First Sunday of Advent (Ps) December 2nd

Psalm 149:1-9

 Praise the Lord! 

Sing to the Lord a new song, 

his praise in the assembly of the godly! 

²  Let Israel be glad in his Maker; 

let the children of Zion rejoice in their King! 

³  Let them praise his name with dancing, 

making melody to him with tambourine and lyre! 

⁴  For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; 

he adorns the humble with salvation. 

⁵  Let the godly exult in glory; 

let them sing for joy on their beds. 

⁶  Let the high praises of God be in their throats 

and two-edged swords in their hands, 

⁷  to execute vengeance on the nations 

and punishments on the peoples, 

⁸  to bind their kings with chains 

and their nobles with fetters of iron, 

⁹  to execute on them the judgment written! 

This is honor for all his godly ones. 

Praise the Lord! 

Praise the Lord!  He loves his people like a great treasure.  He cares for them and protects them.  He has provided for them in many ways.  But this is how he treats the children of Zion.  God also provides justice against those who mistreat his people.

The Psalmist speaks both blessings and curses here.  He speaks about how nice it is for those who praise the Lord.  But he also speaks punishing the wicked.  He talks about binding Kings with chains like a slave.  He talks about judging people of the earth.

The question is which side of Judgment are you on?  Are you one of those treasured ones?  Or are you awaiting judgment?  The answer may be scary for most of us.  Because we are all awaiting Judgment, but yet some of us are still God's treasured possessions.

Praise the Lord!  He has sent his only begotten Son into human flesh to make us our brother.  He has died for the forgiveness of your sins.  It is this son of Man who calls us to be children of Zion.  Jesus Christ washes us clean and presents us to his own Father as Adopted Children.  Praise the Lord!

The First Sunday of Advent (GA)

Mark 2:1-12

And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. ² And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. ³ And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. ⁴ And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. ⁵ And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” ⁶ Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, ⁷ “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” ⁸ And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? ⁹ Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? ¹⁰ But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— ¹¹ “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” ¹² And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!” 

"I've never seen anything like it in my life."  That is part of a song from the Musical Doctor Dolittle. The Carnival direct found something that he has never seen before.  Dr. Dolittle calls it a "push me pull me."  If you have not seen the musical (or movie), imagine a man dancing around jumping through a carnival talking singing, "I've never seen anything like it, I've never seen anything like it my life."

This is the picture I can only imagine.  The people gathered together in a room where there is no room to fit another person.  (Well beyond the fire code.)  After Jesus forgives the sins of the Paralytic and he gets up, takes his mate, and goes home, they all start jumping around saying, "I've never seen anything like it."

What a joy it is to know that my sins can be forgiven, just by the spoken word.  It does not take a large sacrifice.  It does not take blood spilt on an altar.  All Jesus does is speak these simple words.  "your sins are forgiven."  In these simple words your sins are actually removed from your account.

"Your sins are Forgiven," is such a simple yet powerful phrase.  In this simple phrase you have certainty that your sins are removed from you.  Those sins are placed on the shoulders of Christ.  The important thing is simply this, Your sins are Forgiven.  Hopefully, this is something you will hear everyday.  It is the greatest gift God has given us and it is so simple.  All your sins are forgiven in Christ crucified.  (There is your blood and sacrifice.)

The First Sunday of Advent (OTA)

Genesis 22:1-14

After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” ² He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” ³ So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. ⁴ On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. ⁵ Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” ⁶ And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. ⁷ And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” ⁸ Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together. 

⁹ When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. ¹⁰ Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. ¹¹ But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” ¹² He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” ¹³ And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. ¹⁴ So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.” 

Here is an interesting twist on the Parable of the Wicked Tenants.  The Master takes his own son and prepares him to be sacrificed, unless the tenants pay him, his share of the harvest.  Or maybe it would compare in this way.  The Master takes the children of the tenants and threatens to sacrifice them unless they pay him, his share of the harvest.

Maybe it does not matter how you twist it into the Parable of the Wicked Tenants.  maybe this text really needs to stand by itself.  The Lord God tests Abraham with one of the most precious things of all.  God promised Abraham for many years that he would provide him with his own son.  Abraham thought Eliazer was going to be his heir.  Abraham was even tricked into thinking that Ishmael was going to be the son of Promise.  Finally, God fulfills his promise to provide Sarah and Abraham a Son.

Then God asks him to take the promised son, or hope and kill it.  God asks Abraham to sacrifice the gift of God.  What does Abraham do?  He takes him up on the Mountain and says, God will provided.  God trusts in God to provide fulfillment for all his promises.

Most of us simple think of what it must be like to sacrifice our children for God.  We wonder if we could make that kind of sacrifice.  But what if it was a little greater?  What if God asked you to offer up your faith?  Sacrifice the one thing that gives you certainty of your salvation.  Sacrifice your Baptism, Faith, Word of God, etc.  Would you still be certain that God would provide.

Abraham knows that God will provide in all things.  God knows what he is doing.  God does always fulfill his promises.

The First Sunday of Advent (NTA)

Romans 8: 12-30

¹² So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. ¹³ For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. ¹⁴ For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. ¹⁵ For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” ¹⁶ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷ and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. 

¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. ¹⁹ For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. ²⁰ For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope ²¹ that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. ²² For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. ²³ And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. ²⁴ For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. 

²⁶ Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. ²⁷ And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. ²⁸ And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. ²⁹ For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. ³⁰ And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. 

I love how St Paul talks about the entire or whole creation waiting in expectation of Christ.  All of Creation is suffering because of your sins.  All of Creation is groaning in pains as God starts to make things new.

Most of us do not think about how are actions affect others.  Every Action has an equal and opposite reaction.  St Paul recognizes that because of humanity's sin all of creation is impacted.  When Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden of Eden, all of Creation fell from perfection.  All of creation therefore has been suffering since then.

(This may be a little mean.)  You have heard people say, "When you do ____, you make baby Jesus cry."  Just make a slight change.  "When you do _____, you are torture kittens or puppies."  Your sins have consequences.  Thankful all of Creation is waiting in expectation.

When Christ returns he will save all of Creation from suffering and pain.  Christ died and rose again so that you would not die eternally.  He also did this to remove all your sins.  Jesus did this even to save creation from pain and suffering.  Baby Jesus cries because you are torturing kittens or puppies. But Jesus bled and died so that puppies and kittens would not suffer any more.  (That is not to say that puppies and kittens go to heaven.)

The First Sunday of Advent (NT)

Romans 8:31-39

³¹ What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? ³³ Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? ³⁶ As it is written, 

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long; 

we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 

³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

God sent repeated messengers to the people of Israel, even though he knew that they would face persecution and even death.  God sends his messengers into the harvest field knowing they will face persecution and possible death.  The servants sent to the tenants were beaten, mistreated, and killed.  The heir was sent and he was killed as well.

Remember Jesus Christ the only Son of God was sent into the mission field.  He was mistreated.  He was beaten.  He was killed.  He has sent us into the world so that we might also be killed.  As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."  God continues to slaughter his people.

It has been said, "The Church is grown on the blood of the martyrs."  The church grows in times of persecution.  I pray that God would continue to persecute his Church.  The Disciples of God need a little more discipline.  We could all use a little better instruction and persecution.

God sends us out into the world to suffer, be beaten, be mistreated, and be killed.  But we go with a certain hope.  We know that because the heir has been slaughtered like a lamb, we have the promise of everlasting life.  There is nothing that the enemy can do to separate us from the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the World.

The First Sunday of Advent (OT)

Isaiah 27:1-13

In that day the Lord with his hard and great and strong sword will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting serpent, and he will slay the dragon that is in the sea. 

²  In that day, 

“A pleasant vineyard, sing of it! 

³  I, the Lord, am its keeper; 

every moment I water it. 

Lest anyone punish it, 

I keep it night and day; 

⁴  I have no wrath. 

Would that I had thorns and briers to battle! 

I would march against them, 

I would burn them up together. 

⁵  Or let them lay hold of my protection, 

let them make peace with me, 

let them make peace with me.” 

⁶  In days to come Jacob shall take root, 

Israel shall blossom and put forth shoots 

and fill the whole world with fruit. 

⁷  Has he struck them as he struck those who struck them? 

Or have they been slain as their slayers were slain? 

⁸  Measure by measure, by exile you contended with them; 

he removed them with his fierce breath in the day of the east wind. 

⁹  Therefore by this the guilt of Jacob will be atoned for, 

and this will be the full fruit of the removal of his sin: 

when he makes all the stones of the altars 

like chalkstones crushed to pieces, 

no Asherim or incense altars will remain standing. 

¹⁰  For the fortified city is solitary, 

a habitation deserted and forsaken, like the wilderness; 

there the calf grazes; 

there it lies down and strips its branches. 

¹¹  When its boughs are dry, they are broken; 

women come and make a fire of them. 

For this is a people without discernment; 

therefore he who made them will not have compassion on them; 

he who formed them will show them no favor. 

¹² In that day from the river Euphrates to the Brook of Egypt the Lord will thresh out the grain, and you will be gleaned one by one, O people of Israel. ¹³ And in that day a great trumpet will be blown, and those who were lost in the land of Assyria and those who were driven out to the land of Egypt will come and worship the Lord on the holy mountain at Jerusalem. 

It is the Lord God who takes care of his Vineyard.  It is the Lord God who waters his land.  It is the Lord God who harvests the grain.  The Lord God is not handing these things over to his servants, but he is doing it himself.  God certainly does work through people, but let us remember that he should still receive credit for taking care of His Vineyard.

But in this text is a fabulous opportunity to talk about dinosaurs in the Bible.  It may be said that Leviathan or the Sea Dragon is a reference to Satan.  God is going to show his Judgment against Satan.  God delivered his people into exile, and is disciplining his people for following that Ancient Serpent, Satan.

Would it sound completely different if it was python or anaconda?  For many of us we would not notice a difference.  But the terms Leviathan and Dragon are used.  They are elsewhere described in some detail.  The term Dragon brings to mind something much greater.

God has created all things.  God has even made Dragons, Leviathans, Dinosaurs, and the like.  God will punish them for their actions, just like God will discipline his own people.  God has provided a lush Vineyard, which modern people call Earth.  God created every animal or beast, which has ever lived upon this "Earth."  God continues to work to take care of it.  He works to take care of you.

The First Sunday of Advent (CL)

Mark 12:1-12

 And he began to speak to them in parables. “A man planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a pit for the winepress and built a tower, and leased it to tenants and went into another country. ² When the season came, he sent a servant to the tenants to get from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. ³ And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. ⁴ Again he sent to them another servant, and they struck him on the head and treated him shamefully. ⁵ And he sent another, and him they killed. And so with many others: some they beat, and some they killed. ⁶ He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ ⁷ But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ ⁸ And they took him and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard. ⁹ What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others. ¹⁰ Have you not read this Scripture: 

“ ‘The stone that the builders rejected 

has become the cornerstone; 

¹¹  this was the Lord’s doing, 

and it is marvelous in our eyes’?” 

¹² And they were seeking to arrest him but feared the people, for they perceived that he had told the parable against them. So they left him and went away.

I have been told previously that this train of thought makes sense.  But I still wonder how the tenants believe they will receive the inheritance after killing the heir.  Most of the time when you murder someone, you would end up in prison, unless that person was below your status.  But the heir would seem like killing up.

Someone once said that you don't chop or saw wood above you, because dust or chips will fall in your eye.  If this is the case, then likewise you do not kill someone or make war with someone above you (or with greater means than you).  So what do the tenants or slaves expect to receive when they kill a free person or noble men (who is the heir)?

They expect to receive the vineyard.  They have done their best to maintain control of the wealth of the Vineyard.  They have done their best to prevent the Master or Maker of the Vineyard to receive anything.  The heir comes so that they might respect him.  But they treat him worse than many of the servants (whom they only beat).

Therefore, "What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others."  What happens when you kill the son of God?  Those who destroyed him will be judged, and others will be given his inheritance.  Christ died for our sins, so that we might be brought back to paradise.

The Sunday of the Prophet Daniel (Ps) November 25th

Psalm 56:1-13

¹  Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me; 

all day long an attacker oppresses me; 

²  my enemies trample on me all day long, 

for many attack me proudly. 

³  When I am afraid, 

I put my trust in you. 

⁴  In God, whose word I praise, 

in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. 

What can flesh do to me? 

⁵  All day long they injure my cause; 

all their thoughts are against me for evil. 

⁶  They stir up strife, they lurk; 

they watch my steps, 

as they have waited for my life. 

⁷  For their crime will they escape? 

In wrath cast down the peoples, O God! 

⁸  You have kept count of my tossings; 

put my tears in your bottle. 

Are they not in your book? 

⁹  Then my enemies will turn back 

in the day when I call. 

This I know, that God is for me. 

¹⁰  In God, whose word I praise, 

in the Lord, whose word I praise, 

¹¹  in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. 

What can man do to me? 

¹²  I must perform my vows to you, O God; 

I will render thank offerings to you. 

¹³  For you have delivered my soul from death, 

yes, my feet from falling, 

that I may walk before God 

in the light of life. 

A quote from Coach Carter, "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.  Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.  It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.  Your playing small does not serve the world.  There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.  We are all meant to shine as children do.  It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone.  And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.  As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

Trust in the Lord and do not fear.  The Psalmist reminds us that we are supposed to trust in God.  We are supposed to praise the word of the Lord.  We are supposed to walk in Holiness before God.  We are even supposed to Shine the Light of Christ.

What is your deepest fear?  What causes you to shrink from others?  What causes you to put a basket over that little light of yours?  Are you afraid of the power that is within?  Are you afraid of what God might do with you?

Let your light shine before other people.  The Light of Christ has been given to you so that it may shine in others.  God has brought you out of Darkness into his marvelous light.  God has delivered you from inadequacy.  He has redeemed you from your sins.  He has given you a Light to Shine.  Don't be afraid of the Light that is in you.

The Sunday of the Prophet Daniel (OTA)

Isaiah 25:1-12

O Lord, you are my God; 

I will exalt you; I will praise your name, 

for you have done wonderful things, 

plans formed of old, faithful and sure. 

²  For you have made the city a heap, 

the fortified city a ruin; 

the foreigners’ palace is a city no more; 

it will never be rebuilt. 

³  Therefore strong peoples will glorify you; 

cities of ruthless nations will fear you. 

⁴  For you have been a stronghold to the poor, 

a stronghold to the needy in his distress, 

a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat; 

for the breath of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall, 

⁵  like heat in a dry place. 

You subdue the noise of the foreigners; 

as heat by the shade of a cloud, 

so the song of the ruthless is put down. 

⁶  On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples 

a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, 

of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined. 

⁷  And he will swallow up on this mountain 

the covering that is cast over all peoples, 

the veil that is spread over all nations. 

⁸  He will swallow up death forever; 

and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, 

and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, 

for the Lord has spoken. 

⁹  It will be said on that day, 

“Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. 

This is the Lord; we have waited for him; 

let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” 

¹⁰  For the hand of the Lord will rest on this mountain, 

and Moab shall be trampled down in his place, 

as straw is trampled down in a dunghill. 

¹¹  And he will spread out his hands in the midst of it 

as a swimmer spreads his hands out to swim, 

but the Lord will lay low his pompous pride together with the skill of his hands. 

¹²  And the high fortifications of his walls he will bring down, 

lay low, and cast to the ground, to the dust. 

I was asked recently about people suffering from the Hurricane Aftermath, "Do people know how to live without electricity?"  My life personally was not impacted by Hurricane Sandy.  But many people's lives were impacted.  People were left without power or electricity.  Their strong holds and fortified city was left in ruin?

Most of us like to think that we are self-sufficient.  We like to dream if we were left in the middle of the woods or desert, we would be able to survive on our own.  We even like to watch survivalists on television.  But would we be able to survive.

There have been many people throughout History who have been forced to live on their own.  There have been many people left without electricity or indoor plumbing.  There have even been many people in History who developed cities and communities.

The Psalmist reminds us that God needs to be our stronghold.  God needs to be our fortified city.  God is the one who feeds us with rich food.  But more importantly God is the one who swallows up death.

When you are dropped off, stranded, or left behind someplace, what is your greatest fear?  Death?  Starvation?  Shelter?  Security?  God has destroyed death.  Starvation is dying for lack of food, but in our text God is feeding us and destroying death.  Shelter is provided by God himself.  If these are provided for you by God, what more do you need to secure?

The Sunday of the Prophet Daniel (NT)

Romans 8:18-30

¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. ¹⁹ For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. ²⁰ For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope ²¹ that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. ²² For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. ²³ And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. ²⁴ For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. 

²⁶ Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. ²⁷ And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. ²⁸ And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. ²⁹ For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. ³⁰ And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. 

There is nothing that compares to the glory to come.  There is nothing that can reflect the true image.  All things are but Shadows, not of the former glory, but the glory yet to come.  The Lord of all Creation has caused his Creation to suffer and groan as it prepares for its future.  God has given us a solid hope.

This hope is not something that we can see, but it is certainly something we can recognize.  We do not get to see the hope which is to come.  But we wait patiently for the return of Jesus Christ.  Jesus does not allow us to see our Future hope, but he gives us a glimpse of it.  We have a glimpse of our future glory in the glorification of Jesus Christ on his Resurrection.

This may sound a little confusing and it is.  Jesus Christ is our glimpse to the future.  He is also a glimpse into our reality.  He shows us our sins as he takes them upon himself on the cross.  He shows us our new life as he rises from the dead.  Be patient for your hope will become certain in the near future.  Jesus was only the firstborn among many brothers in the resurrection from the dead.

Christ has risen and so we shall arise.

The Sunday of the Prophet Daniel (GA)

Mark 2:1-12

And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. ² And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. ³ And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. ⁴ And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. ⁵ And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” ⁶ Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, ⁷ “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” ⁸ And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? ⁹ Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? ¹⁰ But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— ¹¹ “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” ¹² And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!” 

Which is easier to say?  I have often loved hearing sermons talk about how easy it is to say, "your sins are forgiven."  Others will focus on the authority to forgive sins is given to men.  Even same will claim that to heal someone is a simple miracle, while forgiveness of sins is a God event or something greater than a miracle.

Today, I think we will take a look at blaspheming.  If someone comes up to you on the street and tells you all your sins or transgressions are forgiven, is this Blaspheme?  If someone performs a miracle, are they Blaspheming?  Here is the simple answer.  They are only Blaspheming against God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) by doing it in the name of another deity.

Jesus on the other hand is the Son of the Living God.  Therefore, He can forgive sins because he is God.  He can heal a paralytic because he is God.  He is not Blaspheming against himself.  Jesus is proving that he has the authority to forgive sins.  God uses this to remind all believers that they have the power or authority to forgive sins as well.  But your sins are not forgiven in the name of Bob or David, or Michael.  Your sins are forgiven in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  The Triune God has forgiven your sins.

The Sunday of the Prophet Daniel (G)

Mark 13:14-23

¹⁴ “But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. ¹⁵ Let the one who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter his house, to take anything out, ¹⁶ and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. ¹⁷ And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! ¹⁸ Pray that it may not happen in winter. ¹⁹ For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be. ²⁰ And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days. ²¹ And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. ²² For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. ²³ But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand. 

Jesus Christ closes this section with "be on guard."  He started an earlier section with this same phrase. We should always be on guard, because temptation is all around.  Jesus gives us two strong illustrations.  The Abomination of Desolation and the False Christs and False Prophets are warnings to those who may be lead astray.

The Abomination of desolation harkens back to Daniel chapter 12.  The Prophet talks about the Abomination of the Sacrifice.  The Abomination of Desolation has been understood differently by different readers.  But it should stand as a warning of the coming destruction of Jerusalem and the temple.  Jesus says that a person will be able to flee, thus it does not sound like the final Judgment, but let the reader understand.

Jesus continues to talk about days that are unlike any other days in History.  God will bring Judgment upon his people for their sins.  God will shorten his time of Judgment so that some people will be saved.  During this time people will be lead or pulled in many different directions.  These people are false prophets or false Christs.

God has shortened the time of suffering so that people might endure.  God has provided people with true prophets and a true Christ.  This true Christ has died for your sins.  This true Jesus has saved you from your sins.  Be on your guard concerning all these things and all those things that might lead you away from the Christ.  Jesus has warned you that these things will come.

The Sunday of the Prophet Daniel (NTA)

Revelation 20:11- 21:8

¹¹ Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. ¹² And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. ¹³ And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. ¹⁴ Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. ¹⁵ And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. 

21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. ² And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ³ And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. ⁴ He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” 

⁵ And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” ⁶ And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. ⁷ The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. ⁸ But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

I have always enjoyed the scene at the end of Chapter 20.  God throws Death, Hades, Satan, and those who were not found in the Book of Life into the lake of Fire.  Most of us picture Hades from the Disney movie with flames of fire, but here Hades is finally thrown into the lake of Fire.

It seems that most people today are not concerned by Death.  When people hear the word "Cancer" or "Terminal", what do they think?  Most of us decide that we are going to start fighting.  Some go out and start fundraisers or help search for the cure, when a family member hears these words.  How many ask if their name is written in the Book of Life?  How many wonder into which Lake they will be thrown?

Have you been purified by Fire and Water?  Will you find yourself in the Lake of the Fire?  Is your Name written in the Book of Life?  I do not mean on a church roster or some book found in your church office.  God opens up the book of Life and looks for names.  Those whose names are found int he book are brought into the Holy City, the New Jerusalem which descends from Heaven.  Those who do not have their names found will be cast into the Lake of Fire with Satan and Hades and Death.

Is your name in that book?  Have you been Baptized into Christ's death and resurrection?  John the Baptist tells us Christ will Baptize you with Fire and the Holy Spirit.  In your baptism you were purified by Fire and Water.  In your Baptism you were redeemed of all your transgressions.  Your name has been written in the Book of Life, by your Good Shepherd and the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the World.  The second death has no hold on you.  Do not fear the Lake of Fire, but show concern for others who will be cast into the Lake of Fire.

The Sunday of the Prophet Daniel (CL)

Daniel 12:1-13

“At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. ² And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. ³ And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. ⁴ But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” 

⁵ Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others stood, one on this bank of the stream and one on that bank of the stream. ⁶ And someone said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, “How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?” ⁷ And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished. ⁸ I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, “O my lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?” ⁹ He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. ¹⁰ Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand. ¹¹ And from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days. ¹² Blessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days. ¹³ But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days.” 

I hear this text used in one of the recent episodes of CSI: Crime Scene Investigators (CBS.com).  They used this text to illustrate that one who was dead seemed to be talking to them and helping certain people.  The one dead person had been brought to life.

Most people today believe that our loved ones remain with us in memory and love.  Others believe these people can actively work in our lives to help us and protect us.  Some even like to think of the dead as Angels who are watching over us.

Your loved ones who have died in the faith are still with you.  Since they belong to the body of Christ and you belong to the body of Christ, they are joined with you through Christ.  Christ who has promised to be with you always.

Saint Michael the ArchAngel does lead his forces to take care of the people of God.  God sends his angels out to protect and take care of us, but these are not human spirits these are Angels.  Michael was not a person but created as an Angel and remains an Angel.

This text should not be used to illustrate other people coming back to life to protect us, but to remind us that some will rise to eternal damnation and others to everlasting life.  God will come and raise dust back to life.  He will Judge these people of dust.  Some will be condemned on account of their sins.  Others will be forgiven or redeemed on account of Christ's righteousness.  Walk in faith as you go your own way, whether you rest in the dust or are still standing when Christ Returns you will be redeemed by your faith in Christ Jesus.

Proper 28 (Ps) November 18th

Psalm 15:1-5

¹  O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent? 

Who shall dwell on your holy hill? 

²  He who walks blamelessly and does what is right 

and speaks truth in his heart; 

³  who does not slander with his tongue 

and does no evil to his neighbor, 

nor takes up a reproach against his friend; 

⁴  in whose eyes a vile person is despised, 

but who honors those who fear the Lord; 

who swears to his own hurt and does not change; 

⁵  who does not put out his money at interest 

and does not take a bribe against the innocent. 

He who does these things shall never be moved. 

Who can dwell in the house of the Lord?  Who could walk with the Lord?  Well as I understand it only someone who does good and leads a Holy Life.  Those who speak the truth in all things are able to walk with the Lord.  The one who does not evil against his neighbor could dwell in the house of the Lord.

The Psalmist gives us a pretty good list of requirements, but it is simple.  Be Holy as the Lord our God is holy.  This is a list of what Holy people do.  Are you a Holy person?  Most of us think we are Holy because we are nice people.  Sometimes it is just about taking care of our neighbor every once and a while.  But you need to make sure no falsehood touches your lips.  You need to make sure no reproach enters your neighbor.

Luckily, you are holy as the Lord our God is holy.  The command is made to remind us, we are sinful and unclean.  But Jesus Christ has died for the forgiveness of all your sins.  Christ has made you Holy as the Lord your God is Holy.  You may not do anything on this list, but you are still holy.

Who can dwell in the house of the Lord?  Those who have been redeemed by Christ crucified.  Who could walk with the Lord?  Those redeemed in the blood of Christ Jesus our Lord.

Proper 28 (OTA)

Micah 4:1-13

It shall come to pass in the latter days 

that the mountain of the house of the Lord 

shall be established as the highest of the mountains, 

and it shall be lifted up above the hills; 

and peoples shall flow to it, 

²  and many nations shall come, and say: 

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, 

to the house of the God of Jacob, 

that he may teach us his ways 

and that we may walk in his paths.” 

For out of Zion shall go forth the law, 

and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 

³  He shall judge between many peoples, 

and shall decide for strong nations far away; 

and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, 

and their spears into pruning hooks; 

nation shall not lift up sword against nation, 

neither shall they learn war anymore; 

⁴  but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, 

and no one shall make them afraid, 

for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken. 

⁵  For all the peoples walk 

each in the name of its god, 

but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God 

forever and ever. 

⁶  In that day, declares the Lord, 

I will assemble the lame 

and gather those who have been driven away 

and those whom I have afflicted; 

⁷  and the lame I will make the remnant, 

and those who were cast off, a strong nation; 

and the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion 

from this time forth and forevermore. 

⁸  And you, O tower of the flock, 

hill of the daughter of Zion, 

to you shall it come, 

the former dominion shall come, 

kingship for the daughter of Jerusalem. 

⁹  Now why do you cry aloud? 

Is there no king in you? 

Has your counselor perished, 

that pain seized you like a woman in labor? 

¹⁰  Writhe and groan, O daughter of Zion, 

like a woman in labor, 

for now you shall go out from the city 

and dwell in the open country; 

you shall go to Babylon. 

There you shall be rescued; 

there the Lord will redeem you 

from the hand of your enemies. 

¹¹  Now many nations 

are assembled against you, 

saying, “Let her be defiled, 

and let our eyes gaze upon Zion.” 

¹²  But they do not know 

the thoughts of the Lord; 

they do not understand his plan, 

that he has gathered them as sheaves to the threshing floor. 

¹³  Arise and thresh, 

O daughter of Zion, 

for I will make your horn iron, 

and I will make your hoofs bronze; 

you shall beat in pieces many peoples; 

and shall devote their gain to the Lord, 

their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth. 

The people of God will go to Babylon, but they will be redeemed.  God will rescue his people from the hands of their enemies.  In this there will be peace.  The war will end and they will no longer make weaponry.  For all people will gather together at Mt Zion and learn from the Lord.

There seems to be a lot going on here.  But one thing that may be over looked in trying to sort through all the detail, is God is proclaiming his truth.  God is revealing things about fig trees.  God is revealing things about war or battle.  God is revealing things about his instruction.  Yet, God still talks about his judgment and redemption.

Often times when we read through passages of scripture we often over look the most basic thing.  It is God's Word.  God is instructing his people about what he is going to do.  God is speaking the truth to all generations.  But we often times forget that God is speaking the truth.

God speaks the truth.  God does not just instruct his people on a Mountain.  He instructs us everyday through his Word.  He tells us about many and various things.  God tells us the truth of our sinful life.  God tells us about a path for Redeeming his people.  He has forgiven you of all your sins.  He has made peace between you and God.  Hopefully, you can relax under a fig tree.

Proper 28 (GA)

Mark 13:24-31

²⁴ “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, ²⁵ and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. ²⁶ And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. ²⁷ And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. 

²⁸ “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. ²⁹ So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. ³⁰ Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. ³¹ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 

Jesus tells us what is going to happen to the world around us.  God will send out his angels and they will gather his people from all the earth.  Learn from the fig tree.  This generation will not pass away until all these things have take place.  The Sun will darkened and the Moon will not be there to give light.  The heavens will be shaken, and the son of Man will be going on the clouds.

The Son of Man coming on the clouds always makes me think of the coming of the Lord.  But the Lord was taken up on the clouds at his ascension.  The Day turned Dark while Jesus was nailed to the cross.  When Christ gave up his spirit the earth quaked, but did heaven.  What about stars falling from heaven?

When Jesus died on the cross the world was judged.  When Jesus Christ was crucified God sent out his messengers to call people from the ends of the earth to true faith.  God continues to call and gather his chosen people from the four winds.

Jesus proclaims a day of judgment, but it is also a day of rejoicing.  God darkens his creation, only to bring light through faith in Jesus Christ.  This is the truth, which God has proclaimed.  This will not pass away, even though heaven and earth may pass away.

Proper 28 (NTA)

Philippians 2:1-11

2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, ² complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. ³ Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. ⁴ Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. ⁵ Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. ⁹ Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

Wouldn't it be great if everyone just thought like I did?  Wouldn't it be great if people didn't have arguments and disagreements?  The dream of a world where everyone was of one mind and one spirit.  The dream is a world without sin.  But this only comes in a world in which every knee bows and every tongue confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Christ empties himself completely in order to recreate this world.  Christ does not look to his own interests, but to the interests of the world.  Christ does not show selfishness, but gives himself completely.  Christ may be confessed as Lord, but he make himself a slave to his Father's plan.

It would be nice if we were able to have this world.  It would be nice if we were able to give completely of ourselves.  But we are not Christ.  We are not without sin.  Sadly we live in a world of selfish people.  We live in a world of people that only look to their own interests.  God on the other hand looks out for you.  He provides you with life.

Proper 28 (NT)

Romans 8:12-17

¹² So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. ¹³ For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. ¹⁴ For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. ¹⁵ For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” ¹⁶ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷ and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. 

St Paul calls us slaves and debtors.  We are not slaves to our flesh but slaves to the spirit.  We are not debtors to the flesh, but debtors to the Spirit who gives us life.  It is the Spirit that comes into our hearts crying out, "Abba! Father!"  But all this only leads us to verse 17.

You have to suffer with Christ in order that you will be glorified with Christ.  The Life of a Christian is a life of suffering.  It is not the easy life.  It is a constant battle between our own flesh and the Spirit of God.  It is a battle between fear of the world around us and fear of God.  This battle will not end until Christ returns or we close our eyes in death.  Until then it is the duty or gift of every Christian to fight with the Spirit of God to put to death the works of the flesh.

We do not fight this war alone.  We do not fight this war without certainty of Victory.  There are many battles on the way to Victory in which we may lose.  But in these we suffer along with Christ. As we suffer with Christ, we still have certainty that we will be glorified with Christ Jesus.  Christ has died to claim your Victory.  He has won the war, and the Holy Spirit fights with you in every battle.  God will be your strength as you continue to fight this war in the flesh.