+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Luke 3:22
Theme: Double Vision: The Son and the Spirit
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
Christmas doesn’t fade it grows. It steadily uncovers its glory like a rose opening its petals. The Child of Bethlehem has a destiny. He will be the King of Calvary. The journey in between is what will occupy our attention during the next two seasons of the Church Year. Today is the First Sunday after Epiphany. Epiphany is a transitional season. As the wonder and mystery of the nativity sinks deeper into our hearts the identity of the Messiah becomes more clearly revealed in the Epiphany season. Epiphany means ‘revelation’ or ‘showing forth’. In the Epiphany season we focus on a number of events that demonstrate Jesus was no ordinary man, but the divine Son of God. The events include the visit of the Magi, Jesus’ baptism, His turning the water into wine at the wedding in Cana, His preaching in Nazareth, and the transfiguration on the mountain.
The initial event of our transition is the visit of the Magi. The Magi did not come to the manger. They came to the house. It was their visit that triggered Herod’s ruthless decree to kill the baby boys in Bethlehem less than two years of age. It was an indication of the inevitable conflict that would come with Jesus’ presence in the world. Jesus is the Prince of Peace, but the peace that He brings can only be achieved through confrontation with sin.
We should not be surprised, then, that in today’s gospel reading about Jesus’ baptism there is a clear warning about judgment. Luke says, “His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor.”1 Christ threshes the great harvest for the kingdom of His Father. The Father has given Him the authority to judge. It’s an image common to an agricultural society; it is, nevertheless, a stunning one. It runs in parallel with other harvest images of judgment such as in Revelation 14, “‘Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth’s vine, because its grapes are ripe.’ The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath.”2
There is no question about the intent of the message. The great sorting out of good and evil, the separation of sin and righteousness, the dividing of unbelief and faith, the parting of light from darkness transpires through agency of Christ. The scope is universal. There are no spectators. All must pass through the sieve of divine discernment. Christ threshes thoroughly and precisely. He makes no mistakes. He caters to no favourites. He yields to no biases. All lives lie open before Him. All motives are transparent to His sight. He separates the sheep from the goats never erring. He divides the wheat from the chaff leaving no contamination.
Dear friends, if the divine judgment against sin were not a divine certainty there would be no need for the gospel. There would be no need for the sacrificial intercession of Jesus on behalf of the human race. If sin did not make all believers deserving of hell there would be no need for a Saviour. The Child, whose birth we have just celebrated, is the Redeemer who was crucified. He rose again on the third day bringing forgiveness, life, and salvation to all who believe. This Saviour is present for us in our every need. And yet, the ranks of those who are uninterested continue to grow. Perhaps we are too well acquainted with the gospel?
There is a spiritual parallel to the common wisdom that familiarity breeds contempt. Familiarity can also dull the spiritual senses and lead to apathy. We see it all around us. We know it in our families. We see it in the rapid decline of Christianity in western culture. Materialism presses on us. Secularism tugs at us. Self-promotion and dishonesty are encouraged as means of making progress in society. Even Christians are drawn into the mindset that our lives are ends in them themselves. Spirituality is brokered as a commodity. Even God is used as a means to validate individual opinions. There is no end to the expressions of sinfulness.
Only the Holy Spirit can overcome this infirmity. Undoubtedly that’s why Jesus instructed His disciples to pray for the Holy Spirit. We find Him featuring prominently today at Jesus’ baptism. The appearance of the Holy Spirit in bodily form is significant. This action is unique. The Spirit appears in this way to give clear witness to Christ and bring glory to His name. The voice of the Father is heard audibly. The baptism of Jesus is an epiphany for the Holy Trinity. Those who long to look on the face of God see His perfect image in the person of His Son. When the disciples wanted reassurance, Philip said to Jesus, “‘Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us’ Jesus answered: ‘Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father.”3
So what was important about Jesus’ baptism? Jesus’ baptism was not for His own benefit, but for ours. He had no need to be cleansed from sin. It was necessary, however, that He stand in solidarity with humanity. All of Jesus’ redemptive work involved surrogacy. He did not come to save His own skin, but ours. He had no need to be reconciled to the Father, but we do. He had no need to endure suffering and death, but it was essential for our salvation.
In baptism we become the beneficiaries of Jesus’ death and resurrection. We are reconciled to the heavenly Father. And we are empowered to love our neighbour from a new, freed, perspective.
The love of our neighbour is not theoretical or optional. In life under the cross it is where the rubber meets the road. Relationships are not reconciled through avoidance or the harboring of resentment. Honesty, humility, and the willingness to forgive is the only way forward. Love goes the distance. But human love needs the strength of divine empowerment. Often we can hardly hold up under our own frailty let alone carry the burdens of others. Everyone has limited capacity. But we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. In the hour of need He supplies us. When we realize everything depends Him everything changes. Darkness is turned to light. Crippling loads become light as a feather. What seemed to be drudgery can even become purposeful and gratifying.
Christ is the divine Lover and He always supplies what we lack. Remember what the Scripture says when He was on the threshold of His death. “When Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.”4 What does it mean that He loved them to the end except that He went to the cross! There can be no deeper love than complete sacrifice. At the cross any sentimentality of Christmas is turned to pure reverence. On Easter morning it transitions to pure joy. May the Holy Spirit increase your confidence and joy throughout this season of Epiphany! Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
First Sunday After Epiphany
10 January, 2016
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Luke 3:17
2 Revelation 14:18-19
3 John 14:8-9
4 John 13:1
Monday, January 11, 2016
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
Funeral for Verna Gerlach 5 January 2016
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Psalm 143:10
Theme: Led by the Spirit
Dear family, friends, and loved ones of Verna, and especially you, Pauline, Chris, Marlene, and Raelene, her daughters,
The prayer of a believer never falls on deaf ears. Psalm 143, which includes Verna’s confirmation text, is a fervent plea. Whether uttered in desperation, or in quiet reflection, the Almighty has made a promise to hear. And if He were not true to His promises we would all be without hope! But as it is we are gathered here today to witness the fulfillment of God’s promises to Verna. The Lord Jesus says, “Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.”1 Verna has been crowned with life. She rests from her earthly toil. She enjoys divine peace. Thanks be to God!
God blessed Verna with a long and active life. She saw a lot of change during her lifetime. Tractors replaced horses on the farm. Computers replaced typewriters in the office. Appliances and gadgets of every sort radically changed the daily routine. Not all the change was good. Technology left some people less connected from others and more isolated. Families started meeting together and eating together less and less. Jobs became more of a means to a financial end instead of vocations of service. Societal values have shifted radically during Verna’s lifespan too.
Truth is not held to be an objective reality underpinned by the presence of the Almighty God but simply whatever you deem it to be. Life itself is believed by many to be the result of the random probability that inert material organized itself into complex systems without any rhyme or reason to the process. The deeper meaning of life is increasingly drained of purpose and replaced by the race to acquire more material stuff. A hollowness of soul is encroaching on our culture. Verna was witness to this transition.
We’re accustomed to associating change with progress, invention, and improvement. In regards to technology this is often true. But spiritually things are different. In this fallen world change is ultimately characterized by decay because sin is running its course. When sin is fully mature it results in death. There can be no progress or improvement in the conception of human life. Each infant conceived is unchanged in its human nature from those conceived ten years ago, a hundred years ago, or a thousand years prior. All are born sinners. All need a Saviour. When we reflect on the death of another it’s always an opportune time to consider our own mortality. No one is immune to the consequences of sin. No one is exempt from the power of death. It has the capacity to radically change everything in an instant. Recognizing this truth is always a call to humility and repentance.
But Verna understood, as do all Christians, that one thing does not change. The unfailing love of God in Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. God is immune to decay. He possesses immortal, unending life. That life is mediated through His Son and extended to believers through the Spirit. He says, “For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself.”2 And again, “If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.”3 Verna was led by God’s good Spirit. God’s promises were Verna’s rock and her fortress. Christ was her Good Shepherd.
Verna was faithful in her life of bearing the cross. She was regular in her attendance in God’s house where her faith was strengthen by the gospel and by the reception of Jesus’ body and blood in Holy Communion. In that strength she went about her daily vocation as a wife, mother, and grandmother with dedication and reliability. She worked hard on the fruit blocked, loved her garden, and kept her mind sharp well into old age playing cards. In all these activities Verna still understood that she was journeying through this life to a better, permanent life to come.
That journey can only reach its destination through divine intervention. Verna was saved by grace through faith. Christ carried her sins to the cross and buried them in His tomb. His resurrection proved that He has the power to resurrect her also. The Holy Spirit led her over every hill and through every valley. Through prosperity and adversity He attended her. Verna has now crossed the threshold. She has received her baptismal inheritance. The place in heaven prepared for her is now occupied.
Even though we can rejoice that Verna now rests from her labours grief is still real. It has no cure, humanly speaking. It’s necessary for us to acknowledge loss. It reminds us that life is fragile; that each day is a gift. It reminds us of our own mortality. Most importantly, it reminds us of our need for Christ, the Immortal One. The most eloquently spoken human words can never alleviate the pain of sorrow. Only One has the authority to truly cheer our hearts. Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die.”4 He says, “Do not be afraid. I am the first and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”5
The prayers of Verna Gerlach have been answered. Thanks be to God for His incomparable love! In Christ’s most holy name, amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Christian Burial of Verna Gerlach
5 January, 2016
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Revelation 2:10 2 John 5:26 3 Romans 8:11 4 John 11:25-26 5Revelation 1:17-18
Text: Psalm 143:10
Theme: Led by the Spirit
Dear family, friends, and loved ones of Verna, and especially you, Pauline, Chris, Marlene, and Raelene, her daughters,
The prayer of a believer never falls on deaf ears. Psalm 143, which includes Verna’s confirmation text, is a fervent plea. Whether uttered in desperation, or in quiet reflection, the Almighty has made a promise to hear. And if He were not true to His promises we would all be without hope! But as it is we are gathered here today to witness the fulfillment of God’s promises to Verna. The Lord Jesus says, “Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.”1 Verna has been crowned with life. She rests from her earthly toil. She enjoys divine peace. Thanks be to God!
God blessed Verna with a long and active life. She saw a lot of change during her lifetime. Tractors replaced horses on the farm. Computers replaced typewriters in the office. Appliances and gadgets of every sort radically changed the daily routine. Not all the change was good. Technology left some people less connected from others and more isolated. Families started meeting together and eating together less and less. Jobs became more of a means to a financial end instead of vocations of service. Societal values have shifted radically during Verna’s lifespan too.
Truth is not held to be an objective reality underpinned by the presence of the Almighty God but simply whatever you deem it to be. Life itself is believed by many to be the result of the random probability that inert material organized itself into complex systems without any rhyme or reason to the process. The deeper meaning of life is increasingly drained of purpose and replaced by the race to acquire more material stuff. A hollowness of soul is encroaching on our culture. Verna was witness to this transition.
We’re accustomed to associating change with progress, invention, and improvement. In regards to technology this is often true. But spiritually things are different. In this fallen world change is ultimately characterized by decay because sin is running its course. When sin is fully mature it results in death. There can be no progress or improvement in the conception of human life. Each infant conceived is unchanged in its human nature from those conceived ten years ago, a hundred years ago, or a thousand years prior. All are born sinners. All need a Saviour. When we reflect on the death of another it’s always an opportune time to consider our own mortality. No one is immune to the consequences of sin. No one is exempt from the power of death. It has the capacity to radically change everything in an instant. Recognizing this truth is always a call to humility and repentance.
But Verna understood, as do all Christians, that one thing does not change. The unfailing love of God in Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. God is immune to decay. He possesses immortal, unending life. That life is mediated through His Son and extended to believers through the Spirit. He says, “For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself.”2 And again, “If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.”3 Verna was led by God’s good Spirit. God’s promises were Verna’s rock and her fortress. Christ was her Good Shepherd.
Verna was faithful in her life of bearing the cross. She was regular in her attendance in God’s house where her faith was strengthen by the gospel and by the reception of Jesus’ body and blood in Holy Communion. In that strength she went about her daily vocation as a wife, mother, and grandmother with dedication and reliability. She worked hard on the fruit blocked, loved her garden, and kept her mind sharp well into old age playing cards. In all these activities Verna still understood that she was journeying through this life to a better, permanent life to come.
That journey can only reach its destination through divine intervention. Verna was saved by grace through faith. Christ carried her sins to the cross and buried them in His tomb. His resurrection proved that He has the power to resurrect her also. The Holy Spirit led her over every hill and through every valley. Through prosperity and adversity He attended her. Verna has now crossed the threshold. She has received her baptismal inheritance. The place in heaven prepared for her is now occupied.
Even though we can rejoice that Verna now rests from her labours grief is still real. It has no cure, humanly speaking. It’s necessary for us to acknowledge loss. It reminds us that life is fragile; that each day is a gift. It reminds us of our own mortality. Most importantly, it reminds us of our need for Christ, the Immortal One. The most eloquently spoken human words can never alleviate the pain of sorrow. Only One has the authority to truly cheer our hearts. Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die.”4 He says, “Do not be afraid. I am the first and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”5
The prayers of Verna Gerlach have been answered. Thanks be to God for His incomparable love! In Christ’s most holy name, amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Christian Burial of Verna Gerlach
5 January, 2016
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Revelation 2:10 2 John 5:26 3 Romans 8:11 4 John 11:25-26 5Revelation 1:17-18
Monday, January 4, 2016
Funeral for Art Schubert 4 January 2016
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: John 14:3
Theme: A Place Where I Am
Dear family, friends, and loved ones of Arthur, and especially you, Verna,
Here we are at that place of inevitability; but nonetheless that place we’re never quite ready for. There is no practice for grief. Yes, we begin to grieve already in advance. Sometimes it’s long before we’re certain of the finality. Still, the moment is unique to every grieving spouse, every grieving child; every grieving friend. Genuine heartache is integral to our humanness. There will be some things to help pass the hours and fill the void but there are no replacements. To pretend otherwise is to misunderstand both the meaning of a person’s life and the significance of their death.
Grief stings. It hurts. It has no human cure. Only divine intervention can truly ease the pain of grief. And yet in the midst of sorrow we can give thanks. We can rejoice. Art has entered into his eternal rest. He suffers no more pain. He endures no more anxiety. He has no worries or cares. More importantly, the power of sin over him has been broken. The promise of his baptism has come to fruition. He has been awarded the crown of life. Thanks be to God!
The Scripture says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to be silent, and a time to speak. A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance. A time to be born and a time to die.” 1 But is also says that the last enemy to be destroyed is death2. Now either that is most important truth ever uttered or it is the greatest lie ever told. But it would not be a singular or isolated truth or lie. For death itself does not exist without subjects and it does not exist without a master. The fear of death lies with Satan. It is a powerful fear because it is guttural and tangible.
We should not underestimate how powerfully this can affect us. Some think God should spare us from all pain and ultimately death. They may claim God is either too inept too apathetic. There is a measure of human logic to this reasoning. But we can’t paint God into a box. He is actually being authentic by bringing believers into the next life in this way. God is just and His wrath over sin had to be pacified. His wrath cannot triumph over His compassion. It has been appeased by the blood of His Son. The death of Christ is what makes our deaths meaningful. It is His resurrection that gives victory in the face of what appears to be a defeat. For the Christian death is a seamless transition from time into eternity.
Dear friends, we can look back over life, assessing regrets and cherishing accomplishments. We lament failures and rejoice in successes. We may be filled with gratitude for blessings or resentment for wrongs that were never rectified. To be occupied with these things is typical of what it means to be human. But at that hour when the angels draw near, when our niche in heaven’s abode is almost complete, when our mortality has just about reached its limits; at that moment when the memories come flooding in life an ocean’s tide, nothing can bring peace to the soul save for the words of Him who stepped out of death’s grip, defying the power of the grave. He says, “Do not be afraid. I am the first and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”3
The Scriptures help us to dispel popular misperception about death. Art has no interest in looking down on us. His soul is in the presence of Christ. His body awaits the great and awesome day of the resurrection of all flesh. He has no duty of care; no obligation to us who remain. Christ handles those things. He has neither concerns, nor queries, nor need for amusement. He is at peace and his joy knows no limits. He has been released from all the consequences of sin. There are no barriers to His enjoyment of divine love. We must be finished with all childish ideas that the saints in heaven are endlessly occupied with trivial pursuits like hobbies or personal interests, or that heaven will be boring or tedious. When we behold the face of God the enthrallment will sufficiently occupy all of our senses to the fullest capacity.
Art was devoted in his walk of faith. He was seldom absent from God’s house of worship. Here he was repeatedly strengthened by the forgiveness of sins proclaimed from the Scriptures and offered in the Lord’s Supper. The promise God first made to Him in his baptism has now been fulfilled. Redeemed by Christ’s blood, Art was declared righteous, like all repentant sinners, because of Jesus’ sacrificial death. Not his piety, not his good deeds, not his support for the mission of the church carried him over the threshold, but only the sheer mercy of God. No one is saved in any other way.
Grief is never something to be ignored or dismissed lightly. But it does not rule because death does not have the last word. Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die.”4 He says, “I am going there to prepare a place for you…that you also may be where I am.”5 That “place” is described in this way, “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”6 Verna, may you be comforted especially with these truths.
Art Schubert is in that place. It’s more than a place where believers are kept safe. It’s the place where vitality and life know no bounds. It’s the place where the Saviour is met face to face. Thanks be to God that Art has taken his place in the assembly of the saints! May the Holy Spirit substantiate this truth in our hearts! Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Christian Burial of Art Schubert
4 January, 2016
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Ecclesiastes 3:1, 6, 7, 4, 2 2 See 1 Corinthians 15:26
3 Revelation 1:17-18 4 John 11:25-26 5John 14:2-3 6Revelation 21:4
Text: John 14:3
Theme: A Place Where I Am
Dear family, friends, and loved ones of Arthur, and especially you, Verna,
Here we are at that place of inevitability; but nonetheless that place we’re never quite ready for. There is no practice for grief. Yes, we begin to grieve already in advance. Sometimes it’s long before we’re certain of the finality. Still, the moment is unique to every grieving spouse, every grieving child; every grieving friend. Genuine heartache is integral to our humanness. There will be some things to help pass the hours and fill the void but there are no replacements. To pretend otherwise is to misunderstand both the meaning of a person’s life and the significance of their death.
Grief stings. It hurts. It has no human cure. Only divine intervention can truly ease the pain of grief. And yet in the midst of sorrow we can give thanks. We can rejoice. Art has entered into his eternal rest. He suffers no more pain. He endures no more anxiety. He has no worries or cares. More importantly, the power of sin over him has been broken. The promise of his baptism has come to fruition. He has been awarded the crown of life. Thanks be to God!
The Scripture says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to be silent, and a time to speak. A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance. A time to be born and a time to die.” 1 But is also says that the last enemy to be destroyed is death2. Now either that is most important truth ever uttered or it is the greatest lie ever told. But it would not be a singular or isolated truth or lie. For death itself does not exist without subjects and it does not exist without a master. The fear of death lies with Satan. It is a powerful fear because it is guttural and tangible.
We should not underestimate how powerfully this can affect us. Some think God should spare us from all pain and ultimately death. They may claim God is either too inept too apathetic. There is a measure of human logic to this reasoning. But we can’t paint God into a box. He is actually being authentic by bringing believers into the next life in this way. God is just and His wrath over sin had to be pacified. His wrath cannot triumph over His compassion. It has been appeased by the blood of His Son. The death of Christ is what makes our deaths meaningful. It is His resurrection that gives victory in the face of what appears to be a defeat. For the Christian death is a seamless transition from time into eternity.
Dear friends, we can look back over life, assessing regrets and cherishing accomplishments. We lament failures and rejoice in successes. We may be filled with gratitude for blessings or resentment for wrongs that were never rectified. To be occupied with these things is typical of what it means to be human. But at that hour when the angels draw near, when our niche in heaven’s abode is almost complete, when our mortality has just about reached its limits; at that moment when the memories come flooding in life an ocean’s tide, nothing can bring peace to the soul save for the words of Him who stepped out of death’s grip, defying the power of the grave. He says, “Do not be afraid. I am the first and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”3
The Scriptures help us to dispel popular misperception about death. Art has no interest in looking down on us. His soul is in the presence of Christ. His body awaits the great and awesome day of the resurrection of all flesh. He has no duty of care; no obligation to us who remain. Christ handles those things. He has neither concerns, nor queries, nor need for amusement. He is at peace and his joy knows no limits. He has been released from all the consequences of sin. There are no barriers to His enjoyment of divine love. We must be finished with all childish ideas that the saints in heaven are endlessly occupied with trivial pursuits like hobbies or personal interests, or that heaven will be boring or tedious. When we behold the face of God the enthrallment will sufficiently occupy all of our senses to the fullest capacity.
Art was devoted in his walk of faith. He was seldom absent from God’s house of worship. Here he was repeatedly strengthened by the forgiveness of sins proclaimed from the Scriptures and offered in the Lord’s Supper. The promise God first made to Him in his baptism has now been fulfilled. Redeemed by Christ’s blood, Art was declared righteous, like all repentant sinners, because of Jesus’ sacrificial death. Not his piety, not his good deeds, not his support for the mission of the church carried him over the threshold, but only the sheer mercy of God. No one is saved in any other way.
Grief is never something to be ignored or dismissed lightly. But it does not rule because death does not have the last word. Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die.”4 He says, “I am going there to prepare a place for you…that you also may be where I am.”5 That “place” is described in this way, “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”6 Verna, may you be comforted especially with these truths.
Art Schubert is in that place. It’s more than a place where believers are kept safe. It’s the place where vitality and life know no bounds. It’s the place where the Saviour is met face to face. Thanks be to God that Art has taken his place in the assembly of the saints! May the Holy Spirit substantiate this truth in our hearts! Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Christian Burial of Art Schubert
4 January, 2016
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Ecclesiastes 3:1, 6, 7, 4, 2 2 See 1 Corinthians 15:26
3 Revelation 1:17-18 4 John 11:25-26 5John 14:2-3 6Revelation 21:4
Sunday, January 3, 2016
Second Sunday after Christmas (C) 2016
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: John 1:1-4
Theme: Word and Life
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
The beginning of John’s gospel is weighty. The Holy Spirit cuts to the quick. “Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.”1 He’s not introducing casual information in hope that uninterested mortals might pause to satisfy their curiosity. There’s no small talk to build rapport in the manner we might talk about the weather, our plans for New Year, or the outcome of the game. He moves immediately to the heart of the message: The Babe of Bethlehem is the Messiah; the Eternal Word; the Source and Author of life; the only Light that pierces the spiritual darkness. He is the immortal God in human vesture. He is full of grace and truth.
John fully intends his listeners to ponder the deeper questions of existence. How did everything come to be? What’s our place in it? What does the future hold? What lies beneath the surface, beyond the horizons, and behind the threshold? How can we make sense of our existence even as we plod along in our daily routines?
The starting point is our status in relation to God. We have no power to sustain life. We have no ability to be redeemed by obedience to the God’s law. “The law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”2 Paul reminds us that long before the law was given sin and death were in the world. The knowledge of God was written on the heart, it was etched on the will. Sin and death were unalterable, immovable parts of reality. Even in their longevity the ancients were aware of their mortality. When wickedness increased in the early generations God said, “My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal.”3 Sin brought death. It was inevitable. Aside from a couple of notable exceptions- namely Enoch and Elijah- who were swept into the presence of the divine, all would succumb to its curse.
Nothing has changed. Today our society struggles to distinguish between civility and Christianity. This is nothing new. Scholars in the church have long argued about whether the ancient pagan philosophers were saved by their ethical integrity. Were Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle redeemed by virtue of their contribution to society? Can any altruistic person be pardoned by God in spite of steadfast unbelief? The Scripture has a clear answer.
Dear friends, do not be deceived. There are many who seek the prosperity of our society, contributing sacrificially and tirelessly to the improvement of systems and conditions that benefit the lives of many. These investments are to be commended. Yet they steadfastly deny the final judgment, accountability to the Almighty, and the inevitability of life either with God or eternally separated from Him. The Scripture says flatly that they walk in darkness. They are the blind leading the blind. Like us they are called to repentance.
Without knowledge of God’s true disposition towards us it’s impossible to make sense of the contradiction of life. One day the warmth of the sun brings a smile to the face. The next day it brings terror to the heart. One day its heat dissipates a cold chill. The next it facilitates a destructive fire. One day the passion of a lover binds one closely to the spouse. The next day it turns to lust for another and tears the union apart. One day a child is born, cherished by its parents. The next day a child is aborted, its life deemed worthless. One day a neighbour is commended, praised for her virtue and support. The next, day condemned, slandered for her failure to agree with one’s opinions. These are the contrasts and inconsistencies of life. Unbelievers experience them too but view them from a different perspective. They trapped within the framework of the law.
You see, the gospel is not a Christianized version of a universal code of ethical standard. It’s not a platform for the progress of temporal prosperity. It’s not one in a long list of human ideologies meant to facilitate an understanding of how the human psyche can be pacified or gratified in the face of life’s prosperities and adversities. It’s not a plan for self-help or a formula for do-it-yourself achievement. The gospel is the light that shines in the darkness.
The gospel breaks in upon us like the sudden rays of the sun through a dark cloud; like the nativity angels to the shepherds in dark fields. It asks no questions. It makes no demands. It calculates no exertions. It judges no motives. It takes count of no failures. It measures no transgressions. It comes dripping with grace. It comes laden with peace. It comes bearing forgiveness. It proclaims boldly and clearly the unparalleled news that in Jesus Christ the power of sin has been overthrown. The infant of Bethlehem will sit on the throne of heavenly Zion. “Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end.”Isaiah 9:7
“He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.”Ephesians 1:4 Think how mind-blowing that is: Before the creation of the world! Baptism is the point at which God’s eternal plan becomes truly meaningful for the believer. God is no longer only the Creator and Judge, He also becomes the Redeemer. You become a heir to His kingdom. And you become the ongoing focus of His attentive love.
Each Sunday the Holy Spirit continues to meet you in the promise of your baptism. He keeps you connected with the source of life. “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”John 1:14 Come and eat the body of the incarnate One. Come, drink His precious blood. In this sacrament we see His glory. With the eyes of faith we touch and taste His forgiveness.
Dear friends, death is not the answer nor does it have the final say. Death is not the solution; a convenient method of escape for those no longer able to cope with the burdens of this life. Nor is it the last word. Its power to silence has been broken. “For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.”1 Corinthians 15:25-26The crucifixion has robbed death of its power. The risen Jesus lives, never to die again.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Second Sunday After Christmas
3 January, 2016
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 John 1:3-4
2 John 1:17
3 Genesis 6:3
4 Colossians 3:12-14
5 1 Corinthians 13:12
6 John 1:14
Text: John 1:1-4
Theme: Word and Life
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
The beginning of John’s gospel is weighty. The Holy Spirit cuts to the quick. “Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.”1 He’s not introducing casual information in hope that uninterested mortals might pause to satisfy their curiosity. There’s no small talk to build rapport in the manner we might talk about the weather, our plans for New Year, or the outcome of the game. He moves immediately to the heart of the message: The Babe of Bethlehem is the Messiah; the Eternal Word; the Source and Author of life; the only Light that pierces the spiritual darkness. He is the immortal God in human vesture. He is full of grace and truth.
John fully intends his listeners to ponder the deeper questions of existence. How did everything come to be? What’s our place in it? What does the future hold? What lies beneath the surface, beyond the horizons, and behind the threshold? How can we make sense of our existence even as we plod along in our daily routines?
The starting point is our status in relation to God. We have no power to sustain life. We have no ability to be redeemed by obedience to the God’s law. “The law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”2 Paul reminds us that long before the law was given sin and death were in the world. The knowledge of God was written on the heart, it was etched on the will. Sin and death were unalterable, immovable parts of reality. Even in their longevity the ancients were aware of their mortality. When wickedness increased in the early generations God said, “My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal.”3 Sin brought death. It was inevitable. Aside from a couple of notable exceptions- namely Enoch and Elijah- who were swept into the presence of the divine, all would succumb to its curse.
Nothing has changed. Today our society struggles to distinguish between civility and Christianity. This is nothing new. Scholars in the church have long argued about whether the ancient pagan philosophers were saved by their ethical integrity. Were Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle redeemed by virtue of their contribution to society? Can any altruistic person be pardoned by God in spite of steadfast unbelief? The Scripture has a clear answer.
Dear friends, do not be deceived. There are many who seek the prosperity of our society, contributing sacrificially and tirelessly to the improvement of systems and conditions that benefit the lives of many. These investments are to be commended. Yet they steadfastly deny the final judgment, accountability to the Almighty, and the inevitability of life either with God or eternally separated from Him. The Scripture says flatly that they walk in darkness. They are the blind leading the blind. Like us they are called to repentance.
Without knowledge of God’s true disposition towards us it’s impossible to make sense of the contradiction of life. One day the warmth of the sun brings a smile to the face. The next day it brings terror to the heart. One day its heat dissipates a cold chill. The next it facilitates a destructive fire. One day the passion of a lover binds one closely to the spouse. The next day it turns to lust for another and tears the union apart. One day a child is born, cherished by its parents. The next day a child is aborted, its life deemed worthless. One day a neighbour is commended, praised for her virtue and support. The next, day condemned, slandered for her failure to agree with one’s opinions. These are the contrasts and inconsistencies of life. Unbelievers experience them too but view them from a different perspective. They trapped within the framework of the law.
You see, the gospel is not a Christianized version of a universal code of ethical standard. It’s not a platform for the progress of temporal prosperity. It’s not one in a long list of human ideologies meant to facilitate an understanding of how the human psyche can be pacified or gratified in the face of life’s prosperities and adversities. It’s not a plan for self-help or a formula for do-it-yourself achievement. The gospel is the light that shines in the darkness.
The gospel breaks in upon us like the sudden rays of the sun through a dark cloud; like the nativity angels to the shepherds in dark fields. It asks no questions. It makes no demands. It calculates no exertions. It judges no motives. It takes count of no failures. It measures no transgressions. It comes dripping with grace. It comes laden with peace. It comes bearing forgiveness. It proclaims boldly and clearly the unparalleled news that in Jesus Christ the power of sin has been overthrown. The infant of Bethlehem will sit on the throne of heavenly Zion. “Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end.”Isaiah 9:7
“He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.”Ephesians 1:4 Think how mind-blowing that is: Before the creation of the world! Baptism is the point at which God’s eternal plan becomes truly meaningful for the believer. God is no longer only the Creator and Judge, He also becomes the Redeemer. You become a heir to His kingdom. And you become the ongoing focus of His attentive love.
Each Sunday the Holy Spirit continues to meet you in the promise of your baptism. He keeps you connected with the source of life. “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”John 1:14 Come and eat the body of the incarnate One. Come, drink His precious blood. In this sacrament we see His glory. With the eyes of faith we touch and taste His forgiveness.
Dear friends, death is not the answer nor does it have the final say. Death is not the solution; a convenient method of escape for those no longer able to cope with the burdens of this life. Nor is it the last word. Its power to silence has been broken. “For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.”1 Corinthians 15:25-26The crucifixion has robbed death of its power. The risen Jesus lives, never to die again.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Second Sunday After Christmas
3 January, 2016
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 John 1:3-4
2 John 1:17
3 Genesis 6:3
4 Colossians 3:12-14
5 1 Corinthians 13:12
6 John 1:14
Saturday, January 2, 2016
Funeral for Hedley Milich January 2nd 2016
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: John 5:24
Theme: Death To Life
Dear family, friends, and loved ones of Hedley; Vicki, Steven, and especially you, Dorothy,
God speaks to us today words of hope and words of life. And His words have authority. The God who spoke the universe into existence out nothing and redeemed the human race through the Word-become-flesh, is the same God who welcomes believers into His presence with incontestable words. This he has done for Hedley Milich. Jesus says, “I tell you the truth, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life…he has crossed over from death to life.”1 The truth of these words is vital beyond all others.
It’s certainly not our choice to be forced to pause and reflect on this occasion. But death doesn’t give us choices. It only issues ultimatums. The ultimatums it issues are not manageable with the resources humans have at their disposal. Death is the point at which human impotence is fully exposed. It’s not part of the natural cycle of the universe. It’s the consequence of the human race becoming estranged from God. Death is the final temporal consequence of the curse of sin. The Holy Spirit could hardly issue a clearer call to repentance than to cause us to reflect clearly on mortality. If we don’t believe we are at God’s mercy how will we face our own death? We’ve been conditioned to think that age, frailty, or suffering makes death more timely; more acceptable. But death is only timely when we understand it as the moment God choses to relieve the believer from the burden of sin.
The untimeliness of sin’s curse was rectified by God in His own time. The Scripture says, “When the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under Law, in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law.”2 In the face of a reality that is far beyond the control of all human powers, only the assurances of the Almighty have meaning. The most well-prepared and eloquently delivered human words are but hollow sounds in comparison with Him who holds the very power of life and death in His hands. Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die.”3 He says, “Do not be afraid. I am the first and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”4
On the cross Jesus said, “It is finished.”5 Those were life-giving words for all who believe. Those were words that finalized God’s eternal, divine love. Heady knew Christ’s words. He knew His love. Like all who pass through the portal to heaven, Hedley was a sinner who was saved by grace. In his baptism he was deemed a saint. He has now become the beneficiary of his inheritance. He has become a participant with the heavenly hosts, saints and angels, in ceaseless enthrallment with the triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Heaven will involve an intimacy, and rapport with others that is simply not possible in this life. And that probably suits Hedley just fine. Hedley had a keen and lively interest in people. He liked to be up to speed with their interests, circumstances, and the challenges and joys of their lives. It was a quality he especially modeled with those he was closest to. He was dedicated to his family; a faithful husband, devoted father, and passionate grandfather. The time he spent with them was marked with genuine enjoyment.
Hedley spent his vocational life working the land. He knew what a hard day’s work was and he understood that farming depends on the providence of God. His faith was part and parcel with his perspective on life. Hedley was a dedicated and active servant in God’s kingdom. He was a regular attender in God’s house and attentive to the Word. I remember distinctly when I took Divine Services at Riverview that though Hedley’s eyesight was failing he was listening intently. Not infrequently he had a relevant query or comment. He meditated on God’s promises and they bore fruit in his life.
Hedley has been freed from all the consequences of sin. At the resurrection his sight will be fully restored and he will behold the face of God. Believers in the past have called this the ‘beatific vision’. It is the direct, unmediated communication of God with the individual person. But for us who remain under the burdens of our mortality we struggle along in faith. God communicates with us through His word and sacraments. Dorothy, you can never be closer to Hedley- not at the cemetery, not in your fondest or most vivid memories- then you will be when you take Holy Communion. For in that sacred meal you communicate with the risen Christ in whose presence Hedley now dwells. May the Holy Spirit temper your grief with that promise! May the Good Shepherd guide you through the dark valleys until you meet him again in glory!
You may have noticed during the reading of the obituary that the number seven featured prominently in Hedley and Dorothy’s life. Seven years at Nangari. Seven years at Yinkannie. Seven years at Bugle Hut. Almost seven years at Pyap West too. Seven is a very biblical number. It is a number of completeness. It is the number for the Sabbath; the day of rest. Hedley now rests from his labours. He enjoys an eternal Sabbath for he has entered into the rest that Christ provides for all the faithful. He has crossed over from death to life. Thanks be to God! In Christ’s most holy name, amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Christian Burial of Hedley Milich
2 January, 2016
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 John 5:24 2 Galatians 4:4-5 3 John 11:25-26 4 Revelation 1:17-18
5 John 19:30
Text: John 5:24
Theme: Death To Life
Dear family, friends, and loved ones of Hedley; Vicki, Steven, and especially you, Dorothy,
God speaks to us today words of hope and words of life. And His words have authority. The God who spoke the universe into existence out nothing and redeemed the human race through the Word-become-flesh, is the same God who welcomes believers into His presence with incontestable words. This he has done for Hedley Milich. Jesus says, “I tell you the truth, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life…he has crossed over from death to life.”1 The truth of these words is vital beyond all others.
It’s certainly not our choice to be forced to pause and reflect on this occasion. But death doesn’t give us choices. It only issues ultimatums. The ultimatums it issues are not manageable with the resources humans have at their disposal. Death is the point at which human impotence is fully exposed. It’s not part of the natural cycle of the universe. It’s the consequence of the human race becoming estranged from God. Death is the final temporal consequence of the curse of sin. The Holy Spirit could hardly issue a clearer call to repentance than to cause us to reflect clearly on mortality. If we don’t believe we are at God’s mercy how will we face our own death? We’ve been conditioned to think that age, frailty, or suffering makes death more timely; more acceptable. But death is only timely when we understand it as the moment God choses to relieve the believer from the burden of sin.
The untimeliness of sin’s curse was rectified by God in His own time. The Scripture says, “When the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under Law, in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law.”2 In the face of a reality that is far beyond the control of all human powers, only the assurances of the Almighty have meaning. The most well-prepared and eloquently delivered human words are but hollow sounds in comparison with Him who holds the very power of life and death in His hands. Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die.”3 He says, “Do not be afraid. I am the first and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”4
On the cross Jesus said, “It is finished.”5 Those were life-giving words for all who believe. Those were words that finalized God’s eternal, divine love. Heady knew Christ’s words. He knew His love. Like all who pass through the portal to heaven, Hedley was a sinner who was saved by grace. In his baptism he was deemed a saint. He has now become the beneficiary of his inheritance. He has become a participant with the heavenly hosts, saints and angels, in ceaseless enthrallment with the triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Heaven will involve an intimacy, and rapport with others that is simply not possible in this life. And that probably suits Hedley just fine. Hedley had a keen and lively interest in people. He liked to be up to speed with their interests, circumstances, and the challenges and joys of their lives. It was a quality he especially modeled with those he was closest to. He was dedicated to his family; a faithful husband, devoted father, and passionate grandfather. The time he spent with them was marked with genuine enjoyment.
Hedley spent his vocational life working the land. He knew what a hard day’s work was and he understood that farming depends on the providence of God. His faith was part and parcel with his perspective on life. Hedley was a dedicated and active servant in God’s kingdom. He was a regular attender in God’s house and attentive to the Word. I remember distinctly when I took Divine Services at Riverview that though Hedley’s eyesight was failing he was listening intently. Not infrequently he had a relevant query or comment. He meditated on God’s promises and they bore fruit in his life.
Hedley has been freed from all the consequences of sin. At the resurrection his sight will be fully restored and he will behold the face of God. Believers in the past have called this the ‘beatific vision’. It is the direct, unmediated communication of God with the individual person. But for us who remain under the burdens of our mortality we struggle along in faith. God communicates with us through His word and sacraments. Dorothy, you can never be closer to Hedley- not at the cemetery, not in your fondest or most vivid memories- then you will be when you take Holy Communion. For in that sacred meal you communicate with the risen Christ in whose presence Hedley now dwells. May the Holy Spirit temper your grief with that promise! May the Good Shepherd guide you through the dark valleys until you meet him again in glory!
You may have noticed during the reading of the obituary that the number seven featured prominently in Hedley and Dorothy’s life. Seven years at Nangari. Seven years at Yinkannie. Seven years at Bugle Hut. Almost seven years at Pyap West too. Seven is a very biblical number. It is a number of completeness. It is the number for the Sabbath; the day of rest. Hedley now rests from his labours. He enjoys an eternal Sabbath for he has entered into the rest that Christ provides for all the faithful. He has crossed over from death to life. Thanks be to God! In Christ’s most holy name, amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Christian Burial of Hedley Milich
2 January, 2016
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 John 5:24 2 Galatians 4:4-5 3 John 11:25-26 4 Revelation 1:17-18
5 John 19:30
Monday, December 28, 2015
First Sunday After Christmas (B) 2015
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Luke 2:50
Theme: No Longer Misunderstood
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
From the beginning Jesus was misunderstood. It may seem strange to suggest that considering we’re in the midst of celebrating the most widely acknowledged event in the history of the world. Yet, our familiarity with Christmas should not blind us to the struggle to reach the hardened human heart, as John says, “The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.”1 But the Spirit has, and it’s through His eyes that we see.
For some, one of the great travesties of modern times is to be misunderstood. They have no case for complaint compared to our Lord. Jesus was twelve when He identified Himself as God’s Son. After returning from refuge in Egypt the family of Jesus settled down in Nazareth. It was where Jesus spent most of His time as a child. About His childhood we know almost nothing. Nothing significant is recorded in the Scriptures for us until He reaches the age of twelve. Today we find Him in Jerusalem for the annual celebration of the Jewish Passover. Twelve seems to have been the age of maturity in regards to religious things in Jewish culture.
On their homeward journey Mary and Joseph realized Jesus was not in their company. Returning, they found Him in the temple courts engaging with the religious teachers. In response to the rebuke of His mother, Jesus poses questions that relate to His identity, “‘Why were you searching for Me? He asked. ‘Didn’t you know that I had to be in My Father’s house?’”2 Mary and Joseph could not yet understand what Jesus meant? We should be slow to criticize them. It’s a theme that would be repeated throughout Jesus life. The demons recognized Christ’s divinity before His own followers. It’s little wonder, since His claims were more than human hearts could comprehend. It would take a cross, and empty tomb, and the power of the Holy Spirit before the scales would fall from peoples’ eyes.
Later in His life Jess would be rejected in His hometown of Nazareth. The day had not yet come for Him to be understood. Sin still blinds people today to His truth and live. The political correctness of our day demands that people be accepted for who they. Often this is nothing less than a license for engaging in any activity that takes one’s fancy. It’s a way to exempt responsibility and encourage negligence. In spiritual terms it often means condoning that which is clearly against God’s will. It means the sanctioning of sin.
None of us is immune to this influence. It pulls at us, constantly testing our resolve. Satan poses his questions softly and subtly. Are you really the sinner God’s law makes you out to be? Do you really need to fear the threat of condemnation? Are you really lacking any spiritual righteousness or moral integrity of your own? When we begin to yield to these temptations the glorious purpose of the gospel immediately starts to become diminished. Soon we have no essential need for a Saviour to be born for us. His nativity becomes a romantic story.
Dear friends, the history of the Christian church is characterized by the constant struggle to clearly and correctly proclaim God’s truth in a way that people believe themselves to be sinners and are accordingly opened to the true grace of the Saviour. This grace of Christmas, this mercy of Easter is the true cause of our joy. Our Lutheran forefathers expressed it in this way, “Without any merit or worthiness on our part, and without any preceding, present, or subsequent works, by sheer grace, solely through the merit of the total obedience, the bitter passion, the death, and the resurrection of Christ, our Lord, whose obedience is reckoned to us as righteousness. The Holy Spirit offers theses treasures to us in the promise of the Gospel, and faith is the only means whereby we can apprehend, accept, and apply them to ourselves, and make them our own. Faith is a gift of God whereby we rightly learn to know Christ as our redeemer…”3
Let these words sink deeply into your hearts, my friends: you can never be misunderstood by God. Not only does He understand you, He loves you. And He loves you not because He understands you, but in spite of what He understands about you. He understands what hopeless, hapless, miserable sinners we are. And yet He does not pull away. Nor does He send aid from a distance in a cold, aloof manner. Because His heart aches His body was broken. Because His zeal could not be repressed His blood was spilled- all for you.
You may have to adjust to being misunderstood by many, perhaps even those closest to you. But never by the child of the manger who became the victim of the cross. The breadth of human experience has been embrace by Him. Though He had no sin of His own He became the greatest of sinners. And He sends you out as one redeemed sinner to serve others. The Scripture says, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”4
For those gifted with the eyes of faith the Redeemer is no longer misunderstood. Joseph and Mary queried His obedience at the age of twelve. He was about His Father’s business. Soon He would become obedient to the point of death; even death on the cross. In the crucifixion God is most clearly understood. Still, it’s but a glimpse. Paul writes, “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”5
Today is the day on the church calendar for the commemoration of St. John. John was one of Jesus’ closest disciples and author of the gospel and three epistles that bear his name. He was exiled to the island of Patmos where he wrote the Book of Revelation. It is through John that the Holy Spirit gives the fullest explanation of the incarnation of Jesus. “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”6
The angels have not ceased their singing. So let us join their chorus throughout this Christmastide. Good tidings of great joy are extended to all the sons of Adam and all the daughters of Eve. Sinners, one and all, we have salvation in the One who was born for. Let us cherish the words of the prophets, meditate on the words of the apostles, and imitate the faithful who have confessed His name even to the point of death. A joy awaits us that far surpasses the most intense celebrations we can experience in this mortal flesh. When we gaze upon the face of God we will understand what it means to be fully released from the bondage of sin. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
First Sunday After Christmas
27 December, 2015
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 John 1:5
2 Luke 2:49
3 SD II
4 Colossians 3:12-14
5 1 Corinthians 13:12
6 John 1:14
Text: Luke 2:50
Theme: No Longer Misunderstood
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
From the beginning Jesus was misunderstood. It may seem strange to suggest that considering we’re in the midst of celebrating the most widely acknowledged event in the history of the world. Yet, our familiarity with Christmas should not blind us to the struggle to reach the hardened human heart, as John says, “The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.”1 But the Spirit has, and it’s through His eyes that we see.
For some, one of the great travesties of modern times is to be misunderstood. They have no case for complaint compared to our Lord. Jesus was twelve when He identified Himself as God’s Son. After returning from refuge in Egypt the family of Jesus settled down in Nazareth. It was where Jesus spent most of His time as a child. About His childhood we know almost nothing. Nothing significant is recorded in the Scriptures for us until He reaches the age of twelve. Today we find Him in Jerusalem for the annual celebration of the Jewish Passover. Twelve seems to have been the age of maturity in regards to religious things in Jewish culture.
On their homeward journey Mary and Joseph realized Jesus was not in their company. Returning, they found Him in the temple courts engaging with the religious teachers. In response to the rebuke of His mother, Jesus poses questions that relate to His identity, “‘Why were you searching for Me? He asked. ‘Didn’t you know that I had to be in My Father’s house?’”2 Mary and Joseph could not yet understand what Jesus meant? We should be slow to criticize them. It’s a theme that would be repeated throughout Jesus life. The demons recognized Christ’s divinity before His own followers. It’s little wonder, since His claims were more than human hearts could comprehend. It would take a cross, and empty tomb, and the power of the Holy Spirit before the scales would fall from peoples’ eyes.
Later in His life Jess would be rejected in His hometown of Nazareth. The day had not yet come for Him to be understood. Sin still blinds people today to His truth and live. The political correctness of our day demands that people be accepted for who they. Often this is nothing less than a license for engaging in any activity that takes one’s fancy. It’s a way to exempt responsibility and encourage negligence. In spiritual terms it often means condoning that which is clearly against God’s will. It means the sanctioning of sin.
None of us is immune to this influence. It pulls at us, constantly testing our resolve. Satan poses his questions softly and subtly. Are you really the sinner God’s law makes you out to be? Do you really need to fear the threat of condemnation? Are you really lacking any spiritual righteousness or moral integrity of your own? When we begin to yield to these temptations the glorious purpose of the gospel immediately starts to become diminished. Soon we have no essential need for a Saviour to be born for us. His nativity becomes a romantic story.
Dear friends, the history of the Christian church is characterized by the constant struggle to clearly and correctly proclaim God’s truth in a way that people believe themselves to be sinners and are accordingly opened to the true grace of the Saviour. This grace of Christmas, this mercy of Easter is the true cause of our joy. Our Lutheran forefathers expressed it in this way, “Without any merit or worthiness on our part, and without any preceding, present, or subsequent works, by sheer grace, solely through the merit of the total obedience, the bitter passion, the death, and the resurrection of Christ, our Lord, whose obedience is reckoned to us as righteousness. The Holy Spirit offers theses treasures to us in the promise of the Gospel, and faith is the only means whereby we can apprehend, accept, and apply them to ourselves, and make them our own. Faith is a gift of God whereby we rightly learn to know Christ as our redeemer…”3
Let these words sink deeply into your hearts, my friends: you can never be misunderstood by God. Not only does He understand you, He loves you. And He loves you not because He understands you, but in spite of what He understands about you. He understands what hopeless, hapless, miserable sinners we are. And yet He does not pull away. Nor does He send aid from a distance in a cold, aloof manner. Because His heart aches His body was broken. Because His zeal could not be repressed His blood was spilled- all for you.
You may have to adjust to being misunderstood by many, perhaps even those closest to you. But never by the child of the manger who became the victim of the cross. The breadth of human experience has been embrace by Him. Though He had no sin of His own He became the greatest of sinners. And He sends you out as one redeemed sinner to serve others. The Scripture says, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”4
For those gifted with the eyes of faith the Redeemer is no longer misunderstood. Joseph and Mary queried His obedience at the age of twelve. He was about His Father’s business. Soon He would become obedient to the point of death; even death on the cross. In the crucifixion God is most clearly understood. Still, it’s but a glimpse. Paul writes, “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”5
Today is the day on the church calendar for the commemoration of St. John. John was one of Jesus’ closest disciples and author of the gospel and three epistles that bear his name. He was exiled to the island of Patmos where he wrote the Book of Revelation. It is through John that the Holy Spirit gives the fullest explanation of the incarnation of Jesus. “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”6
The angels have not ceased their singing. So let us join their chorus throughout this Christmastide. Good tidings of great joy are extended to all the sons of Adam and all the daughters of Eve. Sinners, one and all, we have salvation in the One who was born for. Let us cherish the words of the prophets, meditate on the words of the apostles, and imitate the faithful who have confessed His name even to the point of death. A joy awaits us that far surpasses the most intense celebrations we can experience in this mortal flesh. When we gaze upon the face of God we will understand what it means to be fully released from the bondage of sin. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
First Sunday After Christmas
27 December, 2015
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 John 1:5
2 Luke 2:49
3 SD II
4 Colossians 3:12-14
5 1 Corinthians 13:12
6 John 1:14
Saturday, December 26, 2015
Christmas Day 2015
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Luke 2:11
Theme: Born For You
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
The “you” in Luke two verse eleven is plural. That means the Saviour has come for the whole human race. But in His book of love, the Holy Scriptures, God intends this news for every individual sinner; great and small. Luther says it in this way, “See to it that you do not find pleasure in the Gospel only as a history, for that is only transient; neither regard it only as an example, for it is of no value without faith; but see to it that you make this birth your own and that Christ be born in you. This will be the case if you believe…”1 The miracle of Christmas is yours even if all others were ignorant of, or dismissive of this marvelous truth.
Dear friends, today we celebrate the coming of the Prince of Peace into the world. But even on Christmas Day peace and concord are not the order of the day for some. Tensions mount, tempers boil over, some withdraw, others confront. The frantic pace of the season catches up with many. The pressure to spend and the temptations to overindulge are relentless.
Can we admit we are overscheduled? No one ever has enough time. We all have the same number of hours each day and yet we still feel slighted. We try to keep up with the Jones’s. Jealousy and coveting are rife. The influence of sin is undeniable in our lives. The holiness of the season can quickly lose its luster. It’s Christmas but we’re sinners still the same.
Often our expectations of the Prince of Peace are misguided. We cannot have peace by our own human definition. We may pursue tranquility and we may achieve a measure of it. We may successfully structure our lives to avoid the hassles and heartaches that are common to broken relationships, poor health, and financial uncertainty. God may bless us with a measure of success here too. But we dare not confuse these for the peace of which Christ speaks. He speaks of a conscience set at ease by the certainty that the Almighty God no longer looks at us with condemnation but with compassion. He speaks of a heart fully confident that neither Satan, nor hell, nor all earthly adversaries arrayed against us can separate us from the love of God in Christ.
Don’t ever, ever think that because your life seems mired in darkness and difficulty; that because you feel inadequate or unworthy that the peace of the ChristChild does not exist for you. Ask yourself this, “Am I not baptized?” Be certain that God does not lie. “Has the Holy Spirit not had the gospel preached to me?” Rest assured that He does not do it in jest. “Am I not part of the people to whom the good tidings of great joy are proclaimed?” Was His body not broken for you? Was His blood not shed for you? His peace was forged at the cross. It was crafted in the defeat of every satanic power.
His peace is in the midst of the brokenness of our lives. His peace is in the midst of our anxiety and doubt. His peace is in the midst of the frantic pace of the world and the tempestuous activity of Satan. His peace is in the midst of our failures and shattered dreams. His peace is in the midst of our fear of the limitations of our mortality. His peace is in the midst of the tension caused by our sin. In other words, dear friends, we do not yet live in glory, we live under the cross. When you feel this struggle you can be certain your faith is active.
But if you’re cruising along acting as if you have the world by the tail and you have nothing to repent of or pray for, then be warned! You do not possess divine power and authority. You are not the judge of your own sins. You have no power to ingratiate yourself to Him. You have not yet crossed the threshold. You have not yet arrived in the company of those who have been glorified.
Believe that the ChristChild came for you. You are one of His redeemed children. Believe that He paid the price for your transgressions. You are freed from eternal condemnation. Believe that He has conquered death. You are spared from its consequences. Believe that He is preparing for you a place in His everlasting kingdom. You are already numbered among the saints. Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”2
It’s a world that’s in desperate need of the salt, light, and leaven that believers bring. Christmas is not a time to despair of the privileges of our Christian vocations but to embrace them. It’s not a time to be judgmental and self-righteous, but gentle, courageous, and discerning. “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men- robbers, evildoers, adulterers- or even like this tax collector.’”3 Christ became the greatest sinner. Let us thank God for the paradoxical truth that Christ was not like other men but was precisely like all of them!
There is no holier vocation than to reflect the compassion of Him who is love incarnate. That is our motivation for stooping down into the stables of peoples’ lives. Luther says, “Love…knows no command, it does everything by virtue of its own impulse, it hastens and delays not, it is enough that its attention is only called to a thing, it needs no taskmaster, neither will it tolerate one.”4
Dear friends, love needs no taskmaster because it flows freely from faith. When our neighbours are in need we come to their aid. When our children are floundering we give them direction. When our spouses are hurting we give them support. We do it because we see Christ in them. We sympathize but we do not patronize. We empathize but we are not condescending. The apostle says it this way, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.”5
Christ has made righteous the prince as well as the pauper, the priest as well as the peasant. Our Righteousness is born in a manger. There is no other source. Joy to the world! Gladness to sinners! Good tidings to the human race! The Saviour has been born. He has borne our sins. He has reconciled us to the Father. He has restored paradise.
The One who once lived in a manger wills that we live with Him there. Mortals will join angels “and He will be their peace.”6 Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
The Nativity of Our Lord
Christmas Day
25 December 2015
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Martin Luther
2 John 16:33
3 Luke 18:10-11
4 Martin Luther
5 Romans 12:15-16
6 Micah 5:5
Text: Luke 2:11
Theme: Born For You
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
The “you” in Luke two verse eleven is plural. That means the Saviour has come for the whole human race. But in His book of love, the Holy Scriptures, God intends this news for every individual sinner; great and small. Luther says it in this way, “See to it that you do not find pleasure in the Gospel only as a history, for that is only transient; neither regard it only as an example, for it is of no value without faith; but see to it that you make this birth your own and that Christ be born in you. This will be the case if you believe…”1 The miracle of Christmas is yours even if all others were ignorant of, or dismissive of this marvelous truth.
Dear friends, today we celebrate the coming of the Prince of Peace into the world. But even on Christmas Day peace and concord are not the order of the day for some. Tensions mount, tempers boil over, some withdraw, others confront. The frantic pace of the season catches up with many. The pressure to spend and the temptations to overindulge are relentless.
Can we admit we are overscheduled? No one ever has enough time. We all have the same number of hours each day and yet we still feel slighted. We try to keep up with the Jones’s. Jealousy and coveting are rife. The influence of sin is undeniable in our lives. The holiness of the season can quickly lose its luster. It’s Christmas but we’re sinners still the same.
Often our expectations of the Prince of Peace are misguided. We cannot have peace by our own human definition. We may pursue tranquility and we may achieve a measure of it. We may successfully structure our lives to avoid the hassles and heartaches that are common to broken relationships, poor health, and financial uncertainty. God may bless us with a measure of success here too. But we dare not confuse these for the peace of which Christ speaks. He speaks of a conscience set at ease by the certainty that the Almighty God no longer looks at us with condemnation but with compassion. He speaks of a heart fully confident that neither Satan, nor hell, nor all earthly adversaries arrayed against us can separate us from the love of God in Christ.
Don’t ever, ever think that because your life seems mired in darkness and difficulty; that because you feel inadequate or unworthy that the peace of the ChristChild does not exist for you. Ask yourself this, “Am I not baptized?” Be certain that God does not lie. “Has the Holy Spirit not had the gospel preached to me?” Rest assured that He does not do it in jest. “Am I not part of the people to whom the good tidings of great joy are proclaimed?” Was His body not broken for you? Was His blood not shed for you? His peace was forged at the cross. It was crafted in the defeat of every satanic power.
His peace is in the midst of the brokenness of our lives. His peace is in the midst of our anxiety and doubt. His peace is in the midst of the frantic pace of the world and the tempestuous activity of Satan. His peace is in the midst of our failures and shattered dreams. His peace is in the midst of our fear of the limitations of our mortality. His peace is in the midst of the tension caused by our sin. In other words, dear friends, we do not yet live in glory, we live under the cross. When you feel this struggle you can be certain your faith is active.
But if you’re cruising along acting as if you have the world by the tail and you have nothing to repent of or pray for, then be warned! You do not possess divine power and authority. You are not the judge of your own sins. You have no power to ingratiate yourself to Him. You have not yet crossed the threshold. You have not yet arrived in the company of those who have been glorified.
Believe that the ChristChild came for you. You are one of His redeemed children. Believe that He paid the price for your transgressions. You are freed from eternal condemnation. Believe that He has conquered death. You are spared from its consequences. Believe that He is preparing for you a place in His everlasting kingdom. You are already numbered among the saints. Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”2
It’s a world that’s in desperate need of the salt, light, and leaven that believers bring. Christmas is not a time to despair of the privileges of our Christian vocations but to embrace them. It’s not a time to be judgmental and self-righteous, but gentle, courageous, and discerning. “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men- robbers, evildoers, adulterers- or even like this tax collector.’”3 Christ became the greatest sinner. Let us thank God for the paradoxical truth that Christ was not like other men but was precisely like all of them!
There is no holier vocation than to reflect the compassion of Him who is love incarnate. That is our motivation for stooping down into the stables of peoples’ lives. Luther says, “Love…knows no command, it does everything by virtue of its own impulse, it hastens and delays not, it is enough that its attention is only called to a thing, it needs no taskmaster, neither will it tolerate one.”4
Dear friends, love needs no taskmaster because it flows freely from faith. When our neighbours are in need we come to their aid. When our children are floundering we give them direction. When our spouses are hurting we give them support. We do it because we see Christ in them. We sympathize but we do not patronize. We empathize but we are not condescending. The apostle says it this way, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.”5
Christ has made righteous the prince as well as the pauper, the priest as well as the peasant. Our Righteousness is born in a manger. There is no other source. Joy to the world! Gladness to sinners! Good tidings to the human race! The Saviour has been born. He has borne our sins. He has reconciled us to the Father. He has restored paradise.
The One who once lived in a manger wills that we live with Him there. Mortals will join angels “and He will be their peace.”6 Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
The Nativity of Our Lord
Christmas Day
25 December 2015
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Martin Luther
2 John 16:33
3 Luke 18:10-11
4 Martin Luther
5 Romans 12:15-16
6 Micah 5:5
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