+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: John 1:29
Theme: Drawn to the Highest One
Dear followers of the Saviour,
Jesus made judicious use of miraculous intervention. His mode of operation was not one of unshackled omnipotence. Prudence was necessary to maintain a balancing act between showing Himself as the Messiah through miraculous signs and keeping people from getting the wrong idea. He did not come to make minor adjustments to human society so that it could continue indefinitely as we know it, but with some improvements. Yes, His restoration of brokenness was certainly evidence of God’s intervening presence in fallen creation- think of all those He helped and healed. Through His miracles Jesus drew people to God, but His work was preparatory for a new creation. Life in the world is temporary. We are mortal. Coming to terms with these truths affects and informs the entirety of our existence.
Today, John the Baptist humbly, but powerfully identifies this Jesus as the One who constitutes existence. John the straddles the threshold between the first and second covenants. He is a transition figure moving the narrative of God’s plan of redemption from that of prophetic voice to apostolic witness. The longed-for Messiah has arrived, and John is here to announce it: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”1 It was a decisive declaration. It was a momentous assertion. It was an announcement loaded with history and pregnant with intention. This ordinary man is identified as the Son of God.
Preceding John’s identification of Jesus was his call to repentance. Some things would have to change- idols deposed, sin repudiated. Humanity would need to acknowledge its brokenness. Nothing is different now. The devastation of the recent bushfires illustrates the best and the worst of human nature. The sacrifice and heroism employed to save, protect, aide and support others is an extraordinary commentary on the human spirit. Tragedy pulls people together. Compassion is among the most virtuous of human traits. Conversely, experts believe fully half of all Australian bushfires, on an annual basis, are started by arsonists. Some people specifically choose times of high visibility and drama to perpetuate evil. Others cleverly wait for opportunity to disadvantage the vulnerable when they think no one is watching.
Dear friends, we all have the proclivity to preference ourselves to the detriment of others. The essence of fallenness, of sin, is summed up in our failure to love God above all things and to love our neighbour as ourselves. The sinister side of human nature cannot be dismissed as insignificant, selective, or manageable. Because God doesn’t need anything directly from us, our obedience to the first part of the command (love God) is directly realized in our pursuit of the second (love your neighbour). We can’t truly love God as independent, isolated beings. We love God by showing compassion to our neighbours and that includes a particular concern for their spiritual well-being. Churches in our society are emptying, in part, due to lack of concern for the spiritual wellbeing of others.
God isn’t content, of course, to give in and give up. The Scriptures say the Holy Spirit can be grieved2, but God ever becomes exhausted or demoralized. We cannot break His spirit. His life-giving power continually undoes the pathology of sin and death. It’s not something we should take for granted. The fact that there is a single true believer in this place right now, me included, is a miracle. That’s not a comment on the quality or genuineness of anyone’s faith or lack thereof. It’s a statement of theological and existential fact. God created the entirety of the universe out of nothing- a mind-numbing truth to get our heads around- but His creation of spiritual life is no less astounding.
(The fact that Isaac is being confirmed today is the culmination of a series of miracles. Not that any of us believed Isaac was destined to go off the rails from the moment he could walk.) It is, nevertheless, miraculous when anyone is sustained in the faith. Human strength and capability alone could never endure the continual assaults against the gift of faith which Satan so vehemently despises. The attacks against faith are manifold in their scope and relentless in their nature. Doubt…apathy…temptation…false security…arrogance...depression…. despair, self-centredness, and the list could go on endlessly. Divine power is required in defence. Otherwise, life inevitably becomes futile.
The philosopher Soren Kierkegaard once said if a person’s life is “busily employed with what makes a noise indeed at the moment but has no echo in eternity”, if life’s not to “be dozed away in inactivity or wasted in bustling movement, there must be something higher which draws it.”3 The continually relevant question for the disciple of Jesus, for the one striving daily to carry the cross, for the one seeking true purpose in life (for Isaac) is: What draws you? What motivates, moves and inspires you? If self-interest and self-glory circumscribe the answer, to what end will that lead? But Jesus said, “I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to Myself.”4 He leads to a different end. Again, He says, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him.”5
From whence does Christ draw? Christ draws people from the highest place accessible to humanity. That place is not the top of Mount Everest, or the International Space Station. And, that place is not the right hand of God in heaven either. True enough, Christ reigns from the heights of heaven at the Father’s side. He is victorious over death. His majesty and glory are immeasurable. But this mystery is not penetrable to us by sight or conception. It is an article of faith and will remain so until we cross the threshold of mortality. The height from which the Saviour draws us is the cross. Lifted up on the cross the Son of God becomes a public spectacle showing the true nature of God. Repulsive and repugnant to those who believe God to be far above entanglement with sinful mortals, the crucified Jesus draws people on high by plumbing the depths Himself. Sin plunged Him, the sinless One, into the abyss so that believers might be raised to the gates of heaven. Death took Him so that we might have life. God entangled Himself with us in the person of Jesus.
Christ draws from this altar where His shed blood and broken body are offered. His body once sacrificed becomes the food of immortality while still being possessed by Him in eternity. His blood, once poured out for sinners, sustains the faithful until their journey’s end. Christ draws from this font, where baptismal water, empowered by the word, pulls people from the clutches of Satan and the shadows of darkness and escorts them into the kingdom of light. Christ draws from this pulpit and that lectern when the absolving gospel releases people from the servitude of sin and gives them liberty beyond any humanly achievable freedom.
People may be free in our society to pursue a wide degree of self-determination. They are even ‘freed’ by the laws of the land to transgress the higher laws of God. But no one is freed from the fear of death and the condemnation of judgment until the comforting promise of the almighty God, through the work of His Son and the presence of His Spirit cheers our hearts and pacifies our souls with the unassailable treasure of His forgiveness. The Bible says, “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”6
We are freed to love without impunity from God. Still, our motivations are often complex. God understands that. Interacting with people is messy. That’s why the Spirit is always tugging us towards clarity and purity of motive. And He will not fail to give us opportunity both to see and to participate in the mode of operation of the Messiah among us. Two weeks on a man returned to one of the world’s largest casinos where he had spent five days and thousands of dollars. Surprised to see him so soon some of the regulars asked what drew him back. “Was it the prospect of winning big?” “Was it the lavish food and drink?” “Was it the party atmosphere?” “No,” he said, “It was the conversation of a cleaner that I overheard while heading to the bathroom. Without even knowing it I think she’s changed my life. My world of affluence is more broken than her world of poverty. I’ve come back to give her a grey chip.” (A grey chip is worth $5,000) What draws us?
The Good Shepherd is drawing Isaac along His path, along the narrow road. He doesn’t promise the road won’t be rocky or that he won’t stumble, or even suffer pain and loss. The promise of prosperity as our culture defines it is not the gospel. The Saviour never abandons us on the journey though. Jesus Christ is drawing you too. And the One who draws is the One who takes that He might give. He takes our sins to give us life. “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”7 Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Second Sunday After Epiphany
19 January 2020
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 John 1:29 2 see Isaiah 63:10
3 Training in Christianity 4 John 12:32
5 John 6:44 6 John 8:36
7 John 1:29
Sunday, January 19, 2020
Tuesday, January 14, 2020
The Baptism of Christ (A) 2020
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Matthew 3:13-17
Theme: Baptism and Constitutions
Dear followers of the Saviour,
The baptism of Jesus served to define Christian identity. There was no shortage of opinions about Jesus’ own identity during His earthly sojourn. Some of the greatest controversies in the early church centered on the question of exactly who this Jesus was. At one point there were more Arian Christians than Christians who followed the Nicene Creed. Arius did not believe Jesus was fully divine. That’s still the case today. Jehovah’s Witnesses and members of the Latter-Day Saints relegate Jesus to a diminutive status and role in salvation. In fact, until; He comes again in glory, it’s inevitable that controversy will always exist because the God enfleshed Jesus is the one person nobody can finally avoid a destiny-defining relationship with. There will be no middle ground. May God daily strengthen us with the confidence that Christ has secured our future by grace.
It’s not coincidental that the baptism of Jesus is early in the Season of Epiphany. During the Epiphany season we’ll be learning from those sections of Scripture that share specific events in the life of Jesus that reveal Him to be the Son of God. What did He say? What did He do? How was He different from everyone else who has ever lived? What evidence proved His divinity? Were the prophets on task? Were the Scriptures proven to be fulfilled in Him? Epiphany throws light on the identity of Jesus. Through the recorded events of His interactions with fallen humanity the Holy Spirit kindles the light of faith in hearts previously darkened with unbelief and doubt.
Today we are witness (through the Scriptures) to the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptizer. It was a dramatic scene involving the Holy Spirit’s presence in the form of a dove and the voice of the heavenly Father. Understandably, John is reluctant to concede to Jesus’ request. But notice that Jesus doesn’t chastise John for his reticence. John has indeed seen the matter clearly. Jesus does not need to repent. He does not have any sins to be forgiven. He doesn’t meet the criteria. A fallen Saviour could not Himself redeem corrupted humanity. Yet, Jesus replied to John, “It is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.”1 Now, that sounds pretty official, pretty weighty. What does all righteousness mean? Good question!
The baptizing done by John was preparatory- calling to repentance and pointing one to the coming Messiah. Christian baptism is covenant-creating, incorporating one into the saving works and life or Jesus, the Christ. The Scripture is clear: Jesus was baptised not because it was essential for Him, but because it was necessary for us. In His baptism He received the divine approval of the heavenly Father and was anointed by the Holy Spirit, thereby being consecrated for His mission. The public ministry of Jesus essentially begins with His baptism. He now stands in solidarity with sinful humanity. Through Him we receive divine approval.
From the divine perspective Jesus’ identity has never been in doubt but now the Trinity wishes to make that identity explicitly and overtly clear to humanity. The prophets had already opened the blinds to let some light in. Consider again what Isaiah said today, “Here is My servant, whom I uphold, My chosen one in whom I delight; I will put My Spirit on Him and He will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise His voice in the streets. A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out.”2 What a description: Powerful enough to bring justice to the high and mighty, and yet gentle enough to never damage the vulnerable. Ponder that thought for a moment; the Saviour never intentionally, or clumsily mishandles those clinging to the tiniest bit of faith.
Dear friends, your identity as a Christian is constituted by Christ who bestowed God’s name on you in baptism and received you into His good graces. His suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension are the events that empower and inform the covenant of your baptism. Without a Jesus who had truly died in place of sinners and shattered death’s power by His bodily resurrection from the grave, baptism would amount to little more than a sentimental, but powerless and hollow naming ceremony. His crucifixion was no empty ritual and His resurrection no magician’s trick.
He is the author and perfecter of your faith3. He initiates life and He sustains it. You cannot initiate your own Christian identity any more than a newborn can choose his or her parents and give himself or herself a name. The work of God always precedes human response. The critical importance of baptism lies in its purpose of giving us access to the Saviour’s work. Holy Communion also functions in this way. The Spirit uses word, water, bread and wine as the means by which the completed acts of salvation become directly beneficial for us.
Baptism, therefore, is the constituting reality of your Christian identity. The on-going public evidence of this identity is an additional matter though. People who haven’t witnessed your baptism have no firsthand knowledge of it. How then, is your Christian identity publicly witnessed? What evidence gives testimony? Jesus says, “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.”4 Dear friends, the time is quickly passing when the nominal Christian will be charitably mistaken for a genuine one. The leniency of the wider society that led to apathy of distinction is quickly changing. Tolerance of mis-identity, or misrepresentation is waning. Christian truth is being challenged and the contenders for that truth will be increasingly distinguished from the pretenders.
While that’s a challenge, and somewhat daunting for many, it’s a situation through which the Holy Spirit will bring about good for the church. The church has gone through times of purging throughout its history and we shouldn’t think our age will be any different. Setting out from Hamburg, Germany, one day to give a concert in London, a famous violinist named Fritz Kreisler had an hour before his boat sailed. So, he wandered into a local music shop, where the proprietor asked if he might look at the violin Kreisler was carrying. He then vanished and soon returned with two policemen, one of whom told the violinist, “You are under arrest.”
“What for?” asked Kreisler. “You have Fritz Kreisler’s violin.” “I am Fritz Kreisler,” protested the musician. “Oh, you can’t put that on us”, said the policeman. “Come along to the station.” As Kreisler’s boat was sailing soon, there was no time for prolonged explanations. Kreisler asked for his violin and played a piece he was well known for. “Now are you satisfied? he asked. The policemen let the musician go because he had done what only Fritz Kreisler could do.
The good tree produces good fruit. Half-hearted commitment will not endure the time of testing. We cannot serve two masters. Consider, dear friends, what a mysterious and magnificent thing it is that when you step out the door each day you are a servant of the Servant, you are an ambassador of the King of kings. You have a high and holy calling even if your professional vocation seems ordinary and mundane. You are light. You are salt5. You are blessed6. You are these things not in and of yourselves- not by nature or accomplishment, “flesh gives birth to flesh”7- but through the living power of Christ and His Spirit that reigns in your mortal flesh8. The Scripture says, “You are of Christ, and Christ is of God.”9
Don’t vex over whether you are the active agent or whether you’re being acted upon when it comes to your Christian life, wondering: Are you building? Or are you being built? Are you extending? Or are you being extended? Are you teaching or are you being taught? Are you serving or are you being served? The Spirit is all too happy to use fallible beings to accomplish God’s holy work, serving them while still using them as His vessels to serve others. Most of all, don’t try to construct your own identity. Jesus has already done that. Aspire to the lifelong discipleship of appreciating what that means!
Did Jesus need to be born in human flesh? Did Jesus need to be circumcised? Did He need to be baptised? Did He need to be crucified? For Himself: No, no, no, and no! For us: Yes, yes, yes and yes! And so, we say, “Amen” to the glory of God!
+ In nomine Jesu +
First Sunday After Epiphany
Baptism of Our Lord
12 January 2020
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Matthew 3:15 2 Isaiah 42:1-3
3 See Hebrews 12:2 4 Matthew 7:18
5 See Matthew 5:13-14 6 See Matthew 5:1-11
7 John 3:6 8 See Romans 8:11
9 1 Corinthians 3:23
Text: Matthew 3:13-17
Theme: Baptism and Constitutions
Dear followers of the Saviour,
The baptism of Jesus served to define Christian identity. There was no shortage of opinions about Jesus’ own identity during His earthly sojourn. Some of the greatest controversies in the early church centered on the question of exactly who this Jesus was. At one point there were more Arian Christians than Christians who followed the Nicene Creed. Arius did not believe Jesus was fully divine. That’s still the case today. Jehovah’s Witnesses and members of the Latter-Day Saints relegate Jesus to a diminutive status and role in salvation. In fact, until; He comes again in glory, it’s inevitable that controversy will always exist because the God enfleshed Jesus is the one person nobody can finally avoid a destiny-defining relationship with. There will be no middle ground. May God daily strengthen us with the confidence that Christ has secured our future by grace.
It’s not coincidental that the baptism of Jesus is early in the Season of Epiphany. During the Epiphany season we’ll be learning from those sections of Scripture that share specific events in the life of Jesus that reveal Him to be the Son of God. What did He say? What did He do? How was He different from everyone else who has ever lived? What evidence proved His divinity? Were the prophets on task? Were the Scriptures proven to be fulfilled in Him? Epiphany throws light on the identity of Jesus. Through the recorded events of His interactions with fallen humanity the Holy Spirit kindles the light of faith in hearts previously darkened with unbelief and doubt.
Today we are witness (through the Scriptures) to the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptizer. It was a dramatic scene involving the Holy Spirit’s presence in the form of a dove and the voice of the heavenly Father. Understandably, John is reluctant to concede to Jesus’ request. But notice that Jesus doesn’t chastise John for his reticence. John has indeed seen the matter clearly. Jesus does not need to repent. He does not have any sins to be forgiven. He doesn’t meet the criteria. A fallen Saviour could not Himself redeem corrupted humanity. Yet, Jesus replied to John, “It is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.”1 Now, that sounds pretty official, pretty weighty. What does all righteousness mean? Good question!
The baptizing done by John was preparatory- calling to repentance and pointing one to the coming Messiah. Christian baptism is covenant-creating, incorporating one into the saving works and life or Jesus, the Christ. The Scripture is clear: Jesus was baptised not because it was essential for Him, but because it was necessary for us. In His baptism He received the divine approval of the heavenly Father and was anointed by the Holy Spirit, thereby being consecrated for His mission. The public ministry of Jesus essentially begins with His baptism. He now stands in solidarity with sinful humanity. Through Him we receive divine approval.
From the divine perspective Jesus’ identity has never been in doubt but now the Trinity wishes to make that identity explicitly and overtly clear to humanity. The prophets had already opened the blinds to let some light in. Consider again what Isaiah said today, “Here is My servant, whom I uphold, My chosen one in whom I delight; I will put My Spirit on Him and He will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise His voice in the streets. A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out.”2 What a description: Powerful enough to bring justice to the high and mighty, and yet gentle enough to never damage the vulnerable. Ponder that thought for a moment; the Saviour never intentionally, or clumsily mishandles those clinging to the tiniest bit of faith.
Dear friends, your identity as a Christian is constituted by Christ who bestowed God’s name on you in baptism and received you into His good graces. His suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension are the events that empower and inform the covenant of your baptism. Without a Jesus who had truly died in place of sinners and shattered death’s power by His bodily resurrection from the grave, baptism would amount to little more than a sentimental, but powerless and hollow naming ceremony. His crucifixion was no empty ritual and His resurrection no magician’s trick.
He is the author and perfecter of your faith3. He initiates life and He sustains it. You cannot initiate your own Christian identity any more than a newborn can choose his or her parents and give himself or herself a name. The work of God always precedes human response. The critical importance of baptism lies in its purpose of giving us access to the Saviour’s work. Holy Communion also functions in this way. The Spirit uses word, water, bread and wine as the means by which the completed acts of salvation become directly beneficial for us.
Baptism, therefore, is the constituting reality of your Christian identity. The on-going public evidence of this identity is an additional matter though. People who haven’t witnessed your baptism have no firsthand knowledge of it. How then, is your Christian identity publicly witnessed? What evidence gives testimony? Jesus says, “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.”4 Dear friends, the time is quickly passing when the nominal Christian will be charitably mistaken for a genuine one. The leniency of the wider society that led to apathy of distinction is quickly changing. Tolerance of mis-identity, or misrepresentation is waning. Christian truth is being challenged and the contenders for that truth will be increasingly distinguished from the pretenders.
While that’s a challenge, and somewhat daunting for many, it’s a situation through which the Holy Spirit will bring about good for the church. The church has gone through times of purging throughout its history and we shouldn’t think our age will be any different. Setting out from Hamburg, Germany, one day to give a concert in London, a famous violinist named Fritz Kreisler had an hour before his boat sailed. So, he wandered into a local music shop, where the proprietor asked if he might look at the violin Kreisler was carrying. He then vanished and soon returned with two policemen, one of whom told the violinist, “You are under arrest.”
“What for?” asked Kreisler. “You have Fritz Kreisler’s violin.” “I am Fritz Kreisler,” protested the musician. “Oh, you can’t put that on us”, said the policeman. “Come along to the station.” As Kreisler’s boat was sailing soon, there was no time for prolonged explanations. Kreisler asked for his violin and played a piece he was well known for. “Now are you satisfied? he asked. The policemen let the musician go because he had done what only Fritz Kreisler could do.
The good tree produces good fruit. Half-hearted commitment will not endure the time of testing. We cannot serve two masters. Consider, dear friends, what a mysterious and magnificent thing it is that when you step out the door each day you are a servant of the Servant, you are an ambassador of the King of kings. You have a high and holy calling even if your professional vocation seems ordinary and mundane. You are light. You are salt5. You are blessed6. You are these things not in and of yourselves- not by nature or accomplishment, “flesh gives birth to flesh”7- but through the living power of Christ and His Spirit that reigns in your mortal flesh8. The Scripture says, “You are of Christ, and Christ is of God.”9
Don’t vex over whether you are the active agent or whether you’re being acted upon when it comes to your Christian life, wondering: Are you building? Or are you being built? Are you extending? Or are you being extended? Are you teaching or are you being taught? Are you serving or are you being served? The Spirit is all too happy to use fallible beings to accomplish God’s holy work, serving them while still using them as His vessels to serve others. Most of all, don’t try to construct your own identity. Jesus has already done that. Aspire to the lifelong discipleship of appreciating what that means!
Did Jesus need to be born in human flesh? Did Jesus need to be circumcised? Did He need to be baptised? Did He need to be crucified? For Himself: No, no, no, and no! For us: Yes, yes, yes and yes! And so, we say, “Amen” to the glory of God!
+ In nomine Jesu +
First Sunday After Epiphany
Baptism of Our Lord
12 January 2020
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Matthew 3:15 2 Isaiah 42:1-3
3 See Hebrews 12:2 4 Matthew 7:18
5 See Matthew 5:13-14 6 See Matthew 5:1-11
7 John 3:6 8 See Romans 8:11
9 1 Corinthians 3:23
Saturday, January 4, 2020
Funeral for Chris (Barrel) Schulz, 3 January 2020
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: John 11:25
Theme: I Am The Life
Dear family, friends, and loved ones of Chris, Mark, his brother, and especially you Mel;
Chris Schulz, ‘Barrel’ to those who knew him, was better known yet by God. His creator and Saviour, God knew his fears, his hopes, his disappointments, his joys. God knew his strengths, and He knew his sins…and He knew when it was time for him to rest. That time has come already, too early for those who loved him, too early for a Father who didn’t expect to out live him. But God speaks into our grief with the promise that death is not the end. God first spoke that promise to Chris in his baptism- a flood of God’s mercy over a parched-soul granting life, hope, and a future. Throughout his life God never forsook him. May God comfort us now, in the time of grief, with the certainty of His promises.
The Bible says, “He who has the Son, has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”1 It may sound too simple. It may sound too preachy. It may sound like a stereotype. It may evoke scepticism, resentment, denial or apathy. But when we arrive at the threshold of mortality nothing is more important. It is all or nothing. The Bible is unapologetic saying that one who ‘has’ Christ, has everything. Those who go it on their own will end up with nothing. There are no self-styled ways of entering the presence of God. Nothing that we have accomplished, nothing that we have pursued, not the greatest of intentions, will compile for us a resume worthy of storming the gates of heaven. Christ alone is worthy. He made the sacrifice. He paid the price. He gifts us with the heavenly blessings of grace and forgiveness.
He promises heaven to all who believe. Heaven is not a hypothetical concept conjured up to give hope to those desperate to find an optimistic angle when facing mortality. Those who doubt the reality of life beyond the grave- a life in God’s presence characterized by a perfected and vibrant existence- need to take up their misgivings with the Man who came from there, submitted Himself to death in our world, rose from the grave, and returned to that dimension of eternal bliss. Christ is the only one who can speak with complete authority on the subject.
Chris wasn’t the type of person to put on appearances. What you saw was basically what you got. He was fair and honest, and he lived life on his own terms. Chris knew sheep and that the Bible compares us as sinners to lost sheep. Christ is the Lamb of God that died for Chris’s sins and for the sins of the world. He’s also the good Shepherd, and the Shepherd says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.”2 He said, “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
Death at any age is difficult for those who remain, especially when it seems from our perspective, that a life has been cut short. Yet, for believers, grief doesn’t end in despair or loss of hope. Rather, we anticipate a reunion. In the midst of sorrow, we can be filled with gratitude for the blessings that were, and we look forward to what will be. And what will be is described in this way, “The trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable.”4 And again, the Scripture says, “Dear friends, now we are children God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”5
Now, it’s impossible to describe how magnificent this will be. We will be raised to a state of existence in which we will enjoy the life of God unencumbered by any of the circumstances of this fallen existence. No burdens, cares, or anxieties will be experienced. We won’t be subjected to pain, exposed to danger, or otherwise occupied with any distress. Being in the presence of God will be absolutely enthralling. Chris, Barrel, Schulz is now at rest…no more harvests, just peace. Thanks be to God! Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Funeral of Christopher Wayne Schulz
3 January 2020
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 1 John 5:12 2 John 10:27-29
3 John 11:25 4 1 Corinthians 15:52-53
5 1 John 3:2
Text: John 11:25
Theme: I Am The Life
Dear family, friends, and loved ones of Chris, Mark, his brother, and especially you Mel;
Chris Schulz, ‘Barrel’ to those who knew him, was better known yet by God. His creator and Saviour, God knew his fears, his hopes, his disappointments, his joys. God knew his strengths, and He knew his sins…and He knew when it was time for him to rest. That time has come already, too early for those who loved him, too early for a Father who didn’t expect to out live him. But God speaks into our grief with the promise that death is not the end. God first spoke that promise to Chris in his baptism- a flood of God’s mercy over a parched-soul granting life, hope, and a future. Throughout his life God never forsook him. May God comfort us now, in the time of grief, with the certainty of His promises.
The Bible says, “He who has the Son, has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”1 It may sound too simple. It may sound too preachy. It may sound like a stereotype. It may evoke scepticism, resentment, denial or apathy. But when we arrive at the threshold of mortality nothing is more important. It is all or nothing. The Bible is unapologetic saying that one who ‘has’ Christ, has everything. Those who go it on their own will end up with nothing. There are no self-styled ways of entering the presence of God. Nothing that we have accomplished, nothing that we have pursued, not the greatest of intentions, will compile for us a resume worthy of storming the gates of heaven. Christ alone is worthy. He made the sacrifice. He paid the price. He gifts us with the heavenly blessings of grace and forgiveness.
He promises heaven to all who believe. Heaven is not a hypothetical concept conjured up to give hope to those desperate to find an optimistic angle when facing mortality. Those who doubt the reality of life beyond the grave- a life in God’s presence characterized by a perfected and vibrant existence- need to take up their misgivings with the Man who came from there, submitted Himself to death in our world, rose from the grave, and returned to that dimension of eternal bliss. Christ is the only one who can speak with complete authority on the subject.
Chris wasn’t the type of person to put on appearances. What you saw was basically what you got. He was fair and honest, and he lived life on his own terms. Chris knew sheep and that the Bible compares us as sinners to lost sheep. Christ is the Lamb of God that died for Chris’s sins and for the sins of the world. He’s also the good Shepherd, and the Shepherd says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.”2 He said, “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
Death at any age is difficult for those who remain, especially when it seems from our perspective, that a life has been cut short. Yet, for believers, grief doesn’t end in despair or loss of hope. Rather, we anticipate a reunion. In the midst of sorrow, we can be filled with gratitude for the blessings that were, and we look forward to what will be. And what will be is described in this way, “The trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable.”4 And again, the Scripture says, “Dear friends, now we are children God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”5
Now, it’s impossible to describe how magnificent this will be. We will be raised to a state of existence in which we will enjoy the life of God unencumbered by any of the circumstances of this fallen existence. No burdens, cares, or anxieties will be experienced. We won’t be subjected to pain, exposed to danger, or otherwise occupied with any distress. Being in the presence of God will be absolutely enthralling. Chris, Barrel, Schulz is now at rest…no more harvests, just peace. Thanks be to God! Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Funeral of Christopher Wayne Schulz
3 January 2020
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 1 John 5:12 2 John 10:27-29
3 John 11:25 4 1 Corinthians 15:52-53
5 1 John 3:2
New Year's Eve 2019
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Luke 2:21
Theme: “Give Him The Name Jesus”
Dear friends of the newborn Saviour,
Jesus was not an uncommon name in First Century Palestine. Notably, Barabbas, the notorious criminal who was released by Pilate at the request of the Jews instead of Jesus was known as ‘Jesus Barabbas’1. Pilate had to be careful with his name identity when meeting the demands of the crowd. Additionally, during one of his missionary campaigns Saint Paul encountered a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus2. He was a well-known and influential sorcerer in the region. Yet, there was only one Jesus who was known as the Christ. The definite article gives specificity to the identity the true Messiah.
The name ‘Jesus’, is not coincidental, of course, deriving from the Hebrew name ‘Joshua’. Joshua means ‘Yahweh is salvation’ or ‘God saves’, or ‘Saviour’. Of the many titles and names of Jesus in the Bible ‘Saviour’ is arguably the most well-known and most important. The sum and substance of who Christ is, what He does, and how He relates to us conveyed in this title. Naming Jesus as Saviour is just information for the unbeliever, but for Christians it is an affirmation of faith.
Jesus was named on the day of His circumcision. A sign of the covenant with profound connotations, circumcision identified one as belonging to Yahweh. Jesus fulfilled the requirements of that covenant, of course, opening the way for baptism to supersede circumcision as the means of becoming adopted into the divine patronage according to the Scripture, “In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature…with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him through your faith in the power of God who raised Him from the dead.”3
Jesus lived up to His name, and He still does. His name is a beacon of light in this dominion of darkness. As we stand at the threshold of 2020 biblical Christians should recognize that the presence of Jesus is needed as much as ever. Others disagree, claiming humanity can solve its own problems, even thinking most problems will inevitably be solved human ingenuity. No heroes will be needed in Utopia then. No need for Guardians of the Galaxy or the Justice League, or any superheroes at all. With no villains, protagonists, perpetrators or transgressors and with love, harmony and peace practiced everywhere, there’s no need for intervention, rescue, or redemption. But ours is not a situation of utopia but of dystopia. Things are out-of-place in our world. They are dysfunctional. The world is hurting, broken, dying, decaying.
Often, we try to cover things with quick fixes and so-called miracle cures. But the brokenness of sin cannot be remedied in that way. Managing sin with our own abilities is like a ‘catch-22’ conundrum- like the woman who walked into a pharmacy asking if they had any tablets to help her memory. The first attendant enquired about whether she had seen a doctor first. Overhearing the conversation another pharmacist said, “Your prescription has been ready for two weeks, but apparently someone has forgotten to ring you!” It’s like going to the bank to get a loan but the bank wants to first know that you don’t really need one! It’s like people with poor eyesight looking for their glasses: You need to be wearing them to be able to find them!
And so, it is with sin; we can’t even diagnose sin properly, let alone, remedy it. The cardiologist can’t perform his own heart surgery. But we have the Physician of body and soul.
The naming of Jesus was fulfillment of the prophetic word “you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”4 And again, “…the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wing.”5 The proverb, “Physician, heal Yourself!”6 was quoted to Him, and He did! His qualification is a crucifixion and resurrection. His attending physician is the Holy Spirit. His primary medication is the sacrament of Holy Communion.
The year 2020 is now upon us. Maybe your view of the future is filled with excitement and anticipation, or fear and trepidation; or perhaps a mixture of both hopes and doubts? If you’ve made it through the past calendar year without any experience of brokenness, without any failures, without any griefs or sorrows; if you’ve been spared all forms of pain, trauma, hurt or offence, then either you’ve been exceptionally blessed or you’re in a little bit of denial. Conversely, you might be saying, “Good riddance!” Sometimes people are happy to see Christmas in the rearview mirror, or even the past year entirely.
Christians need never despair that the future is lost because Christ is already there. He says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega…who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”7 He doesn’t promise your journey will be easy. He doesn’t promise your 2020 will be prosperous in a worldly sense. He doesn’t promise you won’t face challenges, suffer heartache, endure loss or trauma. He certainly doesn’t promise your faith won’t be tested.
But He does say this: “The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”8 And He does promise this: “…to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.”9 And this: “Because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions- it is by grace you have been saved.”10 And again, “Everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”11
At the end of the genre-defining movie ‘The Truman Show’, Truman, the main character who had been unknowingly living in an artificially fabricated reality endures a mighty struggle and then ultimately realizes the deception. As he stands at the threshold between the real world and the fake one- the only one he had ever known- all eyes are focused on him to see what would happen. Would he remain in the familiarity of the world he knew- confined, but comfortable? Or would he step into the real world, the unknown?
It’s a fitting analogy for our transition from this world to the next, and even for our stepping out in faith each day. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting for moment this world is fake. It’s not an illusion. It’s not a Hollywood movie set. All the good that we experience is a blessing of the Almighty God that is real and tangible. And the evil is very real too. But this world is on life-support. It’s on its way out. The Scripture says, “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.”12 And again it says, “The world in its present form is passing away.”13
Of course, God has the resources to keep it on life-support for as long as He wishes. He could even completely revitalize it. But He says He won’t. One day, a little like Truman stepping into the real world for the first time, believers will step in resurrected glory into that celestial dimension of peace, and light, and permanence. Everything that was will be the past and we will dwell only in the present.
Dear friends, you bear the name of Jesus, the Christ. He gifted it to you in baptism and it is the most secure and irrevocable thing you will ever possess. Christians need not fear the future because God is already there. He lives in 2020 just as certainly as He lives in eternity. He has consecrated you for this time and place and He will not fail you. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
New Year’s Eve
31 December 2019
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 See Matthew 27:16 2 See Acts 13:6
3 Colossians 2:11-12 4 Mathew 1:21
5 Malachi 4:2 6 Luke 4:23
7 Revelation 1:8 8 Deuteronomy 13:8
9 John 1:12 10 Ephesians 2:4-5
11 John 6:40 12 Romans 8:22 13 1 Corinthian 7:31
Text: Luke 2:21
Theme: “Give Him The Name Jesus”
Dear friends of the newborn Saviour,
Jesus was not an uncommon name in First Century Palestine. Notably, Barabbas, the notorious criminal who was released by Pilate at the request of the Jews instead of Jesus was known as ‘Jesus Barabbas’1. Pilate had to be careful with his name identity when meeting the demands of the crowd. Additionally, during one of his missionary campaigns Saint Paul encountered a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus2. He was a well-known and influential sorcerer in the region. Yet, there was only one Jesus who was known as the Christ. The definite article gives specificity to the identity the true Messiah.
The name ‘Jesus’, is not coincidental, of course, deriving from the Hebrew name ‘Joshua’. Joshua means ‘Yahweh is salvation’ or ‘God saves’, or ‘Saviour’. Of the many titles and names of Jesus in the Bible ‘Saviour’ is arguably the most well-known and most important. The sum and substance of who Christ is, what He does, and how He relates to us conveyed in this title. Naming Jesus as Saviour is just information for the unbeliever, but for Christians it is an affirmation of faith.
Jesus was named on the day of His circumcision. A sign of the covenant with profound connotations, circumcision identified one as belonging to Yahweh. Jesus fulfilled the requirements of that covenant, of course, opening the way for baptism to supersede circumcision as the means of becoming adopted into the divine patronage according to the Scripture, “In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature…with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him through your faith in the power of God who raised Him from the dead.”3
Jesus lived up to His name, and He still does. His name is a beacon of light in this dominion of darkness. As we stand at the threshold of 2020 biblical Christians should recognize that the presence of Jesus is needed as much as ever. Others disagree, claiming humanity can solve its own problems, even thinking most problems will inevitably be solved human ingenuity. No heroes will be needed in Utopia then. No need for Guardians of the Galaxy or the Justice League, or any superheroes at all. With no villains, protagonists, perpetrators or transgressors and with love, harmony and peace practiced everywhere, there’s no need for intervention, rescue, or redemption. But ours is not a situation of utopia but of dystopia. Things are out-of-place in our world. They are dysfunctional. The world is hurting, broken, dying, decaying.
Often, we try to cover things with quick fixes and so-called miracle cures. But the brokenness of sin cannot be remedied in that way. Managing sin with our own abilities is like a ‘catch-22’ conundrum- like the woman who walked into a pharmacy asking if they had any tablets to help her memory. The first attendant enquired about whether she had seen a doctor first. Overhearing the conversation another pharmacist said, “Your prescription has been ready for two weeks, but apparently someone has forgotten to ring you!” It’s like going to the bank to get a loan but the bank wants to first know that you don’t really need one! It’s like people with poor eyesight looking for their glasses: You need to be wearing them to be able to find them!
And so, it is with sin; we can’t even diagnose sin properly, let alone, remedy it. The cardiologist can’t perform his own heart surgery. But we have the Physician of body and soul.
The naming of Jesus was fulfillment of the prophetic word “you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”4 And again, “…the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wing.”5 The proverb, “Physician, heal Yourself!”6 was quoted to Him, and He did! His qualification is a crucifixion and resurrection. His attending physician is the Holy Spirit. His primary medication is the sacrament of Holy Communion.
The year 2020 is now upon us. Maybe your view of the future is filled with excitement and anticipation, or fear and trepidation; or perhaps a mixture of both hopes and doubts? If you’ve made it through the past calendar year without any experience of brokenness, without any failures, without any griefs or sorrows; if you’ve been spared all forms of pain, trauma, hurt or offence, then either you’ve been exceptionally blessed or you’re in a little bit of denial. Conversely, you might be saying, “Good riddance!” Sometimes people are happy to see Christmas in the rearview mirror, or even the past year entirely.
Christians need never despair that the future is lost because Christ is already there. He says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega…who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”7 He doesn’t promise your journey will be easy. He doesn’t promise your 2020 will be prosperous in a worldly sense. He doesn’t promise you won’t face challenges, suffer heartache, endure loss or trauma. He certainly doesn’t promise your faith won’t be tested.
But He does say this: “The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”8 And He does promise this: “…to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.”9 And this: “Because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions- it is by grace you have been saved.”10 And again, “Everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”11
At the end of the genre-defining movie ‘The Truman Show’, Truman, the main character who had been unknowingly living in an artificially fabricated reality endures a mighty struggle and then ultimately realizes the deception. As he stands at the threshold between the real world and the fake one- the only one he had ever known- all eyes are focused on him to see what would happen. Would he remain in the familiarity of the world he knew- confined, but comfortable? Or would he step into the real world, the unknown?
It’s a fitting analogy for our transition from this world to the next, and even for our stepping out in faith each day. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting for moment this world is fake. It’s not an illusion. It’s not a Hollywood movie set. All the good that we experience is a blessing of the Almighty God that is real and tangible. And the evil is very real too. But this world is on life-support. It’s on its way out. The Scripture says, “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.”12 And again it says, “The world in its present form is passing away.”13
Of course, God has the resources to keep it on life-support for as long as He wishes. He could even completely revitalize it. But He says He won’t. One day, a little like Truman stepping into the real world for the first time, believers will step in resurrected glory into that celestial dimension of peace, and light, and permanence. Everything that was will be the past and we will dwell only in the present.
Dear friends, you bear the name of Jesus, the Christ. He gifted it to you in baptism and it is the most secure and irrevocable thing you will ever possess. Christians need not fear the future because God is already there. He lives in 2020 just as certainly as He lives in eternity. He has consecrated you for this time and place and He will not fail you. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
New Year’s Eve
31 December 2019
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 See Matthew 27:16 2 See Acts 13:6
3 Colossians 2:11-12 4 Mathew 1:21
5 Malachi 4:2 6 Luke 4:23
7 Revelation 1:8 8 Deuteronomy 13:8
9 John 1:12 10 Ephesians 2:4-5
11 John 6:40 12 Romans 8:22 13 1 Corinthian 7:31
Sunday, December 29, 2019
Funeral of Betty Lyniece Lloyd (28 December 2019)
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: John 14:3
Theme: Safe in God’s Presence
Dear family, friends, friends and loved ones of Betty, and especially you; Tracy, Matthew, and Sam, her children,
Betty has returned here, to the place of her baptism. That fact doesn’t change the primary reason we’re here- Betty is safe in God’s presence through trust in the mercy of Christ and it wouldn’t matter where her funeral was held. But it is a nice way to picture the Christian journey. Betty entered God’s kingdom through baptism, becoming His child, and now her soul has been received into His eternal care and we recognize that at the place where everything started. All of Betty’s struggles with the complications of sin have come to an end. She has been relieved of all pain, anxiety, worry or doubt. Her faith rewarded; she is at peace. Thanks be to God!
Dear friends, every funeral provides a clear opportunity to reflect on the universal human dilemma. When we’re in danger of losing perspective one simple question can shake us out of our lethargy: Have you forgotten that you’re mortal? The question was not posed by a DC comic hero to an ordinary citizen. Nor was it a satirical statement of an angry mother to a rebellious child meaning, “I brought you into this world and I can take you out of it!” Rather, it was a rhetorical device used in conversation between Job and his friends. “Can mortal man be in the right before God? Can a man be pure before his Maker?”1 After overwhelming tragedy Job was doing some serious reflection about the meaning of life. Though pious and god-fearing his world came crashing down. The devil targeted him, and he was stripped of everything but his life. His convictions and priorities were immediately reassessed.
Dear friends, the Holy Spirit, through the Scriptures constantly teaches us (sometimes gently, sometimes firmly) to recognize the limitations of our mortality. Are the goals you set, the time you spend, and the resources you invest consistent with the belief that you are a mortal? You are a composition of earthly elements spectacularly coordinated to form a living being that nonetheless is exceptionally vulnerable to injury, decay, and death. The sophistication of your capabilities- the capacity of the human brain alone- is only beginning to be understood. Your entire physiological structure is marvelous beyond description.
But you are more than that. You have a soul. You were made in the image of God. You were made for eternity. Your soul will not one day simply cease to exist. That truth alone necessitates recognition of mortality. That’s why the Lord Himself says, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”2 There is only one judge. There is only one Redeemer. There is only one who can sustain life.
Have you considered what a profound blessing immortality will be? Beyond comprehension it still merits our reverent reflection. Not in a creative, imaginative way; rather in the way revealed by Christ who constitutes it. Immortality is not an entitlement and certainty not an inevitable achievement. Immortality is God’s gift of resurrection from sin’s death-imposing power. Sin exacts its divinely ordained punishment- the forfeiture of life. But Christ raises the frames of believers from their morbid slumber and restores them to incorruptible life.
We are not privy to the mechanism of this mystery, but God will achieve it in the twinkling of an eye3. The Scripture says Christ “…will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”4 If that isn’t something to look forward to, it’d be a challenge to name something better? The absence of all of the consequences of sin, pain, sickness, sorrow, trauma, and fear of death is a life we can now only imagine.
But believers are forward-looking people. It’s not a coincidence that the creeds of the Christian church emphasize the future resurrection of the body, as the Apostles’ Creed does, saying. “I believe in the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.” Christ has already shattered death’s power by His own resurrection. This same faith Betty confessed throughout her Christian life, struggling, as do all believers, to follow the words of the apostle who said, “We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”5 Betty’s faith is now obsolete for she no longer deals with things that are temporary.
Meanwhile, we’re still here in this transient existence and coping isn’t always pleasant. Here the consequences of sin and death are very tangible. Life is precious. When injury or death happen, our incapacities are candidly revealed. Grief takes no prisoners. There’s no use pretending. A loss has been incurred. A hole has been left. The loved one who has died cannot be replaced. There will never be another Betty Lloyd. There aren’t any shortcuts for grieving. We can’t rush through it or circumvent it. It will demand our energies and our resources. It will change how we approach things. Every reflection on death is an opportunity to reassess our own priorities.
Originally when Betty was diagnosed with cancer, she wasn’t too keen to take on the fight. The news gutted her, as you would expect. Darkness suddenly flooded her otherwise positive outlook. Her faith was put to the test. She said to me with humble resignation, “The medical resources may as well be used on younger people.” But then she came around to the notion that God might have some time and purpose for her yet. So, she pressed on gracefully, with some reluctance still. God blessed her with many more months and a matured perspective.
Betty was a genuine and sincere person. A devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, she cherished her family. Betty’s passion for fostering children helped to shape her into the mature Christian she came to be. She worked hard in the fruit industry. A realist; Betty was good listener and enjoyed a good laugh. Betty fought her fair share of battles in life. She didn’t blame others for her failures, mistakes, or shortcomings. She knew salvation was a gift. She knew Christ didn’t die pointlessly, but for her sins. She cherished that forgiveness, receiving it through the word of God spoken, and prayed, and sung, and in the sacrament of Holy Communion. Betty is safe in God’s presence. Hers is a profound and sublime peace. Thanks be to God!
+ In nomine Jesu +
Christian Burial of Betty Lyniece Lloyd
28 December 2019
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Job 4:17 2 Matthew 10:28
3 See 1 Corinthians 15:52 4 Philippians 3:21
5 2 Corinthians 4:18
Text: John 14:3
Theme: Safe in God’s Presence
Dear family, friends, friends and loved ones of Betty, and especially you; Tracy, Matthew, and Sam, her children,
Betty has returned here, to the place of her baptism. That fact doesn’t change the primary reason we’re here- Betty is safe in God’s presence through trust in the mercy of Christ and it wouldn’t matter where her funeral was held. But it is a nice way to picture the Christian journey. Betty entered God’s kingdom through baptism, becoming His child, and now her soul has been received into His eternal care and we recognize that at the place where everything started. All of Betty’s struggles with the complications of sin have come to an end. She has been relieved of all pain, anxiety, worry or doubt. Her faith rewarded; she is at peace. Thanks be to God!
Dear friends, every funeral provides a clear opportunity to reflect on the universal human dilemma. When we’re in danger of losing perspective one simple question can shake us out of our lethargy: Have you forgotten that you’re mortal? The question was not posed by a DC comic hero to an ordinary citizen. Nor was it a satirical statement of an angry mother to a rebellious child meaning, “I brought you into this world and I can take you out of it!” Rather, it was a rhetorical device used in conversation between Job and his friends. “Can mortal man be in the right before God? Can a man be pure before his Maker?”1 After overwhelming tragedy Job was doing some serious reflection about the meaning of life. Though pious and god-fearing his world came crashing down. The devil targeted him, and he was stripped of everything but his life. His convictions and priorities were immediately reassessed.
Dear friends, the Holy Spirit, through the Scriptures constantly teaches us (sometimes gently, sometimes firmly) to recognize the limitations of our mortality. Are the goals you set, the time you spend, and the resources you invest consistent with the belief that you are a mortal? You are a composition of earthly elements spectacularly coordinated to form a living being that nonetheless is exceptionally vulnerable to injury, decay, and death. The sophistication of your capabilities- the capacity of the human brain alone- is only beginning to be understood. Your entire physiological structure is marvelous beyond description.
But you are more than that. You have a soul. You were made in the image of God. You were made for eternity. Your soul will not one day simply cease to exist. That truth alone necessitates recognition of mortality. That’s why the Lord Himself says, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”2 There is only one judge. There is only one Redeemer. There is only one who can sustain life.
Have you considered what a profound blessing immortality will be? Beyond comprehension it still merits our reverent reflection. Not in a creative, imaginative way; rather in the way revealed by Christ who constitutes it. Immortality is not an entitlement and certainty not an inevitable achievement. Immortality is God’s gift of resurrection from sin’s death-imposing power. Sin exacts its divinely ordained punishment- the forfeiture of life. But Christ raises the frames of believers from their morbid slumber and restores them to incorruptible life.
We are not privy to the mechanism of this mystery, but God will achieve it in the twinkling of an eye3. The Scripture says Christ “…will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”4 If that isn’t something to look forward to, it’d be a challenge to name something better? The absence of all of the consequences of sin, pain, sickness, sorrow, trauma, and fear of death is a life we can now only imagine.
But believers are forward-looking people. It’s not a coincidence that the creeds of the Christian church emphasize the future resurrection of the body, as the Apostles’ Creed does, saying. “I believe in the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.” Christ has already shattered death’s power by His own resurrection. This same faith Betty confessed throughout her Christian life, struggling, as do all believers, to follow the words of the apostle who said, “We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”5 Betty’s faith is now obsolete for she no longer deals with things that are temporary.
Meanwhile, we’re still here in this transient existence and coping isn’t always pleasant. Here the consequences of sin and death are very tangible. Life is precious. When injury or death happen, our incapacities are candidly revealed. Grief takes no prisoners. There’s no use pretending. A loss has been incurred. A hole has been left. The loved one who has died cannot be replaced. There will never be another Betty Lloyd. There aren’t any shortcuts for grieving. We can’t rush through it or circumvent it. It will demand our energies and our resources. It will change how we approach things. Every reflection on death is an opportunity to reassess our own priorities.
Originally when Betty was diagnosed with cancer, she wasn’t too keen to take on the fight. The news gutted her, as you would expect. Darkness suddenly flooded her otherwise positive outlook. Her faith was put to the test. She said to me with humble resignation, “The medical resources may as well be used on younger people.” But then she came around to the notion that God might have some time and purpose for her yet. So, she pressed on gracefully, with some reluctance still. God blessed her with many more months and a matured perspective.
Betty was a genuine and sincere person. A devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, she cherished her family. Betty’s passion for fostering children helped to shape her into the mature Christian she came to be. She worked hard in the fruit industry. A realist; Betty was good listener and enjoyed a good laugh. Betty fought her fair share of battles in life. She didn’t blame others for her failures, mistakes, or shortcomings. She knew salvation was a gift. She knew Christ didn’t die pointlessly, but for her sins. She cherished that forgiveness, receiving it through the word of God spoken, and prayed, and sung, and in the sacrament of Holy Communion. Betty is safe in God’s presence. Hers is a profound and sublime peace. Thanks be to God!
+ In nomine Jesu +
Christian Burial of Betty Lyniece Lloyd
28 December 2019
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Job 4:17 2 Matthew 10:28
3 See 1 Corinthians 15:52 4 Philippians 3:21
5 2 Corinthians 4:18
Thursday, December 26, 2019
Christmas Day 2019
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: John 1:1-14
Theme: Small Child, Big Mission
Dear worshippers of the infant Saviour,
Christmas involves more than the locality of Bethlehem or a captivating cast of characters. The implications of Christmas are not parochial. The focal point and central players associated with the birth of Jesus are the divinely chosen instruments to facilitate the Father’s plan of salvation for the world. Today the apostle John is committed to showing us the ‘bigger picture’. Akin to zooming in or out on Google maps the Spirit gives us both the wide angle and the greatest possible resolution in teaching about the incarnation of Jesus, the Word of God. He says, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”1
The nativity narrative is easy enough to follow. Mind you, this family faced not only the challenge of less-than-ideal birthing circumstances, but also the supernatural intervention of angels. Surely the visit of the shepherds would have also seemed like an astounding occurrence to Mary and Joseph. Meanwhile, practical realities had to be attended to. Mary meditates while Joseph domesticates. This birth has set the wheels in motion. Things will change. There will be no going back. All babies transform the lives of their parents. This one will transform the existence of the world.
Jesus was a small child with a big mission. John speaks to this truth. Immutable Himself, this Child has the power to change everything and everyone. Jesus, the new Adam, will sheathe the cherubim’s sword guarding the entrance to the Garden. In Him Paradise will be restored. In the person of Jesus God again dwells with His people. He does so in human flesh, in real time. This Immanuel comes with purpose that necessarily implicates everyone. The Scripture says, “He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him. But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.”2
Why was He not received by everyone? The answer is as simple as it is profound. Sovereigns aren’t usually looking for new rulers. People naturally prefer to be architects of their own destiny. That means if people think they are coping well enough with their own sin and the brokenness in their lives they won’t be seeking a Saviour. The challenge of proclaiming the Good News is exactly as it always has been: People won’t receive Him joyfully until they recognize the need. Undoubtedly our celebrations of Christmas are more affluent than those of many who have celebrated across the centuries. But our need is fundamentally no different. We are not morally, ethically, or spiritually superior to past generations. All are still conceived in sin. All are still under condemnation. It’s certainly not hard to see just by watching the daily news that people aren’t able to manage their own brokenness. The mirror of God’s law calls us to reflect soberly also. Do we see ourselves as paupers in relation to the ChristChild, or sovereigns?
The incarnation, Jesus’ coming in human flesh, meant that God wanted to restore the crown of creation not destroy it. “God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our own likeness...”3 Yet sin had marred that image and likeness beyond recognition. People lost all knowledge, faith, hope, and trust in God. God could have started over. Or He could have abandoned the whole created enterprise. After all, the Holy Trinity lacks nothing in His self-subsisting existence. It could be argued that He did start over at the time of Noah’s flood. He certainly had intense words with Moses about leaving His people to their own demise. But He did not start anew. He chose to redeem fallen humanity through the sending of His Son.
Angels play a prominent role in the nativity narrative. Seldom do popular depictions of the nativity scene leave them out. What about the leader of the evil angels, Satan, the accuser? Was he just standing by idly? Not a chance! The Scripture says, “The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child the moment it was born. She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations.”4 But Satan did not prevail. And he could not prevent Jesus going to the cross.
The death and resurrection of Jesus shattered Satan’s hopes. But this was far from a cosmic duel of equals. Jesus is not a servant of God momentarily endowed with supernatural powers. He is “God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God.”5 Yet, He is also fully human, and the apostle John want us to understand the implications. The life of the Son had to be forfeited so the image of the Father could be retained. This firstborn Son was the last sacrifice needed to fulfil the covenant of God. The Scripture says, “He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.”6 He secured that redemption for all humanity. He gifts it to all who believe.
At the birth of Christ, the angels unleash their praise, saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace…”7 The shepherds bend the knee and then wag their tongues, “When they had seen Him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this Child.”8 On the face of it the role of the angels seems more desirable than that of the shepherds. After all, who doesn’t like to celebrate as opposed to the likely rejection to be faced when evangelizing? But the two are actually part and parcel of the same piece. Faith cannot be silent. The believer shares what has been received. News this good cannot be contained. The Saviour from sin, death, and Satan has been born. It changes our lives and we want it to change the lives of others.
This Christmas gospel from the first chapter of John is also a marvelous Scripture to deepen our appreciation of Holy Communion. At first glance there might appear to be no direct connection. The apostle doesn’t talk about celebrating the Sacrament. But the incarnation underpins and informs the reality. Only a Saviour who has assumed a true human frame can really offer Himself in that way for our benefit. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”9 Jesus, the Word, the eternally existing Second Person of the Holy Trinity, entered into this tangible, material, and created dimension through the womb of the Virgin. He was born in the natural manner, yet without sin. Only an exceedingly humble God, only a God judiciously concerned with not overwhelming us with His majesty could devise such a plan.
We wouldn’t be too far off the mark if our Christmas worship consisted of little more than joyfully receiving and extolling the Immanuel’s presence among us in the mystery of Holy Communion. In that gift, the incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension come together in a way that us mere mortals can benefit us. The Sacrament of the Altar gives us access to Him who was laid in a manger at Bethlehem, but now reigns from the throne in the heavenly Jerusalem. He cradles us with such strong and gentle love that nothing can snatch us out of His hands.
Some people don’t actually look forward to Christmas. If you’re feeling rather uninspired about Christmas this year, don’t compel yourself to muster artificial excitement. Mary and Joseph were undoubtedly disappointed there was no place for her to give birth. Christmas can be a stressful time managing schedules, family members and engagements. Don’t search frantically for that one thing to make everything right; a particular present, a reunion with someone seldom seen, an apology, an invitation- Christmas is bigger than that. And the One born in the manger has broad enough shoulders to bear all of your complaints, disappointments and griefs. He has taken the punishment for all your sins. You are His baptized. You are His cherished child. He shines light into your darkness. He has secured your eternal salvation. He dwells in you and among us. So, let us rejoice in these words of the Spirit, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”10
+ In nomine Jesu +
The Nativity of our Lord
Christmas Day
25 December 2019
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 John 1:5 2 John 1:11-12
3 Genesis 1:26 4 Revelation 12:4-5
5 The Nicene Creed 6 Hebrews 9:12
7 Luke 2:14 8 Luke 2:17
9 John 1:14 10 John 1:14
Text: John 1:1-14
Theme: Small Child, Big Mission
Dear worshippers of the infant Saviour,
Christmas involves more than the locality of Bethlehem or a captivating cast of characters. The implications of Christmas are not parochial. The focal point and central players associated with the birth of Jesus are the divinely chosen instruments to facilitate the Father’s plan of salvation for the world. Today the apostle John is committed to showing us the ‘bigger picture’. Akin to zooming in or out on Google maps the Spirit gives us both the wide angle and the greatest possible resolution in teaching about the incarnation of Jesus, the Word of God. He says, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”1
The nativity narrative is easy enough to follow. Mind you, this family faced not only the challenge of less-than-ideal birthing circumstances, but also the supernatural intervention of angels. Surely the visit of the shepherds would have also seemed like an astounding occurrence to Mary and Joseph. Meanwhile, practical realities had to be attended to. Mary meditates while Joseph domesticates. This birth has set the wheels in motion. Things will change. There will be no going back. All babies transform the lives of their parents. This one will transform the existence of the world.
Jesus was a small child with a big mission. John speaks to this truth. Immutable Himself, this Child has the power to change everything and everyone. Jesus, the new Adam, will sheathe the cherubim’s sword guarding the entrance to the Garden. In Him Paradise will be restored. In the person of Jesus God again dwells with His people. He does so in human flesh, in real time. This Immanuel comes with purpose that necessarily implicates everyone. The Scripture says, “He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him. But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.”2
Why was He not received by everyone? The answer is as simple as it is profound. Sovereigns aren’t usually looking for new rulers. People naturally prefer to be architects of their own destiny. That means if people think they are coping well enough with their own sin and the brokenness in their lives they won’t be seeking a Saviour. The challenge of proclaiming the Good News is exactly as it always has been: People won’t receive Him joyfully until they recognize the need. Undoubtedly our celebrations of Christmas are more affluent than those of many who have celebrated across the centuries. But our need is fundamentally no different. We are not morally, ethically, or spiritually superior to past generations. All are still conceived in sin. All are still under condemnation. It’s certainly not hard to see just by watching the daily news that people aren’t able to manage their own brokenness. The mirror of God’s law calls us to reflect soberly also. Do we see ourselves as paupers in relation to the ChristChild, or sovereigns?
The incarnation, Jesus’ coming in human flesh, meant that God wanted to restore the crown of creation not destroy it. “God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our own likeness...”3 Yet sin had marred that image and likeness beyond recognition. People lost all knowledge, faith, hope, and trust in God. God could have started over. Or He could have abandoned the whole created enterprise. After all, the Holy Trinity lacks nothing in His self-subsisting existence. It could be argued that He did start over at the time of Noah’s flood. He certainly had intense words with Moses about leaving His people to their own demise. But He did not start anew. He chose to redeem fallen humanity through the sending of His Son.
Angels play a prominent role in the nativity narrative. Seldom do popular depictions of the nativity scene leave them out. What about the leader of the evil angels, Satan, the accuser? Was he just standing by idly? Not a chance! The Scripture says, “The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child the moment it was born. She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations.”4 But Satan did not prevail. And he could not prevent Jesus going to the cross.
The death and resurrection of Jesus shattered Satan’s hopes. But this was far from a cosmic duel of equals. Jesus is not a servant of God momentarily endowed with supernatural powers. He is “God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God.”5 Yet, He is also fully human, and the apostle John want us to understand the implications. The life of the Son had to be forfeited so the image of the Father could be retained. This firstborn Son was the last sacrifice needed to fulfil the covenant of God. The Scripture says, “He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.”6 He secured that redemption for all humanity. He gifts it to all who believe.
At the birth of Christ, the angels unleash their praise, saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace…”7 The shepherds bend the knee and then wag their tongues, “When they had seen Him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this Child.”8 On the face of it the role of the angels seems more desirable than that of the shepherds. After all, who doesn’t like to celebrate as opposed to the likely rejection to be faced when evangelizing? But the two are actually part and parcel of the same piece. Faith cannot be silent. The believer shares what has been received. News this good cannot be contained. The Saviour from sin, death, and Satan has been born. It changes our lives and we want it to change the lives of others.
This Christmas gospel from the first chapter of John is also a marvelous Scripture to deepen our appreciation of Holy Communion. At first glance there might appear to be no direct connection. The apostle doesn’t talk about celebrating the Sacrament. But the incarnation underpins and informs the reality. Only a Saviour who has assumed a true human frame can really offer Himself in that way for our benefit. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”9 Jesus, the Word, the eternally existing Second Person of the Holy Trinity, entered into this tangible, material, and created dimension through the womb of the Virgin. He was born in the natural manner, yet without sin. Only an exceedingly humble God, only a God judiciously concerned with not overwhelming us with His majesty could devise such a plan.
We wouldn’t be too far off the mark if our Christmas worship consisted of little more than joyfully receiving and extolling the Immanuel’s presence among us in the mystery of Holy Communion. In that gift, the incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension come together in a way that us mere mortals can benefit us. The Sacrament of the Altar gives us access to Him who was laid in a manger at Bethlehem, but now reigns from the throne in the heavenly Jerusalem. He cradles us with such strong and gentle love that nothing can snatch us out of His hands.
Some people don’t actually look forward to Christmas. If you’re feeling rather uninspired about Christmas this year, don’t compel yourself to muster artificial excitement. Mary and Joseph were undoubtedly disappointed there was no place for her to give birth. Christmas can be a stressful time managing schedules, family members and engagements. Don’t search frantically for that one thing to make everything right; a particular present, a reunion with someone seldom seen, an apology, an invitation- Christmas is bigger than that. And the One born in the manger has broad enough shoulders to bear all of your complaints, disappointments and griefs. He has taken the punishment for all your sins. You are His baptized. You are His cherished child. He shines light into your darkness. He has secured your eternal salvation. He dwells in you and among us. So, let us rejoice in these words of the Spirit, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”10
+ In nomine Jesu +
The Nativity of our Lord
Christmas Day
25 December 2019
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 John 1:5 2 John 1:11-12
3 Genesis 1:26 4 Revelation 12:4-5
5 The Nicene Creed 6 Hebrews 9:12
7 Luke 2:14 8 Luke 2:17
9 John 1:14 10 John 1:14
Christmas Eve 2019
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Luke 2:10-11
Theme: God’s Interest In People
Dear worshippers of the holy Infant,
God is interested in people. Maybe that statement is so obvious to you that you’d classify it as a ‘no-brainer’. Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, creation, redemption, forgiveness, grace, all happen because God is interested in people. Yet, if we’re both honest and observant, we recognize that the pervasive power of sin causes people- people here right now, even people who come to the Lord’s house week in and week out- to doubt and even despair over God’s interest in people. The traumas, tragedies, failures and griefs of life shoot arrows of doubt at us with such velocity that even those with the strongest spiritual armor still feel the impact- even when those arrows fall harmlessly to the ground. God is interested in people and Christmas tells us He is so interested in people He became the Man who redeemed humanity. He became the Person who died for all persons. He became the Life-giver of all lives.
While God’s interests in you are genuine, there are others whose interests are more self-serving. The modern marketing of Christmas of relies on the propagation of sentimental feeling and magical sensation, along, of course, with greed. Rare indeed is the person who doesn’t like to be swept up into the enchanted atmosphere of a fairytale. The success of Disney validates this truth. Christmas is billed, commercially, as an opportunity to step outside of the grind of daily life into a world where everything is cheerful, magical, and…affordable. It is billed as a reprieve from the complications, complexities, and commitments of relationships and responsibilities. So, for many, the holiday season is an attempt to temporarily exchange reality for fantasy. But remember marketing is driven by the desire for revenue, not by realism, and the two need only coincide when the revenue cannot be obtained in any other way.
The real implications of Christmas are much more profound and durable than the fleeting merriment offered by carefree indulgence. In the true understanding of Christmas, the miraculous usurps the magical and actualization supersedes fantasy. The angel said, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.”1 The embodiment of God’s love in the person of Jesus proves that He is not only interested in people, He is interested in sinners. The Child swaddled in peasant’s garb would, soon enough, be clothed in the guilt of transgressors. The sweetness of the nativity had to give way to the bitterness of the crucifixion.
And why did it have to be this way? Why couldn’t this infant Messiah have grown up, announced God’s favour, and then returned effortlessly back to heaven? Why? Because God is interested in real people who are real sinners. He is interested in you. Sin does not scare Him. How interested in sinners is He? He is interested in gossips. He is interested in idolaters. He is interested in fornicators. He is interested in liars. He is interested in worriers, cowards, cheats, and scoundrels… the list could go on endlessly. God is interested in failures; not because He wants in any way, shape, or form to encourage departure from the truth and transgression of His will. God abhors evil and will not suffer it. But He loves people profoundly and wants to redeem them.
Generally speaking, during Christmas people tend to be a little more thoughtful, patient, and forgiving than at other times. Maybe that legacy is one of the positive influences Christianity has had on the wider culture over the centuries? But people don’t cease to be sinners just because it’s Christmas. In fact, some relationships are damaged further by the hypocrisy that can accompany artificial merrymaking during the season. A veneer of politeness can be transparent even when we think it’s opaque. Selfish indulgence is inadvertently, but candidly, revealed at this time of year. Even the most diligent are tempted to rationalize excess in the ‘spirit of the season’.
The genuine excess of Christmas is the extravagance of God’s love. It’s hidden, of course, a splendid enigma. In a sanctuary for livestock the Prince of heaven takes up residency. He enters the human dimension through the womb of the Virgin and resides not in the temple but the barn. He commands the attention not of royalty but of commoners. Shepherds must revere Him first, bending the knee to look upon the Lamb who would take the sins of the world away. Fleet of foot and spirited in tongue they informed all whom they met.
While the shepherds advance, the angels retreat. Their retreat is a reverse parallel to the Saviour’s imminence. The angels are ever near but cloaked in heaven’s shadow. Christ is heaven’s light but remains cloaked in human flesh. When not audible to our ears the angels’ song is still ringing out through the heavenly dimension. The Infant’s murmuring is a prelude to the announcement that God’s kingdom has arrived.
The extravagance of God’s love is only partly veiled though. God is interested in people now, not just in the life to come. We hear it when the word of forgiveness sinks into the ear and heart of the penitent. We see it when baptismal water washes over the soul newly welcomed into God’s family. We taste it when believers take His body and blood onto their lips in Holy Communion. We grasp it by faith whenever we reflect on the historical events of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
God’s love is extravagant precisely because He is willing to lavish on sinners. And that means all people. His work is not provincial, but universal. He said, “When I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself. He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die.”2 The physical distance from Bethlehem to Calvary is short, nevertheless it spans the entire distance needed to atone for the world’s sins. Jesus died a short distance from where He was born, so that, believers, reborn in Him, could remain immeasurably distant from eternal death.
Christmas is about extravagance, the extravagant love of Christ. God is interested in people. He is interested in peasants, paupers, and, especially, penitents. His is interested in the high and the low and the in between. Don’t get too obsessed with all the temporary trappings of Christmas. Christmas means that God has a permanent interested in you. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
The Nativity of our Lord
Christmas Eve
24 December 2019
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Luke 2:10-11 2 John 12:32-33
Text: Luke 2:10-11
Theme: God’s Interest In People
Dear worshippers of the holy Infant,
God is interested in people. Maybe that statement is so obvious to you that you’d classify it as a ‘no-brainer’. Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, creation, redemption, forgiveness, grace, all happen because God is interested in people. Yet, if we’re both honest and observant, we recognize that the pervasive power of sin causes people- people here right now, even people who come to the Lord’s house week in and week out- to doubt and even despair over God’s interest in people. The traumas, tragedies, failures and griefs of life shoot arrows of doubt at us with such velocity that even those with the strongest spiritual armor still feel the impact- even when those arrows fall harmlessly to the ground. God is interested in people and Christmas tells us He is so interested in people He became the Man who redeemed humanity. He became the Person who died for all persons. He became the Life-giver of all lives.
While God’s interests in you are genuine, there are others whose interests are more self-serving. The modern marketing of Christmas of relies on the propagation of sentimental feeling and magical sensation, along, of course, with greed. Rare indeed is the person who doesn’t like to be swept up into the enchanted atmosphere of a fairytale. The success of Disney validates this truth. Christmas is billed, commercially, as an opportunity to step outside of the grind of daily life into a world where everything is cheerful, magical, and…affordable. It is billed as a reprieve from the complications, complexities, and commitments of relationships and responsibilities. So, for many, the holiday season is an attempt to temporarily exchange reality for fantasy. But remember marketing is driven by the desire for revenue, not by realism, and the two need only coincide when the revenue cannot be obtained in any other way.
The real implications of Christmas are much more profound and durable than the fleeting merriment offered by carefree indulgence. In the true understanding of Christmas, the miraculous usurps the magical and actualization supersedes fantasy. The angel said, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.”1 The embodiment of God’s love in the person of Jesus proves that He is not only interested in people, He is interested in sinners. The Child swaddled in peasant’s garb would, soon enough, be clothed in the guilt of transgressors. The sweetness of the nativity had to give way to the bitterness of the crucifixion.
And why did it have to be this way? Why couldn’t this infant Messiah have grown up, announced God’s favour, and then returned effortlessly back to heaven? Why? Because God is interested in real people who are real sinners. He is interested in you. Sin does not scare Him. How interested in sinners is He? He is interested in gossips. He is interested in idolaters. He is interested in fornicators. He is interested in liars. He is interested in worriers, cowards, cheats, and scoundrels… the list could go on endlessly. God is interested in failures; not because He wants in any way, shape, or form to encourage departure from the truth and transgression of His will. God abhors evil and will not suffer it. But He loves people profoundly and wants to redeem them.
Generally speaking, during Christmas people tend to be a little more thoughtful, patient, and forgiving than at other times. Maybe that legacy is one of the positive influences Christianity has had on the wider culture over the centuries? But people don’t cease to be sinners just because it’s Christmas. In fact, some relationships are damaged further by the hypocrisy that can accompany artificial merrymaking during the season. A veneer of politeness can be transparent even when we think it’s opaque. Selfish indulgence is inadvertently, but candidly, revealed at this time of year. Even the most diligent are tempted to rationalize excess in the ‘spirit of the season’.
The genuine excess of Christmas is the extravagance of God’s love. It’s hidden, of course, a splendid enigma. In a sanctuary for livestock the Prince of heaven takes up residency. He enters the human dimension through the womb of the Virgin and resides not in the temple but the barn. He commands the attention not of royalty but of commoners. Shepherds must revere Him first, bending the knee to look upon the Lamb who would take the sins of the world away. Fleet of foot and spirited in tongue they informed all whom they met.
While the shepherds advance, the angels retreat. Their retreat is a reverse parallel to the Saviour’s imminence. The angels are ever near but cloaked in heaven’s shadow. Christ is heaven’s light but remains cloaked in human flesh. When not audible to our ears the angels’ song is still ringing out through the heavenly dimension. The Infant’s murmuring is a prelude to the announcement that God’s kingdom has arrived.
The extravagance of God’s love is only partly veiled though. God is interested in people now, not just in the life to come. We hear it when the word of forgiveness sinks into the ear and heart of the penitent. We see it when baptismal water washes over the soul newly welcomed into God’s family. We taste it when believers take His body and blood onto their lips in Holy Communion. We grasp it by faith whenever we reflect on the historical events of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
God’s love is extravagant precisely because He is willing to lavish on sinners. And that means all people. His work is not provincial, but universal. He said, “When I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself. He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die.”2 The physical distance from Bethlehem to Calvary is short, nevertheless it spans the entire distance needed to atone for the world’s sins. Jesus died a short distance from where He was born, so that, believers, reborn in Him, could remain immeasurably distant from eternal death.
Christmas is about extravagance, the extravagant love of Christ. God is interested in people. He is interested in peasants, paupers, and, especially, penitents. His is interested in the high and the low and the in between. Don’t get too obsessed with all the temporary trappings of Christmas. Christmas means that God has a permanent interested in you. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
The Nativity of our Lord
Christmas Eve
24 December 2019
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Luke 2:10-11 2 John 12:32-33
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