a double portion for you too

¹Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. ²And Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. ³And the sons of the prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take away your master from over you?” And he said, “Yes, I know it; keep quiet.”

⁴Elijah said to him, “Elisha, please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho. ⁵The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take away your master from over you?” And he answered, “Yes, I know it; keep quiet.”

⁶Then Elijah said to him, “Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on. ⁷Fifty men of the sons of the prophets also went and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. ⁸Then Elijah took his cloak and rolled it up and struck the water, and the water was parted to the one side and to the other, till the two of them could go over on dry ground.

⁹When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.” ¹⁰And he said, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so.” ¹¹And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. ¹²And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more.

Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.

God’s grace, peace and mercy are yours in Jesus Christ. Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, God hears our prayers. Amen.

Introduction

    Today we Lutherans are the odd ones. Most other churches recognize Transfiguration in the fall, but we have moved the festival to this last Sunday in Epiphany to form bookends to Epiphany. You remember back in January that we witnessed again the baptism of our Lord and when He stepped up on the bank of the Jordan, the Father declared from heaven, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” Today we witness Jesus with three of His disciples and Moses and Elijah standing on the top of a mountain and again, we hear those words from our Heavenly Father. What we have seen in Epiphany is Mark’s witness that this Jesus of Nazareth is indeed the Son of God.

    But today we consider something more, something that is not just to put in our knowledge banks, but something that makes a significant difference in our lives as the people of God. Today we see that God puts His spirit on His prophets for the work that they have been given.

Elisha

     Elisha was chosen to become the disciple to Elijah some time before this reading and today we read about the last day of Elijah on earth. There was common knowledge among the prophets that this was going to be the last day, that on this day Elisha would no longer see his mentor, his teacher, his father. God had given Elijah some tasks to do before he would be taken away and we can see that he traveled across the countryside to visit the different “schools” of prophets in the different places of Ancient Israel. Each time God sent him to a new place, he suggested that Elisha didn’t have to go along, but each time Elisha insisted.

    There is something of a connection to our Epiphany celebrations here. The heavenly witness of the chariot of fire, the crossing of the Jordan river, and most importantly the passing on of the mantel of prophet.

    Usually we think of prophets as future tellers, maybe even as fortune tellers. That isn’t the idea of prophet that the Bible reveals. Think about what prophets do. They receive a Word from God and bring it to the people. Moses had these conversations with God and brought that word to the people. That is the pattern throughout the Bible – God reveals to the prophet and the prophet reveals to the people.

    Elisha had been THE prophet of God for some time, and now that his time was ending he was going about the task to make sure that the Word that he was commanded would continue through these “sons of the prophets” in the different places. Yet, he asks Elisha if there is any request that might be fulfilled. When Elisha asks for a double portion of the spirit, he isn’t asking to be a greater prophet than Elijah. In the ancient world, if a father had three sons, when it came to divide the inheritance he would divide the estate into four parts and the eldest son would get two measures of the estate. It signified and designated the successor to the family. When Elisha asks for this double portion, he is simply asking to be the successor to the Elijah.

    Elijah confesses that this isn’t for him to give, God chooses his prophets. We operate with that sort of mentality in our polity – the call seeks the man, not the man seeking the call. Still Elisha is given a sign, “if you see me when I’m taken away, it shall be so.” And that is precisely what happens – Elisha witnesses these firey horses and chariot carrying Elijah away and Elisha become the prophet to Israel.

Jesus

    God designates His prophets; He always has and always will. The Old Testament is filled with condemnations against those who claim to be sent from God and speaking words that He didn’t command. For that reason, we see God “ordaining or anointing” Jesus with His heavenly voice, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” We saw that at His baptism and again, we see it in the Transfiguration. When Jesus speaks, He doesn’t speak as a man passing along wisdom, but at THE prophet of God who speaks heavenly revelation to the people.

    In the next weeks we will walk through the season of Lent, focused on the walk of Christ towards the cross of Calvary. We will hear Him speak those sacred words of God’s revelation to the people. We will see Jesus become the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. We will see Him revealed as the Son of God who has come to give His people this revelation of God’s mysteries that we might have life and live in Him.

    Jesus will be the greatest of the prophets of God, because He is God – Emmanuel. His death and resurrection will forever be the witness of His glory as the true King of Israel. Jesus Himself declares, heaven and earth will pass away but My words will never pass away.

The People of God

    Then something different happens. In the Old Testament the mantel of prophet was passed from one generation to another. Since Jesus still lives – He remains the prophet. There is no other and certainly no greater prophet than God Himself, Jesus Christ. Though you notice there are “sons of the prophets” people whom God chose to spread the word of THE prophet. Elijah continued to have oversight of those schools and that continued when Elisha became the prophet of God. Jesus had those whom he called to follow Him, the twelve were sent out on shorter missions and in the Resurrection Jesus then gave to them authority to make disciples, to forgive and retain sins, to proclaim the wonders of God mercy to all people.

    That anointing took place as the disciples were called into service and confirmed in the words that the Holy Spirit gave for them to speak to the world in their day and age. And as God has worked in the past, He continues in the present. We are called to do the prophetic work of God. No, we don’t get special revelation, we have the revelation of Jesus Christ to proclaim to the people. We, the church have the responsibility to speak those words. We were designated as the prophetic people of God as God anointed each of us in Holy Baptism.

    Yes, you are a prophet of God. You have the charge and the responsibility to carry God’s Word into the world around you. You have the task of knowing God’s revelation by study and meditation. This is the work that God has given for you to do in every age and realm of your life – from infants to senior citizens, from work to play – we are always the prophets of God.

    Just to clarify – this is not the same as being THE prophet – THE prophet of God will forever be our Lord Jesus Christ, we don’t proclaim our own special revelations but only and always that which God has revealed to the world through His holy Word. And this does not mean that all of us have been called to fill pulpits any more than I have the calling to walk into your places of work and take over your vocations. It does mean that you, yes you have been called to bring God’s Word of Jesus Christ in Grace and forgiveness wherever you are.

Conclusion

    Since the time of the fall, God has needed to speak to His people but sin remains a barrier between us and God’s voice. Still God continues to speak to us through His Word and in the voices of the fellow believers. You, dearly beloved, have been baptized into Christ to proclaim His love and mercy to the world around you. This is the gift of God to the world, your voices carrying Christ’s mercies as the prophetic people of God.

⁴⁰And a leper came to [Jesus], imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.”

⁴¹Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.”
⁴²And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. ⁴³And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, ⁴⁴and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.”
⁴⁵But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.

God’s grace, peace and mercy are yours in Jesus Christ, Who has come to make us clean. Amen.

Introduction

    I hope that you have been taking note over the past weeks of Epiphany. We have heard the awesome power of Christ to preach with authority, to cast out demons, and to heal the sick, and that Jesus has come so that He would preach to all people. What you might have also noticed was the way that Jesus has been keeping his identity somewhat hidden. The demons know who Jesus is and for that reason Mark says that Jesus didn’t allow them to speak. And when the city was crowding the door outside of Peter’s house last week, Jesus declared that He was going into the small town to preach.

    Today Jesus has an encounter with someone in need of healing. But when Jesus told the man to keep quiet, he didn’t and what a problem that caused for Jesus and His ministry.

    Disobedience to Christ’s commands carries consequences. How often do we get in the way of the Kingdom of God because of our disobedience? What will we do about that?

The Command

    This man came to Jesus with faith; a wonderful example of faith at that. He knelt down in humility and didn’t demand to be healed. He acknowledge the power that Christ had “If He wished.” Jesus declares His will that the man be cleaned and the leprosy is cast out. And we witness again Jesus’ authority even over such a devastating illness like leprosy.

    Jesus gives the man marching orders, very specific orders. First, Jesus commands the man to follow the Levitical laws that required the priest to make the declaration that he had been healed and could return to the community. Even beyond that, Jesus yelled at the man and drove him away with the command to be quiet about this event.

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The Disobedience

    Yet the next verse we find out that this man has apparently lost his trust in Christ. You probably can’t blame him for talking about Jesus and the healing. Still, Nietzsche said the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Never second guess God – when He says something, He means it. Take for example the Old Testament reading. Naaman didn’t believe the words of the prophet and was going to ignore the command, thank God for a good servant who convinces Naaman to follow the prophet’s words. And while God’s words have the power to bless, it also has the power to curse. What we didn’t read was that Naaman came back to Elisha to offer gold and wealth in thanksgiving, but Elisha refuses it. Well Elisha’s stewardship officer decides that this is foolish and chases down Naaman and accepts the gold. When Elisha find out what his servant has done, he declares that Naaman’s leprosy is now this man’s illness. In another portion of Scripture, God had commanded that nobody was to touch the Ark of the Covenant and that it was to be carried by the priests with those two poles you have seen in pictures. Well, there is always someone trying something new and they decided to put the ark on wheels for transport. When the wheels hit a bump and the Ark was going to fall to the ground, a well meaning man reached out to steady the Ark, and was killed by God. There are consequences to disobeying God’s commands

The Consequences

    The man went out telling people that Jesus is a healer, but that wasn’t what Christ wanted. Jesus is making Himself known little by little as the Son of God who has come to take away the sins of the world. Jesus has gone out into the small towns to preach because the city was filled with people who only wanted Him to give them immediate gifts. Now, it says that Jesus can’t go into the small towns either because of the crowds and He has to work in the wilderness.

    We should note that Jesus didn’t send the leprosy back to the man, but the man’s disobedience still caused a frustration to the mission of Christ. Disobedience has consequences.

Our Disobedience

    Our disobedience can get in the way of God’s mission too. We all are aware of how scandals can devastate the witness of the Church; abuse and cover up are not the way of the Lord. We should also be aware of how we might become scandals to people hearing the Gospel. Obviously, Christ has not told us to be quiet about who He is, we have the resurrection to proclaim and the authority of Christ to make disciples of all the nations. But if we are negligent in that work; either by avoiding talking to people about Jesus or failing to offer support to those missionaries working around the world. Or we even frustrate the work of the Gospel when we display selfishness and are ungracious to others around us.

    Our disobedience might come out in the way we despise God and His word. Remember, despising means to treat something as if it is unimportant. It is dishonest to say we trust in God’s Word for life but then despise it by avoiding the Church services or neglecting our personal study. When we do things that are sinful and avoid doing that which God has commanded we are being disobedient children of God. Disobedience has consequences

Our Consequences

    What are the consequences to our disobedience? One theologian observed that God’s grace is like a thunderstorm, if the rain falls but there are not crops being produced, God will move it somewhere where it will be affective. Do you suppose this is why some congregations find themselves closing? Not because they are bad people per se, but because God has decided that they are not producing the fruit and so He moves His grace to someone who is? There are consequences to disobedience. According to statistics, the most impacting factors if children will stay in the church as adults are in the following order: 1) if dad comes to church, the kids are most likely to remain, 2) if what happens at church happens at home [that is if kids know that this isn't just for show, but genuine] and 3) if the kids are exposed to multi-generational church that communicates that this same faith is for ALL the children of God.

    I don’t share these with you as a guilt trip, but in the same way that your financial advisor will tell you that if you don’t save, you won’t be able to retire. The same way your mechanic will tell you, if you don’t take care of your car it won’t last. It tell you these things that we might renew our devotion to Christ for our sakes and for the sakes of souls around us every day.

Christ and His Mission

    We can find hope in Christ’s mercy, even for our disobedience. Christ did not send the leprosy back on the man even in the face of his gross disobedience. God continues to be merciful to us in that we still have His Word and Sacraments in our presence that we might continue to be forgiven and strengthened in His grace.

    In fact, what you should notice in this and later contact with Jesus is that those who come to Him with confidence have their requests answered. Hebrews gives us the words to come into His presence with humility and with confidence that He will answer our requests according to His good and gracious will.

    It is because of our ongoing disobedience that Christ continues to give us His Word and Sacraments. Because we daily sin much and are in need of forgiveness that He continues to give us what He earned for us on the Hill of Calvary so many years ago. It is for our faith that He continues to bring it to us; to our ears and even into our mouths.

    And the wonder of God’s mercy is that He doesn’t cast us off, even in our disobedience. Peter and all of the disciples ran from Jesus in the hour He needed them most, yet, on the day of His resurrection He came to them and entrusted them with the Office of the Keys (John 21). God has mercy on you and me too – He calls you again to take the news of His resurrection and authority, to take up again the new life He has given you in Holy Baptism. To take up again His love for you and for the whole world that His kingdom would continue to reach into the hearts of all people.

Conclusion

    Disobedience has consequences – that is clear. If we choose or continue to ignore God’s commands we cannot be surprised when we are no longer part of bringing His kingdom into the lives of people. Thanks be to God that Jesus has shown us mercy in bringing us to life through His Word and Sacraments and is gracious to forgive our daily sins by His blood. We can be confident that Christ will heal us of these afflictions, because it is His will.

Called to Preach

²⁹And immediately [Jesus] left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.

³⁰Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. ³¹And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

³²That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. ³³And the whole city was gathered together at the door. ³⁴And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.

³⁵And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. ³⁶And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, ³⁷and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” ³⁸And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.”
³⁹And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.

God’s grace, peace and mercy are yours in Jesus Christ. Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, God hears our prayers. Amen.

Introduction

One of the questions that I am asked is, “How’s the preaching going?” I guess the honest answer is to tell them to ask you all who have to listen. But they press on, Is it hard work? Is it fun? Is there an alternative? To Which the answer are yes, yes, and NO.

Is it hard work? Yeah, it’s difficult some weeks to pour over the Greek and Hebrew squiggly lines until everything is blurring and still feel like I haven’t found anything. And It’s frustrating to search through the wisdom of commentaries to find the same thing in every volume. It’s even more difficult when collaborating with another pastor and find that we aren’t seeing the same things. Is it fun? Honestly, can you think of more enjoyable work than to pour over our Lord’s words of life? Can you think of anything more exciting than to find the wisdom that He has revealed to the nations? Is there anything more significant that being closer to God? Is there an alternative? I suppose there are different ways to do it, but if preaching was the method Jesus used, and that is the method He commands to His church – then there really is no alternative. When people hear the Word of Jesus’ Gospel, it’s the natural and compelling thing to do; to proclaim Him who has conquered illnesses and demons.

Now, let me ask you. How is your “preaching” going? Some of you may be thinking that you have given it up. You were told by your children and spouse to stop preaching. Some of you might be thinking that you would like to be a preacher, you have a thing or two that you would like to say – you may well have your chance.

Some of you may say that isn’t your business. Sure, you might not have the calling to be a public preacher as a pastor, but in one sense, All who confess Jesus Christ are preachers – proclaimers of the Gospel. Sure, there are some who would say they don’t want to touch preaching with a ten foot pole, but you may not have a choice. There is something about being in Christ, being in the Kingdom of God, that propels us to preach.

Preaching without Freedom

How can I say that you don’t have a choice? Jesus didn’t have a choice. Here He has spent the evening healing people of their infirmities and casting out demons; there is a whole city looking for Him. But what does He do? He tells His disciples that it’s time to hit the road and preach in the small, rural communities, “For this is why I came.” Plain and simple, no need to interpret; just listen to what He says.

And those words are echoed by the Apostle in our Epistle reading today. “Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel! For if I do this of my own I have a reward, but not of my own will…” St. Paul here was explaining the compulsion to preach the Gospel not because it was a job from a church, but because it was a sacred trust from God Himself. There simply isn’t a choice for those who are in Christ, we must proclaim.

I became a preacher for the same reasons as other preachers, and I know who I can blame. I’ve told a couple of you that there is a pastor here in the Kansas district north of Topeka who did His internship near my home town. While He was there, he came and preached at my home congregation and one week after church I can still remember looking up at him while he said, “you could be a preacher some day.” That memory was locked away until a few years ago at a rural missions conference when some slides of rural churches were being shown. A voice in the back said that it looked like St. John’s in Belford North Dakota. Well, I turned around to correct him that the door was entirely wrong and ask him how he knew of that congregation. And suddenly the pieces fell together and suddenly there were tears in his eyes to know what impact that little moment had. Now I suppose there are some who believe he was entirely wrong, but none the less, that is where it started. He opened the door for me to take up this avenue to proclaim for the world what Christ has done for each of us!

And you don’t have to get a degree to preach. All are called into the kingdom to proclaim the miracles of God’s love. St. Peter reminds us that we are a royal priesthood – each of us “preach” by our witness to Christ. As we live as Baptized children of God we are giving witness. As we exercise grace and peace to all people, we are giving witness.

The Good News

And while St. Francis of Assisi said, “Preach always and when you must, use words” In the end, we must use words. We must use words because the Good News of Jesus Christ is too important to be left to the imagination. One teacher said, “The Gospel assumed, is the Gospel denied.” We are all the bride of Christ, and what do brides share the most but how much their husband loves them! Oh, how much our Lord loves us! I know that some people claim that its Un-Lutheran to get emotional, but how can you witness the Love displayed when Jesus goes to the cross and suffers all of the pains of Hell so that He can welcome you into His loving presence? How could anyone consider all of that and respond with “verily.” All of us, men, women, and children are free to cry when we consider those who have given their lives for our freedoms or when we consider how much our parents have sacrificed to raise us. You are free to be emotional when you witness what Christ has done to rescue you from sin, death, and the devil. You are free to be elated when you hear those words, you are forgiven. You are free to weep in joy when you receive the Body and Blood for the forgiveness of all of your sins.

This, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, fellow preachers of the Good News – this is the wonders of what we get to proclaim to all the world! Not because we are being pushing with our beliefs, but because Christ has sent you into the far corners of this world with this Message for all people.

Consequences

Oh, and for those times when you have been able to share the wonder of God’s love with someone who heard and believed! There isn’t anything quite like seeing someone’s face light up with realization of what that means for them; to be loved with the everlasting love of the One who flung the stars into their places and who orders the seasons. Pray for those times when someone would hear and believe that Good News.

Yet, you and I know there are plenty of times when we have done our best and we might get a polite acknowledgement, but that is as far as it goes. Believe me, very few people believe the first time they hear this news and some, sadly will continue to reject it until the day that they die. Yet, we are compelled to proclaim Him even when the reception doesn’t seem likely.

Of course, there are also times when not only the message is rejected but the messenger is rejected as well. I suspect this fear is what keeps most of us from speaking up and often as we would like. We are afraid of losing those relationships if we seem too “preachy.” I’m not suggesting that we go out at make ourselves obnoxious and turn people away because of our behaviors. But I am saying that in every one of those relationships, you have to ask yourself if you want to keep the relationship safe for only the years in this world, or if you are willing to risk it all to introduce someone to Jesus.

If we stay out of His way, there is really no choice than to follow Him and preach His Gospel to all people. Not to be too sensational, but we have seen one person modeling this tenacity to preach in his vocation; Tim Tebow. Has he been able to share the Good News with people, I think that is evident. Are there some who have rejected the message and the messenger; I suspect that he has probably missed some lucrative offers because of his public witness. Yet, I’m impressed that he has continued to be faithful and pray that he continues to be bold with the opportunities to be a witness in those places where he has influence.

Conclusion

So, how about you? How is your preaching going? Blessed, I expect. No, don’t believe that everyone will embrace what you have to say, and don’t be too surprised when people begin to avoid you because of your message. Even Jesus faced those same problems, and while it is painful to see that rejection, know that as you are faithful the calling to preach His Good News, Jesus will continue to work through His Word that His will will be done.

This Gospel has been preached to you that you might have life in His name. Now Christ is sending us out with that message to all the world. Where you work and where you play, these are the places where you are called to preach. And I will tell you that sometimes I’m jealous of the opportunities you have to be in places where a “preacher” will never be invited, but where God has placed you.

This is what we do, we proclaim Christ because He has claimed you.

²¹And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath [Jesus] entered the synagogue and was teaching. ²²And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.
²³And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, ²⁴“What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” ²⁵But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!”
²⁶And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. ²⁷And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” ²⁸And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.

God’s grace, peace and mercy are yours in Jesus Christ, Who is the Authority of God Himself…for us. Amen.

Introduction

    If there is any issue that we all have problems with it is the issue of authority. Consider that both tables of the Law begin with the issues of authority: “You shall have no other Gods” and ‘honor your father and mother.” Remember in the moments after 9-11 how we discussed the chain of command from President to vice-President and so on? Yet, you can argue that authority isn’t something that is created but something only observable in how that authority is used.

Today, we can observe the authority of Christ simply in His words…

His Teaching

First, we find Jesus in the synagogue on the Sabbath. That shouldn’t be too surprising for any of us – where else would you expect to find Jesus than in His house on His day? And what is Jesus doing but teaching the people. And His teaching amazed the people because He was teaching as one who had authority and not as the scribes. The job of the scribes was to teach that which Moses had given to the people. For the most part, this amounted to finding new ways to restrict the lives of God’s people to curb outward behavior.

But Jesus’ teaching is different. Rather than spending time telling people how they ought to dress or what kind of words they need to use, He spoke to them of repentance and focus on inward renewal. It’s easy to create new rules and laws that would give the appearance of godliness, but it is the power of Christ that changes hearts and minds to be part of the Kingdom of God. Jesus does not lean on rules and regulations to exercise His authority, but instead proclaims the love God has for His creation and His people.

His rebuke

Yet, Jesus’ power isn’t just in what He teaches, it’s also found in His rebuke. From among the congregation comes a heckler, no a demon. Before you go down the road of debate of demons or psychotic disorders, you have to admit there are things that are inexplicable to our modern sciences and rational considerations. While you might have reason to pause, the unclean spirit doesn’t doubt who Jesus is, in fact, the demon declares this Jesus of Nazareth to be the Holy One of God. The demon charges Jesus as coming to destroy them. Isn’t that the fear of most people? That Jesus has come to destroy us; the fear that Jesus is coming to take away all of our fun and enjoyment?

To that accusation, Jesus declares – “Be silent and come out of him!” Jesus relieves this man of the spirit that is causing him such distress that he can only see Jesus as a destroyer. With the words of God’s declaration, that man was released from the burden and given freedom to know Christ as the One who has authority over even the unclean spirits.

His Fame

    It is that authority heard in His teaching and demonstrated in His power over the unclean spirits. There was no doubt for anyone, they heard and saw what Jesus’ power could do. That authority led the people to marvel and spread the news of this power all over Galilee. That authority resulted in Jesus being made known to all of the people as the Son of God.

His people

    What else would you do? If you saw a physician who could cure diseases with a word, you know that you would tell people of the marvelous things that you had witnessed. If you were there you couldn’t help but to do the same. That is what God’s authority does among God’s people – it causes them to speak of His wonder. That is nothing new! When the Israelites encountered anyone outside of their nation, they spoke of the wonders of how He rescued them from the hands of the Egyptians and guided them through the wilderness even giving them water from the rock and delivering them bread from heaven. Even in our worship, we sometimes use the Psalm, “Thank the Lord and sing His praise, tell everyone what He has done.”

His authority even over death

    As amazing as Jesus’ authority was to the people of Galilee, they hadn’t seen nothing yet! As St. Mark continues His Gospel account, he brings the readers and you and me to the Hill of Calvary where Jesus with all of His authority submits to the authority of the Father and gives His life on the cross. Then Mark carries us on to the empty grave where everyone can see that Jesus doesn’t just teach with authority, He doesn’t just demonstrate authority over the unclean spirits. Jesus even has authority over death itself as He walks from the empty tomb on that first Easter.

    Then Mark’s Gospel ends rather strangely, the women run away afraid.

His Authority Today

    You might find that all a marvelous story, except the authority of Christ isn’t over on Easter morning. Jesus’ authority is still present among His people today. When we come to the waters of Baptism, it is Christ’s authority that commands the water and the Word to give a life-giving washing of sins and rebirth of the Holy Spirit. When we hear the pastor proclaim that your sins are forgiven, that is the authority of the One who has power over even the unclean spirits. When you come to the altar and receive the bread and wine in the Holy Sacrament you also receive the Body and Blood of Christ because He has that authority to give forgiveness in His name. Even in the face of death, we come to this place for a funeral service and again find hope in His power over death itself with the promise of the resurrection from the dead.

    Even as His people, we have been given His authority to do these things in His name, to administer the sacraments, to proclaim His salvation, to call all people to repentance and the knowledge of Him who has the authority to rescue us from our sins. For all of this, what else can we do but proclaim the praises of Him who uses His authority to relieve us and give us life?

Conclusion

    The issue of authority is one that shapes all of our lives. We are born believing that we are the ultimate authority, but we soon realize that there are many things that we are powerless against, evil spirits, sin, and death, just to name a few. But Christ has given you are a reason to spread His fame, our Jesus has authority over all of these things and has used His authority that you might have life.

¹⁹I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, ²⁰loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”

    God’s grace, peace and mercy are yours in Jesus Christ who is our Light and our Life. Amen.

Introduction

    “Choose Life.” It’s hard to believe that such a positive phrase could dredge up so much baggage. Of course the baggage that is carried with this phrase in the past three decades has been around the topic of abortion. And many people don’t believe this is a topic that should be spoken of in the church, much less from the pulpit. Some argue this is a political or personal issue and others are concerned that this might offend someone. Some people have been affected personally by an abortion decision which makes this topic even more uncomfortable. Still, I pray that you agree with me that we need to hear the whole council of God and there are fewer topics in our modern world where God has spoken clearly that we must listen to our God.

    Chose Life! That slogan wasn’t invented to deal with the issue of abortion, but it does demand a decision from all of God’s people. The answer to that question shapes our decisions as God’s people. And its not a question we dare answer based on circumstances, but a question that must be answered on the basis of who we are, or rather, Who’s we are. The truth of the matter is that God’s chosen people choose life. So, lets begin with who we are – God’s chosen people.

The Chosen

    Joshua was standing before the people of Israel on the edge of the Promised Land thousands of years ago. Here was God’s chosen people, chosen by God and relived from the captivity of the Egyptians and guided through the wilderness for 40 years. And God reminds His people that they were not chosen because there was something powerful or mighty about them. God chosen them because of who He is, a God who keeps promises, specifically the promise made to Abraham. And this was a one-sided promise, not some sort of tit-for-tat – simply the promise of God that said – I will be your God and you will be my chosen people. What made the people chosen was not that they were special, but they were special because God chose them.

    Now God’s nature doesn’t change. In the New Testament we read the same faithfulness of God. You heard in Peter’s first epistle, “you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” You, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, you are God’s chosen people this day; people whom God has rescued from the slavery of sin and are now on our way to the Promised Land of heaven. You are a special group of people here today because God has chosen you to be His own.

    More than just a group of special people, each one of you are special because God chooses His people in Christ before the foundation of the world. You were called to the water of Holy Baptism where God declared you a child of the Most High. Each of you have been called to be rescued from the slavery of sin and set on this promise of heavenly glory. Each of you are special because you have been chosen.

    So that is who we are, gathered beneath the Holy Cross of Christ, chosen individuals whom God has knit together into the mystical body of His son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. We live our lives in this context then of being chosen, and we make our choices in light of being chosen. Let me illustrate – a child is out with her parents or grandparents when someone offers her a piece of candy. Without a word, the child reaches for the candy but at the same time looks into her parents or grandparents face with a question, “Is this okay?” In the same way, we who are God’s children are faced with decisions in life and rather than choosing for ourselves what is best we look into the face of the One who know all and Who cares for us deeply and ask, “Is this okay?”

The Choice of another God

    Chosen in Christ, that is the context for our choices. Look at the question placed before God’s people. There is really one question, “Who will you trust?” It’s a serious choice; it is the difference between good and evil, blessing or curse. Really it’s a question of life or death. Good and blessings flow from the choice of life and evil and curses follow from the choice of death. Yet, this choice runs even deeper than life or death. This is a choice at its core of the first Commandment; to love, trust in God above all else or to turn away to other gods. That was a constant question for God’s chosen people. All around them were more powerful and successful people with their gods and the constant pressure to take those gods as their own. For that reason, God warns His chosen people, “If your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them …” that’s when the evil and the curses will come.

    Are we surrounded by other gods? Certainly, and the god of choice is known as death. Death is the god chosen through abortion to rescue us from the crisis pregnancy. Death is chosen through the destruction of human embryos to rescue us from disease. Death is the god worshiped in assisted suicide to rescue us from pain and suffering. In the Large Catechism we are taught that whatever we turn to for more “good and help then from God” becomes our god. But the god of death only seems to offer “good and help.” In truth, “evil and curses” follow in its wake…consider:

    We can estimate that over 32,000 people in our country are negatively affected by an abortion decision every …day. A judgment you say? An innocent, unborn child is destroyed, the mother and father of that child have their lives changed forever. Grandparents, siblings, friends, even our society itself faces suffering as the result of a single abortion. Death does not “relieve” the burden – evil and curses follow in its wake.

    Now, people have asked why does this one sin get its own Sunday? That question might be from the perspective that there are other issues that should have their day, and it might be in sensitivity to those affected by abortion. Truth be known, it is not the sin of abortion that separates us from God. Sin separates us from God. We all stand equally guilty before our Judge. But the sin of abortion, because it touches so much of our lives; our sexuality, our privacy, our economics, our desire for self-determination, make this a sin more difficult to deal with than others. For that reason, I want to be clear, that if you are burdened with this particular sin, know that you are welcomed here with all the rest of us sinners. You are welcome as one chosen in Christ Jesus. You are welcomed and cleansed by the blood of the lamb. And you, more so than those not burdened, know the affects of choosing death to solve our problems and know that we need to listen.

This Sunday is called “Sanctity of Human Life Sunday” because the sanctity of life is attacked by the god of death at every age. In the Netherlands, assisted suicide has been legalized for many years. But more recently there has been a movement from euthanasia for terminal illnesses to euthanasia for chronic illnesses and euthanasia for mental distress. They have moved from voluntary euthanasia to involuntary euthanasia and called it, “termination of the patient without specific request.” Death promises to relive the burden, but leaves evil and curses in its wake.

    Since 1973 and the legalization of abortion, the obsession with death as the god who can rescue us from our problems has become even more manifest. Human live devalued in the womb has the natural weight to devalue human life at every stage. Curses have followed behind this god of death like the stench that comes from decay. In more recent years we have seen an alarming climb of teen suicide and a drastic increase in the incidences of child abuse. We have even seen the horrify images of children walking into classrooms to kill other children. Death does not relieve the burden, evil and curses are its real consequences.

The Choice to Trust in God

    The choice of death as a rescuer – god always gives according to its nature – evil and curses. Choosing death does not give rescue from problems and the gift of life…except for that one time. The writer to the Hebrews reminds us how our God has destroyed death through the sacrifice of Jesus to deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. Jesus chose death “so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.” Jesus chose death to destroy it once and for all through His resurrection from the dead. Jesus chose death to show the world that He was the One more powerful than death. Jesus chose death to give us life. Jesus chose death and He has chosen you in baptismal waters to be joined with Him in His death and into His resurrection.

    This then is your assurance that you can trust Him. This is your assurance that you can choose life. It really is that simple. God Himself speaks in our text, “for this commandment is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven…neither is it beyond the say… But the Word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart so that you can do it. Say again? YOU CAN DO IT! You can trust God because He has set His love on you in Christ. You can trust God because He promise that nothing can ever separate you from His love. You can trust God because He promises to never leave or forsake you. You can trust God because He promise to be at work in every aspect of your life, accomplishing His will. You can trust God because He has proven that love in the death and resurrection of Jesus. You can trust God because He “sets His love upon you” every time you come to His holy meal to receive the very price He paid to rescue you, His chosen people.

    You can trust God and choose live and be assured that good and blessings will follow according to His promise. “You and your offspring” will live. This is a decision that will affect generations. The choice of life means new life can be given in Holy Baptism. The choice of life means love for “the LORD your God” will increase as you focus on His love for you. The choice of life means obedience to “His voice” will increase as you trust in Him more and more, “holding fast to Him.”

    This is why we need to be talking about abortion and the other life issues in our churches. It’s more than just “speaking against” something going on “out there.” It is “speaking for” those “in here” who face these issues and are being tempted to choose death. What a message we have to share with one another, to remind one another that no matter who difficult the circumstances, no matter what our fears, no matter what the sufferings we may have to endure – we are chosen! We belong to God. We are His children. We can trust Him. We can choose life. We can choose to uphold the value He gives to life and to defend the life of the vulnerable. We can choose life and care for those among us who are weary and burdened. We can choose life and share the forgiveness of Christ with one another when mistakes are made.

    If trusting God and choosing life remains “private” than we are capitulating to the gods of this world. No, we can and must let that spill over into every aspect of our lives. In the things we say and the things we do in our society we have an influence on those who would choose death to rescue from their problems. As individuals citizens we can advocate for candidates and laws that uphold the sanctity of Life. We can share our views with our leaders in letters, emails, and in public forums. We can give support to those on the front lines caring for those struggling with these choices.

    We can and ought to do all of these things and more. But even out there it is more than just being against something. It is being “for” those facing difficult situations, walking with them, loving them with the love that Jesus has given to you. We can support pregnancy centers and hospice centers through volunteer hours or financial gifts. We can pray for those providing such help and for those who need it so desperately. And as we share the love of Jesu, the Holy Spirit may very well give us the opportunity to share Jesus, the source of our love and concern and the true rescuer from all of our struggles.

Conclusion

    “Choose Life!” Those two little words sure can stir things up. What I pray this very Biblical, very positive phrase will stir up, however is our faith and our trust in God. We can make good, God-pleasing choices because we are chosen by God in Christ. No matter what choices we face, we can trust that the God who chose us will never abandon us. You are very special people, a chosen people. Chosen people choose life! Chosen people can bring their influence to bear on a sin-broken world and sin-broken lives that make a positive difference!

^{Does the Body Matter}

¹²“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be enslaved by anything. ¹³“Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. ¹⁴And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. ¹⁵Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! ¹⁶Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” ¹⁷But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. ¹⁸Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. ¹⁹Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, ²⁰for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

God’s grace, peace and mercy are yours in Jesus Christ. Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, God hears our prayers. Amen.

Introduction

Lets try a little word association – I will say a word and you say what comes to mind first. Up (Down), Left (Right), Hot (cold), Light (Dark), Now here is the last one – Body (Soul). You notice that it would be a stretch to come up with something other than the counterpart to those words because they go together like, Peanut butter and (Jelly). Now, what about this connection between body and soul? People have imagined the connections for years and philosophers and theologians have developed intricate ways of attempting to make sense of this relationship. Think about how you associate the body with the soul, and consider that You are not your own.

World Views

Be careful about claiming that people back then didn’t think the way we think. The predominate worldview back then was called “dualism” and if this describes the thinking – the flesh needs to be discarded so the spirit can be free.

It was a peculiar time. All around people were busy accumulating knowledge and experiences, engorging themselves with laughter and food. They treasured the athletics and filled huge stadiums where people would cheer and shout for their heroes. And at the same time, they attempted to be spiritual, or at least claimed to be spiritual. They made the trips to the temples and knew the prayers and saluted the flags. There was not a single part of their public life that didn’t begin with devotions and offerings.

You think I’m talking about the world back then? Just think again…how many people do you think will be worshiping at a football altar and how many will come to the altar of our Lord? The worldview then and now is to divorce the body from the soul. It is to claim that what I do and what I believe do not necessarily go hand in hand.

Hand-in-hand with the dualistic view, is a view of self-determination. You and I know that view all too well. You can argue that self-determination is what built this nation – people digging in and making something of themselves. We celebrate that still today when small businesses grow into successful enterprises. In terms of our bodies, that self-determining view is healthy in physical fitness, but it becomes very deadly when that same world-view is the justification for people “taking their own lives” or deciding that they can do whatever they want because it is their body.

The world claims that you can divorce your actions from your beliefs, but that is a dangerous view

Biblical View

Instead of going with the worldview around us, consider that the Biblical teaching from beginning to end is that you are not your own.

You are not your own even when you are born. Last week, in reflecting that we are born in sin (Psalm 51) means that from the time that we are born we are under someone else’s control. Jesus says, anyone who sins is a slave to sin (John 8:34). Many people will never recognized their slave master because sin seems so natural. When you hear the words of the apostle written to those Christians in Corinth, it echoes what we sinners live in. Without becoming overly graphic, it is difficult to find a product from cheeseburgers to car insurance that someone hasn’t used sexuality to sell. I don’t want to sound like the stereotypical crotchety preacher but tell me if this isn’t the way the world expects us to live and then isn’t that the very definition of slavery – to have no choice but to do what we are told.

This slavery even infects Christian Churches by twisting liberty into license. In Christ we have been set free, but what does that freedom mean if nothing changes. Sin is deceptive in that it is the epitome of self-serving. Why did Adam and Eve embrace the lies of the serpent? To gain something more for themselves? Why did David commit adultery with Bathsheba – to have more for himself. What is the root of sin but our own sinful hearts. Naturally then we would love to reshape morality and even sexuality to fit our own desires. For example, it’s not a new argument but it has hardly ever had as many listeners to the message than when Lady Gaga performs “Born this way” where she argues that those “alternative” lifestyles are ok, because you were born this way. What Lady Gaga forgot from her upbringing is that the state we are born in is imperfect, fallen and dying – who wants to remain in that?

For that reason, God sent a rescuer into our world so that we would not remain slaves to sin reaping the rewards of death and hell. In the Gospel of Jesus Christ, His holy life, death and resurrection, you have been given release from the sin of slavery but you are not your own. While that sounds horrible, to trade one slave master for another, remember that it is being on our own that brought sin and death in the first place, and that was in the setting of absolute perfection. Instead of being thrown out, we are made members of a family. Here among God’s people we begin to recognize that family connection that is shared in the blood of Jesus Christ washing away sins. Know that you are not alone in your struggle against the slave master trying to claim you back – you have the spirit of Christ dwelling in you, the promises of baptism to cling to, and the fellowship of those here who are struggling against some of the same exact sins. You are not your own because you and I are members of His body.

And that means that you are not your own. St. Paul makes that abundantly clear that what we do with our bodies is connected to our souls and vice-versa. If you think about it, where does water get applied but to the body and how do you eat the body and blood of Christ, but with your mouth? Jesus sacrificed His body on the cross of Calvary for the salvation of your self – body and soul. And Now the command from our Lord is to use our bodies as living sacrifices. If anyone asks you what the purpose in life is as a Christian, here is the answer, to give myself, body and soul to the glory of God.

As a congregation, we have a blessed time when we serve that Thanksgiving dinner or when we pitch in for a Thrivent event. These are times of sacrifice, and frankly, if it were easy it wouldn’t be called a sacrifice. Where has God been asking you to sacrifice? Is it in your time to spend more with God in the quiet? Is it in your wealth, to give for the benefit of your neighbor? Is it in your body, to volunteer in labor for someone else? Perhaps it is in your skills that can be taught or used for someone else?

Conclusion

Nothing hurts than to be confronted with the truth that we are not our own. We are not our own from the time we are conceived until the time we die. The question is, to whom do we belong? If we belong to slavery in sin, we will likely enjoy our lives and world shaping it however serves me best. But, if we belong to God in Jesus Christ, then we are shaped by His very passion, death and resurrection that we may be more like Him in giving ourselves to others for the glory of the Father.

No, you are not your own, but in Christ God has rescued you from slavery – all of you, body and soul – that you may be His, forever in glory.

New life of the Baptized

¹What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? ²By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? ³Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

⁵For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. ⁶We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. ⁷For one who has died has been set free from sin. ⁸Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. ⁹We know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. ¹⁰For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. ¹¹So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

God’s grace, peace and mercy are yours in Jesus Christ. Who has given us the gift of death and life. Amen.

Introduction

    A couple of years ago, a young man, Jon Metz went into his basement to do a little repair on his furnace. In the process a tool dropped inside of the boiler-style furnace and when Jon reached in to retrieve the tool, he found himself trapped in a terrible situation. In trying to free himself, he had cut his arm on the rusty metal and infection had set in. Jon was alone in that basement for two days when he knew how serious his situation was; the infection in his arm was killing him and it was now either lose his arm, or lose his life. Jon fashioned a tourniquet with his shirt and through unimaginable pain worked with a saw blade to cut his arm free. Three days after being trapped, rescue workers came and finished the amputation that he began and took him to the emergency room for treatment. The doctors agreed that had Jon not severed his arm as he had done, the infection would have been fatal. In losing his arm, Jon Metz saved his life.

    Today we come to the celebration of the Baptism of our Lord and the gravity of this holy sacrament of Baptism for each of God’s people. Within this sacrament God promises the blessed gift of death and life because here, in this sacrament our old sinful nature is drowned so that we may have this new life in Christ.

The Old Self

    It may seem strange to talk about the “Old Self” when we have just witnessed this baby being baptized, but follow with me. That expression, “the old self” is a reference to the sinful nature that we have inherited from our first parents’. When Adam and Eve fell into sin, they not only condemned themselves but all of their decedents. David writes in Psalm 51, “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” That old sinful self, the Old Adam is the nature that is in every single person from the time they are conceived.

    That sinful nature wants to continue sinning. It is that sinful nature that is infected and dying, yet screaming to live and control our lives. That sinful nature is even so twisted that this pseudo-pietistic thought comes to mind, “God like to forgive and I like to sin so I will sin to make God happy.” Oh think where that sort of thinking could lead and what sort of trouble we would find ourselves wrapped up in. What that sort of thinking we could engage in every sort of unspeakable activities while indulging in every chemical concoction ever devised. Yet those are the very actions that God prohibits in His commandments, we are not pleasing God but that decaying, damned sinful nature that can only think of making himself the ruler of your every moment. Another reason we must reject that living is the path it would give to those around us. What does it say to others if our lives look no different than the lives of unbelievers except that God doesn’t mean anything to us. And if God doesn’t mean anything to us, how can we expect others to listen to our witness of Christ?

    But St. Paul uses the strongest expression to say, “No Way!” in the old King James, it was translated “God forbid!” Why? If God’s mercies are new every morning why is this such a big deal? For a number of reasons. First of all, we don’t talk about one sin being worse than another, they all damn and separate us from God and fellow people. That being said, there is something more serious about indulging in that which we know is wrong; a compounding of sin first in the act and also in the spirit and attitude. In fact, such an approach to rejecting the life God intends for His people leads to the very sin that Jesus warns as the unforgivable sin, the sin against the Holy Spirit.

The death

    For these reasons, God has given something unexpected in this sacrament – death. Death to the old sinful nature that drags us away from God and away from God’s grace. Death to the old Adam that rejects God’s Word and promises for more death. Death to the Old Sinful self that still beckons you to go back to those unspeakable sins and selfish living. That Old Sinful nature, that Old Adam, that Old self must die for the wages of sin is death.

    Jesus death on the cross is the death of our sinful nature and the forgiveness for those unspeakable sins. For the sins of indiscretion and indulgences to our flesh Christ has suffered and died so that those sins would be erased from our lives. It is only through that sacrifice that we might find the hope to be relieved from our sinful natures that would cause us to ignore and cast off God’s love forever.

Baptism isn’t about what we do for God, but what God does for us. Baptism isn’t into a church but baptism into the death of Jesus Christ. The image of water carries with it the drowning of our sinful selves the way God drowned the sinful world at the time of Noah and the way God drowned the enemies of God’s people in the Red Sea. Like Jon Metz severing his arm to save his life, God severs the guilt and shame from those who are baptized into Christ Jesus.

Anyone who meets Jon Metz will immediately note the absence of his left arm but Jon will remind you he has his life. Anyone who is in Christ will know that the old nature has been condemned but we who are in Christ have life. Baptized into a death like Christ’s means to be baptized into a resurrection like Christ’s; a life marked by living as Christ.

The new life

Therefore, St. Paul declares that we have a new life, not because of our work, but because of what Jesus has done for you and me. That new life has been given to you to live…now how will you live?

You can walk away from baptism as if it means nothing and go back to your sinful self. Like the bumper sticker says, “Try God, if you don’t like Him, the devil will take you back.” That doesn’t mean that baptism is empty, it means you have chosen to reject the promises of God. Rejecting Baptism doesn’t make it invalid any more than rejecting Christ changes who He is, the savior of the world.

But St. Paul gives you this imperative command, “You must consider yourself dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Living the life of a baptized child of God means leaving behind those works of the flesh and embracing the promises of God by the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Even for the youngest child baptized into Christ, this is the promise we make to raise them up in the knowledge of the Lord – to teach them to reject what God forbids and embrace the promises that God gives. When the world is profanely using God’s name on their lips and in lives lived for self-gratification we who are baptized must live with Christ’s word of blessing and peace coming from our mouths and living for the love of neighbor. Where the world demands that human beings are the highest authority for moral and just living, we who are baptized must proclaim Christ and His Word as that which transcends our reason and senses. This is at the very core of who we are striving to be – holy cross, holy hands – people who have been rescued by God to be the presence of God in our community and world.

Conclusion

    Dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus – this is what it means to be baptized into Christ. Jon Metz cut off his infected arm so that he could live. God cut off our sinful natures by infecting Jesus with our sins and cutting Him off so that we might live. Our task now is to cling to those promises, that we have been given life in Jesus’ resurrection. That means to reject and cut out of our lives, by the power of the Holy Spirit, those things that still stink of decay and embrace the life that God has given you. This is the promise God delivers to you in Baptism that you might live in those promises every day.