by The Rev. Rich Heinz
The earth shook! But it was not the first time. It trembled as in the day of Elijah. “And he said, “And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.” 1 Kings 19:11-12 ESV
Earthquakes are strong – forces to be reckoned with. It was easy even for Elijah to think that this was how the Lord was going to work and appear and speak to him. Yet this was not what the Lord God chose to do.
This morning, across much of the Midwest, people were awakened to sounds and vibrations that shook them out of their sleep. Some experienced awe or amazement, others were troubled or unnerved. At the most recent reports, no serious injuries were encountered, and for that we thank God. Still, the power, strength, and patterns of the Lord’s earth amaze (and sometimes frighten) us.
The Lord was not in Elijah’s earthquake, but He was the One who could stop it, protecting and preserving the prophet. This morning, no one can blame the Lord for sending this earthquake in pointless wrath. It was not divine punishment. Nor was it man’s fault for not living a “green” life. It was simply part of the regular patterns that have existed since our world fell into sin. And it was still the Lord who stopped it from being worse, and protected and preserved people everywhere. Through it all, it is the Lord God pointing us to the saving events of another Friday.
You see, it was another Friday that had an amazing earthquake. On the first Good Friday, when our Savior died, Saint Matthew records that a great earthquake took place. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” Matthew 27:51-54 ESV
At that moment, the very earth grieved for her Creator as He died to make all things new. God allowed these miracles, including the Good Friday earthquake, so they would witness to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ.
This Friday’s earthquake had no purpose as grand as the earth giving an “Amen!” to Christ’s “It is finished.” Yet we acknowledge our Lord permitting it, even as the earth groans in longing for her risen and ascended Lord to return.
The Rev. Rich Heinz is Senior Pastor of St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church & School in Lanesville, IN. He and his family, as well as the Buetow family some 3 hours west of the Heinz’s, were awakened to this amazing event on Friday morning.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, pay close attention to Jesus’ words! Over the next several weeks of this Easter Season, Jesus will be speaking to His disciples of the time of the church and the work of the Spirit. Jesus speaks to us who live also in this time when He does not come to us to be seen by our eyes, but comes to us by His Word and Sacraments. By His Word, Jesus prepares His disciples for the time when He will longer be with them in the way they can see Him, but when He goes with them in His Word as they carry the Gospel to the ends of the earth. So listen closely because Jesus’ words today speak directly to us for our salvation and comfort.
There is our life: We are full of sorrow because we suffer in this life. But joy will come when our Lord comes back. This we have a taste of each week as the Lord gathers us for His Divine Service. Out there is sorrow: sickness, suffering, death, trouble, brokenness, frustration, bills, family problems, struggles, crosses and heartache. A little while and you will not see Jesus. The Divine Service will be over and out you go into the world to suffer these things! But a little while and you will see Him. Here. At His font. At His altar. In His Word. Brothers and sisters, run to Christ’s church to receive the comfort that comes from Jesus’ words that your sorrow will be turned into joy. In this world you will suffer. You will weep. You will mourn. You will think that Jesus is gone from you for good. But He has not gone. It only seems like He is not there. So that all the more when you receive Him, when He comes to you, your rejoicing and gladness is all the more! Just about every day I get to see my wife and girls. But when I had to leave them behind to go to New Orleans for weeks at a time, I was even more glad to see them when I came back. So it is with our Lord. When it seems as if He is absent, He comes to us to give us that much more joy. Brothers and sisters, in Christ, here, in the church, where Jesus’ word is, there is true and lasting joy. Here is the Good News that the Jesus who went away from his disciples did it to save them and us from our sins. Here is the promise that the Jesus who seemed to be taken away from them, was taken away to die for your sins and rise again. Here, in Christ’s church, is the joy of the holy washing of water and the word, the Lord’s promise that your sorrow will be turned to joy. Here, in Christ’s church, is the word of absolution, declaring that the sorrow of your sins is turned into the joy of being forgiven and pardoned by your Father in heaven, for Jesus’ sake. Here, in Christ’s church, in the holy meal of His body and blood, Jesus turns your sorrow into joy. True, you will have much sorrow in this life. And while you do, the world will laugh and have its joy: but YOU have Christ and He is all the joy that you will ever need against all the sorrow that you will ever have.
And herein lies our repentance, dear Christians. For Jesus says, “You will weep and mourn and the world will rejoice.” Brothers and sisters, the world has its joy now, but its sorrow will last forever. The great temptation that faces us is to trade our sorrow now for the joy now. To give up our sadness in this life and exchange it for the joy that the world offers. That’s tempting! And many do it. Many say they cannot handle the sadness, the misery, the sorrow, and so they seek their joy in this life. And they find it! They comfort themselves with lots of money or the toys this world has. They give themselves to the ways of the world and it makes them happy. For now. For this life. But when they die, they will perish in sorrow, for their earthly and fleeting joy will turn out to be ashes and dust and death. Don’t do it, dear Christian! Hear St. Peter’s warning in our epistle today not to give in to our fleshly lusts and to use our freedom in Christ for bad things. Dear Christians, the world has its joy now. It is comforted. It laughs at the misery and sadness of Christians now. But while the Lord’s people will have the rejoicing of eternal life, those who have given up Christ for pleasure in this life, will have an eternity of bitter sorrow and unquenchable misery. Therefore, hear Jesus’ words and repent! Repent of anything that would lead you to joy now at the expense of casting away Christ and His eternal joy that has been given to you in His gifts. Back to your baptism! Back for absolution. Back to the Supper. So that by these you will be strengthened against all temptations to temporary happiness and be kept in Christ the only source of our lasting joy and gladness.
Finally, dear brothers and sisters, be comforted by the promise of Jesus that there will come a time when your weeping will be turned into rejoicing once and for all. When Jesus returns, He will see you and will turn your sadness into joy. And no one will take that joy away from you. The world will have its joy snatched away on the Last Day. But on the Last Day, you, the baptized children of God, will have your sorrow taken away and replaced with everlasting joy. As the Psalmist says, “You turned my mourning into dancing!” And elsewhere, “Weeping endures for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” And yet again, “My gladness increased more than all their new wine and oil!” This is how we have to face our problems, brothers and sisters: whatever sorrow or suffering comes our way, we simply declare and confess: I know that now I have sorrow. It may even kill me. But all that I suffer in this life, all that brings me down, all that causes me to weep—all of this is going to turn into the most wonderful joy when my Lord comes back and raises me from the dead and gives me eternal life! There is nothing in this life that can overcome my Jesus and what He has done. Just a “little while” and it will be all joy and gladness in Christ! Just like when a woman has a baby: it’s scary, it’s dangerous, it’s painful, it’s hard work, it’s misery. But then, when that little one is born the pain turns into joy and tears of happiness because the child is born. So it is with this life: for now, we suffer. Then we shall have joy. Have no doubt, dear Christian, that your suffering will soon be past and the Lord will appear and He will lay eyes upon you and you will have joy that NO ONE can take away!
OK, last two weeks (end of Top 24 rounds AND 1st week on the big stage with Top 12) . . .
3/25/08 – Top 10
4/3/08, Post results
I am bummed. Moses died this past Saturday.
He also was not afraid to stand up for his political beliefs, which won him many friends, and lost him others. Run-ins with the Screen Actors’ Guild and those who opposed his work with the NRA were a part of his life in this past decade.
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit
Compare that message with what you hear from this pulpit, what you hear when I visit your sickbed, or when I conduct a funeral. You should compare what I preach with what you hear elsewhere to see whether or not your pastor proclaims the Truth of God’s Word. The same should be said for every Christian pastor, within and without the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. If you do not hear the Good News of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, and how He delivers forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation through His death and resurrection on your behalf, then you are listening to a hireling bleat the siren call of self-religion. If you do not hear a pastor preaching God’s Law in all its severity and God’s Gospel in all its sweetness, then you have not heard a Christian sermon. You have heard a hireling tell you what you want to hear.
King David knew. So did Ezekiel and Peter. So do you. The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. Those Words teach you to confess that you need protection from the satanic foe. You have protection from a Shepherd Who became a sheep on your behalf. That’s how far the Good Shepherd goes to rescue you. The Good Shepherd takes on the form of a sheep in order to be attacked by the ravening wolf. He is wounded and murdered so you may live. He comes back from death to life so you may live with Him forever. It sounds like crazy talk. The Good Shepherd becoming like a sheep and laying down His life for the sheep. But that’s exactly what Jesus does. It’s exactly what a hireling won’t do.
Psalm 33 says, the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord…He is our help and our shield. The Lord calls you out of darkness into His marvelous light (just as He does for Syri Anne today) through water and His Word in Holy Baptism. He covers you with His blood and righteousness. He places you in His fold forever. He spreads a table before you in the presence of your enemies, giving you His True Body and Blood in His Holy Supper. He puts His promise of deliverance from the enemy in your ears every Lord’s Day. He provides, protects, and gives you a prosperous eternity not on your terms, but on His terms.
Did you grow up on Dr. Seuss? If you were like me, you had a stack of Dr. Seuss books somewhere in your bedroom. Before I could read my mother read them to me, and after I could read I read them to myself. I have fond memories of the original Grinch that Stole Christmas – you know, the cartoon one (that may pre-date some of you). I was excited to see a classic Dr. Seuss book, Horton Hears a Who come to the big screen – especially with an all-star cast including Jim Carey (there’s something about him that just works for Dr. Seuss) and Steve Carrell (a personal favorite).
Eventually Horton discovers the Mayor of Whoville, played by Steven Carrel. It happens almost accidentally when the Mayor hears Horton through a strange contraption strapped to the roof of his Mayoral office in Whoville. Lately the Mayor has been noticing some strange events, tremors in the ground and such, up to this point it has even made him wonder if there was something “out there”. The Mayor entrusts Horton with finding a safe home for the Who’s little spec, one where it won’t meet its destruction.
What does this big Elephant in the sky do? He risks his very life, to save a tiny little spec – something that would seem so trivial and unimportant in the grand scheme of things. Our Lord Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary and suffered under Pontius Pilate for a mere spec!
We heard Jesus’ words from the cross: “It is finished!” The work of salvation is complete. The water and blood have flowed from Jesus’ side and the sins of the world have been wiped out. The Lamb has been sacrificed. Redemption has been achieved. The price of sins has been paid. The punishment for our iniquities and transgressions has fallen upon Jesus. By His stripes we are healed. By His death our sins are wiped out. By His resurrection we have victory over sin and death. But Jesus’ salvation wouldn’t do us any good and we wouldn’t know anything about it if our Lord had not sent His apostles into the world preaching the Gospel and forgiving sins. If you look at all the other religions of the world, they all teach you some path, some way of life, some rules for making yourself religious. Only in the faith of Christ, only in the Christian church is salvation something that is given out to us from outside ourselves. We don’t have to find it or achieve it. It is given to us. Delivered to us. Given as a gift to us. In the Holy Ministry, the Lord sets apart men to go into the world and to preach that He has died for your sins and risen to life again in victory. These men are given the job of working as Christ’s ambassadors and spokesmen, preaching about what He has done, baptizing, absolving and administering Jesus’ body and blood.
And this is why YOU have a pastor. And this is your pastor’s job: to forgive sins and to bind sins. To comfort troubled sinners and to call hard-hearted sinners to repentance. We need to learn what this is all about, brothers and sisters. We need to learn why the Lord gives us pastors and what to expect from our pastors and how they are to carry out the work Christ has given them to do.
Brothers and sisters in Christ: I will try to be as plain as possible. If I discover that you are living in some sin, then my call is to come and warn you away from that sin. To call you to repentance. To tell you to stop doing that sin. If you want to hang on to that sin, then I have no choice but to declare to you that you won’t be forgiven as long as you persist in this sin. It means I won’t be able to give you the sacrament or tell you that your sins are forgiven. How awful! I never want to do that! And I never want you not to care if I do! It is one thing to fall into those sins that we do every day, even our habitual ones, for which we desire to be free and forgiven. It is quite another thing to be told that you are sinning and not care. To keep on doing it no matter what the Word of God says. So there is our repentance: to hear what the word of God says about our sins, to believe it and tremble at our sins and flee to Christ’s Word and holy gifts which make certain our sins are forgiven.
I’m merrily skipping the commercials on my DVR back in January, and I see an ad for a show where a guy has a vision of George Michael performing the ‘80’s hit “Faith” ON HIS LIVING ROOM COFFEE TABLE. My most formative pop culture years were during High School. I graduated from High School in 1987, so if George Michael’s dancing on the coffee table, I’m SO there.
My note: I LOVE this scene because you THINK it’s the “previously on Eli Stone” but he’s really telling his story to the jewelry store clerk. It encapsulates the show – high powered lawyer turned do-gooder – in a fun way. Throughout the show there are references to God as the Almighty and Moses as a servant of God. A main theme is: How do you know when God is trying to tell you something, and what is he trying to tell you. (We Lutherans would know to look in our Bibles perhaps, but this IS network TV – I think God as a theme is as far as it will go. And there’s no Jesus, but again, I wasn’t expecting that either).
Episode 106, “Something to Save”
Episode 107, “Heal the Pain”
Holy Thursday brought a small burst of joy. As we finished Lent and entered the Holy Three Days, we heard the readings of the Passover, the Lord’s Supper, and Jesus washing the grimy feet of His disciples.
Holy Week follows the same pattern. On Day Six of Holy Week – a.k.a. Good Friday – God the Son recreated humankind, male and female, and restored all people to His image. “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation” (Colossians 1:15). Through His innocent suffering and death, our Lord Jesus Christ has restored us and will restore us to His perfect image. “[We] have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator” (Colossians 3:10). Yes, because of our Lord’s work of re-creation and restoration, we are attaining “to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13).
It’s quite salutary and beneficial to sit back and rest, and let God do the work of His restoration! After all, when this day of rest is ended, and as we hold vigil this evening, we will rejoice and revel in God’s new creation, His Easter creation, His restoration to life in His Son Jesus Christ. As Luther teaches us to sing: “You shall observe the worship day / That peace may fill your home, and pray, / And put aside the work you do, / So that God may work in you” (LSB 581:4).
