February 2009
Feb. 1, 2009
CALLED TO FOLLOW
Readings: Jonah 3:1-5, 10 and Mark 1:14-20
Following someone means doing as they say. When we played, "Follow the Leader" as a child, we did as the leader said or we were out of the game.
Peter, James, and John were fishermen. They worked very hard to make a living before boats had mechanical equipment to manage nets and radars and engines to make them able to move quickly and to see ahead when a storm approached. Theirs was a dangerous profession.
Jesus met them one day at the seashore, their office. He called them to be disciples or learners from Him. The Holy Spirit showed them Jesus was the Son of God and the person to follow. They left their fishing and followed Jesus. They didn't leave for a few weeks. They left for life. We only see them return to fishing once in Scripture, that after Jesus' resurrection. He made breakfast on the beach and restored Peter by forgiveness to his part in ministry. We next see the disciples at Pentecost and after. They were now missionaries for Jesus. Their fishing days were over.
Jonah was also called to serve God by telling the then-reigning power, Assyria, they were doomed if they didn't repent within 40 days. Jonah thought of the danger, then decided to fool God and go the wrong way on a boat. God needed to appoint a large sea creature to swallow Jonah to save him. Jonah still fought God. In fact, he fought God until the end of the Book of Jonah.
Which of these examples fulfilled their call? Don't be tricked. They both fulfilled their call. Jonah did so less willingly. But, Jonah's preaching of repentance had effect just as the preaching of the apostles after Easter had effect.
What about you? You were called at your baptism to follow Jesus. You were called to "Make disciples, preach, teach, and baptize." Are you doing so willingly? Are you doing so at all?
Our call is no less real and no less from God than were the calls of the apostles and Jonah. What began with the call at baptism, continues with God's Word, whether we hear it in church or at home. God's Word tells us what we need to know to present our faith and be disciples each day. Holy Communion gives us the power and the reassurance to go and to make disciples. Each day brings a new challenge our way.
Prayer. Lord, You called us in our baptism. Keep us always axs Your disciples, both learning from You and teaching athers about You.In Jesus' name. Amen.
Feb. 2, 2009
NUNC DIMITTIS
Readings: Hebrews 2:14-18 and Luke 2:22-40
How many times don't we need to obey laws in our lives? The Old Testament people of God had the same life.
The laws we see fulfilled at the Presentation of Our Lord help us to see how God provided for the education of His people through the Law. It also shows us Jesus being present to fulfill one of the laws, while His mother, Mary, fulfilled another. One more part of Jesus' perfect fulfilling of the Law is done.
Yet, the major characters of the story of Jesus' Presentation are two elderly people. We see a priest, Simeon, and a prophetess, Anna. Simeon had served many years in the temple. He had waited patiently for the Messiah to appear. He must have been about to give up, because he was close to the time of his death.
But, God helped Simeon to see that promises made by God are always promises kept by God. Notice that he sees the child and immediately utters a hymn to God.
The words of Simeon's hymn have been used in Christian worship and in its liturgy for many years. Simeon tells God he can now die. He had seen the promised Messiah return to His temple. He had seen the One Who was to cause fall and the rise of many in Israel. Indeed, Simeon had seen Jesus, the Christ, Who would died for the sins of the world. Those who believed in Jesus would receive the benefits of His work for them.
God gave the gift of faith to Simeon and still gives it to us through our baptism. Simeon could see the mission of the Messiah. We have seen the mission of the Messiah. We continue to see His mission of salvation of all people through His body and blood, given to us in, with, and under the bread and wine of Holy Communion We hear of Jesus love for us in His Word, the Bible as it is taught to us in services and classes at church. We see God's love through others as they see it through us. That's why we can also sing the Nunc Dimittis, not only at the end of each Communion service in church, but also in our lives.
Prayer. Lord, help us to see Jesus, Your Son, as our Messiah and Savior from sin. Bring us often to Holy Communion and church so we can hear more of Your wonderful news about our salvation in Jesus Christ. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Feb. 3, 2009 WHY TEACH THE TRUTH? Readings: Zechariah 14:1-21 and Titus 2:7-3:15 Pastors face a great temptation to preach what people want to hear so they are popular. Many have fallen into the trap. Many today still fall into the trap of preaching prosperity, thought strategies, and othe schemes to instant wealth or instant salvation. Titus faced such preachers in his day. St. Paul tells him to preach what God wants him to preach. Preach that everyone live with one another in love. Everyone needs to show Christ and His love to others by their behavior, especially on Crete where people's behavior was known to be dishonest and even barbaric. St, Paul offers as the example the Christians who Jesus saved although we were exactly like the world. He saved us because He loves us. He saved us because He is merciful and gracious. He saved us through baptism. He recreated us into new creatures because the Holy Spirit made God's Word work with water. He saved us because Jesus suffered, died, and rose again. It is Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection we see giving baptism and Holy Communion their saving power. Where does all this lead? It5 leads us to live with God forever in heaven. Zechariah gives a wonderful description of what we'll see there. For a fuller description, see Revelation 20 and 21. With sin gone in heaven, only perfection and holiness will remain. God will be there so light and church buildings will not be necessary. That is why the truth about Jesus Christ and what He means for our lives must be taught. Prayer. Lord, give us Your Holy Spirit so we always teach and live the truth of Your love and care in Jesus Christ. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Feb. 4, 2009
WHEN BAD THINGS HAPPEN
Readings: Job 1:1-21 and John 1:1-18
A few years ago, Rabbi Harold Kushner wrote the book, "When Bad Things Happen to Good People." He used good Jewish logic and theology to help people see that evil exists and that because Satan also exists, there will be bad things happening in this world.
The Book of Job would agree that far with Rabbi Kushner. Chapter 1 of Job, possibly the oldest book in the Bible, tells of a man named Job. He was a man of faith (righteous) before God and man. One would think God would bless Job, right?
Wrong! Satan wants to test Job to see if his faith is based on the fact he's God's person or on his personal wealth. God allows Job to be so tested, except Satan couldn't actually hurt Job. Job loses everything he has, including his family, by the end of chapter 1. Does Job lose his faith? Stay tuned.
God had also acted to give salvation to all people. He is not a God of dirty tricks and nasty tests. He does permit problems to happen, but most of the problems are brought on by human sins and misdeeds.
The author of the Gospel of John tells us Jesus was in the beginning with God. He created everything that exists. He is the Light lighting up the darkness caused by sin and death. He is the One Who brings us life with God forever by His death on the cross.isHHisss HisHis His gift of life gives us the peace to weather the trials and tests of bad economies, bad government, and all the other "bads" we can name in the world. The life He brings even shines brighter than death itself, since Jesus conquered death with His resurrection.
He gives us the opportunity to become His brothers and sisters through Holy Baptism. Baptism doesn't happen because somebody's human will wants it, but because the Holy Spirit brings them to baptism.
John the Baptist showed the way to Jesus. He wasn't the Messiah. He merely set things up for the Messiah, Jesus, to work.
When bad things happen to you, let God take care of them. Jesus assures us that nothing stands between us and God the Father.
Prayer. Lord, help us to see that Your love through Jesus helps us get through the bad times of our lives. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Feb. 5, 2009
WHEN BAD GOES TO WORSE
Readings: Job 2:1-3:10 and John 1:19-34
As if poor Job didn't have enough trouble and pain, he now becomes ill with boils. These sores hurt and itch. Some towns of Job's day would put one out for having boils.
Enter Job's friends. These guys will prove they don't get it! They are about the worst version of comfort one could have in time of trouble! With these guys as friends, I really don't think Job needed enemies.
Job and his friends sit on the ground and commiserate. The friends use miserable theology. Job is just plain miserable.
Job begins the first round of speeches (there are three such rounds in Job) with a wish. He wishes he'd never been born. Have you ever been so sick or so miserable you wish you'd never lived? Job thought he was. He keeps this up and finally winds up cursing the day he was born for the first time. We leave Job and friends here for today.
Now, the answer for all this suffering and pain. It might not make the pain go away entirely, but it will give you the endurance and the patience to deal with all pain and suffering.
John the Baptist gives us witness to who Jesus is. The title, "Lamb of Who takes away the sin of the world," will be seen again in Revelation. We see kit every time we celebrate Holy Communion. We call it the Agnus Dei, merely the borrowing of the first two Latin words of the hymn based on the words of John the Baptist.
Jesus is like a lamb gone to slaughter. Isaiah 53 uses the words to tell us Jesus was led away to be killed on the cross. The lamb was one of the main animals of sacrifice. It was a substitute for the sins of the people. Jesus was the once and for all sacrifice for our sins. He was the substitute for the punishment we should have suffered for our sins. God's mercy is upon us now because Jesus Christ died for us.
Jesus resurrection was God's eternal, "Yes!," to Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. Isaiah also tells us that all our illnesses and grief were put on Jesus on the cross. We now have the wholeness (another translation for the Hebrew word for "peace".) so we are healthy enough to deal with all the problems in our lives.
When bad goes to worse, don't ask Job's friends or their modern counterparts for help. Look to the cross of Christ, the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world. He brings us the peace to live from bad to worse.
Prayer. Lord, when bad goes to worse, bring me back to see Jesus as the Lamb of God. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Feb. 6, 2009
WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE COMPLAINING
Readings: Job 3:11-26 and John 1:35-51
Job continued to complain. He saw everybody else getting a better deal than he. He thought everybody else, even the bad people had more blessings. So, he griped on.
Jesus' first disciples had been disciples of John the Baptist. They asked Jesus where He was staying to find out what their lot would be when they followed Jesus. Jesus showed them where He was staying.
The new disciples knew immediately that Jesus is the Messiah. Andrew went to find Simon, his brother. He told Simon he'd found the Messiah. When Jesus saw Simon, He knew Simon's heart. Jesus called Simon, Cephas or "Rocky." The nickname was a comment on the condition of Simon's heart, not his steadfastness or his greatness as a person on whom Jesus would build His church. Simon would live down to the nickname many times as he followed Jesus on the earth.
The other new disciple, Philipp, went to find his brother, Nathanael. Nathanael was a pious man and was having his daily devotions and Bible Study times under a tree as Philipp came and found him. Jesus knew Nathanael's heart. He knew Nathanael was a person who spoke his mind and could be brutally honest. Nathanael came and Jesus told him where he'd been, what he'd been doing and even the very passage he was studying (Jacob's Ladder). Nathanael had only one complaint before Jesus spoke to him. He couldn't see a rabbi coming from Nazareth, a little backwater town of Galilee. He also couldn't see the Messiah coming from such a place.. Jesus' knowing his doings and his heart convinces Nathanael Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. Jesus then uses the Jacob's Ladder account to show the He'll be the Judge and angels will ascend and descend on Him at the end of time.
The next time you want to complain about your misery being worse than that of others, remember that God knows everything. Jesus came into the world to give us a way to deal with suffering by being able to endure it. Job, like most of us, had his problems enduring suffering. Jesus endured both suffering and death so we could become children of God. As children of God, we are assured through God's Word and Sacraments that God is always looking out for our good. Jesus, suffering, death, and resurrection assure us of His constant love and care for us.
Prayer. Lord, when we want to see our misery as worse than that of others, help us to see Jesus' work for us and to be assured that Your love and care are with us always. In Jesus' name. Amen.
February 7, 2009
LET YOUR FAITH GUIDE YOU THROUGH TROUBLE
Readings: Job 4:1-21 and John 2:1-11
Has a hero you looked up to suddenly had "feet of clay" when it came to their faith? Has a Christian teacher failed to be an example for you when trouble strikes them?
Take heart! Eliphaz, the first of Job's friends to speak, has the same problem. Job had taught many to trust in God. He had always told them to look to God in times of trouble and to let God determine the time and place of help. Now, there sat Job complaining and wishing he'd never been born. Eliphaz berates him for his lack of faith.
Jesus also scolds Mary for her lack of faith in Cana. Jesus had gone to Cana with His earthly family for a wedding. His mother, thought in terms of her day rather than in terms of God. She asked Jesus if He, as the family eldest son and treasurer, could find some money to go and buy wine to save a groom who'd miscalculated the need and ran short. Ordinarily, the eldest son would have complied.
Jesus scolded Mary by telling her she had little to do with Him. In this case, the scolding was on target. Mary was seeing in human terms what Jesus, the Son of God, was about to deal with in divine and miraculous terms. She complained and missed the point.
Jesus performed a miracle that day. Six large stone pitchers, used first for the ceremonial washing required for the wedding to take place, were available to hold water. Jesus sent the servants out to get the water (180 gallons in all). Jesus then turned the water into the best wine of the celebration! He provided more wine than anyone needed to drink.
Jesus' miracle at Cana shows why we can let our faith can be used to guide us through any crisis. Simply put, Jesus has done all needed to make us God's children in His suffering, death, and His rising again. He has given us baptism and Holy Communion to reinforce our faith throughout our lives.
He now gives us the Holy Spirit to guide us and even to pray for us when we go through the difficult times of our lives. We can let our faith, guided by the Holy Spirit, guide us through all our problems.
Prayer. Lord, give us the Holy Spirit so we can let our faith guide us through the troubles of our lives. In Jesus' name. Amen.
February 12, 2009
DOES OUR MISSION SUCCEED OR FAIL?
Readings: Job 8:1-22 and John 4:27-45
Have you ever tried to comfort someone who was ill and had lost everything he or she had on earth? How did you go about comforting them? Did you berate them about repentance? Probably not.
Bildad spends his entire speech berating Job. He tells Job he must repent. He can't argue with God because he isn't good enough. God will help the righteous, but will destroy the wicked.
Bildad misses one point. No person is righteous before God. Berating Job about repentance isn't the issue. Job can't make himself any better than a sinner before God. No matter what Job does, the verdict of "sinner" will be against him. So, Bildad gives Job absolutely no comfort. He actually tells Job things Job already knows. Bildad's mission fails!
Jesus ends His conversation with the Samaritan woman. The disciples are hungry. They think Jesus must also be hungry. Not so! Jesus provides the answer for times when we really need comfort. He says His food is in His mission for God. His Father has given Him as special mission. His mission is to preach the Gospel, then to be the Gospel.
He preachers the Gospel to the Samaritan woman by reminding her of her life. He also shows her proper worship of God is done in one's soul, not in a church building with fancy trappings. It isn't the place that makes the worship. It's the relationship between God and the worshipper. It's the mission God has given the worshipper.
Jesus' mission also includes going to Jerusalem. He will suffer there at the hands of the Jewish religious leaders and the Romans. He will die for the sins of the world. He will rise again. His mission is His food. What a meal it is!
His mission also provides us food. In Holy Communion, we receive food to strengthen our faith when God takes bread and wine and joins them to Jesus' body and blood. Our baptism called us to our mission to seek others so God can save them by giving them faith. Our mission succeeds when we let the Holy Spirit lead and guide us in our mission and ministry for Jesus Christ.
Prayer. Father, You gave Jesus His food in His mission for us. Give us the food we need for our mission through Your Word and Sacraments. In Jesus' name. Amen.
February 13, 2009
NO COMFORT IN DOING IT YOURSELF
Readings: Job 9:1-35 and John 4:46-54
"Do it Yourself" projects are a big thing these days. People do everything from building bookshelves, to cooking, to building boats and even houses. If you're gifted to "do it yourself" you receive a joy in saving money and making things yourself. If you are not very good at "doing it yourself", you probably have more frustration in trying than the project is worth.
So it is with all trying to be righteous before God by their own deeds. They fail every time because they are sinners. Job tells us this in his speech. No one can contend with God on his or her own. Such action is self-defeating and more than frustrating. It brings no comfort. So Job goes on without any comfort.
The writer of John tells us of a man who get the idea of faith right. He doesn't try to do anything to help Jesus heal his child. He merely ask Jesus to come to Capernaum and to heal his son. The man is a nobleman.
Jesus doesn't even follow him. He merely tells the nobleman his child is healed. The nobleman believes Jesus. He does no more than head for home. His faith tells him Jesus has told him the truth. His child has been healed already.
The nobleman nears home. His servants come to give him the good news his child is healed. He asks when this happened. They tell him, Yesterday about this time." The nobleman realizes that's the time he talked to Jesus. His faith is strengthened.
How about you? Are you trying to get God's forgiveness by showing how good you are? Do you think you're actually good enough to stand before God and to ask for anything?
Jesus tells us to believe in Him. He has paid the price for our sins on the cross. He has risen from the tomb. He assures us of our forgiveness through the love and mercy of God. The healing of the nobleman's son merely makes Jesus' words and commands all the more truthful. We can be comforted by our faith in Jesus Christ.
Prayer. God of Comfort, comfort us at the cross of Jesus so we know our sins are forgiven so we stand righteous before You. In Jesus' name. Amen.
February 16, 2009
FINDING THE TRUE TEACHER
Readings: Job 12:1-6; 12-25 and John 5:30-47
In Jesus' day, many people sought the true teacher from among many rabbis and other people. Today, ;people still seek the true teacher from the likes of Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and many other faiths. They look to gurus and other types of teachers to tell them the truth about matters of life and eternity.
Job also looked to a teacher. He looked to God. He told his friendly detractors God was the ultimate Judge of all.
Jesus tells of His own true teaching. He tells the Jewish religious leaders about His Father authenticating His message. He tells them He gets no glory except the Father gives it to Him.
On the other side, are the false teachers of the Jewish leaders. They don't know God's Word. They have no idea of what God really says because their own laws have become all-important. Even their greatest prophet, Moses, accused them of false teaching. He also looked toward Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God.
We can spend many years looking for a human teacher. All human teachers get something wrong somewhere. They are not the Son of God. Jesus is the Son of God.
Jesus' teaching comes from God Himself. Jesus is the true teacher because He has all knowledge and wisdom residing in Him. He gave Himself for his students on the cross so they could be children of His Father again. He rose from death so we can be assured of life when our life here on earth ends.
Job knew God was the true teacher. Zophar didn't know what he was talking about. Jesus is our true teacher. He shows us God and brings us to Him by His own work. We now have the Holy Spirit to teach us and to lead us to Jesus. Let's all sit in class with Jesus.
Prayer. Father of Teaching, You sent Jesus to teach us about You and to bring us back to You. Give us Your Holy Spirit to lead us to Jesus. In Jesus' name. Amen.
February 17, 2009
GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU
Readings: Job 13:1-12 and John 6:1-21
What kind of bread do you eat? Are you a white bread person? Do you like whole wheat or another whole grain bread? Where do you get that bread?
Jesus needed to find a way to feed 5,000 men (probably 12,000 people) very quickly. He'd drawn such a large crown for His preaching because people had seen His healing and other works. They wanted to hear the message of a man who'd done so much good!
Now it was suppertime. Even if the stores in this area were open, the people would go home hungry. Many had come a distance to hear Jesus.
The disciples again don't get it! They seem to think they need to go out and to purchase bread. Jesus tells them to gather the people. A boy's lunch provides enough food for 5,000 men. "Huh?,' you say.
Yes, the boy's much provided enough for 5,000 men to eat that night. They were also full! They wanted to make Jesus their, "Bread King." This man had to be gotten so they could eat as much as they wanted for the rest of their lives.
Again, Jesus has a much wider mission than providing enough food for the hungry people. He goes off to commune with His Father and to focus on the real mission at hand. The Office of "Bread King" can go to someone else.
After gathering 12 baskets of leftovers, the disciples head across Lake Galilee. A storm comes up. That's not really all that uncommon. This is a nasty storm. The disciples, experienced sailors all, were frightened. Jesus came to them, walking on the water.
As if the storm weren't enough, the disciples though a ghost was after them. Jesus told them to be quiet, it was Him. They accepted Him into the boat. Again, Jesus does a mighty act to show He's God. Only God could do what Jesus did that night.
Job has the same idea about God. He knows God can and will help him. He merely wishes it were now.
God will take care of you as well. He gave you all you have. He with can provide all you need for your life. He also gave us Jesus to give is what we need to live with Him forever. That's why Jesus gave Himself for us. He now gives is His body in, with, and under bread. He gives us His blood in, with, and under wine so our faith is strengthened. God's care goes over all we need.
Prayer. Creator and Giver of All, You sent Jesus to show us Your perfect provision for all our needs. Help us always to remember that we can come to You in prayer whenever we have needs. In Jesus' name. Amen.
February 18, 2009
DON'T TRY THIS CASE BEFORE GOD
Readings: Job 13:13-28 and John 6:22-40
Job continues his speech to God. His attitude is one of, "Why me, God? Try to tell me I'm not a good guy enough to avoid this. Job tries to argue, as do many today, that they're no worse than anyone else. That argument gets us nowhere with God. It only leads us to more trouble and pain, since all sin. If God showed us every sin we've committed, we'd never be able to stand before Him.
Job also tries to blame God for his illness and pain. How often don't we do the same? We also like to blame God for problems resulting from sin in the world or from some misdeed of ours. The argument of goodness just doesn't cut it in God's court.
Enter Jesus Christ! He's the only person ever to live a perfect life. In John 6, He tells us He will give Himself for the life of the world. He tells the people just fed to look to Him because He is the "Bread of Life."
The "Bread of Life" was a phrase meant to refer to the life-giving words of the Torah, the first five books of the Bible. Jesus' words also give life. They show us God. Jesus tells us how we can be saved - through faith in Him. He tells us how we will all be raised at the Last Day. He tells us we can expect to live in heaven with God for all eternity. He tells us the way to God is through Him. Those are life-giving words.
Jesus also gives us life in His own suffering, death on the cross, and resurrection. God sent Him to die so we might live. God also keeps us as His Own by using baptism, Holy Communion, and the Bible.
Don't try your own case before God! Let Jesus tell God, "Father, You sent Me to die for this person and I did just that!" God will then reply, "This person is totally innocent of all sin because Jesus has paid the price of sin for them." You will then go away forgiven, with the Holy Spirit to lead and to guide you.
Prayer. Righteous Judge, You sent Jesus give us Living Bread. Remember His suffering, death, and resurrection for us as we plead for Your mercy and the forgiveness of sin In Jesus' name. Amen.
February 19, 2009
WHY GOD WON'T LEAVE US ALONE
Readings: Job 14:1-22 and John 6:41-59
Job yammers on. He continues his blasphemous words against God's right to pursue judgment against him. He fails to see that Satan, not God, is behind his problems. His speech becomes pathetic and whiney.
Job just can't see the real issue. He's so focused on himself, he simply can't see the answer to his suffering. He only makes it worse. Poor Job!
The words of Job 14:1,2 were once a part of the funeral right in the Missouri Synod. Thankfully, they no longer are! These words do not bear using in any right of the Church, since they are so wrong!
Why won't God just leave us alone when we hurt? John 6 gives us the answer.
We learn God isn't punishing or hurting us. In fact, God sent His Son, Jesus, to take our sins upon Himself on the cross. Jesus suffered, died, was buried, and rose again so we can call to God in the time of any distress and suffering. When He took our sins upon Himself, He won the battle against sin, death, and Satan once and for all!
Holy Communion, one of the Church's two sacraments, takes us back to the cross. It is an actual participation in Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection. It is Jesus' body and blood teamed with bread and wine in a way God has never chosen to tell us. We merely say Jesus' body and blood are "In, with, and under" the bread and the wine in Holy Communion.
Jesus gave us His body and His blood on the cross. His blood paid the price for our sin in a way no other sacrifice ever could. Jesus tells us in our reading today that we "live forever" because His body and blood are present in Holy Communion. We also receive forgiveness of all of sins because of Jesus' death and resurrection in Holy Communion. That's why the Great Vigil of Easter, held on Holy Saturday evening, properly leads into the first celebration of Holy Communion, held just into Easter morning.
Why won't God leave us alone as Job requests? God continues to help us because of Jesus. It is Jesus who makes all our ills bearable.
Prayer. God of Our Redemption, You sent Jesus die and to rise for us so You will never leave us. Give us hearts looking to Jesus through Holy Communion and the forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and salvation in His body and blood to help us in time of need. In Jesus' name. Amen.
February 20, 2009
WILL YOU LEAVE GOD?
Readings: Job 15:1-23, 30-35 and John 6:60-71
We begin Round 2 of the "Search About Suffering." Eliphaz gives Job a lesson in theology. The lesson is, "Just who are you to talk to God as you've done."
Job's faith is at a low ebb. We call this, "The Dark Night of the Soul." Eliphaz jumps in. He rebukes Job for his useless words. He offers no comfort. He just tells Job to repent for his stupidity and his blasphemy.
Job seems to have left God. He seems to have given into the temptation of Satan and has begun to curse God rather than to bless Him. That's how it is in the midst of suffering! The, "Dark Night of the Soul," shows itself in precisely such ramblings by Job and by us. The question now is, "Do we leave God and begin to blame Him for our problems?" "Do we see the source of our problems, or at least that God is not their source, and continue to pray for relief?"
Some of Jesus' Jewish listeners in John take the route of leaving Jesus when conflict and controversy arises. Difficult teaching drives people away from the Christian Church as well. Jesus merely takes the whole thing in stride.
Jesus knows many will turn against Him because His teachings are difficult to understand. He knows His popularity is fleeting. He does ask a question. He asks the people if they would believe in Him if He were to ascend to the place He came from. Jesus did this in His ascension into heaven. He did go back to His heavenly home to prepare a place for us. He fulfilled the miracle He promised these people!
Jesus' 12 disciples aren't about to be so hasty. They tell Jesus He is the Messiah and has the words of eternal life. They are correct! For once, they seem to "get it".
We also need to see Jesus as the One having the words of eternal life. When we face trouble or people who want to hurt us, we need to look to Jesus and realize that our home is not in this world. We also need to go back and the praise God for what we do have. Then, we pray to God for relief from our current troubles.
Will you leave God then next time trouble strikes? Look to Jesus in the Scriptures for help. Look to Jesus in your baptism and know you are God's forgiven and loved child. He will never harm you. Look to Jesus in Holy Communion for forgiveness of your sins, eternal life and salvation through His body and blood, really there in with, and under bread and wine. Then believe God will help you!
Prayer. God of Healing and Help, Giv e us Your Holy Spirit so we can look to Jesus in all times of need and be able to come to your for help. In Jesus' name. Amen.
February 21, 2009
GOD'S RIGHT TIME
Readings: Job 16:1-22 and John 7:1-13
Job speaks again to God and to his "friends". He is certainly correct in saying his friends are not of God. They would seem to have been used by Satan to make the temptation even more severe.
Job also makes a big mistake in blaming God for his problems. He wants relief-now. God's time has not yet come for Job to see relief after being cleansed of his sins through confession and divine absolution. Job feels tired. Don't we lose patience and become tired when our problems seem to go on forever?
Jesus also talks about the right time in the reading from John 7. His time, the appointed time of the greatest miracle of all time, has not yet come. Jesus is still to go about preaching the Gospel for a while. He is still to heal more people. He still has work to do for the Father to be glorified. The time for His suffering at the hands of Pontius Pilate and the Jewish leaders has not yet come. His time to be crowned King of All on the cross has not yet arrived. There is yet work to do.
We often question God's schedule. How often don't we wish a church project would be completed, but it just doesn't seem to get done. How often does illness seem to go on forever? Does the economic slowdown we are experiencing seem worse and longer for you than for others? Do you want God to cure the ills of society now?
God's time line may be different. We may need to be strengthened by our problems. We may need to find solutions to the problems for many before a few can benefit. God knows best what time will benefit everyone. He also knows our spiritual and physical needs and better than we ourselves. Job and Jesus tell us to wait for God's time. Even when we want our own time, wait, God will help us when the help is needed.
Prayer.Lord of time, You know best the time for everything. Help us to have patience and endurance so we can work on your schedule. In Jesus' name. Amen.
February 22, 2009
GOING WITH JESUS IN MISSION
Readings: 2 Kings 2:1-12 and Mark 9:2-9
We bid a fond farewell to the Epiphany season today. We have seen Jesus do miracles and preach the Gospel. We've seen Him presented in the temple and others preach Him. Now we find out the full story of His mission. Peter has just confessed Jesus and also shown how blind he really is to the real mission of Jesus at the end of Mark 8.
The Transfiguration of Our Lord took place on a mountain. So did the giving of the Law. The mountain allows Jesus some time with the three disciples who will later lead the Church, Peter, James, and John. We see them lead in Acts 2-13. They need special time with Jesus and special instruction for their later leadership roles.
We also see some very interesting and telling events while Jesus is on the mountain with the three disciples. We see Jesus' clothing become so white no one on earth could have bleached them. The whiteness dazzles the disciples. We now see Jesus as holy and also as God. That's a real revelation!
God's mission is always to save all people and have all come to a close and loving relationship with Him through His Word and Sacraments. Jesus is about to go on such a mission. He will set His face to Jerusalem, where He will suffer and die for the sins of all people, then rise to life again as the prophets had foretold.
Jesus meets Elijah, the Prophet of the Coming of the Messiah, on the mountain. We now know Jesus is the Messiah. He is the One come to fulfill the prophets. Jesus also talks to Moses on the mountain. Jesus is shown as the One to replace the Law with His perfect fulfilling of the Law.
Finally, God the Father's voice is heard. We now know Jesus is the Son of God. He alone is able to tell us the truth about God. He is the One to whom we listen.
Peter decides the mission of the group is to build shrines. He wants one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. Jesus chooses to set His face toward Jerusalem and to issue a gag order on the disciples. Why? Jesus mission is to bring glory to the Father by His suffering, death, and resurrection. He did not come to allow monuments to be built to Him. Let us now set out eyes to Jerusalem to see our salvation accomplished in Jesus!
Prayer. Lord, You revealed Jesus' mission to the disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration. Lead us by the Holy Spirit so we know and fulfill our mission for You. In Jesus' name. Amen.
February 23, 2009
GODLY OR A FAKE?
Readings: Job 18:1-21 and John 7:32-53
When my wife and I watch the soap opera, "Days of Our Lives," I am often struck by how the writers seem to portray the wicked and nasty cast members as prospering while the ones trying to live within the law are their victims. The DiMera and Kiriakis families seem to always get what they want, despite the fact neither family works in a totally legal way. The two families act on the edge of legitimacy, but really use underhanded means to secure their results.
Bildad accuses Job of such fakery. He delivers a speech telling Job he is not righteous and has no right to claim to be so. He also tells Job about the fate of the wicked. He sounds like several of the Psalms.
But, Bildad misjudges Job and misrepresents the idea of righteousness in God's sight. He misses the point that the real righteousness of God is available only through faith in Jesus Christ. He makes Job's comments sound as if they are the only sin never forgiven-giving up on God by rejecting the Holy Spirit. Job's comments never sink to such a level.
The people and the Jewish leaders confront such a problem with Jesus in John 7. They come to the point of asking if Jesus is the was Messiah or is He a fake? No prophet had ever come from Galilee. The true Messiah had to be from David's line, thus from Bethlehem.
Did these people ever check where Jesus was born? No! If they had, they would have figured out He was from David's line because He was born in Bethlehem. Nazareth was the family home since Joseph worked in Sepphoris as a tile inlayer for mosaic floors, the meaning of the Greek word we translate, "Carpenter."
Jesus deeds and words spoke for Him as the Son of God and Messiah. Other false Messiahs had come. Never had their teaching matched that of Jesus. None of them did the miracles Jesus did. Jesus ascended into heaven after He died and rose for us. No one found Him physically after that day. His comment on "Living Water" both told of His replacing the Torah and of the events at the Feast of Booths, one of the Covenant Renewal Festivals of the Jews.
Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection removed the curse of sin and made all believers in Jesus righteous before God. His perfect obedience of the Law makes our obedience of God a "Thank You" for the work Jesus has done for us. Jesus is the real Messiah. Job had his sins, but his faith won out in the end and he was also forgiven and made right again with God. He even received 7 times his former wealth.
Prayer. Lord, Show us Jesus as the real Messiah from sin. Help us always to live as thankful people because we are made righteous by Jesus' work for us. In Jesus' name. Amen.
February 24, 2009
I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVES
Readings: Job 19:1-12, 21-29 and John 8:1-20
Have you ever heard someone confess their faith in Jesus in the midst of complaining against God for trouble? Job's comments in Job 19 do exactly that.
Job once again complains about God causing his suffering. He doesn't really understand the truth. He also rebukes his friends for their lack of competent counsel. The difference in his speech comes in his confessing faith that His redeemer (actually vindicator or hero) is coming and will set things right. He is referring to God.
The words of Job 19:25-27 have become a beloved Easter and funeral hymn. When we sing, "I Know That My Redeemer Lives," we are singing a hymn based on the words of Job. So, Job does get the idea, as does the Psalmist, that God will redeem him from trouble and end his woes. This confession of faith is a help to many losing loved ones to death. They see the words and know that Jesus will appear, they will see Him, and that the dead will be raised. Comfort is received from these ideas.
Jesus adds to the ideas we see in Job. First, He shows us why we should not play judge over others. Our right to judge others is based on a faulty sense of righteousness, since we are also sinners. By judging others, we show we do not know God the Father or Jesus. We are like the Pharisees and the other leaders in John.
Jesus also tells us He is about to suffer and die for the sins of the world. Those sins include our sins as well. He also rose to conquer death and to give us the hope Job expresses in Job 19 Jesus shows us God the Father. Jesus only does what the Father tells Him to do. We also do God's will because the Holy Spirit lives in us.
Who are we to judge others? We can't. We can only say with Job and other Christians, "I know that my Redeemer lives. What comfort this sweet sentence gives. He lives! He lives who once was dead. He lives my ever living Head. Amen. (Lutheran Service Book 461:1)
Prayer. Lord of love, Help us always to avoid judging others by remembering Your love for us in Your suffering, death, and resurrection. In Jesus' name. Amen.
February 25, 2009
Ash Wednesday
ASHES SPEAKING OF REPENTANCE
Readings: Joel 2:12-19 and Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
Ash Wednesday receives its name from the practice of imposing ashes on the foreheads of worshippers and speaking the words, "Remember, You are dust." We also vest the altar and chancel furniture in black to show repentance and sorrow for our sins that caused Jesus to die on the cross for us. Some people also give up some favorite thing for Lent.
The Prophet Joel lived at a time when a foreign army was about to invade Israel. We don't know exactly when that time was. Two theories have the time either in the late 800's B.C. or in the mid-300's B.C., just before Alexander the Great conquered the Holy Land. Either way, the army was formidable. They were likened to a plague of locusts. The destruction of everything near and dear to the people was at hand. Even the temple would be desecrated by false gods.
Joel says this is the result of sin on the part of Israel. Their sin had made all sacrifices and services a sham. God was not pleased. He needed to do something to get Israel's attention. The only way to avoid the calamity to come was to truly repent, turn all worship into a national service of repentance, and to sit in sackcloth and ashes, the sign of repentance.
Jesus tells the disciples in Matthew that they also need to make their religion a true religion. They need to do everything away from the public eye so it can be between them and God. Anything else is phoney. Even fasting is to be done without people knowing one is fasting.
Why such repentance? All of us have sinned. We need to go to God to ask for His forgiveness. Only through the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ are we able to approach God at all. The Holy Spirit leads us to see our sin, turn to God in repentance, to confess our sin, and then to receive absolution (forgiveness). We do this after remembering our baptism in the words of the invocation at all worship services. We also turn to God each day to forgive the sins we know and those of which we are unaware. This sort of repentance is the repentance God desires. It is the repentance Joel speaks of. It is the reason we gather for a special service each Ash Wednesday. Lent reminds us of how and why we receive the forgiveness. Lent also show us our sin and guides us to return to God in repentance so we may receive forgiveness from Him.
Prayer. Forgiving Lord, We come to You today with ashes on our heads reminding us of our sin and the death it brings. Forgive us, Lord, for Jesus sake, and restore us to Yourself again. In Jesus' name. Amen.
February 26, 2009
WHERE IS GOD?
Readings: Job 21:22-30:15 and John 8:39-59
We often seek wisdom. We want to be wise so as to make money. We want to be wise so we can give sage advice to people. We want to be wise so we can look smart when people ask us a question. This wisdom is usually sought for the wrong reason.
Job and his friends continue their search for wisdom in the face of suffering. Again, we hear statements sounding good. Eliphaz sounds good, but really lacks understanding of God or of how wisdom is found. Job responds with a speech about God and His greatness. He, too, misses the point of God's mercy and love, even in the time of illness and trouble.
Bildad only works on one side of God's ways-the side of the Law. He misses the sweet swap of God taking our pain upon Himself on the cross. He misses any mercy at all. Again, it's all, "How great Thou art" and none of "Amazing grace."
People in Jesus' day asked, "Who is Jesus?" and "Is He really God or one more miracle-working would-be Messiah?" Jesus answers the question by saying He's come from the Father and glorifies only the Father. No works He does are for His own glory. He's even seen Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation.
Some say He has a demon and is a Samaritan. Not so! He is the only begotten Son of God. His miracles and words attest His being God. His mission, to suffer and die for the sins of all people, proves His being God and the Messiah. God is His Father. He also comes to rise again from death to give us eternal life.
Where is God? Right with us all the time! Job and His friends missed His presence during suffering by using human wisdom to probe the true wisdom of God. They tried to understand human suffering by their own logic and minds. God was testing Job, as we heard in chapter 1. He neither caused the suffering, nor enjoyed seeing Job suffer. He did make Job stronger and also blessed Job with earthly gifts in the end. That remains for another day.
Prayer. Ever-Present Lord, we ask You to always help to see Your presence among us and in us. In Jesus' name. Amen.
February 27, 2009
WILL THE REAL BLIND MAN STAND UP!
Readings: Job 30:16-31 and John 9:1-23
Many have heard the story of Helen Keller. She was born blind and deaf. Through a great teacher, Anne Sullivan, she was able the learn and to become a great woman in society.
Jesus heals a blind man in John 9. Jesus calls Himself, "The Light of the World." He claims to replace the Torah and the Jewish Law, previous holders of the title.
Jesus replaces the Sabbath Law by healing the blind man on the Sabbath. The blind man is also spiritually blind, since he doesn't know any more than Jesus' name. He doesn't know where Jesus went after the healing.
The man's parents are also blind. They don't see Jesus or who He is. They don't even bother to ask who healed their son. They and their son would be excommunicated from the synagogue if they acknowledged Jesus in any way. Their fear blinds them and keeps them from believing in Jesus.
Job is also blind. He still can't see God wishing him to grow from his illness and pain. He can only see the disaster of what has happened. Job 30 concludes with a comment about mourning and lamenting. These are the only actions Job can think to do.
Do we do any better when we suffer some loss? How often don't we sit and moan and groan? Do we spend lots of time feeling sorry ofr ourselves? Probably. That's what Job shows by all his mourning and talk of death in the earlier chapters of the book.
Jesus tells is suffering of any sort is the result of sin. Not a specific sin, but of sin. This sounds a bit like Job 1. Jesus also says the outcome always glorifies God. God's love and care are shown in the outcome of any time of suffering or of loss. If God chooses to take us to heaven, we are in His presence and live forever. If He chooses to restore us on earth, we show His power and love. Jesus showed that power and love when He suffered, died on the cross, then rose again for us. With His suffering, death, and resurrection we have the final cure to all earthly ills-God's promise of eternal life. Let's pray now that we see God's care and love in all our suffering and loss.
Prayer. Loving and Caring Lord, as Jesus showed Your glory in the restoring of sight to the man born blind, help our sight of You to always be focused on Your love and care for us. In Jesus' name. Amen.
February 28, 2009
WHEN BLINDNESS BECOMES SIN
Readings: Job 31:1-12, 33-40 and John 9:24-41
The Pharisees couldn't let well enough alone. They called the formerly-blind man back to their court. Now they take a theological approach to the man.
The word, "sinner" is used. Jesus is a "sinner" because He doesn't obey the laws set down by the Pharisees for the Sabbath. He can't possibly do such things if He is a "sinner." God couldn't and wouldn't work through such a person.
After all the questions and talk of "sinners", the man asks if they want to become Jesus' disciples. The poor man is finally excommunicated from the synagogue.
We now find out the Law part of Jesus' mission. He came to judge those who will not hear and see that He is God's Son and Messiah. Such people, because they've lied about their blindness, will be made blind. The guilt is the guilt of arrogance. They simply refuse to see their sin and turn to God for salvation. They want to save themselves.
Job is also nearing the sin of arrogance. He starts telling God to wreak punishments on him if he isn't righteous. Sorry, Job, but you're really asking for it now! If God gave you all the punishments you deserve for your words, you would be far worse than you already are!
What about us? Are we becoming blind in our arrogance over our sins. We also sin and are blind to our sins. But, the Holy Spirit uses God's Word to judge us and to show us our sin. Then, He shows us Jesus, our Savior. He shows us the cross and the empty tomb. He shows us the font to remind us of our baptism. He also brings us to participate anew in Jesus' crucifixion each time we take His body and His blood in Holy Communion. We don't need to be blind. God gives us so many opportunities to see.
Prayer. Lord, who healed the blind man, we ask You to open our eyes so we may see our sin and come to God for forgiveness through Jesus.. In Jesus' name. Amen.