January, from ianua, Latin for door, since January is the door to the year, and from
Janus, Roman god of beginnings and
transitions, depicted with two faces, looking to the future and past. January
is a time to reflect and treasure all things in your heart.
January’s first Gospel offers an
opportunity to look to the past and future, an opportunity to treasure things in
our hearts and a reminder to seize the moment. Hence, we look at the past –
Luke and our Lutheran tradition, the future – our legacy, and the present – our
lives today.
First, Luke and our Lutheran tradition.
Luke included the only boyhood story of Jesus to complete his infancy narrative.
This was the second of three trips Jesus made to Jerusalem’s Temple.
In the first trip, Mary and Joseph took
Jesus to fulfill the Law. Two Old Testament saints, Simeon and Anna, greeted
them. Simeon caused confusion and anxiety with his somber words to Mary, “This
child is why many people in Israel will be condemned and others will be saved.
He will be a sign that will expose the thoughts of those who reject him. And a
sword will pierce your heart.”[1]
The other feature of that first story is
that wisdom came from the parents observing the Law.
In the second story we heard today,
Jesus again accompanied his family to Jerusalem’s Temple. This time Jesus
himself caused confusion and anxiety when he was lost. His somber words to Mary
compounded the situation when he said, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not
know that I must be in my Father’s house?”[2] … Talk about a sword
piercing your heart!
This time wisdom came from Jesus as a
teacher of the Law. He could not remain with his family because it was
necessary to be with his Father.
The third journey to Jerusalem was with
Jesus’ new family, his disciples. Again, he went there to celebrate the
Passover. His journey began in chapter 9 where we read, “When the days drew near for him
to be taken up, he set his face towards Jerusalem.”[3]
During this journey, Jesus celebrated the Passover, was lost – that is,
dead and buried – and was found after three days. This loss also caused
confusion and anxiety.
And again, wisdom came from Jesus who
explained to his new family members who were searching for and found him that
it was necessary to be with his Father.
Our Lutheran tradition cited our Gospel
in The Formula of Concord regarding the Person of Christ. It focused on
the majesty Christ possessed, and yet dispensed with, in the state of his
humiliation. I quote, “’For this reason he grew in stature, wisdom,
and grace before God and other people.’ Therefore, he did not reveal his
majesty at all times but only when it pleased him, until he completely laid
aside the form of a servant – but not his human nature – after his
resurrection.”[4]
Centuries later, Francis Pieper wrote
that Scripture clearly taught that Christ is God and Man, knew himself to be
God and Man, and had a divine consciousness.
I quote: “The very first recorded utterance of Jesus when He was twelve years
old, clearly reveals Him as being conscious of His divine estate: ‘Why were you looking for me? Did you not
know that I must be in my Father’s house?’ And his subjection to His
earthly parents shows that He was conscious at the same time of His human
estate.”[5]
From Luke and our Lutheran tradition to
our future, our legacy. … A lesson I learned in fundraising was to show people
how to leave a legacy that outlives them. Whether you love art, education,
medicine or religion, you can leave a legacy. You need not be a Carnegie, Ford,
Mellon or Rockefeller. You can leave as much or as little as your estate can
afford.
People leave legacies based on what they
love, and people remember them for what they love. Who will remember you?
Guaranteed your parents, spouse and children will remember you. Periodically,
your siblings, grandchildren, nieces and nephews will think of you.
Realistically, no one else will remember you fondly unless you leave a legacy
of love.
Jesus’ disciples remembered him because
his love led him to the cross and grave. The loving Father raised him from the
dead and they imparted the Holy Spirit on the first Christians. That Holy
Spirit is with us today as we remember Jesus and how he loved. Our legacy will
be remembered in how we love. Whether or not our love leads to martyrdom or old
age is not our choosing, but we should pray – as I do each time I open a sermon
– that we love deeply as Jesus loved.
We love deeply as Jesus loved because we
believe what he taught. We believe in his wisdom and that led us to baptism and
the Lord’s Supper. If we love deeply as Jesus loved, people will know our
legacy. More importantly, the Trinity will know.
If you want to leave a legacy of love,
know this: Satan will do his best to foil you. Satan exploits your weakness. …
Now, let us move from our legacy to our lives today. From the future to the
present.
With sympathy to football widows, we are
in the playoffs, and January 5th is the birthday of the only NFL
coach ever to win four Superbowls. Here is how Steeler Running Back Rocky
Bleier remembered Chuck Noll, who passed away in 2014.
Bleier said, “I remember in 1974 … we went out to Kansas City to play the Chiefs. They
had the main players from their recent Super Bowl team, including Lenny Dawson.
We ran the ball well, we sacked Dawson three times, and we beat them. On Monday
we’re going over the game film, and I was expecting Chuck to congratulate us on
a great game. But not Chuck. Chuck said the reason we won this game was because
of the lack of good habits formed by one person.
Chuck
had a theory that we all eventually subscribed to: Habits are created every day
in practice, and they carry over to the game—whether it’s 102 degrees on the
field or 30, whether it’s raining or snowing, whether you have a 300-pound
defensive tackle in front of you … or no one at all. In the third and fourth
quarter, you don’t think; you react.
Chuck
said, “The reason we won this game, gentlemen, is because of the lack of habits
formed by Kansas City’s left guard. The reason why we had the sacks and forced
passes and why they had no running game was because of the habits formed by the
left guard.”
I
was dumbfounded. For a man to lead a team, the players have to accept and buy
into what he’s teaching. I thought, this man has that whole game broken down to
one player. He must know everything. I bought in.”[6]
I bought in. Are you buying in? Did you
buy in to Jesus and his teaching? I believe you did. I also believe Satan
exploits your weaknesses and poor habits.
Folks, if a coach can detect and exploit
the poor habits a player forms, think how easily Satan exploits your weaknesses
and poor habits.
Friends, you are sinners saved by
Christ, but Satan can exploit saved sinners. That is why you must form good
habits.
We are no better Christians than those
Paul addressed in Corinth when he wrote of the need to forgive so “that
we may not be exploited by Satan for we are not ignorant of his schemes.”[7] They formed good habits.
We are no better Christians than those
Peter addressed when he wrote, “Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil,
like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour. Resist him,
and be strong in your faith.”[8] They formed good habits.
We are no better Christians than those
James addressed when he wrote, “Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will
flee from you. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. … Humble
yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you.”[9] They formed good habits.
Beginning today, buy in to what Jesus
taught. Treasure in your heart what he taught and how he lived and died for
you. And as we begin 2016, form good habits.
Pray daily. Read scripture. Meditate.
Read the Small Catechism. Listen to the Lutheran Hour and Daily Devotions.
Attend Sunday School. Ask friends to point out your weaknesses so Satan cannot
exploit you easily. Leave a legacy. Love.
Your legacy will not be that you read
Scripture and prayed daily. But the grace of God leads you to the Word and to
prayer. The grace of God changes you, and because you know God loves you – and
you love God – you form good habits that make it difficult for Satan to exploit
you.
When you allow God’s grace to enter your
heart; when you treasure in your heart Jesus’ teaching; when you open yourself
to God’s Word and Sacrament, you do not win Superbowls, you win the crown of
life.
It is January, a time to reflect on the
past to see how God’s grace has been poured forth into your heart and has
washed away your sins through the blood of Christ on the Cross. It is time to
look to the future – eternal life with Christ. It is time to start living for
Christ and his Kingdom today. Beginning today, resolve to treasure deeply God’s
love in your heart, and when you do may the peace of God that surpasses all understanding
keep your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.[10] Amen. …
[1]
Luke 2:34-35 (GOD'S WORD® Translation)
[2]
Luke 2:49
[3]
Luke 9:51
[4]
Robert Kolb and Timothy J. Wengert, The Book of Concord: The Confessions of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church. Minneapolis: Fortress Press (2000), p. 511.
[5]
Francis Pieper, Christian Dogmatics. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House
(1951), pp. 89f.
[6]
Rocky Bleier as told to Robert Klemko. “The Chuck Noll I Remember,” Sports
Illustrated, June 23, 2014. pp. 50-51. http://mmqb.si.com/2014/06/16/chuck-noll-remembered-rocky-bleier-pittsburgh-steelers/#
[7] 2
Corinthians 2:11 NET
[8] 1
Peter 5:8-9 NET
[9]
James 4:7-8, 10 NET
[10]
Philippians 4:7
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