The Sunday of Moses (GA)

John 8:48-59

⁴⁸ The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?” ⁴⁹ Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. ⁵⁰ Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge. ⁵¹ Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” ⁵² The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ ⁵³ Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?” ⁵⁴ Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ ⁵⁵ But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. ⁵⁶ Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” ⁵⁷ So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” ⁵⁸ Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” ⁵⁹ So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple. 

It may be worth mentioning, the liar would have a demon who utters words upon his lips.  It is lies spoken by those who do not know, or have the truth hidden from them.  But the truth must be spoken.  It does not matter whether we are called liar or not, the truth must be spoken.

But Jesus does not just speak the truth about being sent by his Father.  He speaks the truth about keeping the word of the LORD.  All must keep the word of the Lord or suffer eternal punishment.  The Jews know that Abraham died and all their fathers have also died.  We likewise know of very few who have not passed into death.

But this does not make Christ a liar.  Humans pass into death as penalty for sin.  But the Father offers life.  Not in the Law or keeping rules, but through one man's death.  He dies for all.  He knows the true God revealed by delivering His people from death to life eternal.  So we long for our Lord Jesus Christ to reveal his victory over death in his return.

Let us all not shy away from truth.  Jesus Christ was before Abraham.  Jesus Christ even after being crucified yet lives and reigns for you.  He offers this gift of life eternal to you.

The Sunday of Moses (NT)

Romans 5:1-11

5 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. ² Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ³ Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, ⁴ and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, ⁵ and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. 

⁶ For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— ⁸ but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. ¹⁰ For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. ¹¹ More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. 

St Paul reminds us, we are not just slaves in a foreign country.  But we have joined ourselves, with those who enslave us.  We truly become full enemies of God.  We are not righteous people, but filthy sinners begging for scraps from our master's table.  But who is our master?

God has redeemed us from the pit of slavery.  God has made us his own, so that we might live under him, serve and obey him. He does this not because of any worth or even desire within ourselves to leave our masters.  He does this even as we are still enemies.  Even as we grumble he drags us away from our wicked masters.

It is God our savior who sends his son not to die for righteous men, but his enemies.  It is God our Savior who rescues us, by offering a blood sacrifice even before we know it is necessary.  This is who we call Lord now.  We call him Lord not because we are his slaves, but because he saves us from death and hell.

Let us all enduring in suffering patiently, because we have hope the victory has been won in Christ.

The Sunday of Moses (G)

Mark 6:7-13

⁷ And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. ⁸ He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— ⁹ but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. ¹⁰ And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. ¹¹ And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” ¹² So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. ¹³ And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them. 

Jesus sent out his disciples two by two to proclaim the coming of the Reign of Heaven.  He sends his disciples so that they might go to town after town and spread the message.  They are to journey but not to take things with them upon their journey.  The only thing they have been given to stand before people is the message upon their lips.

Jesus Christ knew what his disciples would face.  They went out and did what he told them boldly.  They called people to repentance.  They cast out demons in the name of Jesus.  They even anointed the sick with oil and healed them.  This is the movement of the Reign of Heaven.

Jesus Christ continues to call people to faith through his disciples.  He sends them out so that they may bear witness of at least two.  He does not have them take extra money or food with them, because God will provide for them on their journey.  They were even given authority over unclean spirits, both to heal and cast out demons.

What authority has God set before you?  What task has God given you?  Jesus breathed on his disciples and told them to forgive sins.  Jesus told his disciples to have peace with one another.  Jesus has given you this message of Forgiveness.  He has tasked you with spreading the Reign of Heaven.

The Sunday of Moses (CL)

Exodus 6:1-13

6 But the Lord said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.” 

² God spoke to Moses and said to him, “I am the Lord. ³ I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name the Lord I did not make myself known to them. ⁴ I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they lived as sojourners. ⁵ Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel whom the Egyptians hold as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant. ⁶ Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. ⁷ I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. ⁸ I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. I am the Lord.’ ” ⁹ Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery. 

¹⁰ So the Lord said to Moses, ¹¹ “Go in, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the people of Israel go out of his land.” ¹² But Moses said to the Lord, “Behold, the people of Israel have not listened to me. How then shall Pharaoh listen to me, for I am of uncircumcised lips?” ¹³ But the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron and gave them a charge about the people of Israel and about Pharaoh king of Egypt: to bring the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt.

Has anyone ever asked you who God really is?  Most of the time the definition given for God is the Creator of all things.  Others may define God as by a simple name, Father Son and Holy Spirit.  But here we get a true definition of who God is.

God is the one who hears the cry of his people for mercy.  He listens to slaves.  He brings his people out of bondage.  He delivers his people to the promise land.  He makes them his people and becomes their God.  This is the God of Israel, and Abraham.  This is the God who brings his people up out of the Land of Egypt.

This God comes to Moses and gives him but one simple command.  "Go in, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the people of Israel go out of his land."  The LORD set Moses and Aaron over his people to bring them out of the Land of Egypt, by God's mighty arm.  Likewise, we are also given one simple command,  to spread the testimony of Jesus Christ who has delivered us from bondage and can deliver others.

There are many uncircumcised lips that will not listen to what we say.  There are many kings and peoples who will not give ear to our testimony.  But it was not Moses who brought the people up out Egypt.  And it is not you who will rescue them from fire and hell, but your words are the means which God will stretch out his mighty hand in Justice for the world.

It is not our actions that save us from sins.  But it is God who sent his only begotten Son to die for the forgiveness of our sins.  He has offered us life and salvation as a free gift to all who believe in the God who delivers his people out of the land of Slavery and into life eternal.

Sunday of Joseph (Ps) September 30th

Psalm 120:1-7

¹  In my distress I called to the Lord, 

and he answered me. 

²  Deliver me, O Lord, 

from lying lips, 

from a deceitful tongue. 

³  What shall be given to you, 

and what more shall be done to you, 

you deceitful tongue? 

⁴  A warrior’s sharp arrows, 

with glowing coals of the broom tree! 

⁵  Woe to me, that I sojourn in Meshech, 

that I dwell among the tents of Kedar! 

⁶  Too long have I had my dwelling 

among those who hate peace. 

⁷  I am for peace, 

but when I speak, they are for war! 

Call upon the Lord in every time of trouble pray praise and give thanks to him for all that he has done.  It is the Lord God who hears your prayers and answers when you call.  It is the Lord who rescues his people from the pit.  It is God our Savior who redeems our souls from the pit.  It is the Lord God who gives us peace.

Most people in the world today like to think about peace and maybe even talk about making peace of some kind.  People will talk about making peace with friends or family when you have a dispute.  People will even talk about having peace in a community struggling with various issues.  Most of the time they really want to talk about tolerance or acceptance.  But neither side really wants to give up anything.

We all desire our nice house and fancy toys.  We want to be able to have things our own way.  We want to indulge our personal passions and pleasures.  But the problem is these do not bring peace.  God is the only one who truly brings peace.  When we focus on material things and possessions we will fight to death.  But when it comes to God, he is the one who can truly make peace.

Jesus Christ has brought peace for all Christians throughout the world.  God has brought peace to those who believe in him.  We are surrounded by people who only cry out war against each other and against God.  But Christ has offered us true peace through his Son Jesus Christ.  God has listened to our cries for mercy and truly rescues us from the midst of those continue to make war.

Sunday of Joseph (OTA)

Genesis 40:9-19

⁹ So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph and said to him, “In my dream there was a vine before me, ¹⁰ and on the vine there were three branches. As soon as it budded, its blossoms shot forth, and the clusters ripened into grapes. ¹¹ Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup and placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.” ¹² Then Joseph said to him, “This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days. ¹³ In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office, and you shall place Pharaoh’s cup in his hand as formerly, when you were his cupbearer. ¹⁴ Only remember me, when it is well with you, and please do me the kindness to mention me to Pharaoh, and so get me out of this house. ¹⁵ For I was indeed stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the pit.” 

¹⁶ When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was favorable, he said to Joseph, “I also had a dream: there were three cake baskets on my head, ¹⁷ and in the uppermost basket there were all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating it out of the basket on my head.” ¹⁸ And Joseph answered and said, “This is its interpretation: the three baskets are three days. ¹⁹ In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head—from you!—and hang you on a tree. And the birds will eat the flesh from you.” 

Two dreams and two interpretations.  One interpretation brings good news, the other interpretation brings bad news.  Both of these interpretations never-the-less tell the full truth, about their future.  God reveals the truth to his people in various ways.  Here he reveals his truth to gentiles through dreams.

Joseph asks the cup bearer to remember him when he is elevated back to his position.  God reminds the reader that Joseph does not belong in prison along with the cup bearer or the baker.  But even more than that Joseph does not belong in Egypt.  Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers.  Joseph says, "He was stolen out of the land of the Hebrews."  Joseph belongs to be with his family in the land of Canaan.

There are many times when people end up in places they do not belong.  But sometimes we end up in places we do belong, but are not were we should be.  Joseph does not belong in prison, but God placed him there for a purpose.  Joseph does not belong in Egypt, but God has placed him there for a purpose.  God places us were we need to be.  God calls us to be holy people, but we do not act like holy people.

We are sinful people.  We are corrupt people.  We are not in a perfect creation, but in a fallen creation.  We are displaced people.  We are trapped in a pit of despair and darkness.  This is not were we belong.  But God listens to our cries for mercy.  God hears our prayers and answers.

In order to deliver us from this pit and corruption, he sends Jesus Christ as the perfect sacrifice for our sins.  Christ offers us the gift of eternal life.  He offers displaced people a perfect place to live once again.  He does deliver us from the pit.  God does remember you and he will not forsake you even when all seems lost.

Sunday of Joseph (GA)

Mark 10:35-45

³⁵ And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” ³⁶ And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” ³⁷ And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” ³⁸ Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” ³⁹ And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, ⁴⁰ but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” ⁴¹ And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. ⁴² And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. ⁴³ But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, ⁴⁴ and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. ⁴⁵ For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” 

I remember the chief baker when he heard what was told to the chief cup bearer.  The chief baker was enthused and desired to have his dream recounted to him.  Here the sons of Zebedee desire to get their places secured ahead of the rest of the disciples.  The disciples are not so enthused to hear it.

Jesus is not even that excited to hear it.  Jesus reminds them again in not so plain language that they will have to enter into suffering with him in order to sit at his right and left.  But then further reminds him of his instruction on not desiring to be the greatest.  The Christ comes to humble himself before all people.  The disciples must also learn to become servants not masters.

Many of us desire power and glory, but a wise man once said, "All those who gain power are afraid to lose it."  Therefore, people brutally use their power to force others to submit to them.  The Gentiles lord their power over people, but Jesus desires people to be servants to each other.

Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  He shows his power and authority not by destroying people, but by sacrificing himself for them.  He sacrifices his own life so that you may have life.  He takes on the pain and suffering of his people.  He truly becomes a servant to all.

Sunday of Joseph (NT)

Romans 4:13-25

¹³ For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. ¹⁴ For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. ¹⁵ For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression. 

¹⁶ That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, ¹⁷ as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. ¹⁸ In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” ¹⁹ He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. ²⁰ No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, ²¹ fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. ²² That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” ²³ But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, ²⁴ but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, ²⁵ who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. 

God made Abraham the Father of our Faith.  Abraham only had two sons, Ishmael and Isaac.  But Abraham is the father of many, because all who believe are children of Abraham.  God did not make people children by the law but children by faith.  It was Abraham who believed.  It was Isaac who believed.  It was Jacob who believed.

These people passed on the true faith to their children.  Even though there were some disappointments along the way, they still instructed their children in the true faith.  They taught their children the Law of God and how to live their lives.  But more importantly they taught their children to believe in the promises of God.

It was their faith that provided them salvation.  St Paul reminds us these people did not believe and get accounted as righteous for their own sake.  It was for all those who followed to remember that Jesus Christ died so that you might have life.  

Abraham did not know the revelation of Jesus Christ.  Isaac did not know the revelation of Jesus Christ.  Joseph did not know the revelation of Jesus Christ.  But even Jesus tells us we do not believe in him, but he who sent him.  Our faith is their faith.  

Our faith is not just in the one who died for our sins, but in the one who sent him to die for our sins.  Jesus Christ is our Lord and points us to our Father who is in heaven and gives us the Holy Spirit to strengthen us in the true faith.  This is your full hope and faith which credits you with righteousness.

Sunday of Joseph (NTA)

Acts 12:6-19

⁶ Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. ⁷ And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. ⁸ And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” ⁹ And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. ¹⁰ When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. ¹¹ When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.” 

¹² When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. ¹³ And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. ¹⁴ Recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. ¹⁵ They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!” ¹⁶ But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. ¹⁷ But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place. 

¹⁸ Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. ¹⁹ And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there. 

I always seem to get caught upon on verse 12.  St Peter is released from prison and walks out of the prison before he realizes what is really going on.  This can be so true sometimes.  It is not until God has called us and made us to be his own that we finally realize it.  It takes us all a little while to realize how God works within our lives.  How has God been working in your life recently?

St Peter was forced to go to prison.  He was forced to suffer punishment on account of speaking the truth to people who did not want to believe it.  This is not the first time St Peter was put in prison, but he never stayed there very long.  Sometimes it was just a night and he was released.  In this occasion it takes an Angel to come and release him.

Some might talk about us all being in prisons of our sinful nature.  We might need help to be released from this prison.  But I really think it is interesting to remember that all believer suffer for their confession of faith.  We all have to take up our Cross and follow Jesus no matter where he may lead us.  Whether prison or a far off land, God leads us and guides us along the way.  He will watch over us, and he will not allow us to suffer true shame.

God is there even when we do not realize it.  He is there with his Word proclaimed in our ears.  He is there with his love and compassion.  God stands ready to help pick us up when we fall or are thrown into prison.  The Holy Spirit is even there to place his words upon our lips to confess God before Kings and neighbors.

Sunday of Joseph (G)

Mark 8:14-21

¹⁴ Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. ¹⁵ And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” ¹⁶ And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. ¹⁷ And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? ¹⁸ Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? ¹⁹ When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” ²⁰ “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” ²¹ And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?” 

The disciples had forgotten to bring bread.  I know that when you going on an afternoon trip or even a long drive to friends or family, what is the one thing you need?  We do not take bread along with us, but we have to have snacks.  There has to be something to eat.  Likewise, if you go to a football game there is always tailgating.

We do not do anything without a little food, or in some cases drink.  The disciples realize they  forgot to bring a snack.  But if you recall the feeding of the 4,000 or 5,000, God provided food for them.  Or if you recall a little further back, Jesus said during his temptation, "Man does not live on bread alone."

Jesus is not talking about bread alone.  He is talking about words coming out of the mouths of Pharisees.  He is talking about words coming out of the mouths of false teachers.  Jesus reminds his disciples the Word of God provides us with true food.  The Word of the Pharisees provide us with nothing.

Jesus Christ warns us not to be tempted by the treats and sweets of the Pharisees.  They can make us feel good, or even look desirable for food.  But they are not good food.  These teachings of false religion lead people on the path to Hell.  Jesus Christ offers us the true bread of life, and food that gives us eternal life.

Sunday of Joseph (CL)

Genesis 40:1-23

40 Some time after this, the cupbearer of the king of Egypt and his baker committed an offense against their lord the king of Egypt. ² And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, ³ and he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison where Joseph was confined. ⁴ The captain of the guard appointed Joseph to be with them, and he attended them. They continued for some time in custody. 

⁵ And one night they both dreamed—the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison—each his own dream, and each dream with its own interpretation. ⁶ When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they were troubled. ⁷ So he asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in custody in his master’s house, “Why are your faces downcast today?” ⁸ They said to him, “We have had dreams, and there is no one to interpret them.” And Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell them to me.” 

⁹ So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph and said to him, “In my dream there was a vine before me, ¹⁰ and on the vine there were three branches. As soon as it budded, its blossoms shot forth, and the clusters ripened into grapes. ¹¹ Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup and placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.” ¹² Then Joseph said to him, “This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days. ¹³ In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office, and you shall place Pharaoh’s cup in his hand as formerly, when you were his cupbearer. ¹⁴ Only remember me, when it is well with you, and please do me the kindness to mention me to Pharaoh, and so get me out of this house. ¹⁵ For I was indeed stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the pit.” 

¹⁶ When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was favorable, he said to Joseph, “I also had a dream: there were three cake baskets on my head, ¹⁷ and in the uppermost basket there were all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating it out of the basket on my head.” ¹⁸ And Joseph answered and said, “This is its interpretation: the three baskets are three days. ¹⁹ In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head—from you!—and hang you on a tree. And the birds will eat the flesh from you.” 

²⁰ On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he made a feast for all his servants and lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants. ²¹ He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand. ²² But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. ²³ Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him. 

How often do we remember those people who have given us hope?  Joseph gave hope to the cup bearer and dread to the chief baker.  The chief baker heard the hope in the interpretation of the chief cup bearer's dream.  He desired to hear that same hope in Joseph's interpretation of his own dream.  Wait check that, God's interpretation of the chief baker's dream.

Joseph if you recall proclaimed the devastation and hope in Pharaoh's two dreams when the Cup Bearer finally remembers Joseph.  Joseph does not tell the chief baker that he will receive good, when God has revealed his up coming death.  Joseph likewise does not proclaim judgment for the Cup Bearer when God has revealed to him hope.

The message God has revealed to his people is a message like what is given to the Cup Bearer and the Chief Baker.  It is a message of hope.  But it is also a message of dread or destruction.  Both of these men had committed an offense against Pharaoh.  Both of these men were thrown into prison.  But only one of these men was restored.  Why?  (I do not know, but God revealed their future to both of them.)

We are like these two men.  We have caused offense against God.  He has shown us the punishment we deserve.  There is a future hope, in Jesus Christ's death and resurrection.  But for those who do not believe there is a future of pain and suffering.  Let us remember Jesus Christ's suffering and death upon the cross for the forgiveness of your sins.  Don't forget the one who has proclaimed true hope to you in eternal life.

The Sunday of Abram (Ps) September 23rd

Psalm 112:1-10

112 Praise the Lord!

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,

who greatly delights in his commandments!

² His offspring will be mighty in the land;

the generation of the upright will be blessed.

³ Wealth and riches are in his house,

and his righteousness endures forever.

⁴ Light dawns in the darkness for the upright;

he is gracious, merciful, and righteous.

⁵ It is well with the man who deals generously and lends;

who conducts his affairs with justice.

⁶ For the righteous will never be moved;

he will be remembered forever.

⁷ He is not afraid of bad news;

his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.

⁸ His heart is steady; he will not be afraid,

until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.

⁹ He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor;

his righteousness endures forever;

his horn is exalted in honor.

¹⁰ The wicked man sees it and is angry;

he gnashes his teeth and melts away;

the desire of the wicked will perish!

Blessed is the man who meditates on the Lord day and night.  He is not afraid of bad news, his heart remains firm, and trusts in the Lord.  Praise be to God who gives us light in dark times, and strengthens us in times of wickedness.

The Lord's steadfast love endures forever.  His righteousness endures forever, as he strengthens those who believe.  The Psalmist reminds us to fear the Lord.  If we fear the punishment of our Lord, we will remember his commands.  If we remember his commands and fear him in all things, we may remain upright in the midst of evil people.

God is angry with wicked people.  God will cause the wicked to perish.  God will cause those who no longer fear the Lord to sit in darkness.  He will cause those who do fear his name to triumph in victory over their adversaries.  God himself will make them righteous.  We will have his righteousness endure completely with the people.

Just as the Psalmist reminds us to fear the Lord, if God is on our side, who can be against us.  The one who trusts in the Lord has nothing to fear.  The one who has been made righteous will dwell securely in the land of the Lord.  God does bless those who fear the Lord.

The Sunday of Abram (OTA)

Genesis 15:1-21

15 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” ² But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” ³ And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” ⁴ And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” ⁵ And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” ⁶ And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

⁷ And he said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.” ⁸ But he said, “O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it?” ⁹ He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” ¹⁰ And he brought him all these, cut them in half, and laid each half over against the other. But he did not cut the birds in half. ¹¹ And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.

¹² As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. And behold, dreadful and great darkness fell upon him. ¹³ Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. ¹⁴ But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions. ¹⁵ As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age. ¹⁶ And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”

¹⁷ When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. ¹⁸ On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, ¹⁹ the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, ²⁰ the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, ²¹ the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites and the Jebusites.”

St Paul tells us faith comes by hearing.  At the beginning of this text Abram believes Eliezer of Damascus will be his only heir.  But the LORD God comes Abram and tells him he will Father his own son.  God tells Abram that he will multiply his descendants to the number of stars in the sky.  Abram is going to become a great nation.  When Abram hears these words he believes.

God credits righteousness to Abram on account of this faith.  God further establishes his covenant with Abram through a formal ceremony.  God tells Abram to halve several animals as a sacrifice of his promise.  God then has Abram fall into a deep sleep.  When Abram is in a deep sleep, he sees a smoking fire pot move between these pieces of flesh.  God establishes his promise for the children of Abram.

God did not require Abram to make a confession of his faith or outline what he believed.  God did not require Abram to walk through the dead animals.  God did not require Abram to promise anything.  God likewise does not require this of us.  God speaks and in our hearing he establishes faith in us.  He helps us to live obedient to his commands.  God even provides the sacrifice for our righteousness.

Note: There are people that talk about the 7 Gentile nations.  But here there is a list of 10 Gentile nations to which the children of the promise will receive land.

The Sunday of Abram (NTA)

2 Peter 2:4-16

⁴ For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; ⁵ if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; ⁶ if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; ⁷ and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked ⁸ (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard); ⁹ then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, ¹⁰ and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority.

Bold and willful, they do not tremble as they blaspheme the glorious ones, ¹¹ whereas angels, though greater in might and power, do not pronounce a blasphemous judgment against them before the Lord. ¹² But these, like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed, blaspheming about matters of which they are ignorant, will also be destroyed in their destruction, ¹³ suffering wrong as the wage for their wrongdoing. They count it pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, while they feast with you. ¹⁴ They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children! ¹⁵ Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing, ¹⁶ but was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.

Lot dwelt with the people of Sodom.  He dwelt in the midst of unrighteous people.  But Lot remained faithful to God.  It was not Abraham who had to remind Lot that he should be righteous and help others in Sodom to become righteous as well.  But the two Angels went to Sodom where Lot was dwelling in the midst of evil people.  Lot did the righteous thing, willingly sacrificing himself and his daughters on behalf of the Angels of the Lord.

St Peter reminds us that even children living in the land of the wicked may be able to remain righteous.  Noah   was just one in the midst of many who were wicked day after day.  Abram dwelt in the land of sinful people. You live in the land of sinful people.  But are you any better than the people at whom you look down your nose?

All of us are equally guilty.  We have all done what is evil in the eyes of the Lord.  We stand in the midst of wicked people and we even fall into their snares.  We like to act like one of the girls/guys.  We do not want to be treated as an outsider, so we do not keep ourselves from wickedness.

But nonetheless God knows how to keep people righteous even in the midst of wicked people.  God knows how to make you righteous in the midst of evil.  God knows all your ways, yet he still loves you.  He still offers you the righteousness of Christ.  Through the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ, you are made righteous.  God truly works in mysterious ways, and has the power to save.

The Sunday of Abram (GA)

Matthew 11:20-24

²⁰ Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. ²¹ “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. ²² But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. ²³ And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. ²⁴ But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”

How much is necessary to make you repent?  There are some days when it does not matter how much Law people preach, we just don't feel like sinners.  There are other days when you are faced with more than you think Jesus could ever cover over.  But hopefully you can be reminded that all these days are same.

Simplicity would tell us that the only Sin so great that God doesn't forgive is an unrepentant sin.  The only sinner who should have his sins retained is an unrepentant sinner.  The only sinner who should have his sins forgiven is a repentant sinner.  But what kind of sign is necessary for you to recognize that you are a sinner?

Can words teach you that you have fallen short?  Can words teach you how great the commands of God are?  Can simple words explain the fullness of the wrath of God, or consquences for your sins?  All I have are these words, but they explain many signs and miracles which were preformed in Tyre and Sidon.  These signs were greater than the simple word of warning given to Sodom.

God's justice requires blood for your sins.  He requires punishment for all your transgressions from the least to the greatest.  But this is the greatest sign of all, he sent his only son into the flesh to die for the forgiveness of all your transgressions.  Jesus Christ suffered "hell" upon the cross for your sins.  He died so that you might have life.  He died so that you might repent and believe.  It is this Word God has given for you to believe and be healed of your wickedness.

The Sunday of Abram (NT)

Romans 4:1-12

4 What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? ² For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. ³ For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” ⁴ Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. ⁵ And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, ⁶ just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:

⁷ “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,

and whose sins are covered;

⁸ blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”

⁹ Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. ¹⁰ How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. ¹¹ He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, ¹² and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

St Paul reminds us of the Father of believers.  Abraham was not blessed because of anything he did.  God chose him, just like God chose his people, and God chose you.  He did not choose you because you were circumcised.  He did not choose you because you were such a nice person.  He did not even choose you because you followed his Law so well.

Because if we are honest with ourselves, we are not very nice.  We can be mean and cruel.  We despise people, and covet their relationships and objects.  We even treat some people like they are below us.  We are truly not worthy of anything we receive other than pain and torment.

But St Paul reminds us Father Abram did not deserve all the special things he received either.  He did not deserve to be blessed, but God blessed him anyway.  Likewise, Jesus blessed all people because of their faith.  They did not produce good within themselves but the Holy Spirit blesses God's people with faith.  He calls gathers and enlightens his children.  He gives them righteousness and cleanses his people from all their sins.

Abram and David were truly people after the Lord's heart, not because of their actions but because they trusted in his Word to strengthen them.

The Sunday of Abram (G)

Mark 7:24-30

²⁴ And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. ²⁵ But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. ²⁶ Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. ²⁷ And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” ²⁸ But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” ²⁹ And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” ³⁰ And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.

There is always a division among people.  The Jews always made the distinction between Jews and Gentiles.  Those inside and those outside are separated.  But here Jesus makes the separation between the children who are to be fed and those who are not fed.  He tells this woman she is not a child who deserves food.

What would your response be?  Come to church some Sunday morning and the pastor tells you let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs. You would yell loudly about being called a dog.  You would make a scene and talk about how unfriendly this pastor was.  You would then talk bad about the church all around town.

But here is the trick, Jesus says this.  Jesus acts like the unfriendly Pastor.  But the lesson here should not be that we should act like Jesus, and be rude even though we are speaking the truth.  But we should act like the woman.  She is called a dog and treated like an outcast.  But she does not curse the man for saying that but accepts her faults and disgrace.  She accepts being a dog.

This is the station in life we should all accept.  We are all just bunch of dogs.  We do not deserve to receive bread especially not the children's bread.  But thanks be to Jesus Christ who makes us children of God.  He has offered his blessings to all nations and all people.

The Sunday of Abram (CL)

Genesis 13:1-18

13 So Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the Negeb.

² Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. ³ And he journeyed on from the Negeb as far as Bethel to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, ⁴ to the place where he had made an altar at the first. And there Abram called upon the name of the Lord. ⁵ And Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, ⁶ so that the land could not support both of them dwelling together; for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together, ⁷ and there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were dwelling in the land.

⁸ Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen. ⁹ Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.” ¹⁰ And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) ¹¹ So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east. Thus they separated from each other. ¹² Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom. ¹³ Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord.

¹⁴ The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, ¹⁵ for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. ¹⁶ I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. ¹⁷ Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you.” ¹⁸ So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the Lord.

What would have happened if Lot would have chosen to live in Canaan?  Would Moses be telling us of the great wickedness in Canaan rather than Sodom?  Would Moses be recalling God telling Abram to look through the Land in the direction of Zoar?  God's plan would find success in either case.  But God ordained Lot to choose to the land of Sodom.

God in either case would have blessed his chosen people.  God would have fulfilled the promise to make Abram into a great nation.  Thus, God still would be recalling his promise to Adam and Eve.  The promise to provide a Child of deliverance.

But the real instruction in this passage is about dealing with disagreements.  Lot and Abram realize that they have grown to great to remain together any longer.  Their herdsmen might argue over land and territory.  Lot and Abram did not own land, but free grazed their animals.  So Lot and Abram logically choose to divide and settle in different lands.

It is sometimes better for many of us to divide and go our separate ways.  There are many things in the world which divide people from people.  But there are also a few things that divide people from God.  People can be divided because of wickedness and misdeeds, but these same actions can divide us from God.  People can be brought together by idol worship and false belief, but these things also separate us from God.  But Jesus Christ brought people back to God.  Jesus Christ did not allow us to be separated from God any longer.

Sunday of the Flood (Ps) September 16th

Psalm 150:1-6

Praise the Lord!

Praise God in his sanctuary;

praise him in his mighty heavens!

² Praise him for his mighty deeds;

praise him according to his excellent greatness!

³ Praise him with trumpet sound;

praise him with lute and harp!

⁴ Praise him with tambourine and dance;

praise him with strings and pipe!

⁵ Praise him with sounding cymbals;

praise him with loud clashing cymbals!

⁶ Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord!

The closing line, let everything that has breath praise the Lord.  Whether by earth or land or sea all that has breath should praise the Lord.  The Lord be praised by all his creation.  He has given them breath and life.  He has made them and given em a song to sing in praise to the God of all.

Somebody once asked me which does what it was designed for better, a rock or a human who falls on the rock?  The answer is the rock.  If the rock was nice it would cushion your fall, but it was designed to be hard and solid and not cushion anything.  Thus, the rock is mean but it does exactly what it was created to do in praise to God.

Humans on the other hand, fall because the are not paying attention or distracted.  They also may fall because they lose their balance doing something foolish.  Granted the human could of be pushed down, and that would be the result of someone else's sin.  But the human being was not created to fall down on rocks.  He was created to walk on two feet.

The point the is that the rock praises God by being a rock.  The fish praise God by being fish and doing what God designed them to do.  Likewise, lions, tigers, and bears even though God did not design them to kill and eat flesh praise God by doing what God has called them to do.  Humans on the other hand seem to think we praise God by song and crashing symbols.  Why not praise God by being what God designed you to be.

Help your neighbor.  If you are a symbol you should make noise.  If you are a rock stay firm.  Of you are a dancer dance.  If you are a teacher teach.  Praise the Lord by being who he has called you to be. Because he has created you, redeemed you, and given you breath to praise him.

Sunday of the Flood (NTA)

1 Peter 3:13-22

¹³ Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? ¹⁴ But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, ¹⁵ but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶ having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. ¹⁷ For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

¹⁸ For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, ¹⁹ in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, ²⁰ because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. ²¹ Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ²² who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

It intrigues me that St Peter would remind people to always be ready to defend the faith, and then in a couple of verses later talks about Noah.  There is truly a connection with being able to defend the faith, and confessing a world wide flood.  But there is something else I would like to confess, the patience of God.

Now you can count up the years between Seth and Noah or you can take St Peter's word for it that God was patient.  God waited patiently as he watched his creation fall further into corruption.  Year after year, generation after generation, he watched as sinful people continued to do what was evil in the sight of the Lord.  Even the claim of Cain's descendent that he would be avenged seven times the punishment of killing Cain.

People were twisting the story.  They were no longer showing Love toward the one true God.  But God was patient.  He waited until the day finally came when it was the proper time to send the flood upon the Earth.

Good is still patient with his creation.  He is long suffering with his people.  He continues to send forth His Word and Spirit into the world to call people to faith.  God is waiting patiently for the time to be right when Jesus Christ will come to Judge the Loving and the Dead.  But thanks be to God because he sent a flood at the proper time.  Thanks be to God because he sent Jesus Christ into the Flesh to die for the forgiveness of all sins.  This gives us hope for the day of Christ's return, so we can have eternal life.

Sunday of the Flood (GA)

Matthew 24:36-51

³⁶ “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. ³⁷ For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. ³⁸ For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, ³⁹ and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. ⁴⁰ Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. ⁴¹ Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. ⁴² Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. ⁴³ But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁴ Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

⁴⁵ “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? ⁴⁶ Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. ⁴⁷ Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. ⁴⁸ But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ ⁴⁹ and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, ⁵⁰ the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know ⁵¹ and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Who are the wise servants who wait patiently for the coming of our Lord?  We often times get caught up in predictions, even though Jesus tells us no one knows the day.  But Noah was told the day.  He was told of the coming of the flood.  He preached to the people but they didn't listen to him.  Jesus tells us the end will come like the days of Noah.

Look around and see how many people care about various prediction of the end of the World as we know it.  The world is constantly changing.  But it is not the wise servant who notices the Lord long in coming.  People have long seemed to abandon the thought of Christ coming quickly.  Few Christians today truly believe that the Lord will return within their own lifetime.

I grant that there are some denominations and even anti-Christian sects that put more emphasis on the return of Christ than truly confessional church bodies.  But the wise need to listen to these messages.  They need to remain confessional, and true to the word of God.  It is only through Jesus Christ that we will have life eternal.  It is through Christ that we will not be swept away in the deluge of fire on the Last Day.

Therefore, remain firm in your faith.  Hope in the Lord.  Trust no matter how long it takes Jesus is coming soon to restore God's perfect creation.

Sunday of the Flood (OTA)

Exodus 12:21-32

²¹ Then Moses called all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go and select lambs for yourselves according to your clans, and kill the Passover lamb. ²² Take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and touch the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. None of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning. ²³ For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians, and when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you. ²⁴ You shall observe this rite as a statute for you and for your sons forever. ²⁵ And when you come to the land that the Lord will give you, as he has promised, you shall keep this service. ²⁶ And when your children say to you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’ ²⁷ you shall say, ‘It is the sacrifice of the Lord’s Passover, for he passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians but spared our houses.’ ” And the people bowed their heads and worshiped.

²⁸ Then the people of Israel went and did so; as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.

²⁹ At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of the livestock. ³⁰ And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians. And there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where someone was not dead. ³¹ Then he summoned Moses and Aaron by night and said, “Up, go out from among my people, both you and the people of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as you have said. ³² Take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone, and bless me also!”

Who dies for whose sins?  The price of sin is the spilling of blood.  Does the lamb die for the sins of the Israelites?  Does the Egyptian die for the sins of the Israelite?  Most of us know that Jesus Christ died for our sins.  He even died for the sins of Israel.  Christ also died for the sins of the Egyptians.

These Egyptians died as a plague against Egypt.  They died because Pharaoh would not release the people of God.  They died because God desired to show the world there is a cost for freedom.  There is a price that must be paid.  So again the question becomes who pays the price for whose sins?

The Egyptians die to rescue the people of Israel.  The Lambs die to protect and redeem the children of Israel.  Christ died to forgive the sins of all God's people.  Thus, the price for your freedom has been paid as well.

Sunday of the Flood (NT)

Romans 3:21-31

²¹ But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— ²² the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: ²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, ²⁵ whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. ²⁶ It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

²⁷ Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. ²⁸ For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. ²⁹ Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, ³⁰ since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. ³¹ Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.

Who does the Law of God apply to?  Does the Law only apply to Jews or the descendants of Jacob?  Since the Law was received on Mount Sinai, their forefathers promised to keep these commandments from God.  St Paul says this is impossible, because all have fallen short of the glory of God.

The Law would apply to all mankind, both Jew and Greek.  All of these are condemned by the Law.  How do I know this?  The flood occurred because people were braking the law.  Thus, God holds all of creation accountable for the sins of mankind.  It does not matter who you are or your lineage, because every son of Adam is under the Law.

Thus, we all are in need of salvation.  God grants to us the gift of Faith and it is by Faith we are made righteous of the Law.  Through Faith in Jesus Christ we are made just before the Law of God.  Thus, we uphold the Law, not subvert the Law.  Jesus Christ is the Holy and Perfect Son of God who has redeemed us through the law by his actions.  Christ's death and Resurrection provide us the fulfillment of the Law.  By Adam all are condemned sinners, and by Christ all believers are redeemed of their sins.