Trinity10-2010 Sermon

It is very easy in the church, in our lives, and in the world to major in minors.  What I mean by this is that sometimes we can get so caught up in the details, that we can overlook the whole point of the matter.  How many people do you know, for example, that at the end of their life lamented how much time they had spent with their family?  Or how many businesses are there that make a conscious decision to spend less time or work making sure the customers are happy?  Or how many churches are there in the world that spend so much time on the things of today, that they forget they exist in order to bring Jesus Christ to their people?

This is what we have with our Lord in the text this morning.  Jesus is drawing near to Jerusalem, the city of peace, God’s city, the holy city, and rather than rejoice over it, he weeps.  Jesus sees a city and a people so immersed in the things of this world, that they miss the most important event of their lives.  They miss God’s gracious visitation.  God Himself was coming into their midst, into their flesh and blood, walking among them, teaching and healing in the Temple, and they would act as if nothing had happened.  As a result of their unbelief and stubbornness, there would come a time not far in their own future, when the city would be level, and not one stone would be left upon another.  It is a sad picture.

But the picture gets even more tragic.  Jesus then goes to the Temple, the very place where God had promised He would dwell, and what does He see there?  He sees the work of the sacrifices turned into a bustling business.  He sees this magnificent building, which all pointed to God’s reconciling love, turned into a place for the select few to make a buck.  It is no wonder He wept.  It is no wonder he drove the hucksters and hustlers out of the Temple.  Jesus wept, and He was right to do so.  Remember, this is the same Jesus who said before, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem…, how often have I wanted to gather your children as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing” (Luke 13:34).

But He does not only weep for them.¹ He weeps for you.  That word “visitation” is a variation of the word we usually translate as “bishop” or “overseer,” or what we in Lutheran terms would call pastor.  God’s oversight of the world, both the mysterious, hidden presence throughout history, and His oversight at the Last Day, is that of the Good Shepherd.  He comes into your midst to lead you away from the life that leads to death and destruction, and leads you into into paths of righteousness.  But when we think about God, look at His presence in our midst, our pride makes it so that we cannot see Him as the Shepherd, but rather as an angry judge.

What I mean is this.  It is nearly impossible for us to separate the presence of God from the judgment of God.  We do not by nature think in terms of a God of love.  What is the first thing that pops into your head if I were to say to you that God is present here, in the flesh, right now?  Fear.  That is the first thought, or nearly the first thought.

One preacher put it this way:

Going into the temple, he drives out all who sold and bought in the temple, overturns the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons, and says to them, “My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you make it a den of robbers.” His episkope – his visitation, his gracious shepherding and bishoping of creation – once again asserts itself. Of all the places in the world that should have stood witness to grace and truth, the temple was that place; but the world has infected even it, and there is nothing to be done with such a ship of fools but to pronounce upon it the judgment it deserves. Nevertheless, even after he parabolically acts out that judgment, his visitation remains one of grace: “and the blind and the lame [losers all] came to him in the temple, and he healed them” (Matthew 21:14).

Luther once described the Gospel as a passing rain shower that comes to a place for a time and then leaves.  You never know how long it will stay, or when it will go from the place.  The mediterranean world, particularly Jerusalem and Palestine, were the birthplace of Christianity, but within a few centuries that had changed.  There was a time when Europe was the center of Christianity, but no more.  There was a time when the United States was the heartbeat of Christianity, but I fear that is fast leaving us.  What this really comes down to is a people refusing to recognize God’s presence in their midst.

So today, my challenge to you is this.  What are the things that prevent you from receiving God’s mercy?  Is it money?  Family?  Friends?  The things of this world?  Do you see God’s hand at work in your life, drawing you into His gracious presence, forgiving your sins, giving you life where there is none and hope where it is absent?  Repent of all of your ties to falsehood, your desire that the things of today become your gods.

Repent, and believe.  Believe that Jesus is your Good Shepherd.  Believe that He comes as your judge, and that He judges you innocent of all because of His own death on the cross for your sins.  Believe that God comes to you even now, humble and lowly, weeping for you, longing to gather you into Himself.  God is in your midst.  Right here.  Right now.  He is a God of love, nor fear.  He loves you more than life itself.  Christ Jesus is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes (Romans 10:4).  Be free of the burden of your sin.  Be free, and live as free people, one, holy, and righteous because of His death and resurrection.

It is easy to major in minors.  It is easy to let the things of this life really take on a life of their own.  But Christ is your life.  Live in Him, for He lives for you.  Believe it for Jesus’ sake.  Amen.

—————————

¹ Taken from Fr. Capon

Jesus often spent time praying alone. Throughout the Scriptures we can find pictures of men and women who would go up on a mountain, meditate on God’s Word, and pray. There is great benefit in sitting back, removing yourself from the commotion and distractions of life, and hear what God has to say in His Word, and speak to Him in prayer about what troubles you, confessing your sins, and giving thanks for His mercies.

This is true. I know it is true. But I must admit that I don’t find this a natural practice for me. It’s hard. So often I have so many things running through my head, that slowing down long enough to hear what God has to say and speaking to him, well, it just gets pushed down on the priority list.

It would be easy to go into a discussion about how we are too busy today, we have too many things coming at us, and that we don’t have time to sit down and smell the flowers. This is all true, but I think really misses the point. The point isn’t that we are so busy. The point, rather, is that we don’t want to hear God or speak to Him. Like Adam and Eve hiding from God in the Garden, we run from our conversations with Him because we fear His anger, we don’t want to disappoint, or even because we don’t want Him to know how much we hurt or how angry we are at Him.

So how do we break the cycle of isolation from God in prayer? Here are a few suggestions that have worked for me over the years, and I would love to hear yours as well:

• Keep it simple. Using devotional guides can be of great benefit, but don’t allow the process of meditation and prayer become more important than actually meditating on His Word and praying. If that means something very simple, like Portals of Prayer, great! If that means using something a little more extended like To Live with Christ or The Treasury of Daily Prayer, then that’s fine too. It is more important to develop the regular habit of praying than to have just the right system.
• Connect prayer to God’s Word. For Lutherans, when we pray it is in connection with hearing God in His Word. While I may pray alone, I am never really alone. Christ prays with me. It is always a holy conversation.
• Make a list. Maybe this is obvious, but don’t allow prayer to become so spiritual that you actually forget your own personality! I am a list guy. I am always writing lists. So if I’m going to remember to pray, and to pray for specific people or things, I am going to write it down. It’s that simple. If I don’t write it down, my own natural inclination toward busyness and distractions will drive the whole thing right out of my head.
• Remember that Christ prays for you even when you don’t pray. If you forget to pray for a day, be at peace! Christ prays for you even when you forget. Jesus is loving and forgiving, and longs to be in your presence. He will pray for you even if you don’t.

There are many things that could be said about the privilege of praying alone. God loves it when you pray to Him! He leaves to speak to you and to hear you. Trust that praying in Him and to Him is good, and will be to your great eternal benefit.

+God be with you+
Pastor Peperkorn

From the February 2010 Messiah’s Messenger

This was my Issues Etc. interview from last week on Psalm 38.  Enjoy!

-ll

Todd A. Peperkorn, STM

Messiah Lutheran Church

Kenosha, Wisconsin

Lent 2 – Reminiscere (February 28, 2010)

Matthew 15:21-28

TITLE: “Prayer Answered”

This year is a year of prayer for Messiah. We have a lot of things to pray about here. We pray for the needs of our congregation members, health, jobs, families, money, and even more. Prayer is a good and wonderful thing. It gives focus to our needs. It makes it so that we are never truly helpless, because God promises to hear our prayers, always.

The problem with prayer from our perspective is that it seems so wispy, so intangible and difficult to really nail down. If we are honest with ourselves, we treat prayer like a cop-out, a “Hail Mary” pass of desperation when things get really bad. Oh no! Things are so bad that we have to resort to prayer? That is serious.

The other alternative is that prayer becomes rote, like Come Lord Jesus or even the Our Father. Prayer becomes a habit that has no meaning, like brushing your teeth or making sure you put your socks on before you walk out the door. You may even be unconscious that you are doing it!

So why do we have such a hard time praying? Let’s take a look at our Gospel for today to learn why.

In our story for this morning we have a woman with everything against her in first century Palestine. First of all she’s a woman. We don’t see in our story where her husband is, but one thing is for sure is that women did not simply go up to men at that time and beg for anything. It was simply not done. Second, she’s a Canaanite. You know, the people that God told the Israelites to kill when they took over the land of Canaan? Then third, her daughter is possessed by a demon. This does not bode well for her in terms of getting help. At this point she was probably thinking in terms of that prayer-as-hail-mary-pass.

So she goes to Jesus and begs, have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon! If ever there was a request that seems reasonable to grant, this seems like a pretty good one. After all, we sorta believe we can take care of the normal earthly problems, but demons? That’s out of our pay grade.

Jesus, however, is silent as a tomb. Have you ever felt that way about God and how He answers prayer? I think every week about the things we pray for here at Messiah. We pray for our shut-ins, expectant mothers, confirmation students, the Academy, Racine Lutheran High School. We pray for people who are sick or in prison. We pray for good stewardship and that God would bless our efforts here at Messiah. This doesn’t even include the fears that we have lurking in our hearts at night, the things we are too afraid to pray for out loud because we don’t want to be disappointed.

So for all of the things we pray for, do you believe that God will answer them? Are you afraid that God doesn’t even care? That certainly seems to be the first answer this woman got to our prayer. Silence. Sometimes God is silent when we think He should be talking, and talks when we wish He would be quiet. Sometimes prayer feels more like we are wrestling with God than it is that we are praying to Him. Prayer has an amazing way of exposing our own fears when it comes to God.

You and I may well have given up, but not this woman. She keeps asking, even to the point where the disciples beg Jesus to give her what she wants and send her away. You can certainly imagine the scene. She is crying and begging and asking and making this scene, much like blind Bartemaeus from a couple weeks ago. The disciples don’t want a lesson in persistent prayer. They want a little dignity!

Jesus then goes on and says He is only sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Certainly this seems like a put-off on Jesus’ part. This woman, though, doesn’t want to get into a theological debate with God. She just keeps on asking, Lord, Help me!

Then the ultimate insult, at least it looks that way. It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs (v. 26). In any culture, calling someone a dog is a bad thing, and this is no exception. The Jews in Jesus’ day would call the Gentiles “dogs” as a way of emphasizing that they aren’t God’s chosen people. So Jesus here is really highlighting the fact that she isn’t a Jew.

But this woman catches Jesus in His words. Of course, Jesus wanted to be caught. She replies, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” In other words, she confesses that while she’s a dog, she is His dog. She is a part of the family. The important thing is not where you sit. The important part is that you are at or at least under the table.

So what do we learn about prayer from this woman? This is what I want you to take home from this text:

1. God doesn’t answer prayer when or even how we want or expect. Sometimes God uses silence to great effect, because it may help us focus on what we truly need. He may also use silence to draw attention to the grace that He will give in His own time and way.

2. God does answer prayer. It is really that simple. Prayer is not a last-ditch effort of a desperate person. It is the cry of faith to the one and only person who can actually help in your time of need. Even in your darkest night and most painful moments, God will answer.

3. God answers with His Word. I don’t have to speculate or wonder about God’s will for me. I know His will for me, that is, I know that He wants me to live and to be with Him forever. That is His good and gracious will. What I don’t know is all of the details on how He will get me there and keep me there.

4. Finally, Prayer is all about trust. We pray to God trusting that He will answer us. That is God’s promise to you. He will answer your prayers. Don’t give up on God. He certainly has not given up on you.

So be at peace, dearly baptized. God is with you. He hears your prayers and answers them with your greatest need. He gives you Jesus. The rest of it will come in His time and way, and frankly, that is really far better than anything you or I could ever want or imagine. Believe it for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Here is a link to my interview on Psalm 32.

In this interview we really talked about the notion of hiding from God versus hiding in God. Adam and Eve hid from God in the garden. They tried to cover up their own sins. But by hiding in God, God then is the one who protects us from any harm that may come from within or without. It was a fun interview. Check it out!

-LL

Here is a link to my interview on Issues Etc. from last night on Psalm Six. It does raise lots of interesting questions. One of the questions it raises is this: does God hate me or love me? We often will hear the phrase “God hates the sin but loves the sinner.” I’m not so sure about that. It think it would be pretty hard in the Scriptures to separate God’s righteous hatred for sin from his righteous hatred for the sinner.

The point, however, is that this is not the final word. God takes out His just punishment on Jesus at the cross. God does not deal with me according to his anger anymore (Ps. 6:1) but he deals with me according to His graciousness (Ps. 6:2). If we forget or ignore one, we lose the whole enchilada.

Anyway, there’s my interview. Enjoy!

-LL

Todd A. Peperkorn, STM

Messiah Lutheran Church

Kenosha, Wisconsin

Sexagesima Sunday (February 7, 2010)

Luke 8: 4-15

[podcast]http://public.me.com/toddpeperkorn/sermons/Sexagesima2010.mp3[/podcast]

TITLE: “The Seed”

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text is the parable of the Sower from Luke chapter 8.

The seed is the Word. That is the point of this parable. The Word goes where it wills. The Sower, God, is reckless in His casting out of the seed. You never know where this seed will end up, where the ground will be rocky, thorny, bare or rich. All we know is that the seed is the Word, and that God is the one who calls the seed to grow and blossom forth.

The seed is the Word. If we were in charge, things would be different. If we were in charge, there would be demographic studies, soil samples, seed advertising, and an incredible amount of work done to insure that the seed isn’t wasted, and that every single seed goes on the best ground. We by nature are seed controllers and managers, not planters. We don’t like to water the seed. We want to eat it, to consume, to take and to get. That’s how the kingdom of this world works. But that is not how the kingdom of God works.

The seed is the Word. The Word of God goes forth. It is His Word, not mine or yours. Sometimes this Word of God crushes us, mats us us flat. Sometimes it feels like we are the seed, being ground into flour. God’s Word of Law shows you who you are in His sight. His Word of Law shows you that you are a sinner, that you need help, that you are beyond reform. In order for God’s Word of promise to take root and grow, you first must be turned over, spaded, and ground up. This process is not pleasant, but the result is marvelous.

Even St. Paul needed some turning over at times. Remember again his words from our Epistle:

“So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations,a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Corinthians 12:7–9 ESV)

As long as you think that you are the one in control, you are living a delusion. In our pride and folly so often we become conceited like St. Paul, boastful of our own works, as if they are so wonderful and worthy of attention. But God, who is rich in mercy, sends things in your life to keep you from being overcome by your own pride and self-absorption. These thorns, these messengers of Satan, are there so that you do not think that this is all your work. They show you your weakness. They show you how much out of control you really are. They are a gift from God.

I don’t know about you, but I am not a big fan of these thorns in the flesh that God sends. They are hard to bear, painful and unruly. The thorns show me things about myself that I don’t want to see. They show me how selfish I am, how prideful and self-centered I have become. Yuk. But the amazing thing about God’s thorns is that they are just for you. God sends these things not so that you will suffer. God isn’t vindictive or cruel or mean. God does not work that way.

God is rich in mercy. God sends these things so that something even more beautiful and powerful can shine forth. God’s grace is made perfect in weakness. God does His best work when you are exhausted, at your wits end, and ready to give up on it all. God’s seed is planted in you as you are crushed. And from that seed will grow forth a great and mighty harvest.

The seed is the Word. God’s plants His seed in you in the holy waters of Baptism, given to our dear brother Mitch today. We don’t know how the seed planted in Mitch today will grow, anymore than we know what you will become. But what we do know is that God’s Word, God’s Seed, God’s Food, always does what He sends it today. You may not understand it, You may not be able to put together all of the pieces of how these things work. You don’t know how God will work, only that He will work.

How do you know this? You know this because God planted His Son into the ground. Remember the words of our Lord:

“The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (John 12:23–25 ESV)

God planted His Son into the ground in His death on the cross. The Seed is the Word made flesh. That Seed, dead and raised again, now lives in you by water and Spirit. That Seed comes to you even now in His Body and Blood on the Altar. Come, eat of His Body and Drink of His blood. Don’t true to figure it out. Don’t try to control or manipulate. Receive what God has come to give you. He will water you, He will take care of you. You are in His Garden. Believe it for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

And now the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep you hearts and minds in true faith to live ever lasting. Amen.

Todd A. Peperkorn, STM

Messiah Lutheran Church

Kenosha, Wisconsin

Transfiguration (January 24, 2010)

Matthew 17:1-9

[podcast]http://public.me.com/toddpeperkorn/sermons/Transfiguration2010.mp3[/podcast]

TITLE: “The Mountain and the Valley”

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text for this morning is from the Gospel just read, the Transfiguration of Our Lord.

There is a great temptation when you are at one of those moments of your life that are so wonderful, so beautiful and perfect, that you never want to leave. It is very easy to want to go from mountaintop to mountaintop, and not to peer into the valleys. The valleys are dark. The valleys are dangerous. The valleys are where all the action is, and that action is not always a good thing for sinners like you and I.

If you have ever wanted to go back in time to that perfect point in your life, you can understand Peter in our text. Here you have Jesus going up on a mountain to pray, along with His closest disciples, Peter, James and John. They have gone off by themselves to regroup, and to prepare for the coming road to Jerusalem and the cross. It has been six short days since Peter’s great confession, “You are the Christ the Son of the living God.” God had revealed this great confession to Peter, but apparently it didn’t stick yet. Right afterwards, Jesus tells them that he is going to Jerusalem and death. Peter wanted to stop Jesus from going on that hard road, but Jesus rebuked him.

So here they are, up on the mountain, and they get this incredible vision. Jesus changes before their very eyes. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. Like Moses so many years before, Jesus seemed to be the glory of God in the flesh. And then, wonder of wonders! Moses and Elijah appear! These two great men, prophets and deliverers of God’s people, are right in front of them, talking with Jesus. This wasn’t a dream! It was real, and the three disciples are there to witness the whole thing.

We can understand Simon Peter here. Great, Lord! Let’s set up shop right here, you, Moses and Elijah. We’ll make a tabernacle for you just like the good olé days. Then right in the middle of Peter’s proposal, they are enveloped in a bright cloud and a voice comes from out of the cloud and says, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”

Now to you and I, those words should sound at least a little familiar. They are identical to the words that our Heavenly Father said over Jesus at His Baptism in the Jordan River. But here, some words are added. Here we get that final statement, “listen to Him.” That may sound like something obvious, but it isn’t. Peter in his excitement and brashness caught himself telling Jesus what to do. He wanted to be with God-in-the-flesh, but he wanted it on his terms, not God’s terms.

And that is where we come in. So often we want God with us, but we want Him with us on our terms, not His terms. I want God when He is up on the mountain, looking down, filled with the glory of God, and when things are right and perfect and beautiful. It is a glorious site, that’s for sure. Who wouldn’t want a God like that? Who wouldn’t want a life like that?

There is a problem, though. While that may be a dream, it is a selfish dream. It is a dream that has no place for anyone else, even God. You see, to be in the image of God means to get outside of yourself and to get into the shoes of your neighbor. It means to live with them, to suffer with them, and yes, even to die with them and for them. It means to rejoice when they rejoice, and to weep when they weep. That’s what God is really like. The light of God does not just come down upon us in the sunshine. God’s light is clearer in the darkness. Listen to how our hymn confesses it:

Come, heav’nly Bridegroom, Light divine,

And deep within our hearts now shine;

There light a flame undying!

In Your one body let us be

As living branches of a tree,

Your life our lives supplying.

Now, though daily

Earth’s deep sadness

May perplex us

And distress us,

Yet with heav’nly joy You bless us. (LSB 395:2)

The sad reality is earth’s deep sadness does perplex and distress us. While the view from the mountain may be great, for most of us, we actually live in the valley of the shadow of death. The mountains are a part of the journey, but have you ever noticed when climbing a mountain that it takes a lot longer to climb up than it does to go down?

Today we rejoice with Peter, James and John that God’s glory is in our midst. You and I experience that glory even more directly than those disciples did, here in His body and blood. That gracious presence of Jesus that ties us to Him as living branches of a tree, ties us to Him so that we may go out into the world. Christ goes with us all the way, and we are going, even into that valley.

Enjoy the view from this great mountain! From this mountain we can see the valley of Lent, where we will go down and then up again to another mountain, Mount Calvary, where our Lord will be lifted up, and where He will draw us to Himself (John 12:32). From this same mountain we can see the heavenly city, Jerusalem, the city of peace where we will dwell with Him forever.

Now that’s a picture to consider, isn’t it? Hear again how our hymn confesses that great reality:

What joy to know, when life is past,

The Lord we love is first and last,

The end and the beginning!

He will one day, oh, glorious grace,

Transport us to that happy place

Beyond all tears and sinning!

Amen! Amen!

Come, Lord Jesus!

Crown of gladness!

We are yearning

For the day of Your returning!

Even so, come Lord Jesus. Change us into your holy image, that we may bear it to the end of days and your great returning. Amen.

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in true faith, unto life everlasting. Amen.

Certainly swine flu is in the air. Every TV news show and every radio program or newspaper seems to have some mention of its spread. Don’t touch! Have no human contact! You don’t want to get sick.

There is some wisdom in this. As diseases spread, we must take reasonable cautions to guard ourselves and our loved ones from sickness and disease.

But what about at church?

Are we to avoid shaking hands, or even stay away from the Body and Blood of Christ for fear of harm to ourselves or others? Here are a few thoughts to keep in mind as we move forward in faith and trust:

1. God would not command us to take eat, and drink in order to harm us. “In Him we live and move and have our being,” as St. Paul reminds us. God is greater than a virus. He who numbers the hairs on our heads (Matthew 6) will not command us to do something in order to hurt us.

2. It is not “tempting God” to trust HIs Word that we receive His body and blood for the forgiveness of sins.

3. The Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta has said on more than one occasion that the use of the chalice is actually more sanitary than individual cups. If you are not convinced or if this continues to cause you concern, by all means receive from the individual cup instead. [ed: When I wrote this article I couldn't find my reference on this one. I am very happy to be corrected if I'm wrong on it.]

4. There is a greater chance of communicating a disease through a handshake than through the Sacrament of the Altar.

5. If you cannot in good conscience receive the Sacrament because you are afraid, then don’t. I will be more than happy to commune you privately, if that is your wish.

6. I am also happy to receive a “holy wave” after church instead of a handshake, if you prefer.

7. There is something to be said for “sharing our mutual woes”, as the hymn exclaims. Bearing one another’s burdens is part and parcel to being a Christian. This is not an excuse to be foolish or unsanitary, but neither should we be afraid of each other.

Those are my thoughts on the subject right now. I am happy to speak with anyone about it if that would be helpful. God be with you this season, and stay healthy AND forgiven!

Pastor Peperkorn

Todd A. Peperkorn, STM

Todd A. Peperkorn, STM

Messiah Lutheran Church

Kenosha, Wisconsin

Advent 2 (December 6, 2009)

Luke 21: 25-36 and here it is in audio:

[podcast]http://homepage.mac.com/toddpeperkorn/sermons/Advent2-2009.mp3[/podcast]

Appropinquat redemtio nostra

TITLE: “Lift Up Your Heads”

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.  Our text for today is the Gospel lesson just read, with focus on the words of Jesus, Lift up your heads, for your redemption draws near.  Let us pray:

Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Your only-begotten Son, that by His coming we may be enabled to serve You with pure minds; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (L02)

If you were to ask most Christians whether they were looking forward to Jesus’ Coming again in glory to judge both the quick and the dead, I think you would find two answers, what they say and what they think.  Most Christians would say that they looked forward to the day of His Coming, and long for His Return.  But what most of us think is that we want Jesus to wait a little longer before He comes back.

Why?  We do we have such double standards when it comes to Jesus’ return?  Isn’t Jesus coming back a good thing?  It is, after all, one of the great themes of Advent.  Remember the hymn we just sang:

O Morning Star, O radiant Sun,

When will our hearts behold Your dawn?

O Sun, arise; without Your light

We grope in gloom and dark of night.

That is fine church talk, after all, but is that going to help my shopping for Christmas?  Is that going to help me get through the next four weeks without killing either myself or my family?  The fact is that the period from Thanksgiving to the end of January is the most stressful, difficult time for nearly everyone who lives in America.  The expectations are so high, that we create the perfect memory of the perfect holiday that will remain perfect in our thoughts and hearts throughout all of our years.

Life, however, has a way of messing with all of our hopes and dreams and fantasies and plans.  If you have one picture in your head of how your future is going to work out, it is pretty likely that it won’t work that way, however it is that you imagine it.  It is very easy to become disappointed that things don’t go the way you want them to go.  When we forget how transitory and fleeting this life is, the things of today can take on way more importance than they really deserve.  We can become so self-absorbed that we forget the purpose for the season in the first place!  We live today so that we may die to be with Him.  But so often we don’t think that way.  Woody Allen once said, “I’m not afraid to die.  I just don’t want to be there when it happens.”  Can we become so attached to the here and now that we lose what is to come?

The prophet Malachi speaks about those who become too attached to the things of today in this way:

““For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.”  (Malachi 4:1 ESV)

The day of the coming of our Lord will be sudden, unexpected.  But this is the most important thing about the coming of Jesus, so listen carefully.  It will be great, it will be fantastic, far more wonderful that we could possibly imagine.  Malachi goes on to describe this last day for you and I and all of  the baptized:

“But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 4:2–3 ESV)

This is you, dearly beloved.  On the Last Day you shall be like a leaping calf in the stall, so excited and joyful at His coming that you can hardly contain yourself.  Are you ready for that kind of joy?  I hope so, for it is coming, as surely as the dawn.

This is why Jesus says in our text, “. . . straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:28).  Jesus’ coming into our flesh and blood in Bethlehem is the beginning of the end of all things.  Because of His coming into our flesh, we can lift up our eyes as the Daughter of Zion, look, and see that He is coming for us.  Remember, rejoice, and remain in Him until that Last, Great, and awesome day.  Let us pray:

Remember, Lord, Your Church, to deliver it from all evil and to make it perfect in Your love, and gather it from the four winds, sanctified for Your kingdom which You have prepared for it; for Yours is the power and the glory unto the ages. Amen. -The Didache

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in true faith, unto life everlasting.  Amen.