Tag: Physical Bodies

A New Year Meditation – Growth

010426 SermonDownload

Biblical Text: Luke 2:40-52

The text is the familiar story of the 12 year old Jesus in the Temple. It’s the only story we have from the childhood of Jesus. And the focus of the story is one of growth. “Jesus grew is wisdom, and stature and in favor with God and men.” The sermon I’ve labeled a New Year meditation because at New Year we often think or plan or just dream about what kind of growth we might attempt over the next year. Whether that growth be from resolutions or just yearly plans revamped. The sermon sets Jesus as our pattern. Growth in wisdom which comes from the Word of God. Growth in stature. Bodies are important. Growth in grace (that’s the word our translations turn into favor). It is grace that perfects both wisdom and stature.

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Everything Written Must Be Fulfilled

041915wordle

Biblical Text: Luke 24:36-49
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The text is concerned with a couple of items. First it is concerned with the literal physical resurrection – “touch and see!” Second it is concerned about how those not part of that first generation of apostles can be sure of that experience. Jesus supplies the answer in the written word and the witness of the apostles. That witness of the apostles becomes word and sacrament, forgiveness of sins and what we know as the new testament. We share those with those first apostles. We also share the Holy Spirit, the “Power from on High”, that testifies to the truth of Word and Sacrament.

The moral question of Easter is that we have heard these things. We know the story. We have experienced the witness that Jesus says is good. Are we changed by that? The reactions of the disciples in the text give us three levels of reaction. Startled and frightened thinking it a ghost. Just a ghost in the machine. Joy and marvel at the announcement but still disbelieving I’m spiritual, but I’m not sure about being a disciple. Minds open to the scriptures and we are the witnesses of these things. Has Easter changed you?

That might be a scary thought, are we ever sure we are changed? Good news it is not us there either. We have been clothed with power from on high. The Spirit who spoke by the prophets still ensures that everything written is fulfilled including the salvation of the saints.

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