We All Need to Start Somewhere - Mark 1:21-28 - Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany

 

Mark 1:21-28 ESV

²¹ And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. ²² And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. ²³ And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, ²⁴ “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” ²⁵ But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” ²⁶ And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. ²⁷ And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” ²⁸ And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.

We All Need to Start Somewhere

Well, we all need to start somewhere. But in this way? Why does Jesus start his ministry like this? Why does Jesus start in this place with this little group? I think Jesus is giving his disciples a lesson here. A lesson of where to start and a lesson of who He is.

In this passage of Scripture, we witness the first of four exorcisms of Jesus. Jesus’ ministry begins by casting out a demon.  Exorcisms! Really! Come on, Jesus, do you have to start with this? Wow! In this season of Epiphany, Jesus, you really begin with a bang in showing yourself to the world!

Lesson One --- Jesus begins his work with what is presented to Him. Jesus begins with a small group in a synagogue. Lesson One for all Jesus’ disciples… Just start proclaiming the Gospel, the Forgiveness of sin, the Salvation of Jesus, with what God gives to you in your place and time, and with those God gives to you each day. Start with what God presents to you. Run and tell what God has done in your life and for you.

Jesus starts ministry in a Synagogue. The traditional meaning of synagogue is a bringing together or an assembly of people. In this passage it is a building that he enters. Jesus enters the synagogue as a lay teacher. Jesus is a lay teacher because he is not educated as a scribe. Rather, Jesus is inspired by the Holy Spirit. Well, that’s even a bit better than a scribe! Jesus is inspired by God. In fact, He IS God! And evil is about to take notice of this fact that Jesus IS God.

As Jesus teaches this small group in this one synagogue in this huge universe; the people present are astonished. Are we astonished at Jesus teaching today, in our time, in our place, with our own small group in this universe?

My fear is that many Christians today, are astonished by themselves. They are astonished at how they love one another and those like themselves. I think the true astonishment with what Jesus teaches, is not that we love. No! We can trap ourselves into thinking that if we love God, he surely must love us and save us. That’s NOT astonishing. That’s self-works, that self-righteousness!

What is astonishing is that God loves us! And here God is, in the flesh of Jesus, inspired by the Holy Spirit, coming to our small building, to our small group, in the midst of this infinite universe, to save us from sin, death, and the devil!

1 John 3:1 ESV

3 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

We, me, you… being called a Child of God! That’s astonishing!

What does Jesus do for us, right from the start?

As we turn in our small building, in our small group, Jesus has mercy on us. Jesus forgives us. Jesus casts out evil. Jesus can and does renew a right spirit within you! Turn from the evil of your sinning and rely on God, and for God to make you righteous, for God to make you holy, rely on God by turning to him. God will awaken faith through the forgiveness of all your sin and save you and redeem you as his, now and forever.

Now, let’s look at all this demon stuff. This is Lesson Two.

First off, let’s not dilute this moment in Jesus’ ministry. Sure, Jesus loves and cares for and brings healing to the mentally ill; but demon possession is NOT a mental disorder. To tag this whole thing on the suffering mentally ill community is wrong! And with this in mind comes Lesson Two.

As mentioned earlier, Jesus IS God. Jesus IS inspired by the Holy Spirit. And of all things in this world, this universe, the demons of evil, certainly know Jesus as God. They knew more than we could know at the time that Jesus’ ministry was to save all God’s people. The demons know Jesus as God and they know they have met their conqueror. Demons know you, they know me, they know us, and they want us to be part of this demonic world of sin, death and evil. Demons certainly know God!

But, in this small synagogue, this small group, this small place in the universe, where Jesus begins his ministry; Jesus reveals Himself. And this revelation is going to spread. Yes! Jesus comes to destroy demons and evil works.

1 John 3:8

 

⁸ Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

 

The demons cry out to Jesus, “What have you to do with us?”

 

Everything! Jesus is always concerned with the sin that haunts and tempts us. Jesus came to cast out our own demons. Jesus came to take our demons upon himself and die with them, and take our demons straight to Hell for us, and abolish all evil forever and ever! The Word made flesh, this Jesus, casts out sin, death and the devil. Why? Because God loves us and wants us to be his, forever and ever.

 

In this ministry start, this small building in this universe, with this small group; Jesus came to vanquish the powers of evil. For you, for me, for us!

 

Luke 23:34a ESV

³⁴ And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” 

Lord, you put your Word in the mouth of the prophets. You send us salvation in Jesus to cast out the demons of evil. May we not depend on our own knowledge that puffs us up, but rather turn to Your Love, in Jesus works to be built up by Your Love. For you and you alone came to cast out the demons within ourselves and this world, to free us to live for you proclaiming the Gospel of Your Love for all, even in our own small place in our own small group… yesterday… today… tomorrow… and forever. --- Amen

In this Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany, I leave you with this YouTube Video and song sung by Chris Tomlin that speaks.

O Little Town of Bethlehem - Chris Tomlin

Enjoy! And God bless…

The Time Has Come - Open My Eyes --- Mark 1:14-20 --- Third Sunday after the Epiphany

 

Mark 1:14-20 ESV

 

¹⁴ Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, ¹⁵ and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

¹⁶ Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. ¹⁷ And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” ¹⁸ And immediately they left their nets and followed him. ¹⁹ And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. ²⁰ And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.

The Time Has Come – Open My Eyes

In the beginning was the Word, and to the end of Jesus life was the Word.

Genesis 1:3 ESV

³ And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

And God said… and God said… the Word! In the beginning was the Word.

John 1:1-2 ESV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God.

And then, the Word let out a cry…

Luke 23:46 ESV

⁴⁶ Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.

John 19:30 ESV

³⁰ When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

All attention focuses on Jesus. Yet Jesus focuses his attention on God and those God gives to him. The object of faith here is the Gospel. As disciples and God’s creatures, we are called to believe. Jesus becomes the object of faith, AFTER the Easter resurrection. But, here, in this passage the object of faith IS the Gospel.

Jesus comes preaching and teaching. The Time has Come. The Kingdom is here. The Kingdom has come as God is active in Jesus. Jesus calls out, repent and believe in the gospel. Jesus speaks to the rule of God in our hearts and minds to turn to God and look and see and believe. Yes, the Kingdom has come and yet it is to come again. The Kingdom was, and always has been, is now and will be fulfilled. The Time has Come!

So, what is this, Kingdom? To paraphrase Luther’s Large Catechism, God sent his Son to deliver us from the power of the devil, to bring us to himself, and reign over us as a King. A King of life. A King of salvation. A King that defends us from sin, death and our evil conscience. And in this Kingdom, God gives us his Holy Spirit, to teach us through the very Holy Word that was in the beginning, is now, and forever will be.

How does this Kingdom come? In time, through the Word and faith. And this Kingdom will be revealed fully to us in eternity when Jesus comes again, to raise all his Children to eternal life with him, forever. So, the Kingdom came with the Word, in the beginning… the Kingdom comes to us as we are baptized and have faith, bring us to believe, in this time of life. And the Kingdom will be fully realized when Jesus comes finally to raise us from the dead.

Now, as we read in this passage of Scripture, may we repent, turn to God, look and see and believe in God’s Kingdom. For here and now is the rule of God in your heart and your mind.

Yes, repent, believe and yet follow. The Good News of the Kingdom is a little different here from the Christian Gospel. Here, at Jesus beginning of his life of preaching and teaching; Jesus adds belief to repentance.

Jesus comes as a Servant to call servants to a life of commitment. A life of service to God and to neighbor. Jesus calls us to serve God and to serve all those God gives to us each and every day of our lives. Jesus calls us out of our home to work in the Kingdom, here and now. Jesus comes to our door each day to draw us out from the comfort of our home, to work with him and his Church in the Kingdom of God, here and now. Jesus calls us to travel with him, wherever he leads us.

Jesus calls us, not for what we are… fishermen, maintenance workers, business leaders, medical professionals, servers… Jesus eyes see not only what is… but what might be in the Kingdom of God.

Mark 12:42-44 ESV

⁴² And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. ⁴³ And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. ⁴⁴ For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

The eyes of Jesus? May we see each other through Jesus’ eyes and mind…

1 Corinthians 2:16 ESV

¹⁶ “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Jesus sees creation and all people with love, compassion, understanding and forgiveness.

Once again to paraphrase Luther in his explanation of the Fifth Petition of the Lord’s Prayer… Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

Here, we know our sin. But we ask that God would not hold our sin against us and refuse the things for which we pray. We know that we have not earned nor deserved God’s love and forgiveness. Yet, we ask that God would grant us what we pray in this Lord’s Prayer through grace. Yes, I sin every day and deserve nothing but punishment. Yet through the grace of God, we can heartily forgive those who sin against us and gladly do good to those God gives to us each day.

You see, the key… the Grace of God. Jesus sees us through the eyes of the heart of a loving and graceful Creator, Redeemer and Eternal Spirit. This is God’s Kingdom!

So, how do we live in this Kingdom?

Jesus calls us for what he is able to make us become. And in this call, we have a decision. Are you committed to Jesus?

As the called Church of disciples of Jesus, in this community of believers, who hear and follow Jesus, we must prepare to obey Jesus, in this Kingdom of God. You see, this Kingdom is not about ourselves. It’s not about what we do or say. This Kingdom is about God.

Jesus calls us to bring the skills and talents, God has richly given and blessed us with, to the feet of Jesus and to give these gifts to all the people God gives to you daily in your life.

Jesus calls us to follow him. Jesus calls us to offer the Gospel of salvation. We are more than pupils of Jesus. We are called to act out Jesus’ love for all those God gives to you each day. Act out God’s love freely, just as God has loved and forgiven you freely.

In following Jesus, you now live a new life. God is building upon what he has given you, that you may give the message of forgiveness and new life to all people who enter this Kingdom of God, here and now. For there will be a day that we all will live eternal life with God. And that day… begins here and now… In God’s Kingdom.

Lord Jesus, as you draw near to us, may we see that you are The Rock. The Fortress, The Salvation and believe in you and Your Kingdom, yesterday… today… and forever. --- Amen

I leave you with a song… As we sing with the Host of Heaven in God’s Kingdom in Glory…

 “Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord”

Open the Eyes of My Heart

 

 

 

 

 

Peek-A-Boo ... I See You! --- John 1:43-51 --- Second Sunday after Epiphany

 

John 1:43-51 ESV

⁴³ The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” ⁴⁴ Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. ⁴⁵ Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” ⁴⁶ Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” ⁴⁷ Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” ⁴⁸ Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” ⁴⁹ Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” ⁵⁰ Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” ⁵¹ And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Peek-A-Boo! I See You!

Seems like a theme is happening from last week. Heaven is opening not only to Jesus at his baptism, but heaven is opening for all to see the love of God for his creation. There is a Link between heaven and earth. There is a Link between you and I and God.

Philip witnessed to Nathaniel, to “Come and see.” Yes, come and see. As I witness to you and as you witness to those God gives to you; we bid those we meet to “Come and see.” Come and see the One who drew near to us and decided to abide with us. Come and see the One who is present in the good and the bad times of life. Come and see the One who takes all our sin upon himself and dies in the sin that we deserve to die for. Come and see, the One who goes to hell in the punishment of our sin that we deserved to go to hell for. Come and see, the One who makes us righteous and one with God as he takes our sin and gives us his righteousness and glory and honor. Come and see the One who made right what mankind failed at, in sin. Come and see. Give Jesus a chance. God is nearer than you think. Come and see!

I recall a time in my life when I was in the darkness of deep, serious, sin. Sin punishable by death in the Old Testament and the Law. My sin was front and center in my life. I was sorry, I was in the depths of despair for what I had done. Upon driving home, I noticed a huge sign at a church that I drove by each day as I drove to and from work. The sign had a message… “God is closer than you think.”

I just couldn’t imagine it. Why would God want to be close to me. I was a sinner. A huge sinner. I had hurt people close to me and I had hurt people that I wasn’t even aware that I hurt. I, for sure, deserved eternal damnation and eternal life in hell.

God is closer than you think? Really? No way! God should have nothing to do with me. I was in the midst of the stench of my sin.  But there was the message! Peek-a-boo! I see you! That sure seemed to be what I was hearing from God. And Peek-a-boo! I’m going to stay with you. Peek-a-boo! I’m going to save you from your awful sinfulness. Peek-a-boo! I’m going to wallow in your sin and take it upon myself. I’m going to take your awful sin to the grave and hell for you. Peek-a-boo! You just, “Come and see!”

I think possibly Nathaniel was amazed at how Jesus knew him way more than he ever thought Jesus could know him. Jesus told Nathaniel, that before Phillip even said something to him, Jesus saw him under the fig tree. Huh? How’s that? How can you see me before I’m even aware of you, Jesus?

But God does see us. Peek-a-boo! I see you!

The fig tree was a common and traditional place, in Nathaniel’s day, to study the Torah. And, Nathaniel was one that searched and studied the scriptures diligently. I, too, for years have searched and studied scripture. I search and listen for God’s call, God’s presence, God’s direction. Yet, even with that, I sin. I sin daily. I still sin. In the midst of my sin, in the heart of my study of Word, I know God cries out to me… Peek-a-boo!

Peek-a-boo! God is going to connect. God is going to draw close to you and to me.

John 1:51 ESV

And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

You see, Jesus is the One who connects heaven to earth. Jesus is the Door, the Highway, the Stairway. Jesus connects heaven to earth and God to you, and God to me. Jesus IS THE Connection. Jesus always has been the Connection and always will be the Connection.

Genesis 28:12 ESV

¹² And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it!

Way back in the Old Testament is an account of Jacob. Jacob stopped for the night and had a dream. Jacob, too, saw heaven open to him. And Jacob saw God’s angels ascending and descending on a ladder that stretched from heaven to earth. Here we see the heavens open and angels converge on Jesus, the Ladder, the Door, the Highway, the Stairway. For Jacob… “God is closer than he thought!” And God responded, and Jacob replied:

Genesis 28:15-17 ESV

¹⁵ Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” ¹⁶ Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” ¹⁷ And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”

And God changed Jacob’s name, to Israel.

Ish ro’eh el or A man seeing God.

Yes… God is closer than you think! True for you, for me and for all. Yes… even in the midst of the deepest, darkest, sin of our lives, there is a Connection, a Gate, a Door, a Stairway, a Ladder. In those times, as well as at Baptism, the heaven open and the angels converge on Jesus to connect heaven to earth and God to you and to me and to all. You WILL see heaven opened!

Peek-a-Boo! Watch! All who watch Jesus will discover divine glory in Jesus.

Lord, your servant is listening. Lord, I know, that you, are, and always have been, present in life. I see how I was bought with a price. I was bought with the price of the life, death, suffering and resurrection of your Son, Jesus. You are closer that I could ever imagine. Yes, Lord, Peek-a-boo! You see me… and I see you. May I glorify you in all I say and do… today… tomorrow… and forever. --- Amen

I leave you with a song that I listened to this week while in preparation for this reflection upon the Word. Enjoy!

Heaven and Earth - Hillsong Worship

Heaven Opens - God Speaks --- Mark 1:4-11 --- Baptism of Our Lord

 

Mark 1:4-11 ESV

⁴ John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵ And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. ⁶ Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷ And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. ⁸ I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

⁹ In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. ¹⁰ And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. ¹¹ And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

Heaven Opens – God Speaks

Wow! It was just a few weeks ago we heard a lesson about John the Baptist. And here he is again. Yet each lesson of John the Baptist is actually a lesson pointing to Jesus. John the Baptist, like all disciples of Jesus, are here to point outward to Jesus the Messiah. We point to God, not to ourselves. Remember that! I have to remember that daily. Life is not about me. Life is about God. Life is about an eternal communion with Creator, Redeemer, Giver of all Life.

The work of John the Baptist is often viewed as the beginning of Christianity. John announces Jesus, in the flesh. John announces that God is with us. In preparation for the presence of God in the lives of you and me and all people; John calls us to an act of repentance. Repentance prepares us for God’s rule in life. Repentance turns us to God. But notice, that turn to God, is not an act of our own. No, God calls out to us through the words of John the Baptist and points us to look towards Jesus. So, in some way, God really repents us, God turns us around. God shows himself to us as one of us in flesh and blood. God repents us and turns us to see Jesus.

Do we ever proclaim Jesus? Do we ever remind people of Jesus? Are we bold, in our own skin, to speak of Jesus to the world? Look at John the Baptist, he didn’t try to be anything special at all. He called out to the world just like he was… crude… dirty… dressed in his own clothes… eating humble food… living his life for God… true to God’s call for him in his time.

As we see John, I’m reminded how Christianity is not first DO and GO!

No! Christianity is first COME and RECEIVE.

I look to my baptism. In fact, daily I must turn to my baptism. God turns me to him and my life turns OUTWARD and never INWARD. God turns me to him and those he gives to me, each and every day. God turns me away from my daily sin towards his love and grace. All in the reliving of my baptism each and every day.

Now… back to John…

John the Baptist is a “Messenger of the Covenant.” This is God’s promise to always be with us. God comes to us, and we can’t take it. It’s just too much. I know my sin. I know that I cannot save myself from death. As I live in my sin, I know that I deserve death. In the presence of God, and now in the presence of Jesus, like John, I’m not worthy of even the job of a slave, to untie the sandal of Jesus for him.

Yes, I’m a sinner. No doubt about it.

In the Lord’s Prayer we pray, “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us…”

As Luther says… What does this mean?

To paraphrase Luther…

We pray that God would not hold our sin against us and deny the things that we pray for in the Lord’s Prayer. I know that I have not earned or done what needs to be done for God’s grace, in all that I pray for. I deserve death and punishment for my sin. You as well. After all, the Lord’s Prayer is a community prayer of “us” and “our,” so we’re all involved. But we ask that God would give us his grace and forgive our sins, just as we gladly forgive the sins of those who sin against us.

So, along comes Jesus. Jesus comes to John’s baptism, not as a sinner. No! Jesus comes to John’s baptism to fully identify himself with our need to be saved from sin. Only through Jesus can we be saved from sin. We can’t do anything to save ourself from sin. We can’t even repent without God turning us to see him in the glory of Jesus.

Jesus is our example. Jesus is called out of Nazareth by John. Likewise, God calls us out from ourselves. God calls us out of our home. Jesus comes to my door each and every day and says, “Can Billy come out to play?” (there’s another whole personal story to this question for me… maybe another time… actually the story is in this blogsite somewhere). Jesus calls you as well. Jesus calls us out of our home, out of the comfort of “Mon and Dad” to a world in need of love and grace and care.

So, as Jesus was called out… as Jesus was baptized… Jesus saw the heavens open. I don’t know if anyone else saw the heavens open… the passage says Jesus did though. God opens heaven for all to see his glory in Jesus. Jesus coming out of the water… the heavens torn apart… God is disclosed… and the Spirit descends on Jesus.

Once again God will open heaven to all people. Upon Jesus death on the cross the curtain of the Temple in the Holy of Holies section is torn open. Ripped open. God reveals himself before the world in the death of Jesus. God saves all of us and comes to us. God wants to be with his people forever. And… God will do anything needed to make this happen.

And then the Word! God speaks… “You are my Son!” Yes! Jesus is God!

I’m drawn to remember the Transfiguration. Look it up. God speaks to us and the disciples. This IS my Son! We are called to listen to Jesus. Listen to the Word. Seek the Word…. Turn to the Word… Follow the Word… even in our sinful life in the here and now. This Word? This Word that was from the beginning, even before the beginning and is forever? This Word is Jesus.

So, here in this passage of scripture, we witness the start of a new creation. In this passage is the Divine announcement of who Jesus already IS! This announcement is not hidden in time or knowledge. This announcement of God is for all the people.

Mark 1:11 ESV

And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

Dear Father, in creation was the Word and the Spirit swept over the waters. The voice of God is over the waters. In baptism, sweep over the waters and draw your people out of the dead of sin to life in you through Jesus, gifted and called by the Holy Spirit to eternal life with you… today… tomorrow… and forever. --- Amen

As God turns us...

Enjoy this YouTube music video...

Open Heaven

God Bless...

Have You Seen Him Yet? - Luke 2:22-40 - First Sunday after Christmas

 

Luke 2:22-40 ESV

And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
    according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation
    that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
    and for glory to your people Israel.”

And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.

Have You Seen Him Yet?

I remember in years past, Herb Neve, a friend in a Men’s Group in which I participated. I was leading a study on the book of Revelation. One of the questions for each individual in the group, went something like this: “What is your desire in the end of time?” Herb’s answer was emphatic and bold, Herb stated, “I want to see Jesus!” Herb meant it too. Yes, Herb really meant it and everyone in the group realized Herb’s passion to see Jesus.

In the life of Christ’s disciples, we are guided by the Holy Spirit. We see God… Jesus… Messiah… Immanuel… through Word and Sacrament. Yes, we see God each and every day of our lives as we come to God in repentance and turn to God for forgiveness.

The Holy Spirit leads Simeon to the Temple to see Jesus. Each day we are led by the Holy Spirit to come to Jesus.

Simeon had seen, through the Holy Spirit, the coming of Jesus, not just for the Jews, but for all mankind.  But here I get a little ahead of the scripture.

Mary and Joseph are following the Law. No one rejects the Law of the Old Testament, in this New Testament passage.

Looking at the offering from Mary and Joseph, it becomes evident that they were poor. Mary and Joseph brought the “poor people’s” offering of turtle doves and pigeons. So, knowing this, we see that Jesus was poor by earthly standards as well. Sort of… not really. I guess it depends on what you consider as poor and how you view earthly standards. Do you view the earth from a heavenly or a worldly point of view.

Mary and Joseph come to the Temple with an offering much more beyond what we see on the surface.

The Gospel lesson seems to begin in the Temple with Zechariah. Remember earlier in the book of Luke how when Zechariah was offering incense at the Temple; an angel of God appeared and told him that his wife, Elisabeth, would give birth to a son, even in her old age? Well, that son was John the Baptist. John the Baptist, who would announce the coming of Jesus, the Messiah.

So… the Gospel lesson begins in the Temple with Zechariah and closes in the Temple with Jesus and the disciples. And, this leads us up to Simeon and Anna, and their prophetic announcements, to the world, of Jesus.

It’s important to understand that prophecy, like what we hear here, and all prophecy for that matter, do not originate by man. No! Prophecy originates from God in the Holy Spirit. Man is always moved by the Holy Spirit to prophecy what God gives to prophecy.

2 Peter 1:21 ESV

For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Simeon mentions, at the end of God’s prophecy…

a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
    and for glory to your people Israel.”

The glory of Israel, Jesus, is a gift for all mankind. ALL mankind… Gentiles… Jews… ALL mankind.

The birth of Jesus is the incarnation (God made flesh). It’s not just a sweet, nice, goody thing alone. No, Jesus’ birth points us to something much larger and bolder. The birth of Jesus is God’s action to save all his people. The birth of Jesus is not really peace on earth, like we desire to think. At least, it’s not peace on earth just yet. The birth of Jesus was the beginning of God’s war on sin, death and the devil.

Some men will love the baby Jesus. But there will be some men that will hate Jesus. They will hate Jesus so intensely that they will put Jesus to death.

This war is more than something we can stand aside of and observe from a distant. Even, as Jeus disciples, and those that love Jesus, we will be challenged.

This man, Jesus, comes to force us to deal with difficult decisions. Jesus forces us to deal with decisions that will reshape our lives. Jesus forces us to decisions to renounce our selfish pride, greed, lust and power.

Jesus calls us to accept things that are outside of ourselves. Things that free us to a new life and a new way of living for God and for neighbor. Jesus calls us to accept him and his life. A life beyond our own selfish life.

Jesus came to bring, to you, to me, to Gentile, to Jew, to all mankind, salvation through love.

Through Jesus humble beginning and life, God brought to flower and fruit what is the humble of this world, what is the common of this world, what is exactly opposite of this world’s values and standards, to bring life, love, hope and eternal life with God.

What we see as God’s children are the same objects that worldly man sees. Yet as God’s children, what we see is different. As God’s children we see a world full of suggestions of God. We see the goodness of God, in this world we see the wonder of God, in this world, through the gift of Jesus, we see the grace of God. In this new world in which we live with Jesus, we see the best of God’s creation. And that’s only the beginning of it.

And what does God see? Well, God looks straight into your soul AND he loves you eternally.

Soon Jesus will come again, to this sinful, evil world and will put a stop to it all. Soon, God will declare enough is enough. Soon Jesus will come and make all things new. Soon, Jesus will come with the clouds and begin a resurrection like no other. Soon and very soon…

Yes, Herb Neve, yes Bill, yes to all of God’s children, yes to all people… We will see Jesus…

“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
    according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation
    that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
    and for glory to your people Israel.”

Yes, God works wonders. Yes, God gives us the clothing of salvation. Yes, God wants to show us all Jesus.

Thanks be to God! Come, Lord Jesus come… today… tomorrow and forever.

Amen

I leave you with a beautiful YouTube creation of a beautiful song, that reflects this reflection. God bless you this First Sunday after Christmas.

... "In Christ Alone" ... follow the link below...

In Christ Alone

Favored? For What? --- Luke 1:26-38 --- The Fourth Sunday of Advent

 

Favored? For What?

Luke 1:26-38 ESV

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

---------------

This Scripture is referred to as the Annunciation or the Announcement to Mary. God’s eye came to rest on Mary, a humble woman.

Enter the angel, Gabriel. Angels really DO exist! The name Gabriel means “Hero of God.” Gabriel, sent from God. Gabriel, sent to Mary, a virgin engaged to a man, Joseph. Gabriel, comes with a greeting for Mary, “O favored one, the Lord is with you!”

In this announcement from Gabriel proceeds some negativity in the worldly realm of Mary. Mary is a virgin, engaged, and she is now told she is to give birth to a son. What? How?

But God is the great one that overturns all of the apple carts. Out of this worldly negative comes a heavenly positive. Mary’s child is to be born of God.

Mary is favored and chosen by God to give birth to Jesus. Jesus both Man and God.

This unheard-of birth is prefaced in the Old Testament by another angel pronouncement of birth. Not a God/Man birth, but a lead-in, to the birth of Jesus through Mary. God does fantastic births throughout time.

Genesis 16:11 ESV

And the angel of the Lord said to her, (Hagar, servant of Sarai)

“Behold, you are pregnant
    and shall bear a son.
You shall call his name Ishmael,
    because the Lord has listened to your affliction.

 

Through Mary came Jesus. A unique human being. Jesus, both God and Man. Jesus, both Spirit and Flesh. Jesus, born of Mary and born of God.

Mary is giving birth to the One present, and part of, God’s whole creation. God’s being as Jesus IS the work of the Holy Spirit. This birth is a sign of God’s salvation activity, in and through Spirit and Man.

(Jesus speaks these words after his Resurrection and before his Ascension into heaven)

Acts 1:8 ESV

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

This same Holy Spirit that Jesus speaks to us, his disciples; is the same Holy Spirit coming to rest on Mary. In this passage, the Holy Spirit is referred to as the “Power of the Most High,” others refer to as the “Glory of God.”

And this “Glory of God” is the same God in the Holy Spirit that Moses witnesses in the book of Exodus.

Exodus 40:35 ESV

And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

Moses witnessed the Glory of God resting on and in the Tabernacle; and upon Mary rests the Glory of God. The Holy Spirit, once again, with Father and Son, present from eternity. The Holy Spirit resting with the People created of God for God.

And Mary accepts all of this as a humble servant of God. Mary accepts God’s call in obedience to the Word. The Word of God announced through the angel Gabriel.

But… Now, come on!

Favored One? Favored for what!

Just look at this situation…

Mary is disgraced by pregnancy out of wedlock.

Mary travels to Bethlehem while pregnant. This is on foot stuff. Not in a car. Maybe riding on a donkey. While pregnant, Mary travels!

Mary gives birth to Jesus in an animal stable. Not a clean hospital, or even the back of a taxi cab. No! Mary gives birth in a nasty ol animal shelter.

And then, after giving birth, Mary has to go back to Nazareth. No time for a baby shower. No time for the mother-in-law, or mother to come over and help with the baby. Nope! Take a ride, or walk while carrying a baby back home. Sorry about your luck, Mary!

Once home, Mary raises Jesus. Does she raise Jesus like a King? Not any kind of earthly king, that’s for sure!

Then, once she has raised Jesus, she gets to watch her humble son, loved by humble, needy, sick, poor, people… but… hated by the powerful people and the religious leaders of the day.

Mary gets to see her son, Jesus, taken by the priests and rulers of his own people, to be brought before the Roman rulers in hopes of killing her son, Jesus!

Mary gets the privilege of watching crowds make fun of her son, Jesus.

And then… Mary gets to see her son, Jesus, hang on a cross and die naked in front of the crowds.

The favor of God? For what?

This favor of God, for Mary, in this world, was certainly no life of happiness!

Forget about all this Prosperity Gospel stuff! Not for Mary. Not for the disciples. Not for believing Christians. That’s a worldly fantasy!

Some in the church and many in this world view God’s favor as pleasure, prosperity and easy living.

But the real “Favor of God” is our call to something beyond ourselves. God’s call is a call to bear the bruises of this sinful, selfish, evil world. God’s call turns us from ourselves as we repent and turn to God, so that we can see and live something outside of ourselves. God’s call is to live in the grace and love of God, as we witness to the grace and love of God to all those God gives to us each day of our earthly lives.

The “Favor of God” comes in God’s calling and choosing us.

Yes! We disciples of Christ are called by the Holy Spirit, out of the waters of our baptism, to live in this world of sin, death and destruction; to witness to a different world, a different Kingdom. This new Kingdom is fulfilled and freely given to us through Jesus’, life, suffering and death; to live with God into eternity.

So… Yes! Mary was called and favored!

And…

You are called and favored out of the waters of your baptism, freely given by God.

You, baptized disciple, are favored for something new and eternal.

You are favored and called to something beyond yourself.

You are favored to life with God in eternity.

You are favored to an existence with God in God’s Kingdom that is totally turned upside down to the reality of this earthly kingdom that you live in for this brief moment of time.

God will reside with us in Jesus forever. God has been made known. Heaven and earth sing praise to God!

Jesus… ever and always present…

Holy Spirit… may I be favored with your call.

Come, Lord Jesus, come… today… tomorrow… and forever!

Amen… Yes! It shall be so!

The link below is a wonderful Hymn about this very Gospel Scripture... enjoy!

The Angel Gabriel From Heaven Came

Who Are You? - John 1:6-8, 19-28 - The Third Sunday of Advent

 

Who Are You?

John 1:6-8, 19-28 ESV

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

(Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

What matters is not what we do as humans. What matters is what God does.

In this passage of scripture; John’s purpose in life is to give witness to the Light. And that Light that John witnesses to is Jesus. John is here to point the world to the Light of God made flesh in Jesus. And in this action, John sets the example for the purpose of the Church through all ages. The purpose of the Church, is to give testimony, to lead all the people to receive the faith that God gives freely, to lead each and all of us to believe in the loving grace of God in Jesus. That grace that turns us from our sinful natures to face God in our sin and receive eternal life with God forever.

It sounds too simple. And it really is, for the Church and all people. After all, God does all the work and we do all the receiving. Any action we take in order to receive from God is an action that leads us away from God and into ourselves. God does not call us to act in order to receive his saving grace. God gives freely and we act not to receive. We do not merit grace by doing good works. We receive grace because it is God’s will.

Ephesians 2:10 ESV

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Remember, Paul had just written…

Ephesians 2:8 ESV

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

So, this faith, this gift from God; is the only means by which we have forgiveness of our sin. It’s not some work we do or decision we make to be forgiven. All the work is God’s. And all the receiving is in us.

So, what about the “good works” stuff?

In our baptism, God comes to us. Baptism is God’s work… not mine, our yours or anyone’s. In baptism, we receive the Holy Spirit through the faith God freely gives to us. Our hearts are renewed and we are given new direction and a new way of living. We are free from the power of sin in our lives.

We aren’t free from sin, just yet. We will still sin. But we are free from the power of sin to bring eternal death. So, we have new affections in life. We have a new purpose. And that purpose is able to bring forth good works.

Aw! Come on! Many of us were babies at our baptism! How can this be?

Well… like I said above. In baptism, God comes to us and gives us new life. God gives and we receive. We don’t need to understand, we don’t need to decide a thing. We receive.

And it’s like this with forgiveness. John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. A calling out of our sin that we may turn back to the God that wants so much to give that we may receive.

We need God. And in God’s baptism we find God coming to give.

So, Jesus tells us…

John 15:5 ESV

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

So…

Who are you?

The “Who are you,” refers not to my or your identity. It doesn’t even refer to the identity of John the Baptist. No, the “Who are you,” refers to our religious status and claim. The priests and the Levites of John’s day, wanted to know what religious status or claim John had to do what he was doing by calling people to repent, to turn to God.

Likewise for Jesus disciples today, “Who are you?” Who are you to call people to repent? Who are you to point to Jesus? Who are you to celebrate Jesus coming into this world as a baby? Who are you to look for Jesus to come again? Who are you to point to the Light of Jesus? Who are you to witness to the action of God’s grace in your life? Who are you to point to the Word spoken, written and proclaimed in the Church? Who are you to speak of God’s giving and our receiving God’s grace in baptism? Who are you to receive Jesus into your being at the Communion Table in the bread and the wine and the body and blood of Jesus? Who are you? Where did you gain this status?

Who am I? Well, I’m certainly not Jesus! But like John the Baptist, I’m a voice. A voice that points to the Light. A voice that points to Jesus. A voice that points to God’s grace in all God has done for me and for you, through the actions and love of Jesus coming into this world, to love all of us to the death of ourselves, and the life in him for all eternity.

God dresses each one of us with his salvation. God does great things. God permits us to live in joy. So, rejoice, be glad, give thanks; because God is the one giving us sanctification and righteousness.

Who are you? Who am I?

A humble voice of one calling in the wilderness. A humble voice that points to the Light.

God upends the I AM in Jesus to the AM I in our baptism.

Who AM I? --- A child of God… today… tomorrow… and forever! All because of what God has freely given to me and I thankfully receive.

Come, Lord Jesus, come!

I leave you with a song by Casting Crowns that is appropriate for this reflection... God Bless.

Who Am I by Casting Crowns