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January 27, 2025

Broadcast

                           Healing - Part 1
                             Matthew 8:2-4
                              01/27/2025


        2    And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before
             him, saying, ``Lord, if you will, you can make me
             clean.''
        3    And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him,
             saying, ``I will; be clean.''  And immediately his
             leprosy was cleansed.
        4    And Jesus said to him, ``See that you say nothing
             to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and
             offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof
             to them.''  (ESV)

        During the Epiphany season, which begins on January 6, the
   Church studies how Jesus revealed Himself as true God.  Last week
   we read of His first miracle, turning water into wine, which
   shows that Jesus has His Father's power to create.  This week we
   will look at two healing miracles Jesus performed after He taught
   His disciples on an unnamed mountain.

        And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him,
        saying, ``Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.''
        And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him,
        saying, ``I will; be clean.''  And immediately his
        leprosy was cleansed.  And Jesus said to him, ``See
        that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself
        to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded,
        for a proof to them.''


        This leper teaches us several lessons.  First, Jesus
   certainly is God, one who can restore health.  By calling Jesus,
   ``Lord,'' the leper is confessing that Jesus is true God.
   Second, we pray ``Thy will be done.''  You and I cannot see the
   big picture, how our situation may serve as a blessing to either
   ourselves or others.  Saint Paul asked for a ``thorn in the
   flesh''[1] to be removed, and God said that infirmity served a
   greater purpose.

        God hears our prayers.  By asking that His will be done, we
   confess that we are mere children standing before our heavenly
   Father.  We pray that our will conforms to His will, that we
   trust in Him even if we do not understand why He may answer
   ``no.''

        May our Lord grant us faith to pray, and grace to accept the
   answer He gives.  Amen.
   ____________________

   1. 2 Corinthians 12:7-8

January 24, 2025

Broadcast

                       Water Into Wine - Part 5
                               John 2:11
                              01/24/2025


        11   This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in
             Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his
             disciples believed in him.  (ESV)

        "This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee,
   and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. "

        Within days of calling His first disciples, Jesus attend a
   wedding.  While there, He performed His first miracle, that of
   changing water into wine.  Jesus, the Word made flesh, the one
   declared by the Father to be His beloved Son, now shows His
   creative powers.  C. S. Lewis, the Christian apologist, wrote:
        This miracle proclaims that the God of all wine is
        present.  The vine is one of the blessings sent by
        Jahweh...  Every year, as part of the Natural order,
        God makes wine.  He does so by creating a vegetable
        organism that can turn water, soil, and sunlight into a
        juice  which will, under proper conditions, become
        wine.  Thus, in a certain sense, He constantly turns
        water into wine, for wine, like all drinks, is but
        water modified.  Once, and in one year only, God, now
        incarnate, short circuits the process: makes wine in a
        moment; uses earthenware jars instead of vegetable
        fibers to hold the water.[1]


        The disciple saw the glory of God in this miracle and
   believed in Jesus as the Messiah.  As eyewitnesses, they told
   this story to others so that many who did not witness the miracle
   would also believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and
   by believing have life in His name.

        We continue to tell the story of Jesus Christ each Sunday
   morning at 9:00 a.m.  when we gather at Trinity Lutheran Church
   at God's gracious invitation.  Not only do we hear the stories,
   but we are given the assurance that our Lord Jesus died and rose
   again to purify us from sin and eternal death.  Join us to
   receive the comfort of knowing your sins are forgiven.  May our
   Lord grant you faith to see Christ Jesus in His glory, and to
   believe in Him.  Amen.
   ____________________

   1. Lewis,  C.  S.  (1947, 1960).  Miracles: How God intervenes in
      nature and human affairs.  New York: Macmillan Publishing,  p.
      136.

January 23, 2025

Broadcast

                       Water Into Wine - Part 4
                              John 2:6-10
                              01/23/2025


        6    Now there were six stone water jars there for the
             Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty
             or thirty gallons.
        7    Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with
             water."  And they filled them up to the brim.  And
             he said to them, "Now draw some out and take it to
             the master of the feast." So they took it.
        9    When the master of the feast tasted the water now
             become wine, and did not know where it came from
             (though the servants who had drawn the water
             knew), the master of the feast called the
             bridegroom
        10   and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine
             first, and when people have drunk freely, then the
             poor wine." But you have kept the good wine until
             now.  (ESV)

        Mary, the mother of Jesus, asked Him to help solve the
   problem of running out of wine at a wedding feast.
        Now there were six stone water jars there for the
        Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or
        thirty gallons.  Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the
        jars with water."  And they filled them up to the brim.
        And he said to them, "Now draw some out and take it to
        the master of the feast." So they took it.  When the
        master of the feast tasted the water now become wine,
        and did not know where it came from (though the
        servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of
        the feast called the bridegroom and said to him,
        "Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people
        have drunk freely, then the poor wine." But you have
        kept the good wine until now.


        By commandeering the water jugs, Jesus rendered it almost
   impossible impossible, to remain ritually clean under the Old
   Testament laws The water in the purification jugs became wine.
   Every detail John writes is to prove that Jesus is the Son of
   God, therefore he may have included this story to point us to the
   wine.  After all, on the night Jesus was betrayed, He took a cup
   of wine and said, "Take and drink, this is my blood."  Later John
   wrote in his first Epistle, "The blood of Jesus his Son cleanses
   us from all sin."[1] The purification under the Law was part of
   the ritual, but did not remove the guilt of sin The cleansing by
   the blood of Jesus purifies us from all sin, rendering us holy in
   God's sight.  Is that the reason Jesus chose these water jars?

        May our Lord assure us that we are purified from our sin by               
   His holy precious blood, that we have life everlasting by God's
   grace.  Amen.

____________________

   1. 1 John 1:7b (ESV)

January 22, 2025

Broadcast

                       Water Into Wine - Part 3
                              John 2:6-10
                              01/22/2025


        6    Now there were six stone water jars there for the
             Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty
             or thirty gallons.
        7    Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with
             water."  And they filled them up to the brim.
        8    And he said to them, "Now draw some out and take
             it to the master of the feast." So they took it.
        9    When the master of the feast tasted the water now
             become wine, and did not know where it came from
             (though the servants who had drawn the water
             knew), the master of the feast called the
             bridegroom
        10   and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine
             first, and when people have drunk freely, then the
             poor wine." But you have kept the good wine until
             now.  (ESV)

        Jesus, His disciples, and His mother, Mary, were at a
   wedding when the unthinkable happened.  Although the bridegroom
   thought he had properly prepared for the week-long wedding feast,
   there was no more wine.  This had remarkable impact, not only by
   cutting short the wedding celebration, but as a curse on the new
   couple.

        Mary enlisted Jesus' help, and instructed the servants to do
   whatever Jesus said.
        Now there were six stone water jars there for the
        Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or
        thirty gallons.  Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the
        jars with water."  And they filled them up to the brim.
        And he said to them, "Now draw some out and take it to
        the master of the feast." So they took it.  When the
        master of the feast tasted the water now become wine,
        and did not know where it came from (though the
        servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of
        the feast called the bridegroom and said to him,
        "Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people
        have drunk freely, then the poor wine." But you have
        kept the good wine until now.


        Many of the rituals followed by the faithful Jewish
   community included washing various items.  Plates and bowls were
   washed, as were each person's hands.  Various foods were washed
   before preparation so to maintain a ritual cleanliness.  If a
   person ate ritually unclean food, they were not able to partake
   of the evening sacrifice, they could not be part of any religious
   activities for a set amount of time.  Therefore, the host of the
   wedding celebration ensured there was water on hand so that those
   present would be able to maintain their status as ritually clean.                               

        May our Lord grant us faith to hear His Word and to follow
   Him in all things.  Amen.

January 21, 2025

Broadcast

                       Water Into Wine - Part 2
                              John 2:3-5
                              01/21/2025


        3    When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to
             him, "They have no wine."
        4    And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does this have
             to do with me?  My hour has not yet come."
        5    His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he
             tells you."  (ESV)

        Jesus, along with His disciples, was invited to a wedding
   near His boyhood home of Nazareth.  Because Mary was either
   related to one of the families, or a very good friend, she also
   was at the wedding.  Indeed, Mary seems to be more than a guest,
   but serving in part as a hostess.

        When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him,
        "They have no wine."  And Jesus said to her, "Woman,
        what does this have to do with me?  My hour has not yet
        come."  His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever
        he tells you."


        This startling situation was more dire than it first seems.
   At that time, a Jewish wedding celebration was a week-long
   festival of eating and drinking, showing the couple that God
   richly provides for those who trust in Him.  Wine, itself, was an
   Old Testament symbol of physical and spiritual joy.  By running
   out of wine, the marriage would start under the specter of gloom,
   and poverty.  Mary turned to Jesus, who had yet to perform any
   miracles, to help remedy the situation.  He seemed to be
   reluctant to act, but Mary, in faith, directed the servants to
   listen to her Son, to do whatever He requested, even if it seemed
   somewhat out of place.

        Saint Paul summarized this idea, "We walk by faith, not by
   sight."[1] This is the foolishness of God which is wiser than the
   wisdom of men.[2] This is the faith which trusts that God
   provides for both our spiritual and physical good.  His ways may
   not always agree with our ways, but we trust Him rather than our
   own understanding.  May our Lord grant that we have faith like
   Mary, trusting in God to act for our eventual good.  Amen.
   ____________________

   1. 2 Corinthians 5:7 (ESV)
   2. See 1 Corinthians 1:22-25

January 20, 2025

Broadcast

                       Water Into Wine - Part 1
                              John 2:1-2
                              01/20/2025


        1    On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in
             Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.
        2    Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his
             disciples.  (ESV)

        Why did Saint John write his Gospel?  In fact, why did the
   Holy Spirit cause the entire Bible to be written?  There were so
   many stories of Jesus, so much information which the authors of
   the Bible did not record that we must wonder, why this and not
   something else?  John tells us:
        Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the
        disciples, which are not written in this book; but
        these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is
        the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you
        may have life in his name.[1]


        Every story, every detail points us to the truth that Jesus
   Christ, born of the virgin Mary, is also true God, our Redeemer
   from sin and death.  Those questions we have about Jesus'
   childhood are irrelevant to our salvation.  Those questions we
   have about his appearance are irrelevant to our salvation.  If
   the Bible is silent on a given topic, it is irrelevant to our
   salvation.

        "On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee,
   and the mother of Jesus was there.  Jesus also was invited to the
   wedding with his disciples."  Several days earlier, John the
   Baptizer pointed to Jesus and said, "Behold the Lamb of God who
   takes away the sins of the world."  Jesus invited His first
   disciples to follow Him, then proceeded to Galilee to begin His
   public ministry.  At this point, the disciples knew Jesus as
   someone out of the ordinary, but they had yet to witness His acts
   which show that He is the Son of God.

        This week we will look at Jesus' first miracle which
   happened in Cana of Galilee.

        May our Lord grant you His grace and mercy as we see Jesus
   revealed in His glory.  Amen.
   ____________________

   1. John 20:30-31 (ESV)

January 17, 2025

Broadcast

                   The Baptism of Our Lord - Part 5
                             Matthew 3:17
                              01/16/2025


        17   And behold, a voice from heaven said, "This is my
             beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."  (ESV)

        When Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan River, He
   accepted the task of redeeming all people from sin, death, and
   the power of the devil.  He was anointed with the water as the
   Word of God, as one who speaks on behalf of the Father.  This is
   the office of prophet.  He was anointed as one who offers
   prayers, sacrifices, and intercessions of behalf of all people.
   This is the office of priest.  He was anointed as one who rules
   over all of creation, over the church, and over heaven.  This is
   the office of King.

        At His baptism, the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit
   descended on Jesus in the form of a dove.  The Father was also
   present.  "And behold, a voice from heaven said, `This is my
   beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.'"

        All three Persons of the Trinity accepted the coming
   sacrifice of the Son of God upon the cross for the redemption of
   all sinners.  All three Persons of the Trinity are present when
   we are baptized into the death and resurrection of Jesus.

        The theme of the Epiphany Season in the Church Year is the
   revealing of the true man, Jesus, as the true Son of God.  Please
   join us at Trinity Lutheran Church each Sunday morning at 9:00
   a.m. to learn more of God's rich grace, love, and mercy as found
   in Christ Jesus alone.

        May our Lord grant us wisdom to recognize our Savior with
   whom the Father is pleased, and faith to trust in Him alone.
   Amen.

January 16, 2025

Broadcast

                   The Baptism of Our Lord - Part 4
                             Matthew 3:16
                              01/16/2025


        16   And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went
             up from the water, and behold, the heavens were
             opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God
             descending like a dove and coming to rest on him.
             (ESV)

        Jesus came to John at the Jordan River to be baptized.  In
   this baptism, Jesus took upon Himself the guilt of all sins in
   order to pay the price of our rebellion upon the cross.  He
   fulfilled all righteousness, He fulfilled the grace and love of
   God, by His death and resurrection.

        And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up
        from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to
        him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a
        dove and coming to rest on him.


        Jesus was anointed with the waters of the Jordan in His
   threefold office of prophet, priest, and king.  Jesus was
   anointed with the Holy Spirit to affirm that He and His coming
   sacrifice were acceptable to each of the Persons of the Trinity.
   God imparted the Holy Spirit upon Jesus, upon His human nature,
   as Jesus took up His task of redeeming you and me from sin,
   death, and the power of the devil.

        May we see the Holy Spirit descending on Jesus as the Holy
   Spirit also descending on us in our baptism, giving us the faith
   to trust fully in the One anointed to take away the guilt of our
   sin.  Amen.

January 15, 2025

Broadcast

                   The Baptism of Our Lord - Part 3
                            Matthew 3:14-15
                              01/15/2025


        14   John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to
             be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"
        15   But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now, for
             thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all
             righteousness." Then he consented.  (ESV)

        Jesus sought out John the baptizer in the wilderness of the
   Jordan River for the purpose of being baptized by him.
        John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be
        baptized by you, and do you come to me?"  But Jesus
        answered him, "Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting
        for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he
        consented.


        Jesus came to John to stand with the repentant sinners.  In
   order to take the place of all who had broken God's Law, Jesus
   had to take on the transgressions of all people, of all times, of
   all places.  "To fulfill all righteousness" did not mean that
   Jesus needed to be baptized in accordance with the ceremonial
   laws given to Moses, it was not like His circumcision or
   purification when He was forty days old.  This righteousness of
   God is His declaration that our sins are forgiven, not by our
   works, but because Jesus took our sins upon Himself.  There, in
   the waters of Jordan, Jesus was anointed as the sinner, to bear
   the full wrath of God for each transgression.

        In the Jordan, Jesus became the Christ, the Messiah, as the
   water was poured over His head.  He who needed no repentance took
   upon Himself the sins of which other had repented, and paid the
   full price for their transgression.  Jesus fulfilled all
   righteousness on the cross when He cried out, "It is finished."
   Once, for all time, for all people, the debt of sin was paid in
   full.  This righteousness is offered to you as a gift, freely
   given because of God's love.

        May our Lord grant us faith to receive the righteousness
   fulfilled by Jesus at His baptism, on the cross, and in the empty
   tomb.  Amen.

January 14, 2025

Broadcast

                  The Baptism of Our Lord - Part 2
                            Matthew 3:14-15
                              01/14/2025


        14   John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to
             be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"
        15   But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now, for
             thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all
             righteousness." Then he consented.  (ESV)

        John, the forerunner of the Messiah, was in the wilderness
   by the Jordan River baptizing those who heard his message.
   "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."  Those who came
   to John did so because they recognized their own sin and desired
   the proof of repentance and the mercy of God.

        Jesus traveled into the wilderness for the express purpose
   of being baptized by John.  Saint Matthew recorded:
        John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be
        baptized by you, and do you come to me?"  But Jesus
        answered him, "Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting
        for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he
        consented.


        Did John have a point?  John's baptism was a baptism of
   repentance, for conversion from unbelief to faith in light of the
   coming kingdom of heaven.  Jesus, the sinless Son of God, had no
   need to repent, no need of conversion from unbelief to faith, no
   need of restoration into the fellowship of the Church.

        John, himself, confessed his own sinfulness, "I need to be
   baptized by you."  How could a sinner baptize the One who knew no
   sin?  He was unworthy, unqualified, and would be performing a
   disservice to Jesus, if human reason had anything to say.  "Do
   you come to me?"

        Yet Jesus did, in full knowledge of His sinless state, come
   to John for this express purpose.  Jesus came to be anointed as
   king, and prophet, and priestly victim as foretold by the Magi
   and their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

        May our Lord bless us with His grace, to use our sinful
   hands in His service.  Amen.