Posted on by pastorkevinjud

God loves in this way

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Trinity 2024
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
May 26, 2024
Isaiah 6:1-8, Acts 2:14a, 22-35, John 3:1-17

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

            In our Gospel reading today we get that all so familiar passage of John 3:16 (ESV) 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

This is likely the most familiar verse in the whole Bible and the one that more people have memorized than any other.  It is called the Gospel in a nutshell.  You all know it quite well, but it can be familiarity that can at times empty something of its meaning as you think, “I already know this.  I am not going to gain anything more from this verse.”

So, let’s take a little time this morning and slow down and dig into this verse. I got my undergraduate degree in print journalism and we were trained to ask the familiar questions, Who, what, where, when, why and how?

Who?  Who is this verse talking about?  John 3:16 (ESV) 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”  God the Father gave God the Son on behalf of the world that whoever — meaning anyone in the world — believes in him will have eternal life. In just this one verse you learn that God is complex beyond your comprehension.  How does God the Father have a Son?  God the Father does not have a body yet begets, generates, God the Son — from eternity.  Jesus has always been.  We learn this in John 1:1 (ESV) 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:14 (ESV) 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” 

And not only is there God the Father and God the Son, but Jesus teaches about the Holy Spirit just before this,  John 3:5 (ESV) 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” 

            We have God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  One of the proofs that Christianity is true is that the Trinity does not make sense.  How can God be three persons and one God?  When people make up a religion they mostly make up gods that make sense.  Gods that are a lot like us.  Gods that act like we do.  Gods that make demands and give you a list of things you must do to appease them. The true God is different.  He is incomprehensible.  Three persons, one God — who freely gives you grace and mercy. 

            Who is involved here?  God — Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and the world — all people, everywhere.  That is a big who. 

What?  What is happening?  A Pharisee, Nicodemus, comes to Jesus secretly at night.  Nicodemus knows some things about Jesus, but has come to learn more. Jesus tells him that he needs to be born again of water and the Spirit.  Then Jesus tells Nicodemus how people will have eternal life.  John 3:14–15 (ESV) 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.”

What?  What is happening is that God the Father gives His only Son to be lifted up.

Where?  Where will this happen?  We are not told that here with Nicodemus.  When?  When will it happen?  We are not given specifics as to when. 

Why?  Why does God send His Son to be lifted up?  It is a one word answer.  Love.  God loves the world.  God loves with a selfless love.  He loves with a love that does not count the cost.  God’s love for you is beyond comprehension.  In baptism you are born again by water and the Spirit into this love of God as we got to see once again this morning with the baptism of little David. God’s love envelopes little David. God’s love envelopes you; covers you. You live surrounded by the love of God. Paul describes this love in Ephesians 3:17–19 (ESV) 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”  You are rooted and grounded in the incomprehensible love of God.  You are filled with the fullness of God.  

Why?  Because God loves you.

Who, what, where, when, why and how?  How?  This is an interesting question.  We hear, “For God so loved the world” and it can sound like, because God loved the world soooo much.  Indeed it is true that God loves sooo much.  God’s love is beyond understanding.  But, “For God so loved the world,” means God loves the world in this way…God so loves…God loves in this manner.  How does God love the world?  He gives His only son to be lifted up. 

God wants all people to be saved.  God knows the problem of sin and God gives the solution.  How does God love?  In this manner — He sends Jesus to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. 

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

In the book of Numbers, after God sends fiery serpents among the complaining Israelites in the wilderness God instructs Moses to put a bronze serpent on a pole that whoever looks upon it will be healed from snakebite.  How does looking a snake statue cure snakebite?  It does not make any medical sense, but that is what God said to do, and it worked.

Jesus, the Son of Man, given by God the Father, will be lifted up.  In our reading today Nicodemus does not yet know what this means — to be lifted up — but we know what this means Jesus will die on the cross at Golgotha to save sinners.  How does Jesus’ death on a cross save sinners?  This does not make sense.  How can Jesus’ brutal death grant us eternal life?  It is not the way I would do it.  But you know it is true because God said it is true.  John 3:16 (ESV) 16 “…whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” 

God wants all people to be saved.  God knows the problem of sin and God gives the solution.  How does God love?  In this manner — He sends Jesus to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. 

 God wants all people to be saved because He loves all people.  God the Father gives Jesus to be the sacrificial Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world.  The gift of eternal life is for all people.  How utterly heartbreaking it is when one of God’s beloved children who is loved with God’s incomprehensible love, rejects that love.  How tragic when someone rejects God’s gift of eternal life in order follow a made up god with a checklist of demands.  How awful when someone follows their own do-it-yourself spirituality that adapts to their every whim and desire.  How senseless that someone lets the cares of this world and the busyness of life choke out God’s love for them.  How evil when someone chooses darkness over the light.  John 3:19–20 (ESV) 19 …the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.” 

The eternal fire is prepared for the devil and his angels and yet so many love the darkness rather than the love of God and choose to go to the eternal fire with the Devil. 

God does not send people to hell.  They choose hell.  God wants everyone to be saved and offers the gift to all.  1 Timothy 2:4 (ESV) 4 [God] desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 

 God knows the world needs to be saved from the darkness and He saves it, out of love, despite the cost.

            God loves the world with incomprehensible, selfless love. He loves the world — in this way — by giving His Son to be lifted up on the cross, and lifted up from the grave, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.  God loves you with incomprehensible, selfless love so that you have eternal life in Him.  Amen. 

Posted on by pastorkevinjud

Who is the greatest?

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Lent 5 2024
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
March 17, 2024
Jeremiah 31:31-34, Hebrews 5:1-10, Mark 10:32-45

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

            When you go to a professional sporting event; a football, baseball, basketball, soccer game or a hockey match, there is that magical moment when you walk through the tunnel into stands of and emerge into a bright new world.  As you sit and look around during the game, ask yourself, “Who is the greatest one there?” The star player, the coach, the celebrity in the sky box?  Who is the greatest?  It is an age old question.

Sometimes it seems that being one of Jesus’ 12 disciples would have been amazing, but being a follower of Jesus is really rough on the 12 disciples. This teacher is like no other and it is hard to keep up with all that He is doing and with all that He is teaching and all that he is saying is going to happen.  He is amazing.  He heals the sick, He raises the dead, He makes the blind see, He feeds thousands with five loaves of bread and a two fish.  The movement that started out so small is growing and growing.  Jesus is the Christ of God, the Messiah, the anointed one who has come to save His people.  His success and influence grows and grows, but then He keeps saying these strange things about what will happen when he goes to Jerusalem.

            Mark 8:31 (ESV) 31 And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.”  The first time Jesus says this is right after Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ.  When Peter hears that people are going to hurt Jesus, Peter declares that he is not going to allow it to happen.  Peter will protect Jesus.  But instead of being grateful for Peter’s care, Jesus rebukes Peter harshly.  Mark 8:33 (ESV) 33 … “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” 

            The next time Jesus teaches about what is going to happen in Jerusalem is after His transfiguration on the mountain and driving a demon out of a boy.  Mark 9:31 (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.” 

This time the disciples do not know what to say — so they remain silent.  Although, it seems that as they travel along the road the 12 engage in the age old question, “Who is the greatest?”  Jesus is teaching them the ways of God, but they are clinging to the ways of man and Jesus reprimands them.  Mark 9:35 (ESV) 

35 … “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” 

            Now, in today’s reading they are on the road to Jerusalem and Jesus tells them a third time, Mark 10:33–34 (ESV) 33 … “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. 34 And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.” 

            This scene is really crazy.  Jesus and the disciples are on the road to Jerusalem and Jesus has said that in Jerusalem they are going to condemn Him, mock Him, spit on Him, flog Him and kill Him.  You do not have to be a genius to figure out how to make this better.  There is an easy answer to this problem.  Just stop.  Stop going to Jerusalem.  Turn around and go the other way.  They are going to kill you in Jerusalem.  Turning around is the plan that makes sense.  But Jesus’ ways are not the ways of the world.  Jesus’ ways do not make sense to the world. 

            So, how do the disciples respond to Jesus’ third description of what is going to happen to Him?  Rebuking Jesus for talking like this did not work.  Being silent did not resolve the tension.  Maybe they should just change the subject.  James and John ask Jesus to do whatever they ask — and what is it they want?  Mark 10:37 (ESV) 37 … “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.”  James and John have figured out who is the greatest and it is the two of them.   

            The issue of greatness is an age old problem.  We desperately want other people to know that we are better than them.  In the corporate world there are marks of greatness displayed by those who have achieved success and by those who want to achieve.  You dress for success.  It matters greatly about the brand of your shoes and your wristwatch, the cut of your jacket, the cost of your car, and the color of your credit card.  These things are meant to impress others.  Where you sit at a sporting event shows your status. Are you in the skybox or right behind home plate, or are you way up top in an obstructed view seat?  Your natural, sinful self wants others to see how great you are.  Even after being reprimanded earlier for arguing about who is the greatest, James and John still want everyone to know that they are Jesus’ favorites; they are the greatest.

These two disciples do not comprehend what Jesus is repeatedly saying and He tells them, Mark 10:38 (ESV) 38 … “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?”  The spots to the right and left of Jesus in His glory are already reserved for two lowlifes who will be crucified next to Jesus who has made Himself a lowlife being executed on a cross. 

            Jesus will pray that this cup might pass, but He indeed will drink the cup of God’s wrath.  Jesus will be baptized in his own blood and intense suffering and torment. He will be immersed in God’s wrath as the penalty for the sin of the whole world. 

            Can James and John drink the cup and be baptized with Jesus’ baptism?  They will, but not until Jesus has drunk the cup and been baptized and left the blessing. You also drink the cup and are baptized with Jesus’ baptism.  You drink from Jesus’ cup at the Lord’s Supper.  1 Corinthians 10:16 (ESV) 16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ?  The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?”  You have been baptized in Jesus baptism.  Galatians 3:27 (ESV) 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

            Jesus drank the cup of God’s wrath and He was baptized with suffering and death on the cross.  His cup and baptism are, for you, a cup of blessing and a baptismal blessing, but there is still suffering attached.  To follow Jesus is to take up your cross.  James learns this when he is executed by the sword of Herod Agrippa in 44 AD.  John is grieved by the death of his brother and the other nine disciples executed for the faith.  It is thought that John is the only disciple to have died a natural death, although as an old man he is exiled to the island of Patmos where he receives the vision he records in the book of Revelation. 

            You are a baptized child of God.  You drink from the Lord’s cup of blessing and this marks you as an enemy of the world.  The world hates you because it hates Jesus and you are one with Jesus.  The ways of the world say you should reject Jesus to avoid the hate and the suffering and the self-denial; to avoid the cross.  This is the way of the world, but Jesus teaches, Matthew 5:11 (ESV) 11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.”  God’s way is different than man’s way. 

Oh, dearest Jesus, what law hast thou broken?  Jesus broke the law of the world that seeks after personal greatness, power, and glory.  Despite knowing what will happen, Jesus goes to Jerusalem to give His life as the ransom for you.

            Jesus knows that figuring out who is the greatest is the way of the world; declaring your greatness is the way of man.  Self-promotion is the how the world operates but that is not how Christians live.  Mark 10:42–44 (ESV) 42 …“You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.”

            Christianity is radical rebellion against the culture. To be great is to be a servant to others.  As you enter the stadium remember the greatest at the sporting event is not the star player, not the coach, not the celebrity, but rather perhaps the security guard or the person grilling the hamburgers or the one sweeping the stands afterward.  Christian greatness is very different.  It is a very different life to be a Christian — humbly serving others instead of promoting yourself. 

            Jesus’ life on earth was a life of serving others culminating in the ultimate service of giving His life in exchange for yours. Mark 10:45 (ESV) 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  

            Oh, dearest Jesus, what law hast thou broken?  Jesus broke the law of the world that seeks after personal greatness, power, and glory.  Despite knowing what will happen, Jesus goes to Jerusalem to give His life as the ransom for you.

            The people of the world know how to avoid the difficulties and suffering of the cross.  They reject the cross and they are left in their sin.  Jesus comes to earth for the very purpose of going to the cross to save you. Contrary to everything that makes sense, Jesus gives Himself for you.  The Lord of the Universe is your servant.  Take up your cross and follow Him.  Amen. 

Posted on by pastorkevinjud

Would You Rather Die, or Die?

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Lent 2 2024
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
February 25, 2024
Gen. 17:1-7, 15-16, Romans 5:1-11, Mark 8:27-35

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

            As a pastor, one thing I get to do is be with people as they are approaching death.  This is never easy time.  Death tears apart families and those left behind are broken hearted.  For those who have gone through the death of a loved one, I think most would agree, it is one of the most difficult times of life. 

            Is there anything worse than death? 

            There is a game the kids sometimes play called “would you rather.”  Would you rather cut 40 acres of grass with a push mower, or one acre with a scissors.  Would you rather gain 75 pounds or lose your job.    Here is one for you today.  Would you rather die or die?

            For there are two deaths we face; physical death and eternal death.  Would you rather face physical death or eternal death? For worse than physical death, much worse, is eternal death.  Eternal death is to be forever separated from the light and love of God; to be forever in torment and suffering.  It is something you do not like to think about because it is too horrible to picture, worse than anything that you can conjure up in your imagination.

You also don’t like to think about eternal death because you know that you deserve it.  God demands perfection and you cannot deliver.  The wages of sin is death; eternal death.  Eternal death is horrible, and it is what you deserve. This is a terrible problem.  It is a grave dilemma. 

            The good news is that God provides the solution to this dilemma.  God demands perfection and God provides the perfection. God the Father sends his only Son to become like you; to take on human flesh and live with you, God with us; Immanuel. As true God, Jesus, the Christ, lives a perfect life and is the sacrifice without blemish.  He comes as the sacrifice for sin.  He comes to suffer and die and rise again.  He comes to take your sin upon himself and carry it to the cross and pay your penalty.  He then takes His perfection and gives it to you to make you perfect in Him.

Jesus comes to suffer and die and rise again.  This is His mission; His destiny.  But when he shares this with his disciples, Peter wants to stop him.  Peter rebukes Jesus.  Peter, the rough, tough fisherman will not let Jesus suffer or die. 

Jesus is on a mission to save you and Peter wants to stop him.  Jesus doesn’t put up with that and rebukes Peter, “Get behind me Satan.  You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” 

You too are infected by the thinking of men.  You don’t want to think that Jesus had to suffer and die.  You don’t want to think that all people are sinners and deserve punishment.  You want to believe that there is another way to avoid eternal death.  You yearn for another way.  But there is no other way.  You are left with Jesus on the cross.  You don’t even want to raise your head to look because it is such a horror.  And even more horrible than the scene itself is the knowledge that you are the cause of His suffering.  You are the cause of his pain.  You look up at the cross and see Jesus’ bloody face and his bloodshot eyes looking down and his eyes meet yours.  And you see the look in his eyes.  It is not a look of anger, or accusation, or bitterness.  It is a look of love.  He is up there for you.  He is suffering and dying for you.  He gives up His breath so that the breath of God, the spirit of God, can fill you. He goes into the grave to sanctify your grave, and rises again to enable you to rise on the last day. 

In baptism you are made one with God. You are sealed in His name.  The Holy Spirit fills you and your body becomes a temple of the Holy Spirit; you become one with God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  You become His disciple, a follower of Jesus.  He is your Lord, you are His servant. 

            What a glorious thing to be a servant of Jesus, the Christ.  But thinking on Jesus’ life you see that being one with Him will not always be easy.  Jesus was whipped, they slapped and punched His face, and they hung him on the cross to die.  As His follower these things can await you too.  The world hated Jesus, the world still hates Jesus.  As His follower, the world will hate you because your life is bound to His life.  You are one with Jesus. 

            After rebuking Peter, Jesus calls the crowd to himself along with his disciples and says, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” 

            Deny yourself?  In a world full of people seeking self-fulfillment and self-enrichment, Jesus tells you to deny yourself.  Give up on yourself. 

            Don’t follow every whim of desire for comfort or happiness.  Following Jesus means giving up on yourself and looking to serve others. 

            Jesus says, “Take up your cross and follow me.”  If they want to kill me they may also want to kill you.  Being my follower means being willing to follow.  It means offering your back to those who would beat you; offering your face to those who slap you, opening yourself to mocking and spitting. 

            Now, in this country, we are blessed with freedom and the persecution of Christians is generally minor, but there are Christians all over the world that are imprisoned, beaten and killed for being followers of Jesus.  In Iran, on Sept. 18, 2023, Pastor Anooshavan Avedian, who is 61 years old with a wife and two children, was summoned by police to Evin prison to begin a 10-year prison sentence. Pastor Avedian was arrested on Aug. 21, 2020, when approximately 30 security agents raided his home while family and friends gathered to pray and worship. The group met in his home because the government closed their church several years earlier. Government agents confiscated Bibles and mobile phones and now have taken Pastor Avedian and two Christian converts to Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison.  These things are happening in many countries and as the Western world more and more rejects Jesus, it appears to be getting worse closer to home. 

What if it were you in the position to face the choice of physical death or eternal death?  

There is a knock at the door; a loud insistent knock.  You look at the clock and see it is three in the morning.  You pull a pair of pants on over your pajamas and go to see what the problem is.  You look out the window and see four police cars out front with lights flashing.  They pound on the door again.  “Police, open up!”  You open the door.

           You pray that you have the strength to say, “Yes!  I am a follower of Jesus.”  Despite the consequences.  “Yes!” 

            Six men rush in and slam you against the wall and frisk you for weapons and then cuff your hands behind your back.  Someone spits in your face and you can feel it run down your cheek.

            A policeman in plainclothes speaks, “You have been accused of being a follower of Jesus who believes the Bible is the Word of God.  No one can be that stupid anymore, but that’s what we hear.  Is it true?”  You turn to face them.  One of them has a taser ready to fire at you.  “Is it true?”  You know that if you say yes, they will fire the taser and then beat you with batons and take you to jail, and then prison.  It has happened to others.  Not only will you lose your freedom, you’ll lose your job, your house, all your possessions, you may never see your family again.  And the pain… the taser, the beatings, the torture, execution.  You’ve heard the stories.  You’re very afraid.  The man gets right up in your face and you can feel his breath. “Are you a follower of Jesus Christ?  Tell me now!” The man with the taser gives you an evil smile.  What do you say?

            You pray that you have the strength to say, “Yes!  I am a follower of Jesus.”  Despite the consequences.  “Yes!” 

            The fear is that you will be weak.  That you will be like the disciple Peter who denied Jesus three times to avoid trouble.  You fear that you will fall away.  You fear that you have already denied Jesus, not in a direct confrontation, but in smaller ways.  Denying Jesus by your actions — going along with the group when you should flee.  Denying Jesus by remaining silent when you should speak or saying something when you should remain silent.  The fear is you will be weak.

            In your weakness, return to the cross, the source of your forgiveness.  Remember who you are, not from your strength, but from the strength of the almighty.  You are a baptized child of God.  You are a follower of Jesus; one of his disciples.  Remember, Matthew 10:28 (ESV) 28 … do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 

Get on your knees and pray for strength to persevere through trouble and hardship.  Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Jesus.  Cling to the cross of Christ.  Be faithful unto death and receive the crown of life; eternal life. Eternal life with your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, where there will be no more hardship, no more trouble, no more tears, no more sickness and no more death.

            As a pastor I get to be with people as they approach physical death, but I also get to be with people at their baptisms when they receive the gift of eternal life.  I get to walk with you on your journey as we follow the Lord Jesus together and await His return.  If Jesus does not return soon I may get the privilege to sit at your beside as a fellow disciple as you prepare for death comforted by the peace that passes understanding knowing you will receive the crown of life prepared for you by Jesus.  Amen.

Posted on by pastorkevinjud

Arise, Shine, Your Light Has Come

WORSHIP VIDEO LINK (linked after 10:45 AM Service)

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BULLETIN

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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