"Crèche" (Advent Midweek 3)

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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:

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place this way. When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:18).

 

People throughout the world decorate this Advent season – and even last month – with Christmas trees, evergreens, and electric lights. Even non-Christians decorate. But there is a decoration that is distinctively Christian. There is a decoration that captures the true story and true message of Christmas. Tonight, we will look at how the creche, a model of the nativity scene, helps us prepare for the coming of Christ.

 

The creche is an explicitly Christian symbol because it presents the people involved in the birth of Christ, such as Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the Magi, and even the angels and some farm animals. Prince of Peace is blessed to have so many nativity scenes. In fact, we use the creche as a witness to define the real reason for the season. 

 

The word “creche” derives from Latin and means “nursery.” In fact, even today, it is the French word for nursery or childhood center. And in many other European countries, “creche” refers to a nursery school where infants and other young children are cared for during the day while their parents are at work.

 

This word “creche” has been transferred from this context of baby care to the scene which the greatest Baby in history was attended by His mother and guardian as well as the shepherds and in most cases, the Magi. But, here in America, the creche is most associated with the Biblical nativity scene in which figures are arranged to depict the event of Jesus’ birth.

 

The creche has been a decoration for Advent and Christmas for centuries. It has been depicted in frescos, paintings and reliefs. It has been reenacted with living people and animals since at least the 1300s. 

 

But it is most common to see plaster statues or wooden figures of the Holy Family and their guests.

 

By the 1800s, many Christian churches, including Lutherans, began embracing the use of creches in their churches. Eventually, Christians began using them at their homes.

 

The creche is a visible representation of the people who attended the birth of Jesus as depicted in the accounts of Matthew 2 and Luke 2. The creche provides us with a visible and tangible representation of the setting and event of Christ’s birth. It enables us to see with our eyes and touch with our hands the scenario in which Christ’s first advent occurred. Since God has created us with multiple senses, the creche engages our abilities to see and touch to support the hearing of His Word, the events of the birth of the Messiah.

 

You see, the advent of our Lord didn’t happen in a spiritual fantasy land but in real time among real people in this very real creation. St. John affirms the reality of the incarnate Christ, writing: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life … that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:1, 3).

 

But I will admit that I have an issue with the creche, or nativity scene. Many of you may know what I am going to say. Take a look at our creche under the Christmas tree. Who is missing? The Magi. But I am kind enough to have the Magi on the outskirts of the sanctuary. Why do you think the Magi are over there and not with the rest of the scene?

 

Well, it’s because the Magi did not arrive in Bethlehem at the birth of the Christ Child. They actually arrived some months later. So, that’s why I have them make their arrival on the day of Epiphany. And when they did finally arrive, they didn’t see Jesus wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger (Luke 2:12), but saw Jesus being held in Mary’s arms inside a house (Matthew 2:11). 

 

However, the creche reveals that the very Son of God was born in a very earthly setting, laid in a manger, with livestock surrounding and hay abounding. He was laid in a feeding trough. God entered this world as a small and helpless infant, dependent upon His mother for food and protection. The creche attests to the reality that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). This humble setting displays the One “who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:6-7).

 

The creche points us to the ongoing humiliation of Jesus for our salvation that He being fully God became man in order to die for us. “And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross” (Philippians 2:8). 

 

Remember, Jesus did not remain in the manger. He would grow up to be “despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. … But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:3, 5).

 

Jesus came in humble circumstances to share our humanity and become the Savior for sinners. The creche reminds us of His humble beginnings on earth.

 

The creche attests to what Christmas is all about. It presents in visible and tangible form the people and events of Jesus’ birth described in Matthew and Luke. This decoration of the nativity scene prepares us to celebrate the advent of the Baby who was born to save His people from their sins.

 

Amen. Come Lord Jesus.

 

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,

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

+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +

"He Shall Be Called: Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6)

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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 to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

 

We live in a world where war is far too common. And not just conflicts between nations, but conflicts between individual people. There is hatred of others because of their skin pigmentation, or differing religious views, or differing political views, or something was said to offend one another. There is hatred toward others simply because they covet what their neighbor has. 

 

If this isn’t enough, there is even hatred among people who ought to love each other. Many husbands and wives are at war with each other, and the result is that marriage vows are often broken. Many parents and children are at war with each other, and the result is dysfunctional homes filled with tension, strife, and violence. Even fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who ought to love one another are often filled with hatred for one another – and the result is that we have congregations filled with disharmony and conflict.

 

I could talk all night about the various ways that people of this fallen world are at war with one another.

 

Sadly, on this Christmas Eve, we do not have peace on earth. This is discouraging to us, because we all desire peace, especially on this night as we sing of peace. 

 

During this Christmas season, many people hope for some sort of peace in their lives. But we can’t seem to avoid war and conflict. Why? Well, what we need to understand is that things have always been this way since Adam and Eve declared war against God.

 

And we are the sinful descendants of Adam and Eve. God’s inerrant Word teaches that we are all conceived with their sinful nature. So, it is our natural state to be at war with God. In fact, the reason there is so much war among people is that we are at war with God. So, until we have peace with God, there will be no peace on earth.

If we were in control of peace, we would be doomed to an eternity without peace. Scripture teaches us that we are by nature enemies of God. That problem is not that God doesn’t love us. The problem is that we don’t love God, nor do we truly trust Him. The proof that we don’t love God is that we constantly sin against Him by our desires, thoughts, words, and deeds – by the evil we do and the good we fail to do.

 

Scripture teaches that we all deserve God’s eternal wrath because of our sin, and there is nothing we can do to change that. Not only can we do nothing to get rid of our guilt and avoid the punishment we deserve, but the real problem is that we cannot change our own hearts. We can’t give ourselves the peace we desperately need. 

 

Since we are not at peace with God, then we can never be at peace with our neighbor. So, left to ourselves, there would never be peace on earth, but only war and strife at every level of human relationship.

 

This is why we must pay close attention to the true message of Christmas! On this Christmas Eve, I have the good news that us war-torn sinners long for. On this Christmas Eve, the Prince of Peace has come!

 

Jesus, the Son of God, came into this fallen world to give you peace! But the peace He gives you must start with Him bringing you into a loving relationship with God. We need to be at peace with God if we are going to be at peace with our neighbor.

 

In Isaiah 9, we are told that the Child who is to be born for us and the Son who is given for us would be called “Prince of Peace.” He is called “Prince” because He rules over us, and the “Peace” describes the nature of His rule. And “of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end” (Isaiah 9:7).

 

This Child is Jesus, who is God in human flesh. That Baby who lived in Mary’s womb is God, the Creator of all things seen and unseen. That Baby Jesus had more power in His little finger than all the armies that have ever existed. Yet, Jesus chose to live a life of humility and service. He came so that He would be beaten and nailed to cross.

 

But why did it have to be this way? Isaiah gives us that answer: “He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). So, just as Isaiah speaks of the birth of Jesus, He also speaks of Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross.

 

But Jesus didn’t have to do this. He didn’t have to endure this shame and suffering. As God, He could have just made war with us and wiped us out and just started over. But He didn’t. He instead allowed us to wipe Him out with our sins that we might be saved from our war against God and be rescued from the punishment that we all deserve.

 

Listen to this good news:

“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person – though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die – but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His life”(Romans 5:6-10).

 

Jesus came down from heaven, was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary in order to die for us! He came to give us peace with God through His death! “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).

 

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, because of Jesus’ death and bodily resurrection, you are at peace with God!  You see, the war God could have justly waged against us, He instead waged against His Son, whom He punished in our place, so that through faith in Him we would be “justified,” that is “declared righteous” before God. The Prince of Peace has reconciled you to God. In Christ alone, your sins are forgiven. In Christ alone, you are no longer God’s enemy. In Christ alone, you live at peace with God.

 

On that first Christmas, the angels said to the shepherds, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased” (Luke 2:14). Do you want God’s peace? Then let His favor rest on you. Repent of your sin and trust in the Prince of Peace who died for your sin and reconciled you to God.

 

Maybe you know someone who is running from God by trying to find peace in his or her life of sin. Maybe that is you. Well, God doesn’t want you to be at war with Him and your neighbor. God wants His favor to rest on you so that you can receive peace from the Prince of Peace.

On this Christmas Eve, we are here to worship our Savior, the Prince of Peace, who came to give us peace with God. On this Christmas Eve, God’s favor rests on you as He calls you to repent of your sin and receive peace through faith in your Savior. I invite you to our Christmas Day service or to any Divine Service where our Prince of Peace gives us His own body and blood in the Lord’s Supper. In that Supper, He gives us Himself so we can know that we are at peace with God. So, come and join us tomorrow and each Sunday or Monday!

 

I have even more good news! You see that same Prince of Peace who has reconciled you to God has the power to heal those broken relationships you have with your neighbor. As the love and mercy of Christ fills your heart, your heart will be changed to show love and mercy to others – even forgiving those who have hurt you.

 

Because of Jesus – the Prince of Peace, we can begin to have peace on earth. Because of the Jesus, husbands and wives can begin to forgive, love, and serve each other. Because of the Jesus, parents and children can begin to forgive, love, and serve one another. Because of the Jesus, all who trust in Him can begin to forgive, love, and serve one another. There can be peace on earth only when we are at peace with God.

 

But as wonderful as that news is – and it is wonderful news, we must also remember that we will never have complete peace on earth until Jesus returns again in His glory. 

 

Despite this, we, who are in Christ, can still live in peace and have certain hope for the future! We can live in peace now knowing that our sins are forgiven and that we are reconciled to God through the Prince of Peace. We can also live with certain hope for the future because we know that the Prince of Peace will return. And on that Day, we, who are in Christ, will rest in God’s favor and be ushered into the new creation where we will live forever in perfect peace!

 

On this Christmas Eve, let God’s favor rest upon you and your homes, and keep the Prince of Peace the center of your marriages and families – and then you will experience the peace of God that passes all human understanding! Merry Christmas! Amen.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, 
keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.
+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +

"Wonderful Counselor" (Isaiah 9:6)

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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 to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor …” (Isaiah 9:6).

 

There are many prominent people who are known by their attributes. What I mean is that so many people are known by names that aren’t their actual name, but a name that describes their attributes.

 

When you hear “The Man in Black,” who do you think of? What about “The Piano Man”? What about “The Rock”? Each of these names describe attributes of singers Johny Cash and Billy Joel, and wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne Johnson.

 

These titles were given to these men in addition to their actual names because those titles describe something about themselves or their work.

 

About 2,000 years ago, a man named Joseph was about to cancel his wedding plans with his fiancée named Mary. He was distraught, because he found out that his future wife was already pregnant – and he knew that he was not the father.

 

Joseph could only assume that Mary had cheated on him. However, God sent an angel to Joseph to explain to him that she was still a virgin. The only reason Mary was pregnant was that the Holy Spirit had worked a miracle and conceived a child in her womb. This angel then said to Joseph: “She will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins”(Matthew 1:21).

 

The name “Jesus” is a Hebrew name that means “God saves” – an appropriate name for the Son of God who took on human flesh so that He could save us from our sin by dying on the cross in our place of punishment.

 

After Matthew recorded those words of the angel, we learned: “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord has spoken by the prophet: ‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call His name ‘Immanuel’ (which means, God with us)’” (Matthew 1:22-23).

 

These words that Matthew quoted were from the prophet Isaiah. By the Holy Spirit, Isaiah was able to prophesy that one day in the future a virgin would give birth to a son who would be called “Immanuel” – God with us.

 

Even though this Child’s actual name would be Jesus, He would be known by other titles that would describe something about His person or His work.

 

In our first reading from Isaiah 9, Isaiah gives us details about the Messiah who would be born of a virgin. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given … and His name shall be called …” (Isaiah 9:6). Isaiah says that this future child – the One born of the virgin who would be called “Immanuel” – this same Child would also be called by other titles!

 

“His Name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). This Child would not only be known as Jesus and Immanuel, but also four additional titles. Tonight, we will focus on that first title: “Wonderful Counselor.”

 

So, why “Wonderful Counselor”? Even before people understood Jesus was the Son of God, Jesus would amaze people with His wonderful teaching.

 

When Jesus was 12 years old, He was in Jerusalem teaching the teachers. We are told in Luke 2 that “all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers” (Luke 2:47). 

 

Years later, after Jesus began His public ministry, more and more people were amazed at His counsel. Following Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, we learned that “the crowds were astonished at His teaching, for He was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes”(Matthew 7:28-29).

 

Simply put, the people were amazed because Jesus taught them as though He was God Himself giving wonderful counsel to His own people.

 

In tonight’s Gospel reading, Jesus said: “Everyone then who hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock” (Matthew 7:24-27). 

 

After hearing Jesus say those words, some in the crowd may have recalled those words from Isaiah 26: “Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock” (Isaiah 26:4).

 

We all need the wonderful counsel of Jesus. As sinners, we are often misled by the cunning counsel of the evil one who works through unbelievers who despise the counsel of God. And as sinners, we are all tempted to listen to the foolish wisdom of the fallen world and ignore the wonderful counsel of Jesus.

 

Just such a tragedy happened in the days of Isaiah! God’s own people were listening to the counsel of unbelievers. Even many of the teachers of Israel were twisting God’s own Word and thereby giving evil counsel.

 

However, God preserved a few faithful men, such as Isaiah, and they preached and taught God’s Word in its truth and purity. Sadly though, many people in Isaiah’s day despised God’s wonderful counsel.

 

In fact, Scripture teaches us that unless the Holy Spirit gives us new hearts of faith that rejoice in God’s Word, we will see God’s Word as foolishness. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, St. Paul writes: “The word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing” (1 Corinthians 1:18) And: “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14).

 

Like the Israelites of Isaiah’s day, all of us here tonight are guilty of turning away from God’s wonderful counsel. We are guilty when we choose to skip the Divine Service. We are guilty when we choose to not be taught His Word through Bible study. In fact, we also sin even when we do hear and study God’s Word, but then doubt or question what God teaches us. We sin when our human reason trumps what God has spoken in His Word. We are all guilty of giving our attention to the foolish counsel of this fallen world while remaining ignorant or even defiant of God’s counsel of Law and Gospel.

 

But there is good news! “The people who walked in darkness – you and me – have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone” (Isaiah 9:2).

 

You see, God comes to us and speaks to us His wonderful counsel by which the Holy Spirit turns us away from the lies of the devil and gives us faith in the Gospel of Jesus! “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us – you and me – who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).

 

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, it is so important for us to hear, read, and study God’s Word. The Holy Spirit uses the Scriptures to convict us of sin, so that we might repent and put our faith in Jesus, who was born to save us from our sins. This same Holy Spirit uses God’s Word to cleanse our minds from the foolish counsel of this fallen world and replace it with the wonderful counsel of the Lord Jesus.

 

The book of Isaiah is full of God’s wonderful counsel. The prophet Isaiah tells us that God would give us a son – a child – to save us. He would be “pierced for our transgressions,” “crushed for our iniquities,” “upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed,” and “the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:5, 6).

 

The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us – you and me – who are being saved, it is the power of God! By the power of the Holy Spirit, we call Jesus our “Wonderful Counselor” because His Words are the Rock and Solid Foundation of our lives – now and for eternity!

 

Jesus – our Wonderful Counselor – loved you so much to be conceived in the womb of the virgin where His little hands and feet developed and grew so that they could one day be nailed to the cross where He would suffer and die for yours and my sins. Jesus – our Wonderful Counselor – conquered death for you by His bodily resurrection so that you can face death knowing that you have the hope of the resurrection of the body and eternal life in God’s love!

 

Now, we don’t rejoice in God’s wonderful counsel because it makes sense to our fallen human reason. We rejoice in God’s wonderful counsel because the Holy Spirit has given us faith to trust God’s Word even though His ways are not our ways.

 

The baby boy conceived in Mary’s womb was given the name Jesus because He is the eternal Son of God who would save us from our sins. But we don’t only call Him “Jesus.” We also call Him “Wonderful Counselor” – and we continue to be blessed by His wonderful counsel as we hear, read, study, believe, and trust His Word! Amen.

 

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, 
keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.
+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +

Sermon for Good Friday: "Experiencing Death - For You!" (Isaiah 52:12-53:12)

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:

“Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:4-5).

 

On Good Friday, we deal with death up close. We stand not beside a casket of a parent, grandparent, child, or another family member; we stand at the foot of the cross of Christ. Tonight, we experience the reality of death, His death. We realize that death does come close. Death comes close to each of us. Death is our enemy. 

 

Death would be cold and dark and empty, except that Jesus has come close to us and has faced death for us. His death changes our experience of death. Now, we stand before His cross and feel the impact of His love for us as He experienced death up close.

 

We are not immune to death. To live in this fallen world, we must face death. Death can be frightening. Sometimes death invades our lives with blazing speed. Sometimes death is slow and relentless as it stalks its target.

 

Death comes in many ways, but death still comes. It doesn’t always seem fair. Death can surprise and shock. Death can pierce like a knife. To be human after the Fall is to live a life that is fragile. Death comes close to us. And death would indeed leave us terrorized and empty, except for what took place today nearly 2,000 years ago. We call today Good Friday, because it was this day that Jesus experienced death – for us.

 

In this evening’s Old Testament lesson from Isaiah, the prophet paints a poetic picture of what Good Friday would be. Isaiah describes the Savior – the Suffering Servant – who would stand in our place and experience death up close. For fallen humanity, death is justice. Death is the verdict that fits the crime. We have disobeyed God’s commands through our thoughts, our speech, and our actions, and thus, we deserve the punishment that fits the crime: death. But for us and for our salvation, the Suffering Servant comes near. 

 

“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief … surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows … He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities … the LORD laid on Him the iniquity of us all … He was cut off out of the land of the living … and made His grave with the wicked” (Isaiah 53:3-9).

 

What a comfort it is that when we face danger, we have the Savior who seeks to come near! 

 

The greatest miracle of Jesus was His Incarnation. It was when God became man – Emmanuel. On Christmas, we rejoice at how much God the Father loves His creation, as God was born in human flesh. But the power of the Incarnation is not just that God became man to join us in this fallen world. No, the power of the Incarnation was so He would also join us in death. Jesus is no distant God, viewing our world from a heavenly palace. No, Jesus comes to be close to the pain. He comes to walk with us in our sorrow. He comes to carry us in our infirmities. He comes to be near to us in all that causes us heartache. He comes to be rejected by His own people as He suffers as an outcast. He comes to face it all with us.

 

The Suffering Servant knows death up close. He felt the bite of death. He winced at the piercing of the nails through His flesh and bones. He endured the taunting of the crowd and the unjust accusations. He didn’t simply view death from a casual distance. He was no simple spectator. He joined Himself to us and absorbed the blows of the hammer that should have been ours. In His death, He carried our sorrows. He came to the scene of our guilt. He stretched out His hands to receive our sin. He looked death in the eye. He left nothing undone. He said, “Tetelestai”: “It is finished” (John 19:30a). He tasted death. He “bowed His head and gave up His spirit” (John 19:30b). He died.

 

At the moment of His death, all was accomplished: The obligation paid. He closed the book on our failure. The debt was settled.

 

Tonight, we stand at the foot of the cross to view Christ the Crucified, our Savior. We experience death up close – the death of our Suffering Servant. But something has changed. In fact, because of Jesus, everything has changed. By grace through faith in Jesus, we can now look into the eyes of death and no longer see a conquering Satan but an enemy who is conquered. We can now see through the eyes of faith. Tonight is a sad day, but tonight is also a great day. Today is Good Friday. Today is the day of salvation! Salvation was won for you on Good Friday! 

 

Through Christ’s death, we can now find hope in sorrow. We have the Suffering Servant who experienced death – for you! 

 

As we experience death, it is great knowing that for those in Christ, you and me, death is not the end, but only serves as the portal to eternal life. Even in our pain and suffering, Jesus is near. In those moments, Jesus is bringing that peace that passes all human understanding. In Jesus Name. Amen.

 

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.  

+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +

Sermon for Lent 5: "The Son of Man Came to Serve You" (Mark 10:32-45)

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:] “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

 

Who here remembers those rubber bracelets from the 1990s? You know those rubber bracelets with those four letters: “WWJD,” which ask, “What would Jesus do?”

 

For a time, I wore one of those rubber bracelets. I thought they were cool. I thought they were hip. I wanted to be just like the crowd. And, whenever I looked down at my wrist, I was always reminded to ask myself, “What would Jesus do?”

 

As inspiring as those “WWJD” rubber bracelets were, there was a flaw. Now, the flaw was not in Jesus, so whatever Jesus would do would always be correct. No, the flaw is in us – you and me.

 

You see, whenever you think to yourself, “What would Jesus do?,” you are likely thinking the things of men; you are likely thinking of yourself. You are thinking from a self-centered point of view. Afterall, how many of us actually searched the Scriptures to find out what Jesus would do? So, of course, Jesus would do whatever you wanted to do. You are putting yourself in the stead of Jesus; you are putting yourself in the stead of almighty God Himself.

 

Just think about the Twelve Apostles. They are prime examples of self-centeredness, even when they were in the presence of God Himself. Earlier in Mark’s Gospel, we find them arguing amongst each other on who is the greatest. Jesus asked them, “‘What were you discussing on the way?’ But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. And [Jesus] sat down the Twelve and said to them, ‘If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all’” (Mark 9:33-35).

 

Later on, John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your Name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us” (Mark 9:38). To that, Jesus said to John, “Do not stop him … for the one who is not against us is for us” (Mark 9:39, 40). 

John was curved in upon himself. He thought only those among the Twelve could do awesome things in the Name of Jesus.

 

We have this attitude too. It’s only those who attend the right church that inherit the kingdom of God, right? I’ve heard that all my life. It’s only those LCMS Lutherans. It’s only those Roman Catholics. It’s only those in my denomination.

 

Normally we like to critique Simon Peter, but today it’s James and John’s turn for critique. It’s those sons of Zebedee who are desiring positions of glory in their Lord’s kingdom. They ask Jesus, “Grant us to sit, one at your right and one at your left, in your glory” (Mark 10:37). I can only imagine what the other apostles thought of that question. Peter could have looked over at his brother Andrew and each thought: “Why didn’t we think of that? And, really, this honor should go to us! Jesus called us first!”

 

Like the rest of us sinners, they craved attention and the recognition for their own accomplishments. Like children shoving their siblings out of the way, we want the important people in the world to take notice: “Hey, look at me!”

 

Like the apostles, we get caught up in ourselves. We stop seeing our neighbor as someone to serve and instead look inward and say, “What do I want?” This fractures us. Self-centeredness leads to feuds, divorce, and all other sorts of splinters.

 

So Jesus dismisses the request of James and John. Jesus says to them, “It’s not Mine to grant, but the Father’s. Those positions have already been filled.”

 

Jesus asks James and John: “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” (Mark 10:38) To this, they say: “We are able” (Mark 10:39).

 

It's this request to be Jesus’ right and left hands in His glory by James and John that leads Jesus to say: “For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

 

Now, James and John, as well as the rest of the apostles will drink from Christ’s cup. They will suffer for proclaiming Christ crucified for the forgiveness of sins. None of them would have the celebrity life of a televangelist, the fast cars, the luxury houses, the luxury jet; instead, they would be hated and reviled, stoned, stabbed, poisoned and crucified.

 

§  Did you know that you would be mercilessly ridiculed and derided by the fallen world when you were baptized? 

§  Did you know that when you confessed your Christian faith on your Confirmation Day that you said that you would rather die than to fall away from the one true Christian faith? 

§  Did you know that your confession of faith would exclude you from a fallen world of fleshly delight, from sexual immorality to elective abortion?

 

It's not easy when the tide of the fallen world turns against you, when those shouts of “Hosanna!”change to “Crucify Him!” It’s not easy when those around you pit you against “the science” or “tolerance.”

 

We certainly have our own bitter cups to drink from. It’s hard to choke down the dregs of illness and death, disappointment and heartache that can come from this life. It’s hard, but it’s not impossible. Even unbelievers experience suffering in this life, but we have something else. We have the promise.

 

The fallen world has its false gods of tolerance, fairness and being nice and living life to the fullest, but all that leads to is death. All the good deeds in this fallen world cannot keep us alive. All the tolerance and equity in this fallen world cannot forgive sins or take away your guilt. You will still suffer. You will still die.

 

Jesus is different. Jesus is the Lord of Life. Jesus offers up the cup of salvation. Jesus marches to the cross in order to save you, so He can serve you. Jesus enters Jerusalem to be the Suffering Servant who offers up the once-for-all sacrifice for your sins and for the sins of the whole world. God became man to be that sacrifice, for without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.

 

God became man for a single purpose: to be “wounded for our transgressions” and be “crushed for our iniquities” (Isaiah 53:5). Jesus comes in order to “bear the sin of many, and make intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12), because of Him will be laid “the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). This is the purpose of Jesus’ mission. He came to “give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

 

Besides the Suffering Servant of Isaiah, we have the Passover of Exodus 12. In the Passover, the lamb was killed – sacrificed – in the stead of the firstborn of the people of Israel, ensuring that the destroyer would “pass over” the people of God when the lamb’s blood was spread upon the lintel and the doorposts of their homes.

 

As with Christ, in His sacrifice, He endured the smiting and striking by God the Father as His blood was poured out for the multitudes, so that all who trust in Him would be saved from God’s wrath. To this, St. Paul writes, “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7b).

 

So, what would Jesus do? He suffers for you. He dies for you. He does this to save you from bondage. He does this to save you from your self-centeredness. He does this to save you from Satan’s accusations. He does this to save you from this fallen world.

 

Our self-centeredness does not want to deny yourself. Our self-centeredness wants to make yourself your own god.

 

But Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for you and for me wipes that away and causes us to not look inward, but outward, toward God and our neighbor. Jesus’ chief mission, His central issue, was to restore the relationship between God and man. In order to restore this relationship, the dividing wall must be destroyed – and this wall is sin. 

 

Jesus’ focus is the forgiveness of sins. He has come to serve and not to be served. He has come to serve you and He has come to serve me. For this reason, our church services are not called the worship service, but the “Divine Service.” This comes from the German word “Gottesdienst,” which means “service of God.”

This church service is called “Divine Service” because God continues to serve us to this day. He serves us with His Means of Grace – His Word and Sacraments, which give us the forgiveness of sins that Christ won for us upon the cross as our Suffering Servant.

 

So, what would Jesus do? He would suffer. So, we must be prepared to suffer. But He also gives us the fruit from His cup. He has taken away the sin and punishment from you so that the cup you drink at this altar is only His blood, shed for you for the forgiveness of sins, for your salvation and your eternal life.

 

The Son of Man came to serve. He came to serve you! Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus serves you His Means of Grace so He can sustain you to life everlasting. Amen.

 

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.  

+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +