Lenten Midweek 3

This years Lenten Midweek Sermons are adapted from sermons prepared by Pastor Brent Kuhlman, of Murdoch, NE. We are working our way through the Ten Commandments.

Sixth Commandment:  You Shall Not Commit Adultery What does this mean?  We should fear and love God so that we lead a sexually pure and decent life in what we say and do, and husband and wife love and honor each other.  

Joseph.  Coat of many colors Joseph.  Favored by his father Jacob.  Who had dreams about the future with his brothers bowing down to him Joseph.  Who, without regard for the consequences, naively shared the dreams’ content with his family Joseph.  Envied and despised by his brothers Joseph.  Hated him so much they wanted to kill him Joseph.  Instead, they serendipitously sell him to Ishmaelite traders.  Eventually, insufferable Joseph ends up in Egypt sold into slavery.  Slavery!  Bought by captain of the guard Potiphar.  Can you imagine?  The heartache?  The pain?  The despair?  Forcibly betrayed!  Devastatingly separated from father Jacob and from the God of his fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob!

And yet through all that happened to Joseph the words repeat:  “The LORD was with Joseph.”  Not just in Canaan.  The LORD crosses the border!  Joseph is not alone.  The LORD is with him even in this foreign land of pagans and idol worshipers!  Even in his darkest hours.    

The LORD’s gracious presence garners results.  “The LORD gave him [Joseph] success in everything he did.”  Joseph’s master notices this.  Consequently, Potiphar gives Joseph control of his entire estate!  “Joseph you’re in charge of everything!  It’s all in your hands!  I trust you!  You’re like a son to me!”   Potiphar has nothing to worry about with Joseph in charge.

Then Moses adds quite a line in this history.  One that might surprise you.  One that you might have missed.  “Now Joseph was well built and handsome.”  In other words, he was an ancient Brad Pitt. And the hottie Joseph hasn’t escaped Potiphar’s wife’s eyes!  She’s taken notice.  Pronto!  She’s scoped him out! 

But hear it again, Joseph hasn’t escaped Potiphar’s wife’s eyes.  Joseph will soon learn the meaning of the phrase:  Real Housewives of the Egyptian Nile!  She’s a cougar on the prowl!  In America Mrs. Potiphar could have her own prime time reality TV show on TV Land!  Do a couple of one-night stand cameos on How I Met Your Mother and Three and A Half Men!  Get a gig on Dancing with the Stars!  Go on the interview circuit with Matt Lauer, Bill O’Reilly, and Barbara Walters!  Make millions writing steamy tell-all books!  And then receive a number of one-on-one party invitations from Ashton Kutcher and Charlie Scheen!  Why?  Because she loves to sleep around!  Especially with hot, Brad Pitt or Matthew McConaughey types! 

“And after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, ‘Come to bed with me!’”

“Come to bed with me.  I’ll show you a good time!”  The more things change the more they stay the same.  Did I mention that Mrs. Potiphar’s married?  Oh, yes, I did, didn’t I? She is wife to Potiphar! 

Fear, love, and trust in God above all things?  Not even on her radar screen!  Remain faithful to her husband?  Totally irrelevant!  Leading a sexually pure and decent life?  Downright laughable!  Honor and love only her husband?  How incredibly Victorian!  So prudish!  So 1950s-ish!  That’s so Leave It To Beaver!  Even in ancient Egypt! 

The woman has needs.  And she wants to fulfill them.  Not with her husband!  But with the new young hunk, Joseph! 

Joseph could pull a one-night stand or an extended relationship.  And who would even care?  Everyone does it!  Everyone hooks up!  What one does in the privacy of one’s own bedroom is nobody else’s business anyway!  It would be his and Mrs. Potiphar’s secret!  So what if Potiphar finds out?  He’ll get over it! 

So she applies her sultry Egyptian Mary Kay makeup. Straps on her crocodile high heels.  Slips into her sexiest see through Nile Cotton nightgowns.  Saddles right up to Joseph in her most seductive Walk Like An Egyptian moves. Puts on her bedroom eyes.  Twirls her fingers through his curly hair.  Blows into his ear and whispers: “Come to bed with me.”  What an enticing temptation!  What a thrill!  What an amazingly opportunity for a young male slave! 

And what does well built and handsome slave boy Joseph do?  Are you ready for this?  You won’t believe it!  The text says:  “BUT HE REFUSED!”   REFUSED HER I TELL YOU!  No adultery for Joseph!  Ever!  He will not adulterate holy marriage in any way!  “Here’s the deal Mrs. Potiphar!  I’ve got a secret for you!  With me in charge,” he says, “my master does not have to worry about a thing.  He trusts me.  I suppose I could do anything I wanted.  I suppose I could have you.  But I won’t.  You’re a married woman!  I will not commit adultery with you!” 

Cougars usually don’t take No for an answer.  Mrs. Potiphar tries to wear Joseph down.  Men are weak!  They’re all matrixed a certain way.  There’s always one thing on their mind.  So day after day she offers herself to him!

And day after day Joseph refused.  He even looked for ways to avoid her.  After all, to commit adultery – to have sexual relations with a woman you’re not married to – is a “wicked thing and [a] sin against God.”

Joseph has learned from God’s Word that a sexual relationship is a gift from God.  However, he also knew and believed that sexual activities in the bedroom are to be used properly – in the way that God intends it. 

Now I hope you’re not rolling your eyes and turning the preacher off right now.  Why?  Well, because Joseph offers you and I a wonderful God-pleasing example to follow.  To fear, love and trust in God even in our sexuality.  A man and a woman are supposed to have a sexual relationship.  That’s God’s intent.  A one-flesh union.  To be fruitful and multiply.  To even enjoy it!  But only after they are married. 

Marriage first.  Then the honeymoon!  The way it was from the beginning.  In Genesis when God brought Eve to Adam and married them.  Adam and Eve were both naked together and they were not ashamed.  Why?  Because they were married!  Because they were husband and wife! 

Here we all have loads to repent of!  And it’s time we had a serious talk.   

But I fear that some of us, including myself, do not want to talk.  Don’t want to hear God’s Word on this matter.  We would rather ignore the Sixth Commandment and God’s will for our life on this matter.  We would rather sin against God and continue live wicked lives on purpose!  After all, everyone else does it.  And it’s legal!  I’m afraid we talk like this:  “Joseph did what he did.  That was his choice.  That’s fine for him!  But don’t expect me to be like Joseph!  It’s my life and no one can tell me how to live it.”     

But God has!  And it is clear.  The Sixth Commandment.  Addressed specifically to each one of us:  “YOU shall not commit adultery.” 

Now you can shift the blame or spin it this way:  “Pastor mind your own business.”  Or “Mom and Dad don’t approve but they’ve gotten used to it.”  Or, “I’ve been married before!  It was such a disaster – so painful -- that I promised myself that I’d never marry again!”  But the facts are the facts.  Sin against God is sin against God. Instead of holy living, I fear that we entrench ourselves in the most wicked of all living.   

To disregard God’s Word here on this is very dangerous.  Eternal life or death dangerous!  When any sin is held outside of forgiveness, then there isn’t any forgiveness for any other sins.  Forgiveness comes entire or not at all!  No fractions!  Would you purposely hold on to your sin?  Would you dare to take back your sin from Jesus and say:  “I’ll keep them thank you!  I’ll deal with them!”  If that’s the way you want it, then sadly, you will!  Impenitence will end hellaciously! 

So tonight it is time to repent.  Time to hear God’s Word and to confess our sin that adulterates marriage in any way.  Time to repent of how we have failed in whatever way to lead a sexually pure and decent life in what we say and do.  

Why?  Because Jesus has come for sinners.  All sinners.  He was always going after Sixth Commandment sinners.  In order to … forgive them! In order to purify and cleanse Sixth Commandment sinners with His holy word of absolution! 

Jesus is the friend of sinners!  He does not avoid you.  He wants to be seen with you as His forgiven brother or sister.  He willing and completely obeys the Sixth Commandment for the entire world – for you – and every sinner!  His perfect obedience annuls our disobedience.  Jesus flawlessly does what God expects in the Sixth Commandment.  And He does it for you!  What He did counts for you! 

At the same time, Jesus does not shrink from taking all your sin and dying for it on the cross! He eagerly and categorically announces:  “I’ve got your sin!  It’s mine.  I died with it all soaked up in My body!  I buried it in the black hole of my tomb!  I forgive you!  Entirely and completely!”

The Lord’s forgiveness for all your sin is the forgiveness that counts.  So that you can begin to fear, love and trust in Him above all things.  So that you begin to fear and love in Him in order to lead a sexually pure and decent life in what you say and do, and husband and wife love and honor each other. 

Faith in Jesus the Sin-Bearer, the Sin-Forgiver.  Love for those in your life. 

In the name of Jesus.       

Basement Progress at Belford

The work being done at St. John's Belford continues.  We have seen progress with the addition here and here, and now I wanted to show you how the basement is coming along as well.  Yesterday the first part of the new cabinets and countertops were installed.  And a crew has also been hard at work finishing the ceiling  and lights.  The kitchen will be ready for our Easter Sunrise breakfast and its inaugural use! 

Please enjoy this update, and mark your calendars for the dedication April 22, 2012 at 3:00 p.m.   

Below we have a panoramic view of the basement.  (not a great panorama, but gives you an idea.) click for a larger view.

Lent 3 - G - 2012 - The Temple of Bloody Sacrifice

The Third Sunday of Lent
March 11, 2012 - Pastor Adam Moline

Exodus 20:1-17           1 Corinthians 1:18-31             John 2:13-25

This weeks sermon written was extremely different than sermon preached - just was in the preaching mood I guess, but here is the written sermon:

Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  Our text today comes from the Gospel lesson just read, especially these words, ¹⁹ Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”  Thus far our text. 

Dear friends in Christ.  The Jewish temple was the place forgiveness of sins happened, because that is the place where God dwelt.  There, animals were slaughtered.  There, blood was spilled – gallons of it.  There the priests daily offered countless sacrifices, burning them on a giant altar.  It was a huge 34 acre complex, covered with gold and jewels and a vast market place.  In that market place, animals that were to be sacrificed were bought and sold. 

It is there, that you bought and paid for your forgiveness of sins.  You bought the sacrifice necessary for your guilt before God.  You paid for the coins to give the priest for the temple tax.  It is there, you used your own hard earned money, to get forgiveness from God – all of it through the blood of countless animals killed every day. 

The forgiveness of sins was not cheap in the Jerusalem temple.  And what made it even worse was the way you got it.  For through the hundreds of years that Jewish people went to the temple to get forgiveness of sins, inflation ruled supreme.  The temple had its own currency, its own coins you had to buy.  It was almost like Chucky Cheese, you went to the temple, and used the real money to buy the temple coins, or tokens which you used to buy the other sacrifices.  And as if buying forgiveness wasn’t bad enough the cost rose and rose and rose, for the priests in the temple were taking advantage of the people. 

The dwelling place of God had become a den of robbers.  The holiest place in Israel was no longer a place of forgiveness, but a house of trade to barter for forgiveness.  How very like us.  For we too try to bargain with God to get the things we want in the way we want.  “God if you will heal my uncle, I swear I will come to church more often.  Lord, I am going to sin just this one time, you’ll forgive me anyways, right?  I mean, I do believe in you, so just let me sneak by this time – it will only happen once I swear!”

We ourselves become the thieves and robbers.  We ourselves steal from God in this way, and in so doing lose sight of the blood that must be slain for our forgiveness – the true cost, the true price. 

In our text, Jesus walks right into the midst of this situation, and gets righteously angry.  “How dare you make my house a place of trade?  How dare you spend so much time and effort worrying about the price that you must pay for forgiveness?  How dare you defame the place where God chooses to dwell?”  So Jesus makes a whip, and runs through the temple whipping and driving out sin from the Jewish temple. 

For Jesus knows the truth, as we have mentioned, that blood must be shed.  For in blood is the life of a creature.  And since we sinners deserve death, lifeblood must be poured out on our behalf.  And it must be done before God to count for our guilt, for our bargaining, for our downright shamefulness. 

For that is why Jesus came.  In our text today, there are two temples.  The Jewish temple, the majestic building built by mere man for God to live, and the Jesus of Nazereth, where God chose to dwell.  Jesus would be the temple where the ultimate sacrifice would occur.  He would be the temple where all sin would be forgiven now and forever – all yours, all mine, the entire worlds.  It is there that not you at all, but God would purchase your forgiveness. 

Jesus tells the Jews in the temple as much in our text.  “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”  No, not the buildings built by man, not the place in Jerusalem.  But the created human flesh where the uncreated God dwells.  For as Jesus drove sin out of the temple building in Jerusalem with whips in our text, so too would Jesus drive the sin out of the world as whips struck his own flesh.  In the temple of his own flesh, Jesus would spill the blood necessary for your forgiveness.  The very temple of God, the place where the second person of the Trinity dwelt among his own people, would be destroyed.

It’s on the cross that this all happens.  This season of Lent that is where we look, to a cross, where all our guilt, all our shame, all our lust and hate and angriness is covered with blood from a sacrifice.  The life of Christ pours out from his hands and side for you so that no longer do you need to bicker and steal, but instead that you might receive freely from God and share with those who are around you. 

You are washed in the blood of Christ. You are covered with his righteousness.  You belong to him, as you freely receive the gifts from Christ – baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and his holy word. 

The cross also means a promise for you.  For as the temple of Jesus’s body was destroyed, so too did it raise again.  On the third day following the crucifixion, the tomb of Christ was empty.  And this is the promise.  Covered in Christ’s blood through baptism we have already died to our sin, and we are raised into eternity with him, raised into the place where there no longer will need to be atonement – where there will be no sin, not hurt, not pain.  Raised to be with God – with Jesus forever and ever. 

Amen.

Lenten Midweek 2

Wednesday of Lent 2

7 March 2012

This years Lenten Midweek sermons are adapted from Rev. Brent Kuhlman's sermons on the 10 Commandments

Seventh Commandment:  You Shall Not Steal – what does this mean? We should fear and love god so that we do not take our neighbors money or possessions, or get them in any dishonest way, but help him to improve and protect his possessions and income.

Bible Narrative: 

1 Kings 21:1-16

MF Global!  Bankrupt!  $1.2 billion of investments just goes missing!  Everyone knows it’s been stolen!  But John Corzine, the head of it all, would only say before a Senate hearing on the matter: "I simply do not know where the money is, or why the accounts have not been reconciled to date."  I.E. that’s legalese for:  “Don’t you know who I am?  I’m the great John Corzine!  Former United States senator and New Jersey governor!  I can do whatever I want.  I am above the law!  Now let’s get this sham over with so that I can carry on with my billions and steal more billions from someone else!”

Sinners do not fear and love God.  And so they brazenly rob their neighbor’s money and possessions.  And they’ll do it in any dishonest way that they can!  Even if it means that they have to rig the legal system by making robbery permissible – through legislation.  Or by greasing judges’ palms or buying off lawmakers!  Whatever it takes!

Help folks improve and protect their possessions and income?   Look out for your neighbor?  Do what is best for him?  For her? You’ve got to be kidding!  Yeah right! John Corzine.  $1.2 billion! Gone-di!  Pulls a Bernie Madoff and gets away with it!

Oh, and by the way, there was another incident!  Did you hear about it?  It didn’t get any headlines on CNN or Fox News.  You didn’t read about it in the Hankinson News. But it is recorded in 1 Kings!  Yes, that’s right, it’s in the Bible!  And it involves another bigwig politician!  This time it implicates the king of the northern kingdom – Samaria – his majesty - Ahab! 

And what a piece of work Ahab is! “Did evil in the eyes of the LORD” 24-7-365!  Out-eviled every previous Samarian king before him!  Didn’t fear, love, or trust in God above all things!  Didn’t fear, love or trust in God at all!  For starters, he married a non-Israelite, Phoenecian unbeliever, and fanatic worshiper of idols – Jezebel!  That was strictly forbidden by the LORD! 

So Jezebel’s beloved national idol, Melkart, the Phoenician Baal, became the officially endorsed god and Baalism became the protected religion of the land of his majesty king Ahab!  Syncretism – the mixing together of different religions like a salad and calling it Food Network good -- was the rage!  Still is!   “We’re all going to the same place Reverend!  We all believe in the same God!  Doesn’t really matter what religion you choose!  Just choose!  Just be sincere!  Now that’s authentic!”  

That sure floated Ahab’s boat!  And so all things religious were tolerated – except the worship of the one true God – the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses who brought the Israelites out of Egypt and redeemed them!  That God?  Yahweh?   The great I AM? Intolerable!  Watch out for the all-things-tolerant -crowd!  They are the most intolerant, the most tyrannical people you’ll ever meet!

But his majesty isn’t done yet!  He also makes an Asherah pole!  Asherah, of course, was the female consort of Baal, the female queen idol.  Can’t just have male gods!  Got to go the whole nine yards!  When it came to idolatry, his highness Ahab made the northern kingdom eat the whole enchilada of pagan delicacies! 

And then his majesty made political alliances that the LORD strictly had forbidden![1]  Apostasy – idolatry – spiritual adultery – the cause of Israel’s fall and her exile a century later reached a new high during Ahab’s reign!   

But now his majesty has his eye on a vineyard!  A vineyard he doesn’t own. It belongs to citizen and fellow countryman Naboth, his next-door neighbor.  Therefore it’s a vineyard that not even the king can have![2] 

But Ahab’s into vegetables.  Vegetable gardening.  And we all know the benefit of veggies!  Got to watch your cholesterol!  Need more fiber.  Less red meat.  Can’t let our children become obese!  Got to set an example for the children of Samaria!  The first family needs more land for royal veggies!  It’s all the rage!  Let’s move!

“So I’ll make Naboth an offer he can’t refuse!  Hey, Naboth! I’m on a veggie kick these days!  Give me your vineyard!  I want to use it to raise my carrots, peas, potatoes, spinach, and green beans.  I’ll pay you top dollar for it!  And I’ll even give you a better vineyard.  You have nothing to lose!  So much to gain!” 

Except the land of his forefathers.  So even though the offer was extremely sweet and outrageously generous, Naboth refuses his majesty!    “The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.” 

King Ahab is chagrined.  Peeved.  Irked.  He goes home and pouts.  However, even as he sulks on his bed he won’t let a private citizen keep his ancestral vineyard.  He will deprive Naboth of his inalienable right to keep his land.  He will let wifey queen cohort in crime Jezebel steal it by the most unscrupulous of maneuvers! 

First she taunts him.  “Honey, is this how you act as king over Israel?  Do I have to do everything?  I guess so!  I’ll get the vineyard for you!”  Very quick witted!  In a matter of moments she puts a plan into place.  Foolproof!  Brilliant!

She puts out a royal proclamation from his majesty King Ahab.  With his own seal!  Declares a fast!  For an entire day!  Everyone has to go without food!  Gather all the people!  The nobles and elders too!  Court will be in session!  For a very serious matter has come to the king’s attention!  And everyone should know about it!  There are witnesses to this capital crime!  And the perpetrator must be punished! 

The charge?  Oh, yes, the charge!  Blasphemy and treason!  Citizen Naboth has cursed God!  And He has cursed his majesty Ahab! Got to get rid of the sinner Naboth!  Otherwise God’s judgment would be unleashed on the whole country. 

So let us all humble ourselves with our day of fasting!  And let us put notorious Naboth and his boys to death!  We’ll show God that we don’t tolerate such sinning here!  And God will be most pleased with us!  So gather all the rocks you can everyone -- the size of tennis balls, volleyballs, and basketballs outside the city gate!  It will be death!  Death by stoning! 

As soon as Jezebel received word that the grisly affair was over, she drew up the proper paperwork, contacted the appropriate attorneys and sent his majesty to take possession of Naboth’s vineyard.  “Now be a good little boy Ahab!  Naboth’s dead.  And so are his heirs.[3]  The vineyard’s all yours!  It reverts back to you!  Aren’t I brilliant?  I sometime surprise myself with my genius!” 

And humanly speaking who would object?  After all, you can’t go around cursing God and the king!  That’s just not right.  So go ahead your majesty!  Confiscate the vineyard!  Naboth and his boys got what they deserved.

Except that the testimony was completely false.  The witnesses were liars.  Paid off.  Bribed.  Just so that Ahab could get what he wanted!

But this horrific crime did not go unpunished.  The LORD dealt with the king through Elijah the prophet.  Elijah had a Word from the Lord.  And it was this:  DOOM!  Doom of extinction on the royal husband and wife for the unparalleled wickedness!  Right as Ahab was taking possession of the stolen vineyard Pastor Elijah showed up with a sermon in his mouth.  And the sermon was this:  “This is what the LORD says:  ‘Have you not murdered a man and seized his property?’ … ‘In the place where dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, dogs will lick up your blood – yes yours!’”[4]    

This story serves as an example and warning to all of us!  God is serious when he forbids stealing!  From petty to grand!  Any kind of stealing displeases the Lord.  Seriously!  This is no joke! 

What have you stolen?  You worked 30 hours but got paid for 40!  The cashier mistakenly gave you $10.00 in change when you only should have received $5.00.  And you kept the extra $5.00!  You promised to do a job using topnotch materials.  But instead you installed shoddy, worthless stuff.  You failed to report your proper income to the IRS. 

And then the biggest theft of all!  And the most common!  You even try to steal divinity for yourself!  Yes, that’s right.  Divinity doesn’t belong to you!  Yet you want it for yourself.  As if you own it!   You act like you’re God Almighty Himself!  “I shall be as God” is your mantra.  Your M O!  Dethrone the one true God and replace Him with yourself!  Even if that means taking the God-man in the flesh Jesus and killing Him!  To take what we want as our own -- deity! 

Oh, the Idolatry!  You, me, Ahab, Jezebel – the sin is equally shared by all of us!  We’re all guilty as sin!     

And it’s all sin that needs to be repented of!  Before it’s too late. Hellaciuosly too late!

So it’s time to repent and believe.  To turn away from your sin!  Die to it!  And turn to Jesus “who being in very nature God did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but MADE HIMSELF NOTHING, TAKING ON THE VERY NATURE OF A SERVANT, BEING MADE IN HUMAN LIKENESS.  And being found in appearance as a man he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!”[5]

Death on the cross as THE SIN-BEARER!  The bearer of your sin!  Every last bit of it!  

Dead-on-the-Cross Jesus is the only sacrifice that turns away God’s wrath from you as a sinner!  On that Good Friday He, and He alone, endured God’s eternal wrath that you deserved because of your sin.  “He who knew no sin was made to be sin” – FOR YOU!  On the cross Jesus took and absorbed all your sin in His Body!  He endured all its punishment:  death and damnation!  His blood, His divine blood, spilled and shed on the cross purifies you from all sin!

Forgiven and redeemed by His death, Jesus gives you back your humanity!  He has good use for you.  You are now His instruments in this world for good.  The good of your neighbor.  Helping folks to improve and protect their possessions and income! 

---

     [1]1 Kings 20:31-34.

     [2]Deuteronomy 17:14-20; 1 Samuel 10:25; Leviticus 25:23-28; Number 26:7ff.

     [3]2 Kings 9:26

     [4]1 Kings 21:19.

     [5]Philippians 2:6-8.

Continued Progress on Belford Addition - Updated

The first three of seven new stained glass windows were installed today at Belford.  Here is a picture of the biggest one, (the only one done when the pictures were taken.)  

This is the window in which it now sits.  

Which used to look like this.

As a reminder, dedication of the new addition and the remodeled basement will be on April 22, 2012 at 3:00 p.m.  President James Baneck will be our guest preacher

UPDATE:

Here are the two small windows that are installed at this time.  Four more will be installed at a later date.

Here is the big window from the outside (with cloudy lighting)

Here is the original bid for the windows.  You can see how well they turned out and what is yet to come!  

Lent 4 Text Study for Winkel

Lent 4

3/18/2012

Psalm 107:1-9

Numbers 21:4-9

Ephesians 2:1-10

John 3:14-21

As part of the winkel's in our circuit, every once and awhile I get assigned to prepare a text study of the Gospel lesson coming up.  Here is the study for today's winkel.

The Bronze Serpent

⁴ From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. ⁵ And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.” ⁶  Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. ⁷  And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. ⁸ And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” ⁹ So Moses made a bronze^[a] serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

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2  And you were dead in the trespasses and sins ²  in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— ³ among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body^[a] and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.^[b] 4 But^[c]God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— ⁶ and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷ so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not a result of works, so that no one may boast. ¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

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And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵ that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.^[a]

¹⁶ “For God so loved the world,^[b] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. ¹⁸  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. ¹⁹  And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. ²⁰  For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. ²¹ But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

3:14 Kai. kaqw.j Mwu?sh/j u[ywsen to.n o;fin evn th/| evrh,mw|( ou[twj u`ywqh/nai dei/ to.n ui`o.n tou/ avnqrw,pou( 15  i[na pa/j o` pisteu,wn evn auvtw/| e;ch| zwh.n aivw,nionÅ 16  ou[twj ga.r hvga,phsen o` qeo.j to.n ko,smon( w[ste to.n ui`o.n to.n monogenh/ e;dwken( i[na pa/j o` pisteu,wn eivj auvto.n mh. avpo,lhtai avllV e;ch| zwh.n aivw,nionÅ 17  ouv ga.r avpe,steilen o` qeo.j to.n ui`o.n eivj to.n ko,smon i[na kri,nh| to.n ko,smon( avllV i[na swqh/| o` ko,smoj diV auvtou/Å 18  o` pisteu,wn eivj auvto.n ouv kri,netai\ o` de. mh. pisteu,wn h;dh ke,kritai( o[ti mh. pepi,steuken eivj to. o;noma tou/ monogenou/j ui`ou/ tou/ qeou/Å 19  au[th de, evstin h` kri,sij o[ti to. fw/j evlh,luqen eivj to.n ko,smon kai. hvga,phsan oi` a;nqrwpoi ma/llon to. sko,toj h' to. fw/j\ h=n ga.r auvtw/n ponhra. ta. e;rgaÅ 20  pa/j ga.r o` fau/la pra,sswn misei/ to. fw/j kai. ouvk e;rcetai pro.j to. fw/j( i[na mh. evlegcqh/| ta. e;rga auvtou/\ 21  o` de. poiw/n th.n avlh,qeian e;rcetai pro.j to. fw/j( i[na fanerwqh/| auvtou/ ta. e;rga o[ti evn qew/| evstin eivrgasme,naÅ

-          u[ywsen - Aorist Active Singular “Lifted up”

-          o;fin- Serpent (in the Septuagint this is the word used for serpent in the Garden of Eden, Moses’ staff, and also for the “Fiery Serpents” that attack Israel in the OT lesson - @r'f

-          u`ywqh/nai dei/- It is necessary + the infinitive “to be lifted up”

-          monogenh- Only begotten

-          kri,nh- judgment

-          swqh/| o` ko,smoj diV auvtou- to save the world through Him

-          h;dh ke,kritai- Already judged

-          o[ti mh. pepi,steuken- Because they have not believed with present abiding results (Perfect tense)

-          evlh,luqen- Perfect tense from erxomai “has come and is here”

-          hvga,phsan oi` a;nqrwpoi ma/llon to. sko,toj h' to. fw/j\- aorist verb “men loved the darkness more than the light.”

-          h=n ga.r auvtw/n ponhra. ta. e;rgaÅ- for their works are evil

-          misei/ to. fw/j- hate the light

-          o[ti evn qew/| evstin eivrgasme,naÅ – Note the word order  for emphasis “Because in God are works worked.”

Notice the Parallels between v. 14-15 and v. 16 –

 

v.14-15                                                                                    

kaqw.j Mwu?sh/j u[ywsen to.n o;fin evn th/|
    evrh,mw|( 

ou[twj u`ywqh/nai dei/ to.n ui`o.n tou/
    avnqrw,pou

e;ch| zwh.n aivw,nionÅ

i[na pa/j o` pisteu,wn evn auvtw

v.16

ou[twj ga.r hvga,phsen o` qeo.j to.n ko,smon(

w[ste to.n ui`o.n to.n monogenh/ e;dwken(

i[na pa/j o` pisteu,wn eivj auvto.n mh. avpo,lhtai

avllV e;ch| zwh.n aivw,nionÅ

Original Context

This pericope falls at the end of Nicodemus’ first encounter with the Lord in the Gospel.  Last year’s Lent 2 pericope (Series A) was the first part of this conversation.  Nicodemus arrives late at night to question Jesus.  Nicodemus is a Pharisee member of the Sanhedrin.  Nicodemus seems to believe that Jesus is from God because of the miracles that Jesus is able to do. (John 3:2)  However, even understanding that Jesus is from God, Nicodemus misunderstands (as do all the Jews) why Jesus has come.  “Perceiving Jesus through the lens of their own (Jewish) preconceptions, they are ready to make Jesus their king, but do not accept that he will give life to the world by the sacrifice of his own flesh (cf. 6:2, 15, 26, 52; 12:9-18, 34) (Craig Koester Symbolism in the Fourth Gospel).

Nicodemus’ entire conversation with Jesus fits well into the theme of “light and darkness” that is contained within the Gospel of John.  Nicodemus comes in the dark of night, and his discussion with Jesus (in our pericope) finishes with the light that has come into the world.  As the pericope says, “And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.”

Fitting in with Lent, the crucifixion is made clear in the text as well, comparing the lifted up “Son of Man” with the lifted up “fiery serpent” in the Old Testament lesson.  In Lent, we look ahead faithfully to Good Friday and the death and resurrection of our Lord. 

The Lifting of the Serpent in the Wilderness

The Old Testament pericope is simple.  During the time between the Exodus and the entering of the Promised Land, the people of Israel grumbled against God almost continually.  Before we point fingers, we ought to consider how often we too grumble against God and what He does or doesn’t do in our lives.  At one point, God sends “fiery serpents” whose poisonous bites caused many to die.  God sends this as a call to repentance.  At the same time, God gives them a way to be saved.  A bronze serpent is made, hung from a tall pole, and all who are bitten by fiery serpents may but look at the bronze serpent to be healed and live.  It isn’t a magic trick - it is God’s Word, heard and believed by the Israelites for their salvation. 

This particular Gospel and Old Testament lesson are tied together.  This is especially seen in the first few verses of our text, with the parallels between the serpent and the Son of Man.  There is tremendous similarity to the sentence structure as shown above.  The way these two sentences are worded, we see clearly why John 3:16 needs to be connected to John 3:14-15.  To understand what God’s love does, we need to see Jesus “uplifted” (uyow).  God’s love is not something nebulous. It is a love that very clearly does something - lifts Jesus up to save, just as the serpent in the wilderness was lifted up.  In fact, the lifting up is “necessary” (dei) according to the text.  Thus it is important to include the precursor to John 3:16 in the same thought as our oft-quoted verse. 

“Jesus speaks of the exultation of the Son of man, so ‘lifted up’ acquires a double meaning here:  the exultation of the Son of man (=his glorification) is effected by his being raised up on a cross.” (Ridderbos, The Gospel of John)  In other words, there is a twofold aspect to Jesus’ lifting.  It is his crucifixion and death, as well as his glorification.  Jesus is glorified in the cross.  Jesus brings this point home later (following the voice from heaven) when he speaks of his death saying, “But when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to myself.” (John 12: 32)

Verse by Verse

v. 14-15 – “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵ that whoever believes in him may have eternal life"

This verse lays the foundation for what comes in the next verse.  It takes the hearer back to the Old Testament lesson, to the wilderness with the people of Israel.  For those people at that time, their lives depended on a bronze serpent lifted up for the entire world to see.  Seeing that serpent and trusting (through faith) in God’s promise related to that serpent saved them from the bites, and allowed them (eventually) to enter the Promised Land.

In the same way, so too must the Son of Man be lifted up.  We look to Christ, so that as we believe in Him, we may enter God’s Promised Land and “have eternal life.”  Furthermore, it is necessary (dei) for this crucifixion event to occur.  It’s the main reason the Son of Man has come – to be raised up and glorified.  It is the purpose for the incarnation.

v. 16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

With the similar sentence ending to the above verses, one can grammatically understand what God’s love is – that the Son of Man is lifted up just like the serpent in the wilderness was.  Because of God’s love/Jesus’ lifting, we will not perish, but have eternal life.  This is the Gospel, plain and simple.  God gives His Son into death and gives us life.  God runs the verbs, God does the work, God gets the glory. 

v. 17-18 - For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God

Christ has not come to condemn the world, but to save it by His “lifting up” just as the serpent saved the Israelites.  This statement cannot be disconnected from the cross.  However, those who do not trust in the cross event already stand condemned, just as those who did not look to the bronze serpent died.  Why?  Because they lack faith in the name of the only Son of God. 

There may be a connection to the first part of the pericope when Jesus speaks of Baptism (born from above).  Where do we get the faith in the name?  Where do we get the very name of God upon us?  In Baptism.  Doubting Jesus, His cross, and His gifts to you lead to condemnation because all that remains apart from Him is sin, death, and the devil. 

This idea will be further fleshed out as Jesus continues in the coming verses. 

v. 19 – And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 

Here is the judgment that already condemns all who are apart from Jesus – They love darkness more than the light.  In other words, they don’t “fear, love, and trust in God above all things,” but love themselves more.  This lack of faith, this desire to love things that are not from God is sin.  In sin, all works are evil.  Anything done apart from faith in Christ is sin in God’s eyes. 

It is a harsh and cutting judgment.  It is one that still cuts to the heart of our people today.  “Do you love the light, or do you love the darkness?”  Perhaps we quote the famous hymn writer Billy Joel in his famous hymn, Only the Good Die Young, “I’d rather laugh with the sinners and cry with the saints, but the sinners are much more fun.” 

Perhaps a little more scriptural, the epistle lesson says, “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins ²  in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— ³ among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind".  We love the darkness, the passions of our flesh.  We carry out the desires of our bodies and minds and are by nature children of wrath.  So is the rest of mankind.  Psalm 14:3 “All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.”

v. 20-21 -  For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. ²¹ But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

Doing wicked things is proof of hating the light.  We avoid the light because light shows what poor and miserable sinners we are.  How many of your people keep sin hidden deep within, hoping beyond hope that no one will find out, especially not the pastor or God?

However, he who is in faith naturally does good works, fulfilling their vocation.  As it says, “his works have been carried out in God”.  It is only in faith that good works follow.  And faith only comes from the sacrifice of the lifting up of the Son of Man on an old rugged cross. 

Conclusions

To briefly summarize, this text is about the cross, plain and simple.  The Law is that we already stand condemned for our sin and for our doubt, just as the Israelites who grumbled were attacked by fiery serpents.  Yet, just as with them, God gives us a way out – not on our own works, but completely based on the works of Christ.  He puts a savior on a pole/cross.  Looking to him, we see God’s glory and love.  By his wounds, we are healed. 

Sermon on v. 14-16 from last year’s Lent 2

Grace mercy and peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text today is the Gospel lesson, especially these verses, “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so too must the Son of Man be lifted up.” Thus far our text.

Dear friends in Christ, the people of Israel had been on quite the journey. They had gone from being slaves to Egypt’s Pharaoh, to being the free chosen people of God. Moses had been sent to be the instrument that God used to rescue the people and to bring them into the Promised Land. The people had been brought through the waters of the Dead Sea safe on dry land. They had been led by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. They were fed with manna and quail. They had seen God’s holy mountain, covered with smoke and fire. And God had promised them a land flowing with milk and honey.

But it wasn’t enough. Even having seen these miracles that you and I struggle so often to believe, these stubborn people still doubted. “Are we really going to a promised land? Or are we being led out to starve in the wilderness? Is God really speaking through this Moses fellow, or are we being taken advantage of?” Even despite all the amazing things that they had seen with their own eyes, despite tasting the heavenly manna that appeared with their own tongues, they doubted that God was doing what He said He was. They still were uncertain. They still lacked faith.

So, in their uncertainty, God sent poisonous snakes in their midst- snakes that slithered right into the midst of their camp and their tents. Snakes that bit them causing them to suffer and die. We all know what happens when you are bitten by a snake - the poison surges through your body, slowly killing the victim. These Israelites suffered because they had turned away from the Lord their God. Now there was a problem. What were these people to do? Where were they to turn? They came to Moses and said, “We have sinned against God by complaining about being in this desert. Talk to God for us, so that we might be saved.”

Moses did speak to God, and God gave the people of Israel a way out. God created a way that they might be saved. Moses was to make a bronze serpent, and nail it to the top of a pole so that all who were bitten by a serpent might gaze upon it, and be saved from the poison coursing through their bodies. Even in the midst of the Israelites sin, God provided a way out.

Dear friends, just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so too must the Son of Man be lifted up. I know that this Bible story seems far away from you and your life. You may feel like you have nothing in common with the people of Israel, or even of Nicodemus in our Gospel lesson. But the fact of the matter is you are closer than you might think.

You see, you and I have also, just like the Israelites, been given tremendous gifts. You and I have received life from our creator. He has given us our body and souls, our eyes and ears, our reason and all our senses, as well as our homes and families and more. God has given these gifts to you before you were even able to ask for them. God has provided so much for you.

And yet, we too deal with doubt, we too deal with sin and grumbling against God. And because of our doubt, we too have a serpent who attacks us. That first serpent, Satan, the very one we heard about last week attacking Adam and Eve, also bites at you in your doubt. He bites you and fills you with the poison of self-trust, the poison of denial, and more. And that poison that enters your body is nothing other than the very sin that affects your life.

That poison is the sin that divides your family. It is the sin that makes you so badly want to sleep in on a Sunday morning. The poison of Satan is that which says, “Why can’t I decided for myself? Why can’t I be my own master?” That poison of Satan’s attack is the very poison that will one day kill you through cancer, through old age, or through some other ailment. Satan’s attack is strong, and there is nothing you or I can do about it.

Lord, have mercy on me. Lord, forgive me and rescue me, for I have nowhere to turn. And the Lord does. God does for you just what he did for the people of Israel so long ago. He hangs a sacrifice on a pole so that you might look upon it and know that you are forgiven. Only this sacrifice is not bronze, and it is not a snake. This sacrifice is the very living God hidden within human flesh. That baby whose birth we celebrated not that long ago is the one who will be nailed up upon a wooded pole, a cross, for the entire world to see.

Dear friends, look upon your God, your salvation, as he suffers for you. Look upon Him bleeding and dying for you. Look upon Him as He cries out, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,” and know He is speaking on your behalf. For you see, Jesus dies for you. Jesus gives up his life so you can live. God so loves the world, yes, even you in your sin, that He gave His only son, that all who believe in Him, all who see Him suffering on the cross in their place, might have eternal life. In that you have rescue. In that you see what love is and what love does.

Dear friends, your faith looks to Jesus. Your faith, itself a wonderful gift of God, keeps your eyes firmly fixed upon your salvation, so that even as that old serpent the devil attacks you throughout your life, you still might live and one day enter the paradise prepared for you. What a gift. What a blessing. God saves you, just in the exact same way that he saved the Israelites.

Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man, so must Jesus, be lifted up so that you make look upon Him and live. Amen.

Lent 2 - G - 2012 - Who do you say Jesus is?

The Second Sunday of Lent
March 4, 2012 - Pastor Adam Moline

Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16             Romans 5:1-11            Mark 8:27-38

Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  Our text today is from the Gospel lesson just read, especially these words, “For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”  Thus far our text today. 

Dear friends in Christ.  Jesus asks two questions in our text today.  First – Who do people say that I am? Second – Who do you say that I am?  Who am I?  What is my identity?  And if you get this question right, that you are blessed beyond all belief, but if you get it wrong, you belong to Satan, you are setting your mind on the things of man, and Jesus will be ashamed of you on the day he comes with angels in the glory of the Father. 

So… who do people say that Jesus is?  We have heard all the answers.  Jesus is a good teacher, he shows us how to live a life worthy of God.  He shows us how to have our very best life now, and how to get along with our neighbors.  Jesus is my rich uncle who wants me to be rich as well, so long as I follow him correctly.  Jesus is a role model who shows us how to organize our community to accomplish things that benefit the greater good.  Jesus is a great prophet who gave us the 40 steps to live a purposeful life.  Jesus is an idea, a person we use to defend our own beliefs to people and places he is the person we can make say whatever we want.  Jesus has been defined as all sorts of things to all sorts of people. 

Dear friends, it is the same in our text.  When Jesus asks the disciples “Who do people think that I am?” they respond, “Some say John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.”  Everyone had a different opinion.  And none of them are completely right.  Yes, there is some truth to it, but only half truths.  Jesus is a prophet, in that he proclaims the very word of God, but he is also more than a prophet.  Jesus is like Elijah in that he performs miracles, but he is more than that as well.  Jesus is a teacher, he is a role-model, he does want to share his riches with us – but it is impossible to peg Jesus by using one of these terms alone.  There is something more about Jesus, and we have to know and understand that first. 

So Jesus asks the disciples “Who do you, you twelve, you followers, who do you say that I am?”  And Peter answers right away, “You are the Christ”.  He hit the nail on the head.  Jesus must of smiled!  You’re right Peter, you got it!  You understand!  I’m the Christ!  You win the prize!  And when we hear it, we join the chorus right along with Peter!  “Duh Pastor!  Of course Jesus is the Christ, everyone knows that.”  But I ask you, what does that mean?  Who is the Christ?  What exactly does that mean? 

Peter didn’t know either, so Jesus starts to explain it.  “And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.  And he said this plainly.”  Wait a minute, that’s not the Jesus I want.  That’s not my friend, that’s not my role-model, that’s not my idea of who Jesus is.  What’s the deal with the death and dying business?  That’s not who I want for my Christ!  Cool down your talk Jesus, lay off your rhetoric! 

Or so Peter says.  And dear friends, so too do we.  “Cool down this death of Jesus business.  Don’t talk about bloody deaths and all that baloney.  Just leave be quiet and tell me how to make my family get along better, and tell me how to live my life in a worthy way.  Tell me what I must do to be saved, because that’s the Christ I want.  Tell me, so that I can do it all by myself.  That’s the Savior I want.”

Dear friends, Jesus only has one answer for this kind of talk, only one response to us who would reshape the Christ into who we want him to be – “Get thee behind me Satan!”  Get out of the way because the Christ must die.  He must suffer many things at the hands of unbelievers.  He can’t leave your sin behind for you to do what you wish with, he must take it upon himself, set his eyes on Calvary and bleed, ooze, thirst and die for your sins.  That’s what the Christ does.  That’s his job.  That’s why he comes, and the first and primary reason.  To save you from sin. 

People hear this, and they laugh at us.  People hear this, and they criticize us Christians, they call us hypocrites and religious fanatics.  They say we are lunatics for believing in all this Jesus and resurrection stuff, but friends that’s who your Christ is – not just a teacher or role model, but a savior who saves by dying in your place.

Any “Jesus” that avoids the cross is not the true Jesus.  Any Jesus who doesn’t suffer is just a shadow of the true Jesus.  Any Jesus who is just a regular guy, or only a friends fails to fulfill the roll of Christ. Your Jesus, the Jesus of scripture – not of popular opinion – wants to teach you about his death.  He wants to make you rich, not with the things of the world, but with the things of heaven where moth and mold cannot destroy.  He wants to be your role model so that you follow him to the cross in your baptism, and rise with Him into eternity apart from sin.

So, dear friends in Christ, “Who do you say that Jesus is?”    Is he just a teacher?  Is he just a role model?  Is he just a man?  No, He is the Christ – the sacrifice for your sin.  He is the one to take you from this world to the next.  He is the one… who dies to save you from sin.  Amen.