christianity – Page 6 – From the Pulpit

Posted on November 3, 2024 by pastorkevinjud

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All Saints Day 2024
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
November 3, 2024
Revelation 7:2-17, 1 John 3:1-3, Matthew 5:1-12

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Teaching catechism class to the 7th and 8th graders in school and in church gives me opportunities to give life advice. One lesson I give to the boys is that to be a good husband they need to be able to do two main things. They need to be able to work and kill bugs. If a guy can do those two things the other stuff can be worked out.

It is good to have a job and be able to provide for your family. You like being able to pay for the things you need; clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home. You like the independence of being able to take care of yourself and those who rely on you.

When you hear the news of a company shutting down and laying off workers it can cause you to wonder. What if it were me? What if that was my company? How long could I keep going on savings? There is a fear of losing everything and becoming a beggar.

Being a beggar would be rough; having to rely on the generosity of others rather than on yourself. It is hard to be helpless.

Here at Immanuel we have a number of parking spaces close to the building for members and visitors who are less able because of a handicap or disability. Those who are more able park further away. Now, if we want to be honest we should have a sign on every parking space, “reserved parking for the Spiritually Unable.” Not just spiritually handicapped or spiritually disabled, but spiritually unable. Parking for the helpless; the powerless.

Just like we talked about last Sunday for Reformation, you are spiritually unable. You bring nothing to the table to negotiate with God. You cannot earn forgiveness, you cannot buy forgiveness, you cannot trade for forgiveness. You are spiritually unable.

In the winter of 1545 and 46, Martin Luther knew that health was failing and he predicted he would be dead before Easter. Luther did die in Eisleben Germany on February 18, 1546 after a long, cold winter journey from Wittenberg. After he died they found a scrap of paper in his pocket with six words; “Wir sind Bettler, das ist wahr.” We are beggars, this is true.

Luther was right. We are beggars. You are a beggar. I am a beggar. In life you fear becoming a beggar, and then you find out that it is true. You come to Jesus with nothing.

What does Jesus teach about the spiritually unable? What does Jesus say about helpless spiritual beggars? Jesus says you are blessed now and at the judgement day. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

You see, being poor in spirit is not a virtue, it is an inability. It is not something you strive for as a Christian — it is who you are as a Christian. Being poor in spirit is knowing that you cannot save yourself. Being poor in spirit is knowing you are helpless. In helplessness you mourn over the evil — the evil in your own heart and the evil in the world. There is so much evil in you and around you, and you are helpless to stop it. There is the evil of greed and selfishness and hatred and lust and pride that infects all people and bubbles up from within. There is evil in the world where defenseless unborn children are sacrificed on the altar of sexual freedom and politicians say that this is our greatest freedom. There is the evil of children and the elderly being neglected and abused. The evil of the poor being taken advantage of in their poverty. The evil of division and discord and warfare in the world. There is so much evil and you cannot stop it, so you mourn.

Being helpless — being spiritually unable — can be so uncomfortable when you want so badly to be independent. But God’s ways are not the world’s ways. Jesus teaches Mark 10:15 (ESV) 15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”

Matthew 5:3 (ESV) 3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” The Holy Spirit, dwelling in you, gives you the knowledge that you are helpless…that you need Jesus – and this is the entryway into the kingdom of heaven; the reign of heaven. Most Sundays you begin worship on your knees confessing that you are a sinner. You have done this so much you have worn out the kneelers and they need to be replaced. You know you are a beggar…you know you cannot do it on your own.

You are a beggar, but Jesus does not leave you empty. He fills you with His blessings. Jesus did it all for you on the cross and gives you the gift of forgiveness and eternal life. He brings you under the reign of Jesus. Jesus is King who rules and protects you and all His Church — pouring out grace and forgiveness on His people. Now, Jesus’ kingdom is different. John 18:36–37 (ESV) 36 Jesus answered [Pilate], “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” 37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

Jesus reigns over His Church but, for now, His rule is incomplete. He has not yet fully restored the earth. And so you pray, “Thy Kingdom come…on earth as it is in heaven,” and you mourn the wickedness in the world as you look forward to the Last Day when Jesus will return and destroy all evil. Matthew 5:4 (ESV) 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

You are now forgiven and redeemed, but the world is not yet fully restored. The day is coming when Jesus will return and evil will be destroyed and you will have eternal peace. Then there will be no more living in this difficult “now and not yet” time between Jesus’ ascension and His return. So you pray over and over, “Thy kingdom come.”

You are spiritually unable, you are spiritually helpless, you are powerless, you are meek, you are lowly. You want everything to be right but it is so messed up. You hunger for righteousness. You thirst for righteousness. You cry, “O Lord! Thy will be done!”

Into your life of struggle and longing, Jesus’ words bring eternal comfort. Matthew 5:5–6 (ESV) 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” The meek will receive the whole world. Righteousness will come to those who are desperate for everyone to be right with God.

For now you wait for the Lord to return and make all things right forever. You wait. Your loved ones who have died and are at peace with the Lord also are waiting for Jesus to return. For now, for the Holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, it is a time of waiting. The disciples saw Jesus ascend into heaven and waited for His return. We continue the wait for Him to return and restore the earth.

Through Jesus’ suffering and death and resurrection from the grave He earned salvation for all people. Jesus offers the white robe of righteousness to all people everywhere. There is a robe ready for each person. Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit you know you need it. You know that you do not want to be found naked on the Day of Judgement.

When Jesus returns, those alive in Christ will be taken up. Those who have died in Christ will be raised from the dead, and body and soul will be reunited. All will go before the judgement throne of Jesus, the King of the Universe. Those who rejected the robe of Christ’s righteousness will go to damnation with the devil and his angels. Those wearing the white robe of Christ’s righteousness — the Saints of God — will go marching into the Heavenly City of New Jerusalem. This is the great multitude that no one can number every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages. Indeed you want to be in that number. You will be in that number when the saints go marching in.

Through Jesus’ suffering and death and resurrection from the grave He earned salvation for all people. Jesus offers the white robe of righteousness to all people everywhere. There is a robe ready for each person. Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit you know you need it. You know that you do not want to be found naked on the Day of Judgement.

Tragically, many reject Jesus’ gift. Even more tragically, many who have had the robe get distracted by the deceitfulness of wealth and the busyness of life and take off the robe of righteousness. Many do not want the Kingship of Jesus. They may want Jesus to give them good advice or help them from time to time, but they do not believe they are spiritual unable. They may think they need a little guidance, a little help, but they are certainly not poor in spirit, they are certainly not meek and lowly. That would be all too humiliating. That is not the way of the world.

The way of the world is to work hard and take care of yourself. It is thought to be dishonorable to be a beggar. Your sinful self wants to do it yourself, but you know the truth. You are helpless and powerless like a child. You know that salvation is 0% from you and 100% from Jesus. This humble understanding frees you from worrying and wondering and working at being saved and frees you to serve God by serving each other. Your salvation is secure so you can focus on love and service. Shine the light of Christ in the darkness of this world.

You are spiritually unable — and are blessed; now and for eternity. Wir sind bettler. Das ist wahr. We are beggars. This is true. Amen.

Posted on October 27, 2024 by pastorkevinjud

Dignity in the doing?

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Reformation Day 2024
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
October 27, 2024

Today we celebrate Reformation Day. We remember Martin Luther nailing the 95 theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg Germany on the Eve of All Saints Day in the year 1517. This call for debate on the sale of indulgences began the Reformation of the church and led to the Lutheran Church coming into existence.

I confess that I may have, at times, turned the Reformation Day sermon into a sort of pep rally for Lutheranism, but I have not yet in the cheerleaders from school to lead us in a rousing chant, “Lutherans are ready… Lutherans are smooth… Lutherans will take control and stomp all over you!” I haven’t gone that far for Reformation Day, but it certainly seems to be a day to be proud to be Lutheran. Proud to be Lutheran! But wait…is that an okay thing to say? In the Gospel of Mark we learn that pride is one of evils that come from the heart of man. And, interestingly, what Luther rediscovered about humanity in Holy Scripture is not a source of pride.

The beginning of the Reformation came from Luther questioning the sale of indulgences which promised to remit all earthly punishments for sin for someone who is alive. Or, an indulgence could be purchased for someone who had died with the promise that they would spring from purgatory as soon as the coin in the coffer clings.

As a Lutheran pastor I am not overly familiar with the teachings about purgatory, so, at a casual discussion group I was chatting with a young Catholic priest and he talked about the dignity of purgatory. He said a person has dignity because they suffer on account of their sins either in this life, doing penance, or in purgatory. Now, dignity means to be worthy of honor or respect. Does the Bible teach that you have dignity because of your actions? Is there dignity in the doing?

Even today, for Roman Catholics who want to avoid purgatory, they can still get an indulgence. You cannot buy one, but a quick internet search shows there are still many ways to earn a plenary indulgence which is the full remission of the earthly penalty for your sins. You can earn one each day, by being in a state of grace and with a proper disposition, go to confession, receive communion, and pray for the intentions of the pope. You can apply the indulgence to yourself or to someone who has died. In 2025 you can earn two indulgences each day because the pope has declared it is a jubilee year. For the jubilee year there is a detailed list of many ways to earn an indulgence; you can go on a pilgrimage, perform an act of mercy, fast from social media, and many other things. From these instructions it seems that there is dignity in the doing.

But what does the Bible say? Looking at our Epistle reading from Romans, what can we learn about our dignity? 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.”

God’s law stops your mouth, leaving you nothing to say in your defense. The law says you have no excuse. You get no dignity from the law. Paul continues, Romans 3:22–23 (ESV) 22 … there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” In our gospel reading Jesus teaches more about sin, John 8:34 (ESV) 34 …“Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.”

The very difficult thing about Christianity is the knowledge that you cannot save yourself. As a descendent of Adam and Eve, you are, by nature, sinful and unclean. You cannot undo that. The Bible is clear about the source of salvation. Ephesians 2:8–9 (ESV) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” It is utterly humbling to realize that you cannot do it. There is nothing you can do to save yourself. With man it is impossible. You are poor in spirit. You have nothing to offer God.

We like to go through life pretending that we are pretty good people and we are doing ok, not like those really bad people, but then we learn from Holy Scripture, Isaiah 64:6 (ESV) 6 We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

The New Testament is no more encouraging. 1 Peter 1:24–25 (ESV) 24 for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.”

You are like grass that withers. Your righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. You cannot do it. There is no dignity in your doing.

This can make it hard to market Lutheran theology. “Come to our church and we will let you know that you are a helpless sinner and you can do nothing to save yourself.” That is not a very positive message.

But that is not the whole message. God’s truth is not all about God’s law. Romans 3:21–22 (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— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe…”

Righteousness does not come through the law, but through faith in Jesus Christ. Romans 3:22–25 (ESV) 22 … 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 (an appeasement) by his blood, to be received by faith. …”

You can do nothing to merit salvation. You cannot gain dignity by doing. It has been done for you. Jesus did it for you and gives it to you as a gift. Romans 3:27 (ESV) 27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. John 8:36 (ESV) 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

You are free in Christ. You can trust this Good News because Jesus did it all without your help and Jesus does things perfectly. In Christ you have the perfect promise.

Which of these two statements gives you more assurance? “I am saved because I believe in Jesus.” Or “I am saved because Jesus died for me.” If you emphasize your belief you are always left wondering, do I believe enough? If it is about what Jesus has done, you can trust it completely. You are saved — because Jesus died for you. Let the joy of that promise sink in. The truth is that you can do nothing to aid in your salvation; you have no dignity in the doing, and that is the most joyous truth because it means that you need not doubt. You need not wonder — have I done enough. Jesus has done it all.

Jesus delivers this saving grace to you in the waters of Holy Baptism, in His Body and Blood in Holy Communion, and in His Word.

Lutherans follow scripture alone. Whatever I teach from this pulpit or in a class, I need to be able to show you where it comes from in the Bible because the Bible is God’s Word. In scripture you find truth.

As Jesus teaches, John 8:31–32 (ESV) 31 … “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

1 Peter 1:24–25 (ESV) 24 … The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.” VDMA Verbum Domini Manet in Aeternum. The word of the Lord remains forever. This is the motto of the Lutheran Reformation. So we sing and we pray, “Lord, keep us steadfast in your word.”

You have the amazing, pure Good News that your sins are forgiven in Jesus. And today we remember and celebrate the rediscovery of that Good News begun by Martin Luther in Wittenberg.

Jesus saves you, you do not save yourself. There is no doubt of what Jesus has done. You can trust that His redemption of you is complete. And so, while you still struggle with temptation and sin, Jesus has declared you to be a saint; holy, righteous and pure. The joy and light of Jesus shine forth from you as a redeemed child of God destined for eternal life in the Heavenly City.

You are destined for eternity with Jesus, but for now there are dangers lurking, so be aware. The devil will tempt you to believe that you have to do something to complete your salvation; that your sins are forgiven, if, you do your part. The devil will tempt you to abuse your salvation by acting like an unbeliever following the ways of the world, instead of acting like the saint that you are following the commandments of God. The devil will try to get you to abandon God’s truth and believe the devil’s lies. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Today, we celebrate Reformation Day. We remember a brave, stubborn monk who rediscovered the truth that dignity is not in the doing, or in the buying of an indulgence, or suffering in purgatory, an imaginary place invented by men. Jesus’ grace is a free gift for all people.

For questioning indulgences, Martin Luther was kicked out of the Roman Church and sentenced to death. The penalty for translating the Bible into any language other than Latin was also punishable by death. So since he was already under a death sentence, and with the protection of his prince, Luther translated the Bible into German so the German people could read the Bible in their own language. The people could abide in God’s Word and the truth set them free. Luther gave people the Word of God and churches were able to learn the truth of the Bible.

Luther did not start something new. He did not start a new church of the enlightenment period in which he lived in order to make everything make sense. He did not start a new church that rejected infant baptism and rejected the real presence of Jesus’ Body and Blood in Holy Communion because that just makes more rational sense. Luther did not start something new. Luther went back to an earlier form of the Church when scripture alone was the source of church teaching. Luther called it the Evangelical Church. The Gospel Church. The Good News Church. “Lutheran” was first a name coined by Luther’s enemies, but the churches began using the term in the middle of the 16th century to distinguish themselves from Anabaptists and Calvinists. So now we are called Lutherans and the last Sunday of October each year we remember and celebrate the Reformation. We are tempted to say, “I’m proud to be Lutheran,” but perhaps it is better to say, “I am thankful to be Lutheran because I know the truth. Jesus has fully redeemed me and I need not doubt God’s promise to me.”

You know the truth and the truth sets you free. If the Son sets you free, you are free indeed. The word of the Lord remains forever. Amen.

Posted on October 20, 2024 by pastorkevinjud

How Much Money is Enough?

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Pentecost 22, 2024, Proper 24
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
October 20, 2024
Ecclesiastes 5:10-20, Hebrews 4:1-13, Mark 10:23-31

When I was in my late 20s I went to work as a representative for AAL, Aid Association for Lutherans, which was a forerunner of Thrivent Financial today. I worked with families regarding their finances, and sold insurance and mutual funds to try to meet their financial needs. I taught people the value of investing money over time to grow wealth. I taught my children that when they get their first adult job they should invest in their 401K or 403B in their 20s because if they can get a good chunk invested by the age of 30 they should have 40+ years for that money to grow. It takes as long to double $1,000 to $2,000 as it does to double a $500,000 to $1,000,000. So, the earlier you start, the more chances of doubling you have. As you manage money, wise investing is a good thing. But with money there is always a danger.

Money is tricky. If you work hard and control your spending and save money and invest wisely you can end up wealthy. Or if you are an entrepreneur and build a successful business and employ people, you can be wealthy. Also, you can work hard and save money and invest and run a business, and circumstances can make money disappear.

Here, at Immanuel, we have folks that are barely scraping by, we have many who work hard to make ends meet each month, and we have folks that are quite well off. But no matter how much you have, money is tricky for everyone. In our Gospel reading today Jesus teaches, Mark 10:24–25 (ESV) 24 …“Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

It is impossible for a rich person to enter the kingdom. Now, you may think, that is bad news for Warren Buffet, good thing I am not rich. But you are rich. By world standards, every one of you here is rich. To be rich by world standards is to have more than one pair of shoes and get to choose what you eat. In 2019, 85% of Africans lived on less than $5.50 per day. If you have a roof over your head, clothing and shoes to wear, and food to eat you are rich. Most of us have far, far more than we need, but how much is enough?

John D. Rockefeller was the founder of the Standard Oil Company and the first billionaire of the United States of America — he was at one time the richest man on Earth. Rockefeller was once asked by a reporter, “How much money is enough?” He calmly replied, “Just a little bit more.”

Money is tricky because it is easy to believe you never have enough. You can feel like you never have enough when you spend everything you have and come up short every month. You can feel like you never have enough when you are barely making ends meet. You can feel like you never have enough when you have more money than month and savings and investment accounts grow.

How much money is enough? There is an ever present danger to love money. We all need money, and it is nice to have more money and so the desire to love money is a constant temptation.

Money is a good gift of God, but oddly enough, loving money will ruin it for you. If you love money you will be like Rockefeller — always wanting more — never satisfied. In our reading today from Ecclesiastes wealthy King Solomon shares wisdom about money. Ecclesiastes 5:10 (ESV) 10 He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.”

Throughout the Bible you are warned about the love of money. 1 Timothy 6:6–10 (ESV) 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” The desire to be rich can bring ruin and destruction. The love of money can cause people to wander away from the faith.

In our Gospel reading from Mark 10 we learn that it is impossible for you to save yourself. And yet, you are saved. You believe Jesus is your Lord and Savior, but your saving faith is not from you, it is a miracle of God. It is not from your own reason or strength, but the Holy Spirit has called you by the Gospel, enlightened you with His gifts, sanctified and kept you in the true faith. You cannot save yourself. Jesus saves you. As Jesus says, Mark 10:27 (ESV) 27 … “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”

Afterwards, in response to Peter saying that the disciples have left everything to follow, Jesus responds with a promise. Mark 10:29–30 (ESV) 29 Jesus [says], “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.”

Jesus promises they will have abundance in this time. Jesus promises you will have abundance in this time. You have abundance because, as a follower of Jesus, you are content with what you have been given. Being content brings great joy and thanksgiving for all you have received from God.

Enjoy what God has given you. Eat and drink and enjoy the work that God has given you to do, whatever it is. How wonderful to enjoy your labor and receive wages for doing it. God’s grace and provision are sufficient for you. Be content with what you have been given by God — and manage it well.

Twenty percent of the commandments deal with the sin of coveting. Coveting is having a sinful desire for what belongs to another. The opposite of coveting is to be content; to be satisfied with what you have. Godliness with contentment is great gain. Godliness with contentment makes you wealthy. Being content with what you have makes you wealthier than John D. Rockefeller who was never satisfied. Being content, you are wealthier than Rockefeller who always wanted more.

You have enough. God promises, “My grace is sufficient for you.” You have been rescued from the devil’s darkness and through Jesus you are brought into the kingdom of light and love. Be content with what you have. Take Solomon’s teaching to heart and live it out. Ecclesiastes 5:18 (ESV) 18 Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot.”

Enjoy what God has given you. Eat and drink and enjoy the work that God has given you to do, whatever it is. How wonderful to enjoy your labor and receive wages for doing it. God’s grace and provision are sufficient for you. Be content with what you have been given by God — and manage it well.

Jesus gave everything for you. He redeemed you with His holy, precious blood and His suffering and death. As a baptized child of God, all that you are and all that you have belongs to God. Be a good steward of God’s body that you care for, and manage well God’s money and God’s possessions He has entrusted to your care. Work hard in whatever you have been given to do and be a good steward of God’s gifts to you. If you work hard and you manage money and possessions well they may grow. That growth in God’s gifts gives you more opportunity for tremendous generosity.

Being content with what God has given you will bring joy. Rejoice in your toil. Give thanks for all God has given you to do at school, at work, at home, at church, in the community. And as Solomon teaches, Ecclesiastes 5:19–20 (ESV) 19 Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. 20 For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.”

So, beware the temptation to love money. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Beware the strong desire to never be content with what you have and what you have been given to do. Beware the love of money. Beware the devil and the world’s desire to keep you discontent.

The antidote for the love of money is generosity. Be generous with what you have. Give a generous, first-fruits offering to the Lord’s church. Give to deserving charities to help those in need. As you can, directly help out those in need. Share with others. Lend without expecting repayment. Be generous with your wealth and with your time.

Jesus gave everything for you. Enjoy what God has given you. Be content with what you have. God’s grace is sufficient for you. God’s provision is sufficient. Rejoice in all God has given you. You have enough. Amen.

Posted on October 13, 2024 by pastorkevinjud

Elon Musk is Needy and Helpless

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Pentecost 21 2024, Proper 23
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
October 13, 2024
Amos 5:6-7, 10-15, Hebrews 3:12-19, Mark 10:17-22

Elon Musk is needy and helpless. Jeff Bezos is needy and helpless. Bill Gates is needy and helpless. Like everyone else, the very wealthy are needy and helpless, but, far too often, they do not know it.

The very wealthy can do things that normal people cannot even imagine. They own islands, airplanes, huge collections of exotic cars, they get things done by using their power, wealth, and influence. They are problem solvers. The Bill and Melinda Gates foundation has projects going on all around the world dealing with issues of poverty. They are working improve education, agriculture, health and nutrition in some of the poorest nations. Jeff Bezos recently gave over $100 million to fight homelessness in the U.S. In response to Hurricane Helene, Elon Musk sent helicopters into Western North Carolina to set up hundreds of Starlink internet stations so people can get on the internet and be able to communicate and let their families know they are safe.

Rich people see a problem and have the resources to make things happen and solve the problem. I would think that to become very wealthy you need to have a “git r done” kind of attitude. The very wealthy are problem solvers. Here is a problem. How can I fix it?

In our Gospel reading today we meet a very wealthy man who is used to solving problems. He comes to Jesus after Jesus has just finished teaching about children and the Kingdom of Heaven. Mark 10:15 (ESV) 15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.

Now, the disciples originally tried to keep the children away, but the rich man encounters no interference. The disciples are likely quite impressed that the rich man is coming to them. He runs right up to Jesus and kneels before Him and asks, Mark 10:17 (ESV) 17 …“Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” What does the rich man believe about Jesus? The man seems to have a high view of Jesus as he genuflects before Him and calls Him “good teacher.” “Good teacher” is an unusual title in Jewish culture; only God is good. This prompts Jesus’ response, Mark 10:18 (ESV) 18 …“Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.” Does this man know Jesus is God? Does he think He is a prophet? Maybe He has heard all Jesus has done and suspects the truth, wonders about the truth, but is not quite ready to believe the truth. Much like the father of the demon possessed boy who says to Jesus, Mark 9:22, 24 (ESV) 22 … But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us….[, and] “I believe, help my unbelief.”

The rich man may suspect Jesus is possibly divine, but does not know what all that means. There are so many today that have some idea about Jesus, they may say they believe in Jesus, but they misunderstand Him, they do not know who Jesus is and how He works. They are looking for Jesus to be a helper and a coach and a comforter. They are looking for Jesus to help them be successful. But Jesus did not come to help you be successful; Jesus came to save you. The rich man asks a question, but it is the wrong question. Mark 10:17 (ESV) “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” It is a very normal question, a very typical question, but it is the wrong question. Jesus answers him. Mark 10:19 (ESV) 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’ ” Basically, all you have to do is keep the 10 commandments.

The man answers, Mark 10:20 (ESV) 20 … “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” This guy believes he is one of the good ones. He believes that he is good enough. His wealth is a sign that God is blessing him and he believes he is keeping the commandments. Now, you know that, 1 John 1:8 (ESV) 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” But somehow the rich man has convinced himself he is keeping the commandments. The man is seeking the right thing, but he is asking the wrong question, and he is lying to himself about keeping the commandments. Jesus looks at him with love and lowers the hammer of the law onto the rich young man with one sentence. Mark 10:21 (ESV) 21 …“You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; ….” The man may think he is doing well with the second table of the law, but what about the first table; the commandments about God. What about the first commandment; you shall have no other Gods?

Who or what does the man fear, love and trust? Does he fear, love and trust God… or money? Jesus convicts the man with this one sentence. The man realizes that he is not keeping the first commandment and this breaks him. He is broken by the law of God. But Jesus does not crush him with the law and leave him crushed. He invites the man, “…come, follow me.”

Jesus loves the man and wants him to be saved, but the man does not follow Jesus. Something else is more important. Mark 10:22 (ESV) 22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”

The man is disheartened because he realizes that he is not good enough. He realizes that he cannot do it himself. He realizes that he needs help. He is wealthy. He can get things done. He is a problem solver. But this is a problem he cannot solve. He is needy and helpless. This is a new, confusing sensation for the wealthy man. He is…needy…and…helpless, like…a…child. Jesus invites him to follow, but to follow Jesus would be admitting that he is needy. So, just like the man declared he is keeping commandments 4 to 10 he does not want to admit that he is breaking the first and greatest commandment by loving money more than God… and he walks away.

This is still a hard lesson today. This is a most difficult teaching. You live in a land of great abundance and are constantly tempted to love money and love stuff. It is way too easy to fear, love and trust in possessions and money and investments. You worry that if forced to choose between wealth and Jesus you would be sorely tempted to choose wealth. Wealth is the way of the world. The world teaches you to love money and use people. Jesus teaches you to love people and use money.

You know the temptation, so you come here each week and get on your knees and admit you are needy. You are needy and helpless like a little child. No matter how much money you have, you are needy and helpless when facing the law of God.

Jesus’ disciples are also having that same problem. In next week’s Gospel reading, after the rich man went away, Mark 10:23 (ESV) 23 …Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”

“What must I do to inherit eternal life?” is the wrong question. There is nothing you can do. You do not deserve it, you cannot earn it, it can only come as a gift from God. Salvation comes from God alone. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. With God all things are possible.

The disciples are amazed. How can this be? Everyone wants to be rich. They believe wealth is a sign of God’s blessing, and yet they just saw a rich man turn his back on Jesus and walk away disheartened. He could not admit he is a helpless, needy child. Jesus continues, and notice how He addresses the disciples. Mark 10:24–25 (ESV) 24 …“Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

A camel…through the eye of a needle…that’s crazy…that’s impossible. The disciples are confused. Mark 10:26 (ESV) 26 … “Then who can be saved?” Mark 10:27 (ESV) 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”

“What must I do to inherit eternal life?” is the wrong question. There is nothing you can do. You do not deserve it, you cannot earn it, it can only come as a gift from God. Salvation comes from God alone. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. With God all things are possible.

The rich man in our Gospel reading is needy and helpless. The very wealthy today are needy and helpless. You are needy and helpless. The advantage you have is that you know it. You know you are a spiritually needy, helpless child, and you know the way of salvation through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. You are a baptized child of God. Jesus gave you the gift of the Holy Spirit. You have heard Jesus’ invitation, “follow me,” and you follow Him because you know He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. You know you cannot do it on your own. You follow Jesus. Amen.

Posted on September 29, 2024 by pastorkevinjud

The Devil is Powerless Against You

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St. Michael and All Angels
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
September 29, 2024
Daniel 10:10-14, 12:1-3, Revelation 123:7-12, Luke 10:17-20

What would it be like to be, right now, in the presence of God — with the angels and the archangels and all the company of heaven? As we read in Daniel 7:9–10 (ESV) 9 “As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. 10 A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.” In God’s presence there are countless angels all around the throne of God.

If you ever had to go to court as the defendant, what kind of representation would you want? Would you want a lawyer who believes you are totally guilty and who keeps telling the judge how guilty you are and if given the opportunity you will do worse? Because that is what it would be like to have that fallen angel, the devil, representing you before the throne of God. In the Old Testament in Job and Zechariah we see the devil accusing God’s saints, Job and Joshua, the high priest. The devil once had a place in the council of angels before the throne of God… and then everything changed.

2,000 years ago God the Son leaves heaven to take on human flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary. God takes on flesh and the devil sees an opportunity to defeat the Son of God while He is a vulnerable human.

The book of Revelation is full of prophetic picture language, but we can clearly see the battle between light and darkness, good and evil, in Revelation 12:4–6 (ESV) 4 [The dragon’s] tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. 5 She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, 6 and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.”

The woman is Mary — and the Church. Satan uses Herod the Great to try to destroy the Christ child in Bethlehem, but Joseph, Mary and Jesus flee in the middle of the night to Egypt. After returning to Nazareth, Jesus grows to adulthood. At age 30 He begins His ministry and fulfills His mission of being the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world in Jerusalem on that awful Friday we call Good. The devil uses the Jewish leaders, Jesus’ disciple Judas, Jewish crowds, and the Roman governor to carry out his evil plan to nail Jesus to the cross to die in utter humiliation. As Jesus declares, “It is finished,” and breathes His last, the devil thinks He has won… but Jesus does not stay dead. On Sunday morning His tomb is empty. Jesus descends to Hell to preach a victory sermon and He appears to His disciples and over 500 others. Jesus is victorious over sin, over death and over the devil. Forty days later Jesus ascends to heaven from the Mount of Olives and arrives at the throne of God. The devil tried to get rid of the Christ and establish himself as the prince of angels, but he is defeated. Jesus wins the right to represent fallen humanity and He is the one, Revelation 1:5 (ESV) 5 … who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood”

In a war of words, Michael and his angels throw Satan and His angels out of heaven and down to earth. Michael means, “Who is God?” The answer is, “Jesus is God; the devil is not.”

There is great joy in heaven at the devil’s eviction. Revelation 12:10–12 (ESV) 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. 12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”

There is a cosmic battle of good versus evil; light versus darkness. The battle in heaven has been won and the evil one and all his angels have been thrown down. The devil tries to destroy the church, but God’s Church is protected by the Lord. The Church is built on the rock that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and the gates of hell will not overcome Christ’s Church. Who is God? Jesus is God.

The devil cannot destroy Jesus. The devil cannot destroy the Church. So the devil is going after you. Revelation 12:17 (ESV) 17 Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus…”

You know the devil is a liar. He wants to convince you that you can work off your sins, but you know, Ephesians 2:8–9 (ESV) 8 … by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

The devil is furious and he is coming after you with his accusations and his lies. The devil will hold up your evil deeds in front of you and declare that you are a sinner who deserves death and hell. The devil will tell you that God cannot love you because of your sin, but you can work your way back into His favor by being good enough; that it is all up to you. Also, the devil will try to convince you that sin is okay, everyone is doing it; you can decide for yourself what is sin and what isn’t. The devil is clever and the devil is furious, but for a follower of Jesus, the devil is powerless. For a Christian, the devil is like a 2-year-old having a temper tantrum; lots of bluster — amounting to nothing. Because you know the truth. You know that you are a sinner, you readily admit that. You get on your knees each week as we begin worship and confess you are a sinner who deserves death and hell thus rendering the devil’s accusation powerless.

You know the devil is a liar. He wants to convince you that you can work off your sins, but you know, Ephesians 2:8–9 (ESV) 8 … by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

The devil wants you to embrace sin because sin does not matter, but you know sin is real, and sin is serious because the wages of sin is death, and that is why Jesus had to die for you. The devil is a furious, powerless liar. He only has power if you give him power. You do not belong to the devil. You belong to Jesus.

We read in 1 John 2:1 (ESV) 1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”

The devil wants to act like he has some control; like he has some influence; like he has some power. But that is the great good news of our reading from Revelation today. When Jesus ascended to heaven to be your advocate with God the Father, the devil was kicked out of heaven. The devil cannot accuse you to God. The devil has no access to God. Jesus speaks to God the Father on your behalf. Jesus is your advocate with the Father. He is your defense attorney and He is the one who paid the penalty. He also is the prosecutor and the judge. There is no one in heaven to accuse you, because you are covered by the righteousness of Jesus. He is the one who has washed you clean and presents you Ephesians 5:27 (ESV) 27 … in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that [you] might be holy and without blemish.”

The devil tries to accuse you and lie to you, but he is just babbling nonsense. Don’t listen to him. Do not give him any power. You don’t belong to the devil. Like he did with Eve, the devil wants you to believe that you can be like God, but you cannot be like God. Remember what the angel Michael’s name means. “Who is God?” God is God, and you His beloved creation. You are the apple of His eye. You belong to Jesus.

Jesus has declared that your sins are forgiven and you are holy, innocent and blessed. Jesus is at the right hand of God declaring this about you to God the Father. The lying devil is powerless unless you give him power. Stay alert for his lies. Ignore his accusations. You belong to Jesus. Jesus’ angels defend you. Let His holy angel be with you, that the evil foe may have no power over you.

In Martin Luther’s hymn “A Mighty Fortress” there is a stanza about the devil that fits so well with our lesson today.

3     Though devils all the world should fill,
    All eager to devour us,
We tremble not, we fear no ill;
    They shall not overpow’r us.
This world’s prince may still
Scowl fierce as he will,
    He can harm us none.
    He’s judged; the deed is done;
One little word can fell him.

One little word. “Liar!” Amen

Posted on September 22, 2024 by pastorkevinjud

What were you discussing on the way?

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Pentecost 18, 2024, Proper 20
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
September 22, 2024
Pastor Kevin Jud
Jeremiah 11:18-20, James 3:13-4:10, Mark 9:30-37

The old saying is, “Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.” You want to win. You want to be successful. You want to overcome obstacles and accomplish your dreams.

We love rags to riches stories. We love to hear about people, who, through hard work and perseverance, accomplish great things. It is the American dream. Work hard and achieve greatness.

We compare ourselves to others in order to see how we are doing. We keep score so we know we are keeping ahead of others.

In school we keep score with grades, friends, trophies, clothes, electronics, and the number of likes on Instagram. As we get older we keep score with houses and cars and paychecks. Parents keep score by the progress of their children. “My child learned to walk at 7 months. He already has 8 teeth.” Pastors keep score by the size of their congregations and the number of new members.

With whom do you compare yourself? How do you keep score? How do you know that you are doing better than others?

Jesus is walking with his disciples coming back from the Mount of Transfiguration on their way to Capernaum. Along the way Jesus drives out an unclean spirit from a boy after the disciples were unable to do it, and then they continue on their way. As they travel, Jesus teaches the disciples for the second time about what is going to happen to Him. Mark 9:31-32 (ESV) 31 … “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.”

The disciples are following this great teacher Jesus; He is wise, He is powerful, He can do miraculous things. He is really going places. The disciples are following Jesus right to the top.

Jesus tells them what is going to happen, but they are confused. This doesn’t sound like success. Taken prisoner, killed, rise again. Jesus is amazing and powerful and great; so, obviously, He must not know what He is talking about with this getting arrested and getting killed stuff.

So the disciples ignore this second teaching about Jesus’ arrest, death and resurrection because they know better and they have more important things to worry about…like which of them is the greatest.

How do you think the disciples keep score? Maybe it’s who gets to sit next to Jesus at dinner? Maybe who gets to walk next to Jesus? Who gets to hold the money bag? Who Jesus talks with the most? Which of them is the greatest?

Likely, in this conversation, Peter, James and John are arguing that “who is the greatest” is based on who got to go with Jesus up on the mountain of transfiguration. The disciples are keeping score. They want to know where they stand. They are a lot like us.

Jesus ignores their conversation as they walk along but after they arrive back at the house in Capernaum Jesus asks, “What were you discussing on the way?”

The disciples are silent. They realize their conversation was selfish and self-centered and they are worried that Jesus may have heard them. They think they understand Jesus, but they do not yet really understand. Like Adam and Eve hiding from God, the disciples think they can do things and say things without Jesus knowing.

Jesus sits down and calls the silent twelve to Himself and says, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” Wait…what? That does not sound right. To be first you have to be last? To be first you have to be servant of all? What is that about? The disciples must be thinking, “Uh… Jesus. Uh… we are here because we want to be near your power and greatness because we want power and greatness; so what is all this servant talk?”

Jesus’ teaching is all backwards. It is all backwards for the disciples and it is all backwards for you and me. We want to be great. We want success. We want to be winners. We want to be number one. But Jesus says that to be first you must be last. To be number one, you must become servant of all. Jesus then takes a little child and puts the child in the center of the group and hugs the child. “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”

Now, at Jesus’ time children have no status. They are helpless, dirty little tots who have no value until they are old enough to do some work, and due to lack of good medical care, half of them won’t even live to see adulthood. Children are fragile, whiny, and needy, and yet Jesus is saying that we are to receive the children in His name.

The disciples must think, “Children are not great, they have not achieved anything. We are so much more important than some stupid child…oh…that is the point Jesus is making…we are not more important than a child.” The disciples are not more important. You are not more important. You are a humble servant. You are a humble servant because the Lord is a humble servant. Jesus serves you. Jesus purchased and won you from sin, death and the power of the devil, not with gold or silver but with his holy, precious blood and his innocent suffering and death.

In the cleansing waters of baptism Jesus sets you apart from the world and calls you to be a servant of all, and as you keep reading the Gospel you see Jesus live this out by being servant of all as He goes to the cross to die for you…to die for the whole world.

By nature you want to succeed. You want more than others. You want to be better than others. You want it to be about me, me, me. Jesus calls you to give up on greatness and humbly follow Him.

Against your nature you are called to be a servant. You want to be great. You want to know you where you stand with others. Like so many of us, the disciples argue about who is the greatest.

In our Epistle reading from James we see this very thing warned against. (James 4:1-7 ESV) 1What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

By nature you want to succeed. You want more than others. You want to be better than others. You want it to be about me, me, me. Jesus calls you to give up on greatness and humbly follow Him.

You have been marked by the cross of Christ. You have been baptized into Christ. You belong to Jesus. You don’t have to do anything to make yourself great because you have been given the riches of the Kingdom of Heaven. You are destined to live forever in the presence of the Lamb of God basking in His light in the Heavenly City of New Jerusalem.

Jesus promises that one day you will live in His presence forever, but for now, you live here on earth in love and service for one another. You support each other. You work hard in service to your family; to your brothers and sisters in Christ, to your neighbor. You work hard — not to achieve greatness, but in service to others. You give of your time for others. You give your money for others. You give your life for others. You are called to be a servant to all because you are already a child of God.

Success, greatness, and winning, these things are important to the world, but they are not important to God.

Many churches have become quite large and many pastors have become quite wealthy by preaching about how to achieve success and greatness in the world; which is exactly what peoples’ itching ears want to hear. But this is not Jesus’ teaching. This is the world’s teaching.

You are right now in the Kingdom of Heaven because the work of salvation has already been done for you by Jesus. As a follower of Jesus, you live and work in humble service. “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” Amen.

Posted on August 11, 2024 by pastorkevinjud

Idolatry or Christ?

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Pentecost 12, 2024
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
August 11, 2024
1 Kings 19:1-8, Ephesians 4:17-5:2, John 6:35-51

Idolatry or Christ?

The children of Israel in the Northern Kingdom at the time of King Ahab and his wife Jezebel have a big problem. They have given up on worshiping YHWH, the true God, and instead are worshiping the local gods Baal and Asherah, fertility gods with sexual perversion as part of their worship.

The prophet Elijah summons 450 prophets of Baal to Mt. Carmel where there is a showdown between YHWH and Baal and YHWH wins. Israel needs a clean break from idolatry. After Baal’s defeat, 1 Kings 18:40 (ESV) 40 …Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape.” And they seized them. And Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon and slaughtered them there.”

Idolatry or Christ? Elijah makes a clean break from idolatry by slaughtering the prophets of Baal. He is clearly on the side of YHWH. Elijah is forced to flee the wrath of Queen Jezebel. Rejecting idolatry can have it costs.

You were born into a perverse and idolatrous world. What Paul says in Ephesians about the people of the world is still true today. They walk… Ephesians 4:17–19 (ESV) 17 … in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. Idolatry or Christ?

You have made a clean break from this world. In the waters of baptism God stripped away from you the filthy garments of your old sinful self and has given you the robe of Jesus’ righteousness made white in the blood of the Lamb of God. He has delivered [you] from the domain of darkness and transferred [you] to the kingdom of his beloved Son. In baptism, the Old Adam in you, the old sinful self, is drowned and dies. You are given a clean break from idolatry. You are in Christ. As a baptized child of God you are kept safe and secure in the holy ark of the Christian Church, being separated from the multitude of unbelievers and serving God’s name at all time with a fervent spirit and a joyful hope.

Idolatry or Christ? You have made a clean break from life in the world. You have made a clean break from the devil; the god of this world. As the community of Christ, at a baptism we renounce the devil, and all of his works, and all of his ways. We disown the devil. We give up life in his world to live life in the kingdom of God. Life in the kingdom of God is life lived, in community, with the people of Christ. It is life lived in the Church of Christ. It is life lived together in Christ.

What does life in the Kingdom of God look like?

In the Kingdom of God you are… Ephesians 4:22–24 (ESV) 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” Put off your old self. Put on the new self.

In our Epistle reading Paul teaches about life together as the Church. As followers of Jesus, set apart from the multitude of unbelievers, how should you live together knowing that the devil desperately wants to tear you apart through disputes and anger and bitterness and sin. How should you live together? Ephesians 4:25 (ESV) 25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.” You all belong to one another, so speak the truth in love. Pastors must teach the truth of God and not let the lies of the world creep into the teaching of the church as so many pastors are doing. Megan Basham’s has a new book entitled, “Shepherds For Sale: How Evangelical Leaders Traded The Truth for a Leftist Agenda.” In this book it is reported that influential leaders in evangelical churches have been paid off by far left influencers to stop teaching the truth of God’s word and instead adapt their teaching to be compatible with the ways of the cultural elites. This is a well-organized, well-funded movement in order to influence the political voting of the members of their churches.

Idolatry or Christ? Speak the truth.

Ephesians 4:26–27 (ESV) 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil.” This is an interesting verse. It is actually a quote from Psalm 4:4 (ESV) 4 Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent.”

The danger of this verse is I think it can lead us to believe that it is okay to get angry, at least to a certain extent, and we use this verse to justify our anger. However, the word “angry” in Psalm 4 can be translated “be agitated,” or even “tremble.” You can feel agitation and trembling when you are getting angry. As a situation grows more stressful you can feel the anxiety building, and you can begin to physically shake; maybe just your hands… maybe your whole body. Your temper is building and getting ready to blow. What are the triggers for you losing your temper? Some of my triggers for feeling like this are automated customer service help lines where you dial a number and answer a bunch of questions by voice and push a bunch of buttons and then it puts you back to the beginning and you have to start over and it will not let you speak to a real person. Or when the copier won’t work, or the computer is not cooperating. I am doing exactly what I have done before, but this time it is not working. Or trying to login to a website and it keeps rejecting the password I know is correct and my anger rises. Another time I get agitated is when I am eating out and have finished the meal and ready to head home and the waitress disappears. I just want to get the check and go but they have me trapped. This agitates me. It can make me tremble. Jeannette surely has many more examples.

Be agitated, and do not sin. Anger is a problem for children, teenagers, adults, seniors. We all struggle with anger, some more than others. As a child of God, control your anger… because when you lose your temper you sin. You do things and say things that you need to repent of. Losing your temper can permanently break relationships. You hurt others. The devil loves to get you angry. Don’t give the devil a foothold. Take a break. Call a timeout. Go for a walk. Take some deep breaths. Regain control over yourself. Self-control is one of the fruits of the Spirit.

Anger is dangerous in marriages, in families, and in congregations. Anger gives the devil a foothold to take over your life and pull you away from Christ into idolatry. The devil wants nothing more than for church members to get angry with each other. An angry church member or an angry pastor can do great harm to the Body of Christ. Anger is not a Christian virtue and yet so many Christians are angry. Control your emotions. Rejoice in the Lord. Rejoice in your salvation. Be on guard and do not let the sun go down on your anger. Repent of your anger. Before you go to bed, reach out to the one you are angry with and make amends. Apologize for losing your temper. Apologize for your anger. Ephesians 4:26–27 (ESV) 26 Be [agitated] and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil.”

Ephesians 4:28 (ESV) 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.” Repent of your wrongdoing and do good. Not just for yourself, but so that you can help others.

Ephesians 4:29–30 (ESV) 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” You are a baptized child of God. You are redeemed. You have the gift of eternal life. Your body is a temple for the Holy Spirit. Live out your Spirit-filled identity in Christ. Does Christ tear others down? Does He talk trash about others? Does Jesus tell dirty jokes? Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. You are a new creation in Christ filled with the Holy Spirit. Live out your life in Christ.

It is a daily struggle, as a vessel of the Holy Spirit, to live out your identity. Ephesians 4:31 (ESV) 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Ephesians 4:32 (ESV) 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

Forgiveness is key to life in Christ as a temple of the Holy Spirit. When someone wrongs you, you have the right to get even. You have the right to take revenge. God has the right to punish you for your sins. You are a sinner. The wages of sin is death. You deserve death and hell. God has a right to punish you but He gives up that right. Jesus is punished instead and you are forgiven. Forgive one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

After our reading today Paul goes on to warn about sexual immorality and covetousness and filthy talk. These are the ways of the world. But you are no longer of the world.

Idolatry or Christ? You have renounced the devil. In baptism you have been set apart from the multitude of unbelievers. You belong to Jesus. You are a community in Christ. You are the body of Christ. Ephesians 5:1–2 (ESV) 1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

Walk in love because you are in Christ. Amen

Posted on June 2, 2024 by pastorkevinjud

Weaponizing the Law

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Pentecost 2 2024 Proper 4
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
June 2, 2024
Deut 5:12-15, 2 Cor. 4:5-12, Mark 2:23-28 (3:1-6)

You wake up to the sound of the alarm. You just want to turn it off and roll over, but you need to get up and get going, there is lots to do. Life is very busy. It seems there is always more to do than time to do it. The calendar is jammed packed. You feel like a hamster on a wheel, always running but never getting anywhere.

You need a break.

Imagine being a part of a family of subsistence farmers 3,000 years ago trying to scratch out a living from the land. If you don’t work, you don’t eat. And food preparation is all from scratch meaning that to make bread you start with kernels of wheat that your family harvested and threshed and winnowed and now you have to grind into flour. You work from first light to sunset with barely enough to eat, and you go to bed exhausted. You work and work and never get ahead.

You need a break.

God knows you need a break and so he gives the gift of the Sabbath day to His people. God created the world in six days and then His work was completed and He rested on the seventh day. The Israelites’ work is never completed so they need the Sabbath to receive renewal and restoration from God. God gives the children of Israel this gift of rest in the Ten Commandments as we see in our Old Testament reading. Exodus 20:8 (ESV) 8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.”

Now, as rebellious people, the commandments of God can feel like a burden or a threat. It can seem like God’s law is your nemesis holding you back. That it is something you need to find a way around, but the law of God is God’s gift to you — for your good. This is literally expressed in the fourth commandment. Exodus 20:12 (ESV) 12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”

God’s law curbs your bad behavior, and God’s law shows you are a sinner, and God’s law is a gift to you to offer you a better life. God gives the children of Israel the Sabbath for their own good. He gives them a time each week for physical rest, and time to receive renewal and restoration from God. God gives penalties for those who intentionally abuse the Sabbath so that the Sabbath remains a gift to the people. God wants His people to have this gift of renewal and restoration.

Over the years the Jewish religious leaders become more interested in how to keep the Sabbath instead of why did God give the Sabbath. This is still an issue today. When I was in Israel in January of 2023 we got to observe Sabbath regulations in practice. There was a Sabbath elevator that stopped on every floor of the hotel. It was permissible to ride in the elevator, but not to push the buttons. You could open a room door with a key, but not with a key card. There was even a self-flushing toilet with a sign that said it did not conform to Sabbath regulations.

In our Gospel reading we see the Pharisees seemingly all concerned about protecting the Sabbath day…but what are they really trying to do? They are using the rules about how to keep the Sabbath in order to try to get Jesus in trouble. They want to get rid of this Jesus fellow who just suddenly showed up in Galilee and now is causing all sorts of issues. The people listen to Him rather than the Pharisees and other religious leaders. Somehow this Jesus has authority over unclean spirits and disease, even leprosy and paralysis. He is not like other so-called prophets and teachers. And if that was not bad enough, he does things that are just unheard up. He calls a tax collector to be one of His followers and then has dinner at the tax collector’s house and eats there with other tax collectors and sinners. The Pharisees do not even associate with Gentiles, tax collectors or openly sinful Jews, let alone eat with them. Jesus comes to renew and restore sinners, but the Pharisees do not want sinners renewed and restored. Jesus’ care for others angers the Pharisees and they start to look for ways to get rid of Him, but they just grow more frustrated.

The Pharisees question Jesus as to why His disciples do not fast and He calls himself the bridegroom at the wedding feast. He tells them that He is new cloth and new wine; He does not fit in the old ways. The Pharisees look to trap Jesus and discredit Him. They go after Jesus because His disciples are plucking heads of grain on the Sabbath so they could have a little snack. Jesus turns the discussion away from the Sabbath and onto authority. He tells of how David, the anointed King of Israel, eats the holy bread reserved for the priests. David was the anointed king — Jesus is greater than David. He tells them, Mark 2:27–28 (ESV) 27 … “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.” Now the Sabbath was commanded by God and Jesus claims to be lord of the Sabbath. So that means Jesus is….the Lord God. Now the Pharisees are really upset.

Next, Jesus is at the synagogue and there is a man there whose hand is disfigured. The Pharisees watch with bated breath to see what Jesus will do. It is the Sabbath day and the Pharisees have weaponized the Sabbath to try to destroy their enemy. The Sabbath is a gift from God for renewal and restoration. The Sabbath is supposed to be good for the people — the Pharisees are using it as a club. The Pharisees, on the Sabbath, are scheming and plotting against their enemy. They are trying to trap Jesus into healing on the Sabbath so they are at the synagogue watching Him. Here is Jesus. Here is the man with the withered hand. Will He do it? Will He help this man on the Sabbath? What is going to happen?

Jesus knows what they are doing and He wants to make sure everyone understands what is going to happen. He tells the man with the crippled hand, “Rise up, come here.” The Sabbath is God’s gift for renewal and restoration. Jesus wants to do good to this man and heal him. The Pharisees want to harm Jesus. They want to kill Jesus. Jesus lays this out, Mark 3:4 (ESV) 4 And he [says] to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they [are] silent.”

Jesus wants to do good and heal someone. The Pharisees want to do harm and kill Jesus. The Pharisees are using the law not to keep order; not for good, but to attack Jesus and destroy their enemy. They are using the Sabbath as a weapon against their opponent.

Jesus looks at the Pharisees with anger. He is sad that their hearts are so hard as to abuse God’s law for evil. And Jesus does not back down. He says to the man who has stood up and come to Him, Mark 3:5 (ESV) 5 …“Stretch out your hand.” He [stretches] it out, and his hand [is] restored.”

Jesus does not do anything. With just the power of His word Jesus heals the man’s withered hand. The man is renewed and restored by the power of Jesus’ Word. This is incredible. This is a miracle and it happens in front of everyone at the synagogue. How do the Pharisees react? Mark 3:6 (ESV) 6 The Pharisees [go] out and immediately [hold] counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.”

Their reaction to a miracle of healing is anger and murderous thoughts. The Pharisees are so mad that they unite with their enemy, the Herodians, against their common enemy, Jesus. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. I am not sure if they think they are doing God’s will or are just using the idea of God to protect their positions. The truth is that they hate God and are trying to kill God.

God’s law is still in effect today. You still have the gift of God’s law and it is still a gift to you for your good. God’s law is for good, but there is a great temptation to use the law as a weapon against your enemies rather than as a tool to keep peace. This happens more than we would like to admit. How often do kids tattle on each other simply to get the other person in trouble? Not to protect them, or help them, just to get them in trouble? Adults also are tempted to use the rules to try to control others rather than for the good of others? We are tempted to use the law to criticize, blame, or punish someone in a vulnerable position. We have a cute expression for this. We call this throwing someone under the bus. Used properly the law is good. In the wrong hands the law becomes a weapon to attack others. In the church this can take the form of angry Christians whose joy of salvation is stifled by always being on high alert for other people doing something wrong and then trying to correct them.

You go to church because it is good for you, not because it is good for God.

The Third Commandment, “Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it Holy,” is still in force today although it has been updated in Jesus. Instead of the Sabbath being the center, Jesus is the center. Jesus is the source of rest and restoration. Jesus says, Matthew 11:28–30 (ESV) 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Jesus’ Word is the source of rest for your souls. Martin Luther’s explanation of the third commandment is, “We should fear and love God so that we do not despise preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it.” We gather for worship to receive from God renewal and restoration. We are not to hate God’s Word of renewal, or grudgingly hear it, but rather treasure it. Just as Jesus said, Mark 2:27 (ESV) 27 … “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath,” we might say, “God has provided Christian worship for the benefit of man…He did not create man simply for the sake of Christian worship.”

You go to church because it is good for you, not because it is good for God.

In the busyness of your life you need rest and rejuvenation. In your battle against sin and temptation you need renewal and restoration. You gather here once a week to receive renewal and restoration from God in baptism, and in His Word, and in Holy Communion. In this place you hear that your sins are forgiven and you are fed with heavenly food. You rest in Jesus because it is good for you. Take time to rest in Jesus. Take time to reflect that you are indeed, by nature, sinful and unclean and you need Jesus. Take time to reflect that you are poor in spirit and Jesus blesses the poor in spirit and gives you the Kingdom of Heaven.

You are blessed to be here. You come here feeling like the man’s withered hand, battered and hurting, and you stretch out your guilt and shame by confessing your sins, and receive restoration from the Lord Jesus. Rest in the gifts of Jesus. And not just an hour and fifteen minutes on Sunday morning but each day rest in Jesus in prayer and scripture reading. Rest in Jesus; be renewed and restored and refreshed so you are able to serve others in all your various vocations. Amen.

Posted on May 19, 2024 by pastorkevinjud

Pentecost Graduation

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Pentecost Day 2024
The Milestone of Life
Vicar Kinne
Texts: John 15:26-27 & 16:4b-15; Acts 2: 1-21; Ezekiel 37:1-14

The stadium is packed with people. The band plays Pomp and Circumstance for the last time. The valedictorian gives his speech. The principal, whether liked or not by the students, shakes each graduate’s hand and gives them a blank booklet intended for a piece of paper that will be sent in the mail in a few weeks. The class stands up together for the last time, and many thrilled students toss their caps up in the air hoping to find them again among in the sea of other thrown hats. Then everyone breaks off for pictures with grandmas and grandpas, and then to parties for a little bit. This is a scene many of us have witnessed which honors students for achievement in their studies and involvement in the community.

For some of us, it might bring back memories of the “good ole days”. Yet for some of us this memory is no more than a week old. Either way, times like these are meant to be celebratory for yet one more milestone in life is achieved.

However, memories of these milestones never come with all cords fully tied. Some loose ends are never mended while new things begin. “What am I gonna do now?” “Should I be taking a year off?” “Do I go to college, or do I just work?” “Do I live with my parents, or do I move out?” Looking into the unknown future can be scary! This is because life does not always show you what the next milestone is. Uncertainty can cause a spike in one’s anxiety. But we should always remember that God looks over His children. He takes care of every single one of us. And even though we may not understand the tests and trials God puts us through in a given moment, faith clings to Him, and He will give us the strength to make it through the next milestone in life.

A recent study says around 40% of college students report they have attended a church service of some kind within their first month of school. They may be going for different reasons. A student could just be a regular church goer and continue the path they were instructed in from childhood. Maybe some students see leaving their parents’ home for the first time as an opportunity to explore other options. After all, going to see what church is “all about” would be educational for their young adult experience. Regardless of the reason, it is also said that somewhere between 50-80% of these students who attend a service in their first month of college also fall away from going to church all together. This means less than 20% of our college students today are walking through their college life with a Christian spiritual guide.

It does not matter what the plans are for their future—going to college, getting a job, getting married, buying a house, having children, traveling the world, maybe having all of these things at one time—parents sending a child out into the world is scary! After all, Christian parents live in the wisdom that the ways of this sinful world can lead a young person down the path of evil and ultimately death. There are incredible and beautiful things God puts in His creation for all of us to enjoy, and we want our children to see and experience those things, but at what cost? Will they get to their destination safely? Will they stay on the straight and narrow path along the way? These questions are uncertain. But there is always one certainty that brings us comfort and that is the message of Christ’s Gospel.

There is only one person in the history of mankind who never strayed away from the path of righteousness, that is Jesus Christ. This may sound like a cliché Sunday school answer, but the truth of this Gospel needs to be the most precious thing to a person. It needs to be valued above one’s educational degree, one’s marriage, one’s job, and even one’s children. The things of this world always change, but the gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord is the only milestone that is certain and matters!

Today, we commemorate a celebratory moment in the church year, Pentecost. In the Hebrew calendar this feast is celebrated 50 days after Passover. During the time of Jesus’ ministry and the early church, Jews and God-fearing people would come to Jerusalem for this festival to give thanks to God for the Torah; the word of God handed to Moses on Mount Sinai. But for the Christian, it is 50 days after one of the greatest milestones in history… the resurrection of our Lord. On this day we celebrate a type of graduation, one that would change the history of the whole world.

As the disciples gather in a house on Pentecost, Jesus, from His ascended throne sends the Holy Spirit like a rushing wind among them. This “helper”, as Jesus called Him in John’s Gospel, gives the disciples a special ability. This ability given to them is far more valuable than a piece of paper with a signature saying, “This Disciple of Jesus has been given full honors and is suited to preach on behalf of the Church”. No, this “diploma” from Holy Spirit is practical and instrumental in fulfilling Jesus’ command of going out to make disciples of all nations and baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They are given the ability to speak in any language so that all who are in Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost can hear that the Messiah, Jesus Christ, was put to death as a sacrifice for the world, He was raised from dead, and ascended on high.

Can you list the works of Christ on your transcript? Did you earn this credit? Of course not. Jesus’ work, alone, saves you. You did nothing to earn your salvation. Like the worst participant in a group project, you earn the credit of the best in the group; the one who did all the work for you. It is a comfort to know that Jesus’ dying on the cross and His conquering over death still gives you an A+ before our Father in heaven.

When you feel like you are not worthy of Christ’s forgiveness, take a look at whom our Lord chooses to give the Holy Spirit to on Pentecost. These disciples betrayed Him. They ran away and disowned their Master before He was crucified. They hid in locked rooms fearing that they may be put to death by the Jews. Even after Jesus presents Himself to them multiple times after the resurrection, they are still scared.

These men do not seem fit to graduate from their seminary experience! But they are witnesses of Christ’s ministry. They saw Him raise people from the dead. They saw Him heal the lame, the deaf, mute, blind, and even cast out demons. They saw storms being stilled by His word alone. Because they are witnesses of these things, they are also the chosen candidates to receive the Holy Spirit and be sent to the four corners of the ancient world to spread the Good News of what they witnessed before men. So, knowing the disciples are forgiven and receive life and salvation even after denying Christ to His face, you can be confident that your Savior saves you.

When the disciples receive the Holy Spirit, it is as if a veil is taken away from their face. They understand the mission their Master has for them in the world. Before Pentecost, they sat behind closed doors waiting in anxiety, thinking their lives were coming to an end. But now the Holy Spirit is directing them. They are not ashamed of the Gospel. In fact, they are so confident in preaching Christ crucified, that over 3000 people at that day believe in Jesus and are baptized. Everywhere the disciples went, the Word of God is preached, and new believers are brought into the family of God.

That day of Pentecost in Jerusalem, with the bestowal of the Holy Spirit in wind and flame, is a type of graduation. But like graduation from school, it did not ensure a trouble free life. Just because you have a diploma, just because you graduate with high honors, does not mean that there will be no trouble. You may apply for your dream job and be denied. You may ask your high school sweetheart to marry you and she says, “I don’t”. You may pursue a course of study at the university and flunk required classes. You may try moving out of your parents’ house just to be turned away after submitting a renter’s application.

Just because the disciples are given the gift of the Holy Spirit, it does not mean that everything goes according to their plan. It does not mean that everything is smooth sailing after Pentecost. In fact, the life of the disciples becomes busier and harder. Yes, the Lord provides for them in the ministry, but many reject Jesus and His followers bringing the Good News. And because of this the disciples were persecuted, as Jesus said they would in Matthew chapter 5, “10“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

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

Some of these disciples are innocently imprisoned. Some escape death on multiple accounts. Others are stoned to death. Peter is crucified upside down! Being given the Holy Spirit and sent to be witnesses for Jesus makes their lives difficult. Most people reject Jesus and His followers and turn away from His church. For the apostles, receiving the Holy Spirit brings hardship and trouble in this life. But by the Holy Spirit these men know that comfort in this life is not the most important thing.

Through your parents you inherit sin and death. It is this sin and death our Lord overcomes by His cross and resurrection. At your baptism He gives the diploma of everlasting life through the water and the Word where you receive His Holy Spirit and His righteousness. His name is autographed on your forehead and upon your heart marking you as one redeemed by Christ the crucified.

Graduations are big milestones in life, but the ultimate milestone is eternal life. This is coming for you as a gift from the Lord. Just like the disciples, death may come to you before our Lord returns but the life He gives to you and everyone in the church is ultimately bigger and better than this sinful life we are in now.

So, toss your hats everyone! You have the Holy Spirit living in you. You are a temple for the Breath of God. Celebrate and share the good news with others in the world! Be graduates of the church not ashamed of the diploma you have been given. Give thanks for God’s continual gift of His love in His Word and Sacraments. Rejoice because our Lord gives you His gown of righteousness! Amen.

Posted on May 12, 2024 by pastorkevinjud

Where is Jesus?

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Ascension 2024
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
May 12, 2024
Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:44-53

Where is heaven? Where is Jesus? The last anyone saw Jesus in the flesh was on the Mount of Olives overlooking Jerusalem.

At the end of the Gospel of Luke Jesus gives final instructions. Luke 24:44–49 (ESV) 44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

He leads the apostles out to Bethany on the Mount of Olives and tells them, Acts 1:8–9 (ESV) 8 …you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.”

That is the last time anyone saw Jesus in the flesh. The 11 apostles just stand there staring up into heaven where Jesus had just been, but now is no longer. Jesus has gone into heaven and two angels in white robes tell the apostles, Acts 1:11 (ESV) 11 … “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Jesus went into heaven and Jesus will return from heaven on the last day. So where is heaven? Where is Jesus?

I believe we can sometimes think about heaven being very far away, almost like God is somewhere far off in outer space or somewhere very far removed from us. Like He is way up high on a mountain looking down at the little houses in the valley, but it all looks like toys or something from that distance. Kind of like God is there… but not really that involved.

So where is heaven? Where is Jesus? In this account from Acts 1 Jesus ascends into the air and disappears into a cloud. Has Jesus abandoned earth? Where is Jesus?

At the incarnation in Nazareth Jesus takes on a physical body and then is born in Bethlehem. Where is Jesus then? He is in Mary’s womb. He is lying in a manger. In His conception and birth, Jesus, God the Son, enters His state of humiliation where He does not fully use His divine powers. In His pre-resurrection body Jesus is located in one place at a time. He is in Bethlehem, or Jerusalem, or Egypt, or Nazareth, or Capernaum. He is in one place at a time and travels in a normal human way between places. When He is raised from the dead He has a transformed body that allows Him to be in heaven– and on earth—and to be omnipresent; present everywhere. We even see glimpses of this before His ascension as He disappears from Emmaus and then is back in Jerusalem and appears inside a locked room.

Forty days after His resurrection, at His ascension, Jesus transitions to being fully omnipresent.

At His ascension Jesus goes from being on the Mount of Olives to being everywhere; to being with believers in Jesus. As a follower of Jesus, you have Jesus in you. As St. Paul describes his status as a Christian, Galatians 2:20 (ESV) 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”

Jesus is in heaven, Jesus is in you, Jesus is present where two or three are gathered, Jesus comes to you in baptism, Jesus comes to you in His Body and Blood in Holy Communion for the forgiveness of your sins, and Jesus is omnipresent; He is present everywhere. Jesus’ ascension is not Jesus’ departure but rather Jesus’ heightened presence everywhere–especially in His followers.

On that day atop the Mount of Olives Jesus ascends into heaven and as the angels tell the apostles, Jesus will return one day. The apostles wait for Jesus to return and we are still waiting. When will Jesus return? We do not know. But as we think about Jesus’ return a question that comes to mind is, “What should I be doing when Jesus returns?” Because He could return this afternoon–or He may not return for 10,000 years. What should I be doing? You should be going through your normal day doing the normal things that you have been given to do. Washing dishes, cooking dinner, crunching numbers, calling a client, cleaning your room, doing your homework, relaxing and recharging, sleeping, praying, worshiping in church. What should I not be doing? What would you not want to be doing when Jesus returns? You don’t want to be clicking away on the dark side of the internet feeding your lusts and perversions. You don’t want to be trash talking someone. You don’t want to be treating your parents with hatred and contempt. You don’t want to be passed out dead drunk. You don’t want to be insulting and belittling your wife or husband. You don’t want to be in bed with someone other than your spouse. You don’t want to be caught in open sin when Jesus returns. And so, each day, you battle your sin in your mind–before it becomes words and deeds–and you feel guilt and sadness when you give in to temptation–and you continue to repent of your sin in thought, word and deed. You continue to remember you are baptized; your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. Jesus dwells in you and He forgives your sins, and, because of Jesus, you are the light of the world. Jesus is coming back one day and do you want to be ready for His return.

And so Jesus, in love, calls you to repent; to have a change of heart and change your direction from being drawn toward sin and instead, Joel 2:13 (ESV) 13 … Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.”

But thinking this way about being ready for Jesus’ return can tempt you to think that since Jesus is ascended and is way far away and He probably is not coming back today all that worry about His return can wait for another day and a little sin won’t hurt.

Truly, you want to be ready for His return, but Jesus is not way far away–Jesus is right with you. He is with you now–here as we gather to receive His gifts. So the better question to ask is, “What should I being doing with Jesus today? Because Jesus is right with you when you surf evil on the web. He is there when you talk badly about others. He is there when you disrespect your parents. He is right with you when you’re getting sloppy drunk. He is with you when you are yelling at your spouse. He is with you when you are committing sexual immorality. Jesus is with you always and knows exactly what you are doing. You can try to hide things from others, but there is no hiding your sin from Jesus.

And so Jesus, in love, calls you to repent; to have a change of heart and change your direction from being drawn toward sin and instead, Joel 2:13 (ESV) 13 … Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.”

As Jesus’ Church we continue to do as Jesus instructed, Luke 24:47 (ESV) 47 …that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.” As Jesus’ Church we are in the business of repentance and forgiveness. Over and over and over Jesus here delivers to you His forgiveness, won on the cruel cross at Golgotha. He gives you grace in your baptism, in the words of absolution, in His Body and Blood in Holy Communion. Jesus forgives you abundantly and He calls you to live each day in Him, with Him, for Him, as a light in this dark world. Jesus lives in you, so always remember who you are in Him and live out your identity.

Martin Luther writes about Jesus’ ascension to the right hand of the Father. “I preach that he [Christ] sits on the right hand of God and rules over all creatures, sin, death, life, world, devils, and angels; if you believe this, you already have him in your heart. Therefore your heart is in heaven, not in an apparition or dream, but truly. For where he is, there you are also. So he dwells and sits in your heart, yet he does not fall from the right hand of God. Christians experience and feel this clearly.” [1]

Where is heaven? Heaven is beyond your understanding, but your heart is in heaven. Where is Jesus? He is at the right hand of God. He is in the bread and wine of Holy Communion. He is in you, and He is everywhere. Jesus did not depart at His ascension. He ascended into heaven to be with you, for you, forever. Amen.

[1][“The Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ — Against the Fanatics” (1526) in Luther’s Basic Writings, 3rd ed., 227]