"I Am; You ____!" Sermon Text - John 8:48-59 Sun. & Wed., May 30 & June 2, 2010 Holy Trinity Sunday - Second Sun. a. Pentecost, Year C Old Testament Lesson - Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31 Epistle Lesson - Acts 2:14a, 22-36 Gospel Lesson - John 8:48-59 Zion Lutheran Church, Beecher, IL
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. [Amen.] Dear friends in Christ Jesus, "Whaaaaat? That can't be true!" By February of 1943 the seemingly impossible had occurred The powerful German Wehrmacht had been soundly defeated at the horrid Battle of Stalingrad! When Hitler's troops invaded the Soviet Union in June of 1941, the only question on anyone's minds was not "Would but When would the Soviet Army surrender?" What had seemed to be inevitable the German defeat of the Soviet Union was now not only unrealized but for most historians the Soviet victory at that brutal winter battle actually signaled the turning point of World War II that was fought in Europe. From that point more or less Hitler's legions were on the defensive until their final defeat a little over 2 years later. No doubt, when the newspaper headlines announced the defeat of the over 1 million thoroughly trained, highly motivated German troops at Stalingrad most people said just what I said when this sermon began: "Whaaaaat? That can't be true!" But "true" it was. What no one thought possible... was, indeed, a reality! In today's Gospel reading, Jesus' adversaries are at it again. They, by now, are publicly opposing Him even saying that He's possessed by a demon. And, as you heard, at the end of this encounter, Jesus really trips their trigger Jesus told the Jews: "anyone who keeps My word will never taste death." That enraged the Jews. But Jesus didn't stop. He was on a roll. He was speaking the truth and the Jews needed to hear it at this moment. He further told them: "Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see My day. He saw it and was glad!" Incredulous the Jews got the point that Jesus was making but they refused to believe it. In a sense they repeated the now familiar words: "Whaaaat? That can't be true!" Jesus had inferred that Abraham who'd lived thousands of years before any of them Abraham himself, had been looking forward to Jesus' coming among God's people. In disbelief, the Jews taunted Jesus: "You're not yet 50 years old and have You seen Abraham?" But Jesus continued: "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am!" Those words especially the last two really, really pushed their button. For with those words "I Am " Jesus likened Himself to the great "I Am" who Moses encountered on the mountain. "I Am" was the name that God told Moses to use when he would tell Pharaoh Who was demanding that he release the Israelites to return to their homeland. "I Am" was a clear, unmistakable expression that referred to the almighty God and every Jew knew it! And so, with those words, Jesus told the Jews the truth they were in the presence of the eternal, almighty God, Himself! But rather than cowering in their anger, they picked up stones intending to kill Jesus on the spot. But suddenly in still another miracle Jesus vanished. We're told that He simply "went out of the temple." Even with evidence all around them, the Jews were still saying: "That can't be true!" Today, we, along with most of Christendom, are observing Holy Trinity Sunday. And on this day, we're considering the doctrine that the only true God reveals Himself in a concept that although it's impossible to completely understand that He reveals Himself as three Persons in one Godhead - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And, just as it was in Jesus' encounter with the Jews so it is today. The truth of God Who He is and how He works among His people the truth of God strikes disbelief among so many in our world. But yet the truth is the truth whether it's believed or not! The Jews wanted the Messiah to appear as a warrior-king not as someone who said that His kingdom wasn't even of this world. It was because of all this, that they rejected Jesus and even hated Him. But Jesus is the second Person of the Holy Trinity. He came to earth in bodily form taking on human flesh in the womb of Mary. In other words, Jesus is love incarnate love in the flesh. It's through Jesus that we see the love of God the Father for us in action Jesus having entered our world specifically to redeem us from our sins dying and rising three days later. And it's the Holy Spirit who leads us into all truth so that we might know God correctly. But with all that said the important thing is to not necessarily understand how God can be all three Persons of the Godhead at once no the important thing is for us to meet Him as He reveals Himself to us as our Father, our Savior, and our Helper who leads us down the right path helping us in every need. In faith we simply take Him at His word believing that what He says about Himself is the truth whether we fully comprehend it or not. Oh yeah at times we're like the Jews angry at Jesus for not being our personal Vending Machine of favors. At times we're like the Jews not really believing that the great "I Am" still comes among us calling us to lead our lives according to His word and not according to our whims, sinful desires, and evil lusts. Where that is so repent, and with your God-given faith believe that Your Triune God has not only created you but He has also redeemed you by the blood of the Son on the cross and then leads you to believe the seemingly impossible; that is that through the great "I Am " you are saved you are forgiven! This sermon is really rather simple. As I was completing it, I thought to myself that there really weren't any profound comments to be heard especially when you consider that the complex doctrine of the Holy Trinity is being discussed. But yet maybe that's the way that it ought to be for ultimately we take on faith that what's revealed to us in Scripture is the truth and that it's all written so that we "will never see death." We take it on faith that the great "I Am " declares "You are " He says: "Because I continue to love you, you are saved. You are My precious possession forever!" And yes some will say: "Whaaaaat? That can't be true!" But "true" it is. It is indeed, a reality! In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. [Amen.] May the peace of God, which passes all human understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting. [Amen.] . ____________________________________________________________ TODAY: iPads for $23.74? 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