Fourth Sunday after Epiphany (Sermon)

Cleansing You His Temple

John 2:13-22

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Our text for today is a very important lesson for all of us to remember, it is the cleansing of the temple. I first want to give you some technical information. Second tell you about the actual sign Jesus gives them. Third tell you why this important for our baptismal life, since you are baptized into Christ.

Every year for the celebration of the Passover there were requirements that everyone was supposed to have. They were supposed to bring forth and sacrifice a choice lamb. We often remember that we are supposed to give first to the Lord. But first, really means the best of what you have. So this means we are supposed to not just purchase some second hand thing, or outsource our giving, but give the first, and the best of our time, talents, and money.

But now the real technical stuff. I am going to talk about the difference between the Temple and the temple or this temple. Jesus enters the Temple of God and he drives out the money changers and cattle sellers from the House of his Father. This is because the house of his Father is supposed to be a house of prayer. Jesus shows that he is consumed by zeal, adoration, and respect for his Father's house.

Similarly, we often enjoy this text because we have reverence for our church, and place of worship. We recognize that we have holy space here, where we hear the word of God and receive forgiveness of sins. So this place is holy, and where God has promised to be with us.

In contrast, "So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”" Jesus the word changed, did  you notice? Of course not, but in the original there is a different term for temple being used. This temple is no longer the house or structure where his Father has promised to be and dwell with his people. "this temple" is something different. Thankfully, John tells us, "But he was speaking about the temple of his body."

St Paul tells us, "your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you." St Paul uses the same word John records, for destroy "this temple." Because we gather together as the people of God in the house of our heavenly Father, but we are all temples of God, or the Holy Spirit. So on one hand the cleansing of the temple is about designating a holy space for us to gather together, and on the other hand it is about cleansing you of all the filth and iniquity in your life.

This is Jesus' sign. This is the same sign, mystery, or sacrament that we celebrated today. It is about Baptism. The disciples remember this conversation about the temple being destroyed and raised on the third day after Christ dies and three days later rises from the dead. They recognize that as being the actual sign that gives all of Jesus words, teaching, and acts validation.

Christ death and resurrection is connected to you through the waters of Baptism. You die with Christ in those waters. You are raised to new life in those waters. St Paul even writes, "Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life."

Jesus cleanses the actual house of his Father, and the sign he gives is that he cleanses you of all your sins. He does not just have zeal for his father's house, but he has zeal for you. This is why he calls you to the waters of Baptism, in order to join you with his death and resurrection. There he has provided you with new life.

Thus, the question for you to ask yourself is how clean is your life? Do you have a dusty corner in your life for God? Do you have a prominent place for God? Do you view the world through the lens of God's word, noticing when scripture comes true in your own life? The disciples remembered what the Psalmist wrote, about zeal consuming the Messiah. The disciples remembered what Jesus says, even after his resurrection and believe. We might even say it affirmed their faith or strengthened their faith.

It is difficult for us to view the world around us, through the lens of Holy Scripture if we don't know it. So do you do your daily devotions? Have you read your bible cover to cover? Do you just have it as another book on your shelf? Maybe take it out and read it every once and a while.

This is all about how we live out our baptismal life. You have been cleansed in Baptism. You have been crucified with Christ, drowning the Old Adam. God has raised you to new life, just as he raised Christ from the dead. Now what? Are you going to squander this life you have been given? Are you going to help other people to see the glorious gift you have been give in Baptism? Maybe would should focus a little less on Materialism, Rationalism, and justifying ourselves, and look to the cross of Christ.

So let me leave you with the words of St Paul as he encourages us to live out our Baptismal life, "We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. 

"Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness."

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

Third Sunday after Epiphany (Sermon)

Jesus Wine is a Foretaste

John 2:1-12

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Our text for this morning comes from the Gospel lesson. There is a wedding feast. Jesus, Mary, and his disciples have been invited to join in the celebration of one man and one woman being join together. They make the pledge to love, honor, cherish, and respect one another. We love to be able to go and celebrate this wonderful mystery of the two becoming one flesh.

We also know how much time it takes to plan a wedding. We know all the little details that have to be made just right for a wedding. There is decorating the church. There is outlining the service and the music. There is even the reception that follows. Then you have the clothing and the food. Yes, you even have to plan how much wine there is. All the things that go into this celebration. There is much expense and much effort put into all the details.

Everything is supposed to planned out. Now take all that planning and preparation not just for the hour long service and the three to five hour reception, but over the course of an entire week. There has to be food and wine for these people to come and celebrate the two becoming one flesh for an entire week. The guests do not go home after the toast or dance is over. It is not a small group that gets together later to help open presents, but the entire village, community, and extended family remain.

You have to provide not just one festive meal, but three meals per day over the course of a week. This is not even counting the additional snacks and hors-d’oeuvres that one might add. It is a full week of celebration. And you definitely do not want to run out of food or wine.

This is where we get to our text. The feast is starting to run out of wine. This wedding feast is starting to lack some of the necessities that make up a feast. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” She turns to Jesus, because she knows that he can do something to solve this problem. 

And Jesus said to Mary, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” Jesus does not see this as his problem to solve. He did not come into the world in order to provide wine at a simple feast, or wedding banquet. Jesus comes to die for the forgiveness of sins, and it is not time for him to die yet. Yet, Mary said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

And the servants listen to her, even though she is just another invited guest and so is Jesus. These servants of the feast are going to do whatever Jesus tells them. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the [purification] jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim.

These jars are used for people to be purified. These are the jars that would traditionally be filled with water. The water from these Jars would then be used to preform baptisms. They would use them to cleanse their body of dirt, as well as make people ceremonially clean. Jesus tells them to fill the Jars, and the servants do it. They do not ask why, or even wonder what must come next.

Mary tells Jesus to do something and Jesus honors his mother and does it. The servants are told to do something, and they do not ask why or for what purpose, they just do it. You have been told to do a lot of things, and yet we continue to ask why.

Why must we go to Church? Why should I honor my parents? Why should I obey the government? Why shouldn’t I commit sexual immorality? What is so wrong about homosexuality? Why can’t I have sex before marriage? Why is it so important that I not talk about my neighbor, even if I am telling the truth? Why shouldn’t I hurt or harm is reputation? If he didn’t want me to tell everyone, he shouldn’t have done it.

It is not our duty to ask why, it is our duty to obey. We are called to obey the master of the feast. We are to listen to the commandments of our heavenly father. We are to listen to the words of Jesus. And when then servants listen to Jesus and obey what he tells them. They take what they have drawn from the jars and serve it to the master of the feast.

The master of the feast goes to the bridegroom and complains. He tells him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.”

We are called to obey. We are called to bring forth wine, but the wine that we bring forth is lacking. The wine we produce is poor wine at best. All our good works and acts of love and devotion are but weak wine. But Jesus produces the best wine.

This wedding comes to join two individuals together to become one flesh. They are called to love each other, but Jesus shows the greatest love. There is no greater love than this that one would lay down his life for another. Jesus sacrifices himself for his bride. He pours out his very blood for her. Jesus washes her with that blood for her purification. He has washed you in his blood in the waters of baptism.

Similarly, he pours out his blood for you to drink. There may be Mogen David or whatever wine on the altar now, but Jesus pours out his very blood for you to drink. He offers that as a foretaste of the feast to come.

Here in the purification jars, Jesus has offered to them the foretaste of the feast to come. He offers them wine that is like none other. This is not wine produced by sinful flesh, in order to be consumed for intoxication. The very blood of Christ is shed for you for the forgiveness of your sins.

When you are lacking, or out of wine, When you are bringing forth your best, which is still weak, poor, or miserable wine, Jesus still brings the best. Jesus shows up at this wedding feast to bless it with a foretaste of the feast to come. He likewise offers you that same foretaste, as we celebrate the Lord’s Supper. Amen.

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

Second Sunday after Epiphany (Sermon)

The Apologetic of Philip

John 1:43-51

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Our text for this morning comes from the Gospel lesson. Jesus calls Philip to follow him, and Philip does not follow Jesus but instead goes and gets someone else. I have often loved this story of mission. There is a lot of little lessons in this story. But the one I want to think about is the Apologetics of Philip.

"Apologetics" is a big word that maybe you have not heard, or maybe you recognize a word it is related to, "Apologize." If you "Apologize" for something, you are generally saying you are sorry, or got something wrong, or did something wrong. "Apologetics" is about defending something you have said, believe, teach, or confess.

There has been a big boom in Christianity for people to study "Apologetics" or the defense of the faith. There are probably many of you that have struggled with how you can word something or phrase something so that people better understand it. Maybe you know what you believe but likewise don't understand why someone else does not believe what you do. So Christians like Ken Ham and Brian Young have stood their ground to defend the faith from Evolutionary thought, or old earth lies. Similarly, there is "Apologetics" work being done connected to Judaism, Islam, and even Post-Modernism.

But we can learn a lot from the Apologetics of Philip. Philip hears the Jesus call him, "Follow me." Philip without any education, or teaching, at least as it appears in the text, goes and finds Nathanael. Philip then tells Nathanael the good news. He says, "We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."

So we can follow this pattern and see someone and tell them we have found our Savior. We can talk about finding the Son of God, or the Word made flesh. We can even tell people how this man has come to die for the forgiveness of our sins. He has come to make you perfect and holy. But most of us are not willing to think we are in any need of changing. Most of us are very comfortable were we are. Nathanael himself was very comfortable under the fig tree.

So Nathanael says to Philip, "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" The dreaded question we all fear. We tell someone about Jesus or the Word of God, or the forgiveness of sins, and then comes the question. This question is different for everyone. The question that we don't find in any 5 quick steps to Evangelism, or 12 steps to conversion. The question does not appear on our cheat sheet. It is not even something we have ever given much thought.

Today, we get to do the Apologetics of Philip. What is Philip's answer? You might not get it at first. But Philip uses two strong imperatives, or commands. He tells Nathanael, "COME and SEE." You are probably enjoying it here under the fig tree, but you are not going to find answers here. You need to get up off your butt, stop making excuses and go look for yourself. Nathanael was not given the answer of, "you can find good anywhere" or "he is not really from Nazareth he was born in Bethlehem."

The Apologetic of Philip is very simple, "COME and SEE." Everyone has an excuse for not coming to church. People have there many excuses for not believing what the bible says. There are even people that struggle with understanding they are sinful and unclean. The answer is very simple, "COME and SEE."

You don't have to learn all those fancy terms and "Apologetics," just stick with the Apologetic of Philip. Now granted when you bring your friend, neighbor, or family member to church, you won't find Jesus who saw them sitting under the fig tree.

I guess I could tell everyone, I saw you sitting in your living room before "so-and-so" called you. But they will just think I am some kind of stalker. So we will avoid that part, and point them to Jesus. Jesus who is found in our text. Jesus of whom Nathanael calls him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!"

As we all come and see, gather together around the word of God, and hear the message of salvation brought forth. We continue to be strengthened in the True Faith. It is in the Waters of Baptism we are washed in the blood of Christ for our forgiveness, and receive the Holy Spirit. As we join with the Angels and Archangels in celebration over the giving of his body and blood in the Lord's Supper. It is even in the forgiveness of sins.

Nathanael did not need some long explanation about Nazareth and Jesus birth, because once he came and saw Jesus he recognized his sin. He noticed that this man has seen and known everything about him. Jesus knows everything about you.

Jesus knows where you have fallen short. He knows when you have sinned. He knows when you have helped someone. Jesus knew that Nathanael was a sinner, yet he still says, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!" Behold, you who are indeed one who will continue to struggle with God, an Israelite indeed. In you there is no deceit, falseness, lies, or sin. This is not because of your good or noble life, this is because you have Come and See. You have come to receive the forgiveness of sin. You have come and seen Jesus in flesh and blood.

So may we all use the Apologetic of Philip, Come and See. Therefore, we can all join together in the study of God's word and the forgiveness of sins, in Jesus Name. Amen.

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

The Baptism of the LORD (Sermon)

Baptism as Proclamation 

John 1:29-34

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Our text for this morning is from the Gospel of John. But as we celebrate the Baptism of our Lord, Saint John does not tell us about Jesus going down to the River, where John the Baptist is baptizing. There is no talk about John trying to stop Jesus. There is no voice from heaven nor narrative depiction of the Holy Spirit's descent. All we get is the simple testimony of the prophet, John the Baptist. John the Baptist is even only recounting how he knows this man is the actual Lamb of God, and Son of God.

 But today is not a day of celebrating prophecy fulfilled, but baptism. Many sermons will be preached on this day celebrating the gift God has given you in Baptism. Others will spend time actually talking about Jesus getting wet and bing Baptized by John the Baptist. I want to look at Baptism as the message of the promise.

In Acts, Philip is moved by the Spirit to approach a chariot. He hears the words of Isaiah being spoken. He uses these words of Isaiah to point to the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the World. He begins with Isaiah and points the Eunuch to Jesus Christ. 

I would urge you to take a little while this week, and think about that conversation. How would you talk about the sheep remaining silent before his slaughter, or his life being taken away from the earth, and lead that to Jesus? How does this conversation lead us to the Lamb of God who goes uncomplaining forth to the cross to die for the forgiveness of your sins? This Lamb of God who would even welcome the bodily mutilated, Eunuch, to be a part of his fellowship, family, or church.

I don't know about you but every time I think about this conversation, Baptism does not seem to have a strong part. Maybe you mention how now as children of God we are washed in the blood of the Lamb. Maybe you talk about Jesus going down to the river to take our sins upon himself, before he is led to the slaughter. But once the Ethiopian hears the message, and then they come across water, he says, "See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?”

The Eunuch after hearing about Jesus immediately recognizes a desire to be baptized. The message of Jesus, as the Lamb who goes to the slaughter, leads us to look to the waters of Baptism. The true promise that being Baptized in the Name of Christ helps connect you to life of Christ. St Paul writes, "Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?"

Likewise, John the Baptist comes to prepare the way of the Lord. He proclaims that Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the World. He recounts how he knows this, is because when Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River, “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him." This event and sign confirms Jesus to be the one John was sent to prepare the way for, and the Lamb of God. John even says, "And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” 

Many of you can quote various passages from scripture that tells us we are saved by faith. It is not what we do. It is not about any great event in our life, or conversion experience. It is not even about the family into which we have been born. It is all about faith. You are saved by faith, and faith comes by hearing, hearing through the word of God.

But today we see the connection between faith and baptism. This leads Jesus to say, "He who believes and is baptized shall be saved, who who does not believe will be condemned." Naturally, the question is asked what about he that believes and is not baptized. In the proclamation of Jesus Christ we do not envision how this scenario can happen.

When the good news of Jesus Christ is preached to you, there automatically comes a thought, move, or desire to be Baptized. This is why the Ethiopian asks to be baptized. This is why John calls people and Baptizes them. It is also through Baptism we are sealed with the Holy Spirit. Just as Jesus had the Holy Spirit come upon him and remain. So in Baptism the Holy Spirit came upon you. He continues to call you to believe, but the more we entrench our lives in the way of the world, the more we harden our hearts to the word of God, and the more we simply ignore the Holy Spirit, we are actively rejecting him.

Then the Holy Spirit does not remain with us. We stop being clean and become like everyone else, faithless. But as long as we continue to hear the Word of God, repent of our sins, because we have been granted faith by the Holy Spirit. We seek to remember and hold onto our Baptism, because in Baptism we died with Christ to sin, and have been raised to new life.

The proclamation or good news of saying Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the World, is connected to your life through Baptism. You who have been Baptized in the name of Jesus can point to this moment when the Holy Spirit descended upon you and remains there. He is there to forgive your sins. He is there to strengthen your faith. He is there to help point you to the testimony of John the Baptist and Saint John's testimony. 

"these [things] are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." Amen.

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

Second Sunday after Christmas (Sermon)

Baptism Testifies about You

John 2:23-25

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

In the gospel according to St John, Jesus performs his first sign at the Wedding of Cana. This is then followed by Jesus going up to the Passover feast and over turning tables. While Jesus is in Jerusalem, many come to believe in Jesus Christ, on account of his signs. But Jesus himself does not trust their belief, because he knows the hearts of all mankind.

John chapter one, sets the stage confirming Jesus Christ is the Son of the Most high. He is the very Word made flesh and the Light of all mankind. At the end of chapter 2 we get another narration, which reminds us Jesus knows everything that is in everyone. He is the all knowing creator  of all the living. 

John states, "because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man." Likewise, Moses recalls what is in all man as testified to by God, "The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."

We often like to say we do not know what is in anyone's heart. I can not look at you and tell whether you truly believe in Jesus Christ. Nor can I say whether you are truly one of the elect, or chosen children of God. I can't do this because I am not God.

Therefore, I look for testimonies about your faith. I listen to your words, as you have confessed your faith. I listen to your words, as you have confessed your sins with the expectation of the Forgiveness of sins. These things do bear witness to your faith in Jesus who died for the forgiveness of your sins.

But I also know the Word of God, which tells us that we are all conceived and born sinful and unclean. We have all fallen short of the glory of God. Every intention of our heart is bent toward evil. God calls the Heavens and the earth to be his witnesses. Even Moses says, "I call heaven and earth to witness against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse."

We may need these reminders to remind us that even the people we love are evil, sinful, and even unclean. We can easily look into our own heart and recognize the desire to do good. But we also see the things we wish we hadn't done, or worse the things we are glad we have done but know are wrong.

Therefore, we need to confess our sins. We turn to Jesus, who is the Lord of all the living, and the savior of all mankind. It is good news that many people have believed in Jesus Christ. So we likewise turn to Jesus and his Sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins, to find our own forgiveness.

In Baptism God has claimed you to be his very own. He has washed you in the blood of Jesus Christ. He has drowned the old Adam, or sinful flesh, within you. He raised you to new life. God has even transformed you, and given you a clean, and upright, heart.

Thus, even while your neighbors, creation, and even the devil may charge you with an endless number of sins, transgressions, and faults. Your Baptism proclaims you to be a new person, a redeemed person, and yes, even a saint.

In John chapter 2, these people believe because of Jesus' many and various signs. We likewise believe in him on account of his many and various signs. But not just the cleansing of a temple or changing water into wine. Nor do we believe and trust in Jesus because he fed five thousand men, or told a woman everything she had ever done. We believe in him who has laid down his life for you. Jesus Christ, the word made flesh, comes to die in our place and for your sins.

We are Baptized into Christ's death and resurrection. These are the signs we proclaim that Christ has done. Because in these we remember the evil we ourselves have done in our life. We are reminded of our own faults, our own failures.

We are also reminded of the new start we have been given. You get to begin anew each day. "I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin."

It is now our task, to testify concerning Jesus Christ with our lives. It is our task to testify about Christ's sacrifice for the forgiveness of your sin. It is our task to testify to the gift of a new life we have received. It is our task to testify to the forgiveness, or atonement, Christ has made for others.

I can not look at you and tell whether you truly believe in Jesus Christ. Nor can I say whether you are truly one of the elect, or chosen children of God. I can't do this because I am not God. But I can recognize that you have been  baptized, and we know the promise of Mark 16:16. 

Likewise I also know that Christ made his sacrifice for all the sins of the world, and that means he died for all your sins, whether or not you believe it. He died for all your neighbor's sins whether or not they believe it, so let us treat one another as people for whom Christ died.

Let our prayer, and our life follow like these simple words. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us so that our hearts may be at peace and may rejoice in a good conscience before You, and no sin may ever frighten or alarm us. Amen

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