Christmas For Misfits, Nobodies, Ragamuffins, And Losers

Text: Luke 2:15-20

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

God sure has a pattern of choosing misfits, nobodies, ragamuffins, and losers in carrying out His work, does He not?  For example, the Lord God claimed Israel, a slave nation in the Book of Exodus, to be His people.  He chose David, a shepherd, to be a King.  In the New Testament He called several dumpy fishermen and a tax collector to be His closest followers – Peter, Matthew, Andrew, James, and so forth.  He also called a zealot Pharisee who was doing his best to stamp God’s church right out of existence – the Apostle Paul. 

 

Now, contrary to popular opinion and staying consistent with His pattern of choosing, misfits, nobodies, ragamuffins, and losers, God did not announce the birth of the Christ Child to the great theologians of the synagogues or the prestigious priests in the temple.  Instead, the Lord does the exact opposite. The announcement of Jesus’ birth is given to the least likely people in the land - to shepherds.  Yes, add shepherds to God’s list of misfits, nobodies, ragamuffins, and losers.  Indeed, the message of the Son of God coming from heaven above to earth is given to not theologians in the synagogues or the priests in the temple, but scruffy shepherds out in a field. 

Keep in mind that these shepherds had nothing special about them.  They were a rough bunch, working a manual labor job with little pay.  They were most likely known as being religiously inconsistent with their piety.  However, God’s Word comes to these rough shepherds through His messenger – the Angel of the Lord.

Now, typically when angels visit humanity, humanity is struck with fear and terror.  Who would not be afraid of a mighty Angel of the Lord – God’s warriors?  And that is exactly what we see with the shepherds; they are scared stiff.  The brilliance of light signaled the glory and presence of God, and the shepherds were filled with fear.  But instead of striking the shepherds down with power and might, the angel announced the grand news of Christmas,

 “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” 

In case we move over this too quickly, we must pause and understand how grand, how powerful, and how magnificent this news is.  It is kind of a big deal.  It makes all the difference in the world…  The Son of God was born and is now human.  Jesus has endured the nine months of pregnancy and now, this day in the city of David, the Savior for all of mankind was born.  This baby is no ordinary baby but is really God in human flesh.  God coming to mankind!  Yes, the Son of God was born, He cried, He became tired, and He would hunger, thirst, bled, die, and rise.  This baby is the Christ who will suffer, die, and rise from the dead on the third day.  This child is God come in the flesh to do the gritty, bloody, sacrificial work that we cannot do – the work of taking away sin. 

This Christ Child was not born to climb to the highest and fanciest glories of mankind, but came for the sin-sick world.  He came to and for Israel, David, Peter, Matthew, Paul, the Shepherds, and for you. 

Dear friends, because of sin, everything we do and say and think is stained and unclean.  No matter how noble and good we have tried to be, we have failed.  Our sinful nature makes our whole life unrighteous and so we find ourselves in the midst misfits, nobodies, ragamuffins, and losers. 

Ah, but take comfort this day.  Jesus came not to keep His life to Himself.  He came to share it with you.  Everything He has done was done for you, in your place. 

Like the shepherds, we are not people of a prestigious birth.  Most of us are common folks who live quiet and peaceable lives here in rural North Dakota.  However, God has decided to make the announcement of Jesus to you through pastors, parents, other Christians, and in this church service today.  Indeed, the Lord announces to you this day that a Savior was born for you and me. 

You have heard this on the highest authority that Christ was born – for you.  Christ was born for sinners.  He was born for misfits, nobodies, ragamuffins, and losers.  He was born to join you and love you.  He was born to go to Mt. Calvary and win forgiveness for you in His death and resurrection.

Because of Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection, your life is right.  You are declared righteous in the sight of Jesus, the one who was born unto you. 

And so, this day, with the shepherds we glorify and praise God for all that has been done, heard, and seen.  Everything that we heard last night about the birth of Christ places us right alongside the shepherds.  And as we hear this great news of Jesus’ birth, we are then granted the opportunity to sing praises to the Lord God for the great gift of the Savior.  We get to sing ‘with’ the shepherds the meaning of the Savior’s birth for all the world.  It is rather contagious!  The shepherds immediately broadcast and share what they have heard and seen, and we cannot help but do the same this day!   

Truly, we glorify God this Christmas Day with the shepherds knowing that God is well pleased with us in Christ – that a Savior has been born unto us.

We glorify God this day that at a real time, in a real Bethlehem, there was a real birth of a real human being, and that human being is our real Savior, a Savior who rescued us from sin, death, and the power of the devil, not with gold or silver, but with His holy precious blood and His innocent suffering and death. 

This is the real Savior whose birth we celebrate today. 

In the name of Jesus: Amen.

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I Want Your Sin

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

Tonight we have heard that something spectacular happened long ago.  Yes, we have heard that God intervened into our world and a tremendous joy erupted – a joy that caused all the angels in heaven to sing.  What was so spectacular and so joyous, though?  Well, the Messiah was born, the Messiah that was spoken of from long ago.

This birth of the Messiah was no ordinary birth, though.  It was a peculiar birth, unlike any other birth.  A newborn child, swaddled in clothes and lying in a long open box used to feed horses and cattle is most peculiar indeed.  Technically, this baby was a homeless baby being born not in a house or an inn, but in a stable.  Yes, the Messiah was born as a defenseless human child on a cold winter night in one of those caves where Bethlehem farmers kept their animals.     

Considering all of this, we probably feel a bit sympathetic to this Christ Child right about now; the poor little Jesus is defenseless, maybe cold, the stench of the animals is around Him, and He is literally homeless.  It was a most dire state.    

In fact, our hearts may be tugging at us right about now, and we may say in our hearts,

 “Lord Jesus, You are freezing.  You shiver.  It is so hard and uncomfortable where you sleep.  Oh, how can I help?  How can I repay you?” 

Now, if the Christ Child could speak back to us, I think we would hear Him respond to us with something like this,

“I don’t want anything.  Just wait, even more difficult times await Me.  Yes indeed, even more difficult times await Me at the Cross of Mt. Calvary.” 

This response certainly does not help our troubled hearts.  So, our hearts may tug at us again, causing us to reach into our wallets and purses, saying,

“Let me at least give you some money, so that you can at least spend some nights in the local inn.  I have to give You something! Here, take some money, it is the least that I could do for you.”   

If the Christ Child could speak, I think we would hear Him say,

“The heavens and the earth are Mine.  I do not need your money or your charity.  Give it to the poor, and then I will receive it as if it was given to Me.”

With our hearts still troubled, we may muster up some force in our voice and say with energy,

“Dear Christ Child, I will gladly do that, but I still want to give something to You!  My heart is full of sorrow.  I want to give you something!  I must ease this sorrow in my heart!”

After a brief pause, if the Christ Child could speak, we would hear Him say, 

“Dear friends since you are so generous, I will tell you what you can give to Me. . . . Give Me your sins. . . . Give Me your bad conscience.  . . . Give me your guilt. . . . Give it all to me.” 

With our hearts caught off guard, we quickly respond,

“What on earth will you do with my sin, my bad conscience, and my guilt?  Why do you want this?” 

The Christ answers,

“I will take your sin, your guilt, and your bad conscience upon My shoulders.  These things will be My glory and My kingdom.  I will bear your sins; I will take them away.  I will take away what is yours and make it Mine.  I do not want your money, your efforts, your sympathy, your achievements, but I want your sin.  I want your failures.  I want your filth.  Give me all of this, so that I may take it to Mt. Calvary.  I want your sin, your guilt, your bad conscience so that you might be free from all of this and have eternal life!”

Dear friends, even though the birth of this Christ Child was an unusual birth, this birth was one that was predicted and spoken of from long ago.  It was said that this Child would crush the head of Satan.  It was said that upon this Child, the government would rest.  It was said that this Child would tend His flock and gather the lambs in His arms.  It was said that this Child would be great to the ends of the earth…  And this Christ Child, my friends, is indeed the fulfillment of all that was spoken of long ago.  He is the one who crushes Satan.  He is the King of Kings.  He is the Good Shepherd.  He is the great Alpha and Omega – the beginning and the end.  He is the God who comes to humanity – His children – and takes the world’s sin and guilt unto Himself to Mt. Calvary.  He was the one born to go to that Cross.  He was born to die and then to rise – for you and me. 

So, this evening we hear the story of the birth of this Christ-Child into human history.  And as we hear this story, our hearts and minds bow before the manger knowing that we can never thank Him enough.  Our hearts and minds bow before the Christ Child knowing that we cannot give Him anything that would sufficiently thank Him for what He’s done.  We bow before the Christ Child knowing that He was born to take our sin, our guilt, and our evil upon Himself – to die and rise for our justification. 

Indeed, we bow and praise this Christ Child this evening for we would never dare come to Him if He had not come to us first. 

We bow and praise Him this Christmas Eve knowing that He came to humanity in that manger long ago and comes to us tonight in His Word, to forgive, renew, and bless us with eternal life. 

Dear friends, let the word of Christ dwell in you richly this evening, teaching and admonishing you in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

In the name of Jesus: Amen.

Note: The idea of the dialogue between the hearer and the Christ Child comes from a great church father named, Heironymus.  

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Disregarding The Voice?

Text:  John 1:19-28

In the name of Jesus: Amen.

“I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness…”

Those words should have been enough to tell the Jewish priests who this John guy was.  After all, their own beloved Moses had told them long ago that the Lord would raise up a prophet from among them who would be just like him.  And like Moses, the Lord would put His words in this prophet’s mouth, and the people were to listen to him as they would listen to the Lord Himself.

So along comes John.  Now it is not that they doubted the Lord would do this, in fact, they had been waiting for quite some time for this promised prophet to show up.  It was more that they were looking for someone or something a little more mainline, more acceptable to the masses.  Someone like Moses, respected and honorable, good looking with a nice smile and a great resume.

And John was none of this.  He was the Wildman Preacher who gave up a life in the temple to live in the desert.  He cut his clothes from a dead camel’s back.  His hair was probably as wild as he was.  This prophet had grasshoppers stuck between his teeth and honey on his breath. 

And then there was the message that John delivered.  It cut like a chainsaw and everyone, no matter how holy they thought themselves to be, was considered timber when John spoke.  John was not what the people had in mind when it came to their promised prophet!

Most mothers do not want their babies to grow up to be John the Baptizers.  To tell the truth, John really is not the kind preacher we would like to have in our pulpit because he is offensive, he cuts, and he hurts our sensitivities. 

He is not politically correct because John points to our sins, especially those favorite ones we do not want to let go of.  And he tells us the demands that we must repent of, or else.

In fact, with a pastor like John, we would probably be afraid to invite our friends to church because they would be offended by his message if not only his appearance.

But remember what the Jews forgot, John’s message was not his own.  John was only the voice.  The words and the message are those of the Lord crying out in the wilderness; that is why they cut so deeply; that is why they point to our sin and condemn us for it.

Dear friends, it is the Holy Spirit who points to our hidden faults and demands that we repent of all our sins and iniquities with which we have ever offended God and justly deserved His punishment now and forever.

Even now as then, people manage to ignore the pain and offense of the Holy Spirit’s words.  We simply disregard the voice that gives them sound.  We write off the man God chooses to speak through as though he is eccentric and out of touch with what is happening in our times.  We disregard what is said because we choose to believe something else more mainline, more acceptable to the masses.

Even now, we still like to pretend that the Scriptures are multiple choice and we believe the devil when he tells us we are free to pick and choose which parts of God’s message we will accept and believe.

And the result of so many years of conveniently disregarding the message by dismissing the voice?…a host of pastors who stand in a pulpit too ashamed to speak the whole counsel of God, too shy to point to our sins and proclaim God’s righteous and eternal wrath on unrepentant sinners.

Indeed, we do not have to go far to find entire churches so concerned with offending the people that they conveniently tuck away the politically incorrect parts of the Holy Spirit’s message.  They hide anything that would dare to point out the sin in our hearts.

We do not need to listen long to hear would-be Christians countering God’s eternal judgment and wisdom claiming that God has changed His mind and now things like abortion, assisted suicide, homosexuality, and casual sex outside of marriage are all acceptable.

Dear saints, we can see that when the message of the Holy Spirit though the Word is ignored, when the Scriptures are rewritten, toned down or tucked away so that they no longer cut and kill by pointing to our sin for what it is, then we are left with nothing but a bunch of feel-good mush.  And mush will never get us to heaven.

That is why John stands so prominently in the Scriptures that even Jesus says that among those born of women none are greater than John.

From the time of his conception, John was set aside by the Lord as the one sent to prepare the way of the Savior.  John was the cultivator who went before Jesus ripping and tearing, cutting and killing.  His job was to preach God’s Law in all it’s terrible glory, to prepare the hearts of God’s people to receive the grace and forgiveness that Jesus was coming to give.

John was about the Law.  He preached a message of repentance.  And through him, the Holy Spirit convicted the people of their sin and showed them how very much they needed a Savior and the forgiveness that He brings.

If we dismiss the voice of the servant through whom God speaks, and disregard the message of the Spirit, then we will never see our sin for what it is—an offense against God, an offense that must be forgiven.  That is why the Holy Spirit speaks such harsh cutting words of Law at times.

Because only those sins that are confessed as sins and repented of can be forgiven.  That does not mean you need to remember every single sin, only that you do not have the option to hold your favorites back to enjoy them later.  It means coming clean and knowing that we are poor miserable sinners who sin in thought, word, and deed. 

The reason why this is so important is because Jesus came only to forgive and save sinners.  All those who are too proud to admit they need Him and His grace and instead decide to stand on their own merits and their invented holiness, well they will always stand alone, condemned eternally.

So, when you hear the Law preached to you, remember it is the Holy Spirit speaking to you.  Do not disregard the voice, lest you lose the message.  And do not start thinking to yourself about who of your neighbors needs to hear it, instead think of how the Holy Spirit is speaking to you, to show you your sins and your need for a Savior.

Because that is who Jesus is—your Savior!  Jesus came for sinners; the Gospel is for sinners only.  Jesus came to bear the full weight of God’s judgment on your sin.  He came to endure those harsh punishments that cut like a chainsaw.  He came to shelter you from the wrath that God’s law pronounces over you and your sinfulness.

And today He comes again in His Word and Sacrament to fill you with His life and grace.  Your Jesus comes to you now to soothe and comfort your troubled conscience, to heal those wounds that the Holy Spirit has made by His message of Law. 

The Law has made you dead, but Jesus and His forgiveness delivered to you through Holy Baptism, the Word, and the Sacrament of the altar make you alive.  Alive today, alive tomorrow, and alive for eternity. 

In the name of Jesus: Amen.

This sermon is indebted to Rev. Joshua Reimche.

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Stepping Into Marriage

Photo by Serenity Richard Photography

Text:  Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Katelyn, Andrew, Family, and friends: grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Our society tends to glamorize personal freedom and independence, to the point that many people in our culture pride themselves on being free from all things and free from all people!  These individuals function like independent islands – disconnected from everyone and reliant on no one.  These individuals will even boast about their freedom that they can do whatever they want, whenever they want – that they do not depend on anybody for anything.  These people are sometimes called ‘free spirits.’  These free spirits will not belong to any cause or any organization or any value system or even a church.  These free spirits only belong to themselves and they only live for themselves. 

Today Katelyn and Andrew, you both are entering into a happy alternative to the independent free spirit life that I just described.  Indeed, this day you are declaring before God and your families that you do not want to spend this life as isolated independent islands, but rather, you want to spend your lives together as a married couple. 

Now, this is very good. 

It is good because, as you know, life is hard.  Yes, life brings forth hazards and hardships.  In other words, there will be times when you will slip in the mud of life and fall down, which will result in getting all sorts of bumps and bruises.  There will be other times where life confronts you like a cold blast of wind – that kind of wind that takes your breath away and causes pain in your lungs.  And yes, there will be times that dishonest and conniving crooks will try to overpower you. 

Such is life. 

But you, Katelyn and Andrew, take comfort, for today you marry each other.  Today you are coming together, joining as husband and wife.  This means that if you fall in the mud of life Katelyn, Andrew will be there to pick you up, wipe away the mud, kiss the bruises, and bandage the wounds.  And when life blows against you Andrew and causes you to shiver from its harsh gusts, know this, Katelyn will be at your side to keep you warm. 

That is why we hear from Ecclesiastes that two are better than one.  Life can be harsh; it is especially harsh when a person has to face all of life’s sorrow alone.  However, Katelyn and Andrew, as of today, you will no longer be alone.  Katelyn, you will not have to face anything alone, for Andrew is now with you, as your husband.  Andrew, you will not have to face anything alone, for Katelyn is here with you, as your wife. 

Not only will the both of you be there for each other in the tough times, but together as husband and wife, you will celebrate the small joys of life together.  Joys, like getting that new job promotion, going to a new restaurant for the first time, having your first child together, going on your first family vacation, birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and the list can go on and on. 

There is no doubt about it that two are better than one, for when one falls down the other is there to help.  Indeed two are better than one, for celebrating the joys of life with another is simply phenomenal.    

Katelyn and Andrew, today you are coming together as a bride and groom.  You are like two cords or two ropes being wrapped together.  With this stated, we must make sure to recognize that the two of you alone do not make a marriage.  In other words, your coming together this day does not create a marriage, but rather, you are stepping into marriage as a bride and groom. 

In our reading from Ecclesiastes we most certainly hear about two cords being wrapped together, but in the last portion of our reading, we hear that a cord of three strands is not easily broken.  Yes, we hear that a tripled cord is not quickly torn. 

Katelyn and Andrew, you are not two separate cords being wrapped together by yourself, but rather, you are two separate cords being wrapped together around another cord – that third cord.  What is that third cord?  Katelyn and Andrew, the estate of marriage has been created by God and it is God’s gift to you.  Therefore, a husband and wife do not make a marriage, but rather, a husband and wife step into marriage and take their place within the gift of marriage. 

Do you realize what this means?  Katelyn and Andrew, as husband and wife, you are not an independent island, disconnected and alone.  No, by no means!  Today, you are stepping into the Lord God’s gift of marriage; you are being wrapped around that strong cord, which is the Lord Himself. 

 

Katelyn and Andrew, this marriage estate is God’s gift to you—because of His love to you.  Furthermore, marriage is God’s design for love to flourish. Yes, just as you were created due to God’s love and just as you were redeemed by the Lord’s great love, today you are entering into this blessed union called marriage; a marriage that is encased with love and given to you as a gift.

Katelyn and Andrew, marriage is the perfect setup and the perfect gift to you this day.  You are received into it, and within this marriage union ordained by God, you receive each other as the Lord teaches you to walk in the unforced rhythms of love.’   Within marriage, your love is enclosed in God’s greater love – that third cord. 

Katelyn and Andrew, today a new life begins for both of you in marriage.  You begin as two lives joined into one life, within God’s gift of marriage.  Therefore, receive each other this day and receive the gift of becoming husband and wife for each other.  Receive the gift of marriage, for it is within this marriage that you are held; held within the Lord’s love, you cannot fall apart. 

Katelyn and Andrew, at the end of each day being enveloped in the gift of marriage – being wrapped around that third cord – you will lay it all out before the Lord, nothing kept back, nothing held outside His forgiveness and His love.  Yes, confident of Christ’s love and forgiveness, today you are bold to make the staggering full-size promises of marriage. 

In the days to come you both may fear that your love for each other may wear thin, but take comfort that Christ’s love does not fail or weigh thin.  Yes, running with and through your love, with its ups and downs, is His Love - for you.  Yes, within His larger love, your love for each other need have no fear but can grow and deepen. 

Katelyn and Andrew, the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in that third cord - Christ Jesus and His love - for you. 

Amen.

(Note: Pithy phrases and portions of the sermon above are direct excerpts from two Norman Nagel Sermons in the book "Selected Sermons of Norman Nagel."  Thus, the message above is indebted to Dr. Norman Nagel.)

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Why Was Jesus Born (Part 3)

Text:  2 Corinthians 5:16-21

In the name of Jesus: Amen.

We love the many names and titles of Jesus such as Lord, Savior, Redeemer, Christ, Shepherd, Lamb, Light of the World, I AM, Prophet, Priest, and King, to name just a few.

But what about this name for Jesus? SIN.

Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:21 that, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us.”

It seems almost blasphemous to say it, but it is true. Jesus was made to be SIN for us.

We marvel at Christmas time at the descent of the Son of God from the glory of heaven into human flesh. The fact of the incarnation demands our awe and wonder. But the descent of the Son of God in was not complete at his birth. He plunged further still by living and walking the sin-stained roads of earth with us. You see, Jesus radically identified with us when He was baptized in the sin-filled waters of the Jordan. Martin Luther believed that it was there at the Jordan that Jesus actually took upon Himself the sin of mankind and carried it from that day forward to the garden of Gethsemane and then to the cross, where the depth of His descent horrifies us.

Indeed, He was made to be sin for us!

Paul goes on in verse 21 to reveal why the purpose of why Jesus was made to be sin.  And that reason is so that we might become the righteousness of God.  Jesus was made to be sin so that our name and title might be changed from sinner to saint. Because Jesus was made to be sin, in Him we might become the righteousness of God!  This is called the great exchange - a divine exchange.

In his legendary novel, A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens wrote of a young Englishman trapped in the hatred and violence of the French Revolution. Captured by revolutionaries, the man was sentenced to death on the guillotine.

But just before his scheduled execution, he was visited by a French friend who bore an incredible resemblance to the doomed man. After the guard had left, the Frenchman ordered the prisoner to exchange clothes with him.

Moments later the guard unknowingly escorted the Englishman to safety while his French friend was executed in his place. An extraordinary exchange.

Jesus, the friend of sinners, clothed Himself in our sin and He clothes us in His righteousness. That divine exchange means death for Him and life for us.

In his commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians, Luther wrote:

 “All the prophets of old said that Christ should be the greatest transgressor, murderer, adulterer, thief, blasphemer that ever was or ever could be on earth. When he took the sins of the whole world upon himself, Christ was no longer an innocent person. He was a sinner burdened with the sins of a Paul who was a blasphemer; burdened with the sins of a Peter who denied Christ; burdened with the sins of a David who committed adultery and murder, and gave the heathen occasion to laugh at the Lord. In short, Christ was charged with the sins of all men, that he should pay for them with his own blood. The curse struck him. The Law found him among sinners. He was not only in the company of sinners. He had gone so far as to invest himself with the flesh and blood of sinners. So the Law judged and hanged him for a sinner.”

Think about the collective guilt of humankind throughout history and include in that the cruelty of all wars, all crimes, all murders, the holocausts and every other heinous act ever committed against humanity.

Then add to that the guilt of all other injustices that have ever occurred including the false accusations and all the lies that have ever been told.

Add to that the guilt for all deeds of hate, envy, pride and gossip that has ever or will ever occur.

Then add the guilt for all the ways people have neglected to show kindness, offer help or give of themselves.

Add to that already huge package the guilt of all unclean, unkind or imperfect thoughts that anyone has ever had.

And then finally add to that the guilt of all your sin.

Then think about all of these and all other sins that have ever occurred throughout the centuries of time and pack all of it in one bundle of guilt and then take that huge bundle and put it on the back of Jesus.

That is what occurred.

“God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us.”

God made Him who was pure without spot or blemish; God made Him who was perfect in every way, to be that package of sin.

Jesus became my sin; Jesus became your sin. And then to top it off God judged Jesus to be guilty of the whole package and to die the death He died.

The weight of that, the horror, the dread and the enormity of it all is incomprehensible.

It caused Jesus to cry out to his Father, “My God, why have you forsaken me?”

The eternal Creator, the Son of God, the second member of the Trinity knew for the first time the full fury and wrath of the Father for sin and the incomprehensible despair that accompanied it.

As repulsive as it may sound to us, only in this truth – that Jesus was made to be sin – is our hope and our salvation found.

So, my dear friends, tonight we know that the reason why Jesus was born to be made sin for you, for me, and for the entire world.  He was born to be accused, devoured, and damned, for you, for me, and for the world.  All of this happened so that through Christ the crucified, all the evils of the human race, all the evils of the devil and hell itself, could die in Christ, for by Jesus’ death He killed all of this evil once and for all.  He did this for you, for me, and for the world and considered it well worthwhile. 

Indeed, Jesus was born to serve you, He was born to live for you, and He was born to be made sin for you so that in Him you might become the righteousness of God. 

In the name of Jesus: Amen.

This sermon is indebted to Rev. Patrick Thurmer’s sermon titled, “The Greatest Sinner Who Ever Lived.”  

Part 2: http://ziongwinner.blogspot.com/2016/12/why-was-jesus-born-part-2.html
Part 1: http://ziongwinner.blogspot.com/2016/12/why-was-jesus-born-part-1.html

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Scorning Death, For Our Redeemer Lives

The following 'Prayer Service Sermon' is posted with family permision.  May the Lord give to the family of Randy Rotenberg, and all who mourn, comfort in their grief and a sure confidence in the Lord's loving care.  

Text: Job 19:23-27a and Hymn "God's Own Child, I Gladly Say It"

Mary, Megan, Joshua, Alyssa, family, and friends, grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Amen. 

Every single day over 55 million people die on the planet earth.  That is over 38,000 deaths every minute and over 600 deaths every single second. 

Of the 55 million deaths from today, the majority of them will eventually end up being buried in the ground, where they will be forgotten after several generations.  Names will be forgotten, faces will fade from memories, the sound of their voices will turn to whispers, and tombstones will be covered with dirt, as these tombstones will eventually crumble into small pieces due to the elements of the weather. 

The world bleeds daily.  Death knocks at the world’s door every day and sin pays out its wages.  Death occurs every single second, every single hour, every single day – 365 days a year.  There is no stopping it. 

I do not have to tell you that this is most certainly depressing – for you already know that.  Yes, it is indeed depressing and enough to make us want to throw up our hands and say,

‘What’s the point?”

It is almost enough to make us kick the dust and say,

“Blech!  Good grief!  Who cares!  Let’s just go home and leave all this funeral stuff in the hands of the mortician and pastor.”

But despite this depressing reality, we are all still here today.  Yes, we have taken time off of work, we have traveled long distances, and we are sitting quietly in our seats.  We have also taken the time to order flowers, prepare food, organize church music, write a sermon, print bulletins, pick out a casket, and care for the body of Randy.  But why go through all this effort?  Why spend all of this time and energy when death is such a common occurrence in this world?   And why gather here in this church for a funeral service? The reason why?  We hear in our Old Testament reading that the Redeemer – Jesus Christ – lives.  Yes, He lives.  And because He lives, He will stand upon the grave of Randy at the Last Day with compassion, glory, honor, and power.  He will stand upon Randy’s grave because He will not forget Randy and because He intends to raise Randy to life once again.    

Dear friends, we are here this day in this church because Jesus Christ lives.  In other words, if Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, was not alive, we would have no reason to be here.  We would have no reason to care. We would have no reason for hope.  However, because He lives, this changes everything. 

We hear from today’s lessons and readings that at the Last Day, Jesus will stand upon the grave of Randy to raise Him up out of the grave to newness of life.  This is not some half-baked reincarnation, where Randy’s soul will come back in an animal or Randy’s soul will come back in a different body.  No, that kind of stuff is complete nonsense.   What we are talking about is a full and complete and whole resurrection of this body before us in the casket.  It will be a complete resurrection of Randy as we have known and see him, except without the effects of sin and death.  Mark this, Randy will not be forgotten in the dust and ashes but will be raised from the grave imperishable.  Indeed, this changes everything, does it not? 

More specifically, in this morning’s reading from the Book of Job, we hear that when we die, we do not become annihilated, but that our soul lives on, to be reunited with our bodies at the resurrection of the dead.  In other words, we hear that we can expect the Redeemer to raise Randy and us to life once again.  We hear that with a renewed body that Randy will see the Lord with his very own eyes when he is resurrected from the grave. 

And so, today we gather here in this church to hear the bold promises that Jesus has not forgotten Randy in death.  We gather here in this church to hear the valiant promise that Jesus will raise Randy from the grave someday.  We gather together here in this church with grief in our one hand while simultaneously clinging to the promises of God in the other hand.  We gather here to hold to the Lord’s promises, against all appearances, that even though Randy will lie in dust and ashes that he will be raised on the Last Day. 

In a way, our gathering here today is not only to express our grief, love, and support for Randy and the family, but it is a gathering here this day to protest Sin, Death, and the Devil.  Actually, it is so much more than a mere protest.  We are here to laugh and mock sin, death, and the devil.  It is a gathering this day to declare that we – with Randy – are children of God.  We belong to Jesus because we are baptized into His life, death, and resurrection!  Yes, we are children of God, and we gladly say this because the Redeemer lives. So, today we confess with a boldness that sin cannot disturb our souls any longer for our Redeemer lives.  We snub our noses at the evil foe, for our Redeemer lives.   We chuckle at death, for our Redeemer lives.

With our grief in one hand and the promises of God in the other hand, we mock, scorn, snub, and laugh at sin, death, and the devil.  We tell sin that we have comfort even stronger, Jesus cleansing sacrifice.  We tell Satan that He can drop his ugly accusations because his tyranny is unraveled.  We tell death that it cannot end our gladness, for it has been swallowed up.  We mock, scorn, snub, and laugh at sin, death, and the devil because our Redeemer lives and our Redeemer is our sure defense.  He is our power, might, and victory. 

Indeed, we are gathered here this day to hear, believe, and confess the realty that just as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, Randy will also walk in newness of life when he is resurrected at the last day.  And as he awaits the resurrection of his body, Randy is in a newness of life brighter than we can imagine.  Jesus is his protection and comfort; all the accusations of the Law are left behind, with no shadows of death, no deep valley of pain, no threats, but life unimpaired in the arms of Jesus’ rest.

This is most certainly true for Randy, and it is most certainly true for you and me this day, for our Redeemer lives. 

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

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