They Did It; Why Can't We?

They Did It; Why Can’t We?    

Luke 2:22-38

     The Christmas season is past but in the Epiphany season we have a reminder in the Gospel lesson next week that Jesus was a little baby.  We observe the Purification of Mary and the Presentation of Jesus.  This took place when the child was 40 days old.  The text tells us that the first male child that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord.  As we think about this little baby now being brought to the Temple, we don’t have to think too hard to be reminded of the joyful songs that we had the opportunity to sing as we celebrated His birth.  “Joy to the World” is just one of the many.  “Now Sing We Now Rejoice”, “Angels We Have Heard On High” with its chorus of “Gloria, in excelsis Deo,” fill our hearts with joy.  We are told that the shepherds returned to their fields glorifying and praising God. 

     In the reading for today, you also heard about Simeon whose song of praise is still used in our churches today.  We hear about Anna who gave thanks to God and spoke of Jesus to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.  These were people who were filled with joy because they realized that this baby was the fulfillment of God’s promises to send the Savior.  Even in the Psalm that we read before, the joy of knowing the Lord is expressed in words like, “my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God,” and “Blessed are those who dwell in your house ever singing your praise,” and “A day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.” 

     With all these examples of joy over the goodness of the Lord and the giving of the gift of the Savior being presented to us at this time of the year, you would think that we would be bubbling over with joy as we come together to worship and be reminded of God’s great love.  You would think that, but is that the reality?  I’m afraid that too many times the people of God who call themselves Lutheran are not very joyful as they work their way through the Advent, Christmas and Epiphany season.  I certainly don’t mean that we need to get all emotional and start jumping up and down as we celebrate but are we really in line with the people of God in the Scriptures that reflected on the coming of the Savior?  Have you ever seen a video of a Lutheran congregation singing the joyful Christmas hymns?  Is anyone smiling?  Are people’s eyes showing a glimmer of joy as they sing “Joy to the World?” 

     Or have you become so used to hearing the Christmas message that it no longer evokes in you a real sense of joy.  Sometimes it seems that with church professionals or very active lay people, Christmas is one of those marathons that you hope you can get through without getting sick.  You exhaust yourself with extra services, special programs, travel, family gatherings and finally there is nothing left in the tank and now you are expected to be joyful.  It happens to all of us, myself included.  I play in our praise band.  I’ve seen video of the band playing.  There just doesn’t seem to be a consistent message being proclaimed when you are singing “joy, unspeakable joy” with, at best, a neutral facial expression and more often with a frown because you are trying your best to play the notes, sing a harmony part and remember the words all at the same time.  It’s the ultimate in multi-tasking. 

     Is there real joy in your heart, a joy that expresses itself in your face, in your voice, in the way you carry yourself?  Does the world see an inconsistency between what your voice is saying and the way you are saying it?  Perhaps that would explain why some of our congregations are struggling these days.  The joy over the gift of a Savior is simply hidden somewhere.  Yet you would have to agree that the way you present yourself to those in your family and to the world around you says a lot about what is in your heart. 

     I find a wonderful example in the story of Simeon and Anna and the way they responded to the presence of the infant Jesus.  They didn’t know half of what you know about the significance of the coming of the Savior.  You know that He came as your substitute.  He came to keep God’s Law where you could not.  He came to take the punishment of death on the cross that you deserved because of your sin.  He came to defeat the power of sin, death and the devil.  He did it all for you.  Doesn’t that want to make you at least smile?  It ought to make you want to sing for joy.  The Psalm writer spoke about it.  Simeon expressed his joy in poetry that we have turned into a song.  Anna gave thanks to God and told everyone about that special child.  They did it.  Why can’t we do the same?  Cultural standards?  Professional demeanor?  Lack of appreciation for the great gift of salvation?  I hope not.  If that’s what it is, it’s something that can be changed.  By the power of the Spirit, you can know and experience real joy in the Good News of God’s grace and mercy and the gift of a Savior.  To quote the Psalm again, “My heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.”  Amen.

Rev. Gerald Matzke
Board of Directors Opening Devotion
January 24, 2014

We Have Found The Messiah

We Have Found the Messiah

John 1:29-41

 

       One of the things that you hear people ask at this time of the year is, “How was your Christmas?”  When you see people that you don’t see very often, discussions of Christmas celebrations can go on for weeks.  Decorations are taken down but we like to relive the excitement of the season.  When the question gets asked, “How was your Christmas?” you sometimes have to stop and think for a moment.  If you want to answer honestly, your answer probably depends a bit on how your expectations for Christmas were realized.  This could apply to a Christmas get-together with the family or it could apply to the gifts that you got or maybe it could apply to the trip that you had taken over the holidays.  We all have great expectations for events like this.  If everything went the way you had hoped, then you could say that you that a great time.  Of course you know that things don’t always work out the way you hoped they would.  You may not have gotten what you wanted for Christmas, someone may have gotten sick or you might have gotten caught in the wild weather that we have been having. 

     Our Gospel lesson for today talks about the realization of expectations.  As the disciples of John had their first encounter with Jesus, they seemed certain that He was going to live up to their expectations as the Messiah.  As we look at this early event in the ministry of Jesus, may we find ourselves excited about what Jesus means to us.  May you be ready then to tell some, “We have found the Messiah.”

     The people of Jesus’ day had expectations about the coming of the Messiah.  This had been an important part of the faith and the lives of God’s people for centuries.  The promise of someone who would come to be the Savior of the world was the foundation of Israel’s relationship to the Lord. 

     When John the Baptist began His ministry of preparing the way for the Christ, It became clear to some that the Messiah would be coming very soon.  In his preaching, John helped the people to see the purpose for the coming of the Messiah.  One day, Jesus came to John to baptized.  As we heard in last week’s Gospel lesson, the Baptism of Jesus included some amazing events that showed John and any others who were there that Jesus was the Son of God and also that He was anointed with the Holy Spirit.  When Jesus came around again the next day, John did not hesitate to point Him out as the Lamb of God.

    With their expectations raised, two of John’s disciples began to follow after Jesus to learn more about what their teacher had been telling them.  Think about what they had seen and heard.  From their youngest days they no doubt had heard about the Messiah in their local synagogue.  Now this unusual desert preacher and baptizer was pointing out a man in the crowd who was the Son of God.  John testified that the signs promised by God had pointed to Jesus.  The Holy Spirit came down on Him in the form of a dove.  He was proclaimed to be the Son of God.  He called Him the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.  What more would they need to be convinced that this was finally the Promised One?

     They decided that they would see for themselves.  They followed Jesus and asked if they could spend some time with Him.  We are told that they spent the rest of the day listening to Him.  We can only imagine what that day was like.  It must have been wonderful.  As far as the text tells us it was just Jesus and these two disciples.  One is identified as Andrew and the other was probably John, the writer of the Gospel.  In the time that they spent with Jesus, they were convinced that John the Baptist was correct.  Jesus was truly the Messiah.  Their expectations were realized.

     Most people have expectations about God and His promise of a Savior.  That statement may sound a little strange. Listen again. Most people today have expectations about God and His promise of a Savior.  We know that the Savior came into the world and the world has just celebrated His birth.  Isn’t that what Christmas is all about?  We certainly hope that’s what Christmas is all about but in many cases, the birth of the Savior is far from the center of the Christmas celebration. Many people are still looking for a Savior and I don’t just mean the Jews.  In our world today it has become very common for people to think about God on their own terms.  God becomes for them a product of their own desires and expectations. Many see God as simply as dispenser of all good things.  I’m sure that many of you are familiar with the little candy dispensers that shoot out a little candy every time you tip back the head of some cartoon character.  For some people God is nothing more than a great Pez dispenser who is ready to give you whatever you want whenever you want it.  In that kind of thinking, the Savior is one who stands ready to pull you out of any kind of problem that you might have.  He is good to have around but you don’t really expect to need Him.  As a result of that faulty kind of thinking, many people have some rather unrealistic expectations of Jesus.  Their expectations are completely self-centered.  What they fail to see is the real reason that Jesus came into the world. 

    Too often people see their needs as purely physical needs.  All they think of is life now.  If Jesus can’t solve my latest financial problem or doesn’t make my other problems go away, what good is He?  This kind of self-centered, materialistic thinking is more common than we would like to admit.  You don’t want to admit it because you know that it is found in each one of you.  Your sinful nature wants to hang on to that selfishness that is a part of our inherited sinful condition. It doesn’t want to admit that there is a real problem that is not going to be fixed by the granting of all of your earthly wishes.  The nature of that deeper problem was the basis of the preaching and ministry of John the Baptist.  He called people to repentance.  He baptized people for the cleansing of their sin.  He pointed out Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.  That’s the problem. It’s sin.  Sin brings separation from God and eternal death.  That’s pretty abstract and hard for people to understand.  It’s the truth and you know it when you hear the Law of God whether it is proclaimed to you from God’s Commandments or whether you are listening to the voice of your conscience.  The law of God condemns us and when you are honest with yourself and with God you see that your greatest need is for forgiveness and reconciliation with God.  Nothing else in this life matters much without peace with God.

     That peace comes to you through Jesus, the Lamb of God.  He has what you need the most.  Through His perfect life, He satisfied God’s requirement of perfection.  Through His suffering and death, He satisfied God’s requirement that sin be punished by death.  By sacrificing His life, He became the true Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.  When the Holy Spirit comes to you through the message of that Good News, you are given the faith to believe and trust that Jesus is the Messiah, the Promised One, the Anointed One who brings God’s pardon and with that a peace that helps you to deal with all of life’s problems.  You can face them and deal with them because you know that the worst problem has already been solved.  You have been made right with God through your Savior Jesus Christ.  With the peace that comes from knowing that nothing can separate you from the love of God that is yours through Christ Jesus, what can the world do to you?  God has promised to provide you with all that you need and He shows you how He keeps that promise every time you hear the Gospel, every time you remember your Baptism and every time you receive the Lord’s Supper. 

     Andrew had great news to share and he shared it with his brother.  He had found the Messiah, the long-awaited Messiah.  You, too, have found the Messiah.  He has found you and made you His own through the power of the Holy Spirit working through the Means of Grace, the Word and the Sacraments.  By that same Spirit’s power you can share the Good News with those around you.  You can be like Andrew and all the others who went to their friends and family and said, “We have found the Messiah.  We have found the Savior.  Come and see.”  Amen.

Rev. Gerald Matzke

Zion Lutheran Church

Painesville, OH

2nd Sunday After Epiphany

In My Father's House

“In My Father’s House” 

 Luke 2:40-52

     Did you ever have the opportunity to participate in a “Take Your Child to Work Day”?  Many companies have a day when employees are encouraged to bring your child along for the day to see what Mom or Dad do when they are at work all day.  I suppose there are several reasons for doing this.  It gives the child an appreciation for what their parents do when they are away from home.  It also might get them interested in thinking more about that kind of vocation when they grow up.  It is also a good time from the child and the parent to bond in a different environment that just a home among the rest of the family. 

     Our Gospel lesson for today tells us about the only event in the life of Jesus from the time of His birth and the events surrounding that until the time He would begin His ministry as a teacher.  He is twelve years old.  It was time for them to make the annual trip to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover.  It was the time when they would remember the release of their ancestors from their slavery in Egypt.  The last plague that caused the Pharaoh to let the people go was the visit of the angel of death that killed the first born in all of Egypt.  The people of Israel were saved by the blood of the lamb that was spread on the door posts of their homes.  The annual observance would include the Passover meal as it had been done according to God’s direction.  How fitting that Jesus and His family would be in Jerusalem at this special time of the year.  It would be this same Feast of the Passover that would bring Jesus and His disciples to Jerusalem thirty-one years later when Jesus would be arrested, put on trial, crucified and then would rise again on the third day.  All of this would be according to His Father’s plan for the salvation of the world.  Just as the blood of the Passover Lamb would spare the lives of the people of Israel in Egypt, so the blood of Jesus would be shed to set us free from our slavery to sin and its punishment.

     It must have been a fascinating journey for a twelve year old boy.  The excitement of going to the big city of Jerusalem to see the Temple and all of the hustle and bustle of Passover time with all the extra people around would have overwhelming.  There would be so much to see and so much to do.  Jesus was not your typical twelve-year old.  While He was certainly curious, He was also aware of His purpose in being here and that gave a different focus for His curiosity.  It led Him to the Temple where He would be able to be in the presence of the teachers of the Law.   These were men who devoted themselves to a knowledge of the Scriptures and the interpretations and applications of the Scriptures to the lives of the people.  If there were any people in Israel who could discuss the Scriptures with some degree of authority it would be these teachers in the Temple.  They were like a magnet for young Jesus.  We aren’t told that He went to check out the carpenters in Jerusalem.  Perhaps Joseph did.  Jesus was so into the discussions with the teachers at the Temple that when it came time to head back to Nazareth, Jesus stayed behind.  He remained to spend more time listening to them and asking questions and at the same time, the teachers were amazed at the wisdom that He demonstrating in the answers that He gave them.  They didn’t realize who this young man was standing among them.  He was truly in His Father’s house. 

     That was the answer that He gave to His parents when they finally found Him.  “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house.”  From the accounts of Mary’s visit by the angel and by Joseph’s dream when the angel told him about the child that Mary was carrying, we know that they had been told that this child was the Son of God and that He would be the Savior.  When He mentioned that He had to be in His Father’s house, I can imagine that they looked at one another with an understanding smile, almost as if to say, “He’s right, you know.”

     Jesus knew that God was His Father.  He knew that He was sent by the Father to carry out the Father’s plan for the salvation of the world.  He knew that part of that plan was to call people to repentance, just as the prophets of old had called people to repentance.  We don’t really know the content of the discussions that Jesus had with the teachers but it surely had something to do with coming to God with a repentant heart and seeking His mercy.  He may have spoken about the hypocritical attitudes that had become so prevalent in the many of God’s people.  He may even have pointed out some of the prophecies about the Messiah in order to alert the teachers that those prophecies would soon be fulfilled.  Again we don’t know what they said but we are told that they were amazed at His understanding and His answers to their questions.  Jesus had something that none of those teachers had.  He had divine wisdom.  His answers could not be refuted. 

     He was in His true Father’s house, doing His Father’s work, just as He would do later on when He began His ministry of teaching and healing that would lead to His suffering and death.  He was one in purpose with His Father and one in purpose as He lived out His life. 

     As you think about this event in the life of Jesus, you have to look at yourself.  The life of Jesus often provides examples of how you should live you life according to God’s will.  You might want to push back a bit when someone tries to compare you with Jesus because you know that Jesus lived a perfect life and you also know that you are not perfect.  It’s a tough comparison.  But every one of us is called to live a God-pleasing life.  You are given the power to resist temptation but you don’t always use it.  While Jesus was one in purpose with the Father, you are not always one in purpose with your heavenly Father because the temptations of the devil, the world and your sinful nature become overwhelming and you fall.  That sinful nature often shows itself in the way that you live your life.  Your religious life is often separate from your secular life.  You live a kind of split personality.  You live one way when you think that someone is watching you and you live another way when you think that no one can see.  It can become a real struggle sometimes.  In fact, sometimes you find yourself obsessed with hiding your secret sins.

      That is where the comparisons between you and Jesus have to end.  But that is where the need for Jesus becomes more apparent.  When you admit your sin and come to the Father for forgiveness in the name of Jesus, you can be assured that the heavenly Father, in His mercy, hears your prayer and for Christ’s sake, forgives your sins.  Because of Jesus and His suffering and death and resurrection for you, you are reconciled to God.  You are given a fresh start and you can again follow Jesus’ example of being in the Father’s house.

       It is in the Father’s house that you can continue to grow in wisdom about the will of God for your life.  It is there that you can grow in your understanding of how you can apply the Word of God to your circumstances, your temptations, and your desire to use your gifts to serve God’s purposes. 

      It is in the Father’s house that you can grow in the way that you identify with God’s people, your brothers and sisters in Christ, who understand your struggles, who understand the mercy and grace of God and who support one another in the ups and downs of life as a child of the same heavenly Father. 

     It is also in the Father’s house that you can grow in your faith through the Word and the Sacraments, the Means of Grace.  The Word not only gives direction but it is also a way for the Holy Spirit to strengthen your faith.  It has power.  St. Paul calls it the power of God when He says, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God for salvation to all who believe.”  The Sacraments also strengthen us because they are the vehicles of the Holy Spirit’s power for our lives.  Through you Baptism, you are given the forgiveness of sins and brought in the family of God where you come to know your Father and His will.  In the Lord’s Supper, you receive the Body and Blood of Jesus in the bread and wine for the forgiveness of your sins and strength for your faith and the power to do the good works that God has planned for you.

     Jesus said, “I must be in my Father’s house.”  By God’s grace you have the privilege to be able to say the same thing.   Amen.

Rev. Gerald Matzke

Zion Lutheran Church

Painesville, OH  

The Second Sunday After Christmas