Signs in Christ Jesus

The Second Sunday after Epiphany
January 17 – 18, 2009
John 2:1-11
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church

In the Name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The account of Jesus at the wedding feast in Cana is often used as an example of the high place Jesus gives to the sanctity of marriage or how He often gives much more than we sinners either desire or deserve. It is true that Jesus honors marriage, after all, He is the One who instituted and sanctified marriage. It is also true that Jesus gives to all His creation, both the evil and the good, much more than they deserve, after all, He gives us life and salvation when what we really deserve is death and condemnation, Saint John does not tell this story of Jesus at the wedding feast for those reasons. St. John relates what happened that day for one purpose and one purpose alone.

“… but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20:31)

St. John tells us, “This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.” (John 2:11) But John does not speak of signs as we think of them. Often, we think of signs as symbols or something that symbolically stands in the place of something else. For St. John, this is not the case. For St. John the word “sign” really means something that points to, or is somehow linked with, something else. Quite literally, the Greek word which we translate as “sign,” here means, “mystery.” In the same way, “mystery” in Latin, is translated as “sacrament.” A sacrament is a mystery and a mystery is a sign that points to something or reveals something hidden from ordinary sight.

So, these “signs” in Holy Scripture, reveal something that you wouldn’t otherwise know or recognize unless someone or something revealed them to you. A “sign” is something like a gift waiting to be opened. Martin Luther tells us God gives signs to us as something visible for our faith to hold onto. So it is that the Lord’s holy gifts of Baptism and His Supper, visible in lowly water and simple bread and wine, are Signs, Mysteries, Sacraments. They point to Jesus because they are linked to Jesus. They are signs of Christ Jesus’ real bodily presence among us as Creator and Redeemer. In these signs we experience the death Jesus died to give us life.

Now, do not misunderstand me. I am not saying that every time Jesus performs a miracle we have a new Sacrament. What I am saying is that Jesus’ miracles are sacramental in nature. They are sacramental signs that point to Him and reveal Him as the Son of God. These signs point to spiritual truth. The truth of the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One who took on our flesh, lived among us, and experienced everything that we experience. They reveal Jesus, who while fully human and like us in every way, except without sin, is also fully God. These miracles are signs, visible sacramental manifestations that reveal Jesus for who He really is, namely, the Word made Flesh, who created all things and who upholds all things in Himself. They reveal the glory of the One and only Son of God, Jesus Christ.

This is how Jesus has chosen to reveal himself to you and to come to you, in signs in which his word resides, but there is a problem. The problem is not in the signs. The problem is that these are not the signs that we would chose. We are an evil and adulterous generation, which seeks after all kinds of signs, just not the signs that Jesus has given to us. Therefore we would seek Jesus in heartfelt emotions which lift us to heaven so that we can “feel” his presence, while we despise his presence in water, word, bread, and wine. We pray for signs from God instead of relying on the signs he has already provided. We are afraid that Jesus will not do what he has promised unless we see or experience some sort of miraculous sign.

Because of that fear, because we can’t find comfort in what Jesus has already given, we often seek Jesus in the Law. But the Law is empty. It cannot save; it can only accuse and destroy. We have drunk this inferior wine to the dregs and still, we are not satisfied. The jars are empty and all we find is pain, despair, sickness, and death.

But Jesus comes to fulfill the Law…completely…to the brim. Just as there are six jars to be filled, so Jesus on the sixth day of the week fulfills all the Law and the Prophets. Just as man was created on the sixth day, so the Creator recreates His creation on the sixth day with His holy Body and Blood. He dies on His Cross and is placed in His grave. It is finished. His hour has come.

Still, that is not the end of the story. The One, who has died, is no longer dead; He lives! The new and greater Jonah, after spending three days in the belly of the earth gives us His greatest sign. The grave is empty. He is not there. Jesus lives! He has filled the law to the brim and our cup runs over. He replaces the Law and the old Covenant with a new and better wine. We are not purified by the Law, but by His Blood. The risen Body of Christ is the beginning of the new order of things. In Him and through Him creation is renewed and revitalized. Although the renewal is perceived now only by faith, we see signs of it in the miracles and the Sacraments which Jesus has given to us.

These signs, Jesus continues to provide, as he does this day, signs which point to Him. He has provided to you mysteries in the holy Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. There, Jesus is hidden in lowly water and simple bread and wine. In these miracles, He is revealed to you. In the Sacraments, Jesus, who revealed at Cana that He is Lord of the elements, continues to reveal Himself as Lord over all creation.

In the waters of Baptism Jesus makes you His own. It is not that the waters of Baptism are any better than plain water; in fact, they are plain water, except that Jesus has added His Word and commandment to it. (Martin Luther’s Large Catechism) As He turned the water into wine, with His Word and by His command, He also gave water the power to redeem you. For is it not written, “Baptism…now saves you…” (1 Peter 3:21)? Baptism is a washing of regeneration. (Titus 3:5) In Baptism is a recreation of that which was dead in sin. Baptism recreates you to newness of life in Christ Jesus.

In the same manner The Lord’s Super is a sign of your redemption in Jesus Christ. Is it not written that the Blood of Jesus cleanses us from sin? The miracle of Jesus’ true Body and true Blood under the elements of bread and wine reveals the mystery of your salvation in a blessed and holy sacramental union with Jesus. It is as though Jesus takes you as His Bride and the two become one flesh.

Our Lord revealed to us, and to the world, who He is that day at the wedding celebration in Cana. In this “beginning of signs” Jesus points us to the restoration of creation which He would accomplish on the great “third day,” Easter Morning. Through His first miracle, indeed, through all His miracles, Jesus manifested His glory and revealed to us a foretaste of what was to come, the restoration of our life in our God as it is meant to be.

Jesus has given to you, a sign. At Cana, at Calvary, in the font, and on the altar, Jesus gives to you a sign of His glory. And His glory revealed is also a sign, a sign of His love for you. At Cana, in the font, and on the altar, our Lord has given us signs of the renewed creation won for us on the Cross at Calvary. These signs are renewed here every Lord’s day. Every Sunday in this nave is a sign, a mystery, a sacrament, revealing the glory of Jesus Christ. Here Jesus reveals that His life and death are yours. Every Sunday Jesus reveals that His Body was given for you and His Blood was shed for you for the remission of your sins. Jesus reveals to you His glory, the glory of His death for your righteousness. This Divine Service is His wedding party given for you. He is the Groom, the Wine Steward, and the Wine. You are the Bride and the honored guest.

So now let us do as Mary has advised, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” (John 2:5) Jesus says “take eat; take drink, for in this humble bread and wine I have hidden Myself to give you life.” Do this and remember you have heard Jesus say, “I forgive you all your sins.” In the Name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“Part of the Family”

January 10 – 11, 2009

The Baptism of Our Lord
Matthew 3:13-17
“Part of the Family”
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church
Rev. Keith E. GeRue

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Our text for today is the Baptism of Our Lord from Matthew chapter 3. We will be talking today about how God calls us into His holy family by Baptism, and how that commitment of God guards us all the days of our lives.

I am often amazed at the strange and peculiar things that we are willing to do for our families. Think about it for a minute. What would you be willing to do for your family? For your parents? For your children? For your brothers and sisters? How far would you be willing to go for them? What would you be willing to do for them?

If you are like most people, your answer would probably either be anything or almost anything. Whether your talking about a two year old, a twenty year old, a forty year old or an eighty year old, human beings have an incredible capacity for loyalty and commitment. You would change diapers, go into debt , pay off debts, put up with an amazing amount of really dumb things, thick or thin, good or bad, richer or poorer, you are there.

Why? What would possess you to have this incredible loyalty to people who may or may not reciprocate? Why do you do this? The answer, of course, is family. They’re family. In some cases, it may never even occur to you to do anything else. You are going to do what it takes because they are family.

But, of course, you have limits, you make mistakes, and your love only goes so far. While you may show an incredible capacity for loyalty, and you may put up with all kinds of things, it will only go so far. Your love can only go so far and no farther. There are some things you just might not do. Or even if you were willing to do it, you can’t. There are some debts you cannot pay. There are some things you simply can’t do, no matter how much you want to or wish you could. Because you are a fallen human being, your love has limits. It can only go so far.

But not so with God. In today’s reading, our Lord binds Himself to us in a way which hardly seems possible, and certainly is underappreciated and under recognized. Today our Lord stands in the waters of the Jordan River for you, and is baptized. If you think of it in one way, it seems like a pretty insignificant little event. John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin, pours water over Jesus’ head in a rite which was frankly pretty common in Jesus’ day. Baptism for repentance to the forgiveness of sins was a normal part of first century Jewish practice. It wasn’t new or even that unusual.

But when Jesus stands in the water, everything changes. He stands in the water as one of us. John can hardly believe it himself. He even tries to stop Jesus, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” John, you see, recognizes that baptism is for the forgiveness of sins, and knows he needs it and Jesus doesn’t. But what John doesn’t understand is that Jesus is going to give the very foundation of Baptism by standing in the water Himself in our place.

Jesus then gives the answer, which puts it all in perspective for us: “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Fitting isn’t really the best translation there. It would be better to say it is right or perhaps even necessary. The point Jesus is making is that this is what has to happen in order for all righteousness to be fulfilled. In other words, what Jesus is saying is that by His standing in the water, all of your righteousness is fulfilled. All of His works becomes yours by His standing in the water with you.

We’re talking about your Baptism, dear friends in Christ. And when we are talking about Baptism, we are talking about family. This is how God grafts you into His family and makes you His own. When you were baptized, God adopted you into His family to be His beloved son, His precious daughter in Christ Jesus our Lord. And with this water, poured over you, God seals His love upon you forever.

Now what this means for you in real, concrete terms is that God is on your side in a way that is way beyond all of the crazy stuff you do for your kids or your parents or whatever relative it is that you take care of. The love that we should have for our family goes out and flows forth, but this now gives us a little glimpse into the love of God. The love of God is so vast, so all encompassing for you, that He will do anything for you. He will pay off your worst debt, forgive your most grievous sins, take you in, clean you up, and make you His own again and again and again.

Frankly, it’s a little unnerving, to have that kind of love showered upon us. Yet that is the love God showers upon you in Holy Baptism. St. Paul writes, “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.” What baptism does for you is makes your glory be in God, not in yourself and your failings, big and small.

Perhaps Luther wrote it best in the Large Catechism: “Thus we see what a great and excellent thing Baptism is, which snatches us from the jaws of the devil and makes God our own, overcomes and takes away sin and daily strengthens the new man, always remains until we pass from this present misery to eternal glory. Therefore let everybody regard his Baptism as the daily garment which he is to wear all the time.” Large Catechism #83

Dear children of God, cling to your baptism, for it is your glory and your hope for a bright future with Jesus in Heaven. St. Peter writes that Baptism saves us. This is true. By water and Word, God makes you His own, draws you into His family, says to you, I love you with an everlasting love. You are mine forever.

This is what God does for you in Holy Baptism. Believe it for you are forgiven all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

The Epiphany of Our Lord

“The Epiphany of Our Lord”

January 3-4, 2009

Matthew 2:1-12

Rev. Keith E. GeRue

Evangelical Lutheran Church

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Centuries before the birth of Christ, the king of the great Babylonian empire, Nebuchadnezzar, had a troubling dream. He saw an image, an unusual and awesome statue made of a gold head, a silver chest, a bronze belly and thighs, iron legs, and iron and clay feet. This image was shattered into pieces by a large stone cut without hands. The stone then became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. But what exactly did this dream mean? None of his Magi or Wise Men could tell him what he had dreamed when he asked them, nor could they give an interpretation. And so the king became furious and gave the command to destroy all the wise men of Babylon, including also Daniel, who was among the many who had been captured from Israel and carried into exile in Babylon. However, Daniel sought help from God, so that he might understand Nebuchadnezzar's dream, and that he and his fellow companions, the wise men, might not perish.

God answered Daniel's prayer, and Daniel spoke to the king, telling him by divine revelation both what the king had dreamed and what it meant. Nebuchadnezzar, he said, was the great golden head of the image that he had seen–a king of kings on earth. And yet, his kingdom would be replaced by another, then another, and another, each successively weaker than the one before it. Until at last a great stone would crush and destroy all of them, and a new kingdom would be established forever and ever without end.

When Daniel had given this interpretation, Nebuchadnezzar fell down before Daniel, presenting an offering and incense to him, and blessing the Lord as the Ruler of all kings and the God above all gods. And he appointed Daniel as the chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon, the head of all the Magi.

Now in this position, Daniel certainly taught the wise men under him about the coming Messiah, about the Savior on whom Israel was waiting. For, of course, that stone which destroyed the statue in Nebuchadnezzar's dream was none other than Christ, the King of kings, whose kingdom will have no end. Daniel's wisdom centered around God's Word. And one of the prophecies that Daniel would have spoken of was this one from Numbers 24:17, “A Star shall come out of Jacob, a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and batter the brow of Moab, and destroy all the sons of tumult.”

In today's Epiphany Gospel, then, the dream of Nebuchadnezzar is fulfilled. His golden kingdom is laid low, and his gold is sacrificed and brought to Christ. Babylon is now bowing down before the everlasting King of kings, and offers its incense to the God of Daniel. These Wise Men learned well from their forefathers who were taught by Daniel. Seeing the Star, they were reminded of the true Star and light of Israel, and they traveled to find Him who is the Savior of the world.

All of this is in fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy, “Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. . . The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. . . All those from Sheba shall come; they shall bring gold and incense, and they shall proclaim the praises of the Lord.” Just as the Babylonian king bowed down to Daniel and gave him gifts, so now these Babylonian Wise Men bow down to Christ and give Him gifts.

The events of Epiphany mark an important point in history for us. For this is the first time that Jesus is revealed to Gentiles. Up to this point it had been all Israelites who had beheld our Lord: the shepherds at the stable, Simeon and Anna in the temple. But now, with Jesus at least a year old, the Gentile Wise Men come to the house where Joseph and Mary are residing and acknowledge Him to be the Lord, bowing down to worship Him and giving Him royal gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh. This event shows that Christ came not only for the chosen people of Israel but for all the nations, for people of every nationality and ethnicity and race, including us. Jesus is not only the Savior of Israel but of the world. No one is held outside the salvation He came to bring because of their place of birth or skin color.

This is important to recognize. For there are even some among us here who hold disparaging and prejudiced views of people of other races. I've heard the remarks. The fact remains, however, that there is really only one race, the human race. All of us are descended from Adam and Noah. We are all related somewhere along the way on the family tree. Christ came to save that entire family tree, all of humanity. To look down upon someone simply because of race is to look down on Christ who saved that race and assumed that race into His humanity when He became man. If you don't like other races, you're not going to like heaven. For the book of Revelation describes the hosts in heaven who have been saved by Christ as people from “all nations, tribes, peoples, and languages.” We should judge a person, then, not by their ethnicity but by what they believe and what they do. And even then, Epiphany teaches us that unbelievers and the godless from this and every nation are a mission field, that we should speak to them of Christ, that they may receive His light.

The reality is that none of you have any claim by race to the blessings of God. None of you are Jews. All of you as far as a I know are descended from heathen Gentiles. And even the Jews were not saved by their ethnicity but by their faith in Jesus the Messiah. It's only by His grace that any of us are saved. He has revealed Himself to us and caused us to hear and believe His life-giving Gospel.

That's why in the early church Epiphany, not Christmas, was the big celebration of the first part of the church year. It wasn't until a couple of centuries later, in fact, that Christmas was even established on a separate day. Epiphany is a reminder that Jesus came for each of us, out of love for every one of you, regardless of who you are. Christ is truly a Light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of the people of Israel.

Now it's interesting to note in this story the difference between the Gentile wise men and the Jewish priests and scribes. On the one hand, the Jews who possessed the Scriptures and knew the prophecies of the Messiah were greatly troubled at the thought that the Messiah was born. King Herod and all Jerusalem were shaken by this news. But why would that be? You would think they might be excited. You would think that they would want to personally escort the wise men to Bethlehem so that they could see for themselves. Instead, they quote the Scripture they know so well and do nothing. Could it be that they didn't really believe the Word of God? Could it be that it was just window dressing on a false religion of their own making? Could it be that they liked Scripture as long as it didn't rock the boat or shake up their own plans for their life or threaten the political power structure? Could it be that they had become complacent? Whatever it was, the fact is that they rejected the working of the Word of God.

On the other hand, even though the wise men probably had less of the Word of God at their disposal, it accomplished its purpose with them and led them to Christ. That is the purpose of the Word, to lead us to the Word made flesh, Jesus. While the priests and scribes were sitting in Jerusalem, all comfortable with their Bibles that they knew so well, only 10 miles away in Bethlehem, the wise men were bowing before the One to whom all the Scriptures point and lead, the Christ-child.

Have we at times become like the Jewish priests and scribes? Have we become complacent in our faith? Do we pride ourselves on our Bible knowledge rather than glorying in the One whom the Bible is all about, our Savior Jesus? Has the Word of God become window dressing for a religion of our own making or a way of maintaining the status quo? Have we stopped praying and meditating on the Scriptures in our day to day lives? God grant rather that His Word might continually accomplish its purpose of leading us to the Word made flesh, that we might be led to seek Christ out in His preaching and absolution, that just like the wise men we might come and kneel before Him week by week as he gives us His true body and blood for the forgiveness of our sins. The saying is true, “Wise Men still seek Him.” Those who have been made “wise unto salvation” seek Christ's saving presence in the Divine Service.

Finally, we must take note of the gifts the wise men brought. First, they gave our Lord the gift of gold. This, as we mentioned before, suggests royalty, that Jesus is a king. Second, they gave our Lord frankincense, a particular type of incense burned in the temple for worship. This reminds us that Jesus is truly God and is to be worshiped and prayed to. It also reminds us that Jesus is the One who brings our prayers before the throne of the Father. He is our Mediator and go-between. And thirdly, they gave our Lord myrrh. This is the most striking of all the gifts. Myrrh was a type of perfume that was also used both as an anesthetic as well as to prepare a corpse for burial. This reminds us of the purpose of this Child's birth. He came to die for us. When Jesus was hanging on the cross, the soldiers offered Him wine mixed with myrrh to dull the pain. But Jesus refused it, that He might fully bear our judgment and rescue us from it completely. And then when they buried Jesus, myrrh was used as a perfume to anoint Jesus' body. Because of that, because of what Jesus has done for us, II Corinthians 2 now says that we who believe are to God “the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved.” Perhaps the wise men didn't fully understand the significance of their gifts. But from our side of the resurrection we can see clearly that these gifts foreshadowed the redemption Christ came to accomplish for us.

Let us then rejoice this day in our Lord's Epiphany to the nations, to us Gentiles as well as to the Jews. Let us show forth the light of Christ, that others may be drawn to worship Him. And let us ever believe in and follow Him who is Himself our Bright Morning Star.

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Holy Innocents, Martyrs 2008

“Rachel's Comfort”
Matthew 2:13-18
December 27-28, 2008
The Holy Innocents, Martyrs
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church
Girard, Illinois
Rev. Keith GeRue

Who will comfort Rachel in her bitter weeping? She refuses to be comforted, because her children are no more. Worse than that, the Rachel here is not one, but many: Rachel was the wife of Jacob, the father of Israel, and her grave lies near Bethlehem. As a mother of Israel, the women of Bethlehem are poetically her daughters; and who will comfort them now that their children are no more?

I will tell you this right away, lest you be disappointed: This Gospel lesson is a haunting text, and this is a funeral sermon for the worst of situations. It will be hard to comfort these mothers, and they will still be mourning when we leave them. But when we are done, though they mourn, it will not be as those who have no hope.

1. The story is as straightforward as it is grotesque. Herod is king of Judea, a crazy tyrant consumed with keeping his throne. He was married once upon a time, and his lovely wife gave him two sons. To make sure that they would not overthrow him, Herod has had all three put to death. The evil of this act alone has led Caesar Augustus to say, “I would rather be Herod's pig than his son.” The pig has a much longer life expectancy.

It is to Herod that the wise men come and say, “Where is He who is born King of the Jews, for we have seen His star in the East.” What's this-another King of the Jews? This is what Herod dreads most; he is troubled, and all of Jerusalem with him. He interrogates the wise men, commands them to find this king and report back. When they flee the country, he is furious; and it is in that fury that he conceives his plan, makes his choice. His own life will be better if he is the only king, so any potential rival must be dealt with. If he can't find the specific Baby around Bethlehem, then he'll kill every little boy less than two years old. The soldiers go out and do exactly that, and no one can charge that it's illegal. It's perfectly legal, because Herod makes the law. It is also a fulfillment of prophecy, from Jeremiah 31:15: “A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more.”

But Herod fails to kill Jesus, because Jesus' time has not yet come: He has much to do and fulfill and endure before He dies. An angel warns Joseph of what Herod is up to; and by the time the soldiers arrive, the Baby Jesus is safely on His way to Egypt.

But that is little consolation the following day around Bethlehem. A voice is heard-lamentation, weeping and great mourning as these daughters of Rachel weep. They refuse to be comforted, and what shall we say-”Don't cry” “It's going to be okay”? Such phrases are so futile as to be clearly offensive. It's not going to be okay. They weep for their sons who are no more. There is no comfort that will take away their mourning; but there is comfort that will give them hope even as they grieve. The “Slaughter of the Innocents” fulfills the prophecy from Jeremiah 31:15; but do not neglect the two verses that follow: Thus says the LORD: Refrain your voice from weeping, And your eyes from tears; For your work shall be rewarded, says the LORD, And they shall come back from the land of the enemy. There is hope in your future, says the LORD, That your children shall come back to their own border.

“Your children shall come back to their own border,” promises the Lord. But how can this be? It can be because of the Child who is whisked to Egypt. The King of the Jews who is born in Bethlehem is chosen by God for the redemption of the world. His journey to Egypt is part of His journey to the cross so that, despite the sin and evil of the world, there is the hope of eternal life after death. The One who escaped death that night will go to the cross and suffer the eternal death of all who die.

But not all are saved, so how can these mothers be sure that God's redemption is for their sons? The answer may surprise you: For them at that time, the answer is circumcision. Throughout the Old Testament, the Lord declared that baby boys were to be circumcised on the 8th day of life; and that mark meant that they were part of Israel, part of His holy people (Gen. 17:10f). So, in the midst of that unimaginable grief, there was this hope of the mothers: “My son was circumcised, and there God promised that my son belonged to Him; and although he is not here with me, I am sure that my boy is with the Lord.”

What if, perchance, Herod's soldiers killed a baby boy who was less than 8 days old? There was still hope: David and Bathsheba's first son died on the seventh day, yet David said he would go to be with him (2 Sam. 12:23). You see, where the child would die before the Lord's plan for man could go into effect, God was not helpless or uncaring. The people would commend the child to the Lord's mercy, because God is a merciful God.

There is no way to make this text into a cheery one, for nothing can remove the horror of Herod's slaughter; but even on that day of death, the Lord was faithful to those sons; and He was faithful to them for the sake of His only-begotten Son, carried to Egypt on His way to the cross. So before we turn to some application, we especially note a couple of things from this text. FIRST, SCRIPTURE CLEARLY TEACHES THAT REJECTION OF THE LORD LEADS TO DEATH; AND TRULY, DEATH AWAITS US ALL. However, the more one rejects the Lord, the less one values His gift of life; and the more one is apt to permit, even pursue, the death of others. Hideous though it be, Herod chose to kill little children to make sure that his life and throne were not jeopardized, even though Christ was never a threat to him. SECOND, WE NOTE THE REMARKABLE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD. Herod's crime is despicable beyond words, but not at all uncommon. Anyone who pictures biblical times as the “good old days” is seriously mistaken. Wars were fierce, conquerors were brutal, and infanticide was simply a given in times both of war and peace. Sinful man put little value on human life, and this foul stench reached the Lord in heaven. Yet, true to His promise, God still sent His Son into the world, knowing full well that sinful man would crucify Him. And then, the Lord used His Son's death not as further justification for destroying mankind, but for man's salvation.

With that in mind, we remember this day the “Holy Innocents, Martyrs,” those little boys who were victims of Herod's sin. They are innocent in the sense that, though conceived and born in sin, they committed no crime against Herod that deserved death. They are martyrs, ones who testify, because their innocent deaths testified to the hatred that sin has for life, and more importantly pointed to the Innocent One who would die for the sins of the world. And because of Jesus' death, they are holy: They are redeemed by His cross, forgiveness surely given them in that Old Testament rite of circumcision. Rachel still weeps as we leave the text, but she is not without hope. For the sake of Christ, the Word proclaimed through Jeremiah is true: There is hope in your future…that your children shall come back to their own border. Their own border is the kingdom of heaven, freely given by their faithful Savior. There, they live forever.

2. There is nothing worse than the death of a child. The grim horror of death is never more terrible or maddening than when it takes a young life, and it is something I really do not relish even talking about. Still, it does happen; and it would be foolish of us to pretend that it does not. But even more to the point, we speak of it for a better reason: Even when death strikes such a cold blow, we have comfort and hope to offer those who grieve-comfort and hope that will not disappoint.

It is here, dear friends in Christ, that you and I give especial thanks for Holy Baptism. Circumcision was of the Old Testament, and that mark upon baby boys pointed to the seal of Baptism for boys and girls both. By Holy Baptism, the Lord washes away the sins of even the smallest infant. He shares his death and resurrection with that child; and no matter how long or short that child's life in this world, the Lord has already given him eternal life. There is no command to wait even eight days, and one can be baptized as soon as he is born.

Because, no matter how hard I, or any other parent, try to protect our children, we don't know what tomorrow brings. I have an inkling of the hideous grief that would come with the death of a child, and the inkling is enough for me not to explore the thought further. This is why I give thanks for the gift of Holy Baptism. No matter what happens today or tomorrow, the Lord has given my kids forgiveness and faith and eternal life by water and the Word. I've no doubt that a tragedy of that enormity would shatter me for life; but that hope of Christ would not disappoint. This is the comfort and hope that we gently offer to those who suffer the loss of a child: Christ was born a little baby in Bethlehem, to redeem all nations-little children included. He promises forgiveness and faith and life, and He gives these gifts most certainly in Holy Baptism. Are you baptized? Then He has given them to you. Do not forsake this precious gift, for there is eternal life. This is why, as soon as possible in this unpredictable and dying world, we fervently urge parents to get their children to the baptismal font. As soon as possible.

Still, there will be parents who must grieve the death of a child who never had a chance to make it to the font. I speak of a child who is miscarried or stillborn, or one who is born but dies unexpectedly before Baptism. We make clear this news as well: There is still hope for such children as these; as we mentioned with the son of David and Bathsheba earlier, the Lord is still able to save such a one. He binds us to His means of grace, but He does not limit Himself to them. Therefore, when a child dies before Baptism is possible, we commend such a one to the mercies of God. This is part of His unsearchable judgments (Ro. 11:33), and we have no clear Word from the Lord. However, the Lord is merciful; and while David certainly could not call in any favors from the Lord because of his own righteousness, he still declared that he would go to his son, whom the Lord had saved by His mercy alone. Those who have lost a child before birth or Baptism may still look forward with hope to meeting that one in the Lord's presence. However, where you are able to baptize the child, then by all means baptize the child. It is far better and more sure to say, “My child is certainly forgiven by means of Baptism” than, “As far as I know, the Lord will have mercy.”

The Lord is merciful, and the Lord is faithful. That is the hope that will not disappoint. As this sermon draws near to an end, you may feel a bit more saddened than when you arrived here, and may thus view this preaching as a great disappointment. The sadness, however, is not the fault of the Gospel; it is a recognition of the death wish of the world. But where sadness comes, cling to the Gospel all the more, for it will not disappoint. Not now, not ever. Even should we be given to endure the grief of a child's death, Christ's life remains for such little ones and for us. Death will, at times, strike the cruelest of blows; but death is already defeated in Christ, who raises both young and old to everlasting life. That life is given to the people of God, to you and to your children, with such simple words as these: “I baptize you-and thus forgive you all of your sins-in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.” Amen

Christmas day 2008 9:00 a.m.

“The Christmas Invitation”

Luke 2:12-20

25 December 2008

The Festival of the Nativity of Our Lord

Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church

Rev. Keith E. GeRue, Pastor

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Dear Baptized,

Just as the shepherds of old who were “out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night,” so also the faithful assembled here last night to hear the Gospel of God heard the Christmas Decree. “Fear not; for behold, I bring you Good News of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, Who is Christ the Lord.” Amen.

Well, what is that? In truth, those two verses really speak of the historical truth that was brought about by the LORD God and which is intended for all people. While it is true that we would never have known this Good News of a great joy had it not been revealed to us in God's Word or told to us by angels, pastors, teachers or parents, it is also most certainly true that we still need to know where to find this gracious Savior and then to trust such Incarnate Word of God. For it is also most certainly true that, of ourselves, that is by our own reason or strength we would not know where to find the Savior and we could not come to Him. We need not only the promise from God, but also the gift of faith to believe such Word of God, for indeed, “without faith it is impossible to please Him (God)” (Hebrews 11:6). Where in the world is this gracious God?

For example, consider the shepherds who had heard the Good News of the Lord's Birth. But exactly where was this newborn Savior to be found? Where should they go in Bethlehem ... probably to a glorious house, the best place in town, right? Or maybe to an inn? Where would Christ the Lord be sleeping and what would He be wearing ... likely in purple finery and snuggled down in a golden cradle, wouldn't you think? And another thing, should one not be required to possess and present a royal invitation to visit Christ the Lord in the City of David ... especially if one is a smelly shepherd with dirt under his fingernails? Indeed, the shepherds have heard the Christmas Decree from the angel of the Lord. What they need now, in this time and place, is ...

... The Christmas Invitation

Who would have ever thought it could be so? An angel of the Lord declares the Christmas Decree to some common men out in the fields, and with this announcement is the proclamation seconded by the choir of angels that the Highest of heaven is come to the lowest on earth, and with the proclamation is the invitation for those particular overseers of sheep to visit the newborn Savior Who is Christ the LORD, and with this invitation there is that sign directing these specific shepherds to Immanuel, to “God with us,” to Peace on earth Himself. “And this will be a sign for you: you will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

Had these shepherds not been given either the invitation or the directions, they would have, at best, wandered through the streets of Bethlehem and inquired among the houses in the City of David asking where to find Christ the Lord Who had just been born. Imagine the number of doors that would have been slammed in their faces at such an inquiry. Without the Divine directions, where would the shepherds look? Where in Bethlehem is the Savior? In fact, would they even realize that they had an invitation if they had been given no directions? Where in the world is this gracious, Incarnate Christ? Isaiah speaks for all mankind ... for himself, for shepherds and for us ...

“Therefore justice is far from us, and righteousness does not overtake us; we look for light, and behold, darkness, and for brightness, but we walk in gloom. We grope for the wall like the blind, we grope like those who have no eyes; we stumble at noon as in the twilight, among those in full vigor we are like dead men.” Isaiah 59:9-10

Thanks be to God that He did not leave us in such a condition in which we would all be lost for ever and ever. Micah, of the goodly fellowship of the prophets along with Isaiah, had received the Lord's special revelation and he wrote God's Word, including a prophesy that announced and promised that Bethlehem would be the place of the Lord's first Advent ... this King “Whose origin is from of old, from ancient days” (Micah 5:2).

Suddenly the angels are gone and it is quiet once more and the night is still. What should the shepherd do? Certainly these men of the field are not offended that God is in a manger, or that the Christ is an infant, or that the King is wrapped in rags, or that their Savior's overnight abode will be in a barn-like place and in a smelly atmosphere where animals eat, live, move and have their being. “The shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

These men make the most of this opportunity and they are not offended at the angel's invitation. The LORD has come to them and has given them the way to find Him. Though it was the messenger who spoke the Word, it was the LORD Who made this thing that has happened known to them. Truly, God the Savior “has exalted those of low degree” (Luke 1:52).

Are you offended at this Savior Jesus Who lies in such mean estate ... the King of creation cradled in a manger as the Word made flesh silently intercedes for you? If you are, then you will be offended at the Infant Redeemer Who will begin shedding His Blood for you when He is eight days old. If so scandalized, then you will have no use for a King Whose throne is a cross-beam, Whose crown is one of thorns and from Whose face and hands streams the holy Wine of God and the sweat of the Divine, and from Whose side, as His heart is pierced, flows “Blood and water” (John 19:34). If you areoffended at this King of the Jews then you will look at the crucifix ... at the corpse on the cross and view it as an ungodly curse and declare it a bloody miscarriage of Justice.

But that is not you, is it? Indeed, you are here this morning and you do rejoice in the Festival of the Nativity of your Lord. So, will you join the shepherds and “go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened?” You may like to do so, but you can not for this promise was not given to you. While the promise is of “Good News of a great joy which will come to ‘all' the people,” includes you, the promise to “find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger” was given only to the shepherds, and even then, it was only for a specific place in Bethlehem and for a particular evening some 2,000 years ago. Had they decided to go to the inn they would have missed out being in the Presence of the Lord Jesus. Had they waited forty days before visiting the manger site, the shepherds would have not seen Christ the Lord. But they didn't wait; not at all.

“They went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.” In the darkness of that night, the shepherds were guided by the Word of God, the Word delivered by a messenger, directing them to the one place where their Savior was and those men entered into the very Presence of the Savior Who is Christ the Lord and became part of the holy family assembled around the altarized manger. “And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this Child; and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.”

Is there a promise for you ... a time for you to be in the gracious Presence of the LORD? Yes and fear not for “behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2). Is there a promise for you ... a place for you to be in the gracious Presence of the LORD? Yes, for the Lord Jesus has promised, “Where two or three are gathered in My Name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). We began in that Baptismal Name this morning when we gathered together in and invoked the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. So listen, all of you who are baptized, especially you little children, we are gathered here in the Presence of the Lord.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9) and in the absolution the called messenger of the Word announces that forgiveness which is for the children, for any visitors who might be gathered in this holy place as well as for the confirmed members of the congregation. You are invited to hear this Word of cleansing as you “come into His Presence with singing” (Psalm 100:2).

Then there, or rather here, in this Bethlehem ... in this House of Bread is that special, sacramental, real Presence of the Lord; that Gift of Himself to His Church where Jesus says, “This is My Body; this is My Blood.” The confirmed members of Trinity, those who are prepared for reception of that same Body born of Mary and of that same Blood shed on the cross, are invited to participate at and in this Christ Mass.

What is there left to do after hearing this Christmas Invitation? Two specific things come to mind this day in the City of Truth ... in the Cities of Virden and Girard ... namely, to be like Mary and to be like the shepherds. What did these do? Listen to the Word: “Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.” Amen.