Author: TechCommittee

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April 26, 2015 Text: John 10:11-17

Dear Friends in Christ,

In his book, The Story File, Steve May writes, “Students in a psychology class at San Diego State were asked to name their most valuable asset. Two wrote down intelligence, and both misspelled it.” And then he tells of this incident: “The manager of a novelty shop located in a tourist area attracts customers from all over the world. One day, a man came in and started browsing. He spotted a ventriloquist’s dummy and asked, ‘Do you have one that speaks Spanish?’
And then he makes this priceless observation: “Ignorance has something to be said for it. It contributes to about nine-tenths of the world’s conversational output.”
What does all of this have to do with the sermon? Very little, other than reminding us of the human condition and our need for help. This morning . . .
“THE WOLF, THE SHEEP, AND THE GOOD SHEPHERD”
So we start with the wolf. Jesus says, “He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd…sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.” (v. 12)
The alpha wolf is the devil, the father of lies. But the alpha wolf has other wolves. Jesus warns, “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” (Matt. 7:15) And Paul warns the leaders of the church at Ephesus, “I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.” (Acts 20:29-30)
There is the alpha wolf the lesser wolves and then another group that Jesus identifies in the text, “He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.” (v. 13)
Lutheran commentator, Gary P. Baumler writes: “The hired hand is like those church leaders who think more of their own well-being than of serving God’s flock. They are not true shepherds. They do not feel any personal responsibility for the sheep. They do the job to make a living. When wolves, come, they show their real colors. They abandon the flock and let the wolves ravage and scatter it.”
I would suggest that many “hired hands” simply do whatever they have to in order to avoid conflict, to avoid taking a stand for God’s Word, to keep themselves in a worldly comfort zone. See the hired hands, the wolves and the leader of the pack himself, the devil – they’re everywhere seeking the destruction of God’s people.
And that brings us to…the sheep. Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (v. 11) And then He notes, “…I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice.” The “other’ sheep is a reference to the Gentiles. Us. And it all fits with Christ’s revelation of, “For God so loved the world…” The world: Jew and Gentile.
And the sheep have two qualities about them. They know the voice of the Good Shepherd. Jesus says, “and they will listen to my voice.” (v. 16) The sheep hear the Word. They know the Word. They learn the Word. And they cling to the Word unto death!
The other quality? The gentle nature of the sheep that makes them vulnerable to all sorts of attacks. We are no more of this world than the Shepherd. Do we understand that? We may have this world and do of this world, but it is all very momentary and not the goals of our lives – having and doing. Jesus said about you and me and our brothers and sisters everywhere, “I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of this world, just as I am not of this world.” (Jn. 17:14) It’s always the same old inner confrontation, isn’t it? What, of this world, is really that important?
Sheep. That’s us. The people Christ sought and loves and claims as His own. And that brings us to . . . the Good Shepherd.
“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep…For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.” (v. 14, 15, 17)
The part we know and love the most is: I lay down my life for the sheep. It takes us to Calvary – to the payment for every sin – to the fact that God, for the sake of Jesus, sees us as His holy, righteous, forgiven people.
Then this: I lay down my life that I may take it up again. That brings us to His resurrection. We love this because it reminds us of Jesus’ promise to everyone who believes in Him: “Because I live, you also will live.” (Jn. 14:19)
But we don’t want to exclude this: I know my own and my own know me. His “own” are those He has purchased with His blood. Those who are righteous – not by virtue of there own goodness, but because we are reckoned righteous through faith in Christ. Paul calls it “the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.” (Rom. 3:22)
The Good Shepherd is always there. Watching, protecting, and giving life. As we deal with the wolves of this space and time give a listen to something I’ve quoted before. It bears repeating. It’s 250 A.D. and Cyprian a noted Christian writer and Bishop of Carthage wrote this to his friend Donatus.
“This is a cheerful world as I see it from my garden, under the shadow of my vines. But if I could ascend some high mountain and look very far, what would I see? Bandits on the highways, pirates on the seas, armies fighting, cities burning, in the amphitheaters people murdered to please applauding crowds, selfishness and cruelty, misery and despair under all roofs. It is a bad world, Donatus, an incredibly bad world. But I have discovered in the midst of it a quiet and holy people who have learned a great secret. They have found joy that is a thousand times better than any of the pleasures of our sinful life. They are despised and persecuted, but they care not. They are masters of their souls. They have overcome the world. These people, Donatus, are the Christians – and I am one of them.”
You and I are too. Thanks be to the Good Shepherd!
Amen…

April 19, 2015 Text: Luke 24:36-49

Dear Friends in Christ,

Rene Spitz has compiled some amazing evidence pertaining to the absence of touch. In a South American orphanage, Spitz observed and recorded what happened to 97 children who were deprived of emotional and physical contact with others. Because of a lack of funds, there was not enough staff to adequately care for these children, ages three months to three years old. Nurses changed diapers and fed and bathed the children. But there was little time to hold, touch, and talk to them as a parent would. After three months many of them showed signs of abnormality. Besides a loss of appetite and being unable to sleep well, many of the children lay with a vacant expression in their eyes. After five months, serious deterioration set in. They lay whimpering, with troubled and twisted faces. Often, when a doctor or nurse would pick up an infant, it would scream in terror. Twenty-seven, almost one-third, of the children died the first year, but not from lack of food or health care. They died of a lack of touch and emotional nurture. Because of this, seven more died the second year. Only 21 of the 97 survived, most suffering from serious psychological damage.
As hard as that scenario is for us to imagine, what if we had to live without the touch and love of Jesus Christ in our lives? What if we had to live without His presence because He remained in the tomb? Today, He gives us something that we all need . . .
“THE SAVIOR’S TOUCH”
Jesus wanted to make certain that his disciples knew He was alive. “Touch me, and see,” he said. “Have you anything here to eat?” He was alive! The touching news of Jesus’ resurrection changes all of our tomorrows. It changes the way we live and the way we die, the way we worship and the way we work.
The Savior’s touch helps with our doubts and fears. The disciples had doubts and fears, just like many of the disciples in this sanctuary today. Satan must enjoy filling our lives with fear. I recently learned my fear of dogs has a name: synaphobia. What are some other names for fears? Peladophobia is the fear of baldness and bald people. Levophobia, the fear of objects on the left side of the body. Dextrophobia, the fear of objects on the right side of the body. Thalassophobia, fear of being seated. And my favorite, phobophobia, the fear of being afraid.
Oh whatever our fear, we pretend to be bold, but Jesus sees right through us. He knows our doubts and fears. Even after we hear it in church, Bible Class, Sunday School, and devotions, we still don’t fully believe and trust for a variety of reasons. Jesus says, “Touch me and see. I’ll show you. My resurrection, my living body is for real.”
We are touched by God’s Word and empowered by the living Christ. One year in the Tournament of Roses parade, a beautiful float suddenly sputtered and quit. It was out of gas. The whole parade was held up until someone could get a can of gas. The ironic thing was this float represented the Standard Oil Company. Imagine its vast oil resources and its truck was out of gas. Often, as Christians we neglect our spiritual maintenance and though we are “clothed with power from on high” we find ourselves out of gas.
This happened to the disciples after Jesus resurrection. After all that had happened they were out of gas. But through the Savior’s touch He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He did it so they could fully understand His death and resurrection, repentance, and forgiveness of sins.
We too find ourselves at times running on empty. Life has a way of doing that. Our prayer is that the Lord would open our minds to understand the Scripture. God calls us to dig into His Word so that it can take root in us. God calls us to repent of our sins and joyfully receive and share His gracious forgiveness.
Jesus touched His disciples’ lives with the gifts of His peace, His presence, His power, and a commissioning to share what they had seen and heard with the world. He touches our lives with those same gifts, and we are changed. He touches us through His Word, Holy Communion, our baptismal gifts, and through the body of believers as we go into the world together.
Today we have been personally touched by the grace and knowledge of our living Savior, Jesus Christ. The reality of Jesus’ resurrection changes lives…forever!
Amen.

March 29, 2015 – Palm Sunday

Text: Philippians 2:5-11

Dear Friends in Christ,

A first grade teacher was explaining to her class what Holy Week was and why we call it holy. She explained Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and finally Easter. When she thought she had made her point, she asked the students if they had any questions. One curious little boy raised his hand and asked, “What happens if you don’t want to be holy all week?”
Insightful. Who does want to be holy all week? Who wants to be holy on this Palm Sunday? This side of heaven most of us are aware that being holy at all is an impossibility. The only way to get there is through what Jesus is going to do for us this week. He is going to lower himself so that we might be saved. The Sunday of the Passion is upon us as we ask . . .
“HOW COULD YOU STOOP SO LOW?”
What an excellent question for us to contemplate during this last week of Lent. How could you stoop so low? How could you, disciples of Jesus and the religious leaders of Jesus’ day, stoop so low to climax Jesus’s humiliation?
The betrayal of Judas helped carry out the humiliation of Jesus. He feigned concern for the poor while being a thief. He facilitated it all because of his lust for money and perhaps as a way to remove the last voice of truth and conscience in his life. Jesus would stoop so low.
The contention and denial of Peter added to Jesus’ humiliation. He was so proud that he would stand when others were falling. Instead of a rock, he became a pile of sand by denying Jesus three times. Jesus would stoop so low.
The religious leaders would find false witnesses; condemn Jesus as a liar and blasphemer all because Jesus spoke the truth as the Son of God. This added to his humiliation. Jesus would stoop so low.
How low do we go to cause Jesus’ humiliation? We can see what is no good in others. We just did it with Judas, Peter, and Caiaphas. Didn’t that make you feel good – at least a little? But Lent – especially this day in Lent – is devoted to looking at ourselves. Our self-exaltation required His humiliation. When we create conflict in our relationships because of pride, don’t we humiliate Jesus by ignoring His words, “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” (Mt. 7:3) Jesus would stoop so low.
Our selfishness required his death. How many families are broken because one or many family members take care and affection while giving nothing back – and feel justified in doing so? We contend that we deserve the good things for which Jesus suffered. Jesus would stoop so low.
Our materialism required his death as one accursed. When we trade God as Creator for the firstfruits of His creation we lower God to the place of a servant who is rudely expected to provide constantly for our every comfort. Jesus would stoop so low.
How could you, Jesus stoop so low to allow your humiliation? His nature made such a response to our condition inescapable. He is the Lamb of God slain for the whole world. He not only created all things, but He sustains them by His power. He would stoop so low so that He could raise us up. His love knows no limits. He would go lower and lower and lower because of His love for us. That love sets us free from concern for ourselves.
Instead of exalting this Lord Jesus, we have many proponents of other world religions lowering the Christ by saying they are all the same.
The late Dr. Malcolm Muggeridge, curmudgeon of the British journalistic establishment, once gave a speech in Washington D.C., in which he made a number of comments about the current state of the world’s affairs – all of them negative. Afterward, one person asked him if he had any reason for optimism. Muggeridge responded, “My friend, I could not be more optimistic than I am, because my hope is in Jesus Christ alone.” He paused for a moment to let that sink in, then finished: “Just think if the apostolic church had pinned its hopes on the Roman Empire!” The kingdom of Jesus, a liar and fool to those who deny or lower Him, is the eternal kingdom of God whose truth we must live out in our lives.
Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess Jesus as Lord. It is good to be reminded of that. Jesus stooped so low as he rode the colt into Jerusalem. He used humble means so that His redemption is accessible to us. Word and Sacrament. Bibles, water, bread and wine. In these instances are head is usually lowered. While reading, when we were baptized, and at the communion rail. We can do that because He stooped so low for us. As the head arises, we look heavenward to the glory that awaits. Stand up straight; your Savior and your redemption are on the way.
Amen.