Pious Lutheran

Simeon and Anna in the Temple , Rembrandt, 1627 The Child who divides the world. Some reject this child and fall Others by faith receive His redemption and are lifted up Merry Christmas! I know the secular world around us has already put away their Christmas decorations and is celebrating New Years’ Eve today, but in the church we’re still celebrating Christmas. We get twelve days of rejoicing in our Savior’s birth and taking comfort in the incarnation. We Christians are delighting in the new birth given to us through Christ’s birth.  Yet today much of the world is engaged in nothing but hedonistic drunkenness and debauchery. The secular New Year has been a time of sinful living since at least the beginning of the use of the Roman calendar. In antiquity it was a time of pagan celebrations and certain gods and goddesses were worshiped. The old year was put to rest and the new year was ushered in. This pagan worship wasn’t reverent, but it was very similar to what is done today at new ye

Madonna and Child,  Giovanni B attista Salvi da Sassoferrato, 1640 Jesus dwells among mankind. Separation from God God created all things through His Word and walked among mankind. With the entrance of sin man is kept distant from God Nearness to God The tabernacle/temple of the Old Testament brought God closer to His people, although there was still separation. The creative Word became flesh and tabernacled among us, no separation, instead communion between God and man. Merry Christmas! “ For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given. ” This only-begotten Son born in the flesh has set us free from the bondage of Sin! Today all the earth rejoices and the fullness thereof, since God has become man to set His people free and usher us into His nearer presence. The whole world changed because God has now become man; no longer is man kept at a distance from God since Jesus dwells among man. Think back to 2020. We Americans had a fairly easy time social distancing, because we’re already a

Angels Announcing the Birth of Christ to the Shepherds , Govert Flinck, 1639 Our Christmas Journey To ancient Judea To the manger To the shepherds in the field To the angels Merry Christmas! “ Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ” This evening’s message is a simple message, albeit remarkably profound. It’s a message of joy and a cause for celebration, a message of happiness and peace: The Son of God has been born a man and is our Savior. This evening we go on a journey, a Christmas journey, better than a magical sleigh or train could ever offer you, because this journey is real and its impact eternal. Today we journey from Iowa to Judea, from the 21st century to the 1st century. “ In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. ” In those days Rome was the world power, ruled by the first Roman emperor Caesar Augustus. For Rome

Saint John the Baptist Pointing to Jesus , Bartolome Esteban Murillo, circa 1655 Our identity is revealed when Jesus’ identity is revealed. John is the Baptist, preparing the way of the Lord. Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. We are Christians, baptized into Christ. “ Who are you? ” That’s the question asked of John the Baptist. The religious establishment, the Sanhedrin, “ sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him. ” It’s not necessarily a rude question or a controversial one, it’s really just a basic legal question of authority. A man is out in the country preaching and performing religious rituals, speaking on behalf of God and the church. So the religious authorities sent delegates to determine by whose authority he was doing these things. It’s only responsible to examine any and every preacher and make sure they’re not a false prophet or a false-christ, especially since John was drawing large crowds. If John were a false prophet or a false-christ, then the r

Judgment Day  Georg Rieder, 1500's Living in view of eternity. The marvelous day of the end of this world is coming, according to God’s merciful timing. We therefore ought to live in view of life in the new heavens and new earth. “Are we there yet?” Came the question out of the back of the car on one of our recent trips. To which was replied from the front of the car: “We haven’t been in the car for two minutes nor even made it out of town yet, so no, we’re not there yet.” Given that children are so young, they have a very short perspective of time, so impatience is understandable. But it’s not just little children wondering if we’re there yet. As a pastor in the 21st century, my ministry is spent less with Christians in their early years and more with Christians in their last years. A common sentiment I hear is: I’m ready to die any time, God can take me whenever, but He sure is taking His sweet time, I don’t know why He’s so slow! It’s really the same question asked by little chi

St. John the Baptists in Prison , Guercino, 1591-1666 Jesus gives us comfort when we’re perplexed John the Baptist’s perplexity, since Jesus didn’t appear the same as he thought. Our perplexity when things don’t go the way we think they should. Encouragement to remain steadfast in Jesus’ promises. Life doesn't always go the way that you expect, or perhaps usually it doesn’t. In some ways this can be great, but in other ways it can be very frustrating. It’s particularly frustrating and perplexing when you’re given some guidance, and then when you actually try to follow that guidance, everything seems to go sideways. In some ways, that perplexity is apparently what John the Baptist was experiencing. “ Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” ” John the Baptist is often psychoanalyzed, where people try to delve into the feelings and emotional state of John