From the Pulpit

Posted on January 7, 2024 by pastorkevinjud

Arise, Shine, Your Light Has Come

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Epiphany (Observed) 2023
January 7, 2023
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:1-12, Matthew 2:1-12

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

Are people by nature, good or evil? Are folks naturally selfless, or selfish? What about you?

We would like to believe that if we were left alone to live together everything would be fine. We would like to believe that people are, by nature, good, and that people would naturally share with each other, help each other, and love each other.

This is some of the foundation behind the ideas of communism. What a wonderful place this world would be if everyone worked together for the common good. Each person contributes according to their ability and everyone shares equally in the fruits of the labor; a worker’s paradise.

But there is a flaw in the system. Communist governments have to maintain brutal control over the people and ruthlessly squash any dissent. It turns out that collective farms and factories do not produce as much as individually owned farms and factories. What is the problem?

Children sometimes fantasize about how great it would be if kids ran everything; families, schools and government. Everything would all be better if there were no adults around with their stupid rules and discipline. William Golding wrote a book about this, it’s called “Lord of the Flies.” For those who haven’t read it yet, Golding portrays self-government among British school boys. It does not go well.

We want freedom to just do what we want to do. But is that really a good idea? What would the world look like if you just did what you wanted? I don’t want to get up and go to school. I don’t want to brush my teeth. I am going to drive as fast as I want. I want money and you have some, so I will take it. I don’t want to be tied down to one woman. I don’t want to take care of my kids. I just want to get drunk and forget about life. I want… I want…

What would your life be like if you simply let your desires rule? You can see what happens because there are plenty of examples all around you. You see the disastrous consequences. You see how terrible this is in your own life and in the lives of those around you. You see the destruction of families. You see people self-destruct as they ignore all the warnings. You watch lives fall apart because of selfishness.

You really, really want to believe that people are, by nature, good, but you know this is not true. You just confessed that youare… by nature…sinful and unclean.

Your heart is darkened by the sin of selfishness from which flows all other sins and this is not just you, it is a universal problem. It is a selfish world, and a selfish world is a dark world and this is the world you live in. This is the world into which Jesus arrives as that baby born in Bethlehem. Jesus, the Light, comes into a dark, selfish world and this is the Good News for all eternity. “Arise, shine, for your light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” Jesus is the light of the world. He comes to bring the Good News of the Reign of Heaven. He is the light that illuminates the darkness. He is the glory of the Lord and yet it is a hidden light, a hidden glory. The baby Jesus is the light of the world and yet veiled in flesh the Godhead see. Peter, James and John see the glory of God burst through only for a moment on the Mount of Transfiguration, otherwise the Light, hidden as it is in the body of Jesus, needs to be revealed. Just as the light was hidden in the flesh of baby Jesus, the light is now hidden in the Word of God, hidden in the waters of Baptism, hidden in the bread and wine of Holy Communion. The light is here with us, but it is hidden for now and needs to be revealed.

The light is revealed to the shepherds in the field by one angel and then by an army of angels. The light is revealed to the Magi from the east by a star guiding them to the child. The Magi come seeking the one born king of the Jews. The star reveals the Light of the world to these unlikely people from the east who journey to find and worship the newborn king.

But even with the bright star in the sky showing the way to the Light, the inky darkness of selfish sin hovers about. Herod tries to use the Magi to find the Christ so he can kill the newborn King. Herod wants to snuff out the Light because he fears that the Light will impinge on his own power. There is power in darkness and dark power brings increasing evil.

We look at Herod and see him as a notorious villain for wanting to snuff out the Light; but Herod is not unique. “The light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.” People still want to snuff out the light of Christ because they worry that the Light will reduce their own power, their autonomy; their control, their selfish pursuit of doing what they want to do, not caring about others.

The darkness hates the light and tries to snuff it out by forbidding people to reveal the Light to others. For 2,000 years and still today, Christians are imprisoned and beaten and executed for being the light of Christ. In North Korea you can be executed for possessing a Bible and your family will be thrown in prison. The darkness hates the light.

The darkness denies that the Light has come into the world. The darkness pretends that the Light is a tamer, more palatable, less offensive light that plays well with the darkness. But true light will not mix with darkness.

Darkness distracts you so you ignore the Light. Darkness wants you to not hear about the Light, not read about the Light, not speak about the Light, not pray to the Light, not gather to worship the Light. Darkness wants you to get so busy with things of this world that you just ignore the Light. The darkness goes after individuals to get them to reject the light because the darkness cannot extinguish the Light of the world.

As Herod found out, even as his sword dripped with the blood of Bethlehem’s baby boys, the Light cannot be overcome. The Light has come into the world and the revelation of this Light, the Epiphany of the Light, the understanding of the Light, continues even to this day as news of the light of Christ is proclaimed in this dark world from pulpits and lecterns and dinner tables and bedside talks with children. The Light is here. At the temple, Simeon calls Jesus, “A light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”

Let the Light shine. This is the mission of the Church. We proclaim the truth of the Light. We announce the Good News; Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. We baptize and teach. We forgive sins and celebrate the Lord’s Supper. The Church shines forth the Light that shines for all people. In this Light, sin and guilt disappear, washed away by the love of Christ. In this Light you live in love and forgiveness.

The Light comes into the world, is swaddled, and laid in a manger in Bethlehem. The Light escapes Herod’s sword by fleeing to Egypt. On a dark Friday, thirty three years later, outside the walls of Jerusalem, it looks like the darkness will finally smother the light. From the cross, the Light, declares, “It is finished,” and the life goes out from His eyes. Life is gone from the Light and it appears that darkness has won. The Light has died, but the Light rises from the dead and continues to shine forth forever. Darkness will never overcome the light.

You still live in a dark, selfish world. People are, by nature, evil. By nature, you are selfish and dark, but you have been rescued from the darkness. Colossians 1:13 (ESV) 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son…” You have been born again in water and the Spirit just as you got to witness here this morning with the baptism of our little brother Everett.

And just like Everett, you have received Christ who is the light of the world. You are a child of light in Jesus Christ. Isaiah 60:1 (ESV) 1 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. Amen.

Posted on December 25, 2023 by pastorkevinjud

No Detour Ahead

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No Detour Ahead!

Vicar Matthew Kinne

Bible Readings: John 1:1-18; Hebrews 1:1-12; Isaiah 52:7–10

Most of my family is from Wisconsin. Up there we have a saying that there are only two seasons throughout the year. There is winter and then there is road construction season. It is quite frustrating when you are traveling to see friends or family and you come upon that unwanted sign saying, “Road Closed Ahead”. As much as the sign also says, “Follow Detour”, there is an unwanted, unsettling anxiety that builds up in every driver. What if the detour is not marked properly and I miss a turn? What if the detour takes me in the opposite direction of my destination? What if the detour adds over an hour of traveling and I do not get to my family Christmas reunion in time for Mom’s famous banana bread?

Detours can be frustrating, but they can also be necessary. Without planned detours, defects in the road cannot be avoided. Without proper signs, no one would know the dangers that lie ahead. Without proper instruction, no one would know how to turn around and follow the better path. Looking at it this way, detours can have a more promising outcome that outweighs their annoyances.

If a regular road closing seems annoying, imagine what patience it would require in order to travel a detour that takes many generations to get back on the course of God redeeming His people. For all the people in the Old Testament waiting for the Messiah to come, it probably seemed like God took many long and agonizing detours. Adam and Eve never saw the Messiah promised when God cursed the serpent in the garden. Genesis 3:15 (ESV) “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” All their descendants died in the great flood except for Noah and his family. Abraham never saw how many descendants he would have through Isaac, but as we can see in the Old Testament history of the children of Israel, God saves those from the line of Abraham repeatedly all the way down to Mary and Joseph. God saves Israel from the bondage in Egypt, brings them through the Red Sea waters, saves them from the hunger and thirst of living in the wilderness for forty years, and finally brings them to the promised land. God continued to guide His people even though they put their trust in earthly kings. After Babylon takes over Israel and spreads its citizens throughout the ancient world, God continues to send prophets to pave the way of the Lord.

The Old Testament tells of a long and twisted and tiresome road from Eden to the manger in Bethlehem. We hear about how God had to make so many detours because of man’s sin. Yet God made sure every detour led to the Christ child that first Christmas morning. He made sure that His promises were kept and that His plan to save all mankind would come into fruition.

Before Adam and Eve’s fall into sin there was only one straight path from God to His creation. Because sin entered our world, the pride of man made everyone blind to the truth that we need God’s grace to live. Sin cut off that narrow path to the Father, thus condemning everyone to a worthless life without God. Because this disease of imperfection is handed off from parents to children, the history of sin continues to repeat itself. That is, it continues to repeat until God intervenes by sending a baby in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.

Since God is love, He has compassion on His creation. God establishes a way in which His children will know Him. He sent messengers, the prophets, to prepare the way of the Messiah. God sent these watchmen in the hopes that His people would hear His voice and follow it. But instead of waiting for Christ’s birth they follow the paths of the world and kill the prophets. If they did not honor the prophets, what will they do to God’s Son?

Today we celebrate Christmas, the incarnation of the Son of God. John 1:14 (ESV) “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” This is the end of the detour! The Messiah has come! But the world does not listen to the warnings. They do not heed the signs. The world turns off the straight path to the Lord and seeks the wrong destination. Now it is up to God to reprogram everyone’s GPS to the correct destination. The Holy Spirit shows us the way. And what is that destination? It is the glory of Christ on the cross where He takes away the sin of the world. This cross is where He shines in our darkness so that we can also become Children of the Light.

Since God is love, He has compassion on His creation. God establishes a way in which His children will know Him. He sent messengers, the prophets, to prepare the way of the Messiah.

John the Baptist was the last sign on the detour pointing directly at this destination. He proclaimed the words of Isaiah saying, “prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God”. Since Israel was lost in their sinfulness, John taught repentance and baptism so that the nation of Israel was ready for the Kingdom of God. This kingdom was found in no other place but the body of Jesus Christ. God’s kingdom is not of this world, but it entered our world for our benefit.

The Word of God becomes flesh and dwells among us. He knows our world. He understands our pain, our frustration, and even temptations. But unlike all men born in sin, this Jesus is conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. He receives His flesh through Mary, but He receives His perfection by His divine nature as God. Therefore, He never sins once. He never gives into the detours and temptations of sin. His path is clear!

This Man was sent to start a new path, one that brings the whole world back to its Creator. This path was to fulfill all the words of the prophets in the Old Testament. He lived a perfect life. He healed the sick and the dying. He preached the ways of God in the temple and synagogues. But ultimately, He completed the covenant given to Abraham and fulfilled the promise made to Adam and Eve in the garden by shedding His blood in exchange for their sin and the sin of all their children.

But the path does not end there. He did die, but He did not stay dead. He is God. He was with the Father and the Holy Spirit before creation. Jesus is everlasting. Therefore, death cannot hold its grip on Him. He is the God of the living, and He gives everlasting life to you! He gives you His righteous life in your Baptism. In this Baptism, you are born of the Holy Spirit. This is the same person, the Holy Spirit who put life in Mary’s womb, who gives birth to new life in you in the baptismal font. This way before the Father in heaven, you are covered by Jesus’ righteousness. The sin you received from your parents has no effect on your eternal salvation. Jesus took the effects of death on Himself!

This new path we are walking is the path of the Baptized. Jesus leads us through this desert of a sinful world by His pillar of light. We are children of the light and need to comprehend that there is no detour ahead outside of Christ. Avoid the detour of thinking your good works will save you. Avoid the detour that because God will always forgive you, that you can keep on living in sin. These are deviations from the true path! Christ is the path and establishes where you can find Him. That is, you can find Him where sound teaching of the Word of God is preached and where His body and blood are offered to you for the continuous repentance and forgiveness of the many detours you take away from His light.

Christ is the straight and narrow path to the Father. He gives us eternal life in exchange for our detours from Him. He found us while we were lost. Through centuries of faithfulness and unfaithfulness God showed His frustrations by refining His people in the Old Testament by various trials. He even puts us to the test as a people who fall into the trap of sin, yet He locates us and turns us back in His direction. He shows us His path because He loves us and wants us to be allowed into His family reunion. When He comes back to be the judge, He will separate the evil doers—those who did not follow the straight path—from His children who were led by His light. He will again establish a new path, one that we will travel together for all eternity in the heavenly glory of our Father. We will never again be lost because we will always be with Him. His path is always straight and has no detours. He gives us the light that the world could never give, and we find that light in the newborn child, Jesus Christ. Amen!

Posted on December 25, 2023 by pastorkevinjud

Baby Jesus is Not Safe Jesus

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Christmas Eve 2023
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
December 24, 2023

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 little town is just bursting at the seams with all the visitors from out of town. Normally families need to plan for a big get together, but this huge family reunion is ordered by Caesar Augustus in Rome. Everyone must go to the place of their ancestry. All the descendants of King David are back in Bethlehem to be registered by the Romans. No one thinks registering is a good idea, but it is not wise to go against the Romans. And it will be nice to have generations of David’s family gathered together for a time.

Over the years, traditions have developed that Jesus was born in a stable because there was no room in the inn due to an evil innkeeper. Luke 2:7 (ESV) 7 And [Mary] gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”

The word for “inn” here, however, more likely means “guest room” and that Jesus was born in the family area at a relative’s house in Bethlehem and was laid in a manger where animals were brought in at night for safekeeping.

Imagine you are one of the relatives staying in the same house and witnessing all that is taking place. People keep arriving for the registration. The upper guest room is full and now the lower family area is packed. One couple, your cousin Joseph and his wife Mary, arrived from Nazareth 90 miles north. Mary is very pregnant and about to give birth. There will not be much privacy, but at least there will be plenty of help.

The time comes for Mary to give birth and everything goes as smoothly as giving birth can go. The baby is swaddled in strips of cloth and now a bed must be found. Since the guest room is full, one of the stone mangers is cleaned out and fresh straw is put in and the baby is laid on the straw to sleep. What a joyous event. Mary gives birth to her first born son and Joseph’s whole family is there to celebrate.

That evening, as things are winding down and people are starting to get ready for bed, there is a knock at the door. Who is this? Are we expecting more family? There really isn’t any more room, but something will be figured out. When the door is opened it is not family traveling from out of town, instead local shepherds are standing at the door. How strange. What are these guys doing here?

The shepherd in front says, “We have been all over town searching for the Savior, Christ the Lord. Is there a baby here wrapped up in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger?” An unnerving hush falls over everyone in the house. Whoa…..how did they know that?

The father of the house responds, “Yes, indeed, there is a baby here as you describe, but how could you possibly have known?”

“An angel appeared to us tonight in the field, glowing with the glory of God, scaring us half to death, and the angel said, “Luke 2:10–12 (ESV) 10 … “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” “The angels told us, and it is true. Here He is, the Savior; Christ the Lord.”

Mary and Joseph go over to talk to the shepherds by the door. Just then the baby wakes up and starts to fuss. You go over and pick Him up to comfort Him amidst all the excitement. You hold the baby Jesus in your arms and gently rock Him and try to quiet Him, “shhhh, shhhh, shhhh,” as Mary brings the shepherds over to see the baby.

Christmas is a hugely popular holiday for people from many different backgrounds. It is a fascinating phenomenon because Christmas is the celebration of the incarnation of God. We rejoice at God taking on human flesh and being born in Bethlehem. We celebrate the Son of God becoming Immanuel; God with us.

Non-Christians celebrate Christmas while rejecting Christ. A lot of folks who claim to be Christian but reject the teachings of Christianity, still love Christmas. There are many who get really offended by Jesus’ teachings, but then celebrate His birth.

I wonder if maybe folks think that “Christmas Jesus” is “safe Jesus.” A Jesus you can hold in your arms and shush; a Jesus who is not telling you to love your enemy, not telling you to forgive others, not warning you about lust and anger and greed, not teaching you about sin and forgiveness, not calling you to repent and take up your cross and follow Him, not telling you that He has to die for your sins. Christmas Jesus is just lying there, helpless, seemingly under your control. Baby Jesus seems like a safe Jesus.

For so many, Christmas has been reduced to nothing more than a sentimental holiday all about colored lights and trees and food and family and ugly sweaters and gifts and memories of Christmas’s past. It is a sentimental Christmas with a safe Jesus lying silently in the nativity scene not making anyone uncomfortable.

Now, baby Jesus is small, but he is not safe. His birth is announced by an army of angels and a star appears in the heavens to mark His arrival. From His infancy He brings division and death as the devil tries to kill Him. As C.S. Lewis says of Aslan the Lion, in the The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Jesus is not safe, but He is good.

Jesus is not safe. He is the Savior. The little Lamb of God lying in a manger has come to defeat the devil by being the sacrifice for the sin of the world. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV) 21 For our sake [God] made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

You cannot shush Jesus because He is God and you are not. He is Lord and you are His servant. In the battle against the devil, the world and your own sinful nature, Jesus is in charge and yet He comes to serve you and save you and lay down His life for you. Jesus is the light who takes into Himself the darkness of your sin and pays the price on the cross. Afterwards, His Body is swaddled in cloth and laid on a stone slab. A safe Jesus would have stayed dead, but Jesus is not safe. He rises from the dead on the third day to conquer death forever. And because Jesus rose from the dead, you will rise from the dead. Thank God, Jesus is not safe.

The light of Christ comes into the world in the little town of Bethlehem. The light spreads from the manger in Bethlehem to those in the house and the shepherds and the magi, to Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria and Galilee and to the surrounding nations and out to the farthest reaches of the world. The light spreads from one person to another to another, generation after generation. The light of Christ has been on the move, spreading person to person for 2,000 years. The saving light of Christ has come to you.

The Advent wreath is all lit up tonight. The four candles for each of the Sundays of Advent and now the center Christ candle also. The Christ candle represents the light of Christ which comes into the world as the baby in Bethlehem. As we near the end of the service tonight I will take light from the Christ candle and share it with everyone here. As you receive the light, remember you are baptized. At your baptism you received Christ who is the light of the world. As we share the light from the Christ candle, picture the light of Jesus bringing light in the darkness throughout the centuries as it spreads all around the world.

Tonight you celebrate Christ’s arrival in Bethlehem. Tonight you rejoice in Jesus coming to be “God with you” to save you from your sins. Tonight you celebrate the birth of the Savior who is not safe, but is good. Merry Christmas! Amen.

Posted on December 24, 2023 by pastorkevinjud

Jesus Becomes Immanuel — God with Us

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Advent 4 2023
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
December 24, 2023
2 Samuel 7:1–11, 16, Romans 16:25–27, Luke 1:26–38

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It is December 24th. It is the morning of the eve of the celebration of the birth of our Lord. Tomorrow morning we will have a communion service to remember Jesus’ birth, the Christ Mass. This afternoon and evening and tomorrow morning we will be in Bethlehem for the birth of the Savior. This morning, for the 4th Sunday in Advent, we are going back 9 months and traveling 90 miles north to Nazareth in Galilee. Today we go to Nazareth to meet Mary for the first time.

Mary is likely a teenage girl up in the hills in the small town of Nazareth with maybe 400 or so inhabitants. Everyone knows everyone else and nothing gets past the busybodies in town. When the angel visits, it seems that Mary is alone, maybe at home, maybe outside working, maybe drawing water at the well, we are not sure. One tradition has it that Mary was at home and that home is now inside the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth. There have been many churches built and destroyed over Mary’s small house from the time of Emperor Constantine in the 4th Century until the construction of the current church in 1954. The Bible is unique among religious books because you can actually visit the places you learn about in the Bible because these things really happened.

Mary is a teenager engaged to be married to Joseph. From all we can tell, she is a nobody from a nowhere little town until God shows Mary favor and sends the Angel Gabriel to bring Mary amazing news. Gabriel’s name means, “God is my strength.” He brings news from the throne of heaven … Luke 1:28 (ESV) 28 …“Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”

Mary is greatly troubled. What is going on? What is this heavenly being doing talking to lowly little me and calling me, “O favored one?” Why is Mary favored? She has done nothing important. She is not famous. She is just a regular young lady from Nazareth. Why is the Lord favoring the humble estate of Mary? What does this mean?

Gabriel continues, Luke 1:30–33 (ESV) 30 …“Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

Conceive? Bear a son? Call him Jesus? The throne of David? Reign forever? Mary’s head is swimming with all this information. What can this all possibly mean? Mary goes back to the first part of what the angel told her. “You will conceive in your womb and bear a son.” Mary is young, but she knows where babies come from and this is impossible.

Luke 1:34 (ESV) 34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

Luke 1:35–37 (ESV) 35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Genesis 1:1–3 (ESV) 1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.”

In the beginning the Spirit hovered over the creation. At the conception of Jesus the Spirit hovers over Mary and Word of God brings about new life in Mary’s womb. The Lord speaks through His messenger Gabriel and Jesus takes on human flesh as a tiny new life inside Mary. The Lord’s Word is powerful; it makes things happen.

In a world that is awash with words it can feel like words are not very valuable; not very powerful, but today we see the power of God’s Word.

In the beginning God spoke — and the world was created. Jesus takes on human flesh through the Word of God. This morning, the Lord’s Words are still powerful as He declares to you that all your sin is forgiven. His Word is powerful; bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus because Jesus says, this is my body, this is my blood.

God’s Word declares you to be His child in the water and Word of Holy Baptism, “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” The Word of God saves you in the Words of forgiveness, the water and the Word of baptism and the Word with the bread and wine bringing the Body and Blood of Jesus. God’s Word is powerful. It makes things happen.

The angel Gabriel has never come to visit me that I know of, and it seems that I would know if he had. None of you have said the angel Gabriel has come to you. But you have encountered many messengers of God bringing to you the Word of God. Many messengers have told you that you are favored by God and the Lord is with you.

In a world that is awash with words it can feel like words are not very valuable; not very powerful, but today we see the power of God’s Word.

Because Mary carried the Lord Jesus in her womb and gave birth to the Savior who lived and died and rose from the dead, you now carry Jesus in your heart. You have the power of the Holy Spirit in your inner being, Ephesians 3:17–19 (ESV) 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. Jesus dwells in your heart. Jesus died for you and rose from the dead for you. You are favored by God. Living in this era after Jesus ascended into heaven and waiting for Jesus to return on the last day, you know more about Jesus and what He has done than Mary herself knew. Through His Word the Lord has saved you. You may not have heard from an angel directly, but God speaks to you through His messengers and in the words of the Bible.

In this life there are a lot of other religious options; lots of various people and ideas to follow. There seems to be a continuous string of spiritual fads that all promise fulfillment. There are many options, but you know there is no substitute for Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary. When others are abandoning the truth of God to follow after the lies of the devil, the world and their own sinful flesh, and the Lord looks to see if you are going to follow them, you can say in the words of St. Peter, John 6:68–69 (ESV) 68 …“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” The Word of God is powerful, it makes things happen.

Blessed are you, O favored one. The Lord is with you. Amen.

Posted on December 17, 2023 by pastorkevinjud

Check your blindspot

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Advent 3, 2023
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
December 17, 2023
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, John 1:6-8, 19-28

Our Gospel reading today is some selections from the beginning of the Gospel of John, but lifted out of its context I think it loses some of its meaning. Just before our reading we hear, John 1:1–5 (ESV) 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 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.

Jesus is the Word. Jesus is the life. Jesus is the light. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

There is a cosmic battle of darkness against light that has been going on for thousands of year. The darkness does all it can to snuff out the light, but the darkness cannot win against the light. Light drives away darkness, but so many do not understand the light so God has a plan to prepare the world for the arrival of the light.

John 1:6–8 (ESV) 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.

John the Baptist is sent by God to be a witness to the light. You have heard this passage before, it sounds familiar, nothing really new here, but there is something a little off about this being a witness to the light. Why would you need to tell people about light? If it is dark and you light a candle, everyone can see the light of the candle. You do not have to tell anyone about light…unless…unless they are blind. A blind person would not know that you lit a candle in the darkness because they are always in the darkness. For a blind person you would have to tell them about the light.

The people of Jesus’ time are spiritually blind. They need someone to tell them about who Jesus is. Jesus is the light of the world, but Jesus does not glow in the dark or send forth beams like a searchlight. He is the light, but He looks like an ordinary man. John 1:10-11 (ESV) 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.”

John is sent to prepare the way for Jesus. He is sent by God to be the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord.’” John is letting them know about the light, which is Christ, and is fulfilling Isaiah 9:2 (ESV) 2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.”

John is the witness and confirms that Jesus is the Son of God. John 1:29–34 (ESV) 29 The next day [John] saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” John is sent to prepare spiritually blind people for Jesus’ arrival.

You are not spiritually blind, you are a follower of the light. Now, you were born spiritually blind, dead and an enemy of God but now you are a baptized child of God. At your baptism you were given a lighted candle to show that you have received Christ…who is the light of the world. Live always by the light of Christ.

You know Jesus is the light. You know He is God in flesh who died for your sins and rose from the dead to conquer death. Matthew 5:14–16 (ESV) 14 “You are the light of the world. … 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 are the light of the world, you know Christ is the light, but you still have blind spots.

Some of the younger folks may not know this, but when driving there are blind spots on the sides of your car. A vehicle passing from behind goes into the blind spot when it disappears from your mirrors but is not yet visible beside you.

I learned to drive in 1982 which does not seem so long ago, but the kids assure me that it is. Back then, in the 1900s, cars had amazing electronic technology like an AM/FM radio, maybe a cassette player if you were lucky. When I learned to drive, our family had a 1973 Ford Ranch Wagon and a 1980 Chevy Citation 4 speed. Somehow, neither of these cars made the cut to be classics.

When I learned to drive these cars, I was taught to always check the blind spots when changing lanes by turning my head and looking out the window. So far this technique has served me well.

Jeannette’s new truck has special blind spot mirrors that allow you to see cars on both sides in the blind spot, and it has blind spot warning lights on the mirrors if a car is in the blind spot, and an alarm sounds if there is a car in the blind spot and you put your blinker on to change lanes. I still turn my head and look out the window to make sure.

Spiritually, we all have blind spots. You know Jesus is the light of the world, but there is great temptation to let some areas of your life remain in the darkness. Like when you let anger fester and grow and you do not forgive the way that you have been forgiven. You hide your anger and lack of forgiveness in the darkness of your blind spot, but it does not go away. It is there, waiting to wreck you.

Or your blind spot of what you do online when you sink into the dark side of the web to indulge your lusts. Or your overindulgence in alcohol. Or your lack of generosity as your resources increase but your gifts do not. Or your prideful boasting that causes you to insist that you are right. Or your disobeying of your parents. Or your cheating at school.

Today we hear about John the Baptist being witness to the light. You know Christ is the light of the world, but you still need to check the blind spots of your life and repent of those stubborn, hidden sins.

There is the blind spot this time of year of the expectation of finding fulfillment and joy in the decorations and presents and visits with family and having shattered expectations crowd out the true joy of the season found in the newborn Lord in Bethlehem.

There is the blind spot of looking at your fairly together life and comparing yourself to others who look like they are falling apart and thinking that you are a better person because of who you are and what you have done.

What is lurking in your blind spot?

Today we hear about John the Baptist being witness to the light. You know Christ is the light of the world, but you still need to check the blind spots of your life and repent of those stubborn, hidden sins.

You need the light of Christ. John 8:12 (ESV) 12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” And, Psalm 119:105 (ESV) 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

To know which way to go you stay in the Word of God and you stay active at church so you can keep checking the blind spot and making sure there is nothing lurking there trying to wreck you on your journey along the straight and narrow path to eternity. Keep checking your blind spot and repent and believe the Good News that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world…who takes away your sin.

For a long time in America it seems that we talked a lot about having a personal relationship with Jesus. This may have been well-intentioned to get people to turn away from the idea that they are saved because they show up at church a minimum number of times, or their names are on the church roster and they have put their hope for salvation in membership rather than in Jesus. While you do not want to put your trust in membership, the problem with talking about a personal relationship with Jesus is that it can sound like it is a good idea to be a lone ranger Christian, a do-it-yourself Christian setting up your own system of belief that fits you. It can lead you to creating a Jesus on your own terms; your own personal Jesus. A Jesus that says, “Have it your way.”

You never want to rely on church membership for your salvation but you do need to be a part of the church so you receive ongoing witness to the light of the world. You receive ongoing teaching as to the vital questions of, “who is Jesus?” and “what did He do?” You are admonished to check your blind spots and not let hidden sins fester and grow. Together, you encourage each other to beware of the traps of the devil, the world and your own sinful flesh.

Together, you follow Jesus. You do not walk in the darkness, you have the light of Christ. Keep going on the straight and narrow and keep checking your blind spots so nothing wrecks you on your way. John 1:5 (ESV) 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” You walk in the light of Christ… you are the light of the world. Amen

Posted on December 10, 2023 by pastorkevinjud

Prepare for the Lord

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Advent 2 2023
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
December 10, 2023
Isaiah 40:1-11, 2 Peter 3:8-14, Mark 1:1-8

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

Before the judge enters his courtroom the bailiff, loudly, announces his arrival, “All rise. The Common Pleas Court of Butler County Ohio is now in session, the honorable Michael Oster Jr. presiding.” And everyone stands until the judge tells them to be seated. To be prepared for the judge is to rise.

In a scene from the Luther movie, the monk Martin Luther is visiting Rome and an announcement is made that Pope Julius II is riding down the street. Everyone kneels in preparation as the Pope rides by dressed in the golden armor of a knight.

In the Navy, if a senior officer is entering a room the first one to notice announces, “Attention on deck,” and everyone stands and salutes.

People need to be prepared when an important person arrives.

In our Gospel reading today John the Baptist is preparing the people for the arrival of the long promised Messiah, the Christ. God is arriving. God is arriving clothed in flesh to do a great work. The Christ’s arrival has been foretold in scripture, and not only His arrival, but but also the arrival of the one to prepare His way.

Mark 1:2–3 (ESV) 2 … “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, 3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’ ”

John the Baptist is God’s messenger preparing the way. For context, it is a dark time for the people of Israel. The 10 northern tribes were taken into exile in 722 BC by the Assyrians, never to return. The Southern Tribes are defeated by the Babylonians in 589 BC and many of them are taken into exile. The Jews begin to return to Judea in 538 BC and the rebuilt temple is finished in 516 BC. Israel is under the control of the Persians who defeated the Babylonians, and then under control of the Greeks who defeat the Persians in 332. The Jews rebel in 164 BC under Judas Maccabeus after the temple is desecrated by the Greeks sacrificing pigs on the altar to Zeus. The Jewish rebellion is successful and they retake Jerusalem. Hanukkah is established when one day of oil lasts eight days in the temple lights. The Roman Empire then rises to power and Pompey the Great conquers Jerusalem in 63 BC. Julius Caesar appoints Antipater to be Proconsul of Judea and manage the financial affairs. Antipater’s son Herod, gets in good with the right Roman authorities and through many political moves the Roman Senate declares Herod to be King of the Jews around 36 BC. Herod the Great rules for 37 years and is known for his colossal building projects including rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. Herod is called king, but he answers to Caesar. At the beginning of John the Baptist’s ministry the Romans have ruled Israel for 67 years with two of Herod’s sons and a Roman Governor now in charge. When will the Jewish people be free? They have been through so much for so many centuries. The Messiah has been promised, but it has been so long. There have been false Christs. Judas the Galilean starts a revolt against Rome around 6 AD and many think that he is the Messiah, but he is not. Will the Messiah ever come? The last prophet to preach of the coming Messiah is Malachi 400 years earlier. Malachi 4:5 (ESV) 5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.” When will the Messiah arrive? It has been 400 years of silence from the Lord.

And then out in the desert down by the Jordan River there is a voice crying in the wilderness. The great and awesome day of the Lord is near. John the Baptist is the new Elijah preparing the people. How do the people prepare? John proclaims a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. To be ready for Jesus is to admit you are sinner who needs forgiveness and submit to receiving forgiveness in John’s baptism. Mark 1:5 (ESV) 5 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.” The Messiah is coming. And the one who is coming is so mighty that John is not worthy to stoop down and untie His sandals. Even though He does not look like it, John knows Jesus is God in human flesh. John is not worthy to even be near Him.

John is not worthy, but Jesus arrives in the very next verse to be baptized by John. Mark 1:10–11 (ESV) 10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

Jesus has promised to be here with you today to forgive you your sins. How did we announce His arrival? You rose and I announced, “In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit!” These are the words with which you were baptized and remind you that you are a baptized child of God as you begin worship. And then you knelt and acknowledged your status before God – you confessed that you are a sinner who is not worthy to be near to the Lord. And the Lord forgave you all your sins and is coming to you in Holy Communion.

Advent means arrival. During Advent we remember and celebrate Jesus’ threefold arrival. His arrival as the incarnate Son of God as a baby in Bethlehem, His coming each Sunday to you in His Body and Blood in Holy communion and His final coming on judgment day. Each week you prepare by remembering your baptism and confessing your sins and being forgiven. You prepare by rising for the reading of the Holy Gospel in honor of Christ. By preparing for Jesus’ arrival here each week you stay prepared for His third arrival when He comes again on the great and awesome day of the Lord.

It is an ongoing struggle. Your sinful, prideful self does not want to admit to being helpless to sin. You naturally want to believe you are good enough and you can do it yourself. By nature you want a do-it-yourself religion.

At John the Baptist’s time there were some who did not want to be baptized for the forgiveness of sins. There are many today who do not want to submit to baptism and confession. It is a difficult thing to admit that you are a sinner. It is tough to confess that you are doing something wrong and you need to stop. To admit you are a sinner is to acknowledge that you are not good enough, that you are in bondage to sin and you cannot free yourself. To admit you are a sinner is to admit helplessness and being helpless is not a good feeling. It means you are vulnerable.

Picture each of your sins as a link in a chain and that chain is wrapped around you and locked with a big padlock. You can do nothing to free yourself from this bondage to sin and guilt. Jesus is the key that unlocks the lock and the chains fall off. You are in bondage to sin and Jesus is your savior so you cry out in despair, “Save me!” And Jesus saves you. To admit helplessness is to know that you cannot do it yourself and to know, if you are going to be saved, you need a savior. It is to admit you are poor in spirit. It is to be brutally honest that you are by nature sinful and unclean.

It is an ongoing struggle. Your sinful, prideful self does not want to admit to being helpless to sin. You naturally want to believe you are good enough and you can do it yourself. By nature you want a do-it-yourself religion.

A wise Lutheran Theologian, Francis Pieper, wrote in the 1950’s, “[there are] but two essentially different religions: The religion of the Law, that is, the endeavor to reconcile God through man’s own works, and the religion of the Gospel, that is, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.” There is the religion of “do” and the religion of “done.”

The religion of “do” is your natural religion. It is the one that feels most comfortable. This is what makes the voice of one crying in the wilderness so radical. John calls for the people to repent — to turn away from sin and turn toward Jesus; to turn from a religion of “do” and receive the religion of “done.” Because it is such a natural fit, it is a great temptation for people and churches to give up on the religion of “done” and go back to the other religion of “what must I do?” The religion of “do” is a deception of the devil because you cannot do it.

The children of Israel went through the waters of the Jordan to enter the Promised Land after their exodus from Egypt. John the Baptist is having the people go into the waters of the Jordan to be forgiven and enter the Kingdom of Heaven; the reign and rule of God. In confession and absolution you return to your baptism to remember you are forgiven and are already under the reign of your Lord and Master, Jesus.

The Gospel of Mark is a compact, fast moving account of Jesus’ Gospel Ministry bringing the Good News. The first words are Mark 1:1 (ESV) 1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” Perhaps more literally, “The beginning of the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” Gospel means Good News. What is the Good News? “It is finished.” Jesus has paid the price for your sin. He has unlocked the chains of your sin and guilt and set you free to love God and love your neighbor because He first loved you.

Mark writes in a very straightforward, concise manner. As Jesus begins His ministry after His baptism and temptation, Mark records Jesus summing up Christianity in one sentence. Mark 1:15 (ESV) 15 … “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Amen.

Posted on December 3, 2023 by pastorkevinjud

Church is Boring. Keep on Guard. Stay Awake.

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Advent 1 2023
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
December 3, 2023
Isaiah 64:1-9, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, Mark 13:24-37

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

In 1968 there were dire predictions of a population bomb that would cause 100 – 200 million people to starve to death each year over the next 10 years.

In 1970 there was a prediction that pollution particle clouds would block out the sun and make the air unbreathable by the mid-1980s.

Also in 1970 it was predicted that 75% of all the earth’s species would die off by 1995.

In 1975 there were predictions of a global, catastrophic Ice Age coming by the year 2,000.

In the 1980s there were predictions of nuclear holocaust.

There have been numerous religious leaders over the years predicting the end of the world on a certain date. Jehovah’s Witnesses predicted the end in 1878, 1881, 1914, 1918, 1925, and 1975. December 21, 2012 according to a Mayan calendar. Sept. 6, 1994 according to Bible teacher Harold Camping and then May 21, 2011 and then October 21, 2011. The end came for Camping December 15, 2013.

Today we hear dire predictions of climate emergencies, financial meltdowns, all sorts of existential threats within the next 10 years and then the next 10 years, then the next.

After a while all the end times alarmism starts to lose its urgency and just gets lost in all the background noise of life; oh, it is just another nut job trying to scare the world.

And here we find ourselves this morning at the beginning of the advent season with another warning about the end times. Mark 13:32–37 (ESV) 32 “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. 35 Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— 36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”

It is easy for this warning about the last day to also get lost in all of the warnings about coming apocalyptic disasters. Is there anything that makes this warning different?

As end times warnings go, this one is actually pretty frustrating because one thing that this warning explicitly states is that no one knows when the time will come. This warning is different because it is not trying to predict when the end will come, only that the end is coming and you need to be ready. The other thing about this warning is that the source of the warning is reliable. Prior predictions made by this person have happened just as He said, so we can trust that this prediction is also reliable.

Three times Jesus said, Mark 8:31 (ESV) 31 … that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.” And it happened just as He said. Now He warns you… Mark 13:33 (ESV) 33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.” Jesus said it and you need to listen.

It is the last days for Jesus before His arrest and crucifixion and resurrection. He has been teaching in the temple and as He leaves the temple area with His disciples Jesus teaches about the coming destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. And indeed, the temple is destroyed by the Romans 40 years later in 70 AD.

After leaving the temple area they sit on the Mount of Olives overlooking the temple and Jesus teaches also about His return on the last day. The temple will be destroyed and the world will be destroyed. Stay ready. Our Gospel reading for today is Jesus’ warning about the last day. Be on guard, keep awake.

What does this mean? How do you stay on guard? How do you keep awake? How do you stay ready for Jesus to return? What do you need?

Our Epistle lesson today shows us the way. St. Paul writes to the church in Corinth. 1 Corinthians 1:4–9 (ESV) 4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

The church in Corinth is not lacking in any gift and what do they have? They have the grace of God given to them in Christ Jesus. You have the grace of God given to you in Christ Jesus. You are not lacking in any gift as you await the return of Christ on the Last Day. You, Christ’s Church on earth, have the grace of God and that is what you cling to in order to remain ready for Jesus’ return. In Christ, you are ready for Jesus’ return. Stay ready.

So, if you were the devil, what strategy would you use to separate a follower of Jesus from Jesus? How would you get someone to give up on the grace of God in Christ Jesus?

Perhaps you could sow division in the Church. Get the fellow believers in Jesus to fight amongst themselves and let it grow into hatred — and the more mundane the issue the better. Get them to be angry about the color of paint or carpet. Stir up trouble so that when the congregation gathers for worship there is a sense of hostility so everyone is thinking about that and not thinking about the grace of God.

Or, you could try to lead believers away from Jesus by appealing to their desire to be seen as wise in the eyes of the world. Get them to admire and listen to those who believe the Bible is nothing but an old book written by men trying to oppress others. “How can anyone be so stupid as to believe in the Bible and God and in heaven and hell and a judgement day? Everyone knows that when you die that is it. Besides, how can someone as smart as you actually believe that God would sacrifice His own Son on a cross in excruciating agony? That is divine child abuse. It is so bloody and awful. How can you believe in a God like that? That is utter foolishness. How can you believe in a God that does things that you don’t understand?”

There is the devil’s tried and true method of pulling sheep away from their shepherd. Just get them to indulge in sexual immorality. It is too easy to let sexual immorality become your lifestyle and when the choice is the immorality or Jesus… so many will choose immorality and give up on Jesus.

You might try the devil’s strategy of getting individuals and churches to move Jesus out of top priority and make Him more of an afterthought. Get something else, anything else, to become more important than Jesus. In churches this is very effective especially when the new focus is something where you are serving others such as feeding the poor, providing low income housing, or medical care. It is good to serve others but not if it becomes more important than Jesus.

The devil has a lot of strategies to separate people from Jesus, but in this case of waiting for Jesus’ return I think the most insidious and perhaps most effective way to get people to give up on Jesus over the long term is by showing them how boring it is to be a Christian. Church is boring. The Bible is boring. Waiting for Jesus to return is boring; just the same thing over and over.

It is a common excuse as to why people don’t attend worship. Church is boring and to be boring might be the worst sin you can commit in our age of constant entertainment and social media scrolling. Church is boring. There is some truth to this. Staying on guard is boring. As followers of Jesus you are instructed to stay ready and it is your duty to gather together to receive the gifts of forgiveness and return thanks each week. We do this over and over and over. It is what we do as Christians. And really, most of life is doing the same repetitive things over and over at home, at work, at school. Doing what you have been given to do as a parent, child, worker, employer, student, citizen is all pretty boring. Just so, being a follower of Jesus is not the promise of endless entertainment.

Perhaps, if we were not such boring people continually needing forgiveness of our sins, we could move on to something else, but as long as we are a gathering of poor, miserable sinners we need to keep doing what we have been given to do.

Congregations have tried to answer the objection that church is boring by trying to make worship more entertaining by trying to figure out what the people want. But what people want is a constantly changing target. It is a fool’s errand to try to determine what people think is entertaining this week. Worship is not supposed to be entertaining. It seals you as a child of God in the waters of Holy Baptism as we got to witness this morning with little David. Worship returns you to your baptism each week in confession and absolution. Worship delivers to you Jesus’ forgiveness in His words and in His Body and Blood. It brings to you the Word of God in readings and liturgy and hymns. It is Christ-centered and cross-focused to give you the grace of God through Christ Jesus. When the grace of God is delivered to you, worship is faithful and effective and meaningful but not entertaining.

Perhaps, if we were not such boring people continually needing forgiveness of our sins, we could move on to something else, but as long as we are a gathering of poor, miserable sinners we need to keep doing what we have been given to do.

In our Gospel reading today Jesus is on the Mount of Olives teaching His disciples about the destruction of the temple and His return on the Last Day. Six weeks later Jesus ascends into heaven from that same area. He promises to return one day in power and glory. He will return. Stay ready.

It is very difficult to wait not knowing how long you will need to wait, but that is what you have been given to do by the Lord Jesus Himself. Mark 13:33 (ESV) 33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.” It is difficult, but you have everything that you need during your time of waiting. You have the grace of God in Christ Jesus. Stay ready. Amen.

Posted on November 26, 2023November 26, 2023 by pastorkevinjud

Sheep and Goats

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The Sheep and the Goats
Vicar Matthew Kinne
11/26/2023
Texts for the week: Matthew 25:31-46; 1 Corinthians 15:20-28; Ezekiel 34:11-16; 20-24

For the past couple of weeks, we have been hearing our Lord teach His disciples by parables about the final day of judgment. The day and time of this event is unknown to us, even to Jesus Himself as He teaches in an earlier chapter of Matthew, “But concerning that day and hour, no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, not the Son of man, but the Father only…. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.”[1] But even though Jesus is unable to tell us when this apocalypse is going to occur, He can tell us what it will be like. We have learned, thus far, from the parable of the ten virgins that when the Bridegroom, who is our Lord, returns, there will be no time for those who are unprepared and living in sin to trim their lamps of faith, and be filled with the oil of the Holy Spirit to follow Him into the wedding feast. Likewise, we’ve also learned that a servant who hates the Master, again who is our Lord, will by all means, perish.

These parables sound terrible at first to the sinful ear. But for the Christian who is identified as the virgins who were prepared then brought into the wedding feast, and the servants that loved their master and were brought into the His eternal joy, these parables are not messages of sorrow and dread. Instead, they are Gospel messages because there is a separation from everything that causes man’s death from man’s eternal life. Jesus gives us these parables so that we can make the distinction of what it means to be on His right hand and His left, as He explains in our gospel reading today.

[Jesus says,] “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” [2]

Notice here, from our reading today, as well as the previous parables, that when Jesus teaches, He mentions those who are rewarded generously first. The first five virgins were prepared, the first two servants loved their master, and here the sheep are shown their reward first because they did the will of their Shepherd. These are the groups from our readings who are promised that they will inherit the earth (Mt.5:5), eternal life (Mt.19:29), and also the kingdom (Mt. 25:34).[3] This is by no mistake. The Gospel, which is an enriching and joyful message to us Christians, ends up being a terrifying message on the last day for those who were not prepared, who did not know love. They are the goats, who for the longest time, ignored their Shepherd. For them, the message of salvation is their message of torment and agony on the last day. They will be longing that they were not a goat, but a sheep in the joy of their Shepherd.

Think of this teaching from the Great Shepherd separating His flock as a scene from a courtroom.[4] When He declares the sheep as innocent and are rewarded the kingdom, the goats must be astonished. After all, didn’t Jesus come to save the whole world? Didn’t these so called “sheep” also engage in sinfulness during their lifetime? This would seem unfair to them. But just as our reading says, this kingdom was prepared for all of us “from the foundations of the world.”[5] God set up a plan for our salvation, even before He created the world and put us in it. He foresaw that mankind would despise the Father’s will. So, after the fall of our sinful parents, God established a way for mankind to be saved from the wretched sin he carries, from the evil world he lives in, and from death which is the final strife of the sinner. God sent His only Son into the world to be the perfect sacrifice we could never provide. God sent messengers, prophets, priests, and now pastors, to point all the sheep and the goats to the action of Perfect Lamb that sits on His throne of glory—the cross. Whoever looks to Him will be saved. But whoever does not, loses their life.

Unfortunately, the goats do not see Jesus as that perfect sacrifice and by that deny themselves salvation. They only see destruction and believe the unjust ways of the world are better than Christ’s kingdom. They are children of their father, Satan. In the end, justice is only sweet to the person who is declared not guilty. For these goats, who are on the Judge’s left hand, they will not see sweetness in their verdict. They will see everything that was not the will of the Father. They will be eternally hungry and thirsty; they will not be welcomed into any type of joy. They will be naked in their shame, alone in prison, eternally longing that they listened and followed the Gospel, but it will be too late for them to repent and be brought into the Lord’s right hand, the family of the Church.

This Gospel is simply put—Since Christ died and rose for you, your sins are forgiven, and you will also be resurrected from the dead. Since you are forgiven and part of the living, you are already part of His kingdom. You are living your eternal life right now. Since you are part of His kingdom and not living in death now, you have the ability to willingly feed the hungry, to give water to those who thirst, to clothe the naked, to welcome the stranger, to visit those who are in prison, and to tend to the sick, the dying, and the oppressed. For when people see God doing a good work in you and thus also through you, the message of salvation is spread out to all nations and encourages faith and baptism.

When the sheep in our reading asks, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visited you?”[6]they are greatly confused. Why is that? It is because, unlike the goats who boast about their good deeds and keep track of everything “good” they have done, as if saving up points to pay for their way into heaven, the work the sheep, is not their own. The sheep are merely vessels. Christ is the one who puts His Holy Spirit into you, and you become a vessel of Christ.

This way you can see that everyone is in need of saving. Everyone is in need of the Baptismal waters. Everyone is in need of that participation of the Church. The Church is where Christ says at the end of Matthew, that He will always be with us. That is where we commune together in common creed that we deserve what the goats will receive, but because of Christ, we are made into the sheep of His flock, and thus saved.

On that glorious day, Jesus will search for you among all the nations. He will seek you out and will bring you into His own land.

After Jesus teaches these things to His disciples, the next chapter in the Gospel of Matthew is the beginning of the Passion account of our Lord. It is here, in our Lord’s passion, before being led as the lamb to the slaughter on the cross, that He establishes the institution of His Holy Supper. This Supper, that began with His perfect body, continues to be present among His church today, and will continue into the eternal feast which has no end. It is at this supper He feeds His hungry and thirsty sheep that long for His second coming. It is a meal where you are no longer a stranger but are given the best seat at the table, His right hand. It is where He continues to clothe you with His righteousness. It is the meal by which the sick in faith can find a doctor and live. It is with His body and blood that He pays for your bail, breaking your shackles of death. His life was laid down for the sheep, and everyone will know Him on the last day because of His love for His sheep, His church. Amen.

[1] Matthew 24: 36 & 42 ESV

[2] Matthew 25:31-34

[3] Gibbs, Jeffrey. 2018. Matthew 21: 1-28:20 – Concordia Commentary. Saint Louis: Concordia Publishing House. Pg 1340.

[4] Scaer, David P. 2004. Discourses in Matthew: Jesus Teaches the Church. Saint Louis: Concordia Publishing House. Pg 239.

[5] Matthew 25:34b

[6] Mathew 25:37:b-39

Posted on November 26, 2023 8:34 AM by Kevin Jud

Posted on November 19, 2023 by pastorkevinjud

Joyful Slavery

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BULLETIN

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Pentecost 25 2023 Proper 28
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
November 19, 2023
Zechariah 1:7-16, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, Matthew 25:14-30

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

In Pre-kindergarten chapel a couple of weeks ago we were talking about listening to and obeying our parents, and one of the little girls declared, “I listen to my parents so I don’t get into trouble.” That is a good reason to listen to your parents and it is a very natural way to think about obedience. But there is a better way. To see that better way we will look at our Gospel reading today.

Now, the word translated as servant in our reading is really more accurately translated as slave. Slavery has been around since almost the beginning and was common during Jesus’ time. Some slaves were born into slavery, some were captured in warfare, some were sold into slavery to pay a debt, and some sold themselves into slavery because they could have a better standard of living as a slave rather than trying to make it on their own. At least, as a slave, the master would provide food and lodging and clothing.

Your quality of life as a slave 2,000 years ago would largely depend on your master. Is your master a good man who cares for you and treats you fairly? Is he someone you can fear, love and trust, or is he a petty, bitter, angry man who will punish you for any and every reason and make you fear and hate him? Interestingly, depending on attitudes and perspectives, two slaves could have the same master and one slave fears, loves and trusts the master and the other slave fears and hates the master.

The parable in today’s Gospel reading comes directly after the warnings of the parable of the ten virgins which ends, Matthew 25:13 (ESV) 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” Jesus then continues to describe what the kingdom of heaven will be like. What is the reign — the rule — of heaven like with Jesus as Lord and Master and you living under Him in His Kingdom? What is it like for you to be Jesus’ slave?

Matthew 25:14–15 (ESV) 14 “For [the Kingdom of Heaven] will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.”

What kind of master are we learning about in this parable? This master is generous and trusting. He gives his slaves 5, 2, and 1 talent. Now, a gold talent is a 75 pound unit of measure and is worth 20 years wages for a laborer. If a laborer makes $50,000 a year in today’s money a talent today would be worth $1 Million. At today’s gold prices it would be over $2 million. So what kind of crazy master is this? This is a master that entrusts his slaves with $5 million, $2 million and $1 million. The first two slaves fear, love and trust their master and use the master’s money to do business and they each double the money entrusted to them. These two servants trust in their master’s mercy so they are willing to take risks with the money.

The third slave does not care if he helps the master and just wants to avoid trouble. The third slave fears the master but does not love the master. His actions show that he hates the master. When entrusted with $1 million of the master’s money he gets passive aggressive and does nothing. “I’ll show him. He probably thinks I will mess up and lose it all and that I cannot be trusted with money. I’ll show him. I’ll keep it nice and safe.” He is so afraid of the master that he is unwilling to take any risk with the money to get it to grow. Instead, he just buries it in the ground for safekeeping. He fears and hates the master.

Two slaves fear, love and trust the master. The third fears and hates the master.

You are a slave of your Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. Do you obey Jesus out of fear, love and trust, or do you obey out of fear and hatred to just stay out of trouble. The Good News from Jesus today is that you have no need to be afraid of God because you are a slave of a generous and merciful God.

Now, it is true that you are a real, honest-to-goodness, sinner. You got on your knees at the beginning of the service and declared yourself to be, by nature, sinful and unclean. You pled guilty to sinning against God and your neighbor in thought, word and deed by what you have done and by what you have left undone. Why did you say this? You said it because it is true. You really are a sinner but there is a great temptation to minimize your sin so it does not seem so bad — but it is not true. You are a poor, miserable sinner. You need a savior.

Martin Luther’s friend, Phillip Melanchthon, was struggling with sin, so Luther wrote him a letter. In it Luther wrote, “If you are a preacher of mercy, do not preach an imaginary but the true mercy. If the mercy is true, you must therefore bear the true, not an imaginary sin. God does not save those who are only imaginary sinners. Be a sinner, and let your sins be strong (or “Sin boldly”), but let your trust in Christ be stronger, and rejoice in Christ who is the victor over sin, death, and the world.”

Rejoice! You are a real sinner who has been really forgiven and you live in the joy of the reign of Jesus in the Kingdom of Heaven. As Jesus teaches, Matthew 11:28–30 (ESV) 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

You live in joyful slavery to Jesus. What could be better than to be a slave of the most high God? You have a generous and trusting master who has given you your body and soul, eyes, ears, and all your members, your reason and all your senses, and still takes care of them.

He also gives you clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, wife and children, land, animals, and all you have. He richly and daily provides you with all that you need to support this body and life. The master trusts you with so much.

Your generous Lord and Master has given you everything that you have, and much more than that, He has taken away all your sins and paid the price for them. He has given you eternal life. He washes you clean in the waters of baptism and feeds you with His Body and Blood in Holy Communion. He forgives you over and over and over in abundance. Out of great love, the master humbled Himself to serve you, His slave. Your master is the most wonderful, generous master of all and you belong to him. Yours is a joyful slavery. You have great joy because Jesus is your Lord and Master and King. We pray for this, “Thy Kingdom come.” We sing about this at Christmas.

It is easy to be confused that we obey in order to avoid punishment, but as a baptized child of God you don’t follow the law in order to avoid punishment. You follow the law out of love for your generous and merciful savior. You live in joyful slavery taking God’s gifts to you and investing them in love for those around you.

Joy to the World, the Lord is come, let earth receive her king. Joy to the world, the savior reigns. He rules the world with truth and grace.

In Psalm 51 David is repenting of his sin and begs God to

Psalm 51:12 (ESV) 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,

Live your life as a joyful slave of Jesus knowing that the law’s curse against you has been cancelled. We learn in Galatians 3:13 (ESV) 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”

It is easy to be confused that we obey in order to avoid punishment, but as a baptized child of God you don’t follow the law in order to avoid punishment. You follow the law out of love for your generous and merciful savior. You live in joyful slavery taking God’s gifts to you and investing them in love for those around you. As a joyful slave you do what has been given to you to do. You care for your family and those in your care. You love your neighbor, multiplying the love of God. You live in joyful slavery absorbing evil from the world and returning love for evil.

Now, there are a lot of people and churches that are afraid of too much Gospel; too much Good News. They are afraid that if you live in the joy of knowing the curse of the law has been cancelled that you will use that as an excuse to sin more. Paul answers this… Romans 6:1–2 (ESV) What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?”

Living a joyful life in the forgiveness and love of Jesus is messy. It is much cleaner and more efficient to control people with the hammer of God’s law. Do this or you are going to get it! Don’t do that or God will punish you! Motivating people through fear is very effective in the short term, but it teaches you to fear and hate God. It teaches you to fear God so much you take His good gifts and bury them in the ground. It teaches you about a different god instead of the true generous and merciful God of the Bible.

Know that you are indeed a real sinner and know that your sins have really been forgiven. Obey God’s commands, not out of fear of punishment but out of love for your savior. And when you give in to temptation, when you get caught up in sin, repent and say with King David Psalm 51:10–12 (ESV)

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,

and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from your presence,

and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,

and uphold me with a willing spirit.”

Live each day in the joy of service to your merciful and generous master using all He has given you for His glory and on the last day you will hear these words as you are welcomed into the heavenly city. Matthew 25:23 (ESV) 23 … ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master. Amen

Posted on November 5, 2023 by pastorkevinjud

Fight the Good Fight of Faith

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All Saints’ Day 2023
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
November 5, 2023
Rev. 7:2-17, 1 John 3:1-3, 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

While in college I signed up for Naval Aviation Officer’s Candidate School in order to try to become a Naval Aviator and fly jet fighters off of a carrier. However, after I signed up, I met Jeannette and after the first summer of OCS I decided it was not going to work to be married to Jeannette and fly in the Navy. God bless military spouses. One of the toughest jobs in the world.

I did learn a lot at OCS the summer of 1987 in Pensacola. OCS is a lot like summer camp, well, except for Staff Sergeant Norbeck, United States Marine Corps, who never tired of yelling at us and getting us to do all sorts of fun things like clean our rifles, then bury them in the sand, then dig them up and clean them again. It is all done with the purpose of learning to obey orders without hesitating and to deal with adversity, and that is good, but not particularly pleasant. One of the activities we had the joy of participating in was boxing. I don’t know about you, but I do not like getting punched and especially I do not like getting punched in the face – and…well…that was the point. When I get punched in the face my natural tendency is to lose my cool and attack wildly in anger. The Navy was trying to teach me to keep my head despite the blows. To keep calm and carry on. To fight the good fight with careful, calculated punches thrown to gain advantage always keeping my head in the game. This was one exercise in how to keep your cool under pressure because there is a lot of pressure flying a supersonic jet fighter in combat and then landing on a rolling carrier deck.

Keeping your cool in the fight is important for sailors and soldiers and airmen and marines…and Christians. Interestingly St. Paul writes to Pastor Timothy in his first letter that Timothy should… 1 Timothy 6:12 (ESV) 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” Fight the good fight of faith.

And to the Ephesians… Ephesians 6:10–12 (ESV) 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

You, Christian, are in the fight. You are part of the Church Militant, the army of God, battling the forces of evil. You are daily wrestling with the devil, the world and your own sinful nature. You are in battle against evil along with the rest of the Holy Christian Church. You are a soldier in the ranks of the 144,000 from every tribe of the sons of Israel; an image of the complete army of God — the Church Militant — the Church in the fight. The first vision in our reading from Revelation is the church lined up shoulder to shoulder, row after row, sealed for the battle. The hosts of God in conquering ranks combine. All newborn soldiers of the crucified, bear on their brows the seal of Him who died. Lift High the Cross all you who are sealed with baptism, the Word of God and Holy Communion, ready to march into the valley of the shadow of death to fight the good fight of faith. Be strong in the Lord. Take your stand against the schemes of the devil.

A clear example of this in Church history is Martin Luther at the Imperial Diet of Worms in 1521. Luther was charged with heresy and he is in real danger because heretics are burned at the stake as was done to Jan Hus 100 years earlier at the council of Constance. Standing before the emperor, surrounded by imperial guards, and facing execution, Luther is asked to recant his writings. Despite the threats and danger Luther refuses to recant. He answers the emperor, Charles V, “Since your most serene majesty and your lordships require of me a simple, clear and direct answer, I will give one, and it is this: Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures and by clear reason (for I do not trust in the pope or councils alone, since it is well known that they have often erred and contradicted themselves), I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted. My conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not retract anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen.” Luther stood his ground against the pressure of the Pope and the Emperor and thankfully he had a prince wise enough and powerful enough to protect him and allow him to continue to preach and teach for another 25 years.

The fight is fierce, the warfare long. It is dark and desperate on the battlefield as you receive blow after blow from the evil one and His minions. The blows can come fast and furious and the devil wants you to lose your cool and lash out wildly in anger. Repent of your anger and do not lose your head. Keep Calm and Carry On. This is originally a message of the Ministry of Information to British citizens before World War II. This is also good wartime advice for you in dark, desperate times in the Valley of the Shadow of Death. Blows come in from all sides. Taunting, attacking, ostracizing. In our nation you are considered, by many, to be a dangerous, radical, extremist for believing that the Bible is true; that marriage is the lifelong union of a man and a woman; and that life begins at conception and is precious in God’s sight. In your day to day life you can be called a bigot; and be labeled hateful and unsafe. Members of your family will turn on you because you believe Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. And there can be literal physical blows. Christians are under great persecution in so many places around the world. Beatings, whippings, imprisonment, arson and death. Since 2009 in Nigeria alone, 18,000 churches have been burned, 2,200 Christian schools set ablaze, and over 52,000 Christians murdered by Islamist Militants. It is dangerous to be a Christian in the world. Sealed by Christ, the Church is united around the world in fighting the good fight of faith with our only offensive weapon being the sword of the Spirit — the Word of God. Keep calm and carry on. You are a soldier in the army of the Lord and you are sealed, ready for battle. Matthew 10:28 (ESV) 28 … do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”

You are in the fight. Fight the good fight. Don’t lose your head because no matter how dark it seems, you are blessed with a blessing for eternity.

Matthew 5:11–12 (ESV) 11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

And when the fight is fierce, the warfare long, steals on the ear the distant triumph song. While the battle rages in this life you get a glimpse of what is to come.

Life as a Christian in this world is hard. You are in the fight. You are fighting the good fight of faith. You are taking blows from the evil one. Protected by the Lord, you take your blows, and keep your head, and you keep calm and carry on doing what you have been given to do.

The second vision in our reading from Revelation comes after the battle. Revelation 7:9–10 (ESV) 9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” This is the Church — Triumphant.

Instead of soldiers lined up shoulder to shoulder in precise order ready for battle, this group is a great, unnumbered multitude not dressed for battle, but dressed for the wedding banquet in the white robe of Jesus’ righteousness waving palm branches of victory and praising God with a loud voice. This is not an army going off to war; these are people at peace with the Lord. Who are these people? These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation, their ragged, tattered, battle-scarred robes made white by being washed in the blood of the Lamb. This is the victory celebration. This is what awaits you on the last day; the victory celebration of the Lamb of God. The Lamb shepherds you, and you will be in peace. Revelation 7:16–17 (ESV) 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” The Lord is your Shepherd, you shall not want.

Life as a Christian in this world is hard. You are in the fight. You are fighting the good fight of faith. You are taking blows from the evil one. Protected by the Lord, you take your blows, and keep your head, and you keep calm and carry on doing what you have been given to do.

Today we remember all those of our fellowship who have died this past year. We remember those who have been transferred from the Church Militant to the Church Triumphant. All those who can say with St. Paul… 2 Timothy 4:7–8 (ESV) 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” Those who have died in Christ are at peace with the Lord until the Last Day when they will be raised up in perfection to celebrate the victory of the Lamb forever in the Heavenly City of New Jerusalem.

You are in the Church Militant, the army of the Lord, doing daily battle against evil and darkness in your life and in the world until the day you are transferred to the Church Triumphant. It is a hard fight but you are ready. You are sealed for the fight, you are not alone, and you know the final victory has already been won. You know on the Last Day you will be there in the Heavenly City — one of the uncountable multitude wearing the white robe of Jesus’ righteousness waving palm branches and praising the Lamb forever. Fight the good fight of faith. Finish the race. You are sealed by the Lamb. Amen.