“Endure” Hebrews 12.1-2 Natl. Lutheran Schools Week Jan. ‘25

1.      Please pray with me. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts, be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, our Rock, and our Redeemer. Amen. The message from God’s Word on this National Lutheran Schools Week is taken from Hebrews 12:1-2, it’s entitled, “Endure,” dear brothers and sisters in Christ.

2.      Have any of you ever run a race? Maybe you have run a 5K race, or maybe you’ve seen a parent, family member or friend run a long race, like a marathon. If you’ve ever run a race, chances are you’ve gotten tired at the end. Your legs start to ache, your mouth longs for water — you get the picture. In fact, my wife remembers one cross country race she ran in High School. She was running up a very big hill and her legs and feet were beginning to feel like lead weights. She was really struggling to make it up the hill. Her now sainted mother yelled out, “walk if you must.” Her mother meant well, but I think we can all agree it’s more helpful to us when we are running a race for the crowd to shout out encouragement to us, calling us to endure and press on toward the finish line.

3.      In Hebrews 12:1–2, our text for National Lutheran Schools Week, the author of Hebrews uses this imagery of running a race when it comes to our life in Christ. Now, this isn’t just any type of race. The races mentioned earlier (5Ks, marathons, etc.) all have one clear winner who earns a medal for getting first. But the kind of race being described in Hebrews 12 is more like a race where you measure how fast you can run —“Let’s see if I can run a mile in seven minutes.” And the beautiful thing is that there’s not simply just one winner— multiple people are able to run this race and win by making the mark.

4.      The author of Hebrews encourages his readers (and us) to run this race with endurance. But what does that even mean, “to endure?” When preparing to run a race, athletes may go to the gym early in the morning, or they might go on long runs to help their body get used to running, a good pace, as well as preparing for stresses and obstacles that they might face. Endurance in the race means that nothing will stop you from reaching the mark. No matter how difficult the course is, no matter how tired you may feel, no matter what distractions are thrown your way, you will endure all of these things so you can finish the race.

5.      But what about running this race with respect to faith? How do you “endure” as a Christian? The author of Hebrews gives us the answer right here: by fixing our eyes on Jesus, the founder and perfector of our faith. Our “endurance” in this faith isn’t about anything we do ourselves —it’s all about what Christ does for us and the gifts He freely gives us. As we read, Christ is even the author of the race set before us — there is nothing set before you that He doesn’t know about or hasn’t experienced Himself.

6.      But, the world will try to distract you from running this race. Sin is always at hand. It is a great weight that cripples us. What are some of those things that can be obstacles for us? Not listening to your parents or other authorities, refusing to help your classmates, gossiping about others, being jealous of what others receive, lying to avoid getting in trouble, not wanting to go to church to hear about Jesus and receive His gifts. If we are honest with ourselves, we realize that there have been many things in this world (maybe tragedies, maybe even successes) that we have looked to and focused on instead of Jesus. We have all fallen short of what God expects of us. None of us deserve to finish this race, let alone run it. Instead, we deserve to be disqualified, separated from God for eternity.

7.      Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, thanks be to God that He doesn’t give us what we deserve. This is exactly why Jesus came into our world. Jesus came to run the race in our place — He is the one who endured all things for you. Be assured that there is nothing this day that you face, no matter how dark, scary or hopeless it seems, that Christ hasn’t faced Himself. Christ endured all, even dying a horrific death on a cross, because of His love for you. Because Christ loves you so much, He joyfully endured all of these things, because He knew how this race would end. He knew that in finishing the race, He won for you forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. Now, Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father, the victory is won, and He is with you in the ways that He has promised: in His Word and in His Sacraments.

8.      But, we are still running this race today. We haven’t reached the finish line yet. Know this, dear friends: you are not alone, no matter what obstacles you may face in this world. Be comforted today that your endurance doesn’t depend on you; endurance is all about Christ. In this life, you will be given more than you can handle on your own. The obstacles will be too great, the trials too strong. If it was up to us, we’d give up and quit.

9.      So then, what do we do? Remember the saints who faced trials that were too much for them? The prophet Elijah is one such saint. When he was in despair, Elijah was told that the journey was too great for him, and the Lord provided him with food and nourishment so that he could endure (1 Kings 19:7). Christ does the same with you today. He invites you to fix your eyes on Him. He has promised to give you everything you need for both body and soul. “What if I lose my best friend?”

Fix your eyes on Jesus. “What if my brother doesn’t get better from his sickness?” Fix your eyes on Jesus. “What if my parents keep on fighting at night?” Fix your eyes on Jesus. Bring all of your worries and all of your joys to Jesus, who inclines His ears to your every cry. Know this day that Jesus loves you so much, more than you can possibly imagine. He invites you to come to His holy house, the church, every week to receive His gifts: His Word, His absolution as you unload to Him the weight of your sins, His Baptism, that makes You His dear child. His gifts are the source of your endurance.

10.   What’s more, it is here, in His holy house, in the Divine Service, where the angels and archangels — the entire company of heaven — gather together at the Lord’s feast. Whenever you sing with your parents, guardians, family and friends gathered here physically in church, your voice joins with millions of others — the great cloud of witnesses — all of the faithful who now rest from their labors in Christ Jesus. You sing with all of the saints that have endured the trials and temptations of this life and have finished the race in Christ.

11.   Yes, these include saints like Elijah, Adam and Eve, King David, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the writer of Hebrews, and, closer to home, loved ones of yours who have died in the faith — maybe a grandma or grandpa, aunt or uncle, or even a mom, dad, baby sister or baby brother. All of these are included in this great cloud of witnesses, with whom you share eternal life.

12.   Be of good cheer today, dearly beloved, because Christ gives you His endless gifts to endure the race that has been set before you, a race that ends with eternal salvation in Christ your Savior. Amen. Now the peace of God that passes all understanding guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, until life everlasting. Amen.

 

“Life Shines in Darkness” John 1.1-14 Jan. ’25 Life Sunday

 

1.                Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Heavenly Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. The message from God’s Word on this Sanctity of Human Life Sunday is taken from John 1:1-14, it’s entitled, “Life Shines in Darkness,” dear brothers and sisters in Christ.

2.                 Life begins in darkness. Shadows fell over the deeps. But life only begins in darkness. At Northwestern University in 2016, researchers captured on camera proof that life shines in the darkness. They filmed fireworks marking the moment of fertilization. The instant that sperm meets egg membrane, zinc ions ignite and twinkle as a new embryo comes into being. Like the sun’s corona when the moon eclipses it, a halo radiates a galaxy of kindled flecks that flashbulb the otherwise obscured sphere –microscopic, of course, but nevertheless undeniable. And every human life features this flash of the Maker’s magic no matter the circumstances.

3.                Picture yourself on the other side of the bathroom door, locked and lying on the floor. Suppose you’re crumpled among a heap of paper wrappers, fine print inserts, and pregnancy sticks with little plus signs. Assaulted at the party and impregnated unwillingly, now throat knotted, eyes hot, guts twisting, spine quivering, fingers clenching. The anxiety of obligations overtakes the excitement of opportunities like a storm cloud. Reputation at risk, freedom and future in danger, success and sanity at stake, pulse pounds, doubts and debts mount. Baby daddy bullies you, your father yells at you, mom turns her back on you, even the doctor diagnoses deformity. Abandoned, ashamed, afraid, and what now?

4.                The shadow of death settled over the valley. And it blackens every bit as grim as you assume, black like Hagar the handmaid having Abraham’s illegitimate son, like Bathsheba bearing a baby not belonging to her husband. It gets black like Lot’s daughters when they got their father drunk and lay with the old man, like the adulteress laid bare before the stone throwers. It goes black like Mary knowing not a man and subject to public disrepute. The darkness has a name and it is sin. It goes by privacy, choice, or just abortion. But working darkness on the outside doesn’t remedy the darkness on the inside.  It doesn’t safeguard anyone. Weep for whatever you’ve done that led to it.

5.                Because a better rescue remains. There’s an answer for the darkness. Light always attends. Jesus, the Son of God came near, made like his brothers in every respect, form of a servant, and obedient unto death. With grace and forgiveness Jesus enters, driving away the dark by the eternal light of God. Jesus has died on the cross to forgive your guilt, and He’s returned from the dead so that your conscience has release. For those that but perceive it, life shines in the darkness. To live is Christ, and I will fear no evil for Thou art with me. His own special light creates life no matter what age, that all may have life unconditional.

6.                Behold the blessings, even on the other side of the bathroom door. You’re awaiting ultrasound pictures, first word and first step, snuggles and giggles. You’re anticipating birthday wishes and bedtime stories, tea parties and finger paintings, pillow forts and water fights. You’re at the threshold of wiping gameday sweat and drying homework tears, learning to drive and late-night heart-to-hearts. You’re appointed for graduation caps and wedding gowns,  “thank-you-mom”s. Life shines in the darkness.

7.                So, let’s face it head-on and not in fear. Put yourself behind the bedroom door, head hung low. You’re buried under collection letters and divorce papers, criticisms ringing in your ears. Screams gone silent and tears run dry. It’s brought you to your knees, but you can’t put a word together or hold a distinct thought intact to pray. Ready to make the haters pay, gaze at the blade to take your life. Desperate to take the pain away, you hold the gun in your hands. Who would listen? Who would miss you?

8.                There is One who would. Darkness settled over the whole land. Darkness covers the earth and thick darkness the peoples, the sixth hour until the ninth hour, then stretching into three days. The darkness has a name and it is death, devil, and hell. Some call it escape, ending it all, giving up, or just killing yourself, empty as any one of us in our own customary uncharity and jealousy. But wielding darkness on the outside won’t relieve the darkness on the inside. It doesn’t secure anything. Confess all you’ve loved that let it happen.

9.                Because a greater reversal remains. We have a cure to the darkness. The thick abyss does not invade on its own. Light ever ensues. It fits for sufferings not worth comparing with glory to be revealed, fits for divine intervention. Jesus, the eternal Word was made flesh, present and powerful, subject to weakness, sharing in the flesh and blood the same as the children. With compassion and mercy from above, Jesus engages, casting out the darkness by heavenly light of life. This Christ has died innocent as atonement for your sin, and He’s risen again so that your body and being have relief. There’s nobody the darkness doesn’t hunt, but there’s nobody the good Lord doesn’t shepherd. For all who but believe it, life shines in the darkness. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, neither death nor life nor things present nor things to come will separate us from His love. His own precious light redeems life into our kind regardless of appearance, that we may have life abundant.

10.             Catch sight of the gifts, even behind the bedroom door. You’re escape for the pressure, another knowing what you’re going through. You’re enlisting in shedding control and settling into trust, standing alongside and sitting with Jesus. Life shines in the darkness.

11.             Let’s face it down toe-to-toe and not flee. Place yourself beyond the back-room door, drifting between consciousness and confusion, mind too dim and mouth too dry to communicate. See you hooked up to ventilator and catheter, hemmed in by bed rails and monitor beeps. Layered under severe diagnoses and several drugs, medical specialists quit counting. Edema in extremities, abdominal nausea, and aching everywhere else, like an after-hours alleyway. Spoon-fed and sponge-bathed, like a dilapidated shack. Who’d live like this? Why not speed the process?

12.             Sun turned black and moon to blood. Cosmic powers spread this present darkness in the heavenly places. The Apostle Peter, now elderly, dressed by someone else and led where he didn’t want to go. It blemishes us like Job, bereft of everything dear and beset with terrible disease. It blights all like Cain or Naaman or Bartimaeus, even like Jesus Himself, disrobed and disfigured. The darkness, it has a name and it is wickedness, wrongdoing and lawbreaking and disobedience. You know it as end-of-life options, medical aid in dying, or death with dignity, menacing as every one of us in our own idolatry and blasphemy. But the darkness outside can’t heal the darkness inside. It doesn’t sustain anyhow. Repent anything you’ve become that left you here.

13.             Because a truer redemption remains. Here comes an authority over the darkness. The pitch black cannot occupy all by itself. Light inevitably removes it. It fits us for flesh that manifests Lamb of God sacrificing and arising, fits us for holy incarnation. Jesus our Immanuel gave Himself for us. Messiah Immanuel gave self, high priest carrying sicknesses and bearing our sorrows, able to sympathize and tempted as we are but without sin. With substitution from on high, Jesus embraces, pushing back the dark by the light of love. Your Jesus has died righteous in exchange for your soul, and He’s resurrected so that you very soon and evermore have rejoicing. There’s nothing that darkness doesn’t crush, but there’s nothing that the Lord God doesn’t hold on tight. For if we but receive it, life shines in the darkness. He is the resurrection and the life, who keeps whole spirit, soul, and body blameless at the coming of His kingdom. His own light calls life into every human being through whatever ability, that they may have life everlasting.

14.             Witness the privileges, even beyond the backroom door. You’re discovering concerns cast aside and distractions dismissed, singing to and praying with. You’re ordained into validating vulnerability and honoring them with your needs. You’re advancing toward family reunited and history relived, gripping hands and kissing foreheads, “I-love-you”s and community. Life shines in the darkness.

15.             Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness. Instead, expose them. We are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of God’s own possessing. And you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. They will see Jesus’ face, and His name will be on your foreheads. Night will be no more, and they will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. Amen. Now the peace of God that passes all understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, until life everlasting. Amen.