Funeral Sermon: "Into Eternal Joy and Bliss" (John 14:1-6)

 

Linda, Joel, family and friends of Dale:

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

[Intro]

“Let not your hearts be troubled” (John 14:1a). With these words, Jesus fortifies and preserves His disciples in knowing the sure and certain hope that we will see our loved ones again.

In the last days to hours of Dale’s earthly life, for Linda and son Joel, I’m sure there were times when their hearts were troubled. Thoughts like, “This isn’t the way I thought it would be” I’m sure cropped in their minds. It certainly crops into all our minds. But why? Even though death is expected of all of us – unless Christ returns first – death still does not seem right. It doesn’t seem right that we are separated from our loved ones. But with death, comes separation. And with any separation, we experience loss. With separation, we come to a time of mourning. Some mourn publicly, others mourn privately. But we all mourn.

We mourn because death is not natural. You see, humanity was not created to die. But due to our first parents – Adam and Eve – we all die, because “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a). And so, we mourn. But mourning is a good and godly work. Remember how Jesus reacted to the death of His friend Lazarus? He wept. Jesus wept because He loved His friend, so weeping and mourning the death of any loved one is a good work.

We Christians mourn because of the reality of death. We mourn because we were never intended to die and should live forever. But we do not mourn as those who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). We mourn, but our mourning is mixed with hope. Our tears are mixed with faith. Our sadness is mixed with joy because “the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23b).

[Christian Vocations]

Throughout his earthly life, Dale lived out his Christian vocations. He was a son, a brother, a husband, a father, and grandfather to name a handful of his vocations. As a son, he farmed with his father. As a husband, he provided for his family at Glencoe Manufacturing and Hutchinson Technology Incorporated. As a father, he and Joel worked together in the garden. As a grandfather, he enjoyed every moment he had with his grandchildren.

Dale sure enjoyed gardening. He provided the seed, but it was the Master Gardener – Almighty God – who gave life to his daffodils, zinnias, rose bushes, and hardy hibiscus bushes.

Besides gardening, Dale had so many hobbies. By far, his interest in sports always served as a conversation on my communion visits.

But all the while, right at his side, as he watched sports on television and read the Minneapolis StarTribune, was his Lutheran prayer book. And that Lutheran prayer book had a lot of ware and tear. You see, his vocations, his joy of gardening, and sports were not the most important to him, what was most important to him was his Christian faith.

Dale held to this truth wholeheartedly: “Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). He also held on to this fact: “God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God” (Romans 5:8-9). And he trusted these words of Jesus: “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).

In his earthly life, Dale was a sinner – just like you and me – but due to his faith in Christ, he is no longer numbered among sinners. You see, at his death, his sin was destroyed. Death for Dale is simply a portal to heaven as His Savior Jesus Christ called him home. Today, Dale is resting from his labors as he has received the promise of eternal life.

[Troubled Hearts]

Jesus assures us again today as He says: “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me” (John 14:1). Before Jesus spoke those words to His disciples, the Twelve had always felt secure, assured, and unafraid because of Christ’s personal presence. They had been eyewitnesses when Jesus proved Himself mightily before the people with His preaching and His signs.

In brief, as long as the disciples had Christ with them, they had no reason to worry about anything. Jesus knew that at His departure, His disciples would fare much differently. He knew that they would be overrun by anxiety and fear. So, Christ says those words that are most comforting to us this day, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me” (John 14:1).

This is as if Christ said, “My dear disciples, I know very well what your lot will be after I depart from you and leave you alone. Sheer terror and fear will overwhelm you. Your hearts will melt within you, and you will not know where to turn. I am telling you this before it happens, to keep you from growing fainthearted.”

With those words “Let not your hearts be troubled,” Christ is fortifying and preserving His disciples then and His disciples now – you and me.

Christ never said our lives here on earth would be without fear and trouble, but He did say to place those burdens upon Him and He will carry them.

In our sermon hymn, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” (LSB 770) – which is one of Dale’s favorites, we sang how God invites us to pray. Christ says to us, “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). You see, through prayer, God takes our thoughts and concerns upon Himself. No matter what the Christian faces, the Savior’s concern – “Can we find a friend so faithful” – and promises – “In His arms He’ll take and shield thee” are an invitation to pray, for which Dale did in his earthly life. Remember, Jesus knows our every weakness, since He became man by taking upon Himself our human flesh in order to suffer and die for our sins as our crucified and risen Savior.

[The Way]

Each of us has a Friend so faithful that He suffered and died and took His life back up again in order to give His flock eternal life (John 10:18). For Christ’s disciples then, they didn’t always understand what Jesus was saying. Thomas for sure was confused as he said, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” (John 14:5).

Then as is now, people seek a variety of ways to salvation. People devise one way after the other proving how ignorant they are of the right way.

If we want to be assured of reaching heaven, we must have a sure way and sure road to travel. For there is only one right way and one right road. And such a way is found only in God’s Word. For Christ alone is the only Way and the only right Road on which our heart can and must rely on and depend.

Jesus says to Thomas and to us, for which Dale trusted: “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).

What Jesus is saying here is this: “‘I am the Way.’ Cling to Me with your faith. I am the Bridge to carry you. For it is I who paved the way and the road. I became man so that I might take you and all My followers to heaven.”

This journey began in Baptism when through the water and the Word, the Holy Spirit gave us faith to believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. Through our earthly life, we walk in this faith until Christ completes it through death. For faith never errs or strays, but clings to Christ. When our journey on earth is over, faith confirms that we are already at our destination of eternal life.

Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and what a comforting doctrine this is.

But someone may ask, “What does coming to the Father mean?” Well, nothing else than what Christ has already spoken. By faith in Christ, we pass from death into life, from sin into innocence, from misery and distress into eternal joy and bliss.

All throughout his life, Dale received strength for his faith as he was forgiven by God through the Means of Grace – Word and Sacrament. It is through Christ’s work that Dale is now resting from his labors, as Jesus has accomplished salvation for him and for you and me! By grace through faith in Christ, death is but a portal, since “the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23b).

Today, Dale has joined the Church Triumphant in heaven as he has left the great tribulation of this life now. Dale is clothed in Christ’s Robe of Righteousness as he is before the throne of God where he hungers no more, neither thirst anymore as he is in the presence of the Good Shepherd Jesus Christ (Revelation 7:14-17; Isaiah 25:6-9). Today, Dale and his fellow saints are free from sin and its power.

But heaven is not the end. For all the faithful, there is still something more on the horizon. “Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52). You see, death does not have the final say. Life has the final say. Since Christ has been raised from the dead, we too, will also be raised. So, Dale’s grave will be as empty as the grave of Jesus! This body buried will be the body raised on that glorious resurrection day!

May we too – by faith in Christ – pass from death into life, where we fly like eagles as we are held in the palm of Christ’s hand where there is only eternal joy and bliss. Amen!

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

+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +

Dale Duenow's Obituary: https://hantge.com/obituaries/dale-otto-duenow/

Sermon for Holy Trinity: "Trinity Revealed" (John 8:48-59)

 

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]

“What if God was one of us?” That is the question posed by pop star Joan Osborne with her debut single in 1995, which peaked at number four on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 that year.

Although the song was catchy, for which I shared in my “God in the Jukebox Bible Study” some years ago, there are some falsehoods in that song, like how God would appear secretly as a stranger on a bus. But the point of the song is the question: “What if God was one of us?”

Today on this Holy Trinity Sunday, God appears as one of us. Not at His return as proposed in that 1995 song, but during His earthly ministry. On this day, we recall how God revealed Himself at the Temple built with stones. We also recall how God’s people reacted to His presence.

[At the Temple Built with Stones]

Our Gospel lesson today picks up in mid-conversation between the Jewish religious authorities and Jesus. The religious authorities are bombarding Jesus with question after question in order to catch Jesus in a lie. They would do anything to trap Jesus in order to call Him out as a fraud.

As question after question passes by, we see how the Jewish authorities are becoming more hardened and becoming more raving. The more they are rightly taught by Jesus, the angrier they become. Jesus asks them very kindly for the reason why they still do not believe, since they can find no fault either with His life or with His teaching. His life is innocent. His teaching is innocent. So, Jesus acts as He teaches: innocent.

These Jewish leaders have no reason for their unbelief other than they are not God’s children. Therefore, Jesus issues the verdict on them and says: “Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God” (John 8:47). With these words, Jesus is saying nothing other than this: “You are of the devil.”

These Jews could not tolerate this, since they wanted to be God’s children and His people. And for that reason, these Jewish leaders begin to rage away by defaming Jesus’ life and doctrine. They ask Jesus, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?” (John 8:48).

Here, they defame His doctrine by saying, “You have a demon” (John 8:48), that is, “You speak from the devil and Your doctrine is the devil’s lie.” They also defame His life by saying, “You are a Samaritan” (John 8:48), which for Jews was the worst vice imaginable.

So, how does Jesus react? Well, He teaches us here what must happen with us and His Word. As followers of Christ, both our life and our doctrine will be condemned and defamed. Sadly, this is done by what the world portrays as the most distinguished, wisest, and greatest people on the earth.

So, what does Christ do here? Does He challenge these Jewish leaders to a fight behind the Temple? No. He leaves His life stuck in shame and is silent and tolerates it. He tolerates being tagged with the insult in being called a Samaritan. But He defends His doctrine. He says, “I do not have a demon, but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me” (John 8:49).

Today, truth is seen by many to be offensive. Among what the world would name the most distinguished, wisest, and greatest people on the earth, they would say objective truth is “phobic.” That is, by adhering to the truth, this person is having “an extreme or irrational fear of or aversion to something.” According to the world, society must move on from truth. But any attack on truth is actually an attack on Jesus, who is the Truth (John 14:6).

You see, as Christians – followers of Christ, we are to follow Christ’s example. So, we take the personal insults. But at the same time, when Christian doctrine is insulted, we do as Christ does here. Jesus did not tolerate it when doctrine was insulted. There is where His patience ceased. Jesus risked His life for doctrine. He suffered all they did, so that the honor of God the Father and of His Word would not suffer.

In following Christ’s example, if we perish, no great harm is done. But if we let God’s Word perish by remaining silent, then we do harm to God and to the whole world. So, as the world attacks God’s doctrine by slander, we cannot keep silent. Although they do us injustice, yet we remain right before God.

So, Christ defends Himself and says, “I do not have a demon” – that is, My doctrine is not the devil’s lies – “but I honor My Father.” That is: “In My doctrine I preach the grace of God, through which He is to be praised, loved, and honored by believers.”

But why didn’t Christ say, “I honor My Father, and you do not honor Him?” Instead, He said, “You dishonor Me.” With those three words, Jesus is secretly pointing out that His Father’s honor and His honor are one and the same thing, just as He is one God with the Father. But this secret will be revealed in mere moments.

So, when the world attacks the doctrine of God, then God’s honor is attacked.

As God’s honor is stepped upon at the Temple built with stones, Jesus lays down not the Law, but the Gospel, saying: “Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My Word, he will never see death” (John 8:51).

What words of comfort! Here Jesus is teaching them and us that whoever clings to Him by faith overcomes sin, death, and the devil! This is such amazing grace, since by our own very nature, we are all enemies of God, due to our sin. But Jesus here says that anyone who “keeps” His Word will never, ever see death. In fact, in Christ, death has no grasp on us! You see, Jesus’ forgiveness gives life.

We receive Christ’s forgiveness only by grace through faith in Him. This grace we first received through our Baptism into Christ’s death and resurrection. You see, through Baptism we know that life has the final word, since through Christ alone, we are set free from death eternally! And through His Means of Grace – Word and Sacrament – we continually receive His forgiveness and strength for our faith.

But what did the crowd hear? Due to their hardened hearts, they heard the Law and said, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?” (John 8:52-53).

These Jews were focused on not the faith of Abraham and the prophets, but their works. They said, these men kept the Law with works and now each one of them is dead.

But this is not what Jesus said. Jesus said, those who keep His Word, would “never see death.” So, Jesus’ words are a Word of life, and it is true: whoever keeps His Word will not see death eternally. Throughout the entirety of God’s revealed Word in the Scriptures, there are only two places in the hereafter: eternal life or eternal death.

So, who does Jesus make Himself out to be, they ask? “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). The open secret of just moments ago is now fully revealed. Throughout this conversation, Jesus has been describing the relationship between the Father and the Son. They are One. “Yes,” Jesus says, “I have seen Abraham. I spoke to Abraham. I am.”

Here is God, one of us, yet without sin, standing at the Temple built with stones and His own people do not recognize Him. But they know full well what Jesus has just spoken to them. Instead of honoring Him, they pick up stones. Now, Jesus being fully God in human flesh, knew exactly what the angry crowd would do. This is likely why He spoke where He did at the Temple built with stones.

You see at this time, the Temple was receiving needed repairs, so there were heaps of stones near at hand. Jesus knew what this angry crowd was going to do.

As much as the Jewish leaders had hardened hearts, they also knew the Scriptures. At least certain Scripture passages, while they overlooked the ones referring to the Messiah. Since they heard Jesus say that He is equal to God, they did as Leviticus 24:14-16 prescribes to do: “Whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him. The sojourner as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death” (Leviticus 24:16).

So, they picked up stones in order to stone Him to death.

Here, Jesus spoke the ultimate truth. They should be worshiping Him. Yet, Jesus hid Himself by divine concealment.

[The Holy Trinity Is Revealed in Jesus]

Through Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit is recognized in its fullness. The very Son of God enables us to see the Holy Trinity by becoming flesh. So, when we see Jesus, we see the Father. We see the Holy Spirit. We see the Holy Trinity.

By Jesus being lifted up by going to the cross, by dying to atone for our sins is the way we are able to be with God and to see God for all eternity. The Son of God enables us to see the Holy Trinity by becoming flesh and by taking away our sin that would separate us from God.

The concept of the Holy Trinity is certainly above our human understanding, but He came to us in order for Him to have an intimate relationship with us through the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

God is not distant from us. He reveals Himself to us in His Word. He reveals Himself to us in His Sacraments. In Jesus, we come to know the fullness of the Triune God. We come to know the mystery of the Trinity revealed in Jesus.

I have been asked from time to time if Jews worship the same God as Christians. It is true that Jews worship Yahweh, the “I am.” But if they are not worshiping Jesus, then they are actually worshiping an imaginary “Father.” So, in all respects, if a person does not worship Jesus as God, then they do not have the same God as we do, who is the one true God revealed to us in three Persons: The Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. To know the one true God is to know the Son of God.

So, on that day, Jesus revealed the significance of the Son in the relationship to the Father. So, to know the Son is to know the Father.  Jesus is none other than the “I am.” Jesus is none other than Yahweh who came and spoke to Abraham who rejoiced knowing the Messiah would come. Jesus is none other than the One who spoke creation into existence.

In Jesus, the fullness of the Trinity is revealed. Amen.

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

+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +

Graveside Sermon: "Unending Joy" (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

 

Charles, Carol and Joyce, family and friends of Jeanne:

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

[Intro]

All throughout her life, the Lord provided for every need of Jeanne’s body and soul. She was certainly blessed throughout her vocations of her earthly life. She was a daughter, a sister, a loving wife, a mother, a homemaker, and an employee. She enjoyed all the moments shared with her family and friends.

One of the hobbies Jeanne enjoyed was quilting, so for her, there was “a time to tear, and a time to sew” (Ecclesiastes 3:7). The Triune God, too, enjoys quilting as He stitched this world into existence. He also stitched together our families and friends. The Triune God brings us all together. But even as through quilting we are brought together, today, we know that “there is also a time to tear.”

For us here this afternoon, we are experiencing a loss. With any separation, we come to a time of mourning. We mourn because death is not natural. You see, humanity was not created to die. But due to our first parents – Adam and Eve – we all die, because “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a). And so we mourn. But mourning is a good and godly work. You see, Jesus wept at the death of His friend Lazarus. Jesus wept because He loved His friend, so weeping and mourning the death of any loved one is a good work.

You see, Christians mourn because of the reality of death. We mourn because we were never intended to die and should live forever. But we do not mourn as those who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). We mourn, but our mourning is mixed with hope. Our tears are mixed with faith. Our sadness is mixed with joy, since despite the wages of sin being death, “the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23b).

[The Message of Ecclesiastes 3]

The opening verses of Ecclesiastes 3 are among the most famous in Scripture. In fact, its words are often quoted and sung. This divine poem leaves the reader awe-struck and silent in the face of majesty. But once the awe starts to fade into analysis, the reader is bound to find himself or herself scratching their head. What is the point? What exactly does it mean?

For centuries, there have been various interpretations of this divine poem. Instead of going into each interpretation out there, for which there are dozens. The main point of this divine poem is that it impacts the reader with everything it says. This divine poem exerts a force and leaves an impression. This poem cannot be dissected into its individual propositions.

This, in fact, is true of all Scripture. Its purpose is not merely to reveal ancient history or provide engaging literature. Rather, God works through His Word to move people to repentance and faith in Christ in teaching us that God is always in control. The ultimate message of this divine poem is this assurance of Jesus: “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

In the midst of all the times and seasons of mourning and rejoicing, war and love that God has appointed for His creatures, there was one appointed time that God reserved for Himself. It was the time, the hour, reserved for His Son, Jesus Christ (Mark 14:35, 41). It was the span of six hours that only God incarnate, who had been conceived and born in the fullness of time (Ecclesiastes 3:2; Galatians 4:4), could endure and fulfill. The sinless Son of God suffered and died on the cross to redeem Jeanne and His creatures from all their sin and suffering. Paradoxically, this time of death and killing (Ecclesiastes 3:2-3) was the hour when the Son was glorified by the Father by His obedience unto death, and the Father glorified His Son (John 17:1; Philippians 2:6-11).

Easter morning was the time for God to heal and build up (Ecclesiastes 3:3). The resurrection of the crucified Christ is the foundation upon which the Church is built, the basis for rebirth in Holy Baptism with the promise that, as we have died with Christ in Baptism, so also shall we be raised with Him (Romans 6:1-4; Colossians 2:11-13). In the eternal state, there shall be no more times of death or morning or weeping, only joy and peace forevermore (Isaiah 65:18; Revelation 21:4).

Christ’s suffering and death and resurrection are mirrored in this divine poem, because He became incarnate and as fully human as each of us, yet without sun, to deliver us from all evil and give us unending joy.

By grace through faith in Jesus, Jeanne has received unending joy. By grace through faith in Jesus, we too, are delivered from the power of sin and are given unending joy. Amen.

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

 

+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +

Jeanne Dodd Obituary: https://hantge.com/obituaries/jeanne-corrine-dodd/

Funeral Sermon: "Renewed in Christ" (Isaiah 40:27-31)

 

Willard, Eileen, Sandy, and Ronald, family and friends of Elaine:

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

[Intro]

The Triune God – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – is the God of comfort. Just some weeks ago, I visited with Elaine at the farm. Although I did the talking and singing, it was God’s comforting words that brought peace to Elaine. Afterall, it is the peace of God that surpasses all human understanding. God’s peace is unlike anything else in this world. God’s peace is sure and certain.

As you are likely aware, Elaine enjoyed the craft of sewing and embroidery. She also had a green thumb for gardening. But what she may be best known for is her cooking and baking. I have heard much about her homemade potato salad and her apple bars.

The Triune God certainly blessed Elaine. The Lord provided her with a loving husband Willard; three children: Eileen, Sandy, and Ronald; grandchildren and greatgrandchildren; and most importantly the gift of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone.

Today, Elaine is resting from her labors as she has received the promise of eternal life. She no longer suffers the effects of sin. She is at peace as she has joined the Church Triumphant with all the saints in heaven!

For us here this morning, we are experiencing a loss. With any separation, we come to a time of mourning. We mourn because death is not natural. You see, humanity was not created to die. But due to our first parents – Adam and Eve – we all die, because “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a). And so we mourn. But mourning is a good and godly work. You see, Jesus wept at the death of His friend Lazarus. Jesus wept because He loved His friend, so weeping and mourning the death of any loved one is a good work.

We Christians mourn because of the reality of death. We mourn because we were never intended to die and should live forever. But we do not mourn as those who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). We mourn, but our mourning is mixed with hope. Our tears are mixed with faith. Our sadness is mixed with joy, since despite the wages of sin being death, “the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23b).

[Four Important Truths about God]

We just sang the hymn “On Eagles’ Wings” (LSB 727). This hymn is a beloved hymn by many. It is certainly a hymn of comfort. Although the stanzas of this hymn build on the way God comforts us – His believers – it is the refrain that is the most familiar aspect of this hymn. I have noticed that whenever this hymn is sung, the voices always become louder when the refrain is sung:

      And He will raise you up on eagles’ wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His hand.

Text: © OCP Publications. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110002938

This refrain comes from today’s Old Testament text, Isaiah 40:27-31, which certainly gave the Israelites comfort as they would be led away into exile by the Babylonians. So, in the midst of their coming tears and heartache, God wanted them to remember that He was still in control and that He continued to love them.

Two questions appear in this Isaiah text: “Have you not known? Have you not heard?” (Isaiah 40:28a). These questions direct us back to what God reveals about Himself in the Scriptures. You see, we discover who God is only in what He has revealed to us in His Word. There, in the Holy Bible, God reveals Himself as “the Lord,” the God of free and faithful grace.

Following those questions, “Have you not known? Have you not heard?” God Himself gives us four important truths about Himself:

• First, He is “the Creator of the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 40:28c), which means that He has unlimited power and uses that power for the benefit of His creatures. He gave us – and every other creature – life and provided a beautiful world in which to live.
• Second, “He does not faint or grow weary” (Isaiah 40:28d), which means that His power was not exhausted by creation nor does He grow tired with the continuous care of the world He called into existence.
• Third, “His understanding is unsearchable” (Isaiah 40:28e), which means that He is beyond our human ability to grasp and understand. He is holy. All of humanity knows there is a god; the psalmist says, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God’” (Psalm 53:1). But the full truth about God lies beyond our empirical investigation. God must reveal Himself if we are to know anything about Him beyond the fact that He exists and He is great. This, God reveals to us in the Scriptures.
• Fourth, God “gives power to the faint” (Isaiah 40:29a), which means that He gives strength to the weary and the weak. He turns Himself toward His creatures. He gives blessings to them out of pure love for them.

God is all powerful. But for humans, we are much different. We are creatures, not the Creator, so “even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted” (Isaiah 40:30). We do grow weary and weak. We certainly can understand some things, but we must learn. Without the Lord, the best humans can do is only stumble and fall. But to such limited creatures as we are, God promises to give strength. The question then is how? How shall the Lord renew our strength?

[Strength Renewed in Christ]

 “They who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31a). You see, faith in the LORD brings this strength!

When we rely on human strength, we will stumble. But when we trust in the LORD for strength, He gives it! Not only will those who cling to Jesus Christ, like Elaine, receive strength; they will renew their strength. All believers in Christ will arise from the ashes of grief and suffering to run and walk again.

By faith in Christ, we “shall mount up with wings like eagles” (Isaiah 40:31b). You see, Christians are pictured as eagles soaring in the blue sky. Eagles ride air currents as they stretch out their wings and soar. For us, God promises to be the wind beneath the wings of His people. This is such wonderful comfort for all who hope in the LORD! The entire life of God’s people – their walking, running, and soaring – is filled with the boundless and tireless strength of God. Even in death, Christians mount on eagles’ wings and soar to God in heaven, where God gives them joy forever with His presence. There, they “hunger no more, neither thirst anymore” (Revelation 7:16a).

Christ’s faithfulness to us provides our only hope for life – for He said of Himself: “Whoever believes in Him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:15-16). We are saved only by grace through faith in Christ alone. This is the foundation of the Christian faith, for which Elaine believed and trusted.

You see, it is only through Jesus’ suffering and death for our sins that we are united to God the Father and this union gives us eternal life! This union comes to all believers through the water and the Word in Holy Baptism. This union is strengthened each time we hear His Word and partake of His Sacrament as we receive forgiveness of sins.

Through Christ alone, we have life as we “mount up with wings like eagles” (Isaiah 40:31b), as we run and are not weary, as we walk and not faint (Isaiah 40:31c-d).

The eagles’ effortless and jubilant flight is that of Christians who have been freed from the power of sin, death, and Satan and strengthened to let their lights shine before all people. By clinging to Christ, we fly like eagles as we are held squarely in the palm of Christ’s hand, the very hands on which they themselves are engraved with the marks of the nails from His atoning death on the cross and His bodily resurrection.

As much as we speak about heaven, heaven is not the end. You see, for all the faithful in heaven, there is still something better on the horizon. “Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52). On the day of the Lord’s coming, we know death does not have the final say. Life has the final say. Since Christ has been raised from the dead, we too, will also be raised. So, Elaine’s grave will be as empty as the grave of Jesus! This body buried will be the body raised on that glorious resurrection day!

May we, too, with Elaine, receive God’s renewed strength and the promise of eternal life to the age to come! Amen.

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

+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +

Elaine Grack's Obituary: https://hantge.com/obituaries/elaine-h-mielke/

Funeral Sermon: "Resting in Christ" (Matthew 11:25-30)

 

Lois, Susan, and Dale, family and friends of Glen:

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

[Intro]

As a farmer, Glen had the instincts on knowing the “time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted” (Ecclesiastes 3:2b). And even during seasons when it appeared that it may be a lower crop yield, he always trusted that the Lord would provide. The Lord always provided all of his needs of body and soul those 94 years of his earthly life.

But as God proclaims in Ecclesiastes 3, the Christian life here on earth is a life of ups and downs. Glen certainly had his ups and downs, as well we all do. So, he wept and mourned as he was separated from loved ones, especially at the loss of Lora, his beloved wife for nearly 67 years; his daughter Sara, whose life was cut short; and so many others. But the life of a Christian is not just weeping and mourning, it is also a time of joy with laughter and is also a time of dancing.

Glen never got tired of telling me the story on how he and his wife Lora met. It was a love story. They first met on the dance floor at the Pla Mor Ballroom. You could say it was love at first sight as they first danced to a waltz. Although they both believed they had never met before, they soon realized that each of them belonged to the same church: First Lutheran Church. Although their belief in God strengthened the courtship, I have since been told that Lora’s family barn may have sealed the deal. You see, even as Glen admired Lora – for which He always did in sickness and in health – I have now come to know that Glen always liked the look of her family barn.

The triune God – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – certainly blessed Glen. The Lord provided him a loving wife; four children: Lois, Susan, Dale, and Sara; family and friends; and most importantly the gift of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone.

Throughout his life, Glen fulfilled various Christian vocations: As husband, as father, as grandfather, and as brother. He was a farmer, a deacon, and friend. And this list goes on as on, as is the life of a Christian.

Today, Glen is resting from his labors as he has received the promise of eternal life. Glen certainly endured through life’s ups and downs, but now he no longer suffers the effects of sin as he has joined the Church Triumphant with all the saints in heaven!

As Glen experienced loss during his earthly life, today, we are experiencing loss. With any separation, we come to a time of mourning. Some mourn publicly, others mourn privately. But we all mourn. We mourn because death is not natural. You see, humanity was not created to die. But due to our first parents – Adam and Eve – we all die, because “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a). And so we mourn. But mourning is a good and godly work. You see, Jesus wept at the death of His friend Lazarus. Jesus wept because He loved His friend, so weeping and mourning the death of any loved one is a good work.

We Christians mourn because of the reality of death. We mourn because we were never intended to die and should live forever. But we do not mourn as those who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). We mourn, but our mourning is mixed with hope. Our tears are mixed with faith. Our sadness is mixed with joy.

[What a Friend We Have in Jesus]

We just sang Glen’s favorite hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” (LSB 770). The hymnwriter Joseph Scriven (1819-1886) lived a life full of ups and downs. In the singing of this hymn, we are reminded of Jesus’ words that He said to His disciples: “I have called you friends” (John 15:15). But we miss the true comfort of those words if we sentimentally perceive that by “friend,” Jesus means He is a buddy with whom we can enjoy good times and commiserate in bad times. Instead, those words invite every believer in Christ to stand in awe and gratitude that He who reigns over all creation now treats His people – who were once His enemies – as His friends.

Consider just a few of the Scripture verses on which this hymn builds: “Ask, and it will be given to you” (Matthew 7:7); “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me” (Psalm 50:15); and “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). You see, God invites us to pray. Meanwhile, the hymn speaks a word of Law that laments “what a peace we often forfeit” when Christians decline the invitation to pray.

With rhetorical questions at the beginning of stanzas two and three, the hymnist reminds us that tribulations fill life on earth: sometimes everyday difficulties, sometimes the kind of faith-challenging trials, and sometimes the continuing struggles to live as a Christian in a temptation-filled world. No matter what the believer faces, the Savior’s concern – “Can we find a friend so faithful” – and promises – “In His arms He’ll take and shield thee” are an invitation to pray.

After all, as a human like those who pray to Him, “Jesus knows our every weakness.” In other words, “we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses” (Hebrews 4:15), but one who always knows how best to answer prayer.

Glen always took his burdens to His Lord through prayer. Some people today say prayer accomplishes nothing. They demand action. But what these people fail to realize is that prayer is action.

[“I Will Give You Rest”]

Jesus proclaims to us: “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

Some people claim to be “wise and understanding” (Matthew 11:25), but they refuse to acknowledge their utter and complete need for God’s saving righteousness. They will not rejoice that such reconciling action has come into the world in Jesus. This was not Glen. Glen is the opposite. Glen is what Jesus calls an “infant.”

Jesus calls all of His flock – His disciples – as not the “wise and understanding” but as “infants.” Why infants? Well, infants are helpless and rely completely on their parents for food, warmth, safety, and life itself. Christ calls His disciples “infants” since we are incapable of saving ourselves from sin, eternal death, and Satan.

You see, Christians are dependent on divine grace. But paradoxically, in Christ these who are dependent become strong and wise unto salvation. All of this comes not by human reason or strength, but from God the Father, who reveals these things to “infants.” All our wisdom comes from Jesus.

So, as “infants” we follow Jesus as the Messiah and follow Him as His disciples. And as His “infant” disciples, Christ gives us rest. He says: “Come to Me!” (Matthew 11:28)

As sinners, we are all totally depraved, so we of all times and all places are subject to the heavy burdens of sin, with the knowledge that we fall short of what God intended. Life in a fallen creation is a hard life. But Jesus’ words here offer comfort and promised rest, both in this life and in the age to come.

Now the way to find rest is to trade the heavy burden of sin and failure for Jesus’ own “yoke.” At first glance, this seems hardly like an offer of rest to take a yoke upon yourself. But as Jesus continues to speak, He reveals that the essence of taking His yoke upon yourself consists in learning what He is like. For this “yoke” is nothing other than to become a disciple of Jesus, as His own words declare: “Learn from Me.” The noun “disciple” and the verb “learn” share a common root and a common meaning; to be Jesus’ disciple is to learn from Him. But then the obvious question is: learn what?

In order to take the yoke of Jesus and find rest from one’s burdens, what one needs to learn is what Jesus is like: “Learn from Me that I am gentle and humble in heart.” In learning that Jesus gently receives and forgives all who come to Him in need, disciples find rest for their lives. All who come to His unparalleled authority and power with only their need in their hands find a Savior. He saves because of His own humility of heart that leads Him to suffer and die on the cross for our sins and to bodily rise from the dead for all. So, taking on the yoke of Jesus lightens the burdens of life and of eternity. Because of who Jesus is – our Good Shepherd and Lord and Savior – the burden of discipleship becomes light indeed.

So, with the yoke of Jesus, God’s commandments are no longer a heavy burden that weighs us down and destroys us. Instead, they are expressions of God’s will in which we delight, for we look for ways to express our thanks to God for the blessings of His grace. No burden is too heavy and Jesus takes the load for us and promises us rest.

All throughout his life, Glen received strength for his faith as he was forgiven by God through the Means of Grace – Word and Sacrament. It is through God’s Word and Sacrament that Glen is now resting from his labors, as Jesus has accomplished salvation for him and for you and me! So, what the world sees as Glen’s death, his death in Christ is but a portal, since “the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23b).

Today, Glen has come out of the great tribulation of our life now and is now clothed in Christ’s Robe of Righteousness as he is before the throne of God where he hungers no more, neither thirst anymore as he is in the presence of the Good Shepherd Jesus Christ. Just as Jesus provided his needs in his earthly life, Jesus continues to provide for all the needs of the departed faithful in the Church Triumphant where they are free from sin and its power.

But heaven is not the end. For all the faithful in heaven, there is still something better on the horizon. “We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet” (1 Corinthians 15:52). Death does not have the final say. Life has the final say. Since Christ has been raised from the dead, we too, will also be raised. So, Glen’s grave will be as empty as the grave of Jesus! This body buried will be the body raised on that glorious resurrection day!

May we too receive what Jesus offers to us freely, eternal rest in Him in this life and in the age to come! Amen.

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

+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +

Glen Beneke's Obituary: https://hantge.com/obituaries/glen-w-beneke/

Sermon for Easter 7: "Unified, Restored, and Sent as Christ's Witnesses" (Acts 1:12-26)

 

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

[Intro]

“You will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). With those words, Jesus encouraged His apostles as He was bodily ascending triumphantly into heaven as Emmanuel – God with us.

Today on this Seventh Sunday of Easter, these witnesses are no longer hiding behind locked doors for the fear of the Jewish authorities. No, this joyous assurance of the Ascension of our Lord knowing that He will return again filled their hearts and drove out all fear. From the moment they left the Mount of Olives, they worshiped the Father and His Son, Jesus, in full public view.

But as how unified the Eleven were as they were with one accord devoting themselves to prayer, they were not complete. Jesus called Twelve men, not eleven. The outward appearance of unity and completeness might be maintained, but what was broken cannot make itself whole again. Sin cannot be undone, except if God Himself should do it. So, how shall the apostles be made one again?

[The Calling of Matthias]

During the days that followed the ascension of Jesus, the Eleven and the other disciples, about 120 in number, awaited the coming of the promised Holy Spirit by devoting themselves to prayer. Their prayer arose out of their study together of the prophets – who had pointed to the incarnation of Christ, His ministry, sufferings, death, and resurrection – and of the Psalms, the prayer book of the twelve tribes of Israel, of the whole people of God, of Christ Jesus, and of the Church in all ages.

In the course of their prayers from God’s Word, Psalm 69 and Psalm 109 came to Peter’s attention. Here, was the Word from the Lord to direct their action. As the de facto leader, Peter took the initiative in doing something. Since Jesus had chosen Twelve men, Peter and the others believed that a replacement for Judas should be selected. As Israel had been broken and scattered because of sin, so, too, the apostolic circle had been broken by the sin of Judas Iscariot. The Twelve were now only the Eleven. The full number of the Twelve must be restored.

After citing Scripture, Peter concludes that someone must be chosen to take Judas’ place. But who? Well, it would be a man who has the same qualifications as the other apostles. That is, he must have been with Jesus from the beginning of the Savior’s ministry – His righteous fulfilling Baptism by John – to the day of His ascension. Like the others, the man who is chosen must be one who had seen and heard and touched and eaten and been instructed by the risen Christ.

So, the group of believers nominated two men who met these qualifications: Joseph called Barsabbas who was also called Justus and Matthias. But why one witness more? Why not both? Well, if this were simply a matter of adding witnesses, certainly 13 would be better than 12. And in the coming years, the number of those who proclaim the resurrection would swell, as Barnabas, Paul, and Apollos joined in.

But remember, at the beginning of Christ’s earthly ministry, He chose 12 men – the living picture of Israel made one in Him and in their call to follow Him faithfully. Their unity, too, was broken by unfaithfulness by Judas Iscariot. This time there is no possibility of maintaining the illusion of fullness. The fellowship has been broken. This is what sin does. It drives us away from God and away from one another.

The restoration of the Twelve is the very picture of the Lord’s saving work. His death breaks the power of sin and His resurrection proclaims healing for the broken and reconciliation of those driven apart by sin. You see, filling the place that Judas deserted and restoring the full number of the Twelve not only brought an additional witness to the resurrection, but it was also a witness to the power of Christ’s resurrection to reconcile the estranged and make His people, His new Israel, whole.

The man who would complete the number of the Twelve would be like the Eleven with respect to His faithful following of the Lord, a witness to all He said and did in the days of His earthly ministry. As with the Eleven, this man would have followed the Lord, not by chance, or by his own decision, or by his own act of commitment, but by the calling of His Lord.

Again, two men met these qualifications: Joseph called Barsabbas who was also called Justus and Matthias. So, the group of about 120 prayed to Jesus saying: “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place” (Acts 1:24-25).

Through prayer, they were confident that Jesus had made His choice and that He would indicate His choice. They trusted that Jesus would name the new apostle through them. So, as it was custom when there was a tie, they cast lots, where they would write names on pebbles or pieces of broken pottery, shake the container with the lots, and the name that flew out first would be the choice. The lot fell on Matthias.

The Eleven and the nearly 120 disciples were confident that the Lord made His choice, since this was in accord with Proverbs 16:33: “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.”

Sometimes it still happens when two men are equally qualified for a position in leadership in the church. When an election results in a tie, it is proper to draw lots in some way to determine the Lord’s choice.

But you can’t help but feel bad for Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus. Every one of us is at times the “unchosen one.” Unchosen ones exist everywhere. The ones who didn’t make the team, get the promotion, get the job. Even though the lot did not fall upon him, he would still be a witness.

It is likely that this man continued his discipleship to His Lord Jesus, likewise to the nearly 120 that day.

Jesus said: “You will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Jesus, here, is not commanding them to be His witnesses, but He promises that, as a result of receiving the Holy Spirit, they would just naturally be His witnesses. They would feel no outward compulsion to bring their testimony of the redemption won by their Lord through His death on the cross and sealed and ratified by His resurrection and His ascension. They would do it with great joy and zeal that would never tire. The Holy Spirit would make them witnesses who say: “We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20).

[Sent as Christ’s Witnesses]

With the Apostles now unified as Twelve, plus the other disciples, the events of the Ascension and the upcoming events at Pentecost give them the encouragement to spread the good news of Christ to all nations. This they did through the exalted Lord who gave the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit continues to operate with power through His Word. The Word of the Lord proved its creative power: how it was preached, brought forth faith and sustained it in the hearts of many, was embattled, and went on from victory to victory.

Due to the Ascension, the Twelve were content to be witnesses. Gone were their dreams of power connected with personal prestige. No one would argue who would be the greatest (Luke 22:24) or sit at Christ’s right or left hand (Mark 10:37). No one again would speak about an earthly kingdom.

But how would they be able to proclaim the divine truth of salvation in Jesus Christ without making a mistake? Well, the Holy Spirit would empower them to bring testimony that would be in perfect accord. The promise Jesus had made would come true: “The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26).

And so, it would be. At Pentecost, the Apostles would be filled with the Holy Spirit so they would remember all that Jesus had taught them. Peter would preach nothing but the purest divine truth with no human additives, such as hopes and dreams that Jesus would bring in a glorious earthly kingdom, or promote social justice, or approval of sins. Paul and the other apostles would do the same. The apostles were plainly inspired by the Holy Spirit. So, to accomplish Jesus’ prophecy of “to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8), Jesus gave His Holy Spirit to endow the apostles with the gift of divine inspiration. Through the inspired Gospels and the Epistles, the eternally true, infallible testimony their Lord entrusted them was spread to the very ends of the earth. Through the Scriptures, the apostles to this day bring the glorious gospel witness to the end of time.

But what was the response the apostles received when they witnessed to a hostile world? They were mocked and ridiculed. They suffered. They died a martyr’s death. But they were never intimidated by any opposition, by danger as the price for telling the truth. You see, the Holy Spirit filled the apostles with a great boldness and courage, so that under persecution they not only remained steadfast and unflinching, but considered the sufferings they often received from their witnessing to Christ to be badges of honor. They could not help but tell of the good news of Christ.

This Good News of salvation would be proclaimed for all nations and peoples as the Twelve and all disciples would go into all the world, inviting all to the Baptism that incorporates us into Christ and makes us members of His Body the Church, announcing forgiveness to the penitent and unbelieving and calling us to oneness in Him and with all believers, through our eating His Body and drinking His Blood in His Supper.

Since, we too, have seen, heard, tasted, and touched Jesus in His Means of Grace – His Word and Sacrament – we are also His witnesses. By grace through faith in Christ alone, we are all unified and restored and sent to proclaim the good news of salvation in Christ alone! Amen.

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

+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +

Remembering and Thanking God for Nicaea

 

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

On June 12, the holy Christian Church remembers and gives thanks to God for the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, which began on that date in A.D. 325.

Emperor Constantine summoned this first ecumenical council in the city of Nicaea, which is located in modern-day Turkey. Constantine invited every bishop of the Church – some 1,800 bishops – but only approximately 300 attended.

The council was called primarily to deal with the heretical teaching of Arius of Alexandria, Egypt. Arius taught about Jesus that “there was a time when He was not,” which was a heresy, a false teaching that would endanger Christ’s flock of their salvation if they would believe that. Arius was very persuasive as he had many influential people on his side. The issue with Arius’s teaching is that he taught that there was a time when Jesus was not God, but this is against Christ’s very words, “ I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end” (Revelation 22:13); “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30); “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58); and on, and on, and on.

So, to combat this heresy, the council was convened. The council dealt with various other Church issues as well, but the main issue was condemning this heresy. As the bishops arrived, they all confessed the Apostles’ Creed, but they desired to develop it more so it would be boldly asserted that the Son was “homoousious” (that is, of the same substance or essence) as the Father. While at the council, with the Holy Spirit’s guidance, the bishops agreed upon the wordage of the Nicene Creed, which all came directly from Scripture. At the First Council of Constantinople in A.D. 381, the Church would later affirm the Nicene Creed as we confess today.

The pattern of Church leaders meeting to confess doctrine, reject error, and offer guidance for the practical questions of the day became established with this council. Today, the first seven ecumenical councils are recognized by the entire Christian Church (First Council of Nicaea, 325; First Council of Constantinople, 381; Council of Ephesus, 431; Council of Chalcedon, 451; Second Council of Constantinople, 553; Third Council of Constantinople, 680-681; and the Second Council of Nicaea, 787).

In the heritage of the church councils, the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod meets for convention both synodical wide and at the district level. So, such councils, or conventions, still characterize the Church’s life today.

Oddly enough, among the famous participants at the First Council of Nicaea was Nicholas of Myra, who the legend of Santa Claus is modeled after. According to folklore, Nicholas slapped Arius for speaking heresy against Jesus Christ. Also, Athanasius of Alexandria attended this council. Due to his steadfast faith, the Athanasian Creed is named in his honor.

By confessing the Creeds today, we confess the basics of the Christian faith as revealed in God’s Holy Word!

The Lord bless you and keep you always!

In Christ,

Pastor Adelsen