We come again to the text from which comes the account of DOUBTING THOMAS.
Why is Thomas the only one to received a nickname and a negative one at that?
I’m if you think about it, what don’t we refer to Peter as – DENYING PETER, or Judas as BETRAYING JUDAS?
Why this particular nickname?
Many different reason are given for this.
And while this does refers to what Thomas did, i.e. DOUBTING THE MESSAGE OF THE APOSTLES THAT THE LORD HAD ARISEN,
The title of DOUBTING THOMAS identifies a particular wound that Thomas suffered with.
Like Lou Gehrig’s Disease refers to the illness that took a young vibrant baseball player’s life. The medical term for Lou Gehrig’s disease is AMY-OTRO-PHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS, or ALS – a disease the destroys the nervous system.
The title DOUBTING THOMAS refers to a particular kind of wound that Thomas had.
It is a wound that all have – a wound within.
DOUBTING THOMAS refers to the deadly wound of DOUBTING, to that deadly activity of SHIFTING ONE’S FAITH TO SOMETHING OTHER THAN THE LORD.
DOUBT is the wound that sin works upon the heart and life of every human being. We are born with this wound, as David diagnosis his condition in Psalm 51:5 I WAS BROUGHT FORTH IN INIQUITY, AND IN SIN DID MY MOTHER CONCEIVE ME.
Yet in truth, Thomas wasn’t the only apostle afflicted with this wound of doubt. In the details of Luke’s account of that first Easter, we find Jesus chastising the other Apostles for their slowness to believe or doubt: Luke 24:25
AND JESUS SAID TO THEM, "O FOOLISH ONES, AND SLOW OF HEART TO BELIEVE ALL THAT THE PROPHETS HAVE SPOKEN!
Yes, doubting was Thomas’ wound and while many belittle and malign Thomas for his doubt, this day – we thank God for Thomas sharing his wound with the apostles and the Lord.
We thank God that He inspired John to include this account of Thomas.
For you see, Thomas’ wound is our wound.
You see – Thomas lived in the real world just like you and me.
Thomas was dealing with very real events, very real actions or inactions on his part.
He has seen Jesus’ betrayal.
He had abandoned the one He called Lord.
He witnessed the lies and false accusations raised against Jesus
He had seen Jesus wrongly condemned.
He had seen Jesus die.
AND IN ALL THESE EVENTS –
HE WHO LOVED THE LORD –
HE WHO SAID WITH PETER, THAT HE WOULD DIE RATHER THAN FALL AWAY FROM JESUS –
THIS THOMAS – DID – NOTHING.
And where was Thomas on that first Easter night? NOT WITH THE REST OF THE APOSTLES.
HE WAS SOMEWHERE ELSE – WE KNOW NOT WHERE BUT HE WASN’T WITH – THOSE HE LIVED WITH, ATE WITH, STUDIED WITH, WALKED WITH AS THEY TOGETHER FOLLOWED THE LORD.
Yes, Thomas was a man with a wound – a deep wound.
And this was a wound that filled Thomas with pain. The pain of a wounded heart that one suffers at the loss of a loved one, the pain one has from a conscience torn and tattered by guilt, because they’d done a loved one some wrong, and while they certainly regretted it, the one loved died before that he could apologize, he could make amends.
Yes, Thomas was a man of great pain.
The pain of having his life and the future he saw and planned for with the Lord, completely destroyed.
Nothing remained for Thomas – but his wound and the pain it brought.
Yes, Thomas was a man filled with doubt – AND WE NEED TO BE GRATEFUL THAT HE SHARED HIS DOUBT.
You see Thomas is a man who lives in the real world. Thomas needed real things he could count on. For Thomas was a man who had to deal with very real things that yet remained.
We too, like Thomas, live in the real world and have to deal with very real things.
Like the notice that our job has been eliminated.
Like the check that bounced.
Like the child who just won’t listen.
Like the supposed friends who talk behind your back.
Like the spouse who doesn’t seem to care.
Like the conscience, the mind, filled with the voice of echoing and accusing guilt, that will not shut up.
Like the sickness, the cancer, the illness that won’t go away.
Like the desire for something that is wrong. A desire only seems to grow stronger rather than weaker.
Like the moist clotted dirt laying alongside a freshly dug grave.
Yes, like Thomas we must live in a real world with very real things we have to live and deal with every day.
Real things that our eyes and limited reason seem to tell us that God isn’t greater than, God isn’t more than, God isn’t able to deal with these all too real things for us.
Things so real that they seem to prove that God loves other people more than us.
All these very real and very painful things – are nothing other than the CRUSTIES, OF THE HIGHLY FEVERED, AND DEEPLY SENSITIVE SCAB.
A scab that has dried over the deadly wound that sin has made upon our hearts, upon our minds, and upon our lives.
And so we find ourselves standing with Thomas declaring all to boldly with Thomas:
UNLESS I SEE IN HIS HANDS THE MARK OF THE NAILS, AND PLACE MY FINGER INTO THE MARK OF THE NAILS, AND PLACE MY HAND INTO HIS SIDE, I WILL NEVER BELIEVE.”
Thanks be to Thomas for sharing wound.
Thanks be to Thomas for offering his wound up for all to see.
For this is our wound. And it is to Thomas, to Thomas and his wound heart of DOUBT that Jesus comes.
And what are Jesus first words – to Thomas and to all? NOT – WHY DID YOU DOUBT.
No – Jesus says: PEACE TO YOU.
Jesus says there is now no hostility, no war, no division between me and you – we are one.
And what does Jesus do?
Does Jesus shun this DOUBTING THOMAS?
No, he comes to him – and offers Thomas His wounds.
THEN JESUS SAID TO THOMAS, “PUT YOUR FINGER HERE, AND SEE MY HANDS; AND PUT OUT YOUR HAND, AND PLACE IT IN MY SIDE. DO NOT DISBELIEVE, BUT BELIEVE.”
Now this is such a critical thing. A very real thing that Thomas and the rest of the world needs so desperately to note.
Jesus has Thomas – PUT HIS FINGER INTO THE NAIL HOLES IN HIS HANDS. PUT YOUR FINGER HERE.
HE HAS THOMAS PUT HIS HAND INTO HIS SIDE. AND PUT OUT YOUR HAND, AND PLACE IT IN MY SIDE
Now I want you to think about a fleshly wounds you had. Wounds that you and I have suffered: Whenever we get cut or scraped or the like.
Within a few minutes to an hour the wound has dried over. It has scabbed over. God’s way of having the body protect itself.
Now in this room Jesus comes with His wounds, wounds he has had for now 10 DAYS.
Remember it is a week after Easter that Jesus comes to the apostles in their locked room.
If Jesus wounds are like ours – wouldn’t they’d be dried over? Wound they’d be sealed over.
Yet Jesus has Thomas put his finger into the nail hole. He has Thomas put his hand in his side.
NOW HERE’S QUESTION – HERE’S THE GOSPEL.
WHAT KIND OF WOUND – REMAINS OPEN?
WHAT KIND OF WOUND REMAINS UNSEALED?
WHAT KIND OF WOUND IS ANYONE ABLE TO PUT THEIR FINGER AND HAND INTO?
ONLY A RESURRECTED WOUND? –
ONLY A WOUND THAT FOREVER REMAINS AN OPEN LIVING WOUND.
A RESURRECTED WOUND THAT LIVES – NOT TO BE HEALED – BUT A WOUND THAT LIVES TO HEAL THE MORTAL WOUNDS OF OTHERS.
This resurrected Christ, this Christ who would not remain dead, this Christ who is resurrected to remain and reign as our Lord and Savior, forever bears in His body – living resurrected wounds.
Resurrected wounds that Jesus brings and invites Thomas to touch, so that sin’s wound of doubt might be healed and he believe.
Living wounds that remain to heal us of our wounds.
Now do we understand the prophesy of God through Isaiah the Prophet: 53:5
HE WAS WOUNDED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS; HE WAS CRUSHED FOR OUR INIQUITIES; UPON HIM WAS THE CHASTISEMENT THAT BROUGHT US PEACE, AND WITH HIS STRIPES, WITH HIS WOUNDS WE ARE HEALED.
What does Jesus touch us with in baptism - his holy life and death, his holy flesh – his holy wounds that yet remain to heal us of sin’s wound.
What is wanting forgiveness, but a cry that we might touch those resurrected wounds that they might rule over our all too real wounds, that we might be healed.
What is confession of our sins – but offering up, as Thomas did – our wounded hearts and actions that Jesus might come and touch us with His wounds and we be healed in forgiveness.
What is the absolution that a proclaimed, but Jesus touching us through the Pastor’s flesh, with His fleshly wounds that remain to heal and make us whole.
Every time we come to the Lord’s Supper, what is it but Jesus’ words on in the locked room: PEACE TO YOU –
COME – TOUCH ME AND BE HEALED.
COME – TOUCH ME, RECEIVE MY WOUNDS THAT I OFFER.
COME TOUCH MY WOUNDS THAT WILL REMAIN TO FOREVER HEAL YOU SO THAT YOU MIGHT BELIEVE.
PEACE TO YOU.
Wounds that once touched by them, we say boldly with Thomas:
MY LORD AND MY GOD!
THANK GOD FOR THOMAS SHARING HIS WOUND, BECAUSE IT IS YOUR WOUND AND MINE.
THANKS BE TO JESUS WAS WOUNDED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS.
THANKS BE TO JESUS WHO IS RESURRECTED AND EVER REMAINS – TO COME, TO OFFER, AND TO WORK HIS RESURRECTED LIVING WOUNDS UPON US AND OUR WOUNDS – THAT WE MIGHT BE HEALED.
CHRIST IS RISEN – HE IS RISEN INDEED.
CHRIST IS RISEN – HE IS RISEN INDEED.
ALLELUIA!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
THE PASTOR AND THE CROSS – A NECESSITY
Neither the accumulated wisdom of all the earth and the skies, nor languages, the Church Fathers, and daily reading of the Holy Scripture, nor immense learning and eloquence make a man a good theologian or pastor if the cross is not added.
The cross is God chosen means for Christ and therefore us. It is through the cross God purifies, cleanses, strengthens, and perfects the light of His true knowledge, of true faith in Christ, of true understanding of the divine promises, proper prayer, hope, humility, and all the virtues which He has first planted in the heart through the Word.
Those are foolishly secure spirits rather than real Christians who live each day happily and joyfully, thinking that when they read the laments of Jeremiah or Ezekiel, the prayer of a Jonah, and other Psalms, they are hearing only empty words and vain dreams of someone in the past; therefore they can neither understand these descriptions of a faith struggling under the heaviest of trials nor can they speak of them to others. Neither do they understand or perceive that these words speak of the daily ongoing struggle of the saint and sinner that takes place in the heart and life of a believer.
Accordingly we should equip ourselves for the cross, for as we look upon what was done to Christ, his body, his dignity, his divinity by church and state, so we see in every degree, what the sinful nature, the world, and Satan will do to the saint of God. Yes, the cross is just as necessary for those who wish to serve the Church as air and food are for the maintenance of the body.
How can any person be able to continue to understand the Gospel or continue to teach it to others if he himself has not and does not constantly experience the power of the Gospel in the midst of the on-goring sorrows and trials of our pilgrimage here on earth?
As written David Chytraeus (1531 - 1600) and edited by Rev. Mark W. Love.
A PRAYER
Give perfection to beginners, O Father,
Give intelligence to the little ones,
Give aid to those who are running their course.
Give sorrow to the negligent,
Give fervor of spirit to the lukewarm.
Give to the faithful a good consummation.
for the sake of Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen
St. Irenaeus
The cross is God chosen means for Christ and therefore us. It is through the cross God purifies, cleanses, strengthens, and perfects the light of His true knowledge, of true faith in Christ, of true understanding of the divine promises, proper prayer, hope, humility, and all the virtues which He has first planted in the heart through the Word.
Those are foolishly secure spirits rather than real Christians who live each day happily and joyfully, thinking that when they read the laments of Jeremiah or Ezekiel, the prayer of a Jonah, and other Psalms, they are hearing only empty words and vain dreams of someone in the past; therefore they can neither understand these descriptions of a faith struggling under the heaviest of trials nor can they speak of them to others. Neither do they understand or perceive that these words speak of the daily ongoing struggle of the saint and sinner that takes place in the heart and life of a believer.
Accordingly we should equip ourselves for the cross, for as we look upon what was done to Christ, his body, his dignity, his divinity by church and state, so we see in every degree, what the sinful nature, the world, and Satan will do to the saint of God. Yes, the cross is just as necessary for those who wish to serve the Church as air and food are for the maintenance of the body.
How can any person be able to continue to understand the Gospel or continue to teach it to others if he himself has not and does not constantly experience the power of the Gospel in the midst of the on-goring sorrows and trials of our pilgrimage here on earth?
As written David Chytraeus (1531 - 1600) and edited by Rev. Mark W. Love.
A PRAYER
Give perfection to beginners, O Father,
Give intelligence to the little ones,
Give aid to those who are running their course.
Give sorrow to the negligent,
Give fervor of spirit to the lukewarm.
Give to the faithful a good consummation.
for the sake of Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen
St. Irenaeus
Friday, April 10, 2009
WHAT IS THE CROSS?
What is the Cross?
What is Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God and the Son of Man crucified on a Cross?
What is the human body of Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God nailed to a cross?
What is the human body of Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God nailed to a cross – crying out: MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?
What is the crucifying an innocent Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God?
What is the Cross – the crucifixion of Jesus, the Christ, the Son of Man and the Son of God?
Now I’m not asking the favorite Lutheran question:
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
NO –
If we are know the Cross for what it REALLY IS, rather than what some illusion would have us to believe it is –
Then we must ask and answer this question:
WHAT IS THE CROSS?
WHAT IS THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS, THE CHRIST, THE SON OF MAN AND THE SON OF GOD?
IT IS THE SAVING ACTIVITY OF GOD IN HUMAN FLESH DEALING WITH THE GOD OF HEAVEN WE HAVE REJECTED IN SIN.
IT IS THE SAVING ACTIVITY OF GOD IN HUMAN FLESH DEALING WITH REJECTION OF THE GOD OF HEAVEN, WHICH WE RIGHTLY DESERVE.
IT IS THE SAVING ACTIVITY OF GOD IN HUMAN FLESH DEALING WITH EARTHLY AND DIVINE CONSEQUENCES WE RIGHTLY DESERVE FOR OUR SINFULNESS.
IT IS THE ACTIVITY OF GOD IN HUMAN FLESH DOING FOR US – WHAT WE CANNOT EVER DO - TO BE FORGIVEN BY THE GOD OF HEAVEN, TO BE FOREVER RIGHT WITH GOD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH.
THE CROSS – IS THE ACTIVITY OF GOD IN HUMAN FLESH – SECURING US AND SAVING US FROM OUR FALLEN HUMAN CONDITION OF SIN, DEATH, AND HELL.
THE CROSS – THE SAVING ACTIVITY OF GOD IN HUMAN FLESH LIVES ON TO SAVE IN CHRIST – WHO’S CRUCIFIED HUMAN FLESH WAS RESURRECTED TO REIGN THROUGH THE CROSS WITH HIS RESURRECTION.
Where the Gospel is proclaimed – there the activity of the Cross and the Resurrection is taking place.
Where the water and the Word come together in Baptism – there the activity of the Cross and the Resurrection is taking place.
Where the Absolution is proclaimed – there the activity of the Cross and the Resurrection is taking place.
Where the Body and Blood of Christ are received in faith – there the activity of the Cross and the Resurrection is taking place.
In our Lord Jesus Christ - the activities of both the CROSS and the RESURRECTION for us - are ever at work preserving us unto life everlasting.
God grant us a simple faith and through it, the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Amen.
A PRAYER
We worship Thee, O Crucified!
What glories didst Thou lay aside;
What depth of human grief and sin
Didst Thou consent to languish in,
That through atoning blood outpoured
Our broken peace might be restored!
Though with our shame we shunned the light,
Thou didst not leave us in the night;
We were not left in sin to stray
Unsought, unloved, from Thee away;
For from Thy cross irradiates
A power that saves and recreates.
O loved above all earthly love,
To Thee our hearts adoring move;
Thy boundless mercies yearn to save
And in Thy blood sin’s wounds to lave.
O speed the day when men shall see
That human hopes are all in Thee. Amen.
by Albert W. T. Orsborn
What is Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God and the Son of Man crucified on a Cross?
What is the human body of Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God nailed to a cross?
What is the human body of Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God nailed to a cross – crying out: MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?
What is the crucifying an innocent Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God?
What is the Cross – the crucifixion of Jesus, the Christ, the Son of Man and the Son of God?
Now I’m not asking the favorite Lutheran question:
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
NO –
If we are know the Cross for what it REALLY IS, rather than what some illusion would have us to believe it is –
Then we must ask and answer this question:
WHAT IS THE CROSS?
WHAT IS THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS, THE CHRIST, THE SON OF MAN AND THE SON OF GOD?
IT IS THE SAVING ACTIVITY OF GOD IN HUMAN FLESH DEALING WITH THE GOD OF HEAVEN WE HAVE REJECTED IN SIN.
IT IS THE SAVING ACTIVITY OF GOD IN HUMAN FLESH DEALING WITH REJECTION OF THE GOD OF HEAVEN, WHICH WE RIGHTLY DESERVE.
IT IS THE SAVING ACTIVITY OF GOD IN HUMAN FLESH DEALING WITH EARTHLY AND DIVINE CONSEQUENCES WE RIGHTLY DESERVE FOR OUR SINFULNESS.
IT IS THE ACTIVITY OF GOD IN HUMAN FLESH DOING FOR US – WHAT WE CANNOT EVER DO - TO BE FORGIVEN BY THE GOD OF HEAVEN, TO BE FOREVER RIGHT WITH GOD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH.
THE CROSS – IS THE ACTIVITY OF GOD IN HUMAN FLESH – SECURING US AND SAVING US FROM OUR FALLEN HUMAN CONDITION OF SIN, DEATH, AND HELL.
THE CROSS – THE SAVING ACTIVITY OF GOD IN HUMAN FLESH LIVES ON TO SAVE IN CHRIST – WHO’S CRUCIFIED HUMAN FLESH WAS RESURRECTED TO REIGN THROUGH THE CROSS WITH HIS RESURRECTION.
Where the Gospel is proclaimed – there the activity of the Cross and the Resurrection is taking place.
Where the water and the Word come together in Baptism – there the activity of the Cross and the Resurrection is taking place.
Where the Absolution is proclaimed – there the activity of the Cross and the Resurrection is taking place.
Where the Body and Blood of Christ are received in faith – there the activity of the Cross and the Resurrection is taking place.
In our Lord Jesus Christ - the activities of both the CROSS and the RESURRECTION for us - are ever at work preserving us unto life everlasting.
God grant us a simple faith and through it, the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Amen.
A PRAYER
We worship Thee, O Crucified!
What glories didst Thou lay aside;
What depth of human grief and sin
Didst Thou consent to languish in,
That through atoning blood outpoured
Our broken peace might be restored!
Though with our shame we shunned the light,
Thou didst not leave us in the night;
We were not left in sin to stray
Unsought, unloved, from Thee away;
For from Thy cross irradiates
A power that saves and recreates.
O loved above all earthly love,
To Thee our hearts adoring move;
Thy boundless mercies yearn to save
And in Thy blood sin’s wounds to lave.
O speed the day when men shall see
That human hopes are all in Thee. Amen.
by Albert W. T. Orsborn
Thursday, April 9, 2009
ONLY GOD CAN DEAL WITH GOD
"Only God can deal with God. Thus there is a battle. It is God against God. The abstract God (the God of the Law) cannot be removed but must be dethroned, overcome, 'for you' in concrete actuality. The clothed God must conquer the naked God for us. We can never escape on our own. The revealed God must conquer the hidden God for you in the living present. Faith is precisely the ever-renewed flight from God to God: from God naked and hidden to God clothed and revealed [in Jesus Christ]. Thus Luther insisted that we must cling to the God at his mother's breasts, the God who hung on the cross and was raised from the tomb in the face of the desperate attack launched from the hidden God/Satan. There is no other way.
The question at stake is whether one will believe God in the face of God."
p. 22 - Theology Is for Proclamation - Gerhard O. Forde (Fortress 1990)
A PRAYER
Oh that I might rest in You, my Lord and my God!
Oh! that You would enter into my heart, and so fill it, that I may let go of my pride and embrace You, my sole good!
What are You to me?
In Your pity, work this embrace in me.
What am I to You that You demand my love, and, if I give it not, You are justly angry with me, and threaten me with grievous woes?
Is it then a slight woe to love myself more than You?
For the sake of Your mercies, which are new every morning, tell me, O Lord my God, what You are to me.
Say unto my soul, I am Your salvation.
So speak, that I may hear.
Behold, Lord, my heart is before You; open my ears and say to my soul, I am Your salvation.
After this voice let me quickly flee from myself and my pride, and take hold of You.
Let nothing hide Your face from me.
Let me die to what my pride would make of me, lest I die without what You in Jesus Christ has made of me.
Narrow is the mansion of my soul; enlarge my soul so that You may enter it and fill it, so that there is no room or reason for pride to live within me.
My heart is ruined,
Create in me a clean heart.
My heart has pride within it that would keep me from You and offends You.
I confess it to You as You alone can cleanse my sin within.
Lord, cleanse me from my secret faults, spare Your servant from the power of my enemy within.
I believe, and therefore I have confessed against myself my transgressions to You.
And You, my God, have forgiven the iniquity of my heart.
I will argue against Your judgment for You alone are true.
Yet, my Lord, I fear that my sin of pride might deceive me and I begin to deceive myself.
O Gracious God, who can never be deceived, let me ever remember that all men are like grass, and even if I be like the flower of the grass in all its glory, the grass always withers and the flower ever falls. But Your Word, the Word given to me in my Baptism – stand forever. Amen.
The question at stake is whether one will believe God in the face of God."
p. 22 - Theology Is for Proclamation - Gerhard O. Forde (Fortress 1990)
A PRAYER
Oh that I might rest in You, my Lord and my God!
Oh! that You would enter into my heart, and so fill it, that I may let go of my pride and embrace You, my sole good!
What are You to me?
In Your pity, work this embrace in me.
What am I to You that You demand my love, and, if I give it not, You are justly angry with me, and threaten me with grievous woes?
Is it then a slight woe to love myself more than You?
For the sake of Your mercies, which are new every morning, tell me, O Lord my God, what You are to me.
Say unto my soul, I am Your salvation.
So speak, that I may hear.
Behold, Lord, my heart is before You; open my ears and say to my soul, I am Your salvation.
After this voice let me quickly flee from myself and my pride, and take hold of You.
Let nothing hide Your face from me.
Let me die to what my pride would make of me, lest I die without what You in Jesus Christ has made of me.
Narrow is the mansion of my soul; enlarge my soul so that You may enter it and fill it, so that there is no room or reason for pride to live within me.
My heart is ruined,
Create in me a clean heart.
My heart has pride within it that would keep me from You and offends You.
I confess it to You as You alone can cleanse my sin within.
Lord, cleanse me from my secret faults, spare Your servant from the power of my enemy within.
I believe, and therefore I have confessed against myself my transgressions to You.
And You, my God, have forgiven the iniquity of my heart.
I will argue against Your judgment for You alone are true.
Yet, my Lord, I fear that my sin of pride might deceive me and I begin to deceive myself.
O Gracious God, who can never be deceived, let me ever remember that all men are like grass, and even if I be like the flower of the grass in all its glory, the grass always withers and the flower ever falls. But Your Word, the Word given to me in my Baptism – stand forever. Amen.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
The Art of Being a Blessed Beggar
There was an art to begging. From bitter experience beggars knew that they were far more likely to receive a handout if they approached people nicely and appealed to their better nature with a little discreet flattery rather than if they were aggressive and demanding. So they usually appealed for help by saying, "Kyrie, eleison!," "Lord, have mercy!" This cry was heard almost every day in every street. The Gospels tell us that needy people used the same cry when they appealed to Jesus for His help (Matthew 9:27; 15:22; 17:15; Mark 10:47-48; Luke 17:13).
It was, of course, shameful to beg. Respectable citizens took pride in earning a living and in having enough wealth to support their dependents. Apart from some con men and women, no one chose to become a beggar. Desperation alone drove them to seek charity from others in public-and they begged only if they had no other option.
The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) contains the teaching of Jesus on the life of a disciple. That sermon begins with an astonishing summary of His teaching: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3). Here Jesus congratulates those who are spiritually impoverished and commends spiritual poverty as the mark of discipleship. The Greek word for "poor" is also the term for a beggar. Those who are poor in spirit have no spiritual assets or credentials. They have nothing to offer to God the Father; they receive everything from Him. The poor in spirit are not spiritually rich and powerful; they receive the Holy Spirit as beggars who ask for what they do not have. The Father's kingdom is theirs as a gift, something that is always received and yet never possessed. Unless they receive God's kingdom, they can never enter it and reign in it as kings together with Christ (Mark 10:15; Luke 12:32; 22:28-30).
This countercultural beatitude sums up the whole of Christian spirituality. It contradicts popular religion and common piety. Popular piety presupposes our unrealized spiritual potential; it seeks spiritual enrichment and empowerment through the practice of appropriate spiritual exercises. In contrast to this desire for spiritual self-improvement and self-development, Jesus teaches that we begin, continue, and end our spiritual journey with Him as beggars before God the Father, the heavenly King. We do not, as we follow Jesus, become increasingly self-sufficient. Rather, we learn, bit by bit, the art of begging from God the Father, until at our death we can do nothing but say, "Lord Jesus, have mercy on me!"
Martin Luther knew all about begging. On the evening of the night before he died, he penned a short meditation on how he had learned to understand the Scriptures from his pastoral experience. His short reflection ends with the words, "We are beggars. That is true.."
Because our spiritual life depends on our receiving from God, Christ teaches us to become beggars together with Him. Like Him, we receive everything from God the Father (John 3:35; 5:19; 8:28). This makes it hard, yet at the same time easy, for us to live as His disciples. It is hard because we take such great pride in our own achievements and self-sufficiency. We do not like to ask God, or anyone, for anything. Far better to do without than to become dependent on others! Yet it is also easy because our spirituality does not depend on our performance but on our receiving from God. No one is more or less spiritually advantaged. To change the picture, we must all become as little children, helpless infants that are totally dependent on their mothers (Matthew 18:3; Mark 10:14-15; 1 Peter 2:2).”
From: GRACE UPON GRACE by John Kleinig CPH 2008
On the Cross – Christ was made povertous of things earthly and things divine. His cry on the Cross was that of a beggar – WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME? WHY HAVE YOU LEFT ME SO POOR, SO NOTHING? SO LIKE EVERY HUMAN BORN ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH?
The Resurrection of povertous beggar Jesus Christ on that first Easter is the message of what the Living God provides for the sinful povertous beggars who come in humble repentance and faith, just as they are, without one plea, but that the blood of Jesus – the beggar was shed for me.
Kyrie! Kyrie, eleison!
It was, of course, shameful to beg. Respectable citizens took pride in earning a living and in having enough wealth to support their dependents. Apart from some con men and women, no one chose to become a beggar. Desperation alone drove them to seek charity from others in public-and they begged only if they had no other option.
The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) contains the teaching of Jesus on the life of a disciple. That sermon begins with an astonishing summary of His teaching: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3). Here Jesus congratulates those who are spiritually impoverished and commends spiritual poverty as the mark of discipleship. The Greek word for "poor" is also the term for a beggar. Those who are poor in spirit have no spiritual assets or credentials. They have nothing to offer to God the Father; they receive everything from Him. The poor in spirit are not spiritually rich and powerful; they receive the Holy Spirit as beggars who ask for what they do not have. The Father's kingdom is theirs as a gift, something that is always received and yet never possessed. Unless they receive God's kingdom, they can never enter it and reign in it as kings together with Christ (Mark 10:15; Luke 12:32; 22:28-30).
This countercultural beatitude sums up the whole of Christian spirituality. It contradicts popular religion and common piety. Popular piety presupposes our unrealized spiritual potential; it seeks spiritual enrichment and empowerment through the practice of appropriate spiritual exercises. In contrast to this desire for spiritual self-improvement and self-development, Jesus teaches that we begin, continue, and end our spiritual journey with Him as beggars before God the Father, the heavenly King. We do not, as we follow Jesus, become increasingly self-sufficient. Rather, we learn, bit by bit, the art of begging from God the Father, until at our death we can do nothing but say, "Lord Jesus, have mercy on me!"
Martin Luther knew all about begging. On the evening of the night before he died, he penned a short meditation on how he had learned to understand the Scriptures from his pastoral experience. His short reflection ends with the words, "We are beggars. That is true.."
Because our spiritual life depends on our receiving from God, Christ teaches us to become beggars together with Him. Like Him, we receive everything from God the Father (John 3:35; 5:19; 8:28). This makes it hard, yet at the same time easy, for us to live as His disciples. It is hard because we take such great pride in our own achievements and self-sufficiency. We do not like to ask God, or anyone, for anything. Far better to do without than to become dependent on others! Yet it is also easy because our spirituality does not depend on our performance but on our receiving from God. No one is more or less spiritually advantaged. To change the picture, we must all become as little children, helpless infants that are totally dependent on their mothers (Matthew 18:3; Mark 10:14-15; 1 Peter 2:2).”
From: GRACE UPON GRACE by John Kleinig CPH 2008
On the Cross – Christ was made povertous of things earthly and things divine. His cry on the Cross was that of a beggar – WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME? WHY HAVE YOU LEFT ME SO POOR, SO NOTHING? SO LIKE EVERY HUMAN BORN ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH?
The Resurrection of povertous beggar Jesus Christ on that first Easter is the message of what the Living God provides for the sinful povertous beggars who come in humble repentance and faith, just as they are, without one plea, but that the blood of Jesus – the beggar was shed for me.
Kyrie! Kyrie, eleison!
Monday, April 6, 2009
Getting A Glimpse of God - Crucified
"In Jesus Christ, the God-Man we are given a glimpse of God. Imagine a statue so vast that it filled the whole universe, and therefore could be seen by no one; and then another statue was formed, and exact model of the other in the shape of the limbs and features, in form and material, but somehow reduced in proportion, so that those who were unable to behold the vast, all-enveloping stature could still say they had see it, for the other smaller stature preserved all the features of the great statue, and the limbs and features, and its form, and it was in no way distinguishable except in size.
So did the Son of God divest Himself of His equality with the Father and show us the way to knowledge of Him who is made the express image of His person; so that we, who are unable to look upon the splendor of the shining of the greatness of His Godhead, yet may behold His brightness and so, by looking upon Jesus’ brightness, behold the divine light."
Origen of Alexander 221 A.D.
During this Holy Week, may we all with great humility and reverence look upon the divestature of the Son of God that we might be invested with the riches of heaven itself.
So did the Son of God divest Himself of His equality with the Father and show us the way to knowledge of Him who is made the express image of His person; so that we, who are unable to look upon the splendor of the shining of the greatness of His Godhead, yet may behold His brightness and so, by looking upon Jesus’ brightness, behold the divine light."
Origen of Alexander 221 A.D.
During this Holy Week, may we all with great humility and reverence look upon the divestature of the Son of God that we might be invested with the riches of heaven itself.
Friday, April 3, 2009
LIVING THE FAITH
Pursue the course of living out the faith that God has given and you have confessed. This is way of God must be attended to with seriousness and diligence. We say with Luther: ”Therefore it false and not to be permitted if one would preach or teach thus: ‘Although you do not keep the commandments nor love God and your neighbor, yes, though you be an adulterer, -- that will not harm you. If you only believe you will be saved.’ No, my dear sir, you are mistaken; you will not possess the kingdom of heaven. For here it is written in concise and conclusive words: ‘the works of the flesh are manifest . . .; of which I tell you before, as I have told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.’”1
“Oh, it is a living, busy, active, powerful thing that we have in faith, so that it is impossible for it not to do good without ceasing. Nor does it ask whether good works are to be done; but before the question is asked, it has wrought them and is always engaged in doing them.”2
In justification, faith receives, in sanctification (living according to faith) faith works. The two are one organ. It is the same lung which breathes in the air that breaths out the air that makes speech. And just as we need always first to breath in order to be able to speak, so we always need first to receive forgiveness in order to produce good works. Always; for as it is not sufficient to breath once in our life, just so it is not sufficient to receive forgiveness only once. The chief concerns of every believer on earth is forgiveness in all things and sanctification (living by faith) in all things.
1) Luther, explanation of Galatians 2:17 & 5:19ff.
2) Luther’s Preface to the Epistle of Romans.
A PRAYER FOR THE DAY
Blessed Father in heaven, by Your Word alone, light came forth in the midst of darkness at creation.
Then You spoke again and a greater light entered our sin darkened world in the person of Your only begotten Son.
Oh, how I, and those I love and serve,
need this greater light to shine within all our hearts this day.
As it is a day which You have made,
make also Your Spirit to shine in me and all those who lay upon my heart.
Prepare my heart and mind for the callings You have given me this day,
that Your will may be honored above all and in all.
Give me joy in all that I may do, for in each thing I do,
I do as Your chosen means of being and bringing good to bear in the lives of those around me.
Be King over my thoughts and desires so that they are nothing more or less than Your thoughts and desires.
Where I have been apathetic, slow, and inattentive to Your will for me,
I pray that You would forgive me and increase my dedication and diligence to You and Your will.
In all that my eyes may see, enable me to see only the holy things.
Where I see those things holy that need to be done,
make me holy for the doing of them.
Where I see those things holy that have been done,
make my lips holy for the praising of them.
Where I see things holy that are too great for me,
make my prayers holy for petitioning of them.
Be with each member of my church this day,
and protect them from the devil and his host.
Cleanse their thoughts and desires of all things sinful and wicked.
Let Your Word, recently heard, or heard long ago, be upon their hearts,
and by Your Spirit, increase their faith through that Word.
For those caught in the struggle with temptation,
make clear to them and guide them to the way of escape that You provide.
For those who succumb daily to the same recurring temptations,
work repentance in their hearts and grant them an increase of Your Spirit and grace,
that they may overcome such temptations and live by a more faithful walk in You.
For those suffering in any form,
ease their pain of heart, mind, and body.
For those alone and in despair,
let Your companionship be with them from the day of their Baptism:
fill their hearts and comfort them that they may have the joy of Your attending angels.
Be with all servants of Your Word,
and allow them to be only what You’ve called them to be: servants of Your Word.
Wherever Your Word is heard this day,
let the hearing thereof, work faith, hope, and confidence in the hearts of all who hear it.
These things I ask do not exhaust the list of all that is needed,
nor can they ever exhaust Your ability to answer.
For the sake of Christ, I ask, I pray, and I praise You. Amen.
“Oh, it is a living, busy, active, powerful thing that we have in faith, so that it is impossible for it not to do good without ceasing. Nor does it ask whether good works are to be done; but before the question is asked, it has wrought them and is always engaged in doing them.”2
In justification, faith receives, in sanctification (living according to faith) faith works. The two are one organ. It is the same lung which breathes in the air that breaths out the air that makes speech. And just as we need always first to breath in order to be able to speak, so we always need first to receive forgiveness in order to produce good works. Always; for as it is not sufficient to breath once in our life, just so it is not sufficient to receive forgiveness only once. The chief concerns of every believer on earth is forgiveness in all things and sanctification (living by faith) in all things.
1) Luther, explanation of Galatians 2:17 & 5:19ff.
2) Luther’s Preface to the Epistle of Romans.
A PRAYER FOR THE DAY
Blessed Father in heaven, by Your Word alone, light came forth in the midst of darkness at creation.
Then You spoke again and a greater light entered our sin darkened world in the person of Your only begotten Son.
Oh, how I, and those I love and serve,
need this greater light to shine within all our hearts this day.
As it is a day which You have made,
make also Your Spirit to shine in me and all those who lay upon my heart.
Prepare my heart and mind for the callings You have given me this day,
that Your will may be honored above all and in all.
Give me joy in all that I may do, for in each thing I do,
I do as Your chosen means of being and bringing good to bear in the lives of those around me.
Be King over my thoughts and desires so that they are nothing more or less than Your thoughts and desires.
Where I have been apathetic, slow, and inattentive to Your will for me,
I pray that You would forgive me and increase my dedication and diligence to You and Your will.
In all that my eyes may see, enable me to see only the holy things.
Where I see those things holy that need to be done,
make me holy for the doing of them.
Where I see those things holy that have been done,
make my lips holy for the praising of them.
Where I see things holy that are too great for me,
make my prayers holy for petitioning of them.
Be with each member of my church this day,
and protect them from the devil and his host.
Cleanse their thoughts and desires of all things sinful and wicked.
Let Your Word, recently heard, or heard long ago, be upon their hearts,
and by Your Spirit, increase their faith through that Word.
For those caught in the struggle with temptation,
make clear to them and guide them to the way of escape that You provide.
For those who succumb daily to the same recurring temptations,
work repentance in their hearts and grant them an increase of Your Spirit and grace,
that they may overcome such temptations and live by a more faithful walk in You.
For those suffering in any form,
ease their pain of heart, mind, and body.
For those alone and in despair,
let Your companionship be with them from the day of their Baptism:
fill their hearts and comfort them that they may have the joy of Your attending angels.
Be with all servants of Your Word,
and allow them to be only what You’ve called them to be: servants of Your Word.
Wherever Your Word is heard this day,
let the hearing thereof, work faith, hope, and confidence in the hearts of all who hear it.
These things I ask do not exhaust the list of all that is needed,
nor can they ever exhaust Your ability to answer.
For the sake of Christ, I ask, I pray, and I praise You. Amen.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Being A Theologian of the Cross - Law & Gospel
“The words must be law and gospel in such a way that there is no escape.” "On Being a Theologian of the Cross"
According to Gerhard Forde, this is the goal a theologian of the cross must strive for if he is to be such a theologian.
The theologian of glory will have a perspective that cannot abide suffering in any form. This perspective can only see suffering as evil and that which is apart from the work of God. Suffering for such a theologian has no benefit for the believer. The theologian of the glory looks through or passed the suffering in hopes of finding some explanation for it and a way to escape it. The Law isn't the Law anymore and neither is the Gospel. As such, neither does it proper work.
The theologian of the cross has a totally different perspective. Through the cross, suffering becomes a means by which the believer is blessed, as suffering drives the old man to despair and finally death. The theologian of the cross knows that God is involved because it is the Law, the judgment of God that has driven his conscience to suffering the torments of dread and despair. The theologian of the cross looks at such suffering and sees the cross there and God in the midst of it. Seeing the cross, this theologian will look on to the resurrection of Christ and the new life that is freely offered to all those who have died in the cross – life that is eternal in the midst of and beyond all suffering. Here the Law is the Law and left to do its work. The Gospel is the the Gospel and it is sought to do its work and lives are saved.
According to Gerhard Forde, this is the goal a theologian of the cross must strive for if he is to be such a theologian.
The theologian of glory will have a perspective that cannot abide suffering in any form. This perspective can only see suffering as evil and that which is apart from the work of God. Suffering for such a theologian has no benefit for the believer. The theologian of the glory looks through or passed the suffering in hopes of finding some explanation for it and a way to escape it. The Law isn't the Law anymore and neither is the Gospel. As such, neither does it proper work.
The theologian of the cross has a totally different perspective. Through the cross, suffering becomes a means by which the believer is blessed, as suffering drives the old man to despair and finally death. The theologian of the cross knows that God is involved because it is the Law, the judgment of God that has driven his conscience to suffering the torments of dread and despair. The theologian of the cross looks at such suffering and sees the cross there and God in the midst of it. Seeing the cross, this theologian will look on to the resurrection of Christ and the new life that is freely offered to all those who have died in the cross – life that is eternal in the midst of and beyond all suffering. Here the Law is the Law and left to do its work. The Gospel is the the Gospel and it is sought to do its work and lives are saved.
Not According to My Righteousness
“And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’” Jeremiah 23:6 (ESV)
Blessed God deal with me,
Not according to my righteousness.
Blessed God deal with me,
Not according to the cleanliness of my hands.
Deal with my unrighteous thoughts,
According to the righteous thoughts of Christ for me.
Deal with the uncleanness of my thoughts,
According to the purity of Christ’s thoughts for me.
Deal with my unrighteous words,
According to the righteous words of Christ for me.
Deal with the uncleanness of my words,
According to the purity of Christ’s words spoken for me.
Deal with my unrighteous works,
According to the righteous works of Christ for me.
Deal with the uncleanness of my works,
According to the purity of Christ’s works done for me.
Deal with me, my unrighteousness, and my uncleanness,
According to Jesus Christ, His righteousness, and His purity – for me.
“And this is the name by which he will be called:
‘The Lord is our righteousness.’” Jeremiah 23:6 (ESV)
Amen.
Blessed God deal with me,
Not according to my righteousness.
Blessed God deal with me,
Not according to the cleanliness of my hands.
Deal with my unrighteous thoughts,
According to the righteous thoughts of Christ for me.
Deal with the uncleanness of my thoughts,
According to the purity of Christ’s thoughts for me.
Deal with my unrighteous words,
According to the righteous words of Christ for me.
Deal with the uncleanness of my words,
According to the purity of Christ’s words spoken for me.
Deal with my unrighteous works,
According to the righteous works of Christ for me.
Deal with the uncleanness of my works,
According to the purity of Christ’s works done for me.
Deal with me, my unrighteousness, and my uncleanness,
According to Jesus Christ, His righteousness, and His purity – for me.
“And this is the name by which he will be called:
‘The Lord is our righteousness.’” Jeremiah 23:6 (ESV)
Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)