What If There Were No Shepherd? (A sermon study on 1 Peter 5:1-5)

Why does your pastor serve? Why do you? How does your pastor serve you? How do you serve others? As Christians we are all called to shepherd one another feeding each other with the Word of God. Thank God we have the Chief Shepherd, the Good Shepherd, Jesus, who laid down his life for us, his sheep. Now, in thanks to him for all he's done and still does for us, we're eager to serve him by serving others. Read or listen to (download or stream) this sermon based on 1 Peter 5:1-5 and rejoice that we have a Good Shepherd, that we have faithful pastors who shepherd us, and that we are privileged to shepherd others....

"What If…?"

What If There Were No Shepherd?

A sermon study on 1 Peter 5:1-5

Sunday, April 26, 2015 – Easter 4B

 

When I came home from college each summer I would pick up my summer job at Safeway to help pay for next year's tuition. And it was no secret among my co-workers that I was going to school to become a pastor. One day as I was working with another guy to put more cereal on the shelves, we got chatting. When he heard that I was studying to become a pastor, he said, "That's really smart of you to become a pastor. You hardly have to do any work and if you're good… well, some of those guys are worth millions." He wasn't wrong.

T.D. Jakes is a preacher in Dallas, TX who's worth about $18 million. He has his own jet plane, a huge mansion, and openly flaunts his wealth wherever he goes. He promises that if people give him money (not to his congregation, mind you, but to him personally) they will in turn be financially blessed by God. "Think of it as an investment more than an offering," he'd say. In fact, he once told his congregation that God wanted them to buy him a Rolls Royce to show the community that if they too would follow God as well as the "Reverend" Jakes, they could drive a car as nice. And, you know what? They did it. He was driving around town in his new Rolls before the week was done. He has since gone on the Oprah Winfrey show to defend his practice of amassing large amounts of wealth on the backs of his members.

And he's not the only preacher who's worth millions either. Creeflo Dollar (how ironic is that name?) also drives a Rolls Royce, flies in his own private jet, and has a $2.5 million home. Bishop Charles Blake earns a salary of more than $900,000 per year. Benny Hin makes just shy of $1M per year. Joel Esteen has a $10.5M mansion! And Ed Young gets a $1M salary and a $240,000 per year housing allowance. [1]

Now we know that "the worker deserves his wages," (1 Timothy 5:18) but is this what God wants? You'll notice too, that I called these men preachers, not pastors. Pastor means shepherd and is one who cares for the flock entrusted to him. But I believe these men are more interested in being worth millions than they are in feeding souls. And God has something to say to shepherds in our text for this morning taken from 1 Peter 5:1-5…

 

To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: ² Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; ³ not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. ⁴ And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

⁵ Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

 

I. Why Do You Serve?

 

In our text for today Peter is primarily addressing pastors. He calls them shepherds and elders. And he asks them to consider why they serve as pastors. For money? To be worth millions like T.D. Jakes and Joel Osteen? For power? Because they love to tell people what to do and watch them jump like a lord commanding his serfs? Because they feel they have to? Because their dad was a pastor, and his dad was a pastor, and, well, it's just expected that that's what I have to do too?

There are all kinds of bad motives for doing good things. Yes, the worker is worth his wages, but if someone preaches just for the cash, or for the Rolls Royce, or the private jet, what a despicable villain! Especially if they're spreading false doctrine to get there! And God doesn't want people forced into the ministry or guilted into it. He wants shepherds who will willing to serve, eager to do their duty, and for the right reasons.

So God through Peter asks his shepherds to evaluate their motives for service.

Of course, you know that even though Peter is here speaking to pastors, every Christian is called to serve others. Earlier in this book Peter wrote about all believers (not just pastors), "You… like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood… you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." (1 Peter 2:5,9) Every believer is called to serve (or minister to) others. Every believer is called to shepherd (or pastor) his fellow believers, feeding one another with encouragement from God's Word.

So even thought this text seems to be directed toward just full time called workers, let me turn around to each one of you. How well do you serve God by serving others? Why do you serve? What's your motive?

Do you only serve others, when there's something in it for you? Someone once said everyone's favorite Radio station is WIIFM. They're eager to listen for "What's In It For Me?" Do you serve others for a possible promotion so you can be in charge of more and lord it over them? Or that you might get more money, greedy for more that it can buy? Do you serve others just so your selfish goals might be met? Or so that you feel better about yourself, thinking, "What a good person am I!" Or maybe you don't serve others because you don't feel compelled.

What if there were no shepherd? What if you refused to be a shepherd to your co-worker, your neighbor, to your family member who doesn't know the truth? What if you didn't tell others God's message of law and gospel? How would they hear about it? From someone else? Are you sure about that? Do you want to run that risk that someday they're in hell, wondering why you didn't care enough to have a conversation with them about eternal things?

What if there were no shepherd? What if no one told you of God's grace? Where would you be? What if there were no Chief Shepherd who paid for your sins? Where would you be?! You know the answer! We would be in hell! And that's what we all deserve.

I know we say that no sin is worse than any other in eyes of God. But I would argue that pride is actually a worse sin than any other. Because pride prevents repentance. God opposes the proud. He stands against those who refuse to acknowledge their sin and repent. And no one stands whom God opposes. So humble yourselves before God. Confess your sin. And God will give you grace.

What if there were no shepherd to feed your soul? What if there were no Chief Shepherd to pay for your sin? Thank God that those "what if's" are all purely hypothetical! We know that our Good Shepherd has come to pay for our sins. We know how the Good Shepherd laid down his life, for us, his sheep! We know that he has called us by name, that he feeds us and feeds our souls, that he protects us, even in the Valley of Death!

The job may not pay well now, it may not pay millions, but rather persecution might be what we take home. But the retirement benefits are out of this world—literally! Jesus is alive, dear friends! Christ is risen indeed! And he will return! And we will receive a reward of grace that is beyond our wildest imaginations, "when the Chief Shepherd appears, [and we] receive the crown of glory that will never fade away." It will only shine brighter every day!

This is our motive for serving him. We long to show our gratitude and thanks! This is our motive for serving others. We want to do what is pleasing to God. And we want them to know of his saving grace that they too may receive the crown of life. We all long to be faithful shepherds working for the Chief Shepherd, to show our thanks to him. And to do that work, we'll have to humble ourselves…

II. How Do You Serve?

 

Picture this scenario: a proud man walks into the church with an air of superiority all about him. His nose is in the air. And he barks orders at everyone in the room, throwing his weight around and feeling his self-importance. How would you feel about him? Would you do what he told you to do? Would you like it if you did?

Now picture this: Another man walks into the church, takes off his suit coat and rolls up his sleeves. He seeks no thanks. In fact, he'd rather get no notice at all as he first cleans the toilets, then weeds a flower bed. He cleans the dishes in the sink, stopping only to help a child tie a shoe.

Now without commentary on which kind leader you actually have in your church, which kind of leader would you rather have? And which leader are you? After all, a leader doesn't have to have a title at all. A leader is anyone who influences the thinking or behavior of others. Lead by example, dear friends. And lead with humility.

Peter tells us that we all ought to, "Clothe [ourselves] with humility toward one another…" But the word "clothe yourselves" is a different Greek word than the one that simply means to get dressed. It's a verb formed from a noun which means the apron that a slave would wear in service. An apron not just to keep the food from splattering your shirt while you cook, but an apron that shows the status of slave. Perhaps a loose translation of that verb might be, "apron yourself for service," "put on your maid's outfit," or "dress the part of the butler." The point is that we choose to actively put on humility as we serve others.

Just as Paul told the Philippians in Philippians 2(:3-4), "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."

Choose to serve others out of love for Christ. Choose the humble path. Choose to clear the table and do the dishes. Choose to take out the trash. Choose to change a diaper, to carry more than your fair share of the work, to go without the credit, unappreciated, and underpaid. Choose to add as much value as you can to the lives of others out of thanks to God. And even if they don't notice, he will.

And do all of this humble service to others with the end game in mind. We're not just serving them to serve, but to build relationships, to earn that right to be listened to when they come for advice, to look for opportunities to shepherd them with the Gospel, and to take advantage of every opportunity.

What if there were no shepherd? What if you didn't chose to humbly serve others? Thank God this is just a hypothetical question. You are privileged to be the shepherds that humbly serve God by serving others. You are privileged to be the shepherds that, meeting them where they're at and serving their needs, get to feed them with the truth of the Good Shepherd. You are privileged to be the shepherds that will let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven.

And even if you don't get the results that you're hoping for, even if you suffer for it, or even if no one else notices, God does. He sees your works of thanks and praise to him. And one day soon, our living Savior will return. And when he does, he'll give you a crown of glory that will never fade.

What if there were no shepherd? Thank God that this is just a hypothetical question. Thank God that you do have a Chief Shepherd who laid down his life to save you. Thank God that you do have faithful shepherds who, serving under him, feed you with the Word and the Lord's Supper to strengthen you in your faith. Thank God that he gives you the privilege to be faithful shepherds to others as you guide them to the truth. In the name of our Living Savior, the Good Shepherd, deaf friends, amen.

---

[1] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/19/best-paid-pastors_n_1214043.html

In Him,

Pastor Rob Guenther

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church

47585 Ciechanski Road, Kenai, AK 99611

www.GraceLutheranKenai.com

pastorguenther@gmail.com
(907) 690-1660

Read sermons online: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Sermons

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

What If We Still Stank? (A sermon based on 2 Corinthians 2:14-16a)

"Awwww, man! That smells awful!" How we used to reek to God! But now we smell like Christ. But we still stink to so many -- to those who want nothing to do with Christ, we smell like death. But we know that the smell of Christ is the smell of victory and of life. Read or listen to (download or stream) this sermon based on 2 Corinthians 2:14-16a and thank God that he's made you smell so good!

"What If…?"

What If We Still Stank?

A sermon based on 2 Corinthians 2:14-16a

Sunday, April 19, 2015 – Easter 3C

 

What's the worst smell you can think of? A diaper pail? A dirty port-a-potty? A bucket of fish guts? A… well, I'll stop there and leave it to your imagination. Got it? Thinking of the worst stank ever?

Now, what's the best smell you can think of? The cologne or perfume of a significant other? The smell of fresh baked bread? Or of cinnamon rolls baking in oven? Of freshly brewed coffee, first thing in the morning? Or of bacon frying in the pan? Mmmmm….

I suppose that two people could be smelling the exact same smell and to one person it's an awesome smell, but to another, it's disgusting. Like liver and onions frying in the pan. Not for me. Gross. But mom loves liver and onions. To her it's a delicious smell. Or the same goes for pickled herring. I can hardly think of a worse smell. Mom loves it. One pastor I know detests the smell of Easter lilies. It makes him gag. But to other pastors it's the smell of Holy Week done and the joyous victory of Easter.

This morning, the Apostle Paul tells us that we all smell. Though we used to smell of the stink of death to God, now we smell like Christ. And to some, to the enemies of Christ's church, that smell is disgusting. But to us, it's the smell of victory. Our text for this morning is from 2 Corinthians 12:14-17…

 

¹⁴ But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. ¹⁵ For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. ¹⁶ To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life.

 

We Used to Stink So Bad

 

What is the worst smell you can imagine? Let's hear a few of them. [Call on a few names.]

The worst smell I've ever smelled in my life is one I'd never experienced until I came here. It wasn't until I moved to Alaska that I smelled the stink of rotting fish fermenting in a garbage can. After my first halibut trip I didn't know any better. I tossed the carcasses in the garbage can in my garage and thought nothing of it for a few days. When I finally took the garbage to the dump (in my van), I couldn't get the smell out of the van for weeks. It was like I was living an episode of Seinfeld.

But that still wasn't the worst smell. A year later I started dip netting. And was left with dozens of fish carcasses. I'd since learned the lesson not to leave it in the garage overnight. So I took them to the dump right away where I found that special dumpster designated just for rotting fish.

And when I opened the lid of that dumpster, I almost lost my lunch at the putrid smell. Swarms of flies buzzed around my head as I emptied my trash as quickly as I could gagging the whole time.

Now that stench—that smell of death of rotting fish—must have seemed like the scent of roses compared to the stench of sins that fills the nostrils of God. In the filth of our sin, we must be like the Nile in the days of the plagues: "The fish in the Nile died, and the river smelled so bad that the Egyptians could not drink its water. Blood was everywhere in Egypt." (Exodus 7:21) That's our smell of death that must make God gag. Proverbs 13:5 (NIV) says, "The righteous hate what is false, but the wicked make themselves a stench and bring shame on themselves."

And how wicked we are when we deny that we belong to Christ in order to fit in, since we know that smelling like him might stink to others. How wicked we are when we choose not to follow Jesus, even though we know he's the victor, because we think it might make our social life stink. How wicked we are when we put our putrid selfishness ahead of God's will.

Our rebellion before God must seem like the rebellion of the Israelites when they collected too much manna in direct opposition to God's will: "Some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell." (Exodus 16:20)

How we must have stank before God with the reek of death! And, in our sin, we deserve the fate of the rebellious Israelites of whom God said, "I sent plagues among you as I did to Egypt. I killed your young men with the sword, along with your captured horses. I filled your nostrils with the stench of your camps, yet you have not returned to me," (Amos 4:10) In our sin, we deserve to gag forever in the eternal stink of hell.

How we must have stank before God with the reek of death! But not any more. Now we smell so good to God because…

 

We Smell Like Christ

 

 Can you imagine the smell in the camp of Israel near the tabernacle? Every day countless animals were slaughtered there. And if you've ever smelled an animal opened up, a moose or a deer, you know it's not the most pleasant smell in the world. Can you imagine the aroma of the burning hair, the burning flesh, the burning offerings made at the altar of the Lord? I imagine that it wasn't a very pleasant smell. At least, it wouldn't be to us.

But do you know what God says of those smells over and over again in Leviticus and Numbers? Thirty-five times in those two books, God calls such sacrifices, "a pleasing aroma," or "an aroma pleasing to the Lord." What might stink to us, is an wonderful fragrance to him.

And you know that every one of those sacrifices was really pointing ahead to the once for all sacrifice that Jesus made for us. Paul wrote in Ephesians 5(:2), "Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

Christ sacrificed himself on the cross. He was tortured to death, nailed to those beams of wood. His blood was shed, and I doubt that the smell on Calvary was a pleasant one. But to God, it was a fragrant offering. What seems to stink—the death of the perfect, sinless God-man—is a beautiful smell to God. And it's what we now smell like to him. For, "we are to God the aroma of Christ…"

When God takes a whiff of us, he doesn't smell the B.O. of sin or the stank of death anymore. He smells Jesus. He smells Jesus' sinless life. He smells Jesus' perfection. We smell wonderful to God! "We are to God the aroma of Christ…"

 

That Smell Stinks to Some

 

But that smell isn't a fragrant aroma to everyone. Two people might smell the same scent and have a completely different response.

To one person, the fishy smell of salmon may stink to high heaven with an oily stink that doesn't wash off easily. But to another, to the commercial fisherman, for example, that smell of fish may smell exactly like cash.

That's what Paul is talking about when he writes, "God… through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of [Christ]…   For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life."

In the days of the Roman Empire, a parade would be thrown for the conquering general. And in that triumphal procession, as the conqueror traveled through the streets of the city, people would burn fragrant incense and strew flowers along the way, the odor of both filling the air. But the conquered general, caged in the front of that procession, that smell meant death. He knew what would happed to him and to his troops at the end of that parade. They would be executed in a public display of the victor's dominance. The smell of incense and flowers was the smell of death.

That's what we smell like to those who oppose Christ. We smell like him. And to them, he smells like judgment. He smells like death. They know that they have not done right by God, but rather than admit it and confess their sin and plead for his mercy, the stand proud in their sin. And so, to them, we Christians, who speak the truth, even when we speak the truth in love, we reek. We stink of death because all they smell in us is the Law. And they know that Christ will be their judge and the truths we believe will be their ultimate demise.

You stink to them, dear friends. And they will persecute you for it. They will try to rid the earth of the stench that we are to them. But it's no matter to us. We aren't intimidated. We aren't scared. Instead, we rejoice! Because we know that no matter what they do, we still smell like Jesus. And to us…

 

That Smell is So Sweet to Us

 

Let's go back to that Roman parade. Now, while the smell of incense and flowers was the smell of death to the conquer-ed general and his men, that scent meant something completely different to conquer-ing general and to the citizens of his country. To them, that smell of incense and flowers wasn't the smell of death, but the smell of victory, the smell of life! The enemy would not kill them. The enemy would be killed.  

To us, the smell of Christ is the most wonderful, fragrant, aromatic smell there ever could be! To us, the smell of Christ is the smell of life! We know that our conquering hero won. We heard last week how he completely dominated Death. We know that he's destroyed our sin, defeated the devil, and has become our conquering hero! And like the citizens that watched the parade, we know that we did nothing to contribute to the victory. Our conquering hero did it all and gives to us the spoils of war as his gifts, tossing to us his forgiveness, peace with God, every blessing of this life, the glory of the life to come!

What a sweet, sweet smell that Jesus is to us! Far better than the smell of cinnamon rolls in the oven or of bacon frying in the pan! Far better than the smell of cash or the smell of victory in some small struggle in this life! To us Jesus is the smell of life itself! Take a deep breath. Smell the victory that he won for us! Smell the refreshing scent of forgiveness of sins! Smell the calming scent of peace with God! Smell the invigorating aroma of heaven itself that will be ours one day soon!

And now, in thanks to him for that sweet, sweet smell, we make our lives a fragrant offering to him. We offer our time and our gifts to Jesus, which Paul described as, "a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God." (Ephesians 4:18) In fact, we offer our very selves to him. "I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship." (Romans 12:1)

To some, that will make us stink. But to God that will be "an aroma pleasing to the Lord," as we live our lives to thank him who, "loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." So go scent the world, dear Christians, with the aroma of Christ! In his name, dear friends, amen.

In Him,

Pastor Rob Guenther

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church

47585 Ciechanski Road, Kenai, AK 99611

www.GraceLutheranKenai.com

pastorguenther@gmail.com
(907) 690-1660

Read sermons online: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Sermons

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

What If Death Were Victorious? (A sermon based on 1 Corinthians 15:51-57)

Death. It seems like the ultimate victor. Nothing in life is more certain than death and taxes. Everyone who's ever walked this planet has been affected by Death. But there is one more powerful than Death: Our Savior Jesus who rose from the dead. He is victorious over death. And he promises that when we are sided with him, we too are victorious over Death through him. Read or listen to (download or stream) this sermon based on 1 Corinthians 15:51-57 and rejoice that God gives us the victory over Death through our Lord Jesus Christ!

"What If…?"

What If Death Were Victorious?

A sermon based on 1 Corinthians 15:51-57

Sunday, April 12, 2014 – Easter 2B

 

It looked like there was no way out. The villain had not only captured the damsel in distress, but now he had captured the hero too. And it seemed like there was no chance for escape. There was no visible out. But then, suddenly, with a quick wit and with great determination, the hero thought of a solution. And the tables suddenly turn. Though the villain seemed to be the victor, in the end, the hero won. The villain had met his match.

You see it the movies all the time, don't you? The enemy looks like he's just about to kill the good guy. He's so powerful and strong and the hero looks so weak and defeated, you're almost ready to give up hope. And if it were real life, you probably would. But you know it's a movie and that most movies have a happy ending.

Well, I once read that every story is really just an echo of the one story: The story of God's redemption of his fallen creation, the story that we are all a part of. Of course, we are the damsel in distress in need of rescue from the enemy. And the enemy, which is far more power than than flesh and blood, is often personified as the Grim Reaper is Death. And he seems so powerful, cutting down so many he almost has a perfect score. Even the hero, Jesus, was subject to Death.

You can imagine how the disciples felt on Good Friday and Holy Saturday. All hope was lost. But of course, we, who live on this side of Easter know the rest of the story. We know how the tables suddenly turned. Though the villain, Death, seemed to be the victor, in the end, our Hero, Jesus, won. And he not only won, but he totally destroyed Death. The villain has met his match.

This is our Easter joy: That thought at times Death seems the victor, finally Death meets the Victor—the real Victor—and he sees his own defeat. Our text for this second Sunday after Easter is taken again from 1 Corinthians 15. This week we look at verses51-57…

 

⁵¹ Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— ⁵² in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. ⁵³ For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. ⁵⁴ When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." ⁵⁵ "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" ⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. ⁵⁷But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

I.              Death Seems the Victor 

Death sure looks like a powerful opponent, doesn't he? He looks so ferocious that he seems impossible to defeat.

Death has destroyed the mightiest of kings and emperors. It has broken into every home and has taken its toll of every human family. It has robbed every one of its victims of all his earthly possessions. It has filled this world with futile tears and helpless groans. It has snatched away for all eternity the hour of repentance that could have saved the godless, and it has inflicted pain on even the greatest of God's saints. Except for Enoch and Elijah, death has won every contest with life. There is no masking its ugliness nor wishing away its awesome power.

Death is truly a force to be reckoned with. And despite all his little victories over disease and mortal injury, man still has no sword to slay and no shield to ward off this cruel and hungry monster.

And you know what makes the monster so powerful. It's his sting. A scorpion without his stinger may still pinch and hurt, but it's the stinger that really inflicts the damage. The same is true of hornets, wasps, and bees, of certain fish and sea creatures, of the snake and his fangs. The sharp, pointy sting gives the power and makes it deadly.

"The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law."

The Greek word here for sin is hamartia. And it literally means to "miss the target." Now, I just recently received a hunting bow and some field arrows. And I bought a bow for the boys too. So for a while now Josiah and I have been trying to pull our bows back a dozen times each day to build up strength before we go practice on a target in the yard.

But the other night I had a dream. And it was very vivid. I rarely remember my dreams. But in this one I was shooting arrows at the target in the back yard. But I kept missing. And not just once, but multiple times when I missed the target I hit a school kid playing outside at recess, running behind my target. (Maybe I have some suppressed frustration still from subbing for Mr. Holper. I don't know.) J

But it was one of those dreams where I woke up in a sweat and was very relieved to realize it all been just a dream.

But, sadly, missing the target isn't just a bad dream when it comes to God! I miss the mark of his law all the time. I fail to show love to my own family all the time. I try. I pull back with good intentions, but my arrow pierces them as I lose my patience. I miss the mark of living healthy. I want to make better choices and good decisions, but my laziness gets the best of me. I aim for the target of being the best pastor I can be, but when I let that arrow loose, I know I miss the mark. And the penalty for missing is huge.

If I were to actually shoot a student at recess, I would rightly deserve the death penalty. It wouldn't matter if it were an accident. It wouldn't matter if I promised that I would never do it again. It wouldn't matter if it was a one time offense and I hit the target every other time but that once. It would still be murder. And I would still deserve the death penalty.

And since I do miss the target with God, I deserve death. It doesn't matter if I had good intentions. It doesn't matter if it was just once or twice. It doesn't matter if I almost hit the target most of the time. I still sinned. And for one sin, I deserve God's death penalty. I deserve hell.

And so I will die. Everyone will (unless Jesus returns first). Everyone has (but Enoch and Elijah). Death sure seems to be the victor. Can you imagine what if Death were victorious? It would mean eternal damnation for every one of us.

But to one foe Death must yield. The King of kings has vanquished the king of terrors. Our Savior "has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." (2 Timothy 1:10)

II.            Death Meets the Victor

 

"Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!"

When Death looks like it cannot be defeated, our hero enters the scene. And with no help from us, while we just sat on the sidelines watching, he did battle with the hungry monster. He lived his life by the law, robbing sin of its power over him. And since he had no sin, Death could not sting him. But what seemed to be a horrible turn of events, Death's stinger stung him.

Like large wooden stingers, the thorns stung his brow. Like wrought iron stingers, the nails didn't just prick, but pierced through his hands, his feet. Like a giant stinger at the end of a pole, the spear stung his side so hard it split him open. And it looked like Death had dealt his victor blow.

Ah, but Death seemed like the victor. Now Death met the real Victor. And Jesus triumphed over death when he burst out of his tomb and rose from the dead. Death could not hold him. Death wasn't powerful enough. Death lost.

And now, Death, has lost us too.

Yes, we will still die someday unless Jesus returns first. But Death has already lost. It can't really hurt us.

You see, the sting of death is sin. But our sin has been removed. And Death's stinger is like a bees. It cannot live without it. A bee, unlike a hornet or wasp, can only sting once. When the barbed stinger sticks its victim, the stinger is torn from the bee's body and kills the bee. Jesus took the sting out of death when he took our sin away. That's why he submitted to Death for a while to take the sting of God's punishment on himself so we will never have to. Now Death is dying. It still wins daily battles, but it's lost the war. And it's lost us. We know that we can lay our heads on our pillows at night in peace. For if I should die before I wake, I know the Lord my soul will take. Death will not mean my defeat, but my victory!

And I did nothing to earn it, nothing to help Jesus win, I just receive all the blessings of what he did for me. Paul didn't write, "Thanks be to God! He helps us win the victory." No! He wrote, "Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!"

What if Death were victorious? Shudder at the thought. But you know that Death only seems the victor. The real Victor is Christ. Christ is the victor over death! Christ has indeed been raised from the dead! And one day soon, Christ will raise us from the dead! Christ will give us new, glorified bodies! Christ will swallow up Death and it will be no more!

And it will all happen in an instant. In the Greek the word is atomo. We get our English word "atom" from it. Our glorification will happen in a spot of time so small that it cannot be cut any shorter. And our glorified bodies will be perfect! They won't just be immortal—that they cannot die ever again. But they will be imperishable—they can't perish or spoil, grow old, or get hurt. They will be perfect bodies that will be subject neither to Death nor the effects of Death.

And so we can taunt Death! We know who the real victor is! "Death has been swallowed up in victory." "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"

And we live in this bold confidence that Death loses and we, through Christ, win! Permit me to read one more verse beyond our text. Verse 58 reads, "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."

So give yourselves, saints, to the work of the Lord! That means not waiting to be asked to serve your Savior, but eagerly looking for ways to spend your time, your dollars, yourself for this winning team. And you know that no matter what you spend, you can't lose! Take all I have. Take my life! I still win!  Death has lost. So I labor for the Lord, knowing it's not in vain. And so do you.

 During the days Communism in Russia Easter Sunrise Services were replaced with Sunrise Communist Rallies. At one such meeting 10,000 gathered. At the close of the meeting, the Communist leader asked if anyone else would like to speak. A teenage boy took the stage. And as he did, he was warned, "You must speak only the truth or you will be shot." Of course, the "truth" he meant was a denial of Christianity and applause for Communism. Everyone stared at the young man who was now flanked by soldiers with rifles pointed at his head.

He was silent for a moment, then took a deep breath and shouted into the microphone, "Christ is risen!" And as the crack of the rifles rang out, so did 10,000 voices shouting their reply, "He is risen indeed!"

For that young teenager, Death had lost its sting. He knew who the real Victor was. So he gladly spent his life. And it was not in vain. 10,000 others got the encouragement they needed to shout their conviction: Christ is risen indeed!

You too can spend all you have knowing that Death is not the victor. He only seems the victor. But Death meets the Victor—the real Victor—in Jesus. And you know that sided with him, the victory is yours too.  "Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!" In his name, dear friends, amen!

In Him,

Pastor Rob Guenther

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church

47585 Ciechanski Road, Kenai, AK 99611

www.GraceLutheranKenai.com

pastorguenther@gmail.com
(907) 690-1660

Read sermons online: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Sermons

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

What If Jesus Never Rose from the Dead? (A sermon based on 1 Corinthians 15:12-22)

What if...? What if we didn't have cars? What if we didn't have computers? What if we didn't have telephones? Life would be a little less convenient, but that's all. But... what if Jesus never rose from the dead? The apostle Paul considered that question. But he also shared his confidence that "Christ has indeed been raised from the dead." Read or listen to (download or stream) this sermon based on 1 Corinthians 15:12-22 and thank God that we know this glorious truth! 

What If…?

What If Jesus Never Rose from the Dead?

A sermon based on 1 Corinthians 15:12-22

Sunday, April 5^th, 2015 – Easter Sunday

 

Do you ever wonder, "What if…?" For example: What if there were no cars? How would you get to work? Would you ride a bike? Would you walk? Would you ride in a buggy drawn by a horse? How would you get where you need to go? (And as Alaskans, if there were no cars, there would be little use for oil, so there would also be no PFDs.) J

How about this one: What if there were no computers? Well, you'd need to buy more paper and more stamps without email, right? Or maybe you'd get a typewriter. Forget online banking, most credit card machines, navigation systems, and most of what run modern vehicles, not to mention all your video games!

Or how about this one? What if there were no phones? Communication with the lower 48 would be a bit more difficult wouldn't it? No emergency calls could be made from the side of the road. And there would be no calling home to ask about that weird item on the grocery list. I'd be in trouble for sure.

But this morning we ask a question of much greater importance: What if there were no resurrection from the dead? And specifically, what if Jesus didn't physically rise from the dead?

Some in Paul's day were saying just that; that there was no resurrection from the dead, not really. "Maybe you could live on in people's memories as they remembered what you did while you were alive. Maybe you could leave a legacy behind that would improve the lives of others because of what you did. But to rise, bodily, physically, to come back to life after being dead… well… that's the stuff of fiction," they said.

But Paul challenged their thinking. He considered what life would be like if they were right. What if Jesus never rose from the dead? Listen to the conclusion he reached if that "what if…?" were true. Listen to his certain confidence that it is not! Listen to 1 Corinthians 15:12-22…

 

¹² But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? ¹³ If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. ¹⁴ And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. ¹⁵ More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. ¹⁶ For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. ¹⁷ And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. ¹⁸ Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 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.

 

What if…? Do you ever wonder that? I mean we all do, don't we? What if it rains when I want to go fishing? What if I get fired? What if I fail this class? Or what if I don't get better?

But I mean, do you ever wonder "What if…?" on the bigger questions of life? What if this life is all there is? The Beatles famously sang, "Imagine there's no heaven—It's easy if you try—No hell below us, Above us only sky." Can you imagine if they were right? What if there is nothing more than this life?

Well, Paul answers that question. If Christ did not rise, then Christianity falls apart. If Christ did not rise, then there is no resurrection at all. If there is no resurrection, this life is all there is. Enjoy it. Then die. Become worm food. We have no moral responsibility, no obligations to serve anyone but us, so, "Eat, drink, and be merry. For tomorrow we die."

Well, that's what the "skeptics" want you to believe, right?

But hold on. Before we go further, I have to let you know that I think we often misuse the word "skeptic." We all ought to be skeptical. That is, don't believe everything you see on TV or read on the internet.

So let's be skeptical. Let's look at the evidence… First, let's agree to the following historical facts that nearly all scholars, Christian and Atheist alike, all hold to be true:

1. Jesus died by Roman crucifixion
   
2. Jesus was buried in a private tomb.
   
3. His disciples were discouraged after that event.
   
4. Jesus' tomb was found empty.
   
5. His disciples thought they actually saw the risen Jesus on a number of occasions.
   
6. Due to these experiences they were willing to die for their belief.
   
7. James, a skeptic, was converted and became a leader of the early church.
   
8. Saul of Tarsus, an opponent of Christianity, was converted and became a major proponent of Christianity. 
   

I think we can also agree that the New Testament story is not a legend. It was written within two generations of the events by eye-witnesses and was corroborated by non-Christian historians. More than thirty historical figures are confirmed by sources outside of New Testament. The accounts we have are not legends.

Likewise, the New Testament story is not a lie. The authors include embarrassing details about themselves, difficult saying that they didn't understand, and clearly distinguish Jesus' words from their own. They also reference verifiable facts and witnesses and provoked their readers and their enemies to check it out for themselves! And if that wasn't enough, their martyrdom certainly removes all doubt. Who dies for what they know to be a lie? The accounts we have are not lies.

The last "out" that those who want to deny the Gospel have is to suggest that, "They were deceived. They believed it, but were mistaken, or fooled."

Here are the five most common explanations offered…

 

#1 - "The disciples were hallucinating." But hallucinations are experienced by individuals, not groups. No one says, "Remember the dream we had?" Not to mention, Jesus didn't just appear once to one person, but dozens of times to hundreds of people who physically touched him and watched him eat food. Plus, a hallucination still doesn't explain the empty tomb.

#2 – "The disciples went to the wrong tomb." But why didn't enemies reveal "right" tomb? Did the guards mess up too? Collective amnesia of Jews, Romans, Christians? Plus, empty tomb didn't convince them, but appearances. Especially Saul/Paul and James who both died as martyrs.

#3 – The "Swoon Theory." That is, they suggest that Jesus didn't really die, only swooned or fainted. Later, he revived and escaped. But professional executioners were convinced that he was dead. Pilate double-checked. Joseph and Nicodemus embalmed him. Who mistakenly embalms a living person? And, if he merely swooned, then how did he later get unwrapped and escape? How did he move the rock? How did he get past the guards? How would a bloody man near death convince his disciples he was risen and victorious? And how does it explain the conversion of Saul or Paul and James? Finally, non-Christian sources, including the Jewish Talmud (which not exactly friendly to Christianity), state that Jesus was killed on the cross.

#4 – "The disciples stole the body." But then they were the deceivers and not the deceived. Again, who would be arrested, beaten, tortured, and martyred for what they knew to be a lie? Who would perpetuate the lie if you could save yourself by simply recanting. And how would they get past the guards? And again, who appeared to Saul/Paul and James? Yet, that's what the guards asserted The body was stolen while they slept. But think about it: How would the guards know the disciples stole the body if they were asleep? And finally…

#5 – "A substitute (likely, Judas) was killed in his place." This is actually written in the Muslim Quran. But there is absolutely no evidence to back it up. This theory comes hundreds of years after the events and suggests that all the eyewitnesses were mistaken about Jesus' identity and it fails to explain why the tomb of the mistaken man was later found empty, why the Talmud reports Jesus death, and basically suggests that everyone from the 1^st century was wrong.

Someone once said that, "Skeptics must provide more than alternative theories for the resurrection. They must provide first century evidence for those theories." And yet, there is no evidence of any other explanation. There are no other plausible theories. There is no evidence for any explanation of the facts other than this: That Jesus is alive.

Finally, add to this evidence the fact that not only did Jesus himself predicted his death and his own resurrection, but Paul could also point to the writings of men who claimed to speak for God hundreds and even thousands of years before Jesus and predicted this very event: his resurrection from the dead.

When you consider the evidence, there is only one reasonable conclusion: "But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead…"

And when you consider the evidence and then flat out deny the logical conclusion because of your predetermined unbelief, then you're no longer a "skeptic," not really. You're just a denier. See why I think we misuse the word, "skeptic"?

It's okay to be skeptical. But then follow through. Examine the evidence. And come away with the right conclusion: "But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead…" And thank God that you know this is true: "For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive."

For because of our sin, we have earned death. For all the times we've been too distracted by the entertainment the world throws our way to even consider the evidence or bother studying it, for all the times we've let satan keep us blindfolded, happy to never consider the "What if…"s, for all the times we've chosen not to believe the truth that stared us in the face because it would mean we couldn't do what we wanted to do and that our selfish desires would be unrealized… for our sin we deserve death. Death is what we earn as our wages for such sin. And we deserve eternal death in hell. "And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins." So if Christ had not been raised, that's exactly where we'd be going.

"But… Christ has indeed been raised from the dead…" Through Christ, through his perfect life lived on our behalf, through his innocent death on the cross, our sins are forgiven! He's paid the price that we owe! He gave us credit for all the good he did! And Jesus' resurrection is the proof that God accepted it! "He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

Here Paul called Christ the "firstfruits." "But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep."  In the Old Testament, Jewish farmers would bring the first part of their crop or fruits to the temple to give as an offering to God. It was one way they showed their trust in God. "We give this first crop to him, trusting that more crops will follow." Well, because Christ rose from the dead, we don't just know that our sins are forgiven, we also know that we too will rise to be with him in heaven. He is the firstfruits of the harvest of living saints. "For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive."

One commentator once wrote, "This present age is Easter time. It begins with the resurrection of the Redeemer and ends with the resurrection of the redeemed. Between lies the spiritual resurrection of those called into life in Christ. So we live between two Easters, and in the power of the first Easter we go to meet the last Easter."

What if there were no cars? Well, we'd all be in a little better shape. What if there were no computers? Well, we'd have to come up with different ways to work. What if there were no telephones? We'd get used to telegraphs and passenger pigeons.

But so what!? None of that matters compared to this "What if…": What if Jesus had never been raised? Well, then, "If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins… If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men."

So thank God that you know this glorious truth: "But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead…" Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Amen!

In Him,

Pastor Rob Guenther

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church

47585 Ciechanski Road, Kenai, AK 99611

www.GraceLutheranKenai.com

pastorguenther@gmail.com
(907) 690-1660

Read sermons online: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Sermons

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

​Look Up and See Your King (A sermon based on Zechariah 9:9-10)

Look up! Here comes your hero! Here comes Jesus to the rescue! Look up! There he is on the back of a donkey. Look up! There he is hanging on the cross. And soon we will look up and see him coming again on the clouds! Rejoice, dear Christian, that your Savior came to rescue you from sin in such a humble way. Read or listen to (download or stream) this sermon based on Zechariah 9:9-10 and rejoice that you are rescued and will one day soon experience the perfect joy that he brings...

​​

Look Up and See Your King

A sermon based on Zechariah 9:9-10

Sunday, March 29, 2015 – Palm Sunday

 

They must have had their heads hanging down toward their feet most of the time. They must have felt defeated. Sure they had returned from their exile in the east. But the temple was still in ruins. They were a small remnant of what they once were. And they struggled with their identity. But the prophet told them, "Look up! Here comes your King!"

Fast forward a half dozen centuries…

They must have had their heads hanging down toward their feet most of the time. They must have felt defeated. Sure the temple was now rebuilt and Herod had even done some impressive renovations. But they still didn't have their freedom, not really. They were subject to the Romans who told them what do and how to do it. They longed for the glory that was once their people's. But someone shouted, "Look up! Here comes our King!"

Fast forward a few millennia…

We often have our heads hanging down toward our feet much of the time. We often feel defeated. Sure, we have our freedom. We're not subject to another country and we have no king ruling over us. But we are subject to sin and we're subject to its sad effects. We long for the glory that could be ours. But today we hear, "Look up! Here comes our King!"

We look up to see our hero—our conquering king. We look up to see him on the back of a donkey. We look up to see him on a cross. We look up to see him coming on the clouds. Our text for this Palm Sunday is again from Zechariah, the Holy Week, prophet. This morning we read from chapter 9 verses 9 and 10…

 

⁹ Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. ¹⁰ I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the war-horses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.

I.              Look Up to See Him on a Donkey

 

"Look! Up in the sky! What is it?" "It's a bird!" someone replied. "No, it's a plane!" cried another. "No. It's… Superman!" corrected a third. And they all look up into the sky to see their hero as he came to their rescue.

That must be how the Jews of Jerusalem must have felt when Jesus came to their city. They didn't need to hang their heads any more. They could look up and see their hero. Only, they didn't have to look up into the sky to see him. They only had to look up to their hero riding atop a donkey.

Here he was, the long-promises Messiah! Here he was, their conquering hero! Here he was, their salvation from the Romans! Their salvation from poverty and sickness and suffering! Here he was! Jesus! Just look up and see him! And spread your coats on the ground to welcome him! Spread branches on the ground to comfort him! Shout your praises as loud as you can to honor him!

When Zechariah prophesied, "Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you," the Hebrew word for shout is the form of the word for a battle cry! How hopeful they must have been that their hero was finally here to wage war on Rome! Here was their superhero ready to conquer the world: "His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth."

And they had seen him do amazing miracles! How hopeful they must have been that he would raise the fallen troops back to life, that he would end the need for supply lines as he multiplied fish and loaves, that he would destroy the enemy once and for all!

And they shouted "Hosanna!" which means, "He saves!" They shouted their war cry to their king coming to conquer the enemy—who would conquer the world!—for them.

But what a humble way to enter the city: On a donkey?! It would be like Superman coming to the rescue! …driving an old beater. And their war hero wasn't coming with superhuman strength or shooting lasers from his eyes. He didn't ride a golden chariot pulled by white stallions. He was coming gently and peacefully and in humility. "See, your king comes to you… gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey."

And how strange it must have seemed to those who still followed him on Friday. Their hero that they were encouraged to look up to was no longer even on the back of a donkey. Now they looked up to see him hanging on a cross…

II.            Look Up to See Him on a Cross

 

How strange it must have seemed to see him dying—to look up to see him being tortured to death—because they were expecting him to be a different kind of king. They were waiting for one who would put Israel's enemies under his feet. They were expecting the Messiah to wage a war to end all wars. They were looking to Jesus to be their Superman who would destroy Rome and bring them national peace.

But now they looked up to see him dying. And they must have wondered why? Why did he who raised the dead not keep himself from dying? Why did he who walked through the angry mob now let himself be arrested? How they must have wanted to hang their heads again.

And how strange it sometimes seems to us when we look up to Jesus and wonder why? Why does the omnipotent God allow this body of mine to break down the way it does? Why does he let my relationships fall apart leaving me feeling so alone? Why does he let me struggle with my finances and allow me to worry about so many things? Why doesn't he just save me from all suffering and pain? Why doesn't he save me from all that bothers me?

Why? Because he's not that kind of king. He didn't come to wage war on poverty or disease or unhappiness. He didn't come to take away problems or pain or to make everything right in this life.

And when we get disappointed in what Jesus doesn't do for us, don't we sometimes reject him just as the inhabitants of Jerusalem did so long ago? Don't we sometimes feel that if he won't be the kind of Savior that we want right now, well, then, we have no need for him, at least, not right now? We'll pull him out when we need him or think he'll give us what we want.

And of course, for abandoning him, for being too afraid of other people to shout his praises, for expecting him to be the kind of king we want when we want him to be, we deserve to be abandoned by him, to have him shout at us in a rage, to have no hero to rescue us, but to be forever damned.

But you know that's not the end of the story. And you know what kind of King he is. "Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation…"

Look up and see your hero. Look at him who was perfectly righteous! Look at him who never sinned, not in deed, not in word, not even in thought! What a super hero he is! Look up see your King having salvation...

Look up and see your King hanging on the cross, no longer in glory in that Palm Sunday parade, but dying on that cross. Look up to see him at his lowest. Look up to see him waging his war against satan, against death and hell. Look up to see him fight the ultimate battle!

We no longer need to hang our heads in shame. Look up! Your sins are forgiven! He did come to proclaim peace! He did come to win that peace! He won peace between you and God by paying for your every sin, for every time you abandoned him, for every time you went AWOL on God. He gave you his righteousness. He made you perfect in God's sight. He conquered satan, sin, death, and hell for you and brought you into his Kingdom where he rules all things for you! What peace he brings!

Ah, but things don't always seem very peaceful, do they?

III.           Look Up to See Him on the Clouds

 

If he came to bring us peace, then come we still have so much strife? How come when we pick up the paper, we still read of wars, of crashed planes, of traitors, of murdered families? If he came to bring peace, then how come our lives are so full of broken relationships, of problems and pains, of worries and fears? How come life too often feels anything but peaceful?

Because he's not that kind of king. We have to understand what Zechariah meant when he prophesied, "I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the war-horses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth."

On a wall outside the United Nations building similar verses are etched that describe world peace. Of course, you know that there has not been world peace since Jesus came into Jerusalem that first Holy Week. There have been wars and rumors of wars ever since.

In 1949, right on the heels of the second World War, the US Air Force unveiled its newest plane. It was a Convair B-36 plane. It had a wingspan of 230 feet! (That means you could almost play a football game across its wings!) And beneath those mighty wings were four bomb compartments capable of carrying 86,000 pounds of bombs! (That's ten times more than World War II's B-17 Flying Fortress.) It had a range of 9,000 miles. (That means it could literally cover half the globe!) It was a plane that was so impressive that every enemy knew that you did not want to get in a fight with the owners of that plane. And so it was given an unexpected nickname for a plane wielding 86,000 pounds of bombs: "The Peacemaker." You see, everyone knew you wouldn't want to fight on the other side of this plane, so you'd be very eager to make peace instead.

Of course, the need for such a plane reminds us that ever since Jesus death there have indeed been wars and rumors of wars. And until he comes there will continue to be. Jesus himself told us that there will be no world peace "from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth," as long as this world exists. So, obviously, this prophecy must mean something more.

And of course it does. Jesus is the real "Peacemaker." But his concept of peace means, first and foremost, that we have peace with God. As such it also means that we have peace from guilt and shame, peace from fear of death and of hell. But it does also mean that one day soon we will have peace from all of our problems, from all suffering and from all pain, from all frustration and from all heartache. There will be a time when he will end all wars and save us from all of the effects of sin and give us a perfect, eternal peace.

Just, not yet…

So we look up to watch for our returning King. We look up to the skies and eagerly await his return. We look up and wait for the day when he will return no longer humble and gentle, riding on a donkey, no longer suffering on a cross. We look up to watch for him who will return riding on the clouds. We look up with that certain and eager expectation that one day soon he will come to bring us perfect peace.

Look up and see your King, dear friends! See him ride into Jerusalem to be our conquering hero! Look up and see him on that cross, where he paid for all of our sin and brought us peace with God. Look up to the skies and watch for his return. For one day soon he will come again and will bring us peace. And in the meantime, don't hesitate to shout his praises! Don't hesitate to, "Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! [For] your king comes to you, righteous and having…" In the name of Jesus, our King, dear friends, amen. 

In Him,

Pastor Rob Guenther

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church

47585 Ciechanski Road, Kenai, AK 99611

www.GraceLutheranKenai.com

pastorguenther@gmail.com
(907) 690-1660

Read sermons online: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Sermons

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