Sermon for 12/29/19: First Sunday After Christmas

RIGHT-CLICK HERE to save the audio file.

The Temple in Flesh

Luke 2:21-40

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

The Temple in which Our Lord was presented was not the Temple of the Old Testament, the one built by Solomon according to Divine command. That had been desecrated and destroyed. The Temple of the presentation, where Simeon sings his song, was the one built by wicked Herod. Even so, God sanctified that Temple. He made it His place. The blood of animals was spilled there in the place of men’s, as the wages for sins. The aroma was pleasing to God. He chose to dwell there among His people with His gracious, merciful presence.

But Temple was no more permanent than the roving canvas Tabernacle of Moses we heard about on Christmas morning. The Temple in which Our Lord was presented and laid into Simeon’s arms was eventually destroyed. It no longer exists. It has been gone since the year 70AD. And even if a Temple like Herod’s is built today, God will not dwell there. That Temple has served its purpose. God has raised up for Himself a Temple which men did not build, but that men did tear down. That Temple is Jesus, God dwelling among His people in flesh. That Temple was rebuilt on the third day, and men will never tear Him down again. This living, eternal Temple is the only one that counts, for Jesus has fulfilled those Old Testament Temples.

Jesus is the place of God’s gracious presence among His people. He is Immanuel, God with us, God as one of us for our salvation. He is the Passover Lamb that takes away sin—and not just the sins of those whose doors are marked, but the sins of the whole world. It is His blood sprinkled upon us which makes us clean and declares us righteous. He stands between us and God’s perfect Law, our Shield and Protector. He intercedes for His beloved even while teaching them to pray. He is the consolation of Israel, the redemption of those who believe.

He is not bound to time or space, but He bound Himself to the stuff of Mary’s womb that He might bleed and die and rise again to recapture men for Himself. Now His humiliation is ended. As a Man, as Mary’s Son, our Brother, He always and fully uses His Divine rights and power. As a Man, God dwells in the hearts of men, making them the temple of His Holy Spirit. As a Man in flesh, He is present in bread and wine to join us to Himself in a sacramental union that defies our intellect but satisfies our faith.

God has called you to be where He is, where He has said He will be for you by grace. That doesn’t mean that you will experience an emotional high when you encounter Him in Word and Sacrament. He does give us those times, and we give thanks when they come. But ours is a life of faith, which means believing in His Word and promises. Even when we feel cold inside, even numb with self-pity, we live by faith; we trust God’s Word.

The birth and death and resurrection of Christ our Lord was for your eternal peace. Time is not without an end, and neither is your sorrow or your pain. It will not last. Christ lives. He is coming back. For now, while we wait, He is here for you in the places that He has promised to be: His Word, His body and blood, in Holy Absolution. This is the Temple in flesh, put into you this morning by way of the mouth, that you yourself would become what He is: the place where God is present. You are His own beloved in whom He is well pleased. You are the dwelling place of His Spirit. Jesus Christ, the firstborn from the dead, the Temple not built with hands, is presented here this very day, just as He was in Herod’s Temple so long ago. He is presented for you—always for you. Here is your peace. 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.

Sermon for 12/25/19: The Nativity of Our Lord

RIGHT-CLICK HERE to save the audio file.

Rejoice!

John 1:1-14

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

Christ is born. God has come to dwell among us in flesh as a Man. The angels sing. The shepherds wonder at such mercy. Heaven praises God for this incalculable love, beholding the mystery of Love in the flesh. God’s will is always good, and it is His will to redeem men. For our salvation He chooses to dwell among us, to endure suffering, pain, and death. He does this so that we who were humbled by our sin would be lifted up.

This mystery is beyond all of creation’s understanding. The angels cannot comprehend it. Shepherds quake. Mary ponders. God’s ways are far beyond our understanding. Do not ask how this can be. Where God wills, the order of nature is overturned. He who parts the Red Sea, who multiplies the loaves, who calms the wind and waves—it was His will to become Man. And so Christ is born of a virgin. He becomes a Man, yet He never gives up His divinity. He is now and ever will be Man, even as He was, is now, and ever will be God. The Man who was crucified and died, who rose and ascended, sits at His Father’s right hand. This is our exaltation and our hope.

His Incarnation did not cause Him to forsake the angels. He has not deprived them of His care. Though He is a Man, He has not ceased to be God. He still loves what He created. He never stops sustaining and caring for all of it, which He did even while on cross. He is God and Man, one Christ, perfectly united in will and desire with His Father and the Spirit.

So come and adore Him, for He is Christ the Lord. He saves us from our sins. He delivers us from death. He is our God and our Brother. He lifts fallen humanity. He makes us free. God has become a Man! He has picked up His cross. He has taken the bitter cup of wrath. He has endured the worst that Hell could do. He has quenched all its hatred in His holy blood. Rejoice!

But “rejoice” seems too weak to convey the praise that bursts out of us whose consciences have been cleansed by His Word, whose guilt and shame is gone. We are forgiven. The Light has shined in our darkness. He has rescued us from eternal torture for the sake of His grace. What words, what music can contain our joy? Rejoice! Give thanks! Adore Him!

Are you struggling with grief? Come and adore Him. Grace will not make you forget what you have lost. You are still allowed to miss and mourn your loved ones. The joy of Christ is meant to give you comfort. We have God with us in the flesh, who knows our suffering and grief, for He felt it Himself. And so we do not mourn as the world mourns. We have hope.

Our feasting tables will not be the same this year as they were last year. Death and divorce, arguments and betrayal have altered them. And they will not be the same next year as they are today. Even so, rejoice! Adore Him! God is Man in Christ, and He is good. His mercy endures forever. Our dead will not stay dead. Because Jesus lives, they live. We trust even now that God will work good in everything, even in our grief.

Your pain will not endure. Your loneliness and sorrow will pass. Even heaven and earth will pass away. Nothing lasts forever…nothing, except for the mercy of our God in Christ. The trumpet will sound. The dead will be raised. We will be changed. We will be as we were meant to be. All sadness will end. For our God is a Man! Christ is cradled in the Holy Scriptures. He is cradled in the bread and the wine by which He gives us His body and blood. We are joined to Him by faith through grace.

Rejoice, O Christian! Sing with the angels. Whatever burdens might be yours, rejoice that Christ is born. He brings peace on earth and goodwill between God and man. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Rejoice! Adore Him! Christ the Savior is born. 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.

Sermon for 12/22/19: Fourth Sunday in Advent

RIGHT-CLICK HERE to save the audio file.

“Peace on earth…”

John 1:19-28

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

The best time to hear about a Savior is when you are a prisoner. No one is more receptive to the promise of freedom than a slave. Most of us will never know the feeling of being bound by iron chains, but there is more than one form of bondage. It is easier to bend metal bars than to free yourself from lust or selfishness or malice. Nothing locks you down as firmly as guilt. As heirs of Adam’s rebellion, we are all enslaved—not only by sin, but by the decay of death which corrupts every aspect of human existence. Life on earth is not the garden of delights it was meant to be.

It is a sign of wisdom when a person begins to know the world for the cruel, merciless place it is. And this awakening, without the context of Christian hope, is devastating. You won’t achieve most of your goals; you won’t realize most of the things you hope for; people are essentially selfish; the world does not care. These are the realizations that drive people to drugs or alcohol or illicit sexual encounters, to gambling and addictions, to other forms of escape.

For several weeks or months, we have been preparing for Christmas. For many of us, that means spending money we don’t have. Soon we will be gathered around trees in our living rooms: exchanging gifts, drinking eggnog, taking pictures while we gush over clothing and trinkets and gadgets we don’t need and will never use. Then the excitement will be over, and for many of us there will be a sense of letdown as we go back to our routines. We do not see peace on earth; there is no goodwill toward men.

The Christian never feels truly at home in this world. We are always strangers in a strange land, pilgrims journeying to a better destination. But there are many signs along the way to tell us that we are getting closer to our destination. And by the grace of God, we see indications of the beauty and glory of that future home.

Everything in this world that can be called good is a glimpse of something better. Music that makes you tap your toe, strong coffee on a cold morning, being hugged unexpectedly, the inviting comfort of a soft bed, being entranced by a well told story, seeing your child’s face light up, the loyal companionship of a dog: all those things are merely shadows of something more substantial to come.

John the Baptist lived to point us to Jesus, the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” There is no recorded incident of Jesus turning a sinner away. Jesus never refuses a sincere plea for deliverance or redemption. He will never turn you away. He gives you all you need for this body and life. He gives you all you need for the life of the world to come. He hears your prayers, and He answers them for you in the best way possible. His good and gracious will is always done, and it is always best.

God has seen your situation. He has heard your weeping. And He has answered. The eternal Son of God has stepped down from His mighty throne to become one of us. He had no sin of His own, but He took upon himself the full guilt of the sin of all—a scene so repugnant that even the sun turned dark and the earth shook. All this Jesus did willingly, out of supreme love for you. The Father’s wrath has been extinguished, exhausted upon the Son, so that we who are in Christ would be pardoned and cleansed, set free from all condemnation. Truly He brings “peace on earth, goodwill toward men.”

So come to the Lord’s Table. Receive the medicine of eternal life. Sing praise to God, for Jesus is coming! He is coming to set you free. He is coming to take you out of the valley of the shadow of death, and you will dwell with Him in glory forever. Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly! 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.

Sermon for 12/15/19: Third Sunday in Advent

RIGHT-CLICK HERE to save the audio file.

Hear and See

Matthew 11:2-10 (11)

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

John the Baptist receives the highest praise given to any man. Jesus calls John the greatest. Yet even the greatest of men is still a man, still infected with Adam’s curse. John’s greatness is the greatness of grace, of what God had done in him and for him. He is a prophet of the most High. Indeed, he is the culmination of all prophets. He calls stiff-necked, hard-hearted men to repentance. Yet above all, he brings Good News from God. He announces the Messiah and gives voice to the Church’s new song: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”

John has faith. He held this faith already in his mother’s womb. He leapt for joy at the sound of Mary’s voice, for in her womb, his Savior had taken up flesh. This faith was made perfect in Christ, just like ours. He sent his disciples to Jesus to ask Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” Maybe he sent his disciples to Jesus for their sake. Maybe they were doubting. John sent them to the Source.

But John was a man, a sinner. He knew doubt and fear. Perhaps his time in a prison cell made him wonder if his divine Cousin really was the Promised One. If that is the case, then we get a remarkable glimpse into the greatness of John. Faith is like courage. Courage is not the absence of fear. Rather, courage is acting, doing what needs to be done, despite fear and with knowledge of the danger. In the same way, faith is not the absence of doubt; it is believing and clinging to God’s Word despite doubts and in the midst of danger, with the ever-present reality of earthly consequences, trusting above all that God is good and will not let us down. The greatness of John’s faith is not demonstrated so much in his martyrdom, but in where he looked for answers. He looks to Christ. That is faith as only God can give.

And Jesus, in his great compassion, did not disappoint. He gave John an answer custom made for the last and greatest of the prophets: “The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised and the poor have the Gospel preached to them.” The prophecies, even John’s, are all fulfilled. Jesus has done what He came to do.

We, of course, are not sending notes to Jesus from prison. We could be home, warm in bed. Are we here this cold December day to hear the Word, to be broken and healed, to confess and be forgiven? That’s exactly why were are here, and that is always worth getting out of bed for! But if John was not worthy to untie our Lord’s sandals, then certainly we are not worthy to eat Christ’s body and blood, to approach Him so boldly in prayer! But by grace—always by grace—ours is the Kingdom of heaven.

What John for all his greatness could not obtain by right or power has been given to you as pure gift, the inheritance of the baptized. Jesus Christ, God with us in flesh, is your Lord. Your heavenly Father has given you His Holy Spirit; by His grace you believe His holy Word. You embrace it. You rejoice in it. You hunger for it and are satisfied. You are His children, His heirs. He has removed all guilt and shame from you. He has bestowed His holy Name on you. He gave His very life for you. You will soon leave these doubts and weaknesses behind and come to the loving arms of your Savior. Your warfare is ended. Your iniquity is pardoned.

Look and see: “The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised and the poor have the Gospel preached to them.” The Messiah was born for you. He died and rose for you. He is coming back for you. You will see Him with your own eyes, and your throat will fill the night with songs of praise and joy. 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.

Sermon for 12/8/19: Second Sunday in Advent

RIGHT-CLICK HERE to save the audio file.

“Stir Up Our Hearts”

Luke 21:25-36

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

We pray: “Stir up our hearts, O Lord.” But that is a dangerous prayer, for hearts are not stirred up with comfort foods and soft music. We do not pray: “Lord, give us a warm, fuzzy feeling in our bellies; make our lives comfortable and leisurely; make us popular with the boys.” We pray that God would stir up our hearts, that He would disturb us, that He would prod us into action. Hearts are stirred up by an earnest call to repentance, with a hearty dose of reality. “Stir up our hearts” is a plea for God to end our complacency, to defeat our laziness, to overcome our apathy. We ask Him to intervene for us against our own sinful flesh.

While we wait for our Lord’s return, our danger increases. We must continue to endure temptation. Salvation is closer now then when we first believed. But do we have the same zeal we had then? It is easy to grow weary, to allow ourselves to be seduced by the devil. He’s so persuasive. “Why fight me? Why work so hard? Why care about what God? Does He really care for you? Take care of yourself. Live for today.”

But that is most certainly the way of death. Stir up our hearts, O Lord, against our own flesh! Man does not live by statistics and financial reports. He does not find favor in the eyes of God by finding favor in the eyes of men. The baptized children of God live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. My brothers and sisters in Christ, there is your safe harbor. All other things will wash away. Nothing else will endure. But the Word of God will. It never lies, never changes, never stops, never fails.

And so we pray: “Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Your only-begotten Son.” On the great and dreadful day of the Lord, the Son of Man will indeed come in a cloud with power and great glory. The Muslims, the Buddhists, those Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses, and all those who thought they could come to God apart from the Son, will no longer be able to deny His power and authority. Satan’s many masks and false names will finally be stripped away. Then the pagans and heathen—they will know whom they’ve been worshiping all these years, but it won’t do them any good; they shall be burned up. But to you who fear the name of the Lord, who trust in the mercy of the God born of Mary, the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings. Look up. Lift up your heads. Your redemption draws near. Your suffering, your trials, your troubles, your grief—all of that will end.

The decisive battle for your soul has already been won. The Father has pardoned you for the sake of the suffering and death of His innocent Son. The Spirit of God abides in you. Still, the devil fights on. It is a dangerous, deadly battle. But the end is certain. Fear not. Christ has not died in vain. The devil, that liar and the father of lies, is already defeated. Jesus died and rose again for us and for our salvation. He reconciled all mankind to His Father. The kingdom of heaven is open to all believers. Blessed are all those who trust in Him, who find their rest in Him, who confess His holy name. They shall not be disappointed.

And so we pray: “Stir up our hearts, O Lord!” Prepare us by Your grace. Receive us now and when we die through forgiveness and mercy. Secure us in this free salvation unto the end. Feed us with your body and blood. Make us your own! Come, Lord Jesus! 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.  

HYMN: Lord Jesus Christ, On You I Wait

As I continue to run back through the texts I wrote for the 1-year lectionary, one Sunday for which I found my first text inadequate was the Last Sunday of the Church Year. It's not a bad text, but I felt it was weak. So I decided to try again. Instead of focusing on the Gospel appointed for that Sunday, I looked at the Epistle: I Thessalonians 5:1-12. The themes of darkness and slumber and their opposites caught my eye, along with the Day of Judgment, of course. Paul's words to the Thessalonians are full of comfort, and I hope my text reflects that.

Anyway, because I only really like three of the tunes for the CMD meter (86 86 86 86), I also wrote an original tune for the text, called "FAITH ALLISON" in honor of my wife. Robin Fish, who has written original tunes for me and has harmonized others, wrote accompaniment for the tune.

Lord Jesus Christ, On You I Wait

1. Lord Jesus Christ, on You I wait.

In You I put my trust.

Oh, save me from the sinner’s fate

When I return to dust.

The Day is surely drawing near:

The great and awesome Day

When faithless fools will quake in fear

While saints make glad display.

2. The Judgment Day is soon, I know.

The end is coming fast.

The signs and wonders surely show

The pledge fulfilled at last.

You spread Your grace abundantly

In paying sin’s dread price.

You died my death and set me free:

A cross-borne sacrifice.

3. The world denies that You will come,

Indulging lust and sin.

They scorn the Word and soon succumb.

Corruption burns within.

The deeds of darkness dim their eyes.

In ignorance they sleep.

Then You will come to their surprise.

The death they sowed, they reap.

4. Temptation, doubt, despair, and death

Assault me and assail.

Oh, shield me with baptismal faith;

Your grace will never fail.

Forbid that I should slumber, Lord,

In false security.

But keep me steadfast in Your Word

To trust You patiently.

5. “Lo, I am coming soon,” You say.

Your Word is firm and clear.

“Lord Jesus, quickly come!” I pray.

I know the Day is near.

And as I wait expectantly,

Awake and in Your light,

Your body and Your blood shall be

My comfort and delight.

© 2019, Alan Kornacki, Jr.

CMD (86 86 86 86)

FAITH ALLISON

Occasion: Last Sunday of the Church Year; End Times

Sermon for 12/1/19: First Sunday in Advent

RIGHT-CLICK HERE to save the audio file.

Knowing and Understanding

Matthew 21:1-9

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

In Jesus, the power of God is hidden in weakness. His wisdom is hidden in foolishness, His riches in poverty. God is a Man, flesh and bone. He dies our death. His life becomes our life. Justice condemns the Innocent One in mercy. The Holy One of God becomes sin. He rides into Jerusalem as the Ransom. He breathes His last, but the devil is undone. Hell’s walls are demolished; the flaming sword of Eden is extinguished. The angel of death passes over. Who can know and understand the ways of the Lord?

The donkey seems to know. He knows his Master. The children know, too. They sing God’s praise in the Temple. They ask Him to save them. The Temple veil knows its part; having nothing more to hide, no longer separating God and man, it rips in two. And the centurion knows; at the death of Jesus he confesses: “Surely this is the Son of God.” Who knows these things? No one but God knows, truly. Yet He reveals Himself to men, and with Him all things are possible. And through the grace of the Holy Spirit, you know, too. God’s grace is sufficient.

Jesus comes in power, but He is known in weakness. He is the Lord of Life, but we celebrate the victory won in His death. He came before; He will come again. First He came in humility; this time He will come in glory. Every knee will bow. Every tongue will confess, “Jesus is Lord.” And all the sons of God will be revealed. All the universe will know what the angels already know. The dogs and trees, rocks and birds, will see the hope within you, your lamp burning with the oil of faith. They will see the blood-washed children of God; they will see you as the child of God in whom the Father is well-pleased. And so we pray: “Stir up your power, O Lord, and come to rescue us from the threatening perils of our sins, and save us by Your promised deliverance.”

Jesus comes already now. He comes, His power hidden in weakness. It is not the power of might and strength as the world counts such things. It is the power of love, of deliverance and protection. It is the power of sacrifice. This grace has made Him your Lord. He rules in you through forgiveness. He comes in humble ways, so that you would look upon Him and not be destroyed. God has a face. By faith you gaze upon the face of the Child born of Mary, the face of a Man. And though He was despised and rejected, He is beautiful to you. His feet, pierced and scarred, are most beautiful, for He brings Good News from God. He has reconciled you to His Father. He has opened heaven to you. He fulfills His promise. He keeps His Word. He is your God, and you, by grace, are His people, His beloved Bride. He comes now in power. He is not a god who looks on from a distance. He is our present, promise-keeping God.

A Man sits at the right hand of God and rules the Universe. He is God and Man, and through Him all mankind is welcome in heaven. He is in heaven, but He is also present here. He is hidden in and under bread and wine, in the voice of His messengers, in His Name. He is seen by faith; He reveals Himself to you in His Word and gifts. Who can understand such things? The donkey can, and the children, the Temple veil, even the Centurion. And by the power of the Spirit, you know and understand. God Himself makes you worthy. His grace is sufficient. You see His face and live. 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.