The Ascension of Our Lord

The text for our meditation on this Ascension Day is the first lesson appointed for the day. I bring you grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

In the introduction to his Gospel, Luke tells Theophilus that he is writing his account of Jesus Christ so that Theophilus may know with certainty the things he has been taught concerning Christianity.

We don’t know who this Theophilus was except that in the way he was addressed as “the most excellent Theophilus” he was very likely a person of influence. It was important for the well-being of the early Christian church to have people of power and position on their side --and so in a meticulous, methodical way, Luke lays out the story of Jesus Christ so that Theophilus may know the truth—with certainty.

Luke is also the author of the Book of Acts from which tonight’s text is taken and we see that this book is also addressed to the same Theophilus, but this time his title is removed. So what you ask? Well just this, early Christians did not address one another with titles such as “Most Excellent” which means that Luke’s Gospel was the instrument that the Holy Spirit used to bring this Theophilus to faith in Jesus--and now with his next book, Act, Luke wants to make sure that Theophilus knows the rest of the Gospel story from the ascension onward-- which is the story of the Holy Spirit and the church.

Through these same words, written nearly two thousand years ago, the Lord speaks to us here tonight on this Ascension Day about those things that he wants us to know with certainty and believe with all our heart: 1. that Jesus is just exactly who claimed to be: the Savior of the world—2. that this Good News of salvation is for all people, in every place and time—3. and that Jesus will return as he ascended: as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Luke writes:

In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. To them he presented himself alive after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

In these opening sentences you have a brief little summary of the contents of Luke’s “first book”—his Gospel: the things that Jesus did and taught—his choosing of the apostles—his suffering, death, resurrection and ascension—and the promise of the Holy Spirit.

This is the story of Jesus inspired by the Holy Spirit and written down by Luke for exactly the same purpose as he wrote to Theophilus: that we may know with certainty that Jesus is who he says he is-- and that his ascension is the visible demonstration that he has accomplished what he was sent by the Father to do—and that knowing these things, the Holy Spirit would give us the same measure of faith that he gave to Theophilus who was the first person to read Luke’s words.

By profession Luke was a doctor—but he was also a very fine historian. Besides being inspired by the Holy Spirit, he gathered sources and weighed evidence and interviewed first hand witnesses-- to make sure that what he wrote about Jesus was true and reliable and could be counted on to lead people to faith in Jesus.
God does not ask us to believe that we came from space ships. God does not ask us to believe that Jesus visited the new world in places and cultures for which there is no historical or archeological record. God does not ask us to believe in fantasies or fables or fairly tales.

Instead, the story of Jesus, written in the pages of Sacred Scripture, is grounded in a particular point in time-- with Roman and Jewish leaders we know from the historical record. The story of Jesus is grounded in particular places that you can still visit today. The story of Jesus is grounded in particular cultures for which there is rich archeological and anthropological evidence.

Luke’s biography of Jesus and history of the early church is accurate. But even more than that—his inspired words are the power of God unto salvation through which the Holy Spirit worked faith in Theophilus’ heart as he read the story of Jesus—just as the Spirit works in our hearts the same way tonight to bring us to faith.

Theophilus didn’t get to see the many convincing proofs of the resurrection that the disciples of Jesus saw. He read about them in Luke’s books. But as he read about them, the Holy Spirit worked faith in his heart and he became one of those blessed ones of whom Jesus spoke who did not see-- and yet believed.

We are a part of that same blessed group. On Ascension Day we look back over the last six months of the church year and see through the Gospel story the birth of our Lord and the Magi’s visit. We walked with Jesus on the road to the cross and we saw his suffering and death. During this Easter season we have also seen that death was not the end for Jesus—but that he rose again and appeared as the risen Lord to over 500 of his faithful followers.

This biblical picture of the Lord has been revealed to us for one reason: that just like Theophilus, we might know with certainty and believe with all our heart that Jesus is just exactly who he claimed to be: the Savior of the world who has brought us into God’s kingdom through his death and resurrection—and who desires that others would have a place there through our witness in word and deed. Luke writes:

While staying with them Jesus ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, "you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

It is necessary that each of us believes that Jesus Christ is our Savior from sin and death if we are to enter into the kingdom of God. The Holy Evangelists like Luke write their Gospels for that very purpose. But much too often, we stop there-- and our own personal salvation becomes the pinnacle of God’s work in the world. Particularly here in the United States, our national personality of rugged individualism turns Christianity into a story where the only characters are “me and Jesus”.

But just as much as God loves us and works for our salvation-- so he loves the world and works for the salvation of the world. This Good News about who Jesus is and what he has done- -is for all people. That Christians forget this at times-- is nothing new.

Even after all they had seen and after all they had been taught--the disciples still thought that the goal of the Messiah’s work was about restoring the fortunes of physical Israel. They still didn’t understand that Israel had always been—at its heart—a spiritual kingdom comprised of all those who had faith in God’s promises. But at Pentecost they were about to get a powerful, visible demonstration of that wonderful truth that the kingdom of heaven is open to all people through faith in Jesus.

Just as he had promised, Jesus would send the Holy Spirit upon the apostolic community-- and in a miracle that would make it clear that the Good News of the Gospel was for all people--pilgrims from all over the world who had traveled to Jerusalem for Pentecost would hear the Good News of Jesus proclaimed—each in their own language. As they took this message back to their own countries, more and more people—both Jews and Gentiles-- came to faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

The Holy Spirit was given for that very purpose of inspiring and empowering the proclamation that Jesus of Nazareth is the Savior of the world-- so that those who believe in him-- can share him with others.

The words that we hear Jesus says tonight, “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” were not just spoken to those present at the ascension-- but they are spoken to every Christian, in every time and place—right down to this moment. YOU ARE MY WITNESSES. Jesus wants us to know that we are his Spirit-empowered witnesses in the world-- for the sake of the world’s salvation.

There is much that we do not know in life—there are times and seasons and circumstances and situations in our lives where the Lord gives us the same answer that he gave to the disciples who asked about the restoration of Israel: it is not for you to know the Father’s business.

But what Jesus does want us to know tonight, is that our lives have meaning and purpose no matter what our situation or circumstance-- and that divine purpose is to bear witness to God’s love for all people in Jesus Christ to every corner of the world.

The apostles never got to travel to Kingsville or Bishop or Alice or Ricardo or Riviera—but we have—and this little corner of the world is our mission field—and the Holy Spirit has been given to us by the ascended Lord so that we would bear witness to Jesus in our daily lives in what we say and do. We are who we are-- and what we are-- and where we are-- so that through our witness as many people as possible might come to know Jesus as their loving Savior before they meet him on the Last Day as the Mighty King and Righteous Judge—for that is how he ascended and that is who he will return. Luke writes:

When Jesus had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."

At his ascension, our Lord did not go up into heaven as the Babe of Bethlehem—he did not return to his Father’s side as the poor, itinerant rabbi who had no place to lay his head—he was not lifted up from human view as the Suffering Servant.

Our Lord ascended into heaven as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords who had conquered the enemies that had ruined his Father’s world and wrecked our lives-- and he took his rightful place at the throne of Almighty God from whence he had come. That is the way that he will return—as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords-- and at his return every knee will bow to him—either in love or in fear.

That is why it is so important for us on this Ascension Day to learn these things that the Lord wants us to know: that Jesus is the one and only Savior whom God has provided to the world--and that because his salvation is intended for all people, he gives us the Holy Spirit so that we might bear witness to him and bring others to faith in him. And that united together with all who believe, we look for him to come again the same way he ascended: as the most highly exalted King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Amen.

And now may the peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting. Amen.

Rev. Franke's Theme Thoughts

Easter 7, Series C May 16, 2010

Lessons for Seventh Sunday of Easter (Lutheran Service Book)

Acts 1:12–26 – At the direction of the Spirit, the group of believers selected Matthias to take Judas’ place.
Psalm 133 (Antiphon: Psalm 133:1)
Revelation 22:1–20 – Jesus, the First and the Last, receives the redeemed in the heavenly Jerusalem.
John 17:20–26 – Jesus prayed that His followers be united in love to give witness to the Father’s love.

GATHERING THE TEXTS: All are One by God's Design.
Before His crucifixion Jesus prayed for His disciples and for all who would believe in Him through their words, that we may be one in Him with the Father, united in His love and His glory. In answering that prayer the Holy Spirit guided the little band of believers as they chose Matthias to replace Judas as a witness and apostle. All the redeemed gathered in the heavenly Jerusalem, will be united in Jesus, the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Ever and the Always. Yes, He is coming soon to welcome us into the complete unity of His glory.

PRAYER BEFORE THE SERVICE: Lord Jesus, as I recall Your ascension into heaven, help me remember that You are always present with Your people, the Church, guiding and leading us by the power of Your Spirit, molding and shaping us together in one family as we deal with one another in love, until You come again on that last great day and receive us to Yourself in heaven. Amen.

STEWARDSHIP THOUGHT: God has given us many material gifts, all to be used in ways that express His love to our fellow people, so that they may know our Savior is the Son of God the Father and Lord of love.

OFFERING PRAYER: You love us with eternal love and send us out to share it!
Make us liberal with our love, to risk and boldly dare it!
And just as boldly, let us share Your grace and righteous merit,
That through these gifts we may proclaim a kingdom to inherit.

CONVICTION AND COMFORT: It is God’s will that all believers be united in expressing His love, which we have known through Jesus’ death and resurrection. To live in this kind of love, we have to die to our individual “rights” and our will to assert ourselves over others. We cannot do that! We must depend on the gift of God’s reconciling oneness in Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. The unity of believers in faith and life promotes the expansion of the Kingdom of God which will finally be seen by all when He who is the First and Last comes in His glory.

This Week at Mt. Olive

Good morning, fellow redeemed!

I hope everyone had a great Mother's Day celebration. If you had the opportunity, I hope you called your mom, or better yet visited her, to wish her a blessed day. Even though I put Mother's Day in the category of Hallmark Holidays, the day seems to have a certain sanctified quality to it. Oh, I know all the stuff about Mother's Day and the sappy ways florists and other merchants almost guilt us into buying their goods. But, Mother's Day is beyond all that.

Mother's Day is an opportunity to reflect on God's gracious providence. How is order preserved in this world except through God's gracious providence. Yet, borrowing an illustration from Dr. Robert Weise at Concordia Seminary, it's not as if the Lord is up in heaven with a big "L" on His chest, punching buttons and making things happen. If that were true, then all of the natural disasters on this planet would indicate a god who is really ticked off and out to get us.

Instead, consider how God preserves order on this earth. It's through the most basic level of authority, and therefore the highest: mothers and fathers. Take away the authority of mothers and fathers and no one on earth has any authority. Yet, God in His mercy has established what I believe are two of the highest, most critical vocations for the workings of His creation, the vocations of mother and father. Talk about these vocations, and you're talking about good order.

By the way, here's Dale Meyer's devotion for today:
For this Monday after Mother's Day, consider what Martin Luther wrote about honoring parents.
"To fatherhood and motherhood God has given the special distinction...that He commands us not simply to love our parents but also to honor them. With respect to brothers, sisters, and neighbors in general He commands nothing higher than that we love them. Thus He distinguishes father and mother above all other persons on earth, and places them next to Himself.

"For it is a much greater thing to honor than to love. Honor includes not only love but also deference, humility, and modesty, directed (so to speak) toward a majesty hidden within them. It requires us not only to address them affectionately and reverently, but above all to show by our actions, both of heart and of body, that we respect them very highly and that next to God we give them the very highest place. Young people must therefore be taught to revere their parents as God's representatives."

This Week at Mt. Olive:
The Lutheran Women's Missionary League has extended an invitation to join them at their annual dinner this Tuesday night. The LWML is meeting on Tuesday night, 6:30 p.m., at Nolan's on Airline. The chicken fried steaks and po' boys are good, best of all, nothing is very pricey there. If you'd like to attend, please call the Church Office - this will help in reserving space.

The Choir resumes its rehearsals Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. Of note, the choir will be singing at the Confirmation service on Sunday, May 30.

Thursday night, the guitars will be strumming once more in rehearsal. The next guitar service will be this coming Sunday, May 16.

The Fellowship Committee is sponsoring at Cinco de Mayo party at the home of Bill and Mavis Waterman on Saturday, 15 MAY. Dinner includes fajitas. The cost is $10 per person. If you'd like to attend, please call the Charlene Westrup or the Church Office.

Next Sunday, May 16 will be the next installment of Guitar Worship. Two Sundays so close together? Yes, mainly because we missed April.

Also concerning Sunday: We'll be celebrating the Ascension of Our Lord. I'll be writing more about this on Thursday, which the actual Ascension Day on the Church's calendar. This important, often forgotten, feast day probably gives us more comfort than we can ever imagine.

Prayer Concerns:
Those who serve in our armed forces and their families: Rob Vadney (Afghanistan), John Miller's niece (Afghanistan), Andrew Epley (Iraq), Ryan Radtke, John Sorenson, Dru Blanc (Corpus Christi), William Worley (Kingsville)
Those who graduate this month, including Samantha Jacobs and Deysi Epley (TAMUCC), Stephanie Muhr (Texas State University), Matthew Willoughby (Tuloso-Midway)
The Confirmands who will make public profession of their faith later this month
The holy Christian and apostolic Church throughout the world, as she proclaims the Ascension of Our Lord Jesus and His return in glory.
The baptismal faith of our children.

This Week at Mt. Olive:
Monday, May 10
6 p.m.
Zumba Aerobics

6:30 p.m.
Girl Scouts

7 p.m.
Church Council

Tuesday, May 11
6:30 p.m.
LWML meets at Nolan's on Airline
Pastor's Information Class

Wednesday, May 12
8:30 a.m.
School Chapel

9:30 a.m.
Bible Study (1 Thessalonians)

6 p.m.
Zumba Aerobics

7 p.m.
Choir Rehearsal

Thursday, May 13
7 p.m.
Guitar Worship Rehearsal

Saturday, May 15
Cinco de Mayo party at the Watermans

The Good News For Women

The text for our meditation on God’s Holy Word is the first lesson appointed for this day. I bring you grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

You see them being interviewed on CNN and PBS. You can hear their opinions on the Discovery Channel and the History Channel. You can read their comments in Time and Newsweek. They have clerical collars around their necks and the titles of Rev. and Dr. and now even Bishop before their names. Who are they? They are feminist theologians and clergy and church leaders.

Usually when you hear them and see them on TV and read their words in various print media they are castigating the church for its patriarchal past and criticizing the church for its outdated, antagonistic views on women. And my response when I see and hear them on TV and read their words is always the same: why don’t you actually open up and a Bible and read it.

And when you do so, what any honest student of the Bible will find-- with even a brief reading of Holy Scripture-- is that God tells the story of his love for the world not just in the lives of Adam and Abraham and Joseph and Paul and the Twelve--but also in the lives of Eve and Sarah and Mary and in the faithful women of the cross and empty tomb—in the life of Lydia who we hear about in our first lesson today.

It is abundantly clear in Holy Scripture that the story of God’s love and grace and forgiveness is a story that embraces all people—including women-- and that the gift of God’s Son and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is for: slave and free—Jew and Gentile—men and women.

We see how true that is in the Book of Acts. Not only does God use Paul, the Hebrew scholar and free Roman citizen, to accomplish his mission—but he also uses the gentile Timothy and the slave Onesimus and the woman Lydia to share the Good News of his salvation with the world.

On this Mother’s Day we can thank God because the mercy of Jesus Christ extends to women no less than to men! We can rejoice to see how their lives as Christian wives and mothers and daughters and church workers and businesswomen have changed the lives of those around them for the better—for time and eternity. We see these biblical truths vividly portrayed in the story of Lydia—an early Christian believer. Luke writes:

A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together.

Every time you hear one of these people on television telling you how terrible and oppressive the church has been to women, and how women have been short-changed by bible-believing Christians, what I want you to understand and remember from our lesson in Acts is how, from the very beginning, the church has reached out--especially to women-- with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We read this story about how Paul and Silas and Timothy and Luke purposefully sought out the place where the women of Philippi gathered for prayer so that they could speak to them about Jesus-- and two thousand years later we say, “well of course—why wouldn’t they?”

But what we don’t see-- because the world and humanity has changed so dramatically in the intervening years-- is what a radical act this was on the part of these Christian men—how different their attitudes toward women were than the prevailing societal views. For example, rabbinic Judaism of that day regarded women as second-class citizens at best and beasts of burden at worst.

But the apostles and evangelists and pastors of the early church knew and believed something totally different about women: they knew from the Lord’s own example that women were objects of God’s love and concern no less than men—they knew that women’s souls were eternally valuable to God—they knew that that God wanted all people, men and women, to have a life with him through faith in his Son.

This attitude of God towards women-- in contrast to the mores and values of the society of that day-- was beautifully modeled by the Lord Jesus during his earthly ministry. Women were his followers. Women were his students. Women supported his ministry. Women were used as positive examples in his teaching again and again.
Where the men of Christ’s day shunned the particular troubles and travails of women—these hardships and heartaches that are unique to women received special care and concern from the Lord.

Where men of his day refused to acknowledge women as fully human—Jesus sought them out and taught them and welcomed them and made a place at this table for them and engaged them in conversation again and again.

Where men abandoned our Lord in his moment of deepest need at Calvary-- it was faithful women who were found at the foot of the cross-- and where men were hiding out in fear after the resurrection-- it was the faithful women who were charged by Jesus with the first apostolic mission of taking the Good News of the resurrection to the disciples.

Paul and Timothy and Silas and Luke knew the example of the Lord and his love and concern for women and modeled that same kind of love and concern as they took the Good News about forgiveness in Jesus out into the world. And that there were just a few women gathered together for prayer that day in Philippi made no difference—those few women were just as important to them as the thousands of pilgrims that had gathered in Jerusalem at Pentecost- and the hundreds of learned scholars assembled on Mars Hill- and the emperor himself in Rome.

The Good News for us on this Mother’s Day is that the love of God in Christ is meant for all people and would be taken to all people—especially women. Luke writes about one of these women:

One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God.

Every time you see one of those TV specials or read one of those magazine articles about how the church is oppressive to women I want you to remember that the very first recorded convert to Jesus Christ in Europe was a woman—a very special woman—a woman that even modern people two thousand years later can recognize.

We know from ancient Roman history that, at this time, Philippi had a corporate guild of dyers and Lydia was no doubt a member of that guild-- and because purple was the most sought after color of all in the ancient world we know that Lydia was capable, successful, and wealthy. The fact that Lydia had an economic life outside the home, I believe God intends as a special comfort for modern, Christian women.

The majority of Christian women today work outside of the home and I know that this is not done without some degree of guilt. Most of us were raised by moms who were able to stay at home and be full-time homemakers and many women today wish that they could do the same.

But the world has changed- and now many women work and feel guilty about it- wondering if they are doing the right thing by their families. There are some parts of the church that are not particularly helpful to women in this—some preachers and teachers—and other women—who add to working moms self-imposed guilt by almost equating being a stay at home mom with being a true Christian and a working mom as coming in a distant second in their piety.

These preachers and teachers are wrong. If you are able and want to stay at home-- God bless you! But if genuine economic realities necessitate your working, I want you to remember Lydia’s story and take to heart the Good News that there is not a particular kind of lifestyle or family style that is a pre-requisite for being loved by God. The love and mercy of God in Christ did not pass Lydia by because she was a working woman—but was given to her too. Luke writes that:

The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.

Before her conversion to Christ, Lydia was a Gentile believer in the God of Israel. She would have known that a Messiah had been promised and she believed in that promise—but she did not yet know that he had come and lived and died and rose again as the prophets had promised he would—she did not yet know that the Messiah had taken on flesh and bone and was named Jesus.

If she were to be saved and have a life with God, she still needed to hear that Good News that the apostles were sent to bring and so she listened to what they had to say. Paul wrote in Romans chapter ten that “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” That is how conversion worked in Lydia’s life and it is how conversion works in every believer’s life. The Gospel of Jesus’ death and resurrection is the power of God unto salvation and the Word of God is sent into the world and does not return to the Lord without accomplishing the saving purpose for which it is sent.

That is exactly what Lydia experienced that day as she heard for the first time the Good News about Jesus—that his righteous life was lived for all people—that his death was the fully atoning sacrifice for the sins for all people—that his resurrection was the hope of life to come for all people—including her—and she came to faith in Jesus by the power and work of the Holy Spirit in her heart.

As with Lydia, so with every believer, that our salvation—from beginning to end—is the work of the Triune God who has known us and chosen us from eternity—who has sent his Son to die for us on the cross and rise again—who has called us to faith in him by the Holy Spirit-- so that from beginning to end it is the God of love who gets all of the praise and glory for what he has done for our salvation.

Lydia’s conversion is a picture of every conversion—no ranting of some wild-eyed preacher to work up his subject—no manipulative altar call with soft music in the background to get us to come to the front—no emotionally agitated decision on the part of the hearer. Simply the still, small voice of the Spirit of God powerfully working in our hearts through the Good News about Jesus and the God-given confidence and trust within us that says “I believe”—just like with Lydia. Luke writes that, after hearing the Good News: she was baptized, and her household as well, When Jesus gave his church the Great Commission he said:

“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you”.

Now it is self-evident that in the word “nations” Jesus was not talking about baptizing geographic areas delineated by physical boundaries and ruled by some particular form of government—he was talking about the people in the those areas—all the people without restriction--and so Lydia, a gentile woman, was baptized-- and so were those in her household irrespective of age or gender or ethnicity.

The Good News about Jesus and the Sacrament of Holy Baptism and the gift of the Holy Spirit was for all of them and Lydia wanted to make sure that those among her family and friends heard it and received it. Luke writes:

She urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay. "And she prevailed upon us.

In Lydia’s example of taking the Gospel to her home, we see a beautiful picture of Christian womanhood that has repeated itself countless millions of times over the last two thousand years of the church’s history: faithful Christian women, not counting it good enough that they know Jesus as Lord and Savior, but making it their first priority in life that everyone in their homes knows Jesus as well.

There is simply no way to calculate the spiritual good that Christian women have accomplished over the course of salvation history for the eternal welfare of their friends and families through their Christian lives and through their witness to Jesus Christ—Christian women who have been insistent that their friends and their families hear the Good News that the hope and peace and forgiveness that we have in Jesus is for all people.

As we see this so beautifully portrayed in the life of Lydia we have an opportunity on this Mother’s Day to once again thank God that the Good News of salvation in Jesus is also for women. Amen.

And now may the peace of God that passes all understanding keep your heart and min in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting. Amen.

Pastor Jennings New Blog

Check out Rev. Kevin Jennings' (pastor of Mt. Olive-Corpus Christi) new blog! Thoughtful--and thought-provoking--reflections on various topics of interest. A link is provided under "Links of Interest".

Do You Hear The Song?

Rev. 21:1-7 (ESV)
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. [2] And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. [3] And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. [4] He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." [5] And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." [6] And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. [7] The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.


Today’s reading from Revelation almost seems like cheating. We’ve heard three readings from the Revelation to John so far – the beginning, the reappearance of Jesus; the ascension as the Lamb who was slain, who was raised, now takes His place in the throne room of God. Last week, we were given a glimpse of the multitude of the Church Triumphant and their song of triumph.

Now, though, fourteen chapters hence, we reach the climax of the book. It’s like we read a couple of really neat chapters and then went to the end to find out how everything turns out. If that’s all we do with this reading, it’s the old, “Hmmm. Okay,” and then go on about our business. That happens because our reality is one where half truths and lies, failed relationships and cheating, weak and deteriorating bodies are all the norm. It’s what we live with every day. If there’s no context, then chapter 21 of Revelation is just another pie-in-the-sky, Mother Goose tale.

But, what episodes have been bypassed as we page to the end of the story? There are the four horsemen of the apocalypse who bring violence and imbalance and death on a global scale in chapter 5. There are the souls of the martyrs under the incense altar of heaven crying out for vengeance, and being told to wait. There are the three woes of chapter 8, followed by the trumpet angels as the boom of judgment is lowered upon the earth. In chapter 11, there are the two witness who faithfully proclaim their Lord, and then are put to death as God’s protection is seemingly taken away from them. There is the great beast and his inscription on the foreheads of the nations, and the great prostitute of Babylon who grows drunk on the blood of the martyrs, whose lies make the lies we hear and tell seem like pitiful rumors. And, don’t forget the angels and their bowls full of God’s wrath that are poured out on the earth.

The scenes of the chapters we’re bypassing are frightful to say the least. In fact, the disasters are global. The ecological disaster makes this week’s oil platform disaster look like a bath tub, and the destruction poured out makes what we consider monumental happenings to be mere Tinkertoys.

The truth is, before ascending to the pinnacle of good news, we need to descend fully into the pit of really bad news. It’s all around us, the pit of bad news. Think of the death and the crying and mourning and the pain. Christians continue to come to faith, only to be betrayed by those around them and then put to death because of their faith. Churches venture into places where they shouldn’t be, teaching and professing that which is contrary to what the Lord of the Church has taught. Disasters of global proportion are unleashed against unsuspecting populations and the gaps in economic imbalance rival the grand canyon.

But, then again, it’s always been this way. As I regularly tell Bible classes, we just have better media coverage today. History is full of the death and pain and crying and mourning and anguish, and there hasn’t been a generation that hasn’t wondered when it will all pass away. The natural reaction is to attack the pain, to make it go away and stop. But it doesn’t stop, and when one attack relieves a pain, a new one takes its place.

It’s like a symphony of anguish in which each day a new tune of pain is composed in which the day’s anguish is worst than the last. When will the symphony come to its finale? When will the last movement close?

It’s wrapped up here. The old heaven and the old earth, the ones we know with all of their imperfections, that bear the brokenness as a result of our sin, pass away. The sea, that great source of chaos for God’s people is gone. A new heaven and a new earth appear, with the sign of God’s grace: the heavenly Jerusalem. As God’s people had been given the assurance of His gracious presence through the ark of the covenant, now, with no temple needed, God dwells among His people in His holy city. The symphony of pain and anguish has had its last curtain call. In its place is the music of peace and triumph and safety and blessing.

And He who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” With the enemies of God’s people banished for all eternity, all things are restored to the way the true God had intended them – new.

Today, as we look forward to the fulfillment of God’s promises as we read in Revelation, we look backward to the historic event of our salvation, the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The cross colors all of our life, even the pain and the anguish we endure today. For, it is in the cross that all things are made new today in the forgiveness of sins as Christ exchanges His righteousness for us, and takes our sin and rebellion onto Himself. It’s at the cross that the very Lamb of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, offers up Himself as the very atoning sacrifice for all sin, and the empty tomb, His declaration is that His sacrifice is complete – there is nothing more to do.

It’s at the cross that all things are made new, and those who trust in Christ the crucified will enjoy the presence of almighty God in His holy city even as they receive His gifts of Word and Sacrament now. God the Father had the first word in creation also refused to let sin and death have the last word for His creation. Instead, the last word is Christ, and His answer was given at the cross: It is finished. The last word from our Lord is a word of life, and in this word of life, all things are made new by the triune God who possesses the power in Himself to be the first and last word. What a song of praise will respond!

But, even though these things are made new in forgiveness, we also know that Revelation 21 has the character of the now and the not yet. Yes, we experience the newness and restoration of forgiveness. God’s great gifts are showered upon us through Word and Sacrament and, by faith, we are confident of His grace and mercy today. We live in the now.

But we also know the frailty of our flesh and the world in which we live. We love the hymns and the assurances we receive this morning, but we also know we have to leave this place and go back out there where things are not merciful and our faith is challenged daily. We’d like to think things are really getting worse, but they’re not. It’s the way rebellious, sinful man has always been. We live in the not yet, awaiting the time when the heavenly Jerusalem will be fully realized. We still live in a world where the symphony of pain and anguish seems so loud. What will overpower it? What will keep us faithfully following?

In the book of Revelation, a song is begun in chapter 4 and reaches its fevered pitch in chapter 19. Do you hear it? It’s the song sung by the heavenly chorus of angels, joined by those who have gone before us in the faith and are awaiting the resurrection. Sometimes, when the symphony of pain and anguish get going, the song’s hard to hear, but it’s there. It’s still being sung. We hear it at our Lord’s table and as we go back to the promise of our baptism. We hear the song with every amen to every promise of God. There’s no title to the hymn, but often we give it one.

Do you hear the song – the song of the victory of the Lamb who was slain, the song proclaiming God to be worthy of all praise and honor? It’s the song of the faithful in Revelation 7 as they stand before the throne, the song sung as the great beast and the great prostitute of Babylon are destroyed. It’s the song we long to sing: the Distant Triumph Song – the song that grows a little louder each day as the reality of the heavenly Jerusalem and the dwelling place of God with men for all eternity grows nearer. In this Good Friday life, as we long for the eternal Easter season, as the symphony of pain and anguish seem almost insurmountable, our Lord brings us to faithfully follow the distant triumph song, even as He faithfully speaks to us and feeds us and strengthens us. Behold, He says, I am making all things new, and the day when it is done will indeed come. Amen.

Rev. Franke's Theme Thoughts

Easter 6, Series C May 9, 2010

Lessons for Sixth Sunday of Easter (Lutheran Service Book)

Acts 16:9-15 - Through a man in a vision, God called Paul to carry the Gospel to Philippi in Macedonia.
Psalm 67 (antiphon: v. 3)
Revelation 21:9-14, 21-27 - In the holy city Jerusalem, the people of God always enjoy His presence.
John 16:23-33 - Through Jesus, the believer always has access to the Father.
or John 5:1–9 - Jesus healed a paralyzed man at the pool of Bethesda simply by His command.

GATHERING THE TEXTS: God Shows His Love through His People.
Paul received a special vision from God calling him to take the message of God’s love in Christ to the people of Macedonia. Jesus explained to the disciples that through Him they could go directly to the Father for all their needs, because God provides all good things for His people, just as when He brought healing to the paralytic at the pool of Bethesda. In the Holy City, the heavenly Jerusalem, we won't need any reminders of God’s love, because we will be with him eternally.

PRAYER BEFORE THE SERVICE: Lord God, thank you for all the good things You give me every day, not just because I need them, but because they point me toward You and Your love. Thank You for mothers, who show Your love in their sacrifice and selfless love for their children. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit who keeps me trusting in Your gracious forgiveness through Jesus' death and resurrection so that I may share the peace You have given me in this world and be confident of Your promise of the world to come. Amen.

STEWARDSHIP THOUGHT: God has blessed us with material things so that we may use them to bring greater blessings to our neighbors by using these gifts to point people to God’s surpassing love in Christ.

OFFERING PRAYER: Lord, You have set Your people free
From sin and death and misery.
Grant us the will to spread Your love
By what we do with all we have.

CONVICTION AND COMFORT: How often are we called, through or without a vision, to ‘come over and help’ someone with the love and gospel of Christ, but we find other things to do? How many Lydia’s never have their hearts opened to the Lord because we do not respond when God is setting us up to be the answer to someone’s prayer? Yet God in His grace has opened the gate of heaven to us through the blood of the Lamb! He gives us many opportunities to share His love by helping those who are waiting at the edge of Bethesda in their lives.