Sermon – July 26, 2020 – Pentecost 8

Printable PDF:  7-26-2020 Pentecost 8 Sermon

Vicar Lindemann  ~  Pentecost 8  ~  July 26, 2020  ~  Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9Whoever has ears, let them hear.”… 18“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown.”

 

Jesus sows his Word on your heart

 In this past year, I have learned all kinds of lessons from all kinds of different people. You have all come with your unique lessons for me, like you were sprinkling and sowing all different kinds of seeds on my soil for me to learn. Things you said, things you didn’t say, the way we had to maneuver through a global pandemic, the way you acted, the way you show your love to each other and to me. Consider all those lessons planted in me. God willing, I can take all those lessons with me for the rest of my life when I’m a pastor some day. I’ll never forget the amazing year I had with you here. In our parable for today, we have a different kind of seed sown on a different kind of field. Instead of many seeds sown in one spot, Jesus shows us one sower who sows his one kind of good seed onto many different places. The sower is Jesus, who sows his Word on your heart. Don’t let anyone take it, but hear it and believe it.

  1. Don’t let anyone take it. (verses 3-7 and 19-22)

This is the first of Jesus’ parables that we find in the Bible. Remember that a parable is a simple story that Jesus tells to teach the truth of God’s Word. In this parable, Jesus shows us a sower who takes his good seed out of his pouch and throws it everywhere on the ground. Jesus is the sower. The good news of his Word is the good seed. He gives his Word out to everyone! He sows his Word to people in the same way that we heard in the Old Testament lesson today, like rains that water the earth. Everywhere! Like this sower he gives the good news of his Gospel to everyone.

The good seed lands on the ground. The good news comes to people. The good news comes to hearts. In Jesus’ parable, the interaction between the seed and the ground is the same interaction between his Word and our hearts. The examples of the different kinds of soil are not for us to try to classify people according to which soil you might think a person is. The example of these different interactions between his Word and our hearts is a warning for each of us:  Don’t let anyone take his word away from you.

Because many try to snatch it up, the first interaction between hearts and the Word that Jesus describes is the seed that falls on the path. The sower sows his seed and some of it lands on the path. The seed stays out of the ground that is too hard, and so the birds come and snatch it away. When God’s Word comes to a heart that doesn’t believe it, the devil snatches up the Word. 19When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart.

In the next interaction, the sower sows some seed into the rocky places, like the rock beds next to the sidewalk. Some of the seed can find some soil to spring up quickly after a rain, but then when the sun beats on it, it shrivels up and dies quickly. This is when God’s Word lands on a heart, but when the scorching sun of troubles come, faith does not last. 20The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 

The final warning is when the sower sows the seed into the thorns. The seed takes root, it grows up, but it is not a healthy plant because the thorns choke it out, and the weeds stop it from growing. This is what happens when a heart receives God’s Word, it grows faith, but anything in the world holds that faith back. And it can really be anything – anything from something distressing to something comforting. Those thorns that choke out faith could be worries or pleasures – whatever takes your eyes off Jesus. 22The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.

When you consider these different ways that hearts interact with the Word, we don’t want any one of them to be us. But the truth is, our hearts have been each one of those unreceptive kinds of ground. By the sinful nature that we inherited from our parents at the beginning of each one of our lives, we were dead in sin. Our hearts were like that hard path that would not take in the Word of God, and the devil would take it away. Our hearts have also been like those rocky places. We say good things with our lips, but as soon as trouble comes we are tempted to give up quickly on our faith. When pressure comes against us to fall away from faith in Jesus, it seems like a very little chance that our hearts survive the heat. And our hearts have also been like the thorns. It is too easy to become distracted by the world. Even when our faith has been strong for a while, the world always has new ways to distract us. We get worried about disease or the sanity of our nation, and our faith is held back. Or we take comfort in the things we have and put confidence in ourselves, and it chokes out our faith.

Jesus gives us these examples so that we don’t let anyone take his Word away from us. How can we do that? We have already seen that if it’s up to us, something will come to take it away. The way to hold on to his word is to hear God’s Word and repent. Repentance keeps the dangers away. When you notice the Word of God slipping from your grasp, repent! When one of those dangers comes into your life, repent! And keep your eyes on Jesus. Let his word work in you to awaken you to those dangers and to heal your heart with the Gospel.

Jesus sows his Word on your heart. Don’t let anyone take his good word away from you. Those three warnings remind us of that. The final type of ground that Jesus uses to teach us in this parable is not a warning, but an encouragement – an encouragement planted in the Gospel that has come to each one of you. Jesus sows his Word on your heart. Hear it and believe it!

  1. Hear it and believe it! (verses 8-9, 23)

The final type of ground is the good soil. This is the ground that will receive the seed like it was designed, the seed will take root and grow and grow until it is a strong and healthy crop, way bigger than it started. And Jesus says that it describes this heart:  23But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

Can we all count ourselves here? Have we always heard and understood God’s Word? The beautiful thing about understanding Jesus, is that you don’t have to know everything to understand him. Who can know everything about eternity, about the Trinity, and about the mind of God? That’s not what Jesus is talking about. But you hear the word and understand it when you believe in him, when you trust in Jesus, when you have faith in him. We understand God’s Word by faith. You don’t have to be as smart as God to believe Jesus’ words. So hear God’s Word! Believe it!

And when Jesus sows his word on your heart and you hear it and believe it, the Gospel works wonders on you. When warnings from God cut us to the heart, and Jesus shows us the ways that our hearts have been hard, he leads us to repent. And then he lifts us up and heals us. He forgives your sins. He has forgiven you for every hard-hearted action and suffered for it on the cross. And he rose again to change your heart. Your hearts are not hard paths or rocky places or thorny weeds because Jesus changes your heart to be like that good soil. The one who encourages you to hear his word and believe it has given you the faith to do it. The good news that Jesus loves you and forgives you plants itself in your heart and has produced amazing saving faith in you. He has sown his word on your heart and it is producing an overflowing crop of faith.

9Whoever has ears, let them hear.” Is that you? Do you have ears? Use them. Use them to hear and believe God’s Word. Here is Jesus sowing his Word on your hearts through your eyes and ears. Here are the secrets to the kingdom of God. Here is the Gospel that heals and saves your soul. It will not fall on deaf ears, but rather ears that love to hear and receive the wonders of God.

And God’s Word will not just produce a little bit in you, but as you keep on using your ears to hear and believe, he will produce in you a crop 30 or 60 or 100 times over. Keep on hearing and believing after your vicar leaves. Keep on hearing and believing as the world changes and people come in and out of your lives. Keep on believing even after you can’t hear anymore. And God will work his Word in you and in me, and make our faith grow and grow until he reunites us all again in heaven, gathered around his powerful Word.

I will never forget the lessons you have given me and the love you have shown to me. But even more important than that is that Jesus sows his Word on your heart. Don’t let anyone take it away. Many will try throughout the rest of your life, but keep your eyes on Jesus, always following his word to repentance. Hear and believe his Word. He has given you the great news of the Gospel. He has forgiven all your sins and has paradise ready for us to enjoy together. Amen.

Sermon – July 19, 2020 – Pentecost 7

Printable PDF:  7-12-2020 Pentecost 7

Pastor Mark R Jacobson      ~       Pentecost 7 (July 19, 2020)             ~               Matthew 11:25-30

25At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do. 27“All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

 IT’S TIME TO YOKE UP!

“At that time” is how the Apostle Matthew starts the Gospel appointed for today and the rest of our Sunday Gospel is a quote from Jesus. It’s always good to quote Jesus and Matthew quotes one of the most comforting statements our Lord Jesus has ever said. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” What a beautiful text! Yet when Matthew himself writes, “At that time,” Matthew is also communicating that context is important. So what is the context of these beautiful and comforting words of Jesus? The context is what happened earlier in chapter 11. In chapter 11 John the Baptist is in King Herod’s prison because of his faithful preaching of God’s Word to Herod and the disciples of John the Baptist had come to Jesus and asked, “Are you the one who is to come or should we expect someone else?” (11:3). The context wasn’t good for John the Baptist and his disciples and the context wasn’t really good for Jesus and his disciples either. Matthew reports later in chapter 11, “Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent” (20).

Like Our Father and His Son

“At that time” the context wasn’t good. I know we have read what Jesus said, but given the context, what might you have said if you were Jesus? Might you have said, “I’m just done! I’m not doing this anymore.” Might you have complained, “What’s wrong with those people? Or “Why did I get this job?”” Of course Jesus didn’t shrink and Jesus didn’t pout. “At that time Jesus said, ‘I praise you Father, Lord of heaven and earth,” and the reason for his praise, “because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.’” “These things” are the Gospel truths. You can find these Gospel truths all kinds of children’s songs like “Away in a Manger” or “Jesus Loves Me This I Know” or “I am Jesus’ little Lamb.” Little children know all about these gospel truths, but the wise and learned do not.

Allow me to show off my wisdom and learning. I haven’t exactly been on vacation four straight weeks. One of those weeks I was fine-tuning my Greek with 10 other Lutheran Pastors and a Professor from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. One technical point I was reminded of was to be aware of the presence or the absence of the Greek definite article. The definite article in English is the word “the.” If I say, “The dogs are friendly,” the definite article “the” points to a SPECIFIC set of dogs that are friendly. If I don’t have the definite article, “the,” and just says, “Dogs are friendly,” then I am no longer talking about any specific set of dogs, but about a general characteristic of all dogs. Dogs are friendly. They bark. They wag their tail. Sniff and slobber on you.

Jesus doesn’t speak with a Greek definite article so he’s not speaking about any specific wise and learned people or any specific little children. He’s emphasizing a quality. The dominant quality of the wise and learned person is he knows everything or at least thinks he knows everything. In this context that quality is meant to teach that gospel truths are hidden from those who think they know more than Jesus. The dominant quality of little children is trust. Little children trust they and their needs will be taken care of. Trust is also the quality of a disciple of Jesus. Disciples of Jesus trust in Jesus and in everything Jesus says.

Discipleship is rocket science or brain surgery. Not everyone can build rockets or perform brain surgery, but everyone has believed like a little child and everyone can believe in God’s plan of salvation. God the Father and God the Son were perfectly united in this plan. It brought them pleasure and praise.  God the Father and God the Son would not feel defeated in the least by those who stubbornly rejected this plan because they think they are smarter than God. Instead God the Father through God the Son would continue to minister to those who did trust in Jesus even as they endure the difficulties of the evil around them.

To our Lord Jesus Christ

At that time, in that difficult context, Jesus said those beautiful and comforting words, 28“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” What would Jesus say at this time? What would Jesus tell us in the context of this year, 2020? Are you weary and burdened? How could you not be? Covid-19 has been exhausting. The multiple divisions in our country has been exhausting. And thinking what our Christian response should be to these challenges has been exhausting. What would Jesus say to us who are weary and burdened by these issues?

Wouldn’t Jesus say what he already has said? “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” Come to Jesus. Come to Jesus and he will give you rest. Come to Jesus and he will tell you the reason for the unrest. Jesus will remind you of a more deadly virus and an even greater division. The greater division is between you and God. The more deadly virus is sin. That’s why Jesus had come into our world and why Jesus had died on our cross. And through his life had death Jesus has healed us from the sin virus and Jesus has removed the division that existed between God and man.

“Come to me,” Jesus said, “and I will give you rest.” Rest feels good. Rest comes when the work is done. On the seventh day God rested from his creating work because there was no more creating work to do. One reason Jesus ascended into heaven because his redeeming work was finished. There is no more redeeming work to do. God is at rest with us and our sins and as we come to Jesus in his Word we are reminded that Jesus has in fact given us rest. Our issue with God has been settled through Jesus and through Jesus we have help for what is all going on at this time of 2020.

With those who are weary and burdened

Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” The yoke Jesus speaks of was not the middle of an egg, but a heavy piece of farming equipment. The yoke was attached to a pair of oxen. Together the oxen were called to carry that heavy yoke to plow a field.  The yoke was heavy and when people talked about carry a heavy burden they talked about carrying a yoke. In the Bible slavery is described as a yoke and the law is described as a yoke, but here Jesus speaks of his own yoke, but his yoke is easy and his burden is light.

What is the yoke of Jesus? What is his burden? Jesus doesn’t exactly spell this out for us, but I wonder if he isn’t give us a strong hint when he says, “take my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart.” Humility is thinking of others before you think of yourself. Gentleness is about trying to help people without trying to hurt them. Gentleness is what wins the egg toss at the church picture. Gentleness is what you want from a dentist. You don’t want to see a sledgehammer in the dent’s office.

At this time, in our context, I think we all could benefit from people who are humble and gentle like Jesus. At this time, I think a lot people could benefit from us being humble and gentle like Jesus. It’s time to yoke up like our Father and his Son. They were perfectly united in their plan of salvation. It’s time to yoke up with our Lord Jesus Christ. He gives us rest from our sins and help for our life. It’s time to yoke up with the weary and burdened. Be humble with others and gentle, especially with those who have don’t see things the same way as you. Nobody really knows what is going at this time and in our context, but when we yoke up with others with humility and gentles we too like Jesus can give people some rest and we can find rest for our souls too. Amen.

Sermon – July 12, 2020 – Pentecost 6

Printable PDF:  7-12-2020 Pentecost 6

Vicar Jason Lindemann  ~  July 12, 2020  ~  Pentecost 6  ~  Matthew 10:34-42

Matthew 10:34-42: 34“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35For I have come to turn “‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law- 36a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ 37“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

40“Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”

 

What does Jesus mean to you?

 What does Jesus mean to you? How would you answer that? What would everyone say if we gathered around in a circle and answered? If you were 6th or 7th in the circle, what answers do you think the other Christians would give that you would say, “Hey, you took mine!” What does Jesus mean to you? “Jesus means everything to me.” “Jesus is my God.” Alright, those are good ones. “Jesus is my friend.” “Jesus helped me out of a really dark place.” Your turn is getting closer. “Jesus died for me so I want to live for him.” “Jesus forgave me all of my sins and that means I get to go to heaven with him.”  Oh man, that’s what I was going to say. Those are good answers to that question, and are necessary answers to understand when we hear the answer that our lesson gives us today. What does Jesus mean to you? Jesus means so much to me that I see him in every single part of my life. I would rather lose anything or anyone than have them without Jesus. See him in private and in public.

  1. See him in private

If we are going to talk about seeing Jesus in private, we have to start at our most private place – home. In your most personal and private relationships, it is important to see Jesus. But seeing Jesus there could have some scary results. Jesus says that he turns parents against sons and daughters. That’s shocking. Doesn’t Jesus teach “honor your father and mother?” How could Jesus cause parent and son and daughter to turn on each other? I suppose it would be just as shocking as receiving an email and phone call from Grace Lutheran Church which says “Everyone stop coming to church!” But that happened too, didn’t it?

When we see these seemingly strange instructions, it’s usually because the first commandment fills Jesus’ words, “You shall have no other God. We should fear, love and trust in God above all things.” We stopped coming to church back in March because that was the best way to fear, love and trust in God above all things. And in this situation, when a son or daughter turns against their parent, it is because of the first commandment too. That’s what Jesus means when he says, Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. When you consider what Jesus means to you, it can bring a sword even between the most private relationships.

What does Jesus mean to you? Don’t answer this question too quickly! Jesus wants us to think about what it means to have the number one place in your heart.  Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. I love my mom and dad a whole lot! They raised me, they loved me, they still love me, I would do anything for them! And Jesus says, I get that, I want you to love them. But, in your private relationships I want you to see me.

In this sinful world, not everyone loves Jesus the way you do – including some of our closest, private relationships. For many people, Jesus is not #1. And so what will you do at the fork in the road, when Jesus leads you down the hard road that brings you closer to him, and your private relationship leads you down the easy road that leads you away from Jesus? Well can’t I just love them equally and hope that fork in the road never comes? Then our answer to the question “What does Jesus mean to you?” changes. No longer is he #1, but he’s tied for first, or maybe a close second, to that meaningful private life. And if anyone takes Jesus number one spot, the first commandment is broken, and we are not worthy of Jesus.

That’s the sword that Jesus is talking about. At the moment of truth, who is your #1? If the answer is Jesus, a painful sword might have to come to sever that closest, favorite, private relationship – even a sword between a Christian and their straying parent or son or daughter.

It’s a painful process. Jesus calls it a cross. 38Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. There is risk in seeing Jesus in private. It separates you. Follow Jesus or follow along into breaking a commandment? Follow God’s will of how we speak and how we view marriage, or quietly entertain attitudes that go against God’s will? And most importantly, when you see Jesus in private, it makes you concerned about the souls of those people closest to you. You want him to mean something to them. Seeing Jesus compels us to talk about our faith in him.

Sometimes that other person does listen to you, or respects your decisions, but often, the consequences of Jesus entering a private relationship are hard. It’s painful when you can’t join another person because of Jesus. It hurts when siding with God’s word offends someone you care about. It is so sad when faith and unbelief damage a private relationship. Sometimes those broken relationships are the crosses we bear.

Carrying that cross is painful, and those hardships tempt us to live like the rest of the world, without Jesus as #1. But that kind of life that the world loves, will not last. 39Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. Anyone who has that seemingly pleasant life without Jesus in it will lose eternal life in heaven. Don’t find your life on earth. What does Jesus mean to you? So much that you love him even more than your favorite, private life. It would be better to lose your whole life for Jesus’ sake, because Jesus is worth more than everything. He gave up his life for us. He showed you the most love, he loves you the best and he wants what is absolutely best for you. Jesus won you eternal life in heaven with a perfect relationship with your heavenly Father. Find your life in Jesus.

We love Jesus so much that we fear love and trust in him above all things, even above those we also love. When we see Jesus in private, we can lose a lot, but he makes sure we don’t lose eternal life with him. But loving Jesus isn’t just about losing. Jesus promises that there will be also others who love Jesus as much as we do. Jesus gives amazing blessings when we not only see him in private, but see him in public.

  1. See him in public

How can I use my public life to answer the question of what Jesus means to me? How can I best serve my Lord with what I do for the world to see day by day? The answer is different for everyone. Some answer by training for the public ministry, to serve the public with the words of God. But you don’t have to be in the public ministry to see Jesus in public in your life. When you want to see Jesus in public, you let your light shine in words and actions. It makes people see what Jesus means to you, especially, other Christians who do the same thing. Jesus draws people together. He creates new relationships. Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.  When people strive to make Jesus a part of their public life, they work together to do that. This church is a gathering of people who very publicly see Jesus, and support and promote the public ministry so that we can serve the public with the word of God. Your relationship with every single person here and anyone you tell about your church and your relationship with your God is centered on seeing Jesus in public.

These efforts that you make are not worthless. Jesus takes note of everything you do. 41Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. When you support and promote the spreading of God’s Word, there will be people who believe it and cherish it. When you see Jesus in public and serve Jesus with your life, there will be people who recognize that you follow Jesus. You just don’t know when that will be. But Jesus takes note of everything you do, 42And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” He even takes note of a small, insignificant act of love for the sake of Jesus.

Jesus knows what he means to you, and he will give you great rewards. He gives you great rewards because of what he has done for you. He trades your shortcomings for his righteousness so that you are a righteous person before God. And the people who have Jesus’ righteousness get the reward of heaven. And he gives you rewards even on top of heaven. He gives you blessings because you show Jesus what he means to you. He strengthens your faith to see him clearer. He works through the efforts you make. He doesn’t forget a single thing you have done for him, and he will richly reward you for every single one in heaven.

What does Jesus mean to you? Jesus means so much to me that I see him in every single part of my life. I would rather lose anything or anyone than have them without Jesus. We see him in private. Even when it puts strain on a relationship and it feels like a heavy cross, he means so much to us that we carry that cross to follow him. We see him in public. We let everyone see Jesus in how we act and how we promote his message with this church. And Jesus blesses and rewards us far beyond we deserve with his love for us. Amen.

Sermon – July 5, 2020 – Pentecost 5

Printable PDF:  Pentecost 5 – Divine Service II

David R. Clark   ~   July 5, 2020  ~  Pentecost 5  ~  Matthew 10:24-33

Don’t Be Afraid

24 “The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household! 26 “So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. 32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.

 

Dear friends in our Savior Jesus,

          There seems to be a commonality in many of the conversations I’ve had with people lately. It’s not COVID-19, although I’m sure that has contributed. It’s about “fear.” So many times, people will say things like this: “I’m afraid that…” or “I’m worried that…”

          We all have our fears. Some people fear living things: like snakes, bugs, rodents. Others have fears of losing: their jobs, their health, their lives. Still others have fear of situations: heights, enclosed spaces, change.

           A little fear can be a good thing. We teach children to fear walking in the street. Luther’s explanations to the commandments start, “We should fear and love God that…”

          But sometimes fear is a lack of faith. We shouldn’t fear for our country knowing that God is directing all things. And we shouldn’t fear what it means to be a believer in an unbelieving world. Jesus knew this would not be easy. Three times, as he was sending his disciples out on their vicar year, he told them: “DON’T BE AFRAID.”

  1. As you pay a price for being a believer

          It is a simple thing to say, “Don’t be afraid.” But Jesus explains what his disciples should expect. Forewarned is fore armed. He explains why they do not need to fear.

          (24-28) 24 “The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household! 26 “So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

          Remember how they treated Jesus? Remember how he was ridiculed and mocked? Remember how people wouldn’t understand him? If it happened to Jesus, then don’t be surprised if it also happens to you. The denial of Jesus was so strong that some people said: (Mt 12:24) “It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.” If they treated Jesus this way, disciples should not expect any different.

          That’s usually where the fear comes in. Some people claim to like to be unique or individuals, but no one likes to be ridiculed. We want people to like us. That’s when the temptation to fear comes. That temptation is real and it is powerful.

When it seems like everyone is criticizing authorities, it’s hard to be the voice that “honors, serves, and obeys them and gives them love and respect.” When people cheapen human life, whether it be an unborn child, or someone of a different race, it’s difficult to stand up and say, “Jesus considers them so precious, he died for them too.” Shades of truth was originated by Satan. But are you willing to tell that to someone who thinks truth and opinion are the same thing? That’s where the fear comes in.

          Jesus was faced with such crises, yet he never hesitated. In love he spoke up, even when people called what was the truth a lie, and the lie, truth; what was bad, good, and what was good, bad. That’s what it took to win salvation for you and me. He pleased God, not his human flesh, or other people, because he loved us that much.

As students of him as our master, we look at it as a privilege to stand up for him. We know that is not always popular. The tongue of public opinion is razor sharp. We may suffer just a little bit of what he suffered for us for doing so. But, don’t be surprise and do not be afraid.

  1. Because you reap benefits for being a believer.

          It’s easier to be confident if we look to Jesus. If we see how blessed we are to have a Savior who has paid for every time we have feared. But there are many more benefits to being a believer than just salvation. You have great benefit right now today. (29-33) 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. 32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.

          Would you be impressed if someone could tell you exactly how many pigeons there are in downtown Glendale? Would you be even more impressed to have that same person know when one of them dies? Your Father in heaven does. But he doesn’t care about them nearly the way he cares for you. He rose for you. If he cares for something as worthless as a pigeon, imagine what his care for you is like!

You all know what it is to be loved by someone, a parent, a spouse, a child; it shows in the way they treat us. We treasure and appreciate those people. Jesus does better! He knows you so intimately and so personally that he even knows the number of hairs on your head. Ok, he doesn’t have to count as high for some people as others!

What would you do for someone who loves you like that? Would you speak up for him and acknowledge him even when it is uncomfortable. Even if it meant you had to suffer for him? We aren’t afraid because we reap benefits for being believers.

Maybe it’s just a figure of speech when people say, “I’m afraid that,” or “I’m concerned that.” Or maybe we need to look more and more to Jesus. Brothers and sisters, God’s care for you is every day, day by day, forever. Look to him. Grow in him. And as you do, don’t be afraid. Amen.