December 13, 2020                                                                    Text:  John 1:6-8, 19-28

Dear Friends in Christ,

            As you know I am no expert on smart phones.  I am learning.  The recent commercials I have seen are for a #12 phone.  Which led me to ask my wife does this replace 11?  Have they just counted from one?  Do they skip numbers?  What does 12 do that 11 doesn’t and why pay hundreds of dollars?  We joked that some day they will just implant a chip in our heads and be done with it.  Or will they?

            Many people in our society have this misconception that phone # so-and-so is going to bring great contentment and satisfaction to their lives.  But these too will be abandoned someday.  Cable TV has a show called “Vintage Tech” which shows how quickly things change.  The size of the first computers and phones is quite an eye-opener and good for a chuckle.

            Things do change but we must always live in the present.  In our world many men and women are clinging to the fatalistic cliché “it is what it is.”  What will the future bring?  Will my grandchildren live in a “Jetsons” world? 

            Today is once again the work and witness of John the Baptist.  He too worked in the midst of a people who longed for the glory of their past under rulers like David and Solomon.  They resented their present situation of feeling trapped by the Romans and having their freedoms taken away.  They had great concerns about their future if things didn’t change.  John brings God’s message of . . .

“GREATER THINGS TO COME”

            Shouldn’t God be providing some joy for these Israelites?  Shouldn’t He provide Israel health, wealth, and happiness?  If that were the case, perhaps God would send a Savior to run for public office.  But that is not going to resolve our most basic need:  reconciliation with God.

            From the bad fruit in the Garden of Eden on we have had a broken relationship with God.  We are so far away from the holy image of God that we can barely see Him.  The evil of some who use these times for their benefit really has no boundaries. 

            Then there’s you and I.  Loneliness, broken relationships, suffering.  On the basis of this rift between God and us, whether we look at the past, present, or future, there isn’t much for which to rejoice.  It was true two thousand years ago, and it’s true also today.  Is that all there is?

            Why doesn’t God do something?  He has.  Look at the first verse of our text, “there was a man sent from God, whose name was John.” (v. 6)  John was sent with divine authority on a divine mission.  John was to “bear witness about the light.” 

            The Pharisees and priests and Levites wanted to know who this guy was.  Christ?  No.  Elijah?  No.  The Prophet?  No.  He is a voice crying out in the wilderness.  John the Baptist would never make it on our world of self-congratulations.  He only wants to talk about another – Jesus the Christ.  He is no slick televangelist he is the forerunner of greater things to come.

            The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world is the greater thing to come.  That which has separated us from God, which so often brings hurt and pain to human relationships, is forgiven because the Lamb of God, His own Son, took our sinful nature along with all our sins to the cross.  He put them to death by his own suffering and death.  In Baptism, we were baptized into Christ’s death so that just as He was raised from the dead, we have been raised to newness of life.

            How would you summarize your life today?  Are you stuck with “it is what it is”?  Have you lost the sight of wonder?  Have you lost the images of forgiveness and life and salvation – the greater things we have in our crucified and risen Savior?  Do you look to the future with fear in your heart because of the uncertainties of this world?  Do you dread when your earthly life will cease and you will stand face-to-face before a holy and righteous God?

            Permit me a moment to share with those of you who are haunted by sin, guilt, and shame.  “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Rom. 8:1)  Permit a moment to share with those of you who face uncertain times, or illness, or even imminent death, God promises “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Heb. 13:5)  Discouragement should be put out to the curb because in Christ we have reason to rejoice always.

            Sit up tall in your pew this morning.  Smile with joy you there watching this worship service at home.  In Christ, we have a new life now and the promise of eternal life to come.  In these promises, there is a certainty of greater things to come.

                                                                                                                        Amen.

December 9, 2020 – Advent                                                            Text:  Matthew 1:18-23

Dear Friends in Christ,

            Last week we found out that we were expecting.  Once this news is shared with everyone then the preparations begin.  The birth of a first child that it was for Joseph and Mary usually brings more things to get ready because you have never been through it before and most of us do not buy baby things until baby is on the way.

            For Toni and I we had basically zero things for a child.  We would need a crib, and a changing table and a car seat and a stroller and onesies and diapers and lots of orange and blue clothing and oh don’t forget plenty of balls to throw to the young one.  I can’t remember exactly but I am sure family or friends or even church members purchased some of these items.  We were blessed.  Even in Kansas City Chief country they gave away at their school auction a Chicago Bears gift basket.  They made sure Pastor and Mrs. Lueck would be the recipients. 

            The one thing we did not prepare for was this – what sex would the child be?  We are so happy we didn’t know and it really was one of our better decisions in life.  We loved the surprise.  Still today I feel the same way when a couple we know is pregnant.  Tell me after the birth.

            Joseph and Mary did know the sex of their child.  This was no ultrasound reveal.  This was a Lord reveal.  They would find out even more about their baby to be.  Come along then, as these new parents get ready for the birth of their first child.

“PREPARATION”

            Was there anything unusual about the preparations you made for your child?  Maybe you had to paint a room?  Did you study Consumer Reports to find the most effective diaper?  Did you have to prepare mentally for this change in your life?

            That was one of the biggest challenges that Joseph had.  He has a wife to be that he hasn’t had intercourse with and a baby is on the way.  Huh?  How can this be? as Mary had asked.  The Scripture gives us a glimpse of Joseph.  We can see he is a compassionate and caring human being.  He did not want to shame Mary or cause her death by stoning so he was going to divorce her.  He was going to do this without fanfare or public scrutiny.

            Well, the Lord had some other plans for this preparation.  He sends an angel to enter Joseph’s dreams and to tell him that he is not to fear.  The Holy Spirit conceived the child Mary is carrying.  And now comes the sex reveal, “She will bear a son.”  And now the name reveal – “you shall call his name Jesus.”  And now the purpose of his life reveal – “he will save his people from their sins.”  Any of you get this much detail about your son or daughter? 

            Was there any fear in your mind about being parent?  I personally had none.  God had been preparing me for this my whole life.  As a child I took mental notes of parenting.  Both from my mom and dad and from others I observed.  I knew I was ready to be a father.  Many years later it is one of the great gifts I have been privileged to be a part of.

            Joseph must have felt the same way once he woke up.  But before that the angel had more to say.  The child he would father and the child Mary would bore was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah.  Man, this dream just keeps getting better and better.  The best news Joseph received in that sleep was this – “God with us.”  How could there be anything to be afraid of?  God would be with Joseph and Mary.  He would be living in their home and attending temple with them and working in his father’s carpenter shop.  The Lord would be guiding.

            That is always how I have seen things.  God wasn’t our physical child but He has been there.  He was there when our sons had high fevers at night and you weren’t sure whether to go the hospital or medicate them at home.  He was there as we got them to church and out of the house as soon as possible.  He was there so that we never lived in fear or worry when they were out with the car late at night.  He was there at baptism and confirmation and now into their young adult lives.

The prayer is that we can all say these things.  The Lord was there.

            God was in control.  Sometimes our preparations in life don’t go the way we expect – just ask Joseph.   We don’t chart our own course.  Christ’s coming into the world changes us.  He changes us from fearful human beings to saved children of God.  He changes us from masters of our own destiny to trustful followers of Jesus Christ.  He changes the end of our story from souls destined to hell to hopeful people who know that the glory of heaven awaits.  He prepares us for that moment as He comes to us in His Word and through Holy Baptism and Holy Communion.  He knows what we need because God is in control.

            The preparation is nearing the end and the birth is getting closer and closer.  What an exciting time.  A child is to be born.  Are things ready for the trip?  We’ll find out next week.

                                    Amen.