Roger's Postings

Friday, March 25, 2011

Romans 5:1-11. Through faith we have peace with God. 27/3/11

(1) Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, {2} through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. {3} Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; {4} perseverance, character; and character, hope. {5} And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. {6} You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. {7} Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. {8} But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. {9} Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! {10} For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! {11} Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

In meditating on this passage in preparation for this sermon I have pondered on this idea of the peace with God that is ours as Christians. Peace. Peace with the Lord God Almighty. What an important concept for our world today and for the church as a whole; not to mention each of us as individuals!

But do we really understand it and why it is so important. As a generalization I would suspect that on the one hand this is an issue that is mentioned by many, but is very quickly brushed over, skimming the surface of the niceties of it; yet deep down within us there is an unsettledness that is unnerving to many, and a knowing that something here is not right. Within us there is that knowledge that there is much in our lives that is not good and right and which puts us at odds with God. There is that aspect of our sinful nature which wants to go against God and what he has to say to us. There is little peace within our daily lives which indicates that there are problems also in our relationship with God.

The question therefore arises; how do we try to deal with this lack of peace, and what is the real answer to this issue?

Now in our everyday life when we come across this problem of a lack of peace, as we do again and again regularly, we do many different sorts of things in order to try and overcome it. Now I will mention some, but I am sure you could add many more. Generally the first thing we do is to try and justify ourselves and our position, either openly or within ourselves. Then we try and talk our way through the situation, often in order to get the other person to see our point of view; and maybe if necessary then we will try to come to some compromise position. Most often we find the one or the other of the parties needs to dominate the scene and enforce some sort of peaceful solution; but it doesn’t solve the problem.

When we realize that we in some way are at fault, again we often seek to justify ourselves. Or if we are made of a little sterner stuff, we might set about working harder to overcome the problem, but inevitably we will always fall short to some degree. Often we find that it is either too hard or too demeaning to our pride or something and so we try and avoid the issue altogether: so we just give in and bury the thoughts; or else we get busy on other things so that we don’t have to think about it or deal with it; we get into the drink and drugs so that we can cover over the issue and blot it out of our mind; or we can do what many are doing today and committing suicide. Again none of which really solves the problem.

Even with those few examples we can already see, I am sure, some connection with how we deal with the lack of peace that we have in our relationship with God. There too, we have many who have just straight out committed spiritual suicide. They have severed all connection with God and his Church and told themselves that he doesn’t exist and when they die, well that’s it. Many others however simply try to blot out their guilty conscience and lack of peace by busying themselves with all kinds of things so that they can avoid having to think about it.

Another real problem today is that we try to tell ourselves or to gather around that which our itching ears wants to hear: such as; God’s Law and doctrine is no longer applicable to us in the Church; or that we are made in the image of God therefore we are OK; that he will accept us as long as we acknowledge that there is a god; or, we change and compromise God Word in order to accommodate our thinking and action; or we place great emphasis on us doing this, that, or the other in order for us to be right with God. We place great emphasis on feeling good and experiences of religious highs, or of a need to be more spiritual, as a means of overcoming our lack of peace within.

Here again we have to say that none of this solves the problem. The issue is still there. Unless this lack of peace is dealt with appropriately we are in trouble eternally, even if we can somehow suppress it here for a while.

Yet despite this great effort to find and gain this peace we find in this reading that it can be had very easily: Very easily indeed! It is right there for us, without us having to lift a finger or come up with the right thinking or feelings. It is there for us already before we are even aware that have a problem. And it is a peace that enables us to even rejoice in our sufferings, no matter how bad they might be.

So where is it that we can find and have this real peace today?

Paul reminded here that; at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

This wonderful message, we were reminded of as we began our Service in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. For there we were reminded that God himself was with us, because we were connected to him in baptism and thereby are enabled to stand in his presence without being destroyed. There in baptism we were connected to Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection, and so are washed clean from all of that which is in us which breaks that peace which God would have for us. There we were given God’s Holy Spirit so that we can know and believe all that God has done for us through Jesus Christ and his death on the cross.

As we heard his word of absolution after we had confessed our sinfulness, we were again reminded that he forgives us for Jesus’ sake for all that we have done which has broken that peace which God has in mind for us. As I said, ‘Almighty God, our heavenly Father, has had mercy on us and has given his only Son to die for us, and for his sake forgives us all our sins;’ there God himself completely absolves you from all your guilt.

Then as we heard his Word which is read and preached week by week, we have heard again and again the Good News of God and his love for us, despite our sinfulness. That love which meant that when we fell into sin, he not only promised that he would send a saviour, but which actually came to fulfilment in Jesus Christ. There in that Word we are pointed to the centrality of Jesus death on the cross for the forgiveness of sins so that this peace might be ours, even now as we live out our lives here on this earth: even now as we struggle to live and be the people he wants us to be: even now as we suffer as we live in a sinful, fallen world.

As well, every Sunday that we come forward and receive his very body and blood, with the bread and wine of Holy Communion, we again hear that we are forgiven and assured of his presence in our lives. There we are assured that together with this forgiveness we also are saved and have eternal life with our God in heaven. So again he reminds us of the peace that has been made possible for us through Jesus’ death on the cross.

On top of that, at the end of each service we are reminded that his blessing, peace and favour goes with as go out into our daily lives to live and be the people he wants us to be. Yes God himself has declared that he himself has made peace with us, and that nothing now stands in our way from having a full and peaceful life with our God here and in eternity.

Because he knows that we struggle with having this peace in our lives every day; that is why he reminds us again and again throughout our Sunday Service, week after week of the forgiveness that he extends to us. Because we still daily sin and fall short of what we know that God expects of us, the devil and our sinful self leads us to doubts that this peace is there and is possible, so God seeks to remind us over and over again of what he has done for us through Jesus Christ and his death on the cross.

All, [that is now those who simply trust in this promise and gift that has been extended to us], are, as Paul says here, justified; that is, declared to be fully and freely right and not guilty before Almighty God himself. We are justified by this faith; this trust. As we trust in what he has said and done for us through Jesus Christ and his death on the cross we can now go forward again knowing that we have this peace with God.

We don’t have to work for it; we don’t have to live in uncertainty as to if it is there for us; we don’t have to try and pretend that we have it, or seek to convince ourselves by our experiences and feelings that it is there. It is simply already there for us through our Lord Jesus Christ; freely extended to each and every one of us.

So as you go from here today, be at peace because you have this peace given to you by our Lord himself. To him be all glory and honour now and always. AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

Friday, March 18, 2011

Genesis 12:1-4. ‘Trust me,’ says God!! 20/3/11

(1) The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. {2} "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. {3} I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." {4} So Abram left, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran.

“Trust me!” is a comment we hear a lot as we go about life. “Trust me!” For most of us I am fairly sure would say, we’ve just about had enough of ‘trust me Dave’s’ as we go along, that we no longer believe the concept. When we go to buy our used car, we are very wary of the salesman, because time after time we have been taken down; told things that were not quite true. Many a young person is wary about going into marriage with the ‘one they love and who loves them’ because experience and society has told them that even their loved one cannot be fully trusted. Our insurance policy all sound so good, until you go to make a claim. And we could go on with many other examples as well.

So, ‘Trust me’ is something that we are not so sure about. A person’s word is in, enough cases, not worth the paper it is written on, that we go forward either sceptical or with a great amount of naivety. This surely has placed a great burden on each of us and our relationship with others, and for us as a society. Can there not be something in which we can trust with confidence and certainty? Sadly we have to say that as long as we live in this sinful world, we will suffer in this area over and over again.

However, does that mean that we have to go forward in life full of negativity and scepticism? Surely, we have to be able to trust in something and be able to be trusting and positive in life or we are doomed. Yes, definitely! Here also we need to say sadly though that the old saying; If you don’t believe in something, you will fall for anything, is so often true. What we trust in; where we look to for hope and security; is important, or else we will fall for anything and everything that goes. That too is disastrous.

That is where our reading today points us to the ‘who’ and what that we can trust, and what the implications are of this for us.

The ‘who’ that we can trust in life is, of course, none other than the Lord himself: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He alone is the one who is truly trustworthy. After all he is the one who always was and always will be God. He is the God who created all things. He is also the one who sustains and directs it all for his good purpose. And he is the One who has also chosen to be with and guide us human beings through this life and to be in a loving relationship with us.

Here however we are confronted with the question that if he is such a great, loving and trustworthy God, how come all the evil, tragedies, hurts and death. How can we trust this Lord with all of this around us? Surely he too is untrustworthy!

It is here in these few verses we catch a glimpse of how and why this Lord can be trusted. We can also begin to see that in this trust great blessing comes to be known; in the midst of the harshness that sin has wrought on life in this world for us. We see again that the Lord gives his word to humanity when we are most vulnerable; and in that word was and is life and blessing.

Here we have Abram and Sarai, whom the Lord later changed their names to Abraham and Sarah, already into the later years of their lives. They were childless and beyond the years where this was any longer possible. So they had no means of being cared for as they moved into their twilight years; there was no social security network in those days. Life was beginning to look rather grim for them, when the Lord comes along and tells Abram that he should get up and leave his home, his country, his relatives and head off to an unknown land. Then on top of that the Lord would give him descendants and make him into a great nation. Then to go even further he says all the peoples of the earth will be blessed through him.

Now if ever there was a sales pitch, that one takes the cakes. Dream on! This is pie in the sky stuff. Start a family at 75; In a far away country, where you are fair game for every murderer and rip-off merchant; and then to become a great nation. Come on, that is just so far-fetched, that it is impossible. Yet Abram left, as the Lord had told him to. Abraham believed God and went forward. Come in spinner! Here’s another sucker we would think.

Yet, we know from history that Abraham did go on to have children. His descendants did become a great nation; and from that nation Jesus came, and was shown to become the saviour of all humanity. The Lord and his Word prevailed. He can be trusted, despite the impossibility of it humanly speaking.


So we find here; but also in many other places in Scripture, the Lord and his Word can be trusted. The central message throughout and the focal point of all of these promises is of course Jesus Christ and his death on the cross. There we have the assurance that God loves us so much that he sent his Son to die so that we might be forgiven and assured of salvation and eternal life with God in heaven, despite what we might experience in this life. Then three days later he rose again, just as he said he would, so that we can be absolutely sure that he is true to his word.

Along with that each one of us are connected to this death and resurrection of Jesus at our baptism, and so we are assured that we personally are forgiven and brought into God’s family. Through his Word he continues to remind us of our inability to gain God’s approval by what we do and how good we are; and then of all that he has done for us through Jesus Christ. Then through Holy Communion he comes to us again and gives us his very body and blood which he shed on the cross, so that we can be absolutely sure that he forgives us and has eternal life for us; and of his presence with us as we go on in this life.

Just as he has been true to his word to Abram and many others throughout history, so also can he be trusted here when it comes to this most essential area in our lives. This promise and assurance overshadows ever other thought, feeling, desire or experience that we might have, no matter how good or bad. Even though our life might look impossible for us; even though an earthquake or tsunami, or floods and cyclones, destroy us; even though we might be suffering big time, we have that assurance of the Lord’s love and acceptance of us. In fact now we know that somehow the Lord is using those experiences for good, in order to bring and keep us and others connected to Jesus Christ and his death and resurrection.

This brings us to the other great truth that comes to us through this text that we have before us. So Abram left, as the LORD had told him. Abraham, despite what seemed to be an impossibility, believed that the Lord and his word could be trusted. He set off trusting that the Lord would do what he said he would. It took another 25 years before Isaac was born; many more before Israel become a great nation; and approximately 2,000 years before the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But it did happen, just as the Lord had said; Abraham believed that it would be because the Lord had said so.

Now look at what Paul said this morning in our reading from Romans. What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about--but not before God. What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." (Rom 4:1-3)

So here we find that Abraham is held up as the great example of what God seeks from us as we go forward in life. In light of who he is and what he has said and done through Jesus Christ and his death and resurrection, all we are called on to do is trust. Trust the he is the Lord, the Almighty God of all history; that he loves, forgives and accepts us as his very own; and that he now has a better way for us to live and act, not only in heaven, but also here and now.

Trust, as our Gospel reading tells us this morning, that, Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:14-17)

Now we have someone and something that we can truly and fully trust in as we go forward in life. It is this Lord and his Word which enables us to have a real sense of hope and trust in a world full of that which is untrustworthy. Now we can be realistic about what we see and experience around us, without being burdened with negativity and hopelessness. For now we have one in whom we can fully trust, and in whom we are assured will see to it that life will end up right for us, even though it may look impossible. Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. We too can trust the Lord and know that because of him we are now in a right relationship with him.

So to him again be all glory and honour now and always. AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

Friday, March 11, 2011

Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7. Swallowing the lie!! 13/3/11

(15) The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; {17} but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."
(1) Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" {2} The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, {3} but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'" {4} "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. {5} "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." {6} When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. {7} Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

There was once a man called Freddy. He was a fun loving and easy going sort of bloke, who enjoyed the great Australian outdoors. He was a family man, who together with his family would often go away for camping and fishing trips. Freddy also enjoyed having his friends around for a barby and a few beers.

Just after his 40th birthday, a freckle appeared on Freddy’s face. When Freddy’s wife noticed it she suggested that he should get it looked at. But Freddy simply denied that it was there: ‘It’s just a spot I’ve had since I was a kid. She’ll be right.’ The freckle began to grow and then turned into a nasty kind of mole. Freddy’s friends now even noticed it and in their concern for him, tried to get him to go and see the doctor. But Freddy didn’t want to admit that there was anything wrong. So he would say: ‘Ah it doesn’t matter. She’ll be right. It is nothing. Don’t worry.’ The mole turned into a melanoma that covered Freddy’s whole face, but still Freddy said he didn’t have a problem. Until of course, it killed him.

Freddy swallowed a lie. He fooled himself into thinking and believing that nothing was wrong. That lie cost him his life.

Swallowing the lie. It is easy to do – isn’t it? In fact we do it again and again throughout our lives. We so easily fall prey to that which we would like to hear, and that which is portrayed as being nice and good, even though it can be so deceptive and so deadly.

We only need to think of Adam and Eve in the garden. For Eve the lie was so easy to swallow; ‘Don’t you want to be like God, knowing good and evil?’ ‘Yes of course we do.’ What could be better for us than to be like God Almighty himself: He is our hero. He is our God? What better could we have than that? Little did they stop to think that they already knew all that was good; so all that they had to gain was knowing evil. But what the heck: being like God, what a great goal in life; what an achievement.

They swallowed the lie; even though it went against everything that God had told them. This God was the one who had provided everything for them; everything that was good and perfect. They were made in the image of God and enjoyed the very best relationship with God himself and each other. There was only one condition; one little command that God had placed before them. But with everything good possible, there was no need to venture into that one area. But they swallowed the lie that somehow this would make things even better for them.

They swallowed the lie; and that lie cost them their life. God said it would; and it did. From there on their lives and ours have never been the same. With our disobedience, comes the certainty of death. With this disobedience comes troubles and hardships, as we are taken from having everything good and perfect for us along life’s way. The swallowing of the lie; brings on us now much that is less than the ideal; and there is nothing that we can do to change it, no matter how many further lies we choose to swallow.

Down through history the lie, in many different shapes and forms has come. ‘By doing this, this and this you can find the God within you.’ ‘You are number One, so go out and enjoy your life.’ ‘You have the right to do what you want with your life; there is no such thing as right and wrong.’ ‘If you pray right and do these ten steps right, then you will be more like God and will be more blessed.’ ‘If you be positive and when we find the right pills, you will be able to live on for years and years, and you will not die.’ ‘You can be a Christian and not go to church.’ And the list could go on and on and on. These lies have come thick and fast: And down through history humanity has swallowed the lies, and have run into trouble and have died.

Now for us today as we travel down our Lenten path, we are called on to recognise that we too, far too often, also swallow the lies, that come in their many different ways and forms. Truth and lies get mixed together and portrayed as being good for us, even, and especially, within the church, and we too so easily get caught out because it sounds so good to our sinful human nature.

We swallow the lie, and too often think nothing of it. Then when we suffer as a consequence, we blame God and everyone else for our troubles. Even there we swallow the lie, that somehow we are not to blame. ‘God made evil, so somehow I am excused.’ ‘When the Bible said, you shall not commit adultery; homosexuality is evil; women should not be pastor’s, etc; that was all written for people of a different culture and time; and no longer applies to us.’ ‘I’m a Christian and so it doesn’t matter; I’m forgiven for it.’ And again the list goes on and on. So we swallow even more lies.

For us here today, probably the greatest of all, is the lie that all of this is no big deal. After all we believe in Jesus, we come to church, and we try to do the right thing. So she’ll be right. We swallow the lie. We continue on in life without any real sense of remorse and repentance. We somehow think that we have it under control and so we go on our merry way.

We need to remember again and again that because we swallow the lie, we will surely die; and our only source of help and hope is Jesus Christ and his death on the cross. There alone is the truth that we need in the face of these lies. So we fall our knees in recognition that within us there is no hope and no future, and are compelled to cry out, ‘God be merciful to me a sinner.’ We can do so because we know that in Jesus and his death on the cross, we have forgiveness of our sin and the assurance of salvation and life. So we turn our face to him and cling to that promise and assurance that he gives.

We can look to him and trust him because when Jesus was tempted in every way just as we are; he did not swallow the lie. In the face of Satan’s sneaky deceptions, he simply stuck to the truth of God’s word, and so did not fall into temptation and the death that follows. However, we know that he then went on from this and took our sin; our failure on himself, and allowed God to punish him with death. He suffered our fate for our swallowing the lie, so that the power of our death might be destroyed, and that we might have the assurance of salvation and life.

He then also gave us baptism so that we can be assured again and again, that we are forgiven and connected to Christ and his death and resurrection. So daily we can acknowledge our weakness and failure and turn each day to our Lord for his help to lead the new life and to stand up against the lies that constantly come our way. We can now hold to his Word and know that there we have that which we need to know, so that we do not fall into temptation. But then when we do, as we regularly do, he calls us back into his presence where we can confess our sin and shame and know that he does forgive us, and the he will continue to guide, direct and help us along life’s way. Through Holy Communion he gives us Jesus’ very body and blood so that we can be comforted and assured that our sins are forgiven and that our Lord does goes with us. Thereby Satan’s lie that we are guilty and will not be forgiven, are squashed; and we can go forward with confidence and hope as we are connected to Jesus Christ.

So this Lenten season we fall on our knees in sorrow and shame as we continue to swallow the lies that come our way. As we continue to listen to the lies that focus on us and what we like and think is nice and good, we surely hang our heads, recognising that we just cannot do it on our own. We surely fall short of the glory of God and see that we deserve nothing but death.

But then as Christ and his death on the cross looms high before us, we turn to him, recognising that in him alone we have forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. We cling to him and his promises and so go forward with hope and confidence, seeking no more to swallow the lie.

This Lenten season may we all be turned away from any hope in ourselves, and seek to cling to Christ and his death as our one sure hope. Then may all honour and glory go to him who is Lord Almighty indeed, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

Wednesday, March 09, 2011

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21. Ash Wednesday!! 9/3/11

1 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honoured by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
16 “When you fast, do not look sombre as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Here today we begin another Lenten season; another time when God specifically wants us to look at where we really are in our spiritual lives. He wants us to recognise that we are a long way from being the people that we should be; and so by the end of the Lenten season we are again drawn to the depth and great importance of Jesus’ death on the cross for the forgiveness of our sin; Then following on from that finding the power and impetus to have a whole new and greater life ahead for each one of us. It doesn’t matter who we are and how long we have been in the church; every one of us is called to use this time to allow God to draw us back into a deeper relationship with himself.

Here, right at the beginning he gets us to look at a very fundamental issue that lies at the heart of our lives: where is the focus??? What is the reason why we are doing what we are doing; whatever that might be? Even in the spiritual dimension of our lives. For so often there it is that we unearth a very sinister and diabolical problem that sets us on a disastrous path. What makes it even more dangerous is the fact that everyone is doing it. In fact it is what is promoted by our world out there as being ‘the way to go’; even though it is at odds with what God says is good; both for our relationship with him and even for a proper relationship with our fellow human-beings.

Are we doing what we are doing simply to have the praises of the people around us and so that we can look good and have our egos boosted? Are we wanting to be rewarded here and now for our goodness. Or is God Almighty the centre and focus of our lives and he and what he thinks and says as all important? Here remember that this text quite clearly states that God knows what is going on in our hearts and minds. We may be able to fool the people around us, but we cannot fool God. Here also remember that it is ultimately what he thinks that counts and not what we would like him to think.

Now here Jesus is speaking primarily to us as Christians; those who would like to think we are God’s people and who are focussing on living the Christian life. Here he is telling us what he has in mind for us as go about our lives. In this he his pointing out this inherent danger that we are so susceptible to.

He begins by saying; “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. Now our first reaction is; that aren’t we supposed to live a good life so that others can see that we are Christians and so want to be one also. Aren’t we supposed to be loving and caring so that others might be drawn to join our churches. What is Jesus on about then?

Surely, Jesus is making the point that if we are only doing these things in front of others to be seen by them, there is a real possibility that our motivation can be all wrong. It is so easy to, or at least to be seen to be, putting the focus on me and what I am doing and how good I am. Remember this is a natural tendency for us a sinful human beings. If we are simply wanting others and God to see how good we are, there is a real problem there for us. If we look around us and see what much of our world thinks Christianity is all about; it is all about being good people. Remember that is all too often what we are telling the world as we do these acts of righteousness.

Along with that there is this idea that we want to be rewarded here and now for what we do. We want the praises of others around us, as well as to have God’s blessings of health, wealth and happiness, because we are good people. We want to have a build-up of treasures so that we can live in comfort and ease. And we think that this is what is important in life – even the Christian life.

So we very quickly see that our lives are stuck on ourselves and what we think is good and important. Even when it comes to the ‘christian life’ we put ourselves and what we think and do as of great importance. When we do well we believe the rewards should be there for us.

Whereas, Christianity is all about Jesus Christ. It is about God and who he is and what he has to say to us. The righteous acts that we do are really the acts that he wants done and are so that others can see that he is the one who is all important. The true rewards of life are connected to Jesus and to eternal life, rather than the things of this world.

So Jesus wants to help us see that our focus needs to be on him rather than on ourselves and the world around. Only then will we have the assurances that we want and need; as well the security, peace and hope that we long for. He wants us to see that we on our own cannot even come close to living and being the people that he created and expects us to be. So he wants us to turn to him and seek his forgiveness and help, rather than to strive to do it all by and for ourselves.

He wants us to see our weaknesses and failures so that we yearn for him and the forgiveness that he won for us through his death on the cross. For it is there alone that we can have the sure hope that we are accepted and loved by God, even before we have attempted any righteous deeds. Even when we have tried and failed or done less than we should or could have, he wants us to know that he has already rewarded us with all the good that we could ever expect and far more. He has done it all for us so that we don’t have to strive to be acceptable, but we can do these things because they are good things to do and they are what God himself would have be done. Because he loves us so much that he was prepared to die for us, we now as a loving response simply do these things. Not for praises, acceptance and rewards, but because he is so good and great.

Then with our focus on him and we he has done for us and what he has to say to us, we will give to the needy as a response to him rather than for praise to come to us. Our prayers will be prayers to him rather than so that others can see how good we are. Our fasting and things that we do to keep us on the right track will be so that we are drawn closer to God, instead of so that others will see.

Yes, others will see these things being done; but they will see in them a response to and an importance of Jesus Christ, rather than a focus on ourselves. They will see that Jesus is our treasure, rather than those other things that are here today and gone tomorrow.

So may this Lenten season be a time where God helps us to turn away from a focus on our selfish, egotistical wants and desires, to a total reliance on him and what he has to give. In that he will give us a peace, joy and hope, that surpasses all human understanding. And even more importantly, all glory and honour will go to him whom it rightfully belongs, our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. After all he is God Almighty together with The Father and the Holy Spirit. They alone deserve all the praise and glory, now and always. AMEN

Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

Friday, March 04, 2011

Matthew 17:1-9. A glimpse of the greatness of Jesus 6/3/11

1 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. 4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

Last week as we focused our attention on what God has to say to us as we are surrounded by tragedies and disasters, one after another, we were reminded that Jesus came right down into the midst of our world and it’s disasters; and indeed suffered the greatest disaster of all in his death on the cross. Because of the sin of humanity we are forced now to live in the face of disaster and death. So we were very much focussed on the rough and tough of life and a Jesus who came and suffered right in the midst of it all, for us.

Well this week we are given a glimpse of who this Jesus really is, so as to help us cope not just with that message, but also the reality of his death and resurrection, and to help us come to grips with the importance of it all. As well, as to help us as Christian to live out our lives in the midst of uncertainty and the seeming tragedy of life.

Here we are given an account of Jesus taking Peter, James and John up onto a mountain, and there being transfigured before their very eyes; Glowing in perfect radiance. And their having Moses and Elijah appear in their midst – two of the great prophets who had long, long since passed from this earth. And we have God the Father speaking to them; telling them who this Jesus really was – God’s very own Son, and that they should listen to him. Pretty amazing stuff! Unbelievable in fact! Beyond the realms of human possibility! Is it any wonder that Jesus tells them not tell anyone until after his death and resurrection.

So why do we have this transfiguration account, and what is it’s purpose for us today? Nobody out there who are non-Christians would believe this story if we were to tell them. No, here Jesus takes his closest friends up onto a mountain to experience this event, in order to strengthen and encourage them. To strengthen and encourage them for the tough road ahead! You see, just before this, Jesus had told his disciples that now it was time for him head down the road to Jerusalem where he would suffer and die, and rise again three days later.

But Peter and the other disciples had just grasped the idea that Jesus was the Messiah; the One who was going to come and rescue his people and set up a new and glorious kingdom. How could he then be going to die! A king doesn’t suffer and die! He comes to town with power and might. He conquers and rules victorious. He is a winner. So to go to Jerusalem – the centre of action – there to die, that is a sign of a poor, weak human being and a failure. How could he then be the Messiah? It is ridiculous! Poor Peter and the others; it all just doesn’t make much sense.

It is then that Jesus takes his close friends up onto this mountain and all of this that we just read takes place. Yes, there they were reminded that Jesus is more than a mere human being; more than a great prophet. He glowed with the perfection of the Almighty himself. Here then was someone who truly is much closer to God. In fact he obviously is from God himself. So obviously this talk of suffering and death has something to do with the Almighty – not a sign of weakness. Somehow there is something greater involved here that helps us to see that God not only cares about us in the rough and tumble of life, but that he came right into the midst of it and suffers and dies in it for good..

Up there on the mountain they are drawn to see that life is more than simply our three score and ten years here on earth, and maybe a few more by grace of God, – but then that is it. Here Moses and Elijah appears – those guys who lived hundreds of years before. They are really there – so there is much more to life. Death is not the end of things. There is another whole dimension to life, and it is there connected to Jesus. So despite the talk of suffering, death and resurrection, it all somehow connects to things much greater than what we can see and understand. It all has greater and more far-reaching implications.

But then God himself arrives on the scene, in a cloud to shield his glory so that it does not harm them, and He says to them; “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” So here in Jesus it is confirmed that we have God himself. His very own Son who is loved and; in whom God is well pleased. So listen to him! Listen to him, not just when he performs his miracles and the good things, but particularly when he speaks of suffering, death and the like. His ways are God’s ways – even when it may seem foolish to us. Listen to him – because there we will know the things that are important to God.

As a result Peter could come down off the mountain and face the road to Jerusalem, even though he would still struggle to come to grips with it all. Here in Jesus he knew that there was God himself. Here in what Jesus was going through there was something vitally important happening. So now he could face the rough uncertainty of life and know that somehow it was going to work. Somehow Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection was going to turn life upside down - because God himself is here at work.

And we here, too, can and are given that same assurance as we are reminded of Christ and his death on the cross and also of our living in the midst of world of ever unfolding disasters. And as we, in these next weeks are brought face to face with the reality of sin: Our sin and of our hopeless situation before God on own merits, we are given the same assurance that, here in Jesus God is at work making things right for us; That, through the rough and tumble – the hurts and tragedy of life - the Almighty is working things for good. So we are helped to face the road through life to our own death knowing that in connection with Jesus all will be made right.

And this assurance is not just given as we hear of Jesus transfiguration on that mountain. In fact, every Sunday, we are taken up onto a mountain, and Jesus is revealed to us as God’s very own Son. Every Sunday as we gather together in worship we see the glorious Jesus come to us in the midst of the ordinary things of life, reassuring us over and over again, of his love for us and of the forgiveness of sins and eternal life that he extends to us through the hearing of the Word read, preached and sung. Through the bread and wine of the Lord’s Supper we have Jesus revealed as the holy one of God – who came in order to die on the cross so that forgiveness could be ours, and of his presence with us as we live out our lives in the midst of the struggles and joys of life in this world. We are given that assurance every Sunday that through his death and resurrection we have the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. So we can be confident that it will all work out for us as go down the road of life.

Yes, here again our Lord comes to us to strengthen and encourage us; particularly as we are about to face another Lenten season and are confronted with a message of repentance for forgiveness of sins and of the importance of Jesus and his death and resurrection. All this he reveals so that we too are able to deny selves, take up our crosses and follow our Lord Jesus Christ, and to receive all the wonderful blessings he has in mind for us.

So may the peace of God, revealed and made possible through our Lord Jesus Christ, and which is beyond our understanding, keep your hearts, minds and lives focussed on the Lord Jesus Christ. AMEN




Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish