Lent V (A)

The Fifth Sunday in Lent

10 April 2011

The death of a loved one is never a pleasant experience.  However, it’s safe to say that most people don’t really understand death; even in the Church.  The most recent issue of the Lutheran Witness spoke of some of the myths about death that people believe today:

Myth 1: Death is natural.

Myth 2: A Christian will have to answer for his sins when he dies.

Myth 3: When you die, you become an angel.

Myth 4: When you die, you’ll be with the body.

Myth 5: funerals are for the living, not the dead.

Myth 6: the soul sleeps.

Myth 7: the funeral of a Christian is a celebration.

I

Our Lord, experiences this very event in our text today.

They called to Him saying:  He whom You love is ill!

This man is named Lazarus.  His name means in Aramaic: “God has helped.”  He is a part of a family whom we know well from Scripture; the brother of Mary and Martha.  This is the same Mary and Martha who hosted Jesus in their home.  Mary who was at Jesus’ feet listening to Him, while Martha labored in the kitchen.  Jesus taught the family and apparently the family and Jesus had remained close friends.

That they were friends, makes it all the more strange that Jesus does not go directly over their home to be with Lazarus.  John tells us, Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.  So when He heard that Lazarus was ill, He stayed two more days where He was.  Sounds a bit odd doesn’t it!  If Jesus loves this family, why wouldn’t He go immediately?  Where is He at the moment that they needed Him most?  Jesus tells us: “It is the for the Glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it!”  

Jesus tells his disciples that Lazarus has fallen asleep.  But the disciples are slow to understand.  In fact, the disciples constantly are not understanding.  Lazarus has not just fallen asleep.  He died!  He is dead!  How slow the disciples are to understand what is taking place here!  Like us, they avoid the topic of death.

“If only you were here, Jesus,” cried Martha!  They trusted Jesus could heal this man.  They had seen many of His miracles, and believed.  However, this is death and for us as humans, it is the end as we know it.

At times of bereavement, we offer all sorts of condolences.  At Lazarus’ funeral the same things are taking place.  Family and friends all gather here to comfort and console each other.  I’m sure that they were saying things such as: “he was such a great man.”  “We are so sorry for your loss.”  “We are keeping you in prayer in these times.”  The rabbi Jesus comes to the scene and sounds like He is offering His condolences as well: “Surely your brother will rise again.”  They don’t know that this is about to take place here and now.

So Jesus takes this opportunity to teach the family.  “I am the resurrection and the Life!  He Who believes in me though he die, yet shall he live.  And whoever believes in me shall never die!”  Do you believe this?  Martha replies, yes I believe that you are the Christ that is coming into the world!  However, I know that you are talking about the last day.  It can’t happen now... could it?

But Jesus is still with them, and when Jesus is with them, He is the Resurrection and the life.  Death has no power over Him!  This is God Himself and He cannot be defeated by death.  So He goes to the tomb of Lazarus and does something peculiar.

The evangelist John tells us “Jesus wept.”  This is the shortest verse in the whole bible, and possibly tells us the most about the nature of Jesus.  While being true God, He is also True man.  In His divinity, Jesus shows us that God despises death.  He didn’t create it, and it pains Him terribly to see this predicament on His creation.  In His humanity, Jesus shows us that He sympathizes with His family.  He feels the same loss, the same sorrow, the same separation that we feel at the loss of of a loved one.

II So what does this account teach us today.  First of all we see this reality: Death is painful, even for the most devout Christian.  Jesus wept.  The very Christ, the Anointed One of God weeps at death.  We too should weep at death.  He is moved to tears not just out of compassion and sympathy, but because death is not natural.  It goes against God’s plan for life.  Furthermore, it is the epitome of our the broken relationship with God.  

The separation between God and man is the result of sin and as Paul says, the sting of death is sin.  The fruit of sin is death.  Death is not the plan of God nor was it created by God.  Death is the result of sin and the devil mixed with our rebellion against our creator.  It is painful for God to see, but it’s also painful for you and me.

We weep at death.  We weep at death because of separation.  It is a separation from our loved ones.  Our friend or family member;  We miss that person.  We are sad that this person no longer with us.  

There is much more to the reason that we weep at at death.  It’s more than just missing that loved one.  It’s more than our separation with that person.  We weep at death because it’s the separation of the body and soul.  The tearing a part of God’s crown of creation.  When death comes, much more is taking place than what meets the eye.  It is a spiritual separation of the body and soul.  The body lies there defeated by sin.  The soul no longer dwells in this body.  This is the real sting of death: sin!

I think it’s proper now that we look at death from what God says.  The bible speaks very clearly about two types of death.  The “first” and “second” death as spoken of in the book of Revelation.  

The first death is the death of the body.  The bodily death is the death that is visible to us.  It is the death that all people must suffer.  Death as I mentioned, is a result of sin.  We are all sinners and therefore, we must all die.  No matter how good a person you are, no matter how much money you have or don’t have.  No matter how healthy or successful you are.  Bodily death must come.  

Paul states that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God.  This is because God demands perfection.  Nothing impure or unclean can enter into His presence.  This is why the body must die.

But there is yet another kind of death that is far worse.  This known as Spiritual death.  This death comes from rejecting the grace of God that comes from the Holy Spirit.  This death trusts in self-righteousness.  This death worships false gods.  This death lives in this world as if there were no God.  In Spiritual death there is eternal separation from God.  All who reject the Gospel, God’s free gift of Salvation in Jesus Christ, suffer this death.

Bodily sins lead physical death, but they also can lead to spiritual death.  When there is no repentance, we can slowly die this second death.  St. Augustine equated repentance with a boat which has a leak in it.  If no attention is given to the leak, the boat will eventually flood and sink.  Therefore, the leak must be attended to.  Water must constantly be removed from the boat lest it sink.

So it is with our lives.  Our lives are like the boat.  If we fail to remove the sin from our lives through daily contrition and repentance, we to may fall into the spiritual death.  We may sink.

Death is a reality for all people.  Repent of your sins, trust in Jesus; lest you die the second death.  Repentance of sins removes the water that can sink your boat.  

III Todays text is so comforting to the repentant sinner who walks through the valley of the shadow of death.  Jesus says: “I am the resurrection and the Life!  He Who believes in me though he die, yet shall he live.  And whoever believes in me shall never die!”

During this Lenten season we are given a glimpse of the resurrection of the dead through the person of Lazarus.  

When there is repentance, there is a return to your Resurrection.  Yes, you have already been raised from death.  But how is it possible to be already raised from the dead if you have not yet died?  In your baptism.  Paul writes to the Colossians in chapter two: “You have been buried with Him in Baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, Who raised Him from the dead.”

In Baptism your sins are drowned and you are raised to new life in faith.  In Baptism you are connected to Jesus‘ death and resurrection.  In Baptism, you are raised from your spiritual death and now need not fear physical death.  In Baptism, you are forgiven of both your bodily sins and sin of unbelief.  In Baptism you are saved!

While discussing the resurrection we are brought back to the story we read today.  After weeping at the death of Lazarus, Jesus goes and raises Lazarus to life.  As we are very close to Holy Week, this Resurrection of Lazarus really is a foreshadowing of Jesus’ Resurrection.  When Lazarus is raised to life, he still had to die a physical death again.  In fact, the Jews try to kill right away.  But in the Resurrection of Jesus, He never  will die again.  So also this is a glimpse of your resurrection.  

Jesus will return soon.  His words of promise are just as valid as they were in the story of Lazarus.  He is coming soon, and when He comes, this body of sin, whether dead or alive will be changed in the twinkling of an eye.  You will be given a new glorified body.  He come to your grave and call you by name:  “______ come out!”

Until then take comfort in this during the times of physical death.  In fact, your physical death is only the shedding of this sinful body.  And when Christ returns you will be given a new body to live forever with all the saints and even Christ Himself.

So now, come and receive Christ in this holy meal as He comes to forgive you all your sins.  In the Name of +Jesus+ Amen.

Lent II (A)

Second Sunday in Lent

John 3:1-17

CCT: Only by God’s grace given to us in baptism, a birth of water and Spirit, can we see, understand, and live in God’s Kingdom.

Flesh gives birth to flesh.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

I don’t know about you, but I know that I was born.  No, I don’t have any recollection or memories of that day.  Sure I’ve seen photos, and I even have a birth certificate signed by the doctor and my mother giving proof of my birth.  This is how I know that I was born; and I believe it.  If you don’t know if you were born, I’m here to tell you today: YOU WERE BORN!  You should believe it too.  Anyone who is sitting here was born.  Many here have given or witnessed the birth of a child too.  So you know how it happens.  It’s a natural.  It’s life.  Flesh gives birth to flesh.

However, there is one thing that can be said about  our birth.  None of you, no, not one, decided to be born.  It was not your choice.  You cannot choose your life.  It’s given to you, entirely, and freely from God.  It wasn’t even your parents choice.  Sure they may have wanted a child, but they didn’t choose you.  They maybe even didn’t want you.  The number of abortions that take place today shows how many lives are not even wanted.  Regardless, your parents didn’t choose you, your brother didn’t choose you, and most certainly, you didn’t choose you!  No one here chose to be born, yet you are here.  It’s what it is.  Flesh gives birth to flesh.

Since you are here, you know everything that you have learned throughout your life be it by experience, or by classroom lecture.  You know that fire is hot.  You know that 1+ 1 = 2.  You know that you were created; you even have knowledge of a god.  Look at creation, and you see the hand of God.  There is an obvious architect behind all the order and structure of the world.  You know that a god exists.  

Nicodemus knew that there was a god too.  He was a leader in the religious order of the day.  He had gone to a good school of theology, likely was a “doctor” of the Scriptures, the Torah.  He knew that God existed and most definitely saw signs of God in the man Jesus.  Likely he had heard all about Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana.  So he approaches Jesus one night to inquire about what was taking place.

It should be noted that Nicodemus came to Jesus at night.  I would say it was simply for this reason: his reputation.  He didn’t want to have his colleagues see him asking questions about things that he should already know.  He was probably looking for an inside lead on the newest story or some gossip for the council.  He was going looking for one thing, and got something completely different.  One thing that we can say about Nicodemus that we know for sure.  Though he was a great leader of the Jewish religion, when it came to matters of God: HE DIDN’T GET IT!  That which is born of flesh is flesh.

Things are no different today.  Most of the educated people in the world don’t get it either.  Even within the visible church today, there are many famous writers and preachers who don’t get it!  Churches that teach that you must undergo another baptism “of the Spirit” don’t get it.  Churches that teach that you must do something to earn righteousness with God don’t get it.  Religions around the world that preach good works don’t get it.  Anyone who preaches another gospel is under the judgment of God as Paul  says in Galatians 1:6-9 “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel - not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.  But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.  As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.”  That which is born of flesh is flesh.  No matter how smart, intelligent, how many degrees you have, if you don’t have the pure gospel, as delivered to you by Christ Himself, then you don’t get it!

By nature we don’t get it.  We know that we were born, we know that we will die.  We know many things in this world.  But one thing that you don’t know, that I don’t know, naturally is the gospel.  All which we know is of the flesh.  We cannot know the things of God on our own.  Neither did Nicodemus.  Jesus calls him out on it too: “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things!”  The reason that Nicodemus doesn’t get it, the reason that I don’t get, the reason that you don’t get it is not that you haven’t tried hard enough or that you haven’t studied enough.  You don’t get it because you are a sinner.  

Because you are a sinner you are infected with a disease that prevents you from knowing the things of God.  This is what blinds you, which prevents you from seeing the kingdom of God.  Luther says concerning the issue: “For where there is flesh and blood, there is still the old Adam, who does not know where he shall go, whether below or above, to the left or to the right; on what he should rest his soul and depart. Then there is anxiety and misery in the nature of a real hell; for the torment of hell is nothing but fear, terror, dread and despair.”  

Spirit gives birth to Spirit

Like Israel in the desert, we to need a medicine will heal us, for they were bitten by snakes.  Though they deserved their punishment for their rebellion against God, the Lord graciously gave them a way to be healed.  He provided a healing device, a bronze serpent on the pole.  Anyone who looked at that serpent would be healed, he would live.  That which is born of Spirit is Spirit.

To us, to the whole world, God provides healing for our disease of sin.  He tells Nicodemus and you and me: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”  This is the only way to get it.  In desperation, when we see that there is no way to be healed, to see God, we look to the cross.  That which is born of Spirit is Spirit

While we don’t naturally get, how we can be born again, God gives to us a new life, a new birth.  In baptism you are born again.  In baptism, you are born of God.  The word in Greek can notate being born either again or from above.  Both are right.  For the birth of water and the Spirit brings about a transformation.  We who naturally don’t get it are born in to a new family, a family of believers in the man named Jesus.  Through baptism we are connected to the cross of Jesus, and reap all the benefits therein.  Forgiveness.  Pardon.  Peace with God.  Do you get it?

Part of this new birth is that we can see ourselves as we really are.  We see the depth of our sin.  We see our complete depravity.  We see that have really rebelled against our God.  We become troubled at this.  We are sorry for our sin.  This is part of the new life in this world.  

But the other part of this new life is the forgiveness we have for Jesus’ sake.  When you are burdened by your sin look to the cross.  Feast on the life giving body and blood of Jesus.  This is your medicine.  This is the medicine of immortality.  St. Ambrose said of this Sacrament: “Because I always sin, I always need the medicine.”  This is why you need it frequently.  I’m thankful that this cathedral gives the sacrament weekly.  You need it; I need it.  It’s part of life in the spirit.  For that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit.

So do you get it?  You don’t need an advanced degree.  You don’t need to be make any decisions.  You only need new birth, and you have it.  Return to it daily by repentance and receive the medicine of this altar.  Their you get it.  You receive the pure gospel for your salvation.  You have been born of the Spirit and it’s your life in the Spirit.

So do you get it?  I know that I was born.  Not because I had anything to do with it.  Likewise, I know that I was reborn.  “He saved me through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on me generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, I might become an heir having the hope of eternal life.  This is a trustworthy saying.”  I didn’t have anything to do with this.  It was entirely the work of God.  It was Him who gave me His Spirit when I was one month old.  I have received this new life freely, and so have you who are baptized into Christ!  Do you get it?

That which is born of flesh is flesh.  That which is born of the Spirit is Spirit.

In +Jesus’+ Holy and Precious name.  AMEN.

Newsletter for January through February 2011

Sermon for 12 Dec. 2010

I'll be preaching tomorrow at Uhuru Highway Lutheran Cathedral.  Here is the manuscript that the Holy Spirit (I hope) led me to write:

(Series A)

Isaiah 35:1-10
Psalm 146

James 5:7-11
Matthew 11:2-15

“True Rejoicing”

Central Christological Statement: “The Coming of Christ brings true joy into the heart of Christians.”

Sermon

There are many things that bring joy into our lives.  College graduation and the new job.  The marriage proposal and ensuing “yes.”  The wedding day.  The firstborn to a young couple.  Promotion in work, a raise in income.  Good marks in school.  These are some of the things that really bring joy into our lives.  But there are smaller things too that bring joy such having your favorite football team win the match or seeing a wonderful movie; reading an inspiring novel.  Regardless of the cause, we humans love having joy.  But there is one type of joy that people sometimes set aside or fail to experience.  The sad part is that this joy that I speak of today is the real thing.  True Joy.  

Today is the third Sunday in Advent.  Traditionally this Sunday is called  Gaudet Sunday from the Latin: “Rejoice.”  On this day we are especially reminded of true joy and true rejoicing that comes from Christ.  If you remember nothing else today, remember this: “The Coming of Christ brings true joy into the heart of Christians.”  (Repeat)   

From our text, we see a man who truly know the joy of the Coming of Christ.  The forerunner to the Messiah, John the Baptist.  Last week we saw the beginning of His ministry by baptizing for repentance.  Today we see him shortly before his martyrdom.  He is now imprisoned for speaking the truth.  However, he continues to his mission, pointing to the Christ as the Messiah.  Today he sends his disciples to hear and see the Messiah Himself. 

We can honestly ask the question here, how is it that John the Baptist can faithfully continue his ministry amidst his deadly persecution?  What enables him to continue in such circumstances?  The answer is simple: “The coming of Christ brought true joy into the heart of John the Baptist!”  

The joy of Christ is seen throughout the life of John.  We can trace it all the way back to before he was born:  

 39In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord."

Who is this child who leaped for joy because of the Christ?  John the Baptist!

John’s joy in Christ was with him his ministry ordained by God to prepared the way of the Lord through preaching of repentance.  In the wilderness he faithfully and boldly proclaimed God’s Word so that the “all of Judea” was coming to him.  Baptizing Christ and witnessing the Holy Trinity!  What other than the joy of knowing that Messiah had finally come could give such boldness?

There could have been a temptation for John to take his popularity and power to a higher level.  Sure enough he had the following.  His disciples were ready to leave everything and follow him.  Jesus on the other hand wasn’t attractive or appealing to them.  They were looking for this great temporal king to come and establish his earthly reign.  They were looking for glory.  They were looking for something great!  But they didn’t see these things when they looked to Jesus.  Rather they saw a servant.  How could this lowly man give such joy to their teacher John?

Amidst this temptation, John unfailingly points them to Jesus.  Perhaps he is becoming a bit annoyed by his students failure to listen to him.  Throughout his life they heard his preaching: “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.”  “I am not the Christ.”  “The One coming after me is Greater.”  “He must increase, but I must decrease.”  Why can’t they see what John saw?  What were they looking for?  They were looking for the Messiah, but they saw a man.  They were looking for a king, but they saw a servant.  In the knowledge and joy of Jesus, John desperately points his confused disciples to Christ.  

Dear friends in Christ, there is nothing stoping you from finding the same joy that John the Baptist had.  But all too often we become like his disciples looking for a pompous king or leader.  We often fail to see the works and to hear the words of Christ like the disciples of John.  And it is at this point that I have to say: beware!  When we become bored of Christ and His Word we can turn to false teachers.  

(Excursus)

Many false prophets come in this world claiming to be a new messenger of God.  Be aware of such people.  These are not true teachers.  Rather than pointing to Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, the focus on temporal works such as speaking in tongues, miraculous healing, and financial riches and blessings from God.  These are not true teachers.  They are not proclaiming Christ and Him Crucified!  They are preaching another gospel, not of God.  Don’t go for them, or your soul is at risk to be eternally.  The are instruments of the devil himself. 

The preachers and bishops in the ELCK are called to preach and teach Christ faithfully just as John the Baptist did.  They are bearers of the divine gifts of Christ: forgiveness, life, and salvation.  The true preachers are here in your midst.  This is Christ working as Good News is preached here through the Lutheran Church.  Those faithful pastors and leaders in the Lutheran Church here and throughout the world hold the sacred gifts of God. Listen to them.  You will receive true blessings from God, true Joy.

With that said, we can again look at the true joy that comes from Christ.  As I mentioned, the same joy that came to John comes to you.  Look to the Christ.  Go to Him.  Ask Him, “are you the One is to come?”  His answer is this: “the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6And blessed is the one who is not offended by me."  Just as Jesus affirmed the teaching of John, so also He affirms our preaching today.  We receive Good News!  We receive absolution for our sins.  We receive His Holy Word.  We receive His most precious body and blood for the forgiveness of our sins!  Leap for joy dear friends in Christ!  Rejoice!

This true joy is far greater than any joy we can experience in life.  It doesn’t end.  It is with you and me all the days of our pilgrimage in this world.  As long as we come to receive the gifts of the Lord in His Word and Sacrament, we have this true joy!

But there is something that is to be said about the joys and sorrows that we experience in life.  When we have the joy of Christ in our hearts, we are able to further enjoy the blessings and joys of life, because we know that they come from Him.  When we experience the marriages, births, promotions, the “good” things of life, we can rejoice that they are from God whose joy is within us.  But the converse is true as well.  When we have the joy of Christ in our hearts, we are able to bear the burdens of life.  Sickness, death, pain, demotion, failure, rejection, struggles.  Whatever you may be dealing with now, or at some point in your life, Christ’s joy of salvation in your heart will sustain you. 

While we go through these ups and downs in life we can be assured that Christ is always with us.  But we can also be assured that our Joy will be complete when Christ comes again.  On that day we who have confessed Him here will receive the consummation of our faith on earth.  The joy that is with us now will be brought to full bloom when Christ comes in glory.  That my friends is the way that it is on this 12th day of December in the year of our Lord 2010.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Advent III

Uhuru Highway Lutheran Church

December 12, 2010

Vicar Jeff Ross

Recent Travels

It has been a few weeks since I updated and I apologize, but I have been really moving around here in Kenya.

From November 14th through the 21st I was assigned to work with a team from Texas (Salem Lutheran Church) in Meru, Kenya (near Mt. Kenya).  This team has been putting on eyeglass clinics in partnership with the the local congregations here.  These clinics bring great exposer to the local Lutheran congregations as well as service the community.  My job was to help determine where to send the  patients and also to question them about their faith.  All in all we saw 1700 people with 12 having come to faith in Christ.  Praise the Lord!

Most recently I have been at a Mission Training Center (MTC) conference for MTC leaders in Atemo, Kenya (near Kisumu).  It was great to meet a number of pastors in the ELCK.  I even presented to them a doctrine book on the church that they'll be able to use in their classes.  The main purpose of the MTC is to train evangelists to serve in their congregations.  We also began discussing the future of the MTC program here in Kenya.  Please keep these pastors and students in your prayers!

Peace from Kenya,

Jeff

Christ in Africa!

Karibu (welcome) to my blog!

It's two months into my year vicarage (internship) in Kenya and I'm finally getting the blog thing going.

   In this blog I plan to give updates with special attention to the theme that I have selected: "Christ in Africa."  Throughout my time here, I plan to observe and learn the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya (ELCK).  I know that many may be interested to here about life and culture here in Africa.  My response to that would simply be you cannot learn such things from a blog.  Only through first hand experience can you learn those things.  To that end, I will certainly include information on culture and life here, but my main focus is to give updates on my ecclesial interaction, experience, and work.  You might even find some personal information too.  I hope you enjoy following along!

Yours in Christ,

Vicar Jeff

P.S My plan is to give updates 2-4 times per month.

Vicar Jeff alongside Bishop Walter Obare and wife Eunice.