In the Name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit It might be off-putting to come to Divine Service 24 hours after celebrating Christmas to see red paraments and to sing hymns honoring martyrs. The highs of yesterday's Holy Gospel about the incarnation of Jesus Christ and the highs of two days ago hearing the angel appear to Joseph are a faint echo in our minds. Today we hear the cries of Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada, and Stephen the deacon as they are murdered in broad daylight. 24 hours after Christmas, we celebrate the shedding of blood for the sake of the Good News of great joy given to shepherds.
Many prophets and apostles gave their lives for the sake of the Gospel. Jesus mentions two in Matthew chapter 23: Abel and Zechariah. The latter you heard in the Old Testament reading. The former you know from Genesis chapter four. Abel was murdered out of envy and jealousy. God accepted Abel's sacrifice and did not look favorably on his brother Cain's sacrifice. Cain took revenge on God and Abel by killing his brother. Saint Stephen was martyred because He dared preach God's Word purely to those who wanted to hear another gospel. The same thing goes on today as now and then we hear of pastors preaching the pure Gospel being shown the door because they preach rather than entertain. Rather than open their ears to hear God's Word, Christians put their hands over their ears and look for stones when confronted with Divine Truth. What's worse is when the church backs away from the means of grace and looks for another means to keep the customer satisfied. Blessed Charles Porterfield Krauth was a 19th century Lutheran theologian. His book "The Conservative Reformation and Its Theology" is a stellar defense of orthodox Lutheran doctrine and practice. Pastor Krauth saw what was happening among Lutherans in America and was worried. Here is a quote from Pastor Krauth that is eerily prophetic: The Lutheran Church can never have real moral dignity, real self-respect, a real claim on the reverence and loyalty of her children, while she allows the fear of denominations around her, or the desire of their approval in any respect to shape her principles or control her actions. It is a fatal thing to ask, not, "What is right? What is consistent?" but "What will be thought of us? How will our neighbors of the different communions regard this or that course?" Better to die than to prolong a miserable life by such a compromise of all that gives life its value. A church that does not stand for something will fall for everything. Practically every controversy in the Christian Church points to one main cause: a failure to conform teaching and life to God's Word. Congregations are so afraid of public relations nightmares that they forget what it means to confess the Truth of the Word of God and not be afraid. Is it too late? No. Jesus says, How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. Where Jesus is preached purely, where what He does for you is proclaimed without fear and shame of consequences, there the hen gathers her chicks. Where Jesus' Body and Blood are put inside your mouths according to His testament, there the hen gathers her chicks. When you and I speak boldly before the world concerning the hope that is in us, we are witnesses...martyrs. Unlike Saint Stephen, we are not stoned to death for our confession. Nevertheless, we are witnesses to what Jesus Christ does for us to save us from sin and death. Jesus is born an infant priest. Jesus is born to enter the Most Holy Place once for all in order that sins may be forgiven. Jesus is not born in order that you may cover Him in tinsel and make Him a Precious Moments sort of Savior. Jesus is born to take on the old evil foe who means deadly woe for you and me. Jesus takes on flesh to gather His chicks under His wings and protect them in preaching and the Sacraments until He returns to judge the living and the dead. This is our witness and it is true. Saint Stephen's last words were Lord, do not charge them with this sin. Not exactly what you would expect from a martyr whose death cries out for vengeance. Stephen's words echo those of Jesus, Who said on the cross, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. As Jesus was ready to forgive, so was Stephen, and so are you and me. When the time comes that we may have to suffer for the sake of the pure milk of God's Holy Word, we pray that our persecutors would repent and believe as we believe. Contrary to what most people think about Christians, we pray for our enemies. We pray God will cease their evil deeds, cause them to repent, and prepare them for a holy death, whether or not it comes through martyrdom. If it can happen to a creep like Saul, also known as Saint Paul, it can happen to the worst persecutor on the planet. The Holy Spirit knows no limits. As many as are elected to eternal life are saved. Honoring Saint Stephen is actually honoring Jesus Christ. Our Lord allowed Stephen to witness the hope of forgiveness and life to those whose ears itched for another gospel. As Stephen was a witness, you and I are also witnesses. We are witnesses of Jesus Christ; the Babe of Bethlehem Who grows up to be a witness of the Father's love for His lost creation. Even as Christmas carols and chorales echo in our ears, you can hear a twinge of Lent and Holy Week too. Jesus is born to die. Stephen is born to die. You and I are born to die to sin in order that we might live in righteousness with Stephen, Jesus, and our Father in heaven forever. In the Name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit =================================================== Rev. David M. Juhl Our Savior, Momence, IL http://sites.google.com/site/oselcmomence/ ___________________________________________________________________ 'CAT 41 Sermons & Devotions' consists of works that are, unless otherwise noted, the copyrighted property of the various authors; posting of such gives members of this list implied consent for redistribution _with_attribution_ unless otherwise specified by the author (as long as no charge is made for the work and it is not made part of a compilation), as well as for quoting or use in a congregational setting _with_or_without_attribution_. Note: This list's default reply is to the *poster*, NOT the list. Do *not* reply to the list with your comments, but to the poster. Subscribe? 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