Sermons

First Sunday after Christmas, 2025

Sermon Christmas 1, 2025

The forty day old Jesus was brought to the Temple. The Lamb to His Father’s house, already smelling the sacrificial aroma in the distance, knowing that in about thirty-three years He would be the sacrifice for the sin of the world.

In the Temple was Simeon. Simeon is described in glowing terms. Righteous. Devout. Waiting for the consolation of Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him.

The description of Simeon is closely related to the description of Zechariah and Elizabeth. Luke tells us that Zechariah and Elizabeth were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.

It’s worth asking, do you know anyone who fits that description? Do you know anyone whom you would describe as righteous and devout? Do you know anyone you would describe as walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord?

Or, to flip the question around, would anyone describe you as righteous and devout? Would anyone look at your life on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday and say that you walk blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord? Should people be able to describe you that way?

There are Christians who say, “No one can keep the Commandments perfectly.” That’s true. It’s also true to say, “You can keep the Commandments.” You can, to some degree, keep them. Not all of them perfectly all the time, but that hardly means we then dismiss them.

Remember your baptism. Remember what the Word of God says about your life in Jesus. You are a Christian. The Lord has answered your prayer, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” The Lord has cleansed you and put His Holy Spirit in you. His Holy Spirit, who dwells in you, loves the Commandments and recognizes that they are good. As the Holy Spirit says in Psalm 1, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers, but his delight is in the Law of the Lord and on His Law he meditates day and night.” John writes, “No one who has been born of God makes a practice of sinning.” And Jesus says, “The one who does sin is a slave to sin. If the Son sets you free, you are free indeed.” The Son, Jesus Christ, crucified for our transgressions and raised for your justification, has set you free. Free, not to rush back into the slop of sin. Free, not to drive out the Holy Spirit with deliberate intentional sin. Free from sin, to be who you are meant to be in the image and likeness of God.

The Christian sees how God’s Law is the way for us to go. When a mother tells her son, “This is bleach for cleaning. Don’t ever drink it.” the son doesn’t get mad and say that the mother is depriving him of pleasure. When a dad tells his son to wear regular shoes instead of sandals when using the push-mower, the dad isn’t robbing his son of fun.

God’s Commandments do not rob you of any pleasure. Your life isn’t more fun, satisfying, or exciting, when you sin against them. When you have no other gods, when you do not take His name in vain, when you honor your father and mother, when you do not commit adultery, when you do not covet, your life is genuinely more joyful and peaceful, meaningful and satisfying.

To some degree, you do the Commandments. And, Christians desire to mature and grow in keeping God’s Law more and more. Zechariah, Elizabeth, and Simeon are saints we want to imitate.

Simeon was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel. It was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he saw the Lord’s Christ.

Many before him waited for the Lord’s Christ. Adam. Abel. Gideon. Samson. Haggai. Zechariah. They waited, believing on the promise that God would take on flesh, suffer, die, rise, forgive sins, raise the dead, restore all things, and usher in a new heaven and a new earth. Jonah in the belly of the fish prefigured Christ in the belly of the earth. Daniel out of the lion’s den prefigured Christ rising out of the tomb.

At last, Simeon knew the waiting would come to an end. He would not see death before he saw the Lord’s Christ.

The day came. Mary and Joseph brought the infant Jesus into the temple. Simeon received the Son of God in his arms, blessed God and said, “Lord, now you let your servant go in peace according to your Word. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all people.”

The word translated “salvation” is closely related to the name “Jesus.” Jesus literally means, “Yahweh saves.” Simeon’s word has double-meaning and I’m sure Simeon knew it. Simeon’s eyes see the flesh and blood salvation of God. And, Simeon’s eyes see Jesus. Yeshua. Yahweh saves.

Notice too that Simeon did not use the word “death” even though we know Simeon spoke of physical death. Rather than say, “Lord, now you let your servant die in peace” Simeon said, “Now you let your servant depart in peace.” Simeon is right. We depart. The dead in Christ aren’t dead. Those who die in Christ Jesus don’t die. For all who live and believe on the blood-bought salvation of our Lord Jesus Christ, live.

For good reason, you sing the Song of Simeon after receiving the body and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. Your eyes, by faith, see His salvation. Your tongue tastes it. You are strengthened in body and soul to life everlasting. You depart in peace. Forgiven. Justified. Righteous. According to God’s will.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Christmas Day, 2025

Sermon Christmas Day 2025

St. John gives you Christmas in a different way. As you’re aware, he doesn’t mention the manger, angels, shepherds, or Bethlehem.

Instead, John gives you Christmas with words like: Word. Light. Flesh.

John’s Christmas includes a war. An ongoing war that began shortly after everything began. Not a war of man against God. A war of God against Satan, with mankind as the spoils of war. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” That theme traces throughout the Scriptures.

Adam and Eve brought darkness upon themselves, and us, in their sin. Being in sin, the darkness increased as Adam and Eve hid with Satan from God. But, God being rich in mercy, came into the darkness of their sinful rebellion and claimed them back. “I will put enemity between you and the woman, between your offspring and her offspring. He shall bruise your head and you shall bruise His heel.”

The darkness had small victories. The darkness was deep during the time of Noah, when God sent a flood to blot out the wickedness of the earth. At the time of Moses and the Exodus, there was deep darkness on the land of Egypt, yet the people of God still had light. The light shines.

The light shined as a pillar of fire to lead the people to Mt. Sinai. Then, the light was with them in the tabernacle and temple.

The prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel, all prophesied the coming light. Until finally, this light, this word, the very Son of God, became flesh and dwelt among us. Lying in a manger. Held in the arms of His mother. Taken up and praised by aged Simeon. Stood in the Jordan waters with His relative John. Hung on the cross saying, “I thirst.” and “It is finished.”

To separate Christmas from Good Friday is to do a disservice to Christmas, for we must know why He became man. He became man to rescue and save us from sin, death, and the devil. At Christmas, we’re accustomed to giving presents to people we like; God doesn’t give presents to people He likes; He gave Himself for those who didn’t want Him. “He came unto His own and His own received Him not.”

Most people’s favorite book of the Bible is the Gospel of John. And within John, most people’s favorite Bible verse is John 3:16. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whoever believes on Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

That verse is beautiful, and it’s even more beautiful when you know what the little word “so” does within the verse. Many of us hear the word “so” and think it means “so much,” as in, “I love you so much” or “I love Culver’s icecream so much.”

In John 3:16, the Greek word translated “so” means “In this way.” That’s like our use of the word “so” for “say it isn’t so.” “He got a flat tire on the way to work.” “Say it isn’t so.”

John 3:16 isn’t about the intensity of God’s love, as in “God loved the world so much.” It’s about the manner of God’s love. “God loves the world in this way of sending His only begotten Son, that whoever believes on Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Which means God the Father loves you in the way of sending His only-begotten Son. Sent Him to do what? To be the sacrificial lamb who takes away the sin of the world. How? By being nailed to the cross. As our hymn says, “Nails, spear, shall pierce Him through, the cross be born for me for you.” Why did He do this? To win you. To woo you. To love you, that you might love Him in turn.

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and believing these things, you too have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Christmas Eve, 2025

Christmas Eve 2025

The details of our Lord’s birth matter. They’re purposeful, meaningful, and have importance for who our Lord is and what our Lord does for you and for your salvation. From Joseph and Mary’s perspective it may not have seemed planned. Some details may have seemed random, or as though they were doing the best they could do in the situation they were in. Nonetheless, it all had to happen the way it did, and it all has meaning for who you are in Christ Jesus today.

Some ask the question, “Why was Jesus born at that time?” One answer is simply, “When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the Law, to redeem us who had fallen under the Law.” Another answer is that, at the time of Jesus’ birth the world had peace. It was a rare moment in history: there was peace. A fine time for the Prince of Peace to be born. Remember, God is not at war with you. The war is between God and the devil and demons. The Lord Jesus entered the warfare to claim you back as His own.

Jesus had to be descended from King David. For that, Joseph is Jesus’ adopted father. Adoption makes real sons and daughters. Jesus had to be born in David’s town, Bethlehem. Bethlehem means “house of bread.” The first time bread occurs in the Bible is the fall into sin. God told Adam, “By the sweat of your brow you will eat bread all the days of your life.” Bread is a comfort food, it’s a food to get you by, it’s a filler food. Some of us prefer a nice cut of meat to a nice cut of bread. You pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” Jesus says, “I am the bread of life.” “I am the true bread that comes down from heaven and give my life for the world.”

The detail that Jesus was born at night. We know He was born at night, because it says, “There were shepherds out in the field keeping watch over their flock by night.” The night-time matches with the darkness of sin, unbelief, sorrow, and death. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Meaning, we should no longer walk in the darkness of sin, but walk in the light of God’s holiness and righteousness. God’s Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path, to lead us away from the pain of sin to the joys of His way.

The darkness of night fits with another word of Jesus: “I come like a thief in the night.” In stealth, Jesus entered occupied enemy territory to ransom and save you.

The manger. If you look through Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, it’s interesting to search for all the places Jesus had to stay. We know that for a stretch of time Jesus had a regular house, but, it’s not mentioned. We know when the wise men came, they entered a house. Otherwise, Jesus had a manger. Later on, He had a cushion on a boat. He was invited into the houses of Pharisees, a leper, tax collectors. And, He was given a tomb. If you simply tally up all the things fallen mankind gave to Jesus, it’s not an impressive list. We gave Him a manger. He gives you a home. We gave Him a cushion on a boat. He gives you a home. We gave Him a tomb. He gives you a home.

The Lord was born on earth. The wait for the Messiah was over. Yet, no one was there to rejoice. So, heaven did something about it. An angel was sent to the only people who were awake. Shepherds, doing their job faithfully, keeping watch over the sheep by night. The angel brought them the good news for all people. Notice that, upon hearing the angel’s message, the shepherds acted on it. They went. They didn’t just stay where they were thinking, “Well, as long as we believe what the angel said.” They went. Likewise, you’re here this evening. That’s good. You belong here. You belong here every Sunday. Christians who say, “I can believe without going to church” have a lack; a deficiency. The Word of God calls you to be part of the body of Christ, and being part of the body of Christ requires your presence.

After seeing the babe wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a manger, the shepherds made known the saying that had been told them. They heard. They saw. They proclaimed. In the same way, the Christian faith that you have is to be told. Someone might say, “My faith is just between me and God.” That’s not how the Bible puts it. The shepherds were right. They made known the saying that had been told them.

At the first Christmas, Joseph and Mary and the infant Jesus were weary travelers in need of a place to stay.

What of today? Today, the weary travelers are no longer Joseph and Mary. The weary traveler is certainly not Jesus.

The traveler is you. For everyone is on a journey. Either the wide easy road that leads where you do not want to go; or the hard narrow way that leads to life. Everyone is journeying somewhere.

You are the weary traveler, and much of your weariness is the pursuit of happiness. The pursuit of happiness. Seeking happiness from things that do not satisfy, but leave one empty. Seeking happiness from sin, which never gives but only takes. Seeking happiness from overindulgence, thinking just a little bit more will satisfy. In December, there is certainly a pursuit of too much; too much goodies, too much wine, too much merchandise, too much spending.

You are the weary traveler in need of rest, and Jesus is the innkeeper. His inn is His church. He says, “Come in here, weary traveler, and I will give you rest.” He doesn’t promise happiness, and that’s OK, we don’t need happiness. He promises you what is good. Things that matter. Things that actually satisfy. He brings you from the dark ways of sin to the ways of virtue. He brings you from vain empty things that do not satisfy and gives you things of real importance. In Him, you have joy.

And for that, it’s not happy Christmas. It’s Merry Christmas; a Christmas filled with the joy of what Christ has done for you, and who He has made you to be.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Advent 3, 2025

Advent 3, 2025

Lord, are you the coming one, or shall we look for another?

A five year old boy says to his mother, “Are you my mother, or shall I look for another?” How would the mother feel? A husband says to his wife, “Are you my wife, or shall I look for another?” How would the wife feel? A parishioner says to her pastor, “Are you my pastor, or shall I look for another?” How would the pastor feel?

John’s question has a rebuke in it. “Or shall I look for another?” I cannot think up a situation where there’s not some degree of pain within the question; pain on both parts. If a five year old boy says to his mother, “Are you my mother or should I look for another?” the boy has some level of hurt, but then the mother also has hurt upon hearing her son ask the question. Likewise, if a husband says to his wife, “Are you my wife or should I look for another?” and likewise if one of you said to me, “Are you my pastor or should I look for another?”

It’s not quite the same as asking, “Do you love me?” Within the question, “Do you love me?” we know that we’re glad to reassure one another that yes, I love you. And we don’t ask, “Do you love me or should I look for someone else to love me?”

But the questions, “Are you my mother, are you my wife, are you my pastor, or should I look for another?” imply that there’s some lack or deficiency.

John the Baptist, who was in prison for holding to marriage by God’s design and for loving King Herod enough to call King Herod to repent, sent word by his disciples saying to Jesus, “Are you the coming one or should we look for another?”

I don’t think that John doubted, meaning, I don’t think that John was in unbelief. I do believe that John was going through a high degree of spiritual attack, various forms of pain, and that John had weaknesses. At a minimum, John wanted to be reassured and hear once more that Jesus is the Christ, the coming savior.

Our Lord was glad to reassure John that yes, He is the coming one. The blind receive sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear. The dead are raised up and the poor have Gospel preached to them. The Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, entered this splintered and fragmented world to mend, heal, restore, and save. No one else was making the blind see. Only Jesus. No one else was making the deaf hear. Only Jesus. No one else was making the lame walk. Only Jesus. No one else was making the dead raised. Only Jesus. No one else is the source of the Gospel going out. Only Jesus.

No one else was dying for Herod’s sin. Only Jesus.

And, no one else was working forgiveness of sins. Only Jesus.

I mentioned that John’s question to Jesus had a rebuke. “Are you the coming one or shall we look for another?” That final line, “shall we look for another?” contains a rebuke.

Jesus, in turn, rebuked John saying, “Blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” As though Jesus said to John, “John, I know what I’m doing, even if it doesn’t make sense all the time.”

Blessed is the one who is not offended by Jesus. Was John offended that he was unjustly in Herod’s prison? It’s possible. Or if not John, John’s disciples were. The Old Testament says, “The opening of the prison to those who are bound; to release the captives.” Yet John wasn’t being released. Was John, or his disciples, offended that Jesus hadn’t yet died to take away the sin of the world? Perhaps.

What about you? Are you offended that Jesus doesn’t do things your way?

The Lord once gave sight to the blind. Why not to all the blind today? The Lord once gave walking to the lame. Why not walking to all the lame today? The Lord once gave hearing to the deaf, cleansing to lepers, and raised the dead. Why not today? But for that matter, why didn’t Jesus heal all the sick in His own day? The widow of Nain got her son back alive. Why didn’t all the mothers?
Or, who among us hasn’t thought how much different we’d do things if we were God? That if we were God no one would die of hunger, no one would die of thirst, parents wouldn’t outlive their children, no wars, no violence, no bullying, no rising prices, everyone would be happy and peaceful, we’d just make everyone believe so that no one would be in hell. And, in our pride and vanity, we think we’d do better.

Would we?

Would you give your son to die for both president Biden and president Trump?

Would you send the rain on the just and the unjust?

Would you send the sunshine on the good and the evil?

Even now, do you bless those who curse you, pray for your enemies, do good to those who revile you, and do you turn the other cheek?

Do you love and know the Word of God so much that you think you can out-mercy the One who entered this world to seek and save the lost, whether they wanted to be sought and saved or not?
Thanks be to God that we are not God! Thanks be to God that God’s ways are not our ways!

Do not be offended at the ways of the Lord. Rather than be offended, let us marvel, and praise, and have deep awe that His way of the cross, death, atonement, and resurrection for the sins of mankind are far more merciful than we could ask or think.

The Lord Jesus knew what He was doing. Remember, John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus to die sot that Jesus could prepare the way for John to live. And, John lives.

Is Jesus the coming one, the one coming again in glory? Yes. Do you need look for another? No. Are you offended by Him? No. No, you’re not.

Blessed are you, as you continue to wait, and continue to believe on Him.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Advent 2, 2025

St. Paul writes in one place that this creation is groaning with the pains of childbirth as it waits for the revealing of the sons of God. The creation is ending. You know this. In part, you know that the creation is coming to an end from the Word of God. And, you know this creation is ending because you live in it. There are signs.

Jesus says, “There will be signs in sun and moon and stars.” Eclipses. Blood moons. Shooting stars. Sun dogs. Rings around the moon. Every one of these is a sign that the end comes. While you should not attempt to calculate the time of the Lord’s return, you should see these things and remember that the end comes. You may see them and appreciate beauty in them; nonetheless, every eclipse could be the last. Every blood moon could be the final one before the Lord comes. See them, and remember.

There are signs on the earth. Jesus says the roaring of the sea and the waves. Hurricanes. Tsunami’s. While we in Iowa don’t live by the sea, we have blizzards and derechos and tornados. Each storm. Each disaster. With every cloud you see, remember that the Lord comes. The end draws near.

There are two responses to these signs. One response is the response of unbelievers. The other response is the response of believers.

An unbeliever can see these signs and harden his heart, like Pharaoh in Egypt. The unbeliever may see the signs and not care. Or see the signs and have a false hope in a false religion. Or, the unbeliever can see these signs have have fear, as Jesus says, “People fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world.”

You are not an unbeliever. You’re a Christian. As such, you don’t see these signs and faint with fear or foreboding of what is coming on the world. You see these signs and you have hope. The Lord comes and that’s good. You want Jesus to return and make all things new.

Jesus gives you hope. “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. As soon as they come out in leaf you see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know the kingdom of God draws near.” The fig tree has a long history in the Bible. Adam and Eve used it’s leaves to make loincloths. On Palm Sunday Jesus cursed a fig tree that had no fruit. Yet now, Jesus uses the fig tree as a promise of a new heaven and a new earth. He loves the fig tree. He loves His creation. He loves you. By His shed blood and dying breath He has prepared the way for a new heaven and new earth, of which you are a part.

Now, imagine that Jesus’ words ended there. He says there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, people in distress and perplexity, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. He promises your redemption draws near and He assures you that as the fig tree comes out in leaf, there will be a new heaven and a new earth.

He could have ended there. But, He doesn’t.

He goes on with stern warning and a strict exhortation to action.

The stern warning is this: But watch yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipations and drunkenness and cares of this life and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap, for it will come on all who dwell on the face of the earth.

Watch yourself. Not, “Watch other people.” Not, “Sit around with a few friends and solve everybody else’s problem, if only they would listen to you.”

Watch yourself, because your heart will be tempted to be weighed down, tempted to drunkenness, dissipation, and other cares of this life.

Put in today’s terms, Jesus is warning you against unhealthy coping mechanisms. You live in a very broken world. You know this. You have pain in your life. You know this. There are many coping mechanisms that are unhealthy; possibly alcohol abuse is the most common. Other common unhealthy coping mechanisms are mindless scrolling on the screen, binge-watching TV and movies, eating unhealthily, and just plain-old “checking out from everything.”

There are healthy and unhealthy ways to respond to challenges in this broken world. Many people say that their days and weeks are so stressful, but are they stressful or are they full of responsibility, because stress and responsibility aren’t the same thing. There are many good things we get to do that require work and effort, but it’s not the same as stress.

Unhealthy coping mechanisms create the very stress that a person want’s to escape. If a person abuses alcohol to cope with stress, and then complains about life being so stressful, that alcohol is creating the very stress the individual wants to avoid. Likewise, mindless scrolling of screens. Likewise, using food to cope.

For good reason Jesus says, “Watch yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness, and cares of this life and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.”

You are not a people to have your hearts weighed down. You are Christians. Of all people you have hope. Jesus died and lives. The blood of the Lamb declares you righteous. The Spirit of glory and of Christ rests upon you. You have hope.

Rather than turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms, Jesus exhorts you to a different sort of action. Pray.

Praying at all times that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place and to stand before the Son of Man.

For whatever difficulty you face, particularly if it’s a difficulty of other people, pray. Pray that it be easier. Pray that you have strength. Pray that the Lord comes quickly. Pray for miracles. Pray for the wellbeing and blessing of other people.

In addition to prayer, read the Word of God and sing hymns. That is, have a diet of sacred and rich things. Pray the Psalms. Read the Word. Sing the hymns. This time of year is some of your favorite hymns. Nourish your soul with things that are excellent, to further prevent your heart from being weighed down. The Holy Spirit has given us everything we need. Let’s use it. Sing. Pray. Read the Word.

The Lord has done all that you need. He died for your sins. He is risen for your justification. He ascended on high. He is coming again. The day draws near that He returns with clouds and great glory. You are His people. You are people of hope. As these things begin to take place we straighten up and raise our heads, for your redemption draws near.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Advent 1, 2025

The Lord says in Isaiah, “The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s crib, but my people Israel does not know, my people do not understand.”

That verse from Isaiah is why we typically have a donkey with our nativity sets. The donkey knows its master’s crib.

On Palm Sunday, as our Lord rode the donkey into Jerusalem, the people did not know. They did not understand.

The disciples did things as Jesus directed. The two went into the village and loosed the donkey. Did they understand that was a symbol of the Lord coming to loose you from your sins; free you from bondage to the devil? You, your children, your grandchildren do not have to sin. You do not have to give in to evil. The one who does sin is a slave to sin; you weren’t baptized to be slaves to sin. You are baptized for holiness and righteousness, to walk in the light of the Lord, to let the love of Christ have its way with you and through you to others.

When the disciples brought the colt and its mother to Jesus, they laid their cloaks on them. A curious detail. Did they understand that the old, stubborn, unridden colt covered up by the garments is like your old Adam being covered up in Christ’s righteousness? Your old Adam must be put away; subdued; brought into submission to the Lord and His ways.

The crowds did a great number of things. They cut palm branches from the trees. Palm trees lined the walls of the temple. A symbol of victory and life. The palm branches were fitting for Jesus who is your victory and life. Did they understand that?

They cried out, “Hosanna!” Save us now! Did they know from what they needed saved? Did they think they needed saved from political tyranny? Saved from Rome’s oppression? Saved from evil neighboring residents who slandered them? Saved from lies? Or, did they understand that they needed saved from a prowling lion, the cares and anxieties and decitfulness of riches, testing and persecution, and their own sinful desires?

Do you understand what you need saved from, and how near to utter destruction you’ve come?

The crowd’s cry came from Psalm 118, which has, “Bind the festal sacrifice with cords up to the horns of the altar.” Did they realize that Jesus came to save us now by being the festal sacrifice bound to the altar?

And what of Jerusalem itself? Jerusalem had long awaited a true king. David’s Son and David’s Lord. As Jesus rode in, Jerusalem was troubled. How deeply troubling. They should have rejoiced. Their king came, and they didn’t want Him. He unsettled the waters. Stirred the pot. Told people what they needed to hear, even though it wasn’t what they wanted to hear. The good ol’ boys couldn’t control Jesus the way they wanted, so they plotted to kill Him.

Among all those present on Palm Sunday, was there any who understood?

Yes. Two.

Jesus. And, the donkey.

The donkey knows its master. The donkey knows its owners crib.

As a donkey was there when our Lord was born, a donkey was there, bearing Jesus, who soon would bear the burden to save the world.

If the donkey can know its master’s crib, then there’s hope for us, too. For Jesus did not have the donkey chiefly in mind. Love of the donkey was not what drove our Lord to His bitter passion. He had you in mind. Love of you compelled Him toward the tree.

The Lord understood what was at stake. To loose you from bondage to sin, to free you from the Devil’s tyrrany, to appease God’s righteous wrath on sin, to cover you up in holiness, to answer your “Hosanna!” and save you from all dread evil, He went to be bound with nails up to the posts of the altar. Jesus knew. For that reason He came, was born, baptized, called apostles, taught, healed, and entered Jerusalem.

You are loosed from the devil’s captivity. You are free and forgiven your sins. You are covered up with the robe of righteousness so that you can stand without fear before the Lord.

Now, if you understand all these things, God be praised. If you don’t yet understand them all, God be praised.

You’ve entered another new church year. Maybe you understand what it’s all about. Maybe you understand the structure of our worship service, why we do what we do when we do it. Maybe you understand why we stand, sit, speak, sing, and the order of readings. Or, maybe you’re still trying to make sense of it all.

Either way, you’re here and that’s good and this is where you belong. Here, the Lord comes to you in humble means. He’s with you in the reading of the Word and the pastor absolving your sins and in, with, and under the bread and wine giving you His living body and blood. Here, you walk in the light of the Lord. Here, you travel the way of holiness with Jesus. Here, you’re part of the new Jerusalem, the holy city, heaven on earth, right where you belong.

You do know these things. You’re part of the good company of oxen and donkey. You know your Lord and the Lord knows you.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Trinity 27, 2025

The parable of the wise and foolish virgins has numerous, much needed warnings. Thanks be to God that He cares enough to warn us. For He does not wish that any should perish but that all should reach repentance.

Outwardly, all ten appear to be Christians, yet not all ten are Christians. Five of them have wrong belief. And, because of their wrong belief, they do the wrong things. Instead of remaining to meet the Bridegroom, they leave. They prefer going to the sellers in the middle of the night over going to meet the Bridegroom. The fools don’t believe the promise that Jesus is coming; they don’t believe the promise that He comes in mercy.

These are warnings.

It matters what you believe. Incorrect belief, faith that isn’t Scriptural, is dangerous.

It matters whether or not you show up for worship. The fools, to their peril, went their own way.

To the fools Jesus will say, “Truly I say to you, I do not know you.”

There’s an emphasis on “I say to you.” If Jesus says, “I say to you,” that means others were saying something to the fools, and the fools were saying something to themselves. So, what were others saying? What were the fools saying? Others told the fools they had a special knowledge of Jesus. The fools said, “Jesus and I? We have an understanding.” The fools insisted, “I’m spiritual, but not religious.” The fools believed the lie that you don’t have to come to church to be a Christian, that God is non-judgmental, and He just wants you to feel good about you.

Whatever the fools said, it was wrong. Jesus speaks truth.

And says to them, “Truly I say to you, I never knew you.

“You said you loved me, yet you had as little regard for me as your nephew’s puppy.

“I sent men out with my Word. I said of those men, ‘He who hears you hears me. He who rejects you rejects me.’ You rejected them; you judged them; therefore you rejected me. Judging them, you judged me.

“You said that you knew me, but you lied. You didn’t know my Word, you didn’t try to know my Word, and because you didn’t know my Word, you didn’t know me.

“You heard the call to come, and said ‘no.’ You were warned that staying away is damaging to faith and dangerous to salvation, and thought, ‘That’s not how my Jesus is.’

“So now I say to you, I never knew you. The door is shut. You’re where you wanted to be.”

The folly of the fools is that they didn’t believe the promise that the Bridegroom comes. And, not believing the promise, they left. In the dark. To go shopping for oil. Because to them, that was preferable than remaining with those who had light.

And, time ran out. And, the end came. And, they were outside, in the dark, away from the light, unrecognizable precisely because they were in the dark. And the Lord told no lie when He said, “I do not know you.”

Those are needed warnings, lest you become complacent and join those in darkness. Do not be like them.

You are not in the dark. You are in the light. You hear the Word, the Word which is a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path. Your faith is fashioned and purified by that Word alone, so whatever you believe and do you may say, “Thus saith the Lord.”

You are not away, buying with the sellers. You are here, receiving from the giver, right where Jesus promises to be. As in the days of Noah when salvation was found in the ark, so in these last days salvation is in the ark of the Lord’s church, safe from the chaos of the sin-darkened world.

You are the wise, because you believe that the Bridegroom comes and He comes in mercy.

The wisdom of the wise isn’t the amount of oil. The wisdom of the wise is that they take the Bridegroom at His Word, “Thus saith the Lord, ‘the bridegroom comes.’” Even though the wise fell asleep, sinned, and were caught unawares, they still believed the promise: the bridegroom comes and He comes in mercy. He’s a bridegroom of blood who delayed, delayed three days to pay the price and be your atoning sacrifice. He fell asleep in the darkness of death while the Sun’s light failed. He died and He lives and He comes breathing mercy. He weds Himself to you in wedded love and faithfulness saying, “Peace be with you.”

How do you know that you’re the wise? Do you believe that Jesus is the bridegroom? Yes, you believe. Do you believe that He died for you, shed His blood for you, and declares you righteous in His sight? Yes, you believe. Do you believe that Jesus comes now in forgiveness and mercy? Yes, you believe. Do you believe that Jesus is coming to judge the living and the dead? Yes, you believe. Do you believe that you died to sin, were buried with Christ in baptism, and are raised with Him? Yes, you believe.

You’re the wise, with a never-failing light, for His Word is a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path. You’re the wise. Holy. Pure. Beloved. And you will enter with joy into the wedding hall.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.