Psalm 30.3-12, Exodus 19.1-25, Hebrews 13.1-21 - Lectionary for 4/30/11

Today's readings are Psalm 30.3-12, Exodus 19.1-25, and Hebrews 13.1-21.

Our mourning is turned to joy. In today's readings we see the dreadful fear associated with approaching the living God. The people of Israel are not to attempt to approach God on the mountain. His glory would consume them and destroy them immediately. We ourselves cannot make adequate sacrifices to stand before God without being consumed. Yet in Hebrews we read that Jesus himself has suffered for our sin to present us to God, giving us free and safe access to God the Father. We therefore have joy. Our mourning has been turned into joy through Jesus' provision on our behalf.

Delayed Posting

I've tried setting my lectionary posts for the next two days to post automatically since I'm not sure what my Internet access will look like until Monday. I hope it works!

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 145.1-9, Exodus 18.5-27, Hebrews 12.1-24 - Lectionary for 4/29/11

Today's readings are Psalm 145.1-9, Exodus 18.5-27, and Hebrews 12.1-24.

Sometimes life seems really difficult. We realize we have too much to do, we have committed ourselves to too many tasks, or maybe to too many bills. We are over our heads and we know it. We look for rescue and comfort. Moses saw how impossible it was to govern Israel. There were simply too many people with too many demands. At the counsel of his father-in-law, he wisely selected additional leaders to bear some of the load. In our reading from Hebrews today we see that when we are overwhelmed in this life we can turn for help to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who has borne our burdens and has faced all the terrors that we too may face. He will strengthen us for every task he has given us. One of the ways he strengthens us is by not leaving us alone. We find ourselves surrounded with friends and co-workers who can help us carry the load, at least some of the time. And of course we confess that our Lord himself is able to preserve us through every trial we face. Let us work, then, joyfully and together, looking to our Lord who is able to accomplish all things according to his mighty power.

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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 114, Exodus 17.1-16, Hebrews 11.1-29 - Lectionary for 4/28/11

Today's readings are Psalm 114, Exodus 17.1-16, and Hebrews 11.1-29.

Our God is the God of miracles. He is shown as the one who provides his people with water when they have none. He himself wins the victory in battle as he works through the hands of Moses raised before him in praise. In Hebrews we see our Lord as the one in whom we place our faith, which is the most real and concrete thing there is. What challenges do we face today? Are there any that our Lord, Jesus, the author and finisher of salvation, cannot overcome? May we walk by faith in his promises, which are absolutely real.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Captain's Log - Captain's Lag?

There are some times in this life when you wonder if you're keeping a log book or simply lagging behind. That's the way I've felt through much of this year. It's been eventful, to say the least. Since September I've been the long-term substitute pastor for two neat congregations in Kentucky. They are quite different from each other, which gives me an idea of how challenging being a dual-parish pastor can be. I've tried to be faithful and sensitive to the needs of each congregation, working with them together and separately as needed.

Since I'm still working full-time as a teacher at The Potter's School it's been a challenge. During Advent and Lent I probably spent around 20 hours a week including the drive time, since the congregations are pretty far from my home and we had extra services. Add to that the courses I'm taking through the American Lutheran Theological Seminary, which are really fairly challenging, even for someone who already has done Master's level work, and you have someone with a very full schedule. Yet by God's grace we've made it into the Easter season when extra services tend to end and the liturgy doesn't change quite as much from week to week.

On Sunday I had the privilege of receiving two new members into one of the congregations in Kentucky and also baptizing a young man in the other congregation. We are very glad that we can serve all three of these people. We pray God's best on them. May he continue to nurture them in their faith through the context of a local church.

In the last few weeks I've found myself talking with the search committee from a congregation in a small town in the Midwest. I feel free to say that since I'm not in a permanent call now so it shouldn't come as a big surprise that I could end up leaving. The congregations I've been serving are working on their search and I'm feeling more free to accept a call from elsewhere if it should come. This weekend I get to go fill in for that Midwestern congregation. It should be a good opportunity for the congregation and its leaders to have a good look at me. Hopefully I can have a good look at them as well. We want to do what would be of the greatest benefit to Christ's kingdom, which may involve my going there and may involve my not going there. I look forward to the opportunity to spend some time with the people and let them spend some time with me to seek wisdom and discernment.

So as we spent this week recovering from van lag (kind of like jet lag but it goes more slowly) we're moving into the last five weeks of school at TPS and preparing for another road trip. That reminds me of the bad joke of the day. Did you know Willie Nelson got hit by a car? He was playing on the road again.

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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 134, Exodus 16.13-35, Hebrews 10.19-39 - Lectionary for 4/27/11

Today's readings are Psalm 134, Exodus 16.13-35, and Hebrews 10.19-39.

Today's readings are all about God's provision for us, his people. He provides food for his people in the wilderness - good and delightful food, as much as they need, every day. He gives them a day of rest, when the food they gathered the prior day will last. In Christ he provides forgiveness of sins which will last forever, an everlasting day of rest from the struggle against sin. Notice the baptismal language in Hebrews with a sprinkling and a cleansing which remind us of the Old Testament people being sprinkled with the blood of a sacrifice, proclaiming them clean. We too are proclaimed clean by Christ's mercy, washed both inside and out.

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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 81.1-7, Exodus 15.19-16.12, Hebrews 10.1-18 - Lectionary for 4/26/11

Today's readings are Psalm 81.1-7, Exodus 15.19-16.12, and Hebrews 10.1-18.

The people of Israel walked through the desert, facing challenge after challenge. Were they delivered from their captivity and bondage in Egypt? Yes, they were. But they still had the fruit of sin to deal with. They still had a life in a sin-cursed world. They were still looking for their deliverance to be complete. Even the offerings they made were insufficient. They could deal with sin through the sacrificial system, but the forgiveness was not permanent. It was substitutionary in nature, but though the sacrificial animals were unblemished, they were not of the same type as the humans who sinned.

Only in the work of Jesus do we find a sacrifice sufficient for the weight of our sin. It is only in Jesus, making his single offering, that we can be perfected permanently. Therefore we look to Jesus as we walk through the sufferings of this world. Our deliverance is complete, but we have not received it in full, as we have not been through the resurrection yet ourselves. This is the living hope we have. Jesus is risen from the dead. We also shall rise.

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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 13, Exodus 15.1-18, Hebrews 9.1-28 - Lectionary for 4/25/11 - day of St. Mark, Evangelist

Today is the day of St. Mark, Evangelist. Today's readings are Psalm 13, Exodus 15.1-18, and Hebrews 9.1-28.

As the people of Israel rejoice in their deliverance from Egypt, so also we read in Hebrews that we can rejoice in our deliverance from bondage to sin. How do we enter into that freedom? We enter through Jesus, who gave his life into death so we could receive it and live. This doesn't seem to make much sense to our modernist minds. We think that we should be able to do what is needed to secure our own destiny. We don't see how one thing can be given on behalf of any of us. We especially doubt whether someone who lived a long time ago like Jesus could have something to say or do to us today. After all, how can his life or death have an affect on us? We're separated by about 2000 years and many many miles. We're in quite different cultures.

The author of Hebrews points out that we are all in the same situation, though. There's a divine, heavenly reality, and that reality includes Jesus giving himself to secure our forgiveness. It is mirrored in the custom of sacrifices, but the reality, the fulfillment of all is in Jesus, given for us. So we look to Jesus and that fact that he "will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him" (Heb. 9.28, ESV).

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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Sermon for 4/24/11 "This Public Gospel"

Sermon - "This Public Gospel" audio link http://dl.dropbox.com/u/23575548/110424Acts10.mp3

 May the Lord open our eyes to see him rightly, in the name of ┼ the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 The Gospel of Jesus Christ is public knowledge. Even as we confess that Christ is risen from the dead, just as he has told us, we proclaim that truth for all to hear. The Christian faith is not one which is to be hidden. It is not one of the intensely personal faiths which is not to be shared with others. It isn't something we keep quietly to ourselves because it is so precious and personal. On the contrary, the Gospel is public knowledge.

 When Peter came to the household of Cornelius in Acts chapter ten he was probably hesitant. In fact, it's pretty clear that he was hesitant. You might recall how the Holy Spirit set up the situation. Simon Peter, the apostle, was visiting with one Simon, a tanner, near the town of Joppa. Peter had a vision of all sorts of animals being lowered down to him. He was told to kill and eat all these unclean animals. After some protests, he was persuaded that God himself had declared them clean. Simon was not to argue with his Lord in this.

Immediately after this vision, people came from Cornelius' household. Of course you can tell by the name that Cornelius was no kind of Jew, right? No? Well, it might not be so obvious to you and to me. But Cornelius is a Roman name. It would never be a name a Jewish family would give to a child. In fact, it isn't a personal name at all, but rather a clan name, the Latin "nomen" which indicates he was a member of a very powerful family. His position as a centurion also suggests that he was a man of considerable influence. If he were in the U.S. Army he'd be some sort of a commissioned officer of some seniority. His position over the "Italian Cohort" indicates that he was experienced in foreign wars. Historical sources suggest that this was the military unit which would serve a tour of duty in a particularly dangerous setting and then would spend its furlough in the town of Italica, located near Seville, in Spain.  Cornelius is, then, an important man. He's someone who has been shown to be loyal to the Roman emperor. Yet he is introduced as a God-fearer, someone who is seeking after the Messiah. In a vision, probably about a day before Peter's vision, he was directed to send for Peter.

While Peter's defenses have been broken down by God's proclamation of that which is unclean actually being clean, he is still going into a setting that would seem foreign to him. Prior to this time the Gospel has not really been brought to the Gentiles. It seems odd. Something about it may even seem to be wrong to Peter, despite what his Lord has just told him. But he goes, along with some companions, and proclaims the Gospel to the household of Cornelius.

We see now that the Gospel of Christ, that same message proclaimed by the angel in Matthew 28, is not secret knowledge. It is not to be protected through hidden revelations. Unlike the followers of the mystery religions of Peter's time, or the slightly later Gnostics, the true Christians proclaimed the Gospel freely and openly. The resurrection of Christ, the adoption of God, the inheritance in glory waiting for Christians, all of this is public knowledge. We guard the message, but we guard it by being accurate and proclaiming it as widely as we can.  The Gospel is not to be hidden from anybody. It's intended to be revealed, just as Jesus raised from the dead revealed himself to his followers.

So what is this gospel that we see from Peter's address to Cornelius' household? First, it is that Jesus lived a sinless life. Jesus was not just a good teacher. He was not just a good man. He wasn't simply like one of us, but enlightened by the Holy Spirit. Jesus, in fact, was sinless. He was the one who did "what is right" and showed himself "acceptable" to God (Acts 10.35). And he did that good through the Holy Spirit. See in verse 38 how we have the Trinity here – God the Father gives God the Holy Spirit to God the Son. Jesus, the sinless lamb of God, proved himself holy before God, living the life that we are called to live, but which we can never attain to.

This gospel that Peter explains doesn't end with the sinless life of Jesus. He continues to tell that Jesus died a perfect death on our behalf. It was his countrymen, both Jews, as well as Cornelius' countrymen, the Roman execution detail, who put Jesus to death. In all four Gospels we see that Jesus was not convicted of any crime by the Roman officials. He had not committed any crime. He simply revealed who he was. This self-revelation brought the wrath of the Jewish officials upon Jesus, resulting in his crucifixion, in accord with the Scriptural prophecies. We sang Psalm 22 last week and saw how it depicts the crucifixion of Christ in some detail.

So Jesus lived a perfect life on our behalf, showing himself to be the sinless man. He died a perfect death on our behalf, giving himself as the perfect, unblemished sacrifice for our sin. In verse 40 of Acts 10 Peter comes to the resurrection from the dead. The Christian faith is a faith in a true bodily resurrection. We do not look to some vague spiritual hope. We don't look for a release from this physical body. We look to a release from the mortality of this body. That's different. Jesus rose from the dead on our behalf. He has promised that he will be the firstfruits of the bodily resurrection. He tells us and then shows us that he has conquered death. The sheer physicality and life of the risen Christ tells us that death itself has been conquered. Decay has been abolished. We who have been baptized into the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit have been raised to newness of life (Romans 6). We now have the eternal life which we confess we will resume in the future resurrection when body and soul again are united in an eternity with no more death, no more pain, no more suffering. Life has conquered death in the resurrection of Christ. That's why our cries of "Alleluia" are associated with the message of this day. "Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!"

So we have the sinless life of Jesus. We have his perfect death on our behalf. We see the resurrection from the dead. What else does Peter have to tell the household of Cornelius? As witnesses of the resurrection, Jesus has sent his servants to "preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead." (Acts 10.42, ESV).  The proclamation of the Gospel is to be public. It is not something hidden in a corner. We don't try to hide the truth. Rather, we reveal the truth. We tell those we meet that Jesus is the judge, both the judge of the living and of the dead.  Here's the message, then. The soul who sins must die. There's no question about that. All have sinned, all have come short of the glory of God (Romans 3). We all together stand under the judgment of God. And there is no other name by which we may be saved (Acts 4.12) but the name of Jesus. We cannot save ourselves. We are all condemned but for the mercy of God in Christ. This is the judgment of God. Equally publicly, though we confess that Jesus Christ came to rescue as many as will believe on him from the curse of sin. As we read a little farther on in Matthew 28, Jesus sent his disciples to go and disciple people by baptizing them into the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, then by teaching them to keep all his commands. He promised that he would be with them forever, even to the end of the world.

The Gospel, then, is a public matter. Salvation is of the Lord, and only through belief on Jesus, not through any other means. We have been entrusted with this message. And Jesus has promised to be with his people who proclaim the Gospel. He promises that his Word will be effective, that he is actively working, creating faith in people who hear (Romans 10). He promises to call and send people with this message of the Gospel. Salvation is of the Lord. And he is able to accomplish it through his Word and his appointed means of grace.

What do we say, then? Do we receive the Word of God freely and joyfully? Do we trust that God is able to grant salvation from sin through Jesus Christ's perfect life, death, and resurrection? Do we believe on the Lord, knowing that it is through faith in his name that we are saved? Do we trust that the Lord is able to deliver salvation by creating faith in our hearts through the proclaimed Word in the Scripture and in the concrete applications of Scripture in baptism and communion? Do we trust that the Lord will pour out His Spirit upon all whom he calls, Jew and Gentile alike?

What happened with the household of Cornelius? While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon them. Peter and those with him were amazed because they recognized a clear showing of the people's belief. They were experiencing the kind of overflow of the Holy Spirit which the apostles and those with them had experienced in Acts 2. The people, having obviously believed, were baptized. Then Peter and those with him remained for a while teaching them. Here, then, is our pattern. We proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, always verbally and sometimes accompanied by baptism, making people into disciples of Christ. We teach them obedience to Christ, and we encourage them to continue in that faith. We nurture people in their faith on Christ, reminding them of our Lord's promise that he will never leave us or forsake us.

Let us rise to pray together.

Our Lord, use your word which I have proclaimed and we have heard. Create faith in the hearts of your people, as many as you would call to yourself. Nurture a living faith in us, casting out all doubt and fear. Show yourself to be the Lord of all, the true resurrection and the life. Teach us to walk in your paths and to take your Gospel to all nations, in the name of ┼ the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 96.1-3, 6, 11-13, Exodus 14.10-31, Hebrews 7.23-8.13 - Lectionary for 4/24/11 - Easter Sunday, commemoration of Johann Walter, Kantor

Today is Easter Sunday. It is also the day of commemoration of Johann Walter, Kantor. Today's readings are Psalm 96.1-3, 6, 11-13, Exodus 14.10-31, and Hebrews 7.23-8.13.

We read today of God's deliverance of Israel. How did our Lord deliver his people from bondage? He walked them through the Red Sea on dry ground, protecting them even as they walked through a situation that was normally deadly. Likewise, our Lord Jesus Christ delivers us from the bondage of sin by having us pass through death, but by applying his death to us. As the people of Israel seemed to be buried in a watery grave, so Jesus was buried in the grave and so will we be if the Lord does not take us from this earth first. As the people of Israel were raised to new life on the other side of their watery grave, so Jesus was raised to new life and so will all those who believe in him. Paul tells the Romans that they are buried with Christ in baptism and raised to newness of life. As with the Israelites, we too are put to death in our old nature, which is bound to sin. We are drowned in the waters of baptism, we are washed by the Word, we are granted repentance and faith, and we are raised to newness of life, a life in Christ, who died a very real, physical death on our behalf.

Thanks be to God who has purchased such a great salvation on our behalf!

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 37.1-7, Exodus 13.17-14.9, Hebrews 7.1-22 - Lectionary for 4/23/11

Today's readings are Psalm 37.1-7, Exodus 13.17-14.9, and Hebrews 7.1-22.

This day in the Church year is a day of waiting. We're between the death and resurrection of Christ. At this time we read about the people of Israel on their way out of Egypt, between enslavement and promise. We read about Jesus, the priest according to the order of Melchizedek, transforming the priesthood from one of fleshly descent to one of spiritual empowerment. In all this talk of a transfer from one kingdom to another, the Christian remembers that the spiritual life is one of a change from the kingdom of this world to the kingdom of our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ. We look to his resurrection for our hope that we too will be raised, permanently, in newness of life, in the last day.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Sermon for 4/22/11 - Good Friday - "In Part"

Sermon – "In Part" (I didn't record this one because the rest of the service is really the most important part.)

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

We know in part and we prophesy in part. We walk by faith, and not by sight. Our readings and our songs this evening have pointed out this distinction. There's what we see – God's judgment, the death of Jesus, the darkness falling upon the world, a message of hopelessness and despair. Then again, there's what we confess – Christ's victory over death, hell and the grave for us. As we walk through these last hours of the season of Lent, may the Lord give us true repentance for our sin, a sorrow for our denial of Christ. May he remind us that it is our sin which sent him to the cross. Rather than bringing death upon us, it brought death on the innocent Son of God. May the Lord show us the crushing weight of his judgment on sin, how he broke our Lord, who cried out in anguish that he was forsaken. And our Lord Jesus Christ was forsaken of God, smitten, stricken, and afflicted for us.

But we do not leave ourselves forever in a time of sorrow. May the Lord grant that we also look forward to the time, not that many hours from now, when we celebrate the day of resurrection. Yes, it is dark. But we walk by faith and not by sight. We look forward to the resurrection of Jesus. We look forward to the sure and certain hope that we too will be raised and this corruption will put on incorruption.

When our Lord and Savior cried out, "It is finished," indeed his work was finished. He died to bear our sin, to conquer death, to triumph over it. Let us walk by faith in this promise.

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

-- 

Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 135.1-4, 8-9, Exodus 12.29-32, 13.1-16, Hebrews 6.1-20 - Lectionary for 4/22/11 - Good Friday

Today's readings are Psalm 135.1-4, 8-9, Exodus 12.29-32, 13.1-16, and Hebrews 6.1-20. Today is Good Friday.

In our reading from Exodus today we see God pouring out his wrath on Egypt by killing the firstborn of every household which is not protected by the Passover lamb. We also see that God's desire is to redeem his people by replacing the firstborn children with another sacrifice. On this Good Friday we remember that Jesus, the firstborn of God, received God's wrath against our sin. In Hebrews we see that God's love is solid and trustworthy. We can turn to God in hope and faith, knowing that he cares for his people enough to give of himself so they should not perish.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Sermon for 4/21/11 - True Communion

Sermon - "True Communion" (I didn't catch a recording of this one)

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

The apostle presents the Lord's supper to the Corinthians as a real means of grace, something which actually delivers and seals Christ's forgiveness through his real bodily presence. Reception of holy communion, a distinctive of Christians throughout history, is not to be taken lightly. We are wrong if we consider it something done merely by us, merely as a remembrance, as an obligation. It is not optional in the Christian life. As the holy meal which set Christians apart from unbelievers we even see instances in history where whole congregations, after the arrest of their pastor, have turned themselves in to authorities for imprisonment, torture, and death. We see instances in history where, though being revealed as Christians is a capital offense, belivers have so boldly and vigorously sung the Agnus Dei and proclaimed Christ's words of institution as to draw attention and persecution to themselves. This is not optional. This is an opportunity to receive from Christ his very real body and blood, by which he nourishes us to eternal life.

I fear we often neglect the surrounding context in 1 Corinthians 11, though. So we take this opportunity, this day when we particularly remember Christ's institution of his supper, to remember what the apostle tells us.

First, in verses 17-22, we see that the communion meal is not a time for divisions. It is a time for unity, unity with God and unity with one another. It is a time of growing in unity and one accord. It is a time for breaking down divisions among ourselves. It is a time for preferring our brothers and sisters to ourselves. If we are not looking to our Lord to draw us together as one body, we are denying his unity with the Father. We are denying that he has actually redeemed us to be one people. We are denying that he has given us, collectively, his one nature. It is therefore not communion. May the Lord grant us repentance and forgiveness, drawing us into unity with one another.

Second, in verses 23-26 we see that Jesus has proclaimed this bread to be his true body, this cup to contain his true blood. Not only do we confess that this is true body and true blood, though we are only able to discern the bread and wine with our physical senses, we also confess that Jesus' body is broken for us and his blood is shed for us. It is a covenant, a holy promise, initiated by God, applied to us. We truly remember our Lord, the one who has promised to be with us. We proclaim his death on our behalf through this meal, frequently, until his coming. And we rest in that very promise that Jesus is indeed coming, just as he said.

Finally, in verses 27-32 we see that our eating and drinking unworthily judges us. We come to communion in repentance, as the Christian life is a life of repentance. And Paul clearly says that a lack of repentance brings evil upon Christians. Let us therefore turn to our Lord in repentance, that he may cleanse us from sin. Do we see an ever greater need for repentance as we consider his death on our behalf? Then let us turn to him again and again, knowing that our Lord is disciplining us, calling us to repentance, reminding us daily of his death on our behalf, from his great mercy, calling us to receive his forgiveness. This is God's protection, as through Jesus he separates us from the condemnation our sinful world will receive.

How do we look at communion? Rather, how does our Lord look at communion? It is a time of washing, a time of cleansing, a time of nourishment. May we look to our Lord and receive the cleansing he has provided through his body broken for us and his blood shed for us.

Amen.

-- 

Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 37.1-7, Exodus 12.1-28, Hebrews 5.1-14 - Lectionary for 4/21/11 - Maundy Thursday, day of Anselm of Canterbury, Theologian

Today is Maundy Thursday. It is also the day of Anselm of Canterbury, Theologian. Today's readings are Psalm 37.1-7, Exodus 12.1-28, and Hebrews 5.1-14.

The focus of today's readings is on the sacrifice for sin. Sin calls for death. Yet God, in his mercy, has appointed others to die on our behalf. In Exodus we see the passover, in which a lamb dies, its blood is placed upon the doorposts, and the people within the house are nourished to live. In Hebrews today we see that Jesus, the high priest of God, gives himself to die in our place, granting salvation forever, not only for a year, as did the passover lamb. Jesus is the priest who makes intercession as well as being the sacrifice offered for our sins.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 89.20-27, Exodus 10.21-11.10, Hebrews 4.1-16 - Lectionary for 4/20/11, day of Johannes Bugenhagen, Pastor

Today is the commemoration of Johannes Bugenhagen, who served as the pastor of the Wittenberg church during the lifetime of Martin Luther.

Today's readings are Psalm 89.20-27, Exodus 10.21-11.10, and Hebrews 4.1-16.

What confidence can we have in Jesus? At the end of our passage in Hebrews today we find that Jesus understands our weaknesses and our temptations. He himself has endured all of them, only without sin. Not only that, but he is our high priest, the one who makes intercession on our behalf, praying to God, then turns and delivers God's forgiveness to us. What do we do when we are in trouble, when we have sinned and need God's mercy? We turn to him, approaching him, not in fear, but in confidence. Look to the love and mercy of God through Jesus Christ, the great high priest.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 88.3-9, Exodus 9.29-10.20, Hebrews 3.1-19 - Lectionary for 4/19/11

Today's readings are Psalm 88.3-9, Exodus 9.29-10.20, and Hebrews 3.1-19.

Jesus Christ is proclaimed in Hebrews as the "builder." All of creation is his. He is the one who receives the honor in all creation. Where is our confidence to be? It is to be in God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God in three persons. What is our response when we see our friends and neighbors turn against us, when plagues come upon our land, when we are faced with struggles every day? We turn to our Lord, not hardening our hearts against him, and by trust in the Lord we enter into our rest, rest from all our toils.

The Christian life is, then, a life of rest. It is not a life of rest from labor, because we are told to love and serve our neighbors. This world has plenty of work for us to do. But Jesus has broken the curse of sin. As we trust in our Lord, our labor does not break us. It has broken him, so we no longer need to be broken by the sin of the world. We have entered into our rest, even though we are still active.

It's a complicated life, isn't it?

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Sermon for 4/17/11 - Hail, King of the Jews!

Sermon - "Hail, King of the Jews http://dl.dropbox.com/u/23575548/110417Matthew28.mp3"

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

Hail, King of the Jews! We gather around, eager to see what will happen when our king comes to us, humble and gentle, seated on a donkey.

Hail, King of the Jews! We watch as our Lord enters the temple to take worship back from those who would sell it for a price.

Hail, King of the Jews! We see our Lord celebrating the forgiveness of God with his disciples.

Hail, King of the Jews! We will watch as Jesus is betrayed and arrested by a troop of several hundred soldiers who are sent against him as a military force coming to seize a king.

Hail, King of the Jews! Jesus affirms his identity as the Christ before the Jewish elders as the last of his disciples with him is denying ever knowing him.

Hail, King of the Jews! Pilate the governor begins to recognize Jesus as the Christ, the king of the Jews, even as the Jews who are gathered around call for the release of a criminal and the execution of Jesus.

Hail, King of the Jews! The title becomes a term of mockery and shame as the soldiers dress Jesus in royal robes of scarlet and put a crown of thorns on his head, anointing him with spittle and his own blood.

Hail, King of the Jews, the one who gives his "back to those who strike, and [his] cheeks to those who pull out the beard; [who hides] not his face from disgrace and spitting" (Is. 50.6, ESV).

Hail, King of the Jews, who is led out to death, given a cup of wine mixed with gall, and who, too weak to carry his execution device, is helped along the way by an onlooker.

Hail, King of the Jews, whose royal insignia is a sign above his head on the cross, whose royal retinue is two criminals also condemned to death, whose audience mocks him.

Hail, King of the Jews, forsaken by God the Father, bearing the sin and condemnation of the world.

Hail, King of the Jews, who consciously gives up his life when all is completed.

Hail, King of the Jews, who is buried in a borrowed tomb.

Hail, King of the Jews, whose resurrection is so powerful that the dead around him cannot remain dead but themselves emerge from the tombs.

Hail, King of the Jews, whose blood shed on our behalf washes us from sin.

Pilate claimed that he was innocent of Jesus' innocent blood. The people asked that Jesus' blood may be upon them and their children. May it ever be so, that Jesus' death may be applied to us as we behold the true King of the Jews.

Wash us from our sin, our Lord. Cleanse us and make us partakers of your resurrection, for you yourself are the resurrection and the life. Amen.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 35.1-6, 9-10, Exodus 9.1-28, Hebrews 2.1-18 - Lectionary for 4/18/11

Today's readings are Psalm 35.1-6, 9-10, Exodus 9.1-28, and Hebrews 2.1-18.

Salvation is of the Lord. The Scriptures are absolutely clear about that. What about condemnation? Who is responsible for the result of sin? Over the years I've run into many people. including long-time attendees at faithful churches, including several pastors, who have suggested that people who have never heard of Jesus and who die will be received into heaven because of God's mercy. Yet that doesn't square with Scripture. On the contrary, the Bible clearly points out the exclusivity of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. There is salvation in no other name. Therefore, Christian mission is of paramount importance.

But what of the person who seems to have been faithful to Christ but no longer seems to be a believer? What do we make of that person? Was his faith not true, as the Calvinist would say? Was he deceived? Or maybe he was deceiving people? Hebrews 2.1-4 would seem to speak to this issue. We are warned against drifting away from the Christian faith, denying the Gospel, neglecting our salvation. The very fact that we are warned strictly against that should alert us to the fact that true believers can neglect their salvation and depart from the faith. It's unthinkable, but very real. Salvation is of the Lord. Condemnation we cannot blame on him. We have to take the blame for that ourselves.

Let us hold fast to the Lord Jesus Christ, believing that he himself has purchased our salvation, and that we cannot earn that salvation ourselves. Let us nourish our faith by Word and Sacraments, reveling in the mystery of Jesus' presence for us. Salvation is from the Lord.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 71.19-24, Exodus 8.1-32, Hebrews 1.1-14 - Lectionary for 4/17/11 - Palm Sunday

Today's readings are Psalm 71.19-24, Exodus 8.1-32, and Hebrews 1.1-14. Today, Palm Sunday, we remember Jesus' entry into Jerusalem in triumphal procession, flocked by followers who laid palm branches and cloaks in the road as a royal carpet.

Our Lord comes to us, humble and lowly. We see him entering Jerusalem in peace. Yet in his peaceful entry and his quiet work on our behalf we find that he is accomplishing great and mighty works, conquering kingdoms, overthrowing the whole world. How is he doing this? He shows himself to be the mighty God, greater than all the kings of the earth. He alone is worshiped by the angels. He alone has made purification for sins. He alone is able to take up the name which is above all other names. The power of this world is humbled and set to nought by the majesty of the risen Lord. Let us look to him alone, and as we look to him, to see that above all he is the one who cleanses from sin so as to rescue fallen humanity from the curse. By grace you are saved, through faith. Look to the Lord.

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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 78.52-55, Exodus 7.1-25, Mark 16.1-20 - Lectionary for 4/16/11

Today's readings are Psalm 78.52-55, Exodus 7.1-25, and Mark 16.1-20.

Our Lord promises to be with us in every trouble. Does this mean our lives will always be easy? Consider the courage it took for Moses and Aaron to come before Pharaoh and actually perform the signs God had given them. We can easily imagine that Moses would wonder what might happen when he threw his staff to the ground or when he stretched out his hand over the Nile. You can imagine that the early disciples, though they head heard the Lord was risen and though they met with him face to face after his resurrection still had some hesitancy when it came time to stand in front of the kind of crowd that had demanded Jesus be crucified. What kind of tumult might they face? And we can see that God's people do often face struggles. Thousands and thousands of people are killed every year for their faith. Countless others are imprisoned, fired from their jobs, separated from their families, or tortured. Yet Jesus promises to be with his people no matter what. There is nothing that can separate us from the love of God in Christ. He has conquered sin and death on our behalf. May he reign forever.

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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

It's a Small World

It really is a small world. Listening to Issues, Etc. 24, first segment, I just heard something I hadn't heard before. When Paul appealed to Caesar he may well have been thinking about the fact that Seneca was serving as the young Nero's tutor and was the de facto leader of the Roman government. Seneca had previously been in Corinth when Paul was brought before Seneca's brother, Gallio, and the charges against Paul were dismissed. You never know who you are going to meet when you are arrested, do you.

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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 22.1-5, Exodus 5.1-6.1, Mark 15.33-47 - Lectionary for 4/15/11

Today's readings are Psalm 22.1-5, Exodus 5.1-6.1, and Mark 15.33-47.

Have you ever tried making something without the proper materials? The Israelites had to make bricks without the necessary materials being provided. Their work was greatly increased to the point that they were unable to accomplish their task. Their lives seemed grim. They were doomed to failure. Likewise, when Jesus dies on the cross his followers are left in the dark. They don't know what will be happening in the future, but they know Jesus is not going to deliver them, at least not the way they expected. He was so fragile he died very quickly, much faster than people usually do when crucified.

What we see, as we know the end of the story, is that God delivers his people both from their bondage in Egypt and from the curse of death. As Jesus rose from the dead, we who believe will also receive new life and be partakers in the resurrection. It doesn't matter that our state looks hopeless, that we see sickness, death, and decay all around us. Jesus is the firstfruits of the resurrection to life. Let us believe on him, casting all our hopes on him, not on our own works.

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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

English Matters

I haven't kept a log, but I was thinking about problems with English grammar and syntax. Here are two story leads I've seen from an allegedly reputable and professional local news service in the past year.

"Officials say the car had drove up an embankment and rolled over."
"Had drove"? Please, we may be the Appalacians but surely college-educated news writers can do better than that with verb tenses.

"Man drives over 60 foot embankment after he says he fell asleep at the wheel."

Now I've got to picture this. The man falls asleep at the wheel. He wakes up. He says to his passenger, "I fell asleep at the wheel." Then he drives over the embankment. Maybe he should have stepped on the brake pedal rather than saying what he was doing.

I suppose we all mess up our syntax now and then. But it bothers me when news services do it.

L8r
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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 69.33-36, Exodus 4.19-31, Mark 15.16-32 - Lectionary for 4/14/11

Today's readings are Psalm 69.33-36, Exodus 4.19-31, and Mark 15.16-32.

God hears and saves his people. In our readings today we see that God does that in ways which go against our intuition. He delivers his people from captivity in Egypt by sending one of his messengers, Moses, to remove them. Moses himself didn't seem to be prepared today. We see God sending him and also opposing him. And God sends Moses to accomplish a task which everybody, including Moses, knows he cannot do himself. Jesus, to deliver his people from death, is led out to be put to death. He who we claim to be the exalted Lord is treated as a dangerous criminal. He is mocked and scorned. Again, this is counter-intuitive. But it is the way God has ordained salvation to work. Let us look to the Lord in confidence that he can, in fact, bring to completion all that he has ordained.

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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Sermon for 4/13/11 - What If?

Sermon "What If . . . " Here's the audio link. http://dl.dropbox.com/u/23575548/110414Exodus4.mp3

Our Lord, create in us faithful hearts to hear Your Word. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

We seem to like to fill in the blanks. If this happens, what if . . . - do you do this? I sure do. I build all sorts of tragic situations, most of which never happen. If the tree branches reach toward the roof something bad could happen. What's that noise I've heard coming from under my hood? I have a headache and a ringing in my ears – could I have a brain tumor? Is it normal for that baby to sleep so much? What if our country goes bankrupt? What if, what if, what if. Of course, we fill in the blanks the other way as well. What if I suddenly become the chief executive officer of the company? What if I win the mega-super-multi-kazillions intergalactic lottery? But we tend to be realistic and think about how unlikely those things are. But falling ill with a dread disease, losing our job, losing our house, or accidentally offending all our friends, we aren't as logical about those issues.

How about the scenarios we build when God speaks to us? What if he were to send us, like he sent Moses and the prophets, to do something unusual? What if we ended up not fitting into our nice comfortable little niche? What if we suddenly did develop a desire to go live among the HIV patients in a central African country that is about to break into a civil war? Or what if the Lord impresses on us the sufficiency of His grace and the urgency to live a life which is more open about the Gospel, where we seek out opportunities to speak the Word of God and pray for our neighbors? But what if they don't like us? We can end up in all sorts of situations that make us uncomfortable, that place demands on us which we aren't sure we are up to.

Moses faced the same kind of situation. He had a genuine encounter with God, amazing in its manner, but in content, not unlike the kind of encounter we can have with God's holiness as revealed in Scripture. Moses saw God's priority to deliver his people Israel from bondage. And Moses knew he was to have a hand in it. But what if they wouldn't accept him? What did our Lord do for Moses? He showed him that regardless of the acceptance Moses might receive, God is still God and can use his servant to watch over the people of Israel.

Did Moses have lots of arguments? You bet he did. And they were really pretty valid questions. God wanted to use Moses in an area where Moses didn't feel comfortable. He was going to use Moses in ways that Moses knew weren't his strengths. He was sending Moses into a situation that Moses didn't have confidence in. Moses, in fact, knew that he himself was not up to the task. How does this compare with the life we live in Christ? When we think we are up to the task we had better watch out. It's a sure sign that we are not ready for it. When God gives us tasks to do, they are God-size tasks. We've seen many of them recently. Be perfect. Love your neighbor. Walk in newness of life. God gives us all manner of assignments that we can't do. This is because God gives us God-size tasks. What God sends Moses to do is something that Moses can't possibly do himself. He must depend on the living God. Likewise, when our Lord tells us to do something, we must realize that we can't truly accomplish it. Only God, in the perfect life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, can do it in and through us, working by the Holy Spirit.

Yet we take heart. We know that he who is in us is greater than he who is in the world. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has come face to face with every situation he will put us in. Do we fear suffering? Jesus suffered for us. Do we fear humiliation? Jesus was humbled. Do we fear what the rulers of this world can do? Jesus faced the rulers of this world, was killed, and rose victorious over a greater enemy than Caesar ever dreamed of being. We ask, "What if?" But Jesus says, "What if I have already taken care of all you need?"

Thanks be to God. Amen.

-- 

Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 18.6-7, 16-20, Exodus 4.1-18, Mark 15.1-15 - Lectionary for 4/13/11

Today's readings are Psalm 18.6-7, 16-20, Exodus 4.1-18, and Mark 15.1-15.

Sometimes we will say that someone would "move heaven and earth" to accomplish something. In today's readings we see that God is the mover of heaven and earth. Our Lord moves heaven and earth to deliver his righteous people from the sinful world. He is so zealous for righteousness that he is not satisfied with the anything but perfection. Yet he so loves his creation that, at his own expense, he puts his righteousness on his people through faith in Jesus. We don't understand how this happens. We simply confess that it does happen. It's a miracle. But he moves heaven and earth to save us. As we move nearer the day of the crucifixion, Good Friday, we remember that it is our Lord who shakes the earth and tears the veil in the temple in two as Christ dies to bear the sin of the world and all its penalty. Yes, God is the one who will move heaven and earth to rescue his people from sin.

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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 39.1-7, Exodus 2.23-3.22, Mark 14.53-72 - Lectionary for 4/12/11

Today's readings are Psalm 39.1-7, Exodus 2.23-3.22, and Mark 14.53-72.

Our life is transitory. If we step back and take a good look at it, we see that everything around us is temporary. Even what we might consider "durable goods" passes away. Even the best built house will eventually wear down and crumble. The majestic oak tree planted by our ancestor will soon pass away. And a person who lives a long time normally wears out before 100 years of age. When the people of Israel were crying out in their bondage they saw it was only temporary. The Lord rescued them. It may not have been in the time they most desired, but it was in his timing. Does God understand our urgency? Does he who is timeless understand that we have needs that are immediate problems to us? Yes he does. In the person of Jesus, God has become man. He understands being up all night praying and then being arrested. He understands hunger and thirst. He understands the pain of being injured then having to go on to do what he is compelled to do. Jesus knows our urgency. Trust in the Lord! He will deliver his people in the right time.

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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 31.9-14, Exodus 2.1-22, Mark 14.32-52 - Lectionary for 4/11/11

Today's readings are Psalm 31.9-14, Exodus 2.1-22, and Mark 14.32-52.

The Bible is largely a story of betrayal. Sinful man acts in accord with his nature and sins. In our sin we betray our fellow man, we betray even Jesus, the Son of God. And while he is betrayed to death, see that through God's mercy, sinful people like Moses or like the disciples who won't remain awake and pray with Jesus are protected. Even those who come to arrest the true and living God are protected. May the Lord continue to have mercy on us, the people who would betray our Lord and our God.

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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Sermon for 4/10/11 - A Matter of Death and Life

Sermon - "A Matter of Death and Life" Audio link at http://dl.dropbox.com/u/23575548/110410Romans8.mp3

Set our minds on the Spirit, bringing life and peace to us, in the name of ┼ the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

"It's a matter of life and death!" We hear that once in a while. A friend of mine once had a difficult time on the telephone with someone who wanted to come to a church service and take the sermon time one Sunday to give a presentation about the crisis of runaway teenagers. The caller was adamant. This situation of teenagers running away from difficult family circumstances and ending up in homelessness, poverty, prostitution, drug abuse, and even slavery was a matter of life and death. And it is. But what he didn't understand was that my pastor friend had a matter of death and life to address every Sunday, and it was a matter of death and life which applies to every man, woman and child in this world, not only those who run away from home. It is a matter of death and life that won't be addressed by keeping teenagers at home in their difficult circumstances. It is a matter of death and life that is only ever dealt with by the proclamation of Christ crucified for sinners, Christ crucified for us. This is a matter of death and life.

That sounds backwards, right? We think we have life. The brother of former President Jimmy Carter, Billy, when asked about being "born again," responded that he was doing well enough to be born once. And that 's what most of our culture thinks. There's one birth that matters. It's physical. It marks the beginning of our life, just like our physical death marks the end of our life. And we've bought into this idea so thoroughly that it seems crazy to say there's another life, one which starts when God regenerates us by giving us faith in Jesus, then continues into eternity, no matter what happens to our bodily and temporal life. But this is what the Bible says. It's all, in fact, a matter of death and life. Death and life, not life and death. The death comes first.

Recall with me Genesis chapter 3. When mankind enters into sin through our first parents, Adam and Eve, we enter into death. This death is part of the inheritance that each one of us receives from our parents. This sinful condition which brings death and separation from God is obvious throughout our world, from the weeds we kill to the dead animal we saw by the side of the road, to our relatives who reach the end of their apparent life span and who die. Sin brings with it death, and none of us is immune. Eventually we all become like Lazarus. We all become like the people from Ezekiel, who are reduced to bones. We live this life for now, but ultimately our life is, in fact, death. We think we'll be here for a long time. Some of us seem to be in the prime of life. And it's easy to picture many many years of unchanging health, unchanging hopes, a very bright future. But I'll guarantee you this. 120 years from now, none of us will be here. And some of us will be worn out and finished a lot sooner than that. Most of us are realistically looking at fifty years or less. This message, then, the message of the Church, the proclamation of Law and Gospel, is a message of death. We see our sin. We confess our sin. We know the wages of sin is death. And that's what we see in the law. God tells us what our life on this earth will be like, and that it is temporary. Whatever we do for ourselves, whatever we strive for, however we take care of ourselves or our possessions, it will all pass away. We try to keep God's commands and see that we can't. We try to love our neighbors as ourselves and see that we can't. And we try again tomorrow, the next day, and the next day. Yet we are unable to live up to God's perfection in Christ. And we realize we will run out of days surprisingly soon. Our dependence on the flesh, our dependence on our works, our labor, it is all striving to catch the wind, or to keep the sunshine in a shoebox in the closet. We show ourselves hostile to God, enemies to God, who rise up and depend on ourselves when our Lord has shown us clearly that we are to depend on him. It's a matter of death.

Yet this Christian life is also a matter of just that, life. When we have reached the end of our own labors, when we have seen that we are not able to redeem ourselves, when we realize that no matter our efforts we, like Lazarus, will lie down and die, then will decay like he did the second time he died, then we look to our Lord. We look to the hope that God has given us, this faith in Jesus, who has washed us from sin, who has granted us faith, who has promised that his life is a life of perfect righteousness, who has given his life over to death on our behalf, who has risen from the dead as the firstfruits of the resurrection. We look in hope to our Lord, who redeems us, both body and soul. We look to the true life, eternal life, which Jesus promises will never end, no matter what our enemies do to our bodies. We look to the sure and certain hope of the resurrection from the dead. We see that this law, the law that says Christ's death is on our behalf, the law of the Spirit, frees us from the law of sin and death. We see that Jesus, in dying for us, has proclaimed sin and death to be powerless. We see that Jesus, by the Holy Spirit, can set our minds on the life that he gives, granting us life and peace. We see that our Lord has given us a life which is pleasing to God, not because we are able to do worthy things, but because he is working in and through us.

This is the life in the Spirit. This is the life which overcomes the grave. This is the life which our Lord creates in us, not according to our ability, but according to his ability. We, like those dead and decomposed people in the book of Ezekiel, receive life by the breath of the Holy Spirit. We, like they, receive life when there's no earthly reason why we should expect to live. We, like Lazarus, are raised up by the faithful promise of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And we know that in the last day the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead will give life to our mortal bodies. He will raise us up into immortality. Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life. We have no reason for fear. We have no reason to despair. We have no reason to run and hide. No. This matter of death and life ends in life. May Jesus Christ, the one who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, dwell in us richly, in the name of ┼ the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 129, Exodus 1.1-22, Mark 14.12-31 - Lectionary for 4/10/11

Today's readings are Psalm 129, Exodus 1.1-22, and Mark 14.12-31.

The overriding theme in today's readings is that of persecution. The Psalmist observes attacks and lashing. The people of Israel undergo oppression in Egypt, even to the point of having the male infants killed. Jesus tells of his coming death. Yet in our Gospel reading we see that the death of Jesus is that which brings life to his people, to all who believe on him. He promises that his broken body is the bread of life and his shed blood is a new covenant. He assures his disciples of eternal life based on his giving of himself for them. May we have God's grace to look to Jesus for life, no matter what struggles we ourselves endure.

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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 44.1-4, Genesis 49.29-50.7, 14-26, Mark 14.1-11 - Lectionary for 4/9/11

Today's readings are Psalm 44.1-4, Genesis 49.29-50.7, 14-26, and Mark 14.1-11.

Our Lord is the victor in every contest. Yet his victory doesn't look like the kind of victory we would devise. See in our reading from Mark how Jesus' victory over death involves death itself. He dies to conquer death. This seems quite backward to us, as we would expect him to show himself powerful in the same ways we would - immortality, smiting the enemies, etc.

We also observe from today's readings that there is a particular dignity in death. both Joseph and Jesus receive anointings and special ceremonies. The dead are treated with respect and honor. It is not the honor that we might give to an ancestor we worship. Rather, it is an honor in treatment of the body which has been separated from the soul of the believer, the body which will someday become a partaker in the bodily resurrection. Is it costly to treat the dead appropriately? Yes, but it is worth it. This is an honor which we rightly give.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 77.11-15, Genesis 47.1-31, Mark 13.24-37 - Lectionary for 4/8/11

Today's readings are Psalm 77.11-15, Genesis 47.1-31, and Mark 13.24-37.

We open today's reading with an affirmation from the Psalmist - God is good, his works have been wonderful.  We continue by seeing how God preserves the people of Egypt and other nations through famine, though it results in the people being enslaved to Pharaoh. This is an event that many of us would consider as catastrophic. Yet it is evidence of God's provision. We look to our gospel reading today and see that Jesus is talking about his coming in the end of the world. What is the sign? The fig tree sends out its shoots to show summer is coming. So we know the coming of our Lord. We watch and when it is time we will know.

The image of the tree sprouting and growing strikes me. All around us in nature, even in places that are facing catastrophes, we see plants going through their natural cycles. When the time is right, the plant gets busy. Likewise, as our Lord is moving in this world, let us be ready to move in accord with his bidding. May we be sensitive to his word, his calling. There is no disaster which comes upon us that our Lord does not know about. His hand of provision is there in and through it all. We need only look to him.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Sermon for 4/6/11 - A Great Command

Sermon "A Great Command" audio at http://dl.dropbox.com/u/23575548/110406Mark12.mp3

Our Lord, of your good pleasure, you have provided all of our needs according to your riches in glory through Christ Jesus. Show us how we also fit into your plan as you continue to give daily bread to people all around us. Amen.

We have two great commandments. We are to love the Lord our God – entirely and always. We are to love our neighbor as ourselves. So as we look at this Gospel reading during this penitential season, we open ourselves to see ourselves as our Lord sees us.

First, love the Lord. Do we truly "fear, love and trust in God above all things"? What do we consider as a god, something to be served, something to motivate us, to guide our lives, that we should revere and worship? Do we trust in the true God? Do we trust in our own ability? Who is providing our daily bread? Who earned that diploma? Who made the money to buy that house or that car? Who is providing for our future? Whose name is on the retirement account? And whoever has a name on it, is that the person we're trusting? Or do we trust our employer? Maybe our government? Where do we find our security? Maybe we trust that the Lord will keep us as long as we have our job, our health, our family. What do we do when all that is taken away? What do we do when our community is ravaged by a natural disaster, when an epidemic strikes and half of our neighbors die, when our country is overrun by revolutionaries who burn all the homes of Christians? What will we do then? That's when we find out who we are serving. That's when we find out whether we fear, love and trust in God above all things. That's when we find out if we are loving the Lord, entirely and always.

May the Lord grant us repentance for trusting in ourselves. May he turn our hearts that we will look to him. May he grant us forgiveness and restoration, that we will look to him in hope, rather than to ourselves in selfish ambition.

But what's that second command, which is also so great? Love your neighbor as yourself. How do we love our neighbor? We see some examples, both positive and negative examples, in our Gospel reading today.

The scribes trust in doctrinal precision. Now doctrinal precision is a good thing. We don't want to scoff at it. We are called to reason together with the Lord. We are called to study and show ourselves approved. People who labor in the Word of God are affirmed in Scripture. We are to be fair minded like the Bereans who study the Scripture to see if the preaching is true or not. We should be doctrinally precise, as much as we can be, as often as we can be. There's nothing wrong with studying a good theology book or spending time making notes and outlining the Scripture passages you read. We want to look at God's Word very carefully and very frequently.

But does it end there? The scribes do all their study to be seen by the people around them. They want greetings in the marketplaces. They want to be honored. They want to be seen as holy. Yet they want to be honored because of their precision. They pursue all this study, all their scholarly exercises as just that, an exercise. That's a terrible misuse of time and effort. It's an abuse of God's Word. Do these seem like harsh words? After all, they are coming from someone who reads New Testament Greek fairly easily, from someone with a pretty good sized reference library (though it's mostly in boxes in the garage), and who has been working intensively with the Scriptures for some thirty years. You'd think I'd appreciate people studying the Scripture just to study it.

That isn't so. The study of the Bible which results only in doctrinal precision does no good whatsoever. In fact, it does harm to Christ's kingdom. It hinders people from hearing and receiving the life-giving words of God's grace, because it is tied up in correcting every little dot of their theology. It can bind burdens on people who will think they can't possibly understand the Bible so they throw up their hands and give up. It can result in a cold, unfeeling theological accuracy which has never given a cup of water to a thirsty person, which has never fed a hungry person, has never clothed the poor, and will never cross the street and stoop down to help a crying, lost child.

Proper study of Scripture drives us to care for our neighbors. Proper love for God drives us to minister to the needs of our neighbors. After all, that's just what God in Christ has done. He saw us, considered us his neighbors, and came to serve us. He saw our deepest need and came to meet it, since he was the one who could meet our need. He came to save, heal, and forgive. He loves us, his neighbors, and comes to us in our time of need. Our God delights in giving us our daily bread. And he does it through neighbors working in their vocations. He does it through us to other people as well. And he uses us to plant the seed of the Word of God in the hearts of our friends and neighbors. He uses us to nurture that faith that he is creating. He uses us to care for one another. He uses us, in short, to do almost all the good he's doing on this planet.

How does he do that? You don't have money enough to feed, clothe, and shelter all the poor. You don't have time to help all your neighbors with everything they could use help with. Not one of us has the resources. Neither did the widow in our Gospel passage this evening. She didn't have much. Most of us would look at her and say that she didn't have anything. She was living off her savings or what people gave her. And she didn't have much. But of what she had, she gave selflessly.

In her giving, did the widow provide anything that God didn't have? Not at all. It's a little bit like your child deciding to buy you a present so asking you for money. We don't give God anything he needs. He derives no benefit from our good works. But our neighbor does. Has the Lord blessed you to be able to provide something that your neighbor can use? Has the Lord blessed you with an opportunity to love your neighbor? You taking that opportunity is God's opportunity to love your neighbor through you.

Love the Lord your God. Love your neighbor.

Our Lord, as you have preserved us, let us preserve others, providing them with what you have given us. Give us a heart to follow you. Forgive us where we have failed our neighbors. Use us in your kingdom to bring you delight. Amen.

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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 26.1-7, Genesis 44.1-18, 32-34, Mark 12.28-44 - Lectionary for 4/6/11

Today is the day of Lucas Cranach and Albrechet Durer, artists.

Today's readings are Psalm 26.1-7, Genesis 44.1-18, 32-34, and Mark 12.28-44.

How do we walk with integrity? The Psalmist calls upon God to vindicate him because of his integrity. Look at our readings today from Genesis, where Joseph guards his brothers. It doesn't seem to me that he has a whole lot of integrity working here. Then again, he may be giving his brothers an illustration of what their lack of integrity accomplished. Of course, he may be acting in a vindictive manner. We're all pretty good at that too.  What about from the Gospel reading? How do we show integrity? We love God, we love our neighbor, we accept Jesus' words about who he is, and we do what we do out of a desire for the truth rather than a desire for acclamation. May the Lord direct our paths and make us to walk with integrity. And may we rejoice, knowing that our reward is in heaven, not on earth.

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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 37.16-20, Genesis 43.1-28, Mark 12.13-27 - Lectionary for 4/5/11

Today's readings are Psalm 37.16-20, Genesis 43.1-28, and Mark 12.13-27.

Our Psalm reading today talks about the joy of contentment. Most of us aren't too good at this. We want more, we want it bigger, better, faster, sooner, and more permanently. Yet we can look at our other readings to see why contentment is such a good thing. What of Joseph's brothers who have the food they need and who have their family? What about our Gospel reading? Who are the people who have to pay a lot of taxes? Those are people who have something to pay. It's a very good thing. What about the promise that Jesus gives about the resurrection? Are we to be concerned about who we might be married to in the resurrection? Not at all. In the resurrection we become the bride of Christ. Now there's something to be contented about.

Thanks be to God, who gives us all we need.

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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 3, Genesis 42.1-34, 38, Mark 12.1-12 - Lectionary for 4/4/11

Today's readings are Psalm 3, Genesis 42.1-34, 38, and Mark 12.1-12.

There's a very strong parallel between Joseph and Jesus. Both are betrayed and sold by their brothers. Both go through death, Joseph figuratively and Jesus literally. Both save God's people from evil. When we see evil come upon us and upon others we care for it's normal for us to struggle with the idea. It is difficult to see people suffer. Yet our Lord reminds us that we can look to him in times of suffering. Is there suffering which we endure that our Lord and Savior has not endured? Not at all. Let us look to the promises of our Lord as well. He is the one who is victorious even over death and who will bring God's righteous judgment upon all evil. Our God has not forgotten us.

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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Sermon for 4/3/11 "Moving Along"

Sermon: "Moving Along" Isaiah 42.14-21  Audio link http://dl.dropbox.com/u/23575548/110403Isaiah42.mp3

Lord, take us by the hand and guide us. Let us see where we are, where we are going, and what you would reveal to us in your word, through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with ┼ You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Have you ever been lost somewhere? Maybe you thought you knew where you were going but took a wrong turn somewhere. Maybe you were looking for that street that didn't have a sign at the corner. Maybe you were planning on staying near someone who knew where to go but you managed to become separated. For a while you think everything is fine. You are under the impression that you know where you are and where you are going. But after a while you realize that you are not making the kind of progress you thought you would. You may find you see landmarks you have seen before, or maybe you have a compass and can see that you are going a direction that doesn't make any sense. The mild sense of annoyance may turn to frustration as you circle, hunt, circle some more, and realize you really don't have a point of reference to get you to your destination. You need help and you know it.

In our Christian life, as we see in the passage from Isaiah 42, God knows precisely where we are and what he wants to do with us. He takes us by the hand and moves us along. He takes our blindness and makes it see. He takes the darkness around us and makes it sight. He protects us from harm. And he does it by showing himself to us. God in Christ has revealed himself to us and will enable us to follow him, walking in the light which he casts on our path.

Like the man in John 9 we gradually see our Lord better. Did you notice the progression the man in John 9 goes through? First he talks about Jesus as the man who healed him. Then he starts talking about Jesus as "the prophet. By the end of the passage he is talking about Jesus as the one we need to worship. The more he thinks about what Jesus did for him, the more clearly he sees Jesus for who he is.

In the same way, our Lord takes us by the hand and turns on the lights. He shows us how to walk as children of the light, with our lives open to inspection and affirmation from our heavenly Father. He shows us our sin by the light of his word. He calls us to repentance and grants us forgiveness.

Can we trust in our Lord? Do we realize that he is truly the one who shows us himself? Do we realize as we walk in the light that our Lord himself is the redeemer we need? Do we realize that Jesus Christ himself is the light of the world? That's what our Lord shows us. In Isaiah we saw that the condition of this sinful world requires God to come in judgment. He comes to "lay waste" our territory (v. 15). He is not going to allow sin to rule in the land, for he is the holy God who condemns sin.

How is this good news? We see that our world is cursed by sin, and that sin brings death. But God is coming to judge sin and to put that sin to death, by receiving it in himself, in the person of Jesus Christ. He is the one who puts sin to death by dying while bearing the load of sin, the sin of the world.

Why is this death of Christ any different from anyone else's death? What does Jesus have that we don't have? In God's economy, as he has declared, the offering for sin must be perfect, and it must be a perfect sample of the same kind as the sinner. Therefore a perfect, sinless human must die to effect salvation on all the rest of the sinful people. It would not be adequate if he were not perfect, so we need a person with no sin to die. Only Jesus can do this. Only Jesus can give his life for us. Only Jesus is perfect, without sin, yet fully human. That's why we confess both the full deity and full humanity of Christ. We see that it is necessary that the Savior must be fully God and fully man. Jesus shows himself to be just that.

Jesus does not stop there, though. He is not content with showing that he is the perfect one, complete with both a divine and a human nature. He doesn't stop with our knowing who he is. He refuses to stop until he is put to death in order to bear our sins. The point of the incarnation of Christ is that he should go to the cross and bear our sins for us. If he did not complete that work, his incarnation would be for nothing.

Then our Lord and Savior, who gave his life for us, has shown his sacrifice is adequate by rising from the dead, the firstfruits of the resurrection. He points us to a future resurrection, when we will rise, our body and soul will be united, and we will live with him for eternity.

We can't see this. We can't understand it. We can talk about it all day and all night and we still won't get it. We have no idea how important it is. We have no idea how blissful that heavenly bliss will be. We have no idea of the consuming vision of God in Christ which is in store for us. We can't understand it or fully appreciate it. But we do know our Lord has promised his presence, and that he will bring us to be with him at the end of the age. We do know that our Lord has promised to take us by the hand, to show us his light, and to lead us through this world. We do know that our Lord gives eyes to the blind and ears to the deaf. We do know that our Lord will show us the glory of his word. We do know that our Lord will not allow anything to harm his chosen people, that he is entirely committed to their living in his bliss forever.

How is our Lord revealing himself to us? He has promised to reveal himself to us in Word and Sacrament, particularly being present here for us in his body and blood. He has promised to be with us always, in the flesh, just as he was with his disciples before going to the cross. He has promised that he will not leave us or forsake us.

How do we see our Lord? Do we see him as being the one who has purchased our life, our healing, our salvation through his body broken for us and his blood shed for us? Do we see him as the one who is coming soon to bring us to be with him? Do we see him as the one who moves us from this life to the next by his mercy, just as he promised in his word? Then let us rejoice as we, who were blind and deaf, unable to figure out where we were, without a hope in the world, are gathered into unity and one accord, with the angels and archangels, crying out to our holy Lord, the Savior.

Let us pray.

Our Lord, you have taken us by the hand and have shown us this world for what is is, shown up by your light. Make us walk in the light, over the level ground that you have created at the foot of your cross, where we stand, gathered into one body by the one name under heaven by which we might be saved. Receive our thanksgiving and praise as we offer ourselves to you, who have offered yourself on our behalf, in the name of ┼ the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 60.1, 9-12, Genesis 41.28-57, Mark 11.20-33 - Lectionary for 4/3/11

Today's readings are Psalm 60.1, 9-12, Genesis 41.28-57, and Mark 11.20-33.

Do we ever wonder why our prayers don't seem to be answered? I do. As someone with a twenty year history of migraines and other various difficulties, I pray for relief frequently. And I pray for relief from struggles for other people all the time. It often seems that our prayers aren't answered. The Psalmist does the same in today's reading. It seems that God has forsaken his people. I know it must have seemed the same way to Joseph when he was sold into slavery and later imprisoned. it must have seemed the same way to the disciples who were told that whatever they prayed for God would give them, but who then saw the Lord and teacher taken away and killed.

We need to remember in all this that God answers our prayers according to his good will and in his good timing. Some of our prayers for healing will be answered in the final day when by faith we are partakers of the resurrection of Christ. Some of our prayers for healing will be answered today. Regardless of the timing, we are told in the Scripture that our Lord is good and his favor is upon his people. No harm will come to us, no matter what kind of trials we are enduring today. Let us look to our Lord in hope.

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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 11, Genesis 41.1-27, Mark 11.1-19 - Lectionary for 4/2/11

Today's readings are Psalm 11, Genesis 41.1-27, and Mark 11.1-19.

In our readings today we see God coming in judgment. The Psalmist reflects on the refuge the Lord provides for those who believe in him even while the Lord pours out judgment upon the evildoers. In Genesis we see God warning Pharaoh of the coming judgment. He will have seven years of plenty then seven years of famine. God again provides refuge for those who believe. Joseph is there to help make preparations for the coming troubles. Finally in Mark we see Jesus entering Jerusalem. He comes in peace but he brings judgment on sin. The symbolic cursing of the fig tree is often seen as a curing of unfaithful and unfruitful Israel, which is often depicted as a fig tree. Jesus, the true temple of God, drives out the profiteers from the temple building in Jerusalem. He is coming in judgment, judgment on sin and evil, in order to deliver his people.

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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com