In the Name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit
Saint Paul says in Second Corinthians: For
it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has
shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of
God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen
vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. The
earthen vessels Paul writes about is clarified in tonight’s Epistle: by
revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written
already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in
the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the
sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy
apostles and prophets: that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the
same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,
of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God
given to me by the effective working of His power.
The
earthen vessel of men writing under inspiration of the Holy Spirit drew
the Magi to Bethlehem. The earthen vessel of Holy Scripture still draws
man to the House of Bread that is Jesus Christ. How would the Magi know
where to go had they not read God’s Word? It is one thing to read His
Word. It is another to follow a star from their home to a faraway land
to see whether the Word is true.
Many people consider
themselves Christian. They own a Bible or two. They read sermonettes in
the local newspaper. They buy and read Christian best-selling books.
Nevertheless, when it comes to practicing their faith publicly with
other Christians, they won’t make the journey to church to honor Jesus’
presence in the proclaimed Word. They believe, but in a private way.
There are too many expectations when someone joins a church. The church
wants your money, your time, and your consistent presence. It’s better
to be in God’s House sometimes than all the time. You keep people
guessing. After all, you have God’s Word. Isn’t that all you need?
Blessed Martin Luther disagrees. He says it is not enough that you have
or know the Gospel. Rather it must be believed and grasped with the
heart. Else we will not find Christ. Reading your Bible at home and
praying every day is a salutary practice. Yet it is not good to be
alone in practicing the Christian faith. There is much more of Christ’s
gifts to be found in His House. This is why you invite people to come
to Church. You want those who have not seen the Light to come to the
Light and bask in His glow. As the prophet Isaiah writes in the Old
Testament reading: The Gentiles shall come to your light, and
kings to the brightness of your rising…. Then you shall see and become
radiant, and your heart shall swell with joy; because the abundance of
the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the Gentiles shall come
to you.
Epiphany begins a mission unlike any other mission
on earth. The Gentiles come to the Light of the world in order to
follow Him as He makes Himself manifest to both Jew and Gentile. He
does so as a 12-year-old boy in the temple, confounding the doctors of
the Law. He does so at a wedding feast in Cana of Galilee. He does so
on the mountain with Moses and Elijah standing on either side of him
before the face of Peter, James, and John. Then from the mountaintop
into the plain we go, walking to Jerusalem to see the King of Kings do
His Kingly duty upon a cross and out of a tomb. Mission accomplished,
we will see Him ascend into heaven only to return soon to judge the
living and the dead.
You’ve guessed by now that God’s mission
is to seek and save the lost. A man of the world considers the Light of
the world dying on a cross as not a mission but a wives tale. Why would
God’s Son do such a foolish thing as call the world to follow Him only
to lay down His life? The answer to that question is the mystery Paul
alludes to in the Epistle. The mystery of God is not something that we
need Miss Marple or Sherlock Holmes to solve. A mystery according to
Holy Scripture is something more believed than understood. Why does God
want to save me, a poor, sinful being? He wants to save you because He
created you, He loves you, and He wants you to be in fellowship with
Him through Word and Sacrament now through eternity. Yes, it’s a
mystery. The answer to that question is not something readily
understood. It is an answer that is believed. God draws whom He wills,
when He wills. The only answer we can give is “amen”. Gift received.
What a precious gift we have in the bright Morning Star, Jesus Christ.
As we sang in the Chief Hymn: Lord, when You look on us in love,/ At
once there falls from God above/ A ray of purest pleasure./ Your Word
and Spirit, flesh and blood/ Refresh our souls with heav’nly food./ You are our
dearest treasure!/ Let Your mercy/ Warm and cheer us!/ O draw near us!/ For You
teach us/ God’s own love through You has reached us. Man’s search for love
outside of one’s self finds its end in Jesus
Christ. He loves you all the way to the cross through the tomb and into
eternity. He is indeed your dearest treasure. Believe it for Jesus’
sake.
In the Name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rev. David M. Juhl
Our Savior, Momence, IL
___________________________________________________________________________
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