Brent Kuhlman

Proper 28 / Second-Last

2008-11-16T15:47:10-07:00

Proper 28 / Second - Last        Trinity Lutheran Church
16 November 2008                     Murdock, NE

                                                       + Jesu Juva +

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Lock your doors. Install security systems. Video surveillance. Neighborhood Watch program. Ask the sheriff’s department to patrol more often. Keep the flashlight and a baseball bat close to the bed. Or perhaps you’d rather keep the shotgun handy. Why? So that thieves don’t break in. So robbers don’t run off with your possessions. So that you’re prepared. Don’t prepare and you’re taking a big risk. You could lose a great deal. And not just material stuff. Maybe even your life.

Many people choose to ignore the fact that there will be a Last Day. Purposely pay no heed to that Jesus will come to judge the living and dead.

“Be prepared for that day? Are you kidding me? He’s never coming back! You ring necks are always trying to dominate and control people! First of all, you make up this Jesus you talk about. And then, all this Last Day chatter from your vile mouth is precisely how you clergy types try to manipulate people. How many centuries has it been since Jesus supposedly ascended and abandoned the whole world? Come in glory with a bunch of angels and in the clouds? Yeah right! And I’ve got a bailout package to sell you from Hank Paulson! I’m at peace with my life Reverend. Everything is just fine as long as I have my big screen plasma, the remote, a twelve-pack, my toys, my fun, and another twelve pack. Now get lost Reverend and let me sleep it off.”

Could you care less too? Do you believe Jesus is a liar too?

Then the consequences will be disastrous. Insist on not preparing and when the Day of the Lord comes the destruction will come upon you so fast that there will be nothing you can do to escape it or stop it. Like the labor pains that hit the pregnant mother. All of sudden they’re there. Boom!

So, “let us not sleep as others do,” the text says. “Now is the time to be alert and sober.” Yes indeed. We live in the last days. Jesus will return in glory on the Last Day. That’s a for sure.

When will the Day of the Lord happen? What season of the year? What day? What hour? We don’t know. The coming of the Day of the Lord is as incalculable as it is certain.

But “you know full well that the Day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.”

You “are not in the dark.” Jesus the Light shines brightly. And His wounds are showing. Like rubies. In His resurrection glory. Jesus died for you. Rose for you. God loves you. He does not hate you. He is not angry with you. For Christ’s sake you are forgiven. Of anything and everything! No sin can condemn you because of Jesus. The abundance of His mercy is incredible.

You know full well that the Day of Lord is coming. You’re not in the dark about this. After all, Jesus gives you a preview of that day right now. He comes hidden in the Word you hear. He Himself says you’re forgiven. That’s the Absolution. And so too the Supper. His Body and Blood for the forgiveness of your sins is what He promises. Judgment Day in miniature. Judgment Day ahead of time. Right here and now He stands before you with all the angels, archangels and with all the company of heaven. He stands and His Good Friday wounds are showing. He speaks peace. And His words of peace do and give what they say. So that you are not destroyed in God’s wrath but saved in His mercy.

Before the Last Day comes Jesus provides you with the breastplate of faith and love. And the helmet of hope’s salvation. Faith, love, and hope: divine defensive and offensive weapons so that the Day of the Lord does not overtake you like a thief. So that you’re ready when it comes.

Until then there’s faith in Jesus. The Jesus who did the Good Friday salvation job for you. Love. A fruit of the Holy Spirit that flows from faith in Jesus. The life of service to the neighbor. And that may even include a talk about Good Friday Jesus. Hope. Another Holy Spirit-filled fruit that grows from faith in Jesus. The salvation that you have already in Jesus by faith is what you hope to see with your eyes on the Last Day. And that hope will not disappoint. For Jesus keeps His promises.

Faith, love, and hope. Sober living for the last days in which you live. Whether you’re alive or six feet under at the coming of the Day of the Lord, you will live with Jesus. He’ll come for you one more time. He will come to judge the living and the dead. And His wounds will still be showing! And where there is forgiveness of sins from His Good Friday wounds, there is the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. All for you. For Christ’s sake. That’s for sure! That’s exact!

In the Name of Jesus.

All Saints'

2008-11-02T18:47:20-07:00

All Saints’ Sunday                       Trinity Lutheran Church
2 November 2008                        Murdock, NE

                                                  + Jesu Juva +

St. Matthew 5:1-12

“Saint.” Who’s a saint? Men and women long dead whose relics are enshrined in ancient cathedrals? People who are so super spiritual that they’re exempt from sin?

The Scriptures gives a different answer. Saints are believers in Jesus Christ. Saints are sinners who are forgiven by the shed Blood of Jesus the Lamb. Forgiven for Jesus sake a sinner is a holy one, a saint. That’s why the blessed apostle Paul writes to the “saints in Corinth” or “to all God’s beloved in Rome, called to be saints.” In other words, saints are Christians – forgiven for Jesus’ sake sinners who believe in Jesus.

Saints who die in the faith are in heaven before the throne of the Lamb Jesus. Total attention is on Jesus the Lamb. Singing hymns of high praise to Jesus. Saints are also here on earth. That’s you and me who believe in Jesus. And the angels, archangels, and the whole company of heaven join us today in singing and praising Jesus the Savior.

Whether in heaven or on earth, saints are not self-made. In other words, you don’t make yourself a saint. Sainthood is not an achievement. It’s a gift. From the Lord. Saints are sinners who are whitewashed in the Blood of the Lamb. Saints are sinners who are cleansed and purified by the Lamb’s most holy word of forgiveness.

And so Jesus preaches on the mountain. Beatitudes. Blessings. His words declare what He is and what He gives. Jesus speaks of Himself first and foremost in this sermon on the mountain.

Jesus is the One who is poor in spirit. He alone is totally dependent on His Father and He receives whatever the Father gives Him. And so the kingdom of heaven is His.

Jesus is the One who mourns. Well acquainted with grief He is. He weeps at Lazarus’ grave due to the peoples’ doubting. He weeps over Jerusalem for her unbelief. And yet He is comforted by the Father who turns His grief into the eternal joy of the resurrection from the dead.

Jesus is gentle and meek. He is not ashamed, as the Most High God and Prince of Heaven, to humble Himself so that He is conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin. So that He is born of the Virgin in backwater Bethlehem. Gentle and lowly in heart Jesus is. Rides into Jerusalem on a lowly donkey. Resolutely going to Calvary. To Him all authority in heaven and on earth in given. And so as God’s only begotten Son He inherits the earth.

Jesus is the One who says: “My food is to do the work of Him who sent me and to accomplish this work,” (John 4:34). He is thirsty to do the Good Friday job. He hungers to win the world’s salvation. So He is filled. His Good Friday dying has won for you the very righteousness of God.

Jesus is the merciful One. He is merciful to you. He could care less about Himself. He does everything for you. For your good. For your salvation.

Jesus is the One who is pure of heart. With single-minded obedience He held fast to His Father’s Word and will. And when assaulted by Satan’s temptations to not go to Calvary and to get off the Cross, He remains. His heart is set on dying for you. And He did. He suffered and died under the death sentence that belonged to you. Crucified and risen for you, He sees His Father’s face in glory everlasting.

Jesus is the Prince of Peace. He makes peace for you with the Father by His bloody sacrificial death. Now you are reconciled to the Father. Now you are sons of God.

Jesus, of course, is persecuted for righteousness’ sake. In the shame of that suffering He bring you to His kingdom. It’s the kingdom of heaven. Like the prophets of old Jesus is reviled and falsely accused. Yet for the joy that is set before Him, He endures the Cross so that His reward is our reward.

All that Jesus is He is for you. His blessedness is your blessedness. Jesus the Blessed One who comes in the Name of the Lord and, in His Cross, blesses you. That’s precisely why He says in John 14: “I go to prepare a place for you. I will come again and will take you to myself that where I am you may be also.” And so in the Book of Revelation it is announced from heaven: “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord . . . that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them,” (14:13).

And so today, All Saints’ Sunday, we are reminded that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. We do not walk alone on the road to heaven. You are saints here on earth and you share in a blessed, sweet communion with those whose rest is won. Some of you come to the divine service today with the memory of a parent, grandparent, brother, sister, or friend from school who died in the faith.

These believers are at the same altar with you today. For there is another side to this altar that the human eye cannot see. Sitting on the other side of this altar are all those who have died in the Lord. We eat and drink the Lamb’s Body and Blood. They feast at the Marriage Feast of the Lamb in His eternal Kingdom. Suffering and shame are gone. Tears are wiped away. Their joy is everlasting.

The words of the hymn we sang are true. “We feebly struggle, they in glory shine.” But you are one with them in the Lord Jesus Christ. They were redeemed by the Lamb’s Blood and so are you. There were baptized into Christ and so are you.

Today you are given a glimpse of the future that awaits you. And with that sneak preview comes the encouragement to press on. To run the race set before you with all the endurance the forgiveness of sins gives. After all, the Lord is faithful. He will bring you, for Christ’s sake, into His heavenly kingdom. “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.” Indeed.

In the Name of Jesus.

A.J. Washington Funeral

2008-10-31T11:55:16-06:00

Friday of Proper 25 (Reformation Day)

Funeral of A.J. Washington 31 October 2008

                                                           + Jesu Juva +

Job 1; 19; John 11:21-45

Job knows what it’s like. One day his life is as normal as yours. And then all of a sudden blow after blow after blow. Livestock stolen and destroyed. His employees murdered in cold blood. And then the biggest shock of all: his sons and daughters are enjoying a party and having a grand time. But a violent desert windstorm hits the house. The house collapses. All his children, tragically, are killed. Horrible.

Job knows what it’s like. After being notified that he’s lost all his children, his faith is shaken but not extinguished. Job gets up . . . and . . . remarkably . . . he worships God. Tears his clothes. Shaves his head. Falls to the ground. “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised,” are his astonishing words. “May the name of the Lord be praised.” And also the words we heard earlier: “I know that my Redeemer lives.” Job would have us believe this too as we mourn A.J.’s death.

The Lord had good use for Job. An object lesson for all of us. That in the most tragic times we can praise the Lord’s Name and believe in Jesus no matter what. That the Name of Jesus is to be glorified. Even in the midst of such a tragedy like last Sunday.

Mary and Martha know it too. Little brother Lazarus is very sick. Deathbed sick. And then it happens. He dies.

And what’s Jesus up to during this time? He purposely stays away. Even after Mary and Martha put out the 911 pastor call. They expected instant pastoral roadside service. And so when He shows up, four days after the burial, both sisters let Him have it with both barrels: “Lord, if you had been here, our bother would not have died! We called your cell. We sent you numerous text messages! If you would have shown up in time, this wouldn’t have happened!” Frustrated. Hurt. Angry. Understandable from our point of view.

Jesus has another thing on His mind. He wants Martha, Mary, you and me to believe in Him. That’s right, believe in Him as the Savior. And He’ll use the death of Lazarus so that He is glorified.

Can you believe in a Jesus who purposely avoids making the prompt pastoral sick call? Can you trust a Jesus who seems to act so casual around death, even the death of his best friend? The people at Mary and Martha’s house have their doubts: “This guy can heal the blind! But why didn’t he keep his friend from dying?” Perhaps you’ve asked: “Where were you Jesus last Sunday evening?” Maybe you’ve given Jesus the what for: “Lord, if you had been there on that road or in that car, A.J, Dillon, and Tyler would not have died!”

Martha knows from her Sunday School lessons that her brother will rise again on the Last Day. And so do you.

And that’s when Jesus throws out one His best sermons ever. He’s looking for faith. So He turns her attention, our attention, her and our frustration, grief, anger, hope, and expectation, all of it, TO HIM. He gives us a big dose of Himself!

Check out this promise to Martha and to all of you: “I AM the Resurrection and the Life.” Did you catch that? Not, “I will be the Resurrection and the Life some day in the future,” but “I AM, right here and now, the Resurrection and the Life!”

Then He unpacks it. Explains what He means. Get a load of this.    “The person who believes in Me right now even though he drops stone cold dead will live, and the person who lives and believes in me will never die eternally.”

Death is only a temporary nuisance to Jesus. Like falling asleep. Just like when Jesus woke up Jairus’ daughter the way you wake up your little girl in the morning before school. “Talitha coum. Get up, honey!” That’s all death is to Jesus, a sleep from which he will awaken you. That’s because of His Good Friday work for you.

And then comes the biggest question you can ever be asked. It’s the eternal life or death question. Jesus asks Martha, you, me: “Do you believe this?”   That’s the faith question. “Will you trust me? With your brother’s death? Even with yours?”

Then it’s off to the tomb. Jesus barks out directions. “Take away the stone.” But Martha objects. She doubts. “Lord, it’s been four days since the burial. The body stinks.”   Jesus snaps right back: “Didn’t I tell you that if you’d just trust me, you would see the glory of God.”

And then He rips off this prayer: “Father, I’m so thankful that you hear me. I know you always hear me because we’re on a Father-Son basis. But I’m praying this out loud for the sake of all these doubters standing around here who refuse to take me at my words.” And then Jesus yells into the tomb: “Lazarus, come out!”

And lo and behold the once dead and buried Lazarus walks out of the tomb alive. Wrapped up his burial cloths. And Jesus, still barks orders: “Loose him and free him.” Lazarus raised from the dead. A sneak preview of your own resurrection – you who believe that He is the Resurrection and the Life.

John the Evangelist doesn’t record Lazarus’ reaction to all this. No words of Lazarus are ever recorded in the New Testament. But I suspect his first reaction may have gone something like this: “Hey! What in the world is going on? You mean I’m going to have to die all over again? Thanks a lot Mary! Thanks so much Martha. Thanks to all your doubting Jesus made an object lesson out of me for you. Let me tell you something ladies: you can trust Jesus with everything. Yes that’s right, absolutely everything. Even when I die again. You can trust Him with my death and yours.”

So can all of you. After all, Jesus died for A.J. Good Friday-ed you too. All your sin is answered for because of His Calvary dying. Now He is the Resurrection and Life. Death is a defeated enemy.

With a Jesus like that you too can mock death just like St. Paul: “O Death, where is your sting? O Grave, where is your victory?” “Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Indeed. Jesus. A big dose of Him is what’s certain and sure.

In the Name of Jesus.

Reformation

2008-10-26T19:14:50-06:00

Reformation                                 Trinity Lutheran Church
26 October 2008                         Murdock, NE

                                             + Jesu Juva +

John 8:31-36

A true disciple of Jesus. Who’s that? Isn’t it someone who’s “discipled” in the way of Jesus? Churches these days promise to disciple you. It’s all the rage. Transforming you from just being a lazy member into an on fire DISCIPLE whose life is 24/7/365 mission work! Can you think of anyone who is a true disciple of Jesus? Are you? What about the Reverend? Follow him around and you’ll figure out pretty quick that Kuhlman’s a lost cause. Maybe he ought to try being a chaplain for the PGA.

So who is a true disciple? Before you give an answer don’t you think it’s better to hear from the Lord Himself. Better let Him have His say, right? Give Him the first word, at least? We can do that can’t we? Sure. All right.

But I warn you. His answer to the question may just shock you. Outrage you. Scandalize you. Anger you. Or it may just bring you the greatest possible comfort and joy.

Are you ready for Jesus’ answer? All right. Here goes. “If you abide in My word,” Jesus states, “then you are truly My disciples.”

Abide in His word. Is that all? Is Jesus joking? That sure doesn’t sound like much. Of course Jesus must be mistaken! A word from Him in which to abide? Wouldn’t He want us to do something instead? Actions speak louder than words don’t they? We’re good at doing things! Even religious things! Obedience. Decisions. Dedication. Mission trips. Name it Jesus and we’ll do it. Let us do something. You’d be so proud of us! That should prove that we’re truly your disciples!

Better slow down and be quiet. After all, Jesus insists on speaking His Word of Promise. He speaks. You are to listen. That’s right, listen! Are you listening?

So what does Jesus promise through His Word? That you’re died for. That you’re forgiven. Because He shed His blood to atone for all your sin.

“I baptize you in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Not my words. Not your words. Christ’s! With His words hooked with water He baptized you. Promised that His death and all its benefits are for you.

“I forgive you all your sins in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Not my words. Not yours. They are Christ’s words. Through His words you hear Him. When you hear His words you’re hearing the living voice of Christ.

“Take, eat. It’s my Body. Take the cup. Drink from it. It’s my Blood of the new testament. And I promise that your sins are forgiven.” Christ’s words again. His last will and testament words.

The font. The pulpit. The altar. All places for Christ’s words to be going on. Words of divine promise for you. Promise words of Jesus that do and give exactly what they say. All for your hearing. For your salvation. For you to trust.

“If you abide in My word, [My word of forgiveness], then you are truly My disciples.”

So who’s a true disciple of Jesus? The baptized child of God who says: “Amen. Thanks a ton Jesus. Couldn’t have done it without you, the salvation job that is. All thanks go to you Jesus. You’re the Savior.”

Now if you don’t want to confess that Jesus and refuse to give your “Amen,” well, that’s a shame. A damn shame. For slaves of sin you will remain. Living in the prison of hell. Outside the comfort of the Father’s house.

Jesus, He alone is the Savior of sinners. That’s precisely what Jesus means when He says, “and you will know the truth.” That’s the whole truth about you and about Him. You’re the lost and condemned sinner. He’s the Redeemer who’s purchased and won you from all sin, death, and the power of the devil. Not with gold or silver. But with His holy precious blood and His innocent suffering and death.

“And that truth,” Jesus says, “makes you free.”

Since He’s done the salvation job, you don’t have to. Your sin, all of it, is answered for. None of it can accuse you. Or enslave you ever again. God’s eternal wrath against you for your sin has been satisfied in Jesus who suffered your damnation when He suffered with your sin in His Body on the Cross. You’re free from trying to atone for your sin because Jesus has been there and done all that!

No need to justify yourself before God or anyone else for that matter. And that includes the devil. For Jesus has Good Friday-ed you. And He’s given you His Word that you are justified by His Blood!

His Word! His Word! His Word of Promise. Of forgiveness and salvation. “If the Son makes you free, you are free indeed.” That’s a Christ promise you can always count on. Always. And with that you truly are His disciples.

Happy abiding. Happy Reformation Sunday!

In the Name of Jesus.

Proper 24 Immanuel

2008-10-20T11:10:55-06:00

Proper 24                               Immanuel Lutheran Church
19 October 2008                   Louisville, NE

                                                                 + Jesu Juva +

St. Mark 16:16
Baptism of William Robert Staben

Are you baptized? William is. The Triune Name and water applied to him at the font. Just as Jesus mandated in Matthew 28. William is baptized. Well, are you? Of course you are.

Check out the promise that goes with Holy Baptism. It may just blow your mind. It’s quite outrageous. Quite scandalous. And yet, for you -- most comforting.

“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.”

Who makes this promise? The pastor? The congregation? The district office? No. THIS IS THE PROMISE OF JESUS HIMSELF! To whom all authority in heaven and on earth has been given. Jesus, Almighty God in the flesh, gives this promise.

“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.”   William, this is Christ’s promise to you! Baptized members of Immanuel, this is Christ’s promise to you as well! Jesus is speaking to you with these words. This is a divine heavenly promise from Jesus for you.

“Saved,” Jesus says. Saved is salvation. That’s a divine rescue. Only Jesus saves. From all sin. From death. From the hellish power of the devil. It’s all from Jesus to you. Pure gift from Savior Jesus. It’s all up to Him.

And He does what He says. He gives what He promises.

What’s Jesus’ promise? “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.”

William was in no position to save himself. An infant is no match for the powers of sin, death and the devil. And neither were any of you.

So Jesus comes to the rescue. Does His Good Friday Calvary salvation job. Takes all sin in His Body. William’s. Yours. Mine. Then suffers all its punishment. Death. Damnation. Yes, that’s right damnation. All of hell’s punishment. Unleashed on crucified Jesus as He bears your sin.    In your place. For you.

And now Jesus wants you to share in the benefits of His Good Friday dying.

That brings us once again to the font. And the promise Jesus makes: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.” To William. To you.

Would you dare to argue with Jesus? Would you dare to contradict His promise? If you want to Jesus has some harsh words for you: “Whoever does not believe will be condemned.”   If that’s what you want, then that’s what you’ll get.

But Jesus doesn’t. He died for William and for you. Rose from the grave for William and for you. Achieved and won salvation. And now His word of promise: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.”

He won’t ever go back on that promise! You can always hold Him to His promise.

What a Savior!

Happy Baptism Day William! Happy living in Jesus’ promise William and dear baptized members of Immanuel.

In the Name of Jesus.

Proper 23

2008-10-12T06:34:26-06:00

Proper 23                                      Trinity Lutheran Church
12 October 2008                          Murdock, NE

                                                                              + Jesu Juva +

St. Matthew 22:1-14

Absolutely incredible isn’t it?

Who would not want to party at a wedding feast? Especially when King God’s throwing the party. The Good Friday salvation of the world party. The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world party. Feasting on the salvation won by King God’s Son Jesus Christ. Eating the bread which is His Body. Drinking from the chalice of wine that is His Blood.

Yes, the wedding feast of God’s only Son, the Savior Jesus. The Father has splurged! He has spared no expense. Gave His Son into death for your sin. Sacrificed everything. And now He invites you to the feast.

Everything is ready. Enjoy. It’s all for you. Eat and drink. Eat and drink some more. Salvation’s banquet is for you.

And there are those who would rather fast. Diet. “No thanks!” they say. “We’d rather not party with you or your Son.” Others just ignore or File 13 the King’s invitation. One guy has his fields to tend, chores to do, and fences to mend on his farm. Another has important pending business.

Haven’t you heard? The economy’s tanked! We must give our full attention to saving the farm – saving the business – salvaging our investments – following Warren Buffet’s lead. No time then to be at the Son’s table! Maybe another time. . . . Yeah, right!

And then there are those who are so irritated by the invitation, that they kill the King’s servants for doing their duty.

Absolutely incredible isn’t it? Saying no to the Son’s Good Friday salvation of the world-wedding banquet. Filling time for worship with all kinds of stuff. Everyone has an excuse. No, everyone has millions of excuses. But they all ring hollow compared with the abundant generosity and richness of the Son’s wedding banquet.

Jesus says: “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and I will raise him up at the last day.” You’d think people would be mobbing the doors of our congregation to receive such a wedding banquet gift. The medicine of immortality. Offered right here at the Sacrament. But (yawn!) it doesn’t happen.

But the King is persistent. Very persistent. He wants you at his Son’s wedding feast. More servants are sent to gather “as many as they can find.” Even – “the good and the bad.” When Israel wouldn’t come to the feast, the invitation went out to the Gentiles. That’s you and me. And if you won’t come, then the invitation will go out to others.

After all, when God throws a party it is the biggest shindig the world has ever seen. And He doesn’t leave anyone off the invitation list. Jesus died for all. He died for all sin. He leaves no sinner outside of His death. He excludes no sin from His dying.

Now, if you want to stubbornly refuse to feast or remain apathetically indifferent to the Lord’s party of free salvation, then go right ahead. But I warn you. You’ll get what you want. You’ll be left out of the feast and thrown into hell where there’s forevermore weeping and eternal grinding of teeth. And the only person you’ll have to blame is yourself. Don’t blame God. Don’t blame the servants who are sent with His invitation. God’s will is for you to be at His Son’s party.

And so incredibly the King even supplies the clothes for the wedding party’s bash. Wedding garments. Provided most graciously. He clothes His guests with His Son’s perfection. His Son’s righteousness. “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ,” Scripture says.

The ticket into the feast is Christ. Being robed in Him and the Good Friday forgiveness He won for you.

But then the King spies someone. He dares to attend without wearing the wedding garment. He comes boasting in himself. “I’m the big cheese! Christ? Who needs Him? I’m just fine on my own!”

No wonder the King is disgusted. Outraged. The bouncers are called. And the man is thrown out.

Then comes the end of the parable: “Many are called but few are chosen.” Not an explanation. Just an observation. In other words, all are invited but few end up at the party. That sure isn’t God’s will. It isn’t the King’s fault.

Brothers and sisters, Jesus died for you. Jesus rose from the dead for you. He has clothed you with His perfection and holiness in Baptism. You are forgiven. The banquet is here. You are the invited and honored guests. Happy eating and drinking. The feast is ready. Come to the feast. The good and the bad. Come and be glad. Greatest and least. Come to the feast.

In the Name of Jesus.

Proper 22

2008-10-06T17:25:15-06:00

Proper 22 Trinity Lutheran Church
5 October 2008 Murdock, NE

                                                                                       + Jesu Juva +

St. Matthew 21:33-46 (heavily borrowed from Dr. Norman Nagel)

Vineyard planted. A hedge set around it. A wine press dug. And a tower to watch for thieves and mobsters. So far so good.

Then the owner makes his first mistake. He lets it out to tenants. He’s asking for big trouble. He should keep the vineyard for himself. Keep all the joy of the vineyard, grapes and wine for himself.

Then the owner makes another blunder. He decides to go off to another country. Take a trip. An extended vacation. Idiot. Everyone knows that if you want things done right you have to do it yourself. You’d better watch over the tenant’s work otherwise they’ll take advantage of you.

What does this owner expect? Is he crazy? Must be! After all, he expects the tenants to do their work well. He expects the tenants to rejoice over the harvest. He expects them to generously give him his portion of the grapes and then to enjoy the wine together.

“No way in . . . !” is the tenants’ response. They will not share any of the harvest with the owner. That means less for them. And why should they? Who’s going to make them? An owner who takes vacations in another country isn’t able to do much about it.

And so the tenants “take his servants, beat one, kill another, and stone another.”

You’d think the owner would get it by now. Nope. “He sends other servants, more than the first, and the tenants do the same all over again.”

And then the owner makes the most lame-brained move of all time. “What is he thinking? DON’T DO IT MR. LANDOWNER! We warn you! If you do, there will be no bail out or rescue package for you from the Congress!”

“He sends his son to them saying, ‘They will respect my son.’”

Not these tenants! This is their big chance. An absentee landowner is nobody to worry about. And if they get rid of the son, then all their problems are solved. The vineyard will be theirs for keeps. So they do the unthinkable. “They take the son. Throw him out of the vineyard and murder him!”

Then the big theological question. “When the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”

What do you think? He’ll clobber them! He’ll pay them back! Wouldn’t you?

Dr. Luther puts it very well. “As you believe, so you have.” In other words, if you treat God as one who is interested in getting things out of you, who deprives you of what you believe you have coming, who takes what is his, demands his rights and pays back evil for evil, then that is the God you have. If you treat God as one who can’t be trusted to care for your good, if you treat him as a threat, as an enemy, then that is the God you have.

The evil you think of God, you will receive from him. A man’s evil toward God returns upon him in judgment. There is nothing capricious about God’s judgment. It acknowledges what is the fact with a man and deals with him accordingly. “He will bring these wretches to a wretched end,” is the people’s answer. They expect God to act as they would. Selfishly. Tit for tat. Quid pro quo. As you believe so you have.

The crowds who hear the parable don’t get it. The chief priest and Pharisees do. So clearly they understand what Jesus is saying that they want to kill Him.

The owner of course is God. He’s a generous giver. His is an incredible again and again generosity. Giving His vineyard, that is, His kingdom over into our hands. His giving makes not less for us but more. So that we may share His delight in giving and sharing. So much so that He gives His Son Jesus Christ even if that means He goes into death.

Call it crazy. Call it reckless. But that’s God’s way with sinners.

There is no reason why you should get what you deserve as a sinner -- unless, of course, you insist on it. And that would be a hellish disaster. If you treat God as a threat or as an enemy, then that is what He will be to you. But that is not what God wants. He wants to share His vineyard, that is, His kingdom, grapes, wine, and the joy of the harvest.

On the cross God’s Son Jesus Christ took your sin in His Body. What you had coming, what you deserved for your sins, Jesus took in your place. Your sins can condemn you no more. You are forgiven. You are restored with Him at His table now and in the fullness of His Kingdom.

So, “as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

Christ’s death. The ultimate horror of history – for your sins.

If you can face that, then there is nothing in this life you cannot face. There is no misery that goes deeper than the cross. The crucified Jesus is there and deeper down still. Everything that would destroy you Jesus has faced. It did not destroy Him. And so neither you who are His.

“Until he comes,” that is, when He will drink of the fruit of the vine in His Kingdom. And Jesus doesn’t like to drink alone. And so His words to the disciples and to you: “that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom.”

So you in the vineyard. How goes the digging? The watering? The weeding? What of the harvest, the grapes, the wine?

Are you living in a vineyard or a penitentiary?

The answer is given when you confess who God is. When you say the Creed. Or how your life is lived.

Jesus didn’t fit the scribes and Pharisees idea of God. And so to preserve their idea of who God is, they plotted to kill Jesus. And they did it. They got it done!

They meant it for evil. God used that Friday for your good. Your salvation good. And now He gives you wine. And with the wine Christ’s Blood poured out on the cross for your sin. What joy! What vineyard / kingdom / harvest home joy!

In the Name of Jesus.

Proper 21

2008-09-28T06:47:46-06:00

Proper 21 Trinity Lutheran Church
28 September 2008 Murdock, NE

                                                                              + Jesu Juva +

Philippians 2:1-4, 14-18

“Enlighten our minds by your Holy Spirit.” Holy Spirit enlightened minds. You gave your “Amen” to that prayer today. That was the Collect of the Day.

“Enlighten our minds by your Holy Spirit that, confessing Jesus as Lord, we may led into all truth.”

Enlightened by the Holy Spirit minds. Led into all truth as we confess Jesus as Lord.

How does that happen? Would you like to know? Would you? All right. But I warn you. It might just blow your minds. So, still want to know? Really? All right. Here goes. Listen closely. And I’m going to give it to you from my own translation.

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit. With humility of mind . . . treat the other person as the most important and not yourself. Don’t concern yourself with your own interests but instead be concerned about everyone else’s needs.”

Can you summarize what you’ve just heard in one word? I’ll give you a hint. It begins with an “L.” Has four letters. Ends with “E.” That’s right. L-O-V-E.

Love, a fruit of the Holy Spirit, says: “Why am I being so selfish? So self centered? I will put myself last. I am a nothing. My brothers and sisters in Christ are everything. What is my spouse’s need? My child’s? My Mom’s? My Dad’s? My congregation’s? My school’s? My country’s? Will that mean less for me? Yes. Does my neighbor deserve it? Probably not. But will it benefit my neighbor? Then I will do it.”

That’s a Holy Spirit enlightened mind. That is being led into all truth. Living not for yourself. Sacrificing for others. That’s the life that flows from faith in Jesus.

Speaking of Jesus, that’s precisely the way it is with Him. He came NOT TO BE SERVED BUT TO SERVE AND GIVE HIS LIFE AS A RANSOM FOR MANY. Jesus made Himself nothing. A servant. Humbled Himself. And then gave His life on the cross to win forgiveness for you.

Do you deserve it? No. Did you earn it? No. Did He do it to make Himself look good? No. Then why did Jesus do it? It’s that four-letter word again: L-O-V-E.

His love for you.   That’s why Jesus sacrificed Himself for you. Even while you were His bitterest enemies. While you were yet sinners He died for you. You needed saving. You needed forgiveness. And you couldn’t do anything about it. In fact, you didn’t even care about it. So He went to work. Did His Good Friday salvation job. “Humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

All our sin answered for. Death and Satan defanged and neutered. Relationship with God changed from damning wrath to gracious mercy.

Now the Lord Jesus has good use for you. With Holy Spirit enlightened minds through Holy Baptism to live not for yourselves but for others. To know the truth that you do not live to be served but to serve.

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit. With humility of mind . . . treat the other person as the most important and not yourself. Don’t concern yourself with your own interests but instead be concerned about everyone else’s needs.”

Such humility we learn from Jesus. Such humility we receive from Jesus.

For He’s still the same Savior. He humbles Himself before you today. Even though He is highly exalted He puts you first. Your needs. Your greatest need. No selfishness with Him. No conceit.

So humbly He comes as your Servant that you hardly notice it. With the bread He gives you His most holy Body. Humbly with the wine He gives you His most holy Blood. And with that He promises forgiveness. All is forgiven.

What a Savior. Totally self-effacing. Totally self-giving. And now all that is yours in Him: Holy Spirit enlightened minds and all the truth that He brings and gives for you.

In the Name of Jesus.

Proper 20

2008-09-21T17:25:11-06:00

Proper 20                                     Trinity Lutheran Church
21 September 2008                   Murdock, NE

                                                                                  + Jesu Juva +

Matthew 20:1-16

“The kingdom of heaven is like . . .”   That’s the tip off. The clue. The 411. No Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac bad loan stories with Jesus. No colossal buyout strategies or screeds against the greed of Wall Street today from Jesus. He’s not running for political office. He’s the Savior. And He’s in the savioring business.

“The kingdom of heaven is like . . .” Did you catch that? Jesus has another thing on His mind. A matter of life or death. A salvation story. He tells the parable to show you how He deals with sinners. Every kind of sinner. In every stage of life. And it is a kingdom where the first are last and the last are first.

Check it out. It’s quite scandalous for some, the first. Quite delicious for others, the last. Here goes. “The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner. He’s got a vineyard. Wants workers to have the joy of the harvest. Been quite a growing season. The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who goes out . . .”

The landowner does the verbs. He goes out. He searches. He finds. He hires. Or to put it another way: He saves. He goes after lost and dead sinners who have nothing but their lostness and deadness going for them.

So off the landowner goes. At dawn. Hires workers for a day’s wage. A denarius. Let’s say a smooth $120. Then again at 9:00 a.m. And again at Noon. And again at 3:00 p.m. Keeps on hiring workers for His vineyard. Loading them up in his buses and putting them to work. Chop chop.   “Whatever is right,” the landowner promises, “I’ll pay you.” Then at 5:00 p.m. he finds some more deadbeat sinners just standing around in their lost and dead condition. You know the greasy long hair critter types with their pants hanging . . . hanging . . . well, you know. And their girlfriends too – more lipstick and hairspray than brains. More tattoos than freckles and moles. Empty six packs everywhere.    “I’ll put you to work too,” the landowner says. “There’s plenty of room for you in my vineyard.”

Then comes the very end of a very long day. Time to belly up to the pay table. You can just imagine the workers figuring out what they deserve.

The workers hired last are paid first. One of the shirt open to the waist body and face pierced studs shows his girlfriend his pay. He’s been in the vineyard one hour. $120 bucks! $120 bucks!

Everyone else’s mental calculators go to work. $120 per hour? Let’s see the 3:00 crowd figures they deserve: $360! The Noon crew does the math: $720! The 9:00 a.m. bunch does their bookkeeping: $1,080! And then the dawn crew puts the mental math keeping pedal to the metal: $1,440!!!!!

But surprise, surprise, surprise! Each group, when they open their envelopes, they discover six crisp twenties. $120 bucks for everyone. No matter when they were hired (or to put it another way – saved).

That goes over like ice cold Budweiser to the 5:00 p.m. group, dirty dishwater to the 3:00 p.m. crew, swamp water to the Noon crowd, vinegar to the 9:00 a.m. bunch, and sulfuric acid to the dawn squad!

The first are really hacked. “Hey Landowner! Those punks worked only for one hour. We knocked ourselves out all day for you. How dare you give them the same! They don’t deserve it! You can’t cook the books like that! We’ll contact our congressman and boy will you be in trouble.”

But that’s precisely what the first were promised. $120 bucks. He told the rest He’d pay them what was fair. And the Landowner is not about rewarding the rewardable but graciously giving what He wants. He treats the last like the first. All the same. No insiders. No outsiders.

He hires / “saves” them all the same. His pay / “grace” is the same for all.

“Look here Buddy, if you first folks don’t want that,” says the Landowner, “and you want to insist on your bookkeeping, then you can be the last. I’ll call security and they’ll escort you right out of here. Is that what you want?”

Landowner Jesus isn’t in any mood for our scorekeeping. He’s simply a gracious giver. A raiser of the dead. A Savior of the lost. Giving sinners want they don’t deserve: forgiveness. Salvation. Making the last first.

That’s what He’s done for you. Gone out to find you. To rescue you. Or to use the language of the parable: hire you to work in his vineyard.

He gives you what you don’t deserve: full and free salvation. The complete forgiveness of all your sins.

Some may call such a Landowner crazy. That’s all right. He’s a gracious the last will be first kind of Savior. Call Him crazy if you want. He doesn’t mind. What counts is that He’s hired you, that is, saved you.

In the Name of Jesus.

Proper 19

2008-09-14T06:47:42-06:00

Proper 19 Trinity Lutheran Church
14 September 2008 Murdock, NE

                                                                                            + Jesu Juva +

Matthew 28:19-20
Baptism of Ellie Jane Woodshank

“Make disciples of all nations by baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Those are the Lord’s words. His mandate and institution words.

Holy Baptism is the Lord’s gift. With the water comes the Holy Name. The Divine Name. The Triune Name. “In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Ellie was gifted with the Triune Name today at the font.

Are you baptized? Then God has put His Name on you too.

Please note that God’s Name is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And sinners for whom Jesus died are to be baptized with water in that Name. And that Name only.

I’ve got news for you. Someone who is “baptized” with water in the Name of God the Mother, God the Daughter and God the Child is NOT BAPTIZED. Mother, Daughter, Child: that’s not God’s Name. What about: “I baptize you in the name of the Creator, and of the Redeemer, and of the Sanctifier?” Or: “I baptize you in the name of the Creator, and of the Liberator, and of the Sustainer?” What does Jesus say? He mandates that Baptism be done “in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” That’s God’s Name. He gives it to sinners in Baptism.

Ellie is baptized. We know that for sure. Because it was done according to the Lord’s bidding. According to His mandate and institution.

And since Ellie is baptized in God’s Name, she is baptized by God Himself. That’s why Baptism is holy. It is God’s own work. God’s own gift. His own giving. He speaks. We listen. He gives. We receive. A holy gift from Him. A remarkable gift. His most holy Name.

The Holy Trinity has made Himself accessible to Ellie and to you. She doesn’t have to take a rocket ship to the outer rim of the Milky Way Galaxy to try and find God. God found her / you. God came to her / you. Where? At the font. With His Name. God gives Himself in all His fullness to her / you with His Name.

For with His Name He is there. “Lo, I am with you always,” Jesus promises. And Jesus, the crucified and risen Savior, is never without His Father and your Father. And Jesus is never without the Holy Spirit who proceeds from both the Father and the Son.

Where God gives His Name – He’s there. And in Holy Baptism He’s there for you. For Ellie too.

So Ellie doesn’t have to try to get to heaven. Heaven came down to her as a gift. That’s right. Paradise is her treasure right now. All given with the Triune Name. With the Triune Name put on her in Holy Baptism heaven broke wide open for Ellie. And all of heaven’s gifts.

And to put it quite simply that’s salvation. God’s saving Name is in Holy Baptism. God’s saving Name is given in Holy Baptism. And where God’s saving Name is, there is life and salvation for sinners. For you. For me. For Ellie.

No wonder St. Paul describes Baptism as a “washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit,” (Titus 3). With God’s Saving Name the water of Baptism is a life giving water. Rich in grace.

Baptism and salvation go together. Jesus Himself promises in Mark 16:16, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved.” To be saved is nothing else than to be rescued from sin, death and the devil. To be forgiven by God’s grace. To be given all the benefits of Christ’s dying and rising. And to be given the Holy Spirit with all His gifts. To be saved is nothing else than to be brought in to Christ’s kingdom of forgiveness in order to live with Him forever.

Until the forever living with Him, there’s the living with Him right now.

And for that, there’s the proper use of one’s Baptism. Kristi and Joe, how will you teach Ellie to use her Baptism? Members of Trinity, how do you use your Baptism?

That’s easy. It’s a daily kind of thing. Daily we sin. Daily we sin much. And so the old Adam by daily contrition and repentance must be put to death. Drowned and die with all sin and evil desires. Why? So that the new man, the person of faith, will daily emerge and arise to live before God in Christ’s forgiveness. Daily dying to sin. Daily rising to new life through faith in Christ. Death. Resurrection.

Kristi and Joe, teach Ellie to draw strength and comfort from Holy Baptism. When her sins, conscience, or the devil accuse her or you, what do you dare teach her to say? It’s this: “Oh, yes, I am a sinner. Big time. I have sinned. This is what I have done. This is what I’ve left undone. But Jesus has died for me. Go talk to Him! He says I’m forgiven. And in addition I am baptized! God put His Holy Name on me. And since I am baptized I have the promise that I am saved and have eternal life in Jesus. Take that sin! Take that devil! My conscience is free. Jesus reigns there. So get lost sin and devil. Jesus is my Lord!”

Happy Baptism Day Ellie! Happy using your Baptism for your comfort and joy!

In the Name of Jesus.