Brent Kuhlman

Click here to listen to an mp3 of this sermon.

Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 16)
23 August 2009

Ephesians 5:21-31

Marriage.  Today a Word from the Lord through His apostle regarding holy marriage.

God is pleased with marriage.  He instituted it.  From the beginning.  Created Eve from Adam’s side.  Brought her to him to live together as husband and wife for life.  “Bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh,” rejoiced Adam!  “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife and they will become one flesh,” Genesis says. And the Lord Jesus repeats this truth in the New Testament and so does Paul in today's text.

Marriage is God’s gift between a man and woman.   Did you hear that?  I said: a divine gift between a man and a woman.  I know that biblical fact is under immense attack.  And I know that teaching and preaching that marriage is only for a man and woman may eventually land me all in prison for committing a federal hate crime.  Nonetheless, this is God’s will.  It is the truth.  It is God pleasing. 

Anything else isn’t.  Even if a state legislature or a state supreme court says otherwise.  Even if church-wide assembly takes a vote to approve chaste and committed homosexual unions and call it a work of the Holy Spirit!  Believe me, any vote that contradicts the clear Word of God is a not work of the Holy Spirit.  It is the work of another spirit!

You are redeemed men and women by the Lord Jesus Christ.  Your sins are forgiven totally in Him.  The salvation job for you is done.  That’s Good Friday.  Jesus!  You are baptized into His all atoning for sin death.  Bread of Life – Manna from heaven Jesus feeds you with His very Body and Blood in the Sacrament of the Altar with the promise that all your sins are forgiven and that you abide in Him and that He abides in you! 

So what?  Here’s the so what.  Faith in Jesus gives birth to the life of love.  Love for the neighbor.  Love for others.  Jesus would use you to be His instrument to help and care for others.

Today’s text speaks of the life of love that a husband and wife are to have for each other in the estate of holy marriage.

The life of love in holy marriage is a two-way street.  And the two ways have their unique directions.  “Wives,” the text says, “are to submit to their husbands as to the Lord…and [they] must respect their husbands.”  That’s one street.  One direction.  Wife to husband.  The other is:  “Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her…husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies.  He who loves his wife loves himself.”  That’s the husbandly direction to the wife.

Ladies, the Word of the Lord for you in holy marriage is that you are to “submit to your husbands as to the Lord... and to respect him”  “Submit.”  “Respect.”  Doesn’t mean that you’re inferior!  Doesn’t give the man the license to walk all over you or abuse you.  Did you hear that Gentlemen? 

And Ladies, to submit simply means that you willing order your life in a certain way.  In other words, you will order your life in this way:  you will be a wife for your husband.   You will live your life as a wife to him. 

Let me put it to you this way ladies:  when Lindy said “yes” to Chris' romantic marriage proposal a few years ago she willingly promised to live a certain way and in a certain order.  The order of holy marriage.  In other words when she said “yes” she said to Chris:  “I’d be delighted to be your wife.  I am most willing to order my life from now on in that way.  I’ll not live for myself but I’ll give my life to be your wife.”  

The wife’s wedding gift to her husband is to submit to her husband as the head of the household just as the church submits to Christ as her head. 

After all, a boat with two captains will flounder or run into the rocks.  An SUV with two drivers will swerve into the ditch or cause a head-on collision.  A country without a leader results in anarchy.  A household with two heads will have a big headache and won’t last very long.  The head of a marriage is the husband.  The body of the marriage is the wife.  And her place is to help her husband to be the head of household. 

Why did Satan approach Eve first instead of Adam in the garden?  Because he was trying over turn God’s good created order!  That is, to stand marriage literally on its head.  Satan succeeded.  And the relationship between husbands and wives in holy marriage has been dizzy ever since!

But the Christian wife who is ordered to her husband in holy marriage is an icon or a reflection in the mirror for all to see, if you will, of the church’s relationship to Christ.  The bride, the church, orders her life to her husband the Lord Jesus who gave Himself up for her – cleansed her and made her holy in Holy Baptism “by the washing with water through the word.”

Out of His death Jesus bathes His bride with the water and Word of Holy Baptism.  He rinses away every spot, every blemish, every wrinkle, every fault, every sin.  He doesn’t remind her of her weaknesses or imperfections.  He refuses to see them.  In His eyes she is radiant!  Spotless!  Perfect! 

Jesus sees His church through Holy Baptism.  And so husbands are to see their wives through the cross of Jesus.  What does this mean?

Listen again to God’s Word:  “Husbands, love your wives as Christ loves the church and gave Himself up for her.”  That’s what you bring as your wedding gift to your bride.   

Husbands, you are to love your wives sacrificially.  Unconditionally.  That’s being the head of the house.  No score keeping.  No mathematics.  No bullying.  No abusing.  You are to cherish your wife.  Care for her.  Dote over her.  You are to live for her.  Not for yourself.  You are to listen to her.  Pay attention when she talks.  Comfort her.  Support her.  In the good times and the bad.  In sickness and in health.  To remain faithful only to her in your mind, your heart and with your body.  Your life is to be lived for her.   

Why?  Because she is one flesh, one body, with you.  “Bone of your bones and flesh of your flesh.”  She is the body of your family of which you are the head.  By doing this, husbands, you are a picture of Christ and you give witness to how Christ loves all of us sinners.

Yes, sinners.  There is much to confess with regard to holy marriage.  We Lutherans have not set a very good example for the world, our congregation, or our families.  We have failed to reflect the relationship of Christ to the church in our marriages.  We are selfish.  Deaf to God’s Word here in this text.  Wives refuse to order their lives as wives and reject the headship of their husbands.  Husbands abandon their God-given vocation as head of the household and we have headless homes.  Husbands have perfected the art of loving themselves and hurting their wives in many ways.  Fulfilling their needs and wants to the detriment of their marriages and families.

Yes, we all must confess that we have sinned.  That our sinful nature – our old Adams and old Eves – drive wedges and want to divorce what God has graciously joined together in holy marriage.  And so marriages fail far too often.  The marriage counselors and divorce lawyers do a booming business even in a recession. 

Ladies, have you respected your husband as the head of your house?  Husbands, have you loved your wives or do you love yourselves? 

We know the answer.  We fail.  And so what is desperately needed in all our lives is that husbands and wives confess these sins to one another.  That we have failed to reflect Christ and His church in our marriages.   And then one of the most important parts of a married life:  to forgive each other.  Just as God has forgiven you in Jesus His Son.  To say:  “I forgive you.  Jesus died for you.  Your sin is His.  He answered for it.  I love you.” 

In those words of forgiveness Jesus reigns among you.  Sinners for whom He died.  His kingdom comes to you and is among you.  And His reign of forgiveness that you speak to one another restores you to a proper relationship:   to be a wife for him -- to be a husband for her.  The life of sacrificial and unconditional love for each other.  In those words:  “I forgive you,” you can go on with the Lord’s help– in His gift of marriage because He loves you.  Gave His life into death for you on the cross.  And all is forgiven. 

In the Name of Jesus. 

 

Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 15)
16 August 2009

St. John 6:51-69
Lamb of God Lutheran Church, Papillion, NE

There He goes again.  Will His Bread of Life sermon never end? And most of His followers don’t like it.  Not one bit.  Grumbling about preacher Jesus and His sermon.  Arguing among themselves about His extended homily.

Scandalous sermon.  Offensive sermon.  Really gets people riled up.                                              

In fact, the majority of his disciples, after hearing this sermon “turn their backs, leave, and no longer follow him.”  Jesus even speaks of the one who would betray Him and those who do not believe in Him.

What did preacher Jesus say in the sermon that was so scandalous?  So offensive?

It’s that He claims to be the “living bread come down from heaven.”  And that this bread is His “flesh that will give for the life of the world.”  That’s quite an assertion!  And more:  “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood you have no life in you.”   And yet more:  “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and I will raise him up on the last day.  For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.  Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.”  

Good grief!  Sermons like that are what get preachers fired!  Jesus must be out of His mind to proclaim something like this from the pulpit.  Is He serious?  If He is then it’s time to have a special meeting with all the church authorities and demand Jesus’ resignation!  After all, He’s scattering the flock.  People are leaving in droves!  Look at how many disciples have dropped Him like a bad habit!  They can’t stand to hear sermons like this anymore!  He started with a mega church of 5,000 at the beginning of chapter six and now He’s down to only twelve!  And even one of the twelve will be the devil’s instrument to betray Him.  Such hemorrhaging membership stats are enough proof that Pastor Jesus should be defrocked immediately!  Or perhaps crucified! 

Inviting people to eat His flesh and drink His blood?  That’s not just disturbing.  It’s extremely dangerous!  Better hide the women and the children from such a preacher!  Someone call the police! Pastor Jesus should be put in a pink cell with cushioned walls and stuffed in a straight jacket.  Or perhaps crucified!

Does Jesus’ sermon offend you too?  Are His words too hard for you?  Too scandalous?  Ready to call it quits with this Jesus?  Do you want to leave too?  Then Jesus says:  “you have no life in you.” 

Or will you trust Him?  Especially when He preaches a sermon that appears to go too far?  The answer to this question is a matter of life – or death!  Eternal life – or eternal death!   

Peter’s answer for the twelve remaining disciples is this:  “Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life.  We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

The twelve will be given to.  Trusting that what Jesus says is exactly what He gives. 

After all, Jesus is THE SACRIFICE that atones for the sin of the world.  He offers up His Body on the cross.  He sheds His Blood on the tree.  He gives His life for your life.  He is the substitute sacrifice – the vicarious Victim.  To pay the price for your rebellion against God.  To make peace between God and all of us.  His promise is this:  “I am the living bread that came down from heaven.  If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.  THIS BREAD IS MY FLESH which I will give for the life of the world.” 

Jesus’ flesh is indeed real food.  His blood is real drink.  In the Sacrament of the Altar Jesus nourishes you with His body and His blood together with the bread and wine. 

How do you know that?  He says so!  His words of promise are Spirit and they are life!  “Take this bread and eat it; it is My body.  Drink from this cup.  It is the new testament in My blood shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.”   

Jesus’ promise to you today at the Sacrament is that, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and I will raise him up at the last day.”  Eternal life.  Resurrection of the body.  The fruit or benefits of the Sacrament of the Altar because of Jesus’ words that are Spirit and life.  Words of Jesus and Holy Spirit go together.  And in the words of Jesus the Holy Spirit is at work “giving life,”  that is, raising sinners from the dead.    

And more.  His giving and bounty overflow.  “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.”   Holy Communion!  Jesus is not far away.  He abides in you and you abide with Him.  He is in your mouths and in your hearts as you eat His Body and drink His Blood in the Sacrament!  And your bodies then are temples of the Holy Spirit. 

The Epistle’s exhortation to “be filled with the Spirit” comes about as you hear Jesus’ words and receive in faith what His words promise.  After all, His words are Spirit and they are life.

“Do you want to leave too?” 

“Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life.  We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

And the words of eternal life are these:  “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

In the Name of Jesus.        
 

Click here to listen to an mp3 of this sermon.

Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 15)
16 August 2009

St. Mark 16:16
Baptism of Brooklyn Abigail Justus

Are you baptized?  Brooklyn is.  Given to.  By the Triune God Himself.  Marked her with His Name in and with the water at the font.  Just as Jesus mandated in Matthew 28.  Yes, indeed, Brooklyn is baptized. 

“So what?”  I’ll tell you so what! 

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

“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.”  

Who makes this promise?  The pastor?  The congregation?  The district president?  No.  THIS IS THE PROMISE OF JESUS HIMSELF!  To whom all authority in heaven and on earth has been given.  Jesus, who is the Bread of Life, gives this promise.

“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.”   Brooklyn, this is Christ’s promise to you!  Baptized members of Trinity, 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 grip and power of the devil.  It’s all from Jesus to you.  Pure gift from Savior Jesus.  It’s all up to Him. 

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

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

Brooklyn is in no position to save herself.  Mom and Dad had to take her to the hospital a few weeks ago when she was sick with a high fever.  She couldn’t drive.  She couldn’t call the doctor.  And as an infant Brooklyn 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.  Brooklyn’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 and mine.    In your place.  For you.  For me.  For Brooklyn. 

Freshly risen from the dead Jesus wants all sinners for whom He died to benefits from His Good Friday dying.

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

Would you dare to argue with Jesus?  Would you dare to contradict His promise?  Or not believe what He says?  If you refuse to believe, 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 Brooklyn and for you.  Rose from the grave for Brooklyn 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.  Especially when your sin, death and the devil accuse you and try to send you to hell.  You simply say:  “Yes, that’s right, I’m a sinner.  But I’m a sinner for whom Jesus died.  He died for me.  I am baptized!  So sin – I am forgiven!  Death and devil – I am rescued from your icy grip!  Damnation – you lose!  I have eternal life!  Listen again to Jesus: ‘Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.’”   

What a Savior! 

Happy Baptism Day Brooklyn!  Happy living in Jesus’ promise Brooklyn and dear baptized members of Trinity.

In the Name of Jesus.

 
 

Click here to listen to an mp3 of this sermon.

Tenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 14)
9 August 2009

1 Kings 19:1-8

Elijah.  Faithful preacher.  Courageously proclaimed God’s Word.  Especially to those who would not hear it.  To those who could snuff him out like a candle.  Or crush him like a bug.  Like the King, Ahab. Or like Ahab’s wicked Cruella De Vil-like wife Jezebel who had in her payroll 850 false preachers.  Preachers of false gods: Baal and Asherah. 

There was a mighty show down on Mount Carmel.  The issue?  Who is the one true God?  Baal?  Asherah?  Or the God of Israel, Yahweh? 

Most of the people in Israel were apathetic.  As long as they had their five weeks’ vacation, SUVs, dream homes, nice yards, 1.5 children, seventy-two inch plasmas, comfy leather furniture, closets full of shoes and clothes, X Boxes, Play Stations, pool tables, Black Berry Bolds, lap tops in every room, refrigerators full of Bud Lite, liquor cabinets flush with Bombay, Johnny Walker and Patron, and a humidor stuffed with Cubans, “WHO CARES ABOUT GOD?”  Let alone who the one true God is! 

“Baal?  Asherah?  Or Yahweh?  Whatever!  Like it matters Reverend Elijah!  Now if you don’t mind Reverend, I’m trying to watch the latest episode of Israel’s Next Top Model!    Don’t get me wrong Reverend, I don’t mean to be rude.  Would you like beer?  I don’t have time for this Mount Carmel bit.”

At Mount Carmel Jezebel’s yes men and their gods were shown to be what they really were:  LIES!  FALSE IDOLS!  And that Yahweh was indeed the only, one true God that is to be trusted.  The people of Israel who attended confessed:  “Yahweh, He is God.  Yahweh, He is God.”  And Mount Carmel ended disastrously for Jezebel’s well-paid and pampered preachers.  They were put to death.  Every last one of them.  By the sword.  By Elijah himself!

When Jezebel hears about this effrontery, she is outraged.  She takes a royal oath.  She will hunt Troubler of Israel Elijah down.  Day and night.  Whatever it takes.  Until he is found.  Then her henchmen will give him a dose of his own medicine:  death by the sword!  You dished it out Elijah!  Let’s see if you can take it! 

And what does Elijah do?  Pray?  Boldly make an appointment to preach at the royal court?  Perhaps a beer summit at the palace?  Sit around a table with Ahab, Jezebel, and the remaining false prophets to hash out their disagreements.  What a great photo op that would be!  But no.  Elijah runs for his life!

High tails it out of the northern kingdom.  Heads to the deep south.  To the southern kingdom’s desert outback.  Why?  To die!  Elijah’s given up.  Concludes that his ministry is over.  That he has failed.  Everything has been for nothing.  All the preaching:  fruitless.  A complete waste of time.  After all, the idolatry, apostasy, and theological poison continue to be spewed.  And no one will stop it.  Not the king.  Not the queen.  Not even God!   

Elijah gives up.  He runs.  He chooses the place.  A day’s journey in the wilderness.  Sits under a juniper tree.  And then he will put his final plan of despair into motion.  Only then does he pray.  “O LORD, I’ve had enough.  Take my life.  I’m no better than my fathers who went before me and failed too.”

Given up.  Given up on God.  Preacher Elijah won’t trust the LORD anymore.

How about you?  Had it with your church?  With your pastor?  With your life?  With the Lord Himself?  Want to run away?  Pick a place of your own choosing?  And die?  Because it all appears to be a waste?  A total fruitless waste? 

“Then get up and eat!”  The Lord was not done with Elijah.  Nor with you.  

An angel appears. Not to provide the despondent preacher hospice care.  Twice Elijah is given hot fresh bread to eat.  And cool water to drink even when he insists on slipping into death.  Twice he is commanded by the LORD’s angel: “get up and eat!”   Why?  Because the LORD has more work for Elijah to do.  The Lord will still use Elijah as His instrument in the world.  Mighty work.  The LORD’s work.  Of confronting more apostasy and idolatry. 

By appointing a successor named Elisha.  Anointing kings! Hazael as king of Syria.  And then Jehu to be king over Israel.    So, “get up and eat Elijah!  Otherwise your trip and your work will be too much for you.”  And Elijah ate and drank.  And went back to work.  Trusting the LORD’s word regardless of everyone’s negative reaction to the tasks he was given to do.

Today, for you, not an angel but the Lord Jesus Himself bids you to get up and eat and drink.  Jesus is the fruition of the Lord’s work through His prophet Elijah.  Elijah’s work was not for nothing (pardon the double negative).  Jesus is the true King of Israel come down from heaven to do His Father’s will in order to reign graciously among you. 

And His promise to you is this:  “I AM the bread of life.  Whoever comes to Me will never hunger.  Whoever believes in Me will never be thirsty.”   “Everyone who looks at the Son and believes in Him has eternal life and I Myself will raise up on the last day.”  “Truly, truly, whoever believes has eternal life.”  “I AM the bread of life.”  “I AM the living bread that came down from heaven.  Whoever eats this bread will live forever.”  And then comes the clincher promise.  The real zinger:  “And the bread that I give for the life of the world is My flesh.” 

Clear reference to Calvary.  Good Friday.  His death for you.  For all you sin.  For your apathy.  For your straddling the fence about who’s really God.  For all your running away.  For all your not trusting in Him.  For all your trying to call the shots with the LORD.  

Bread of Life King Jesus would have you believe in Him.  For eternal life.  For a resurrection of the body on the last day.  “Get up and eat.”  To eat is to believe.  In Him.  And Him only.

You who believe in Bread of Life Jesus are the fruit of Elijah’s work too.  His work was not for nothing.  The remnant of believers remains even in the New Testament Israel, the church.   

Consequently, the Lord’s not through with you either.  Much work for you to do.  To be His instruments in the world for good.  As the Epistle exhorts you as fruit comes naturally from a good tree:  speak the truth, work honestly, speak words the edify and don’t destroy your neighbor, act with kindness, and forgive each other just as God in Christ has forgiven you. Giving witness to I AM the bread of life King Jesus.  That He alone is God.  He alone is God.  For you and for me!  Might as well start here today.  For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup you proclaim the LORD’s death for you and for the world until He comes on the last day.

Happy eating.  Happy drinking. 

In the Name of Jesus.   





 

“Bread of Life”  Rev. Scott Porath

Why do people go to church?  Children go because they “have to.”  Spouses go because they “have to” if they want to keep their spouse happy.  They go to be entertained – to get a good cup of coffee and socialize.  They go because it gives order to their week.

They go to church because they think God is taking roll (or at least paying attention) and giving good marks – and in “the end” they hope that will make a difference.  They go hoping for a cure (that the lump will miraculously disappear) – that their marriage will be mended or their children will be better behaved.

Why do the crowds of people hop into the boats and cruise to the other side of the sea “seeking Jesus”?  By the way – that is what the Church is – Jesus in the midst of those who have followed Him.  I’ll say more about that later.  But why is this great crowd of people following Jesus over the waters just to be with Him?  Jesus knows the answer.  “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.”

It’s NOT because they “saw signs.”  Sure, they “saw” Jesus miraculously feed a crowd of over 5,000 people using only 5 loaves and bread and two small fish.  They “saw” (or at least heard about) Jesus miraculously healing all the sick people who were brought to Him.

They “saw” these things – but they did not see who Jesus truly is.  They did not seek Him out because He is the Son of Man, the Messiah, their Savior – but rather, Jesus says, “because you ate your fill of the loaves.” Those people sure were greedy – they had filled their bellies and they knew who was responsible – and they wanted more.  This Jesus guy was just the ticket!  Follow Him around and you would be set for life.  He could feed the world with mere scraps – He could heal you if you got sick – and if He could do all of that – surely He would be able to take care of everything else.

They may very well be greedy people – but Jesus is even greedier – He wants even MORE for them.  “Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life.”

It’s not that Jesus is chastising them for being hungry – that’s natural – that’s being human.  Food and healing for their bodies is good – it serves a purpose – but only for a time – and in time it spoils.  Jesus wants MORE for them – something that does not spoil – something that “endures to eternal life.”

Imagine that – something that doesn’t spoil.  Food that doesn’t spoil.  Cars that do not spoil.  Marriages that do not spoil.  Children that do not spoil.  A body that does not spoil.  Who wouldn’t want that?  I want that – don’t you?  So how do we get it, Jesus?  “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?”

You don’t get something for nothing – and you certainly don’t get something that will never spoil – for nothing.  So tell us Jesus – give us a list – give us the process and procedures.  You’ve whetted our appetites – now give us the recipe!

Jesus answered:  “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”  He had already told them that the Son of Man would GIVE them the food that spoils.  The only work required for this food is God’s work.  And what is the “work of God”?  To give you faith to believe in the One He has sent – to give you faith to believe that Jesus is the One who gives you the food that endures to eternal life.

And what food does Jesus give you?  Himself – He is “the bread of life” – the “food that endures to eternal life”  Whoever believes in Him shall not hunger or thirst.  When God the Father gives you His Son, Jesus – He gives you everything needed for this life, and for all eternity.

Why do you come to church?  Remember – the Church is Jesus and all those whom He gathers to Himself.  Jesus gathers you here to Himself because you have needs – and He is greedy to provide for all your needs.

You have temporal needs, needs that come and go – and so He gathers other Christians around you to provide for those needs.  Through them He gives you food, and clothing – parents to adopt an “unwanted child” – a listening ear, and someone to hold you when you mourn the death of your loved one.  But Jesus is greedy – for He knows that you have even greater needs – needs that will not spoil and fade with time.

We have hurt our spouse, parents and children.  We have been greedy only for ourselves and have neglected the needs of others.  We have grumbled against the Lord – sinning against Him by accusing Him of being responsible for all that is wrong in our lives – accusing Him of not loving us.

With these sins comes guilt, shame – and as God says – everlasting punishment and death.  Our greatest need is to have these sins and all our sins removed.  So we come asking God, “what must I do?”  What’s the recipe Jesus?  Go to church – have my children baptized, send them to Sunday School – live by the golden rule.  What else Jesus – just tell me, so that I can get all these sins wiped off the scorecard.

“This is the work of God,” Jesus says, “that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”  I am “the Bread of Life.”  I am “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”  By my death upon the cross in your place – all the work has been done, all your sin has been taken care of – I have forgiven all your sin, and made everything right between God and you.  “Whoever believes and is baptized shall be saved.”

This is why we go to church – to be with Jesus who is greedy to give us forgiveness, life and salvation that does not spoil – who satisfies our hunger and thirst for all eternity.  Thank you, Jesus.  Amen.

The peace of God which passes all understanding, guards your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  Amen.