"The Paradox: The Word of the Cross" (1 Corinthians 1:18-31)

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Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen! Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

“For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Corinthians 1:22-25).

 

Throughout this Epiphany season, Jesus is revealing His glory. Through inspiration, Peter said of Jesus, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus turned a persecutor of the faith into the greatest defender of the faith. And Christ’s ultimate glory is Him crucified onto a cross as He died for our sins. This is what Lutheran pastors preach. We preach the Word of the Cross: Christ crucified for sinners. It is by this Word of the Cross is how God saves.

 

Now, back in October, Kurt, Willie and I were working on how to get a portion of our church parking lot lit. As you know, it tends to get dark at night, and when it is October, it gets darker earlier each night until the winter solstice each December 21^st. 

 

So, here we are, trying to figure out how to make the parking lot brighter until we noticed something off the end of the church’s canopy. It was a light! But the light didn’t work and hasn’t worked for years. So, we all tried to learn more about this light. Then Willie climbed the ladder and found out that the power to that dead light was still live. The next question was how to replace that light with a new light and not shock Willie in the process. So, Kurt and myself made our way to the circuit breaker boxes and began flipping switches: Canopy – nope; Emergency Lights – nope; Entry/office – nope; Narthex – nope; Barn – nope. We were at whit’s end. We were puzzled.

 

We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles. You know that phrase “Christ crucified,” that phrase too, sounds like utter nonsense. How is that a good thing? That sounds more like defeat than a victory!

 

“Christ crucified” is a paradox. That seems so contrary to anything good! That word “Christ” also means “Messiah” and a messiah is someone who is of royal dignity. And the word “crucified” tells of an executed criminal, who has lost any and all claims to human dignity or any positive status at all!

 

But “Christ crucified” is what we preach. “Christ crucified” is certainly a stumbling block.

 

To Jews, a crucified Messiah was certainly an obstacle in coming to faith in Jesus. In fact, as Deuteronomy 21 tells us, anyone who has been crucified was seen as repugnant, unacceptable, and cursed by God. So, for Jews, crucifixion on a cross was the most shameful death imaginable.

 

To Greeks, who are entangled in a culture enamored by power and success, “Christ crucified” also made no sense. How could a crucified criminal ever be considered as the Savior of the world? Now, Greeks were known for their worldly wisdom, but they were not alone. Romans, too, also thought any worship of a crucified Messiah as ridiculous. In fact, Romans spoke of Christians as “worshipping a dead man” – which was utterly absurd!

 

For all nonbelievers, mankind is the measure of all things. For nonbelievers, they demand evidence that falls within the parameters of their own lived experience. 

 

Even with the differences between Jews and Greeks of yesteryear, St. Paul says that they are very much alike. He says that both Jews and Greeks have much in common. For they both have a common quest for impressive signs of outward success, whether that be a display of power, such as the plagues of Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, or ejecting the Romans from Palestine, to today’s modern demands for health and wealth. 

 

The Jews demanded signs. They demanded Jesus give them a powerful sign to prove His Messianic claims. And Jesus gave them many signs. He healed the sick; He opened the eyes of the blind; He raised the dead; He preached good news to the poor in spirit. But they wanted different signs.

 

These Jews of Jesus’ earthly ministry demanded Jesus to do signs according to their own demands. You see, they wanted to be in control. They wanted Jesus to do their bidding. They wanted a Disney Genie-kind of Jesus who just grants their wishes.

 

So, in response to their demands, Jesus said: “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:39-40).

 

In other words, if you really want a sign, look to what will soon happen. He says, “Look to My death and resurrection!” Look to the word of the cross!

 

For the Greeks, they have demands too. Now, not signs, but they demand wisdom. They wish to hear from a great teacher. They wish to learn pithy sayings. But, what wisdom is there from a dead Messiah? Again, “Christ crucified” is just foolishness. “Christ crucified” is just silly. “Christ crucified” is just a waste of time.

 

On top of this, the Greeks weren’t that interested in learning from a dead man about the problems of sin and guilt. You see, the Greeks and Romans believed they had sin and guilt all figured out. They believed they had all the answers.

 

The Word of the Cross is certainly foolishness to the worldly wise who are perishing, but to us, who are being saved, it is the power of God.

 

For the Jews and Greeks of yesteryear, they were seeking what is known today as the Theology of Glory. This Theology of Glory emphasizes human achievement and worldly success as paths to God’s favor and His glory. It’s all about personal glory, easy answers, self-improvement, wealth and comfort. It downplays sin and suffering. In John 14, Philip spoke to Jesus with this Theology of Glory saying: “Show us the Father” (John 14:8). Jesus then set Philip aside and said, “How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me?”(John 14:9b-10). Philip was looking for signs and wisdom, but Jesus said to just look to Him saying, “No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). What Jesus is saying to Philip and us is that God can only be found through suffering and the cross.

 

We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles. We preach the Theology of the Cross. True signs and true wisdom is only found in Christ the crucified.

 

For sure, the power of God through the Theology of Glory is certainly visible in creation, but the Theology of the Cross, which is the grace of God is only found through His cross and His Means of Grace: His Word and Sacraments. For, the grace of God certainly appears weak and foolish to unbelievers. But for us, it is the true power of God.

 

Jesus preached the Theology of the Cross. He preached that suffering is central to understanding God and the human condition. He preached that He must die to atone for the sins of the world – yours and my sins of all of human history. Jesus preached that through His atoning death that He would put an end to eternal death. He preached that through His death and bodily resurrection He would give us forgiveness, life, and salvation. So, it is only through the Word of the Cross that we receive the forgiveness of yours and my sins.

 

By the Word of the Cross, God outsmarted and overpowered all human wisdom and all human power. And it was from those Jews and Greeks of yesteryear that God would grow His Church as a new race, a royal priesthood. He made us all one in Christ Jesus!

 

So, if you are looking for signs and wonders as a display of God’s power, you will find that power displayed in Christ the crucified. And if you are on a quest for wisdom, you will find God’s wisdom perfectly revealed in the Word of the Cross.

 

For as God’s Word proclaims in Isaiah 55: “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

 

So, did we ever figure out which circuit breaker switch was connected to that canopy light? Well, after flipping the breakers for the canopy, the emergency lights, the narthex, the barn, we came to another switch, a switch that just seemed that it couldn’t possibly work, it said “Cross.” So, we flipped it. It was the one. Always look to the cross. It seemed like folly, but it was the wisdom of God. We have light and salvation through the Word of the Cross! We preach Christ crucified and risen for sinners, because for us who are being saved, it is the power of God! Amen.

 

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,

 keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.  

+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +

"The Great Reversal" (Acts 9:1-22) - The Conversion of St. Paul

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Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen! Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

Jesus said to Ananias: “Go, for [Paul] is a chosen instrument of Mine to carry My name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15).

 

Today, the one holy Christian and apostolic Church rejoices to remember the conversion of St. Paul, when Christ brought him out of darkness and began to make him a witness to the Light!

 

Paul had been utterly convinced that it was a fraud, a dangerous fraud. Paul believed that it was his calling and his duty to halt the deception spread by those belonging to “The Way” wherever he found it. Paul was not satisfied in scattering only the Jerusalem believers. He was determined to destroy the Christian Church everywhere. So, he went to the high priest of the Sanhedrin and asked for the authority to round up Christians and bring them back bound to Jerusalem to be imprisoned, tried in a kangaroo court and executed.

 

Paul had already caused so much suffering for the Christians in Jerusalem and in the surrounding area. But in his zeal, it was not enough to stamp out Christianity in Jerusalem. Paul wanted to stamp out Christianity completely.

 

So, with zeal for upholding the honor of the God of Israel, Paul received letters of authority from the Sanhedrin to stamp out Christianity in Damascus, some 150 miles northeast of Jerusalem. And Damascus had a large Jewish population, and it was a city where persecuted Jewish believers in Jesus sought refuge.

 

Just when these Christians thought they were safe, Paul rides toward Damascus with the intention to “bring them bound to Jerusalem” (Acts 9:2). His intention is go to the synagogues in Damascus, because he would find Christians worshipping there.

 

Yet, as he went on his way, Paul’s certainties soon crumbled. A bright light knocked him flat on his face and blinded his sight. Then, Paul heard a voice. A voice of unspeakable tenderness and mercy addressing him saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” (Acts 9:4)

Up to this moment, I have been referring to this man as Paul – and he would be known by that name throughout history. One thing to note here, Jesus did not change this man’s name. My name is Peter, but I also know that Pedro and Pierre are also my name in the Spanish and French languages. The same is true about Saul and Paul. Saul is the Hebrew equivalent to Paul in Greek or Latin. So, when this man was among Jews, he would be known as Saul, but among Gentiles, he would be known as Paul.

 

Now, this “Saul, Saul” is like when Jesus said, “Martha, Martha” (Luke 10:41) or “Jerusalem, Jerusalem” (Matthew 23:37). This expression is of loving concern, for Jesus knew Paul believed he was doing the right thing. 

 

In loving concern, Jesus confronts Paul with his sin. The risen, glorified Jesus came to Paul in a flash of blinding light. This blinding light brought Paul to his knees. In his blindness, Paul said, “Who are you, Lord?” (Acts 9:5a). Now, this is not an expression of faith by Paul, but of respect. Up to this very moment, Paul was still convinced that his mission was pleasing God.

 

Then the One Paul dared to declare a fraud spoke to him saying, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting” (Acts 9:5b).

 

Although Paul’s physical sight was gone, he began at last to see things clearly. In persecuting Christians, he was persecuting the God he had sworn to defend. 

 

Jesus continued saying to Paul: “Rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do” (Acts 9:6).

 

The Levite guards who traveled with Paul stood speechless as they heard the voice of Jesus but saw no one. 

 

From this moment on, Paul was under the orders of Jesus. His first order was to go into Damascus and wait for further instructions.

 

Paul, a Pharisee of Pharisees, was brought down. His proud self-righteousness shattered. His blindness led him toward repentance and contrition. And for three days Paul didn’t eat nor drink in his remorse.

 

“Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias” (Acts 9:10a). In a similar, but much lesser way, Jesus calls out to Ananias – a man Paul was likely to arrest – a man who knew Paul’s reputation – a man who knew why Paul was coming to Damascus – to come to Paul to lay his hands on him and give him a washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit in Holy Baptism, so that Paul would be brought out of the darkness and into God’s marvelous light. For as 1 Samuel 2:6 says: “the LORD kills and brings to life; He brings down to Sheol and rises up.”

 

Jesus reveals to Ananias that this former persecutor of God would become God’s “chosen instrument” to carry out God’s will before the Gentiles and Jews. Paul was an expert on God’s Law, but now he has fully experienced God’s grace. 

 

Paul had been God’s enemy, but now the triune God graciously transforms Paul into a true child of God. It was by God’s grace that Paul was reconciled to God and not only that, but Paul would become Christ’s great apostle as he would bring this gift of reconciliation to the world.

 

Jesus would equip Paul to be an eyewitness to the fact of His bodily resurrection. Through this divine calling, Jesus made Paul an equal among the other apostles.

 

Jesus appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus. Paul now believes, and now being filled with the Holy Spirit through his baptism into Christ, he would not delay in preaching the good news. Paul would preach that Jesus is from eternity God, who was active in the creation of the universe and took upon Himself human flesh as the promised Messiah, the Redeemer of the world.

 

What happened to Paul when he was blinded and later regained his sight through the washing and rebirth of Holy Baptism was a conversion. And conversion means turning. 

 

In this encounter with the risen Lord Jesus, Paul’s life would begin to turn around. Instead of opposing and fighting Christians, the formerly persecuting and hate-filled man would become the Lord’s “chosen instrument” to bring to all people the joy and light of Christian hope – from a man who would be considered least likely to serve His plan of salvation. “Jesus is Lord” would become Paul’s constant message. “Christ crucified, risen, and returning in glory” would become Paul’s constant theme. Who could have ever imagined a persecutor of Christianity becoming a defender of Christianity? Only the God of grace!

 

Now, you may not have ever participated in the organized persecution of Christians as Paul did, but we are every bit as dependent on God’s saving grace as Paul was.

 

You and I came into this life with a fallen, sinful nature that has a way of always turning toward the self, rather than to the Lord. We, by nature, have a mind that is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law and will never submit to God’s law. We are, by nature, enemies of God.

 

Yet, just as Jesus was not content to let Paul continue on his road to hell, Jesus does not want to see any of us lost. So, like Paul, Jesus has come to us.

 

Just as He did for Paul, Jesus came to you personally to give you the new life that He purchased for you on the cross and through His bodily resurrection. By water and the Word, Jesus shined His light into our dark hearts. And having paid our ransom on the cross, He comes to us personally as He unshackles our bondage to sin and death.

 

Just as Jesus cared for Paul, He also cares for you as He continues to come to us in His Word and at His Table as He comforts us with His forgiveness, which strengthens us in His grace as He gives us peace. 

 

Like Paul, we did not have earn salvation through our merit, since salvation is the free gift of God’s grace through faith in Christ Jesus alone.

 

From persecutor of the faith to defender of the faith, Paul would never cease to marvel at this grace of our Lord Jesus Christ in welcoming even a servant such as he. If this “chief of sinners” can be the Lord’s, so can any sinner. If Jesus can turn around someone like Paul, then who is there beyond the hope of repentance? There is not one! Through the work of the Holy Spirit, there is always hope for the unrepentant sinner to come to repentance and faith. For that, all glory to the Savior’s grace, all glory to the triune God alone, who turns and captures hearts to do His bidding! Amen.

 

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,

 keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.  

+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +

"The Great Confessions" (Acts 4:8-13) - The Confession of St. Peter

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Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen! Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

“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).

 

In this season of Epiphany, we celebrate the revelation of Jesus to the world as God’s only Son, and our only Savior from the power of sin, death, and the devil. But today, in particular, we celebrate the confession of St. Peter, which is not really about Peter, but about his confession.

 

To His apostles, Jesus asked, “But who do you say that I am?” (Mark 8:29a). And this has been the question put to every person ever since. Who is Jesus?

 

Peter and the other apostles had seen Jesus do ordinary things. They saw Him eat and drink, grow tired and sleep, tell stories, and even pray. But they’d also seen Him do things that no other human being could ever do. They saw Jesus walk on water as though it were dry land! They saw Jesus command the winds and they obeyed! They saw Jesus multiply five loaves of bread and two fish to feed the vast multitudes. They heard Jesus speak words of truth that cut to the heart like no one ever could. Who is Jesus?

 

On that day in Caesarea Philippi, Peter spoke up for the Twelve and for all Christians of all ages saying, “You are the Christ!” (Mark 8:29b).

 

What Peter is saying on the behalf of the other apostles is that Jesus is the One for whom they and all of Israel have long waited. He is saying, “Jesus, You are the promised King of Israel from David’s line. Jesus, You are one of us, yet, You are so much more. Jesus, You are the Son of the living God!”

 

That is a great confession! Then Jesus says, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood had not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 16:17).

 

This confession was a real turning point in Christ’s ministry. This great confession of faith at Caesarea Philippi is certainly worth remembering. But could there be a greater confession?

 

In our First Reading this morning from Acts 4, this same Peter speaks another confession as he and John stand before the Sanhedrin, the ruling council of the Jews and boldly speaks: “Let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead – by Him” (Acts 4:10) we healed a lame man. This time, Peter’s life is on the line. Yes, his confession at Caesarea Philippi was certainly a great confession, but could this confession before the Sanhedrin be a greater confession?

 

Certainly, Peter’s confession at Caesarea Philippi took divine insight, but it didn’t take much courage. It didn’t take much courage to confess in front of Jesus and the others. To tell Jesus that He was the Christ was more like the “Sunday School answer.” Peter, then, had nothing to fear. But Peter, now, has much to fear. This confession to the Sanhedrin could mean his life is cut short.

 

And Peter doesn’t stop here, He continues with an even greater confession saying, “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Such courage!

 

In our collect for today, we prayed: “Heavenly Father, You revealed to the apostle Peter the blessed truth that Your Son Jesus is the Christ. Strengthen us by the proclamation of this truth that we too may joyfully confess that there is salvation in no one else.” This prayer is also a confession.

 

But do we always joyfully confess that there is salvation in no one else but Jesus? This is easy for us to confess on a Sunday morning or Monday evening here in the friendly confines of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, but what about out there? We are like Peter at Caesarea Philippi in here. But what is it like out there?

 

It certainly takes more courage to confess Jesus as the Christ out there, especially when the world is practically pagan. Many places of work openly mock Jesus. Many places of education openly mock Jesus. 

 

What about to your non-Christian friends or family? Do you joyfully confess Christ to them?

 

It certainly takes more courage than Peter at Caesarea Philippi for us to say to our non-believing friends and family that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. 

 

So, was Peter’s confession before the Sanhedrin his greater confession?

 

Certainly, Peter’s confession before the Sanhedrin was great – and it was indeed braver, because it could have cost him his life. 

 

But in the end, it was no greater than his confession at Caesarea Philippi. They are both great and greater as both confessions confessed Jesus to be the Christ.

 

Peter’s confession at Caesarea Philippi was great because Jesus is the suffering Christ, the Son of the living God. Peter’s confession before the Sanhedrin was great because Jesus, who was crucified, raised and ascended, saves us.

 

You see, both of Peter’s confessions were great, because Jesus is great.

 

So, no matter how you confess Jesus to your family or friends to help them understand His truth more fully, you are making a great confession.

 

But there is no greater confession than the one that so many of us made without even saying a word – it was when the Holy Spirit brought us to confess the triune God through our Baptism. This morning, Bella, though with words, made that great confession as the Holy Spirit brought her to the waters of Holy Baptism.

 

And we also make a great confession each time we, among our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ meet at the Communion rail to receive Christ’s Body and Blood for the forgiveness of our sins as we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes again.

 

As we confess Jesus to be the Christ, this is the confession Christ Himself uses to build His Church. You see, those gates of hell do not stand a chance against this confession. Through this confession, the Holy Spirit still calls and gathers, enlightens and sanctifies believers. And through it, Jesus binds hearts to Him and builds up His Church as the very temple of God upon earth.

 

Today, is not only the day we remember St. Peter’s great confessions, as today is also Sanctity of Life Sunday. As fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, we not only confess Jesus as our Redeemer, but we also confess Jesus as our Creator. We confess with the Psalmist: “I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it well” (Psalm 139:13-14).

 

Every single human being, from the least to the greatest, was carefully handmade by God. He planned our all our days even before He skillfully knit us together in our mother’s wombs. So, we confess that all life is precious from conception to natural death. We confess that all lives have value. We confess that Jesus purchased all lives – those born and unborn – “with a price” (1 Corinthians 6:20), which was His holy precious blood. Jesus bore the shame of the cross to grant us peace with God.

 

For “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved” (Romans 10:9-10). 

 

So, let us all joyfully confess Jesus to be the Christ, the Creator and Redeemer, the Savior of the world! Amen.

 

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,

 keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.  

+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +

"Behold My Servant" (Isaiah 42:1-9)

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Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen! Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

“Behold My Servant, whom I uphold, My Chosen, in whom My Soul delights; I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations” (Isaiah 42:1).

 

“Behold My Servant.” With this announcement, Yahweh announces something special, something very important. Of course, Yahweh chose to call many servants. He called Abraham, Moses, David, Caleb, Job, and Isaiah His servants. And oddly enough, God even called heathen kings Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus His servants, since they carried out His judgment upon God’s unfaithful people. Also included as God’s “servant” are the ancient nation of Israel, whom God often called deaf and blind.

 

All of these servants had a special purpose in God’s plan of salvation. God certainly chose each one for His special task. They either were examples to God’s people, or they were to carry out judgment upon God’s unfaithful people.

 

But there is something different going on here in Isaiah 42. Here, Yahweh is making an announcement of special importance. Here, Yahweh announces this Servant boldly and dramatically: “Behold My Servant, whom I uphold, My Chosen, in whom My Soul delights; I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations” (Isaiah 42:1).

 

It's like God is saying, “Here He is!” No other Servant of the Lord has received such an introduction, so this announcement signals something quite different and important about this Servant as compared to the others.

 

But who is this Servant? There is so much ambiguity in our text. But ambiguity can also enrich our reading. Ambiguity can cause us to meditate on God’s divine Word. So, who is this Servant who fulfills this prophecy?

 

If we were to place everyone whom God calls His servant together and look at them, Yahweh would direct our attention to just this One Servant. For example, if all these servants were placed on a table and spread out like rare coins, Yahweh would be pointing at One of them saying, “Behold My Servant! This is the One!”

In Isaiah 41, one chapter earlier, God provides a contrast to reveal the importance of this Servant. God pointed to the false gods saying, “Behold, they are all a delusion; their works are nothing; their metal images are empty wind” (Isaiah 41:29). What a contrast to the very next verse in Chapter 42! The works of these false gods are nothing, because they are nothing. Now, the Servant introduced here will carry out the Lord’s work.

 

Now that Yahweh has our attention, He tells us why this Servant is so especially important. And certainly, God chose this Servant much like He had chosen other servants, including Abraham before Him. Each of the prophets were chosen for their special role, including David, who sought after God’s own heart, despite his many flaws.

 

But again, this Servant is different. To this Servant, Yahweh endows with special gifts and importance.  This Servant would “bring forth justice to the nations” (Isaiah 42:1d). This Servant would not only serve the single nation of Israel, but also serve the Gentiles – the entire world!

 

Now, this word “justice” is a judgment based on a legal decision. “Justice” is a term that defines the Gospel, which is God’s legal and judicial announcement that He has declared the entire world right, holy, and innocent. This “justice” is good news! This is good news to a world that stands before God’s court convicted of sin. This judgement exists because of the work of this Servant. And God would put His Spirit on this Servant so that He could accomplish His task.

 

But how would this Servant accomplish this task? Although Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus, and David are God’s servants, this Servant will not accomplish this task by force. This Servant would be meek, modest, and mild. This Servant “will not cry aloud or lift up His voice, or make it heard in the street” (Isaiah 42:2).

 

Even Abraham rescued Lot by force, and Moses sent the Levites out with swords drawn to restore order. But not this Servant. This Servant would come into Jerusalem “righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9).

 

Cyrus stomped his way to victory. His coming filled the coastlands with fear. This Servant would be gentle; the people would hope in the words of this Servant. “A bruised reed He will not break, and a faintly burning wick He will not quench; He will faithfully bring forth justice” (Isaiah 42:3).

In Isaiah 11, the prophet wrote that this Servant would be a “shoot” from the stump of Jesse and that “the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him” (Isaiah 11:2). It would be the Holy Spirit who would anoint this Servant to accomplish His tasks. “He will not grow faint or be discouraged till He has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for His law” (Isaiah 42:4). This Servant will accomplish His task of establishing justice on the earth.

 

God’s people longed for the appearance of this Servant. Then, at the appointed time, God removed all questions about this Servant’s identity. “Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him” (Matthew 3:13). John the Baptizer attempted to prevent Jesus from being baptized, but Jesus said to John, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15).

 

“Yes,” Jesus says, “It does seem odd to baptize the sinless Lamb of God, but this must be done, so all who will be baptized will receive My righteousness. For this must take place!”

 

You see, God demands righteousness. So, Yahweh had a special reason for choosing His Servant: it was in connection with righteousness. God demands that the entire human race be righteous, but every step the human race takes proves us to be unrighteous. We have even failed obedience to God’s Law in loving God and serving our neighbor that was intended to produce a righteous people.

 

But the triune God devised a plan, a plan from before time. The triune God would send the Second Person of the Trinity to be incarnate to make all people righteous. God Himself would rescue His people through this called Servant.

 

Inspired by the Holy Spirit, St. Paul wrote in Romans 3: “The righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe” (Romans 3:22).

 

As Jesus came out of the water of the Jordan River, two important things happened. First, the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus like a dove, and second, God the Father’s voice rang out saying, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).

 

At this moment in time, as Jesus came out of the water, it cannot be mistaken who Yahweh’s special Servant is: He is our Lord Jesus Christ. He is God’s Servant who came to carry out His righteousness to deliver righteousness to the people.

 

Now, this Servant’s task would be difficult. He would bring justice, justification, and salvation to the ends of the earth, but it would not be through brute force or by any show of might, but in the humility and shame of the cross.

 

Jesus, the Servant, came to bring atonement between God and man. And this could only be done through receiving a sinner’s baptism – a washing that was not necessary for Him, but surely necessary for us, so that through our baptism into Christ, we receive the fruits of His cross: forgiveness, life, and salvation, and all by His grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone, the beloved Servant.

 

Throughout His earthly ministry, this Servant would open the eyes of the blind and free captives who sit in darkness. But these physical realities also refer to spiritual realities. 

 

You see, when you are spiritually imprisoned to sin, your flesh is calling all the shots. You are not in control. Your sin is in control, and you are a slave to it. Whether it’s drugs, alcohol, stealing, sexual immortality. Just name it.

 

When left to our own devises, we are always snared by sin. Because of sin, all humanity remains blind to the truths of God. Because of sin, all humanity remains in bondage. Because of sin, all humanity are slaves to sin and are doomed to eternal punishment.

 

Through Christ alone, the Servant, He would bring release from sin’s bondage and from the dungeon of judgment. Long ago, God destined His Servant to set us free from our evil foes: sin, death, and the devil. Because Christ died for your sins and rose again, triumphing over sin and death, He by faith in Him has set you free from bondage!

 

Today, we can look in awe of this Servant Yahweh foretold in Isaiah 42, because we are the recipients of this Servant’s work. We are among those who have our eyes opened to the light of His grace. We are among those freed from the prison of death. We are among those called out of darkness and into His marvelous light. We are God’s children whom He has chosen as His own. Amen.

 

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,

 keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.  

+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +

"God's Obedient Son" (Luke 2:40-52)

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Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen! Dear brothers and sisters in Christ: 

“[Jesus] said to [Mary and Joseph], ‘Why were you looking for Me? Did you not know that I must be in My Father’s house?’” (Luke 2:49).

 

If you are like me, when you heard today’s Gospel text, you may have thought about the 1990 movie “Home Alone.” In that movie, Peter and Kate McCallister accidently left their son Kevin at home as they traveled with their extended family to Florida for Christmas break. But, while in a hurry one morning to get out the door in order to get to O’Hare on time, they forgot to check upstairs for their son Kevin. It was only later, while flying the friendly skies that Kevin’s mother realizes that her son was missing. Frantically, Kevin’s parents – and especially his mom – immediately begin looking for ways to get back home to find their lost son.

 

In a similar fashion, Mary and Joseph search frantically for their lost Son. Except, their Son was not lost. For Jesus remained at the temple in Jerusalem for a purpose. 

 

“Now [Christ’s] parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when He was twelve years old, they went up according to custom” (Luke 2:41-42).

 

If you thought driving to the airport was stressful, the trip from Nazareth to Jerusalem was a grueling one of about 80 miles, which lasted three to four days. Thankfully, Mary, Joseph, and young Jesus did not travel alone, but with a large company of people in a caravan. And this caravan served multi-purposes. First, it offered an opportunity for fellowship among family and local townsfolk. Second, any large group provided for protection from the threat of highway robbers.

 

And when the Holy Family arrived in Jerusalem, they would have found the city teeming with hundreds of thousands of fellow pilgrims, who would have been trying to find lodging and a place to celebrate the Passover meal, along with purchasing their sacrificial animals. The Holy Family would have witnessed a city filled with the noise of hundreds of thousands of sheep, which the priests would have been busy butchering. Beggars would have been in full force. Roman soldiers would have been on patrol, jostlying the crowds and trying to keep some semblance of order. 

Joseph, too, would have taken their family’s lamb to be sacrificed, and one can only guess what was going through his mind. The scene in Jerusalem would have been frantic. 

 

And although the Holy Family traveled to Jerusalem every year for the Passover festival – to celebrate the redemption of the people of Israel from Egypt, this year would mark something different. Luke tells us that Jesus was 12 years old. Being a boy at 12 or 13 years of age was especially significant, for this would be when Jesus would be considered a man at His Bar Mitzvah ceremony. At the Bar Mitzvah, Jesus would now be under the full obligation of the Law.

 

“And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing Him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for Him among their relatives and acquaintances” (Luke 2:43-44).

 

At first, being in a large caravan, Mary and Joseph never suspected that Jesus was not among the group. But when they stopped at nightfall, they noticed that Jesus was nowhere to be found. Like the McCallister parents in search for Kevin, Mary and Joseph began their search. They searched everywhere! Until as it often is, they found Jesus at the last place they looked, the place that should have been obvious from the start: the temple in Jerusalem.

 

And when Mary and Joseph located Jesus at the temple courts, they were astonished at what they witnessed. Jesus wasn’t battling home invaders. Jesus was not playing with the boys. Instead, He was sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. There was twelve-year-old Jesus, sitting cross-legged on the floor sitting among the rabbis. “And all who heard [Jesus] were amazed at His understanding and His answers” (Luke 2:47).

 

Jesus, who is fully and completely God, was being filled with human wisdom. He was not only asking questions, but He was listening to their answers. And Jesus’ questions displayed the depth of His understanding of Scripture truth. And His answers to the teachers’ questions likewise revealed how far advanced Jesus was in His grasp of divine truth. Now, Jesus wasn’t a child prodigy. He wasn’t a “Doogie Howser.” This was the divine wisdom which was imparted to His human nature. Jesus through these conversations was receiving more confirmation on why He took upon human flesh.

You see, God demands perfect obedience to the Law. And all of the descendants of Adam share in Adam’s disobedience to the Word of God. Our sinful nature that we inherited from Adam manifests itself in our daily lives and in our daily vocations: Instead of using God’s name to pray and give thanks, sinful man is more inclined to use God’s name to curse and lie. Instead of holding God’s Word sacred and gladly hearing and learning it, sinful man would rather grumble and complain if the sermon or Divine Service goes too long, or if I would preach a truth of God that sinful man does not want to hear. Instead of speaking well of our neighbor, sinful man would rather tell lies about our neighbor.

 

All the descendants of Adam share in Adam’s condemnation and judgment. And what was Adam’s condemnation and judgment? It’s death. “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a). And “For as in Adam all die” (1 Corinthians 15:22a). All we can do is beg God for mercy as we confess our sins to Him.

 

But Jesus is the perfectly obedient Son of God.

 

On that day in the temple, as Jesus was listening to the teachers and asking them questions, He knew His mission. He, along with the thousands in attendance at the Passover festival were there to remember God’s grace as the angel of death killed all the firstborn of the Egyptians, but “passed over” the firstborn of the Israelites, because of the blood of a lamb on their lintels and door posts.

 

And now, God the Father has shown even more grace and mercy in giving us His Son, His only-begotten Son, who is God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, … who for us men and for our salvation has come down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary and was made man. 

 

The Word became flesh, our own flesh, by taking the form of a servant, so that He could keep the Law of God in the place of sinful man. The Son of God obeyed His Father’s will for us!

 

Now, what Jesus did that day in the temple was not an act of rebellion against His parents. For Jesus remained perfectly obedient to His parents as demonstrated on their return to Nazareth. But there could be more here. Luke tells us that Mary “treasured up all these things in her heart” (Luke 2:51b). What could this be?

 

 

This event could have served as a further reminder that Jesus was not just an ordinary son, but the Son of God. For the last time Luke used that phrase, Mary was reminded what the shepherds said concerning her Child from the angel that her very Son is the Christ, the One who has come to save His people from their sins.

 

Jesus would remain obedient to His parents just as the Fourth Commandment requires. And Jesus would identify Himself fully and completely with sinners. Finally, Jesus, as the always obedient Son, would suffer an agonizing death as He would drink the cup of His Father’s wrath for us as He would be crucified to bring atonement for yours and my sins.

 

Jesus, who at twelve years old upheld His Bar Mitzvah as He perfectly kept the Law for us.

 

So, through Christ’s obedience, by repentance and faith in Him, our disobedience is forgiven through His blood and merit. For “in Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7). By faith in Christ alone, we now stand before God the Father as righteous and obedient children, covered by the robe of Christ’s perfect righteousness and obedience.

 

Through our adoption through Christ in Holy Baptism, we now put off the old man, the old sinful Adam, with His disobedience and have now put on Christ. And with the help of the Holy Spirit, we follow Christ’s example of humility before God and our neighbor as we keep His Word and obey His commandments.

 

Instead of fearing, loving, and trusting in other things, we begin in faith to fear, love and trust in God above all things. We learn to trust Him as our only hope and refuge. We resist the temptation to use God’s name to lie and deceive and instead call upon His name in every trouble as we pray, praise, and give thanks. We begin to hold God’s Word sacred as we gladly hear and learn it. And we resist the sinful urge tell lies and instead defend and speak well of our neighbor.

 

We do all of this out of love for God, and not out of fear of punishment or condemnation, but joyfully and gladly because of Christ’s perfect obedience that has been credited to us. In Christ alone, we are counted as righteous and obedient before God through our faith in His obedient Son. Amen.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,

 keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.  

+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +