Encore Post: God the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, hovered over the dark chaos before the world began. (Genesis 1:2) When God the Father spoke and God the Son acted, He joined in the work of laying the foundation of the Creation. With the Father and the Son, he deliberated the creation of man and woman. (Genesis 1:26-27) Sent by the Father and the Son, he inspired the prophets to speak and to write the Holy Scriptures and spoke through them.
When the time was right, (Galatians 4:4-5) the Holy Spirit came to the Virgin Mary and conceived in her womb the Son of God Made flesh. (Luke 1:35) With the Father, he witnessed the baptism of the beloved Son — the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. (Matthew 3:13-17, John 1:29 ) It was the Holy Spirit that Jesus promised to send to us. He saves us through the hearing of the Gospel and the waters of baptism. He is our companion and counselor. He leads us to know the truth (John 16:13). He lives inside of everyone who trusts in Christ. (Romans 8:9-11, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 2 Timothy 1:13-14) More than that, when we pray, he prays with us. When we cannot pray, he intercedes for us.
Encore Post: As you take a vacation trip and visit new churches along the way, you may notice that the Scripture passages read seem a lot like the ones being read at your church at home. You are probably right. Most Lutheran churches and other Christian traditions use a Lectionary — a list of readings agreed upon by a group of Christian Church bodies.
This is nothing new — the first lectionaries were used by synagogues before Jesus was born. The church continued that tradition, adding readings from the Gospels and a variety of letters and sermons written by the apostles and other early church fathers. Those recognized by the church as God’s Word eventually became a part of the lectionary proper and joined other Scriptures read regularly in worship.
The readings eventually settled down into a standard rotation. These became traditional lessons for the same Sunday in the Church Year. This pattern is used to this day — with some small adjustments — in the historic one year lectionary. Its advantage is that our ancestors heard these passages read — even Martin Luther and those before him.
Beginning in 1974, Protestant churches together developed a three-year lectionary, which reached its final form in 1983. Called the Revised Common Lectionary, it is used by most Christians in the United States. The three-year lectionary in Lutheran Service Book is based on this Lectionary. Its advantage is that more of the Scripture is read in worship and preached upon.
If you want to prepare for worship on Sunday during the week before, why not consult your congregation’s lectionary? The list of readings is available online at: the LCMS’ lectionary page?
Encore Post: We use his name several times each time we worship. He is responsible for the faith in our hearts and the good works we do. Yet most Christians know very little about him. The Holy Spirit has been called the quiet member of the Trinity, God’s secret agent or thought of as shadowy as his name. The words Spirit, wind, and breath are all good translations of the Hebrew word רוּחַ (Ruach) and the Greek word πνεῦμα (Pneuma). In fact, beginning in the Earliest days of the Church, non-Christian movements have declared that the Holy Spirit is not a person at all, but a force or power.
The reason why the Holy Spirit gets so little attention is that he wants it that way. The Holy Spirit’s role in our lives is to create faith in Jesus and point us to the Son of God. (John 16:13-15) The Holy Spirit knows everything, even the mind of God. (1 Corinthians 2:10-11) He teaches God’s people. (John 14:26) He gets angry when his people betray him. (Isaiah 63:8-10, Hebrews 10:29) The Holy Spirit prays for us (Romans 8:26) and spoke to his people. (Acts 8:29, Acts 10:19-20) So, the Scripture does speak about the Holy Spirit in such a way that it is clear he is not only a person, but also God. (Acts 5:3)
In May of 1845, One Hundred and Seventy-Five years ago, the General Synod gathered in Philadelphia. The General Synod was a loose federation of regional Lutheran church bodies — Synods, Ministeriums and Conferences. It promoted what it called an “American Lutheranism,” which left behind what it saw as European culture and doctrine for one which was in harmony with American denominations of a Reformed heritage. Among the things discarded were the liturgy, the saving nature of Baptism and the real presence of the body and blood of Christ in the Lord’s Supper. It promoted “new measures,” revivalist worship styles, evangelistic techniques and camp meetings.
When Friedrich Wyneken came to America, he fit well in the General Synod. He was a part of the Germans Awakening, a pietist movement concerned that Christians cultivated a personal relationship with Jesus and lived a holy life. He was not alone — most of the fathers of the Missouri Synod were pietists in their youth. In a war of words with German Methodists and with time to think on a voyage to Germany, he became convinced that Confessional Lutheran doctrine was more faithful to the Word of God. As he traveled Germany, recruiting pastors to serve in America, he told everyone how Lutherans in America had abandoned Lutheran doctrine to embrace Reformed and Arminian teaching and practice.
When he returned to America, Wyneken implemented Confessional Lutheran practice and taught according to the Lutheran Confessions in his parishes. Before his own Synod of the West, he argued for the truth of the Lutheran Confessions and won them over. The Synod of the West sent him as a delegate to the next General Synod convention.
Wyneken arrived late to the convention. He challenged the body to answer concerns about their orthodoxy by sending copies of works which represented their theology to Lutheran leaders in Germany. After much debate, the proposal failed. Wyneken then introduced a second resolution, that the Synod reject as heterodox those works. This measure also failed. After that, he left for home. Wyneken was to remain a member of the Synod of the West until it dissolved in 1846.
Dear saints, many people and businesses in our Union are beginning to come out of either self- or government-imposed lockdowns. Churches around the country that have been empty for weeks, if not months, have begun to come together again. When we look at our reading in Acts, it appears that the disciples were still in a type of lockdown. It makes sense. After Jesus is arrested, the disciples scatter, and when they see their Rabbi put into a grave, they go into hiding. When he is reported as risen from the dead three days later, they remain locked up.
The locks kept other men out, but it did not keep our Lord from entering. When he does, he gives them his peace. Before his betrayal and death, he teaches and prepares the disciples. He tells them he is going away and will return. This comes to pass quickly. And then for forty days, he continues to teach them and prepare them for another type of leaving. This occurs at the Ascension. Though Jesus takes his physical and bodily leave, he does so with the promise that the Holy Spirit would soon be sent.
The disciples are told to stay in Jerusalem until the Spirit comes, and so this morning we find them together in one place. Perhaps locked up in the Upper Room. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
The commotion drew a crowd. And since it was Pentecost, one of the three major feasts which required a pilgrimage to Jerusalem for worship, men from numerous nations were present. The crowd of these many nations and different tongues each hear simple Galileans speaking in their own language. No wonder they were amazed and astonished. Some ask, “What does this mean?” while others mocked them, even saying, “They are filled with new wine.”
But Peter speaks up. He addresses the crowds gathered for the feast and then around the commotion. As he begins to speak, he quotes the prophets of old and speaks the first sermon of a newly born Church. The reading this morning culminates, “And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
That Peter, or any of the apostles, would speak or preach or proclaim the Word of God at Pentecost shouldn’t surprise us. Jesus had told them to stay in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit had come, and from there they would take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. This is why they had remained in Jerusalem. And when the Spirit comes, what Jesus says is fulfilled: “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.”
I think we all catch the obvious miracle. Everyone sees that it is a miracle that an Egyptian can hear a Greek-and-Aramaic-speaking Galilean in his native language. Especially when the Mede and Libyan and Phrygian can do the same. This is a great miracle. It’s not that the curse of Babel is reversed, but rather that all languages are sanctified. The gospel will now be carried to all nations for all people.
And this brings us to the greater miracle the Holy Spirit works on this day. Just before our Lord ascends, he tells them the Holy Spirit would come and fill them with power from heaven. It is true the disciples spoke in tongues through the power of the Holy Spirit. But the power spoken of here by Jesus is the power of salvation for all who believe. It is how St. Peter ends the section of the sermon we read today. Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Everyone who believes upon the name of the Lord has the peace that he leaves with and gives to the disciples. We won’t have the peace the world gives, a peace that is fickle and simply ‘forgets’ something for a time, only to be brought up and used against you later. Nor is it the political peace that is tenuous and can crumble at any time. The Peace we have with God is a Peace of remembrance. A Peace of reconciliation with God. For this peace is based upon and is secured for you through the death of Christ on the cross. It is sealed in death – Christ’s on the cross and yours in your baptism. It is guaranteed in his rising from the grave. And it is known to you in the sending of the Holy Spirit to the church and to you.
I expect no wind today other than that of the air conditioner. But the Holy Spirit still works today as he did on Pentecost. You simply need to look in the right places. Look at the Word and the Sacraments. He speaks to you in the Word. He acts in the washing of Baptism. He feeds you Christ in the Holy Supper. Hear the peace brought to you in them and in the absolution: You are forgiven in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
What amazing peace we have. What glorious grace we are shown. To know that the promise of God is attached to simple water and was put on you to cleanse you and unite you in a death and a resurrection like Christ’s. To hear his words, “Take and eat; This is My Body. Take and drink; This is My Blood. Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” and know that is exactly what takes place.
Jesus tells the disciples in the Upper Room that the ruler of this world is coming. He has come and he has been defeated. But he still fights as if he can win. This is because he can still tempt and trick and deceive. He has the world, and so he sets his sights on you. He wants you. So remember that you have been claimed. Remember the Name that is placed upon you and who is placed upon your tongue. Remember and keep his commands, pleading his mercy and forgiveness when you fail.
After all, dear Christian, Christ has died for you. He has conquered sin, death, and the devil already. This is your peace. Rest and rely and fix your eyes upon him. In doing so, what’s the worst that can happen? Ridicule on Facebook? Losing your job? Catching a virus? Trust in Christ and the ‘worst’ thing he can do to you is cause you to awake in the very presence of your Savior. As if that is a bad thing.
In your baptism, you have a peace that can never be taken from you. No matter your station in life: young or old, healthy or sick, depressed or lonely, rich or poor…whatever…you belong to Christ. The Name of the Almighty God is placed upon your head and your heart and He has marked you as one redeemed by Christ the Lord. And nothing can take that away from you. Amen.
Rev. Brent Keller Peace Lutheran Church Alcester, SD
Giovanni de ‘Medici was the second son of Lorenzo “the Magnificent” de’Medici, ruler of the Florentine Republic. As was customary for second sons, Giovanni was groomed for a career in the church. His father was one of the great patrons of the Italian Renaissance and very adept at the very volatile politics of late medieval Italy. While playing the part of the first citizen, he gained for his family near royal powers, prestige and riches. Much of that power came from the family business, running one of the major banks in Europe. Giovanni thus received one of the finest educations of his time and became a lover of the finer things of life — especially the arts and hunting. Think of father and son as princes of the type described by the father of political political science — Niccolò Machiavelli — who grew up to be a Florentine diplomat and a lieutenant of the Medici family .
He was consecrated a Deacon and a Cardinal at age 13, although not allowed to function as a Cardinal until he was of age. He studied theology and canon law at the University of Pisa from 1489 to 1491. In 1492 he joined the College of Cardinals, but had to move back to Florence at the death of his father. In 1494, when politics in Florence turned against the Medicis, he went into exile, traveling throughout Europe until 1500 when he moved to Rome. When his older brother Piero died, he became the head of the Medici family. In 1512, when his younger brother regained Medici rule in Florence, Giovanni was the actual power behind the throne. The rest of his life, he would leverage family power to promote his relatives in gaining control throughout Italy.
In 1513, Giovanni was elected pope, even though he was not a priest. In the following days, he was first ordained, then consecrated a bishop and then coronated as Pope Leo X. As a pope, he was a relatively moral shepherd. He spend his own, his family’s and the papacy’s money on turning Rome into the center of the Renaissance for his time. He commissioned one of his father’s clients — Michelangelo — to paint the Sistine Chapel ceiling in St. Peter’s Basilica. He skillfully played France and Spain off against each other, maintaining a percarious balance that kept Italy relatively free of war during his reign.
However, he is remembered chiefly for underestimating Martin Luther and the thirst for reform in Western Christendom. During the critical years in which the Reformation took root, he first thought of it as a squabble between the rival monastic orders — Luther’s Augustinians and Eck’s Dominicans. He was not concerned (until 1520!) about most of the issues raised by Luther. He alternately tried humoring him, getting his superiors in the order and his prince to rein him in and issuing dire threats. The one sticking point for him goes to his nature as a Medici — Papal authority which Luther’s theology threatened. His last card he played on June 15 — the bull Exsurge Domine.
The Day of Pentecost comes on June 9th, but we have already been working up to it with the last few weeks of the season of Easter. Jesus promises to send the Paraclete, that is the Holy Spirit (John 14:25-31, John 16::1-15).
Pentecost was originally was a harvest festival, the ingathering of the winter wheat. In the Old Testament, it is called the Feast of Weeks. The feast began fifty days after Passover. It was also a day to celebrate again Moses receiving the Law and God’s Covenant made at Mt. Sinai in Exodus 19-24, where there was wind and fire.
In Acts 2, Luke records the first Pentecost after Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension. Just like the events at Mount Sinai, there was a great, mighty rushing wind, God’s Word, and a harvest. Only this time the fire came in flaming tongues over the disciple’s heads. They declare God’s Word and each person in attendance heard the mighty acts of God proclaimed in their own language. Faith was created by hearing. The Holy Spirit made this possible, and also created the faith in each person that they might make this eternal truth their own: that Jesus died on the cross to take away “MY” sins.
This is something that the Christian ought to do, for remembering the Sabbath is commanded by our Lord. Yet it is truly for our own benefit to hear God’s Word for by hearing we are brought to repentance and faith in Christ for our salvation, just like those 3000 that first Pentecost Day.
Rev. Jacob Hercamp St. Peter’s Lutheran Church La Grange, MO
Five Hundred years ago, Martin Luther completed his Treatise on Good Works, explaining several of the key insights of Lutheran theology. It went to the printers sometime from the middle to the end of May 1520 and was in the hands of Philip Melanchthon by June 8. Originally, the reformer intended it to be a sermon for his Wittenberg parish, but grew into a little book at the urging of his prince, Frederick the Wise through his secretary, Georg Spalatin, Luther’s good friend.
Luther feared that, as much as he had already published, it would not be read. He was very much mistaken. It was reprinted eight times by December 1520 and six more times in 1521. Before long it was translated into Latin. very quickly it appeared in English, French, Dutch, and Low German. This treatise has received very little attention, given that, very shortly after it was published, Luther produced a work that denied the Pope was the vicar of Christ, followed by others that taught all Christians were priests and had a leadership role in the church, that there were only two, or maybe three, sacraments and that Christians were at the same time free and subject to no one, but slaves of all, subject to all.
In this work, Luther explains that salvation and faith are not earned by good works, but that good works flow from salvation and faith. Because Christians naturally love God and want to please him, they do good works without giving them a second thought. No work done apart from faith is truly good. And for a Christian, living in the vocation that God has given to him or her, everything they do is truly a good work.
Martin Luther also redefined in this treatise what “Good Works” actually were. In the Middle Ages, good works came to mean religious actions such as attending mass, making pilgrimages to holy sites, prayers, purchase of indulgences, pledging to God that you would remain celibate and a host of other spiritual exercises. Dr. Luther explains that none of these things that were recommended by the church, impressive in the eyes of people as they were, are not good works at all. At best, they distracted from performing true good works — those commanded by God.
The Treatise on Good Works took the form of an extended commentary on the Ten Commandments. Many of Luther’s observations in it will sound very familiar to Lutherans — Dr. Luther would repeat many of them a decade later in his Large and Small Catechisms.
One comment the reformer made sounds strange to Lutheran ears. He teaches that faith is the first and greatest work a Christian does. In it are all other works. Theologian Norman Nagel used to explain that early on “Luther was not a Lutheran. the goose is in the oven, but he is not quite cooked yet.” And so it was. Luther and his friends would soon come to understand faith as purely a gift of God, created in the heart of believers by the Holy Spirit when he saves them in the waters of Holy Baptism and by the power of his word. Faith, we now believe is a Christian’s trust in God to keep his promises.
Dear saints, the Introit this morning begins with a request: “Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud.” There seems to be some burden on the Psalmist as he continues, “Your face, Lord, do I seek; hide not your face from me.” As the words of Jesus in the gospel reading come to pass, perhaps these words came to the minds of the disciples. Jesus tells of an hour coming where they will be excommunicated from the synagogues. A time coming when they would be hunted down by their own people and killed. For what reason? Because those doing the persecuting think they are actually serving the Lord by their sinful actions.
This message of Jesus wouldn’t be new to the disciples. It has been in his teaching since the Sermon on the Mount. And since they knew the Old Testament, they would know it has been the plight of the servants of God for centuries, even millennia. This excommunication from the synagogues happened. It is all over the book of Acts. The message of Christ crucified was preached in them until the messenger was kicked out. They kept teaching and preaching this message at the riverside and in homes. They took it to the next town and repeated the scenario over and over.
The Jewish leaders who did not receive the Gospel and repent were not happy. And they sought to stop the preaching of this gospel to anyone. So not only did they excommunicate the messengers, they began to kill them. I direct you again to the book of Acts. St. Stephen boldly proclaims an unbridled and pointed message to the leaders culminating in this truth: in their sinful unbelief and resistance of Jesus they showed themselves to be a stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears and always resisting the Holy Spirit. Today this would be called a ‘hell-fire and brimstone’ sermon, but his goal was still to see the hearts of the hearers cut and have them repent of their murder of Christ, trusting in him for forgiveness, life, and salvation.
The council is cut to the heart. But it is not the cutting that the hearers at Pentecost have. This is a cutting that enraged them to the point they bare and grind their teeth in hatred. Stephen is seized and stoned. The words of Jesus come true. The hour is already underway.
And that time has not come to an end. It continues and will not end until our Lord returns. Sometimes the fiery trial that St. Peter mentions in the Epistle comes from blatant enemies of the church. Sometimes it comes from enemies within the visible church. And sometimes that trial comes from people who are ignorant that they are persecuting the church of Christ, but think they are representing it. And the reason this happens is because they have not known the Father, nor the Lord Jesus.
We could spend hours listing the times and ways and circumstances of Christian persecution around the world then and now. But instead, let’s focus on why Jesus tells the disciples and us these things are going to happen. Did you catch the reason? He lets you know these things are coming to keep you from falling away. Our Lord wants you to be prepared for betrayal. For hardship. For humiliation, arrest, even death at the hands of those who hate you because they do not know and hate the Father. Because he wants you to stay faithful and keep your faith.
A few days ago, the church celebrated the Ascension of Our Lord. Just before Jesus lifts his hands, blesses the disciples, and ascends, he opens their minds to understand the Scripture. He tells them that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem. At the end of St. Matthew’s account, he says that all authority has been given to him in both heaven and earth. And so, he sends the disciples out to preach the gospel where they would baptize and teach all that Jesus had given them.
Once the promised Holy Spirit comes at Pentecost, the disciples begin to carry out this sending. They begin in Jerusalem and take the message of Christ to all the world. That message still spreads today. And you, dear Christian, who believe this message – believe and trust that Jesus Christ is the Son of God; he was born of the Virgin Mary; he suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, died, and was buried; that he rose from the dead and ascended to the Father; that he will come again in glory where we look for the resurrection of the dead – are the beneficiaries of these words of our Lord too.
While we do not suffer persecution as the early church did and, indeed, other parts of the world even today, it is also not right to say we have no troubles. Christians are targeted and labeled all sorts of nasty things because they believe the words of our Lord. They are fired, discriminated against, and threatened. This should not surprise us. The world hated Jesus enough to kill him. It isn’t surprising that the world would hate us too.
Yet the death of Jesus changed everything. In that death, the world is reconciled to Christ. He dies the death we all deserve and suffers the punishment we are owed. Now that he has conquered death, he sends the Holy Spirit to strengthen, guide, and protect us. Though we were like sheep scattered with no shepherd, he sought each of us out and brought us to himself. He cleansed us in the waters of baptism. He has removed your old heart of stone and replaced it with a heart of flesh. He has given you life and warned you of what will certainly occur so that you will endure and live with him to eternity.
Yes, Jesus was talking to the disciples in our text, but his words apply to us too. He tells you these things are going to happen so that you do not fall away. Jesus has died and paid for all the sins of all who have, are, or will live. But because they do not know him, they reject this gift. Because they do not know him, animus directed at God is also directed to us. And as St. Peter reminds us, when we are insulted and put under hardship for the name of Christ, we are blessed. Blessed because the Spirit of glory and of God is upon us. So remember: Jesus has redeemed you. He has cleansed you. He is your light and your salvation. Because of him, not matter what is done to you, you have nothing to fear. For the Spirit that resides in you enlightens you, sanctifies you, and keeps you in the true faith. Amen.
Rev. Brent Keller Peace Lutheran Church Alcester, SD
Grace, mercy and peace be unto you from God our Father and our risen and ascended Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Throughout the entire Epistle of 1 Peter and here again, the great apostle warns and prepares his readers and hearers to suffer for the faith. To be made a participant along with the sufferings of Christ Jesus. As we heard in a few stories from the book of Acts this Easter season, may we too rejoice as we are counted blessed to suffer for the sake of the Name of Jesus Christ.
Unfortunately as the Lord speaks of his disciples on the night of betrayal, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. We don’t like to suffer. There are names for conditions for people who like to suffer. Suffering is not something many people look forward to, of course it comes, knocking like the undesired guest you feel compelled to invite to thanksgiving dinner because he’s family, you smile and you bear it but you certainly aren’t happy he actually showed up.
But suffering for the sake of something can bring about good results. The most suffering I have every put myself through was when I volunteered to run Cross Country for my High School. The tempo distance runs, the 400 meter sprints followed by 3 minute rests and the circuit began again. The extra stretching to keep my calves from locking up. The pounding of pavement sending shock up my legs. It was suffering I willingly put myself under for the sake of the team. I was the 5th runner. You needed 5 to qualify for the state races. It was the carrot I kept chasing, helping the better runners have a chance to qualify for state races. And you know what? I actually saw my times get better over time. I actually began to look forward to the runs. And when it was time to lay it all out for the sectional race, I put down my best time all year, pushing through the rigorous cross country course to run my personal best. The past suffering helped push me along.
You can see this with any endurance racer. You have to suffer in order to endure a marathon. You have to grit it out and push your body to the brink to prove to yourself it can be done when it counts. And usually this suffering results with a good outcome.
Christians, as Peter tells us, should expect suffering. And like the suffering of a runner, Christian suffering results in good on a much greater scale. The Christian never suffers alone, but always with Christ. And suffering with Christ is a blessed suffering.
Its been a while now but you can do a quick search of the most dangerous countries toward Christians. You probably have an idea where most of those countries are located: most being located in the Middle East and North Africa. And like I said last week, we have begun to feel some of the pinch. Nothing like these places where there are people dying for the sake of the Name of Christ. We have little to no idea what true suffering for the sake of the Name actually looks like. Many of us should repent because of our anger for what we think we are suffering. They are in the fiery trials, we are like sitting on a hay bale roasting a marshmallow. Little to no comparison.
But the sufferings are likely coming our way. Peter told his hearers to be ready. So we too must be diligent and awake. We should be looking to the sky, awaiting the Lord to return at any time. We should be made ready by the hearing of the Word of Christ. We should be joyfully receiving from Him the forgiveness and life everlasting he has purchased and won for us by his own suffering and death on the cross. And you have these precious gifts before you this day. Earnestly desire them. Do not despise them. For only in these gifts of Christ are you made ready for the day of suffering.
But are we ready? Or are we ignorant because we have been blessed to not have the sufferings of many of our brothers and sisters in the faith? I would suggest that in a way we have been lulled to sleep. We have grown complacent and actually we in America are falling away from the faith without any fire at all. Matt Walsh, a commentator of church and culture affairs, effectively said the same thing in a recent interview with Issues, Etc. Do not be lukewarm concerning the faith. Do not be like the church of Laodicea which the risen and ascended Lord scolds saying, “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor blind, and naked.” “I counsel you to be from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.”
Yes repent and do not be lukewarm when it comes to your confession of Christ in word and deed. But know that you will suffer for the sake of the Name of Christ. Expect it.
Not all suffering is created equal. Some suffering is justified and some is not. But only Christian suffering, that is suffering for the sake of the confession that Jesus is Lord and God will be a blessing.
So what then is Christian suffering? Christian suffering has to do with Christ and our relationship with Him. You are blessed if you are insulted for the name of Christ, for “the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.” Christian suffering is that suffering that comes simply by being a Christian and holding to the confession that Jesus is Lord and God, the redeemer of the world. In the day of judgment the Christian who suffers will be blessed. He will rejoice and be glad in the unveiling of Christ’s full glory and splendor, while the ungodly will stand in complete and utter terror. The Christian might suffer for the Gospel of Jesus now, but suffering in the world is temporary, the suffering Christian has a promise to be taken to a place where God wipes away all tears. There shall be no sorrow, no suffering, and no more fear. For the Lamb will be their shepherd and will guide them to quiet and restful waters. He will be with them forever. The Christian suffers here and now in the world but it is only temporary, for you will be called to your eternal home, the place which Jesus has gone to prepare for you. The world and the ungodly might rejoice now, they will suffer the consequence of their unrepentance.
The suffering of a Christian is rewarded by God. This is not a salvation issue, you do not have to suffer so that God saves you. But, suffering for the sake of Jesus is an almost given in this world and climate. God promises to exalt those who are prepared to suffer for the sake of Jesus. It is only in Christ that we can withstand the attacks of your sinful nature, the world, and ultimately Satan. Satan might roar like a lion, but he has been chained. He has been conquered by the greater lion of the Tribe of Judah.
Let us pray then to our Risen and Ascended Lord that we may stand fast when our time of fiery trials come that we may remain steadfast in the one faith of Jesus Christ, who has indeed destroyed the power of sin, death, and Satan by dying on the cross and having been raised to new life on the third day. It is He who fights to keep you, it he who is with you in your sufferings, your Christian sufferings. The Christian suffers in order to participate in the sufferings of Jesus. Holy Scripture testifies that god, who has called us, is faithful. So when He has begun the good work in us, He will also preserve it to the end and perfect it, if we ourselves do not turn from Him, but firmly hold on to the work begun to the end. He has promised His grace for this very purpose. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Rev. Jacob Hercamp St. Peter’s Lutheran Church La Grange, MO
