The Three Cs

The pericope for Lord’s Supper in the Gospel of Matthew is in the midst of a paradox. The fruit of salvation offered in a cup is sandwiched by two of the worst kinds of sin. On one hand, Jesus will be betrayed by someone who doesn’t believe in him (Mt 26:14-16, 24), and on the other he will be denied by someone who does (Mt 26:30-35). Jesus will warn us that it would be better we hadn’t been born than to betray Him (Mt 26:24), and he has already said that if we deny him, he will deny us (Mt 10:33). All the while, forgiveness is in the offering. As readers hit this foundational passage to the sacrament of Holy Communion, the ministry of Jesus is coming to a close. Matthew has presented the Messiah in an orderly fashion, not linearly like Mark and Luke, through five discourses — the sermon on the mount, the ten miracles, the establishment of the apostolic ministry, the kingdom parables, the life of the church, and the prophecy of the end times — and he has gone into great detail conn...

This was one of the most unique assignments I have been given since coming to Concordia Theological Seminary. I was tasked with outlining the Salvation History of the Old Testament in 800 words or less, while hitting all of the major points, and introducing you and me into the story. I did miss one major event: the exile. But here is my entry ... in 800 words, on the nose. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. In him was life, and through that life, through that light ... He will send his messengers to herald His coming and to turn the hearts of all who long for the life we lost.  The genesis of John coupled with the conclusion of Malachi, which buttress in their own way, is a wonderful starting point to begin a conversation about where we are in Salvation History. Here, we see the past meeting the future. Here, we see that from the beginning, the Old Testament isn’t mere history; it isn’t just law; it really isn’t old; and it certain...

Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. In my last post, I challenged the idea that Jesus never said he was God, by laying out from just the first eight chapters of John how in fact he did say he was. The Jews knew what Jesus was saying, and they wanted to stone him; they just didn't get the chance. And if you will listen to Jesus' words today, you will hear him say it clearly. Today, we have what I think is the most powerful testimony yet, the Father and the Son ar...

Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?” Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” Some people seem to think Jesus never said he was God, so therefore they don't believe in him. Oh, it's true that Jesus, the King of the Jews, never said anything like, "Kneel before the Lord your maker! Kneel before me, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! I am God!" But make no mistake: Jesus did say he was God. In fact, from today's ...

To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives  forgiveness of sins through his name. Today's passage reminds me, you can't hear this message enough. Everyone who believes in Jesus receives forgiveness of sins through his name. You caught that, right? Everyone! Not some believers. Everyone! As Peter reminds us through Luke's account of the early years after Pentecost, God has promised. He didn't just promise here. He promised Abraham (Gen. 15:6). More than that, Jesus himself promised.  Don't be afraid, just believe. Mark 5:36 I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward. Mark 9:41 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. Mark 16:16 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one an...

Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. This begins with a simply complex statement: I believe in God. I can't tell you when I first said it. And I don't know why I started believing to begin with. I have asked him why and … you know … he told me what I often tell my kids … just because. But why Dad, they ask. Because I said so. I interpret those conversations now as I know I don't need to know. God gave me the power to believe in omni-almighty, or something like that. So I believe in God. And, this is what he looks like? See, I am not sure if I can do it ... that is, talk about God. I have never been introduced to him, so I only trust that I will recognize him when I see him. I can't tell you if I have really heard his voice in all the conversations we'...

Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.  It's easy to get stuck on that first verse. Neither the sexually immoral, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality ... will inherit the kingdom of God. Paul doesn't mince his words, does he? The sexually immoral are destined for hell, we like to say. God has a special place for men who practice homosexuality, we like to say. Make no mistake, the words are black and white. But don't stop there. Neither the idolaters, nor the thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. God is talking to me. God is talking to you. So you have neve...

Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the  Lord  your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. Some people call work a four-letter word. Of course, it actually is, but you know what they mean when they refer to it that way. For most of my life, I didn't view it that way; Dad and Mom taught me that work is important. But like most people, there have been times when work was, well, work, the four-letter word. I am here, I have sometimes said when colleagues see me walk into the office and ask me how I am doing. My response was not necessarily meant to be derogatory, but it certainly could be construed that way. Unfortunately, I am not like many people. For many, work is, well, work, the derogatory four-letter word. They don't want to be at work. They don't want to enjoy their work. They just want to p...

When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing?  Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph,  Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.  He was just a regular dude. He walked with us. He talked with us. He cried. He smiled. He had brothers and sisters. So, I guess it's no wonder that so many people, especially near the area around Capernaum where Jesus grew up, had trouble believing that he was the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of God who would save them, rescue them from tyranny, without a fight. But why? Weren't the miracles enough? Can you imagine seeing Jesus casting out demons, healing the blind, the lame, those with leprosy, the crippled? Can you imagine seeing Jesus walk on stormy seas? Can you...