Sermon for 05 May 2013, Sixth Sunday of Easter C (Confirmation Sunday)

The Rev. Paul J Cain, Jr.

Acts 16:9-15

Faithful to the Lord

The Sixth Sunday of Easter (Confirmation Day), 05 May 2013

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Today’s first reading from Acts tells of Paul’s Second Missionary Journey. From the Council in Jerusalem he has traveled north to Damascus and Antioch, and then west through what today we would call Turkey. Crossing the Aegean Sea, Paul is now north of Greece, in one of the few lands that has the same name then and now: Macedonia. Why did he go there? A vision from the Lord.

9And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." 10And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

The Lord called Paul into His service to preach the Gospel. And so he does, faithful to the Lord.

11So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, 12and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. 13And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. 14One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. 15And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay." And she prevailed upon us.

Paul was faithful to the Lord in his preaching. The preached Gospel gave birth to faith by the work of the Holy Spirit. Lydia believed. “She was baptized, and her household as well.” Salvation coming to an entire household, as with Lydia here, is not an isolated occurrence. A Philippian jailer and his entire household will be baptized later in this same chapter, Acts 16. Look up the word “household” in your Bible’s concordance. You will be surprised by what you find.

Just who makes up a household? Commonly we see more people than just the nuclear family of father, mother, 2 ½ kids, and a cat and dog. There are people from all ages from infants to the elderly, especially extended family, and even orphans and widows among those family members. Therefore, Acts 16 is a powerful text to support the ancient Biblical practice of baptizing infants. Jesus welcomes the little children to Himself. Infants are also part of “all nations” that the church is to teach and baptize. They are also a part of “the entire household.”

[Tract of Ann’s from her HS Imperial Pastor] Why Baptize Infants? The answer to that question must begin with a look at how a holy God has always dealt with sinful and lost human beings (Rom. 3:23-25) [all have sinned]. The initiative for man’s salvation is always taken by a caring God. [The Lord does the work, just as He opened Lydia’s heart.]

For example, God chose Abraham when he was an idol worshiper (Josh. 24:2, 15) and gave him the covenant promise, which included our Savior, (Gen. 12:1-3). God acted to deliver His people from Egyptian slavery when they were helpless to do anything about it themselves (Ex. 2:23-25; 3:7-8). Jesus chose the disciples, some of them from outwardly sinful lives (Luke 5:27-28; Acts 9:1-6). And God continues to show that kind of undeserved love for sinners, like you and me, in His Son, Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:8).

Does man have a part in God’s saving work? The basic question one must answer in relation to infant baptism is this: “Is Baptism God’s action toward man (Gospel) or man’s response to God (Law)?” One’s answer to that question will determine one’s understanding and practice of infant baptism. Let’s look at the Biblical picture!

Baptism is God’s action in the life of individuals of all ages—including infants (Acts 16:15, 33; 1 Cor. 1:16). The promises and blessings God gives in Baptism are given for both adults and children (Acts 2:38-39). And God’s command to His followers to “make disciples” of “all nations” is without bounds of race, [gender], or age and certainly includes infants (Matt. 28:18-20).

Infants are in need of the saving action of God in Baptism (1 Peter 3:21) because they are born in sin and thereby are lost and separated from God (Ps. 51:5, John 3:5-6). Death, physically and eternally, is the plight of all thus born as descendants of Adam (Rom. 5:12). God’s action is required! And Baptism is the only Biblical alternative for infants.

Baptism, however, is the beginning of God’s action in a man’s life—not the end! What follows Baptism is just as important as the Baptism itself. God’s saving action is always to be followed by growth in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). As the clipping from a house plant is placed in a rooter to get roots, so Baptism gives an infant roots in the family of God. However, the plant clipping, once rooted, must be put in soil for growth and nurture to bring forth its fruit. So also the Baptism rooting of an infant must be followed by Christian growth and nurture in the soil of God’s love in Christ (Col. 2:6-7). Which is more important—the rooting or the growing? Obviously, both are important!

God has provided for such nurture of infants primarily through parents, and especially under the leadership of fathers (Eph. 6:4). And beyond the family God has given nurture responsibility to the Christian congregation in which the infant is baptized (1 Cor. 12:13). The God-given concern of the body of Christ for its individual members also applies to these baptized infants (1 Cor. 12:26).

However, this responsibility for nurture and growth is not always faithfully carried out. Infant baptism has often been practiced as an end in itself. “I just want to get by baby baptized!” And churches who practice infant baptism [often may] have perpetuated this false understanding by baptizing infants without a personal and faithful follow-up ministry of Christian growth with them and their families. [Disciples are made by baptizing AND teaching. See Mt. 28.] Renewal of our confidence in God’s power in infant baptism and correction of our follow-up nurture ministries is needed, not the denial of Baptism’s saving power.

Look for yourself! With the tremendous blessing God’s Word attaches to Baptism—forgiveness of sin (Acts 22:16); the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38-39); faith (Col. 2:12); union with Christ in His death and resurrection (Rom. 6:1-4); Christlike living now (Gal. 3:27); and salvation (Titus 3:5)—is Baptism God’s action toward man (Gospel) or man’s response to God (Law)? Holy Baptism Is God’s Action Toward Man! [Holy Baptism is the Lord’s action toward you!] God is faithful toward us in Holy Baptism. We are faithful to the Lord when we baptize all nations, infant or adult.

We rejoice in all of our recent baptisms and pray for more as we all grow in faith and in knowledge of Christ and His Word!

13And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. 14One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. 15And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay." And she prevailed upon us.

LifeLight: “Lydia may have known many rich people in upper social classes, because she sold a luxury item: purple cloth, the color of royalty. The ancient kingdom of Lydia, her homeland, was renowned for skills in the manufacture of purple dye extracted from the root of the madder plant or from murex shellfish…”

“Many…think that Lydia had achieved some prosperity, since her trade required significant capital. If this were so, we certainly would not be surprised also to learn that she readily and openly shared what she had with others.

“Acts seems to indicate that God wants us to remember Lydia not because of her trade, but because of her faith. She was baptized into Christ together with all of her family. She immediately ‘invited us to her home,’ reports Luke. ‘If you consider me a believer in the Lord,’ she persuasively argued, ‘come and stay at my house.’ When Paul wrote to the Romans, he exhorted them to ‘practice hospitality’ like Lydia.

Lydia was faithful to the Lord as a steward of the gifts He gave her. “Countless Christian women today have opened their hearts to others in need. Think, for example of the many faithful women who give generously to preserve earthly treasures for the sake of the Gospel and its proclamation. Christians who selfishly lock up their hearts can learn much from these fellow believers. God has lavished the riches of His grace upon us, forgiving our sins through the blood of Christ Jesus. Through His Spirit, He has also promised to open our hearts by giving us the gift of generosity” (Acts Part 2, p. 12).

About the Cover: Sabbath was never just a day for idleness, but a day for spending time in prayer and the Word. So the Sabbath finds some faithful women from Philippi meeting alongside a river. They listen to Paul and Silas as they preach, and the Lord opens Lydia’s heart to heed the message of Paul. The Lord alone opens hearts to believe the Good News—that’s what the Day of the Word is for!

That is also what Confirmation Day is for. And hearing the Good News—that is what next Sunday is for, too!

In this morning’s Hymn of the Day, Jesus sang to you, “What I on earth have done and taught Guide all your life and teaching; So shall the kingdom’s work be wrought And honored in your preaching. But watch lest foes with base alloy The heav’nly treasure should destroy; This final word I leave you” (LSB 556:10). Amen.

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Sermon for 28 April 2013, Fifth Sunday of Easter C

The Rev. Paul J Cain, Jr.

Acts 11:1–18

What God Has Made Clean

The Fifth Sunday of Easter, 28 April 2013

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Are you kosher? Is that even a Lutheran question? This morning it is. (Our communion wine is Mogen David brand, a name that means “star of David.” On the bottle it says, “Kosher for Passover,” with a triangle surrounding a K.) In Old Testament times, as well as in Jesus’ day, the Jewish people followed the purity laws laid out by the Lord and given to Moses. Even wine had to be prepared in a certain way. Animals had to be killed in a certain way. God’s ancient people were to avoid certain places, certain things, even certain people—especially those who were not circumcised.

So the question comes again: Are you kosher? In asking that I’m not asking if you follow Old Testament purity laws! I’m asking about you spiritually. Are you clean or unclean? Are you ritually pure?

The first lesson before us is a shocking one: to Peter, to the Jews around him, and to the non-Jews—Gentiles—whom Peter was sent to preach to and baptize.

¹Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. ²So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, ³“You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.”

This just wasn’t done. There was a group within the all-ethnically-Jewish early church that saw a place for the Old Testament Law alongside Jesus. They are the “circumcision party” because they expected all Christians to be circumcised according to the command given to Abraham.

Visiting Gentiles? The uncircumcised? This was just not done. Fortunately for us—since many of us are not genetically descended from ancient Israel—God saw things differently. Jesus commissioned the church to make disciples of all nations by means of baptizing and by means of teaching. All nations means all. Even Peter needed to be convinced, so he tells the story:

⁴But Peter began and explained it to them in order: ⁵“I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, something like a great sheet descending, being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to me. ⁶Looking at it closely, I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air. ⁷And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ ⁸But I said, ‘By no means, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ ⁹But the voice answered a second time from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, do not call common.’ ¹⁰This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven.

Once was not enough for Peter or the Lord. Three times.

‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ ‘By no means, Lord…’ ‘What God has made clean, do not call common.’

‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ ‘By no means, Lord…’ ‘What God has made clean, do not call common.’

‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ What could Peter say that third time when he knew the Lord would reply, ‘What God has made clean, do not call common’?

Salvation is open to the Jew and to the Gentile—and fortunately for us—since all are not genetically descended from ancient Israel. We are all sons of Abraham by faith. As sinners, we sometimes allow our prejudices to surface within us. Sometimes they boil over into what we say and do and often in the lack of some good word or work we fail to do. Who do you consider unworthy to step foot in this church? How different is too different a person? Racism is a sin in need of confession and forgiveness. Paul later preached what we know from Genesis and today’s text. In Acts 17:26 Paul said “And (He) [God] made from one man every nation of mankind. Jesus commissioned the church to make disciples of all nations by means of baptizing and by means of teaching. Baptizing and teaching means NOT circumcising for religious reasons. All nations means all. Peter learned the Lord’s lesson well: ‘What God has made clean, do not call common.’ Have we?

Peter continues: ¹¹And behold, at that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea. ¹²And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. ¹³And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter; ¹⁴he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’ ¹⁵As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. ¹⁶And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ ¹⁷If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” ¹⁸When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

Are you kosher? Are you spiritually clean or unclean? Are you ritually pure? Are Gentile Lutherans kosher? Answered in the way of the law, Old Testament purity laws, no. We eat pork. We love bacon cheeseburgers. We see circumcision as a medical rather than theological and religious practice. But there is a better answer, one that is taught by the Lord Himself in our text. ‘What God has made clean, do not call common.’

At times, you may have wondered if you were really forgiven. You may even have a hard time forgiving yourself for a past sin. This comfort is for you. You have been washed, you have been cleansed by the washing of the water of Holy Baptism by the Word. You have been justified, and you have been cleansed in the blood of Jesus so that He might present you, the Church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing that you might be holy and without blemish. This is the good work of the Lord within you. So yes, you are kosher in Christ. You are clean in Jesus. ‘What God has made clean, do not call common.’ And that includes yourself.

As Peter and those with Him learned, repentance, Holy Baptism, and Faith go together. Today we are gathered around the Lord’s gifts of Word and Sacrament.

Today after church our Confirmands have their questioning, their public examination before the Elders. These words are for their benefit—but for all adult members of the congregation, too.

We can rightly say that Christ has made you His disciples through Holy Baptism and instruction from the Holy Bible. You have been taught to cherish everything that Christ has given us in both the Old and New Testaments, but let’s be honest. We had neither the time nor the opportunity during your confirmation instruction to cover everything in the Bible. Nor did we have time to equip you for every specific situation you may encounter during your life as a Christian.

We have, hopefully, taught you to cherish the Word of God. The church has given you a handbook, actually a prayer book, the Small Catechism. You learned the Six Chief Parts, the six most important parts of the Christian faith. You have been given a toolbox to help you deal with the rest of your life. The Catechism was never intended to replace Scripture. It was intended as a lifelong guide to the Scriptures, a resource book, to help you think through a Biblical way to deal with whatever comes your way. That’s in addition to your pastor, and parents, and Christian friends.

The catechism is not merely a textbook to just sit on your shelf. A Bible, hymnal, and prayerbook will do you no good if they only serve you by collecting dust. In this world you will have trouble. People will deter you from holding on to Jesus. In the Christian life, you will always be learning something new from the Scriptures, something you may have forgotten, or may have never seen there before. Now, we are given to actively, and mindfully participate in all of Christ’s blessings for the Baptized, especially the Lord’s Supper. This is your inheritance! The Lord has begun a good work in you, and will bring it to completion in the Day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

About the Cover: Peter never forgot the experience at Cornelius’s house. There he learned that God doesn’t play favorites. He gave to those Gentiles listening to the Gospel the very same gift—the Holy Spirit—that He had earlier given to all the disciples. Peter rightly concluded that there was no way to deny them the grace of Baptism. It’s an important lesson for us: God’s gift in Christ is meant for all!

‘What God has made clean, do not call common.’ You are clean in Christ. Amen.

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Sermon for 21 April 2013, Fourth Sunday of Easter C

The Rev. Paul J Cain, Jr.

Acts 20:17-35

The Shepherd’s Word of Grace

The Fourth Sunday of Easter, 21 April 2013

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Paul has been busy doing the Lord’s work. That’s what a shepherd does. He has been calling to the Lord’s sheep, both Jew and Gentile to gather around the Lord’s Word and Gifts. Last week’s reading from Acts 9 told the story of Paul’s conversion and first preaching in the synagogues. Back then he was called Saul. By Acts 13, Saul is called Paul. Cyprus, Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra, Syria. Then, the First Church Council in Jerusalem, Acts Chapter 15. (It sounds quite different from the upcoming LCMS Convention in St. Louis this July.) Paul resumes his missionary journeys: Macedonia, Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, Corinth, Antioch, Ephesus. Remember Ephesus.

We are tempted to be bored by names, by history. Who cares about dusty old names? Who cares about dead white guys? What does any of this have to do with anything?

Think about these names instead: Sheridan, Big Horn, Dayton, Story, Ranchester, Banner, Clearmont, and Buffalo. We care more about those, don’t we? We know those towns. We live in those communities. We care about people there. We recognize “Montana” and “Wyoming,” but have a lot more trouble with “Macedonia” and “Syria.” We should care about the places mentioned in our text because the Gospel was preached there. We care about them because these are our spiritual fathers and mothers in the faith, our Christian ancestors. We are joined to them because we confess the same God, believe in the same resurrected Christ, and receive the same forgiveness of sins the same way they did: Holy Baptism, Holy Absolution, Holy Gospel, Holy Communion. We’re reading about our Christian family!

Who cares about dead white guys? Isn’t that the post-modern critique? No matter what our mental picture has been about these events, a light-skinned northern European is nowhere to be found. Paul is preaching to Jews, Greeks, and Romans. Acts 8 tells the story of Phillip catechizing an Ethiopian. Those who believed may have died, yet they live. You will meet these believers in heaven. There, language and skin color don’t mean anything. Besides, if it wasn’t for Christians like them telling others about Jesus—if it wasn’t for them and their pastors, missionaries, and laypeople sharing the Gospel and spreading the Christian faith, there wouldn’t be Christians like you.

What does any of this have to do with anything? Quite a bit, actually. Jesus told the disciples in Acts chapter one that they would be His witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth. Today, the Gospel reaches around the world. The sun never sets on the Christian church. Yet, there are many in this world who have never heard of the Bible, Jesus, or the gift of the forgiveness of sins. And, among those who have heard, many do not know God rightly because of false teachers. That is why our pastors receive extensive training in the Bible in its original languages. That is why we study pure doctrine in such detail. That is why faithful practice matters in a congregation or church body. That is why we have a passion for the lost and send missionaries around the world and why we all look around our own communities for people to invite to Immanuel. We care because all the baptized are also Jesus’ witnesses to the end of the earth. There are sheep in need of our Good Shepherd, especially this Good Shepherd Sunday. They have need to hear The Shepherd’s Word of Grace. Alleluia! Christ is risen!       He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Paul has resumed his missionary journeys: Macedonia, Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, Corinth, Antioch, Ephesus. He’s been at Ephesus off and on since Acts 18. It’s now near the end of chapter 20. You’ve read Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. That letter is yet to be written years from now from Rome. Today’s reading from Acts is Paul’s farewell—in person—to those same Christians.

17Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. 18And when they came to him, he said to them: "You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, 19serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; 20how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, 21testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

How many times had Paul been run out of town? He has been imprisoned and stoned nearly to death. He has served with humility, with tears, and with trials, bearing patiently with the people, longsuffering for the sake of the Gospel that some would hear and believe. He has faced persecution countless times and yet has remained faithful. His message did not change no matter what kind of pressure he faced. He preached Law and Gospel: repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. He has preached Christ crucified and has his own cross to bear. Paul knows this.

22And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 24But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 25And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. 26Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, 27for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.

Paul knew his Hebrew Scriptures, our Old Testament. He paraphrases the Lord’s Word in Ezekiel chapters two and three. He has been faithful. He has warned sinners about the consequences of their sin. Had he not, he would not be innocent of their blood.

Paul cares about himself and his physical needs for one purpose: the ministry of the Gospel. He does not account to his life any value of itself, even in his own eyes. He sees his value as an instrument of the Lord, God’s mouthpiece. He has been given to finish his course and the ministry that he received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. He had to trust in the Lord to provide for His needs. That is why, to this day that a congregation provides for its pastor—so that the pastor can care for the congregation. Paul reminds the pastors in Ephesus of this.

28Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. 29I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.

False teachers will arise. Where will they come from? Inside the church. We’re shocked by this, but shouldn’t be. All Christians are still sinners. That includes pastors and people alike. The difference between pastor and people is not one of holiness or exalted position, but one of service. Each serves the other for the good of the whole church. Together the Church is immersed in the Word of God so that true Biblical teaching and faithful Christian practice is preserved and maintained. Our sainted LCMS President, A. L. Barry always told us, “Keep the message straight,” and “Get the message out.” False teachers are a serious danger to the sheep. Faithful teachers are a blessing.

About the Cover: In Paul’s good-bye to the elders at Ephesus, he urges them to “pay careful attention . . . to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers” (Acts 20:28). The sheep of the Lord’s flock, every member of His family, are to have a shepherd who watches out for them, for each has been bought with divine blood. Precious to God, they must also be precious to their pastor.

31Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears. 32And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. 34You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. 35In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

Those words of Jesus quoted by Paul are unique. They are not recorded elsewhere in the New Testament. Paul heard them from the Lord Himself. Luke recorded them here for our benefit. The Law of God shows us that we do not live up to the Lord’s standards by what we do, and, very often, by what we fail to do. At the same time, the Law reminds us to do the right thing, even when we don’t want to.

'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' Jesus said it. Therefore, this is most certainly true. Our congregational newsletter, budget, and weekly bulletin lay before you the need of this congregation, our Wyoming District, our Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. The Lord has provided for us in the past. We trust that He will provide for His own work now and in the future.

In our offerings, we Christians do not just give to a congregation, a district, a national church body. We give to the Lord. The gifts we share include those of time, abilities, possessions, and money, but especially the Gospel. And we can never ever run out of the Gospel. We don’t merely give to the Lord as if we are the source of the gifts we bring. We give from what God has already given to us. God is gracious in that He gives us blessings we do not deserve. You have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ and with daily bread to support this body and life and also this congregation. 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'

Lest we forget, when we give from what God has given us, we are motivated by the Gospel, not the Law. 'It is more blessed to give than to receive' should remind us of when Jesus said, “I did not come to be served, but to serve.” Jesus serves you in a way you could never serve one another. Your Lord gives in a way we could never give. You are the church of God, which He obtained with His own blood. That is Gift. That is Gospel. That is for you. That is The Shepherd’s Word of Grace. In this life you will have trouble. Don’t worry. Don’t be anxious. And don’t count sheep—Talk to the Shepherd. Amen.

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Sermon for 14 April 2013, Third Sunday of Easter C

Rev. Paul J Cain

Revelation 5:11-14

Worthy is Christ!

Third Sunday of Easter, 14 April 2013

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming

Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.  Amen.

At times, we take things for granted. We may do them so often, we forget the meaning behind them. For that reason, the Church Year is a good discipline. It helps protect us from taking parts of the liturgy for granted. All throughout Lent, we refrained from singing “Alleluia.” We now have it back. And we sing with gusto!

One of the most popular canticles, or songs from the Bible, in Lutheran Service Book is “This is the Feast” and is found in Divine Service Settings 1 and 2. Its popularity has spread even to Christian traditions that don’t use the liturgy. Today we study the Scripture behind “This is the Feast,” our Epistle lesson, Revelation 5:11-14.

11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders.  12 In a loud voice they sang:  12b “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive [all the] power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” 13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:  13b “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be [all the] praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”  14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

We may sing along with the radio, a favorite CD, in the shower, or in an organized choir, but it isn’t every day that we get to sing with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven, lauding and magnifying God’s glorious name, but we do in the Divine Service! Angels first sang, Glory to God in the Highest, announcing the Savior’s birth. Angels in the vision of Isaiah sang, Holy, Holy, Holy. Angels and the rest of the company of heaven sing along with us in “This is the Feast,” also known as “Worthy is Christ.”

11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 

John’s Revelation continues. The elders, we learn from the previous chapter, number a total of 24. The clearest explanation of this is twelve for the twelve tribes of Israel, symbolizing the whole Old Testament Church, added to twelve, the number of Jesus’ disciples, symbolizing the whole New Testament Church (including us). In this one number then, 24, the entire number of all believers of all ages is represented. What a comfort this presents to us! All believers in Jesus will be a part of this heavenly chorus.

The large numbers and multiplied large numbers show us the unbelievable number of angels around God’s throne, surrounding Him with praise. There are also four other special angels, called living creatures, leading the worship:

4:6b In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back.  7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle.  8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying:  “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” 

The angels, the creatures reminiscent of those in Daniel, continue to sing the Sanctus, “Holy , Holy, Holy,” that Isaiah heard them sing in Isaiah 6.

4:9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:  11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” 

The worthiness of God is first because He is the creator of all things. In Revelation, the restoration of creation is about to take place. We will read about the New Heaven and New Earth in coming weeks. Since Christ is and was God from eternity, He has always possessed these qualities, but only after His ascension and especially after His return in glory will He publicly exercise them for all to see. Our text talks about the special worthiness of God the Son, Jesus, the Lamb who was slain.

5:12 In a loud voice they sang:   “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive [all the] power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”

Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain, whose blood set us free to be people of God. Power, riches, wisdom and strength, and honor, blessing, and glory are His.

Each of these attributes that the Lamb, Christ, was to receive has a “the” in front of it in the original Greek. That means He is worthy to receive the supreme power, the supreme wealth, the supreme wisdom, the supreme strength, the supreme honor, the supreme glory, and the supreme praise. He has earned it—for you. He was slain—for you.

In this vision, a scroll with seven seals awaits opening by one worthy enough. Worthy is Christ! The seven seals bring about God’s final judgment upon the unbelievers on earth: The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse bring judgment, Martyrs for the faith call out in a loud voice to God for justice and vengeance, and the earth and heavenly bodies quake. The end is at hand. No wonder the saints and angels sing and rejoice! They sing of the work Christ has accomplished for humanity—for you.

The enthronement of Christ is seen from heavenly perspective. This is what happened after Jesus ascended into heaven.

The angels attribute to Jesus what sinful humanity was unwilling to admit. We do well to sing along with them, confessing this truth of the faith. Christ, by being slain, is to be honored and praised for His gift of salvation to us. It all focuses on Christ!

Christian worship focuses on God revealed in Christ Jesus. Christian worship is not based upon what is trendy, popular, cool, or what brings the most people in the door. It is based on the Word of God.

The Invocation is from Matthew. The verses before confession in Divine Service Setting Four come from Psalms 124 and 130 and Luke 18. The Kyrie comes from many different passages like Mark 10:47 where Jesus heals. The Gloria is the angelic hymn of Luke 2. The Agnus Dei records the words of John the Baptist in John 1. An offertory comes from Psalm 51. The Sanctus is recorded in Isaiah 6. Simeon’s song in Luke 2 is a common post-communion canticle.

Worship is not primarily entertainment. In fact, what we do here in the Divine Service isn’t the most important part, either. We call the service of Word and Sacrament the Divine Service because here the Divine, God, serves us. He gives us His Word and His Gifts. Our worship of Him is a tiny response to His great Gifts.

Our Lord speaks and we listen. His Word bestows what it says. Faith that is born from what is heard acknowledges the gifts received with eager thankfulness and praise. Music is drawn into this thankfulness and praise, enlarging and elevating the adoration of our gracious giver God.

Saying back to him what he has said to us, we repeat what is most true and sure. Most true and sure is his name, which he put upon us with the water of our Baptism. We are his. This we acknowledge at the beginning of the Divine Service. Where his name is, there is he. Before him we acknowledge that we are sinners, and we plead for forgiveness. His forgiveness is given us, and we, freed and forgiven, acclaim him as our great and gracious God as we apply to ourselves the words he has used to make himself known to us.

The rhythm of our worship is from him to us, and then from us back to him. He gives his gifts, and together we receive and extol them. We build on another up as we speak to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Our Lord gives us his body to eat and his blood to drink. Finally his blessing moves us out into our calling, where his gifts have their fruition.

How best to do this we may learn from his Word and from the way his Word has prompted his worship throughout the centuries. We are heirs of an astonishingly rich tradition. Each tradition receives from those who went before and, in making that tradition of the Divine Service its own, adds what best may serve in its own day--the living heritage and something new. (LW, p. 6 Nagel)

The canticle “This is the Feast” is something ancient and something new. It was first included in a Divine Service in 1970. It has been part of our worship in the LCMS since the debut of the 1982 hymnal, Lutheran Worship.

5:13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:  “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be [all the] praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” 

Sing with all the people of God, and join in the hymn of all creation: Blessing, honor, glory, and might be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen.

Angels, archangels, and all the company of heaven sing. We will be there. All Christians will be there.  All who trust in Jesus death and Resurrection alone for their salvation will join in a great heavenly choral anthem!

The saying goes, “Practice makes perfect.” Well, maybe not “perfect,” but if we do something over and over again, we feel natural doing it. It has become second nature. That is why we join together for worship. The Lord gathers us around His Word and Sacrament so that we will be more accustomed to heavenly worship.

We don’t come here to show how holy we are—far from it. We’re just as sinful as those who never enter these doors. But we’re forgiven. That’s why we come—to be forgiven. We come to confess our sins, receive His forgiveness and rejoice in His Gifts. We come because He has good Gifts for us today!

The Lord’s Supper, which we have been blessed to celebrate and partake of four times this April, is a foretaste of the feast to come—the marriage feast of the Lamb, that is. Worship, the Divine Service, is heaven on earth.

About the Cover: The Lamb is an image that runs from start to finish in Scripture. All the Bible is a testimony to the Lamb—our Jesus. He alone is worthy to take the scroll and open its seals, to unlock the secret of history, because He was slain. By His blood, He ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and nation. He has made us kings and priests to reign with Him.

The marriage feast of the Lamb is described in Revelation 19, the textual source of the phrase, This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

19: 4 The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried:  “Amen, Hallelujah!”

5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying:  “Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both small and great!”

6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:  “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. 7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. 8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.”(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) 

9 Then the angel said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”

This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

For the Lamb who was slain has begun his reign, Alleluia.

This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

We have communion with God in His Word and Sacrament. He blesses us now as He will when we gather around His throne. He has good gifts for you here—forgiveness of sins, life, salvation, meaning for this life, direction from His Holy Will, nourishment from His Holy Word, assurance that You will be part of all the company of heaven.

Let us not neglect meeting together for worship as some are in the habit of doing. Let us rejoice when someone says, Let us go to the house of the Lord and dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

5:14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.