The Day of Epiphany (NT)

Romans 11:25-36

²⁵ Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. ²⁶ And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, 

“The Deliverer will come from Zion, 

he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”; 

²⁷  “and this will be my covenant with them 

when I take away their sins.” 

²⁸ As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. ²⁹ For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. ³⁰ For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, ³¹ so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. ³² For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all. 

³³ Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 

³⁴  “For who has known the mind of the Lord, 

or who has been his counselor?” 

³⁵  “Or who has given a gift to him 

that he might be repaid?” 

³⁶ For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. 

You are Gentiles and not Jews.  You were once far off and now have been made close.  You have been called to be Sons of God.  It is only by God breaking off old branches of disobedience that he now can graft you into his great Vine.

You were once enemies of the Gospel but now through God's election he has called you to new life.  God offers you his gifts not of Gold or Frankincense, but of precious blood.  The precious blood of Jesus Christ is offered to you for the forgiveness of sins.  God has redeemed you, and called you from being an enemy.

This is the way in which all Israel will be saved.  It is through this gift of Jesus blood.  It is the wisdom of the Most High.  It is the Holy and perfect Sacrifice, which will save the Children of Israel.  God has hardened the Hearts of His old children, and calls for himself new children.

The King of the Jews does not ask you to bring him a gift, but offers you the most precious gift of all:  Life Everlasting.

The Day of Epiphany (NTA)

1 John 1:1-10

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— ² the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— ³ that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. ⁴ And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. 

⁵ This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. ⁶ If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. ⁷ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. ⁸ If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 

God the Father has Created this body.  God the Son has redeemed this Body.  God the Holy Spirit has sanctified this body and guards it.  God has made manifest among his people everlasting Life.  God has made manifest in Jesus Christ himself, the Holy Trinity.  God has made manifest the Truth in the person of Jesus.

It is interesting how this simple Introduction given by St John, can really help to open our minds to what God has done in the incarnation.  He has made it possible for us to grasp hold of who he Really is.  God in the flesh makes himself visible.

St John reminds us that we have fellowship with this one who is in the flesh.  We have fellowship with the Light of the World.  We have gained partnership with Jesus the Son of God.  In this partnership we have forgiveness and we can recognize the manifestation of God in the flesh.  Here God gives forgiveness of sins and cleanses us from all unrighteousness.

The Day of Epiphany (OTA)

Micah 5:1-5

Now muster your troops, O daughter of troops; 

siege is laid against us; 

with a rod they strike the judge of Israel 

on the cheek. 

²  But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, 

who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, 

from you shall come forth for me 

one who is to be ruler in Israel, 

whose coming forth is from of old, 

from ancient days. 

³  Therefore he shall give them up until the time 

when she who is in labor has given birth; 

then the rest of his brothers shall return 

to the people of Israel. 

⁴  And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, 

in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. 

And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great 

to the ends of the earth. 

⁵  And he shall be their peace. 

When the Assyrian comes into our land 

and treads in our palaces, 

then we will raise against him seven shepherds 

and eight princes of men; 

Where O Where will my Savior Be.  Where O Where can I find him.  Where O Where is the Christ to be Born.  Where O Where is the King of the Jews.  In Bethlehem, In Bethlehem, the Son of David is Born.  The Son of David will be born in City of David.

It is in Bethlehem Ephrathah that the Christ Child will be born.  There will be shepherds tending their flocks near by, when the Good Shepherd is born to gather the flock of God's people.  It may not be the Day of Christ's birth, but it certainly is the Day in which we celebrate the Child coming into the World and being found by Gentiles.

Micah Answers to great questions for us.  Where is the one born King of the Jews?  Second, What kind of King will he really be?  He is born in Bethlehem, and He will Shepherd his people like a flock.  He is born to gather you.  He is born to bring God's people from the ends of the earth.

God brings us peace on earth and good will toward all mankind.

The Day of Epiphany (GA)

Matthew 2:1-12

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, ² saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” ³ When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; ⁴ and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. ⁵ They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: 

⁶  “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, 

are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; 

for from you shall come a ruler 

who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ” 

⁷ Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. ⁸ And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” ⁹ After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. ¹¹ And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. ¹² And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. 

There are three gifts listed, but does that mean those were the only gifts given.  The Magi come to a King to offer kingly gifts, of Gold and frankincense and myrrh.  Kings receive the great gift of Gold to expand their personal wealth.  Kings will also receive perfumes and colognes to make themselves smell clean and nice.

I have always liked to hear Pastors and preachers come up with illustrations on why these three gifts are offered.  The magi open up their treasures, in order to give what they have to the King to be.  Jesus is the one who is truly born to be a King over all the people of the world.

Magi open these treasures and offer them to their new born King.  They offer these gifts not out of obligation, but out of Love.  They come to worship their savior not because of they have to, but because they desire to know more about the one born the King of the Jews.

Come and Worship your new born King.  Offer him Kingly gifts like Respect, Honor, Worship, Glory, etc.  Come and Worship your Savior who has died for your sins.  Come and Worship the Son of God who loves you.

The Day of Epiphany (OT)

1 Kings 17:17-24

¹⁷ After this the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became ill. And his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. ¹⁸ And she said to Elijah, “What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance and to cause the death of my son!” ¹⁹ And he said to her, “Give me your son.” And he took him from her arms and carried him up into the upper chamber where he lodged, and laid him on his own bed. ²⁰ And he cried to the Lord, “O Lord my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by killing her son?” ²¹ Then he stretched himself upon the child three times and cried to the Lord, “O Lord my God, let this child’s life come into him again.” ²² And the Lord listened to the voice of Elijah. And the life of the child came into him again, and he revived. ²³ And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper chamber into the house and delivered him to his mother. And Elijah said, “See, your son lives.” ²⁴ And the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth.”

Is this not how most of us approach church?  "What have you against me [Pastor/Priest]? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance and to cause the death of my [loved one]!"  That is all these so called Christians ever tell us is how sinful we are.  It is true, the church should continue to remind you how sinful you are.

You are a sinful human being.  You are a lost and condemned soul.  But ask the man of God to raise you to new life.  The man of God does not enjoy pointing out people's sins nor remembering their faults.  The man of God does enjoy calling upon the name of the LORD so that he may save people from their sins.

The LORD God is the one who raise the widow's son from death not Elijah.  The LORD God is the one who raise Jesus from the dead not the Apostles.  The LORD God is the one who forgives you all your sins.  He is the one who offers you new life in Jesus Christ our Lord.

It seems that the Lord will continue to allow calamity to fall upon us and our families.  But it is the LORD God who desires to hold you in his loving arms.  He desires to raise you up to eternal life.  This is the Light that should shine as we see the works of the man of God, Son of God, who came to save us.

The Day of Epiphany (CL)

Mark 12:38-40

³⁸ And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces ³⁹ and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, ⁴⁰ who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.” 

There are many things that one could celebrate on the Day of Epiphany.  The Season of Christmas has finally come to a close.  Jesus Christ is the Light that will Shine throughout this Season.  He is the one who brings salvation to his people both high and low.

Here the teacher tells us not to praise ourselves but make ourselves humble.  I am amazed sometimes to look at all the different trophies and awards that people can accumulate.  Some people have vaults full of trophies and medals and awards.  These are certainly things to be proud of, but they also cause someone to be prideful.

Jesus is teaching us a lesson in pride.  What greater text from the Gospel according to St Mark could you think of to illustrate people packing up all they have to come and see a child.  The Day of Epiphany is a time to celebrate our own humility as the Light of the World, the Great Morning Star has put on our flesh.  Jesus has humbled himself not to take the place he deserves but the place we deserve, upon a cross.

First Sunday after Christmas (Ps) December 30th

Psalm 94:1-23

O Lord, God of vengeance, 

O God of vengeance, shine forth! 

²  Rise up, O judge of the earth; 

repay to the proud what they deserve! 

³  O Lord, how long shall the wicked, 

how long shall the wicked exult? 

⁴  They pour out their arrogant words; 

all the evildoers boast. 

⁵  They crush your people, O Lord, 

and afflict your heritage. 

⁶  They kill the widow and the sojourner, 

and murder the fatherless; 

⁷  and they say, “The Lord does not see; 

the God of Jacob does not perceive.” 

⁸  Understand, O dullest of the people! 

Fools, when will you be wise? 

⁹  He who planted the ear, does he not hear? 

He who formed the eye, does he not see? 

¹⁰  He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke? 

He who teaches man knowledge— 

¹¹  the Lord—knows the thoughts of man, 

that they are but a breath. 

¹²  Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O Lord, 

and whom you teach out of your law, 

¹³  to give him rest from days of trouble, 

until a pit is dug for the wicked. 

¹⁴  For the Lord will not forsake his people; 

he will not abandon his heritage; 

¹⁵  for justice will return to the righteous, 

and all the upright in heart will follow it. 

¹⁶  Who rises up for me against the wicked? 

Who stands up for me against evildoers? 

¹⁷  If the Lord had not been my help, 

my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence. 

¹⁸  When I thought, “My foot slips,” 

your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up. 

¹⁹  When the cares of my heart are many, 

your consolations cheer my soul. 

²⁰  Can wicked rulers be allied with you, 

those who frame injustice by statute? 

²¹  They band together against the life of the righteous 

and condemn the innocent to death. 

²²  But the Lord has become my stronghold, 

and my God the rock of my refuge. 

²³  He will bring back on them their iniquity 

and wipe them out for their wickedness; 

the Lord our God will wipe them out. 

How long O LORD will allow the ignorant to rule?  How long O LORD will allow the corrupt and ear itching fouls to speak?  "and they say, 'The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob does not perceive.'"  They think of God like an idol without ears, or eyes.  Some may even think less of him, namely he does not exist.

Know this and be certain, "the LORD knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath."  God knows everything that is in your heart.  God has seen everything that you have done today.  He has listened to all your prayers, curses, and thoughts.  The LORD God has not abandoned his people nor forsaken them.

Do not listen to the people who tell you lies!  Do not listen to the people who are offering you words of comfort without judgment!  The world has turned to survival of the fittest and leaves the poor to starve. The Church is not unlike the world.  There are those who speak without wisdom.  There are those who speak without the Fear of God in their hearts.

Fear the LORD your God.  Fear the one who knows all your deeds and still loves you.  "O LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked exult?"  "They band together against the life of the righteous and condemn the innocent to death."

First Sunday after Christmas (GA)

Matthew 2:16-23

¹⁶ Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. ¹⁷ Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: 

¹⁸  “A voice was heard in Ramah, 

weeping and loud lamentation, 

Rachel weeping for her children; 

she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.” 

¹⁹ But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, ²⁰ saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” ²¹ And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. ²² But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. ²³ And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene. 

Rachel is weeping over the death of her children.  They are not all really her children are they?  Rachel is the mother of the house of bread, Bethlehem.  Rachel could not be consoled over the death of her children.  She lost her first Son in the land of Slavery.  She died giving birth to her second Son.

It is all the children of Bethlehem who are sacrificed on account of Christ.  There is no official record and some suggest that Jesus was not even there in Bethlehem.  But Herod used the date he had received from the Magi, thus killing every potential King of the Jews.  He killed all the children who were of 2 years and younger.

These children are referred to as the Holy Innocents.  Some consider them to be the first martyrs, but it should be noted that they did not die for their faith.  These children should not be considered innocent, because all of us are conceived in sin.  These children should not necessarily be considered Holy, because there is no record of their faith.  But they are still rightfully called Holy Innocents.  They are Holy because they die as a part of God's Holy Plan and redeemed in the blood of Christ.  They should even be thought of as innocents because they were not the ones even the King intended to kill.

Those people who killed these children committed a grave sin.  The one who gave the orders for the children to be killed committed a grave sin.  Those who continue to kill children like these today commit a great sin.  But here is the real gift.  The child that escaped this destruction eventually was killed.  Jesus Christ was saved from death as a Child in order to save these children, those who killed them, and even you from all the sins you commit.

First Sunday after Christmas (OTA)

Jeremiah 11:9-23

⁹ Again the Lord said to me, “A conspiracy exists among the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. ¹⁰ They have turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, who refused to hear my words. They have gone after other gods to serve them. The house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant that I made with their fathers. ¹¹ Therefore, thus says the Lord, Behold, I am bringing disaster upon them that they cannot escape. Though they cry to me, I will not listen to them. ¹² Then the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will go and cry to the gods to whom they make offerings, but they cannot save them in the time of their trouble. ¹³ For your gods have become as many as your cities, O Judah, and as many as the streets of Jerusalem are the altars you have set up to shame, altars to make offerings to Baal. 

¹⁴ “Therefore do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer on their behalf, for I will not listen when they call to me in the time of their trouble. ¹⁵ What right has my beloved in my house, when she has done many vile deeds? Can even sacrificial flesh avert your doom? Can you then exult? ¹⁶ The Lord once called you ‘a green olive tree, beautiful with good fruit.’ But with the roar of a great tempest he will set fire to it, and its branches will be consumed. ¹⁷ The Lord of hosts, who planted you, has decreed disaster against you, because of the evil that the house of Israel and the house of Judah have done, provoking me to anger by making offerings to Baal.” 

¹⁸  The Lord made it known to me and I knew; 

then you showed me their deeds. 

¹⁹  But I was like a gentle lamb 

led to the slaughter. 

I did not know it was against me 

they devised schemes, saying, 

“Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, 

let us cut him off from the land of the living, 

that his name be remembered no more.” 

²⁰  But, O Lord of hosts, who judges righteously, 

who tests the heart and the mind, 

let me see your vengeance upon them, 

for to you have I committed my cause. 

²¹ Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the men of Anathoth, who seek your life, and say, “Do not prophesy in the name of the Lord, or you will die by our hand”— ²² therefore thus says the Lord of hosts: “Behold, I will punish them. The young men shall die by the sword, their sons and their daughters shall die by famine, ²³ and none of them shall be left. For I will bring disaster upon the men of Anathoth, the year of their punishment.” 

There are many people laying in wait for Jeremiah.  There are even more people that have set traps for God's prophet throughout the years.  There are even people scheming today with charts and diagrams to trap Christians, preachers, and denominations.  They may be able to stand in the back ground of our view but not God's view.

God is the one who can see through all their tricks and schems.  God looks into the hearts of people.  God knows everything that his people and those who stand opposed to his people do and think.  God notices who has faith and who does not have faith.  God can see these plans and tricks.  God delivered Moses, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and others through various traps.  He stands guard to protect his people.

God knows that his people are tempted by various people in the world.  God knows that his people will fall into sin.  God knows that his people are not perfect.  But God provides a way out of these traps and temptations and sins.  God delivers us by sending one who could not be tricked.  Jesus Christ could not be tempted, he could not be trapped or tricked.

Yet, it was this same Jesus Christ the son of the Living God who was nailed to a cross and killed, or sacrificed.  He offers his own life to deliver sinners from their sins.  He dies to deliver his people out of the snare of the Devil.  Christ does this to save his people from their sins, and the curse.

First Sunday after Christmas (NTA)

Jude 17-25

¹⁷ But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” ¹⁹ It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. ²⁰ But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, ²¹ keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. ²² And have mercy on those who doubt; ²³ save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. 

²⁴ Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, ²⁵ to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. 

The world is filled with ungodly people and those who have corrupted the truth.  They have led people astray.  They continue to tempt people into lives following after their own passions and desires.  All God's people should pray for these people to be called to faith by the Word of God.

Jude gives us a profound lesson.  He tells you that you can save others from these disasterous things.  He can help save your neighbor from a life without hope.  You can help save your neighbor from debt and suffering.  You can even snatch your neighbor from the flames of fire.

This does not mean the entire life of either of you will be Happily Ever After, but it will bring you a truly Happily Ever After in Eternity.  God our Savior has come to deliver us from a world of Sin.  God has had mercy on you.  God has reached down and snatched you from the fires of Hell.  Jesus did this by dying on the cross.  Christ gave you this gift by giving up his own life and through suffering and pain.  Take up your cross and follow him leading others in your train.

First Sunday after Christmas (NT)

Romans 11:1-10

I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. ² God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? ³ “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” ⁴ But what is God’s reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” ⁵ So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. ⁶ But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. 

⁷ What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, ⁸ as it is written, 

“God gave them a spirit of stupor, 

eyes that would not see 

and ears that would not hear, 

down to this very day.” 

⁹ And David says, 

“Let their table become a snare and a trap, 

a stumbling block and a retribution for them; 

¹⁰  let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, 

and bend their backs forever.”

God has chosen his people by Grace.  He has delivered his people from their sins.  His people have struggled through many different times of History.  The people of God have been brought almost to complete destruction.  The problem is that often times they felt lost completely.

The Church of God is no different.  The world has brought people low.  Satan has made it difficult from time to time for believers to recognize one another.  This especially occurs when people of God are not able to gather together around the Word of God.  God will continue to bring his people to the word.

St Paul reminds us that it is by grace that we are saved.  It is by grace that God has kept people from bowing down to other gods.  It is by grace that he has not allowed his people to be completely swept off the face of this planet.  It is by grace that God will continue to expand and grow his Kingdom.

Blessed be the LORD our God who has delivered his people by grace and not by works.

First Sunday after Christmas (OT)

Ezekiel 2:1-3:3

And he said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.” ² And as he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. ³ And he said to me, “Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. ⁴ The descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ ⁵ And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them. ⁶ And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions. Be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house. ⁷ And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house. 

⁸ “But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Be not rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.” ⁹ And when I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me, and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. ¹⁰ And he spread it before me. And it had writing on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe. 

3 And he said to me, “Son of man, eat whatever you find here. Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.” ² So I opened my mouth, and he gave me this scroll to eat. ³ And he said to me, “Son of man, feed your belly with this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it.” Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey. 

I remember learning that if you put a book under your head that through a process called osmosis the knowledge would transfer.  There are other myths with acquiring knowledge.  Most of us assume that reading books is the best way to acquire more information.  I prefer listening to presentations and discussing with other people.

Ezekiel has been commissioned by God to go to the people of Israel.  He was instructed to tell the people the Word of God.  But before you can confess the Word of God, you have to know the word of God.  Ezekiel sits at the feet of his Lord and continues to study and learn.

Ezekiel is offered the Word of God to eat it.  God gives Ezekiel not the word of God to put under his head, but for him to consume it in full.  It is likewise our responsibility as Christians to devour, consume, and eat the Word of God.

Modern people have changed the discription to take it to heart.  When you consume something, you do take it inside of you.  You take into yourself and make it a part of yourself.  The Ancient Myths concerning what someone eats being of part of them.  Eating the blood of beasts is taking the life of that beast within themselves.  Eating the Word of God makes it completely a part of each of us.

I would not suggest taking your bible and actually eating it.  But the important lesson is that we need to truly consume the Word of God and make it a part of our life.

First Sunday after Christmas (CL)

Mark 6:1-6

He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. ² And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? ³ Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. ⁴ And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” ⁵ And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. ⁶ And he marveled because of their unbelief. 

And he went about among the villages teaching. 

Jesus returns home after some might think to be many years.  Jesus comes home on the Sabbath and he teaches in his home town synagogue.  Some have compared this to Pastors or seminarians who return home to preach for their old congregation.  But in our modern times there are seems to be a little more respect shared for those people.

In Jesus time and even in our time children and young people are still not thought to be as intelligent as the learned aged.  People who have spent years of study seem to be called experts over people with fresh eyes.

There is some truth to this theory.  Years of study make someone more familiar with the nuances of the subject.  The problem is that years of study can also mean over indoctrination into a certain point of view.  Jesus Christ on the other had has not been indoctrinated into a certain perspective because he is from of old and the time of Creation.

The world noticed that Jesus Christ was a young man, but he was before Abraham.  He was even there at the Creation.  This is the true Son of God, who has come into the world to save it from sin. He has redeemed his people from their sins.  This is the one who has come into the world and to his home town to heal them from their diseases and death.

Christmas Day

Mark 12:28-37 (CL)

²⁸ And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” ²⁹ Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. ³⁰ And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ ³¹ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” ³² And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. ³³ And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” ³⁴ And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions. 

³⁵ And as Jesus taught in the temple, he said, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? ³⁶ David himself, in the Holy Spirit, declared, 

“ ‘The Lord said to my Lord, 

“Sit at my right hand, 

until I put your enemies under your feet.” ’ 

³⁷ David himself calls him Lord. So how is he his son?” And the great throng heard him gladly. 

Hear, O Israel unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord.  This Son of David is also David's Lord.  He is the one who will put your enemies under his feet.  This Son of David and Son of God will vanquish the many enemies trying to destroy us.

Which is the greatest Commandment in all of Scripture?  Love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul and with all your mind.  The Second is like the first because it is all about Love.  Love your neighbor as yourself.

But what does all this have to do with Christmas?  The Nativity of our Lord is concerning itself with one of the most sacred Doctrines of all, The Incarnation.  Jesus Christ is the Word made Flesh.  Jesus Christ is not only the Son of David, but also the LORD God dwelling in flesh.  He is not just clothed or incased in flesh but is a flesh and blood Son of David.

This is why Christ even asks the questions among the most learned among all of Israel.  He asks them How can these things make sense together.  The Answer is found in Jesus Christ himself.  He is the Son of David according to his flesh, and He is David's Lord according to his Divine Nature.  But these can not be separated from one another any more than the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit can be separated from one another.

It is truly a Godly thing to twist our mind around all these things.  Merry Christmas.

Deuteronomy 6:1-12 (Isaiah 7:10-14)
Romans 10:5-21 (Hebrews 1:1-12)
(Luke 2:1-14)
Psalm 31:14-24

The Fourth Sunday of Advent (Ps) December 23rd

Psalm 142:1-7

¹  With my voice I cry out to the Lord; 

with my voice I plead for mercy to the Lord. 

²  I pour out my complaint before him; 

I tell my trouble before him. 

³  When my spirit faints within me, 

you know my way! 

In the path where I walk 

they have hidden a trap for me. 

⁴  Look to the right and see: 

there is none who takes notice of me; 

no refuge remains to me; 

no one cares for my soul. 

⁵  I cry to you, O Lord; 

I say, “You are my refuge, 

my portion in the land of the living.” 

⁶  Attend to my cry, 

for I am brought very low! 

Deliver me from my persecutors, 

for they are too strong for me! 

⁷  Bring me out of prison, 

that I may give thanks to your name! 

The righteous will surround me, 

for you will deal bountifully with me. 

Is the Lord your refuge and strength?  Have you turned to the Lord and voiced your plea for mercy?  Have you called upon the Name of the Lord?  There are many people in the world today that are offering great complaints on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, and various other places.  But have they taken their complaint to the Lord.

There are many people who respond to "I have nothing to complain about," with "and who would really listen!"  Most of us have become tired of listening to other people's complaints.  We have even become callous to what people around us say.  But there are times when we really do have a complaint.  There are times when we really are struck with something serious to complain about.  How do we make that complaint without sounding like another clanging gong?

We need to take our complaints to the Lord.  We need to call upon the name of the Lord in our time of need.  The Lord will not refuse to listen to our complaint.  The Lord will even take your complaint seriously.  Look at how he has helped people in the past:  He has set prisoners free, delivered people from the bondage of slavery, and even healed the sick and fed the hungry.

The LORD our God is a place of refuge.  He is a rock on which we can lean.  Pour out your complaints on the LORD and He will answer you.

The Fourth Sunday of Advent (OTA)

Hosea 2:14-23

¹⁴  “Therefore, behold, I will allure her, 

and bring her into the wilderness, 

and speak tenderly to her. 

¹⁵  And there I will give her her vineyards 

and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. 

And there she shall answer as in the days of her youth, 

as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt. 

¹⁶ “And in that day, declares the Lord, you will call me ‘My Husband,’ and no longer will you call me ‘My Baal.’ ¹⁷ For I will remove the names of the Baals from her mouth, and they shall be remembered by name no more. ¹⁸ And I will make for them a covenant on that day with the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the creeping things of the ground. And I will abolish the bow, the sword, and war from the land, and I will make you lie down in safety. ¹⁹ And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. ²⁰ I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the Lord. 

²¹  “And in that day I will answer, declares the Lord, 

I will answer the heavens, 

and they shall answer the earth, 

²²  and the earth shall answer the grain, the wine, and the oil, 

and they shall answer Jezreel, 

²³  and I will sow her for myself in the land. 

And I will have mercy on No Mercy, 

and I will say to Not My People, ‘You are my people’; 

and he shall say, ‘You are my God.’ ” 

God calls his people out into the wilderness to Marry them.  He will make his people into a Holy Bride.  He will make them one with himself.  So he tells Hosea to marry a prostitute like his people.  Hosea makes her a part of his own life.  He has several children with her.  God has Hosea name them with these names that will remind them who they have become.

The Lord declares something that will remind us that the people put the LORD on the same level with the Baals.  The people place God along side their other gods.  The do not have one Husband but they have five.

The LORD will still remain faithful to these people.  He will continue to send them messengers who will call them out this darkness.  These people who have turned their backs on him, God will still cry out for them to come.  He will call them out and make them his Holy Bride.

"And I will have mercy on No Mercy, and I will say to Not My People, 'You are my people'; and he shall say, 'You are my God.'"  It is the LORD God our Savior who comes to call you his people, and offer you mercy and even desires to be your Husband.

The Fourth Sunday of Advent (GA)

Mark 6:1-6

He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. ² And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? ³ Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. ⁴ And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” ⁵ And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. ⁶ And he marveled because of their unbelief. 

And he went about among the villages teaching. 

Where does the son of carpenter get any brains?  Have you ever looked at the parents of really smart people?  I have known some pretty smart people who had pretty smart parents.  But I have also known some pretty smart people whose parents were not real intellectuals.  But how smart is a carpenter?

Jesus makes it back home for a Sabbath.  He does some amazing things or at least the people have heard about the amazing things Jesus has done.  The people remember his childhood and family, which leads them to ask these questions.  They want to know how he got this knowledge.

You know the rest of the story.  Jesus did not get his knowledge from Joseph.  Jesus did not get his knowledge from some education plan.  Jesus got his knowledge from his Father.  Jesus does these marvelous things because he is the only Son of God.

We should not judge people based on their family, but based on their savior.  We should remember that Christians are not molded by their past actions, but by Christ and the Holy Spirit.  Remember this.

The Fourth Sunday of Advent (NTA)

Acts 16:25-40

²⁵ About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, ²⁶ and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. ²⁷ When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. ²⁸ But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” ²⁹ And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. ³⁰ Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” ³¹ And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” ³² And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. ³³ And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. ³⁴ Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God. 

³⁵ But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.” ³⁶ And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace.” ³⁷ But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out.” ³⁸ The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. ³⁹ So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city. ⁴⁰ So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed. 

The Earthquake strikes and the Jailor sees his life pass before his eyes.  The Jailor looks and notices that the earthquake opened the gates of the prison.  He attempts to kill himself, inflicting is punishment upon himself.  St Paul calls to him before he can do it and offers the Jailor life.

Sometimes people need a good earthquake to shake up their life.  They need to realize the punishment they have coming to them is death.  There is an axe placed at the root of your tree.  You are ready to be cut down and thrown into the fire.

But before you reach for that drug, knife, texting (while driving), or other means to kill yourself, listen to that voice that is calling to you.  All of the prisoners are still there.  They are ready to tell you about the life you have been given in Jesus Christ.  You and your family can be saved.

The Earthquake may shake up our lives, but Jesus has a message of everlasting life.  He provides us with salvation even from the great Earthquake that will come on Judgment Day.

The Fourth Sunday of Advent (NT)

Romans 9:19-10:4

¹⁹ You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” ²⁰ But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” ²¹ Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? ²² What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, ²³ in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— ²⁴ even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? ²⁵ As indeed he says in Hosea, 

“Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’ 

and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’ ” 

²⁶  “And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ 

there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’ ” 

²⁷ And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved, ²⁸ for the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth fully and without delay.” ²⁹ And as Isaiah predicted, 

^q“If the Lord of hosts had not left us offspring, 

we would have been like Sodom 

and become like Gomorrah.” 

³⁰ What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; ³¹ but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. ³² Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, ³³ as it is written, 

“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; 

and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” 

10 Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. ² For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. ³ For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. ⁴ For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. 

God makes people who are not his people, his people.  God is continuing to expand and grow his Kingdom.  God continues to work and mold people into members of his Kingdom.

There are struggles with people who try to preach and evangelize non-Christians.  They struggle with people not listening or not understanding.  It seems like you scatter seed everywhere and anywhere, but it never seems to grow.  God reminds us that he is the one who continues to work and grow his church.

The LORD God is making Christians all the time.  He continues to work through his Word and Sacraments.  He is working, even when we can not see it.  God continues to mold new Christians.  He continues to make people who are not his people, his people.  He does this to continue to expand his Kingdom.  This is the work of the potter, not the clay.

The Fourth Sunday of Advent (OT)

Isaiah 40:1-11

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 

²  Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, 

and cry to her 

that her warfare is ended, 

that her iniquity is pardoned, 

that she has received from the Lord’s hand 

double for all her sins. 

³  A voice cries: 

“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; 

make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 

⁴  Every valley shall be lifted up, 

and every mountain and hill be made low; 

the uneven ground shall become level, 

and the rough places a plain. 

⁵  And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, 

and all flesh shall see it together, 

for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” 

⁶  A voice says, “Cry!” 

And I said, “What shall I cry?” 

All flesh is grass, 

and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. 

⁷  The grass withers, the flower fades 

when the breath of the Lord blows on it; 

surely the people are grass. 

⁸  The grass withers, the flower fades, 

but the word of our God will stand forever. 

⁹  Go on up to a high mountain, 

O Zion, herald of good news; 

lift up your voice with strength, 

O Jerusalem, herald of good news; 

lift it up, fear not; 

say to the cities of Judah, 

“Behold your God!” 

¹⁰  Behold, the Lord God comes with might, 

and his arm rules for him; 

behold, his reward is with him, 

and his recompense before him. 

¹¹  He will tend his flock like a shepherd; 

he will gather the lambs in his arms; 

he will carry them in his bosom, 

and gently lead those that are with young. 

The Lord desires to comfort his people.  The Lord sends his people a messenger.  But what should the messenger really cry aloud?  All God's people should cry aloud the good news.  They should shout it from roof tops.

God is coming to his people.  God is coming to tend his flocks.  The problem is that all flesh is like grass.  All life seems to fade.  The word of our God will stand forever and out last all of us.  But there is a voice bringing good news from Zion.

The Lord God is going to come to his people.  God is going to gather his lambs in his arm.  He is going to provided them with comfort.  He is going to remove the iniquity of their transgressions.  This is the good news for people who are like grass, because it is also the offer of everlasting life.

The Fourth Sunday of Advent (CL)

Mark 1:1-8

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 

² As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, 

“Behold, I send my messenger before your face, 

who will prepare your way, 

³  the voice of one crying in the wilderness: 

‘Prepare the way of the Lord, 

make his paths straight,’ ” 

⁴ John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵ And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. ⁶ Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷ And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. ⁸ I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” 

The Gospel according to St Mark is somewhat unique.  It begins with the coming of John the Baptist.  This is not that strange because it John who prepares the way for Jesus Christ to come to his people.  John the Baptist is the forerunner of Christ.  He is not the Christ but He is a voice crying in the wilderness.

John comes on the scene to prepare the people.  He comes to Judea and Jerusalem, or they come to him, in order to be washed clean of their sins.  They come to him so that their sinfulness may be removed.

John's message is a message to prepare people for the End of the World as we know it.  Jesus is going to change everything.  The Christ child will baptize people not with water, but with the Holy Spirit.  The Christ will judge all people on account of their sins, but thankfully for us, He also forgives people their sins.

The Third Sunday of Advent (Ps) December 16th

Psalm 102:13-28

¹³  You will arise and have pity on Zion; 

it is the time to favor her; 

the appointed time has come. 

¹⁴  For your servants hold her stones dear 

and have pity on her dust. 

¹⁵  Nations will fear the name of the Lord, 

and all the kings of the earth will fear your glory. 

¹⁶  For the Lord builds up Zion; 

he appears in his glory; 

¹⁷  he regards the prayer of the destitute 

and does not despise their prayer. 

¹⁸  Let this be recorded for a generation to come, 

so that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord: 

¹⁹  that he looked down from his holy height; 

from heaven the Lord looked at the earth, 

²⁰  to hear the groans of the prisoners, 

to set free those who were doomed to die, 

²¹  that they may declare in Zion the name of the Lord, 

and in Jerusalem his praise, 

²²  when peoples gather together, 

and kingdoms, to worship the Lord. 

²³  He has broken my strength in midcourse; 

he has shortened my days. 

²⁴  “O my God,” I say, “take me not away 

in the midst of my days— 

you whose years endure 

throughout all generations!” 

²⁵  Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, 

and the heavens are the work of your hands. 

²⁶  They will perish, but you will remain; 

they will all wear out like a garment. 

You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, 

²⁷  but you are the same, and your years have no end. 

²⁸  The children of your servants shall dwell secure; 

their offspring shall be established before you. 

Do you hear the world groan?  Do you hear prisoners crying out for redemption?  Do you hear people in suffering crying out for relief?  Do you hear anyone looking for hope?  It is amazing what you can hear if you listen a little.

"Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praised the Lord."  New people will hear the word of God, and become believers.  The Psalmist tells us the truth.  The Psalmist reminds us that God will raise up new servants to believe in him.

John the Baptist said that God could raise up children of Abraham out of stones.  God will create new people to praise the Lord.  This should be a good lesson for most of us.  It is God who creates people to praise his name.  It is God who creates in you a clean heart and a new spirit within you.