The Name of Jesus- January 1- Luke 2:21

 Of course, the first day of January is the secular New Year, and we pray for God’s blessings during the year. However, January 1 also has other associations on the church calendar. There is a wealth of Scriptures and themes appropriate for the day. One theme of January 1 is often overlooked- that is, an event that Scripture tells happened when the Christ Child was a week old, His public naming.

Since ancient times, many Christians have set aside January 1 for special observances based on St Matthew 1:21. St. Luke 1:21, and St. Luke 2:21. In Matthew 1:21, the angel tells Joseph, “ She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (ESV).  The English name Jesus comes from the Hebrew Yoshua (which is Yeshua in Aramaic), and this name means “the LORD will save.” In Luke 1:21, the angel also gives Mary this name to call her holy Son. 

These two verses along with the day's Gospel from Luke 2:21 stress that Christ’s name is no accident. “And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb” (ESV). Jesus is the name given by God, and the name Jesus reflects the Christ's identity, essence, and purpose. It reveals His mission in the world. He is the Lord God who comes among us in the flesh. The name Jesus reflects the prophecy that He is Immanuel, “God with us.” He is the one who saves.

So on January 1, we give thanks that Jesus Christ, aided by His earthly parents Mary and Joseph, obeys and fulfills God’s Law for our sake. His circumcision and naming mark Him as the One who has come to fulfill the covenant promises in a perfect way. He was and is Jesus, the Lord who saves.

Christmas

Christmas or The Feast of the Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ commemorates a central event in human history, and most of us have some warm mental images of angels, a stable, Mary, Joseph, and a babe in a manger. Christmas also proclaims a key theological concept- the Incarnation. "And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us" (St. John 1:14). This is a great and sublime truth, but it is not isolated. It is closely related to the whole message of the Gospel.

The Christmas reading from Hebrews 1 points us toward the meaning of the Christian celebration. Hebrews 1:1-3 says, "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high," (ESV)

These words show the importance of the Incarnation and summarize the basic message of the Christian Gospel. The divine message already preached by the prophets has reached its climax and fulfillment in Jesus Christ, God's only Son. The Son has always been involved in divine work, but in Jesus, the Son, the Word, has come among us in a great new way. He reveals God the Father perfectly, He takes away our sins, and He ascends to reign with the Father in heaven.  Christmas is about a miraculous birth, but it is also about much more. It is a proclamation of the eternal and saving Gospel of Jesus Christ! May the Good News of the Savior dwell in our hearts always! And may we all have a merry and blessed Christmas!

Advent 4 (year A)

By the Fourth Sunday of Advent, the Scripture readings are filled with anticipation of Christ's birth. The Old Testament selection from Isaiah 7:10-17 is a famous passage that prophesies the future of Israel. There are two aspects of the message: warning of judgment and hope for redemption. The hope in the prophecy is the sign of the child born of a virgin. This child will be called Immanuel, "God with us." Of course, Christians have always understood this prophetic hope as pointing to Jesus Christ.

Psalm 24 is a well-known praise of the Lord God as the king of glory who comes among His people. This psalm takes on special meaning in light of our anticipation of the coming of the Christ Child.

Romans 1:1-7 is the Apostle Paul's introduction of himself and his message to the church at Rome. In these verses, Paul emphasizes the reality of Christ's incarnation as the fulfillment of Scripture and the expression of divine grace.

Matthew 1:18-25 is a brief account of Jesus' birth from Joseph's perspective. It highlights his acceptance of the virgin birth under divine guidance. Joseph realizes the holiness of his betrothed and of her son. He is instructed to call Him Jesus, a name which comes from Hebrew meaning "the Lord will save." This brief account reminds us of two realities. It affirms the importance of Joseph's role in the plan for redemption, and it also points beyond Joseph to the greater importance of Jesus, the Redeemer. May the Gospel reading and all the Scriptures deepen our appreciation of the reasons for the celebration!

Advent 3 (year A)- James 5:7; Matthew 11:3

The readings for the Third Sunday of Advent emphasize the prophetic message and the hope for deliverance.   The first lesson from the Old Testament is in Isaiah 35:1-10. The imagery of this passage looks toward deliverance. Nature will be renewed and at peace, even among the beasts. Human beings will be strengthened and redeemed.

Psalm 146 emphasizes that one should trust in God, not in human leaders. God is the only true hope for all in the midst of earthly trials.

The reading from the New Testament is from the letter of James. The theme of James 5:7-11 is contained in the opening verse- "Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord" (ESV). As Christians, we live between the times, between Christ's great work of redemption and its final triumph with His coming again. As we anticipate this, we live in patience and hope.

The Gospel from Matthew 11:2-15 shows John the Baptist in prison   He sends two of his followers to Jesus, and they ask if Jesus is the expected Messiah. We are not told why John asks. Perhaps he needed personal reassurance, and he probably also wanted his disciples to encounter Jesus. In any case, Jesus replies with a two-fold proclamation. First, He points to the redemptive acts taking place in His own ministry. Secondly, He points to the purpose and value of the prophetic work of John the Baptist. Then, our Lord concludes with an exhortation to His hearers to hear, that is, to be sensitive and perceptive to events. May we also be sensitive and perceptive to God's redemptive work!

Angels

September 29 has long been a day on the church calendar to commemorate St. Michael and All Angels, The Scriptures contain many references to angels, both in the earthly life of Jesus Christ and in the experiences of many believers. In Scripture, we see angels bringing God's messages and helping people in a variety of ways. We also see warnings against worshiping angels or being misled by bad spiritual forces. Thus, Lutherans have tried to maintain a balanced view of angels. We acknowledge and give thanks for their God-given role, but we remember not to exaggerate their importance. Like humans, angels are created beings who are subordinate to Almighty God. Praise be to God for all the ways He works!

Pentecost 14 (year C)- Sheep- Ezekiel 34: 11-24; Luke 15: 1-10

On this Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost, the themes of the Scripture lessons fit together especially well. In Ezekiel 34:11-24, the Lord God speaks of seeking His sheep, leading and caring for them, and establishing the heir of David as their shepherd. In I Timothy 1:12-17, the Apostle Paul speaks of the way in which Christ sought him out to serve Him. Speaking of himself and others, Paul summarizes the Christian message in I Timothy 1:15, "The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners...."  Then in Luke 15:1-10, Jesus speaks of finding the lost through two brief parables- one about the lost sheep and another about the lost coin. The context makes it clear that our Lord is talking about sinners lost to God. 

Nowadays, some Christians may hesitate to speak of people being lost in sin, but Scripture in general and our Lord Jesus Christ, in particular, are not hesitant to speak of lost people and the condition of being lost. Indeed, according to Holy Scripture, all human beings have been lost, and apart from divine grace, all remain lost. At some moments in life, all human beings are spiritually lost, and all need to be found by Christ and His Church.

Seeking the lost has two important applications in our lives. First, each of us should acknowledge that in differing ways and at different times, we have all been lost and that we have tendencies to get lost repeatedly. So we all depend upon divine mercy, grace, and persistence in seeking us out-- in the past, in the present, and in each new day. God keeps seeking us through Word and Sacrament, and we need to be open to being found by Him.

Secondly, in addition to being sought by God, we Christians are called to participate in the Lord's work of seeking and finding the lost. We are not to approach this calling with the wrong attitude. We are not to pretend to be some perfect representatives of Christ. As sinners ourselves, we have benefited from the mercy and grace of God. We rejoice in God's mercy and grace, and in humility, we want to share that good news with others. We want each lost person to know the joy of being found by God. 

So let us be open to God’s work in our lives. Let us also participate in Christ’s work in this world. May each of us be found by God, and may each of us do our small part to help others be found by God!

Pentecost 10 (year C proper 15)- Luke 12:49-53

The Gospel for the Tenth Sunday after Pentecost this year consists of two brief but distinct teachings of our Lord in Luke 12. Both teachings refer to the worldly difficulties facing would-be disciples. The first teaching, Luke 12:49-53, is a warning for the inner group of disciples. They prefer to view Him as the Prince of Peace. In a sense, He is, but His peace is not always obvious in this world. In Luke 12:51, Jesus says, "Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division" (ESV). His followers must not expect uniform agreement about following Him even in their own families.

The second teaching, Luke 12:54-56, is a warning for the whole crowd of listeners. People have some general ideas about what to expect from atmospheric conditions, but they are poor interpreters of the signs of the times. They don't recognize what God is doing in the world. They are not sensitive or aware concerning spiritual matters of judgment and redemption. They do not recognize what God is doing through Jesus the Christ.

Certainly, Christians believe that Scripture always applies to the human condition, but these two warnings of our Lord are especially applicable to ongoing religious and worldly circumstances. We like to talk about peace, but a commitment to Jesus does not necessarily bring external peace to natural or ecclesial households. Likewise, we can often interpret signs in society or nature accurately. We may lament social, economic, or climate problems, but most people, even church-goers, avoid much serious thought on the spiritual matters of divine judgment and redemption.

We should all heed Christ's warnings. They have good purposes.  In them, Jesus seeks to make us more morally and spiritually aware. He calls all people to repentance, He encourages us to have faith, and He exhorts us to persevere during trying times. By His grace, may we hear and respond!

Trinity Sunday (year C)- John 8:54-58

There is much to say about the Christian doctrine of the Holy Trinity.  It is appropriate that we focus on the doctrine of the Holy Trinity one week after celebrating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Church. Although human beings can use both reason and poetic language to talk about the nature of theTriune God, our personal appreciation of this unique Christian teaching depends on the divine grace that the Holy Spirit pours into our hearts and minds. In other words, perceiving, confessing, and appreciating the doctrine of the Trinity is not a natural human ability but a gift of divine grace. 

There are numerous Scriptural passages that both maintain divine oneness and unity and refer to all three divine Persons.  For example, there are texts such as Matthew 3:16-17, John 3:5-16, Ephesians 2:18, 2 Corinthians 13: 14, and 1 Peter 1:2. These biblical teachings are also summarized and explained in the three ancient Creeds, the ancient church fathers, and statements in the Lutheran confessional documents. 

The lectionary Gospel this year is from John 8:54-58, and it points to a slightly different emphasis. It highlights one aspect of Trinitarian doctrine- the divinity of Jesus Christ. In first-century Palestine and at many times down to our current epoch, a key issue in discussions about the Trinity has been understanding who Jesus is. In John 8:54-58, Jesus asserts His unique relationship with God the Father.  And in response to those who dispute His claim, Jesus boldly proclaims, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58 ESV).

These words "I am" are a reference to the divine name revealed in Exodus 3. When Jesus uses these words about Himself, both He and His opponents know that He is claiming to share one nature with God the Father. Jesus' divinity is a basic and essential aspect of who He is and the saving work that He accomplishes. Only a divine Savior can overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil and save us from our sins. Only the divine Christ can lay down His life, take it up again, and offer us new and eternal life with God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Easter 5 (year C)- John 16:22- Sorrow and Joy

The Gospel for this Fifth Sunday of Easter is John 16:12-22. Like many selections during this season, these verses are from our Lord's Farewell Discourses to the Twelve on Maundy Thursday,  As on many occasions, the disciples are slow to grasp Jesus' teaching about His death and resurrection. To make His point real to them, in John 16:21, He compares the situation to motherhood. The labor pains are all too real, but the result is joyful. Jesus warns the disciples about the real pain and sorrow of death and separation, but He also predicts the joy of His renewed presence. Our Lord concludes in John 16:22, "And ye now, therefore, have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you" (KJV).

The Easter season focuses on how the disciples come to appreciate Christ's whole ministry, in particular His rejection, passion, and death, in light of His resurrection. His sufferings and the disciples' separation from Him do bring them great sorrow, but His resurrection brings them profound joy. And this joy is so powerful that it transforms them.  The disciples learn to follow Him in new and deeper ways. Experiencing the joy of His resurrection presence with them, they are empowered to serve Him through all the sorrows and joys of this world. 

Jesus' words about sorrow and joy still apply to believers. We still have earthly sorrows and joys. But there is a great joy that transcends our earthly conditions. This is the joy of knowing the presence of the risen Christ with us. Through the Holy Spirit working through His Word and His sacraments, we sense His presence with us in this life, and we anticipate living in His presence eternally. Alleluia! Christ is risen! 

Easter 4 (year C)- Good Shepherd- John 10:22-30

On the Fourth Sunday of Easter, the Psalm and the Gospel reading point us to the theme of Christ as the Good Shepherd. In Psalm 23, David speaks of the Lord God as a personal shepherd who guides and cares for him now and forever. This Psalm is a divine word of assurance from cradle to grave and beyond.

In the first paragraphs of John 10, Jesus focuses upon His identity as the Good Shepherd, upon laying down His life and taking it up again for the sake of His flock. In this year's selection from John 10:22-30, our Lord focuses upon the application to His followers.  Key verses are John 10:27-28 (ESV) where Jesus says, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand." 

The Gospel takes the poetic description of Psalm 23 further and focuses upon the rule of Jesus Christ. Christians of varied backgrounds sometimes speak of a doctrine of assurance, but sometimes they are confused about where Christian assurance lies. Some locate assurance in church structures or human ceremonies. Some locate assurance in good behavior. Some others locate assurance in emotions or feelings. While appreciating church tradition, moral conduct, and personal feelings, confessional Lutherans know that true Christian assurance or certitude must be founded elsewhere. The tangible foundation of Christian assurance is the gospel or good news expressed in Holy Scripture. And behind the written Word, our assurance is in the eternal Word made flesh, Jesus Christ, God the Son, our Lord, our Savior, our Good Shepherd!

Easter 2 (year C)- John 20: 19-31- Resurrection Faith

The Gospel for the Second Sunday of Easter is John 20:19-31. This selection contains two important resurrection stories. First, there is Christ's Easter evening appearance among the ten apostles (Thomas was absent). Secondly, a week later, the risen Lord comes among the eleven apostles and makes sure that Thomas gets the point. There are a number of topics in this Gospel: the reality of the Resurrection, Christ's transforming power, true peace and reconciliation with God, and the function of apostolic ministry. This time, my focus is on the example of the Apostle Thomas and its meaning during the Easter Season.

Thomas, whose name means "the twin," is one of the Twelve and is mentioned several times in the Gospels. He is probably most remembered for being absent from the group of disciples on Easter Sunday when the risen Jesus manifested Himself (John 20: 19-25). Thomas was doubtful and demanded physical proof. A week later, Thomas was present when Jesus came to the disciples. The apostle then confessed his faith in a way stronger than others because he affirmed Christ as "My Lord and my God" (John 20:28).

Thomas' example has a two-fold importance. On one hand, he reminds us that doubt can deprive us of some of the joys of faith. His refusal to believe at first means that Thomas spends a week longer without the hope and comfort of the Resurrection faith. 

On the other hand, Thomas is also an example that Christ can overcome doubt and use former doubters as trustworthy witnesses. Because of his initial hesitation, Thomas becomes an even stronger witness to the physical reality of the Resurrection. Furthermore, Thomas is also a strong witness to the Incarnation and Christ's true identity since he confesses Jesus as Lord and God. 

So in the context of Easter, may the example of Thomas take on a new meaning for us. Let us seek to move beyond Thomas' weakness. Let us avoid being too worldly and too focused on externals. Rather let us focus on spiritual realities. May the grace of the risen Christ open us to believing without having seen! May we believe and strongly confess that our Lord and God has risen and lives!

Easter- Christ's Resurrection (year C)

This year, the Resurrection Gospel is Luke 24:1-12. The account shows remarkable agreement with other accounts, but Luke has a unique way of telling the story. He simply says "they" came to the tomb and does not indicate their gender till the end of the sentence. The writer does not specify who these women were until verse 10. The women find the tomb open with Jesus' body missing, and they are perplexed. This perplexity turns to amazement when two angelic beings tell them that Jesus has risen from the dead as He predicted. The women accept this message and return to share it with the eleven apostles and others. However, the men hesitate to believe the women's report. Peter has to go see for himself, and even then, his initial response to the empty tomb is merely wonderment or surprise.

Luke's account has a special emphasis on two points about the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. First, the events of Holy Week had traumatized the disciples. They had not really understood or appreciated the divine plan for salvation in Jesus Christ. Although they loved Him and expected great things from Him, they had not really expected His crucifixion or His resurrection. They were shocked and depressed, and they were slow to understand the meaning of the empty tomb.

Secondly, as this passage starts to show and other accounts develop, Christ's disciples did slowly and convincingly come to believe firmly in His resurrection. If anything, the initial discouragement, perplexity, and surprise of the disciples make their later witness to the resurrection more powerful. The disciples were not confident plotters trying to mislead others. They were humble people transformed by divine revelation and miraculous grace. Let us pray that the same divine revelation and grace may transform us into witnesses for the risen Lord Jesus!

Christmas 2 (Year C)- Luke 2:40-52

The Gospel for this Second Sunday after Christmas (Luke 2:40-52) concludes Luke's account about Christ's childhood. It contains the story of the pre-teen Jesus visiting the Temple. As important as that story is in itself, this time I would focus on two verses that frame the account. Luke 2:40 (ESV) refers to the days after the infant Jesus was presented at the Temple. The verse says, "And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him." Then after the twelve-year-old Jesus is reunited with His earthly parents, Luke 2:52 (ESV) says, "And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man."

These two verses point us to important truths about the Incarnation. We believe that Jesus Christ is unique. He is the divine Word, the eternal Son of the God the Father, made flesh and dwelling among us. As the Nicene Creed affirms, He is "true God from true God." At the same time, we also believe that He took on human nature in all its reality, excepting sin. These two natures in one person are the great mystery indicated in our verses from Luke. Jesus the Christ is holy and different. Yet, He also has a human body and a human mind. He grows and develops physically, He increases in wisdom and divine favor or grace is upon Him.

In many ways, this mystery is beyond our words, but is also at the heart of our Christian faith and hope. God loves us and wants to save us from our fallen human condition. To save us, God the eternal Word comes to earth, takes our human nature upon Himself and lives among us. He models human perfection, teaches in ways we can understand and dies and rises to give us eternal life.