"Remember What?"
a sermon for Lent 5
Rev. Kurt Hering, Pastor
Trinity Lutheran Church
Layton, Utah
TEXT: Jeremiah 31:34 "No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his
brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the
least of them to the greatest," declares the LORD. "For I will forgive their
wickedness and will remember their sins no more."
Today's text is one of those apparent contradictions in Scripture. If, as
His Holy Word says, God knows everything how then can that same Holy Word
also say that God "will remember their sins no more?"
Apart from the cross this makes no sense. But in light of Christ and the
cross, it makes perfect sense.
What is the worst thing that has ever happened to you?
Toothache, earache, tonsilitis, appendicitis?
Bad breakup with boyfriend, girlfriend?
Fail a test or get a dreaded flag on your report card?
Auto accident, heart attack, cancer?
Death of a grandparent, parent or spouse?
All these are bad, but you know even in the midst of these things, if you
were to get a sliver, stub your toe, or get poked in the eye--at least for a
moment--you would remember these other things no more.
Now, what is the worst thing that could ever happen to you? Death? No! Not
really.
Virtually any parent will tell you that the worst thing that could possibly
happen would be the death of a child. Whether by auto accident, cancer, war,
miscarriage, murder, suicide, even abortion B the death of a child is
something that you never forget. I think I can safely say that for anyone
who has been through such tragedy, not a day goes by in which they don't
think of that horrible experience.
And therein lies the answer to how God could remember our sins no more. He
gave His One and only Son to die for us. And that Son, now risen from the
grave and ascended at His right hand, pleads on our behalf B remember I gave
my life for them, forgive them, it is finished.
And with that reminder of His Son's sacrificial death, that is all that the
Father sees when He sees us, His children by faith in His grace poured out
for us in Word and Sacrament.
Yet anyone who would deign to call upon Him, seek His face or aspire to walk
through the gate of His heavenly abode apart from faith in His Son, calls to
mind the sin that is blotted out by the mere mention of His beloved Son,
Jesus Christ.
Look at the cross dear brothers and sisters. (Take crucifix and hold it
backwards.) The cross is where God's life intersects with ours. This is the
crux of life. The crossbar is our life as we walk the earth. The standard is
God coming down into our life. And it doesn't stop on earth, but continues
down into the grave and even the very depths of hell. (Turn the cross
around.) And, of course, at the center, the crux of it all, is Jesus
Christ--Son of God and Son of Man.
When we point to ourselves, we insult God and condemn ourselves by our own
boasting. But when we look to Christ, the Father looks on us and sees His
Son as well. He sees His Son on the cross and remembers our sin no more. May
we ever see Him there as well, even as He lives and reigns with His Father
and the Holy Spirit one God, now and forever. Amen.
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