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Lent 3 2023
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
Exodus 17:1-17, Romans 5:1-8, John 4:5-26
 

Sermons online: 
Text and Audio:         immanuelhamiltonchurch.com   click “sermons”
Text:                           pastorjud.org   
Audio:                         pastorjud.podbean.com 
itunes:                        bit.ly/pastorjud
Full Service Audio:   bit.ly/ImmanuelWorship

            Imagine for a moment that you are a pioneer heading west in a covered wagon looking for a good place to live.  One night along the trail there is a heavy rainstorm and in the morning you look out from your wagon and see huge puddles of water.  You say to yourself, “This is it!  I have found the right place.  Look at all this water.  There is plenty for me, and my family, and my animals, and my crops.”  Sounds good?  What’s wrong with your assessment?  These are just puddles.  This water will dry up and be gone.  You need living water…moving water.  You need a creek or a river or a lake with water flowing in and out.  Or, you need to be able to tap into moving water underground by digging a well.

            Water is life. You don’t want to live somewhere where there is no living water.  We see this in the Old Testament lesson where the children of Israel on their way from Egypt to the Promised Land are grumbling against Moses and God because they are camping in the Sinai wilderness where there is no food or water. God promised to care for them, but their thirst overwhelms their trust.

            Water is a big deal.  In Israel, most of the country is a dry, rocky wilderness incompatible with human life.  Water brings life.

            Our Gospel reading today is set at Jacob’s well.  Jacob is the son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham.  Jacob’s well in Samaria taps into a deep underground stream and the water, brought to the surface by buckets and jars, brings life to the people and animals and crops.  Jacob’s well is 135 feet deep, dug by hand.  I cannot imagine the courage and perseverance and hope that it took to keep digging that far down into the earth with hand tools and oil lamps.

            To get to groundwater here you only have to dig down about 10 feet.  Here at Immanuel we sit atop flowing water just below the basement floor.  Last Sunday, with all the rain, the water level rose above the basement floor and began to seep into the building.  We sit atop underground waters on the edge of the Great Miami buried valley aquifer that runs from Indian Lake up north of Bellfontaine, Ohio down to the Ohio River along the route of the Great Miami River.  Just downstream from us, the city of Hamilton taps into the aquifer to produce the best tasting tap water in the world. Maybe we could figure out how to bottle the water flowing into our sump pit instead of pumping it out to the creek.

            Water is life.  Living, moving water is life.  You don’t want to get your drinking water from a puddle. 

            Jesus and His disciples are on their way from the Judean countryside in the south traveling north to Galilee.  On their way, they stop at a Samaritan town called Sychar where Jacob’s well is located.  It is lunch time and the disciples head into town to buy some food while Jesus waits by the well in the heat of the day.  Hauling water a quarter miles from the well back to town is hot work and done mostly in morning or the evening when it is not so warm.  But one woman comes to the well at high noon.  It seems she is an outcast in town.  She is considered a lowlife, corrupted woman and she faces the scorn of the people of Sychar and so she does not want to encounter others and have to deal with their derision.  She would avoid the well altogether, but water is life and eventually she has to go to the well when her thirst overcomes her shame.  She sneaks out with her jar at noon when no one else would be there. 

            But there is someone there.  There is a Jewish man sitting next to the well.  She would wait for Him to leave, but her thirst is great. She needs water.  She is thirsty, and so is the Jewish man at the well.  He breaks all conventions where Jews do not talk to Samaritans and men don’t talk to women and He says to her, “Give me a drink.”

            John 4:9–10 (ESV) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” 

            Living water?  Right, moving water…flowing from its source…that is the kind of water in Jacob’s well, water flowing into the well from a deep underground stream.  John 4:11 (ESV) 11 The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water?”

            Then the man says something very confusing.  John 4:13–14 (ESV) 13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”  What is going on here?  Is He still talking about the water in the well?

            Then this Jewish man at the well tells the woman all about her life and her five husbands and the man she is now living with who is not her husband.  The woman realizes this man must be a prophet.  They discuss where to worship; on Mt. Gerizim where the Samaritans worship or in Jerusalem where the Jews worship.  He says all that will change and those who worship God will worship in spirit and truth.  This is so much for the woman to take in.  What is this guy talking about?  Who is this guy?  Maybe when the long promised Messiah finally comes He will get all of this straightened out and she tells this to the man.

            Water is life.  Jesus’ Living Water is eternal life.  Jesus is the only source of eternal life.  Living Water flows from the source and the source is Jesus. Anything else is just a puddle that will soon dry up.

            John 4:26 (ESV)  26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”  Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ, the one promised from of old and He is gives this sinful woman the Living Water of eternal life.

            The Living Water that Jesus gives to the woman at the well is the same Living Water that He gives to you.  Living Water is faith in Christ through the Holy Spirit.  This living water is poured out in the waters of baptism, in the words of absolution, in the Body and Blood of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins. 

            Water is life.  Jesus’ Living Water is eternal life.  Jesus is the only source of eternal life.  Living Water flows from the source and the source is Jesus. Anything else is just a puddle that will soon dry up. 

            Everyone gets physically thirsty quickly.  To remain healthy, you need to drink plenty of clean water every day and even more when it is hot or you are doing physical work. If you do not have water you will soon feel the effects, and if you go without water long enough you can die of thirst.  You need water to live.

            You also need spiritual water to live.  Even if they do not want to admit it, all people realize that there is something more to this life than just merely existing day to day. Everyone gets spiritually thirsty. Tragically, so many spiritually thirsty people are being deceived by the devil and are drinking from puddles instead of from the Living Water flowing from the throne of God.  So many are drinking from a muddy puddle that pretends to be living water, but it will soon dry up and leave them dying of thirst.  So many drink from the puddles of made up religions; Scientology, Christian Science, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormonism.  So many drink from puddles of heretical religions that deny Jesus is the way, the truth and the life such as Islam, Judaism, and liberal church bodies.  So many drink from ancient false religions promising a better next life based on this life such as Hinduism and Buddhism.  And so many now drink from the puddle of secularism where it is taught that truth is found inside of you and anyone teaching a truth from outside of you is preaching hate because it contradicts your feelings.  So many thirsty people drink from muddy puddles thinking they have living water but they have been deceived and are drinking to their own eternal doom. 

            You have Living Water flowing from the throne of God to you through the font, the altar and the Word of God.  You have the living water of the Holy Spirit flowing to you from the source, Jesus Christ, whose life, death and resurrection are for you. 

            Jesus gives Living Water to the woman at the well who is ashamed to be around others and then she runs into town to tell those others about Jesus.  Jesus gives Living Water to you, a natural born sinner and gives you faith, and as we learn from Jesus in…  John 7:38 (ESV) 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ”    The water flowing from Jesus is a spring of water in you that wells up to eternal life. 

You do not drink from a puddle.  You have the Living Water of Jesus; you will never be thirsty again.  Amen

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Lent 1 2023
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud 
February 26, 2023
Genesis 3:1-21, Romans 5:12-19, Matthew 4:1-11

Sermons online: 
Text and Audio:         immanuelhamiltonchurch.com   click “sermons”|
Text:                           pastorjud.org   
Audio:                         pastorjud.podbean.com 
itunes:                        bit.ly/pastorjud
Full Service Audio:   bit.ly/ImmanuelWorship

            Us men, we are simple creatures.  It doesn’t take that much to make us feel good.  As a husband it is such a great feeling to have Jeannette hand me a jar of pickles to open, or ask me to kill a bug.  It is good to be the hero.  Makes you feel like a man.  Now, one of the highpoints of life as a husband and homeowner is being able to fix something so you don’t have to call a repairman.  A man dies a little inside when he has to pick up the phone and call the plumber.  A wise Canadian once said, “If the women don’t find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.”

            I had a recent victory when our dryer stopped producing heat.  I turned to the man’s secret weapon in cases like this, YouTube videos.    I found a good one about Whirlpool dryers that do not produce heat.  I was able to follow the instructions.  I properly used a multimeter to check the 240 outlet and to check resistance on three thermostats after removing the back cover of the dryer.  One of the thermostats had no resistance which indicated it was broken.  I found the part number, ordered it on Amazon, installed it two days later and ta-da!! The dryer was again working.  Makes you want to grunt like Tim Allen on Tool Time. 

Not all home improvement videos are do-it-yourself.  Later, I was looking into how to install a transfer switch on a circuit box and the videos recommended hiring a qualified, licensed electrician. Don’t do it yourself.  Get qualified, expert help. 

            In our Gospel reading today we find Jesus after His baptism.  Matthew 4:1–2 (ESV)  1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.”  The devil tempts Jesus three times and Jesus easily resists each test by responding with words from Scripture.  Jesus defeats Satan and sends him away. 

            So…is this a do it yourself lesson, or is this a lesson about getting qualified, expert help?  Jesus, true man, is hungry, weakened by a long fast and yet able to stand His ground against the Father of Lies.  Matthew 4:3 (ESV) 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”  Matthew 4:4 (ESV)  4 But [Jesus] answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” 

            Jesus is quoting this from an address of Moses to the children of Israel before they go across the Jordan River into the Promised Land after 40 years in the wilderness.  Deuteronomy 8:3 (ESV)  3 And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” Jesus is recalling how Israel failed to resist the devil’s temptations. 

            Then the devil takes Jesus to Jerusalem and quotes scripture from Psalm 91 to Jesus.  Matthew 4:5–6 (ESV) 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “ ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ” 

            Matthew 4:7 (ESV) 7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”  This is from earlier in Moses’ address to the people in Deuteronomy 6:16 (ESV) 16 “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah.”  Moses is recalling an incident from Exodus 17:3 (ESV) 3 But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?”  

            Matthew 4:8–10 (ESV) 8 Again, the devil took [Jesus] to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ ”  Jesus again quotes from Moses’ sermon to unfaithful Israel who built a golden calf to be their god.  Israel was in the wilderness for 40 years and failed to be faithful to God.  They did not trust God’s promises.  Israel failed.

Adam and Eve were in paradise, at harmony with God in the garden.  He had given them clear instructions, but when confronted by the Prince of Darkness in the form of a serpent they listened to that liar and gave up on trusting God. They were unfaithful.  Adam and Eve failed.

You are not going to fight the devil because for you fights the valiant one, whom God Himself elected.  And you ask, who is this?  Jesus Christ it is.  Lord of the heavenly armies.  He holds the field victorious.  You do not need to fear the devil because you have Jesus.

The devil went after Jesus but was easily defeated.  He couldn’t defeat Jesus so he is going after you.  The devil tried to kill Jesus and he thought he had won as Jesus died on the cross, but Jesus rose from the dead.  The defeated devil has been thrown down to the earth and he is angry. Revelation 12:17 (ESV)  17 Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus…”  Jesus defeated the devil so the devil is going after you and the devil far more powerful than you.  Like Adam, like Eve, like the children of Israel in the wilderness, you are outmatched and you if you try to go it alone you will fail.  But you are not alone.  You have Jesus.  You are a baptized child of God.  You do not face the devil relying on your own strength.  This reading is not a do-it-yourself how-to lesson about battling with the devil.  Jesus temptation in the wilderness shows you how the qualified expert defeats Satan with no difficulty.  Jesus easily defeats Satan and the Good News is that Jesus is on your side.  Jesus is your secret weapon against the devil.

            When the devil tempts you to ignore God.  When the devil throws your sin in your face and tells you that you are not good enough.  When the devil tempts you to become self-righteous you tell the devil that you are not going to fight him.  Do not give in to the devil’s lies and his shaming of you; instead bring out your secret weapon.  Rebuke the devil and look to Jesus for forgiveness and eternal life. 

You are not going to fight the devil because for you fights the valiant one, whom God Himself elected.  And you ask, who is this?  Jesus Christ it is.  Lord of the heavenly armies.  He holds the field victorious.  You do not need to fear the devil because you have Jesus.

            Even though the devil and his demons are all around wanting to devour you, you do not tremble, you do not fear, they will not overpower you.  The world’s prince may scowl fiercely, but that is all he can do.  He cannot harm you.  He is already judged.  Already defeated.  The deed is done.  One little word can fell the devil.  We talked about this one little word at Carolyn Hunter’s funeral because the verses she chose were all about God being her fortress, her strength and her shield. 

One little word can push back the devil when he comes after you with his temptations and deceptions.  One little word repels him when he tries to convince you to build your house on the sand of your own achievements and righteousness instead of the solid rock of Christ.  One little word wins when the devil tries to get you to reject Jesus and the Bible and follow your feelings — one little word can fell him.  One little word.  Liar!! 

The devil is the father of lies from the time when he whispers to Eve, “Did God really say…..?  To when he whispers to you, “Did God really say…”, or “it’s no big deal, everyone is doing it”, or “you deserve to indulge your every desire.”  When the devil whispers you respond with one little word.” Liar!!

We like to do things ourselves and for projects around the house that is fine for many things.  Salvation, however, is not a do-it-yourself project.  There are no YouTube videos to show you how to successfully defeat the devil on your own.  When it comes to battling the devil you need a qualified expert and there is only one devil defeater.  There are no videos, but there is a book that tells you about who has defeated Satan for you. It is Jesus Christ, God’s Son, your savior.  He suffered, died and rose again for you.  You are in Christ.  You have been baptized into Christ.  You have died with Christ.  You will rise with Christ.  You have put on Christ.  You are safe from the devil. 

Remain in Christ.  When the devil tells you that you need to fight him, tell the devil what he is.  Liar!!  Jesus has already defeated the Evil One for you.  Amen. 

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Transfiguration 2023
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Vicar Kaleb Yaeger
February 19, 2023
Exodus 24:8-18, 2 Peter 1:16-21, Matthew 17:1-9

Sermons online: 
Text and Audio:         immanuelhamiltonchurch.com   click “sermons”
Text:                           pastorjud.org   
Audio:                         pastorjud.podbean.com 
itunes:                        bit.ly/pastorjud
Full Service Audio:   bit.ly/ImmanuelWorship

The season of Epiphany is all about Jesus revealing Himself to the world. Little by little, when He begins His ministry, He starts doing miracles. He starts teaching about Himself. He shows everyone – the crowds, the disciples, even the scribes and Pharisees – who He really is. 

Just last week, we heard Jesus redefining the law, with His “You have heard it said… but I say to you” statements. Jesus teaches as one having authority. This leads a lot of people to question His authority. Sure, He’s a rabbi and a teacher, but to speak like that about the word of God? Who is this Jesus guy, anyway? 

That is exactly the right question; and the question our gospel text answers this morning. 

Jesus takes the first of His disciples, Peter, James and John, up to a mountain by themselves. Jesus is always going up into mountains to pray, to get away from the crowds and to rest. You can imagine the disciples, happy that Jesus has invited them to His prayer time. They go up onto the mountain. Things are peaceful. The beauty of God’s creation surrounds them as they look down on the land of Israel. 

Then, abruptly, Jesus is transfigured before them. His face changes, shining as brightly as the sun. His clothes become white as light itself.  This is an awe-inspiring sight. Peter, James and John are seeing Jesus as no-one has ever seen Him before. They see Jesus in His glory, in his majesty, in His awesome power. A wonderful vision of God, given as a gift to the first of His disciples. 

Just as suddenly, Jesus and the disciples are no longer alone. Two men, who the disciples recognize as Moses and Elijah, are talking to Jesus. Moses represents the Law. Elijah represents the prophets. Jesus fulfills them both. 

Peter, realizing what a great privilege he and James and John have been given, says

“Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

Peter wants to stay on the Mt of Transfiguration. He wants to see the awesome beauty of Jesus as He speaks with Moses and Elijah. But God has other plans. 

While Peter was still speaking, as though God was interrupting him, 

behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” 

Suddenly, the disciples realize what’s going on here. Suddenly they understand why Jesus brought them up on a mountain. They remember a mountain. A cloud. A voice speaking from the heavens themselves. Everything clicks into place. This mount of the transfiguration is very much like another mountain from Israel’s history. 

Mt. Sinai stands over the landscape. A cloud covers it. God’s voice thunders out, shaking the very foundations of the world. The people of Israel are told to stay away from the mountain. They are not even to touch it, lest they die. 

Here, on God’s holy mountain, the law comes. God chisels every word into tablets of stone. Here, God speaks the Ten Commandments. You shall, you shall and you shall not. These echoes of the past ring in the disciple’s ears. Here they are, on a mountain, with a figure shining as brightly as the sun. God the Father’s voice ringing from the heavens. This mountain of the transfiguration and Mt. Sinai are not so different. The disciples begin to understand. 

With understanding comes fear. Peter, James and John were content to bask in the glory of God. But now, they have realized what that means. Now, they have remembered the mountain of God’s law. They remember the Ten Commandments. They remember Jesus’ words “But I say to you” It all rings against them like hammer blows. God’s standard is clear and by it, so is their sin. The disciples are not worthy to stand in the presence of the most holy God. They desired to be in God’s presence, but now realize they cannot stand it. 

So what do the disciples do? Try to make excuses? Try to justify themselves before God so that they can stand on His holy mountain? To look for loopholes in the law so that God will not smite them where they stand? No, they fall to the ground with their faces in the dirt. Terrified, they cast themselves entirely on the mercy of God. 

The disciples lay there, cringing, lying in the dirt. They’re terrified that they have come to God’s holy mountain to be destroyed. But then, the disciples feel someone touch them on the shoulder. Jesus speaks to them. Not in rumbles of Sinai thunder, but in gentleness and in peace. The voice ringing from the heavens told the disciples to listen to Jesus. What does He say?

“Rise, and have no fear.”

This is what the Son of God says. The same Son of God who sharpened the law, expanding it until it was clear that no man was righteous. This is the same Son of God who spoke the law with His own authority. He says to those disciples, the ones who realized their complete and total unworthiness:

“Rise, and have no fear.”

The disciples rise. There is no-one else around. Just Jesus. His face does not glow. His robe is no longer white as light itself. Jesus appears like any other man. Together, they come down off the mountain. 

Now, the first of the disciples truly understand who Jesus is. They understand He is the Messiah, the Christ, God Himself coming to visit His people once more. Even so, they still don’t have the whole picture. 

The season of epiphany is all about who Jesus is. But that’s only half the picture. Jesus is God. What the disciples don’t know yet is what Jesus came to do. In the moment, they are overjoyed. They have seen God and lived. But Jesus did not come simply to show Peter, James and John His glory. 

Jesus walks down from Mt. Sinai. He walks down, out of the glory cloud and down into the world. Down, and then up again. For Jesus’ destination is another mountain. Not a mountain of glory, but a mountain of suffering. A mountain with no cloud covering it. A mountain where Peter will not say “It is good Lord, to be here.” Jesus walks down off Sinai so He can ascend Mt. Calvary. 

As the disciples came down from the mountain, they probably wanted to shout for joy, to sing Alleluia, the song of gladness. But Alleluia cannot always be our song while here below. Neither can it be Christ’s. 

Alleluia, our transgressions will make Christ for a while forgo all the glories of Mt. Sinai. He will come down off that mountain, exchanging the glory of Sinai for the glory of Calvary. The cross is Christ’s true glory. The mountain of transfiguration is the clearest statement of who Jesus is. The mountain of Calvary is the clearest statement of what Jesus came to do. 

Jesus came to suffer. He came to die. We are those who follow Christ. We follow Him and behold His Sinai glory. But Christ does not stop on that mountain. Peter builds no tents there for Jesus. So we follow Him down, off of Sinai and up into the mountain of suffering and death. Holy suffering. A holy death. 

Jesus has words for us as He comes down off the mountain. The same words He had for His disciples, because He knew what they would soon face. 

“Rise, and have no fear.”

Rise and have no fear, dear Christian, because I took the punishment for your sin. Rise, have no fear of the wrath of God, for it has been poured out on Me. Rise in the face of your suffering. Have no fear in the face of your death. Suffering and death are not signs I have abandoned you. Suffering and death are the very things I came to do. Even I did not remain on the mountain of My glory. So rise, dear Christian, and have no fear. Rise, and follow Me through the sufferings of life. I will not fail you. Have no fear, for I give you no reason to fear. 

So we rise and, having no fear, we follow our Lord. We follow Jesus, down off the mountain of the transfiguration. We leave Sinai glory behind with our Alleluias. We follow Christ to Calvary through the dark season of Lent. But even though we walk through the darkness, even though we go down to suffer for Christ’s sake, we fear no evil. Christ has walked this road before us. He will take us to its end. 

 

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Epiphany 6, 2023
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud 
February 12, 2023
Deuteronomy 30:15-20, 1 Corinthians 3:1-9, Matthew 5:21-37

Sermons online: 
Text and Audio:         immanuelhamiltonchurch.com   click “sermons”
Text:                           pastorjud.org   
Audio:                         pastorjud.podbean.com 
itunes:                        bit.ly/pastorjud
Full Service Audio:   bit.ly/ImmanuelWorship

            Today’s Gospel reading is a continuation of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.  Jesus opens with the beatitudes; blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven, blessed are those who mourn and seven more.  He declares that you are salt and light to the world, and that He is not abolishing the law, but fulfilling it.  Then, Jesus begins to address how to live as salt and light in the world. The first three issues he addresses are murder, adultery and divorce. 

            Now, it is pretty easy to keep the commandments as long as you think only of the strictest letter of the law, keep open lots of loopholes, and are able to adjust the commands as needed.  You shall not murder?  I can do that.  As long as I can still hate people and tell them what I think about them, and punch them in the nose if they make me mad.  As long as I don’t actually kill someone it is all good.  And if need be, I can even redefine murder and call it women’s health care or medical assistance in dying.  As long as you redefine killing properly, then it’s not murder and you are keeping the commandment.

            Do not commit adultery.  No problem.  As long as I don’t actually go all the way with someone else.  I can stare, I can gawk.  Just because I am reading the menu doesn’t mean that I am going to order.  I can joke.  I can be crude.  I can indulge my fantasies online.  I can go to a gentlemen’s club.  I can flirt with that lady from work.  And what if I do give in and cheat — a little,  it’s no big deal.  Everyone is doing it.

            Do not get divorced.  Well, let me tell you.  There are a lot of good reasons why divorce is necessary.  Sometimes it just isn’t going to work and I deserve to be happy.

            It is easy to keep the commandments – as long as you get to define what they mean.  But here, on the hillside near the Sea of Galilee, Jesus declares what He means about murder, adultery and divorce. 

Matthew 5:21–22 (ESV)  21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; …”

            Matthew 5:27–28 (ESV) 27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” 

            Matthew 5:31–32 (ESV) 31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” 

            Jesus, the Son of God, God in flesh, is making authoritative declarations.  Jesus declares these truths and unfortunately our reaction is too likely to say, “I hear what Jesus is saying… but….what about this situation or that situation?” We immediately look for loopholes and excuses and justifications and redefinitions to be able to justify ourselves. What about righteous anger?  What if I cannot help my lustful thoughts?  What if a divorce is just necessary?

We hear Jesus’ statements and we want to come up with loopholes and excuses. We want to redefine what Jesus is saying to make it easier on us.  Our sinful nature wants to demand of Jesus — “Who are you to try to tell me what to do?!?”  “Who are you to try to tell me what to do?!?”  And this gets us to the root of the matter.  Satan wants you to distrust God and trust yourself.  Satan wants you to take charge so that you can be like God.  Satan wants you to decide for yourself how you should live. 

            Autonomy is a hallmark of our secular society. It’s all about me, me, me; mine, mine, mine, my, my, my, my choice, my life, my body.  You might think that our atheistic culture doesn’t realize who these statements really come from, but then, this last weekend, some cultural elites showed us their cards.  

            When I was in high school there was lots of talk about satanic influences in music.  It was said that if you played Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven backwards on a turntable it would say, “Here’s to my sweet Satan.”  It really wasn’t very clear.  Was it real, was it not.  Was the music satanic?

            Last Sunday, at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards, there was no rumors of secret backmasking but rather a full on celebration of Satan.  Two men who say they are not men presented a theatrical homage to the Evil One with a song called, “Unholy,” complete with red lights and flames and cages and erotic dancers and Sam Smith dressed as Satan himself. 

            Before the event Sam Smith tweeted, “This is going to be a special Grammys,” to which CBS, which broadcasted the Grammys responded, “You can say that again.  We are ready to worship!”

            I guess the Grammys did not want there to be any confusion about who they worship.  But the thing is that they don’t worship Satan.  Satanists do not worship Satan.  Satanists don’t believe in the Evil One. 

            Blanche Barton, a former Church of Satan high priestess, said on Wisconsin Public Radio about Satan worship, “The idea of worshiping Satan is ridiculous. We worship ourselves first and foremost, and we use the Satanic as a metaphor for calling forth the powers within ourselves that we find enriching or enlivening. Satan has always been a metaphor of defiance, fortitude against all odds and self-determination in whatever guises he is represented.”

            This is the root of the battle for the souls of the world; for your soul.  There is the fear, love and trust in God alone, and there is worship of self. 

            Your self-worshipping, old Adam demands of Jesus, “Who are you to tell me what to do?!?”  But your faithful, new creation, baptized child of God, new Adam is mortified.  Not only have your broken God’s commands but you have been tempted to worship yourself and set yourself up as god.  Listening to Jesus teach, you know that you are broken. You have not lived up to Jesus’ instructions.  You have been angry, you’ve been lustful, you have looked at marriage as something of your own design that you can control.  You have failed to live up to Jesus’ standard.  And you know that God is God and you are not and you have broken God’s commands.  You are not good enough.  You are spiritually bankrupt.  

            But remember…Jesus is God…His word is authoritative.  What did He say at the beginning of the Sermon?  “Blessed are the Poor in Spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  Jesus comes for those who are not good enough.  Jesus dies for those who are spiritually bankrupt.  You are a baptized child of God born again of water and the Spirit.  You are a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven.  You live under the reign of God.  Jesus is your Lord and Master.

            Do not rewrite God’s commands to fit your earthly life because you do not belong to the world.  God has rewritten your status.  He has washed you in the blood of Jesus and declared you to be His child, perfect and holy, blessed for eternity. 

You know who Jesus is.  Jesus is Lord.  Jesus is your Lord.  When Jesus speaks, don’t say anything, just listen to Him.  At Jesus’ Transfiguration God the Father says, Matthew 17:5 (ESV) 5 …“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” 

Listen to Jesus.  Silently meditate on His words knowing it is the Word of God.  Jesus calls you, a broken sinner, to live a holy life in a broken world because He has forgiven you all your sins, washed you clean, and given you the Kingdom of Heaven. 

            This is a hard lesson.  These are difficult teachings.  These show your sin.  You will not be able to perfectly follow Jesus’ teaching.  So, confess your sins, but do not change the teaching.  Live out your “poor in spirit” life listening to Jesus.  Matthew 5:3 (ESV) 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Amen. 

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Epiphany 5 2023
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud 
February 5, 2023
Is. 58:3-9a, 1 Cor. 2:1-16, Matt. 5:13-20

Sermons online: 
Text and Audio:         immanuelhamiltonchurch.com   click “sermons”
Text:                           pastorjud.org   
Audio:                         pastorjud.podbean.com 
itunes:                        bit.ly/pastorjud
Full Service Audio:   bit.ly/ImmanuelWorship

            Do you believe Jesus?  Do you believe what Jesus says about you? 

Matthew 4 begins with Jesus down at the Jordan River near Jericho after His baptism.  He is led by the Spirit into the wilderness for 40 days of fasting and then to be tempted by the devil.  Afterwards, Jesus learns that John the Baptist has been arrested and Jesus leaves the Jordan and heads north to Galilee through Nazareth up to Capernaum by the Sea.  There, in Galilee of the Gentiles, the light dawns.  Jesus begins to preach, saying, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” The reign and rule of heaven is at hand in Jesus Himself; He is the Christ, He is the King.  Along the shore of the Sea of Galilee at Capernaum Jesus calls four fishermen to leave their nets and follow Him, and Andrew and Peter, James and John follow Jesus.  Matthew 4:23–25 (ESV) 23 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. 24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. 25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.”

            The great crowds now following Jesus are too big for the synagogues and must make it difficult to navigate in the tight confines of Capernaum or the other cities, so, in order to teach, Jesus goes up on a hillside and sits down and the four fishermen and the other followers come to Him and Jesus begins to teach.  Jesus teaches with authority and His teaching is earth shattering.  Jesus declares, those who are spiritually weak are blessed for eternity.  Those who mourn are blessed.  Those who are lowly, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, those who are merciful, those who seek the true God, those who make peace, those who are persecuted, are blessed.  Jesus declares that those who struggle because of faith in Jesus are blessed with a blessing for eternity.  Those who are poor in spirit mourn all the trouble in the world.  The powerless are desperate for things to be made right.  This is the status and attitude of those who follow Jesus.  You are weak, the world is evil, and you want things to be better.  Jesus says this is who you are as one of His followers. 

The beatitudes are the doorway to be able to grasp the rest of the Sermon on the Mount which shows you how to live as a follower of Jesus.  Jesus is giving radical teaching and He reiterates all this in a condensed form in Matthew 16:24–26 (ESV) 24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?”

            Advertisers never tell you to deny yourself.  Deny yourself and take up your cross is not a message you get from the world.  Jesus is teaching a new way to live in love.  The nine beatitudes are the doorway to the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus teaches a radical way to live in your new identity as a disciple of Jesus born again with water and the Spirit. 

            Jesus declares, Matthew 5:13 (ESV) 13 “You are the salt of the earth,” and the way Jesus says this in Greek is emphatic, more like, “You, my disciples, and not others, are the salt of the earth.”  Youare that which salts the earth.  But if that salt has become tasteless, by what means will the earth be salted.  If you lose your saltiness, who will salt the earth?  Jesus declares that you, His followers, are the ones to salt the earth.  You bring flavor to a bland, joyless world.  You preserve in an evil, rotting world.  You are the antidote for rottenness.  You make the world a better place. 

            Youare that which gives light to the world. Matthew 5:16 (ESV)  16 … let your light shine before others…”  Now this sounds a bit strange from Jesus.  Letting your light shine before others sounds like you are showing off how good you are, but letting your light shine is not to bring glory to you. Matthew 5:16 (ESV)  16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. 

            This is a radical new approach to life.  Maybe Jesus is cancelling the law.  Maybe… Jesus is getting rid all of the laws and now you are free to live however you want.  Indeed, through His sacrificial death and resurrection, Jesus cancels the condemnation of the law, but He calls you, the salt and the light of the world to live as a follower of Jesus.  You can do what you want.  What does a Christian want to do? 

In His Sermon there on the hillside Jesus gives new, enhanced instructions for how to live; not just live by the letter of the law, but also the spirit of the law.  Jesus teaches that you are to live not with the law as a fence to keep you just outside the world of sin, but live with love as the center of your life so you do not test the limits of the law.  Jesus teaches how to live as a redeemed child of God.  This is how you are Salt and light to the world.  This is how you live your ordinary life in an extraordinary way to salt the earth and bring light to the world.  Live by the spirit of the law, not just the letter of the law. 

This is how you are salt and light in the world.  This is how you live your ordinary life in an extraordinary way.  You do the things you have been given to do and make the world a better place because, you, a follower of Jesus, are in the world as salt and light.  You fight rot and darkness by living out your identity in Christ. 

            Not only do not murder, do not get angry with your neighbor.  Not only do not commit adultery, do not think lustful thoughts.  Do not get divorced for any and every reason.  Do not take oaths; just tell the truth and let your yes be yes and your no be no.  Do not retaliate.  Go the extra mile.  Love your enemies.  Pray for those who persecute you.  Love those who don’t love you.  Do not make a show of your righteousness in order to impress others, so give in secret, pray in secret, fast in secret.  Serve God and not money.  Trust that God will provide and don’t worry about food and clothing.  Don’t make yourself the judge of others.  Worry about your own sins first.  Do not worry about the speck in your brother’s eye when there is a log in your own eye.  Ask God for what you need.  Treat others like you want to be treated.  Beware of false teachers.  Build your faith on the rock of Jesus. 

This is how you are salt and light in the world.  This is how you live your ordinary life in an extraordinary way.  You do the things you have been given to do and make the world a better place because, you, a follower of Jesus, are in the world as salt and light.  You fight rot and darkness by living out your identity in Christ. 

            Jesus’ teaching is radically authoritative because He is not telling you what someone else has said.  Jesus has no footnotes from other sources.  Jesus teaches from His own authority.  He is God in flesh.  He is the Christ.  He is the Lamb of God ready to sacrifice Himself on the cross to save you. 

            This call to be salt and light is a difficult message. Jesus does not promise you an easy life. He does not promise you a successful life.  He promises you a blessed life even in your struggles.  He promises a blessed life for eternity.  He promises you eternal life with Him.

For now, He tells you who you are as a follower of Jesus.  You are the salt of the earth.  You are the light of the world.  This is who you are.  Believe Jesus.  Amen. 

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SERMON TEXT BELOW

Epiphany 4 2023
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud 
January 29, 2023
Micah 6:1-8, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, Matthew 5:1-12

Sermons online: 
Text and Audio:         immanuelhamiltonchurch.com   click “sermons”
Text:                           pastorjud.org   
Audio:                         pastorjud.podbean.com 
itunes:                        bit.ly/pastorjud
Full Service Audio:   bit.ly/ImmanuelWorship

            Advertising is powerful — and it works.  The going rate for a 30 second ad during the upcoming Super Bowl is over $7 million; almost a quarter of a million per second.  Advertising works.  It drives desires.  It creates a need and then shows you how to fill it.  It creates discontent and promises a solution. 

            Marketing Christianity is tough.  How does the Church attract more people?  How does the Church reach out to hurting people to get them to follow Jesus? 

            There is a great temptation to try to convince people that the church can meet their needs for help with parenting, finances, friendships, therapy, planning and all sorts of things.  There is a great temptation to try to put on an impressive show on Sunday morning to keep people entertained and engaged, and to preach “relevant” sermons with practical advice for life.  Churches and youth programs often attract people with all sorts of things; a kind of, “Whatever it takes to bring them in,” mentality with the goal of doing a bait and switch.  Get them in with this flashy thing and then give them the gospel.  The problem is something a wise church leader once said, “What you win them with is what you win them to.”  It you attract people with the idea that the church will fix all their troubles, there will be many who are terribly disappointed when they still have troubles and life is still hard even after being fully engaged in church. 

            Marketing Christianity is tough because Christianity is about the cross, and the cross is not an easy sell.  Here, at Immanuel, we strive to be Christ-centered and Cross-Focused. But when you focus on the cross what do you see?  The cross of Christ is good news, but it is good news because of the bad news.  When you focus on the cross you see Jesus suffering and dying.  Why is He suffering?  Why is He dying?  It is because of your sin.  Jesus is bleeding because you are not good enough.  Jesus struggles for breath because you break God’s commandments.  This is hard news.  This is a hard truth to embrace.  This is a difficult truth to market to a world that thinks it is doing just fine.  The wise of the world do not want to join us on Sunday to get on our knees and plead guilty of being natural born sinners who deserve punishment and hell. 

            The world wants preachers to preach what their itching ears want to hear.  The world wants to hear that they are good enough, but the hard truth of the cross is that your sin is serious and you are not okay just the way you are.  Jesus’ and John the Baptist both preached the same short sermon that is still valid today, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”  Repent! Don’t embrace sin — turn away from sin. The bad news of the cross is that you are a sinner and your sin needs to be punished.  This is not a message the world wants to hear.

            Focusing on the cross you see your sin and that is bad news, but the cross is not all bad news.  The bad news is not the main truth of the cross.  The amazing good news of the cross is that Jesus is on the cross because He loves you.  Jesus loves you so much that He is paying the price for your sin in order to set you free. 

            Striving to be Christ-centered and cross-focused may not be good as a marketing strategy but it is the power of God for the forgiveness of sins.  St. Paul states this in the beginning of his letter to the church in Corinth.  1 Corinthians 1:17 (ESV)  17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 

            The world loves eloquent wisdom.  The world has been seeking after wisdom from the beginning; even in the Garden of Eden.  Genesis 3:6 (ESV) 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.”

            We can be so impressed by wisdom, so enticed by wisdom, so taken in by wisdom, that we can be destroyed by chasing after wisdom. 1 Corinthians 1:18 (ESV) 18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 

            The world wants success; a good education, a good job, a good family, a good retirement.  The world wants affirmation.  The world wants to be told that everything is fine.  Look in the mirror and tell yourself, “I am in the right place at the right time, doing the right thing,” or, “I am successful, I am confident, I am powerful, I am strong,” or the classic, “I am good enough and smart enough and doggone it, people like me.”  The world wants you to believe that you just need a pep talk to do a little better.

            Joel Osteen, who pastors a huge church in Houston and is watched by millions, has a consistent message of the power of positive thinking.  If you have a better attitude and have loftier goals, God will open up the floodgates of His blessings.  Osteen preaches the wisdom of the world.

            The world wants affirmation.  The cross brings transformation.  The cross does not make sense to the world.  How could someone suffering and dying do anything good?  What kind of God is stripped and nailed to a cross to slowly die?  That is ridiculous.  How is that going to help me to lead a better life?  How is that going to make me successful?  Forget the cross; just tell me what I need to do.  Just give me some encouragement.  The world wants affirmation.  The cross brings transformation. 

            1 Corinthians 1:21–25 (ESV) 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” 

            Jesus does not affirm you in your sin; rather He transforms you into a new creation.  A new creation, born again by water and the spirit.  A new creation who knows that you bring nothing to God but your sins, and Jesus takes your sins and, in exchange, gives you His perfection.

            The world is chasing after money and pleasure and it rejects Jesus on the cross as some archaic folk tale for simple-minded people. The world is lost in its wisdom, but you know the truth.  The cross is the power of God for the forgiveness of sins.  Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.  You know that the cross is not the end of Jesus.  Jesus rose from the dead.  Christ is risen!  He is risen indeed, alleluia! 

            Jesus does not affirm you in your sin; rather He transforms you into a new creation.  A new creation, born again by water and the spirit.  A new creation who knows that you bring nothing to God but your sins, and Jesus takes your sins and, in exchange, gives you His perfection. 

            Our gathering together here each week is not a gathering of deeply spiritual people looking to share our wisdom with one another.  It is not a gathering to hear an eloquent, poetic sermon to entertain and enlighten you to the ways of the world.  You gather here as poor-in-spirit followers of Jesus who are citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven.  Jesus is your Lord and Master. 

            Jesus is not your coach.  Jesus is not your therapist.  Jesus is not your financial advisor.  Jesus is your Savior.  Jesus sacrificed Himself on the cross at Calvary for you.  The world says this is foolishness — the world is perishing.  1 Corinthians 1:25 (ESV) 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” 

            Christianity is tough to market because people don’t know they need Jesus.  But Christianity has a force more powerful than a Super Bowl ad to convince people. We have the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit works with the foolishness of words and water and bread and wine to make disciples of all nations — to make a disciple of you.  Amen. 

WORSHIP VIDEO LINK

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SERMON TEXT BELOW

Epiphany 3 2023
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Vicar Kaleb Yaeger
January 22, 2023
Isaiah 9:1-4, 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, Matthew 4:12-25

Sermons online: 
Text and Audio:         immanuelhamiltonchurch.com   click “sermons”
Text:                           pastorjud.org   
Audio:                         pastorjud.podbean.com 
itunes:                        bit.ly/pastorjud
Full Service Audio:   bit.ly/ImmanuelWorship

New York city. It’s full of glamor, city lights, wealth and power. It’s the capital of capitalism. Things happen in New York city. It’s the city that never sleeps. Always lit up bright late into the night and early in the morning. The people who live there are proud of their city. Tourists flood to the city in droves, with about 56 million people visiting in 2022. Tourist traps sell “I heart NY” pins and stickers. You take pictures when you visit there. Just the skyline of the city is recognizable. The Statue of Liberty, symbol of the American spirit, is just outside the Big Apple. NYC truly is the city in America. 

Hamilton, OH, on the other hand, is a little different. I haven’t lived in Hamilton all that long, but I don’t remember seeing any places selling “I heart Hamilton” pins or stickers. Hamilton boasts a unique Skyline, but I haven’t seen any tourists taking pictures of their chili. Unlike New York, Hamilton sleeps. Usually pretty well. It’s not the city in lights, there’s not always something going on in Hamilton like there is in New York. Someone from New York might even look down on we who live in lowly Hamilton. 

To the Jews in Jesus’ time, Jerusalem was like the New York of Israel. Jerusalem was where the temple was. Jerusalem was where the prophets preached. Jerusalem had the priests, the scribes and the Pharisees. Jerusalem was where the people came to celebrate the Passover. It was the place where things happened. It was the place with the light of God’s temple. With the light of His Word. They dwelt in high Jerusalem. 

Galilee, on the other hand, was a little different. It’s a little closer to the Hamilton, OH of Israel. Galilee wasn’t really a place you would visit on purpose – at least, not back then. There weren’t any pilgrimages to Galilee, because Galilee had no temple. In fact, there were so few Jews in Galilee that it was known as Galilee of the Gentiles. No-one made a pilgrimage to Galilee for the Passover. If there was a light of God in Galilee, it was well hidden. Those in high, bright Jerusalem looked down on those who lived in lowly, dark Galilee. 

To top it all off, to give those in Jerusalem just one more reason to look down on those lowly Galileans; when the Assyrians came and took Israel into exile, Galilee was the first to go. That must mean the worst sinners were there. All of Israel had sinned, certainly. But the sins of those in dark Galilee must have piled higher than the rest. Stacked high in a dung heap, a stench before the LORD. So, God took them into exile first. Jerusalem was the city of the worthy, Galilee was the region of the worthless. 

It’s easy to feel like you’re dwelling in darkness, and not because you live in Hamilton instead of in New York. No, this is an internal darkness. The kind that eats away at you from the inside. It seems like everyone else has life figured out. You scroll through social media and see the best of everyone else’s life, and you can’t help but compare it to the worst parts of your own. It’s like they’re all living in high, bright Jerusalem, but at the end of the day, you slink off to low, dark Galilee. 

Even if they all treat you well, and politely, maybe you’ve convinced yourself that you don’t really deserve their kindness. After all, they don’t know you. They just know the face you let them see. 

They just see your mask of polite conversation. You know the truth. Behind your mask, are sins stacked high in a stinking heap. All the things you’ve done, left undone, thoughts, words and deeds. 

You might even tell yourself that your greatest lie was convincing everyone that you’re a good person. The truth is, you’re not really from Jerusalem. You’re just an imposter from lowly dark Galilee. 

It’s easy to feel that way before others, and it’s even easier to feel that way before God. The words of God’s law are clear. He sees your sin. He sees your thoughts, your words, and your deeds. He sees what you have done and left undone. His holy law condemns your sin. It calls you out, naming you a sinner, lost and condemned. It rips the mask off your dung heap and exposes your sin for what it is. You are a citizen of Galilee. Your sins have piled high so that you dwell in their dark shade. 

What does this mean for you, citizen of Galilee? Surely, it means judgment. Surely, God will unmask you before your friends and family, pointing out each and every one of your horrible sins. That is what His law demands. It’s what you really deserve. God should pour out the cup of His wrath on you. Just like He did to Galilee. You should drink the cup of God’s wrath down to the dregs. 

So let us hear the word of the LORD to Galilee. Hear what He spoke by the mouth of the prophet Isaiah. Thus says the LORD: 

There will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles.

Thus says the LORD, anguished sinner! God will bring, not His doom and gloom, but His glory! 

God will pour out His cup on Galilee, but not the cup of His wrath. The cup of His blessing! He has glorified the first of the exiles. The worst sinners in Israel. Those who once piled sin upon sin in a great and stinking heap He has blessed. 

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined.

God does not let the land of darkness stay dark. He brings light. Light, bright, shining, incredible and glorious. Light into darkness. Light like in high Jerusalem. But not like the light in Jerusalem. New York City could turn on every light in the city. But you wouldn’t see that glow if it was high noon. The day is brighter than every city light.

The day has come to Galilee. To you, lowly sinners who dwelt in darkness. And the day is brighter than the brightest light in high Jerusalem. God’s light, Matthew tells us, 

…went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

“The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.”

Jesus, the light of the world, comes first to Galilee. To the land of darkness. To the land of sinners. Not to high Jerusalem. Not to the ones who have life all figured out. No, Jesus comes to poor, miserable sinners like you and like me. This is where He begins His ministry. He comes to the dark land of the Gentiles. There was no doom and gloom on that day for the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali, for the LORD, Jesus Christ, had drawn near. 

And Jesus knows who He is coming to. He can see through any mask. He knows the heaps on heaps of sin that Galilee piled against Him, a stench before the LORD and yet He comes to them anyway. He knows your sins too. You might be able to fool others, but you can’t fool God. 

Jesus knows your sins too. He knows your thoughts, your words, and your deeds. He knows what you’ve done and what you’ve left undone. And He comes to you anyway. He comes to you and He washes you. He makes you clean, taking your sins away from you. He takes your sins and He puts them on Himself. He carries your sins throughout His earthly ministry. He carries them out of Galilee and into Jerusalem. For in Jerusalem, Jesus will be judged. 

The law of God is clear. Sin must be punished. Justice must be carried out. The wrath of God must fall. God looks down on the world. He sees all things. Every thought, word and deed. What all have done and what all have left undone. He sees every sin throughout all time that has ever been committed and will ever be committed. And He sees them all on the shoulders of His Son. 

Jesus is nailed to the cross. There is a great weight upon His shoulders. A great, stinking heap. A stench before the LORD. The law of God is clear. Sin was punished. Justice was carried out. The wrath of God fell. On Jesus. He drank the cup of God’s wrath down to the dregs. He took the full punishment for sin. On that cross, Jesus was rejected by God. Jesus was punished for your sin. Jesus, who came first to sinners. 

The Son of God was not the only thing to die that day. All the sins of the world perished with Him. Every thought, word, or deed. Jesus dragged your sin into the grave. The law of God looked at Jesus and sentenced Him to death. Justice is done. God’s law is fulfilled. 

Now, when God looks at you, He doesn’t see your sins. He still sees you for who you are. God does not lie. Instead, He sees the righteousness of Christ. The cross is the great reversal. God looks at sinners and sees righteousness, because God looked at His perfect Son and saw our sin. The great exchange. 

The story doesn’t end there, though. Jesus is, after all, the sinless Son of God. God raised Him from the dead three days later. Justice demanded it. All that righteousness and perfection can’t lie in death forever. Which is really good news for you. 

When God looks at you and sees the righteousness of Christ, it’s not like the wool was pulled over God’s eyes. He’s not seeing something that isn’t there. You’re not lying to God about your own righteousness. No, Christ’s righteousness actually belongs to you. Jesus was raised from the dead because of His righteousness. Now that righteousness belongs to you. What do you think that means for you when you die? This is why we confess in the Apostles’ Creed that we believe in the resurrection of the body. It’s because Christ’s righteousness was given to us! It’s ours, not by our works, but by His grace. 

Yes, it’s easy to feel like you’re living in darkness. It’s easy to feel like a citizen of lowly Galilee. It’s easy to feel worthless. Not like a worthy citizen of Jerusalem. But remember who Christ came to first. Remember that Jesus lived in Galilee. Remember that Jesus killed your sins on the cross. But also remember that He rose again. You have His righteousness. One day, you will join with angels and archangels, and all the company of heaven. Until that day, rest in the peace that only God can give. 

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Baptism of our Lord
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud 
January 8, 2023|
Isaiah 42:1-9, Romans 6:1-11, Matthew 3:13-17

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            The wild-eyed, wilderness prophet is causing quite a stir.  John, the son of the priest Zechariah, is down at the Jordan River preparing the way for the Lord.  At John’s naming his father prophesied, Luke 1:76–79 (ESV) 76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” 

            John urges everyone to “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”  The reign and rule of God is coming.  Turn from your sins now while there is still time because we are at the dawn of a new era where God is in charge.  Repent now because the Lord is coming to rule. 

John is attracting a lot of interest.  People from all over are coming to repent of their sins and be baptized in the Jordan River to be washed clean of their iniquities.  The religious leaders come out to spy on John and see what is going on and John rebukes them.  People think John the baptizer is amazing.  People are flocking to hear him and respond to his call to repentance.  The people think John is great.

            John is great and has a huge following, but as great as John is, he is just the prophet.  He is just the forward team getting things ready for the King of Creation to arrive.  John clearly tells the people.  Matthew 3:11 (ESV) 11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” John is a great prophet but he is not worthy to touch the shoes of the one who is to come.  And John proclaims that the coming one is coming in power and judgment. Matthew 3:10 (ESV) 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Matthew 3:12 (ESV) 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” 

            This follows 700 year old prophecy from Isaiah 64:1–2 (ESV)  1 Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence— 2 as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil— to make your name known to your adversaries, and that the nations might tremble at your presence!”  

Repent! For the kingdom of heaven is near!  The almighty one is coming to rule in judgment with His ax and His winnowing fork.  John and the people are expecting a super hero figure to arrive.  They are expecting Superman.

            And then Jesus arrives.  We learn from the Gospel of John that John the Baptist announces Jesus’ arrival, John 1:29 (ESV) 29 … “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

            But Jesus likely does not meet John’s or the crowd’s expectations.  Instead of Superman, they get Clark Kent.  Just a normal looking guy walks up with a few other normal looking guys.  Where is the ax?  Where is the winnowing fork?  Where is the rending of the heavens?  Where is the power and might?  Maybe He is just travelling incognito and He will transform into the super person that we are expecting. 

            But then Jesus tells John that He needs to be baptized by John.  Baptized by John?  What?  This is a baptism of repentance.  You are the chosen one, the Messiah, the Lamb of God taking away the sin of the world.  Matthew 3:14 (ESV) 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 

            John knows that the dark world needs a savior.  The world needs someone to come and conquer evil, to put down so-called religious leaders who use and abuse others, to strike down corrupt kings who think only of their own comfort and pleasure.  The world needs a powerful savior to make the mountains quake and the nations tremble.  And here is Jesus of Nazareth who seems so normal.  He didn’t rend the heavens, He just came walking up.  And instead of taking charge He is submitting to John’s baptism. The pure and holy Lamb of God is going down into the waters in which all the people washed off the filth of their sins. 

            Jesus does not act the way John and the people expect Him to act.  And for us, so often, nothing has changed.  Jesus still does not act the way we want Him to act.  He does not yet eliminate all of the evil and darkness. 

This week I spent time at the bedside of a 17 year old girl who graduated from our school.  She was found unconscious without a heartbeat early New Year’s Eve morning.  Paramedics got her heart started but she never regained consciousness.  I pleaded, “God, make her wake up!  Restore her! Bring her back to her family!”  But God did not.  Alacia was determined to have suffered brain death and arrangements were made to donate her organs.  God did not do what I wanted Him to do.  

            But God did do what He promised to do.  As a student, Alacia was baptized into the family of God and He promised to forgive her all her sins.  When Jesus went down into the Jordan River He picked up Alacia’s sins, and your sins, and my sins.  The holy, pure, sinless Lamb of God became the scapegoat corrupted by our sin.  2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV) 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”  He carries those sins to the cross to be the sacrificial Lamb of God once for all.

            Jesus does not act the way John and the people expect Him to act.  And for us, so often, nothing has changed.  Jesus still does not act the way we want Him to act.  He does not yet eliminate all of the evil and darkness. 

            There in the water Jesus looks like a normal guy getting baptized after walking down the road to the Jordan River.  John must be disappointed that Jesus did not rend the heavens and descend in power.  But just then…Matthew 3:16–17 (ESV) 16 … when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” 

            Even though it does not look like it, Jesus really is the Son of God come to save the world, but His ways are not our ways.  Jesus did not come to rid the world of sin and evil and sickness and death…not yet.  The people 2,000 years ago were frustrated by Jesus not meeting their expectations.  We are frustrated by Jesus not meeting our expectations.  Jesus does not come to you as some superhero forcing you to believe and behave.  Jesus may not do what you want Him to do, but Jesus continues to do what He has come to do, to forgive sins and give eternal life.  Jesus comes to you hidden in His means of grace. He pours out His grace in the waters of baptism, in His words of forgiveness and in His own Body and Blood in Holy Communion.

            God’s ways are not our ways and yet we are told to continue to pray and so we continue to pray.  In the parable of the persistent widow Jesus teaches Luke 18:1 (ESV) 1 … to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.”  Jesus gives us the Lord’s Prayer and says, Matthew 6:7–9 (ESV) 7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” 

            1 Peter 5:6–7 (ESV) 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”  

            Cast all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.  On Monday night we got to see this in action when football players and coaches and fans at Paycor Stadium, and those watching on television throughout the country cast their anxieties on the Lord as they watched the medical distress of Damar Hamlin.  I suspect many who profess to be agnostic or atheists joined in praying for Damar.  There was nothing they could do but pray.  Even though they try mightily to reject His rule, in times of trouble people instinctively know there is a God and they cast their anxieties on Him.

            You live in this time between Jesus’ ascension from the Mount of Olives and His return in power and glory.  You live now with Jesus’ promises of forgiveness of sins and eternal life looking forward to when Jesus will return with His ax and His winnowing fork to eliminate evil forever.  It is a time of now I am a baptized child of God in the Kingdom of Heaven, but the earth has not yet been recreated and the dead have not yet been raised; that day is still coming. 

            For now, living in this dark world, battling the forces of evil, you have the promises of God to strengthen and preserve you as you look to Jesus’ return in glory to destroy the darkness forever.  Come, Lord Jesus, come.  Amen. 

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Epiphany 2023
January 1, 2023
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:1-12, Matthew 2:1-12

            The darkness in the world can be overwhelming. You can get a glimpse of the darkness sometimes walking the halls of a nursing home or a hospital full of sick and hurting and disabled people with never enough dedicated nurses and aides to help them. There is so much pain and suffering and loneliness all concentrated in one building.  You can feel the darkness at children’s hospital where the underground parking garage seems to go on and on forever and it strikes you that there are far too many very sick children who need that great hospital.  There is such darkness in the world.

            And you get home and turn on the evening news and hear about people shot to death over an argument at a party.  You hear about children being abused.  You hear about powerful factions in nations trying to seize power from each other with the citizens caught in the middle as their world is torn apart by soldiers with rifles and tanks and missiles.

            In this world there is great darkness.  You can feel the darkness of hatred, anger, violence, destruction, perversion, poverty, addiction.  As you look into the faces of those around you and the face staring back at you in the mirror you can see the disappointment and desperation and depression that comes from life in the darkness of a fallen world. 

            In the thick darkness of this world you can get lost. People stumble around desperately looking for something that has meaning; something that brings peace, something that dulls the loneliness of the darkness.  Folks search desperately for something to take away the pain — but instead of relief, they find that they are being suffocated by the darkness. 

            There is a great darkness in the world.  But in this deep darkness a light shines.  Like lighting a candle in a pitch black room, even a small light destroys the darkness.  That small light is first seen emanating from a manger in the town of Bethlehem. 

            The Lord God has come to earth in human flesh.  Isaiah 60:1-3 (ESV) 1 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. 2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. 3 And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

            The light of the world dawns in the little town of Bethlehem.  The flame is lit.  The creator of the world has come to earth to love and serve and give His life for His people; for all people. 

            There is a great darkness in the world.  But in this deep darkness a light shines.  Like lighting a candle in a pitch black room, even a small light destroys the darkness.  That small light is first seen emanating from a manger in the town of Bethlehem. 

            John 1:1, 4-9 (ESV) 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…. . 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world….

            The light has come to us as that baby in Bethlehem. The light of the world has dawned upon us in Jesus, the Son of God in flesh.  It is the Epiphany, the appearance of God.  The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.  Try as it might, darkness cannot overcome light.  As the vicar said on Christmas, darkness is not the opposite of light, but the absence of light.  The forces of darkness try to snuff out the light.  They try to silence the light.  They try to intimidate the light.  They try to kill the light by nailing Him to the cross, but darkness cannot extinguish the light; the light of the world dawns again on Easter morning.

            And the light of Christ is not a search light overwhelming you with its bright beam.  Not yet.  The light of Christ is not a great fireball in the sky that demands attention.  Not yet.  For now, the light of Christ is the small flame of faith that burns within each of the followers of the light; the light that burns within you.

Christ comes to Bethlehem as the light in the darkness but the light does not remain confined to Bethlehem.  The light spreads to the Shepherds who then tell others.  The light spreads to the mystical magi who come to town to worship the newborn king and take this news back to their homeland.

The light spreads as Jesus’ ministry is begun by John the Baptist bearing witness about the light.  The light spreads as Jesus shows who He is through teaching and miracles and His transfiguration.  The light is spread by the disciples of Jesus who after His death and resurrection bring the Good News of forgiveness of sins to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth.  They are witnesses to the light.  They have seen the glory of the Word made flesh and they tell others.  The light is spread by Paul who is sent by Christ to bring the light to the Gentiles, the non-Jews, who as followers of Jesus are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel. 

The light of Christ spreads from Jerusalem to our ancestors in Europe and Asia and Africa.  The light spreads to the New World; to North, Central and South America.  The light spreads from parent to child, from friend to friend, from pastor to those who hear.  The light has traveled a long way from that manger in Bethlehem to you; the light of the world. 

As the light spreads on Christmas Eve from the Christ candle, to my candle, to the acolytes and the vicar, to those on the end of the pews, to those in the pews until everyone has the light, so, in the same way, the light of Christ is spread from the Christ child to people all over the world who are the light of Christ. 

The light, which dawned in Bethlehem and was revealed to the magi from the east, now burns within you here in this church building on this Sunday morning. But this light; the light of Christ, will not stay confined to the Church building on Sunday morning.  Here is where you come to hear again about the light; to again receive the light through the Word of the light and the Body and Blood of the light so that you can go out into the dark world during the week and be the light of Christ.  You come here, into the light, to be refreshed by the light — for it is a dark world out there.

            Today, as you leave here, you carry the light of Christ out into the darkness of the world.  In your love for others, you bring the light into the gloom and the light pushes back the darkness.

            Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV) 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

You bring the light of Christ to a dark world when you show others grace and love and mercy and forgiveness; the same grace and love and mercy and forgiveness that you have received from Jesus.  You bring the light of Christ to the world when you show others the humble service shown to you by the servant Savior, Jesus.  You show the light by humbly serving others who do not deserve to be served.  You bring the light of Christ to the world when you show others the unconditional forgiveness that you have received from Jesus.  You bring the light of Christ to the world when you care for those who are most vulnerable.  You bring the light of Christ to the world by your good works that others will see and give glory to God. 

You bring the light of Christ to the world when you bear witness to the light. And who is the Light of Christ for? To whom do you bring it?  It is for all people, Jew and Gentile.  It is for sinners.  It is for those in the darkness.  It is for all people.  It is for your family, your classmates, your coworkers, the people you encounter each day, especially the ones that make you uncomfortable.  It is the light of the unsearchable riches of Christ, the overflowing forgiveness of sins poured out upon undeserving sinners.  You bring this light to a world of darkness and depression and despair.  You bring this light to a world of pain and suffering and loneliness that is being convinced by the devil that there is no hope.  You bring the light to the world when you point people to the Word of God, to the waters of baptism, to the body and blood of Christ in Holy Communion. You bring the light to the world when you point people to the Church.  You bring the light to the world through support of mission efforts here at home and around the globe.  You are the light of the world; let your light shine.  And remember the light is not a blazing spotlight.  It is a small flame pushing back the darkness around you as you live your ordinary life in an extraordinary way as a child of the light amidst people of the darkness.

            And remember, lest the devil deceive you, your salvation is not dependent on the quantity or quality of your light bearing. Your salvation is not based on the brightness of your light.  Your salvation is not from the light you shine, your salvation is the light you shine.  Your salvation is a gift from Jesus.  The light has given His light to you so you are no longer in the darkness.  The light you shine comes from Christ.  This light defeats darkness.  This light defeats the power of sin and guilt and shame.  This light defeats the devil. 

            You, a baptized follower of Jesus, are the light of the world because you have received the light of Christ.  Live as light.  Amen.

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Darkness is scary. It’s one of the most common fears of children, and adults too, even though we might not want to admit it. It’s scary because the darkness hides things. You can’t see in the dark, and that means the darkness is unknown. What’s unknown is scary. Going a new way in the daylight is fine, but at night it’s a different story. 

Darkness is also scary for another reason. Darkness is not a thing by itself. It is the absence of light. Darkness represents nothingness. Outer space is dark. It’s fascinating, but it’s also unnerving. Trying to think about the sheer nothingness in the void between stars is terrifying. 

But that idea of nothingness is the closest we can come to picturing what it was like at the beginning of all things. In the beginning, darkness. In the beginning, nothing. 

But in the beginning, God. 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

For in the beginning, God made. He made with His voice. With His Word. For in the beginning, God spoke. He said “Let there be” and there was. He spoke into the lonely darkness. The primordial void. He spoke into the nothingness “Let there be light!” And there was. Suddenly, the world was no longer formless and void. There was no longer a veil of darkness over all things. Things went from unknown to known, because now there was light. 

And the darkness could not overcome it. 

Or, another translation:

the darkness could not comprehend it. 

Darkness does not know the light. When you wake up before dawn and switch on your kitchen light, you move from darkness into light; and, at least for a few seconds, you do not comprehend the light. Neither does darkness understand the light. It cannot overcome it and it cannot defeat it; because it cannot understand it. 

And so, God defeated the darkness. He drove it away by His Word, speaking the foundations of the world into existence. He crafted the world, bringing forth life, birds of the air and fish of the sea. He brought the continents out of the depths, seeding them with plants and animals. Where once there stood a cold and empty void, there is now color and light and life. 

Above it all, God set Adam. God formed Him out of the ground with His hands, breathing His own breath into him. God gave Adam life. Adam walked in the garden in the light, seeing and marveling at the wonder of God’s creation. As Scripture says, it was very good. 

Then, tragedy struck. A fallen angel took the form of a serpent. The serpent twisted the words of God and Adam and Eve fell into sin. Adam hid from God. A good hiding place is not in the light. It’s in the darkness. The light reveals. The darkness hides. All mankind has been hiding from God ever since. Every human being is conceived and born sinful. 

Mankind has fallen into darkness. He tries to make his own way, but he fails. He stumbles, unable to see the ground in front of him. Mankind has made himself formless and void. Just like in the beginning, there is darkness. 

But just like in the beginning, there is God. There is the Word. Humanity dwells in darkness, but there, barely visible on the horizon, light breaks on a dark world. Rays of shining light shine through the mists. The birds of the air and the fish of the sea rejoice. Plants and animals and color and life all come together in a joyous symphony. For, 

[T]he Word became flesh and dwelt among us

The Word opens His mouth. He speaks with the cry of an infant. The Word becomes flesh. Light at long last is brought into the world. Holy infant, so tender and mild. The Lord of all snuggles with His mother. The voice that spoke creation into existence cries for food and comfort. God Most High. Infant most lowly. Wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. The sun shines through the stable. A perfect little halo surrounds his tiny face. The light has come. 

The little baby Jesus reveals God to a world that has forgotten Him. God meets His people face to face. And that face is the face of an infant. Mary is the first to see the face of God. She nestles her Creator in her arms and rocks Him to sleep. She feeds the little baby Jesus. With the tender care of a mother, she cleans Him. Mary changes God. All the little mundane acts of parenthood. Cleaning spit up. Waking at every hour of the night to feed and comfort the little One. Watching God’s tiny face as His eyes close and He drifts off to sleep. God the Son slumbers peacefully in His mother’s arms. 

Up until now, all people have been born under sin, born under the law of Moses. But now, this little baby has been born without sin. He has been born under the law, but not under the sin of Adam. For Adam is not the baby’s father. God is. His birth was holy. This Son of God was born of woman. He has the birthright. He is the firstborn – of all creation. Jesus was there before the first moments where God spoke “Let there be.” He alone is the Son of God. 

But now, that Son of God is a Son of a woman. God is man. The Word became flesh. Now you too, can share in that birth. Jesus gives His birthright to you in baptism. When you are washed in that font in the Name of the Lord, you become a child of God. 

To all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

The second birth of baptism is not won by your blood, sweat and tears. It certainly isn’t won by the desire of your flesh. It isn’t won by the desire of your father either. It’s given by God. God gives you the gift of adoption into an eternal family.       by the water and the Word. 

In baptism, God wraps His fatherly arms around you in a loving embrace. God watches you with tender loving care when you lay down to sleep. He guards you and protects you from all evil. He feeds you, providing you with all you need for this body and life. God is your heavenly Father. Jesus is your elder brother. You are welcomed into the family of God. 

And like any good family, we feast. At least, we will. There will be a wonderful feast in heaven. Food and drink as far as the eye can see. Friends, neighbors, loved ones will all gather together like it’s Christmas dinner. There, us younger siblings will be able to finally meet our Lord, for Jesus, the Word, the Light of the world, will be there. It will be a day of laughter and joy. And that day will never end. It will never descend into darkness, for the Light of the World will stand before us. Jesus, both God and man, united in one. 

One day, we will join in that feast with all the faithful. The marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which shall have no end. But until then, we have a foretaste of that feast. For the Word became flesh and blood and He gives that flesh and blood to you on this altar. Like baptism, God unites something physical with His Word. Here, bread and wine are united with the Word. With the Word, they become the Word’s flesh and blood.

Here, Jesus gives you the salvation He won. Here, Jesus gives you His body and His blood to eat and to drink. Here, Jesus unites Himself to you. As you eat His body and drink His blood, Christ dwells within you. He gives you Himself to nourish and strengthen you. Here, He gives you a foretaste of the feast to come. 

The babe of Bethlehem would grow. Jesus grows in wisdom and in stature. At first, He learns to crawl. He starts to babble, learning to talk from His mom and stepdad. Soon, He learns to walk, then to run. Jesus the infant becomes Jesus the boy. But the boy grew up and became a man. At thirty years old, He walked through Jerusalem’s streets, preaching and teaching and healing. Eventually, His road would take Him to the cross, where He would give Himself for the sins of the world. He would rise victorious three days later. 

But that’s for later. Right now, consider God as a baby. His soft cheeks. His joyful laugh. His tiny, unscarred hands. Mary, rocking her Son. The creator of all things finally goes to sleep. Softly, Mary lies down in her bed. Staring at an infant in a manger. Little Jesus. Word become flesh. With her eyes fixed on the infant face of God, Mary drifts off to sleep, the peace of God in her heart.