St. Paul's Lockport Sermons

Just has Christ displayed in His glorious resurrection, there is never a change in any promises that God gives. James is telling us that we receive these gifts from God by faith. This is not really talking about first article gifts, our physical needs, but third article, the spiritual gifts which we receive from God concerning our new life and salvation. In these things God does not change. Given all the variation and shadow of turning we see in all things in the world, it is good to have one thing which will always remain the same – the promise of God.

You have probably been told at times to repent. You probably understand that the Christian life is one of repentance, or you have heard that said. Maybe you understand that we are saved by Jesus, by grace through faith alone, and not by works. Yet you also know that repentance fits in there somewhere. The action of changing your mind, living in a different way than you did before. After all, that’s what all Christians seem to try to do. 

Many of you have probably been involved at sometime in your life in the distribution of an inheritance. Someone close to you had left their last will and testament and it decreed that something they treasured would be given to you. Maybe this was as a child, and you just received something from a grandparent, or as an adult maybe you had to be involved in all the legal proceedings. Possibly the inheritance was contentious, especially if a lot of money was involved that everyone wanted, or a lot of stuff that no one wanted. Maybe like me, you got a memento – I remember when my grandfather died I asked to have his ham radio microphone, because his involvement in ham radio was a central memory of who he was to me.

You could answer, well – it was only a test! Yes it was a test, but Abraham could not know that. Just like you don’t know the outcome of whatever you are going through in your life, but must trust in God to guide with His Word. Abraham knew that God promised that this son, his only son, Isaac, would be the father of a great nation. He also knew that God wanted him to sacrifice the boy. There could only be one conclusion for Abraham, he must do what God says and keep His word. God would be responsible to sort out the rest.

Jesus casts out a demon which is making a man mute, and people become angry at Jesus. One would think that casting out a demon so a man can speak would generally be thought of as a good thing. Why criticize Jesus, even calling him a demon? It would be like getting angry at a doctor who healed someone. As no one would say they are pro-disease, no one would claim to be pro-demon. But here we have members of the crowd becoming angry at Jesus for casting out a demon.

These words Jesus is saying right after he has called the disciples in Luke. Jesus lifts his eyes upon the disciples and says these things. This is central to being a disciple, being one of those blessed in the beatitudes. It is not just tangential to the life of the Christ to not judge, not condemn, to forgive.

We heard several weeks ago, at the end of Epiphany, about our Lord’s Transfiguration. To refresh your memory, Jesus had taken three disciples, Peter, James, and John, up on a mountain, and then was changed before them as his face and clothes shone with a bright light. Moses and Elijah also appeared and spoke to him, and a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him!” The three disciples were told to tell no one about this until Jesus rose from the dead.

Jesus is made manifest in His Transfiguration. The Transfiguration is the final Epiphany on the final Sunday of the Epiphany season. Peter, James, and John, led to the top of the high mountain, see Jesus in His glory as the Son of God. His face shines like the sun and his clothes become as white as the light. Though Jesus is often portrayed in paintings with a sort of angelic look, there would have been a great contrast. Jesus, scripture says, was not a man who was much to look at. The vision the three disciples receive at the Transfiguration would have been really something to see.

Has God forgotten us? The Magi’s visit to the Christ child is great with their expensive gifts, but it means that now Jesus, the true King of the Jews, has come under jealous Herod’s radar. It seems every time things are going well Satan comes to throw up a brick wall. Is this all for nothing, the travel, the manger, the shepherds, the Magi? Will Joseph and Mary’s family end so soon?

“Wake, awake for night is flying!” the watchmen on the heights are crying, “Awake, Jerusalem arise!” Wake, and be watchful, for the bridegroom is coming! Get ready! This is what Jesus’ parable tells you today. Jesus is coming soon, and all those who are ready will enter with him into the feast, into eternal life. Yet those who are not ready will be shut out as Jesus says, “I never knew you.”