"Receiving What's Needed" (John 21:1-19)

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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 [Peter], ‘Feed My sheep’” (John 21:17).

 

Have you ever thought, “I don’t know if my sins are forgiven by God, because I don’t feel like I’m forgiven”? Have you thought, “I don’t think my sin is even forgivable.” Well, if you have thought that, you are not alone.

 

As soon as the rooster crowed on that Maundy Thursday, Peter wept bitterly. He betrayed Jesus after He said to Him that that He would never betray Him. His heart was broken. 

 

On that Easter evening, Jesus appeared to the apostles in the barred-shut upper room. There, Jesus said, “Peace be with you” to Peter and the other unbelieving apostles. Jesus said, “Peace be with you” three times to His unbelieving apostles.

 

Through those words, Jesus forgave His unbelieving apostles and restored them to faith. Jesus reconciled them through corporate confession and absolution.

 

It is as if Jesus said what I say to you following our confession of sins: “Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” To which, we reply: “Amen” – this is most certainly true.

 

But Peter thought his sin against Jesus was just too large to be forgiven. Afterall, he said to Jesus, “‘Even though they all fall away, I will not.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.’ But [Peter] said emphatically, ‘If I must die with you, I will not deny you’ And they all said the same” (Mark 14:29-33).

 

They all denied Jesus that night. They all joined the ranks of unbelievers. 

 

But on that Easter evening, and eight days later, all the apostles felt the forgiveness given by Jesus by His words, “Peace be with you,” all, except for Peter.

 

This leads us to today’s Gospel lesson. Today, Simon Peter says to his fellow apostles, “I am going fishing” (John 21:3). And to his comment, many of his fellow apostles join him. So, they went to the Sea of Tiberias, got out into the boat, and caught nothing. What a bummer. Expert fishermen catching not a single fish.

 

But just as they are about to give up, a voice calls out to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” (John 21:5). They answered truthfully, saying, “No.”

 

The voice calls out to them again, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some” (John 21:6).

 

And so, they did, and they didn’t just find some, they found a plenty. They hauled in 153 large fish without breaking the net.

 

As soon as the fish began filling the net, John says to Peter, “It is the Lord!” (John 21:7). At once, Peter puts on his outer garment and throws himself into the sea. The other apostles followed Peter in the boat, pulling and tugging the net full of fish to the shore.

Now, this wasn’t the first time the apostles were involved in a miraculous catch of fish. Do you recall the last time? Last time this happened, Peter fell down at Jesus’ knees and said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Luke 5:8). That was before Peter was called by Jesus to be His disciple. Now, that was the natural reaction of a man who had not yet seen the cross. You see, without the forgiveness of sins, we could never be in God’s presence. In fact, we would never want to be, since by nature, we are all enemies of God.

 

But this time is different. Instead of telling Jesus to depart from him, Peter instead jumps into the water. He couldn’t wait any longer. He had to be near Jesus! Now, this is the natural reaction of Christians who believe in forgiveness, life and salvation won by Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!

 

You see, believing in the crucified and risen Christ creates in us a completely new nature. Believing in the crucified and risen Christ gives us the certainty of eternal life!

 

Last time when Jesus performed the miracle of the large catch of fish, He said to His first disciples, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men” (Luke 5:10).

 

Do you suppose that Peter and Andrew and James and John, who were at that first miraculous catch of fish, recalled that previous catch of fish?

 

Now, this new miraculous catch of fish is not the point of today’s Gospel reading. And the point is not just to report another resurrection appearance of Jesus. The real point is that this is an intentional reminder of what follows after people have seen the risen Christ and believed in Him, which is forgiveness of sins.

 

When they all got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire, and fish laid out on it, and bread. Jesus prepared the meal. 

 

But knowing that not all of His apostles felt forgiven, Jesus pulls Peter aside after breakfast and says, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord; you know that I love You.” “Feed My lambs.”

 

Then Jesus said a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” “Tend My sheep.”

 

Then Jesus said to Peter a third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” To this Peter was grieved and said, “Lord, You know everything; You know that I love you.” “Feed My sheep.”

 

Sometimes, we don’t feel the forgiveness given by God in corporate confession and absolution. You, like Peter, may still feel guilty. So, this is why Jesus also gives us the gift of individual confession and absolution.

 

You may think that only Roman Catholics offer individual confession and absolution, but there, you’d be wrong. Individual confession and absolution may not be a popular practice, but this is still a practice among Lutherans. 

 

We are all burdened by sin. Peter was certainly burdened with his sin. So, when you feel that burden pressing against your conscience, come and see me. And when you are ready, I may hear your confession, so that you can be sure of God’s forgiveness.

 

On page 292 in the Lutheran Service Book is the rite of Individual Confession and Absolution. There you will see that confessing your sins to me individually is not as scary as you may have thought. Sometimes, we all need the personal assurance that your sin is forgiven. This is what Peter needed from Jesus. This is what you may need as well. My office is always open.

 

Peter received from Jesus what He needed. He received the forgiveness that he so longed for. 

 

And now that all the apostles have received forgiveness, they are all now ready to do what they were called to do: spread the good news of the gospel – the forgiveness of sins won by Jesus and given by Jesus!

 

Through Holy Baptism, the Holy Spirit gave you faith to believe in Jesus as your Lord and Savior. He gave you the strength to come to Jesus as He called you by the Gospel and enlightened you with His gifts, sanctified and kept you in the one truth faith through His Means of Grace, His Word and Sacraments.

 

Jesus knows that as His followers, you will face attacks from your sinful flesh, the fallen world and Satan himself, so to keep us strong in the one true Christian faith, He has given us the gift of forgiveness of sins through corporate and individual confession and absolution – just as He did for Peter and his fellow apostles. Christ says to you: “Peace be with you” and “Follow Me.”

 

Christ continues to forgive and renew us through His Word and Sacraments. He strengthens us through a meal as He did for His apostles on the shore. Today, receive His forgiveness through His body and blood under bread and wine for you.

 

Each Lord’s Day, Jesus proclaims your forgiveness, so that we, too, through the work of the Holy Spirit, may spread this Gospel message to those who need to hear it most. We are people who are loved and forgiven by God, so let us spread this good news! Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia! 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 Pentecost 4: "Acknowledging Christ Before Men" (Matthew 10:5a, 21-33)

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, “So everyone who acknowledges Me before men, I will also acknowledge before My Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32-33).

 

In last week’s Gospel lesson, Jesus sent out His apostles into a hostile world to proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is at hand. In preparation for today’s words, Jesus makes it clear that because of their proclamation, the apostles will be persecuted and hated. But Jesus doesn’t just leave them there. If He would, who would want to be a follower of Christ if all that happened is that you would be persecuted and hated by all?

 

So, Jesus continues today as He encourages His apostles. And what Jesus says to them, He also says to us, because being a follower of Christ is not easy, despite what some may say. Because of our association and faith in Christ, there is no neutral ground, but only a hostile world. We see division among our families. We face rejection and persecution, which will not end until Christ returns. As Christ’s disciples, we expect to be like Him, including the opposition that He faced during His earthly ministry. But all the while, Jesus encourages us to acknowledge Him before men, promising that He will acknowledge us before the Father.

 

But what does it mean to truly acknowledge Jesus? I acknowledge my neighbor by tipping my hat to him, or by waving to him when I pass by in the car. Is that what Jesus means? Does He mean that I must notice Him?

 

In the WWE today, there is a wrestler named Roman Reigns who begs the crowd each week saying, “Acknowledge me!” Week after week, Reigns just wants to be honored for his accomplishments, as he has defeated every challenger along the way to being the Undisputed WWE Universal World Heavyweight Champion for more than 1,000 days.  As he speaks, “Acknowledge me,” the crowds erupt to cheers and boos. Is Jesus begging us to notice Him?

 

What does Jesus mean when He says, “Everyone who acknowledges Me before men”? Well, first off, the word “acknowledge” used here from the ESV is rather weak. That word comes from the Greek word “homologeō,” which means “to confess one’s faith, declare publicly, or acknowledge.” Acknowledge works, but “to confess” is much stronger. In fact, traditionally the word “confess” was used here. And this is where we get the word for those who suffered for the faith known as “confessors.” They all may not have died a martyr’s death, but they all suffered for their Lord by refusing to deny Him.

 

But one thing to further note here is that Jesus is not advocating a theology of “scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.” What Jesus is saying here is a gracious promise, but is also a stern warning.

 

Jesus says, “A disciple is not above His teacher, nor a servant above his master” (Matthew 10:24). So, we confess that Jesus is our Lord and Master. We don’t actively ignore Him and His Word. We follow Him and His Word.

 

So, what are we confessing about Jesus? Are we confessing that Jesus was just a great moral teacher? Are we confessing that Jesus’ life was a great example in showing how we are to live and die? No, what we confess is the whole Christ as is proclaimed in the Scriptures. This is why it is so important that we recite the Creeds in the Divine Service. We confess that Jesus is truly and fully God and Man. We confess that Jesus is the Creator of heaven and earth. We confess that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and was born of the virgin Mary. We confess that Jesus is our redeemer and Savior who suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. We confess that Jesus rose again from the dead, ascended into heaven, and that He has all power and all authority. We confess that Jesus will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead.

 

So, what are we afraid of? Why are we not shouting the one true Christian faith from the housetops? Why are we so often tempted to shrink back from our Lord and deny Him?

 

Jesus says, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). In the Creeds, which are all found in the Scriptures, we confess that the Triune God – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – is mightier than all of our enemies – human and demonic combined. 

 

So, why is it that we so often tend to fear people and their reactions so much, and we tend to fear God too little? We all need to hear Jesus tell us that “even the hairs on your head are all numbered” (Matthew 10:30). We need to hear how God preserves us and takes us to life eternal by confessing Him to men.

 

Now, you may be saying to yourself, “Am I doomed? As much as I want to tell others about Christ, I keep my mouth shut, since I’m afraid of what others may say about me.” Well, you are not doomed. God forgives your sins, including the failure to confess Christ boldly to others through words and deeds. Through His Holy Spirit, God renews our faith, so that we are granted greater courage.

 

Just look at the Apostle Peter. On the night of the arrest of Jesus, Jesus said to Peter, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times” (Matthew 26:34). To that statement, Peter responded, “‘Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!’ And all the disciples did the same” (Matthew 26:35).

 

As Jesus stood before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin, Peter was outside in the courtyard warming his hands over a fire while a servant girl came up to him and said, “‘You also were with Jesus the Galilean’” (Matthew 26:69). Three times, Peter denied knowing Jesus as he said, “I do not know what you mean” (Matthew 26:70), “I do not know the man” (Matthew 26:72), and then he swore again saying, “I do not know the man” (Matthew 26:74). Peter denied Jesus before men. And his denial was extremely serious as he not only abandoned his faith, but he also publicly renounced his faith. As that rooster crowed, Peter was completely miserable. He knew what he had done and what his denials meant.

 

For each of those three denials, following His death and bodily resurrection, Christ forgave Peter. He forgave Peter in the locked upper room and for added comfort, He forgave Peter again following the miraculous catch of 153 large fish from the Sea of Tiberias saying three times, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me” (John 21:15-17). Jesus concluded saying to Peter, “Follow Me” (John 21:19).

 

Jesus uses the examples of sparrows and hairs on our head to demonstrate the enormity of God’s love for us. This love was most powerfully demonstrated when the Father sent His only begotten Son. Christ Jesus fearlessly and loudly proclaimed the kingdom of God, despite insults and taunts. He worked and spoke as long as there was daylight. He courageously walked to Calvary, where His body was nailed to the cross – as were our sins. The One who judges justly raised Him to life again. Christ now has the keys of death and hell, and has opened heaven’s gates for us.

Now, don’t think, “Whoever once denies Me before men,” but “Whoever persists in denying Me before men.” So, the only people who will be denied by Jesus are those who publicly persist in denying Him as Master and Lord. To deny Jesus is to persist in rejecting Him as “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6) who brings us to God the Father.

 

So, if Peter can be forgiven for denying Jesus, so can you! Remember what we also confessed this morning? “If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with You there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared” (Psalm 130:3-4). In our pious fear and faith, Christ gives us courage through His Means of Grace in that He alone has the power to forgive our sins, so that we can confess Him before men as the only Savior of the world! 

 

Being forgiven, Peter went on to confidently confess Jesus before all men, saying, “Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified” (Acts 2:36). Despite his suffering, he no longer feared men. He knew that it was foolish to be afraid of men. He knew that the world and its prince Satan is not the judge. He trusted in Jesus, who is the only One who can cast both soul and body into hell. He trusted that Jesus would confess him, just as Jesus confesses all who acknowledge Him in heaven before the Father, the Church Triumphant, and the angels.

 

Isn’t it amazing that Jesus would – and He does – speak of you before the Father? He preaches of everyone who confesses Him as Lord and Christ.

 

Sometimes confessing our Lord before other people does complicate things. People may ridicule us as Christians, avoid us, and even harm us. But thanks be to God, that when we confess Him, He also confesses us, this Jesus who has rescued us from the powers of sin, eternal death, and Satan. Christ protects us in this world that attempts to destroy us, but it can’t, since we confess Jesus as our Savior, God, and Lord. 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 Easter 3: "Forgiven and Sent" (John 21:1-19)

 

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:

[Intro]

Last week’s Gospel text seemed to be the perfect ending. Jesus appeared to His apostles – first without, then with, Thomas. Through Him saying, “Peace be with you” (John 20:19, 21, 26), Jesus gave all of them the peace of forgiveness of sins.

And Christ’s apostles needed the peace of forgiveness. You see, immediately after Jesus was betrayed by Judas Iscariot and taken into custody where He would eventually suffer and die, what happened? Each apostle ran away in fear. They all scattered like sheep without a shepherd. Peter, who was the de facto leader of the Twelve, when asked if he was a disciple of Jesus on three separate occasions on that Maundy Thursday evening, said: “I am not” (John 18:17) as he stood warming himself over a charcoal fire. Upon that third time, “at once a rooster crowed” (John 18:27). Then Peter remembered Jesus’ saying: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times” (Matthew 26:75). At once, Peter wept bitterly.

But what about the other apostles? Well, they, too feared the Jewish authorities. They – with Peter – believed that they would be next to be arrested and later face death. They were scared for their lives. They truly believed that Jesus was more than a miracle worker. They believed that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah. But now, Jesus is dead. All was lost. They believed that the last three years following Jesus was just a big mistake.

Yes, Peter and John saw the empty tomb on that Easter morning, but they still didn’t understand the Scripture “that He must rise from the dead” (John 20:9) as they were slow to believe.

But Mary Magdalene remained at the empty tomb as she wept believing that someone had stolen the body of Jesus. But as she wept, Jesus appears to her. Then in resurrection joy, Mary announces to the apostles, “I have seen the Lord” (John 20:18) and that He will soon see His apostles in Galilee (Matthew 28:10).

But even as they were slow to believe, that evening despite the doors being locked, Jesus stood among to His apostles – with the exception of Thomas – and before any of them could say a word, Jesus spoke, “Peace be with you” (John 20:19). He immediately showed them His hands and His side. For a second time, Jesus says: “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, even so I am sending you” (John 20:21). Here, again, Jesus forgives them of their sins and He renews their commissioning as His apostles.

A week later, after first scoffing at the idea that Jesus is risen from the dead and with the doors being locked, Jesus again stands again among His apostles and immediately says, “Peace be with you” (John 20:26). Just like the week earlier, Thomas does not get a chance to speak, as Jesus forgives Thomas, and forgives the other apostles a third time.

Thomas believed as saw and felt Jesus’ wounds as he confessed: “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28).

What a great way to end the Gospel! The apostles have all seen Jesus! Jesus is alive! Christ is risen! [He is risen indeed! Alleluia!] This is the perfect ending: “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:30-31).

But that wasn’t the end. Curiously enough, there is one more chapter in John’s Gospel, which is our text for today, the Third Sunday of Easter.

[Jesus Appears to the Seven]

Remember the word from the women announcing to the apostles that Jesus would meet them in Galilee? Well, after Jesus left the locked room, the apostles made their way to Galilee. Why seven of the eleven apostles were present, we do not know, but surely these seven would tell the others of what would happen this day along the Sea of Tiberias, also known as the Sea of Galilee.

But before anything would happen this day. These seven apostles would wait. It may have been hours or days, since Jesus did not reveal the exact time He would make His appearance.

For Peter, this was hard. He was not the type of man to just sit and wait. He was a man of action! So, Peter says, “I am going fishing” (John 21:3) and the others reply, “We will go with you.” It was only natural for them to turn to fishing, since they were fishermen by trade. Afterall, it was against Peter’s nature just to sit. He wants to do something.

But what happens? “They caught nothing” (John 21:3). We’ve all been there. Sitting in the boat all day and not a single bite. But the apostles were not amateur fishermen. They knew what they were doing. They knew the tricks of the trade.

But early in the morning, a voice calls out to them, saying, “Children, do you have any fish?” (John 21:5). They answer, “No!” Then the voice says, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some” (John 21:6). At once the net was filled with a large number of fish, so many that they were tugging and pulling at the net with all their might as they couldn’t haul it into the boat. Something miraculous had just happened.

This sounds familiar. Didn’t this happen before? Remember when Jesus enabled His disciples to catch a net full of fish after they had fished all night and caught nothing? Last time, Peter certainly acted differently. On this day, John said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” (John 21:7) Immediately, Peter puts on his outer garment and throw himself into the sea. The other apostles followed in the boat, pulling and tugging the large catch of fish to the shore. But what did Peter do the last time Jesus enabled them to make a great catch? He fell down at Jesus’ knees, and said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Luke 5:8). Now, that was the natural reaction of a man who had not yet seen the cross. You see, without the forgiveness of sins, we would never be in God’s presence. In fact, we wouldn’t want to be. By nature, we are enemies of God.

But how different it is this time! Peter jumps into the water. He can’t wait to be near Jesus! Now, this is the natural reaction of those who have believed in the cross and the resurrection! By this time, the Resurrection has happened. Christ is risen! [He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!] You see, believing in the crucified and risen Christ creates a completely new nature. The new person knows and believes that he has the certainty of eternal life, so he is eager to do something for Christ.

So, what are Peter and the other apostles going to do? Well, what comes naturally! Remember the last time Jesus enabled them to catch all those fish? What did Jesus say? “From now on you will be catching men” (Luke 5:10).

From now on, they would be fishers of men. Do you suppose the apostles thought back to that previous time? Did you recall that previous catch of fish?

This is likely why the Holy Spirit inspired John to record this particular miracle. This is not just another resurrection appearance of Jesus. It is another intentional reminder of what follows after people have seen the risen Christ, believed in Him, and have received forgiveness of sins.

[Forgiven]

As Christ gives us the urge to do what we naturally want to do by spreading the good news of forgiveness of sins to others, sometimes our past sins and failures make us feel unworthy to serve God. If you have ever felt this way, you are not alone. Remember, when Jesus stood in that locked room with His apostles? What did He say to them? He said, “Peace be with you.” There, He corporately forgave His apostles’ sins. Now, this is what happens each Sunday morning as we begin the Divine Service by confessing our sins. Then we hear these words: “Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” At that moment, your sins of thought, word, and deed are wiped away by God. You are forgiven!

But how often have you thought, “Am I really forgiven?” “I don’t feel forgiven.” “Is what I have done, even forgivable?” Well, if you have thought that – you are not alone.

As soon as that rooster crowed, Peter wept bitterly. Since that night when Peter denied Jesus three times, he was forgiven three times in that locked room. He was indeed reconciled to God. But Peter’s heart remained broken. After his great fall, Peter needed further assurance of his forgiveness. On that Maundy Thursday evening, Peter warmed his hands over a charcoal fire, but on this day, Jesus prepares breakfast over a charcoal fire.

There, on the shore, Jesus has prepared a charcoal fire with fish laid out on it, and bread. The table is ready, and Jesus is the host of the meal. They are fed with bread and fish provided in advance by the Lord. Later, Jesus says, “Bring some of the fish that you have caught” (John 21:10). This was Christ’s miracle. So, when the fish come in, it is the Lord’s doing, even when we carry out His commands. The net may be strained to the breaking point, but when casting out the Gospel net, the apostles are assured of success, no matter what experience or reason may say to the contrary.

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus, as the all-knowing Savior full of compassion, pulled Peter aside and spoke the word of full absolution to him that brought the peace of forgiveness of sins to his troubled heart. Jesus said, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” (John 21:15). Peter replies, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you” (John 21:15). After two more questions, Peter realizes what this is all about. Here, Jesus individually absolves Peter three times to again forgive his denial of Him, so that Peter would be among one of those fishers of men.

Now, all the apostles are ready to do what they were called to do: spread the good news of the gospel – the forgiveness of sins!

[Sent]

We, too, are forgiven, renewed, and sent by Jesus! Through Holy Baptism, our sins are forgiven as the Holy Spirit unites us to Jesus by giving us faith. Baptism is the crucial entry point, and this Sacrament establishes the ongoing connection with Jesus’ death and bodily resurrection, as well as with the Father and the Holy Spirit. But the Triune God doesn’t stop there!

He knows that Satan, the world, and our sinful nature constantly attack us. So, He reminds us of our Baptism as He forgives our sins through corporate and individual confession and absolution – just as He did for Peter and his fellow apostles. Christ says to us: “Peace be with you” … “Follow Me” as our sins are forgiven. Is that the end? No!

Christ continues to forgive and renew us through hearing His saving Word and in receiving the meal of His very Body and Blood where we see, touch, and taste Jesus under the bread and wine for our forgiveness and to strengthen our faith in Him. Just as He did for His apostles on the shore, He does for us here in the Divine Service!

Christ does all of this in order to send us into the mission field as His fishers of men!

From the earliest years of John’s Gospel, there have been questions on why the Holy Spirit inspired John to record the exact number of fish – 153 of them. Why so exact? Well, one idea is that the ancient world believed that there were 153 kinds of fish in the seas. So, could this be John reminding us that we are to go to every tribe and nation with the saving Gospel, to bring all nations into God’s net? Also, the net wasn’t torn. Perhaps this is a reminder that no believer will break from God’s net; none will be lost.

The apostles that day didn’t plan to catch exactly 153 fish. And on their own, they couldn’t catch any! But planning how many fish we are going to catch is not something we need to worry about. We just go about our business – fishing: because we are fishers of men. We share Christ’s love because we can’t be silent as Easter people. We are people who are loved and forgiven by God. We do this because it comes naturally, because Christ is risen! [He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!]

You see, new Christians are not made by brilliant theories or slick programs. New Christians just happen naturally as we seize the opportunities that God provides. We all have friends who are hurting. We do have family and friends we can invite to church. In fact, we daily testify to Christ in how we naturally go about life in our various vocations, such as employee, student, child, brother, sister, father, and mother. Now, we may not consider ourselves to be evangelists, but we all are.

Jesus is the source of the mission, and He continues to feed us through His Word and Sacrament as He fortifies our faith, just as He has fortified Peter and the other apostles as we too are forgiven and sent as His resurrection people! Christ is risen! [He is risen, indeed. Alleluia!] 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: "Do You Know What You Are Asking?"

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:

[Intro]

Have you ever volunteered for something before you knew all of the specifics? I have, and likely you have too. We say, “Sure, I’ll do it. When do you need me?” “Now.” We often find ourselves caught in situations such as this, because we jump in before we know what we are getting ourselves into.

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, volunteered before they knew all of the specifics. In fact, they volunteered before even the question occurred. James and John asked Jesus: “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory” (Mark 10:37). Jesus replied to them saying, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” (Mark 10:38). Promptly they said to Jesus: “We are able” (Mark 10:39a).

This seems out-of-character for James and John. We would think that this is something that Peter would ask, since he usually finds himself in a situation like this. But, this is James and John. Keep in mind, this is the same John that Jesus calls “the disciple whom He loved” (John 19:26; John 21:7). This is the same John — who with the Holy Spirit’s inspiration —wrote the Gospel of John, the Epistles of John, and Revelation.

Now, do James and John know what they are asking Jesus? Has this occurred to them? And for us, are we sure we are able?

[Jesus’ Cup and Baptism]

Like James and John, we don’t always know what we are volunteering for. Jesus will drink from this cup and be baptized, but this cup and this baptism that Jesus is referring to is not what James and John likely had in mind. And frankly, us too.

Jesus will not be drinking wine from this cup. Instead, this cup is the cup of rejection. This cup is the cup of suffering. This is the cup of death filled with the sin of the entire world. Jesus would drink from this cup not because it is tasty, but because it was the will of His Father. This cup is enduring God’s judgment upon the sin of the entire world that only Jesus as the Son of God is able to endure.

Likewise, Jesus tells of a baptism that He will soon be baptized. Now, this baptism may not be what you expect either. This baptism is not a “ritual washing,” like that of John the Baptist. This is not a “baptism of repentance.” This baptism is not a washing from sin. Instead, this baptism signifies only death.

This has been planned by God from the very beginning, since He foreknew Adam and Eve’s fall into sin. And since Adam and Eve fell into sin, all of their descendants —you and me — have done the same. We, like sheep, have gone astray. For this reason, Jesus’ ministry began with a sinners’ baptism in the Jordan River where He placed Himself under God’s wrath on behalf of all humanity. And Jesus completes His ministry with a bloody “baptism” on the cross, where the full wrath of God is placed upon Him as He atones for all sin (1 John 5:6-8).

So ever since His Incarnation — when God became man — Jesus has been on a death march. This is His purpose. This is what He came to do. Now, His disciples did not quite understand this as of yet, but they will follow their Lord on this journey to the cross.

This march toward Calvary began in Bethlehem, continued to the Jordan River, and finishes in Jerusalem, where Jesus would be condemned and delivered up to the chief priests and the scribes, who would deliver Him to the Gentiles, where He will be mocked, spit upon, flogged, and killed, and where He will rise again.

This is just as Jesus said would happen. In fact, in Mark’s gospel, Jesus predicts His death three times. This third time, Jesus is the most specific and this is what we heard today.

Now, this is not what the disciples wanted to hear. For them — and us — success and glory do not look like a dead man on a cross. This looks more like failure than anything. So, how can humiliation and death have anything to do with God’s restoring His kingdom?

James and John were no different than the other disciples, since they were all more interested in their future careers of presumed earthly glory. For James and John, they must have figured that they were special already. They were two of the first four disciples called by Jesus. They were among the inner circle of the Twelve. After all, they were invited to events that not all of the disciples witnessed. They were invited to the transfiguration, along with Peter. But, they wanted to get the jump on Peter and the rest. They assumed that since there is only a right hand and a left hand, they would volunteer for those positions, before anyone else tried.

This seems so underhanded, since elbowing your way to the top is hardly loving your neighbor. And when the other disciples heard of this, they were upset. But, likely their anger and annoyance was only because they didn’t have the idea to ask Jesus first. So, like children shoving their brothers and sisters out of the way, the disciples, too, wanted to be noticed.

What the disciples didn’t know is that these positions were already filled. God the Father had already made those choices and they were filled by criminals who would be nailed to the cross to the right and to the left of Jesus.

[Our Cup and Our Baptism]

We are all not immune to this. Our sinful nature often leads us to be selfish and leads us to think that we need the glory and we need the power. And even if we do not want to be in charge, we often do want to have input, and we definitely do not want to be ignored and treated like we do not really matter.

Like the disciples, we get caught up in ourselves. We stop looking at our neighbor as someone to serve, and instead look inside and say, “What do I want?” So, our families and friends become fractured and split. Husbands and wives divorce. Children and parents stop talking to one another.

This is not how God created it to be. “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve” (Mark 10:45).

So, Jesus dismissed the request of James and John. After all, this is not His to grant, but the Father’s. However, they will all drink the cup that Jesus would drink. They would all suffer for proclaiming Christ crucified for the forgiveness of sins. 

For the disciples, none of them would have a celebrity life. Instead, they were often hated and reviled, stoned, stabbed, and crucified. They would all drink from the cup of suffering. They would all face the prospect of a bloody baptism. James would be beheaded by Herod Agrippa (Acts 12:1-2). John would survive an attempted assassination with poisoned wine. Although John would die, but in exile for daring to preach Christ crucified and risen.

Jesus indeed warned them and us: “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” (Mark 10:38).

Within our own families and friends, how many of us avoid talking about Jesus in fear that by doing so, we could cause conflict? We often try to avoid hostility, but we will all experience it as a consequence of our baptismal incorporation into Christ as Jesus teaches us in John 15:18-25. So, if the world persecuted Jesus during His earthly ministry, the world will persecute Christ’s followers. You see, opposition to Jesus will split families and friends. But even if we are forsaken and persecuted by the ones we love, Christians are all part of the family of God through the new kinship of all who hear the Word of Jesus.

Did James and John know the hostility with which they would be received? Did they know that they and future followers of Jesus would be beheaded, burned alive, tortured, and drowned for taking up their cross?

Did you know that you would be mercilessly ridiculed and derided by the sinful world when you were baptized? Did you know that when you were confirmed in the one true Christian faith? Did you know that’s what you said when you stood up here and said that you would rather die than fall away from the faith?

It’s not easy when the tide of opinion turns against you, when the shouts of “Hosanna!” change to “Crucify!” It’s not easy when those around you pit you against “science” or “fairness.”

[Jesus Serves Us Through His Love]

We certainly have our own bitter cup to drink from. It’s hard to drink the suffering and death, the disappointment and heartache that can come with this life. It’s hard, but this is not impossible. Even unbelievers experience suffering in this life. But we — as followers of Christ — have something else. We have the promise. We have the covenant. We have the new covenant!

The world has its false gods of fairness and being nice and living life to its “fullest.” But all that leads only to eternal death. All the good deeds in the world cannot keep us alive. All the fairness and equality in the world cannot forgive our sins. Fairness and equality cannot take away our sin and guilt. We will still suffer. We will still die.

Jesus is different. Jesus is life. He offers us all the cup of salvation. He baptizes us into His household. Our Father in heaven sent His only begotten Son so that whoever believes in Him would not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16).

Jesus marches on to the cross to save you, in order to serve you. Jesus enters into Jerusalem in order to be the High Priest who offers up the once-for-all sacrifice for your sins and the sins of the whole world. Jesus was born into this world to be that sacrifice, for without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.

On the cross, Jesus drinks the cup of God’s wrathful judgment against sin, and Jesus has done so in the place of all people. This is the true glory of Jesus!

Our song is love unknown because we cannot fathom that kind of sacrifice. We cannot fathom the boundless love for you that loves to the point of suffering God’s wrath for our sin — all the sin of the world, focused on one, poor, frail, broken human body. Mocked, spit upon, flogged; nailed to a cross; lifted up and gasping for breath. Unfairly, undeservedly, and willingly.

Are you able to be baptized into the Baptism with which Jesus is baptized? I hope so. The hymn God’s Own Child, I Gladly Say It proclaims our baptism into Christ’s death as we earlier sung:

Sin, disturb my soul no longer:

I am baptized into Christ!

I have comfort even stronger:

Jesus’ cleansing sacrifice.

Should a guilty conscience seize me

Since my Baptism did release me

In a dear forgiving flood,

Sprinkling me with Jesus’ blood? (LSB 594, stanza 2)

In your baptism into Christ, you were baptized into His death, killing your sinful flesh. We are indeed set free from Satan’s bondage and all enemy forces under his control. And that Baptism baptizes you also into His resurrection from the dead, giving you new, bodily life in heaven.

Are you able to drink the cup that Jesus drinks? I hope so. He has taken away the sin and the punishment from you so that the cup that you drink at this altar is only His blood, shed for you for the forgiveness of sins, for your salvation and eternal life.

By grace through faith in Jesus Christ, He comes to you by these means — not to lord it over you, but to serve you as He continues to do at each Divine Service through His Means of Grace in Word and Sacrament. And by the power of the Holy Spirit, you are brought to faith and sustained in it — not to lord it over one another, but to serve.

There is no other person like Jesus. No other person loves the way Jesus loves you and this is the place where you receive this love through His Word and Sacrament. We receive His grace in the cup, in the font, and in His promise. As we make our way through the sufferings of this life, Christ sustains you. He will lead you to paths of righteousness and holiness. He has already accomplished salvation for you, just as He promised. Amen.

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

T SOLI DEO GLORIA T

How are You Being Fed?

By Pastor Peter Adelsen
First Ev. Lutheran Church, Glencoe

McLeod County Chronicle's Pastor's Corner

“[Jesus] said to [Peter] the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ and he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep’” (John 21:17).

Today, the sheep are worried and frightened. The network evening news leads each broadcast with these similar words: “Crisis in America. Hospitals over-run in New York City. Violence in Chicago. Racism in Minneapolis. The Climate in Crisis.” The network news leads each story this way to get us to worry and keep watching.  Who is to blame? Are we to blame for all these problems and countless other problems? Well, not exactly. The one to blame is Satan himself, who convinced Adam to sin in the Garden. From that moment, we, who are descendants of Adam have become dead in our sin. Sin is the root cause of every problem in the world. Instead of being content in peace, we are attracted to all sorts and kinds of sin. One of those sins is worry.

The duty of news is to cause us to worry. Why would they do this? From my experience in my previous career as a journalist, they do this for ratings, clicks, sales, and advertising revenue. You see, as long as people are scared enough to watch, listen, or read, they are included in the ratings, clicks, and sales. Due to our sin, bad news attracts our attention. Good news is just ignored.

Instead of the constant crisis and fear, we need hope and assurance! We need the power of sin defeated! We need life! This hope, assurance, sin’s defeat, and eternal life can only be found in Jesus! Now, where is the place where this happens? It is the Church, as we are among fellow believers in Christ and hear Christ’s doctrine rightly taught. Yes, we can read about Jesus at home in your Bible, but it is only in God’s House where we receive His forgiveness as we confess our sins and fears to God the Father and receive Christ’s true Body and Blood for the forgiveness of our sins. In response, God the Father removes those sins and doubts through the merit and work of His only Son Jesus Christ. It is only through the Church and through the stead of Christ’s pastors that the sheep are fed with the sure and certain hope that Christ alone gives: forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and salvation.

Christ reassures us saying: “Which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?” (Matthew 6:27) So, why worry? Christ is with us always! In our life now, we will experience persecution, pain, sorrow, and heartache. Did Christ promise that His followers would have their best life now? No! He alone gives us the assurance of the sure and certain hope of life everlasting! “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:34).

Through the atoning death and bodily resurrection of Christ alone, the sheep are truly fed with the sure and certain hope of forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and salvation!