04082017 Funeral Sermon for Shirley Maxine Rapier Reed

April 8, 2017
Funeral for Shirley Maxine Rapier Reed

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!  Heavenly Father, we gather today bearing witness to the final milestone in Shirley’s earthly life, her entrance into eternity.  As we mourn may Your Word that we heard, not ring with hollowness, but with the fullness of the Gospel and the joy and truth that Shirley heard and believed in of what Your Son Jesus Christ did for her and for all of mankind.  May we be comforted by the salve of the Gospel and especially by Your Son, Jesus Christ.  For this message is offered out of Your great love for us and at the proper time found completion in Shirley’s baptism into Jesus Christ life, death, but especially His resurrection.  For Jesus came in order to die so that Shirley and one day each of us would have eternal life.  May this truth of the Gospel comfort us and enable us to fully trust in Your Son and Shirley’s Savior, Jesus Christ.  AMEN.

Have you ever walked into a room and without thinking, flipped the light switch in the room and plunged yourself into complete darkness?  The power that the switch has not only is profound, but ironic that one little switch can either reveal or disguise the obstacles that are in that room.  Clearly, this same power exists when people enter or exit rooms.  The affect we have upon one another can be very profound, either eliciting a smile, or for some a grimace. 

Shirley like both of these examples, could change just as quickly, at times showing a unique nature that one was not expecting, nor desiring, but at other times being the most pleasant and caring person.  Martin Luther would call this as I told her once in her home, this is the ‘simul Justus et peccator’.  Simultaneous saint and sinner all at the same time.  Sometimes we are sinner and sometimes saint.  This is the very nature of our humanity, but also what causes us to gather here today, as Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes.

Solomon speaks, in our Old Testament Lesson today, from a depth and breadth that clearly is confronting us today.  There is a ‘time’, whether ‘birth or death’, ‘planting or uprooting’, ‘building or healing’, ‘gathering or throwing away’, ‘war or peace’, each of these realities’ touch each of us differently as we gather here today to say goodbye to Shirley.  Yet, there is something that is more profound that we need to consider.  Each of us, no matter who we are, have seen or experienced Shirley either years ago, or even recently, both in the lowest valley or at the highest peak.  But the truth is, this was the same woman, who gave birth to five God given children, connected with each of her grandkids forming a special bond with each of them.  Shirley was a woman when times were tight made the decision to ‘scrimp and save while working three jobs for a pair of boots’, and even was willing to ‘drop everything to help someone else’, whether family, friend or neighbor.

Clearly, Shirley both as a young woman who was married only 3 months after her confirmation at 14 was unique, but her uniqueness wasn’t only because of the times in which she grew up.  Shirley’s experiences whether on the farm, in California or raising her five children with her beloved Lavern added to the uniqueness of her character.  Shirley’s uniqueness also came from a relationship she had with one Person Who was a constant companion her entire life and with Whom she held constant daily conversation. 

When I would visit in her home or peak my head around the door frame at Good Samaritan, we would talk about her conversations.  Sometimes, the topics included the joys of her family and thanking God for them, even when they might not be able to help her do what she wanted.  At other times the pain, whether of her body failing or the reality she lived in that her friends were all gone, whether family, neighbors, friends or coworkers that she had from years ago or fellow church members like Esther.  But through it all, Shirley continued her conversations, because they were with the one Person that remained constant during her entire life.  Her conversations were with none other than her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

When I would hear the conversation recounted, these conversations opened up for me the window of her soul and gave me a glimpse of the woman she once was and how her life revolved around the relationship she had with Jesus Christ.  And it was a strong relationship begun in the Sacrament of Holy Baptism when the Water was poured over her head and God made her His redeemed child by the blood of the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.  Shirley’s relationship grew and she affirmed it and took responsibility for it when she was confirmed at Zion Lutheran in Leoti.  And her relationship with Jesus remained the bedrock of her life that she shared with her children and she emulated Jesus in how she lived and put others first, just as Jesus had when He went to the Cross of Calvary.

No clearer image of this do I have than when I would visit Shirley and as our time would draw to a close, I would pray with her asking God to send His Holy Spirit and the Holy Angels to guide and protect her.  What was so clear was how every time I would either sing or pray with her, even in January when many of us thought her time here on earth was short or only a few days ago, Shirley would pray with us the prayer Jesus taught and though at times unable to move, her lips would mouth the words, whether of songs that we sing today like “Softly and Tenderly, Jesus is calling” or “How Great Thou Art”.  But especially when we would pray the prayer Jesus taught His disciples.

So today when Shirley’s time has come to be with her Lord and Savior for all eternity.  It is my prayer as we sing the songs she loved and pray the prayer she clearly knew and loved that we, each of us would be touched by the love God has for her and each of us.  May we remember the loving connections and stories we have, the good times and especially that Shirley was claimed by God through Water and Word in Holy Baptism and now she rests from her labors in the arms of the one Person with Whom she had daily conversations.  For from Jesus Christ we can find the greatest comfort and peace, because it is by His call, and His perfect timing that now Shirley rests in the arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, hand in hand with her beloved Lavern and one day each and every one of us.  AMEN.

Now may the peace of God which surpasses all human understanding comfort us today as we celebrate Shirley’s life and light as a reflection of Christ into our lives!  AMEN.

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Speak Your Mind

Sermon 02242013 Sunday in Lent 2

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!  Creator of heaven and earth, even the places that are wilderness and desert have a beauty to them that show Your hand upon their creation.  As we hear how You lead Your children by a pillar of fire and a cloud enable us as we journey in the wilderness of this world to trust You to provide for our every need.  For this was ultimately fulfilled through Your Son and our Savior Jesus Christ Who came and died for all of mankind, including all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel during our Lenten pilgrimage.  AMEN.

While working at Staunton River State Park where the Dan River and the Staunton River met to form Kerr Reservoir that straddled the Virginia and North Carolina border, I had the privilege to lead many nature hikes, historical hikes and even some canoe adventures.  As leader one of the main tasks was always to keep the group together, unlike in the open prairies of Kansas where you could see for miles, in Virginia the trees and waterways were everywhere and keeping a group of 20-30 together was a monumental task at times.  This morning we will be considering the Wilderness Journey of the 2 million Children of Israel in our series of People and Places of Lent.  Hear our text from Exodus: (Exodus 13:17-22)

¹⁷ Now when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; for God said, “The people might change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.” ¹⁸ Hence God led the people around by the way of the wilderness to the Red Sea; and the sons of Israel went up in martial array from the land of Egypt. ¹⁹ Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, “God will surely take care of you, and you shall carry my bones from here with you.” ²⁰ Then they set out from Succoth and camped in Etham on the edge of the wilderness. ²¹ The Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. ²² He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

Enter the 2 million Children of Israel who just left Egypt.  In haste they have left their homes for the last 430 years and now are travelling in the Wilderness of Egypt and Southern Israel.  No longer surrounded by the comforts of their homes, possessions or everything that gives them greatest comfort, in complete trust and haste they have departed into the most inhospitable land in the Wilderness.

 

Surrounded by wild animals, ­­­marauders, murderers and bands of people only interested in robbing their riches of gold from Egypt, the people of Israel travelled in the Wilderness.  During this time, God Who led them out of Egypt didn’t lead them the easy way, but led them to the Wilderness in order to protect them and prevent them from changing their mind by ‘seeing war, and return to Egypt.’

 

Moses clearly shows that God was walking with them and caring for them when he says, “The Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night.”  Leading them with these signs are not only a reminder for us of God’s interest, but investment in their well-being.  God clearly wanted to insure that they would make it to their destination, even by leading them through the desert and the wilderness.

 

Granted there were no Wal-Mart’s, McDonald’s or Taco John’s along the way, this crowd of 2 million needed God’s divine hand upon them, not only leading them through the Wilderness but also providing for them.  In the Wilderness God provided manna from heaven, quail as meat for His Children and water when needed even from a rock.  God knew their needs even before they did and provided for them day in and day out.

 

Yet, these same children rebelled against God and murmured against Moses.  They at times would follow their sinful desires and sin against God and turn away from Him, but God Who is faithful would provide for their needs even in the desert wilderness.  God “did not take away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people” because God’s divine hand was upon them and caring for their every need.

 

But of what consequence is that for us today.  We who live here in the ‘Wilderness of North Western Kansas’ may at times feel lost.  But God has not removed His divine hand from us either.  This past fall, we looked with question at God if He would provide us moisture for our Winter Wheat.  We were teased with rain, needing moisture and wondering what the Spring would find.  And now God has provided us with moisture without the usual winds.  God has provided for our needs.  Like the manna, quail and water, God has given us the greatest blessing we could imagine in receiving the moisture.  But this is of earthly things.

 

God’s gifts are clearly manifest as well in the gift of Jesus Christ for all eternity.  In, through and by the Gift of Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary Jesus came not only for the Children of Israel in the Wilderness, but also for us today.  We celebrate every time we gather together and hear the Word of God the amazing gift of Jesus Christ for all of mankind.  For this gift is not given lightly, but because of the promise made to the people of Israel as they left Egypt, entered the Wilderness and even for us today here in Goodland, KS.  God comes to and for us today to set us free from sin, death and the devil and offer us life and salvation for all of mankind, including all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel during our Lenten pilgrimage.  AMEN.

Sermon 02202013 Wed. of Lent 1

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! Eternal God, we come before You this day/night to direct us during this Lenten season.  For the children of Israel were sent out of Egypt in haste because of the great fear in the Egyptians hearts of what God would do to them.  Enable us to not act out of haste or fear, but respect for God and His promises for us found in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on Calvary for all of mankind, but especially for all of us saints gathered during our Lenten pilgrimage.  AMEN.

When crowds gather at sporting events the ticket sales made give a pretty accurate count as to how many ‘paying customers’ see the event.  Whether it is KU playing basketball, K-State moving the football down the field or even the Chiefs or Bronco’s trying to get to the Super Bowl, the crowds in the stadiums are usually at or near capacity for the stadium.  Today/tonight in our series of the People and Places of Lent we will be considering the crowd of the Children of Israel.

From our Old Testament Lesson this morning/evening, we enter into the story of the children of Israel fleeing Egypt and the tyranny of the Pharaoh.  The booming words of Charlton Heston saying, “Let my people go” resonate for some because of the famous movie, “The Ten Commandments”, but what is most interesting is that the Children of Israel who left Egypt weren’t a tattered band, but an enormously large group of people.  Our text says clearly, “Now the sons of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, aside from children.”  What is ironic is that no mention of the numbers of wives or women are mentioned either.  If every man had one wife and two children the number of people leaving Egypt numbered, not a simple six hundred thousand, but over two million people fleeing the Egyptians.

Yet, it is not only the fleeing of the people of Israel, but how the people of Isreal fled Egypt.  Just as when Michele and I moved here to Goodland, it took weeks of planning, weeks of preparation and packing all our worldly possessions.  But for the Children of Israel they left in great haste, even to the extent that the dough that would be used to make their bread had not even leavened and was bound up in their clothes in the kneading bowls.  The Children of Israel headed up and moved out on a moments notice in great haste with the urging of the Egyptians who were fearful of their feeling the wrath of the Israelite God.

What is additionally ironic is that the date of their leaving Egypt is not left to chance, fractions or partial time, but in God’s divine wisdom and provision the people of Israel are in Egypt a certain length of time.  Moses writes, “Now the time that the sons of Israel lived in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. And at the end of four hundred and thirty years, to the very day, all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt.”

But of what significance is the length of time, the haste of their departure or the number of people that actually flee Egypt?  Why should that be of importance for us today?  Simply, the children of Israel are models for us of what God can do in our lives when we trust Him fully and completely.  God in His infinite wisdom clearly allowed the Children of Israel to experience the worst of what Egypt would offer and with the speed of a running back removed His chosen children from the gravest situation.  But this was not just a few people like with Noah and his wife and sons wives getting into an ark.  This was a group of people of epic proportion who had to have complete trust in their God to remove them from the tyranny of the men who earlier in the day had beat them into submission as they built the cities for their masters.  And ultimately God fulfilled the children of Israel’s departure in His time.

This is also true of how God has saved each of us as we prepare our hearts, souls and spirits during our Lenten pilgrimage.  We look to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and how God sent His own Son at the proper time to enter into the world in a manger.  When Jesus Christ came it was the fulfillment of the plan of salvation and now we are partakers of God’s greatest gift of grace offered for all of mankind.  The numbers are staggering to whom God offers this free gift of grace and eternal life without limit for all of mankind, but this occurs because of His great love for all of us.  And His love perfect and complete not only for the Children of Israel who escaped the bondage in Egypt, but for all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel who receive the gift of eternal life offered through Jesus Christ.  For the gift of grace offered on Calvary is offered for all of mankind, including the children of Israel and all of us saints that gather here at Emmanuel during our Lenten Pilgrimage.  AMEN.

Sermon 02102013 Quinquagesima Sunday

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!  Gracious redeemer, when You chose and anointed David to be King of Israel, You looked, deeply into his heart.  In the same way You look at us today as Your children and know our deepest darkest secrets, but in spite of our sins, You redeem us through the blood of Jesus Christ.  Enable us to understand Your commitment to us and how You graciously anoint us in our baptism to be heirs of the gift of eternal life.  This occurs as a free gift for all of mankind, but especially for all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel this morning.  AMEN.

When Samuel entered into the presence of Eliab and his sons began to parade in front of him, this probably felt like a modern day pagent or even a job interview.  Looking with the eyes of this world Samuel probably looked for the fiercest, the most resplendent and best dressed son who would be king.  Samuel like society looked with his eyes, measured every feature with his intellect and felt he would choose based upon the things he could see or perceive in his interactions with each of Eliabs sons.

But Samuel experienced and heard God speaking plainly to him with these words, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature…”  Each of these are outward physical features that only show what is on the outside of each of us.  God clearly says concerning each of the sons of Eliab that first paraded in front of Samuel with these features, “I have rejected him”.  And there is a reason for this, God continues, “for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

With these last seven words, the perspective and the landscape of how God looks at all of mankind has changed.  It is not with human abilities that God uses to discern if one man is better than another, God, Holy and Divine being Who created the heavens and the earth, formed the trees that give us oxygen, the animals that feed us, the oceans that nourish us, looks not with eyes for appearance, but God ‘looks at the heart’.  This revelation for us today not only changes the landscape, but reveals God’s interest in our lives even here at Emmanuel.

This past month we as a congregation chose new members of the council, which we will install this morning.  We as a congregation voted with eyes of the outward appearance of each person, just as Samuel began to do when searching for a king.  But God who looks not at the outward appearance looks at the heart of the person and wants us to look like Samuel heard from God with more penetrating eyes at the heart with these three realities for each of us today.  God wants us to look with forgiveness, faith and for the future that God has in store for us here at Emmanuel.

We are to look with eyes of forgiveness, because God has first forgiven each of us.  We begin our communion service with confession and forgiveness.  Just as God is the One Who baptizes us into His Son’s life, death and resurrection, God is also the One Who forgives us our sins.  Though our sins are like scarlet, God makes them white and cleanses us from our unrighteousness.  God does this because of His great love for each and every one of us as we are reminded from our Epistle lesson this morning as well as our Gospel.  God having mercy upon us frees us from our sins and sets us free to be the children of God He formed and shaped in our mothers womb.

Not only looking with eyes of forgiveness we are to look with eyes of faith.  This faith we have been given in our baptism with the intimate connection of Water and Word where God again reaches down from heaven and not only forgives us but imparts to each of us the muscle of faith that we are to use daily.  Our muscle of faith is to be exercised, used and relied upon in every aspect of our daily lives.  Just as farmers you plant a seed in the fall and in faith wait until spring and the harvest of wheat, God planted the seed and muscle of faith in each of us and God waters it, exercises it and makes it grow and one day like with Margie, Brad or Judy takes them home to be with Him in His kingdom.  We with the eyes of faith experience in relationship with God the fullness of His love and wait for God to take us home to be with Him in His kingdom.  This is the fulfillment of God’s promise made through Jesus Christ to and for each of us.

And finally we like Samuel can look with God’s eyes of forgiveness, faith and to the future.  Samuel didn’t know or understand what the future would hold for the one he would anoint with oil as king, but God looking in David’s heart knew what the future would be and with the eyes of faith saw the future and the leader David would be for the people of Israel.  So to when God poured Water and Word over our heads He knew everything about our future.  God knows what will occur for all eternity and prepares us for the future He has in store for each and every one of us.

The preparation of forgiveness, faith and the future is to fulfill God’s plan of salvation for all of mankind.  This is made full, manifest and complete on Calvary by Jesus Christ, but individually made complete for us with our baptism into Jesus Christ life, death and resurrection.  For God fulfills these promises and enables us to understand that God looks not at our outward appearance, but at the heart of all of mankind, with the eyes of forgiveness, faith and our future, especially including all of us saints that are gathered here at Emmanuel this morning.  AMEN.

Sermon 02092013 Funeral of Brad Lane Cramer

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!  Gracious Heavenly Father, we gather here this morning to celebrate the life of our brother in Christ Brad.  We who remain are reminded that Brad has found perfect peace in His Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  May we take solace and comfort in God’s Word that frees us and fulfills the promise of life and salvation through our baptism into Jesus Christ life, death and resurrection.  For this occurred for Brad and is offered for each and every one of us.  Though the veil of death separates us today, Brad now rests in the loving arms of Jesus Christ who lived to set all of us free from sin and death for all of mankind, including all of us gathered here this morning to say goodbye.  AMEN.

The following passage from Ecclesiastes opens a window for us to understand our world and how God Who made time clearly knows, not only what will occur, but when it will occur.

3 There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven—

² A time to give birth and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
³ A time to kill and a time to heal;
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
⁴ A time to weep and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn and a time to dance.
⁵ A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.
⁶ A time to search and a time to give up as lost;
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
⁷ A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;
A time to be silent and a time to speak.
⁸ A time to love and a time to hate;
A time for war and a time for peace.

As we gather here this morning we know there are truths contained in scripture and especially this section of Ecclesiastes.  These truths remind us that we live in a reality that time has control over us and life provides us opportunity, responsibility and accountability.  Whether it is to plant, build, weep, dance, be silent, speak, love or a time for peace, everything has a time, place, season and reason that God sometimes only knows.

But the mystery that still remains of God only knowing is really a question that all of us have.  There are questions that have an easy answer, but still others that are a mystery to us and will remain a mystery to and for all of us until we enter eternal glory.  But do not be afraid to ask the question, but be prepared to wait for the answer.  For it will come, but not until we have entered into eternal glory and like Brad are in God’s eternal presence and in His loving, caring and protective arms.

Hear this truth though, God through the promise of salvation offered to Brad in his baptism into Jesus Christ life, death and resurrection gives us a clear measure of comfort and peace today.  For Jesus own words from John 10 are true and certain for us today, Jesus said, “²⁷ My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; ²⁸ and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. ²⁹ My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. ³⁰ I and the Father are one.””

Truer words have never been spoken and as we gather here today to say goodbye we can find solace, comfort and peace from Jesus own words and promise of grace and eternal life for Brad and for each of us as we lay claim to the promise of life and salvation for all of mankind, but especially Brad and all of us gathered here to say good bye. 

May we who gather here today see and understand God’s gift of grace offered to each of us through our baptism into Jesus life, death and resurrection, which was made manifest in Brad’s life by how he lived and honor and lay claim to the promises of God of eternal life for all of mankind, especially all of us gathered here to say goodbye.  AMEN.

Now may the peace of God which surpasses all human understanding guard our hearts and minds and comfort us today, because of what Jesus Christ did for Brad and each one of us!  AMEN!

Sermon 01272013 Septuagesima

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!  Heavenly Father, we confess that we are sinful creatures in need of Your redeeming us from our sins.  We doubt not only You as our Lord, but even Your presence among us.  May we though tempted by Satan to turn from You return and answer clearly the question, “Is the Lord among us, or not?” with a resounding Yes.  For we can make this answer only because of what Jesus Christ did on the Cross of Calvary for all of mankind, including all of us saints here at Emmanuel.  AMEN.

Having children is clearly God’s gift for all of mankind.  When our children are sick the parental instinct takes over and our nurturing, caring and compassionate side comes to the forefront.  With the slightest cough, congestion or difficulty of breathing we as parents immediately jump into action and try and ‘fix’ or correct the situation, because we cannot stand to see our children in any peril.  We want to make our children feel better no matter the cost.

Enter the children of Israel who are journeying in the wilderness of Sin.  Now ‘Sin’ is not a description of what they have done, but the name of an actual place.  It is a barren region somewhere west of the Sinai plateau on the Sinai Peninsula.  Remember that the people have left the bondage and slavery of Egypt and now are travelling in the wilderness.  Remember there are approximately 600,000 men alone, not including children.  If one were to do the math, every man has one wife and a minimum of 2 children, you are talking of nearly 2 million people travelling in the Wilderness of Sin, not including all the animals and livestock each family has taken with them.

What is the first thing they need besides food, which God had already given them in Exodus 16 of Manna and Quail, they needed water.  They didn’t have any so the “people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water that we may drink””.  Moses who is their leader feels he is in the middle between a mob of unhappy people and God Who called him in a burning bush to lead the people from Egypt.  God had divinely provided for their escape from Pharaoh and now in the middle of the desert without water, Moses was near to becoming the ‘sacrificial scape goat’ by the people.

Moses said, “Why do you quarrel with me?  Why do you test the Lord?”  The people had easily forgotten how God less than two months earlier had parted the waters to allow them to walk across on dry land to escape Pharaoh.  The people had forgotten how they when starving had been given Manna and Quail from heaven.  The people doubted that God could actually provide simple water in saying, “But the people thirsted there for water, and they grumbled against Moses and said, “Why, now, have you brought us up from Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?””  The people in a clear sense were delirious and did not remember God’s clear and divine providence for them that had just occurred.  They did not and were not looking with eyes of faith.  They were looking to blame Moses since he was right there in their midst.

“So Moses cried out to the Lord, saying “What shall I do to this people?  A little more and they will stone me.””  Moses was fearful for his life.  Moses felt he couldn’t trust the people that they would have his back or protect him, but sacrifice him because of their lack of water, but more importantly their lack of faith in the divine providence of God.

But God clearly is using this experience to test the Israelite people if they trust Him, through His servant Moses.  Our text continues, “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pass before the people and take with you some of the elders of Israel; and take in your hand your staff with which you struck the Nile, and go.  Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; and you shall strick the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.””  God is not only promising Moses His divine presence, but again God is clearly revealing Himself as the true provider for the people of Israel that are in the Wilderness of Sin.

This test and quarrel with God is not unlike what we do today.  We daily put God to the test and doubt not only God’s presence, but His divine favor with His people gathered here at Emmanuel.  As a Pastor, I feel for Moses, because Moses is standing in the gap between God and the people, just as I do here at Emmanuel.  There are times where I sin and fall short of the glory of God, just like Moses.  Just this last week I did not give clear credit for Tayler Thorson’s awesome and beautiful service project of the hymn board for our congregation.  To say the least I sinned and fell short of the glory of God and like Moses have felt the displeasure of you the people I love and serve as Pastor.  So just as all of us did earlier, I confess my sin and ask for forgiveness of all of you the congregation, which is what God calls us to do.

Yet, this still does not answer the question Moses posed, “Is the Lord among us, or not?”  If God is here among us, we clearly have an opportunity.  Our opportunity is three fold.  We can trust God to provide.  Last week we stepped out on faith and elected new council members and ratified the budget for this year in faith that God would work through us and increase His presence in Goodland through each of us.

Second, we can follow God.  Like the people of Israel following God through the Wilderness of Sin, we too today can follow God in the direction He is leading us.  This began with the establishment of a church here in Goodland, building of a church and educational wing and now with our joining LCMC and calling a pastor and lastly celebrating 90 years of ministry and following God.  We are following God and have the opportunity to continue to be faithful in His plan for all of us saints here in Goodland.

Finally, we have the opportunity to forgive like God forgives.  Every Sunday we have the opportunity to confess our sins and receive the forgiveness of sins that God offers us.  When we confess like I have tried to do this morning, God wipes away all of our sins and does not keep track of them.  We as brothers and sisters in Christ are called to forgive just as God does, for if we hold onto grudges, keep track of wrongs or remember everything that someone has done to us or against us, we are not following God’s perfect example.  We mock God and dishonor God’s gift and example of His Son Jesus Christ on the Cross for all of mankind.

For God’s example is clear for us today that we should not test God like the people of Israel did in the Wilderness of Sin.  We are called as God’s children to trust Him, follow Him and forgive just as God offers us the forgiveness of sins.  God’s forgiveness frees us from the slavery and bondage of sin and allows us through our baptism to be the new creation that does not have to test God like the people of Israel.  For God’s gift of His Son Who forgives each of us without reservation gave Himself on Calvary for all of mankind, including all of us forgiven saints gathered here at Emmanuel this morning.  AMEN.

Sermon 01202013 Transfiguration

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!  Gracious God from Mount Sinai You sent Your servant Moses with the commandments written on the two tablets.  With each commandment there is a promise from God that we sometimes fail to understand.  May we like Moses be transformed and recognize how God impacts our daily lives and enable us to see, understand and believe these commandments are a blessing for us from God and fulfilled through Jesus Christ.  For Jesus was transfigured in order for His Glory to be revealed for all of mankind, especially all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel.  AMEN.

While at seminary one of the videos that was produced which told of the ministry of Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary described the process of the formation of Pastors like a potter and clay.  When the clay was ‘flung’ on the wheel and began to be ‘turned’ each revolution transfigured the clay from a block of shapeless dirt into a unique item.  So to in Pastoral Ministry the preparation that took place at seminary was a transfiguration of individuals from being not only children of God to our being transfigured into God’s called instrument to a specific congregation.  This calling to a Pastor though unique to every congregation or ministry setting clearly is another way in which not only Pastor’s but congregations are uniquely transfigured by God with clear ministries and purposes in mind.

Our Old Testament text this morning is the transfiguration of Moses when he brought down the stone tablets of the 10 Commandments from Mt. Sinai.  Moses transfiguration unlike Jesus which we also celebrate today wasn’t of clothing or height nor of his gender, but simply the skin on Moses face shone brightly.  In our culture today we see advertisements and ads on television, the computer and in the newspaper claiming the ability to have ‘glowing skin’ or even crops like wheat, corn or sunflowers that will shine with the noon day sun and give a higher yield.  Well Moses, whose skin was clearly transfigured clearly shined when he descended from Mt. Sinai.  It wasn’t from any healthcare product, it was from something more profound and longer lasting.

Moses while he was on Mount Sinai encountered the presence of God.  It wasn’t in passing, Moses was in God’s presence to fulfill God’s purpose for his climbing the mountain.  There was a three-fold purpose.  First it was to have a personal encounter with God.  Moses, who as his name means, had been ‘drawn out of the water’ also whom God had called in the burning bush had something that not since Adam and Eve had anyone really had.  Moses had a special personal relationship with God. This relationship unlike the one from the Garden of Eden between Adam and God was one that had a purpose in mind, to model for us today what relationship with God can really be like.  Moses had to trust God and became a leader for the people of Israel.  Moses leadership was not easy, but leading the people through the wilderness because of their sin, Moses because of his special relationship modeled how God can still use us even today here in Goodland, KS.

Second, Moses went up to Mount Sinai to bring back down the 10 Commandments from God.  The 10 Commandments were God’s expectations of the people of God.  This was where God in clear and distinct form and function outlined for the people what they should do.  These same commandments we still have to this day and teach about them to our children, confirmation students and use them as a basis for our laws that we have in society.  Yet, Moses personally witnessed their creation, implementation and their application for the people of Israel.  The 10 Commandments for us today not only promise God’s interest, but especially His presence.  When we honor God by following the commandments, the relationship that God had with Moses can be ours as well.  We though sinful creatures conceived and born in sin, through one Man have the opportunity to have a personal relationship with God because of Jesus Christ fulfilling the 10 Commandments that Moses brought down from Mount Sinai.

Finally, Moses ascending and descending Mount Sinai was to reveal to God’s people when we encounter God, we are transfigured as well.  Our transfiguration occurs because of and through our baptism into Jesus Christ life, death and resurrection.  Just as we celebrated last week Jesus Baptism by John in the Jordan River and our Baptism by Water and Word, the simple act of water poured over our head intimately connected with God’s Word transforms and transfigures us into Children of God.

With our transfiguration we are no longer only sinners, we are transfigured into Children of our Heavenly Father and now have the ability to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, God’s Only Son.  We are new creatures that enter into a deeper relationship with God and with the knowledge of our sin as measured by the 10 Commandments our sin is revealed to us in light of our relationship with God through Jesus Christ.  Yet, this relationship transfigures and changes us and reveals to us an opportunity to be further transfigured by and through Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior.  And we know we cannot keep the 10 Commandments perfectly, but Jesus Christ did and this is His gift offered to and for each and every one of us.

For through God’s gift of the Commandments through Moses bringing them down from Mount Sinai our relationship with God we have the opportunity to understand them and be transformed and transfigured into God’s children.  We are renewed with our partaking of Holy Communion and our relationship with Jesus Christ changes and transfigures us into a new creation.  This new creation is the result of Jesus Christ life, death and resurrection for all of mankind, but especially for all of us saints that are gathered here at Emmanuel this morning.  AMEN.

Sermon 01132013 Epiphany 2 Baptism of Jesus

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!  Father, Son and Holy Spirit through the intimate connection of Water and Word, we have been baptized into Jesus Christ life, death and resurrection.  Though our baptism pales in comparison to Jesus by John in the Jordan that we celebrate today, the promise made was foretold in the story of the Exodus of the people of Israel.  By God’s divine protection they walked through the waters on dry land protected by the Ark of the Covenant, in essence Your presence.  By our baptism we are now covered by our covenant relationship through Jesus Christ and made new creatures enabled to love, honor and serve as Christ serves and saves all of mankind, including all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel this morning.  AMEN.

As a child growing up we would watch cartoons as entertainment and enjoyment.  Some of the cartoons that we would watch included “Road Runner”, “Bugs Bunny”, “Daffy Duck” and “Yogi Bear”.  As you know some of these cartoons have had resurgence with feature length movies or on television re-runs, but some because of the perception of violence have been changed or adapted to be ‘less violent’ or more family or culturally friendly.  Do you remember some of the cartoons that would either have the character ‘walk on air’ or ‘walk on water’?  For kids this is a magical mystery that it seemed only could occur on the big screen, television or in stories that would peak the curiosity and imagination of anyone listening.  Yet as we grew older we’d try these feats of screen legend ourselves and the reality would set in that this was only either a ‘Hollywood’ thing or it was the stuff of legend and was not possible.  Sometimes this was after broken bones or our feeling of being invincible and ‘walking on water’ or ‘flying off the roof’ like Superman or Spiderman.

Enter our Old Testament lesson this morning.  Joshua in writing how the Lord would fulfill His promise to give Canaan as an inheritance to Israel is telling of the crossing of the Israelite people across the Jordan River.  In a similar vein as the comics the story that Joshua tells is of a people who ‘walk on water’ or better and more aptly said, walk without their feet getting wet.  You see Joshua clearly is not telling something of legend or absent of reality, but truly telling the story of the people Israel and the promise that will be fulfilled by their God.

This promise Joshua is telling about is a connection for us from last week where we heard the promise of the Messiah and the coming of the three wise men.  In this mornings lesson we hear the covenant promise of God being with His people in the Ark of the Covenant.  For Old Testament people God made His presence known with His being and dwelling with the Ark.  Entrusted to the Levitical priests the Ark contained the stones that Moses brought from God that had inscribed on them the Ten Commandments or Laws from God.  The Levitical priests were the ones who carried the Ark during the entire 40 year journey in the wilderness.  They were the same group of men who set up the dwelling place of God, offered the sacrifices and were ceremonially clean and the representative of the people to God.  This line of priests extended from Moses time to Zechariah, who was the Father of John the Baptist as well as to Jesus Christ, the great High Priest.

With the divine promise of God’s presence with the people of Israel, Joshua tells what will occur when the Levitical priests feet touch the Jordan River.  Joshua says, “It shall come about when the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan will be cut off, and the waters which are flowing down from above will stand in one heap.”  In essence a miracle will occur of epic proportions.  Since usually at this time of year of harvest the banks were over flowing, God would stop the flow of water.  It would not be by word of a person, it would not be a sign from the sky, but simply by the soles of the feet of the priest touching the water, that this miracle would occur.

Clearly this is a miracle that isn’t of little consequence.  God during the Old Testament time was very active with His people.  With the miracle of walking across on dry land as fulfilled in the sight of the people and with the priests feet who carried the Ark of the Covenant God was sending a clear message for us today.  God not only fulfills His promise, He constantly looks out for us and keeps us safe on a daily basis.  This covenant promise we remember even today.

With our celebration today of Jesus Baptism this is a covenant God makes with each of us the day we were baptized.  When the Water intimately connected with the Word of God is poured over our heads this is a remembering of not only the water being stopped that we heard about from Joshua, but a connection with the flood waters of Noah, the promise of the rainbow and especially the covenant promise of the Messiah that we celebrated on Christmas and last week of the three wise men.  God clearly and consistently makes covenants with His people and with us today and we are not only recipients of the covenant, but partakers of the grace offered to and for us.  The grace is of what God gives to each and every one of us, not only His Son in the manger, but also His precious Body and Blood that we received last week, but also the covenant promise of life and salvation for all of mankind.

We clearly have received great promises from God and been recipients of the covenant promises that God made with His people.  May we not only remember the stories and promises of the Old Testament people, but understand through our Baptism into Jesus Christ life, death and resurrection, we have been given eternal life through the water of life that we remember in our baptismal covenant.  For God’s promises are clear, He came into this world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.  This is the promise made for all of mankind and especially for all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel this morning.  AMEN.

Sermon 12232012 Advent 4

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!  Heavenly Father, the Old Testament is full of prophets that foretell of a great miracle.  Deuteronomy clearly reveals this miracle to us that You will raise a prophet unlike any other.  This prophecy and promise are of the coming Savior, Jesus Christ.  May we not only remember this promise, but see with the eyes of faith the fulfillment of the coming Messiah.  For Jesus is not just a babe born in a manger, but a prophet, priest and King for all of mankind, including all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel this morning.  AMEN.

In the tradition of Lutheranism, we have what is known as “Confirmation”.  Some of our youth see it as something to endure or a hurdle to over-come, others see it as a learning opportunity where they will be introduced to the faith of the church.  One of the topics that is discussed in this class is the offices of Jesus Christ.  Unlike the office of President of the United States, Senator or Representative, or Sheriff of Sherman County, the offices that Jesus Christ fulfilled in His life, death and resurrection are simply, the office of prophet, priest and king.

Our Old Testament lesson this morning is a prophecy by Moses of the coming of a great prophet.  Moses writes, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you”.  This prophet unlike Moses in function would have a special relationship with the Lord.  Moses continues, “I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.”  With a direct speaking role by the prophet, it is not just of a ‘figure person’ that is not respected, but the relationship revealed here has consequences that are dire for the hearer, including us today.  Moses continues, “It shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him.”  The consequences are clear, if we do not listen, “it”, also known as divine judgment will be levied and life itself as implied by Moses will be required of those who do not listen, heed or follow the teachings of the prophet.  This includes each and every one of us today.

Our society looks at divine judgment with disdain.  Some deny there is a God, some by our actions only call upon God when we are in direst need, like sickness, distress or doubt of what we are to do.  Clearly Moses is instructing the Old Testament people and us today that we are to call upon God and heed His call daily and calls for us to follow a vastly different reality.  Not only is it instruction for how we are to live, but also how we are to believe, hence the need for confirmation, Sunday School, bible study and daily reading, praying, marking and inwardly digesting the Word of God.  Yet, our sinfulness rationalizes away the need for this and replaces it with the radio, iPad, computer, television, cable, movies, sporting events and other worldly or earthly entertainment that has no moral fiber or leanings and requires nothing of us and only entertains us.

The real idea that Moses is instructing us about today is that there would come a prophet after Moses Who would turn the world upside down.  Not necessarily in the ways of man, but definitely in the ways of God.  The prophet Moses proclaims is coming is none other than Jesus Christ.  It is His coming in the flesh to save mankind that radically alters the paradigm of our world.  Jesus Christ being born in a humble manger, surrounded by animals and the stench and stink of the stalls reveals His humble beginnings that were clearly destined to change the world, not like a rich ruler, but by a humble child of a carpenter.

The prophet that Jesus was would tell, not of riches and things that would benefit the people of and on this earth, but of the eternal things that would not pass away.  Jesus Christ came and was willing and obedient even unto death for all of mankind.  Jesus Christ was the prophet that would radically change the perception of the world and alter our understanding of God, His Word and His promises.  In, through and by His coming into this world, Jesus Christ came to set us free from our sins by giving ‘it’, His life as a ransom for all of mankind.  This is what we are preparing for during this Advent season.  This is what Moses prophesied about and which we will celebrate Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  Jesus Christ in fulfillment of Moses prophesy came to set all of us free from our sins as the greatest gift given for all of mankind, especially all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel this morning.  AMEN.

Sermon 12092012 Advent 2

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!  Lord of hosts the day that is coming, burning like a furnace where for some it will be a refining fire, for others it will consume.  May we be refined and not be ashes under the soles of others feet, so we may become perfect and more like You and hear the words of the prophets foretelling of Your coming to save all of mankind.  For this promise is made, from Genesis to Malachi and for all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel this morning.  AMEN.

This past summer when four of our confirmands attended Confirmation Camp, we were part of a group in exile.  As you know we usually go to Sky Ranch to experience God in a more deep and profound way, but with the fires raging Sky Ranch was evacuated and we were able to attend Highlands Presbyterian Camp.  Sitting on the benches outside of the main hall you could see straight North and without fail see the plumes of smoke lofting into the sky from the fire that caused the evacuation of Sky Ranch.  Matter of fact on our drive there we saw from over 100 miles away the smoke and debris of that fire.

Consider our Old Testament Lesson this morning. Malachi, the last of the Old Testament prophets, whose book and in fact our lesson is the book end of the entire Old Testament, specifically the last recorded words of the Old Testament foretells of a time that seemed eerily similar to the fire we could see from both Highlands Camp and our drive.  Malachi writes, “For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace”.  With allusion to similar circumstances of the book of Daniel of the burning furnace, Malachi tells of a furnace that is burning, not gently, but with vigor and destruction.  He continues, “and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff, and the day that is coming will set them ablaze…so that it will leave them neither root nor branch”.  This fire will not be quenched, fed by the chaff of the evildoer and arrogant of this world it will not burn gently but consume everything it touches that is evil.

Yet, the promise revealed is not only crystal clear, but full of sweet Gospel.  Malachi writes, “But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings”.  This promise given by Malachi is directly from God for His people and for us today.  It is a promise for those of us who fear God’s name, who humble themselves and bend the knee and who are not arrogant and ‘self-appointed righteous people’.  The promise is what we are preparing for this morning and this entire season of Advent.  It is the promise and the fulfillment of the promise found in our Savior, Jesus Christ.

During the mid-week and last Sunday we sang the hymn of “Prepare the Royal Highway” and that is exactly what John the Baptist job was to prepare for the promised Messiah.  As a kind of “Elijah” John’s calling was to call the people to repentance and return to prepare for the coming Messiah.  For the Messiah is coming to “restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers”.  Jesus coming is a restoration or return of our hearts to the purity that was originally intended in the Garden of Eden before the Fall of Adam and Eve.

Jesus Whom we are preparing for with every passing day of Advent comes to restore us to Himself.  Jesus Christ comes “so that He [I] will not come and smite the land with a curse”, but comes to restore us and return us to the kingdom of God.  Fallen creatures as we are, John came to begin the process and the Christ child we look for in the manger fulfills this process with His life, death and resurrection.

Therefore, we who believe that Jesus Christ is the Messiah Who came and died to take away our sins and confess our sins, receive the greatest gift offered mankind, the forgiveness of sins won on the Cross of Calvary for all of mankind by Jesus Christ.  This is our preparation for the promises foretold by Malachi in the Old Testament and which we prepare for during this season of Advent.  May all of us who hear the Gospel of salvation freely offered by Jesus Christ be changed by the Holy Spirit Who sanctifies us and calls us to the one true faith.  And may our preparation during Advent, not only be a preparation of our houses and homes, but true preparation of our hearts, not to be ashes under the feet of others, but may we be refined in order to enter the manger and on bended knee welcome the Christ Child Who comes to set us free to be saints gathered here at Emmanuel Lutheran in Goodland, KS this morning.  AMEN.

Sermon 12022012 Advent 1

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, the Lord Our Righteousness as we enter a new church year enable our hearts to hear clearly the Gospel of our salvation brought by Your death on Calvary for us.  Allow us as we prepare our homes and hearts to prepare again for our celebration of Your entrance in Bethlehem.  For You are our righteous branch and will reign as king, not only of the World but of our hearts and souls that You won on Calvary.  For You offer us the greatest gift of salvation freely for all of mankind including all of the saints gathered here at Emmanuel this morning.  AMEN.

In the recent movie Brave it is clear that the Queen ‘runs the kingdom’.  When the clans are gathered together in the great chamber to present the ‘suitors’ for Princes Merida’s hand, the Queen while chaos and fighting are ensuing around her walks through the upheaval and upon reaching her husband and the other leaders of the clans brings order from chaos and restores a clear sense of order.

This morning as we gather at the beginning of another church year, we have the opportunity to bring order from the chaos that surrounds us in the world around us.  Christmas decorations have been in Wal-Mart since before Halloween, ads for the great sales have been assaulting our minds on television, radio and the internet for weeks.  And no longer is there an anticipation of the real reason for the Christmas season, but a dread hoping that it would be over quickly so we can return to the stress free life of family not hovering around, meals that have to be prepared a certain way and the travel required to see everyone..

Our dread over the seasons is a result of our society overtaking the sacredness of the seasons from the church.  We as a church have allowed and catered to society, even though we live in this world, but we should not be ‘of this world’.  Jeremiah the prophet from our Old Testament lesson this morning prophecies clearly about the coming of something greater for all of mankind including we today here in Goodland, KS.  Jeremiah says “⁵ “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; And He will reign as king and act wisely And do justice and righteousness in the land.”  This prophecy of a ‘righteous branch’ is clearly about Jesus Christ Who will come as King and act wisely.  The Gospel we heard this morning is from Palm Sunday.  The expectation was the fulfillment of Jeremiah that Jesus riding on a colt, the foal of the donkey would be ‘crowned King’.  But unlike the events that followed Jesus triumphal entry, Jesus crown was not of gold, but of thorns that cut His brow and ultimately resulted in His innocent death on Calvary.

The first century society expected Jesus to radically change the outcome of persecution that was occurring in that day and age.  But the prophecy of Jeremiah was larger than what they could imagine.  Jesus would radically change their perspective, but it wasn’t what they understood that would change.  Jeremiah continues, “⁶ “In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell securely; And this is His name by which He will be called, ‘The Lord our righteousness.’”  Jesus entrance into Jerusalem would herald His being the ultimate sacrifice for all of mankind.  Jesus Christ with the title, “The Lord our righteousness” would save Judah and all of mankind.  Jesus Christ would save them and us not from the rulers of the time, the sales at Wal-Mart, Target or any of the on-line merchants, but from the sin that pervaded the people’s lives including ours today.  Jesus in, through and by His death on Calvary would set mankind free from sin, death, the devil, hell and damnation.

This is what we are preparing for as we begin our Advent pilgrimage, the ultimate sacrifice of “The Lord our righteousness”, Jesus Christ.  But ultimately the responsibility of change in each of us will only come as a result of our believing that Jesus Christ came to set us free.  We will not be free from the bonds that society tries to place us under until we change ourselves, but this only occurs through the work of the Holy Spirit.  It is only by God’s work in our lives that we will be changed.  Now you would rightly say, how can we change a society, we in and of ourselves are unable to do this, but God working through us is able to change society.  We do this by remembering the real reason for the season, preparing our hearts, souls and spirits for the entrance of a Babe in Bethlehem.

For in our preparing the church for the celebration of Jesus Birth, in our preparing our homes for the mystery of a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and our preparing our hearts for the entrance of Jesus Christ we will be changed and society through us will be changed.  We will not be able to see the change, but God will make the change in His time.  The prophecy and promises are clear for us today through Jeremiah the prophet that “The Lord our Righteousness” comes to set us free to be the people of God.  This is the promise we are not only told of, but are participants of and included in for all of mankind, including all of us saints that are gathered here at Emmanuel this morning as we begin our Advent pilgrimage.  AMEN.

Sermon 04062012 Good Friday

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, Lord Jesus Christ, just as our altar is stripped and bare, You hang naked on the Cross in order to bear our sins.  May we bear our souls and feel Your love surround us as we look to the Cross.  For You bore our sins and died this Good Friday in order to set all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel free from our sins.  Thank You for this gift of eternal life through Your death.  AMEN.

From our text this evening, we hear how Jesus Christ our suffering servant bears the sins of many.  Here from Isaiah:

¹² Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; Because He poured out Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors;
Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors.

Tonight we gather around an altar that is bare.  Tonight we see the black of the cloth draped on the Cross.  Tonight we mourn because we know what happened on Good Friday.  Jesus Christ in the last 24 hours has been stripped of all humanity.  He was taken by force from the Garden, beaten in the Jewish courts and now as He hung on the Cross at Golgotha, He is naked for all to see.  Jesus Christ humanity is revealed for all to see.  People revile Jesus Christ, taunt Him and He is there to bear every insult every burden everything and anything anyone can dish out upon Him.

For Jesus Christ was nailed to the Cross.  Jesus Christ endured the nails through His hands and feet.  The Roman soldiers not known for being gentle forced the nails through His flesh with blow after blow.  Jesus Christ blood flowed from the wounds of the nails.  And now the full weight of Jesus Christ body hung from the nails through His flesh.  But it was more than just Jesus Christ weight.  Jesus Christ in being nailed to the Cross was held there by the sins we commit.  Jesus Christ chose to stay on the Cross, pinned by our sins and the sins of the entire world.  Jesus Christ chose this for a divine purpose.

Jesus Christ fulfilled the divine purpose of setting us free from our sins.  For Jesus Christ bore our sins and died for all of mankind.  Jesus Christ fulfilled the divine plan of salvation in His death on the Cross for You and for me.  Tonight is difficult for us, unlike the disciples who saw their teacher hang from the Cross, dead and never expected to see again, we know a different truth.  We know Jesus Christ has fulfilled the plan of salvation.  We have been grafted into the promise of forgiveness and eternal life through Jesus Christ life, death and resurrection.  For the plan of our salvation began its fulfillment in the Garden of Eden, was seen in the betrayal in the Garden of Gethsemane and now is fulfilled on Golgotha for You and for me and all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel this evening.  AMEN.