Monday, March 18, 2024

Sermon for Lent 5: "A Lenten Journey"

 + 5th Sunday in Lent – March 17th, 2024 +

Series B: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 5:1-10; Mark 10:32-45

Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church

Milton, WA

 



 

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ. The Lenten season is a journey.

 

For the disciples it was a journey that began in fear, but ended in joy and boldness. But you wouldn’t know that by reading today’s Gospel from Mark 10. At this point on the Lenten road, all they can think about is the destination - Jerusalem. “Why go there, Jesus? Everyone wants you dead. Jerusalem is nothing but trouble.” 

 

They’re so consumed with their own quest for about glory, greatness, and God’s kingdom that they misunderstand that God’s glory, greatness, and kingdom are found in the death of His Son.

 

Lent is a journey for each of us too. And many of us, like the disciples, are afraid. Fear of the world we live in. Fear of the uncertainty of an election year. Fear of chaos in places like Haiti or the southern border. Fear of crime, disease and disasters around the world and in our neighborhoods and cities.

 

And if the sinful world around us doesn’t cause us to pray, “Lord, have mercy,” then the fear of our own sinful flesh certainly does. On this Lenten road, we also carry the baggage of despair. Doubt. Built. Shame. Sorrow. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. I will fear no evil.

 

Lent is a journey. Not an aimless wandering. Not an evening stroll down the beach. The road goes ever on to Good Friday. Jesus sets his face. There’s no delay. No time for site-seeing or recreation. Jesus must go.

 

Jesus journeyed in life to serve you. Jesus journeyed to death to serve you. Lent is Jesus’ journey for you.

 

Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.

 

Lent is a journey. But the disciples weren’t alone on the road. Jesus was walking ahead of them.

Jesus was with his disciples – amazed and afraid though they were. He knew where the road was headed: his dying and rising; this would change them. Jesus went before them, as he goes before us, to carry our burdens of fear, guilt, and death to the cross.

 

You are not alone either. Not in Lent. And not in your fear, sorrow, or despair, doubt, or death.
Jesus has gone ahead of you on the road. Jesus has gone there and back again, through the grave – yours and mine – to life. Jesus is with you, afraid and sinful though we are. His dying and rising changes you too.

 

Like any journey, conversation breaks out along the way. James and John: Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.

 

You have to appreciate just how awkward this conversation is. One moment Jesus describes his death in chilling detail, and the next James and John are chasing glory and greatness. They don’t get it. They think it’s a march to greatness, like the road to the Final Four. They think Jesus’ glory will finally be unleashed and God’s kingdom will be established in Jerusalem.


Of course, it’s easy to read the Gospels, knowing the end of the journey, and wag our fingers at James and John. “What’s with these guys? How thick can they be? Come, on James and John; yeah, come on; get with the program.”

 

Guess who’s not wagging his finger in this story. Not Jesus. Sure he corrects them, but patiently. No, the accusatory fingers come from the other 10 disciples. They were indignant. Probably because James and John asked Jesus what they wanted to first.


James and John, however, had no idea what they were asking Jesus. We’re not all that different. to our own blindness. So often, in our fears, we don’t know what to pray for as we ought. And even when we do, it’s still got our sinful handprints all over everything. Like James and John, our problem goes deeper.

We want greatness. Glory. God’s kingdom. But we want it all on our own terms, not God’s. My will be done. My kingdom come. Our self-serving sinful nature wants nothing to do with the cross and everything our own greatness and glory. 


You do not know what you are asking. Jesus tells his disciples. 


“Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized,”Jesus asks them. “We are,”. They still have no idea what they were saying or what Jesus was talking about. Jesus’ cup and baptism are his death. Jesus drinks the cup of God’s wrath and the poison of our sin, down to the last drop. Jesus’ cross is a baptism of judgment. Jesus is drowned in the flood of God’s wrath. Jesus is immersed in our sin and death.


The disciples will share in the cup and baptism of Jesus’ suffering and death. All but one will be martyred for the faith. Indeed, all who are called Christians share in the cup and baptism of Jesus’ suffering and death. But even here, Jesus’ words aren’t really about his disciples. It’s about his journey to the cross. A journey where we see God’s greatness and glory finally revealed for us in the most shocking and surprising places: the crucifixion of Jesus. Want to know what greatness looks like. Jesus points us to his cross, to his death. 


For whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.


Jesus lives to serve you. Jesus dies to serve you. Jesus  became the last one to make us the first in line. Jesus gave his life, to give you life. This is where Jesus leads us during our Lenten journey, just as he did the disciples. To Jerusalem for you. To the cross for you. 

 

Jesus journeyed in life to serve you. Jesus journeyed to death to serve you. Lent is Jesus’ journey for you. A journey he still makes for you this day. In this place. In his house. In his word. In his body and his blood. There is greatness and grace and forgiveness for all our delusions of grandeur all given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. Here is sacred food for your journey in this life. And this season.


Lent leads us to Palm Sunday and shouts of Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord. Hosanna in the Highest.


Palm Sunday leads us to Holy Thursday: This cup that is poured out for you is the new testament in my blood which is shed for you for the forgiveness of your sins.


Holy (Maundy) Thursday leads us to Jesus’ hour of glory - Good Friday. It is finished. Fulfilled. Accomplished. For you.


Good Friday leads us to Easter: to unrestrained rejoicing. Christ is risen for you.


That’s the destination. But for now, the journey. And the road ahead. And the Lord Jesus is with you all the way.

 


In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Lent Midweek 4: "Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread"

 + 4th Lenten Midweek – March 13th, 2024 +

4th Petition of the Lord’s Prayer

Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church

Milton, WA

 



 

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior + Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

I want to begin by telling you a short story about the 4th petition. I have a dear friend named Kevin. College roommate. Went to seminary together. He’d probably hate that I’m talking about him in a sermon, but he’s in Kansas and we’re here. Well… back in college days (though he still does this), Kevin would go to Trader Joes, pick up a few bottles of 2-buck Chuck and drop them off for various friends and coworkers on campus. He’d bring back a summer sausage and share it with me and our roommates. He was always collecting lost, orphaned books and giving them a new home on my shelf. 

 

You probably all know, or at least I hope you know, someone like Kevin. Someone who loves to give.

 

And that is what we find here in the 4th petition of the Lord’s Prayer. Right in the center of the Lord’s Prayer – the exact middle petition. We pray, “Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread”.

 

And right there at the center of the Lord’s Prayer, in our prayer for daily bread, we also find the heart of God revealed for us. You see, God loves to give. It’s what he does. It’s who he is. God is the giver. God delights in giving. And when God gives, he gives graciously, abundantly. More than we deserve. More than we imagine. Always more. Just ask those crowds at the feeding of the 4,000 and at the 5,000 (plus many more). Or think back to the Exodus when the Lord told Moses…“I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day (Exod 16:4). 

 

Luther reminds us of this in the catechism…God certainly gives daily bread to everyone without our prayers, even to all evil people, but we pray in this petition that God would lead us to realize this and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving.

 

The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season.
You open your hand;
 you satisfy the desire of every living thing. (Psalm 145)

 

The 4th petition reminds us that God delights in giving. And all things are his to give. God is the giver of allthings. Everything we have, from the hair or the hat on top of your head (to the air above your head), right down to your socks, shoes, or sandals (and even the ground underneath)…everything around you, every day, all we have, it’s all a gift from God. 

 

God delights in giving you daily bread. And he gives you daily bread in plain, ordinary, simple ways. 

 

Luther teaches us about this in the catechism too. That daily bread is more than a loaf of sliced, multi-grain bread you buy or a sourdough you bake. Daily bread includes everything that has to do with the support and needs of the body, such as food, drink, clothing, shoes, house, home, land, animals, money, goods, a devout husband or wife, devout children, devout workers, devout and faithful rulers, good government, good weather, peace, health, self-control, good reputation, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like.

 

Don’t you love how down to earth Luther is. The 4th petition teaches us that the God who gives us daily bread does so in the earthly, ordinary, seemingly mundane, fleshly, physical, touchable, tangible, taste-able things. The God who delights in giving gives through means. 

 

Take an ordinary peanut-butter jelly sandwich for example. Think about how many people and vocations and ordinary things God orchestrates to give you that delicious PBJ. The farmers and workers who plant and harvest the grain, the peanuts, and the fruit and all the other ingredients. Somewhere someone is making flour out of all that grain. Bakers make the bread. Some more folks make the jam and peanut butter, package it, load it onto a truck or train. Ship it to a distribution center, then to Safeway, Freddy’s, or wherever you shop. It’s unloaded. Shelves stocked. And then you, having gone about your many vocations with money in your account or wallet, walk into the store, buy it, take it home, and prepare it for a lunch or snack or picnic. 

 

All of that and more is happening, even without our prayer, but we pray “Give us this day our daily bread” that we would look from the gifts to the giver with wonder and thanks. To God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – who delights in giving daily bread. And who does it in earthly, ordinary ways. 

 

God certainly could zap that loaf of bread (and all our daily needs) right onto our table and into our lives simply by saying the word, “let there be.” And yet, God chooses to give us this day our daily bread – and all that entails – through means. 

 

But don’t think that this is beneath God. The God who delights to give you daily bread doesn’t do so in some kind of spiritual, disembodied way. He does it the way he’s always done it. Through means. Through stuff of his creation. “God never meant us to be purely spiritual creatures. He created us soul and body. No wonder he uses material things like bnread and wine to give us his forgiveness life and salvation. No wonder he uses water to wash away our sin. Words to give us his promises. We may think all of this rather crude and unspiritual. God does not: He invented eating. He likes matter. He created it.

 

And he gives it all to you. “Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread”.

 

This 4th petition is something like God’s way of saying…“You want spirituality? Ok. I’ll give it to you. Here’s a pair of socks. Shoes. A jacket. Underwear. Toilet paper. A pound of thick-cut bacon. Some fresh farm eggs.” And the gifts just keep coming.

 

God delights in giving daily bread. He gives you what you need graciously, abundantly, daily. He takes care of these things – these little things of daily bread – all because he has taken care of the big thing. 

 

The God who gives daily bread, also gave himself in the flesh. Here in his creation. In Jesus, God has plain, ordinary, skin and blood and bones. God has a certain eye color, hair color, height, weight, and sandal size. God delights in giving his life to save you. 

 

And here again, God takes the stuff of his creation – tap water, a thin wafer of bread, some wine – and he gives you all that he has. He empties the storehouse of his forgiveness and never runs out of grace and mercy for you. 

 

And if God takes care of the big things. Do not fear. He gave you your daily bread yesterday. Today. And he’ll do it again tomorrow. All by his grace.

 

Because God is the God who delights in giving you daily bread. He delights in giving it to you through means. And he delights to give you all his gifts of body and soul in Jesus.

 

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Philippians 4:19-20)

 

 

And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard and keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus to life everlasting. Amen.

 

Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Lent Midweek 3: "Thy Will Be Done"

 + 3rd Lenten Midweek Service – March 6th, 2024 +

Luke 22:54-23:12

3rd Petition of the Lord’s Prayer

Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church

Milton, WA

 





Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior + Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

There are certain moments in life, in stories, and in Scripture when a warrior lets loose a war cry on the field of battle. William Wallace outnumbered by the English: “Freedom”! The U.S. Marines: “Oorah.” The Crusaders against the Turk: “Deus Vult” (God wills it). Aragorn before the Black Gate: “For Frodo!” Gideon and his 300 Israelites armed with torches and clay pots: “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon.”

 

A war cry steels your resolve. Strengthens your brothers in arms. Strikes terror into the hearts of your enemies. And holds you steadfast in a confession. 

 

You may not have realized it, but every time you pray the Lord’s Prayer, there is a war cry that comes forth from your lips as well. You may say it with tears…with a whisper…with agony…when you are anxious or in a panic…or simply with joy. But whenever you pray the Lord’s prayer, you have stepped onto the battlefield, where Christ goes before us with his cross and passion and resurrection. Jesus, the Lord of hosts and the commander in chief of the heavenly armies, gives us this battle cry, this prayer. The 3rd petition of the Lord’s Prayer is the battle cry of the baptized against God’s enemies: the devil, the world, and our sinful flesh. 

 

Thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

 

How is God’s will done? God’s will is done when he breaks and hinders every evil plan and purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful flesh, which do not want to hallow God’s name or let his kingdom come; and when He strengthens and keeps us firm in His word and faith until we die. This is His good and gracious will.

 

To say it again a different way…God’s gracious will is done for you in Jesus’ crucifixion, where defeats sin, death, and the devil for you. God’s gracious will is done in Jesus’ resurrection, where he strengthens and keeps you and holds you steadfast.

 

A lot of ink has been spilled writing about the will of God. But in truth, it’s rather simple. What is God’s will? God’s will is what he wants to do for you. It’s what God freely chooses to do for you because he loves you. And what he wants to do for you is to save you and set you free. To deliver us from our rebellious sinful flesh. To fight death to the death for you. To crush the dragon under his feet on the cross for you. 

 

That’s why the 3rd petition of the Lord’s Prayer is a battle cry; its an all-out assault against the hordes of hell, the world, and our sinful flesh. When we pray “Thy will be done” we are reminded that from the moment we are baptized we are at war. When Christ marked you with his cross, the devil marked you as his enemy. Since that day when Christ claimed you as his own with water, his Word, and his Spirit, the devil has been fighting like hell to get you to commit treason, rebel against God like Adam and Eve, turncoat, despair of victory, and rub the salt of your guilt and shame in your wounds. 

 

The devil fights this way: fights dirty. Fights with lies and deceit and despair because he knows he’s defeated by Christ. He knows that since the day of your baptism you have been conscripted as soldiers of Christ crucified. It’s true, no strength of ours could match the devil’s might. But for you fights the valiant one, the crucified one, the suffering, dying, bleeding, laying down his life for you One. What we pray for in the 3rd petition, Jesus has done for you. Thy will be done, we pray. And Jesus says from his cross: It is finished.

 

So we take up the sword of God’s word in the 3rd petition, and we are hurl it into the hearts of our enemies: death, and the dragon. And for good reason. There’s a war going on. The Christian life is not about winning and success and living your best life now or thinking that now that you are a Christian all your troubles will be over. No. we live life under the cross. In the battle. At war. We don’t hear that often enough, but it’s true. 

 

To pray “Thy will be done” is to enter the fray. It is to meet the enemy without and within. You know this enemy well, so do I. It is our sinful flesh. Who’s very religious. Who loves to pray: “my will be done. I did it my way! It’s my life!” To pray “Thy will be done” is to pray against the very thing we love the most: ourselves, our selfish, self-centered, sinful will. 

 

Thankfully, the answer to our prayer in this petition isn’t found within us. The answer to this petition  is Jesus. 

 

If you want to know what God’s will is, don’t look to your feelings, or your strength, or your wisdom, or your anything. Look to Christ. Listen to his words. See him on the cross destroying death, defeating the devil, for you. See his empty tomb and battle scars of victory in his hands and his side for you. When you look at Scripture, God tells you exactly what his will is and how it is done. God’s will is Jesus. And God’s will is done in Jesus for you.

 

As with all the other parts of the Lord’s Prayer, what we pray for in this petition Jesus does for you. In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus armed himself with the word of God and prayer. When you pray “Thy will be done” you never

 pray alone. Jesus prays with you and for you:

 

“Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 

 

As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked

 

And so it was… the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief. upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

 

In the garden. Before Pilate. Among the jeering crowds. With every agonizing footstep  and stumble towards the cross. With his body on the tree. With his pierced hands stretched out. There is God’s good and gracious will being done for you. 

 

That is why our Lord Jesus, the Captain of our salvation, gives us these words to pray, to cry out in the daily struggle and warfare of this fallen world: “Thy will be done.” He gives us these words to steel our resolve in his redemption. To strengthen us in his good and gracious will in Jesus’ cross and resurrection for you. to strike terror into the hearts of the enemy. To hold you steadfast in the confession and faith of Christ crucified. 

 

When you pray this petition, you are part of the resistance. The Lord’s Prayer is a campaign in this conflict against sin, death, and the devil. The church is not just a place to meet friends. It’s not just a place to gather around food and fellowship. It’s not just a place to drink coffee and catch up. Don’t get me wrong. These are all good things when they flow from and lead back to Christ’s cross. And yet, when we pray the third petition, we see that Christ’s church is not a build-a-bear workshop where we make cute cuddly things. No, Christ’s church is a holy barracks where he arms you for the fight with the battle cry of the baptized against God’s enemies. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

 

Here in this place God’s name is hallowed and so are you. Here God’s kingdom comes to you and for you in water and word, in Jesus’ body and blood. Here God’s good and gracious will is done for you. Here He strengthens and keeps us firm in His Word and faith until we die.

 

While the battle rages on, we know the outcome, we know Christ has died. Christ has risen. Christ will come again. And until that day, we wait. We watch. We pray. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

 

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus to life everlasting. Amen.

Lent Midweek 2: "Thy Kingdom Come"

 + Lent Midweek 2 – February 28th, 2024 +

Luke 22:24-30

2nd Petition of the Lord’s Prayer

Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church

Milton, WA

 




 

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior + Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

We say the Lord’s Prayer so often that we forget just how odd the second petition is, how different those words are to what we experience. Thy Kingdom Come. 

 

For Americans this is a peculiar part of the Lord’s Prayer. We don’t live in a kingdom. We don’t have a king. Americans threw the king’s tea into Boston Harbor. Fought the king’s armies. Traded the crown for a republic. 

 

We tour castles on vacation. We watch movies about brave knights rescuing the princess. We read about Arthur and Aragorn and other great kings of history and story. The world of kings and kingdoms is the stuff of legends for us. 

 

So when it comes to this part of the Lord’s Prayer, we might wonder what are we praying for here? 

Think of it this way. What makes a kingdom a kingdom? It isn’t the land or a set of borders drawn on a map. It isn’t a place full of fields and mountains and streams. It isn’t all the king’s horses and all the king’s men. It isn’t even the laws or culture that makes a kingdom. 

 

What makes a kingdom a kingdom? The law was the law because the king made a decree. The armies fought in the king’s name and by his command. The culture was the way of life because the king protected it. The borders were drawn on the map because the king ruled over it. What makes a kingdom a kingdom? The man with the crown. What makes a kingdom is the king.

 

And that is what we find at the heart and center of the second petition: a king and a kingdom. The Lord’s Prayer is a castle and the King who rules on the throne of this prayer is Christ Jesus. 

 

But He is no ordinary king. He is not a self-serving king in name only, like Herod was. He is not a tyrant like Pharaoh and so many of the Roman emperors were. Not senile and jealous like King Saul at the end. No, Christ has all greatness comes in weakness. A king lying in a stable and laid in a manger. Christ who is almighty God takes on human flesh and weakness. Christ who is King of kings and Lord of lords is crucified under Pontius Pilate for you. Christ the King says to his arguing, confused, self-centered disciples… I am among you as the one who serves.

 

This is totally unexpected for us…just as it was for the disciples. When we hear the word “Kingdom” and we think knights, kings, emperors, castles, dungeons, and dragons. We hear the word kingdom and we think greatness. Great historical figures doing great things.

 

The disciples thought the same. Luke tells us that A dispute arose among the disciples, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. You can hear the lyrics of the Lion King song playing in their ears and ours… “Oh, I just can’t wait to be king!”

 

That’s the way our old sinful flesh thinks. We’d much rather pray this petition: “My kingdom come.” Within each of us there is found not a loyal subject but a tyrant. We want the power. The glory. The control. We want to be king of the hill. King of our lives. We want God’s kingdom to come on our own terms. 

 

But all of that gets stripped away when we pray the Lord’s Prayer. Our old Adam is dethroned. It turns out that we’re not royals; we’re rebels. King nothings. Emperors without clothes sitting on an empire of dirt…and despair…and death. There’s only room for one King. The crucified King who came to save you on the cross.

 

This is why we pray the Lord’s Prayer. Why we pray “Thy Kingdom Come.”

The kingdom of God certainly comes by itself without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may come to us also.

 

We don’t come to the kingdom of God…the Kingdom of God comes to you…because the King has come to save you. 

 

The King God foretold to David, whose throne would endure forever…wears a crown of thorns and is enthroned on the tree for you. The King that was promised by the angel, born of Mary, wrapped in swaddling cloths, and laid in a manger was also the King was crucified, died, and was wrapped in burial cloths and laid in the tomb for you. Here is the Kingdom…it comes in Jesus crucified. Here God’s power…hidden in weakness, suffering, and pain. Here is God’s glory…in the wounds and words of Jesus, the King and the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world for you.

 

Above his throne, the King of Calvary’s hill, the sign read… Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews. Behold, your King. Crucified for you.

 

Remember…what makes the kingdom is the king. And a king is known by what he says and by what his hands do. The word of Christ the King save you. And the hands of Christ the King are the hands of a healer.

 

When the king comes so does his kingdom. How does Christ’s kingdom come? God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity.

 

Jesus’ word and the Spirit…His grace and promise: those are the decrees and gifts Jesus the crucified and risen King gives you. Christ the King has issued his solemn decree: be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven. Christ the King has ended your rebellion, and instead of drawing his sword, yelling “off with your head,” he leads you beside still waters. He kneels you down and he knights you as loyal, faithful, subjects and heirs in by water and word. Christ the King calls us to his banqueting table. A feast for you in his royal hall. King’s bread where Christ is present for you. You drink from the King’s cup where his blood is poured out for you. You eat and drink his pardon and promise.

 

What we pray for in this second petition, Jesus gives us in the second article of the Apostles’ Creed: 

 

I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the virgin Mary, is my Lord, who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death,

 

that I may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity.

 

This is most certainly true.

 

Long live the crucified and risen King. 

 

 

And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus to life everlasting. Amen.

 

 

 

Monday, February 26, 2024

Sermon for Lent 2: "Who Is Jesus?"


 + 2nd Sunday in Lent – February 25th, 2024 +

Series B: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16; Romans 5:1-11; Mark 8:27-38

Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church

Milton, WA

 


 

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

Back when late night television was comical and comedians could make jokes, Jay Leno had a segment called “the man on the street.” Someone from his show would interview random folks on the street: “Who was the first U.S. president? What are the three branches of government? What year was the Declaration of Independence written?” And so on. These bits were funny… more than a little frightening…yet revealing.

 

In Today’s gospel reading Jesus isn’t on the streets of New York, but in the villages of Caesarea Philippi. A place where the locals confessed Caesar as lord. A place where Pan was worshiped in a pagan temple. Jesus didn’t have a camera crew following him around, but his disciples are with him, and thanks to Mark’s gospel, so are we. We get to tune into prime-time and hear Jesus conducting his own “man on the street interview” with his disciples. “Who do people say that I am?”

 

For Jesus, however, this question isn’t a matter of mere information…it’s a matter of life and death…how you answer Jesus’ question is the difference between a crazy rabbi who says some wild stuff or he is who really says he is: the Son of God in human flesh to rescue you in his crucifixion and resurrection. 

 

Jesus didn’t ask this for entertainment value either…but to drive us to his cross where he reveals his answer for you and for the world: Who is Jesus? He is your crucified, suffering, bleeding, dying, sin-bearing, hanging on the cross in our place, and rising out of his tomb three days later Savior. Who is Jesus? He is the Son of God in human flesh who came to save you by his cross and resurrection. 

 

Jesus asks his disciples…Who do people say that I am?”  And they gave the typical answers of their day; they had a good pulse on who the masses expected the Messiah to be: “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.”

 

What about today? Who do people in Milton, Puyallup, or Tacoma say Jesus is? Some say Jesus was a good, moral man or a mythical figure like the Easter bunny or Sasquatch. Some say he’s more like a cheerleader or a mascot. Some think of Jesus like a vending machine or a magic lamp. Still, others say, he’s a wise teacher or a guide.

 

You see the problem here, don’t you? All of those answers, and others like it, reveal more about the person answering the question than they reveal who Jesus is. But the problem goes deeper than that. Is that how Jesus reveals who he is? Is Jesus nothing more than a spiritual trainer telling us to work harder? Or a religious boy scout telling you to live better? Or a genie who will grant your wishes? Because if that’s all Jesus is we should all pack up our stuff and head home. That’s not good news. Not only that, if that’s all Jesus is, then we’re still in our sin. There’s still guilt and grief and shame to deal with. There’s still death. And none of those false Christs – none of our idols – are coming to rescue us. Unless you have Jesus the Son of God in human flesh come to save us undeserving sinners by his dying and rising again you have a fake, a phony, and a false Christ. 

 

Then Jesus gets personal. He turns to his disciples. Who do you (plural – yous guys) say that I am?

 

“You are the Christ.” Peter answered.

 

It’s a good answer. A true answer. Jesus is the Christ. He is the anointed, chosen, long-expected Messiah. He is the Son of God from all eternity and the Son of Mary born in time. He is the Promised Seed foretold to Adam and Eve, to Abraham in Genesis 17, and to Isaac and Jacob and the prophets.


Why then, we wonder, in the very next breath Jesus strictly charged them to tell no one about him.


Because they don’t yet understand what it means that Jesus is the Christ. Peter takes Jesus aside and tries to shut him up. The student rebukes the teacher. This is all backwards. This is why Jesus calls Peter, Satan. To remove Christ from the cross is the work of the devil. A suffering, bleeding, dying, crucified God is not the Messiah the disciples had in mind.

Like the crowds that follow Jesus, his own disciples had all sorts of opinions about what the Messiah would be like: a mighty warrior who would conquer the romans and a king who would restore an earthly kingdom…make Israel great. 


No, says Jesus. Yes, the Christ is a King…but his kingdom is not of the world. He wears a crown of thorns. But will be enthroned on a Roman cross; where it is written, “cursed is anyone who hangs on a tree.” His royal robes will be given in jest, then stripped from him, and gambled away.


Who is Jesus? Jesus tells his disciples, and us, exactly who he is. He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.  And Jesus didn’t tell them all of this in a parable. Or a story. Or any number of metaphors in the Scripture. He said this plainly.


Who is Jesus? Jesus tells us plainly too: Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. 

Not only is this Jesus’ answer. This is how we answer this question when those around us ask as well. Christianity is not the story of a good, wise, moral teacher. It is the story of how a particular man, with a particular color eyes, a certain height and weight and hair color was put to death on a particular Roman cross one Friday afternoon…and he did it all for you. 

 

This is what it means when Jesus says “Take up your cross and follow me.” Your Christian life is not like the old story, The Little Engine that Could…”I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.” Cause we can’t and we won’t. But Christ will and does it all for you. Yes, even your life of love towards others. Christian life is the cross where Jesus died and rose for you. And where you die and rise with him.

 

There is no Christian life apart from the cross. The cross is what it means that Jesus is the Christ. And the cross is what it means for you to be in Christ. For in the cross, there’s your life. That’s why the ultimate self-denial is not what we say or do or give up. The ultimate self-denial is a confession that we have nothing whatsoever to do with our salvation. That all we bring to the foot of the cross is our sin and death. And yet there, Jesus does everything for you. Gives everything for you. 


Who is Jesus? Paul tells us in Romans 5: while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 

Who is Jesus? Jesus tells us today as he told his disciples: Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. 


Who is Jesus? Jesus’ answer…look to my cross, and nowhere else. That’s who I am for you. 


If you want to see God look to the one who suffered for you. To the one who was rejected for you. To the one who was killed for you. To the one who rose from the grave for you. 


In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

 

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Lent Midweek 1: "Hallowed be Thy Name"

 + 1st Lenten Midweek - February 21st, 2024 +

1st Petition of the Lord’s Prayer

Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church

Milton, WA

 



 

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

A name does many things.

A name tag identifies you. Hello, my name is… In earlier days of the Christian faith you would receive your name on the day you were baptized. The same day you were given the name of the Trinity in water and word and promise. 

A name communicates. 

A name is a gift. It is given. Placed upon you. In Holy Baptism God gives you his name. He places his name upon you. You are his. You belong to him.

A name has meaning. 

There’s power and authority in a name…when you sign a will, buy a car, or a house. Or even when you sign for an Amazon package. 

Your name can stand for something. Known for something. Your name is your reputation. As in the Lord’s name…The Lord, the Lord, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

Names are called upon and there is a presence that comes with a name. Like when children call out “Dad” “Mom.” and they come running to help.

Your name guarantees you have the money when you sign a check. A name comes with a promise. 

 

All of this - and more of course - is happening with God’s name. And when we pray in God’s name in the Lord’s Prayer: “Hallowed be Thy Name.” 

 

If a name does many things, how much more is it true of God’s name. God’s name is a gift. God’s name identifies you: he claims you as his own and calls you by faith when he put his name upon you in your Baptism. God’s name has authority and power. That is why the Lord’s Prayer begins with God’s name… “Our Father…Hallowed be Thy Name”

 

Here in the 1st Petition God’s name is full of his promise for you. God’s name is his presence for you. And most of all…God’s name is a person. How do we know God’s name? Look at Jesus. You want to know God’s name and his promise, his presence, and his peace? Look to Christ. He is God’s name in the flesh for you. And through him, you are given God’s name.

 

It’s no accident that the Lord’s Prayer begins this way (and so do all good prayers) - by calling upon the Name of the Lord. We hear this all over the Psalms: Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth (Psalm 124). Something similar happens every church service. God’s Triune name begins the service. God’s triune name blesses us as the service ends. And in between we sing, pray, praise, and give thanks in his name.

 

Your life before God begins the same way the Lord’s Prayer does. When we pray “Hallowed be Thy Name” we are remembering that the name we call upon in prayer, God’s holy name, is the same name that he gave you and placed His holy name upon you with tap water and his word of promise.

 

When the high priest in the Old Testament went into God’s presence in the holy of holies in the tabernacle, he wore a head piece which said: holy to the Lord

When we pray “Hallowed be Thy Name” …Those words take us back to the place where the Holy Trinity placed his saving name upon you. On your forehead. With water. With word. With his presence. His promise. When God spoke his word, washed you, and placed his name upon you, he made you a priest, and put a mark on your head that says: holy to the Lord. 

 

God also leads you in His name. The Psalms speak this way: “He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.” (Psalm 23)

 

When we pray Hallowed be Thy Name, we are praying that God’s name would be kept holy among us also. Our words. Our words with each other. Our words with our neighbors. Our teaching of God’s words. That our life as his baptized holy people, especially in his church, in what we say and do, would be like the priests, clothed in garments as they entered the tabernacle:  holy to the Lord. 

 

“How is God’s name kept holy? God’s name is kept holy when the Word of God is taught in its truth and purity, and we, as children of God, also lead holy lives according to it. Help us to do this, dear Father in heaven!”

 

When we pray “Hallowed be Thy Name” we are also praying against ourselves and our sinful flesh. This prayer is the opposite of what our sinful flesh loves to do. We love to make a name for ourselves. We love when our name is the center of attention. The problem is, unlike God’s name, our name isn’t holy in itself. And neither are our lives. A quick run through of the commandments reveals that we live contrary to God’s word and name all the time. We don’t fear, love, and trust in him above all things. We fail to call upon his name. We look for comfort rest anywhere else but God’s word and gifts. We don’t honor others in authority over us. We’re often angry and murder our brother in our hearts and minds and words. We are full of sinful lusts and selfish desires. We’re greedy. Liars. And never content. If we’re honest, we’d much rather pray this part of the Lord’s Prayer this way: “hallowed be my name.” 

 

This is why the Lord’s Prayer begins with these words… “Hallowed be Thy Name” Because it is not our name that saves us. It is not our lives that make us holy to the Lord. 

 

You are saved in the name of Jesus. Jesus’ word gives you life. Jesus' life makes you holy to the Lord. 

 

For all the times we’ve lived contrary to the name and word of God, Jesus lived a holy life for you. For all the times we have profaned the name of the Lord in thought, word, and deed…Jesus pardons you. Remember the name given by the angel to Joseph. You shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. (Mt. 1:21). Savior – That’s Jesus’ name. And that’s what he does for you.

In Jesus' holy resurrection, in Jesus’ holy word, water, body and blood you are holy to the Lord. 

 

The 1st Petition of the Lord’s Prayer is God’s promise to you. You are holy in Christ. Hallowed by the holy blood of Jesus. Sanctified in the saving death of the Son of God. Pure and spotless in the Lamb who was slain for you. You are marked with the name of God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 

 

And that’s the name that’s given to you. You are baptized in God’s holy name. You are saved in God’s holy name. You are given faith by God’s holy name. You are rescued and redeemed for the sake of God’s name. You are holied in God’s name. You pray in God’s name. And you live in God’s name.

 

Now the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus to life everlasting. Amen.