+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: John 3:1-17
Theme: Baptism and the Spirit
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
Life is a kaleidoscope. It is a sequence of constantly moving activities and events. Prosperity and adversity, challenges, and successes compose a dynamic medley of life’s experiences. The intention of Lent is to bring understanding to where we are headed; to identify purpose in confusion, form order from chaos, and locate stability in turmoil. Above all Lent calls us back to giving priority to the most fundamental of needs and realities.
Christ gives us this direction today. Our appointed gospel reading is thoroughly baptismal. “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.”1 Remember Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness immediately after His baptism and we are specifically told that He was led there by the Spirit2.
It’s helpful to be mindful of these connections in the Lenten season.
Jesus said, “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.”3 All human beings inherit from their parents the virus of original sin going right back to Adam. We are born, each and every one of us, without natural fear, love, and trust in God. We are conceived with the propensity towards selfishness and disregard for the needs of others. We have no ability on our own to approach God nor can we even conceive of the need to be reconciled to Him. This is the catastrophic reality of original sin. There are no exceptions.
The Holy Spirit, however, converts our profane souls and sets them in tune with God. The gospel can do with one word what volumes of the most sophisticated human philosophy can never accomplish. The result is transformational. Baptism forges a new relationship between the believer and God. It breaks new ground. It changes our whole orientation.
The human desires which formerly were (and could only be8) directed toward self and those from whom we hope to gain some benefit or advantage now enter upon a new conflict, a new struggle. The will of God is now in competition. Whereas formerly (in a unbelieving state) we are content to follow our own agenda and may even do so somewhat peacefully, now the spirit struggles against the flesh and the flesh against the spirit in pursuit of God’s will. The Christian’s struggle against temptation is an infallible mark of the presence of faith. Where there is no faith there is no struggle. Where there is no struggle there is no faith.
Consider, for example how the Ninth and Tenth Commandments forbid coveting. Jealousy and selfish desire lead to grumbling. These commandments call us to be content. They call us to recognize the countless ways God’s fills our lives with blessings and continues to provide. But what about when we are content with the wrong things? What about when there is no struggle? What about when people are happy to go on in their materially rich but spiritually vacuous lives? What about when they are happy carry on without the knowledge and presence of God and just take their chances.
Such contentment, though genuine in and of itself, is actually based on idolatry. It is founded on the false trust in persons or things that are not or have no relation to the true God. Such contentment can be used by Satan to keep people deadened to their need for God. Nicodemus, you see, was not content. He was not satisfied with the caricature of Christ that he was hearing from the Jewish rulers. Himself a Pharisee, he was privy to all their high level conversations. But he was not content and so he went to Jesus himself. Not lacking for any material desire He wanted to hear first-hand from Jesus about true spiritual riches.
Jesus then utters those oft-quoted words, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”5
Still the argument rages on “If God really loves the world than why another earthquake and tsunami?” Something’s wrong here, the skeptics say. Yes! Something is wrong, terribly wrong. The world is spiraling into chaos because of sin. It’s been happening since Adam and Eve’s fall. These things are nothing new. Only the infinite patience of God prevents the instant destruction of all ungodliness and unbelief.
God’s love for the world is not a matter of tolerance of human foibles. It is a love that reconciles through true sacrifice. Only the death and resurrection of Christ could accomplish this. It’s easy to drivel on endlessly about the love of God and not convey anything more than God’s general contentment with humanity. It can become nothing more than a meaningless platitude or a generalized cliché. At worst it becomes a legalist call for people to achieve their own spiritual certainty and security through their love of others.
It may come as a shock that Christ doesn’t love you because He’s generally obligated to like all people. Christ passionately desires your salvation because unconditional compassion is the truest expression of His very being. It’s not about something He sees in you or even about not giving up hope on you. It’s about fellowship with the Holy Trinity. He passionately desires that you share eternally in the life of God. That is the import of your baptism.
Lent is the season for perseverance. As such it’s a microcosm for a Christian’s entire life. The consequences of the fallen world inundate us. We become tired and vulnerable and may even consider throwing in the towel. But we press on. We push on by God’s grace relying on His promises. News reports show that a 69-year-old South Korean woman obtained her driver's license after 960 tries. Yes, you heard that right, 960! How that’s possible is hard to say. Now, we must admire her persistence but we might think twice before getting into her car. It’s true of our life too, isn’t it?
We press on as the great apostle said, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”6 We gain wisdom and maturity. We learn to test the spirits, recognize the devil’s temptations and combat them. We strive to serve the interests of others and not our own selfish desires.
From the files of driving instruction comes this story also. A driving instructor was giving lessons to an extremely nervous student who panicked when ever another car approached on a particular two-lane road. One day, however, they got to the same stretch of road, and she remained completely calm. “This time you’re doing fine!” exclaimed the instructor. “Yes,” the novice driver agreed. “Now when I see another car coming, I shut my eyes.”
Dear friends, we need not fear the adversities and challenges of life; Christ is our comfort and defense. We need not blindly follow the agenda secular society. Christ has given us the eyes of faith. We need not gorge ourselves on the unwholesome delicacies of the world. Christ feeds us with His body and blood. We are the baptized. Christ identifies us as His own.
May the Holy Spirit more clearly reveal these truths to you during this holy season of Lent. Amen.
+ in nomine Jesu +
Second Sunday In Lent
20 March 2011
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 John 3:5 2 See Matthew 4:1
3 John 3:6 4 See Romans 8:5-8
5 John 3:16 6 Philippians 3:13-14
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Midweek Lenten Devotion, March 16, 2011
Text: Hebrews 9:22
Theme: Images and Reality
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
The fish and not the cross was the main image of early Christianity. The torturous and bloody scene of a crucifixion was perhaps too fresh in the minds of early Christians. It was too stomach-turning, too repulsive. Nevertheless the image of the crucifixion soon identified followers of Jesus Christ with an act of God that was both insufferable and incomprehensible in the Roman world. It is today the most recognizable symbol of the Christian faith; though it might be argued that the full depth of its significance is waning.
In our Lenten journey we are focusing on images of the Passion. If “a picture paints a thousand words” how many words does a depiction of Christ’s crucifixion entail? Of course it’s not the number of words that concerns us but the meaning conveyed. Our Scripture for this evening is from Hebrews chapter nine, “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”1 Blood is the currency of reconciliation. Sacramental Christianity is bloody Christianity. That is, the bloody sacrifice of Christ informs every teaching and practice of the church. Lutherans do not trivialize the resurrection by abandoning the horror of the crucifixion. The risen Christ bears the scars of the cross. And the resurrection itself does not consign the crucifixion to the historical past. Rather it elevates it as the eternal access to the Father’s love and blessings of the Holy Trinity.
Some images become vested with meaning based solely on our experience. Pictures of war evoke for soldiers memories of very personal experiences. Images of floods, and earthquakes, and tsunamis will be life-long traumas etched on the hearts and minds of many this year. Other images are God’s windows into the sacred acts of redemption. We don’t understand these naturally. We grasp these by faith. The Scriptures paint a picture of what Christ has accomplished and the Spirit enables us to “understand” it by faith. Oh, yes, we can gaze upon the pitiful sight of the crucifixion and be moved by compassion and sorrow quite naturally. Suffering and death trigger human sympathy- one of the tangible proofs that humans were made in the image of God. But to see there- in the foolishness of the cross- the very wisdom of God requires a supernatural intervention.
Why the need for the shedding of blood at all? Why not a painless dispute resolution process? Why not a mere verbal pardoning for all transgressions? Here we enter one of the deep mysteries of Christian teaching. God created us with flesh and blood, soul and spirit and it was necessary for the means of salvation to be commensurate with the nature and magnitude of humanity’s abandonment of God. Dear friends, the undertaking of reconciliation to God was no trivial matter. A man who was down on his luck was told by a Christian man to be thankful. "Thankful! What have I to be thankful for?" grumbled the sour-looking man to the Christian. "I can't even pay my debts." "In that case," prompted the Christain, "be thankful that you aren't one of your creditors."
People today are not so much concerned about guilt and judgment and forgiveness in life as they are about whether life has meaning, and purpose, and opportunity. They don’t see that these categories are inseparably related. Society tells us truth is relative and that there is little reason to be accountable for our false ideas or selfish motives. We are told we’re not answerable to a higher power; we are rather victims of the misconduct of others. Instead of repenting and seeking forgiveness we seek empowerment. Instead of pursuing reconciliation we pursue license to control.
But the crucifixion is not the image of self-empowerment or the icon for permission to do as we please. It is the defining picture of sacrifice and humility. While praying in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus said, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but yours be done.”2 The Father was willing to shed the blood of His Son that we might be spared. When the body and blood of Christ is taken upon your lips; when the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed in your hearing; when the name of the Holy Trinity is spoken at baptism and to begin each Divine Service you can be certain that the fruits of Jesus’ shed blood are being communicated to you. This bloodied Saviour is your God and Lord. He is our Lenten journey. It’s a short pilgrimage and mere prelude to our Sabbath rest. Amen.
+ in nomine Jesu +
Midweek Lenten Service
16 March 2011
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Hebrews 9:22
2 Luke 22:42
Theme: Images and Reality
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
The fish and not the cross was the main image of early Christianity. The torturous and bloody scene of a crucifixion was perhaps too fresh in the minds of early Christians. It was too stomach-turning, too repulsive. Nevertheless the image of the crucifixion soon identified followers of Jesus Christ with an act of God that was both insufferable and incomprehensible in the Roman world. It is today the most recognizable symbol of the Christian faith; though it might be argued that the full depth of its significance is waning.
In our Lenten journey we are focusing on images of the Passion. If “a picture paints a thousand words” how many words does a depiction of Christ’s crucifixion entail? Of course it’s not the number of words that concerns us but the meaning conveyed. Our Scripture for this evening is from Hebrews chapter nine, “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”1 Blood is the currency of reconciliation. Sacramental Christianity is bloody Christianity. That is, the bloody sacrifice of Christ informs every teaching and practice of the church. Lutherans do not trivialize the resurrection by abandoning the horror of the crucifixion. The risen Christ bears the scars of the cross. And the resurrection itself does not consign the crucifixion to the historical past. Rather it elevates it as the eternal access to the Father’s love and blessings of the Holy Trinity.
Some images become vested with meaning based solely on our experience. Pictures of war evoke for soldiers memories of very personal experiences. Images of floods, and earthquakes, and tsunamis will be life-long traumas etched on the hearts and minds of many this year. Other images are God’s windows into the sacred acts of redemption. We don’t understand these naturally. We grasp these by faith. The Scriptures paint a picture of what Christ has accomplished and the Spirit enables us to “understand” it by faith. Oh, yes, we can gaze upon the pitiful sight of the crucifixion and be moved by compassion and sorrow quite naturally. Suffering and death trigger human sympathy- one of the tangible proofs that humans were made in the image of God. But to see there- in the foolishness of the cross- the very wisdom of God requires a supernatural intervention.
Why the need for the shedding of blood at all? Why not a painless dispute resolution process? Why not a mere verbal pardoning for all transgressions? Here we enter one of the deep mysteries of Christian teaching. God created us with flesh and blood, soul and spirit and it was necessary for the means of salvation to be commensurate with the nature and magnitude of humanity’s abandonment of God. Dear friends, the undertaking of reconciliation to God was no trivial matter. A man who was down on his luck was told by a Christian man to be thankful. "Thankful! What have I to be thankful for?" grumbled the sour-looking man to the Christian. "I can't even pay my debts." "In that case," prompted the Christain, "be thankful that you aren't one of your creditors."
People today are not so much concerned about guilt and judgment and forgiveness in life as they are about whether life has meaning, and purpose, and opportunity. They don’t see that these categories are inseparably related. Society tells us truth is relative and that there is little reason to be accountable for our false ideas or selfish motives. We are told we’re not answerable to a higher power; we are rather victims of the misconduct of others. Instead of repenting and seeking forgiveness we seek empowerment. Instead of pursuing reconciliation we pursue license to control.
But the crucifixion is not the image of self-empowerment or the icon for permission to do as we please. It is the defining picture of sacrifice and humility. While praying in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus said, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but yours be done.”2 The Father was willing to shed the blood of His Son that we might be spared. When the body and blood of Christ is taken upon your lips; when the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed in your hearing; when the name of the Holy Trinity is spoken at baptism and to begin each Divine Service you can be certain that the fruits of Jesus’ shed blood are being communicated to you. This bloodied Saviour is your God and Lord. He is our Lenten journey. It’s a short pilgrimage and mere prelude to our Sabbath rest. Amen.
+ in nomine Jesu +
Midweek Lenten Service
16 March 2011
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Hebrews 9:22
2 Luke 22:42
Sunday, March 13, 2011
First Sunday In Lent A (2011)
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Matthew 4:1-11
Theme: Not A Chance Encounter
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
The order of Jesus’ life is not happenstance. Christ goes immediately from His baptism to the wilderness where He is tempted by the devil. The rest of His ministry is now a journey to the cross. It is the journey that secures our salvation. This is the focus of Lent: The implication of being baptized into the cross-bearing Jesus. Your life is not happenstance either. If skepticism or trial has convinced you that it is, God has news for you; life-altering news. Christ calls you as His own.
If not urgently, at least convincingly Lent should draw us to a deeper reflection of our need for mercy. This is by no means a foregone conclusion. Self-determination to govern our own spiritual affairs is powerful. We prefer to keep the guilt at arm’s length, at a safe distance. Generalizations about sin and anonymous applications are things we can more easily cope with. If the problem of our sin remains nameless and unspecified it is easier to avoid the topic.
But the Holy Spirit permits no such disappearing acts on our part. The development of Lent over the centuries of Christianity has focused on addressing just such human tendencies. Lent is a call to face who we are, not just who we’d like to be or pretend to be. This involves the ultimate spiritual vulnerability. It is damaging to our pride and purges our image. Before God we are completely transparent but we seldom act accordingly.
Lent is a summons to transparency. Maybe this Lent God is calling you to face an infidelity, to admit and accept the blame. Maybe He is calling you to address the anger and resentment you harbor against family or friends. May He is drawing you to recognize the general worldliness that dominates your thinking. Maybe your neglect of the Sabbath Day and inattention to God’s means of grace- His word and sacraments- are paramount. Perhaps jealously and vain ambition are quenching the Spirit’s fruit of “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control”1 in your life.
All of these transgressions have a common source. The Bible says, “Sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.”2 And the confessions of our church explain it this way, “Recognition of original sin is a necessity, nor can we know the magnitude of the grace of Christ unless we acknowledge our faults. All the righteousness of man is mere hypocrisy before God unless we acknowledge that of itself the heart is lacking in love, fear, and trust in God.”3
But these pressing calls to recognition of sin and repentance are not ends in themselves. They are not part of some tortuous regime of self-deprecation for its own sake. They point us to Christ. They foster in us a craving for forgiveness. They create a hunger for true satisfaction. The hope is that the light of the gospel would shine all the more brilliantly, the peace of forgiveness penetrate all the more deeply, and the anticipation of our bodily resurrection be grasped all the more acutely.
Christ’s contest with Satan today is not only educational; it should give us great comfort. The devil could not derail the crucifixion. The sacrifice was made. Our sin was atoned for on the cross. His resurrection promises new and unconquerable life. We should never overlook the significance of Jesus quoting the Scriptures in response to Satan. The Son of God who is Himself the Word-become-flesh champions what the Holy Spirit has already proclaimed and the prophets recorded. We can do no better. We can do no other.
Yet presently the Holy Scriptures suffer from a loss of credibility. Few things more clearly characterize the decline of biblical faithfulness among modern religious scholars and laity alike than the desertion and denial of the doctrines of Satan and hell. What ever happened to hell? It’s not that popular. Perhaps understandably so! It’s not quite universally forsaken. Let us give the devout Muslins their due. They are usually bold to say that all who do not submit to Allah will perish. This conviction may stem from legalism but at least it bears witness to the seriousness with which many hold their faith. At least they believe in hell. It’s more than can be said for many Christians.
The proposition of hell is of course immediately and automatically adversarial. It demands an either/or, black or white, true or false distinction. To be with Christ involves comprehensive safety and bliss, to be separated complete despair and torment. There is no middle ground. There is no neutral territory.
Human nature inherently balks at such a teaching. We want options, degrees, and possibilities. Society rejects absolutes. That’s how our world and its interactions work. It is our custom and ethos. It defines our institutions. There is normally more than one way to get around, avoid, or by-pass something distasteful. But Christianity in its true form confesses reality from God’s perspective. Belief in the absolute judgment of God against unbelief is thoroughly destructive to all forms of humanistic philosophy.
The word of God is not merely a collection of moral guidelines or inspiring stories. It is not out-moded, or out-of-date because it addresses timeless issues. The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit4, it is living and active5, it is the good news6, it is the cause of faith7, it stands forever8. God’s word informs us with the mind of Christ9.
It is the lone tool of the Holy Spirit. Through it the real presence of Christ is effected in the Lord’s Supper. Through it the baptized are converted from unbelief to faith, from idolatry to obedience. Through it the Holy Spirit works mysteriously but with unparalleled power. Why? Because it transforms people’s hearts and minds. It silences Satan. It is your defense against accusation. It is the source of peace for your conscience.
Both Christ’s time in the wilderness and the general tone of Lent remind us that Satan is around to tempt us and God Himself tests us for our own good. These things are not possibilities for Christians but certainties. God has sacred outcomes in mind. And we can never truly complain our testing is too severe. Consider the testing of Abraham. Could there be a more serve trial than to be asked- by God, no less- to sacrifice your only child? In this case Isaac was the very son of the promise. How could anyone face such a dilemma? Still, this was only a preview of the actual sacrifice of the true Son of the Promise, Jesus. He promises His Holy Spirit to aide you in all temptation. He has also given you a place and inheritance in His church.
The church is the body of Christ and the kingdom of God on earth. The Lord himself promises the gates of hell will not prevail against it. Yet the church’s life always remains hidden under the cross in this world. We struggle on confessing truth the world deems irrelevant or offensive. Saint Paul describes it forthrightly, “We who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that His life may be revealed in our mortal body.”10 Let this be our noble purpose in Lent: Mortal frames giving the world a glimpse of the immortal God. This will not happen by happenstance. The Father will direct you by His word, through the Spirit, to His Son. Amen.
+ in nomine Jesu +
First Sunday In Lent
13 March 2011
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Galatians 5:22-23 2 Romans 5:12
3 AP II 104, 33 4 See Ephesians 6:17
5 See Hebrews 4:12 6 See Isaiah 52:7 7 See Romans 10:17
8 See 1 Peter 1:23 9 See 1 Corinthians 2:16 10 2 Corinthians 4:11
Text: Matthew 4:1-11
Theme: Not A Chance Encounter
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
The order of Jesus’ life is not happenstance. Christ goes immediately from His baptism to the wilderness where He is tempted by the devil. The rest of His ministry is now a journey to the cross. It is the journey that secures our salvation. This is the focus of Lent: The implication of being baptized into the cross-bearing Jesus. Your life is not happenstance either. If skepticism or trial has convinced you that it is, God has news for you; life-altering news. Christ calls you as His own.
If not urgently, at least convincingly Lent should draw us to a deeper reflection of our need for mercy. This is by no means a foregone conclusion. Self-determination to govern our own spiritual affairs is powerful. We prefer to keep the guilt at arm’s length, at a safe distance. Generalizations about sin and anonymous applications are things we can more easily cope with. If the problem of our sin remains nameless and unspecified it is easier to avoid the topic.
But the Holy Spirit permits no such disappearing acts on our part. The development of Lent over the centuries of Christianity has focused on addressing just such human tendencies. Lent is a call to face who we are, not just who we’d like to be or pretend to be. This involves the ultimate spiritual vulnerability. It is damaging to our pride and purges our image. Before God we are completely transparent but we seldom act accordingly.
Lent is a summons to transparency. Maybe this Lent God is calling you to face an infidelity, to admit and accept the blame. Maybe He is calling you to address the anger and resentment you harbor against family or friends. May He is drawing you to recognize the general worldliness that dominates your thinking. Maybe your neglect of the Sabbath Day and inattention to God’s means of grace- His word and sacraments- are paramount. Perhaps jealously and vain ambition are quenching the Spirit’s fruit of “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control”1 in your life.
All of these transgressions have a common source. The Bible says, “Sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.”2 And the confessions of our church explain it this way, “Recognition of original sin is a necessity, nor can we know the magnitude of the grace of Christ unless we acknowledge our faults. All the righteousness of man is mere hypocrisy before God unless we acknowledge that of itself the heart is lacking in love, fear, and trust in God.”3
But these pressing calls to recognition of sin and repentance are not ends in themselves. They are not part of some tortuous regime of self-deprecation for its own sake. They point us to Christ. They foster in us a craving for forgiveness. They create a hunger for true satisfaction. The hope is that the light of the gospel would shine all the more brilliantly, the peace of forgiveness penetrate all the more deeply, and the anticipation of our bodily resurrection be grasped all the more acutely.
Christ’s contest with Satan today is not only educational; it should give us great comfort. The devil could not derail the crucifixion. The sacrifice was made. Our sin was atoned for on the cross. His resurrection promises new and unconquerable life. We should never overlook the significance of Jesus quoting the Scriptures in response to Satan. The Son of God who is Himself the Word-become-flesh champions what the Holy Spirit has already proclaimed and the prophets recorded. We can do no better. We can do no other.
Yet presently the Holy Scriptures suffer from a loss of credibility. Few things more clearly characterize the decline of biblical faithfulness among modern religious scholars and laity alike than the desertion and denial of the doctrines of Satan and hell. What ever happened to hell? It’s not that popular. Perhaps understandably so! It’s not quite universally forsaken. Let us give the devout Muslins their due. They are usually bold to say that all who do not submit to Allah will perish. This conviction may stem from legalism but at least it bears witness to the seriousness with which many hold their faith. At least they believe in hell. It’s more than can be said for many Christians.
The proposition of hell is of course immediately and automatically adversarial. It demands an either/or, black or white, true or false distinction. To be with Christ involves comprehensive safety and bliss, to be separated complete despair and torment. There is no middle ground. There is no neutral territory.
Human nature inherently balks at such a teaching. We want options, degrees, and possibilities. Society rejects absolutes. That’s how our world and its interactions work. It is our custom and ethos. It defines our institutions. There is normally more than one way to get around, avoid, or by-pass something distasteful. But Christianity in its true form confesses reality from God’s perspective. Belief in the absolute judgment of God against unbelief is thoroughly destructive to all forms of humanistic philosophy.
The word of God is not merely a collection of moral guidelines or inspiring stories. It is not out-moded, or out-of-date because it addresses timeless issues. The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit4, it is living and active5, it is the good news6, it is the cause of faith7, it stands forever8. God’s word informs us with the mind of Christ9.
It is the lone tool of the Holy Spirit. Through it the real presence of Christ is effected in the Lord’s Supper. Through it the baptized are converted from unbelief to faith, from idolatry to obedience. Through it the Holy Spirit works mysteriously but with unparalleled power. Why? Because it transforms people’s hearts and minds. It silences Satan. It is your defense against accusation. It is the source of peace for your conscience.
Both Christ’s time in the wilderness and the general tone of Lent remind us that Satan is around to tempt us and God Himself tests us for our own good. These things are not possibilities for Christians but certainties. God has sacred outcomes in mind. And we can never truly complain our testing is too severe. Consider the testing of Abraham. Could there be a more serve trial than to be asked- by God, no less- to sacrifice your only child? In this case Isaac was the very son of the promise. How could anyone face such a dilemma? Still, this was only a preview of the actual sacrifice of the true Son of the Promise, Jesus. He promises His Holy Spirit to aide you in all temptation. He has also given you a place and inheritance in His church.
The church is the body of Christ and the kingdom of God on earth. The Lord himself promises the gates of hell will not prevail against it. Yet the church’s life always remains hidden under the cross in this world. We struggle on confessing truth the world deems irrelevant or offensive. Saint Paul describes it forthrightly, “We who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that His life may be revealed in our mortal body.”10 Let this be our noble purpose in Lent: Mortal frames giving the world a glimpse of the immortal God. This will not happen by happenstance. The Father will direct you by His word, through the Spirit, to His Son. Amen.
+ in nomine Jesu +
First Sunday In Lent
13 March 2011
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Galatians 5:22-23 2 Romans 5:12
3 AP II 104, 33 4 See Ephesians 6:17
5 See Hebrews 4:12 6 See Isaiah 52:7 7 See Romans 10:17
8 See 1 Peter 1:23 9 See 1 Corinthians 2:16 10 2 Corinthians 4:11
Sunday, March 6, 2011
The Transfiguration of our Lord A (2011)
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Matthew 17:1-9
Theme: A Glimpse Into The Future
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
The season of Epiphany appropriately concludes with Christ’s transfiguration on the mount. It was a surreal event to say the least. It was proof that the divine attributes were fully communicated to the man Jesus. To accurately portray it presses the limits of human language. On a high mountain Jesus’ appearance dramatically changes before Peter, James, and John. Jesus radiates with divine light and Moses and Elijah appear conversing with Him. The reason for the presence of these two Old Testament figures is not given. But they certainly represent two of the most faithful servants of God from ages past.
Here is powerful proof that God is the God of the living and not the dead. Jesus summons those whom only God can command. To be in Jesus’ presence is to stand at the very portal of heaven. There the earthbound creatures- Peter, James and John- get a glimpse of the celestial future. There, before the agony and despair of His passion and death, Jesus reassures His disciples. There the Father verifies His Son as the “way and the truth and the life.”1
The scene advances as God the Father speaks from a bright cloud. The cloud was not of the meteorological variety. It was evidence of the divine presence. It was consistent with the pattern of God’s visitation and dwelling across the centuries. Regarding the movements during the exodus from Egypt the Scripture says, “By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light.”2 And of the dedication of the temple in Jerusalem it says, “When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the Lord. And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled His temple.”3
It’s a stretch to think that Peter, James and John were fully in touch with reality. The experience had overcome them. But, then, we’re not always in touch with reality either. It’s like the story of the three elderly gentlemen who were talking about what their grandchildren would be saying about them fifty years in the future. "I would like my grandchildren to say, 'He was successful in business'," declared the first man. "Fifty years from now," said the second, "I want them to say, 'He was a loyal family man'." Turning to the third gent, the first gent asked, "So what do you want them to say about you in fifty years?" "Me?" the third man replied. "I want them all to say, 'He certainly looks good for his age'!" Our vanity certainly doesn’t fool God.
Yet later Peter would say in his first epistle, “We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came from the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.’”4 There were many witnesses to Christ’s miracles and resurrection. They form a body of evidence recorded in Holy Scripture. But only the Holy Spirit can use this good news of salvation to foster faith in the heart.
The mission of the church involves correctly handling the word of truth5 through which the Holy Spirit works. The world is full of unaware unbelievers. The sick person who doesn’t believe he is ill will not seek medical attention. Such a person might carry on until his illness incapacitates him or life comes to an end. The same thing happens spiritually. People blindly, or defiantly, or naively push through life without giving a thought to what kind of spiritual state they are in. The faith they once had weakens or perishes. Or, perhaps, never having had faith at all, their conscience becomes seared and their heart hardened. Maybe they even carry on in a quite contented manner until tragedy strikes.
Then, too frequently, the reality of sin is treated too lightly: a few cosmetic touch-up’s and we’re back in the fray. But hearts are still broken, battered, and bruised. You can put a band-aide on a limb that needs amputating, but it won’t do much. True repentance acknowledges sin causes a terminal condition. Our Saviour doesn’t treat it lightly. Christ cleanses the infected soul by dragging the sinful nature through His own crucifixion and then raising it to new life. Then He prunes His vineyard so that it will be even more fruitful. Every day we bear the cross.
Dear friends, the simplicity of what God has done in Christ is not an excuse for simple-mindedness among Christians. Hollow is the claim to be a believer when this entails little more than a safety-net or social identity. God cannot be used in that way not because He lacks compassion, but because true faith cannot pursue such an agenda. It doesn’t think and act in this way. In other words, to seek such false security- a God who caters to our every whim but with whom we have no real relationship or desire to please- is evidence not of faith in action but of the selfish nature having its way.
This is much different than having a fragile faith or a wounded conscience. Indeed, “a bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out.”6 God is gentle beyond our comprehension. But we should not mistake His gentleness for leniency. God is not an easy target. He is not obligated to indulge our selfishness and He even warns about withdrawing His Spirit from the persistently disobedient. Of course we cannot easily discern which state of spiritual being a person is in. Often we can’t tell at all. Maybe their faith is weak and they are struggling or maybe they’re just falsely salving their own conscience. God alone reads the heart. Still, faith is recognized by its fruits.
Christianity demands a worldview that is different than secular, evolutionary theory. Strict materialism tries to make sense of the world by synthesizing what are believed to be random collections of facts and events. It cannot see past the measureable horizon of time and space. Meaning in people’s lives is mostly limited to their context and circumstance. There is no coherency.
Conversely, the biblical worldview encompasses all humanity. It considers not only temporal matters, but also eternal realities. A higher order invests life with meaning. A pre-ordained place awaits believers ordered by God in and through Christ. We can only properly serve the world by understanding better how Christ serves us. Understanding how Christ continues to intercede for, serve and bless us is the privilege and opportunity of Christian life.
Jesus’ transfiguration was a one-off event but the truth that it points to is an unchanging reality. We have entrance into His divine presence, not in the dramatic fashion of the transfiguration but in the sacred waters of Holy Baptism. We partake of Christ, our sacrificial Lamb. At the altar we dine in the very Holy of Holies. We ingest the body and blood of Him who was born in a manger, transfigured on the mount, crucified on Calvary, and rose from the grave. We hear His forgiving voice each time the absolution is proclaimed. He doesn’t expect us to climb to heaven, He comes down to earth to rescue all who call on His name. He promises an end to all the burdens of sin. That which we already possess in faith we will one day enjoy in full experience. Amen.
+ in nomine Jesu +
Transfiguration of our Lord
6 March 2011
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 John 14:6 2 Exodus 13:21
3 1 Kings 8:10-11 4 1 Peter 1:16-17
5 See 2 Timothy 2:15 6 Isaiah 42:3
Text: Matthew 17:1-9
Theme: A Glimpse Into The Future
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
The season of Epiphany appropriately concludes with Christ’s transfiguration on the mount. It was a surreal event to say the least. It was proof that the divine attributes were fully communicated to the man Jesus. To accurately portray it presses the limits of human language. On a high mountain Jesus’ appearance dramatically changes before Peter, James, and John. Jesus radiates with divine light and Moses and Elijah appear conversing with Him. The reason for the presence of these two Old Testament figures is not given. But they certainly represent two of the most faithful servants of God from ages past.
Here is powerful proof that God is the God of the living and not the dead. Jesus summons those whom only God can command. To be in Jesus’ presence is to stand at the very portal of heaven. There the earthbound creatures- Peter, James and John- get a glimpse of the celestial future. There, before the agony and despair of His passion and death, Jesus reassures His disciples. There the Father verifies His Son as the “way and the truth and the life.”1
The scene advances as God the Father speaks from a bright cloud. The cloud was not of the meteorological variety. It was evidence of the divine presence. It was consistent with the pattern of God’s visitation and dwelling across the centuries. Regarding the movements during the exodus from Egypt the Scripture says, “By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light.”2 And of the dedication of the temple in Jerusalem it says, “When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the Lord. And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled His temple.”3
It’s a stretch to think that Peter, James and John were fully in touch with reality. The experience had overcome them. But, then, we’re not always in touch with reality either. It’s like the story of the three elderly gentlemen who were talking about what their grandchildren would be saying about them fifty years in the future. "I would like my grandchildren to say, 'He was successful in business'," declared the first man. "Fifty years from now," said the second, "I want them to say, 'He was a loyal family man'." Turning to the third gent, the first gent asked, "So what do you want them to say about you in fifty years?" "Me?" the third man replied. "I want them all to say, 'He certainly looks good for his age'!" Our vanity certainly doesn’t fool God.
Yet later Peter would say in his first epistle, “We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came from the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.’”4 There were many witnesses to Christ’s miracles and resurrection. They form a body of evidence recorded in Holy Scripture. But only the Holy Spirit can use this good news of salvation to foster faith in the heart.
The mission of the church involves correctly handling the word of truth5 through which the Holy Spirit works. The world is full of unaware unbelievers. The sick person who doesn’t believe he is ill will not seek medical attention. Such a person might carry on until his illness incapacitates him or life comes to an end. The same thing happens spiritually. People blindly, or defiantly, or naively push through life without giving a thought to what kind of spiritual state they are in. The faith they once had weakens or perishes. Or, perhaps, never having had faith at all, their conscience becomes seared and their heart hardened. Maybe they even carry on in a quite contented manner until tragedy strikes.
Then, too frequently, the reality of sin is treated too lightly: a few cosmetic touch-up’s and we’re back in the fray. But hearts are still broken, battered, and bruised. You can put a band-aide on a limb that needs amputating, but it won’t do much. True repentance acknowledges sin causes a terminal condition. Our Saviour doesn’t treat it lightly. Christ cleanses the infected soul by dragging the sinful nature through His own crucifixion and then raising it to new life. Then He prunes His vineyard so that it will be even more fruitful. Every day we bear the cross.
Dear friends, the simplicity of what God has done in Christ is not an excuse for simple-mindedness among Christians. Hollow is the claim to be a believer when this entails little more than a safety-net or social identity. God cannot be used in that way not because He lacks compassion, but because true faith cannot pursue such an agenda. It doesn’t think and act in this way. In other words, to seek such false security- a God who caters to our every whim but with whom we have no real relationship or desire to please- is evidence not of faith in action but of the selfish nature having its way.
This is much different than having a fragile faith or a wounded conscience. Indeed, “a bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out.”6 God is gentle beyond our comprehension. But we should not mistake His gentleness for leniency. God is not an easy target. He is not obligated to indulge our selfishness and He even warns about withdrawing His Spirit from the persistently disobedient. Of course we cannot easily discern which state of spiritual being a person is in. Often we can’t tell at all. Maybe their faith is weak and they are struggling or maybe they’re just falsely salving their own conscience. God alone reads the heart. Still, faith is recognized by its fruits.
Christianity demands a worldview that is different than secular, evolutionary theory. Strict materialism tries to make sense of the world by synthesizing what are believed to be random collections of facts and events. It cannot see past the measureable horizon of time and space. Meaning in people’s lives is mostly limited to their context and circumstance. There is no coherency.
Conversely, the biblical worldview encompasses all humanity. It considers not only temporal matters, but also eternal realities. A higher order invests life with meaning. A pre-ordained place awaits believers ordered by God in and through Christ. We can only properly serve the world by understanding better how Christ serves us. Understanding how Christ continues to intercede for, serve and bless us is the privilege and opportunity of Christian life.
Jesus’ transfiguration was a one-off event but the truth that it points to is an unchanging reality. We have entrance into His divine presence, not in the dramatic fashion of the transfiguration but in the sacred waters of Holy Baptism. We partake of Christ, our sacrificial Lamb. At the altar we dine in the very Holy of Holies. We ingest the body and blood of Him who was born in a manger, transfigured on the mount, crucified on Calvary, and rose from the grave. We hear His forgiving voice each time the absolution is proclaimed. He doesn’t expect us to climb to heaven, He comes down to earth to rescue all who call on His name. He promises an end to all the burdens of sin. That which we already possess in faith we will one day enjoy in full experience. Amen.
+ in nomine Jesu +
Transfiguration of our Lord
6 March 2011
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 John 14:6 2 Exodus 13:21
3 1 Kings 8:10-11 4 1 Peter 1:16-17
5 See 2 Timothy 2:15 6 Isaiah 42:3
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Eighth Sunday After Epiphany A (2011)
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Matthew 6:25-34
Theme: The Creator and Creation
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
God is not aloof. But the perception that He is a Creator more or less detached from His creation leads to false conclusions. People reason that He is either impotent or lacking compassion. Such assumptions are being made in Christchurch at the present time. Of course God is neither and that is the struggle of faith. People often make the assumption that life should basically be going well most of the time. This is a false expectation. The perspective is all backwards. On what basis should we just assume that life should be running smoothly? Does God owe this to us? Is He indebted to us? Why would we not be astounded when anything good happens at all? Sin makes beggars of us all. His mercy cannot be appreciated until this truth is recognized. Christ is the Saviour of sinners only.
Jesus’ words today acknowledge the frailty of human nature. We are continually beset by weakness and doubt. We wonder if God notices or cares. The Shepherd says, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”1
Here we have some of the most reassuring words in the Bible. When we lose perspective this is our clarity. Even the birds of the air do not exist by some random combination of events. God cares for His creation. God’s care for His avian creatures gives us confidence that He will not reject us. The perspective He wants us to see is that our physical wants are a minor thing compared to our spiritual needs. Jesus continues by saying, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”2 Remember, no one can serve two masters. Is it too much to ask that we forsake the indulgences of this world knowing that heavenly treasures await us? Are these words of Christ treated with little more than a wink and a nod?
Dear friends, Jesus’ life was the payment for your debt of sin. What was required was that your own life be forfeited. The law of God’s righteousness demands satisfaction. Why, because His holiness has been violated. You and I are an affront to Him. By nature we are unworthy of His compassion. Yet there is nothing we could ever do to appease His wrath. There is no means by which we can absolve ourselves. All laws, rules, prescriptions, and attempts are a dead end. But Christ reconciles with the Father.
The Scriptures teach the universal atonement. Christ did not die just for the elect, or for some group or remnant. He didn’t die only for believers or even those who will finally be saved: Christ died for all. It’s no use trying to decipher whether you might be an exception. No sinner is beyond the pale of redemption. And it’s no good searching your own heart trying to figure out whether you deem these things to be true for you, whether it’s relevant to you or a concern to you. Neither can you ascertain from any human resource, philosophical quest or signs of nature whether God is smiling on you. Martin Luther calls us back to the only source when He says, “If you want to obtain grace, then see to it that you hear the Word or God attentively or meditate on it diligently. The Word, I say, and only the Word, is the vehicle of God’s grace.”3
So take God at His word: You are a condemned sinner. But He speaks to the penitent: Your sins are forgiven in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. If you do not find release here, you will not find it elsewhere. Or if you think you have found it somewhere else it will prove to be fleeting, hollow or deceptive. If the Holy Trinity cannot make good on His word who can be trusted? If the Creator who gives life and breath, the Son who gives grace and love, the Spirit who gives faith and every gift cannot be trusted then where can we turn? When you are at your wits end- at your last hour- He will not fail you.
Maybe you have heard the legend of the Cherokee Indian youths' rite of passage? His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He cannot cry out for help to anyone. Once he survives the night, he is a MAN. He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each lad must come into manhood on his own. The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him. Maybe even some human might do him harm. The wind blows the grass and earth, and shakes his stump, but he must sit stoically, never removing the blindfold. It is the only way he can become a man! Finally, after a horrific night the sun appears and he removes his blindfold. It is then that he discovers his father sitting on the stump next to him. He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm.
And so David says in the Psalms, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast.”4 Christ’s baptized children are of much greater concern to Him than the birds or flowers. It was not even for angels that Christ died, but for humans. Your baptism plunged you into His death. His resurrection brings you new life. You need not worry that you were not a witness of Christ’s death or resurrection; that you were not there, or that you were unable to be with Him. You only need to rejoice that at your baptism Christ was there, He came to you. There were witnesses. At your baptism the Holy Spirit opened the well of forgiveness to you. From this well forgiveness continually flows.
So strong is God’s love in Christ that today Isaiah compares it to the love a mother has for her nursing child. “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.”5 No, God is not aloof. He humbled Himself to the point of death on a cross. The birds maybe part of His beautiful creation, but you were made in His image. In Christ, God undertakes to restore that image. May God grant it according to His will. Amen.
+ in nomine Jesu +
Eighth Sunday After Epiphany
27 February 2011
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Matthew 5:25-26 2 Matthew 6:33
3 Luther’s Works 27, 249 4 Psalm 139:7-10
5 Isaiah 49:15-16
Text: Matthew 6:25-34
Theme: The Creator and Creation
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
God is not aloof. But the perception that He is a Creator more or less detached from His creation leads to false conclusions. People reason that He is either impotent or lacking compassion. Such assumptions are being made in Christchurch at the present time. Of course God is neither and that is the struggle of faith. People often make the assumption that life should basically be going well most of the time. This is a false expectation. The perspective is all backwards. On what basis should we just assume that life should be running smoothly? Does God owe this to us? Is He indebted to us? Why would we not be astounded when anything good happens at all? Sin makes beggars of us all. His mercy cannot be appreciated until this truth is recognized. Christ is the Saviour of sinners only.
Jesus’ words today acknowledge the frailty of human nature. We are continually beset by weakness and doubt. We wonder if God notices or cares. The Shepherd says, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”1
Here we have some of the most reassuring words in the Bible. When we lose perspective this is our clarity. Even the birds of the air do not exist by some random combination of events. God cares for His creation. God’s care for His avian creatures gives us confidence that He will not reject us. The perspective He wants us to see is that our physical wants are a minor thing compared to our spiritual needs. Jesus continues by saying, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”2 Remember, no one can serve two masters. Is it too much to ask that we forsake the indulgences of this world knowing that heavenly treasures await us? Are these words of Christ treated with little more than a wink and a nod?
Dear friends, Jesus’ life was the payment for your debt of sin. What was required was that your own life be forfeited. The law of God’s righteousness demands satisfaction. Why, because His holiness has been violated. You and I are an affront to Him. By nature we are unworthy of His compassion. Yet there is nothing we could ever do to appease His wrath. There is no means by which we can absolve ourselves. All laws, rules, prescriptions, and attempts are a dead end. But Christ reconciles with the Father.
The Scriptures teach the universal atonement. Christ did not die just for the elect, or for some group or remnant. He didn’t die only for believers or even those who will finally be saved: Christ died for all. It’s no use trying to decipher whether you might be an exception. No sinner is beyond the pale of redemption. And it’s no good searching your own heart trying to figure out whether you deem these things to be true for you, whether it’s relevant to you or a concern to you. Neither can you ascertain from any human resource, philosophical quest or signs of nature whether God is smiling on you. Martin Luther calls us back to the only source when He says, “If you want to obtain grace, then see to it that you hear the Word or God attentively or meditate on it diligently. The Word, I say, and only the Word, is the vehicle of God’s grace.”3
So take God at His word: You are a condemned sinner. But He speaks to the penitent: Your sins are forgiven in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. If you do not find release here, you will not find it elsewhere. Or if you think you have found it somewhere else it will prove to be fleeting, hollow or deceptive. If the Holy Trinity cannot make good on His word who can be trusted? If the Creator who gives life and breath, the Son who gives grace and love, the Spirit who gives faith and every gift cannot be trusted then where can we turn? When you are at your wits end- at your last hour- He will not fail you.
Maybe you have heard the legend of the Cherokee Indian youths' rite of passage? His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He cannot cry out for help to anyone. Once he survives the night, he is a MAN. He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each lad must come into manhood on his own. The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him. Maybe even some human might do him harm. The wind blows the grass and earth, and shakes his stump, but he must sit stoically, never removing the blindfold. It is the only way he can become a man! Finally, after a horrific night the sun appears and he removes his blindfold. It is then that he discovers his father sitting on the stump next to him. He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm.
And so David says in the Psalms, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast.”4 Christ’s baptized children are of much greater concern to Him than the birds or flowers. It was not even for angels that Christ died, but for humans. Your baptism plunged you into His death. His resurrection brings you new life. You need not worry that you were not a witness of Christ’s death or resurrection; that you were not there, or that you were unable to be with Him. You only need to rejoice that at your baptism Christ was there, He came to you. There were witnesses. At your baptism the Holy Spirit opened the well of forgiveness to you. From this well forgiveness continually flows.
So strong is God’s love in Christ that today Isaiah compares it to the love a mother has for her nursing child. “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.”5 No, God is not aloof. He humbled Himself to the point of death on a cross. The birds maybe part of His beautiful creation, but you were made in His image. In Christ, God undertakes to restore that image. May God grant it according to His will. Amen.
+ in nomine Jesu +
Eighth Sunday After Epiphany
27 February 2011
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Matthew 5:25-26 2 Matthew 6:33
3 Luther’s Works 27, 249 4 Psalm 139:7-10
5 Isaiah 49:15-16
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Seventh Sunday After Epiphany A (2011)
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Matthew 5:44
Theme: Evil Disarmed
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
Part and parcel with Christ’s payment for the world’s sin was His conquering of evil. The two go hand in hand. Satan, the arch perpetrator of falsehood and wickedness was rendered powerless to condemn human beings once sin was atoned for. Hell, too, loses its power to terrorize. In today’s section of the Sermon on the Mount Jesus speaks of the practical implications of these truths for our lives each day. Some well-known words are uttered by Jesus. “Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”1
So what does it mean to “turn the other cheek”? It doesn’t mean to senselessly submit yourself to abuse; but to intentionally respond to evil with good intentions. Jesus doesn’t teach concession, but a forbearance that opens that way for repentance. Paul says, “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written, ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord. On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”2
If there was any question about where Jesus was going in this discourse it becomes unmistakably clear now: “If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?”3 Shattered now is the whole Pharisaic understanding of love. The entire system, carefully constructed, refined, and guarded is condemned by this prophet of Galilee. These words of Jesus must have seemed radical, even insane. How could society function in this way?
Now this doesn’t mean for a minute that the legal system should be abandoned and criminals left unpunished. God has appointed systems of government for peace and stability in human society. This kingdom of the “left” does not contradict God’s kingdom of grace, but serves it. But it does mean that Christian mission work intends to transform the heart, not simply outward activity. Our transgressions do not make us sinners. Selfish and evil intent already do that and themselves spring from original sin. Repentance should be mindful of these realities.
Christian love is not merely reciprocation towards those whose gestures are appealing to us. It is not the loving of the loveable or even the likeable. If God recognized or commended such love then He would have to do the same even for unbelievers. But it is clear that He does not. Christians have no monopoly on civility, kindness, or generosity. But what is uniquely Christian is the conviction that Christ in His unconditional love allows us to unconditionally love others. Unbelievers can be very amicable philanthropists. But their intentions are an end in themselves. People’s lives can be made more comfortable- in the here and now- through such efforts. But Christian love sees eternal issues at stake. For believers truth should trump comfort every time and spiritual well-being should be a higher priority than earthly needs. If Jesus said last week to cut off the body part that causes sin rather than risk being thrown into hell how could Christian love be concerned only with the earthly needs of people!
And how easily our earthly needs dominate us! When we struggle our immediate desire is for resolution or release. We want to minimize the pain and heartache. We often use all available means to do this. But God has something more important in mind. God is teaching us to trust in nothing but Him alone; not even His gifts, blessings or the promise of His eternal kingdom. You see faith cannot rest on the gifts and goodness that come from God, not even the hope of deliverance. Faith is a naked trust in God as He is revealed to us. Faith is taking God at His word and not judging His credibility by our own standards. The crucifixion was God’s way of rescuing sinners and there is no other way to assess God’s intentions. We can never judge by how smoothly we’re traveling along in life at the time. The work of the Spirit excels all tangible evidence. Baptism confirms this.
Dear friends, it is not God’s priority to bring you to the end of your life as a person of means, of wealth, or of reputation in society. Neither is it His top priority for you to arrive at that last hour free from all illness or trial. God intends firstly that you arrive as a soul still clinging to His grace; a Child of God eager to be delivered from this fallen world. He intends that on your last earthly day you would be a penitent sinner keen to enjoy the full benefits of His forgiveness. He desires that you completely abandon all human resource and have supreme comfort in His promise. This can only be a struggle because our human nature so violently opposes such things.
Christ, in the truest expression of His manhood prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from Me.”4 In the tenderness and vulnerability of His human nature He desired that the Father reveal another way for the world’s sin to be atoned for. We too would like another entrance to heaven rather than through death. But Jesus continued in true humility, “Yet not My will, but yours be done.”5 Was the will of the Son at this juncture out of sync with the will of the Father? Was there a crack in the unity of the Godhead? Here at the hour of sacrifice the moment of truth arrives. Here is the apex of the scheme of redemption planned since the foundation of the world.
The love of Christ doesn’t run out, get used up or expire. He is the inexhaustible source of grace. He is the resurrected and living Lord. He never wearies of carrying your burdens. He never tires of hearing your confession. He never turns away the truly repentant soul. He is living water for the thirsty soul. He is pardon for those who long for forgiveness. He is light for those who grope in darkness. He is peace for the troubled and rest for those exhausted by the world. He is food for those who hunger. Soon we will receive that food. It nourishes the soul. Jesus says, “My flesh is real food and My blood is real drink.”6 One of the ancients called it the medicine of immortality. Here we have contact with the crucified and risen Christ in a manner not possible in any other way. Here is both a token and the distribution of His love.
All of the words of Jesus would mean little had they not been fulfilled in deed and truth. This is what the Scripture says, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”7 Amen.
+ in nomine Jesu +
Seventh Sunday After Epiphany
20 February 2011
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Matthew 5:39 2 Romans 12:19-21
3 Matthew 5:46-47 4, 5 Luke 22:42
6 John 6:55 7 1 John 4:10
Text: Matthew 5:44
Theme: Evil Disarmed
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
Part and parcel with Christ’s payment for the world’s sin was His conquering of evil. The two go hand in hand. Satan, the arch perpetrator of falsehood and wickedness was rendered powerless to condemn human beings once sin was atoned for. Hell, too, loses its power to terrorize. In today’s section of the Sermon on the Mount Jesus speaks of the practical implications of these truths for our lives each day. Some well-known words are uttered by Jesus. “Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”1
So what does it mean to “turn the other cheek”? It doesn’t mean to senselessly submit yourself to abuse; but to intentionally respond to evil with good intentions. Jesus doesn’t teach concession, but a forbearance that opens that way for repentance. Paul says, “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written, ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord. On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”2
If there was any question about where Jesus was going in this discourse it becomes unmistakably clear now: “If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?”3 Shattered now is the whole Pharisaic understanding of love. The entire system, carefully constructed, refined, and guarded is condemned by this prophet of Galilee. These words of Jesus must have seemed radical, even insane. How could society function in this way?
Now this doesn’t mean for a minute that the legal system should be abandoned and criminals left unpunished. God has appointed systems of government for peace and stability in human society. This kingdom of the “left” does not contradict God’s kingdom of grace, but serves it. But it does mean that Christian mission work intends to transform the heart, not simply outward activity. Our transgressions do not make us sinners. Selfish and evil intent already do that and themselves spring from original sin. Repentance should be mindful of these realities.
Christian love is not merely reciprocation towards those whose gestures are appealing to us. It is not the loving of the loveable or even the likeable. If God recognized or commended such love then He would have to do the same even for unbelievers. But it is clear that He does not. Christians have no monopoly on civility, kindness, or generosity. But what is uniquely Christian is the conviction that Christ in His unconditional love allows us to unconditionally love others. Unbelievers can be very amicable philanthropists. But their intentions are an end in themselves. People’s lives can be made more comfortable- in the here and now- through such efforts. But Christian love sees eternal issues at stake. For believers truth should trump comfort every time and spiritual well-being should be a higher priority than earthly needs. If Jesus said last week to cut off the body part that causes sin rather than risk being thrown into hell how could Christian love be concerned only with the earthly needs of people!
And how easily our earthly needs dominate us! When we struggle our immediate desire is for resolution or release. We want to minimize the pain and heartache. We often use all available means to do this. But God has something more important in mind. God is teaching us to trust in nothing but Him alone; not even His gifts, blessings or the promise of His eternal kingdom. You see faith cannot rest on the gifts and goodness that come from God, not even the hope of deliverance. Faith is a naked trust in God as He is revealed to us. Faith is taking God at His word and not judging His credibility by our own standards. The crucifixion was God’s way of rescuing sinners and there is no other way to assess God’s intentions. We can never judge by how smoothly we’re traveling along in life at the time. The work of the Spirit excels all tangible evidence. Baptism confirms this.
Dear friends, it is not God’s priority to bring you to the end of your life as a person of means, of wealth, or of reputation in society. Neither is it His top priority for you to arrive at that last hour free from all illness or trial. God intends firstly that you arrive as a soul still clinging to His grace; a Child of God eager to be delivered from this fallen world. He intends that on your last earthly day you would be a penitent sinner keen to enjoy the full benefits of His forgiveness. He desires that you completely abandon all human resource and have supreme comfort in His promise. This can only be a struggle because our human nature so violently opposes such things.
Christ, in the truest expression of His manhood prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from Me.”4 In the tenderness and vulnerability of His human nature He desired that the Father reveal another way for the world’s sin to be atoned for. We too would like another entrance to heaven rather than through death. But Jesus continued in true humility, “Yet not My will, but yours be done.”5 Was the will of the Son at this juncture out of sync with the will of the Father? Was there a crack in the unity of the Godhead? Here at the hour of sacrifice the moment of truth arrives. Here is the apex of the scheme of redemption planned since the foundation of the world.
The love of Christ doesn’t run out, get used up or expire. He is the inexhaustible source of grace. He is the resurrected and living Lord. He never wearies of carrying your burdens. He never tires of hearing your confession. He never turns away the truly repentant soul. He is living water for the thirsty soul. He is pardon for those who long for forgiveness. He is light for those who grope in darkness. He is peace for the troubled and rest for those exhausted by the world. He is food for those who hunger. Soon we will receive that food. It nourishes the soul. Jesus says, “My flesh is real food and My blood is real drink.”6 One of the ancients called it the medicine of immortality. Here we have contact with the crucified and risen Christ in a manner not possible in any other way. Here is both a token and the distribution of His love.
All of the words of Jesus would mean little had they not been fulfilled in deed and truth. This is what the Scripture says, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”7 Amen.
+ in nomine Jesu +
Seventh Sunday After Epiphany
20 February 2011
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Matthew 5:39 2 Romans 12:19-21
3 Matthew 5:46-47 4, 5 Luke 22:42
6 John 6:55 7 1 John 4:10
Monday, February 14, 2011
Sixth Sunday After Epiphany A (2011)
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Matthew 5:21-37
Theme: Sanctification: Inside Out
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
Humans make laws and through them try to find meaning and keep order in a chaotic universe. God orders the universe and leads people to find meaning in the freedom of His grace. People enforce their laws. God enacts His love. Today Jesus takes the customary understanding of the law and turns it on its head. Not only is the act of adultery a sin against the Sixth Commandment but the lustful intention of the heart is already a sin. Not only is the act of murder a sin against the Fifth Commandment but anger harbored in the heart is already a sin. He does this because we are prone to thinking that an outward following of the law is sufficient to keep it. An outward standard of morality can and must be legislated and enforced in any society. This is essential for the protection of the vulnerable. But Jesus teaches something more essential: The righteous intention of the heart, mind, and will. The Holy Spirit seeks to sanctify us from the inside out.
Still, you can never boast of having wholly pure thoughts. You can never completely banish selfish motivations from your mind. To believe that you can is to deny the reality of original sin. You are not capable of not sinning because you are born sinful. Yes, each of us is capable of refraining from outward transgression at any particular moment- though the Holy Spirit must assist us here too- but no one is capable of purifying his own thoughts and intentions. Our inabilities are a call to repentance not a cause for despair. Rather our dependence and appreciation of Christ’s work is increased.
Though original sin universally affects all people it is expressed in countless specific ways in individuals. Today Jesus singles out anger as a special concern. Here is a serious warning from the Lord, “Anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of the fire of hell.”1 Believers are not immune to the temptation to express their unrestrained anger towards others. God does not allow hatred towards a fellow Christian to be left unchecked. It is unbefitting of the Christian community. If we take anger into our own hands then there will be hell to pay. The person that doesn’t fear hell either doesn’t believe it exists or grossly misunderstands what it means. He doesn’t equate separation from God with unbearable punishment. Only Christ can resolve the fury and rage which so often complicates and controls human activity.
In this entire discourse Jesus is moving His followers towards a fuller understanding of the meaning of living as those blessed by God. Spiritual maturity is a daily journey. No one can claim they have arrived at the destination. This side of heaven we are always approaching it but never arriving. But, led by the Spirit, our faith is seeking and searching. Often others may have greater spiritual maturity than us. And though we may know it intellectually, we often forget that only God sees the whole picture. He sees the whole puzzle and knows how each piece fits together whereas we can often see only one little piece at a time. We pray that through the Scriptures the Holy Spirit would teach us wisdom and humility.
It’s like the man who survived the Queensland floods. He was fond of telling the story to anyone who would listen. And with each telling, the story became more embellished. He finally died of old age and went to Heaven. When he had settled in, St. Peter stopped by to ask if everything met with his expectations. “Everything here is great,” the man said, “but I surely would like to tell the story of the Queensland flood to some of the others up here.” So St. Peter obliged. He assembled a large, heavenly audience. But as the man rose to address them, St. Peter whispered in his ear, “I think I’d better warn you: Noah is in the audience.”
We could hardly impress Noah with a story about a flood. God too is always in the audience. He’s always within earshot. And we can hardly impress Him with our achievements or shock Him with our troubles. The challenge and privilege of living our faith is remembering that we are always in the presence of God. Nothing is hidden from Him. He desires that we pour out our hearts to Him in humility. The Bible says, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”2 Christ came in the flesh as the icon and image of the Father’s love. His love has the power to transform our entire outlook and understanding of life. The grace and forgiveness of Christ free us to seek the welfare of others. One of the immediate implications of our redemption is recognition of our lofty place within God’s ordered kingdom.
Our faith doesn’t exist for its own sake. It’s not an end in itself. You’re not an end in yourself. We must purge this secular way of thinking from our minds. You should never think of your life as a summation of activity, accomplishment, personality and interests filling some unclear niche in a random and chaotic universe. Do not consider your legacy or passing from this life as a series or collection of accomplishments or disappointments relevant only to you or your family. To be baptized into Christ means to be an heir of the eternal kingdom and have a place in the company of heaven. This doesn’t happen anonymously. In Christ you have an identity that is significant for eternity and it has consequences every day in this life.
We exist so that in big ways and small others will come into contact with God’s unconditional love in Christ. The Scripture says, “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”3 And the apostle Paul also gives this encouragement, “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life.”4 How marvelous that we have the opportunity to be salt and light in the world!
When we struggle to find meaning in life it’s because we’ve lost track of who we have become in Christ. Too frequently we let the truth of His death and resurrection pass unnoticed through our ears and hearts. Jesus is not simply a person of historical interest. He is the living God that gives access to the Father and fellowship with the Trinity. Every day we have Easter certainty. Every day we progress towards our own resurrection. Our struggles here, as severe as they may be, are only temporary. The Holy Spirit makes this promise, “The God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To Him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.”5
+ in nomine Jesu +
Sixth Sunday After Epiphany
13 February 2011
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Matthew 5:22 2 1 Peter 5:7
3 Ephesians 2:10 4 Philippians 2:14-16
5 1 Peter 5:10-11
Text: Matthew 5:21-37
Theme: Sanctification: Inside Out
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
Humans make laws and through them try to find meaning and keep order in a chaotic universe. God orders the universe and leads people to find meaning in the freedom of His grace. People enforce their laws. God enacts His love. Today Jesus takes the customary understanding of the law and turns it on its head. Not only is the act of adultery a sin against the Sixth Commandment but the lustful intention of the heart is already a sin. Not only is the act of murder a sin against the Fifth Commandment but anger harbored in the heart is already a sin. He does this because we are prone to thinking that an outward following of the law is sufficient to keep it. An outward standard of morality can and must be legislated and enforced in any society. This is essential for the protection of the vulnerable. But Jesus teaches something more essential: The righteous intention of the heart, mind, and will. The Holy Spirit seeks to sanctify us from the inside out.
Still, you can never boast of having wholly pure thoughts. You can never completely banish selfish motivations from your mind. To believe that you can is to deny the reality of original sin. You are not capable of not sinning because you are born sinful. Yes, each of us is capable of refraining from outward transgression at any particular moment- though the Holy Spirit must assist us here too- but no one is capable of purifying his own thoughts and intentions. Our inabilities are a call to repentance not a cause for despair. Rather our dependence and appreciation of Christ’s work is increased.
Though original sin universally affects all people it is expressed in countless specific ways in individuals. Today Jesus singles out anger as a special concern. Here is a serious warning from the Lord, “Anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of the fire of hell.”1 Believers are not immune to the temptation to express their unrestrained anger towards others. God does not allow hatred towards a fellow Christian to be left unchecked. It is unbefitting of the Christian community. If we take anger into our own hands then there will be hell to pay. The person that doesn’t fear hell either doesn’t believe it exists or grossly misunderstands what it means. He doesn’t equate separation from God with unbearable punishment. Only Christ can resolve the fury and rage which so often complicates and controls human activity.
In this entire discourse Jesus is moving His followers towards a fuller understanding of the meaning of living as those blessed by God. Spiritual maturity is a daily journey. No one can claim they have arrived at the destination. This side of heaven we are always approaching it but never arriving. But, led by the Spirit, our faith is seeking and searching. Often others may have greater spiritual maturity than us. And though we may know it intellectually, we often forget that only God sees the whole picture. He sees the whole puzzle and knows how each piece fits together whereas we can often see only one little piece at a time. We pray that through the Scriptures the Holy Spirit would teach us wisdom and humility.
It’s like the man who survived the Queensland floods. He was fond of telling the story to anyone who would listen. And with each telling, the story became more embellished. He finally died of old age and went to Heaven. When he had settled in, St. Peter stopped by to ask if everything met with his expectations. “Everything here is great,” the man said, “but I surely would like to tell the story of the Queensland flood to some of the others up here.” So St. Peter obliged. He assembled a large, heavenly audience. But as the man rose to address them, St. Peter whispered in his ear, “I think I’d better warn you: Noah is in the audience.”
We could hardly impress Noah with a story about a flood. God too is always in the audience. He’s always within earshot. And we can hardly impress Him with our achievements or shock Him with our troubles. The challenge and privilege of living our faith is remembering that we are always in the presence of God. Nothing is hidden from Him. He desires that we pour out our hearts to Him in humility. The Bible says, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”2 Christ came in the flesh as the icon and image of the Father’s love. His love has the power to transform our entire outlook and understanding of life. The grace and forgiveness of Christ free us to seek the welfare of others. One of the immediate implications of our redemption is recognition of our lofty place within God’s ordered kingdom.
Our faith doesn’t exist for its own sake. It’s not an end in itself. You’re not an end in yourself. We must purge this secular way of thinking from our minds. You should never think of your life as a summation of activity, accomplishment, personality and interests filling some unclear niche in a random and chaotic universe. Do not consider your legacy or passing from this life as a series or collection of accomplishments or disappointments relevant only to you or your family. To be baptized into Christ means to be an heir of the eternal kingdom and have a place in the company of heaven. This doesn’t happen anonymously. In Christ you have an identity that is significant for eternity and it has consequences every day in this life.
We exist so that in big ways and small others will come into contact with God’s unconditional love in Christ. The Scripture says, “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”3 And the apostle Paul also gives this encouragement, “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life.”4 How marvelous that we have the opportunity to be salt and light in the world!
When we struggle to find meaning in life it’s because we’ve lost track of who we have become in Christ. Too frequently we let the truth of His death and resurrection pass unnoticed through our ears and hearts. Jesus is not simply a person of historical interest. He is the living God that gives access to the Father and fellowship with the Trinity. Every day we have Easter certainty. Every day we progress towards our own resurrection. Our struggles here, as severe as they may be, are only temporary. The Holy Spirit makes this promise, “The God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To Him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.”5
+ in nomine Jesu +
Sixth Sunday After Epiphany
13 February 2011
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Matthew 5:22 2 1 Peter 5:7
3 Ephesians 2:10 4 Philippians 2:14-16
5 1 Peter 5:10-11
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