12112013 Advent 2 Wednesday Service

Sermon Audio

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer.  AMEN.

Let us pray, Jesus Christ, Your office of Prophet, Priest and King helps us to understand why You came to save us.  Enable us to more fully understand it is not a position of authority, but a reality that You chose to come and set us free from sin, death and the devil.  May we be set free because of the promise of the Gospel You lived for each of us that we have been baptized into.  For this occurs not only for all of mankind, but for each of us gathered here at Emmanuel this Advent evening.  AMEN.

When I was a kid and was called to the office in school, my pulse quickened, my palms began to sweat and I was worried that I was in trouble for something I had done, said or been seen doing.  And I knew that my fear was not only for who I would meet in the office, which was usually the principal, but also for the punishment to be levied, and also when I would get home and honestly tell my parents I had been called to the office and gotten in trouble.  But as Christians, we tonight are gathered in a kind of office, not like the principals, but still an office we know as the church.  Yet, in this office we meet not a secretary to usher us to meet the principal and receive punishment, but we meet Jesus Christ in His Church to receive grace.

We gather this evening to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and what He has done for us on the Cross of Calvary.  God in His infinite wisdom has sent His Son to suffer for us and pay for our sins by His innocent death on Calvary.  Jesus Christ came to fulfill the three fold office of Prophet, Priest and King.  Not only did He prophecy about His own death, He offers us the forgiveness of sins as the Great High Priest and now reigns as King of the World seated at the Right Hand of God the Father.  Hence we look to the altar and see the Christ Candle as our reminder of not only where God is currently, but our preparing and looking forward to celebrating Jesus entrance in the manger and fulfillment of His offices.

Jesus Christ threefold office He holds is to fulfill the promises from the beginning of Genesis through Revelation.  But it also is for us to understand we hold an office as well as His children in His Kingdom.  Our office in and of itself is not royalty, but a true reminder that we are baptized into the Kingdom of God and now are partakers not only of the mysteries He reveals in His prophecy, but also partakers of the forgiveness of sins offered in Word and Sacrament and fulfilled with His being seated on the throne as King.  Our office is as Jesus Christ called children waiting for His promises to be fulfilled.  And our waiting is not only for His appearance in the manger, but our baptism into His life, death and resurrection.

The reality for us tonight is that though Jesus Christ held each of these offices, He came down from heaven and offered Himself in order that we might live with Him in His Kingdom.  This sacrifice is not only what we celebrate, but what God offers to us through Jesus Christ.  May we as we prepare for His Advent, truly understand God’s call is not only to fulfill the three fold office, but to die for all of mankind to set us free in our baptismal office to be with Him in His Kingdom.  This is the grace He offers all of mankind, but especially for all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel this Advent night.  AMEN.