"And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, 'This man receives sinners and eats with them'" (Luke 15:2).
Ordinarily, we don't like to hear grumbling. No one does that I'm aware of.
In Exodus 16, the children of Israel "grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness." Moses informed them, "Your grumbling is not against us but against the Lord." We should remember that grumbling about a person appointed by God is really grumbling about God.
No one was ever more appointed than God's own Son. And yet "the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, 'This man receives sinners and eats with them.'"
Ordinarily, we think of the Pharisees as being wrong about things. But in this case, they could not have been more right. Ordinarily, we don't like to listen to grumbling. But in this case, you could listen to it all day! For they spoke the truth! They preached the Gospel!
"This man," they grumbled, refusing even to say His name. That's okay. Use it to remember that God's own Son became man for us. What's more, "This man receives sinners."
Has a better sermon ever been preached? Has grumbling ever sounded so good? So soothing?
But only to the one who believes himself a sinner. For then the meaning is: This man, who is also true God, receives me. He loves me, forgives me, feeds me with His body, and helps me in every way.
Here's a twist: Thank God for the Pharisees. Grumbling never sounded so good.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Encouraging Jesus
"He looked up..." (Luke 21:1).
In addition to the words of Jesus, we should listen to His body language. In recording the story of the widow's offering, Luke writes that Jesus "looked up," and that's when He saw the poor widow putting in her two mites. But it begs the question: Why was He looking down in the first place?
My guess (because we are not told) is that He was sad and wondering whether God's love was making a difference in anyone's heart! Consider the events that surround the story of the widow: He could only weep over Jerusalem (19:41-44); the temple was being misused (19:45-46); priests and scribes questioned His authority (20:1-8); they tried to "catch Him in something He said" (20:19-26); Sadducees denied the resurrection (20:27-40); He condemned the scribes (20:45-47); He foretold the destruction of the temple (21:5-9) and city (21:20-24); He foretold wars, earthquakes, famines, pestilences, and persecution (21:10-19); they "were seeking how to put Him to death" (22:1-2); and "Satan entered into Judas" to betray Him (22:3-6).
(And I talk about having a rough week!)
The lone bright spot: this widow and her offering. It wasn't much but it was everything. And it was all our Lord needed to see. I sense that it picked Him up - this humble, true faith and love of one person.
It happened on Tuesday of Holy Week. That's when Jesus looked up and saw her. What I like to believe is that three days later she looked up and saw Him giving His offering.
But the lesson here would be that we have the ability to encourage Jesus. He must be in need of it. He has had to witness the sin, unbelief, and deep sorrows of many centuries. You can do something about it.
When you give from your heart out of love for the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, you, small though you are, strengthen the heart of the living Lord! Just like the widow.
In addition to the words of Jesus, we should listen to His body language. In recording the story of the widow's offering, Luke writes that Jesus "looked up," and that's when He saw the poor widow putting in her two mites. But it begs the question: Why was He looking down in the first place?
My guess (because we are not told) is that He was sad and wondering whether God's love was making a difference in anyone's heart! Consider the events that surround the story of the widow: He could only weep over Jerusalem (19:41-44); the temple was being misused (19:45-46); priests and scribes questioned His authority (20:1-8); they tried to "catch Him in something He said" (20:19-26); Sadducees denied the resurrection (20:27-40); He condemned the scribes (20:45-47); He foretold the destruction of the temple (21:5-9) and city (21:20-24); He foretold wars, earthquakes, famines, pestilences, and persecution (21:10-19); they "were seeking how to put Him to death" (22:1-2); and "Satan entered into Judas" to betray Him (22:3-6).
(And I talk about having a rough week!)
The lone bright spot: this widow and her offering. It wasn't much but it was everything. And it was all our Lord needed to see. I sense that it picked Him up - this humble, true faith and love of one person.
It happened on Tuesday of Holy Week. That's when Jesus looked up and saw her. What I like to believe is that three days later she looked up and saw Him giving His offering.
But the lesson here would be that we have the ability to encourage Jesus. He must be in need of it. He has had to witness the sin, unbelief, and deep sorrows of many centuries. You can do something about it.
When you give from your heart out of love for the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, you, small though you are, strengthen the heart of the living Lord! Just like the widow.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Home Is My Heaven
"You shall write them on the doorposts [in Hebrew, "mezuzoth"] of your house" (Deut. 6:9).
The Jewish mezuzah refers to a parchment bearing the words of Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21 and rolled up in a case or tube that is attached to the doorpost of the house and other rooms. It is affixed diagonally, owing to the fact that authorities disagreed on whether to place it horizontally or vertically. So they compromised!
The doorpost of your house signifies the dividing line between the goings on of the world and the sanctuary of the home. God means to make of your home a little heaven on earth. A place of faith, hope, and love in the midst of trying times.
How so? His Word. Luther wrote the Small Catechism as a way to fill the home with the blessing of the Ten Commandments, Creed, Lord's Prayer, Sacraments, Prayers, and an understanding of our Duties.
Reclaim your home as a place of peace. Guard against strangers and "strange teachings" (Heb. 13:9) entering your home through the television and computer. Make certain a cross or crucifix occupies a central location. Invite the pastor over to give a house blessing.
And petition God to make your home your little heaven!
The Jewish mezuzah refers to a parchment bearing the words of Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21 and rolled up in a case or tube that is attached to the doorpost of the house and other rooms. It is affixed diagonally, owing to the fact that authorities disagreed on whether to place it horizontally or vertically. So they compromised!
The doorpost of your house signifies the dividing line between the goings on of the world and the sanctuary of the home. God means to make of your home a little heaven on earth. A place of faith, hope, and love in the midst of trying times.
How so? His Word. Luther wrote the Small Catechism as a way to fill the home with the blessing of the Ten Commandments, Creed, Lord's Prayer, Sacraments, Prayers, and an understanding of our Duties.
Reclaim your home as a place of peace. Guard against strangers and "strange teachings" (Heb. 13:9) entering your home through the television and computer. Make certain a cross or crucifix occupies a central location. Invite the pastor over to give a house blessing.
And petition God to make your home your little heaven!
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Best Day Ever
"For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Gal. 3:27).
As part of his chapel message, a Lutheran high school teacher asked students, "What was the best day in the history of the world?" He then led them to consider and believe that the answer would be "the first Easter." The Day of Resurrection!
Hard to argue. That's a very good answer to a very interesting question!
It made me think, though, of some other very big days. The first that came to mind was the day the Son of God took flesh in the womb of Mary. Then I thought about the first Christmas. I thought for a long time about the first Good Friday. I found myself thinking about the Ascension, and then the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.
And I began to question the question. Why do we have to pick just one day? The Gospel gives us many best days of which to think, each one adding to our faith.
Then it dawned on me. No, there is a best day. The best day ever is the day I was baptized into Christ, because on that one day the incarnation, birth, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ were all at once applied to me, together with the Holy Spirit.
Best day ever? Your Baptism!
And then by reminding you of your Baptism, God makes today the best day too!
As part of his chapel message, a Lutheran high school teacher asked students, "What was the best day in the history of the world?" He then led them to consider and believe that the answer would be "the first Easter." The Day of Resurrection!
Hard to argue. That's a very good answer to a very interesting question!
It made me think, though, of some other very big days. The first that came to mind was the day the Son of God took flesh in the womb of Mary. Then I thought about the first Christmas. I thought for a long time about the first Good Friday. I found myself thinking about the Ascension, and then the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.
And I began to question the question. Why do we have to pick just one day? The Gospel gives us many best days of which to think, each one adding to our faith.
Then it dawned on me. No, there is a best day. The best day ever is the day I was baptized into Christ, because on that one day the incarnation, birth, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ were all at once applied to me, together with the Holy Spirit.
Best day ever? Your Baptism!
And then by reminding you of your Baptism, God makes today the best day too!
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