X In the Name of Jesus X
Matthew 11,25-30 (Luke 10,21-22)
Kantate (4. Sonntag nach Ostern) 039 weißConstantine, Emperor, 337 †
22. May 2011
1. O Blessed Lord Jesus Christ, Almighty and Victorious Prince, who did burst the band of death, and in great majesty and glory rise from the grave, and become the first fruits of them who slept: during these Sundays after Easter we thank You for Your bitter sufferings, death, and resurrection. You are our Samson to carry away and destroy the gates of Hell, so that we might have everlasting freedom. With a mighty hand and an outstretched arm You have delivered us from bondage, and robbed the grim monster of his power and prey. You are risen from the dead, and become the first in the long line of those whom You have redeemed. As members of Your body and sheep of Your pasture, we cannot be holden of death, but we are free to serve You in holiness of life here and in everlasting blessedness hereafter. Wherefore we praise You, thank You, and cry with joyful hearts: Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! And we beseech You, comfort us even more with the joys of Your resurrection, and enable us firmly to believe that You have destroyed sin, death, and the power of the Devil. And at last permit us to hear Your voice to a glorious and blessed resurrection from the dead, when we shall come forth to praise You with new hearts and lips, O You who live and reign in unity with the Father and the Holy Spirit, God blessed forever (Löhe 139). Amen.
2. Our sermon text for this morning, dear brothers and sisters, is from the Gospel according to St. Matthew. The holy apostle and evangelist writes: At that time Jesus declared: „I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was Your gracious will. All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him. Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me that I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your lives. For My yoke is pleasant, and My burden is light.“ This is our text. 3. The portion of Jesus’ teaching for us in this morning’s Gospel Reading follows on the heels of what Jesus observed at the beginning of Chapter 11, namely, the promised gospel of salvation history (Heilsgeschichte) has gone out, first in John the Baptizer who prepared the way, and then in Jesus who is that way; incredibly, many Jews had rejected both John and Jesus. Many who were rejecting Jesus and the gospel were scribes and Pharisees who were the wise and educated men in Jewish culture in Jesus’ day. Such individuals, who were the acknowledged teachers of the Mosaic covenant and the Holy Scriptures, were often at odds with Jesus and what He taught and did. They thought they had Yahweh and His Messiah all figured out. Since Jesus did not fit in their preconception of the Messiah, they soundly rejected Him. They were guilty of attempting to put new wine into old wineskins.
4. In our own day and age we have wise and educated people who refuse to receive Jesus and the gospel. Perhaps they are academic theologians with a long list of doctoral credentials that follow their names along with stacks of books and articles that back up their knowledge of theology and religion. These are the esteemed men and women (like Dr. Bart Ehrman) who appear on TV specials about Jesus and Christianity, but they rarely confess Him as the crucified and risen Lord who is our Savior from sin. Perhaps the wise and knowledgeable people are not educated theologians but people (like Mr. Harold Camping) who claim they have diligently studied the Bible and have uncovered truths never before revealed to Christians. Thus they set dates and teach unscriptural doctrines that they have formulated in their own minds. Their concern is not on Christ and the mercy of God that He brings to this world, but their concern is a message of law, despair, and desperation. You see, the wise and knowledgeable of this age are tempted to think that, just as they can provide for themselves on the basis of their wisdom and intelligence, so they are tempted to think that by their own abilities they can be self-sufficient in even spiritual things. Likewise, you and I are tempted to rely on our own reason and abilities regarding the things of the Spirit, however we cannot by our own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ or come to Him (Luther 17). Although our sinful pride chafes at such a statement, nevertheless the law of God reveals this truth and our conscience, corrupted as it is, even must acknowledge this matter of fact.
5. Opposite those who rely on wisdom and knowledge are those who acknowledge their inadequacy in the presence of Christ. Such people are like infants who are completely helpless and entirely dependent upon the Holy Spirit for things spiritual. Such an attitude describes the heart of Christians. Yes, even a wise, educated person with vast experience and multiple doctorates can humbly bow his or her knee in the presence of Christ and His word to acknowledge: „O Lord, I am totally dependent upon You for my physical life and my eternal salvation.“
6. In these six Matthean verses, Jesus unfolds for us a remarkable Christology, however we may be tempted to asked: „Is God at work?“ (Gibbs 588). In Jesus’ day, it appeared that God was not at work. Many of His chosen people were not receiving the gospel in faith, and even the very religious teachers and leaders of Judaism rejected Jesus and His messianic claims. We likewise look around and see the gospel preached and Christ exalted, but so few hear and believe the proclamation of salvation. So many people ignore God and His Word. Is God at work in our midst? Jesus answers that question in today’s Gospel Reading.
7. Q: Is God at work? A: Yes, in Jesus, but only in Jesus (Gibbs 588). Christ our Lord proclaims: »All things have been handed over to Me by My Father« (27). All things means all things. Christ’s dominion and reign extends over everything from the subatomic quarks and leptons to the giant elliptical galaxies with trillions of stars. In this universe that is at least 150 billion light-years in diameter, our small, blue planet orbits an ordinary G2V star (a yellow two-tenths towards orange main sequence star) on the outer limits in the Orion Arm of the Milky Way galaxy. Our planet Earth has the unenviable distinction of being throughout Yahweh’s vast universe the one planet that is in open rebellion against the King of Creation. Therefore, the Son of God descended to this Earth to end the warfare between human beings and their God.
8. Christ Jesus has at His command legion upon legions of angelic warriors. He could have summoned more than 72,000 angels at a moment’s notice. Such a Divine army could quickly sweep across the planet and level every civilization so that all that would be left is a smoldering cinder of a planet with every single man, woman, and child dead. Jesus, however, did not utilize His angelic host. His mission was not to destroy mankind, but to save men and women (John 3,17). This does not mean that Jesus was a peacenik or a sissy. The Scriptures are replete with instances where Yahweh fought His enemies and left them defeated and dead. The Gospels record many miracles where Jesus healed the sick, cast our demons, and raised the dead, all of which were battles actively engaged against the Axis powers of sin, death, and the devil.
9. The salvation mission of Jesus was one of surrender. Jesus willingly and voluntarily allowed the Jews to arrest Him, to falsely accuse Him of a crime punished by death, silently accepted Pontius Pilate’s guilty verdict, and bravely bore the suffering and humiliation of the cross. Lest we lay all the blame at the feet of the unbelieving Jews or the pagan Romans, each one of us has the royal blood of God’s Son on our guilty, rebellious hand. Jesus bore the punishment and condemnation merited by sinful men and women, and He did so in our place and on our behalf for you, for me, and for the whole world.
10. The following phrase is a traditional proclamation made in various countries with a monarch, such as the United Kingdom, when the current monarch has died: „The King is dead, long live the King!“ (Le Roi est mort, vive le Roi!) „The King is dead“ is the announcement of a monarch who has just died; „long live the King!“ refers to the heir who immediately succeeds to a throne upon the death of the preceding monarch. Christ died, but He rose from the dead on the third day! Christ the King died, but now He is risen; long live the King!
11. God, therefore, is at work in our midst through Christ Jesus. The peace treaty is signed and is being announced: »Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me that I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your lives. For My yoke is pleasant, and My burden is light« (28-30). Thus by the power of the Holy Spirit, and under His direction, apostles, bishops, and pastors proclaim that the warfare is ended and peace now reigns between God and the world. No longer do we stand with heads hung in shame, with dirty faces, and with hands caked with the King’s dry blood. Jesus takes us poor, rebellious peasants, cleans us up, and declares us princes and princesses, yes, heirs of His heavenly reign! We need not fear Jesus. He is not angry or vindictive toward us.
12. Jesus is gentle and humble in heart. Jesus takes our heavy yoke of guilt and sin. In return, He gives us His yoke which is light and restful. „The way to find rest is to trade the heavy burden of sin and failure for Jesus own „yoke““ (Gibbs 590). „As Jesus continues to speak, however, he reveals that the essence of taking his yoke upon oneself consists in learning what he is like. For this „yoke“ is nothing other than to become a disciple of Jesus“ (Gibbs 590).
13. What burden weighs you down? Fear of the future? Shame over sins? Being hood-winked by a TV Bible teacher who has been shown yet again to be a fool and a false teacher? Family concerns? Employment concerns? Illness? Whatever your burden is, trade it in for Jesus’ yoke. It does not matter how insignificant or overbearing your yoke is, Jesus is willing and able to bear it for you and your sake. Yes, God is at work in our midst only through Jesus. Believe it. Receive Him in faith. Be at peace and joy, for Christ Jesus has chosen you to be His own. Amen.
14. Let us pray. O risen Christ, all the earth sings the glory of Your Name, we also give You glorious praise and we ask that You take from us our heavy burdens, shoulder them for us, and give us in return Your light burden which is manifested in the reality of Your resurrection, so that we are comforted and rest in the peace of Christian discipleship that teaches us to trust You in all things. Amen.
One Message: Christ crucified and risen for you!
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All Scriptural quotations are translations done by The Rev. Peter A. Bauernfeind using the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, 4th Edition © 1990 by the Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart, the Novum Testamentum Graece, Nestle-Aland 27th Edition © 1993 by Deutsch Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart, and the New Testament Greek Manuscripts, Luke © 1995 by Reuben Joseph Swanson.
Gibbs, Jeffrey A. Matthew 11:2 – 20:34. Copyright © 2010 Concordia Publishing House. Löhe, Wilhelm. Seed-Grains of Prayer: A Manual for Evangelical Christians. Wartburg Publishing House, Chicago circa 1912. Concordia Publishing House; Concordia on Demand.
Luther, Martin. Luther’s Small Catechism. Copyright © 1986 Concordia Publishing House.
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