“Jesus Has ALL Authority” Matthew 28.16-20, Trinity Sunday June ‘20

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 as we celebrate the Rite of Confirmation at Christ Lutheran and also Trinity Sunday is taken from Matthew 28:16-20.  It’s entitled, “Jesus Has ALL Authority.”  The words Trinity and triune aren’t mentioned in Scripture, but the concept of our triune God is everywhere in evidence in God’s Word, maybe most succinctly in today’s Gospel lesson from Matthew 28.  Dear brothers and sisters in Christ.

2.                The Lord, who is with us, retains authority over us. His promise calls for trust and obedience.  In 1981, Jeffery Stout, a professor of religion and philosophy at Princeton University, published a book called The Flight from Authority. In it, he described a social and philosophical trend in western society. Collectively, he argued, we have been on a, “flight from authority,” for several centuries. In the Reformation, we fled the authority of the church. Under Rationalism, we ran from the authority of the Scriptures. With the Philosopher Immanuel Kant, we turned our backs on the authority of reason, and then morality. The flight continues in our own times as we resist conformity to governments, social norms, and institutions in general. Obedience is out. Autonomy is in. Simply put, we like to be charge.

3.                This is nothing new, of course. Shortly after this week’s Old Testament reading from Genesis, the first leg of the flight began. The first humans exerted their autonomy against the will of their Father and Creator to their own detriment (and ours). Among other things, the continuing result is we have all learned to sing with Frank Sinatra the autonomist’s creed, “I’ll do it my way.”

4.                This human flight from authority came to mind as I pondered Jesus’ first words in Matthew 28:18. “All authority,” He says, “has been given to me.” This is a striking claim. “All authority,” after all, leaves out nothing. And nothing less than the resurrection was needed to back it up. On this Trinity Sunday we remember that all authority had been given to Jesus by the Father. It was given to Jesus in the power of the Spirit, by whom He was conceived, with whom He was anointed in the Jordan River on the day of His baptism, and through whom Jesus spoke powerful words and performed powerful works.

5.                Here is the point: Jesus has all authority. He is in charge. Despite appearances to the contrary and our thirst for autonomy, the risen Christ is Lord over all. Try as we might, we can’t escape His rule. If we had our heads on straight, we wouldn’t want to, for He exercises authority with wisdom, mercy, and grace.  Despite appearances to the contrary and our thirst for autonomy, the risen Christ is Lord over all.

6.                Jesus’ announcement of authority in the text is followed by a command and a promise.  Matthew 28:19-20 says, “19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”  Jesus commands His disciples to make more disciples by baptizing and teaching all nations.   This is why the Church observes the practice of Confirmation, so that those who are baptized in the Christian faith learn to understand the teachings of Christ our Lord from Holy Scripture and what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ our Lord. That is the work of the Church. That is how we live under His authority. Christ calls us as the Church to be about the work of baptism and teaching the Christian faith.  After the command, Jesus continued with the promise. “I will be with you,” He says, until the very end. There is grace in this promise. Jesus promises to be with His disciples to forgive and renew them, and to lead them to delight in His will and walk in His ways. But there is also accountability in this promise. The Lord, who is with us, retains authority over us. His promise calls for trust and obedience.

7.                If the Covid 19 pandemic has taught us nothing else, it should be teaching us there is only One who has all authority... and Jesus has all authority.  Our flight from Jesus’ authority continues. For the unfaithful ways in which we have fled the authority of God in His 10 Commandments, we need to repent. For the unfruitful ways in which we’ve operated independently from God, we need to follow the commands of Jesus. For the fearful ways in which we’ve despaired over our loss of control in these challenging times, we need to hear the promise of Jesus who makes Himself graciously present with His forgiveness, life, and salvation.

8.                This is why we need Jesus as our Lord and our Savior.  How Jesus began as a human being made a huge difference in what happened in his life. He didn’t begin on his own, but with the unity and activity of the whole Godhead: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus is the Son right from conception. He is conceived by the Holy Spirit. And the Father sends his Son to us.

9.                That same triune God that was working together at his incarnation continues to do so throughout his life. Jesus begins his public ministry at his Baptism. What happens? The Holy Spirit comes down as a dove. The Father declares that Jesus is his beloved Son and that he is well pleased with Jesus. Jesus began his mission of salvation together with the Father and Holy Spirit, and all are active in completing our salvation. We see him regularly in prayer with his Father, and the Spirit is with him every step of the way.

10.             Then come the final days of his life. Now on the cross Jesus is alone. Even his Father has abandoned him as he goes through hell for us. But you can see the Father even in that loneliness and suffering—Jesus is carrying out his Father’s will by going to the cross for you. On Easter morning, the Father raises him from the dead. Later, when Jesus ascends into heaven, he sends his Holy Spirit into the Church.

11.             Now, as I’ve just told you how Jesus began, continued, and ended his earthly life in the unity of all persons of the Trinity, I’m struck by how the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all working together on our behalf. Read through the Bible, and you don’t find a hint of jealousy, resentment, anger, bitterness, or strife in the Trinity. The three persons are wonderfully and mysteriously one God.  How Jesus began his earthly life made a huge difference in what happened in his life. From beginning to end, the Trinity was wonderfully united in action for us.

12.             The same is true for our lives. How we start makes a huge difference. And for us in the Church, the triune God is our starting place. We begin by being baptized into the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. What difference does that make?  First, beginning with Baptism makes a huge difference in how we see the world we live in. The earth, stars, animals, plants, and universe aren’t just nature or an endless product of evolution, but all are fearfully and wonderfully made by God by His power & authority. Each day we believe that God the Father is Creator of heaven and earth.  We also believe God cares for his creation. He doesn’t watch from a distance but keeps and protects it.  The Triune God has authority over us, we are His creatures. Oh, sure, we see wars, natural disasters, pollution, hatred and violence that make us doubt. But when you begin by being baptized into God the Father, you believe that a tree bearing fruit is a gift from God, so we have something to eat. You believe that a firefighter is given by God to help keep danger at bay. You believe that the medicine you buy from a pharmacy is given by God through the wonderful minds who do research and study this incredible creation.  Food and drink, house and home, work and country, rest and school are gifts from God for us to live our lives in his gracious care.

13.             Second, beginning in the Trinity at Baptism makes a huge difference in our relationship with God. It’s all grace. It’s all a gift. How do we begin a worship service? With confession. We admit we are poor, miserable sinners. We confess we deserve only temporal and eternal punishment. We know we’ve sinned against God’s authority over our lives and we’ve sinned against each other by thought, word, and deed.

14.             But Jesus came long ago as Savior. He came not only to be born in a manger but also to be placed in a tomb. He came with not just a star to guide Wise Men, but also with an early morning rising sun as he rose from the dead. With all Jesus has done, we are forgiven. In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die and rise for us. For his sake, God forgives us all our sin. He has given us the privilege of becoming his children. Our Baptism places us into God’s loving and forgiving hands right from the very start of our lives.

15.             No wonder that in Matthew 28, Jesus says we’re to go and make disciples of all nations. We’re to go and tell others what Jesus has done for us. We’re to go and bring others to Jesus so he can give to them what we have received: that loving and forgiven relationship with God.  We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord. We go, make disciples, teach, and baptize, all because what Jesus has done for us makes all the difference in our relationship with God. When you begin with Baptism into the name of the triune God, it makes a huge difference in your life.

16.             Third, it makes a huge difference in the kind of people we become. We believe the Holy Spirit has brought us together into the Church to become different people, people who listen to what Jesus says and become his disciples in this troubled world, people who want to do what is right and good and helpful.

17.             You see, when you begin with Baptism, it makes a huge difference in the people we become. The Holy Spirit brings us together to support, encourage, teach, and build each other up. All because the Holy Spirit gathers us together in the name of the triune God.

18.             Today is Holy Trinity Sunday, and I can think of no better way to celebrate this Church festival than by thanking our triune God for our salvation. In the waters of Baptism, we began our lives of faith in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. When you begin like that, it makes a huge difference in your life.  Jesus has ALL authority for your good and your salvation.  Amen.  Now the peace of God that passes all understanding guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus until life everlasting.  Amen.

“Fear Not!” Isaiah 41.8-10 & John 14.1-6, Beverly Buchholtz Funeral June ‘20

1.                Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Heavenly Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  At a time of grieving like this, those who are present and I on behalf of this congregation, offer your family and all who were close to Beverly my deepest sympathy.  May our Lord who knows your needs, comfort and give you strength and faith to uphold each another.  Today we’re going to look at two sections of Scripture from Isaiah 41:8-10 and John 14:1-6, where God our Heavenly Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ tell us to “Fear Not!”  In the face of sin, death, and the power of the Devil, we as Christians have nothing to fear, for Jesus our Good Shepherd is with us, just as He began watching over Beverly in her baptism on November 6^th, 1932 and led her to confess with her lips that Jesus Christ is Lord on the day of her Confirmation on May 19^th, 1946.  The message is entitled, “Fear Not,” dear brothers and sisters in Christ. 

2.                The family has many memories of Beverly.  Where Beverly grew up on Shaky Lake Road between Dale and Reedfield, their farm was on a high hill.  So, one thing unique about her childhood was that in the winter, she would often ride her sled down the hill to Hickory Grove School.  In High School Beverly was very good at shorthand and typing and after graduation she worked at AAL on the 4^th floor of the 222 Building in downtown Appleton.  In the early 1950s her salary at AAL was $125 a month and she shared an apartment in Appleton.

3.                But, Beverly gave it all up to be with her beloved husband Bob and enjoy West Bloomfield for the rest of her life.  Beverly would again put her typing skills to work as she assisted Bob with the Secretary-Treasurer duties of the local chapter of AAL Branch 1109 here at Christ Lutheran West Bloomfield.  She would type up all the invites for the AAL insurance policy holders and their families, for the yearly summer picnic, and wrap all the bingo prizes and other gifts for the kids.  She would also organize the annual meeting and luncheon held in November and bring all the prizes for the drawing.  Everyone waited with anticipation, as to who the top two lucky people would be to win the Butterball Turkeys.  But, everybody got at least one prize, even if it was just a pound of cheese.

4.                But, most notably the Buchholtz family remembers, all the effort and paperwork Beverly put in to apply for and maximize the matching funds available through AAL and fundraisers to benefit those in need or someone with cancer.  Also, many local emergency and fire departments, libraries, non-profits and our own Church and School received donations through these volunteer projects.  Beverly did that for 35 years and was happy to serve the Lord Jesus and His Church and her fellow neighbor in Christian love.

5.                The Lord says through the Prophet in Isaiah 41:8–10—⁸But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend; ⁹you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, “You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off”; ¹⁰fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  Isaiah shifts our attention away from the unbelieving world to God’s people, “But you …” God’s people also saw what the nations saw. They noted the victories of their conqueror and, no doubt, were  filled with fear. But God desired to comfort His people and addressed them in the most tender way. God called His people, “Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend.”  It is these words we need to hear and remember today as we mourn Beverly’s death.  For God has called Beverly and us too, to be His chosen people, His friends, through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

6.                Each of these terms is important. When God calls His people “Israel” and “Jacob,” He takes them back to their origins. God’s people became known as Israel, the name God gave Jacob when He reissued his promises to Jacob at the Jabbok River, when He wrestled with Jacob (Genesis 32:22–30). This special nation had become God’s special servant because of God’s choice. From the very beginning, God had special plans for this nation. Jesus our Messiah would come into the world through them. God describes the nation as the “descendants of Abraham my friend.” That designation took these people back even further to the very father of the nation. Abraham was God’s special and close friend.

7.                So, no matter what these people saw in the world, they were to remember God’s grace toward them. And it was grace. Personally, Abraham was no better than any other ancient man.  He was a sinner just like everyone else. He was great because God chose him. God made him the father of believers. These verses so clearly indicate that God actively made these people His own. “I took you.… I called you. I said … ‘I have chosen you and have not rejected you.’” All this emphasizes God’s grace, undeserved and free, toward sinful and fearful humans.

8.                Verse 10 piles comfort upon comfort. It begins with words we so frequently hear in the Scriptures: “Do not fear.” As God’s people endured their captivity, being taken to a foreign land, they could easily worry. God casts out their fear with the promise that He is with them and is their God, that is, He is next to them and pledges to remain with them as a powerful source of help.

9.                Through the Prophet Isaiah, God says He will do all this with His “righteous right hand.” God’s powerful hand is righteous. Righteous means, “right, correct, straight, appropriate, and proper.” In righteousness God had determined to bring about the deliverance of all humanity from sin, death, and hell. He had promised to do so and would remain faithful to all those promises. God’s people could depend on His righteousness to do what was necessary to fulfill all His promises. On the other hand, those who don’t know the Lord can expect quite another thing from His righteous right hand. For them God’s righteousness will bring judgment and punishment.

10.             The terms of these verses, of course, apply to God’s Old Testament people, but they also apply to God’s people of all time. All believers are descendants of Abraham by virtue of their faith in the God of Abraham. When God directed Abraham to look up to the stars and count the great number of his descendants, God had more in mind than the little nation of Israel. He had all believers in mind, God had you and Beverly in mind, as the apostle Paul says so clearly, “Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham” (Galatians 3:7).

11.             Jesus our Messiah is the fulfillment of God the Father’s promises to Abraham.  In John 14:1-6, Christ our Lord says, ““Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. ²In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? ³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. ⁴And you know the way to where I am going.” ⁵Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” ⁶Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

12.             It was going to be a night of doubt and despair for the Twelve. It was the night of Jesus’ betrayal and trial and sentence of death. Before 24 hours had passed, Jesus would be crucified, dead and buried. They would wonder if they could still think of Him as Savior, whether God was still their loving Father.

13.             They had been so secure in Jesus’ company while He taught the crowds and healed the sick and raised the dead. But before morning they would see Him arrested and humiliated. To prepare them for that terrible experience which would tempt them to despair, Jesus said: “Trust in God; trust also in me.” My Father can be trusted. He has always proved himself to be trustworthy, just as He did for Abraham. Jesus says, “I can be trusted.” Place your confidence in me and don’t let panic rob your hearts of faith.  As Beverly’s Pastor, I can assure you that she placed her trust in Jesus as her Lord and Savior.

14.             There are things in our future which we can’t foresee. But we know from the Word of God and from human experience that our lives can change so quickly.  Just like it has done during this Covid-19 Pandemic. Today prosperous and secure, tomorrow unemployed. Today cheerful and content, tomorrow broken and weak. Today confident in the loving concern of our Savior, tomorrow wondering whether God still cares.

15.             Jesus tells us, “Don’t leap to any false conclusions about Me and My concern for you. I cared enough to join the human race when I could have just continued in My majesty forever. I suffered for the human race through My death on the cross for you for the forgiveness of your sins, suffered more than you will ever suffer. I did my Father’s will and finished My Father’s work. I carried out His plan for your salvation as your Representative before His bar of justice.”

16.             God the Father was pleased to raise Jesus from the dead to demonstrate that His justice is satisfied, and you are forgiven. Jesus says, see My hands and My side, My empty tomb. Can you doubt My good will? “You trust in God; trust also in me.” The important thing to remember here is that Jesus is strong and loving. We quickly find out how weak our faith is. But our God is strong. It’s not that we’re so good at trusting, but that He’s trustworthy. Where shall we find confidence for the future? In Jesus’ cross, in His empty grave.  Because Jesus lives, we too shall live and have eternal life in His name.  He has done that for Beverly, He has done that for you.  Fear not!  Amen.  The peace of God that passes all understanding guard your hearts and minds in Christ until life everlasting.  Amen.