Proper 15 Series C

Proper 15 Series C

(August 18, 2019)

Jeremiah 23:16–29

Hebrews 11:17–31 (32–40); 12:1–3

Luke 12:49–53 (54–56)

Christ’s Suffering and Death Bring Division

The Lord Jesus causes fear and trembling and division because His Word is “like fire … and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces” (Jeremiah 23:29). His Law puts us all to death, whereas only His Gospel can bring us to life. He has fulfilled that Word for us by His cross and in His resurrection from the dead. He undergoes such a distressing Baptism, accomplished by His death, in order to open the way for us through our Holy Baptism into His cross and resurrection. So, then, if we are able “to interpret the appearance of earth and sky” (Luke 12:56), let us mark this sign of His cross — recognizing that this world is subject to death, but knowing that Christ Jesus also has conquered death and obtained life everlasting for us. Let us fix our eyes on “Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith” and “run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1–2).

Blessed Lord, You have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning. Grant that we may so hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them that, by patience and comfort of Your holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life;

Rev. Dr. Daniel J Brege

Jesus longingly states in Sunday’s Gospel, “I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled!”  (Luke 12:49).  Note how Christ longs for this fire-kindling event to be finished.

This fire-kindling statement is describing the same event that Christ illustrates in His next statement:  “I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished!” (v. 50).  Even as Christ desires that the fire already be kindled, so He states how He is distressed until He is baptized.

Of such baptism the Old Testament repeatedly speaks of God’s wrath being poured upon His enemies.  Some examples:  “Ps. 79:6:  “Pour out your anger on the nations that do not know you.”   Jer. 10:25:  “Pour out your wrath on the nations that know you not, and on the peoples that call not on your name.”  Ez. 20:8:  “Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them and spend my anger against them [rebellious Israel].”  Hosea 5:10:  “…upon them [rebellious Judah] I will pour out my wrath like water.”  Zeph. 3:8:  “For my decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them my indignation, all my burning anger; for in the fire of my jealousy all the earth shall be consumed.”  [Other examples:  Psalm 69:24; 2 Chronicles 12:7; 34:21].  Likely this pouring out of God’s anger is the Baptism of which Christ speaks in Luke 12.  It is the Baptism deserved by the unbelieving nations, it is the Baptism deserved by rebellious Israel and her sister Judah…It is the Baptism of God’s wrath that we each deserve to have poured upon us.  What event marks this Baptism of Jesus and His kindling of fire on the earth?  The cross!

At the cross Jesus would have God’s burning wrath poured upon Him. Christ is made to be sin (2 Cor. 5:21) and thus He will receive the hell fire deserved by every human—past, present and future.  No wonder Jesus describes the great distress He feels as He anticipates receiving this Baptism of God’s angry river of lava to be poured upon Him in our place.

What then is the result of Christ’s cruciform “Baptism”?  It will spark a fire on the earth, a fire consisting of the wrath of those whose sin is exposed.  God’s people are baptized with soothing water, and thus they are brought into and established in Christ’s kingdom.  But unbelievers around the world will spend their fiery anger on believers.  This anger will even strike home as there will be unbelieving parents fired up against believing children, unbelieving children angry as hell against believing parents, unbelievers in families extended through marriage—unbelieving in-laws as parents or children—wanting to cremate alive their corresponding Christian in-laws..  The wrath of the unbelievers will lash out with the flames of words and deeds against the people of God.

But fear not, dear baptized people of God, in Christ you are fireproof.  The fire-absorbing Savior arose from the dead and His gracious victory is for time and for eternity.  Presently you remain soaked with the water of Baptism, and the flaming words and deeds cannot consume you wet-ones.  The worst that can happen is death—but you realize you are baptized into Christ’s victory, and in Him and His love you are overwhelmingly conquerers.  Neither the fire of God’s wrath nor the fiery words and deeds of unbelievers can harm you—for you are in Christ.


Not Peace, but Division
"The tension in the call to live in the world, but not be of the world has some Christians aping the world, others trying to escape it. Both options leave us functioning as exiles. Jesus calls us to follow him as pilgrims, and that tension is the exact shape of a narrow road." - Michelle Van Loon


Luke 12.49 
Πῦρ ἦλθον βαλεῖν ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν, καὶ τί θέλω εἰ ἤδη ἀνήφθη;
“I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled!

-I desire it already. Jesus say the fire and embraced it.

Luke 12. 50 
βάπτισμα δὲ ἔχω βαπτισθῆναι, καὶ πῶς συνέχομαι ἕως ὅτου τελεσθῇ.
I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished!

-This baptism is the distress of the cross. See Luke 3:16

-The wrath of an offended God will be poured out upon Him. See His prayer in the Garden.

Luke 12.51 
δοκεῖτε ὅτι εἰρήνην παρεγενόμην δοῦναι ἐν τῇ γῇ; οὐχί, λέγω ὑμῖν, ἀλλ’ ἢ διαμερισμόν.
Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.

-Division, dissension, separation and strife will come.

-God is not nice but He's good.

-"Of course He's not safe, He's the King, but He's good." - CS Lewis

Luke 12.52 
ἔσονται γὰρ ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν πέντε ἐν ἑνὶ οἴκῳ διαμεμερισμένοι, τρεῖς ἐπὶ δυσὶν καὶ δύο ἐπὶ τρισίν,
For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three.

-There will be division from now on, from this point, it is the cross which divides.

Luke 12.53 
διαμερισθήσονται πατὴρ ἐπὶ υἱῷ καὶ υἱὸς ἐπὶ πατρί, μήτηρ ἐπὶ θυγατέρα καὶ θυγάτηρ ἐπὶ τὴν μητέρα, πενθερὰ ἐπὶ τὴν νύμφην αὐτῆς καὶ νύμφη ἐπὶ τὴν πενθεράν.
They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

-There will be a continuous division from now on.

-In the Church Christ trumps all earthly ties, even family.
___________________
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software
LCMS Lectionary summary © 2016 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
Collect for Proper 15, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
Luther’s Seal © Higher Things

Proper 12

Proper 12

July 24, 2016

Luke 11:11-13

A God who loves to Give

Jesus has given us the Lord’s Prayer. He teaches persistence in prayer. It is common practice for many to ask once and soon forget. How long should we pray for something? How do you respond to unanswered prayer?  Can you take “no” as an answer?

Jesus teaches there is no limit to the number of times we should pray. A neighbor wanting bread comes at midnight. When his friend is in bed. He keeps pestering and pounding. Until in desperation for needed sleep, he gets out of bed and gave the food. It wasn’t because of friendship. But because his friend would not quit bothering him. He would not take “No” for an answer. Jesus teaches that we should ask, seek, and finally, knock.  Never quit.  Never, ever give up! Persistence in prayer is necessary.

Grant us Lord, the Spirit to think and do always such things as are pleasing in Your sight that we, who without You cannot do anything that is good, may by You be enabled to live according to Your will; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.

We may be tempted. To think of Christ’s unwillingness to hear us. So, we use prayer. Especially persistent prayer. To eke out of Him some favor. Or, to find an answer to our needs. To receive an answer to prayer. We might become concerned about the quality of our prayer. Or, the moral standing of the one who prays. This is unnecessary according to Jesus. The Father is more willing to give than we are to ask. Your heavenly Father lives to give. He exists to hear. He dwells to answer. Ask. Seek. Knock. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” _{–Luke 11:9}

What has your heavenly Father promised to give?

1. He promises to give good gifts. "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?” Vv. 11, 12

A. God your heavenly Father, like any good earthly father, gives only good gifts. The point is, ‘you just can’t imagine a father who would do this!’ “I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me, says the Lord Almighty.” _{– 2 Corinthians 6:18} He is not reluctant to give gifts. He does not have to be persuaded to help. As a father gives only good gifts. God, your heavenly Father gives even more to His children. “With these words God tenderly invites us to believe that He is our true Father and that we are His true children, so that with all boldness and confidence we may ask Him as dear children ask their dear father.”[1]  

B. If one asks for a fish. He does not give a serpent. Here the Savior teaches us how to pray the right way. We pray as a child to a magnificent Father. We pray confidently as Abraham prayed. We pray as the persistent and unrelenting friend kept knocking. The writer to the Hebrews encourages us with these words, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” _{–Hebrews 4:16}

C. The Father’s gifts are only and always good. They are forever helpful for us. Even when the Father is silent.

The Father’s timing is always perfect. When the Father is silent it may be that it is not the right time for Him to answer. At the time we ask, we may not be ready for the gift. If we do not keep asking, when the time is right, we may not be receptive. “As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.” _{– Psalm 103:13}

2. He promises the best gift. “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" V. 13

A. The best gift is the Holy Spirit. Of all the gifts, the Holy Spirit is the best. The Father’s kingdom comes to us, “…when our heavenly Father give us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity.” [2]

B. How many pray for the Spirit? How many realize the Spirit is the best gift God could ever give us?  We do not pray that God’s kingdom of power would come. Because that is already present everywhere. Instead, we ask God to give us His Holy Spirit so that we believe His Word and lead godly lives as members of His kingdom of grace.[3]    Jesus said, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe the gospel.” _{–Mark 1:15} 

It is easy to become distracted during these difficult days. We need to have a single solitary focus – bringing many others into the Father’s kingdom. Being used of Him to extend His kingdom of grace. Our petitions must include that our Lord would hasten the coming of His kingdom of glory. “He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! _{– Revelation 22:20}

C. Why is the Spirit the best gift? The Spirit is God. To Have the Holy Spirit is to have God in you, with you, for you. The Lord assures us. He promises. He guarantees that His means of grace will establish and sustain His kingdom. “My word…shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the things for which I sent it.” _{– Isaiah 55:11}

Can there ever be anything better than God your heavenly Father and His gracious will for you?  We know that the will of God will always be done in our lives. The psalmist reminds us, “Our God is in the heavens; He does all that He pleases.” _{– Psalm 115:3} “…for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. _{– Philippians 2:13}

As His name must be hallowed and His kingdom come whether we pray or not, so also His will must be done and succeed. This is true even though the devil with all his followers raise a great riot, are angry and rage against it, and tries to exterminate the Gospel completely. But for our own sakes, we must pray that, even against their fury. His will be done without hindrance among us also. We pray so that they may not be able to accomplish anything and that we may remain firm against all violence and persecution and submit to God’s will.”[4]

Words – 1,215

Passive Sentences –3%

Readability –83.6%

Reading Level –4.3

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[1] Introduction to the Lord’s Prayer, Luther’s Small Catechism

[2] Explanation to the Second Petition of the Lord’s Prayer, Luther’s Small Catechism

[3] For what do we pray in the Second Petition? Luther’s Small Catechism

[4] Luther’s Large Catechism, III 68