Jesus

There are 136 posts tagged Jesus (this is page 35 of 46).

Christmas Vigil 2011 – Luke 2:1-14

24. December 2011
Eve of the Nativity of Our Lord
Luke 2:1-14

We have arrived. The festival of our Lord’s nativity is here. For weeks the church has anxiously awaited this most joyous occasion. We have restrained ourselves from sumptuous meals. We have held back from singing the Gloria with the angels. We have contemplated the Lord as judge and king. We have heard his forerunner John the Baptist call us to repent for the kingdom of heaven is now at hand. Our eyes followed his scrawny finger towards the manger as he pointed and declared “He is the Christ!”

This brings us again to end of a long and exhausting journey. We have been traveling this road since that fateful day, when our mother and father ate of the fruit of the forbidden tree, we have longed for salvation. We have hoped for redemption. We have waited for the desire of nations. The serpent deceived us and we ate. The doors were barred to paradise. Yet, our merciful God promised a brother who would crush that miserable enemy’s head. He would open that door and enter. His train of witnesses will follow Him.

We knew what was needed. The Lord will provide for himself the lamb for the offering, my son. The only-begotten son of Abraham is spared. The only-begotten of God is given. The Lord will provide. He will sacrifice and be the sacrifice. The light of this burnt offering will pierce even the darkest recesses of the heart. The hike up that mountain was shrouded in darkness. The wandering the wilderness had only the twinkling stars and dim moon to guide. Even the so-called Promised Land shone only for a moment and then was eclipsed by our great wickedness. Yet, this was not forever. We have seen a great light. The darkness is overcome.

This great light has caused the nation of God to multiply. It is a kingdom of rejoicing and harvest. The bonds that once held us fast are broken. The yoke and staff destroyed. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. He is our king. This altar is his throne. He established his reign and upholds it with his righteousness. It is finished, from this time and forevermore.

He is the shoot that sprouted from this rocky soil. He is the tree and He is the fruit. Under the shelter of his boughs children play. Animals graze. Snakes and adders neither hurt nor destroy. All are fed with wisdom and understanding. Counsel and might. Knowledge and fear. Righteousness and faithfulness are the sap that nourishes His branches. His branches bear fruit in keeping with repentance.

This tree is ever glorious. Its shines like the sun, rising upon the hill. All nations have come to this light. Kings and princes have watched and followed its rising. Its radiant beams shine upon our faces, warm our dreary souls, and cause our heart to thrill and exult. Lift up your eyes and see, all around. Your Lord is the everlasting glory. Even the heavens are rent open. Angels and light stream forth. The way is clear. The light has come.

Those Angel hosts announce the birth. His name is Emmanuel. He is God with us. He is Jesus for He saves us from our sins. Born of Mary to redeem Mary. Adopted by Joseph to redeem to Joseph. Conceived of the Holy Spirit, just as all fellow brothers and sisters are born through Word, womb, water, and Spirit. He is born to redeem. We are born again with him, redeemed.

How can we know unless we hear? How can this good news be heard unless a messenger is sent? As we huddle outside, wondering, wandering, and waiting, we need to hear. We need to know. And the herald angel of the Lord calls out: Fear not! Why? I have for you good news, of great joy, for you and all people. For unto you is born a savior. It happened. We have arrived in the city of David. We have heard and we know where to find Him.

He is wrapped here in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. He is covered with linen and pall and lying on a wooden altar. This is a sign for you. God the Father has provided the lamb. God the Father has given you His only-begotten son. The name of this place is “the Lord will provide.”

Humble? Yes. Meek? Absolutely. Lowly? No question. Here are our Savior sits, enthroned on his manger, his mercy seat. Here angels break forth in song. Here the heavens are opened and light and glory of the only Lord shines around you. Our voices ring out “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among among those with whom he is pleased.”

Let us come, shepherds, angels, magi, and all to the stable and find salvation lying upon this manger. We come and worship Him, Christ the newborn king. We offer Him gifts rare, treasures of voice, of song, and lives. We have heard his voice, called by the shepherd, called to be His people Israel. His wayward sheep are gathered. His lost coin is found. His prodigal has returned. The feast is prepared. Let us eat and be satisfied.

Let us once again go to Bethlehem, the house of bread. Let us eat and be satisfied. This is love, sending His only Son into the world, so that we would live in Him and He in us. Love is not from us but from God. First God offered His son for you, to atone for you, to feed you with righteousness. First, the unblemished lamb is sacrificed and then we are redeemed.

We have seen Him face to face. We have received Him in the chalice upon our lips or the wafer upon our tongue. God abides in us and we in God. So, we have come to know and believe the love God has for us. We have arrived. The festival of our Lord’s nativity is here. Christ your redeemer is born. The feast has begun.

In Name of the Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Rev. Christopher R. Gillespie
Grace Lutheran Church
Dyer, Indiana

Advent III 2011 – Matthew 11:2-10

11. December 2011
Advent III
Matthew 11:2-10

Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” This question has been the source of debate for many a preacher. The nearly universal opinion is that John wanted his disciples break ties and attach themselves to Jesus. He sent them with a baited question, knowing that Jesus would spring the trap.

In more recent years, theologians have begun to take John’s question more literally, suggesting he doubted that Jesus was who he said he is. Perhaps John wasn’t so sure that the one who caused him to leap in Elizabeth’s womb is truly the Lord, as his mother confessed? Perhaps John wasn’t so sure that Jesus truly was “the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” as he had so boldly confessed? Perhaps the voice that he heard from heaven “this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased” or the Spirit descending as a dove were tricks of his imagination?

No, John knew perfectly well who Jesus was. He was willing to suffer imprisonment, pain, and even death for the sake of Him. He had heard from prison of the healing of the leper, the stilling of the storm, the raising of Jairus’ daughter and the widow’s son at Nain. The whole region of Galilee was abuzz with word of this Jesus. He healed those in pain, cast of foul demons, cured those with seizures, and even made the lame to walk. No doubt blind received sight and deaf their hearing.

John already knew and believed. His confession was validated by Jesus’ great deeds. The Lamb of God was doing the Lamb’s job. He was healing and forgiving, just as John expected. The problem is: John’s own disciples weren’t so sure. They are dedicated disciples of their man but to leave him and follow another? Now, that’s asking alot.

Change is never easy. Changing one’s expectations is the hardest. Perhaps John’s disciples enjoyed those grotesque locusts? Maybe the liked the scratchy camel hair coat of their prophet? Honey isn’t bad and far better than refined sugar, health-wise.

Or perhaps they loved the spectacle? All Galilee and the surround region flocked to be baptized by their man. They waited with baited breath for his latest tirade—reaming them out for their idolatry, their forsaking the Law, their total lack of love for God.

And what of the multitudes who came for John’s baptism? What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? … A man dressed in soft clothing? … A prophet? What do they expect of John? Do they expect more of him than he can possibly give? Do they put their hope in John and not in the one who comes after him? This is he of whom it is written, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.” John prepares for the one to come.

Whatever caused them to latch onto John, it was time to latch on to the one to come. That’s the point, isn’t it? John prepares for Jesus who is. “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” John knew full well Jesus is the one but those disciples didn’t. They liked the old way. They preferred dwelling in darkness and the shadow of death to light and life. They preferred sackcloth and ashes to brilliant garments and holy oil.

That’s your problem, too. You struggle between darkness and light, between death and life. You prefer who you are to who you are to become. You’re caught in middle between John and Jesus. That is, you’re caught between what is according to the God’s holy Law and what is and will be according to the holy Gospel.

John said: Repent—the kingdom of heaven is near. Repentance is a a change of mind and body. It is to say auf wiedersehn to your affection of riches, to bid fond adieu to the relentless pursuit of stuff. Repentance is saying adios to your compulsion to please yourself and rather to love what pleases your Heavenly Father. It is to say sayonara to your greed, your murderous hate, your idol worship, your lust, your foul tongue, and your backbiting.

This is all necessary. It cannot be avoided or forsaken and remain a Christian. But John is not enough. The rules are not enough. God’s holy Law is never good enough. Its never enough for you to know your sin and to try to do better. Where does that leave you? In death and misery. Even if this holy Law causes you to confess your wickedness, to sell all your possessions, and flee to the wilderness of poverty, what has that gotten you? Now, you’re poor, miserable, and alone with your sin.

This is the work of the law. This is the work of John. He knows his calling: to make straight the way for the Lord. The final word is not repent. For repentance is nothing if were not for Jesus. To repent and declare your unworthiness before God is a sure fire way to be killed, destroyed, or simply left out to die, apart from Jesus.

John wants you know Jesus. The horrible curse of the Law is meant to show you the way to the Gospel. “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.”

That’s something the old way of John can never give. That’s something only Jesus can give. John preaches a baptism of repentance and Jesus comes with a baptism of new birth. John shows you your blindness to the ways of God, you crippled life, you leperous flesh, your deafness to the Word, and the death you deserve. Its nothing but bad news. Its complete honesty about who you are.

But John is not the end. He wants you to know Jesus. Jesus gives your eyes to see Him, face to face, flesh and blood. He gives you feet to go into the world with Him. If cleanses you of the lusts and passions of the flesh. He gives you ears to hear God’s holy Word. He gives you tongues to confess His holy name. He gives you new life in waters of the font. He grants you riches beyond measure in the forgiveness of sins. And where there is forgiveness, there is life and salvation.

The Advent of our Lord is here. John declares: Repent—the kingdom of heaven is near. John’s word makes the paths straight, pointing our minds and bodies to Jesus, the Savior. We have confessed our sins and know the need for forgiveness. This forgiveness is the foundation for the kingdom—and the kingdom is near. Its nearer than when you first believed when He washed you in the saving flood, for He is here and bless you with holy food to eat and drink. John wants you to know this Jesus, who ushers in a new kingdom, rich in blessings.

You may still love John. You may still love the old way of fire and brimstone, sackcloth and ashes, destruction and death. You may still love your sin, your perversity, your hatred. Repent—the kingdom of heaven is near. Change your allegiance. John’s bony finger is pointing straight to him. Don’t look to another. Look to the king and His kingdom, Jesus. Be forgiven and healed.

In Name of the Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Rev. Christopher R. Gillespie
Grace Lutheran Church
Dyer, Indiana

Advent II 2011 – Luke 21:25-26

04. December 2011
Advent II
Luke 21:25-26

Hope is a fickle thing. I hope I win the contest I entered (despite the fact that the odds are overwhelmingly not in my favor.) I hope to get a raise next year (despite the fact I’ve done less work and was generally less cooperative.) I hope to lose some weight (even though I can’t resist the chocolate.) I hope for this or that.

Hope is often built upon shaky sand or crumbling foundations. Most people hope without any ground for that hope. Most people don’t win anything in contests. It doesn’t look like anyone will get a raise next year, even if they deserve it. Weight loss does not come through magical hopefulness, but attained through hard work and discipline.

The weather is the worst. My hope for rain doesn’t make it happen. I hope it doesn’t snow like the NOAA predicts but I have no grounds for this hope. I hope the big earthquake that’s been predicted for decades never comes, but in reality it will eventually. I hope for such things but have no reason for hope.

Our faithless hopes fade when faced with great tragedy. When an earthquake devastates a people, we faint with fear. Maybe this could happen to us? When the tsunami wipes out the coast of a far away land, we despair that so many lives were lost, homes destroyed, and a land ruined. Why do such tragedies and disasters bother us? Why do they cause such great distress?

We wonder. We fear. We worry. We ought not be surprised when these things come. Jesus said, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Why worry? Because we do not know if the next disaster is the last. When we look to the earth, we despair because we wonder where God is in all this. We wonder how a loving God could allow such destruction and despair to persist.

By looking to fallen creation we do not know that God loves us. From wind, sea, earthquake, and flood, we know only a God whose wrath against this fallen world is great. If we look to creation, we tremble and fear, wondering if the next day may be our last. If we look to the earth or the sun, moon, and stars, we have no reason for hope. The course of this world is without hope.

These things are signs of God’s wrath against sin. This creation which he so carefully and wonderfully made is daily corrupted by our wickedness and perversity. The wages of this sin is death. Everyone dies as a consequence of their trespasses. Everyone dies and everything dies.

For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now (Romans 8:22). For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God (Romans 8:19). The great distress of the creation testifies that it needs to be delivered from bondage of corruption with us, unto the glory of eternal life with us.

The great distress of man at the signs of this earth are the same as the lesser distress we each experience at death. When we see what comes of a beautiful life, of a beloved spouse, of a loved aunt, of a close friend, we mourn. We mourn because we see what will come of our own life. We too will wither and fade, groan and die.

Worst yet, on the final day all will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Such an appearance, when the glorious Lord appears to judge all the living and the dead, will be a great and terrifying day. All who have not learned to love Christ will always dread His appearance. Those who have not learned of His love will fear the roaring of the sea and the waves.

Yet, we Christians do not mourn as they who have no hope. Nor do we panic when see the signs. No, we have hope. We do not fear the final day, whether six feet under or while we are yet awake, but rejoice in that day.

That which makes the unbelieving world tremble in fear and shudder with despair, are signs of hope for believers. These signs, whether the end of our life or death of the world, must pass before the new life and new heavens and earth will come to be.

Jesus tells us, now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. We see the signs and are inspired to an eager hope. We look up and and not look down. We don’t look to the world but we look to heaven to come.

While we see death and destruction, we ought to see sleep and recreation. Jesus tells us a parable: Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Signs of doom and gloom are for the Christian cause for hope and rejoicing, for we know our redemption is near.

These things must take place. They are not signs of the end but of the new beginning. Consider Jesus. Last week we recalled His triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Such an entry is exactly what was hoped for. A new David. A new Solomon. A Christ to rule Israel and the world. A king who would reign forever and ever.

This is Jesus but not in the way the people hoped. He enters not as the tree about to bloom. First His leaves will fall, like crimson droplets of sweat. He will wither and fade, his life given for the sake of the world. This tree will be cut down at the root. Burned and ashes entombed in the ground. Yet, these are signs of hope and rejoicing.

On the third day, the sun rises. The earthen tomb opens and a shoot appears. The tree of Jesse rises from the ashes, from the stump. This resurrected tree reveals Himself in splendor. He rises all glorious and triumphant. His leaves begin to appear. Eleven new branches appear, grafted onto this tree. Then another, then 500, then the new branches from the four corners of the earth.

We are not surprised but wait in hope. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. We know that storms sweeping across this earth, the earthquake and the tempest are the gales that usher in the spring and then summertime of God’s eternal kingdom and sunshine of Christ’s presence. When we see these things begin to take place, look up not down, because your redemption is drawing near. 

This is a certain hope. This is not a fickle thing. It is as sure as the Word of Christ. All else will pass away, but my words will not pass away. Generations grafted into the tree have and will find them true, until He comes again. The Holy Scriptures give us a calm confidence. It teaches us to see the worst and find hope that it is for the best.

We never look down to this earth but look up to the Kingdom to come. This kingdom came when the true King of all nations sprang forth from His rest in the tomb. We are members of this kingdom when the Spirit carried us from death to life through our Baptismal waters.

This kingdom comes in Christ’s own body and blood, the root and sap of our new life. This kingdom will come when the Son of Man appears with power and great glory. We look forward to this kingdom that cannot be shaken, looking full of faith in Him who is “the same yesterday, today and forever.” Come, Lord Jesus.

In Name of the Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Rev. Christopher R. Gillespie
Grace Lutheran Church
Dyer, Indiana