Ninth Sunday after Pentecost (GA)

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. 

There are many false teachers and false believers out there. Jesus warns us very well to avoid and look out for false prophets. Here Jesus even includes the idea of false christs. He gives us a warning of a time of destruction in Israel. There are many who connect these signs and wonders to the end, or the Second coming of Christ. While I think there are parts that point us forward to what we may face in the future. Some seems to already have taken place.

I know that as American Christians, it may not matter if it happens in winter (especially if it is winter in Jerusalem). We seem to be able to travel pretty well in winter or summer. Likewise, the Abomination of desolation was supposed to take place in the temple in Jerusalem, which was exactly what the disciples were asking about prior to this. The temple has been destroyed already for its abominations to the LORD.

Do not be misled to think these events are yet to come. Do not be misled to think these events have already come and gone. You are surrounded by false christs and false prophets. They are teaching in synagogues, temples, churches, and other religious gatherings every day. I can guaranty that you have heard them speak on at least one occasion. I seem to run into them about once a week.

Be on guard, for people who are not reminding you of your sins. God has called his people to be reproved for their misdeeds and false actions. You are a sinner. You have fallen short of the glory of God. You are not a good person. You have failed. But Christ has won the victory. He has claimed you in his blood sacrifice. We may not be the best at watching out for false teaching. Thus, we cling to the cross of Christ to forgive our misguided understandings, and lack of faith. I believe Lord, help my unbelief and deliver me from all the false teaching that surrounds us.

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost (NTA)

^{1 John 5:6-12}

⁶ This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. ⁷ For there are three that testify: ⁸ the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. ⁹ If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. ¹⁰ Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. ¹¹ And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. ¹² Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 

I love the idea that I can make God a liar. St John uses this same line a couple different times in his epistle. We make God a liar, by denying what God has said or not believing what God has said. St John is not giving you some great power to turn God into the devil (the chief of all liars), but is illustrating how our actions testify to our lack of faith, understanding, and connection with the Truth.

In this modern culture "truth" seems to be a very subjective or relative term. But long ago God taught us how to determine whether a testimony was true. You needed two or three witnesses, if these witnesses agreed then it was true. Now granted if you put up three witnesses that testify that I am a chicken, and I put up three witnesses testifying that I am a cow. I think the truth would still remain that I am a human male. But nevertheless St John is talking about the testimony concerning who Jesus is.

The chief priests said that Jesus was possibly a prophet or teacher of the people who claimed to be much more. Jesus was crucified for claiming to be King of the Jews. St Thomas declares Jesus to be "my LORD and my God." But St John does not use these testimonies, rather he uses what the people still have.

The Water that testifies that God has washed you clean and adopted you to be his child. The Blood of Christ which is the blood of the sacrifice for the forgiveness of your sins. This blood which cleanses you. The Spirit which is the truth as Jesus is the truth with the Father. But even more so the Spirit that calls gathers and enlightens us in the truth of Jesus Christ and his sacrifice for our sins.

These three testify together concerning Jesus Christ and what he has done for you. Therefore, you may testify differently, and try to claim that God is a liar, or even the TRUTH is a liar. But it won't make it any less true. So St John concludes that it must be true that: Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost (OT)

Leviticus 5:14-19

¹⁴ The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ¹⁵ “If anyone commits a breach of faith and sins unintentionally in any of the holy things of the Lord, he shall bring to the LORD as his compensation, a ram without blemish out of the flock, valued in silver shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, for a guilt offering. ¹⁶ He shall also make restitution for what he has done amiss in the holy thing and shall add a fifth to it and give it to the priest. And the priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the guilt offering, and he shall be forgiven. 

¹⁷ “If anyone sins, doing any of the things that by the LORD’s commandments ought not to be done, though he did not know it, then realizes his guilt, he shall bear his iniquity. ¹⁸ He shall bring to the priest a ram without blemish out of the flock, or its equivalent for a guilt offering, and the priest shall make atonement for him for the mistake that he made unintentionally, and he shall be forgiven. ¹⁹ It is a guilt offering; he has indeed incurred guilt before the Lord.”

These are the regulations for offering guilt offerings. There are many times in each of our lives, when we realize later and not in the moment that we have committed a crime against the Law of God. This can either come from our lack of focus on what we are actually doing, or because we do not keep the Law always before our eyes.

In the course of this week or even this day, you will find times when you do not remember all your loved ones. You may even forget about people that are very important to you. If you don't believe me, then just think of the times when you get up to do something and once you get to the other room, you have forgotten what you were going to do. This can happen with anything in our life. We can get distracted by the thoughts running through our head. There can be change in conversation. Or simply your mind is need to focus so much on the task in front of you that you block everything else out.

So we do block out our family, friends, and even the Law of God. Then it comes to us later. You forgot about a doctor's appointment. You forgot about a child's test, or event. You forgot an anniversary. Or something as devastating as you forgot the Law of God, and that God does not want you to do certain behaviors. We can come up with all kinds of excuses for such behavior, but the guilt is still there.

Thus, God established the guilt offerings for the people to bring a sacrifice and make atonement for their misdeeds. Here the blood of animals removes the guilt of their sin. But for you it does not cost a ram from your flock or the equivalent silver, the price of your sin and guilt is paid with the blood of Christ. You confess your sins of guilt and shame, and God who is faithful and just has provided you with the everlasting sacrifice for your sin and guilt, Jesus Christ. 

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost (CL)

2 Timothy 4:1-8

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: ² preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. ³ For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, ⁴ and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. ⁵ As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 

⁶ For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. 

The world is full of people that are set on one side or the other. The world has become such a divisive place. All these people clambering for a voice that sounds like their own. St Paul talks about people having itching ears, and these are people he is talking about. He is therefore warning St Timothy to watch out for these people, and not to accommodate them.

But there are some people who are itching to hear the good news of Jesus Christ. There are others who are itching to know how they are supposed to live their life. These are not answered by pandering or relaxing the rule of faith. These people need the help of the Church to actually proclaim the Law in its fullness, to convict people's hearts and minds. As on the Day of Pentecost when St Peter preached, and the people were cut to the heart by the harsh reality that they crucified the Son of God.

But in our preaching of the Law, we can not forget the comfort of the Gospel. The Gospel that even as we have put Christ to death, his death was necessary for our forgiveness. Christ provided the eternal sacrifice for our sins and death could not hold this man. Jesus called himself, "the resurrection and the life." So he is the one who brings us life, and fights the good fight with us. In fact, he has won the victory already for us.

So in this divisive world, we need to make sure we stand with the harshness of God's Law and the compassion of Christ's sacrifice for all people.

The Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

OT: Leviticus 5:14-19
OTA: Jeremiah 27:8-22
CL: 2 Timothy 4:1-8
NTA: 1 John 5:6-12
G: John 5:30-47
GA: Mark 13:14-23
Ps: Psalm 1:1-6

August 2nd

Collect of the Day:

Almighty, eternal God, in the Word of Your Apostles and prophets You have proclaimed to us Your saving will.  Grant us faith to believe Your promises that we may receive eternal salvation; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Theme for the Week          Sound Teaching

Verse of the Week:            2 Timothy 4:7

Daily Bible Reading List:

Mon: 2 Timothy 4:1-8          Tues: Leviticus 5:14-19      Wed: 1 John 5:6-12

Thurs:            Mark 13:14-23          Fri: Jeremiah 27:8-22

Catechism Reading:

The First Article: Creation

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,

Maker of heaven and earth.

What does this mean?

I believe that God has made me and all creatures;

that He has given me my body and soul,

eyes, ears, and all my members,

my reason and all my senses, and still takes care of them.

He also gives me clothing and shoes,

food and drink, house and home, wife and children,

land, animals, and all I have.

He richly and daily provides me with all that I need

to support this body and life.

He defends me against all danger

and guards and protects me from all evil.

All this He does only out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy,

without any merit or worthiness in me.

For all this it is my duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him.

This is most certainly true.

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost (OTA)

Jeremiah 27:8-22

⁸ “ ‘ “But if any nation or kingdom will not serve this Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and put its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, I will punish that nation with the sword, with famine, and with pestilence, declares the LORD, until I have consumed it by his hand. ⁹ So do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your dreamers, your fortune-tellers, or your sorcerers, who are saying to you, ‘You shall not serve the king of Babylon.’ ¹⁰ For it is a lie that they are prophesying to you, with the result that you will be removed far from your land, and I will drive you out, and you will perish. ¹¹ But any nation that will bring its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him, I will leave on its own land, to work it and dwell there, declares the LORD.” ’ ” 

¹² To Zedekiah king of Judah I spoke in like manner: “Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people and live. ¹³ Why will you and your people die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence, as the Lord has spoken concerning any nation that will not serve the king of Babylon? ¹⁴ Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are saying to you, ‘You shall not serve the king of Babylon,’ for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you. ¹⁵ I have not sent them, declares the LORD, but they are prophesying falsely in my name, with the result that I will drive you out and you will perish, you and the prophets who are prophesying to you.” 

¹⁶ Then I spoke to the priests and to all this people, saying, “Thus says the LORD: Do not listen to the words of your prophets who are prophesying to you, saying, ‘Behold, the vessels of the LORD’s house will now shortly be brought back from Babylon,’ for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you. ¹⁷ Do not listen to them; serve the king of Babylon and live. Why should this city become a desolation? ¹⁸ If they are prophets, and if the word of the LORD is with them, then let them intercede with the LORD of hosts, that the vessels that are left in the house of the LORD, in the house of the king of Judah, and in Jerusalem may not go to Babylon. ¹⁹ For thus says the LORD of hosts concerning the pillars, the sea, the stands, and the rest of the vessels that are left in this city, ²⁰ which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon did not take away, when he took into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem— ²¹ thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning the vessels that are left in the house of the LORD, in the house of the king of Judah, and in Jerusalem: ²² They shall be carried to Babylon and remain there until the day when I visit them, declares the LORD. Then I will bring them back and restore them to this place.” 

How many people are asking for people to deny religion? Are there not people who are seeking other forms of spirituality? Jeremiah reminds the people how, prophets, diviners, dreamers, fortune-tellers, and sorcerers have told them their life is going to get better. Often times today people are looking for someone to tell them, "it is going to get better." People say this, about a great many things, and often times it is just a lie. Things do not get better, sometimes things fade into the past and new things replace them, but that does not mean things are better.

You can thinking about how accepting our culture is, and then look at all the divisions and stereo types that we develop. Immigration has always been a problem in the United States, it has generally just depended on who is the most recent group to come to our country. These people work harder then we do. They are more ambitious than we are, and often times this is simply because they gave up everything they had to get here.

But Jeremiah is not talking about imigration he is talking about punishment. God is going to punish his people. One because they are looking for answers everywhere except where he told them to look. Second, they have become a corrupt nation that mistreats its own people, and enjoys its wickedness. Therefore, God is going to send the Babylonians to lead his people into excile.

The LORD recalls for the people to know how their kings have brought destruction upon their own heads. He even illustrates how the temple of the LORD is going to be plundered. This is parrelelled to the idea that the LORD is going to abandon his people, because of their wickedness. He is then going to visit his people as an enemy. 

We are enemies of God. We make ourselves enemies as we praise his enemies, and the various lies they produce. We seek after God in all the wrong places. While Jesus Christ has pointed us to a very simple place in which we can find him. He is there in our text. He is there in the word of God. Jesus Christ is found on all those pages. Yes, he is found expressed here in condemnation of your wicked behavior. He is not going to tell you thinks are going to get better. he is telling you he is going to make you into something better.

God sent his Son to die for your sins. In the blood of Christ the temple of God was abandoned on the cross. The Temple of God was destroyed and buried. It was also rebuilt as the first fruits of your resurrection. The Temple now makes you to be temples. So that you can be place where God can dwell among his people. In your hearts, through His word.

Eighth Sunday after Pentecost (OTA)

Micah 4:6-13

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 are going to writhe and groan like a woman in labor. They are going to suffer. They are going to be removed from their city and their place of comfort or strength. This text even illustrates the people who are going to be gathered as "lame." God is going to drive his people away in order to bring back the afflicted. Those that are cast off he will transform into his strong nation.

You know of people that are suffering in all kinds of different ways. Some suffer with physical problems. Others suffer from mental distress. Some people even suffer from loneliness, or being separated from those they love. Here God is reminding the people how he is going to send them into exile in Babylon. He is going to remove them from comfort and security.

It is only when we are broken and removed from our comfort and security that God can truly rescue his people. When we are made weak, he is made strong. God shows his people their weaknesses. He reminds us of our sinful disobedience. He reminds us that we are lame, afflicted, and in need. It is during this time of need, like a woman in labor desiring relief from her pain. God comes to gather the daughter of Zion. He comes to make her strong.

Eighth Sunday after Pentecost (G)

John 5:19-29

¹⁹ So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. ²⁰ For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. ²¹ For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. ²² The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, ²³ that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. ²⁴ Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. 

²⁵ “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. ²⁶ For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. ²⁷ And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. ²⁸ Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice ²⁹ and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. 

The time is coming when all the tombs will hear the voice of the Son. Those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. All the dead will finally be raised. The time that has already arrived rather is the time when the dead will hear the voice fo the son of God and live.

How can they hear unless someone speaks? How can I learn unless I am taught? How can the dead be raised? Christ speaks his word into blind men's ears and they can see. Jesus opens the ears of the deaf, to hear the word of Life. This word is not spoken randomly, but the Son speaks on behalf of the Father. So if the Father has power over life and death, then so does the Son. If the Father has the right to judge and hands that over to the Son, I think that is up to the Father to decide.

Jesus is teaching us about the good things and the bad things. We are all dead. We are dead in our sins, so when the Son speaks to us he can offer us life. When we have been given life and faith through the Son, we are alive. If we do not listen to the Word of God, we do not have life, and thus we are condemned. This is the time for speaking, and proclaiming this good news. The time is coming when those who have done good will come out to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil will come out to the resurrection of judgment. Hear the Word of the LORD.

Eighth Sunday after Pentecost (OT)

Exodus 19:1-15

On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. ² They set out from Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There Israel encamped before the mountain, ³ while Moses went up to God. The Lord called to him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: ⁴ You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. ⁵ Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; ⁶ and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.” 

⁷ So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. ⁸ All the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.” And Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord. ⁹ And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am coming to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever.” 

When Moses told the words of the people to the Lord, ¹⁰ the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments ¹¹ and be ready for the third day. For on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. ¹² And you shall set limits for the people all around, saying, ‘Take care not to go up into the mountain or touch the edge of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death. ¹³ No hand shall touch him, but he shall be stoned or shot; whether beast or man, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.” ¹⁴ So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people; and they washed their garments. ¹⁵ And he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman.” 

Okay don't have sex, don't touch the mountain, keep the animals away from the mountain, and keep the covenant. This all sounds simple enough. God bore the people on Eagles wings, bringing them up out of the land of Egypt. The LORD is making this people a treasured possession, a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. But they need to prepare themselves for his coming.

The people's response seems a little too simple, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do." This is a little like me asking you for a favor, and you saying, "Of course how can I help." Then me telling you how I need help breaking people out of prison and leaving the planet, or something else relatively impossible. They know what God has done for them. They know the covenant that God is beginning to make with them. But they do not yet know how difficult this task is.

How difficult is it for you to keep your children with you in a crowded place? How easy is it for you to stop your pets from running away? Now I going to give you roughly six hundred thousand children, which each have their own pet. All you have to do is keep them from not touching a mountain for three days. You think you can handle that? I just wonder how many people or animals got killed.

God does expect the impossible from us. He does expect us to be holy as he is holy. But he also knows very well that we are going to fail. He knows that we deserve to be stoned or shot. Thanks be to the LORD who delivered his people out of Egypt, that he delivers us from this deserved death. He sent Jesus Christ to die in our place and for our sins. He gives us the sacrifice for our redemption. The Passover Lamb is sacrificed for our deliverance from our failure. So St Paul can remind us that we are God's treasured possession, kingdom of priests and a holy nation.