QUODLIBET

St. John 3:14-21

The account of Israel going into the desert in order to finally reside in the holy land of promise is, ultimately, about the church. This greater theme weaves in and out of the Bible and even shows itself in the book of Revelation. We call it the journey, or, in Greek, the odos.

It is a journey that is not without struggle. Hidden under the surface of going to the land of Canaan are the characteristics of faith, hope, and love. Struggle must accompany hope and love—and the Israelites certainly had their share. Hardships bring us out of ourselves and help us to become one body. Hardships also lead us to look forward to what is to come. Christian faith is not only looking back at what happened in the past. Nor do we just look upward to heaven. Faith, hope, and love also look ahead to God’s hour of judgment, or, justice.

There is a final goal up ahead. This brings character and meaning to the journey. But we must realize that in order to get to the hour of God’s justice we must press on toward the goal. Faith and hope understand this. Love embraces it. We see in Israel’s journey that the desert caused great pause….a pause that nearly destroyed. They came to the desert where there was no food and no water. Hardships caused them to turn inward on themselves as they grieved over their own death. Love and hope left them because faith in God had departed from among them.

A result of their lack of faith led God to send the fiery serpents and they started to perish from the deadly snake bites. Death came because faith, hope, and love had left them. Their subsequent hardship, the deadly, venomous snake bites, had the blessed effect of reawakening faith. They cried to Moses, God’s servant to help them. They recognized their sin. God, in His mercy, commanded Moses to put a bronze serpent on a pole that the people were to look at and if they looked at it after they had been bitten, they would live. Faith in God’s promise was being restored in the desert, in the midst of hardship.

The gospel shows the Father’s grace, for Jesus uses the account of the serpent to speak of His own suffering and death on the cross for the life of the world. It is of God’s character for mercy to enter into the midst of hardship. But salvation, while applied to the individual, is not solely about the individual. It is also not solely about forgiveness, but it entails the notion of journeying to the destination. We often hear the words of absolution and stop there and remain in a static position. This is faith, but along with faith is hope and love, as St. Paul says.

St. Paul even goes on to say “the greatest of these is love.” This is no human love. It is agape, a divine love. It is a love that God plants into His people. This love pulls us out of our individualistic tendencies. Agape love lives and breathes in the midst of struggle and hardship. It connects us together, removing individualism and molds us together as the body of Christ. This dynamic runs in the midst of Jesus’ words about His crucifixion.

Jesus talks about His death and saving the world from sin, but the lesser known verses of this gospel follow: “But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God”(St. John 3:21). These are deeds that Jesus says will be done if we dwell in the light. In other words, if we have faith and look to the cross of Christ in order to be healed by the deadly bite of Satan, that wicked serpent, then our lives will bear out this reality of faith, hope, and love.

But do our lives show this? Do we stop at faith and forsake hope and love? This is dangerous, and it is a problem of epidemic proportions in our churches. We understand that Jesus died for our personal sins, but we fail to understand the greater hardship—we fail to understand the Christian journey. When this happens, people sometimes lose faith in God. This is when people become like the Israelites in the desert and lose sight of God. This problem breeds atheists. “Why do bad things happen?” “Would a just God allow hardship?”, we say.

Hardships for God’s people create hope in the hour of Christ’s judgment. Judgment, biblically speaking, is a blessed end for the church. Mishpat is a judgment that carries with it God’s loving umbrella of protection over His people. We yearn for this protection and conclusion. Jesus, in speaking of His second coming, says, “your redemption is drawing near”(St. Luke 21:28). Hardship breeds love. We leave our own individualism and share with each other through love. We share joys, sorrows, difficulties and we grow together in hope and faith. This is a necessary outgrowth of Christ’s atonement.

Christ’s suffering and death, His being lifted up for all to see, brings this deeper gift. Jesus died for your sins that you committed today, but His death paves the way for the journey to the hour of His redemption. Israel stood at the doorway looking into that vast desert. When they saw the ominous desert they lost faith and hope and so love faltered. Faith should have built an altar and then looked to God and His servant Moses in order that hope may grow and love may increase in the struggle. But the people remained individuals and looked to their own stomachs and grieved over their own loss.

Christ’s cross brings us out of this, and we see this in the book of Revelation. In chapter 5 St. John tells us of seven seals that were to be opened. Only Jesus could open those seals. Then Jesus opens them one by one. Each one brings hardship on the earth in the form of plagues, famines, and even death. But it pauses after the sixth seal is opened. Then an entire chapter is devoted to the worship and liturgy of God’s church who is gathered around the Lord’s throne singing, blessing, praising and singing their devotion to Christ—in the midst of all that is taking place. After this liturgical worship took place in chapter seven, then the seventh seal is opened. In the midst of the trials and chances of life, Christ’s church gathers, prays, and looks to Jesus on the altar in the Lord’s Supper.

There is something not quite so apparent in all of this, if only Israel had understood……if only we would understand. Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross brings faith, hope, and love to a dying and sinful world that wants to think only about the here and now. Jesus’ death is victory for you over your sins but so much more. Jesus’ death and resurrection is His act of drawing you out of this world—out of hurt, out of sadness, out of death. As Jesus said, this same Son of Man shall come in a cloud with power and great glory…..in this you shall find that your redemption draws near.

Hence, the hurt that you face and experience cannot destroy you. The difficulties of this world are of the world, but Jesus will draw you further away from sin, as He draws you further into Him, in the body of Christ. What does all of this mean for His church? Well, if you notice, we gather around this altar each week. The church gathers her prayers at the altar. The church comes together as one in order that she may grow in faith, looking to the cross. The church comes in hope as she journeys with Christ through this world.

She unites together in love and cares for all. Christians lose their individuality in order to become a part of something greater, the body of Christ that looks to the redemption of Christ that is drawing near. We look like the church in Revelation. The world rages. Troubles continue, but in the midst of the quiet of the church we hear the voice of Christ that promises salvation, brings hope, and plants divine love in our midst.

This is the Lenten journey that continues on throughout our lives. You do not abide alone in this world, but you have the Lord of heaven that dwells with you. You also rest in the midst of the body of Christ who shares with you, and the end of the journey is set and promised to be one of victory for you because the Son of Man was lifted up for the salvation of all! Amen. 


Pastor Chad D. Kendall
4th Sunday in Lent, 2012

It is the first conversation I have when a couple wants to get married—Are you living together? A realistic figure is 3 out of 5 couples that come to me wanting to get married are living together outside of marriage. Living together assumes that there is sexual intercourse. Same house; same bed; same everything. St. Paul is quite clear: Those who practice fornication shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Read Galatians 5:19-21) St. Paul is more brazen in 1 Corinthians 6:9 “Don’t you know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind.” The Sixth Commandment is clear: “You shall not commit adultery.” This is very straight-forward—no sex outside of marriage.

Living together and sex outside of marriage may seem normal because it is so prevalent in the world, but do not be deceived. Hell is the price for such unrepentant living. I must admit that I am amazed at the number of Lutherans that seem to be practicing this sort of lifestyle…and then I ask where are the Lutheran parents when they are supposed to be leading these young people spiritually? And people always have their excuses for justifying this lifestyle—money, family strife, no place to live, etc. The Scriptures are quite clear. The Holy Scriptures forbid such practice, which comes to my policy: the churchly and biblical way. If a man and a woman are living together I give them two options: Either find separate dwellings and abstain from sexual relations until the wedding day or get married very quickly after confession and absolution. If a couple refuses either of the two options, then I will not marry them. To do so would be to suggest that God gives His blessing to such an ungodly lifestyle. This I cannot do. More than that, I will not give them communion until there has been repentance and absolution, and an amendment of life. It is this simple.

For those who wonder if I am consistent—Yes, I am consistent. If two people are living together and coming to the altar to receive the sacrament then that means that I don’t know about their living arrangement. As soon as I find out, then they hear from me and I have the same conversation I have with everyone. Why do I do this? I am not trying to wait for people to slip up. The pastoral ministry is such that the pastor is put in a church to care for the souls of God’s people. He does what every good shepherd does: if one starts to stray, he goes and retrieves them. The pastor will someday have to give an account to God for the way he shepherded God’s people. So, my stance is an attempt to call people back to God…to call them to repentance and to find the mercy and forgiveness of Christ.

We cannot play fast and loose with God’s word. The commandments are not suggestions. They are commandments! The best example of how a man and a woman should behave is how God brings Adam and Eve together. When God forms Eve from the rib of Adam, Adam doesn’t see this beautiful woman, seize her and say “She’s mine” and then have intercourse! Adam waits until God brings Eve to him. “And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made woman, and brought her to the man”(Genesis 2:22). This is the perfect example of a biblical marriage. God brings the bride to the groom, signifying that the groom receives the consent of God. Nothing happens before this occurs (This is seen in the father of the bride walking her down the aisle—the father being the representative of Christ for her good.) St. Paul tells us the purpose of the Christian’s body: “Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body”(1 Corinthians 6:13).

For those who are guilty of such a sin, let me say that the Lord is gracious and forgives all who repent and amend their sinful lies. But be not deceived, God does not condone such behavior….and neither will this pastor who serves the Lord. Let us order our days in the Lord. “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

+Pastor Kendall

St. John 1:43-51

Scriptural truths are deeper than what we see on the surface. Sure, the gospel is clear: Christ came to save sinners. If we are named through the gospel and hear of God’s favor toward us, it is in the details that we learn about our new state in Christ. Nathanael is no different.

He sits under the fig tree and we are led to think about fig leaves in the Old Testament. Adam and Eve used fig leaves to cover their shame after their fall into sin, yet God called for them. Nathanael sits under a fig tree and while he did not detect God, it was Jesus who said “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” God sees sinners and comes to them.

The Old Testament helps us to understand the gospel. We think of Jacob who wrestled in the womb with Esau. Jacob grabs on to the heel of Esau and marks out the fate of the brothers: Jacob would steal Esau’s birthright and live up to his name Jacob, “supplanter.” It was Jacob’s way to wrestle and struggle and we find in Genesis that Jacob wrestles with God and seems to be winning in the wrestling match and asks God His name. Instead, God gives Jacob a new name, Israel: “to persevere with God.”

Jacob’s life and the events in his life give great meaning to the account between Jesus and Nathanael. Nathanael detected God through Christ’s preaching. Jacob detected God through prophecy. God found them, blessed them, and gave meaning to their lives. Nathanael was commended for his faith and Jacob was commended for his faith. But does the Lord commend you for the life that you live?

The life lived in Christ is so often missed by we Lutherans. We talk about doctrine, we talk about justification, we talk about sin and grace, but we don’t love each other. We do not understand mercy and compassion. The reason is pride, a great vice. You don’t know how to love because you are more concerned about your own reputation—you are more concerned about people respecting you and thinking you are something special.

As a result, selfless compassion is missing. Instead of mercy winning the day amongst us, judgment, anger, and discord prevail. Instead of giving, it is taking that rules. Instead of love, there is hate and disdain. What is the root? Pride and dishonesty—an unwillingness to admit that we are not all that great. We are not as important as we would like to think we are. What is needed in order to be a Christian? Honesty; faith; humility. You must face yourself and come to the realization that you are not the person you portray yourself to be. Behind pride lies fear: fear of losing, fear of being found out. We should strive to be more like Nathanael whose concern was the holy scriptures. But left to ourselves, we are to be pitied for our sins and failures.

It is comforting to see with Jacob and Nathanael that it is God who sees sinners. Jacob goes to the place that would later be called Bethel, “house of God,” and he takes some stones and makes a place to lie down. As he sleeps, Jacob has a dream of angels ascending and descending from heaven to earth and back to heaven. God speaks to Jacob and promises the land and promises that He will remain with Jacob. Jacob wakes up and says, “Surely the Lord is in this place; and I did not know it”(Genesis 28:16).

Jacob even remarked with fear, “How dreadful is this place! This is none other than the house of God and this is the gate of heaven”(Genesis 28:17). But do we listen to God when He tells us where we are to find him? For we have clear teachings from Christ Himself to gather in the Divine Service and listen to the pastor’s preaching and teaching as from God Himself. When the pastor preaches and teaches, this is not just one man’s opinion but the very proclamation of God. And do we recognize that Christ comes to us in the Divine Service in the sacrament of Christ’s body and blood?

Our Lord desires that we would listen to His word, be honest about who we are and how much we need Jesus and in simplicity of mind and heart look at the gifts God has given us with fear, awe, and faith—that our lives may be enveloped with God’s divine love. God sees you and calls you because He loves you. God desires that you would not just receive His love but live in it. Let it wrap your entire life and your whole being, that you may find His goodness for you in this life.

Lutheranism isn’t only concerned with defending the Lutheran doctrine and then moving forward to live lives of selfish pride and ambition. It is about seeing God and having His truth revealed to you in your lives, giving your life true meaning and definition: Lutheranism is about seeing the scriptures fulfilled in our midst—in absolution, Christ’s presence among us in Word and Sacrament, and the comfort of the Holy Spirit. Nathanael understood. Nathanael was puzzled by Philip’s statement that the Messiah was Jesus of *Nazareth.* Nathanael knew the Old Testament. He knew what Micah said, ie. that the Messiah would come out of Bethlehem.

So we hear the gospel in the exchange between the man under the fig tree and Jesus. Jesus describes Nathanael and says “Behold an Israelite in whom is no deceit.” Nathanael is honest—honest about himself and scripture and the ways of finding God. Because of this honesty that bears itself out in his confession and life, Nathanael is called an Israelite—just as Jacob was renamed Israel, so too, Nathanael is described as an Israelite, “one who perseveres with God,” for Nathanael persevered with God by clinging to the Holy Scriptures.

It is Nathanael’s striking confession “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel” that comes as a result of Christ’s sight on His children even when He is undetected. Then we hear it: Jesus exclaims that Nathanael, as with Jacob, will see angels ascending and descending not upon the land of Bethel but upon the Son of Man. It is this sort of thing that will bring out of God’s people Jacob’s words, “Surely the Lord is in this place.” Jesus is the Lord—God in the flesh.

God saw you just as He saw Nathanael. On His cross, Jesus saw you. On His cross, Jesus died for you. Christ saw you in giving the church the word and sacraments, too. It is here that we see God coming down from heaven to come to us under the bread and wine, that He may forgive us and love us. Thereby He shows us what love is and how fruitful it is to be honest about ourselves rather than deceitful. It is here in this Divine Service as we prepare to receive the blessed sacrament for our salvation that we say in accordance with the prophets, “Surely the Lord is in this place”…”for the gate of heaven is opened to us.” Amen.

Pastor Chad D. Kendall
Epiphany 2, 2012

Have you ever wished that your life was more a reflection of Christ’s love and holiness? So often our lives seem to be more a reflection of sin. Then, to top it all off, Lutherans have this inbred fear of “good works.” So, at best, we may come to the Lord asking for forgiveness for not showing forth Christ’s love and holiness…but this is so often where we stop.

St. Paul does talk about the life lived in Christ, though. If we were to pay closer attention, we would see that “good works,” biblically speaking, are not man’s contrivances to appease God, but that good works spring forth from the salvation Jesus gives us. For example, St. Paul mentions the phrase “in Christ” many times. He speaks of the apostolic and pastoral office as “in the sight of God we speak in Christ”(2 Cor. 2:17). Then St. Paul speaks of the church: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them”(Ephesians 2:10). Notice that Paul says that we were created in Christ Jesus.

St. Paul goes on to discuss how it is that we come to be in Christ. The apostle discusses the mystery of Christ revealed through the apostles and prophets (think Holy Scriptures). He says, “This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel”(Ephesians 3:6). So, here is how we come to be in Christ. It is through the gospel; through the scriptures; through the sacraments.

Why does St. Paul encourage the pastor, Titus, to teach his people about good works? He tells Titus, “The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people”(Titus 3:8). Notice that the good works are not profitable for the person doing the good works. Rather it is profitable for “people,” the recipients. St. Paul talks about being in Christ in a more colorful way to the Corinthians. St. Paul says, “But thanks be to God who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance of life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?”(2 Cor. 2:14-17).

Now if you think according to most mission paradigms, you will immediately feel overwhelmed. Don’t feel that way. Good works are not meant to be a burden. Christ did not save us from the burden of the law only to kill us again? Rather, think about your vocations in life. Think about your vocations of being husband, wife, parent, friend, brother, sister, etc. Christ saved you. Simply start by showing the fragrance of Christ to your children. The fragrance of Christ will pass in your parental, Christian instruction from your children to the children they will someday raise. It is a simple concept. Eyes fixed on Jesus, prayers coming forth from the altar, and faithfully receiving the blessed sacrament, you will be filled with Christ’s love and it will flow from you by way of the Holy Spirit. The gospel good works of the Spirit are a pleasure and a joy when our eyes are fixed on the cross as we rest in Christ.

Pastor Chad D. Kendall

This is my best recollection of what I preached on Sunday….I did not use a manuscript but thought I would try to put down what I said. Blessed Christmastide!!! +cdk

+ + +
Dread accompanies the steps of God’s people so often in the Old Testament. Moses gets so upset over the problems with the Israelites that he is willing for God to take his life. On the flip side, the people of Israel had fear and dread over the problems on the journey to freedom….to the point that they wanted to return to the horrible conditions of slavery in Egypt. Elijah despairs and wants God to kill him because of his fear over isolation and the attack of Jezebel. Cain was afraid that he would die because of his act of murder against his brother, Abel.

This fear and trepidation often follows one down the road of life. Am I going this alone? Is God real? Is He, really? How do I know? Moses was afraid of the journey ahead, too. What is up ahead that I cannot see? God tells Moses that He will, in fact, lead them out to the land flowing with milk and honey, but Moses is nervous. So, Moses says, “Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people”(Exodus 33:13). The real point to it all in Moses’ mind unfolds in the chapter. God says to Moses, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest”(vs. 14)

This should be enough for all of us, but our thoughts are echoed by Moses’ question followed by a request: “For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us?” “How will it be known that we have found grace in your sight?” Moses asks a sincere question….one that we often ask in our lives. Then Moses proceeds with the request: “Please, show me Your glory.” What is Moses saying? He wants to see the face of God….do not we all want to the see the face of God? It is what we desire. We think that if we could see God’s face, then somehow faith and life will be simpler than it is.

What is the Lord’s response? Then He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.” Sinners cannot behold the Lord’s glory and live. When God’s glorious presence comes forth, anything that is imperfect, sinful, or impure cannot remain…..it will burn up and be consumed by God’s holy and perfect glory. So, God responds to Moses’ request:

And the LORD said, “Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.”

If only we had faith that could move mountains, but we need to see God’s face, too. Our journey is such that it seems as though God is often silent. It is in times like these when we start to wonder—is God real? Do I abide in Christ? And then we sin. When we sin, God seems to be silent and so we start to question His existence in our lives and abroad. Then we sin again. The stains of our own troubles hit us. Psalm 50 sends us this warning: “These things you have done, and I kept silent;You thought that I was altogether like you;

But I will rebuke you, and set them in order before your eyes”(Psalm 50:21).
We would do well to pay attention and keep from falling into the trap by concluding that God doesn’t see our sins. Repent of your sins. Seek the Lord where He is to be found, for the Lord wants to be found. The desire to see God’s face as Moses desired goes in the same way of the Christmas account as St. John delivers it: “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us…” The Lord did not want us to live in dread any longer. God hid His glory with our flesh and comes into the world in order to save us. God’s face shines in the darkness and illumines the whole world and He promises to go before us with His cross and He will give to us much grace, just as the Lord promised Moses.

But, I know what you are thinking. You are thinking, “This is great, Pastor….all this face of God stuff, but I can’t see God’s face right now to help me for the road ahead. What can we make of this for our lives, Pastor?” This is something to ponder. It is not without significance that Jesus, in His mercy, instituted the Lord’s Supper on the night of His betrayal. Jesus said, “take, eat, this is my body…take drink, this is my blood….this do in remembrance of me.” Jesus gave you the Lord’s Supper, which signified His grace and presence with you on the journey.

One of these days, you are going to see me lift up the cup and the bread just after consecration. This is not because we idolize them in any way. Rather, this is Jesus under the bread and under the wine and you are to remember that this is Jesus’ sign to you that His grace goes before you. In the cup you should see the manger scene and the crucifixion scene. In the cup is God’s salvation, forgiveness, and mercy for you. It is a sign of God’s love for you and in it is the statement that your redemption draws near…..you are holy….we behold Jesus in our midst….thanks be to our Lord’s great mercy upon sinners. Amen.

Pastor Chad D. Kendall
The Feast of the Nativity, 2011

St. Matthew 1:18-25

God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds….(Hebrews 1:1-2). We have the privilege and honor of musing into the deep revelation of God’s love for mankind this night.

Candles lit amidst the quiet darkness on a most awe-inspiring night, we pause to hear the account of God’s love for a fallen world. What makes this such a special night? Most of the world doesn’t participate in this. Most of the western world has at least heard of Jesus, but most of the world hasn’t any true understanding of why God came in the flesh on that night.

It is joyous preaching, because, as Hebrews 2 says, “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil…For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham”(Hebrews 2:14, 16).

God becomes like you and me….now that is some preaching to ponder. But, here is the difficult reality that we human beings face today: While most Americans consider the Bible to be a sacred book and understand the content of the Bible to convey wisdom, most people do not believe that the Holy Scriptures bring meaning and change to the lives of those who hear and study it.

While the image of the babe in the manger with Mary and Joseph on each side may be the prominent image this season, most people do not connect how the reality of this image defines and impacts their lives. This isn’t a problem that only exists out there in the world. This problem is real and exists in Christian churches….in our very lives.

Humanity does not understand the impact that the incarnation and birth of the Son of God has for the world. The psalmist declares this problem and Hebrews 2 expands upon it: “What is man that You are mindful of him? or the son of man, that You visit him?”(Psalm 8:4; Hebrews 2:6).

With candles aglow the church ponders how it is that Jesus’ visitation upon His people in the flesh is such that He goes to work to fix creation. The eternal God, who is to be honored and worshipped, comes not in a palace, not even in an inn, but is born in a lowly stable, thereby demonstrating for us the nature of His visitation.

Jesus came because of sin. Jesus came because of our dark sins. Just as the babe was born in the stable in the darkness of night, we see the state of the world through this timely occurrence. Our paths were darkened by our sin….by our failures….by the hatred, envy, lust, and selfishness of sinful life, which your lives bear out. These dark stains that have marred our lives stand to accuse us, and we wish to hide them.

But, alas, we cannot. If we could remove our sins, hide them away so that no one, not even God, could see them, then there would be no need to have God visit us in the flesh to save us. The author of Hebrews rightly acknowledges humanity’s need to pay attention to this miraculous and wonderful event of God taking on flesh in Bethlehem: “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation; which at first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by them that heard him”(Hebrews 2:3).

The external cause of God taking on flesh and dwelling among us is our extreme wretchedness, but the internal cause is God’s inexpressible love and mercy for us all. The beauty of the birth of Jesus as Mary and Joseph witnessed is such that God came in the flesh to take all of your sins, even those deep, dark, unthinkable sins and removes them from you. You are free. The cords that have left you tied up and bound are cut off and thrown away.

Jesus is the light that shines in the dark world as the events surrounding His birth bear out for us: His lowly birth in a stable, in the dark of night, with no kingly feasts, no princely robes, no palace to protect Him is the very statement of your own reversal. He who should be glorified is humbled….in order that you who are humbled shall be lifted up.

It is with great importance that we also remember that this sacred account, all of these sacred accounts of God’s hand in this world are meant to bring meaning to your life. The historical account of the birth of Christ is not just an isolated occurrence that happened as something merely for the history books….this virgin birth of Jesus enters your life and your world, bringing change and definition to you and your life.

This is an account, a happening, a recollection that brings blessings unseen. God comes to you, heals, forgives and strengthens you. The cords of sin are undone and all the world goes from darkness to light. Eternal death and hell which was to be the end of all the world has now been reversed by God’s inexpressible love for His creation.

So, let us light our candles and ponder this eternal and lovely light that has come to make its home with us through the gospel. This Jesus who visited us and died for us, now lives that we may live. The holy angels sing and we give chorus with them, for our gracious Lord has come to save us. Amen.

Pastor Chad D. Kendall
The Vigil of Christmas, 2011

St. Luke 1:26-38

Isaac was told by God to leave Canaan because there was a famine in the land.  Isaac was to enter a foreign land called Gerar.  God said to Isaac, “I will be with you and bless you,” and indeed, He did.  Isaac farmed a crop that produced a hundredfold yield, while the people who lived in Gerar saw only average yields.

In addition, Isaac grew visibly stronger.  His flocks prospered, he amassed more servants.  The Philistines, looking on, grew jealous of Isaac and filled in the  water wells that had been Abraham’s wells in the past.  In the midst of the struggles, God came to Isaac, again.  God said, “I am the God of Abraham your father: fear not, for I am with you, and will bless you, and multiply your seed for my servant Abraham’s sake”(Genesis 26:24).

Earlier,  the ruler, Abimelech had sent Isaac away from him for fear of him.  Seeing Isaac’s prosperity, Abimelech came to Isaac and said, “We saw certainly that the Lord was with you….let us make a covenant”(Genesis 26:28).  Abimelech feared the growing power of Isaac and wanted a promise of protection.  Abimelech even said: “You are now the blessed of the Lord.”  To be sure, Isaac was the Lord’s servant, and the point of it all is neatly tucked away in God’s promise to Isaac: “fear not, for I am with you, and will bless you, and multiply your seed for my servant Abraham’s sake”(Genesis 26:24).

Isaac was to become great because of the promise given to Abraham: “And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed”(Genesis 23:18).  Much can be said about this promise and about the words spoken by the angel Gabriel to the virgin.  As was done with Isaac, we hear those familiar words that another servant of God shall be blessed: “Hail, you who are highly favored, the Lord is with you: blessed are you among women”(St. Luke 1:28).  Why is Mary highly favored? Why is the Lord with her? Why is she blessed among women? Certainly, it is for Abraham’s sake…and for ours…in this seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.  It is precisely this realization that was processing in Mary’s mind that caused her such trouble.  

It is no light or insignificant thing to be told “The Lord is with you.”  When God conveys to people that they shall be blessed by Him, then enters divine love and protection.  It is as if God’s hand descends from heaven to touch His people with His love.  “The Lord be with you….and with thy spirit” in the liturgy follows suit in conveying the Lord’s hand which touches and rests upon His people.  We say this to one another twice in the Divine Service.  

It is said just before the collect, or, prayer of the day.  In the collect the church prays for God’s hand in her life, and God’s response follows in the reading of the holy scriptures.  Then, the same thing is said in the service of the sacrament: “The Lord be with you…and with thy spirit.”  The church seeks God’s face and His indwelling among His church, and Christ answers in the words of institution as the sacrament is consecrated.

But do you discern God’s hand in your lives? I say “The Lord be with you”, Christ’s blessing upon you.  But do you perceive His voice in the scriptures? On Sunday, do you wake up eager to come and hear those words for your life? Do you believe those words? Or do you live your life in frustration and anger at others? Do you feel as though you must take matters into your own hands to get what you need for life? 

Do you cheat others to get ahead? Do you attempt to hurt the reputations of others in order to gain an advantage in life’s situations? Are you unsatisfied with what God has given you and therefore proceed to lust for things or people who have not been given to you by the Lord? Do you fully and unconditionally trust God to provide and care for everything in your life? All of these problems are a lack of faith and trust in Christ to do what He promises. 

We ought not ignore nor make light of the declaration that “The Lord be with you,” nor ought we doubt such a declaration from God.  You should give serious contemplation to this—the Lord loves you to the point that He descends from heaven to bless you in word and sacrament.  A similar declaration is given by a prophet to Asa in 2 Chronicles 15, but it comes with a warning: “The Lord is with you, while you are with Him; and if you seek Him, he will be found in you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you”(2 Chronicles 15:2).

Herein lies the warning for the New Testament church.  Abide where Christ abides and Christ will abide in you.  Where does Christ promise to abide—but in the holy gospel and the precious sacrament.  Do not forsake word and sacrament.  We forsake these gifts by our neglect to come to Divine Service to receive.  This is a serious sin.  We also forsake these gifts by not discerning Christ’s presence in word and sacrament for us.  St. Paul speaks similarly concerning the sacrament: “For he that eats and drinks unworthily, eats and drinks damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body”(1 Cor. 11:29).

Mary’s concern prompts a response by Gabriel: “Fear not, Mary: for you have found favor with God.”  She hears absolution.  In her unworthiness and faith, Mary hears from God’s servant that the Lord will be with her, and, with great irony, her worthiness before God is because of the promise of Abraham’s seed to shed His blood for the sins of the world. Your unworthiness is cleansed by the precious blood of Jesus.  In spite of ourselves, Christ’s hand descends to us.  Christ uses the pastor’s mouth to convey to you God’s love: “The Lord be with you.” 

The Lord is with you.  While you dwell in a world that doesn’t understand the ways of Christ, you are lifted up in front of your enemies and, like Isaac, your table of Christ’s riches is set.  Your blessing is the richness of God’s forgiveness and holiness.  As Jesus forgives, he also shapes and molds you, making you what the world doesn’t understand.  You become rich in the things of Christ.  Sins are forgiven, your wounds that the world gives to you are bandaged up by Jesus, and you are given a peace that is not understood by the world.  “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”  

  Mary, Zechariah, Simeon, Anna, and all the church become new and distinct in this world, and we respond to “The Lord be with you” with “And with thy spirit.”: We declare the reality in and amongst us.  You have the precious marking of the cross upon you as you journey through this life.  You are Christ’s saints.  You are clothed with distinct and precious garments—you are a new creation and sojourners in this world, walking with the unique fragrance of Christ that recalls things of old and promises holy love for the future.  Your life is defined by Christ’s blood that covers you.  Amen.  

Pastor Chad D. Kendall

4th Sunday in Advent, 2011

St. John 1:6-8, 19-28; Isaiah 61

The prophet Ezekiel lived at the time that the powerful nation of Babylon ruled.  He watched Babylon take Israel into captivity.  Centuries of prophecy came to pass before Ezekiel’s very eyes.  In Ezekiel 8-11 God gave Ezekiel a vision of what was about to happen.  In chapter 9 the vision described six men (actually angels) who were to come bearing weapons to destroy.  God’s people in Israel had been following their emotions and their hearts.  

They worshipped false gods and yet they presumed to worship the true God in the Temple all at the same time.  There was another man among those six who was different than the rest.  This man was clothed with linen.  The linen reminds us of the clothing that the Old Testament priest would wear.  The priest, you may recall, was the one who did the sacrifices and stood as one who interceded on behalf of the people for their sins.  The priest was God’s mercy to the people.  This other angel was, too.  

This man(angel) in linen was a similar figure who stood to help God’s people.  In addition to the linen clothing, this man had something different from a weapon to destroy: this man had a scribal kit.  God told this angel to go throughout Jerusalem, and set a mark of ink upon the foreheads of the people that were sighing and crying for all the abominations that were being done among their people. 

The vision was to unfold in such a way that all those who had the mark on their foreheads would be spared and saved but those who did not have the mark would be killed by the other six angels.  Those in Jerusalem who were sighing and crying were those were those who lived lives of faith and repentance in the promised Messiah.  Those who died were those who were just going through the motions and playing the part of religion whose hearts were really far from God.

John the Baptist was a similar figure.  He was preaching in the desert and seeking people who were upset over their sin and the inherent evil in the world—he was calling all to see their sins and grieve over them.  If John was the forerunner to Jesus and Jesus would divide households and cities through His preaching, then certainly John was set as one who would divide those who merely “played the part” of religion over and against those who truly desired the holiness of God to cover them.

Such preaching leads us to ponder the need for Christian faith and devotion in our lives.  What exactly are we doing? What is the Advent season and why do we need it? Advent is a penitential season much like Lent, and we desperately need to reflect on our lives and our need for Jesus otherwise the feast of the nativity (Christmas Day) will not bear out its true meaning for us.  If you don’t believe in Jesus, then the rest of the discussion sort of stops.  But, we must come to grips with why we need to believe in Jesus.  

We have to examine our lives and Advent gives us opportunity to do this.  Law and Gospel preaching facilitates this, as well.  You and I have to look at what causes us pain and hurt in life.  Do the evil words and actions of others cause you pain? Do your own words and actions cause you grief? Do you ever look at your life and wonder how you will overcome your sins? Do you look at the pain that life and death bring to your life and wonder what it is all about? 

Sadness due to our sin, the sins of others, and the trials and chances of life all lead us to seek the face of God.  It is this process of repentance, hope, and faith that leads us to hear the voice of Christ in a way that bears forth the good words of love and mercy.  If you do not experience sadness and terror from your sins and this sinful world, then you are in danger.  St. Paul is quite clear to the Thessalonians in chapter 5.  “You yourselves know, perfectly that the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night.  For when they shall say peace and safety; then sudden destruction comes upon them, as travail upon a woman in labor; and they shall not escape.”  Paul is warning us about soft preaching that never convicts the heart of its sin…

John the Baptist’s preaching was tough but it saved some; Jesus was brutally honest and some didn’t like Him for it.  But, as we ponder all of this, one can hardly help but think of Genesis 18:20-33, where Abraham appeals to God’s character as a God who would not indiscriminately destroy the righteous along with the wicked, no matter how few in number the righteous may be.  

When God’s judgment strikes, He is also merciful and lovingly cares for those who cling to Him in faith.  We see this in Ezekiel’s vision.  There are those who loved the Lord even when Israel was crumbling due to spiritual decay.  In Ezekiel’s vision is the promise and the encouragement for us to watch the signs of the world in which we live.  We are not to allow ourselves to fall prey to the godless form and practice of the society in which we live.  Repent.

The mark on the forehead is God’s holy absolution for a repentant heart that clings to Christ.  The mark on the forehead is Christ’s baptism, and the pastor makes the sign of the cross on the forehead and the heart to mark you as one redeemed by Christ the crucified.  In such preaching and in the mark of Christ upon the forehead do we find God’s great mercy for us.  Jesus comes to us—He seals and protects what is now His—your heart and your mind.  

All of this talk of looking at our sins and the sinful world and our terror and sadness from what we see leads you to be the recipients of Isaiah’s words in chapter 61.  Jesus is the one who preaches good tidings to the meek.  Jesus has been sent to bind up the broken hearted.  Those who sighed and cried in Jerusalem in Ezekiel’s day are the broken hearted whose wounds and pains are bound up and healed.  Those who come today to the Lord’s altar bearing the pains of sin and the grief of life find in Jesus the One who opens these prisons that close us off.  In Jesus is your peace.  All the obstacles to believing in Jesus and trusting in Him are removed by Jesus through His water and word seal placed upon your foreheads.  Jesus forgives you.    

Your sins that repeat themselves and cause you sadness are removed.  Jesus forgives you.  Jesus is the God who heals your and removes your sins and then He proceeds to fill you with His love, which brings faith, hope, and worship.  Christ is your strength and your Savior.  He has busted the gates of hell, to be sure.  You are His holy children sealed by His blood in holy baptism.  

He is also your strength and He who comforts all who mourn and struggle.  His love pervades our lives and infiltrates every aspect of our existence.  He shall continue to grant you what you need on this journey with Him—love and faith, protection and peace.  Jesus abides with you now and shall always be with His children who have the seal upon the forehead marking you as His blessed holy ones.  Amen.    

Pastor Chad D. Kendall

3rd Sunday in Advent, 2011