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Sunday, May 4, 2008
Pastor Rod Pudell

Sermon Text: Acts 3:1-10, 4:32-35
Sermon Theme: Find A Need And Fill It!

I know that “hate” is a strong word – a word that we’re never supposed to use regarding the people around us. But there are some things in this world that I have to admit that I “dislike extremely.” And I can tell you beyond a shadow of a doubt that I have an “extreme dislike” for potholes. I’m sure many of you join me in those sentiments. A winter season that just doesn’t seem to want to come to an end – coupled with a continuous string of thawing weather followed by a period of bitterlya cold temperatures have produced a bumper crop of those pesky potholes, the likes of which eludes recent memory. Some seem to be so large that they can almost swallow up a car whole. And they go way beyond an annoyance or a discomfort. They are expensive. A member of our Evangelism Committee had to excuse himself from our meeting this past week because on the way in, he hit a pothole that damaged his tire and destroyed him rim. It cost him hundreds of dollars of repair. And if that’s not the result, so often those pesky potholes knock your alignment so out of whack that the minute you take your hands off the steering wheel, your car makes an automatic right turn. No doubt about it, I extremely dislike…I hate potholes.

What frustrates me to no end is seeing and experiencing the same pothole day after day. Every morning and every evening they greet you with a bone-jarring “thud.” Every day you see people driving the obstacle course of twists and turns to avoid them. Although MN Dot crews really do an excellent job, they can’t be everywhere. And everyday we think in the back of our minds: “Somebody should do something about that pothole!”

Wouldn’t it be interesting if each and every person could adopt a “find a pothole and fill it” attitude for themselves – that they’d have a bucket of “pothole filling material” in the trunk of their car and would immediately stop and rectify the problem, at least until the professionals arrive? Now I know that this is not practical or even wise. I would hate to see some of you in your business suits running around with a shovel dodging traffic.

Well, although this idea may not be ideal for fixing potholes on the highway, it might be a lot more workable when we encounter people who are experiencing the bumps, the pitfalls, and the potholes on the road of life. Today as we begin our series on The Gospel of the Holy Spirit, let’s learn from the example of Peter, John, and the entire Christian Church as we are encouraged to:
Find A Need And Fill It!

One thing about potholes: you don’t have to go out looking for them. They find you. They’re everywhere – at every turn – at every place you go. The same can be said of people experiencing the potholes of life. Peter and John met just such a person on their way to church. Our text tells us that they were going up to the temple for one of the times of prayer. Later Judaism had three organized and stated times when people could come into the temple for prayer: midmorning at the 3rd hour or 9am, at the time of evening sacrifice at the 9th hour or 3pm, and at sunset which of course would vary in time. Well, Peter and John are going to church for the 3pm service when they come across a man crippled from birth. He had been placed at the main entrance to the temple – the bronze-sheathed gate called the Nicanor Gate but nicknamed “Beautiful” by the locals because it was their favorite. Now for this man this wasn’t an unusual but a daily occurrence. Every day this crippled man’s friends carried him to the exact same spot to beg from the crowds of worshippers and passersby. It certainly seemed to be the best crowd to make such an appeal – a lot better than the crowds at the marketplace or the bars. But still everyday these people weaved around this “obstacle” without giving him much of a notice.

Except for this day in our text… On this day, Peter and John stopped and asked the man to look at them. Usually the crowd would look away from this man, and the dozens like him, not wishing to make eye contact and possibly be “hit up” by a personal appeal to become involved. And the probably did not need to worry since most of the time this crippled beggar spent the lion’s share of his day looking down in discouragement and despair. He could probably hardly believe that someone stopped to help. Finally there was someone who noticed his need and might be willing and able to fill it!

Find a need and fill it! Moved by the Holy Spirit, Peter and John not only saw this man’s physical need, but also his spiritual need – one that mere silver or gold wouldn’t satisfy. And so they introduced him to their Savior – to his power and his love. They declared: “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!” Jesus, the man who claimed to be the Son of God and was crucified for those claims…Jesus, the one who healed the sick and cured the blind and the lame…Jesus, the one who proclaimed that He was the promised Messiah who would die to pay for the sins of the entire world…Jesus, the one who was purported to have risen from the dead in story after story to assure everyone of forgiveness, life, and salvation. I’m sure this man thought: “Could Jesus even be the Savior of a crippled beggar like me?”

He didn’t have to wait too long to find out. All the man at the gate had to do was to take one step in faith to receive his answer and have his greatest needs for all time and eternity fulfilled. Jesus truly IS the Son of God! He’s the Savior who not only gave the cure for his crippled condition in this life, but also for the deadly affects that sin would have in the life to come. And his response was natural – praising God for the physical and spiritual healing he experienced.

All that happened because the Holy Spirit moved Peter and John to find a need and fill it. And this wasn’t just some isolated instance. This happened time and time again throughout the early Christian Church. We are told in the second part of our text that they continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Moved by the Holy Spirit, they continued to look for people who had spiritual needs and physical needs. They shared everything they had and distributed it to anyone as he had need. No more potholes of life. They found a need and they filled it.

My friends, like the apostles, the Holy Spirit equips us to do that very same thing; and so many of you have naturally responded. You haven’t looked away or walked on by, but you’ve asked what more can I do to help those in need by helping each other. For some who have experienced discouragement and despair – the loss of health, the loss of a job, the loss of a marriage, the loss of a loved one, you’ve shared the message of a Savior – the power and love that Jesus has for them. You’ve given them hope by reminding them of the comfort, peace, and promises that their Savior gives to them personally – the comfort and peace of sins forgiven – the joy of an everlasting home prepared for them in heaven – the promises that this same powerful and loving Savior will be with them and work everything out for their good. As you’ve been made aware of the tremendous physical and spiritual needs of so many around you, you’ve turned to your Lord in intercessory prayer. You’ve joined hundreds of people on the Prayer Chain on behalf of people you might not even know; and you’ve seen the amazing power of such prayers. So many of you have found needs locally, nationally, and internationally, and motivated by your love for Jesus Christ you have tried to address those needs in a myriad of Mercy Ministry efforts from Feeding Starving Children halfway around the world to collecting enough food to fill the entire front of this church to restock the VEEP and CAP food shelves to providing clothes and medicines for our Missions in Mexico to sending books to schools devastated by Hurricane Katrina. You’ve found needs and out of love for a Savior tried to fill them.

You’ve taken on projects hands-on halfway across the country – rebuilding churches and homes. And you’ve looked for needs among our family of believers – providing food and gift cards for families experiencing medical emergencies – taking door collections and holding benefits for families experiencing unusual financial burdens – most recently collecting over $5,500 for one of our families that seemed to hit one pothole after another. You’ve offered your service at funerals. You’ve been visiting our shut-ins, helping them to get their groceries and get to church. You’ve gone to the nursing home with me to make sure that everyone there has the opportunity to hear the Word of God. The acts of the apostles are really acts I see everyday in this congregation – acts of sharing a Savior and sharing of oneself – acts of kindness, of forgiveness, and of love. And like Paul said to the Philippians:
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy, because of your partnership in the Gospel from the first day until now. Philippians 1:3-5
“Find a need and fill it” is really a catch phrase in business. Anyone who has their business degree comes across it at one time or another. Recently I discovered an interesting version of this concept in the writings of businessman Jonathan Volk. He wrote this:
Perhaps the best advice I’ve been given in business is, “Find a need and fill it.” Simple. My version of this quote which applies to affiliate marketing is, “Find a desperate person and sell them the solution.” Really, the best converting campaigns are going to come from people who are desperate for a solution…Millions of people every day are desperate for a solution. Question is…are you going to fulfill their need?
My friends, everywhere you go, you’ll find desperate people experiencing potholes – the potholes of life. And they aren’t just physical, but often spiritual with all the fears, discouragement, and despair that go with them. My prayer is that you won’t weave away or drive on by these people desperate for love, for forgiveness, for the hope that only Christ can give; but instead everyday you’ll respond like Peter:
What I have I give you…I’ve got a Savior, and I want you to know that you have one as well!
May that happen everyday in our every word and action – that we too will find a need and fill it!
Amen

Sunday, April 27, 2008
Pastor Rod Pudell

Sermon Text: Philippians 4:4-9
Sermon Theme: What Have You Learned?

There’s a book by Robert Fulghum entitled, “All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten.” And in that book he makes the following claim:

All I really need to know about how to live and what to do and how to be I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sand pile at school. These are the things I learned:
  • Share everything
  • Play fair.
  • Don’t hit people.
  • Put things back where you found them.
  • Clean up your own mess.
  • Don’t take things that aren’t yours.
  • Say you’re sorry when you hurt somebody.
  • Wash your hands before you eat.
  • Flush.
  • Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
  • Live a balanced life – learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.
  • Take a nap every afternoon.
  • When you go out in the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together.
Everything you need to know is in there somewhere. Take any one of those items and extrapolate it into sophisticated adult terms and apply it to your family life or your work or government or your world and it holds true and clear and firm. Think what a better world it would be if we all – the whole world – had cookies and milk at about 3 o’clock in the afternoon and then lay down with our blankies for a nap. Or if all governments had as a basic policy to always put things back where they found them and to clean up their own mess.

And it is still true, no matter how old you are, when you go out in the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.*

Now I think we’d readily agree that there are many wise applications to life that we first discovered in kindergarten. But is that all we really need to know – how to navigate through the complicated maze of twists and turns that this life has to offer? There is a life to come – one that is far more important than the 70, 80, or 90 plus years we spend on this world. And you’ve also spent a lot of time learning about that life and the way to that everlasting heavenly existence - probably in many other places than just kindergarten. Maybe some of these vital spiritual truths were shared with you by your parents who taught you how to pray and how to sing “Jesus Loves Me This I Know.” Maybe these eternal life lessons were taught to you in Sunday School, Youth Group, Pioneers, or Christian Day School on a regular and daily basis. Maybe they were all reinforced in your Confirmation instruction where you were strengthened in your Christian faith and life – because that’s what the word “confirmation” actually means – “strengthening.” Today on our Confirmation Sunday at our Bloomington location, 29 of our young people are going to profess that very thing. They are going to say that through the power of the Holy Spirit working through the Word, they have been strengthened to such a point that they are ready, willing, and able to reaffirm the promises made for them at their baptism – promises they are now eager to make for themselves as they boldly declare: “I renounce the devil and all his works and ways. I am willing to suffer all, even death, rather than fall away from Jesus Christ!”

Many of you are probably remembering that day in your own life as if it were yesterday. And maybe at that time you thought, “Well, that’s it! All I really needed to know I learned there.”

But I’m hoping since that time you’ve discovered that that confirmation – that strengthening – is not just some class that we graduate from, but it’s a process. It’s a process that parents, family, and friends have all been a part of as you’ve learned, received, heard and seen so much in them. It’s a process that we’ve tried to assist in every avenue of Christian education. It’s a process that is still going on right now whenever you gather around Word and Sacraments, and the Holy Spirit uses these Means of Grace here in worship, in Bible Study, in home devotions to keep on confirming and strengthening you! It’s not just knowing, but also growing in your faith.

So what have you learned during this amazing “confirmation” process? You’ve not only learned who you are, but who your God is and what He’s done for you. You’re not just some accident of nature, but a special creation of caring God – a God who has loved you with an everlasting love to not only create a wonderful world for you to live in, but to preserve, provide, and protect you until the end of time. And speaking of love, you learned about the amazing grace of our God that moved him to save us when we couldn’t save ourselves – to send his own Son, Jesus Christ to redeem us from sin, death, and the devil by being perfect in our place, by offering his perfect life as the atoning price for sin, and by rising again to assure each and every one of us of forgiveness, life, and salvation. You’ve learned that this life isn’t everything, but that there’s a home in heaven – an everlasting life of peace and joy awaiting all who leaned their whole weight for salvation on what He’s done for them and continues to do for them. You’ve learned that it is God Himself, the Holy Spirit, who takes your sinful heart and fills it with faith and love for him – that He works through those Means of Grace that you use – the Word and Sacraments – to fan that flicker of faith into a flame that affects your every word and action in life. You’ve learned that our very existence now has the purpose of worshipping, thanking and praising this glorious God for what He’s done for us – that whether we eat, drink, or whatever we do, we do it all in the name of Jesus Christ to the glory of God, giving thanks to the Heavenly Father through him – and exactly how that is accomplished as we consciously strive to follow His Word and His commands. You’ve learned that this lifetime is a time of grace to not only come to know this Savior but to share him with others.

Through this process, you’ve learned a lot. And as Paul pointed out in our text, those vital truths have meant so much to you. They allow you to “Rejoice in the Lord always” – to “not be anxious about anything” but experience a real and lasting peace in any and every situation – because you know His precious promises that he will work everything out for good to those who love God. And isn’t it amazing that at those very times when the chips are down, all those promises, those passages and hymn verses that you complained about memorizing come flooding back! I can’t tell you how many death beds I’ve been at where the person couldn’t tell what day it was or recognize the loved ones around them, but they could recite that 23rd Psalm with me…The Lord Is My Shepherd…or they could mouth the words of the Lord’s Prayer. Those vital truths that they learned allowed each and every one of them to pray with confidence because they knew they had a loving Father who would hear their prayers and answer then for their good!

Through this “strengthening” process begun from little on and continuing today, you’ve truly learned a lot! You could probably do far better than the average American who supposedly can only recite 3 of the 10 commandments. You’d probably clean house on Jeopardy in that category, “The Bible.” And that in and of itself is nice, but Paul would warn us that all that head knowledge doesn’t mean much if it’s not “heart action” – if it is not put into practice. There’s a contemporary Christian song written way back in the middle 80’s – way back when that kind of music was really new and contemporary. The song was entitled, “The Heart Of The Matter.” Now that knock on this kind of music is often that the words are repetitive and fluff, but this song had a chorus packed with more meaning than any hymn I’ve ever heard in my life. And it still rings in my mind today. The chorus went like this:

If you really knew him the way that I knew him, you would never walk away. If you truly understood what His love was all about you would never shut him out! All this talk of Jesus working in our lives is nothing more than childish chatter, if we don’t allow him past the mind to penetrate with depth into the heart of the matter!

We can have all the ecclesiastical intellectualism in the world, but if it doesn’t become a part of our lives – our makeup and very being – what good is it? For example, what have you learned if you know what God says, but you do the opposite? What have you learned if you don’t reach out a welcoming and helping hand – if you don’t show love or love others as Christ has loved us? Remember the parable of the Good Samaritan? I’m sure the priest and the Levite in that parable had a tremendous Biblical IQ, but it all stayed up here (head) and never translated to here (the heart and the hands). In spite of all their learning and all their knowledge, they failed miserably when it came to putting it into practice. They missed the heart of the matter.

Pastor Spaulding and I were just talking about this, and we really believe that our Savior himself tells us what the heart of the matter truly is in his High Priestly Prayer recorded in John 17:

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

One in Christ…one with the Father…one with each other…one for all eternity in glory – that was Jesus’ prayer, Paul’s prayer, and my prayer for each of you: that being strengthened, you’ll rejoice always. You’ll let your gentleness be evident to all – that you won’t be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your requests to God – that you’ll continue to grow and glow with Christ and the peace that only He can give.

My friends we’ve learned a lot, and most of us would probably readily admit that we have a lot more to learn. Maybe that’s why in closing, the prayer I have for each of you is the one with which Paul began his letter to the Philippians:

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the Gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus…And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God! Philippians 1:3-6, 9-11

Amen


* SOURCE All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum

Sunday, April 20, 2008
Pastor Eric Schroeder

Sermon Text: John 21:1-14

Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. 5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. 6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. 7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

By this time, the disciples knew that Jesus was alive. Most of them had seen him twice already in Jerusalem, where he told them to go to Galilee and wait for him. It seems that Peter was having a hard time, though. He didn't want to just sit around and wait. He had a family to take care of, and maybe he was still feeling a little guilty for his denial of Jesus. At any rate, he is discouraged. And we all deal with discouragement a little differently, don't we? Some people eat when they are discouraged. Some people drink. Some people sleep when they are discouraged, and others go to the gym and try to work out their frustration by burning some calories. Peter's way of dealing with discouragement was to go to work—to go fishing. So he and six other disciples get into a boat and fish for the night.

But Peter's discouragement continued all night long, because they didn't catch a thing. Any of us who have ever worked a day in our lives know what it's like to have a bad day at work. Perhaps it's the people we work with or the people we work for—they don't always appreciate our hard work. Perhaps it's the fact that sometimes even our best efforts just don't seem to lead to any success. With the economy the way it is right now, maybe we wonder how long we'll even have a job; other times we have so much to do that we simply can't get it all done. Maybe we have health concerns or problems at home that come to work with us and distract us the whole time. It's hard to enjoy work when it doesn't seem to be worth the stress and worry.

Peter had been a fisherman his whole life, and he was on the lake that he had fished on his whole life, and he and these six other disciples stay out the whole night and come up empty handed. If Peter was frustrated and discouraged before, imagine how he felt by the time the sun was coming up and all that effort seemed to be in vain. They were tired, they were hungry, and they were just about to give up when the whole situation takes a turn for the better.

Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. 5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. 6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” Work is just one area of life that reminds us of a much bigger problem in our eyes. So much of life is entirely out of our control. And whether you are in the stage of life where you are dealing with school, work, family, or retirement, understand that not being in control all the time isn't necessarily a bad thing. Especially when you realize who is in control of every area of your life.

I'd like to read for you some of God's Word from Ephesians chapter one, where the Apostle Paul reminds us how we don't have to be discouraged, because the Risen Lord Jesus has complete control over all things, and he is guiding and directing all things for our good. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

The disciples needed that reminder, and Jesus showed them that he is in control of all things for the good of his followers. Their nets were empty, so he filled them with fish. Their stomachs were empty, so he made them breakfast. They had seen it before, when Jesus filled the needs of his followers time and time again—he healed the sick, the lame, the blind; he fed the people with miraculous food thousands at a time; he encouraged those who were discouraged and he even raised the dead. But on this day on the Sea of Galilee, Jesus encouraged the disciples simply by reminding them that he was right there with them, alive and in control.

And none of that has changed. Have you had a bad week? Did you come to church because you needed some encouragement? Then you have come to the right place, because I have some encouragement for you. Jesus is alive and in control of your life, too. No matter what you are dealing with right now, whether it is sickness or sadness, discouragement or disappointment, you can know that Jesus is alive and in control. Your sins piled up again this week, but you can leave them here, because in Word and Sacrament you are assured that Jesus is here to take them away. He is alive and in control.

And he has a purpose for us. With this miraculous catch of fish, Jesus reminded these fishermen that they were to be fishers of men. They had experienced a catch like this before; it's recorded for us in Luke 5. The situation was similar. A night of fishing with no fish. But when they followed the simple directions from Jesus, their boats nearly sunk because of the weight of the fish in their nets. The result was the same, but the reaction was different. After the first catch, Peter was afraid. Luke tells us he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” But not this time. This miraculous catch reminds Peter that Jesus is alive and in control, and he can't wait for the boats to drag the nets to the beach. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The Greek here literally says that Peter "threw himself into the sea." That tells us how excited Peter is to see Jesus. He forgot about everything else just to get closer to his risen Savior.

Being reminded that Jesus is alive and in control has the same power in our lives. It takes away our worries, fears, and frustrations. It takes away our guilt, because in him we are cleansed and forgiven. It reminds us that the bad days might be God's way of helping us appreciate the blessings he brings to our work and every other area of life. He promises to use even your failures and problems to teach you to rely on him. Just recall how quickly Jesus turned an entire night of futility into a morning of overflowing nets. The disciples could count the ways Jesus blessed them that morning—153 large fish. This week, just try to count the ways that the Risen Christ blesses your life.

Your task today is to recognize Jesus working in your life and then look for ways to fish for men. Remember what happens when you follow the direction Jesus gives. The disciples were able to bring a great catch to Jesus. He promises to bless our efforts to fish for men as well. The worst thing we can do is keep the nets in the boat. With Jesus alive and in control, our mission as a church and our mission as individual fishers of men cannot fail. You may have come into church discouraged. But let the miraculous catch of fish encourage you. Jesus is here; he is with you wherever you go, even when you don't see his plan. He will bless your entire life in the way that he sees best; he will certainly bless the ways you work for him. He is risen. He is alive, and he is the one in control. So let's go fishing. AMEN

 

Sunday, April 13, 2008
Pastor Rod Pudell

Sermon Text: John 20:19-31
Sermon Theme: The Aftermath of Easter – Doubting Thomas
Are You A Skeptic Or A Skeptikos?

If I were to ask you to name the Top Ten “Doubters” in the Bible, I would hazard a guess that the name “Thomas” would be at the top of that list. In fact, we are often so hard on this man that we’ve even changed his name. He used to be called Didymus – The Twin – by his friends and fellow disciples. But now we refer to him simply as “Doubting” Thomas…Thomas the cynic, the skeptic, the “I’ll believer it when I see it” guy.

At first glance, that really doesn’t seem to be so bad. In fact, in our day and age it is almost a commendable quality. For example, you don’t buy property without seeing it first. You don’t simply hand over your money to the smooth salesman when he says to you, “Trust me!” You don’t supply your bank account number to the many people who email you with the amazing news that you’ve just won a dozen lotteries in just as many countries, and they’ll wire you the money just as soon as they have that vital information. No, you want to see some proof first because you know that people are sinful and there are many people out there who are intentionally deceptive and dishonest. Even those with good intentions will still fail to live up to their promises. Whether throughout history it has been the smooth talk and outlandish claims of the snake oil salesmen whose elixir could cure anything from baldness to the heartbreak of psoriasis or the sophisticated schemes of the con artists of today, you have learned that this is not a world of handshake deals where you take people at their word, because people don’t always live up to their word. So you’ve been taught to be wary, cautious, and cynical. You’ve been encouraged to “take things with a grain of salt” –to protect yourself by being somewhat skeptical of the people around you.

And that’s really too bad. If people were honest and always kept their commitments, we wouldn’t have to demand proof first. We could take them at their word. But people are sinful so we naturally doubt their word. “I’ll believe it when I see it” makes sense to us when it comes to people. But when Thomas is skeptical, he is not really questioning the honesty of another sinful human being like himself. He’s questioning the honesty, the integrity, the trustworthiness of his holy and righteous God. And there’s an important difference there. Today I want to talk about that difference as we pose the question:
Are You A Skeptic Or A Skeptikos?

Now what I find amazingly interesting is the fact that even as the mightiest act of God is occurring – the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead – there is doubt, and Thomas wasn’t the only one in that category. All the other disciples had their own doubts at one time or another. When an excited Mary Magdalene early on Easter morning ran to disciples to tell them that she had seen the Lord, what was their initial reaction? There goes Mary again. Excitable Mary…Emotional Mary…Hallucinating Mary. The first report of the resurrection reached these disciples, and there was doubt in their minds.

Later that night the disciples were huddled together in a large upper room and suddenly, miraculously Jesus appeared to them. The doors were shut; the drapes were drawn; the windows were closed and the disciples were scared. And what was the disciples’ reaction to Jesus suddenly appearing to them? Did they fall down on their knees in adoration and praise? Did they pat themselves on the back and say, “See, I told you he’d be back. We knew he’d return!” No, the first disciples were startled. They were afraid. They thought they were seeing a ghost or a hallucination, and Jesus had to ask them, “Why are you having all these doubts? Why are all these questions in your mind?” For many, even as they saw the risen Lord, the first Easter was filled with doubt.

And that was certainly true for Thomas in our text. Poor Thomas wasn’t in the upper room with the other disciples on Easter. He missed it! Have you ever had someone come up to you and say, “You should have been there last night! You missed an amazing overtime hockey game, or concert, or party. And you would have been blown away by who showed up!” Well, that was Thomas’ situation. He comes in and immediately the other disciples flood him with the news: “Man, you missed it! What a night! Jesus came back to us and he was alive!” And what was Thomas’ reaction? “I don’t believe it. Until I see the holes in his hands and side, I won’t believe it. He didn’t go along with the crowd. He didn’t vote with the others. He expressed his doubts and his questions.

That’s the kind of person Thomas was. He wasn’t the kind of person who blindly accepted the faith without question. He thinks and ponders and has an inquisitive mind. He demonstrated that not only here but earlier in John 14 when Jesus was teaching about going to prepare a place for the disciples in a heavenly mansion. It was Thomas who scratched his thoughtful head and asked, “Jesus, we don’t know where you are going and we don’t know the way.” Thomas did not understand what Jesus was saying and so he asked Jesus the questions. None of the other disciples raised their hands and expressed the curiosity they surely had, but Thomas did because he was that kind of person. He wouldn’t rattle off creed and statements of faith without thinking what he was saying – without thinking them through. And if he didn’t understand something, he certainly wouldn’t hesitate in saying, “I don’t get it. I’m not sure. I don’t understand.”

And I really need you to understand this morning that there really is nothing wrong with that. Many of us are like Thomas. We all have those times when we have questions - when we cry out: I don’t get it…I don’t understand …I’m not sure! We have questions about God, Jesus, the Bible, and the Christian faith. We wonder:

  • How can God be everywhere at once?
  • How can God personally care about me and love me, especially in light of some of the things I’ve done?
  • How do we know the Bible is true?
  • Why would a loving God let my spouse get cancer, or have my child die so young?
  • Why are my family and I having all these troubles?

Like Thomas we have so many questions and doubts that we ask over and over again in our mind. And I really feel it is what we do with our questions and doubts that makes all the difference in the world. I think it is clearly shown in the difference between the words, “skeptic” and “skeptikos”. We all know the definition for a skeptic. It’s someone who refuses to believe something, no matter what. It’s a person who would say, “The Wild will never win the Stanley Cup!” I’m a skeptic! I refuse to believe it!

But “skeptikos” – one of the Greek words for “doubt” as I learned from Josh McDowell – is actually entirely different. It means “an inquirer” – someone who simply asks questions to receive an answer. And that is a big difference in the area of religion and faith. It’s really the difference between a skeptical unbeliever and an honestly searching “skeptikos”. Here a skeptical unbeliever is someone who refuses to trust and acknowledge God – who no longer asks the questions – who no longer cares about the questions or about the God to which they could be addressed. A “skeptikos” is a person who searches for God and his love and has a thousand questions about God’s purpose and direction in his life. The skeptic will look only to himself and believes HE has all the answers he needs for this life. The “skeptikos” looks to the Lord for the answers he is desperately searching for. There are enormous differences between an honest and questioning doubter and a skeptical unbeliever who does not struggle with the “God questions” and has eliminated the “divine” out of his life.

And what is so wonderful to see in Scripture time and time again is that when people approach Jesus as a skeptikos, an inquirer, he never turns them away. Perhaps the most wonderful examples of this is in Matt 11 and Luke 7 with John the Baptist. At that time John was in prison awaiting execution, so he sends a couple of his disciples to ask Jesus: “Are you really the only who was to come or should we expect someone else?” Remember, this was the promised forerunner of the Messiah – the guy who throughout his ministry cried, “There’s the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! There’s the Messiah! Follow him!” Now at the end of his life he poses the question, “Are you really the Messiah – the promised Savior?” Now there’s some discussion among scholars if John asked this question for his own benefit or rather for the benefit of these disciples so that they would discover their Savior and follow him. But what is so wonderful is Jesus’ response. He doesn’t trash John for the question. He doesn’t say, “How dare you doubt.” He directs these disciples to Himself – to His words and actions. He says, “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cured. Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of me.” He simply wanted to take their questions and replace them with faith.

And he had the same response for a doubting Thomas. He knew Thomas’ heart. It was not the heart of a skeptical unbeliever that wanted no part of Jesus in his life. It was the heart of someone struggling for understanding – someone who wanted so much to have his questions answered, his fears removed, his relationship with his living Savior reaffirmed for all eternity. So Jesus also directed Thomas to himself and his precious promises. He showed him his hands and his feet. He in essence was saying, “Let me replace those questions with faith. Please don’t continue to doubt my power and love for you personally, but believe.”

My friends, that’s what Jesus wants to do for each and every one of us here. He wants to remove our fears, our worries, our questions. He wants us to bring them to him so He can show us his hands and feet – his Sacrifice and amazing love for us - and calm our troubled hearts. He wants to reassure us through the precious promises of His Word – that no matter what, all is right between us and our God. He wants to whisper in our ear day in and day out: Never doubt my power and my love for you…never doubt my precious promises that I give you day in and day out…don’t be unbelieving, but believe.

It is from this recovering skeptic turned skeptikos that we hear one of the most beautiful confessions in all of Scripture. Without touching Jesus’ hands and without touching the wound in His side, Thomas naturally turned to His loving Lord who reached out to him with such amazing mercy and grace and made the most profound yet simple confession of faith: My Lord and my God.” That’s all that Jesus wanted from Thomas – to turn unbelief to faith and total reliance in Him as Savior for this life and the life to come. This is what Christ is looking for from us: that as we approach with our fears, faults, and failures – as we turn as a skeptikos with our inquiries and questions, that we too come to that time and place in our lives where we rely on him totally and simply and personally confess, “Jesus, you are my Lord and my God!”

You know, there are times when I catch myself being a little jealous of Thomas. After all, it’s not fair. When he doubted, he got to see Jesus. All we have to go on is the Word. But maybe that’s the point. We have the Word – God’s very Word that the Holy Spirit will use to address our questions and strengthen our faith. In that Word you hear the miracles that Jesus has performed - that He made the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame walk. You have His honest testimony that He has done and is able to do such things in your life as well. You have his promise that He will deliver you in His time. More importantly, you have His Word that He has already delivered you from the “mess” of your sin and eternal condemnation. What need do you have of further proof that the Lord delivers you? After paying the price of his holy, innocent blood for your redemption, do you think that He will be faithless now? The Lord doesn’t have to prove Himself anymore. He already has, and He tells you about it. We believe in Him because of the great thing He has already done for us all – His redemption of the world on the cross. We need no further proof. We need no further great thing to convince us, because he declares in His Word that He has already delivered us from sin, death, and the devil.

No instead of skeptically demanding to see more miracles, we rejoice that we have God’s Word on it. His Word brings us to faith – whether proclaimed in the Absolution, added to water in Holy Baptism, or spoken over bread and wine in Holy Communion. This is the Means of Grace that the Holy Spirit will use to produce the most amazing confessions of in our life as well. And I guess that is my prayer for each and every one of you today – that at those times in your life when you cry out, “I don’t get it! I’m not sure! I just don’t understand, Lord!” you will become a skeptikos, an honest inquirer, who immediately turns to your Savior and His precious Word, who allows Him to guide and direct you as you discover and experience His love in every aspect of your life, and finally who gratefully and joyously responds: “Jesus, you truly are my Lord and my God!” Amen

Sunday, April 6, 2008
Pastor Eric Schroeder

Sermon Text: Luke 24:13-35
Sermon Theme: The aftermath of Easter—Road to Emmaus

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.

Three and a half years ago, I walked out to my car to find the passenger side window shattered and my cd-player missing. I thought about replacing the stereo, but I didn't want to have another one stolen, and I didn't want to have to pay for another window. Now I kind of like it the way it is. When I am driving, I have a lot of time to think. I was just reminded of all that time this past week, when I was returning from a pastors' conference in Marshall. Three hours with no radio, and not a whole lot of scenery on the way back except for barren farm fields and a few small towns. A lot can go through your mind in three hours.

But just imagine spending three hours traveling with no radio, no cell phone, and no car. The two disciples on their way to Emmaus had a seven-mile walk ahead of them, and a lot of different things could have been the topic of discussion, but there was only one thing on their minds. When a third traveler joins them on their journey, and he acted like he had no idea what they were talking about, they probably would have laughed at his ignorance if the topic of their conversation had been any less serious a matter. But this was no time for laughing.

The biggest news story in Jerusalem wasn't just the death of a man, but the end of their hopes and dreams. It was not only a shock to their senses; it was a shock to their faith. It had been a couple of days, but they still didn't understand how everything could have happened the way it did. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.”

We have all been there, haven't we? Even the strongest believers have moments of weakness, those times when we doubt ourselves and our own abilities, when we doubt our faith, when we doubt God's Word. The problem is as old as sin itself. Adam and Eve had been told, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.” And yet when temptation came, Eve listened to the serpent instead of God's Word. How come? She trusted her eyes. When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. And then, Genesis tells us that "their eyes were opened," and they realized what they had done. When we trust our eyes, we run into the same problems. We want the things we see on the commercials, the things other people have that we don't. When we look around and see that believers are no better off in this life than anyone else, that we suffer more than others because of what we believe, our eyes aren't helping us any.

And now these two disciples have the risen Lord Jesus walking and talking with them, and their eyes don't help them one bit. They don't recognize him. But we see the heart of Jesus open to bless them, not by opening up their eyes, but by opening up the Scriptures. He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

If Christ had not suffered, there would be no glory. If Jesus had not died, there would be no redemption. There would be no resurrection, for Jesus, or for us. We don't have to see Jesus with our eyes to believe it. We have God's Word, promised through the prophets and fulfilled in its completion by Jesus. Moments of weakness will come from our hearts, but lasting strength comes from the Scriptures. Our sins leave us in moments of guilt, but everlasting forgiveness comes from the Gospel. Temptation will come from Satan, but power to live comes from the Word. Remember that, and learn from how Jesus teaches the two disciples.

You see, Jesus could have shown himself to their eyes right away, and they would have known he was alive. But first he reveals himself to their hearts through the Scriptures. It's a lesson for all of us here today. Don't trust your eyes. Trust in God's Word. Even when you can't see God working in your life with your eyes, you will always be able to see him working through the Word. When life gets difficult and doubts enter your heart, don't open your eyes; open your Bible. Read how God works even through suffering and testing to strengthen us. Read how everything we see with our eyes is temporary. All of our homes and money and possessions will soon be gone. So will all of the suffering and sickness, all of the pain, and because of Easter, even the death that we see with our eyes is temporary. Read how Jesus bled, and died, and opened the grave to forgive your doubts and sins, to buy you a home that is not temporary, but will last forever. And then, once we reach our destination, with our new, glorified eyes, we will see what we don't see now. We'll see Jesus.

Once they arrived at their destination, once they made it to the village called Emmaus, the two disciples made a wise decision. Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. Again we can learn from these two men. We don't have to limit our time with Jesus to the one hour a week we spend in his house. We can invite him into our homes to stay. Once we realize that he would suffer and die to satisfy God's wrath in our place, we never want to be without him. And we can know that he is with us through all the difficult times in life, the guilt and fear and doubts we face in a sinful world. He is walking beside us on every road we take, ready to comfort us with his forgiveness and love. He is with us here today in his Word and Sacrament, and he will never leave us.

After a long time in disguise, Jesus showed himself to the two disciples. But what was it that they remembered most? Not the fact that they recognized him as their living Savior, but how he showed himself to them on the way to Emmaus. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” Their disappointment turned to joy as Jesus set their hearts on fire with God's Word. May he light a fire in our hearts as well, and may it burn brightly every day of our lives.

I'd like to end the message with a few stanzas of a hymn inspired by these words from Luke's gospel. As we travel the road of life, we have a lot of time to think, and a lot of things to think about. But let's never forget to invite Jesus along, knowing that our Risen Lord will never leave us.
Abide with me, fast falls the eventide. The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide. When other helpers fail and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Hold thou thy cross before my failing eyes. Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies. Heaven's morning breaks and earth's vain shadows flee, in life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

Sunday, April 6, 2008
Pastor Rod Pudell

Sermon Text: Luke 24: 13 - 35
Sermon Theme: Heartburn or Burning Hearts?

I learned a new word a couple of weeks ago – esophagogasteroduodenoscopy.
It’s a medical procedure that millions of Americans have had performed on them, and in our case, a medical procedure that my wife recently had to undergo. Basically it consists of putting a tube with a minature camera at the end of it down your throat in an effort to diagnose the cause of stomach discomfort and/or chest pain. In my wife’s case, the results came back that she had an h-pylori bacterial infection that is readily treated by a smorgasbord of antibiotics. For most people, however, the diagnosis is often simple heartburn that can be attributed to a variety of things. It can be the resulting aftermath of eating foods that don’t agree with you – foods that may cause gas, the buildup of stomach acid and discomfort. For my own part, that would mean overindulging in spicy foods or eating too many cucumbers that I truly like but for some reason don’t like me! It truly explains the popularity on store shelves and in medicine cabinets of such antacids as Tums, Beano, Prylosec, and Maylox. Heartburn can also be the resulting aftermath of stress and stressful situations which left untreated can not only cause heartburn but also stomach ulcers.

Now this isn’t intended to be some sort of medical lecture. But this morning as we continue in our sermon series to examine The Aftermath Of Easter, we are going to meet two men on their afternoon walk from Jerusalem to the village of Emmaus, a journey of about six and a half miles. They are men who at this time are literally described as “sick at heart!” And I think as we join these men this morning on their walk, we are not only going to be able to diagnose the physical and spiritual cause for their pain, but also discover the glorious remedy they experienced as we pose the question:
Heartburn or Burning Hearts?

Now no one would doubt that the 2 men of our text had ample reason for some real heartburn after experiencing the events at the time of our text. Things had happened during the preceding days that were truly hard to swallow and digest. You see, it is the first Easter; but these two are as yet unaware...or rather, uncertain of the Lord’s resurrection. They do not belong to the group of Jesus’ chosen twelve disciples; but are instead part of the larger circle of followers who had been captivated by Jesus’ powerful teaching and healing ministry.

They had been surprised a little more than a week earlier when they heard that Jesus was going to be back in Jerusalem for the Passover. The last time he was in the city before that, he had a major confrontation with the religious leaders. It was no secret that they wanted him out of the way. That’s why his recent return was so important. If he were the Messiah, and these two believed that he was, then this was going to be the big show down. Something really big was going to happen – and what they expected was that Jesus was going to set up the long promised Messianic kingdom.

So exactly one week before they had made this same trek in the opposite direction, from their homes in Emmaus to Jerusalem. And they weren’t disappointed when they arrived. The whole city was filled with excitement. The two disciples no doubt helped welcome Jesus in the procession on Palm Sunday. They sang psalms and proclaimed him their king. They cheered him and admired his audacity as he marched right into the temple and drove out the coin exchangers and sellers of merchandise. And then for several days they heard him teach about the coming Kingdom of God. They were ready and full of expectation. They felt that they were on the cusp of something huge and wonderful…

But in just one day the whole thing fell apart. Early of Friday they got the word that during the night Jesus had been arrested and had already been condemned by the Sanhedrin. When they got to the Praetorium where he was standing trial before Pilate, they couldn’t believe what they saw. There was Jesus, his hands bound, his face bruised and bleeding, standing silently before the governor while a mob headed up by an angry group of priests shouted accusations. Everything happened so fast in the next couple of hours that they still had a hard time understanding it; but by mid morning, Jesus was being crucified. They had been so certain about him. And even as he hung there on the cross, they really believed that at any moment he might come down and turn it all around. You see, they had witnessed the miracles. They had seen the impossible happen. They had been transformed by the power of his message. Something just had to happen.

And then when he died, the earth trembled violently, and they thought, “At last, here it comes!” Then there was nothing. Only the silence of death, and the twisted body hanging limp. They were crushed with disappointment and disillusionment – and now they were afraid, so they went into hiding. Later they heard that this body had been curried, and that there were soldiers guarding the tomb.

What went wrong? How could this have happened? We were so sure about him…could we have been deceived? Or worse…had we been right and just stood there uselessly while the Messiah of God was killed? Nothing made sense. All that Sabbath day they argued and debated. They relived the events over and over again. They interpreted and reinterpreted, until they were sick from worry and exhausted from trying to figure it all out.

Then early on the morning of our text, the women had come back from the tomb with their amazing story of angels. Peter and John had confirmed that his body was gone…but they hadn’t seen any celestial being. And, well, no one else had the courage to go see for themselves. The testimony of those emotional women wasn’t given much credit. They must have been hallucinating. So our two Emmaus disciples laid low until a little after midday, and then decided it might be safe to try to head for home.

And I’m sure they felt like they simply had to get away from this town. It was painful, way too painful, to stay there. The whole city seemed haunted by the memory of what had happened to their master Jesus; and it seemed in just the few days since his death, the grief had actually intensified. Some of you know what that’s like: it’s the day after the funeral that is far more difficult than the days that had been filled with all those activities. It’s when all the official ceremonies are over and you’re alone in your home again that it really hits you. So also for these two; as the new week began on Sunday (the first working day of a new week), Jerusalem had largely gone back to business as usual. The vendors were in the streets, the marketplace was abuzz with commerce, and life quite simply went on.

But how can the world go on after you’ve suffered a loss so deep you find it difficult to breathe? And so these two disciples decide to “get away from it all” and leave town. There’s nothing more for them there anyway. Jerusalem had become like a house after someone dies: it is at once too empty of people and too full of memories.

So it’s on to Emmaus. Getting out of the city was easier than they expected; they had thought that maybe they would be detained because they were known to be followers of Jesus, but no one seemed to pay any attention. And at that point they were happy not to be among the well-known and recognizable twelve. No, I’m sure they felt that as soon as Jerusalem was out of sight and safely behind them, they could breathe a sigh of relief. But just putting some distance between themselves and the Holy City didn’t make them forget the terrible things that had happened. They resumed their discussion almost immediately. They couldn’t stop talking about it. Maybe they were trying to make sense of it, trying to square what had happened to Jesus with the things they thought were going to be true of him.

In any event, they are so absorbed in their talk that they barely notice that another traveler is walking along with them. Strange, he hadn’t been either before or behind them…where did he come from? They suppose that he had joined their trail from a converging route. He walks along with them in silence for a while, but he can hardly help overhearing their animated discussion. And after a while he asks, “You guys seem pretty upset about something. What is it you’re talking about?

They stop suddenly and stare at him in astonishment. Surely this stranger has heard enough of what they were saying to know they were talking about Jesus and what had happened to him…or maybe not. Perhaps he really didn’t know what had happened. Well, how do you explain it all to someone who knows nothing about it? The question makes them relive all the events in their minds. It brings them all back at once, and so they feel the pain and disappointment all over again. For a few moments neither of them can speak. Finally Cleopas manages to reply, “Where did you come from that you don’t know what’s been going on around here the past few days.”

“What’s been going on? Tell me.”

Out it pours, both of them speaking now. All of the details of Jesus’ ministry. The healings, the miracles, the teaching. “Surely you’ve heard of him... But they condemned him. They crucified him. Ohm, we had such great hopes that he would be the one to redeem Israel! And now we can’t even find his body. Oh, they’re rumors, the crazy things people come up with…but they only make things worse. Right now we’re confused, disappointed, heartbroken, and afraid.”

I don’t think there could be a better description of what is very often the essence of the human condition: confused, disappointed, heartbroken, afraid. We walk along the path of our lives with those who are with us, interpreting and reinterpreting the high hopes we had and the bitter disappointments we’ve suffered. And when all is said and done, the conversation comes down to this: I don’t understand. I don’t like it. It hurts, and I’m scared of what might happen next.” And as long as we confine our conversation to what we know and have we ourselves experienced as we walk along, that’s as far as we’re ever going to get.

But as we go, we have a constant companion who would like nothing more than to enter our conversation. He wants to hear about what’s bothering us. He wants to show us how what we think is the end of hope, is in fact the beginning of something greater than we imagined. And the way he does this is by taking us into the Holy Word and promises of God.

“How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” This has been God’s plan all along. If you had understood the Scriptures, you would have known it. And for the first book of Moses to the last of the prophets, he explains to them and to us that all that has been written in Scripture tells about God’s plan of redemption in Christ Jesus his Son.

How I wish I could have been there for that lesson on the road to Emmaus and to hear the Lord Jesus open up the Scriptures. And while we can’t be sure exactly which stories and examples he used, in one sense it doesn’t make a difference because it all about him. Maybe he reminded them that in the Garden of Eden God had proclaimed that in crushing the Serpent Satan’s head and power, the Savior would have his heel struck – he would suffer and die. Maybe he referred to those words of Isaiah that were our focus all Lenten season long – how the Messiah would be stricken, smitten, and afflicted – how by his wounds we would be healed. Maybe he reminded them of the perfect Passover Lamb who would be sacrificed in the prime of life and whose blood would save the firstborn – how the Savior would do the exact same thing for them. Maybe he even referred to the many heroes of faith who also had to walk a similar path of suffering as them – people like Joseph who was a type of Christ and who through all the difficulties God used to save not only his family but all the people.

The point is that Jesus wanted these men and us to understand that theses stories of victory through suffering are all about himself and what God planned to accomplish for us through him – that it is through suffering that we too will enter with Christ into his glory. When things go wrong, all we can usually see is the disappointment. Like Cleopas complained, “We had such high hopes!” But Jesus brings victory from apparent defeat. It didn’t look like it when the worst thing imaginable happened and he died; but by dying, he redeemed us from sin. Like wise, the tragedies we suffer in our lives are part of bringing about the salvation we are hoping for. How is that? It’s because it’s then that we turn our attention away from ourselves and the problems that confound and discourage us, and we turn to the Stranger walking along with us and we listen to him. And as we listen to him we feel our hearts burn as he gives us the words of eternal life: the good news of salvation and forgiveness in him – the good news that all is well! Then it begins to make sense. Then we are given understanding and the strength and determination to go on.

Jesus met two disciples on the way to Emmaus to change their heartburn to burning hearts – hearts filled with real hope – hearts that could now experience real peace and joy in any and every situation – hearts that would constantly response with worship and praise and glory to God and lives that would be on fire for this Savior and share him in every day in every way. Jesus wants to do the same for us – to meet us as we’re traveling to our Emmaus’. All of us travel to Emmaus eventually – to a place where you can get away from it all – a place to which you escape so that you don’t have to think about how lousy life ion this word can be sometimes. Maybe it’s the mall where the noise of commerce and the rush of people keep you from think about life. Maybe it’s a bar where the booze and beer nuts help numb you to the more bitter truths that swirl outside the windows of that darkened smoky room. Maybe it’s a matinee at the movies where you go to take in what Hollywood proudly touts as “escapist fare.” Maybe it’s the TV remote that takes you away from it all as you mindlessly channel surf every single evening. We have such “high hopes” of escaping our troubles, but those troubles end up being like the sky above: they extend over everything and continue to cause heartburn.

Maybe you even came to church this morning with that attitude. The kids had been a royal pain in the neck getting ready this morning, spilling their breakfast cereal all over the floor, howling as you tried to comb their hair. You and your spouse snapped at each other in the car on the way to church. The whole week had been one disappointing and frustrating moment after the next. You settle in your pew feeling more surely than sanctified, more petulant than pious, yet before the service is over, there is Jesus to meet you on your way. Perhaps like these two men, he comes to you through the breaking of bread, the Lord’s Supper, to change you heartburn to burning hearts. As you are focusing on your fears, faults, and failures, this Savior comes to you personally to remind you that he died for them and rose again to assure you of forgiveness, life, and salvation. Perhaps this companion wants to speak to you individually and say “Take my body and blood to assure you of my love for you – to assure you that all’s right between you and your God.” And as the Holy Spirit works through those blessed means of grace – the Word and the Sacraments – it is that same Savior that comes to us wherever we are and reminds us that all’s right – that he will truly work everything out for good to those who love God. And all our anxiety and worry and stress and heartburn go away. And all that’s left are burning hearts!

Having listened and having believed by the power of the Holy Spirit, the Emmaus disciples wanted nothing more than Jesus to stay with them. They urged him strongly, ‘Stay with us for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.’ “We don’t know what’s going to happen next, and we’re still afraid, but with you here with us, we know we will get through the darkness. We know that you will help us to understand and believe.”

And like he did for the two Emmaus disciples, he agrees to stay with us – wherever we are – on whatever Emmaus road we may be traveling. It’s what he wanted all along – to stay with us forever. One day he will reveal himself to us in all his glory and we will be with him always. But for the time being, he continues to walk along side of us explaining God’s wondrous plan for our lives. He enters with us in this house to continue the conversation week after week. And here he joins us at the table, gives thanks, and reveals himself to us briefly in the breaking of bread. My prayer is like the Emmaus disciples, you too will be filled with joy in his message and appearance, and with them be willing to run and tell others as though the Means of Grace, God the Holy Spirit continues to turn heartburn into burning hearts! Amen


Special thanks to Rev. Joel Spaude and Rev. Scott Hoezee for sermon thoughts and content!

Sunday, March 30, 2008
Pastor Eric Schroeder

Sermon Text: Matthew 28: 11-15
Sermon Theme: The Aftermath of Easter—The guards' report

While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13 telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

People will believe almost anything. If you are willing to look a little, you can find a conspiracy theory that tries to find another side to every major news story. For instance, there are people out there who insist that Elvis Presley is still alive. There are people who suggest that the World Trade towers fell not because they were hit by airplanes, but because the government planted explosives. You can find people who maintain that NASA faked the moon landing, that Paul McCartney is dead and has been replaced by a look-alike actor, and that a secret government organization is hiding the existence of extraterrestrial aliens to preserve public order. There are at least two sides to every story. For nearly the last two thousand years, the Easter story has been no different.

You see, rather than taking God's Word for what it says, many people have tried to explain away the resurrection with other theories of what really happened a few days after the crucifixion of Jesus. Some say Jesus didn't really die; the pain of the ordeal was enough to put him into a deathlike coma that fooled everyone, including those that laid him in the tomb. Days later, he awoke and left the tomb. Others say Jesus died, but his body never made it to the gravesite. Still others say that the women and the disciples wanted to believe in the resurrection so badly that they hallucinated the whole thing.

And then there is the rumor Matthew writes about. The gospel of Matthew was written about 63 AD, roughly 30 years after the first Easter morning, and Matthew makes a special note that the rumor was still circulating then. And here we are almost two thousand years later, and we can still find those who are still circulating the rumor. "He didn't really rise from the dead. The disciples stole the body of Jesus."

But God's Word in Matthew 28 reminds us that a little investigation is all we need to find the truth. Matthew's gospel tells us exactly how the lie started. 11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. Everything that had happened. From the previous chapter, we know what had happened, and what the soldiers reported. Matthew tells us, There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. We have to remember why the soldiers were there in the first place. It's amazing that the very same men who went to such lengths to abuse and kill the body of Jesus now placed a high priority on protecting the body. The chief priests wanted to prevent the disciples from raiding the grave and making claims of a resurrection, so they went to Pilate. The Roman Governor gave in, and provided soldiers to secure the area. The problem was that no matter how many soldiers were there, they couldn't prevent what was about to happen. They went about it all wrong. They guarded the outside of the tomb, but Jesus attacked the grave from the inside! The ground shook and the angel shocked the soldiers, and they ran to the chief priests.

Isn't it sad that when the priests hear the news of the resurrection, that Jesus had done exactly what he promised he would do, that he really is the Christ who died and rose for all mankind, they don't turn to him in faith and admit the truth. They are so blinded by unbelief that they don't even investigate further. They don't question or deny the soldiers' report. They don't want to hear it, and they certainly don't want anyone else to hear that Jesus has risen from the dead. They invent another side of the story. They come up with a lie to cover up the reality of the resurrection. And for a price, the soldiers go along with it. Nevermind the fact that these were professional soldiers who knew they would face a court martial and probably death if they fell asleep on the job. Another bribe to Pilate would take care of that. Their story falls apart when you ask yourself, "how would they know what happened or who took the body if they were sleeping?" It's not just a rumor, it's not just a theory, it's a lie that sounds absolutely absurd if you stop and think about it. But that doesn't keep so many people from believing it, because to so many, the lie is much easier to believe than the truth.

The resurrection is the supreme example of how our faith has to be fed by God's reassuring Word. The unbelieving world will not affirm our faith, it will only question and challenge and scheme and attempt to disprove. The world has heard the word of God and yearns for something else. The chief priests are just one small example of what we as Christians struggle with every day of our lives, both without and within. Every one of us was born with the same kind of heart as they, and that is what we learn from the other side of the Easter story. We must learn what the heart of man is capable of. We cannot forget that human nature in this life, even mine and yours, always strives to protect itself, to preserve its position and to strive for worldly gain. Understand that these chief priests were religious men. They knew their Old Testament backwards and forwards. But they weren't willing to accept Jesus; it didn't make a difference to them whether he was dead or alive. All they cared about was that people took their side rather than the truth.

We see the same thing today, don't we? From the beginning of the Bible to the end, from creation to the promises that Jesus will return on Judgment Day, there are a whole lot of people in our world whose goal it is to cover up the truth of the Bible. There are people who read the Bible not because they want to know what it says, but because they want to find something they can try to disprove or attack. And the resurrection is on the top of their list.

But we have to understand that to deny the resurrection is to commit spiritual suicide. According to our Scripture reading from 1 Corinthians 15, faith in Christ's resurrection is central to faith in Christ. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. Romans 4:25 tells us of the importance of the resurrection for our eternity, when the Apostle Paul writes, [Jesus] was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. In other words, the resurrection is God's declaration that the payment for sins was complete and sufficient for all of our sins. The resurrection of Jesus is the reason we have a sure hope of rising from the dead someday, the reason we look forward to a bodily reunion with our loved ones on the last day. The resurrection of Christ is the reason we are called Christians, because by God's grace and the work of the Holy Spirit, we believe in Jesus Christ as our living Savior.

The wonderful thing is that we don't have to rely on rumors or theories to explain the events of Easter. In the four gospels, we have ten separate instances where the Risen Christ showed himself—either to individuals like Mary in the garden, to the disciples in a locked room, to over 500 eyewitnesses in one case. But no human testimony matches the divine. No lie can match the truth that comes from the mouth of Jesus himself. In the book of Revelation, we hear Jesus speak, and he says to each one of us, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever!" We don't have to question or doubt. God's Word is sure. In Christ we live, and because of him our bodies will live even after we die. The promise is certain, That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10).

Matthew knew the truth, and so did the rest of the disciples. They saw with their own eyes and they were willing to die for the sake of truth. With courage that can only come from truth, they stood up to the lies of the chief priests, and they boldly proclaimed the real events of Easter. Today in God's Word we, too, see with the eyes of faith that Jesus lives. May God preserve us in this true faith all the days of our lives, knowing that He is risen. He is risen, indeed! AMEN.

Easter Sunday, March 23, 2008
Pastor Rod Pudell

Sermon Text: Ephesians 2: 4-7
Sermon Theme: Easter Matters!

It was 36 years ago, just about at this time. I remember that I was a senior in high school and it was Easter Sunday morning. My family was getting ready to go to church when we got a call from my grandmother, who was all upset. She had gone to Easter sunrise service at her Christian church in Coloma, Michigan. (It wasn’t a member of our Synod.) As was her custom as a good German Lutheran, she got there dutifully 30 minutes early and sat down in her pew. (Every family had staked a claim to a particular pew in that church and you didn’t dare deviate from the prescribed pattern.) Well, she was sitting there all excited about the worship because this was the first Sunday that their newly called pastor would preach his inaugural sermon to the congregation. The service went along according to plan – the trumpets were blaring away, the anthems were uplifting, the choir song was just beautiful, the decorations were something to behold – and then came the moment for the sermon. This new pastor opened his mouth and the first line he said was this: “Well, it really doesn’t matter if we believe that Jesus actually rose from the dead or not, because Easter is a time of joy and peace – a time when we should try to bring a little happiness into the lives of others.”

I don’t know if my grandma heard another word! I know my uncles sure did.
They told us that this pastor came from a “new school” of thought that believed that only parts of the Bible were God’s Word – that the Bible only “contained” God’s Word – that you really didn’t have to believe all the miraculous things proclaimed there. And the Easter story was just one of those amazing events that he left to the readers’ opinion and imagination. My grandmother put it a lot more succinctly over the phone. She just kept saying over and over again, each time a little louder and a littler angrier: “It really doesn’t matter? It really doesn’t matter?”

Well, I agree with my grandmother. And as we turn to God’s Word today, we are going to discover how every hero of faith will agree as well. This morning let’s listen to these Easter witnesses as with their words and actions they will simply shout out to us: Easter Matters!
1. It matters for this life!
2. It matters for the life to come!
Easter certainly mattered to the women who no doubt saw Jesus die on the cross – the very same women who were traveling to the tomb on the very first Easter. Early that morning they were making their way to the gravesite to finish hastily made burial preparations. Because of the approaching Sabbath, there wasn’t time on Friday afternoon to purchase all the necessary items for a proper Jewish burial – the sweet smelling oils to anoint the body – the various spices that would be placed in the folds of the linen wrappings. All the stores were closed. They would pick these things up Saturday night, after the Sabbath was over.

So early Sunday morning they set out, burdened with the spices but perhaps even more burdened with the nagging questions that were troubling them: How could all this happen? Why did it happen? How could things go so terribly wrong? Jesus said he was the Messiah…how could he save them now that he’s dead? They were so weighed down that they didn’t even considered how they would roll that huge stone from the entrance of the tomb. I’m sure as they traveled that dusty path, they felt defeated – as if something inside them had died on Golgotha as well.

And then Easter happened. They discovered that the stone had been torn from it track. Upon closer inspection they were greeted by an angel relaying the most amazing, most wonderful news of all. Jesus is not in the grave. He is risen just as he said. And as they ran from the tomb, they met Jesus Himself – alive, in the flesh. They held on to him for dear life. Then they went and told everyone they met the good news. He really is the Son of God! He really is the Lord of life and death! He really is a living Savior who will be with them always, even to the end of the ages! They were alive and filled with joy because he was alive – and nothing, not even the cross could come between them again!

My friends, Easter mattered to these women. It mattered a lot whether they would find a body in that grave or not. It mattered because now they knew for certain that Jesus truly was the Messiah sent from God – the type of Messiah that could be perfect for them and who alone could pay for the sins of the world – the very Son of God! That’s why Paul would write:
He was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead. Romans 1:4
And speaking of Paul, he also was one to whom Easter mattered. He had the opportunity to see the risen Lord face to face as well on the Damascus Road when Jesus appeared to him and asked, “Why are you persecuting me?” Previous to this, Paul in his religious zeal was doing everything he could to stamp out the heretical teachings of this false prophet and put an end to his following. But the risen Savior of Easter made all the difference in the world. It mattered because it proved that Jesus’ word was true – his claim to his disciples that on the third day he would be raised to life – his challenge to the religious establishment: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again!” Oh, Easter mattered to this well-read and well-versed man of Scripture. Because a living Jesus would prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that this Savior’s sacrifice was accepted by a holy God in heaven – that his perfect life and innocent suffering and death was the atoning sacrifice for sin of the world – that it did redeem – buy back sinners like you and me from death and the power of the devil – that because of this Jesus we will be declared not guilty – not enemies of God but children of God – not destined to everlasting death and separation from God but made alive in Christ as heirs of eternal life. That’s why Paul would write time and time again:
He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification Romans 4:25

If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins…But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. I Cor. 15: 17,20
For Paul, Easter mattered. It made all the difference in the world. It changed a persecutor into a proclaimer. It gave him a reason for living. It gave him a reason for dying.

And it mattered in the same way for every follower of Christ. Just look at the disciples. Just look at the profound changes that occurred in the lives of these followers who did anything but that when Jesus was arrested, tried, and condemned. They ran away. They locked themselves away for fear of the Jews. But Easter mattered. It turned them into bold proclaimers irregardless of the consequences. It cause them to be willing to die rather than deny because they weren’t merely defending some made up fairy tale, but a living Lord. Scripture and tradition tell us that all but one of the apostles were called upon to suffer martyrs death for their allegiance to Jesus Christ. They signed their testimony in blood. And subsequent believers and followers throughout the centuries did the same. They were persecuted, thrown to the lions, dipped in oil and burned. The writer to the Hebrews tells us:
Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned, they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted, and mistreated – the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith…Hebrews 11: 36-39

And why? Because of Easter…because of an empty tomb and a glorious promise:

Because I live, you also will live. John 14: 19

I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies. And whoever lives and believes in me will never die.
John 11: 25-26

Easter mattered to these martyrs in the faith. It changed their life. It allowed them to face death without fear – because they were assured that God would raise them up with Christ and seat them in the heavenly realms – all because of Easter.

For all these people that I have mentioned this morning, Easter mattered and it changed their lives. How about you? Easter reminds us that we don’t just follow the ways and advice of some dead do-gooder or spiritual guru. No instead we rely and believe and are guided by a Savior who is the Son of God and his resurrection proves it! Easter matters! When we are discouraged and despairing over our sinfulness and our shortcomings and failures, Easter matters because it shouts out that the sacrifice for OUR sins was complete and accepted – that when we were dead in transgressions, WE were saved by this gracious Savior. Easter matters! And maybe when Easter matters the most is when we will be called upon to bury a loved one – or when we close our eyes in death, because Easter assures that we will open them again in a heavenly home specially prepared for us and all who have long for his appearing – that we will enjoy a blessed reunion with our loved ones and with our living Lord for all time and eternity.

Does Easter matter enough to you to make it not just a day but a way of life – to show the incomparable riches of his grace and glory in your life everyday – not just once a year on some special occasion? Does Easter matter enough to change your life forever?

For my grandmother it certainly had that effect. Being the proper German Lutheran lady she was, she silently left that church after that troubling sermon and never went back there. Instead she went to a church that continued to profess that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God in all its parts – that continued to proclaim Christ crucified for our sins and raised again for our justification. Things were never the same again because she knew that Easter mattered not only for this life but also for the life to come. For the first participants following the resurrection, it had the same effect. A risen Savior meant that life would never be the same for them again. My prayer is that as you once again travel to the open tomb and are greeted with the most glorious news the world has ever heard: HE IS RISEN, you too will be changed forever…because Easter matters! Amen

Good Friday, March 21, 2008
Pastor Eric Schroeder

Sermon Text: Isaiah 53:4-5

During the season of lent, we spend forty days covering events that took place in less than 24 hours. We began our journey this year on February 6th, Ash Wednesday. Since then we have taken time out of every week to relive the misery of Jesus again and again. We saw how he was betrayed by Judas, one of his closest and most trusted friends. He was denied by Peter and deserted by his disciples, though every one of them vehemently refused they would ever leave him. He was mocked and ridiculed by the Roman soldiers, then beaten, bloodied, and crucified. While on the cross, he was rejected by those he came to save, his own people. Finally, even his Father in heaven abandoned him through no fault of his own. We have heard the descriptions in God's Word and watched the video depiction with our eyes. If it was painful to watch, we can only imagine what it must have felt like for Jesus to endure it all.

But through Isaiah, God reminds us why it was all necessary. God's Word that is our focus on this Good Friday, the words that have inspired our Lenten sermons, come from Isaiah 53:4-5. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

Seven hundred years before Jesus was born, God allowed the prophet Isaiah to see the Messiah in his greatest work of love for us. When Jesus fulfilled the promise given through the prophet, it wasn't his fault. It was yours and mine. It was our sorrows, our transgressions, our iniquities. It was our self-worship, our greed, our lust, our hate and our pride. It was our betrayal, our denial, our desertion, our mocking and ridiculing. It was because we failed to measure up to God's holy standards, because we crossed the line of sin time and time again. All of our disobedience and defiance left us in need of divine deliverance, and Jesus filled that need as he fulfilled the Words that promised healing for not only our bodies, but our souls.

The sin is the why; the healing is the result of Good Friday. Everything that Jesus did for us is in the past, it is completed: he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, he was pierced, he was crushed, our punishment was upon him—but the healing is now. We are now in a state of being healed from our sorrows, from our sin, from our guilt. That has been the focus of our Sunday worship during lent. Instead of life as God's enemies, we are healed and have life with God. Instead of being slaves to sin, we are healed to make choices for God. Instead of being afraid of suffering, we are healed to weather hardship for the sake of the One who suffered for us. Instead of reaching in vain for self-glory, we are healed to use our bodies to glorify God, whose Holy Spirit has made our bodies his temple. We stand up for Jesus and we shout Hosanna to him, all because he was wounded for us.

Of all the Fridays in the year, this is the one we call Good. It is on this day that we rejoice even in our Savior's death, because by dying Jesus brought us life. When Isaiah wrote the words of God so long ago, he saw not only a promise, but a promise fulfilled. Our salvation was never in doubt, because our Gracious God was determined to call us his. Jesus was determined to call our sin his own. And now the healing he gave to us leads us to call heaven our home. AMEN.

Maundy Thursday, March 20, 2008
Pastor Eric Schroeder

Sermon Text: Matthew 26:17-30
Sermon Theme: By His Body and Blood We are Fed

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 18 He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover. 20 When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21 And while they were eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.” 22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely not I, Lord?” 23 Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.” 25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “Yes, it is you.”26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” 27 Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom.” 30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Special memories often accompany special meals. When I think of Thanksgiving meals of the past, for instance, I can actually picture the food laid out on the table at my aunt and uncle's house. There's the turkey and ham, mashed potatoes, the bread rolls, the green bean casserole and the broccoli and cheese casserole; there's the red jello with cool whip on top, the pickles and olives, and the veggie tray. And then there are the pies—usually two pumpkin pies, a pecan pie, and a blueberry pie. Along with the food, I can remember watching football on TV and playing football after the dads woke up from their naps. I remember the moms getting together and drawing names for the Christmas gift exchange. For me, Thanksgiving was a special day, with a special meal and great memories.

The Passover Feast was a meal that was intended to bring back memories. It was a tradition that God established for the people of Israel when he said to them, “Obey these instructions as a lasting ordinance for you and your descendants. 25 When you enter the land that the LORD will give you as he promised, observe this ceremony. 26 And when your children ask you, ‘What does this ceremony mean to you?’ 27 then tell them, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the LORD, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.’ Once a year, every faithful Jewish family would prepare and celebrated the Passover feast, and the food would always be the same. It had to be the same, because each food had a meaning associated with it.

There was the matzo—unleavened bread, made without yeast. Yeast is used to picture the corruption of sin. Just like yeast spreads and grows until it fills the dough, so sin corrupts our bodies and our world. God commanded that they not only made bread without yeast, but that they got rid of every bit of yeast in the house and everything that contained yeast. The unleavened bread also reminded them that there was no time to sit around and wait for the dough to rise—the participants in the original Passover had to be ready to leave Egypt at a moment's notice. God even told them how to dress for the meal: This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the LORD’s Passover. In addition to the bread, there was something like applesauce, called charoset, that was meant to remind the Jews of the mortar they used in their slavery and the mud they used to make bricks for the Egyptian building projects. Also on the plate were the bitter herbs, something like ground horseradish, to call to mind the bitterness of slavery and sorrow over sin.

In addition to these symbolic side dishes, the main course was the lamb. The passover lamb had the most significance of all the foods at the feast, because it was the lamb that saved the firstborn of the house from death. The blood of the lamb, spread on the doorposts of the home, was a signal to the Angel of the Lord that believers were inside the house, so the sacrifice of the lamb was a matter of life and death for those who celebrated the first Passover meal. Every year the tradition would be a reminder. God wanted them to remember what he had done for them in the past and would do in the future. The lamb evoked memories of deliverance, and the meal vividly engaged all five senses as it reminded them of God's promise of salvation for every sinner threatened by the fear of death.

It was this family feast that Jesus chose to celebrate not with his family, but with his disciples. In a quiet upper room, the preparations were made, and together they remembered. But this night also marked a transition from the many sacrifices to THE ONE sacrifice. It was a night in which the Law of Moses became the law of love. That's where we get the name "Maundy Thursday," from the Latin word for command, as Jesus urged his disciples to love one another, and he showed them how. He washed their feet, one by one, the Son of God putting emotion into action with a simple display of love for sinful men. He lovingly explained one last time how he was going away for a while, how every man in the room would abandon him, and one of those men would be his betrayer. And when he finally had their attention, he gave them something to remember Him by. A meal within the meal, simple in its elements, but absolutely unique and astonishing in its true meaning.

This new meal introduced the divine elements to the earthly. In words that can only be understood in faith, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” 27 Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Tonight we are not celebrating the Passover Feast. The meal we celebrate as a family of believers is a memorial of the sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. We have in this bread without yeast the sinless body of Jesus, given not only for the firstborn, not only for the Jews, but for you. We have in this wine not blood spread on the doorposts, but blood shed on the posts of the cross for your forgiveness. We make no sacrifice, we only receive the gifts he offers—a personal transmission of faith, forgiveness, life and salvation. Bread and wine, body and blood.

As he prepared for his death, Jesus did not forget to give us something to remember him by. Instead of writing out a will, what he would leave behind when he died, Jesus left us a meal. He told us to remember him, and he gave us a promise. I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom.” Through the sacrifice of the lamb, our sins are forgiven, and we can look forward to the day when we will enjoy the everlasting feast already prepared for us in heaven. Now, may this meal strengthen you and preserve you in the true faith unto life everlasting. AMEN.

Sunday, March 16, 2008
Pastor Eric Schroeder

Sermon Text: John 12:12-19
Sermon Theme: By His Wounds We Are Healed…To Shout Hosanna!

The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the King of Israel!” 14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written, 15 “Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.”16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him. 17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”

Three times a year, the population of Jerusalem exploded. At the time of Jesus, Jerusalem was typically the home of around 80 or 90,000 people, roughly the same as the city of Bloomington. However, during the three great festivals of the church year, of which Passover was one, the city was packed with pilgrims from every direction, so that instead of 80,000 inhabitants, more than a million people made Jerusalem their temporary home. Without a doubt, Jesus brought a number of his own followers as he approached Jerusalem from the neighboring town of Bethany. These details give us some kind of idea of what kind of crowd gathered when the news spread: Jesus is coming. Some knew him, some loved him, some hated him, and some may have never heard of him, but every one of them soon found out one thing. Jesus is different from everyone else on that road. Jesus is more than just one out of a million Jews keeping the Old Testament Law. Many of the eyewitnesses didn't have all the details, at least not then and there. But as we observe the festival of Palm Sunday, we know who he is, and why he is so different. He enters Jerusalem hailed as a king, but we know him as THE King, our King. He is our King despite the fact that he is unlike any king we have ever seen. He is our king precisely because of the fact that he is unlike any king we have ever seen.

The first difference is humility. One of the benefits of Easter falling so early in the year is that it is closer to Christmas, so we don't have to think back too far to remember the last time we celebrated the birth of our King. His humble beginning is still relatively fresh in our mind. Thirty-three years before the first Palm Sunday, a quiet night was interrupted as an unassuming young woman gave birth in a stable. The only worshippers Jesus had on that night were some lowly shepherds, a carpenter, and his own mother. A far cry from what we'd expect at the birth of a King. On Palm Sunday, Jesus entered Jerusalem in much the same way he entered the world—in humility.

Even though he enters Jerusalem surrounded by onlookers, there is no chariot, there are no trumpets, there is no intimidating army. Just a man riding on the back of a young donkey. Imagine the president taking the bus instead of Air Force One, a movie star pulling up to the red carpet in a taxi instead of a limo. Instead of riding a chariot pulled by a horse decorated for war, Jesus rides a donkey, a beast of burden, a symbol of peace and humility. People line up to give him praise with shouts of "Hosanna," but he is more concerned about the will of his Father than the praise of men.

When Jesus was twelve years old, he went to Jerusalem with Mary and Joseph for the Passover. They left him behind when he stayed in his Father's house. This time, he goes with his disciples, and they leave him behind when he submits to arrest, suffering, and death. He does all things to fulfill the Word of God, and this time is no different. The prophecy was spoken through the prophet Zechariah, “Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” He is unlike any other king the world has ever known, because of his great humility. Our King Jesus didn't just preach humility, he practiced it in all that he did. In Mark 10 we hear those great words of humility: "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to give his life as a ransom for many." A humble King rides forth to die.

His entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday not only defines the humility of our King, but also his glory—the kind of glory that puts him in a class all by himself. In writing his gospel account, John admits that it was a glory that the disciples didn't yet understand when it was happening, despite the reaction of the crowds. I think we can assume that everyone present had no idea how the week would end—everyone but Jesus, that is. The people may have guessed he was the Messiah. They called him the King of Israel, and they praised him with the words of psalm 118, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" they even shouted "Hosanna," which means "Save us." As they prepared for the Passover, a festival commemorating their freedom from slavery, maybe they hoped that this man would give them freedom from the oppression of the Roman Empire. They saw his previous miracles as the evidence that he was powerful enough to drive out those who did not belong in the Promised Land. Their palm branches were a symbol of victory, but too many of them were hoping for the kind of victory that Jesus never intended to bring.

You see, the glory of our King far surpasses the glory of a military conquest. He had a much more threatening enemy to defeat. The Roman army caused the suffering of many, but sin terrorized the whole of creation, every man, woman, and child ever born, including you and me. Sin is the reason the disciples were distracted, the reason the priorities of the people were for the most part limited to an earthly perspective; sin is the reason we need to shout "Hosanna" to Jesus—because only he can save us. And the only way our King could save us was to set his heavenly glory aside and enter Jerusalem to die. The Pharisees thought Jesus was their biggest problem. They said, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!” But Jesus had our glory in mind, and so he went after the sins of the whole world, for the souls of the whole world. To the Jewish leaders, he was already a wanted man, but he made no efforts to hide. He entered Jerusalem on Sunday on the back of a donkey; he left on Friday with a cross on his back. On Sunday the people carried palm branches in their hands, on Friday Jesus stretched out his hands as he was nailed to the branches of a different kind of tree. On Sunday they shouted "Hosanna," on Friday they changed their chant to "crucify him!" Our sins brought him death; his death brought us forgiveness and life. And even in his suffering we see a glory unlike that of any other king the world has ever known.

The Sunday before the Passover Feast was always a big day in Jerusalem. Visitors to the Holy City had to arrive early, because it was on this day, four days before the Feast, that God commanded the Israelites to pick out a lamb. It had to be a one-year old male, spotless, without any defects. It had to be perfect; it had to meet God's standards. Once the lamb was selected, they would care for the lamb until it was time for the sacrificial meal. On the first Palm Sunday, Jesus volunteered himself as the humble, yet glorious sacrifice for the people. Though the many thousands of people that made up the population explosion of Jerusalem didn't know it then, by their shouts of "Hosanna" they were setting apart the Lamb who would free us from our greatest enemy. By his wounds, by the humility and the glory of the cross, Jesus, our King, fulfilled our shouts of "Hosanna"—he saved us. And with that one sacrifice, the population of heaven exploded to include all who put their faith in him. AMEN.

Sunday, March 16, 2008
Pastor Rod Pudell

Sermon Text: John 12:12-19
Sermon Theme: By His Wounds We Are Healed…To Shout Hosanna!

Last Wednesday after Lenten services, one of our members, Scott Behnke, greeted me at the door with the question that is probably troubling the hearts and minds of most Americans: “What’s up with your Minnesota Wild?” Once again they seem to be struggling down the stretch - losing game after game in the overtime or in the shootouts – and they are in danger of playing themselves right out of the playoffs.

Now what’s interesting is that really hasn’t had that much of an effect on the comments and cheers that I’ve heard in the stands from the fans. It’s just affected the manner in which they say them. You see, you can say the exact same words but mean something entirely different. For example, if the Wild score that winning goal late in the third period, the crowd will erupt with the shout: “Way to go, Wild!” But those same people might express those exact same words if one of our defensemen makes a stupid pass or falls on his backside allowing the other team to make the winning score. All of a sudden your will hear people vent their frustration and discouragement by crying out: “Way to go, Wild!” Same words but an entirely different meaning…. I guess that’s the beauty of sarcasm in the English language. It’s not what you say. It’s how you say it. Words of praise might not always be praise worthy.

We used to call praises like that the Bronx Cheer. Apparently those New Yorkers had mastered this fine art. If a goalie had let in some soft goals and then stopped an easy shot that barely got to the net, the crowd would erupt in an ovation of cheers and thunderous applause. But that praise wasn’t real praise. And of course that is something that would never happen in our state where “Minnesota nice” is the motto.

Well, today as we go back to the time of the first Palm Sunday, we are going to hear a lot of cheers, a lot of applause, and a lot of expressions of praise. We’re going to listen to people shout the exact same words that you have been singing and shouting: “Hosanna…Hosanna in the highest!” But are these Bronx Cheers or real? And what about our cheers this morning? Today as we look at God’s Word. We are going to discover what makes up genuine praise and what we’re really expressing when we cry out: Hosanna!

Now I really believe for the most part that the cheers of the first Palm Sunday weren’t merely sarcastic, but probably genuine and authentic. Just imagine the scene: That first Palm Sunday was a day like no other. You couldn’t believe it. It was like a carnival. It was like a circus. It was like a parade. Hundreds of thousands of Jews were jammed into the city. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims were crammed into those narrow, little streets. Shoulder to shoulder. Arm to arm. Body to body. You couldn’t walk. You couldn’t squeeze through this mob of people that completely plugged those little narrow streets of Jerusalem.

It was Passover time and the city was jammed. It was like a mob at Mardi Grad. And everyone was there. The hockers were hocking their wares, “Lambs for sale! Lambs for sale! Good deal on matzo. Matzo here in our tent. Come and have your Passover dinner with us. Great food!”

What a mad house! Dirty streets and dusty mules. Dusty streets and dirty mules. Camels baying off in the distance. Pilgrims chanting their prayers. Roman chariots and Roman charioteers riding back and forth. What a mad house! It was March Madness at its finest! What a mess! But it was a great week for business and a great week for making money. And the kids? They loved it. They loved all the commotion.

But this Passover was crazier than usual. And why? The reputation of Jesus had already spread. You see, the day before, Jesus Christ had produced the mightiest miracle he had ever done. Jesus raised Lazarus for the dead. And then coming into town, Jesus healed two blind men; and they were now able to see. The masses of people had heard about these miracles; and everyone wanted to see if he could pull off another trick like that. They wanted to see the Houdini of the Holy Land in action. That was the way it was on that first Palm Sunday. It was the Big Top, the Big Show, the center ring in action. It was chaos, confusion, the event of the year all rolled into one.

And then Jesus made his grand entrance that at first sight didn’t seem to be so grand. He came into town riding on a donkey. This strange activity for this one-of-a-kind parade fulfilled the words of the Old Testament prophet Zechariah:

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, daughters of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having s