“The Body of Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:12-31a)

1 Corinthians 12:12-31

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Pastor Tom Johnson, January 27, 2019

Head, shoulders, knees and toes.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes.
And eyes and ears and mouth and nose.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes.

This nursery rhyme celebrates the body. It gets young people moving. It reminds us of the blessing and gift of our bodies and the importance of our parts that we may take for granted until the cartilage in our knees or our rotator cuff breaks down.mPaul uses our physical bodies to understand what it means to be church together. The know ourselves as the body of Christ helps us understand, better appreciate, and celebrate who we are as sisters and brothers in the same family of faith. Paul reminds us of our unity in Christ no matter who we are—Jew or Gentile, slave or free. In other words, God embraces all humanity. He calls and draws the entire spectrum of people in this world. To God, all our differences are not liabilities but assets to his Kingdom. Each of us is fearfully and wonderfully made. We are all connected to one another. Each talent is part of a tapestry and network of gifts that make us beautiful and functional.

Paul pushes our discrimination and judgmental attitudes to their logical absurdities. What if our body was just one big eyeball? We would not be able to hear or walk around. What if our body was just one big ear? We would not be able to taste and see the goodness of God in the world around us. It makes no sense for one part of the human body to despise another part of the body. The head should not say to foot, “I have no need of you.” The lungs would never tell the heart that they are no longer going to work together. So we are members and partners in the Body of Christ.  And if you have not noticed, we have a big problem with body shaming. We do not like this or that part of our body. We want to cover them up, forget that part of us, and emphasize those part of us that we find attractive. As a community of believers, we run the risk of the same body shaming. One ethnicity should not be valued more than another—one skin tone over another—or one social class over another.

The same goes for the gifts and talents we bring to this body. Our baritones should not say to our sopranos, “I will not harmonize with you.” Our trustees should not say to our board of stewardship, “We cannot work together on a capitol campaign.” Our prayer warriors dare not say to those busy with evangelism and outreach, “I will not pray for you.” And our Sunday school teachers better not tell our young people, “Just ignore the sermon. Don’t worry about participating in worship.”

Sometimes what you and I are passionate about differs. But we are still part of the same Body. It is okay for one of us to feel very strongly about certain issues as it relates to our faith and life. But it is not okay for us to invalidate those who may have other issues they care deeply about. God gave you that passion. Embrace it. Go with it. But do not be the eye that says to the hand, “I have no need for you.” Rather, seek a way of partnering together as one body to do all the work God has give us to do. Paul shows us that there can be a wide diversity of opinions, convictions, talents, and gifts. But we are all called to come under the same banner of Jesus Christ, seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness and all the blessings will be added to us.

This past Monday, I participated in a Martin Luther King, Jr service of worship. Pastors and members from a number of our Lutheran churches showed up. Choir members from various black Lutheran churches formed a large choir. They sounded a bit different from our choir. The keyboards and drums sounded different from our organ, piano, and tympani. But we were all singing about the same Christ and celebrating the one who died and rose for us. There is no need to draw ethnic, geographic, social, or denominational lines. We are all in this together. No one is dispensable or inferior.  We are the body of Christ. Our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit—individually and collectively. We are members of a talented, gifted, beautiful, diverse organism called the church.

God wants us to encourage one another to grow and use our gifts. The impact we will have on the world around us will be a miracle and life-changing. Because it will not be merely us—but Christ in us, through us, and around us as the Body of Christ. God's plan and design is for us to be the embodiment of joy and health as his Body and presence. Just as Jesus bore the sin of the world in his Body and brought life through the resurrection through that same Body; so God will bless, forgive, encourage, and build up the world through us the Body of Christ.

Head, shoulders, knees and toes.
And eyes and ears and mouth and nose.

God loves you—all of you—from head to toe.

“Wedding Guest” (John 2:1-12)

John 2:1-12

Pastor Tom Johnson, January 20, 2019

"The Marriage at Cana" by Maerten de Vos (circa 1597)

Today Jesus is invited to a wedding. His mother Mary and his disciples are also invited. Weddings in those days were not just an afternoon and evening. The celebration would have been for several days. At some point they run out of wine. These first century party goers are not too different from us. There would be similar disappointment and even outrage if those who catered our weddings did not serve enough champagne for the toast...or did not have enough adult beverages for the dinner and dancing into the night. Jesus’ mother Mary reports this shortage of wine to her son Jesus. And his response may sound rude. But Jesus is basically saying it is not his problem. And even more than that, the hour for him to save the world has not yet come—let alone this wedding. This is our cue to see this story in light of the hour to come.  I love Mary’s persistence. She tells the servants to do whatever Jesus tells them to do. So apparently Mary knows her son well enough to know that he was about to do something to fix the situation.

Jesus tells them to fill up these huge stone jars with water and then take it to the chief steward—the same person who is responsible for having enough wine in the first place. At some point the water becomes wine. In this moment, Jesus steps into the groom’s responsibility and chief steward’s job. Jesus the wedding guest becomes Jesus the wedding host. The groom’s servants have become Jesus’ servants. They are even serving his wine. It’s not a power grab but a revealing of his glory as the true Groom of his bride the Church.

The reaction of the chief steward is there to make us laugh. He is so clueless that he takes offense by the high quality wine. He does not even realize that he just averted a disaster by this wine that literally came out of no where. It was likely his fault that they ran out of wine in the first place. And then he has the gall to confront and scold the groom for not serving the higher quality stuff first. All because he wanted to deceive their palates by the numbness of alcohol.

It makes me wonder. How often have I completely taken for granted the blessings in my life? When I complain about something not going my way, am I completely unaware that I am in the wrong and that God has just performed a miracle and a blessing in my life? Do we think we are the chief stewards or the ones calling the shots and do not recognize Jesus at work in spite of us? Or have we failed to invite Jesus into our weddings, our relationships, and our daily lives and missed the really good stuff?

Many of us have been taught to pray that little table prayer, “Come Lord Jesus be our guest and let these gifts to us be blessed.” We will soon pray before Holy Communion today, “Amen. Come Lord Jesus.”  When we pray, we yearn to have Jesus come to our tables, weddings, relationships, and our lives. We want him to make a difference in our lives. We want him to clean up the messes we have made, fix our mistakes, and forgive our sins.

Thanks be to God he does not say to us, “What concern is that to me? My hour has not yet come.” Because his hour has come. Yes, he will pray for the cup of suffering to pass him but also that God’s will be done.  The hour comes when he is arrested and drinks the poison of death on a Roman Cross. And three days later he rises triumphantly from the grave. He appears to be a guest in this world but he reveals who he truly is—Host. He is Creator and Sustainer of the universe. He is able to defy the laws of physics, bypass juicing grapes, fermentation, aging, and refining. He takes ordinary water and, in an instant, transforms it into well-aged wine. The chief steward recognizes it as the good stuff.

And so Jesus takes ordinary water and with the Holy Spirit and his Word of his promise transforms it into Holy Baptism that washes away all our sin. He takes the bread and the wine and by the Word of his promise transforms it into Holy Communion and feeds us his true Body and Blood to forgive and strengthen us. And so Jesus comes into our ordinary lives with all our messes, mistakes, pride, and sin. Sometimes we witness his miracles. Sometimes we miss them even though they are right under our nose just like the wine under the nose of the chief steward.

And so Jesus will come again into this beautiful and broken world. And when he comes, he will right every wrong. He will make all things new. We pray he comes soon and quickly. He will come again not as guest but as wedding Host. He invites us to the wedding feast—the marriage supper of the Lamb in his Kingdom that will have no end. There we will celebrate our union between Christ our Groom and us, the beautiful bride the Church. And just like the wedding at Cana, there will be surprises. And the better stuff is yet to come.

Jesus, come! Surprise our dullness,
Make us willing to receive
More than we can yet imagine,
All the best you have to give:
Let us find your hidden riches,
Taste your love, believe, and live!                (“Jesus, Come! For We Invite You” WOV v. 4)

“Beloved” (Luke 3:15-17,21-22)

Luke 3:15-17,21-22

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Pastor Tom Johnson, January 13, 2019

Six weeks ago, George W. Bush was told that his father only had a few minutes to live. So he called his father, George H.W. Bush. The person who answered the phone said, “I think he can hear you. But he has not spoken for most of the day.” Without expecting to hear anything in return, he told his father, “I love you and you have been a wonderful father.” His father said his last words, “I love you too.” It was beautiful to hear the 43rd president tell this story at his father's funeral, to hear him choke on his emotions, and see his eyes well up with tears. It reminds us that even those who occupy the highest offices are human. They too are daughters and sons who need to know that they are seen, heard, and loved. That is what happens at Jesus’ baptism. The heavens open up. The Father does something he rarely does. He speaks. And it is not even clear that anyone besides Jesus can hear. He says, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” This is the Father saying to the Son “I love you.”

"Baptism of Christ" fresco by Giotto di Bondone (c. 1305)

The great commandment is to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength and to love our neighbor as we would have someone love us. God is love. To be in a loving relationship with our Creator and those around us is our life’s purpose. Gary Chapman describes five ways of saying “I love you”—what he calls five love languages. We love through words of affirmation, physical touch, giving/receiving gifts, quality time, and acts of service. Some favor one way more than another.  Some people never hear those words, “I love you.” “I’m proud of you.” Some were never hugged or held. Some did not receive many gifts or not any at all. Some did not have the attention of their parents. They never played with them. They did not show up at their athletic events or performances. They had to fend for ourselves. Some never heard the words “I love you” but their dad or their mom always showed up to support them and cheer them on. Maybe they did not receive many material things but they were showered with words of affirmation and affection.

What the Baptism of our Lord shows us is the very human need for us to know we are loved and cherished. In Christ’s baptism, God the Father expresses his love for God the Son. “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” All of us need  unconditional love. We need to hear that we are enough. We are lovable. We are special. We are acceptable. We’re not broken goods. We’re not junk. Someone in this world cares, sees me, hears me, and prays for me. And, of course, those first in line to do this should be our parents. But we also owe love to one another whether we are parent or child, sister or brother, Christian friend, fellow church member, neighbor, or stranger.

When is the last time you and I reached out to let someone know that we see them? That we care? Do we take opportunities to tell others we appreciate them and value them? Do we by word or deed let them know we love them? That is the great command. That is our life’s purpose. I like what the song “It’s a beautiful world” says: “I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do. They’re really saying I love you.” When we say to one another, “The peace of the Lord be with you.” We are saying, “I see you. I accept you. You are family. You are God’s beloved child.”

In Christ’s Baptism we witness the loving relationship between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Father gives words of affirmation, the physical touch of water splashing and running down back into the river, the gift of the Holy Spirit, shared quality time and intimacy, and the act of Baptism itself. Jesus grew up with his Heavenly Father saying, “I love you.” He was not afraid to publicly tell his eternal Son and—in his humanity—adult Son, “You are loved. You make me proud and give me pleasure. I like you.” God loves his Temple—the Body of Jesus who offers himself for the life of the world. God loves his Ark—the one who takes us safely through the flood of sin and death to a world where he makes all things new (St. Ambrose). Jesus’ Baptism is our Baptism. We are baptized into Christ. It is for our sake he was baptized.

In Brooke’s baptism, we will see the splash of water and trickle of God’s love which covers her. We will hear words of affirmation and witness her adoption into God’s Holy Family. She will be assured that her sins are forgiven. And she will join us on Christ’s mission to love God and the world he created. We will hear the proud words of her Heavenly Father that she is dressed in the beautiful robe of Christ’s righteousness and bears the burning light of Christ. “Brooke, You are my beloved daughter; with you I am well pleased.” And then you and I will get to welcome her in the name of the Lord. We get to say, “You are my beloved sister in Christ. You bring us joy just as you do the Father.” “We love you too.”

Dearly beloved, you and I are the baptized. We are royal children of the King of kings and Lord of lords. We are precious daughters and sons of the heavenly Father. God’s infinite affection for us will never wear out. He sees you. You are enough. You are lovable. You are acceptable. He loves you. He even likes you.

“The Mystery of Christ” (Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12)

Ephesians 3:1-12
Matthew 2:1-12

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Pastor Tom Johnson, January 6, 2019

Today is Epiphany which means manifestation. And here it is the mystery of the promised Messiah being made known or manifested through the signs, Scripture, and people of God.  Paul uses the word mystery four times in our Scripture today. The word in the Greek New Testament is musterion so our English word comes directly from the Bible. A mystery is something formerly unknown but now revealed. In some traditions such as the Eastern Orthodox church they refer to the Scriptures, Baptism, and Holy Communion not as the Sacraments but as the Mysteries. For in God’s Word and through his gifts God reveals his love for us in Jesus. Paul talks about his own ministry as the mystery being made known to him so that he can make the mystery made known to both Jews and Gentiles so that everyone in the world would have the assurance of God’s love and grace. This is the way God works throughout the ages since creation, Paul says. We see that in the mystery of the birth of Messiah, the wise men who ask where the child king is, and King Herod who inquires about this child for fear of losing his power. The wise men search diligently for the child who is hidden away in Bethlehem. God uses the Scriptures, the Star, and the people of God to lead them to Jesus—to make known the mystery to these people who worship him as the King of kings.

Our Scripture from Ephesians reminds us of God’s plan for us. We not only benefit from God’s revealed mysteries but also participate in manifesting and making known the love God and the good news of Jesus to the whole world. The Gospel ministry is about making known the person and work of Jesus. It is something that has gradually been revealed through the ages since creation. Our calling is to show all people the riches they and we have in Christ and that everyone has access to God through him. I like the word mystery because it reminds us that we do not have everything figured out. Being a believer in Jesus does not mean we have all the answers to every question. Being a Christian does not mean we have everything figured out. We look back and see there was mystery about when the Messiah was to be born and what he would do with his life and work on earth. Jesus remained mysterious because he did not fulfill expectations as an earthly king or revolutionary or freedom fighter against foreign powers and Roman occupation.  Jesus did not become the world leader they wanted. He did not bring military and political stability to the world as they hoped. Instead, he made known God’s love for the world through his teaching, death on the cross, and rising again from the dead.

God works in mysterious ways. God chooses Saul, a persecutor and enemy of the Church to be his servant. He renames him Paul. It is why he calls himself “the very least of all the saints.” God calls him to make known the mystery of Jesus to those who have never even heard of the promise of the Messiah—the Gentiles.  And in the wonder and mystery of God, he reveals himself to you and me. It is humbling. Because we have not done anything to deserve such a privilege and joy. Our Scripture says it comes from God’s boundless riches and grace.

The word mystery should remind us that we too are on a journey of discovery—just like the Wise Men from the East and the Apostle Paul himself. We do not have everything figured out. We still have many unanswered questions. It should also humble us that we will always have things to learn until Jesus fully reveals his glory. And it should give us joy to always be growing, learning, and discovering just how deep and wide the boundless riches of Christ are for us. We know enough of the mystery of Christ to have the full assurance of God’s love, forgiveness, and eternal life. The mystery of the eternal Son of God giving his life on the cross and rising again from the dead has been revealed. We know enough of the mystery of Christ to fully participate in making him known. Every time we share our hope and faith in Jesus, we participate in making him known. This is God’s mission and plan: that everyone would know we have access to him—a relationship with God our creator by faith in Jesus.

O Let the harps break forth in sound!
Our joy be all with music crowned,
Our voices gladly blending!
For Christ goes with us all the way—
Today, tomorrow, ev’ry day!
His love is never ending!
Sing out! Ring out!
Jubilation!
Exultation!
Tell the story!
Great is He, the King of Glory!             (“O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright,” LSB 395 v. 5)

“The Father’s House” (Luke 2:40-52)

Luke 2:40-52

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Pastor Tom Johnson, December 30, 2018

Jesus grew up with parents who brought him to the Temple in Jerusalem every year. We also know from chapter 4 of Luke’s Gospel that it was their custom to go to synagogue every week. Jesus and his family were faithful worshipers. In today’s Gospel, Jesus and his family are traveling with extended family and friends. The distance between Nazareth and Jerusalem is around 100 miles. They were traveling in a group for safety but all for social reasons. The adults are having their conversations. The children are talking and playing. Jesus, his mother Mary, Joseph, and everyone else arrive in Jerusalem after a long journey and worship at the temple. After spending a few days there, they head back home. As they return home, they probably tell stories and share their experience with one another. They are well into their journey before they realize Jesus is not with them. They assumed that Jesus is with the group all along. But he isn’t.

Jesus is twelve years old. And he is fulfilling one of a parent’s worst fears. Jesus has gone missing. Jesus is lost. They retrace hours of their journey back to Jerusalem. I’m sure in those first few hours, all sorts of disturbing thoughts enter their minds. They search for Jesus for three days. They have at least two sleepless nights to wonder if their worst fears had been realized. The feeling of panic and desperation threaten to overcome these loving parents with despair. There were no Amber Alerts, photos to pass out, television, or internet to get the word out. As a parent, I’d be losing my mind. After three days of combing the city, they find Jesus in the Temple having a theological conversation—amazing them with His insight, knowledge, and intimate relationship with God. How can anyone fault Mary for what she says? “Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.”

There is some irony that Jesus will grow up to be the Good Shepherd who comes to seek and save the lost—not get lost himself. The boy Jesus responds, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that must be in my Father’s house?” It makes pretty good sense. If they would have retraced their steps, why did they visit Temple last? Wasn’t the Temple the reason for pilgrimage? “They did not understand what he said to them.” It will take Mary years before she understands the significance of Jesus’ words. Jesus was not lost. His parents lost sight of Jesus.

"Jesus Found in the Temple" by James Tissot (1836-1902)

This story is for us—how not to lose sight of Jesus but always fix our eyes on him. It is for us who like Mary and Joseph become distracted even by the world and even a religious experience. Like them we can get so caught up in the latest controversy, breaking news, gossip, and routine of life that we lose sight of Jesus. We let Him to drop into the background of our minds. Jesus does not get lost.  We lose track of Him. We let him escape our minds, our hearts, and our company. In our troubles, trials, and temptations we may ask, “Where is God?” He has not abandoned us. We have slowly let him slip out of our lives by the cares and concerns of this world.

Mary powerfully names it. She said they had been searching for him “in great anxiety.” Jesus will later say, “Do not worry about your life.” St. Paul will echo those words when he says, “Be anxious for nothing but in everything pray and give thanks” (Phil 4). We get lost in our worries and anxieties. We are so overwhelmed by the troubles and demands of this world that we lose sight of Jesus. Jesus says to us, “Don’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” “Don’t you know my Spirit dwells in the midst of my people? Why do you neglect the community of faith?” “Don’t you know I am where the Word of God is read and faithfully preached?” “I am the Word made flesh.” “Don’t you know that I promise to give my true Body and Blood with the Bread and Wine of Communion?” You will find me where I promise to give you my self for forgiveness, life, salvation.

This is more than a story from Jesus’ childhood. It foreshadows a time to come. This is not the last time Jesus will go to Jerusalem for Passover…stay longer in Jerusalem than he was advised…will be missing from those whom he loved…lost for three days. About 20 years later he will be in Jerusalem again for Passover. He will be crucified. He will be missing for three days, hidden away in the tomb. But he is not lost. His mother Mary will go looking for Jesus again. This time at the tomb. The angel will echo Jesus’ words years earlier, “Why are you looking for the living among the dead?” He is exactly where His Father wants him—dying and rising to rescue us who are lost. We find Jesus on the Cross and rising victoriously from the dead to purchase and secure a place for us in his heavenly home.

In the meantime, he promises never to leave us or forsake us. And we are called to fix our eyes upon him who loves us. He shows up again and again in his Word and Sacraments until we reach that place where he is now, the New Jerusalem—where is no need for a temple. Because Jesus is there and here. He is God’s eternal presence—ready to welcome us to his Father’s House, our heavenly home. “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives. And we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

“A Child in a Manger” (Luke 2:12)

Luke 2:1-14

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Pastor Tom Johnson, December 24, 2018

"Adoration of the Shepherds" by Gerard van Honthorst (1592-1656)

Tonight we celebrate the birth of Messiah--the eternal Son of God who becomes human--the Word who becomes flesh. "This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger." The manger is a beautiful detail of the Christmas story. It seems that the word "manger" is only used in English in the Christmas story. I believe it is something worth exploring. Broadly, a manger is an area set apart to house and to feed animals. It is a stall or pen. Archaeologists have discovered that mangers were often caves to keep animals out of the elements. A manger could be, even more narrowly, a feeding trough such as you see here in our creche.  Our earliest references to Jesus' birth in history say that Jesus was born in a manger that was a cave. The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem which is said to be built over Jesus' place of birth is, in fact, a cave. That means that when Mary and Joseph could not find suitable housing, they had to find refuge in a place reserved for animals. And that place was in the heart of the earth.

So what is the Creator of the universe trying to tell us? Why wasn't the King of kings and Lord of Lords born in a palace? Why would God allow for his only begotten Son to be born under such extreme, humble circumstances? I believe it is to highlight the incarnation. God is putting an exclamation mark on the humility of his Servant. This story enhances our understanding of just how radical of a change this is for God to take on our humanity. God's greatest gifts are sometimes hidden by humble circumstances. His truth is sometimes revealed not in spectacular sensationalism but in ordinary and very earthy ways. The sign is not in more blinding light from heaven and deafening songs of angels. The sign is a baby wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger. It is last place you would look for the long awaited Messiah. The eternal Son of God leaves his heavenly throne and is now lying in a lowly crib. The Lord of Glory leaves his heavenly feast to be placed in a feeding trough. The King of the universe leaves his mansion to be sheltered in pen reserved for livestock.

This is how radical the Gospel is. This is how mind-blowing the Christmas story is. God not only dwells with us in human form. He becomes human. And not only that, he fully embraces his creatureliness--even being housed and fed in a place set apart for domesticated animals. That is why cattle, sheep, and beasts of burden are part of the manger scene today. Creator becomes creature. And with him lying in a manger, he appears to be exactly who he is--he is to be the Bread of Heaven--the one who feeds us body and soul and sustains us by the Word of his power. The royal baby in a feeding trough. Jesus is now conceived in the womb of the virgin Mary. He is now born in the womb and heart of the earth. He is now Son of God, Son of Mary, and Son of all the earth. The new and greater Adam. And he gives himself for heavenly food.

And so this child will grow in his humanity, divinity, and his earthiness. He will accomplish our salvation by wood, stone, water, bread and wine, Body and Blood. The wood of the Cross--when he carries the weight and burden of the sin of the world, pays its penalty, and delivers our forgiveness. The stone of the earth--where he is born and where he will be buried again only to rise again on the third day to bring us victory over death and the grave. The water--with the Word and Holy Spirit that washes away all our sin and brings us adoption into God's family. The bread and wine--that assures us that we are his beloved children--the Body and Blood of Jesus--which has purchased a place for us in heaven, our eternal home.

To you this night is born a child
Of Mary, chosen virgin mild;
This little child of lowly birth
Shall be the joy of all the earth.             (“From Heaven Above to Earth I Come,” LSB 358, v. 2)