Is today’s gospel reading good or bad news? If you are a poor beggar with oozing sores you get into heaven and are comforted eternally. Well who wants to be a beggar with oozing sores? If you are a rich man you dine with the best foods and in the best conditions that this world can offer but you end up in eternal torment. Who wants to be in eternal torment? What are we as neither rich folks nor beggars to do with this parable?
Let’s break it down a little.
“There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table.” The rich man wore purple and fine linens.” In the Roman culture only royalty wore purple. The dye for purple came from Egypt and was very expensive and fine linen was just as expansive and only worn by the extremely wealthy. He had gates in front of his house; hence he was very important and sought to keep out the riff raff like this poor beggar Lazarus.
In stark contrast we have Lazarus; a poor beggar, with oozing sores. YUK! Not a pretty picture. Who desired to be fed, χορτάζω,v \{khor-tad'-zo} 1) to feed with herbs, grass, hay, to fill, satisfy with food, to fatten 1a) of animals. Jesus is showing how lowly this man was by using the Greek word khor-tad-zo which is the word reserved to describe the feeding of animals. He was viewed as an animal. Not only that the dogs came and licked his sores. He is an animal among the dogs. Dogs were not pets in this time; rather they were viewed as scavengers, filthy animals that ate from the garbage. You see Lazarus desired to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. What fell from his table were not crumbs nor scraps but pieces of bread. Rich folks in that time used bread to wipe the grease from their fingers and from their plates and threw it on the ground knowing that the filthy dogs would eat it. Lazarus wasn’t even daring to dream of eating at the rich man’s table he just wanted to eat the dirty bread that fell from it; a very low self esteem indeed.
Lazarus, this is the only parable that Jesus tells us the name of the person in the parable. Lazarus is short for Eleazar which means “God helps.” We gather three pieces of information from the naming of the beggar. 1. God is going to help him and he does as the angels carry him to heaven to eternal comfort. 2. This is not simply a parable told to illustrate a point this event really happened, scary huh. 3. This man’s story will have something to do with the man Lazarus that Jesus raises from the dead.
The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abrahams’ side, literally bosom. This vision of Lazarus reclining on Abraham is a picture of the heavenly feast. Lazarus is receiving the eternal reward promised to Abraham and his offspring because of his and their faith in God; remember Abraham was counted righteous because God made him a promise and he believed God. And since Lazarus is reclining at the table with the host, Lazarus is the guest sitting in the seat of honor. Much like John was at the last supper.
The rich man dies, is buried, an honor that wasn’t given poor Lazarus, but the rich man goes to hell and is in eternal torment. The rich man sees this beggar in heaven, perhaps part of the torment, and calls out to Abraham, “Father.” He is playing the “I am your descendant” card by calling Abraham Father. “And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.” He seeks mercy when he was unwilling to give it himself. What’s more he knows Lazarus’ name. This shows that he knew Lazarus, so when Lazarus was at his gates begging back on earth the rich man intentionally ignored Lazarus and his needs, He INTENTIONALLY REFURSED TO EXTEND MERCY to Lazarus; the rich man didn’t just mistakenly over look him.
Oh but it gets better! Not only does he know Lazarus he expects Abraham to show mercy to him by having Lazarus serve him and administer to HIS needs. As Clarence Jordan is quoted, “Lazarus aint gonna run no mo’ yo’ errands, rich man!”
Abraham has no mercy for this false humility and is insulted that this man would ask for Lazarus to relieve his suffering after he never gave Lazarus as much as a greasy hand wipe on earth.
“But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.”
First Abraham calls the rich man child confirming that he is in fact one of Abraham’s descendants. Why is this significant? Not all of Abraham’s descendants get into heaven. It takes more than being born into the proper family to receive the rewards of the covenant God made with Abraham.
Abraham then goes on to explain that the rich man received his blessing, his reward on earth and he, like the prodigal son, and the dishonest manager from last weeks sermon, squandered this inheritance by using in only on themselves and for their comfort and ignored the needs of their neighbors; especially the one sitting right outside his gates. Lazarus was not blessed on earth so he receives his reward now.
The great chasm between the rich man and Abraham’s feast is impossible to cross. Once you are dead there is no second, third or fourth chance.
“And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house— 28 for I have five brothers —so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.” Oh ho oh! The rich man now shows all of his cards. Send him to my father’s house, the rich man doesn’t really consider Abraham as his father his concern is still for what would benefit him on earth. And still seeks Lazarus to serve him and his family. Does this jerk just not get it?
“But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.” Abraham is saying that salvation comes from faith in the proclaimed Word of God. Proclaimed by the prophets, Moses, and now the Word has been made flesh as Jesus Christ. And even is a man rises from the dead they will not believe. This is our allusion to the Lazarus that Jesus resurrects and to Christ Himself. Some just won’t believe and therefore will be condemned.
What does this mean for us? Should we be beggars with sores instead of seeking to live comfortably? All rich people go to hell? Not at all! God is saying that the promise of eternal life have been made to you. At your baptism you were given the faith that saves, but you must now preserver and not lose that faith by being generous to those who have less. By not being selfish and squandering your riches rather use them to help others in need. Abraham was a rich man and he didn’t go to hell, so that fact that the man in today’s story was rich was not what condemned him rather it was how he used his wealth or more to the point didn’t use it that condemned him.
Jesus is telling this parable to His disciples and the Pharisees. It is no different than last week; those who have here on earth aren’t necessarily blessed by God. The blessing comes from how they use their wealth.
So get your go going and go into the world, show mercy, love you neighbor, and use your worldly possessions for the benefit of others as well as yourself. Amen.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Luke 16:1-13
So what do we do with the parable of the Dishonest Steward? Most of the commentaries I read on this parable said the same thing, “Do you think this parable is difficult, well you’re not the only one, good luck.” So much for modern day Christian scholarship.
We talked this morning in our Luther study about what makes a true theologian. Is a true theologian one of the cross or one of glory? A true theologian, according to Luther, is a theologian of the cross and is one that can distinguish between the law and the gospel. So let’s start there.
The Dishonest Steward has been given a job; manage the master’s business affairs. But he was not righteousness in his job therefore was wasting the master’s possessions. We are not told particularly how he was wasting them but he was wasting them none the less. I would imagine that if he was employed he had certain rules to follow and certain things were expected of him. Therefore his wasting of the master’s possessions was breaking those rules and expectations thus he was breaking the law. Thus this is the law part in this passage.
Being caught in his trespasses he was subjected to the consequences of his actions. He was to be fired. Break the law suffer the consequences.
What is unusual about this parable is that when a sinner is confronted with their sin that sinner, the Dishonest Steward, does not repent and receive the gospel. Rather he delves deeper into sin by stealing more form the master by erasing the interest due on the debts owed his master. Seeing that this servant was shrewd in his dealings, in other words he was creative in saving his own neck, the master decided that a man who knows how to manipulate the people for his own gain and thus profit from it is just the kind of man that he wants running his business. For this man is shameless in his dealings and will do anything for a profit.
“The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.” Who are the sons of this world? The master in this parable is the devil and the Dishonest Steward is a human who has fallen under his influence. The influence the master has on the Dishonest Steward is the love of money and personal security. You see when the Dishonest Steward proved that he truly loved money and not mercy, for if he desired mercy he would have begged the master for it but instead he went on in his sin trying to keep this sense of security. Jesus tells us that satan and those under his influence, the sons of this world, are tricky in their dealing with us. It may seem that they are doing something kind for us but in the end their actions are self serving. They are dishonest with little therefore they will be dishonest with a lot.
Who are the sons of light then? The sons of light are the ones who have heard the gospel and repented of their ways; the ones who have chosen God over money and things of this world. The sons of light have been trusted with little and have done well therefore they are now trusted with much. Here in lies the gospel of today’s parable.
You have a choice to make. Serve God or serve money. Are you here in this planet to accumulate as much wealth and possessions as possible? Or are you here to serve God by loving and serving your neighbor?
“And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.” To be a honest steward is to use your unrighteous wealth, money and possessions, to gain friends so when your money and possessions fail you, when you die and they can no longer serve you, you will be received in to eternal life.
It is not bad to have money and possessions, as long as you use them to love and serve others and do not elevate them over God.
You cannot serve both God and money. Where are your priorities during the week? Where are your priorities on the weekends? During the week are you working for a paycheck to use to party on the weekends? Or during the week are you serving your neighbor through you God ordained profession with the result of a paycheck that allows you to provide for your family and your neighbors? Are you spending Sunday morning loving and serving your neighbors in your vocation or are you elevating work over church because you need the money. Are you at church if you are not working so that you may hear the gospel proclaimed thus building within you salific faith making you more useful for your family and friends? Or are you choosing the lure of money or self serving activities.
Are you serving God or money?
The gospel message in today’s reading is that you have a choice; there is hope, you do not have to be a slave to the devil and the things of this world. If you have been baptized then you are claimed by Christ, you are His. You are free to either squander that freedom or serve him and be rewarded with eternal life. If you have not been baptized then see me soon! We can baptize you anytime day or night. All we need is water, the Word and two witnesses.
You have been called by Christ to love and serve your family and neighbors with all of the resources at your disposal. Money, time, talent, love, kindness, selfless giving the list goes on. If you want to be free, truly free then turn away from the worship of things in this world that are finite and worship Christ who is eternal.
We talked this morning in our Luther study about what makes a true theologian. Is a true theologian one of the cross or one of glory? A true theologian, according to Luther, is a theologian of the cross and is one that can distinguish between the law and the gospel. So let’s start there.
The Dishonest Steward has been given a job; manage the master’s business affairs. But he was not righteousness in his job therefore was wasting the master’s possessions. We are not told particularly how he was wasting them but he was wasting them none the less. I would imagine that if he was employed he had certain rules to follow and certain things were expected of him. Therefore his wasting of the master’s possessions was breaking those rules and expectations thus he was breaking the law. Thus this is the law part in this passage.
Being caught in his trespasses he was subjected to the consequences of his actions. He was to be fired. Break the law suffer the consequences.
What is unusual about this parable is that when a sinner is confronted with their sin that sinner, the Dishonest Steward, does not repent and receive the gospel. Rather he delves deeper into sin by stealing more form the master by erasing the interest due on the debts owed his master. Seeing that this servant was shrewd in his dealings, in other words he was creative in saving his own neck, the master decided that a man who knows how to manipulate the people for his own gain and thus profit from it is just the kind of man that he wants running his business. For this man is shameless in his dealings and will do anything for a profit.
“The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.” Who are the sons of this world? The master in this parable is the devil and the Dishonest Steward is a human who has fallen under his influence. The influence the master has on the Dishonest Steward is the love of money and personal security. You see when the Dishonest Steward proved that he truly loved money and not mercy, for if he desired mercy he would have begged the master for it but instead he went on in his sin trying to keep this sense of security. Jesus tells us that satan and those under his influence, the sons of this world, are tricky in their dealing with us. It may seem that they are doing something kind for us but in the end their actions are self serving. They are dishonest with little therefore they will be dishonest with a lot.
Who are the sons of light then? The sons of light are the ones who have heard the gospel and repented of their ways; the ones who have chosen God over money and things of this world. The sons of light have been trusted with little and have done well therefore they are now trusted with much. Here in lies the gospel of today’s parable.
You have a choice to make. Serve God or serve money. Are you here in this planet to accumulate as much wealth and possessions as possible? Or are you here to serve God by loving and serving your neighbor?
“And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.” To be a honest steward is to use your unrighteous wealth, money and possessions, to gain friends so when your money and possessions fail you, when you die and they can no longer serve you, you will be received in to eternal life.
It is not bad to have money and possessions, as long as you use them to love and serve others and do not elevate them over God.
You cannot serve both God and money. Where are your priorities during the week? Where are your priorities on the weekends? During the week are you working for a paycheck to use to party on the weekends? Or during the week are you serving your neighbor through you God ordained profession with the result of a paycheck that allows you to provide for your family and your neighbors? Are you spending Sunday morning loving and serving your neighbors in your vocation or are you elevating work over church because you need the money. Are you at church if you are not working so that you may hear the gospel proclaimed thus building within you salific faith making you more useful for your family and friends? Or are you choosing the lure of money or self serving activities.
Are you serving God or money?
The gospel message in today’s reading is that you have a choice; there is hope, you do not have to be a slave to the devil and the things of this world. If you have been baptized then you are claimed by Christ, you are His. You are free to either squander that freedom or serve him and be rewarded with eternal life. If you have not been baptized then see me soon! We can baptize you anytime day or night. All we need is water, the Word and two witnesses.
You have been called by Christ to love and serve your family and neighbors with all of the resources at your disposal. Money, time, talent, love, kindness, selfless giving the list goes on. If you want to be free, truly free then turn away from the worship of things in this world that are finite and worship Christ who is eternal.
Julius Diers Funeral Sermon
Joshua 4:1-7 (ESV)
4:1 When all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, 2 “Take twelve men from the people, from each tribe a man, 3 and command them, saying, ‘Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests' feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight.’” 4 Then Joshua called the twelve men from the people of Israel, whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe. 5 And Joshua said to them, “Pass on before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, 6 that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ 7 then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.”
One evening when Julius was in the hospital I had the opportunity to visit with him just the two of us. As I had been taught in Pastoral Class this was the time for the preacher to ask the difficult questions.
You see one of the most rewarding times for a minister to proclaim the gospel to an afflicted soul is when they are near death. This is when they are listening, really listening. They have despaired of their own ability and are searching for comfort. Most of the world doesn’t know where to look for comfort so they look in many different places all of which leave them empty and still waiting for the comfort they seek. The only place to find comfort in this world is the Christian Church. And which church, you might ask, is the true Christian Church? The true Christian Church is wherever sins are being forgiven in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Now God is omnipresent (present everywhere) so what is the difference between where sins are being forgiven and other places? Well my friends it the difference between God naked and God clothed. The naked God, God not clothed in Jesus Christ, is a God of wrath and is a God present yes but not present FOR YOU! As a matter of fact it is God present against you; this is the God of law, the God that seeks to shine the light of truth on your sins. In contrast God present clothed in Jesus Christ, hence forgiving sins: in confession, preaching, worship and in the sacraments is God FOR YOU! This is a God of grace, a God of love, a God who seeks to reconcile His beloved creation onto Himself at whatever cost. This is the God of the gospel. The God clothed in Jesus Christ, the God FOR YOU, is the God that the minister brings to an afflicted soul when they are near death. Please do not mishear me, I did not say that this is the God that a called and ordained minister of the church brings to an afflicted soul when they are near death; I said this is what a minister brings. You all ARE the ministers I speak of. Yes, for the sake of order, in most cases this task is performed by a called and ordained minister however ordination is not what qualifies you for this task. Baptism and a profession of faith in response to that baptism is what qualifies you for this task. You are the priesthood of all believers! You are qualified to proclaim the gospel!
Anyway back to my story. This was the time to ask the difficult questions. So I asked, “Julius, are you afraid to die?” Then waited for what I believed would be a positive affirmation of his fear thus I was standing ready to proclaim to him that on account of his baptism and his repentance his sins were forgiven. But, he sent me spinning. Seminary does not prepare you for the answer that Julius gave. He looked at me and said, “Pastor, the good Lord will take me when He is good and ready.” I was speechless. Which, for any of you who know me, know that this was a rare occasion.
You see in this world the rebellious human nature is always seeking better words from God. The human will asks, “Could it really be that salvation is found in a first century peasant whom claimed to be God incarnate, and was thus crucified outside the walls of Jerusalem, the promised city, next to the sewer of the city in which unclean rotting animal carcasses were thrown?” “Surely not!” they say. “God must be holding back the good stuff from us. His very best must be hidden behind this man Jesus Christ whom John proclaims as the very Word of God in the flesh.” They then seek to get a peek at God in the nude; the naked God. And we have already discussed the result of that sad story.
But not Julius Diers! Julius took God at His word. In 1916, at First Lutheran Church, Jesus Christ claimed Julius as His own at his baptism. That Day Christ promised Julius that he would someday be with His Savior in the promise land, in paradise for eternity. Our reading from Joshua toady is a prelude to that promise. This reading describes Joshua leading the nation of Israel in to the land promised to Abraham and his offspring. Land on this earth was the promise to Abraham the promise of the old covenant. But Christ fulfilled that covenant, the covenant of the law, by his death on the cross and through His resurrection from the dead establishing the new covenant, the covenant of the gospel; the promise of eternal life for all who believe both gentile and Jew.
Julius Diers was a man of His word! When he gave his word he meant it and he did whatever it took to keep it! Julius understood the integrity of keeping one’s word, of keeping a promise. For goodness sake he promised to love Margret until the day he died! A littler thing like her death did get in the way this man of his word from keeping his promise. He was love sick for his bride 13 years after her death. He was love sick for his bride whom he toady has been reunited with for eternity.
Julius also knew how to keep the golden rule. Do on to others as you would have done to you! He taught his children that if you just follow God’s Word, you will never go wrong. He embodied scripture in his love and service to his neighbors.
Jesus made Julius a promise and he knew that if he, being a fallen rebellious human knew how to keep his word, how much more would the creator of the universe keep His. He was not scared to die; he was not scared because he knew whom he was going to meet face to face; his beloved Savior Jesus Christ and his bride who went before him.
In ancient Israel outside the city walls were rocks raised up on end. Each time God did something miraculous for His people they would set a stone on end to reminded them of the event. Jacob did it with a stone when he had the vision of the ladder to heaven with angels ascending and descending upon it. Today’s reading form Joshua is no different. You see this was an oral culture they didn’t write things down as very few people we literate. It wasn’t until the Babylonian exile that things were written down; when the fear of losing their oral stories their traditions hung in the balance. Before that time they raised up stones. When strangers to the cities came by they would ask what is with the stone, the people would then remember and tell the story of what God had done for them.
In a little while we are going to the cemetery where there is already a stone raised in memory of Julius. This stone means something. It isn’t there to remind us where he is buried; rather it stands to remind us of his life. Each time from now until the end of your days when you pass that cemetery, even if you cannot see the stone from the road, know that it is there and remember what God did for you, what God taught you, through his humble and beloved servant Julius Diers. Amen
4:1 When all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, 2 “Take twelve men from the people, from each tribe a man, 3 and command them, saying, ‘Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests' feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight.’” 4 Then Joshua called the twelve men from the people of Israel, whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe. 5 And Joshua said to them, “Pass on before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, 6 that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ 7 then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.”
One evening when Julius was in the hospital I had the opportunity to visit with him just the two of us. As I had been taught in Pastoral Class this was the time for the preacher to ask the difficult questions.
You see one of the most rewarding times for a minister to proclaim the gospel to an afflicted soul is when they are near death. This is when they are listening, really listening. They have despaired of their own ability and are searching for comfort. Most of the world doesn’t know where to look for comfort so they look in many different places all of which leave them empty and still waiting for the comfort they seek. The only place to find comfort in this world is the Christian Church. And which church, you might ask, is the true Christian Church? The true Christian Church is wherever sins are being forgiven in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Now God is omnipresent (present everywhere) so what is the difference between where sins are being forgiven and other places? Well my friends it the difference between God naked and God clothed. The naked God, God not clothed in Jesus Christ, is a God of wrath and is a God present yes but not present FOR YOU! As a matter of fact it is God present against you; this is the God of law, the God that seeks to shine the light of truth on your sins. In contrast God present clothed in Jesus Christ, hence forgiving sins: in confession, preaching, worship and in the sacraments is God FOR YOU! This is a God of grace, a God of love, a God who seeks to reconcile His beloved creation onto Himself at whatever cost. This is the God of the gospel. The God clothed in Jesus Christ, the God FOR YOU, is the God that the minister brings to an afflicted soul when they are near death. Please do not mishear me, I did not say that this is the God that a called and ordained minister of the church brings to an afflicted soul when they are near death; I said this is what a minister brings. You all ARE the ministers I speak of. Yes, for the sake of order, in most cases this task is performed by a called and ordained minister however ordination is not what qualifies you for this task. Baptism and a profession of faith in response to that baptism is what qualifies you for this task. You are the priesthood of all believers! You are qualified to proclaim the gospel!
Anyway back to my story. This was the time to ask the difficult questions. So I asked, “Julius, are you afraid to die?” Then waited for what I believed would be a positive affirmation of his fear thus I was standing ready to proclaim to him that on account of his baptism and his repentance his sins were forgiven. But, he sent me spinning. Seminary does not prepare you for the answer that Julius gave. He looked at me and said, “Pastor, the good Lord will take me when He is good and ready.” I was speechless. Which, for any of you who know me, know that this was a rare occasion.
You see in this world the rebellious human nature is always seeking better words from God. The human will asks, “Could it really be that salvation is found in a first century peasant whom claimed to be God incarnate, and was thus crucified outside the walls of Jerusalem, the promised city, next to the sewer of the city in which unclean rotting animal carcasses were thrown?” “Surely not!” they say. “God must be holding back the good stuff from us. His very best must be hidden behind this man Jesus Christ whom John proclaims as the very Word of God in the flesh.” They then seek to get a peek at God in the nude; the naked God. And we have already discussed the result of that sad story.
But not Julius Diers! Julius took God at His word. In 1916, at First Lutheran Church, Jesus Christ claimed Julius as His own at his baptism. That Day Christ promised Julius that he would someday be with His Savior in the promise land, in paradise for eternity. Our reading from Joshua toady is a prelude to that promise. This reading describes Joshua leading the nation of Israel in to the land promised to Abraham and his offspring. Land on this earth was the promise to Abraham the promise of the old covenant. But Christ fulfilled that covenant, the covenant of the law, by his death on the cross and through His resurrection from the dead establishing the new covenant, the covenant of the gospel; the promise of eternal life for all who believe both gentile and Jew.
Julius Diers was a man of His word! When he gave his word he meant it and he did whatever it took to keep it! Julius understood the integrity of keeping one’s word, of keeping a promise. For goodness sake he promised to love Margret until the day he died! A littler thing like her death did get in the way this man of his word from keeping his promise. He was love sick for his bride 13 years after her death. He was love sick for his bride whom he toady has been reunited with for eternity.
Julius also knew how to keep the golden rule. Do on to others as you would have done to you! He taught his children that if you just follow God’s Word, you will never go wrong. He embodied scripture in his love and service to his neighbors.
Jesus made Julius a promise and he knew that if he, being a fallen rebellious human knew how to keep his word, how much more would the creator of the universe keep His. He was not scared to die; he was not scared because he knew whom he was going to meet face to face; his beloved Savior Jesus Christ and his bride who went before him.
In ancient Israel outside the city walls were rocks raised up on end. Each time God did something miraculous for His people they would set a stone on end to reminded them of the event. Jacob did it with a stone when he had the vision of the ladder to heaven with angels ascending and descending upon it. Today’s reading form Joshua is no different. You see this was an oral culture they didn’t write things down as very few people we literate. It wasn’t until the Babylonian exile that things were written down; when the fear of losing their oral stories their traditions hung in the balance. Before that time they raised up stones. When strangers to the cities came by they would ask what is with the stone, the people would then remember and tell the story of what God had done for them.
In a little while we are going to the cemetery where there is already a stone raised in memory of Julius. This stone means something. It isn’t there to remind us where he is buried; rather it stands to remind us of his life. Each time from now until the end of your days when you pass that cemetery, even if you cannot see the stone from the road, know that it is there and remember what God did for you, what God taught you, through his humble and beloved servant Julius Diers. Amen
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Luke 15:1-10 09/12/2010 Word of Life
Nelson, you have a cow or two don’t you? Tell me would it be a wise business decieion to risk the safety of 99 of them to save one? Mary Lou, you are pretty good at budgeting money correct? Tell me would you turn all the lights on, sweep the floor, and clean your entire house if you lost a penny in an effort to find it? Most likely not. Well then what is the passage of scripture telling us today? Is it telling us that we should make poor business decisions and waste time looking for something that isn’t worth wasting time looking for? This is a trap that we can all fall into; the trap of believing that Jesus is only an example and that we should literally follow everything her says or demonstrates in his parables. You see Jesus hides the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven in parables so that those who do not have ears to hear do not hear. Jesus is not saying that if you are a shepherd you should risk the safety of 99 sheep for one, nor is he saying that you should spend precious time searching for a coin that is practically worthless. What he is doing is explaining the Kingdom of Heaven in terms of the kingdom of this world.
Luther believed that there are two kingdoms; the kingdom on the left, the kingdom of this world and the kingdom on the right, the Kingdom of Heaven. After a called and chosen Christian is baptized they have one foot in the kingdom on the left and one foot in the kingdom on the right; a dual citizenship if you will both sinner in the kingdom on the left and saint, a new creation in the Kingdom on the right.
Because a called and chosen Christian’s comprehension of the Kingdom of Heaven is limited Jesus uses images from the kingdom on the left to explain how things work in the Kingdom on the Right. So the question is not, “What would Jesus do?” Rather it is, “What is Chris telling us about the Kingdom of heaven in this parable?” If Jesus came to be an example for us to follow then we are saved through the works of the law that imitate His righteousness. This is simply not true. We are saved by faith in the risen Christ.
So, in today’s reading Jesus is not setting up a business plan nor is he telling you who you should spend you spare time rather he is saying that when it comes to the Kingdom of Heaven no lost sheep is left unfound and no matter how small the worth of a coin it is precious to God and worth finding, in fact when either is recovered not only God but the entire citizenship of Heaven rejoices and celebrates.
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” The Pharisees and the scribes grumbled. They “dee-ag-ong-good'-zo.” deagongoodzo is Greek for: 1. to murmur 1a) either of a whole crowd, or among one another 1b) always used of many indignantly complaining. Luke uses this term to describe the actions of the Pharisees and the scribes many times in His gospel. There is a certain lack of integrity in grumbling. You see they want to discredit Jesus and His actions but they are not bold enough to speak loud enough from Him to hear.
Notice in both of Jesus’ parables today that God is the seeker. God is the shepherd. Shepherds were the outcasts of society the undesirables who roamed the prairies away from others for months at a time. God is also the woman, who apparently lives alone because she has no one to ask to help her search. And when she finds the coin she asks her neighbors, her “ghi'-tone” to come and celebrate with her. Ghi-tone is in the feminine gender here so she asks her female neighbors to come and celebrate with her. This woman does not have a husband if she did she would have invited her neighbor couples to come and celebrate with her. So God is the woman single frail, in this cultural context. But either way God is the protagonist in this story and He searches for the lost. He finds the lost and He brings them back. The coin and the sheep are both in the passive voice in Greek in these parables. They are completely passive to the seeker and the finder. God chooses God elects.
In His introduction to His commentary on the book of Galatians Vol. 26 of Luther’s works if you are interested, Luther explains the difference between active and passive righteousness. In the work of salvation the sinner, the elect, the chosen child of God is completely passive. And since God chooses you to bestow salific faith upon by the power of the Holy Spirit you are counted as righteous; righteous through faith, righteous through a faith that is given not found nor chosen. However after salific faith has been given the sinner is now free to and desires to adhere to God’s law. How well they adhere to God’s law is active righteousness. Active righteousness is for service to the neighbor it cannot save, but a broken sinner is saved by passive righteousness.
Let me ask you this, who celebrates with all of their neighbors when they find a lost animal? Who celebrates when they find a penny? I would be that the answer is few to none. These are everyday activities and do not warrant such a celebration. But when on sinner is given salific faith and they repent of their sins the entire host of angels and the entire citizenry of heaven rejoices.
These are interesting parables. You see most parables call for a sinner to repent of their sins, to see the wrongness of their actions. This parable is spoken to the Pharisees and the scribes. They don nto call for the repentance of the sinner rather they show that the sinner is completely passive in the action of salvation. So what is the message for us who have been baptized and chosen for the kingdom? Christ has already found us, how does this parable apply to us? We are not Pharisees or scribes are we? Well maybe. You see the Pharisees and the scribes are grumbling about Jesus eating with sinners. Sinners whom he has chosen to dine with. Sinners who He has chosen to preach to. And yet the religious leaders grumble about it. Do you know the next parable that Jesus tells in the Gospel of Luke? It’s the parable of the Prodigal Son. Which character in today’s reading are the Pharisees and the scribes acting like? Perhaps the son who stayed and did not wander. The one who was angry because the Father threw a celebration for a son who repented and did not deserve grace. Today’s reading is a warning to us to not be like the Pharisees and the scribes to not be like the older son who was jealous of the younger; it is a warning that you are God’s chosen, and therefore you must celebrate when God has mercy on one who does not deserve mercy. For instance is a MIUer came in here right now and confessed that he or she have received the salific faith given by the Holy Spirit you are not to scoff and say well I have been a Christina for xxxx years they are not as favored in the Lords eyes as I am. Or they do not deserve the grace of God. For if you deny the grace of God to the undeserving then you are not welcome by the grace of God at the feast.
We at Word of Life Lutheran Church exist to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ through love and service to our neighbors. We are not to be selective of who we serve and we are not to ask if they deserve it. Yes we will in some instances be taken advantage of. But whether it is fair or not, whether the person deserves it or not, is not up to us we are commanded to serve and let Jesus judge the heart of the person.
Luther believed that there are two kingdoms; the kingdom on the left, the kingdom of this world and the kingdom on the right, the Kingdom of Heaven. After a called and chosen Christian is baptized they have one foot in the kingdom on the left and one foot in the kingdom on the right; a dual citizenship if you will both sinner in the kingdom on the left and saint, a new creation in the Kingdom on the right.
Because a called and chosen Christian’s comprehension of the Kingdom of Heaven is limited Jesus uses images from the kingdom on the left to explain how things work in the Kingdom on the Right. So the question is not, “What would Jesus do?” Rather it is, “What is Chris telling us about the Kingdom of heaven in this parable?” If Jesus came to be an example for us to follow then we are saved through the works of the law that imitate His righteousness. This is simply not true. We are saved by faith in the risen Christ.
So, in today’s reading Jesus is not setting up a business plan nor is he telling you who you should spend you spare time rather he is saying that when it comes to the Kingdom of Heaven no lost sheep is left unfound and no matter how small the worth of a coin it is precious to God and worth finding, in fact when either is recovered not only God but the entire citizenship of Heaven rejoices and celebrates.
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” The Pharisees and the scribes grumbled. They “dee-ag-ong-good'-zo.” deagongoodzo is Greek for: 1. to murmur 1a) either of a whole crowd, or among one another 1b) always used of many indignantly complaining. Luke uses this term to describe the actions of the Pharisees and the scribes many times in His gospel. There is a certain lack of integrity in grumbling. You see they want to discredit Jesus and His actions but they are not bold enough to speak loud enough from Him to hear.
Notice in both of Jesus’ parables today that God is the seeker. God is the shepherd. Shepherds were the outcasts of society the undesirables who roamed the prairies away from others for months at a time. God is also the woman, who apparently lives alone because she has no one to ask to help her search. And when she finds the coin she asks her neighbors, her “ghi'-tone” to come and celebrate with her. Ghi-tone is in the feminine gender here so she asks her female neighbors to come and celebrate with her. This woman does not have a husband if she did she would have invited her neighbor couples to come and celebrate with her. So God is the woman single frail, in this cultural context. But either way God is the protagonist in this story and He searches for the lost. He finds the lost and He brings them back. The coin and the sheep are both in the passive voice in Greek in these parables. They are completely passive to the seeker and the finder. God chooses God elects.
In His introduction to His commentary on the book of Galatians Vol. 26 of Luther’s works if you are interested, Luther explains the difference between active and passive righteousness. In the work of salvation the sinner, the elect, the chosen child of God is completely passive. And since God chooses you to bestow salific faith upon by the power of the Holy Spirit you are counted as righteous; righteous through faith, righteous through a faith that is given not found nor chosen. However after salific faith has been given the sinner is now free to and desires to adhere to God’s law. How well they adhere to God’s law is active righteousness. Active righteousness is for service to the neighbor it cannot save, but a broken sinner is saved by passive righteousness.
Let me ask you this, who celebrates with all of their neighbors when they find a lost animal? Who celebrates when they find a penny? I would be that the answer is few to none. These are everyday activities and do not warrant such a celebration. But when on sinner is given salific faith and they repent of their sins the entire host of angels and the entire citizenry of heaven rejoices.
These are interesting parables. You see most parables call for a sinner to repent of their sins, to see the wrongness of their actions. This parable is spoken to the Pharisees and the scribes. They don nto call for the repentance of the sinner rather they show that the sinner is completely passive in the action of salvation. So what is the message for us who have been baptized and chosen for the kingdom? Christ has already found us, how does this parable apply to us? We are not Pharisees or scribes are we? Well maybe. You see the Pharisees and the scribes are grumbling about Jesus eating with sinners. Sinners whom he has chosen to dine with. Sinners who He has chosen to preach to. And yet the religious leaders grumble about it. Do you know the next parable that Jesus tells in the Gospel of Luke? It’s the parable of the Prodigal Son. Which character in today’s reading are the Pharisees and the scribes acting like? Perhaps the son who stayed and did not wander. The one who was angry because the Father threw a celebration for a son who repented and did not deserve grace. Today’s reading is a warning to us to not be like the Pharisees and the scribes to not be like the older son who was jealous of the younger; it is a warning that you are God’s chosen, and therefore you must celebrate when God has mercy on one who does not deserve mercy. For instance is a MIUer came in here right now and confessed that he or she have received the salific faith given by the Holy Spirit you are not to scoff and say well I have been a Christina for xxxx years they are not as favored in the Lords eyes as I am. Or they do not deserve the grace of God. For if you deny the grace of God to the undeserving then you are not welcome by the grace of God at the feast.
We at Word of Life Lutheran Church exist to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ through love and service to our neighbors. We are not to be selective of who we serve and we are not to ask if they deserve it. Yes we will in some instances be taken advantage of. But whether it is fair or not, whether the person deserves it or not, is not up to us we are commanded to serve and let Jesus judge the heart of the person.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Luke 14:25-33
Hate? Jesus do you really want us to hate our fathers, mothers, wife, children, sisters and brothers? “Miseo,” is the Greek word used here; if you do not “miseo” your family you cannot be my dieciple. Miseo is a Greek term that has many deep meanings, used here in the 3rd person, present tense, indicative mood, singular and active voice, didn’t know one word could have so many categories did you, well that is Greek for ya, it means: to be disinclined to, disfavor, disregard. So Jesus isn’t saying that one should hate their family, to do that would be to break the fourth commandment of honoring your father and mother. No, Jesus is saying I am first; your spouse or parents if you are unmarried are second, your children, if you have any, are third and so on. Jesus is calling you to put Him first.
Since Jesus is commanding something here we call this part of today’s text the law and remember Luther believed that the law has two functions or uses; Luther’s first use of the law declares that the law exists first and for most to regulate society. But in today’ passage Jesus is using the law in Luther’s second use which comes from Romans 3:20 which states:
“For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.”
The second use of the law is to afflict the consciences of poor wretched sinners’ by making them aware that they are, in fact, poor wretched sinners therefore unable to live up to the law. Why would Jesus command something from us that He knows that we cannot perform to God’s satisfaction? For the purpose of putting to death our flesh and there by drive us to the realization that we are all in need of a Savior. Luther is quoted as saying, "It is certain that man must utterly despair of his own ability before he is prepared to receive the grace of Christ."
This is how law and gospel function in our lives. The law is constantly driving the human soul to the gospel by the afflicting of the human flesh, by requiring of that flesh what it is both unwilling and completely unable to do. This is the tension that we live in; the tension between saint and sinner. The good Rev. Dr. Sundberg told us yesterday, “You cannot have the gospel without law and you cannot have a God of love without a God of wrath.” He taught me that form Luther’s commentary on the Psalms.
“Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” Again bear your cross, something that we have the neither ability nor the desire to do. So how does this get done in the life of a disciple of Christ? Through Baptism by the power of the Holy Spirit.
In baptism the washing by means of water is not only a symbol of the washing away of our sins, it is also a symbol of our drowning. In baptism we are buried with Him in His death and then raised with Him in His resurrection. At baptism your sinful flesh is put to death and is therefore dead indeed. In your baptism you become raised as a new creation with Christ for eternity. You see your eternal life doesn’t start at your physical death, NO; it starts at your baptism. If you have been baptized you are new creatures, right now, living eternally. However even though your flesh is dead spiritually it is still functioning right here on earth for one purpose, to love and serve your neighbor thus calling God’s elect on to Him. And since you are both new creation and dyeing flesh you need both law and gospel.
Our lives, after baptism, are just one long drawn out crucifixion. Jesus is saying that if you are baptized into the faith and you respond to that baptism by seeking to follow the law all the while knowing that you cannot and are therefore in need of a Savior thus are saved by faith; then you are Christ’s disciple and you are being put to the cross to die daily and you are resurrected to new life daily by the power of the Holy Spirit. Those who are in the Spirit are in Christ. Luther said a Christian life is a life of constant repentance.
“For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost?” I have heard sermon after sermon on this passage that encourages people to actually sit down and figure out the cost of following Christ. How misguided is that. How do you think that I would have responded to Jesus if he would of came to me over 5 years ago and said, “you know Jamie I know that you live in a new home and make good money but I want you to follow me so you are going to lose everything even the house, be poor go back to school for 5 years all the while living on food stamps and the generosity of my body. Then I am going to send you to Southeastern Iowa to a small town where you will completely fall in love with the people and do mission.” And still remain financially dependent upon food stamps and the generosity of My body.” Do you honestly think I would have sat down and figured the cost of following Christ and then, in the lust for money and power said Okay doky JC let’s do it. ABSURD! Jesus doesn’t fully fill you in on the full cost of following Him so you can then make an informed choice. So much for decision theology. This parable about the builder counting the cost is a parable of Christ mission to the cross, FOR YOU!
Jesus is the wise builder who sat down and figured the cost of building His new kingdom by dyeing on the cross for the forgiveness of sins then being raise from the dead thus ending the old covenant and establishing a new one. Jesus is the wise builder, the wise king!! Not you and your decision. If it is up to Jesus’ finished work on the cross and then your decision to follow Him then salvation is Jesus plus! Jesus plus your decision. Then if that is the case you can sit around a try to determine if it is 90% Jesus and 10% you or is it 80% Jesus and 20% you? I will bet my life that it is 100% Jesus and 0% me! And I will find comfort in that reality.
The Holy Spirit engulfs us after our baptism both putting to death our flesh and nurturing and raising our soul to new life. For God’s purpose! Not you benefit! Because God chose you. If it has to do with you and your choice then it isn’t about Jesus. You can’t have both complete despair at the crushing accusation of the law and free choice. It just doesn’t work that way.
So where the gospel message in today’s reading? It is in the fact that Jesus has counted the cost and paid the price, built the tower calculated the war, and He is perfect and has not left the most important decision, the decision to follow Him, up to selfish, rebellious, and sinful human will. It too important of a decision for that.
You are sitting in front of a called and now ordained preacher sent to you for the purpose of declaring to you that you are Christ’s chosen and you can’t screw that up. Here is the gospel promise, here is the message today that will raise you up to new life, here is the proclamation that will give you salific faith.!!! Are you ready? Are you listening? Christ died and rose from the dead so that those whom He foreknew and predestined would have eternal life with Him. You are those foreknown and predestined. How do I know? You have been baptized and now sit in front of a true preacher, one who points to Christ alone for salvation, in response to the calling of Christ bestowed upon you at baptism. You are saved, Christ has chosen you and He sent me here to tell you so. AMEN.
Since Jesus is commanding something here we call this part of today’s text the law and remember Luther believed that the law has two functions or uses; Luther’s first use of the law declares that the law exists first and for most to regulate society. But in today’ passage Jesus is using the law in Luther’s second use which comes from Romans 3:20 which states:
“For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.”
The second use of the law is to afflict the consciences of poor wretched sinners’ by making them aware that they are, in fact, poor wretched sinners therefore unable to live up to the law. Why would Jesus command something from us that He knows that we cannot perform to God’s satisfaction? For the purpose of putting to death our flesh and there by drive us to the realization that we are all in need of a Savior. Luther is quoted as saying, "It is certain that man must utterly despair of his own ability before he is prepared to receive the grace of Christ."
This is how law and gospel function in our lives. The law is constantly driving the human soul to the gospel by the afflicting of the human flesh, by requiring of that flesh what it is both unwilling and completely unable to do. This is the tension that we live in; the tension between saint and sinner. The good Rev. Dr. Sundberg told us yesterday, “You cannot have the gospel without law and you cannot have a God of love without a God of wrath.” He taught me that form Luther’s commentary on the Psalms.
“Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” Again bear your cross, something that we have the neither ability nor the desire to do. So how does this get done in the life of a disciple of Christ? Through Baptism by the power of the Holy Spirit.
In baptism the washing by means of water is not only a symbol of the washing away of our sins, it is also a symbol of our drowning. In baptism we are buried with Him in His death and then raised with Him in His resurrection. At baptism your sinful flesh is put to death and is therefore dead indeed. In your baptism you become raised as a new creation with Christ for eternity. You see your eternal life doesn’t start at your physical death, NO; it starts at your baptism. If you have been baptized you are new creatures, right now, living eternally. However even though your flesh is dead spiritually it is still functioning right here on earth for one purpose, to love and serve your neighbor thus calling God’s elect on to Him. And since you are both new creation and dyeing flesh you need both law and gospel.
Our lives, after baptism, are just one long drawn out crucifixion. Jesus is saying that if you are baptized into the faith and you respond to that baptism by seeking to follow the law all the while knowing that you cannot and are therefore in need of a Savior thus are saved by faith; then you are Christ’s disciple and you are being put to the cross to die daily and you are resurrected to new life daily by the power of the Holy Spirit. Those who are in the Spirit are in Christ. Luther said a Christian life is a life of constant repentance.
“For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost?” I have heard sermon after sermon on this passage that encourages people to actually sit down and figure out the cost of following Christ. How misguided is that. How do you think that I would have responded to Jesus if he would of came to me over 5 years ago and said, “you know Jamie I know that you live in a new home and make good money but I want you to follow me so you are going to lose everything even the house, be poor go back to school for 5 years all the while living on food stamps and the generosity of my body. Then I am going to send you to Southeastern Iowa to a small town where you will completely fall in love with the people and do mission.” And still remain financially dependent upon food stamps and the generosity of My body.” Do you honestly think I would have sat down and figured the cost of following Christ and then, in the lust for money and power said Okay doky JC let’s do it. ABSURD! Jesus doesn’t fully fill you in on the full cost of following Him so you can then make an informed choice. So much for decision theology. This parable about the builder counting the cost is a parable of Christ mission to the cross, FOR YOU!
Jesus is the wise builder who sat down and figured the cost of building His new kingdom by dyeing on the cross for the forgiveness of sins then being raise from the dead thus ending the old covenant and establishing a new one. Jesus is the wise builder, the wise king!! Not you and your decision. If it is up to Jesus’ finished work on the cross and then your decision to follow Him then salvation is Jesus plus! Jesus plus your decision. Then if that is the case you can sit around a try to determine if it is 90% Jesus and 10% you or is it 80% Jesus and 20% you? I will bet my life that it is 100% Jesus and 0% me! And I will find comfort in that reality.
The Holy Spirit engulfs us after our baptism both putting to death our flesh and nurturing and raising our soul to new life. For God’s purpose! Not you benefit! Because God chose you. If it has to do with you and your choice then it isn’t about Jesus. You can’t have both complete despair at the crushing accusation of the law and free choice. It just doesn’t work that way.
So where the gospel message in today’s reading? It is in the fact that Jesus has counted the cost and paid the price, built the tower calculated the war, and He is perfect and has not left the most important decision, the decision to follow Him, up to selfish, rebellious, and sinful human will. It too important of a decision for that.
You are sitting in front of a called and now ordained preacher sent to you for the purpose of declaring to you that you are Christ’s chosen and you can’t screw that up. Here is the gospel promise, here is the message today that will raise you up to new life, here is the proclamation that will give you salific faith.!!! Are you ready? Are you listening? Christ died and rose from the dead so that those whom He foreknew and predestined would have eternal life with Him. You are those foreknown and predestined. How do I know? You have been baptized and now sit in front of a true preacher, one who points to Christ alone for salvation, in response to the calling of Christ bestowed upon you at baptism. You are saved, Christ has chosen you and He sent me here to tell you so. AMEN.
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