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Opened Arms
Luke 15:11-32
Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and from our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Jesus isn’t
looking for the righteous. Jesus came to save sinners. After all, those who
aren't sinners don't need a Savior. But wait! Aren't all people sinners? The
Bible says so, but we tend to think we’re pretty good people. But we are
sinners. Sinners don't fear, love and trust in God as they should. Sinners
despise their neighbor and put themselves first. Those who confess that they are
sinners recognize that they deserve nothing except the wrath of God. They know
that they have nothing going for them but God's own mercy in Jesus. On the
other hand, those who have no need of repentance don't think they're such bad
people. They’re pretty sure they've got God all figured out and are pretty good
at doing what He says. Jesus can't help those who believe they’re sinless. They
will be on their own on the Last Day.
Those who are
sinners crowd around Jesus to hear Him and His Word. Those who have no need of
repentance complain that Jesus receives and eats with such people. But Jesus
came to save sinners, to call them to repentance. And what is repentance? Repentance
means being turned around. It means that the Spirit, by the preaching of the
Word, turns you away from your sins to faith and trust in Christ. Repentance is
the Lord's work. You can't repent on your own. You can't decide to turn away
from your sins. Christ Himself calls you away from your sins by His Word and
Sacraments.
The wasteful son
lives a sinful life. When the bottom falls out, when he has to eat with the
pigs, finally he realizes he can’t clean up his own mess. The only one who can
fix his broken life, the only one who can love him, the only one who can
restore him, is the same man against whom he sinned: his father. But he still
thinks he can do it his way. He plans his fancy speech. He chooses his own
position in the household.
But that’s not the
way the father works. Before the son can approach the house, the father comes
running to meet him. Before the son can do any more than confess his sin, the
father restores him. He dresses him in the finest robe and prepares the
fanciest of feasts—not because the son deserves it, but because the father
loves his son that much. And our Father works the same way. The Lord comes to
us through the water and Word of the font. Christ seeks us out and restores us by
the preaching of the Gospel and the speaking of holy absolution. Christ provides
His own body and blood as a rich feast for us to eat and drink. These things
are His gifts for sinners. Those who have no need of repentance have no need to
be baptized or absolved or fed with Christ’s body and blood. They may as well
stay away. But you, sinners: if you have nothing going for you but Jesus, come
to hear Him. Live in your baptism and feast at His Supper. That's what Jesus
has for sinners.
If you don't have
need of repentance; if you think you've got God all figured out; if you're
convinced you're not perfect but you try hard; if you think you’re basically
good—or at least, you're better than most other people; if you think God must
be happy that such a person like you goes to church; then repent! Either weep and
despair of yourself, or recognize that Jesus didn't come for you because you apparently
don’t need His help. But if you know you are a sinner—if you don't love
God as He commands; if you don't love your neighbor like you should; if you
know that you deserve nothing from God but His eternal wrath and condemnation—then
rejoice! Rejoice, because it is for such sinners that Jesus has come into this
world. Through the merits of His Son, our Savior, Jesus, the Father runs to
greet you with His hands outstretched to welcome you into His kingdom, to
receive you with the fine baptismal robe of Christ’s righteousness, to welcome
you to the rich feast of His own Son’s body and blood. What was lost, now is
found! In the name of the Father and of the Son (†) and of the Holy
Spirit. Amen.
The peace of God which passes all
understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus always. Amen.
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