Baptism of Siena Taulien [Ephesians 6:10-20] (9-Feb-2013)

This sermon was preached at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Traralgon, 2.45pm.

Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ.

Text: (Ephesians 6:10-20)

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

Prayer: May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.

For our sermon today, it might seem strange that I have chose to meditate on a passage which doesn’t actually mention baptism. And in this sermon today, I won’t attempt to explain every detail of this passage.

This passage is a very famous passage amongst Christians, and for some people, it is one of their favourite bible passages. Most people who have been to Sunday School have been taught this reading at some point, drawing a picture of a Roman soldier with all his different pieces of armour, representing different things.

We have the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the readiness given by the gospel of peace as shoes for your feet. We have the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one. We have the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

And St Paul in our reading calls each person to put this armour on.

Now, if you can imagine the picture that St Paul is describing, he is speaking about all these different things—truth, righteousness, readiness, faith, salvation, and the word of God—as if they were parts of a suit of armour, and weapons.

But the question we need to ask is how exactly are we called to use them?

St Paul depicts for us a Roman soldier. Now, the Romans were among the most brilliant when it came to warfare in the ancient world.

St Paul himself who wrote this letter lived under Roman rule. In fact, he was a Roman citizen by birth. At Christmas, we often hear about how Joseph and Mary had to travel because Caesar Augustus had called for a census. This passage of the bible was written under Roman occupation, and the picture of a Roman soldier was a familiar one to many people.

Now what was it that made the Romans so great? Well, there are two aspects to warfare. The first one is attacking a place and invading it. This is the easiest part of warfare. But there is an aspect of warfare that is much more difficult, and that is keeping and holding the territory.

As we can see in our present day situation, the Americans easily invaded Iraq and Afghanistan. But keeping peace in Afghanistan and maintaining civil order is much more difficult. It’s much more frustrating.

In the Ancient Roman times, there were different kinds of troops—there were offensive troops. They went in and took over a particular city. But then there were also the sentries. They were called to stand at the borders and to keep watch. A Roman soldier would be put to death if he deserted his post or fell asleep at his post.

And so the Ancient Romans managed to hold such large territory for centuries because they had such a highly structured border patrol with sentries. Sometimes these sentries would go for years and never see a single thing at their post, but they contributed to what became known as the “Peace of Rome” – the Pax Romana.

Now what does this have to do with Siena and her baptism?

Well, when we are baptised, Jesus Christ himself pours out on us all his gifts through the Holy Spirit. We are given the forgiveness of sins, life, salvation, and made into one of God’s own children.

It is Jesus Christ himself who suffered and died for us on the cross and rose again on the third day. And then he applies all the blessings of his death and his resurrection to us, even today, in the church, through means of Holy Baptism.

So St Paul says in Romans 6: All of us who were baptised into Christ Jesus, were baptised into his death. We were buried therefore with him through baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead, we too might walk in the newness of life.

It’s a wonderful miracle that is brought about in baptism here today! Siena is doing nothing today, but God is doing something great. God is the one who is working. In fact, Jesus Christ himself is the one who comes today and baptises with his own Holy Spirit.

In our three readings today from John and Titus and Ezekiel, we read that baptism gives a new heart, that it is a new birth by water and the Spirit, that we are born again, that God saves us through this water.

In fact, in Galatians it says, For as many of you as were baptised into Christ have put on Christ.

Now back to the armour and the ancient Romans.

Our spiritual warfare as Christians: what are being called to do? Are we called to invade new territory, or simply watch at the border?

We are simply called to watch. Jesus is the one who has won the battle. He has invaded the devil’s territory and conquered it. He has won the great victory of  all time through his death and resurrection. And when we need help, we don’t fight for ourselves, we just call in Jesus. He is even stronger that death itself!

Today, Siena enters onto holy ground. She becomes a holy person. She becomes a Christian, and is made one of God’s children, part of Jesus’ own family and shares in Jesus’ everlasting inheritance. Siena is now holy ground.

And now, for the rest of her life, she is called simply to guard, with the help of the Holy Spirit, what she has been given. The belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness has already been given to her.

St Paul now calls us every day to simply put it on.

And then what? Charge into battle?

Listen to what St Paul says: Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastenedd on the belt of truth…

Listen to the words: withstand, stand firm, stand. St Paul is not saying: charge, charge, charge. And sometimes many people find these warlike images in the bible bad taste, because many Christians have made the mistake of going on crusades, big ones and little ones. But instead, St Paul says: Stand, stand, stand. Guard your post, guard the holy ground, pray for those who have been given to you. Keep watch, stand firm, guard your post.

Today, through baptism, Siena will declare war on the devil. The first baptismal vow is: “Do you reject the devil and all his works and all his ways?”

All God’s gifts will be given to her. Jesus Christ himself will pour out all his holiness upon her, all his forgiveness, and will take upon himself all her sin, in the past, present and future. The task now is to stand firm and guard the post. As St Paul says: Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

And so, let’s celebrate this wonderful occasion today of Siena’s baptism, let’s pray for her and commend her into the hands of her Maker and Saviour, Jesus Christ. And together with our Lord Jesus, let’s clothe ourselves together with Siena in God’s strong armour of baptism. As St Paul says in Galatians: As many of you as were baptised into Christ have put on Christ.

Amen.

The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Sexagesima: Audio Sermon (3-Feb-2013)

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Sexagesima [Luke 8:4-15] (3-Feb-2013)

This sermon was preached at St Paul's Lutheran Church, Darnum (9am), Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Traralgon (11am) and Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Bairnsdale (3pm).

Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ.

Text: (Luke 8:4-15)

As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.

Prayer: May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.

The parable of the sower is one of the greatest of Jesus’ parables, and every time I preach on it, I have noticed that different people often have a real fascination with it, and are quite struck by the power of this parable.

In some sense, it provides an answer to that question that many people often ask themselves: Why are some people saved and not others?

And the answer that Jesus gives indicates that the problem is not with the seed. The problem is not the word of God. The problem is the quality of the soil: Does the seed fall alongside a path? Does the seed fall upon rocks? Does the seed fall among thorns? Or does the seed fall on good soil, and grow, and yield a hundredfold?

But the only problem with diving into the parable in this way is that the parable doesn’t actually address us at our particular situation in life. When we read the bible, we need to take each part of it and apply it to ourselves in such a way that we ask ourselves, “Where do I fit into this parable?” How does this parable show me my sin? What does this parable teach me about Jesus Christ, and what he has done for me?

So let’s listen to the parable:

Jesus says: A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and yielded a hundredfold.

Later Jesus explains the parable: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard. Then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. As for that in good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.

Many people will listen to this parable and simply say to themselves: “Obviously, the place where I fit into the parable is that I am part of the good soil. I enjoy listening to the word of God and I’ve been listening to the word of God for a long time.”

But the problem when think like this is that we begin to imagine that the rest of the parable doesn’t apply to us at all. The path, the rocks, the thorns: that’s all talking about other people.

But then people will say: “But if I am on the path, the rock, the thorns, then I’m up the creek without the paddle.” People even may start to think that they are predestined to hell by God, and that there’s nothing that they can do about it. People might think, “I want to believe in Jesus’ words, I want to be good soil, but I just can’t, no matter how hard I try—and maybe I’m doomed, no matter what I do.”

That’s simply not the way God works. God always sows his seed, and he always wants to call people to faith. He’s always scattering his blessings on you, and the fact that you are here to hear the word of God is a good thing. God is planting his seed. And the seed is the thing that grows into the plant—it’s the word of God that has power in it for you to believe in it. The word of God itself creates the power to believe  in your heart when it enters your ears.

But right at the centre of the passage today is wonderful verse where it says: And when his disciples asked [Jesus] what this parable meant, he said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.”

Listen to these words: To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God. Actually, a better translation for the word secrets is “mysteries”: To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God.

When you tell someone a secret, it’s not a secret anymore. But when you tell someone a mystery, it leads them in, and the mystery becomes deeper.

In these parables there is a great mystery hidden. To many people, the parable won’t make any sense. But Jesus is inviting you in through his door to show you this great mystery of the kingdom of God.

And Jesus says: To you it has been given to know these mysteries. When we hear the word “know”, we think it has to do with knowing some information, or something like that. We say, “Yes, we’ve heard the mystery, and now I know it.” But in the bible, the word “know” means not something that happens in your head, but something which happens with the whole of your being, your body, soul, heart, mind, spirit. It means something like “experience”. So we could also translate what Jesus is saying like this: To you it has been given to learn by experience the mysteries of the kingdom of the God.

In Hebrew, the word “know” is often used to talk about sex, for example. It says in Genesis, Adam knew his wife and she conceived. So you can see that here “knowing” has something to do with “experience”.

And so Jesus says: To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God.

But also, then Jesus says: The seed is the word of God.

Now also, in the bible, especially in Hebrew, the word for “word” isדבר (dabhar), which can also mean an event, and thing.

So when the shepherds hear the angels in the fields, they say: “Let us go to Bethlehem and see the thing [or see the word, or the event] which the angel has told us.”

A “word” in the bible isn’t simply a bit of information. It’s something physical. It has a power in it. It doesn’t just say something, it does something. It creates something. It brings something about. And this is especially true when we talk about the word of God. That’s why preaching is so important in the church, because the word of God is also an event, it’s something that takes place and happens. As it says in Hebrews, the word of God is living and active, sharper that any two-edged sword. Think now about how Jesus says: The seed is the word of God. Think about how a seed is living and active. You plant a seed in the ground and it does something. It fattens up and bursts forth into a shoot, and it grow up into a large plant.

What a wonderful thing it is that God created life to work like this! Jesus also tells his disciple about the tiny mustard seed that grows into the largest bush in the garden and all the birds come and make nests in its branches.

But now, let’s look at the different types of ground.

Firstly, Jesus says: Some [seed] fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. He explains: The ones along the path are those who have heard. Then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.

Now, does this part of the parable apply to you? God forbid it! But notice that Jesus says: The one along the path are those who have heard. We are all hearing the word of God now. The ones along the path have heard the word of God just like us. But the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.

We learn here just what a pain in the neck the devil really is! And right from the time of the fall, the devil just enjoys messing things up for people! He goes around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. But Jesus has already conquered the devil and defeated him. Jesus and the devil are not equals. Jesus died on the cross and rose again from the dead. The devil could never do that. And St John says: The reason why the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

And the devil doesn’t have a powerful word like this seed which Jesus describes. All the devil can do is twist, destroy, trample underfoot, peck and undo good work that has been already done. Martin Luther wrote that wonderful hymn: A mighty fortress is our God, where it says: Though devils all the word should fill, All eager to devour us, We tremble not, we fear no ill, they shall not overpower us… and then it says: One little word can fell him. One little mustard seed.

And the devil knows just what a powerful word this word of God really is. And so he desires to take it away.

Do you know how precious the word of God is? The devil knows! Does the devil know better than you? Do you seek to cherish and learn and meditate on the Scripture? Do you go home after church and read the readings in your bible at home? Do you read your bible at home at all? You need good weapons to spit in the face of the devil—and if the devil attacks, it’s not for you to fight him, but to stand your guard, and call in Jesus to do to heavy lifting. He knows best how to ward him off. Jesus knows how to fight for you.

And so we pray: Jesus, come and fight for us. Come and scare off the devil and all his pesky crows. Take my heart and change it from being the devil’s walkway and work it, and till it, and make it into good soil so that your word can grow.

Then Jesus says: Some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. He explains: The ones who fell on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away.

These people hear the word, and receive it with joy, just like us! But many a time, the beams of the sun really crack down on us in our life, and we really feel worn out and under attack. We come into a time of testing. Someone close to us dies, or we have an accident, or we experience bad health, or depression, or something like that. We have a time of testing.

Many of us, throughout our life, have been close to giving up on God, and have thought of tossing in Christianity. And people leave the church for such petty reasons and with trivial excuses, like they have been waiting for the last 20 years for their opportunity. And for many of us, it has been by the grace of God alone that we have been carried through those dark times and come through the other side. For many of us, God has kept us at the foot of the cross, crying and lamenting, sighing and groaning, and writhing under his almighty hand in all that great darkness, but then later the hope of the resurrection has also shone through.

You see, the sun which beats down and kills those seeds on the rock, is the same sun that is supposed to be good for the seeds. It’s that sun that brings about photosynthesis, and brings about life and growth and health and energy. Sometimes, God’s love shines on us almost too brightly for us, and we feel like we’re being cooked. Don’t despair in these times. Psalm 57 says: In the shadow of your wings I will take refuge till the storms of destruction pass by.

We pray: Lord Jesus, you know my heart is hard and stony, so smash it in pieces with your hammer, and take this heart of mine, remove the stones and gives me a heart of flesh as you promise. Work me into good soil so that your word may take root in me and flourish in your sunshine.

Then Jesus says: And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. He explains: And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.

This part of the parable is particularly hard hitting for us in our affluent society. But it doesn’t mention simply riches, but cares, riches and pleasures. What are the things that you care about, that weigh you down? What are your cares? Are you worried about what’s going to be in the bank account tomorrow? Are you going to have everything you need? What about your health?

Do you have riches? Do you have a look at all the nice furniture, and TVs and stuff that your next-door neighbour has, and want it all for yourself? Do you buy your kids every latest piece of equipment that Microsoft and Apple produce, to make you look good, so that the floors of their bedrooms are littered with old ipods, and ipads and mobile phones? Do you have everything in the latest fishing gear in your shed, and a collection of all sorts of gadgets and trinkets stashed up in your cupboards, but never have any money to buy a good Christian book, a bible, a good devotional book to read at night? Jesus never promises to give you today your daily gadget: He wants you to pray for your daily bread. St Paul says: If we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.

Listen to these words and how important they are! Notice how nobody takes them seriously anymore today. And then one day we might wake up and our money is gone! Don’t sit around and smile at how these words affect other people! Think about how they affect yourself!

What about pleasures? Jesus says: They are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life. Pleasures? There’s always something more pleasurable to do that to go church on a Sunday and read the bible at home and to pray. There’s always a TV show to watch, a computer game to play, some party to go to, some sport or the gym, and whatever little thing we have to entertain us. Don’t think about other people here, though! Think about yourself: you will know soon enough what the idols of your heart are. We know that God has given us all sorts of things to enjoy! But we always need to examine our hearts between the words “enjoy” and the word in our reading today “choke”. Jesus says: They are choked.

And so we say, Jesus Christ, let your word be my greatest care. Increase in me the desire to learn your word more, and to read it every day. Let your word be my greatest riches and let your word and your presence be my greatest pleasure. And pluck out from me anything that may hinder your word bearing fruit.

And finally, Jesus says: And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold. He explains: As for that in good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, bearing fruit with patience.

Jesus says: hold it fast. So many times, so much of the word of God falls on deaf ears week after week, but then later in life, the light comes on, and we wake up, and realise what a wonderful gift God’s word really is after all. God is the one who works the soil, and sometimes he does it over years. He puts some manure down, and covers it with some mulch. And we don’t see God doing this work.

But all he wants is a place to plant his seed. He wants to plant his seed right into the soil and cover it up and to bring forth a great harvest.

And what a wonderful, powerful, life-giving word it is! It’s a word that is full of Jesus! What a wonderful gift it is! What a wonderful kingdom it is that grows from it! What a wonderful mystery the kingdom of God is! What wonderful gifts God gives! What a wonderful generous hard-working Saviour Jesus Christ we have, who prays for us every day and every minute and works the soil of our hearts!

Hold this word fast! Give it time, and you will bear fruit with patience.

To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God. Amen.

Lord God, heavenly Father, let the seed of your word be planted deeply within us, and let it grow there and blossom and flourish and produce a wonderful bountiful harvest. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Septuagesima: Audio Sermon (27-Jan-2013)

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Septuagesima [Matthew 20:1-16] (27-Jan-2013)

This sermon was preached at St Paul's Lutheran Church, Darnum (9am, lay reading), Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Traralgon (10am), Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Yarram (2pm) and St John's Lutheran Church, Sale (4pm).

Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ.

Text: (Matthew 20:1-16)

Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or is your eye evil because I am good?

Prayer: May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.

The things that Jesus outlines in our parable today are a fairly unusual way to run a workplace. Can you imagine if the CEO of Loy Yang or Yallourn power station or some major industrial company went out to hire workers at different stages during the day. One man does a full day’s work, another does half a day’s work and another does one hour’s work. All the different men have done different hours, and some have done much more work than others. But when they get their paid, they find out that everyone has been paid the same amount as if they had all done a full shift.

Could you imagine what would happen? It wouldn’t be fair! There would be strikes and riots and all sorts going on! The people who had worked longed hours would think that their work wasn’t valued.

But Jesus tells us a parable where almost this exact thing happens. A man has a vineyard, and in those days the working day went from 6am to 6pm. At the 6am, he hires some men, at 9am he hires some more men, at midday and at 3pm he goes out and hires some more men. Then at 5pm, he goes out and finds some people lazing around in the market place, and he hires them too. And at the end of day, at 6pm, when it’s time to clock off work, he pays the men who worked for one hour a full day’s wage, and then everyone gets the same pay. What would you think if you were one of the workers?

We read: Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or is your eye evil because I am good?

Jesus wants to teach us something very significant here. Our reading starts with the words: The kingdom of heaven is like a master of house who went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard. Jesus wants to teach us that the kingdom of heaven is not a business, and is not run in the same way that people run a business.

When Jesus says, “the kingdom of heaven”, what exactly is he talking about? He is talking not so much about the next life, but he is talking about our life here on this earth, where the kingdom of heaven becomes a reality amongst us.

But how do we know where the kingdom of God is? Martin Luther once said: “Thank God, today even a child seven years old knows what the Church is, namely, the holy believers and lambs who hear the voice of their Shepherd.” We also say in the Catechism: God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father sends us the Holy Spirit so that by his grace we believe his holy word and live godly lives here in time and there in eternity.

God speaks his own word to us in the church. He allows his own word to be read out loud and preached upon in the church. Where God’s word is actually being preached, God’s kingdom grows. Where God’s word is not preached, but human ideas and opinions are preached, God’s kingdom does not grow. We need to speak and keep the word of God in its truth and purity, and not mess it up in such a way that we mix human ideas in with it.

So through his word, God meets us here in the world and calls us to work in his vineyard. And he goes out continually and at different times, and wants to keep on inviting more and more people to come and hear his word, and to build up his kingdom among us, by uniting us to his Son Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ united us to himself in baptism where we are buried with him into his death and raised to new life, and continually as often as we receive the Lord’s Supper where he gives us his body and blood to eat and drink.

We confess our sins to God. We thank him for the many gifts that he has given to us. We ask him to help us in all needs, and we pray for the needs of others. All this is work: work in God’s own vineyard.

Often throughout the bible, God speaks about his people as his vineyard, that place where holy work goes on. Christians go to work in God’s vineyard in their homes, as fathers and mothers, husbands and wives, sons and daughters. Each person serves the other in the home and we work in God’s vineyard. Christians go to work in God’s vineyard wherever they are called to work, whether it be in a company, as an employee, as an employer, as a politician, a judge, a lawyer, a doctor, a nurse, a civil servant, a teacher, a factory worker, a nurse, a secretary, an office worker, a soldier, a policeman or policewoman, a labourer, a mechanic, all sorts. Christians go to work in God’s vineyard in the church, whether they be a pastor or a hearer, or however they might serve in the church. We all come together as sheep around Christ our shepherd to listen to his voice. Each of these things is holy work. All of this work is blessed by God and can be done by Christians in answer to God’s call.

But here’s the interesting thing: at the end of the day, the owner of the vineyard pays each person the same pay. Each receives a denarius.

Jesus wants us to know that the kingdom of heaven works in a completely different way to the business principles of the world.

Just before our reading today, we read about a rich young man who came to Jesus and said that he had kept all the commandments of God. But when Jesus asked him to sell his possessions, he went away sorrowful. This man is wealthy, this man is influential, he is a good man, a respectable man—but he is attached to his wealth and his possessions.

The corporate business world never thinks like this. The best people in business are the people like this man: they are able to make a name for themselves, they made good investments, they dress with nice clothes, they make good deals, they work hard, they work well. These are the signs of successful people in business. Now, business is good. There’s nothing wrong with business. But the kingdom of heaven is not a business and it works in a different way. And for this reason, we always need to be careful when people want to run the church as if it were a business.

In the kingdom of heaven, the most wealthy, successful, influential person is on the same level as the failed business person. King and queens are on the same level as those who collect the royal garbage. Parents are on the same level as their children. Because insofar as their lives are lived in the service of God, they are all equally slaves of Christ Jesus. And all of them receive the same pay.

Now in this life, we always have authorities. Citizens will always need to respect the people in government and their leaders, children will always need to respect their parents, and those who collect the garbage at Buckingham Palace need to show proper respect to the Queen, and so forth.

But as Christians, when God our heavenly Father, calls us to work in his vineyard, and calls us to faith, he will give us all the same pay at the end of the day.

So why does he do this? Because God saves us not according to our works, not according to what we deserve or don’t deserve, but according to his grace. God opens the doors to the kingdom of heaven for us, simply because he loves us, and because of any merit or worthiness in you. It is complete and totally free, just as if you had done hardly any work at all, and yet God still wanted to pay you a full day’s wage.

When we all come to church, we all receive the same Jesus. We all receive the same forgiveness for our sins. We all receive the same body and blood of Jesus given for us and shed for us. We all receive one Lord, one faith, one baptism.

But there’s a warning here for all of us. The longer we have enjoyed the pleasures of God’s vineyard, there is always a sense that we want to be compensated extra for our labours. And many people in the church have to endure long arduous days, weeks, years under the cross, whereas as some people are admitted into the kingdom of heaven on their deathbed, just like the thief on the cross.

Many Christians have had to endure wars, deaths, sicknesses, heartaches, disappointments, and in the heat of the day, they say to Jesus: “How long, O Lord, how long? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” Has this all been for nothing?

Listen: no cross that you have ever had to carry has been in vain! Be faithful unto death and you will receive the crown of life! Don’t give up—Jesus is with you in times of joy and in times of sadness.

But don’t let your eye become evil because God is good. God collects up all your tears and put them in his bottle, as it says in Psalm 56. Jesus says, Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.

But the longer we have to endure, the more there is a temptation for us to grumble against those who are new on the scene. So in the church, the Catholic or Orthodox or even Anglican or Lutheran churches cannot claim to be faultless, or immune to Satan’s attacks, simply because they are old. In a church body, the oldest congregations are not necessarily the strongest. In congregations and families, the people who have been members of a church the longest, are not necessarily those who are the most faithful Christians. Also, those who have the money are not necessarily those who give the most valuable offerings. Those who are more intellectual are not necessarily those who are most sensitive to spiritual realities. As Jesus says at the end of the reading: So the last will be first, and the first last.

But there’s always the temptation to grumble at those who are new on the scene, as if hard work is all that matters. In our reading it says: Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? God values hard work, but he doesn’t build his kingdom through human hard work. He builds his kingdom simply through his grace. Remember the story of Mary and Martha: Mary chose the better part by listening to Jesus, while Martha worked hard in the kitchen grumbling about her sister.

God goes out into the market place and sends out his call and his word. He is the one who brings people into his vineyard. And the end of the day, he is the one who gives the pay. And because is so gracious, and so good, and so forgiving, and so merciful, he gives an equal pay, he throws open the doors of heaven equally to each person who has stepped their feet in his vineyard for just a second. In fact, Jesus says to us all, “You received without paying! Give without pay.” This is because we are not saved by works, but by grace. How often God gives us a new insight into his grace day by day, at the eleventh hour, almost as if we had met Jesus for the very first time! As St John says, And this is love, not that we loved God, but that God loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins, that is, a full atonement, a perfect sacrifice for our sins.

And so we say with David and everyone who as ever prayed the psalms: Give thanks to the Lord for he is God, for his steadfast love endures forever.

Amen.

Lord God, heavenly Father, we thank you for calling us into your vineyard. Give us your Holy Spirit to carry out the work you given us to do wherever you have placed us, and increase our longing and desire for that time when we will see Jesus with our own eyes. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.

Transfiguration: Audio Sermon (20-Jan-2013)

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Transfiguration [Matthew 17:1-9] (20-Jan-2013)

This sermon was preached at St Paul's Lutheran Church, Darnum (9am), Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Traralgon (11am) and Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Bairnsdale (3pm).

Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ.

Text: (Matthew 17:1-9)

When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified.

Prayer: May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.

It is common for people to think that everything can be explained scientifically. There’s nothing wrong with science, by the way, or with scientists. Science is a wonderful field of discovery, where people test things and try things out, and make theories about things from their experiments and research.

But science and theology work in completely different ways. Scientists examine small details: bacteria, a fossil, a constellation of stars, a rock, the movement of an object, and then they make a theory out of it based on their experiments and research. Sometimes someone will come along later and disprove a certain theory through new research and a new experiment.

But theology works differently. Theology doesn’t start with examining a small detail: it starts with the big picture. It starts with the Scriptures as a whole, God’s revealed word altogether. And then pastors of the church dissect the Scripture down into small pieces for the church in each generation and each time.

In our times, people are incredibly suspicious of Christianity. People think that they know everything, and the bible has nothing new to teach them.

It is also common today for people to say that people all throughout the world need religion, and that religion is just simply made up by different people and is a figment of people’s imaginations.

Many Christians will listen to that criticism and say that it’s not true. They know very well deep down that Christianity is much more than a crutch or a bunch of fantasies or a completely made-up. Nevertheless, often people will look at different parts of the gospels or throughout the bible and will have doubts about whether these things happened or not. The passages where the transfiguration of Jesus is described is one of those passages. It was such an amazing thing that happened, and yet we can stand up to hear the gospel when this passage is read and be completely unimpressed, completely switched off, distracted by a bug crawling across the floor, or a noisy bird outside.

But why? Sometimes we think we know everything, we explain everything in our heads in such a way as to separate ourselves from the dangers of reality and the wonders of reality. And so everything is boring and uninteresting: the bible is boring, life is boring, marriage is boring, children are boring, work is boring, church is boring—and yet, if only we could awake and see that the most amazing things that are happening under our noses every day.

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There are two things I would like to point out before we think about this text in more detail. Firstly, the last verse of our text: As [Jesus, Peter, James and John] were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.”

Jesus calls what the disciples saw a “vision”. In Greek, the word is ὄρομα [óroma], which means “a sight”. Today, if say someone “saw a vision”, we might think this is a bit like someone “hearing voices”. We either think a person is mad—we think it means that they were hallucinating, they were having funny dreams while they were under anaesthetic.

But this isn’t what the text means. A “vision” here means something that Peter, James and John saw. It is outside of them, not a figment of their imagination. It is front of them, not in their head. It is a reality, not a fantasy.

Many people today think that the world is a closed book. They think that heaven is closed and the earth is closed. But Martin Luther once said that heaven is full of doors and windows. He means, heaven and earth are always overlapping, and the transfiguration is an event just like that.

But the second thing I also want to point out is the verse: When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified.

This is the sort of verse that can completely pass us by. We read the passage about the transfiguration, and yet, our reaction to it is so far below what it should be. We are so far removed from the world of the disciples, and we don’t share their fear. But this should reveal to us our sin—our apathy, our boredom, our lack of wonder and awe. And yet, in complete contrast to us, the three apostles fall on their faces and are terrified.

This sort of thing doesn’t happen when the heavens are closed and the world is closed. The things that are happening before their eyes are realities, real things. As St John says at the beginning of his first letter: That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life…that which we have seen and heard, we proclaim also to you. This is the same St John who was there at the transfiguration. Or as St Peter—who was also there—also says in his second letter: We did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

And so, in our text, Jesus says: Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead. And so, since the Peter, James and John believed with all their heart, mind, soul and strength that the Son of Man was in fact risen from the dead, they told the vision to many people, in such a way that even we—2000 years later—can also learn it and be amazed by it, just as they did.

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So our text begins:

After six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.

Matthew, Mark and Luke all mention that this event happened a certain a number of days after what Jesus was saying just before. Luke says it happened eight days later, and Matthew and Mark say six. But there were different ways of counting. Matthew and Mark only count the days in between, whereas Luke counts the day when Jesus was talking before and the day itself when Jesus was transfigured. Luke tells us that Jesus was going up the mountain to pray.

So six days earlier, Jesus was talking about his death and his resurrection, and also instructs his disciples that they also should deny themselves, take up their cross and follow me.

Jesus tells them about his own suffering, and then about their suffering. Jesus will deny himself, humble himself, become obedient unto death. His disciples will also find themselves pilgrims and strangers on this earth, looking for the city that is to come, being transformed in the renewing of their minds, and putting of their old self, their flesh, their corrupt mind and thinking inherited from Adam, and putting on a new way of thinking.

And then six days later, Peter, James and John are led by Jesus up a high mountain by themselves. Later on, these same three men will also be taken by themselves into the Garden of Gethsemane, when Jesus shakes, and shivers, and paces to and fro, praying for his Father to remove his great suffering from him. “Father, if it be possible, remove this cup from me. But not my will, but your will be done.” And so Peter, James and John will be later present at the time of Jesus’ profound suffering. Jesus will say on that occasion: “My soul is greatly troubled, even unto death.”

But here, they witness this brilliant sight, this glorious vision, this wonderful revelation!

We read: And Jesus was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.

This great light doesn’t shine onto him from somewhere else. But it comes from Jesus himself. This is foretaste of the end of time, as the book of Revelation says: “The city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.”

Here, Jesus, who is the Lamb of God, shines bright light from his face. But not just his face, but his whole body in such a way that it shines through his clothes too, so that they become white. Can you picture this wonderful sight?

Jesus shows the disciples the brilliance of his flesh, the wonder of his human body. He shows them how he is truly man and truly God in one person, with Christ’s divinity catching his body alight so that he becomes the source of all light and all wisdom and all truth and all joy! The disciples don’t see Christ’s raw divinity, but they see it in unity with his humanity in one person. It is not simply light that that they see, but his face shining like the sun, and his clothes like white light. Jesus Christ shines as the perfect image of God, dispelling his purity and light in all directions, not as a ghost or a spirit, but as a human being, as a real man. And as a real man, he will then have his body beaten and bruised and nailed, and his blood will spill. But here, Jesus encourages us. He shows us just how wonderful his body is when it is perfectly united with divinity, and just how powerful his blood will be when it perfectly united with God and all the power of God. And so it is the same face of Jesus, that now shines like the sun, that will we crowned with a crown of thorns.

We read: And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Were they present there in spirit or in the body? We know that Elijah was taken into heaven by a chariot. And in the book of Jude, we read that there was some strange dispute about the body of Moses, and at the end of Deuteronomy, it says that no-one knew the place where Moses was buried. Very strange.

What were they talking about? Luke says they were talking out Jesus departure. They were talking about death on the cross, his journey to the cross.

There is a great and profound mystery here. We see here three disciples completely flabbergasted. But we also see here Jesus glorious, transfigured body and these two great men: Moses, the receiver of the law, and Elijah, the great prophet. Two groups of three: two men from heaven, three men on the earth, and Jesus in the middle with both his feet on the earth and in heaven at the same time.

And this shows us something very special: When we are in the presence of Jesus, when we come and listen to him talk about his cross, his departure, his great accomplishment and achievement on the cross, when we take refuge in his wounds and cling to the power of his blood, then Jesus gives us such encouragement and also the encouragement for all those who have died in the faith. In fact, we are made into one group together with those who have died with Christ, and we look forward to meet them on the other side of the grave. In the liturgy, as we come to share in Christ’s holy body and blood, we also sing: “Therefore with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven.” They are also standing there with Christ.

In some church buildings, they often had an altar rail with made a circle around the altar, with the altar on the wall. This was because they believed that the circle continued not on the other side of the wall, but in heaven, with all the saints and angels joining in kneeling around the same altar.

Peter says: Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.

What a glorious thing it is to be here! How wonderful it would have been for Peter! Words almost cannot describe it! But it is not for him to make three tents for Jesus and Moses and Elijah. It is Jesus’ job to make three tents for Peter, James and John—In my Father’s house are many rooms, and I am going to prepare a place for you. It is Jesus’ job to baptise a holy people and allow them to have a dwelling at his altars to receive his body and blood. As it says in Psalm 84: How lovely are your dwelling places, O Lord of hosts! What a great thing it is—not that we make a dwelling place for Jesus—that Jesus makes a dwelling place for us!

We read: He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified.

God the Father says almost the same thing as at Jesus’ baptism. But with a difference. At Jesus’ baptism, the Holy Spirit comes upon Jesus in the form of a dove. But here, a cloud comes upon them in such a way that the disciples are left in darkness. Here God says: This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased, just as at the baptism, but with no Holy Spirit coming down. And then he says, “Listen to him.” At the baptism, the Holy Spirit comes down in broad daylight. But now, the daylight is passed, all sight is taken away: it is night, and pitch dark. So where is the Holy Spirit? Answer: God the Father says: Listen to him. The Holy Spirit is breathed out through every word that comes from the mouth of Jesus.

And what does Jesus say? We read: Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise and have no fear.” And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

What a wonderful friendly face is the face of Jesus! What a gentle, loving face it is! He replaces all their fear and all their terror with himself. He is the Lord their God, and they shall have no other gods. There is no other name given among men by which we can be saved. No one comes to the Father except through Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

So, rise and have no fear.

Amen.

Lord Jesus Christ, our Lord and our God, how good it is to be here! The Lord my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid? You, O Lord, are a shield about be, my glory and lifter of my head. Amen.