“They will expel you out of synagogues; but an hour is coming that whoever kills you will think they are doing a service to God.” (John 16:2-3)
In the name of Jesus. Amen. The false religions of the world, on the radio, and on the television say that if you live a godly life, follow God’s law, and believe hard enough, then things will go well for you. For them, being a Christian means a life filled with success, health, and perhaps even a lot of money.
Today, Jesus says otherwise. The way of faith in Jesus is the way of suffering. As He suffered, so shall we who bear His name. As they thought they were doing God a service by crucifying Him, so will it be also for those who are in Him.
They don’t know the Father or the Son, so they will seek to please God by what they think. We know this religion, don’t we? We try to please our Heavenly Father in the same way. We try to bargain with Him, thinking that if we just ask right, stop this sin or that sin, change our behavior in some way; God will be merciful to us.
But the truth of God the Father, the truth to which the Holy Spirit testifies, is that God will not treat us as our sins deserve. God the Father has taken all our sins and put them on His Son. Jesus was crucified in our place, the Righteous for the unrighteous, Him for you. His death is the payment for all that you have ever done wrong. His death alone reconciles you to God. His death is how God desires to deal with you.
Our comfort and peace is in the water and the Word, and His Body and Blood given to us to eat and drink. His Word and Sacraments give the Holy Spirit who works faith -- that is receiving gifts from God -- in those who hear the Gospel.
Next week, we’ll hear about the coming of the promised Holy Spirit. This week, we hear about suffering. As it was with Jesus, so it is with us. He suffered, we are suffering. He was persecuted, we are persecuted. He died, we died with Him Baptism. He rose, we shall rise. He is at the right hand of God, we will be there soon. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Higher Things Reflections are written by Rev. George F. Borghardt III, Assistant Pastor at St. Mark Lutheran Church, Conroe, TX.