Monday, November 21, 2016

November 19-21, 2016 Pastor Timothy J. Spaude Text: Luke 23:35-43 “JESUS IS THE KING!


CHRIST THE KING SUNDAY

November 19-21, 2016

Pastor Timothy J. Spaude

Text: Luke 23:35-43



“JESUS IS THE KING!

1.     Even though many reject Him.

2.     Even though it may not look like it.

3.     Great news for those in need of mercy.



Luke 23:35-43 (NIV 1984) The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at Him. They said, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.” 36The soldiers also came up and mocked Him. They offered Him wine vinegar 37and said, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.” 38There was a written notice above Him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 39One of the criminals who hung there blasphemed Him: “Aren’t You the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” 40But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this Man has done nothing wrong.” 42Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom.” 43Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with Me in paradise.”



          We’ve come to the last Sunday of the church year, the last Sunday of what’s called End Times. It’s fitting that the words of God we focus on today direct our attention to what comes last and will last. Jesus is the King. When He comes at the end of the world He will be recognized by all as the king. Every knee will bow before Him and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. That is how it will be because Jesus is the King. But that’s not how it is now. Nor is it the way it has been, is it? Today we go to a portion of God’s Word that is often read during the season of Lent that help us to keep believing, keep rejoicing in and keep trusting Christ the King.

          He is king even though many reject Him. Now rejecting something good and valuable is not uncommon or unique. Any of you who have watched the Antique Road show know that they regularly ask people where they got their prize. Many buy them at garage sales for a few dollars and are delighted to find out their find is worth thousands. Just consider these whoppers: In 1999, a Wisconsin man paid only $29 for a painting by Martin Johnson Heade that gave him an $882,500 payout. Teri Horton, a truck driver, bought a painting for only $5 that she claimed was “ugly” that she was going to use for a dartboard. The painting turned out to be by famed abstract painter Jackson Pollock. She has been offered $9 million. But this could be the biggest. A man paid $45 for a collection of negative photographs. The photographs are said to be by Ansel Adams and if they really are they could be worth up to $200 million dollars. One man’s trash is another’s treasure.

          Sounds odd to apply that to Jesus but that’s how many treat Him. As trash. The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at Him. They said, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.” 36The soldiers also came up and mocked Him. They offered Him wine vinegar 37and said, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.” 38There was a written notice above Him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 39One of the criminals who hung there blasphemed Him: “Aren’t You the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” Many people were there when Jesus was crucified. The people of Jerusalem, the religious rulers of the Jewish people, the soldiers whose job it was to carry out the crucifixion. The criminals who were also being crucified. What was the most common reaction to Jesus? He was rejected. It didn’t make any difference that the sign was partially right. Jesus is the king of the Jews and everyone else. They still rejected Him. He was trash. Not worth anymore to them than cruel entertainment as an object of mockery. But even though they rejected Him Jesus is still King.

          Let’s flash forward to today. How do many view Jesus? Some at least call Him a good teacher. Some wonder if there was a real Jesus. Some kind of make up their own Jesus taking all the loving parts but ignoring the parts where Jesus talks very plainly about the reality of Hell. But viewing Him as the King of kings? Not many see Him that way or treat Him that way. He is rejected. But just like selling a Jackson Pollock painting for $5 does not make it only worth $5 but rather exposes the foolishness and ignorance of the seller the fact that Jesus is rejected by many as King does not change the fact that He is the King. For He is!

          Even though it may not look like it. What do you think a king should do? Clearly the people gathered around Jesus at His crucifixion had in their minds what a king should do. “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.” “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.” “Aren’t You the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” Did you pick it out? What a king should do, what Jesus should do to prove He was king was save Himself. That’s what people in power do. They think of themselves.  If Jesus were a king he would come down from that cross. But Jesus didn’t do that. It didn’t look like He was in charge.

          But Jesus didn’t come down because He is the real King. He thinks of the good of others first. He stayed on the cross because the King had come to give His life to atone for the sins of all people, even those who mocked him here. Even those who are clueless about what Jesus, the Messiah, the Chosen one, the King was sent to do.

          Remember that the next time you are tempted to ask Jesus to come down and prove He is king to you. Oh, we don’t do that blatantly but subtly in our complaining. How long will you let those people get away with it? Come down and take care of it! Why don’t you help me the way I think is best? If you love me you will do as I ask. Jesus is the King even though it may not look like it or his actions and decisions for our world don’t seem to be right in our eyes. Jesus is the King and He does not owe us explanation for why he lets terrorists get away for a short time with their evil or lets Christians be martyred. He is the King and is ruling for our good even when it doesn’t look like it.

          Jesus is the King and this is Great News for those in need of mercy. One person at the crucifixion is different from the others. “But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this Man has done nothing wrong.” 42Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom.” 43Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with Me in paradise.” We aren’t told how or when the Holy Spirit worked in this man’s heart. He was a criminal and to have earned crucifixion he was not a nice or first time criminal. Perhaps his stay in jail or his impending death caused him to remember what he had learned in Sabbath school about the Messiah. This man knew who he was, a criminal who deserved punishment. He knew who Jesus was, the King. And he asked for mercy. “Jesus, remember me.” And he got it. “Today you will be with me in paradise.” You see that’s what the full revelation of Jesus’ kingdom is, it’s paradise and in the famous words of Handel’s Messiah, “And he shall reign forever and ever.” What great news for that criminal.

          And what great news for other criminals. That man next to Jesus on the bench may not look like a criminal, but he is. Look around you. You are probably not sitting near any murderers or bank robbers, maybe a speeder or two. But you are surrounded by criminals and are one yourself. So am I. Criminals do crimes. A crime is breaking of the law. And we have all broken God’s laws many times. Have you sassed your parents? Do you make them threaten you before you obey? You are breaking God’s laws. You are a criminal. Are we really putting God first? Do we really care just as much about the other guy as we do ourselves? Are other people’s children just as important to us as are own? We’ve broken the law. That makes us criminals. We deserve whatever punishment we get.     But because Jesus is the King we don’t get what we deserved. He stayed on the cross. He took our punishment. We get mercy and the day is coming for each one of us that He will say, “Today is your day. Welcome to Paradise!” So says the King. Amen.

Monday, November 7, 2016

November 5,6,7 2016 Here is “Foresight about Arranging Your Departure” Pastor Bivens


Luke 19:11-27 (Last Judgment Sunday, 2016, St. Jacobi)

       11 While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. 12 He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. 13 So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’

        14“But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’ 15 “He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.

16 “The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’ 17 “‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’ 18 “The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’ 19 “His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’ 20 “Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. 21 I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’ 22 “His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’ 24 “Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’

25 “‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’ 26 “He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. 27 But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.’”



Introduction: Carl McCunn died in December of 1981, 35 years ago. The story of the end of his life is a very sad one, but it’s one that can remind us of important truths. Carl, a professional photographer, hired a bush pilot to fly him to a remote area of Alaska and leave him there. He was flown into the wild in March and had with him 500 rolls of film, 1,400 pounds of provisions, two rifles, and a shotgun. His plan was to spend spring and summer there, photographing wildlife and the natural beauty in the wilderness. Things went well – until August. It was then that Carl realized that he had not arranged for the pilot to return for him. He wrote in his journal, "I think I should have used more foresight about arranging my departure.” Four months later, out of food and trapped by the snow and cold of the Alaskan winter, Carl decided to commit suicide – and did so in mid-December.

That’s a very sad story, isn’t it? But what about the sad stories in today’s Bible readings! Jeremiah addressing the unbelieving King Jehoiakim and the hard-hearted people of Jerusalem, all of whom were showing little “foresight about arranging their departure” from this world. Paul writing to the Thessalonians about people who “will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power.” Throughout the Bible there are reminders that too many people should have used more foresight about arranging their departure from this world and arrival before the judgment seat of God. Today’s sermon text is a great example of this.



Here is “Foresight about Arranging Your Departure”

1.   It will seem a long time, so stay alert!

2.   It will be a rebellious time, so be careful!

3.   It can be a productive time, so be faithful!



1.      Foresight: It will seem a long time, so stay alert!

1.      We’re told why Jesus told the parable: He went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem and the people assumed this would be the final showdown and the end of all enemies of Jesus. They knew Christ’s power and assumed he would defeat & destroy those who opposed him. But Jesus tells them to expect a delay: He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. 13 So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’” It’s easy for us to see Jesus in the parable, following his resurrection and ascension, sitting at the right hand of the Father in the position of majesty and giving his servants, the church, tasks to accomplish until he returns. Time will pass; it will seem like a long time. So be patient. Don’t get distracted or drowsy or discouraged.  Stay alert.

2.      I recall the story of a Christian teacher warning those falling prey to greed. He took a penny and moved it closer and closer to his eye. He could see less and less as the penny (money) took over his whole focus. Important things get obscured while less valuable things get the attention. The “urgent” and “immediate” get top billing over the eternally more valuable. So be patient and stay alert: Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch (Lk 21:34ff.)   Here is wise foresight: It will seem a long time, so stay alert!



2.      More Foresight: It will be a rebellious time, so be careful!

1.      Our wait for Judgment Day will also be ugly and a time of rebellion against our Lord. The people were thinking Jesus would do away with his enemies when they got to Jerusalem, but he makes it clear that he would allow rebellion to remain for some time. But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’ We easily think of their cry soon after this: “We have no king but Caesar” and their objection to the inscription on the cross: “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” Jesus does say: But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me. But when is that? That’s at the very end of the parable, when the king finally returns. In the meantime, rebels can rebel and talk against the Lord. There will be hard times—don’t make light of that. Carl McCunn, for example, admitted in his journal that he prematurely disposed of boxes of ammunition in the river near his camp; he couldn’t imagine needing them later. That was foolish.

2.      Let’s be careful! “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars . . . Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. . . You will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. Many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other. . .Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.” So be careful! Not pessimistic or discouraged, but cautious. Peter’s advice is golden: Dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Pe 3:18). Secure position? Absolutely. Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem to suffer and die – and rise again. What’s that all about?? You know, don’t you? His focus is on forgiveness of sins, removal of guilt, reconciliation with God – for you. Here is assurance that you are a redeemed child of God rather than his enemy or citizen of hell. Our carefulness takes enemies around us seriously – but it takes the promises of God and power of the gospel even more seriously! We are careful and alert – but not pessimistic depressed.  Here is wise foresight: it will be a rebellious time, so be careful.



3        Foresight: It can be a productive time, so be faithful!

1.      Jesus uses most of his words describing how these end times are a time for activity as his servants. The familiar words: [The king] called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’ The value of the mina (a weight of silver or gold) is relatively small (hundreds instead of millions of dollars as in “talents”) – perhaps the mina each received was $400 or so in today’s dollars. The important point is that every servant of the Lord has a gift (the gospel? skills?) and opportunity to “put it to work” until Christ returns.  

2.      The king returns to receive the reports:  Master, your mina has earned ten more. Sir, your mina has earned five more. The servants are excited and happy to report activity and productivity in using the Lord’s gifts. (They understood his love for them and loved him in return.) And his reply to them is gracious and generous: “‘Well done, my good servant!’ ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities... . five cities!” Faithful use of “small” limited opportunities results in huge privilege and responsibility – cities! But with one servant it is a different story: “Here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’ The servant did not like the master and considered him a heartless, vindictive tyrant. No wonder he didn’t like the idea of serving faithfully!  

3.      The basic point is clear: Our time on earth is a time to serve, to be productive with the everyday opportunities to serve Jesus and his interests. And the way we feel about Jesus will be reflected in the way we make use of opportunities. Remember how Jesus sent sinful yet forgiven Simon Peter to “feed my sheep” and “feed my lambs”? First he asked Peter, “Do you love me?



Conclusion: Do we love Jesus – the One who loved us first and most? Let that topic be and remain the central point when we grow in insight and foresight about our departure! As people loved by the Lord we may stay alert when the journey seems long, remain careful since rebellion is around us, and be faithful to opportunities entrusted to us. Amen.