+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: John 14:2-3
Theme: Divinely Prepared
Dear family, friends, and loved ones of Dean, especially you, his children; David, Keith, Trevor, Peter, Kay, Christine, Leon, Tricia,
The summons of God is not negotiable. When the days ordained for us have been fulfilled, the Almighty requires the presence of His servants. There are no proxies. Dean Braun was ready. He was prepared. He was well and truly looking forward to having the weight of mortality lifted. Life had become unpalatable and without much pleasure. Not that Dean was complaining. He was too self-disciplined and content for that. God’s timing would suffice. He was patiently waiting for the Lord to receive him.
We shouldn’t assume, of course, that the devil didn’t get his jabs in. As the time grows short, Satan gets desperate. He throws the sins of our past in our face. He fabricates a specter of doubt saying, “Can you really be at peace with what you have done? Remember this! Remember that! Why did you! How could you!” The devil plays upon the natural fear people have of the unknown, something that becomes more intense as death draws near. These things are not child’s play. Even the strongest Christians are not exempt.
Remember, twelve men who were with Jesus day and night for three years still had doubt. And what does the Lord say to them? “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me. In My Father’s house are many rooms…I am going there to prepare a place for you.”1 He says, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”2 Satan’s strategy is fatally flawed. The guilt of sin has been removed for all who believe. The devil’s claims me nothing.
Dear friends, you have heard the Scripture, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-kept in heaven for you.”3 Dean Braun is now a possessor of that inheritance. He has passed through the gates. He did so the only way possible, by grace. Until the sacrifice of the Son of God was completed the door of heaven remained shut. The holy God does not tolerate any corruption of the goodness He originally created. Sin is incompatible with God’s being and therefore sinners in and of themselves are barred from His presence. Hell is nothing more, but nothing less than being locked out of God’s gracious presence forever.
Dean’s soul is in the presence of Christ not because God recognized his cordiality, his productivity, or his humility. Dean has passed into the profound joy and peace of eternity because Christ possessed the only virtue that was acceptable: His very life given in sacrifice. The transition into heaven isn’t a given. The way had to be prepared. Dean clung to the truth of Jesus Christ crucified, risen, and ascended for us and for our salvation. Dear friends, if we believe that God sanctions or requires even the smallest measure of worthiness on our part to qualify us for heaven, then the gospel is no longer good news but a new articulation of the law. Furthermore, if we think that we can impress God is any way then we do not really understand sin. In and of ourselves we are condemned. In Christ, we are redeemed. Hold fast to His promise!
Dean’s capacity as a younger man to work and provide for his family was exceptional. He toiled tirelessly, but willingly for the wellbeing of others. And the Lord blessed him mightily. God once said to Abraham, “I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore.”4 Apparently, Joyce and Dean thought God was talking to them too! And, indeed He was! Look at their descendants gathered here! Dean fathered eight children, was grandfather to 27 grandchildren, great-grandfather to 30 of the next generation, with more on the way. That might not be exceptional by biblical standards but it’s pretty impressive by today’s measure. Few are keeping pace.
But Dean doesn’t have to provide any longer. He doesn’t have to do the milk run, split Mallee stumps the size of human heads, or discipline the children. More importantly, his heart and conscience are at ease. He has no regrets, no anxieties, no worries about future problems. And Dean has not taken on the role of a guardian angel. His time is not being occupied by watching over the family or fretting about how they are. Heaven is a tad bit more riveting than that. Nothing even remotely trivial will distract from the mesmerizing attention the majesty of the Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit requires.
In heaven, we will be manifestly content. That’s something the maturing Christian learns already in this life. St. Paul once said, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation.”5 Dean learned the same wisdom. Not one to complain he took most things in stride. He left things in God’s hands. He knew where strength, and hope, and forgiveness were found. Dean didn’t fit church into his life when it suited, when he wasn’t too busy, or when he felt like going. Dean was in God’s house because that’s where he believed he should be. There was nothing, forced, artificial, or self-serving about it. He understood that to absent oneself from God’s blessings was to be foolishly deprived. Dean’s presence in church was always characterized by dignity and modesty. He was a churchman of the highest integrity.
So today we give thanks even in the midst of our grief. And we carry no false hopes about God’s intentions. Paul once wrote to the Thessalonians saying, “We do not want you to be uniformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep.”6 Dear friends, to grieve without hope is to feel the bitterness of separation without the expectation of reunion. It is to concede that the coldness of death is the final reality. Left to our own devices it is the conclusion we always reach. Death is a burden that is too heavy for us to bear alone. The Holy Spirit understands that. He reminds us of the empty tomb. Jesus said, “Do not be afraid…I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever!”7
Dean enjoyed a full, and active, and blessed earthly. And during that life he was being prepared for even more important things. Think what an instant our time here is, whether we live one year or hundred, in comparison to eternity! Dean didn’t quite make it to his 89th birthday, but he achieved something far more important, he made it home for Easter. He has profound peace and unknowable joy. Thanks be to God! Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Christian Burial of Dean Leslie Braun
10 March 2017
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 John 14:1-2
2 John 14:27
3 1 Peter 1:3-4
4 Genesis 22:17
5 Philippians 4:12
6 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14
7 Revelation 1:17-18
Wednesday, April 12, 2017
Monday, April 10, 2017
PALM Sunday (A) 2017
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Matthew 21:10
Theme: The Storm Before the Calm
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
The cry was, “Hosanna!” It was an exclamation of hope, praise, and expectation. It was also a plea; an appeal for deliverance. “Lord, save!” The burden had become too great. Their hosannas were directed to the right person but mostly for the wrong reasons. This man would change the world, but much more radically than they imagined. Palm Sunday was the storm before the calm. By Friday the followers had fled and the silence of death blanketed the scene. False hopes were dashed, but new beginnings awaited. Jesus, the Christ, would make good on the prophetic promise. Salvation would be achieved.
The constancy of Christ while running the gauntlet of Holy Week stands in sharp contrast to human frailty. Human beings are fickle, capricious; erratic. We change our minds and our moods. Sometimes we don’t even know why, other times our reasons are not very good. Our inconsistencies are a cause of tension, conflict, pain and confusion. But Christ is trustworthy without exception. That doesn’t mean He wasn’t under duress. His suffering was not a game.
Christ faced all the temptations common to the human race. His humanity is not a sham. He did not yield to sin. His perfect obedience secured our perfect righteousness. His sacrificial death opened for us the gates to eternal life. You are accounted holy before God because the Father looks at you through the work of His Son. Believers are grafted into Christ like the branch into the vine, they gathered like the lost sheep into the flock, they are fitted like living stones into the temple of the living God. You are fitted, you are gathered, you are grafted. You are His baptized. He has washed you clean.
Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey, not a stallion. He did that as a sign of humility, as a bearer of peace. He was the promised Messiah they had long-waited for. He did come to free His people, not from the oppression of the Romans, but from the bondage to sin. He freed them to serve others without fear of failing to gain God’s favour. Dear friends, it’s impossible to joyfully sacrifice yourself for others if you believe you need to invest most of your effort in gaining merit before God. But we live in and through Christ.
You are called do what is impossible for you, alone, to do: Love your neighbour from a pure motive. But Christ has done it. You must refrain from doing what is impossible for you to actually refrain from: Pursuing selfish ambition. But Christ has done it. These are the blessed paradoxes of the baptismal life. In and of ourselves we are still sinners. In Christ we are holy and pure. When exposed to the light of God's law we are guilty. When sheltered by the shadow of the cross we are free from all accusation. In regards to His Bride, the church, the Scripture says, “…having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word so that He might present the church to Himself in splendour, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.”1 For the believer in Christ every command of God has already been fulfilled. Jesus is our substitute in all things.
Does that mean that we are engaged in some sort of spiritual mind game here, or that the commands or God's law no longer apply to believers? Certainly not! The law is good, and righteous, and holy. God’s commands are for our well-being and the good of our neighbours. We should understand clearly that God is serious about punishing those who transgress His commands. God gives us freedom but we can’t construct moral parameters based on our own opinions or define truth based on our own ideas. If recognition of our shortcomings doesn’t drive us back to Christ for mercy, then self-righteousness (whether we are even conscious of it or not) has commandeered our spiritual lives. Self-righteousness is a kissing cousin to lawlessness. Both are symptomatic of estrangement from God.
But, dear friends, we should also know that following the law will never gain God's favour. Genuine obedience is motivated by the Holy Spirit. The Scripture says, “It is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.”2 We are ever, and always, and only saved by grace. The unmerited mercy of God is our refuge and hope. And, indeed, it is a hope that does not fail us. It is sealed by the death and resurrection of God's Son. He lives now to intercede for us before the Father. He lives now to commend the Spirit to His work. He lives now that we might have future life with Him. This life is no longer a burden but a privilege. That’s why the apostle could say today, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who…humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”3
What a remarkable privilege it is to be a beacon of light for someone whose life is shrouded in darkness! What a blessing to be the presence of peace in the life of someone dwelling in chaos! What a liberty to speak the truth to those immersed in falsehood! We know such people and we know that we are among them. Many such opportunities will seem rather mundane, people struggling to cope with the daily challenges of life, hardly exciting or dramatic, but people's lives are changed by one act of love at a time. We have no power to change anyone, but God transform darkness into light.
The first Palm Sunday was filled with excitement. Hopes were high. Palms were brandished. Possibilities were revitalized. This Messiah had captured the popular imagination. He was riding the wave of positive sentiment created by His tender care of the people, His resilience in the face of His opponents, and the undeniable power He had over sickness, sin, and the forces of nature. The cries of “Hosanna!” were not mislaid. Yet, He Himself knew that the excitement would soon collapse under the weight of the looming crucifixion. It was the storm before the calm. The commotion of Sunday would give way to the exhaustion of Good Friday.
Yet, the pleas of “Hosanna!” did not go unfulfilled. The Son of God would rise victoriously on the third day. He did not give immediate deliverance from Roman rule, He gave eternal redemption from sin, death, and Satan’s power. As the apostle says, God “is able to immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.”4 God answers our cries of hosanna. Baptism is an answer to the cry of Hosanna. Holy Communion is an answer to the cry of Hosanna. The body and blood of Christ imparts to you the power and presence of Christ. It extends forgiveness to you. It strengthens your faith. It puts your conscience at rest. It fills you with hope.
Absolution is also an answer to the same plea, “Lord, save!” God never lets our petitions go unanswered. He knows exactly what support we really need and when we need it. The Holy Spirit doesn’t mollycoddle us but leads us onto maturity in Christ. That path leads through the cross and empty tomb. “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the hightest!”5 Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Palm Sunday
9 April, 2017
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Ephesians 5:26-27
2 Philippians 2:13
3 Philippians 2:5-6, 8
4 Ephesians 3:20
5 Matthew 21:9
Text: Matthew 21:10
Theme: The Storm Before the Calm
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
The cry was, “Hosanna!” It was an exclamation of hope, praise, and expectation. It was also a plea; an appeal for deliverance. “Lord, save!” The burden had become too great. Their hosannas were directed to the right person but mostly for the wrong reasons. This man would change the world, but much more radically than they imagined. Palm Sunday was the storm before the calm. By Friday the followers had fled and the silence of death blanketed the scene. False hopes were dashed, but new beginnings awaited. Jesus, the Christ, would make good on the prophetic promise. Salvation would be achieved.
The constancy of Christ while running the gauntlet of Holy Week stands in sharp contrast to human frailty. Human beings are fickle, capricious; erratic. We change our minds and our moods. Sometimes we don’t even know why, other times our reasons are not very good. Our inconsistencies are a cause of tension, conflict, pain and confusion. But Christ is trustworthy without exception. That doesn’t mean He wasn’t under duress. His suffering was not a game.
Christ faced all the temptations common to the human race. His humanity is not a sham. He did not yield to sin. His perfect obedience secured our perfect righteousness. His sacrificial death opened for us the gates to eternal life. You are accounted holy before God because the Father looks at you through the work of His Son. Believers are grafted into Christ like the branch into the vine, they gathered like the lost sheep into the flock, they are fitted like living stones into the temple of the living God. You are fitted, you are gathered, you are grafted. You are His baptized. He has washed you clean.
Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey, not a stallion. He did that as a sign of humility, as a bearer of peace. He was the promised Messiah they had long-waited for. He did come to free His people, not from the oppression of the Romans, but from the bondage to sin. He freed them to serve others without fear of failing to gain God’s favour. Dear friends, it’s impossible to joyfully sacrifice yourself for others if you believe you need to invest most of your effort in gaining merit before God. But we live in and through Christ.
You are called do what is impossible for you, alone, to do: Love your neighbour from a pure motive. But Christ has done it. You must refrain from doing what is impossible for you to actually refrain from: Pursuing selfish ambition. But Christ has done it. These are the blessed paradoxes of the baptismal life. In and of ourselves we are still sinners. In Christ we are holy and pure. When exposed to the light of God's law we are guilty. When sheltered by the shadow of the cross we are free from all accusation. In regards to His Bride, the church, the Scripture says, “…having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word so that He might present the church to Himself in splendour, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.”1 For the believer in Christ every command of God has already been fulfilled. Jesus is our substitute in all things.
Does that mean that we are engaged in some sort of spiritual mind game here, or that the commands or God's law no longer apply to believers? Certainly not! The law is good, and righteous, and holy. God’s commands are for our well-being and the good of our neighbours. We should understand clearly that God is serious about punishing those who transgress His commands. God gives us freedom but we can’t construct moral parameters based on our own opinions or define truth based on our own ideas. If recognition of our shortcomings doesn’t drive us back to Christ for mercy, then self-righteousness (whether we are even conscious of it or not) has commandeered our spiritual lives. Self-righteousness is a kissing cousin to lawlessness. Both are symptomatic of estrangement from God.
But, dear friends, we should also know that following the law will never gain God's favour. Genuine obedience is motivated by the Holy Spirit. The Scripture says, “It is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.”2 We are ever, and always, and only saved by grace. The unmerited mercy of God is our refuge and hope. And, indeed, it is a hope that does not fail us. It is sealed by the death and resurrection of God's Son. He lives now to intercede for us before the Father. He lives now to commend the Spirit to His work. He lives now that we might have future life with Him. This life is no longer a burden but a privilege. That’s why the apostle could say today, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who…humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”3
What a remarkable privilege it is to be a beacon of light for someone whose life is shrouded in darkness! What a blessing to be the presence of peace in the life of someone dwelling in chaos! What a liberty to speak the truth to those immersed in falsehood! We know such people and we know that we are among them. Many such opportunities will seem rather mundane, people struggling to cope with the daily challenges of life, hardly exciting or dramatic, but people's lives are changed by one act of love at a time. We have no power to change anyone, but God transform darkness into light.
The first Palm Sunday was filled with excitement. Hopes were high. Palms were brandished. Possibilities were revitalized. This Messiah had captured the popular imagination. He was riding the wave of positive sentiment created by His tender care of the people, His resilience in the face of His opponents, and the undeniable power He had over sickness, sin, and the forces of nature. The cries of “Hosanna!” were not mislaid. Yet, He Himself knew that the excitement would soon collapse under the weight of the looming crucifixion. It was the storm before the calm. The commotion of Sunday would give way to the exhaustion of Good Friday.
Yet, the pleas of “Hosanna!” did not go unfulfilled. The Son of God would rise victoriously on the third day. He did not give immediate deliverance from Roman rule, He gave eternal redemption from sin, death, and Satan’s power. As the apostle says, God “is able to immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.”4 God answers our cries of hosanna. Baptism is an answer to the cry of Hosanna. Holy Communion is an answer to the cry of Hosanna. The body and blood of Christ imparts to you the power and presence of Christ. It extends forgiveness to you. It strengthens your faith. It puts your conscience at rest. It fills you with hope.
Absolution is also an answer to the same plea, “Lord, save!” God never lets our petitions go unanswered. He knows exactly what support we really need and when we need it. The Holy Spirit doesn’t mollycoddle us but leads us onto maturity in Christ. That path leads through the cross and empty tomb. “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the hightest!”5 Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Palm Sunday
9 April, 2017
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Ephesians 5:26-27
2 Philippians 2:13
3 Philippians 2:5-6, 8
4 Ephesians 3:20
5 Matthew 21:9
Thursday, April 6, 2017
Midweek Lenten Devotion 2017
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Matthew 27:41
Theme: The Wound of Mockery
Dear friends of the Wounded Saviour,
“Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never harm me!” So they say! But is it really true? Can we be so dismissive of the verbalization of motives and beliefs? Words can be powerful. We quickly learn which words can be taken with a grain of salt and which words convey meaning and intent. Words can heal. Words can destroy.
The theme for our Lenten series this year is “A Wounded Saviour for a Wounded People.” In the coming weeks we’ll take a closer look at how Christ was wounded by betrayal, apathy, denial, mockery, and abandonment during His passion. The suffering of Christ is familiar to us, but it’s not merely incidental to the storyline of salvation. Only by bearing our sin as a true human being could our redemption be accomplished and our resurrection assured. This evening we’ll be focusing on the wound of mockery.
In relation to the other aspects of suffering Jesus endured, mockery might seem to be a minor component. Mockery involves only words. After all, Jesus was whipped and then experienced the physical torture of the cross. But how do we measure pain? How do we assess its severity, its scope, its consequences? The medical profession often uses a scale to gauge the pain of sufferers by rating it between one and ten. But, pain is very subjective. What one person tolerates cripples another. Childbirth might be the most universally recognized pain and it has garnered many biblical references. Physical pain gets a lot of attention, but what about psychological and emotional pain? Dying of a broken heart is now a proven medical reality.
Malicious words can be like arrows piercing right through our consciences and lodging deep in our hearts. They open wounds and they cause scars. We learn to know that the intentions of the speaker often determine the impact of the words. There once was a law professor who had the habit of mocking his students in the classroom. His intention wasn’t to harm but his manner was very convincing. He imagined that it would help hone the participants’ skills in formulating legal arguments. Instead, few and fewer students signed up for his classes. They were unable to distinguish his simulated mockery from spiteful intent.
Jesus was mocked with intention and vehemence. “…twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head…and kneeling before Him they mocked Him.”1 And again, “…the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked Him, saying ‘He saved others; He cannot save himself.’”2 Ridicule and mockery cause pain. They leave wounds. His detractors heaped scorn upon Him. Their goal was to completely destroy His credibility; to break His morale. They wanted the memory of Him and His legacy to be erased as soon as possible. He was a blasphemer in their eyes and a danger to the piety of the people. Yes, a threat to the piety of the people.
Remember now that we’re not merely observers musing on past historical events. We too, are the sinners Christ came to save. Jesus may indeed be a danger to your piety. If your standing before God is constructed on and maintained by your belief that your virtue or goodness, your generosity or devotion is praiseworthy in His sight, then you aren’t seeking the forgiveness that reconciles but the acclamation that isolates. The Scripture says, “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.”3 If we sow to grow our egos we will reap the consequences of idolatry.
Christ is, in fact, the sworn opponent of every attempt to establish self-righteousness as meritorious before the Almighty. There are simply no concessions and no cooperations. The Lamb of God alone is worthy. Only His foot crushes the head of the Serpent. Only His arm shatters hell’s iron gates. Only His gentle touch embraces the fragile soul. Jesus is our righteousness before God, our holiness and redemption. We are deemed holy in His sight not because we are good even in the smallest measure, but in spite of the fact that we are self-serving to the core. The baptismal covenant made with you is valid not because you are deserving but because Christ is worthy. His body is given and His blood is shed for you in the sacrament not because you’ve earned the right but because He has made the sacrifice.
Every Lent we risk the age-old temptation of thinking it’s up to us to pull up our spiritual bootstraps. That we must put our noses to the grindstone and get our spiritual lives and our churches turned around. Dear friends, do not try to rob Christ of His glory. Do not try to pull Him off the cross while He still draws breath. The answer for an anemic church, for the body of Christ in any country or locality that is living off the capitol of the previous generation, is not the exhortation to try harder or do better. It’s not the threat of blame for the failure that seems to be looming. Appeals seeking to prod the sinful nature into action never have been and never will be the answer. The answer is not to presume to speak for God but to let the Spirit speak for Himself. The answer is the wounded Jesus for a wounded people.
“He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.”4Jesus knows what to do with wounded people. He knows how to handle scars. He received the deepest scars ever dealt and he still bears them. He was the target of assassination. Yet God prevented His untimely murder so that the public spectacle of the crucifixion might be a witness recorded for all to see and hear. His wounds are our refuge.
Christ was mocked so that you could hear those joyful words of God’s welcome, “Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”5 Lent isn’t an aimless journey. It has a destination. That destination isn’t so much a place as it is a presence. We are journeying to the presence of the Wounded One; the Risen One. In His presence, we have perfect health. Even human words are powerful. God’s words are a matter of life and death. All the damage done by sticks and stones…and words, will be undone. Jesus is for us the Word of Life. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Midweek Lent 2017
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Matthew 27:29
2 Matthew 27:41-42
3 Galatians 6:7
4 Isaiah 53:3-4
5 Matthew 25:34
Text: Matthew 27:41
Theme: The Wound of Mockery
Dear friends of the Wounded Saviour,
“Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never harm me!” So they say! But is it really true? Can we be so dismissive of the verbalization of motives and beliefs? Words can be powerful. We quickly learn which words can be taken with a grain of salt and which words convey meaning and intent. Words can heal. Words can destroy.
The theme for our Lenten series this year is “A Wounded Saviour for a Wounded People.” In the coming weeks we’ll take a closer look at how Christ was wounded by betrayal, apathy, denial, mockery, and abandonment during His passion. The suffering of Christ is familiar to us, but it’s not merely incidental to the storyline of salvation. Only by bearing our sin as a true human being could our redemption be accomplished and our resurrection assured. This evening we’ll be focusing on the wound of mockery.
In relation to the other aspects of suffering Jesus endured, mockery might seem to be a minor component. Mockery involves only words. After all, Jesus was whipped and then experienced the physical torture of the cross. But how do we measure pain? How do we assess its severity, its scope, its consequences? The medical profession often uses a scale to gauge the pain of sufferers by rating it between one and ten. But, pain is very subjective. What one person tolerates cripples another. Childbirth might be the most universally recognized pain and it has garnered many biblical references. Physical pain gets a lot of attention, but what about psychological and emotional pain? Dying of a broken heart is now a proven medical reality.
Malicious words can be like arrows piercing right through our consciences and lodging deep in our hearts. They open wounds and they cause scars. We learn to know that the intentions of the speaker often determine the impact of the words. There once was a law professor who had the habit of mocking his students in the classroom. His intention wasn’t to harm but his manner was very convincing. He imagined that it would help hone the participants’ skills in formulating legal arguments. Instead, few and fewer students signed up for his classes. They were unable to distinguish his simulated mockery from spiteful intent.
Jesus was mocked with intention and vehemence. “…twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head…and kneeling before Him they mocked Him.”1 And again, “…the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked Him, saying ‘He saved others; He cannot save himself.’”2 Ridicule and mockery cause pain. They leave wounds. His detractors heaped scorn upon Him. Their goal was to completely destroy His credibility; to break His morale. They wanted the memory of Him and His legacy to be erased as soon as possible. He was a blasphemer in their eyes and a danger to the piety of the people. Yes, a threat to the piety of the people.
Remember now that we’re not merely observers musing on past historical events. We too, are the sinners Christ came to save. Jesus may indeed be a danger to your piety. If your standing before God is constructed on and maintained by your belief that your virtue or goodness, your generosity or devotion is praiseworthy in His sight, then you aren’t seeking the forgiveness that reconciles but the acclamation that isolates. The Scripture says, “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.”3 If we sow to grow our egos we will reap the consequences of idolatry.
Christ is, in fact, the sworn opponent of every attempt to establish self-righteousness as meritorious before the Almighty. There are simply no concessions and no cooperations. The Lamb of God alone is worthy. Only His foot crushes the head of the Serpent. Only His arm shatters hell’s iron gates. Only His gentle touch embraces the fragile soul. Jesus is our righteousness before God, our holiness and redemption. We are deemed holy in His sight not because we are good even in the smallest measure, but in spite of the fact that we are self-serving to the core. The baptismal covenant made with you is valid not because you are deserving but because Christ is worthy. His body is given and His blood is shed for you in the sacrament not because you’ve earned the right but because He has made the sacrifice.
Every Lent we risk the age-old temptation of thinking it’s up to us to pull up our spiritual bootstraps. That we must put our noses to the grindstone and get our spiritual lives and our churches turned around. Dear friends, do not try to rob Christ of His glory. Do not try to pull Him off the cross while He still draws breath. The answer for an anemic church, for the body of Christ in any country or locality that is living off the capitol of the previous generation, is not the exhortation to try harder or do better. It’s not the threat of blame for the failure that seems to be looming. Appeals seeking to prod the sinful nature into action never have been and never will be the answer. The answer is not to presume to speak for God but to let the Spirit speak for Himself. The answer is the wounded Jesus for a wounded people.
“He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.”4Jesus knows what to do with wounded people. He knows how to handle scars. He received the deepest scars ever dealt and he still bears them. He was the target of assassination. Yet God prevented His untimely murder so that the public spectacle of the crucifixion might be a witness recorded for all to see and hear. His wounds are our refuge.
Christ was mocked so that you could hear those joyful words of God’s welcome, “Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”5 Lent isn’t an aimless journey. It has a destination. That destination isn’t so much a place as it is a presence. We are journeying to the presence of the Wounded One; the Risen One. In His presence, we have perfect health. Even human words are powerful. God’s words are a matter of life and death. All the damage done by sticks and stones…and words, will be undone. Jesus is for us the Word of Life. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Midweek Lent 2017
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Matthew 27:29
2 Matthew 27:41-42
3 Galatians 6:7
4 Isaiah 53:3-4
5 Matthew 25:34
Sunday, April 2, 2017
Fifth Sunday In Lent (A) 2017
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: John 11:16
Theme: Life Journey
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
Jesus waited two more days. He commenced with His journey to attend to Lazarus (who was now dead) only after remaining where He was two days longer. He wasn’t hesitant. He wasn’t apathetic. He wasn’t too tired. He wanted the bitterness of death to fully sink in. He then crossed back over the Jordan not to attend a funeral, but to facilitate a resurrection. It would be a preview of the Parousia, His coming again in glory to “judge the living and the dead”1.
Life is a journey. It has many detours, obstacles and opportunities. Do you think about where you are going in life and how you plan to get there? Are you prepared to be re-routed why you take a wrong turn? Do you acknowledge that God has a bird’s-eye view of your journey? Jesus Himself will again journey to earth. When He does, what circumstances will He encounter? Christ will meet us in the candid reality of our daily routine. When Christ returns some of us will have terrible colds or the flu. Others will be dealing with terminal cancer or crippling illness. Some will be preparing for marriage and others will have just been wed. Some will be in labour and others will have just been born. Some people might be in prison (though hopefully none of you), though I might be there for preaching the gospel one day, an activity steadily moving towards the category of criminal offence. Still, that’s nothing new. Attempts were made to silence the early messengers of the truth too. “But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men.”2 Disobedience to God’s will always takes us down the path of destruction. Lent reminds us that the way of repentance is the only safe road.
When Christ comes, some people will lie at the threshold of mortality. Before His glorious return, Jesus will not prewarn us so that we are "fast forwarded" through the trials or joys of life in order to be in a more suitable position to receive Him. He will meet us in the frailty of our humanity. He will meet us as Moses met the people of Israel when he came down from Mount Sinai. He will meet us as the host met those in attendance in Jesus' parable of the wedding banquet. Jesus will meet us as He meet the lepers, the blind, the lame, the scribes and Pharisees, and His own disciples. He will meet us at whatever point we are at on our journey. And that, of course, is precisely the point. Of course, in the world, there will be wars and conflicts, and contentions. The busyness, and opulence, and poverty will continue unabated. Utopia will never exist here. Jesus will bring it all to a dramatic halt. We will be eating, sleeping, working, and playing. It will be as in the days of Noah. No one will be unaffected. No one will be exempt.
Why need we spend so much time talking about what it will be like when Jesus meets us coming in His glory? Because our perspective on the future informs how we understand the present. Our worldview is not the myopic vision of unbelief. We are ambassadors in the service of our divine Monarch. Each day when we step out the door, we are continuing the journey of faith the Holy Spirit has gifted us with. In our own wrestling with sin, and selfishness, and doubt, we are used as God’s instruments to assist others in seeing that their journey is not one of futility or despair. We are companions in the Way.
Dear friends, the remarkable truth is that through your baptism you are already living in the reality of the everlasting kingdom. The Bible describes you an eschatological being, that is, a participant in the last things. You already partake of that food. The body and blood of Christ is immortal food. It is a heavenly meal for our pilgrimage to our heavenly home. You already have the Spirit. St. Paul says today, “If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”3 We have passed through the first resurrection in our journey to the final and eternal one.
You already have a place in heaven with Christ. Jesus told His disciples, “In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?”4 Christ prepares that place for every believer. But the Scripture also speaks of it as a present reality saying that God, “raised us up with Him [Christ] and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”5 It is a present reality we're just not able to enjoy it yet.
Does that mean our journey here can be characterized by apathy? We are told to eagerly anticipate the Second Coming. We should do so not out of a defeatist attitude, as if we were giving up on life waiting to be zapped up to heaven. The Scriptures encourage us to be grounded and sensible. Paul talks about the dangers of idleness and the value of hard work. But we're also to walk by faith not by sight. We recognise that in the very midst of our daily routines Christ is drawing us towards Himself even as His imminent approach draws near. The risen Christ is the present Christ is the coming Christ.
It seemed in today’s situation Jesus wasn’t coming very quickly. Martha and Mary were perhaps expecting more urgency. Jesus waits, but He does not fail to act. He knows the consequence of sin must first do its work. What does the Scripture say? God “is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”6 The picture of repentance is constituted by the details but its validity is evidenced by the road one is traveling; the broad or the narrow. Though Thomas misunderstood Jesus’ journey to Lazarus his intention was to travel with Jesus, “Let us go also, that we may die with Him.”7
And that is the destination of faith’s journey: Death and resurrection with Christ. There is no eternity apart from the presence of Jesus. Think of the dry bones that are raised to life. Here Ezekiel is granted a vision of the power of Christ’s resurrection. Death collapses in His presence while fragile flesh is immortalized. “When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’”8
Don’t think though this is all other-worldly talk about inaccessible truths, that the journey of faith is somehow surreal or esoteric. The God’s gifts of life are dispensed here in real time and in this very space. The forgiveness you receive is not contingent on some future condition. You are forgiven, right here, right now. There are no conditions still to be met, nothing still unfinished that needs to be completed. God is as good as His word. Christ was crucified for you. He honours in heaven what He promises on earth. Recall the Small Catechism, "Confession has two parts: First, that we confess our sins, and second, that we receive absolution, that is forgiveness, from the pastor, as from God Himself, not doubting, but firmly believing, that by it our sins are forgiven before God in heaven."9 You are a cherished child of God. You are an honoured son. You are a treasured daughter. The blood of Christ washes every spot and stain from your soul. You are given a clean slate; a new lease on life.
Dear friends, Jesus Christ journeyed from heaven to earth to meet you at the baptismal font. It was as if He was coming to the tomb of Lazarus. He says to us, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die.”10 Death no longer holds any power over Christ. Therefore, it has no final authority over us. Surely it was one of the longest journeys ever taken, those few short steps from the grave of Lazarus to the vicinity of Jesus! After all, he was dead. We’re all traveling the same road. Thanks be to God! Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Fifth Sunday in Lent
2 April, 2017
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Nicene Creed
2 Acts 5:29
3 Romans 8:11
4John 14:2
5 Ephesians 2:6
62 Peter 3:9
7 John 11:16
8 1 Corinthians 15:54
9 Luther’s Small Catechism
10 John 11:25-26
Text: John 11:16
Theme: Life Journey
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
Jesus waited two more days. He commenced with His journey to attend to Lazarus (who was now dead) only after remaining where He was two days longer. He wasn’t hesitant. He wasn’t apathetic. He wasn’t too tired. He wanted the bitterness of death to fully sink in. He then crossed back over the Jordan not to attend a funeral, but to facilitate a resurrection. It would be a preview of the Parousia, His coming again in glory to “judge the living and the dead”1.
Life is a journey. It has many detours, obstacles and opportunities. Do you think about where you are going in life and how you plan to get there? Are you prepared to be re-routed why you take a wrong turn? Do you acknowledge that God has a bird’s-eye view of your journey? Jesus Himself will again journey to earth. When He does, what circumstances will He encounter? Christ will meet us in the candid reality of our daily routine. When Christ returns some of us will have terrible colds or the flu. Others will be dealing with terminal cancer or crippling illness. Some will be preparing for marriage and others will have just been wed. Some will be in labour and others will have just been born. Some people might be in prison (though hopefully none of you), though I might be there for preaching the gospel one day, an activity steadily moving towards the category of criminal offence. Still, that’s nothing new. Attempts were made to silence the early messengers of the truth too. “But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men.”2 Disobedience to God’s will always takes us down the path of destruction. Lent reminds us that the way of repentance is the only safe road.
When Christ comes, some people will lie at the threshold of mortality. Before His glorious return, Jesus will not prewarn us so that we are "fast forwarded" through the trials or joys of life in order to be in a more suitable position to receive Him. He will meet us in the frailty of our humanity. He will meet us as Moses met the people of Israel when he came down from Mount Sinai. He will meet us as the host met those in attendance in Jesus' parable of the wedding banquet. Jesus will meet us as He meet the lepers, the blind, the lame, the scribes and Pharisees, and His own disciples. He will meet us at whatever point we are at on our journey. And that, of course, is precisely the point. Of course, in the world, there will be wars and conflicts, and contentions. The busyness, and opulence, and poverty will continue unabated. Utopia will never exist here. Jesus will bring it all to a dramatic halt. We will be eating, sleeping, working, and playing. It will be as in the days of Noah. No one will be unaffected. No one will be exempt.
Why need we spend so much time talking about what it will be like when Jesus meets us coming in His glory? Because our perspective on the future informs how we understand the present. Our worldview is not the myopic vision of unbelief. We are ambassadors in the service of our divine Monarch. Each day when we step out the door, we are continuing the journey of faith the Holy Spirit has gifted us with. In our own wrestling with sin, and selfishness, and doubt, we are used as God’s instruments to assist others in seeing that their journey is not one of futility or despair. We are companions in the Way.
Dear friends, the remarkable truth is that through your baptism you are already living in the reality of the everlasting kingdom. The Bible describes you an eschatological being, that is, a participant in the last things. You already partake of that food. The body and blood of Christ is immortal food. It is a heavenly meal for our pilgrimage to our heavenly home. You already have the Spirit. St. Paul says today, “If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”3 We have passed through the first resurrection in our journey to the final and eternal one.
You already have a place in heaven with Christ. Jesus told His disciples, “In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?”4 Christ prepares that place for every believer. But the Scripture also speaks of it as a present reality saying that God, “raised us up with Him [Christ] and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”5 It is a present reality we're just not able to enjoy it yet.
Does that mean our journey here can be characterized by apathy? We are told to eagerly anticipate the Second Coming. We should do so not out of a defeatist attitude, as if we were giving up on life waiting to be zapped up to heaven. The Scriptures encourage us to be grounded and sensible. Paul talks about the dangers of idleness and the value of hard work. But we're also to walk by faith not by sight. We recognise that in the very midst of our daily routines Christ is drawing us towards Himself even as His imminent approach draws near. The risen Christ is the present Christ is the coming Christ.
It seemed in today’s situation Jesus wasn’t coming very quickly. Martha and Mary were perhaps expecting more urgency. Jesus waits, but He does not fail to act. He knows the consequence of sin must first do its work. What does the Scripture say? God “is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”6 The picture of repentance is constituted by the details but its validity is evidenced by the road one is traveling; the broad or the narrow. Though Thomas misunderstood Jesus’ journey to Lazarus his intention was to travel with Jesus, “Let us go also, that we may die with Him.”7
And that is the destination of faith’s journey: Death and resurrection with Christ. There is no eternity apart from the presence of Jesus. Think of the dry bones that are raised to life. Here Ezekiel is granted a vision of the power of Christ’s resurrection. Death collapses in His presence while fragile flesh is immortalized. “When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’”8
Don’t think though this is all other-worldly talk about inaccessible truths, that the journey of faith is somehow surreal or esoteric. The God’s gifts of life are dispensed here in real time and in this very space. The forgiveness you receive is not contingent on some future condition. You are forgiven, right here, right now. There are no conditions still to be met, nothing still unfinished that needs to be completed. God is as good as His word. Christ was crucified for you. He honours in heaven what He promises on earth. Recall the Small Catechism, "Confession has two parts: First, that we confess our sins, and second, that we receive absolution, that is forgiveness, from the pastor, as from God Himself, not doubting, but firmly believing, that by it our sins are forgiven before God in heaven."9 You are a cherished child of God. You are an honoured son. You are a treasured daughter. The blood of Christ washes every spot and stain from your soul. You are given a clean slate; a new lease on life.
Dear friends, Jesus Christ journeyed from heaven to earth to meet you at the baptismal font. It was as if He was coming to the tomb of Lazarus. He says to us, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die.”10 Death no longer holds any power over Christ. Therefore, it has no final authority over us. Surely it was one of the longest journeys ever taken, those few short steps from the grave of Lazarus to the vicinity of Jesus! After all, he was dead. We’re all traveling the same road. Thanks be to God! Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Fifth Sunday in Lent
2 April, 2017
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Nicene Creed
2 Acts 5:29
3 Romans 8:11
4John 14:2
5 Ephesians 2:6
62 Peter 3:9
7 John 11:16
8 1 Corinthians 15:54
9 Luther’s Small Catechism
10 John 11:25-26
Monday, March 27, 2017
Fourth Sunday In Lent (A) 2017
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: John 9:25
Theme: Restored in Christ
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
The Holy Spirit overcomes ostracism. No one else can. The isolation caused by sin can be rectified only through the restoration Jesus accomplishes. Intimacy with the heavenly Father is never a human feat. Our own efforts only leave us spiritually blind, deaf, and speechless. Christ gives voice to our pleas for mercy and sight to our visionless souls. In these gifts, we are reconciled to God and one another. Today the chains of isolation were broken for one blind man. The sight of his eyes and his soul were restored.
But the greatest miracles always draw skeptics. “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”1 The question was posed to Jesus by His own disciples. It was a question that reflected not only the thinking of the times, but also the quandary of human misery throughout the history of humanity. Someone had to be blamed for this man’s condition. Blame was the key to making sense of suffering. The reply of Jesus is swift, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in Him.”2
Now the stage is set for an abrasive, compassionate, and instructive encounter. It wasn’t fun being blind in pre-modern times. Life was nearly intolerable even under the best of circumstances. Most blind people were reduced to begging. They were vulnerable and easy targets of exploitation. They were laden with guilt because of their infirmity. Sickness was understood in ancient times to be a direct result of one’s personal sinfulness. It’s crucial to understand the entire narrative today not only as an illustration of Jesus’ power to heal and His compassion to individuals, but also as a demonstration of His supremacy over sin. This supremacy validates His claim to be the Messiah. The great Physician of body and soul never treated just the symptoms, but always the cause too.
So, why was this man born blind? We should not speculate to confidently. But the truth about the consequence of sin is something essential for us to understand. Sin itself can never be fully understood. It permeates all of our faculties to the point of serious impairment of our comprehension. We don’t have an objective viewpoint. We are inextricably woven into the matrix. Acceptance of this premise is ultimately a matter of faith. It can never be proven to the skeptic’s satisfaction. We may think we can diagnosis the illness of sin, but the Scriptures tell us the illness itself prevents the diagnosis. The blind man cannot operate on his own eyes.
Sin is still, observable, tangible, and verifiable though. The unbeliever too, has a conscience, and a remnant of the law left on the heart. We can identify evil and we experience it. We observe and experience the hurt and harm people cause one another. The fallenness of humanity is all around us and we often exploit it. The fascination with evil and the popularity of that theme in the theatrical world- movies and TV dramas- is a commentary on the human psyche. We are comfortable with the devil we know.
But Christ has higher and holier intentions for us. The blind man today was right at the coalface of the tension between Jesus and the Jewish leaders. They were now alert to anyone who might lend credence to Jesus’ claim to be the Messiah. The interrogation and condemnation of a blind man seems harsh. But the stakes were high. Notice, though, the blind man doesn’t back down. He even puts the onus back on them. “Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.”3 The Jews were enraged and threw him out.
Christ now comes back on the scene. There real issue here is spiritual blindness. Firstly, Jesus confirms the man’s faith. Not only his eyes are opened, but also his heart. He understands this worker of miracles is the Messiah. He has been reconciled to the heavenly Father. He is a child of Abraham. Next Jesus turns to the Jews. He says, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.”4 In stubborn denial that Jesus is the promised Saviour, these Jews remain condemned in their sins. There is no middle ground. Rejection of Jesus is rejection of the Father’s plan of salvation. Salvation is accomplished in no other way.
But, God’s plan seemed woefully inadequate and unimpressive. Even though He was a descendant of King David, Jesus wasn’t born in a royal palace or the courtyard of the temple. A Messiah characterized by humility was prophesied by Isaiah, yet many were still expecting a political and military revolutionary. It’s a reminder that God’s ways are not our ways. Recall our Scripture earlier about choosing one of Jesse’s sons as king. God said, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”5 God does not capitulate to our parameters. He does not lower Himself to our standards. To be sure, God is patient and He bears with us in our weaknesses and misunderstandings. But He never countenances false measures. He never indulges dishonesty for the sake of gain. God won’t be pigeon-holed by us.
Dear friends, The Holy Spirit is among us to heal the blindness of sin. Christ isn’t joking when He says your sins are forgiven. He is not jesting or just throwing around possibilities. His word of absolution is not a tease. He paid the price with His life. He has made full atonement. The blindness of sin no longer condemns us to walking aimlessly into the darkness. The crucified and risen Saviour ushers us into His kingdom of light. He doesn’t leave us groping in the darkness. He gathers us as community and shepherds us.
He calls men into the Office of the Holy Ministry to proclaim that forgiveness to you publicly. The words of warning and absolution we hear at the beginning of the Divine Service have their origin in the directive of the risen Jesus to His apostles, “If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.”6 He wants you to know with absolutely certainty, dear friends, that His forgiveness is not some casual or cavalier possibility. He seals it with His blood. We can no longer call our own that which rightfully belongs to Him. He owns the guilt and shame of every repentant soul. We are born into sin, but we are baptized into freedom. We are conceived under the power of the curse; we are reborn into the kingdom of blessings. Death is our master while in the jurisdiction of Satan. The Lord of Life is our Sovereign in the realm of light.
God doesn’t expect us to understand the how of the mysteries of the faith. He doesn’t expect us to intellectually comprehend how He created the universe, how He exists as the Holy Trinity, one God in three persons, how the body and blood of Christ are present in the Lord’s Supper, how the Holy Spirit engenders faith through baptism, how the gospel immediately reaches the hearts of some but not others. The how is tied in with the incomprehensibility of God and His almighty power. “Nothing is impossible with God.”7 But He does want us to know why these realities are so important. His passion for us is so inexhaustible and immeasurable that He sacrificed the Only Begotten. That is why He continues in forbearance, in endurance, in tireless intercession for our well-being of body and soul. That’s why He continues to open the eyes of the blind. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Fourth Sunday in Lent
26 March, 2017
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 John 9:2
2 John 9:3
3 John 9:32-33
4 John 9:39
5 1 Samuel 16:7
6 John 20:23
7 Luke 1:37
Text: John 9:25
Theme: Restored in Christ
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
The Holy Spirit overcomes ostracism. No one else can. The isolation caused by sin can be rectified only through the restoration Jesus accomplishes. Intimacy with the heavenly Father is never a human feat. Our own efforts only leave us spiritually blind, deaf, and speechless. Christ gives voice to our pleas for mercy and sight to our visionless souls. In these gifts, we are reconciled to God and one another. Today the chains of isolation were broken for one blind man. The sight of his eyes and his soul were restored.
But the greatest miracles always draw skeptics. “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”1 The question was posed to Jesus by His own disciples. It was a question that reflected not only the thinking of the times, but also the quandary of human misery throughout the history of humanity. Someone had to be blamed for this man’s condition. Blame was the key to making sense of suffering. The reply of Jesus is swift, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in Him.”2
Now the stage is set for an abrasive, compassionate, and instructive encounter. It wasn’t fun being blind in pre-modern times. Life was nearly intolerable even under the best of circumstances. Most blind people were reduced to begging. They were vulnerable and easy targets of exploitation. They were laden with guilt because of their infirmity. Sickness was understood in ancient times to be a direct result of one’s personal sinfulness. It’s crucial to understand the entire narrative today not only as an illustration of Jesus’ power to heal and His compassion to individuals, but also as a demonstration of His supremacy over sin. This supremacy validates His claim to be the Messiah. The great Physician of body and soul never treated just the symptoms, but always the cause too.
So, why was this man born blind? We should not speculate to confidently. But the truth about the consequence of sin is something essential for us to understand. Sin itself can never be fully understood. It permeates all of our faculties to the point of serious impairment of our comprehension. We don’t have an objective viewpoint. We are inextricably woven into the matrix. Acceptance of this premise is ultimately a matter of faith. It can never be proven to the skeptic’s satisfaction. We may think we can diagnosis the illness of sin, but the Scriptures tell us the illness itself prevents the diagnosis. The blind man cannot operate on his own eyes.
Sin is still, observable, tangible, and verifiable though. The unbeliever too, has a conscience, and a remnant of the law left on the heart. We can identify evil and we experience it. We observe and experience the hurt and harm people cause one another. The fallenness of humanity is all around us and we often exploit it. The fascination with evil and the popularity of that theme in the theatrical world- movies and TV dramas- is a commentary on the human psyche. We are comfortable with the devil we know.
But Christ has higher and holier intentions for us. The blind man today was right at the coalface of the tension between Jesus and the Jewish leaders. They were now alert to anyone who might lend credence to Jesus’ claim to be the Messiah. The interrogation and condemnation of a blind man seems harsh. But the stakes were high. Notice, though, the blind man doesn’t back down. He even puts the onus back on them. “Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.”3 The Jews were enraged and threw him out.
Christ now comes back on the scene. There real issue here is spiritual blindness. Firstly, Jesus confirms the man’s faith. Not only his eyes are opened, but also his heart. He understands this worker of miracles is the Messiah. He has been reconciled to the heavenly Father. He is a child of Abraham. Next Jesus turns to the Jews. He says, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.”4 In stubborn denial that Jesus is the promised Saviour, these Jews remain condemned in their sins. There is no middle ground. Rejection of Jesus is rejection of the Father’s plan of salvation. Salvation is accomplished in no other way.
But, God’s plan seemed woefully inadequate and unimpressive. Even though He was a descendant of King David, Jesus wasn’t born in a royal palace or the courtyard of the temple. A Messiah characterized by humility was prophesied by Isaiah, yet many were still expecting a political and military revolutionary. It’s a reminder that God’s ways are not our ways. Recall our Scripture earlier about choosing one of Jesse’s sons as king. God said, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”5 God does not capitulate to our parameters. He does not lower Himself to our standards. To be sure, God is patient and He bears with us in our weaknesses and misunderstandings. But He never countenances false measures. He never indulges dishonesty for the sake of gain. God won’t be pigeon-holed by us.
Dear friends, The Holy Spirit is among us to heal the blindness of sin. Christ isn’t joking when He says your sins are forgiven. He is not jesting or just throwing around possibilities. His word of absolution is not a tease. He paid the price with His life. He has made full atonement. The blindness of sin no longer condemns us to walking aimlessly into the darkness. The crucified and risen Saviour ushers us into His kingdom of light. He doesn’t leave us groping in the darkness. He gathers us as community and shepherds us.
He calls men into the Office of the Holy Ministry to proclaim that forgiveness to you publicly. The words of warning and absolution we hear at the beginning of the Divine Service have their origin in the directive of the risen Jesus to His apostles, “If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.”6 He wants you to know with absolutely certainty, dear friends, that His forgiveness is not some casual or cavalier possibility. He seals it with His blood. We can no longer call our own that which rightfully belongs to Him. He owns the guilt and shame of every repentant soul. We are born into sin, but we are baptized into freedom. We are conceived under the power of the curse; we are reborn into the kingdom of blessings. Death is our master while in the jurisdiction of Satan. The Lord of Life is our Sovereign in the realm of light.
God doesn’t expect us to understand the how of the mysteries of the faith. He doesn’t expect us to intellectually comprehend how He created the universe, how He exists as the Holy Trinity, one God in three persons, how the body and blood of Christ are present in the Lord’s Supper, how the Holy Spirit engenders faith through baptism, how the gospel immediately reaches the hearts of some but not others. The how is tied in with the incomprehensibility of God and His almighty power. “Nothing is impossible with God.”7 But He does want us to know why these realities are so important. His passion for us is so inexhaustible and immeasurable that He sacrificed the Only Begotten. That is why He continues in forbearance, in endurance, in tireless intercession for our well-being of body and soul. That’s why He continues to open the eyes of the blind. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Fourth Sunday in Lent
26 March, 2017
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 John 9:2
2 John 9:3
3 John 9:32-33
4 John 9:39
5 1 Samuel 16:7
6 John 20:23
7 Luke 1:37
Sunday, March 19, 2017
Third Sunday In Lent (A) 2017
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: John 4:9
Theme: Surprised At The Well
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
Jesus wasn’t interested in customs; only truth. The Samaritan woman today was undoubtedly surprised Jesus approached her at the well. It was not customary for Jewish men to speak publicly to Samaritans generally, or women in particular. Amazed that He asked her for a drink, Jesus said, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water.”1 Then ensues an extended conversation which ends two days later with the towns’ people saying, “Now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Saviour of the world.”2
Matthew, Mark, and Luke are typically succinct when they relate the events of Jesus’ ministry. The notable exception is the record of the passion. Jesus’ last days are covered in significant detail. Saint John, however, offers us extended coverage of particular encounters Jesus had with individuals. He tends to develop a more comprehensive account, supplying more specifics. It assists us in thinking through the way in which God’s word transforms people. The Holy Spirit is patient, meeting people where they are, and moving them to where they need to be.
Dear friends, Christianity is not an ideology or a casual perspective that’s adopted at a point in time. It is a lifelong journey; a struggle with sin, with truth, with forgiveness. It’s a struggle against our sinful natures, the world, and Satan’s schemes. The domestication of our selfishness is the lifelong pursuit of the sinful nature. We deeply desire to be self-serving and to find justification to pursue such ends. The strength of this desire is exhibited in many ways. We become greedy at the expense of helping our neighbour. We put others at risk while minimising the risk to ourselves. We seek praise and recognition from others while sparingly giving credit and support to them as we should. Worst of all, we like to be recognised for the moral high ground when really we should be chastised for our deceptive and false humility.
Notice that Jesus doesn’t shrink from exposing this woman’s sin. She was an adulterer. Her desires remained unfulfilled so her relationships kept failing. She did not yet know that perfect, unfailing, unconditional love could be found only in one place, one Person. So, Jesus shot a pointy arrow right into her heart. It was the Holy Spirit’s arrow of conviction. But Jesus doesn’t harangue her (as He often did the scribes and Pharisees) because her soul was transparent to Him. He could see her conscience and the true remorse and change of heart. The recalcitrant soul must keep hearing God’s word of rebuke. The self-righteous are not interested in forgiveness. But her heart was softened by His love.
To receive the goodness God offers is the highest act of faith. Faith receives what God bestows. And what does God bestow? His primary gift is Himself. In the granting of His grace, mercy, and forgiveness, God communicates Himself. Above all, He wants us to have the righteousness that covers all sins. He wants us to have the peace that puts our hearts and mind at rest even when we are under the greatest distress. The prophet says, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.”3
God wants us to ask. The woman asked for living water. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”4 The greatest honour we can tender to God is to receive what He offers. The greatest reverence we can show Him is to yield to the lavish distribution of His grace. The Scripture says, “Be still, and know that I am God.”5 Again, “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.”6 And once more, “The Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him.”7
His goodness also extends to every facet of our daily lives. But often we do not recognize His blessings for what they are, even considering them to be burdens. Your employment is a blessing through which God provides for you and others. Yet many only complain. Your spouse is a gift through which God gives you companionship, comfort, and support. Yet many are often harsh, unreasonable, and unforgiving with their husband and wife. We do well to remember that marriage is a reflection of the union between Christ and His bride the church. The Scripture says, “However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.”8 When we fight against the good things God desires to give us we are like unruly animals that kick against the goads. Even our most painful trials can turn out to be great blessings.
Remember, Satan is a thief. The object of his thievery is always faith. His aim is to rob you of your trust in God and belief in Christ. Sometimes his plan of attack is quite direct. He opposes the foundational claim of God's existence. He directs us to the supposed omnipotence of humanity or the soulless material forces of the universe, that is, blind trust in science. More frequently, though, his strategy must be more indirect and subtle. He attacks our faith by opposing its premises. The Bible claims that God is good, and kind, and loving. Yet we experience pain, and evil, and hardship. Satan argues that these realities cannot be reconciled. Therefore, God must be inept or inattentive and unworthy of our trust. Satan is happy for us to have faith in a god who rewards people for their righteousness. He can work within that system. He supports idolatry.
Dear friends, God’s house is like Jacob’s well where Jesus comes to meet us. You come to this altar to participate in the mystery. The sacred body of the holy Lord. The hallowed blood of the righteous Saviour. These mysteries are offered to us, sinners, undeserving, unholy. And this is just how God would have it. We receive His righteousness in exchange for the guilt of our sins. We receive His life in exchange for our death. We are His baptized not because we are deserving, but because Christ is worthy.
The Samaritan woman went to Jacob’s well for one reason: To draw water. Yet she departed leaving her jar. She wouldn’t have to return to the “man well” anymore either, because she found a true relationship in her Saviour. Last week we spoke of shining like stars in a dark universe. You might be thinking, “That sounds wonderful, but how do I actually do it?” The Samaritan woman provides a fine example. She spreads the news to people she knows. Have you considered who you might invite to worship or some other function at the church? Have you considered during this Lententide how greatly God has blessed you with time, talents, and treasures and how these can serve His kingdom?
This Samaritan woman came to the well to draw water, but what she recovered was her virginity. True Life had found her. When Christ takes your sins, He doesn’t give them back. His absolution means your condemnation for those sins has been completely wiped out. His forgiveness is the living water that quenches our thirst. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Third Sunday in Lent
19 March, 2017
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 John 4:10
2 John 5:42
3 Isaiah 26:3-4
4 Matthew 7:7
5 Psalm 46:10
6 Ecclesiastes 5:1
7 Habakkuk 2:20
8 Ephesians 5:33
Text: John 4:9
Theme: Surprised At The Well
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
Jesus wasn’t interested in customs; only truth. The Samaritan woman today was undoubtedly surprised Jesus approached her at the well. It was not customary for Jewish men to speak publicly to Samaritans generally, or women in particular. Amazed that He asked her for a drink, Jesus said, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water.”1 Then ensues an extended conversation which ends two days later with the towns’ people saying, “Now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Saviour of the world.”2
Matthew, Mark, and Luke are typically succinct when they relate the events of Jesus’ ministry. The notable exception is the record of the passion. Jesus’ last days are covered in significant detail. Saint John, however, offers us extended coverage of particular encounters Jesus had with individuals. He tends to develop a more comprehensive account, supplying more specifics. It assists us in thinking through the way in which God’s word transforms people. The Holy Spirit is patient, meeting people where they are, and moving them to where they need to be.
Dear friends, Christianity is not an ideology or a casual perspective that’s adopted at a point in time. It is a lifelong journey; a struggle with sin, with truth, with forgiveness. It’s a struggle against our sinful natures, the world, and Satan’s schemes. The domestication of our selfishness is the lifelong pursuit of the sinful nature. We deeply desire to be self-serving and to find justification to pursue such ends. The strength of this desire is exhibited in many ways. We become greedy at the expense of helping our neighbour. We put others at risk while minimising the risk to ourselves. We seek praise and recognition from others while sparingly giving credit and support to them as we should. Worst of all, we like to be recognised for the moral high ground when really we should be chastised for our deceptive and false humility.
Notice that Jesus doesn’t shrink from exposing this woman’s sin. She was an adulterer. Her desires remained unfulfilled so her relationships kept failing. She did not yet know that perfect, unfailing, unconditional love could be found only in one place, one Person. So, Jesus shot a pointy arrow right into her heart. It was the Holy Spirit’s arrow of conviction. But Jesus doesn’t harangue her (as He often did the scribes and Pharisees) because her soul was transparent to Him. He could see her conscience and the true remorse and change of heart. The recalcitrant soul must keep hearing God’s word of rebuke. The self-righteous are not interested in forgiveness. But her heart was softened by His love.
To receive the goodness God offers is the highest act of faith. Faith receives what God bestows. And what does God bestow? His primary gift is Himself. In the granting of His grace, mercy, and forgiveness, God communicates Himself. Above all, He wants us to have the righteousness that covers all sins. He wants us to have the peace that puts our hearts and mind at rest even when we are under the greatest distress. The prophet says, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.”3
God wants us to ask. The woman asked for living water. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”4 The greatest honour we can tender to God is to receive what He offers. The greatest reverence we can show Him is to yield to the lavish distribution of His grace. The Scripture says, “Be still, and know that I am God.”5 Again, “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.”6 And once more, “The Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him.”7
His goodness also extends to every facet of our daily lives. But often we do not recognize His blessings for what they are, even considering them to be burdens. Your employment is a blessing through which God provides for you and others. Yet many only complain. Your spouse is a gift through which God gives you companionship, comfort, and support. Yet many are often harsh, unreasonable, and unforgiving with their husband and wife. We do well to remember that marriage is a reflection of the union between Christ and His bride the church. The Scripture says, “However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.”8 When we fight against the good things God desires to give us we are like unruly animals that kick against the goads. Even our most painful trials can turn out to be great blessings.
Remember, Satan is a thief. The object of his thievery is always faith. His aim is to rob you of your trust in God and belief in Christ. Sometimes his plan of attack is quite direct. He opposes the foundational claim of God's existence. He directs us to the supposed omnipotence of humanity or the soulless material forces of the universe, that is, blind trust in science. More frequently, though, his strategy must be more indirect and subtle. He attacks our faith by opposing its premises. The Bible claims that God is good, and kind, and loving. Yet we experience pain, and evil, and hardship. Satan argues that these realities cannot be reconciled. Therefore, God must be inept or inattentive and unworthy of our trust. Satan is happy for us to have faith in a god who rewards people for their righteousness. He can work within that system. He supports idolatry.
Dear friends, God’s house is like Jacob’s well where Jesus comes to meet us. You come to this altar to participate in the mystery. The sacred body of the holy Lord. The hallowed blood of the righteous Saviour. These mysteries are offered to us, sinners, undeserving, unholy. And this is just how God would have it. We receive His righteousness in exchange for the guilt of our sins. We receive His life in exchange for our death. We are His baptized not because we are deserving, but because Christ is worthy.
The Samaritan woman went to Jacob’s well for one reason: To draw water. Yet she departed leaving her jar. She wouldn’t have to return to the “man well” anymore either, because she found a true relationship in her Saviour. Last week we spoke of shining like stars in a dark universe. You might be thinking, “That sounds wonderful, but how do I actually do it?” The Samaritan woman provides a fine example. She spreads the news to people she knows. Have you considered who you might invite to worship or some other function at the church? Have you considered during this Lententide how greatly God has blessed you with time, talents, and treasures and how these can serve His kingdom?
This Samaritan woman came to the well to draw water, but what she recovered was her virginity. True Life had found her. When Christ takes your sins, He doesn’t give them back. His absolution means your condemnation for those sins has been completely wiped out. His forgiveness is the living water that quenches our thirst. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Third Sunday in Lent
19 March, 2017
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 John 4:10
2 John 5:42
3 Isaiah 26:3-4
4 Matthew 7:7
5 Psalm 46:10
6 Ecclesiastes 5:1
7 Habakkuk 2:20
8 Ephesians 5:33
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
Phyllis Klose Funeral (March 14, 2017)
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: John 11:25
Theme: Life After Death
Dear family, friends, and loved ones of Phyllis, and especially you, Leone, her daughter,
God receives back His own. He takes them home. Perhaps it’s never perfect timing for us. We’d like just one more day or one more opportunity to spend time or say goodbye. God doesn’t ask for our permission. His simply asks that we trust that He knows best. Not that we should lightly pass over the significance of that request. Death is an ominous and confronting reality. It’s more than we can manage with just our intellect or emotions. It requires the Holy Spirit. God has received Phyllis Klose to Himself. Specifically, that means her soul is in the presence of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, saints and angels. Thanks be to God for the compassionate embrace of His love!
Like all believers, God has been preparing Phyllis for her reception into heaven for some time. Phyliss’s confirmation text was from Second Corinthians, “Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile, we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling…so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.”1
How absolutely marvelous is that! Mortality will be swallowed up by life! Mortality is characterized by limitations. It is marked by decay, by injury, and finally, complete incapacitation. To be mortal is to be subject to obsolescence. Our bodies and minds have an end point at which they are no long able to function. Mortality implies eventual death. As Christians, we understand that sin is the cause of mortality. Adam and Eve were created to live forever. Disobedience brought spiritual, then physical death. It’s a curse we have all inherited. That’s why every contemplation of the meaning of death is also a call to repentance.
But Christ has intervened in this inexorable march towards the final demise. This vortex of darkness that draws all frail beings clinging to life into its abyss has met a superior power. Jesus said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son also to have life in Himself.2 He says, “In My Father’s house are many rooms…I am going there to prepare a place for you…I will come back and take you to be with Me.3 Again, He says, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though He dies.”4 Christ died and rose again for Phyllis. He died and rose again for you. “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
Phyllis lived a long and full life. She persevered through the challenges of running the Malpas store, Post Office, and telephone exchange during both droughts and successful years of farming in the Mallee. She excelled at these vocations while being a faithful wife and devoted mother of three. She witnessed the death of two of her children, something that particularly taxes the heart and soul. Yet her trust did not waver. God’s will was best and through His grace she came to terms with it. Phyllis also witnessed many changes during her lifetime. Horses gave way to tractors. Party-line telephones gave way to mobiles. Daily cooking went from the fire to the microwave. Expectations and roles within society changed too. She lived through the Great Depression and the Second World War. Through it all Phyliss clung to the unchanging nature of God’s love in Christ. She worshipped regularly in His house. She received the blessing of holy communion. She supported the work of His kingdom.
In the era in which she was born Phyliss could be considered to be a miracle baby. The most important recognition of her fragility was the prompt manner in which she was baptized. This precious gift from God would not be taken for granted. Aurthur and Anna believed she belonged to Him. And indeed, she does! She’s only been on loan. The Holy Spirit made a covenant with Phyllis in her baptism and He has now made good on that promise. Baptism entails not only the forgiveness of sins at the time it is administered, but also the security of an eternal inheritance. In baptism, we are adopted into the family of Christ and benefit from all the heavenly treasures He possesses.
The experience of being without sin, of being freed from the consequences of mortality is so hard to describe the Bible typically explains it by mentioning those things that will not exist. For instance, recall those words we heard earlier, “He[God] will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”6 There will be nothing in heaven to detract from our continual enjoyment of God’s presence. We will suffer from no illness or anxiety. We won’t ever get bored. No one will do harm to another.
But there’s no use us speculating on the specific experience of heaven. We are wise simply to employ the biblical language. God promises that those who die in faith are at rest. He promises they receive the crown of eternal life. Phyllis now knows what that means. Leone, find comfort in these promises of God, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.”7 And, “He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart.”8 Phyllis has been gathered into the fold. She is safely in His eternal refuge awaiting the great and glorious day of the resurrection of all flesh. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Christian Burial of Phyllis Marie Klose
14 March 2017
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 2 Corinthians 5:1-2, 4
2 John 5:26
3 John 14:2-3
4 John 11:25
5 John 3:16
6 Revelation 21:4
7Psalm 116:15
8Isaiah 40:11
Text: John 11:25
Theme: Life After Death
Dear family, friends, and loved ones of Phyllis, and especially you, Leone, her daughter,
God receives back His own. He takes them home. Perhaps it’s never perfect timing for us. We’d like just one more day or one more opportunity to spend time or say goodbye. God doesn’t ask for our permission. His simply asks that we trust that He knows best. Not that we should lightly pass over the significance of that request. Death is an ominous and confronting reality. It’s more than we can manage with just our intellect or emotions. It requires the Holy Spirit. God has received Phyllis Klose to Himself. Specifically, that means her soul is in the presence of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, saints and angels. Thanks be to God for the compassionate embrace of His love!
Like all believers, God has been preparing Phyllis for her reception into heaven for some time. Phyliss’s confirmation text was from Second Corinthians, “Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile, we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling…so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.”1
How absolutely marvelous is that! Mortality will be swallowed up by life! Mortality is characterized by limitations. It is marked by decay, by injury, and finally, complete incapacitation. To be mortal is to be subject to obsolescence. Our bodies and minds have an end point at which they are no long able to function. Mortality implies eventual death. As Christians, we understand that sin is the cause of mortality. Adam and Eve were created to live forever. Disobedience brought spiritual, then physical death. It’s a curse we have all inherited. That’s why every contemplation of the meaning of death is also a call to repentance.
But Christ has intervened in this inexorable march towards the final demise. This vortex of darkness that draws all frail beings clinging to life into its abyss has met a superior power. Jesus said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son also to have life in Himself.2 He says, “In My Father’s house are many rooms…I am going there to prepare a place for you…I will come back and take you to be with Me.3 Again, He says, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though He dies.”4 Christ died and rose again for Phyllis. He died and rose again for you. “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
Phyllis lived a long and full life. She persevered through the challenges of running the Malpas store, Post Office, and telephone exchange during both droughts and successful years of farming in the Mallee. She excelled at these vocations while being a faithful wife and devoted mother of three. She witnessed the death of two of her children, something that particularly taxes the heart and soul. Yet her trust did not waver. God’s will was best and through His grace she came to terms with it. Phyllis also witnessed many changes during her lifetime. Horses gave way to tractors. Party-line telephones gave way to mobiles. Daily cooking went from the fire to the microwave. Expectations and roles within society changed too. She lived through the Great Depression and the Second World War. Through it all Phyliss clung to the unchanging nature of God’s love in Christ. She worshipped regularly in His house. She received the blessing of holy communion. She supported the work of His kingdom.
In the era in which she was born Phyliss could be considered to be a miracle baby. The most important recognition of her fragility was the prompt manner in which she was baptized. This precious gift from God would not be taken for granted. Aurthur and Anna believed she belonged to Him. And indeed, she does! She’s only been on loan. The Holy Spirit made a covenant with Phyllis in her baptism and He has now made good on that promise. Baptism entails not only the forgiveness of sins at the time it is administered, but also the security of an eternal inheritance. In baptism, we are adopted into the family of Christ and benefit from all the heavenly treasures He possesses.
The experience of being without sin, of being freed from the consequences of mortality is so hard to describe the Bible typically explains it by mentioning those things that will not exist. For instance, recall those words we heard earlier, “He[God] will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”6 There will be nothing in heaven to detract from our continual enjoyment of God’s presence. We will suffer from no illness or anxiety. We won’t ever get bored. No one will do harm to another.
But there’s no use us speculating on the specific experience of heaven. We are wise simply to employ the biblical language. God promises that those who die in faith are at rest. He promises they receive the crown of eternal life. Phyllis now knows what that means. Leone, find comfort in these promises of God, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.”7 And, “He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart.”8 Phyllis has been gathered into the fold. She is safely in His eternal refuge awaiting the great and glorious day of the resurrection of all flesh. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Christian Burial of Phyllis Marie Klose
14 March 2017
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 2 Corinthians 5:1-2, 4
2 John 5:26
3 John 14:2-3
4 John 11:25
5 John 3:16
6 Revelation 21:4
7Psalm 116:15
8Isaiah 40:11
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