Genesis 22:1–14
St. John 8:42–59
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
I know there’s a lot of stuff we’re missing right now. You’re probably missing family and friends, not able to see them that much if you’re mostly staying at home all the time. You might be missing your mom or grandma if they are locked in the nursing home and you can’t see them. Some people are missing their paychecks and that can be very difficult. Others are missing their co-workers, the people they got so used to seeing every day. And some are missing their hair appointments or eating out at a favorite restaurant.
I’m so glad to see those of you who were able to make it today, because I’ve definitely been missing that—seeing my flock, my people, every Sunday, and often during the week—hearing them all sing and pray, see them appreciating God’s gifts, and catching up on their lives. To be honest, I am someone who does appreciate time to myself, but really… Social distancing is the worst. It might all be necessary (I hope it is), but this is starting to feel like we’re losing some of our humanity. We need human contact and community. I hope that during all this, you that still share a home together, are finding ways to really keep each other company. Be generous with each other in showing affection. If you live in a house with someone you’re already exposed to whatever they might have, so don’t be stingy with hugs and kisses. Be good to one another, to those you are able to be with, and give a call to those you can’t be with. I hope, if nothing else, this all teaches us how to value our relationships, because we often take them for granted, and don’t know what we’ve got until it’s gone.
There’s a lot of stuff we’re missing right now. And here at the end of Lent, we’re getting more things taken away from us. The crosses are veiled. The Gloria Patri ( the song, Glory be to the Father…) is also taken away. I’ve already been missing the Alleluias and the Gloria in Excelsis for a while. But those absences are self-imposed, or imposed by the Church. And we only take those things away for a little while in order to help us appreciate them even more; so that when Easter comes, we gaze at the cross with even more love and we sing our songs of praise with even more joy.
The real bitter truth behind missing all these things is that we don’t deserve any good things. We don’t deserve to have family or friends or community. We don’t deserve to sing praise to God. We don’t deserve to see the cross—we don’t even deserve that there should ever have been a cross, that Jesus should ever have died for us. We are of our father the devil, and our will is to do our father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
So, like the devil (the one we follow and make our father), we do not believe the truth. We don’t want to hear it, and we don’t want to speak it. We want to think and do whatever seems right in our own eyes. We don’t want anyone else telling us what’s true, not even God. And we don’t care if we murder a few people in our hearts by what we think and say, so long as we get what we want. If you think this seems to harsh, what other reason is there for our society to be so fractured? For homes to be ruined and split apart, children abandoned, no one taking responsibility for the good of others? Or for governments to be so ineffective, or false? What other reason is there that we can’t trust any news anymore? That two sides say two completely, contradictory different things and it’s almost impossible to say which one is wrong? Or what’s the reason for so much filth to be promoted on our TV and internet? It’s all because we’ve adopted the devil as our father.
And so, no, we do not deserve family or friends. We don’t deserve love. We don’t deserve Alleluias or crosses or good churches. We don’t deserve Jesus. And yet, He came—to a world that did not deserve Him, to a world that did not and does not want Him (and that includes you and me in our sinful hearts). He came—out of His great love for His true and good Father, and out of God’s great love for us unlovable, devilish brats. He came. He suffered, bled, and died, for us; so that we can have a new Father; so that we can have the love that we never could’ve imagined.
That’s what this time of year is all about. It might feel like it, but it’s NOT the season of Coronavirus. It’s still the season of Lent, and very soon Holy Week. As much as we care about what’s going on in our world and all the terrible consequences, we need to start changing the subject once in a while. Instead of constantly talking about sickness and government regulations, we need to be talking a little more about the One who heals all sickness and frees us from all the terrible consequences of life in this sinful, fallen world. Instead of constantly talking about what we don’t know, what we can’t be sure of, what we can’t control, we need to be talking more about what we DO know: that we can be SURE that Jesus suffered and died for us and rose again to give us the life that blows even the best stuff on earth out of the water.
This is why Lent is still important. The end of Lent and Holy Week is begging us to stop worrying about everything else, and start paying attention to the One who takes all worry and fear away. Jesus. Don’t let Jesus and His holy death and His glorious resurrection get swallowed up and drowned out by the news or the self-quarantine or the changes in your daily life. Think about Him, talk about Him, listen to Him, pray to Him, and to your Father and His Holy Spirit.
If you’re stuck at home more often, this is the perfect time to get into the habit of spending life with your God. It’s almost like He did it on purpose—He’s finally getting some of us to stay home as a family and have plenty of time to read His Word and pray once in a while as a family. So, whether you can gather at church or you have to watch on YouTube or listen to the radio, whatever you need to do, what needs to be at the front of your hearts and minds is Jesus—His suffering, bleeding, dying, and rising all for you. Only by faith in Jesus can we live, now and forever. Only by hearing His Word and eating His body and drinking His blood can we really live.
Abraham had that in his own way. He saw Jesus and trusted Him. That was Jesus—the angel of the Lord who called to Abraham from heaven, stopped the knife, and accepted his worship. Jesus is why Abraham said of that place: “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.” Abraham saw the Savior in that ram that was provided in Isaac’s place. And then, many years later, on that same mount of the Lord it was finally and fully provided. On Mount Calvary, Golgotha, the Lord provided—not a ram caught by his horns in a thicket, but a sacrificial Lamb, who was not caught, but went to His death willingly, like a king. He was crowned with thorns, and He Himself carried the wood for His sacrifice up the hill. And there He freely, lovingly offered Himself.
He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption—for Isaac, for Abraham, for the Jews, for the world, for you. All so that you can have what you don’t deserve, but what He so dearly wants to give. He gives His all, so that you don’t have to miss life with Him, or miss all the rest of the good stuff He gives with it.
In the Holy + Name of Jesus. Amen.
Preached at Immanuel, Charlotte, IA & Trinity, Clinton Radio Broadcast
Watch this Service & Sermon on YouTube
Isaiah 49:1–16
St. John 6:1–15
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
So, how are you doing? Really, how did this week go for you? You’re probably stuck at home, and maybe there’s a bit more tension. Maybe you have bigger worries about when you’ll be able to get back to work, when things will get back to normal. Or let me also ask this: how is this Lent going for you? How are your prayers going? ARE they going? How about your fasting? How about your giving? To your church or to others in need? Really, how are you doing? Do you feel like you’re in a wilderness yet? Is your prayer life stagnant? Is your patience dried up?
Jesus was in a desolate place, with an enormous crowd. They were in the wilderness, no place to get food. They were tired, they were hungry. They were like sheep without a shepherd. But Jesus had compassion on them (Mark 6:34). He gave them refreshment. He revived them, sustained them. He gave them what they needed with even more left over.
The Son of God became Man, and even though He is without sin, He is able to sympathize with our weaknesses. He knows what an empty belly feels like. He knows what it feels like to be tempted to worry, to doubt, or to be afraid. Jesus knows what we need better than we do. And He gives it. During the wilderness of Lent, we have this Sunday for rejoicing, for a bit of refreshment. During life in this desolate world, Jesus still provides refreshment, a reason to rejoice and carry on. He provides the food and the strength to rejoice and carry on. You may be getting by with a bit less these past days. You may have to get by with even less in the days to come. But Jesus knows your weakness, and He will provide what you need.
But having gotten their miraculous bread for the day, that crowd wasn’t satisfied. Like all sinful men, they got a taste of something good and just wanted to stuff themselves with more. And they didn’t want more of Jesus Himself. They just wanted more bread—easy bread, free bread. They wanted full bellies so that they could forget about life and death, and act like this life on earth is all there is. That’s not why Jesus came. He was their king, but not in the way they wanted a king. There is more to life than bread and fish. There is more to life than this earthly existence. Real life is found somewhere else.
Perceiving then that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by Himself. He wasn’t going to let them control Him or make Him into just another earthly king for this earthly life. He had come with a very different job to do, a very different throne and crown and kingdom.
But Jesus didn’t retreat only to get away from the crowd’s greedy and sinful demands. In Mark’s Gospel, it says that Jesus left the crowd and went up on the mountain to pray (Mark 6:46). Jesus often did this. Sometimes He took His disciples, and other times He went by Himself. Although Jesus is true God, He is also true Man, and He did not always use His full divine powers. Jesus got exhausted. He also needed rest and refreshment. Jesus went away to pray to His Father, to commune with His Father, to meditate on His Father’s Word. Even for Jesus, His real food, His real life, came from receiving it from His Father—hearing His Father, and speaking to His Father.
Jesus also wants to provide this same kind of refreshment for you. He will feed you and clothe you, to be sure. Your heavenly Father knows you need all those things. But the greatest food, the greatest comfort, the thing that will take away worry and fear—that is rest with Jesus, communion with Your Father—hearing the Words He speaks in the Scriptures, and speaking back to Him in prayer.
This is refreshment that gets you through the dry times. When all other helpers fail and comforts flee, the Help of the Helpless is our Lord Jesus Christ who gives us His never-failing Word and His never-ending access to our Father. It’s only natural, and all too common, for sinners like you and me to feel like we are failing in our prayers, our devotion to God, or in so many other areas of our lives. We didn’t plan for this, we haven’t done enough about that, and we can’t possibly know what’s going to happen next. All these worries and failures will just keep piling up the more we try to solve them on our own with our own power.
Instead, go find rest with Jesus. Put the worry, the need in His hands. Ask your heavenly Father for what you need, not only for your earthly goods, but for that life of peace and joy that He provides through His Word and Sacrament. Go ahead and ask Him, that no matter what happens, that He would be with you, that He would sustain you, feed you, give you strength to meet whatever comes next. He has promised to answer that prayer. It’s there for the taking.
But also realize that this is not the same as asking God to make your life go back to normal. He will give you strength and peace and faith, but that doesn’t mean He will simply fix or remove every obstacle you face. It may be He is giving you a cross to bear, a test to undergo. But that means it’s also good for you, because it comes from your Father. We are so earthly minded, we must always be reminded that our hope is not that things would go back to the way they were.
We may all be struggling in different ways right now. But for the most part, we are being given a very small test. Yes, there are many inconveniences for most of us. And there is a great deal of uncertainty with how long this pandemic will last or what it will mean for the future. My heart especially breaks for those in our nursing homes—they’re lonely, they can’t see their families or their pastor. And there are many people in our country who have already lost their jobs. So, I don’t mean to make light of any of this. But when you compare this sickness and quarantine to the great challenges people have faced in other generations, you can see that this is a pretty small test from God. And then you can also see that our big reaction to this test shows just how small our hope really is.
Our hope cannot be for this world and this life only. Jesus was not content with just keeping the bread and fish coming. He was not content with being their king when they felt like it, or for what they wanted. He left them, to be refreshed with the true spiritual food from His Father, and to go on from there, to do something far greater than feeding several thousand people. If we have faith and hope in Jesus then our hope must be for something better, something greater as well.
This test that we are undergoing as a nation, as a community, as a church, as families, this test is telling us, no matter who are: repent. We are distracted by bread and fish and a comfortable life. This sickness and all of its awful consequences is a sign of God’s judgment. So it’s time to confess our sins, and realize where our true life is found. And then also hear the gracious words of our Lord and Savior: “I forgive you. I came that you may have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10). Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). In Jesus you will find the refreshment you need. In His Word and in prayer, He will sustain your life in ways that go beyond any tests or trials, worries or doubts.
You need the Word of God and prayer. And don’t hear that in a “you better do this” kinda way. But, really, “You’re gonna love this. It’s going to be so good for you.” It’s like giving you free tickets for a vacation—you need this. Hearing Jesus and His Father and the Spirit speaking to you in the Word, and then speaking back in prayer… that’s good for you in ways you don’t know or can even expect.
The crowds didn’t know what better thing Jesus had in store for them. They could only see as far as their next meal. We can’t see our whole lives either. The fact is, we don’t know what normal will really look like in a month or two or six. But that’s okay, when you’ve got Jesus. You just keep working at those good disciplines He’s teaching you: fasting when you need to fast; giving what you can to those who need it; and praying to your Father all the time. You chip away at those, and your God will work out the details. He can bring you to a new normal that you never would’ve imagined, but will also be that much better.
I’ll leave you today with the promise we get from the Lord in the Old Testament Reading. Israel was saying, “God has forgotten us. He doesn’t care.” “No way,” says the Lord Jesus. “Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Yeah, sometimes even mothers forget their children, or even abandon them. Yet I will not forget you,” says Jesus. “Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands.”
That’s the better thing Jesus had to do, better than making more bread or curing every sickness. That’s how He is and remains your true King, with a cross for His throne, thorns for His crown, nail marks in His hands. There’s His love for you, engraved forever in His wounds. And He welcomes you into this far greater kingdom, where He provides everything you need, now and forever.
In the Holy + Name of Jesus. Amen.
Preached for YouTube Service at Immanuel, Charlotte, IA & on the radio in Clinton, IA
Exodus 8:16–24
Ephesians 5:1–9
St. Luke 11:14–28
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
I’m afraid the account of the plagues of Egypt might hit a little too close to home right now. We’re certainly not at the same level of severity, but people are afraid; and when people are afraid, we see they can act very irrationally and selfishly. But, whether you’re nervous about sickness or not, will any of us be honest enough to recognize what the pagan magicians of Egypt recognized? They tried by their secret arts to produce gnats like Moses, but they could not… Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” They admitted that they could not solve this problem. This plague was God’s doing—a higher, more powerful God than any of their idols—more powerful than any of their spells, potions, or medicines. They didn’t love or trust this God, but they recognized His terrible judgment and they feared His power.
I am not saying that this Coronavirus or any other sickness is sent by the finger of God for this or that specific sin. I am not saying if you get sick, it is because God hates you and wants you to die and suffer forever in hell. We only know that God acts in specific ways when He sends His Word to explain what He is doing—when He sends a prophet along with the plague to declare God’s judgment and to show which way the finger of God is pointing.
But, every sickness, every virus, every cancer, every famine, every car crash, every destructive storm, every death—they all remind us of our sin and God’s judgment of sinners. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). You might not get Coronavirus. But you’re still going to die someday. And none of us know when that day will come.
So, when we see or experience death, for whatever reason, we must repent. Sickness, disaster, and death open our eyes to the condemning finger of God and bring us to repentance and prayer, whether it’s the season of Lent or not.
O Lord, have mercy.
O Christ, have mercy.
Be gracious to us.
Spare us, good Lord.
If God did not spare us, if He sent the plague that we truly deserve, if He did not have mercy or compassion on sinful mankind, then we would be lost in hell already. Without God’s rescue and help, we are the playthings of the devil, sin, and death. On our own, we are trapped in the devil’s kingdom of darkness.
Jesus’ little parable describes the problem well: When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe. The devil is a strong man, a mighty being, the ruler of this fallen world. And by our sinful hearts and minds, we are the “goods” held captive in the devil’s stronghold. The devil’s armor is temptation, fear, and doubt. With these weapons the devil keeps us locked in prison. He entices us to stay by tempting us to sin. He beats us into submission by playing on our fear of danger and death. He chains us up with doubt so that we do not trust God’s goodness or grace. He wants to keep us fearful so that we believe every lie he feeds us. He wants us to believe everything we hear or dream up—believe everything except the Truth of God’s Word. And so left at his mercy, we languish, we agonize, and we die.
But when one stronger than the devil attacks him and overcomes him, the stronger man takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. As weak as we are in our sinful flesh, and as strong as the devil is in his wicked and tempting power, we have a champion, a stronger man, someone who fights for us and wins. Jesus is the true knight in shining armor who has broken down the doors of the devil’s castle and released us from the dungeon of death and hell. And so then Jesus takes away the armor in which the devil trusted. He forgives sin by His blood. He banishes worry and fear by His strong comfort. And He destroys doubt by His sure and certain promises in the Word and the Sacraments. You are no longer at the devil’s mercy, dear Christians. Take courage! At one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.
We trust in God as our only Fortress and Deliverer, our only great Physician and Savior, our only Comforter and Giver of Life. Jesus Christ has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows… and with His wounds we are healed (Is. 53:4–5). Ultimately, it is sin that’s the root cause of all sickness and death. But with Jesus’ death as the payment for sin, His death has destroyed death. The holy blood and water that poured from His side fills the chalice and the font, granting the medicine of immortality to those who believe. And His resurrection from the dead is the guarantee that our corruptible flesh will also be raised incorruptible. You have everlasting life in you, right now, just waiting to be revealed at our Lord’s appearing. Nothing can ultimately hurt you or separate you from the love and life of God in Christ Jesus our Savior (Rom. 8:39).
So, with this death-defying faith, Christians have no need for worry or panic. Worry and desperation for this life only leads to fear, despair, and selfishness. Christian faith is freedom—true freedom for life with God and for love towards the neighbor. You are free from fear, even in the face of death. This is why the Christian martyrs can go to lions and to the flame with joy. This is why Christian doctors can serve in the midst of genocides and pandemics. This is why you can live a Christian life in every circumstance, no matter what news the next headline brings.
You are free in Christ, and death is no loss. As St. Paul said while stuck in prison: For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain! (Philippians 1:21). Life is good, and eternal life is better. It’s not enough for us to say “God is good” when things in life are good. The Christian faith that has power over sin, death, and the devil means you can say that God is good even when things are bad. You are safe in your Father’s hands.
Now, I don’t mean to imply that death is nice or easy. Death is no child’s play. And the devil will still try to make you afraid of it; and afraid of your failures, and afraid of God, especially when you’re facing down that final hour. It’s tough, and once again, we wouldn’t have the strength to face it on our own. So, we don’t go looking for death. We don’t encourage it or glory in it or pretend that it’s ever really a good thing. It’s good and right to take what precautions we can. God expects that you stay alive by receiving the food and drink, the medicine and sanitation He provides by His loving care. Don’t tempt God. Don’t put Him to the test, thinking that He must save you without these good earthly gifts. So, we should wash our hands, and take our medicine, while also saying our prayers and trusting only in God, our good Physician. The CDC says we should wash our hands for at least 20 seconds. Saying the Lord’s Prayer is perfect timer—it takes at least 20 seconds at a nice normal pace. Plus, while you get clean hands, you’ll be asking your Father for a clean heart.
Besides taking care of ourselves, Christians have been set free in order to serve our neighbors. Be imitators of God, as beloved children, says St. Paul. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God… Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true). Faith in Christ not only bears fruit in prayer for God’s deliverance, but also bears fruit in the exercise of virtue. We are duty-bound to care for others, especially the weakest and most vulnerable among us. This is why Christians invented hospitals and took seriously works of mercy and care for the sick and poor. The Church has a long track record of guiding and serving communities during times of plague and disaster. And today we can still do what we can and take steps to minimize the ways we might adversely affect the lives of others. As Christians, we have the opportunity and command from God to be good examples for the world in how to trust God in patience and suffering, and how to take wise steps in caring for others.
Still, as much as we should care for the needs of this earthly life, we must never lose sight of the fact that this life is not all there is. Death is coming, and for those who receive the grace of God now there is a better life after this one. Even more than physical health, we must be diligent in caring for the spiritual health of ourselves and of others. So, Christians never stop preparing to die. We never stop praying for the faith that will withstand death.
This is why we still need the church. We can’t quarantine ourselves off from God’s saving Word. If you are sick, please stay home for your own good and the good of others, but let me know so that you can still receive the Means of Grace. If you have a family member who can’t make it to church, then find ways to bring God’s Word to them. And if you can’t come, or you feel uncomfortable coming with a high risk of exposure, please consider still sending your offering. Because we want our church to stay strong in hard times so that we can continue ministering to God’s people and to the world around us. As long as I can I will hold our regular services. God’s Word and the Lord’s Supper are the only things that can really sustain us in this life of sin and sorrow, and also prepare us for this life to end.
Jesus has promised: “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” Not only will He bless you in this life, even despite your sickness or fear. But finally, whenever your last hour comes, He will give you a blessed end, and take you from this valley of sorrow to Himself in heaven. Give thanks to God for each new day He gives you. But also, never forget each new day to look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.
In the Holy + Name of Jesus. Amen.
Preached at Trinity, Clinton, IA & Immanuel, Charlotte, IA
St. Matthew 15:21–28
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Demons are real. But we don’t talk about them very much anymore. Sometimes we say, “That man has some demons.” But we mean that metaphorically. He’s an alcoholic, or he has anger problems. That’s not what the Canaanite woman meant. Her little girl had a real demon literally possessing her body. No metaphor, no fairy tale, no joke.
And we are kidding ourselves if we think the devil and his demons are not behind all the evils that still plague us, including alcoholism. Or pornography. Drug use. Mental illness. And we also still have to watch out for the straight-up paganism, spiritism, witchcraft. You might think it sounds crazy but it’s on the rise. As many as 1 million or 1.4 million people in the U.S. claim to believe or practice some kind of paganism or Wicca. Just to give you an idea, that’s bigger than the United Church of Christ, about the same as the Presbyterian Church USA, and just a little smaller than the Missouri Synod. So, I also warn you, absolutely stay away from psychics and fortune tellers, palm readings and tarot cards. No playing with seances or Ouija boards. It’s no joke. Demons are real and touching their stuff can do damage to your soul. The idea behind real magic is that you control the spirits to do your bidding. But you mess with that stuff, and sooner or later the demons are controlling you.
We don’t need to get afraid, but we do need to take this stuff seriously. We are blind if we think there is no spiritual warfare raging all around us.
However, recognizing the reality of demons does not make us less culpable. Eve didn’t get away with telling God, “The devil made me do it.” And while demons are deceitful and lure us into temptation, we are the ones who give into our desires and let them rule us. We are the ones who run away from God and His Law, looking for what we think would be a good life, and then throw ourselves at the mercy of the devil. The demons may entice us into the house of sin, but we walk in, shut the door, and throw away the key. Anyone who commits sin is a slave to sin (John 8:34). And the devil is only too glad to help us along into this slavery.
But now we come to the other problem the Canaanite woman had. What happens when you realize you’ve locked yourself in with demons and you want to get out? And what happens when you cry for help but no one answers? What happens when it seems like God is one of the demons? What do you do when God shows up and attacks you, like He did to Jacob? The natural response is to be terrified, and we should fear God, because it’s not a demon that will come for you in the end—it’s the almighty God.
So, what do you do when God comes at you, like He did to Jacob; or when He ignores you and calls you a dog, like He did to the Canaanite woman? The natural response is to despair, to hate God, and to go looking for a nicer god. But Jacob wrestled with God and wouldn’t let Him go without a blessing. And the Canaanite woman wrestled with Jesus’ Words, and she wouldn’t let Him go without keeping His promise. What’s the only thing you can do in this life, with demons on the one side, and a God who doesn’t seem to care on the other? The Canaanite woman clings to God’s Word.
Now, what's really amazing is that this Canaanite woman should not exist. If you go to the Book of Joshua, you see that God had commanded Israel to wipe out the people of Canaan. You also find out that they did not completely obey, so there were still Canaanite people living. Really, if anyone should think this God of Israel was a demon, it was a Canaanite.
But our Canaanite lady still calls to Jesus. Evidently she has heard God’s Word and trusted His promise for a Savior, and so she cries out, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” She calls Him the Messiah—the descendant of King David who would rule over Israel forever, even though she’s not an Israelite. That’s why Jesus then says that He came only for the lost sheep of the House of Israel.
Even though it seems like Jesus doesn’t care, this woman keeps on calling: “Lord, help me.” She calls Him Lord—the name He told to Moses and His people, Israel. She calls Him Yahweh—I AM, even though she’s not an Israelite. And then that’s why Jesus says, “It’s not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” She has no right to make claims on Him, to use His name. She is not a child of Israel. He calls her a dog. He all but tells her to go back to her poor daughter and live with the demons.
Wrestling with God was painful for Jacob. And wrestling with Jesus is just as painful for this mother. God is dangerous. He should be feared. No Canaanite, and no sinner, can make demands on God or argue for their rights. But still, she believes God is faithful. She has heard His promises for mercy in His Holy Word and she will not let go of that. She says, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table—Yes, Lord. I’m no child of Israel. But let me be Your dog. Yes, Lord. I’m not worthy and I don’t deserve anything good. But be my Master and let me eat Your crumbs.”
When God seems to ignore us or appears cruel, when His answer for us or for a loved one is suffering or death, our response cannot be to give up and walk away. And it also won’t really help to just pray more or pray harder. We won't get anywhere by throwing a fit and telling Him we deserve His help. Instead we confess our sin. We need to empty ourselves of ourselves. “Yes Lord, I am a dog.” We agree with Him. We are not worthy. We have no rights. We have consorted with demons and given into temptation. That Canaanite woman should not have been alive. And neither should we.
But God has made promises and we can hold Him to that. Only when our hands are empty can we hold onto Him. So even when He appears silent or hateful, that cannot change the fact that He speaks to us in His Word. And in His Word He promises forgiveness, salvation, and freedom from the devil and death. He promises to answer when we call upon His name. He promises to give life everlasting.
If all you have is God’s Word, even just a crumb, then you have Him. And this God that you have in His Word is the God who kept His promises, and came in mercy, and died in your place. And this God that you have in His Word is no demon, and He’s not going to leave you trapped with them. This God is not silent and He does answer your prayers. He will either give you what you ask for, or He’ll give you something better. His final answer is always the same: the crucified Jesus lives and He sets you free.
Your God wrestles with you, and it will hurt, but it’s for your good. Because He is good. He disciplines you like a good Father disciplines His children, so that they stay away from the stuff that can really hurt them. We firmly believe that any hardship you bear, so long as you bear it in faith, it is for the glory of God, and the Lord will hear your prayer and He will work for you according to His good and gracious will (PCC, 34).
And even while He wrestles with you, He crushes the demons. They cannot have you. Don’t be afraid. Cry out to Him with confidence. Prayer discourages the devil—meaning, it takes the courage out of him. And it encourages you—prayer puts the courage of God into you. You have God’s ear. You can call on Him and hold Him to His promises.
Remember Your mercy, O Lord, and Your steadfast love (Ps. 25). And He answers, “Great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.”
In the Holy + Name of Jesus. Amen.
Preached at Trinity, Clinton, IA & Immanuel, Charlotte, IA
St. Matthew 4:1–11
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but… against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil (Eph. 6:12). Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). This is the battle cry of Lent.
And so it was that our Lord did battle with the devil. Our Lord went into the wilderness for 40 days after His Baptism, after the Holy Spirit descended and remained upon Him, after His Father spoke from heaven: “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Then Jesus was led up by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil.
We are shown three of the Devil’s temptations for Jesus. And we could probably give many examples of how the Devil tempts us. But the truth is the Devil has only one temptation trick. It’s the same one he used against Adam and Eve. The Devil’s temptation for Adam and Eve was to get them to doubt God’s Word. He asked a question. He wanted them to discuss theology with him: “Did God really say you can’t eat from this tree? Do you think He really meant it? Why wouldn’t God want you to have the fruit from this tree? It’s so good looking and it will make you more like God! …Oh is that it? Maybe God is holding out on you. Maybe God just wants to keep you in your place. If God really is good, then He would want you to have this.”
And the Devil repeated his one temptation trick with Jesus too: “If you are the Son of God, then make some bread for Yourself. Jump off the Temple and show us how much God loves you. Did God really say that You are His Son and that He’s well pleased with You? Are You sure You heard Him right back at Your Baptism? It sure doesn’t seem like You’re God’s Son, Jesus. It sure doesn’t seem like He cares for you. You’re suffering here in the wilderness. God has left You here to die. Sounds like God is holding out on you. Come on, Jesus, show Your power. Make the bread. Command the angels. Get glory the easy way. Do it Your own way.”
The Devil tries to dress up his temptations. He tries to trick and lead astray along different paths. He tries to convince that he has something new, something we don’t have, something we really need or will really enjoy. But He only has the one trick: Get them to doubt God’s Word.
And yet, through all the temptations, Jesus never doubted His Father. He knew that His Father was never holding–out on Him. Jesus trusted the Word that He heard from His Father at His Baptism: “You are My beloved Son. I am pleased with You.” And Jesus didn’t give the Devil the satisfaction of answering his questions or debating with him. Jesus simply quoted God’s Word. He kept faith that His Father is good and that He gives Him all things.
And so it is that a Christian goes into the wilderness of this life after his Baptism. After the Holy Spirit descends and remains upon him, after his Father speaks from heaven: “This is My beloved child, with whom I am well pleased.” Then the Christian is led by the Holy Spirit, and at the same time, is tempted by the Devil. Being made a child of God makes you an automatic enemy of the Devil. Once you’re baptized he will not ignore you. The Holy Spirit covers you in the armor of Your Lord, marks you with the cross, the banner of Your King, and puts you on the frontline of the battle against an army of demons. And so, as a Christian goes through the wilderness of this world he is constantly attacked by the temptations of the Devil. But remember, the Devil really has only one trick: he wants you to doubt God’s Word. He wants you to think God is holding out on you, that God is not pleased with you, that God is really not good.
The thing is, the Devil is happy to let you have a Bible in your home, so long as it stays on the shelf, and you don’t read it or teach it to your children. The Devil is even fine with you going to church, so long as when there is a scheduling conflict you choose the other activities over hearing God’s Word. Or if you do make the effort to come to church, don’t make it because God’s Word is the most precious thing on earth, but come because they’re serving food after the service or there’s something fun for the kids to do. The Devil will even use Scripture to make you doubt God’s Word. Rather, he misuses it. He can quote the Bible as well as any pastor. And he will often use other Christian churches and teachers to smuggle his lies in with a little bit of the truth. He’ll let you think you’re hearing about Jesus because it’s coming from people who claim to be Christians. But if they deny any part of God’s Word, they’re really only talking about themselves, their own thoughts and feelings.
The Devil is content to let you worship Jesus, so long as you worship some other stuff on the side. Because when Jesus is one among many idols, then you don’t really have Jesus either. “Don’t take God’s Word too seriously,” says the Devil. “There’s so many other things worth having. And besides if God really is good, then He would want you to have those other things. If God’s Word was true, then He would show that it makes a difference in your life.”
This is where we cannot rely on our thinking, our feelings, or our efforts. Christians must cling to God’s Word the way Jesus did. It is not enough to say you believe His Word in general. His Word must be heard. It must be preached. His Word must be confessed. Here’s an example of why learning by heart Bible verses, hymns, and the Catechism is essential. We need to use God’s Word. When the Devil tempts us, it does no good to argue with him. Instead just fall back on God’s Word and speak it out loud. It’s the only real weapon we have in this fight. Simply quote it. Pray it. Confess it: “God is good. He is my Father. He gives me all that is good for me. I trust what He says no matter what.”
However, although God’s Word is our sword and cannot be broken, on our own we do not have the power to wield it. Against the Devil’s power we are puny, helpless. We cannot meet the Devil in battle the way Jesus did. We do not keep perfect faith. All men fail. And yet there is one Man who did not.
At Christmas we confess our God is a man. But He was not only born a man. Lent and Holy Week confess how our God lived and suffered as a man. He did not always use His divine power. He humbled Himself. He was weak and hungry and thirsty. Ultimately, His Father turned His gracious face away from Him. And the angels did not save Him from the soldiers’ lashes or nails. But this does not mean that God was bad to Him or did not love Him. It was God’s loving will for the Son to suffer in this way, and the Son bore this suffering willingly, gladly, lovingly, so that He can give us all good things.
Our God, the true and perfect Man, Jesus Christ, is like us. He’s able to sympathize with your weaknesses. In every way that you are tempted, Jesus was tempted, yet He did not sin (Heb. 4:15). That means Jesus won! He beat the devil, and so He made satisfaction for the sins of the world. As a true man He never doubts His Father’s Word. As a true man He never loses faith. By His faithful death, Jesus was victorious over the Devil and all his temptations and doubts. And so after His death, Jesus was vindicated, proven right, declared righteous. And His Father kept His Word and raised Him up.
So, your Lord Jesus declares to you, “You see, God is not holding–out on you. Your God has never kept back Himself or any good thing from you. He gives you everything that’s good for you. I give you everything good for you. I understand your weakness, and so I give Myself, the greatest good, for you. I am yours—your sacrifice for sin, your holiness, your victory. Now you must know that your God is always giving Himself to you. That is His love, that is My love. Your God loves you and is pleased with you. Your God is good and the Devil has lost.”
This Man—risen in glory and seated at the Father’s right hand—this Man now always uses His full divine power. He won, and He won for you. He uses His power for you and fights for you. The Lord Jesus has won the war by His death and resurrection. And although the Devil still tries to attack you, as you make your way across the battlefield in the wilderness, the Devil cannot harm any who are marked by the Lord Jesus and call upon His name.
The Devil can be driven away with just One little word, the little Word your God speaks to you: the Word you hear and believe and confess, the Word you quote and sing and pray and carry in your heart and mind, the Word that gives you God Himself, as well as all good things. Your God is good and His Word is true.
In the Holy + Name of Jesus. Amen.
Preached at Trinity, Clinton, IA & Immanuel, Charlotte, IA
