Proving The World Wrong

Text: John 16:5-15

In the name of Jesus: Amen.

I do not need to tell you that there are a lot of opinions in America.  Everybody seems to have an opinion these days.  These opinions are on news channels, celebrities share their opinions on social media, new opinion polls pop up every week, and opinions are discussed over coffee at local diners.    

Collectively as a whole, the world shifts through and adapts different opinions on a daily basis.  Like a reed that blows in the wind, the opinions of the world will blow one direction with a particular movement or a particular ideology (that become popular for a time); however, when these movements and ideologies have run their course, a new movement and a new and improved ideology comes to the forefront, which means that the opinions of the world snap back the other way and blow in the opposite direction.  The previous movement becomes “so 2010” and the new movement is relevant, real, fresh, and on the cutting edge.  That is to say until it is challenged two weeks later, by the next new movement, forcing opinions to change yet again. 

This is the world that we live in my friends.  It is the world that our youth will grow up and live in.  It is a world that typically does not agree – at least for a long time – about what is wrong and what is good and what justice should be like. In other words, when you ask the world to define sin, righteousness, and judgment, the world will give an answer one day, but the next day it may or may not change – depending on which way the wind of opinion is blowing. 

For example, let us consider sin.  There are many different convictions about sin in the world.  Some believe sin to simply be a ‘weakness’ in mankind, whereas, others would see sin as a ‘sickness’ in mankind.  And there are other opinions about sin too.  Some see sin as a result of a lack of education, poverty, and a lack of resources.[1]  To them, sin is a result of a social deficiency – the lack of good resources for a certain group of people.  And finally, but not least or last, some see sin as nothing more than an oppressive term used by the church in order to keep certain people underneath its thumb and to keep people from having fun. 

The world also has its varied opinions on what constitutes righteousness as well, that is to say, goodness. To some goodness is to follow your heart and do whatever makes you happy.  Others believe goodness is found in being a good citizen and a good neighbor to those in need.  There is a third option, these folks see goodness as doing virtuous and morally upright things – not smoking or drinking or chewing or dating girls that do. 

Let us not forget judgment either.  The world has a lot of opinions on this topic as well.  Some do not believe there is such a thing as the last judgment, which means that whatever we do now in this present life will not have an eternal consequence.  These are the ones that cry out, “You can’t judge me!”  On the other side of the coin, there are others who believe that there should be a judgment.  They may or may not hold to an eternal judgment, but what is for sure is this, they want judgement in this life for people who violate their understanding of sin and for people who do not honor what they believe to be good.  The judgment might be to punish people with jail time.  Or the judgment might be to label them as a hater or a closed minded bigot or to possibly slap a lawsuit on them. 

With all of this said, one thing is for sure, even though the world has a lot of mixed opinions about what sin is or what goodness is or what to think about judgment, there is no doubt about it that the world denies – for the most part – what the Lord says about these subjects.  That is right, the world generally speaking does not agree with what the Lord God says on these subjects of sin, righteousness, and judgment. 

Now, there are times in history where the world has gotten close – in which we must thank God.  However, for the most part, the world understands sin and righteousness and judgment incorrectly.  Frankly stated, the world’s definition of sin is wrong.  Its definition of righteousness and goodness is wrong.  Its understanding of judgement is wrong as well.  It is all wrong.  The world is wrong about what matters, about sin, and righteousness, and judgment. 

And here is the catch.  You and I are in this world.  Like all of our neighbors we too are corrupted by the sinful nature.  And since we are in this world, we are easily influenced by the world, which means that we can easily get these important matters of sin and righteousness and judgment wrong. 

Because the world is always changing in its opinions and since the world is always redefining what it thinks about sin and righteousness and judgment, we can thank God though that we are given the Holy Spirit.  Yes, even though Christ ascended to the Father, we are not alone.  We have been given the Holy Spirit.  As we hear in today’s Gospel reading from the Gospel of John, the Holy Spirit through the Word and the Sacraments gives us convictions against the changing world. Indeed, we are given, as God’s dearly beloved, not a collection of opinions on the matter of sin, righteousness, and judgment, but we are given convictions of “truth.”  Convictions of truth that do not change or accommodate to the changing world. We are given convictions of truth in regard to sin, righteousness, and judgement. 

Dear friends, “the Holy Spirit proves the world wrong about sin, because the world does not believe in Jesus, and Jesus is right.”[2]  Now, the world still has some idea of sin and expects a certain kind of penalty for doing bad things it; however, the world does not understand that our most serious problem of sin comes forth from mankind’s unbelieving heart.  That is right.  The Holy Spirit convinces us of our sin, teaches us right from wrong, which the world sometimes pick up on; however, the world cannot understand that even if a person pulls themselves up by their bootstraps, helps their neighbor, and walks the straight and narrow, that they still can be damned to hell by their root of unbelief.  In other words, no matter how good our words and works, ways, and life are, when the Holy Spirit breathes on us we whither like a flower, for the Holy Spirit through the Law reveals to us that our hearts are the source of the chief sin of unbelief.[3]  Because of our unbelief, we do not fully fear, love, and trust the Lord God.  That is sin at its core – unbelief towards the Lord and His Word.    

Dear friends, do not be deceived by the definitions of sin in the world, but hear the Holy Spirit through God’s Law that is proclaimed to you – know that your sin of unbelief is the chief sin that needs to be absolved and forgiven.

The Holy Spirit also proves the world wrong about righteousness and goodness – and therefore shows us where we are wrong as well.  “The world has its idea of what is good, which is strangely like what it wants at the moment.  But Jesus came and showed himself alone to be good in this world.  He shows up the world’s self-righteousness, and ours, for the sham it is.  . . . This Jesus, whom the world crucified because it could not stand his claim to be alone the Holy One, lives and reigns with the Father and the Spirit, one God, now and forever, and the Spirit gives [you] everything that is his.  Sin is paid for.  Death is dead.”[4]  The righteousness of God is made known in Christ, not in what the world thinks righteous is.  To make it even better, the Lord also gives this righteousness to you and me for free, unlike the world that likes to make a profit.  Righteousness in Christ and for free; righteousness the world cannot take away.

Finally, the Holy Spirit proves the world wrong about judgment.  There will indeed be a judgment.  We live in a morally significant universe.  Our actions and deeds and lives will have consequences in this life and for eternity.  However, we are not judged at the end for breaking social norms or opinions of celebrities, or the shifting movements of the world, but rather we are judged for breaking the Lord’s Law as expressed simplistically in the Ten Commandments.  No doubt about it my friends, there will be an end someday to this life and there will be a judgment, contrary to what Oprah or the latest Cosmopolitan opinion poll may tell you.  Why, because Jesus – who was raised from the grave – says so.  You though, hear the good news of the Gospel!  Christ was crucified and judged in your place.  In Jesus you are already judged.  Christ was judged as a sinner – as you.  He was damned – for you.  And because Jesus was damned and judged for you; therefore, you have nothing to fear when the Lord comes again in judgment – or at any time before that.

Dear Baptized Saints, the world is wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment; however, the Holy Spirit through the Word and Sacraments comes to you and has come to you this very day so that you might be given convictions of truth. 

Truly, the Holy Spirit brings God’s precious convictions of truth in regard to sin, righteousness, and judgment to you this day.  He brings truth to your ears, so that you may believe and know who you are and what the Lord has done for you, in the midst of a world that flaps back and forth like a flimsy reed blowing in the wind.  Yes, the Holy Spirit through the Word and Sacraments will keep your hearts fixed upon Christ, the author and perfector of your faith… unto the end.

Baptized Saints, there is sin, righteousness, and judgment; however, Christ became sin for you, Christ is righteousness for you, and Christ rescues you from judgment.  This is all most certainly true.

In the name of Jesus: Amen.

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[1] C.F.W. Walther, Walther’s Works: Gospel Sermons – Volume 1 (St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House, 2013), 263.

[2] John W. Sias, “Sermon for Cantate,” Mount Calvary Lutheran Church Sermons, http://www.mtcalvary-colstrip.org/ (Accessed April 22, 2016).

[3] Johann Spangenberg, The Christian Year of Grace: The Chief Parts of Scripture Explained in Questions and Answers, tr. Matthew Carver (St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House, 2014), 193.

[4] John W. Sias, “Sermon for Cantate,” Mount Calvary Lutheran Church Sermons.  

Through The Vale Of TearsThrough The Vale Of Tears

Text: John 16:16-22

In the name of Jesus: Amen.

We live our lives, as Christians, in the valley of tears.  Yes, we Christians live our lives in the valley of tears, or as they poetically say, in this vale of tears. 

The phrase, “vale of tears,” is a phrase that is often used to describe the tribulations of life that we Christians all experience in the here and now.  In other words, from the time of your conception until your death, you and I, travel and labor through this valley of life – a valley that is characterized by tears, trouble, and sorrow.  Indeed, we live, breathe, and have movement not on top of the mountains, but more often than not, within this valley of tears. 

Considering this valley of tears, it is a valley that is dark.  It contains hardships, suffering, loss, grief, persecution, and pain.  It is a valley that is clouded with gloom, where we experience the attacks of the devil, the struggles with the sinful nature, the persecution of the world, and the sting of death itself.

For us as North Americans though, we like to pretend that our lives are not in this valley of tears.  That’s right; we like to avoid the valley of tears at all costs.  It makes us uncomfortable and it goes against our ingrained view of entitlement.  So, we try to make peace with the darkness of the valley.  We try to turn the lemons of the valley into lemonade.  We convince ourselves that we are overcomers.  We say, “When we get knocked down, we get up again.”  And then when we stand as supposed overcomers, we look into the dark valley of tears and we roar as if we are invincible.        

We also buy every kind of gadget that promises to take us from the valley’s tears to happiness – every gadget that promises us an easier life.  We are suckers when it comes to those infomercials with their three easy payments.  Then with all of our gadgets we also run to positive messages that don’t remind us of the valley of darkness that we are in.  Oh, and don’t forget death!  We do everything possible to sanitize the effects of death.  Plastic surgery can fix dying skin that sags on our faces, makeup covers the wrinkles of age, Rogaine attempts to reverse hair lose, and medication can temporarily reverse the effects of disease.  We all dream that we can be like the Joneses down the street who have apparently overcome the valley of tears.

All this stated though, no matter how hard we try to climb out of the valley of tears or deny it, there is no escape – the valley’s walls are too steep and the valley is too dark.  No matter how hard we wipe away the tears, they keep flowing – they keep flowing until our last dying breath.  In this life, the devil continues to attack, our sinful flesh always longs to sin and wreak havoc in our lives, and the world continues to spew forth lies.  There is no bottom to this stuff.

Consider this example for a moment.  The very fact that we do so much to avoid the sorrow and darkness and tribulations of this life, is evidence that we actually are ‘in’ the valley of tears.  The very fact that we long for the peace, security, rest, and wholeness of the Garden of Eden is evidence that we are stuck in this valley of sadness, sorrow, and grief. 

Now, I do not share this to be a killjoy and I am not trying to place a raincloud over your heads; but rather, I am sharing this because this is the way that life is.  It is a reality.  Life in this world is tough.  In this earthly pilgrimage, the devil and the world will never stop assaulting you.  If you speak the truth the world rages in anger; it begins to curse, condemn, persecute, and you will endure its scorn and mockery – which leads to tears.[1]  “And if the world can whip out its sword against you, it will surely do that too, with master devil joining the fray, driving such poisonous, fiery darts into your heart that you will almost literally suffer a meltdown.”[2] 

Considering all of this, when you experience this kind of suffering in the valley of tears, what do you do and what will you do?  Keep in mind that you cannot escape the valley – the walls on each side are too high.  Also, you cannot turn around and get out of the valley – it is too dark.  Maybe you can give up – curse the valley, curse the world, and curse God!  But this still does not change the fact that you are in the valley.  So, what shall you do?

Dear friends, do not panic and do not fret.  Be still this hour and this moment; hear right now.  Did not Christ predict that there would be trials and suffering and pain in this life?  He certainly did.  However, our Lord Jesus Christ also said that this valley of tears will only be a ‘little while.’  Truly, this valley of tears is only ‘a little while.’  The comfort of the Christian is that this life on earth is only ‘a little while.’ 

It might seem strange to consider our lives in this valley of tears to be a little while; however, when we measure our short lives to God’s eternity, it really is a short time in comparison.  Our lives are infinitely small compared to the amount of time that awaits us in eternity. 

Dear Baptized Saints, do not lose heart and do not grow faint this day.  The valley of tears does not last forever; there is an end to the valley.  There is an end to the tears, an end to the suffering, an end to the persecution, an end to sin, an end to pain, and an end to the devil.  It is only a little while.  Be patient, wait it out, take courage! 

Consider a woman about to give birth.  Her agonies and contractions increase.  Her laughter is silenced.  She sees no end to her pain.  In the midst of labor the contractions seem like an eternity of hurt.  The pain blinds her from reality.  Fear can take hold of her as she may wonder if she and the baby will be preserved through the anguish and pain of birth.  However, objectively speaking the labor is only a little while – there is an end to it.  In a moment, all of her tears are turned to laughter, her fear is turned to victory, and her sadness is turned to joy.  At once the anguish and pain and fear and doubt are forgotten as she hears and sees the beloved newborn child in her arms.

This exchange will be the same for the church – for you and for me.  As the church, we too are in this labor with its contractions of pain.  Yes, the valley of tears is like the pains of labor.  As with labor though, our sorrows in this valley of tears will not last forever, but will be turned into eternal joy.  Indeed, the valley is dark, but soon there will be a glorious day.  We walk with the shadow of death in the valley, but soon there will be the light of life.  We walk with evil around us in the valley, but in a short while the devil, sin, and the world will have their end. 

Dear Baptized Saints, you mustn’t forget that the Lord Jesus Christ has all things in His hand.  The wind, the sea, sickness, disease, and death itself have submitted and will submit to Christ once again.  Therefore, dear Christians, let the devil, the world, and all the tyrants storm and rage.  Let them have their worst.  Let them growl, let them thrash, for they can only do so as God permits them and they can only do so for a little while.

As for the time being and as we continue to walk through the valley of tears, you Baptized Saints must cling to the promises of God’s Word – the promises that are for you.  Continually receive the Sacrament of the Altar – that is given and shed for you.  Remember your Baptisms – where God’s name was placed upon you.  Patiently endure any misfortune, comforting yourself with the truth that the Lord is with you in His Word and Sacraments.  Comfort yourself with Jesus’ Word that this life is only a ‘little while.’  Know that as tough as it gets in this life that the Lord holds not only the beginning but the end of this world. 

Do not grow weary and do not grow faint in this valley of tears, for the Lord grants power to the faint and increases the strength of those who have no strength. 

Wait for the Lord and rest dear Saints – the Lord holds you.  The day is coming that the valley of tears will end and all things will be made anew.  Lift up your chins, the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end.   Do not fear the drops of tears from your eyes, for the Lord will not cast you aside.  Sadness lasts only ‘a little while’ and then will change into gladness.  All grief will be swallowed up in the end and pain will be remembered no more. 

In the name of Jesus Christ: Amen.

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[1] Martin Luther, Complete Sermon of Martin Luther: Volume 6 (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House Company, 2000), 90.

[2] Ibid.

Christ Is Not A Flimsy-Weak-Wimpy-Sissy-Cowardly-Spineless Shepherd

Text: John 10:11-16

In the name of Jesus: Amen.

The most comforting image in the Christian church has to be the image of the Good Shepherd with His sheep.  The image of the Good Shepherd with His sheep conjures up a great sense of comfort and solace. 

Now, the reason why this image is so tremendously comforting is because we know that the Shepherd is good, that He cares for the flock.  Truly, it is most reassuring for you and for me to know that the Good Shepherd has our backs, when the going gets tough.  

With all of that said, it is not right though when this image does not include the Good Shepherd.  In other words, if we had an image of a flock of sheep with a meager hired hand, well… this whole image is simply ruined.  A flock with some no name hired hand displaces comfort and security is lost.  The reason why?  We all know that a hired hand does not care for the sheep as the Good Shepherd does.  Like a deadbeat dirtbag dad, a hired hand is only there for the money and the good times, but runs away when the going gets tough.  If a wolf were to come and leap on the sheep, well, the hired hand would tuck tail and run away, leaving the sheep to their demise.  You see, the hired hand really has no concern for the sheep; they do not matter to him, why should they?  He is not their shepherd and frankly he is spineless and a coward in the face of trouble.   

This comforting image is also ruined when it does not include the Good Shepherd, but a wicked shepherd in His place.  Otherwise stated, a flock with a wicked shepherd is just not right either, for the wicked shepherd is not there to seek the lost sheep, bind up their wounds, and strengthen them, but is only there to feed his own belly.  The wicked shepherd is a false shepherd, who rules with harshness and force.  Furthermore, when the sheep least expect it, he shaves their wool for his own warmth, he drinks their milk for his own strength, and then roasts little lambs over the hot coals of a fire for his own stomach’s satisfaction.         

Tragically, there are many people in our world today that have left the Christian faith because of spineless cowardly hired hands and wicked false shepherds, who played the role of the Good Shepherd.  That is to say, thousands upon thousands of people have left the church and sworn never to beckon the doors of the church again, because they have been spiritually abused by hired hands and false shepherds – those who are in religious authority positions in the church.  Sadly, these wounded sheep were either abandoned when the going got tough or were plundered and abused.   Rather than being moved from unbelief to belief in Christ, these individuals were moved from what little faith they had to unbelief, as they were either left by the hired hand to be food for the wild beasts or exploited by the false shepherd, so that they could be food for the wicked shepherd’s belly.  Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy on these individuals, for they were wounded not by the Good Shepherd, but by counterfeits shepherds.

Unfortunately, this beloved image of the sheep with their Good Shepherd has been polluted and ruined throughout every generation and throughout every continent.  Indeed, when the flock – that is the church – does not have the Good Shepherd, but a spineless hired hand or a wicked false shepherd, things are poisoned and the sheep scatter into desolate places or run into the mouths of wolves. 

With all of this stated how does the church – that is you – know when you are listening to the voice of a hired hand or the voice of a false wicked shepherd?  How does the flock throughout ever generation and throughout every various geographical location know if it is following a hired hand or a wicked false shepherd?  The answer is that it is evident in the teachings and lives of the hired hands and the wicked shepherds.  Indeed, it is evident in the teaching and lives of these spineless hired hands or wicked false shepherds; however, many sheep unfortunately do not care or would rather turn a blind eye for the sake of keeping apparent peace with the flock. 

Dear Christians, do not become lethargic.  Do not become deaf.  Do not let yourselves be led astray by the voice of a hired hand or a wicked shepherd, if and when they appear in your lives.  Do not let the wool be pulled over your eyes and do not be so easily deceived!  You know the voice of the Good Shepherd; therefore, do not be fooled by the voice of frauds.  Yes, as a dear Christian flock you must always demand to hear the voice of the Good Shepherd – Jesus Christ – for without Christ’s Word, it is only a matter of time before the wolves come and you will soon be devoured. 

This is how it works.  A hired hand serves the flock only as long as he can get a paycheck.  He is there for his own personal gain and will stay the course as long as he is comfortable.  However, he will shamefully flee and leave the flock when he hears the wolves growling or he will be silent and leave the sheep without a green pasture when any amount of uncomfortable conflict emerges.    Furthermore, a hired hand will preach and teach only for his own glorification; the hired hand is greedy and is never satisfied with what God daily provides.[1]   Even if he would preach God’s Word for the sheep’s nourishment, it would only be there until the wolves would threaten him.  At the first sign of intimidation or when he sees the wolves, he is gone and the Word of God is gone with him.   

On the other hand, wicked false shepherds are no better and probably worse.  They may preach well, smile brightly, seem friendly, and look like a good shepherd, but underneath the deception they do not preach God’s Word.  They actually teach the opposite of God’s Word.  They make many rules and keep few.  What is built up by God’s Word, they actually tear it down with their own aspirations and the ideologies of the present age.  What is planted by the Word, they uproot, mutilate, and destroy, so that they can ascribe salvation to human works and manmade philosophies.  These false wicked shepherds are all about cutting down faith and making the flock serve their needs and their desires and their aspirations. 

Let it be perfectly clear, both hired hands and false wicked shepherds do not preach and teach the Word of God, but preach and teach the opinions of mankind.  They cover their false doctrine with slobbering talk and fickleness.  They will threaten to get their way and will sweet talk to get their way as well.  They are against the integrity and truth of the Bible, because their moral compass is not attached to God’s Word, but their own bellies and the blowing wind of contemporary culture.  And so, they are not the Good Shepherd, but evil.

St. Paul says that these hired hands and false shepherds are enemies of the Cross of Christ.  Their end will be destruction. 

What does all of this mean for you and for me?  You and I mustn’t forget that we are Christians!  You and I are the sheep of the Good Shepherd – Jesus Christ.  You and I know the Good Shepherd’s voice!  You and I believe and trust and hear the Shepherd’s voice!  You and I know the doctrines of Christ!  You and I know Jesus’ Word.  Therefore, you and I must repent of the times where we have listened to the voice of a hired hand or the voice of a false shepherd, for they are everywhere… speaking into our ears through about every media venue imaginable.  Yes, repent of the times where you have dismissed the Word of Jesus for the words of false shepherds and a hired hand.  Repent of not endeavoring to listen to Jesus’ voice.  Repent of listening to every voice blowing in the wind of cultural spirituality, other than the Good Shepherd.  Repent of your wandering heart and your desire to leave the God that you love.  Repent – you and me! 

Yes, today, repent and hear the voice of the true Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ.  A voice that says to you and to me,   

I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.  A hired hand and the false wicked shepherd are not the real shepherds. The sheep mean nothing to them. They see a wolf coming and run from it it, leaving the sheep to be ravaged and scattered by the wolf. . . . The sheep don’t matter to them.  However, I am your shepherd – the good one.  You shall not want.  I make you lie down in green pastures.  I lead you beside still waters.   I restore your soul.  I lead you in paths of righteousness.  Even when you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, you shall not fear evil, for I am with you.  My rod and my staff, they comfort you.[2]

Dear Baptized Saints, our Lord Jesus Christ is not like the wicked shepherd or the spineless hired hand, for He actually cares for the sheep – He cares for you.  He is also not like the false shepherd and the hired hand, for He does not run away from the wolves.  He is not spineless or wicked! 

Truly, our Good Shepherd cares for you and goes after the wolf.   When the wicked shepherd and the hired hand scurry away with their flimsy-weak-wimpy-sissy-cowardly spines, our Lord Jesus Christ does the exact opposite.  In fact, He lunged at the wolf and placed Himself between you and the hungry wolf.  Indeed, Christ laid down His life for you and for me.  He put His body between you and the wolf of death.  He allowed Himself to be devoured by the jaws of death at the cross.  He was chewed up and put into death’s stomach, the tomb – for you. 

When the wolf of death howls though, it is not in victory, but it is a howl of defeat, for Christ Jesus could not be contained in death’s stomach.  Christ came forth out of death – out of the tomb – for He not only laid down His life for you and for me, but He took it up again in victory bursting death to pieces.

Therefore, dear blessed Baptized Saints, your Good Shepherd lives and reigns for you today.  The jaws of death could not keep Him down; the stomach of death could not digest Him. 

You, dear flock, shall not fear.  Christ did not run and flee, but destroyed the jaws of the wolf of death, silenced the wolf’s threatening cry, and lives for you today. 

Jesus is your Good Shepherd.  You belong to Him.  He seeks the lost.  He brings back the straying, and binds up the injured.  He strengthens the weak.  He accomplished this on Mt. Calvary and fulfills it in you through His precious and powerful Word and Sacraments. 

He is not a spineless hired hand.  He is not a wicked shepherd, but your Shepherd – the Good Shepherd of the sheep.

In the name of the risen and victorious Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ: Amen.

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[1] Martin Luther, Complete Sermons of Martine Luther: Volume 6 (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 2000), 81.

[2] Paraphrase of John 10:11-13 and Psalm 23.

His Breath Is Not The Breath Of Death

Text:  John 20:19-31

In the name of Jesus: Amen.

I don’t know about you, but I do not like when somebody breathes on me.  I mean intentionally opens their mouth and blows their hot moist breath in my face.  The reason I do not like this is because most of the time we humans have bad breath.  We are in constant need of a Tic Tac or gum or a mint to cover the stench in our mouths. 

And why do we have bad breath?  We have bad breath because we eat dead things.  Think about it for a moment.  Your fridge is really nothing more than a mini food morgue where you and I store dead things in cold air before we feast on them. 

We do not only have bad breath from eating dead things, but we also get bad breath from death itself – death that is at work in us.  That’s right; death is at work in us with every aging day and every hour.  If you doubt that death is working in us, just smell your own breath in the morning.  It typically carries the smell of death.

So, with this in mind, what Jesus does in this morning’s Gospel lesson seems a little odd.  Permit me to explain. 

The evening of Easter Sunday the disciples locked themselves in a room because they were still afraid of the Jews.  Their minds were spinning and their hearts were aching from the events of Good Friday where Christ was bloodied, mocked, spit upon, crucified, and buried. 

As they sat around pondering the bloody cross and the empty tomb and the announcement from the Angels, suddenly Jesus appeared among them. 

“Peace be with you” He said and then showed them the scars from the nails and the spears.  “Peace be with you” He said again as though to set aside their fears and give to them a divine peace and comfort in the midst of their troubled hearts. 

And then something strange happened… Jesus breathed on them and said,

“Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone it is withheld.”

Indeed, Christ Jesus breathed on them!  But His breath is not the breath of death!  Jesus has no death in Him, He is life, His breath is life, His words are life.  Jesus’ breath is not stained with the stench of death and decay, but filled with fresh eternal life. 

Keep in mind though, that the disciples were really lousy friends to Jesus.  They abandoned Him.  However, instead of breathing an angry curse upon them, Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit.  He breathes the Holy Spirit upon them and then sends them into the world armed with His words of life and forgiveness. 

Dear friends, in Jesus’ breath of life, He breathed life into the disciples, into His church.  In that locked room, Jesus gives to His disciples and to His church the authority to forgive the sins of repentant sinners and to withhold forgiveness from those who are unrepentant of their sins.  We call this the Office of the Keys. 

This Office of the Keys is for locking and unlocking, it is for binding and loosing, it is for retaining and forgiving sins.  In other words, churches – who possess this office of keys – call and ordain pastors.  These pastors are called to be preachers and teachers of the Word.  They are to shepherd Christ’s flock faithfully.  They are given the keys of the office and then in the stead and by the command of Jesus Himself, they forgive sins. 

This is what we do at the beginning of every single Divine Service.  We speak the confession of sins and confess all of our sins to our Heavenly Father.  Together we confess that we have sinned in thought, word, and deed.  Then the pastor – who you have called to the Office of the Keys – stands before you and absolves you!  The Absolution is spoken by the pastor and all your sins are forgiven just as if Christ Jesus spoke these words to you Himself.  The Absolution is not the breath of death and it is not the breath of an angry curse, but the breath of forgiveness, life, and salvation. 

Now, I used to struggle with this.  I did not grow up with this confession and Absolution as we have here in this service.  The first time I remember seeing and hearing a pastor say the words,

“I as a called and ordained servant therefore forgive you all of your sins,” I freaked out!  I said to myself, “Who does that guy think he is?  How can he as a sinner forgive sins?  A guy in a white robe cannot forgive sins!   That is God’s job and His alone!” 

Nobody though had ever showed me the reading from the Gospel of John the twentieth chapter. 

You see, Jesus breathed on His disciples and gave His Spirit to them because He was sending them into the world to deliver the forgiveness of sins that He had won by His death and resurrection.  In other words, those words of forgiveness spoken over you in the Absolution… they are Jesus’ words of forgiveness which He speaks to you, His people through His chosen servant, the pastor. 

Dear friends, it is not the words of a man in a white robe that forgive your sins.  Do not think that my forgiveness carries any weight in heaven.  I am only a poor miserable sinner like all of you in need of the same forgiveness from our Lord.  The words of Absolution are just as much for me, as they are for you. 

What this means is that the words of Absolution are Jesus’ words, not mine.  Jesus makes use of a man’s mouth and breath to breathe life into you, to chase away death, and to fill you with His life and His forgiveness.  Jesus is life, His breath is life, and His words are life – all for you.

Giving life to the dead and dying people through the voice and breath of man is not all that odd.  We heard the very same thing in our Old Testament reading from the Prophet Ezekiel. 

Ezekiel was called – he was set aside as a servant.  God chose Him to speak His worlds of life and forgiveness to God’s people.  To show him how it would be and how it would work, Ezekiel was shown a valley full of bones and at God’s holy command Ezekiel spoke words of life to a valley of death. 

As the prophet spoke to the dry and dead bones in the stead and by the command of God, life was given to the valley of bones.  The bones rattled, flesh came upon the bones, and behold out of the jaws of death a mighty great army came to life.

Now, it was not Ezekiel’s breath or his words or his power or his charisma that gave life to the pile of bones.  Ezekiel essentially did nothing, he had nothing to offer.  Ezekiel simply spoke the word of God, “Hear the Word of the Lord…” and life came forth. 

Dear Baptized Saints, when you hear the words of Absolution spoken over you and into your ears, you and your sins are wrapped in the mighty grace of God.  Yes, when the Lord’s word of forgiveness is spoken to you and for you, the Lord does what He says.  In other words, even though the Lord’s forgiveness is delivered to you through the mouth of a sinful man – your pastor – these words are life, because Jesus is life.  Jesus’ breath is life and He breathes forgiveness, life, and salvation into you to chase away death and fill you with assurance. 

So, dear Baptized Saints, hear it once again!  You are forgiven – do not doubt this.  Jesus’ words of Absolution have been breathed upon you, over you, and into your ears.  Why are you forgiven, because Jesus’ word says so. 

Christ Jesus loves you and loves me, He makes sure that the mercy and grace He accomplished for you on Good Friday is delivered to you in so many ways that you need never doubt that His suffering and death and resurrection are for you, for your complete forgiveness. 

Jesus has more forgiveness than you have sins for.  And He fill you with all of His forgiveness today.  Hear the word of the Lord, “I forgive you all your sins!”

In the name of the risen and victorious Jesus Christ: Amen.

Note:  This sermon is indebted to Rev. Joshua Reimche of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Bottineau, ND.  Pastor Reimche's sermon has been reformatted, edited, and adjusted for Zion Lutheran Church. 

Set Me As A Seal Upon Your Heart

Text: Song of Solomon 8:6-7

In the name of Jesus: Amen.

Collin and Betsy, back in Old Testament times, people would use things called cylindrical seals or signet rings to press into wax and clay.  In other words, people would have round cylinders and rings often made of hard stone.  These cylinders and rings had a person’s name or marking etched into it.  Once they owned something or made a contractual agreement, the round cylinder or ring would be pressed into wax or clay to leave an impression – to leave their marking.  It functioned much like our modern day signature. 

Now, with that said, it was not uncommon for a man to have the name of his beloved wife pressed firmly upon a breast plate seal or upon a precious stone seal that was strapped to his arm.  It also was not uncommon for a woman to have a charm or a seal around her neck and upon her heart, with the impression of her husband’s name. 

This is exactly what we were reading about earlier in the scripture lesson from Song of Solomon, the eighth chapter.    

These verses, from the biblical book of Song of Solomon, were written about a man and women after their wedding.  The husband and wife are out in the country.  The wife, while holding her husband’s arm, places her head against her husband’s chest and says,

Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave.

In other words, she was saying to her husband to inscribe her name forever upon a jewel or seal and wear it upon himself, for the entire world to see that she belonged to him.  She was saying to her husband to wear a jewel or seal on his arm or around his neck to remember that she belonged to him and that she was pressed closely to his heart.  He was to wear a seal to remember and know that they were both bound together by wedlock. 

It is a rather romantic gesture to think about – to have one’s name set upon another is it not? 

Today, Collin and Betsy you are both here before your friends and before the Lord to be married.  Today as you stand together and make your vows you are essentially saying to each other, “Set me as a seal upon your heart.”  In other words, Betsy, you are saying that you want your name and your whole being fixed to Collin’s heart.  Collin, you are confessing today that you want to always be remembered by Betsy.  Together you are testifying that you want to always be on the mind of each other.  You are proclaiming today that you want to be underneath each other’s protection and care.  You are sharing today that you need and want the full assurance of love from each other. 

Collin and Betsy, I commend you in your desire to be married today.  I commend you for wanting to have your names inscribed upon each other’s hearts through the exchanging of rings.  Indeed, in our day and age when traditional marriage is often neither sought out nor respected by our culture, you are making a bold confession of a life together, until death do you part. 

While I rejoice with you today, we would be naïve though to simply stop right here.  The reason why?  The verses that we read from Song of Solomon are also verses about Christ’s love for his bride – the church.  You see, the strength of a Christian marriage is not upon your names that are inscribed upon your hearts, but rather, the strength of the Christian marriage – your marriage –is that your names are inscribed upon the heart of Christ. 

Yes indeed, we must acknowledge today that you both will fail each other in thought, word, and deed as husband and wife.   The seals with your names will get scuffed.  The seals with your names may be ripped at.  Life happens.  Pain, suffering, conflict, good times, and bad all accompany marriage.  Marriages are not immune to this.  You will tested by life.  Your sinful natures will wreak havoc at time, the ideologies of the world will lie to you, and the devil will try to undo your marriage. 

You though, Collin and Betsy, in the midst of all of the challenges and struggles brought upon the holy estate of marriage, you are not alone.  Yes, just as you are asking each other to set your names upon each other’s hearts, the Lord has already fixed you upon His heart. 

I am not talking about some religious sentiment.  This is not some religious soppiness that is intended to wiggle its way into this wedding service.  No, it is none of this.  It is a true reality for the both of you that I speak of.  Indeed, two-thousand years ago Christ saw both of you, claimed you both, made you His own, and then died on a blood stained cross – for you and for your marriage. 

Not only are your names engraved upon the heart and the nailed scarred hands of Christ – who forgives you of all your sins, but the name of the Lord God almighty is engraved upon your hearts and your heads.  You Betsy are baptized; the name of the Lord is upon you.  You Collin are baptized; the name of the Lord is upon you as well.  The Lord’s love for you cannot be quenched by life’s onslaught of raging floods and neither can it be drowned out. 

In the days to come you may fear that your love may wear thin, but take comfort that Christ’s love does not fail or wear thin, for it is stronger than death and fiercer than the grave.

At the end of each day being enveloped in the gift of marriage and the forgiveness of sins, you will lay it all out before the Lord, nothing kept back, nothing held outside His forgiveness and His love.  Yes, you will lay it all out before the Lord together as one flesh – as husband and wife – knowing that the Lord holds all of you, the good, the bad, the ups and the downs. 

You see, your marriage today is upon the heart of Christ, as you make your vows in this holy sanctuary.  What this means is that within this marriage you are held, held within the Lord’s love and care, so that you cannot fall apart. 

Confident of Christ’s love and forgiveness, today you are bold to make the staggering full-size promises of marriage. 

Collin, your `name is upon the heart of the Lord.

Betsy, your name is upon the heart of the Lord. 

As husband and wife, it is the same.  As the Greenley’s your marriage is upon the heart of the Lord. 

You a have been set as a seal upon the Lord’s heart.  His love is stronger than death and fiercer than the grave. 

In the name of Jesus: Amen.