Author: Higher Things

Higher Things exists and grows based on donations from individuals and congregations. Please consider donating to Higher Things at https://higherthings.org/support. Your gift helps us to continue to release great content like this.

If you have questions or topics that you'd like discussed by Higher Things, email them to media@higherthings.org or send text to 936-647-3235.

Categories
Lectionary Meditations

My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?

By Rev. Eric Brown

“My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?”

Why?  It’s a simple enough question to ask.  Why is Christ forsaken upon the Cross?  So that He doesn’t forsake you.  As much as we might try to deny it or pretend it isn’t real, sin has consequences.  The wages of sin is death.  Where there is sin, there must be death.  And as you and I are poor, miserable sinners, we are consigned to death.

God would not have you simply die, though.  He loves you.  He created you to be with Him for eternity, and so therefore something has to be done, because He wants you with Him for all eternity. And so, Jesus comes, and He lives perfectly, without sin – yet He takes up your sin, and taking up that sin He takes up death, He is forsaken.  He dies so that you will live.

Our Lord cries, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”  And the answer is – “So that I do not have to forsake My son David, so that I do not have to forsake these, My Baptized children.”  When it boils down to it, God chooses not His own Son, but He chooses you.  And this is His choice, this is His wondrous and awesome will, made from all eternity.  That God would have you be with Him – and nothing will stop God from being your God, from having you be with Him for eternity.  Not sin, not death, not the power of Hell.  Christ will go and pay that, so that you will truly be His brother for eternity.  This is the wonder, this is God’s mind-boggling love.  The death of Jesus is the death that was yours on account of sin – He is forsaken in your place, so that He might give you His life, life which never fades.  All thanks be to God for His great love to us.

Rev. Eric Brown is pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Herscher, IL.

Rev. Eric Brown is pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Herscher, Illinois and the co-host of the HT Gospeled Boldly Podcast.

Categories
Lectionary Meditations

The World Doesn’t Get It – A Meditation on Psalm 22

By Rev. Eric Brown

The world doesn’t understand the Cross.  The world sees the cross and simply mocks – He saved others, He could not save Himself.  The cross is seen as just a bitter, ironic end.  The Man who feed thousands hangs haggard on a cross, the Man who healed countless numbers is displayed with wounds too dread to consider, the Man who raised the dead is condemned to death.  Irony, that’s all the world can see.  Even when our Lord speaks it forth – the world doesn’t get it.

Eli, Eli, Lama sabachtani?  My God, My God, why has Thou forsaken me?  The beginning to Psalm 22.  Christ, even in His agony, even in the midst of His passion, still shows such love profound, even to the very crowd that mocks Him and seeks His death.  Turn to the Word, you people!  Turn to the Word which you have learned and then you will understand.  This isn’t just irony, this isn’t just a strange twist to the story – this is the salvation of God, this is Your salvation at hand.  Hear the Word and see.  King David spoke of what would happen to His Son – what the coming of your salvation, what the coming of David’s salvation would be.

And they don’t get it.  Oh, He’s calling to Elijah.  That’s ironic – because Elijah would have understood – Elijah had spoken with Him not too long before on the Mount of the Transfiguration about this precise moment, about this precise wonder.  But the world beholds Christ the crucified and merely shrugs – maybe pauses, not to ponder the mystery of it all, but to fling a few insults.  The same continues today.  Eh, oh look, a dead Jew, what a wonderful reason to have a religion.  And nothing is seen, nothing is understood.

My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?  Jesus teaches from the cross, so let us who are the students of Christ pause and ponder our Master’s question.  Why is God forsaking Christ?  Why would the Father let, indeed, why would the Father instruct His Son to go to the Cross, to bear this shame, to be humiliated in this way?  So that He doesn’t forsake you.  In your sins, you had forsaken God.  This is what God taught through the pen and mouth of His servant David. In his sins, David had forsaken God – and he knew it.  David describes the utter weight of His sin – he is mocked, he is taunted, the lions roar, his bones are pulled out of joint, even his heart melts like wax, and pours out of him like blood and water.  David is given a moment of understanding of the weight of his sin, and he cries out for deliverance.

And God does do so.  Yes David, I see that you have forsaken me, and you are paying the cost of your sin – I see it’s agony, I see it’s toil upon you.  I won’t have it – I will not have My servant David suffer, like this.  And then the words that Luther would have us sing happen.

God said to His beloved Son;
“It’s time to have compassion.
Then go, bright jewel of my crown,
And bring to all salvation.
From sin and sorrow set them free;
Slay bitter death for them that they
May live with Me forever.” 

And so our Lord Jesus took on Human Flesh, was born David’s Son to take David’s place – to step into the breech of sin that David was in, to take His place.  Our Lord cries, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”  And the answer is – “So that I do not have to forsake My son David, so that I do not have to forsake these, My Baptized children.”  When it boils down to it, God chooses not His own Son, but He chooses you.  And this is His choice, this is His wondrous and awesome will, made from all eternity.  That God would have you be with Him – and nothing will stop God from being your God, from having you be with Him for eternity.  Not sin, not death, not the power of Hell.  Christ will go and pay that, so that you will truly be His brother for eternity.  This is the wonder, this is God’s mind-boggling love.  The death of Jesus is the death that was yours on account of sin – He is forsaken in your place, so that He might give you His life, life which never fades.  All thanks be to God for His great love to us.

Rev. Eric Brown is pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Herscher, Illinois and the co-host of the HT Gospeled Boldly Podcast.

Categories
What Does This Mean?

Justification – What Does This Mean? #2

What does Justification mean? If there is a word that can best describe justification it is the word, Absolution. Jesus forgives us our sins and in this declares us righteous before His Father. Justification is the act of Jesus freeing us from sin, death, world, and devil.

Questions or Comments? Contact Pr. Hull via our Contact Page or through Facebook.

Categories
Catechesis

Being Instructed by the Ten Commandments – The Second Commandment: You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.

By Rev. Brian L. Kachelmeier

Children. Children tend to abuse and misuse names. They call each other names. They make fun of each other’s names. They desire to change the identity of another person with a different name. Such behavior is childish. It is the way of the world.

God. God gives to us the gift of His name. He desires to change our identity with His name. For example, the name of Yahweh was placed upon the people of God when the High Priest spoke the Word of God in benediction. The High Priest would say, “Yahweh bless you and keep you; Yahweh make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; Yahweh lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)

Notice that name of Yahweh is spoken three times testifying to three persons of the Blessed Holy Trinity. In the New Testament, we are given the gift of the name of the Lord our God in a unique way. In Holy Baptism, we are baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. We are adopted sons of God by grace. We are clothed with Christ the only-begotten Son of God. Because we are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts enabling us to cry out “Abba, Father!” The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Adoption who qualifies us to pray with Jesus saying, “Our Father who art in heaven. Hallowed be Thy name.”

As our Father is holy, we are to be holy in our conduct. We do not generate our own holiness. We receive our holiness from Jesus who alone is the Holy One. Jesus is the true High Priest. He mercifully makes atonement for the sins of the people. Because He Himself has suffered when tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted. As our High Priest, He continues to pour out His Holy Spirit upon us, making us His holy people, a holy nation, a holy priesthood, and a holy temple. (1 Peter 2:5, 9)

Thus, we are called to offer spiritual sacrifices of prayers, praise, and thanksgiving. The baptized are consecrated as priests of God. Priests pray. We are learning to pray that God’s Kingdom would come to us and others. God answers our prayer “when He gives His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here on earth.” (Small Catechism: Lord’s Prayer, Second Petition) As those who name the name of the Lord, we are learning to depart from iniquity.

In the First Commandment, the people of God are warned about the temptation of the ancient serpent who seduces us into false worship. Now in the Second Commandment, the baptized are warned about the plan and purpose of the devil who desires to deceive us into misusing the name of the Lord our God. The evil one does not want God’s name to be kept holy in our lives. Thus, he tricks us into living lives contrary to God’s Word. Even worse, he joins his efforts by employing the world and our own sinful flesh to fight against us. He is the spirit who is at work in the sons of disobedience (Ephesians 2:2) who act like the corrupted culture. The will of the demonic foe is to entice us, trap us, and capture us in vice and other great shame. He wants to destroy our faith leaving us in doubt and despair. He does not want God’s Kingdom to come to us. He wishes that we would stay under the condemnation of the law because of our sin.

Therefore, we are taught to put on the whole armor of God to stand against the schemes of Satan. (Ephesians 6:11) We are outfitted with the helmet of salvation and the shield of faith. (Ephesians 6:16-17) There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1) In Christ, we are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), and we are beginning to learn to walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4) We live according to the Spirit and set our minds on the things of the Spirit which lead to life and peace. (Romans 8:5-6) We are armed with the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. (Ephesians 6:17) Yet, we fight this spiritual battle by prayer and supplication in the Spirit. (Ephesians 6:18) The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Supplication. (Zechariah 12:10) We do not know what we ought to say when we pray; yet, the Spirit intercedes for us according to the will of God. (Romans 8:27)

Likewise, the Holy Spirit instructs us in the will of God as it is revealed in the Ten Commandments. Through God’s revealed will, we are taught to “call upon His name in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks.” (Small Catechism: Second Commandment) Thus, to properly use God’s name is to petition God as our heavenly Father. As the children of God, we are called to lead holy lives according to the Word of God. “Anyone who teaches or lives contrary to God’s Word profanes the name of God among us.” (Small Catechism: First Petition) Thus, we pray that He would forgive us, renew us, and lead us through His Word and Spirit. We petition our heavenly Father asking “that our hearts may be set to obey His commandments” (Matins: Collect for the Morning) and that we would put away the childish ways of the world.

Our Father desires to protect us from the evil one. God’s will is done in our lives “when He breaks and hinders the plan and purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful nature.” (Small Catechism: Lord’s Prayer, Third Petition) God’s kingdom comes “when He gives us His Holy Spirit, so that, by His grace, we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity.” (Small Catechism: Lord’s Prayer, 2nd Petition) God’s name is kept holy in our lives when we hear His Word in its truth and purity and begin to live holy lives according to it. (Small Catechism: Lord’s Prayer, First Petition) As His adopted sons by grace, we are maturing into our new identity in Christ. We are being formed into the image of His only-begotten Son. We should fear and love God so that we properly use His name. We are learning to continuously ask for the gift of the Holy Spirit so that we may be able to resist temptation and to live a godly life following the example of Jesus.

Rev. Brian L. Kachelmeier serves as pastor at Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church, Los Alamos, NM

Categories
What Does This Mean?

Jesus the Christ – What Does This Mean? #1

Words mean things, even names. The most important name, Jesus The Christ, means a specific thing. When misunderstood it can bring huge burdens, but if properly received it grants eternal peace.

Questions or Comments? Contact Pr. Hull via our Contact Page or through Facebook.

Categories
Catechesis

Reverence

By Rev. Michael Keith

I remember it clearly. I was in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, Ontario. I was in the Grand Hall where they keep the Stanley Cup – the trophy for the Champions of the National Hockey League. It has the look and feel of a cathedral. You could go up to the Stanley Cup and look at it, but you couldn’t touch it. You could stand beside it and get your picture taken. There was a sense of respect and reverence in the room. This is the trophy that I have watched presented on TV to the champions every year since I have memory. This is the trophy that all the greatest hockey players of all time like Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky, and Mario Lemieux, gave all they had to give to win. This is the trophy they triumphantly held over their head in victory as they skated around the rink. It is abundantly clear when you are in that room that the Stanley Cup is something special.

I often do not see that sort of reverence and respect when people are coming into church on Sunday. The reason, as far as I can tell, is not to be intentionally irreverent or disrespectful. I think it is that people don’t know that in the Divine Service there is something special. More than that – that there is something holy. Better yet – Someone holy.

When we gather for Divine Service around the Word and the Sacraments heaven meets earth. Jesus is present. He is there to give out His gifts through His Word proclaimed and preached, through the watery word of Holy Baptism, through His Body and Blood in Holy Communion. Jesus is present with His gifts in a way that He is not present anywhere else. Indeed, there is Someone – very special in the room.

Our behavior reflects what we believe. When I go to a movie theatre I get popcorn and a drink and I sit down to be entertained. That’s why I am there. That’s what I expect. I paid my money and I bought the overpriced popcorn and coke – entertain me! Some people might approach going to Divine Service in the same way. I walk in with my Starbucks coffee and grab a seat, sit back – and wait to be entertained. If we believe that is what going to church is about then that is how we will behave.

But, if we believe that going to church is about receiving gifts from Jesus who is actually, truly, there for us… well, our behaviour ought to reflect this belief, no? For my American friends – if the President came for a visit to your house would you stay seated on the couch and greet him “Hey – what’s up Pres?” I don’t think so – unless you were intentionally meaning to disrespect both the man and the office he holds. The office of President is held in high regard among Americans and the behaviours around the President reflect this belief.

That’s why the Church in her wisdom has taught us certain behaviours to observe in Divine Service that reflect what we believe. When we come into a church we usually speak in hushed tones because we recognize we are in a holy place set apart for God’s use. We sit in the pew before Service preparing ourselves to be in the presence of God and to be thoughtfully engaged with the Liturgy. We quietly pray. We don’t let our kids run around in the sanctuary screaming their heads off. They can do that outside – have fun! – but not in the place and time where we come in contact with the Holy. No, here we are reverent, respectful, and humble. We confess our sinfulness. We receive cleansing in the Absolution. When we come forward we bow to the altar – reverence the altar – because our Lord’s Body and Blood are there. Jesus is there.

Our behavior reflects what we believe. There are many ways our behavior might reflect this belief. We don’t need to get legalistic about it and prescribe certain behaviours that “must” be observed. We don’t need to judge those who may have behaviours different than our own. However, we can learn from those who have gone before us and how they behaved in the presence of Jesus. We can become thoughtful about why we are in the church for Divine Service. Jesus is there. For you.

Our behavior reflects what we believe.

Rev. Michael Keith serves as pastor at St. Matthew Lutheran Church and SML Christian Academy in Stony Plain, AB Canada.

Categories
Gospeled Boldly

Catch Me Outside – Gospeled Boldly #46

Episode 46

[ download ]

When storming the tower: don’t forget to look up. In this episode, Pastor Eric Brown and Thomas Lemke read about a thorny problem called Abimelech, the son of Gideon. Displeased with his station, he pulls an Order 66 on his brothers and takes over as ruler of the land, before he experiences a “crushing” defeat at the hands of a woman. 

In the Backwards Life segment, Pastor Brown talks about what it means to be “filled with the spirit”.

If you have questions you’d like answered send them via our Contact Page or post them on The Gospeled Boldly Facebook page.

Please rate and review our show on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/gospeled-boldly/id1037609133?mt=2

To subscribe via iTunes, please go to: pcast://feeds.feedburner.com/higherthings-gospeledboldly
To subscribe directly, please paste the following link into your podcast player of choice: http://feeds.feedburner.com/higherthings-gospeledboldly

Categories
The Largely Catechized Life

Love means more than ignore – The Largely Catechized Life #32

When God calls us to love our neighbor, it’s more than just a list of things we shouldn’t do to them. We’re called to help and support them. 

Questions or Comments? Contact Pr. Goodman via our Contact Page or through Facebook.

Categories
The Largely Catechized Life

Virtue is not the absence of vice – The Largely Catechized Life #33

Sin breaks stuff. Sometimes we lose sight of the ways that sin hurts.  That leads us to really focus on the negatives of God’s law.  When we do that, we tend to forget the whole point.  The 6th Commandment, you shall not commit adultery, is bigger than a list of things we’re not supposed to do. It’s chiefly about why marriage is good. Chastity is not an absence of immorality. It’s a presence of something beautiful.

Questions or Comments? Contact Pr. Goodman via our Contact Page or through Facebook.

Categories
The Largely Catechized Life

Same sin, different day – The Largely Catechized Life #34

The church tends to focus on the 6th commandment. It feels like the culture is in decay and this is how we push back against it.  Sinful hearts have always lead to sinful actions. Our hope has always been that God forgives sinners. He also gives us a new focus for our hearts. Marriage fills our hearts with joy and beauty so that our actions can follow the same chaste path.

Questions or Comments? Contact Pr. Goodman via our Contact Page or through Facebook.