4th Sunday in Epiphany; Mark 1:21-28

Jan. 29, 2011; 4^th Sunday in Epiphany; texts: Deuteronomy 18:15-20; Ps. 111:1; I Corinthians 8:1-13; Mark 1:21-28;  Title: Immediate, Amazing, Authority;  Rev. Tim Beck

Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

In Mark’s gospel account, three words jump out by repetition: immediately, astonished, and authority. These three words accompany Jesus throughout his public ministry. He acts immediately. He is amazing. He has authority. For example, immediately after his baptism Jesus is driven into the wilderness to be tempted. Victorious, he immediately begins His public ministry. Immediately he teaches. Immediately there is opposition. Immediately Jesus liberates. Jesus, God-made-man does not hesitate. He brings light to those walking in darkness. He releases the captives. He frees the oppressed. He opens the eyes of the blind, the deaf hear, the dead are raised. The kingdom of God breaks through immediately, busting up evil and building what is good. That’s what Jesus does “immediately.”

          And people are amazed, astounded, dumbfounded, silenced, spell bound. Jesus is not what they, or we sinners, expect. Note what was so astonishing. For example, it wasn’t that a demon spoke. In the gospel histories there are     several accounts of folks being demonized, none of which surprised people. The fact is, their evil is ordinary, as is any and all evil in this world. We are only astounded by the intensity of evil, especially if it strikes us. But that’s only because we don’t believe in our own capacity for evil. Perhaps that is why the actor Heath Ledger, committed suicide after playing the “Joker” in “Dark Knight?”  After playing that part, He couldn’t shake what he found inside? Evil is as common as hatred, bitterness, gossip, jealousy, intentional apathy, injustice, resentment, prejudice, maliciousness, manipulation, covetousness and idolatry. Evil is common as death. Good is not as common. That’s why the crowd is equally astonished by Jesus’ teaching as the fact that demons must obey Him. Jesus’ uncommonly good teaching and exorcisms have something in common - His authority. What is that? He has jurisdiction, power and freedom to act. He has the ability to do what only God can do... and he does it. As Son of God all things hold together in Him. He is in his jurisdiction to act, immediately. And He did so with a passion, looking toward His Passion.

          To see what Jesus taught in contrast to how and what the teachers of Israel taught, consider this example from the scribes: “From what time in the evening may the Shema be recited? From the time the priests may begin to eat of their heave-offering, until the end of the first watch… On what basis does the Tanna set forth with the statement, ‘From what time’? Besides, why does he first state it in terms of evening? He should first state it in terms of morning!  For the Tanna the basis is Scripture, where it is written, And thou shall rehearse them… when thou lie down and when thou rise up (Dt. 6:7). And this is the meaning of his statement in the Mishna: When is it that recitation of the Shema at lying down time may take place? From the time the priests may begin to eat of their heave-offering.  If you wish, say this: The Tanna has taken his cue from the idiom in the account of the creation of the world, where it is written, And first there was evening and then there was morning, one day (Gen 1:5).  In that case, what about the sequel, which states, in the morning  two benedictions are read before the Shema and one after it, and in the evening two benedictions are read before and two after?  Why not the clause about the evening first?  (etc., etc., etc...) (Goldin, Judah, The Living Talmud, New American Libr., 1957, pg. 13 ff.)            The Scribes turned the Torah into the professional attorney’s play book. Jesus cut to the heart of the matter. How did He teach? He cut the heart with the law, in order to heal the broken hearted. His teaching enticed faith through life-giving words, authoritative words. What set Jesus apart is what His teaching does, in contrast to all who distorted, misused or minimized Scripture. The scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees each in their own way turned the law into a means of salvation or turned the gospel into law. That too is evil, but normal in our fallen, unbelieving race. By nature we sinners want self-justification, a way to be good enough for God while fleeing the God who is good.

          But Jesus justifies sinners. That’s what His teaching does.  And that is about authority. The authority to forgive distinguishes Jesus. Sometimes we think authority is measured by naked power, like the shrillest - in your face - voice... not so.  Although Jesus can break rock with His voice, he clothed his power in humility to set prisoners free. He uses authority to absolve, reconcile, regenerate and liberate. His authority calmed wind and wave, fed multitudes, restored sight, cast out demons, rose the dead, and atoned for all sin, past, present and future. When it comes to the bottom line, Jesus not only has authority, He alone is good. He is the Son of God veiled in human flesh. As Creator - He made and sustains all things. As Redeemer - He reconciles us to the Father, granting eternal life.

          The question is - if Jesus’ authority is for us today, immediately?  After the resurrection He said All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, when you go, make disciples of all nations by baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and by teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age (Mt 28:18-20). Is that astonishing? Is it astonishing that the Son of God became man to break our broken world, and now sends the church in His authority? In Jesus’ day, how was his authority manifest? Jesus left Capernaum immediately, healed Simon’s mother in law, then continued healing and casting out demons. He declared good news, returning to Capernaum to say to a paralytic, “your sins are forgiven” immediately proving His divine authority by healing the paralytic… and immediately earning the hatred of the scribes, for they treated God’s Word as if it belonged to them.  Jesus’ face is turned toward Jerusalem for this amazement, His death is authoritative. By dying, God the Father immediately forgave the sin of the world. By that death Jesus authorizes the church to proclaim the same liberating word, the authoritative word, clothed in humility like our Lord.

          And the church that declares the Word is victorious even over demons, as it announces Christ’s victory over sin. For example: Having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities, and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. (Col 2:12-15) (Note: we confess in the Apostles’ Creed, “He descended into hell.” This was not to suffer, but to proclaim victory.)

          So the church proclaims His victory won on the cross and administers it in a justifying and sanctifying baptism, teaching all he commanded. That’s how the church exercises His authority. And more so, the Word of God dwells in us richly, a well springing up for life… for Jesus has all authority. However amazing, He conquered sin by becoming a sacrifice for sin. However amazing, He brings us into His victory by means of baptism; however amazing, when the church says, “your sin is forgiven” it is; however amazing, He comes to us in His body and blood to forgive; however amazing, we shall never die, we who are joined to Christ’s death. These are the things the church is authorized to proclaim and do. We are authorized by Him who has jurisdiction, power and freedom to act. Hence the church’s war is won, even if we battle until called to rest. We battle to rely not on ourselves, but on His authoritative declaration: justified! Does He who created the heavens lack in power? Does He who died lack jurisdiction over sinners, death and the devil? He who rose and ascended rules all things with the Father. He who has all authority sends the church into the world to declare the gospel. He also promised “I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

          Now, what about the word immediately? In the last couple of weeks I haven’t heard of anyone miraculously feeding 5,000. That doesn’t mean miracles of a visible nature don’t occur… to lead us to Christ. But our glory-hungry, tainted hearts often fail to see the most powerful manifestation of Christ’s liberating authority. This passage from Colossians aptly summarizes the purpose of Jesus’ many mighty works.  Buried in baptism, so raised with him through faith… you were dead, but God made you alive, having forgiven all our trespasses. That’s glorious, salvation from death for eternal life. Who but Jesus can declare us guiltless, reconciled, justified, sanctified and alive forever?  That authoritative word liberates the captive, it heals all diseases, and it restores us to fellowship with God. Like the glory of the Son of God hidden in the crucified Jesus, the church’s glory is mostly hidden since the days of the Apostles. But his authority is not. Despite 300 plus years of State persecution against the early church, Christian faith spread throughout the Roman Empire. Through the centuries since, the church has often suffered like her Lord. In our nation the religious liberty enjoyed for hears is being eaten away. Yet the authority of Christ breaks in for faith, overcoming the power of sin. Through Christ’s word, death and the devil are conquered and we become holy. The justified receive His body and blood, immediately partaking of the ascended Christ for forgiveness of sin, hence for life and salvation.

          You eat and drink the authority, although hidden to the world’s eyes, hidden under the cross, hidden under His sin bearing; and you partake of salvation, of hidden glory! Christian, this is the word we are authorized to declare everywhere, a word without outward glory, but giving the eternal glory. Yes, because of visible miracles Jesus’ fame spread everywhere. Out text literally says “the hear” spread everywhere. You know how attractive fame is, just watch American Idol or Dancing with the Stars. You also know Jesus avoided popularity. He silenced the demons who said “this is the holy one of God.” He fled into the wilderness to avoid these crowds. Besides, when is the church helped by fame, fortune, and power? Our task is declaring the authoritative word, Christ crucified for sinners. That authority overpowers the enemies of God to provide what is good. By that word, the Word, our Lord overcame the blindness of sin, the maliciousness of the devil, the captivity of death. Through forgiving your sins, His word created and sustains in you eternal life. Forgiven, you have confident hope in the glory to come, sustained by Him immediately.

The peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Amen) 

3rd Sunday after the Epiphany, Mark 1:14-20

Jan. 22, 2011; 3^rd Sunday after the Epiphany; Texts: Jonah 3:1-5, 10; Psalm 62; I Corinthians 7:29-31, Mark 1:14-20; Title: The Time That Counts, Rev. Tim Beck

Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” 

          Time is a difficult thing, and our text deals with time and time fulfilled. The time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand. First in our text, what was the chronological time; as the Greeks say, the chronos time? Chronological comes from chronos - like My Fat Greek Wedding, give me a word        and I’ll show you a Greek root. What’s the chronos time? John is in jail. His days are nearly over, you can count them.  What was the significance of his time, as Jesus says, the time fulfilled, the kairos time? The kairos John announced was Jesus is the promised One. He is the Lamb of God. Kairos is the word for significant time, special, important, meaningful time and sorry, no word with a fat Greek root. John the Baptist’s kairos is proclaiming repentance and forgiveness of sin. That’s the fulfilled time. His chronos is, soon he dies for faithfulness to the kairos. Chronologically, Jesus continues proclaiming, declaring and preaching the same     kairos news, the kingdom of God is at hand.  Jesus announces forgiveness of sin. That’s the good news. He bears kairos in His person for all to hear and for all to receive chronologically – repent and believe. Jesus bids to all who hear, not only because chronological time is short; He bids because the kairos-time is fulfilled… the special time, the appointed time, the significant time, the purposeful time, the perfect time, the righteous time, the redeemed time, the eternal time.

          That gospel time is here, and in fact, had come all along. Jesus said “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand.” Literally, he said the time “is, having been fulfilled.” The kingdom of God “is, having been at hand, until now.” (Listen to that again.) Since the fall, the gospel was given to our broken race. Likewise, the gospel shall be given until the end of our age, the end of chronological time, the eternal, forever- gospel. Now in Jesus, who chronologically came into our time and was crucified about 30 AD, now in Jesus the Lamb of God slain from before the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8), the gospel is fulfilled and overflowing. (See how difficult time is. Yet the gospel is not at all difficult.) Since the first gospel proclamation to Eve and Adam, since the promise to Noah, since the promise to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, since the promise to Joseph and Judah, since the promise to Gideon, Sampson and Samuel, since the promise to David and Solomon, since the promise through the prophets both prepared and offered the way, in the coming of the Christ the promise is present and fulfilled.

          The gospel is manifest richly, and in its epiphany, given freely. The kingdom of God is at hand and has been at hand until now. We see that in the salvation offered and given from God’s creation of           chronological time. And consider the marvel that the eternal God became man to enter our time so that by His gospel we might enter His time, eternal life.  Consider the kairos power of that message, saving people in the same way throughout chronological time, by repentance from sin and by faith in the Christ. Consider Jesus’ chronological command, “repent, believe,” a command possible to receive because the kairos preceded the present chronos. Receiving these words is possible because the kingdom of God is already here; otherwise, who could believe? What would there be to believe? Apart from the eternal gospel, the bare command, “repent, believe!” lead sinners to despair. We enter this world dead, a spiritually aborted race. We cannot obey the command unless the kingdom comes of God, unless the gospel works faith through the forgiveness of our sins. Without the kingdom at hand, I do not want to repent. Without the time fulfilled there is nothing to believe. But the kairos is fulfilled, the gospel is here, the Holy Spirit is working faith.    

          The Christ changed everything for those whom He calls. For example, in Isaiah’s prophesy, “Galilee of the Gentiles – the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light” (Mt 4:15b, 16a). He entered our darkness to declare a liberating word, the eternal Word. The Word goes forth into our time as the word en-fleshed. What gospel did Jesus of Nazareth preach? The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor (Lk 4:18, 19). His time is kairos, kingdom time, fulfilled time when Jesus called to Simon and Andrew and then to the sons of thunder, James and John and said, “Come to me and I will make you become fishers of men.” They came immediately because the Kairos sought the chronos as the word en-     fleshed, the eternal Word of God. “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1).  He created all things, sustains all and to redeem us joined Himself to our flesh, in the fullness of time.  In the fullness of time He entered the disciples’ lives and they left all immediately. That’s the Epiphany revealed, the gospel entering our lives.

          And because of the gospel’s kairos that’s our history too. What belongs to us? Recall the Epiphany of the events surrounding Jesus. Zechariah’s vision, Elizabeth’s womb-leaping child filled with the Holy Spirit and Elizabeth prophetically singing “the mother of my LORD” - is ours. Mary accepting the angelic visitation, receiving what Joseph was told, the child’s name is Emmanuel, God-with-us (Mt 1:23), is ours. Mary’s prophetic song “He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy” (Lk 1:54) is for us too. These kairos moments, the kingdom breaking into human time, is for all who believe. Zechariah naming his son John, singing by the Spirit “the knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins” (Lk 1:77) is ours.  Jesus’ birth, shepherds hearing angels sing “Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace among men with whom he is pleased” (Lk 2:14) is ours. Simeon’s song “Lord now let thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word, for my eyes have seen they salvation” (Lk 2:29) is ours. Anna’s rejoicing in the redemption of Jerusalem and the worshipping wise men led by a star are ours. The flight from Herod and Jesus’ 12 witness at age 12, “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house” (Lk 2:49) are for us.  When John arose, the last prophet in Israel, he declared the kingdom of God is at hand (Mt 3:30), preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Mk 1:4). That too is ours because Jesus drew near, the Lamb of God, baptized to fulfill all righteousness.

          As John the Baptist bore witness with the Father from heaven, the Spirit descended visibly in the form of a dove. Jesus is driven into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tested, and he returns victorious. And that belongs to us too – we who are baptized into Christ. Baptized into Christ, we entered the kairos, the eternal, eternal life. We are united to Him (See Romans 6). His momentous history, kairos history, salvation history became ours. That is why we receive the commands “repent, believe, and follow.”

          Mark does not relate all the chronological events I recited. In part, that’s because Mark wrote after the church had Matthew’s and perhaps Luke’s writing. Mark uniquely emphasizes the word “immediately,” as the kingdom of God breaks into the world of sin, immediately for eternity. The kingdom of God breaks the powers of sin and death by good news. Jesus proclaimed liberty and set captives free, immediately. He did all this by proclaiming the year of the Lord’s favor, the kairos year, the year that has been, is, and will be, immediately. That year first given in Adam’s day is immediately our day too, in the same gospel we received, in the kairos that we await when chronological time comes to an end. Jesus’ disciples saw our Lord’s words save the distressed, heal the blind, cast out demons, and feed multitudes. The disciples saw the kingdom of God break in to raise the dead and restore lost sheep to the good Shepherd.  By faith you too see, called out of darkness by His marvelous word, a living word, an effective, life-giving word.

          You too entered kairos life, eternal life, guaranteed in blood and proven genuine by Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, the first born of many. This is the grace that transformed fishermen into fishers of men. “Come, I will make you become fishers of men.” This kingdom word of kairos fullness, of powerfully good news commands us, “repent, believe, and come.” And when you hear the command, the kairos, the kingdom of God is among us. Remember when Christ commanded the blind to see, the deaf to hear and the lame to walk who it was that immediately fulfilled that command.          Remember the Advent prayer answered by the Epiphany, “Hosanna, Lord save!” Where the Word is, it works repentance and faith through the one who died for us.  The kingdom came to the poor, to liberate the captive, to give sight to the blind, and so it has done, is doing and shall do. The kingdom of God is among us today. In His kairos our Lord descends in His Supper, the whole Christ, body and spirit, here with us to eat and drink, here too forgiving sin. Our eating and drinking is not a fat Greek wedding, but a foretaste of the eternal    wedding feast, while for a little while we walk as pilgrims in a weary land. Yet we have a home, an eternal kingdom and eternal life. We are held by the hands of God our Father, kept by the Lamb slain from before the foundation of the world.  We live in His kingdom, recognizing that chronological time is short. So we share the urgency of Mark, the word “immediately” is ever present. We follow Jesus, knowing the gospel is immediately here, enduring forever.  We live, discerning the hour because by grace we entered into the kairos, the significant, the joy, the fulfilled, and the eternal.

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

Romans 6:1-11 The Baptism of our Lord

Jan 08, 2011; The Baptism of our Lord; Texts: Gen. 1:1-5; Ps. 29; Rm 6:1-11; Mark 1:4-11;  Title: From One Baptism to Another; Rev. Tim Beck

Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 From Advent to Ascension we order our days by following the calendar of our Lord’s life. We go from Christmas, to Epiphany, Transfiguration, Lent, Holy week, Good Friday to Easter. We who are baptized into Christ count him as the center of our calendar, because that calendar is not only year to year, but into eternity. As for eternity entering into 2012, epiphany began Friday. Epiphany means “the revealing.” For example, in His baptism Jesus is revealed as the Son of God, our Saviour. The Divine Son, one in essence with the Father, equally sharing His glory, takes on our human nature so that the sinless Jesus, Saviour, baptized in the sinner’s baptism, takes on our sorrows and griefs, and bears our guilt. In His baptism, Jesus, Saviour, lifts the burden of sin off your shoulders. He carries it to the cross and does away with it forever. Since He does this the Father audibly speaks “You are my beloved Son;  with you I am well pleased.” What an epiphany! God became man to declare us righteous, that we might be renewed in righteousness, and that one day, we enter the re-creation of perfect righteousness.  Because Jesus took on our sin in His baptism, in our baptism Jesus joins us to Himself for new life.

          Our Epistle lesson declares that our baptism joined us to Christ for new life, freeing us from the slavery of sin and the fear of death. Perhaps you recall an article some time ago about Jon Metz of New Haven, Connecticut.  He bought an old home. It needed fixing. When cleaning the ancient boiler in the basement somehow his arm got stuck, really stuck, and then began to swell. Jon was there two days and nobody heard his yells. He’d cut himself trying to pull his arm out, and long lines ran up his arm. He was badly infected. His dear arm, full of poison, was taking away his life. Desperate, Jon reached for his tools. He made a tourniquet and cut off his arm. That saved Jon’s life. That’s a bit like baptism. The Old Adam was cut off. But old Adam’s amputated arm still sends signals to do the things that poison life. The Old Adam, that ugly nature inherited from the fall, the former driver of the jalopy, the former disposition of death, wants to get behind the wheel again. But we don’t have to let him drive since Christ, the New Adam, forgave us and gave us His life. Forgiven, we are freed from condemnation. Freed, we are given life and we resist sin. That’s justification and sanctification in a nutshell. It is simple, although so difficult. We, the forgiven, daily repent the sin     that dwells in us, looking to Christ to strengthen us. But the Apostle Paul’s critics wouldn’t let it rest there. They didn’t like being saved by grace alone, saved by trusting the declaration, “pardoned!” They wanted to add some righteousness of their own, either before being forgiven or after being forgiven. So they falsely accused Paul of saying sin didn’t matter; saying the doctrine of grace means “Since I’m forgiven I can live for the devil.”

          But the one who trusts he’s forgiven, and freed from the furnace trap, won’t live like that. We who were saved by grace, how can we ignore what Jesus did for us? Forgiven, we don’t want to return to a living death; by sharing a bed outside of marriage, or by cheating a neighbor of his property, or gossiping till ears drop. Baptized into Christ, the old man’s right arm is cut off, not so that we save ourselves and definitely not so that we sin freely. Sin separates us from a holy God, but grace restores, and grace alone. Grace alone forgives and then gives the desire to receive our Lord’s gifts, including power to resist sin. Since Jesus’ baptism took our sin upon Him, we, washed in the blood of the           Lamb, are forgiven to be given His righteousness. Since our baptism united us to Christ’s death and resurrection we die to sin daily and live to God forever.

          Christ’s’ life is now in us, we who are simultaneously saints and sinners. Christ’s life dwells in us, we who are justified by faith and saved by that word of pardon alone. Yet that pardon alone does not leave you under the power of sin and death, He who united you with His death and resurrection. Forgiven the sin that separated us from God as Father, we were drowned to what formerly enslaved. Jon cut off his arm to free himself, while in baptism Christ cuts off what held you captive, what ends in death.  Unlike Jon, baptism grafts your dying body into Christ’s resurrection life, joining you to Him as branches to a vine. We who are justified, declared righteous, and named holy ones by the power of Christ’s word are given a share in His life, eternal life. We are not given His life to sin; rather, we are given life to enjoy the liberty of righteousness, fellowship with Christ and love for our neighbor. We, the baptized, live by faith in this promise: For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you. (Col 3:3-5a)  And… if then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God… Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience… And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts to which indeed you were called in one body.” (Col 3:1, 12, 15) We who were raised with Christ, who are God’s chosen ones have the peace of Christ, and are bid to put on what is already ours.

          For example, we put on the armor of God, armor he made for us. (Eph 6:10-17)  We put on His belt of truth, breastplate of His righteousness, shoes of His peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation and His sword, the word of God. We walk in these gifts, as we put one shod foot in front of the other. We walk, calling upon our Savior who promised to deliver us from evil. We walk reckoning ourselves dead to sin, because Christ’s sacrifice was reckoned sufficient for your sin, my sin. We reckon that we are alive unto God through Jesus Christ as He promised in       baptism. Jon Metz cut off a poisoned arm to save his life but Jesus Christ took within Himself all our poison and was, for a time, cut off from the Father so that through the gift of baptism, faith receives the benefits of that cutting off. Through the promises of baptism, faith is joined to Jesus Christ’s death and life. We who were buried with Christ into His death have risen with him to new life.  Whoever believes and is baptized shall be saved (Mk 16). And from I Peter 3, “Baptism… now saves you, as an appeal to God for a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ…” (v 21). What does baptism do? It now saves you. “He saved us… by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior” (Titus 3:5a, 6a) Baptism provides regeneration and renewal.  “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38) Baptism promises forgiveness and the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

          It is not your doing that cuts off sin or joins you to Christ’s life. Jesus, Saviour, joined you to His victory through Holy Baptism.  You are not required to manufacture the armor that conquers the devil. He’s already done that. Yes, he calls you to battle against sin and temptation, but He already won the war. He saved you. If you feel defeated when the law says “Caught you again,” does He not declare His peace to you, and heaven shines? If you are surrounded by shouts, threats, the enemy, fear, is not your Lord mightily at work? He lifts us again and again, giving anew what He already achieved.   He gives abundantly in absolution, preaching, and the Supper. His word is a living epiphany freeing us from our mortal enemies.  Original sin was defeated. You know that’s true because you believe. And you have peace, united to Him in baptism.

          Shall you willfully, intentionally decide to continue in sin? What a silly question!  Of course not, since Jesus Christ was baptized. Shall you confess your sin? Absolutely, and be absolved absolutely. Shall you continue in life? Absolutely! You are forgiven. You belong to Him. He signed His name on you in the waters of baptism, saying “you’re mine.” In Jesus’ baptism the Father revealed that He is the Son of God, our Saviour. In His baptism, Jesus, Saviour, lifts the burden of sin off your shoulders. He carried it to the cross and did away with it forever, joining you to Him through your baptism. He carries us in the ark of baptism teaching us to walk on deck.

The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Amen)

Luke 2:21 The Circumcision of our Lord

January 1, 2012; The Circumcision of our Lord, Numbers 6:22-27; Galatians 3:23-29; Luke 2:21; Title: Jesus First Sheds Blood for Us; Rev. Tim Beck 

Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. What a Christmas text! (sing) On the 8^th day of Christmas our Lord was circumcised… likewise, on the 8^th day, Christ rose. So Christians worship not on the Sabbath, but on the 8^th. day. Baptismal fonts often have 8 sides to symbolize re-creation. And what does the baby’s circumcision have to do with that, with re-creation? 

          Let’s start with His name. When circumcised, Joseph didn’t call him Joseph Jr. He broke custom, naming the baby as God’s messenger said. Jesus, meaning Savior - bleeds with the sign given Abraham, the mark of the covenant, a mark of a new creation, of re-birth and the promised re-storation. While the parents wait for the baby’s blood to congeal and his cries subside, something new is happening. Did pious Joseph and Mary know this first shedding of blood was God’s act to save, this humiliation of the Son of God - made man? This baby fulfills divine promises, promises attached to the sign of circumcision.

          What promises came with this sign?   Lot’s of people don’t have a clue, or care. Last year the city of San Francisco almost had a ballot measure to make circumcision illegal.           What was the impelling reason for the ballot? Circumcision reduces sexual pleasure, as if the sensual is all that matters. (It’s OK to neuter pets, to poke holes all over your body for jewelry, to abort a living baby… but not to cut off a piece of skin?) So why did God cut a covenant in such a difficult place? Go back to Abraham.  And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you…  As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations… Every male among you shall be circumcised. (Gen. 17:7, 9b, 10b)

          God said, “I’ve chosen you Abraham and your offspring (which by the way is male and female, except that offspring is not plural but singular - more about that later). This promise also included all nations through Abraham’s lineage. This blessing promised a remedy to the fall of Adam and all that entails. It was about being restored to God as Father. It was about the coming Saviour, the cause of restoration. And Abraham believed, and instead of signing that covenant with pen on paper he signed it on his flesh in blood, along with all males in his household… so that each time a man and wife used that sinful thing they saw God’s promise. Abraham believed, accepting a visible mark confirming the covenant. Believing Abraham submitted to a sign of ownership. Faith does that.       

          400 years later the covenant expands. Moses receives the Torah – both the commands, and the sacrifices. Come Moses, circumcision signed that God’s people agreed to obey the entire law. That was a hard guardian (See Gal. 4:4). Obedience was a stickler. It was a stickler because so many of Israel did not obey because they did not believe. That’s why they died in the wilderness. Circumcision cut off the flesh to signify entering spiritual Israel; hence it meant a life of faith, including obedience and repentance (Col 3:9, 10; 2:11-14).  But God-pleasing obedience exists only where faith receives the promise, because by the promise God forgives disobedience, evidenced in the Tabernacle sacrifices of old. That’s why later prophets said just circumcising the body did not cut off deadness of heart. The coming Savior was the only remedy for that. There you have it, on one hand, without faith in the coming Saviour the Mosaic covenant of circumcision imprisoned, by requiring obedience to the law. On the other hand, circumcision pointed forward to the Christ, promising a Jesus and all who believed were saved, like Abraham.

          When the Jesus was named, his circumcision began to fulfill the law for us, and began to atone. He began fulfilling the sign of Abraham and earlier signed promises. Adam and Eve, given the sign of the curse, waited for the deliverer. So Jesus was cursed on a tree. Later Noah, given the curse of the flood, looked to the sign of the rainbow. So Jesus poured out a cleansing flood of water and blood. Then Abraham, a contemporary with Noah’s sons, is given a sign promising “I will be your God forever!”  And Jesus is circumcised as God-with-us, Emmanuel. Then Moses is given the law including the sacrifices, by which Aaron the high priest blessed the people. And Jesus, who obeyed the law, is sacrificed for lawbreakers. Soon Jesus re-creates by shedding His holy blood, cut for the sin of Israel. As Apostle Paul explains, now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. (Gal. 3:16)

          This is what circumcision of old says about Jesus, and therefore about you. Jesus Christ fulfilled circumcision, the Son of God in our flesh.  …when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. (Gal. 4:4, 5) In God en-fleshed the Old Covenant became the New Testament, the Father sending His Son in the likeness of sinful flesh (Rom. 8:3) to conquer sin in our flesh. Jesus, Saviour, met every condition of the Mosaic covenant and every promise of Abraham’s covenant to name us His brothers. (Heb. 2:17) He began this work when circumcised, completing it when crucified. Now like priestly Aaron, He blesses the nations, justifying the guilty, exchanging His righteousness for our un-righteousness.

          This has nothing to do with being male or female, Jew or Greek, slave or free. It has everything to do with becoming God’s heirs and Christ’s body. Because Jesus was circumcised in our stead, no matter how unholy you feel, the Father, now “our Father” declares us sinners righteous. Jesus’ circumcision declares that God is in the flesh for us; as does His Christmas incarnation, Epiphany baptism, Good Friday crucifixion, and 8^th day resurrection. He even gave a new sign to confirm and confer this gift. Were you not baptized, and so like Abraham, justified by faith? Then as in olden days, we do not refuse the new sign of the promise, since in days of old, any who refused to be circumcised were cut off from the people of God. Nor do we neglect the sign for our children, as did Moses before the Exodus so that the Lord nearly killed him because his firstborn was not circumcised.  Nor do we who are signed reject the promise, as did the unbelieving in Israel who perished. Rather, we cherish what we received in the sign. Namely, when you were baptized, Jesus took your life and hid it in Himself. You were baptized into Christ to become children of God.

          He joined you to His death and bodily resurrection. Listen again to the name given at His circumcision: He shall be named Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. (Mt 1:21; Acts 4:12) In olden days circumcision made a people “His people,” faith receiving the promise. Now, in baptism we become His, faith receiving the Savior. In olden days, visible signs like circumcision and blood sacrifice established faith. In our day, Jesus gives the same promise of salvation with visible signs for faith. These signs not only point to God’s grace, they are means of grace.  Through these signs Christ brings us into himself, into his atoning death and eternal life. Listen to Holy Scripture: … he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and the renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour… (Titus 3:5, 6) What promise is attached to baptism?  Baptism (which corresponds to God delivering Noah in the ark) now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ… (I Pet. 3:21) What unites us with Jesus?  In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses… (Col 2:11-13, ESV)  Jesus Christ united you with Him, and hence He promises that you were raised from the dead!  You already share in Christ’s resurrection! This is true despite how you feel in your tired old body. This is true despite how many times you need repent because you’ve sinned again, like the Hebrew man who sees the promise and believes.

          Consider briefly another Old Covenant shadow completed by Christ. There is no more need to shed blood to atone for sin. All Temple sacrifices were fulfilled in Christ’s bloody death. Now there is a corresponding sign replacing the old covenant means of grace. Our Saviour is that living sign, His real presence in body and blood. In Holy Communion He unites with you spiritually and bodily, coming to you as the victorious Savior. He assures you that your sins are forgiven! Where there is sin He cleanses. Where you are weak He strengthens. Where         faith is tested He supplies hope. When you are dying he gives life. What a Christmas gift, the infant named “Saviour,” Look how He bound Himself to us for our salvation! At the circumcision of Jesus did Joseph and Mary know their actions were God’s actions to save?  Did they understand what Jesus’ first shedding of blood meant? While circumcision seemed so ordinary to Hebrew families, through the promise attached to circumcision the holy infant gave life. He now gives something that seems very ordinary… except for the promise attached to water, bread and wine… with word. There, because of the promise, the most extraordinary thing takes place. We are declared righteous with the very holiness of Jesus, and united most intimately to Him in eternal life. We enter into re-creation through our Saviour. 

          Therefore this Christmas blessing applies to you: Now unto him who is able to keep us from falling, and to present us faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever (Jude 24-25)  (Amen.)

Luke 2:1-20 Christmas Day

December 25, 2011; Christmas Day; Texts: Isaiah 62:10-12; Titus 3:4-7; Luke 2:1-20; Title: The Impossibility of it All!  Rev. Tim Beck

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, everyone to his own city.  And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

                      Caesar Augustus, the world ruler who brought the Roman Peace. He was one of the finest dictators the world has ever known. Stability, commerce, and relative safety were trademarks of the empire. Naturally, he needed more money. So the world was to report and be counted. Today’s census is different. We stay in our homes and resent the door knocking intrusion. Back then, the census meant massive displacements of people. Velvet gloved Caesar claimed the wealth of nations. His glove steered the world’s most powerful army. That kind of peace has a cost, and a big head. Augustus Caesar claimed to be a god among men, and soon the Caesars demanded the worship befitting an incarnate Lord. That’s the way of pride.

          But he wasn’t the real incarnate God, the true King, the perfect peace, the peace giver of whom angels sang to shepherds, “Good will toward men and peace on earth!” King Jesus did not send soldiers into your city. Rather, his legal father, a descendent of King David, had to go to David’s city to be taxed, to Bethlehem. Joseph, of the house and lineage of David, a descendant of the rightful King of Israel, was a mere carpenter. And who was his betrothed? Mary too was of David’s lineage and 9 months pregnant. She didn’t have to go with Joseph to enroll. But everyone in Nazareth could count.  They knew Joseph wasn’t around 9 months ago. And this young woman, what a wild story she told! She was still a virgin! An angel appeared to her. Joseph would not be in Nazareth to protect her reputation. They took the hard journey together. And they believed what the angel said about the child Mary bore.

          How often did they ponder the Scriptures while making the difficult trip to Bethlehem?  But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. (Micah 5:2) Joseph and Mary believed God’s messenger, although hardly grasping the impossibility of it all, God born of a virgin! But from a virgin’s womb came the cure of our despair. The wonderful counselor, Mighty God, showed up to bring light into darkness. He showed up in a stable. Only the Living God could do such an impossible thing. With God, nothing is impossible. He even became a baby. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.  And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

          Mary’s son was wrapped not in the purple gown of royalty but in the rags of the poor. Caesar had indoor plumbing, not to mention countless courtiers and slaves. As for God’s Son, how did Mary clean him up? She had no running water, only straw… because of the census, her friends and relatives were elsewhere, except Joseph. Yet that birth pointed to these promises: Thou art my beloved Son, today I have begotten thee (Psalm 2:7).  And, therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)

          The invisible God made Himself visible to dwell with us as Immanuel, meaning God with us. This is how He veiled His unapproachable glory, His unknowable being. As God-made-man, He took within his whole person of God and man all our        infirmities, all our sins. Perhaps that’s why God didn’t choose a sanitary place to be born. He did chose to come(s) to the aid of Israel his servant, to remember his mercy, just as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his seed forever. (Lk 1:54-55)  Amazing grace, Caesar’s Lord, the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace arrives unannounced, except to a handful of field shepherds. How fortunate for our rebellious race that He did not come with in proud majesty with heavenly glory and judgment. His first advent did not demand we bend the knee and shout, “Hail Caesar!” Instead, our race shouted out “Hail, King of the Jews!” mocking and spitting. Perhaps that’s why He chose to be born in a fly-filled stable, bound in linen strips as if He was already in funeral clothes.  Thus God hid in human flesh.

          And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. What wonder, what hope shouted out in the middle of no where! God born of a virgin, God wrapped in diapers fulfills His word. He is a promise keeper. Angels sing of this world changing event, but not to the great ones. They sing to the least, to shepherds thought unworthy of good will. To field shepherds outside the life of the people, on them the light shined! Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee (Isaiah 60:1) Out of nowhere and to no-ones angel choirs sing of undeserved mercy. The Lord of hosts must enjoy doing the impossible and the unlikely. He reveals glory in the inglorious and to the least. Caesar Augustus is ignorant of heaven’s magnificent revelation. But the shepherds see into eternity. And they fear. They feel terror in the presence of the holy, a fear Caesar wished he could create. But unexpectedly, God’s messengers say “Fear not.” Do not fear what is impossible not to fear! Do not fear what can destroy those of doubtful, unclean eyes.  Do not fear the glory of God. Why? God’s unapproachable holiness is manifest in sacrificial humility, in love bound with linen strips before it is bound on a wooden beam.

          This too is hard to comprehend, as fullness of grace is foreign to Caesar, or to Shepherds who are known to eat their lambs. But the Lamb of God replaces fear with great joy, excessive joy, incomprehensible joy for all people. Not only does He fulfill promises that are impossible (like a virgin birthing the Divine Son). He does the incomprehensible: The God who is with us - is for us.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, among men who are the objects of His good pleasure. The Lord conquers what no Caesar can. Even now he destroyed death, conquered the devil, and cleanses our soiled hearts by lowly mercy.

          See the condescending conqueror lying in a manger. The impossible is upon us. The Living, Holy, God announces favor toward rebels. And we receive grace for the angels sang to isolated shepherds so that they might run to the coos of a baby wrapped in linen rags, their redeemer. This is how the Lord works. He does the impossible in the most unlikely ways. He declared grace, favor, mercy, forgiveness to sinners, to you. He gives you grace upon grace, doing the impossible for you and in you. Merry Christ-mass 

The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Amen.) 

Matt. 25:14-30, Stay Awake!

Nov. 13, 2011; 22nd Sunday of Trinity; Texts: Zeph. 1:7-16; I Thess 5:1-11; Matt. 25: 14-30; Title: Stay Awake! (Rev. Tim Beck)

Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.  So that after all we’ve already said in the service explaining the liturgy, so that you do not sleep, this is a short sermon. Keep awake because the Day of Judgment will arrive, even if folks in the neighborhood laugh at the claim. Scripture says the Day will come like a thief in the night (Mt. 24:43).  Unbelievers will be judged (Zeph. 1:7-16).  Believers will experience liberation and peace forever and ever.

          For that reason let us prepare. How shall we who believe prepare? Let us pray for the unbelieving. Let us proclaim the Savior to the world. Let us look forward to the day we shall see our Lord face to face. And let us ask the right questions today. Is the best question, “What hour will our Lord return?” The church prefers to ask “What time is it now?” Do you see the difference in the questions? We don’t aim to decipher the hour by magic numbers, fret about lovely homes left behind or listen to the “nutters” predict a particular day and hour. The church that believes lives each hour trusting Jesus; and the church that believes lives as sojourners, traveling to a better home. Like Abraham, we see a better country from afar; we’re heading there not knowing when our Lord will return. So we prepare for both delay and his immediate return.

          That’s the perspective of faith, faith in the eternal and infinite Lord Jesus Christ. This perspective overcomes our temporal and finite trials. Our trials will end when our Lord returns at the right time, as He came in the fullness of time. The first coming ended God’s wrath against sin and sinner, when Jesus paid the penalty of our sin. We look ahead in part by looking back at the benefits of His cross bestowed in Baptism. You were justified. You were brought you out of slavery and adopted as children of God. You now call God “our Father” as His holy priesthood. Even now you are seated with Christ in heavenly places. So as we receive Jesus’ body and blood today, we worship with the angels and saints around the divine throne. This is your Savior’s doing when you were baptized into Christ (Rm 6:3). His word preached trust into your heart and you died to sin and rose to new life. You received a living faith from the One who already brought you into eternity. His life now flows into you even as His blood flowed for you. He will sustain you in mortal combat against death, the devil, and your flesh. Come that Great Day, death shall die, the devil is bound and your body will be transfigured. 

Until then, Jesus Christ sustains your faith through His word and sacraments. By this pilgrim faith, you serve your neighbor until the Lord calls you home.  Husbands provide for wives, mothers change diapers, children obey their parents, employees work honestly and this pleases the Father, because of faith. The church prays and speaks the Word into the world of unbelief, because the time is short. When love suffers for faith’s sake, for Christ’s sake, we rejoice that the Lord calls many out of darkness into His glorious light. In this way remain awake for Christ’s return. Wear the helmet of salvation soberly and confess in hope, even confess your shortcomings in faith and hope. Then receive Him who forgave all your sin. Receive Him who says, “take, eat, take, drink, this is my body, this is my blood for the forgiveness of sin.” So encourage one another, building each other up in the most holy faith. In Jesus your Saviour, you will conquer all temporal, finite, and futile works of sin and the devil. You will outlive the grave. Today Jesus Christ grants you the eternal, the infinite, the perfect, the holy. Oh Lord, come quickly, maranatha! 

The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Amen)

Trinity 14, Is. 55:6-9

Sept. 18, 2011; 14^th Sunday of Trinity, Texts: Is. 55:6-9; Phil 1:12-14, 19-30; Mt. 20:1-16;

Title: Seekers vs. the Sought Out; Rev. Tim Beck

Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Seek the Lord while he may be found. This word from God is clear. It tells us three things. It commands, warns, and promises. 1) This sentence commands, “Seek the Lord.” We are His creation, He is God. He is God! Therefore, what are we to do but arrange our lives around what pleases Him?  2) This sentence warns, “While, seek the Lord while…” The Lord will not always be willing to be found. There is a Day of Judgment. So we should fear now. We should also turn and run the right direction, the righteous direction. 3) This sentence promises, “God is near, ready to hear whoever calls on Him.” God can be found! Hearing this, we have reason to rejoice. And that’s the bottom line, the reason to seek, that God wills to be found.

          First, the commandment is common sense. “Seek the Lord.”  With zeal, we seek lost cars in parking lots, lost children in grocery stores, misplaced papers, lost computer files and misplaced tickets to the ball game. But when it comes to the greatest matters, the eternal score, what’s the batting average in common sense, in a common seeking? As they say, where is common sense if it is so common? Why do folks, including us, spend so little time seeking the LORD? How well do you know the Bible? Do you read it daily? If we agree that we ought to seek the Lord, we also need ask, “where does God chose to be found?”  A couple years ago, after service an elderly visitor at Mt. Zion looked and looked for her car in our parking lot, walking in circles round and round with another member from our congregation. Finally, she called the police and said it was stolen. When the officer arrived, he listened to the woman, glanced across the street and asked, “Is that it?” It’s not enough to seek; we need to look in the right place. When Israel sought divine favor from idols the Lord said the heavens were shut against their prayers. And if we, like them, create a god, whether a doting grandfather god or the Star-wars force, or the forever changing face of culture, will the true God hear? Is there any point praying to the woman whose bumper-sticker says a goddess is driving? There’s a reason Isaiah cries, “Seek the Lord!”  He says this because the Lord was not being sought, despite the religiosity of Israel. 1,000 years later the Apostle Paul quotes Psalms 14, written 400 years before Isaiah, “There is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God.” (Rm 3:11) That’s our world too, and the will of the devil, and the will of our sinful nature. We don’t live in a world of common sense when it comes to seeking God, and seeking Him where He may be found. That’s why Isaiah seeks seekers of repentance: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the evil man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord.

          Why is that so important? Because secondly, 2) the sentence warns, “God will not always be near to be found.” There is a Day of Judgment. Hearing this, we should not only fear, we should turn and run the right direction, toward righteousness. Seeking the Lord is more than the anxious cry, the desperation of one adrift at sea begging God “I’ll do anything if you rescue me…” unless I see land. Let the wicked forsake his way. Let the wicked bear the fruit of repentance, as John the Baptist said. That’s not common sense to the world, the devil or our sinful nature either, to turn around and run uphill... and ultimately, not to our own efforts, but to a cross. As for repentance in our world for example, if a politician admits fault, what happens? He loses votes. That suggests it is not better to change direction. For example, if a pastor preaches “church is not about ‘me’ it is foremost about God,” how often does he hear this downstream drift, “boring!” For example, if we believe “blessed are the rich in spirit” not “blessed are the poor in spirit” what happens? We will not find the Lord while He can be found. That’s why God mercifully drives us to repentance with the law. The law teaches common sense, what pleases the LORD, before it is too late. But there’s a problem here. While the law teaches us what pleases God and teaches us to fear, can it give us the goodness of God, His mercy, His love? Only the gospel can do that, by giving us the righteousness of God, His righteousness not against us, but for us. We are not told, run to the law for comfort and strength, although the law is righteous. To run to the righteousness of the law is to hit a brick wall on the nose, full tilt. We are told, run to Christ’s righteousness for you, imputed to you, given freely to you. That’s what we are to seek, that is, the heavenly Father’s uncommon sense.

          Thirdly, 3) this sentence promises “the Lord is near, ready to hear whoever calls on Him.”  The Lord Jesus Christ means to be found! Hearing this, we have reason for joy. We have reason to rejoice because the true God sends a personal invitation. He didn’t use the U.S.P.S sixth class mail. He came and said, “Here am I.”  Certainly, when Isaiah preached these words he spoke of what was to come. Isaiah, like all the prophets until John the Baptist looked forward to the Christ. At the same time, the prophets taught how to seek, and where, when, why, what and whom; seek the coming Christ, who came to them in His Word. They were told to seek by believing the promise, receiving what the Lord revealed for faith. And to this day the repentant received the benefit of the promise, namely forgiveness, and hence life.

          Consider how folks of old were to seek the Lord. In ancient days the patriarchs offered sacrifices, God appointed sacrifices. They didn’t wave offerings before unknown goddesses, but to the Lord of the promise. Moses was given not only commandments but a definite form of worship promising grace, mercy, and peace on the basis of the coming one. The prophets affirmed the coming promise with signs, calling for repentance and announcing forgiveness. At last in the fullness of time, God sent His Son, born of woman, born under the law, born to fulfill the law, born to be the sacrifice for all who violated the law. God’s uncommon sense provided an uncommon salvation, a righteousness we can call our own, a righteousness received by faith, a righteousness that makes us uncommon. For God revealed himself lifted up, on a cross. This is where He wills to be found; for if you have seen Jesus then you have seen God as the Father, as your Father. In the days of His sojourn, Jesus commanded, warned, and promised. He said, “Turn from your evil ways,” then bid us turn toward his beckoning face.  He declared to those smitten by the law, “Whoever calls on my name shall be    saved. I forgive you all your sin.” Today He speaks through the same word, granting salvation in the ways He promises to be present.

          That’s how, where, and when God can be found… in His word that invites us and at the same time carries us over the threshold to His wedding feast. He reveals what we do not seek and gives what we cannot find. This God goes to the market place not for cheap labor, but to find all who have no way to make a living. There He proclaims, Ho, every one that thirsts, come to the waters, and he that has no money, come! buy and eat; yes, come! buy wine and milk without money and without price.  (Isa. 55:1)

          We enter His vineyard at quitting time and He pays us with what he earned. Otherwise, how could we sinners, we rebels, find the true God? We choose wrong ways because we do not understand His way. That’s why He revealed the righteous way nailed high on a tree for all to see. If we look first in self-help books to become rich, filled, and proud, He mercifully turns us toward a criminal’s crucifixion; then gives us His word with common water, and with bread and wine; and supplies pastors who proclaim and administer these gifts. He fills our lives with Himself, bringing us into His fellowship, bringing us into His presence. He does even more by His uncommon sense, in ways that are not our ways, but are ways that bring us into divine life, to share His eternal life. As the dear Martin Luther said, Grace and life were given you; but it meant bitter work for Him.  It cost Him much.  He earned it at the greatest expense with His own blood, body, and life.  For to put down God’s wrath, judgment, conscience, hell, death, and everything evil and to gain everything good could not be done without satisfying divine justice, paying for sin, and really overcoming death.  (SL 11, 422)

          The boss who did the work gives away his profit. So hold out your hands, the workman who does not labor is generously paid. God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense pours out the earnings of another for you, for you who cannot pay enough or even find work.  He washes away your pollution from guilt and shame, promising in forgiveness resurrection life, a perfect, righteous life, a life of fellowship in the LORD; for He gave you a new name in Holy Baptism, the uncommon identity of “saint.” This grace makes no sense to us sinners, until named saints. That’s why the admonition, seek the Lord while he may be found. First the law teaches us the LORD is God. It tells us what we must do, and threatens punishment.  Then the promise reveals how, what, where, why, when, and whom to seek. The promise not only shows these things, it delivers them to us. What uncommon grace! No wonder the Apostle Paul responded in this way: to live is Christ, and to die is gain. That’s an extraordinary word too, revealing this wonder of grace, namely faith. Faith receives the Saviour, and despite Paul’s suffering, rejoices. Consider the uncommon joy Paul has because He belongs to Christ. Consider how much hope he has in this life and for the next. That joy is ours too through uncommon mercy. Jesus Christ comes to feed your faith with His very presence, his bodily presence promising forgiveness.

          Better than signs old, of sacrifice, tabernacle, and prophesies pointing ahead, the ascended Jesus Christ gives Himself to you today, free and fully. He promises to be found where He tells you to seek Him. He gives Himself to you now. He promises that one day you shall see Him as He is.  Ho, every one that thirsts, come to the waters, and he that has no money, come! buy and eat; yes, come! buy wine and milk without money and without price.  (Isa. 55:1)

The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Amen)