Saint Athanasius Lutheran Church

We do not lose heart. That's what Paul said today in the Epistle. Ever know someone like that? Someone who, no matter what's happening around them, no matter what's happening to them, they somehow remain confident, they don't give up, they don't give in to despair, they stay optimistic. And Paul knows. He knows the weight. But then that weight was lifted from Paul. Jesus forgave him, and even more, was going to use him to help others.

There are four words you never want to hear. Four words that cause a lot of heartache -- you're not good enough. That thought is all over the readings we heard today. Now, we confess that every week. But when we confess our sins at the beginning of the service each week, it isn't just this sin or that sin that you are confessing -- that you just messed up a little this week. No, you are really confessing I am not good enough. And yet, God wants you here with Him.

The untrained eye misses a lot of things. This is true for ears, too. Now, look around. In the world. Even in this congregation. What do you see? What do you hear? What does God see? What does God hear? A valley of dry, dead bones. People who were full of life, but who sin has dried up and robbed of life. Which is really the true miracle of Pentecost. The Word and Spirit of God continue to raise up dry, dead bones to life.

Today we get to listen to Jesus pray. And when you pray, sometimes you pray a prepared prayer, like the Lord's Prayer. But sometimes you just pray what's on your heart. And then sometimes, we get to listen to someone else praying. And those times can be precious. So to get to hear Jesus pray... we shouldn't underestimate that.

The Ascension of Our Lord is both one of the most important -- and most forgotten -- days in the life of the church. It is the completion of the resurrection. Jesus ascends into heaven not for Himself, but for us, that we, too, ascend. To give you hope. The hope that we need. No life, no situation, is beyond hope or help. Because Jesus is on the throne. Whatever you are going through now, it is in reality stubbed toes on your way to the life and glory Jesus has prepared for you.

Jesus wants you to bear fruit. This is not a new teaching of Jesus. He did not leave it up to us to figure out what a good work is and what it is not. He told us, in Ten Commandments. Ten Commandments which tells us not only what not to do, but also tells us those good works we are to do. So how's your fruit? God's original vine, Old Testament Israel, did not produce the fruit God desired. But God promised the vine would grow again. And when Jesus was born, it did. That's what makes these words we heard from Jesus today words for this Easter season.

Do we even need a Good Shepherd anymore? Don't put me in your box... or your pasture. I'm free. Time to put the Good Shepherd out to pasture. But do sheep make good shepherds? Or are we being duped? Because that happens a lot these days, doesn't it? Maybe I could use some help. but not too much! I still want to be free! To do what I want. So, who then? Who should be my shepherd? So the Good Shepherd comes and is thrown out? He lays down His life for the sheep. Which would be foolish is that's all He did. But, of course, He did more. He didn't stay dead.

A lot can change in two months. In the reading from Luke it was Easter evening, the disciples were afraid and hiding, and their hearts were troubled and doubting. But in the reading from Acts, approximately two months later, how different the disciples are! But what changed? The pure spiritual milk that caused them to grow up was the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms. That is, the Scriptures.

Jesus knew exactly what they needed. Those disciples who were consumed by guilt, confused, and afraid. They should have done more. What did the future now hold for them? Would they be stoned or crucified? But Jesus knew exactly what they needed. First is forgiveness for their guilt and shame. But still more they needed, Jesus knew. They needed instruction, purpose. They needed to know that what had just happened, all the events of that past week, was not a monumental catastrophe that messed up and derailed everything and now necessitated Plan B!

The women went to the tomb. They expected death. Of course they did. So when they get to the tomb and the stone is rolled away and dead is not there, they are confused, they are alarmed, they are scared. What happened to death? They hope, they want to hope, that the message of the angel might be true. That there might be life... Death is what we see. Death is what we know. Death surrounds us. Until today! So we have hope. Of life. An eternal life.

You have heard, O child of God, the story of your God this night. But these are not just the story of your God. These are your stories. Which is why we remember and celebrate Baptism this night. For Baptism is what makes these stories your stories. And baptized into Christ, you are baptized into HIs story, His history. But not only that -- this too. When one of us dies, we all die. And when one of us rises from the dead, we all rise. And that's what Jesus has done for us these sacred days. He died and rose for us, and we die and rise in Him.

I don't know if you ever paid much attention to the first part of the first sentence of the Old Testament reading we heard tonight. We hear it every year, but like me, you maybe just skipped over it. Because what comes after it is so vivid, so striking. All that Jesus did. All that happened to Him. Oppressed, judged, and taken away. But it all starts with this verse, this phrase -- Behold, that is, look! My servant shall act wisely... Wisely. That's a strange thing to say. Not the word many might have selected for that verse. But, of course, that's exactly why Jesus did what He did.

At the Passover, it was all about the lamb. The lamb that was slain, the lamb whose blood was poured out and painted on their doors to protect them from the angel of death that passed through the land of Egypt that very night, and the lamb that was them eaten. Every year after that, God commanded the people of Israel to keep this feast. And so they did down through the generations, to Jesus' day. But something would change. The lamb would change. It would still be all about the lamb, but a new lamb, for a new Passover, and a new deliverance.

Who would you die for? A family member or loved one? Maybe. Someone who risked their life for you? Perhaps. A stranger? Probably not. Someone who hurt you or a loved one? Absolutely not! That's what makes tonight's Word of God and what Jesus did so incredible. Christ died for the weak, the ungodly, sinners, and enemies. To not only make us His own, but to make us beautiful by washing away our sins and cleansing us with His forgiveness.

Many people want to make a name for themselves. They want people to remember them after they die. But we have seen in recent years how poor and fickle that can be. Those once considered heroic are now deemed shameful. Very few are those who will be able to survive such a purge. But we heard of such a one tonight. This woman who gave a flask of very costly ointment, worth an entire year's wages, to her Saviour. Why would she do such a thing? Only because she had received a gift far more valuable from Jesus -- the gift of forgiveness and life.

And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way Jesus breathed his last, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God! For now, God has highly exalted Him. God has bestowed on Him the name that is above every name. For He is not dead, but alive! Risen from the tomb in which Joseph laid him. So we do not confess with the centurion, Truly this man was the Son of God! No. Our confession is different. So we confess, Truly this man is the Son of God!

40 days and 40 nights Elijah walked, until he reached Horeb, the mount of God. The mount where God appeared to Moses in the burning bush. Now where God would speak to Elijah. A 40 day and 40 night trek for Elijah, from death to life. Elijah's story is important for us. He had just finished one of the greatest prophetic victories of all time, defeating the 450 prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. But rather than being filled with boldness and confidence, Elijah fled. For faith, we need the word and promises -- and food -- of God.

Has anyone ever broken a promise made to you? Have you ever broken a promise you made? I don't know of anyone who would say no to either of those questions. So maybe in our day and age, we should have a new saying to reflect the times. Promises, like the date on a gallon of milk, are meant to expire. But today we heard of our God who both makes and keeps His promises. A God we can rely on and count on and believe in. A God who will lay down His life for us. To save us.

40 days and 40 nights. That's how long Nineveh had. Forty days, Jonah cried out, and Nineveh will be overthrown. What would you have done? If you are given 40 days, what would you do? I think we would try to save our lives. That's what the people of Nineveh did. At the preaching of the Word of the Lord, Nineveh was transformed from a den of iniquity into a chapel of fasting, prayer, and repentance. They did not know, but they hoped, that God would relent -- that they would not perish.

The people of Israel were in trouble. Deep trouble. They were dying. So God had mercy on them and sent fiery serpents among them. Wait! What? The people were dying not because of the serpents, they were dying because of their unbelief. They were dead and dying in their trespasses and sins. Their unbelief was the problem. The serpents were the solution. And they did the trick! The people returned to the Lord. They repented. And once again, God was merciful and gracious.