Advent 4 - Rorate Coeli - December 18, 2011

The Church Season of Advent
Advent 4 - Rorate Coeli
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI (December 18, 2011)

Readings:   
        Psalm 111   
        Dt. 18:15-19       
        Philippians 4:4-7            
        John 1:19-28

+INI+

Grace, mercy and peace be to you from the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen

The text for today is as recorded in the Gospel reading of St. John the 1st chapter, especially the following verses.

John 1:19-28

19 Now this was John's testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, "I am not the Christ." 21 They asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" He answered, "No." 22 Finally they said, [to John the Baptist]"Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" 23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.' " 24 Now some Pharisees who had been sent questioned him, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"  26"I baptize with water," John replied, "but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie."  28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

Jesus arrived on Christmas once, about two thousand years ago.  Yet His presence is with us now continuously, even to the end of the age what a blessed comfort that is.  For wherever two or three are gathered, there is the Lord, incarnate in the flesh that He got from the blessed Virgin Mary.  So He is not really arriving on Christmas.  He is already here. 

Yet we in the Church still exercise a centuries' old tradition of preparing for Christ’s arrival.  We know that we need to be reminded that His presence among us is no small thing, and we should be examining and preparing constantly.  After all, He will also return again. 

So then what can we do to prepare?  Well, let's look at what John did.  When he was questioned by the Jews, he gave His testimony.  And John said was is, "I am not the Christ."  And he said, "I am the voice of one crying, 'Make straight the way of the Lord.'" And John also said, "There stands One among you whom you do not know.  It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose."

How do we simplify all these quotes by John?  We could summarize it this way: "The Lord God is among us in human flesh, and I am not Him.  I am not worthy of Him, for He is eternal and infinitely greater than me." And that is a confession that we all can make.  We are all sinners who are not worthy of Christ.  We all fall short of the glory of God.  He is here already, but we are not well prepared in thought, word, and deed.  Our preparation stinks.

 

“Make straight the way of the Lord”, John said.  And if our preparation is us cleaning up our lives and doing better, then we have mucked it up pretty badly.  Or worse, if we think that we have done a pretty good job cleaning up our lives then we are really not well prepared.

 

Thank heavens our preparation does not consist in our own efforts.  But God Himself prepares us by sending messengers before Him who get us ready. The road of life is not straight, though we always seem to hear that we should get our lives on the straight and narrow.  The road of life is not straight, it is more like a summer time on a Michigan Highway.  There are twists and turns, detours and accidents, making the wrong choice in where we should be, being in the place we shouldn’t be, disappointed when some runs into us, disappointed in ourselves when we run into someone else, our cars breakdown unexpectedly.  Sound familiar?  For every one of those highway challenges put yourself and your life, and your challenges in those same sentences.  And we end up with, I have sinned in thought word and deed, by the things we’ve done and the things we’ve left undone.  And so how are those twisty complicated challenges of life to be dealt with?  How is this road of life made smooth by the end of the season?

 

Well think of it this way, How do you get ready to meet a really important person?  The first thing you do is take a shower and get clean.  God thinks the same way.  He cleans us up by giving us His washing of regeneration and renewal.  He purifies us in the best bath there can be. John was the first human messenger through whom God gave out this washing.  The Jews recognized that this Baptism of John was something new, not like their traditional ritual washings.  John was preaching a Baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

 

The Jews recognized that John was claiming great power and authority for this Baptism.  So they asked him why he Baptized, if he was not the Christ and not Elijah and not the Great Prophet prophesied by Moses.  John said that he was preparing the way for the Lord, and the Lord was the important One, not John.  The Baptism John gave was the preparation for the coming of God in human flesh.

 

So it is today.  The forgiveness of God that He gives in Baptism has prepared you for Christ's coming.  As He comes among us in Word and Sacrament, and as He soon will return on clouds of glory, you must be found ready - and thank God, you already are!  For you are washed, you are cleansed, you are sanctified in Christ Jesus your Lord.  In Baptism, you are made a straight and level road.  Your life is set in order, so that all the rough spots of your life and potholes of your iniquities are made smooth by repentance and forgiveness; not that your life is perfect, but that God sees it as perfect.

 

This power of Baptism is the same for John as it is for us.  The power is in Christ and Him crucified.  It is the same power that raised Christ from the dead.  The events by which God redeemed mankind were a future thing for John, since the Blood of God's Son had not yet been shed for the world.  For us, that event is already accomplished and sealed by His death and Resurrection.

You are Baptized into Jesus Christ’s His death.  You are buried with Christ so that you will also be raised with Him. Therefore, He has prepared you by covering you with the robes of His righteousness.  Jesus Christ gives you the ultimate, immaculate perfection as a gift.  His goodness is bestowed upon you in these holy waters, like the most beautiful clothing anyone could ever wear. 

So we are prepared for Christ by washing up and getting dressed in our best clothes.  Both things happen in Baptism.  Therefore, you are ready indeed, though there may be unsettling twists and turns ahead of you, have faith.  In the end of the season, Christ will come again.  The road has been made straight, your salvation is secure.  The true preparation was made in Jesus Christ’s redemption.  The path to eternal life is made straight.  Rejoice in the coming days as you hear of the road to Bethlehem, rejoice each day that Jesus Christ cares for each of you.  His incarnation was not for a just day, rather it is for you each day as He comes into your lives.  John cried out in the wilderness the Good news of Jesus Christ what blessed knowledge we have that Jesus Christ who cried out for you on the cross so that all those who believe and are baptized, there is nothing ahead of you that will take you away from the road He prepared for your eternal life. Amen

The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
+SDG+

Advent 3 - Guadete - December 11, 2011

Advent 3 - Gaudete Sunday
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI (December 11, 2011)

Readings:  
    Is. 40:1–11  
    Psalm 85  
    1 Cor. 4:1-5  
    Matthew 11:2-11
      

+INI+

Grace, mercy and peace be to you from the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen

The text for today is as recorded in Philemon the 4th chapter and Psalm 85 which we just read, and it is why this Day is called Gaudete:

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Let your forbearance be known to all, for the Lord is near at hand; have no anxiety about anything, but in all things, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God. Lord, you have blessed your land; you have turned away the captivity of Jacob."

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

For those of you not familiar with the church calendar, today is traditionally known as "Gaudete Sunday."  Gaudete is Latin for "rejoice."  Today we light the pink candle on the Advent wreath, reminding us that today is a little bit different from the rest of Advent.  Advent is a season of repentance, not many know that but think of it this way, why would we need the babe in Bethlehem if we were already free from sin?  Yes we say Jesus is the reason for the season, but too often we forget the reason why Jesus came to us—not to simply be a cute little baby in a manger, but to die for our sin.  Yet, this is also why we take a little timeout in the midst of this penitential season to remember the joy of our salvation; the joy of God's grace, which is ours because of Christ alone. Now you can also see why it is ever so more special that the newest member in God’s forever family Easton Sonntag was baptized today and we rejoice.

But what exactly do we celebrate and rejoice over today?  Do we rejoice over something that happened almost two-thousand years ago?  Do we rejoice over something that happened just a few minutes ago with Easton? Well it is a bit difficult to be excited about something that happened long before we were around.  It's hard to get excited about stuff that happened one year ago, let alone two thousand years ago. Much easier to get excited about a baptism today.  Yet, do we rejoice over the fact that Christmas is less than two weeks away?  Maybe that is true for some, but it also means that there's less than two weeks of Advent left.  And nobody really enjoys the whole repentance thing.  That's human nature.  Being reminded of your sin and the fact that you're not as good or squeaky-clean as you think you are is kind of a drag.  A whole month of it can really bring you down, especially when the rest of our culture is pushing consumer happiness, joy, and Christmas cheer. But John the Baptist preached repentance in the wilderness, and Jesus Christ’s first sermon spoke of repentance too.

So, Gaudete – Rejoice Sunday: What exactly are we to rejoice over today?  New members, successful fund raisers, baptisms?  The answer is found in Scripture, and it's amazingly simple and clear.  We rejoice today because the reality of salvation through faith alone in God's grace alone because of Jesus Christ alone is an eternal, ever-present reality.  It's our reality. 

And what is reality?  Have you seen the signs of Christmas?  You know like; "Jesus is the reason for the season," "Keep Christ in Christmas," or “You are the reason Christ came into this season.”  Or how about; "Christmas: The Birth of Jesus—When God came to earth."  All of them okay, but really, none tell the whole story.

When did Jesus come to earth?  It may seem like a trick question, but it's not, and that's the problem.  You see, Jesus didn't just advent with mankind two thousand years ago in a little stable in some backwoods little village on the outskirts of the Roman Empire.  He did come to be born, to die as an all-redeeming sacrifice.  But again that’s not the whole story, Jesus will come again in all His glory.  Christmas is also supposed to remind us of ALL this blessed news. 

But wait…there's still more to the story.  How is mankind saved during the time between Christ's first advent in a manger and His glorious return on Judgment Day?  Has God left us to fend for ourselves?  Absolutely not!  Salvation has never, is never, and will never be about what man can do for himself.  Salvation has always and will always be about what Christ does for us.  Notice the order and tense of the wording, does for us, not did for us?  Like He did for Easton baptism and salvation is what Christ does for us, we are baptized how comforting is the Word of God.

So, listen again to the words of our Old Testament lesson for this morning.  "Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.” Is 40:1  Comfort.  There are two ways of looking at comfort, one of them is all feelings and emotions, with nothing behind it but a good heart or good intentions.  The other way to look at comfort is to actually do something about what is causing the discomfort, grief, fear, or pain, and make it better.  Right now, we need the second sort of comfort.  We need to know, and we need to see, and we need to feel comfort from the pressures and dangers around us.

But Jesus says to you, "Your sins are forgiven," and that is pure Gospel and Gospel means the Good News of Jesus Christ.  That’s comfort worth rejoicing for.  And this comfort doesn't rest upon us or our opinions it come from Christ Himself, a gift for you.  And this gift isn't a fad or a fashion or some other time bound tradition.  This is the Word of God.  For Easton, for Bridgett and Ryan, for you and for me, this is the truth of God.  This is the gift of God for you.  This is the Gospel, and it is the power of God for salvation to all who believe!

Look around.  The Word of God made flesh whose birth we anticipate is actively at work among you today in His Word and His Sacraments.  Nothing has changed, we rejoice that Jesus Christ’s the Word is still actively working life and forgiveness and salvation to us. 

That is comfort and joy.  That is why we Gaudete (rejoice) this day and every day.  Christ the Lord, the Word of God made flesh, continues to be faithful and true to His Word, "I am with you always, to the very end of the age."  The reality of Immanuel—God with us—isn't just a past-tense or future-tense thing it is and will always continue to be.  Christ the Lord continues to advent with us, presently and actively saving us from our sin, calling us to repentance and comforting us with His Gospel promise that "It is finished."  Rejoice in Lord today Easton Sonntag, Rejoice today all who are here this day.  Rejoice in the Lord always and be comforted, for the anticipated Christ did come into to this world for His people.  For Jesus Christ brings us to His kingdom where we will all “rejoice in the Lord always,” and even forevermore.  Amen

The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

+SDG+

Advent 2 - Populus Sion - December 4, 2011

In my absence the Rev. Jonathon Bakker, from Zion Lutheran Mt. Pleasant, MI delivered the Word of God.  We thank Zion Lutheran Church for their graciousness in allowing Jon and his wife Anne to be here this day.  We thank Jon and Anne for all that they do in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Populus Sion Luke 21:25-36
Second Sunday in Advent, 2011 (Historic)
Our Savior Lutheran Church
Midland, Michigan
Pastor Jonathon Bakker

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord, Jesus Christ, Amen. The Holy Scripture for our consideration this day is the Gospel from St. Luke.

'And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.' Then He spoke to them a parable: 'Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.'

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Christmas is coming. Are you ready? Many shoppers on 'Black Friday' were out and about to ensure that they will be prepared with gifts for their loved ones. More and more homes are decorated on the outside already, and the Christmas tree lots are officially open for business. Few of us might be ready, for instance, if we were to look at the calendar and see that Christmas was tomorrow, but we really know that it is still three weeks away. We have time and maybe even a plan to have everything ready and in place so that when Christmas does arrive, we can joyfully spend it with our loved ones sharing gifts, traveling to see family, and eating a feast or two. We don't have to be ready today for Christmas to be here tomorrow - December 25th is plenty of time. We'll be ready. 

There is also another kind of preparation that is worthy of consideration; the Preparation God's church makes to commemorate of the Nativity of Christ in the manger at Bethlehem. In our Lord's humble entry into this world; He came under the Law to be the sacrifice for our sins, and we are prepared for this through the penitential season of Advent. Singing Advent hymns, praying collects that stir up our hearts to repentance and faith, and hearing the Word of the Lord rom the Gospels all make us ready to celebrate our Lord's birth on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Advent may strike us by surprise most years, coming on the heels of the Thanksgiving holiday, but there is no reason to panic during Advent, because this is the time for preparation. It is as Luther himself wrote in the 13 verse of his Christmas hymn, 'From Heaven Above to Earth I Come':

Ah, dearest Jesus, holy Child
Prepare a bed, soft, undefiled,
A quiet chamber set apart
For you to dwell within my heart

God alone makes our hearts ready to receive the Lord throughout this season of Advent so that come Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, we will celebrate the Incarnation of Christ with joy. We'll be ready.

 

If only it were so easy to prepare for the second coming of the Lord. It is described in today's Gospel and the reading says it all. The Lord is coming. Like it or not, ready or not, He is coming. This is the only passage of Luke in which he speaks of the signs that will accompany the end of the world, and they are not the things humanity is hoping to see. The signs of His coming are startling. Signs in the sun and moon and stars, anguish in the nations of the earth, the sea and its waves roaring, and the hearts of men failing for fear of what is coming on the earth. Then, all of humanity, whether they have saving faith in Jesus Christ or not, will see him descending in a cloud with power and glory.

 

We know from the Creed that when He returns in glory, our Lord does so to judge the living and the dead. Like a book that is opened up for all to see, there will be no more secrets for any of us. The things we have hidden rom our parents, our spouses, and even from our friends and enemies will not be concealed anymore. When our Lord returns, He will be the judge of all.

 

Yet, He also tells us that when we see these things begin to take place, we ought to look up and raise our heads, because our redemption is drawing near. Take heart, dear Christians. It almost sounds fanciful to our ears, but our Lord is reminding us that His judgment is not ultimately about the things we have done or not done, but about what we have believed. Luther tells us that the irony with this passage is that those who ought to be afraid of the Lord's coming, unbelievers, are not afraid, and those who ought to be rejoicing, believers, are instead terrified.

 

What Jesus promises in this passage is a whole new world which will accompany His return; a new Creation that will not be subject to the corruptibility or passability of this sinful age; a new Creation populated by the whole Christian church of all times and all places. The heavens and the earth will pass away, but Jesus' words will never, ever, pass away. Just as you know the summer is coming when the leaves begin to appear, so also know that the Lord is coming when these things take place.

 

Jesus also tells us to beware, because the day will come suddenly. Unlike preparing for Christmas Day in both church and society, when we know that there is time yet before December 25th to make ourselves and our churches ready for the celebration, there are no more warnings yet to come from the Lord before His return. The rich man could not send Lazarus back rom the dead to warn his brothers and family of what was to come. They had Abraham, and we should expect nothing different. We had Jesus. The Lord died on the cross and was raised rom the grave. The time to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ is not on our deathbed; it's not twenty years from now; it's not even tomorrow. Our days are numbered, friends. We may not have a deathbed. We may not make it twenty more years on this earth. We might not even make it to tomorrow.

    Preparing for the coming of the Lord is not something we can mark on the calendar and set up a long to-do list so that we are ready by that date, and it is not something we can put off until later - it will come unexpectedly. We are called to be prepared to meet the Lord every single day! We prepare for the coming of the Lord by hearing His enduring words and receiving the gifts He gives through them. The white robes of his righteousness are the only clothes in which we can stand before the Lord and His Holy Communion is the only food that will sustain us into eternity. So as we once again prepare for Christmas through Advent, let King David's prayer in Psalm 39 also be ours.

"Lord, make me to know my end,
And what is the measure of my days,
That I may know how frail I am.
Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths,
And my age is as nothing before You;
Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor.
Surely every man walks about like a shadow;
Surely they busy themselves in vain;
He heaps up riches, And does not know who will gather them.
And now, Lord, what do I wait for?
My hope is in You."

We may not know how many days we have on this earth, we may not know how frail we are, and we may not even know who will gather the riches we have heaped up. But in faith, we confidently wait for the Lord in whom we have the hope of eternal life.

To Christ alone be all the glory, forever and ever, amen.
The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus our Lord, amen.