The First Sunday after the Epiphany, 2021
Pastor Gregory L. Jackson
https://video.ibm.com/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship
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 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 #651 Be Still My Soul
Prayers and Announcements
- Walther, the American Calvin is next. Then Creation Flowers, then the Bible text and translations, which has started.
- Luther's Galatians will be for Lent. Email for a copy if you need one. Three recently were ordered. greg.jackson.edlp@gmail.com
- In treatment - Rush Limbaugh, Mary Howell, Christina Jackson.
- Randy Anderson is doing very well.
- Doctor's care - Pastor Shrader, Pastor K, Dr. Lito Cruz.
- Our President and his staff/cabinet, our military justice system.
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.
Jesus in the Temple - Sorrow for Saints
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.
There is so much to gain from each Epistle and Gospel lesson. How many times we have thought about the current news, "If we could only have one message of assurance, that would be good." One person was crying after January 6th, no matter what I told him. In fact, almost all the messages were bleak, and many surprised us all by turning against what is good and siding with evil.
This is a Gospel lesson where we can place ourselves so easily, because we have all had times like this, but never so tragic and stretched out at the same time. As Luther observed, this lesson - and many like it - get turned into fantasies that cloak its meaning rather than revealing it. That is why we should have the plain Word before us and and be side-tracked by manipulative words.
I often end up listening to various kinds of music, due to curiosity and the Internet drawing me in that direction. I have listened to religious music that almost made me cry, even though I knew that the words were foolish and contradictory. I think, "This does not even make sense, but it is still a three-hanky tear-jerker." The farther people go in Christian fiction, the more they open the Faith to ridicule and rejection.
There can be many essential teaching points in a given lesson, which is why we repeat lessons. Luther used this one to reverse the Vatican emphasis on "perfect saints" glorified at the expense of reality and the Gospel of Christ. "Build a chapel to Mary, or St. Luke, or St. Christopher (who never existed) and you will be blessed and forgiven your sins."
I. AN EXAMPLE OF THE CROSS AND OF SEVERE SUFFERING.
1. Hitherto, under the blindness of the papacy, nothing was taught concerning the blessed saints of God except to cover them with extravagant praise and laudation, and to praise them for exalted devotion and celestial joy, as if on earth they had not also been human beings and as if they had never suffered and felt the adversities, misfortunes and frailties of men; and as if they could not be honored sufficiently, unless they were represented in wood and stone. They have sought to strengthen this idea by means of false and shameful lies and idle tales, as if in this way the saints were highly honored and men spoke of them only in wonder and saw only such examples in them as no one could realize in this life, nor find comfort in them. In consequence they have been turned into idols and men have been taught to call upon them, instead of the Lord Jesus Christ, as intercessors, mediators and helpers in need, to the shameless blasphemy and denial of our blessed Savior and high-priest, Jesus Christ.
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.
This was a normal trip to Jerusalem for the Passover. They went every year, like many families today, who enjoy familiarity with the journey, places to stop, and people we see or take with us. When we drove from Wisconsin to Michigan in the Putty Princess, which has no gas gauge, we had places where we stopped to make sure we were not stranded, and they became favorite rest stops.
Likewise, this unique family went up to Jerusalem and back down to Galilee every year with family and friends. They had a great secret, which was a blessing and a burden of responsibility. As a side note, this lesson shows us that Jesus was always God and Man, divine and human, which puts to rest the silly theories of people who say Jesus was "adopted as a Son" later. We would all like to have more, and if we did, the same people would add their own speculations, dreams, and illusions.
The point of Luther's sermon is to reject the appeal to human reason in honoring and exalting saints, Mary above all. The transposition was so great that Mary was higher than Jesus in some cathedrals, and the roles were reversed. In a famous book on Purgatory, quoted in Catholic, Lutheran, Protestant, Mary is merciful and forgiving while Jesus is the angry judge. Two priests tried to persuade me that was not so anymore, but I noticed from additional reading that the author was highly respected and considered a great historical expert on Purgatory. But there are Lutheran clergy who repudiate Luther, so we should not be surprised. There are clergy who switch opinions based on the audience, and they become District or Synod Presidents.
What has been the most prominent message from Protestants for a century - if not more? The substance is that faith in Christ leads to many material rewards, peace, and happiness. The cross has seldom been taught, which is why people feel overturned and defeated when evil comes their way because of their faith.
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.
According to popular religious thinking, Joseph and the Virgin Mary should have had splendid lives, filled with the rewards of being the parents of Jesus. But in God's plan, as Paul and Luther experienced, the greater the grace, the greater the torment.
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.
This is the theology of the cross, which Luther always taught, and is often mentioned, but not taught today. Listen to various Christian leaders, who speak of (or wish for) every kind of material success but never mention trust in the truth of God's Word.
Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem and His parents did not realize it. That sounds terrible, unless it has never happened to anyone. Children wander off based on certain wrong assumptions. A pastor's wife told us they were just moving into to the parsonage when their daughter disappeared. She frantically went from door to door to find her. I said, "So they still remember you as the pastor's wife with her hair on fire?" She laughed hard about the impression she gave, because that was many years after. As I have often mentioned, my family left my sister at the gas station. I was the one who noticed, and everyone thought I was making it up. "She's in the front seat with you!" GJ - Oh no, she isn't.
The search lasted only a few seconds with us, but days with Joseph and Mary.
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.
The Gospels are concise, not a Word is wasted. These verses teach us how long, drawn out, and panicky the search was.
Lenski, Luke p. 163
They thought that He was some
where in the travelling company which was strung out
along the road and consisted of hundreds who were
going northward. They passed the first day thus. At
nightfall, when camp was made, and the boy had not
appeared, the parents at last started on a thorough
search, ana (up) in the verb and in the participle in v. 45
lends this added force, but the imperfect tense implies
that their efforts were in vain. 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.
In fear and sorrow, climbing upward to Jerusalem, getting worn down by the grief and the difficult trek, they continued the search in the city itself.
Times like this feel like forever. The younger we are, the more drawn out they seem to be. People in my age group agree that a month seems like a week, and a week more like a day.
4. In like manner he dealt with his dear mother, so that she was compelled to learn and experience how wonderfully God deals with his saints, and the Gospels point out with sufficient clearness, that he very seldom permitted them to see and experience what was noble, precious and joyous, but for the most part caused them to experience suffering and anxiety, as the aged and holy Simeon had foretold her, as a type for all Christians. Besides, he spoke harshly to her and repulsed her in an unfriendly manner.
5. Accordingly, this Gospel presents, first of all, the mother of Christ as an example of cross-bearing and of great suffering, such as God permits his saints to endure. For although the holy Virgin was greatly blessed with all grace and was a beautiful temple of the holy God and in preference to all was accorded the high honor of being the mother of the Son of God, and doubtless had the greatest possible pleasure and joy in her child, more so than any other mother, as was natural; yet God so ordered that she did not merely have exalted pleasure, but also great distress, pain and sorrow because of him. For her first distress was that she was in a strange place when he was born at Bethlehem, where she found no place for her child but a common stable. Her other distress was that within six weeks after his birth she was compelled to flee with the child and remain an exile for seven years. Besides she must have endured many things that are not recorded.
This also illustrates the importance of faith, because there was no giving up. Various trials make us more patient, though a mass of bad news can put us in a state of anxiety, which is distracting.
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.
On the third day of their search - uphill, up to where Jerusalem lay - they found Jesus in the Temple. Jesus was in the midst of the scholars or teachers (not a D.Min. to be found) listening and asking questions. Jesus was revealing Himself to a great extent, because His listening, asking, and responding astonished them. Here is an example of another occasion where the Gospel was brought to the Temple, as in His presentation. We should ask if these recorded episodes (Presentation, as a boy in the Temple) had a lasting impact on the Jewish leaders, leading to faith but also to persecution in His public ministry. These events are congruent with the Star of Bethlehem and the ministry of John the Baptist.
Judaism always taught the power and efficacy of the Word, and so teaching and learning were foremost. This was unchanged in Christianity, although much was distorted along the way. Luther simply took over the concept of the Old Testament - there being no difference between the Word and the will of God - the Word was always effective.
The problem is that false doctrine is also effective. God's Word appeals to our soul, and we can see the truth and peace that comes from it, even when that Word seems absurd to the unbelieving world. In contrast, opposition to God's Word appeals to people's reason and instincts (visit a sale special items - life-danger).
This episode and the paintings to illustrate it always intrigued me, because the scholars had a chance to listen to the Son of God in His role of a young boy capturing their attention. The living seed of the Word grows in people who listen with sincerity. And it strikes fear or causes anger in those who appreciate its meaning but oppose.
Later on some of the same leaders said - If we let this continue, Rome will come in and take away everything we have (Gospel of John).
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.
The parents were struck with the shock of seeing Jesus in the Temple. As parents know, sorrow turns to anger when the child is found. Somebody is at fault! In this case, "Look at how You have caused your father and me so much grief and sorrow."
How could God's own Son be so inconsiderate? This is like the prayer in the St. Theresa movie, "God, you would have more friends if You treated them better." The audience burst into laughter.
"Your father" is the key word here. The suffering comes from the Father's will, which is altogether different from what the parents were thinking. The extent of their torture is also three-day time period in which Jesus could plant the Gospel seed in the Temple, among the scholars. Was not one who came to Him by night - Nicodemus? John 3.
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.
The Father-Son relationship is key to the Gospels. That is more significant that Jesus' earthly family. Jesus did what was required and in harmony with the Father's will. While we are impressed with a three-year plan being executed on time, God was executing a 6,000 year plan, with the Son promised soon after Creation and the Son promised many times over, centuries before His birth, in great detail.
Luther made an important point. We can withstand bodily suffering if our hearts are free and full of joy and peace. That is only half-suffering, and people are kind and gracious about physical maladies they can see, not so much about inner turmoil.
Suffering of the heart is the most difficult, and Jesus suffered from that and the world physical suffering. His own disciples ran away, with only one at the crucifixion. He suffered in mind and body, the worst possible.
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.
As Jesus grew up, he matured into manhood. Some wonder how the Son of God could increase in wisdom. Because of His being God-in-the-Flesh, God Incarnate, Immanuel, He observed and learned what it mean to be a human being, to enjoy our joys and sorrows. Hebrews 4:14ff.
