Brent Kuhlman

Proper 18 Trinity

2008-09-07T06:22:50-06:00

Proper 18                                     Trinity Lutheran Church
7 September 2008                      Murdock, NE

                                                                                      + Jesu Juva +

Matthew 18:15-20

“If your brother sins against you . . .”

“If you brother sins against you . . .” -- you tell anyone and everyone about it. At the ball game. At the post office. At Round the Bend. At Wal Mart. On the cell phone. Text it. Send an email. “Did you hear what that SOB did to me? You didn’t? Well let me tell you all about it. It’s just shameful.”

No, that’s shameful. Listen to Jesus again. Would you care to listen to Him? Would you? All right. But I warn you. You’re not going to like it. But it needs to be said. So here goes. “If your brother sins against you, go and talk to HIM! Go and talk to Him! And no one else.”

I told you that you wouldn’t like it. Who wants to do that? NO ONE! The old Adam shudders at such words. We want to play the victim card. Use the victim status to make ourselves big. Great. Important. The old Adam loves to puff himself up. I’ve been hurt so now I have every right to tell everyone about it.

No you don’t. You have a divine call from Jesus Himself to do just the opposite. “If you brother sins against you, speak to Him about it. Just him. No one else. Nobody else needs to know.”

Go to the brother sinner who sinned against you. Go ahead. Tell him the sin. But that’s not the most important part. The reason why you go to the sinner is to speak an additional word. What’s that? “I’m here to forgive you for your sin.”

And if your brother sinner receives your forgiveness you’ve won your brother. That’s the goal. That’s precisely why you go to him personally. Because what’s forgiven is forgiven. Relationship restored. A new life together in the freedom of forgiveness.

Now because such mercy talk is so rare, your brother may not get it. The world doesn’t operate that way. The world’s way is the way of chains, locks, and prisons. Tit for tat. Quid pro quo. Forgiveness? Mercy? What? To receive the forgiveness means that you admit that you’ve sinned. After all there can be no forgiveness unless you’ve sinned. So you may have to try numerous times with your brother.

But if you get nowhere all by yourself with your sinner brother who refuses to listen to your forgiveness, then take one or two others with you. They can establish the fact that the sin has taken place. But more importantly, they too can hear your offer to speak the word of forgiveness. “Dear brother you have nothing to fear. I’m here with our friends. We’re all here as beggars. Please receive my forgiveness and all will be set right. We can live together in peace.”

That’s the goal. That’s how you want to win your brother. With forgiveness. You want to treat him the way you would want to be treated. With mercy. With love. Absolution.

Who wouldn’t want that? You brother might not. So if the one on one fails. And the one or two others fails after repeated attempt. Then enlist the entire church. The whole congregation of forgiven sinners. “Tell it to the church,” Jesus says. Let everyone in the congregation have a crack at the brother sinner. Begging him to receive the word of forgiveness. Week after week. Month after month. Year after year.

Who would dare to not listen to such begging? Sadly some. Tragically, some would dare to hold their sin outside of Christ’s forgiveness. And “if he refuses to listen even to the church,” Jesus says, “then treat him the way he wants to be treated – like an unbeliever.”

Don’t want forgiveness? The Lord won’t force it on you. Neither will the church. Want to be bound in your sin, then bound you are. Not only on earth but also in heaven. And believe me, that’s not good.

The opposite of all this is to receive forgiveness from a brother or sister in Christ as from the Lord Himself. This is how the Lord Jesus reigns in the midst of a congregation of sinners. For whatever is forgiven on earth is forgiven in heaven Jesus promises.

So when a brother sins against you, go to him. Tell him the sin. And then in love tell him you’re there to forgive him in Jesus’ Name. Receive such forgiveness from the Lord Himself. For where two or three gather in such a way for confession of sin and the speaking of forgiveness Jesus makes another promise: “there I am in the midst of them.”   Yes, indeed, He reigns among those for whom He died with His love and forgiveness.

Happy winning your brother. In Jesus’ Name.

Proper 18 Immanuel

2008-09-07T06:18:19-06:00

Proper 18                                Immanuel Lutheran Church
7 September 2008                Louisville, NE

                                                                                             + Jesu Juva +

Acts 2:38-39
Baptism of Tyler Joseph Gilsdorf

“The Son of Man came to save that which was lost,” (Matthew 18). Jesus died for everyone. There’s none He didn’t die for. Can you name anyone Jesus leaves out of His Good Friday Calvary dying? . . . I didn’t think so. Jesus died for you. Jesus died for Tyler too. Winning and achieving the salvation that only He could do. And He did! “It is finished!” The sacrifice for all sin is done in the death of the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Jesus would bestow on sinners for whom He died the forgiveness of sins won by His Good Friday dying. And so He institutes Holy Baptism. “Make disciples of all nations by baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” (Matthew 28).

So the church baptizes according to the Lord’s mandate. According to His bidding. Always has. Always will. Until the Last Day that is. Right away, then, the blessed apostle Peter invites sinners to Holy Baptism. “Be baptized every one of you.” “Every one of you.” Not some. Every one means “every one.” What part of “every one of you” don’t you understand? The “every one of you” of Acts 2 matches the “all nations” of Matthew 28.

“Be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus, (the Jesus who died for you).”

And then Peter extols the benefits promised in Holy Baptism. Remarkable benefits. Heavenly benefits. Salvation benefits. Listen again. “Be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Whoa! Did you catch that? It’s right there in the Bible! Very clear. No doubt. From an apostle who learned it from Jesus Himself. “Receive Holy Baptism everyone.” For what reason Peter? For what gift Peter? "For the forgiveness of sins." The forgiveness won by Jesus on the Cross. Holy Baptism delivers that forgiveness! Good Friday forgiveness! Outstanding!

“Be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus.” For what reason Peter? For what benefit Peter? “And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” The Holy Spirit is the Lord and Giver of life. Life! New life. New birth! Regeneration! In Holy Baptism. The water together with the mandate and institution Word of Jesus Himself.

St. Paul agrees. That’s in Titus 3. “God saved us . . . through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior.”   Washing. That’s Baptism. And with that the regeneration or gift of new life from the dead by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus told Nicodemus that sinners are received into the kingdom of God through Holy Baptism: “Truly, truly I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God,” (John 3). Water and the Spirit. Everyone knows that’s Holy Baptism. Sounds just like what Peter said. “And you (you who are baptized) will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Told you Peter learned it from the Lord.

I can just hear it now. “Well Reverend, we’ll grant you that Jesus says ‘all nations,’ and that Peter says, ‘every one of you.’ But Scripture nowhere says that a little one like Tyler should be baptized. Got you there Reverend!”

Not so fast my friend! Better listen to the rest of what Peter says. You might just be delightfully surprised. Go ahead Peter. I’ll let you tell them. “All right Pastor Kuhlman. This promise   . . . (the promise of forgiveness and the gift of the Holy Spirit) in Holy Baptism IS FOR YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN. And what is more . . . IT IS FOR ALL WHO A FAR OFF, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”

For you. For your children. For all.

Jesus died for you. He died for Tyler. Baptism is for you. For your CHILDREN. For all. Because it gives Calvary’s forgiveness and new life through the Holy Spirit. No wonder Jesus makes the promise is Mark 16, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved.”

The “little ones” who believe in Jesus are the greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18).   Belief. That’s faith. Trust. In Jesus. Who gives such wonderful salutary gifts in Holy Baptism. The Father’s will is that none of the “little ones” who believe and who have angels to watch over them should ever “perish.”

You are a “little one.” Tyler is a “little one.” For whom Jesus died. Winning your salvation. And then bestowing what He achieved at Calvary in Holy Baptism. “Be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is for you and your children.” Happy Baptism Day Tyler! Happy remembering and rejoicing in your Baptisms, members of Immanuel!

In the Name of Jesus.

Proper 17

2008-08-31T07:08:10-06:00

Proper 17 Trinity Lutheran Church
31 August 2008 Murdock, NE

+ Jesu Juva +

Matthew 16:21-28

Last week Peter was so helpful. Confessed Jesus to be the Christ, the Son of the living God. How true. Jesus promises to build His church on that confession. Great job Peter.

Now Jesus spells out the “what” of His being the Christ ministry. Explains the Christ job He’s going to do. Spells it right out. It’s quite a Christ mission.

Listen to Jesus again. “It’s absolutely necessary, i.e., it’s God’s will for me to set out for Jerusalem. And there I will suffer deeply at the hands of the lay leaders, senior pastors, and Bible teachers. I’ll be executed. And on the third day I’ll rise from the dead.”

Last week we learned “who” Jesus is. The Christ. That’s clear. No problem there. But this week we hear the “what.” The “how” Jesus is the Christ. He’s the Christ who will suffer. Suffer not just in general. A suffering that will be terminal. He won’t die of a broken heart or of old age. He’ll suffer a death by execution. Stapled to the Cross as a public menace. That’s His Christ mission.

Got a problem with that? Peter sure does. You followed his lead last week. Will you follow him this week?

Peter ponders what Jesus says. A suffering Christ? A dead Christ? Absolutely unthinkable! Oxymoron! According to Peter, the words “suffering” and “Christ” completely contradict each other. The words “dead” and “Christ” are like fingernails on a chalkboard. THE CHRIST CAN’T LOSE! He supposed to be a winner! THE CHRIST CAN’T DIE! Inconceivable!

So Peter takes Jesus aside. Politely. Pastorally. Issues his first encyclical. “God be merciful to you Jesus. I’m going to let you in on a little secret. What you’ve just said will never happen to you. Why? Because the Christ cannot suffer and the Christ cannot, (now listen to me carefully Jesus) DIE! EVER!”

No suffering, dying, and rising Christ Jesus for Peter. How about you? Would you give your “Amen” to Peter’s words? Would you too insist on a Jesus who goes to Jerusalem minus Holy Week, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday?

If you’re with Peter who infallibly holds to a suffering free Christ Jesus, then you’re in league with the devil! Jesus turns on a dime. Looks right at Peter. Looks right at you. “Get behind me Satan!”   It is Satanic to not want Jesus to do a Jerusalem Holy Week, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. Satan tried to derail Jesus doing His salvation job of bearing all the world’s sin on the cross with his three sensational wilderness temptations of: “Turn stones into bread!” “Jump!” “I’ll give you the world!”

Pull a Peter and you’re pulling a Satan all over again. Pull a Peter and you’re not concerned with God’s ways but men’s. Pull a satanic Peter and you don’t have a Savior. You’re left all on your own. And believe me, that’s not good!

Jesus will have none of it. He will not abandon His trip to the Cross and a borrowed tomb. He will go to Jerusalem. He will suffer. He will be crucified. He will be buried. He will rise from the grave. And neither you, Peter, nor Satan can stop Him. He will not put Himself first. He is the Suffering Servant Christ who suffers, dies, and rises for sinners.

Now His Cross shapes your lives. Patterns your lives. A disciple of Christ Jesus “finds his life” by . . . “losing it!”

You have a life when you take up your cross and follow Jesus.

And that simply means this:
1) You believe the truth about yourself and then,
2) you believe the truth about Jesus Himself!

First, what is the truth about yourself? Warning! It’s not pretty. You are a sinner. A rotten to the core sinner. By nature lost in your selfish self. A sinner that relentlessly seeks to assert yourself against God. Even to prevail over Him. A life centered on yourself. A sinner with the constant drive to be number one no matter who you hurt. And that you as a sinner deserve nothing but God’s temporal and eternal punishment.

Doesn’t that kill you to say confess such a thing? Indeed. And that’s the point! The old Adam brags about his accomplishments and his record. But the old Adam must be put to death! Drowned. Crucified. Daily. With all his sin and evil desires. To take up your cross and follow Jesus is the daily search and destroy mission of the old Adamic self.

So go ahead. Confess the truth about your sinful self. Repent! Turn away from that life of believing lies. Lose the life of trusting in yourself. For only when you lose that life do you find another!

And that’s a new life in Christ! When you take up your cross and follow Jesus you believe what He says. He says that He is the suffering and dead Good Friday Christ! The Easter Sunday Christ! That He does it all for you and for your salvation. For the forgiveness of all your sins. Only in this Christ Jesus are you saved. You can gain the entire world, but without faith in Christ Jesus, there’s only one alternative: the place prepared for the devil and all his angels.

Faith’s reward is salvation. A reward that is only by grace. Salvation in Jesus! He reveals His reign over us sinners in His suffering, death, and resurrection. Peter saw that. So did the other disciples. They didn’t taste death, i.e. they didn’t die, before they saw Jesus’ words come true. Jesus died on the Cross. And from the Cross He reigns as the Christ, the divine Son of Man, winning a salvation for sinners like Peter, you and me.

In the Name of Jesus.

Proper 16

2008-08-24T06:16:44-06:00

Proper 16 Trinity Lutheran Church
14 August 2008 Murdock, NE

+ Jesu Juva +

Matthew 16:13-20

It’s Jesus who’s asking the questions today. Not you. Not me.

“Who do Whoopi, Joy, Elisabeth, Sherri, Barbara or Oprah say that I am?” Well, Jesus, their answers vary. Anywhere from like John the Baptist to Elijahesque. A Jeremiah re-do. Or the catch-all: you remind us of an OT prophet. Courageous. Uncompromising. An inspiring man of God. A great example.

All right. But then comes the big question. The life or death question. The salvation question. And there’s no avoiding it. Jesus comes right out and asks you point blank: “But who do YOU say that I am?”

Any one care to answer? What’s that? Too shy? Not quite sure what to say? Cat got your tongue?

Simon steps up to the plate. He’ll go first. Sticks his neck out. More than willing to speak up. “Well Jesus, you’re the Christ. Son of the living God you are.” Whew! Thanks a ton Simon. Nice job. Where’d you come up with that one? Pretty clever. You’re so good someone ought to nominate you to be the first bishop of Rome.

Don’t be so impressed. Simon didn’t pull this out of his hat. Simon’s not so creative. Beware of those, even if they claim to be apostolic, who brag about their “creativity!” Instead, Jesus says: “Blessed are you Simon, son of Barjona.. Blessed are you because my heavenly Father revealed this truth to you. Remember my Baptism in the Jordan? Heaven broke wide open. My Father’s voice declared: ‘He’s my beloved Son!’ And I began my Messianic ministry that you’ve seen quite clearly. In my ministry I’m revealed to you as the Christ. God’s divine Son. Very good Peter.”

Jesus is the Christ. He is the Son of the living God.

But what about you? Is that your confession too? Then blessed are you! For Jesus, Son of the living God, Christ goes to do a Calvary job for you. Takes all your sin. Becomes the sinner. Answers for all your sin in His crucified body. Endures the Father’s wrath against all your sin in your place. Son of the living God, Jesus, the Christ, dies a damned sinner’s death. Yours.

Can you trust a Jesus like that? Or would you confess a different Jesus?

Here’s what’s at stake. No Good Friday Jesus – no salvation. No Son of the living God Christ Jesus who lies stone cold dead and buried – no reconciliation with the Father. No Son of the living God Christ Jesus who bolts from the black hole of death – no forgiveness. No nothing! No Son of the living God Christ Jesus like that for you – everything is pointless – you are still in your sins. And you’ll have to answer for them all – all by yourself. Good luck with that!

“So who do YOU say that I am Trinity congregation?”

Why you’re the Son of the living God Messiah revealed to us by the Father in that Friday we call good and in your Easter Sunday first fruits resurrection! All this for us and for our salvation!

“Blessed are you. Blessed are you,” Jesus says.

And then Jesus makes a most remarkable promise. A most counter cultural and vehemently anti human achievement vow. “Upon this rock, i.e., upon this confession that I am the Son of the living God Messiah, I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH!”

Did you hear that? It’s absolutely astounding! First, who builds the church? You? Me? Consultants? Church growth gurus? Jesus says just the opposite. Jesus promises just the reverse: “I will build.”   “I will build.” He doesn’t say to Simon: “Now look here Simon! It’s all up to you now. Put on your vestments and mitre. Better start acting like a bishop of bishops and get busy building the church!” No. Jesus does the verb. “I will build.”

He builds the church because she belongs to Him. She is His beloved bride for whom He, Son of the living God Christ, gave His life into a Good Friday death. She is bought and redeemed by the sacrificial blood of Him who is the Son of the living God. Holied and cleansed by the washing of His baptismal water with His mandate and institution Word.

We are simply given to answer the question: “But what about you? Who do you say that I am?” And the only answer that holds is the one given to us by the Father through His Spirit filled Word: “You are the Christ! You are the Son of the living God!” And when you say that you say: “You are my Savior!”

On that rock, on that solid rock confession, Jesus builds His church.

And then Jesus graciously gives another most remarkable promise. “Not even the gates of hell will be able to overthrow the church I build!” Satan, his demons, and all their hellish powers cannot destroy Christ’s church. Jesus will always have His church. And His church is going on where the faithful and true confession is going on: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

In this church where Jesus is confessed, sins are forgiven for Jesus’ sake. Forgiveness is the key that unlocks Christ’s heavenly reign on the earth for sinners. “I give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever sins you forgive [loose] on the earth, shall be forgiven [loosed] in heaven.”

In the church, the pastor, by Christ’s command and promise, declares that you are forgiven because Jesus died for you. That Word of forgiveness is called Holy Absolution. It is Christ’s Word. Christ speaks to you in His Word. You hear His voice in His Word of forgiveness. And His Word does what it says. It delivers what it promises. “Whatever sins you forgive on the earth, shall be forgiven in heaven.”

Who wouldn’t want that? Who would refuse that? Then the opposite is true. Then you’re still in your sins. Bound by them. “Whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven.” Holding your sins purposely outside of Christ’s forgiveness is a game you don’t want to play with God. Don’t want a forgiveness for all your sins Jesus? Then you may just get what you want. It will be hellishly tragic. The door of heaven completely locked. Forever.

So what do you say? Who do you say Jesus is? Blessed are you who say like forgiven sinner Simon: “You are the Christ! You are the Son of the living God! Thank you Jesus for your dying, rising and Word of Absolution! Thank you that it’s all for me!”

In the Name of Jesus.

Proper 15

2008-08-16T06:10:19-06:00

Proper 15 Bethlehem & Immanuel Congregations
17 August 2008 Bremen, KS
Mission Festival

+ Jesu Juva +

Matthew 15:21-28

What will you do Jesus? You’ve been doing mission among your own people. Hasn’t been going very well. We’ll grant you that. Herod imprisoned and murdered the great prophet and your forerunner, John the Baptist. Your hometown of Nazareth wouldn’t have you. But you’ve come precisely for the lost sheep of Israel. To be their Shepherd. To be their Savior.

Now what? Take a look! This Canaanite, Gentile woman from Pagan Land (Tyre and Sidon) comes screaming after you. Canaanite! Did you hear that Jesus? Canaanite means poison. Skull and cross bones poison. Canaanite means everything that is deadly to the faith of Israel. Israel and Canaan: that’s like throwing a match into gasoline. And what’s with all her yelling? So like a Canaanite. What a loud mouth! Best just to stay away from her Jesus.

Need we remind you Jesus? Your mission is to Israel. To the lost sheep of Israel. Israel. Israel. Israel. Israelites. Not Canaanites! You never should have tried to get away from it all with this jaunt into the region of Israel’s bitterest enemies.

When you do that you’re going to run into Canaanites. And that’s exactly what happens. Mrs. Non-Israelite Loud Mouth Canaanite relentlessly comes after you. She’s heard of you Jesus (Mark 7:25). Word’s gotten out. People have been talking. Faith comes by hearing. And hearing by the Word of Christ.

She needs your help. Desperately. Her daughter is terribly demon possessed. Could it be? Is it possible? That a Canaanite woman believes?

Yes indeed. Mrs. Gentile Canaanite knows who you are Jesus. “Lord, Son of David,” she says. “Lord.” That’s not just “mister” or “good sir.” It’s: “Jesus, you’re God’s divine Son. And that means, ‘Savior.’ The Savior promised from King David’s family. You’re King David’s promised Son! The One greater than Solomon who will reign forever and bring salvation to Israel.” And she knows why you’re here Jesus. “Lord, Son of David . . . HAVE MERCY ON ME.”

Pretty impressive Jesus. Mrs. Tyre and Sidon believes in you. She’s betting her life that you’ll have mercy even on her. A Gentile. What will you do? Will you abandon your mission to the lost sheep of Israel? Or will you be distracted and do some Canaanite mission work? What will people think? Especially the house of Israel?

What’s that Jesus? Cat has your tongue? Don’t have anything to say? We suppose not. “He does not answer her a word.”

OK Jesus. We take it that the silent treatment means that you’re an Israel only kind of Savior. Surely she’ll get the message.

Nope. Mrs. Canaanite doesn’t leave. Even after receiving the silent treatment. She tries to get to you through your disciples. Begs them. They don’t like it. A Canaanite! And a woman to boot! Jesus’ mission is to Israel. “Get rid of her will you Jesus! She keeps on yelling at us!” No “Lord, Son of David” talk from Israelite disciples. That’s interesting isn’t it?

Well, what will you do Jesus? Let’s hear it. Will you help Mrs. Canaanite or not? “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”

There you have it Madam! Nice try. Close but no cigar. He’s an Israel man. An Israel Messiah. Not for the likes of you honey! Surely she’ll give up on you now Jesus!

What? She’s still here? Now she’s bowing before you Jesus. Still she begs. “Lord, help me. Please help me.”

Now what Jesus? “It just isn’t right to take the children of Israel’s bread and toss it to little Canaanite lap dogs. I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”

That ought to do it Jesus. Surely she’ll quit and go home now. And you can get back to your mission work in Israel.

What’s this? She dares to speak again? “You’re absolutely right Lord! I am a little dog. We little lap dogs are allowed in the house aren’t we? So that means that even a little lap dog like me gets to eat the scraps that fall from the lost sheep of Israel’s table, right?”

That’s a brilliant move, isn’t it Jesus? She’s caught you in your own words! There’s no getting out of your words. You let her in the house by calling her a lap dog. She’s more than willing to be a little Chihuahua in Israel’s house and at Israel’s table! Not just in the house but at the dinner table!

Now she’s caught you in your own words! Can’t contradict your own words and promises. So now what Jesus?

He explodes! “Woman, you have great faith! Let it be done for you exactly as you wanted! Your daughter is healed.”

Jesus loves to be caught in His own words. He did come for the lost sheep of Israel. Sure, He was on a Israelite mission. Israel first, but then via Israel on to all nations. Making disciples of all nations as He says in Matthew 28.

You’re the fruits of Matthew 28’s mission. Gentiles for whom Jesus died. Gentiles who are baptized in the Triune Name. Made disciples through Baptism and teaching all the Lord Jesus has given.

After catching Jesus and holding Him to His words, Mrs. Canaanite went home to be with her healed daughter. Her disciple life was the life of faith toward Jesus and love for her daughter.

So too with you. Jesus died for you. You’re forgiven.   You’re healed from Satan, his terrible demons, and their eternal hell. You’re baptized into His death for a new life. You too are little discipled lap dogs who eat the scraps that fall from the Master’s Table, His Body and His Blood.

Good Friday-ed and Easter Sunday-ed by Him you hold Him to His words of promise for you. Great is your faith because Jesus is so great for you. He is the Savior of both Jew and Gentile.

And so Jesus too sends you back home. On a mission. To take care of your family. Children. Grandchildren. Spouse. Grandparents. Whoever. Faith in Him. Love for each other. Where He has put you, He has good use for you. Sacrificial service for those in your life.

And your constant cry is: “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me a sinner.” And His answer: “Great is your faith. May it be exactly what you want.”

In the Name of Jesus.

Proper 14

2008-08-10T06:48:55-06:00

Proper 14 Trinity Lutheran Church
10 August 2008 Murdock, NE

+ Jesu Juva +

Matthew 14:22-33

The disciples are in trouble again. Last week they couldn’t feed the huge mob. This week it’s a boating trauma. A storm on the sea. Their boat is battered by high waves. The winds won’t let them make any progress. All their boating skills are put to the test. They’re failing. They’re as good as dead. Where are you Jesus? He’s on the mountain. Praying. All by Himself. What good is that kind of Jesus?

Are you in trouble? What’s bothering you? Can’t handle the pressures and assaults of the life’s stormy seas? Is it all just too much? Find yourself getting nowhere against the constant battering of your sin, the devil’s accusations, and death’s creeping door? Where are you Jesus? Where are you Jesus? Are you still on the mountain praying all by yourself? What kind of Jesus are you?

He’s the Jesus who comes. Comes to His disciples on the water. Comes to you in the water of your Baptism. You who are in need. Comes the way He chooses. To save you. To strengthen your faith in Him.

So off the mountain and on to the sea He goes. Comes to them. He is not a ghost. It’s really Him. Flesh and blood Jesus. Walking on the stormy sea. Walking the midst of your stormy life. Bellies right up to His frightened disciples and to you. He speaks: “Courage! I am! Don’t be afraid.”

Good thing He speaks. Because seeing can be deceiving. Seeing can be terrifying. Threatening. “Is it a ghost!” And they scream in fear. So would we. So Jesus speaks: “Courage! I am! Don’t be afraid.” Faith comes from hearing. And hearing from the word of Christ.

So not a ghost but flesh and blood Jesus speaks. He doesn’t say: “It’s me guys.” No. He literally says: “I AM.” He’s the great I AM of the Old Testament. He is Jehovah God of the Old Testament in the flesh. He is the I AM, YHWH, who speaks to Moses from the burning bush. He is the great I AM who brings Israel out of Egyptian death and hell. Who speaks to Job and you in the OT lesson. Who saves you, His NT Israel, from sin, death, Satan and hell. Jesus speaks out His Name: “I AM.” He gives them His name. He gives you His Name in Baptism. He is their God. He is your God. The only God there is.

And His words do what they say. “Courage! Do not be afraid.” And they are comforted. We are comforted. He comes to save not destroy. That’s the kind of Jesus He is.

Not a ghost but flesh and blood walking on the water Jesus draws believers to Himself. And so Peter wants to be with Jesus. “Lord, if it’s you, command me to come to you on the water.”    Faith is not content just to know Jesus is out there. Faith desires communion with Jesus. To be where Jesus is. To walk where Jesus walks.

But that means leaving your old life behind. Forsaking everything that you are, everything that you have been, and everything that you have. It means dying to self and trusting only in Jesus. It means that you are nothing and that Jesus is everything.

Jesus tells Peter -- He tells you, “Come.”   And so we go in the power of that inviting word. We and Peter leave the security and safety of our lives behind in the boat. We venture to trust that we have nothing but Jesus’ word “Come,” to hold us up.

And then our faith shrivels. Who can trust a Jesus who simply says, “Come,” when our eyes only see the waves, whitecaps and winds? When ears are distracted from Jesus’ speaking, to the sight of this life’s boiling and churning waters, we sink. Just like Peter. Fear and doubt are the cement goulashes that take us under.

Compared to the waves Jesus appears to be too small. Too little to handle our problems. Too insignificant to take care of our disappointments. To scrawny to save us from our diseases. Too weak to save us from sin, death, and hell.

When you’re wearing the cement shoes of fear and doubt the only thing left to do is cry out like Peter: “Lord, save me!”

Peter is nothing. We are nothing. Jesus is everything. All that’s left when we’re going under is: “Lord, save me!” Straight away Jesus reaches out, grabs Peter, and puts him in the boat. “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Jesus is greater than the winds and the waves. Greater than any of your troubles. Greater than any of your sin. He is I AM who dies on the Cross for you. “Courage! Do not be afraid! Do not doubt any longer.”

“And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, ‘You are certainly God’s Son!’”    Not a ghost. But the Son of God. To say Jesus is God’s Son is the biggest thing you can say about Jesus. For when you say, “Jesus, you sure are God’s Son,” you’re saying, “Jesus you sure are my Savior!”

He certainly is. He death is for you. His resurrection is for you. Pulled you out sin and death as you were buried with Him in Baptism. And in the water Son of God Savior Jesus bids you to “Come” and walk with Him. Your baptismal water is the glassy and calm sea where Jesus says: “Courage! I AM! No need to fear! I’ve got you.”

In the Name of Jesus.

Proper 13

2008-08-03T07:27:00-06:00

Proper 13 Trinity Lutheran Church
3 August 2008 Murdock, NE

+ Jesu Juva +

Matthew 14:13-21

John the Baptist, the forerunner and proclaimer of the Christ, has been executed. Made shorter by a head thanks to Herod.

The beheading of a prophet like John is big news. Jesus hears about it. He isn’t surprised. That’s the way it goes with God’s prophets. How much more with the Christ, the Messiah, the Savior Jesus Himself! He is rejected by his own hometown of Nazareth. He has become the object of superstitious fear at King Herod’s court. Herod senses that the powers he feared in John have returned from the dead in the person of Jesus.

What’s happening in Nazareth and at the king’s court is happening in all of Israel: Jesus the Christ, the Messiah, the Savior is being rejected. He suffers Himself to be rejected. He forces Himself on no one.

So He withdraws. Takes a boat ride to be all by Himself. Perhaps to mourn John’s death. And to contemplate what will happen to Him. He knows where His ministry is leading. It’s taking Him to the Cross. Betrayal. Brutal suffering. A horrific cruciform death. He wants to be by Himself for a while.

That doesn’t last long. Crowds from the cities look for Him. Crowds. A whole mass of people. Jesus comes back to the shore. And as usual, Jesus has compassion on them. He’s not there for Himself. He’s come as the Christ for all people. Whether they reject Him or receive Him.

He heals their sick. And after a long day the crowds are still there. The place is desolate. Everyone is hungry.

He tells His disciples: “You feed them.” And their answer: “We have so little. Five loaves of bread. Two fish. That’s it! Nothing else. How can we feed all these folks with that? We can’t possibly do it Jesus!”

They can’t trust Jesus with five loaves and two fish. How about you? What is it in your life that seems so immense that you won’t bother Jesus? What problem is so gargantuan that you can’t tell Jesus? What sin is it that you won’t trust with Jesus? Too big for Jesus you say? Too hard for Jesus? Nonsense!

With Jesus there’s always enough and even more! More than you could ever expect. Whether it’s your sin or guilt, death or hell, or even five loaves and two fish to feed thousands. Jesus is a bigger Savior than we could ever imagine.

His compassion has no bounds. “Bring the bread and fish to me. Sit on the grass everyone. Relax. I’ll take care of you.” Then he looks heavenward. Blesses the food. Breaks the bread and says to His disciples: “All right boys, start handing it out to these poor folks.”

The miracle happens as Jesus makes as little fuss as possible. No hocus-pocus. No lengthy praying. No holy exhortations like: “I’ll feed you only after you give your hearts to Me!” Just break it up and pass it out. Jesus so underplays it that the bread and fish probably reach the back row of the crowds before the first row figures out what’s going on.

“They all ate and were satisfied.” Jesus took care of them. And much more than they ever expected. “And they picked up what was left over of the broken pieces: twelve full baskets.”

Can you trust a Jesus with only five loaves and two fish? Can you. Yes. And with anything else. In fact, with everything! Especially the most troubling problems of all: sin, death, and hell. For that there’s Calvary. Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! Salvation achieved. Salvation accomplished. He died for you. Your sin is His. So is your death and hell.

And now today He says to come forward. Take a little bread and a little bit of wine. What is that in the midst of all our enormous problems and sins?   It’s the Lord’s Supper. His Body. His Blood. And His promise. Eat and drink it for the forgiveness of your sins that He won for you on the Cross. And with this meal are more promises: life and salvation. It is the medicine of immortality!

His compassion for you knows no bounds. No problem, no sin, no guilt, no death is too big for Jesus. You can trust Him with anything and everything! With Jesus there’s always more. More than you ever expected. What a wonderful Savior!

In the Name of Jesus.

Proper 12

2008-07-27T06:24:38-06:00

Proper 12 Trinity Lutheran Church
27 July 2008 Murdock, NE

+ Jesu Juva +

Romans 8:28-39

What audacious statements from the apostle! Who would dare to say such things? Incredible. Boggles the mind. Can it be? Can it truly be?

And Paul says, “Yes! Yes, indeed! It’s all true.”

It sure is. The enormity of it all really is mind blowing.

The first outrageously Gospel promise is: “We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

Did you hear that? God wastes nothing with you His chosen people. He uses everything in your life for your good! Even when you don’t think so.

What’s going on in your life? Having troubles? Health problems? Money difficulties? Marriage on the rocks? Children giving you fits? Job struggles? Lonely? Doubts? Uncertainty? What ever it is God is using it for your good?

What good? That you will trust in Him no matter what. That you will rely on Him in every circumstance. Such trust, no matter what you’re experiencing, is being “conformed into the image of His Son [Jesus Christ].” In Gethsemane Jesus prayed, “Not my will Father, but yours be done.” Hanging on the cross Jesus prayed again: “Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they’re doing.” And then again: “Into your hands [Father] I commend my spirit.”   That’s trust. In the midst of His immense suffering and dying for you.

And God worked Christ’s horrible suffering and death on the cross for your good. Your eternal good. All sin is forgiven.

And in Christ you are predestined, called, justified, and glorified. What’s His is yours. Where He is that’s where you are. For Jesus is the First Born of the Father. But His first born inheritance He shares. With you!

So despite what you see and experience God is not against you. He is for you. In Jesus His Son. Delivered Him into death on the cross for you and your salvation. Your greatest need, salvation, is taken care of in Jesus.

And so no matter what you’re going through God in Christ will use it for your good. That you’ll trust in Him whatever the circumstance.

Since God is for you in Christ crucified and risen no one can bring a charge against you. No one can condemn you. Not your sin. Not even the devil. Your sin is forgiven. You’re justified in Christ’s forgiveness. The devil is defeated. And Good Friday and Easter Jesus intercedes for you at the Father’s right hand. He holds up His wounds for the Father to see. And He says: “I died for him. I died for her.”

Because of the Father’s work for you in Jesus His Son, Paul makes another outrageous Gospel promise: “Nothing can separate you from God’s love that is revealed to you in Savior Jesus.”   You name it and Paul is certain that it can’t divorce you from God’s love in Christ Jesus for you.

What about the problems of this life? Tribulation? Distress? Persecution? Famine? Nakedness? Peril? Sword? Nope! Won’t separate you from God’s love in Christ?

What about death? This life? Nope! How about angels or other great powers? Nope! Nothing that you encounter in this life!

Whatever you experience or whatever you encounter God uses it all for your good. When your life looks like you’re being put to death all day long, like sheep being led to the slaughter, then you learn how to trust Him all the more. Such faith in Jesus is how you “overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.”

And that love in Christ is always yours. God will never go back on this promise. He’s got you safe and sound in Christ no matter what.

In the Name of Jesus.

Proper 11

2008-07-20T07:04:53-06:00

Proper 11 Trinity Lutheran Church
20 July 2008 Murdock, NE

+ Jesu Juva +

Isaiah 44:6-8

Loads of interest in God these days. Ask someone if they believe in God. And the usual answer is: “Sure.” But then ask the crucial question: “Which god?” And then come all kinds of different answers. And most of them are wrong. The most common idolatry is the lie perpetrated in the Garden of Eden: “You will be like god.” Or many simply worship the creation rather than the Creator.

Do not run after the false gods of this age.   They promise life but they only deliver death. They promise heaven but only provide hell. Ask Israel of the Old Testament to whom Isaiah preached. Israel put her trust in false gods. Her heart clung to false gods of their own creation. False faith. Perverse hearts. Living not in freedom but in slavery. This is the temptation of the NT Israel, the church. And all that’s left when our idols crack is anger, despair, and exile.

Do not despair O Israel of the New Testament! The one true God and your Redeemer speaks: “I am the first and the last. No other God except me. No other like the one true God. I know what I’m doing. You can trust me. Don’t worry. Don’t be afraid. I’ll take care of you. Is there any God besides me? Is there any other Rock of Refuge like me? I don’t know any. Do you? I didn’t think so!”

God speaks. God acts. God promises. God saves. God cares. And it’s all FOR YOU.

Because Jesus, the only begotten Son of the Father took on your flesh and blood. Conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.

In Jesus, who the first and the last, God lives FOR YOU, not for Himself. He sits in the Virgin’s lap. He nurses from her breasts. At His Baptism He is identified as God’s beloved Son FOR YOU. In Jesus all of heaven breaks forth FOR YOU. Complete and total access to the Father through His suffering under Pontius Pilate, His bitter sufferings, and His innocent suffering and death.

As He does His Good Friday, the first and the last God Jesus, bears all your sin and all of its ugly consequences. Suffering with all your sin He becomes the sinner. The idolater. The murderer. The thief. The adulterer. Hanging on the tree --your sin – all of it – is His! And so sin’s damnation! “My God, my God, why have you forsaken Me? Why are you so far from Me? Don’t you hear Me when I call? Why don’t you answer Me?”

First and last God Jesus takes your sin and its damnation. He does it FOR YOU! For your salvation. You are forgiven. You are saved. Redeemed. By His Good Friday. God is FOR YOU. That’s His promise.

God speaks. God acts. In Jesus. FOR YOU.

God speaks. God acts. In Holy Baptism. FOR YOU. You are baptized into First and Last God Jesus’ Good Friday death. Saved by the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. "He who believes and is baptized will be saved." What a promise!

And more! First and Last God Jesus declares: “My Body. My Blood. For you! You’re forgiven! The benefits of My last will and testament.”

There’s no other God like that! No other merciful and loving God than First and Last Jesus who died for you. Who redeemed you lost and condemned persons not with gold or silver but with His holy precious blood and His innocent suffering and death.

You can always trust in Him. In everything. In every circumstance of life. Things happen in your life for a reason. So that you’ll have every opportunity to cling only to Him and His bloody wounds. Who or what else would you trust?

Thus says the Lord, King Redeemer, God Jesus: “I am the first and the last. And there is no God except Me. Who is like Me? Let him proclaim and declare it.”

Thank you Jesus. We’ll only proclaim and declare you. And today we’ll do it this way: “as often as we eat this bread and drink this cup of your testament we’ll proclaim your Good Friday death for us until you come on the last day. You are our Rock and our salvation. You alone are our God. There is none like you!”

In the Name of Jesus.

Friday of Proper 10

2008-07-18T16:46:04-06:00

Friday of Proper 10 Concordia University
18 July 2008 Irvine, CA

+ Jesu Juva +

Romans 12:1-21 Higher Things “Amen” Conference”

What a fool! The apostle doesn’t seem to have a clue. You can just hear Napoleon Dynamite: “Idiot!”

After all, the religion of the world is: YOU”VE GOT TO LOVE YOURSELF. Take care of number one! Climb to the top of the mountain. And kick in the teeth of anyone who gets in your way. Someone hurts you. You demolish him in return. Life is a battle royale of establishing yourself as king.

Paul, on the other hand, writes: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world.”

Why? Because you’re mercy-ed in Christ Jesus. Good Friday-ed. Died for. Baptized. “In view of God’s mercy,” there is the freedom from the love of self to love for members of Christ’s body, your neighbors. Love even for your enemy.

“In view of God’s mercy,” there is now the life of self-sacrifice. Putting yourself last and others first. Using your body not for self-indulgence but for sacrificial service.

“In view of God’s mercy.” That’s faith in Christ. When that’s right, then you have room to move around in the world. To be the Lord’s instrument for good. “In view of God’s mercy … don’t think of yourself more highly than you ought.” You’re nothing. Jesus is everything. And now Good Friday Jesus has good use for you to be His hands and mouth for service in the world. “Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual worship.”

That’s done as Jesus uses you in view His Good Friday mercy to be of help for people.

Paul’s list is quite long. Let’s review just a few. “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil . . . Do not take revenge . . . If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink … overcome evil with good.”

Why? Because you’re mercy-ed in Christ. All is forgiven. You are right with God for Christ’s sake. He loves you. Proof is His Son’s Body and Blood in the Sacrament given and shed for you for forgiveness, life and salvation. Realigned with God via Christ’s Calvary sacrifice, you are restored for loving, sacrificial service to your neighbor in this world through your body. Jesus brings you into a proper relationship with God the Father AND with those all around you. God is worshiped by faith. The neighbor is served by acts of sacrificial love, our spiritual act of worship done in our vocations. This is “God’s good, pleasing and perfect will.” Or as Jesus Himself puts it: “Apart from me you can do nothing.”

Thanks be to God for using Paul for the “renewing of our minds” and the good use of our bodies. In the Name of Jesus.