Proper 6C Luke 7:36–8:3 “Forgive [n]”

I bring you grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus, Amen.

God’s holy Word for our glad hearing and learning is the Gospel Lesson for this Fourth Sunday after Pentecost, from Luke chapters 7 and 8.

Let us all pray. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of the hearts of your people be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our strength and redeemer. Amen.

It didn’t quite go as Simon had planned. He had hoped to impress the brilliant Rabbi from Nazareth, and at the same time show him off to his friends. Simon was a very religious man –a strict Pharisee–with a very honored position in the community. And Jesus had accepted the invitation to come into his home. This was going to be good.

But then she showed up. He knew her: they all knew her. That she had a reputation in that city was putting it mildly. She was a sinner.

Interesting…the kind of people this teacher has following him. No, this could be good. Really good.

But then this unnamed woman proceeds to do what Simon neglected to do. She worships Jesus. She falls at His feet and begins to cry. She offers up an expensive offering of ointment. She is in the presence of her Lord and she repents of her sins.

Simon…is disappointed. He thinks to himself, “here is no prophet.” “If he really were a prophet, He would know who was touching Him.” “This Jesus seems clueless.”

The woman’s sins, we are told, were many.

Simon had only one. But it was greater than all her sins combined. It was the sin of unbelief.

And his unbelief made it impossible for him to repent of his sins. And because he was not forgiven, he could not forgive.

Simon, I have something to say to you.

The eager Simon always wanting to impress, answered, “Say it, Teacher.”

A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?

Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” (Luke 7:40–43)

When we come to the Lord’s house we meet sinners. All kinds are found here. The reputations of some are well known. Yet, all who repent of their sins are forgiven. None are turned away. Jesus knows what is in each heart. He knows each hurt. He knows each sigh. He knows each tear.

This morning Jesus has a warning for those who shun the sinner; for those who will have nothing to do with the one who comes into his presence to receive His grace; for those who think that by slipping in and out they can have all the benefits of church and get credit for it and yet at the same time refuse to forgive, to continue judge, to maintain their righteous indignation, to shun the brother or sister by going the other direction; Jesus says you cannot have it both ways.

You cannot be forgiven and refuse to forgive. You cannot come into His presence, dine at His table, without touching sinners. If you are afraid of sinners–then you better stay away. For you see, there is not much that is worse than to sit in the pew and look around you and judge other people. Who died and made you God, that you might now decide the eternal welfare of another person? These are the blood-bought souls by Jesus!

Who are you to shun anyone of them? It’s worse than not coming to church at all. At least when you don’t come to church you don’t bring God’s judgment down upon yourself like Simon did. Better you stay at home.

Then turning toward the woman Jesus said to Simon,

Do you see this woman?

I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.

You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet.

You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.

Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven- for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” (Luke 7:44-47)

The time Simon spent deciding who was good enough for him to eat and to sit with he may just as well have spent in meditation and prayer, worshipping his Lord.

He may have instead repented of his sins, for which Jesus also came into the world to forgive, and went to the cross to die and shed his blood, so that Simon and all of us like him may have forgiveness,  and one day recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, (Matthew 8:11)

But Simon rejected all that Jesus had to offer him. Because he thought he could go it alone. That he was better than all the rest. That he was certainly better than this one sinful woman.

And it’s not just individuals who can be this way. It can be whole congregations. Because further on we read,

Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” Luke 7:49

The whole bunch of them didn’t believe that Jesus could forgive this woman her sins! And why? Because they didn’t believe the forgiveness that was offered them. They just didn’t believe Jesus and His Word.

Instead, they preceded to do to the poor Magdalene that which she previously had suffered under the seven demons from which Jesus had released her. The proceeded to hold her captive in her previous  sin. Make her a slave to that sin. And keep her in bondage, of their own making, by not forgiving her.

Friends, this is a serious matter that we must not ignore. When someone is shunned and mistreated by anyone of us because we have it in our minds that they do not deserve the forgiveness of Christ and be welcomed fully into God’s household of grace, we turn the wrath of God upon ourselves because we are immediately held to the same measure.

When the servant of Christ pronounces the absolution of all sins to those around us, and we come up to His table to eat and to drink his body and blood for the forgiveness of sins –and we remain unwilling to forgive, to speak to another individual, to shake the hand, to offer Christian fellowship and signs of friendship, then this is to be Simon the Pharisee.

Don’t expect to leave God’s house forgiven. As a matter of fact, expect your sins to be multiplied against you. Jesus says it here: “he who is forgiven little, loves little.” (Luke 7:47)

But if you’ve been treated this way: take heart. Jesus forgives you. And He promises and gives you His Spirit of forgiveness so that you may forgive those who would hold you in demonic bondage of past sins and offenses. They have no real power over you. Rather pray for them. For they are in great spiritual danger.

We rejoice today at the good news that our sins are truly forgiven; that our heavenly Father welcomes all who repent of their sins and believe that they are forgiven for Jesus sake. We rejoice with one another in this forgiveness, that not one of us is denied by God Sonship and Daughtership in His heavenly kingdom. That we are washed and made clean by and also offered this day the very blood of Him who came into this world to save sinners, that bought us to be His own and that sprinkles clean and gives a good conscience.

To each of us this day Jesus says, “Your faith has saved you. You sins are forgiven; go in peace.” Amen.

Donald Twietmeyer Funeral Sermon, John  6:68

I bring you grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus, Amen.

God’s Word for our comfort this morning is Don’s confirmation verse: John 6, verse 68, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

Let us all pray: Thanks to Thee, O Christ victorious! Thanks to Thee, O Lord of Life! Death hath now no power o’er us, Thou hast conquered in the strife. Thanks because Thou didst arise And hast opened Paradise! None can fully sing the glory Of the resurrection story. Amen.

As Don’s health began its long decline, one of things that was frequently sought was advice: advice and a word from the doctors caring for him. Don would keep track of hospitalizations: how long he stayed out and how soon he was back in. He’d say “I guess the Lord wasn’t ready for me!” and then chuckle, “I’m still here!”

Not long ago he was looking at a possible surgery. He had his knee done, and made it through that, so what were the chances, how did the cardiologist feel? Could he make it through it? The answer was “no”. His congestive heart failure had reached that point. His heart was too weak.

We like to think that doctors know everything and that they can cure anybody, but neither is the case all the time. And so even doctors seek the advice of specialists: the advice of the cardiac specialist, the renal specialist, the liver specialist, and the list probably can go on.

We know that the more acute the situation, the more specialized the advice needs to be. And it was not only the word of medical personal that Don so often desired. Don would call my phone and let me know where he was. He would keep me right-up to date. Just like I was a close relative. In the hospital, or back home. And in either place, the Word of God was sought and administered. The Word of comfort. The Word of assurance. The Word of peace.

And of all the words shared over time –and it became ever more obvious with time that Don was growing weaker –it was the Word of God that mattered the most to Don, that brought him the most encouragement. oh, we’d talk in the hospital –I didn’t have to lead the conversation necessarily –but when it came time to pray: Don listened and was attentive.

It is that God’s Word that brings us to this time and place. To this hour of Donald’s funeral. To this House of God, and later to the cemetery. It is God’s Word that brings us here, and again we look to it for comfort, and assurance, and peace.

Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

These words of the Apostle Peter, spoken on behalf of the disciples to Jesus, and they are also the words of Don’s confirmation verse. These are our Words of comfort this morning.

At this time of sadness, we turn to the Word of God. That is what Christians do. For everything for the child of God begins with the Word. John, the same writer of Don’s confirmation verse, starts his Gospel by saying,

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men.

We know, of course, that “He,” is Jesus. Jesus, who at creation made all things, He is the Word that was spoken, who made all things, who became a human flesh.

We Lutherans have a high regard for the Word. We’re not ashamed to admit this, and we are rather proud to boast in it. We regard God’s Word highly, and  additionally, we are also unique in this way: we also regard preaching highly.

For we know that the Word that we need is the Word that comes from outside us. The preached Word is unfiltered, unaltered. When we gather to hear the proclaimed Word of God we have no choice but to hear what God has to say to us. And that Word tells us of sin, of death and of hell. We would avoid these truths and dwell only in the glory of it all if the Word didn’t come to us externally.

This is exactly the context of our Scripture from John Chapter 6. Jesus has been preaching about Himself and has been telling His followers that He is the Christ, the Son of God. He invites them to believe in Him. This faith was to be an intimate faith: an exclusive faith. They would have to come to Him through the Means of Salvation.

We know that this turned off many of Jesus’ listeners, and in the end all who remained with Him were just the Twelve. The Evangelist John writes,

From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.  “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

The Christian Church imitates the example set here by St. Peter and says: “To whom shall we go? Where are we to turn? When life is unfair and kicks us when we’re already down. When friends desert us and we find ourselves alone. When sickness comes. When our consciences are haunted by past sins and failures. When death is knocking at the door. “Lord, I know no one but you. I know of no other message: You have words of life. Your Word has the proper ring. It is impressive and vigorous. It delivers from eternal death, from sin, and from all misery.”

Several times during his life a similar type question came to our beloved Don. At Baptism he was asked if he renounced the devil and all his works and all his ways. Through parents, sponsors and the Church we reply, “I do!” At Confirmation the same questions are asked, and the blessings of Baptism are affirmed and Christ is confessed. Again the same “I believe” is said.

So, also, in death, all of us may, rather, must, turn again to Christ and say, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

Don knew how to rally. Perhaps it was the military man in Him. That Korea is again so much in the news these days makes us take notice. What will that nut running that country try and do? At least Don doesn’t have to worry about it. And he did his part 60 years ago!

But sin, death, the devil are just like that. They won’t leave us alone while we are in this life. We might think that we’ve come to a peace with them but it’s never signed. It’s more like a stand-off. They want us.

Only Jesus has the victory and vanquishes all our enemies. In John’s Gospel Jesus also says this, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” (John 11:25-26)

These things pleased Don. The prayers of the Church on his behalf pleased him. The Word spoken to him comforted him. The Lord’s Supper, which he frequented, strengthened him. And all along it was the same Word of eternal life.

This is the faith that carried Don through this life. You saw at home, you learned it as he brought you to this church. His love for you, Donna– and for all your family, was a natural part of his faith.

I am not sure how to bring this into the funeral sermon; and yet it would not be Don’s funeral sermon for me if I didn’t mention it. I am talking about the wine. Don had some pretty old wine he would to share with me. (I mean old!)

No doubt there was more than its actual taste that made that wine taste good to him. It had memories attached to it. It took him back to happy times and people and occasions he cherished. And I would have to sample it. Several samples.

And how much more is the Word of God which refreshes eternal! The forgiveness of sins breaths life into our weary souls. The knowledge of the resurrection fills us with strength for the day. The hope of a joyful reunion gives us faith to make it through this hour and the tomorrows.

Today you can show your love to Don by following his example and remembering his faith. Not that his faith can save you, but by imitating his faith, by finding God’s house regularly, by approaching this table frequently, by taking in the Words of life.

Don did not earn heaven. He was a sinner. He needed Jesus. But he also heard God’s Word and at the last that Word carried him through.

Jesus says, I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. (John 5:24-25)

Friends, do as Don did: hear; and you too will receive the same as Don has: eternal life. For Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Amen.

Confirmation 2013 John 15:5

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

This morning’s text for our Confirmation sermon is the words of Jesus recorded by inspiration of the Holy Spirit in the fifteenth chapter of John’s Gospel, the fifth verse there.

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)

Let us all pray: Lord, in loving contemplation, Fix our hearts and eyes on Thee, Till we taste Thy full salvation, And unveiled, Thy glories see. Amen.

Dear friends in Christ –and I am especially speaking to you, our 2013 Confirmation Class,

On the night in which Jesus was betrayed our Lord said a whole lot of things to His disciples gathered there, as they were, with Him, upstairs, in that upper room in Jerusalem. He said words to teach them, so that they would know about His approaching death and what it would mean. He gave them a new commandment, that they should love one another as He loved them. He prayed for them, asking the Father to help and protect them through the coming hours of His passion which would culminate with His death on the cross and burial. He spoke the words instituting the Holy Supper which you also will be partaking of this coming Maundy Thursday at your First Communion. And He spoke in a new way to them –He spoke to them as friends. Indeed, he called them that: His friends.

No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends. (John 15:15)

Jesus passion and death meant a lot of things, and it meant a change in their relationship, which would give them the privileges of being friends with God. Because of the cross and the atonement He would make with the Father on their behalf, and, indeed, on behalf of the whole world, they were no longer to be considered servants, but now friends; all because of what He was about to do.

My dear class, not so long ago you entered into a new relationship –a friendship –with Your heavenly Father. It happened at your Baptism. When you were Baptized, God called you out of the darkness into His marvelous light. He gave You a new birth. You were born again. By water and the Spirit. He saved you by the washing away of Your sins. He called you by name, and you are His child for all eternity.

To use another image, the one in our text this morning, you were grafted to the vine and became a branch to Jesus. Since then you have been learning about these things, and about a whole lot of other things. We heard some of what you have learned out of the Bible and the Small Catechism last week during questioning. How well you learned your answers! How confident you appeared! You have been given a wonderful start in your life-long journey of faith as God’s child. You are each a lively and promising branch on the Vine.

When Jesus sat down with His disciples that first Maundy Thursday, He also told them about the Father and the Holy Spirit. There is a great deal in John’s Gospel beginning at chapter 14 and continuing through chapter 17 that teaches us how that Jesus came from the Father, and that He was returning to the Father, and that He was sending the Holy Spirit. These words are very revealing. They tell us that the Father gave Jesus to us so that we can return to Him as His children. Since Jesus has promised to be with us always –and He is! –He does us the highest good!

We’re told that Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit so that we might know Him and believe in Him, and be brought to the Father. This is a wonderful description of the work of the Trinity in each of you. You were baptized in the name of the Triune God. And today you will confess your faith in the same Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This confession makes you a part of the vine. How wonderful! Only holy people may be connected to Jesus. This work of making you holy the Holy Spirit does through the Means of Salvation.

The Word of God declares you holy when you repent of your sins. Baptism has washed you clean of your sins and given you faith to believe. The Lord’s Supper gives you the very body and the very blood of Christ which was shed on the cross and broken. That blood is sprinkled on your soul just as it was sprinkled on the Old Testament children of Israel.

The writer of Hebrews writes,

How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. (Hebrews 9:14)

 It is in the purifying action of Jesus’ blood that you are cleansed and made to bear fruit. In this way you are also the fruit of Jesus’ passion.

[And] the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,        faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Of these Jesus will give you without limit whenever you ask of Him. I pray He gives this to you now and always in overwhelming abundance.

And, today, my dear class, you enter into a different relationship with the rest of us as you are confirmed and invited to partake of the Lord’s Supper here at the Lord’s altar at Immanuel. You will kneel today and receive a blessing because of the confession you will make and the promises you will speak, and then you will hear me invite you to take part in all the privileges as communicant members of Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church of Frankentrost, Michigan.

 While confirmation is not a Sacrament, it is a holy thing, because we do it with the Word of God and prayer. That is how we sanctify our day, our lives, and ourselves to God

There is no higher gift from God than the seal and token of forgiveness given in the Sacrament. That’s why we have withheld it from you until now. So in a sense what we are doing here this morning is in fulfillment of what Jesus promised so long ago to His disciples and to all who take up the cross and follow Him. Here we see the fruits of being attached.

The evil one will try to detach you after this hour. He will do everything in his power to convince you otherwise. He will try to pull you lose, dry you up and cut you off. He won’t succeed as long as you remain attached to Jesus.

He has given you the Lord’s supper to remain attached to Him. You have your Bible, the Catechism, prayers, and hymnal. These will help. You have our prayers. These will help you, too. You have Jesus who is doing everything to keep you attached. Remain in Him. For apart from Him you can do nothing.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen