christianity – From the Pulpit

Posted on December 7, 2025 by pastorkevinjud

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Advent 2 2025
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
December 7, 2025
Isaiah 11:1-10, Romans 15:4-13, Matthew 3:1-12

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The fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians was a dark, protracted, awful time. The 18-year-old King, Jehoiachin, a descendant of King David, only three months into his reign surrendered himself to Nebuchadnezzar in 597 BC and he and his whole family went into exile in Babylon along with 10,000 officials and soldiers and craftsmen and blacksmiths, leaving behind only the poorest people. Nebuchadnezzar makes Jehoiachin’s 21-year-old uncle the new king in Judah, and gives him the name Zedekiah. Zedekiah was from the house of David, but he did evil in the sight of the Lord. He rebelled against God — and he rebelled against the king of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar attacks Jerusalem and it is under siege for two years before the Babylonians breach the walls. King Zedekiah flees the city with his family, but they are soon captured. As a final, horrible, end to kings descended from David, Nebuchadnezzar kills Zedekiah’s sons in front of him and then blinds Zedekiah and takes him to Babylon in chains. Zedekiah is the last king from the line of David. The mighty tree of the Davidic line of kings is cut down by the Babylonians leaving only a seemingly dead stump. It is a dark time, but there is hope. The prophets have said this is not the end.

Fast forward 600 some years and we find a strange prophet out in the desert by the Jordan River proclaiming Matthew 3:2 (ESV) 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” The reign and rule of God is near. Could it be? Could this be the long awaited prophet foretold by Isaiah? Isaiah 40:3–5 (ESV) 3 A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. 5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

The last prophet was Malachi 450 years earlier. He ended his prophecy with this word from God… Malachi 4:5–6 (ESV) 5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes….” Isaiah and Malachi give hope in a dark and difficult time for the children of Israel.

Elijah, the prophet, wore a garment of hair with a leather belt around his waist. This strange new prophet in the wilderness is wearing a garment of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist. Is this the new Elijah? This new prophet, John, son of the priest Zechariah, calls people to repent, confess their sins and be baptized in the Jordan River in a baptism of repentance.

John’s mission is to prepare people for the coming Lord. To prepare for the coming of the Lord, people admit they are sinners, humble themselves before God and look to the Lord for salvation. Isaiah’s prophecy of the coming of one to prepare the way of the Lord in the wilderness is immediately followed by this message of humility. Isaiah 40:6–8 (ESV) 6 A voice says, “Cry!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. 7 The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.”

The Lord is coming and you are like grass that withers. This is not an exalted place of power. John prepares the people by humbling them through his call to repentance and baptism in the Jordan River. The people are flocking to hear John and respond by repenting and being baptized. They are coming from… Matthew 3:5 (ESV) 5 … Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan …” It is a new movement of God in the Judean wilderness. New life is springing up in the desert. The Lord is coming.

In the Lord’s arrival another prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled. Isaiah 11:1 (ESV) 1 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.” From the stump of Jesse, David’s father, a new David is arriving; a new king. This new King is announced by the angel Gabriel to Mary in Nazareth. Luke 1:32–33 (ESV) 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.” This baby, whose step-father is from the house and line of David is born in Bethlehem, the city of David. He is visited by Magi from the east who are seeking the newborn king of the Jews. Jesus’ birth at Bethlehem fulfills prophecy from Micah, Micah 5:2 (ESV) 2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.”

It is hard to see at a distance but you when you come close you can see that our blue Advent paraments on the altar show Bethlehem, the city of David. The small picture on each side is a shoot coming from the root of the stump of Jesse. The new King is coming.

John’s appearance is causing great commotion. There are big doings out in the desert down by the Jordan River. Crowds from all over are repenting and confessing and being baptized. What an amazing, wonderful thing is happening. The Lord is coming and being announced by John the Baptist who is preparing the way. It is a new movement of God foretold from of old by multiple prophets. The excitement is palpable. But there, by the river, is a group of men who are not enthused. Pharisees and Sadducees are normally theological enemies, but they have come together to see what all the fuss is about and to unite in opposition to this new teaching. They want to see for themselves this crazy man in the desert who is preaching about repentance and baptism to the sinful people coming down to the Jordan.

The Pharisees and Sadducees are the religious leaders in Israel. The Pharisees have taken the law of God and added thousands of additional rules to stay away from even getting close to breaking God’s law. They have set up their own system of rules and believe they are accomplishing what they have set up. They believe they are better than these sinners going down into the river. Jesus gives us insight in the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. Luke 18:9–14 (ESV) 9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

The Sadducees are the religious elite. They are the intellectual deep-thinkers who only hold to the five books of Moses and reject any afterlife or resurrection of the dead. They stress ritual purity for Temple service but any benefit you would get from God is for this life only.

These two groups have come out together to see what John is doing and perhaps to call him out for this strange new teaching, but John calls them out for not repenting of their sins. John warns that there is a judgment coming. The Lord is coming to reign and He will judge those who do not produce the good fruit of repentance. Matthew 3:7–10 (ESV) 7 But when [John] saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

The Pharisees and Sadducees believe they are standing tall and strong and righteous, but John warns that they too need to repent. They need to humble themselves and confess their sins and trust in God’s mercy for forgiveness for they too will face God’s judgment. The coming one is mighty and there will be salvation, and there will be condemnation. John calls the Pharisees and Sadducees, “turn from your sins and humble yourself before God.” Matthew 3:11–12 (ESV) 11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

The King is coming to reign. The one foretold of old is coming to save His people. He will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire; the Holy Spirit to give faith and holiness, fire to purify and refine believers, and to punish unbelievers forever. John the Baptists calls on people to prepare for the Lord’s arrival by repenting of their sins and humbling themselves before God.

The same message still is true today. Jesus is coming back. The ax is still at the root of the tree. The winnowing fork is still in His hands. There will be a judgment day. Repent, Jesus is returning to reign. Repent and humble yourself before God. Repent, confess your sins and receive the gift of forgiveness from the Lord Jesus. Turn from sin and return to the Lord. You have been baptized with the Holy Spirit, you are being refined by the fire of God’s law, and you know you are covered with Jesus’ righteousness. In Him you have eternal life. King Jesus, the shoot from the root of the stump of Jesse is coming back to destroy all evil and bring eternal peace. Peace will be restored to all creation. Stay ready for the King’s arrival knowing forgiveness comes from Him alone. You belong to King Jesus and He is coming back soon to take you to live with Him forever. Your hope is in the Lord. Amen.

Posted on November 30, 2025 by pastorkevinjud

You are Light in the Darkness

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Advent 1 2025
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
November 30, 2025
Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:8–14, Matthew 24:36–44

It is silly at this time of year that I am repeatedly surprised at how dark it is outside but when checking the time, it is only 6 PM. In the summer it stays light out until past 9 PM, now the sun sets around 5. It is a dark time of year and it is getting darker. That is a good metaphor for the world in which we live. The world we live in is dark and it is getting darker. I am kind of a news junkie. I want to keep up with what is going on, but, sadly, the news is mostly depressing accounts of darkness. It is a dark world.

There are ongoing wars and oppression. There is so much violence and murder and abuse. Hatred is promoted and justified. Disagreement is now seen as offensive. Growing up my teachers would say, “I strongly disagree with you, but I will fight to the death for your right to say it.” Now opposing viewpoints are shouted down and silenced. If someone says something you disagree with that can be considered violence. Physical violence, rioting and even assassination are becoming more acceptable especially among young people. It is a dark world.

Social media gives the opportunity for endless quarreling and jealousy as insults are traded online that you would never say in person, and folks brag about their lives looking for likes. You can find someone to fight with online around the clock. Constant struggle, constant anger, constant fighting; never-ending conflict that drags you into the darkness. It is a dark world.

Some things are so dark it is hard to believe. In Nigeria, Christians are being murdered by the thousands and it seems nothing is being done to protect them. Hundreds of school children have been kidnapped in the middle of the night and taken into the forests. It is a dark world.

The abuse and exploitation of children in our own country is a constant threat as you hear about kids being attacked and harmed and extorted online by strangers, and in person by people they know. Trusted adults such as teachers, relatives, pastors, coaches abuse their positions of trust and assault innocent children. It is a dark world. Last week 122 missing children were rescued from child predators in Florida. How many more are enslaved, enduring unspeakable abuse?

God’s good gift of sexuality is perverted and twisted and turned into big business. Americans spent $13 billion last year feeding their desires for sexual immorality. More and more people are being arrested with deviant material involving children. It is a dark world.

It is a dark world in which you live, and to compound the problem, you have darkness within you inherited from your first parents who were expelled from the Garden of Eden. Having darkness in you, there is a great risk that you could slip into the darkness and get used to it and become quite comfortable living in the darkness. You are under an ongoing temptation of the darkness in you wanting to be one with the darkness in the world.

It is indeed a dark world, and it is hard to escape. You used to be able to go home and shut the door and be somewhat protected. You still had darkness within you, but the dark world was outside. To gratify the desires of the flesh you would have to go to the orgy in Rome, or to the brothel, or out to the sketchy tavern to get drunk and argue and fight. Home was a fortress. This is reflected in a prayer at the end of our wedding service.

P O God, our dwelling place in all generations, look with favor upon the homes of our land. Embrace husbands and wives, parents and children, in the arms of Your love, and grant that each, in reverence for Christ, fulfill the duties You have given. Bless our homes that they may ever be a shelter for the defenseless, a fortress for the tempted, a resting place for the weary, and a foretaste of our eternal home with You….

There was a time that to engage in great evil you mostly would have to go out to the evil. Your home was a bulwark, but now there are breaches in the walls of your fortress. First it was affordable printed material that became widely available in the last 150 years. Books with cloth and paper bindings printed on powered printing presses might be great, edifying works; even the Word of God. Or it could be material that inflames the desires of your flesh. Then radio came in, but the airwaves were regulated to keep the programs mostly enriching. Then broadcast television which was also regulated and those in the media were conscious of what they were delivering to their consumers. The government regulated the airwaves and controlled content.

But then came cable television and it was a hole in the wall of your fortress through which the filth of the darkness could be pumped directly into your eyes and soul. And then came the internet which could be used as a portal to great darkness. And now you carry with you your smartphone which can be a very useful tool, but is also a hatchway to an endless ocean of darkness that can flood your life and drown your soul. Great darkness is always only a few clicks away and then for deeper darkness there is the dark web. No longer do you need to leave your home to engage in great evil — the internet delivers sexual immorality and quarreling and jealousy right into the palm of your hand.

And you may not even mean to be drawn toward the darkness. Predators access innocent children for exploitation through seemingly harmless online games. In this age of continuous connection with hours a day spent staring at a screen, social media algorithms seek to discover and understand and exploit the darkness in your soul so it can engage with the darkness in you so you keep scrolling and scrolling and scrolling as you sink into the darkness.

There was a time that those in the media industry were careful about what they delivered into your home, but for the last 60 years or so there is a growing, intentional effort to portray sexual sin as positive and normal, and to villainize anyone who would disagree. There is a coordinated effort by those in the media to normalize the darkness by encouraging people to embrace the desires of the flesh and gratify those desires.

It is a dark world and you have darkness within you and there is a great temptation to just give in and become one with the suffocating darkness. It is like being in a deep cave with no lights. The darkness is overwhelming. You do not belong to the darkness. As a baptized child of God you just want to scream at the darkness in frustration. You want to curse the one who brings the darkness. You want to do something, but you do not know what to do. What can push back against the darkness? What is the old saying? It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness. Down in the deep darkness of a lightless cavern how wonderful it would be to light a single candle.

You are in a dark world and you have darkness in you, but you are not darkness. You are the light of the world. As we read in Colossians 1:13–14 (ESV) 13 [God] has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

You live in a dark world and you have darkness in you, but the darkness will not win. Praise the one who breaks the darkness. Romans 13:11 (ESV) 11 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.” Jesus is coming back. The sun of righteousness is ready to dawn. Romans 13:12 (ESV) 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.”

Cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. The light is not from you. The light is armor, given to you by Jesus. Jesus declares in…John 8:12 (ESV) 12 … “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” In Matthew 5:14–16 (ESV) 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Ephesians 5:8–11 (ESV) 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.” (emphasis added)

You are the light of the world. Jesus’ light covers the darkness in you. He has given you light and life. Live as a child of the light. Not to earn anything from God but because it is your true identity. You are light in the Lord. How do you live as light in a dark world? Romans 13:9–10 (ESV) 9 … “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”

Living as light in the Lord is not living a life of being exalted by the world. The dark world hates the light. Living as light in the Lord is not about living for you, but rather living for others. Living as light in the Lord is living so when people see your good works they give glory to God.

In a world that is as dark as a lightless, deep cave you are a candle in the darkness. Your life, reflecting the love and forgiveness of Jesus, pushes back the darkness wherever you go. You take in evil from the world, but you do not respond with evil, you respond with love. Matthew 5:44 (ESV) … Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”

It is a dark world…stay on guard. Wake from spiritual sleep that ignores the darkness or gets used to the darkness. Wake up and remember who you are as a baptized, redeemed child of God. You are a child of the light.

Wake up and beware of all the ways the darkness tries to creep into your home, into your life, into your soul, trying to drag you down to the eternal darkness of hell. Wake up and stay alert to how the darkness within you strives to be one with the darkness of the world. Wake up, because you are no longer darkness, you are light in the Lord.

It is a dark time of year, but at the end of December the daylight will start to increase a little each day as the light returns. As we begin the season of Advent we look forward celebrating arrival of the light: Jesus’ arrival in Bethlehem and Jesus’ return on the last day. We remember the events leading up to the arrival of Immanuel, God with us, that night in Bethlehem. Each week we will light another candle of the advent wreath as we count down to the night we celebrate the birth of God in flesh. Late December is the darkest time of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. At our Christmas Eve worship you will visually see light pushing back the darkness. You will see light spreading from a single candle to everyone in the church, showing the spread of the light of Christ from the resurrected Lord, to His disciples to Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth, even into your life as a child of light. In this dark world there are billions of Christians shining the light of Christ in a dark world. You are light in the Lord. Jesus is coming back. The day of the Lord is at hand. Cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Amen

Posted on November 23, 2025 by pastorkevinjud

How Long, O Lord?

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Daniel English

November 23, 2025 – Last Sunday of the Church Year

Sermon – Last Sunday of the Church Year C

Mal 3:13-18; Psalm 46; Col 1:13-20; Luke 23:27-43

How Long, O LORD?

Today is the Last Sunday of the Church Year. At the end of the church year, it is customary to think about the end. Whether our own death or Christ’s return to judgment, we set our minds on the coming last day that begins the rest of eternity. Just a few weeks ago on All Saint’s Day, we heard John’s vision of the heavenly throne room—the great multitude beyond numbering, robed in dazzling white, swinging palm branches of green, standing before the throne of God in everlasting day (Revelation 7:9). The week after we heard about the resurrection of the dead. We heard Christ’s clear teaching that the dead are indeed raised to life, for our God is not a God of the dead but of the living (Luke 20:38). And last week we heard about the coming of the Son of Man in a cloud with power and great glory (Luke 21:27). The end is coming. Our Creed confesses this faith: We believe that on “the third day [Jesus Christ] rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead” (Apostles’ Creed, The Second Article). God’s people wait for Him to act. And here you are… another Sunday at Immanuel Lutheran Church… at the end of another church year, looking forward to another Advent… and another Christmas… and another New Year… still waiting for our Lord Christ to return. How long, O LORD?

In this era of satellites and smart phones, door dash, tik tok, and 2-day shipping your attention span has shortened and your patience has worn thin. Can you make it through a meal with your family without diverting your attention to something else? What about when a hymn has a few too many verses or a worship service goes 10 minutes too long? Have you started to question if any of this is worth it? Are you tempted to say with those in our Old Testament reading, “It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the LORD of hosts” (Malachi 3:14)? The people of Judah grew tired of serving God, tired of following His commandments, and tired of repenting of their sins. The people of Judah had convinced themselves that the arrogant unbeliever is blessed. They saw evildoers breaking God’s commandments without fear and without consequence. Instead of receiving the punishment for their sin, these evildoers prospered and received what seemed to be success and blessing.

Is it any different today? According to the Guttmacher Institute an estimated 518,940 children were murdered in the womb in the first six months of 2025. Open Doors, an organization that publishes data about the prosecution of Christians around the world, reports that nearly 4,500 Christians were killed for their faith in Nigeria and other countries in sub-Saharan Africa. A study from Columbia University identified nearly 50,000 patients who underwent some sort of gender reassignment surgery between 2016 and 2020… over 3,600 aged 12 to 18 years old. In October of this year, Pew research published that over 1.8 million Americans divorced in 2023, while many forego marriage altogether. And this past July, the Heritage Foundation summarized findings in a General Social Survey from the National Opinion Research Center like this: “Attendance of religious services in the United States has declined over the past fifty years. Weekly attendance of religious services has significantly declined across most demographic groups […]. Today, nearly half of American adults either rarely or never attend religious services” (The Great Falling Away, Abbamonte). In times of decreasing church attendance and increasing confusion and sin, does it seem that the arrogant are blessed? Does it seem that evildoers prosper? Those who fearlessly put God to the test escape! … How long, O LORD?

Have you put God to the test? Why is it that you are so tempted to wander from God, ignore His warnings, and reject His blessings? In 1941 C.S. Lewis wrote in The Weight of Glory, “It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” Isn’t it true? Isn’t it difficult to wait on the Lord for the incomprehensible blessings that God has promised to us in Jesus? The trials are many, the distractions are countless, and it is difficult to walk in faith as we wait on the Lord. How long, O LORD?

I’m here to encourage you today. Repent! Keep the faith! The Lord does not delay. “The Lord is not slow to fulfil his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). So repent and wait on the Lord!

Malachi goes on to say that “those who feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed his name. ‘They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts” (Malachi 3:16-17a). What a promise! In the midst of an unbelieving age, when the church seems small and the faithful seem few, the LORD of hosts promises to deliver us, His church, who fear the Lord and esteem His name. He has written our names in His book of life. When you are tempted to think that your God is far off and uncaring, you are corrected by His Word: “God is our refuge and strength” (Psalm 46:1a). He is not far off, He is “a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1b). God promises to make a distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between the one who serves Him and the one who does not. How does God make a distinction between the righteous and unrighteous?

After the book of Malachi there isn’t a divinely inspired Word of Scripture for over 400 years. Some Christians have called this period of time “the 400 Silent Years.” A Jewish historian wrote that this time—the time when the prophets ceased to appear among the Jews—was a time of great distress (1 Macc 9:27; 14:41). During this time, God’s people waited for the fulfillment of the promise of salvation, and the faithless fell away. By the time Christ walked the earth, his own people were so confused about what their standing was before God and what was necessary for their salvation that most of them did not receive Him. His ministry attracted the anger of the Pharisees and scribes, accusations of blasphemy from the Sanhedrin, and a death sentence from Roman authorities. As we read in our Gospel text for today, He was hung up between two evildoers as a curse. Here on the cross is where God keeps the promise made through Malachi. Here on the cross is how God makes a distinction between the righteous and the unrighteous. None of you are righteous by yourself, but you are made righteous by faith. “They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him” (Malachi 3:17). God spares us as a man spares his son who serves him by NOT sparing his own Son. He did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all (Romans 8:32a). From the cross Jesus has won the victory, from the cross it is finished, from the cross the promises are kept, from the cross you are reconciled to God by the blood of Jesus. From the cross, the Holy Absolution is spoken, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).

It has been nearly 2,000 years since the risen Christ ascended into heaven. It may not look like it, but “[God] has delivered [you] from the dominion of darkness and transferred [you] to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13-20). It may not look like it, but who cares what it looks like… we live by faith, and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). And so we wait for the Lord Christ to return in glory to judge both the living and the dead. And in the judgement, be still and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10). Call upon Jesus in the day of trouble, and He will deliver you (Psalm 50:15). “This is how God wants to become known and worshipped, namely, that we receive blessings from him, and indeed, that we receive them on account of his mercy and not on account of our merits” (Ap 4.60). We have been reconciled to God by the blood of Jesus on the cross. Rest in that, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Posted on November 16, 2025 by pastorkevinjud

My Messenger’s Message for You

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Pentecost 23 2025 Proper 29
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
November 16, 2025
Malachi 4:1-6, 2 Thess. 3: (1-5) 6-13, Luke 21:5-28 (29-36)

Young Ezra is an active 6 year old boy who cannot sit still very long and struggles with the final fruit of the Spirit; self-control. When he loses his temper at his older sister he screams at her, and declares that he hates her, and tries to kick her in the shins. When this happens, Ezra’s parents punish him by having him sit in time out for six minutes, have no screens for a day, and Ezra has to apologize to his sister. For a time, after being punished, Ezra has better self-control and can avoid losing his temper, but as time goes by he forgets the punishments and he repeats his bad behavior and he is punished again. Ezra repeatedly forgets the rules and forgets the punishments and does whatever he wants. Ezra is a slow learner.

Reading the Old Testament you learn that the children of Israel suffer from this same problem. Despite being punished by God over and over the Israelites are arrogant and unfaithful. Because of their worship of other gods, the 10 Northern Tribes are conquered in 722 BC and they are sent into exile by the Assyrians — never to return. They are the ten lost tribes of Israel. Ignoring this grave punishment, the tribes of the southern kingdom, Judah, Benjamin and the priestly tribe of Levi, are also unfaithful. They worship Baal and Asherah and other local pagan gods. As punishment, they are conquered by the Babylonians in 586 BC and sent into a 70 year exile. Afterwards, the Jewish people return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple and the walls of the city.

Israel has been repeatedly punished. Under punishment they cry out to God for mercy and He restores them. Now, eighty-six years after the return from exile the Israelites are back in Jerusalem with the temple rebuilt, living safely behind the walls of the city. Have they learned their lesson? Have they heard what God has said to them through many prophets? Do they remember the message behind the punishments? Apparently not. The children of Israel do not fear the Lord and so the Lord gives them harsh warnings through His prophet Malachi. Malachi means, “my messenger.”

Malachi warns that Israel is dishonoring the Lord by offering polluted sacrifices. The people go through the motions of offering a sacrifice, but instead of the lamb without blemish they offer blind, sick, lame animals. Do they think God is not watching? Do they think God does not care? The Lord declares, Malachi 1:14 (ESV) 14 Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations.”

He warns the priests to only preach the truth. Malachi 2:7–8 (ESV) 7 For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. 8 But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts,”

The Lord chastises men for divorcing the wife of their youth to marry foreign women who worship other gods. Malachi 2:16 (ESV) 16 “For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the Lord, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.”

He continues…Malachi 2:17 (ESV) 17 You have wearied the Lord with your words. But you say, “How have we wearied him?” By saying, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in them.” Or by asking, “Where is the God of justice?”

The Lord warns through Malachi that judgment day is coming. Malachi 3:5 (ESV) 5 “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.”

Through Malachi the Lord calls out the children of Israel for robbing God by not bringing the full tithe into the storehouse, not trusting that they will receive God’s blessing.

Despite warnings and punishments and even exile, the children of Israel have become arrogant. Instead of fearing God they are proud and take authority over God. They speak against God, Malachi 3:14–15 (ESV) 14 You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the Lord of hosts? 15 And now we call the arrogant blessed. Evildoers not only prosper but they put God to the test and they escape.’ ”” Israel does not fear the Lord.

King Solomon tells us in Proverbs 9:10 (ESV) 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom…”

There is a remnant in Israel who does fear the Lord and trust the Lord and the Lord has their names in a book of remembrance Malachi 3:17–18 (ESV) 17 “They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. 18 Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.”

Through Malachi the Lord brings warning against the arrogant. Through Malachi the Lord brings comfort for those who fear and trust Him. His messages of warning and comfort still resonate today, 2,400 years after Malachi, 2,000 years after Jesus died and rose again and ascended into heaven. The Lord’s messenger brings warning and comfort.

Which message is for you today? Do you need to hear warnings about forgetting that God is God and you are not? Do you need to hear that He is the almighty creator of the heavens and the earth, and you are His creation, and all that you have belongs to Him? Do you need to hear warnings against loving money? Do you need to hear that you cannot call good — evil, and evil — good? Do you need to hear that the judgment day is truly coming when the Lord will separate His followers from the unbelievers? Yes. You need to hear the Lord’s warnings through His messenger. You need to hear the warning against just going through the motions of following the Lord without actually caring what His will is. You need to repent of your arrogance and return to fearing, loving and trusting the Lord. As Jesus taught, Matthew 22:37–39 (ESV) 37 …“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Hearing God’s warnings brings discomfort as you realize once again you fall short of God’s calling.

Through Malachi the Lord brings warning against the arrogant. Through Malachi the Lord brings comfort for those who fear and trust Him. His messages of warning and comfort still resonate today, 2,400 years after Malachi, 2,000 years after Jesus died and rose again and ascended into heaven. The Lord’s messenger brings warning and comfort.

Do you need to hear the comforting message that your name is in the Lord’s book of remembrance? Do you need a reminder that you are His treasured possession? Do you need to hear that you are righteous in the blood of Jesus and on judgment day you will be spared? Yes. In your ongoing struggle against sin and evil you need to be reminded that Jesus came as the perfect Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world; to take away your sins.

Our Old Testament reading today is the beginning of the fourth and final chapter of Malachi. It has both warning and comfort; destruction and victory. Malachi 4:1 (ESV) 1 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.” Judgment day is coming.

You are a baptized, redeemed child of God… and the devil hates that. He is coming after you, and using the world and your own sinful nature he will try to get you to forget God’s warnings, ignore God’s punishments, and become arrogant, trusting in yourself. Renounce the devil and all his works and all his ways. Listen to the Lord’s messenger. Humble yourself, heed God’s warnings…the day is coming…Jesus will return for judgment.

Remain always in Christ. Listen to the Son of God. Humbly serve one another. You will be victorious in Christ. As Jesus says in Matthew 5:5 (ESV) 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” For those who fear, love and trust the Lord, the Last Day will be a day of triumph over evil.

Malachi 4:2–3 (ESV) 2 But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. 3 And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the Lord of hosts.

Do not be a slow learner who forgets God’s warnings and punishments and acts like there is no God. Learn from Holy Scripture. Fear the Lord — not in terror, for your sins are covered by the blood of Jesus — but fear the Lord in reverence and awe for all He has done for you. Listen to Jesus. Follow His will. Remember the message of the promised new Elijah; John the Baptist; repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near. Repent and follow King Jesus. Repent and trust in Christ’s promise of forgiveness delivered to you in your Baptism, in His Word and in His Body and Blood. Your name is in the Book of Life. You are Jesus’ treasured possession. Amen.

Posted on November 2, 2025 by pastorkevinjud

Your’s is the Kingdom of Heaven

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All Saints’ Day 2025
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
November, 2, 2025
Rev. 7(2-8) 9-17, 1 John 3:1-3, Matthew 5:1-12

Matthew 3:1–2 (ESV) 1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” What is the kingdom of heaven? How do you get in?

John the Baptist prepares the way for Jesus and Jesus comes to John to be baptized. Jesus is then tempted by Satan in the wilderness and afterwards begins His ministry around the Sea of Galilee. Matthew 4:17 (ESV) 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” What is the kingdom of heaven? How do you get in?

Jesus calls His first disciples and then…Matthew 4:23–25 (ESV) 23 …he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. 24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. 25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.”

Jesus’ fame is spreading, and now Jesus goes up on a hill and His disciples come near to hear Him teach. The crowds also are waiting to hear Jesus. This new teacher can do miraculous things. He has power over sickness and demons and can make the paralyzed walk. His acts are beyond the laws of nature. What is He going to say? This is Jesus’ first public teaching recorded in Matthew and Matthew introduces it in a very deliberate way. Matthew 5:1–2 (ESV) 1 … when [Jesus] sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: Matthew 5:3 (ESV) 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” The kingdom of heaven. What is the kingdom of heaven?

A kingdom is where the king reigns. It is where the king does his kingly stuff. Who is the king in the kingdom of heaven? It is Jesus. Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near, the King — Jesus — is here. The kingdom of heaven is where Jesus rules, it is where Jesus does His Kingly acts. It is where Jesus does His savings deeds.

What kind of king is Jesus? He is a king who comes to serve, not to be served. He is a king who eats with society’s outcasts. He comes to the lowliest sinners and calls them to repent and washes them clean and brings them into His kingdom. Jesus humbles Himself to wash away your filthy sins and takes responsibility for them and suffers and dies as the servant king paying the price for you. He is crowned mockingly with thorns. He is dressed up as a king and sarcastically worshiped. His throne is the cross. Instead of wearing kingly, luxurious robes King Jesus is crucified naked. He takes upon Himself the guilt and shame of the world with a sign above His head, Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. As we begin worship processing forward with the cross we remember King Jesus on His throne with His crown doing His kingly deed of saving you. Jesus is King.

Who do King Jesus’ savings deeds benefit? The poor in spirit. Jesus’ saving deeds belong to those who know they are unable to save themselves. They belong to those who know they cannot do it: to those who know they are sinners and grieve that they cannot free themselves. The kingdom of heaven is for those who know they need Jesus. Salvation and entry to the kingdom of heaven is a free gift for those who cannot earn it. This is incredible Good News and it is a radical new teaching coming from Jesus.

Jesus declares that you are blessed in your inability. You are blessed because you cannot do something. This is profoundly countercultural. In the world you are blessed because of your abilities. You are blessed because of what you can do. You are blessed by what you can accomplish. But blessed in the world is not the same as blessed by Jesus.

Blessed by Jesus is a present blessing; you are in the kingdom of heaven right now, and it is an eternal blessing; you will be in the kingdom of God forever.

Blessed in the world means you are successful, powerful, rich, healthy, wealthy and wise. Blessed in the world is a temporary, fleeting blessing that can come and go and will vanish as soon as you take your last breath. Blessed in the world is vanity. As King Solomon writes in Ecclesiastes 5:15 (ESV) 15 As he came from his mother’s womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand.”

Matthew 5:3 (ESV) 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Blessed by Jesus means that Jesus’ saving deeds have been credited to you. He has taken the record of your sins and nailed it to the cross where His blood covers all your sin. Blessed by Jesus means that Jesus has erased you sins and your name is in the Book of Life and on the judgement day Jesus will read your name and you will go to live in the Heavenly City of New Jerusalem for eternity with Jesus.

In John’s revelation Jesus teaches the faithful in the church in Sardis saying, Revelation 3:5 (ESV) 5 The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.”

Blessed by Jesus is a present blessing; you are in the kingdom of heaven right now, and it is an eternal blessing; you will be in the kingdom of God forever.

On most Sundays before we begin the Divine Service you get on your knees and confess that you are poor in spirit. You are a natural born sinner. You repent — for the kingdom of heaven is near. You confess that you are among the lowliest sinners; you are a real sinner who cannot save yourself. You cannot do it. You need Jesus. You cry out to the Lord, “For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us and lead us…”

And Jesus forgives your sins. That is what King Jesus does. His is a kingdom of forgiveness. And you are, right now, in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus is your King. He rules over you. You pray that you may delight in His will and walk in His ways to the glory of His name. You are a subject of King Jesus.

Unless Jesus returns first, you will one day die, and at death you will enter an intermediate phase of the kingdom of heaven. Your body is laid to rest in the earth and your spirit goes to be with the Lord to wait for the last day, when there will be, as we confess in the creed, the resurrection of the dead.

Today, on All Saint’s Sunday, we remember those who have died in the faith this past year and in years past. Those we remember today who fell asleep in Jesus are still in the kingdom of heaven waiting for the Last Day when their bodies will be raised up in perfection, and body and soul reunited they will hear their name read by Jesus and the saints will go marching through the pearl gates into the Holy City.

On that day you will be a part of the multitude in the final eternal phase of the kingdom of heaven in the throne room of Jesus. 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!”

Jesus’ teaching on a hill that day was radical and counter cultural to the people 2,000 years ago. It is just as radical today. Jesus blesses you in your inability. Jesus comes to those who cannot save themselves and He washes them clean, covers them with His robe of righteousness and gives them eternal life in the kingdom of heaven now and forever.

This morning you remembered your baptism as we spoke the words of the baptismal service: rejecting the devil and his works and his ways and confessing faith in God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. For many of you who were baptized as an infant, these words were spoken for you. You were unable to speak. You were baptized in your inability. You were brought into the kingdom of heaven through water and word — not from anything you did, but by the power of God.

We baptized babies despite babies being unable to reject the devil and confess faith in God. We baptize babies because babies are unable to do anything. Baptism is not something you do for God as is falsely taught in so many churches. Baptism is what God does for you. Babies are blessed in their inability and are given the gift of the Holy Spirit and are brought into Jesus’ Kingdom by His free gift of forgiveness and eternal life.

Matthew 5:3 (ESV) 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” You cannot do it. Jesus has done it all. You are in the kingdom of heaven right now. Jesus is your king, He is your ruler. You came here this morning because Jesus is King and you are in His Kingdom and He has promised to do His Kingly saving deeds for you, right here. King Jesus lives in your heart and teaches you His Word. He feeds you His very Body and Blood to strengthen and preserve you in true faith to life everlasting. You, poor in spirit, are blessed for eternity, for yours is the kingdom of heaven. Amen.

Posted on October 26, 2025 by pastorkevinjud

You Cannot Do It

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Reformation Sunday 2025
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
Rev. 14:6-7, Romans 3:19-28, John 8:31-36
October 26, 2025

Sometime when they are between 18 and 36 months old children begin to tell their parents, “me do it”, or “I do it myself.” That helpless baby from a few months before is now asserting some independence. Independence grows and grows and, God-willing, by age 18 or so, your little bundle of joy will be ready to go out and live on his or her own even though no one is ever truly independent.

Adults also like to be independent and get things done on their own. “Me do it.” You learn that you if you want something, you have to work for it. You get what you deserve. You find out that if you want something done right you’ve got to do it yourself. A lot of adults are living out their best toddler selves, “I do it myself.” And they are quite proud of everything that they have been able to accomplish and this comes very naturally; this is the way of the world.

But then you get to deal with God who tells you, Isaiah 55:8–9 (ESV) 8 … my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” God’s way is not the world’s way.

God has given you His law. His law shows you what to do and what not to do. It curbs your behavior, it is a mirror to your life, and it is a guide for how to live. When confronted by God’s law you are tempted to deal with it using the ways of the world. When it comes to God’s law you naturally try to turn it into a do-it-yourself activity. If you are the least bit honest you know you have a sin problem and yet, by nature, you want to manage your sin problem by yourself. When you stray from God’s way and follow your own way you try to find strategies to manage that. When it comes to selfishness, and anger, and not forgiving others, and gossiping, and being intimate outside of marriage, and going to the dark side of the internet, and indulging sinful desires rather than resisting them, you want to deal with these sins yourself. You make excuses, “I’m just being myself. I’m just weak. It’s no big deal. Everyone is doing it.” You try to justify yourself, “We all sin. It was just a mistake — everyone makes mistakes. It’s not hurting anyone.” Or you just redefine sin and lower the bar of what it means to obey God’s law until the bar is lying on the ground. And then you get out a shovel to bury the bar below the surface as you try to pretend you are following God’s law. When you try to make excuses for sin, or justify your sin, or redefine sin, you end up saying an awful lot of words — but all those words are empty and useless.

Romans 3:19 (ESV) 19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.” You want to make excuses for your sin? Shhhhh. You want to try to justify yourself? Shhhhh. You want to try to redefine sin? Shhhhh.

Everyone is under the law of God: either hearing and knowing God’s law, or having God’s law written on your heart. The law of God stops every mouth. God’s law holds everyone accountable. You are a sinner and you cannot save yourself. This is not a do-it-yourself project and this seriously annoys your natural, independent self. You want to say something in your defense…shhhh. You cannot do it. Romans 3:20 (ESV) 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.”

This is aggravating to your inner, independent, toddler self, saying, “me do it,” but it prepares you for incredible Good News. Romans 3:21 (ESV) 21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it”—

The righteousness of God has been manifested. His righteousness revealed, disclosed, made known. What does this mean? Does it mean that now we can see that God is righteous? God is righteous, but that is not what this is saying: Romans 3:22 (ESV) 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. …”

What is manifested is that God’s righteousness is delivered to sinners through faith in Jesus Christ. What is manifested is your righteousness. God’s righteousness is delivered to you apart from the law. You cannot save yourself. You cannot do it. You cannot help do it. It is done completely by Jesus. You cannot save yourself. No one can save their own self. Romans 3:22–25 (ESV) 22 … For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. …” All fall short of the glory of God – and — God’s righteousness is given through faith in Jesus to those who believe. Jesus is a propitiation by His blood. This means Jesus appeases God the Father. The Father’s wrath is turned away from you and your sin, and turned onto Jesus on the cross. Jesus drinks the cup of God’s wrath down to the dregs. Jesus’ suffering and death as the perfect sacrifice for sins appeases God’s justice. We know this was accepted as a full propitiation, a complete appeasement, because Jesus rose from the dead, conquering sin and death. Jesus did it all for you. You are justified by Jesus’ grace as a gift.

Your natural self so much wants to be part of your own salvation but — praise the Lord — that is not how it works. If you have any part of your salvation you will always be in doubt, because the answer to the questions, “am I good enough, am I doing enough, am I sorry enough?” is always, no.

With Christmas approaching there can be awkwardness about gift giving and gift receiving. Do you buy a gift for your sister’s new boyfriend? Probably not…but…what if he buy something for you. Adults do not want to receive a gift from someone who they did not give a gift to. You want to keep things even. But that is not God’s way. God gives you a gift and you can give nothing in return. This is not the way of the world and it can make you uncomfortable, and, I fear, this is why there is such a desire in so many churches to want to add something Jesus’ work to try to pay Jesus back, to be able to help Jesus, to be able to do it yourself, even a little bit. But God does not need your help.

Now, while toddlers like to assert their independence, they are very much powerless, helpless, dependent little people. They need their parents. They cannot do it themselves. They receive everything they need from others and they cannot repay them. They are totally dependent. That is also how you are with God. When the disciples were trying to keep little children away from Jesus…Luke 18:16–17 (ESV) 16 [He] called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 17 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”

Your natural self so much wants to be part of your own salvation but — praise the Lord — that is not how it works. If you have any part of your salvation you will always be in doubt, because the answer to the questions, “am I good enough, am I doing enough, am I sorry enough?” is always, no. In the desperate, futile attempt to be a part of your own salvation there is always more to do, more to give, more to sacrifice.

You are helpless — and — Jesus has saved you. It is truly beautiful, awesome, overwhelming Good News that Jesus has done it all for you and has given you that gift. You have the peace which is beyond understanding knowing you have been declared righteous by the Son of God because… John 8:36 (ESV) 36 … if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” Jesus pours out His forgiveness upon you in the waters of baptism, in His Words of absolution, in His own Body and Blood given and shed for you for the forgiveness of your sins. You are His.

This Reformation Day, and every day, remember the truth. You are truly free in Christ. Let the joy and gladness of complete forgiveness and freedom inspire you each day as you struggle against sin and temptation in this dark world, and as you love and serve others with love and service that flows from the joy of freedom. The Son has set you free. You are free indeed. Amen.

Posted on October 12, 2025 by pastorkevinjud

Where is God?

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Pentecost 18 2025 Proper 23
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
October 12, 2025
Ruth 1:1-19a, 2 Tim. 2:1-13, Luke 17:11-19

Where is God? God appears to Abraham as one of three visitors bringing him and Sarah the promise of the birth of Isaac. God wrestles with Jacob. God appears to Moses in a burning bush that is not consumed.

As the Israelites leave slavery in Egypt the Lord is with them as a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day. The children of Israel build the tabernacle and God dwells with His people in the tabernacle and then later in Solomon’s Temple. God is with His people in the Temple in Jerusalem. The cloud of God’s glory is there in the Temple. If someone asks, “Where is God?” The answer is, “He is in the Holy of Holies in the Temple in Jerusalem with the Ark of the Covenant.”

Later… that answer changes. Due to the wickedness of the children of Israel, the Temple is destroyed in 586 BC by the Babylonians and the Ark of the Covenant disappears. In exile in Babylon, Ezekiel has a vision of the presence of the Lord departing from the Temple. After this, the question, “Where is God?” does not have a clear answer.

Under authority of the Persians, the Temple is rebuilt by Zerubbabel starting in 536 BC and then is greatly expanded by Herod the Great starting in 19 BC. But the Ark of the Covenant never comes back to the Temple and the cloud of God’s glory never returns. Ezekiel has a later vision of the glory of the Lord returning to the Temple from the East. For the Jewish people after the Babylonian exile, there is no good answer to the question, “Where is God?” Just that He is up in heaven and we are waiting for Him to return.

We are in this time after the exile when we hear about ten lepers in the border region between Samaria and Galilee. Lepers are forbidden to be close to others and must live outside of towns and villages and cry out, “unclean”, if someone gets near. These ten have heard about Jesus’ miraculous healing powers and instead of crying out, “unclean,” they lift… “Luke 17:13 (ESV) 13 … up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” They have faith that Jesus can heal them and He does just that. Luke 17:14 (ESV) 14 When [Jesus] saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed.” The ten had faith that Jesus could heal them and they received healing through His Word. Nine do just as Jesus instructs and go to show themselves to the priests to be declared officially clean, but one of the former lepers understands what just happened. One knows the answer. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, one knows the answer to the question, “Where is God?” God is standing right in front of him. Luke 17:15–16 (ESV) 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.” Where is God? Jesus is God. The Samaritan is lying at Jesus’ feet worshipping and praising God.

Now looking at this scene it does not make sense. The man is worshiping God, but Jesus does not look like God. Jesus does not have a cloud of glory surrounding Him. He does not appear to be God…but He is God. He is Immanuel, God with us.

This former leper is a Samaritan. Samaritans are the descendants of those left behind by the Assyrians when they conquered the ten northern tribes of Israel in 722 BC. The Jewish remnant intermarried with the Assyrians who came into the conquered land. They built a temple on Mount Gerizim and worship there. The Jews worship in Jerusalem and consider the Samaritans to be impure and not God’s people.

Luke 17:17–18 (ESV) 17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Jesus is clearly showing that true knowledge of His identity is not restricted to the Jews but is for all people, even those the Jews hate.

Jesus addresses the Samaritan. Luke 17:19 (ESV) 19 …“Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

This verse can be translated in various ways. It is a little odd for Jesus to say, “your faith has made you well”, because all of the other lepers were also made well. What is different about this one?

In Luke 7, at a dinner at a Pharisee’s house, a woman, known to be a sinner, cleans Jesus’ feet with her tears and her hair, and anoints His feet with ointment and kisses. After teaching the Pharisees that those who are forgiven much, love much, Jesus concludes by telling the woman Luke 7:50 (ESV) 50 … “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” This is the same Greek words Jesus uses toward the former leper.

The Greek word here can mean both “restore to health” or “to save.” Here, with the Samaritan, I believe Jesus is saying your faith has saved you, for this man knows who Jesus is. He knows where God is found.

And also, the word the ESV translates as “go your way” can also be translated as “come” or “journey.” Jesus may not be sending him on his way, but rather inviting the man to journey with Him to Jerusalem to see God’s presence reenter the Temple from the East as Jesus rides into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. And to see “God with us” arrested and abused and crucified and buried, and to hear that the curtain in the Temple is torn in two. He would be there with the followers of Jesus on that awful Saturday wondering what has just happened to the one who is God in flesh. He would be there to see “God with us” raised from the dead and appear to many and then ascend into heaven.

This one former leper, a foreigner, understands where God is and worships Jesus, giving praise to God. He knows the answer to the question, “Where is God?” Jesus is God. The Kingdom of God is at hand.

Today you still ask the question, “Where is God?” Jesus has ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of God the Father Almighty and you wait for Him to return in glory. Where is the right hand of God? It is everywhere. God is everywhere and God also lives in you. As a baptized child of God you have the Holy Spirit dwelling in you. Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who gives you faith to believe that Jesus is your Lord and Savior and trust that His blood covers all your sins. St. Paul writes in a prayer for the Ephesians… Ephesians 3:16–19 (ESV) 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 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.”

This one former leper, a foreigner, understands where God is and worships Jesus, giving praise to God. He knows the answer to the question, “Where is God?” Jesus is God. The Kingdom of God is at hand.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus dwells in your heart and you are filled with the fullness of God. “Where is God?” He is everywhere… and He is in you. “Where is God?” You find Jesus in the Word of God. You find Jesus in your gathering together as the Body of Christ. “Where is God?” You are sealed in the name of God in your baptism. Jesus has promised to come to you in His Body and Blood in, with and under the bread and wine of Holy Communion. God is here today, for you, for the forgiveness of your sins.

Forty days after His resurrection Jesus ascended into heaven and you await His return on the Last Day, but He has not abandoned you. Jesus very much remains Immanuel, God with us, in His presence in your heart, in your fellowship together as the Body of Christ, in His Word, and in His Body and Blood.

“Where is God?” He is here, for you. Amen.

Posted on September 28, 2025 by pastorkevinjud

You Cannot Have Two Masters

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Pentecost 16 2025, Proper 21
September 28, 2025
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
Amos 6:1-7, 1 Timothy 3:1-13, Luke 16:19-31

Marla is very happy to have finally gotten a job at the local supermarket. She will be a cashier, and be stocking shelves. For cashiering Marla reports to Susan the cashier manager. For stocking shelves she reports to Bill the product manager.

After her training period Marla shows up a little early on her first regular day and sees Bill as she punches in. “Go ahead and stock the store brand cereals first thing today.” Bill tells her. “Okay”, Marla replies and pulls a pallet full of cases of cereal out to the aisle.

After 15 minutes, Susan comes up to Marla and tells her to leave everything and immediately open up register three. So Marla heads up to register three and begins ringing up customers.

Thirty minutes later Bill comes up to Marla and sternly asks her, “What are you doing up here? I told you to stock the shelves.”

Marla replies, “But Susan told me to come up here.”

“I don’t care what Susan wants. You do what I say.” And Marla heads back to the cereal aisle.

Ten minutes later Susan is calling Marla on the intercom. Marla heads to the service desk. “Where did you go?” Susan demands.

“Bill told me to get back to stocking shelves.”

“I don’t care what Bill wants. You do what I tell you to do.”

Marla has a problem. She has two bosses and you cannot have two bosses because you do not know which one to obey.

You cannot have two bosses. You cannot have two masters. Just prior to our Gospel text Jesus tells the money-loving Pharisees, Luke 16:13 (ESV) 13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

In our Old Testament lesson and in our Gospel lesson today we see people who are ruled by money. Money is their master. In Amos the people of Israel have turned away from God and are living in great luxury; living a life of ease while the destruction of the Northern Kingdom lays just over the horizon.

In our Gospel reading we have Jesus telling a parable, or maybe a story, we’re not sure which, about a rich man who lives in great luxury. Now we can get distracted in this story by the details and think Jesus is teaching about what heaven and hell are like; or teaching about how we should care for the poor. But in this account, the details are not the main point and shouldn’t distract us.

Jesus tells about a rich man who wears extremely costly purple cloth and, from the way it sounds, not just on special occasions, but every day. Under the purple robes he wears fine linen cloth. He feasts sumptuously every day. And feasting every day means he is not giving his servants a Sabbath rest; the rich man cares about himself — not about God’s commands.

In stark contrast to the rich man inside, outside we find Lazarus, whose name means, “The one who God helps.”

The Rich Man inside is dressed in purple robes with fine linen undergarments. Lazarus is barely dressed in rags, if anything; his sores exposed for all to see.

The rich man feasts sumptuously every day. Lazarus hopes for a scrap from the table.

Lazarus cannot walk but is laid in front of the rich man’s gates each day and the rich man knows of Lazarus and his situation. But the rich man has no compassion. He doesn’t care for Lazarus. He doesn’t give Lazarus something to wear. He doesn’t invite Lazarus to eat at his table. He doesn’t even send his table scraps to Lazarus. The rich man ignores poor Lazarus lying at his gate.

The local dogs have more compassion on Lazarus then the rich man. The dogs pay attention to Lazarus and do what they can for him, licking Lazarus’ sores to try to bring healing.

The rich man’s master is money. He loves money. His focus is money. His life’s purpose is to make himself more comfortable and pander to every one of his own selfish desires.

Lazarus is hungry and wretched and lonely and ignored. But he knows that God is his master. We know this because when Lazarus dies he is carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. It appears that Abraham throws a feast to welcome Lazarus and Lazarus is reclining next to Abraham the same way the disciple John does with Jesus at the last supper. Lazarus is brought from wretchedness to a banquet at Abraham’s side.

The rich man is brought from a banquet to wretchedness. The rich man dies and is in torment in Hades. And he looks up and sees Lazarus, the formerly wretched little beggar reclining at the banquet with Abraham. And the rich man, who ignored Lazarus, now begs for Abraham to send Lazarus to bring him a drop of water. But that is impossible; a great chasm has been fixed.

So the rich man asks Abraham to send Lazarus as a messenger to the rich man’s brothers — to warn them so they can avoid the same fate.

Abraham tells the rich man that his brothers have Moses and the prophets (including Amos) to listen to.

The rich man did not listen to Moses and the prophets and he’s pretty sure his brothers won’t either.

“No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.” In the Gospel of John we have another Lazarus who rises from the dead. And we have Jesus who dies and rises from the dead. Would having someone rise from the dead really bring people to repent of having money as their master?

Abraham replies, “If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.”

The rich man worries that there is no hope for his brothers because they too have money as their master. There is certainly no hope for the rich man; it is too late for him. Having money as his master sealed his fate forever in hell. This is a stern warning. No servant can serve two masters…You cannot serve God and money.”

You know who Jesus is. You know Jesus came to earth as that baby born in Bethlehem. You know He lived the perfect life and took on your sin. You know He carried your sins to the cross at Calvary and paid the price for them with His own suffering and death. You know Jesus rose from the dead. You know this to be true. You know a man returned from the dead and He is your Lord and master. You know the truth, but the danger is that you live among a people who have money as their master and it is far too easy to slip into their way of life.

Each day ask yourself, who is my master? Who is my boss? Is Jesus my Lord, or do I take my direction from the love of money?

Love of money is a great danger for all; rich or poor. We live in a land of abundance surrounded by advertising that relentlessly wants to convince you that you deserve more, more, more. You deserve the best. You deserve to have your every desire fulfilled. You deserve it. It is very easy to get a good case of the gimmes. “Gimme this gimme that.” Little children can get a case of the gimmes when shopping with parents or grandparents. Teenagers can get the gimmes when just regular clothing and shoes isn’t enough. For my generation it was having the right kind of Levi’s jeans with the little orange tag on the back pocket and the right little alligator on your shirt. Today it is having just the right hoodie and having the holes in your brand new jeans in just the right places, or having silhouette of an elderly Chicago basketball player on your sneakers. Adults can get a case of the gimmes as they spend money they haven’t made yet to buy things they don’t really need. We can all get the gimmes when it comes to the latest and greatest technology. There is a constant pressure to be discontent and to covet what others have. It is a constant temptation to give in to the love of money. But the love of money is the path to hell.

The love of money is especially dangerous because you can’t just avoid money. We all need money. You need food and shelter and clothing and transportation. You need money to live. And money is not evil. If you work hard and invest well you can end up having a lot of money. Money is not evil. The love of money is evil.

In life you see the destructiveness of the love of money. You see how people use others and step on others and destroy others to get more money for themselves. You see how the poor are exploited by those wanting to take what little money they have. The love of money is evil. The love of money leads so many away from God.

And so Jesus warns. Repent of the love of money before it is too late. Reject money as your master and return to the Lord your God. Jesus is your true Master. He has purchased and won you from sin, death and the power of the devil.

Examine how you use money and turn away from practices that are loving money and return to practices of using money in love and service to others. Figure out ways of spending less so you can give away more. Manage money in a way that gives glory to God rather than in ways that focus on your own indulgence.

Fight the tyranny of money. The rich man wouldn’t give up his purple robes for Lazarus. He wouldn’t give up his nice underwear. He wouldn’t give up his feasts. He wouldn’t give up a place at his table. He wouldn’t even give up his banquet leftovers. He loved all that stuff more than he loved Lazarus…more than he loved God.

Keep money and belongings in their proper place. Everything you have belongs to the Lord and you are the manager of the Lord’s gifts to you. You manage the money; the money does not manage you. Give freely and generously back to the Lord’s church to acknowledge that all you have is from the Lord. Give to those in need. Give to helping groups which serve those in need.

Never acquire anything you wouldn’t be willing to give up for Jesus because Jesus is your Master; not money.

Jesus did rise from the dead. Jesus conquered death for you. Jesus has taken away your sins and promises everlasting life at the banquet table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Like Marla at the grocery store, it does not work to have two bosses. You can have only one master. God? Or money? You have answered it. You pray to God, “Thy Kingdom come.” You pray, God, rule me. O Father, be my Lord and Master. You shall have no other Gods. You belong to Jesus…forever. Amen.

Posted on September 21, 2025 by pastorkevinjud

Access to God

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Pentecost 15 2025, Proper 20
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, OH
Pastor Kevin Jud
September 21, 2025
Psalm 113:1-9, Amos 8:4-7, 1 Timothy 2:1-15, Luke 16:1-15

When my oldest son, Caleb, was a baby, Jeannette and I lived in northern Virginia and we took Jeannette’s family into D.C. for a White House tour. On the tour we got to see a lot of the ceremonial parts of the White House. The tour was long enough that Caleb started to cry and the secret service helped find Jeannette a quiet spot where she could feed him. So our joke for a while was that Caleb got to eat at the White House. It used to be that you could just line up outside and wait for a tour. For a more in depth tour you got tickets from your congressman.

Nowadays, in order to get a tour, you have to go through your congressman at least at least 21 days in advance giving your name, address, Social Security number and wait to be background checked and approved. And then when you are on the tour it feels like you spend more time in security than you do inside the house. So, we stopped doing that tour on our school 8th Grade DC trips since it did not seem to be worth the time and hassle.

There used to be just one fence surrounding the White House and the cars drove right past on Pennsylvania Avenue. Now Pennsylvania Avenue is closed there and when we were there last week there were 4 extra barriers in place to keep people not only away from the White House, but away from the fence.

Last Thursday night as we were walking by, even the area behind the fence and four barriers was closed because the president was returning on Marine One from his trip to England. The whole ellipse area was off limits and they even closed Constitution Avenue for a while to keep vehicles away from the president.

So what if you wanted to visit with the president? What would be the chances of getting in to see President Trump if you came up to the Secret Service booth at the White House gate and asked to be let in for a visit? How far would you get? The gates are locked, the guards you can see are heavily armed; not to mention the guards you cannot see; there is no way that you are going to get in. Maybe, if you had the right connections with the right person at the right time, you might get an appointment to see the president, but otherwise, if you want to get in the White House you will have to sign up for the tour.

Not only are there barriers up between you and the President, there are even more barriers up between you and God. You cannot just walk up to God on your own. You can try to walk up to God on your own but you will keep bumping, face first, into the barrier of your sin.

In his first letter to Timothy Paul writes that he is the chief of sinners; but not only Paul, you are chief of sinners; and so am I. And what is your chief sin? Simply put, the chief sin is pride. As you try to get close to God on your own terms you keep running into the wall of your pride. Because you keep thinking, “I can do this myself. I am good enough; I am smart enough and if I just try a little harder I can do it myself.” You think, “I don’t need to bow down to anyone, not even God. I don’t need to follow God’s rules; I can make up my own. I am independent. I am good enough all by myself”…and blam…again you run face-first into the barrier of pride.

Often we picture pride being like a peacock arrogantly strutting his stuff. And, oh, how we like to strut our stuff, showing off, looking down on others that we view as less than us. In Milton’s Paradise Lost Satan is proud and says, “Better to reign in hell, than to serve in heaven.” Your pride is a great barrier to God. Pride refuses to speak the two hardest words in the English language, “I’m sorry,” or the three hardest words, “I was wrong.” Or the four hardest words, “I am not perfect,” or the five hardest words, “I guess you are right.” Or the six hardest words, “I think I need some help.” Pride blocks your relationships with others and pride blocks your access to God because you want to stand tall on your own two feet, but that is not the way to the Father.

You do not get to the father by your own merit. You cannot walk tall into eternal life because you don’t deserve forgiveness and eternal life. You don’t deserve it; you didn’t earn it. Jesus earned it for you on the bloody cross at Golgotha and gives you forgiveness and eternal life as a gift. You cannot do it on your own; you need Jesus. So you humble yourself. You cannot get to God standing on your own two feet, so you kneel down in repentance. Humble yourself, admit you are a sinner. Have sorrow for your sins. Repent of your sins. Confess your sins. Turn from your sins. Humble yourself and find that the barrier of pride only blocks your way when you try to approach God standing tall, on your own terms.

Do not trust in your own actions, do not trust your own good works; trust, instead, in the generosity of the master. Trust in the generosity of God. That is the message that we get from the strange parable of the dishonest servant. The servant is not commended for being dishonest; we see that dishonesty is condemned in our reading from Amos. The dishonest servant does not deserve mercy, but the servant still trusts in his master’s reckless generosity.

The master in the parable is recklessly generous to his servant who does not deserve it. The servant deserves to go to jail and yet the master commends the servant for being shrewd. The master could, simply, cancel all of the dishonest manager’s rewriting of the bills, but the master is recklessly generous.

This is the same reckless generosity that God has for you in sending His own son, Jesus, to take on your sins and pay the price for them with his own suffering and death. You cannot earn forgiveness, you do not deserve forgiveness and yet God abundantly pours out His grace and mercy upon you through His Son Jesus in the waters of Holy Baptism. Jesus, the God man, does what only God can do and lives a perfect, sinless life. Jesus, the God man, does what only a man can do; bleed, suffer and die. Jesus, the God man, God in flesh, God with us, Immanuel, bridges the barrier between God and man for you; He is the mediator between you and God; He gave Himself as a ransom for you; a ransom for all.

We pray for all people, making supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings, we pray for the leaders of our city, state and nation that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

We pray for peace and quiet because this is pleasing to God who wants all people to be saved.

God wants all to be saved. Jesus is the mediator between God and man. Jesus is Himself the ransom for all people. Jesus died for you. This is the eternal truth that we continue to proclaim here at Immanuel Lutheran Church and School. This is the truth that we bring to the congregation and the student body and the community and to the world. We pray for all people to come to the knowledge of the truth and humble themselves before God and receive the gifts of forgiveness, life and salvation. We pray that all people receive the Holy Spirit and humble themselves and admit that they are sinners who need Jesus as their savior so that pride is no longer a barrier keeping them away from God. We pray for all people to give up trust in themselves, give up trust in money, and instead, trust in the reckless generosity of the master.

Trust in the master’s generosity. Even though you are a struggling sinner, your sin is covered by the blood of Christ. God lifts you up to be with Him forever in the Kingdom of Heaven. We pray that all people know that because Jesus died and rose again that all people have access to God through Jesus. Jesus is the way to the Father. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus is the narrow door to the heavenly banquet.

This morning, in Washington D.C., there are still many barriers up preventing you from sitting down to talk with President Trump, but, through Jesus, there is no barrier between you and the creator of the universe. You do not need an intermediary. You can talk to Him directly. You can go right to God in prayer and present your cares and concerns and thanksgivings. The Lord speaks to you in His Word. God speaks to you in our worship together to tell you, “Your sins are forgiven. You are God’s own child, baptized into Christ.” Amen.

Posted on September 14, 2025 by pastorkevinjud

Who is the Lost Sheep? Who is the Ninety Nine?

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Pentecost 14 2025 Proper 19
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
September 14, 2025
Ezekiel 34:11-24, 1 Timothy 1:12-17, Luke 15:1-10

Christianity is the largest religion in the world with approximately 2.5 billion people saying they are Christians. There are many different church bodies and Christianity takes many different styles and forms and traditions. There are so many different things going on in the name of Jesus it can become confusing as to what is the main thing. What is Christianity all about?

In our reading today from Luke, Jesus gives us a clear and convicting truth. Luke 15:7 (ESV) 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”

This statement comes at the end of the parable of the lost sheep. So, what does Jesus mean? Who is the one sinner who repents, and who are the ninety-nine that need no repentance? What does it mean to repent?

This scene is one filled with tension. Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem to be sacrificed on the cross and rise from the dead for the sins of the world. As He journeys He teaches. People hear the Word of God and respond. Some respond with scoffing and ridicule and seek to discredit Jesus and destroy Him. Others hear Jesus’ teaching and are convicted, and they come to Jesus to hear more and eat with Him.

The Pharisees and the Scribes believe they are the good people in society and they are offended that sinners are coming to hear Jesus and eat with Him. They grumble because sinners are convicted by the law of God and come to Jesus to receive forgiveness. But, this is what Christianity is all about. Sinners hear the law and gospel of God… and the Holy Spirit convicts them of their sins and points them to forgiveness in the death and resurrection of Jesus. Christianity is all about repentant sinners receiving forgiveness of their sins.

In response to the grumbling Jesus tells a parable to illustrate what is happening. Luke 15:4–7 (ESV) 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”

At the end of this short parable we have one lost sheep who is found; one sinner who repents. Ninety-nine sheep are left in the wilderness; ninety-nine “righteous persons” who “need no repentance.”

Repentance is equal to being found. Being found is not a work that you do but is all the work of the shepherd who finds you… and picks you up… and carries you back to celebrate.

The tax collectors and sinners following Jesus and eating with Him are the lost sheep who have been found. They have heard the Word of God spoken by Jesus and have received the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit convicts them of their sins and points them to Jesus as their Savior. They know they are sinners and are convicted by this knowledge. They know they are not good enough. They are saddened by their sin and helplessness. They know they need Jesus so they come to Jesus.

Jesus reaches out to the Pharisees and Scribes. He preaches convicting law to them. These are the ninety-nine sheep left in the wilderness because they think they are righteous persons who don’t need to repent.

The Pharisees are lost sheep but they will not accept that they are lost. They will not accept that they need to repent. They will not accept that they need a savior. They are the sheep Ezekiel is talking about in our Old Testament reading today. The sheep that tread down the pasture, muddy the waters, and push away the weaker sheep. They resist the Holy Spirit of God as Jesus calls them to repentance.

After Jesus is crucified, buried, raised from the dead and ascended into heaven, a follower named Stephen is appointed a deacon and is teaching people in Jerusalem about Jesus; bringing them God’s truth. Some religious leaders bring charges against Stephen that he is teaching that Jesus will destroy the temple and change the customs of Moses. So Stephen is brought before the high priest and the council and he teaches them. He concludes his speech by calling them out for refusing the Holy Spirit, Acts 7:51–53 (ESV) 51 “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, 53 you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.” The religious leaders do not want to hear this and so they silence Stephen… by throwing rocks at him until he is dead. Saul of Tarsus, later called Paul, is there… approving of the men stoning Stephen, and watching their cloaks. Saul is a lost sheep who will not admit that he is lost. He is an enemy of God. This is not someone whom you would expect Jesus to go after as a lost sheep.

And yet, in his letter to Timothy, Paul writes about how he was brought from being a blasphemer, persecutor and insolent opponent of Christ to being a believer in Jesus because of the overflowing grace of the Lord.

Paul is a lost sheep found by the Good Shepherd on the road to Damascus. Jesus appears to Paul in a bright light, Acts 9:4 (ESV) 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

Ananias, a follower of Jesus in Damascus, is directed by God to go to Saul, and lay his hands on him to restore his sight and bestow the Holy Spirit. Saul is then baptized and he begins to proclaim Jesus. Jesus finds his lost sheep and carries him home to celebrate. There is great joy in heaven.

The Pharisees and Scribes see Jesus perform miracles that only God could do, but all they care about is that He does them on the Sabbath day; breaking their rules. They hear Jesus’ teaching, but are only concerned that sinners are coming to hear Jesus. They believe they are good enough. They follow the rules that they made up. They have given up on God and trust in themselves.

There is a danger that you can start to trust in yourself and think you are good enough. It is very tempting when thinking about sin to rationalize, “Well I’m not perfect, but I am not as bad as those people…those really sinful people. There is a great temptation to not admit that you were a lost sheep found by the good shepherd who has given you the gift of the Holy Spirit who convicts you of your sins and points you to the grace of Jesus poured out in Baptism, in the Word of God and in Holy Communion.

There is a great temptation to not talk about sin so that no one feels bad about their sin. There are so many today who claim to be followers of Jesus but do not want to talk about sin; they do not want to talk about repentance. They do not want to talk about Jesus dying on the cross for their sins. They want to silence God’s law so they can feel good about themselves just the way they are. They want the church to be all about affirming them in their sin.

There are many in our society today who are offended by God’s law and gospel. They reject God’s truth, and like the religious leaders who stoned Stephen, they try to silence anyone who dares to speak Jesus’ truth publicly. This past Wednesday, the danger of speaking the truth in love was clearly shown with the assassination of conservative Christian commentator Charlie Kirk while he was engaging in civil public debate and discussion. Lawless, disobedient, ungodly, immoral people want to silence God’s law.

You know you were lost, but now you are found, so each day give thanks that the Good Shepherd has found you; His lost sheep. He picked you up and washed you clean and carried you home into His Kingdom where you live as a sheep in the flock of the Good Shepherd. Despite threats and hatred, continue to speak the truth in love to bring God’s Word to a hurting world.

Paul writes to Timothy, Timothy 1:8–9 (ESV) 8 Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9 understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient…”

God’s law is good but they do not want to hear it. They don’t want to hear about sin, they don’t want to admit that they are lost, they don’t want to admit they need a savior. They are the ninety nine who believe they do not need to repent. The Good Shepherd wants them to be found, He is reaching out to them, but too often they do not admit that they are lost.

You know you were lost, but now you are found, so each day give thanks that the Good Shepherd has found you; His lost sheep. He picked you up and washed you clean and carried you home into His Kingdom where you live as a sheep in the flock of the Good Shepherd. Despite threats and hatred, continue to speak the truth in love to bring God’s Word to a hurting world.

We have been blessed as a congregation to have a number of people join our fellowship who have come out of a place of unbelief as adults. These are lost sheep who were found by the Good Shepherd, given the Holy Spirit, and brought into the Kingdom of God. There is great joy in heaven.

Rejoice! You know that you were lost and now you are found. You know that you are a sinner who needs a savior. You know Jesus is your savior. Praise the Lord! Jesus found you. Amen.