The Third Sunday in Lent, John 2:13-22

March 11, 2012; Lent 3; Texts: Ex 20:1-17; I Cor 1:18-31; Jn 2:13-22 (23-25); Title: The Wisdom Foretold, the Sign Revealed; Rev. Tim Beck

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

Lent directs us to Christ’s cross; and because of that, Lent invites us to trust Jesus the Christ. That faith has something it believes, including a background you know, although your neighbor may not. For example, in our day we cannot assume the person next door knows what repentance is, any more than whom the gospel is. We cannot assume someone believes there is a God, especially those who blandly say, “Oh, I believe there is a God, whatever.” We cannot presume folks who attend a “Christian church” know the difference between the law and gospel, two doctrines that take us to very different ends.  We may need to say things, like God is real, and is really known in Jesus. The Living God reveals Himself for faith, that you receive His life (and you can say that).

          These things underlie our text, that God is God and is good, and reveals Himself, the law calling us to repentance and the gospel creating in us faith. Yet these things, the wisdom of the cross, seem like folly to unbelief.  To worship the true God is not our natural spiritual inclination. So the wisdom of the cross needs explaining, from the first revelation of God’s mercy unto its end. Don’t worry; we won’t cover all that ground today. But how well do you know the book of Leviticus, or the Chronicles, or Exodus? The foolishness of the cross began a long time before Jesus’ birth, as far back as Genesis. Why not learn these books? That’s a Lenten journey better than fasting, a trip worth taking because it takes you to the journey’s end.

          Today’s trip begins in a conflict 2,000 years ago with roots 1,400 years before that, at the first Passover. The people in our account know about the Passover, they know its origin and at least they keep the festival. Roasted Lamb is tasty after all. Besides, remembering the Exodus was heartening. So too Jews and even some Christians keep the Passover today. Why Christians do, I don’t know, unless it is to show what Christ fulfilled. Also today, many Christians and Jews change what the Passover indicated. I’ve seen in Passover literature the deliverance from Egypt is about ending addictions, bad habits, economic oppression, and sexual discrimination. That’s blind to the point, astray from journey’s end. The Passover doesn’t start with our felt needs. It starts with God (with God!) and includes law, gospel, and faith.  In Moses’ day this deliverance was not understood as a geo-political event, but a physical event for a spiritual reality.

          The angel of death passed over all doors marked with the blood of a lamb, and those inside lived - for a reason. Do you know the reason? The first Passover delivered a people from bondage in Egypt for this reason: to worship God… to worship the true God. (This afternoon review what Moses said to Pharaoh as the reason for the Exodus.) The goal of the first Passover was spiritual freedom. The unbeliever’s first born died only because they refused that worship, they refused to mark their doors with a lamb’s blood. So the first Passover, a sign of eternal mercy, brought Israel (and many           Egyptians… read who left Egypt) to worship; and it looked forward to journey’s end… the heavenly Promised Land. Following Passovers looked back to that Exodus and looked forward to the final passing over of what causes slavery to death... our sin.       

          And that’s why the sacrificial rituals ended fourteen hundred years later when God’s firstborn, when His temple, His body, was destroyed and rebuilt. When Jesus, “Saviour” appeared, the time for substitute sacrifices ended. Jesus is the final Pass-over, the Lamb slain whose blood washed upon the lintels of our brow (+), frees us from the penalty of death and the power of sin. Jesus fulfilled the Passover, so on the night of His betrayal transformed it into His Supper. What Moses, by God’s voice commanded in perpetuity, Jesus does not abandon but completes.  It is His Passover, His body, His blood, His pardon from sin, His gift of life. He removed the law’s condemnation, joins us to His life and pledges that in the next life we shall be righteous as He is. This is what the wisdom of the cross does for the repentant to give us a living faith in a living God. That’s why Christians no longer celebrate what anticipated our Saviour.  Rather, we receive Christ Himself, God-with-us in His body and blood.  In the Lord’s Supper we are joined to Christ until we enter the marriage supper of the Lamb. That’s the wisdom of the cross in the eternal Passover.

          There’s another expression in our text to explain: Jesus goes up to Jerusalem. He goes up because everyone goes up to Jerusalem, even if coming down from Mt. Everest. Geographically, Mt. Sinai is higher than Jerusalem and so is Mt. Carmel. But one always went up to Jerusalem because it was the location of the Temple. Where the Temple is, God dwells. What is higher than God? God promised to hear his people in the Temple, to forgive and to give a true worship. Like the Passover, the Temple was about more than Solomon’s cathedral of stone, or Zerubbabel’s or Herod’s. When God gave the Tabernacle design to Moses, and when the Temple followed its pattern, it announced the Holy God would dwell with His people. Like the first Passover, the Temple invited faith in The Promise, and like the Passover, it foreshadowed the worship to come.  The Temple directed faith not to stone, gold leaf, and money changers but to the habitation of the Holy God with purified sinners. To fulfill that promise, God Incarnate goes up to Jerusalem. When God Incarnate goes up to Jerusalem He enters the icon, the picture of Himself. He is the real Temple. Herod’s building is but a shadow of Jesus. Jesus, in humility, goes up to die to unite us with His death and so unite us with his life. In the former testament, in the old temple, the Living God promised to forgive and purify sinners. Now in a building not made by hands, but in a body made by and for the Creator, we encounter God’s Holy Presence.

          Jesus knows who and what He is. He calls Himself the Passover Lamb and He calls Himself the Temple. Why? …He is God for us, and the Holy God with us who both forgives and cleanses us. But what does the living Temple, the Passover Lamb hear when He arrives in Jerusalem? He hears a cry not of faith, but of selling in the Temple grounds.  Apostle John uses a word for selling, a loud hawking of wares. In the court of the Gentiles, where the nations were to worship, money preached. You see oxen, sheep, and pigeons and hear the traders barking over animal noises. Gentile, what are you to believe? You see priests examine the animals the worshippers brought, and say “imperfect;” then require they buy temple animals at inflated prices.  You see worshippers go to pay for the Temple sacrifice, and hear their money isn’t acceptable. They must exchange it for Temple currency, for a fee.  You see the scam, greed, injustice, and abuse when the worship of God is reduced to a profit. Gentile, what shall you believe? You are angry, and tempted to deny the God so badly represented by these priests. While “your” temple animal is sacrificed, you feel resentment and doubt the sacrifice does any good. What is this? It’s the trickle-down economy that benefited lots of people in Jerusalem. It is the wisdom of man compared to the foolishness of God. Like our times, like all times, worship was reduced to human need and wants.  Who believed “Repent and believe in the gospel?”  Moses believed. He said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin. (Ex. 20:21)

          What happened when human interest in the temple perverted the worship of God? What happened is another cry heard in the Temple grounds. When Jesus walks into the Temple that foreshadows him, what does He do? Jesus walks the way of His cross, in the foolishness of God, in the mercy of the redeemer, and cares about the first commandment. He cares about the revelation of God through the Law and the Prophets.  He cares about the promised deliverance, the purpose of the Passover and the reason for the Temple because He is the Temple’s Passover Lamb. His zeal to save makes enemies. Nevertheless, Jesus applies the law. He violently casts out those who pervert worship with a whip. And the law points out the sin of the merchants up to the High Priest. But they reject repentance and demand a sign, blind to the fact that He is the sign.  Can you image that, these usurpers presume to own the Temple. They reject its real owner and its real presence. They’re like church leaders today who say the Law is too stern or grace isn’t enough; who say Baptism is just water or the Lord’s Supper is only our act of devotion. They’re like us, whenever we break the first commandment, preferring our will to that of the heavenly Father; so repent daily. But Jesus cares about the outer court of the Gentiles because He cares for all nations. He is the Lamb, the Lamb for all, including the merchants up to the High Priest. He is the Passover Lamb, He is the Temple. He is the fulfillment of what is past. He is the end of the journey, the groom, the Lamb who bids us to the eternal feast.   

          So to us sinners who demand “give me a sign, my kind of wisdom. God, submit to my requirements,” Jesus says, destroy this Temple. The faithless think Jesus speaks about a temple they built, like the gods they made. Destroy what took wicked Herod the Idumean 40 years to build? Herod built the beautiful thing to placate the Jews, this wonder of the ancient world. But it was only a shadow of the real temple, of the incarnate God. Listen carefully to Jesus’ words. God-en-fleshed says in the imperative, “Destroy this Temple.” He commands.      And this command they freely obeyed, crucifying the Incarnate LORD with a vengeance. Yet this command, like the command to sacrifice a Lamb and spread its blood on doorposts, is the foolishness of the cross. It is pure grace. True God became true man - Jesus, Saviour - to be destroyed by sinners like us. This is how He gives life to his enemies and how He creates faith in you. In effect, Jesus said “If you want your sign, if you want faith, if you want God’s presence for life and peace, kill me.” Does this sound foolish to you, that those hypocrites, who thought so much of themselves and their religiosity, enough to kill Jesus for it, are pardoned by Jesus’ death? Yet this death, foreshadowed by the Old Testament, is our forgiveness, pardoning our guilt and giving us a righteous received by faith. This promise cannot disappoint. Jesus arose, His Temple rebuilt in three days as He said. That is the wisdom of the cross; His wisdom for you, His death to give you life; His life to give you faith.

          Did not your Saviour conquer what we fear most? Does He not await you at journey’s end, at an eternal wedding feast?  That is to ask, did He forgive you? So Lent directs us to Christ’s cross and to Divine wisdom. Lent calls us to trust in Jesus the Christ, the Passover Lamb. Lent calls us to faith so that we dwell forever in the true Temple of God. Lenten disciples receive our Lord’s Divine Service and respond in worship’s true praise. This is the wisdom of God, our Savior’s bloody death for your life, eternal life. It is the power of God to save.

             

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

The Transfiguration, 2 Kings 2:1-12c

Feb. 19, 2012; The Transfiguration; Texts: Ps 50:1-6; 2 Kings 2:1-12c; 2 Cor. 3:12-4:2; Mark 9:2-9, Title: The Act that Follows

Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.: All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts. (II 7) Do you recognize the line?  William Shakespeare penned it in As You Like It.  It sticks in our minds because it begs many questions. Does this drama have a plot? What is your part, and does it matter?  Oh it matters, and not just because we momentarily stand on this life’s stage. There are clues how much it matters in one player’s exit, stage up.

          Even if Elisha didn’t want the day to come, that exit was remarkable. But the sons of the prophets (those faithful to the true prophets) knew the end an act neared. In Bethel the sons of the prophets told Elisha, “Do you know that today the LORD will take away your master from over you?”  “Yes, I know. Keep quiet.” In Jericho the sons of the prophets repeated the scene, “Do you know that today the LORD will take away your master from over you?” “Yes I know, keep quiet.” Elisha knew, but didn’t want to hear it; like we don’t want to hear some things. As of our own exit, do we say “I know, keep quiet?”  The normal exit isn’t stage right or left, it is stage down, six feet down, except for Elijah, and before him, Enoch. We will follow Adam’s dusty lead... unless our Lord returns very soon. As for Elijah, we’d think Elisha would be happy for him. They still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it and he cried, ‘My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!’ And he saw him no more (v11-12a.)

          That dramatic exit cracked a curtain to the greater theatre, an eternal theatre. There Elijah rejoices, though he had a brief, well-timed return.  Before his next appearance, generations performed their parts, many wandering lost on stage, many pretending their little show was the whole show. Some, knowing the script and believing the playwright, acted accordingly. They awaited one curtain drop in expectation of another’s rise. They waited while Israel continued in idolatry, and then waited through the consequent scattering of God’s people by the Assyrians and Babylonians. They waited through God’s silence when the Greeks took control of the stage. They waited when Rome grasped the holy city as if that stage belonged to Caesar, ignoring the script delivered by Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and other prophets. Finally, one like Elijah came, as Malachi predicted: “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes.” (Mal 4:5). Backstage, a player enters though the womb of an ancient, barren woman. This predestined babe is pre-named. He started playing his part before birth. Still in his mother, he perceived the great Day of the Lord was near, as near as the babe in Cousin Mary’s womb. He leaped for joy.  We hear nothing more about John until as a man he recites prophetic lines, preaching repentance and baptizing for the forgiveness of sin. When his cousin drew near, the last prophet shouted “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn 1:29).  He announced a transfiguration for our blind and confused race, a transfiguration confirmed in Jesus’ baptism by the Father’s voice from above.

.         John acted his role dressed in camel’s hair and a leather girdle, unmistakably the costume of Elijah. People who flocked to the desert asked, “Are you Elijah?”  He said no, speaking as prophets do and exiting as most prophets did, through violence. What did his short act on this life’s stage mean?  What did it mean, Spirit-filled in his mother’s womb, calling us to make straight paths for the Lord?  His life meant much because the Author of life took center stage. The Son came for a reason, to set His drama right. What was beautifully conceived and written had been torn apart by uncaring, incompetent actors. What was meaningful and joyous was ruined by free-spirited improvisations, senseless and arrogant. Moses sought re-order. The prophets announced hope and one dressed like Elijah spoke for Elijah, “Straighten this out, the Author of life is nearly here, the one you’re waiting for. Then enter the Author dressed as man, compassionately playing his part. He did not imitate fellow players but humbled himself; playing our parts as they ought to be, as they might be. He spoke about his cousin, the one who declared Jesus to be the Lamb of God, the one who prepared his way. John’s cousin who came after yet before John, John’s king, spoke better than King Herod who ordered John’s head onto a plate. Jesus spoke “if you are prepared to accept it, that one is Elijah who is to come;” though not the literal Elijah who was in the wings awaiting a reprise on the old stage.  That Elijah appeared soon. We read about it in today’s gospel account.

          John’s act clued Elijah by announcing the eternal King who permanently wears our costume, who humbled Himself to become man to suffer and die. John’s act clued another mountain top experience, like so many important events. The covenant to Noah was given on Mt. Ararat; the offering of Isaac was on Mt. Moriah; the giving of the Law to Moses happened on Mt. Sinai; David’s holy city and temple was built upon Mt. Zion; and Elijah’s contest with the false prophets of Baal was atop a Mount too. But on this mount, when the cast arrived and the Author prayed His followers fell asleep. They failed to grasp prayer’s far grander theatre beyond our little stage. Like us, often weak and discouraged, Peter, James and John slept on that unnamed mount, until the reprise of Moses the lawgiver and Elijah the prophet. As for Moses who led God’s people out of slavery, and do you remember - in a divine revelation of stage eternal, his face glowed with the glory of God. But Moses veiled that glory to hide its earthly fading. He did not enter the Promised Land, because he sinned. Now, however, he shines without a veil. As for Elijah, the prophet who prayed, so came drought, then bread and oil multiplied, then life returned to a boy, and rain returned.  He prayed and fire fell on the true altar. He slew the priests of Baal and fled into the desert traveling 40 days on food given by angels. He came to the mount of the LORD and prayed to die. That’s why the LORD called Elisha, for neither Moses nor Elijah played well enough… in this life.

          Yet, both Moses and Elijah now shine in glory, because Jesus’ radiance that was and is, glows through his humanity, foreshadowing we too, weak as we are, will be filled with the glory of God. Jesus out-does Elijah’s departure on fiery chariots when from the cloud the Father says “This is my beloved son, listen to him.” Then another curtain rose “and suddenly, looking around they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.” (Mk 9:8) The brilliance of Moses and Elijah spoke of one who did not fail –and the Father’s voice confirmed our hope – so too the exit of Moses and Elijah raised the curtain for the climax to the play. Moses’ and Elijah’s momentary appearance and final departure says their work is finished. “As for prophecies,” said the Apostle Paul, “they will pass away” (Cor 13:8).  As for the Law, Paul says it “was our guardian until Christ came, that we might be justified by faith” (Gal 3:24).  On the mount of transfiguration the Law and prophets rest, since the Father said “This is my beloved Son. Hear Him.”

          Center stage is the Author of life, the Son who assumed a human nature, who cures a ruined play, redeeming faithless actors and restoring paradise from chaos. The transfiguration prepares us for the highest mountain scene, high and lifted up, “the place of a skull.” Amid cat calls, spit, jeers, whip, nails, and spear Jesus prays “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” He dies saying “it is finished.” He dies under God’s wrath, watched by smirking eyes; while perfect man shouldered our soul’s twisted evil, and our foolish, rebellious, hateful deeds. That mountain climax interprets the transfiguration. It justifies all scenes in the script, from Adam to Moses to Elijah to John’s head resting on a platter. In the transfiguration, Peter, James and John see what is to become of them - because their master was soon lifted up for all to see. On a bloody hill, God the Father received the Son when lifted up, so that you are lifted up by Jesus as a father lifts a dear child into his arms. You the baptized, you who believe in Jesus the Christ, will be transfigured like Him. His resurrection witnesses to it. He will never die again. He who triumphed will return in visible glory for His church. Until that Great Day, He descends in body and blood to sustain our life with Him, He who fills all things in heaven and earth… for what end? 

          If “all the world’s a stage and all the men and women merely players,” what is your part? That is to ask, “What part did Jesus play for you?”  Our part is we were called out of darkness and called into His story. We were made Christ’s body, and therefore we shall be like Him.  Until that day our lives play out in ordinary ways: in prayer, in witness, in living by faith under the cross. It is a difficult part and like Moses and Elijah, we are too weak to play it right. So our part           is to receive in water with Word, and in body and blood the Word, Christ Himself. Our part is to live in Christ, where we receive an eternal kingdom in His eternal purpose. When He was lifted up, Jesus Christ revealed his purpose for you. The Apostle Paul announced, In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will. (Eph 1:11).  Further, “(He has made) known to us the mystery of his will according to his      purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth (Eph 1:9-10). Even now we are being transformed. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Cor 4:6).

          He has shone into your hearts upon this life’s stage, Jesus Christ who suffered, died and rose. He called you to faith, granting you life through His means of grace. You are promised what is hidden under the cross, and so hidden in suffering, hidden in the likeness of Christ’s cross. You are promised to share in His glory. Moses and Elijah know that glory now. We too pray Maranatha, “Come quickly, Lord!” We pray because this life has a plot and you have a part. It matters, you matter. Because you live in Christ Jesus our Lord, you matter, called to something higher and greater than what we see under the veil of our stage. When that last curtain is lifted we will be transfigured like Moses and Elijah. With unveiled face, we will behold the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. So today you live for the praise of His glory, you who know that this master, will never leave you nor forsake you. We live in Him, He our glory.

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

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.)