Time in the Word - Pentecost 10 - Proper 13

Time in the Word
 July 30-August 4 2012

Proper 13
Preparation for next week, Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

This coming Sunday marks an interlude in the long series of passages from Mark during the Pentecost season. The Gospels for three Sundays are taken in course from John 6 - The Bread of Life chapter. Jesus explains that the people have come for more physical bread, but He would rather they had spiritual food which comes from heaven, food for the soul. He then identifies Himself as the bread from heaven similar to the manna God sent to His people in the wilderness. The Old Testament. Paul speaks repeatedly of growth into the fullness of Christ’s stature and growth as “bodily growth”.  As everyone knows, physical growth is not possible without adequate food. The Psalm of the Day sings of God’s goodness and greatness in satisfying the physical needs of every person. Jesus our Savior fills our deepest needs.

Collect for Proper 13 –. Merciful Father, You gave Your Son Jesus as the heavenly bread of life. Grant us faith to feast on Him in Your Word and Sacraments that we may be nourished unto life everlasting;; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

Monday, 30 July 2012—Psalm 78:23-25, Antiphon, Psalm 78:72 – With upright heart he shepherded them and guided them with His skillful hand. Israel under the care of the Lord’s royal shepherd from the house of David was for the prophets the hope of God’s people (see Ezekiel 34:23; 37:23 Micah 5:4) fulfilled in Jesus Christ. (See Matthew 2:6’ John 10:11; Revelation 7:17)

Tuesday, 31 July 2012—Psalm145:10-21; key verse v15—The eyes of all look to You and You give them their food at the proper time. This is a psalm of praise and fitting for our theme for this week. The Lord is the provider of all both physical and spiritual blessings. He supplies physical food for us daily as we acknowledge in the Lord’s Prayer. He also supplies us spiritually as He comes to us through the means of grace.   

Wednesday, 01 August 20`1— Exodus 16:2-15—  In response to the people’s complaint that they had no food, the Lord sends food from heaven. Only a few weeks after deliverance from Egypt the people complain about the lack of food. They murmur against Moses and Aaron, but God knows that hey complain about Him. They doubt whether the Lord cares about them and His ability to provide for them. In response to their complaints the Lord sends quail in the evening and bread, “manna,” in the morning. To this day the Manna is a mystery – “What is it?”  Moses answered, “it is the bread the Lord has given you to eat.” By this the people are to know that He is their God.

Thursday, 02 August 2012—Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-16 — Bread makes for bodily growth. Christians are to live lives worthy of their calling in love, unity, and growth to maturity in Christ. The church is urged to become what they are by the grace of Christ. Paul appeals for unity on the basis of the unity of Spirit and body. Various functions are gifts of Christ to equip the members and to build up the church in love. The goal of the growth is the matching of the stature of Jesus so that we are not children but mature in faith and love.    

  

Friday, 03 August 2012—John 6:22-35 — Bread satisfies hunger. John urges the people to seek bread from heaven and reveals Himself as the Bread of Life. What is the work of God? Jesus replies that the work of God is to believe in Him. The people ask for a sign that would persuade them to believe in Him and refer to the manna received in the wilderness. Jesus assures them that God sent the bread from heaven, the bread that gives life to the world. Then they ask Him to give this king of bread. He reveals that He is the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to Him and believes in Him will never hunger nor thirst.

In John 6:1-15 is recorded the feeding of the 5,000. (A prelude to the next three Sundays of readings)  Some believe that the crowd could have been over 5,000 as only "men" were counted. If you would count "women and children" it could have been up to 15,000 (See Matthew 14:21). Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana seats close to 17,000 people....

According to the concessions manager the following items were sold at the Indiana v Wisconsin game, on Saturday, March 12, 1994...

 400 1bs of hot dogs,

3,000 popcorn boxes,

8,200 cokes (about 1,000 gallons)

 684 candy bars,

436 nachos,

284 boxes of caramel corn,

917 soft pretzels,

247 polish sausages,

100 sandwiches,

179 bags of peanuts,

50 muffins,

160 cups of coffee.

This game was played on an afternoon with tip-off scheduled for 2:00 pm. Most fans had eaten their breakfast and had probably had their lunch also! And fans had to pay for their food! Jesus feeds the crowd freely, without cost! When we pray "give us this day our daily bread" we can know that the Savior will supply us with all that we need to support our body and life.

In the center of Pentecost we will be reading the Bread of Life chapter of John 6. Following are the Gospel readings for the next three Sundays.

August 12, 2012 – Pentecost 9 – [Proper 13] John 6:22-35

Eat More then Bread - The Necessity of spiritual bread for life.

August 19, 2012 – Pentecost 10 – [Proper 14] John 6:35-51

Eat and Live – Spiritual food gives eternal life

August 26, 2012 – Pentecost 11 – [Proper 15] John 6:51-69

To Eat or Not to Eat – The decision whether or not to follow Christ

Saturday, 04 August 2012—John 6:22-58 - Sunday’s hymn of the day, Father, we Thank Thee (LSB 652) is a liturgical hymn based on John 6. The point of Jesus’ teaching and the text of the hymn is that to live spiritually we need the bread which comes from heaven namely our Lord and Savior Jesus. As Christ is received we as the children of God live new lives. Throughout the next several weeks we will be focusing on Jesus’ teaching on this import chapter from the gospel of John.  

Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 and Lutheran Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House and from Lutheran Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House.

Schnorr von Carolsfeld woodcut  used with permission from WELS

Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series B – John Brokhoff © 1981 CSS Publishing, Lima, OH

The Text This Week can be found at http://www.textweek.com/scripture.htm

Pentecost 9 - Proper 12

29 July 2012

Mark 6:45-56

Almighty and most merciful God, the protector of all who trust in You, strengthen our faith and give us courage to believe that in Your love You will rescue us from all adversities;

The disciples were terrified. If the rough waters and the strain of keeping the boat afloat were not enough, there was this presence, this vision, this ghostlike figure walking across the sea. Their fear only grew; they could understand the feelings of the psalmist in Psalm 69:1-2 … “Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me.”

Jesus had sent them out, while He attended to the crowds. Now He was walking to them. Why was He walking on the waves? Was He coming to pass them by or to confront them? Had He come save or destroy?

Almighty and most merciful God, [You are] the protector of all who trust in You. Faith calls for us to believe a reality for which we have prayed this morning. Do you believe this? Is this your experience? Do you trust these words? Is Jesus really the protector of all who trust in Him? Or, are they idle empty words?

Adversity, temptation, the effects of our own flesh can all weigh us down, causing fear and doubt to come on every side.  Add to this, the times in which we live. They are challenging times. Add to this, your own personal crosses that only you and you alone must face; crosses which only are known to you and Him. Lord You are the protector of all who trust in You. Is this so? Did God really say this? Will He always protect, always provide, always prevail?  We are tempted on every side to think this is not so.

Why had the disciples struggled?  Why had they fought to understand the Savior? Why had they failed to recognize that He truly was their God and provider? Why did not comprehend He was the protector of all who trust in Him. Why?  They had not understood about the loaves; for their hearts were hardened.

Such was the case of the disciples. Experienced fishermen, they found themselves struggling against the wind and waves.  He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. When they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost.

It wasn’t as if they had never been out on the lake. They knew this body of water like the back of their hand. They knew the currents and the weather patterns. They knew when to set sail and when it wasn’t safe. They had seen it all. But this storm was different. They had launched out because the Savior had commanded them. Seeing this ghost walking on the surface of the water they knew their end was near. God had come out to destroy them. Their goose was cooked. Their end had come. Their hearts were hardened.  They reasoned, Jesus had come out to destroy them.

Christ shows how powerful He is by delivering them from that which would destroy them. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down.  They were completely amazed. The wind and the waves obey Him. The elements must obey Him. He is their creator. All are subject to Him. All things must be put in subjection under His feet.

The last enemy to be put under is death.  The last enemy to be destroyed is death. When death is destroyed, death will cease to reign. No more will ever die. All that will be raised up shall live forever. This is the Savior’s promise.  The effects of sin and rebellion in this world will be ended forever. The kingdom of God will be restored according to His perfect timing. Death is a tyrant.  Death exercises absolute power over the human race; and the Savior’s promise to you - "he" is to be subdued.

Christ delivers us from the powers of fear and doubt. But not as you might think. Yes, He puts all things under His feet but He does it in different and subtle ways. He strengthens you with those means, which appear to be weak by the world. He speaks through the Word of truth from His gospel. He brings you into the safety of His family the Church through the Waters of baptism. He sustains and strengthens faith through the simple elements of His supper. He speaks the promise of restoration in the words of absolution. This is how He always speaks to you. This is how He has always calmed you. This will always be His word of peace.  God does not always act in ways that we humans consider appropriate. He comes to us through the birth of a child and becomes God- with-us, Emmanuel. He comes as the most vulnerable of creatures: an infant human. It was the Father’s plan that this Son of God would suffer, die and rise again for you. He promises to come to you, and He will come, but often in simple, hidden ways. 

The Savior has promise to rescue once again.  You can take courage to believe that the Savior’s love will never fail. He will rescue you from all adversity. When you feel you’re drowning in life’s situations, take heart Your life guard walks on water. Even when He comes to you, riding on the waves of adversity, confusion, and doubt. His words of peace will always prevail.  

Illustration from a woodcut by Baron Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld, © WELS Permission to use this copyrighted item is limited to personal and congregational use. 

Time in the Word - Pentecost 9 - Proper 12

Collect for today Pentecost 8— O almighty and most merciful God, of Your bountiful goodness keep us, we pray, from all things that may hurt us that we, being ready in both body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish whatever things You want done; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen

Prayer in time of affliction and distress: Almighty and most merciful God, in this earthly life we endure sufferings and death before we enter into eternal glory. Grant us grace at all times to subject ourselves to Your holy will and to continue steadfast in the true faith to the end of our lives that we may know the peace and joy of the blessed hope of the resurrection of the dead and of the glory of the world to come; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for Home and Family: Visit, we implore You, O Lord, the homes in which Your people dwell, and keep far from them all harm and danger. Grant us to dwell together in peace under the protection of Your holy angels, and may Your blessing be with us forever; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer the Unemployed: Heavenly Father, we remember before You, those who suffer want and anxiety from lack of work. Lead us so to use the wealth and resources of this rich land that all persons may find suitable and fulfilling employment and receive just payment for their labor; through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Pray for Peace: O God, whom come all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works, give to us, Your servants, that peace which the world simply cannot give, that our hearts may be set to obey Your commandments and also that we, being def3ended from the fear of our enemies, may live in peace and quietness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.

Collect for this Sunday Proper 12 –Almighty and most merciful God, the protector of all who trust in You, strengthen our faith and give us courage to believe that in Your love You will rescue us from all adversities; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. . Amen

In the lessons for this coming Sunday God’s promises are given and the Lord remembers those promises while man might not. The Lord promises Noah and his family that He will never again destroy the earth by a flood. In the Epistle lesson Paul thanks the Lord for the richness of grace which the Lord has established in Christ. In the Gospel Christ comes walking to His frightened disciples on the sea. They do not recognize Him because of fear and hardness of heart. The sermon hymn reminds us that it is the Lord Himself that orders our days. Faith calls for us to recognize the Lord working in our life especially when we can not see His hand at work. God will not abandon us to the world we create for ourselves.  God does not withdraw to a contamination-free zone and leave us to get on with it, but enters into the darkness, seriousness and consequences of human wrong-doing … in order to save us.

Monday, 23 July 2012—Psalm 145:1-3, 6-7, Antiphon, Psalm 145:5.On the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.  This is a hymn summarizing the characteristics of God. It is in acrostic form, making it easy to memorize: each verse in Hebrew begins with a successive letter of the alphabet. Vv. 1-3 are the psalmist’s personal expression of praise. In v. 4, he expands to speaking of descendants, of passing on knowledge and experience of God. God is known for his “wondrous works” (v. 5). In vv. 8-20, he expands still further, to “all people” (v. 12). Vv. 8-9 mention his love, vv. 10-13a his kingship over all, vv. 14-20 of his care of all in need. Responsiveness to his call brings protection (v. 20a) but those who oppose his ways will be destroyed. Finally, v. 21 combines the personal commitment to God with that of “all flesh”.

Tuesday, 24 July 2012—Psalm136:1-9; key verse v26— The phrase “the God of heaven” (v.26) is a Persian title for God found frequently in Ezra, Nehemiah and Daniel. The Psalm is a liturgy of praise to the Lord as Creator and as Israel’s Redeemer. Its theme and many of its verses parallel much of Psalm 135. Most likely a Levitical song leader led the recital which the choir or worshipers responded with the refrain. The Psalm recounts God’s mighty acts as the psalmist devotes six verse to God’s creation acts (Vv.1-3) six to His deliverance of Israel out of Egypt (Vv.10-15) one to the desert journey (v. 16) and six to the conquest (Vv.17-22) The four concluding verses return to the same basic themes in reverse order; God’s action in history ion behalf of His people (Vv.23-24), God’s action in the creation order (v.25) and a closing call to praise (v.26).

Wednesday, 25 July 2012— Genesis 9:8-17— We need to recognize the reality and depth of human resistance to God.  That is seen in killing Jesus.  What we call “sin” is not just the naughty things we do that make the tabloid headlines.  Sin can be deadly and destructive.  It has consequences.  And it offends. There is a deep seriousness to human wrong-doing – sin – that means that consequences cannot simply be bypassed. 

We can either turn away from them, or we can wrestle with them. Here we see God’s refusal to be marginalized. The next time instead of destroying the world through a flood He will turn His wrath on His own Son.   

Thursday, 26 July 2012—Ephesians 3:14-21 —   This section of the letter offers a bit of relief from the heavy theological portions that have been read up to this point. It presents a moment of tenderness, in which the author speaks directly to his readers about his care for them. He speaks of his prayer for his readers, which he does on bended knee.  Paul, like other apostles, had been entrusted with revelation by the Spirit. Specifically, it had been revealed to him that Gentiles, who receive the gospel in faith, are fellow heirs of the promises of God. They too are members of the body of Christ, and therefore they have access to God. "For this reason," the author prays that his readers may be strengthened in spiritual power, love, and knowledge.

Friday, 27 July 2012—Mark 6:45-56 —In Mark 1:16-20 when Jesus called Simon, Andrew, James, and John without any apparent previous knowledge of Jesus, they left everything immediately and followed him. What had they recognized in Jesus? It is remarkable that none of the gospels provide a physical description of Jesus. We will never be able to pin him down by virtue of his appearance. Rather, we will always have to recognize Jesus for who He is and what He does. It is more than the miracles and healings Jesus performed or the things he taught. It may actually take the gift of faith to recognize the one who died on the cross as the Christ, the Son of God, the Savior of the world.

Saturday, 28 July 2012—Psalm 37:5 - Sunday’s hymn of the day Entrust Your Days and Burdens, (LSB 754).  In the midst of our busy and hurried lives it is easy to loose sight that it is the Lord who orders our days and directs our path. Thus the hymn writer will remind us, “For He who guides the tempests along their thunderous ways will find for you a pathway and guide you all your days.” Place you confidence in Him. He can be trusted at His word. We can rely on Him as we recall what He has done. 

Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 and Lutheran Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House and from Lutheran Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House.

Schnorr von Carolsfeld woodcut used with permission from WELS

The Text This Week can be found at http://www.textweek.com/scripture.htm

Time in the Word - Pentecost 8 - Proper 11

In the lessons for this coming Sunday several themes can be seen: that nature of a good shepherd, the functions of a good shepherd, and the togetherness of God’s people through a Davidic king, Christ, and the church. The last is suggested as the theme – togetherness. Jesus in the Gospel takes His disciples, who just returned from their preaching-healing mission, on a retreat. Jeremiah in the Old Testament lesson explains that the exile was due to false shepherds and the scattered sheep will be brought back to Israel under a Davidic king. Jew and Gentile (in the Epistle lesson) are made one through the blood of Christ and their oneness in the church. The Psalm’s refrain, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me…” reminds us of the Gospel – “He had compassion on them.” The Hymn of the Day sings of Jesus who is the center of the church’s life and the foundation on which we build. 

Collect for this Sunday Pentecost 7—Grant, Lord, that the course of this world may be so governed by Your direction that Your church may rejoice in serving You in godly peace and quietness; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen  

Prayer in time of affliction and distress: Almighty and most merciful God, in this earthly life we endure sufferings and death before we enter into eternal glory. Grant us grace at all times to subject ourselves to Your holy will and to continue steadfast in the true faith to the end of our lives that we may know the peace and joy of the blessed hope of the resurrection of the dead and of the glory of the world to come; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. 

Prayer for Home and Family: Visit, we implore You, O Lord, the homes in which Your people dwell, and keep far from them all harm and danger. Grant us to dwell together in peace under the protection of Your holy angels, and may Your blessing be with us forever; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. Prayer the Unemployed: Heavenly Father, we remember before You, those who suffer want and anxiety from lack of work. Lead us so to use the wealth and resources of this rich land that all persons may find suitable and fulfilling employment and receive just payment for their labor; through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. 

Pray for Peace: O God, whom come all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works, give to us, Your servants, that peace which the world simply cannot give, that our hearts may be set to obey Your commandments and also that we, being def3ended from the fear of our enemies, may live in peace and quietness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. 

Collect for this coming Sunday Proper 11 – Heavenly Father, though we do not deserve Your goodness, still You provide for all our needs of body and soul. Grant us Your Holy Spirit that we may acknowledge Your gifts, give thanks for all Your benefits, and serve You in willing obedience; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen 

Time in the Word 16-21 July 2012 

Preparation for next week – The togetherness of God’s People 

Monday, 16 July 2012—Psalm 147:7-11, Antiphon, Psalm 145:16— You open Your hand; You satisfy the desire of every living thing. Jesus sets the table. Jesus supplies all that we may ever need. The Lord is faithful. We will never be in need. He has promised to supply our daily wants and desires. Daily tells how much God should give us, enough for the day. We do not ask God that He give us now what we need in years to come, but it is sufficient if we get what we need each day. 

Tuesday, 17 July 2012—Psalm 23; key verse v.6— Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever... Goodness and mercy both refer to the benefits of being a child of God, namely that we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. The Hebrew for this word suggests, “throughout the years”. Because of the relationship with have with Jesus Christ we will live and reign with Him throughout all eternity. What a comfort it is to have a relationship with our Lord and Savior. 

Wednesday, 18 July 2012—Jeremiah 23:1-6— Restoration. Exiles together under a Davidic king. Under new shepherds, God will return His people from captivity, and so a Davidic king will reign. In this passage Jeremiah predicts that because of false shepherds (rulers) the people will go into captivity. This happened in Jeremiah’s lifetime (586 BC) when the Jews were deported to Babylon. Jeremiah goes on to promises that God will raise up true shepherds who will bring back the exiles. In fact, there is to come a Davidic king who will rule with justice and righteousness. Under this Davidic ruler Israel will be restored as a nation. 

Thursday, 19 July 2012—Ephesians 2:11-22— Reunion. Jews and Gentile together in Christ. Christ has made us one in God and in the church. The heart of Ephesians is in this passage. In Vv. 13-18 we learn of the peace Christ grained between Jew and Gentile. Vv. 19-22 spell out the consequences of that peace. In the person of Christ and His cross, Jew and Gentile are made one. Christ died for both, and they are one in Christ by faith. Thus, they have a oneness in Christ, oneness with God and with each other. Christ’s death has removed the hostility and cancelled the law which separated Jew from Gentile. The two are now one in the church. The practical result is that Gentiles are no longer aliens but members of God’s family. 

Friday, 20 July 2012—Mark 6:30-44 — Retreat. Christ and the disciples together. Jesus takes His disciples to a lonely place for rest and teaches the crowd that gathers. This lesson combines the conclusion dealing with the sending out of the disciples and the introduction to the feeding of the five thousand. The disciples return from their preaching journey and are exhausted. People with needs throng around them so that they do not get any rest. Jesus takes them in a boat to a secluded spot that they may rest and be apart from the crowd. But the people will not let them alone. When the boat comes to shore, the people are waiting for them. Seeing the crowd, Jesus expresses compassion for them because they are as sheep without a shepherd. Before Jesus gives them physical bread, he gives them spiritual food by teaching them. This is the only time Mark refers to the Twelve as “apostles.” It is an appropriate name; for they had just returned form a preaching-healing mission. An apostle is one who is sent forth by Christ. Seeing the multitudes might have angered Jesus. He was taking the disciples apart for a retreat so sorely needed. He could have become impatient and told the people to scram. His reaction reveals His heart – compassion. He felt sorry for them because they were in desperate need. He has the heart of God, the God of love. Because of His compassion, Jesus cares about people. 

Saturday, 21 July 2012— Ephesians 2:20 - Sunday’s hymn of the day, The Church’s One Foundation (LSB 644). Paul pictures a house when he speaks of the structure of the church. The foundation is solid as the church is based on the Old and New Testaments the prophets and the apostles. The tested stone on which the church rests is Christ on which everything centers around. With such a structure the church moves forward victoriously. 

Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 and Lutheran Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House and from Lutheran Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House. Schnorr von Carolsfeld woodcut used with permission from WELS Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series B – John Brokhoff © 1981 CSS Publishing, Lima, OH

Pentecost 7 - Proper 10

The Beheading of John the Baptist

Proper 10

Mark 6:14-29

O Lord, You granted Your prophets strength to resist the temptations of the devil and courage to proclaim repentance. Give us pure hearts and minds to follow Your Son faithfully even into suffering and death.

We prefer our Bible stories to be pristine. We enjoy stories that are good for food… pleasant to the eyes… desired to make us wise. (Genesis 3:6) We favor music and song that lifts us up. We wish to feel good about ourselves after spending an hour in church. That doesn’t always happen. Nor should it. A diet consisting only of sweets is not good for you. Nor is it good for you spiritually if we hear nothing of the consequences of transgression.

The story of the beheading of John the Baptist reminds us that the way of sin always leads to destruction. Offense casts a web for which we cannot easily escape. John’s death speaks about the reality in which we live, a broken and fallen world – outside of Eden.

Herod the Great, who murdered the boys from Bethlehem, had ten wives and many children. His second son, Antipas, governed Galilee for more than forty years. Remember him. He is the one who not only executed John the Baptist (Matt 14:1; Luke 3:19), he played a crucial role in Jesus' death (Luke 13 & 23).

(If loving you is wrong) I don’t want to be right! Antipas married the daughter of the King of Arabia, but later lived with Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. The New Testament gives the reason why Herodias sought John's head.  She had married Prince Philip — who lived as a private citizen at Rome, by whom she had a daughter, Salome.

Herodias was married to Philip. Antipas took her to be his wife. Yes! He married his sister-in-law! The wife of his brother Philip. For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her. (v.17)

She acted against the law of man and of God in leaving him to marry Antipas. John rebuked Antipas for this adulterous union, and Herodias took vengeance. John called Antipas out. “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”

Herodias held a grudge against John, and wanted to kill him. But she could not.  Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man.  Antipas protected him. When Antipas heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. John was a just man, and a holy man, a complete good man.  Herod knew this. What was lacking in his own character he saw in John and this frightened him. John was a man from God, a man of God, a man for God. Antipas wanted to please his guests. He wanted to please his wife. And he was afraid of this desert preacher. So he locked him up. He shut him down. He attempted to silence him. But John’s words still haunted him. 

Choose, but choose wisely. An opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his crew, the officers and the leaders of Galilee. When his daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. He solemnly swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.” Her reply was expected, “The head of John the baptizer.” Deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head.

Weak and wicked Herod, like his father before him, was more afraid of looking bad in front of his dinner guests than he was of God and His wrath. Driven by lust and pride and in the false name of honor, as though he were a man of his word, he unjustly and illegally executed John to please the daughter of a harlot who was not his wife.1

Do we give a “false witness” when we, for example, compromise clear Biblical principles in order to fit in at work, or at school?  What price will we pay to acquire acceptance and approval? So, what about you? Do your sins rise up against you? Of what are you afraid?  Do you crave the praise of men? Do you fear the voice of God? Repent! And claim that forgiveness which was won for you by Jesus Christ. This forgiveness has a name. It’s called Absolution.

[Absolution] “Is neither a response to a suitably worthy confession, nor the acceptance of a reasonable apology. To absolve means not only to loosen, to free, to acquit; it also means to dispose of, to complete, and to finish. When God pardons, He does not say He understands your weakness or makes allowances for your errors; rather He disposes of, He finishes with, the whole of your dead life and raises you up with a new one. He does not so much deal with your failures as does He drop them down the black hole of Jesus’ death. He forgets your sins in the darkness of the tomb. He remembers your iniquities no more in the forgetfulness of Jesus’ death. He finds you in the desert of death, not in the garden of improvement. And in the power of Jesus’ resurrection, He puts you on His shoulders, rejoicing, and brings you home.”2

Artwork © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

1. Taken from an 8.29.2002 sermon  by Pr. David Peterson, Redeemer Lutheran Church, Ft. Wayne, IN, which also gave structure to this manuscript.

2. Robert Farrar Capon, Parables of Grace, p. 39

 

Time in the Word - Pentecost 7 - Proper 10

The theme for the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 10) is sent to serve. Christians are people who are sent by God to serve Him and His people. Jesus sent His disciples to preach and heal. John the Baptist is beaded for his refusal to stand down to wicked King Herod. Faithfulness to God was far more important than obeying the dictates of a mad king. As John dies innocently, so must the Christ. Amos claimed that the Lord chose him as a shepherd to go to Israel to preach in the Old Testament lesson. In the Epistle lesson, we gain the impression that we are destined to be God’s people through Christ and appointed to glorify Him. We are a people with a mission and on a mission given to us by God. Occasionally we might be opposed. This need not be our chief concern. One thing is needed and that is faithfulness.

 Collect for Pentecost 7—Grant, Lord, that the course of this world may be so governed by Your direction that Your Church may rejoice in serving You in godly peace and quietness;

Prayer in time of affliction and distress: Almighty and most merciful God, in this earthly life we endure sufferings and death before we enter into eternal glory. Grant us grace at all times to subject ourselves to Your holy will and to continue steadfast in the true faith to the end of our lives that we may know the peace and joy of the blessed hope of the resurrection of the dead and of the glory of the world to come; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen

Absolution is neither a response to a suitably worthy confession, nor the acceptance of a reasonable apology. To absolve means not only to loosen, to free, to acquit; it also means to dispose of, to complete, and to finish. When God pardons, He does not say He understands your weakness or makes allowances for your errors. Rather, He disposes of; He finishes with, the whole of your dead life and raises you up with a new one. He does not so much deal with your failures as does He drop them down the back hole of Jesus’ death. He forgets your sins in the darkness of the tomb. He remembers your iniquities no more in the forgetfulness of Jesus’ death. He finds you in the desert of death, not the garden of improvement. And in the power of Jesus resurrection, He puts you on His shoulders, rejoicing, and brings you home. – Robert Farrar Capon, Parables of Grace, pg. 39

Collect for Proper 10 – Lord, You granted Your prophets strength to resist the temptations of the devil and courage to proclaim repentance. Give us pure hearts and minds to follow Your Son faithfully even into suffering and death; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives, and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.

Time in the Word

Preparation for next week – Sent to Serve

Monday, 09 July 2012—Psalm 143:1-2, 8a; Antiphon, Psalm 143:1— O Lord hear my prayer listen to my cry for mercy in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief. In each of our readings for this coming week the righteous find themselves confronted by evil forces. There are those who would want the Christian to cease and desist. Thus, we must pray to the Lord for deliverance from all our enemies. Psalm 143 is such a prayer. As we make our appeals known to God, not only will He hear us but also He will act, in His own time to rescue and defend us.

Tuesday, 10 July 2012—Psalm 85(1-7) 8-13; key verse v.7— Show us Your unfailing love, O Lord, and grant us Your salvation. This is how God chooses to act on behalf of His people. He has every right to punish, condemn and destroy. In love, He will offer forgiveness, life, and salvation. How could He? The cross of Calvary shows us how deep and profound the Father’s love is for His people.

Wednesday, 11 July 2012—Amos 7:7-15—Amaziah orders Amos to stop preaching and go home to Judah. Amos, a herdsman from Tekoa, is sent by the lord to Israel to preach. It is at the time of King Jeroboam that Amos preached at Bethel, the site of the royal sanctuary. Amaziah is the high priests who warms the king of Amos’ treason and who commands Amos to go back to Judah to preach there.  Amos replies that he is not a professional prophet, just a layman, who was called by God to preach to Israel. He is not preaching for a living, but in obedience to God’s call.

Amos was preaching in the holy place of Bethel, the royal seat and place of worship. Amaziah tells Amos to go home to the South to preach, for the temple is the “king’s sanctuary.”  Since Amos’ message was against the king and nation, Amos had no right to speak there; it was the king’s chapel and not God’s house. If it is the king’s then speak in support of the king’s policies and practices. If it is God’s house, God speaks in His house through His called spokesperson. It was a matter of civil religion v. true religion.

It was a religious service head in a “White House” where you would expect sermons supporting the nation. The high priest of Israel accuses Amos of treason. His preaching does not support the nation. The king is to be killed and the people are to go into captivity. This spells the end of the nation. This is a hard message. Amaziah reports this to the king. The truth often hurts. It does not always approve what we do.

Thursday, 12 July 2012—Ephesians 1:3-14— God’s chose and destined us to be His children through Christ. For the next few weeks, the Epistle lesson will come from St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. This lesson is difficult to relate to the other two lessons. The central theme of the letter to the Ephesians is the church. This lesson is on praise to God who in Christ has poured out His love for us, who calls us to be His children, redeemed us through the blood of Christ, and revealed His will to us. He has given us His Spirit who is a guarantee of our salvation and eternal life.

Friday, 13 July 2012—Mark 6:14-29 —Mad king Herod had John the Baptist killed to honor an oath, to save face in front of his dinner guests, to quiet a man who firmly told him that his illicit affair with his sister-in-law was sinful and shameful and to honor Herodias’ request.  Verse 20 is the key verse. Although Herod knew he was doing wrong, his conscious bothered him, and John’s words condemned him Herod was still drawn to listen to John. When we are overcome by the fear of confronting someone, we can be comforted in the fact that the Law does convict. God through the preaching of the Law prepares us to hear, understand and savor the Gospel. John the forerunner of Christ will preach, baptize and die all like Christ. First he must die. With the death of John now, the cross becomes the focus of Christ’s destiny. 

Saturday, 14 July 2012— Luke 10:2 - Sunday’s hymn of the day, Spread the Reign of God the Lord (LSB 830). Who will work for the Lord and His cause? There is plenty of work to be done. May we pray the Lord would use each of us to be doing His will in our daily vocations. The opportunity to serve Him is rewarding enough. As we can find work to be done may we do it joyfully and willingly.

Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 and Lutheran Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House and from Lutheran Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House.

Schnorr von Carolsfeld woodcut used with permission from WELS

Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series B – John Brokhoff © 1981 CSS Publishing, Lima, OH

Pentecost 6 - Proper 9

Proper 9

8 July 2012

Mark 6:1-6

Is Jesus a failure?

INTRODUCTION: Did Jesus fail? From our text one might assume so – there is a reason why – the people refused to believe in Him. “A prophet is not without honor even from his own country.” Mark 6:4

       

In Jesus’ hometown in Nazareth the people take offense at Jesus and His work. How so?

1.         Jesus failed to gain the people’s understand Vv. 2-3 - “When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him that he even does miracles! Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.”  Mark 6:2 -3

The people, we are told took offense at Jesus. Literally, Jesus’ presence created a scandal.  His own people were not proud of His teaching and healing. For the, Jesus was not a local body who made good. They were jealous of His power, wisdom, and success. After all, He was only a carpenter – where did He get this supposed wisdom? His mother, brothers, and sisters all lived there. “Who does He think He is?” they thought. There were so offended that they could not believe He was a prophet sent from God.

Transition: Jesus failed to gain the people’s understanding. He failed to win the people’s faith.  

2.         Failed to win the people’s faith in Him V.6 - “And he was amazed at their lack of faith.” Mark 6:6

It was not that Jesus could not do any mighty work.  To the contrary He had the blessing of His Father. Faith is the receptive agent, which accepts God’s gifts and enables God’s power to work in the people with faith. Without our willingness to be helped, Christ cannot help us. Without faith God’s grace would do us no good. Thus the hymn writer would remind us;

Nothing in my hand I bring,

Simply to Thy cross I cling;

Naked come to Thee for dress;

Helpless, look to Thee for grace;

Foul, I to the fountain fly,

Wash me, Savior, or I die!

Nazareth was a defeat for Jesus. There was no other place where Jesus was rejected. Of all places Jesus could have expected acceptance was among His closest friends and family. It may have discouraged Jesus to giving up His teaching and preaching. How does He take this failure? “He went…teaching.” He went on with His work to other places; working as hard as ever.”

Transition:   Jesus failed to gain the people’s understanding. He failed to win the people’s faith. He failed to do them good.   

3.         Failed to do them good – V.5 - “He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.” Mark 6:5

Do you notice the cold irony and tragedy in the worlds of our text? He was rejected by “His own country.” His very own country – Nazareth – rejected Him. Nazareth where He had grown up. Nazareth where He worked as a carpenter. Nazareth where His relatives and family lived. The tragedy is that His home folks rejected Him so much that He could not any miracles there, except to lay His hands on a few sick people to heal them.

“He came to His own, and His own received Him not!”  His immediate family called Him crazy. His hometown rejected Him. Leaders if His religion pronounced Him “possessed” of the devil. His nation cried out, “Crucify Him!”

Yet in this rejection of the Son of God – He offers you the great exchange – your sins for His righteousness. Because a people rejected Him the Father offered His grace to any who would receive Him by faith. That’s why we call it a gift. God’s mercy, His underserved kindness, His compassion and grace.

CONCLUSION: How shall we react to Jesus who comes to us this day? Does He receive the same cold shoulder? What is your reaction to this Jesus? Spurn Him not – rather trust in Him with all your heart.

Artwork © Ed Riojas, Higher Things