Brent Kuhlman

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Second Sunday after Pentecost / Proper 5                                                                                     

6 June 2010                                   

Luke 7:11-17

A funeral procession.  In the little town called Nain. Tragic. The tears are flowing.  The weeping is immense.  A mother’s little boy, her only son, has died.  How?  We don’t know.  Maybe it was a fever.  Polio.  The mumps.  Perhaps a bad flu or leukemia.  Whenever a mother loses a child it’s so heartbreaking.  And her loss is doubled.  She’s also a widow.  Now she has no one.  She’s totally on her own.  And that’s not good in those days.  No one to care for her.  She might as well die too.  There’s nothing left for her.  You can just feel the pain and despair.

They carry the boy’s corpse to the cemetery.  The funeral’s over.  Time for the burial.  And that’s when the Lord Jesus interrupts.  Pays a visit.  This is the first time He’s called the “Lord” in Luke’s Gospel.  And He says:  “Don’t cry honey.”   Don’t cry?  What kind of sermon is that?  Leave it to a preacher to say something like that!  Good grief.  It’s as if He doesn’t have a clue. 

But He does.  He’s the Lord.  And Lord Preacher Jesus proceeds to take charge of the entire procedure.  “His heart goes out to her.”  He has compassion.  She is very precious to Him.       

So He makes His way through the crowd and goes right up to the coffin on which the corpse lays!  “Are you related Preacher?  Are you going to preach a better sermon than, ‘Don’t cry’?”  Oh yes.  He will preach again.  But before the sermon He does the absolute unthinkable! So scandalous and outrageous.  Something that forbidden!  Outlawed.  His action makes the pallbearers stop in their tracks.    

What’s that?  He “touches the coffin.”  He grabs what is unclean.  Impure.  Ceremonially forbidden.

“So what?” you ask.  He takes something unclean and purifies it.  He takes someone engulfed in death and provides life.  That’s what happens when He interrupts. 

The Holy One, LORD Preacher Jesus, by touching the coffin takes on the filth, rot, and gunk of death and the cause of death.  He absorbs it into His body with His touch.  He will carry it in His body and answer for it all as He dies on the cross.  He will be cut off.  Dead.  With all sin that He bears in His Body – with yours and mine – He becomes the sinner.  The idolater.  The murderer.  The adulterer.  Impure.  Unholy.  Damned with the world’s sin.  “Crushed for our iniquities.  Carried our sorrows.  Cut off from the land of the living.  Numbered with the transgressors.  Bore the sin of many,” Scripture says (Is. 53).  God “made Him who knew no sin to be sin,” Scripture says (2 Cor. 5).

And then without asking for permission the LORD Preacher Jesus provides another sermon.  He preaches not to the crowds but to the corpse!  Yes, that’s right, to the dead body.  “Young man, I say to you, get up!”  And His Word does what it says.  Bestows what it says.  “The dead boy sat up and began to talk and Jesus gave him back to his mother.”  

Incredible.  Can you imagine the conversation?  She has her son back.  She has her life back.  And she has a magnificent Savior who just showed up unannounced and provided gifts. 

Jesus clearly follows the pattern of the great prophets of the Old Testament.  Jesus is as great a prophet as Elijah who raised a widow’s son (1 Ki 17:22-24) and Elisha who also raised the Shunammite woman’s son (2 Ki 4:32-37). 

And so the crowd’s reaction:  “A great prophet has appeared among us.  God has come to help His people.”

Yes, indeed, in Jesus.  Jesus, who is God in the flesh.  LORD Preacher Jesus.

His mercy knows no bounds.  He comes for centurions, prostitutes, paralytics, and even widow.  He raises her son from the dead.  And gives him back to her. 

And the “news about Jesus spread” like wildfire.  Even to you.  Even to Murdock, NE. 

His heart goes out to you.  You are very precious to Him. 

He has interrupted your life.  Just pressed Himself into it.  Came into your world.  Took on your flesh.  Then He goes off and does a Good Friday -- for you.  Insisted, without your permission, on taking all your sin in His body.  Answering for all of it as He willing sheds His blood. 

He has restored you.  Holied you.  Because you are forgiven.  Yes, you are forgiven.  He says so.    

He showed up at your Baptism and gave you His Name.  The only Name that saves.  He lavishes on you the medicine of immortality:  His Body and His Blood in the Sacrament.    

He has realigned you into a proper relationship with His Father.  His Father is your Father.  The Father’s Name is hallowed among you – in Jesus.  The Father’s kingdom has come to you -- in Jesus.  The Father’s will has been done for you – in Jesus.  Daily bread, forgiveness, and deliverance from the evil one has all come for you – in Jesus. 

Jesus has raised you from the death of your sin to lead a holy life. 

And then on the last day LORD Preacher Jesus will interrupt your lives one last time to preach another sermon at your grave and the graves of your children.  And that sermon will be:  “I say to you:  your are precious to me.  Time to get up!” 

And then the restoration of all things through Jesus – the creation of a new heaven and a new earth—the happy reunion with those we have lost through death – especially sons or daughters -- will be seen with our eyes.  So, “do not cry.”  For Jesus is the LORD.  And what He says He does and gives.  For you.      

In the Name of Jesus.     

Memorial Cemetery Service                                                                                     

30 May 2010                                   

St. Luke 7:1-10

Did you hear what Jesus said?  Here it is again:  “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” 

Who’s He talking to?  A pastor?  A Sunday School teacher?  A Rabbi?  The King of Israel?  One of the scribes?  A Pharisee?  The high priest?  Nope.  Nobody like that in Israel.    Well, then, who?  Who is it that Jesus says has such great faith?

A soldier!  And not just any soldier.  A Roman one!  A centurion.  The commander of 100.  The centurion soldier believes in Jesus.  And because He trusts in Jesus He is saved.  Yes, even a sinner soldier can be saved.

Jesus came for all.  Not just a few.  You name the sinner.  Jesus’ death counts for every sinner.  You name the sin.  Jesus answered for it.

The centurion knows he’s a sinner.  And He believes Jesus is the Savior.  Not just for Jews.  But even for Gentiles like him.  Through his friends the centurion says to Jesus:  “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I don’t deserve to have you come under my roof.  That’s why I don’t even dare to come and speak to you myself.  But just say the word and my servant will be healed.”

Just say the word.  That’s when Jesus explodes with:  “I tell you, I have not found such faith even in Israel.”   

Many of you have loved ones buried in this cemetery and in cemeteries all over the world.  Some served in the army.  Others in the navy, the marines, coast guard or the air force.  Some still may be serving.  And perhaps some of you have served in the armed forces in some capacity. 

This is a God-pleasing vocation.  It is not a sin to be a soldier, marine, sailor, or pilot in service to your country.  God uses those in the military as His instruments for the sake of keeping peace and protecting our country even if it means participating in war just as He used King David, for example, to do the same in the Old Testament.  And for their service done with integrity we give thanks to God.

This doesn’t mean that those in the military are sinless.  Of course, they sin.  Just like everyone else.  Like the centurion.  And so we say like him:  “Jesus, I don’t deserve to have you come under my roof.  I’m not even worthy to come to you.” 

That’s right.  So Jesus comes to you and me.  Who for us men and for our salvation He came down from heaven.  And gave His life as the sacrifice that atones for all your sin.  And He speaks the word.  What word?  This word:  “Your sins are forgiven.  All of them.  I don’t count them against you because I’ve answered for them on the cross.”  That’s the Gospel.  The Gospel that is the power of salvation to those who believe (Romans 1).

So just say the word Jesus.  He does.  For example hear this word of promise from Jesus:  “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved,” (Mark 16:16).  And this one:  “I am the Resurrection and the Life.  He who believes in me will live even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die,” (John 11:25).  And then on the Last Day Jesus will say another word to your loved ones buried here and elsewhere and all of you who believe in Him:  “Arise.  It’s resurrection day.  Time to get up.”   

Until then, until the Last Day, this is how faith talks:  “Just say the word Jesus and I’ll healed in body and soul.  Your word of promise is my life.” 

In the Name of Jesus.  Amen.

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The Holy Trinity                                                                                     

30 May 2010                                   

John 8:48-59

The opposition to Jesus mounts.  He is a big problem. An immense scandal.  An audacious outrage.  To very religious, working-hard- at-their-salvation people.  Who say they believe in God and love Him.  But this Jesus stands in their way – to God.  He is blocking the road -- to their salvation.

Who does this Jesus think He is?  Good grief!  He’s not even 50 years old and listen to His sermon:  “If anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.”  Keep my word and never see death?  And then:  “Before Abraham was, I am!”  Only the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob could talk like that!  Only the God of Israel could say such things!  And we all know that Jesus can’t be … Him … could He?  After all, God’s way up there!  We’ve got to go to Him!  But Jesus seems to be asserting just the opposite.  And making Himself out to be … God!  That standing before their very eyes is God in the flesh!   

So out comes the racial slur.    “Hey Jesus!  Your bloodline is questionable.  Impure.  You half-breed Samaritan!  You can’t claim Abraham as your father and Sarah as your mother like we can!  Who knows what’s flowing through your veins.  Greek blood?  Assyrian? Roman?  It doesn’t matter!  You’re a mongrel-outcast-get-out-of-our-sight-we’ll-have-nothing-to-do-with-you-Samaritan!”  No ACLU or federal hate crime laws in those days. 

And so another incredible accusation.  “Hey Jesus! One more thing!  Are you listening?  You have a demon!  Yes, that right!  We said it!  You’re possessed by Satan!” 

Mercy!  Talk about ratcheting-up the rhetoric!  But it’s not just rhetoric.  It’s stubborn unbelief.  They won’t be having a Jesus as He is for them.  They refuse to trust who He is.  What He’s come to do.  What He’s come to give.  For them.  And for their salvation.  “He came to His own but they did not receive Him,” (John 1:11).

The racial slur and the demonic accusations lead to picking up rocks.  Not to take home and be their pets.  But to throw!  At that big problem named Jesus!  The bigger the rocks the better!  “Golf ball size – OK.  Baseball size – nice.  Softball size --  great.  Volleyball size – now that’s the ticket.  Those will do nicely.  Inflict some mortal damage!  That’s it!  Time to bash in His head!  Ready everyone!  1-2-3 throw!  And don’t stop until He’s … dead!”

I told you Jesus was a big problem for these people.  How about you?  Would you too say:  “Hey Jesus!  Aren’t we right when we call you a Samaritan and that you’re demon-possessed?”  Would you too start picking up rocks the size of softballs to wing at His head?  Would you too like to get rid of this Jesus for good?  Is Jesus a big problem for you? 

If you have stones in your hands, put them down.  If you have ears to hear, then listen.  Jesus isn’t your problem.  He is your solution.  Sin and death solution.  He is the divine Savior.  The only one.  There is no other.  For you.  Listen again to what He promises:  “I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.”   Never see death.  By keeping, by treasuring, by trusting His word. 

His word that says:  “I am God the Father’s Son.  I know the Father.  Abraham longed to see the day I would take on flesh, suffer, die and rise from the dead on the third day.  He saw it in the word of promise.  And he rejoiced.  Yes, indeed, I’m the Savior.  I am the Great I AM.  That was me who spoke to Moses in the burning bush.  All the OT patriarchs believed in Me.  Abraham believed in Me.  King David did too.  They treasured my promise of salvation that I would achieve on the cross and deliver through My word of forgiveness.”     

Jesus is true God – begotten of the Father from eternity.  Jesus is true man – born of the Virgin Mary.  He has redeemed you a lost and condemned person from all sins, death and the power of the devil.  With His holy precious blood and His innocent suffering and death.  That you may be His own. 

Here is His promise: “I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.”  

He keeps His promises.  He promised He’d suffer, die, and rise again.  And He did it.  He pulled it off!  Just as it was prophesied in the OT Scriptures.  Bringing glory to His Father who sent Him.  But He did it all for you.  The glory of God revealed in Jesus all for you.  He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  No one comes to the Father except through Him. 

And so you and I long to see another day.  The day when death and the grave give way to the resurrection of the body when Jesus will command us with His Holy Spirit-filled-Lord-and-Giver-of-Life Word to:  “Arise!  Get up!”  And then our baptisms into Jesus’ death and resurrection come to full fruition.

What’s that in your hands?  Nothing?  Oh, I see.  You have them folded in great thanksgiving.  Do you have anything to say? …  What’s that?  “Thank you Jesus!”  Indeed.  And soon He’ll put His Good Friday sin-forgiving and death-destroying Body and Blood into your mouths.  What joy!  Jesus isn’t your problem.  He is your Savior.  And here’s His promise to you: “I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.”    

In the Name of Jesus.      

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