“Why Christians Give Thanks” Luke 17.11–19 Thanksgiving ‘23

 

 

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 Thanksgiving Eve is taken from our Gospel Reading that was read a moment ago from Luke 17:11-19. It’s entitled, “Why Christians Give Thanks.” Dear brothers and sisters in Christ.

2.     Dear Christian family, imagine the scene Luke records for us. Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem, passing along between Samaria and Galilee. “And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us’ ” (Luke 17:12–13).

3.     In those two verses, we can see the seriousness of their situation. First of all, having leprosy wasn’t cured by just taking a Tylenol and getting some rest. As the disease would progress, attacking the nerve endings, pain would turn to numbness, and the skin would lose its original color, becoming thick, glossy, and scaly. Sores and ulcers would develop, especially around the eyes and ears, and the skin would bunch up with deep furrows between the swelling so that one’s face would look similar to that of a lion—not to mention, one’s voice would become hoarse and grating. If you had the signs of this disease and were declared “unclean,” you could no longer live in your community, but were basically left homeless without the support of family and friends. You were considered to be cursed by God, extremely impure. If anyone came near, you had to tear your clothes, cover your upper lip, and cry, “Unclean, unclean.”

4.     So, when Jesus told them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests” (Luke 17:14), that specific, biblical procedure was necessary in order for them to be declared clean, and as they started on their way, they were cleansed. Yes, they were healed of that awful disease. And maybe it’s even appropriate to say they were healed and freed from a death sentence.

5.     That’s why Luke describes in his account how they all turned back, praising God, with a loud voice, saying, “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Oh, wait a minute. That’s not correct? Luke doesn’t describe it that way? Well, obviously, he doesn’t. In fact, only one of the former lepers turned back to praise God and thank Jesus, and that person was a foreigner, a Samaritan, one who was regarded as outside the bounds of the covenant people of Israel. But all ten were cleansed. Their flesh was restored, to be like that of a youth—all of them. They could once again participate in their community, having a house and home and being surrounded by their family and friends—all of them. Basically, they could live again—all of them. And yet, only this one turned back to say thank you for his physical healing and also to praise God. Yes, the one who turned back even worshiped Jesus as he fell facedown at his feet, giving him thanks.

6.     Dear Christian family, on this Thanksgiving Eve, our living Lord Jesus through our brother Luke also asks us today, “Where is the rest of your congregation, your Christian family? Were not all cleansed by my death and resurrection? Why are not all giving thanks?” And Jesus even says to you who are here, “Has your heart always been filled with thanksgiving, love, and praise toward me?”

7.     Jesus says, “Didn’t I make you and all creatures? Didn’t I give you your body and soul, eyes, ears, and all your members, your reason and all your senses? Don’t I still take care of them? Haven’t I given you clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, spouse and children, land, animals, and all you have? Don’t I richly and daily provide you with all you need to support your body and life? Don’t I also defend you against all danger, guard and protect you from all evil?

8.     “And haven’t I redeemed you, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won you from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with my holy, precious blood and with my innocent suffering and death, that you may be my own and live under me in my kingdom and serve me in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as I’m risen from the dead, living and reigning to all eternity?

9.     “And haven’t I called you by the Gospel, enlightened you with my gifts, sanctified and kept you in the true faith; just as I call, gather, enlighten, and sanctify the whole Christian Church on earth and keep it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith? In this Christian Church, won’t I daily and richly forgive all your sins and the sins of all believers and raise you and all the dead, giving eternal life to you and all believers in Christ on the Last Day?” (cf Luther’s Small Catechism, The Creed).

10.   All of this is why we can truly relate to those lepers of Jesus’ day with the same words, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us” (Luke 17:13). And he does. Thanks be to God that he does! Thanks be to God that Jesus is merciful, patient, and loving toward us—even though we forget at times how much he truly gives us and what he has accomplished for us. Thanks be to God that Jesus willingly went to that cursed tree of the cross, dying and rising for us, so that sin, death, and Satan would have no power over us. Thanks be to God that he continues to prepare our hearts through Word and Sacrament ministry so that angels, archangels, and the whole company of heaven will be a reality to us and for us. And yes, thanks be to God that Jesus also had you and me in mind when he said, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well” (Luke 17:19). Yes, salvation is truly ours because of Jesus!

11.    See the many reasons to give thanks, all in Christ, to say, “Thank you, thank you.” To be just like the one leper who turned back to praise Jesus. Just like Abraham Lincoln when he solidified a day of thanksgiving as a federal holiday during the Civil War in 1863. Just as your parents taught you to say as a child when you received something. We say, “Thank you.” But, the ultimate reason we Christians give thanks and praise our living God is that he has accomplished our salvation—enabling us now and forevermore to confess personally, “Jesus is also Lord of my life.” Now, dear Christian family, that’s truly a happy Thanksgiving. In the life-saving name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen. Now the peace of God that passes all understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, until life everlasting. Amen.

 

“Where Easter Is Headed” 1 Cor. 15.20-28 LastA Nov. ‘23

 

 

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 Last Sunday of the Church Year is taken from 1 Cor. 15:20-28 and it’s entitled, “Where Easter is Headed,” dear brothers and sisters in Christ.

2.                The concentration camp at Dachau was liberated on a Sunday in April 1945. One week later, Greek and Serbian Orthodox prisoners celebrated Easter in the camp barracks. Priests wore makeshift vestments over their blue and white striped prison uniforms. They sang the liturgy, read the Scriptures, and even recited a sermon by St. John Chrysostom—all without texts, all from memory. During the long years of suffering and anguish, these prisoners had never forgotten Christ’s resurrection victory over death and that it had also set them free from death. Whatever might have happened, they always believed that Easter meant something more was still coming for them. Today, a Russian Orthodox chapel at the Dachau Memorial houses an icon of the resurrected Christ leading the prisoners out of the camp gates.

3.                Every Sunday is a celebration of Easter, of Christ’s glorious victory over sin and death for us. But today, the Last Sunday of the Church Year, is especially so, because the Last Sunday, pointing us to the Last Day, shows us where Easter is headed. What do I mean, where Easter’s headed?

4.                Easter brought forth the firstfruits: Jesus raised to life again. Christ has truly been raised from the dead! Christ Jesus died on the cross, but his resurrection is an accomplished fact. Great good news! We need never doubt this. But where is it headed? In 1 Cor. 15:20–21 St. Paul says, “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.” Christ is the “firstfruits.” In the Old Testament, Israel offered the first gathering of wheat as a sacrifice to God. Still, they knew that an entire harvest was yet to come. The firstfruits were just the first of many fruits.

5.                In the same way, Jesus’ resurrection will inevitably lead to the resurrection of all flesh. 1 Cor. 15:22–23 says, “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.” Christ was raised from death as a promise that all who have fallen asleep will be raised to life again. That’s the Last Day, Judgment Day, the focus of this Last Sunday of the Church Year. You heard it in our Gospel: all people who have ever lived will be gathered before Christ, the Judge—bodies raised, reunited with their souls, the resurrection of all flesh.

6.                What a day this will be for those, Paul says, “who belong to Christ”! Christ walked in the way of human beings. He lived life as one of us, even unto death. This was God’s plan. Death came when Adam and Eve sinned. In his wisdom, God sent his Son in human flesh and blood to overcome sin and sin’s death by his death on that cross. In Holy Baptism, in the Lord’s Supper, in God’s Word proclaimed to us, Jesus’ cross has been given to us. We have been made to belong to Christ.

7.                The Indus River flooded in Pakistan, killing many and driving countless others to seek higher ground. But, the flood was so extensive that few places were left where people could find refuge. Finally, a huge crowd huddled on top of a bluff above the flooded river. The highest spot—the safest place—they could reach was a necropolis, or “city of the dead.” To save their lives, they sought refuge among the dead.

8.                Christians take refuge in the One who died for them—the Savior Jesus Christ. “For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Cor. 15:21–22). Christ is our safe place, in death, in life, for all eternity.

9.                Christ’s resurrection is the beginning, then, giving certain hope of eternal life with him to all who believe in him. And where is this headed? Our resurrections to life will mean that death and all its allies are destroyed under Jesus’ feet. 1 Cor. 15:25–27a says, “For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For 'God has put all things in subjection under his feet.'.”

10.             If death can’t hold us, as it couldn’t hold Christ, nothing can. On that Last Day, all enemies will be defeated! Christ has defeated sin and its grip over us. He has defeated the devil and all his demonic forces. They now have no power over us. Christ has destroyed every other evil force in the world that opposes him. He has not simply brought them under control, but so thoroughly vanquished them that we have nothing to fear.

11.             This, though, is why far too many will be raised on the Last Day only to hear the judgment: “Depart from me to the eternal fire prepared for those enemies of mine. “For you did not belong to me by faith. “You present yourself here today on the basis of your deeds in life, but you have nothing to show. You stand condemned in your sin because of your unbelief in me as Your Lord and Savior, Jesus says.” But for us who belong to Christ, the last enemy will now be defeated: death (1 Cor. 15:26). Death is the last fruits of sin. Christ, the firstfruits of life, changes the end of the story. Is that where this is headed? Almost. Finally, even Christ will be subjected to the Father (1 Cor. 15:28).

12.             For Christ, the mission will be accomplished. Every need of God’s people in a fallen world met—every enemy, the universe, conquered. Christ will lay it all at the Father’s feet. Then all things will once again be as they were in the beginning: God will be “all in all.” Will we need food, clothing, shelter? No, we will have God. Will we need love, comfort, relationships? No, we will have God. Will we need protection, deliverance? No, we will have God, with all those good things he is. “Then comes the end, when [Christ] delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power” (1 Cor. 15:24). This then is the end, when Christ delivers the kingdom to God the Father. This is where Easter has been headed.

13.             Our faith is in the one who rose again for us. Jesus is the firstfruits of all those who have fallen asleep . . . and we follow him. Christ’s victory over death gives us certain hope in our own resurrection and eternal life with God. On this Last Sunday of the Church Year, a blessed fulfillment of Easter to you! Now the peace of God that passes all understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, until life everlasting. Amen.

“Not of Darkness” 1 Thess. 5.1-11 Pent25A, Nov. ‘23

 

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 25^th Sunday after Pentecost is taken from 1 Thess. 5:1-11, it’s entitled, “Not of Darkness,” dear brothers and sisters in Christ.

2.                They just can’t seem to help themselves. Every few years, someone just must predict when the world will end. Some even go so far as to predict the month and day that time will end, and Jesus will come for his second advent. There was even a book written in 1988 entitled, “88 Reasons Why the Rapture Could be in 1988.” It’s interesting listening to some of the Issues, Etc. episodes in which Pastor Chris Rosebrough plays voice clips of some of these predictions. Most of these “end time prophets” make their predictions somewhat unclear so that they can be explained away when their predictions don’t come true. Just why is it that some feel the need to try to make such predictions? It might well be summarized by one word of our text: “darkness.” For some of them, it might not be total darkness, but it certainly is a near-dark setting in which they live spiritually. St. Paul writes our text today to reassure us that we don’t live in this kind of darkness. Instead, for us who believe in Jesus, because of Christ, the darkness of sin and death is gone.

3.                The concepts of light and dark are used rather often in Scripture, and it’s no surprise, then, that Paul would continue with that imagery. Just what is it that is meant with the usage of darkness and light? It means that those of the light are those with faith and those of the darkness are unbelievers. Knowing that, so much makes sense as to why those words are used to illustrate faith or lack of faith. Let’s look at it this way. In the dark, not only can’t one see where he’s going; he can’t see danger, danger either in his path or coming toward him. He simply doesn’t know much about what’s out in front or surrounding him. On the other hand, in the daytime, all can be seen. There’s no question about the path on which he walks. And if danger comes, he can see it and make moves to avoid it. In the light, one can have great confidence about himself, about where he’s going, and where he’ll end up.

4.                So, with faith, it’s as though all confidence has been given. Faith in Christ, the faith God so graciously gives in Baptism, allows one to know, without any doubting, that he belongs to God. Faith in Christ allows one to know that the path he walks in life is a God-given path, walking in the manner of Jesus—serving others, honoring God in all one does. Faith in Christ allows one to know, with certainty, that he will be with Jesus in the glory of glories when this life is over. This is most certainly being in the light!

5.                But in the darkness, it’s the opposite. St. Paul warns in 1 Thess. 5:2-3, “The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, ‘There is peace and security,’ then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.” The only certainty in darkness is uncertainty. One may deceive himself that there is some certainty, but if one in darkness can actually be honest, he must admit there’s none. Oh, yes, one could say that there will certainly be death. But even that doesn’t answer the question about what happens after one dies.

6.                This is the reason for Paul writing the words of our passage for this morning, to give greater certainty to the believers of Thessalonica. He writes in 1 Thess. 5:1-2, “Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” When Paul begins with the words, “times and seasons,” he’s adding information from the previous chapter in 1 Thess. 4 in which he describes the future glory for those who believe in the Christ: “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:16–17). This, we and the Thessalonians know.

7.                Now Paul is addressing the normal questioning nature of wondering when that glory will come. He addresses this question for two reasons, both addressing the sins normally committed in this arena. One is that our sinful nature just doesn’t want to trust without having some concrete evidence. No, we just want the Lord to give us some specifics so that we can plan accordingly. If we know the specifics it lessens our need to have faith in the words of Scripture, our need to trust in God’s perfect providence for our future, or even our need to trust in what God did in Christ to save us. So, if we know the day and time, we could say, that faith isn’t really required.

8.                The second reason for Paul addressing this question about the day and time of the return of Christ is that if we knew, then we’d think we could live however we want until then and clean up our act just before Jesus’ arrival, should that actually be possible. But, Paul knows that scheme, 1 Thess. 5: 6–7 says: “Let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night.”

9.                It may well be that we each are thinking at this moment that that’s not what I’d do if I knew the day and time of Jesus’ return. We want to say strongly, “I will not quit trusting in what God has done for me, and I will not, by any means, stop living my life to the honor of God in everything I do.” It’s wonderful when you think that. But you know that our real tendency is to think and do that which pleases self and not God, to avoid caring for others and instead try to get out of it. That tendency is something that crops up its ugly head rather routinely, and it’s certainly a tendency we each have to fight quite regularly. That’s one of the reasons why Jesus gave his life—to forgive all our sin, but especially, the sins to stop trusting and to live in a less-than-honorable manner.

10.             So, we really have to say that it’s a great gift not to know the day or the time or the season when Jesus will come again. You see, what we do know is quite enough 1 Thess.5:1, 4-5 says: “Concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. . . . You are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.”

11.             By not knowing, we then focus on what really counts. The two things that really count are, first, that we believe—and believe with all our hearts—that God has made us children of the light. He did so by buying us back from the clutches of Satan and our sin: “For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him” (1 Thess. 5:9–10). And God made us children of this wonderful future by giving us faith through the Word and in our Baptism. We really are his very own children, and we will be such for now and for all eternity.

12.             The other thing that really counts is that without having to keep looking toward some day or date or season in the future, we can just let Christ live in and through us. By letting that be the truth of our lives, those around us will see us as different from those who live without the light: “Since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. . . . Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing” (1 Thess. 5:8, 11). Being children of the light changes what life is and what life is all about. One no longer lives for self, but for the Christ who saved us and for the people with whom we are to share God’s love. That is the sum and substance of being no longer of the darkness but being children of the heavenly Father. Or as the hymn by that name says: “God His own doth tend and nourish; In His holy courts they flourish. From all evil things He spares them; In His mighty arms He bears them. Neither life nor death shall ever From the Lord His children sever; Unto them His grace He showeth, And their sorrows all He knoweth.” (LSB 725:2–3)

13.             By not being of the darkness, by being children of the light, we truly belong, to God the Father, God Almighty. In that most precious status, he has removed all the sins we have and ever will commit. God particularly forgives our sin of wanting to know the exact day and time of his return and the sin of not living as children of the light. And what’s more, he lives in and through us so that we become and are lights to the world around us. If it were not for believers in the world, it would indeed be the dark ages all over again. Praise God for having come to us to make us his children of light. Praise God for living in and through us, making us alert and sober about this life and knowledgeable about what is to come in the next life. Yes, we have so much for which to praise God. Amen. Now the peace of God that passes all understanding, guard your hearts and minds, in Christ Jesus until life everlasting. Amen.