2nd Midweek Advent Sermon: "Mighty God"

  + Advent Midweek 2 – December 11^h, 2024 +

His Name Shall Be Called: “Mighty God”

Psalm 24; antiphon: v. 7

Isaiah 9:1–2, 6–7; Titus 2:11–14; John 5:16–18; 8:48–59

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.

 

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given . . . and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

 

When you hear Mighty God you might think of Thor wielding Mjolnir or Zeus zapping lightning bolts or God thundering on Sinai. 

 

And while Mighty God is certainly a title for Jesus that we would expect, God always has a way of turning our expectations, and our world, upside down. 

 

Mighty God is a title for Jesus that we would expect. But God in the flesh – as he always does - quickly turns our expectations upside down. When we think of God we think of power, prestige, and potency. And God certainly has those attributes, but he chooses to reveal his power in weakness, his prestige in lowliness, his potency in sacrifice.

 

It doesn’t take long in the story of the Scriptures to find out that God’s ways are not our ways. And that’s a good thing. He is mighty…and yet…

 

He is the eternal Word of God. As John writes… In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made… The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 

 

The Word became flesh. The Mighty God is born in meekness and lowliness. And made man for us. 

He is all powerful; he is the almighty, and yet for us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven. Infinite cosmic power takes up the itty bitty living space of the Virgin Mary’s womb. The Mighty God reveals his power in weakness and humility – in lowering himself to save us – not with Herculean strength, but with incarnate love and mercy. Not by great fetes of heroism, but by his humble feet that trod in dust and mud and blood, that tromped over hill and valley and into the grave for you. 

 

If you want to see God’s might, don’t look for his bulging muscles. Look down in the manger at his infant fingers grabbing the Virgin’s hands and wiggling in Joseph’s arms. Look up at the cross and see his wounded hands and pierced side and bloody, beaten, bruised face on the cross. There’s our Mighty God.

 

The author of Hebrews puts it this way:

 

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed the heir of all things, through whom also He created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of His power. (1:1–3)

 

This is the mystery and joy and wonder of Christ’s incarnation. You find, not a contradiction, but a confession. Jesus, the Son of God, upholds the universe by his word and power, and yet, he also is the Son of Mary who places himself under human authority. Jesus is at the same time the one who spoke God’s word, his word, to the prophets, and now is God’s word in human flesh. Jesus is the Mighty God of Isaiah and our Merciful redeemer. Jesus is the one who declared Abraham righteous by faith, and is also the one whom Abraham believed in and saw his day long before Jesus was born. 

Before Abraham was, I am, Jesus says. There is mystery and might, but also mercy, in those words. For the great I AM of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moses, has taken on humanity to be the Great and Mighty God who is “For You”.

 

Scripture gives us this beautiful, mysterious, joyful, wonderous, and gracious confession. Jesus is true man, with real knees that pop as he walks and feet that ache after a long day and hair that got tangled in the sea of Galilee breeze – he identifies with us in all ways, he weeps, suffers, bleeds, and dies - and yet has no sin to call his own…so that he can take your sin upon himself and make it his own. And He is also true God with all the might and power and authority that entails…so that he would deliver and save and rescue you

 

Scripture is full of this story, this good news. That Jesus, the Mighty God of Isaiah is also the infant boy held in the arms of the Virgin Mary. Jesus, the Mighty God, is also the One who hung on the cross for all your sins. Jesus is the Mighty God who forgives you—and when the Mighty God forgives you, the devil has no claim on you.

 

Jesus is Mighty God, who claims you as His own in Baptism where He put His name on you and washed you from the guilt of your sin by the power of His divine blood.

 

Jesus is Mighty God, who nurtures your faith in Him as He teaches you with His Word.

 

Jesus is Mighty God, who still comes in meekness and lowliness, giving you His own body and blood in Holy to forgive and heal and to assure you that your sins are forgiven and that your Mighty God is with you!

 

Jesus is Mighty God, who is also your Immanuel – God with us – as we live as His children in this world.

 

Jesus is Mighty God, who will give you eternal life in His love when He returns in power and glory.

 

Jesus is Mighty God, who gives his grace us not as we expect, nor as we deserve, but according to his mercy. And that’s far more than we could have ever expected.

 

 

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

Sermon for Advent 2: "Advent Messages"

 

+ 2^nd Sunday of Advent – December 8^th, 2024 +

Series C: Malachi 3:1-7; Philippians 1:2-11; Luke 3:1-14

Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church

Milton, WA

 

 

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

 

One way or another, this time of the year is full of messages. Text messages flying around between families and friends. Messages that your Amazon package is on its way. Messages on the radio and streaming on your TV and devices. Messages sent out to loved ones in the form of a letter or family photo or a simple Christmas greeting. Whether you go big or keep it simple, Advent is a season full of messages.

 

When we open up God’s word this Advent season we find the same thing, only far better of course – that Advent is a season full of messages in God’s house as well. Only you won’t find God using text messages, TikTok videos, emojis, tweets, or spam messages. God’s preferred messengers happen to be people. Because where there’s a message there’s a messenger. And a messenger must have a message to deliver.

 

Today’s Scripture readings are a great reminder that God always has a message to deliver and he sends his messengers to declare, deliver, proclaim, and announce his message of good news, deliverance, rescue, and redemption. 

 

As you open Scripture, you realize that no matter what page you turn to, you are opening the message God is sending you.

Messengers like the evangelists who wrote the Gospels that tell us the story of Jesus’ life and ministry and rescue from sin and death. Apostles – like Paul – whom God sent with the message of the Gospel out on mission to deliver that message of God’s justifying, righteous love to all nations. so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,  filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

But of course, Paul would be the first to admit that he was standing on the shoulders of those messengers God had called before him. 

 

Long before God sent Paul, he sent the prophets – like Malachi – to proclaim his Advent message centuries before his arrival and birth in Bethlehem. And centuries before he sends another wilderness messenger, John the Baptist. “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.”

 

Even though it was a few more centuries (four hundred years or so, to be exact), between Malachi and John the Baptist, God still made good on his promise. He sent his messenger. What Malachi foretold, John the baptizer fulfilled. What God promised by the prophets, came to happen in the last prophet of the Old Testament and the first witness of the dawn of the New Testament. The message of Christ’s advent is delivered and proclaimed by John the wilderness preacher.

 

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, ² during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. ³ And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

 

All these names and places may sounds strange to us. But this is Luke’s way of telling us this messenger and his message are the real deal. This isn’t some fake news report. This message and the messenger are real. Historical. Reliable. Trustworthy. And yet, it’s always good to follow the simple rule of trust, but verify. What’s this messenger saying? What’s the content of John’s preaching? 

 

This, by the way is a good way to listen to Christian sermons no matter where you hear them. Who is the preacher talking about? More about himself or Jesus? Is Jesus mentioned? And if so, how often? Is he the main part of the sermon or is he sitting on the sidelines sipping some fine Cana wine? And when Jesus shows up in the sermon, what’s he doing? Is he running the verbs? Is he the one doing the work of showing sin, saving, forgiving, rescuing, loving, and working in you to give you his holiness, or is it all up to you? 

 

So, how does John our Advent preacher fair? It turns out he fairs well because he doesn’t spend any time at all talking about himself – so much so, that the crowds get a little flummoxed by John. But that’s ok by John. He’s not out in the wilderness to build an empire or appear on Judea’s morning talk shows and fly a jet up and down the Jordan River collecting money for his ministry. No, John’s a simple man. simple clothing. Simple diet. And a clear message. Repentance and forgiveness of sins. 

 

That’s it. No gimmicks. No lights and fog machines. No frills. John shows up in the wilderness to show us our sin and show us our Savior. John preaches not himself, but the coming Christ who came into the world to save sinners. John warns sinners to flee from the wrath to come, but also points sinners to Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. And where does John get his preaching material? He reaches back and takes a page out of the Old Testament playbook; he does a little remix of Isaiah’s messages from of old.

 

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,^[a]
    make his paths straight.
⁵ Every valley shall be filled,
    and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall become straight,
    and the rough places shall become level ways,
⁶ and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”

 

There are a lot of messages we hear this time of the year. Messages to buy, consume, have it all – not that it’s bad to give and receive gifts. It’s not. But if that’s all it is, we haven’t heard John’s message. Our world is full of messages and messengers, but some of the most constant come from between our ears, and in our sinful hearts. Messages of guilt and shame of what we’ve done or left undone. Reminders of past and present sins. Whispers of our worries and fears and failures. A constant dialogue of doubt, despair, and darkness.

 

This is why Jesus sent John. To be our messenger. To proclaim a simple, yet saving message. A message of comfort in Jesus’ dying and rising for you. A message of hope in the fulfillment of God’s promises. A message of pardon for all our offenses. A message of light and life in Jesus that casts out the darkness. A message that all our sin has been swallowed up by the Savior. A message that our hearts are turned back to God by his redeeming, gracious love. A message that is outside of us, and sure and certain, so that no matter what we hear from the devil, the world, or our sinful flesh, you can count on this: this message of good news and deliverance in Jesus is for you. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 

 

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

 

1st Advent Midweek Sermon: "Wonderful Counselor"

+ Advent Midweek 1 – December 4th, 2024 +

His Name Shall Be Called: “Wonderful Counselor”

Psalm 119:129–136; antiphon: v. 129

Isaiah 9:1–2, 6–7; Romans 11:32–36; Matthew 7:24–29

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.

 

Because of his famous song and famous clothing, Johnny Cash became known as “The Man in Black”. Because he went almost everywhere with his dog, named the Duke, John Wayne’s title “the Duke” quickly stuck with him. Because of his acting career, Ronald Reagan was known as “The Gipper”. And because of his stone-like muscles, famous wrestler and actor, Dwayne Johnson, became known as “the Rock”.

 

Names and titles – even nicknames – can tell you a lot about the person. Who they are. What they do. No doubt you have some or know someone who does. 

 

The Scriptures are no different. God’s word is full of names, titles, and even nicknames of sorts. So, when the angel came to Joseph as he was about to break off his marriage plans with Mary (who had been found with child), it’s no surprise that the angel dropped a few important names and titles in his message. Jesus’ names and titles of tell us a lot about who he is. What he came to do…not just for Joseph and Mary. But for you.

 

 “She will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

 

The name Jesus is a Hebrew name and it means “God saves”—a fitting name for the Son of God who took on human flesh so that He could save us from our sin by dying on the cross in our place of punishment.

 

But Matthew’s Gospel isn’t done dropping names and titles on us.  “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: ‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call His name “Immanuel” (which means, God with us)’” (1:22–23).

 

Matthew quotes the prophet Isaiah – who lived about 800 years before Jesus was born – and who also gives us a whole list of names and titles for Jesus, the Messiah. He’s the Suffering Servant. He’s the child born of the Virgin. Jesus is Immanuel foretold by Isaiah and born of Mary. 

 

Immanuel is a Hebrew name, and it means God with us. And that name tells us a lot about the kind of Savior Jesus is and what he came to do. He is God with us…in this fallen world. God with us…in our humanity. God with us…in our weakness. God with us…in our loneliness. God with us…bearing our sin. God with us…in his word and water and body and blood.

 

And that’s just one name and title that Isaiah gives us for Jesus. And like God’s grace, Isaiah’s titles or names for Jesus have a way of abounding and giving more. 

 

In Isaiah 9 we hear… “In the former time He brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time He has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.” Isaiah is here pointing us ahead to the time when Jesus would be born and eventually begin His ministry in Galilee, among other places. And then come those famous verses that have been sung in hope and joy ever since they were first spoken and written. 

 

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given . . . and His name shall be called . . .Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” 

 

Not only is Jesus “Immanuel” – God with us. But his titles and names – just like his love and mercy – abound. But admittedly, the title “Wonderful Counselor” sounds a little strange for a child. What kind of wisdom and counsel could an infant have to give? 

 

It didn’t take long for Mary and Joseph – and the rabbis in the temple one day – to realize that God’s wisdom can come wrapped in small packages, even in a 12 year old boy. Later in Luke 2 we’re told that Jesus was in Jerusalem with his family, but stayed behind. And when he was found he was teaching the temple teachers. And Luke also tells us that everyone who heard Jesus was amazed as his understanding and his answers. 

 

Years later, when Jesus began His public ministry, people were once again amazed at His counsel. After Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount, Matthew records that “The crowds were astonished at His teaching, for He was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes” (Matthew 7:28–29).

 

So is that it? Jesus is a wonderful counselor simply by sharing some words of wisdom and some sage advice? To be sure, Jesus brings wisdom. Speaks wisdom. He counsels in God’s word as he teaches. After all, he is God’s wisdom incarnate. And yet, Jesus’ words and wisdom are deeper than a well of wisdom, and his words are 

 

He not only speaks God’s word. He is God’s word in the flesh come to save us. Someone greater than all of Solomon’s wisdom is here – the one who gave Solomon such wisdom in the first place. And now he has come not only to teach and counsel and give a deeper understanding of God’s word. He speaks God’s word and is God’s word, for he is the word made flesh. And he brings more than wisdom. His word heals. His word gives life. His word forgives you. His word comforts you. His word consoles you and brings you peace. His word counsels you in the way of true and wonderful comfort…in his cross and resurrection. 

 

Jesus brings the wonderful counsel we need in his word, and he is the Wonderful Counselor for us. For we are sinners and, as such, are often led astray by the cunning counsel of the evil one and the seemingly good advice of our old Adam, who only thinks about the titles and names of “Me, Myself, and I”. 

 

This is why God sent Isaiah to his people. To lead them back from their wandering away. “Those who guide this people have been leading them astray, and those who are guided by them are swallowed up” (v. 16).

 

This is why Jesus has so many names and titles. They all tell us something about who he is and what he came to do to rescue us from our foolishness and sin and death. 

 

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone” (v. 2).

 

The words and wisdom of God in saving us, the Wonderful Counselor himself, is already at work in the words of Isaiah. Later in his book, in chapter 53, we hear another name and title of Jesus, the Suffering Servant.

 

Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. . . . Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush Him; He has put Him to grief; when His soul makes an offering for guilt, He shall see His offspring; He shall prolong His days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. Out of the anguish of His soul He shall see and be satisfied; by His knowledge shall the righteous one, My servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and He shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the many, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet He bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors. (vv. 4–6, 10–12)

 

This is the wonderful counsel of the Wonderful Counselor – his cross to save you. His power made perfect in weakness. His humility to give you his holiness. His life laid down to raise you from the dead. There’s nothing more wonderful than this counsel of good news in Jesus, our Immanuel. God with us on the cross, bearing our sin. God with us in the grave dying our death. God with us in the resurrection, giving us a foretaste of the feast to come.

 

Jesus is the wonderful counselor who loves you so much that he is born in what looks to the world like utter folly – born of a Virgin, in a feeding trough in the country village of Bethlehem. And yet, it’s wonderful!

 

Jesus is the wonderful counselor who died a shameful death in humility and darkness for you. And yet, it’s wonderful. Jesus is the wonderful counselor who was buried in the tomb and rested for three days. And this too, is wonderful. A wonderful salvation. A wonderful rescue from death. A wonderful resurrection. In Jesus you have a Savior, Redeemer, and a Wonderful Counselor. 

 

 

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

 

Sermon for Advent 1: "Advent Plans"

 + 1^st Sunday of Advent – December 1^st, 2024 +

Series C: Jeremiah 33:14-16; 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13; Luke 19:28-40

Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church

Milton, WA

 

 

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

 

With the season of Advent many familiar sights, sounds, and smells begin to fill our homes and the church, the radio, and even our kitchen. You might have your tree set up. Something might be cooking in the kitchen. Your advent calendar and candles are on the table. It’s a season of preparation. Anticipation. And Exaltation. 

 

One of my favorite Advent reminders comes from a rather unexpected place…the 1980s hit TV show, the A-team. That’s right! I loved watching that show. Seeing Murdock, Faceman, B.A. Baracus, and their leader Hannibal take on bad guys. Face adventure and do it all in style. Not to mention some classic lines…like this one from Hannibal Smith… “I love it when a plan comes together.”

 

Now that’s an Advent line if I ever heard one. Advent is the season where God takes all of his promises and fulfills them in Jesus. All the prophets’ words. All God’s covenants of old. All the gracious words foretold by Jeremiah and Isaiah and the rest of the Scriptures – it all takes place the way God drew it up. Advent is the season where God executes all of his preparations and answers our anticipations and gives us exaltation in the coming King Jesus. Advent is the season where God says, “I love it when a plan comes together.” 

 

And this plan has been a long time in the works. From before the foundation of the world, we’re told. And throughout the words of the prophets. Down through the ages, God has been patiently plotting and preparing…setting all of history in motion for the days of the coming King. Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’

 

God loves it when his plan comes together.

 

And that plan is his good and gracious plan of rescue. It’s a special operation of his divine deliverance. It’s the King coming into his own creation to save and set you free from the bondage of sin and death. God has this planned down to the smallest operational detail:

 

When he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’”

 

The disciples went ahead of Jesus and found the donkey just as Jesus said. Jesus didn’t send them to Donkey’s-R-Us, or the local donkey dealership to just pick out any old beast of burden. No. It was this donkey. At this time. Set apart in this place. For this purpose: to carry the King who came to be crucified, dead, buried, and risen for you. God loves it when his plans come together…especially when those plans are for your good and for your rescue.

 

You see…when it comes to logistics, there’s no one better than the Lord. This is what he does. He moves heaven and earth to come to your rescue. Not only that, he brings heaven to earth with him and in him when he takes on human flesh to save you. Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem isn’t just a royal celebration – it’s a cosmic collision: heaven and earth are joined together in this King who rides on a donkey just as the prophets and the Psalms foretold. Heaven and earth are reconciled back to God the Father by him who rides into Jerusalem, the city of peace, to make peace by his blood shed on the cross.

 

That’s quite the contrast from our plans, if you think about it. Like the Pharisees rebuking Jesus’ disciples for crying out to Jesus for help, our old sinful nature cries out stubbornly. I’ve got this. I don’t need help. I don’t need rescue. It’s all under control. But if we’re honest with ourselves, it’s not. All too often the good things we want do not end up as we planned. Or worse yet, sometimes we do exactly what we planned and that’s the problem. Like the Pharisees, we are often our own worst enemies. Our plans fail. Unravel. And end in sinful disaster. So, what does God do? Does he rant and rave and go full hulk smash on all our failed plans? No. He comes to rescue you from yourself, your sin and your death. 

 

And notice what Jesus doesn’t do. Jesus doesn’t rebuke his disciples, or you. Instead of rebuke, he goes to redeem you. Christ the King came in the name of the Lord in his birth to save you. Christ the King comes in his word and water and body and blood to bring you grace and life and healing. Christ the King will come again in glory, not on a humble donkey but holy and on the clouds of heaven. 

 

After all, this is his plan. And nothing can stop him from accomplishing his salvation for you. Not the stones. Not the pharisees. Not our sin. Not death, the devil, or even the grave itself. Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord. And blessed is the King who is the Lord and our Savior. Who sat on the donkey that day. To sit on the throne of the cross on Good Friday. To rest in the tomb on Saturday. And to rise from the dead on Easter Sunday. Blessed is the King who comes to save, deliver, and rescue you.

 

Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

 

Don’t you just love it when God’s plans come together.

 

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