The Malignant Enemy of Death

"Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, death, is your victory? Where, death, is your sting? Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law. But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:54c-56


As we increase in years, it begins to get to you. Been thinking of it in terms of words from that great hymn "Abide With Me": "Change and decay in all around I see." One begins to feel death's heavy hand smothering out lots of friends, loved ones, pets, etc. World is bombarded with natural disasters and in cruelties all around. Death and decay seem to be winning.

BUT, Paul inspired of the Holy Spirit retorts, that is not the final outcome. Death loses! Yes, the law has been broken and physical death, separation of the body and soul is the price for each sinner to pay. BUT, the Christian does not die in sin, but all sin has been absolved in and by Christ. Thus, death is but the portal to eternal life in heaven in a resurrected body!

The uncomfortableness we feel about death now is this price for sin, but we who believe in Christ's victory for us in the cross and resurrection will experience this victory personally over sin, death and devil when we will be raised "incorruptible, clothed with immortality!"

And so? "So, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." 1 Cor. 15:58

STANDING AT THE JUDGMENT

"Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment"
Psalm 1:5a


It's not something many like to contemplate at all, not now or ever: the final judgment. Normally it is referred to as "fire and brimstone" preaching. This first Psalm takes it up in quick fashion, and because the Psalter was the Old Testament Hymnal for Jesus and the Apostles, it is fascinating that this topic is the focus of Hymn #1: The Righteous vs. The Wicked.

We must then quickly discern what is meant by this division and titles "righteous" and "wicked." They are legal, courtroom terms, but the Lord's courtroom, a holy courtroom where Godly justice is dispensed. Thus, the righteous meet the legal conditions of the court and the wicked not so. Then who among us can say they keep the Lord's commands? As Psalm 130:3 asks: "If You, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?" What this infers, taking into account all of Scripture, is that each of our records of sin would be so offensive that none be acquitted on the Day of Judgment. But the psalm continues: "But with you there is forgiveness." Thus, the righteous. Righteous solely because they believe in a Savior, Jesus Christ, who knew no sin, but became the punishment for their sin. (2 Cor. 5:21) Thus, righteous can be equated with having one's sins forgiven by faith in Jesus' death and resurrection for them.

Not so the wicked! They scoff at this! (Psalm 1:1c) They do not walk in this way, this whole life of faith in the gospel (verse 1). Thus, we come to the first word in Psalm 1:5, "therefore." Therefore, because these do not allow Jesus' forgiveness to be theirs, they retain all their sins. Thus, no standing on the day of judgment. As one commentator puts it: "shall not be able to maintain himself or stand his ground when the judgment comes. Keeping the same figure, he shall be obliged to sit down or to retire in shame or confusion as one convicted of guilt."

How wonderful in contrast the righteous! They are trees planted by streams of living water that no matter what the time or season, they always bear fruit and they will stand as exactly what they are: the righteous of the Lord. He knows this. (Psalm 1:6) They shall always prosper in faith given them by their Lord Jesus! Amen.

Christ's Church is Never Declining!

God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.
Psalm 46:5








When the statistics are announced about Christianity in the world, what is typically said in our time? It is in decline. This world's analysis says that it is in decline, but God says it will never decline, for He is in her midst!

Notice anything about this Psalm? Right, it is the Mighty Fortress Psalm! "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea." Verse1-2

Over all of its history the Christian church in the eyes of man is always been on the decline and about to go under. Even after our Lord's Ascension, the church was consisting of only a few men and women who believed and were carrying out His mandates. He continually added to this church. And He continues to add to it, and will until the day He returns! So, it is never declining! It is always growing!

His Word even teaches that during the last days, it would seem to be doomed to decline and ruin, except that He return and rescue it: "And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short." Matthew 24:22

God is always in the midst of the Church to continue His saving work through the gospel in Word and Sacrament to add to His kingdom. This wonderful work will continue till the end, even though the devil and world rages against it. They will not succeed. For He is present in these precious means of grace (Word and Sacrament) to be her midst to protect, as is well proven over time.

Luther asks who is doing all this? He answers in his most famous hymn: "Jesus Christ it is, of Sabaoth Lord, And there's no other God." The Crucified One continues to fight with and for His increasing and not declining Church! Thanks be to God!

The Good News: How Sweet It Is!

More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.

Psalm 19:10








Jackie Gleason, the departed great comedian and TV star, used to say this expression which he became famous for: How sweet it is! How truly sweet God's Word is! That is what this verse is referring to when its says: "more to be desired are they." The teaching, the testimony, the precepts of the Lord, they are clean, endure forever, they are altogether true, this Psalm 19 proclaims!

They are a far better investment than even pure gold. We are bombarded these days with TV commercials encouraging us to put some of our investments in gold since it is attributed to have one of the best returns over the long haul. Then how much more return for eternity is there for us who invest in God's Word, in His precious Law and Gospel which tells us of our sin problem and our Salvation in believing Christ's pure and perfect sacrificial death and resurrection solves this problem?

It is the most valuable investment and possession we have or could have! It is truth! It is life! It is eternal truth and life!

Grow in this God-given investment by getting into His Word today at a church that teaches it rightly and purely. It is sweeter to your soul than even the drippings of the honeycomb.

World's Gods: Only Compatibility is Incompatibility

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me."
John 14:6


We hear so much drivel these days about the compatibility of all gods; that any god will get you to a good place at the end... that all gods lead to the same place.

This is patently and logically wrong. As noted thinker J.W. Montgomery states in his intense book retort (Tractatus Logico-Theologicus) to Wittgenstein: "The characteristic most fully shared by the religions of the world is their incompatibility with each other." This clearly if true refutes the prevailing belief today in pluralism, that there are many paths to the truth, not just one.

It is also Biblically wrong, since it clearly throughout presents the truth that there is only one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Because the Bible presents the problem of all humanity as sin, the law, devil and death, these truths dictate a divine and miraculous solution. It is given so magnificently in the sacrificial life, death and resurrection of Jesus for all mankind. "There is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12

Either Jesus came to this earth to be this solution or He did not. The evidence in the Bible and history bears this out, as does well done logic put forward by such as Montgomery to substantiate this. Which other god has ever proposed such a solution? None.

Therefore, the only compatibility the world religions have is their incompatibility.

Thanks be to God who has secured our salvation through Jesus' precious blood shed for our sins. Amen.

Don't You Dare Take A Red Pen To It!

And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.
1 Thessalonians 2:13







I want to let you know where this "taking the red pen" thought came from. It came from a recent published excellent book which you should consider obtaining and reading: Lutheranism 101, Concordia Publishing House (cph.org) Discussing the solas (alones) of the Reformation, it states: "We believe the Bible is God's perfect Word; therefore, we don't approach the Scriptures with a red pen!"

How utterly tragic and misleading it is for those who would take the "red pen" of academia and logic and learning to the Bible to stand over it as its critic, rather than to be under it as God's sacred revelation of the truth to humanity. Such is the tone in much of our country these days, to see the Bible as only a flawed human document. Under this approach everything is challenged as to: did God really say this?

Paul rejoices in the Thessalonian Christians who did not accept this role of judging and critiquing the Word of God, of not accepting it as " the word of men" but "what it really is, the word of God." Strangely enough, much of our modern day "red penned critics" proclaim that Paul is the very one who at the least embellished the actual historical truth. Yet this great apostle here flatly denies this!

Those of us today who believe with Paul and the Thessalonians this letter is addressed to that the Bible is God's Word to us and that it is now "at work in you believers," know that is working this very moment as it always has to bring us to saving faith in Jesus Christ crucified for our sins and is also sustaining this faith to eternity through this same Word. As he writes in 1 Thessalonians 1:5 "because our gospel came to you in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction."

We should also go further to express that "taking the red pen" to God's Word can and does happen in other ways than just letting our human intelligence rule over it. We can and do at times let our emotions and experiences do the same damaging, faith destroying "red pen" editing of God's Word, adding and subtracting at will what God has said to us. In these cases also, we are thus using it not as His revealed Word but the Word under our control.

Whether we take the "red pen" of intelligence, emotions or experience to God's Word , they each lead us from what God intended and gave His powerful, saving Word to be for us: bring us to see Christ as our Light that removes all the darkness of our sin by grace through faith. May the Holy Spirit continue to allow us to be fervent witnesses of God's Word which continues to lead us forth in the victory of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Two Clocks are Counting Down for Each of Us

But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law. Galatians 4:4-5

Since his days are determined, the number of his months is with Thee, and his limits Thou hast set so that he cannot pass. Job 14:5

But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father knows. Matthew 24:36




An anonymous giver put this ornament in my in-basket. It counted down to midnight on Christmas Eve. This reminds us that God set a real countdown to the birth of Jesus counter in motion when in Genesis 3:15 He promised this blessed event. Galatians 4 tells us that when the time was just right (fullness of time) Jesus was born as the God-man to redeem us, i.e. buy us back with His precious body and blood from sin, death and devil. Thus, this counter we no longer need, only as the one kindly given me this Christmas to help us celebrate this blessed event.

A second type of counter remains for each of us, however. It is counting down the remaining time we have in this world and body. Only God knows what is on our personal counter. He is in control of it. Thus, we must redeem the remaining time so as to follow Jesus our Lord to eternal life.

There still remains a third counter, one which is counting down the time until the Lord's return. And only He knows what is on this counter! Anyone who suggests they have figured out what it records are lying. NO ONE KNOWS! Except God!

Don't let either of these counters run out before you believe in Jesus Christ as your redeemer from sin. Peter asks a wonderful question regarding our own personal counter and the end-of-the-world counter: "What sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God?" 2 Peter 3:11b-12a He answers: "You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard lest, being carried away by the error of unprincipled men, you fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen." 2 Peter 3:17-18

2010 Could Be Your "First Christmas" Together!

Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
2 Corinthians 6:2b
Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself, bright and pure
Revelation 19:7,8


Many of us have precious Christmas ornaments which depict the First Christmas together as Husband and Wife. It is wonderful year after year as this ornament is taken out of its storage and hung on the tree to remember the blessed marriage and its continuous blessings.

Such is the marriage of the Babe of Bethlehem, Jesus Christ, to His bride, the Holy Christian Church. Yes, the Lord likes to make great and frequent use of this reality of humans being wed to the bridegroom Jesus and in preparation for the wedding feast in heaven to come, e.g. Ephesians 5:25ff. The bride (all believers in Christ) is cleansed of her sins and clothed in Christ's righteousness which He earned for them by His holy, innocent, bitter suffering and death for the covering over of all sins. Thus, "it was granted her to clothe herself, bright and pure."

God proclaims such high honor to every human for the Christmas message as first announced by the angels is "good news of great joy that will be for all people (emphasis mine). For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:10-11

If you've never embraced this good news for yourself, never believed that Jesus is your Savior from sin, then "This Christmas" could be your First Christmas Together with your Bridegroom, Jesus. As the Apostle Paul exhorts in the 2 Corinthians passage: "now is the favorable time, now is the day of salvation." Believe it, it's absolutely meant for you!

For the rest of us who celebrate many years married to Jesus in His brightness and purity, we rejoice each year at this time, knowing He came to redeem us. It is truly the season of peace and glad tidings of great joy!

Merry Christmas 2010!

Look Up! Redemption Draws Near!

Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.

Luke 21:28










Believers are not dreadful of Jesus' return, nor will it be secret, nor will He return to setup an earthly government. No, He will return as He ascended and every eye will see this (verse 27 "and they will see the Son of Man coming").

So, the admonition here by Jesus is that when we see the signs that His coming is eminent, i.e. earthquakes, wars, apostasy, etc., we should not be fearful, but rather be comforted that the Christian's redemption is near!

The straightening up and lifting of your heads refers to opposite reaction of the unbelievers who are frightened and concerned about the end times' signs and would rather shy away from them rather than take them as positive sign of something great waiting to appear: Jesus' return!

The signs are all there as they have been since the earliest days of the Christian church, so any time at any day the Lord could return. We wait in anxious excitement for His day, prepared for it by the covering over of our sins by His precious body and blood given and shed for them, knowing that life in the presence of the Eternal One will commence soon. We have no reason to fear the cosmic display of signs but rather look up to see the Christ, who will return to take us home! Amen!

Precious Snow From Heaven

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
Isaiah 55:10,11


Recently, there were several blocks of the shopping mecca on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, CA which had snow making machines on store stops pouring down snow for a wintry Christmas scene. Much like this false snow is so much of the words which people live by today: artificial, not the real thing. They don't succeed is delivering what we really need.

Human souls do not live by physical food alone but by every Word that proceeds from God's mouth. Both Moses and Jesus speak this! (Deuteronomy 8:3 and Matthew 4:4) This Word from God's mouth is none other than the inspired Word of God recorded in the Holy Bible which points humans to the Word Incarnate come from heaven to save us from our sins!

We do live by this Word Incarnate, Jesus Christ, who came to suffer and die for our sins. Believing this, we have life even if we physically die! (John 11:25-26) His First Coming to sacrifice Himself as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world and thus makes peace with the Father is truly something to feast upon.

Luther wrote this magnificent Christmas hymn "From Heaven Above to Earth I Come" speaks of this in fifteen glorious verses. I'll share but two of them: "From heaven above to earth I come, To bear good news to ev'ry home; Glad tidings of great joy I bring, Whereof I now will say and sing. ... This is the Christ, our God Most High, Who hears your sand and bitter cry; He will Himself your Savior be, From all your sins to set you free." (verses 1 and 3)

There are so many artificial words of promise out there that are just like fake snow. They aren't the real thing and won't deliver. But Jesus delivers! This is God's purpose and it will succeed. May it succeed within your heart this Christmas and all seasons!

An Army of One Came to Rescue Us at Christmas

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.
Hebrews 2:14,15




Many still rejoice and celebrate the birth of Jesus but for none of the reasons He came to earth. It is not about human conceptions of peace on earth but about the peace that surpasses all comprehension, the destruction of the power of sin, death and devil over humans.

This babe of Bethlehem expressly and repeatedly says that this is the reason He came, to redeem us from our slavery to sin, to pay the ransom price with His Holy body and blood that we might not fear death anymore, but know that even though we die, we will live with Him in blessed Heaven forever!

So, it is only appropriate at Christmas and every season of the year, we celebrate, rejoice and take to heart Jesus' first coming to save us from sin. Even more so, we now look forward to His Second Coming (Advent) when He will judge the earth based on whether they believed in what His first Coming was for them.

The Sweet Smell of Gospel Triumph

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifest through us the the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death; to the other an aroma from life to life.

2 Corinthians 2:14-16

How great an aroma to smell a roasting turkey this time of year? It is truly one of those great aromas in the likes of coffee brewing and bacon frying. It fills the nostrils with such a pleasing aroma.

Not so the aroma of our sin before the Holy God. It fills His nostrils with the stench of disobedience and law breaking. He can't stand to be around it and does and will eventually preclude it from reaching His eternal presence.

There is only ONE way to get rid of the stench of our sin: believing in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He took all the sin of all times into Himself and paid the price for its stench by being punished sacrifically for it on the cross.

Those who believe in this saving Gospel have their stench covered over by the beautiful aroma of Christ crucified for their sins. Those who refuse to believe this Gospel, have their sins' stench wreaking to the high heavens.

Thus, we thank God at all times and places for the Triumphal Procession which carries on in the preaching of His Gospel, a magnificent and fragrant aroma to those "being saved" but an aroma to death to those who "are perishing." We must say here further that any preaching which adds to or subtracts from the pure preaching of the Gospel stink it up to where it no longer removes the stench of sin, i.e. no longer saves. (see Galatians 1 on this)

This "scandal of particularity" of Jesus Christ being the ONLY pleasing aroma to forgive sins is offensive/scandalous to those who "are perishing" because it is Particular. But to those who are "being saved" it is the sweetest smell in all the world. And God agrees!

Just Be Yourself?

But that is not the way you learned Christ--assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 4:20-24


We hear it said often, "Just be yourself! Be true to self!" We never learned this from Christ or His Word. We hear it from our sinful flesh and the devil and the world. This old self was a slave to sin and could never nor would it ever listen to the truth. It had no choice before conversion to do anything but be true to its sinful self. (see Romans 3:9-18) However, not so we who have been "renewed in the spirit ... created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." Our God given faith by grace has given us now a new self, who can and should compete with the old self still lingering around and be renewed each and every day in Christ Jesus. This new self wars against the old self (see Romans 7) and must be defeated and corralled each and every day. (see 2 Cor. 4:16)

Daily in our confession of sin and turning to Christ for forgiveness, our lives are Gospel led to live now for Him who loved us and gave Himself for us on the cross that we might continue in His righteousness and holiness purchased and won for us and given to us continually in the means of grace. By this and this only do we live "The New Life" in Christ, by Christ and for Christ!

So we are not about being Ourselves, letting the old self rule. We are about the New Self, created and led by the Gospel of Jesus Christ in righteousness and holiness.

Our Record Won't Get Us In

If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins,
O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness,
that you may be feared.

Psalm 130:3-4











If we humans could be see the long legal record of our legal offenses of breaking God's law, we would be in despair because not one of us could stand on the Day of Judgment when an accounting for each of us must and will be given.

But the Psalmist does not stop here! He knows and then proclaims that with God there is forgiveness, so he comforts himself not in himself but in God's grace and mercy found in Jesus Christ paying the price of our legal debts and canceling out the punishment.

Thus we can continue to be in complete awe of such a God! Our hope and trust and life is in Him who died for our sins and lives to forgive them. Thus we stand in His mercy, forgiveness and justice.

Jesus Came to Save Sinners

It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.
1 Timothy 1:15






Why do so many not get this, that Jesus came to save sinners, not all the other things which we hear that He supposedly came to accomplish? We hear that He came for other things. e.g. as a great moral teacher and example to show us how we should live and treat each other and leave the world a better place, or to save the politically and socially oppressed. I believe it is because they are not yet spiritually able to discern that they are a sinner who needs the blood of Jesus to cleanse them from this transgression. This is only spiritually discerned by those born of God's Spirit. (1 Cor. 1:10-14)

This proclamation of God's desire to save all humans (1 Tim. 2:4) is why we preach this Jesus as the only Savior from sin to all people. The truth is that we are all sinners. See here 1 John 1:8-10. And the further truth is as expressed in 1 Timothy 1:15 that Jesus came to save us by His perfect fulfillment of the Ten Commandments and His perfect sacrificial death for our breaking of this Law. This salvation is obtained individually and personally as each of us are brought to belief or faith in Jesus' salvation for eternal life. (1 Tim. 1:16)

That is why the Apostle Paul says that he preaches only this salvation found in Jesus and Him crucified for sinners in 1 Corinthians 1:2:2. For this is the only mediation and Mediator between sinful humans and The Holy God. (1 Tim. 2:5-6) He alone paid the "ransom" necessary to buy us back and free us from sin's condemnation.

Once God gives us faith in this salvation from our sins in Christ Jesus, we are then and only then free to have access to God (Romans 5:1) and peace and joy and the confidence of eternal life in our hearts. So, this trustworthy saying is so important and vital, that Jesus came to this world to save sinners of which each of us could and should argue with the Apostle Paul that we are the foremost.

Is There A Higher Justice For All?

But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.
2 Samuel 11:27b

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love...
Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight
Psalms 51:1a, 4a








Why do we naturally sinful human beings think we can get away with murder, adultery and other atrocities against God? Literally, these were the offenses against God that King David committed with the Bathsheba affair as recorded in 2 Samuel 11. He was negligent in his duties as king leading the Israelite army, he physically took another man's wife and committed adultery, than as cover up had the man murdered. Did he truly think God wasn't observing all this. The chapter ends with this summary statement: "But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord."

What we are surprisingly show in this whole affair however is the compassion and mercy of God as he sends the prophet Nathan to confront David and secures the confession and absolution which results, with such admission and faith in God's forgiveness found in Psalm 51.

There David correctly surmises and proclaims that his real sin, real injustice was against God and only God. Here we can be sure David was thinking First Commandment. All breaking of God's law inherently involves First Commandment breaking, of forsaking what the only God would want us to do and abstain from.

David also correctly surmises and proclaims that God is able and willing to blot out all David's transgressions and ours in Jesus' sacrifice. Sin truly confessed as against a holy God and forgiven in Jesus Christ, His Son our Lord brings forth the joy our Thy salvation as expressed in Psalm 51:14: Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness." Amen.

A Scepter of Righteousness!

Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of righteousness.
Psalm 45:6


We don't see many scepters these days, except at formal events such as university and seminary graduation ceremonies where an official leads the procession with the scepter. It shows the authority to do the bestowing of degrees and awards.

How much more the authority of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus, to go bestow upon us His righteousness! The author of Hebrews quotes this verse in Chapter One, Verse Eight, to prove that Jesus has the scepter above all created beings, including angels. This scepter thus extends over all beings, and it is forever and righteous.

Thanks be to God that this authority is of righteousness. This is what God wants to bestow upon all humans, the righteousness of King Jesus! As verse 4 expresses it: "In your majesty ride out victoriously for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness; let your right hand teach you awesome deeds!" And none more awesome or righteous than the sacrificial death and resurrection upon the cross to free mankind from sin, death and devil. This King is truly awesome in His deeds on behalf of sinful mankind.

This scepter of Our Lord goes before us in victory each Lord's Day as He leads us in procession to cast our sins upon Him and in return He gives us His righteousness. As Psalm 45 continues on in verse 7: He is anointed for this very purpose!

How truly wonderful and comforting to know that the scepter of Our Lord Jesus Christ is about imputing His righteousness to we the penitent, believing members of His kingdom. Alleluia!

Greater than John the Baptist?

"Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Matthew 11:11







At first glance, this passage seems very difficult to understand. How can Jesus at the same time refer to John the Baptist as the greatest and then turn around and say that the least of those in heaven's kingdom are greater than he?

Many potential explanations have been given, but only one seems consistent with Scripture. Matthew 13:16-17 points to those believers who will see and hear all the miracles of Jesus, especially His death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins.

This fits well, since John the Baptist was a mighty prophet who did no sign miracle but rather proclaimed God's Word with power and strength, a mighty Voice in the Wilderness! As the Elijah of the Old Testament learned, God is not necessarily in the mighty wind or tumbling earthquake, but in the still small voice. (1 Kings 19:11,12) Mighty men of God such as John the Baptist were such not due to their greatness, but the great things that God did through them. Here Jesus informs us of this greatness, the preparing the way for the Christ which God accomplished through John.

We in the New Testament church have heard all the mighty miracles and words of this Christ which announce the kingdom of God come to earth to save men from their sins. Those such as John the Baptist did not see nor hear all these marvelous things of Jesus Christ! Not that their faith in His coming is any less than ours, but only we have been blessed to see through spiritual eyes the consummation of Jesus' saving work.

The members of God's kingdom thus have high regard and honor for John the Baptist and understand what Jesus is offering to us in this text. The words of the hymn "When All the World Was Cursed" say it well (verse one); "When all the world was cursed, By Moses' condemnation, Saint John the Baptist came, With words of consolation. With true forerunner's zeal, The greater One he named, And Him as yet unknown, As Savior he proclaimed."

All Should Be Interested In the One Who Controls Death

Lord I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me.
Matthew 8:8-9

Should not everyone be interested in the One who controls life and death? The one who can raise the dead to life everlasting? The centurion in Matthew 8 is! He easily relates to Jesus who has authority over human affairs, especially death and life and so requests healing for his sick servant. Just say the word! And Jesus did! And the servant was healed at that very moment!

So are we who believe in Jesus as this centurion did. We believe He is the Lord of life and death and controls them simply with His speaking or withholding the words of forgiveness of our sins! Jesus had such a reputation that excelled in speaking with authority; it happened just as He said! This centurion trusted that when Jesus said it was so, it was.

As the famous Christian John Chrysostom wrote: "For he came indeed seeking for his servant bodily healing, but he went away, having received a kingdom ... For because the centurion showed great faith and lowliness of mind, Christ both gave him heaven, and added to him the health of his servant."

This is all about salvation by faith in Christ Jesus for the forgiveness of sin. It is all about what Jesus did in His perfect body to redeem us from the curse of sin and snatch us from the fiery hell to an eternal heaven by His speaking it so.

He continues to speak such miraculous faith where His pure gospel is preached and His saving Sacraments are administered according to His mandate. We are interested! Keep us ever so trusting in Him who has control over death and life.

Do Not Be Distracted from the One Thing Needul

But Martha was distracted with much service.... the Lord answered her: "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled concerning many things, but of one thing there is need.
Luke 10:40a, 41-42a



The familiar story of Mary and Martha is illuminating how many things in our world we can and do get distracted from the one needful thing: time in God's Word. Like the young boy whose mind is not on his schoolwork but on dreaming out the window, all of us get our spiritual vision blurred with so many other things that are not as beneficial and motivational to our life in Christ when not fully supported and fueled by our constant consumption of God's Word.

We are not what we eat physically, but what we consume spiritually! So we have need to constant be eating the best of God's Word correctly understood and applied. As Jesus stated in Luke 4:4 (quoting Deuteronomy 8:3) that we truly live on not physical bread "alone" but on every word that proceeds out of God's mouth. This is the needful thing and yet so many skimp, if not starve with so little of study of God's Word in their regular diet.

For sure better nutrition should be for everyone, that we intake the proper foods to keep our bodies functioning as created. So how much more should we not be concerned about spiritual nutrition?

Find a Bible Study in your midst where faithful, true pastors who are constantly in God's Word feed you. They constantly sit at Jesus' feet like Mary (Luke 10:39). Divinely served in this way, they in turn are in position to serve Jesus in their vocations and calling.