Brent Kuhlman

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Mark 10:(32-34) 35-45

Very strange.  Astonishingly strange.  Fearfully strange.  His preaching and itinerary are giving off some very wierd vibes!  Freaking everybody out!  Scaring the living daylights out of everyone!

Ominously off to Jerusalem!  Don’t get in His way!  Don’t even try to stop Him!  He’s relentless!  Jesus has “Jerusalem” on the brain!  A “Jerusalem” fixation!  He’s out in front of the pack!  Leading the way all by Himself!    

He’s Johnny One Note when it comes to a certain kind of sermon with His Jerusalem obsession!  It’s like Jesus is addicted to this kind of sermon.  It’s the third one!  And this time He preaches in great detail. He really cranks up the heat!  The sermon is about some “Son of man.”  Whoever that is!  This poor Son-of-man-sap will be betrayed.  Tried and condemned to death.  Handed over to the Gentiles. Mocked. Spit upon. Flogged. Killed. Three days later a resurrection.

Who is this “Son of man” character that Jesus can’t wait to see in Jerusalem?  We can’t seem to make heads or tails out of it!  Whoever this “Son of man” is he is a tragic figure! 

But Jesus will stop at nothing to go see this!  It’s the only thing He’ll talk about!  Such preaching really borders on some kind of mania!  Really quite macabre!  Morbid!  He really needs some professional help!  What would you suggest?  A Freudian?  A Jungian?  A Dr. Phil?  An Oprah?  It really doesn’t matter!  We’ve got to get Him off this horrid, pessimistic Son-of-man-Jerusalem neurosis!     

That’s when James and John come to the rescue.  Time to gloss over the latest Jesus sermon.  Time to blather on about heavenly seating arrangements!  Here’s the ticket.  “Jesus, we have a request!  You always want us to be bold and confident when we pray!  So here goes!  When you (unlike that poor, pathetic Son of man character that you talk about) enter into your glory – when you establish the magnificent Messianic kingdom of God here on the earth – when the Romans are put in their place – when you reign like our fathers King David and King Solomon – give us seats!  One on your right!  One on your left!  After all, let’s think positive!  Let’s go full guns a blazin’ greatness!  Fame! Prestige!  Glory!  Success!  World transformation!  In your glorious kingdom we will all be served!  Waited upon!  Barking out the orders!  Running the show!   Let’s hear no more about this pathetic Son of man business!  We’ll be having a power ministry and a power church! And we’ll let you lead it!  We’ll be right beside you – all the way!  Thanks for listening Jesus!”

James and John don’t get it.  Neither do we!  “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus flat out says.  The Son of man is not someone else!  He is preaching about Himself!  The Jerusalem betrayal, brutal suffering, humiliation, death and mysterious third day resurrection are about Him!  All this stuff is going to happen to Him!  A royal, messianic reign on the earth when he Son of Man is lifted up on the cross!  Dead!  Graveyard dead! 

Then Jesus asks them and all of us:  “Can you drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”  Predictably we all say:  “Sure!  No problem!  We’re all in!” 

That’s when Jesus, in a long, drown out breath says, “O . . . kay, that’s precisely what you will get!  You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with but all this business about who gets what seats is not in my job description.  I’m the Son of man.  Therefore I am in to death and resurrection.  That’s the exclusive game in town!  I’ll do nothing else.  Because that’s the only way sinners can be saved!  Don’t try and keep me from doing this!  If you do, then you won’t have a Savior!  You’ll still be in your sins!  And there’s no hope of salvation for you or for anyone!”

Son of Man Jesus is the dying, dead, and resurrected Servant King Jesus!  Rejected.  Condemned.  Handed over for execution.  All at Jerusalem!  The measure of all greatness and power is the self-giving of the Son of Man Jesus who serves to the utmost!  By doing a divine service par excellance!  “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many – for all.”  Calvary.  Good Friday.  The cup!  The drink!  Baptized!  Immersed in all your sin!  Bearing it all in His Body!  Drenched with all of God’s wrath against your sin!  Damned!  Cursed! 

For you!  Yes, that’s right, for you!  For your ransom!  For your salvation! 

Son of Man Jesus – plunged into suffering and death!  He came to serve sinners.  To give His life on the cross for you!

And when He died on the cross all died!  “One died for all,” St. Paul writes, “and therefore all died,” (2 Corinthians 5:14).  All sin and every sinner put to death in His Mount Calvary death!  And then “buried with Him [Jesus] through baptism into death,” His Good Friday death (Romans 6:4).  That’s you!  Jesus binds you to Himself in His death!  What He did for your salvation counts for you!        

Son of Man Jesus did what He said He would do.  He suffered, died, and on the third day rose from the dead.  He reigns!  As the crucified Son of Man!  He lords His Good Friday death over you and all your sin!  He attacks you and your sin with the preaching of His cross and resurrection! 

And that means a daily death -- dying to sin!  The life of Holy Baptism!  In other words, that the old Adam, by daily contrition and repentance, be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires!  Like lording yourself over others!  Acting like everything and everyone should revolve around you!  As if you’re the only person who counts!  You must die to all that!  Why?  So that the new man, the new creation, the person who believes in Jesus will daily emerge and arise to live before God in the righteousness and purity of Jesus’ forgiveness.  Forgiveness given to you today in the Lord’s Supper! 

Then the Lord has use for you!  So that you are a servant!  To others!  For others!  For their good and for their well being!  Putting yourself last!  Serving those in need with love!  Giving yourself with all your might to help your spouse, your children, the members of your congregation, and the people you work with! “The fruit of the Gospel” and “the fruit of the sacrament [of the altar] . . . is nothing other than love . . . As he [Jesus] gave himself for us with his body and blood in order to redeem us from all misery, so we too are to give ourselves with might and main for our neighbor.  This is how a Christian acts.  He is conscious of nothing else than that the goods which are his are also given to his neighbor.  He makes no distinction, but helps everyone with body and life, goods and honor, as much as he can.”[1]  The “use” of Jesus on the Cross and the Sacrament of the Altar is “for the glory of God and the good of the neighbor.”[2]    

Now that’s power!  That’s greatness!  That’s glory!  Served by Jesus!  And through His divine service of Word and Sacrament you learn to die to sin every day.  And then a resurrection as well every day until your bodily resurrection on the Last Day!  Believing that all your sin is forgiven because of Son of Man Jesus.  “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many.”  And for you!

In the Name of Jesus.

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Wednesday of Lent 4

21 March 2012

Fifth Commandment:  You Shall Not Murder

Bible Narrative:  Genesis 4:1-16

Anatomy of a murder.

You’re minding your own business and then all of a sudden …

News alert!  It’s scrolls along the bottom of the TV screen. Before you can read it brunette bombshell anchor Mona Cohen interrupts regular programming:  “This just in to Paradise Lost Network!  We have received disturbing news!  It comes from one of the western farm fields.  We’re hearing unconfirmed reports that one of Adam’s sons was found dead a short while ago.  Let’s go live to our ace on the spot reporter Biff Bernstein.  He’s there with the latest.  Biff, can you confirm what we’re hearing?”

“Mona, yes the dead body has in fact now been identified by officials as Abel.  Mona, this is a grisly scene.  I’ve never seen any thing like this!  It’s sickening!  I can’t believe this has happened!  This is no accident!  It is criminal!  Abel’s head has been crushed in!  It is the goriest and most gruesome incident I’ve ever covered… [Biff gags].  As you can tell Mona, I’ve lost it.  Who could have done this?  Who could have done this Mona? Back to you.”

“Thanks Biff.  For those who have just joined us, we have confirmed that Abel, the younger twin brother of Cain, has been found dead from substantial blows to the head.  It is a gruesome criminal scene.  A massive manhunt has now begun for the world’s first ever killer.  More breaking news as it happens.”

While you’re still in shock – still in dismay – another breaking news alert from Mona Cohen of Paradise Lost Network!    “This just in!  More dreadful news!  Authorities have confirmed that Abel’s killer has been apprehended!  The killer is … are you ready for this ladies and gentlemen? … Abel’s older twin brother Cain!”

Double tragedy!  Double punch to the gut!  Not just the world’s first murder!  Not just a homicide -- BUT FRATRICIDE!  Abel, viciously slaughtered by his very own brother! 

The very brother we all believed to be the ONE! The ONE to bring back the paradise Adam and Eve lost by their rebellion.  The ONE to put an end to all the pain and agony that Satan brought into the world by our parents’ sin.  Cain!  Cain!  Cain! 

Cain’s no messiah!  Far from it!  We were all foolishly mistaken on that one!  We just all assumed! 

Cain had us all fooled.  Both boys went to church.  Both heard sermon after sermon.  Both offered their sacrifices of thanksgiving and praise.  All the neighbors said Cain was a quiet boy.  A good neighbor.  Always on time.  Reliable.  A hard worker.  What went wrong?  Why would he do such a heinous deed?

Then another news flash!  “Mona Cohen here again with more breaking news.  We have been told that Cain was a very angry young man.  He had a very, very dark side.  Hated his brother Abel!  Had something to do with their offerings at church.  His intense anger appears to have begun when the LORD favored Abel’s offerings but not Cain’s.  Here to give us some perspective on why all this happened is doctor Ruth Bernbaum.  Dr. Bernbaum, what triggered all of Cain’s anger and the savage attack of his brother?  Why couldn’t Cain master the sin that was crouching at his door?”

“Well, Mona, it could be a number of factors.  One, perhaps God likes ranchers more than farmers.  Another explanation may be the way Eve potty-trained these boys in combination with Adam’s laissez-faire attitude.  That probably didn’t go so well. One more factor could be that Cain skimped with his offerings.  Maybe the grain he offered wasn’t the best or possibly he only offered chaff instead of wheat.  Or, and this is the most likely explanation, you did this to him! The pressure was too much for him!  All the messianic expectations you all put on him led him to this!”      

And with that you shut off your TV.  You’ve had enough of this rubbish!  There’s got to be some other explanation! 

Well, there is.  I’ll tell you.  It’s called sin.  Both brothers were sinners.  But the difference between the two was spelled: 

F-A-I-T-H!  Cain doesn’t believe that he is a sinner. He’s full of himself!  First-born and all that!  Cain doesn’t fight against his anger and hatred.  Cain, therefore, doesn’t believe in God’s promise to send the Savior.  Cain refused to believe the sermons that the LORD is gracious and merciful.  Cain does not and would not repent!  No wonder the LORD DID NOT look with favor on Cain’s offering.  No wonder the LORD DID LOOK WITH FAVOR ON ABEL’S! 

If you doubt any of this Hebrews 11:4 clearly explains the discrepancy between the two brothers.  Listen.  “By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did.  By faith he [Abel] was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings.  And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.”  Again, the difference between the two brothers was FAITH!

Cain’s unbelief, his impenitence, fed his hatred.  Hated his brother.  Hated God!  He did not fear, love, or trust in the LORD.  His heart was at odds with the LORD.  Therefore, his heart was also at odds with his brother.  “Whoever hates his brother is a murderer” (1 John 3:15; Matthew 5:21-22)! So Cain did what was in his heart.  He lured Abel into the field with a hypocritical act of brotherly love.  When Abel turned his back Cain bashed in the rear of his brother’s head!  Calculated, cold-blooded murder!  Colossal carnage!

When Adam sinned the ground was cursed (Genesis 3:17).  Now here Cain, for the spilling of Abel’s blood, for just standing there and letting Abel bleed out, is directly cursed!  He has desecrated the ground with a murderous blood bath!  Cain refused to be his brother’s keeper!  So the earth opened up its mouth to receive Abel’s blood from Cain’s hand.  Cain can only be a restless wanderer now because the earth will refuse to bear any crops for him!  He can till and till and till – plant, plant and plant – BUT THE EARTH WILL GIVE HIM NOTHING!  For Abel’s “blood cries out to the LORD from the ground!”  

In addition, Cain must live the rest of his life with eyes in the back of his head.  He won’t be able to sleep very well at night.  After all, everyone is outraged!  It is highly probable that someone will try to avenge Abel’s murder!  Therefore the LORD puts a mark on Cain to show that he’s off limits to a human executioner – an avenger of blood!

Life in any stage is a gift from the LORD.  The LORD wants your neighbor’s life protected.  Always!  Thus the Fifth Commandment!  The LORD forbids the taking of life in any way.  From abortion to euthanasia!  From shooting someone in cold blood to slitting someone’s throat or putting poison in their food!  The LORD forbids the taking of your own life too.  Judas did that, you remember, when he despaired of the LORD’s forgiveness. 

You shall not murder!  That’s God’s categorical personal address to you!  No “ifs,” “ands” or “buts!”  Do not hurt or bring harm to your neighbor in any way!  Instead help and support him/her in EVERY physical need.

And we have failed!  Our tongues are instruments of death!  We ruin reputations!  We destroy lives with our angry words and hate-filled discrimination. 

We sit quietly and do nothing when our neighbor needs help.  We care about ourselves first.  Our needs.  Our wants.  Our desires.  Our hopes. 

We stand by and do nothing as our neighbor drinks himself to death, starves herself to death, forces his child to live in a cage like an animal, or as 1.2 million of unborn innocent lives are cruelly destroyed each year in this country. “Am I my brother’s / sister’s keeper?” we ask!  With that question we incriminate ourselves just like Cain!

So it is time to repent!  It is time to “love one another” and “not be like Cain who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother,” (1 John 3:11-12) It is time to give up something during this Lent and all of our lives!  And what is that?  Your sin!  Time to confess your sin.  All sin against God’s will to protect and preserve life.  Life that He alone gives.

Abel’s murdered blood cried out to the LORD for revenge!  But the Blood of Jesus – that’s different!  A whole different ball game!  His Blood speaks and proclaims just the opposite:  FORGIVENESS!  For sinners!  For you.  For me.  “Father, forgive them – they don’t know what in the world they’re doing!” 

Exactly!  We sure didn’t!  We falsely believed that we were doing God a favor!  That everything would be so much better if we would get rid of Blasphemer Jesus!  He can’t be God!  We are! (At least we pretend to be!)  So we too shouted:  “Crucify Him!  Crucify Him!  Be rid of Him!  We’re in charge here!  His Blood be on us and our children!”     We “killed the author of life” (Acts 3:15)!

“Father, forgive them!”  Yes, Jesus’ Good Friday, Lamb of God, Mount Calvary Blood for your forgiveness pleads!  His sacrificial Blood shed on the cross atones for all your sin!  For His life – His divine life is given in, with and under His Blood!  Bloodied – sacrificed on the cross Jesus – sprinkles His Blood on you!  That Blood speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.  Abel’s blood cried out for revenge!  The shed Blood of Jesus proclaims FORGIVENESS!  “But the blood of Jesus for our pardon cries!”  (Hymn #433 LSB stanza 4).

So here’s the truth!  You, the sinner, are redeemed!  You, the sinner, are sanctified!  For the Blood of Jesus is on you and your children.  In a saving way:  FORGIVENESS!   You, like the murderer Barabbas are set free!  Jesus, the Holy One, willingly gives His life and allows His divine Blood to be shed!  Your sin is His!  His holiness is yours!  The Blood of Jesus purifies you from all sin! 

It is His Good Friday Blood that He puts into your mouths in the Sacrament for your cleansing.  For your purification!  For the forgiveness of all your sin.  In the Lord’s Supper the Blood of Jesus speaks!  It says:  “given and shed FOR YOU!  FOR YOU AND FOR YOUR SALVATION!” 

Faith trusts this Word from the Good Friday Jesus!  Now He has good use for you in this world as His instrument.  He now uses your body in this life to help and support your neighbor in his/her body!  And that is quite a sacrifice or offering of thanksgiving and praise in response for all that Jesus’ Blood has given you!

In the Name of Jesus    

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