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Circumcision and Name of Jesus
Sunday, January 1, 2023

“Jesus!” (Luke 2:21)

[In 2022 and now into 2023, we are celebrating the 175th anniversary year of our Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Today, on this eighth day of Christmas, we are observing the Circumcision and Name of Jesus. And today is January 1, New Year’s Day. Our message this morning brings together all three of these themes. This past week I came across a sermon by Friedrich Wyneken, the second president of the Missouri Synod, on the Circumcision and Name of Jesus, preached on New Year’s Day, January 1, 1868. I read it and thought it was excellent. So I edited it down to manageable size–sermons back then were over a half-hour–and I adapted it for our use today. This message blessed me, and I know it will bless you. The text is the Holy Gospel, Luke 2:21, “And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.”]

Beloved in Christ: By the grace of God we are starting a new year today. Not for nothing did God arrange it that the world’s celebration of the new year coincides with the church’s celebration of the Lord’s name-day and the day of His circumcision. Therefore, on this first day of the new year, together with the Holy Spirit, let us consider the meaning of Christ’s circumcision and the name Jesus, and how these apply to us at the beginning of the new year.

God first instituted circumcision with Abraham, as the sign of a covenant and a seal for him and his descendants. For God had made a covenant with Abraham. Great and mighty things were promised to him and his seed. Through Abraham would come the woman’s seed promised in Paradise, who would crush the serpent’s head, and, as was specifically promised to Abraham, by whom all mankind would be blessed. And the Lord promised that He would be the God of Abraham and his descendants.

Thus the descendants of Abraham were to carry this sign of the covenant and seal on their bodies–namely, circumcision–to remind them at all times that they had a merciful God who would aid them in all their troubles, save, protect, and guard them, and richly bless them. Yea, He would even deliver them from all sin, death, and judgment, and give them eternal life. At the same time, circumcision was to remind them that all of mankind was conceived and born in sin, and that this inherited sin is upon all people. They were to be constantly aware of the abomination of sin, especially of original sin, so that they would live their lives in continual repentance and humility before God. They were to recognize everything God did for them, be it worldly or spiritual blessings, not as deserving but as a gift of mercy. And they were to be ever mindful to circumcise the foreskin of their hearts, so that with God’s mercy they could live before Him in a chaste, righteous, and God-pleasing manner.

However, Christ’s circumcision has a totally different meaning. He was not in need of this sign of a covenant and a seal. He was the Son of the Most High God. He himself was righteousness, and not conceived and born in sin as other men. He was our equal in everything, except He was without sin. Then why did He suffer circumcision? Galatians lists the main reason: “When the time was completed, God sent his own Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, to purchase freedom for the subjects of the Law, in order that we might attain the status of sons.” To be under the Law means to be subject to it, to be obligated to obey the Law, and that all those who violate the Law will be condemned to punishment. And it is thus concerning God’s Law. He demands strict obedience and curses and condemns those who violate it.

Yet even the most saintly person does not fulfill the Law, neither is he able to do so. Though there have been many who lived devout and saintly lives, never has there been one on earth–and there never will be one–who has fulfilled the Law, except Christ. We, even though we are believers, are by nature sinners and under the dominion of sin. Therefore, according to the right of the Law, we are condemned and given over to the suffering of eternal condemnation.

Christ’s circumcision means for us that He submitted to the right of the Law. He has taken on the obligation to keep the entire Law for us, to fulfill it in the most perfect loving obedience and to receive for us the wages of sin, that is, death and condemnation–in short, all the suffering and pain that the Law had appointed for all time and eternity on the sinner and the violator of the Law. These drops of blood, shed by the baby Jesus during His circumcision, are like a down-payment–a guarantee given for us in view of God’s judgment. Jesus is taking it upon Himself to pay the entire debt for us and do everything on our behalf in order to establish peace between us and God and His Law.

On the cross, in death, this act was completed. There Christ gave His life as payment for the sins of the lost children of Adam. With His precious blood, He paid the entire redemption price and bought us out from under the condemnation of the Law, so that the Law no longer can demand complete obedience or else face eternal death! Thus we have been redeemed from sin, death, and Satan. There, on the cross, God’s Law has been completely fulfilled, so that now He forgives us our sins for Christ’s sake. He takes us back as His children. He wants to give us life and eternal life, for which He prepares us through the Holy Spirit, so that we can be righteous and holy before God.

See now, that is the significance of Christ’s circumcision. It is of the highest importance for a lost sinner. Thus is taken from your shoulders the terrible yoke and horrible burden of the Law and its impossible demands and dreadful curses. They are laid on this dear little child, who made the first payment with His drops of blood, taking it upon Himself to pay your entire, large, large, debt, so that you can go free. In addition, by this down-payment and guarantee, He has obtained forgiveness of sin and eternal life for you.

Now let us examine what meaning the name Jesus has for us. When the angel made the annunciation to Mary, he told her that the child to be born was to be named Jesus. Later an angel appeared to Joseph while he slept and instructed him to take Mary to himself and that the child within her, which was conceived by the Holy Spirit, was to be named Jesus, for He would free His people from their sins. At the time of circumcision, then, when He began His work of redemption and salvation, He publicly received this name.

This name is to remind you, then, that you have a Savior and Redeemer, given you by God Himself, one who loves you and has taken your sins and your condemnation upon Himself, in order to redeem you from your sins and give you eternal life. He reconciles us with God, upholding us and keeping us safe from all evil, all dangers and sufferings. He uses these so that they turn out to be good for us, finally redeeming us completely–yea, He leads us through death into eternal life and everlasting bliss.

See now, all this is contained in this name Jesus and given to you. Therefore, if you believe in this name and call on Him, not considering your own works and merits as your savior, then you are redeemed from your sins and the wages of sin. Then you are righteous and saved, a child and heir of all of God’s promises.

Praise be to God! Our redemption is based on His works, which started with His birth, freely submitting to circumcision, where He solemnly made a pledge to God, which He gloriously fulfilled on the cross. For that, He was born, circumcised, crucified, died, and buried. For that, He descended victoriously into hell. For that, He triumphantly arose, ascended to heaven, sitting on the right hand of God, from where He will return to judge the living and the dead.

With that judgment, He will complete His work. Jesus is the end of the Law. The one who believes in Him is righteous, and whosoever calls on His name will be saved. This name contains all your salvation, the peace of your conscience, the joy of your heart, the hope of life, the victory over death. In short, all of life and salvation, God and heaven–all this is contained in the name Jesus. The name of Jesus embraces the unfathomable depth of mercy and the love of God toward the lost world of sinners. Jesus is our God and Lord.

How then are we to apply what we have heard to the beginning of the new year? Beloved, once again we are standing at the threshold of a new year. Look, over the portal your God has painted a beautiful picture and written a name above it. Look at it and ask God to put this precious picture and name into your heart. The picture depicts the circumcision of Christ, and the name is the sweet, precious name of Jesus. This picture and this name enable you to look right into heaven, into the Father’s heart.

For the one who has faith in this little child–who here has been given the name Jesus, because He is the Savior of His people; who with His first drops of blood becomes our defense against the judging and condemning Law–by faith in Christ you can rejoice and confidently step into the new year.

Oh, there will be enough temptations, trials, and sin–yea, you may be overcome by your body’s weakness and die. But you are not depending on your own heart but on your Jesus, who saves you from your sins and gives you renewed mercy in Word and Sacrament. Forgiveness of sin surrounds you like the air–yea, it is spread out around you like the sky. He is faithful, the one who has called you. He will do it for you. You just hold on to His Word and Sacrament; do not forsake prayer. Death might meet up with you whenever and wherever it wants. But it will only lead you into the eternally new year, into the right peace and bliss. And even while you are in the throes of death, this beautiful name will lighten your way and bring you safely across: J E S U S!

The Nativity of Our Lord: Christmas Day
Sunday, December 25, 2022

“Christmas and Easter Rolled into One!” (John 1:1-18)

This year we have the unusual circumstance of Christmas falling on a Sunday. This last happened in 2016, and before that, in 2005 and 2011. Christmas won’t fall on a Sunday again until 2033. Not only is it Sunday, the Lord’s Day, when Christians have been going to church for 2,000 years, but it is also Christmas Day, one of the major festivals of the church year. So you would think, with this double reason for going to church, that churches across the land would be packed this morning.

Nah, nah! Think again. Now of course, with the bitter cold across much of the country, that is cutting down somewhat on church attendance today. But even apart from that, apart from the weather, attendance is down for another reason. And ironically, it’s because Christmas is falling on a Sunday. Yeah, it’s crazy! Instead of giving people even more reason to go to church, it’s just the opposite. People are choosing not to go to church today, precisely because it’s Christmas.

And what’s really weird is that many churches are going along with this! They’re even encouraging people to stay home. They’re actually going so far as to cancel their regular Sunday services. On one church website I saw this message: “No service this Sunday: Enjoy Christmas with your family.” Another church says: “We’re all about Jesus. . . we just want to introduce you to Jesus.” But then it says, “No Sunday Service 12.25.22.” Again, ironically, it tends to be the bigger churches with the most people that are choosing to not have service today.

There was an article about this in the New York Times this past week. The article is titled, “O Come All Ye Faithful, Except When Christmas Falls on a Sunday.” I’ll read a couple of excerpts: “Worried about coaxing people into pews when they’d rather be in their pajamas, some Protestant pastors are canceling Sunday services on Dec. 25. . . . This year, church leaders are grappling with what may seem like an odd dilemma: Christmas Day falls on a Sunday for the first time since 2016, and that’s a problem. . . . Among nondenominational evangelical pastors . . . the numbers hosting Christmas Day services. . . . Only 61 percent say they will do so, according to [a] survey.”

One more quote: “Most people . . . think of Christmas morning not as a religious time but as a family time: stockings and brunches and staying in your pajamas until midday or later.” Well, if most people think that, then most people are wrong. Because Christmas–literally, the Christ Mass–is a church service. It is the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord, always held on December 25, regardless of the day of the week. If you haven’t been to the Christ Mass, you haven’t had Christmas.

Well, so here we are in church on this Christmas Day. And on a Sunday, to boot. I guess we’re out of step with the times. But you know what? There’s nowhere else on earth I would rather be. You know why? Because it’s “Christmas and Easter Rolled into One!”

Christmas and Easter rolled into one? “OK, Pastor, Christmas I can understand–this is December 25, after all. But how are we celebrating Easter? I thought that doesn’t come until March or April.” Well, hold that thought. We’ll come back to it a little later. First, though, let’s talk about why we’re here celebrating Christmas.

Why are we here, when we could be at home with our family, in our pajamas, sitting by the Christmas tree, drinking hot cocoa, and enjoying the presents that we opened? That does sound pretty appealing, doesn’t it? And there’s nothing wrong with those things, if they’re kept in their proper perspective. That’s the key: keeping things in their proper perspective. Cocoa is good, but there’s something better: the Feast of the Lord’s Supper, here at this altar. Christmas presents are good, but the presence of Christ is better. Christmas trees are good, but there is a tree that’s more important: the life-giving tree of the cross.

Family is good, and God wants us to love and spend time with our family. But what is good can sometimes become the enemy of the best. “Whoever loves father or mother or son or daughter more than me,” Jesus says, “is not worthy of me.” Idolatry is especially tempting when what is idolized is something good, like family. When we place that good thing ahead of the one thing needful, then there’s a problem. And the one thing needful is to receive from Christ what he wants to give us.

So here we are, celebrating Christmas, assembled together as the most important family that God has placed us in, namely, the church. “Whoever hears God’s word and keeps it is my mother and brother and sister,” Jesus says. The Christian church is our family, and Christmas is one of our main family traditions.

On Christmas we celebrate the coming of our brother, Jesus, in the flesh. That’s the miracle of Christmas. God became one of us. The eternal Son of God took on human flesh and bone. This is the Incarnation. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us,” John writes. Why is this such a big deal? Because the eternal Son of God, the Second Person of the Trinity, who was with God in the beginning, the one through whom all things were made–at a certain point in time, in history, the one-and-only Son of the Father came in the flesh as a little baby, born of a woman.

This is amazing! This is a mystery too great for words–except that God has revealed it to us in the words of Holy Scripture. God wants us to know the importance of the Incarnation! Our salvation depends on the Son of God coming in the flesh, at Christmas, as our brother! If that didn’t happen, we would be lost, forever!

Only God could save us from the hole we had dug ourselves into. We had fallen into sin and could not get up. Sin works its damage in our lives and kills us. There’s not one thing we can do to stop it. We are too weak to overcome sin, death, and judgment under God’s wrath. That’s our big problem, and we can’t solve it.

Only God could, and he did. Only God is wise enough and strong enough to save us. But in order to do that, he had to become one of us. For the judgment we deserve is death. And so Jesus, God’s Son, had to come in the flesh and take our place and die for us, under that judgment, on the cross. That’s why he had to be our brother. He lived the perfect life we failed to live, to make his life the perfect sacrifice for sin. That’s why Christmas is such a big deal. That’s why we are here celebrating.

But there’s a second reason we’re here today. Because it’s Sunday! Sunday marks the victory of what Jesus did for us on the cross. Sunday is the day we celebrate the new life Christ won for us by his death and resurrection. His death covers all our sins and overcomes the grave. Sunday is the day all that became clear. Remember, it was very early on the first day of the week–that’s Sunday–that the women came to the tomb. But the tomb was empty, and the angel told them: “He is not here. He is risen, just as he said.” Yes, Easter, the Resurrection of Our Lord–this is what we celebrate every week, on the first day of the week! Every Sunday is a little Easter!

And so, for almost 2,000 years now, the Christian church around the world has been meeting on the first day of the week, every week. We call it “the Lord’s Day,” because it was on this day that our Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead. He rose bodily, ushering in the new creation and giving us a sneak preview of what’s in store for us in the age to come. On the first day of the week, every week, the Christian church around the world meets together in the presence of our Lord, to hear his Word and to receive his Sacrament. That’s why we are here today. It’s the Lord’s Day, and we are the Lord’s people. And this is the Lord’s house, the place where we gather in his presence.

So we have two big reasons to celebrate today! 1) It’s Christmas! And 2) it’s Easter! Christmas, when the Son of God came in the flesh to be our Savior. And Easter, when our Savior rose from the dead, assuring us of our own resurrection. Christmas and Easter rolled into one! Two reasons to rejoice! Two reasons to be in church today! Instead of canceling church, there’s twice the reason for having it!

Dear friends, what a great day this is! It’s Sunday, the Lord’s Day, when our Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead. Plus, it’s Christmas, the Nativity of Our Lord, the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us. So today I wish you all a happy Easter and a merry Christmas, both at the same time! Christmas and Easter rolled into one!

Fourth Sunday in Advent
December 18, 2022

“Joseph, Did You Know?” (Matthew 1:18-25)

If you’ve listened to one of those radio stations that play Christmas songs for about two months before Christmas, then you’ve probably heard a song called “Mary, Did You Know?” You’ve heard that song, right? The lyrics involve asking Mary a series of rhetorical questions about whether she knew what her son would grow up to do: “Mary, did you know that your baby boy would one day walk on water?” “Mary, did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?” That sort of thing.

Well, today I’m wondering about the man who would become Mary’s husband. Joseph–what did he know? And so our message today will take up that question, under the theme: “Joseph, Did You Know?”

First, though, let’s go back to what Mary knew. Because she knew right from Day One–at least in general terms, if not in specific detail. The angel Gabriel had come to Mary and announced to her that she would be the mother of the Messiah: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” “How will this be,” Mary asked, “since I am a virgin?” And the angel answered: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy–the Son of God.”

So that’s what Mary knew, right from the get-go. She knew that her pregnancy was from the Holy Spirit, not from any man. She knew that her son would be the holy Son of God. She knew that her son would be the long-expected son of David, the Messiah, who would reign over an everlasting kingdom. These things Mary knew, because God’s messenger had told her, right from the start.

But now Joseph–what did he know? Not much, to begin with. He knew that Mary was pregnant–it became hard to hide that. And Joseph knew that he was not the father. So in Joseph’s mind, that left only one possibility: Some other man had gotten her pregnant. And that was unacceptable. For the girl you’re going to marry to be fooling around with some other guy? “Nah, nah, ain’t gonna happen! I’m not going to marry a woman like that! She has really let me down! I’m calling off the marriage!”

That’s what Joseph knew–or at least what he thought he knew. And ordinarily, in 99% of the cases–no, make it 100%, other than this one–he would be correct. But this was a one-time, unique exception. And Joseph needed to know that. For Joseph’s role in this would be very important.

So the Lord sends Joseph an angelic messenger. In a dream. The Joseph of the Old Testament was known for his dreams. Now this Joseph, in the New Testament–God would speak to him also through dreams.

An angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream and says: “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” Notice right away that the angel addresses him as “Joseph, son of David.” That is significant. The David being referred to is not Joseph’s immediate father. No, his dad had a different name, as we read in the genealogy right before our text. But to say “Joseph, son of David”–that calls attention to the fact that Joseph was descended from the great King David from a thousand years earlier. Now that in itself was nothing special or unique. There were lots of descendants of David around after so many generations–just ordinary people. There had not been a Davidic king actively ruling for 600 years. But Joseph was physically descended from King David, and the angel wants to remind him of that.

Why? Because the son that Mary would bear would need to have a legal right to the throne. And that came through the father’s line. In this case, it would come through the child’s earthly father, Joseph. Because Joseph was of the house and lineage of David. Now Mary also was descended from David, and it was necessary for the Messiah to be born physically from that line. And this child would be. But for the right to the throne–that came through the father. Thus the importance of Joseph as a “son of David.”

“Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” Joseph is assured that the child Mary is carrying is not the result of any infidelity on her part. No, Joseph, don’t divorce her. Go ahead and take her as your wife. It’s okay. In fact, it’s more than okay! It’s marvelous what God is doing!

And so, Joseph, here is what Mary will do; here’s what you will do; and here’s what that child will do. The angel says: “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” What Mary will do is to give birth to the child: “She will bear a son.” And what you will do, Joseph: “You shall call his name Jesus.”

By giving the boy his name, Joseph will be taking on that child as his own. He will be legally adopting him. Thus the boy will come into the royal lineage of David. And in this way, he will be entitled to take up his office as the Messiah sent from heaven, the Christ.

And what about the name that Joseph is to give the boy? “You shall call his name Jesus.” Now “Jesus” was a fairly common name among the Jews of that time. It’s basically the same name as “Joshua,” and Joshua was one of the heroes of Israel’s past. So no biggie there. However, the angel gives Joseph the reason for calling the child that name. He says: “And you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

You see, the name Jesus or Joshua in the Hebrew is “Yehoshua.” And it literally means, “Yahweh saves” or “The Lord is savior.” OK, fine. The people would have been all on board for that: Yay! Finally, the Lord is going to save us, deliver us from the foreign powers that have been dominating us for centuries! Goodbye, Romans! Get out of town! The Lord is coming to save us. Your days here are numbered! We’re finally going to get back to being the rich, independent, powerful nation we deserve to be! And if this kid “Jesus” is going to lead us back to those glory days, more power to him!

But is that what Israel really needed to be saved from? Political adversity. Was that their real problem? And how about us? What ultimately do we need to be saved from? The angel tells us: “for he will save his people from their sins.” That is our biggest problem. We need to be saved from our sins! And that’s what this child will do. By suffering and dying on the cross, this Jesus will save us from our sins. And if we are saved from our sins, we are therefore saved from death and damnation. Jesus does it all. He has saved you, brothers and sisters, he has saved you from sin, death, and damnation. He has saved you for forgiveness, life, and salvation. And even his very name tells you this. “And you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

And there’s also another name you shall call him. As our text says: “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: ‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel’ (which means, God with us).” Immanuel! Another little Hebrew for you: Im, “with”; manu, “us”; el, “God.” Together: Im-manu-el, “With us, God.” This Jesus is God with us! With us, not to condemn us, but to save us! With us in our joys and blessings! With us in our sorrows and sadness. Jesus is Immanuel, God with us, here in our midst, here in this church, where he bestows his gifts on us in Word and Sacrament. “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Jesus is Immanuel, God with us, with his baptized people, guiding us, leading us, restoring us, all the way in our life through our final hour. “For lo, I am with you always, all the days until the close of the age.” And then, in the age to come, our Lord Jesus will continue to be our Immanuel, God with us, for endless days in glory.

Joseph, did you know all this? Well, maybe not at first. But the angel’s message that night gave him a good head start. Joseph then knew that there was a special purpose for this extraordinary child on the way, in this most unique, one-of-a-kind pregnancy ever. So go ahead, Joseph, go ahead and marry Mary! It’s all good. And God will have a special role for you to play in all of this, as Mary’s husband and Jesus’ earthly father and guardian.

Now, dear Christian, did you know? Do you know? Yes, you know plenty about this child born at Christmas. You know him to be conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, true God and true man, God in the flesh, Immanuel, God with us. You know him, you know Jesus. He lives up to his name, for he is the Lord who saves you. He saves you from your sins, he saves you for new life now, he saves you for life everlasting. Mary and Joseph know this too, and together we thank God that he has made our Lord known to us!

Third Sunday in Advent
December 11, 2022

“He Will Come and Save You” (Isaiah 35:1-10)

Do you ever feel weak, like you’re not strong enough to handle what life is throwing at you? Do you ever feel like your faith is feeble, that it’s not firm enough to face the future? Are you ever anxious or worried, afraid that there are forces or people out to get you, and it feels like they’re winning? If you answered yes to any of those questions, then I’ve got a word for you today. Actually, God has a word for you today, and I’m here to deliver it to you. It goes like this: “Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who have an anxious heart, ‘Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.’”

“He Will Come and Save You”: This is the theme for our message today. And this word of God, this promise of God, will strengthen your weakness, firm up your faith, and relieve your fears and anxieties. For God always keeps his promises. He is faithful to his word.

This word of God was first spoken by the prophet Isaiah to the people of Israel, some 700 years before Christ. And those people needed to hear it, because there would be plenty for them to be anxious and fearful about. And this word of the Lord, from Isaiah, was there to strengthen and bolster their faith, even as it will do for us today.

“He will come and save you.” Isaiah is writing to prepare God’s people for a time when they will need saving. The Lord gave Isaiah the prophetic insight to foresee the time when Judah and Jerusalem would be taken captive to Babylon. That happened about a hundred years after Isaiah, but the prophet writes this now to prepare for that day.

Babylon will have conquered Judah and ravaged Jerusalem. They will destroy the temple, and take large portions of the population captive, to Babylon, in a series of deportations. The Judahites will be stuck there, in Babylon, for a long, long time. The situation was pretty miserable, and it was easy for the people to become discouraged and despondent. “Has God forgotten about us? Where is his rescue? We’re supposed to be living in the promised land, the land God had promised to our ancestors. And yet here we are, hundreds of miles away, stuck on the other side of a desert.”

The situation looked pretty hopeless. So God chose to give his people a word to hang on to, to revive their hopes and strengthen their weak knees. He has not forgotten about you. The Lord will deliver on his promises by delivering you from your exile. “I will come and rescue you. And you will return and come back home, in a way you cannot see now. Nonetheless, I will come and save you.”

And that’s what the Lord did. After about 70 years of the Babylonian Captivity, the Lord acted to set his people free. He raised up the nation of Persia to be the next world power. Persia defeated Babylon in 539 B.C., and the next year the emperor Cyrus issued a decree, telling the Judahites they could go back to Jerusalem and rebuild their city and rebuild the temple.

The Lord–he will come to save you, Isaiah had prophesied. And then you–you will come back home. Isaiah gave a beautiful description of this return: “And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”

So this was the fulfillment of that prophecy. Or was it? For the prophecy sounds a lot grander and more glorious than just the return to Judah, as great as that rescue was. The prophecy talks about “everlasting” joy. And sure, it was a joyful event when the exiles were able to come back home. But “everlasting”? No, their joyful freedom did not last forever. Judah was still under the rule of the Persians. And after Persia would come Alexander the Great, followed by the Seleucids. And after them, the Roman Empire would come and occupy the Holy Land. So the people of God may have come back to the land, but they were not free. They would continue to be under the thumb of foreign rulers. Sorrow and sighing did not flee away.

There was more awaiting the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. The messianic age had not yet arrived. For these would be the signs that would signal that arrival. Isaiah writes: “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.” When you start seeing these things taking place, then you will know the time has come.

Well, have those kinds of things taken place? Yes, they have! Listen to what Jesus tells John’s disciples: “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.” In other words: “I am the one prophesied to come. The messianic age has arrived. For I am fulfilling those signs Isaiah was talking about. Eyes of the blind opened? Check! Ears of the deaf unstopped? Check! Lame men leaping? Mute tongues singing? Check! Check! Prophecy fulfilled!”

This is it! He is it! Jesus the Messiah! He is the one who has come to save you! Dear friends, you are the redeemed walking on the highway to heaven. You are the ransomed of the Lord returning to Zion. And the ransom price, the redemption, was the holy precious blood of Christ, shed on the cross for you.

We were the exiles, driven out of Eden and captive to the devil, due to our own sins and folly. We were cut off from the tree of life and made subject to death. But Christ came to deliver us from our enemies. He conquered death and the devil by his own death and resurrection. “Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.” This is what Jesus has done. He came and delivered the big payback to death and the devil, defeating our foes for us, something we could never accomplish. But Jesus has. And he shares his victory with us.

Our Lord links us to his life-giving victory through the means of grace. In Holy Baptism you were united with Christ, so that now your destiny is tied to his. He lives forever, and so will you. You will share in his bodily resurrection. And in Holy Communion, you receive the very body and blood of Christ for your forgiveness. And where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation. Christ has redeemed the whole you, body and soul, to live with him forever.

And not only will your body be raised whole and glorious, this whole dreary earth will be renewed and restored. Isaiah prophesies that, too: “The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God.”

Imagine what that will be like! Living with the Lord and all his people in a new creation, no longer subject to death or decay, no longer plagued with sin or sorrow or sadness! Eternal joy! Rejoicing unbounded! Eternal life! Life to the fullest! It has not even entered into our imagination how wonderful this will be! But it will be, rest assured! God always keeps his promises. God always is faithful to his word.

So, dear friends, if you ever feel weak or feeble or anxious, today you have come to the right place. Because your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has come here first, to free you from your fears. Today he speaks his hope-reviving words into your ears: “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.”

And when Christ comes again, then we will see–and we will experience–the ultimate fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy: “And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”

Second Sunday in Advent
December 4, 2022

“A Shoot from the Stump of Jesse” (Isaiah 11:1-10)

Maybe when you heard today’s Old Testament Reading, from Isaiah, you were thinking: “Shoot? Fruit? Root? What in the world is Isaiah talking about? And who is this Jesse fellow? And what could all this possibly have to do with me?” Well, it has everything to do with you, so let’s listen now as Isaiah tells us about “A Shoot from the Stump of Jesse.”

Our text is the reading from Isaiah chapter 11. The prophet begins: “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse.” Who is this Jesse, and why is there only a stump? This goes back to several hundred years before Isaiah, back to around the year 1000 B.C. Israel was going to have a new king. The Lord sent the prophet Samuel to the house of a man named Jesse, and the Lord told Samuel that he was to anoint one of the sons of Jesse to be that king. It turned out to be that Jesse’s son David was the one the Lord had chosen. So in time David became the king of Israel.

After David’s reign became established, the Lord made a special promise to him. From David would come a whole line of kings, until eventually there would come one particular descendant of David who would rule over an everlasting kingdom of blessing and glory. Well, after David died, one of his sons, Solomon, did indeed become the king of Israel. And while Solomon’s reign attained a certain degree of glory, it fell short of the grand expectations that the Lord had promised to David. And it was not an everlasting kingdom.

After Solomon, his son Rehoboam became king. But his reign fell even shorter than Solomon’s. And so it went, one king after another, some good, some not so good, for several hundred years. Then we get to about the year 600 B.C. At that time, the nation Babylon conquered Judah and Jerusalem, and took their king, Jehoiachin, captive. He was the last actively ruling king from the line of David. And that was it. No more kings from the Davidic line. Oh, the physical lineage continued, generations of descendants from David. But none of them would reign as an active, independent king.

So, what would become of the promise God had made to David? If there was supposed to be a line of descendants from David, leading to that one greatest-of-all-king, the Messiah, who would deliver Israel from all her foes–well, that hope looked like a tree that had been cut down, clean cut off, and all there was left was a stump. A dead stump. And if you trace it back to David’s father, Jesse, you could call it, as Isaiah does, “the stump of Jesse.”

Have you ever had a great hope in your life that got cut down, cut off, thrown in the trash bin, over and done with, deader than a doornail, with no chance of ever being revived? Then you have an idea of what this must have felt like for the people of Israel. It looked like no hope. No chance for that supposedly great king ever to take up his throne. It looked like, quite frankly, that God had forgotten his promises.

But what did Isaiah prophesy? “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.” Wait a minute! Hope is not dead! From what looks like a completely dead stump, somehow there will emerge a little shoot coming forth, small, not very impressive at first, but one that will grow and become a fruitful branch. This shoot from the stump of Jesse will become mighty and meet the expectations set for the Messiah.

This is for sure a messianic prophecy. This Messiah, this Anointed One, what will he be anointed with? Isaiah tells us: “And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.” Friends, think of what happened when Jesus was baptized in the Jordan. The Spirit of the Lord, the Holy Spirit, came down and rested upon him, anointing him for his ministry. And Jesus’ delight was in the fear of the Lord. He came to do the will of his Father. Jesus always kept the commandments of God, fulfilling the Law on our behalf. So Isaiah was prophesying the Christ, who turns out to be Jesus!

Isaiah tells us more about the Messiah to come: “He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins.” Jesus will be this great king, establishing justice and righteousness in his realm. He will make all things right.

Christ our king will undo the damage to creation and the hostility in nature that set in when mankind fell into sin. His kingdom shall be the peaceable kingdom: “The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den.”

What a wonderful world it will be! We’re not there yet, but it’s on the way. Paradise restored. What hope! An Eden prophesied, which will reach its fulfillment when Christ our Lord comes again. “They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.”

This is what we have to look forward to, my friends! Let this hope uplift your drooping spirits when you get down. Death and its curse will be reversed! No more sorrow! No more sadness! “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning!”

And it comes in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the shoot that comes forth from the stump of Jesse. He is the branch that bears fruit for eternity. Our joy and our hope come in the person of Christ. No one else can do what he has done, is doing, and will do.

What has Jesus done? He has taken the judgment that you and I deserve, and has suffered that judgment for us, in our place, on the cross. Your sins have been atoned for. His righteousness, his faithfulness, supplies what we are lacking. And so we are accounted righteous before God for Christ’s sake. This is good news! This is the sweetest good news we could hear! God has had mercy upon us!

What is Jesus doing for you? He is coming to you right here in this service. He is speaking his holy absolution into your ears. He is proclaiming his victory over sin and death, which he shares with you, his baptized believers. He, Jesus, is giving you his very body and blood for the forgiveness of your sins. Christ is here, wrapping you in his arms, in his love.

And what will Jesus do for you? He will come again and pronounce you righteous and blessed on the day of judgment. He will raise your dead body from the grave and restore you whole, complete, in both body and soul. He, King Jesus, will welcome you into his eternal kingdom. That’s who Jesus is. That’s what Jesus does.

In our text today, Isaiah starts out: “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.” And now our text concludes: “In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples–of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious.” Did you catch that? The shoot from the stump of Jesse is also the root of Jesse! The shoot is also the root! The one coming forth from the line of David is, at the same time, the source and origin of the Davidic line. This marvelous mystery points to the unique nature of Christ Jesus as both true God and true man. He is the Son of God from eternity. And he came down from heaven to be our incarnate Savior. Jesus is both the shoot and the root of Jesse. And he bears abundant fruit. You are part of the fruit he has borne. For he is the Savior not only of Israel, but also of us Gentiles. We too get to glorify God for his mercy.

Brothers and sisters, here is encouragement for you today: When it looked like all the hopes of God’s people were like a dead stump, lo and behold, here comes this little shoot, coming forth from the stump of Jesse! No, God has not forgotten his promises! Let this faithfulness of God sustain you in the midst of all your dark nights of the soul. “He remembers his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations.”

It’s Advent. During this season, we see how Christ came to fulfill the ancient prophecies. We rejoice that Christ comes to us now in Word and Sacrament to forgive our sins and strengthen our faith. And we anticipate, with eager longing, his coming again to restore creation and to usher in the peaceable kingdom. “Behold, your king is coming to you, righteous and having salvation.”

And now: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”