"Judgment Day: Salvation Day" (Mark 13:24-37)

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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: “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come” (Mark 13:32-33).

 

The end of the world always has a certain allure for us. Like Jesus’ disciples then who asked, “When will these things be?” (Mark 13:4), we also wonder when. Throughout history, there have been an array of people who have predicted when the end of the world would take place. So many religious leaders and secular leaders have been obsessed with the end of the world. However, they have different convictions on how the world will end.

 

One of the more obsessed “so-called” religious groups are the Jehovah’s Witnesses, which first predicted the end of the world in 1918, then in 1920, and then in 1941, and most recently in 1975. And still, despite those wrong predictions, the Jehovah’s Witnesses continue growing.

 

In more recent times, so much of the secular world has become obsessed with the end of the world and like the Jehovah’s Witnesses, many secular leaders have had their predictions fail.

 

But so many, on either side – religious or secular, have one thing in common: they both agree that the falling of the first domino will lead to the world’s demise.

 

For many Christians and Jews, they believe if we only rebuilt the Jerusalem temple and sacrificed the red heifer, we would usher in Judgment Day.

 

For many on the secular side, they believe that if we don’t solve “climate change,” then the earth would warm or cool to the point when the earth would no longer be inhabitable. 

 

To many people, these predictions sound plausible. We just need to do something. We need to do thisor do that to usher in the return of Jesus, or we need social justice or environmental justice to save the world wrought by humanity.

Given what so many “so-called” experts say, climate change is a much bigger threat than Jesus. For all intents and purposes, they fear, love, and trust in climate change. More and more these days, those who claim that Jesus has control over the end of the world are laughed at.

 

So, who is really going to have the power to usher in Judgment Day?

 

Jesus said, “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory”(Mark 13:24-26). This kind of sounds like Jesus is in control, not you, and not me.

 

To those who claim they know when and how the world will end, what does Jesus say? He tells us, “Don’t believe them!” “Concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Mark 13:32).

 

While we don’t know when the Last Day will come, Jesus does give us some insight.

 

Over and over again, Jesus says that we must always be alert for His return. He says, 

§  “Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming” (Matthew 24:42); 

§  “Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come” (Mark 13:33); 

§  “What I say to you I say to all: Stay awake” (Mark 13:37); 

§  “Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes” (Luke 12:37).

 

Today, Jesus tells us of a man going on a journey, and that when he leaves home, he puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake.

 

You see, Jesus wants us to be alert, on guard, to keep watching for Him to come at any moment. In this mini-parable, Jesus is the “man,” the Church is the “house,” and we are the “servants.” Here, Jesus paints the picture that we in the Church are to “stay awake,” for He could return at any moment.

 

For those who lived in the First Century, they believed Jesus would return in their lifetime. They lived in that hope and expectation. They kept waiting and watching and longing for His appearing.

 

But He didn’t return, and thus, we wait, watch, and long for His appearing. Jesus says in Luke 21, “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap” (Luke 21:34).

 

So, are you just going on with the current, or are you fighting the good fight of faith?

 

It is so easy to get caught up in the rigamarole of life. It is so easy to get caught up in the daily tasks of putting food on the table, paying bills, putting gas in your car, getting caught up on your favorite television show or sporting event and to ultimately forget about Christ’s coming. Now, each of those things are good in themselves, but if we forget or ignore Jesus because of those things, they are just mere distractions weighing us down in the cares of this life. 

 

But what would it mean to fight the good fight of faith? Is it something we do? Like standing at a street corner proclaiming Jesus? Not exactly.

 

Christ is coming! And when He does, you will see “the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory” (Mark 13:26).

 

Fighting the good fight of faith is staying awake. And how do we stay awake? Do we have to literally watch the sky at all times for Christ’s return? No! If we did that, we would ignore the needs of our neighbor. We would ignore our own needs that God provides.

 

So, how do we stay awake? Jesus says, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away” (Mark 13:31). Knowing that God’s Word never ceases, let’s take a look at today’s Epistle from Jude. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Jude writes, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life” (Jude 20-21).

 

So, how do we stay awake? What Jude is writing about here is the mutual consolation and corporate gathering around the Means of Grace – Christ’s Word and Sacrament.

 

You see, the triune God alone – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – is who keeps us awake. He keeps us awake through His Means of Grace as we receive forgiveness of our sins and strength for our faith through His Word and Sacrament.

 

Judgment Day is approaching. The day when we will see the Son of Man descending from the clouds with great power and glory is approaching. The One who created the world, who redeemed and restored the world by His death and resurrection is coming to judge the living and the dead.

 

However, judgment is not the focus of today’s text. In fact, the focus of today’s text is quite positive, since Christ says, “He will send out the angels and gather His elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven” (Mark 13:27).

 

You see, what we call Judgment Day is actually the salvation day of the elect! This salvation day of the elect is given to us. It is given to us at your Baptism when we were buried with Christ and raised with Him. There, Christ gives us the Holy Spirit and this Holy Spirit moves us daily in repentance. From contrition to faith. From condemnation to forgiveness. From death to life. The daily drowning of the old Adam and the daily resurrection of the new man in Christ, and by it, the Holy Spirit makes you one of the elect – the chosen. Jesus does that now through His Means of Grace and He does that on the Last Day when He orders His angels to gather us up with Him. For the repentant Christian, every day is judgment day – as we repent and receive Christ’s forgiveness – until that last day is revealed to us.

 

The day of the Lord is coming. The signs are all around us. We are living in the last days. So, life will not be easy as a follower of Christ. But don’t be afraid. Christ is coming. That day when there will be no more fear, no more tears, no more troubles or trials is coming. 

 

Today, we live with Christ now by faith, but on that day of His coming, we will be with Him forever in love. With faith in Christ, there is forgiveness for all your sins. There is hope when all seems hopeless. There is life after death. Salvation day is coming and until that day, Christ keeps us awake in His Means of Grace. 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 +

Sermon for Pentecost 18: "By What Authority?" (Matthew 21:23-32)

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:

As Jesus was teaching on the temple grounds, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to Jesus and asked Him: “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave You this authority?” (Matthew 21:23)

 

To give some context to this question on authority, it may be best to know the situation. This is Tuesday of Holy Week. With the Palm Sunday praises of “Hosanna to the Son of David” (Matthew 21:9) still echoing in His ears, Jesus had again entered Jerusalem. Since that Palm Sunday procession, He cleansed the temple as He tossed the tables of the money changers and tossed the seats of those who sold pigeons (Matthew 21:12). Jesus had driven out those buying and selling in the temple. Since then, He has taught in the temple with great power and authority. In this context, the chief priests and the elders come and interrogate Jesus saying, “By what authority are you doing these things?” (Matthew 21:23).

 

For these chief priests and elders, they had the right to challenge the authority of Jesus. For they were the body to which the spiritual care and welfare of the people were entrusted. So, their question was a good question. Afterall, they had seen and heard of Christ’s miracles and the striking authoritative manner that Jesus taught. But even if their question was a proper question, they weren’t asking it in a manner to fully understand. They were, in fact, insincere and treacherous in asking this question as they were asking it with hardened hearts. Again and again, they had a chance to hear the truth of Scripture, and just as often, they kept bringing up their same old and tired arguments against Jesus.

 

And in a way that may seem surprising, Jesus actually answers these Jewish leaders on the question of authority in a way that is most surprising. Again, “by what authority are you doing these things?”This is a question put to Jesus that is also a frequent question in Christ’s Church today. I have heard this question on occasion -- especially from non-Lutherans about Confession and Absolution: “By what authority does a pastor pronounce forgiveness?” Well, it’s not my forgiveness, but God’s forgiveness. 

 

You, see, Jesus works through Means and the pastor is one of those means by which He gives forgiveness through what’s known as the Office of the Keys. 

The Office of the Keys is the special authority that Christ has given to His Church on earth to forgive the sins of repentant sinners, but to withhold forgiveness from the unrepentant as long as they do not repent. For Christ says, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven” (John 20:22-23). So, even as keys lock and unlock, so the authority to forgive sins and retain sins opens and closes heaven.

 

Another question on authority is often: “Who is in charge in the Church?” When we ask a question like that, it is always a heart issue. It’s a matter of pride. If Jesus isn’t in charge, then this fellowship here is no longer the Church, but is more like a club -- a group of likeminded people who choose what is right and what is wrong.

 

Questions such as these can reveal the pride that lurks in our sinful hearts. So, we must be on guard against the assaults of the devil and our flesh in questions on authority. Martin Luther once wrote, “The subtle poison of ambition is just under the surface. This sin has often tripped even those who have grasped God’s Word purely. From this sin, all heresies have arisen; ambition is the mother of all heresies and sects. Against this secret villain we must pray to God daily to suppress our self-esteem” (LW 12:188).

 

So, we must learn that we do not need self-esteem, but humility before Christ, who tries our hearts and knows how full they are with ambition, pride, and selfishness.

 

A case in point on authority is the question on John’s authority and his Baptism. Is Baptism by divine authority or simply by man’s authority? The Baptism of John, was it “from heaven or from man?”(Matthew 21:25) Now, Jesus’ question here to the chief priests and elders is no simple debating tactic. The point of our text is not the skillful use of language by Jesus. Although Jesus is certainly skillful at debating. The real point gets to the heart of the issue: the proclamation of Jesus as the Messiah. 

 

John the Baptist is the one who proclaimed Jesus to be the very Lamb of God, who has come to take away the sins of the world. So, if John’s Baptism was from heaven, his words would be authoritative too, and Jesus must be the Christ.

 

So, like the Baptism instituted by Jesus, John’s Baptism was a Baptism into the remission of sins. John’s Baptism worked regeneration and renounced the works-righteousness of the Pharisees. So, the Baptism of John was not merely “from man,” but “from heaven.” It was a Means of Grace with the power to give the forgiveness of sins. It was from heaven!

But what about our Baptism? What about the other Means of Grace? Are they by heavenly authority or merely by human authority? These questions are great issues in the Church today. 

 

So, are the Sacraments from heaven or from man? Well, what does Jesus say? “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). In Holy Baptism, God works the forgiveness of sins, He rescues the baptized from eternal death and the devil, and He gives eternal salvation.

 

But what about the Lord’s Supper? Is that of heaven or of man? Well, who instituted the Lord’s Supper? As the disciples were eating on Maundy Thursday, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it, He gave it to His disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” And He took a cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:26-28). So, it is only our Lord Jesus Christ’s words that establish the Sacrament of the Altar -- and Christ means what He says. We receive His Body and Blood under the bread and the wine for our forgiveness and strength for our weak faith.

 

Now, what about the Bible? Is it from heaven or from man? Is the Bible inspired by God or is it just ethical teachings from man? If the Bible is just ethical teachings from man, we might as well turn off the lights right now and go home, because if the Bible is from man, what’s the point of being here? If the Bible were of man, there would be no hope, no salvation, no resurrection. But in fact, the Bible is of God, because the Bible is the very Word of God. The Apostle Peter writes, “For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21). And the Apostle Paul wrote, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

 

Now, did Jesus ever say that the Bible was from heaven? Well, one day Jesus came to Nazareth and as it was His custom, He went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and He stood up to read. He unrolled the scroll of Isaiah and read, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me…” Then He rolled up the scroll and sat down. As all the eyes of the men and women were fixed upon Jesus, He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21). The Bible is from heaven, since every Word is God breathed!

Like all the Means of Grace - Word and Sacraments - they can only be understood through the eyes of faith. Our trust in their blessings is only dependent on the authority of the One who gave them, Jesus Christ.

 

But getting back to the question of the chief priests and the elders, “By what authority are you doing these things?”, Jesus answers their question by not actually answering the question.

 

In refusing the answer, Jesus is actually asserting His authority by refusing to submit to His interrogators. He is above them because He is from above. He is the Man who is from heaven.

 

So, by the chief priests and the elders asking the question on authority, they are rejecting the authority of the One who has come down from heaven and are demonstrating that they reject the One who is from heaven. You see, their thinking is shown to be from men, from below.

 

Ultimately, Jesus would demonstrate His authority over death and the devil by suffering and dying on the cross and bodily rising from the dead. Therefore, the Means of Grace He instituted are also authoritative! So, His Word, every Word of Holy Scripture, is reliable and certain! The forgiveness He spoke was authoritative, so the sins He forgives are forgiven! The Sacraments He gave His Church truly deliver forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and salvation!

 

Now, Jesus’ authority is not just of times’ past. His authority is still at work today in the Office of the Holy Ministry -- the pastoral office. So, when Jesus’ under shepherds preach His Word, you hear Jesus. As Jesus said, “The one who hears you hears Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me, and the one who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me” (Luke 10:16). So, through Holy Baptism, Holy Absolution, and the Lord’s Supper, Jesus’ under shepherds forgive sins by His authority.

 

On this LWML Sunday, we recall the mission work of God’s people. We recall that Christ’s Church is to proclaim the good news of salvation to all people. We do this, not by our authority, but by Christ’s authority: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20).

 

So, through a little thing such as the widow’s mite (Luke 21:1-4), those offerings that go above and beyond just our congregation’s offerings, these mites support the Church’s mission of making disciples of all nations, both here and abroad.

 

The Church rejoices in the authority of Jesus! For by His authority, we hear His Word, we tell others of His Word, and through His very Word, we are absolved of our sins. 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 23: "The Day Is Surely Drawing Near" (Luke 21:5-28)

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:

 

The day is surely drawing near! But what day? We just had election day. For many, that day was circled on the calendar as “the day.” But, that day has come and gone until next year. Could it be planning for Thanksgiving? What about Christmas? No, not any of those days.

 

The day is surely drawing near! The big day. The day we publicly proclaim each time we confess the Creed: “And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end” (Nicene Creed).

 

Yes, that’s the day! That day is surely drawing near! The Last Day. The Day of Christ’s Return. The Second Coming. Judgment Day. That day is surely drawing near! But when? And how will I know? We, like the Twelve disciples, ask these questions. Today, Jesus prepares us for that day that draws near – the day of our redemption.

 

As we come to the end of the Church Year, the themes we hear read on Sunday mornings take a shift. I’m sure you noticed that already. For these final weeks of the Church Year, the Christian Church renews her hopeful yearning for the return of her bridegroom, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and the redemption of all things.

 

But along with the joy of the Lord’s return, we must first face various trials, tribulations, pains, persecutions, plagues, and the like. This doesn’t sound at all like what we want, but these events prepare us for Christ’s coming.

 

In our reading today from Luke 21, the disciples were in awe of the Jerusalem Temple, and why wouldn’t they be? The temple was beautiful! It was huge! You see, for about the last 50 years, the temple had been undergoing an extensive renovation and expansion, and it would not be finished for another 30 years – until AD 64. This was the legacy of King Herod the Great. His goal was to put the temple on the map of the Roman Empire. He certainly did that. With its spectacular white stones, its 40-foot marble columns, its tapestries, its golden and bronze doors.

 

The temple was like the Empire State Building or the Chrysler Building of its time with its elegance and beauty. Everyone was in awe. Well, everyone but Jesus. “As for these things that you see,” Jesus said, “the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down” (Luke 21:6).

 

You see, the destruction of the temple is intended to be an advanced sample of the end of the world. Man certainly enjoys focusing on its accomplishments. But God is here to constantly humble us by reminding us on who is really in control. We may build fancy buildings, skyscrapers, and stadiums, but God has the power to wipe them completely off the face of the earth.

 

As for the destruction of the temple, it served as a sneak peak of what is to come. In Scripture, the same use is made of the Flood and of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. In an instant, the Flood wiped away unrepentant man (Genesis 6). In an instant, the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, due to their sexual perversions – their homosexual lust, were destroyed when the Lord reigned on them sulfur and fire (Genesis 19:24). For each event, God gave an advance picture of the final Divine retribution on unrepentant despisers of God’s grace – the coming destruction, and of the glorious deliverance of a small remnant by God’s grace – Noah’s family and Lot.

 

Jesus speaks of Jerusalem and the temple being razed and abandoned. Here, He is foretelling of God’s withdrawal of His grace and His Means of Grace from the Jews hardened in unbelief. Spiritually, they would be left desolate and deserted.

 

This coming destruction of the temple and the city will be a preview of what is to come on the Last Day. In AD 70, Jerusalem and its temple would lay in ruins. They would lay in ruins, because they no longer served any theological purpose, since the Son of God – the Second Person of the Trinity – Jesus the Christ is the embodiment of the true Temple. And Christians were not to remain in Jerusalem, but to spread the good news of salvation to all nations, all peoples, to the ends of the earth. 

 

But then what? When is the end? When is the Last Day?

 

Well, when Jesus returns on earth! But as Jesus says, many will say, “‘I am he!’ and ‘The time is at hand!’” (Luke 21:8). Through history, many have claimed to be Jesus. But would Jesus really reveal Himself to a select few? No! When he returns all will know by sight and sound in an instant! So we must not go after these shallow imitations of the one true God. Jesus is the only one who shares the name of God. He is Yahweh in the flesh. Again, we will all know when Jesus returns. There will be no question. No doubting. We will all know. 

So, this time between His first coming and His second coming, we ought not fall for false teachings that claim to be God-pleasing, since the truth has been fully revealed in Jesus Christ as given us in Scripture.

 

So, don’t go after false teachers! But Jesus says there will be more to come – not just false teachers. There will be wars and tumults, insurrections, but do not be terrified.

 

Jesus says, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom” (Luke 21:10). Our sinful nature and the world are often convinced that humanity can prevent wars and make world peace. But even with the League of Nations, the United Nations, and NATO, what still happens? Wars and rumors of wars. But why? Why can’t we end the prospect of war? We can’t because it proves that the day is surely drawing near.

 

“There will be earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences,” Jesus says. “And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven” (Luke 21:11). Again, our sinful nature and the world don’t see these as signs that the day is drawing near. Instead, we often hear things like: “There is no God!” “We can fix it!” “If we only had this legislation made law.” “If we only vote for this candidate, we can save the earth!” Yes, we are to be good stewards of the earth, but humankind’s actions cannot lead to the end of life on earth. Only God has that power. He is the Creator. We are only mere creatures. Again, these phenomena only prove that the day is drawing near.

 

Jesus then speaks of consequences Christians will face in the latter days. We will be persecuted. We will face religious and civic persecution for confessing the truth that Jesus is Lord. We will face betrayal by our closest loved ones. In the West, we are beginning to see the ramifications of the concept of toleration really meaning affirmation. We are seeing sin praised by the culture. For us Christians, this means that when we publicly confess the one true faith, we must be ready to be ridiculed, or worse, persecuted. This again proves that the day is drawing near.

 

Judgment is coming. The day of vengeance is coming. But for us Christians, we do not fear! We are baptized believers. The Lord has prepared for this day. You see, He died on the cross to pay for our sins and thus take away the judgment. Christ took the judgment on Himself, the very wrath of God against sinners, so that the judgment would not fall upon you!

 

So, we prepare by being in His Word and taking the coming day of judgment very seriously. We heed Christ’s call for repentance and at the same time, we look forward to this great and awesome day as a day of redemption!

 

The unrepentant sinful world, however, has much to fear. But we don’t! The world may be careening out of control. Whether it is politics and governments, or catastrophes and disasters, or terrorism, there’s a lot that could frighten us. But in the middle of it all, God provides His Word.

 

Jesus’ words give us hope and strength and perspective. He says, “This will be your opportunity to bear witness” (Luke 21:13) and “By your endurance you will gain your lives” (Luke 21:19). Jesus says to us: “I have rescued you! You are mine!” You see, God’s Word assures us that He is moving the world toward the goal of that final day.

 

As the unrepentant world lives in fear or wrongly thinks they can solve the world’s ills, we look forward to that great day with confidence in Jesus Christ!

 

The Day is surely drawing near – and God is in control of everything!

 

Yes, we often wrongly believe that we are in charge. But, gone is the Jerusalem temple. Gone is the Roman Empire. We must always be reminded that God is running the show, He controls history. So, every time you read or hear about a war or a disaster, let it remind you that this tired, troubled world is moving toward the goal, the plan, that God has in store for when the Christ returns in glory, when we “will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (Luke 21:27). On that day, Jesus will set all things right.

 

For the unrepentant that day will be a dreadful day, but for us, Jesus says, that day will be a glorious day. He says, “Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise you heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:28). In other words, don’t give up. We may experience bad things that could weigh us down, but our redemption draws near. Take courage! The Lord is coming! The Lord is coming to redeem you, and this is a promise we can hold on to with fullest confidence. So, we must remember and believe: The day is coming when Jesus will return to redeem His people! 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 +

Sermon for Pentecost 23: "Built on the Rock" (Luke 21:5-36)

 

Built on the Rock the Church shall stand
    Even when steeples are falling.
Crumbled have spires in ev’ry land;
    Bells still are chiming and calling,
Calling the young and old to rest,
But above all the souls distressed,
    Longing for rest everlasting.              (LSB 645, stanza 1)
Public domain

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]

 

“Why has the Lord’s Word disappeared from His house?” This is how a 27-year-old pastor began his first sermon back in 1810.

 

Again, he said: “Why has the Lord’s Word disappeared from His house?”

 

From the very start, this newly ordained pastor caught the attention of his parish and that of the Church of Denmark.

 

You see, this pastor had become so opposed to the Rationalism of his day – which is the belief that reason is the chief source and test of all knowledge.

 

At this time, the Church of Denmark was placing reason above Scripture. So, to put it bluntly, God’s inerrant Word was taking a back seat to human reason. So, much of the Bible was being dismissed, since they did not see it happening in their time. Also, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper were not seen with much reverence.

 

Now, Denmark wasn’t alone when it came to Rationalism. It was in Germany where Rationalism really took off. And, for that reason, among others, the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod was formed from the many Saxons who left Germany for the United States.

 

For this Danish pastor, he was criticized for saying that the Church of Denmark wasn’t following Christian doctrine. Now, for the Church of Denmark, they argued that they were still Lutheran and still Christian because they worship God in ornate churches.

 

You see, the Church of Denmark focused more on the beauty of the building than the teaching inside that building. They focused on outward appearance, rather than proper teaching. In response, this pastor wrote poems that became hymns that criticized the Rationalism within the church. In time, this pastor was fined by Denmark and his poems and hymns were forbidden to be used.

 

Upon hearing this, he resigned his call – or rather he was forced to quit since he was suspended by the Church of Denmark – and he later moved to England.

 

While in England, he continued to study theology and poetry.

 

He later returned to Denmark and many of his friends convinced him to lead a Divine Service again, but the Church of Denmark wouldn’t allow it. But, he was allowed to hold an afternoon service at a German church in Christianshavn. There he preached for eight years and he wrote his own hymn book titled “Song-work for the Danish Church.”

 

This pastor’s goal was to reform the Church of Denmark back into a Christian church that was not just a state-church, but a Lutheran gospel-teaching national church.

 

Well, what happened to this Danish pastor? Did the Church of Denmark reform? I’ll get back to him later.

 

[The Presence of the Lord]

                     Surely in temples made with hands
    God, the Most High, is not dwelling;
High above earth His temple stands,
    All earthly temples excelling.
Yet He who dwells in heav’n above
Chooses to live with us in love,
    Making our bodies His temple.          (LSB 645, stanza 2)
Public domain

 

In our gospel lesson from Luke this morning, Jesus responds to the uttering of many who said how beautifully adorned the temple was.

 

Jesus then takes this opportunity to teach His disciples, the crowds and the religious establishment that the location of the presence of the Lord is not built in temples made with hands, but by faith and confession.

 

Jesus said: “As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down” (Luke 21:6).

 

This is as if Jesus is saying: “Yes, the Jerusalem temple is a beautiful place, but it has served its purpose. God is not dwelling inside that building. I am He. Come follow Me.”

 

Just like that, some in the crowd asked Jesus: “Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” (Luke 21:7)

 

The crowds aren’t getting it. We likely wouldn’t get it, either. Yes, the temple is wonderful and all, but it has served its purpose. The temple is now obsolete through the Incarnation of Jesus – the Son of God.

 

So, Jesus takes this opportunity to teach. Now, the crowd desires signs when these things will happen, but Jesus teaches them what they really need to hear. He teaches them warnings and how to remain faithful.

 

[The Warnings]

 

Jesus said: “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them” (Luke 21:8).

 

Oh, how easily we can be misled! For the crowds, they were obsessed with the beauty of the stone temple and with signs. We too, can become obsessed with how beautiful churches and cathedrals can be. We too, can become obsessed with signs – just look at all the different interpretations of the Book of Revelation.

 

Instead, we are to be prepared so that we are not misled. We are to be prepared at all times, because we are never able to predict the exact time for anything. Just look at the weather or how we believe our day will go. We should always expect the unexpected.

 

So, how are we to be prepared so we are not misled? First, false prophets will come with a different teaching than the one Jesus brings. Now, they may use the same vocabulary – such as saved by grace – but they have a different meaning. So, instead of being saved purely out of God’s grace without any merit of our own, they may teach that we need to do something to earn God’s grace. Or, they could take “saved by grace” to another level by eliminating God’s moral law altogether.

 

Here, Jesus is alerting us to the many who will come “in His name”, but will instead lead the flock down a different road. Now, their teaching may sound authentic, but we are to test their teachings with the true teaching of God’s inerrant Word as the Holy Spirit inspired the prophets and apostles to write.

 

Jesus continues with His second warning saying: “And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once” (Luke 21:9).

 

In other words: do not panic! There will be wars and tumults, but don’t focus upon them. Sin has brought forth division. Sin has brought forth disorder. So, when you hear about wars or murmuring or wars, or when you hear of protests on the streets for this or that, don’t panic!

 

Another warning is betrayal. Jesus tells us: “You will be delivered up [before kings and governors (Luke 21:12)] even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives” (Luke 21:16-19).

 

Here, Jesus is warning His disciples then and His disciples now that betrayal is to be expected as a follower of Christ. Because of sin, we are not living our “best life now.” We will face persecution for our faith in Christ – even from the people we would least expect.

 

[Living Stones]

 

                     We are God’s house of living stones,
    Built for His own habitation.
He through baptismal grace us owns
    Heirs of His wondrous salvation.
Were we but two His name to tell,
Yet He would deign with us to dwell
    With all His grace and His favor.       (LSB 645, stanza 3)
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The name of Jesus defines our identity, for Christians bear in our bodies Jesus, the New Temple. For that reason, Christians are living stones and our bodies are temples. Christians are marked in the family of Jesus, not by ancestral blood, but by His Word alone.

 

As Christ’s living stones, we will experience persecution for no other reason than our connection with Jesus. We have come to know Jesus as our Savior through the teaching of the Holy Spirit that began at our Baptism.

 

Through our Christian identity, Jesus also calls us to remain faithful to His teachings in the midst of persecution, so that others may hear the proclamation of the one, true Christian faith. Even if we die not even a hair from our head would perish, but instead we will be alive eternally.

 

[The Means of Grace]

                     Here stands the font before our eyes,
    Telling how God has received us.
The_altar recalls Christ’s sacrifice
    And what His Supper here gives us.
Here sound the Scriptures that proclaim
Christ yesterday, today, the same,
    And evermore, our Redeemer.            (LSB 645, stanza 4)
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God is present with us here today! When we began today’s Divine Service saying “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” we know that God is here and He is here to forgive our sins and to strengthen our weak faith.

 

God dwells forever in His Word and Sacraments. God’s grace will no longer come through animal sacrifices at the stone temple. Rather, His grace will come through what the Lord has instituted to be the worship life of His church: Catechesis, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Through the Means of Grace, the church is prepared for when Christ comes again in great glory (Luke 21:27).

 

At each Divine Service, we are strengthened knowing that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. We remember what Christ alone has done by making us righteous in God the Father’s sight through His death and resurrection. Each time we receive Christ’s true body and His true blood under the bread and wine, we remember and confess Christ’s cross and passion, His blessed death, His rest in the tomb, His ascension into heaven, and His coming for the final judgement.

 

We know that by grace through faith in Jesus, we share in His victory over sin, death and Satan. We know what we have received though His grace: forgiveness of sins, eternal life and salvation!

 

As Lutherans, we also take to heart the Reformation sola “Sola Scriptura” or Scripture Alone. We know that these words of Jesus are true: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away” (Luke 21:33). We know that the world will end, but the catechesis of Jesus will never pass away. We know that when the world passes away those who reject Jesus’ teachings will pass away with it. But those who hear and keep His Word, they will remain and inherit the kingdom He has prepared for all believers!

 

[Jesus Prepares Us]

 

Well, what ever happened to that Danish pastor? Was he ever able to reform the Church of Denmark?

 

Well, his suspension was later removed and he was appointed a hospital chaplain. He held this position until he died on September 2, 1872. With his suspension ended, his poetry and hymns were made legal again. One of those hymns is “Built on the Rock the Church shall stand.” This man’s name was Rev. Nikolai Fredrik Sevrin Grundtvig. He wrote this hymn to teach us that it is not the church building that is important, but of the most importance is that God’s Word is rightly taught and that His Sacraments be rightly administered.

 

This hymn reminds us that our faith in Jesus is not built on human reason, instead our faith is built on Christ alone and that He will never leave or forsake His flock. We are also reminded that our faith is not determined by the beauty of the church building we worship at, but instead on our confession that we trust Christ’s every Word.

 

Christ is always faithful, even when we aren’t faithful. He is always here for you and me. He always gives us hope through His Word.

 

Now, Pastor Grundtvig never saw a reformation in the Church of Denmark, but upon his death the Church of Denmark gave him the honorary title of bishop.

 

Although he never saw the Church of Denmark return to orthodox Lutheranism, he did leave his mark reminding us that our Lord is Jesus Christ alone and through His Means of Grace He gives all believers the strength to be prepared for His coming – when we “see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (Luke 21:27).

 

                     Grant, then, O God, Your will be done,
    That, when the church bells are ringing,
Many in saving faith may come
    Where Christ His message is bringing:
“I know My own; My own know Me.
You, not the world, My face shall see.
    My peace I leave with you. Amen.”             (LSB 645, stanza 5)
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The peace of God which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.

T SOLI DEO GLORIA T