The message for this LWML Sunday is based on the work of the LWML’s Senior Pastoral Counselor, the Rev. Mark Maas.
Please join me in prayer:
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.
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From time to time in our lives, we meet people that God uses to bless us and transform our lives. Think for instance, of the first time you met your spouse. Who knows that circumstances led to that first meeting, but clearly it was transformative. Life changing. And many of us can go right back to that time and place in our memory.
I remember that when Beth and I met, she didn’t pay too much attention to me at first. But I did everything I could to be in the same place she was. I was desperate to see her again. And all these years later, we still enjoy each other’s company and we know how God has transformed our lives with so many blessings and some hardships too, through this gift of marriage.
It was a divine appointment, and it led to something amazing. A new life together for the rest of our lives.
But lest we forget it, the Scriptures remind us that marriage is a picture of the relationship between Christ and His Church.
When God comes to His people in Christ, they are transformed, united with Him, and given a new life. Encountering Jesus, being connected with Him, changes everything. For you, dear people of God, are the bride of Christ. He leads and loves you and is with you always. And your life is found in Him, as you gather together around His gifts this day.
In the Gospel reading for this Lutheran Women in Mission Sunday, we are at the scene of the Ascension of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Remember what has happened to get the disciples there. More than forty days prior to this event, Jesus was hanging on the cross. He was suffering and dying. He cried out in anguish, “My God, My God why have you forsaken me?” He hung there heavy with the weight of all that He was bearing — the horror of the crucifixion and the strain it put upon His body, the whippings and beatings, but even moreso the wrath of His Father in heaven against the sin of the world, which was direct upon Him.
And then Jesus, in the midst of that deep, suffocating agony, breathlessly states, “It is finished.” And the Gospel of John records that, “He bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”
Next His side is pierced by the spear, and blood and water pour forth. It shows fully and completely that the Lord Jesus Christ had died. God had died.
Jesus’ body is then removed from the cross, wrapped with linen and spices and laid lifeless in a tomb.
And at that moment, Jesus’ followers must have doubted that they would ever meet Him again.
This man that had transformed their lives with his teaching, with his power, with his love…He was dead. Surely they would never see him again. Surely he had been undone by the sins of the world.
But then, three days later, on the first day of the week, the first Easter Sunday, Jesus who was dead, stepped forth from the tomb alive! Jesus had conquered death and the grave. He had risen victorious! He had defeated death not only for Himself but also for you, and for all who believe in Him.
Jesus had changed His followers’ lives once already. And in His appearing again, risen for the grave, He changes the lives of His followers again.
Because we see this reality, this truth, that in Christ, every enemy, every enemy, even death has been defeated. And that means that we, who trust in Him and live by faith in Him, will not be defeated by death or be separated from Him forever. But rather we will be with victorious with Him and on the last day we will rise again and live with Christ forevermore!
For forty days, His disciples were transformed by the presence of their Lord Those forty days were undoubtedly wondrous and inspiring and transformative. Jesus met with His disciples again and again. He brought teaching and blessings, and they rejoiced that He was with them. And then the ascension.
When Jesus ascended into the heavens, “He parted from them.” And everything changed again.
No longer would Jesus appear to them in the flesh. Instead, He sent His Holy Spirit to them, and He made them to be His witnesses, as Luke writes,
He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
They were to be Witnesses of Christ. Witnesses of his suffering, his death, and his resurrection. Witnesses also of HIs ascension into heaven where He lives and reigns even to this day, seated at the right hand of the Father.
And Jesus says,You are witnesses of these things.
As you step into this story, can you picture Jesus saying this to His disciples. And then can you see Him looking past the disciples, into the future, into this very room and saying, You also are witnesses of these things.
You are witnesses of these things. Because the apostles were witnesses of these things.
At His ascension, Jesus gave them an assignment to carry out, one that would occupy their time, their talent, and their treasure, and change their whole lives yet again. And that assignment which Jesus gave them has reached you this very day. Because you are the recipients of their work, you are those who have heard the proclamation, “that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in [Christ’s] name to all nations.”
But like all people in this broken world, you and I are tempted by doubt. The disciples saw the Lord dead on the cross. And we see a world ravaged by sin and conflict and greed and violence and lust. And indeed we know that these same forces are at work in our own sinful hearts. As we go through this life, doubts easily arise from the challenges which come against us and from the sinfulness of our own hearts. Like the first disciples, we are downcast and doubtful. We wonder if God is really with us, or if we are alone.
But then Jesus appears to us.
Those who returned to Jerusalem that Ascension Day continued to gather and share in the glorious gifts which Christ had given to them, and Jesus continued to meet with them. He didn’t appear bodily in the same way He had before the Ascension, but He did not leave them alone. He sent them His Holy Spirit and came to them in the Means of Grace, in Word and in Sacrament. And the same is true today. You don’t have to wonder where the Lord Jesus is, you don’t have to search for Him. You don’t need to wonder if He is present here with you in this life to lead and guide you, to comfort you.
Because today He comes to you in this very room. He is here today in the absolution, as He declares that your sins are forgiven. And He is here today in the reading and the preaching of His Word. And He is here at the altar with His true body and blood, given and shed for you, to forgive you, to feed you, to sustain you in this one true faith. Yes, Christ is here. The devil has not won, no matter what this broken world may be shouting at you.
And as the Lord appears to you here today, He calls you to repent. You are called to recognize your sin, with sorrow, and to turn in faith toward the one who has come here to forgive you of your sins and to change your life. Repent and know the peace that surpasses understanding. True peace with God.
Because your own efforts and your own ways can’t reconcile you with God. Your works bring no peace with God. Your own works leave you downcast. Your own works leave you dead and alone. That’s why the proclamation of repentance and forgiveness in the name of Jesus is so important. That is why it is so important for us to gather here and to know His presence and His peace and to receive His gifts…because without them we are lost, dead in our sins and trespasses. But with these gifts of God, we are made alive in Christ forever.
And You also are witnesses of these things. This message of repentance and forgiveness has been given to the Church by the Lord Jesus. That means you, dear Christians, have the responsibility to proclaim the message of Christ, to proclaim repentance and forgiveness, and to show forth the mercy of Christ in what you do and say. The people of God in generations past, beginning with the apostles who were there on the mount of ascension, they have passed on this great good news to us, and we pass it on to others. To our friends and family. To our neighbors and our colleagues. To people in far off lands.To all the people that God has given to us to love and to serve.
Because Christ wants all people to hear and know the good news of so that they would be His people and know and live under His gracious kingdom. So that they would receive the words of eternal life and be forever united with Him, transformed by His love, just as we have been.
You see, true life is only given by the Lord Jesus Christ. And in His means of grace, the Lord Jesus meets you and gives it to you. This sets apart Lutheran worship from the worship of so many other churches. We don’t come here today simply to sing catchy songs or to somehow feel the presence of God or be inspired by clever preacher. We don’t come here today to give our best to God and earn His favor. It’s not that we’re opposed to catchy songs, clever preachers, good feelings, or Godly and generous offerings. It’s just that none of these are the main thing in Worship. The main thing is Christ, who comes to be with us. Christ who si the very focal point of all that we do, all that we are, the very focal point of our worship and sanctuary. Christ is the center, Christ is all in all, Christ is our life. And we come here to encounter the presence of Jesus in His Word and Sacrament. We come here because He is here to give us His gifts. And by faith we take hold of him, cling to him, and know that in Him alone there is life and hope and a future.
But there are many who are not here or in any church today. There are many who don’t yet know the Lord as their loving and gracious Savior. AND for that reason, you are the church which is still given the Ascension Day assignment to go and make known His kindness and love in the world. By your witness and your works of mercy and by your invitations to come and see the Lord present and at work in His church.
Dear people of God, this is a monumental but vitally necessary task. And you have partners in this work. Your LWML works to help carry the Gospel to those who need to meet this Lord Jesus Christ. They are involved in so many ways the world over. The make quilts and gather blankets to take to those who are going through tragedy. They put meals into the mouths of those who have gone through disasters as they aid relief efforts. On your behalf, they make certain that people in Africa have access to the Word of God. They become for you, in numerous places, the very heart and hands of the compassionate, merciful Lord who saves, who meets people where they are and grants them life.
You have the joy of this amazing partnership in the Gospel as you give of your treasures, give of your time, and give of your talents to support the work of the church through the LWML. And through them, you support, encourage, and uplift missionaries who are spreading the message of repentance and the forgiveness of sins in Jesus’ name. Through their efforts, their commitment, and their joy in service, your gifts touch so many lives, so many people. What an amazing impact. What a tremendous heart, hands, and voice are yours as you partner with them in the Gospel.
Because, through these efforts you help people meet the Lord. And it is a gracious meeting. Through all the mission work of this congregation and our church body, and the LWML, our goal is the same: that people will meet the Lord themselves and have life in His name. And that they will know where He is to found, and that He continues to meet people through His church, here God’s people gather, for the joy of knowing repentance and forgiveness in His name.
Where is our Lord? He is here, in Word and Sacrament. He is here in the heart, hands, and voice of His people. He is here as we work together to fulfill our Ascension Day Assignment to reach others with the message of repentance and forgiveness in the name of the crucified and risen Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Now the Peace of God, which surpasses understanding, guard your hearts and minds in the one true faith in Christ Jesus. Amen.