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| Norma A. Boeckler |
The First Sunday after the Epiphany, 2019
Pastor Gregory L. Jackson
Bethany Lutheran Worship, 10 AM Central Standard Time
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Epistle and Gradual Romans 12:1-5
The Gospel Luke 2:41-52
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #660 Heaven Is My Home
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Epistle and Gradual Romans 12:1-5
The Gospel Luke 2:41-52
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #660 Heaven Is My Home
Jesus in the Temple - The Father's Message
The Hymn #130 O Jesus King of Glory
The Hymn #130 O Jesus King of Glory
The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #267 If God Had Not
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #267 If God Had Not
KJV Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
KJV Luke 2:41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. 43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. 44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. 45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. 46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. 47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. 48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. 49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? 50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. 51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
Background for the Sermon
I have written this many times before, but the basics need repeating. Almost all the divinity schools and seminaries treat the Scriptures as their personal sandbox, where they can play and make up whatever they want.
The conservative Lutheran seminaries are no better than ELCA; in fact, they are worse. Together they can be discussed as the same bunch, since all seminary professors have been working together for many decades, quietly through Thrivent, where the money flows and the truth never goes. How else does one explain the LCMS working with ELCA to produce the Kolb-Wengert (LCMS-ELCA) Book of Concord?
The Sandbox. If we were lucky as kids, we had a sandbox. There armies amassed in pitched battles. Silverware was lost. In another corner, the dolls were arranged to show off their clothes. No child saw sand: each one saw a new place to imagine each day.
Ever since Halle University - once rationalism set in, and some other centers of higher learning, the Medieval view of the Bible took over. The Scriptures were a source for quotations to use in building a vast, imaginary edifice - a theology, a Life of Jesus, a history of the "development" of the Bible, a dogmatics book. The old saints were tossed out, which was good, since the stories were imaginary, but the new saints replaced them, no less imaginary - Tischendorf, Wescott, Hort, Semler, Wolff, Albert Schweitzer, CFW Walther, Pieper, Braaten-Jenson. One is properly trained when responding with a gasp when some of those names are mentioned. Head nodding shows agreement with the inventors of strange new truths mined - not from the Word - but from their own imaginations.
Is the story of Jesus as a boy in the Temple a quaint tale that tells us about Luke? Or is it the revelation of the Holy Spirit? The former approach is the modern, rationalistic one, and it is also used by dogmatic sects to prove whatever they want at the moment. As people have begun to realize, the foundation of Synodical Conference falsehoods is no different from the approach of the Jehovah's Witnesses or Seventh Day Adventists, ELCA's deep deep theologians (ha) or the Unitarian Universalists.
Jesus in the Temple is a captivating story because we can all identify with the lost boy aspect of it. But we are missing God's message if we stop there or use it as a springboard for imaginary conclusions and lessons - the typical output of a sect or cult.
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Jesus in the Temple - The Father's Message
KJV Luke 2:41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.
This story is unique to Luke, and it shows first of all the precision of the Gospel. These are fascinating facts. The family went to the Passover in Jerusalem every year, and this took place when Jesus was 12. Our grandson has just turned 13, so I can picture what a 12 year-old looks like and how he conducts himself. At that age, they are more child-like than mature, but becoming adults.
Lenski, Luke, p. 141:
Every male was originally expected to appear in Jerusalem at the Passover, at Pentecost, and at Tabernacles, Exod. 23: 14-17 ; 34:23; Deut. 16:16; but the dispersion rendered this impossible. Godly Jews, however, made it a point to attend at least the Passover. Women were not required to attend, yet many did, nevertheless, and Mary belonged to this class. We see the devoutness of the parents of Jesus, the kind of a home in which he grew up. See the Bible dictionaries on the nature of the Passover.
This introduction gives us facts, but we should also notice - the Gospel went to Jerusalem every year. The public ministry makes us think of Galilee, but this began next door to Jerusalem and the parents participated in the Temple rites in Jerusalem. God did not spare any effort in bringing His Son to the headquarters of Judaism, which did plant the seed of faith in Jesus from the beginning.
We should note how realistic Luther was about Mary. The Church of Rome and the Lutheran wannabee Romanists treat Luther as if he spent all his time in Roman veneration of Mary. His words tell us something different, in spite of his earlier training.
2. Thus they also falsely imagined to exalt the mother of Christ and know of no greater honor for her than to fill and over-load her with graces and gifts, as if she had never suffered temptations, had never faltered nor failed in reason, nor in anything else. The holy Scriptures and this Gospel, on the other hand, show how God deals with his saints in a wonderful manner, according to Psalm 4:4 and in a way altogether contrary to human reason; and that the more highly he endows them with grace and exalts and honors them, the deeper he thrusts them into sorrow and suffering, yea, even into dishonor, shame and desertion.
3. Human reason would undoubtedly teach and advise God not to permit his own Son to be shamefully and ignominiously dealt with as a murderer and malefactor, and allow his blood to be shed, but rather see to it that the angels should bear him on their hands, all kings and nobles fall at his feet and render him all honor. For human wisdom consists in this, that it neither sees, nor seeks, nor desires anything except that which is high and precious, and that which brings honor; and, again, neither shuns nor flees from anything more readily than dishonor, contempt, suffering, misery, and the like. Thus God reverses the order and acts in a contrary way, deals so harshly and offensively, according to human reason and opinion, with his dearly beloved Son as he would not deal with any man on earth, as if he were not the Son of God, or of man, but the child of Satan! In the same way he also dealt with his well-beloved servant, John the Baptist, of whom Christ says, Matthew 11:11, that among those that are born of women there hath not arisen a greater than he, and yet upon him he conferred the honor of being beheaded by a knave. This was, indeed, a most dishonorable and shameful death.
3. Human reason would undoubtedly teach and advise God not to permit his own Son to be shamefully and ignominiously dealt with as a murderer and malefactor, and allow his blood to be shed, but rather see to it that the angels should bear him on their hands, all kings and nobles fall at his feet and render him all honor. For human wisdom consists in this, that it neither sees, nor seeks, nor desires anything except that which is high and precious, and that which brings honor; and, again, neither shuns nor flees from anything more readily than dishonor, contempt, suffering, misery, and the like. Thus God reverses the order and acts in a contrary way, deals so harshly and offensively, according to human reason and opinion, with his dearly beloved Son as he would not deal with any man on earth, as if he were not the Son of God, or of man, but the child of Satan! In the same way he also dealt with his well-beloved servant, John the Baptist, of whom Christ says, Matthew 11:11, that among those that are born of women there hath not arisen a greater than he, and yet upon him he conferred the honor of being beheaded by a knave. This was, indeed, a most dishonorable and shameful death.
The message in Luke 2 - God tells us through the earthly parents of Christ that being a believer does not mean floating on clouds of ease, but enduring great suffering. Luther taught this often in his many sermons - the Gospel and the cross go together, as they did with Joseph and Mary, John the Baptist, Jesus, and the disciples.
43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. 44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.
This part is so down to earth that everyone can remember a time, perhaps several times, when they experienced the same loss, panic, wild searching, and finally relief and anger when coming across the lost child. The family went to the entire festival and went home, assuming Jesus was with the entire group. The parents headed home, knowing Jesus was with the group. But after a day of travel toward home, they began to look for him.
When Team Jackson went to Hoover Dam, we all had identical, bright yellow t-shirts, so looking for a family member in the crowds was not difficult. It is natural to do a head count every so often, because each grouping can imagine one or more children has been with the others. Various distractions can delay the head count. Our youngest, when fascinated by the mall's merry-go-round, hopped on a Sears trike and pedaled fast back to the attraction, weaving through the crowds. I did not catch up until she stopped at the attraction, so that scattered the two groups.
We can imagine, with the company spread out over way back, how Joseph and Mary asked people about Jesus and kept pressing on.
45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. 46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. 47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
Lenski, Luke, p. 163:
They made their search where they supposed the boy would most likely be found, "among their relatives and their acquaintances,'* most of whom camped together, and the boys in the party travelled in their own company during the day. Tissot has a painting of the boys marching in ranks with locked arms in the great Temple court, shouting Hosanna for Jesus, and thus shows how the boys went together at these times.
The best part of this narrative is the way we can identify with the fear, the searching, and finding Jesus completely unconcerned. My parents told me they searched for me along the Mississippi banks for a long time, perhaps fearing the worst, only to find me with a stray cat or dog. "How long have you been sitting there?" The whole time.
Jesus was in the Temple, revealing Himself to the learned religious teachers of the time, "both hearing them, and asking them questions. 47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers."
To listen and respond with questions and answers, that showed the ultimate mission of Jesus, even if not all could be revealed or even understood at that time.
Jesus naturally attracted the poor, sick, and outcast, but he also went to the powerful, learned, and influential. No group was neglected, as we also see with His work among non-Jews.
48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. 49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? 50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.
These three verses are the main lesson of this very significant story. "Amazed" should not be taken as "pleased and proud." It was a profound shock, the gap between their days of panic and Jesus' seeming indifference to their plight. "We looked for you, grieving..."
My Father's business - Unfortunately, business is taken to be commerce today, and the Church Growth salesmen would have it no other way. But Jesus is referring first of all to HIS Father - the Father/Son relationship so clearly and repeatedly taught in John's Gospel. It is only through His atonement and resurrection that His Father could also be called Our Father.
18. Therefore, this holy Virgin was a real martyr for three days, and these days were heavier to her than was the external pain of martyrdom to other saints. She had had such anxiety on her Son’s account that she could not have suffered any more bitter pain, For that is the greatest torture and woe, when the heart is attacked and tortured. All other sufferings that assail the body are more endurable; yea, amid them the heart can be joyful and can scorn all bodily suffering, as we read concerning St. Agnes and other martyrs. That is only half-suffering when the body alone is afflicted, while the heart and soul remain full of joy; but when the heart alone is compelled to endure suffering only great and noble spirits, and special grace and strength, are able to endure it.
19. Now, why does God permit these afflictions to come upon his loved ones? Certainly not without reason, nor from wrath or lack of grace, but from motives of great grace and mercy, in order to show us how, in all things, he deals with us in a friendly and paternal manner and how faithfully he cares for his own and so guides them that their faith may be more and more exercised and become stronger and stronger. But he does this especially for the following reasons.
19. Now, why does God permit these afflictions to come upon his loved ones? Certainly not without reason, nor from wrath or lack of grace, but from motives of great grace and mercy, in order to show us how, in all things, he deals with us in a friendly and paternal manner and how faithfully he cares for his own and so guides them that their faith may be more and more exercised and become stronger and stronger. But he does this especially for the following reasons.
This torture of Mary is small compared to what she would face during the Passion of Christ. In fact, this is a foreshadowing of what had to happen. Yet Mary was with the apostles afterwards (Acts) and not bitter, alienated, and alone.
51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
Joseph and Mary were ideal parents, but they had to learn this lesson, which is also for us as well. We worry about the immediate future and the long-term future. That is natural. I can only say to anyone younger, no matter what we think will happen, it is never like that. We picked this location because I was going to teach at a nearby college. If someone had said, "No, the president of the college will be arrested on federal charges and go to prison," I would have been shocked in disbelief.
And yet, this is a perfect location - neighbors, neighborhood, proximity to family and medical staff. Yesterday we had a pizza birthday party with Ranger Bob and his brother.
"My Father's business" is not food, clothing, what we will wear, where we will live, but the Gospel. When the financial committee of a congregation gets together, the Bad News Bears will begin lamenting how terrible things are, no matter what. I have seen that in every congregation, many of them overflowing with prosperity. Equally bad, I have seen people thinking that a D5 avalanche of money will solve every problem and do everything God blesses.
Our only concern should be God's Gospel Word, hearing it as it is, studying it, broadcasting it. In the next few months we will publish a set of Luther's sermons that has been out of reach for most people, unless they burrow into the Internet and know where to find it. One member of our scholars group asked for it and several others are making it happen. Soon it will be offered free as a public domain work, available for everyone to use - printed, Kindle, PDF, and bundled in one file for world-wide use. That sounds like a gigantic enterprise, and it is fairly big in one piece. However, each one plays a part in getting it done.
No one can erase the Old Adam's influence on our thinking. As I told one member - the various filters are always going to influence us, those thoughts that take us away from the plans of God, the sufficiency of His grace, His power to solve anything in a flash.
This fallacy is the same on both sides - The very rich think they are good, pleasing to God, and loved by everyone because their yes-men tell them so. Those believers who are struggling with poverty, disease, and bearing the cross imagine God has forgotten them or is punishing them for some wrong in the past. Judging the moment is beyond our ability. We are to treasure Jesus and His Gospel, not the saints, not the institutions and buildings.
Luther:
48. The same truth has been previously presented in many figures and examples, as in the Gospel for Christmas, Luke 2:12, where the angels give no other sign to the shepherds by which they might find Christ than the manger and the swaddling clothes. There they should find him lying and wrapped up, not in the bosom of the mother, nor on her lap, which would have seemed credible. That is, God does not wish to direct us to any saint or person of man, but only to the Word or Scripture, in which Christ is wrapped as in swaddling clothes, and in the poor manger (that is the preaching of the Gospel), which is so highly esteemed, and serves merely for the feeding of the cattle. Again, we have also heard from the aged and holy Simeon who, as had been promised him by God, should not die until he had seen Christ, but who does not recognize him until by the instigation of the Holy Spirit he enters the temple. So also the wise men from the east who, when they came to Jerusalem and no longer saw the star, hear of no other sign concerning Christ, as to where he was born and where he could be found, than the Scripture of the prophet Micah. So much may be said concerning the most important teaching and the principal parts of this Gospel. Finally, it is also to be noted that the Evangelist says: “His mother kept all these sayings in her heart.”
49. This is also given for our admonition, in order that we may endeavor to keep the Word of God in our hearts, as the blessed Virgin did, who, seeing she had erred and lacked understanding, became all the more diligent to keep in her heart all she heard from Christ. She furnishes another example, that above all things we should adhere to the Word and not permit it to go out of our hearts, but constantly use it, learn to gain strength from it, find comfort in it, and increase in it, as is indeed necessary for all of us. For when we come to the point where we shall be tried and tempted, we are liable to be forgotten or dropped even by those who are diligent.
49. This is also given for our admonition, in order that we may endeavor to keep the Word of God in our hearts, as the blessed Virgin did, who, seeing she had erred and lacked understanding, became all the more diligent to keep in her heart all she heard from Christ. She furnishes another example, that above all things we should adhere to the Word and not permit it to go out of our hearts, but constantly use it, learn to gain strength from it, find comfort in it, and increase in it, as is indeed necessary for all of us. For when we come to the point where we shall be tried and tempted, we are liable to be forgotten or dropped even by those who are diligent.
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| Norma A. Boeckler |
