Ephesians 5:8-14.                             Live as children of light.                                                 30/3/14

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.  Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.  For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.  But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."

Here in our reading this morning we are challenged to think through another important issue with regard to our Christian life. And it is no coincidence that we are called to look at this in the midst of Lent, as we all fall far short of what our Lord expects of us in this regard. Now we all, as Christians, know that we are saved by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and that Jesus has done everything necessary for our salvation. That through our baptism we are washed clean and made children of God, and all we need to do is to believe in Jesus and then we will be OK. And I could go on. And all that is vitally important for us, but here we are also reminded of another very important issue for us to think about in this regard.

Since we are children of God, then surely there is a need for us to live as such. To me it seems very strange indeed, to think in terms of being a Christian, and yet not attempting to live as one; or we will just do so when and where it pleases us. This is a big issue for many people today. How often don’t we hear; “I can be a Christian and not go to church, or I only need to do so when I feel that I need to.” “I believe in God or Jesus and that is all that matters.” “It doesn’t matter if I sin, for I am forgiven anyway, so I can live as I please.” And again I could go on. Now these are all views that are right up to a point, but they are seriously flawed.

Let me use a story to illustrate what I mean. There were some orphan children last century living in London; in absolute poverty – living on the streets, scrounging for food out of rubbish bins to stay alive, and getting thinner and thinner by the day. They started getting ill and it really looked as if life was over for them. Then out of the blue a couple came along and picked them up; fed them, clothed them, and gave them shelter. Then they went to great lengths in order to adopt them as their very own. They did everything they could possibly do to make those children happy and give them what they needed. They gave them a good home in every way; they did not mistreat them or do anything to harm them, and they were able to live with want for nothing.

But those children after a while walked out of that house and went back to the streets where they had been living. They went back to scrounging in bins and sleeping under newspaper. Yes, they told everyone that they belonged to this rich family, but they made no attempt to live in and with that family and the benefits that were available to them. They finished up dying of malnutrition and cold.

Why? I don’t know. There was no sensible or sane reason why they should have.

But then again, is that all that surprising. There are many who are doing exactly the same thing with God. On the one hand, they say they believe in God; they were baptized into his family; and yet they do not listen to him or seek to live as he requires of them. They turn their backs on being in a relationship with him, and in most ways they pretend that he doesn’t exist. In other words, they want the rights and privileges that go with being people of God – they want to go to heaven, but they don’t want God or what he has to say to us. In so doing they are actually denying that they are children of God. They are saying by their actions that they have no real interest or trust in Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. They are walking away from God and his family and will end up dying in hell.

Now, we know that Jesus died on cross for all people; that all have access to God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. And so, it is possible for all to be children of light. We are reminded here that at one time we all were wandering around in darkness; caught up in the hopelessness of this worlds living, with nothing really to look forward to, except more doom and gloom. Yes, sure, they are running around with all sorts of philosophies, ideas and hopes, but they are all futile. They are like living in the darkest night that goes on and on, and are trying to pretend that there is a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.

But through the Lord Jesus Christ we are brought into the light. We are assured of the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. We are given something sure to hope in and look forward to, and are able to see how life is to be lived. Yet so many, including ourselves to some degree, turn our backs on all of this and prefer to go on living in the dark. Often we don’t really want to know God. We don’t want to follow his way of living, but want to place store on what we do to make ourselves acceptable and good people. We want to live for ourselves and by our own rules.

There are so many who say they believe, yet their lives are not changed in any way and there is little or no sorrow about it. We seem to think that it doesn’t matter if we still live the old way of life, and in doing so we are denying what we claim to believe. Faith is allowing Jesus to not just save us, but also to fill us and change us; to lead us to live lives that are good for us, and for his kingdom. And if we are not prepared for that then there is a serious questions with regard to our trust in God – our faith. It is like those children turning their backs on all that they had been given and walking back into poverty and death.

Our text says; ‘Now you are light in the Lord,’ ‘Live as children of light’. So if we are light and are surrounded by the Light; this being the Light Jesus Christ, then we are able to live as God would have us live. His light will radiate out from Christ to us and then be reflected out to others by how we live and act so that others will be able to see what it is to be a Christian - one in whom Christ himself lives. We are light – we are children of God. So we will seek to live as such.

And our reading reminds us that, ‘the fruit of light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth.’

Because of Jesus death on the cross, and as a result of us being connected to him through baptism we are declared good; so let our lives produce the goodness that he has filled us with: Showing forth the good that has come our way in and through the Lord Jesus. Showing that in ourselves we are not good, but that through Jesus Christ and the forgiveness and help that he gives, we are. Letting it be seen that it is his goodness that is now displayed in our lives as we love him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and as we love our neighbour as we do ourselves. Letting the good that our gracious God has given us, flow out from us to produce a bountiful harvest.

And because of Jesus death on the cross we are declared righteous. That is we are credited as living in a right relationship with our God. So let us live in that right relationship so that others can know that it is because of Jesus and his death on the cross that we are Christians; letting the Holy Spirit lead and guide us in everything we do; taking every opportunity to spend time with God in prayer, meditation, and reading, hearing and studying what he has to say to us, so that we can be filled even more, and given all the support, encouragement and confidence that we need for this life and the next.

Truth will also be a vital part of our lives as a result of Jesus’ death and resurrection. So then let us also allow that truth to be evident in our lives. Seeking to know and understand that truth. Standing up for it; and doing what is in accord with it. Recognising that there is only one truth, and that is what comes from God himself: not what we try to pretend is our own truth which we make up ourselves.

 So we will take all of what we have in the Bible as God’s Word: and as such, good and right for us and our lives today. We will subject everything we do, say and believe to this Word, understanding that it is the only source and norm for all matters of faith, doctrine and life.

In every way then, let us live as children of light - as children of God - as lost and condemned people who have been saved and restored by our Lord Jesus Christ back into his family. Because that is what we are! Let us therefore allow the fruit of this Christian life to come forth and be evident in our lives. God has filled us with all that we need to do this, so let us not turn our backs on him and what he has for us, and so walking back into spiritual poverty and death.

 Instead let us have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.  For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. Yes, let us remember – we are light in the Lord, therefore let us live as children of light. To him be all glory and honour, now and always.   AMEN.

 Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

Romans 4:1-5,13-17                        Made right with God                      16/3/14

                                                                not by works, but through faith alone

 ¹ What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? ² If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. ³ What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

⁴ Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. ⁵ However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.
¹³ It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. ¹⁴ For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless, ¹⁵ because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression.
¹⁶ Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. ¹⁷ As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.

 This morning we are confronted in our readings with one of the most    important issues facing our church today: as it has been throughout its history. Here, more than in any other area, we have many heading or being led down the wrong track. This danger is one that we can all run into very easily and that we all need to wary of.

 Now to help us to grasp the significance and importance of this message; and to understand what it really is all about I’d like to relate a little story. Fred Jones had lived all his life here in town: he was one of those good guys that you run into occasionally - in fact one of the best. He worked hard - made a success of his business, despite a difficult beginning and a few hardships along the way. He was actively involved in his community and church. He was a good family man  - had a go at various sporting activities and in almost every way could hardly be faulted; particularly when compared to many others about.

 Now when Fred started to get up in years he was asked whether he would get to be with God in heaven. Now everyone around said of course he would because he was one of the best. If anyone deserved get there, he did. And they were all envious of him in a good way.

 But Fred was not so sure; yes he had worked hard and tried to do the best he possibly could, particularly in trying to be the kind of person he thought God would want him to be. He had tried desperately to live the good moral way that the church talks about; and yes was doing a pretty good job of it. So if anyone should get there he would.

 But he was not so sure. What if? What if there was something he'd overlooked. What if he had slipped up somewhere along the way and he hasn’t considered it. What if he died at the wrong moment? What if the devil’s whisperings in his ear were right and he wasn’t good enough? What if …!

 But no, surely God would accept him for he has tried his best: he had done all he could possibly do. So he would just keep on working at it - keep doing the best he could. Surely it would all come right in the end.

 Now Fred died shortly after this and the time came for him to meet his maker. Out came the Book of Life and the list of all of his sins, and he fell over backwards. All the trust that he had put in his own goodness and his own work was gone.  Even his religious activity counted for nothing. His goodness did not measure up to God's expectations; so he was left with nothing but to face the wrath of God.

pause

If you were to die at this moment would you be entering eternity with God? Are you sure about getting to be with God in heaven? And why?

 The Scriptures tells us that "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." Throughout the Bible God has promised us that as a result of Jesus' death on the cross, eternal life is ours for the receiving.  That call to join God in eternity goes out to all, no matter who they are or what they have done.  Jesus died for everyone here in Adelaide - everyone has opportunity of certainty in heaven. All he simply says to us is - trust in Lord Jesus Christ because it is all there for us.

 But unfortunately that is not the way that many want it. They can't or don't want to take God at his word and don't believe. Our sinful pride thinks that it must depend on our knowledge of God or our accepting Jesus into our hearts, or some such thing, to be necessary if we are to be saved. These people have conditioned themselves and one another that it must still depend on our goodness, even if in some small way.  They think that as long as they live up to a certain standard:  as long as they have responded appropriately; as long as they now live as a Christian should.

 As proud human beings we like to think that I have to do my little bit.     I, I, me, my easily comes to the fore for us all. The focus has shifted from Christ and what he has done, to me and what I must do; and that is disastrous. I fail to be perfect.  I fail take God at his word. I fail to trust - therefore I am in trouble. That is what God has to say to us.

 Sadly much of what we hear and read in Christian circles panders to this ego-centrical way of thinking. Much is said of how we should live and act if we are to be truly Christian, and little attention is given to the centrality of Jesus death on the cross for the forgiveness of sins.  As a result our sinful nature and the devil’s leading we then so easily fall into the trap of thinking that it is what we do that will in the end ensure our being in heaven.

 At this point let us stop and think back to Abraham for a minute. Here this homeless guy and his wife are getting well on in years. He is on his own in a far country, without support and roots; and in that situation, at that time, a person like that was considered a nobody, and a nothing. Now add to that the fact that he didn't have children - no sons to carry on the family name; that was considered a sign that God was dissatisfied with him. So we would have to say that he didn't have a future. For him there would have been nothing to live for or look forward to.

 However God says to him to get up and go to this land far away that God would show him, and God would make of him a great nation and all people would be blessed because of him. Now we are told that Abraham believed him. Abraham believed God, despite what looked to be an impossibility: He and his wife were on their own and too old to have children. How could they even become a small nation?  It was impossible. He had nothing going for him, and yet he believed God when he said otherwise.

Abraham believed God; and in that God was happy to declare him righteous. He left himself in the hands of God; allowing God to control his life, so he went were God led and did what God commanded, leaving himself open for God do as he pleases. As a result he was credited as living in the right with God. Not that he was right or that he always did the right thing, but because he believed what God had told him he was credited as such; and in the end he and us were richly blessed.

Now God says to us here today: because of Jesus’ death on the cross our transgressions are forgiven and our sins are covered: eternal life is there for each one of us without us in any way having to earn it: without us having to struggle in order to be accepted. He simply says: trust me. Trust me and let my words fill you.  Let my Spirit lead you and guide you. Let my love flow through you to others around you. Have faith in me for I am 'the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.’

 There we have THE great message for us to give us hope as we go forward as God’s people. There we are given a right perspective with which to look at life and with which to go forward with. It is a message that sets us apart from every other ideology and religion; and from many other denominations. We are saved by God’s grace alone rather than having to go out, seek, find and keep God happy in order to be blest and attain heaven. It is his free gift to us, won for us by Jesus Christ and his death on the cross.

 So now we can live like Fred in our story. Not in order to be acceptable, but because we have that certainty of salvation; and because we are so very grateful for God’s acceptance of us for Jesus sake. Now we can be very confident of attaining heaven, not because of our ability - but in what God has promised us as a result of Jesus Christ.

 So let us hold unswervingly to this Good News that we are reminded of again here today: to this great message that has been given to us. May God through this message inspire us to live and be the people that he wants us be: people who trust that God is true to his word.  May we not be led to doubt in this free gift that he has for us; and so be tempted to look to what we think and do as being necessary for our salvation.

 May God ever keep us mindful that no matter who we are or what we have done, that he has eternal life in heaven for each one of us, not because of our goodness, but because of Jesus Christ and his death on the cross. This promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all. So may we be enabled to go forward with confidence and a sure hope, that because of his promises everything will work out for our good. And may we then seek to live and be people who not only have a sure hope, but also who want live in accord with how God would have us live, every day of our lives.

May God give us this faith now and always. Amen.

Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

Matthew 4:1-11.                              Temptations of life                                                          9/3/14

 1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. ² After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. ³ The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

⁴ Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
⁵ Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. ⁶ “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
    and they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
⁷ Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. ⁹ “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
¹⁰ Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
¹¹ Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

 Today we are confronted within this account of Jesus’ temptation with a very sad tale of our human existence; and of the hope that we have in the midst of it. If there was any real pride in our human abilities before we read this, then surely there shouldn’t be any after it. However, at same time, it highlights the one hope that we have – the one and only hope that we have.

 But I wonder how many of us want to really hear and know this whole point that God wants us to gain from it. Most of us, I am sure, want our pride left intact. We merely want to hear that which will make us feel good and allow us go on living the way that we want; and whenever it doesn’t work out too well we want to be able to complain to and blame God and others for our troubles. Not many at all want to face the reality and truth of our situation; and as a result they are denying themselves of the one source of hope and peace that there is for us.

 Yet again though, we need to take this seriously so that we can know him who does give true peace, contentment, happiness and eternal life.

 So let us have a look at this text that we have before us this morning. Here we have Jesus at the very beginning of his ministry here on earth, and the Spirit of God sends him out into the desert for 40days to be tempted by the devil: In other words, a short course in seeing if he can stand up against temptations that you and I face in our daily lives, but continually give in to. Here God is setting before Jesus the temptations that we face to show us the he is capable of carry out the ministry set before him and so be of help to us.

 And what do we find?

Well, the first test comes after Jesus has been out there for some time and has had nothing to eat – so by our standard he would have been extremely hungry. So here the devil seeks to get to him – after all he can get to us much easier than that.

 We only need go without food for a day and we will start doing strange things. We place so much store on having not just a full stomach, but also to have enough put away for the future as well. Our           whole effort is made in order to gain and have plenty; and to do it to the detriment of nearly everything else in life. The church and almost everything else comes second – a poor second. We will even lie and cheat – to twist and turn things to justify ourselves and our desires in this regard.

 So we all fall into this temptation to a greater or lesser degree – for every one of us this physical aspect of life is the be all and end all for us. We will do almost anything – give into any temptation in order to satisfy what we think we need in this area, or that we are told that we need. The devil can get to us almost every time in this area of our life.

 So here the devil says to Jesus in his severe hunger – merely turn this stone into a loaf of bread. After all if he is going to be able to do God’s work here on earth he needs to keep up his strength. What good is he going to be to anyone if he starves to death? Now this is no big deal – it is only a loaf of bread – he is God’s Son and no one else needs to know.

 But Jesus knows very well from Scripture that we cannot live on bread alone.

 We need much more for life than simply that. To give up all the rest for the sake of a loaf of bread would be disastrous.

 So then the devil takes Jesus to the temple at Jerusalem where the people are coming and going to worship and seeks to tempt Jesus to jump from the highest point. All so that God can then save him miraculously and all the people can look up to Jesus as someone special and he can then get the crowds in.

 Now, again, don’t we fall for this one time and time again? We constantly look for God to provide something special for us in our lives so that we can be looked up to. We go out on a limb and put ourselves in danger so that we can achieve something or other, so that we can be looked to as someone special. Then we hope to God that he will take care of us and keep us safe. If he doesn’t then we grizzle, complain and get angry. And there are many other ways that we fall for these temptations in this area.

 Jesus however knowing his Bible simply states:  Do not put the Lord your God to the test. He again simply places himself in submission to God and what he has to say – instead of listening to the devils lies and deceptions: instead of succumbing to his own desires and wishes.

 So the next time the devil takes him up on a mountain and shows him all the kingdoms of the world and all their splendour. He tells Jesus that he can have all the power and authority over them; he only needs to do one little thing – bow down to Satan - no big deal – but then he can have all power over all people.

 Boy wouldn’t we be in there like a shot. Too often we only need a hint of power over someone and we will do anything to get it. So what if we have to bend a little here and there. After all, we justify ourselves by reasoning that if we have got a little power and authority over others, we will off course use it for good. Imagine having power over the whole world; surely we could bring about peace and harmony: and we could even make them all Christians.

However history has shown us time and again that a little power corrupts in small ways, and great power corrupts greatly. Here also we all again to a greater or lesser degree fall to this temptation that is there if we have opportunity to have power over others. Yes, even if it means giving way to what we know is right.

 Jesus however again knows what God has to say to us in this regard and so tells the devil: It is written, Worship the Lord your God and serve him only. There again is what is important –there is what is needed.

Now where does that leave us here today? Well when we look to ourselves we see that we are pretty foolish, stupid, gullible, and I could go on. We fall a long, long way short of what God expects. None of us can hold our heads up – none of us. When we look to ourselves we are in big trouble. We   don’t come within cooee of measuring up - there is no hope for us – we deserve nothing but Hell.

 But that is the whole point of this reading – yes, to show the temptations that we so easily fall to and our failure to even come close to how God expects us to live and be in this regard.  So to point out that when we look to ourselves and what we do, we cannot help and save ourselves.

But most importantly, to show us one who has – the only one who has. So we now can have hope in the midst of our hopelessness. Hope not in ourselves and our achievements, but in our Lord Jesus Christ alone. Our only hope is in this one who was tempted in every way as we are, but was without sin: Who did not succumb to the temptations of the devil. In so doing he was then able to be the sacrifice which takes away the sin of the world. This perfect Jesus could now die in our place so that we might be forgiven.

  Even when he faced his final temptation from Satan at the garden of Gethsemane and the cross he did not let his Father down – or us. There he faced God’s punishment for all of the sin in the world, even though he himself had done nothing wrong. There also he did not succumb to the easy way out; but gave himself for us – so that we might be forgiven our rebellion and failures, and be assured of eternal life in heaven. So now we really do have hope. We have what we really need and what is truly important: but which is not in and from ourselves – but in and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

So let us this Lenten season put our selfish pride to death; recognising our weaknesses and failures to stand up to the many temptations that come our way: Acknowledging our inability to be the people that God would have us be; and as a result, our need for total reliance on Jesus Christ and the forgiveness he brings. Let our complete confidence and trust be in him and all that he has done for us, and all that he has to say to us in his Word, because there is our only hope –our only source of peace, happiness and eternal life. So to him alone then be all glory and honour now and always. AMEN.

 Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

Matthew 17:1-9.                              A glimpse of the greatness of Jesus         2/3/14

17 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.”

 In the last weeks we have been reminded of how Jesus and his crucifixion are central to our life and living as God’s people. Now sure, it is not an easy thing for us to go along with, because it goes against the grain of our human thinking. Well this week we are given a glimpse of who this Jesus really is so as to help us cope not just that message but also reality of his death and resurrection. Also again to help us to come to grips with the importance of it all for us; and to help us as Christians to live out our lives in the midst of the uncertainty and seeming tragedy of life.

 Here in this reading we are given an account of Jesus taking Peter, James and John up onto a mountain and there him being transfigured before their very eyes: glowing in perfect radiance. Not only that, but also of having Moses and Elijah appear in their midst – two great prophets who had long, long since passed from this earth. On top of that we have God the Father speaking to them, telling them who this Jesus really is –God’s very own Son and that they should listen to him. This is all pretty amazing stuff - unbelievable in fact - beyond the realms human possibility. Is it any wonder that Jesus tells them not to tell anyone of this until after his death and resurrection?

 So why do we have this transfiguration account and what is its purpose for us today? Surely nobody out there who is a non-christian would believe this story if we were to tell them. However, let us remember that here Jesus takes his closest friends up onto this 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 to head down the road to Jerusalem where he would suffer, die and rise again three days later.

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

 It is here then that Jesus takes his close friends up onto this mountain and all of this that we have just read takes place. Yes, there they are reminded that Jesus is more than mere human being:            more than a great prophet. He glowed with the perfection of Almighty God himself. Here was someone who truly is much closer to God: in fact he obviously is from God himself. So this talk of suffering and death has something to do with the Almighty. It is not merely a sign of weakness. Somehow there is something greater involved here.

 Up there they were drawn to see that life is more than simply our three score and ten years here on earth, or maybe a few more, by the grace of God;  but then that is it. Here Moses and Elijah appear – guys who lived hundreds of years before and they are really there. So there is much more to life here on earth and then death is the end of things. There is another whole dimension to life and it is there connected to Jesus Christ.

 So despite this talk of suffering, death and resurrection, there is somehow a connection to things much greater than what we can see and understand. It all has greater and more far-reaching implications than what we can see here and now.

 It is then that 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 pleased.

So he is not banished to earth because he has done something wrong or some such thing. No this is some plan that God himself has in mind for us.

Elsewhere we are told that it was God’s plan so that we might be saved from the mess that we have made for ourselves by disobey God and going against what he tells us is good for. Because of this we were told that will suffer death and hell. But God in his love for us wanted to provide a way out for us. He sends his Son to take the punishment that we deserve on himself, so that we can again be restored back into the family of God. This was the only way that we could get to be with God in heaven.

 So God tells Peter, James, John and all of us, to listen to him – not just when he performs his miracles and does 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 you will come to know the things that are important to God.

 Naturally all this seems too much for Peter, James and John. The presence of God and all that he is telling them is too much for them. They are afraid and perplexed. They fall flat on their faces. So Jesus says to them, Get up. Don’t be afraid.”  He encourages them and us to get on with life and do what needs to be done, for God himself is at work for the good of humanity. And they and we are a part of it all.

 As a result Peter could come down off mountain and face the road to Jerusalem. Even though he would 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 all going to work for good. Somehow Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection was going to turn life upside down, because God himself is at work in it all.

 So now we here too can and are given that same assurance as we are reminded of Christ and his death on the cross. 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. Because Jesus has come as God’s Messiah and suffered and died for us and for our salvation, we now can face the rough and tumble of life – the hurts and tragedy of life – and know that the Almighty is working things for good. So we also are helped to face the road through life, to our own death, knowing that in connection with Jesus all will be made right.

 Now this assurance is not just given as we hear of Jesus transfiguration on the mountain. No, in fact every Sunday we taken up onto the mountain and Jesus is revealed to us as God’s very own Son. Every Sunday as we gather together in worship we see both the crucified and 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: of forgiveness of sins, and the eternal life that he extends to us.

 

Through the hearing of the Word read, preached and sung: through the waters of baptism: 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 of sins, life and salvation could be ours: We are reassured of his presence with us as we live out our lives in the midst of the struggles and joys of life in this world. So we can be confident that it will all work out for us as we 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; were we are confronted with the message of our sinful and our need for repentance for the forgiveness of sins, and of the importance of Jesus and his death and resurrection. All this he reveals to us so that we too are able to deny ourselves and take up our crosses and follow our Lord Jesus; and to receive all the wonderful blessings he has in mind for us.

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

 Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish