Isaiah 60:1-6; Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

From times past, civilizations were built by deciphering the “code” of the heavenly bodies. Star charts were used for navigation on the high seas. People believe, even today, that the stars can tell us something about events happening here on earth. We say something is “written in the stars” if it is meant to happen, certain even.

While I may not believe in Zodiac signs or other astrological beliefs today, I know that God gave us the stars and the heavenly bodies for a reason. Not only does the sun give us light and warmth in our world, but our ability to observe other stars and planets have filled us with awe and wonder to the workings of our universe.

On this Sunday, we celebrate (a couple days early) the epiphany of our Lord! Epiphany is the day we remember the wise men journeying from the east as they see the star in the heavens which leads them to the stable where baby Jesus is. “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him,” Matthew 2:1-2. These Wise Men are also often called the Magi. They are nobles, possibly even kings from another country who come to pay homage to the one born “king of the Jews”. 

Of course, this isn’t such great news for the one who currently held the throne. Herod heard this message and became jealous for his throne. For this is what happens when Jesus appears in our life too. Epiphany means “to shine forth”, or “reveal”. By Jesus’ presence in the world, the hearts of all the world would be revealed. The faithful versus the unfaithful. The good versus the evil. The righteous versus the sinner. Jesus’ incarnation will bring to light many things in our world, and not all of them are things we want brought to light.

Yet, here’s the interesting thing about this star. It wasn’t like any other. It was clearly different to lead the three wise men to the manger. And as for the Wise Men, while Matthew doesn’t tell us where they’re from, we can easily surmise that the most likely origin was Babylon. The same Babylon in which Daniel was made a leader. The same Babylon with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These were people who had been taught about the prophecies from long ago and still believed in the Savior who would be born in Bethlehem. Hence, the Wise Men travel a long way to see the one born King of the Jews because they knew he was more than a king. He was their Savior. With such faith, they gave him precious gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. With such faith, they returned to tell others about all God had shown to them in the manger!

Pastor Sorenson

Prayer:

O God, by the leading of a star You made known Your only-begotten Son to the Gentiles. Lead us, who know You by faith, to enjoy in heaven the fullness of Your divine presence; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!

Isaiah 52:7-10; Hebrews 1:1-12; John 1:1-18

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Family is more than blood. I’ve heard many people utter such a phrase. There are those people in our lives that we treat as if they were our own flesh and blood. Friends that become like brothers or sisters. Elders that become like second parents or grandparents. For family is meant to be those whom you can trust in, count on, will be there for you through thick and thin, for better or worse, no matter your circumstance. 

For as I contemplate the very birth of our savior, these words mean a little more to me this year. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…” John 1:14. Christmas is the miracle that God himself comes to dwell with man. He sends his own Son to be born of a virgin, to Mary and to Joseph (his adoptive father). Jesus had his own family when he was born, which we show in our manger displays. Mary and Joseph were his parents. Jesus had brothers and sisters too. But his family wasn’t just these.

Christmas is the crux of human history. It marks a change in our relationship to God. God stood over us as our creator, our judge. That was our relationship to him. It wasn’t personal. We as man, operated as a creature before our creator. We had no say, no place, no home before our Lord. When we came before him, we came under the Law, that is, we came before him as sinners being judged. So, we were. We were dust of the ground standing before the Almighty.

Unto us is born this day, a brother. Jesus enters our flesh and blood. He joins our family through his birth. This is the amazing thing that John is telling us in his Gospel. Your creator, the Word of God, now comes to be with you, in flesh and blood. “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God,” John 1:12-13. In Christ’s birth, God brings all people into a new relationship with him. For no longer are we mere creatures, but children of God!

Who more can we count on than Jesus, our own flesh and blood? Jesus is the one whom we can approach, count on, trust in through all of life’s circumstances. He gives us grace upon grace. Just as Jesus was born and placed in a wooden manger, he would grow up to take up a wooden cross. He would enter our family history that he may redeem our history and bring us into a new, everlasting family. So, he does, through his birth, his infancy, his adulthood, and especially through his death on the cross. He redeems us from the darkness of our sins that we may be made holy children of God. To him, then, let us bring all of our difficulties, all of our challenges, all of our joy and celebrations. For this Christmas, unto us is born our brother and friend, even our Savior, Christ the Lord! Merry Christmas!

Pastor Sorenson

Prayer:

Almighty God, grant that the birth of Your only-begotten Son in the flesh may set us free from the bondage of sin; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!

Isaiah 7:10-17; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-25

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

For many people, news of a pregnancy is happy news. There are many celebrations for those who are expecting a child. Family will gather to show love for an unborn child by giving gifts which the parents will quickly need when the child is born. Clothes and toys, bedding and bottles, furniture and other necessities. 

Happiness, though, is not always the response to such news. We are all well aware of what precedes pregnancy and the nature of it being abused. Spouses who are found to cheat do not announce such things joyfully. This is where we have such reality shows that play up the drama of unknown pregnancies, announcing true parentage to the world in order to shame those who cheat.

Let us then consider the Gospel reading this week as it gives us an insight into the heart and mind of Joseph, the betrothed of Mary. Mary and Joseph were legally married by culture standards, but according to custom had put off any marital union. During this time of waiting, Mary is found to be with child… and not Joseph’s child. Joseph isn’t ignorant to how such a thing takes place, knowing he himself was not involved.

Joseph had a lot to consider. It is evident that Joseph truly loved Mary, his betrothed. For Joseph does not aim to humiliate her publicly as many others might have done. “And her husband, Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly,” Matthew 1:19. Even so, Joseph knows the Law of Moses on how an adulteress was to be treated. His consideration is how this Law of God and his love for his wife come together in a God pleasing way.

Amidst his consideration, Joseph received more worth considering. An angel appears to Joseph in a dream and tells him, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins,” Matthew 1:20-21. Indeed, Joseph would find out that this child wasn’t like any other child, for he had no earthly father. He was not conceived by normal means but by the Holy Spirit. For Joseph would need to consider the very promise which every Jew would have known, the promise of Immanuel! Here in this moment, it is revealed to Joseph that this small child in the womb of Mary was the fulfillment of all his hopes and dreams. God had come to dwell, not in the tabernacle, nor temple, nor any building made with human hands, but in flesh in blood! Mary would be the new temple of God, carrying the Christ-child in her womb. This child would be called Jesus because he would save his people from their sin. For so we see, this Christmas promise isn’t fulfilled until Joseph takes Mary to be his wife, to be the adoptive father to our Lord, caring for and protecting him until such time when Jesus will do all for which he was named… by his father Joseph. 

Pastor Sorenson

Prayer:

Stir up Your power, O Lord, and come and help us by Your might, that the sins which weigh us down may be quickly lifted by Your grace and mercy; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!

Isaiah 35:1-10; James 5:7-11; Matthew 11:2-15

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

We all have our doubts. Doubt ends up being a common part of life. Did I make the best decision? Did I choose the right career? Did I say the right words to a friend in need? Will I be able to finish this task in time? Yes, doubt comes in various forms and makes us take a step back and question if what we think or believe is correct.

It should be no surprise to us that even John the Baptist had his doubts. John had been prophesying in the wilderness that the “Kingdom of Heaven is at hand,” Matthew 3:2. Since then, John has been arrested by Herod and tossed in prison. He knows even that his death is near, as many have sought to put John to death. For now, he has his doubts about what he prophesied. Was it true? Is the kingdom of heaven truly here? If so, then why is he sitting in prison?

It's not unnatural for Christians to doubt if their faith is misplaced, perhaps even doubting if God exists at all. For living a life of faith is a difficult thing, one that none of us does perfectly. We will have our doubts. But that’s ok! For doubt gives us the opportunity to inquire of God again, to approach Him in His grace and mercy to answer our doubts and worries. For sometimes, we end up finding that our faith was misplaced… misplaced by trusting in our own version of the Gospel instead of the very Word of God.

This is exactly what John the Baptist does. He sends his own disciples to inquire of Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” Matthew 11:3. Israel had been waiting for the Messiah for many centuries. By now, they had their doubts that he would ever truly come. But see how Jesus answers this question from John, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them,” Matthew 11:4-5. Jesus points John (and us) to see and hear the very kingdom of God coming in the ministry of Jesus.

For living by faith is to continuously turn back to the Lord and see the very work he is doing in our world and in our very lives. We will still have our doubts, but this is when the Lord invites us to see anew his mercy and grace. To plant our faith again on the solid foundation of His Word amidst even the distractions of this world. For Christ comes to preach the good news to us, that your sins have been forgiven for the sake of his own death upon the cross! For the greatest healing we can receive is the very resurrection of the dead. See this great thing which our Lord has done. He forgives us our sins; he washes us with water and word; he feeds us his own body and blood; he speaks to us his very Gospel! For when we have doubts, may we return and see this wonderful thing which our Lord does in our world and in our very lives!

Pastor Sorenson

Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ, we implore You to hear our prayers and to lighten the darkness of our hearts by Your gracious visitation; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!

Isaiah 11:1-10; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

There’s always a reaction to an authority figure entering a room. Kids will suddenly stop doing something they think is wrong if they hear a parent walking in. So too employees when their boss arrives. People act different around those with authority over them and rightly so. We know that we can get in trouble if we misbehave, fired from a job, or worse, thrown in jail. There’s meant to be a reaction.

Of course, there will always be that sibling who gives the warning, a coworker that signals of an approaching boss, or a friend that might nudge you before the teacher arrives. They’re simple message is this: Shape up, or else. Get it together before it’s too late and you end up facing the consequences. For so it seems, this is the role which John the Baptist assumes this week.

In our Gospel reading, John is in the wilderness preaching to the people of Israel. All the surrounding regions had come out to see him (Matt 3:5). John’s message to them was simple, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” Matt 3:2. He was warning the people that the true authority was coming, lest they be caught unaware and face the consequences. For the reaction they were supposed to have to such news wasn’t despair or indifference, but repentance.

Repentance is much more than a call to “shape up.” It’s also a call to believe. Repentance is a changing of one’s whole being, a “turning of the mind” as the Greek suggests. For repentance isn’t a one and done type of thing. It’s a continual, ongoing, daily exercise. Repentance is a despising of the sin in our life and a seeking after the grace and goodness of God. Just as John tells the Pharisees, “Bear fruit in keeping with repentance,” Matt 3:8. Just as one must tend and nourish a tree to bear fruit, so too must we water the seeds of faith that it may grow and bear fruit in our lives.

In this repentance and faith, the kingdom of heaven draws near to us. In the preaching of repentance, God asserts his rule and reign over us and in our hearts and minds. For it draws near, not only in the proclaiming of repentance but in the coming of the very Sovereign Lord, in Jesus. He draws near to us that he may gather the faithful into his kingdom, under his rule and thus protect and care for them. For this reason, Jesus comes in lowly fashion, being born of a virgin, raised as a carpenter’s son, even enduring the same temptations which besiege us. Jesus has come to establish his kingdom right here in our midst by his very death upon the cross. Prepare his way through repentance and faith that we may be ready for his coming and so enjoy eternal paradise! 

Pastor Sorenson

Prayer:

Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Your only-begotten Son, that by His coming we may be enabled to serve You with pure minds; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!

Isaiah 2:1-5; Romans 13:8-14; Matthew 21:1-11

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

This week begins a new Church year for us as we enter into the season of Advent. We’re reminded that while Christmas might be right around the corner, it isn’t Christmas yet. We need time to prepare that we may be ready to celebrate the coming of our Savior properly and with much joy. 

For what kind of preparation is required? It always takes time to prepare for anything. Time to gather food and gifts for the family gathering over the holidays. Time to spend with family and friends. Time to head to church. We must properly prepare our time that we have time to celebrate. Money too. It is no surprise that it takes money to do almost anything these days. Money for food. Money for decorations. Money for gifts. Money, which is in short supply, must be prepared for that which is needed most. 

Of course, Advent is about more than our time and money. The preparation our Lord seeks is rather of the heart and mind. We are to be ready for our Lord to come, our divine King to make his appearance. It’s again an ordering of the things that are most important. We’re not to hold in our heart or mind anything higher than the Lord. But this is why we must cry out this Advent, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” Matt. 21:9. The sad reality is that we haven’t prepared ourselves fully. We must repent of the sin that has reordered our lives around ourselves than the Lord. For our cry is for salvation from our Lord.

Yet, this is why we read the Triumphal entry. It reminds us that our Lord is the Lord who comes. He comes even out of necessity. The Lord had need of the donkeys to ride into Jerusalem for he had need to come to his people as their Savior. We should find the language of divine necessity of great comfort for it reminds us of what our Lord has ordered as most important. He had need of you! So, he comes, “humble and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden,” Matt. 21:5. 

This Advent, we must prepare ourselves for our Lord’s coming, or rather be prepared by our Lord’s word to order our lives around him and his word. For this is the true preparation our Lord desires. He desires repentance which leads to life! He has need of it. He has need of saving you! This is why the Son of God left his heavenly throne, was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, that he may even live and die upon the cross. Out of necessity for you, our Lord has ordered your salvation above all else. For let us rejoice, even saying, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” Matt. 21:10. 

Pastor Sorenson

Prayer:

Stir up Your power, O Lord, and come, that by Your protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins and saved by Your mighty deliverance; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!

Malachi 3:13-18; Colossians 1:13-20; Luke 23:27-43

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

There are some things we wish would never end. Kids going to a party never want to leave and say it’s over. Some people never want to admit that their “glory” days are long past. Graduating from high school or college is often seen as the end of our education. Endings can indeed be hard and can cause us mourning and grief. When things come to an end, we must realize that they’re done and gone.

As we reach the end of our church year, we hear more about the end of the world. There will be pain and grief, sadness and mourning. Because of the finality of such moments, we can face great fear and anxiety about when that time may come. And it’s not just the end of the world, it’s also our own death that we fear. 

In our Gospel reading this week, we meet Jesus right before his crucifixion. In Jesus’ final moments, he foretells of the disasters and anguish that will be present in the end times. All his followers were weeping because of the finality of such circumstances. After three long years of following Jesus, it was all coming to an end in horrendous fashion. “And when they came to the place that is culled The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left,” Luke 23:33. Jesus was being put to death for what he taught. And what was more final than death?

There’s a good reason why, as humans, we don’t like endings. We don’t like when things come to a conclusion. Because when a period of life ends, when we finish those things that have been important to us, there’s no going back. And why do we have to face such harsh conclusions? It’s because of sin and death. Our experience of time is corrupted by sin. It’s why we feel like we never have enough time to do what we love, but all our time is stuck doing what we hate. 

But there’s a larger lesson to learn here. Consider Jesus’ final words from the cross. First, he says, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,” Luke 23:34. Jesus uses his last moments to forgive us. He forgave those who were putting him to death. He forgave everyone who has sinned against him and whose sins he bore for our sake upon the cross. But there’s something we should learn about Jesus’ death. Jesus’ death was an end for our sin. Jesus’ death was an end for our death. Jesus’ death was an end for endings… because his death wasn’t an end for him. Rather, as he tells the criminal beside him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise,” Luke 23:43. In the Church, by faith in Jesus, we see our endings become new beginnings. Graduations aren’t the end of school, but the beginning of a new life. Goodbyes aren’t forever. And even death has become the gateway to new and eternal life! In Jesus, every “end” becomes the start of a new beginning!

Pastor Sorenson

Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ, You reign among us by the preaching of Your cross. Forgive Your people their offenses that we, being governed by Your bountiful goodness, may enter at last into Your eternal paradise; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!