“Bent over” (Luke 13:10-17)

Luke 13:10-17

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Christ healing an infirm woman on the Sabbath
James Tissot, 1886-1896

Pastor Tom Johnson, August 25, 2019

Luke the physician is the only Gospel writer who tells this account of Jesus healing the woman bent over. It was his custom to preach at different synagogues on the sabbath. That particular day a woman came across Jesus’ path who had condition that left her bent over. For 18 years this spiritual and physical condition prevented her from standing up straight. It is one of those uniquely human traits—that we bipeds can balance on our two feet, walk, and run for hours on end. Almost all other creatures great and small are permanently bent over to use four legs. The woman is not even looking for healing that day that we know of. It is Jesus who interrupts her coming into worship. Jesus asks her to come toward him. He tells her she has been set free—loosed, lays hands on her, and immediately she stands up straight and praises God. Jesus facilitates her heartfelt worship. She has come to church that day to give thanks for many things. Now her cup overflows with unexpected blessings and thanksgiving.

Sadly, it becomes a turf war with the leader of the synagogue. Jesus the guest preacher has now crossed the line. He has healed on the sabbath day. The leader of the synagogue has the audacity to scold the woman! “Come on Sunday through Friday to be cured, woman but not Saturday!” Jesus calls the leader of the synagogue and those in his corner hypocrites. Because Jesus sees the inconsistency of their faith and practice. He points out the tragic irony of the situation. “Think about the other creatures that are bent over—ox and donkey” Jesus says. “The backs of these beasts of burden are yoked and loaded Sunday through Friday. But on the sabbath, you relieve them—untie them—set them free—loose them—and show compassion by leading them to water.”

That is what Jesus did in healing the woman and freeing her—loosing her from bondage. Her back is no longer yoked and loaded with the heavy burden of what was physically and spiritually afflicting her. Jesus is actually making it possible for her to experience full rest on this holy day. At the same time, Jesus points out the abuse of power among the religious authority. They twist the spirit of the law and the goal of the Sabbath. The Sabbath is intended to be a day of rest, refreshment, and celebration of what it means to be a child of God. Jesus points out the sad ridiculousness of their spiritual oppression. Their narrow interpretation and judgmentalism add additional weight to the back of this poor woman whose burden is already too great to bear.

Luke the physician never gives us the details of who or what this spirit is who was crippling this woman for 18 years. Was it a toxic religious community? Was it an unnamed evil—the powers of darkness? Was it her demons haunting her for past sins? I believe Doctor Luke does not give us his full diagnosis because it could be any or all of those things. He wants us to consider what may be holding us down and preventing us from holding our heads high. What is the heavy burden you and I are carrying this morning? What are the demons oppressing us? How has religion impeded and prevented us from discovering the liberating truth of the Gospel? What shame or guilt keeps us from standing tall in the forgiveness that God so freely gives?

I love how Jesus elevates this woman’s upper body. I love even more how he elevates her dignity and humanity especially when he calls her a “daughter of Abraham.” This title was always used in it’s masculine form: “son” or “sons of Abraham.” It is reserved for those male descendants of Father Abraham by circumcision. Here Jesus gives this woman a new title and points out her true worth as a royal child of God: “daughter of Abraham.” She can now stand tall physically. But she also can stand tall spiritually and socially. This daughter of Abraham is as much the apple of God’s eye as any son of Abraham. Jesus widens the front door of that place of worship to give the leaders a greater vision of God’s redemptive power. It is Jesus’ joy to takes the scorn, the shame, and the stigma of this woman upon himself and to confront the powers of darkness that were poisoning this synagogue and place of worship.

Jesus will be scorned, shamed, and accused of breaking the Law again. He will suffer the abuse of power again. He will take upon himself the heavy beam of the Cross of Calvary. He will journey to his crucifixion bent over. Jesus takes upon himself the heavy load of sin, evil, and even death—not just of this woman but of the whole world. Just as Scripture says, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree.” Jesus will straighten himself out on the Cross and spread wide his welcoming arms. He will hold his head high as he cries out forgiveness toward those who do not know what they are doing and eternal life to those who are condemned. He will be bent over again in the tomb—lifeless. He will appear to be unable to stand up straight. But on the third day, he will get up, stand up tall, head held high, and proclaim our victory. So you and I stand tall—standing on the shoulders of Christ who died and rose for us—knowing our full worth and dignity as daughters and sons of the Most High God. We are now set free to be the people of God.

“Baptismal Fire” (Luke 12:49-56)

Luke 12:49-56

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Pastor Tom Johnson, August 18, 2019

Last week Jesus’ words comfort the afflicted. This week his words afflict the comfortable: His words especially afflict preachers trying to make sense of his words and find the good news—not just today but ever since he first spoke them. All these words are from Luke chapter 12. “Fear not little flock” are the public words for the thousands of people he preached to. The talk about “fire” and “division” are his private words for his 12 disciples. This is important. These words are about the cost of discipleship: “I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed.” This is good Hebrew parallelism. Jesus comes to bring fire but has not yet kindled it. He wants that moment to come. Jesus comes to undergo a special baptism, and is eager to escape the stress of its anticipation. In other words, Jesus’ baptism is a baptism of death and fire. This is exactly what John the Baptist predicted—that “the one coming after [him] will not just baptize with water but also with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Lk 3:16).

As you follow the baptism of fire through Luke’s Gospel it takes us through Jesus Baptism of death and resurrection. Luke’s story continues in Acts to the Day of Pentecost when tongues of fire and a great kindling wind enter the temple. That day more than 3,000 people are baptized with water, fire, and the Holy Spirit.  From there, the Holy Spirit spreads like a wildfire through Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth (Acts 1:8). That fire continues to spread across the face of the earth today as we witness and celebrate the baptism of Samuel.

“Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” Jesus’ vision here is greater than just the individuals who receive Jesus as Messiah and are baptized into his Church. His words point back to the prophet Malachi where he says that God is like a refiner’s fire and a fullers’ soap. God cleanses both with water and fire just as Jesus washes us in Baptism with water, fire, and the Holy Spirit. When a refiner uses fire to refine gold or silver, he heats up the metal until the impurities rise to the top. The refiner draws off the impurities and leaves the purified gold or silver remaining.

There is a division here between pure gold and silver on the one hand and dross and impurities on the other. So will the work of Jesus fiery Baptism—it will reveal what is true and what is false—what is pure and what is defiled—what is sin and what is righteousness. Jesus reminds us that the truth of the Gospel can also divide friends. Sadly, these lines of division can sometimes happen in families—and even in our churches. This is not God’s goal—to break up families. Remember that John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus Messiah by turning the hearts of fathers to their children (Luke 1:17). His goal is to undergo a Baptism of death and fire to bring healing, forgiveness, and cleansing to the world.

But not all will receive this Baptism. And so those lines of division fall in unexpected places—even the closest relationships we have. Theologians call this “the alien work of God”—the consequences due to our sin. “The proper work of God” is to save and wash away our sin—to restore relationships and bring peace. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3 that those lines of division are also within each one of us—even those of us who believe. We all have belief and unbelief in us—faithfulness and unfaithfulness. And all our works will go through the Refiner’s fire. Scripture compares our foundations as being built by gold, silver, and precious stones or wood, hay, and straw. The fire does not consume the solid foundation but purifies. And the cornerstone of that foundation is Christ himself.

The Baptism we witness today is just the kindling of the Holy Spirit’s fire. In our Baptism, we are adopted into God’s family by the water, word, and Holy Spirit. The fire ignited there continues to be kindled by the breath of the Holy Spirit and to refine and purify us throughout our lives. When we enter our heavenly home—we will be fully purified and cleansed by Christ’s baptismal fire and the Holy Spirit. We will become just like him—without sin, guilt, or condemnation. This is all because of Jesus who was so eager to kindle his transformative fire on earth. Ignited by his love, Jesus used the wood of the Cross of Calvary to fan into flame his power. The blaze of his grace spreads as we share the good news of Jesus who died and rose again for our salvation.

He canceled my offenses,   
Delivered me from death;
He is the Lord who cleanses   
My soul from sin through faith.
In Him I can be cheerful, 
Courageous on my way;
In Him I am not fearful   
Of God’s great Judgment Day

No danger, thirst, or hunger,   
No pain or poverty,
No earthly tyrant’s anger   
Shall ever vanquish me.
Though earth should break asunder,   
My fortress You shall be;
No fire or sword or thunder    
Shall sever You from me.                                 (“If God Himself Be for Me” LSB 724 vv. 4 & 8)

“Fear Not” (Luke 12:32-40)

Luke 12:32-40

Pastor Tom Johnson, August 11, 2019

Today Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor and Tender Shepherd. He tells us, “Do not be afraid—fear not little flock for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.” But what is fear? It is something we have in common with other creatures. Fear begins in the base of the brain. The amygdala immediately sends out adrenaline and cortisol causing us react—freeze, flight, or fight. The rest of the brain shuts down calling for an immediate bodily response such as freezing in the hope of becoming invisible to a predator, or running away from danger, or pumping blood to give us enough strength to beat away or beat down our enemies.

It is no accident that Jesus compares us to other fearful creatures such as little lambs who frighten easily. And they are right to since they are one of the most defenseless creatures. Sheep are not camouflaged enough to invisibly freeze, not fast enough to outrun a predator, nor strong enough nor do they have sharp enough teeth to adequately fight. When we let fear dictate our actions we are deceiving ourselves. We think that we can meet challenges by our own strength and resources—freeze, flight, fight. But we cannot stay grounded or even think rationally if we let fear get the best of us. Fear is also the abuse of power. When someone wants to motivate us by fear, they are asking us to stop thinking and to begin reacting. It is a form of control and manipulation. That is not the God we love and serve.

Jesus wants us to be free—free from the tyranny of fear. He wants us to be emancipated from anxiety to place our trust in God. Jesus says “it is God the Father’s good pleasure to give us the Kingdom.” That is why Jesus tells us to empty ourselves of our own treasure, self-reliance, and pride. We are his little, defenseless flock. “We are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand” (Ps 95:7), he our Good Shepherd. He says, “Do not be afraid. Do not live in trepidation or in consternation.” Fear is the antithesis of faith. Fearing evil can prevent us from trusting God. Which is greater? What threatens us or he who protects us? As Scripture says “Greater is he who is within us than he who is in the world” (1 Jn 4:4). Jesus invites us to come under the shelter of his care. As our Shepherd, he stands mighty and secure. His rod and staff comfort us. He is skilled with weapons to defend us and tools to guide us. He fills our minds with the reality of who God the Father is. He is not a fear mongering deity. Jesus says it brings God joy to give us the Kingdom. He is delighted to satisfy us body and soul with his heavenly gifts. The thief comes by surprise to take away. The Master comes to give us good gifts. Jesus calls us not to live in dread of our future but in anticipation of the One who comes to give us the Kingdom.

God the Father is so determined that we take possession of the Kingdom that he sent his only Son. The Eternal Son of God takes upon himself our creatureliness. The Good Shepherd becomes the Lamb who gives himself and his life for the life of the world. That is why Jesus tells us to not to fear. Do not give yourself over the paralyzing fear but into the hands of the assuring Shepherd. Do not get carried away by anxiety but swept off your feet by the Master. Do not fight your own battles but hear the one who says, “Vengeance is mine, says the Lord.” “Do not fear, little flock,” Jesus says. We are his little lambs. He leads us to the place where we say, “Yea though I walk through the valley of death I will fear no evil. His rod and staff, they comfort me.” Fear melts away. Trust grows. He is the Master who comes at an unexpected hour. When he comes, he comes not to be served or demand of us, but to serve us (Mark 10:45). He has us sit down to eat as his guests. Our readiness is faith and trust that he is faithful. We are now poised to receive the Kingdom. “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies...surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Ps 23). The Table is spread. He gives us the assurance that our souls are secure and the Kingdom is ours.

“As true as God’s own Word is true
Not earth nor hell’s satanic crew
Against us shall prevail.
Their might? A joke, a mere facade!
God is with us and we with God
—our vict’ry cannot fail.”                      (“O Little Flock, Fear Not the Foe” LSB 666 v.3)

“Apart from Him” (Ecclesiastes 1:2,12-14; 2:18-26; Luke 12:13-21)

Ecclesiastes 1:2,12-14, 2:18-26
Luke 12:13-21

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Pastor Tom Johnson, August 4, 2019

One thing my dad taught me growing up was the difference between smoke and steam. Driving through the industrial Midwest, I would see a smoke stack. My dad said if the smoke continues to rise and be carried with the wind it is smoke. But if it vanishes it is steam. This is Solomon’s refrain—his repeated image: “vanity of vanities.” Vanity refers to the the steam that rises from a boiling pot that vanishes almost as soon as it rises. I remember my grandmothers talking about how quickly time flies by the older we get. I think as we experience life more and more we realize just how brief and fleeting it can be.

Like the Hebrew phrase “Holy of Holies” referring to the holiest place of the Temple where the Ark of the Covenant was and the Altar where the yearly sacrifice on the Day of Atonement was offered, so Solomon talks about the “vanity of vanities”—the most futile and meaningless place. This is when we live our lives in the pursuit of material things—when we amass wealth like the fool in Jesus’ parable—when we suffer hardship and anxiety because we never feel like we have realized our dreams and goals. Solomon says at one time he gave his heart up to despair—that is coming from someone who is considered one of the wisest and wealthiest people in biblical history. Solomon reminds us that this struggle is a universal human experience. He names the struggle as “days full of pain, work is a vexation, and even at night our minds will not rest.” Work can be a pain—emotionally and physically. It can create anxiety. And we can take the suffering home—so much so that it can keep us up at night because we cannot surrender the worry, confusion, and pain it causes. This is no way to live. Solomon, out of his wisdom and compassion, is our life coach. He warns us, as the Greek philosopher Socrates does, that the unexamined life is not worth living.

It is a courageous thing to look at our lives individually and do a self-assessment—to search the archives of our soul. What will we find? Both Solomon and Jesus point out that we are all at risk of putting our hope in material things and not in God. We find our lives can be like water vapor rising quickly only to vanish into nothingness. Vanity of vanities. We have few meaningful goals. We have not set up the next generation for success. And that our striving, working, and ambition are often like the ridiculousness of chasing after the wind. Have you ever watched a dog or a cat chasing after its own tail? It’s pretty entertaining—even adorable. But it’s also futility. God wants us to let go of the pain, worry, and restlessness. We can surrender it all just as Jesus did on the Cross when he prayed, “Into your hands I commit my Spirit.”

There is a pastor I have known for a long time who annoys me every time I ask how he is doing. He says, “Better than I deserve.” So aggravating. But a good reminder of the wisdom of Solomon and of our Scripture. Everything that brings us joy is a gift. So Solomon writes, “There is nothing better for mortals than to eat and drink, and find enjoyment in their toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God; for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? For to the one who pleases him God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy.” God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy. He is the creator of everything. He has made the world and all of us who dwell in it. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen 1:1). “In the beginning was the Word—all things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men” (Jn 1:1-4). Everything we are—every person and every thing we are blessed by—it is all a gift from the hand of God. Apart from him we are nothing. Apart from him we possess nothing of value and benefit to our souls.

As Job said about his life: ”Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return.” Are you annoyed by airlines that charge you for carry-on luggage and checked in bags? God will not even allow one item on our flight from this life to the next. But we should be grateful. Everything we enjoy is not ours. It is on loan. We are not owners but stewards of God’s creation. The one thing we will continue in the life of the world to come is to build our relationship with God and one another. And we will continue to enjoy God’s re-creation.

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart imagined what God has prepared for us who love him” (1 Cor 2:9). For all eternity we will know that all of it is God’s gracious gift. The sooner we live our lives as if they are on loan—the sooner we enjoy the things of this world as from God’s hand—the sooner we are the wiser. And with that wisdom and knowledge comes joy. Joy is something nothing and no one can take away. Because of the greatest of those gifts—God’s eternal Son. Jesus has conquered all the things that threaten to take away meaningful, purposeful, and joyful living. Jesus has given us the victory over evil, our sin, and even death itself. Through Christ we have two other things that no one can take away: forgiveness and eternal life. And that only makes our joy even more full.