From the Pulpit

Posted on March 8, 2020 by pastorkevinjud

Jesus is sin on the cross

Lent 2 2020
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
March 8, 2020
Genesis 12:1-9, Romans 4:1-8, 13-17, John 3:1-17

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

It is a secret meeting in the dark. One man is an important, respected religious leader, the other a homeless, travelling teacher from up north. But it is the one who is a ruler of the Jews named Nicodemus who is sneaking around to meet the mysterious rabbi, Jesus of Nazareth. Nicodemus has heard about the miracles Jesus has done. He wants to learn more about this man who has the Lord with Him. Except Nicodemus does not understand. God is not with Jesus. Jesus is God with us. And at this secret meeting in the dark, Jesus gives Nicodemus some mind-blowing teachings.

Jesus introduces the teachings with amen, amen which we translate as truly, truly. This double use of the word is an indication that Jesus is going to say something important. John 3:3 (ESV) 3 … “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”[1] John 3:5 (ESV) 5 … “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.[2]

Nicodemus is confused about being born again and being born of water and the spirit. Jesus is teaching that there are two births; your physical birth and your spiritual birth. He is teaching that spiritual birth comes with water and the spirit in Holy Baptism even though He has not yet instituted baptism. Jesus is giving Nicodemus deep teachings about the mysterious work of the Holy Spirit.

Nicodemus does not understand and Jesus continues. John 3:11-15 (ESV) 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” [3]

This is deep, significant teaching from Jesus to Nicodemus and to us. Today, let’s focus on verses 14 and 15. John 3:14-15 (ESV) 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” [4]

As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness…what is that about? This brings us back to the book of Numbers chapter 21. The Israelites are in the desert and they are complaining against God and Moses, Numbers 21:5 (ESV) 5 … “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.”[5]

God is miraculously providing food for hundreds of thousands of people in the wilderness. He is giving them manna from heaven, but like too many of God’s gifts the people grow weary of them and they complain. And so Lord sends fiery serpents among the people and the snakes bite the people and many die. Rebuked by the snakes, the Israelites repent and cry out to Moses, “Numbers 21:7 (ESV) 7 …“We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.[6] It is easy to grow weary of things being same old, same old, until something bad happens and you long for everything to just return to normal.

Moses prays to the Lord, Numbers 21:8-9 (ESV) 8 And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live. [7] The source of death is a fiery serpent. The source of life is a fiery serpent on a pole.

John 3:14-15 (ESV) 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.”[8]

Jesus on the cross is sin on the cross. Your sin on the cross. My sin on the cross. All your anger and bitterness, all your lust and depravity, all your greed and selfishness, all your rebellion and disobedience, it is all there on the cross. You have a problem with sin. Sin bites you again and again and again. Jesus on the cross is your source of healing. Look to Jesus on the cross and you will have eternal life.

Jesus is giving Nicodemus some very profound truth here. Nicodemus thinks God is with Jesus but Jesus is communicating that He is God and He is telling Nicodemus about what is going to happen. Jesus, the Son of Man, is going to be lifted up like the serpent on a pole. And whoever believes in Him will have eternal life. The serpent was the cause of death and the source of life. What is the cause of death for us? What is the cause of physical death, spiritual death, and eternal death? It is sin. Romans 6:23 (ESV) 23 For the wages of sin is death…” [9] Sin is the problem. Sin is what keeps biting us and bringing us death. Jesus on the cross is the solution. But if the problem is sin, how is Jesus like the serpent on the pole? Jesus on the cross is sin. Not His sin, but your sin. As St. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV) 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.[10]

Jesus on the cross is sin on the cross. Your sin on the cross. My sin on the cross. All your anger and bitterness, all your lust and depravity, all your greed and selfishness, all your rebellion and disobedience, it is all there on the cross. You have a problem with sin. Sin bites you again and again and again. Jesus on the cross is your source of healing. Look to Jesus on the cross and you will have eternal life.

John 3:16 (ESV) 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.[11]

Nicodemus sneaks out at night to try to find out more about this Jesus. And Jesus gives him more than he can comprehend. Jesus lifted up on the cross is the source of healing, forgiveness, and eternal life. We don’t know how much Nicodemus understood of what Jesus taught him, but we do know that Nicodemus was at the cross after Jesus died to take care of Jesus’ body along with Joseph of Arimathea. Together they wrapped Jesus up with burial spices and laid Him in the tomb.

Your sin died and is buried in that tomb. The penalty is paid. Jesus rests in the tomb over the Sabbath day and then, leaving your sin in the tomb, righteousness, purity and holiness rises from the dead on Sunday morning to show complete destruction of sin and death. In Christ you have eternal life. On the last day you will rise from the grave and leave sin behind forever. Sin is the cause of death, Jesus on the cross is the source of eternal life. Look to Jesus. Amen

[1] The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

[2] The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

[3] The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

[4] The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

[5] The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

[6] The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

[7] The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

[8] The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

[9] The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

[10] The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

[11] The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

Posted on March 1, 2020 by pastorkevinjud

Don’t battle the devil alone

Lent 1 2020
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
March 1, 2020
Genesis 3:1-21, Romans 5:12-19, Matthew 4:1-11

Matthew 3:16-17 (ESV) 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” [1]

God the Father and the Holy Spirit confirm Jesus’ identity as the Son of God and then the Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. I wonder if the Spirit is still in the form of a dove, flying ahead; leading Jesus into the desert. Jesus goes into the wilderness as “Israel reduced to one” to finish what the Israelites failed to do when they were led by Moses into the wilderness to be tested for 40 years. The Israelites fail, Jesus succeeds and defeats the devil and easily resists the devil’s threefold temptation.

It is attractive for us to look at this account of Jesus and the devil in the wilderness and think that it is a lesson for us as to how we can resist temptations from the devil, but that is not what this account is about. Jesus versus the devil is a whole different fight card than you versus the devil.

Jesus is the sinless Son of God; He is God in flesh. He is not infected by original sin which infects all the children of Adam. Romans 5:12 (ESV) 12 … sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin…[2] Jesus does not have an earthly father and did not inherit original sin. Jesus is the Good Shepherd come to lay down His life for the sheep and then be raised from the dead to defeat Satan. Jesus comes to defeat the devil for all eternity.

The devil is a fallen angel. Likely an archangel who, jealous of God’ authority, rebelled against God and brought a third of the angels with him as his evil angels or demons. The devil is an angel and has the power of an angel. He has many names. The devil, which means slanderer; false accuser. Satan, which means adversary. Beelzebub, which is from the Hebrew and literally means lord of the flies. He is a tempter. He is a liar. He is an accuser. The devil is powerful. There is power to be found in the devil’s darkness, but it is a muted power; a limited power. The devil can work false signs and wonders to distract and deceive people. He tries to impress people with his parlor tricks.

Now, the devil is more powerful than you or I, but the devil’s power is no match for Jesus. Despite great hunger after 40 days of fasting in the wilderness Jesus easily overcomes the devil. Jesus is faithful Israel. Jesus is victor over Satan on behalf of Israel and ultimately on behalf of all people. Jesus is the faithful Son of God and He is victorious over the devil in the wilderness. The devil then has to be more subtle and try to derail Jesus’ way to the cross. We see this when Peter tells Jesus that He will not let Jesus go to the cross and Jesus tells Peter, “Get behind me Satan.” At Jesus’ resurrection from the dead the devil’s defeat is profound. He is angry that he could not stop Jesus and now he is going after the followers of Jesus. He is going after you.

While Jesus’ temptation is not a how-to for you to resist temptation, you can learn something, for indeed you are also tempted by the devil. Matthew 10:24 (ESV) 24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.[3]

One of the devil’s deceptions is to get you to doubt that the devil even exists. In our ever-so-smart, so sophisticated modern times it is not cool to believe in the devil and demons. The so-called “smart people” know that the devil and demons are just silly superstitions from medieval times. But we see the devil’s handiwork all over. The devil’s influence is tremendous. Evil is called good. Unrestrained lust and debauchery are encouraged, and babies are sacrificed on the altar of sexual freedom. Marriages are being destroyed by selfishness and anger. God’s design for marriage is being redefined to a contract between any two or more individuals. There is a culture of addiction fueled and encouraged by those who seek to profit regardless of the human cost. Hatred is fomented and used as a political tool. Families and churches and communities are torn up through conflict. Folks believe their value is based on how much they own and what labels are on their clothing. People believe they are good enough. They don’t need forgiveness of sins, they don’t need Jesus, they don’t need His church. The devil’s work can be seen all around us and yet we are told that we are fools to believe in the devil.

There are many people whose houses are inhabited by evil spirits after someone invited the demons in by tapping into the power of darkness. Folks do this by using Ouija Boards, Tarot Cards, holding séances and opening other doorways to evil. The devil is very active in the world and yet he wants you to believe he doesn’t even exist. Because if the devil does not exist, then there really isn’t temptation. There is really isn’t evil. There really isn’t sin. There really is no need for Jesus.

If getting you to doubt his existence doesn’t work, the devil will try to get you to doubt that Jesus really is the Son of God; God in flesh. This is in the wording the devil uses with Jesus and it is found in just one little word, “if”. “If you are the son of God…” Just as in the wilderness temptation Jesus is tempted by the words, “If you are the son of God,” we see this again at the cross with those passing by, taunting Jesus saying, Matthew 27:40 (ESV) 40 … If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”[4]

We too are tempted to reject Jesus’ identity as the son of God because if Jesus is not the son of God then His death doesn’t mean anything and His resurrection is just a myth. If Jesus is not the son of God He is just another crazy teacher making things up and you can ignore Him and be Lord of your own life.

Now, if the devil cannot get you to doubt his own existence or doubt that Jesus is the son of God, the devil will use his original temptation that worked with Eve and Adam. He will try to get you to doubt the Word of God. “Did God actually say?” We have God’s Word but we are under constant pressure to mold it and shape it to our own desires rather than molding and shaping our desires to God’s Word. The devil tempts Eve to be like God and it is the same temptation for you. You want to have the authority to determine what is right and wrong rather than God having that authority.

And so you need to stay on guard against the devil and his lies, but you stay on guard knowing that you are not battling the devil on your own. Just as the devil was outmatched going head to head with Jesus you are outmatched if you go head to head with the devil. As a baptized child of God you are not left alone to battle Satan and that is good because the devil has had a lot of practice and he knows your weak spots. You need Jesus, and you have Jesus.

Jesus has already defeated the devil; in the wilderness; at the cross, and at the empty tomb. Victorious Jesus is on your side. So you don’t battle the devil alone. You put on the full armor God provides and take your stand against the devil. You are protected by Jesus.

The devil and his demons are very real and very active. Peter warns about the enemy. 1 Peter 5:8 (ESV) 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.[5]

So beware of the devil’s temptations, be honest about your own weak spots, and keep up your guard. Know that the devil and his demons are active in the world, be watchful, but do not fear. For you have the victorious son of God on your side, and Jesus has already won the war. In Christ you are safe from the devil and his lies and accusations. Stay connected to Christ and you are safe from the devil.

Amen

[1] The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

[2] The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

[3] The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

[4] The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

[5] The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

Posted on February 23, 2020 by pastorkevinjud

Transfiguration Glory and Calvary Glory

Transfiguration 2020
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
February 23, 2020
Exodus 24:8-18, 2 Peter 1:16-21, Matthew 17:1-9

Today is Transfiguration Sunday. It is the last Sunday of the season of Epiphany. It is the last Sunday before the beginning of the season of Lent, the 40 days, not including Sundays, leading up to Holy Week and Easter. Today we say farewell to alleluias during Lent as Jesus is heading to the cross. Lent is a somber season on the road to the cross. It is a time to reflect on Jesus’ suffering and death and how he did it because of your sin and because of His love for you. Lent is not an easy season. It is a hard thing to ponder the cross. The cross is a horrid instrument of execution that we would rather not have to consider in its full awfulness. The words, “Jesus died on the cross for me”, just roll off your tongue, but it is so profound. “Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God, suffered and died on the cross for me, a poor, miserable sinner.” Jesus died for me on the horrifying cross.

Jesus tells the disciples about his looming death and resurrection just before taking Peter, James and John up on the Mount of Transfiguration. Matthew 16:21 (ESV) 21 … Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.[1]

The disciples reject the message. The disciples don’t want a suffering, dying Jesus; they want a glorious, powerful Jesus who does miracles. Peter, the disciple who is never at a loss for words, reprimands Jesus, Matthew 16:22 (ESV) 22 …Peter took [Jesus] aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.”[2] Peter thinks he knows what’s what, and this rough, tough fisherman is not going to let anyone hurt Jesus. But Peter does not know what’s what and Jesus rebukes Peter. Matthew 16:23 (ESV) 23 … “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”[3]

Six days later, in order to strengthen the disciples in knowing Jesus’ true identity, Jesus takes Peter, along with James and John up on a mountain Matthew 17:2-3 (ESV) 2 And [Jesus] was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.[4]

This is an incredible scene. Jesus is confirming to Peter, James and John that He is indeed God in flesh. He is the Messiah. He is the Savior of the world. Jesus is shining like the sun and talking to Moses and Elijah. In the midst of all this Peter feels the need to interrupt. Peter thinks he has something to add. Peter again thinks he knows what’s what. He thinks Jesus is an equal to Moses and Elijah. He thinks Jesus is the new Moses; Jesus is the new Elijah. Peter offers to build tents for each of them. Peter thinks he knows what’s what but he does not. Matthew 17:5 (ESV) 5 [Peter] is still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”[5]

Contrast the awesome, bright scene from the Mount of Transfiguration with the gloomy darkness and awfulness of the scene on Mount Calvary. The glory of God is revealed on the first mountain. The glory of God is also revealed on the second mountain for this is where Jesus accomplishes what He came to do.

The disciples are terrified at this voice from heaven and they fall on their faces trying to hide from the overwhelming glory of God. Now they have figured it out. They have seen Jesus’ majesty. They have seen’ Jesus honor and glory from God the Father. They have heard God the Father’s voice. They are overcome by all of this and lay face down on the ground afraid to look. Jesus walks over to the three men and touches them and says, “Rise, and have no fear.” They look up and it is only Jesus there. Everything is back to normal.

Everything is back to normal, except they have seen Jesus’ glory. They have heard the voice of God. In all the horror to come they have this memory to help sustain them. Everything is back to normal, but they know that Jesus is God in flesh. Even as Jesus is arrested and beaten He is God in flesh. Even as Jesus is crowned with thorns He is God in flesh. Even as Jesus is flogged He is God in flesh. Even as Jesus is stripped and nailed to a cross He is God in flesh. The cross shows Jesus’ glory. Jesus shows His true identity on the Mount of Transfiguration shining like the sun, and He shows His true identity by being nailed to a cross as the sacrifice for the sins of the world.

Contrast the awesome, bright scene from the Mount of Transfiguration with the gloomy darkness and awfulness of the scene on Mount Calvary. The glory of God is revealed on the first mountain. The glory of God is also revealed on the second mountain for this is where Jesus accomplishes what He came to do.

We are a lot like the disciples. We want to reject Jesus’ glory on the second mountain. We want God’s glory to be shown in our lives by everything going great. We want God’s glory to be seen in being healthy, wealthy and wise. We want a religious experience to which we can appeal as proof of God’s existence. We want Mount of Transfiguration glory and not Mount Calvary glory.

But very often we get Mount Calvary glory. We bear crosses of pain and suffering and trouble. We experience the evil in the world and the evil in ourselves. We endure injury, illness, disability and death. And God’s glory is there with you in the pain and the suffering. Jesus enters fully into the ugliness of sin and evil and hardship and is there with you. Jesus has a moment of shining like the sun but the rest of His time on earth He looks like a normal person. The glory of God is hidden in human flesh.

God’s glory is still present with us in hidden ways. Baptism is done with plain water from the tap, but it is not just plain water it is water included in God’s command and combined with God’s word. God’s glory is hidden in simple words on a page and words spoken into the ear but these words work faith and the forgiveness of sins. God’s glory is hidden in wafers of bread and sips of wine which are, in a mysterious way, the very Body and Blood of Christ. Jesus’ glory is so often a hidden glory.

You have Jesus’ hidden glory in you; God’s glory hidden in human flesh. You have been born again by water and the Spirit. Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. You are by nature sinful and unclean and yet through baptism, through the Word, through the Body and Blood of Jesus you have been made righteous, innocent and blessed. You are a holy child of God. That is Jesus’ hidden glory; Jesus’ glory hidden in your human flesh.

Jesus’ glory will not be hidden forever. Today we celebrate the glimpse at Jesus’ full glory shared with us by the eyewitnesses Peter, James and John. This is the full glory of Jesus we look forward to having on the last day as the light of the city of God. In the Heavenly City of New Jerusalem Jesus’ glory will be the light. Revelation 21:23 (ESV) 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.[6]

Today we celebrate Jesus’ visible glory at the Transfiguration. Every day you live with Jesus’ glory hidden in you as you live as salt and light in the world. Amen.

[1] The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

[2] The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

[3] The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

[4] The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

[5] The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

[6] The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

Posted on February 16, 2020 by pastorkevinjud

Jesus has the authority to give law and forgive sins

Epiphany 6 2019
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
February 16, 2020
Deuteronomy 30:15-20, 1 Corinthians 3:1-9, Matthew 5:21-37

At Jesus’ baptism… Matthew 3:17 (ESV) 17 … a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” [1]

This is the answer. What is the question? The question is of cosmic significance. The question is of eternal importance. The question is, “Who is Jesus?” The answer is that Jesus is the Son of God. He is God in flesh.

“Who is Jesus?” is of great importance as we turn to our Gospel reading for today. This reading follows directly after last weeks’ instructions about living as salt and light in the world. This is further explanation of how you are to live and Jesus speaks with the authority of God.

Matthew 5:21-22 (ESV) 21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old… 22 But I say to you ….[2] Jesus is speaking with authority. He is adding to the Old Testament teachings. You and I cannot add or subtract from scripture; we do not have the authority. Jesus does.

We will look at three of the teachings this morning. These are hard teachings. These are teachings for which we want to look for loopholes to try to excuse our own behavior. These are teachings for which we want to find ways to try to reduce Jesus’ authority. Don’t do that. Jesus has the authority. He is the Son of God. You are not.

Matthew 5:21-22 (ESV) 21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.[3] Jesus is teaching that murder goes beyond just the physical act of taking someone’s life. Being angry and insulting is also unacceptable.

Social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat can be a great way to keep up with what is going on with friends and family. But they have also become a cesspool of anger and insults. Reading the comments on various posts it is disheartening to see how angry and insulting people are to one another. It is rare to see a civil disagreement.

I used to actively engage people I disagreed with on Facebook and Twitter and, try as I might to be civil, it too often would make me angry. I would reply to a post or comment and then keep checking back to see if the other person responded so I respond again. I’d think about it all the time. It would make it hard to sleep. Engaging like this was an opening for the devil to get me to be angry and insulting. I try hard now, if I see someone on the internet that is wrong, to just walk away; to just let it be. I have enough temptation to anger and insults.

Anger and insults are the work of the devil and they tear apart the fabric of families, churches, workplaces, classrooms, society. If you are angry with or insulting to someone, repent and be reconciled. Humble yourself and go to them and apologize for being angry and insulting. Ephesians 4:26-27 (ESV) 26 … do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil.[4]

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

I have heard married men excuse their wandering eyes by saying, “Just because you’re not going to order doesn’t mean you can’t read the menu.” Jesus says; don’t even look at the menu. Faithfulness to your marriage is much deeper than your outward actions. It begins in the heart. It begins from childhood and adolescence. It extends into marriage and until death. In a culture where intimacy outside of marriage is the norm Jesus’ teachings are even more radical.

This is convicting law from Jesus. The temptation to lustful thoughts is deeply ingrained in you with original sin, and you live in a world of unlimited temptation. In an era where it seemed that the culture may be making some progress against the exploitation of women by the rich and famous we are treated to a half-time show at the Super Bowl which conjured up images of a giant strip club. So much for not objectifying women.

Access to pornography has exploded. Anybody of any age with a smart phone or a tablet or a computer can, in seconds, find online decadence worse than the most depraved deviant 20 years ago could ever hope to find. You are called to sexually pure and decent living and the world is not going to help you resist the temptation to lust.

Jesus uses hyperbole to make His point. He talks about plucking out your eye or cutting off your hand to avoid sin. He is exaggerating to make a point, but He is serious. It would be better to enter the Kingdom of Heaven with one eye than to go the Hell. Jesus calls us to avoid temptation to lust. If there is something that triggers you to look at pornography, cut out the trigger. Too often we want to flirt around the edges of lust thinking we can manage the temptation; but we cannot.

Matthew 5:31-32 (ESV) 31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery. And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. [6]

Marriage is God’s invention; God’s design. Jesus is concerned about damaging relationships with anger and lust; marriage is a very special relationship invented by God Himself. Matthew 19:5-6 (ESV) 5 [Jesus] said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”[7]

Jesus is addressing the issue of men being able to divorce their wives for any and every reason. And Jesus speaks clearly that it is wrong. Marriage is designed by God for a lifetime; it is not something to be broken by people. Divorce is evil. It is man tearing apart what God has put together. Now, as evil as divorce is, there are rare times when it is the lesser of two evils. We indeed live in a broken world. Lord, have mercy.

Jesus’ teaching about how to be salt and light is hard teaching; it is a high calling. You must battle not only against physical violence and murder, but also battle against anger and insults. Not only do you not have physical relations with someone other than your spouse, but also, do not even think about it. Do not turn others into objects of your lust. Marriage is sacred; it is holy, and it is to last until it is ended by death.

You know you are unworthy. You know you need Jesus. Jesus knows your need and he is there for you. He washes you with forgiveness in your baptism. He pours out forgiveness on you in the words of absolution. He feeds you forgiveness with His body and blood in Holy Communion. You indeed are a redeemed child of God. You are salt and light in the world even while you battle against sin and temptation. You have a heart problem, but Jesus gives you a new heart.

This is convicting law spoken by Jesus who is God in flesh. He has the authority to give new teachings; new law. And you learn from this that you are indeed incapable of being good enough. You learn that you need Jesus. This teaching calls you to holy living, but it also points you back to Matthew 5:3 (ESV) 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.[8] This teaching strips away any pretense of being good enough and leaves you as a beggar before the judgment seat of God.

You know from this teaching that you have a heart problem. Matthew 15:19 (ESV) 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.[9]

You know you are unworthy. You know you need Jesus. Jesus knows your need and he is there for you. He washes you with forgiveness in your baptism. He pours out forgiveness on you in the words of absolution. He feeds you forgiveness with His body and blood in Holy Communion. You indeed are a redeemed child of God. You are salt and light in the world even while you battle against sin and temptation. You have a heart problem, but Jesus gives you a new heart. And so daily you repent and pray 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. [10]

Jesus is the Son of God. He is God in flesh. He is your Savior from sin. He has authority to give new law and authority to forgive sins. As a baptized child of God living as salt and light in the world, listen to Jesus. Amen.