Sermon - Ash Wednesday - Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

The Christian faith is full of paradoxes.  The readings for this Ash Wednesday bring some of these to our attention.  Perhaps a short summary of all our readings is this:  God does not judge by outward appearances, as man does.  But rather, he looks at the heart.  He sees the true reality of the situation, which often looks quite opposite to what we see. 

Take Paul, for instance, who writes about his ministry and all the hardships and turmoil he faced:  “afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger;”  To all outward appearances Paul was a failure, a reproach, rejected by God and man alike.   

And yet, through all these things, in spite of all these things, in fact, using these very hardships and troubles, God accomplished great things through Paul.  Many would come to faith.  Churches were planted and thrived.  Christianity would spread, even to the very heart of the empire, the great city of Rome. 

Through the prophet Joel, God calls his people to repentance:  Rend your hearts, and not your garments.  Sorrow for sin is in the heart, it is inward, not merely outward – though it may have outward signs.  After all, things like ashes and sackcloth and rending of garments were common outward signs of repentance throughout the Bible.  

And Jesus teaches us to practice our righteousness, not to be seen, but rather in secret.  Almsgiving, prayer and fasting are not for show, but are deep and profound expressions of faith.  And if you’re tempted to make a spectacle of it, then better do it in secret than to think that your practice of righteousness will bring you the accolades of God or man. 

In fact, if any of our righteous practices, any of our religious activities, are done in order to be seen – for show, and not in genuine faith – then they are hypocrisy.  If hat which is meant to flow from faith instead becomes a way to gain a reward, a work for show, to win someone’s favor or impress them with how good and righteous you are.  Well, nothing should be further from the Christian. 

But we are tempted.  And we sometimes fall for it.  So Jesus warns us, exhorts us, reminds us and sets us straight. Don’t practice your righteousness to be seen.  Do it, rather, in secret, even, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 

Jesus isn’t teaching works righteousness here, though.  He’s not telling you that good works only count for salvation if done secretly.  You’re already righteous.  You have already received the blessings of salvation.  He’s talking about the working out of our faith, the exercising it.  The good works he has prepared for us beforehand, that we should walk in them. 

And so these are the three he mentions: 

Almsgiving.  When you give to the needy.  Not, “if”, but when.  We Christians receive daily bread in abundance from our gracious Father.  And Jesus expects that we will share of that bounty.  Not for show, not for gain, but simply out of gratitude and love.   

Prayer.  Christian prayer is as natural as breathing.  Again Jesus doesn’t say, “if you pray” but “when you pray”.  But prayer can also be a playground for sin, as we may be tempted to make a show of our prayer.  Now, clearly, Jesus is not teaching us to always and only ever pray in private.  In fact, in this same chapter he teaches us to pray the Lord’s Prayer, which begins “Our Father” - a prayer meant for Christians to pray together with other Christians. 

And likewise, he says, “when you fast...” not “if you fast”.  He assumes that his people will practice self-denial, perhaps of food, perhaps of other forms.  But neither is this to become a tool for our own gain, or to earn sympathy from others or attention and accolades.  Don’t disfigure your face.  Rather, wash up.  Present yourself well.  Be joyful. 

And then these last comments sum it all up, they present us with the principle:  lay up your treasures in heaven, not on earth.  Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

And our treasure, dear Christians, is with Christ. 

Christ who gave us the dear treasure of himself.  Who left behind his heavenly throne to humble himself and live among us.  Who took on human flesh, and suffered all sorts of poverty, to make us heirs of righteousness.  Who redeemed us, not with gold or silver, but with something of far greater value – his holy precious blood, and his innocent suffering and death. 

Christ bore the hot wrath of God’s anger, and was consumed by it, for us.  His cold clay was laid in the tomb for us.  He was returned to the ground as one day we will return to the dust.  But death could not hold him.  And so he rose.  And so shall we who are in him.  This is our hope.  This is our promise.  This is our treasure. 

Set your hearts and minds on these things, the things of heaven.  Don’t fall for the temptations to practice righteousness in order to be seen by men.  But know that you have been seen by God, regarded by him, favorably, in Christ.  And do your good works, practice your righteousness, live out your faith, as a joyful response to the treasures that are already yours in Christ. 

Repent of your sins, yet again.  Rend your sinful hearts.  Pray, “create in me a clean heart, oh God, and renew a right spirit within me”  And the God who so loved the world that he gave his only Son, will hear your prayer, as he always does.  He forgives you sins and remembers them no more. 

And treasure in that new heart the forgiveness, grace and mercy that come only through the Christ who gives you all good things. Lay up for yourselves the treasures of heaven, that are already yous in Christ, and pay no mind to the treasures of this world that fade and are so easily destroyed and stolen.  Nothing can rob you of the eternal blessings, the treasures that are ours in Jesus Christ. 

God does not see as the world sees, looking only at the outward, the visible, the temporary treasures.  God sees to the heart, sees that which truly counts, truly lasts, and is our true comfort through all the changes and chances of life.  May we learn ever more to see it as he does.   

Sermon - Epiphany 5 - Matthew 5:13-20

We have two main thoughts in today’s Gospel reading.  Firstly, Jesus encourages Christians to be who they are – the salt and light of the world.  

 

In the second, he shows his relation to the Law and the Prophets – that he came not to abolish but fulfill them. 

 

This is all part of his famous Sermon on the Mount.  He speaks here, first of all, to his followers, those who give ear to his teaching, and then, by extension, to us Christians. 

 

Let’s take the first section first – salt and light.  Two earthly things with which everyone is familiar.  Two very different parts of creation – but both with something in common – they have a purpose, a function.  They do something.  

 

Salt, sprinkled through the food, both preserves and gives flavor.  And light, well, it lets you see.  It shows things.  Jesus says Christians are both salt and light.  But notice first how he speaks about it – he doesn’t say, “Be salt and light”  but “you are”.  That is, you already are these things, you are this way.  Salt can’t help but to be salty, and light can’t help but to shine.  So already in the grammar of Jesus there is a promise.  

 

Christians will do good works.  They are as natural for the new Adam within us as breathing.  Good works are like the breath of faith – exhaling in the direction of our neighbor.  Or another way of putting it is God does good works through us, or uses us to do the good works he has prepared for us to do.  His light shines through us.  In any case, however, we never crow about our good works or boast in them.  As Jesus says, they are done to give glory to your Father who is in heaven.  

 

But the Christian is not only New Creation.  He is also Old Adam.  He is a saint, but he is also a sinner.  He isn’t always as salty or shiny as he wants to be.  And so we also need the law.  If all we ever did was believe and trust, we’d not need the law’s direction, curbing and guidance.  But because we are also still plagued by this sinful flesh, this body of death, we also need the threats and condemnations of the law. 

 

So, Jesus also says, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.  I have come to fulfill them”.  Jesus seems to mean here both the Holy Scriptures, and also the law – as in that category of teaching – like law and gospel. 

 

There is a tendency in some Christian circles to abolish the law.  Whether purposely or unknowingly, some Christians would disregard or dismiss the Old Testament.  “We are a New Testament Church” I’ve heard some say.  But this seems based on a false idea that the Old Testament is irrelevant to Christians.  

 

There is also a tendency in some circles to disregard or dismiss the law – as in the commands, the statues, the rules that God has set forth.  The 10 commandments, which have been degraded into suggestions, if that.  The old and antiquated and not so important to know and to live by.  In a way, any time we sin we turn our back on the law, we “abolish the law”, or at least we act as if it doesn’t apply to us.  

 

But rather than relaxing the law, Jesus raises the bar.  Rather than diminish its demands, he amplifies the law.  He emphasizes it all the more.  He says not an iota or a dot – the smallest of markings – will pass from it until all is accomplished.  If you break even the least of these commandments you will be least in his kingdom.  And he draws attention the most righteous men around, at least in earthly terms or in most people’s minds, and he says even their righteousness isn’t enough.  You need to follow the law, more closely, more righteous-ly.  Yes, even down to the last little mark of it. 

 

Why so extreme, Jesus?  Would some call him a legalist?  Who can live up to such a standard?  It’s unreasonable.  How can Jesus make these demands that we can never live up to?  Shouldn’t we relax the law a little bit and make it more attainable?  How about instead of following the commandments perfectly, I just follow them for the most part?  Let’s make the law like horseshoes and hand grenades, where close enough is good enough.  Wouldn’t that be better, Jesus? 

 

But no.  There is no slacking on the law, with Jesus, or his Father.  There is no loosening of standards or winking at sins, grading on a spiritual curve.  He says be holy as I am holy.  Unless your righteousness exceeds the Pharisees you will never – never – enter the kingdom of heaven! 

 

That never would be for you and for me and for all people – if this was his only word on the matter.  If Jesus’ teaching on the law was all he taught, he would be a terrible savior, a peddler of despair, a prophet of doom and gloom.  But Jesus speaks another word.  

 

He says, “I have come to fulfill the law”.  He has come to fulfill the Old Testament.  And he has come to fulfill the commandments.  And this is very good news indeed. 

He has come to fulfill all the Old Testament promises and pictures, for these are the scriptures that testify of him.  

 

He’s the seed of the woman that crushes the serpent – that’s Jesus.  

He’s the ram caught in the thicket, a sacrifice God provides. 

 

He’s the bronze serpent raised up by Moses that we might look to him and live.  

 

The Son of David that would reign over his house forever – that’s Jesus.  

 

The Suffering Servant in Isaiah – Jesus. 

 

He is the one forsaken by God (Psalm 22), encircled by dogs, hands and feet pierced, crying out in thirst.    

 

The Jonah that comes back after three days in the belly of death – Jesus.  

 

The one born of a virgin, born in Bethlehem, the Savior of the Nations, the Glory of Israel – Jesus.  

 

He is the Joshua that conquers our enemies.  

 

He is the Priest in the order of Melchizedek. 

 

He is Yahweh of the burning bush.  

 

The Lamb of the Passover who saves by his blood.  

 

He is the Lord of Hosts and Ancient of Days. 

 

He’s the faithful husband that Hosea patterns himself after. 

He is the True Temple, the dwelling of God with man. 

 

He is the very Word of Creation now made flesh.  

 

He fulfills the Law and the Prophets by his incarnation, as true God and true man, by his words and his works.  He does it all, every detail, and does it well – even perfectly. 

 

He also fulfills the Law and Prophets in the sense of perfect righteousness.  He fulfills the commandments – and he does it for us.  He loves God perfectly, with all his heart, soul, strength and mind.  He loves his fellow man with a love greater than all – a love that would even lay down his life for friends and enemies alike.  He had no other gods.  He honored God’s name.  He remembered the Sabbath and kept it holy.  He honored father and mother.  He never murdered, committed adultery, stole or lied.  He was content with whatever God gave him, including even his cup of suffering.  Jesus never broke the law, but always fulfilled the law with perfect love for God and man. 

 

But he did this not as an example for us – or at least not primarily so.  If that’s all he was but a super-model of morality, that would only make it worse for us.  We’d look even worse in comparison.  But he fulfills the law for us.  He is perfectly righteous for us.  Yes, he died for us – but he also lived for us – to earn for us the credit of all his good works. 

 

So while your righteousness doesn’t exceed the Pharisees, or qualify you for the kingdom – Jesus’ righteousness does.  And the good news is that he gives you his righteousness.  He takes your sin to the cross, and he gives his perfect, spotless record of righteousness to you.  And with the righteousness of Christ – the kingdom of heaven is yours. 

 

So be the salt that you are and the light in the world.  Let the light of your faith shine in the good works God sets before, to give him glory and in love for your neighbor.  Rest secure in the righteousness of Christ, which far exceeds any other righteousness, and is yours by grace through faith in him.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

Sermon - The Baptism of Our Lord - Matthew 3:13-17

Jesus’ public ministry begins with his baptism in the Jordan River by John.  And so our Epiphany season also begins with this important event in the life of Christ.   

But like John, we might have some question about this at first.  After all, every Sunday School child knows Jesus is the only one without sin, and also that baptism washes away our sins.  So John objected, “I need to be baptized by YOU Jesus.  I’m the sinner here, not you!”  And Jesus’ response doesn’t deny that. 

But he says this, “Let it be so now.”  In other words, just this once.  Normally, you’re right, John.  I am the Savior and you are the sinner.  Baptism comes from me, to you.  I am the one to give and offer the forgiveness of sins.  And yes, you’re right, I don’t have a need to be baptized for my own sins.  But now, just this once, it is fitting.  In order to “fulfill all righteousness.” 

But what does that mean?  Quite a lot. 

Jesus has work to do.  His quiet years of obscurity are now past, he has reached full maturity and now at 30 the minimum age required of a Jewish teacher.  His public ministry begins.  And it is quite a to-do list.   

First, he will go to the wilderness to face the devil’s temptations.  He will gather disciples.  He will perform many miracles.  He will “open the eyes that are blind,” heal all manner of disease, show his mastery over nature – water to wine, storms to calm seas, multiply loaves and fish.  He will even raise the dead. 

But mostly he will spend these next several years preaching.  The kingdom of heaven is at hand, and in him, indeed, has arrived!  This is good news for the poor.  It is a message to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.  “I must preach...” he would tell his disciples, “for that is why I came.” 

But the to-do list has one other item, one major task for him to accomplish.  He will go to Jerusalem and die.  He will die for the sins of the world.  And then, in order to fulfill all righteousness, to complete it, he will declare with his dying breath, “it is finished.” 

Jesus’ purpose in his Baptism is not to wash away his own sin.  He has none.  It is to bring the cleansing of your sin, mine, John’s sin, and the sins of the world.  It is, as it were, his first step on the journey to the cross. 

We stand with John.  We confess, “we need to be baptized by you, Jesus.”  We have polluted our souls by our own sin, which was polluted even from birth.  A well of spiritual sewage spewing out from within us, gushing from our wicked hearts into filthy thoughts, lying words, and evil deeds. 

Baptism, for Christians, is first of all an acknowledgment of sin.  We are impure, unclean, soiled in sin.   

Imagine seeing someone important, going on a date or to a job interview and not bothering to shower first.  Imagine playing in the mud all day and then not washing up before dinner.   

But all the more the sinful soul is not prepared to stand before the righteous God.  We are sinful and unclean, sinners by thought word and deed.  Unrighteous.  Unholy.  Unprepared and unfit to be even in the presence of our maker, let alone to receive his favor. 

We confess, with John, “we need to be baptized by you, Jesus.” And so we are.  Though it comes through the hands of a pastor who applies the water and the mouth of man that speaks the words, that command and promise is from Jesus.  The power is from Jesus.  “Go and make disciples” he charged his first pastors, “Baptizing and teaching” 

And so you, dear Christian, are baptized.  Washed and cleansed thoroughly by Jesus, who has, for you, fulfilled all righteousness.  You are wholly righteous, fully prepared, entirely and thoroughly purified by the very word and promise of God in the water. 

And the same Triune God who is revealed at Jesus’ baptism places that Triune Name upon you at yours.   

The Father speaks, “This is my son with whom I am well pleased.”  It’s true of Jesus, in his baptism, but it’s now also true of you in yours.  God the Father is pleased with you, because your sins are washed away and you are clean in Christ. 

The Spirit descends upon Jesus in his baptism, and you receive that same Holy Spirit in yours.  A washing of rebirth and renewal by the Spirit, an indwelling, the Spirit making your bodies his temple.  The very breath of God giving you new life, by his word and promise, for the sake of Christ. 

And Jesus, who is baptized for you, unites himself to you in your baptism.  Paul teaches this beautifully in Romans 6.  We are crucified and buried with Christ in baptism.  United with him in the most profound mystery.  But not only his death is ours, but also his life.  If we are united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 

And just as Adam and Eve died spiritually the day that ate of the fruit, though physical death came later, so the day of your baptism, you were raised to new life, though the physical resurrection comes later.  So Paul writes, “consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” 

In Christ, you are dead to sin.  Sin has no power over you.  Sin’s wages do not apply to you.  Death holds no terror for you.  God’s righteousness is not meted out upon you in wrath, but Christ’s righteousness is fulfilled in you, covering you with, cleansing you by his blood.  Consider yourself clean, for so God does.  Consider yourself dead to sin and alive to God in Chirst, for God does.  Consider yourself God’s own child, and gladly say it, for you are baptized into Christ! 

In Jesus’ baptism heaven is opened to him, and in your baptism, he opens heaven to you.  If we had remained in our sins, we would be shut out, cast out, exiled from eternity with God.  But in Christ we are invited, welcomed, even made heirs of an eternal home, a mansion being prepared for us already in his house.  And all of it is guaranteed to you in baptism.   

Which is also why baptism is such a comfort to Christians, especially when we face death.  To know that God has claimed and named us as his own, washed and prepared us for his presence, and that in Christ, who unites himself to us in the water, we are made ready for heaven.  I am baptized into Christ.  I’m a child of paradise! 

So Jesus is baptized for us.  And we are baptized into him.  He fulfills all righteousness by his life and death and resurrection.  And we receive his righteousness by faith in his promise, a promise poured out in water and word.  In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.