Meeting Jesus

2 Timothy 4:6-8 KJV We meet Jesus in the Word and Sacraments.

Ask Your Father In Heaven

The Gospel according to St. Luke 11:5-13 KJV We can trust our Father in heaven to care for us.

Feed His Sheep With The Good News

They Recognized Jesus

Who Betrays Him?

Tired?

Tired?  Feed his sheep anyway...

Jesus Said No

Listen To Him

Psalm 1:1-4 KJV

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

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God's will; His way, is for the good of all who listen and follow in that way. When we decide that we would rather do our own thing than listen to him things don't always go so well for us.

According to the prophet Isaiah:

"Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David."  

                                                                            (Isa 55:2-3)

And when Peter, James, and John witnessed Jesus being transfigured and speaking with Moses and Elijah on the mountain they heard a voice that told them that they were to listen to him.

"While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him." (Matt 17:5)

This is His beloved Son. This is our beloved brother and our savior. Listen to him for all that he has done and is doing is out of love for humankind; for you.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

The Flesh Dies

Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.

For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.

And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

                                                                                (John 6:32-35 KJV)

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. 

                                                                                (John 6:63 KJV)

The flesh is but a tent within which we live life. It is the spirit that gives life. The words that Jesus has given us are filled with the Spirit and with life.

The material things of this world matter very little. Of course, we need some of them for the fleshly tent to continue housing the spirit. But, too often we worry about the feeding the flesh and totally neglect the spirit within with the end result being that life becomes very wearisome and we become quarrelsome. Like the grass the withers and the flowers that fall the flesh too will pass away. (1 Peter 1:24-25) It will wither and die. What then shall become of your spirit; of your life if it has not been fed with the bread of life?

The spirit must be rejuvenated in order for us to live. It must be fed. Care for your spirit by feeding it with the truth, with the true bread from heaven, with the Word of God, who is Jesus the Christ.

God's Peace - Pr. J. 

Chasing After Jesus

He Sees; He Knows

And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?

And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him.

And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?

And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us.

And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover. 

                                                                               (Mark 14:12-16 KJV)

The two disciples were able to make the preparations to observe the passover just as Jesus had told them. How did Jesus know about this upper room and that the owner of the house would allow them to use it for the passover?  They had no telephones. They didn't even have telegraph. It makes no mention of anyone carrying a message back and forth between Jesus and the homeowner prior to them coming into Jerusalem. And, if Jesus had sent anyone to make the arrangement to use his property it would have been one of the disciples he sent to make the preparations with the landowner. How does Jesus know what is going to happen?

How does Jesus know that he will be betrayed by Judas? How does he know that he will be executed and be resurrected from the dead? How does he know? 

He knows! He knows what tomorrow will bring even when we do not. He even knows what we are thinking; what we are worrying or rejoicing about; what we are planning in our hearts. He knows and he cares and is with you no matter what you may be facing.

Listen to him and follow in his footsteps for he knows that death has no power over those who would believe in him. He knows that life in the Kingdom awaits you.

God's Peace - Pr. J.  

Things Could Be Worse; Repent!

And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.

And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.

And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.

Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.

And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.

And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

                                                                                (Numbers 21:4-9 KJV)

Life can be a major struggle even as getting to the promised land was a struggle for the Israelites. The path that God leads us on is not always as easy as we would like it to be. We don't get everything we want and we are often not willing to make the slightest sacrifice to reach the desired goal. 

God had led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. When they did not have the food that they desired, God sent them quail and manna to eat every single day. But, they didn't particularly like the manna that they called "light bread" and they complained. So, the Lord sent serpents to bite the people to apparently teach them that they had not had it so bad. Things could be worse. Sometimes, it is most beneficial to be thankful for what the Lord has provided us with. 

As multitude died from this pestilence the people woke up and repented of their sins of complaining about God and what He had given them. The Lord told Moses to make a serpent made of brass and hang it upon a pole; that if anyone was bitten by a serpent they should look at it and they will be healed. And... it was so.

Humankind continues to take the gifts of God for granted. We speak against Him often. We act against His will continuously. Simply put, we take Him for granted. Yet, all who would repent of their sins against Him; all who would turn to the cross of Christ, to Christ who was hung on the tree for us, will be forgiven their sins and be made whole.

Maybe it's time to quit complaining and thank God for what He has given us. Let us never take the good gifts of God for granted but be ever grateful that He has released us from bondage; He has healed us, by the blood of Jesus the Christ.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Covenants With God

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.

And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,

As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.

Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.

And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.

"And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.

And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her."

                                                                              (Gen 17:1-7, 15-16 KJV)

They were very, very elderly! And... God blessed Abraham and Sarah. God promised Abraham that he would make him exceeding fruitful. He also promised Sarah that she would be fruitful and bear a son even in her old age.

God has since made a covenant which included those of us who were not of Abraham's tribe. He has promised us eternal life in His Kingdom.  He has blessed us mightily by giving to us His only begotten Son, Jesus the Christ, who sealed a new covenant between God and humankind with his blood.

"And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you." 

                                                                             (Luke 22:19-20)

This new covenant has been sealed for all who would believe in the one who shed his blood for us.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Dust to Dust

Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;

In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. 

                                                          (Gen 3:18-19 KJV)

To the dust you shall return was the sentence for eating of the tree of knowledge which God had forbidden, Adam's sentence was death. His sentence (and ultimately ours) was that he would return to the dust from which he was formed.

There in the middle of the garden was also the tree of life. Adam and Eve had neglected to partake of the food that was good for them; that God had given them and desired for them to eat. They rejected the fruit which gives life. Instead they chose that which they were told they could not have.

How often it is that we, too, neglect the free gift of life given to us through the sacrifice of His Son, our Savior, Jesus the Christ! He has given himself to us and for us that we might have life. Jesus, himself has told us that he is the bread of life.

"This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." (John 6:50-51)

How often we neglect to come to the table that He has prepared for us! He says come and eat. "This is my body given for you for the forgiveness of sins." (Luke 22:19) Do not neglect this life-giving gift!

In the Small Catechism, Martin Luther wrote that the benefit of receiving the Lord's Sacrament of Holy Communion "...is shown us in these words: Given, and shed for you, for the remission of sins; namely, that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given us through these words. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation." That is the Good News.

But, today is a grievous day. It Ash Wednesday and we are reminded that we all have turned our backs on God. We all have done what we ought not to have done. Today we remember the sentence: "for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return."

Even so, the tears of repentance are also tears of thanksgiving that Jesus has lifted this sentence for us by his own death and his resurrection.  

God's Peace - Pr. J

Bread of Life

Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.

And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. 

                                                                                          (John 6:32-35 KJV)

We can eat the most sumptuous meals and still be hungry. We can have everything that we have ever desired and still feel empty. But, if we have Jesus  we will be filled. He promised that if we went to him, believing in him we would never hunger or thirst again.

Jesus is the bread that gives us life. 

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Who Shall Feed Us?

He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough. (Prov 28:19 KJV)

Last night as I was considering how so many people seem to be complaining these days about having to work in order to eat; in order to have shelter; in order to do just about anything; I wondered what it might be like if no one worked. What if every farmer decided to stop farming? Who would grow food? Would those who do not want to or like to work actually grow there own food? Or, would putting a shovel or hoe to the ground be too much work? What if every truck driver quit delivering our goods to the store or to our door? What if every grocer decided running a store was way to much work and quit? 

St. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians: "For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat." (2 Thess 3:10) This is not to say that those who can work should not help provide for those who really can't work. According to St. James: "If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." (James 2:15-17)

Someone has to work in order for each of us to be provided for. Those someone's are everyone who is able to work.

"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ." (Col 3:23-24)

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Never Satisfied Sermon Sept 27 2020

In Fellowship; In Christ

 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

                                                                                  (Acts 2:42-43 KJV)

They continued in fellowship... I suppose fellowship of sorts can be done via social media. But, that is not the fellowship that was enjoyed by those first followers. The coming together to break bread and to pray; being together is what communing is all about. Yes, social media is good to keep in touch with one another when we cannot be together. It is great that we have the opportunity to share the Gospel by means of the world wide web!

But; when it is all over, Christians must gather together to hear the word; to pray; to sing praises; to worship the Lord; to break bread together; and to fellowship with one another. Being a Christian means being a member of the Body of Christ. The Body of Christ is one body and not many separate bodies. We cannot delude ourselves into thinking that we can be Christian yet never truly connect ourselves with other Christians. As members of a Body we much be connected in order to be fruitful. As St Paul wrote to the Corinthians: 

For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

For the body is not one member, but many.

If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

And if they were all one member, where were the body?

But now are they many members, yet but one body.

And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

                                                                                     (1 Cor 12:12-21)

And, once I'm rambling this morning one more question: How are we going to know how to serve others if we cannot ever hear them or see them face to face to know what their needs are? 

I watch many Bible Studies and Worship services online. Many people are hearing the Gospel that have never heard it before because of social mediajust as many people heard the Good News because of St. Paul's letters to the various communities. This safe-distancing that we live with today, in one regard has enabled a great deal of evangelism. It has also put a bit of a hamper on "feeding the sheep" as there are many who do not have social media available to them and that would include many faithful members of the Church. 

I see many small congregations who are either worshiping with social distancing or in their vehicles. I am very grateful for those congregations who are affording those opportunities to hear the Good News and Worship if even at a distance. But, there are many who are not taking advantage of the opportunity. They have found no real alternative ways to continue as evangelists and I cannot help but wonder if they will ever be able to open their church doors back up again. 

I just pray that as we hear the Gospel online, we will not consider this the end all. As soon as it is possible the Body of Christ has a great need to come together in worship; in prayer; in praise; in thanksgiving; in receiving the Sacraments; in breaking of the bread; in fellowship with one another; in community. We cannot succumb to thinking that we can be Christ-like without being connected to the Body of Christ.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

How To Pray

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

(Matt 6:9-13 KJV)

Dust To Dust

And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;

In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

                                                                                   (Gen 3:17-19 KJV)

We begin the season of Lent remembering that from dust we have come and to dust we shall return. We will all face death. As Adam and Eve sinned against God, so do we all. Intentionally or unintentionally we turn our backs on God and on one another all of the time. 

Our Lenten journey to the cross can be a tough one as we remember what Jesus did for us and how much God truly loves us even in our sinful states. But, the journey must be made, for without it; without these forty days, without Holy Week, without Good Friday, we would not be able to truly experience the relief and miraculous joy of Easter Sunday. 

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Rom 6:23) Thanks be to God for His great love for us!

We do not deserve life. Yet, by faith alone in Christ alone it is God's gift to us. Lent is yet another opportunity to get to know the one who lived and died and lives for us. Don't let that opportunity to get to know the one who loves more than all others do pass you by.

God's Peace - Pr. J.