CLICK HERE for the audio file.
CLICK HERE for the video file.
Angels Rejoice
Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Have you ever noticed that there are those who take great delight in pointing out that church members are sinners? Some of those same folks are shocked to find that we are not especially bothered by that revelation, as if we didn’t know that already. I am not shocked. I’ve known for a long time that you are all sinners, and you have known that about me, too. But sometimes that charge is phrased in such a way that it reveals something other than someone who is just naive. It comes out as an accusation: “These people may be Christians on Sunday, but look out the rest of the week.” Now we see what is really meant, what they really believe. They think Christianity is about good works, that being a Christian is about being nice and behaving.
And they are wrong! Indeed, the devil is pleased that they have believed his lie. In truth, to be a Christian is not to be good all of the time, or never to sin. And such a false idea of Christianity leads either to despair or hypocrisy. Christianity is not centered on good works. Jesus received and ate with sinners. The Pharisees stood off at a distance. They were shocked by the terrible sinners that made up our Lord’s entourage. Of course, this was the same crowd that thought they did not need a physician. But that was only because they did not know how sick they really were. It is impossible for any of us on this side of glory to not need God, or to ever have too much of His Word. So it is that these Pharisees, despite their many acts of charity, caused no rejoicing in heaven. The angels of God do not rejoice over children’s hospitals or universal health care or even peace treaties, as good as those things may be. The angels of God rejoice over repentance! They rejoice over conversion and salvation!
To be a Christian is to be the cause of the angels rejoicing. It is to be gathered by our Lord to Himself, to bask in His forgiving presence in His gracious Word and Holy Sacrament. It is to listen as He speaks, to eat and drink as He gives nourishment and peace in His body and blood. To be a Christian does not mean that you have to be a pillar of the community whose kids never get in trouble, or that you must write rousing editorials in the local paper, or belt out the national anthem at ball games, or that there has never been a time when you have had a little too much to drink. To be a Christian is to hear the Good Shepherd’s voice, to be forgiven by Him and drawn to Him. It is to listen to and eat with Jesus.
That being said, hearing Jesus always brings shame with it, for His hearers always suffer the attacks of the Pharisees or their spiritual heirs. Hearing Jesus also brings shame by association. We are in the company of shameful people. Have you noticed that, in the New Testament, the worst sorts of people were always gathered about the Lord: tax collectors, prostitutes, murderers, thieves and liars? The Pharisees rightly call us sinners. We must acknowledge that. God’s Word shames us. The Law humbles us. It cuts into our hearts and exposes us for who we really are. It leaves us vulnerable and helpless. But rejoice in that shame, for Jesus also says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” Under that shame there is honor: the honor that Jesus receives sinners.
God is not like you. He does not worry about His offended honor. He is moved, instead, by a completely undeserved loved. God behaves foolishly. He dies for sinners. He honors the shamed. He confounds the wisdom of men. He is a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles. He gives His life for us. And He will not be thwarted by some tongue wagging about “sinners.” He came to seek and to save sinners—even you; even me.
Every time you whisper a heartfelt prayer of sorrow over your sins; every time you confess your sincere desire to not do it again, and place all your hope and trust in His grace and mercy—that is, every time you repent, the angels in heaven rejoice. They rejoice because you are a forgiven sinner. The Law left you helpless and vulnerable and led you to know that only Jesus could rescue you and fill you with His righteousness; that He is the One who is willing to risk all to retrieve you again and to draw you back into the safety of His love. And so He finds you and bears you upon His shoulders rejoicing, and the angels rejoice with Him, for you are precious in His sight.
Jesus receives and eats with sinners at this table, where satisfies your hunger pangs for righteousness. He has found you by His Word. He has cut you down, but then He has raised you up again. And His angels rejoice in your forgiveness and life. So come; join with outcasts and sinners, with those of ill repute and shaky dealings, with terrible and the notorious. Come, be united in confession and faith. Be filled with His body and blood, given and shed for the remission of sins. God has sent His Son to be your Redeemer and Rescuer. He has sought and found you. You belong to Him. He has restored you to His house. You are the cause of angelic choir anthems of praise and rejoicing. You were dead and lost, but now you are found and alive. You belong. 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.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment