Isaiah 9:1-4; 1 Corinthians 1:10-18; Matthew 4:12-25

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

At this time of year, so many of us are already looking forward to spring for one reason or another. We’re eager to emerge from the cold months of the year and enter back into the warmer days. And as we all know now that we’re past the winter solstice the days are getting longer again. The cold and dark of winter does a number on the body and mind. 

Darkness is menacing to us. During winter, it’s not just the cold that prevents us from going outside as much, but the dark. When we can’t see more than a couple feet in front of us, it changes how we think and act. Indeed, we’re also aware that nothing good happens in the dark. Darkness is where the unknown constantly confronts us. Any number of things can happen when sight is hindered. 

For such is the image in our Gospel lesson this week. Christ enters into our world like the dawning of a new day. He is the light that scatters the darkness around us. “The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned,” Matthew 4:16. Matthew marks the beginning of Jesus’ ministry with this image as Jesus takes up the proclamation of John the Baptist, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” Matthew 4:17. 

We are a people who have dwelt in a land of darkness, in the shadow of sin and death. This darkness has changed the way we live and act. It’s menacing to us as the darkness of our world seems to overshadow everything we say and do. Indeed, in sin, we can’t see more than a couple feet in front of us. We don’t always know what lays before us and are afraid of the unknown that may confront us. 

Yet, the night is almost over. The light has appeared over the horizon like the dawning of a new day. For Christ comes as light. In his ministry, He brings to light all our works of evil, all our sins that we may repent. He invites us to follow just as he calls his first disciples, Peter and Andrew, James and John. For his light brings to us a new day, one no more dominated by sin and death but rather by grace and life! Christ comes into the darkness of our world, even going into the darkness of death on the cross. By his death, he dispels the darkness of our world and invites us to follow him. For the night of this world is quickly ending and giving way to the dawning of a new day. For the light of Christ shall arise on us and bring us by faith to the eternal day, even eternal life! 

Pastor Sorenson

Prayer:

Almighty and everlasting God, mercifully look upon our infirmities and stretch forth the hand of Your majesty to heal and defend us; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!

Isaiah 49:1-7; 1 Corinthians 1:1-9; John 1:29-42a

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

It’s not polite to point. People don’t like it when they’re being stared at, talked about, or singled out. We don’t want to make anyone feel uneasy or unsafe. Pointing has always had a more accusatory emphasis behind it. We usually only point at something or someone that stands out in a negative way. 

It’s takes pointing though to direct our attention. A simple statement of “Look!” isn’t enough. Look where? This is the typical way John the Baptist is depicted. He’s pointing. He doesn’t point at just anything either. He’s pointing to Jesus who’s walking along the road. “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29. He had to point it out. He had to direct people’s attention to this important scene. 

We always talk about John’s ministry as one of preparation. But perhaps his ministry was more of a pointing. John baptized people in the wilderness but that was only half his mission, as we see with two of his disciples. John must point out for them the promised Messiah who had come. Behold! Look over there! That’s him! The lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. 

John wouldn’t be the only one to point to Jesus though. For many others would point to him and not in a good way. The Lamb of God would be pointed out by the crowds, singled out for his actions. He would be pointed at by Judas who would single him out for the Roman guards to arrest him. He would be pointed at by Pilate who would tell the crowds, “Behold, the man!” John 19:5. Jesus would be pointed out as the sin-bearing lamb of God. 

Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. God would be the last one to point his finger. He would point to Jesus on the cross where his wrath would be poured out. Jesus would be accused, sentenced and condemned for our sins. He would be the one pointed at and mocked by Roman guards. He would be pointed at by all the people shocked that such fate could befall one called the Son of God. Yet, all fingers will point to him again in three days, not in accusation but in bewilderment and awe. For see the Lamb of God having completed the sacrifice for all sins, now risen from the dead. This is the one whom took your sins and my sins, who took our place, who we pointed at in mockery… but now must point to in faith. Let us point, direct, and turn the worlds focus to this one… to Jesus, the Lamb of God who has taken away the sins of the world! 

Pastor Sorenson

Prayer:

Almighty and everlasting God, who governs all things in heaven and on earth, mercifully hear the prayers of Your people and grant us Your peace through all our days; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!

Isaiah 42:1-9; Romans 6:1-11; Matthew 3:13-17

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Some people are more stubborn than others. It seems like a natural fact that some people just have more fight in them and are willing to endure the push back also. Like when you go out to eat with family or friends, there’s sometimes that fight over who takes the bill. It’s always the most stubborn one who wins because at some point, everyone else will bow out. 

Now, I’ve never seen stubbornness as purely a negative trait. There are times where stubbornness is simply an unwillingness to give up on something good. It’s more of a resilience in the face of adversity rather than a delight in causing others annoyance.

This week, we find our Lord being stubborn in the face of opposition and for good reason. Jesus travels out to the wilderness, to John the Baptist, so that Jesus may be baptized by John. John, though, has the same reaction as we all would, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Matthew 3:14. John was preaching a baptism of repentance for those who had strayed from God’s way. But here comes Jesus who John has proclaimed as the perfect, sinless, Lamb of God. Thus, John wonders, why does Jesus need to be baptized?

This is why Jesus needed to be stubborn. Because every single one of us would have stood in his way to flip the script. From John’s question comes the recognition of our own sinfulness and imperfection. It’s our sinfulness that demands us to be baptized. We understand this well. When you do something wrong, you need to be “washed” of the guilt. But this raises the last question, where does our “filth” and sin go once it’s washed off?

Jesus’ stubbornness was for our good, not because he needed to be baptized, but rather we needed him to be baptized for us. Jesus insisted before John that this was the way things were meant to happen, and John would finally consent. As Jesus said, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness,” Matthew 3:15. “Now” is the time of Christ’s willing humiliation, his lowering of himself to our level. Righteousness simply means, the act of God making right. It’s our very salvation which Christ came to fulfill by the perfect will of God. This is begun at Jesus’ baptism, but will be finished at the cross. For at his baptism, Christ is made to be the sin-bearer, the one who carries all of our sins so that on the cross, he may pay for them all! By his baptism and cross, Christ removes all the sins of the world and buries them in the grave so that we may now be given the gift of eternal life!

Pastor Sorenson

Prayer:

Father in heaven, at the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River You proclaimed Him Your beloved Son and anointed Him with the Holy Spirit. Make all who are baptized in His name faithful in their calling as Your children and inheritors with Him of everlasting life; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!

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!