What’s In A Name? - Numbers 6:22-27. ESV

The Circumcision And Name Of Jesus - 01/01/12.

What’s in a name? That which we call a rose

By any other word would smell as sweet (Romeo And Juliet II:ii 43-44)

says Juliet to Romeo because of all the fighting and feuding between their families: Montague and Capulet. What’s in a name? Such murderous hatred erupted, violent anger aroused at the sound of these names. The tragic love between Romeo and Juliet appeared to be doomed: all because of the hatred between their family names.

What’s in a name? Like Juliet, we might say that names are not important. The rose still smells as sweet, no matter what name you give it. We might think that a name is just a label, just a tag we hang on someone. Like a domain name for website. Like the name you choose for your avatar to play games on a computer. Change your name to whatever you want. A name is just a name - or is it?

In the eighth commandment, God protects our good name and reputation. "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour (Exodus 20:16)." What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not tell lies about our neighbour, betray him, slander him or hurt his reputation, but defend him, speak well of him and explain everything in the kindest way (SC I:16)." You wouldn’t want anybody gossiping about you, telling lies about you, slandering your name to destroy your reputation. Your name is important. Just like you would speak up to defend a Pastor if his reputation and character were attacked, not only for his sake and for his family, but also for the good name of the congregation he serves. This morning, the first day of a new year, as the elected members of our church council are installed, they pledge to uphold the good name of our congregation in all their actions and words. What’s in a name? Quite a lot, actually.

Like God’s holy name. More than just a label or a tag, the Lord’s name and His person are bound together in the name He has revealed to us. His divine power comes to us through His name. Invoking God’s name is serious. "You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God (Exodus 20:7)." God’s powerful name shapes and directs our prayers. Prayer is powerful because we pray in God’s name. In every trouble, we should pray, praise and give thanks. But despising God’s name brings His anger. He turns His face away from us when we sin like that. Casually swearing, tossing around the name "Jesus" or blurting out OMG without thinking despises His holy name. Skipping worship or walking out on the holy benediction that forms our text today despises God’s holy name. That’s scarey. Fire consumed people in the Bible who misused the holy name of God. They died. "No one can see Me and live (Exodus 33:20 NIV)," the Lord told Moses. That’s not just an Old Testament thing. In the New Testament, Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11), Herod (Acts 12:22-23), Eutychus (Acts 20:9) and others despised God’s holy name and died. Throwing around God’s name carelessly has the same effect on us as sinners: the soul that sins shall die (Ezekiel 18:20).

But God does not want that. He calls us to repent of misusing His powerful, divine name. The Lord has given us His holy name not to kill us, but to do the very opposite: to make us live, to protect us, to bless us.

The Lord instructed Aaron and his sons as members of the divine priesthood to bless the congregation, God’s chosen people by literally "putting (v. 27)" His name on them. Standing ahead of the altar of sacrifice and facing the nation of Israel, Aaron the priest would raise His hands in blessing and speak this holy name of God at the end of the service of worship. Still today, the Pastor stands ahead of the altar where Christ offers His holy body and blood to us. The Pastor faces the congregation, raises his hands in blessing and speaks the holy name of God at the end of the service of worship. The blessing of God’s name is the last thing we hear in the divine service. Then, we go out into the world to be a blessing to others.

What does this benediction mean?

"The Lord bless you and keep you (v. 24)."

God blesses us. The Lord watches us, guarding and keeping us, like a shepherd watches, guards and keeps his sheep; like a Captain protects the soldiers under his command.

"The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you (v. 25)."

We sinners are afraid to face God, like Adam and Eve hid from His face in the Garden of Eden after they sinned. When God sets His face against those who oppose Him, they die. But in this benediction, the light of His face shines on us to take away the darkness of our sins. Instead of justice and judgement, the face of the Lord is gracious to us, like a person helping out those who are orphaned, poor, or needy.

"The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace (v. 26)."

Countenance is another word for face. The expression on a person’s face often reveals what they are feeling. When someone smiles at you, that means everything is good. The Hebrew equivalent is to lift up your face towards another. The Lord lifts His face towards us so that we know we have His favour. Knowing that the Triune God blesses us gives us peace in our souls.

This benediction, this peace comes to us because of Jesus. Since He offered His blood for our sins, we have peace with God, we have His benediction.

The name "Jesus" means "salvation." He shed His blood to save us and all the world. In Jesus, we are forgiven, redeemed. Our reputation is saved. We deserve the name "sinner." But He gives us a new name: Christian. We are baptized in water and God’s holy name is here placed on us: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. What better way to begin a new year, 2012? The Lord blesses us now and always.

In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Christmas Is Ruined - No, Saved! - I John 3:8b. ESV

The Nativity Of Our Lord, Christmas Eve - 24/12/11.

Christmas is ruined!

The children sang off key. They fidgeted. They forgot their lines. Then, when it seemed like things couldn’t get any worse, little Timmy got sick to his stomach right there in the Church; right ahead of everyone.

Christmas is ruined!

Then later, during that one moment of the year that’s so moving - the Candlelight service - someone forgot to change the candles. Half of the congregation couldn’t keep those little candle stubs lit during the singing of Silent Night. What a disaster!

Christmas is ruined!

Oh yeah, then at home, the Christmas tree fell down! Many of the decorations were broken. Water all over the floor.

Christmas is ruined!

Then, there’s Christmas dinner. The turkey was too dry. The guests all acted up. Drank too much. Said words that they regretted. For dessert, the cake fell.

Christmas is ruined!

Nothing ruins Christmas like getting sick. A sudden bout of the flu, a bad cold, major surgery, or a diagnosis of cancer really kills the Christmas spirit. And what could be worse than a friend or relative who dies? Sickness, sorrow and death ruin Christmas!

Even the first Christmas was ruined!

It sure looked like that, anyway. Mary and Joseph weren’t yet married. Then came the news that she was expecting a child.

The first Christmas was ruined!

Then, just as the Baby was about to be born, Joseph and Mary had to pack up and go. Caesar Augustus decreed that all people in the Empire had to stand up and be counted in a worldwide census. Pregnant as she was, Mary and her husband Joseph had to travel to distant Bethlehem.

The first Christmas was ruined!

It got worse. When they arrived, everything was booked solid. The "no vacancy" sign was flashing at the Bethlehem hotel. Where did Mary and Joseph spend the night? In the stable. With the animals. That’s where the Baby was born. No germ-free maternity ward. No hospital bed. No nurse. No doctor. Just a manger - a feeding trough - for Baby Jesus. Wrapped in swaddling clothes, His first bed was the rough hay of that manger.

The first Christmas was ruined! Or so it seemed, anyway.

But no! Christmas was not ruined. Because of Jesus... Christmas was saved. God’s strange, but loving way is to send His Saviour to our world in poverty, humility and lowliness to meet us at our lowest points, to comfort us in our failures, to reverse our ruins.

No glitches can stop the Lord from bringing salvation to us. Christmas is saved by Christ. For nothing in heaven nor on earth can stop the powerful work of God for us.

"The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil." Satan works hard to ruin Christmas for us. He ties us up in our sinful habits. He uses our sins to ruin our lives. This tiny Child Jesus, bound in strips of cloth and lying in the manger came from heaven to earth to release us from the bonds of our sins. He is God in the flesh, born to free us from all that would ruin us. Christ is born at Christmas to forgive our sins, undo all our failures, cure all our ills, reverse our losses. Jesus is born to bring life out of our death, resurrection from the grave, heaven in place of hell.

Because Christ is born - Christmas is saved. More than that, Christmas is our salvation. Of this Jesus, the angels sang. Seeing this Jesus, the shepherds were filled with joy. Christ was born, lived, died, and rose to life to bring salvation to earth. Because of Jesus, Christmas is saved. Jesus saves us.

So yes, the children did really well tonight. They told us how God sent His Son Jesus to save us.

And yes, we got the tree back up again.

And, Christmas dinner was delicious.

But, even if the news is the worst. Even if it looks like Christmas is ruined, look to Jesus, look in faith to the Child who is born for you.

Christmas is saved!

Christ saves you.

Amen.

There’s No Place Like Home - II Samuel 7:1-11, 16. ESV

The Fourth Sunday In Advent - 18/12/11.

"There’s no place like home," repeated Dorothy to herself in the movie, The Wizard Of Oz. Despite her wild adventures, all she wanted to do was to go home.

Christmas is the time to wend our way home: to spend time with family and friends As the song goes, "There’s no place like home for the holidays."

This morning, God turns our thoughts to home, as Advent quickly gives way to Christmas. In the second book of Samuel, we find King David resting comfortably in his palace of cedar. Leisure time gives him occasion to think up this plan: why not build a splendid house, a temple for God? David pictures the ark of the covenant parked in a tent. This does not seem right. Pastor Nathan gave the King the green light: "Go for it," as they say. Yet that very night, God informed the King's Pastor to put a stop to the building project. In effect, God said, "You want to build a house for Me? You know what? I will build a house for you." The house and line of David would not be like that of any other King. God promised to establish this household forever. From heaven, the angel Gabriel came to Mary with the good news that she would be the mother of the Saviour, Jesus. So, God kept His promise, the house and kingdom of David would be established forever in David's greater Son, Jesus. In Christ, we find our true home.

But just like relatives on their way home for Christmas, we are not there yet. Home is a place of safety and peace. But sometimes, we find that home is more like a battlefield. David was a warrior-king. Directed by the Lord, he fought many fierce battles against immoral, idol-worshipping peoples. God gave David victory after victory. In our text, David rested comfortably in his house. But there were still battles to be fought. The ark of God needed to remain ready. In a tent, the ark was near God's people ready to go on the offensive at a moment's notice.

Just like us. We are the Church militant: we still fight the good fight against devil, world, and flesh. We are not building a paradise for God here on earth. Instead, we are like children travelling to their home for Christmas. As we journey through this life, we have a ways to go before we reach our true home.

What is home, anyway? Is home just four walls and a roof? Is home just a particular spot on a map? Truly, what makes a house a home are the people you find living there. Home is flesh and blood. Home is not mere wood and stone, like King David wanted to furnish in a house made for God. The Lord teaches us at Christmas that home is flesh and blood. God gives us a home in His Son, born of the flesh of Mary, born of the house and line of David, just as He promised. The Infant Jesus lying in the manger is given to us by the Heavenly Father to make us feel at home in His presence. Even though we still struggle with sin all around us and within us, God gave us Himself in flesh and blood to give us a place in His heavenly home. Christ Jesus was born, lived and died in flesh and blood to bring us into His family, the kingdom of God, part of the eternal kingdom God promised to King David. Like that ancient King, we give to God money, time, and talent; but God gives us everything, even His own flesh and blood. That's just the way it is in God's home. We have no right to demand a place at His table. Yet, because of God's righteous Son and His saving work for us, we kneel before Him at the altar, and there, we are at home. Even while we travel through life, this is home for us.

How do you know when you have reached your home? Our true home is more than just a family reunion at the end of the year, more than just a warm feeling, a brief celebration during the month of December. Home is forever. We have God's Word and promise. Home is where we gather together with those who are closest to us: those connected to us in the body of Christ, joyfully surrounding Jesus our Head and highest joy. Home is where we belong. Jesus leads us home by faith. Heaven is our home. And heaven is forever.

Notice the phrase that ties together our Old Testament and Gospel readings today: "the Lord is with you." The prophet Nathan said it to David. The angel Gabriel said it to Mary. Today, I say it to you: "the Lord is with you." How? In the flesh and blood Child born of Mary. Jesus is God with us: Immanuel. We are at home with Him. There’s no place like home. Amen.

Pay Or Forgive - St. Matthew 18:21-35. ESV

The Thirteenth Sunday After Pentecost - 11/09/11.

"I’ll never forgive him as long as I live." Can you imagine saying anything more tragic than that? To all who refuse to forgive those who have wronged them, Jesus solemnly warns: My Heavenly Father requires you to pay all your debt, "if you do not forgive your brother from your heart (v. 35)."

What does that mean? What is forgiveness? To forgive another person means that no matter what they have done wrong, you leave it in the past, consider the matter settled, not to hold it over the person’s head, declare that it is paid in full, nailed to Christ’s cross and buried in His tomb. Forgiveness is a loving and joyful act. Forgiveness frees us from our burdens and releases us from our guilt. The little word "give" lies at the heart and center of the word "forgiveness." It is a gift.

More than anything, we Christians are about forgiveness: we forgive the wrongs that others do against us because we have been forgiven by the blood of Jesus, shed for our sins at the cross. "Forgive us our trespasses," we pray, "as we forgive those who trespass against us." So, Martin Luther explains that with this prayer, we ask that the Lord would move us to "sincerely forgive and gladly do good to those who sin against us (SC III:16)." We forgive others who hurt us the same way God forgives us: fully, freely, frequently, without setting a limit, without keeping score, nor expecting payback. That’s how God in Christ forgives us: unconditionally.

We confess that our forgiveness falls short. Instead of joyfully forgiving the wrongs other people do and say against us, we hold back; we hold grudges; we keep score; we even keep track of the wrongs we have forgiven. Can we forgive? Can we forget? Often, it seems that we cannot. Often, it seems that we don’t want to.

Look at Peter. He was thinking about forgiveness. He figured that seven times was a lot to forgive the brother that sinned against him. But Jesus challenged his math - true forgiveness doesn’t keep score, doesn’t keep a record of wrongs (I Corinthians 13:5 NIV). Seventy times seven (v. 22) is not a new, higher limit for forgiveness. Seventy times seven represents forgiveness that is limitless, like the patience, the love, the forgiveness that God has for us.

Christ teaches today’s parable to condemn in the strongest terms all who refuse to forgive. When we are faced with sin, there are only two options: to forgive, or pay.

On the one hand, look at the generosity and kindness of the king. His servant owed an incredible fortune: 10 000 talents equals between 10 and 20 million dollars! The king’s first move was to make his servant pay: to sell his wife and children as slaves, along with all of his property. Even the money from such a drastic sale would not begin to cover his debts. But the servant pleaded with the king who showed him pity. Out of his kingly wealth, he absorbed the debt. No longer was the servant required to pay. His debt was forgiven.

How tragic that this same servant would not forgive! Even though his master, the king, released him from paying his multi-million dollar debt, this same servant went out and grabbed his fellow servant by the jugular, demanding that he pay his debt. How much? A hundred denarii is about twenty bucks - nothing like the millions he owed. The master was angered by his unwillingness to forgive. "Should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you (v. 33)?" So, the king forgave him no more. He was angry and threw his merciless, stingy, scroogy servant in jail. Without forgiveness, he must pay for all.

The parable’s application is clear. God, like the king, freely forgives the great debt of our sin - far more than we could ever begin to pay by our good deeds. In fact, we don’t even have the right currency. We show that we are God’s forgiven people by forgiving others who sin against us - they owe us a small debt compared to what God has forgiven us! But, if we refuse to forgive others, we can expect no forgiveness from God. Hell is the prison where paying for sin goes on forever.

But no one needs to pay such an awful, inflated, eternal debt of sin. The debt of our sins and the sins of all people has already been paid. Jesus Christ, the sinless, debt-free, holy Son of God has covered the cost. There’s no longer any spreadsheet to keep account of our many sins. The blood of Christ spreads itself over us in heart and mind, body and soul. And not just in part. Both the principle and the interest of the world’s debt of sin has been paid in full by His death on the cross and His rising from the tomb. How much is left to pay off the debt of our sin? "It is finished (St. John 19:30)," declares the Lord Jesus.

Like the gracious and kind king in the parable, God wants to forgive us and cancel the debt of our sins. The red debt of guilt against us is rinsed clean in our Baptism. The ledger of our disobedience is balanced in the Sacrament of the Altar. God knows that we can’t begin to pay for the debt of our sins no matter how good we are. That’s why He forgives us - fully, freely, frequently, unconditionally.

Why? So we can go to heaven. Yes. But also so that we can forgive others. What fellow servant needs your forgiveness? Who owes you? Don’t make them pay. Forgive.

God in Christ has forgiven you. Amen.

The Gift Of Rest - St. Matthew 11:25-30. ESV