COMFORT, O COMFORT MY PEOPLE

Transcript

1 COMFORT, O COMFORT MY PEOPLE Wednesday Before the Second Sunday of Advent (Year B) December 6, 2017 Lessons Isaiah 40:1-11 Psalm 85:1-2, nd Peter 3:8-15a St. Mark 1:1-8 Prayer of the Day Pastor David J. Risendal drisendal@stplc.org facebook Dave Risendal Twitter: drisendal Saint Peter Lutheran Church 9300 East Belleview Avenue Greenwood Village, CO voice: 303/ fax: 303/ facebook.com/stplc Stir up our hearts, Lord God, to prepare the way of your only Son. By his coming strengthen us to serve you with purified lives; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. John, the baptizer calling us to ministry pointing us to Christ Sermon Grace to you and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.1 Amen. The Prophet Isaiah has long had a prominent voice in the story of God s people. His name, translated literally into English, means The LORD is salvation. He spoke truth to power in the waning days of the southern kingdom. He received visions from God directing him to challenge the unfaithful leadership of at least four kings. When the early Christian church struggled with how to make sense of a crucified Messiah, they turned to Isaiah s writings, and found inspiration in much of what he had to say. Seven hundred years before Jesus was born, Isaiah promised the people of his day that God would send one who: Would be born of a virgin and be called Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 8:8, 10). 1 Romans 1:7, 1st Corinthians 1:3, 2nd Corinthians 1:2, Galatians 1:3, Ephesians 1:2, Philippians 1:2, Colossians 1:2, 1st Thessalonians 1:1, 2nd Thessalonians 1:2, Philemon 3; New Revised Version Bible ( 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America).

2 Wednesday Before the Second Sunday of Advent (December 6, 2017) 2 Would judge between the nations (Isaiah 2:4). Would be a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense (Isaiah 8:14). Would be called the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6-7). Would be described as a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation (Isaiah 28:16). For Jewish and Christian believers alike, Isaiah has long had a prominent voice in the story of God s people. Isaiah was a voice of comfort and encouragement in the midst of a very difficult situation. Israel and Judah had been conquered. God s people had been carried off into captivity in Babylon. They were separated from their land, their heritage, their ancestors, and perhaps most importantly: the promises of God. After a couple of generations their hopes were beginning to fade, and they were doubting if life as they once knew it would ever return. Yet the voice of the prophet continued to speak to them. The one who once railed at the leaders of Judah for being unfaithful to God; the one who prophesied that unless they changed their ways they would be destroyed just as their northern neighbor Israel was. Having heard these strong words of challenge from Isaiah, his contemporaries probably didn t think he would be the one to offer them words of comfort and encouragement. But here we have it, in the 40 th chapter, after two generations of exile, Isaiah proclaims: Comfort, O comfort my people, Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, that her penalty is paid. 2 Comfort, O Comfort my people, Angry as God had been with the leaders of Judah, Isaiah knew the truth: at the very center of it all, God s love for these people would always win out. God created them and all that exists. God led them out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. God chose David, and worked through him to found a great nation. God promised to send a Savior to redeem them. Isaiah believed all of this to be true, and so he called the people of his day to own up to their sin, confess the ways in which they had turned from God, and open their hearts to the hope that accompanies God s promise. The Savior will come. God s people will not be forgotten. God s promise will be remembered. This, of course, is why the ministry of John the Baptizer is so important in all four of the Gospel accounts. In many respects, his ministry is the same as Isaiah s. He sought to help the people of his day own up to their sin, confess the ways they had turned from God, and open up their hearts to the hope that accompanies God s promise. John knew, as did Isaiah, that if the people could be honest about their need for God, they could experience the promise and presence and power of God in a way that would change their lives forever. And so he led them on this journey of discovery, brought them down into the waters of the Jordan with him, plunged them down under the surface, symbolically putting to death everything in them that was old and broken and faithless, and raising them up to new life again. A new life that they would now be able to know in Christ. 2 Isaiah 40:1-2, New Revised Standard Version Bible, opp. cit.

3 Wednesday Before the Second Sunday of Advent (December 6, 2017) 3 See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight 3 It is the message of Isaiah. It is the message of John, the Baptizer. It is the message of Advent. Those who own up to their sin, who confess the ways they have turned from God, and who open up their hearts to the hope that accompanies God s promise, will come to know the new life for which they long. Comfort, O comfort my people, Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord s hand double for all her sins. 4 These words speak of the hope Isaiah had in God. They speak, as well, for the hope we have in Christ. We gather here to worship and pray this evening, and to hear the promise that in Christ we are made right with God. Advent is a time of drawing near to this promise, and preparing ourselves for those ways God comes into our lives today. And so we sing, we pray, we break open the word, we gather around the table, we greet one another with a sign of peace all so that we might prepare ourselves for the God who so earnestly wants to enter into our lives. The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever. 5 As you walk with us through these weeks of waiting and watching and preparing for the arrival of God in our lives, may the words of Isaiah, and of John, encourage your faith, inspire your living, and help you to experience the new life that is ours in Christ. Amen. David J. Risendal, Pastor Gospel Lesson; English Text The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; 3 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight, 4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He proclaimed, The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am St. Mark 1:2b, New Revised Standard Version Bible ( 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America). Isaiah 40:1-2, New Revised Standard Version Bible, opp. cit. Isaiah 40:8, New Revised Standard Version Bible, opp. cit. A list of Bible lessons for the coming weeks is available at

4 Wednesday Before the Second Sunday of Advent (December 6, 2017) 4 not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8 I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. 7 Gospel Lesson; Greek Text: 1:1 Ἐν ἐκείναις ταῖς ἡµέραις πάλιν πολλοῦ ὄχλου ὄντος καὶ µὴ ἐχόντων τί φάγωσιν, προσκαλεσάµενος τοὺς µαθητὰς λέγει αὐτοῖς 2 σπλαγχνίζοµαι ἐπὶ τὸν ὄχλον, ὅτι ἤδη ἡµέραι τρεῖς προσµένουσιν µοι καὶ οὐκ ἔχουσιν τί φάγωσιν 3 καὶ ἐὰν ἀπολύσω αὐτοὺς νήστεις εἰς οἶκον αὐτῶν, ἐκλυθήσονται ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ καί τινες αὐτῶν ἀπὸ µακρόθεν ἥκασιν. 4 καὶ ἀπεκρίθησαν αὐτῷ οἱ µαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ ὅτι πόθεν τούτους δυνήσεται τις ὧδε χορτάσαι ἄρτων ἐπ ἐρηµίας; 5 καὶ ἠρώτα αὐτούς πόσους ἔχετε ἄρτους; οἱ δὲ εἶπαν ἑπτά. 6 καὶ παραγγέλλει τῷ ὄχλῳ ἀναπεσεῖν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς καὶ λαβὼν τοὺς ἑπτὰ ἄρτους εὐχαριστήσας ἔκλασεν καὶ ἐδίδου τοῖς µαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ ἵνα παρατιθῶσιν, καὶ παρέθηκαν τῷ ὄχλῳ. 7 καὶ εἶχον ἰχθύδια ὀλίγα καὶ εὐλογήσας αὐτὰ εἶπεν καὶ ταῦτα παρατιθέναι. 8καὶ ἔφαγον καὶ ἐχορτάσθησαν, καὶ ἦραν περισσεύµατα κλασµάτων ἑπτὰ σπυρίδας. 8 First Lesson; English Text: 40.1 Comfort, O comfort my people, 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord s hand double for all her sins. 3 A voice cries out: In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. 5 Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken. 6 A voice says, Cry out! And I said, What shall I cry? All people are grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field. 7 The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever. 9 Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; 7 8 St. Mark 1:1-8, New Revised Standard Version Bible ( 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America). St. Mark 1:1-8, The Greek New Testament, Aland, Kurt, Black, Matthew, Martini, Carlo M., Metzger, Bruce M., and Wikgren, Allen, ( 1983, Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft Stuttgart).

5 Wednesday Before the Second Sunday of Advent (December 6, 2017) 5 lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, Here is your God! 10 See, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. 11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep. 9 Second Lesson; English Text: 3.8 But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed. 11 Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? 13 But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home. 14 Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; 15 and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation. 10 Second Lesson; Greek Text: 3:8 Ἓν δὲ τοῦτο µὴ λανθανέτω ὑµᾶς, ἀγαπητοί, ὅτι µία ἡµέρα παρὰ κυρίῳ ὡς χίλια ἔτη καὶ χίλια ἔτη ὡς ἡµέρα µία. 9 οὐ βραδύνει κύριος τῆς ἐπαγγελίας, ὥς τινες βραδύτητα ἡγοῦνται, ἀλλὰ µακροθυµεῖ εἰς ὑµᾶς, µὴ βουλόµενος τινας ἀπολέσθαι ἀλλὰ πάντας εἰς µετάνοιαν χωρῆσαι. 10 Ἥξει δὲ ἡµέρα κυρίου ὡς κλέπτης, ἐν ᾗ οἱ οὐρανοὶ ῥοιζηδὸν παρελεύσονται στοιχεῖα δὲ καυσούµενα λυθήσεται καὶ γῆ καὶ τὰ ἐν αὐτῇ ἔργα εὑρεθήσεται. 11 Τούτων οὕτως πάντων λυοµένων ποταποὺς δεῖ ὑπάρχειν [ὑµᾶς] ἐν ἁγίαις ἀναστροφαῖς καὶ εὐσεβείαις, 12 προσδοκῶντας καὶ σπεύδοντας τὴν παρουσίαν τῆς τοῦ θεοῦ ἡµέρας δἰ ἣν οὐρανοὶ πυρούµενοι λυθήσονται καὶ στοιχεῖα καυσούµενα τήκεται. 13 καινοὺς δὲ οὐρανοὺς καὶ γῆν καινὴν κατὰ τὸ ἐπάγγελµα αὐτοῦ προσδοκῶµεν, ἐν οἷς δικαιοσύνη κατοικεῖ. 14Διό, ἀγαπητοί, ταῦτα προσδοκῶντες σπουδάσατε ἄσπιλοι καὶ ἀµώµητοι αὐτῷ εὑρεθῆναι ἐν εἰρήνῃ 15 καὶ τὴν τοῦ κυρίου ἡµῶν µακροθυµίαν σωτηρίαν ἡγεῖσθε Isaiah 40:1-11, New Revised Standard Version Bible, opp. cit. 2 nd Peter 3:8-15a, New Revised Standard Version Bible, opp. cit. 2 nd Peter 3:8-15a, The Greek New Testament, opp. cit.