Roger's Postings

Saturday, April 30, 2016

Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5.              Our new home!!                 1/5/16

10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. 
22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 
23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. 
24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendour into it. 
25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. 
26 The glory and honour of the nations will be brought into it. 
27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 
2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 
3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 
4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 
5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

He is risen! He is risen indeed!
Yes, we are still living in the light of Easter and the wonder of all that that entails for us. Because of Easter so much changes that enables us to go forward boldly and confidently, in the midst of all of the troubles and heartaches of our world and our own lives. Life in this sinful world is far from easy and comfortable. When all we see is what is happening in our day to day world it is so easy to become disheartened.

However, here again this morning, we have another Easter message that enables us to lift our heads and live with a sure hope that is truly remarkable. This reading gives a glimpse of the world to come when our time here on earth comes to an end.

We have set before us a sure hope, that, because of Easter and our connection to the Lord Jesus Christ, we will be a part of that which is truly good and remarkable. Here we only have a glimpse of how good it will be; but it is enough to help us as we live out our days here on earth in the midst of the troubles and heartaches that are ever present.

Knowing the future certainty enables to go forward boldly and confidently, even if and when troubles, sickness and death surround us. In the midst of the sinfulness of humanity, and even our own lives, we can now look to God and what he has done for us in Jesus Christ and trust that he has something far better in mind for us.

Now at times we are tempted to think our lives and living here is pretty good. It is what we have got; and it is pretty much as good as it gets. We are sort of comfortable with it, even though we know it should be better. For most of us we prepared to put up with what we have here, rather than trust God when he says he has something far better in mind. We don’t want to think too far into the future.

Along with that we have many who have their fancy house, car, boat and you name it; and so they think that life is and should be pretty good for them. They think that they don’t need God or the future that he has in mind for them. Just as they think that they know better as to how to live their lives rather than follow God’s ways.

Yet more and more we are seeing the result of this thinking all around us. Loneliness, depression, lack of meaning and purpose to life, fighting, squabbling and alienation, to name a few; not to mention the final inevitability of death and Judgement Day. When we fail to take God and what he has to say and give seriously, we have all kinds of difficulties and problems, which we will never be able to overcome. When we do not have the sure hope that he gives for the future we will always be left floundering.

Even when it comes to the Christian faith we know and trust that Jesus is there, but can’t see him and so are prone to doubt. Or we trust in our own views of who God is and what he should be like, even though he has clearly written about these things in the Bible. Then of course we have modern medias efforts to totally reject God. So we have our doubts and uncertainties.

It is here again that God reminds us that beyond this life is something far better for those who are prepared to trust in Jesus Christ and all that he has done for us through his death and resurrection. And in this coming week we also are reminded of his ascension, where he tells us he is going to prepare a place for us in heaven.

This reading this morning tells us something of what this will be like. First and fore most we are told in this vision that:  I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. God himself, with Jesus will be that centre and the focus of everything. The place of worship will be himself, in person, in reality. There we will be left in no doubt what so ever as to his reality and importance.

There he will light up life for all: The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendour into it. Beyond our comprehension, but absolutely extraordinary. We will be able to move around without stumbling or fear of losing our way. For God himself will be right there giving light to all.

Then even more: On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. The glory and honour of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing will be locked up so that bad and evil can harm can be kept out, for there will be nothing of that there. We will not fear harm coming our way, for all that evil will be no more. So we can move freely and confidently. All that will now enter that place will be that which brings glory and honour.

Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. There will be no need to be concerned about anyone doing harm to us or taking us down; for all those kinds of people will not be there. Only those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.

But there is even more. Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. So there we will drink and eat that which is pure, good and healthy for us: all laid on in abundance for us, without us ever having to fear going without. The tree of life will ensure that we will live for ever.

No longer will there be any curse. Remember the curse: if you sin you will die. Because there will be no sin, there will be no more, the curse of death; there will be no more separation from God. There will no more concern about measuring up in order to be acceptable.

The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. So now instead of the fear of the curse, there will be willing and ongoing worship of God and the Lamb. All will be able stand in his presence and talk freely with God as they did in the Garden of Eden before the Fall. There they will truly give him all glory and honour.

So with all that is bad and evil gone for good, now There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

What an amazing glimpse we are given here at what lies before us at the end of our time here on this earth. Remember this is only a glimpse because our sinful human mind at this time is unable to comprehend the magnificence of it all. It is impossible to our thinking here and now, but it is real.

This is not wishful thinking on our part. This is God’s revelation to us, so that we can be absolutely sure that there is a great future ahead for those who believe and trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and savior. God wants us to know this so that we can face life in a sinful and troubled world with confidence and certainty.

No matter what we face here; and even death itself, we can face it with eager longing for this great future that God has in store for us. Like Paul, we long to be there now, but in the meantime we get on with being the people he wants us to be here on this earth. We get on with sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ to the people that we come into contact with in our daily lives.

So here again we have another aspect of Easter that enables us go on full of hope and joy. Because of the certainty of Jesus death on the cross for the forgiveness of sins and his resurrection from the dead three days later, we can have full assurance that everything that he says in this regard is for real.

We can now lift our heads with boldness and confidence because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb have done and promise such great things for us. This God is truly great and awesome.
He is risen! He is risen indeed!
To him be all glory and honour, now and forever. AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

Thursday, April 07, 2016

John 21:1-19.                                      Feed My Sheep                                 10/4/16

{3} "I'm going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We'll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. {4} Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. {5} He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?" "No," they answered. {6} He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. {7} Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!"
{15} When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." {16} Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." {17} The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. {18} I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." {19} Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"

What an encouragement we have here in this reading! Yet also, it is a sobering reminder of some of the realities of what we have got ourselves involved in when we were brought into the Christian faith. Life is full of ups and downs; frustrations and challenges; exciting projects and failures; life and death. For most of us life is full: work and leisure; family, friends and church; and so we are on the go all the time.

So in some respects, the emotions of Easter often seem to parallel our own feelings and life. The sufferings, injustices and tragedy of Good Friday, the joys and peace of Easter Sunday. Sin and its consequences ever before our eyes, and the highs and joys that the Christian message has for us. The ups and downs, with all their stresses and stains constantly playing an active role in our lives.

So, often we want to just have a break and have some relief for a while: wanting to be rejuvenated and reaffirmed. Sometimes we just want to get away from it all and have a breather for a while. Sometimes we just want to give up and escape, go on a holiday and not come back.

So in a number of ways we are like Peter and company here in this reading. Post Easter they went to get away from it all – gone fishing – don’t know when we’ll be back. Now for Peter I can understand it – I think – in some way: poor bloke; his theology wouldn’t let him accept the fact that Jesus should die. It did not fit his concept of the kingdom of God. When Jesus is arrested he, jumps in feet first, with sword swinging and cuts off the ear of one of the men that came to arrest Jesus. So Jesus has to rebuke him again.

Then after saying how he would stick by Jesus through thick and thin, he only a very short time later denies his Lord three times. Then to top it all off, Jesus is crucified on the cross as he said he would and then surprise, surprise, he rises again three days later and appears to them in the upper room. So now they know for sure that this Jesus is everything that he said he was. But also Peter knows that he is a very poor specimen of the follower that he should have been.

Now I know that if I was Peter, at that point, I would now want to run for my life. I would want to go back fishing or farming or whatever, to get away from it; go on a holiday. Maybe, hopefully, be able to pick up some pieces of a former life. I would be thinking how on earth could I carry on as one of the leaders of Jesus’ followers. What a miserable let down I have proved to be. Yes, fishing, farming or something else would be a pretty good option.

But, how stupid even that would be. Peter fishes all night and catches nothing – not even a tiddler or a useless carp. Then look what happened to Jonah when he tried run, and finishes up getting swallowed by a whale. As much as fishing seemed a good option – even there his own weakness and the realities of life hits him again. Then to add insult to injury, this guy turns up on the beach and tells him to throw the net over the other side. Enough to make one really feel bad and mad.

But then, guess what? A net full of fish. A huge number of fish. Yes; it is the Lord again – it is the Lord! It is the one who called us at our baptism. The one who washed us clean and made us a part of his family, despite our sinful nature. The one who stood with us and beside us along the road of life as we fumbled and bumbled along; and as we got distracted and wandered this way and that.

This Lord who persisted with us when we just didn’t get it; when we failed to understand; or just when we failed completely. He was also with us and taught us, showing us even though we only caught glimpses of what he and his Word was on about. He was there when we too sought the glory road and when we denied him. And he is the one who comes to us as we seek a time of escape.
It is the Lord – it is the Lord!
It is the Lord Jesus who went to the cross and died for us. There being punished in our place, so that we might have forgiveness for our sins and the assurance of life and salvation. It was Jesus who rose again so that death would be defeated for us; and that we also would have full assurance of eternal life with our gracious God. It is this same Jesus who constantly comes to us in the bread and wine at the Lord’s Table, so that we might be reassured over and over again of the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation that he has won for us. It is the Lord – it is our risen Lord Jesus Christ that has come to us again and again.

He is with us, whoever we are and whether we are in highs of life or the lows. He is there with us when we struggle and when we have even given up. He continues to remind us that he is there and that he has the where with all to see us through. He is there with us to challenge us and encourages us on.

Here today our Lord Jesus comes to us again – to me – to you, and he says, Do you love me? He says, Do you love me more than all these other things? To us who have failed him; let him down; denied him and gone off and done our own thing:  to us all he says: Do you love me more than yourselves; more than the easy road through life; more than wanting your own view of what the Christian faith is all about; more than anything else? Do You?

Now there is a tough question. We are struggling, hurting and failing; a very poor specimen of a Christian. Weak and miserable. At the same time so centre on ourselves and caught up in world that is hell bent on doing its own thing and going downhill fast. In the midst of all this deep down we know that Jesus is the only real answer that we have. We know he is where it is at and the one sure hope that there is. So he says to us as he said to Peter: Then go and feed my lambs.

Then he goes on to ask us again – Do you really love me?               Do we? Really? Well then he says – feed my sheep. After which he repeats his question again – do you love me? Then he asks again a third time, those of us who have let him down time and again, the same question. Do you love me? Do you really mean it? Are we fair dinkum? If so – then he says again, Go and feed my sheep.

In all of that we have the Lord Jesus himself, come to us – you and me; and he recalls and reinstates us as his disciples – his special people. Despite our past failures: despite our weaknesses; he renews his call upon us and restates the task that he has in mind for us. We are again restored into that important role that he has in mind for us: we are commanded again to look after the flock of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus then goes on to remind Peter and us of what discipleship will mean for us. To Peter who wanted to deny the possibility of Jesus dying on a cross and who runs, hides and rejects knowing Jesus            for fear of suffering the same death, crucifixion; is now told that this will be the end result of his discipleship. He too would die for the faith. But in that he will glorify God. In that he will bring praise and honour to his Lord. Whew!! Tough stuff. Peter was told that his ministry would be rough. But that was the call that was put in front of him.

Yet there too, we are reminded again that our ministry will not be an easy road through life. Being a Christian will not be all smooth going for us. Now I hope though it does not mean crucifixion for us. But then again, he is Lord. But whatever – we are reminded that it will take a human toll on us. We are reminded that we too will have to take up our crosses along the way. The price is high, as we take care of his flock. The pressure from the devil, the world and our sinful self will be great and may well cost us dearly in human terms.

But, he is Lord. He has died on the cross for us and he has risen again. He is the Lord of life and death – the supreme Lord over all things. Just as Peter and the disciple were used mightily be God and that his Good News spread throughout the world as a result; so too does he promise that he will be at work in our lives bring about good in order to further his kingdom.

His challenge and encouragement is to get on with being the people that he wants us to be. Through the good times and the tough times to keep pointing others to Jesus Christ and the importance of his death and resurrection to us all. To give our Lord Jesus all glory and honour.

 He has laid his call on us and commands us to look after his Church – his people and to reach out to those around us. So our risen Lord Jesus says to you, to me, Follow me. So keep following our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and the challenge that he has placed before us. Through it then, may all glory and honour go to him to whom belongs, now and always.         AMEN

Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish