“Do justice, love kindness, walk humbly” (Micah 6:1-8)

Micah 6:1-8
Matthew 5:1-12

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Pastor Tom Johnson, January 29, 2023

The prophet Micah experiences a transformation of his religion. He asks himself what religious duty he shall perform: “Does God want me to sacrifice a 1000 rams and pour out ten thousands of rivers of oil before his holy altar?” Will it make God happy if we empty our life savings and cash out our retirement and put it all in the offering plate? God has made it clear what he wants. He wants us to “do justice, love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God.” That is what is wrong with the world: there is a scarcity of justice. There is a deficit of kindness. There is an extreme shortage of humility. 

Every day we are called to take sides. Political parties will tell you to send them your money and your votes for their just causes. 24 hour news networks take that call for justice, amplify it, and strike our hearts with fear if we do not get onboard. Religious leaders will tell you also what is most at stake today. From both the left and the right they say,  “If you do not march with us for this just cause, you are against us.” As individuals we can become obsessed with any number of just causes. But what does God require of us? Protests for justice? Votes for justice? Arguments for justice? Taking up arms for justice? No, to do justice. To be agents of justice. To perform acts of justice—to “hunger and thirst for righteousness.”

In the 1880s, a young New Yorker named Emma Lazarus read in horror about Jewish refugees fleeing Russia. She did not politicize her thirst for justice and righteousness. She went to the refugee camps to be a friend and advocate to these shivering souls—the forsaken, the poor, the hungry. She wrote essays, articles, and poems to try to calm Americans’ fear of the many refugees coming at that time. So impactful were her words they are now attributed to the Stature of Lady Liberty and the hospitality of a nation:  

Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!

Do justice. Love kindness. It’s bad out there in the world: the lack of kindness on social media, the lack of kindness on our expressways, the lack of kindness toward those who think, look, or speak differently. We want congress to legislate kindness. We want our leaders to preach kindness. Kindness is a rich Hebrew word sometimes translated as “steadfast love” or hyphenated as “loving-kindness.” Kindness is not something we only give to those we think deserve it. God requires of us to love kindness—to cherish, nurture, and cultivate kindness—to make a pact with kindness—to be merciful, pure in heart, and peacemakers.

After the last battle of the Civil War in the United States, Confederate General Robert E. Lee went to meet Union General Ulysses S. Grant. Lee and Grant remembered each other when they were both students at West Point. When Lee said he and his Confederate troops were surrendering, he said that they had run out of food long before and were starving. Grant and his Union soldiers each split their rations with these once enemy Confederate soldiers. Did those who wanted to kill them just hours before deserve such kindness?  Historians credit the kindness of Grant and the Union soldiers with beginning the process of healing, forgiveness, and a much less likely second Civil War. Their kindness toward their once enemies likely changed the course of history.

Do justice. Love kindness. Walk humbly. We take popularity polls. We think the number of likes prove how right we are. We measure our worth by how much applause, how much credit we receive, and how right we are. We call each other names. We feel better about ourselves when we put others down. We fail to see ourselves the way we truly are—the way God sees us. We are both broken and beautiful in his eyes. We are both flawed and wonderfully made. Each of us is God’s work in progress—ever being molded by the Potter’s hands.

In 1910 an Albanian girl was born named Teresa Bojaxhiu [bɔjaˈdʒiu]. Though Albania is a mostly Muslim country, she was from a Christian family. She became a nun at an early age and heard about the “untouchables” in India. She saw firsthand how the sick from the lowest caste were abandoned to die alone. She felt God’s call to serve these discarded souls in Calcutta, India. She cared for the sick and dying—most of whom were not Christian. She believed they bore the image of God, deserved human dignity, and had Christ’s unconditional love. When she converted a closed Hindu temple into a home for the dying she got the attention of Indian officials. This is likely the only reason many of us know who Mother Teresa of Calcutta is.  Because of her love of Christ and other people, she was perfectly content to spend the rest of her life humbly, in meekness, and anonymously changing bandages, cleaning out bedpans, praying, and loving—doing so in the mighty name of Jesus—the One who first does justice when he conquered our sin, the world’s evil, and death itself. —the One who loves kindness when he forgives us for we do not know what we are doing. —the One who walks humbly to the Cross for the life of the World.

“Lamb of God” (John 1:29-42)

John 1:29-42

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Pastor Tom Johnson, January 15, 2023

John the Baptist is one of my favorite preachers. His sermons are the shortest. The one today is only 14 words in English. It’s only 11 words in the New Testament Greek: “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the World!” Later, John preaches an even shorter version—just five words: “Behold the Lamb of God.” My sermons are usually over 1000 words. Sorry. We sing a prayer based on these words almost every time we receive Communion. Today we will sing, “Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; grant us peace.”

Long before television and radio, the great Preacher Charles Spurgeon could  be heard by over 20,000 people without amplification. Since there were no microphones, he was testing the acoustics in a large, empty assembly hall. With his booming voice he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” Later that day, one of the maintenance workers came to him. He told him that he was hidden in the rafters doing repair when the preacher tested the acoustics. In that moment, the maintenance worker came to faith in Jesus.

It is such a simple message—such a profound message. For those who knew Hebrew Bible (or what we call the Old Testament) it would call to mind the many references to the Lamb of God throughout redemptive history. They would have remembered when God tested Abraham and asked him to sacrifice his son Isaac. Isaac asks his father, “Behold the wood and the fire, but where is the lamb of sacrifice?” Abraham answers, “God will provide the Lamb.” They would have remembered the Exodus and the Passover. When the Angel of Death came, God provided salvation through a lamb. They were to take the blood of a lamb and paint it on their lentils and doorposts. When death beheld the blood of the lamb, death would pass over leaving their sons unharmed. They would have remembered the Day of Atonement when a lamb without blemish was offered for the sins of the people of Israel for their forgiveness. The would have remembered the scapegoat that carried their sins away.

Now John is pointing his finger at Jesus just as these ancient scriptures do. God has  provided the Lamb—not just for Abraham but for all people. When death beholds the blood of this Lamb, death will not just pass over—death will pass away. He is the Lamb who carries away sin—not just for the people of Israel—but for the whole world—not just once a year but once for all! I hope you don’t miss the irony of these words. It reveals God’s sense of humor—how he likes to turn our perception of the world upside down—so that we can see the truth of God’s love for us—with laughter and joy. “Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world!” Sheep are not beasts of burden. Sheep cannot carry heavy loads, sacks of grain, gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Donkeys, camels, horses, and oxen? Yes. 

But sheep? Are you kidding? Baby sheep? A Lamb? You must be joking. John’s sermon is as ridiculous as it is magnificent and beautiful. And what, pray tell, is the heavy burden the Lamb of God carrying? Sin. The Lamb takes the great burden of sin away.  This is the same message the Prophet Isaiah preached in ancient times: “All we like sheep have gone astray, each of us to our own way, but the Lord has laid upon him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). The Lamb takes away the power of sin that weighs heavily on our minds and on our spirits. The Lamb takes away stain of sin—“though our sins are as scarlet,” the prophet Isaiah says, “they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as (white as) wool”—Lamb’s wool (Isaiah 1:18).

Is guilt or shame weighing heavily on us? Let the Lamb take it away. Are we in bondage to the same destructive thoughts or actions? Surrender them to the Lamb. He takes away our burdens that are too big and too heavy for us to carry. “Oh, what peace we often forfeit; Oh, what needless pain we bear–All because we do not carry Ev’rything to God in prayer!” All because we do not learn to unload our burdens upon the Lamb—to cast our cares upon him because he cares for us.

Jesus the Lamb came to bear the sin of the world—only God could bear that burden. And it is his joy to do so. He takes the burden of our sin to the River Jordan. He washes it away in the baptismal waters. Sin and death are drowned there. Jesus the Lamb takes our sins to the Cross and forgives us. Jesus the Lamb takes our sin to die there. The Lamb takes our sin and the power of sin and death into the tomb where it will no longer live and has lost all power. Whatever heavy load we carry this morning, we can let it go. We can unload it on the Lamb. He came to free us from sin’s power. He came to take away our guilt, our shame, our resentment, and even our disappointment with God. Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Surrender whatever it is to the almighty Lamb of God. He alone can carry your burden. He alone will take it away.

“The Voice on the Waters” (Psalm 29; Matthew 3:13-17)

Psalm 29
Matthew 3:13-17

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Pastor Tom Johnson, January 8, 2023

Water is one of the most common elements on our planet. 71% of the earth’s surface is water. Without water, life would be impossible. 60% of the human body is water. Water is abundant and common. And yet, water plays a central role in creation and redemptive history. Our psalm—Psalm 29—invites us into the glory and beauty of how God who uses ordinary water to accomplish great things. “The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders; the Lord is upon the mighty waters.” The psalm writer invites us into his prophetic vision of the partnership between our God and water throughout the Bible.

You’ll remember that “in the beginning,” the Spirit of God hovered and swept over the waters. His voice thundered out, “Let there be light.” “In the beginning,” John’s Gospel says, “was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…All things came into being through him.” The Voice over the waters, the eternal Word, the Christ—breathes and speaks us into being. We are all born of water. We are all reborn of water, the same Voice, and the Holy Spirit. You’ll remember how God’s voice spoke over the rain and flood waters in Noah’s day. He delivers Noah, his family, and all living things through the water. “The Lord sits enthroned above the flood” and re-creates and promises a better world. You’ll remember how God’s voice spoke over the Red Sea. Pharaoh’s army hotly pursued them. Their path came to a dead end at the waters. But the Voice spoke over the waters. The waters washed away the aggressors and those who would kill them. The waters became a gate to freedom and life for the people of God. You’ll remember how God’s voice spoke over the river Jordan. Joshua led God’s people to the Promised Land. The voice spoke over the river. The water rose up in a heap so they could cross over into the land flowing with milk and honey.

And so today we hear God’s voice speak over the river Jordan again. The Lord Jesus is now upon the mighty waters. John the Baptist would have prevented Jesus’ baptism. Jesus needs no cleansing. It is not the water that has something to bring to Jesus. It is Jesus who has something to bring to the water. Jesus speaks over the waters. He speaks fulfillment of all righteousness. He brings cleansing and healing to the water. He will cleanse and heal those united in his baptism. The Holy Spirit descends upon the river Jordan—gracefully like a dove on Jesus in the waters. The voice of God the Father is upon the waters. His voice lifts Jesus up as his Son, the Beloved, with whom he is well pleased. Triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are upon the mighty waters in Jesus’ baptism. 

The voice of God calls you and me into the same waters. The voice invites us be washed and healed by the righteousness Jesus brings to the waters. The voice invites us to join the Holy Spirit in the waters. The voice thunders in resounding love for us in the waters: “You are my beloved daughter. You are my beloved son.” The same water, the same Word, the same Holy Spirit washes away the stain and burden of sin. The same Baptism assures us that we are his precious and royal children.

Over 160 years ago—just before the civil war—a mighty voice spoke over the tidal wetlands of Maryland. Someone was leading slaves to freedom. Slaves escaped slavery through marshes and crossed rivers to the northern United States. This train of slaves to freedom was called the Underground Railroad. Slaveholders and slave masters called the mysterious person who led them “Moses.” This new Moses was Harriet Tubman. At 5 feet 2 inches tall, she had a towering spirit and a mighty voice that spoke over the waters. Many people thought she was insane because heard the voice of God speak over the waters.

As she led the slaves, they heard the dogs coming after them—closing in—like pharaoh’s army behind them. Before them were miles of dark swamps and marsh like the Red Sea. Many of them did not know how to swim.  Like a lullaby to her children, she sang her directions and assurance that the water was not too deep. Her music called them into the waters that would wash away their scent in order to throw the dogs off their trail. “Wade in the water, wade in the water, children, wade in the water, God’s agoin’ a trouble the water.” And so she led the captives out of their captivity. Harriet’s Christian faith gave her courage and a greater vision of herself. She was not a slave of men—but a servant of God. She also had an enlarged heart toward those who were still being held as prisoners of a broken and wicked system. The voice over the waters was there to elevate people—to give them a new vision of themselves—and to actually accomplish their emancipation. So the voice of the waters calls you—and me. 

Wade in the water that cleanses you—wade in the water that frees you and me from captivity—the voice above the waters that calls you royal children—wade in the water of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. You are God’s beloved. You and I are drenched in his lavish love.

“Jesus” (Luke 2:15-21)

Luke 2:15-21

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Pastor Tom Johnson, January 1, 2023

Jesus. The Greek is Iesous which is a transliteration of the Aramaic Yeshua. The Aramaic Yeshua is a later form of the name Yehoshua or Joshua. We pronounce the first letter as a hard consonant “J” because of our Germanic roots. All this to say that Jesus is the same name as Joshua. And Joshua means “The Lord is salvation” or “Yahweh delivers.” You will remember that Joshua is the one who delivers God’s people out of the wilderness into the Promised Land. God raises up Joshua because he was one of the spies who trusted God to bring them safely to their ancestral home. 

If Joshua had a heavenly counterpart it would be the Archangel Michael. Joshua led God’s people through war with flesh and blood. Michael leads the heavenly host in the strength and power of the Blood of the Lamb. They know what it is to battle in the strength of Yehoshua. The angel tells Joseph his father to name him Jesus. And so he does at the time when fathers would officially name their children—at circumcision. On the eighth day, all male Hebrews would receive this sign that they are the people of God. The eternal Son of God takes on our flesh and blood. At his circumcision he spills his first drop of blood and receives the mighty name of Jesus. This foreshadows the day when Jesus will deliver the world through his precious blood. 

And so we are called to pray in the name of Jesus, to confront sin in the name of Jesus, to battle our demons in the name of Jesus, to greet one another in the strong name of Jesus, to serve—even a cold glass of water—in the name of Jesus. Scripture says, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” And “there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given…by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). And again, “at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth” (Philippians 2:10). Even in Jesus’ earthly ministry there were many opinions. Jesus asked his own disciples “Who do you say that I am?” We should pause and reflect when we hear the name Jesus. “Who is Jesus to you?”

Even Mary, the mother of Jesus, reflects on all that Jesus means to her. Our Scripture says, “Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.” Mary is our model. She cherishes what she witnessed.  She lives in the moment. She contemplates. She nurtures the truth of who Jesus is in her core being. She remembers the Word of God spoken to her. She holds the Word made flesh dear and sacred in her arms. Jesus will not only grow in wisdom and stature beside her. Jesus the Christ will grow and dwell richly in her heart. Mary will write a song—what we often call the song of Mary or the Magnificat. She expands on the meaning of Jesus—the Lord delivers: “The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” Jesus’ name authenticates. His name empowers. His name delivers. His name transforms lives. His name carries the full authority of the Kingdom over which he reigns. That is who Jesus is to Mary. “Who is Jesus to you?” 

What a powerful way to begin this new year—to fill our minds and hearts with the name above all names—the name of Jesus—the one who delivers us. Jesus delivers us from meaningless living. He delivers us from self-centered living and self-absorption. He delivers us from harming ourselves and others. He delivers us from shame and guilt. He delivers us from the power of death, evil, and our sin by the Cross of Calvary. He delivers us from hopelessness. He delivers us from the power of death to eternal life by his rising from the dead. He delivers us from the old to the new. Just as the Word made Flesh receives the name Jesus at his circumcision, so we receive the family name at our new birth at Baptism. We now bear the name of Jesus—and the triune name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit by the water, Word, and same Holy Spirit. We are Christened and reborn royal daughters and sons. We are now co-heirs with him. We are now full and true citizens of the Kingdom of Yehoshua. Jesus is our King. He is our Great Deliverer. He is the Lord of our salvation. He is our Brother. He is our friend.