israel, both of man and of beast, is mine…When the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as He swore to you and your fathers, and shall give it to you, you shall set apart to the LORD all that first opens the womb. All the firstborn of your animals that are males shall be the LORD’s.” (Exodus 13:1-2, 11-12).

Introduction: In Nomine IESU (this sermon was not preached due to the inclement weather)

People of God, A Blessed Christmas to you my Beloved and His Beloved,

Two turtle doves - the gift for this, the Second Day of Christmas, are what Mary and Joseph brought with them on the 40th day of Jesus' young life as they brought Him to the Temple to provide the sacrifice of the of the Firstborn. Consecrate the Firstborn to the Lord - this is the command given in Exodus 13 - for they are Mine, declares the Lord! Yes, this Child, He belongs to the Lord - that is true enough - but more than just belonging to the Lord, Jesus was given, yes, as our Sermon Hymn put it:

Of the Father's Love Begotten, ere the worlds began to be.

He is alpha and omega, He the source the ending He,

Of the things that are that have been, and that future years shall see

Evermore and evermore. (LSB, 384, v. 1)

This command to consecrate the firsborn is the first command after giving the Passover is given - the first command. Yes, the Passover and the blessing of life to the firstborn is now fulfilled through The Firstborn of Mary and Joseph. Just as God used the gift of the firstborn to deliver Israel, His beloved, from the bondage of Egypt some 14 centuries earlier, now He uses the Firstborn, Jesus, to deliver the world through this Beloved Son. Mary gave Him up to the Lord, even as Hannah did with Samuel - this consecration by the mothers was to show that the life of their boy belonged to the Lord.

To this mighty gift we may add two older folks, Simeon (hearing) and Anna (favored or graced one) - Simeon came to the Temple, waiting for the Consolation of Israel. Now the Greek word for "consolation" literally means "to bring one close into oneself" the way a mother would hold her newborn close in to her heart. God's consolation for His beloved Church is to hold us close unto His heart. That means He must first extend that Heart, high upon the Cross where He would die for the sins of the world! Simeon tells Mary that the sword, the same sword that pierced Jesus - that is the Cross would pierce hers - especially hers, for above all others in this life, she literally and fully, held Him close unto her heart.

Old Man Simeon saw in the 40 day old infant the fulfillment of every prophecy of Holy Scripture - the salvation, the holding close again, returning close again to God's heart, the world who had wondered away from Eden's bliss and now knew only death. Dear old Anna, a widow for 63 years, was graced to behold Him who made those many years of waiting all worth while.

Beloved, we wait, and become impatient. Yet God remains faithful. Shortly Karl and Carolyn Stevens will come forward to celebrate the Consolation of the Lord - How He has held the "One of them" close to His heart for 69 years as man and wife. In their age, these two, like the two older ones waiting at the Temple teach us a wondrous lesson - God holds His beloved close. The world's wisdom says, Hold your friends close, and your enemies even closer. Well, in the sense of Romans 5:10, this is true for you and me -NKJ Romans 5:10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life! But I believe this consolation, this holding of us close to His heart is the gift that says, you are worth it all - all that the incarnation means - God taking your pain, your tears... yes, all your sin and the sin of all humanity... so that we could sit on His lap as His own. We see Him turning Christmas right side out - not that we get to hold Jesus, but that He gets to hold us! Rejoice with Karl and Carolyn, with Simeon and Anna, for not only do we behold the glory of God in this Child - He more than "beholds" us - yea - He holds us close - so close that heaven is ours, for He is come to forgive, to heal, to adopt, to breathe life into us - to hold you. A most blessed Christmas to you, my beloved and His beloved. Amen. Soli Deo Gloria

“The Blessings of Knowing Him” (John 1:10).

S-1157 12/25/05 CD/3C Hymns (O)87; (S) #370 LSB; L.S. #647; #310; (C) #94

Texts: Isaiah 52:7-10; Hebrews 1:1-9; John 1:1-14

Theme: “The Blessings of Knowing Him” (John 1:10).

Question: “Do You Know the Lord?”

SOLI DEO GLORIA, Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! The text for our Christmas Day is from the Gospel Lesson: “He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world did not know Him” (John 1:10).

Introduction: In Nomine Iesu

Merry Christmas People of God, Beloved of the Lord. I know a lot of people. A lot people know me. Some I know about, others I know very well. And so do you. Some of the people you know or heard about, and others you know extremely well. Many of us know Bret Favre the Quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings. We know him as a great football player, has had a long career and made amazing plays; but we really don’t know Him. Sure we know things about him because we followed his career. But honestly, how well do we know Bret Farve?

Today, John speaks to us about the sad commentary in his gospel about the GIFT of heaven. That when Jesus came to the world the world didn’t know Him, recognize Him, worship or adore Him. Oh, yes, they heard of Jesus the Nazarene. They heard of the Man from Galilee who could do many wonders. They heard of the Galilean Prophet, but they really didn’t know Him because their eyes were closed by the darkness of sins and the filth in their hearts.

But today, dear Christian friends, we will dig deeper, climb higher, and scan wider to know the One who came as the Gift of heaven to the manger bed so that we may know Him as the Eternal One who came from the Father. The Apostle Paul put it this way: “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better” (Eph. 1:17). And again, “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death.” (Phil. 3:10). Paul is asking us not only to know about Jesus, but know Him intimately, joyfully, faithfully and completely as the GIFT of heaven—that He would come from Eternity unto eternity to save us.

How well do you know Jesus? Are your prayers like Paul “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection?” This is the ultimate—that we would know Him as the Savior who came to earth and closed Himself with human flesh. PAUSE.

“To know Him [Jesus] is to love Him.” This is an old saying. But you know what? It is not that we know Him, but rather that He knows us. And for us who are clothed by sin flesh and death, it is impossible to know Him. He reveals Himself to us in His Life-Giving Word. For everything that we know, everything that we have, everything that we own and possess will grow older, grayer, break down and fade away. Correct? Remember when I came 16 years ago? What was the color of my hair? Pure black. I am getting older; I am getting grayer and feel the aches and pains of age (just like you). There is nothing in this world that we know and have that is not going to fade away or break down.

But the GIFT of heaven is from Eternity to Eternity. For the Babe of Bethlehem, in that magnificent prayer taught us saying: For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen. PAUSE.

HE KNOWS US. He knows us intimately. Even as we confessed in the confession this morning; do you remember what you read? He is not repelled by our sin, yet comes among us from Eternity, and clothes Himself with humanity so that He might make of us—the dust of the earth eternal dwelling places for Him in Paradise.

How well do you know the Savior? Sure you might know things about Him. You may know the miracles. But how intimately do you really know Him? Do you know Him fully, completely, intimately as your personal Savior? Do you know Him as the Lord of heaven and earth who reveals Himself from Eternity unto eternity?

You and I might know a lot of information. We might have statistics about football players, BB players, and Baseball players even about the Presidents. We might know all of these things, but they count for naught unless you know Him intimately, completely and joyfully. That is the great blessing that you and I have as the Redeemed people of God who have been called out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Sometimes we boast, “Oh, yes, I know the Lord! Oh, yes, I worship Him and adore Him!” But how many times do we deny that we really know Him? Consider Peter—the Great Apostle—that “rock.” What did he do in the moment of need? Remember what he said in John 18? “I DON’T KNOW THE MAN!!!” Peter, the Great Apostle denied that he knew the Savior. Don’t we act just like Peter at times? How many times do we act and think that we really know about the Lord, but we really don’t.

Last October, my wife and I were part of the SD District Pastors Conference in Rapid City. For our entertainment night, we had a cowboy poet who shared with us some of his writings. I would like to share with you part of a poem that he wrote titled the “Sortin Gate” Listen carefully to what I am about to read as we connect this together:

On the ranch it’s where decisions are made

Of a life been lived and dues been paid.
Where every an animal is judged to determine its fate

By the hand that swings the sortin’ gate.

Now boys, I’m no sky pilot”—

I punch cows to draw my pay.
Yet I believe there’s a reason

the Lord has allowed our trails to cross today.

I don’t understand life’s mysteries,

but one thing I can state
When we go to that last roundup,

There will be a sortin’ gate.

We are created by a perfect God

who can tolerate no sin
Only those who ride for Jesus’ brand,

heaven’s gate will enter in.
Because God made Him who had no sin

to be the sin for us
So that through Him we might become

God’s own righteousness.

The price was paid upon the cross

for our victory in the end.
No greater love has any man

than to give his life for a friend.
And Jesus said, “I Am the Way, the Truth, and The life.

No one comes to the Father but through Me.”

The devil and his legions are spreading pain and strife

and they’re saying, “It’s all a lie, Boys, wait and see.’

We prepare a horse for battle

but victory is for the Lord.
Open up His book and study His word

and it will be your sword.
Not all who are crying out Lord, Lord

are living by His ways,
and their hearts are just as black

as the mavericks, slicks and strays.

The herds will all be gathered—

They’ll be there from ever land—
With the purpose of determining

Ownership by brand.

For some, the trail is long and winding;

For some, it’s short and strait—

But it’s “who” you know, not “what” you know,

When you reach that sortin’ gate.

Printed by permission from R.P. Smith, A Ride Through Rhyme And other Cowboy Poems (Field Mouse Productions Grand Island, ne pp. 23-24).

Did you get it? PAUSE. Did you get it? It’s “Who” you know that matters. It’s not what you know. Today, beloved in Christ we unpack the GIFT of Christmas. That God loved us for who we are NOT because of what we do. He came in flesh from Eternity to Eternity so that we might be with Him forever and ever. Today, we unpack, unwrap, and unravel the mystery of the Incarnation that God would become man, lay in a manger, grow up and go to the Cross so that we might know Him intimately.

How well do you know the Lord? “Open the Book” R. P. Smith said, study it. For in that Book you will learn not only the miracles of Jesus, but of the Mystery that God would come to us (a miracle in itself). He comes to us so that we might know Him intimately, because He wants to be known. That is why Christmas is so special. That is why we celebrate it. That is why we gather together as family. If you listen to the advertisements on the Radio and TV, people talk about what makes Christmas so special. (What do you think? My people respond out loud because I motion for them to do so).

Here are some of the comments. You may add your own answers to the list. Families getting together. It’s all of the preparations of cooking and making goodies. It’s the powdery stuff (we have 20 inches of it outside). It’s the ringing in the cash registers. Is that really what Christmas is all about? If that is all, we are poor people pitted more than any human beings.

You see it is indeed wonderful to have family getting together. It is wonderful to have my grandchild (trying to outdo me during the sermon). It is wonderful to be together over the holidays. But some of you who have had families can’t wait for them to leave. It’s not about families getting together; it’s not baking the cookies and decorating the house that makes Christmas or opening the gifts, you have the wrong idea because you don’t know Him.

But to know Him intimately, is to realize that He is YOUR SAVIOR and LORD. As the prophet Isaiah told us: “God comforted us by giving us a double portion of His grace for our sins.” Do you know Him? Yes, you do!! That is why you are here today in spite of the snow. You know Him. You come to this place to be comforted. Because the trail for us is sometimes long and tedious, sometimes is hard and sometimes it’s painful.

Yes, everything that we have; everything precious that we have someday will wear out like a garment; like a tie that goes out of style; like a car that breaks down. Even loved one that we have someday will put into the ground.

From Eternity to Eternity God knows us by name, claims us as His very own and shares with us the Hope of Eternal Life. What a joy and what a blessing to know Him intimately, but of greater blessing that He KNOWS US; AND LOVES US JUST THE SAME. PAUSE.

Isn’t wonderful to have Christmas? Isn’t wonderful that from Eternity God comes to us to love us, and to share with us the Greatest GIFT—His Only Begotten Son? We are indeed blessed. Why? Because we know Him and because HE KNOWS US! Amen.

Now the peace…

“A Visitor from Bethlehem” (Luke 2:15-17)

S1156 12/24/09 CE/3C Hymns: (O) 102; 92; LSB 364; 368; 647; (S) 388 LSB; (C) 646

Texts: Isaiah 9:2-7; Luke 2:8-20

Theme: “A Visitor from Bethlehem” (Luke 2:15-17)

SOLI DEO GLORIA, Armour, SD

This sermon will be preached in a first person dramatic narrative. The visitor from Bethlehem is an older Shepherd who was a young man at the time of the angels visit on the first Christmas Eve. He is dressed with Shepherd’s clothing has a white beard and a holding a shepherd’s staff. Luke 2:15-17).

Introduction: In Nomine IESU

Please forgive the interruption and the smell of my clothing. I don’t mean to be barging in on you like this on this festive night. However, ever since that night (so long ago), I can’t help myself but tell of what I had seen and heard in that little manger in Bethlehem.

Oh, I am sorry, how rude I am. In my excitement to tell you of that great night of so long ago, I failed to tell you who I am. I am Ishaac Ben Yackov (Isaac son of Jacob). I remember the night as if it was yesterday. I was only a young man of 14. It was my first year to be away from home and spend it out in the Judean hills along with the other shepherds in my family—my father, uncles and grandfather.

The day had been wonderful we had grazed the sheep near the village of Bethlehem. As the evening was approaching, we all gathered the sheep close to us. We were sitting near the fire listening to my grandfather telling us about the king of Israel David; who, too, was a shepherd and how he killed a lion and bear after they took a lamb from the herd. Scarcely had grandpa finished telling the story and all of a sudden there was this heavenly being right above us. I, along with the rest of the shepherds was frightened. We had never seen anything like this. I got so scared when the angel began to speak. The hair on my neck stood up, (rub neck and show fear), my legs shook from fear, I felt my heart beating so fast and I didn’t know what to do. I tried to hide for fear of what might happen to us.

Then, the angel spoke softly, yet with angelic heavenly voice saying, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Lk. 2:10-11). I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Could it be? That the long expected Messiah, the true Son of David promised to my ancestors has come? Is it possible that I, a shepherd boy might get to see the true King of Israel the Savior of the world? Surely, it can’t be. Why, we are nothing but shepherds—insignificant people, yet the angel spoke that night.

My mind was racing wildly thinking of the angel’s words and all of a sudden the sky was lit up above as if it was noon day over Bethlehem. There were so many angels singing above, it was terrifying and yet exhilarating. My neck (look up) hurt as I kept looking up and listening to what they were saying. Oh, if you could have heard the angels’ choir that night, it was the most beautiful sound I had ever heard in my 14 years of life. They sang a song that I don’t believe I will ever forget. They said, “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!” (Lk. 2:14).

Shortly after the singing the angels left us to our sheep and the hills. I looked at my father wondering what does this mean. He looked at his father and wondered what does this mean. And I heard my grandfather say, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us” (Lk 15b).

Excitement ran through our camp. The news had made us jump for joy. Without a thought about our sheep, I grabbed the torch light it up from the fire and ran as fast as possible trying to keep up with the adults as we headed towards Bethlehem. When we arrived, we found Joseph and Mary two proud parents looking at their infant child. There before my very own eyes, was the long expected Messiah. The King of kings is born in the most humble places among animals. And I, Ishaac Ben Yackov got to kneel by His side, and…. touch Him with my own hands (look at hands). His parents were so happy. I was so happy I got to see the Savior. All of us were happy.

When we left the little manger, we couldn’t stop telling the people what we had seen. I told Moshe the Butcher; Ephraim the Carpenter; and Yosef the Potter. Everywhere we went, my father, grandfather and I would tell the people of the angel’s visit, our running to Bethlehem and seeing the New Born Savior of the world. PAUSE.

After that night things went back to normal. I kept my duties as a shepherd boy watching the flock by night with my father and grandfather. Making sure they had enough to eat and kept safe from the wild beasts. But I still remembered the night and wondered about the Savior and how He would save us from the Romans; what kind of Savior He would be and what His Kingdom would be like. PAUSE.

33 years later another event happened that is etched in my memory as that first night the angel’s told us about the Messiah. But this one was not a joyous night. I was still living in Bethlehem at this time. Both my grandfather and father had long gone to sleep in the earth and now I had my own children who helped me with the family business-taking care of the sheep. And yet that Friday afternoon is as alive in my heart as the night of the announcement of the angelic hosts in the sky above Bethlehem. Word had gone out from other shepherds from Jerusalem that Jesus the Savior of the world and the King of Israel was hanging on a Roman cross outside the city walls of Jerusalem. I couldn’t believe my ears. It can’t be!!! The long expected Messiah was not meant to die. He came to deliver. He came to save. There must be some mistake. Those shepherds must have heard wrong.

Well, I determined to travel to Jerusalem and see the thing I heard about. And sure enough as I was getting closer to Jerusalem I knew something was wrong. The sky got darker and darker and there just outside the city walls, there were three crosses. Right in the middle between two thieves was Jesus—the One who laid in the manger, the One whom I knelt before and the One whom I touched with my own hands. I knew because Pilate had written in my language a sign and put it above His head saying, “Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews.”

I stood there looking at this figure and wondered why. Why would they kill Him? What did He do? Why such hatred for the Savior of the world. And just then, I heard Him speak. I drew closer to the cross and the others. And what I heard I didn’t understand. Do you know what He said, “Father, FORGIVE THEM, for they don’t know what they do!” How can He do that? How could He speak such forgiving words to those who persecuted Him and nailed Him to the cross? I didn’t know. But figured it must be love.

Many of the people began to leave as the darkness descended. And just as I was about to leave I heard one of the soldiers say, “He is dead! The King is dead! The Savior is dead!” Those words pierced my heart. But not as much as the laughter in the soldiers voice.

I left to go back to Bethlehem, broken hearted and teary eye about what had taken place. I told my family about what I had seen that afternoon in Jerusalem and we all wept together over the fate of the Savior of the world.

Few days later I heard word that this Savior has been raised from the grave; that He is alive. Again, I couldn’t believe my ears. Again I traveled the miles road to Jerusalem. I saw many people in the street speaking about the empty tomb. And that the Savior really has been raised from the grave. And that He died to earn forgiveness for us sinners. That was the promise the angels sang about that night: “Glory to God in the Highest and peace on earth…”

Right then and there, I fell to the ground (fall down) and wept realizing that the Savior had come for me. He was born in the manger as the angel told us for me; that the Savior suffered for me; that the Savior died for me; that the Savior rose for me. Me, Ishaac Ben Yackov, a shepherd man came to understand the night of so long ago.

Many years have come and gone since that first night when I was 14 years with my father, grandfather and uncles watching over our sheep as the angels announced to us the “Good News” that is born to us. I am now an old man, but no matter how old I get I never get tired of telling the story to anyone who listens.

I hope you, too, in your visit to the manger can hear the angel’s voice, see with your eyes the Savior of the world and tell all you meet what you have seen and heard.

(The visitor leaves the stage.)

“Two Women and One Faithful God” (Luke 1:39-42)

S-1155 12/20/09 4SIA/3C (O) Many Advent/Christmas Hymns

Texts: Micah 5:2-5; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45

Theme: “Two Women and One Faithful God” (Luke 1:39-42)

Question: “How faithful Are You?”

SOLI DEO GLORIA, Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! The text for our Fourth Sunday in Advent is from the Gospel Lesson: “In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!’”

Introduction: In Nomine IESU

People of God, beloved of Hope, two women.... pregnant! One very old, beyond the age of bearing a child, the other, very young and never having known a man; yet chosen by God. Miracles of monumental proportion - and they’re in the same condition, at the same time, in the same county, but in two different geographical locations—one in the north and the other in the south. Two women, their hearts are filled with fear. The younger is afraid of being a suspect for being pregnant out of wedlock and what her future husband would day; and the older is afraid and shameful and hides for 5 months. Oh, and their boys meet too! One is to be a prophet, while the other is The Prophet, The Priest, and the King! He is to be the King of Peace! Amazing!

We must not rush over that most beautiful scene that Luke captures for us—for it is a setting, like a beautiful frame makes the content of the Masterpiece all the sweeter. Two women great with child together; it is so simple, so ordinary. It happens all the time. It is the natural order of things - and yet in that ordinary scene is something so extra-ordinary that it takes God’s faithfulness to bring it about. All human history, with its sin and pain and death is answered in this coming together of two mothers and the fruit of their wombs. Here God’s faithful promises, made from the first day of sin find their fulfillment in this seemingly small and forgotten corner of the world, in what appears to be an ordinary scene of two pregnant women. How like our God! PAUSE.

Mary’s Song, like that of Hannah in 1 Samuel 2 is the song of faith, of seeing what God promises as actual and real, even before it comes to our sight! These women rejoiced because God is so good, not because they were so good. We honor Mary as the very Mother of God (Theotokos in Greek) because she rejoices in God her Savior. Did you catch that? Mary calls Him (the infant child) God her Savior? Indeed, both Hannah and Mary gave the glory to God, who glorified not only them, but you and me and every other child of Adam and Eve!

Elizabeth and Mary, Mary and Hannah, these three and you - what you have in common with these grand women is Christ Jesus and His faithfulness to keep His promises? A promise is only as good as the one who makes the promise, and faith is only as strong as the one in whom the faith is held. From that first bite of the forbidden fruit God was faithfully promising full restoration to Eden, the new heart and the new life. Since everyone was marred and broken, stained with sin to our very core and marrow, it would take the faithfulness of a loving and gracious God to restore what was broken. Mary even says so much when in her Magnificat she says:

⁴⁸ for He has looked on the humble estate of His servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; ⁴⁹ for He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name.

Yes, He has worked salvation, and not just for Mary, but now through her womb. Catch that beloved, people of hope. It is so very important that you do: He comes not in clouds and loud claps of thunder. There are no divine megaphones blaring, but a woman’s womb becomes the Holy Sepulcher. Now a sepulcher is normally thought of as a grave - and so it is - Mary’s womb becomes the grave for death - for Life, yes Life, He will emerge from the tomb. But did you know that the secondary dictionary definition of sepulcher is “a place for safekeeping of holy objects.” God kept His Holy Son safe in Mary’s womb - and as Jesus came forth He who is life would destroy death; He who is Light would destroy Darkness; He who is joy would destroy Sadness; and He who is heavenly would destroy Hell and the Devil.

That is the promise that Mary and Elizabeth, that Hannah of old, and you and me of today - we see in the unseen substance of a growing belly the fulfillment of every Divine Promise, namely, our Salvation! Oh, and our Sanctification... that is, our life hidden with God in Christ now. Oh, and the final Word concerning us, that forever and ever, Amen we shall be with Him! And this loving act of redemption and of sanctification is not for some but for all, even as our Epistle says in its closing verse: ¹⁰ And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all! (Hebrews 10).

With eyes of faith we now see what these pregnant mothers saw, the full reach of God’s grace. Will there be those who reject the gift? You know the answer. Absolutely YES! Ah, but that does not diminish the gift that He comes as Savior of the whole world. Yes, salvation is for the high and mighty as well as for the lowly. For the lowly is everyone who has been brought to the knowledge of their sins, and brought to the sure knowledge that in the Child in Mary’s womb, and only in Him is their life, peace, joy and forgiveness. That the high and haughty are brought low means that the Gospel is for them also.

Who is beyond Grace? No one! God’s mercy is to bring all low, that at the right time He might lift us up - this He has accomplished as in the humility of His Cross, He lifted the lowly with Him. Yes, sinners, my fellow sinners today, consider the lowly way He came - born of a virgin in lowly little Bethlehem. Consider how lowly He went to heaven - via the Cross, the source of shame! Through His suffering, death and glorious Resurrection He became lower than the lowest in order to redeem us - so that we would know God has no “collateral damage” no forgotten souls. Yes, even though some will reject Him - He became the lowest of the low to redeem all!

This Faithful God and Father, this Faithful Son, yes, this Faithful Holy Spirit has spoken - and their faithful word sustains you, even as it did these dear pregnant mothers. Even so, Amen.

Now the peace of God…

Soli Deo Gloria

“In Your Midst” (Zephaniah 3:14-17)

S-1153 12/13/09 3SIA/3C (O) #61; (S) #62; LS #68; #535; #67; (C) #72

Texts: Zephaniah 3:14-20; Philippians 4:47; Luke 7:18-28

Theme: “In Your Midst” (Zephaniah 3:14-17)

Question: “Have you ever felt you were in the midst of things?”

SOLI DEO GLORIA, Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! The text for our Second Sunday in Advent is from the O.T. Lesson: “Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!
The LORD has taken away the judgments against you; He has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil.
On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: ‘Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak. The LORD Your God is in your midst, a mighty One who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His love; He will exult over you with loud singing’” (Zephaniah 3:14-17)

Introduction: In Nomine IESU

People of God, families are blessings from the Lord—the Father of all families. Almost all of us treasure our families. Perhaps you remember when your children were little and you and husband were watching TV, or laying in bed, your child[ren] would somehow find a way to get right between you two. They wanted to be in your midst.

I remember vividly my children growing up. Tony is my oldest between him and David is 3 ½ years. When Tony was about 6-7, he would have some friends at the house and as they began to play, before long David would get right in the middle of the boys—right where the action was going on. He wanted to be right in the midst of things. Tony would call, “Mom, David always wants to play with us.” And mom would respond, “It is good for him to play with you!”

Today, the prophet Zephaniah speaks to the daughters of Zion and Jerusalem saying to them, “Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away the judgments against you; He has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil”

Yes, sing aloud, rejoice and shout for Your God desires to be with you, among you and in your midst. What comfort these words were to the people of Israel and to the New Israel—you and I to hear again.

Zephaniah, whose name means “The Lord has concealed, the Lord has protected, the Lord will restore” speaks those precious words so that we may know the mystery of God desiring to be with His own created being.

Study God’s Scriptures and you will see that is what God wanted from the beginning—to be with us in our midst. We behold Him in the Garden of Eden spending time with Adam and Eve. When He delivered the Israelites from the bondage of Slavery, He commanded Moses to build a tabernacle so that He might come to be with them with His Glory and Grace. And the prophet Isaiah put it this way about God’s desire to be with His people: “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (that is God with us).

Do see you it? Do you hear it? Do you know it? God’s desire is to be with us and among us —right in our midst. The prophet Zephaniah assures us today of God’s love and desire to be among us not only for a while but for eternity. Even though Zephaniah spoke 6 centuries before the coming of the Messiah, he could look into the future as if this event has already happened. He is speaking of the Messianic work of Christ when He comes to restore and rebuild and renew our lives.

The True Immanuel comes among His people to redeem them from their sins. The Messiah exercises His Royal authority and power to bring victory and peace to His faithful servants and to restore them, renew them and comfort them in His love. When the Lord is in the Midst of His people He is there to bring help, to aid them, to save them. He comes to remove the sin and guilt of those who are fearful because of their sin and guilt. He comes to save those who are captive to the enemies of sin and death. He comes to love those who in their sinfulness are unlovable and unloving. When the Lord is in the Midst of His people, He will be their God and they will be His people (Rev. 21:3).

The Good News is that the Messiah has come in a baby—baby born in a manger. During these Advent Days, we hear again of Christ first Advent as the Babe of Bethlehem—the heavenly Gift. The Gospel writer John put it this way: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). In the original language the word “dwelt” means that He tabernacled among us. That is to say, that He is in our midst.

But what does it mean that God wants to be with us in our midst? What implication is there that He dwells among us? He comes to make the poor rich, the lame to walk, the outcast brought in, the blind to see and the dead to rise. He comes to dwell among us with His peace and presence and power. He comes to bring us joy and forgiveness. He comes to make our heart His manger and tabernacle. He comes to bring us comfort and consolation. He comes to restore us and rebuild us.

The Messiah comes to restore the downtrodden and the outcast so that He may make from the outcasts a great cast of believers to sing His praises. What He comes to do in our midst is more profound and amazing than we can imagine. He comes to us in the power of Baptism. He comes to us in the power of His Word. He comes to us in the grace of His forgiveness and He comes to us in His Sacrament of body and blood.

Our Immanuel is here today. He is in our Midst. What comfort is that? No wonder Zephaniah declares: “Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away the judgments against you; He has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst”; Yes, SING, SHOUT, and JUMP for JOY. Do it now! Do it always! Do it when everything looks gloomy and bleak. Shout, rejoice, celebrate for He is in Your Midst.

The prophecy of Zephaniah—God’s promise of coming to be in the midst of His people as a mighty Savior—has been fulfilled and is yet to be fulfilled. As one of my professors would always say, “The now and the not yet.” In the Old Testament, God came to be in the midst of His people in the Tabernacle. Yet in the New Testament, God sent His Messiah, Jesus Christ, in human flesh to dwell in their midst. God’s judgment of human sin and God’s forgiveness of humans are accomplished by Christ’s death on the cross. Christ, the Lord, the true King of Israel; our Immanuel, came to bring about salvation, and He won salvation for His own people, but also those people scattered across the globe. This prophecy is fulfilled in the Church of Christ, extending throughout the world. And yet, He has promised to return in the flesh to the world, to be in the midst of all nations to judge and deliver His people.

When my children were little they wanted to be with us in our midst. David always wanted to be in the midst of the action with his older brother and friends. Today, people of God, Zephaniah remind you of God’s deepest and profoundest desire that He wants to be in our midst. What a joy to know that God is now and will be forever IN YOUR MIDST. And our response is? Thanks be to God that He is with us IN OUR MIDST now and always. Amen.

Now the peace…

“Mary and Gabriel—Two Spectacular Carriers!” (Luke 1:18-20)

S-1152 12/09/09 2MIA/3C (O) #647 (S) #368; LSB; (C) #364 LSB

Texts: Isaiah 7:10-14; Philippians 2:3-11; Luke 1:26-38

Theme: “Mary and Gabriel—Two Spectacular Carriers!” (Luke 1:18-20)

Question: “How observant are you?”

SOLI DEO GLORIA, Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! The text for our Second Midweek in Advent is the Gospel Lesson: “In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!’” (Luke 1:26-28)

Introduction: In Nomine IESU

Saints in Christ, there are many types of carriers in our world. We have The UPS; The Postal Service; The Federal express; The Courier and others. In football, we have ball carriers. Adrian Peterson of the MN Vikings is supposed to be one of the best ball carriers in the NFL. All of these people do their job for a fee. If you have shipped a loved one a gift recently, you know the expense you paid. But sending a package is not as expensive as a football player carrying the ball. Adrian Peterson gets $2.4 M. per year to carry the ball. And he is not the most expensive ball carrier in the league. (And he fumbles a lot!)

Tonight, as we continue on our Advent journey to Bethlehem, we encounter two special and spectacular carriers—Gabriel and Mary. Unlike the other carriers in our world today who do their job for a fee, Mary and Gabriel are a different kind of Carriers. Gabriel is the Messenger of the Most High God sharing the most blessed news with people; and Mary is a humble maiden from Nazareth carrying the most precious cargo—God’s own Son in her womb.

We, encounter again, a very busy angel! Gabriel is just in a visiting mood. Last week Wednesday Gabriel stopped in Jerusalem and visited with an aging, childless priest named Zechariah telling him “That God has heard his prayers and he and his wife Elizabeth shall have a son who will be the forerunner of the Messiah”.

Six months had elapsed since Gabriel’s last visit. And tonight, his visitation continues. The object of this visit is not an aging man, but a young maiden from the line of David. Gabriel stops to visit a young woman by the name of Mary. This young woman is not in the middle of a marriage. Rather this young woman is only in the middle of a betrothal. She is promised to a righteous man by the name of Joseph. She is looking forward to being the faithful wife of an otherwise completely ordinary man in Nazareth.

To this very ordinary young woman Gabriel delivers a very extraordinary message. 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.”

Gabriel the mighty carrier of God delivers an extraordinary message, to a very ordinary woman. She is dumbfounded. She can’t understand how can this be since she is a virgin? But Gabriel comforts her by saying: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God”. In faith Mary believed the message of Gabriel.

God’s favor flows from His Throne of Grace. God had chosen sinful Mary to be the carrier of the promised Savior in her womb. There isn’t anything special about this Mary. But what makes Mary special is the call that our Lord gives. The Bible does call her blessed, but not because of any merit of her own. Mary is blessed because God calls her blessed. It was the Word of the Lord that comes upon her and becomes flesh within her womb that makes her blessed. She is blessed because the Lord has made it her vocation to carry salvation in her womb.

Consider the mystery of the Incarnation. It reveals the depth, height, length and breadth of God’s love—love so amazing so divine that the Son of God would die for such a worm as I. There is nothing within us that should be found worthy of this conception of faith. But we know that. We know that we are full of sin and death. Because of this state that we are clearly in, any message of salvation would be completely impossible. Yet, the Lord sends messengers to us. These messengers tell us of the favor we have found with God. This favor is what moves us from Advent to Christmas, from Christmas to Good Friday, from Good Friday to Easter, from Easter to our own eventual Resurrection on the Last Day. Yet, this favor is not about our obedience or accomplishment. It is solely about the Grace of God. It is this grace that sends these spectacular carriers to tell us about what the Lord has conceived within us.

Our Advent journey affords us the privilege to prepare to receive God’s love that has been carried in Mary’s womb. This love is found in a manger on a bed of straw. God’s love is wrapped in a little baby. God’s love is offered to the world. God’s love is offered for you.

Mary knew that she was carrying inside her womb the most important cargo—God’s gift of forgiveness. Through this gift God was extending the promises of the past with the blessings of the future. And what a future awaits all of us who believe the Word of the Angel to Mary and the blessings that Mary carried in her womb.

Tonight, beloved in Christ, you saw another angle of God’s love through His carriers. Two special and spectacular carriers—Gabriel to announce the news to Mary that she will be the mother of the Savior; chosen by God. And Mary, carried the heaven sent Savior. They didn’t do it for money or for profit, but for the glory of God and the profit of man.

What a blessed thing to be in the Lord’s house on this cold and windy Wednesday. Here we are reminded of the salvation that has been carried to us through these two spectacular carriers.

Beloved in the Lord, by the grace of God tonight, you are being visited with this message yet again. Gabriel and Mary share with us a very extraordinary message of hope and love. While I am neither Gabriel nor Mary; yet I am one other carrier—a carrier of the message of God’s salvation to your hearts and heads.

And as you leave this place, you take with you this extraordinary message and you become faithful in your calling and vocation and respond like faithful Mary, “May it be to me as you have said!” and share these words with others. God grant us the joy, privilege and honor to be faithful carriers for His glory. AMEN.

Now the peace…