Sunday, April 23, 2017

Reconnect With God (A sermon based on 1 John 1:1-4)

Do you ever feel like you've disconnected from your spouse, your child, or your friend? What would it take to reconnect? Do you ever feel like you've disconnected from your God? What would it take to reconnect with him? Nothing less than Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. Thank God for Jesus' work for you! Thank God for his resurrection that proves that it worked! Thank God that through him you are reconnected with God, you have fellowship with him again! Read or listen to (download) this sermon based on 1 John 1:1-4 and rejoice in that fellowship!

Easter Means… We Have Fellowship with God

Reconnect With God

A sermon based on 1 John 1:1-4

Sunday, April 23, 2017 – Easter 2B

 

They had both had been so busy lately. They both worked outside the home and it had been a busy season for each. Add to the mix sick kids staying home from school, soccer practice for two of them, and of course the piles and endless piles of laundry, and it seemed that they were more often like the changing of the guards than they were husband and wife. What they really needed was a date night. They needed time to reconnect.

Do you ever feel that way? That you need time to reconnect with your fiancé or spouse? Or maybe it's been a while since you've had any meaningful conversation with your kids and you need some time off to reconnect with them. Or maybe you haven't hung out with your friends in a while. You need to go out and reconnect before you forget their names.

Well, all of us at one point have needed to reconnect with God. And it wasn't just because life got busy (though that may have been our excuse). It was because we deliberately disconnected from him by our sin. As a church reader board once read, "If God seems distant, you can guess which of the two of you moved away."

But the good news is that Easter means that we have fellowship with God once again—not just because people who have been absent from church for most of the year come back again on Easter—but because Easter proves that your sins are forgiven! Mine are too! And that means we have fellowship with God once more!

Listen to our sermon text recorded for us in 1 John 1:1-4 and let's reconnect with God. The apostle John wrote…

 

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our joy complete.

 

Now John obviously wanted the reader of his letter to know the truth of what he wrote. He assured them (us) that what he described was reality—historical fact—not just a product of his imagination. He described what his senses perceived:

"Which we have heard…" John not only heard Jesus' sermons day after day, but he also heard the demons shriek as they were driven out of their victims. He heard the voice of God the Father thunder on the Mount of Transfiguration. He heard Jesus' words spoken from the cross because he was there for all of it.

"Which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at…" John saw Jesus glorified on the mountain. He saw Jesus call Lazarus out of the tomb. He saw Jesus die on the cross. He saw Jesus alive again after that. He watched as Jesus ascended into the clouds because he was there for all of it.

"Which… our hands have touched…" John held on to the fishing nets that were miraculously filled with fish. He held the bridle of the donkey that Jesus rode on Palm Sunday. He touched the Son of God in embrace every time they met, even after he rose from the dead. He was there for all of it.

And John could have easily added, "Which we have smelled…" with the perfume poured on Jesus' feet or the spices used to anoint his body. He could have even added, "Which we have tasted…" with the fish and loves that were multiplied or the bread and wine that contained the body and blood of Jesus at the supper in the upper room.

But why did John highlight that he was not making this up—that he perceived all these things with his senses? Because he wanted his readers to be sure that God had certainly done all these things, to reconnect them to him: "We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ…"

You see, we used to be disconnected from God the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ, by the way we used our senses. Have you listened to the gossip and then proceeded to share the rumors or give someone a bad name? Have you watched what you knew you shouldn't watch, on TV or in real life? Have you touched things that God has clearly said, "Do not touch!" whether an illegal substance or a person you should have never connected with at all? Have you smelled the delicious food before you overindulged? Have you tasted too much alcohol?

You see, by our sin—the sin we were all born with—we were already cut off from God. And by our actual sins—by choosing to use our senses to serve ourselves instead of our God, we withdrew even further from him. That relationship that Adam and Eve enjoyed in the Garden, that fellowship with God, was lost in rebellion to him. And it was lost to each of us as well. "Do not touch!" warns the sign on the electric fence. And when it is ignored, the consequences are felt. "Do not sin!" warns God. But we have. And the consequences are well earned. We have been severed from God.

On March 4, 2005 Arsenio Matias was working in a factory in New York, where he'd worked for 15 years operating a vacuum form machine that made plastic parts for store displays. But there was a problem with the machine. And Arsenio only noticed the problem when he looked down to see blood spurting from his wrists and both of his hands—completely severed—lying on the floor at his feet.

On our own, we were like those hands: detached from God. But the difference is that Arsenio lost his hands due to an accident. We were cut off from God by our fault. We have no one else to blame: No negligence of an inspector, no failure to receive proper training by a manager. We were severed from fellowship with God by our fault, by our own fault, by our own grievous fault. And like hands cut off from the body will soon die, we were bound for eternal death in hell.

But Arsenio's story actually has a happy ending. His coworkers acted quickly. Two of them took off their belts and cinched them around Arsenio's arms to slow the bleeding. Others ran to a nearby store for ice to pack around his severed hands. Mr. Matias and his hands were taken by helicopter to the hospital where surgeons used magnifying lenses and microscopes to reattach the intricately interwoven networks of tendons, arteries, veins, tissues and bones. And after a few weeks of rehab, in a modern miracle, his reattached hands now work just like they did before.

And like Arsenio's story, ours has a happy ending as well. God reattached his people to himself, through his Son, Jesus, who was cut off from God the Father, his fellowship with him severed on the cross as he took the punishment that we earned by abusing our five senses. Organ donors save lives, but they do so by giving up their own. Similarly, Jesus saved us, but he did so by giving up his own life: He gave up heaven to come to earth. He gave up any thoughts of being selfish, living perfectly in our place. He gave up his life on the cross. And, in a sense, his soul to hell on that same cross as he was severed from the Father to rescue us.

But he didn't stay dead. His body and soul reconnected on Easter morning! He regained fellowship with the Father! And he won that fellowship with God for us too! So we are reconnected to God. He have fellowship with him! And I don't just mean "hanging out with God at some potluck" kind of fellowship, but being intimately united with him after being severed from him by our sin, being one with him when had been object of his wrath, being at peace with him and loved by him, totally reconnected in every way!

And after we die, that is after our souls are separated from our bodies, our bodies and souls will reconnect just like Jesus' body and soul did! And then we will have true fellowship with God, literally getting to hang out with him at a potluck, at the eternal banquet feast of heaven!

You see why John was so adamant that the message he proclaimed was not fiction, but was rooted in historical fact, perceived by his senses, and absolutely true? You see why he insisted, "We have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us." It's because he wanted you and me and everyone to know without a doubt that Easter means that we have fellowship with God. He has forgiven every sin and we are reconnected to him!

And this is because of the historical facts that John heard, saw, and touched. All of this because of Jesus. All of this is because of Easter. Easter means you're reattached to God. You're reconnected to him. You have fellowship with him when it had been hopelessly lost. "You… have fellowship with us," John wrote, "And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ." And so, our joy is complete.

Now re-connect with God in his Word as you spend time with him. Has it been a while? Has life gotten hectic? You know that if you don't take time now and then to reconnect with your spouse, with your kids, or with your friends, you will slowly drift apart until that relationship is no more. Don't drift away from God, but reconnect with him as you spend time talking with him in his Word and in prayer, as you receive his body and blood in the Sacrament, as you spend time with his family here at church, enjoying fellowship with us as our fellowship is with God.

And then, finally, use your five senses, no longer to sin, but to bring glory to God! Like Arsenio Matias' reattached hands work again just like they did before, so too, reconnected to God, he has made you to work for him. Listen to his Word! Touch and taste the bread and wine that contain his very body and blood! Then be Jesus hands as you serve others around you. Be his feet as you go to share the Gospel. And just as you gladly give your time, your energy, and your dollars to reconnect with a spouse, a child, or a friend, gladly give your time, your energy, your dollars, your very selves to Jesus in thanks for the way he reconnected you to God. In his name, dear friends, amen. 


In Him,
Pastor Rob Guenther

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
47585 Ciechanski Road, Kenai, AK 99611

Listen to sermons online: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Podcast
Watch services online: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Webcast

Have you been blessed by our ministry at Grace? Consider supporting us with your generous gifts. Give securely online with a check or credit or debit card here: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Give

Friday, April 21, 2017

Our Easter Legacy (A sermon based on 1 Corinthians 15:19-25)

What legacy would you like to leave behind? Sadly, like Adam, we've left behind a legacy of guilt and shame, of destruction, and ultimately death. That's what we've all earned by our rebellion against God. But, thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! In Christ, we get a new legacy! We get his legacy of life! Easter means the death of death and a new legacy for you and me! Read or listen to (download) this sermon based on 1 Corinthians 15:19-26 and rejoice in our Easter legacy! 

Easter Means… The Death of death

Our Easter Legacy

A sermon based on 1 Corinthians 15:19-25

Sunday, April 16, 2017 – Easter Day

 

What do you want your legacy to be? Have you ever thought about it? What do you want to be known for after your gone? What do you hope to leave your kids if you have any?

What legacy has been left to you? What advantages did you parents leave for you? Were you brought up in a Christian home? Did they help you get a good education? What does your family stand for?

A legacy can be good or bad depending on what's been handed down to you. A legacy can be great when your last name is Lincoln, Einstein, or Gates. But what if your name is Hitler, Dahmer, or Bin Laden? Can you reverse that legacy?

The truth is we all do have a legacy. Everyone in this room is related to a man named Adam—no last name, just Adam. And he's left us a terrible legacy—a legacy of sin and rebellion, of guilt and shame, and ultimately, of death. But Easter reverses that legacy! It gives Jesus' legacy to us—a legacy of victory, power, and life—eternal life. Here's how God, through the Apostle Paul, describes both legacies in 1 Corinthians 15:19-26…

 

19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. 

20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 

 

Maybe you've seen the email that's gone around of the cute and funny questions kids would ask of God. One second-grader wrote, "Dear God, instead of letting people die, and then having to make new ones, why don't you just keep the ones you already have?" An interesting question, isn't it? Why doesn't he just keep the one's he already has and just let us all live forever?

In the middle of his great "Resurrection Chapter" the apostle Paul answers that question. Why does death happen? Why does death reign? Because of the legacy Adam left to us all. God gave the first couple not ten, but one commandment: Don't eat from this one tree. You're free to do absolutely anything else that you want. Just don't eat from this one tree.

And what did Adam do? Of course, he ate from that one tree. And he left his legacy. He rebelled against God who had been nothing but loving and kind to him. And he wasn't even tricked into it like his wife was. He acted in full knowledge. He chose the serpent. He chose his wife. He chose to reject God.

And the results were instant. Instantly Adam and Eve felt suspicion, guilt, and shame as they tried to hide their nakedness from each other and from God, as they tried to hide themselves from God. And more consequences would follow: thorns and thistles and sweat and pain, and, ultimately death. "You [will] return to the ground," God told him, "since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return." (Genesis 3:17-19)

And that's the legacy he left for us: sin, guilt, shame… death. Death is Adam's fault—a result of his sin and rebellion—not God's. "Death came through a man… in Adam all die…"

Now we can't get too upset with Adam for leaving us such a legacy and for bring death into our lives because you and I have earned death a thousand times over. We deserve death for every sin that we have ever committed: for every rebellion against God, for every unkind word spoken in frustration, for every self-centered act, for every time we've failed put God—the God who's been nothing but loving and kind to us—first in our lives. We deserve death for putting our hope in the things of this life: our savings accounts, our families, our hard work. We've earned death for expecting God to make this life comfortable and easy and fun, while giving little thought to the life to come. And we deserve not just physical death, but eternal death in hell. For "the wages of sin is death." (Romans 6:23)

You see, Adam's legacy was our legacy too. And there was nothing we could do to stop it. Nothing we could do to change it. There was nothing we could do to reverse that legacy. And so, unless Jesus returns first, we will all die. Each one of us will return to the dust from which we came.

But… We will not die. Not eternally. Why not? Because Adam's legacy isn't ours anymore. We have a better legacy—the legacy of Christ—our Easter legacy…

Paul describes our new legacy like this…  20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

Though you and I are no match for the enemy of death, we have a champion who fought death and won for us. We have earned a legacy of death, but Jesus earned for us a legacy of life. First he battled sin, the sin that brings death. He lived a perfect life, never sinning even once! He never had an unkind or lustful thought. He never had a lazy day or selfish "me time." He kept every commandment and always did what was pleasing to God the Father.

And then he went before the Father's throne and claimed responsibility for our sin. He took ownership for every wrong you and I have ever thought or said or done. Then, on the cross, he took the punishment of hell that our sins deserve as God the Father forsook him and poured out his wrath. And sin was defeated.

But he wasn't done. There on the cross the sinless Son of God, the only one who didn't deserve to die, took on dDeath. And at first it may have seemed that Death had the upper hand as Jesus died on the cross. But Jesus is the Master over death! He demonstrated that time and again during his earthly ministry as he raised the dead to life! And he proved his dominance over Death on Easter morning, when he raised himself to life! Death has lost! It's lost its power and the legacy that Adam left.

Now, the legacy Jesus leaves us is one that will conquer death too! You and I will defeat death as well! We will live again even after death! "The last enemy to be destroyed is death." On the last day of the world, all will be brought to life, never to die again! Death will be undone! Death will die!

A few years ago, a letter appeared in the national news that was sent to a deceased person by the South Carolina Department of Social Services.  It read as follows: "Your food stamps will be stopped effective as of March because we received notice that you passed away. May God bless you. P.S. You may reapply if there is a change in your circumstances." That letter made news because we don't normally expect a change in such circumstances. Death has such an appearance of finality. But that's just the thing: It only appears that way.

God promises, "All will be made alive... Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him... The last enemy to be destroyed is death." The firstfruits were that part of the crop that sprung up first. The Israelites would offer that portion to God in thanks to him for a crop, but especially to show that they trusted his promise of more crops to follow. That's what Jesus' resurrection is to us: The promise of more resurrections to follow. Death has lost. Yes, we will still die, but that death that was once an eternal prison is now just a door to another life—an eternal life in heaven. Now death is no longer final, but only a peaceful sleep because for us there will be a "chance in our circumstances."

We don't fear going to sleep because we know we'll wake up. In fact, we often look forward to the rest that sleep brings. Likewise, by the legacy that Jesus left us on Easter, we no longer need to fear death. Your loved ones who have died, will rise to life again. You and I will wake up from death in God's time, "Each in his own turn..." and finally all people on the Last Day, "when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power..." and even Death is destroyed once and for all. This is our legacy—our Easter legacy! 

And in the meantime, Jesus "must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet." He will rule all things for the good of his church, even using his enemies to accomplish his good purposes. And confident of the legacy he's left us, we can put our trust in him. 

You know, the Great Wall of China can't really be seen from the moon as some have suggested, but it is still a very impressive structure. Built to keep the barbarians out, the Wall was guarded by one million soldiers, understandably making the people of China feel pretty secure. But do you know how long that security lasted? Not very long. During the first one hundred years of the Wall's history China was invaded three times. Their enemies didn't break down the Wall or climb over the top. The conquerors didn't need to exert themselves that much. Each time the Wall was breached it was because the invading army had produced enough cash to bribe a gatekeeper. Without a struggle China's enemies marched right on in.

As secure as some things might seem, having a misplaced trust ends in ruin. Most people quickly find out that things they have trusted and counted on just aren't that reliable. Investments, cash, gold, friendship, smarts, hard work—just about everything—can, and does, manage to let us down. Everything, that is, except Jesus. "If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead!" And he leaves us quite a legacy! The legacy of death that we received from Adam is reversed. Death is destroyed. Because of Easter, you and I, and all who trust in Jesus have an eternal legacy—a legacy of life! He is risen! He is risen indeed! Amen! 


In Him,
Pastor Rob Guenther

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
47585 Ciechanski Road, Kenai, AK 99611

Listen to sermons online: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Podcast
Watch services online: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Webcast

Have you been blessed by our ministry at Grace? Consider supporting us with your generous gifts. Give securely online with a check or credit or debit card here: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Give

​He Said, “I Will Rise Again” (A sermon based on Matthew 27:62-66)

How ironic! Jesus' enemies heard his claim to rise from the dead and acted on it when Jesus' own disciples didn't! How ironic! Their actions actually helped remove any doubt that he actually rose again because they prove that Jesus' disciples did NOT steal his dead body! How ironic! Jesus death means our life! As Jesus' body was laid in the tomb that Good Friday evening, the guards there assure us of our Good Friday joy and our Easter hope. Read or listen to (download) this sermon based on Matthew 27:62-66 and rejoice that he said, "I will rise again." 

 The Ironies of the Passion

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He Said, "I Will Rise Again"

A sermon based on Matthew 27:62-66

Friday, April 14, 2017 – Good Friday

 

Admittedly, he wasn't the best cook. That was obvious now that the contents of the frying pan caught fire. He threw a glass of water on the fire, but since it was a grease fire, that only made the flames spread. That threw him into a panic which caused him to drop the pan. Now the fire spread across the kitchen floor. He thought he could smother the fire, so he grabbed a blanket from the living room and threw it on top. But the blanket apparently wasn't flame retardant, because it soon caught fire in a blaze which started the cupboards on fire. He decided it was time to leave and called 911 on the way out the door. And that's how he lost his house.

How ironic, that what he thought would stop the fire only caused it to spread.

That's how it was with the Pharisees. They sought to stamp out this sect that followed this renegade Rabbi. They masterminded his murderer. Now they would put an end to his legacy and teaching once and for all. But in trying to stamp out Christianity, they inadvertently supported it. And they left us no doubt that what God sought to accomplish on Good Friday is accomplished. Our sins are forgiven.

Our last text for consideration this Good Friday evening is found in Matthew 27:62-66…

 

62 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 "Sir," they said, "we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise again.' 64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first."

65 "Take a guard," Pilate answered. "Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how." 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

 

The chief priests and Pharisees thought they were almost done with the problem of this pesky Rabbi from Nazareth. They had helped bring about his crucifixion. And it wasn't easy! It took a lot of coordination and a lot of effort. It took a lot of pressure on Pilate and it could have gone wrong at any turn. But Jesus was finally dead. Now, there was just one lose end to tie up.

The Jewish leaders knew that Jesus claimed he would rise from the dead. Christianity would have quickly been extinguished if Jesus' body was still in the tomb because even though an empty tomb does not prove the resurrection, a body in the tomb would immediately disprove it. Jesus was buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea who was a wealthy and prominent man in the city of Jerusalem. Everyone knew where they could find Joseph. They knew where his tomb was. Anyone could go see it.

So, ironically, the chief priests and Pharisees acted on Jesus' resurrection prediction when his own disciples didn't! And, ironically then, the greatest evidence for the empty tomb is not from the Christians, but from these Jewish leaders. You see, if the tomb was not empty, they would have pointed to the body and settled it. But since the tomb was in fact empty, they could only claim that the disciples must have stolen the body (Matthew 28:13). And that in spite of the fact that they had posted guards

Ironically, by sealing the stone and posting a guard, these leaders did all they could to make themselves look ridiculous on Easter Sunday. The very thing they tried so hard to prevent was the possibility that Jesus' disciples might come and steal his body. So they posted guards to prevent it from happnening. But when it was clear to all that the tomb was empty, what did the chief priests bribe their guards to say? That Jesus' disciples came during the night and stole the body while the guards were sleeping! How could anyone take such nonsense seriously?

How ironic that what they did to try to stop this movement, helped to give it life by making it clear that the resurrection was not fiction, but fact.

 

How ironic that you and I don't believe Jesus, just like his disciples failed to do. We don't believe that he rose from the dead. We don't believe that he's with us always. At least, we don't act like it. If we remembered that Jesus is alive, that he is omnipresent, that he is with us in the room at any given moment, would we still behave the way we do? Would we talk the way we do to our spouses and our children? Would we find the same joy in the same entertainment? Would we do as the Jewish leaders did and try to do things our own way to protect control of our lives and, ironically, in doing so make matters so much worse in our life than if we'd just done things God's way right away?

Yes, you and I deserve what Jesus got on the cross. We deserve the torture and the pain. We deserve the desertion and the hell. We deserve to cry, "My God, my God, I know why you have forsaken me!" But how ironic, that the very one we've sought to put underfoot, is the very one who not only prayed, "Father, forgive them.." but accomplished that forgiveness by his suffering and death in our place on the cross. How ironic that when we would so often have him be finished pestering us in our lives, that he declared of the payment for our sin and of his plan of salvation, "It is finished!" How ironic that by his death, our death loses its sting, and by his life, we get eternal life as a free gift from God!

 

How ironic that if the Jewish leaders would have done nothing more that Good Friday, but left Jesus dead body alone, their lie—that Jesus' body had been stolen—would have been so much more plausible. Thank God that their plans ironically backfired and gave us the Easter proof that Good Friday accomplished what God intended it to: payment for your sin, his plan of your salvation, is finished.

Hindsight is 20/20. That's for sure. But had the man only called 911 first instead of trying to put out the fire on his own, he would have only been left with some damage to the kitchen, but the house would have been saved.

Friends, don't try to put out the fire of sin on your own. You'll only spread it and make things worse. Instead call Jesus right away. You may still suffer the consequences of your sin, but your soul will be saved from the fire of hell, thanks to Jesus and his work for us on Good Friday and thanks to the resurrection that proves the crucifixion did what God intended it to. And, ironically enough, we can believe it, in part, thanks to those who sent guards to the tomb that Good Friday.

As we wait for Easter, we put our trust in what we know the rest of the story will be. We trust that it happened just as Jesus said it would: He said, "I will rise again." In his name, dear friends, amen.



In Him,
Pastor Rob Guenther

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
47585 Ciechanski Road, Kenai, AK 99611

Listen to sermons online: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Podcast
Watch services online: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Webcast

Have you been blessed by our ministry at Grace? Consider supporting us with your generous gifts. Give securely online with a check or credit or debit card here: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Give


​Do This In Remembrance of Me (A sermon based on 1 Corinthians 11:23-29)

Isn't it ironic that Jesus gave a gift to remember him by, but that gift was actually himself. He would be with them! How wonderfully ironic that in the bread and wine Jesus leaves us his body and blood not only to remember him by but to give us the very forgiveness he won for us on the cross. Read or listen to (download) this sermon based on 1 Corinthians 11:23-29 and rejoice in God's gifts to us! 

The Ironies of the Passion

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Do This In Remembrance of Me

A sermon based on 1 Corinthians 11:23-29

Thursday, April 13, 2017 – Maundy Thursday

 

I have a few questions for you that I want you to actually answer, at least with a head nod, okay? If I were to leave Grace this spring and you were to get a new pastor right away… Do you think that you would still remember me, Pastor Rob Guenther, six months from now? Would you remember me a year from now? Okay, I know I'm pushing it a bit now, but how about two years from now. Would you still remember me then?

Okay, now I've got a dumb knock-knock joke for you. You ready? Knock, knock! ["Who's there?"] What?! You already forgot me? What happened to all that two-year talk? All right, I did warn you it was a dumb joke. But it's goofy because, of course you remember me while I'm right here in front of you.

To many, what Jesus said at the Passover meal that first Maundy Thursday might have also seemed like a dumb joke. In fact, it was quite ironic that he told his disciples that he was leaving them something to remember him by, but that something was himself. They were to remember him even while he was right in front of them. And we remember Jesus, even as he's right in front of us tonight: in our hands and in our mouths.

Our irony of the passion for consideration this Maundy Thursday is Jesus' command: "Do this… in remembrance of me" as he gave them his very body and blood. Our text is found in 1 Corinthians 11:23-29…

 

23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. 32 When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.

 

When I left Raleigh, a close friend and I exchanged gifts to remember each other by. I knew that he was a collector of antiques, so I left him a Bible that I picked up at a book auction that dated back to the mid-1800's. It was meaningful to him not only for the antique, but because every time he looks at it, displayed on an antique desk in his living room, he remembers me and how I taught him a lot of what the Bible says and means.

He, in exchange, taught me a lot about hunting. We went out to his property several times each year to hunt turkey or deer or just to work on the land, clearing a line of sight, planting food plots, or securing stands. In fact, it was on those trips that we talked theology which led him to take the Bible Information Class the year before I left. And when I took the call here, he gave me the .30-06 that I'd borrowed from him every time we'd hunt together—the same .30-06 I shot my black bear with here. Now every time I take it hunting, I think of him.

Have you left some item to someone close to you that they might remember you by? Has someone left something for you that you remember them by? Maybe it's a special keepsake or a piece of jewelry. Maybe a trinket or knickknack to remember a vacation you took together. Or maybe it's just a photo. But those keepsakes, help us to remember the people we care about.

 

That first Maundy Thursday, Jesus was about to leave his disciples. Oh, he would see them again, but on the other side of the grave, and that for only a little more than a month before he left them again. Then, they would be physically separated until their heavenly reunion. So Jesus gave his disciples something to remember him by, something special…

The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me."

 

Jesus' token of remembrance was far more special than an antique Bible or a .30-06. He gave them his very body and blood. Now, if Jesus wanted to leave them just a symbol to remember him by, he might have left a lamb, to remind them of the Passover Lamb that pointed to his sacrifice by which God would pass over them in his wrath. Or maybe he would have left a simple tent, to remind them that this life is temporary while we wait for the eternal life to come. But he didn't leave them just a symbol. He left them himself.

And therein lies the irony. "I leave this that you might remember me when I'm gone. But "this" is me. I leave you myself. I won't really be gone. I'll be right there with you when you do this in remembrance of me."

We call this the "doctrine of real presence." That is, Jesus is somehow truly present in the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. His body and blood are somehow, in, with, and under, the bread and wine. Even tonight, as we celebrate the Lord's Supper, Jesus is here with us.

Have you ever wondered why we sing the Song of Simeon after the Lord's Supper? Isn't that a Christmas story—where old Simeon held the baby Jesus in the temple court of Jerusalem? But just as Simeon marveled in joy as he held Jesus, the God who created the cosmos, in his hands! …So too, we marvel in joy that we who have just communed have held Jesus, the same God who created the cosmos, in his very body and blood, in our hands and in our mouths!

What a special gift of remembrance Jesus has left to us! He's left us himself! And with himself he gives forgiveness of sins every time we celebrate the Lord's Supper. This sacrament and its promise of forgiveness, connects you to Jesus' work on the cross: of taking your every sin on himself and paying the full penalty of hell in your place.

 

Now, when you receive a special gift of remembrance from a close friend, I'm guessing that you do as I do and treat that gift in a special way. So I clean the rifle my friend gave me out after every use. I oil it. I try my best to keep it clean and dry even on my hunts. I put electrical tape over the barrel to keep dirt from getting in. It's special to me for sentimental reasons and I want it to last. So I want to take good care of it. Similarly, I hope my friend doesn't eat nacho chips and cheese over the antique Bible that I gave him.

And similarly, Jesus wants us to treat his special gift with care as well. So he warns…

27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. 32 When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.

So what does it mean to eat the bread or drink the cup "in an unworthy manner"? Well you can picture me tossing my rifle in the back of my jeep and leaving it there only to toss some salmon and sand on top of it this summer. That would be an unworthy manner. You can picture my friend, tearing out pages of the antique Bible when he's run out of napkins at his barbeque. That would be treating it in an unworthy manner.

We treat the Lord 's Supper in an unworthy manner in a number of ways: 1) When we come to the Lord's Supper, not really sorry for our sins (what we call, repentant), but planning on sinning again as soon as we leave. That's treating the Lord's Supper like a garbage bin, hoping to drop off our trash only to fill up the bin all over again.

2) We treat the Lord 's Supper in an unworthy manner when we think we don't really need it. ("I don't really have any sins that need forgiving right now.") Or taking it flippantly without much thought, just because that's what everyone else is doing right now. (Which is sort of the same as #1. "I don't really want forgiveness right now," is to say, "I'm impenitent.")

3) We treat the Lord 's Supper in an unworthy manner when we come to the Lord's Supper not really believing that it's Jesus' body and blood, or that it has the power to forgive. That's tantamount to calling Jesus a liar. ("Thanks for the rifle, but I don't believe it actually works. This is a piece of junk.")

Now, to be sure, Jesus' body and blood are present in the Sacrament whether we believe it or not. Real presence doesn't depend on our faith, but on his promise. But to receive it in an unworthy manner, no longer brings forgiveness of sins, but judgment on the one receiving his body and blood so unworthily.

That's why we practice closed communion. It would be just as irresponsible for me to give the Lord's Supper to someone who didn't understand it, as it would be for me to give a loaded rifle to someone who didn't understand it. What is huge blessing to one person, can be deadly to another. That's also why I encourage proper examination with those question and answers on the back of the bulletin, so it's not harmful to you.

But what if you have taken the Lord's Supper in an unworthy manner? Well, then you did eat or drink judgment on yourself. You sinned against Jesus and against his body and blood. But that's not God's final word to you. Yes, he may judge us, but "when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world." And ultimately, he left us himself (his body and blood) as a comfort to us; for the forgiveness of sins, even for taking the Lord's Supper in an unworthy manner.

 

You see, even though my friend wants me to treat the rifle he gave me with care, he does still want me to use it. He wouldn't be pleased if I was so cautions with it that I stuck on the shelf in the garage to collect dust. It's a gift he hopes I use often. And I do take that rifle pretty much every time I go hunting.

Similarly, I may not hope that he sits down to read the antique Bible that sits on his antique desk, but I do hope that when he looks at that antique, he's prompted to read another copy of the Bible. I hope he uses it often.

And whatever gift you've given someone else to remember you by or they've given to you, you both hope the other will look at it or use it often.

In the same way, even though Jesus wants us to use his gift in a careful way, he definitely want us to use it! So if you have received the Lord's Supper in an unworthy manner before, know that Jesus forgives you of that too. And, after you've examined yourself, don't leave his gift unused, sitting on the shelf in the garage to collect dust. But pull it out, dust it off, and use it again as the blessing Jesus meant it to be. Use it often—as often as you can!

Tonight, as we celebrate the Lord's Supper, remember Jesus and what he's done to rescue you from your sin. Remember that Jesus is right here in the Sacrament—his very body and blood in the bread and the wine—giving you forgiveness of every one of your sins. And then recommit to using the wonderful gifts he's left for you: not a rifle, but certainly a Bible! Not just bread and wine, but his very body and blood! Not just a remembrance of him, but for the forgiveness of sins.  Yes, use them as often as you can!

Remember Jesus… who is right here! How wonderfully ironic, dear friends, amen.


In Him,
Pastor Rob Guenther

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
47585 Ciechanski Road, Kenai, AK 99611

Listen to sermons online: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Podcast
Watch services online: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Webcast

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Wednesday, April 12, 2017

​The Wound of Abandonment (A sermon based on Matthew 27:45-48)

Have you ever felt abandoned by friends or family? Can you imagine what Jesus went through when he was abandoned on the cross? Actually, you can't. None of us can because Jesus was abandoned by God the Father to hell on the cross. And the only way to ever really understand hell is to experience it. But thanks to Jesus and his work for us, we will never experience hell! Read or listen to (download) this sermon based on Matthew 27:45-48 and rejoice that by Jesus' wounds we are healed

O Sacred Head, Now Wounded

​​
The Wound of Abandonment

A sermon based on Matthew 27:45-48

Sunday, April 9, 2017 – Palm Sunday

 

The crowds can quickly turn on a celebrity, can't they? You've seen it. Michael Vick, Bill Cosby, Brittany Spears, and of course, the Biebs. We've all seen it countless times: One minute they're on the top of the world. They're wildly successful and everyone loves them! They couldn't be more popular! But that fame quickly turns on them. And they move from famous to infamous. Soon, everyone abandons them, turns on them even. Of course, for most of them, it's by their own fault—some poor decision they made made them lose popularity.

Today begins Holy Week, that week we set aside to focus on that first Holy Week, where our Savior, Jesus, suffered was tried, and ultimately killed… that week where he willingly died to pay for our sins. And that week began with Palm Sunday, a day we celebrate today. On that day, as you know, the crowds held a parade in Jesus honor. He was incredibly popular! He was a celebrity among his people. But, soon they all abandoned him. And unlike it is with other celebrities, it was in no way his fault. But in the end, there was no one left to really help him in his greatest need. No one could help him.

Today we conclude our series on the spiritual and emotion wounds our Savior endured for us. And today we get the worst of them all: the wound of abandonment. It was the worst of them all because Jesus wasn't just abandoned by the crowds as he lost his popularity. He wasn't just abandoned by his disciples as they ran away scared. But he was abandoned in a way we can never imagine. He was abandoned by God the Father… He was abandoned to hell…

And thank God that he was! Because by that deepest and worst of wounds, we are healed! The text for our consideration this morning is found in Matthew 27:45-48…

 

45 From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. 46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, "He's calling Elijah."

48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49 The rest said, "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to save him."

 

Everyone abandoned Jesus. They sang their praises on Sunday. They waved their palm branches. They threw their coats on the ground for him to have a smooth ride. They shouted their hosannas and their alleluias. But where were they on Thursday? On Friday? None of them were with Jesus.

Now, most likely, the Palm Sunday crowd was oblivious to what was going on later that week. They were all asleep during Jesus late night arrest and early morning trials. And then they were busy with the holidays on Friday. With the Passover done, they would all be busy cleaning their house from top to bottom trying to get rid of every bit of yeast for the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

But what about the disciples? Where were they? Well, you know that they were hiding behind locked doors, scared to come out, lest they too be arrested and tried for treason to be executed like their master. They had totally abandoned Jesus.

Was there anyone left to stay by his side? The apostle John followed him to the cross, but could do nothing to help ease his suffering or pain except be there to care for Jesus' mother. His mother was there and a few women followed too, but they only watched. They couldn't help. And we're told that even that was "from a distance." (Matthew 27:55)

The only one who offered any help was a stranger who offered him wine vinegar on a sponge and stick, just enough to wet Jesus' tongue and lips to make his final proclamations. But that's the only help he received as he was tortured to death. And Mark's Gospel tells us that he too cynically said, "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to take him down." (Mark 15:36) 

Yes, Jesus really was abandoned by everyone.

 

Now before you get too angry at those people, those crowds, those disciples… we should first take a look at ourselves. You see, we too have abandoned Jesus. We abandon him every time we sin. We forsake him when we would rather sleep or fish or be entertained than spend time with him.

Wouldn't you feel abandoned if your spouse or child or friend told you that they didn't want to spend time with you because they had more important things to do, but they would spend the minimum amount that you required of them just to keep you happy?

You know what it's like to be abandoned, at least on a small scale. Or at least you can imagine it, can't you? But can you imagine going through what Jesus did? All your friends turn their backs on you and leave you stranded when you need them most? Everyone hates you and makes fun of you at your worst and lowest moment in life? No one loves you or cares for you at all? How horrible what Jesus suffered! And he went to that cross because you and I have so often abandoned him.

And for it, we deserve to be abandoned by God. We deserve hell. People joke about hell, "Well, at least all my friends will be there." But hell is nothing to joke about. And that "joke" isn't even funny. First of all, if hell is the place of torment the Bible describes it to be, it would intensify one's suffering to know that their friends and those they love are being tormented too. And not only that, but hell is not a place where the tormented will comfort each other. Each person will be so miserable, focused solely on their own suffering, that they won't care about anyone else. They will truly be all alone. It will be a place of total loneliness; an eternity of solitary confinement.

There's no question in my  mind that that abandonment, that loneliness is what I deserve. That's what we all deserve. But we'll never know it. We'll never experience it. We'll never get the abandonment we deserve because Jesus didn't get what he deserved but was abandoned in our place.

Yes, Jesus was abandoned by everyone. And I do mean everyone. Far worse than being abandoned by the Palm Sunday crowds, by the government that should have defended the innocent, by his own dearly loved friends… was the abandonment he endured on the cross.

There, in a way we can never understand, Jesus, God in the flesh, was forsaken by God the Father.

About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

Though he is himself God, Jesus was forsaken, abandoned by God. When the Father looked at his once beloved Son, all he saw in Jesus now, was rape and murder, incest and pedophilia, drunkenness and abuse, laziness and selfishness, your self-centered attitude and mine. And disgusted by what he saw, by the sin that Jesus became, by your sin and mine, God the Father turned his back on God the Son.

 

And God the Son endured the complete abandonment by the Father, his own solitary confinement of hell as he hung there on the cross. That is the worse wound inflicted on Jesus—so far removed from the festivities of Palm Sunday.

Now, even the sun in the sky abandoned Jesus as it refused to shine as if ashamed to look on the object of God's wrath. So darkness covered the land for the three hours of Jesus hellish torment.  From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land.

Can you imagine what Jesus went through? No. You can't. It's beyond anything we will ever understand. …And thank God for that! Because the only way we could ever really understand hell would be to endure it. And we won't ever do that because Jesus was abandoned to rescue us. He became sin—our sin—to take it all away. It was completely burned up, totally consumed, by God's wrath.

But you know the rest of the story… If not (spoiler alert!) he didn't stay dead! He didn't stay abandoned.

Sometimes celebrities can make a comeback after doing time in prison or getting out of rehab. They can recreate themselves (figuratively speaking), relaunch their careers, and find themselves back on top again. Far greater than any other celebrity, Jesus comeback was the best! He came back from the dead.

After Jesus' resurrection from the dead, the Apostle Peter quoted Psalm 16 in his Pentecost sermon. He said, "My heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave…" And Peter explained, "[David] spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave… God has raised this Jesus to life!"

And thank God that he did! Because Jesus' resurrection is the proof that his crucifixion worked. We are forgiven. Every sin you have ever committed, every sin you ever will, is completely paid for! It's as if you never committed it, but Jesus did and he already went through hell and back (literally) to make it go away. It's erased! Completely gone! We are justified—that is it's just as if I'd never sinned and never will! And the same is true for you! And so, being sinless in God's sight, we will never be abandoned by him—even if everyone else forsakes us.

After he gave his disciples the Great Commission, Jesus promised his disciples of all time (that includes you and me, by the way), "Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:20) And again in the book of Hebrews (13:5) he promised, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

So, even if you should be abandoned by your friends who stab you in the back… Even if you should be abandoned by your spouse in a nasty divorce… Even if you should be abandoned by your parents or your kids in a sad family falling out… Nevertheless, you're not alone. You're never alone. The one who was abandoned to hell to rescue you promises to be with you forever and for always.

Now, we pray to Jesus, asking him to help us to never leave him, to stop abandoning him for our sin, and to daily sing our praises to him just like they did on that Palm Sunday road. "Hosanna! He saves!" Amen!

In Him,
Pastor Rob Guenther

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
47585 Ciechanski Road, Kenai, AK 99611

Listen to sermons online: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Podcast
Watch services online: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Webcast

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Thursday, April 6, 2017

Don’t You Fear God? (A sermon based on Luke 23:39-43)

"Well, that's the last thing I expected from him!" As we continue our series on the Ironies of the Passion, this week's irony is not in what was said as much as it's found in who said it. The last person one might expect to come to Jesus' defense was one of those who had been mocking him so recently. But that's exactly what we find in this week's irony: A thief, dying on a cross next to Jesus, in one moment was mocking him, and in the next was defending him. Read (sorry, no audio was recorded) this sermon based on Luke 23:39-43 and rejoice that we no longer need to fear God because of what God did for us in Christ...

Ironies of the Passion

Don't You Fear God?

A sermon based on Luke 23:39-43

Wednesday, April 5th, 2017 – Midweek Lent 6

 

Chester A. Arthur was the 21st President of the United States. But not many people wanted him to be president. You see not only was he not elected President (he became president after James Garfield was assassinated in 1881), but he was also known to be… well… corrupt.

The previous president had fired him from his job as "collector of customs" in New York City. He didn't do anything strictly illegal, but he created a lot of unnecessary, high-paying jobs that he gave to his friends. And he made quite a bit of money himself with his wheeling and dealing and, many thought, his scandals.

So, when the new president died, leaving Chester A. Arthur as the 21st POTUS, most people thought that the best way he could serve his country, was to tender his resignation. And they weren't shy about letting him know.

But there was one young woman named Julia Sands who believed in Arthur. She sent him a series of letters calling on him to defy everyone's expectations and become a great president.

Surprisingly, Arthur took her letters to heart and soon persuaded Congress to pass reform legislation that included his old job. Then he continued to vigorously enforce that legislation. He shocked both friend and foe alike by changing the way American government ran.

This evening, we hear the words of another that would have shocked friend and foe alike. They never would have expected such reform from the likes of this crook, this… thief on the cross. Our text for consideration this evening is recorded in Luke 23:39-43…

 

39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"

40 But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."

42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

43 Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

You know where we are in the story: Pilate had finally condemned Jesus to die and the soldiers were quick to act on his orders. The Jewish leaders wanted Jesus dead that day to avoid the festival of the Passover that began that evening and the weeklong festival to follow. So Jesus went immediately to the cross.

And there were two other criminals awaiting execution that day as well, so their time had now come too. After all, if they were already going to crucify one man, why not these two as well? Why wait? It was more efficient this way.

And while the three of them hung there, being tortured to death, the two on either side hurled their insults at the one in the middle. Yes, both criminals insulted Jesus! Matthew 27:44 says, "In the same way the robbers," [plural] "who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him."

But then, suddenly, shocking both friend and foe alike, one thief completely changed his tune. [Only] "One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."

Now while his 180 degree turn might have been shocking, what he said wasn't really. "Don't you fear God?" he asked. This man was facing his imminent death. There was no more pretending that there was no god. He was about to meet his Maker. And he knew that he hadn't done so well in life.

You see, God has written into every human heart a natural knowledge that 1) there is a god, 2) there is a life after this one, and 3) we all must answer to that god to determine how the life to come is going to be. That's why almost every world religion has a life after death a way to behave to go to the favorable place.

But god has also written into every heart a conscience. And this man, like every other who has ever lived, knew in his heart that he did not deserve a good judgment from God. He openly confessed, "We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve."

And what was to come after this life? Well, no wonder he asked, "Don't you fear God?" He should fear God.

We all should fear God. Because we too have all sinned. And no one here can honestly claim, I've lived a pretty good life with just a few minor mistakes here and there. No! We have all openly rebelled against a just and holy God. We may not have robbed a bank, but we have robbed God of his glory as we sought to live for ourselves. We may not have murdered another, but we have all been unloving to many others and have thus shown the hatred—tantamount to murder—that's in our hearts.

And, honestly, even if we did live a pretty good life and only make a few mistakes, those few mistakes would be enough to earn God's punishment since he demands absolute perfection.  

Yes, death brings judgment from God. And on our own, we have all failed to keep his holy law, so we know that the judgment we deserve is damnation. We all deserve crucifixion and worse. If we were to be nailed to a cross for our sins, we would all have to declare, "We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve."

So no wonder the thief declared, "Don't you fear God?" Just as Arthur's acceptance of the presidency wasn't the amazing part of that story, this thief's fear of God wasn't the amazing part of his confession.

What was the amazing part, was his trust that Jesus could be his Savior even now, even as he was hanging on the cross, even as he was moments away from death. Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

This plea to Jesus must have shocked friend and foe alike. They never would have expected such a faith-filled prayer from the likes of this crook, this robber, this thief condemned and dying on a cross.

So many wonder, what brought about such reform? Well, it certainly wasn't a series of letters from Julia Sands. It wasn't that he suddenly came to his senses and discovered the truth on his own. But it was the work of the Holy Spirit at just the right time.

And I believe it was the way that this man saw Jesus react to all that was happening to him that brought about such a change of heart. Jesus didn't curse or swear at the men torturing him to death. He didn't call down curses from God to pour out his vengeance against such clear injustice. No. Jesus forgave them. ? "Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.'" (Luke 23:34) So it became clear to this second thief that, "this man [had] done nothing wrong."

And so, shocking both friend and foe alike, this thief had the hope that Jesus really was the God-man, the promised the Messiah, the Savior from sin, and from death, from his sin and from the terrible judgment he deserved. "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom," he pleaded.

And what joy he must have felt when he heard Jesus' beautiful answer. Not only would Jesus remember him from his kingdom, Jesus would take him along! "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." The thief was forgiven! His Savior had answered his prayer! And even as he hung dying on a cross to pay the penalty he owed to society, he would never have to pay the penalty that he owed to God. He wouldn't die forever in hell. He would be with Jesus that very day! He didn't need to "fear" God anymore.

And what comfort we take from this man's terrible, turned wonderful, end! Have you wasted your life in selfish living? Have you earned God's wrath and his damnation by your sin? Have you feared God's judgment that you rightly deserve? I know you have. I have too.

But it's not too late for any of us. Because we're not yet dead. We too can confess our sin to him, "We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve." And we too can offer our plea to him, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

And because of his great grace, his forgiving mercy, he lived a perfect life in our place. So it was absolutely true what the thief confessed: "This man has done nothing wrong." And yet, he was still condemned to die—a horrible death—not just by Pilate, but by God himself. And he did die, not just a tortuous physical death on a cross, but a terrible spiritual death, being separated from God the Father on that cross. He endured the agony of hell to win for you and for me the forgiveness we so desperately need, so that in the end, one day, Jesus will say to you and to me, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

Now Jesus' forgiveness didn't spare this man from his death on the cross. And it won't spare us from the consequences of our sins or from the crosses of suffering we are asked to carry for Jesus' sake. But it did give this man courage to be a bold witness for Jesus even in his dying hours. It gave him the courage to rebuke the thief he had so recently joined with in mocking Jesus.

Chester A. Arthur took Julia Sands' letters to heart. And they moved him to reform, to become a much better president than anyone expected, shocking friends and foes alike. The thief on the cross, believed in Jesus as his Savior from sin, and it moved him to reform and share his faith with the other thief.

May you take the letters of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, of Peter and Paul, and all the rest to heart. And may your trust in Jesus as your Savior from sin, from eternal death, and from the terrible judgment you deserve… May the confidence that he will someday say to you "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise," move you to reform your life, to become a better you—such a better you that it shocks friends and foes alike—that you might share your faith with them. In Jesus' name dear friends, amen.


In Him,
Pastor Rob Guenther

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
47585 Ciechanski Road, Kenai, AK 99611

Listen to sermons online: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Podcast
Watch services online: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Webcast

Have you been blessed by our ministry at Grace? Consider supporting us with your generous gifts. Give securely online with a check or credit or debit card here: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Give