David

Today the church commemorates King David, who despite his own sin always sought the mercy of God. 

Have mercy upon me, O god, according to thy loving kindness, according unto the multitude of they tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions; and my sins is ever before me. Against thee, thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight; that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou has t broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation;l and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

from Psalm 51

Woodcuts by Baron Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld © WELS

Time in the Word - The Circumcision and Name of Jesus

The Lord Jesus is Circumcised to Fulfill the Law
and Shed His Blood for Us

Circumcision, the covenant God made with Abraham and his Seed, sealed His promises and blessings in the flesh, but it also signified the burden of the Law. When the Lord Jesus came in the flesh to redeem His people, He subjected Himself to that Law in order to fulfill the Law and release all people from its bondage. “He was called Jesus” (Luke 2:21), because He came to save His people from their sins. Jesus first shed His blood on our behalf when “He was circumcised” (Luke 2:21), thus foreshadowing His shedding of blood as He sacrificed Himself upon the Cross. We are “justified by faith” in His blood (Gal. 3:24). Therefore, we “are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise” (Gal. 3:29), not by the circumcision of our flesh, but in the flesh and blood of Christ Jesus, the true Seed of Abraham. “Baptized into Christ,” we belong to Him and are clothed and covered by His righteousness (Gal. 3:27). Holy Baptism is the true circumcision made without hands, by which the Lord Jesus puts His Name on us and blesses us (Num. 6:22, 27).

Time in the Word
26–31 December 2016
Preparation for next week, the Circumcision and Name of Jesus

Monday, 26 December 2016—Psalm 40:6–8; antiphon, Psalm 40:16—Jesus has come in the flesh and fulfilled the entire Law for us, beginning with His fulfilling of the Law of Circumcision. Neither are animal sacrifices necessary any longer, for these were only meant to point to the One who became the supreme, once-for-all Sacrifice for the sins of the world; hence, David writes: In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required. What is required for salvation is faith, received by the ear which God opens and into which He speaks His saving Gospel message.

Tuesday, 27 December 2016—Psalm 8—Psalm 8 is a song of great praise to God for all the mighty works He has done in creating the universe, the earth, and all that is in them. But the greatest work of all, is that He sent His Son into the world to assume flesh, the uncreated One becoming part of the creation, that He might redeem creation from the curse under which it fell when Adam and Eve first sinned. The Son of God, Creator of all things, it is He who has been made a little lower than the heavenly beings; yet, because of His work of salvation, He has been crowned with glory and honor.

Wednesday, 28 December 2016—Numbers 6:22–27—The Old Testament reading for next week is the well-known Aaronic benediction. The word benediction comes from the Latin word that means to bless. It is called the Aaronic benediction, because it was first given, here in Numbers, to the High Priest Aaron, brother of Moses, to bless the Children of Israel. Note that it is pure blessing; it makes no demands of the people, but simply is a declaration of God’s benefit to them. They had been given His Name, and thus received a blessing.

Thursday, 29 December 2016—Galatians 3:23–29—As God declared in the Old Testament reading, He had put His Name on the people and they received His blessing. Likewise, He has put His Name on us, too, and, consequently, we also receive His blessings. In Holy Baptism, we were given the gift of faith and the forgiveness of sins. Baptized into the name of Christ, we are heirs and recipients of all of God’s blessings: forgiveness, life, and salvation.

Friday, 30 December 2016—Luke 2:21—Next Sunday’s Gospel reading is very short—only one verse! It tells of the circumcision and naming of Jesus on the eighth day of His life. Fulfilling the Law of Moses with regard to circumcision, He first shed His blood for us. Receiving the name which had been told to Mary by the angel Gabriel, it reflects who He is and what He came to do; for the name JESUS means the Lord (Yahweh) saves. Jesus is true God, come down from heaven for one purpose: the salvation of as many as will believe in Him.

Saturday, 31 December 2016—The hymn of the day, Jesus! Name of Wondrous Love (LSB #900), extols the Name that was given to the Savior at His circumcision, the Name that St Paul says is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth (Philippians 2:9–10).

Collect for the Commemoration of St Stephen (26 December): Heavenly Father,  in the midst of our sufferings for the sake of Christ, grant us grace to follow the example of the first martyr, Stephen, that we also may look to the One who suffered and was crucified on our behalf, and pray for those who do us wrong; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns . . .

Collect for the Commemoration of St John (27 December): Merciful Lord, cast the bright beams of Your light upon Your Church that we, being instructed in the doctrine of Your blessed apostle and evangelist John, may come to the light of everlasting life; for You live and reign . . .

Collect for the Commemoration of the Holy Innocents of Bethlehem (28 December): Almighty God, the martyred innocents of Bethlehem showed forth Your praise not by speaking but by dying. Put to death in us all that is in conflict with Your will that our lives may bear witness to the faith we profess with our lips; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns . . .

Collect for the Circumcision and Name of Jesus (1 January): Lord God, You made Your beloved Son, our Savior, subject to the Law and caused Him to shed His blood on our behalf. Grant us the true circumcision of the Spirit that our hearts may be made pure from all sins; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Prayer for the New Year: Eternal God, we commit to Your mercy and forgiveness the year now ending and commend to Your blessing and love the times yet to come. In the new year, abide among us with Your Holy Spirit that we may always trust in the saving name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns . . .

Prayer for grace to receive the Word: 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; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns . . .

Prayer before the study of God’s Word: Almighty God, our heavenly Father, without Your help our labor is useless, and without Your light our search is in vain. Invigorate our study of Your holy Word that, by due diligence and right discernment, we may establish ourselves and others in Your holy faith; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns . . . 

Lectionary summary on front page from LCMS Commission on Worship

Artwork by Ed Riojas, © Higher Things

Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House

Christmas

Christmas Day

25 December 2016

Isaiah 9:2

O God, You make us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Grant that as we joyfully receive Him as our Redeemer, we may with sure confidence behold Him when He comes to be our Judge; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them has the light shines.

It is significant that Jesus was born on a "Silent Night, a Holy Night" He came to a people who walked in darkness. He came as a light to eliminate that darkness. Jesus came to be a light to the people who walk in darkness.

1.     There is darkness. It is the darkness of the world - caused by sin -1 John 1:6-7 "If we say that we have fellowship him and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not have the truth. But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin".

From the time in which our first parents, Adam and Eve fell headlong into sin, the people of this world have been living in a dream world.  That dream world consists in this; that the majority of people believe that they can please God even if they continue to walk in darkness.  This comes in various forms. Hardly any would believe that they are perfect.  Hardly a person on this earth will dare to believe that they are without fault.  But where people deceive themselves and live in denial is when they convince themselves that they can live a life without any consequences.

They believe that either God will make up for their shortcomings or they believe that God will somehow overlook and disregard their offences. But this does not stand the test of every man. How can we have fellowship with a holy and righteous God when we walk in the shadow and the night of sin? Thus, the evangelist John will remind us: "If we say that we have fellowship him and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not have the truth."

We can try to fool our neighbors, families, friends and ourselves thinking that all is well. But the testimony of the clear Word of God's Law and the conviction of our own conscience will tell us that we cannot stand before a holy and righteous God who is perfection and light.  If we are walking in the darkness of sin, we have no fellowship with God.

So, what can we do? We cannot deny the fact that we are sinners. Try as we might, we cannot resist and conquer sin. We are a people walking in darkness, and surrounded by the shadow of death.

Transition:  This is how the world has existed from the time of Adam. But God our Father who has given us His Word and promise. He has determined to dispel the darkness of sin and death as His light shines upon us. That light came at Christmas and continues to shine ever so brightly as Christ; the light of the world, has shined upon us. 

"When Jesus enters meek and lowly To fill the home with sweetest peace; When hearts have felt His blessing holy And found from sin complete release, Then light and calm within shall reign And hearts divided love again" {TLH #65 stanza 2}[1]

2.     Jesus is the light of the world - The prophet reminds us: "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them has the light shines."

So what is it that you confess? Every. Single. Sunday. “…who for us men and our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary and was made man.”[2]

You see, there is a person who knows and understands you. His name is Jesus Christ. We need to remember, especially today, that there was a nativity. In that manger, the Son of God didn’t just insert Himself into human activities. He inserted Himself in the grittiness of human flesh. He was also a person who knew pain and anger. He became angry Himself on occasions, and ultimately was the victim of anger. This life that you live. Your struggles.  Your anger. Your weakness.  Your woes.  Your sorrows - your Lord knows all. Even your joys exactly. Because He became a man.*

The incarnation changes everything. For we do not have a God who was too proud to know His people. Or, a God content to rule from a great distance. Or, a God whose majesty was too awesome for us to behold. We have just the opposite. Jesus, the son of Mary and Joseph, who experienced the very same humanity, the very same problems, and the very same challenges that we do. No, you do not walk this road alone. Jesus is the God who came down from heaven. He was that man. “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” –Isaiah 53:3 *[These thoughts and the importance of the incarnation came from Pr. Ken Kelly who serves a LCMS parish in Johnstown, PA A pastor with incredible insights.]

Christ has removed the darkness of sin. As He spoke the universe into existence with His Word saying "Let there be light" so He came into this world to shine His light upon a dark and sinful world to take away our sin, misery, and guilt.  That desert preacher proclaims to us clearly, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

Christ is the eternal light and has come to save us from our sin. He does not overlook your sin. He eliminates it. He does not blink at sin, but He has entered time and space to be your substitute.

He takes unto Himself all of the world's misery and sin and He will carry it to the cross where He will suffer, die and rise again to be victorious.  The miracle of Christmas is that God has made it clear that He is in the business of redeeming and saving His people. As light eliminates the darkness so the coming of Christ brings the dawn of a new day, full of light and life. Upon us, the light of Christ has shown brightly eliminating all darkness of sin and error.

The miracle of Christmas finds its basis in the truth that Christ has come to eliminate sin. As He began the world's creation by producing light on the first day, He has shown brightly on this earth once again. In glory, there is no need of sun, moon or stars for He will be the eternal light that lights up the entire city.  As He draws us toward His light once more on this Christmas morning may the brightness of Christ burn in your hearts ever more until we are each ushered into His glory. Glory and light, which has no end!   Blessed Christmas!

Words –1,227

Passive Sentences –7%

Readability – 80.5%

Reading Level -5.4

Image: Schnorr von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS for private and congregational use

 

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[1] A hymn that didn’t make it into the LSB but should have!

[2] The Nicene Creed

O Emmanuel

O God with Us

O Emmanuel, our King and lawgiver, for whom the nations wait, their only Savior, come Thou, O Lord our God, be our salvation.

P:	Drop down ye heavens from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness;
C:	Let the earth open and bring forth salvation.

The Collect

P:	Stir up, we beseech Thee, O Lord, give ear to our prayers and lighten the darkness of our hearts by Thy gracious visitation; through Jesus Christ Thy Son, our Lord.
C:	Amen.

                O Come, O Come EMMANUEL,

                And ransom captive Israel,

                That mourns in lonely exile here,

                Until the Son of God appear.

                Rejoice!  Rejoice!  Emmanuel

                Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O King of Nations

O King of Nations

O King of Nations and their great desire, thou cornerstone who makest one of twain, as Thou has formed man from the ground, come now and save him.

P:	Behold, the Lord shall come and all His saints with Him.  Alleluia!
C:	And in that day the light shall be great.  Alleluia!

 

The Collect

P:	Stir up, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy power and come, that they who trust in Thy mercy may speedily be delivered from all adversity; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord.
C:	Amen.

                O Come, DESIRE OF NATIONS bind,

                In one the hearts of all mankind,

                Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,

                And by Thyself our King of Peace,

                Rejoice!  Rejoice!  Emmanuel

                Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O Rising sun

O Rising Sun

O rising orb of day, splendor of light eternal and sun of righteousness, come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

P:	Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.
C:	Our God shall come, Alleluia!

The Collect

P:	Stir up, we beseech Thee, O Lord, our hearts to prepare the way of Thine only-begotten Son; that by His Advent we may be enabled to serve Thee with purified minds; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord.
C:	Amen.

                                O Come, Thou DAYSPRING from on high,

                                And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh;

                                Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,

                                And death’s dark shadow put to flight.

                                Rejoice!  Rejoice!  Emmanuel

                                Shall come to Thee, O Israel.

O Key of David

O Key of David

O Key of David and Scepter of the House of Israel, who closeth portals and no one can open them, come thou and from his cell lead forth the captive who sits in darkness and in the shadow of death.

P:	Come, O Lord, and make no tarrying;
C:	Loosen the bonds of the people Israel.

The Collect

P:	Stir up, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the wills of Thy faithful people that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works may of Thee be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord.
C:	Amen.

                                O Come, Thou KEY OF DAVID, Come,

                                And open wide our heav’nly home

                                Make swift the way that leads on high

                                And close the path to misery.

                                Rejoice!  Rejoice!  Emmanuel

                                Shall come to thee, O Israel.