Sermon for the Epiphany of Our Lord

LISTEN

Jesu Juva

“Not Separate, and More than Equal - One”

Text: Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12; Isaiah 60:1-6

 

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

I don’t know what things were like where you were, but on Friday afternoon the weather changed quite suddenly, dramatically, and unexpectedly at my house. One moment things were calm, and the next a high wind came from out of nowhere and the snow was so heavy it seemed to be coming down in sheets being blown down the street. Almost like a winter derecho blowing through my neighborhood.

Which I think is how the Jewish Christians must have felt when they heard the message of St. Paul that we heard today. And specifically when he said to the Ephesians, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Now we’re used to hearing words like that and teaching like that, so it probably doesn’t have the impact on us now as it did back then. But those words and that teaching was like a derecho blowing through the Jewish Christian community. For to say fellow heirs, same body, partakers of the promise, this was a teaching above and beyond anything they had heard before.

Not that the Jewish Christians didn’t know that Jesus died for all people. They did. But it was more like, to borrow a phrase from our own history, separate but equal. In the Old Testament, Gentiles could become Jews if they wanted, be circumcised and follow the laws of Moses. But they still weren’t descended from Abraham. These Gentile believers could worship at the Temple in Jerusalem, but only so far - only to the Court of the Gentiles. And yes, Jesus had gone among the Samaritans just as He had among the Jews, and at least they were part Jewish . . . but they were still Samaritans. But being of Jewish origin, being descended from Abraham, was still a big deal, still mattered to them. 

So when Paul writes to the Ephesians what he had been preaching in all his missionary journeys, this mystery of Christ that he was making known, he’s saying: Fellas, it’s not separate but equal! The Gentiles (and by that he means anyone not descended from Abraham), the Gentiles are fellow heirs, which means they get the same inheritance that we do. Nothing different; no distinction! And members of the same body, which means not just unity, but oneness; not with different blood but with the same blood flowing through us. And partakers of the promise, that although not descended from Abraham, the promise made to Abraham and passed down through the generations they get a share of too! Those words, that teaching, was mind blowing. 

But don’t just imagine the violent reaction the Jews who didn’t believe that Jesus was the promised Messiah must have had to those words! Or the shock the Jewish Christians must have felt. Imagine the joy of the Gentiles! To hear not only of a Saviour, but that separate but equal was not a thing with Him! That His inheritance, His kingdom, is for all people. That His blood was not only shed for all people, but all would together receive it in the Sacrament, standing or kneeling not separately, but side-by-side. And that all the promises, all the gifts, all the grace, is for them, too.

You can imagine the derecho this was blowing through the early church!

And we see it already with the story of the Wise Men. They are such an treasured part of the Christmas story, and our nativity scenes would be missing something without them. But maybe we need to appreciate them and what they add to our nativity scenes even more, and not just lump them together with the shepherds as visitors to see Jesus, but realize how important it was to God that they be there. As witnesses and testimony to this truth of St. Paul and all that Jesus had come to do.

Now, we don’t know much about these Wise Men; they come and go quickly. But God worked pretty hard to get them there! First, the seed of His Word was planted among them some time before this, maybe during the time of His people’s exile in Babylon. Then the star - to signal them and lead them to Jesus, that, as Isaiah said, they Arise [and] shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. Then the prophecy of Micah, and the testimony of the Chief Priests and Scribes to direct the Wise Men to Bethlehem. And then the appearance of the star again . . . No wonder that when they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy! And the Greek there actually says with extreme mega joy! What would be the equivalent of that kind of joy today? I’m not sure. A joy that just can’t be contained. A joy that makes nothing else matter.

No wonder they not only brought but gave Him such costly gifts.

So Jewish shepherds, Gentile Wise Men, fellow heirs, members of the same body, and both alike partakers of the promise. That’s an epiphany! A revelation of how great and comprehensive this child and His work is. Like nothing ever seen or done before.

And now you are part of it, too. As I said before, we’re used to hearing this, so maybe the impact on us isn’t so great as it should be. But think about all the places you can’t go in this world, places you are barred from. Think about all the people who think you less than them, somehow below them, and that you will always be. Think about all the divisions and separations and rankings in our world - not all of which are bad - but that exist. And realize that in Jesus, there is none of that. All of us alike are baptized because all of us need to be. In the Old Testament it was the flesh that was cut OFF that mattered. But now with Jesus it is the flesh that is put ON that matters. That He put on our flesh to redeem us, and that in baptism we now put ON Christ. And now all of us together are fellow heirs, members of the same body, all alike partakers of the promise. No matter who you are or where you are from or what you have done in the past. Jesus’ birth and death and resurrection has overcome all that.

Which also means that when you come up to the altar to receive that same Body and Blood that the Son of God put on and the Wise Men fell down before and worshipped, you do so not as individuals, all separate, all on your own, but together. As one. Rich and poor, men and women, old and young, white collar or blue collar, black, brown, white, red, or yellow skin, all of us standing side-by-side, no one better than another, and all receiving the same gift - the same Body and Blood, the same forgiveness and life, the same inheritance and salvation. It is a marvelous thing to witness, something that happens in very few, if any, other places in the world. This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Which, you know, I say every week after reading the words of the Gospel. To which you respond, as you did this morning, Praise be to Thee, O Lord. But why? Why do you say that? Is it for the words just heard? Certainly. But even more, for the Gospel Jesus has done. That all of us are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and all alike partakers of the promise.

So let’s treat each other that way. I think we do sometimes. I think we don’t sometimes as well. There are distinctions that are meet, right, and salutary, but others that aren’t. There are things that need to be pointed out and dealt with, like false teaching and unholy living, but we shouldn’t delight in the faults and failings of others. Are we as free and generous with the forgiveness we give as we are with the forgiveness we expect? Are we quick to criticize and slow to reconcile? Do we ignore instead of pay attention, and disregard instead of spending time with or for someone? And what else do we need to repent of? How else we do not see and treat each other as fellow heirs, member of the same body, and partakers of the promise?

God wanted the Wise Men there with His Son, and in the same way He wants all of you here today with His Son. He has brought you here, and for some of you, worked very hard to do so! Just like He did with the Wise Men. Because He wants to give you gifts! He wants you to hear those words of forgiveness. He wants you to hear all that He has done for you. And He wants you to receive the Body and Blood of His Son. All of you! That like the Wise Men, you rejoice with extreme mega joy! And not just at Christmas, but all year round and all your life. 

So the story of the Wise Men is not just an important part of the Christmas story, but an important part of our salvation story. And a perfect way to transition from the Christmas season now ending, to the Epiphany season now beginning. And just as the appearance of the Wise Men and Paul’s teaching about the Gentiles was like a derecho blowing through the early Church, maybe it can be for us again as well. Not just blowing OUT the sin that has settled into our hearts and lives, in the distinctions and separations we make, and how we treat each other, but also blowing IN the gifts and grace of God, and a renewed appreciation of Christmas, of Epiphany, and all that Jesus has done for us. And that’s the kind of thing that can change a family, a church, a world. It did in the early Church. And it still can. And so be an epiphany not just within these walls, or for a day or a season, but an epiphany for the world, for life, and for all. 

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

The Congregation at Prayer

For the Week of the Epiphany of Our Lord (January 6-11, 2025)

Invocation: In the Name of the Father and of the (+) Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Speak the Apostles’ Creed. 

Verse: Isaiah 43:1b – ”Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.”

Hymn of the Week:  Lutheran Service Book #407 “To Jordan Came the Christ, Our Lord”

Hymns for Sunday: 401, 407, 623, 404, 405, 594

Readings for the Week: [The readings for Thursday-Saturday are the Scriptures for this coming Sunday.]

Monday: Psalm 29

How does the psalm describe the power and majesty of God? Should we be afraid of Him for these? Why or why not?

Tuesday: 1 Kings 8:6-13

How did Israel know the Lord was present in the temple? Why did God do this? Why He hiding from us or hiding for us?

Wednesday: Luke 2:41-52

What was important to Jesus, even at this young age? Why?

Thursday: Isaiah 43:1-7

What water did Israel pass through? What water have you passed through? What great promises does God make here to you?

Friday: Romans 6:1-11

Baptism forgives our sin! But what else does it do? Why is this important? What freedom does baptism give: for sin or from sin?

Saturday: Luke 3:15-22

Why did the people think John was the Christ? How did Jesus show Himself to be the Christ? Is this surprising? Why?

The Catechism - Returning Thanks after the Meal: Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever. [He] gives food to every creature. He provides food for the cattle and the young ravens when they call. His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor His delight in the legs of a man; the Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love. . . . We thank You, Lord God, heavenly Father, for all Your benefits, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit forever and ever, Amen.

Collect for the Week: Father in heaven, at the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River You proclaimed Him Your beloved Son and anointed Him with the Holy Spirit. Make all who are baptized in His name faithful in their calling as Your children and inheritors with Him of everlasting life; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen

The Prayers:  Please pray for . . .

+ yourself and for all in need (remembering especially those on our prayer list).

+ God’s blessing, wisdom, and guidance for our congregation’s Church Technology Council.

+ the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cambodia, for God’s wisdom, blessing, guidance, and provision.

+ God’s blessing, guidance, and provision for Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary, St. Catherine’s, ON.

Conclude with the Lord’s Prayer and Luther’s Morning or Evening Prayer from the Catechism.

Now joyfully go about your day (or to bed) in good cheer, child of God!

Collect for the Week © 2018 Concordia Publishing House.

Lutheran Service Book Hymn License: 110019268

Meditation on the Eve of the Circumcision and Name of Jesus

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Jesu Juva

“Your Name on Him”

Text: Numbers 6:22-27; Luke 2:21; Galatians 3:23-29

 

In the Name of (+) Jesus. Amen.

God told Aaron to put His Name on the people of Israel. Because that’s what you do when something’s important to you - you put your name on it. These people belonged to Him. He would bless them. His face would shine upon them - He wasn’t going to turn His back on them. He would be gracious to them and give them peace. They would have rest in a home of their own. They would have peace and security from their enemies. And God promised all this to them because from this people would come the human flesh of His Son, come to be the Saviour of the world. And so He put His Name on them. 

An when the fullness of time came, God sent His Son (Galatians 4:4), which we remembered and celebrated six days ago now. Christmas is one of the most joyous times of the year - which it should be. For God keeping His promise, God sending His Son, the Son of God being born into this world - is a big deal. So we should make a big deal of it. 

But we heard of something else God did tonight, that maybe doesn’t always get the attention it deserves. And that is what happened on the eighth day of Christmas, the eighth day after Jesus’ birth - and that is His circumcision. Luke records it for us in just one verse. No big narrative like Joseph and Mary going to Bethlehem, or like we heard Sunday with Simeon in the Temple. And maybe that’s why we overlook it. For if it wasn’t worth Luke’s time and effort, then . . . 

But that would be a mistake. Circumcision was a big deal to the Jewish people. It connected them to Abraham and the promise of God made to him. A physical sign that yes, they were a part of the covenant. Failure to have that skin cut off meant that YOU were cut off - cut off from the covenant, because you had rejected God and His promise. So to be a real Jew, you had to be circumcised. 

But just that doesn’t solve the confusion of why JESUS was circumcised, and why HIS circumcision is such big deal. So maybe this is a good way to think about it and help us understand: it is the counterpart to what God commanded Aaron to do. For if Aaron was to put God’s Name on the people, when Jesus is circumcised is when God puts YOUR name on HIMSELF.

Which means Jesus is now doing everything in your name, on your behalf. What you don’t do, won’t do, and can’t do, He does for you. So all the commandments you break, He keeps in your name. All the things you should do but fail to do, He does in your name. When He ascends the cross, He dies the death you deserve, receives the condemnation of God you deserve. It is as if YOU are hanging there. And then when He rises from the dead, that’s in your name, too. For you, too. 

So all He does . . . it’s like . . . in a big trust fund. That’s what wealthy people often do - they put their wealth into a trust fund for their children so they are provided for. And when the children turn a certain age, they receive that gift. It was there all along, but then it becomes theirs. 

So it is now with us. Except we don’t receive all that Jesus did for us, in our name, when we reach a certain age, but when we are baptized. That’s what St. Paul was talking about in the reading from Galatians tonight. Before baptism, all the wealth and riches of God are there, like with a trust fund, before the children reach a certain age and are still under a guardian. But when you are baptized, it’s all yours. And it doesn’t matter whether you are Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female - whoever you are, that trust fund is for you. The riches Jesus won for you - the forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and the kingdom of God. 

Now I don’t know about you, but to me, that’s a pretty big deal! And so Jesus’ circumcision is a pretty big deal.

The other thing that happened that day goes along with this, too. This son born to Mary is given a human name: Jesus. It is, as Luke tells us, the name given by the angel - or we could really say, the name given by this Son’s true Father, for the angel Gabriel simply spoke God’s Word to Mary - it is the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. And this name was given because fits with what this Son would do: save us.

But as I said, this ties in with what is happening here with Jesus’ circumcision. Yes, He receives His human name, but with that knife and His blood shed for the very first time, He receives all of our names. YOUR name is given to Him. And He bears it for you. And He fulfills HIS name FOR YOU - He saves YOU. For your sin, forgiveness. For your brokenness, healing. For your death, life. For your condemnation, salvation. All you need, He has done. All you need, He gives. 

Which means that as we enter a New Year tonight, we rejoice in the gifts we have received from our Lord this past year, and look forward to the gifts we will receive from Him this coming year. And know that with God’s Name on us, and with our name on Jesus, we are His and He is ours. So like Israel of old, we have peace and rest, no matter what the future holds; no matter what happens in 2025, or beyond. 

For this you know:

The Lord will bless you and keep you;
the Lord will make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord will lift up his countenance upon you 

and [He will] give you peace.

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

Sermon for the First Sunday after Christmas

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Jesu Juva

“Thomas, Simeon, and a God with Hands”

Text: Luke 2:22-40; Colossians 3:12-17

 

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Have you ever said something like: I can’t wait to get my hands on . . . It could be that gift you saw under the tree, or that gift you really wanted. I can’t wait to get my hands on that, make it mine, use it. But you can also use that phrase in a negative way, a vengeful way. I can’t wait to get my hands on . . . that person who did that to me! Our hands possess things. Our hands can also exercise power. We can lend a hand, give someone a hand, raise my hand, shake hands, and hold hands. Hands can slap and hit and cause damage, but also soothe, comfort, and console. I don’t know if you’ve ever really thought about them much, but your hands are pretty important. Amazing creations of our loving God.

Well, hands play an important part in the Christmas story. Of course, Joseph’s and Mary’s hands are important as they held the baby Jesus after His birth. But there’s more. For this year, four days before Christmas and today, four days after Christmas we get important hand stories.

First, four days before Christmas, December 21st, is the day the Church commemorates St. Thomas the Apostle. You know him as doubting Thomas - the one who said, essentially: I can’t wait to get my hands on Jesus! Because he said unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe (John 20:25). I always thought it interesting that his day falls right before Christmas, but it makes sense if you know that the flesh he insisted on touching was the flesh that was born on Christmas and laid in the manger. So with Thomas, right before Christmas, we get a foreshadowing of why Jesus will be born - for life and faith. And once Thomas’ hands touched that flesh, that’s what he got! Life and faith, and so confessed My Lord and my God!

And then second, today, four days after Christmas, we heard the story of Simeon, who also couldn’t wait to get his hands on Jesus. For he had been promised (as we heard) that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. So that day, when Joseph and Mary brought Jesus into the Temple, Simeon gets the gift he had been waiting for, takes Jesus in his hands, and basically makes the same confession as Thomas. He used different words, but essentially says, My Lord and my God! I can die now. You have kept Your promise. You have sent my Saviour. 

And that Saviour had hands. 

Well duh Pastor! Of course He had hands! What kind of mutant baby would He be without hands! 

Of course. But think about it. Why was Jesus promised? Why did Jesus come? Why did Jesus do what He did? It is as if after Adam and Eve sinned, God said: I can’t wait to get my hands on them! But not in anger, not for revenge, but to rescue them, lift them up, and bless them. So God promised a Saviour. He would come with hands. Hands of love and mercy. One of the criticisms of false gods we read in the Old Testament is that they have mouths but do not speak, eyes but do not see, ears but do not hear, and hands but do not feel (Psalm 115:5-7). But we have a God with hands. Hands that touch and feel and save.

First, they were tiny hands. Newborn hands. Christmas hands! Hands that weren’t even big enough to wrap themselves around Joseph’s little finger!

But then they grew, just like our hands grow. And as we heard at the end of the Holy Gospel today, they grew and become strong, probably lifting wood and helping Joseph with his work.

And then when Jesus began His work, His public ministry, He’s touching everybody! He can’t wait to get His hands on them! He touches the ears of the deaf and they hear. He touches the eyes of the blind and they see again. He touches lepers and they are cleansed. He touches the sick and they are healed, and the dead and they are raised to life again. Parents bring their children to Jesus and beg Him to . . . touch them. He is a God with hands.

And then there are all those who touched Jesus - who couldn’t wait to get their hands on Him! And He wanted to be touched by them. The woman who washed His feet with her tears. The woman who had been bleeding for twelve years. And so many more stories, because that’s what you get with a God who comes in the flesh, a God with hands to touch and be touched. To save.

But there were others, too, who couldn’t wait to get their hands on Jesus. Yesterday, December 28th, is the day the Church remembers when King Herod couldn’t wait to get His hands on Jesus and so killed all the baby boys in Bethlehem two years old and under. And the Jewish Sanhedrin plotted and planned and laid traps for Jesus until they finally were able to lay their hands on Jesus and get Him put on the cross. Which is where you die a death where your hands are nailed down. So He could no longer touch. They wanted to stop those healing, blessing, saving hands. 

But, of course, they couldn’t. Which is what the story of Thomas teaches us. Yes, Jesus was crucified and His hands were attached to the cross. But now He holds those same hands out to Thomas and says, Touch me. Put your fingers into the holes in my hands. And that touch brings life and faith to Thomas. And if Simeon made Thomas’ confession, My Lord and my God, just with different words, I think Thomas also made Simeon’s confession, just with different words. Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, for not only my eyes have seen Your salvation, my hands have touched my salvation, my Saviour.

And even more important, He has touched me. My Saviour, my God, with His hands.

And He has touched you. No, His physical hands are no longer here to touch as they once did. He is touching now in a different way - but a no less blessing and saving way. For still Your gracious and loving God can’t wait to get His hands on you! And so in the same way He touched through the prophets of the Old Testament and the Apostles of the New, so now through His Pastors He is using their hands to touch - to wash and forgive and feed. And with His touch, we now are the next in the long line of believers to confess with them and in their words. My Lord and My God we confess with Thomas in the Creed, and Lord, lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, we will sing with Simeon after being touched by and having Jesus’ Body and Blood placed into our mouths. And like them, through this touch, this gift, we have new life, and joy, and peace.

But then the question becomes: What do we do with our hands? 

Well, surely, lots of things. But if we use Thomas’ and Simeon’s words, how can we not just speak and confess like them but also be like them; that we can’t wait to get our hands on Jesus? But how can we, with a Jesus who is no longer here with us as He was with them?

Well, Jesus has told us how, before He ascended the cross. He said, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me (Matthew 25:40). So you get your hands on Jesus by getting your hands on your neighbor - your spouse, your children, your parents, your friends, all those people God has give you in your life. When you get your hands on them and touch and serve and love and care for them, so you are to Jesus. And when you get your hands on them and touch to hurt or harm or persecute them, so you are to Jesus. 

St. Paul put it this way, as we heard today: Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, - or, we could add, as those touched by God - put on compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another . . . forgiving each other . . . And above all these put on love. And we can have hands like that when, as Paul goes on to say, the word of Christ dwells in you richly. For when Jesus and His Word dwell in you, and His Spirit dwells in you, your hands become His hands, His loving and forgiving hands.

So how are you using your hands? Who can’t you wait to get your hands on? And why? Maybe we need to think about that a little more before we do the things we do . . . And then keep coming back here in repentance for the loving, restoring, forgiving touch of Jesus. To be refilled with His Word, that it dwell in us not a little, but richly. So that when the time comes for us to depart this world, it will be like Simeon, in peace. And it will be like Thomas, confessing my Lord and my God!

So think again now: Who can’t you wait to get your hands on? Who has God given you as a gift to love and serve and care for? Who has He given you as a gift to do those things for you? And if your hands seem too small and too weak to do much, just remember that Jesus’ were once, too. But as those hands were God’s hands, so will yours be, and God will do great things through them. To judge how great is not for us to say. But as Jesus told us, those things we consider little and of no account, cups of cold water, words of encouragement, visits, compassion, and things like that, He considers those things great. 

So be bold! Bold to love and serve, to help and forgive! Bold like Simeon and Thomas were, who took Jesus up in their hands in joy and peace. And know that Jesus first has, and will continue to do, the same for you. And when the Last Day comes, it will be the same: Jesus can’t wait to get His hands on you! For the baby in the manger will be your God on the throne. You’ll see the nail marks in His hands, and know: my Lord and my God! And those hands will take hold of you, and that day will be better than Christmas. For it will be a Christmas, a new birth for you into eternity, with a joy and peace that will never end.

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