UOP Is Negotiating with the University of Arkansas

 It sounds like the University of Phoenix will be purchased by an entity in Arkansas. 

Items to note from Provost Woods' video

 

"Last week a news report broke the story of a potential deal between the University of Phoenix and the University of Arkansas System. Discussions are underway, but there's no agreement at this time. If something does develop, we'll be sure to keep you informed."

 Do we get the UOP Stadium in the deal?
Or does Arkansas give up its coaches?

WELS, Ski, and Glende's Favorite Mega-Pastor Joel Osteen

 

 The Rev. Mrs. Joel Osteen escaped in anger after leaving her trial. 

Andy Stanley to host conference for Christian parents of LGBT-identified kids

Scheduled speakers include Evangelical pastor who resigned after board discovered son's attraction to minors.

By Ian M. Giatti, Christian Post Reporter

Ski, Glende and other WELS pastors/staff (8 total) went to Osteen's church years ago to soak up what WELS seemed to be lacking. One of my friends was offered free tuition at Fuller to learn about evangelism for the sect. He refused. 

Isn't that Joel Osteen with Ski?

Wayne Mueller was lying about "no Church Growth in WELS" while The Love Shack was sponsoring leaders, world missionaries, and pastors to attend Fuller. Lawrence Otto Olson, D.Min. Fuller, tried to establish his innocence in the pages of Christian News.

The LCMS is just as guilty, and ELCA goes to the same pathetic citadels of Enthusiasm.

Grackle Time - Or - Enjoying a Good Ice Storm

Grackles are large, loud, and creaky sounding. Like starlings and crows, they arrive and leave in large numbers.

I do not wish an ice storm on anyone. Tree limbs break. Furnaces quit. Traffic comes to a halt and accidents increase. I am sure weather has dulled my brain. Two people notified me of outrageous typos, which is fine, when they do it in a caring, compassionate, diplomatic, and gentle way.

I used my windshield broom/scraper tool to brush the barrel lids down to their natural green and yellow colors. Then I poured corn and peanuts in a pile on each barrel, a handful flung across the place where the birds forage for seed on the ground.

Soon after, the food was covered up with a layer of snow and ice, so I figured nothing would happen. Just now I found a large flock of grackles (larger than starlings, cousins to the crows) working both barrels at once with even more birds on the ground. I spotted one female cardinal and some other birds on the perimeter, hoping or hopping for some food.

Squirrels were here and there, kept at a distance by the size and noise of the grackles.

Parables - The New Cloth on an Old Garment, New Wine in Old Wineskins

 

New Cloth on an Old Garment, New Wine into Old Bottles

KJV Matthew 9:16 No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.

            People scratch their heads over this parable, but the comparison is simpler than it appears at first. The parables are for the studious, not for the superficial who guess at and even make up their inventive and creative solutions. This is made worse by a popular assumption that the Old Testament is all law and condemnation, the New Testament all grace and forgiveness. True Judaism is also true Christianity, but many have tried to patch Pharisaic legalism with Christian words and phrases. Judaism declined into the perfection of the Pharisees in works. Many modern Christian denominations are inclined to deny the Scriptures, miracles, and divinity of Christ, replacing the Gospel of the Savior with man redeeming society with new laws. This Social Gospel, as they called it, only differs in kind from the old cloth of works righteousness. The National Council of Churches is an example of the bitter fruit of Christian socialism.

17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

            The second comparison is clearer because skins were used then and even in modern times to hold wine or water. As Lenski observed himself, the goat skin was removed in on piece, with the feet and tail openings sewn shut. The neck opening was used for filling the skin. Since leather is fragile, new wine in old wineskins could split the skin and splash the wine onto the ground, both wine and wineskin ruined.

            This wrongful improvement, causing destruction, is easily found many quasi-Christian sects today. The Bible is praised, the New Testament is emphasized, but the effort to pour alien ideas into the container has ruined the Christian Faith mixed with the cults’ or sects’ dogma.

Parables - The House on the Rock

 

The House on the Rock

KJV Luke 6: 47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:

48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

 

            Jesus performed many miracles, even stating that if people did not listen to Him, they should at least believe on Him because of those wonders.[1] Many were drawn to Him and yet fell away when they heard hard words – as in John 6. This parable compares the outcome of those who hear and do the sayings of Jesus. It is also the closing of the Sermon on the Mount, KJV Matthew 7:24-29.

            The Lukan version starts with hearing and doing the Words of Jesus. Jesus began with the positive description of a well-built house weathering a storm.

 Therefore, Jesus first portrayed a home built correctly –

·         A man built a house and began by digging it deeply.

·         He laid the foundation on a rock.

·         The flood arose and the stream beat against it vehemently.

·         The storm could not shake it because it was founded on a rock.

Our news is filled with photos, videos, and descriptions of storms, floods, and tornados, and hurricanes. The power of Creation is so great that poorly built homes are washed or blown away in a moment. They float away like cardboard models.

KJV Luke 6: 49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

The second part of the parable compares the gulf between a house built but only upon soil. Immediately the swollen stream sweeps it away.

---

[1] KJV John 10:37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. 38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

 

 

Parables - The Light of the World

The Light of the World

KJV Matthew 5: 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

            Luther used the sun and the moon to compare the Gospel with the Law, since the energy of the sun is needed for the moon to illuminate the night sky. In the same way, the light of Christ is in those who believe in Him and absent in those who do not. Even the smallest light can be seen in complete darkness. In fact, utter darkness makes light especially important for believers and unbelievers alike.

            President Ronald Reagan’s farewell speech included this Biblical reference, a great contrast when compared to the deliberate darkness of dystopia today:

In my mind it was a tall, proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, windswept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace; a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity. And if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here.[1]

            No one can hide a city built up high on a hill or mountain. The light of that city penetrates the darkness and draws people to it. In contrast, darkness makes people afraid, and they stumble from the smallest obstacle. When my brother lost his shoe in a sheep pen at night, we were playing with the farmer’s children. No one knew how to find it in the muck – until the farmer brought out his flashlight, laughing. The farmer did not hide the light but shone it until the shoe was found and extracted with the expected jokes.

            Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

The secondary light from the Light of the World shines in us as we practice the forgiveness which bears fruit in love. Most importantly, that begins with our own households, where faith, forgiveness, and grace dissolve the darkness of our natural selves and selfishness. The early Christian martyrs witnessed to their faith by dying instead of silencing themselves and hiding the truth. They were honored to model the Savior in their deaths - and in doing so - to spread the Gospel. John Hus’ death as a martyr paved the way for Luther, who stated, “We are all Hussites,” and the Reformation which changed Europe and the world.

PS - Note that these are first drafts, with more details later.

---

[1] https://ourlostfounding.com/ronald-reagan-and-the-shining-city-upon-a-hill/#:~:text=He%20said%2C%20%E2%80%9CFor%20we%20must,%2Dword%20through%20the%20world.%E2%80%9D. See also John Winthrop Dreams of a City on a Hill, 1630.

Two Apples on the Birds' Barrels

Sometimes the hawk will land on a barrel and dare me to make a move toward him. No thanks.

Yesterday was getting colder and the icy snow began to fall. The birds had enjoyed a feast but the snow-ice covered the remaining corn on the two barrels. I found two aging apples in the fridge and put one on each barrel.

I did some grading work and came back to look at the feeding zone. A squirrel was hugging and eating his apple on the recycle barrel. No one was going to get it from him. A starling was pecking the apple's flesh away steadily on the garbage barrel. The normal feeding contingent was all over the ground, finding the slightly covered seed I tossed earlier.

Good Discussion about Why Denominations Are Shrinking So Fast - Free Republic. Reviewed Here - How LCMS, WELS, and ELS Cohabit with ELCA

 

Here is the link to the discussion on Free Republic.

WELS-LCMS-ELS did not go along with the radicals. They led the radicals while pretending ELCA was bad!

 Hugs for Thy Word Is Truth

Just ask Starr!

SP Schroeder is truly a laughable disgrace. He is not a leader but a follower.

Retired Michigan WELS DP Seifert - promoting the cause with Barefoot. I remember Seifert kicking a pastor out who had a new baby. The same pastor told me about the Church Growth fad being pushed from the top down.

Note the cozy LCMS-ELCA teamwork.

Arand is a Concordia, St. Louis Professor. Gritsch left ELCA because it was too radical! Kolb retired from Concordia, St. Louis.

ELCA activist Wengert writings are linked here. The LutherQuest and ALPB Ovaltine Gang Members are too lazy to remember that the ELCA-WELS-LCMS publishing partnership is old news, ancient news. Why fuss about the new Large Catechism? It is just another way to generate cash for Matt the Fatt and his failing sect.

Nix Wintry Mix

 Friendship Sunday in WELS. Visitors are asked, "Were you born in Wisconsin?" 

The purple ice clouds are scudding across the radar maps today, going straight over us, with wintry mix to follow for the 10 days. 

I was so pleased with green in the garden on New Year's Day, but a procrastinating winter is common here. The month of January has been mostly pleasant.

I dished out the corn and sunflower mix before the bad weather hit, so we had the full display of birds and squirrels early. They knew! They were out in force at 9 AM this morning.

When company is coming, I get the bird food out for entertainment. The kitchen windows overlook the barrels which serve as feeders, easily filled, shaped to drain excess moisture. A few peanuts in the shell are in the mix, so blue jays will grab one, hold it up, showing off, and fly to a safe place to get the peanuts out.

I like having a lot of wintry bushes serving as shelter and perches for the birds. The tiniest birds love fragile branches which support them but dump predators. Finches and chickadees will rest safely on them while enjoying some food.

I often wonder why people look at all the relationships in Creation and imagine everything evolved perfectively so every living thing could serve as food and as eaters. Meanwhile, the politicians, most of them with law degrees, cannot get anything right.

Anyone Attend a Lutheran College or Seminary And Hear The King James Version Given Its Proper Place in the History of Bibles? Hear Lectures about William Tyndale? Bueller, Bueller, Anyone? Anyone?

I was going over the KJV quotations I gathered in one blog post which is also sticky posted on the left.

This marks the sticky post on the left column.

One way to treasure the English language is to appreciate the two pillars - Shakespeare (aka Oxford) and the King James Version (aka Tyndale). I find it amusing that some want to make Tyndale insignificant because there were so many English Bibles floating around. Most of those were Tyndale derived because the King had him murdered. Translating was a capital crime so no one wanted to sign on as a Tyndalean. The WELS-ELS-LCMS pastors know exactly what I mean. "Oh please do not name me in a blog post, Greg. Better yet, not even a hint of who I am or where I live."

At least one expert has argued that Tyndale and Luther were independent creators of their basic languages and styles, and that makes more sense than what I wrote for the graphic above, years ago. Both men were uncommon language geniuses, and German does not easily translate into English. Two countries were blessed with groups of dedicated translators before the horrid Jesuit Douai-Rheims came in late.

Funds come in regularly to support the free copies of KJV Bibles which I send to people for free and give away locally. People in prison appreciate the comfort and guidance of a Bible, so we are giving them 10 at a time.

If you want a KJV Bible in the normal size, with easy-to-read print, let me know by email, and it will be sent free of charge. The funds are already there. You may want to send one or more to others, so that can be done too. There is nothing better than getting them around to people, who may have none, or no translations except the Evil Four (RSV, NRSV, ESV, NIV) plus One (Beck).

Three of the Evil Four are licensed by the gay Marxist National Council of Churches, not that anyone should shun these delightful, creative, and completely erroneous paraphrases.

The King James Version - free copies are available.

The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany, 2023

 Vimeo 

Vimeo Link to the Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

Hymn #24         Lord of My Life               
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 13:8-10
The Gospel Matthew 8:23-27
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
Sermon Hymn #467    Built on the Rock       

Faith and Fear

Hymn #307         Draw Nigh                 
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
Hymn #649     Jesus Savior Pilot Me                         

Prayers and Announcements

• Friday was the 61st wedding anniversary of Alicia Meyer and her late husband Gary. The flowers on the altar are in his honor.
• Alicia's brother Lawrence is staying at her house to recuperate.
• Kermit Way, Maria Ellenberger Way's husband, is undergoing treatment. Others in sick bay are Pastor and Mrs Shrader, Callie, Anita Engleman.
• Avelin Kirtsen, 8 pounds, 1 ounce, was born January 24th.

• 

   Avelin

KJV Romans 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

KJV Matthew 8:23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. 24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. 25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. 26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. 27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany

Lord God, heavenly Father, who in Thy divine wisdom and fatherly goodness makest Thy children to bear the cross, and sendest divers afflictions upon us to subdue the flesh, and quicken our hearts unto faith, hope and unceasing prayer: We beseech Thee to have mercy upon us, and graciously deliver us out of our trials and afflictions, so that we may perceive Thy grace and fatherly help, and with all saints forever praise and worship Thee; through Thy dear Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.  

Introductory Material
Those who follow the Pilgrim's Progress class or read the book will notice remarkable parallels with this event. In a few verses, through many dramatic episodes, the story illustrates a lesson about faith in God. For example, when Christian tries to carry his great load of sins to Legality, the weight grows so much that he can no longer make progress. Forgiveness through the Law is impossible, and could have killed him. There is only one entry to forgiveness, the straight and narrow, in Pilgrim's Progress, the Wicket Gate. Passing through allows him to be taught at the Interpreter's House (the Holy Spirit's House), where he learns about the Law and Gospel, sin and forgiveness.

There are several ways to teach against faith, and they are used all the time by the great and mighty, to preserve their private delusions while appearing to say the opposite to the faithful. One is to change meanings and announce something strange that is an effort to replace Biblical doctrine with fancy talk. Thus they imagine - Jesus did not die on the cross for our sins, but to show solidarity with the poor. The wannabe Marxists know what that means - Jesus was a revolutionary who died as a symbol of the battle between good and evil, nothing more.  Or they use grand titles and phrases designed to mean - "you think so, but I know better." The preachers and theologians will talk about the Easter faith of the disciples - on Easter - meaning Jesus rose from the dead only in the sense of Him becoming the Savior in their hearts. The elite nod their heads - he gets it! Believers wonder what that really means. But when worldly wisemen and highly educated women hear a sermon about faith, they are angry and start a fund to pay for the gallows. Miracles are for little children, they think.


Faith versus Fear

KJV Matthew 8:23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. 24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.

The opposite of fear is not courage, but faith, trust in God, a conviction that the most important details of life are not subject to what we see but by what we believe. What seems to matter most belongs to Satan and what matters the least belongs to God. This miracle reminds us that the seasoned veterans of this great body of water were experts in how dangerous the Sea of Galilee could be. In a storm, the waves are whipped up and smash against the boats, which were designed to be stable with a group of men, a catch of fish. A storm eliminates the sense of direction and the distance from the shore. Waves crash against the ship and soak the occupants who feel the cold and see their fate.

Jesus was asleep. I remember that being shocking, because anyone would hate to be in that boat, let alone being soaked with the waves and the wind creating a penetrating chill with all the effects of a storm at night on a great body of water. Everyone wonders the first time - "How could this be? I would be terrified, miserable, and hoping to reach land very soon."

The primary role of the Holy Spirit is to convict the world of sin, "because they believe not on Me." (John 16)

Paraphrased John 16:8ff. 

And when the Holy Spirit is come, He will accuse the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

9 Of sin, because they believe not on Me;

10 Of the righteousness of faith, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;

11 Of judgment, because the Prince of this world is judged.

First point - the foundational sin is unbelief. The solution to this is not our promises or efforts or endowment gifts, but faith in Jesus Christ. 

Faith in Jesus takes away our sins, which are drowned in a sea of grace. The sins disappear and we are righteous.

Satan looks powerful and rules over the entire visible world, but he is already condemned.

All the knowledge and senses of the disciples made them think of the storm as impossibly strong, and they felt weak with Jesus asleep. We all have fears and anxieties, a buildup of dread about the future or something we must face.

25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.

It is easy for us to say, "Jesus was with them. They could see Him in the same boat." But that is also true with us. Jesus is with us in His Word - spoken, read, and remembered. The question is whether we look to the storm or the Savior.

America and the West suffer alike from the Great Apostasy, supposed Christian leaders who do not believe even the basics of Christianity. Lutheran leaders in America are no better -

1. They reject Justification by Faith, clearly taught by Paul, the Gospel writers, and the Lutheran Reformation.
2. They despise the KJV and only use the uninspired, corrupt Evil Four plus One Bibles - RSV, NRSV, ESV, NIV plus Beck.
3. They use ELCA as their model synod and bow to ELCA's DIE demands: Diversity, Inclusion, Equity.

Just as faith promotes faith, unfaith promotes unfaith. Bit by bit - or byte by byte - the doctrines of the Bible are reversed or forgotten or mocked. Yes, the faithful are persecuted today in Christian America by the so-called Christian leaders. That is why their numbers are collapsing and their schools and congregations are closing or merging. (Merging is a polite way of saying - closing.)

Chaos and apostasy inspire fear, but the Word of God counters that. The "liberal" (aka faithless) leaders should repeat to themselves 1 John -

KJV 1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

When we become believers through the Word of the Gospel, we are born again, new life in Christ. 

26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. 

Jesus Himself made the connection, and so should we. "Why are you full of fear, ye of little faith?" They believed enough to say "Save us!" but they were still full of fear.

That is why it is good and a constant blessing to worship, to pray daily for others and for our needs and anxieties, to pray for our leaders and our enemies. 

First Jesus rebuked the winds and the sea. This is the efficacy of God's Word. Jesus both the Logos - the Word, and the Son.

When God commanded Creation by the Word, the Son was and is that Word. That is why we can say that the entire Bible is efficacious (effective), always accomplishing God's will, never failing, and always prospering His will.

Peter rebuked Jesus for predicting His suffering and death; Jesus rebuked Peter for siding with Satan rather than God. (Matthew 16) Jesus' appearance to the disciples completed their lessons in the power and glory of the Son of God.

No matter what we know and believe, we still have fears.

27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

The Word teaches us not to be afraid but to trust in the one  who commands the Universe, the winds and waves.

Luther's Sermon on Christ Stilling the Storm

FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY.



TEXT:

Matthew 8:23-27. And when he was entered into a boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the boat was covered with the waves; but he was asleep. And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Save, Lord; we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, 0 ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. And the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?


I. OF FAITH AND UNBELIEF.

1. This Gospel, as a narrative, gives us an example of faith and unbelief, in order that we may learn how mighty the power of faith is, and that it of necessity has to do with great and terrible things and that it accomplishes nothing but wonders; and that on the other hand unbelief is so fainthearted, shamefaced and trembling with fear that it can do nothing whatever. An illustration of this we see in this experience of the disciples, which shows the real state of their hearts. First, as they in company with Christ entered the ship, all was calm and they experienced nothing unusual, and had any one asked them then if they believed, they would have answered, Yes. But they were not conscious of how their hearts trusted in the calm sea and the signs for fair weather, and that thus their faith was founded upon what their natural eyes saw. But when the tempest comes and the waves fill the boat, their faith vanishes; because the calm and peace in which they trusted took wings and flew away, therefore they fly with the calm and peace, and nothing is left but unbelief.

2. But what is this unbelief able to do? It sees nothing but what it experiences. It does not experience life, salvation and safety; but instead the waves coming into the boat and the sea threatening them with death and every danger. And because they experience these things and give heed to them and turn not their fear from them, trembling and despair can not be suppressed. Yea, the more they see and experience it the harder death and despair torment them and every moment threatens to devour them. But unbelief cannot avoid such experiences and cannot think otherwise even for a second. For it has nothing besides to which it can hold and comfort itself, and therefore it has no peace or rest for a single minute. And thus will it also be in perdition, where there will be nothing but despair, trembling and fear, and that without end.

3. But had they had faith, it would have driven the wind and the waves of the sea out of their minds, and pictured before their eyes in place of the wind and tempest the power and grace of God, promised in his Word; and it would have relied upon that Word, as though anchored to an immovable rock and would not float on the water, and as though the sun shined brightly and all was calm and no storm was raging. For it is the great characteristic and power of faith to see what is not visible, and not to see what is visible, yea, that which at the time drives and oppresses us; just as unbelief can see only what is visible and can not in the least cleave to what is invisible.

4. Therefore God bestows faith to the end that it should deal not with ordinary things, but with things no human being can master as death, sin, the world and Satan. For the whole world united is unable to stand before death, but flees from and is terrified by it, and is also conquered by it; but faith stands firm, opposes death that devours everything, and triumphs over it and even swallows the unsatiable devourer of life. In like manner no one can control or subdue the flesh, but it reigns everywhere in the world, and what it wills must be done, so that the whole world thereby is carnal; but faith lays hold of the flesh and subdues and bridles it, so that it must become a servant. And in like manner no one can endure the rage, persecution, and blasphemy, infamy, hatred and envy of the world; every one retreats and falls back exhausted before it, it gets the upper hand over all and triumphs; and if they are without faith it mocks them besides and treads all under its feet, and takes pleasure and delight in doing so.

5. Further, who could conquer Satan with his innumerable, subtle suggestions and temptations, by which he hinders the truth and God’s Word, faith and hope, and starts so many false doctrines, sects, seductions, heresies, doubts, superstitions and innumerable abominations? The whole world compared with him is like a spark of fire compared with a fountain of water. All must be here subject to him; as we also see, hear and understand. But it is faith that keeps him busy, and it not only stands before him invulnerable, but also reveals his roguery and puts him to shame, so that his deception fails and he faints and falls; as now takes place with his indulgences and his papacy. Just so no one can allay and quiet the least sin, but it bites and devours the conscience, so that nothing avails even if the whole world were to comfort and support such a person, he must be cast down into perdition. Here faith is a hero, it appeases all sins, even if they were as many as the whole world had committed.

6. Is there now not something almighty and inexpressible about faith that it can withstand all our powerful enemies and gain the victory, so that St.

John says in his first Epistle 1 John 5:4: “This is the victory that hath overcome the world, even our faith?” Not that this is done in peace and by quietly resting; for it is a battle that is carried on not with out wounds and shedding of blood. Yea, the heart so severely experiences in this battle sin and death, the flesh, Satan and the world, that it has no other thought than that it is lost, that sin and death have triumphed, and that Satan holds the field of battle. The power of faith however experiences but little of that. This is set forth in our narrative, when the waves not only dashed into the boat, but even covered it, so that it was about to go under and sink, and Christ was lying asleep. Just then there was no hope of life, death had the upper hand and had triumphed; life was lying prostrate and was lost.

7. As it went here, so it goes and must go in all other temptations of sin, Satan, etc. We must experience how sin has taken captive the conscience and nothing but wrath and perdition wish to reign, and how we must be eternally lost. Satan must start so many things by his error and false teaching that it appears God’s Word must fall to the ground and the world must glory in falsehood. Likewise the world must rage and persecute to such an extent that it appears no one can stand or be saved, or even confess his faith; but Cain will rule alone and will not rest until his brother is dead, so that he may never be in his way. But we must not judge and act according to appearance and our experience, but according to our faith.

8. Therefore this Gospel is a comforting example and doctrine, how we should conduct ourselves, so that we may not despair in the agony of sin, in the peril of death, and in the tumult of the world; but be assured that we are not lost, although the waves at once overwhelm our little boat; that we will not perish, although we experience in our evil conscience sin, wrath, and the lack of grace; that we will not die, although the whole world hates and persecutes us, although it opens its jaws as wide as the rosy dawn of the morning. These are all waves that fall over your little bark, cause to despair, and force you to cry out: “Save, Lord; we perish”. Thus you have here the first part of this Gospel, faith, how it should thrive and succeed, and besides, how incapable and fainthearted unbelief is.

II. OF LOVE.

9. The second part of our text, treating of love, shows forth Christ in that he rises, breaks his sleep for their sake, takes to heart their need as though it were his own, and ministers to them help out of free love without any merit on their part. He neither receives nor seeks any reward for his help, but permits them to enjoy and use his power and resources. For as we have often heard it is characteristic of Christian love to do all freely and gratuitously, to the praise and honor of God, that a Christian lives upon the earth for the sake of such love, just as Christ lived solely for the purpose of doing good; as he himself says: “The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister.” Matthew 20:28.

III. THE SPIRITUAL MEANING OF THIS NARRATIVE.

10. Christ pictured to us in this narrative the Christian life, especially the office of the ministry. The ship signifies Christendom; the sea, the world; the wind, Satan; his disciples are the preachers and pious Christians; Christ is the truth, the Gospel, and faith.

11. Now, before Christ entered the ship with his disciples the sea and the wind were calm; but when Christ with his disciples entered, then the storm began, as he himself says, Matthew 10:34: “Think not that I came to send peace on the earth: I came not to send peace but a sword.” So, if Christ had left the world in peace and never punished its works, then it would indeed have been quiet. But since he preaches that the wise are fools, the saints are sinners and the rich are lost, they become wild and raging; just as at present some critics think it would be fine if we merely preached the Gospel and allowed the office of the ministry to continue in its old way. This they would indeed tolerate; but that all their doings should be rebuked and avail nothing, that they call preaching discontent and revolution, and is not Christian teaching.

12. But what does this Gospel say? There was a violent tempest on the lake when Christ and his disciples were in the ship. The sea and the wind allowed the other ships to sail in calm weather; but this ship had to suffer distress because of Christ being in it. The world can indeed tolerate all kinds of preaching except the preaching of Christ. Hence whenever he comes and wherever he is, there he preaches that he only is right and reproves all others; as he says in Matthew 12:30: “He that is not with me is against me”, and again, John 16:8: “The spirit will convict the world in respect of sin, and of righteousness and of judgment;” he says that he will not only preach, but that he will convict the whole world and what is in the world. But it is this convicting that causes such tempests and dangers to this ship. Should he preach that he would allow the world to go unpunished and to continue in its old ways, he would have kept quiet before and never have entered the world; for if the world is good and is not to be convicted then there would never have been any need of him coming into the world.

13. Now it is the consolation of Christians, and especially of preachers, to be sure and ponder well that when they present and preach Christ, that they must suffer persecution, and nothing can prevent it; and that it is a very good sign of the preaching being truly Christian, when they are thus persecuted, especially by the great, the saintly, the learned and the wise.

And on the other hand that their preaching is not right, when it is praised and honored, as Christ says in Luke 6:22-26: “Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you; for in the same manner did their fathers to the false prophets. Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake; in the same manner did their fathers to the prophets.” Behold our preachers, how their teachings are esteemed; the wealth, honor and power of the world have them fully under their control, and still they wish to be Christian teachers, and whosoever praises and preaches their ideas, lives in honor and luxury.

14. Hence, people have here an example where they are to seek their comfort and help, not in the world; they are not to guard the wisdom and power of men, but Christ himself and him alone; they are to cleave to him and depend on him in every need with all faithfulness and confidence as the disciples, do in our text. For had they not believed that he would help them, they would not have awakened him and called upon him. True their faith was weak and was mingled with much unbelief, so that they did not perfectly and freely surrender themselves to Christ and risk their life with him, nor did they believe he could rescue them in the midst of the sea and save them from death. Thus it is ordained that the Word of God has no master nor judge, no protector or patron can be given it besides God himself. It is his Word. Therefore, as he left it go forth without any merit or counsel of men, so will he himself without any human help and strength administer and defend it. And whoever seeks protection and comfort in these things among men, will both fall and fail, and be forsaken by both God and man.

15. That Jesus slept indicates the condition of their hearts, namely, that they had a weak, sleepy faith, but especially that at the time of persecution Christ withdraws and acts as though he were asleep, and gives neither strength nor power, neither peace nor rest, but lets us worry and labor in our weakness, and permits us to experience that we are nothing at all and that all depends upon his grace and power, as Paul confesses in Corinthians 1:9, that he had to suffer great affliction, so as to learn to trust not in himself but in God, who raised the dead. Such a sleeping on the part of God David often experienced and refers to it in many places, as when he says in Psalm 44:23: “Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? Arise, cast us not off forever.”

16. The summary of this Gospel is this, it gives us two comforting, defying proverbs, that when persecution for the sake of God’s Word arises, we may say: I indeed thought Christ was in the ship, therefore the sea and wind rage, and the waves dash over us and threaten to sink us; but let them rage, it is ordained that the wind and sea obey his will. The persecutions will not continue longer than is his pleasure; and although they overwhelm us, yet they must be subject to him; he is Lord over all, therefore nothing will harm us. May he only give us his help that we may not despair in unbelief. Amen.

17. That the people marveled and praised the Lord that the wind and sea were subject to him, signifies that the Gospel, God’s Word, spreads farther through persecution, it thus becomes stronger and faith increases; and this is also a paradoxical characteristic of the Gospel compared with all worldly things which decrease through every misfortune and opposition, and increase through prosperity and peace. Christ’s kingdom grows through tribulations and declines in times of peace, ease and luxury, as St. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12:9: “My power is made perfect in weakness, etc.” To this end help us God! Amen.