Sermon for Easter Sunrise: "Hope and Certainty" (John 20:1-18)

 

Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ! Amen!

Alleluia! Christ is Risen! {He is Risen, Indeed! Alleluia!}

 

“And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain… But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead!” (1 Corinthians 15:14, 20a)

 

Alleluia! Christ is Risen! {He is Risen, Indeed! Alleluia!}

 

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

 

[Christ Triumphs]

 

Before the Communists seized control of Russia, it had been a long-established custom for relatives and friends to exchange verbal Easter greetings.

 

But when the Bolsheviks took over Russia, they wanted total control of thought and mind. Anatoly Lunatscharsky, the Bolshevik commissar for public education, delivered a public lecture in a large Moscow auditorium. He said that the Christian religion was now completely overthrown and that the Bible could easily be disproved. He felt so sure of himself that he challenged anyone in the audience to find a flaw in what he had just presented.

 

A young priest came forward, turned to the audience, and said, “Brethren – Christ is risen!”

 

With one accord, the vast audience cried out, “He is risen indeed!”

 

The priest then said, “I have finished. I have no more to say.”

 

Immediately, the meeting was closed. Fast-forward to today, communism did not destroy the Christian church in Russia. As the church in Russia was persecuted, it only became stronger, because as things turned bad, only Christ gave hope.

 

[Where’s Jesus’ body?]

 

On that first Easter day, Christ’s disciples did not know what to expect. For many of them, they thought all hope was lost. They saw their friend, Jesus, taken away on Thursday – then die nailed to a cross on Friday.

 

Yes, Jesus told his friends what would happen, but they still didn’t completely understand.

 

“Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb” (John 20:1).

 

What would you do if you were Mary? Likely, you would do what Mary did. She was shocked! Where did they take Him? She must tell someone!

 

“So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him!” (John 20:2)

 

Mary’s first thought was that grave robbers have taken away Jesus’ body.

 

Now, grave robbery was common during this era. It was so bad that Emperor Claudius eventually ordered capital punishment to be given out to those convicted of destroying tombs, removing bodies or even displacing the sealing stones.

 

But, when Peter and John arrived, they realized that the linen cloths were still there.

 

What grave robber would leave expensive linen and even more expensive spices?

 

When John saw this, he believed, but he and the other disciples still did not understand the Scripture. Then Peter and John went back to their homes.

 

[Why wasn’t Jesus in the Tomb?]

 

But Mary Magdalene stood weeping outside the tomb. She still didn’t know what to believe. She then saw two angels who asked her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” (John 20:13a)

 

She responds: “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him” (John 20:13b).

 

Then she turned and saw what she thought was the gardener. The man said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” (John 20:15a).

 

You see, Mary thought this man was involved in moving Jesus’ body. But, this man questions her saying: “Whom are you seeking?” It is likely this man is asking Mary, why wasn’t Jesus in the tomb?

 

Jesus did say over and over again that He would die and rise again, but they did not understand. He also said that their sorrow would turn to joy.

 

She responded: “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” (John 20:15b)

 

Then the man spoke, “Mary.” She immediately knew this man was Jesus and she believed.

 

[Little Faith]

 

The disciples were slow to believe, just as we, too, can be of little faith.

 

If you were in that moment, how would you react to Jesus’ missing body? Would you be just like Mary questioning where they took the body?

 

Or would you be hiding out in a locked room, like the other disciples, out of fear that you could have the same fate as Jesus?

 

Unlike those disciples on that first Easter morning, we know the result of Christ’s death on the cross. For it has all been given to us through the Holy Spirit in God’s Word found in the Scriptures.

 

Yet, we can be of little faith, even with this knowledge.

 

Instead of coming to the Divine Service every Sunday to be with fellow Christians and receive God’s grace that increases our faith, we find other things to do.

 

Instead of reading God’s Word, we find ourselves caught in the affairs of the world.

 

Instead of following the Triune God, we find ourselves following the world and its values.

 

We may begin to think, “Ah, well, my sin isn’t that bad. At least I didn’t do what that guy did.”

 

But for God, all sins of thought, word and deed separate us from His love.

 

It doesn’t matter if you use God’s Name in vain, betray or hurt your neighbor’s reputation, or support the murder of unborn children – sin is sin.

 

We may rank sins, as not so bad to awful, but for God, all sin is equal to the next sin. For Satan, every sin brings you closer to him and that is his evil desire.

 

For us – living in 2018 – Satan has a definite grip on the culture at large. He has turned what is good and God-pleasing and warped it as evil. He has turned wrong into right.

 

But the good news is that when we repent of our sins and follow Jesus we are forgiven. Because Christ is risen from the dead, we know that this world is not the end. For we know that we are all strangers here. We live in the world, but we are not of the world. With hope and certainty, we know Christ has prepared a place for us – because He has said so.

 

As Christians, we live a particular way. We live knowing of hope. We live knowing of truth. We live knowing of certainty.

 

[Christ Is Risen!]

 

This hope and certainty is what we are celebrating this morning! For Christ, who was dead, is alive!

 

Christ is Risen! {He is Risen, Indeed! Alleluia!}

 

Because Jesus Christ is risen from the dead, He alone has destroyed the power of sin, death and the devil upon everyone who believes and trusts in Him. Also, all Christians are now given the gift of sainthood, while at the same time a sinner.

 

We became holy through our Lord Jesus Christ, at which the Holy Spirit gave us faith at our Baptism. Christ covers us and wipes us clean of all our sins and shortcomings. This is what makes us saints.

 

To call yourself a saint is no presumption but an act of gratitude and a confession of God’s blessings.

 

We are made holy by grace through faith – only through Christ’s life, death and resurrection. As holy people, we still sin against God. This is why God gives us His Means of Grace – His nourishment – which forgives us our sins and strengthens our weak faith, through Confession of Sins, Holy Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. This is why we come to the Divine Service. You see, without God’s nourishment, we become frail and starve. Our faith is on life support. We wander looking for something to replace the one true God.

 

Instead, be like Mary Magdalene and say: “I have seen the Lord!” (John 20:18) For you see Christ at each Divine Service when He forgives you and strengthens you with His Means of Grace.

 

So, let us all rejoice in knowing that our faith is not in vain! Christ is Risen! He is Risen, Indeed! Just as He said! Amen.

 

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

 

Sermon for Lent 1: "Now is the Time to Act!" (Mark 1:9-15)

 

Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ! Amen!

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

 

[Intro]

 

Satan is a schemer who uses all sorts of tricks to lure people into sin. As we heard in today’s Gospel lesson according to St. Mark, Satan even attempted to lure the Son of God. Satan knows no bounds. He believes he is all powerful.

 

One of Satan’s tricks is illustrated by a Chicago-area drug user who became a police informant. As an informant, this man’s job was to induce other drug dealers to sell drugs to him or an undercover policeman, and this informant was unusually successful.

 

One of his most successful strategies for duping drug dealers, according to Ted Gregory of the Chicago Tribune, was to give them a challenge.

 

The informant says, “I’d tell them, ‘Everybody says they can deliver, but you look a little young; or you look a little old; or you look like a nerd.’ Let the people think that they’re in control…”[1]

 

This informant succeeded in duping dealers because he understood their psychology. Satan also understands psychology, and he uses this same scheme. You see, Satan is not a figment of imagination. He is always lurking in the shadows to catch another victim to his kingdom away from God. He is not some cartoonish character with a pitchfork. He is real. Satan dupes people into thinking that they are in control. He challenges their egos. He challenges our egos.

 

[Temptation]

 

In today’s Gospel lesson, we heard how quickly Satan came into the picture. Right after God’s only Son Jesus Christ was baptized by John the Baptist in the River Jordan and we see and hear the Trinity – the Spirit descending and the voice from heaven saying, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” There he was – lurking, waiting.

 

Even though Satan knew Jesus was God in the flesh. He still tried. Satan believes in his warped mind that he is as powerful as God.

 

In the Koine Greek, verse 12 shows the violent activity of how this occurred. In English, we read: “The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness.” But in Koine Greek, it reads like this: “The Spirit immediately throws him out into the wilderness.”

 

Did you catch that difference? This “throws out” highlights a key activity, both its Spirit-driven nature and the fact that Jesus’ ministry is now commencing. Now is the time to act!

 

So, right after Jesus is baptized, He finds Himself in the desert wilderness with the fallen angel Satan “and He was in the wilderness 40 days, being tempted by Satan” (Mark 1:13).

 

Here Jesus was tempted continuously. There were no breaks. Jesus emerged from His time of testing by Satan perfectly, without succumbing to temptation in any way. Satan loses again, but he keeps trying.

 

[Satan leads Culture away from God]

 

For all Christians who believe and trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior all is lost for Satan, but he never quits. He is always there lurking and attempting to convince us by saying, “Did God actually say” this or that?

 

You see, Satan wants us to doubt the one true God. Satan isn’t satisfied with just the current count of unbelievers; he wants more in his dark kingdom apart from God.

 

Satan is thrilled at all of his successes when it comes to sin. Today, much of the wider culture no longer believes sin is a big deal. Sadly, many Christians agree with that.

 

The wider culture no longer sees sin as bad. They see sin as a choice, like picking what you want to eat, or what show you want to watch. We see this especially when talking about abortion. The culture does not want to say that murdering an unborn child is evil; instead they make it out to be a choice, so it takes some of the burden away from the parent.

 

The same goes with marriage. Today, the culture says it’s your choice on who you marry, instead of following God’s plan of the lifelong union of one man and one woman until death parts them.

 

Infidelity, stealing, greed, lying are all seen as choices, rather than sin. This is what Satan intended. Today, sin is a choice. Today, sin is praised. Today, sin is tolerated.

 

In reality, sin is betraying God. Sin is rejecting God’s will and God’s ways. Sin is any thought, word, or deed that departs from the will of God.

 

This past week, I came across a news article[2] [3] [4] about an ELCA pastor in New Jersey who announced that she was transgender. Sadly, her bishop approved and blessed her changing her name to a male name and her congregation celebrated her name change from Rose to Peter. Again, sin is being praised. Sin is being tolerated. Instead of seeking help for gender dysphoria and repenting, sin is tolerated and this is hurting Christ’s Church.

 

The Apostle Paul warns us to not be carried away by sin and Satan. “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

 

Even among us here today, when you choose a church to worship at, do you choose based on programs? Do you choose on the friendliness of the pastor? Or do you choose on the true doctrine that comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable? Do you choose Law and Gospel? This is why we, the priesthood of all believers, need to know what God’s true inerrant Word says, so we don’t fall into Satan’s traps.

 

[Now is the Time to Act]

 

Now after John the Baptist was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel – the good news – of God and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel!” (Mark 1:14-15).

 

Jesus is saying, “Now is the time to act!” There is no more waiting! God is on the scene and is staring at you right in the face!

 

So, repent and believe in the good news! This is the most basic statement concerning the Christian faith – “Repent and believe in the good news!”

 

Now, what does it mean to repent and believe in the good news? Jesus is calling on everyone – there is no person forgotten – He is calling on everyone to recognize sin truly and to be heartily sorrowful for it and to abstain from it.[5]

 

So believe in the gospel and go and sin no more! Now is the time to act!

 

Our Lord Jesus Christ is saying that repentance and faith go together. You can’t have repentance without faith and faith without repentance.

 

[Sinners in Need of a Savior]

 

During this Penitential season of Lent, we look inwardly at ourselves and realize that we are poor, miserable sinners. We are in need of a savior.

 

That is what the Jews cried for many centuries before the advent of Jesus Christ – God with us, God in our flesh. They were calling for a savior.

 

Today, we live nearly 2,000 years after Jesus Christ’s first advent, but we know what He alone has done for us. Through His perfect life, death and resurrection, all who believe in Jesus have the sure hope of forgiveness of sins, life everlasting and salvation.

 

All Christians can now say, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand!” Stay away Satan, for you have no power over me! I trust in Jesus and He alone is My Lord!

 

We say this because of our repentance as we turn away from sin and the belief in the good news that Jesus alone accomplished for us. Amen.

 

Please pray with me:

Though devils all the world should fill,
    All eager to devour us,
We tremble not, we fear no ill;
    They shall not overpow’r us.
This world’s prince may still
Scowl fierce as he will,
    He can harm us none.
    He’s judged; the deed is done;
One little word can fell him. Amen! (LSB 656 A Mighty Fortress, v. 3)

 

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

---

[1] Craig Brian Larson, 750 Engaging Illustrations, 481.

[2] http://abc7ny.com/community-events/transgender-pastor-has-support-from-community/3059624/

[3] https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/transgender-pastor-peter-beeson_us_5a833097e4b02b66c5129ebf

[4] http://dailycaller.com/2018/02/14/church-transgender-pastor-name/

[5] Kolb-Wengert, “The Book of Concord” – Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord, 582.

Sermon for Epiphany 3: "Free From the Cares of the Word" (1 Corinthians 7:29-35)

 

Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ! Amen!

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

 

[Intro]

 

Millions of Americans walk into airports every day. They arrive at the airport to either board a plane to somewhere or to pick up a loved one.

 

While waiting for the plane to board or to pick up your loved one, it is hard not to notice the bank of television screens at our nation’s airports.

 

As we wait, we are inundated with the news, or what the news calls the news.

 

We see debate, arguing and name-calling, but not much of what is truly happening in our world. They focus on one topic of crisis and go over that same topic of crisis over and over again – from 4 a.m. until midnight. All the cable news cares about is their hope that we will be sucked in to what they are opining about. And many of us do. We get sucked in and we begin to worry about that single topic. But, eventually that topic takes the backburner for the next “breaking news topic of crisis” and we begin to worry about that issue.

 

You see, the news media wants its viewers to be consumed in the affairs that they care about.

 

Then we come to our homes, where we turn on our television sets. Are we inundating ourselves in our own homes with these topics of crisis?

 

Now, I’m not saying to turn off the news altogether, but instead to watch the news in moderation, so you do not begin to worry about things not worth worrying about.

As a former journalist, this is even hard for me, but I find myself happier when I don’t hear the constant bickering of opinions that is being masqueraded as news.

[Time is Short]

In this morning’s epistle lesson, the Apostle Paul tells us that Jesus Christ’s return is coming. And for this hope of return, we should live as if Christ is imminently going to make His return.

Paul writes, “The appointed time has grown very short” (1 Cor. 7:29).

Paul is saying that Christians should live as people who are always aware that they may have to leave this world at any moment. As Christian believers, we should focus on eternal essentials. We should not let our lives be dominated by the world and its values.

When we realize that our time is short, we often have a changed perspective. We begin to focus on sacred things, rather than worldly things.

So, feel free to turn off the news for a time to focus on what truly matters – Jesus Christ.

[Christ Matters Most]

As you heard the epistle being read earlier, did you wonder what Paul was writing about with his statement on marriage? So, what is Paul saying?

Paul writes, “From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it” (1 Cor. 7:29b-31a).

No husbands, no wives? No mourning? No rejoicing? Buy as though they had nothing?

Paul here is reminding us of what really matters most – the return of Jesus Christ. Every worldly thing will pass away. Everything in the world is temporary. Paul is saying to not be consumed with the affairs of this life – for there is a better life to come through Jesus.

Martin Luther even touches on this in his famous hymn “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” in the final stanza:

“And take they our life, Goods, fame, child, and wife, Though these all be gone, Our victory has been won; The Kingdom ours remaineth.” (LSB 656)

No matter what, the Triune God is there with us. Through thick and thin, He is there. Rich or poor, He is there. Christ will never forsake us.

[First Priority]

For this, God wants us to be free from anxieties. He wants us to be unconcerned with the world. He wants us to be without care with the world. He wants us to be worry free with the world.

Instead, God wants us to be focused on the things of the Lord and how to please the Lord.

However in today’s fallen world, husbands and wives tend to focus upon each other, rather than God.

Now, it is good and God pleasing to love your spouse. We should devote ourselves to our spouse. The marriage of a man and woman is a relationship that is founded upon Jesus Christ and that the man and wife are always there for each other.

A healthy marriage thrives on attending the needs and wishes of one’s spouse, but Jesus also set down priorities in this regard saying, “Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:37).

The priority has been set. God made note of His demands with the First Commandment: “You shall have no other gods.” For which Luther writes, “We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.”

Paul again states the reason to devote yourselves to Jesus Christ saying, “I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord” (1 Cor. 7:35).

This is for our own benefit. Yes, we are to continue to love and respect our husband or wife. But, at the same time, we are to put God first. God is the first priority.

God created the heavens and the earth for Him. Not for us.

[Life is Very Good]

God created life for His benefit and He saw that it was very good. For every child is a gift from God.

Since the United States’ Supreme Court ruled in favor of legalizing abortion nationwide on January 22, 1973, the Church has cried out: “Lord have mercy! Christ have mercy! Lord have mercy!”

The Church has cried out to God to have mercy on those children and their mothers and/or fathers who have chosen to end the lives of their babies for worldly desires, or for pleasing the boyfriend or girlfriend, or for pleasing the husband or wife, instead of accepting this gift from God.

Even Norma McCorvey, the “Roe” in Roe v. Wade changed her views when she became a Christian in 1995. Since that time, she became active in the pro-life movement.

This past week, millions of people marched nationwide in support of life in hopes that one day the silent holocaust will come to an end. The good news is that Christ died for every sin and when we repent and ask God for forgiveness, He is there with open arms saying, “I forgive you, now go and sin no more.”

[Order of Creation]

God also created everything in good order. This good order is described by God in the first three chapters of Genesis.

Here is where God tells us of His order of creation. The Lord formed the man of dust from the ground (Genesis 2:7). Then God created a helper – Eve – for the man – Adam. God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him” (Genesis 2:18).

Here is where God creates and establishes marriage between one man and one woman. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24).

But in time, this marriage had its first argument, because of sin. The devil disguised as a serpent convinces Eve to eat of the forbidden fruit and so she does. Eve then gives that fruit to Adam and he eats.

Then God shows up knowing what had just happened and confronts Adam and Eve. Immediately, Adam blames Eve, but God will have none of that.

Adam said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate” (Genesis 3:12).

You see, Adam was attempting to pass the blame to Eve, but God gave Adam Eve to be his helper.

To put it simply, Adam is ultimately responsible, because he is the head of his household. According to God, the head and the helper are not interchangeable. To be the head means he is responsible and accountable to what his helper does.

This order of creation relates to everything. This relates to the wider culture.

Now, a woman may take the reins on many issues in the marriage, such as finances and child disciplining or to whatever she is better at accomplishing, but it is the man who is ultimately responsible. The man is responsible for every decision, but his wife can give her input. This is the order of creation.

For us today, we may think, this is pretty backwards. After all, today’s world is all about equality. But this is God’s design. This is God promoting good order. This is God promoting family.

[The Son of God Submitted To His Father]

After all, Jesus Christ submitted to the will of His Father through His life, death and resurrection that gave us forgiveness of sins, opened eternal life and gave us salvation by grace through faith in Him and His promises. In a similar way, the wife submits to her husband and their children submit to their parents, because it is the husband and the parents who will do anything for each other.

Through submitting your undivided devotion to the Lord, you are following the will of God. You are following the order of creation. You are becoming more holy in your sanctified life.

We live this way, because of what Christ had done for us once and for all time. He sacrificed Himself for us, because of His love for us. Jesus Christ died hanging on the cross for us. He died of asphyxiation as he hung crucified lifeless on the cross after being beaten and stabbed. But it was not over. Three days later Christ also rose to life for us to prove He is the Son of God.

Because of Christ’s death and resurrection, our faith is not in vain. In fact, our faith is strengthened each time we remember our baptism each Divine Service and partake of the Sacrament.

Through Christ alone, we are free from all anxieties. We are free from the cares of this world. For everything has been accomplished for us by our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ. Amen.

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

Sermon for Advent Midweek 2: "Saints of Advent - Nicholas" (Galatians 2:15-21)

 

Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ! Amen!

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

 

[Jesus and Santa]

 

Jolly old St. Nicholas, Lean your ear this way!
Don't you tell a single soul, What I'm going to say;
Christmas Eve is coming soon, Now, you dear old man,
Whisper what you'll bring to me: Tell me if you can. (Jolly Old St. Nicholas)

One of the complaints that many Christians voice at this time of the year is that Christmas has become too commercialized and too secularized.

 

When shopping or watching television, we are more likely to hear “Happy Holidays” than “Merry Christmas.”

 

Today, far too many people observe the holy day of Christ Mass without any acknowledgement of Christ at all.

 

For many, the day of Christmas is all about parties, presents, television specials and NBA basketball games – without any reference to the reason we celebrate Christmas – the incarnation of our Lord Jesus the Christ, who took on our flesh to save us.

 

Sadly, the persona of Santa Claus gets more attention than Jesus Christ.

 

Perhaps, this problem can begin to be corrected by understanding where the legend of Santa Claus comes from and who the actual St. Nicholas was.

 

Now, most of us have heard of Santa Claus referred to as St. Nick or St. Nicholas. In fact, that’s where the name comes from – Santa is another word for Saint, and Claus is a shortened form in Dutch of the name Nicholas.

 

Today, Santa Claus has become its own legend. But, St. Nicholas was a real person who lived during the third and fourth centuries. On this day, December 6th, the Christian Church celebrates Nicholas.

 

[Nicholas of Myra]

 

So, who was this St. Nicholas?

 

Nicholas was born into a wealthy family in Asia Minor, which is modern-day Turkey. Having become a Christian, Nicholas chose not to pursue a life of riches, but he instead devoted himself to the Church. He eventually became a bishop of a city called Myra. Now, Myra was a decadent and corrupt city, and Nicholas became well-known for transforming it by his pious hard work and preaching the Word of Christ.

 

Nicholas was also known for his love for those in need, such as poor widows and orphaned children. As bishop, he saw to it that the Church worked to care for the needy. Perhaps his giving of gifts, especially to impoverished children, is part of what formed the Santa Claus tradition.

 

Now, there is also one famous story about Nicholas that stands out above the rest. There was a man in the city of Myra who had three daughters. But he did not have enough money to provide his daughters with suitable property necessary for marriage. At this time in history, it is likely that without marriage, these girls could have ended up as prostitutes.

 

Nicholas heard about this and he became deeply troubled. So, he decided to help, but help in a way where he would not draw attention to himself.

 

So, Nicholas took from his own resources and prepared three bags of gold. On three straight nights, Nicholas went to this man’s house and threw a bag of gold into an open window – one bag of gold each night for the three daughters, which provided to be enough property for marriage. Eventually, it is likely that this is the story that led to the creation of Santa Claus – instead of throwing bags through an open window; the bags were dropped down a chimney.

 

Nicholas believed he was justified – made right with God – through faith in Jesus Christ. And because of what Christ has done for him, he wanted to spread Christ’s message in helping his neighbor in need. As the Apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 2: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

 

Now, there are many more accounts of Nicholas helping others. For instance, once there were three men who were falsely accused of a crime and sentenced to death and Nicholas worked to secure their freedom. It is also told that Nicholas helped three sailors from drowning.

 

Nicholas lived his life as a man who wanted to help his neighbor, because of what Christ has done to justify him.

 

In helping his neighbor, Nicholas was fulfilling what Christ said: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39)

 

It is interesting that in these stories of Nicholas, the number three keeps coming up – three daughters, three falsely accused men, three sailors.

 

Nicholas was also a staunch defender of the three-in-one – the Triune God – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, which he proclaimed.

 

In fact, St. Nicholas was one of the bishops present at the Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325, which was met to combat heresy or false teachings that were leading people away from Jesus. This council also met to confirm an essential truth about the Trinity – that Jesus Christ is truly God and truly man. It was from this council that we received the Nicene Creed, which the entire Christian Church accepted as a true witness of God’s Word.

 

You see, Nicholas was a defender of the true Christian faith – the faith that proclaims that Jesus Christ is the only Savior from sin, death and the devil.

 

Nicholas preached Jesus crucified and risen, baptized people into the one true faith, absolved people of their sins in Jesus’ name, and fed them with the life-giving body and blood of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins.

 

This is the real St. Nicholas. He wasn’t taking attention away from Jesus. He was a preacher drawing everyone’s attention to Jesus; for he knew that his people were both saints and sinners and in desperate need of Christ’s forgiveness and mercy.

 

[Jesus – the True Gift]

 

We give attention to the generosity of Nicholas because it was the love of Jesus Christ that was working through him in his life.

 

That love of Christ that was at work in Nicholas is at work also in you. For in your Baptism you were “crucified with Christ, and you no longer live, but Christ lives in you and through you.”

 

The Lord is working in you so that his boundless love, which has been shown to you, might spill over to others in the giving of yourself and in the giving of gifts – not that you can feel good about yourself or draw attention to yourself, but giving that is anonymous and entirely for the good of others, like a bag of gold through an open window at night.

 

That’s why Christians too, when giving an anonymous gift, might refer to gifts being given by Santa Claus – St. Nicholas.

 

For such a gift is given in a spirit that reflects the love of Christ as Nicholas did, and ultimately it seeks to give glory not to ourselves, but to God, who is the true giver of every good and perfect gift.

 

Indeed, every gift that we give is a sign of that greatest gift of all, the Christ Child in the manger – given to us almost anonymously. But hidden within the wrapping of his lowly humanity dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, full of grace and mercy. Jesus is love in the flesh for you.

 

You see, there is no greater gift than knowing we are forgiven of our sins and we will live forever with Christ through faith in Him. And, we say with Nicholas and all the saints in heaven, “Amen! Come Lord Jesus! Come quickly!” as we await His Second Advent.

 

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

Sermon for Advent Midweek 1: "Saints of Advent - Andrew" (John 1:35-42)

 

Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ! Amen!

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

 

[Peter’s Shadow]

 

Some of you may have grown up in families where you were not the one who always got the attention. A brother or a sister may have done better than you in sports or in school or in music and got most of the recognition and the approval. Perhaps you were sometimes introduced as “so-and-so’s brother or sister.” You always seemed to be a little bit more in the background.

 

It is likely to have been that way for Andrew, for he was the brother of Simon Peter.

 

It appears as if Andrew lived in his brother’s shadow. Out of the dozen or so times his name occurs in Scripture, only once does it appear without Peter’s name being mentioned too. In fact, Andrew is most often referred to as “Simon Peter’s brother,” as he is in verse 40 in today’s reading from John’s gospel. 

 

Although it was Andrew who was the first to follow Jesus, it was his brother who would become the first among the apostles and to be in Jesus’ inner circle — Peter, along with James and John, also known as the “Zebedee boys” as one of my seminary professors called them. In fact, the name, Peter or Cephas, was a special name given by Jesus, meaning “a rock.” Andrew, however, would simply be one of the Twelve.

 

But, that does not mean that we should feel bad for Andrew, as if he were being treated unfairly. For he had his own special, God-given place and role as an apostle.

 

This was the way of Andrew, even as it was the way of Andrew’s first teacher and rabbi, John the Baptizer. John’s task was to prepare the way of the Lord, to point to Jesus and say, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). John’s purpose was not to gain permanent disciples for himself, but to lose his disciples to Jesus, to lead people to him who is the Christ.

 

[Andrew Points to Jesus]

 

John would say of Jesus: “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).

 

That is true not only for John or Andrew, but for all of us here as well, especially during this season of Advent.

 

You are to decrease, to die to yourself and your own desires, so that Jesus might come forth and be magnified in you with His abounding mercy and life. As Paul writes in Galatians 2: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”We are all made new through Christ.

 

Again, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” This saying showed itself in Andrew’s life in the way he directed others — not to himself — but to Christ. He brought people to Jesus.

 

One of those many times that Andrew led people to Jesus was when he found a young boy who had five barley loaves and two fish. Andrew did not know if what he did would help, but he brought the boy and his food anyway. And from that, Jesus fed 5,000 men, plus women and children — and they believed.

 

Then in today’s lesson, we learn that it was Andrew who brought his brother Peter to Jesus.

 

You see, Andrew believed that Jesus was the promised Messiah, and that faith immediately led him to seek out his brother and tell him. Andrew may not have become a famous apostle, but he was the man who brought Peter to Jesus.

 

Now, all of us here this evening can be a little like Andrew. You may not be the most prominent member of First Lutheran, but you can do things to help lead people to Jesus. 

 

When you lead someone to become baptized in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, you are being like Andrew. When you invite or give someone a ride to the Divine Service or Bible study, you are being like Andrew. 

 

For Jesus is the Word made flesh; He is living and active in the proclamation of His Word to save those who hear and believe. Just as Andrew led Peter to Jesus, you also get to welcome others to come and see where Jesus abides for us with His life-giving gifts. We decrease and Christ increases as we direct people away from ourselves to Him, the only Savior of the world.

 

[Jesus Humbled Himself for Us]

 

Fittingly, Jesus became our Savior by taking the least and the lowest place for Himself. Jesus humbled Himself to be born of a virgin. He decreased to the point of death on a cross for us, so that you might increase with the riches of His forgiveness and grace. Through Jesus — the Lamb of God, we are covered with the pure fleece of Jesus’ righteousness. Jesus who humbled Himself is now risen and is exalted to the name above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow.

 

[St. Andrew’s Cross]

 

After Christ returned to heaven, tradition has it that Andrew became a fisher of men in Greece. With the help of the Holy Spirit, Andrew made converts of many in a town called Patras. This upset the pagans of the town and Andrew wound up in jail.

 

When the Christians heard about Andrew arrested, they became enraged and if it was not for Andrew urging the people to imitate Jesus — a riot could have broken out. 

 

Eventually, Andrew’s death was decreed and he was to be crucified on a saltire — a cross in the shape of an “X.”

 

Andrew preached Christ for two days on that cross, continuing to point people to Jesus, before his suffering finally ended and he died.

 

Today, Andrew is most known for the way he died.

 

In fact, the flag of Scotland is in the shape of the St. Andrew’s Cross.

 

The St. Andrew’s Cross is also represented on the British Union Jack flag as the “X” representing the union of Scotland within the United Kingdom.

 

In a way, Andrew’s life as a disciple came full circle. For when Andrew first met Jesus, our Lord said to him, “Come and you will see” the place where I am staying (v. 39). Now at last, Andrew again went to where the Lord was. Andrew was with Christ. For we know that Jesus will take us to be with Himself — in soul in our death and in body at the Resurrection on the Last Day.

 

Since we have this certain hope in Christ, let us learn from the example of Andrew’s humility. Let us “humble ourselves.” Amen.

 

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